As power couples in gaming go, Link and Zelda are likely somewhere at the top of the list. Whatever state of disrepair Hyrule seems to fall into, both are always ready and willing to step up and solve the problem together. Since the franchise’s earliest days, Link and Zelda have put their minds, their hearts, and their pieces of Triforce together to thwart whatever iteration of Ganon rears its head.
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The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomproves to be no different. In it, players get to see just how united the pair are in their fight against evil. What’s more, fans of the previous game will witness how much their connection has grown in the years sinceBreath of the Wild. Though the game doesn’t confirm a romantic relationship between the two,Tears of the Kingdomstill showcases the best of Zelda and Link’s relationship.
This article contains spoilers forThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom
8A True Companionship
Tears of the Kingdomcontinues the trend ofBreath of the Wildin its environmental storytelling, and much of this storytelling points towards a close friendship between Zelda and Link. In her diary, Zelda writes about how Link rarely leaves her side. All of her closest friends and allies know Link well, too. Given Link’s quiet nature, it’s clear Zelda either speaks about him or is with him often.
Even the opening scene, which follows Zelda and Link into the depths of the caverns below Hyrule Castle, demonstrates the familiarity between the two. Though their aim is to investigate the strange Gloom infecting the land, it’s clear that the two are immensely comfortable in each other’s company. It’s far fromthe firstLegend of Zeldagameto depict them as close friends, butTears of the Kingdomshows a much more grown-up and devoted connection between them.
7A Shared Home
On the topic of grown-up connections, one of the most obvious signposts of the pair’s connection has been a point of gossip and debate among fans. Players familiar withBreath of the Wild’sside quest in which Link can buy a house in Hateno Village will notice a big change inTears of the Kingdom. In this game, the very same house is referred to as Zelda’s house and features only one bed in the same spot upstairs.
Curiously, Link can sleep in this bed, which he can only do in beds that he owns or pays for at an inn. Moreover, players who completedBreath of the Wild’sDLC and earned the Picture of the Champions item will see the same picture still hanging in the house inTears of the Kingdom. These factors, combined with Zelda’s line about how Link never leaves her side, have led to many fans speculating that the two of them live together. While not entirely official, it’s a sweet detail that hints at a more amorous connectionthan in previous games.
6A Generous Nature
In the same diary that can be found in Zelda’s secret study behind her Hateno house, she details a gift she plans on giving to Link –a new Champion’s Tunic. Her line about her excitement to see his face when she surprises him with it is one that demonstrates her strong feelings of generosity toward him.
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This generosity is also mirrored by Link. Aside from going on a whole deadly quest just to find her, Link shows his devotion to Zelda in plenty of small, sweet ways. One such way comes in the opening scene. When Zelda gushes about the discovered murals, Link quietly takes the torch for her so that she can find her Purah Pad to take photos.
5A Common Goal
Like many otherLegend of Zeldagames, Zelda and Link don’t get to spend much time in each other’s company during the actual game. Instead, the audience is merely shown their deep connection through environmental clues and emotional cutscenes. But despite this physical separation, the two could not be more united in their actions.
When Zelda accidentally travels into the past with the help of a Secret Stone, both she and Link waste no time trying to find one another. For Link, this means investigating the strange sightings of the princess through the land. For Zelda, this means finding a way back into the future. And when thethreat of the Demon Kingbecomes too great, both characters pivot their focus to defeating him. They might be centuries apart, but the two are always fighting for the same cause.
4A Connection Through Time
With so much time and space between them, it seems nearly impossible that Zelda and Link would ever see one another again. However, whether it’s fate, magic, love, or destiny, the two remain strongly tied together through time. So much so, that the universe finds ways to connect these two heroes and aid their goal on both sides.
Whenthe Master Sword shattersagainst the power of the Demon King in the present, Link is whisked away by Rauru’s spirit to heal. While restoring his strength on the Sky Islands, a glowing portal appears to him and calls for theMaster Sword. This portal then reverses through the ages to deliver the sword to Princess Zelda. The game gives no clear answers to the source of the light portal, but Light Magic and Time Magic do seem to fit with Zelda’s talents. Either way, this enduring connection that transcends the boundaries of time speaks to the power of Zelda and Link’s relationship.
3A Dedication To The Other’s Success
Loyalty is a core foundation ofZelda and Link’s relationship, andTears of the Kingdomshowcases this in perhaps the clearest ways of anyLegend of Zeldagame. Link’s dedication to finding Princess Zelda, his unerring need to be by her side, and his willingness to step up and protect Hyrule for her are not only typical of his role as her personal guard but also speak to his devotion to her cause.
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Zelda’s actions in the past, too, speak of undying devotion and loyalty. Not only does she sing Link’s praises to anyone who will listen, but she goes to great lengths to ensure the allegiance of all the sages. Through Zelda’s dedication, every sage pledges their entire population to help an unknown hero who won’t be seen for centuries.
2A Link To Humanity
Perhaps one of the best, and most heartbreaking, story elements thatTears of the Kingdomputs forward is Zelda’s sacrifice. In a major twist, it is revealed that Zelda had been in the present all along. Only she was unrecognizable to all who love her. Through a gut-wrenching cutscene, players see Zelda consume her Secret Stone and transform into the Light Dragon.
The game reveals this act is an irreversible one that is forbidden by the Zonai, as it means sacrificing all humanity and losing one’s mind in the process. Still, for Zelda, there is no question of doing it, as it is the only way that a fully healed Master Sword can make its way to Link. Mindless and draconified,Zelda endures the agesthat pass and still finds it within herself to call to Link and aid him.
1A Warm, Loving Embrace
In a game with many emotional scenes, the climax is invariably one of the greats. Using the power of Sonia and Rauru’s spirits, Link directs his own energy toward the draconified Zelda and bathes her in light. With Link’s help, Zelda is returned to her own form and becomes Hylian once more.
As both protagonists plummet toward the surface of the kingdom, the game asks its players to dive toward Zelda through the air. Link reaches out to grab Zelda’s hand in a heart-stopping parallel to the opening scene. He then pulls her into him to land safely in the water below.
After Link pulls her from the water, Zelda describes her time as a dragon as though she was sleeping for hundreds of years. What woke her was a “warm, loving embrace.” Whether she speaks of his midair rescue orhis combined transformative powerwith Sonia and Rauru, it’s clear that Link is an integral part of this embrace. The game leaves players with the sense that, no matter what happens, both Zelda and Link will always find their way to one another’s arms again.
The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdomis available now on Nintendo Switch.
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