Is TWW Link "Connected" to the Hero of Time?

One of the many hot topics of debate regarding TWW is whether or not the Hero of Winds is a descendant of or connected to the Hero of Time. If there is a connection, it would certainly affirm the direct relationship between OoT and TWW, as well as all but confirm a single-timeline (obviously Link cannot be descended from the Hero of Time if the Hero of Time left the Adult timeline altogether). If not, splitists can continue to hold the idea that there is no connection as evidence allotting for a split timeline. As such, I think it's important to analyze the entire context in which the Hero is mentioned throughout the game, not just the two quotes used to disaffirm the connection between the Hero of Winds and the Hero of Time.


A Look at the TWW "Hero" Quotes:

There are two quotes in the entire game that claim that the Hero of Winds has no connection to the Hero of Time. Two quotes out of many, many quotes regarding the Hero in general. So let's weigh those two quotes against the others.

Originally Posted by Deku Tree

That garb you wear... Could you be the legendary hero? Has the king at long last found the Hero of Time? What is the matter? Do you not understand the ancient Hylian tongue? So...you are not the Hero of Time.

At first, the Deku Tree believes Link to actually be the Hero. He then asks, "Could you be the legendary hero? Has the king at last found the Hero of Time?" So we know, from this, that the king was supposed to find the legendary hero, and that that hero was supposed to be the Hero of Time. But, of course, when Link fails to understand the ancient tongue, the Deku Tree realizes his mistake. Link is not the hero of old.

But, then again, why would he be? It has been hundreds of years since the events of OoT--the Hero should be dead by now. Perhaps the Deku Tree, like Jabun and the King, believed that the Hero they would find would be literally the same person from the OoT legends--literally the very same hero, returned to fight the very same Ganon that continues to threaten them. So that would, of course, obviously make him not the Hero of Time--he's long dead. But, of course, they can cling to their unrealistic expectations.

Originally Posted by King of Red Lions/Jabun discourse

Jabun: If you have sought me out...it must mean you have found the Hero of Time, does it not?
King of Red Lions: Unfortunately, that is not so.
Jabun: Then for what purpose have you come to see me?
King of Red Lions: The one I have brought with me has no connection to the legendary one. And yet I sense great promise in the courage that this one possesses.

From the discourse, we are again introduced to the expectation that the King, the Deku Tree, and Jabun all expected to find the actual Hero of Time--literally, the same one from before. Of course, this expectation has not been met, but the King takes another extraordinary leap of faith by saying that this new boy has no connection to the legendary one. He doesn't support this statement at all whatsoever--he just presumes it.

This is remarkably similar to the Jewish Sanehedrin's opinion of Jesus Christ during the Biblical era. (Note that this is from a Christian standpoint.) The Jews interpreted the prophecy of the Messiah--the King of the Jews--as a sign of the coming of a great military leader who would deliver them from under their enemies' (the Romans') feet and build for them a magnificent kingdom. When they, instead, got the "son of a carpenter", a man who preached peace and compassion and nonviolence, and who accused even the clergy of false practices, they denied Him as their promised savior.

The King's opinion of the Hero is somewhat the same, only without the crass mistreatment and hateful propaganda--he's not receiving the glorious hero he expected, one who will smite Ganon under his heel--he's getting just a curiously courageous boy who wants to save his sister. Does this mean that he has no connection to the Hero the three Ancient Ones expect? Not necessarily. Even here the King admits to Link's extraordinary courage. In fact, TWW Link seems to fit the criteria of the Hero the King was meant to be searching for--the one to whom TWW Link apparently has no connection.

Originally Posted by Deku Tree

When the worst of all possible events comes to pass, and Ganon is revived once again...One shall seek the hero who is destined to defeat the great evil... That is the destiny the goddesses have placed upon the King of Red Lions. Since that day, he has been sailing the Great Sea in search of a young hero not unlike yourself.

Here it is revealed that the King was destined to find this hero, the one they have perhaps mistakenly been calling the "Hero of Time." And I'm sure we all know that TWW Link, the Hero of Winds, is destined to defeat the great evil--since he does so at the end of the game. So, despite the King's skepticism, TWW Link is the hero he was supposed to find. He even admits this when you assemble the full Triforce of Courage in front of the Tower of the Gods:

Originally Posted by King of Red Lions

Oh! What is this? There, on your hand--the Triforce piece now dwells within you! It is the Triforce of Courage--proof that you are indeed the true hero.

Waitaminute--weren't you saying earlier that Link had "no connection to the legendary one", O mighty Masted One? I guess you were wrong, old man--Link is the true hero, the one you have sought--you were just too short-sighted to see it. Notice also the King's apparent surprise that Link was actually able to carry the Triforce of Courage "within" him. Obviously he didn't expect this to happen.

Of course, the King of Red Lions is not the only character to name you the Hero. Several other characters from Ancient Hyrule, most, if not all of whom certainly had more contact with the Hero of Old (two of them being Sages) also name Link the Hero.

