The Toon games are overall pretty expressive, so I think it makes Link and Zelda's signs of affection more apparent. (I'm kinda sad he didn't show WW Link's reaction to that final Tetra wink. He looked so pleased to be fighting alongside her)
In botw, if you complete all of his quests, Kass mentions how his teacher had feeling for Zelda, but she rejected him because she only had eyes for her knight
Also in Totk, if you visit Links house in Hateno Village (idk if it’s Hateno Village) , it is implied that Zelda also lives there due to her diary and workstation being there, and in that house that Link and Zelda both presumably live in. There is only one bed.
I think you missed the point of Zelda and Link's relationship in BotW. While they had a lousy relationship toward the beginning because of Link's silence and Zelda's insecurity, they soon developed a strong bond after realizing how much they had in common until they became each other's number one comfort. Heck, Kass even noted that Zelda was in love with Link, and in his Japanese Diary, Link mentions that his main reason for defeating Ganon was to see Zelda smile again. There are also other instances where Link mentions how much he wants to impress Zelda and thinks she's beautiful. On the subject of Paya and Mipha, though, the former mentions how she believes that Link is in love with Zelda and that if he is, he'll give her full support. Meanwhile, while not explicitly stated, it's hinted that Mipha's feelings are actually unrequited or Link, in the past, simply didn't know she felt that way for him. She even mentions how she feels like he's staring past her when they're together, and he denies talking about his fears with her when he did so with Zelda, according to her diary.
@@Llortnerof Having both BotW and TotK seperately doesn't make sense to me. HOWEVER, I think there's an argument to include Age of Calamity as its own entry, as the timeline shenanigans could seriously mess with the character dynamics (Mipha is still alive, Paya doesn't exist because we're still "in the past," Link and Zelda don't bond over all their loved ones dying, etc.) I don't have a strong argument for it, but personally I'd like to think Link & Zelda are a couple in the canon timeline, while Mipha finally works up the courage to get with Link post-AOC. -AOC Zelda only has eyes for the robot anyways-
@@DoctorFalchion I'm not sure Link would still accept in AOC since in that timeline the description of the Zora Armor is that it's probably okay to wear this which doesn't give me a lot of confidence that Link returned Mipha's feelings at all. Personally, I believe that Link feelings for Mipha are purely familial and he's only ever seen her as an older sister, given King Dorephan's quote about how growing up Mipha only saw Link as a little brother until he grew up.
@@annieandelsieofarendelle3294check the Japanese Breath of the Wild and Age of Calamity journal entries. It's very crystal clear that Link loved Mipha romantically
I haven't played it either. Phantom Hourglass is the only Zelda game I ever outright quit playing. Spirit Tracks reminds me of that one. Are the controls different between the two?
@@trajectoryunowndo you mean the touch controls? Overall, Spirit Tracks hiked up the quality in every single area; music, story and world building, little graphical details, you name it. But, you do still have to control Link with a stylus. In my experience it was less cumbersome moving Link around without the implied controls assigned to a fairy tho.
@@trajectoryunownive played both, the spirit track controls were made to be a little easier but still use the touch screen. personally i like the phantom hourglass controls better lol
Link did not become a stalfos in MM. The link you see in TP is a spirit, he lived his life, became a knight, but had regrets because no-one remembered what he did, and needed to pass on his knowledge. The Link in TP is his direct decendant.
OoT Link does not go off into the forest, dies, and becomes a Stalfos. The Hero's Shade is a literal shapeshifting specter, not a reanimated cursed skeleton. He's even translucent so I don't know why people are STILL parroting Matpat's stupid theory. On top of all of that, he has a descendant by blood (TP Link) but you're right, he probably ended up with Malon given TP Link's upbringing, Epona being a one of a kind horse canonically, and dirtier blonde hair compared to his ancestor OoT Link. There's a lot of subtle hints towards it.
Probably because the theory and the evidence don't contradict each-other. There's nothing stopping him from having a kid with Malon, then having a reason to, say, go to the Forest Temple, and die along the way.
@@CoralCopperHead There is no reason for him to ever go into the Forest Temple within the Child Timeline. The contradiction is pretty blatant. A Stalfos is a reanimated skeleton, the Hero's Shade literally has "shade" in his name.
@@wanko7130With the sages being awakened in Twilight Princess its highly likely that Link still went to all the temples, including the Forest Temple, during the time after Majoras Mask.
@@erikfaru9780 They're clearly not the same Sages as the ones from Ocarina of Time. In fact, they were probably the Sages from Rauru's era so I doubt there was even a need for the Hero of Time to even do that.
@@wanko7130 We never saw who the sages from Twilight Princess were supposed to be as they clearly left their bodies behind, just like the sages in the adult timeline did, becoming these white, faceless, ghost like figures. We also never saw if the sages from Twilight Princess were or were not awakened between Majoras Mask and Twilight Princess. But its highly unlikely that the sages from Twilight Princess are supposed to be the ancient sages and Rauru. This wouldnt even make sense because it would imply that the ancient sages are also still alive in the adult timeline, defeating the point of having to awaken new sages. And the game never states that Ganondorf killed the sages, like he did in Wind Waker, but only that he corrupted the temples which again sounds like there were no sages who could have defended them. To me it just sounds likely that when Ganondorf waged war on Hyrule, before they captured and executed him, he would have corrupted the temples, just like in the adult timeline, and this would mean that Link, or someone else, would have to awaken new sages again. They dont necessarily have to be the exact same ones as in the adult timeline but they would have to be awakened somewhere in that time for them to later appear in Twilight Princess. In the end all we both said are just speculations, we don't really know what really happened or who they really are.
Regarding OOT "absolutely not" - This might not be canon, but no one, not even the game creators themselves, will ever convince me that Link and Zelda are not brother and sister in that game. 1. The Honey/Darling couple tell each other that they are as handsome as the King, and as beautiful as the 7-year-old princess (?), so the Queen is out of the picture. 2. Link's mother brought him as a baby to the Deku tree before dying during the Hyrule Civil War 3. "Only members of the royal family" can learn this song. (This comes up way too often to not mean something!)
6:35 as a spirit tracks gamer, I can confirm Link took a full on bitchslap just to protect Zelda and there are countless other cute scenes with the 2 of them! ^^
2:08 Wrong. He becomes a knight of Hyrule as an adult and has a child canonically. He is also not a Stalfos, he's a Big Poe. He literally has the same transparent rotting skin texture as the Big Poes in Arbiter's Grounds. But TP Link is canonically his descendant, and is very obviously NOT royal blood. In fact it's implied OoT Link marries Malon, and based on the location of Ordon Village compared to ToT, it may even be that Ordon Village was built around Lon Lon Ranch. 2:52 It's implied by the Royal Guard Trainee Uniform literally being WW Link's outfit that Link either married Tetra and became the First King of New Hyrule or became captain of the Royal Guard, though based on how only a handful of Hylians got to new Hyrule at that time and Link and Tetra are the only Crew Members other than Niko around the same age, it's almost guaranteed that WW Link and Zelda got together. I also suspect that Spirit Tracks Link is Aryl's grandson due to the fact he's not in the Royal Family (though does work closely with them), and the fact he's identical to WW Link. FS and Minish Cap Zelda I would put in Probably. "Absolutely" should only be for ones we have confirmation or heavy implications they start dating in some capacity. Wind Waker, Skyward Sword, and BotW are the only three we basically can guarantee get with their Zeldas. 5:17 I think the implications is that Link would have gotten with Midna if she kept the Mirror of Twilight in tact, but with her gone permanently I think Nintendo kinda pushed that he gets with Illia. 9:13 What's funny is that had Mipha survived the calamity Link almost certainly would have ended up with HER rather than Zelda, but TotK Zelda literally shares a bed with Link. 10:33 I'm pretty sure it's implied Cartoon Link and Zelda are married by their appearances in Captain N: The Game Master. 11:04 CDI Zelda would be in Absolutely Not, honestly. She's kind of a bitch and Link is really annoying about wanting a Kiss from Zelda. The relationship as a result is VERY one-sided, which could be said about Cartoon Zelda too, but she does have moments where she and Link have really cute moments, and are either Dating or Married by the time of Captain N.
8:34 what?! The entire plot of that game is Lana wants Link but Link is going to get together with Zelda. And the end of the game is her accepting that the two of them were meant to be and are absolutely going to get together. The game's own story confirms that Hyrule Warriors Zelda absolutely gets with Hyrule Warriors Link!
I agree with this list. Weird how, on your reasoning for TotK, you neglected to mention the fact that Zelda moved into Link’s house! lol Also how she had a secret study built so she could plan a surprise present for him.
This is incorrect. Link does not live there in TotK. No one in Hateno recognizes him, not even the woman who regularly cleans the place. Also, Bolson, the guy who sold the house, does not recognize Link. In the canon version of BotW, Link does not buy it; it's just Zelda's house.
Quick personal headcanon for Spirit Tracks. I always rationalized that Link and Tetra got together, eventually giving us Zelda of New Hyrule, obviously. But that the Hero of Trains Link was also a descendant of Aryll (WW Link’s sister) and that they’re just like cousins that are also besties after the adventure is finished.
There's a considerable timeskip between them anyway, where the events of Wind Waker have faded into legend. So even if both were descendants of the Hero of Wind and Tetra, they may be distantly enough related that Link is not considered part of the royal family. Alternately, he's could be completely unrelated, since neither the Triforce nor the Master Sword have any relevance to the story.
@@Llortnerof I mean sure there’s been a timeskip but not anywhere near close to where it would have faded into myth. The events of The Wind Waker still exist within living memory because the character Nico, a member of Tetra’s crew, is still alive to witness the events of Spirit Tracks. Yes he could be completely unrelated, and due to the timeline that is the only way I can see that working out romantically.
@@Alpha121198 I don't think that's meant to be the same Nico. Just an identical descendant. New Hyrule is far to established for the timeline you suggest.
Spirit Tracks is arguably the only game where any sort of romance is confirmed (or heavily hinted at). They have incredible chemistry, constantly blush when near each other, and then they hold hands at the end!!! That's not just a small peck on the cheeks or fluttering their eyes at each other, that is HARD FACTS! Best Zelda game for a reason.
The weird thing is that NES Link is destined to become king after the events of Zelda II. So the question really becomes, does he get with Zelda 1 Zelda or Sleeping Zelda?
Yeah, and isn't Sleeping Zelda technically Zelda 1 Zelda's grandma? I'd have to re-read the historia, but I thought it was something convoluted like that.
