The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is a video game released in the year 1991, and is the third installment in

the Legend of Zelda video game franchise.

Sheikah[]

In The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, there is a wizard of unknown origin that comes to Hyrule to free it from the misfortunes; this dark magic practitioner is known as Agahnim. He is represented with an eye symbol on his robes, in the official game artwork; this emblem can also be seen in the floor just before Links breaks the energy barrier with the Master Sword in Hyrule Castle and in the final room just before meeting Agahnim inGanon's Tower. The possibility also comes up because Agahnim was really close to the Royal Family. On a side-note, Agahnim shares some features associated with the Zuna tribe, a race which boasts several parallels to the Sheikah.

Agahnim[]

The eye symbol seen on Agahnim's robes in the game's official artwork is supposedly the emblem of Agahnim. In the game, this symbol can be seen on the floor near the sealed entrance to Hyrule Castle Tower and at the entrance to the room in which Agahnim sends the Seven Maidens to the Dark World. This symbol is strangely reminiscent of the Sheikah Emblem. Also in the manga, Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of time-Part 2, Sheik mentions how the Sheikah symbol was originally just an eye and the tear was added after one of the royal families betrayed the Sheikah, which could mean that Agahnim's symbol is the original symbol of the Sheikahs. However, as the game was released before The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, it could be merely coincidence that the two symbols share similarities. However, in the Temple of Fire in The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, the symbol appears on the floor of the boss chamber and in the room outside, implying a connection.

The eye symbol could also have a connection to the "eye" bosses (i.e. Kholdstare, Arrghus, and Vitreous), making it a common theme among Link's enemies in the game. It is not explained why eyes are significant to Agahnim.

Book of Mudora[]

What appears to be the Book of Mudora has appeared in recent installments of the series. A green book

resembling the Book of Mudora is seen on a table in Impa's house in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. This house is in Kakariko Village, the same town where the book is found in A Link to the Past. Another identical green book can be found on setting on a chair in theLakeside Laboratory. The only difference between these books and the Book of Mudora in Link to the Past is appearance of Sheikah Symbol on the cover in place of a Triforce symbol. However its possible that these books may simply be a Sheikah edition of the Book of Mudora or that the Book of Mudora was actually based on a more ancient Sheikah text found in both Impa's House and Lakeside Laboratory. It is possible that this ancient Sheikah book were later used by Hyrulean Scholars and/or Sages to create the Book of Mudora or that the Book of Mudora is simply a modern edition of those ancient books.

The Book of Mudora is also similar to the book that Gaepora holds in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.

Death Mountain[]

"Take a good look at that mountain. That is Death Mountain, home of the Gorons."

— Impa

Death Mountain (デスマウンテン Desu-Maunten^?, [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]) is a recurring

Death Mountain Artwork (The Legend of Zelda) — Death Mountain

location in the Legend of Zelda series. A huge mountain or mountain range that is typically the highest geographical point of Hyrule, Death Mountain has become a well known location within the series, and serves as the homeland of the proud Goron race in most games. Occasionally, entry to Death Mountain is restricted; one must receive permission from the Royal Family of Hyrule to enter the mighty mountain. It is generally believed that the name Death Mountain is used for many different mountains in the series, but because some of its appearances share certain geographical or topographical similarities, some Death Mountains are believed to be one and the same.

Dragon Roost Island[]

It is believed that Dragon Roost Island, an island in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

, is Death

Mountain. Prior to the events of

The Wind Waker, most of Hyrule was flooded and buried at the bottom of what came to be known as the Great Sea. However, the tall Death Mountain managed to stay above water. Gorons have long since left their traditional dwelling, disguising themselves as Traveling Merchants. Instead, the Rito race, a race confirmed to be descendants of the Zora, live here in dwellings cut into Dragon Roost Mountain. The first dungeon, Dragon Roost Cavern, is believed to beDodongo's Cavern. Dragon Roost Island is not an active volcano like Death Mountain, but there is a small volcano directly south of it called Fire Mountain. Another fact that supports this theory is the existence of Bomb Flowers that grow in Dragon Roost Island as well as in Death Mountain.

Eldin Volcano[]

It is also widely believed that Eldin Volcano from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was later renamed Death Mountain, as it is the only mountainous area in the land that would eventually be known as Hyrule.

Din(Goddess)[]

"Din... With her strong flaming arms, she cultivated the land and created the red earth."

