#And possibly see a more complex Ganondorf

[skyloftian-nutcase]

TotK DLC idea!

The screen is black. You don’t hear anything for a long time. Then, faintly, in the distance, you can hear it.

Link. Link. Open your eyes.

While the line echoes familiarity, the voice does not.

Or. Well. It does. Because while it isn’t Zelda, it’s a familiar man’s voice speaking gently, so gently you almost don’t recognize it because there’s no way he ever spoke like this in the main game.

But he is now. And instead of a golden light being the first image you see before the screen shows Link awakening… you see gloom floating in the air. The image cuts to a Hylian waking up who… doesn’t look like Link from TotK?? He’s different, still small in stature, with slightly tanner skin, platinum light blonde hair, and red eyes. But… something’s wrong with his forehead. There’s a weird line on it.

This new character you apparently are gonna be playing in the DLC blearily blinks his eyes open, clearly groggy and too weak to really move. But then that line on his forehead moves a hair, it splits apart, and you realize it’s a freaking eye, red and yellow and it’s like the ones on gloom hands and oh gosh what the hell is it doing on his forehead—

Link realizes something is off and his eyes blow wide, his hands reach for his forehead and he screams in agony and terror, only for someone to scoop him into a hug to soothe him.

And suddenly you realize why that voice was eerily familiar.

It’s Ganondorf. He resurrected you from the era of the Imprisoning War. You, who have a history with him and his family. You, who he wants to protect, who he views as his kid, who he calls a prince and says he’ll keep you safe by controlling your body with his dark magic if he has to.

Welcome to Tears of the Kingdom: Hero’s Shadow.

You have to play a long gone Hero who was resurrected. Ganondorf, who is still recovering his strength in preparation for killing the current Hero, tasks you with finding your betrothed, his daughter, as well as his wife. They’re buried somewhere in the Depths like you were. He wants you to find their burial sites so he can use his secret stone to resurrect them like he did you, and control them as well. Which is doubly bad when you realize his wife was the original Sage of Lightning. He gives you free reign to wander once you go through a tutorial (he tests you to see if you’ve recovered enough strength), because he knows you love wandering and collecting things. Your own personal objective, however, is trying to help Hyrule from the Depths, to break free from Ganondorf’s control, because Link would rather set himself on fire than let Ganondorf resurrect and control the love of his life and his mother-in-law. Your best hope is to find shards of the shattered Master Sword to try and stab the eye on Dark Link’s forehead and break the control Ganondorf has on you. Until you can, though, the monsters are your allies, you can teleport across the Depths by manifesting out of the gloom created by gloom hands (just like what Phantom Ganon does), and the world below is your oyster. If you get too close to sword shards when gloom hands are nearby, Ganondorf can see your attempt and immediately takes control of your body, and no matter what button you press Link just walks back to Ganondorf’s location and stays there until you get a chance to try again.

You start with three hearts, all empty looking like when gloom hurts you, and if you get injured they just shatter. Whenever they all shatter, you respawn at Ganondorf’s location because his gloom hands came and rescued you from dying. The only way you can get more hearts is by collecting poes and offering them to the statues in the Depths. You can communicate with the spirits of soldiers, who may give you combat tips or info about the area. If you gain enough of Ganondorf’s trust, he’ll let you command monsters, and he might even let you wander the Surface (under his supervision) during a blood moon.

You learn of Link’s and Ganondorf’s history through discovering ancient relics/texts that trigger memories. This connection between you and Ganondorf stems back to time before the war, well over ten thousand years ago. Link was engaged to Ganondorf’s daughter, but during the Imprisoning War the family fought against the demon king. Ganondorf did love his family, but he loved power more. Link sacrificed himself, letting himself get mortally wounded to save Rauru from a killing blow. Gan held him as he died, and it allowed Link to both beg him to stop and stab him in the heart with a light shard. The shard didn’t kill him, but it was what Rauru connected with when he hit him in the chest, allowing him to seal Ganondorf away. Ganondorf still wants the world, but his love for his family is still present, though now twisted, so he thinks he can control Link and everyone else with his dark magic in order to keep them safe and in line. Once the threat of the current Hero is eliminated, the world will be his, and his family will be safe. As such, he treats you, Link, the player, like a stubborn child, reeling you in, but does so in a horrific way, torturing Link by controlling him.

You have to break free of this and stop him, and the only hope you have is the distant call of a sword spirit…

[blueskittlesart]

How do you feel about concepts for redeemed/good guy Ganondorf? I don't remember if you've said anything on it before, so I am curious to see what sorts of thoughts you have to share or if you've thought about the idea before (especially since you've worked on SoF so I assume you've thought about many possibilities of a "what if" Zelda game)

For my part: I have mixed feelings, and I think a lot of concepts end up being "I want a buff guy to ship Link with"; I also think a lot of criticisms of the racism in many depictions of Ganondorf have merit (though I don't speak on them in depth because I'm white) and would love to see a more favorable/complex portrayal of him and other characters of color in LoZ. I personally haven't seen many versions of good guy/redeemed Ganondorf that really engage with the base structure of the LoZ games but I would love to see one that did.

Anyways I love your blog and analysis and I love seeing someone who finds analysis as inherently a part of their engagement with fandom as me, it's really nice :) I hope you're having a good day

I never posted about it much but sof did actually have a somewhat redeemed ganondorf, or as close to "good guy" as i'm willing to go with him in my own writing. sof was/is very much about me exploring the religious aspects of the lore and issues of fate vs self-determination, so my ganondorf was a much younger version of the character (similar in age to link and zelda) born into an extremist hylia-worshipping doomsday cult. in sof, ganondorf finds the remains of DEMISE'S sword and believes it to be the master sword, so when it starts ordering him around he follows the orders without question, believing that he's hearing the voice of hylia, and basically everyone in his life affirms to him that this is the correct choice and he's hylia's chosen one. Because of the intensity of the religious doctrine he was raised with, he has no problem following the sword's orders even when they become progressively more and more violent, and by the time link and zelda get to him he's nearly past the point of no return. (this is also partially a product of the setting I chose to put sof in--it's one of if not the first cycles after sksw, so the hyruleans' understanding of the reincarnation cycle and their own general history isn't super solid.) So that's my personal take on a "good guy" ganondorf, and, i think, the way i'd like to see it done in canon if ever they choose to go that route--because loz deals so much with the concepts of fate and cycles, I think leaning into a ganondorf who isn't inherently evil but can't escape the fate that waits for him is a fun way to take it.

[bigsoftmarshmallow]

You know, I’m legitimately curious. What did OoT (pre-timeskip) & WW plan to do with their Links & Zeldas?

They were kiddos. Like... pre-timeskip OoT Link was 8 bare minimum/10-12 max & WW Link was 12-13, maybe 14 if I stretch it a bit.

