The Romance Thread IV: The Debate Continues

Originally Posted by Eternal Legend

That is a good summary. However, I don't know if Malon is that type of person. She might allow him to be off for a while, but I don't know if farm life is best suited for Link.

Agreed. When I compare her up against for instance Saria, I see two very different types of girl. Saria is what I call a "waiter", as is Zelda. She seems truly content to trust Link and that he will return in his own time. Seven years goes by without a word from him and she's defended him and never lost hope. Zelda also believed he would return despite everything indicating Hyrule was doomed and she releases him with the same faith in MM. If Link needed to go off to do his work, either of these two would wait, no doubt about it in my mind.

Malon on the other hand seems very much a "here and now" girl. Her immediate circumstances are all that matters. She's also very dependant on others...she doesn't take the lead in providing for herself. Look at the circumstances after seven years of Link's absence: Zelda has gone into hiding to fight for Hyrule. Malon is sitting in the stable with a bucket looking at her feet. She furtively sneaks out at night to remember the better times, but that's the only resistance. Link comes and sets things right, and then she has hope. A woman so unwilling to fight for herself and her world doesn't strike me as remotely right for a man of Link's caliber. She won't likely encourage him to do wonderous things because she doesn't believe they can be done herself. Think Ilia's statement in the beginning of TP: "Promise me you won't do anything outside your league..just come home safe." Link could never promise this to Malon and I doubt she'd be okay with it. To say her father and Ingo could continue into old age with the hard work around the farm in Link's stead seems unrealistic also, IMO.

Originally Posted by Eternal Legend

I might hint that he might move back to the forest for a few years as it seems like he set Epona free during the credits. Or perhaps with the last meeting that he had with Zelda when they were both in the clouds, Link might want to return to Hyrule Town, as he is a Hylian and might feel like he belongs there.
He might want to become a superior knight for Zelda and stand by her side.

But clearly, it is all up to our imagination.

I suppose, but I think actions speak louder than words. To me, Link leaving it all behind in the future and yet returning to stand before Zelda indicates he didn't leave his feelings ( or possibly duty to her ) in the future as well.

Belive it or not, you and Eternal Legend make really good potints to support your theories and in OOT I have two scenarios. One for LinkxMalon and the other for LinkxZelda.

LinkxZelda is the standard ending to OOT when Link returns to Zelda as a child. This will allow him to grow up and mature normally where he will likely form a very strong bond with Zelda over the years into adulthood. Keep in mind that he is probably also developing a relationship with Malon as the indirect evidence from MM suggests with him having Epona. Therefore its easy to deduct that he may visit LonLon ranch frequently as a child. And that child Zelda doesn't keep him chained to Hyrule Castle as a pet all the time and suprisingly allows child Link to roam freely when he wants to on occasion. Nonetheless he ages normally and by the time he is an adult he has more of a sense of self to make his own decisions instead of others doing it for him if he stayed as an adult in the alternate timeline. IMO more than likely he will choose Zelda over Malon but I still think Malon would have a chance to steal him away from Zelda. But this more rational and more mature thinking Link would probably choose Zelda as you guys pointed out that is where he is needed most and having a hot blond princess as a girlfriend for support in his responsibilities is a great added benefit. So LinkxZelda on this one IMO

