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The Synopsis of Princess Zelda from The Legend of Zelda's Era of the Wilds saga.
Early Life[]
Zelda was born to King Rhoam Bosphoramus Hyrule and the Queen of Hyrule, making her Princess Zelda. As a member of Hyrule's Royal Family and a descendant of Zelda, she was set to inherit a special sealing power. She also spent plenty of time in Gerudo Town and gained. a mother figure in Chief Urbosa. When she was six years old, her mother unfortunately passed away, who was supposed to teach Zelda how to use her power. Not long after the funeral of the queen, a fortune teller warned of the return of the monster Calamity Ganon. With the foretold return of Calamity Ganon, Zelda set to inherit a special sealing power and an increase in monster attacks led to the kingdom to prepare.
The Appointed Knight[]
Champions of Hyrule[]
The Kingdom of Hyrule excavated the mountains of Hyrule where they discovered the Divine Beasts, the guardians and the Sheikah Shrines. The Divine Beasts and guardians were a creation of the Sheikah Tribe designed to combat Calamity Ganon. During the last time that Calamity Ganon attacked Hyrule, the wielder of the Master Sword and the woman with the blood of the goddess Hylia sealed him with the help of an army of guardians along with the Divine Beasts. So, King Rhoam decided that Hyrule would follow in their ancestor's footsteps and use the same method. While the Sheikah began testing the guardians to make sure they could defend the kingdom, the Divine Beasts needed special warriors to pilot them. They picked the pilots based on the locations of where the Divine Beasts were excavated out of.
Divine Beast Vah Ruta, resembling an elephant, was excavated out of the Lanayru Wetlands by Zora's Domain, with Princess Mipha being chosen as its pilot. Divine Beast Vah Rudania, resembling a lizard, was excavated out of the Eldin Mountains by Goron City, with the friendly giant Daruk being chosen as its pilot. Divine Beast Vah Naboris, resembling a camel, was excavated out of the Gerudo Desert by Gerudo Town, with Urbosa being chosen as its pilot. Divine Beast Vah Medoh, resembling an eagle, was excavated out of the Hebra Mountains near Rito Village, with the arrogant Revali being chosen as its pilot. The Divine Beasts' names were intriguing, as they were named after famous heroes of their respective races. Vah Ruta was named after Princess Ruto, Vah Rudania was named after Chief Darunia, Vah Naboris was named after Nabooru and Vah Medoh was likely named after Medli. The kingdom dubbed the pilots Champions. Later, the Hylian knight, Link, became a member after an incident. It was during a testing of one of the excavated guardians that it went haywire and started attacking people with its deadly laser beam. Fortunately Link grabbed a pot lid and deflected the laser beam right back at the guardian, destroying it. With his skill apparent, Link was chosen as not only a Champion, but also as the personal knight and bodyguard of Zelda.
Despite the Champions being dubbed, there was another issue: Zelda had shown no signs of inheriting the power, showing more interest in the Divine Beasts, guardians and a mysterious Sheikah device called the Sheikah Slate, which could produce photographs and had a special connection to the Sheikah Slate. No matter how much she prayed, she was unable to awaken her special power. This angered her father, who viewed her as not trying hard enough. Zelda continually tried to defend herself to no avail, frustrating her. And her frustrations only grew once Link was assigned as her knight. According to Urbosa, Zelda saw Link as a living reminder as her own failures, as both were two Hylians part of the Champions, close to royalty and yet Link was a prodigy while Zelda still had no signs of power. While Link was still her bodyguard, she did not treat him kindly. She was cold and distant, making snide comments about Link being not having a mind of his own and asking if he could hear the voice in the sword. When Link followed her around Hyrule, she continually yelled at him for doing his job of keeping her safe. She even tried to spend time in Gerudo Town, where no men, "voe" in native Gerudo language, were allowed. Hilariously enough, Urbosa gave Link clothes to disguise himself as a woman, "vai" in native gerudo language, so that he could continue watching over her. Despite all this, Link did not speak in his defense. This continued for some time, until something changed.