What did they plan to do? Just kill a couple of kids?

Well...

Windwaker straight up punched a child, and Ocarina used so many death traps to keep people away or dead....

Windwaker pulled out duel swords to cut through Link, and Ocarina used magic when chasing after Zelda, to hit Link...

Either they were going to maim him to prevent future issues, or death, kinda.

Killing/Maiming Link I could see, but Zelda... the Goddess bloodline? Prisoner or brainwashing, me thinks. Something Demise in him would keep her alive for spoils.

HOLY MOLY CHAT KEPT IT TO 2 GANONDORFS... AND DEMISE DIDNT SNEAK IN. I'm almost sad.

**********************************************************************

Ganondorf is a complex villain in The Legend of Zelda series, and his plans for Link and Zelda vary based on the specific game, but generally, his intentions are tied to his lust for power and control over the world. Let's break down his possible intentions in both Ocarina of Time and The Wind Waker.

Ocarina of Time Ganondorf (Pre-Timeskip)

Link: Ganondorf likely saw young Link as an insignificant threat at first. Before the timeskip, Link was a child, and Ganondorf probably didn't consider him a serious obstacle. However, once Link starts gathering the Spiritual Stones and accessing the Temple of Time, Ganondorf might begin to see him as a potential threat. But since Link was so young, Ganondorf might have considered capturing or killing him if he became too much of a nuisance. That said, Ganondorf was more focused on gaining the Triforce and ruling Hyrule than dealing with a child.

Zelda: Young Zelda, being a princess and the holder of the Triforce of Wisdom, would have been a valuable asset to Ganondorf. If he could capture her, he might try to manipulate or use her to gain access to the Triforce, using her as a bargaining chip or keeping her as a hostage to ensure his control over the kingdom. Given her young age, he might have planned to brainwash or control her, ensuring her loyalty or at least keeping her out of the way while he consolidated his power.

The Wind Waker Ganondorf

Link: In The Wind Waker, Ganondorf is more calculated and patient, having been through his defeat in Ocarina of Time. He likely recognizes Link's potential threat, especially once it's clear that this new Link has the Triforce of Courage. Ganondorf might have planned to capture or kill Link to prevent him from becoming a problem, but he might also have been curious to see how Link would develop, potentially seeing him as a means to an end in gaining the full Triforce.

Zelda (Tetra): By the time Ganondorf encounters Zelda in The Wind Waker, she is already Tetra, a capable pirate captain. Ganondorf might have initially intended to use her to locate the Triforce of Wisdom, similar to how he sought the Triforce in Ocarina of Time. Once he knew who she really was, capturing her would have been a priority to complete his control over the Triforce. Since Zelda is older and more aware of her heritage, Ganondorf might have planned to use her more directly as a pawn in his schemes.

Realistic/Dark Interpretation

If we're looking at a darker, more realistic scenario:

Link: Ganondorf might have seen Link as a potential future adversary, especially after recognizing the boy's courage and abilities. If Ganondorf wanted to be thorough, he might have considered killing Link to eliminate any future threats, though in a darker twist, he could also try to corrupt or enslave him, using him as a pawn or tool.

Zelda: Given her lineage and importance in the balance of power, a darker Ganondorf might have planned to imprison Zelda, brainwash her, or even use her in some kind of ritualistic way to ensure his dominance over Hyrule. In a very dark interpretation, he might have considered forcing her into a political or even literal marriage to solidify his rule, though such ideas are more disturbing and speculative.

Overall, Ganondorf’s plans for both Link and Zelda would have been centered around maintaining his control over Hyrule and eliminating any threats to his power, using whatever means necessary, even if those means were cruel or ruthless.

[shannonsketches]

how does the big man feel about his two moms, what's their relationship like

Oh god OP I have so many feelings about this why would you ask me that here wE GO:

Ganondorf is a total mama's boy -- or was, until he accepted the truth of her.

H'okay, to understand my ridiculously involved perspective on Ganondorf and Twinrova, I am going to remind the audience that I spent a solid ten years working on a Ganondorf backstory webcomic prior to and shortly after Skyward Sword came out. When SS came out, I was angry, obviously, but I adapted my headcanons to include Demise, as it became clear his influence wasn't going to leave in future games.

So. oh god I'm gonna try and make my brain spaghetti as digestible as possible for people who have not known me that long lol bear with me, okay sO!!! SO!!

Demise. Happened. Whatever. But for me, to preserve my precious autonomous complex gremlin from becoming the baby from The Omen, in my little safe space bubble headcanon, Demise was sealed inside of the Triforce, and has been deteriorating for as long as he's been in there. We'll come back to that, okay, just stick that on the corkboard and remember I said that.

Cut to Twinrova. She's 300+ years old. She's lived through two previous Gerudo Kings. In my headcanon, Gerudo males are always born sickly and often don't live very long, which is why the Gerudo kind of ceremoniously decided they're godkings, since they tend to be tragic births, often killing the mother and then dying days or weeks later.

Twinrova, and her magicks, changed this for the king prior to Ganondorf. She helped stabilize his health, and he lived long enough to fight in the civil war. When he died, she realized that she had an opportunity, and when Ganondorf was born, she took it.

You may have noticed that Twinrova is the only Gerudo who can do magic (in OoT, at least). This contributed to a headcanon that she is an arcane practitioner, and a follower of the deadgod Demise. Do you see where I'm going with this? Walk with me.

Ganondorf is born, his mother dies, Twinrova is the only magic user and the only one with the ability to keep this child alive. So she takes him, and isolates him, and not only keeps him alive through his sickly infancy, but also raises him herself. She becomes a strict teacher, and a harsh trainer, and an unapologetically intense parent.

This is, to Ganondorf's knowledge, because the desert is cruel, and Ganondorf is of divine birth (all Gerudo Kings are), and he will have to not only be a protector of his people, but also walk the fine line between ally and threat to Hyrule. He needs to be elite. He needs to be perfect. He needs to embody a god, because quite frankly she intends him to do that.

She's raising a vessel in which to resurrect Demise, and take revenge on Hyrule for all the shit it's pulled for the last 300 years.

But Ganondorf doesn't know this. He fully believes she's preparing him for the realities of his role, and of the world he'll be stepping into as a leader. So he defends her at every turn. When Nabooru points out how horrible she is (she hates Nabooru, if that's not clear), when the late Queen questions her motives and her mothering toward Ganondorf, when anyone speaks ill of her, Ganondorf speaks in her defense. That's his mother, and she was the Gerudo Queen for a time, and she is to be respected as both.

And then he gets the triforce, and that godmatter hits, and he consumes what is left of Demise, and he knows the truth, and he understands, and he is angry.

But she is useful.

