The Legend of Zelda (Akira Himekawa) (Manga)

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"No matter where or when I am, I will fight for Hyrule... and for Princess Zelda."

Besides the Nintendo Power The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past comic by Shotaro Ishinomori, the only other The Legend of Zelda manga titles released outside Japan are those drawn and written by Akira Himekawa, the collaboration of two women, A. Honda and S. Nagano.

While keeping close to most of the key points, their manga adaptations can run between fairly loose, Compressed Adaptation to Pragmatic Adaptation. Sometimes certain events are condensed down into one or two (usually dungeons); omitting them because the authors weren't able to work it into the story, expanding backstories, and set canonical/original events as side-stories at the end of a volume. Similarly to Ishinomori's comic, Canon Foreigners are occasionally included in some of the titles that don't appear in the original games.

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Majora's Mask

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Adaptation Expansion: The extra chapter provides an origin story for the titular mask, told in style similar to real-life ancient myths. The tale is of an evil beast named Majora, who was defeated by a traveller who played a bongo for three days straight, causing Majora to go into a trance and dance until it drops dead. The traveller then carved the mask from the beast's armor, sealing the evil spirit away inside said mask forever.
Adaptational Angst Upgrade: The manga version of Kafei is ashamed of his Forced Transformation into a child and does not want to see Anju until he gets his adult body back.
Adaptational Badass: The game version of the pirate captain Aveil can be scared off by bees. Here, she fatally wounds Mike and fights Zora Link to a standstill.
Adaptational Villainy: The Happy Mask Salesman is implied to have a little more to do with the events of the story than in the game.
Adapted Out:
- Romani and Cremia; the authors admit that they couldn't work them into the story no matter how hard they tried, and include drawings of them at the end to make up for it. People who have played the game will likely find their absence rather jarring since their role in the game was of the few required subplots^note.
- Much of the Ikana Canyon section of the game is glossed over in favor of expanding on the Kafei and Anju sidequest. All that's depicted is Link traversing through Stone Tower Temple, getting ambushed by one of the Twinmold monsters (as opposed to the two featured in the game), and defeating it fairly quickly. Justified in that by this point, it's well into the final day.
Big Eater: Link. Lampshaded by Osun, who remarks that while he may have the battle skills of an adult, he still has the appetite of a child.
Composite Character:
- The manga condenses the two Twinmold monsters into one.
- There is only one Zora egg instead of seven.
- Aveil has the same set of swords and fighting style as her Elite Mooks.
Compressed Adaptation: Given how much Majora's Mask puts emphasis on side quests, it was perhaps inevitable. The manga adaptation only covers the main dungeons and the Kafei and Anju side quest, with everything else mostly pushed to the wayside.
Cool Old Guy: Osun is the leading officer of a group of soldiers Link is asked to help train. While Link humiliates his men, Sun actually manages to fight him on equal terms while sparring and they acknowledge each other as a Worthy Opponent.
Curb-Stomp Battle: Link using the Fierce Deity' Mask against Majora. Majora only hits him once with its Combat Tentacles (apparently trying to also electrocute him), which Link shrugs off and tosses the thing against a wall and kills it with one swing. Sorta a given seeing as the mask in the game allows the player to end the boss fight in seconds.
Dead Person Impersonation: Link blunders through a few of these in order to give the souls whose masks he wears some peace.
Diabolus ex Nihilo: While none of the bosses have much of explanation where they came from in the game, Gyorg and Twinmold appear out of nowhere to fight Link.
Disney Villain Death: Gordon Link wrangles Goht and throws the monster off the mountainside.
Expecting Someone Taller: Boy, did those soldiers regret thinking a "kid" was weak.
Fair-Play Villain: Subverted. Majora’s Mask gives Link the Fierce Deity Mask for their last battle, but it flies into a Villainous Breakdown when it starts losing the fight, or as it calls it, “game.”
Forced Transformation: Link, when stuck in Deku form. He later finds out that Skull Kid turned Kafei into a child.
Genre Blindness: A group of soldiers Link was brought to train with sees him, and even after hearing he's the famed hero assume he's just some overeager kid. He promptly humiliates them offscreen, even breaking some of their swords.
Invincible Hero: Link, unlike some of the other mangas, is never any danger when fighting, in fact, the only time he's in any danger is when he falls into the poisoned swamp and when the Deku Scrubs capture him.
Ironic Hell: Skull Kid turned Kafei into a child because Kafei (walking home from his bachelor party, late at night) turned down an invitation to play with the Skull Kid by saying "Kids like you should be in bed!"
The Mind Is a Plaything of the Body: Link finds his kind words of encouragement to Anju, particularly when saying Kafei wouldn't abandon a "good girl" like her, to be pretty uncharacteristic for himself, attributing it to his Deku Scrub body.
Not-So-Harmless Villain: Despite being small wooden gnomes, the Deku Scrubs manage to outnumber, overrun, and capture Link.
Off with His Head!: Link decapitates Twinmold to get its mask.
Prequel: The Majora's Mask manga includes a bonus story illustrating the creation of the titular mask.
Psychopathic Manchild: Majora's Mask. When Fierce Deity Link starts winning the fight, Majora’s Mask becomes angry and throws a fit, claiming that he’s not “playing nice”.
Put on a Bus:
- As an unfortunate result of the Romani Ranch subplot being scrapped from the manga, Epona is horse-napped at the beginning of the story, and at the very end she just comes back without ceremony.
- The inhabitants of Ikana Canyon, due to Link already completing Stone Tower Temple by that point in the manga.
Ripple-Effect-Proof Memory: Link and Tatl are the only ones to experience it.
Shout-Out: Mikau's grave has the epitaph,"Here lies a Guitar Hero." ^note
Stab the Salad: When the Happy Mask Salesman gets Majora’s Mask back, Fierce Deity Link warns him against letting any more trouble happen by slicing open his backpack.
This Is Unforgivable!: Link's reaction to Majora's Mask vagabonding the Skull Kid after he said the mask was his only friend, calling him worthless and trying to kill him. To put this in perspective, Majora's Mask gives Link the Fierce Deity's Mask (going by it's Japanese name the "Oni Mask") and tells him to become the oni in a game of tag (Japanese terms for someone being "it"), and he agrees to the idea without a second thought.
Tsundere: Tatl is a Type A example, as she was in the game.
Unskilled, but Strong: Odolwa is a giant with a massive machete, but Link manages to quickly outmaneuver him and slash him through the stomach.
What Could Have Been: There were a couple of scrapped chapters of the manga that Himekawa couldn't fit in despite their best efforts. The first involved the Romani Ranch subplot with Romani and Cremia, and the second involved an Indigo-Go's concert where Link would show up as Mikau (Romani and Cremia also appear in this chapter, which might explain why it too was cut). Himekawa unveiled images from the scrapped chapters to commemorate the release of the game's 3DS remake.

Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages

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Kanzenban edition cover featuring both volumes.

A Hero Is Born: The manga opens with Link's birth, showing his Triforce mark from those games as a birthmark.
Adaptation-Induced Plot Hole: In the game, Twinrova kidnapped Zelda to serve as a sacrifice to revive Ganondorf, but was forced to sacrifice themselves when Link foiled the plan. The result was a mindless, feral Ganon. Since the kidnapping plot is Adapted Out, there’s no explanation for why Ganon is the way he is aside from Zelda telepathically telling Link it was an Imperfect Ritual, but not why it was so.
Adaptational Heroism: Maple in the original game, while not malevolent, was a Jerkass and a nuisance who would occasionally cause item losses if you weren't careful. In the manga, she ends up joining Link on his quest to stop Onox (if for completely selfish reasons) and comes to befriend him over the course of the story.
Adaptational Weapon Swap: Link’s starting weapon is changed from a wooden sword to a metal sword. In addition, Ralph’s sword is changed from a typical arming sword to a smallsword.
Adapted Out: Poor Farore can never catch a break. Also, Labrynna's Maku Tree.
Ancestral Weapon: Link uses his grandfather’s sword for most of Seasons, and he receives a sword from his ancestor Raven in Ages.
Annoying Arrows: Sir Raven can still fight quite competently after taking an arrow for Link.
Apocalyptic Log: Link finds the logbook used by the ghost pirate crew, and realizes that they were stuck into a never-ending storm.
Ascended Extra: Maple the witch.
As Long as There Is Evil: A heroic version is invoked by Link
Link: Come back to life a thousand times and in any age, a hero bearing this symbol will appear to bring an end to your reign of terror!
Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: Link is dismissive of his grandfather’s ambition to mold him into a knight, but he’s provoked into fighting hard against another swordsman when said swordsman makes fun of the sword that belonged to his grandfather.
Big Damn Heroes: Several times, but most surprisingly by Nayru after Link, Ralph, and Raven find themselves surrounded by Ambi's royal guard.
Birthmark of Destiny: Link has one on his left hand in the shape of the Triforce. He's not exactly comfortable with the implications at the start.
Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Veran while possessing Naryu adopts this attitude, pretending to be a loyal and helpful advisor to Queen Ambi even as she manipulates her into driving her kingdom into the ground.
Book Ends: Oracle of Seasons begins with Link's grandfather explaining their family history and pointing to a portrait of Sir Raven. Oracle of Ages ends with Link's grandfather bringing up their family history again and Link looks at the portrait of Sir Raven again. However, as a result of Link's time travels, the portrait of Sir Raven has changed to look more heroic.
Canon Character All Along: An inanimate example. Roperi's bonsai plant turns out to be a Mystery Tree, allowing Link to take the seed and use it against Veran.
Canon Foreigner: Link's grandparents in both Oracle stories and Sir Raven in Oracle of Ages, just for starters.
The Cavalry: Queen Ambi's army versus Ganon.
The Champion: Ralph to Nayru. Well, he aspires to be, at least.
Chekhov's Gun: Roperi's sprout ends up being vital in fighting Veran in Oracle of Ages.
Chekhov's Gunman: Raven is introduced as a portrait in Oracle of Seasons.
Childhood Friend Romance: It's implied that Ralph in Oracle of Ages hopes to be the Victorious Childhood Friend for "my beloved Nayru," although it's not made clear whether he achieves this or Unlucky Childhood Friend.
Complaining About Rescues They Don't Like: As with everything involving Link, Ralph finds a way to complain about having his life saved.
Ralph: Sure, you're happy. You saved the day... Again! I was all set to die heroically, but noooo...
Conscience Makes You Go Back: Maple steals the Rod of Seasons, but her broom, acting on her innermost thoughts, brings her back to Link.
Cowardice Callout: When Onox starts to lose his last fight with Link, he uses Din as a human shield. Both Maple and Link himself call him out on it.
Curb-Stomp Battle:
- Link really doesn't fare well in his first proper fight with Onox.
- He fights Onox a second time when he comes to kidnap Din, he loses just as badly.
Darker and Edgier: The Oracle of Ages manga adaptation may qualify.
Delayed Ripple Effect: Appears to be how changes in time work in Oracle of Ages.
