SCENE IN THE SKY, Was Link madly in LOVE??

I'm kind of torn on this because there are several sides saying similar but completely different things. Some are very disturbing.

My take is that Link was not in love with Zelda in the scene in the sky and just seemed to be more in love with Zelda in terms of emotional attachment. With that said, I think the emotional attachment Link developed with Zelda in OOT is strong enough for him to possibly fall in love with Zelda in the theoretical future of the Child Timeline as an adult matured normally.

Given the fact that OOT Link was in a state of arrested development for 7 years in the Adult Timeline, there is nothing there for me to believe that he was capable of developing romantic feelings for anyone, including Zelda. Emotional attachment yes but not romantic love associated with sexual yearnings. OOT Link in the game just seemed to be just blindly following orders as a polite and obedient child would do with responsible adults throughout the entire quest. The final scene in the sky was further proof of this.

Thoughts, Opinions??

First, I would suggest that "madly in love," "in love romantically," and "just emotionally attached" have better definitions. It is very easy to argue that they are all one and the same definition - just different phrases.

Frankly, I don't know why this topic is being brought up, because MalonsLover will not listen to my point of view - or to any Zelinkers - no matter what. To Zelinkers, the point is moot as to whether Link and Zelda were romantically involved/attached/in love/ready to be married/etc in this particular scene.

However, the scene where Link returns to Zelda in the very end of the game sealed the matter for me, a Zelinker would understand exactly what was going on.

For me, it was the cloud scene that sealed the deal as to whether or not Zelink was the intended couple in the game. The emotion is so thick in that scene that you can cut it with a knife.

For me, it was the cloud scene that sealed the deal as to whether or not Zelink was the intended couple in the game. The emotion is so thick in that scene that you can cut it with a knife.

I thought it was a combination of both: the scene in the sky struck me as the culmination of ALL the feeling in the game. Their time as children, Zelda meeting Link as Sheik with their duets ( music can carry a huge amount of emotion ), and Link charging off to storm Ganondorf's fortress after she was brazenly taken before his eyes. Everything led up to the moment in the sky...the elated feeling, floating in the sky with the camera circling them...it was like they were the only two people in the whole world. That was definately romantic...all these explanations in an attempt to dismiss it...I think they just fall flat in the face of that emotion.

However, I don't think the scene in the sky would have been complete without the last scene of the game. It was terribly sad to see Link get sent back...you can even see one shot where the player ( Link ) appears to be looking at Zelda, and his eyes stay on her as he begins to be pulled away...that was a lovely way to communicate his feelings about leaving her. But anyways...I recall a person saying, "If you let something go and it returns to you, it was and always will be yours." Seeing Link return in the face of time and regained youth was the most beautiful thing of all. I think THAT speaks for the romance even more powerfully.

Well written Gilderpilot. I agree that the EMOTION with what they had been through, whether together or seperated, during the OOT adventure is a very good recipe for the possibility of romance and marriage in the future of the Child Timeline as adults. The scene in the sky seemed to indicate that for me at least.

Despite my forever annoyance with Link doing something different than what I would have done, its easy to believe that Link had developed a deep enough emotional attachment to Zelda for possible romance in the future Child Timeline. But to me, Link seemed to be more like a child obeying his mommy in that whole scene looking confused and bewildered by what was going on.

I'm just puzzled with people from other forums implying that OOT Link already had adult feelings for Zelda in the scene in the sky because it seems to attribute Link with characteristics that go against his pure and innocent personality. If Link was like a normal teen he probably would have expressed a romantic desire to stay with Zelda in the Adult Timeline. At least thats what I would have done if I were Link. And I also got a sense that Zelda was deeply saddened in a way that Link actually obeyed her like a good little boy. Kind of like the whole "when a woman says YES she means NO" type of thing that Link just didn't seem to catch on. But in his child like mental condition Zelda did the right thing and sent him back to the Child Timeline for the possibility of realistic romance to happen between them in the future of that particular timeline.

Yes..as a Malon shipper, I hope Link and Zelda just remain very close friends with Zelda only comforting and nurturing Link as a motherly type best friend. But who knows what happens after MM. But I accept that the scene in the sky seems to be the start of something special in the future CT. Whether thats just a very close friendship or a hot passionate marriage for Link and Zelda who knows.