LinkxMalon is likely in the case IF he were to have stayed as an adult as a clueless and confused child with the added anxiety of being in a mans body with manly type urges. This one dimensional Link only cares about somebody or anybody telling him what to do and how to do it. In being with Zelda, this Link will simply stand by her side quietly with a creepy wide eyed stare anxiously waiting for Zelda to tell him what to do. This Links idea of intimate romance is Zelda giving him pecks on the cheek as the greatest reward for him being such a super obedient sweetheart. Then follows the gratuitous sigh and the silly bewildered look on his face as he would stand there totally clueless on what to do next. The strange manly urges he feels during these moments are probably exhilerating and very confusing at the same time so he is unable to have the mental maturity to really act upon them. So this unfortunate state of arrested development hinders Link from taking the next step to maybe engage Zelda on a manly heroic mouth to mouth kiss which would never happen unless Zelda goes against her character and plays seductress. This is unlikely as I said before, Zelda probably finds Links child like innoccence very endearing and does not mind that it will probably take years for him to naturally hit puberty at age 20 something. Ahem...Malon on the other hand is more of the persistent temptress type that would be more than willing to alleviate Links anxiety and confusion of being a child trapped in a mans body with strange manly urges. In other words Malon will not wait for Link to hit mental puberty on his own and without explicit detail she would easily speed up the proccess of curing gullible and super submissive Link of his sweet child like innocence in no time. So in this scenario for Zelda YOU SNOOZE YOU LOSELinkxMalon FTW

Originally Posted by Ganonslayer2000

So in this scenario for Zelda YOU SNOOZE YOU LOSELinkxMalon FTW

You know, that "you snooze you loose thing" you bring up has and probably always will bug me. It seems almost... Mean...

But good scenarios you've got there. Kind comical too.

BUT it all depends on the way you imagine the characters personalities. You picture Zelda and Malon in one way, I might picture them another way and come up with an equally good counter argument/senario!!! Unfourtunately, I've yet to think up one such scenario....

Originally Posted by Blackfire667

You know, that "you snooze you loose thing" you bring up has and probably always will bug me. It seems almost... Mean...

Agreed. And crass, to tell the truth. I think there's been too much talk about one girl vs another getting Link into bed and this automatically ensuring said girl will win Link's heart. In my experience that's not remotely the way love works...there's too many abandoned women with kids out there to prove it.

Anyways, love is more than that. The way I see it, if a relationship is based on lust ( physical acts/attraction ) than it holds up poorly over distance and time when it can't be maintained. In a heroic life like Link's, he's going to be carrying memories often rather than staying at home. A relationship based on trust, belief and faith ( real love ) would likely stay with him more, and last beyond when the physical attraction dies off. He's already got this with Zelda in many cases...and hey, even Ilia in TP. Her lack of physical beauty aside, she's got it where it really counts.

OK..I'll stop with the snooze you lose thing. Remember this is just for fun for all of us, but you got to admit..my perception of the more gullible and simple minded OOT Link was probably dead on. OK seriously though gilderpilot, you made a great point on comparing and contrasting real world love and make believe fantasy love. But where you said Illia has it where it counts makes no sense to me as I found her not only to be physically unattractive for a fictional video game character, but she also had an incredibly annoying personality. Not to mention that I find the fact that her and Renado being always together during the nightime in the sanctuary very strange and creepy.

Originally Posted by Ganonslayer2000

OK..I'll stop with the snooze you lose thing. Rememer this is just for fun for all of us, but you got to admit..my perception of the more gullible and simple minded OOT Link was probably dead on. OK seriously though gilderpilot, you made a great point on comparing and contrasting real world love and make believe fantasy love. But where you said Illia has it where it counts makes no sense to me as I found her not only to be physically unattractive for a fictional video game character, but she also had an incredibly annoying personality. Not to mention that I find the fact that her and Renado being always together during the nightime in the sanctuary very strange and creepy.

^ Renado was simply looking after her. I don't like the thought that him and her do something behind closed doors. After all, he doesn't seem to be that type of man. I think he has better things on his mind than looking at Ilia like that.

I didn't find Ilia all that attractive, and her personality greatly annoyed me. But then again, if she was more sincere like Zelda, then most people would think that her and Link are best for each other. But the last scene where he leaves, it seems like a sign that he won't be coming back to her again.

Of course I was joking on an improper RenadoxIllia pairing, but I hope when you said BETTER things on his mind, you meant better morally and spiritually. But yeah...I'm with you 100% that Link will not be coming back to Illia ever again thank goodness.

Originally Posted by Eternal Legend

^ Renado was simply looking after her. I don't like the thought that him and her do something behind closed doors. After all, he doesn't seem to be that type of man. I think he has better things on his mind than looking at Ilia like that.