So she is not his mother anymore. She is a flunkie, like any other, and he is, for the first time in his life, more powerful than she could ever hope to be. And Demise is dead. He ate what was left of that god's heart and his power is the proof. There is only Ganondorf.

And she'll get what she wants. Hyrule will fall. But she will not take part in it. She's confined to the temple as a watchdog, since she was so eager to be subservient, unless he personally summons her elsewhere. And when she dies, he is much too far gone in his battle with sanity to care.

So, tl;dr:

It's complicated.

[ordon-shield]

I think a lot of the arguments I’m seeing here on the question of TotK and imperialism comes down to a sort of Doylist/Watsonian divide. I don’t think there’s anyone who’s seriously accusing Rauru of secretly being evil or committing genocide or whatever — the fact is that the story of TotK presents a world in which a more technologically advanced nation came to rule over surrounding nations because they all agreed it was the best decision, and the only guy who disagreed is pure evil and becomes hated by his own people. The issue with TotK is that it follows the exact narrative that imperialism and neo-colonialism use to justify themselves — that the nations they control wanted it, that they benefit from it, that it’s possible for someone to be born in a position that makes them an innately good leader due to their ancestry. Arguing against that with things like Rauru being a good leader and Ganondorf being evil doesn’t make sense because that’s the point. If both characters were portrayed with a bit more complexity, this wouldn’t be an argument at all, because the story wouldn’t be following an imperialist narrative.

[20elements]

Inspired by Ren’s original songs, I align my thoughts on them with the three Triforce components in the above artwork. In the following, I’ll not only describe my drawings, but focus more on how I interpret his songs before discussing what my links are between them and the Triforce.

What I will not do is claim I know his mind and music better than anyone else (let alone the guy himself), nor will I project anything… much…

TL;DR - I entertain all three songs cohering into a story about our former alien warlord seeking new meaning in his life, transitioning from  solitude and hostility to worthwhile connections on Earth, with music playing a major role in this. (Apologies in advance if I use the word ‘connection’ a lot.) 01) Wanderer

Elements Drawn: Fire, Darkness

I want to start with his latest song first, because the MV seems to touch on the earlier stages of his lore before his descent on Earth. In other words, it seems to be chronologically first in this yet-trilogy (apart from that ending scene with the rest of ILUNA). According to his lore video, Ren was weary of his race’s bloodthirsty history and left. In Wanderer, Ren seems to express loneliness, either from the lack of friends or love in his darker home planet, or from other planets’ antagonisms towards him. Lyrics such as “could you be alone with me?” may hint that one of the things he hopes to find on his journey is at least one meaningful connection who can accept and truly understand him, however complex or enigmatic he may be, as opposed to fearing and avoiding him.

Nevertheless, my artwork sees the Wanderer of galaxies with the Triforce of Power befitting both his own strengths and violent history. (Similarly, this Triforce would traditionally be blessed to Legend of Zelda’s dark lord Ganondorf.)

“Even if I had great power, I couldn’t get anything. I keep losing them. Everyone will get up from their seats and leave me. …There is no one to invite me anymore…” —Malleus Draconia, Twisted Wonderland 02) Blue Sugar

Elements Drawn: Water, Sound

This one’s easy; methinks Alien Dabi is addicted to jumbo blueberries :D …Jokes aside, I’ll start with Ren’s own explanation: He underwent a rough time and was stuck in his head, then wrote this song out of both self-criticism and a desire to “feel alive again”. For how therapeutic he finds music to be, I want to say this “sugar high” he pursues is simply music. Not very deep, I know, but it checks off many boxes: It’s his new newfound passion and one of the easier yet healthier “highs” or stimuli to experience. More importantly, it can be a way to communicate feelings and possibly even forge connections with.

To backtrack a bit, Blue Sugar was the first song Ren composed after arriving on Earth and discovering music for the first time. Like as not, his prior challenges would include adapting to life and culture on Earth, to say nothing of a continued solitude. Nevertheless, music can soothe his soul and help him carry though his ordeals. But if he wants a song that can truly “hit the spot” and better yet resonate with others as well, Ren may want to compose a song himself for the first time. Depending on how difficult all of that is, creative frustrations and feeling trapped in his thoughts sound plausible—but hey, long story short, he made it!

The most obvious link to the Triforce of Wisdom here is the color blue (water, Lanayru’s element, go figure). A popular fan theory I embrace is that the “Blue” in “Blue Sugar” alludes to planet Earth where Ren discovers music, with much of the color reflected in our oceans and seas. And while I’m stressing music, (1) water is a good conductor of sound, so I portray Ren in a literal sea of sound in my drawing; (2) in Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Link even learns specific songs from Zelda/Sheik, our “Wisdom” bearer. But more pertinent of Wisdom to Ren himself is that I’m seeing Blue Sugar as a mark of his “learning stages” on Earth in general.

“To me, a life without music is inconceivable. I never turn down the volume, even when I’m working on a case.” —Klavier Gavin, Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney 03) Amplify

Elements Drawn: Flora, Light

After overcoming his personal ordeals and literally finding his own melody, it sounds like Ren has succeeded in getting his voice and presence across the world. The beat and melody of Amplify celebrate his successes, while his lyrics reach out to convey the same optimism and encouragement he has developed. Lines such as “Our connection is by design” not only tells me he has found his aforementioned “meaningful connections” (e.g. ILUNA enrollment), but a tremendous reward to his patience in general. The message I’m hearing is that whatever difficulties or odds we may experience, as long as we perservere and not drown in despair, a perfect timing will be there for us to fulfill our aspirations, just as he found his.

So I scarcely need to explain why Amplified Ren holds the Triforce of Courage; he sounds as encouraged as can be to take on the world and possibly the rest of the galaxy (and this time with less destruction in his wake, maybe).

“Your story may not have such a happy beginning, but that doesn’t make you who you are. It is the rest of your story, who you choose to be.” —Soothsayer, Kung Fu Panda 2

__ Nonetheless, Wanderer was released after Amplify, so I’m lead to believe either (a) Ren wrote his third song as a humble reminder of how or why he started this journey that led him to this meadow of magic, or (b) simply an expression that his earlier pursuits still continue, even with the… very mixed warmth of his genmates’ camaraderie. Speaking of which, that lower middle space between the three Triforce panels alludes to his inclusion in “Let’s Get It Started” with blessings from the Moon and Sky. Last Word

I arrange all of my ideas here with doors open to future songs from Ren Zotto that may either completely contradict what I have here or fit any of these Triforce virtues better. But to anyone who may see this in the future, I’m only working with the songs available at this current time while awaiting more bangers from the Alien Prince.

[alskaichou]

So my mind has been whirling since the Tears of the Kingdom trailer dropped and I can’t help but share my theories. It’s long-winded so I’m putting it under a read more.