Great to see Spirit Tracks getting #1 here. I've played the game and it's honestly an underrated gem. It certainly has the closest relationship between Link and Zelda out of all the games since they're companions throughout it, and the player even gets to control and play as Zelda for parts of it. It's one of my favorite aspects of the game! Nice video; it brought up a lot of fun facts I didn't know about, too!
As a zelink propagandist and romantic at heart, here’s why I believe your “absolutely nots” actually do have a lot of potential. TP: They both were the only two who knew Midna and would understand each other after everything. At the end of the game, we see Link leaving Ordon, presumably to become a knight under Zelda like every other Link before him. It’s kinda their whole thing, he’s Hylia’s protector and she’s the blood of the goddess. It’s why he struggles when Zelda is possessed, because even though they don’t know each other, he knows in his soul who she is. Now you bring up Ilia but I just think it’s friendship that only could have been more if he hadn’t been the Hero. Next, people love to bring up Midna as if she didn’t sever the ties between Hyrule and the twilight realm at the end. It’s impossible that they ended up together, even if we assume they did have an attraction to each other (and that’s up to interpretation). Personally, I think Midna would be happy that her friends found solace and company with each other. Then, the scene when Zelda bows to him is such an impactful scene because she’s the *princess*. Again, she knows him even if they’re strangers in this life. Obviously he could’ve ended up with anybody, their relationship is certainly underdeveloped in that game, yet I don’t believe that there’s nothing there. I just like them 💗 but you don’t have to, of course, just sharing my two cents! I know I’m not changing minds, especially about these two, but that’s my interpretation. OoT Zelink was my first ship, ever since I was like 7 so I do disagree with you there too. I know Malon x Link is a popular fan theory that people love to act like it’s canon when it’s not, there’s a lot of evidence against them. Like Hero’s Shade being a high rank knight, his grave in the castle grounds, TP Link isn’t the owner of the ranch, he’s the only Hylian in Ordon and him knowing Epona’s song just means he has ties to the past hero because that song was important to OoT Link because of Epona, not Malon #horsegirl. Like sure it could be but honestly even if it is, I don’t really care about them. Malon is a cute character, but she’s not a deep or interesting one. OoT Link spends his time looking for Zelda, interacting with her as Sheik, and caring about her. Their relationship is the one that matters there so even if theirs is a tragic love story, that’s the one I ship the most. Also, the fact that she shows up in Majora’s Mask only to say that she feels like she’s known him forever, will never forget him and can’t wait to see him again. The games definitely point to how impactful they were to each other. Oh and for BotW, that whole game is about their love story. They go from duty bound to the only ones who understand each other to Link dying for her, Zelda sacrificing herself for him, her waiting 100 years and then Link wanting to see her smile once more. That’s why we got that “weird” Zelda smile at the end, because that’s what Link wished to see once more since the minute he understood what happened 😅 To me, Zelink was always real and SS and its manga made it even more canon that they are two souls bound for eternity to meet and love each other 😊 that’s why it’s called The Legend of Zelda and why Link does what he does every game. It’s all part of Hylia’s plan!
This was a well thought out argument. Kudos! Hearing your thoughts on OoT Zelink, I think you have a great point. I'd probably keep them kinda low personally, but probably one tier up. Thank you for the insightful discussion.
Zelink in OoT/MM is literally impossible for a very simple reason: The Hero of Twilight isn't royalty or even nobility. There's only about a hundred years between OoT/MM and TP so there's no way for the Hero of Twilight to have fallen that far in status. People headcanon that the Hero of Time hooked up with Malon simply because it makes the most sense. It's either her or some rando.
@@Zelenal Except we can headcanon a million and one reasons why they could have had children with different people and then come back together. Or we can even say someone stole a royal baby a la Rapunzel and that’s why TP Link is in Ordon. That’s just as valid. There’s also actually no real evidence in game that TP and OoT are related by blood. That came after in a book that is not actually canon (official =/= canon). They’re written by the same people who did the manga and only approved by Nintendo, which the mangas also are. It has it’s fair share of inconsistencies. OoT Link and Zelda have sweet moments together that sets them up for building a relationship. As Sheik eloquently puts it, “Time passes, people move. Like a river's flow, it never ends. A childish mind will turn to noble ambition. Young love will become deep affection.” Plus, they have their destiny and ancestors that bind them together forever. Malon x Link don’t have any of that. People who headcanon them usually had a crush on Malon themselves or think that Link deserves a “quiet life”, which is also a self fulfilling wish. It’s similar to the people who ship Sidon x Link. They self insert, rather than following through with the story. Nintendo wants people to come up with their own narrative, which is why we have the open world games now. You can interact with as much or as little with the story as you’d like. It’s completely valid. But Link and Zelda are canonically the couple since the 80s.
i don't agree with twilight princess only because, isn't link 17? as to keep in line with the "links are always under 18 technically" rule? and i thought zelda was also an adult so that would make it a little strange lol. but i don't think her age was officially confirmed or anything, probably just dubbed as 'young adult'.
@@chibimena Just to further back your stance on OoT ZeLink, a couple things: 1. Glad you brought up the fact that TP Link is the only Hylian in Ordon Village, not many fans realize this; he couldn't have originated there, but we don't then otherwise know where he came from. He could still be descended from royalty as even in real life, there are plenty of people who are descended from royalty who fell into obscurity due to their ancestors not being close enough to inherit any royal title. The Hero's Shade (also assuming he is OoT Link; only Hyrule Historia outright says this, not the games) does refer to a common bloodline between him and TP Link, but it doesn't necessarily mean that TP Link and OoT Link are direct descendants; they could just have familial relations. 2. There really are a lot of scenes in OoT that show how much of a connection OoT Link and Zelda had that I think get overlooked. As you mentioned, their interactions while Zelda is Sheik consistently shows Link trying to get closer her, and Sheik only leaves because she can't reveal herself yet, almost like she knows that Link can sense her. While Lake Hylia fills up after the Water Temple, however, Link stares out at the lake, but Sheik can only gaze at Link, as if she doesn't want to leave just yet. A scene that I think really indicates that OoT Link cared about Zelda in a deeper way to me at least is actually in his interaction with Ruto in the Chamber of Sages. When Ruto states "You're are looking for the Princess, Zelda?", she follows with a "Ha! You can't hide anything from me!". We know that Ruto is in love with Link, and it is a common trope in romance stories that someone who has a crush on someone else can tell if their crush has feelings for someone different, so I think this is a subtle way of the game suggesting that Link has feelings for Zelda. Ruto then reassures that Zelda is alive because she can "sense it" (I think she knew Sheik was Zelda) and tells Link to not be discouraged, suggesting that Link was feeling discouraged specifically because he hadn't found Zelda yet. Ruto ends the conversation by then telling Link "If you see Sheik, please give him my thanks, Ok?" This, I believe, is her finally giving up on Link by urging him to talk to Sheik (Zelda).
Regarding Four Sword Zelda, I'm fairly certain the Zelda from the original Four Sword (the extra game was was in the cartridge of LtTP on the GBA) and the Zelda from Four Swords Adventure (the Gamecube game) are two different Zeldas. Because there's a huge gap between the two games according to the official timeline. Four Sword was chronologically the third Zelda (occuring after Skyward Sword and Minish Cap) while Four Swords Adventure officially occurs after the timeline split of Ocarina of Time in the Child Timeline. So while Four Swords Adventure Zelda, as you noted, does have romantic sounding dialogue, it doesn't directly determine if the original Four Sword Zelda looked at Link the same way. I actually reviewed Four Swords two scenes with Zelda just now (the opening and the ending), in that game she does seem to be someone Link knows as she brought him with her to investigate the shrine, but there really isn't a single line that indicates what their relationship is. (Is Link her friend? Bodyguard? The game doesn't specify anything like that.) My comment's a year late, but hey, you've been blessed by the algorithm.
Hyrule Warriors Link and Zelda are absolutely a thing Lana literally says “you two always save hyrule… together” right before she leaves meaning that she wants link to be with the woman he loves and that she’s okay with it not being her
2:05 idk if that was meant to be funny but your delivery of "goes off and dies in a forest" plus the camera panning over to Link dead on the floor made me wheeze💀
2:01 dude don't say that as a fact. That's just a theory. I'm personally more so of the belief that he got together with Malon and nothing else happened. He lived his life, honing his skill, having regrets and all the sorts. Him getting with Malon would explain why TP Link has a ranch farm lifestyle and stuff, but still: Both are just theories.
@@JoshTrager-j9gHow is it a strong theory if it's impossible It's possible he died in the forest later in life for some strange reason but iirc it's even debunked that the hero's shade is a stalfos in the first place
@@JoshTrager-j9g Oh yeah that's pretty likely I agree. Either her or some other random farm girl. There's probably way more people in hyrule than the n64 could render. haha
I don't agree with your placement of Ocarina of Time's Zelda. They absolutely would if the circumstances let it. She'd better fit the Probably tier since she probably would have given how cheerful she is when meeting with Link and showing her some funny masks as child link. There is also during the Adult Timeline when she tries her best to help him out as Sheik. But most importantly, during the castle collapse sequence, after finishing a section she will give you a bunch of hearts after saving her. This sort of thing is also seen in Twilight Princess between Yeto and Yeta's embrace. Then there's the screams Zelda herself makes when seeing Link get hurt during the fight with Ganon, a small detail many I think miss.
Tetra from WW it is cannon that she and Link became a thing. Sure they hang out a lot of go trough a lot, but WW Zelda/Tetra is the only Zelda that canonically has kids, because in Spirit Tracks, the Zelda there is a descendant of the WW Zelda. Still not solid proof, but by proses of elimination, all her other crew mates are accounted for with descendants of their own, except Niko who shows up to dump lore on you.
@@Cretaceous158 That doesn't necessarily mean anything. The games are a long time apart, many things can happen, especially with the entire Kingdom moving to a new land. On the other hand, since the Hero's soul doesn't exist in that timeline, it doesn't really matter anyway. There is no need for the two Links to even be related.
Just because we don't know who they got together with doesn't mean that the other Zeldas didn't have kids. In fact, I'd be willing to wager that most of them _did,_ seeing as Zelda is usually portrayed as being an only child, and yet the royal family is still around.
@@Cretaceous158 I can see the point, however, it might just have been that Link wouldn't want to lock that shield up in the royal vault, since he was the prince consort his heirlooms would be royal heirlooms. So he gave it to Niko so he could give it to someone who would have need of it, so it could defend someone, like it was ment to do.