— Great Deku Tree

Din, the Goddess of Power, is a recurring character in the Legend of Zelda series. She is one of the three Golden Goddesses of Hyrule. Din, along with her sisters Nayru and Farore, came down from the heavens and created Hyrule out of the chaos the land formerly was, each contributing her part in the process. Din, the Goddess of Power, formed the terrain of Hyrule. Upon departure, the three goddesses left the Triforce, the essence of their power, in the Sacred Realm. As the goddess of power, Din is closely associated with the Triforce of Power.

The spell Din's Fire was named after her. The Oracle of Seasons, Din of Holodrum, is named after the Goddess of Power. Din's Pearl, belonging to the Rito people, was also named after her, and said to have once belonged to her. Eldin Province, a province of Hyrule featuring volcanic mountains, is named in her honor. The Light Spirit, Eldin, and its spring were also named after her likeness. In addition, the dragon Eldin is named after the goddess. Her symbol is the Mark of Din.

Goddess of the Sand[]

It is speculated that Din is the Goddess of the Sand that the Gerudo worship. Some evidence supporting

this theory is that Farore could supposedly be the "Goddess of Wind" spoken of in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Nayru could supposedly be the "Goddess of Time" spoken of in The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. (Note, Farore could also be the goddess of time, as Ciela is the spirit of courage and time in The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, and Farore is the definitely the goddess of courage. Also, the mark of Nayru is on the Isle of Gust in the same game, so she would most likely be the goddess of wind (also, wind tends to be associated with sand). One contradiction, though, is that Lanayru in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, has an abundance of Timeshift Stones. The Arbiter's Grounds in Twilight Princess contain statues resembling the Goddess of Sand, holding flames; fire is often closely associated with Din. She would also be indirectly connected to the Gerudo tribe through Ganondorf's Triforce of Power. However, some contradictions to this theory include Din's Fire being found outside Hyrule Castle, while Nayru's Love is found at the Desert Colossus near the Gerudo's home. Furthermore, the idea that Nayru is the Goddess of Time and Farore is the Goddess of Wind is only speculation. A further refute is that in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Lanayru Desert is named after Nayru and not Din. The region, however, could have just retained the name as it was a cliff and sea area before.

Mountain Goddess[]

Some theorize that Din is the Mountain Goddess from The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. Din is known for creating the earth and its features, which would include mountains. It is possible that, over time, her name faded out of memory and she came to be referred to as the Mountain Goddess. However, the Mountain Goddess has never been mentioned in any games other than Spirit Tracks, by the Gorons or any other race. Also, the eruptions believed to be caused by the Mountain Goddess were in reality caused by Cragma. This may indicate that the Mountain Goddess may not even be real.

Farore(Goddess)[]

If Farore is indeed the Goddess of Wind as Tingle states, the Wind Temple

may be dedicated to her.

Since Link holds the Triforce of Courage and is the Hero of Time, Farore may be the Goddess of Time. Evidence supporting this theory is the fact that Ciela, the Spirit of Courage, is also the Spirit of Time. Her symbol is also the Mark of Farore.

Great Cataclysm[]

"...Do you know the prophecy of the Great Cataclysm? This is the way I heard it... If a person who has an evil heart gets the Triforce, a Hero is destined to appear... ...and he alone must face the person who began the Great Cataclysm. If the evil one destroys the Hero, nothing can save the world from his wicked reign. Only a person of the Knights Of Hyrule, who protected the royalty of Hylia, can become the Hero..."

— Maiden

The Great Cataclysm is an event mentioned in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Arguably one of

the most important, yet tragic events in Legend of Zelda mythos, it occurs at the moment when Ganondorf enters the Sacred Realm of legend and steals theTriforce, throwing the world into chaos. It is unknown exactly when the Great Cataclysm takes place, but since The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is commonly understood to be when Ganondorf first obtains the Triforce, this is the most likely scenario.

Overview[]

After Link cleanses the evils Ganondorf had cast upon the Great Deku Tree, Dodongo's Cavern, and Lord Jabu-Jabu, he gains possession of the three Spiritual Stones, three of the necessary keys to open the Door of Time in the Temple of Time, and to enter the Sacred Realm, the resting place of the wish-granting Triforce. Following Ganondorf's attack on Hyrule Castle, Princess Zelda entrusts the Ocarina of Time, another of the keys to the Sacred Realm, to Link and leaves with him the knowledge of the "Song of Time", the tune necessary to open the Door of Time. Link travels to the Temple of Time and places the Spiritual Stones upon their altar and plays the "Song of Time" on the Ocarina to open the Door of Time. Behind the Door, Link finds the chamber that houses the legendary Blade of Evil's Bane, the Master Sword, the final key to the Sacred Realm that cannot be touched by those of an impure heart. Link pulls the sword from the Pedestal of Time and opens the portal to the Sacred Realm, but is too young to become the legendary "Hero of Time", and thus, he and his fairy companion, Navi, are placed into an enchanted slumber in the Temple of Light, the Triforce's home at the heart of the Sacred Realm, for seven years.