Feelings Towards Link[]
The Yiga Clan are a clan of former Sheikah who worship Calamity Ganon and were thus firmly against Hyrule's efforts to avert the Calamity. Thus, with Zelda and Link as two of the most important people needed to stop the Calamity, efforts were made to eliminate them. It was during one of these attempts that the dynamic between Link and Zelda changed. Three Yiga footsoldiers attempted to kill Zelda while she was in the desert, with her being unable to escape after a lengthy chase. One attempted to decapitate Zelda with their weapon, though they were disarmed and killed by Link, who forced the other two to flee. It was then that Zelda began to view Link differently.
She had been rude to him all this time, yet without a second thought he defended her. This made her stop treating Link so horribly. She began smiling around him more, got him involved with her research and spoke about her struggles to awaken her sealing power. Link in turn began to open up about himself. He actually spoke to Zelda and told her how with so many eyes on him due to him being her knight and wielding the Maser Sword, he deemed it necessary to silently bear any burden. A musician in the castle took notice of Zelda's growing affections for Link, who would make songs that would be played a century later. But these times of bonding would reach their end.
The Great Calamity[]
Zelda's 17th birthday approached, which would have made her an adult. It was that day that she and Link would have to hike up to the top Mount Lanayru to the Spring of Wisdom for another attempt to unlock her sealing power. It was during that day that all the Champions traveled with Zelda to the base of the mountain, though only Link accompanied her to the top. And yet Zelda's prayer failed again. After getting back to the base, the Champions tried to comfort Zelda. As Mipha was going to give her some advice on how she uses her own power, they felt the ground shake. Revali flew up into the sky to survey the land and saw a purple mist surrounding Hyrule Castle, realizing that it was Calamity Ganon. He reported it to the group who prepared to fight. Daruk ordered the Champions to make their way to their Divine Beasts, with him saying that Link had to make his way to the castle. Urbosa ordered Zelda to get to a safe place, but she refused to abandon them.
As Link and Zelda made their way to the castle, they came across a horrifying sight. The guardians, machines created for the sole purpose of defending Hyrule from the Calamity, were corrupted by the Calamity and attacking everyone in sight. Most of the people in Castle Town were obliterated by the guardians as well as their homes. The surrounding settlements did not stand a chance with the guardians' speed and laser powers being so unrelenting. As for the people in Hyrule Castle, nobody survived the guardian onslaught. Link and Zelda were forced to flee Castle Town, with as many survivors as they could find following them. The Divine Beasts did not fair any better. They had been taken over by the Calamity, with all of the Champions being killed as well. As Link and Zelda and the survivors fled, Zelda fell to the ground and had an emotional breakdown: she had failed to unlock her sealing power, the Calamity had taken over the guardians and killed her friends and father and her kingdom was under an attack like no other. Link held her as she cried.
The group then arrived at Fort Hateno in East Necluda, with soldiers preparing to fight the guardians. Link joined the soldiers in combat, with him being responsible for destroying most of the guardians that attacked. But there were too many. Mortally wounded, Zelda told Link to run and save himself, but Link refused to leave the princess to the mechanical creations. As one aimed its laser at Link, Zelda stepped in front of him and raised her hand to the guardian, unleashing a blast of yellow light that disabled the rest of the guardians at the fort. With the sight of Zelda safe, Link collapsed in her arms as exhaustion took over. Zelda looked at her knight, her friend, as he died.
Zelda sobbed over Link's corpse for a time. Then, the voice within the Master Sword spoke to her, telling her that Link could still be saved. It was then that two Sheikah warriors appeared to escort her to safety. She instead instructed them to take Link's corpse to the Shrine of Resurrection, following the instructions of the voice in the Master Sword. Zelda took the Master Sword to the Korok Forest, where she placed it in the stone where Link originally drew the blade from. There, it would be safe under the care of the Great Deku Tree until Link could reclaim it. Zelda asked the Great Deku Tree to relay a message to Link from her, but he told her that it would be better if Link heard it directly from her, which she agreed.
