10 memorable characters found only in The Legend of Zelda mangas

Akira Himekawa, composed of Japanese comic book duo A. Honda and S. Nagano, are the creators of the longest-running Legend of Zelda manga series. Beginning with the release of the Ocarina of Time manga in 2000 in Japan, the two would go on to release more manga for several of the mainline games. Their most recent work is the Twilight Princess manga, which started in 2016 and would go on to span a total of eleven volumes, reaching its climactic finish in 2022. Though the mangas are not considered canon to the game series, Akira Himekawa adds a unique flair with the addition of alternative storylines, as well as the creation of new characters and races.

As a warning, the following article contains spoilers for various Zelda manga by Akira Himekawa, with the exception of Twilight Princess in respect of its recent publication. 

10. Prince Rouru the Watarara (Ocarina of Time)

Rouru is a character featured in the bonus story “Rouru of the Watarara.” Adult Link and Navi discover an unconscious Rouru while fishing in Lake Hylia. Seeing that he is in a dire state, Link and Navi take him to the Lakeside Laboratory for care and inspection. Dr. Mizumi reveals that Rouru is a child of the Watarara Tribe, a migratory bird-like race that rides the seasonal wind to Hyrule once a year. He suspects that Rouru became separated from his flock and fell, seeing that the boy does not have any wings yet. Initially, Rouru is bratty and quite the handful. He even destroys Dr. Mizumi’s laboratory and torments Navi relentlessly until she disappears (for a short time).

When a giant twister caused by two Flare Dancers comes hurtling toward the Lakeside Laboratory, Rouru finally gets the courage to sprout his wings and saves Link from falling to his doom. Rouru is unacquainted with flying himself, which almost causes him to drop Link, but the two are rescued by Chieftess Elrora, Rouru’s mother. Rouru thanks Link before flying away with the rest of his tribe, promising to return again in a year.

9. Erune (Four Swords)

Erune is a young girl residing in the Village of the Blue Maiden who becomes concerned about the mysterious disappearances of children from the village. Her most prized possession is her doll, Rosie, but she feels that she is too old to play with dolls, and plans on giving Rosie away. When the four Links enter the village, they notice a bunch of rowdy adults who have gone frantic about their missing children. Erune tries to calm the adults down, but she is almost shoved to the ground in the process. Luckily, the Links arrive just in time to shield and protect her from harm.

She thanks them for their assistance, and the Links quickly become smitten with her, even commenting on her doll-like appearance. Erune goes on to explain that 18 children went missing after a storm passed through the town. It later turns out that the Shadow Link is responsible for kidnapping and trapping children in the Dark World. After the Links defeat the Stone Arrghus in the Dark World, Erune says her goodbyes to the Links, who all fight over her affection.

8. Baga Tree (Ocarina of Time)

The Baga Tree is a character featured in the Ocarina of Time bonus story “The Skull Kid and the Mask.” He is the evil counterpart of the Great Deku Tree and seeks vengeance upon him for once ruling the Lost Woods. The Baga Tree believes the Great Deku Tree violated the law by allowing Link, an outsider, to live in the Forest.

He orders a lonely Skull Kid to destroy Link before the Great Deku Tree can interfere, but the Skull Kid refuses. Mido and Link team up to attack the Baga Tree, where a parasite falls out and is squashed by Mido. With the parasite gone, the Baga Tree’s power fades away and reverts back to a normal tree, restoring peace to the forest.

7. Dragon Majora (Majora’s Mask)

In an original side story predating the events of Majora’s Mask, Majora is depicted as a fearsome beast donning magical armor with the ability to grant a person incredible power. Many humans tried to kill Majora for his armor and might, but each met with an unfortunate demise. With no more humans around to eat, Majora became lonely, even wishing for his own death.

He lived alone for tens and thousands of years until meeting the mysterious Traveling Warrior, who played a mystical tune for Majora. He danced for three days and three nights before perishing on the fourth morning, leaving only his armor behind. Instead of making a wish, the warrior carved the armor into a mask named after the beast. The dark power inside Majora’s Mask containing the hopes and dreams of the people that were eaten remained restless until a wish was granted.

6. Piyoko (Oracle of Seasons)

Piyoko is a chick that hatched on Link’s grandparents’ farm and accompanies him on his adventures through Holodrum. After the Temple of Seasons crumbles to the ground, Link gains the ability to communicate with Piyoko and other creatures. Link quickly discovers that she has quite a bold and outspoken demeanor. She cares deeply for Link and always remains by his side.