I suspect Tetra and Link from Windwaker formed a couple with descendants. A hint in that sense is the personality of Zelda in Spirit Tracks, because she is more similar in personality to Link of Windwaker than to Tetra.
I agree with most of the list, but I don't get the rationale behind putting the kissers in "probably" while the childhood friends are in "definitely;" just because people are friends doesn't mean they're going to develop romantic feelings for each other, but a kiss is a romantic act in and of itself.
Strictly speaking, kisses are not always romantic. Even kisses between non-family-members are not always romantic. But in context yeah, pretty clearly romantic.
I know this is like a year later - but Link's Adventure Link (Zelda 2), you actually can read the book and thus are the future King...so..good thing that sleeping Zelda likes him
I still liked to believe that Zelda and Link fall under the “reincarnated lovers” trope. They don’t always get together but they’re so intertwined that it’s inevitable that they do more than once And unpopular opinion, Twilight Princess Zelink is my favorite mostly because I was first introduced to the Zelda characters/franchise through Melee and Brawl, and after playing Subspace Emissary I really loved their interactions together. Followed after that, Twilight Princess was my first Zelda game and while they don’t interact much, their interactions always feel so genuine and intimate (not necessarily romantic) but it’s clear they have a sense of trust and respect for each other. Also, I do wanna mention at the end of the game in the post credits you do see Link leaving Ordon. So who knows, there’s an off chance that maybe, just maybe they got to interact with each other post game
Link from OOT in the child timeline does NOT die in the forest and become a Stalfos. At least not before having a kid, as Twilight Link is a blood related decedent to the hero of time.
Lol in Hyrule Warriors Zelda will only specifically compliment Link by name and in the beginning cutscenes was gawking at him in the training yard, and even in the scene where you Rendezvous with her she said “YOU! I SAW YOU IN THR TRAINING YARD!” So she gets excited every time she sees him lol I would place it on probably or absolutely
I feel like "absolutely not" should have been "probably not". And "probably not" should have been "maybe". Like, "They didn't interact a lot" doesn't mean they'll never end up together. That's like saying you would never end up with someone you have just met. You wouldn't know, you just met, there is no actual reason against it.
While I can see Spirit Tracks Zelda and Link getting together, there is also a possibility they are related, *if* the Zelda and Link from Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass got together and had kids--because the Link we play as in Spirit Tracks *is* WW Link's son, and same goes with Tetra's offspring in the princess.
Hello from the future post Echoes of Wisdom! For what it’s worth, I think Echoes Zelda would be “probably not.” They had impactful events together, but not enough to be anything.
One of my biggest annoyances with Link is: Not only does practically every major female NPC fall head over heals for him (and some male ones, too, even if in more of a best buds/sworn brother kind of way), he seems almost incapable of acknowledging those feelings. I kind of get it's part of the whole "player as Link" blank slate, but it's kind of irksome that the player doesn't really get the choice in that case, or that Link just kind of acts confused, surprised, or (in Telma's case) grossed out. The one time they give the player the option to choose to profess love to a character is the Item Check girl in SS and even if you click all of the dialogue options to affirm your interest, she brushes it off as politeness. It's one reason why I'm glad TotK all but confirms a relationship between Link and Zelda.
I . . . disagree about Twilight Princess. I know they don't have that much of a bond, but I would be lying if I didn't think they would bond over losing Midna. Especially knowing they had to walk all the way back to Hyrule with the destined to be apart lovers goodbye Midna gave Link. I without a single doubt believe Zelda would try to comfort him after being witness to that. And maybe after a long time, after Link comes to terms with Midna being gone, does he and Zelda maybe connect. Do I believe it 100%? No. But do I think it's possible? Yes. Even in OOT Zelda loved him in the adult timeline. Fate just wasn't on their side. Also I do not think Link gets with Illia. I think that was more a childhood tether that he needs to let go in order to become a hero. WHAT?! Hyrule Warriors' entire plot revolved around the fact that Zelda and Link loving each other! The reason that Cia even becomes a villain is because she witnesses all of the timelines of Hyrule and falls in love with Link, only to grow jealous of Zelda, which kinda throws this entire list out the window because that kinda means that even if they can't be together doesn't mean they don't want to be.
Good point man, I believe too that is possible link stay with Zelda after midna gone, I don't see they as a romantically couple, yes they are cute together, but they are better friends after all. Personally, if don't go with midna our Zelda, link stay with llia. Preferences to link stay with anyone: 1° Llia 2° Zelda 3° Midna
If I remember correctly windwaker Zelda has the high chance of get together because according to Spirit tracks they founded a kingdom together and the from Spirit is Terra Grandaughter.
They did. Rumor guy says albw Zelda looks at the pictures yearningly, wishing she had the same relationship the Hero of Legend and the princess had, so it is very much canon! (Plus LA's Marin, who is literally the manifestation of Link's wish to be closer with Zelda, hence why she looks identical to her) On OoT, I think they loved each other in the adult timeline, but because of the trauma, and knowing child timeline Zelda wasn't technically the same person as adult timeline Zelda, Link never got together with her. They are shown to care very deeply. Stand proud, fellow Zelinker. Your ship is objectively correct.
I mean... in TOTK the house Link renovates is called Zelda's house and still has Link's photo of the champions if you did the champion's ballad dlc. To me, that's really clear indication that they were living together between botw and totk.
1:15 / 9:56 Link to the Past, the Oracles games, and Link's Awakening are all the same Zelda and Link, they should be in the same category; Probably Not. At the beginning of LttP Link's Uncle says "Zelda is your..." implying they have a connection that Link is unaware of, which makes Links reaction to the kiss at the end of Oracles a tad strange. 7:10 A Link between Worlds Zelda and Link are distant descendants of the previous incarnations ⬆, so I'd also put them in Probably Not.
The Malon x Link in OoT theory is a ship that I find way too universally accepted with very little basis. I find it hard to believe that an optional side quest girl with no real relation to Link’s struggles and story becomes at all relevant just because TP Link starts off in a farm. This false relation could also apply to the Hero’s Shade’s arena being Hyrule Castle. It’s a place that is important to him even more than Lon Lon Ranch, if he valued the ranch and his “wife,” then would it not be Lon Lon Ranch as it appeared in OoT? I won’t ask you to take this point seriously, I’m simply trying to show that you can either pass something off as a coincidence or evidence, but simply dismissing Zelda x Link just because there are a grand total of two (ranch and Epona) references that cause fans to point to Malon x Link doesn’t make it more credible. But, I bet that before I can convince anyone that Link x Zelda is canon in OoT, I can first convince you that Malon x Link is not. The strongest piece of evidence that supports Link x Malon is how TP Link from a ranch village and his horse’s name is Epona. I already take issue with this theory because there is arguably MORE evidence pointing to that TP Link doesn’t come from Ordon. TP Link (in the manga) comes from a unit of Hyrule knights in training. He runs away after some key story events and ends up in Ordon by coincidence. It also explains why Link is the only pointed ear Hylian out of a village of rounded eared humans. You don’t have to accept the manga as cannon, but you would still have to try and explain why Link is the only pointed ear Hylian in a village completely inhabited by round ear humans. Without the manga, one would still logically infer that he didn’t come from the ranch village. The only reason I can see why anyone would make the stretch that Link was born and raised as a rancher is to better advertise Link x Malon. This doesn’t make it more likely, just more convenient as a way to pass off Malon x Link.
I feel like a category that's inconclusive for there just not being anything to go on would have fit in, but honestly that'd eat up most of the the No ones if not all of them.
I feel like skyward sword is absolutely cannon, because didn’t they found the kingdom? And therefore they were probably the first king and queen, meaning they also had kids together. That sounds pretty cannon to me. Or I could just be making it up idk I haven’t played skyward sword
You were absolutely on point with the TOTK prediction. Yeah, I agree with most of these. The only one I'm not totally sure on, that is strictly from the games at least, is Wind Waker. Tetra and Link do have a strong connection, but idk, they never fully felt like they have something going on? At least to me. They could, yes, so that's why I'd put her at the bottom of "probably" or at the top of "probably not".
Ok this is one of the best ZeLink videos I've seen in a while good job! I also I have a lot to comment about each ship so here you go: Spirit Tracks: Ok so THANK YOU for putting this ship above Skyward Sword. A lot of people put Skyward Sword ZeLink above Spirit Tracks and while that ship is cute, Spirit Tracks actually has Zelda accompany Link on his journey and you get to see how they go from awkwardly smiling when meeting each other for the first time, to developing a close friendship and (possibly) a romance. Ocarina/Majora: Ok so I'm kind of split between this one. I personally ship Link with Malon but after reading the manga and watching "Hero's purpose," I'm not against the idea of them ending up together after Majora's Mask. Link to the past: While this ZeLink is cute in the manga, Marin exists. That's all I need to say A Link Between Worlds: I'm with you. Ravio and Hilda have way better chemistry than Link and Zelda in this game. Also I ship Link with Irene. BOTW/TOTK: I'm also with you on this one. I like Mipha and Link more than Link and Zelda pre-calamity but after Calamity, I can see them together. Twilight Princess: Yes, ZeLink makes no sense here and they're a lot more professional in this game, but you forgot my girl MIDNA! Midna's a lot more interesting than Illia, and Midna actually is with Link through out most of the game. Also Link and Midna kiss in the manga (I know it's not canon but I don't care). That's all I got to say :)
I'm glad you agree with most of my placements. Yes Skyward Sword is a "given" but Spirit Tracks does feel better developed. I know I forgot Midna but the Ilia relationship was such a massive part of the story I figured it took more precedence. Although Midna would've been next best ship. LinkxIrine in LBW is a good one! Manga LttP was such a good cute ship. Unfortunately wasn't really there in the game TL;DR thanks for enjoying the video.
@@Lady_ETHNE I think you meant Link's awakening instead of AlltP. And yeah OoT is.. difficult. I am a sworn ZeLink shipper for I think all games (yes even TP even if it doesn't make sense) but Malon is such a sweet girl and ... aaahhhh 3 way ship I guess it is. xD
Hey, in Zelda nes they are probably the only young hylians alive. The remainder are old men, old women and and some middle aged merchants. So she would marry a young noble warrior or a kinda fat merchant. I think its probably.
Why is it that the one who literally kisses with link is a "probably" but the ones that are just very trusted childhood friends are "absolutely"?? They could end as just friends, no?
9:19 I'm going to stop you there, that is how she was 100 YEAR ago. and even then that began to change, they literally began to become closer before they had to try to deal with calamity Ganon. I can't accept this as informed list due to this error
Hero's shade is not a stalfoes, OoT child Link even specifically returns to Hyrule alive and has a child because TP Link is his direct descendant. OoT Link likely gets together with Malon.