Zelda made her way to Hyrule Castle. As Calamity Ganon attacked her, she made one last statement: "Link... You are our final hope. The fate of Hyrule rests with you." With that said, Zelda used her power and sealed her and Calamity Ganon in Hyrule Castle.
Holding Back the End[]
100 Years in Hyrule Castle[]
Zelda spent 100 years inside of Hyrule Castle with Calamity Ganon. Anytime Calamity Ganon attempted to leave the castle, Zelda held him back. Unfortunately, she did not have the power to kill him. This greatly annoyed Ganon, who eventually decided to wait until Zelda ran out of energy to hold him back, which started to get noticeable after 100 years.
Link's Awakening[]
After 100 years in the Shrine of Resurrection, Link awoke with no memories. Zelda spoke to Link telepathically, telling him that he was Hyrule's last hope. Zelda guided Link with using the Sheikah Slate now in his position, which led to him activating the Sheikah Towers and causing them to rise from the ground. This was noticed by Calamity Ganon, who realized Link was still alive. This angered Ganon, who began to attack Zelda's seal with even more power and ferocity than before. Zelda begged Link to hurry and get ready to face Calamity Ganon.
Link traveled across Hyrule and went to each of the Divine Beasts, destroying the scourges that were in control of the Divine Beasts. This allowed the spirits of the Champions who were trapped in the Divine Beasts to regain control of them to use their power against Calamity Ganon. Link used photos in the Sheikah Slate that Zelda took 100 years ago and regained his memory of his life before he was placed in the Shrine of Resurrection. He also regained the Master Sword, which was now in prime fighting form. Link was ready to help Zelda avenge Hyrule.
Calamity Ganon[]
Link traveled to Hyrule Castle and navigated towards the sanctum. Once Link got there, Zelda stopped holding Ganon back as she was exhausted. Calamity Ganon fell out of a cocoon and revealed a body he had made to fight Link. The two fell into the bowels of the castle, where the Divine Beasts unleashed their lasers against Ganon. Zelda regained her strength as Link and Ganon fought, with Link overpowering him. Ganon then fled the castle, transforming into Dark Beast Ganon.
Dark Beast Ganon appeared in Hyrule Field, ready to destory Hyrule once and for all. Zelda transported Link to Dark Beast Ganon and provided him with the Bow of Light, a sacred bow with Light Arrows that could greatly damage Ganon. Link got on his horse ready to continue the fight and Zelda expressed her faith in Link, saying that even if he did not have all his memories, the courage to fight evil was never forgotten. Zelda used her magic to form targets pointing out weak spots on Ganon, which Link shot at as they battled Dark Beast Ganon. Once Ganon was damaged enough, Zelda appeared in the center of the battle. As Ganon attempted one last attack against the duo, Zelda raised her hand and unleashed a wave of holy light, which successfully sealed Ganon, this time permanently.
Link walked towards Zelda. Zelda looked away, saying that she had been watching over his journey and was proud of him. Zelda turned around with a hopeful expression, asking Link if he truly remembered her. Link smiled, walked up and hugged her, confirming that he did remember her.
Rebuilding Hyrule[]
The defeat of Calamity Ganon led to some interesting effects around Hyrule. The Champions, their duty to Hyrule now complete, faded away like the Sheikah monks. King Rhoam did the same. This also stripped Link of his Champion abilities. The Divine Beasts, now without their pilots, shut down. The guardians also shut down. Zelda also became unable to use her sealing power. When she and Link discussed it, she said that she could accept if the power was gone for good.