Meanwhile, Ganondorf uses the portal Link creates in the Temple of Time to enter the Sacred Realm. Here, he places his tainted hands on the Triforce, causing it to split apart into its three components, leaving Ganondorf with only the Triforce of Power. The Triforce of Wisdom goes to Princess Zelda, and the Triforce of Courage to Link. The Sacred Realm becomes a reflection of Ganondorf's heart, transforming the once-beautiful Golden Land into a realm of darkness and despair. Still not satisfied, Ganondorf returns to Hyrule and easily conquers the land with the might of the Triforce of Power. For seven long years, he rules the land largely unopposed as the King of Evil, always on the lookout for those two special people chosen by destiny to hold the other two Triforce pieces. Over the course of those seven dark years, Ganondorf eradicates the Knights of Hyrule and infests Hyrule's temples with his minions to prevent the awakening of the Seven Sages, and thus forestall the prophecy of the Hero of Time.

Other Possibilities[]

Although the above seems to be the most likely candidate for the Great Cataclysm, this is never verified in any game. The "Great Cataclysm" mentioned in A Link to the Past could simply be a term used for the events just prior to the start of A Link to the Past, or anything else.

The term "Great Cataclysm" could also not just be a single event, but an event destined to repeat itself every time evil threatens the Triforce of legend. This idea is supported by something one of the Seven Maidens says to Link: "If a person who has an evil heart gets the Triforce, a Hero is destined to appear...and he alone must face the person who began the Great Cataclysm. If the evil one destroys the Hero, nothing can save the world from his wicked reign." This theory was further supported in Skyward Sword, when Demise tells Link that the incarnation of his hatred will continue to plague Link and Zelda's descendants in an endless battle shortly before dying.

Hero's Clothes[]

Because the Link in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword was the first hero chosen by the Gods, and the

knights are seen wearing the Hero's Clothes, it is possible that this is where they originated from, and from this Link they have been passed down. It is more likely however, that the Hero of Time was the one who passed down the idea as shown in Wind Waker and Twilight Princess.

Hyrule[]

While certain landmarks of Hyrule commonly return, Hyrule's geography appears to be laid out differently with almost every new game set in it. Parts of Hyrule found in one game's map may be in a different location, have different geographical features, or be completely absent in another. While some games may take into account the geography in past Zelda games (A Link to the Past and Four Sword Adventures share almost the same Hylian geography) others may completely ignore them (The Minish Cap's Hyrule bears almost no resemblance to any other game). Several fan explanations have been given. The first is that the changes occurred because of geological events between the games such as earthquakes, mudslides, erosion, forest growth, continental drift, or all of the above. The second theory is that Hyrule's geography stays relatively the same but that each new game shows the same Hyrule seen from a different angle, that landmarks are renamed, or that other unseen parts of Hyrule are seen each game.

Some fans argue that while Hyrule does change from game to game it is simply due to gameplay reasons

to give players something new to explore while staying in the same land and has no real in-game explanations.

It is also possible that different parts of Hyrule are shown throughout the various games. In The Legend of Zelda comics, the map from Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is added to the north of the map found in The Legend of Zelda, and the in-game map for Zelda II: The Adventure of Link also has an area that resembles a scaled down version of the map in The Legend of Zelda. The geography then allows the map from A Link to the Past to be included to the west.

Knights of Hyrule[]

It is possible that the Knights of Hyrule trace their origins back to the Knights of Skyloft from The Legend of

Zelda: Skyward Sword as a means of protecting the citizens of Hyrule. The Hylian Shield as well as the Knight's Crest bears a bird motif, possibly representing the Loftwing, further supporting this idea.

