#២; captured memories ( headcanons; hero of the wild )

[hyrulecast]

and another thing: “The signs of a resurrection of Calamity Ganon are clear,” said the fortune teller to the King long before they dug up those Divine Beasts. The signs become more and more obvious as time goes on (frequent monster attacks, Death Mountain acting weird, etc.).

One of biggest and clearest signs is removing the Master Sword from its pedestal. Thus, Link sees his own existence as a curse to the nation.

[hyrulecast]

bc I love having the Champions’ involvement with Link’s abilities here’s a hot take on things they may or may not have taught him:

Mipha: downward thrust (like the one used in the Ceremonial Song!)

Daruk: the great spin attack

Urbosa: perfect guard

Revali: bullet time ofc. adapted from Link’s own signature move (flurry rush)

[hyrulecast]

of the dorky attempts of being even slightly romantic that Link has done, one of the best has to be the fact he took a Silent Princess flower into his battle with Ganon with the intent / inspiration that he’d be able to hand it to Zelda at the end.

except he forgot about it until waaaayyy later so by the time he did hand her a flower it was crumpled and slightly wilted.

[hyrulecast]

I will continue to love the irresponsible big brother energy Link has. Hand a small child a sword and says “if anything threatening comes at you. stab it. repeatedly.”

[hyrulecast]

As a representative of hope, Link always expects the best in people. That’s why he’s so trusting. He gets it thrown in his face a lot, but he’s not going to stop.

He loves the people of Hyrule. If he didn’t, he’d have given up a loooong time ago.

No matter what. If they’re rude. If they’re selfish. Even if they’re Yiga Clan in disguise. 

For every moment like that, there’s times like helping Kiana make dinner, there’s times like helping Kass’s daughters get their act together and practice singing, there’s Spinch passing by and enjoying being Spinch, there’s the Bolson Construction Co. who love their jobs so much they’d sing it to the heavens and even do a fun dance about it! THERE’S BEEDLE. JUST. BEEDLE. EXISTING.

100 years ago he never gave people a second glance. He was too wrapped up in his own inner turmoil to look outside and realize that the world is worth saving. Now, given his second chance, he sees it all, and he’s gonna fight for it until his last breath.

[hyrulecast]

Another headcanon because I got a headache and it’s all I can do rn

The negativity towards Link (from people like Groose lmao) is actually valid.

Link got his position because of the Master Sword. Rules and traditions were broken because he’s the golden goddesses’ golden boy. People are going to be jealous. They have a right to hate him because they don’t get that privilege and divine nepotism. It is unmistakably unfair. And their actions towards him, however rude, come from a very understandable place. (lbr Groose probably would deck Link in the face if he came across him in a dark alley ok. Link would say he deserved it too.)

This also hurt Link because he has to keep up an impossibly “perfect” appearance for the public causing him to be stressed and shut off from the world. But that “perfect image�� is also a cause for other characters to struggle (like Zelda) because he’s falsely put at the finish line of a goal that’s literally unachievable. He’s already seen as accomplished and successful, but Link himself has so much he hasn’t achieved yet so he feels like he’s living a lie.

And honestly?? I love that dynamic lmao. It’s a whole mess of misunderstandings which makes for some good spicy plots 👌 👌 👌 I’d put the pressure on Link first to break and stop pretending to be something he isn’t but he’s notoriously stubborn.

[hyrulecast]

Link’s grasp on anatomy might be cause for concern if you look at what monster parts are. A Moblin’s lung? “Guts.” A Hinox’s stomach? “Guts.” A Lynel’s heart? “Guts.”

Everything on the inside is guts to him.

[hyrulecast]

Ever since I said he could have a concertina, it’s been Link’s goal to make his own “Champion’s Ballad” for his friends. Something dedicated to the more personal side of his relationship with the Champions. The parts he never wants to forget again.

To Mipha, his best friend since childhood. She promised to always be there for him and held through with it... And the fact he really loves her too, he just still doesn’t know what to say after all this time.

Daruk, the strong and mighty Goron with the softest core. Whose loud and boisterous energy was so contagious. Even with only his memory, Link never truly felt alone as long as he kept Daruk in his thoughts.

Urbosa, her wit as sharp as her blade. She’s poised and graceful, but she could drop it all in a second to laugh and have fun. She doesn’t lose either side of it. When she’s serious, you never forget the times she made you smile. When she’s being funny, you never forget she’s a strong and sensible leader too. He hopes to be like her some day.