Soon, Link and Zelda began the process of rebuilding Hyrule. The Sheikah technology was disassembled and repurposed into new technology by Purah and Robbie, Sheikah researchers Zelda knew before the Calamity who helped Link on his journey, with Purah creating the Purah Pad, a Sheikah Slate but without the runes apart from the camera. Purah was also able to age her body to the form of a young woman again. Zelda established a school in Hateno Village for the village's children and memorials for those who lost their lives during the Calamity. She also made her presence known to Hyrule, with the people looking to her as a symbol of hope. She also took up residence in Hateno with Link. Hyrule would also begin to dig into the ground to make wells to take advantage of the resources in the ground. Impa, an advisor to Zelda before the Calamity, eventually retired as Kakariko Village Chief and gave the position to her granddaughter Paya. Kaneli of the Rito also retired as Rito Village Elder and gave the position to Teba, the Rito who helped Link reclaim Vah Medoh. Sidon, the younger brother of Mipha who helped Link reclaim Vah Ruta, would also meet a Zora named Yona and even get engaged with her. Yunobo, the grandson of Daruk who helped Link reclaim Vah Rudania, established a mining business called YunoboCo to help smooth mining operations around Death Mountain. Link also began the process of eliminating some of the more dangerous monsters in Hyrule, as with Calamity Ganon sealed away by Zelda, the Blood Moon wouldn't occur and the monsters could stay dead. Eventually, Link would lay the Master Sword to rest in the Korok Forest, with the Great Deku Tree watching over it. For the following years, there was peace in Hyrule.
One day, though they did not know, Calamity Ganon faded from existence. A few years later, a substance began to leak from underneath Hyrule Castle and spread around Hyrule. The substance was corrosive and coming into contact with it caused people to become weak, with prolonged contact causing death, earning it the name gloom. Link and Zelda volunteered to investigate, with Link reclaiming the Master Sword for defense against what was underneath Hyrule Castle.
Meeting Ganondorf[]
Link and Zelda traveled to a large underground cavern beneath Hyrule Castle to investigate the gloom. But they noticed something off: the gloom appeared to be thicker, although not concentrated enough to hurt them. As they continued, they are attacked by keese, though Link was able to easily dispatch them. While looking around after the attack, they discovered pieces of pillars with writing on them. They detailed the events of a conflict known as the Imprisoning War, where the first king of Hyrule and six other people fought against the being known as the Demon King. Zelda took pictures with the Purah Pad, though she noticed that some of the murals of the war were covered in rubble.
As they progressed further down the area, they discovered a large room called the Imprisoning Chamber with a mummified figure in the center of the room. The figure appeared to have gloom spewing from its body and had a hand pushing it down to lean back in what looked to be agony. As they approached the figure, the hand dropped from it, with a stone rolling in front of Zelda. As she picked it up, the figure started to move. Its face moved to look at them, with its blank eyes coming to life with red pupils. The gloom launched itself at Zelda, though Link blocked it with the Master Sword. But the gloom wrapped itself around the sword and latched onto his arm, rapidly decaying both and causing Link a great amount of pain. With most of his remaining strength and the Master Sword falling apart, he launched the tip of the blade at the figure, though it only scratched the cheek and the figure simply regenerated the skin.
The figure stood up, called the sword weak and addressed both of them. It immediately called Zelda by her name and realized that the swordsman was Link based on his use of the sword. It said that "Rauru" placed his faith in them, though it said that based on what he had seen they don't have a chance against it. It then spewed more gloom upward, causing the whole chamber floor to break apart. Zelda and the figure both fell into the darkness below. Link jumped after her to grab her hand, but he missed and then she vanished in a flash of yellow light. As Link continued to fall, the arm grabbed him and brought him upwards to a blue-green light. After the ordeal, Link passed out from exhaustion and pain.