You are missing something: Love in it's truest form IS exceedingly pure. Even the physical aspect is pure in that setting. It doesn't go against Link's character at all
nor Zelda's.

He did to a certain degree. He hesistated when she asked the Ocarina back. He locked eyes with her as he was pulled away. And finally, he headed straight back to her when he became a child again. If that doesn't communicate his desire to stay with her, I don't know what will.
And before anyone says, "Why didn't he kiss her and refuse!", contemplate this key thing. Link can't do that. Why not? Because he's only a vessel for the player. If he did something so blatant, he'd break that "link". They can get away with the other things because they are minor or can be interpreted in another way...but not something so obvious as Link kissing her or such.

OR he did catch on, but did it regardless because he loved Zelda. Loved her enough to let her assuage her guilt by sending him back.

You make a good point on the breaking the Link thing. Its just to this day I still have that angst as to "why didn't he just stay with her!!" ARRGHH!!. No normal young heterosexual adult male would have done what he did. Going back to being a child when he obviously could have appeased Zelda and stayed with her?? Thats why it seemed to me that Link reacted more like a sweet and innocent child than a realistic young teen/adult IMO. That reluctant pause seemed to say more like "Uhhh...OK Zelda...anything you say". Hence Link's predictable one dimensional obedience that he is popularly known for thats consistent with his inherently annoying naive innocence.

I guess the whole scene in the sky had that purity feel of "the best things come to those who wait" type of theme. With Links infamous childish blind obedience in returning the Ocarina to Zelda with the Zelda's lullaby backdrop music. It seemed to embody Link as the ideal archetype of the pure hearted hero with the soul of a gentle cherub innocently floating away back to the CT with his pristine & unsoiled sweet virginity completely intact. GGRRRR!! For shame on Link passing up a golden opportunity like that. To choose to return as a visually annoying pint sized forest child over being with Adult Zelda?? Not very manly if you ask me. But I guess if Link had stayed with Zelda in the AT, I wouldn't have joined the darkside to become a Malinker.

She likely did want him to stay...she just oozed sadness at sending him back. However if there's one thing to recognize about Zelda, it's that she'll always do what she feels is right, regardless of her personal feelings. She felt she was doing the right thing to atone for the wrong she had unintentionally done Link: dragging him into a horrible future and causing him to miss out on his youth.

If you want to see Link act like a realistic teen: go read the ending of the Adult Chapters Manga. He argues with her when she states her intention to send him back, only stopping when he realizes how upset she is. ( And he's making it worse ) Note: I don't want to hear any "the manga's not canon!" You'll be wasting your breath in saying or explaining it. It's an opportunity to see Link act like a real person instead of the hollow vessel he must be in game.

Not very manly? I quote the manga.

*Link has knelt and put his hand over his heart* "I am the Hero of Time. No matter where, no matter when, for the sake of Hyrule and you Princess Zelda, I shall fight."

I know few women out there who can resist such a declaration.

And why on earth would Zelda sending Link back turn you into a Malinker? Link still remembers and has all his feelings ( or memories of feelings ) for Zelda. He's not going to run off to another girl if he loves Zelda. If you are a Malinker, it's because of your own desire for her, not any real indication Link deeply loved her.

Thats why I'm intrigued with the OOT Manga. Based on what you have been telling me, Link's personality probably fits more to how I imagine Link being grown up in the Child Timeline. Mandy had recommended me to this website to read it online but apparantly it had already been removed to correspond with the mangas official release in the USA. I've been told that Malon is potrayed as a shallow and superficial airhead to purposely eliminate her from Links affections but I'm cool with it. I'd still like to read the OOT and MM mangas anyway.

I'm pretty sure that Link's personality is more appealing in the mangas than the one in the games who appears to be a clueless idiot that I would like to see beat up or tortured to death. But yeah...I used to be a Zelinker when I was a kid cheering for Link to hook up with Zelda when I played OOT for the first time on the N-64. But after all that hard work he totally blows it. Thats why I'm not surprised with all the Link is gay theories that spawned from the scene in the sky. Of course I never supported the gay theory, so I'm more comfortable with OOT Link being labeled as the inept and clueless eternal virgin with the creepy blank stare on his silly looking face theory.