Link[]

Reincarnation[]

A common theory as to why each incarnation of Link looks similar and have similar abilities is

that they are reincarnations of one another. It is notable that when Demise put a curse onto the Skyward Sword, Link, and Zelda, he stated "Those like you... Those who share the blood of the goddess and the spirit of the hero." which may have been referring to reincarnation. It should be noted however, that Link from The Wind Waker could not be the reincarnation of the Hero of Time since the latter went to the Child Timeline and effectively disappeared from the Adult Timeline. According to the King of Red Lions, the Hero of Winds has no connection to the Hero of Time, though it is unclear whether he is referring to blood relation or reincarnation with this statement. It is worth noting that Ganondorf believes the Hero of Winds is the Hero of Time reborn, though his claim has no concrete evidence. Link from Twilight Princess also could not be the reincarnation of the Hero of Time since, according to Hyrule Historia, he not only met the Hero of Time as the Hero's Shade, but is however his descendant.

Relatives[]

Another theory as to why each incarnation of Link looks similar to one another is that they are actually related to one another. This is supported by the fact that the Hero of Time is the ancestor of Link in Twilight Princess as well as how it is stated in A Link to the Past that the Master Sword can only be pulled out from its pedestal by the ones who carry the bloodline of the Knights of Hyrule. It is possible that when Demise stated "Those like you... Those who share the blood of the goddess and the spirit of the hero," when he put a curse on Link and Zelda, he was actually referring to the "spirit of the hero" as a form of will or a set of personality traits rather than the soul itself. If this is the case, this could explain each Link's connection with the Triforce as well as their abilities in physical, mystical, and spiritual ways.

This may mean when he was stating "Those who share the blood of the goddess" he was referring to Skyward Sword Link and Zelda's descendants as the other incarnation of Links rather than the Royal Family of Hyrule, where an alternate reason for the Royal Family having magical powers is the Light Force as hinted in The Minish Cap. This would explain why Link faces other adversaries aside from Ganon, with Zelda (or other members of the Royal Family) sometimes not being present to support the side of good in games such as as Majora's Mask, Link's Awakening and Tri Force Heroes The original Japanese text that Demise states is that his hatred and the Demon Tribe will go under an "evolution", which may mean the curse could involve other villains apart from Ganon himself.

If each Link is related to one another, they need not be related along a single line of descendants. For example, the Hero of Winds cannot be a direct descendant of the Hero of Time since the latter returned to the Child Timeline immediately after his victory over Ganon while being a young preteen in a teenager's body, but provided the Hero of Winds can trace his lineage to Skyward Sword Link, the theory still holds. It is possible that the reason why the Master Sword can only be pulled from it's pedestal by someone who carries the bloodline of the Knights of Hyrule is actually a sub-conscience decision by Fi, who is the spirit of the Master Sword.

Madas[]

It is possible that in the contemporary Hylian language during the events of Skyward Sword, Link's name may be "Madas" when pronounced. This would explain why Fi, when talking to Link in dialogue that uses his name, often says "Madi Madas" with "Madi" possibly being "Master" in the language. Alternatively, it is possible that Fi's words are gibberish used repetitively in the game, similar to Midna in Twilight Princess.

Link's Father[]

Although never confirmed, it is possible that Link's Father is first referenced in A Link to the Past, as the Pedestal of Time reads:

The Hero's triumph on Cataclysm's Eve, wins three Symbols of Virtue. The Master Sword he will then retrieve, keeping the Knights' line true.

Link from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is presumably the hero mentioned in the above narrative. As a child, he won the three Spiritual Stones: the Kokiri's Emerald, Goron's Ruby and Zora's Sapphire. On the day he completes this quest and returns to deliver the stones to Princess Zelda (the day referred to as the "Great Cataclysm's Eve"), he unwittingly lets Ganondorf into the Sacred Realm by opening the Door of Time, allowing Ganondorf to seize and inadvertently shatter the Triforce. This Link awoke seven years later and retrieved the Master Sword, using it and the power of the Seven Sages to fight Ganondorf/Ganon. The statement that he "kept the Knights' line true" implies he was descended from the Knights of Hyrule, and that possibly, his father was one of these knights.

Link's Uncle[]

In the original Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Virtual Console versions of A Link to

the Past, the uncle's last words were "Zelda is your...". The meaning of this phrase has long been debated, leading some to believe that the entire sentence would have read "Zelda is your sister". Today it is generally accepted that it was meant to be something along the lines of "Zelda is your destiny", though a more accurate translation results in "You are the princess's...", which still leaves room for speculation as to what the conclusion to the statement is. In any case, the Game Boy Advance version of A Link to the Past features a new translation with numerous changes to the dialogue and text, including the aforementioned phrase[1]. Through a certain glitch, it is possible to find the body of Link's uncle that can be conversed with and will speak the original dialogue before transforming into Blind the Thief. He also does this when encountered in the Palace of the Four Swords.

