"Some call our realm a world of shadows, but that makes it sound unpleasant...The twilight there holds a serene beauty...you have seen it yourself as the sun sets on this world. Bathed in that light, all people were pure and gentle...But things changed once that foul power pervaded our world..."
—Midna, after the Mirror of Twilight is restored, Twilight Princess
The nerdy kid: Did you see the latest Nintendo newsletter?
His friend: WOW! Nice graphics, I want to get my hands on that game!
The nerdy kids: You mean you have NOT played it, yet?!? We can play it on my Nintendo Entertainment System. (As he raps) "It's the Legend of Zelda and it's really rad, those creatures from Ganon are pretty bad, Octoroks, Tektites, Leevers too, with your help our hero pulls through. Yeah, go Link, yeah, get some, awesome! Intense!"
Link, he come to town
Come to save the Princess Zelda
Ganon took her away
Now the children don't play
But they will when Link saves the day (Hallelujah!)
Now Link, fill up your hearts
So you can shoot your sword with power
And when you're feeling all down
The fairy will come around
So you'll be brave, and not a sissy coward
Now Link has saved the day
Put Ganon in his grave
So now Zelda is free
And now our hero shall be...
Link, I think your name shall go down into history!
Come to save the Princess Zelda
Ganon took her away
Now the children don't play
But they will when Link saves the day (Hallelujah!)
Now Link, fill up your hearts
So you can shoot your sword with power
And when you're feeling all down
The fairy will come around
So you'll be brave, and not a sissy coward
Now Link has saved the day
Put Ganon in his grave
So now Zelda is free
And now our hero shall be...
Link, I think your name shall go down into history!
"I FOUND A MIRROR UNDER THE TABLE."
"SSSSKKKYYYAAAAAAA!!!!"
—Link, in nearly any of his 3D games
"I hate Ganondorf!"
—Link, answering Nabooru in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
"Meooow!"
—Link, hiding from Mila in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
"An ally of justice!"
—Link, describing himself to Mila in The Wind Waker
"COME ON!!"
—Link, calling to any companion he takes on in a dungeon in The Wind Waker
"Please forgive me!"
—Link, apologizing to Hena in Twilight Princess
MANY YEARS AGO, PRINCE
DARKNESS "GANNON", STOLE
ONE OF THE TRIFORCE WITH
POWER. PRINCESS ZELDA HAD
ONE OF THE TRIFORCE WITH
WISDOM. SHE DIVIDED IT INTO
"8" UNITS TO HIDE IT FROM "GANNON"
BEFORE SHE WAS CAPTURED.
GO FIND THE "8" UNITS,
LONG AGO, GANON, PRINCE
OF DARKNESS, STOLE THE
TRIFORCE OF POWER.
PRINCESS ZELDA OF HYRULE
BROKE THE TRIFORCE OF
WISDOM INTO EIGHT PIECES
AND HID THEM FROM GANON
BEFORE SHE WAS KIDNAPPED
BY GANON'S MINIONS.
LINK, YOU MUST FIND THE
PIECES AND SAVE ZELDA.
—The Legend of Zelda (Fixed text from the GBA re-release)
SEVERAL YEARS AFTER GANNON
WAS DESTROYED, LINK LEARNS
FROM IMPA ABOUT THE ANOTH-
ER SLEEPING PRINCESS ZELDA.
HE IS TOLD SHE CAN ONLY
AWAKEN WITH THE NO.3 TRY-
FORCE SEALED IN THE GREAT
SANCTUARY AT DISVALLEY. TO
REMOVE THE SEAL, CRYSTALS
MUST BE EMBEDDED INTO A
STONE STATUE STANDING IN
6 SANCTUARIS.
LINK SETS OUT ON AN
- ADVENTUROUS QUEST…
—Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (Original Japanese intro)
I Am Error
—Error of Ruto
Whenever there's a meeting, a parting is sure to follow. However, that parting need not last forever. Whether that parting is forever or only for a short time, that is up to you.
—The Happy Mask Salesman, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Everyone barely registers his presence. They don't expect him to save the world, and many don't seem to realize it needs saving at all. He disguises himself as a Goron and a Zora various times when he's saving their various respective lands, and so his actions get attributed to whoever he's disguised as. Link himself ghosts through life invisible, a permanent outsider wearing whatever face he needs to gain trust so he can steal everyone's shit without ever permanently affecting their lives. It's like Quantum Leap for bastards.
My son... gives me Helpful Nintendo Hints that are far too complex for the adult mind to comprehend. Here's a verbatim example: "OK, there's Ganon and miniature Ganon and there's these things like jelly beans and the miniature Ganon is more powerfuller, because when you touch him the flying eagles come down and the octopus shoots red rocks and the swamp takes longer." And the hell of it is, I know he's right.
—Dave Barry, describing what may very well be Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, "Un Nintended Benefits"
King Harkinian: Mah boi, this peace is what all true warriors strive for!
Harkinian: Hmm... How can we help?
Link: Great! I'll grab my stuff!
Link: How about a kiss, for luck?
Zelda: You've got to be kidding me.
Gwonam: Squadallah, we're off!
Link: Whoah, what are all those heads?
Gwonam: These are the Faces of Evil. You must conquer each.
Link: I guess I better get going!
Gwonam: Here is the map. Where do you wish to go?
King Harkinian: Zelda, Duke Onkled is under attack by the evil forces of Ganon! I'm going to Gamelon to aid him!
Zelda: But Father! What if something happens to you?
King Harkinian: I'll take the Triforce of Courage to protect me. If you don't hear from me in a month, send Link.
Zelda: Impa!
Impa: Don't worry, Zelda - the Triforce of Wisdom promises that the King will return safely.
King Harkinian: Enough! My ship sails in the morning. I wonder what's for dinner?
Link: Oh boy! I'm so hungry, I could eat an octorok!
"Many games have a story, only one is a legend."
—The Legend of Zelda: Collectors Edition
Zelda is a game where you swing your fuckin' sword at some pigs or whatever. There's bombs and triangles. Get three triangles! You win!
—Ego Raptor describing how most people describe the Zelda franchise.
"You speak of magic? Still your tongue for a moment, whelp, and I will tell you of both magic and the oppression of ages... The people of our tribe...a tribe that mastered the arts of magic...were locked away in this world like insects in a cage. In the shadows we regressed, so much so that we soon knew neither anger nor hatred...nor even the faintest bloom of desire. And all of it was the fault of a useless, do-nothing royal family that had resigned itself to this miserable half-existence! I had served and endured in that depraved household for far too long, my impudent princess. And why, you ask? Because I believed I would be the next to rule our people! THAT is why! But would they acknowledge me as their king? No! And as such, I was denied the magic powers befitting our ruler. It was then, in the thrall of hatred and despair, that I turned my eyes to the heavens...and found a god. My god had only one wish...To merge shadow and light...and make darkness!"
— Zant, upon being confronted by Link and Midna in his throne room, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
"My country lay within a vast desert. When the sun rose into the sky, a burning wind punished my lands, searing the world. And when the moon climbed into the dark of night, a frigid gale pierced our homes. No matter when it came, the wind carried the same thing... Death. But the winds that blew across the green fields of Hyrule brought something other than suffering and ruin. I coveted that wind, I suppose."
"Link, you may not be at point where you have fully recovered your power, or all of your memories...But courage need not be remembered, for it is never forgotten!"
—Princess Zelda, before the final battle, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
