Link's competition

O.o Okay... For one, isn't this supposed to focus in on what is ZELDA'S preferences are for a guy?

Anyway... Where shall I start? Okay. Here's for starters. Women should not cater to men whatsoever. That's not to say that she can't do anything for him, but the guy can't EXPECT her to do stuff. It's a two-way thing; they both do things for one another, not because they have to, but because they want to. Few! Glad I got that off my chest.

Continuing... Link and Zelda are the perfect match because of the level of their maturity and their level of understanding for one another. Due to their past experiances with one another, there's no questioning about whether or not they are close. I believe that Zelda is the closest to Link as Link is to Zelda. For Malon... Well, I think that she'd pretty much go with any guy in shining armour that would come along and sweep her off her feet. Zelda, on the other hand, is strong and independant -- fully capable of looking after herself. Thus, as a result, the relationship would be more fulfilling between Link and Zelda, being that they could soley focus on the other as being a close companion.

Because he's the only who has been with each race in Hyrule and seen things from their viewpoint. He has protected them, he has given back their ways of life (i.e. the Gorons with their food in Dodnogo Cavern), and renews them with Zelda/Sheik when Ganondorf mows them down. Zelda would be a fool not to have Link close to her all the time at the very least as her chief adviser. The chemistry that you see in the now-canon manga is icing on the cake.

Still you have not given me a good enough reason that he has to be romatically involved with Zelda. Its just the rebuilding of Hyrule. That has nothing to do with dictating who Link should be with romantically. I suggest you stick to in game evidence and leave the irrelevant and stupidly biased comic books out of it. Canon or no Canon

Malon is just interested in her way of life, as is Ingo and Talon. They just want peace and an economy to make a living. There is nothing wrong with making a living, but there is something wrong with being stuck in a rut. We see Malon's entanglement with her own life when we first see her in the market - everyone else is doing something, she is singing and when she sees Link, asks him go wake her father for her. I have a strong feeling that since she is the daughter of the man who gives the entire castle staff it's supply of milk that she should be able to go in and wake her father just as easily as Link can.

Again where are you getting these ridiculous assumptions that Malon is self centered. Its the equivalent of me saying that Zelda is a raging alchoholic

In fact, Link's knowledge could possibly save his wife a bit of money for other projects as well

Yes I agree..He can save Malon a lot of money in renovating LonLon ranch

but that she is just the wrong mate for Link.

How do you know Malon is the wrong mate for Link?? Tell me where in the game does it suggest this??

He would not be a "pathetic useless existence" as you state. He would be King - how is that useless? In reply to an earlier statement you have made, Link as King would NOT take all Zelda's duties away from her. I understand that England's monarchy did that as part of their system, but that doesn't mean that it has to apply to Link and Zelda's situation. There are plenty of lesser known monarchies where the king and queen share equal responsibilities in a broad range of departments

So Zelda will just simply make him King overnight?? Please elaborate

Where are you getting this information? This seems to be a basis for a lot of your arguments.

IN GAME EVIDENCE. Have you even played OOT??

I've already stated in another post on another thread that he would NOT be a "freakshow" as you've termed it. What I want to know is how you think that Link could not gain maturity even if he had the mind of a child when he was physically an adult. If we look at the now-canon OoT manga, we see Link making exceptionally difficult decisions early on after his awakening (i.e. the episode with Volvagia, the decision not to become bitter)

Because it makes no logical sense that he can just gain mental maturity out of the blue with no explanation. Again..stick to game evidence. Leave the biased comic books out of it.

But why is Link's "virginity" treasured? I thought it was a woman's virginity that was treasured.

So are you actually saying that Links virginity is not treasured??

But since she is so involved with her way of life as I've established, why would she want to do that? Why wouldn't she want to have the pre-packaged knight in shining white armor, as one of the Gossip Stones next to the Temple of Time stated. And I've always been told that when you marry a man as he is, not for what you can change him to be, and this is because when you marry a man, he believes that he was good enough for you like he is. For Malon to marry Link then try to change him is the recipe for divorce, as seen in our Western society today.

Again...where are you getting these ridiculous assumptions about Malon divorcing Link. I could just turn that around and say Zelda forcing him to be King is a recipe for divorce.