So first and foremost, I’m pretty sure Ganondorf is going to be a way more complex character in totk. For one thing, they cast Matt as the VA, and Matt’s known for excellent and nuanced portrayals. As some people have pointed out, Ganondorf doesn’t sound “super evil” in the trailer, and I think this is deliberate. I don’t think Ganondorf is meant to be depicted as a mindless villain here. If anything, I think Ganondorf might have been the Ancient Hero who helped stopped the Calamity 10k years ago. I’ve already reblogged another post about this since I was so excited to see someone agree with me, but for your perusal, here is the tapestry that depicts the Calamity 10k years ago:

Let’s take a look at the Princess and Hero depicted in this tapestry. Presumably, the Princess depicted here is the woman we saw for the first time in the trailer:

See her physical characteristics? These are reliably depicted on the tapestry. We can therefore assume the Ancient Hero is also reliably rendered. Notice the traits the Hero seems to posses: long red hair, green skin, shirtless. Who else do we know matches this depiction?

Why would the Princess be accurately depicted but not the Hero? So, I submit my theory: Ganondorf was the Ancient Hero. The “Calamity” was the remergence of Demise. Note the red hair in the tapestry as well as this scene from the latest trailer:

The hair in particular lends credence to the notion that this is Demise possessing Ganondorf (notice the sleeveless right arm and billowing sleeve on the left arm). Perhaps the truth of the Calamity 10k years ago is this: Demise rose, was thrown down by the combined powers of the Champions and the sages (who may even be the same group of people?) and ultimately possessed Ganondorf, leading to him being sealed away. Ganondorf has obviously been sealed, and the various magatama shown in the trailer leads me to believe that sages will be A Thing in the new game. If they’re A Thing in the new game, why would they not be A Thing 10k years ago?

I can hear it now: “but in botw, they never said anything about sages!” Most of what we know about the Calamity 10k years ago come from the Sheikah, who are dedicated to both protecting the royal family and enshrining their secrets. The Sheikah are known to lie and obfuscate in order to fulfill their duty. I believe they did so, altering the story of the Calamity. Only the Gerudo remember Ganondorf, which is why they revile him so.

There have been theories floating for years that the Eighth Heroine sidequest in botw might have had something to do with Ganondorf. If there were 7 sages -- maybe even 8, if Ganondorf counted among them considering he has a magatama -- that stopped the Calamity, and then Ganondorf seemingly betrayed them, would that not warrant the 8th being struck from history, the statue moved elsewhere? It’s true that in Gerudo lore they are heroines, but it’s possible the Gerudo simply depict them that way for cultural reasons and also as a way of further erasing Ganondorf from their history.

This leads me to my next theory, which I admit is much more tenuous. I believe this goat person we see in the trailer might be Rauru.

Bear with me here. Others have pointed out that the people in the background seem to be Rito and Gerudo, with weapons similar to the Champion weapons, and that the one on the left seems to possess a green magatama themselves (possibly identifying them as a sage?) We see the motes of Malice floating around. Potentially this scene is a flashback depicting the sages confronting Ganondorf to seal him. This is part of the reason I believe this might be Rauru. Rauru leads the sages (in the absence of Zelda) and is one of the primary reocurring sages. Further, he is heavily associated with owls and wisdom.

Here we see this same figure acting as perhaps a potential advisor/mentor to Zelda, who is classically associated with wisdom. Notice the owl-like symbol on their clothes and what looks like long white hair falling past their back. This is what makes me believe this person and goat person are the same. They also have the arm that Link “acquires”, the same arm we see sealing Ganondorf away in a previous trailer.

My new piece of evidence suggesting this may be Rauru is the mural we got in the 2nd botw2 trailer.

This is clearly the goat person, surrounded by 7 magatama (the 7th is above them but got cropped out due to YT being weird about screenshots). There are typically 7 sages, and we are clearly meant to associate these magatama with this individual, as they hover around this person. Rauru has had an important role in protecting the Sacred Realm -- and by extension, the Triforce -- from Demise/Ganon since some of the earliest games. Given the obvious weight placed on this character, I can’t imagine them being anyone BUT Rauru.

In a nutshell, I’m expecting a more nuanced story that perhaps shores up some of the weaknesses in the lore established by SS and may possibly cause a true break in the cycle. Redemption for Ganondorf is likely too much to hope for, but I’m excited to see where they go with things.

[roxyco-deliverygirl]

Delivery girlie finished zelda and got all the shrines solid like 8 or 9/10. The final fight against Ganondorf felt like a genuinely tense duel compared to botw's calamity ganon, and the size of the map and the changes from what I've already explored in breath of the wild are great, I felt a lot more emotional than i expected after finding Link's old house and seeing the expansion of Tarrey town that i helped build. My main complaint is that there's a moment in the story that feels like it happened in the wrong order, I'll try and spoil it as little as possible but if you finish the geoglyph quest first then every quest after it feels like you're walking into a trap on purpose, without telling any of your allies that you know its a trap. I like being allowed to explore, but it's really difficult to have even a slightly complex story without it being in a designed order. Oh and Nintendo hating their fans, other than the way they fixed bugs used by speedrunners there's also stuff like Link and Sidon being the biggest ship from botw, so between games Sidon suddenly has a wife.

[cookie-waffle]

As much as I love Legend of Zelda, I’ve always felt like the way the franchise doesn’t prioritize story takes away from so much of it’s potential.

Refusing to let Link ever be a fully multifaceted fleshed-out character is actually starting to work against the whole “blank slate” thing, because the addition of voice acting forced Nintendo to give an explanation for Link not speaking in cutscenes. But, by doing so, they wrote themselves into a corner. He (understandably) has an anxiety disorder, (which is super interesting but isn’t touched don much). And in Creating a Champion, it was mentioned that Link seems happier after forgetting his previous life as a knight, subtly implying he had a very difficult childhood.

But, when totk came out, they no longer had an excuse to keep Link silent and emotionless 100% of the time because they had already made it canon that he not only feels happier post-calamity, but even SPEAKS to Zelda. So, how did Nintendo address this? They didn’t. Because they prioritized player experience over writing that made sense. Which, ironically, made us feel LESS connected to Link’s character. And to make it even more frustrating, it’s so obvious that they WANT to make Link his own character, but just refuse to for some reason.

Another example are NPCs we helped in botw, that every player had to have interacted with at least once, not remembering Link at all in totk. I know it’s done for new players, but, why? What’s wrong with NPCs already knowing Link and being fond of him? It makes no sense why they would do that, ESPECIALLY given all the hints that Link has been living with Zelda in Hateno for a few years. I think character interactions would be so much more emotionally impactful if Link kept all the friends he made in botw.

And, probably my biggest gripe of all, is how often very interesting themes get introduced and then treated very superficially.

