I hate Midna

I think Dark LinkxZelda is the best pairing hands down. Zelda needs a real man in her life not Link. But when it comes to Midna true I agree with the already mentioned similar comparisons to Navi and Tatl for sure. But we have to remember that OOT/MM Link has the heart and mind of a child. TP Link has the heart and mind of a teenage boy, so more likely his feelings were more romantic for Midna than OOT/MM Link's child like emotional attachment to Navi.

I'm sorry...but a real man? I know of few men that are manlier than Link...there's a reason he has women flocking around him. This whole idea of macho, tough men that can't show emotion or listen to women...it's garbage. Anyways, carrying on:

As much as I like Zelda, I like Midna too. But only because Midna IS essentially Zelda. I think the reason Midna was eliminated in the end was because of this...they couldn't have two princesses running around.

I only meant Dark Link is probably more of a man than Link. Anyway I was just kidding. But I sort of agree with you. I just believe Midna was eliminated to give the Zelda and Illia fans some hope. If you want to believe that Link will stay loyal and true to Midna thats fine but the very open interpretation of TP is anyones guess. Despite TP being the most non LinkxZelda game of all time Zelda still has a chance. But it seems Link would have to go through a lot of adjustments in adapting to courtly protocol and actually growing up to be a man personality wise. Then I believe Link can woo Zelda but it would probably be over an extended period of time before the relationship can grow from the dreaded formal aquaintances. But TP LinkxZelda still has a chance.

*stares at MalonsLover* You're bashing Link again. If I have to ask you again not to, I'll suspend your posting ability for two weeks. I'm tired of having to ask you the same thing over and over. Just because you say you're 'just kidding' doesn't make it okay. You know saying something like that is going to upset people here, and that's exactly why you're saying it.

Just because Link isn't an arrogant jerk/snot who's full of himself and feels the need to continually prove his manhood doesn't mean he isn't manly. Freak.

Anyway. I liked Midna, but she had to leave. They made it clear throught the game that people from the Twilight Realm and the Realm of Light weren't meant to exist in the same world. Not only that, but Link wouldn't have been able to really live in Midna's world anymore than she could live in Hyrule. She's needed in her world to rule and lead her people.

For some reason Midna reminds me of Ruto with a bossy domineering ruler type personality. IMO LinkxMidna was never built to last long term anyway with clashing personalities and the long distance aspect that you mentioned.

She certainly was bossy and domineering at the beginning, which is why her growth as a character througout the game - and catalyzed by Zelda's sacrificial death - was so poignant. I should think that Midna's initial unlikability was intentional because they wanted to demonstrate a growth pattern, which is common in fairytale motifs, which was the entire series of LoZ is about. Quite frankly, it could be easily argued that Midna is "the other side of the coin" to Zelda, meaning that Zelda and Midna were one spirit and two different bodies (with the exception of Zelda releasing her spirit into Midna's halfway through the game). It comes down to the yin-yang argument, which would make good sense since LoZ comes out of Japan. Dark Link and Link can also be talked about in the yin-yang sense.

Hm I have to honestly admit I wasn't a great big huge fan of Midna. Her attitude really bothered me, how she was always so nonchalant about things. But then I think she rather grew on me the more I played TP. I think her attitude really gave her more character. Made her seem multifaceted. I honestly don't think she was anything like she was when Link met her prior to TP. There had to be something about her that made her appealing to the other Twili. Otherwise, I think they would have rejected her too.

And I really think Link and Midna grew to have something. Maybe it was more than a friendship, maybe it wasn't. I don't really know for sure. But I do know that if Link did love Midna, I don't think he would settle for anybody else. Not even Zelda, even if she is the light version of Midna. I think that would be the same as settling for an identical twin because the other doesn't want/can't be with you. It's unfair to all involved you know? I would want Link to be with Zelda because he loves her as an individual. Not because she reminds him of the girl he can't have, ya know?

I agree 100% on that one. He may be attracted to Zelda for the similarities, but he should love Zelda for being herself and not a shadow of his past love.

I don't intend to be a wiseass, but I'd like to point out that Tao (+ ying/yang-symbol) is a Chinese religion. This doesn't mean the developers didn't mean it that way, though. Many take influences from foreign cultures and religions.

Yeah..I totally agree on the yin yang references when it comes to Zelda and Midna, Dark Link and Good Link. Since the mirror shattered we can never know if the LinkxMidna relationship would have been a long term or short term romantic relationship. But I am sure Link would be going through a period of heartbreak and would need to confide in someone for comfort and its definitely not TP Zelda. Sure Zelda would be the one Link needs to go to for stoicly sage wisdom and guidance in being the chosen Hero of Hyrule. But in matters of the heart, TP Link would more likely find solace with Illia due to the closer childhood friendship/relationship with her.