Not surprised it's been removed, it would be violating copyright I would think. At least they will be cheap enough.

I actually had no problem with Malon's portrayal, I thought it was bang on. Her child version is cheerful, friendly and extroverted...exactly how I saw her in game. Her adult version has somewhat unrealistic daydreams...but they even say in game that she dreams of a knight. ( Prince in the manga ) So that aspect of her is not without cause. Aside from that she's feisty, outgoing and mostly cheerful.

As for her personality turning him off...it wasn't her. It was the fact he was already in love with Zelda that made him pay no attention to Malon that way. He was completely nice and friendly to Malon, he just didn't return any romantic feelings.

He's clueless and doesn't respond because he can't. If he does, he no longer is us. They want us to react in his place...they want the player to feel sad and want to return to Zelda...and then they took a chance by showing him doing it.

True...I agree. Its just the OOT ending was never the traditional hero gets the girl type of ending that I wanted. The whole Child Link returning to Zelda seemed more to suggest that Link was more concerned in seeking out Zelda to fulfill his yearning for MATERNAL love and affection. Not ROMANTIC love and affection. Just as Saria did for Link in being the comforting/nurturing best friend in helping him feel wanted and loved as a lonely orphan/social outcast in growing up in the Kokiri forest. To me the ending represented Zelda taking up that motherly best friend role from Saria IMO. But as you said it still bodes well for possible romance in the theoretical future of the CT, but at this point we can never know for sure as we don't see Link returning to Hyrule at the end of MM. I'd like to believe that he did though. BTW...does the manga show Link and Zelda kissing or hugging at all?? Its OK...feel free to spoil me.

Saria was also a romantic interest, but she was eliminated. If you don't believe it was romantic, consider this quote. "Saria will always be....your friend" ( please don't make explain that one ) as well as Mido's begrudged remark to Adult Link. "Saria....really...liked him"
As far as I am concerned, that's a flat out confirmation of her as a romantic interest, just it was eliminated by him growing up and her becoming a Sage.

This motherly thing keeps coming up...I have one thing to say. Link and Zelda are a Hero who rescues a beautiful Princess, and they ARE the same age. He's not going to see her as his mother and she's not going to actually think he's her child.

Yup, the manga shows it once, and nearly twice. Zelda kisses him on the cheek as a child ( he goes crazy ) and when they reunite as adults after her explanation of being Sheik, Link is about to embrace her when Ganondorf snatches her away.

I can see Saria being attracted to Link as an adult, but I don't see Link returning the favor for very obvious reasons. The motherly thing between Link and Zelda comes from how the game itself made me feel in their very non romantic relationship. Especially with the scene in the sky with Link being a good little boy and obeying mommy Zelda in giving back the Ocarina.

Believe me...its not how I wanted to feel about their relationship, its just Link's personality in the game really felt to me that he was literally a child trapped in a mans body. But at least the Manga kind of seems to address this and actually gives Link a more likeable personality thats not as annoying as the one in the game. But I'm rather shocked that Link actually argues with Zelda. I can see him maybe arguing with Malon every other blue moon, but not Zelda. Anyway..the Manga seems like an interesting read.

The thing you seem to be missing is that, yes, Link was "frozen" mentally at the age of 10, but both he and Zelda were mature for their age. And then waking up to find that the world has literally gone to hell, and that he's the only one who can fix it, that kind of think makes a person grow up pretty damn fast.

And while Zelda was up and around for those seven years, disguised as Sheik, she certainly didn't have a normal childhood. I'm pretty sure having to watch your world, your kingdom turn into a living nightmare does not make for a good growing environment.

Of course, if we go by the manga, which said that Impa sealed Zelda's consciousness and replaced it with Sheik's, then in that regard both Link and Zelda stopped growing emotionally at the same time. That being the case, they would have been the same age, both physically and mentally, during that scene in the clouds.

I've no desire to debate this point. So I'm asking it out of pure curiosity.

I've read around here a lot that Saria was eliminated as a love interest because she became a sage. Why doesn't this eliminate Zelda? She became the leader of the sages. Saria is eliminated in the child timeline for obvious reasons. But I am simply curious as to why Saria's being a sage automatically excludes her, whereas it doesn't for Zelda?