Link (Ocarina of Time)
Title | Hero of Time | |
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Gender | Male | |
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The Hero of Time is the protagonist of Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, given his title by Rauru, the Sage of Light.
This incarnation of Link was raised in Kokiri Forest, and was awakened to his destiny as the hero by the Great Deku Tree. He set out on a journey across Hyrule to prevent Ganondorf, the Gerudo King of Thieves, from obtaining the Triforce and conquering Hyrule. After pulling the Master Sword from the Pedestal of Time inside the Temple of Time, Link was sealed away for seven years - as an adult, he fought to reclaim Hyrule from the King of Evil, and eventually succeeded using the power of both the Triforce of Courage and the Seven Sages. Link was then returned to his childhood, going on a journey of self-reflection; along the way, he would come across the land of Termina, and save its inhabitants from an apocalypse at the hands of Majora's Mask.
Ocarina of Time
"Navi... Navi, where art thou? Come hither.... Oh, Navi the fairy... Listen to my words, the words of the Deku Tree... Dost thou sense it? The climate of evil descending upon this realm... Malevolent forces even now are mustering to attack our land of Hyrule... For so long, the Kokiri Forest, the source of life, has stood as a barrier, deterring outsiders and maintaining the order of the world... But...before this tremendous evil power, even my power is as nothing... It seems the time has come for the boy without a fairy to begin his journey... The youth whose destiny it is to lead Hyrule to the path of justice and truth... Navi...go now! Find our young friend and guide him to me... I do not have much time left. Fly, Navi, fly! The fate of the forest, nay, the world, depends upon thee!"
Link is a Hylian who was born during the Hyrulean Civil War. His father was a soldier who died in said war, and his mother was mortally wounded in the conflict - before she died, she left Link in the care of the Great Deku Tree. Link was raised in Kokiri Forest among the other Kokiri - he was bullied for being the only "Kokiri" without a Fairy companion, especially by Mido, and received the nickname "Boy Without a Fairy", but was close friends with Saria. In spite of his troubled childhood, Link was a courageous and noble individual who never hesitated to help others, no matter how difficult it was.
At the beginning of the game, Link is 9 years old,[1], and has a nightmare. In the nightmare, he is in a grassy field, and witnesses a woman and a young girl riding out from across a drawbridge on a horse - chasing them is a sinister-looking man with black skin and red hair on his own horse, who runs Link over when he turns back to look. Awakening in his house, Link is suddenly bequeathed a fairy companion, Navi, who instructs him to visit the Great Deku Tree.
After obtaining the Kokiri Sword and a Deku Shield to arm himself, Link visits the Deku Tree, who explains that Link's nightmares are the result of a great evil descending upon Hyrule. He reveals that he has been cursed with a fatal disease, and that Link can break the curse if he is willing to do so. Link accepts, and goes Inside the Deku Tree. After obtaining the Fairy Slingshot and defeating Queen Gohma, Link returns outside. The Deku Tree informs Link that he was too late to purge the curse, and that he is dying. The Deku Tree tells Link the creation story of Hyrule and the Triforce, and reveals that Ganondorf, the Gerudo King, wanted the three Spiritual Stones in order to enter the Sacred Realm and obtain the Triforce; the Deku Tree refused to relinquish the Kokiri's Emerald, one of the Stones, so Ganondorf cursed him. Before passing, the Deku Tree entrusts Link with the Kokiri's Emerald and orders him to seek out the "Princess of Destiny" in Hyrule Castle.
Upon leaving, Link decides to run away from Kokiri Forest, as Mido mistakenly believes that Link killed the Deku Tree and has spread the rumor across the other Kokiri. Before he leaves, Saria meets Link in private and gives him the Fairy Ocarina as something to remember her by. After meeting Kaepora Gaebora, Link travels across Hyrule Field, during which he visits Lon Lon Ranch and befriends a horse named Epona, before arriving at Hyrule Castle. Link sneaks into the castle courtyard and meets the young Princess Zelda, who explains that the Triforce has the ability to grant wishes. She informs Link that Ganondorf has falsely pledged allegiance to her father, the King, and that Link must obtain the Sacred Stones and enter the Sacred Realm before Ganondorf does. She gives him a letter that grants Link her royal authority, and he is escorted out by Impa, Zelda's bodyguard, who also teaches him Zelda's Lullaby.
Link arms himself with a Hylian Shield before venturing out into Hyrule, briefly returning to Saria, who teaches him Saria's Song. In Goron City, he meets Darunia, the Goron chief, who entrusts him with the Goron Bracelet and requests that Link defeat all the monsters in Dodongo's Cavern; Link retrieves the Bomb Bag, defeats King Dodongo, and receives the Goron's Ruby. He then ventures to Zora's Domain, where he goes Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly to rescue Princess Ruto, obtaining the Boomerang and Zora's Sapphire in the process and defeating Barinade.