Originally Posted by Valoo

O Hero! Thank you! O Hero! Use the wind god's wind!

The quote FAQ has these words capitalized. A capitalized use of the word "Hero" generally denotes that somene's referring to the "legendary hero" of that era. Note that this usage comes long before any of the skeptical comments by the Deku Tree and the King of Red Lions.

Originally Posted by Laruto

O great hero, chosen by the Master Sword!

This sounds eerily familar. Where have I heard this before? This is an echo of Rauru's cry in OoT: "The Hero of Time, chosen by the Master Sword!" The fact that this is coming from a Sage makes it even more significant than any of the other quotes we've analyzed thus far.

Originally Posted by Fado

Are you the new hero?

The "new" Hero. As in, the successor to the old. This quote should pretty much stand for itself; TWW Link has inherited the destiny of the Hero. That in and of itself establishes a connection.

Originally Posted by Gohdan

You have done well to find your way to this place. Oh chosen one... Accept this final challenge.
[...]
The path can now be opened. Oh chosen one... What will now happen is tied to fate. Go forward with caution.

Hell, even the gods think TWW Link is the chosen hero. They even go the final mile and add in the "tied to fate" line. The only "fates" tied to the hero that we ever hear of in this game are referenced in the Deku Tree's tale of the King of Red Lion's search for the hero who will defeat the great evil, and the following remarks by Ganondorf:

Originally Posted by Ganon

It can only be called fate...That here, I would again gather the three with the crests...That I should lay my hand on that which grants the wishes of the holder. That when power, wisdom, and courage come together, the gods would have no choice but to come down...The power of the gods... The Triforce!
He who touches it will have whatever he desires granted! Already, the crest of wisdom is mine... All that remains...

Do not fear. I will not kill you... I merely have need of the power that dwells within you. Now! Let us put an end to that which binds us together!

Ganon's remarks all suggest that the events that transpire atop the tower--the gathering of the three with the crests--are a repeat performance of the events that took place in the tower during OoT. He, Zelda, and Link are all "bound together" by the Triforces they carry. They were "chosen by destiny", "determined by the gods" to inherit those pieces. Ganon has carried his since he took it in OoT; he has not perished, likely due to the seals that were cast upon him. Zelda's has been passed down through her family. Link's has lain at the bottom of the sea after being scattered during his journey away from Hyrule.

Given the nature of inheriting destiny throughout the rest of the series:
1) The Sages inherit their powers through blood;
2) The Royal Family inherits their powers through blood;
3) The Hero from ALttP inherits his powers through the bloods of the Knights;

we can deduce that this trend is probably universal. That, when their time comes, the Sages will be awakened from their respective families; the Royal Family's powers will be passed down throughout the ages; and the Heroes will pass on their legacy from generation to generation.

Originally Posted by Ganon

I have been waiting for you, boy. For one like you... Yes... For the hero. Do not betray my expectations.
[...]
Yes, surely you are the Hero of Time, reborn... Your time has come... Come now... Stand before me!

Surely Link is the Hero of Time, reborn...


If anyone else has anything to add or any arguments to make regarding this topic, please do so here. Thank you for reading.

Good analysis. It's very plausible that the King had been mistaken about Link early on, since Daphnes had completely misunderstood his own destiny for a long time, up to the point when Ganondorf gave his speech by Zelda's bedside.

Then again, we can't take it for granted that Ganondorf's assessment of Link was accurate either. Ganondorf was experiencing powerful deja vu, so he wanted to believe that the Hero of Time, his old rival, had returned at last.

I don't think TWW Link is the Hero of Time reborn, since his personality is entirely different. It's much more likely that he's the successor of the legendary hero, the latest boy chosen to be the champion of the gods. Blood may or may not be involved. TP will likely shed more light on this matter.

Originally Posted by Deku Tree

When the worst of all possible events comes to pass, and Ganon is revived once again...One shall seek the hero who is destined to defeat the great evil... That is the destiny the goddesses have placed upon the King of Red Lions. Since that day, he has been sailing the Great Sea in search of a young hero not unlike yourself.

Do you remember exactly when the Deku Tree said this? I don't remember this quote, but I haven't played the second quest for years.

Originally Posted by Gohdan

The path can now be opened. Oh chosen one... What will now happen is tied to fate. Go forward with caution.

I'm not sure if this quote is entirely correct. I think the part about fate may have been worded a bit differently, though I'm probably mistaken since I haven't played this part of TWW recently.

There's also the fact that Link's family sheild is said to have been used by the Hero of Time. This, compiled with what you have. I think it's painfully obvious that Link is a decendent of the Hero of Time.

Wouldn't the King of Red Lions be right over Ganon? He seems quite sure that Link is not descended from the Hero of Time. Ganon however, was pumped with adrenaline and about to fight when he made his observation. Plus the KORL has been searching for the hero's descendent for many years, whereas Ganon just recently escaped. It seems he could probably be fooled if a non-descendent who wielded the Master sword, Triforce of Courage, and Links undeniable fashion sense was to take the seen. Still, it is a very debatable topic.