Hyrule's Founding Era[]
A New Family[]
After vanishing from the Imprisoning Chamber and reappeared with the Purah Pad on the Great Plateau, unconscious. When she awoke, she found that she was being watched by a large man and a Hylian woman. The two introduced themselves as Rauru and Sonia respectively. Zelda introduced herself as the Princess of Hyrule, much to their confusion as they were the current King and Queen of Hyrule. It was then that Zelda recognized their names and realized that she had time traveled to the distant past. As Zelda took in that revelation, Sonia revealed that she sensed that Zelda shared a blood relation with Rauru and Sonia. Sonia offered her shelter at the castle and said that Rauru's sister Mineru could figure out a way for Zelda to get back to her time.
When they got to the castle, Mineru began examining the Purah Pad. Mineru told Zelda that one way Zelda could return to her time was by swallowing a secret stone to become a dragon, but it was forbidden as it would cause her to lose her personality. Zelda was disappointed, but Rauru said that they would find another way. Sonia then offered to teach Zelda more about her innate time and light powers.
Zelda started living at the castle and began taking lessons with Sonia on controlling her power. During her time there, Zelda grew close with Rauru and Sonia, with them acting as the parents she never got the chance to have when she was younger. On one occasion, Zelda, Rauru and Sonia were enjoying tea in a garden. Sonia displayed her time powers and her technique, surprising Zelda. Sonia realized that Zelda must have a lot of her mind. Zelda spoke of some of the things she has had to deal with in her life, with Link's name coming up. When Rauru and Sonia asked about Link, Zelda spoke about how Link's heart was pure and that he was a skilled knight and that they greatly cared for each other. Rauru and Sonia gently teased Zelda about her and Link's relationship and asked Zelda to speak more about Link as that clearly made her happy.
The Imprisoning War[]
The King of the Gerudo, Ganondorf, eventually attacked the kingdom with an army of molduga and the intent to conquer it. Rauru, using his secret stone, repelled the swarm using his light powers. Ganondorf then realized that in order to take over Hyrule, he would need to use a different approach. Later, Ganondorf pledged fealty to Rauru and the Kingdom of Hyrule. Once Ganondorf left, Zelda told Rauru that Ganondorf had an agenda and that his name was too close to Calamity Ganon, making her suspect that he was the cause of it. Rauru was aware of Ganondorf having ulterior motives and assured her that Ganondorf being subservient to him made it easier to keep an eye on him.
One night, Sonia spoke with Zelda alone in the castle. Zelda then attacked Sonia by throwing a knife at her, but the knife stopped midair. Sonia spoke to Zelda, calling her a fake. The real Zelda revealed herself, displaying control of her time powers. The fake Zelda then vanished and Ganondorf appeared, impaling Sonia in the back. Sonia was wounded and Ganondorf took her secret stone, laughing the entire time. Rauru appeared and attempted to attack Ganondorf, but Zelda called him back so they could treat Sonia's wound. Rauru and Zelda, carrying Sonia, fled the scene. Ganondorf embraced the power of the secret stone, transforming into a more demonic form. He then unleashed the Blood Moon and hundreds of monsters, beginning his war against Hyrule.
Sonia did not survive the attack. Rauru and Zelda mourned her and were ready to avenger her. Rauru assembled four people from the Zora, Goron, Gerudo and Rito who were proficient warriors. Together, he, Zelda, Mineru and the warriors formed the Seven Sages.
With their power and secret stones, the group fought in multiple battles against the monsters that served Ganondorf. After multiple battles, it became apparent that Ganondorf's side was winning. So the Sages decided to take on Ganondorf himself in a final battle. Rauru and Zelda spoke the night before the fight with Ganondorf. Zelda said that she saw Ganondorf in the future, meaning that they would lose the fight. Rauru said that he would do what he had to, as their battle will give Link the chance to ensure that Ganondorf met his end in the future, calling Link their last line of defense. The Sages fought Ganondorf in a brutal battle underneath Hyrule Castle. Though the Sages put up an excellent fight, Ganondorf proved to be more powerful. Rauru realized that the Sages would not survive the night if he did not make the ultimate sacrifice. Rauru, to Mineru and Zelda's horror, performed a seal on Ganondorf, preventing him from leaving the area that would come to be known as the Imprisoning Chamber at the cost of his life. Before Rauru died, he warned Ganondorf that a swordsman with the Sword That Seals the Darkness would defeat him in the future, which Ganondorf responded with intrigue in the warrior.
