Why are there So Many Links? (Zelda Theory)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 21 ธ.ค. 2020
- Link, the Hylian hero of the Legend of Zelda franchise, makes many different appearances across the series-- usually as different people! But every Link possesses the same Spirit of the Hero, linking (no pun intended) them all together. One question remains, though: who or what created the cycle that reincarnates a Hero whenever Hyrule needs him?
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Which Link is your favorite? (Points if you know which one mine is!)
Dark link
Botw link
Is yours link from majoras mask?
Botw link, but I also love WW expressions bandits fav is twilight princess
Hero of the Wild is my favorite one since Breath of the Wild is my first Zelda game.
"The big daddy of all villains"
...well that's one way to look at him I suppose
Motherfu-
Nope
Big Daddy Demise
Now i have a terrible image in my head. Thanks.
More like the "Big Boss".
indeed lmao
Pretty sure Link is always blonde and blue eyed 'cause the Master Sword has a type
The nes Link was brunette tho and Zelda redhead
@@santiago8991 Is it just me or is Twilight Princess Zelda also a brunette?
@@gwendolynsnyder463 Yeah, Twilight Princess Zelda is definitely a brunette.
It did go though it's pink hair phase as well
@@danielstocks9088 The ALTTP rebel.
Another neat little note: The chosen knight’s death happens in such a way that almost suggests he’s simply falling asleep or being laid to rest, while nearly every incarnation of Link starts off their first adventure by waking up in bed.
Hero of hyrule just wakes up on sand and on princess zelda's sleeping place
HOLY SHIT
Accept Majora's Mask but that's a whole different breed
@@flyingvct7214 But that's the same link as in OOT, where he starts wakin up.
well, most people do start their day by waking up in bed
Archeologists hate him! Find out how this young man has stayed alive for over 20000 years
I feel like I should understand the reference, but I don't.
@@axelperez2917 he's saying archeologists hate link because he hasn't died for 20000 years (a joke), so they can't dig him up
Sounds like one of those ads that you should probably not click on lest you end up with a virus
Princess Zelda won't apologize for her new chariot.
@@Jack-rk7jc yes I know the reference lmao
Favorite Link is the Hero of Time. Homie killed Ganon and saved Termina when he was like 10 and then taught his grand kid how to do it again lmao
Ganon never died in Ocarina Of Time , in the adult timeline he was sealed And them happened the wind Waker game , And in the child timeline he stopped Ganon Before he Attack And got in the sacred realm the Sages Tried to Execute him But failed then Twilight Princess game happened
My favourite link is the windwaker link. Bro woke up and fished the triforce out the ocean
@@davidhunter6706 then proceeded to become the hero and literally killed ganon at full power at the age of 12. Mans worked to prove himself as the hero and then finished the job AS A KID, then he went to sail over the world, not to mention he is the only one who could actually kill ganon and get rid of him for good in his timeline.
Not only that but got the Power of a GOD and didn't collapse under the pressure, Also went through a very traumatic journey in Termina. Homie fought through a bunch of pain and sadness every time he put on those transformation masks and he does it like 20 times in just one dungeon.
Beta OoT Link: gets the triforce just because he pulled out a sword
Chad WW Link: forces the gods into giving him the master sword, then literally goes on a search across the entire sea to obtain the "lost" triforce pieces
I'm a fan of this theory, I absolutely want to see the original knight of hylia, as link always follows zelda, and ss zelda was a reincarnation
I do to
Yes!!
Are you all that foolish, the first hero is Skyward Sword Link... Remember he traveled back in time... He himself became the first hero.
@@Piiiiiiiiit haven't you ever heard of a time paradox.
@@Piiiiiiiiit plus that's when we go forward in time then back in time and not the other way around.
Shirtless Beedle isn't real...he can't hurt you...
But crop-top Beedle will pay good money to have you robbed in your sleep
@@ricekrispies1917 Facts
Shirtless Beedle in BotW is nicer to look at. He has more abs to carry that huuuuge pack of his.
@@ricekrispies1917 and all that money just to get a bug.
@@gwendolynsnyder463 Beedle loves beetles, okay... Let him do what he wants lol
What I love is that every Link that picks up the master sword is just meeting Fi again in another life which is what she wished at the end of Skyward Sword.The reason it's called the master sword is because it's the masters sword, forever her 1 and only master.
I feel bad for Fi
Nice
No, it's called the Master Sword because it has its own will, and personally decides who is worthy to wield it. Which is whoever possesses the Triforce of Courage, for the most part.
what sad is Fi meets at least three links in hyrule warriors but only ever meet the link of that time as toon link and kid link didnt get any diologe with her which is sad as it would been cool
I never expected Goku Black to feel bad for not divinity. But I do agree with you.
0:00 this is probably the most disturbing intro to a video I've ever seen.
🤣
Agreed
Thank you for the much needed time stamp lmao
😂
OOooooOOh
I really like this theory and how it seems that, while Hylia loved Link and wants to be with him for all time, still gives each individual Link and Zelda their own freedom as to what that relationship is.
Sometimes Link and Zelda are lovers, sometimes friends or allies. They're bound together by either duty, circumstance, loyalty, respect, goodwill or any combination of the above. Zelda and Link are always bound by Hylia's cycle but they can choose how close they are after the job is done, do they stay together or go their separate ways and fall in love with other people? Does Link remain in his role or does he go off on his own adventure without Zelda?
Alttp link did a few other things like the oracles games or links awakening and albw link had an adventure un triforce heroes
One thing that I feel like everybody misunderstands is what the Spirit of the Hero actually is.
