Friendship = Love ?

Link is not an ordinary feudal knight. He's the chosen hero of Hyrule...meant for bigger things. I just don't see him allowing himself to be tied to such a trivial thing as a farm when bigger things are afoot. If he truly loved her, maybe he'd consider it. But you have no proof that anything deeper existed between the two of them.

Here's a truth about marriage, and husbands and fathers. Both have somewhat of a similar role in a woman's life. The protector and provider and the most important man in her life at the time. Often if a woman has issues with her father, they will often surface with her husband.
In Malon's case, she's learned that by showing her temper she can control her father. There's a chance that if Link displeases her, she will attempt the same tactic on him. If you think this is baloney, consider Ilia. She yells at Link...and in the same breath uses the same tactic on her father.

You are confusing dominating with domineering. Zelda may be dominant in being the more outspoken, but she's not controlling ( domineering ). She doesn't force her will on Link. If he does her will, it's because he wants to.

Yeah right. It's meant to imply that he will have to sacrifice normalcy to do what needs to be done. Not that he'd be unhappy with Zelda.

You do realize that Zelda is nothing more than a servant to her people right? While the average person serves themself, she lives for everyone else but herself, regardless of how's she's dressed or lives. This nonsense about Link living a spoiled and selfish life of luxury if he's with her is exactly that - nonsense.

At this point, I'm wasting my time. I'm not going to change my mind, and you don't even listen to what I have to say. I'm thinking I'm done here.

Link being Zelda's spoiled and pampered lapdog is a bigger and better thing than protecting the people of Hyrule?? Uhh... ...OK. Tell me Gilderpilot name one thing that Link can be a better Hero at in marrying Zelda besides being just her cute little ornament puppy dog husband.

At least I'm TRYING to relate something tangible and realistic in that Link being Hyrule's number one Feudal Knight/Hero can at least make a LinkxMalon POSSIBLE for Link to still be the chosen Hero in protecting the people of Hyrule. And I am understanding what your saying and it just makes me support LinkxMalon even more. And the whole father - husband thing is not neccesarily true in all cases. My sister interracts with my brother n law and dad very differently.

Well your definitely not going to change my mind but I don't want to change your mind either. Its just MY OPINION that I prefer the whole feudal knight/LinkxMalon thing over the more girly fairy tale LinkxZelda romance thats all.

One thing? Not having a divided focus for one. If Link married Malon, some part of him would always be fighting to get back to her...because being in love with someone means you want to be with them. Yes, I realize that ordinary men go to war with the knowledge that someone is waiting for them - and it gives them strength. But Link is not ordinary...and his duty won't end. He's going to be forever trying to balance the "me" part of his life ( a family and life with Malon ) with the "we" part...his country and everyone that needs him.
Having Zelda as his wife would a) bring him right to the centre of the action and decisions and give him power, b ) give him a wife who truly understands his calling and heart and c) give him also a wife who can take care of herself while truly freeing him to do his duty.
Malon is not terribly self-sufficient, independant or selfless...she wants a nice man to latch on to to make her life better. Link has bigger things to do...he's going to disappoint her and even cause her hardship in his absence.

All this absence and divided focus stuff your talking about overwhelmingly applys to Zelda WAAY more than it does with Malon. How will Link and Zelda's marriage grow if he is out riding around with Epona doing heroic deeds most of the time and at the same time hopelessly trying to be a courtly aristocrat?? In a theoretical LinkxMalon, riding around with Epona in protecting the land of Hyrule as a feudal knight would be his only job. In a LinkxZelda, Link's place is at the Castle with her. The notion of Link constantly being away from Zelda in him riding around Hyrule with Epona and also trying to juggle a double life in attending the royal courtly meetings all at once is destined to be a doomed marriage obviously. The whole Link riding around with Epona doing heroic deeds as a feudal knight is far better suited in a LinkxMalon IMO.

Anyway, I accept your opinion, but I just don't agree simply because Link has nothing in common with Zelda in the first place for any romance to realistically happen IMO. Link is a simple and humble forest person at heart. He has no business living at the Castle trying to be something he is obviously not. A courtly aristocrat or King?? Highly unlikely I'm afraid.

There's no rule saying he has to be a standard run-of-the-mill nobleman. I've never even suggested it. Zelda herself is far from conventional: in an alternate timeline she dressed as a man in order to fight for Hyrule. So throw the stereotypes out in this debate. There's nothing saying Link has to conform to your idea for him.
I've made my case about the warrior-King before, and once again I refer to it. He could still protect Hyrule, just with more effect than just by himself. A Link who is stuck being no more than a lone swordsman would be useless against a full fledged army from another land. That's where leadership comes in.
And the divided focus doesn't remotely apply to Zelda. She lives for others...the SAME others that Link does. They are stronger together than apart.