The Light Dragon[]
Revitalized Master Sword[]
After the war ended, the Master Sword appeared in front of Zelda. As Zelda examined the broken weapon, it spoke to her, telling her that Link was safe in the present. It was then that Zelda realized that she had a reason as to why she was back in the past.
Zelda brought the broken Master Sword to Mineru and spoke with her. Zelda spoke of how she intended to swallow her secret stone to have the power to repair the Master Sword for Link to use in the future. Mineru objected, as swallowing a secret stone transformed one into a dragon but without their personality. Zelda was aware of the consequences but was also aware they had no other options. Mineru, fatally injured from the battle, eventually relented and said that she would transfer her spirit into the Purah Pad to help Link in the present.
Zelda went to an altar with the Master Sword. Zelda confirmed with a Zonai Steward Construct that Mineru had the Purah Pad and to follow her instructions clearly. Zelda, steeling her nerves, swallowed her secret stone. Zelda shaking, yelled to Link, begging him to protect them all. With that, her eyes went blue and a large explosion of light occurred. Out of the light, a large dragon with a white body and a yellow mane, the Light Dragon, flew into the sky and vanished.
For over 10,000 years, the Light Dragon flew in the skies above Hyrule, with the Master Sword being repaired in her mane.
When Link awoke from the encounter with Ganondorf and reached the edge of the Great Sky Island, the Light Dragon burst through the sea of clouds beneath the sky island and revealed the surface to Link. During Link's quest to help Hyrule recover from Ganondorf becoming active once more, the Light Dragon shed tears that created geoglyphs, which revealed to Link what happened to Zelda once she disappeared. Once Link rid the Great Deku Tree of the gloom within, the Light Dragon sensed that Link was ready to reclaim the Master Sword. The Light Dragon flew closer to the surface, making it easier for Link to reach her. As Link grasped the Master Sword, the Light Dragon roared in pain and attempted to shake Link off of her. Link held on as the Light Dragon struggled and then eventually calmed down. The Light Dragon transported them into a dimension of clouds and loosened the Master Sword to make it easier for Link to pull it out. Link slowly pulled the Master Sword and felt its ethereal power. The Light Dragon then dropped Link off at the Great Sky Island and flew off.
Demon King Ganondorf[]
The Demon Dragon, Ganondorf's new form after swallowing his secret stone so that he could destroy Hyrule once Link and the new Sages had overpowered him, emerged from underneath Hyrule Castle with Link in his jaws. As Link tried to look for a way out, he heard a roar. The Light Dragon had arrived to help Link, Zelda's devotion to Link proving to be persevere despite thousands of years as a dragon. The Demon Dragon roared at the Light Dragon, allowing Link to break free and start falling. The Demon Dragon attempted to bite the Light Dragon, who dodged and caught Link with her mane. The Light Dragon and Link stared down the Demon Dragon. Link unsheathed Master Sword once more, it glowing with holy light. The Demon Dragon, hating the light of the sword made to kill him, roared. Link and the Light Dragon began an aerial battle against the Demon Dragon. With the Light Dragon acting as a distraction while the Demon Dragon launched gloom and tried to bite her, Link dived through the air and destroyed the fleshy sports on the Demon Dragon's back. After an incredible aerial battle, the Demon Dragon launched a storm of gloom at the duo. The Light Dragon launched Link at the Demon Dragon and he dodged the gloom and landed on the Demon Dragon's head. Link saw the secret stone was embedded in the Demon Dragon's head. Link used the Master Sword to crack the stone. Link, with righteous fury coursing through him, plunged the Master Sword into the secret stone. The Demon Dragon, roaring in pain, shook Link off of him, who the Light Dragon caught. However, the damage was done. Critically damaged by the Blade of Evil's Bane, Sonia's corrupted Secret Stone shattered. As light energy bled from the Demon Dragon's forehead, it struggled skyward. With one last roar, the Demon Dragon exploded into a ferocious, almost atomic-like, pillar of smoke and holy light, instantly restoring the sky back to normal. The nightmare that plagued Hyrule for all those years, was finally gone for good.