Every Link has their own individual soul, personality, and so on. This is proven in Twilight Princess with the Hero of Time communicating with the Hero of Twilight. So it’s not the soul of her original knight reincarnating into the next hero, but instead his values and and courageous nature.
Well, the games give a bit of confusing information in regards to all of that, like the master sword's description of "only link can wield it" because he's the only true master and fi saying they'll meet again some day, and so on.
As for the Hero's shade, it says it's the spirit of the hero, not the hero himself (i know this kinda contradicts what i said previously)
What you said seems to be the intended one however, but at least i prefer to think about it as an actual reincarnation rather than just being similar
I guess it all depends on how the creators wanted to use the words spirit and soul
and their massive strength. It always seemed like the Links have the strength of a body builder but is built like an average teen or child.
the way I've seen this is, well you know how we tend to believe there is body and soul? In Japan there is body (Karada), soul (tamashi) and heart (kokoro) every link like you said has his own kokoro which is basically what makes the individual said individual but all links have their Tamashi move onto the next and since the body is the vessel of the soul it will shape into a form according to that soul specifically, hence why Link always looks like Link (unless they age of course)
its like the avatar cycle, but all swordsman
i personally understand it pretty different. i think its the same soul, but split into individuals that can even communicate. sorta like the avatar in the last airbender. they share a soul, but theyre different individuals each time, and can even communicate as different spirits.
Definitely The hero of time. Grew up with him as me and my dad used to play OOT together for hours.
same here , i have wonderful memories of those days
Me too.
Same... or maybe hero of wilds
Same for me. Grew up with OOT.
@Ionut Rus Don't worry, my Dad never played with me either. I share my fond memories with my kids, who have been through a lot themselves, but we bonded over video games and still do.
I always imagined that whenever the power that is inside the Master Sword(Fi) calls for a new wielder for itself the spirit of the hero is re-incarnated. That would also kind of sort of make sense with Wind Waker, as Ganondorf had killed 2 sages to weaken the Master Sword. Maybe Fi can feel a surge of some kind of dark power from Demise, who is sealed in the Master Sword, whenever a new evil is about to rise to power and consequently calls for a reincarnation of Link to wield the power of the Master Sword in a battle against said evil
This makes sense, since the master sword is called "the sword that seals the darkness". It seems like Fi serves as a sentinel, watching and waiting for the spirit of Demise to reappear, at which time she awakens a new hero. Maybe the sword actually contains the spirit of the hero as well, and sends it out to find a Hylian host when the need arises? Causes a newborn son of a knight to be named Link, and gives him his insatiable courage?
@@jerotoro2021 its not the spirit of demise its his undying hatred what's left of his body and soul was absorbed into the master sword.but I do believe that his essence being trapped in the sword does play a part in series somehow just never figured out how it does
@@aidanwong1521 It honestly doesn't exclude his theory or invalidate it. It just means that the sword is the conduit for Link's soul to be reincarnated. Hylia made the sword so it would still be her doing and the feature would have to have been done before Demise was sealed so the Demise part would have acted later.
Honestly it is easy to say that a Version of Zelda is born a Version of Link is chosen by the master sword to be born. Demises sealed essence in the sword reacts and both are given effectivly a call to arms.
Honestly we know the sword is bound to the hero. Its power is his power. Blood, sword/spirit, hatred. Those are the 3 connecting factors. Not all Links wielded the master sword but we could imply by this that they could. The Goddesses hero was give a sword to face the darkness and with his sacrifice Demise was defeated by the goddess. She threw away her divine form and was reborn with a version of him after setting the stage for the next conflict. Preparing for the Master sword to be made from the sword she previously gifted to her knight. A sword only he could wield.
@@sykune I had another comment around here somewhere where I went into that... Demise was sealed in the master sword until OoT Link pulled it, opening the way to the sacred realm and also releasing Demise, who entered Ganondorf when he followed Link. That's how Ganondorf become the new demon king.
The master sword seems to retain some evil as a result of this as well, and I think that's the explanation behind dark Link, and the tests of strength that the sword puts Link through. The sword was intended to embody courage, but its brush with evil gave it a certain lust for power as well.
@@jerotoro2021 dark link was created by Ganondorf from the negative emotions link had which may have been purged from him by the master sword. The emotions of talking about is his anger for what Ganondorf had done to his surrogate father the Deku tree, trying to starve the gorons and infecting jabs jabs with a parasite. Yet he still held grudge against Ganondorf after pulling sword as he sees the horrible state of hyrule. The essence of demises was absorbed into the master sword where it could safely decay into nothing, an incarnation of demises hatred was seen before Ganondorf and that was Vaati. He was minish over taken by a lust for power. And he uses a magical hat to wish for that power. And master sword had no bearing in that story another magical sword had to be forged from the picori blade.
My favorite is probably breath of the wild link because he is elaborated on most. Or CDI link
Ah yes, our boy CDI Link
cdi link is the right answer
Nah fam, Zelda animated series link
@@yassjun4309 well excuuuuusssee me Kylo!
Wow what are all those heads
"Time, twilight, Sky, and Wind. Long ago the Link's once lived in harmony...then everything changed when when the evil attacked! Only the Hero, master of all the green tunics could stop him. Then...when Hyrule needed him most...he became a coma patient. 100 years passed in the timeline and the other fans and I discovered the new hero, and boy named Link. And although his sword-fighting skills were great, he has alot to learn before he's ready to save anyone. But I believe that Link can save Hyrule...!"
Wait...wrong story...my bad
I love this 😂
This deserves way more credit. Its amazing!
@@cajunseasoning1846 tysm!