Piyoko’s true feelings for Link come to light when she protects him from a deadly blow in battle by General Onox. Before she dies, Piyoko confesses her love for Link, and wishes that she will reincarnate as a human girl in her next life. After life returns to Holodrum, Link lays Piyoko to rest in a bed of flowers and is greeted with quite the surprise: Piyoko springs back to life and grows into a full-fledged chicken, but Link loses the ability to communicate with her.

5. Valensuela (Four Swords)

Valensuela serves as one of the Knights of Hyrule alongside Link’s father. He is the protector of one of the Four Gems required to access the Palace of the Winds. The Green Link encounters a brainwashed Valensuela in a mysterious pyramid. Using the power of the Moon Pearl, Green frees Valensuela from his curse. He informs Green that a greater threat behind Vaati and Shadow Link is using the power of darkness.

Because he remains trapped in the Dark World until the evil is expunged, Valensuela gives Green one of the gems needed to access the Palace of Winds. He is later seen again at the Tower of Winds providing aid to the four Links alongside the other Knights of Hyrule.

4. Sir Raven (Oracle of Ages)

Sir Raven is a Knight of Labrynna who serves under Queen Ambi. Link crosses paths with him after using the Harp of Ages to return to the past to find Nayru. Sir Raven becomes increasingly suspicious about Nayru’s behavior (who is Veran in disguise), and fears that the Queen is merely being used as a puppet to service evil. After speaking to Roperi in the Hidden Village, Link comes to realize that Sir Raven is the same person in a portrait from his house — his ancestor.

Together, Sir Raven and Link set out on a quest to save Nayru from Veran’s evil grasp. After the two successfully restore peace to the land of Labrynna, Sir Raven tells Link that he is proud to have a descendant like him, and they part ways.

3. Chiruta (Minish Cap)

Chiruta is one of the Mountain Minish who works in Melari’s Mine. Link first encounters him while traveling to Mount Crenel, where he saves Chiruta from a bee attack (using poor Ezlo as a swatter). He accompanies Link on his quest for the Fire Element in the Cave of Flames.

After Link defeats Gleerok, the power of the Fire Element transforms the rocks in the village back into iron ore. Chiruta shows the iron ore to Melari and the workers begin reforging the Picori Blade. He is seen later again helping Link and Melari finalize the Picori Sword when Link returns with all four elements.

2. Traveling Warrior (Majora’s Mask)

The Traveling Warrior is a character who appears in a side story that predates the events of Majora’s Mask. While his identity and background are unknown, it is inferred that he is a hero from a faraway land. One day, the strong scent of a new creature caught the warrior’s attention, leading him right to the source. The warrior does not wish to harm the creature and instead pities its loneliness.

He plays a mystical tune on a percussion instrument, which causes the beast to dance for three days and nights straight. The monster perishes on the fourth morning, and the warrior carves a mask from its armor, naming it the Majora’s Mask after the fearsome beast.

1. Ghanti (A Link to the Past)

Ghanti is a bandit with a mysterious, tragic past who becomes one of Link’s closest allies. She first encounters Link during a raid on a carriage Link is riding in, but ultimately ends up rescuing him in the process. When Ghanti overhears that Link is on a quest for the Triforce, she offers to accompany him as a personal bodyguard while she searches for the man responsible for killing her parents. Once the pair reach the Eastern Palace, they encounter the Sage Sahasrahla, who reveals that Link is a descendant of the Knights of Hyrule. Ghanti flees the palace, vowing to kill Link, claiming the Knights of Hyrule were responsible for the death of her parents.

Link encounters Ghanti again (in the form of a fox) when he is drawn into the Dark World by Agahnim. Though the two team up again for a short time, Ghanti decides to part ways with Link, believing he does not want her around anymore. While in separation, she realizes she has fallen in love with Link and becomes jealous of his dedication to save Princess Zelda. Later on, Princess Zelda reveals the truth of Ghanti’s past to her. As it turns out, she is a Hylian descendant of the Knights of Hyrule, and the bandits who raised her were the true enemies all along. Ghanti, along with Link and Zelda, delivers the final strike to Ganon using the Silver Arrows from her earrings. She is last seen during the epilogue happily picking apples with Link at Hero’s Apple Farm.