I didn't find Ilia all that attractive, and her personality greatly annoyed me. But then again, if she was more sincere like Zelda, then most people would think that her and Link are best for each other. But the last scene where he leaves, it seems like a sign that he won't be coming back to her again.

I agree she was insincere...at least in the beginning. But I'd give that to immaturity. If she was mature enough ( like Zelda ) she could have just told him she was worried that he was leaving instead of throwing a childish tantrum. Despite that, I know her intentions out of no less than love and concern for Link. ( and insecurity on her part ) When she regained her memory and had lost the clingy immaturity, I thought she was a wonderful person. However, I still disliked the relationship. Mainly because I felt it should have been between Link and Zelda rather than a one-shot character who's meaningless in the grand scheme of things. It took the focus off the larger world too. I liked WW much better, where the implied Link x Zelda fit into the grand scheme of the greater plot...it enhanced the connection between the hero and princess.

Originally Posted by Ganonslayer2000

OK seriously though gilderpilot, you made a great point on comparing and contrasting real world love and make believe fantasy love. But where you said Illia has it where it counts makes no sense to me as I found her not only to be physically unattractive for a fictional video game character, but she also had an incredibly annoying personality.

"Real world love"...which one is that; the lust thing? As for make believe fantasy love ( faith, hope, belief ) I wouldn't call it that. They do indeed exist in our world too. I'd call lust a counterfeit love rather than the real thing. Anyways, by what I meant about "she's got it where it counts" is that she's got good qualities too. Bravery ( rescuing Ralis ), compassion, kindness and trust. She's just human and showed more faults than Zelda, who was pretty much a flat character. I like games more like OoT and WW where she has real depth.

Idno I was thinking, Link can be paired up with anyone, anyone wants. depends on how they see things. Bu the games never define it. The only one he is officially supposed to be with is Ruto. <_< we all know that is just not going to happen. Not because they are not the same species but because Link was basically tricked into teh relationship as a 10 year old.

I don't like the whole they are not the same species they can't have a relationship thing. They can't have children. but that doesn't stop anyone from having a relationship.

Originally Posted by Shark Akhrrana

Idno I was thinking, Link can be paired up with anyone, anyone wants. depends on how they see things. Bu the games never define it. The only one he is officially supposed to be with is Ruto. <_< we all know that is just not going to happen. Not because they are not the same species but because Link was basically tricked into teh relationship as a 10 year old.

I don't like the whole they are not the same species they can't have a relationship thing. They can't have children. but that doesn't stop anyone from having a relationship.

^ I think Ruto just loved Link because he simply rescued her when she was foolish not to leave Lord Jabu Jabu's stomach. I don't know if she is the perfect woman for him, but she seems so demanding all the time and saying that he is her future husband. That kind of statement would merely push me away from her and to run to other girls.

Originally Posted by gliderpilotgirl

"Real world love"...which one is that; the lust thing? As for make believe fantasy love ( faith, hope, belief ) I wouldn't call it that. They do indeed exist in our world too. I'd call lust a counterfeit love rather than the real thing. Anyways, by what I meant about "she's got it where it counts" is that she's got good qualities too. Bravery ( rescuing Ralis ), compassion, kindness and trust. She's just human and showed more faults than Zelda, who was pretty much a flat character. I like games more like OoT and WW where she has real depth.

I guess Illia had some good qualities about her but I just didn't like her as a romantic love interest for Link thats all.

On your point about the lust thing, I assume you are refering to my previous LinkxMalon theory. I like to see that as Link being more of an innoccent victim of Malons theoretical seductive ploy than Link being some sex crazed lust freak. Remember that he still has the mentality of a vulnerable innoccent child in my theory. And who is to say that LinkxMalon could not have a relationship based on trust, faith, and hope either. Maybe Malon would seduce Link because she genuinely really wants a long term loving relationship with him every bit as Zelda would.