Ganon/Ganondorf has the potential to be a very multifaceted and tragic villain. A man who wants to do right by his people, but cannot fight the darkness he was born with no matter how hard he tries. But…. that’s not who Ganondorf is. Ganondorf is canonically about as deep as an 80s cartoon villain. Nintendo does not seem to care about the more nuanced details and bleak implications of Demise’s curse. Ganondorf would have never been tolerated by the gerudo if he was just always evil. Real evil rulers must grow a loyal following and gain the trust of their people before doing the actual evil stuff. And seeing how “no nonsense” gerudo soldiers seem to be, I have my doubts that they’d just let some manlet walk all over them without first proving himself worthy of their respect.

In fact, a lot of the whole light vs dark theme itself self seems to be delivered in a very superficial way. Like, for example, Demise had no real motive. The only reason he wanted to destroy the world because he's scary and bad. There's no complexity to it at all.

Another example is the themes of mental illness in botw. Zelda’s whole relationship with her father was very clearly intended to seem abusive, and Zelda has emotional issues as a result. Aditionally, Link has selective mutism, and Mipha even writes about how much less happy he seems as a teenager compared to how he was when he was little. Nintendo actually seems to have addressed what sort of effects this kinda trauma has on young minds. Not only that, but, it’s not exactly a secret that Japanese culture puts way too much pressure on their children to preform perfection, and the way Zelda’s relationship with her father is portrayed could very well be a reflection of that.

But then they redeemed King Rhoam in Age of Calamity, making some of the messages that botw was trying to convey completely irrelevant.

Also, not to mention, most players that discovered Zelda’s diary in botw probably want Link to feel safe enough to speak again, after knowing that it is possible. Or at the very least, we wanted to see him comfortable enough to express his personality more in cutscenes. Do we get that? No. Going back to my previous point, this is just another example of the whole “blank slate” thing with Link working against itself.

I think most of, if not all of these issues, can be solved. With Nintendo's budget, there is no excuse to not put just as much attention and detail into the story and lore as they do into the gameplay.

The issue with Link's character could be easily solved by taking a page out of Fallout 4's book. His personality could change based on how the player responds to npcs. The player could also be given the option to customize race, gender, hair color, etc (There's nothing that says Link has to be a hylian male every time). Another great idea would be romance options that have no real effect on the end of the story. That way, the devlopers can ship zelink like they cleraly want to, without players who don't ship them having to deal with it.

And please... PLEASE give Ganondorf a goddamn personality aside from "Sneaky and bad". Give him a backstory, a character arc, an ideology. ANYTHING. The main villain of such a massive franchise should be nuanced.

[arkon-z]

Spotted in a Reddit thread:

Which relatively popular Zelda theory do you have problems/disagree with?

My favorite answer:

[That] Ganondorf is a wholly virtuous man and sympathetic villain based solely on one line of dialogue from Wind Waker.

The line does make it interesting, sure. He lived in a desert, and unlike most of the other, elemental peoples of Hyrule, his people don’t need to stay in the desert to survive. Quite the opposite, in fact. I believe he had said this after years of reflection, however, and it wasn’t something he believed from the start. Rather, in the years he spent alone searching for that last pieces, a sense of clarity was more likely to come to him.

I don’t think Ganondorf’s intentions were pure in his effort to acquire the Triforce. “I coveted that wind I suppose” could mean that he wanted that wind for himself, and even before he makes contact with the Triforce, he’s spreading death curses, murdering the King of Hyrule and chasing princesses while declaring that he would take over the world. Even the Gerudo don’t seem to trust him, his then second in Command suspects something is up and goes to investigate. Even when, in the adult timeline he acquires the Triforce of Power and takes over Hyrule, his people, the ones who supposedly he should be fighting to liberate, are still sticking around in the desert while he reduces Castle Town to a smoking ruin infested with undead and replaced the castle with a floating fortress levitating over a vortex of lava. (permalink to source)

and a good reply:

This one is always really frustrating to me. Yes, Ganondorf's dialogue in WW gives him some much-needed humanizing characterization. But I constantly see people acting like this somehow justifies his actions or makes him a virtuous character, as you said.

Sympathetic? Sure. He also ruined the world in OOT and kidnaps your sister, so... (permalink to source)

Correct. Yes. 100 times agreed. Humanizing a villain to make them more believable is good. We love a complex character, especially a villain.

But using this one line to spin Ganondorf as a victim for all time across all his appearances is over-simplifying his character. One sympathetic line from a character who has called himself the Incarnation of Evil does not a good guy make. We're very used to stories manipulating our emotions to tell us how to judge a character. If this person makes you feel angry, they are a Bad Guy. If this person makes you feel happy or excited, they are a Good Guy. If this person makes you feel sad, they are a Victim/Good Guy. This leaves no room for nuance, which is what that single line about coveting the wind actually does for Ganondorf's character.

Make him good, make him bad, do whatever you want, but don't balance his character on that one line. It's the starting point for a complex character arc and proof that one is possible, not all the proof you need. Put in the work. If the line proves he's capable of being good, show us how.

[golvio]

I know I shouldn’t get my hopes too high about a Zelda game actually exploring a concept it comes up with, but I’m super excited about Ganondorf becoming the locus of what appears to be some kind of telepathic/empathic network that spans across every living thing that’s been touched by Malice.

He seems to not only be physically augmenting the monsters under his command, but also speaking to them directly. Not only that, but assigning them jobs and coordinating their movements. The little guys in that scene underground from the trailer with Sinister Malice Clouds swirling about them suggesting Ganon is more directly controlling them aren’t fighting or attacking people, they’re mining for ore. They’re little Joblins! They’ve got little tasks to do! And, also, it looks like they’re building some pretty complex structures, not just for waging war. The mine cart tracks they built look sorta similar to some stuff you can see on the Sky Islands. Hmm…

His instructions also feel like an echo of Zelda’s opening lines in BotW. In this case, he doesn’t have a Singular Special Boy, but a vast pool of potential Champion candidates he’s addressing directly and specializing for specific jobs. Just telling them, “Alright, I don’t care how you do this, just get it done. Here are your resources, and some things I remember seeing during my time topside that you can build. Go on. Impress me.”

Given the emphasis on his “heart” as the origin of his powers and his motives being very emotion-based (anger is, in fact, a feeling, despite what the macho meatheads and Logical MRA Types may tell you), it’s possible (albeit unlikely, since he’s the villain of what currently appears to be a very simplistic story) that this vast network may involve accidental “empathic” connections, too. The connection may not be only one-way.

It’s a very exciting direction, and something that confirms at least a few suspicions about what direction they’re taking him in TotK. I’m looking forward to learning more as details of the game’s story are revealed.