^ I'm going to go respond to this in the Malon thread.

I apologize for getting off topic somehow.

Back on topic: If Link can develop a little more assertiveness and better public speaking skills in OOT(Child Timeline) and TP, he should be enabled to woo Zelda from any random nobleman/knight.

OOT(Adult Timeline) Him being a special needs child with a bizarre fairy hovering above him should motivate some Hyrule Knights to beat the living crap out of him and kick him out of the Castle. Therefore Zelda will just have to settle for marrying a Hyrule nobleman

Yes and no. I'm not saying that Link's virginity isn't treasured, I'm saying that any man's "virginity" isn't treasured. Virginity is something that has been historically associated with women and not with men. Historically speaking, a man's virginity was something to be gotten rid of as early as possible, and a woman's was something that was given to the very highest bidder, to the man who was considered honorable enough to warrant her virginity.

So no, from a historical viewpoint a man's virginity is really worth next to nothing. However, if we come at this from certain spiritual principles - say, Judeo-Christian principles - then the man's virginity is worth the same as the woman's. Take that as you will.

This is a stance that bleeds Oedipal complexity. Tell me, if a regular Hylian Knight can "beat the crap" out of him, as you've said, how could he have aspired to try to tangle with a Gerudo guard, the bosses of each temple, and most of all Ganondorf? Drawing from your conclusions, you are saying that your projection on Link is that of bumbling, mentally incapacitated, useless-to-society character that was just randomly parked in the games - true or no?

>.< Regarding MalonLover's comment... Firstly, you don't even have to visit the ranch in OoT to beat the game. You only need your old friend, the hookshot, to get yourself across the bridge in the valley. Secondly... Why on earth are we talking about virginity? I don't recall nintendo implying to anyone that Link was having intimate relations. >.> *cough* E rated game *cough* However, I do think it should be equal between men and women; why should women be viewed any differently from men when it comes to this topic? Everything should be equal all across the board.

Now...back on topic. For Zelda, I think she would marry someone that has a similar personality to hers, someone that she felt she could relate to. She would have to have someone that would understand that she is very independant so that he wouldn't deprive that of her. Link falls into this very category, so he would be a grand choice.

[QUOTE=Love_of_Zelda,Sep 2 2008, 02:56 AM] [QUOTE]Drawing from your conclusions, you are saying that your projection on Link is that of bumbling, mentally incapacitated, useless-to-society character that was just randomly parked in the games - true or no? [/QUOTE]

YES LOVE OF ZELDA ITS TRUE Seriously though lighten up a little. Its obvious I'm kidding. IMO there is just nothing there for me to believe that Zelda would just relinquish her royal title to a man/child, who by your own admission, has never spoken. Its an insult to Zeldas character that she would allow this to happen, mainly because it makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

BACK ON TOPIC:Zelda should choose a man that DOES NOT have an annoying fairy hovering and twirling around him, and can actually verbally communicate words besides just grunting and sighing.

No, it's not obvious that you are kidding, IMO.

And for goodness sake: Link CAN talk! He just doesn't visibly because we are supposed to be his voice. He talks in MM very clearly to the Deku Princess. And you can see his mouth moving as he's apparently having a conversation with Ilia as he's going to meet Bo in TP.

I can accept he may be quiet, but not incapable of speaking. In terms of competition, Zelda would likely come across many men with words to say. Flattering, arrogant and shallow men would likely be instantly turned down as she's way too smart to fall for that. Link may be a man of few words, but he's a man of depth, honor and courage. She would likely love that about him: she's talkative enough for the two of them anyways! ( and this happens much in real life, to the satisfaction of both quiet man and noisy woman )

The fact of the matter is that Zelda sent Link back to the Child Timeline, thus she more likely ended up marrying a Hyrule nobleman anyway. And IMO, even if Link did stay the result would have been the same for her, and Link would have settled down with the alternate love interest of choice (More likely Malon) during a time of peace and stability in Hyrule. So it makes sense that Link went back to the Child Timeline or else Zelda would have ordered him to stay if she thought she had a chance to be with him romantically.