@lury1107 yeah, but again that's not what the Hero's Shade is, and two, most people who say OoT Link is a Stalfoe say he becomes one because of MM even though as a child Link would've became a skull kid, and I highly doubt a 10 year old Link knocked up some girl before MM.
@@door-chan The Hero's Shade is a spirit not a stalfos, it's never stated that he's a stalfos it's just a common misconception. He doesn't even look anything like other Stalfos in TP.
@@nepnep1453 he might be a spirit, but he takes the form of a stalfos. stal-something is just literally the name for any undead skeletons in zelda, and he is an undead skeleton, in case you couldn't tell. besides, all official sources say he is one, I guess nintendo feel to the common misconception
you forgo WHAT makes Lana don't be allowed to have Link? they literally say "BECAUSE HIS SOUL IS FOREVER BENDED WITH ANOTHER SOUL" and then they show us zelda, so is HEAVILY implied that link and zelda are soul mates in that game and they flirt a little at the begining of the game
Too bad TOTK wasn’t out yet. It’s heavily implied they live together and Link “honeymoon” carries her for lack of better words at the end, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
z1 link has to get with either one of them, as in the manual it's stated he's the future king. since he can read some weird ass scroll lol. i assume, since zelda is much older than him in zelda 2, he gets with the first zelda. they seem to be the same age (children, it's canon link was 10 in the first LOZ) and he would've known her for longer, so it's probably likely. i honestly see the kiss before the credits as a typical peach/mario "thank you for saving me" thing. other than that this video was pretty based (besides some lore errors like oot)
and on a link between worlds, i'm for zelda and hilda. hilda is talking to her and confides in her the whole entire game, and zelda listens. and even after she betrays her, zelda still pities her and wants to save her world. and sure you could argue that's just because they're for the force of good or whatever, but they have more interaction technically than any other characters in the whole game.
Here's the tiers I would have gone with, along with some examples (although instances of it being canonically the same link and zelda will be considered as one pairing). "Practically confirmed": Skyward Sword, maybe BotW/TotK (moreso TotK given that Link's house in BotW is now called Zelfa's house, the tavle is set for two and Link can sleep in her bed despite only being able to sleep in beds that he either owns or rented for the night) and arguably Spirit Tracks in the "puppy love" sense "Believable and likely, but not confirmed": Wind Waker/Phantom Hourglass, Hyrule Warriors (I know it's a spinoff, don't care), Minish Cap. And yes, Hyrule Warriors does belong here since the reason why Cia was mad about not being able to get with Link was because he was "fated to only have eyes for another" which is straight up implied to be HW Zelda during the cutecene where the ultimate premise is revealed (yes, the rest of the game doesn't do anything to follow through with that, but they were pretty vlack and white about it). "Maybe": A Link Between Worlds (there's a hidden portrait that Zelda onsesses over, that depicts a previous hero with the princess if her time). "Believable, but debunked" Ocarina of Time "Unlikely, but not decondirmed": Zelda II Adventure of Link "Not only will it never happen, there isn't even any potential for anything to happen even in a parallel universe where they weren't outright debunked": Twilight Princess, OG Zelda
The Ocarina of time one isn’t technically like that, there are some that say before Link died he married Malon towards the twilight princess path, since the link in that timeline is mostly a farmer.
Honestly, the only one where you lost me was ALBW, Zelda was dropping some HEAVY hints at the beginning of the game when she was showing off the murals depicting the hero. IDK man, she was like, gonna get you to move in as her live in personal guard or something so she could get closer to you. It's been a minute since I played that game, maybe I'm totally off base, but I've always seen them as pretty solidly a couple. And yeah, Ilia is probably who Link's going to settle for in TP, but you know he's heart only really belonged to Midna. I do absolutely agree, though, about TP Zelda, it's absolutely a Supervisor, subordinate situation, so much so if Link were to get flirty with TP Zelda she'd be on the phone with HR in less than a second.
Twilight princess being dead last is the most accurate thing ever. With the scale of hyrule castle in that game rivaling that of dark soul games. She comes from another world and would not marry the "stinky farm boy" even if he was the hero of time.
Hyrule Warriors story is based on Link always ending up with Zelda…Cia and Lana are canonically jealous of her, so how is Zelda in that game “probably not”, when the story hinges on it? 😂 They don’t have a ton of time together but the story revolves literally around them always ending up together, which means it’s implying strongly that they will as well. Should go in “probably”, though yeah, it’s not an “absolutely” And Breath of the Wild and Tears of The Kingdom are the same Zelda, so if it’s “absolutely” in one it’s the same in the other. Zelda only starts off indifferent to him but eventually falls for him, and will lead to her in TOTK. Maybe you can say “probably” in Age of Calamity since some things happen differently there and Mipha is still alive in that one, but BOTW and TOTK events follow each other directly in the same timeline. OoT Zelda should at least move to “probably not”….on the child timeline, anyway. 1st of all, Link does not die as a stalfos in the Losr Woods. While Malon is more likely, it’s not impossible either that Zelda and Link could’ve ended up together. Malon isn’t absolutely confirmed and we don’t truly know TP Links origins outside of him being blood related to OoT Link. It’s enough wiggle room where we can’t absolutely deny it and there is some romantic tension between OoT Link and Zelda there, which could imply they might get together in the child timeline eventually, and at the end of MM or later he could’ve returned to Zelda. In her one cutscene in MM, she does show a closeness with him and an obvious desire to see him again. OoT manga and even official OoT 3D promotional manga pages also point to Link and Zelda in those games. Even if we’re just talking about the games, it’s also endorsed and allowed by Nintendo. But of course, it’s impossible in the adult timeline, and I’d still give the edge to Malon. Also, a “maybe/could go either way” category would probably help a list like this. I’d put ALBW/ALTTP in categories like that. ALBW Link and Zelda parallel Ravio/Hilda, and the paintings and gossip as you said. ALTTP Link thought Marin was Zelda at first in LA, so there may be something there too.
6:16 No context. Just click.
Fr
Yes
Best thing I’ve seen all day 😭
genius, ya got me
Thank you. I needed that laugh.
I like how you put Spirit Tracks Zelda in "absolutely" because they held hands, but the two who literally kiss him onscreen are put in "probably."
It's like anime logic lmao
TBF it was the late 80s…
Hand holding is lewd
@@falconeshield it’s also kinda something both parties agree to usually
Tbf, Spirit Tracks Link & Zelda are the only ones that spend the whole game together
When you gave a shoutout to our boy Groose I knew I clicked on the right video
Should've been put to the sword, the man nearly (indirectly) _murdered_ Link.
@@CoralCopperHead OBJECTION! 💥
Your Honor, at most, my client can be accounted for involuntary manslaughter.
I feel like you should have added a tier in between probably not and probably. Like a 'maybe IDK'. Overall an objectively correct list.
In retrospect yeah, that would've made it easier.
I doubt Nintendo meant to do this on purpose, but I find it funny how every single version of Toon Link most likely ends up with Zelda in some form.
Like I said "4 Swords Era was wierd"
I think it's adorable. 🥰
The Toon games are overall pretty expressive, so I think it makes Link and Zelda's signs of affection more apparent. (I'm kinda sad he didn't show WW Link's reaction to that final Tetra wink. He looked so pleased to be fighting alongside her)
@@WaywardSpirited I mean, he was smiling at her all the while though.
@@andyblargextraI assume you're setting aside the fact that, as princess, she has to marry for a political alliance.
In Hyrule warriors, it's outright stated Lana doesn't get Link because he's with Zelda so she'd be absolutely.
I need to finish that game oml.
Lana and Zelda from that game are both beautiful and u know what Link has 2 hands and they also have 2 hands.
"Link already had a girlfriend in Twilight Princess"
I 100% thought you were talking about Midna.
Link has two hands
Link x Illia forever! 🥰
@@JoshTrager-j9g Objectively incorrect answer.
@@cow972 No.
@@cow972 sup cow
In botw, if you complete all of his quests, Kass mentions how his teacher had feeling for Zelda, but she rejected him because she only had eyes for her knight
If you count the diaries Zelda writes in BOTW, you’d move that to Absolutely. Zelda develops a crush on Link later on
Yeah she was literally living with him during the gap between BOTW and TOTK
@@digitaladventurer2142And there was only one bed in the house
Eh. I still think it's a one-sided love on her side and unrequited on Link's side.
@@digitaladventurer2142You mean she stole his house and left him homeless! House stealin' b****! 😡
@@doodlehates_uttpThat she used, alone. If you ask me.
In skyward sword, when Zelda seals herself away and Link gets emotional… that was like a stab in the soul, man.
Also in Totk, if you visit Links house in Hateno Village (idk if it’s Hateno Village) , it is implied that Zelda also lives there due to her diary and workstation being there, and in that house that Link and Zelda both presumably live in. There is only one bed.
Omg there’s only one bed
@@tisthecatlet’s be real link probably slept on the floor next to her bed
I think you missed the point of Zelda and Link's relationship in BotW. While they had a lousy relationship toward the beginning because of Link's silence and Zelda's insecurity, they soon developed a strong bond after realizing how much they had in common until they became each other's number one comfort. Heck, Kass even noted that Zelda was in love with Link, and in his Japanese Diary, Link mentions that his main reason for defeating Ganon was to see Zelda smile again. There are also other instances where Link mentions how much he wants to impress Zelda and thinks she's beautiful.
On the subject of Paya and Mipha, though, the former mentions how she believes that Link is in love with Zelda and that if he is, he'll give her full support. Meanwhile, while not explicitly stated, it's hinted that Mipha's feelings are actually unrequited or Link, in the past, simply didn't know she felt that way for him. She even mentions how she feels like he's staring past her when they're together, and he denies talking about his fears with her when he did so with Zelda, according to her diary.
Rating BotW and TotK seperately is rather silly anyway. WW and PH don't have seperate entries either.
@@Llortnerof True.
@@Llortnerof Having both BotW and TotK seperately doesn't make sense to me. HOWEVER, I think there's an argument to include Age of Calamity as its own entry, as the timeline shenanigans could seriously mess with the character dynamics (Mipha is still alive, Paya doesn't exist because we're still "in the past," Link and Zelda don't bond over all their loved ones dying, etc.)
I don't have a strong argument for it, but personally I'd like to think Link & Zelda are a couple in the canon timeline, while Mipha finally works up the courage to get with Link post-AOC.