With all three Spiritual Stones, Link returns to Hyrule Castle, but as he reaches Hyrule Castle Town, he witnesses his nightmare come true; Impa and Zelda flee the town on a white horse, the latter tossing the Ocarina of Time into the moat - Link then attempts to face Ganondorf, the man chasing them, only to be easily knocked aside. Link obtains the Ocarina of Time, and receives a vision from Zelda - she reveals that Ganondorf has murdered the King and is hunting her to obtain the Ocarina of Time, so she teaches him the Song of Time so he can access the Sacred Realm. Link journeys to the Temple of Time, places the three Spiritual Stones in their pedestals, and plays the Song of Time, revealing a hidden chamber housing the Master Sword. Link pulls it from the pedestal, only to be frozen in time - before losing consciousness, he witnesses Ganondorf entering the Sacred Realm, mocking Link for obtaining the Stones for him.
Seven years later, Link, now 16, awakens in the Chamber of Sages, and is greeted by Rauru, the Sage of Light. Rauru explains that Link was too young to wield the Master Sword, so he was sealed away until he was old enough. During the seven-year time gap, Ganondorf was able to enter the Sacred Realm, obtaining the Triforce and using its power to conquer Hyrule as the King of Evil. Link, now the Hero of Time, must gather and awaken the Seven Sages so they can seal Ganondorf's evil away in the Sacred Realm, and save Hyrule - Rauru then gives Link the Light Medallion, as proof of the Sage of Light's awakening, before he returns to the Temple of Time. He then meets Sheik, a Sheikah man who informs Link that five of the seven Sages are trapped inside temples across Hyrule, and cannot awaken until Link cleanses the evil from each temple.
Link travels to Kakariko Village and obtains the Hookshot from the ghost of Dampé, the grave keeper, before he returns to Kokiri Forest. He learns that the forest has become infested with monsters and that all the Kokiri leave in fear, locked up in their houses - however, Saria has journeyed to the Forest Temple i n the Sacred Forest Meadow to try and stop the sudden surge of monsters. Link travels to the Temple and meets Sheik, who teaches him the Minuet of Forest. Inside the Temple, Link obtains the Fairy Bow and defeats Phantom Ganon - Saria then awakens as the Sage of Forest, and gifts Link the Forest Medallion. With the Sage of Forest awakened, the monsters swarming Kokiri Forest vanish. Link then meets the Deku Tree Sprout in front of the deceased Deku Tree, who reveals Link's past to him.
Back at the Temple of Time, Link meets Sheik again, who teaches him the Prelude of Light and reveals that Link can return to the past by placing the Master Sword back in the Pedestal of Time - regardless, Link proceeds to Goron City. He learns that Ganondorf is planning to exterminate the Gorons by feeding them all to Volvagia, a dragon who dwells in the Fire Temple. After receiving the Goron Tunic to protect him from the heat, Link enters the temple (learning the Bolero of Fire from Sheik on his way), acquires the Megaton Hammer, and defeats Volvagia - Darunia then awakens as the Sage of Fire, giving Link the Fire Medallion. Next, Link returns to Zora's Domain, which has been frozen over and is all but abandoned. Link explores the Ice Cavern and discovers the Iron Boots.
Link travels through Hyrule once more to awaken the Sages. He first travels to Kokiri Forest, now infested with monsters, to defeat the evil in the Forest Temple and awaken Saria as the Sage of Forest. He then travels to Death Mountain, where the Gorons have been trapped by the dragon Volvagia, to slay the dragon in the Fire Temple and awaken Darunia as the Sage of Fire. Afterwards, Link travels to Lake Hylia, which has been drained of water, to remove the curse on the Water Temple and awaken Ruto as the Sage of Water. He then must journey to Kakariko Village and defeat the evil spirit hiding in the Shadow Temple to waken Impa as the Sage of Shadow. His last stop is Gerudo Valley, where he must free Nabooru from the evil magic of Twinrova in the Spirit Temple and awaken Nabooru as the Sage of Spirit.
With the Sages awakened, Link returns to the Temple of Time to find Princess Zelda waiting for him. She explains that he holds the Triforce of Courage and gives him the Light Arrows before being captured by Ganondorf. Link enters Ganon's Castle to save her and to face Ganondorf, first in his Gerudo form, then in his beastly Ganon form after the castle collapses. With Ganondorf defeated and sealed away, Link is sent back to his own time to relive the childhood that he missed during his seven-year slumber. After being sent back, he found he was in a time before he had ever touched the Master Sword. While Navi flew away, her job done, he went to tell the young Princess Zelda what had gone wrong to avoid it happening again.