Demonic Possession: Veran's specialty in Oracle of Ages.
Demoted to Extra: Holodrum's Maku Tree has a minimal role in the story compared to the game. Well, at least he gets to appear.
Disc-One Final Boss: Onox, initially set up as the Big Bad before Twinrova appears towards the end of the "Oracle of Seasons" manga, and ironically he puts up more fight than Veran or Ganon, taking Link, Ricky, and Maple to beat him. Veran, unlike in the game, is shown to be taking orders from them at the start.
Disproportionate Retribution: General Onox's response to Link throwing a stick at him? He sends monsters after his hide.
Dork Knight: Link, as Ralph comments in Oracle of Ages.
Ralph: Zelda may be the famed ruler of Hyrule with mystical powers, but she sure picked a goofy hero.
Dramatic Irony: When Jhovan tries to press Link into joining the circus troupe permanently, Din scolds him for trying to decide Link's life for him — he's aiming to become a knight (with a great deal of reluctance and almost entirely due to his grandfather's insistence) after all!
Dueling Scar: Link cuts the cheek of a cocky knight-in-training in their bout.
Expecting Someone Taller: Ralph is not impressed by Zelda's choice in heroes in Oracle of Ages.
Expy: Raven, Link's ancestor, is one for adult Link from Ocarina of Time.
Farm Boy: Link... sort of. He and his family were originally from Hyrule Castle Town but moved to the countryside when Link's mother fell ill.
Faux Affably Evil: Onox will claim he's an Officer and a Gentleman, even making a show of showing Din deference before he takes her away, but his brutality and callousness as he beats Link within an inch of his life during their first fight when he gets in the way of capturing Din shows it's only skin-deep.
Friend to All Living Things: Nayru. Link also skirts this - some animals are even romantically attracted to him.
Half the Man He Used to Be: Link slashes Medelock in half.
Hammer Hilt: In Ages, Link gives an opponent a pommel strike to the groin. His ancestor Raven uses a similar technique aimed at the stomach.
Heroic Lineage: Link's grandfather is quite proud of the fact that their family has served as knights of Hyrule for ages, which is why he's insistent on Link becoming one himself.
I Have You Now, My Pretty: Onox is very intent on being around and looming over Din after he's captured her, with only the fact she's currently stuck in a magic crystal preventing things from going too far. It only gets worse after he learns Link is making progress and Din mocks him, causing him to loom over her while partially assuming his draconic form and promising that Link will suffer should he make it here and she'll have a front-row seat to it as she looks on in horror.
I'm Not a Hero, I'm...: When Impa notices the Triforce birthmark on Link's hand, Link gets very defensive about it, insisting that it means nothing and that he's just a regular person.
Improvised Lockpick: Raven sneaks Link a fishing hook to use to escape Ambi’s prison, and shows him another one to prove that he’s on the hero’s side.
Interspecies Romance:
- Piyoko the chicken, in Oracle of Seasons, reveals herself to have romantic feelings for Link as she's dying from Onox's attack she took for Link, admitting that she wishes that she was born a human girl.
- Ricky nearly becomes this. He wants to be Link's retainer but becomes enamored with Link when Link calls Ricky his "Buddy". The kangaroo gets disappointed when he hears about Din, thinking his master has feelings for another, prompting the appropriate reaction from Link. Though he vows to still follow him around forever.
Knight in Shining Armor: Raven, in contrast to Link's Dork Knight.
Link, I Am Your Ancestor: Sir Raven. This is the reason why Link is worried about Raven fighting Veran.
Magic Music: The Harp of Ages - part instrument, part TARDIS.
Manly Tears: Ralph sheds one or two in Oracle of Ages after Link saves his life.
Marshmallow Hell: Link endures this with Impa.
Mundane Utility: Much to Ralph's surprise, it turns out you can use the Harp of Ages as just a plain old harp.
My Own Grampa: At the end of Oracle of Ages, Link discovers that his actions in the past have changed his family's history, and there is a portrait of himself hanging in his grandparents' house. His grandfather crossly reminds him that this is Link, their greatest ancestor, after whom he was named. So Link was, in the altered reality, named after himself.
Nice Job Breaking It, Hero: As Veran is happy to announce
Veran: You're just figuring that out now? Thank goodness the princess chose such a fool to be her hero. You're the one who broke the barrier and let me in!
