the gold wolf / dead soldier in twilight princess.

Originally Posted by Aziel Satori

He's left handed. That speaks loudly enough.

yeah, because only link can be left handed.


It's not Oot Link or any Link. Seriously? Why does everyone think that every Zelda game connects in every way possible!? It's completely asinine! Maybe it's a Hylian solider, or maybe it's just some random swordsmen, maybe it could be a million people besides Link.

Hmm, I've been reading over the posts in this thread, and...

Where is the proof that Link and the Shade are in the same bloodline?

Aziel: Link isn't the only left-handed person in Hyrule, you know. Link's uncle in ALttP used his sword on the left hand.

Originally Posted by Lurker

Though there is a lot of evidence that supports this theory of the soldier being the Hero of Time, I choose not to believe it. I can't stand looking at some skeletal remains and think that it's the Hero of Time.

P.S. Woohoo! 100th post (again)

Thankyou Lurker! The HoT has been my idol for almost 10 years, somehow imagining him as a lonely skeletal ghost makes me feel sad. And since there is nothing to confirm that it is my hero, I'll just stick my fingers in my ears and go LALALALA.

Originally Posted by Feline Witch

Thankyou Lurker! The HoT has been my idol for almost 10 years, somehow imagining him as a lonely skeletal ghost makes me feel sad. And since there is nothing to confirm that it is my hero, I'll just stick my fingers in my ears and go LALALALA.

Thank god I'm not alone on that... I'm the same as you!

Originally Posted by triforcextess

Thank god I'm not alone on that... I'm the same as you!

I know! XD There is no way my first crush (stop s******ing) is no longer the Hero but a sad and ugly old skeleton.

What next? Master Stalfos in the Catfish's Maw is Oracle Link?

Hero's Shade is a previous hero who desired to pass on his knowledge, nothing more. Nowhere in the game or any other game does it say he is from OoT. Who knows, there could have been another Link in between OoT and TP. It seems that TP attempted to remove all references to OoT, so nobody actually knows anything for sure. There is very little that is implied, related, or associated with OoT or any of the other games.

As for his ghastly appearance, I believe his appearance is more symbolic than actual. If the Hero's Shade appeared in TWW, he probably would have taken on the form of Link instead of his skeletal form, to keep up with the cartoonish, kiddy look.

Honestly, how can you possibly make a connection between a heroic youth wearing a flashy green tunic and pointy cap, and a gigantic old-guy skeleton in a battle/time-worn golden armor?

"But they play music from OoT!" Who cares? TP is filled with refferences to OoT because Nintendo wanted it that way.

Originally Posted by SixaxiS

Honestly, how can you possibly make a connection between a heroic youth wearing a flashy green tunic and pointy cap, and a gigantic old-guy skeleton in a battle/time-worn golden armor?

"But they play music from OoT!" Who cares? TP is filled with refferences to OoT because Nintendo wanted it that way.

-_- yeah, because Link isn't aloud to change clothes OR grow old.......

Originally Posted by The Sheikah

-_- yeah, because Link isn't aloud to change clothes OR grow old.......

My point being, where's the proof that he IS Link?

Well, where's the proof that he is NOT Link? There are lots of clues though.

It's never directly stated, but I think it's heavily implied and I believe that it's the Hero of Time. Like someone mentioned earlier in the thread, he mentions "our" bloodline, indicating that he's an ancestor of Link (and it's also implied that OOT Link got together with Malon in TP), and the skeleton himself mentions that he chose "the way of the hero", instead of "the way of a hero," indicating that he was a greater hero than most.

...Not only that, but he does bare resemblance to The Hero of Time in more ways than one. He is left handed, uses a shield, and even his sword's blade bears striking resemblance to the Master Sword. And although he's heavily armored and pretty badass looking, he still wears more or less of a tunic. To suggest that Link "never wore that" is a pointless and asinine argument. Obviously, OOT Link would've aged, and I think he went on to do heroic deeds past OOT. Even if he never dressed like that in real life, it's safe to assume that he can more or less choose how he wants to appear to his descendant.

And in my opinion, who else would even have reason to teach some kid ancient techniques of the past? The Hero of Time not only seems like the most "worthy" person to be teaching Link moves, but also the only one who would really have point and purpose in doing so.

"The way of the hero" is a commonly used phrase to describe what he meant. It means "the way of one courageous enough to do stuff and take matters into his own hands." This includes, but does not consist of only OoT Link.