Monkey[]

In Twilight Princess, monkeys aid Link inside the Forest Temple, which is implied to be their

natural habitat. A female monkey guides Link on his journey to the Sacred Grove (much like Saria did in Ocarina of Time), suggesting the monkeys are actually transformed Kokiri, who, either by evolution or some other form of change, needed to better adapt to their changing environment. The monkeys also appear to have tattoos of the Kokiri symbol on their shoulders. The Forest Temple itself is theorized to be the remains of the Great Deku Tree from Ocarina of Time; this would also imply that Faron Woods, or some part of it, was once Kokiri Forest, which would also explain why the area is relatively uninhabited.

Hyrule Historia possibly debunks this theory, however, as it claims the only traces of the Kokiri left by the time of Twilight Princess was their symbol in the Forest Temple, implying they completely died out rather than evolving into a new form.

Multiple Ganon Theory[]

The Multiple Ganon Theory is the theory that there exists more than one Ganon/Ganondorf in the Zelda timeline, in much the same way that Link and Princess Zelda exist as more than one person throughout the Legend of Zelda series. Variations include ideas that Ganondorf is locked in the same cycle of reincarnation as Link, or that Ganon is a malevolent demon who possesses people, Ganondorf being one such host. Supporting the reincarnation idea, it is said by the Gerudo that only a single male is born into their tribe every one hundred years. Depending on the game, he is said to be destined to become either the King of the Gerudo or the guardian of the desert and the Gerudo.

Although the theory has been around for quite some time, most modern versions of this theory stem out of Ganondorf's back-story in The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, which conflicts with Ganondorf's back-story in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. In Four Swords Adventures the Gerudo talk about a man named Ganondorf who had been born and lived in the Desert of Doubt with them. They mentioned that he had grown into an evil man with a lust for power and had broken their laws by stealing a Trident deep in the desert that gave him incredible powers, such as transforming him into Ganon.

This is in direct contrast to the back-story Ganon was given in Ocarina of Time, in which he is acknowledged by many as the king of the Gerudo, and does not become Ganon until acquiring the Triforce of Power. Additionally, the back-story of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, which explains the actions of the Ganondorf from Ocarina of Time in an alternate timeline, says that a tribe of thieves, most likely the Gerudo, followed him in his attack on Hyrule, again showing that he was accepted as king.

There are only three logical explanations to these conflicting back-stories:

One is that a single Ganondorf had ventured to the desert and stolen the Trident, broke out of the seal he was placed at at the end of Four Swords Adventures but was not killed by Link, turned back into Ganondorf, and returned to the Gerudo later at a time that they were willing to acknowledge him as king. This would require that Four Swords Adventures take place before Ocarina of Time. The second explanation is that the game is not part of the overall storyline within the series, though official statements indicate that all the games from the main series are included in the official timeline document. The third explanation is that the Ganondorfs from the two games are separate incarnations, much like the many Links, Zeldas, and other characters who are seen multiple times throughout the series. This theory is supported by a quote at the end of Four Swords Adventures in which Princess Zelda calls Ganon an "ancient demon reborn". This is similar language to a line in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker in which Ganondorf calls the game's incarnation of Link "The Hero of Time, reborn". Another solid point for this theory is the apparent death of Ganondorf/Ganon five separate times throughout the series. An individual Ganon is only shown to be resurrected once. Even with this resurrection, and the split timeline allowing a single individual Ganon to die twice, there would still need to be three separate Ganons in order to account for all of the presumed deaths. In order for all of the Ganons in the series to be the same, Ganon would have to have been brought back to life on two additional occasions not hinted at by any of the games, or survived at least two of his apparent deaths.

In The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, Demise states that his hatred will be reincarnated and attack in a cycle without end. This is often interpreted as meaning that Ganon's repeated appearances are a result of this cycle. If Ganon as we know him is a result of Demise's hatred continuously reincarnating itself, there would be further support for the idea that multiple Ganons could continue to appear even as previous ones are slain. This would support the Multiple Ganon Theory as each Ganon would be a separate incarnation in this cycle, though all of them would share the same basic origin of forming from Demise's hatred.

While the Multiple Ganon Theory has yet to gain wide spread acceptance, it has nonetheless gained the respect of some timeline theorist and fans of the series.

Shigeru Miyamoto has stated that although each Link and Zelda are reincarnations, there is "only one Ganon". However, this statement may now be outdated or may have been made based on a lack of information, as Miyamoto is no longer as involved with the Zelda storyline as he previously was.