Not Himself: Impa insists on Link moving the stone blocking the path to Nayru when she's the one who can lift cows. Link finds it weird but unfortunately doesn't give it much thought until its too late.
Pint-Sized Powerhouse: Being a short, skinny teenage boy doesn't stop Link from being very effective against large opponents.
Precocious Crush: Roperi has one on Raven, and eventually develops a bit of one on Link as well.
Raised by Grandparents: Link grandparents raised him and taught him swordplay.
Refusal of the Call: Link is conflicted about his Birthmark of Destiny and his grandfather's insistence that he become a knight in Oracle of Seasons because he doesn't want his future decided for him. While he does initially go to take the exam required to become one, he quickly gets sidetracked until Onox kidnaps Din.
Remember the New Guy?: Link's ancestor Raven introduced in Oracle of Ages, who only appeared in a painting in Oracle of Seasons.
Ret-Gone: Veran attempts to do this to Link by ordering the execution of his ancestor. Includes Link experiencing Delayed Ripple Effect dizzyness with his hand fading out like in Back to the Future.
Ripple-Effect-Proof Memory: Everyone in Oracle of Ages seems to have it.
Sequel Hook: The ending of Oracle of Seasons, with the witches Koume and Kotake plotting the events of Oracle of Ages.
Senseless Sacrifice: Veran mocks Ralph's Suicide Mission plan, pointing out that killing his ancestor, Ambi, won't actually kill her. Ralph counters that, while Ambi's death won't end Veran, it will at least put a major spanner in her plans, and that's what he's hoping for.
She Is Not My Girlfriend: Link keeps saying this to Ricky the kangaroo about Din in Oracle of Seasons.
Slashed Throat: Link kills Ganon in this fashion.
The Slow Path: The Harp of Ages. After Link runs off into the past with it, Ralph manages to find it in an antique shop in the present. Turns out that the guard who took it from Link used it to pay his bar tab.
Link: How did you get the Harp of Ages?
Ralph: Because you just left it lying around in the past!
Speaks Fluent Animal: Link in Oracle of Seasons, thanks to the power of the Triforce. While he doesn't retain this power fully afterward, it's shown in Oracle of Ages that animals can still understand him much better than other humans.
Stalker with a Crush: General Onox seems to be this to Din in Oracle of Seasons.
Strong Family Resemblance: Raven looks just like Link as an adult.
Sword and Sorcerer: Link and Maple in Oracle of Seasons.
Taking You with Me: After taking a mortal wound from Link, Veran tries to blow both herself and the hero up with a bomb. Raven comes to the rescue at the last second.
Take Me Instead: After Onox defeats Link in a Curb-Stomp Battle, Din offers herself up in exchange for the boy's life.
Team Mom: Impa serves as this to the circus troupe in Oracle of Seasons. After discovering that Link was Raised by Grandparents, she decides that she's going to be his mom as well. Cue the Marshmallow Hell.
Team Pet: Piyoko the chicken in Oracle of Seasons.
There Is Another: Not another hero, but it turns out that not all of the Mystery seeds needed to draw out Veran were destroyed.
Time Skip: There's one year between Seasons and Ages.
To Be Lawful or Good: When Ambi’s knights call Raven out on freeing Queen Ambi’s prisoners despite pledging his loyalty, Raven responds that a ruler who torments people isn’t worth serving.
Walking Wasteland: Onox, as life dies wherever he steps. Din realizes that he's been in the area when she discovers a long strip of inexplicably barren land stretching across a field.
Wrecked Weapon:
- In Seasons, Link's sword breaks in his second fight with Onox, but the Triforce rebuilds it.
- In Ages, Link steals a spear from one of Queen Ambi's guards when he escapes them, but it gets slashed apart in his duel with Raven.
Villainous Breakdown: When Veran is forced out of Queen Ambi by the Mystery Seed, she spends the rest of the fight with Link screaming her head off about how he forced her to assume her true spider form and that she'll make him pay.
You Are Too Late: At the end of Oracle of Seasons Onox tells Link that he may have defeated him, but not before he could gather what he came to Holodrum for and send it back to Koume and Kotake. Link doesn't get to learn the significance of this is until Oracle of Ages.
You Can't Thwart Stage One: Ganon is still revived, although not quite in the state as his followers might have wanted.
You Monster!: Link screams this to Onox in Oracle of Seasons after he kills Piyoko as a chick.