[patzweigz]

tbh the zelda games' deal changes with every game.

long story short zelda (usually a princess) and link (the hero) are stuck in an endless cycle in which they eternally reincarnate to fight some sort of great evil (usually ganon/ganondorf) that threatens the kingdom of hyrule/a random kingdom/the world.

skyward sword is the first cycle, in which the master sword, a blade that banishes evil, is created and demise (some kind of incarantion of evil and darkness and also probably the first ever incarnation of ganondorf) curses link and zelda to repeat the cycle throughout the ages.

for the gameplay you fight monsters, explore dungeons and solve some usually pretty simple puzzles (except in botw and totk, which really deviate from the norm gameplay wise and have some much more complex puzzle solving). puzzle solving is a lot more present in 2d zeldas while movement and combat is a lot more focused on in 3d zeldas.

for beginners i recommend ocarina of time or wind waker for 3d zelda and oracle of ages/seasons for 2d zelda (a link to the past is also a classic but its actually pretty tough so its not my first pick for a beginner)

i see!! i did know about the cycles and whatnot (if only because just today i watched a video about demonology in zelda lmao).

i suppose more of my questions revolve around the common threads of worldbuilding in the games..... there are a million examples i could give but one big one is that i still don't understand the relation between 'ganon' and 'ganondorf' and at this point i'm too afraid to ask

ironically enough the zelda game i have most experience (albeit limited and now distant) playing is wind waker and while it's gorgeous, nothing else about that minimal contact inspired further investigation and in fact spurred me further away... i've still no aspirations to play any of them, but it's possible i'll put on a playthrough as background noise or something you dig

[bigsoftmarshmallow]

Please Rank the Ganondorfs (Wind Waker, Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, Hyrule Warriors, and Tears of the Kingdom) and Demise from the Greatest Cuddler to Brick Wall with their SO.

Here's a ranking of the Ganondorfs and Demise from "Greatest Cuddler" to "Brick Wall" with their SO:

1. Wind Waker Ganondorf (Greatest Cuddler)

Why: Wind Waker Ganondorf shows a softer, more reflective side, especially later in the game. This version of Ganondorf might not be as physically affectionate as a typical romantic partner, but he has the capacity for warmth and comfort, especially when he's with someone he deeply cares about. He would likely enjoy quiet, intimate moments, providing solace and support through cuddling.

2. Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf

Why: Tears of the Kingdom Ganondorf, being more complex and possibly more introspective than other versions, would be a strong and protective cuddler. He’d hold his SO close, appreciating the closeness and finding comfort in the physical connection, especially after a long day of dealing with the burdens of leadership and power.

3. Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf

Why: Hyrule Warriors Ganondorf is powerful and fierce, but he also has a bit of flair and theatricality that suggests he might enjoy the intimacy of cuddling. He’d likely be a bit rougher and more dominant, but still very affectionate when the mood strikes. His cuddles would be strong and enveloping, making his partner feel secure and cherished.

4. Ocarina of Time Ganondorf

Why: Ocarina of Time Ganondorf is more cold and calculating, but with the right person, he might let his guard down enough to allow for cuddling. However, he’d likely be more reserved and less inclined to initiate physical affection, viewing it as a vulnerability. He might cuddle in a protective, almost possessive way, but it wouldn't be his natural instinct.

5. Twilight Princess Ganondorf

Why: Twilight Princess Ganondorf is stern, imposing, and deeply rooted in his sense of power and dominance. Cuddling would be a rare occurrence, something he might only do if his SO insisted or if he was in an unusually vulnerable or contemplative mood. Even then, it would be more of a stiff, obligatory gesture than a natural expression of affection.

6. Demise (Brick Wall)

Why: Demise is the embodiment of hatred and destruction, and physical affection is far from his nature. He would likely see cuddling as a weakness and something beneath him. If he ever allowed it, it would be out of some twisted sense of dominance or ownership rather than genuine affection. He’d be the most resistant to any form of cuddling, making him the "Brick Wall" of the group.

[aikoiya]

Hmm... Personally, I'd go rated T, that way it could have more of the old Zelda horror-y tropes & possibly some more adult themes.

Like, if ever there was a Zelda game perfect for the situation, it'd be one where the main character is Ganondorf.

I would just adore a storyline exploring the psychological reprocussions of a singular man growing up in an all-female warrior society. Of being turned into a king the moment he takes his first breath & not meeting another man until possibly his 20s. How warped his sense of self must've been considering the fact that the only people he had to teach him about manhood were likely the stereotypes of women.

I can't help but think that he'd have this odd mix of narcissism & inferiority complex going on.

Not just that, but it'd be cool to see how good of a war strategist & commander he is. Not to mention his diplomatic abilities (read as manipulation).

Oh, dude! Ya'll remember Assassin's Creed II? Just Ganondorf being a freaking pickpocket.

Ooo! Possibly having a sort of Batman/Catwoman type of relationship with a Sheikah woman? With the Sheikah woman, obviously, having more of a ninja-esque/Assassin's Creed theme.

Only, Ganondorf is in the role of Catwoman & the Sheikah warrior is in the role of Batman. OR it could literally be Zelda as Sheik!

Though, I imagine that Ganondorf would most likely have a different outfit when he's going full thief mode because full plate armor does not Stealth make, my friend.

Possibly, I could see him in something like what a Persion rogue or any type of historically accurate desert bandit clothes. Though, not perfectly accurate.

Ooo! Imagine that you'd have access to sorcery here!

@nintendo why is there not a game where you play as ganondorf and do thief stuff

[ganymedesclock]

one primary difference between Hyrule and Yharnam (between Yharnam being BLATANTLY Slavic and Polish at that) is that at least in Yharnam the ancient entities revistign a perpetual cycle upon the populace genuinely don't understand that they're causing a problem. Someone asks mother Kos to give them eyes in their brains in a poetic way of describing cosmic insight, its not her fault she takes that literally! Hyrule, conversely, seems less so.

Oh, yeah, cultural context isn't to be overlooked here; I feel like Hyrule is some kind of union of a concept of unspecified medieval europe and undeniable japanese, shintoist conceptual roots.

I will say, in general, a lot more than 'god is evil' or 'god is good' I like thinking of gods as flawed complex characters with certain worldviews who are no more Good or Evil than humans; the results just tend to get polarized because it's pretty hard to tell a god what to do and then can affect a lot. At this point, Demise, Hylia, and Majora are dead; the golden gods are dead- what remains is this intersecting, conflicting tangle of their wills.

Hyrule is its own god. It is great and terrible, and it has a will to persist, to continue the story of the eternal kingdom, by ensuring the indefinite replication of its actors, and it is the 'child' of the god-war in this sense.

It was Hylia's desire for things to perfectly exist in their place and to perpetuate her design to ensure the propagation of her favorite children.