Avatar the last HYAAA
@@sgtgalaxy8160 😂
Wait... There was a hero before skyward sword? Will we get another game Nintendo?
yup there is a manga about him he had a red scarf like hyrule warriors link but he was imprisoned cause no one believed him cause they think demons are not true
The Manga isn't Canon. There is a theory that "the goddess choosen hero" is THAT link. Demise said that this link is the first human that stood up to him, there are theory Videos that explain this was better
Maybe I misinterpreted the game but I thought that skyward sword link was the first link with the references to the chosen knight acting as forshadowing to how link battled Demise in the past.
@@cruidinnecluda1711 i agree with your statement. I thought him going back to the past meant that he was the chosen knight of Hylia making himself his own little time paradox
@@cruidinnecluda1711 The ceremony where Zelda gives him the sail cloth would suggest otherwise.
“The games aren’t named after him”
My brother : why is his name Zelda that’s a girl name
Lol
Genius
I just wanna tell you, you're the only Zelda theorist I can actually watch. You're amazing. You're the only one who sounds genuine, not like they're reading directly off a script, and you don't patronize your viewers by acting like we don't know common theories like most Z-Tubers. I love your style of humor, and you cover topics that other Z-Tubers wouldn't even think of. Keep doing what you do!
This was genuinely one of the nicest things I’ve ever read in any of my video comments. Thank you so much 💜
Ditto to what Evan said
MaskedNintendoBandit 69 likes?????
Have you not sat down for Zeltik videos before? If not, id suggest that channel as well
@@kaitoudark1 I have. I used to like him, but lately I've fallen off of him. He explains a lot of things that most Zelda players probably don't know, but most of his audience probably does, as if they don't.
Damn, Age of Calamity OST really is a blessing.
Another fantastic theory. Honestly, the Cycle of Rebirth is the most interesting piece of lore in a video game to me, aside from Ultra Space and Project Shadow.
Ultra space?
@@jojonta2119 from pokemon i think
The Hero of Winds, as Zeltik has said before this Link had to prove himself to the gods to be recognized as a true hero. He wasn't born fated to be the hero like the Hero of Twilight or the Hero of Legend. This Link had go through multiple trials to display his courage as it was the only quality about him that showed any promise of him saving flooded Hyrule. He had no connection to the Hero of Time, meaning he wasn't blessed with the spirit of the hero necessarily. He was just a kid that found the courage to stand up to ganon and save the world from his evil. Literally, he wasn't born or gifted with the Triforce of Courage. He actually had to find the fragmented golden pieces that were scattered across the land that once resided within the Hero of Time. And even King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule didn't know what happened to them after the Hero of Time left Hyrule. The Hero of Winds not only proved his courage to the king and the gods. But he had to go as far as restore the Triforce of Courage for the gods to even let him re-access sunken Hyrule. And correct me if I'm wrong but from my perspective it seemed this Link was just ready to hand over this golden artifact of the gods back to them so he could just move forward as to him this was just another trial from the gods, but to his surprise the gods actually gifted him the Triforce of Courage as it started to dwell within him! It was at this point he was finally recognized to be a chosen hero of the gods by the king of Hyrule and the gods themselves. Earning himself his own title as a legendary hero. The Hero of Winds.
He had to find the triforce, he could have very well been born with the spirit of the hero and hylia wanted him to have to piece it together
What game is this one?
@@majinmiguel The Legend of Zelda the Wind Waker.
@@thecyberrabbit1440Perhaps, but in the Wind Waker it shows us that the gods Din, Farore, and Nayru are the only ones in control over Hyrule; just like they were in Ocarina of Time.
I don't disagree with Hylia being existent in Wind Waker. It's just I don't believe it was her will at all for this Link to be the hero to stop Ganon. Since the king himself said at the beginning he had no idea how Ganon/Ganondorf returned to begin with, this also applies to the Great Deku Tree, Valoo and Jabun who also didn't see Ganon's return coming since Hyrule had been flooded for at least a few hundred years (stated by the king way later). If we're talking about Hylia's existence in Wind Waker then let's not forget to mention that the reincarnation of Hylia a.k.a. Tetra didn't even know who Ganon was the entire time until Ganon's seal was already broken. This Link was just a regular kid who had ancestors that survived the flood (for hundreds of years in fact) carrying traditions of old Hyrule such as making boys who turn of age to dress as the Hero in remembrance to a legend that only survived on the wind's breath. In the very beginning when it tells the story it says at the end "The elders wished only for the youths to know courage like the hero of legend.." I believe it was the hopes and prayers of Link's ancestors that gave him the courage to be a hero in the first place. If Hylia was existent in Wind Waker then I don't see why she didn't just give some guy the spirit of the hero to save Hyrule when the Hero of Time didn't show up to stop Ganon when he returned, which was the actual reason Hyrule/the world was flooded because the gods couldn't do anything to stop him from taking over Hyrule. But after the flood she finally decides to give some kid the spirit of the hero to stop a ganon that was thought to be gone entirely? I dunno man I just don't see Hylia as the reason Link was the hero in this timeline. I would be willing to hear respective counterarguments though.
@@jeremiah6945 goddess hylia was introduced a few games later, but she always existed, just like Fi.
I think in a meta way, the spirit of the hero is actually a reference to the player. Miyamoto always intended Link to be the player's link to the world of Hyrule. As such, Link has the spirit of the hero whenever we are playing as him.
I think it is hard to say for sure, but Demise was aware that the spirit of the hero was already destined to return, because he didn't curse Link's bloodline like he did Zelda's. He somehow realized that cursing Link's bloodline would not give the intended effect. Wind Waker supports this a bit when the King of Red Lions is talking to Jabun. He says the current Link is not connected to the Hero of Time.