The Minish Cap

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Adaptational Angst Upgrade: In the game, Melari jumps at the chance to help Link reforge the Picori Blade. Here, he abandoned his craft after his wife died and he needs more encouragement.
Adaptational Jerkass: In the game, Ezlo was implied to be a dignified sage who only acquired his Jerk with a Heart of Gold attitude after being turned into a hat by Vaati. Here, he was a very controlling and demanding teacher to Vaati, who eventually betrayed him.
Adaptational Heroism: Vaati redeems himself, unlike in the game.
Adaptational Skill: Inverted. In the game, Vaati was implied to be a Master Swordsman who won the annual tournament fairly, albeit in record time. Here, he outright cheats using magic.
Adapted Out: The Big Chuchu, Mazaal, and Big Octorok bosses don't appear at all (though Link has to flee from a couple Octoroks the first time he's tiny).
Beleaguered Assistant: It’s revealed that Vaati was this to Ezlo, and eventually got so fed up with him that he stole his magic hat and set off to steal the Light Force next.
Bloodless Carnage: Link slices up the Gyorg without leaving behind any visible blood.
Chekhov's Gun: The feather that Librari gives Link turns into a Roc’s Cape, allowing Link to fly.
Chivalrous Pervert: When Link's tiny, he takes advantage of an opportunity to look up Anju's skirt. This nearly results in him getting crushed by bits of food she drops.
Crocodile Tears: Even if he knows she's not really crying, Link admits that Zelda can pretty much make him do whatever she wants by pretending to cry.
Devious Daggers: In a flashback, the Evil Chancellor who betrayed King Gustaf uses a dagger to kill him.
Evil Chancellor: King Gustaf’s backstory includes an advisor who killed him in an effort to take the Light Force.
Everybody Lives: Yep, Vaati included.
Forced Transformation: Ezlo was turned into a hat by Vaati.
Giant Woman: At one point, Link is shrunken while in the presence of Anju, making the normal-sized girl proportionally massive to the diminutive hero.
Grievous Harm with a Body: Link uses Ezlo as a flyswatter against a bee that was about to attack a Minish.
Heel–Face Turn: The manga changes the ending so that Vaati does this when the magic hat is removed from his head and he turns back into a Minish.
Incredible Shrinking Man: Thanks to Ezlo, Link can become this, just like in the game the manga is based on.
Lighter and Softer: There is not a single death in the entire manga. All of the enemies that Link defeats are innocent beings that were cursed by Vaati and defeating them returns them to their original form (with the exception of the Gyorg pair who were chopped into sashimi). At the end of the manga, Vaati renounces his evil ways and apologizes for his actions.
Mythology Gag:
- When Link first discovers the Picori world, he mimics a piece of the game's promotional art.
- The elder Minish Librari is very proud of fighting a (to him) giant monstrous Cucco. Considering the general reputation that Cuccos have...
Normal Fish in a Tiny Pond: To the tiny Minish, the chicken-sized Cuccoos are enough of a threat that Librari is considered a hero for being able to take down one of them.
Power Incontinence: Vaati is unable to control his newly acquired powers after absorbing most of Zelda's Light Force, which gives Link the chance to defeat him.
Power Perversion Potential: When a shrunken Link is with Anju, he realizes that this ability allows him a great chance to sneak under her dress without her knowing it. However, he never manages to actually do so.
Rebellious Princess: Zelda always tries to escape from the castle to hang out with Link.
Sewing Needle Sword: In the manga version of the game, Librari used to use a needle as a spear.
She's Not My Girlfriend: When a passerby teases Link on his relationship with Zelda, he immediately tells him to shut up.
Ship Tease: In the market, some people tease Link about being "really close" to Zelda, which makes both of them blush.
Snipe Hunt: An omake shows that Vaati spent his first few days as Ezlo's apprentice searching for an herb that didn’t exist.
Ezlo: You have learned your lesson, Vaati. You can't believe everything you hear. Don't be a schmuck!