Ocarina of Time Gallery
Key art
- Young Link
Young Link from Ocarina of Time (N64)
Young Link (Ocarina of Time 3D)
Young Link with Navi from Ocarina of Time (N64)
Link performing a Spin Attack on Deku Babas
Link entering the Great Deku Tree
Link fighting Queen Gohma
Young Link and Princess Zelda from Ocarina of Time
Link encountering Ganondorf
Link lifting the Master Sword
- Adult Link
Artwork from Ocarina of Time (N64)
Artwork from Ocarina of Time (N64)
Artwork from Ocarina of Time (N64)
Artwork from Ocarina of Time (N64)
Artwork from Ocarina of Time (N64)
Adult Link on Epona (Ocarina of Time 3D)
The main characters of Ocarina of Time
Link fighting Volvagia
Link and Sheik playing their instruments
Link fighting Morpha
Link fighting Ganondorf
Link fighting Ganondorf
Artwork from Ocarina of Time 3D
Concept art
Child Link colour design sketch, front view.
Child Link colour design sketch, side view.
Child Link colour design sketch, back view with Kokiri Sword and Deku Shield broken out.
Adult Link colour design sketch, front view.
Adult Link colour design sketch, side view.
Adult Link colour design sketch, back view with Master Sword and Hylian Shield broken out.
Link entering the Great Deku Tree
Link fighting Ganondorf
Link and Sheik fighting Moblins, Stalfos, and Lizalfos
The main characters of Ocarina of Time
Concept for a rejected poster design
Concept for a rejected poster design
Majora's Mask
"In the land of Hyrule, there echoes a legend. A legend held dearly by the Royal Family that tells of a boy... A boy who, after battling evil and saving Hyrule, crept away from the land that had made him a legend... Done with the battles he once waged across time, he embarked on a journey. A secret and personal journey... A journey in search of a beloved and invaluable friend... A friend with whom he parted ways when he finally fulfilled his heroic destiny and took his place among legends..."
Link apparently stayed with Zelda and the Royal Family for a while after his second "first meeting" with her. During this time, he obtained the young Epona as his permanent steed. Eventually, after what Zelda felt was only "a short time", he decided to take Epona and leave Hyrule on a personal quest, implied to be a search for Navi. While saying their goodbyes, she told him she was sure they would meet again and would pray for him to have a safe journey. She also gave him the Ocarina of Time and retaught him the Song of Time, telling him the Goddess of Time was protecting him, and if he played the Song of Time, the Goddess would aid him. While she waved goodbye, the Song of Time lingered on his mind.
Subsequently, while travelling through the Lost Woods, Link is accosted by a pair of fairies, who startle Epona and knock him to the ground, unconscious. With him out cold, the fairies are joined by a Skull Kid wearing a mysterious mask, who rifles through his pockets and takes the Ocarina. As the three are arguing over the instrument, Link wakes up and confronts the thieves, but the Skull Kid dodges him, leaps on Epona and starts galloping away; with Link barely managing to cling on before they are out of reach. Dragged through the woods, Link is eventually flung off as the Skull Kid and his fairies gallop into a tunnel.
Recovering once again, he walks into the tunnel, only to find himself falling through a huge shaft with strange lights and symbols surrounding him.
Landing on a Deku Flower, he finds himself confronted by the Skull Kid, now hovering in the air and flanked by his fairies, Tatl and Tael. Skull Kid complains that Epona wouldn't listen to a word he said, "so [he] did [Link] a favor and got rid of it." Seeing Link's anger, the Skull Kid mocks him, and then attacks him with a strange wave of energy. After being tormented by visions of Mad Scrubs, Link comes back to full consciousness to find himself turned into a Deku Scrub. After Skull Kid laughs at Deku Link, telling him he'll stay that way forever. As Skull Kid begins to float out of the room, Link attempts to chase after him, but is knocked back by Tatl. Unfortunately for the yellow fairy, this means that when the door is slammed shut, she's left behind with Link.
With no sense of irony, Tatl blames Link for her becoming separated from her brother, and demands "Deku boy" do something. When Link just stares at her, she grudgingly apologises and asks that he take her with him, offering to sell out the Skull Kid's location and help Link in return for his helping her to reunite with Tael. With few other options, Link shrugs and agrees.
Once they make it through the door, they find themselves inside a Clock Tower, where the Happy Mask Salesman observes that he's met with a terrible fate. Telling him that the mask the "imp" was wearing was stolen from him, he offers to return Link to his normal self if he can retrieve the Ocarina of Time, and the mask stolen from him, within three days.