The Spirit of the Hero isn't a quality bonded to blood. In addition, it may also not be bonded to a specific individual for their entire life. To go back to the meta thought, the reason that the Hero's Shade can exist separately is because it isn't simple reincarnation taking place. It's more like reincarnation in Yu-Gi-Oh. Yugi is a reincarnation of the ancient pharaoh, but the soul of the pharaoh still exists in parallel to Yugi. The Spirit of the Hero left the Hero of Time and resides within the Hero of Twilight at that point in time. We know this because the player is the meta stand-in for the Spirit of the Hero. Link's reincarnation is sort of a vessel for the Spirit of the Hero rather than the Spirit of the Hero itself. Each Link probably has their own soul, but they share the Spirit of the Hero.
Also, interesting to note is that he cursed the bloodline of the goddess rather than the goddess herself. Which implies one of two things, 1. He knew that Hylia would not reincarnate again or 2. If she did, she would only reincarnate into her own bloodline. BotW seems to show that Hylia is present as a goddess which might mean she resumed her role as goddess rather than being reincarnated as a mortal again.
Spirit is different than soul too , is not complicated .
I personally see each Link like an Avatar. Chosen hero, different soul and body but they all share the same spirit "Linking" them together. Like how Aang can talk to Roku or his other past lives, Link can talk to other Links or be descendants or unrelated to them.
Brah, if only that were an option..😔
To be honest, when playing Skyward Sword, I got the impression that the curse of hate was meant to torment the hero, goddess, and land that defeated him. If this theory is correct, though, it suggests that there are two cycles that operate in tandem, rather than just one. Having two cycles means that they can go in and out of sync.
That’s what I thought too. He hated them so much he wanted them to suffer immortality just like he does. So then he could torment them on repeat
@@okas_art Very cosmic horror, in my opinion. Even when the hero wins, we know the hatred of a fallen god is still there.
What if her knight is the fierce diety
That would be awesome
Underrated, this is sweet
Maybe Hylia didn't make it so only Link reincarnates, but EVERYONE reincarnates. Which could also explain Beetle and Impa having more than one appearance..? Also I like to think that would mean Hylia would reincarnate more than once too, and would mean that those times where Link and Zelda only have a platonic relationship is because Hylia didn't reincarnate into another Zelda, but instead a peasant girl like Malon or something. I mean, if EVERY Link married EVERY Zelda, it would get kinda incesty pretty quick 😬
The Links arent connected by blood tho, they usually come from different families. Only exception being TP Link, whos a descendant of the Hero of Time
I think there’s a simpler explanation, when you unlock the true master sword in skyward sword, the text Read’s “AND ONLY LINK MAY WIELD IT” therefore, as the only weapon that can destroy demises hatred, and link being the only person who could wield it ( NOTE: not hold it, WIELD it, there’s a difference ), he has to be reincarnated.
Also, remember this line in BOTW; “whether skyward bound, adrift through time, or steeped in the glowing embers of twilight, THE SACRED BLADE IS FOREVER BOUND TO THE SOUL OF THE HERO!” Meaning that Link and the Master Sword are connected.
Omg is it me or link had a green light saber in skyward sword
Link is Luke confirmed?
@@nworder4life Super Smash Wars is a thing.... Link Skywalker... Go check it out
@@nworder4life th-cam.com/video/Gh-BEKM-jRc/w-d-xo.html
A green Darksaber more like. He's the next Mandalore.
In the final battle, both him and Demise summoned lightning for their swords so it was technically a lightsaber fight
I love your way of thinking , it's one of the reason's you're my favorite Zelda theorist! However, I believe that the Link we see from SS IS the original hero. When he went back in time, it was like he was writing his own story. But I also love the idea of an original hero that predates SS Link. It adds a special flare of mystery. Keep up the great videos!
but he didn't give Zelda a sail cloth in the past, the Goddesses chosen hero did, at least according to the sail cloth ceremony.
@@nworder4life what I’m saying is that he basically made it so that story was about him because after he beat demise in the past that would technically make him the chosen hero of the story . I know it has some holes but it’s just an idea . I do really love the idea of another Link from even before SS.
@@Piiiiiiiiit It didn't create a new timeline though, we saw that they arrived exactly where they left. Unless you want to argue it created a split in the past and the past they killed demise in had no effect on the future they came from just like Trunks from Dragonball Z.
I got an idea all of a sudden what if the first incarnation of the hero was in fact a god like Hylia technically making the Fierce Deity mask links own mask, the Fierce Deity in Majora's Mask is just link unlocking his original incarnations power.
‘Was Demise’s curse also responsible for the creation of the reincarnation cycle of Link?’ is said as the screen answers it. ‘Those like you… Those who share the blood of the goddess and the SPIRIT OF THE HERO… they ARE ETERNALLY BOUND TO THIS CURSE’, meaning, yes, the curse was responsible.
Your “fie” “FEE?!” joke always has perfect timing and delivery, and I focus more on that than your actual theories due to its comedic genius.
I believed that there were no knight of Hylia but instead it was SS Link himself.
In the "panel" that tells Hylia's battle there wasn't a Knight and she was holding the Goddes Sword, this proves that she really didn't need a hero to save her, also Demise nor Girahim mention any hero.
So what about all the refence to that hero? They were about SS Link, this is because Link and Zelda traveled to the past were Link defeated Demise. The reference we have about the knight is that he helped Hylia (like Link and Zelda) and had a sailcloth made by the Goddes as Link had one made by Zelda.