Too bad the games disagree with you. AoL Link was every bit the common nobody, yet the backstory hints he IS the future King. And OoT Link is no different in essence...he's a common and humble man called to be more.
I've never understood why people think OoT Link is an exception..he's still a Link.
Just because an attractive woman such as Malon wants him, it doesn't mean his calling is null and void. Everything in his life will have to be reconciled to that.
I just don't think she could make the stretch.

I agree that Link and Zelda live for others but what does that have to do with them being married when they obviously have nothing ROMANTICALLY in common at all?? Also....stating that OOT Link is exactly like the EXCUUUSE ME PRINCESS Link is beyond ridiculous. OOT Link will NEVER be a King EVER. DEAL WITH IT. That goes for TP Link as well. You trying to hopelessly contradict OOT Link's humble Hero character as percieving him to be an unlikely King is hillarious.

Bottom line...OOT Link takes orders, he does not give them. I can have peace of mind knowing that you can never provide any proof whatsoever that OOT Link will become a King being married to Zelda. HAHA. The fact is, Link willingly left Zelda in MM and you have no proof that he ever returned to her. End of story.

And again on the loneswordsman point...awhile back you were supporting that concept on your previous arguement of the Hero Spirit. You seem obviously confused on your constant waffling perception of Link. Its like you always pick and choose Links capabilities or lack of to support your fanatical ideals. Thank goodness I don't have that problem since I can actually admit that maybe Link won't end up with Malon. One thing is for sure, the unassertively humble and simple minded OOT Link will never be a King of anyone or anything PERIOD.

Anyway...I admit that I don't have any real proof that Link will end up with Malon as much as you don't have any concrete proof that Link marries Zelda. As far as we know, Link may have chosen to return to the kokiri forest to live a life of self imposed isolated obscurity. Believe it or not, this is an actual theory that I have recently read in the ZU forums. The fact of the matter is OOT/MM Link's fate is relatively unknown period, so maybe he doesn't end up with either Zelda or Malon or anybody else.

Hmm, I'm not going to start another debate or fight, but I'd like to point out few things.

Adventures of Link-Link isn't the same as the cartoon Link, even if the cartoon Link IS based on the first two Zelda games. It's the same with A Link to the Past-Link and the CD-i games' Link.

Another fact is that you don't have proof that Link returned to Malon, either. And like you said; we'll never know the real story what happens to him after Majora's Mask. Fans can only assume and make theories - unless the creators flat out tell us otherwise.

That's really not a fair assumption to make. Saying that Link could never be king ever, is almost the same as saying that he could never be a farmer/ranch hand. And Twilight Princess proved that wrong. Granted TP Link and OoT Link are two completely different people. I, personally, do not think Link would want to become king. But that's cause I've always pictured him as keeping a simple life. Being a king will make things complicated and Link has such a complicated existence already. I don't think he would want that type of burden. But I digress. The point is, you cannot say for certain that Link could never be king.

There's no definite proof he went back to Malon and married her either. Truth of the matter is, nobody knows what happened to him. And you contradict yourself, as you're oh so sure that he didn't become king. So I think that makes that point null and void by default.

Not even gonna touch that.

You're trying hard to prove a point and while I am inclined to agree with some of what you say, you really should calm down. This is not srs bsns. Okay?

Ohhh...me and Gilderpilot always debate like this. Its nothing personal. And I've clearly stated that I can't prove Link is going to settle down with Malon, only that I wish he would thats all.

OK..maybe me saying OOT Link CAN NEVER be King is exagerrated. Its just me getting a little peeved with Gilderpilot saying stuff that Link will be annoyed by Malon and that her always being some sort of a victim will wear him down. Its ironic how nobody jumps her for that but God forbid if I do the same thing when regarding LinkxZelda. (Cough) Double Standard (Cough).

Anyway..I don't see Link as King simply because IMO it contradicts his humble and simplistic gentle natured personality. Warrior Kings of old (Charlemagne, William the Conqueror) were bold, assertive and politically ruthless. Link does not possess any of those qualities so he would likely make a terrible King. Link is obviously not a royal type, so why would he force himself to be something he is not?? I agree with you 100% that Link would likely NOT WANT to be a King in the first place. At least being a simple but exceptional feudal knight in a theoretical LinkxMalon seems better fitted to his humble and unassuming personality IMO.

If OOT/MM Link were to be a King, IMO it would be as a symbolic figurehead only, with Zelda ruling through him. But that seems to suggest that Zelda would be controlling Link in a very domineering way. Personally the whole Link being Zelda's adorable trophy pet puppet awkwardly on display within the Hyrule Court does not appeal to me in any way. But if Link did choose that lifestyle associated with marrying Zelda so be it.