Traitor Shot: When Link goes into the Elemental Sanctuary, King Daltus chuckles to reveal that he's Vaati in disguise.
Wants a Prize for Basic Decency: When Link shouts at Vaati for turning the Great Mayfly Fairy into an insect monster, the sorcerer just says that he wasn't killing her.
What Have I Become?: Vaati at the end, when his pursuit of ultimate power causes him to mutate into a demonic monster.

Phantom Hourglass

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Adaptational Angst Upgrade: It turns out that Linebeck abandoned his crewmates on the Ghost Ship, and for all of his attempts to look indifferent the incident still haunts him.
Adaptational Attractiveness: Compared to her game's appearance, and the rest of the Super-Deformed cast, Astrid is given a very tall a thin figure and long hair.
Adaptational Badass: Despite being turned into stone, Tetra manages to eject her spirit in the form of Princess Zelda and help fight off the Cubus Sister.
Adaptational Heroism: Jolene forgives Linebeck and helps Link in his quest to defeat Bellum.
Adaptational Villainy: The manga version of Bellum is completely self-aware and sapient, meaning that its destructive actions can't be excused by an animalistic nature.
Adaptation Origin Connection: It is revealed that the ship Linebeck used to sail on was taken over by the Cubus Sister and turned into the Ghost Ship.
Belligerent Sexual Tension: Between Linebeck and Jolene and also Linebeck and Ciela.
Breaking the Fourth Wall: Linebeck's Member Card for Eddo's:
Eddo's Garage Point Card (not in the video game)
Break Them by Talking: When Linebeck confronts the Cubus Sister, she drives him into a mental breakdown by bringing up how the crewmates he abandoned were turned into undead monsters.
Brick Joke: While on Tetra’s ship, Link is told to swab the deck against his will. When he gets on Linebeck’s ship, he makes the boy do the same thing.
Broad Strokes: While Link has the same role he does in the game, the fact that The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker does not have an adaptation makes his backstory more unclear.
Dirty Coward: While Linebeck is initially portrayed as a Lovable Coward, it's revealed that he abandoned his crew when their ship was attacked by the Cubus Sister. In the present, he finally subverts it when he tries to pull off a Heroic Sacrifice against Bellum to save Link.
Evil Cannot Comprehend Good:
- The Cubus Sister is shocked when Link and the fairies save Linebeck from her, despite having found out his past crime of abandoning his crew.
- Played with by Bellum, who understands human concepts of love and companionship just enough to deduce that feeding off of people with those emotions means more life force for him. He still doesn't predict Linebeck trying to pull of a Heroic Sacrifice to stop him.
The Farmer and the Viper: A flashback reveals that Linebeck's crew stopped to pick up what they believed was a castaway. They revealed themselves to be the Cubus Sister, stealing their ship and their lives.
Foreshadowing: When the heroes find the mysterious girl, Linebeck immediately assumes that she's actually a monster. That's because the Cubus Sister pulled that trick on him.
Heroic Sacrifice: After being possessed by Bellum, Linebeck attempts suicide so he won't be able to hurt Link. The only thing that stops him is one of Ciela's Phantom Spheres.
Jacob Marley Warning: When Linebeck prepares to sacrifice himself against Bellum, he asks Link to be the loyal and heroic man that he wasn't.
Scenery Censor: When Link strips to dive into the ocean to save Tetra's scarf, Niko covers him with a mop.
The Scrooge: Linebeck is reluctant to buy a cannon, even to keep his ship safe from monsters.
Suddenly Voiced: The monster Bellum is completely sapient and talks frequently.
Taking You with Me: Bellum attempts a suicide attack on Oshus, saying they will both die together. Thankfully, Link and the gang managed to stop him.
Vitriolic Best Buds: Linebeck develops this with Link and Ciela, dishing out sarcasm even as he sails them across the sea.
Wooden Katanas Are Even Better: Parodied. Link manages to fight off a sword-wielding Tetra in a friendly match with only a mop.