And... Revali... a hero’s hero. Link’s hero. He could say he’d do something impossible and then do it without batting an eye. No matter how many tries it takes to get it right. He’s an inspiration! Not just to Link, but to the Rito too! To Teba, Tulin, and Harth– Revali is a true legend and deserves to be remembered as such. 

[hyrulecast]

I’m realizing after two hilariously near-disastrous events in-game... Link has no “off” switch in battle. He has no capability to run from a battle. He’s all fight and no flight. He’s full-sail “do or die trying” and

hoo..... did he almost die a lot.

[hyrulecast]

A small detail but... Since Zelda didn’t know hot-footed frogs produced elixirs but still knew that they had “augmenting” effects on physical ability...

I’m going to go out on a limb and say potion makers are still very much a common thing in old timey Hyrule and nobody really makes their own medicines. They don’t really bother to ask what’s in it, or at the very least they get one half of the ingredients list: “hot-footed frog” or “fireproof lizard!” And they definitely don’t talk about the other stuff. Just like the good old days.

[hyrulecast]

More about Link’s dad, Wren.

Despite suffering a near-fatal injury, Wren refused to retire and insists he’ll serve Hyrule and the royal family to his death. When the Calamity came, he did.

He walks with a limp making his mobility a little dubious. He’s not really fighting out in the field anymore, he just trains other would-be soldiers and knights. He takes great pride in it too! He was once one of the best, and he has plenty to teach.

He can still kick just about anyone’s butt. Though he’d happily admit the Champions (minus Link) definitely have him outmatched. His own son is a different story.

He’s the hardest on Link because he expects a lot out of him. Like... Everyone glorifies Link as the best swordsman in Hyrule, but his own father would point out every bad habit of Link’s he wishes he’d break.

One of those bad habits he’s very stern on, ragging on him being the only Link so far with rag-doll physics: he takes too long to get back up and fight. That was his own fatal flaw in the end and something he doesn’t want to see happen to Link. * I also realize that this unintentionally can apply to a certain 100-year-slumber. WELP. Happy unhappy coincidences. :)

[hyrulecast]

In Creating a Champion, there’s a map that shows the Champions’ paths to their respective Divine Beats and Link and Zelda going to the Castle.

There’s a second map depicting Link and Zelda’s escape route from the castle.

It also mentions that Link and Zelda were guiding survivors to Hateno along their path.

So here’s what happened.

They made it to the castle. And Link could have faced Ganon there. But that fight would have left so many people to die under the Guardians’ rampage. To his very core, his duty has always been to protect Hyrule, its people, and especially Zelda. And that’s the choice he made. First and foremost he was going to get all the survivors of Castle Town to safety. He’d apparently used himself as bait to draw Guardians’ fire while the survivors ran on ahead. He stalled them, and saved as many as he could.

While Link may be riddled with a heavy feeling of guilt now, if he hadn’t done what he did -- and if he ran off to face Ganon in that moment -- there wouldn’t be a Hyrule to save anymore.

[hyrulecast]

One thing worth noting is Link was very careful to use the respectful honorifics when referring to people with status. He never called Zelda by her first name until they were close, it was always “Your/Her Highness” or “Princess.” Same goes for “Lady” Urbosa or something like “Your Grace” which she’d probably hate lmao.

But Mipha, also a princess, was always different. He would slip and call her by her name instead of Lady Mipha, or Princess/Your Highness and then kick himself for it because that’s not proper. But it just shows how close they are and have always been.

Nowadays (post-Calamity) he gives 0 hecks and would call the literal king “Old Man”

[hyrulecast]

I want to stress that Link was a child prodigy in the world of knighthood, not so smart in any other department. He’s kind of a naive airhead who’s easy to fool. Gullible as fuck.

How else do you think Zelda got away from him so many times when his one job was literally to keep an eye on her? She’s smart, he’s not. 

He’s capable of problem-solving, and will eventually get to an answer, but sometimes you gotta question the path he’s taking because his ideas can be a little ... wild.

100 years later, that hasn’t changed one bit.

[hyrulecast]

Link never noticed that all Revali wanted was some praise.

To be fair though, he was in a constant state of dissociation back then and really just spaced out every time Revali was trying to show off. 

[hyrulecast]

Link means well but sometimes he is unknowingly insensitive.

Insensitive enough to follow a mourning woman to a graveyard and accuse her of stealing a sacred heirloom.

And then after she explains to him that a monster murdered her boyfriend, he’s just

“So......... you didn’t steal it...?”