In TP, maybe but IMO, there isn't much depth to Link except that he is really good in taking orders and being very obedient. His working relationship with Midna is solid proof of this.

Actually, Zelda would not purposefully allow for Link to remain in the alternate timeline as an adult, simply because she feels that she robbed Link of the time that he lost as a child. This portrays that she is a selfless individual who will do whatever it takes to enstill happiness in others, no matter the cost. Link is very much the same. Also, Link, even though Zelda sends him back in time, returns to the castle to see Zelda, and it's not because he HAD to. It's because he wanted to. Another thing that can be argued is the fact that Zelda is the only one that he remembers in MM, being that she is the one that he is the closest to, the one that he connects with spiritually and emotionally. I suppose you could say that they are "soul mates". And finally, in TP, there are some hidden hints that leave a trail leading to the pairing of Link and Zelda. Upon meeting, Zelda catches Link's attention immediately as he most likely is able to sense her personality in his wolf form. That's only one, but I am able to list more scenes if requested.

I agree with Zelda being selfless in sending Link back to the Child Timeline to allow him to mature normally as he was supposed to. But the scene in MM where Link appears with Epona side by side before his departure from Zelda is good indication that he may have a relevant and meaningful friendship with Malon instead of an exclusive one with Zelda only. And since the ending of OOT indicated that the Door of Time was still open, its more plausible that he still remembers his social contact with Malon and even Ruto, and not just exclusively Zelda. But it makes perfect sense that he went back to see Zelda first since it was the last person he saw in the Adult Timeline. But its still not concrete proof that he is destined to be with Zelda always and forever as the MM cutscene of Link leaving Zelda on his own freewill clearly indicated. Perhaps a prophetic hint of another destiny with someone else in the future?? Hmm..makes you think huh??

That "Link left so his relationship with Zelda is questionable" argument seems a bit weak to me. For a gameplay purpose, it's likely as simple as the makers desired to send him on another adventure, but Hyrule's peace would mean another land.
From a romantic standpoint, a relationship that cannot handle some distance and time apart is obviously a weak one to begin with. But Zelda obviously knew that Link needed to go because it was important to him and he was released with faith, and went knowing she believed in him. I really don't think that the trip indicated an end to their relationship or would result in that.

However, as much as Link may now come across temptation in being away from her, the same would happen to Zelda. How easy would it be for her to slip into an Anju-ish, "Did he run off with someone else?" especially if she is alone and some suitors come calling. If Zelda was any less strong and faithful, Link may return to find her with another. Especially if the pressure of being a single female heir came into play. But I believe he would return and she'd still be waiting for him. But there would be no shortage of quality men waiting in the wings for her.

If Link theoretically did leave Zelda again to be with Malon in the future, I believe that they can still maintain their relationship in being great friends and continue to work together in maintaining peace and prosperity throughout the kingdom of Hyrule. With that said, I actually think your opinion is reasonable, but since the Child Timeline ends after MM we can't know for sure who Link ends up with.

Actually, if you think about it, we have an idea of what Link decides to do; being that Zelda is able to foretell things about the future in her prophecies, we have a pretty good idea that Link returns to Hyrule in order to see Zelda. Either that or he was somehow killed tragically and they meet up again in Wind Waker (reincarnations occur after tragic events, and supposedly Link and Zelda are reincarnated in Wind Waker). And the only reason he left Hyrule was because he was searching for Navi. At the end of MM, however, I believe he makes the attempt to return home, to Hyrule. Another thing is that after experiancing certain things from his adventure, he most likely wouldn't be able to "settle down" and live on the ranch with Malon, simply because he would always try to look at Hyrule as a whole in order to protect its peace and harmony. Therefore maintaining a relationship with Zelda while being the highest rank of knights would probably be Link's best bet.

Maybe, but since MM concludes the timeline there is no real closure on this subject of debate on who Link ends up with. There are even theorists that believe that he remained in Termina to hook up with Romani, which is obviously more LinkxMalon than LinkxZelda. But I guess we are just stuck on theorizing and debating about this with no real closure ever happening anytime soon. All I know is that MM cutscene of Link leaving with Epona as Zelda sadly watches him go is one of my fave cutscenes.