Link breathed a sigh of relief as the battle had been won. As Link sheathed the Master Sword, his replacement arm began to glow. Link and the Light Dragon were transported into a sacred Zonai realm, floating in the air. Link looked down at the Light Dragon, who had closed her eyes. Link then felt the arm use the Recall ability on the Light Dragon. The spirits of Rauru and Sonia then appeared and gave their energy to Link, who focused on the Recall. Eventually, the Light Dragon transformed into Zelda to right before she swallowed her secret stone. The replacement arm also faded away and Link's original arm was returned. As Rauru and Sonia began to fade away, they thanked each other for all they had done for each other. Link, overjoyed at having his arm and Zelda back, closed his eyes as he and Zelda left the dimension.
Link awoke as he was falling from the sky. He gasped as he noticed that Zelda was also falling and still unconscious. Link dived down to Zelda as they fell and grabbed her hand like he had failed to do so when they first encountered Ganondorf. Link, embracing Zelda, safely landed into a large pond. Link carried Zelda out of the pond and stood by her until she awoke. Zelda awoke and was originally confused to see Link but she quickly realized that she was back in her time. The Master Sword spoke to Zelda, telling her that her plan had worked. Zelda realized that Ganondorf has been vanquished, which Link and the Master Sword confirmed. Zelda was ecstatic to be back home and started to tell Link everything that had happened since she vanished.
A New Era[]
Link, Zelda, Purah and the Sages went to the Great Sky Island, as Mineru had something she wished to show them. Mineru, in her spirit form, said that it was time for her to move on. By this point, Zelda had changed out of her Zonai dress she was given by Rauru and Sonia to blend in with their time, and returned to her outfit she had been wearing when first transported back to their time period.
Mineru said that the other Sages and Link were more than enough to protect Hyrule from any future threats. The Sages and Link pledged their loyalty to Zelda and vowed to protect Hyrule forever.
Mineru was glad to hear this and promised to tell Rauru and Sonia. With Mineru gone, Zelda declared a new era of Hyrule, one filled with Zonai technology, new Sages to help protect it, and of course, the man she cared about more than anyone else, Link.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment[]
Princess Zelda appears alongside Rauru, Sonia, Mineru, and the ancient Sages to do battle against Ganondorf.
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity[]
Taking place in an alternate timeline of the one in Breath of the Wild, a small Guardian named Terrako awakens during Zelda's desperate stand against the corrupted Guardians at Fort Hateno, after Link has been mortally wounded and the fort is on the verge of collapse, having been awoken when she awoke her dormant powers granted to her by the Triforce and Hylia. Upon hearing his mistress' desperate plea of "I must protect everyone...", Terrako fled into the past via a time portal it summoned before it could be destroyed by a Malice-controlled Guardian Stalker that caught it trying to escape to alter history in Hyrule's favor.
Arriving in Hyrule some time before Calamity Ganon awoke, Terrako is reunited with Zelda shortly after she emerged from the castle following her father's army being victorious against an army of Ganon's monsters in Hyrule Field, though Zelda does not recognize her old friend. Nevertheless, noticing it had something to show them, Link, Zelda, and Impa take it to Purah and Robbie, and learn of the fate of Hyrule in the future at the hands of the Great Calamity. Having been warned in advance of the threat now, Zelda sets off to recruit the Champions to pilot the Divine Beasts but finds that each one is having trouble dealing with Ganon's monsters or loyal followers like Master Kohga and the Yiga Clan. Despite Ganon's best efforts, Zelda is able to successfully recruit Mipha, Urbosa, Daruk, and Revali.