Also, SS Zelda is the only reincarnation of the Goddes, the rest only carry her blood so we could say that SS Zelda and Hylia are the same person
Yeah I thought something similar. Due to the time travel in SS I thought it was the same link
I mean forggeting about the time travel bits. Many gods in mythology are aware of prophecies and future events. Like Odin knowing and trying to fight against Ragnorok. I wouldn't be surprised if Demise knew of a prohecy of Hylia creating a knight.
One must also remember that legends are distorted over time, and events may not play out exactly in actuality. That is what Fi tells us at the beginning of the game.
Take for instant, the Imprisoning War in ALTTP. In that backstory, Ganondorf stole the Triforce from the Sacred Realm and used its power to become Ganon and create an army of demons to take over Hyrule. He was sealed away by the Seven Sages who were protected by an army of Hyrulean Knights.
Notice there's something missing in that backstory. A certain Hero of Time wielding the Master Sword? Yet Ocarina of Time is the canonical tale of the Imprisoning War and it's very different from what ALTTP stated.
Link is my boi
I grew up him and everything and is my favorite Nintendo character
Same
*MAI BOI*
OH BOI IM SO HUNGRY I COULD EAT A OCTOROK
@@AtMr8MinutesIsReal Can't wait to go bomb some dodongos!
I'm curious to see your thoughts on the 'ghost'/lingering spirits of the hero and the lack of hero in that one era. I think it kinda comes down to certain philosophies on Reincarnation. For example, Buddhism doesn't see reincarnation as an immortal soul transmigrating to a new life after death-- like the Link cycle might suggest. It's a different way of viewing the self that ignores the catchall of a literal soul and sees it more as a spirit-- an idea that lives on. It's clearly literal and inherited between the Links but it doesn't have to be the same person reborn-- much like how Zelda is a descendant and Ganon inherits literal hatred.
The 'Spirit" perhaps being this kind of spark or flame of life that mingles with the soul of the Link and persists on beyond the life of that Link. That's why we can have a lingering spirit in the Hero of Time's Shade. His progeny isn't literally his soul given new life, it's simply the inheritor of his Spirit. Someone who was first chosen by the goddess for that spark (spirit?) that persists potentially by her divine decree but not dependant on her. As for when the Hero failed to come, I think that suggests that the cycle isn't an active process enacted by the Goddess. It's a passive, thing that crops up in times of trouble. The timeline where that happened was abandoned by the hero, taking that spark/spirit with him. The Hero of Winds is potentially a brand new spirit placed in that timeline. Inheriting the same purpose and favor but technically new to the chronology.
I one hundred percent agree with you
When OoT Zelda sent Link back in time after sealing away Ganondorf, to live out his childhood, she inadvertently removed the Spirit of the Hero from her world. Link didn't re-incarnate when Ganondorf slipped his seal because he just... didn't exist. With Hylia's long-term defensive plan broken, King Daphnes and the Zelda at the time prayed to the gods for an alternative solution, which was to re-seal Ganondorf in a time-locked Hyrule and await a time when he could be dealt with for good. The gods may have been waiting for Spirit of the Hero to reappear, but what they got instead was a courageous young boy that fought his way past their trials entirely for the sake of his sister, and then took on the mantle of Hyrule's savior when she was rescued and a greater threat emerged.
Despite TWW Link not having the Spirit of the Hero, it seems like he forged his own by undergoing all of those trials - obtaining the Goddess Pearls, guiding the Sages of the Master Sword back to their temples, and collecting all the pieces of the Triforce of Courage. The Triforce of Courage may have been what caused his soul to enter into a cycle of reincarnation, as we see he reappears in Spirit Tracks. If, as MNB suggests in this video, a divine being has to be what allows a soul to reincarnate, it may have been the Golden Goddesses themselves, recognizing that Hylia's grand plan for the continued protection of Hyrule and the Triforce was fundamentally broken.
@@Galifay I think that's exactly what I was thinking. TWW Link basically forging his own spirit of the hero. Brilliantly said.
a good idea that makes a lot of sense.
8:13 i have a headcanon about this...
The flouding of Hyrule in the adault timeline would take place around the time of Twilight Princess in the child timeline and the reason why there wasn't a hero is because the Spirit of the hero was removed after The Hero of Time travels back and creates the child timeline...
And the cycle of the spirit of the hero ended, but Links did born, but not with the spirit of the hero...
Hmmm, that’s certainly a good explanation. But what it doesn’t explain is how some characters like, for instance, Beetle, end up reincarnated in so many games as well. I guess I kind of assumed that whatever affected Link also affected some of the other iconic Zelda characters as well.
I think the manga for skyward sword is mostly canon, and you can explain away the majority of issues. The master sword, for instance, could have expended so much of its energy that it collapsed back into the goddess sword.
@@aidanwong1521 You're new to the whole Zelda lore inconsistency, aren't you? Do you want to hear how many explanations they gave regarding why every princess is named Zelda since 1986?
Great video dude, it makes so much sense even in general. Regarding the case of the Wind Waker, I think there was no hero since the hero's spirit went to an alternate reality (the child timeline), leaving the original timeline totally without said spirit, which resulted in a new chosen hero to be reincarnated again. That could explain why Phantom Hourglass Link and Spirit Tracks Link look identical, but I might be getting ahead of myself there lol
Ocarina of Time link is the best Incarnation in my opinion.
in my opinion, Windwaker Link is the most badass Link. He's not exactly an Incarnation, it's just that Ganondorf has pissed off the wrong child.