-AOC Zelda only has eyes for the robot anyways-
@@DoctorFalchion I'm not sure Link would still accept in AOC since in that timeline the description of the Zora Armor is that it's probably okay to wear this which doesn't give me a lot of confidence that Link returned Mipha's feelings at all.
Personally, I believe that Link feelings for Mipha are purely familial and he's only ever seen her as an older sister, given King Dorephan's quote about how growing up Mipha only saw Link as a little brother until he grew up.
@@annieandelsieofarendelle3294check the Japanese Breath of the Wild and Age of Calamity journal entries. It's very crystal clear that Link loved Mipha romantically
All the cartoony links, (Minish cap, four swords, wind water, spirit tracks), pulls.
Hyrule Warriors does show Zelda admiring Link during his training, and the whole plot is Cia getting jealous about Link and Zelda being so close
yeah... this placement is probably the one I'd most likely change in retrospect.
Counter argument: Twilight Princess ZeLink is hot. I mean, have you seen that fanart?
When bro said he didn't play Spirit Tracks I died inside. It's so underrated and more people should play it.
I haven't played it either. Phantom Hourglass is the only Zelda game I ever outright quit playing.
Spirit Tracks reminds me of that one. Are the controls different between the two?
@@trajectoryunown you should they both are really underrated.
@@trajectoryunowndo you mean the touch controls?
Overall, Spirit Tracks hiked up the quality in every single area; music, story and world building, little graphical details, you name it. But, you do still have to control Link with a stylus. In my experience it was less cumbersome moving Link around without the implied controls assigned to a fairy tho.
@@trajectoryunownive played both, the spirit track controls were made to be a little easier but still use the touch screen. personally i like the phantom hourglass controls better lol
My first Zelda game I beat was ST
TOTK is a definitely.
TOTK is a new tier.. "they are already.. i think"
@@fabi3790"They absolutely already are, but Nintendo is terrified of alienating even a small part of their huge audience."
too long for a tier name?
There's so many hints about them in that timeline lmao
For real. TotK was like they wanted to imply every possible way that they could be a couple without ever straight up saying it. XD
i would be for it if zelda wasn't written like dog ass 😭😭 i really want to like it but i just hate her with such a passion
Ravio and Hilda being in a relationship would be cute.
I would like to see the wholesome fanart
We love a girlboss with a cute boyfailure who tries his best
@@HalfMoonProphet yeah
@@HalfMoonProphet True!!
Link did not become a stalfos in MM. The link you see in TP is a spirit, he lived his life, became a knight, but had regrets because no-one remembered what he did, and needed to pass on his knowledge. The Link in TP is his direct decendant.
OoT Link does not go off into the forest, dies, and becomes a Stalfos. The Hero's Shade is a literal shapeshifting specter, not a reanimated cursed skeleton. He's even translucent so I don't know why people are STILL parroting Matpat's stupid theory. On top of all of that, he has a descendant by blood (TP Link) but you're right, he probably ended up with Malon given TP Link's upbringing, Epona being a one of a kind horse canonically, and dirtier blonde hair compared to his ancestor OoT Link. There's a lot of subtle hints towards it.
Probably because the theory and the evidence don't contradict each-other. There's nothing stopping him from having a kid with Malon, then having a reason to, say, go to the Forest Temple, and die along the way.
@@CoralCopperHead There is no reason for him to ever go into the Forest Temple within the Child Timeline. The contradiction is pretty blatant. A Stalfos is a reanimated skeleton, the Hero's Shade literally has "shade" in his name.
@@wanko7130With the sages being awakened in Twilight Princess its highly likely that Link still went to all the temples, including the Forest Temple, during the time after Majoras Mask.
@@erikfaru9780 They're clearly not the same Sages as the ones from Ocarina of Time. In fact, they were probably the Sages from Rauru's era so I doubt there was even a need for the Hero of Time to even do that.
@@wanko7130 We never saw who the sages from Twilight Princess were supposed to be as they clearly left their bodies behind, just like the sages in the adult timeline did, becoming these white, faceless, ghost like figures.
We also never saw if the sages from Twilight Princess were or were not awakened between Majoras Mask and Twilight Princess.
But its highly unlikely that the sages from Twilight Princess are supposed to be the ancient sages and Rauru. This wouldnt even make sense because it would imply that the ancient sages are also still alive in the adult timeline, defeating the point of having to awaken new sages. And the game never states that Ganondorf killed the sages, like he did in Wind Waker, but only that he corrupted the temples which again sounds like there were no sages who could have defended them.
To me it just sounds likely that when Ganondorf waged war on Hyrule, before they captured and executed him, he would have corrupted the temples, just like in the adult timeline, and this would mean that Link, or someone else, would have to awaken new sages again. They dont necessarily have to be the exact same ones as in the adult timeline but they would have to be awakened somewhere in that time for them to later appear in Twilight Princess.
In the end all we both said are just speculations, we don't really know what really happened or who they really are.
Regarding OOT "absolutely not" -
This might not be canon, but no one, not even the game creators themselves, will ever convince me that Link and Zelda are not brother and sister in that game.
1. The Honey/Darling couple tell each other that they are as handsome as the King, and as beautiful as the 7-year-old princess (?), so the Queen is out of the picture.
2. Link's mother brought him as a baby to the Deku tree before dying during the Hyrule Civil War
3. "Only members of the royal family" can learn this song. (This comes up way too often to not mean something!)
6:35 as a spirit tracks gamer, I can confirm Link took a full on bitchslap just to protect Zelda and there are countless other cute scenes with the 2 of them! ^^
They're adorable! 🥰 Best Zelink ship (and incartion of the princess!) ever!
2:08 Wrong. He becomes a knight of Hyrule as an adult and has a child canonically. He is also not a Stalfos, he's a Big Poe. He literally has the same transparent rotting skin texture as the Big Poes in Arbiter's Grounds. But TP Link is canonically his descendant, and is very obviously NOT royal blood. In fact it's implied OoT Link marries Malon, and based on the location of Ordon Village compared to ToT, it may even be that Ordon Village was built around Lon Lon Ranch.
2:52 It's implied by the Royal Guard Trainee Uniform literally being WW Link's outfit that Link either married Tetra and became the First King of New Hyrule or became captain of the Royal Guard, though based on how only a handful of Hylians got to new Hyrule at that time and Link and Tetra are the only Crew Members other than Niko around the same age, it's almost guaranteed that WW Link and Zelda got together. I also suspect that Spirit Tracks Link is Aryl's grandson due to the fact he's not in the Royal Family (though does work closely with them), and the fact he's identical to WW Link.
FS and Minish Cap Zelda I would put in Probably. "Absolutely" should only be for ones we have confirmation or heavy implications they start dating in some capacity. Wind Waker, Skyward Sword, and BotW are the only three we basically can guarantee get with their Zeldas.
5:17 I think the implications is that Link would have gotten with Midna if she kept the Mirror of Twilight in tact, but with her gone permanently I think Nintendo kinda pushed that he gets with Illia.
9:13 What's funny is that had Mipha survived the calamity Link almost certainly would have ended up with HER rather than Zelda, but TotK Zelda literally shares a bed with Link.
10:33 I'm pretty sure it's implied Cartoon Link and Zelda are married by their appearances in Captain N: The Game Master.
11:04 CDI Zelda would be in Absolutely Not, honestly. She's kind of a bitch and Link is really annoying about wanting a Kiss from Zelda. The relationship as a result is VERY one-sided, which could be said about Cartoon Zelda too, but she does have moments where she and Link have really cute moments, and are either Dating or Married by the time of Captain N.
8:34 what?! The entire plot of that game is Lana wants Link but Link is going to get together with Zelda. And the end of the game is her accepting that the two of them were meant to be and are absolutely going to get together. The game's own story confirms that Hyrule Warriors Zelda absolutely gets with Hyrule Warriors Link!
I agree with this list. Weird how, on your reasoning for TotK, you neglected to mention the fact that Zelda moved into Link’s house! lol
Also how she had a secret study built so she could plan a surprise present for him.
@@ml3starman386 I made this before TotK came out so I didn't know they moved in.
@@andyblargextra Would you put her higher up if you did this tier list after release?
@@wingwall7892 yes.
This is incorrect. Link does not live there in TotK. No one in Hateno recognizes him, not even the woman who regularly cleans the place. Also, Bolson, the guy who sold the house, does not recognize Link. In the canon version of BotW, Link does not buy it; it's just Zelda's house.
@@Celestia282 nobody in Totk recognizes link except for the main cast. People in hateno not recognizing him isn’t enough to debunk it
2:05 - 2:08 He doesn't die in the forest, otherwise, TP Link couldn't exist.
At the very least he would have had to breed first, before dying. Plus he loses an eye somewhere along the way.
@@WeeG-bwc77 Uh, Link with an eyepatch. Neat.
@@WeeG-bwc77 Wouldn't be hard, have you looked at adult link recently?
@@WeeG-bwc77 And grows into a giant.
Why tho? He could definitely have started a family and then died in the forest or even the Forest Temple.
Quick personal headcanon for Spirit Tracks. I always rationalized that Link and Tetra got together, eventually giving us Zelda of New Hyrule, obviously. But that the Hero of Trains Link was also a descendant of Aryll (WW Link’s sister) and that they’re just like cousins that are also besties after the adventure is finished.
There's a considerable timeskip between them anyway, where the events of Wind Waker have faded into legend. So even if both were descendants of the Hero of Wind and Tetra, they may be distantly enough related that Link is not considered part of the royal family. Alternately, he's could be completely unrelated, since neither the Triforce nor the Master Sword have any relevance to the story.
@@Llortnerof I mean sure there’s been a timeskip but not anywhere near close to where it would have faded into myth. The events of The Wind Waker still exist within living memory because the character Nico, a member of Tetra’s crew, is still alive to witness the events of Spirit Tracks.
Yes he could be completely unrelated, and due to the timeline that is the only way I can see that working out romantically.
@@Alpha121198 I don't think that's meant to be the same Nico. Just an identical descendant. New Hyrule is far to established for the timeline you suggest.
@@Llortnerofhave you played spirit tracks? It is the same exact Niko lol.
@@Lynk56 isn't Zelda Tetra's great great granddaughter? seems too far apart
Zelda totally loves Link in BOTW. Kass' teacher mentions it.
5:30 Translation: “You’re violating the restraining order! I’m calling the police!”
Oracle Zelda and Link are same as A Link to the Past Zelda and Link. Oracles takes time after ALttP, Gannon's minions are trying to resurrect him.