From a personal standpoint, I must congratulate you. I do feel, however, that it is NOT blood that passes down the torch, but rather, an 'avatarial' passing. The same flame going from torch to torch in a never ending cycle of Yin and Yang: Life and Death.

To Link-herooftime: That's an interesting idea. If it was not blood, there would have to be something that gave WW Link the ability to wield the Master Sword and the Triforce of courage. Perhaps it was the spirit of the Hero of time passed down to him.

Originally Posted by ShInEr

It seems he could probably be fooled if a non-descendent who wielded the Master sword, Triforce of Courage, and Links undeniable fashion sense was to take the seen.

Ganondorf had orchestrated the battle with his puppet to test Link and determine whether he was the great hero or merely a brave kid.

Wouldn't the King of Red Lions be right over Ganon? He seems quite sure that Link is not descended from the Hero of Time. Ganon however, was pumped with adrenaline and about to fight when he made his observation. Plus the KORL has been searching for the hero's descendent for many years, whereas Ganon just recently escaped.

Both Ganondorf and Daphnes had been blinded by their common goal of reviving Hyrule. But Daphnes had an epiphany towards the end of the game, hence the wish he made on the Triforce.

Originally Posted by Hylian Dan

Then again, we can't take it for granted that Ganondorf's assessment of Link was accurate either. Ganondorf was experiencing powerful deja vu, so he wanted to believe that the Hero of Time, his old rival, had returned at last.

Originally Posted by ShInEr

Wouldn't the King of Red Lions be right over Ganon? He seems quite sure that Link is not descended from the Hero of Time.

Why? We can't even know know whether Daphnes ever came in direct contact with the Hero of Time, or any other hero. Because Ganondorf has come into contact with the Hero at at least one point previously, we can guess that his assessment would be at least more accurate than that of the King. Remember, the King only has fragmented legends to go by when deciding who is the Hero--Ganondorf and the Sages were actually part of the events being depicted, and actually fought against (in the case of Ganondorf) the Hero, or with him (in the case of the Sages).

I don't think TWW Link is the Hero of Time reborn, since his personality is entirely different.

How so? I seem to recall his character traits as being cited as remarkably similar to that of the Hero: "...he has been sailing the Great Sea in search of a young hero not unlike yourself."

Do you remember exactly when the Deku Tree said this? I don't remember this quote, but I haven't played the second quest for years.

After you complete the Forbidden Woods, you have the option of asking the Deku Tree various questions, one of them being about the Koroks, among at least one or two others. This is his answer to one of them (I believe this one is about the King of Red Lions).

The fact that TWW Link has a different personality is irrevelant.

We have no way to prove if Daphnes met Link or not. However, he would have the opportunity to in the months that Young Link was there. Since MM is months after OoT, I don't see why Link wouldn't spend that time in Hyrule.

The Hero of Winds can be the chosen one without being dirrectly connected to the Hero of Time.

The shield? Please. That looks nothing like either shield that OoT Link used. He also used a common Hylian shield anyway. Every knight in Hyrule used a shield like Link.

Anyone courageous enough can bear the triforce of courage, because when it's assembled it goes to whoever best fits the bill at the time.

Originally Posted by Daphnes

Anyone courageous enough can bear the triforce of courage, because when it's assembled it goes to whoever best fits the bill at the time.

Not so. The Triforce of Courage can only go to one person--the Hero.

Like the Knights of Hyrule, the Hero is destined to wield the Power of Courage, which makes him the destined candidate for the Triforce of Courage in OoT. The Triforce doesn't split in other games so his power does not affect them.

obviously Link cannot be descended from the Hero of Time if the Hero of Time left the Adult timeline altogether

But he could have made Zelda or Malon pregnant just before he left, or did he really left as soon as he sealed Ganon?

Originally Posted by LexLionHart

Not so. The Triforce of Courage can only go to one person--the Hero.

Well from what I read in OoT, the pieces of the triforce seek out those best in the fields. Even if he is a destined hero, it doesn't mean he's connected to OoT Link.

Unless it happens in TP, there is nothing to prove that Link ever had a child. The reason for this is most likely that the development teams are split over who Link should hook up with. Or they may simply wish to leave the subject alone, because it may lose them fans. There is also one more bit of evidence I can think of, and it goes like this. If WW Link is truely a descendent of the hero, that would mean the hero hooked up with someone other than Zelda. If you notice, Tetra flirts with Link through the entire game, yet she is undeniably the descendent of OoT Zelda. If WW Link was a descendent of the Hero and Zelda, he would have to be directly related to Tetra, perhaps even her brother. So I think it safe to say they would not be flirting with each other. That either means the Hero hooked up with someone other than Zelda, which I doubt the designers would do because of their fans, or WW Link is not descended from the hero of time.

Also, if Link was descended from the Hero and Zelda, Arryl could have been the princess. She obviously was not however, Tetra was, and the two are of entirely different bloodlines.