@@gwendolynsnyder463 True he's alright in my book but as long as you like him that's all that matters
Cdi link is the best (that was a joke)
@@Mimi-San721 Jajaja I honestly never played The CDI Version Of Link so i cant really say anything besides rumors i heard from the game
@@R1_TheLegend to be fair i never played the cdi games i've only seen lets plays and revewise (i think i spelled it wrong)
More and more, especially with AoC, I think Hylia is the titular Goddess of Time. She even mentions in SS that she is watching you from the edge of time. She's seen every future, and when she cannot save those she' cares for, she creates a new timeline in which she can. She was too late first go around in BOTW when she awoke, so she awoke Terrako and sent him back.
Technically speaking, humans and Hylians are different races. I think there's some lore on why humans have round ears and Hylians have pointed ears. I think it's because humans lost their ability to hear the gods.
And the knight said, "My spirit will always be with you." I just like the idea that each of the participants in the cycle individually declared themselves that they would be reborn.
Is it just me or does Hylia's Hero in the manga bear a massive resemblance to Twilight Princess' Link more than anyone?
Great video as always. My favorite Link has to be Windwaker. Great items, great design and the expressions are priceless.
9:08 “Because that is how Hylia remembers her champion.”
Toon Link: Am I a joke to you?
He still looks identical to the rest of the Links. He belongs to the hero's spirit just like the Avatar.
I love LOVE every time mnb says fi which comes in fe and when he says fe and fi comes right in I love it its soooo funny😂
I realise the Imprisoned’s scales are Demise’s arm-scales.
So, the Imprisoned are just Demise’s bicep muscles given sentience.
Lol, king of biceps 😂
I live for the Fi. Fye? Every time. It makes my day 🤣
For me this theory is the good one. Long time before, when i was child (i'm 41), i believed that Link was the reincarnated spirit of the first knight/lover of Zelda (lately discovered as the spirit of goddess Hylia). This time was the early 90's between A link to the past and Ocarina of time. Hyrule Historia didn't exist only my imagination. That's the reason why this theory is my favorite.
"That's why it's the Legend of ZELDA"... it all makes sense now!
This theory is the reason why I Love this series because the love between link and Zelda.
I love everything about this theory and it makes a lot of sense to me!
This is probably one of my favorite zelda theories out there, because you were able to work in the manga, I remember I first saw it, or at least some of it, in a hyrule compendium I have and, since it was in the compendium, I always saw it as the canon reason for all the zeldas and links in all the games, you did an amazing job.
I don't think "Spirit of the Hero" meant his literal reincarnating soul but his will and what he embodies. The Links are for the most part unrelated to each other, in Twilight Princess the Hero of Twilight is trained by the ghost of the Hero of Time, who is clearly a separate entity, and in Wind Waker the Hero of Winds is stated to have nothing to do with the Hero of Time.
There's also this fan-theory that Gramps, the secret boss in A Link Between Worlds, is actually the Legendary Hero from A Link to the Past, but that's just a theory.
Something I've thought about when it comes to the heroes shade in TP.
It basically was like in Avatar the last Airbender. He was talking to a past life version of himself that taught him those moves, that's why he appeared as a gold wolf, it's symbolic of the same spirit different body and all that.
That would explain why the howling stones have the Sheikah symbol on them, oot link wanted to pass on his knowledge to his future self so he had the Sheikah help him make the stones and made them to howl the most important songs to him personally, and that would awaken the memories and that part of his spirit buried deep in his own soul.
Not sure if that's the actual answer or not tho but if this theory is true that's the only way it makes sense
@Andrew Bastin I feel the same way
@@majora5664 Midna saw the heroes shade as well and the Hero of Time is confirmed to be the Hero of Twilight's ancestor, likely his Great-Grandfather, so those scenes are more him talking to the ghost of his ancestor than his past-life.
what if,,,,,,,*we"re* the spirit of the hero ,,,,,,
isn’t the hero of twilight a distant direct descendant of the hero of time?
I actually would like to see a video explaining hylia's knight if he was indeed the very source of where Links soul came from
When you dropped that skyloft music it sent a shiver down my spine and hit me with nistoga
Oh yes! I'm praying to Hylia the remake is going to be devine!
I would love to hear your thought's on the wind waker prologue and heroes shade. Wonderful video as well. Merry Christmas man and Happy New Year.
I get genuinely excited when I see you uploaded a new video keep up the good work!
Okay but if Hylia made link reincarnate, wouldn’t she be so mad when Sidon comes into the picture I’m botw? Like we all know Sidlink is a thing, wouldn’t she be mad about that
not really. hylia decided to make them reincarnate every time there was an instance of evil, but she still lets them have control of their lives afterward. link and zelda aren’t always bound by love, sometimes it’s just duty or friendship.
You're joking right?
This is such a beautiful theory and honestly i believe it 100%
@@aidanwong1521 sshhh its okay
I like that this is something each fan can interpret in their own way, without being wrong.
These videos are so fun to watch!
I do think it’s interesting to consider moments where it seems the “hero’s spirit” is not necessarily the same exact spirit put in a new body, but rather a title referring to courage and a connection to the gods. You already mentioned when the Hero of Time teaches the Hero of Twilight (if one is currently alive, it’s odd how one who is dead is also appearing to... well, if it was actually his same spirit, appearing to himself? Through time travel or something? Which isn’t out of the question for, you know, the Hero of TIME...). I think it’s also interesting how the Hero of Winds is sometimes called “the Hero of Time reborn” by people like Ganondorf yet also said to NOT be the same exact person by the King of Red Lions, Jabun, and Deku Tree. Also to consider is the fact that the Goddess Hylia seems to be able to actively communicate with Link in BotW, yet it is NOT the same as Zelda herself, and things like AoC call her a “descendant of the goddess” or “having the blood of the goddess”. So perhaps, Skyward Sword’s Zelda and Link were indeed reincarnations of Hylia and the original knight, but not necessarily future incarnations? It could be that future versions of Link and Zelda (and perhaps even Ganondorf) are not necessarily always going to be the same spirits reincarnated, but rather multiple spirits, of similar strength and somewhat personality are chosen to fill the role of the *heritors* of Hylia’s power and the power of the knight of the goddess. Even just comparing things like how the personalities of Zelda seem to change from game to game, such as calm and composed in TP, brash and confident in ST and WW, almost shy yet flirty in SS... perhaps that further shows that Zelda is not always the same spirit, but her descendants of the first Zelda still have portions of the Goddess’ power, and Hylia herself returned as a Goddess once SS Zelda’s life was over, and perhaps the same for SS Link, allowing for the original spirits of Hylia and the knight to continue to dwell with each other, and their descendants to be able to continue to receive their powers when necessary.