Originally Posted by Ganonslayer2000

I guess Illia had some good qualities about her but I just didn't like her for a romantic love interest for Link thats all.

On your point about the lust thing, I assume you are refering to my previous LinkxMalon theory. I like to see that as Link being more of an innoccent victim of Malons theoretical seductive ploy than Link being some sex crazed lust freak. Remember that he still has the mentality of a vulnerable innoccent child in my theory. And who is to say that LinkxMalon could not have a relationship based on trust, faith, and hope either. Maybe Malon would seduce Link because she genuinely really wants a long term loving relationship with him every bit as Zelda would.

Exactly. They could have an interesting, not perfect relationship, other than the same old, hero + princess "happy ending" thing.

Originally Posted by Eternal Legend

^ I think Ruto just loved Link because he simply rescued her when she was foolish not to leave Lord Jabu Jabu's stomach. I don't know if she is the perfect woman for him, but she seems so demanding all the time and saying that he is her future husband. That kind of statement would merely push me away from her and to run to other girls.

I agree. They are not meant for each other. but it has nothing to do with the fact that she is Zora. I was only saying that just because someone is a different species and they can't have offspring doesn't mean they can't have a romantic relationship.

Originally Posted by Chibi Saria

Exactly. They could have an interesting, not perfect relationship, other than the same old, hero + princess "happy ending" thing.

There's nothing wrong with the classic "happy ending". It used alot because a great many people like it. Why not go with what everyone knows will work? It's like... If you have two cars, for example, you know one works because you've driven it alot. But you have the other car that might work or blow up in your face. I know what I'd pick.

You know I have never really thought about it but if I had go out on a whim i'd say midna odly enough.

Alot of people say zelda but I say that would be to predictable and to cleshey, if that is how you spell those words..............I dont know. oh well.

Originally Posted by Chibi Saria

Exactly. They could have an interesting, not perfect relationship, other than the same old, hero + princess "happy ending" thing.

You know, every single movie that you watch always contains the usual cliche of the beginning and ending. This also applies with video games. Look at Mario and Peach. He always saves her, regardless of what happens between them.
I have no problems seeing Link and Zelda together. They are always destined to help each other through crisis times in Hyrule and they are always around the same age. They are very close to each other in whatever way, but that is how I see it. The normal cliche doesn't bore me to see them together all the time. But I find it obvious.

Originally Posted by deidara

Alot of people say zelda but I say that would be to predictable and to cleshey, if that is how you spell those words..............I dont know. oh well.

^That.
LinkxZelda just gets too boring sometimes. I hate sticking to the rule book just because it's the "logic" or "canon" thing.

Originally Posted by Chibi Saria

^That.
LinkxZelda just gets too boring sometimes. I hate sticking to the rule book just because it's the "logic" or "canon" thing.

You do know that Mario always sticks to Princess Peach? What can you say about them two? I don't find it boring, only that each adventure gets more exciting everytime.

I have no problem that Link saves Zelda everytime. She does save Link as well. If it wasn't for her, Link wouldn't have completed most of his adventures. Unlike Princess Peach, who always sends Mario letters with items in them.

It all depend which Link... but If we count them all as one link then I say none.

Zelda: More like partners.
Midna: Different species.
Malon: Um..... Link want's to be on adventures not on a farm.
Illia: She lost her memory and got shot in theback right?
Saria: ... If Link was a Kokiri I would whole heartedly agree with this. However as Link ages Saria will remain young... No need to explain.

Originally Posted by Pinecove

It all depend which Link... but If we count them all as one link then I say none.

Zelda: More like partners.
Midna: Different species.
Malon: Um..... Link want's to be on adventures not on a farm.
Illia: She lost her memory and got shot in theback right?
Saria: ... If Link was a Kokiri I would whole heartedly agree with this. However as Link ages Saria will remain young... No need to explain.

You forgot Princess Ruto.

Ilia may have lost her memory, but she got it back near the end of Link's adventure. But I doubt that Link loves her romantically. I can only guess that he loves her like a sister of his. Family love.