According to the Hyrule Historia, a second Ganondorf is born during the events leading to Four Swords Adventures. The book either implies or states directly that the rest of Ganon's appearances are the same being brought back to life, or versions of him in alternate timelines.

Power Glove[]

The Power Glove may have been inspired by a peripheral of the same name for the NES that

allowed the user to utilize motion controls akin to those of the Wii. Today, it is notorious among gamers because of its various technical flaws.

Princess Zelda[]

The relationship Zelda has with Link is close, possibly her closest. A popular theory among

fans is that of a romantic relationship between some of the Zelda and Link characters in the Zelda series. Although never explicitly confirmed in a video game title, this theory is based on hints given in the games, interviews with the game creators, and content of the animated series, comics, and manga (although the last three are generally considered non-canonical).

One hint of a romance between Zelda and Link is given at the end of The Adventure of Link, when the awakened Princess apparently kisses Link under the falling curtain.

Some cutscenes in Ocarina of Time featuring the two together have been interpreted as signs of an attraction. While Link and Zelda are escaping Ganon's Castle, Zelda will additionally show her concern for Link by shouting out whenever he is hurt. Moreover, in the game's final scene, Zelda and Link are floating in the sky together, sharing a decidedly sentimental (if not necessarily romantic) moment where Zelda apologies for involving Link in the events of the game and seems saddened by the situation. She also stated that she will not forget the time she spent with him in the Child Timeline as shown in Majora's Mask through Link's memory.

In addition, if the Oracle games are played as sequels to each other, the ultimate ending sequence shows Zelda lightly kissing Link on the cheek. Link swoons while hearts float above the pair's heads, and Zelda looks away, blushing. In The Wind Waker, when Zelda is asked to stay in hiding in Hyrule Castle while Link restores power to the Master Sword, she waves goodbye to Link, asking him to be careful.

Spirit Tracks features several moments that can be interpreted romantically. Early in the game

during the Graduation Ceremony, Zelda walks into the room in front of Link, who is bowing down respectfully. Link then looks up and gasps, blushing at her in amazement. He is then scolded by Chancellor Cole for raising his head without permission. Later, when Zelda's spirit is separated from her body following the first encounter with Chancellor Cole and Byrne, Link is the only one who can see her besides the Lokomos, demonstrating a clear and strong bond between himself and the Princess. After Zelda and Link defeat Byrne in the Tower of Spirits, Byrne, disbelieving, comments that he was beaten by two humans. Zelda, while still possessing a Phantom, says that when she and Link combine their strength, no one can defeat them. Link turns to her, surprised. The background turns white and Zelda's Lullaby plays as they both laugh and high-five, gazing at each other all the while. Toward the end of the game, before the final battle against Malladus, Zelda is reunited with her body, and is no longer able to levitate. Link runs underneath her to catch her as she falls, and she lands on top of him and knocks them both to the ground as well as knock Link out for a few seconds. Upon awakening, Zelda, overjoyed to have her body back, embraces Link, causing him to blush. Finally, after Malladus is defeated, Zelda and Link watch Anjean and Byrne's spirits ascend to the heavens. The camera then lowers to show Zelda and Link holding hands while Zelda's Lullaby plays in the background. After the credits, a short cut scene shows Zelda gazing at a picture of Link on the Spirit Train with her flying beside him, which she keeps on her desk. she may also wave at Link depending on his answer to a question Zelda asked before.

Skyward Sword has several noticeable romantic moments between Link and Zelda. Early in the game, Zelda wants Link to be the first to see her outfit for the Wing Ceremony. She worries over him and she does not want him to fail at becoming a knight. When Link's Crimson Loftwing is hidden by Groose, Zelda assists Link in finding his Loftwing. After Link wins the Wing Ceremony, Zelda jumps off the ledge and Link catches her almost as if she was expecting him to. She then congratulates him on winning. Afterwards, Zelda mentions that she is very happy to be atop the Statue of the Goddess with him. She also gets extremely close to him and almost implies that the two are to kiss, before she pushes him off the statue. Afterward, Zelda bashfully asks Link to go out flying which they do. She then tells Link how amazing the day was, and that she would remember it forever. At the Temple of Hylia, when Zelda states she must seal herself to keep Demise in place, she sheds tears of sadness and states before all this, she was happy just being with Link on Skyloft, demonstrating a deep level of feelings for Link. Link desperately tries to stop her and when she is sealed, Link lowers his head in sadness, showing his deep feelings for her. Much later in the game, when Link releases Zelda from her sealed state, Link runs up and catches her from falling and both of them hug and walk out smiling at each other, holding hands, before Ghirahim ruins the tender moment. During the ending, Zelda asks what Link will do now. Link sweetly smiles at her while their Loftwings fly off toward the sky, implying that he chose to stay on the Surface to live with Zelda.