Skyward Sword

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Japanese title page of Skyward Sword in Hyrule Historia.

A prequel to the main Skyward Sword narrative, set in the distant past during the demons' original invasion of the surface and following the original incarnations of Link and the goddess Hylia.

Adaptation Expansion: Though the Sky Era Link is still the earliest Link playable, the book tells the story of the very first Link/Hero of the Goddess who is only mentioned in Skyward Sword.
The Atoner: The very first Link, the champion chosen by Hylia to wield the Master Sword, went through many hardships and ultimately died in the battle unable to head into the sky with his people. This was planned by Hylia, as his hardships were necessary to make him strong enough to reforge and wield the Master Sword, though she deeply regrets having to do this. As such, she blesses his spirit to forever be reincarnated should the land and people need his help.
Badass Cape: Hylia's Chosen Hero wears a red one, distinguishing him from the Sky-Era Link.
Badass Normal: Unlike Zelda and Ganon, who are the reincarnation of powerful deities representing good and evil, Link is the reincarnation of a mortal human. A human whose will is unbreakable and chosen by Goddess Hylia for that reason. Deconstructed in that it's this very status that allows Demon King Demise to fatally wound him, as Hylia's Chosen Hero was too exhausted to put up a proper fight with an all-powerful demon.
Bittersweet Ending: The Demon King is sealed away and the humans are safe in the sky, but Link is mortally wounded from battle and is unable to join his companions to the sky. After sealing Demise away, Hylia discovers her fallen hero and mourns his death. She quietly promises him that they will be reborn as the Link and Zelda in Skyward Sword.
But for Me, It Was Tuesday: It's implied by his dialogue that Demise sees the Goddess-Era Link as another cowardly human, taunting him to cry in despair or beg for mercy despite the Chosen Hero being the polar opposite of that. The Demon King then fatally wounds the battle-worn Link across the torso and leaves him to die without second thought. All of this seems to be the Watsonian explanation as to why Demise would claim to never have faced a human as courageous as Sky-Era Link in Skyward Sword.
Curb-Stomp Battle: The battle between the Goddess-Era's Link and the Demon King Demise begins and immediately ends with Demise slashing across Link's torso and leaving him for dead. It's so anticlimactic that Demise didn't even realize that the man he fought was Hylia's Chosen Hero.
BFS: The original Master Sword as carried by the goddess is a pretty decent zweihänder that brings to mind the Biggoron Sword. Arguably justified, as the weapon in this state is for use by the gods; when Hylia bids Link to reforge it to be used by mortals, it becomes the modest arming sword the series loves.
Darker and Edgier: Not so much the story but more so on the previous Link — quite possibly the first Link — who fought in the war against the demon king that's mentioned throughout the game. Goddess-Era Link is drawn with sharper features compared to Sky-Era Link, as well having a slightly more grimmer outlook. Plus, he's been framed, imprisoned, and tortured!
Divine Date: While she obviously didn't officially date anyone due to the world being in crisis, it's heavily implied that Hylia has romantic feelings for her mortal Chosen Hero. When discovering Goddess-Era Link's deceased body, Hylia decides to reincarnate herself along with her Chosen Hero as mortal humans, not simply to be the motivation for Sky-Era Link to fulfill his destiny, but also give her and hero the life they could never have as goddess and human.
Dying Alone: After completing his task to send the humans up to the sky, Link dies alone with no one around him to comfort him. He dies happily though, but laments not being able to ride with the divine Loftwing despite his promise. Hylia later finds his body and regrets putting him through all the hardship to become her worthy champion, and so blesses his spirit to be reincarnated to live the life he deserves with her as a mortal beside him.