As far as i'm concerned, and this theory is most logical by far, is that if he is connected at all, he is a Knight of Hyrule, a.k.a. one of OoT Link's ancestors, but not OoT Link himself. The Knights of Hyrule shared the same courage as Link, after all.

But that kind of begs the question, why a knight of Hyrule, and not Link? Why would there be any reason for anybody with the same amount of courage and skill as The Hero of Time besides the Hero of Time himself to teach some random new hero these lessons?

Even if you ignore the other clues it makes sense for me for that reason alone.

Originally Posted by maian

But that kind of begs the question, why a knight of Hyrule, and not Link?

But THAT kind of begs the question, why Link and not a Knight of Hyrule?

With this, i believe a knight of Hyrule is the more likely simply because the skeleton looks more like a knight of Hyrule than what Link looks like or would ever look like. Having said that, there is insufficient evidence to prove either way is the correct one.

But fighting so hard to prove Link is someone who obviously shows no resemblence to Link other than the fact he talks about heroes and courage, is just desperate fanboyism.

Do you HAVE to be called Link just so you can talk about courage?

-left handed
-turns into a wolf
-say he accepted the life of THE hero (written in green btw)
etc etc

Quotes:
-Go and do not falter, my child! (it's probably figurative, but still a blunt hint)
-If you have not the courage to
tread upon the path of the one
true hero, then begone.
-Do you wish to master this final
hidden skill, which can be earned
only by the one true hero? (note that he obviously mastered it in order to teach it to you)
-Do you not already feel the courage
granted by this strength as it guides
you step by step toward your true
enemy? (only one of the many times he talkes about courage)
-At last, the skills I have to teach
you have entered the realm of
true secrecy. They are forgotten
ways that do not leave our bloodline.
-Although I accepted life as the
hero, I could not convey the lessons
of that life to those who came after.
At last, I have eased my regrets.

It's pretty obvious that he is intended to be the former hero, and the only former hero we hear in TP is OoT Link. (appears in the stories of the Gorons and Zoras, and is mentioned by the light spirits when Link receives his clothes)

I'd say a great ancient Hylian soldier. Link? Nah not possible. By the look of his body shape, it couldn't have been any Link, because every Link so far have been quite short and not too bulky, the complete opposite of this dead warrior.
Link is revived in each game. That means, his soul is placed in a new body. His soul can't possibly be in both the dead knight and in himself.

Hero's Shade is definitely Link... Although not necessarily OoT Link.


I still think that his appearance is symbolic. That's not his actual appearance, but it's just the way he was presented to TP Link. He took the form that TP Link could most relate to: a skillful swordsman. I believe that he would have taken on another form had he been in TWW.

His skeletal appearance probably symbolizes that either he's dead or a spirit of the past.

He no longer dons the Hero's Clothes because he is no longer living the life of the hero. Instead he wears the gear of an ancient soldier/knight to symbolize that he his/was a brave warrior at heart.

Originally Posted by astinktothepast

Hero's Shade is definitely Link... Although not necessarily OoT Link.


I still think that his appearance is symbolic. That's not his actual appearance, but it's just the way he was presented to TP Link. He took the form that TP Link could most relate to: a skillful swordsman. I believe that he would have taken on another form had he been in TWW.

His skeletal appearance probably symbolizes that either he's dead or a spirit of the past.

He no longer dons the Hero's Clothes because he is no longer living the life of the hero. Instead he wears the gear of an ancient soldier/knight to symbolize that he his/was a brave warrior at heart.

This. Thanks for this, it's pretty much what I was trying to say.

Originally Posted by Phantom Lukas

IBy the look of his body shape, it couldn't have been any Link, because every Link so far have been quite short and not too bulky, the complete opposite of this dead warrior.

Because we never see Link outside of his teens. Even OoT "ADult" Link is still a teenager, so not fully developed yet.

Link is revived in each game. That means, his soul is placed in a new body. His soul can't possibly be in both the dead knight and in himself.

Revived makes is sound like he's a zombie, you mean ressurected (still sounds awkward) or reborn.
Furthermore the rebirth thing is not proven. And lastly, the golden wolf always jumps into Link, and then he meets the dead soldire in a strange realm. If you want Link to be the same soul everytime you can easiely say that he connects and gains knowledge from his former self, all in his own mind.