A Link Between Worlds features some gossip told to Link by the Rumor Guy. He tells Link that one of the castle staff had seen Zelda sneaking off every night. When she followed her, she saw Zelda staring at the painting in Hyrule Castle depicting the Link and Zelda from A Link to the Past cuddling with each other, implying they became more intimate with each other. This also hints the Zelda in A Link Between Worlds wants to have a similar relationship with the Link of her time.

The game creators also seem to be fond of the idea of romance between the characters.[1]

Though never directly stated in-game, Shigeru Miyamoto revealed in an interview conducted by Famimaga 64 that Navi is jealous of Princess Zelda and has feelings for Link.[2]

Another less popular theory among fans is that Link and Zelda are related by blood, either as siblings or more distantly. Even though rumors to this effect started with the infamous "Save the Princess... Zelda is your... ... ..." line from A Link to the Past (later reported as a mistranslation), the theory generally revolves around the Link and Zelda from Ocarina of Time.

A possible indication of a blood relation between the two in Ocarina of Time is their physical resemblance: they both have blonde hair, blue eyes, and similar facial features. They also have similarly shaped heads. Graphics limitations could be responsible for some of this similarity, however. Certain dialogue could also be perceived as implying a blood relation: the ghost Sharp comments that Link reminds him of Zelda, and that Link "may have some connection with the Royal Family".[3] Link's connection to the Royal Family is highlighted throughout the game, with Link often playing Zelda's Lullaby to verify it. The fact that Impa agrees to teach a strange boy a song only Royal Family members are allowed to know could also be interpreted as a hint at Link's blood relation to Hyrule's Royal Family. [4]

Additionally, Zelda seems to recognize Link's name upon their first meeting.[5] This could be attributed to her prophetic abilities, although the boy in her dreams seemed to be a largely abstract figure, with no defining traits aside from the presence of a guardian Fairy and a Spiritual Stone. This line of dialogue has often been regarded as a sign that the two have met before, although this could only have occurred when Link was a baby per the Deku Tree Sprout's account of Link's coming to Kokiri Forest. It is also worth noting that while the King of Hyrule is clearly identified as Zelda's father, no mention is made of a Queen. Meanwhile, Link's mother is stated to have died shortly after reaching the forest, but no information is given concerning his father. Given these facts, it is possible that Zelda and Link share the same parents, making them siblings.

Pyramid[]

It is possible that the Pyramid may actually be the Temple of Light, the mythical location at

the heart of the Sacred Realm where the Triforce is kept. In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Rauru, the Sage of Light, states the Temple of Light is located at the center of the Sacred Realm, which, in A Link to the Past, has been transformed into a Dark World by the wicked wishes of Ganon. As the Pyramid has a relatively centralized location in the transformed Sacred Realm and does indeed contain the resting place of the Triforce, it is possible that the Pyramid is the corrupted form of the Temple of Light.

Sacred Realm[]

"In a realm beyond sight the sky shines gold, not blue. There, the Triforce's might makes mortal dreams come true." — Book of Mudora verse

The Sacred Realm (聖地 Seichi?, Sacred Land), also referred to as the Golden Land, is a

recurring location in the The Legend of Zelda series. The Sacred Realm is described as a mythical plane, or parallel world, created along with Hyrule by the three Golden Goddesses. It is the resting place of the Triforce, an artifact of great power left by the Goddesses. Though the Sacred Realm is linked to Hyrule, the way to access it and acquire the Triforce within is shrouded in secrecy.

Ocarina of Time[]

The backstory of A Link to the Past has many similarities to the events of Ocarina of Time. The name "Seven Wise Men" from A Link to the Past is actually a mistranslation, with the original Japanese and later English re-releases giving them the same name as the Seven Sages from Ocarina of Time. Two of Ocarina of Time's developers, character designer Satoru Takizawa and script director Toru Osawa, even stated that the Imprisoning War and Seven Sages mentioned by A Link to the Past were the same events and characters seen in Ocarina of Time. Despite this, there are some details which conflict between the two accounts. Many fans consider these details to be retconed in the face of overall similarities and developer confirmation, while others maintain that the two games are describing separate events and characters.