With that said I still believe that the closer friendship does not always guarantee romance/mariage. As you know I use this POV to support Malon over OOT Zelda and ironically its the same POV I use for TP Zelda over Illia. Anyway I agree with that TP Link should love Zelda for herself and not because she reminds him of Midna. Thats rather shallow if you ask me for Link to force himself to love Zelda as a substitute for the love he shared with Midna IMO.

I don't think that's necessarily the case. Zelda and Link have been through the same things, even if for a short period of time in Zelda's own body. She was beside him through half of his adventures inside Midna, too. Even though they're not the closest people in the TP universe, I don't see why they couldn't open up to each other and support the other in time of need.

Once Link and Zelda go from formal aquaintances to at least becoming friends you might be right. At the moment, I just don't get the sense that Link has a closer emotional bond with Zelda as he does with Illia and Midna at all.

He likes her, he finds her wise, selfless, beautiful. But I think he also loves her as his princess, as the ''official'' protector of Hyrule. He'll need to spend more time with her (knowing it's her, mind you) in order to fall in love.
If anything happens between TP Link and Zelda, that'll be the hottest couple in Hyrule. Tee-hee.

Rationally I have to use a lot of imagination to actually see them hook up, but when reason isn't invited to my party, they both look awesome together.
And we all already know they do enjoy each other's company anyway. That's a good start.

As for Dark Link being a real man, it's funny because I only see him as a shadow. A personality-less anti-person compared to the fun, teasing Midna.
All I can see him think is ''muah-ha, kill. Muah-ha-ha!''
It's just the thought of Midna being Zelda's ''shadow self'' that made me make the link (no pun intended), but Dark Link is truly not good enough for Midna.
She'll get bored with that guy, lmao!

I've tried to play the reverse Zelda's Lullaby on my ocarina (well, I've limited myself to the first 3 notes, I was busy), and by James, you're right! I don't think all those points are mere coincidences!
I've never seen Midna that way until now. I've seen similarities with Zelda, but I never thought about those other conclusions!

Considering that Zelda is the only other person who can understand the loss of Midna, it's not farfetched that Link would confide in her about it. Losing Midna would hurt both of them- Zelda and Midna were unbelievably close for a long time, their spirits as one. Not to mention that Zelda is the only other person who really understands what occured in Hyrule.

Hmm. I suppose it's not fair to say that *if* he loved Midna ( I think he fell for her ) that he'd automatically love Zelda. That's the same logic as saying, "Link felt warm and fuzzy when Cremia hugged him, so therefore he'd feel the same if Malon did it."
Obviously my POV on that one is clear: different circumstances make different people...and loving is loving the person, not the appearance.

That's not to say the potential isn't there...pertaining to Midna and Zelda ( I'm not interested in starting a debate on Malon, just using that as an example ) they share common beliefs, interests and much more...just to their own respective kingdoms. If he loved that in Midna, he *may* find it in Zelda.

That's an excellent point. Link is bound to be feeling aimless and broken up over losing Midna who was certainly a solid friend, if not a love. He shared a great adventure with her..that likely brought them together. Meanwhile, him and Ilia grew apart...I can't see Link confiding in her about the circumstances of his adventure, and he could never tell her how he felt about Midna....she'd rightly feel threatened, most woman would.
Anyways...Zelda is wise, warm, caring and understanding...this could lead into more. He would probably come to a place of realizing how comfortable he'd be with her in being himself.

Without a doubt the potential of TP LinkxZelda is there. But it seems it would take some time for TP Link to mature from a teenage boy to a man that Zelda would probably start taking him seriously as a love interest IMO. Link as he is in the game seems to be that he would be too much in awe of Zelda's beauty for her to take him seriously as a realistic boyfriend at the moment.

Its weird because I get the impression that TP Zelda is not as interested in Link as OOT Zelda is in her Link. And TP Link, based on his boyish reactions when other females interract with him, probably would have a big crush on Zelda. In contrast to OOT Link who seems emotionally indifferent and aloof when interracting with females. Nonetheless IMO OOT/MM LinkxZelda still has a better chance than TP LinkxZelda, but the TP ones still have potential as you said.

BTW I totally agree on Illia probably reacting bad on Link if he were to mention Midna to her. Its just Illia fans like to use the same CLOSER FRIENDSHIP arguement that Zelinkers use for OOT. But what about these rumors on Midnas return on a potential sequel to TP?? Surely this will draw rage from the Zelda and Illia fans alike if these rumors became true.