Link learns the Skull Kid has caused mischief across the new world he has entered called Termina, and that he is trying to get the Moon to crash into Clock Town and destroy the world at the end of Day 3. Link gets the Ocarina of Time back and uses the Song of Time to transport him and Tatl back to the beginning of Day 1. The Happy Mask Salesman turns Link back to a Hylian, leaving a mask behind that will allow him to turn back to the Deku Scrub whenever he wants. Link now must awaken the 4 Giants in the 4 compass directions to prevent the Moon from falling, and must repeat the same 3 days over and over until he can awaken them. After saving the Deku Princess and removing the poison from the Southern Swamp, bringing Snowpeak to spring, saving the Zora eggs and clearing the fog from Great Bay, and bringing peace to souls in Ikana Canyon. Link stops the Moon from crashing into Termina, but the mask the Skull Kid was wearing, called Majora's Mask and harnessing dark evil powers, takes over the Moon itself. Link lands on the moon through the portal left from Majora's Mask dark powers, and defeats Majora in his Mask, Wrath, and Incarnate forms. Link then leaves to return to Hyrule and continue his search for Navi.
Majora's Mask Gallery
Key art
Link & Tatl from Majora's Mask (N64)
Artwork from Majora's Mask (N64)
Artwork from Majora's Mask (N64)
Link with Razor Sword and Hero's Shield from Majora's Mask (N64)
Link with Tatl, Razor Sword and Mirror Shield from Majora's Mask 3D
Link with Goron Mask from Majora's Mask (N64)
Link with Zora Mask & Deku Mask from Majora's Mask 3D
Artwork of Deku Link from Majora's Mask (N64)
Deku Link with the Pipes of Awakening from Majora's Mask 3D
Artwork of Goron Link from Majora's Mask (N64)
Goron Link with the Drums of Sleep from Majora's Mask 3D
Artwork of Zora Link from Majora's Mask (N64)
Zora Link with the Guitar of Waves from Majora's Mask 3D
Artwork of Fierce Deity Link from Majora's Mask (N64)
Link with Goron Link, Deku Link, and Zora Link.
Fierce Deity Link, Majora's Incarnation, and the Moon Children from Majora's Mask 3D
The main cast from Majora's Mask 3D
The cast of Majora's Mask 3D
Concept art
Concept art
Concept art of Link and his transformations
Preliminary version of the character art for Majora's Mask 3D
Preliminary sketch of the character art for Majora's Mask 3D
Twilight Princess
- Main article: Hero's Spirit
Hyrule Historia suggests that the Hero's Spirit from Twilight Princess is the ghost of the Hero of Time.[2]
Other games and media
- See also: Young Link
Gallery
3D artwork for Nintendo 64
Link key art from Super Smash Bros.
Link icon from Super Smash Bros.
Link's first "Smash" trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee.
Link trophy from Super Smash Bros. Melee, using Ocarina of Time Kokiri Tunic costume.
Link (Smash: Green Tunic) trophy from Super Smash Bros. Melee, using Ocarina of Time Kokiri Tunic costume.
Link (Smash: Red Tunic) trophy from Super Smash Bros. Melee, using Ocarina of Time Goron Tunic costume.
Young Link trophy from Super Smash Bros Melee
Young Link (Smash: Green Tunic) trophy from Super Smash Bros Melee
Young Link (Smash: Blue Tunic) trophy from Super Smash Bros Melee
Artwork from SoulCalibur II
Artwork from SoulCalibur II
Artwork from SoulCalibur II
Portrait from SoulCalibur II
Link Kokiri Tunic costume from Hyrule Warriors (originally DLC, unlockable in Hyrule Warriors Legends & Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition)
Hyrule Warriors screenshot with Link in Kokiri Tunic
Hyrule Warriors screenshot with Link in Kokiri Tunic
Young Link artwork from Hyrule Warriors (originally DLC, unlockable in Hyrule Warriors Legends & Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition)
Young Link artwork from Hyrule Warriors
Hyrule Warriors screenshot with Young Link
Adult Link (Ocarina of Time) trophy from Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
Ocarina of Time Link The Legend of Zelda Concert 2018 promotional art, with the Ocarina of Time
Ocarina of Time Link amiibo
Majora's Mask Link amiibo
Breath of the Wild Link in the amiibo-exclusive Hero of Time Set
Young Link key art from Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
Young Link amiibo
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References
- ↑ " When we decided to handle Link growing up from a 9-year-old child to a more mature 16-year-old, I wanted lots of characters to fulfill various roles. For example, Kaepora Gaebora is a grandfather figure who gives Link all kinds of advice and looks out for him. And since Link is a boy, I wanted girls besides Princess Zelda to show up. " — Shigeru Miyamoto, https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/3ds/zelda-ocarina-of-time/4/1
- ↑ "Some theorize that the fact that [the Hero's Spirit] holds his sword in his left hand indicates he is actually Link from Ocarina of Time." — pg. 179, Hyrule Historia