Silent Realm[]

The Silent Realm from The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is theorized to be the Sacred Realm. In Skyward Sword, Link obtains all three pieces of the Triforce in a place which appears to be the Silent Realm, given the area's identical appearance, method of entry, and Link's lack of items in the area. Because the stories of the creation of Hyrule state that the Triforce was left in the Sacred Realm, it would make sense that in Skyward Sword, which is generally accepted as the first game in the chronology of the series, the Triforce would be found in the Sacred Realm. The Silent Realm also changes to appear golden upon Link's acquisition of the full Triforce, similar to the Sacred Realm's description as the "Golden Land". However, the nature of the Silent Realm is distinctly different from that of the Sacred Realm. While both are equivalent worlds to Hyrule, the Silent Realm is a spirit world which only Link can enter, leaving Fi, his items, and his own physical body behind. The Sacred Realm, however, is a normal physical world, which any person can enter with their own body and equipment.

Secret Passage[]

This secret passage may be the same sewer passage Wolf Link and Midna use during their own

prison escape in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, though this is never explicitly stated or implied.

Seven Wise Men[]

It is strongly implied in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time that the Seven Sages are the

Seven Wise Men and that the events of the game is the Imprisoning War. This concept is furthered in the Game Boy Advance port for A Link to the Past where the Seven Wise Men are renamed the Seven Sages. Also, in Ocarina of Time, Impa refers to the Six Sages as the "Wise Ones". The original Japanese name for the Seven Wise Men is also identical to the Japanese name for the Seven Sages, with "Seven Wise Men" being a mistranslation of what is more accurately "Seven Sages". In an interview conducted at the time of Ocarina of Time's release, the game's character designer, Satoru Takizawa, and the game's script director, Toru Osawa, stated that the apparent Imprisoning War and the Seven Sages seen in Ocarina of Time are the same ones mentioned in A Link to the Past. This is also support by Hyrule Historia.

Despite these facts however, there are some counterarguments to this theory. The main one is that five of the seven sages are female, and only one of these males is Hylian. Also, some of the Imprisoning War's description in the game's prologue contradicts the the events of Ocarina of Time. Although these counter arguments are indeed true, this can easily be explained away as retcon, and most fans have come to accept that the Seven Wise Men and the Seven Sages are indeed one and the same.

Silver Arrow[]

Silver arrows may have been inspired by Silver Bullets, which are often the only weapon capable

of defeating werewolves, witches, or other fictional monsters in folklore.

Six Medallions[]

The design of the symbols on Forest, Fire, and Spirit Medallions are first introduced in

Ocarina of Time; however, the Light, Water and Shadow Medallions may have been extracted from locations in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. The teleport point at Death Mountain in A Link to the Past is a circle where several rocks compose a symbol very similar to the one shown in Light and Shadow Medallions. Upon entering in the portal, in the Dark World counterpart of this location, there is another circle, where bushes compose the Water Medallion.

Spectacle Rock[]

Spectacle Rock, located at the summit of Death Mountain, presumably appears as an island on the

Great Sea known as Spectacle Island. The Great Sea, the country in which the game is set, was in truth created when Hyrule was flooded by the Gods. Spectacle Rock, the very top of the tall, tall Death Mountain, is the only surviving landmark of that area. However, there is a conflicting theory that Dragon Roost

Island is Death Mountain, due to the ring of smoke seen on Link's first visit there and the fact that it is a volcano, as well as the fact that it is taller than all other Islands in the game.

Split Timeline[]

It is speculated by some that alternate worlds such as the Twilight Realm and Termina may be unaffected by the timeline split. However, while these two realms are alternate dimensions, there is no evidence to support the idea that they exist outside of linear time. Both realms have demonstrated the ability to receive beings from the Child Timeline and return them to the Child Timeline when they exit back into Hyrule. There is no reason to believe that these two realms would only exist as a single timeline, or that they could "prioritize" inputs from one timeline, and later output these into both the timelines.

In addition, the renowned Youtube show, Game Theory, dismissed the Zelda Timeline, particularly the Defeat Timeline (in where Link fails on his quest) on the grounds that "the hero cannot be simultaneously victorious and defeated". Elaborating, he explained that with Link defeating Gannondorf, two perfectly possible timelines are created; However if Link dies at any point in his journey another separate timeline is created. Explaining that the only way for all 3 timelines to exist is the Many Worlds Theory (the theory that all possible pasts and futures exist in separate timelines). [1]