The Romance Thread IV: The Debate Continues

Like a fan fic of a LinkxCucco lady or Telma as romantic interests would be fun for me to read but LinkxEpona in "MY MASTER'S TOUCH" I will do my best to avoid reading such a thing for sure.

Ha! It sounds almost funny! You know, there is another scary fan-fic like that but there is no animal-Hilyan intercourse. I think it was called "A Heros Honor" or something like that...

Wow, this discussion is becoming very disturbing. This has gone from a debate on who we believe Link should choose, romance-wise, to a debate over whether or not Link would ever get drunk or seduced into sleeping with multiple women, to a discussion about other peoples sexual fetishes being displayed in fanfic form. Why don't we get back on topic here with either topics 1 or 2 of the 3 I just mentioned.

Another scenario that would back up my theory. Link and all these other girls are friends. Now, in Malon's case, she's never met Zelda. Now, lets say that there is a party at Lon Lon Ranch in which Link is invited, but Zelda isn't, or can't come due to circumstances. Now, most people drink at parties, especially if they are around the age that they would be in college if they were to go to college. Either that, or my family is made up of a bunch of drunkards. Now, say that Link had a few too many. This would be perfect for Malon to take advantage of. Of course, this leaves the arguement that Link would never cheat even if his judgement was impaired. Now, I have 2 answers to this. 1.) Maybe he isn't cheating because a relationship had not yet started between Link and Zelda. Or, 2.) How the hell do you know what Link is like or what he is thinking at this point in his life? As I have said before, the only type of Link that we have seen is one with the mind of a child. Whether Link became that shy person that will only get into a relationship if the woman makes the first move, or if he was some kind of player, or somewhere in-between is not known. The only thing that a person can do is hope that, if there were a game which would depict Link as an adult, he would not be something to far from what you believe him to be.

(Claps) Bravo on your last post. And that is exactly why I would like a Fable-like character interaction in the next Zelda game where the player will be given different decisions throughout the game and the consequences of those decisions made will determine how Links personality/behavior or romantic interest would be. I think I mentioned this idea awhile back and got flamed for it so I'll duck right now. (Ducks)

I support your idea, ganonslayer, it's a good idea. Really. A more open ended Zelda game with multiple choices to determin Links personality is a great idea. But because you mentioned it, I flame you.

OK..thats cool.

I always thought that Link and Zelda should be paired up.
Ever since playing 'A Link to the Past' I thought they would be good for each other~.
I wonder if there is going to be a clear answer on this?

Ah, shipping! Is there any fandom that doesn't engage in it? I once knew someone who was a devoted member of the Harry Potter fandom, and she would swear up and down that Harry/Hermione was the only way to go, even though JK Rowling herself shot down that pairing. Very strange.

As for the Zelda games, I honestly never thought anyone but Zelda would be paired with Link until I started reading the numerous fan fics where he was paired with Malon or who knows who else. (as an aside, this was before fanfiction.net banned NC-17 stories, and my mind was quickly scarred by some of the things people had written. Sometimes curiosity does kill the cat)

I would still choose Zelda over any other woman, though, simply because she's the closest to being Link's equal. Malon and Ilia would be good choices if he chose to remain a farmhand in the beginning of TP (or settled down at the Lon Lon Ranch in OoT). TP seemed to be setting Link up with Midna, but the game pulled the rug out from under him when she departed at the end. The leaves Ilia and Zelda, but the end also hinted that Link left Ilia, and he and Zelda only met three times, twice when he was in wolf form, which sort of casts doubt on any romantic involvement on the two.

Well, it's very likely there wil never be an absolute answer in this debate (Even though Zelda's winning... I'm just saying...) unless Nintendo goes for a full-on, blatant Linkx??? romace. Even then people will support other relationships (hence the HarryxHermione thing). No one has changed anyones mind because we're all to devoted (Except for you, Ganonslayer, you chose THREE sides!)

I think Link would have the love for Ilia to a brother-sister type of love more than anything else. If we were to bring them to a whole new level, then no. A romantic affair between Link and Ilia seems off bounds to me. Zelda still remains the closest for Link to have a long term romantic relationship with her.

Does it give any hints in the game that Ilia actually 'loved' Link? They could love each other like siblings. When she lost her memory and Link was all worried about her, could he have made those faces to show concern for a sibling than a partner of his own?

I think Link showed more romantic affairs to both Zelda and Midna than Ilia, but the relationship between the two was something special that can only be titled as family love.

I too felt a "little sister" vibe with Ilia, especially the way Link acted protective of her.

All the comments regarding Ilia's "swollen head" made me laugh. But after looking for a while at her picture, I think I see why her appearance is such an issue for many. With her large, round head and large, widely spaced eyes, she has a very "infant-like" appearance. It's a bit like Malo, only less extreme, and I found Malo unnerving as hell.