Well, I think that he could provide a good change in the court, being different. He'd have a different perspective about the world that the court and more wouldn't normally see or consider. Sure, I agree that he'd be the "ugly duckling", but he's confident and strong-willed enough, IMO. I'm pretty sure he can handle it.

Other than that, I think it'd be awkward to have him as king. OFFICIAL KNIGHT OF HYRULE!

*deep breath*

Him in a suit (and I mean them puffed-sleeved, tight pants and oversized-cloak kinda suits)... I prefer not to think about it. It'll be way too funny! lol

Yeah...I can see OOT/MM Link having some type of influential presence within the Hyrule Court due to him maturing normally in the CT. I figured this Link would grow up and have some type of formal education/training with Zelda overseeing his training with the Hyrule Knights and Zelda personally teaching him how to conduct himself properly within the Hyrule Court and have a general understanding of whats going on.

But I don't see Link as a permanent fixture there and I'd prefer him riding around with Epona and overseeing the frontier defenses as a feudal knight living with Malon at the ranch. Like historical feudal knights, he would attend ONLY the more important royal meetings to provide Zelda with moral support and give her pats on the back for reassurance and all that other good stuff that best friends do for each other.

In a theoretical LinkxZelda, I can see him more in an administrative role as a representative of the common people and diverse races and such. But his Epona time will probably be limited to just seasonal/yearly royal envoy missions to the Hyrule provinces as he would likely have to train a group of Hylian Knights to do all the frontier defense stuff to protect the common people like Malon and the villagers of Kakariko village. I see Link needing to spend most of his time standing by Zelda's side during ALL the royal meetings and when needed provide gently soft spoken but helpful input on the needs of the common people/races of Hyrule.

So IMO OOT Link of CT will probably not want to be a King, but I like to think that he will try to help Zelda anyway he can whether he is in a romantic relationship with her or not. As for OOT Link of AT, well its obvious in his child like mental simplicity he could never hope of socially assimilating to life at the Castle. So most likely, Zelda would either be stuck with babysitting him most of the time, or she will set him free to roam around Hyrule where he would not be an annoying useless liability as he would be living in the Castle IMO. Its a good thing Zelda ultimately sent Link back to the CT anyway.

TP Link: Zelda will probably have him spend most of his time riding around with Epona all around Hyrule doing heroic deeds and such. I can't picture this Link standing by Zelda's side during any of the royal meetings that he might or might not be required to attend. He would likely just be standing among the other nobles and knights quietly keeping to himself and only softly speaking when Zelda commands him too. IMO TP Link and Zelda = business like working relationship that might become a close friendship, but nothing romantic anytime soon. With that said I still prefer TP Zelda over Illia anyday despite the doubts that TP Link will ever hook up with Zelda. TP Link has too much unrequited polite gentleman admirer from afar written all over it I'm afraid.

TIP!!! Make your opinions shorter if you don't want the readers to give up midway through your replies! No offense, but I nearly never read the whole thing. Yall might have a lot to say, but just try it out, for the sake of my eyes!

I know...I hate it when I do that..ARRRGGGHHH

Anyway..in short

OOT Link of CT
LinkxMalon = Cool feudal knight
OR
LinkxZelda = Pampered pet

OOT Link of AT = Endearingly pure & innocent eternal virgin.

TP Link = Unrequited polite gentleman admirer from afar in regards to Zelda, and who will probably go crawling back to Illia.

Better now??

Nyeh, that wasn't too bad... lol

PET?!?!?!?!

Zelda is smarter than that! She KNOWS he's human! And Link would speak up if that happens, too! He might not use words entirely, but he'd be able to get the message through!

I didn't mean a pet literally, but more of a reference to the romantic relationship itself. I've read Zelinker posts saying stuff about Link constantly being by Zelda's side during royal meetings, festivals, and various social events, with Link having to awkwardly adjust to a weird royal lifestyle. Not to mention the whole Zelda over comforting Link like an adorable and spoiled child which would be consistent with the controlling and domineering princess/ruler character of Zelda in having Link as a kept and submissively obedient trophy pet.

But yeah...I agree with you on Link being able to provide a unique POV of the world within the Hyrule Court and all. Its just the LinkxZelda is not my own ideal of the humble Hero still swinging his sword and riding around with Epona all the time, as Link would have to adapt to the more controlled royal lifestyle in living with Zelda at the Castle. I can say this though in that I still prefer the lifestyle of a LinkxZelda over a LinkxRuto anyday. The thought of Link being a Zora prince is just plain sick and creepy if you ask me.