Spirit Tracks is arguably the only game where any sort of romance is confirmed (or heavily hinted at). They have incredible chemistry, constantly blush when near each other, and then they hold hands at the end!!! That's not just a small peck on the cheeks or fluttering their eyes at each other, that is HARD FACTS! Best Zelda game for a reason.
Um, Skyward Sword? They are definitely a thing in Skyward Sword.
@@LtBasilMinish Cap started it all for me hahaha
The weird thing is that NES Link is destined to become king after the events of Zelda II.
So the question really becomes, does he get with Zelda 1 Zelda or Sleeping Zelda?
Yeah, and isn't Sleeping Zelda technically Zelda 1 Zelda's grandma? I'd have to re-read the historia, but I thought it was something convoluted like that.
Great to see Spirit Tracks getting #1 here. I've played the game and it's honestly an underrated gem. It certainly has the closest relationship between Link and Zelda out of all the games since they're companions throughout it, and the player even gets to control and play as Zelda for parts of it. It's one of my favorite aspects of the game! Nice video; it brought up a lot of fun facts I didn't know about, too!
As a zelink propagandist and romantic at heart, here’s why I believe your “absolutely nots” actually do have a lot of potential.
TP: They both were the only two who knew Midna and would understand each other after everything. At the end of the game, we see Link leaving Ordon, presumably to become a knight under Zelda like every other Link before him. It’s kinda their whole thing, he’s Hylia’s protector and she’s the blood of the goddess. It’s why he struggles when Zelda is possessed, because even though they don’t know each other, he knows in his soul who she is. Now you bring up Ilia but I just think it’s friendship that only could have been more if he hadn’t been the Hero. Next, people love to bring up Midna as if she didn’t sever the ties between Hyrule and the twilight realm at the end. It’s impossible that they ended up together, even if we assume they did have an attraction to each other (and that’s up to interpretation). Personally, I think Midna would be happy that her friends found solace and company with each other. Then, the scene when Zelda bows to him is such an impactful scene because she’s the *princess*. Again, she knows him even if they’re strangers in this life. Obviously he could’ve ended up with anybody, their relationship is certainly underdeveloped in that game, yet I don’t believe that there’s nothing there. I just like them 💗 but you don’t have to, of course, just sharing my two cents! I know I’m not changing minds, especially about these two, but that’s my interpretation.
OoT Zelink was my first ship, ever since I was like 7 so I do disagree with you there too. I know Malon x Link is a popular fan theory that people love to act like it’s canon when it’s not, there’s a lot of evidence against them. Like Hero’s Shade being a high rank knight, his grave in the castle grounds, TP Link isn’t the owner of the ranch, he’s the only Hylian in Ordon and him knowing Epona’s song just means he has ties to the past hero because that song was important to OoT Link because of Epona, not Malon #horsegirl. Like sure it could be but honestly even if it is, I don’t really care about them. Malon is a cute character, but she’s not a deep or interesting one. OoT Link spends his time looking for Zelda, interacting with her as Sheik, and caring about her. Their relationship is the one that matters there so even if theirs is a tragic love story, that’s the one I ship the most. Also, the fact that she shows up in Majora’s Mask only to say that she feels like she’s known him forever, will never forget him and can’t wait to see him again. The games definitely point to how impactful they were to each other.
Oh and for BotW, that whole game is about their love story. They go from duty bound to the only ones who understand each other to Link dying for her, Zelda sacrificing herself for him, her waiting 100 years and then Link wanting to see her smile once more. That’s why we got that “weird” Zelda smile at the end, because that’s what Link wished to see once more since the minute he understood what happened 😅
To me, Zelink was always real and SS and its manga made it even more canon that they are two souls bound for eternity to meet and love each other 😊 that’s why it’s called The Legend of Zelda and why Link does what he does every game. It’s all part of Hylia’s plan!
This was a well thought out argument. Kudos!
Hearing your thoughts on OoT Zelink, I think you have a great point. I'd probably keep them kinda low personally, but probably one tier up.
Thank you for the insightful discussion.
Zelink in OoT/MM is literally impossible for a very simple reason: The Hero of Twilight isn't royalty or even nobility. There's only about a hundred years between OoT/MM and TP so there's no way for the Hero of Twilight to have fallen that far in status. People headcanon that the Hero of Time hooked up with Malon simply because it makes the most sense. It's either her or some rando.
@@Zelenal Except we can headcanon a million and one reasons why they could have had children with different people and then come back together. Or we can even say someone stole a royal baby a la Rapunzel and that’s why TP Link is in Ordon. That’s just as valid.
There’s also actually no real evidence in game that TP and OoT are related by blood. That came after in a book that is not actually canon (official =/= canon). They’re written by the same people who did the manga and only approved by Nintendo, which the mangas also are. It has it’s fair share of inconsistencies.
OoT Link and Zelda have sweet moments together that sets them up for building a relationship. As Sheik eloquently puts it, “Time passes, people move. Like a river's flow, it never ends. A childish mind will turn to noble ambition. Young love will become deep affection.” Plus, they have their destiny and ancestors that bind them together forever.
Malon x Link don’t have any of that. People who headcanon them usually had a crush on Malon themselves or think that Link deserves a “quiet life”, which is also a self fulfilling wish. It’s similar to the people who ship Sidon x Link. They self insert, rather than following through with the story. Nintendo wants people to come up with their own narrative, which is why we have the open world games now. You can interact with as much or as little with the story as you’d like. It’s completely valid. But Link and Zelda are canonically the couple since the 80s.
i don't agree with twilight princess only because, isn't link 17? as to keep in line with the "links are always under 18 technically" rule? and i thought zelda was also an adult so that would make it a little strange lol. but i don't think her age was officially confirmed or anything, probably just dubbed as 'young adult'.
@@chibimena Just to further back your stance on OoT ZeLink, a couple things:
1. Glad you brought up the fact that TP Link is the only Hylian in Ordon Village, not many fans realize this; he couldn't have originated there, but we don't then otherwise know where he came from. He could still be descended from royalty as even in real life, there are plenty of people who are descended from royalty who fell into obscurity due to their ancestors not being close enough to inherit any royal title. The Hero's Shade (also assuming he is OoT Link; only Hyrule Historia outright says this, not the games) does refer to a common bloodline between him and TP Link, but it doesn't necessarily mean that TP Link and OoT Link are direct descendants; they could just have familial relations.
2. There really are a lot of scenes in OoT that show how much of a connection OoT Link and Zelda had that I think get overlooked. As you mentioned, their interactions while Zelda is Sheik consistently shows Link trying to get closer her, and Sheik only leaves because she can't reveal herself yet, almost like she knows that Link can sense her. While Lake Hylia fills up after the Water Temple, however, Link stares out at the lake, but Sheik can only gaze at Link, as if she doesn't want to leave just yet.
A scene that I think really indicates that OoT Link cared about Zelda in a deeper way to me at least is actually in his interaction with Ruto in the Chamber of Sages. When Ruto states "You're are looking for the Princess, Zelda?", she follows with a "Ha! You can't hide anything from me!". We know that Ruto is in love with Link, and it is a common trope in romance stories that someone who has a crush on someone else can tell if their crush has feelings for someone different, so I think this is a subtle way of the game suggesting that Link has feelings for Zelda. Ruto then reassures that Zelda is alive because she can "sense it" (I think she knew Sheik was Zelda) and tells Link to not be discouraged, suggesting that Link was feeling discouraged specifically because he hadn't found Zelda yet. Ruto ends the conversation by then telling Link "If you see Sheik, please give him my thanks, Ok?" This, I believe, is her finally giving up on Link by urging him to talk to Sheik (Zelda).
I figure that Zelda in _Zelda II_ was seeing visions of Link’s actions throughout, and fell for him that way.
Regarding Four Sword Zelda, I'm fairly certain the Zelda from the original Four Sword (the extra game was was in the cartridge of LtTP on the GBA) and the Zelda from Four Swords Adventure (the Gamecube game) are two different Zeldas. Because there's a huge gap between the two games according to the official timeline. Four Sword was chronologically the third Zelda (occuring after Skyward Sword and Minish Cap) while Four Swords Adventure officially occurs after the timeline split of Ocarina of Time in the Child Timeline.
So while Four Swords Adventure Zelda, as you noted, does have romantic sounding dialogue, it doesn't directly determine if the original Four Sword Zelda looked at Link the same way. I actually reviewed Four Swords two scenes with Zelda just now (the opening and the ending), in that game she does seem to be someone Link knows as she brought him with her to investigate the shrine, but there really isn't a single line that indicates what their relationship is. (Is Link her friend? Bodyguard? The game doesn't specify anything like that.)
My comment's a year late, but hey, you've been blessed by the algorithm.
Hyrule Warriors Link and Zelda are absolutely a thing
Lana literally says “you two always save hyrule… together” right before she leaves meaning that she wants link to be with the woman he loves and that she’s okay with it not being her
2:05 idk if that was meant to be funny but your delivery of "goes off and dies in a forest" plus the camera panning over to Link dead on the floor made me wheeze💀
2:01 dude don't say that as a fact. That's just a theory. I'm personally more so of the belief that he got together with Malon and nothing else happened. He lived his life, honing his skill, having regrets and all the sorts. Him getting with Malon would explain why TP Link has a ranch farm lifestyle and stuff, but still: Both are just theories.
Yeah dude, it may be a theory, but a VERY strongly supported theory!
@@JoshTrager-j9gHow is it a strong theory if it's impossible
It's possible he died in the forest later in life for some strange reason but iirc it's even debunked that the hero's shade is a stalfos in the first place
@@dreamz1417 No, I meant the getting with Malon thing.
@@JoshTrager-j9g Oh yeah that's pretty likely I agree. Either her or some other random farm girl. There's probably way more people in hyrule than the n64 could render. haha
I don't agree with your placement of Ocarina of Time's Zelda. They absolutely would if the circumstances let it. She'd better fit the Probably tier since she probably would have given how cheerful she is when meeting with Link and showing her some funny masks as child link. There is also during the Adult Timeline when she tries her best to help him out as Sheik. But most importantly, during the castle collapse sequence, after finishing a section she will give you a bunch of hearts after saving her. This sort of thing is also seen in Twilight Princess between Yeto and Yeta's embrace. Then there's the screams Zelda herself makes when seeing Link get hurt during the fight with Ganon, a small detail many I think miss.
5:12 “She has a closer relationship with Midna than she does with Link”
So that means…TP-Zelda/Midna.
Black-and-blue Bollywood Actress x Princess Steelface!
Canon
Sadly no, Twilight Manga confirms Midna had a crush on Link
@@falconeshield tf you mean sadly?