Good theory but I think that in hyrule encyclopedia it was mentioned that the hero of time and twilight r the only ones related to another
The only reincarnation of Hylia is Skyward Sword Zelda, every other Zelda is born of her bloodline. I believe that every Link is both SS Link and their own person. The Links are simply connected to Hylia's descendants by destiny and perhaps(in many cases), love.
I didn't know the manga wasn't canon. I always looked at it as canon. As for the Master Sword, I thought it was going back to a dormant state. So when we "re create" the sword in SS and seal Demise in it, we have then made it complete.
The Master Sword is the only blade that can seal the darkness, but it is also the blade that is cursed with darkness to make history repeat it self for eternity.
If we somehow got Demise out of the blade (last game in the timeline type of thing) the sword will then return to its dormant state as the Godess Sword if we can't beat him.
That's my take on it anyway, but its not canon so it can't be =/
Where can I find the Manga I can't really find it on Amazon or anything else
@@BrightLord1823 Its in the Hyrule Historia book
I really like this theory! My original idea was more that Demise cursed Link's spirit to an eternity of fighting him. So that his spirit can never rest and must always be reincarnated to fight him when the time comes. But this theory also makes perfect sense and it ties in well to some of the more subtle hints in Skyward Sword
I always figured it was some type of character test/picking up the mantle. Sort of like, who is going to pick up the mantle and fight gets the spirit of hero. But I guess in that case, we would see more variety in Links
Holy Sh*t... Imagine a warriors style game where we play as the og hero.
I didn’t know there was a manga!! Gonna go read that for a week lol
It's very interesting! Hope you enjoy!
There's a few manga series. The one focused on in the video was initially released in the 25th anniversary Hyrule Historia, while other series have been released as full manga books (the Twilight Princess series is currently in progress)
The manga is really entertaining, but isn’t cannon just a forewarning don’t try to connect it to the games
@@linksapprentice726 Nintendo must have liked it though, they put it in their book.
@@nworder4life I’m not dissing the manga in any way I love the 4sa adventures manga a ton one of my favorite manga even, but it’s not their book per se dark horse made the books which is why there are several inconsistencies in historia which were largely fixed in hyrule encyclopedia. Again no disrespect to the manga it’s just not cannon
I've always been curious about how much time has passed in between games I think it's a few thousand years because it takes a while for something to become a legend/myth and as we've seen the geography of the world changes and that takes thousands of years.
the cutscene where Zelda seals Calamity Ganon in AOC emphasizes the Triforce of Wisdom with a visible and audible bling.
Skyward Sword the, as of now, start of the Zelda timeline... except that even in that game there are "ancient" ruins from civilizations of the past from before the goddess raised the islands from the land... SOOOO, there is still a lot more of a story from before Skyward Sword that could be told to expand on how things got that way to start and where all that tech came from.
Finally a zelda theory ytber who also pronounces fi "fee"
I mean, I've always thought that the hero mentioned by Zelda on the statue when she gives him the sail cloth was that very Link we play as in Skyward Sword. Remember, he goes back in time to defeat Demise, and so it is very possible that this created a time loop where the Skyloftians know of him before this Link was even born. It was also stated that the goddess Hylia had to take a human form to seal Demise before the creation of Skyloft, which explains the whole reincarnation-into-a-human thing. But I think the reincarnation of both Link and Zelda was something Hylia did, but Demise's curse only affects the reincarnation of his hatred. Therefore, it's more like Demise said "You guys are gonna reincarnate all the time? Well, watch this!" and then started his own cycle of reincarnation through Ganondorf.
Happy Holidays MaskedNintendoBandit!
It should be stated that the manga in question was included at the end of Hyrule Historia, which is full of official Zelda lore. I like to think that makes it somewhat canon.
God the beginning scared me
I really like this theory! :D The cycle of hatred is a subject in the Zelda lore that I'm very interested in, and I always found it fascinating how each part of the curse comes back in very different ways:
*Zelda* : is a descendant from the previous one in a forever going bloodline of the goddess.
*Link* : does not need to be a descendant from another Link, instead the spirit seems to chose whoever is worthy to protect the princess and wield the Master Sword (and with your theory in mind, it's entirely possible the goddess made sure that there will always be such an individual around shaped after her original knight).
*Ganon* : Is not really reborn as much as resurrected. And possibly the only one of these three who actually retains his memories from the previous games.
I might have missed something here, as I haven't played all of the games yet and I'm still researching stuff. But nonetheless! Very cool theory, and very interesting subject. ^_^
Dude this video was so much fun to watch. I love this theory. Excellent work.
Random but your voice is soothing lol
Early! Love ur vids btw. But my favorite link is probably botw :P
Such a good video!!! I really enjoyed the subject, this is something I talk about a lot with my best friend, lol! My favourite is the hero of time - great dude!