Dying Moment of Awesome: After being wounded by Demise, Link still manages to ride the Crimson Loftwing (albeit briefly) and use the Master Sword to see his people safely to the sky with his dying breath.
"Long live the beautiful land of Hylia!"
Easily Forgiven: The Goddess Era's Link was betrayed, imprisoned for years under horrible conditions. But when given the choice of saving or abandoning his people, he finds it in his heart to forgive and save them.
Heroic Self-Deprecation: Upon being offered the Master Sword, Link hesitates, saying that due to his lingering feeling of anger and resentment that he is not worthy to even touch the holy blade. The sword itself believed otherwise.
The Greatest Story Never Told: The story is framed as an unconscious past-life memory of Sky-Era Link, revealing certain details that were not present in the backstory lore of Skyward Sword. Namely that Link had once been the Chosen Hero of Hylia long ago, fought Demise's demon army with his fellow knights, and lifted Skyloft to the heavens with the Master Sword, contrary to the tales told in Skyloft. It's implied that, after his death, this Link was forgotten by everyone expect Goddess Hylia herself.
The Hero Dies: The first Link succumbs to his wounds and dies alone after completing his task to send his people skyward. His spirit later reincarnates as the Sky-Era Link by Hylia's will.
Heroic Mime: Like the TP Manga, and unlike most portrayals of Link, this manga completely averts the trope. Justified, as the Goddess-Era Hero predates the Sky-Era Hero, thus hasn't inherited his personality traits.
I Choose to Stay: After Link uses the Master Sword to send his civilization skyward, his friends beg him to reach for their hands. Link refuses as he was fatally wounded by Demise and couldn't join them even though he truly wants to. He collapses from blood loss, lamenting that he could never fulfill the promises he made to his friends and the Crimson Loftwing due to his impeding death. Hylia, feeling guilty over her role of her Chosen Hero's fate, blesses his soul to reincarnate on Skyloft as the Sky-Era Link.
Loose Canon: Unlike other Zelda mangas done by Akira Himekawa, the Skyward Sword manga is not an adaptation of the game. Rather, it's an expansion of the game's backstory, detailing the events of the Ancient Battle against Demon King Demise. While several small elements in the manga seem to contradict what was presented in the game,^note it should be noted that the Zelda games are no stranger to major retcons for previous backstories^note and thus it's easy for fans to accept the general story as canon even if Nintendo doesn't officially confirm or deny it.
Miscarriage of Justice: Due to misleading evidence, the original hero is locked in a horrible prison for four years.
Named by the Adaptation: The Goddess's chosen hero who was unnamed in the game is named Link in the manga.
Pietà Plagiarism: Hylia holds the Goddess Era Link in a pose wholly reminiscent of the Virgin Mary cradling the dead body of Christ.
Reincarnation: The story reveals that Link from Skyward Sword is also a reincarnation of a predecessor, not unlike Zelda/Hylia and Ganondorf/Demise. The difference is that this predecessor is a mere mortal chosen by Hylia to be her champion, and his name is also Link. Additionally, it's implied that Link's Crimson Loftwing is the reincarnation of a divine Loftwing that Hylia rode in ancient past.
Reincarnation Romance: The manga reveals that Hylia's decision to reincarnate as the first Zelda, while mainly a ploy to give her Chosen Hero's reincarnation the motive to save the world, also stems from her desire to be with Link as an actual friend or lover rather than a goddess to kneel before.
Spikes of Villainy: The manga took the abstract painting of Demon King Demise in opening prologue of Skyward Sword and interpret it as a war helmet with three prongs coming out.

Manga / The Legend of Zelda (Akira Himekawa)

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