@@falconeshieldbut there's also a whole volume dedicated to Zelda and Midna being "very very good friends", so I guess Midna has 2 hands..
Manga is not canon
Tetra from WW it is cannon that she and Link became a thing.
Sure they hang out a lot of go trough a lot, but WW Zelda/Tetra is the only Zelda that canonically has kids, because in Spirit Tracks, the Zelda there is a descendant of the WW Zelda.
Still not solid proof, but by proses of elimination, all her other crew mates are accounted for with descendants of their own, except Niko who shows up to dump lore on you.
There is evidence that WW Link never got with anyone. Niko has Link's family heirloom, the Minish Cap shield, which WW Link inherited.
@@Cretaceous158 That doesn't necessarily mean anything. The games are a long time apart, many things can happen, especially with the entire Kingdom moving to a new land.
On the other hand, since the Hero's soul doesn't exist in that timeline, it doesn't really matter anyway. There is no need for the two Links to even be related.
@@LlortnerofI mistook the shield of antiquity for the Hero’s shield, so my statement was somewhat incorrect.
Just because we don't know who they got together with doesn't mean that the other Zeldas didn't have kids. In fact, I'd be willing to wager that most of them _did,_ seeing as Zelda is usually portrayed as being an only child, and yet the royal family is still around.
@@Cretaceous158 I can see the point, however, it might just have been that Link wouldn't want to lock that shield up in the royal vault, since he was the prince consort his heirlooms would be royal heirlooms. So he gave it to Niko so he could give it to someone who would have need of it, so it could defend someone, like it was ment to do.
I suspect Tetra and Link from Windwaker formed a couple with descendants. A hint in that sense is the personality of Zelda in Spirit Tracks, because she is more similar in personality to Link of Windwaker than to Tetra.
I agree with most of the list, but I don't get the rationale behind putting the kissers in "probably" while the childhood friends are in "definitely;" just because people are friends doesn't mean they're going to develop romantic feelings for each other, but a kiss is a romantic act in and of itself.
Yeah, in what world is hand-holding more romantic than a kiss?
Strictly speaking, kisses are not always romantic. Even kisses between non-family-members are not always romantic. But in context yeah, pretty clearly romantic.
I know this is like a year later - but Link's Adventure Link (Zelda 2), you actually can read the book and thus are the future King...so..good thing that sleeping Zelda likes him
For me? Every game 100%. They're soulmates, sorry I don't take constructive criticism.
I still liked to believe that Zelda and Link fall under the “reincarnated lovers” trope. They don’t always get together but they’re so intertwined that it’s inevitable that they do more than once
And unpopular opinion, Twilight Princess Zelink is my favorite mostly because I was first introduced to the Zelda characters/franchise through Melee and Brawl, and after playing Subspace Emissary I really loved their interactions together. Followed after that, Twilight Princess was my first Zelda game and while they don’t interact much, their interactions always feel so genuine and intimate (not necessarily romantic) but it’s clear they have a sense of trust and respect for each other. Also, I do wanna mention at the end of the game in the post credits you do see Link leaving Ordon. So who knows, there’s an off chance that maybe, just maybe they got to interact with each other post game
Agreed
Listen I agree both of them are Absolutely, but putting Spirit Tracks above Skyward Sword is CRAZY
Link from OOT in the child timeline does NOT die in the forest and become a Stalfos. At least not before having a kid, as Twilight Link is a blood related decedent to the hero of time.
Lol in Hyrule Warriors Zelda will only specifically compliment Link by name and in the beginning cutscenes was gawking at him in the training yard, and even in the scene where you Rendezvous with her she said “YOU! I SAW YOU IN THR TRAINING YARD!” So she gets excited every time she sees him lol I would place it on probably or absolutely
Not to mention every time some one else that isn’t Link, thanks her for the compliment she basically goes “GET BACK TO WORK”
BRO, hecken minish cap!? core memory unlocked.
I feel like "absolutely not" should have been "probably not". And "probably not" should have been "maybe".
Like, "They didn't interact a lot" doesn't mean they'll never end up together. That's like saying you would never end up with someone you have just met. You wouldn't know, you just met, there is no actual reason against it.
While I can see Spirit Tracks Zelda and Link getting together, there is also a possibility they are related, *if* the Zelda and Link from Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass got together and had kids--because the Link we play as in Spirit Tracks *is* WW Link's son, and same goes with Tetra's offspring in the princess.
Hello from the future post Echoes of Wisdom! For what it’s worth, I think Echoes Zelda would be “probably not.” They had impactful events together, but not enough to be anything.
One of my biggest annoyances with Link is: Not only does practically every major female NPC fall head over heals for him (and some male ones, too, even if in more of a best buds/sworn brother kind of way), he seems almost incapable of acknowledging those feelings. I kind of get it's part of the whole "player as Link" blank slate, but it's kind of irksome that the player doesn't really get the choice in that case, or that Link just kind of acts confused, surprised, or (in Telma's case) grossed out. The one time they give the player the option to choose to profess love to a character is the Item Check girl in SS and even if you click all of the dialogue options to affirm your interest, she brushes it off as politeness. It's one reason why I'm glad TotK all but confirms a relationship between Link and Zelda.
I . . . disagree about Twilight Princess. I know they don't have that much of a bond, but I would be lying if I didn't think they would bond over losing Midna. Especially knowing they had to walk all the way back to Hyrule with the destined to be apart lovers goodbye Midna gave Link. I without a single doubt believe Zelda would try to comfort him after being witness to that. And maybe after a long time, after Link comes to terms with Midna being gone, does he and Zelda maybe connect. Do I believe it 100%? No. But do I think it's possible? Yes. Even in OOT Zelda loved him in the adult timeline. Fate just wasn't on their side.
Also I do not think Link gets with Illia. I think that was more a childhood tether that he needs to let go in order to become a hero.
WHAT?! Hyrule Warriors' entire plot revolved around the fact that Zelda and Link loving each other! The reason that Cia even becomes a villain is because she witnesses all of the timelines of Hyrule and falls in love with Link, only to grow jealous of Zelda, which kinda throws this entire list out the window because that kinda means that even if they can't be together doesn't mean they don't want to be.
Good point man, I believe too that is possible link stay with Zelda after midna gone, I don't see they as a romantically couple, yes they are cute together, but they are better friends after all. Personally, if don't go with midna our Zelda, link stay with llia.
Preferences to link stay with anyone:
1° Llia
2° Zelda
3° Midna
OoT Zelda kisses Link in the manga and Miyamoto ships them so that’s good enough for me
If I remember correctly windwaker Zelda has the high chance of get together because according to Spirit tracks they founded a kingdom together and the from Spirit is Terra Grandaughter.
It's funny that my greatest Zelink ships (alttp and oot) are on the 'nope' categories. Alttp zelink got together in my head
They did. Rumor guy says albw Zelda looks at the pictures yearningly, wishing she had the same relationship the Hero of Legend and the princess had, so it is very much canon! (Plus LA's Marin, who is literally the manifestation of Link's wish to be closer with Zelda, hence why she looks identical to her)
On OoT, I think they loved each other in the adult timeline, but because of the trauma, and knowing child timeline Zelda wasn't technically the same person as adult timeline Zelda, Link never got together with her. They are shown to care very deeply.
Stand proud, fellow Zelinker. Your ship is objectively correct.
@@Dav06_23 I'm crying 😭 thank you for the validation stranger on the internet, I will o7
@@yuriakibara8469It is my utmost pleasure to continue sharing the Zelink truth most ignore. Take care, friend o7
The algorithm has blessed you.
I mean... in TOTK the house Link renovates is called Zelda's house and still has Link's photo of the champions if you did the champion's ballad dlc. To me, that's really clear indication that they were living together between botw and totk.
Tears of the Kingdom: They literally live in the same house with only one bed.
My man does not know about botw Kass's quest line!
1:15 / 9:56 Link to the Past, the Oracles games, and Link's Awakening are all the same Zelda and Link, they should be in the same category; Probably Not.
At the beginning of LttP Link's Uncle says "Zelda is your..." implying they have a connection that Link is unaware of, which makes Links reaction to the kiss at the end of Oracles a tad strange.
7:10 A Link between Worlds Zelda and Link are distant descendants of the previous incarnations ⬆, so I'd also put them in Probably Not.
The Malon x Link in OoT theory is a ship that I find way too universally accepted with very little basis. I find it hard to believe that an optional side quest girl with no real relation to Link’s struggles and story becomes at all relevant just because TP Link starts off in a farm. This false relation could also apply to the Hero’s Shade’s arena being Hyrule Castle. It’s a place that is important to him even more than Lon Lon Ranch, if he valued the ranch and his “wife,” then would it not be Lon Lon Ranch as it appeared in OoT? I won’t ask you to take this point seriously, I’m simply trying to show that you can either pass something off as a coincidence or evidence, but simply dismissing Zelda x Link just because there are a grand total of two (ranch and Epona) references that cause fans to point to Malon x Link doesn’t make it more credible. But, I bet that before I can convince anyone that Link x Zelda is canon in OoT, I can first convince you that Malon x Link is not.
The strongest piece of evidence that supports Link x Malon is how TP Link from a ranch village and his horse’s name is Epona. I already take issue with this theory because there is arguably MORE evidence pointing to that TP Link doesn’t come from Ordon. TP Link (in the manga) comes from a unit of Hyrule knights in training. He runs away after some key story events and ends up in Ordon by coincidence. It also explains why Link is the only pointed ear Hylian out of a village of rounded eared humans. You don’t have to accept the manga as cannon, but you would still have to try and explain why Link is the only pointed ear Hylian in a village completely inhabited by round ear humans. Without the manga, one would still logically infer that he didn’t come from the ranch village. The only reason I can see why anyone would make the stretch that Link was born and raised as a rancher is to better advertise Link x Malon. This doesn’t make it more likely, just more convenient as a way to pass off Malon x Link.
TLDR: Malon x Link is dumb and stupid, I win.
3:40 local play too, sync it to your smartphone
I feel like a category that's inconclusive for there just not being anything to go on would have fit in, but honestly that'd eat up most of the the No ones if not all of them.
Dude forget the ALTTP manga. The COMIC !!!! Broke my heart at the end 😂
I feel like skyward sword is absolutely cannon, because didn’t they found the kingdom? And therefore they were probably the first king and queen, meaning they also had kids together. That sounds pretty cannon to me.
