Twilight Princess Link's Fate at the End of TP

[Austin]

When I first saw the ending of TP, where Link is riding on Epona and Ilia is watching him, I always thought they he was riding towards Ordon, and Ilia was awaiting his return. However, I see a lot of people and places saying that exact opposite, that he was leaving Ordon, and Ilia was watching him go. Is there any way to confirm it one way or another? And if he were leaving Ordon, presumably to go on another adventure, why wouldn't he take the Master Sword with him?

 

[ChargewithSword]

Well, for starters, the Master Sword was returned to it's post for a good reason. It just wasn't needed anymore, and besides, what if the Land of Hyrule needed a hero to use the Master Sword once more? It's best to let the sword of Evil's Bane rest for its next master rather than to possibly doom Hyrule by taking it.

You should also note the direction Link is riding Epona. He is riding her away from Ordon village so he is basically going off on a journey. Hoped that answered something.

 

[Ragdoll]

I also thought he came back to Ordon. He wanted to become the 'next mayor of Ordon Village' so I thought that's the reason why he came back.
I have to see that end again.


- Have seen the end again -
You guys are right. He's LEAVING Ordon. That guy from the Goat Ranch is calling him but he isn't home. The whole house is empty. And Link is leaving.
Why, I don't know. An open end. Good reason to make a part 2.

 

[February Eve]

When I first played the game I thought he was coming home, but after reading a couple articles, rewatched it and realized it looked like he had been home and was leaving again. I actually quite like that interpretation; he'd never been to Hyrule proper before the events of the game and so leaving at the end can lend itself to several explanations. He might be going to the castle to serve Zelda; he might have had a taste of adventure and wanted to look for more. Or the opposite - he might just want a chance to travel to other parts of the world without having to worry about saving them from twilight, heh. Based on OoT and MM, I wouldn't even be surprised if he was trying to find a way to reach Midna that didn't leave both kingdoms open for invasion.

In my own head I tend to think of Zelda asking him to visit the various regions as a representative of Hyrule, thereby keeping him in service to the kindgom and giving him the freedom to explore on his own. That ventures into fanfic plotbunny territory, though.

 

[Zeruda]

He was definitely leaving Ordon. Whether or not that is forever or just a short while is unknown. The image of Ilia standing there is a representation of the classic "Lady in Waiting" that many stories involved in olden times have. When a lady in waiting is present, the hero is usually leaving for a long, long time. In most stories, the hero doesn't return until he's much older, and he's reunited with the woman who waited for him for so long. Whether or not this is true for TP is unsure, but the heavy western feel that TP gives at points makes me think it's the case.

 

[Raven]

Whoa! I never realized that the ending actually implies that he is leaving! I mean I did assume that he wouldn't stick around after his first adventure with Midna. It just seemed obvious even back then that our new hero would want to move on. But now I feel like this new adventure might take us very far away from Hyrule, since it does seem to be leading up to a long journey... a Sojourn just for Link? YES PLEASE! It's one of the better Zelda Plots when he needs to save some other land that calls out for the Chosen Hero. Hopefully we get a really great plot this time around.

 

[Carben]

I always suspected that Link returned to Ordon Village to live a normal life after a action-packed adventure. Then again after replaying the whole game once more it does seem Link has some feelings toward Midna. In that case I theorized that Link and Zelda eventually set out to find a solution to reopen a portal to the Twilight Realm.

 

[g.narron]

Well maybe we will find out in a zelda sequel in the future i hope so i wanna know what happens

 

[Vanessa28]

The first time I played it I had a feeling Ilia was waiting for him to come home but Link never got home anyway. The children arrived at home and Ilia ran to see if Link was coming ....but he wasn't. That was my idea. And about Midna; that's what people might think. To me I never saw anything romantically between those two. Midna might have some feelings but I doubt Link had. Everybody has their own opinion about this. But it looks like Link followed his heart and left Ordon Village and maybe settled down in Hyrule?

 

[Shadsie]

On my first playthrough, I think Link was riding toward Ordon. On my second playthrough, I saw that he was riding away. The second scenario is rather sad, really... the adventure left some scars or an itch on him and he cannot be content with a simple life any longer. We really do not know. I've written fanfics that play with multiple ideas on the matter.

In one of my recent ones, he returns to Ordon, but twenty-years later. And he leaves again. I like that one.

 

[Ralis]

I think he was just going to live somewhere else, get a new life.

 

[PhantomTriforce]

I noticed this too. In the end of WW, he is leaving Outset, and we see the events continuing in PH. So I hope they make another game continuing the events of TP.

 

[Destiny]

The end of Twilight Princess was so sad. And when I saw Link leave Orodon that made me even sadder. My therorie is that he is going to see Princess Zelda to Discuss things, maybe be in her Service as the Royale guard or somthing.

 

[Turo602]

I always thought that Link was just going on another Adventure. But I like the whole Lady in Waiting and having to many scars thing. Just picture Link coming back home as a full grown man ready to start a family with Ilia.

 

[bigflyingpotato]

For a long time I thought he was riding towards Ordon, but I checked the scenery and he's definitely riding away. I thought Illia was waiting for him to return, and Fado thought he was coming back too. I doubt Nintendo will explain, there hasn't really been a game that completely explains what happens to Link afterwards. I would imagine he just felt too big for the quiet life in Ordon and decided to travel.