It was Demise's will to deny perfect peace to the descendants of his would-be conquerors, to ensure that when the rest of him was obliterated completely, the silhouette of his foot would still be stomping down on the future, never to be lifted.

We don't objectively know what Majora wanted, but in my read of them, their wish was for the forcible ending of dynasties, that beings that grew too arrogant and powerful and dominated others were punished for it.

The Golden Gods wanted there to be a tomorrow, and wanted there to be free will. That's the read I place on the triforce, that is extremely averse to being held forever by any one party, that seems to have liked being stolen by Ganondorf, whose wish-granting powers are at least trying to be the instrument of screw-destiny, but, again, in Wind Waker, we see the will of the triforce be set against the will of Hyrule, and Hyrule finds a way to twist in the wind and be reborn.

And more than a child of the gods, Hyrule is a child of mortals. Hyrule is a nation, in a realistic and very human sense. Most of what I can describe as the eerie themes and unsettling qualities of the nation is that the people writing The Legend of Zelda tend to present a more conservative and nationalistic perspective than I personally am comfortable with. If you take it at face value Hyrule is the best and most wonderful of nations, always in decline, always set upon by enemies, but that it is possible to return to the pre-lapse golden age of perfection if you would simply take up arms and defend this most beautiful place, that it's a good thing the sheikah and the gorons and the zora and the rito and the gerudo get to serve Hyrule as its wonder-nation and enrich its borders with their own smaller lands that are conveniently largely homogeneous and closed off, that in BotW restoring Hyrule means giving it back to the Hylians like it originally was, and it's not like once you exorcise Hyrule Castle, the Gerudo are going to go, "right, okay, we've got the people and power to move into the mainland, we're doing that now,"...

It's a mentality. It's immensely human and knowable. There's no deep scary mystery to that. And you can absolutely see how the people in universe treat Hyrule, how Daphnes in Wind Waker speaks of The Way Of Your Ancestors, and how much is made about the descendants of Hyrule, and how the thing Zelda inherited from Hylia that is kept ever since is treated as the personal treasure of Hyrule, how Link is from outside Hyrule but never so far outside that he's not Hylian himself, even when in Twilight Princess he's the only person in Ordon who doesn't have round ears.

I don't mean this as a screed against why a game I dearly love and care a lot about sucks, but I think that it's a place where they've put some really interesting themes without wanting to discuss them, because the propaganda only works if you don't question it.

How much is acceptable to sacrifice for The Nation? Even if the Nation has already asked too much of you?

Is there something wrong- something bone-deep wrong, that cannot be saved- in a nation that is always in decline? Is there something manipulated about that, that even if Ganondorf acts of his own free will, and Link and Zelda rise to face him organically, there's some force that keeps dragging all these people into specific configurations?

It's hard not to look at the execution scene in Twilight Princess and see the part where we're told the triforce is the biggest good in the setting, and watch the shard of Power independently leap to defend its thief in a timeline where he was not able to fight his way into the sacred realm, and save his life against agents of the castle, and say, gee, does that sound like Hyrule's lost the divine favor? Only to instantaneously hear the sages write it off as some Cruel Trick and certainly nothing they should examine or question when they threw the wrathful, unkillable, injured Ganondorf onto a bunch of people who had no context for him and were already trapped in the darkness.

The many, many cloistered sages throughout the games begin to look a bit like human sacrifices. And it begins to feel at deep odds with what we are told, and shown, Link's goal is- that Link virtually always cares about people, not about thrones and politics, and yet, Link seems to end up participating in these sacrifices or at least powerless to stop them. Fi, Impa, Darunia, Saria, Nabooru, Rauru, Ruto, Zelda herself, Medli and Makar. The lokomo sages from Spirit Tracks.

The legend speaks to us in a form we understand, a form extremely deep to our culture. It speaks of the ritual steps required to make things good again. The process of recovering from suffering and despair.

It asks an awful lot of misery and collateral, and it can never be questioned. The will of the ancestors, but those ancestors are not people you can argue with, or even beseech for advice, or have a conversation with.

And who's the guy who takes what he's not destined for, who says 'screw fate, I'm going to do what I want and pull the cosmic significance with me?' it's Ganondorf, who is an ordinary human at the start of Ocarina of Time; who is not a demon, who does not even particularly show signs of being a Chosen One besides his position to the gerudo and that as far as we know guarantees no magical might. He learned sorcery and went into business for himself, manipulates the variables and cons things to pass the 'test of worth' in a way that shows contempt for the whole process- and the triforce of power says, "dang, okay, you're the boss, that sure is a demonstration of mastery and strength, you didn't even obey the physical layout of the temple or the spirit in which it was sealed,"

Chronologically, this is ostensibly his original sin! This is the point he stopped being his own dude, in Hyrule's eyes, and became a Demon Thief, wording that starts to tie him in mythologically with Demise's curse and its legacy. He's not blameless, it's not that he 'did nothing wrong', but I feel like it's important to separate, ideologically, the wrong of "you hurt people to achieve power", from the other narrative the story puts forwards, "you are inherently unworthy, you could have politely gone hat in hand to the sacred stone bearers and helped them and you never would have gotten the keys, Hyrule didn't even give the gerudo a key to the temple of time, you're fit only to sit in the throne room and bow your head before the Real authority and if you want anything else, you're the purest of evils before you ever act on it."

Hyrule, in a way, welcomes Ganondorf. It's so good to have a personal villain, isn't it? Who is sacrificed over and over and over again for its sake, for its benefit?

How many blood sacrifices do you feed to a country before it becomes a god? Because I think we're passed that threshold.

[deiliamedlini]

Whumptober 2021- The Darkness I Know

Chapter 5

I’ve Got Red In My Ledger

betrayal | misunderstanding | broken nose

Fic Summary: After the world as she knew it was destroyed by the corruption of Malice, Zelda allies herself with her saviors from captivity: a disgruntled former governor, an alert paramedic, a cocky pilot, an excessively overt optimist, and a blind strategist. While the corrupted, malice-filled Yiga Clan looks for revenge on them, Zelda has to learn how important it is to find family in others... and how much more dangerous the stakes become if she fails to protect them.

Previous/ Chapter Index/ Next

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Yiga complex was… well… complex.

All of the halls looked the same, and Zelda backed up against her destroyed door and tried to remember which way she’d come in days ago.

But she was drawing a blank.

“Which way did you come in?” Zelda asked.

Link shook his head and fiddled with his staff weapon, his blue eyes trained on the ground by the tip of the staff where there was a sharp point tied onto the end. It wasn’t even a staff. It was a makeshift spear.

Some rescue party he was a part of.

She stared at him for a long moment. Was he even real? He didn’t know where they were, or where to go. He had a sword on his belt, but he was favoring a giant stick.

Goddess. She was going to die on her way out of here.

“Okay,” she muttered, looking around again. She had to remember something.