Or I could just be making it up idk I haven’t played skyward sword
You were absolutely on point with the TOTK prediction. Yeah, I agree with most of these. The only one I'm not totally sure on, that is strictly from the games at least, is Wind Waker. Tetra and Link do have a strong connection, but idk, they never fully felt like they have something going on? At least to me. They could, yes, so that's why I'd put her at the bottom of "probably" or at the top of "probably not".
Ok this is one of the best ZeLink videos I've seen in a while good job! I also I have a lot to comment about each ship so here you go:
Spirit Tracks: Ok so THANK YOU for putting this ship above Skyward Sword. A lot of people put Skyward Sword ZeLink above Spirit Tracks and while that ship is cute, Spirit Tracks actually has Zelda accompany Link on his journey and you get to see how they go from awkwardly smiling when meeting each other for the first time, to developing a close friendship and (possibly) a romance.
Ocarina/Majora: Ok so I'm kind of split between this one. I personally ship Link with Malon but after reading the manga and watching "Hero's purpose," I'm not against the idea of them ending up together after Majora's Mask.
Link to the past: While this ZeLink is cute in the manga, Marin exists. That's all I need to say
A Link Between Worlds: I'm with you. Ravio and Hilda have way better chemistry than Link and Zelda in this game. Also I ship Link with Irene.
BOTW/TOTK: I'm also with you on this one. I like Mipha and Link more than Link and Zelda pre-calamity but after Calamity, I can see them together.
Twilight Princess: Yes, ZeLink makes no sense here and they're a lot more professional in this game, but you forgot my girl MIDNA! Midna's a lot more interesting than Illia, and Midna actually is with Link through out most of the game. Also Link and Midna kiss in the manga (I know it's not canon but I don't care).
That's all I got to say :)
I'm glad you agree with most of my placements.
Yes Skyward Sword is a "given" but Spirit Tracks does feel better developed.
I know I forgot Midna but the Ilia relationship was such a massive part of the story I figured it took more precedence. Although Midna would've been next best ship.
LinkxIrine in LBW is a good one!
Manga LttP was such a good cute ship. Unfortunately wasn't really there in the game
TL;DR thanks for enjoying the video.
@@andyblargextra You're welcome :)
@@Lady_ETHNE I think you meant Link's awakening instead of AlltP.
And yeah OoT is.. difficult. I am a sworn ZeLink shipper for I think all games (yes even TP even if it doesn't make sense) but Malon is such a sweet girl and ... aaahhhh
3 way ship I guess it is. xD
@@fabi3790 no I didn’t get them mixed up. the Link in alttp is the same one from la
@@Lady_ETHNE ohhh ok
Zelda 2 is a hug actually, the curtain just blocks it.
In ToTK it's revealed that hey shared Link's house in between games, so that should definitely be the highest one.
Oh you haven’t tried the masks with oot Zelda. She loves one mask and you make her laugh
Some people speculate that the incarnations in OOT are siblings.
Somehow, Toon Link has Zelda quite more often then we thought... Bro is lucky!
Hey, in Zelda nes they are probably the only young hylians alive. The remainder are old men, old women and and some middle aged merchants. So she would marry a young noble warrior or a kinda fat merchant.
I think its probably.
I think we need to update totk zelda’s placement 💀
Absolute top? Link & Zelda of Wilds are a confirmed couple though
Don’t ever disrespect the GOAT, THE ULTIMATE BRO, GROOSE.
Why is it that the one who literally kisses with link is a "probably" but the ones that are just very trusted childhood friends are "absolutely"?? They could end as just friends, no?
9:19 I'm going to stop you there, that is how she was 100 YEAR ago. and even then that began to change, they literally began to become closer before they had to try to deal with calamity Ganon. I can't accept this as informed list due to this error
Link and Zelda kiss: Hmmm I guess it's possible they get together idk.
Link and Zelda hold hands: LEWD AF, MARRIED WITH FIVE KIDS-
Hero's shade is not a stalfoes, OoT child Link even specifically returns to Hyrule alive and has a child because TP Link is his direct descendant. OoT Link likely gets together with Malon.
Well, he could have had his kid and some time after that became a stalfos
@lury1107 yeah, but again that's not what the Hero's Shade is, and two, most people who say OoT Link is a Stalfoe say he becomes one because of MM even though as a child Link would've became a skull kid, and I highly doubt a 10 year old Link knocked up some girl before MM.
what? he just grew up, then died. and him being a stalfos is like, literally canon information
@@door-chan The Hero's Shade is a spirit not a stalfos, it's never stated that he's a stalfos it's just a common misconception. He doesn't even look anything like other Stalfos in TP.
@@nepnep1453 he might be a spirit, but he takes the form of a stalfos. stal-something is just literally the name for any undead skeletons in zelda, and he is an undead skeleton, in case you couldn't tell. besides, all official sources say he is one, I guess nintendo feel to the common misconception
WINKS ROMANTICALLY
you forgo WHAT makes Lana don't be allowed to have Link? they literally say "BECAUSE HIS SOUL IS FOREVER BENDED WITH ANOTHER SOUL" and then they show us zelda, so is HEAVILY implied that link and zelda are soul mates in that game and they flirt a little at the begining of the game
Too bad TOTK wasn’t out yet. It’s heavily implied they live together and Link “honeymoon” carries her for lack of better words at the end, so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
z1 link has to get with either one of them, as in the manual it's stated he's the future king. since he can read some weird ass scroll lol. i assume, since zelda is much older than him in zelda 2, he gets with the first zelda. they seem to be the same age (children, it's canon link was 10 in the first LOZ) and he would've known her for longer, so it's probably likely. i honestly see the kiss before the credits as a typical peach/mario "thank you for saving me" thing. other than that this video was pretty based (besides some lore errors like oot)
and on a link between worlds, i'm for zelda and hilda. hilda is talking to her and confides in her the whole entire game, and zelda listens. and even after she betrays her, zelda still pities her and wants to save her world. and sure you could argue that's just because they're for the force of good or whatever, but they have more interaction technically than any other characters in the whole game.
Albw hints that alttp zelda might have had romantic feelings for Link
"In every game" (includes her appearance in the cartoons)
Here's the tiers I would have gone with, along with some examples (although instances of it being canonically the same link and zelda will be considered as one pairing).
"Practically confirmed": Skyward Sword, maybe BotW/TotK (moreso TotK given that Link's house in BotW is now called Zelfa's house, the tavle is set for two and Link can sleep in her bed despite only being able to sleep in beds that he either owns or rented for the night) and arguably Spirit Tracks in the "puppy love" sense
"Believable and likely, but not confirmed": Wind Waker/Phantom Hourglass, Hyrule Warriors (I know it's a spinoff, don't care), Minish Cap. And yes, Hyrule Warriors does belong here since the reason why Cia was mad about not being able to get with Link was because he was "fated to only have eyes for another" which is straight up implied to be HW Zelda during the cutecene where the ultimate premise is revealed (yes, the rest of the game doesn't do anything to follow through with that, but they were pretty vlack and white about it).
"Maybe": A Link Between Worlds (there's a hidden portrait that Zelda onsesses over, that depicts a previous hero with the princess if her time).
"Believable, but debunked" Ocarina of Time
"Unlikely, but not decondirmed": Zelda II Adventure of Link
"Not only will it never happen, there isn't even any potential for anything to happen even in a parallel universe where they weren't outright debunked": Twilight Princess, OG Zelda
The Ocarina of time one isn’t technically like that, there are some that say before Link died he married Malon towards the twilight princess path, since the link in that timeline is mostly a farmer.
Honestly, the only one where you lost me was ALBW, Zelda was dropping some HEAVY hints at the beginning of the game when she was showing off the murals depicting the hero. IDK man, she was like, gonna get you to move in as her live in personal guard or something so she could get closer to you. It's been a minute since I played that game, maybe I'm totally off base, but I've always seen them as pretty solidly a couple.
And yeah, Ilia is probably who Link's going to settle for in TP, but you know he's heart only really belonged to Midna. I do absolutely agree, though, about TP Zelda, it's absolutely a Supervisor, subordinate situation, so much so if Link were to get flirty with TP Zelda she'd be on the phone with HR in less than a second.
I’d argue OoT Zelda could be higher, just for the interactions she had with Link as Sheik.
TP Zelda being below OoT Zelda's is hilarious considering we KNOW OoT Zelda did not get with Link in either timeline.
I see no problems with this list, I agree specially with OOT Zelda (Malon for the win)
In the ending of OoT Zelda gives link an indirect kiss by playing the same ocarina. Big deal in Japanese culture
Twilight princess being dead last is the most accurate thing ever. With the scale of hyrule castle in that game rivaling that of dark soul games. She comes from another world and would not marry the "stinky farm boy" even if he was the hero of time.
The Ruto engagement doesn’t, doesn’t count
I will make it count.
Hyrule Warriors story is based on Link always ending up with Zelda…Cia and Lana are canonically jealous of her, so how is Zelda in that game “probably not”, when the story hinges on it? 😂 They don’t have a ton of time together but the story revolves literally around them always ending up together, which means it’s implying strongly that they will as well. Should go in “probably”, though yeah, it’s not an “absolutely”
And Breath of the Wild and Tears of The Kingdom are the same Zelda, so if it’s “absolutely” in one it’s the same in the other. Zelda only starts off indifferent to him but eventually falls for him, and will lead to her in TOTK. Maybe you can say “probably” in Age of Calamity since some things happen differently there and Mipha is still alive in that one, but BOTW and TOTK events follow each other directly in the same timeline.
OoT Zelda should at least move to “probably not”….on the child timeline, anyway. 1st of all, Link does not die as a stalfos in the Losr Woods. While Malon is more likely, it’s not impossible either that Zelda and Link could’ve ended up together. Malon isn’t absolutely confirmed and we don’t truly know TP Links origins outside of him being blood related to OoT Link. It’s enough wiggle room where we can’t absolutely deny it and there is some romantic tension between OoT Link and Zelda there, which could imply they might get together in the child timeline eventually, and at the end of MM or later he could’ve returned to Zelda. In her one cutscene in MM, she does show a closeness with him and an obvious desire to see him again. OoT manga and even official OoT 3D promotional manga pages also point to Link and Zelda in those games. Even if we’re just talking about the games, it’s also endorsed and allowed by Nintendo. But of course, it’s impossible in the adult timeline, and I’d still give the edge to Malon.
Also, a “maybe/could go either way” category would probably help a list like this. I’d put ALBW/ALTTP in categories like that. ALBW Link and Zelda parallel Ravio/Hilda, and the paintings and gossip as you said. ALTTP Link thought Marin was Zelda at first in LA, so there may be something there too.