Perhaps the large head look is probably a gene thing that most of the kids share in Ordon. Maybe because of inter-breeding? I'm not sure. But I also have that feel of Link and Ilia only loving each other as siblings as much as Link and Aryll in WW.

'Family love'? With someone who's not actually related? Seems somewhat unlikely... Not that I support a IliaxLink romance.

Originally Posted by Blackfire667

'Family love'? With someone who's not actually related? Seems somewhat unlikely... Not that I support a IliaxLink romance.

It's possible to view and love someone like family even if they are not related.

Originally Posted by Blackfire667

'Family love'? With someone who's not actually related? Seems somewhat unlikely... Not that I support a IliaxLink romance.

^ Such relationships exist. I don't like the fact that Link and Ilia might have been the 'perfect couple' in TP. Link was much closer to Midna than Ilia. Although I'm not sure if there was any hint of a lover for Zelda during the end battle with Ganondorf.

But when he ran away during the credits, did he go back to Zelda, or somewhere else?

Originally Posted by Eternal Legend

^ Such relationships exist. I don't like the fact that Link and Ilia might have been the 'perfect couple' in TP. Link was much closer to Midna than Ilia. Although I'm not sure if there was any hint of a lover for Zelda during the end battle with Ganondorf.

But when he ran away during the credits, did he go back to Zelda, or somewhere else?

Well, being that he only had contact with Zelda 3 times, 2 times in wolf form, there wasn't much chance for a relationship between them to develop in TP. But, that does not mean that a relationship didn't occur afterwards when they got to know eachother a little better.

Originally Posted by firsttsurugi

Well, being that he only had contact with Zelda 3 times, 2 times in wolf form, there wasn't much chance for a relationship between them to develop in TP. But, that does not mean that a relationship didn't occur afterwards when they got to know eachother a little better.

This is what I think. However, the game leaves it up to the player's imagination as to whither Link was riding at the end. IIRC, there was a final shot of the throne room of Hyrule Castle, suggesting he did go back there as a nod to OoT's ending.

But the only real "relationship" of Link that was developed with any depth was with him and Midna, but the only vibe I got from them was a "not meant to be" one.

Is it just me, or is there something fishy about the way ganondorf acts in TP? I mean, HE posses the body of a GIRL who's probsbly half his age! I dunno about you guys, but there something about that bugs me...

^Half his age? More like an eight of his age!

Originally Posted by Månegarm

This is what I think. However, the game leaves it up to the player's imagination as to whither Link was riding at the end. IIRC, there was a final shot of the throne room of Hyrule Castle, suggesting he did go back there as a nod to OoT's ending.

Just a pet peeve: I've never liked how games tend to "comment" on another or they can be seen to. I have a very hard time equating Link's possible return to Hyrule Castle as a nod to OoT, if only because they are so very different in impact and mood. Same with Link and Zelda's hand-holding scene and Ilia as a character...so different in focus and impact. I can't take TP Link and Zelda as romantic because of the "strictly business" mood that seemed so prevalent, unlike in OoT.

As I've been away for awhile and need to catch up:

Originally Posted by Sirius B

The problem with Midna and Ruto is something I call the "honeymoon effect." After the initial rush of a relationship wears off, you're left with the hard reality. Would Link really be content spending his life in the Twilight Realm or in Zora's Domain, with people whose culture is totally alien to him? I can see Ruto or Midna being well for a short-lived fling, but I don't see the potential for a long-term relationship between them.

Actually, I've always thought Malon was the one who would get caught most badly by this effect. When I look at the type of interaction between them, I see infatuation, shallow chemistry and a lack of reality, at least in terms of what a future would entail for him. I can see Link getting caught by the ease and hormones ( he has the effect of a swoon when Cremia grabs him ) but once it wears off what is he left with? A flirtacious girl who doesn't understand him or his life calling. I couldn't expect her to truthfully support him with her full heart because it would cause her and the ranch hardship.

Ilia's a bit different: as they have grown up together I don't see hormones or passion really being a factor, the honeymoon would be essentially already over. He's seen her bad side and flaws and if she can learn to live with his calling it might work: she did seem to support him when she regained her memory. She's also not saddled with the responsibility Malon is, she truly could be the simple girl at home. Personally I think he could do better in Zelda, but I can't discard Ilia as easily: she strikes me as much more a "waiter" like Saria before her.

Midna and Ruto IMO have the problem of being caught by their location but they at least understand the scale Link thinks on. I do see a relationship with a Twili or Zora as less likely however simply because of physical barriers. ( And culture as you said ) Link's a human..for him to exist in such a low-light or aquatic environment would not be easy.

I still think Zelda is best: her scale of personal interest is equal to his and they truly share one love: their country. She's also got the depth that Malon lacks, IMO, and the connection between them seems to be of the nature to be lifelong.