The cells were in a long hall. She’d gone through several other small hallways. She’d come out into a large room. She’d been thrown in here.

“Were you in a series of hallways to come in here?” Zelda tried again.

“No. We came from a large, open room.”

Helpful. Finally.

“Okay, which direction? That way, I can rule out one of these paths.”

Link sighed and ran his hand along the wall until he reached the door, and then slid his palm around until he touched the handle. Jerking his head to the left, he turned. “We came from that way.”

Skeptically, she looked between him and the door. Did it just tell him that? He didn’t even look at the room. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Okay, come on. Your guy should be this way.”

Zelda took a few steps that echoed through the large room, steps that were alone, and unfollowed. She turned to see Link, unmoving.

He sighed. “Urbosa and Daruk. We need them.”

“Who?” Zelda asked.

“The woman who was with me, and a man we’re with. We can’t leave without them, because once we get Revali, we have to move quickly.”

“Are you saying we should just stand here and wait for them? We could get killed.”

“Can you fight?”

Zelda crosse her arms indignantly. “If I have to.”

Link reached for his sword and held it out by the hilt. “You’ll have to. Take it.”

Zelda made her way back towards him. “I fight with a bow, so I don’t know… besides, isn’t this yours?”

“It’s for emergencies.”

“You trust a stranger with your weapon?”

He smiled, soft and gentle before calmly shaking his head. “Not much other choice though. I’m going to have to.”

“You can keep it, you know? Just use it on me if I’m evil.”

He kept his arm out. “You’re making me trust you more and more, Zelda. Take it.”

She reached out and took it from him, the heavy metal dropping her arm quickly before she adjusted to the weight. “Do you fight with that stick or something?”

“If I have to.”

“I don’t understand. Are you a pacifist? Do you only attack doors?”

Link chuckled and spun his staff around in his hands before tapping the point on the ground, the point with the makeshift spearhead tied on. “Doors are terribly dangerous. You should always be ready to attack them.”

“Goddess, you don’t give straight answers, do you?”

Walking ahead of her, he simply grinned. “You’ll get it eventually.”

She was going to follow him before remembering that she was the one leading the way, so she hopped in front. “Get what?”

“Hey!” a new voice called. It was familiar, and Zelda turned to see the tall woman from before returning with an older man in tow. “Where are you two going?”

“Urbosa, she knows where Revali is.”

The tall woman, Urbosa, turned to Zelda. “Is this true? Where?”

“He’s this way,” she said, gesturing back to the hall.

“Nice! Let’s go get ‘em!” the older man said, a bit more excited than Zelda imagined he’d be. He had a white beard that tipped up, wrinkled brows scrunched in excitement, and a toothy grin. He halted when he saw Zelda, and pointed at her. “Hello?”

“Hi.”

Link scoffed. “This is Zelda. She’s a prisoner here, and we’re getting her out too. Zelda, this is Urbosa and Daruk.”

Urbosa gestured to the path. “Pleasantries can wait. Lead on, Little Bird. Show us the way.”

Slowly, carefully, Zelda took the lead and began traversing the winding corridors, trying to remember her last trip through with Ganondorf. The problem was that everything looked the same here! Every hall, every corridor, everything looked the same, even the people in their silly costumes and indistinguishable masks.

“Why did you give her your sword?” she could hear the man asking Link in a hushed voice meant for a private conversation. “She could be one of them.”

“My instincts are better than yours, Daruk. She’s not. Does she look like one of them?”

Daruk sighed. “No. But it doesn’t matter. Under the masks, they’re anyone.”

“So are we.”

Zelda didn’t dare turn around, lest she give herself away. They spoke soft enough that she was straining her ears, and there was an annoying, rhythmic tapping that she couldn’t figure out that kept throwing her off her eavesdropping game.

“Here,” Zelda said, pushing open a door. She peered inside, breathing a sigh of relief to see it empty, and then stood aside to let everyone else through. “Straight down. You’ll see him.”

It was the right room for sure. Even being in here gave Zelda the creeps, and her throat hurt with phantom pain from days before.

She followed the group as they glanced inside each cell before stopping.

“Well, it’s about damn time!” the man said, standing up. “I’d think you almost forgot about me but… that’s just not possible.”

“No matter how hard we try,” Link muttered.

“You brought him?”

“I can leave,” Link offered, gesturing to the door.

But in doing so, he gestured to Zelda, and the blue haired man stuck his head through the bars while Daruk worked on the lock with Urbosa over his shoulder.

“You? You didn’t die. Good for you.”

“Yeah, you too,” Zelda murmured, rolling her eyes, earning a snort from Link.

There was a loud clack, and the lock sprung open.

The man burst out and hurried down the hall past everyone. “Come on!”

“Wait, Revali!” Daruk called, struggling to catch up.

“Ass,” Link breathed, and Urbosa hummed in agreement. “He has no respect. Let’s go.” She grabbed his arm and they ran down the hall, leaving Zelda to catch up with all of them.

Revali seemed to have a better sense of the Yiga hideout than Zelda did. He brought them through a few rooms, ducked around patrols, and ended up in a room with several crates.

“I stashed it all here.”

Daruk, Urbosa, and Link all opened up backpacks that were flat against them, and pried the crates open, reveling packets of rations and emergency on-the-go medicine. They stuffed their pockets full with as much as they could carry before Revali led them back out.

Literally.

Out.

Standing in the middle of a rocky plain, Zelda breathed in the fresh air she’d so desperately been missing.

“Where did you park?” Revali asked.

“Down the road a ways. We’ll have a little hike.”

“Good. I have a little surprise for these assholes.”

Zelda watched on, curious. Revali took something out of his pocket and flashed it to the group.

“What is that?” Urbosa asked.

“A detonator. Before I got caught, I set everything up, and hid it with our things. Let’s clean this place out.”

“No!” Link called, stepping forward, his hand out. He wasn’t quite near Revali, but the man got the message regardless and stopped. “If you do that, we become targets. They know who we are. They’ll find us, and they will kill us.”

“They can’t do that if they’re dead, can they? Ganondorf is in there. Astor. Kogha. All of them. We have to take it down.”

“And what if they’re not? What if they aren’t here? Then we’re the targets. They’ll target home, Revali. Don’t. Don’t hit that button.”

“It’s a switch. And killing hundreds of Yiga in one fell swoop? That’s a win, no matter how you want to swing it.”

“No!”

But Link’s final protest went unheard, because the only sound in the entire valley was the deathly ringing of a chain of explosions, leaving smoke to rise into the air.

Zelda covered her mouth. Dorian was in there. As much as she hated him, he had been her friend for years. And years worth of respect and friendship and history didn’t disappear completely in a matter of days.

“Oh Goddess, Revali,” Urbosa whispered. “What have you done?”