I'm happy to finally see someone talk more about the SS Prequel Manga. Yes, it may not be canon but Akira managed to capture the essence of the Zelda story beautifully and they both did an amazing job trying to imagine what would have taken place before SS
As for the Master Sword in the Manga, I'd like to imagine that during the events from the Manga to SS it simply lost it's power and became the Goddess Sword. It was just hidden away and it had no sages to keep its power or any other being to look after it.
But that's just my take on what could have happened. I'm kind of sad that the Manga isn't canon, since it did have a pretty good explanation for the reincarnation cycle
I'm also happy that someone finally realized why the games are named after Zelda, because she is the reincarnation of Hylia and that makes the title even more impactful(credit goes to the videos "If Link could talk in SS" for that realization)
Utterly convinced
I’m here super early
2:09 This look says it all. Imagine how many times Hylia has sent Link to his death before starting the cycle.
I'm glad you made this. I had the same thoughts about how stupid it would be for Demise to create the cycle.
I've wondered if Hylia accidentally created the cycle by making a wish or weaving a spell about reincarnating the hero (and herself) for when Demise retuned; not expecting it to continue to happen.
While Zelda's power lies in the bloodline of Hylia I still think she is the reincarnation of Hylia. How? Well, either Hylia is the goddess of time and therefore can exist outside of time. Or the prayers at the Goddess Statues are answered by servants of the goddess.
I'm sure there is some lore I'm missing here.
Great video!
Um probably either botw link or oot link
The Avatar
I’d say my favorite it’s the hero of time. Cause he’s the most tragic of all of them. Even more than the hero of the wild. Cause he ends up becoming a specter that’s basically a ghost of his greatest regrets.
Personally, I think he could meet the hero of twilight cause the spirit of the original hero kinda splitted into two parts, both the negative and the positive emotions, not the the hero’s shade is evil, but he’s the embodiment of all its regrets and the hero of twilight would be the second chance, or either, his hope. And therefore, when the hero’s shade trains the hero of twilight, he lets go of his inner pain as well as he fulfill his dream of teaching his knowledge to his descendent, and then pass on, finding the light, to either join the hero of twilight or to meet his fallen friends from the past. I mean.
I just come to think about it, I’m mostly certain that the hero of time ended up with malon and had children with her, most probably they were responsible to create Odeon village and that’s cause the hero of twilight is his blood decendent and he’s not of royal blood so most probably he’s not from oot zelda, and that brings me to question why OOT link didn’t end with OOT zelda, most probably cause he have second thoughts about how the adult era zelda just sent him back with out giving him option, making him live tons of other things after he saw his friends become beings that are disconnected from the phisical world, specially saria. Adult era zelda sent him back which only lead him to many troublesome existencial crisis and then, how would he be able to feel cofortable around child era zelda when she would just become similar to the one who did him this whole trouble? This is why I believe he just decided to keep a distance, being her knight but getting closer, fearful of being hurt again, finding solace in malon, who could possibly be the one to give him the sensation of a solid ground where he could find peace. And this would all connect with this whole significance of how the hero’s shade are this collection of regrets, doubts, pain, and sorrow, finding peace in helping his decendent/second chance but guiding him on the right path or at least making him stronger to fight his foes. And the twilight hero would just continue this, most probably ending with ilia, and zelda not interfering most probably aware of how the hero of time felt about what her adult era counterpart caused to him, and ought of love, a love that comes from the very long past, she would let him live the way he’d choose, cause she just wishes that he doesn’t feel more pain, or as Hylia said in the manga, every bit of pain he felt, she could feel too. So she would want him to find peace.
Huh. I always thought that the Link we see in Skyward Sword was the first one, one that was simply destined to one day be born and that is why he is able to be recognised. That Hylia knew a person with a spirit like his would come, and then created a plan based around that knowledge in preparation for him.
That's just how I see it though, your theory is just as valid.
Love this theory, it puts a big ol smile on my face to imagine Hylia starting this mystical cycle because she missed her husbando
Bro
It's gotta start with the first Link, the one in the Goddess Era. The young man in green, the southpaw, the protag, the lead role, AND the heroic martyr who died fer humanity to be rescued. The Link who was the first was the left-handed hero who'd be a young man in his adult age. Maybe 25 years old.
I accept this theory as my head canon, though I do want to point out that while he wasn't responsible Demise does has a possible reason. Link seems to be reborn whenever Ganon is about to or has appear and constantly loses everyone he loves besides Zelda. So in that sense Link can never know a fully peaceful time, thus Demise gets the ultimate revenge on the man who stopped him at every turn and his goddess. Its also why that BotW fan video Deathly Loneliness works so well IMO.
DOES CANON MEAN FAKE OR REAL IM SO CONFUSED
Canon means "real" :)
@@BanditGames ok thx👌
@@BanditGames also my favorite link is him in his tingle costume in botw. I also like fierce deity link.
Canon describes material that is consistent with the official narrative. For example: it is canon that Link is the chosen hero of Hyrule. Anything that can be "fact-checked" within an official game is considered canon.
It is not necessarily canon (until it is confirmed, officially) that Link and Malon got married after the events of OoT and thus Twilight Princess link was born; that would be fanfiction or "head-canon". People like to say this because Twilight Princess Link is a farmhand, but it's never been stated by Nintendo that this is true.
Head-canon is a fancy term for "wishful thinking". Canon is "real" in terms of story-telling.
@@rms1493 Wow. Did you memorize that from the Oxford dictionary or something that’s impressive
Demise: ho, your approaching me? Instead of running away your coming right at me?
Zelda is a JoJo reference, you can’t change my mind
Yes I know that I didn’t properly quote Dio
Great video dude !
I just love your videos man😎🙏