| “ | Your Highness. I bring news. It regards your impending death. | „ |
| ~ Sooga |
However, after returning to Castle Town, Zelda is ambushed by Sooga and the Yiga, along with Ganon's monsters. Though Link takes her and withdraws, leaving the Champions to fight the Yiga and monsters with her out of harm's way, the Hinox they fight was merely the decoy while Sooga went after Zelda and Link himself. When Sooga throws three kunai at her, Terrako jumps to block them and protect her, but Link arrives just in time to save both Zelda and Terrako from the kunai, forcing Sooga to call a retreat, but angering Terrako at Link stealing its thunder. Shortly thereafter, Zelda and the Champions head to Korok Forest to find the Master Sword, meeting up with the giant Korok Hestu, who offers to guide them through the forest in return for protecting him from the monsters that have appeared, along with the strange appearance of Malice, even though Calamity Ganon has not awoken yet. Reaching the grove of the Master Sword, Link and Zelda are confronted by the Prophet of Doom, Astor, a loyal follower of Calamity Ganon, who summons Hollows of the four Divine Beast Champions to attack Link.
After they destroy his standard Hyrulean Army sword and slam him against the Master Sword's pedestal, Astor orders them to kill Zelda. As the Urbosa Hollow is the first to reach Zelda and lunges her scimitar at her to skewer her through the face and head, the blade is stopped mere inches from Zelda's face as the Hollows suddenly weaken and dissolve from the powerful light emanating from the Master Sword at that exact moment. With that, Link is able to draw the Blade of Evil's Bane from its pedestal, and now armed with it, force Astor into retreat, unable to face the Master Sword's power at that moment. Meeting with the Great Deku Tree afterwards, Zelda learns from him that they have everything they need to face the Calamity now, and Hyrule's fate lies in their hands before returning to his slumber. Despite his wisdom, Zelda is feeling downcast at how much stronger Link has gotten compared to herself and is surprised when Terrako suddenly attempts to cheer her up by playing Zelda's Lullaby to her, reminding her of when he played it to lull her to sleep when she was younger.
Before she can reminisce further and realize who Terrako is, another attack from Ganon's monsters interrupts them. Nevertheless, after Link and the others fight them off, as she thinks about how much stronger Link has gotten, Urbosa, having taken notice of Zelda's uncertainty, walks up to comfort her and assure her he is still the same boy she met before he attained the Master Sword. Now at peace and reassured that Link is still the same boy and nothing will change that, Zelda feels better and thanks Urbosa for her sagely advice.
| “ | Link...He's become so much stronger. 'And yet, I have not.' I presume that's what you're thinking, hm? More and more monsters have been appearing lately. It is a sign that the Calamity draws near. So...there isn't much time. And still, no sign of my power awakening... Little bird...perhaps you are missing the point, comparing your progress to Link's. He...is the same boy he was before acquiring that sword. He will rise to...any challenge with no hesitation. That's all there is to it. In that regard, you two are one and the same. Look how hard you've worked to get this far. Well, I...you see, I... What did the Great Deku Tree say? There's no need to fret, Princess. I know...that you are where you need to be. You must accept that too. Thank you, Urbosa. |
„ |
| ~ Urbosa giving Zelda a much needed pep talk |
Once back in Castle Town, the Champions are officially coronated and given their Champion attire, however, shortly after that happens, Zelda is back to doing her Sheikah research, much to King Rhoam's frustration. Nevertheless, after Terrako tries to ease the King's temper at Zelda, Zelda gives her father a Sheikah disc that she had been researching with her mother, the Queen of Hyrule, before her passing. This causes Rhoam to soften and allow Zelda to continue her research, but remember her duty to awaken her sealing power is still priority one above all else. Link, Zelda, and Urbosa then head to Akkala Citadel to activate the Sheikah Tower there following Link causing the rest of them to rise from the Central Tower with the Sheikah Slate following Purah's advice, but find the Citadel having been captured before they arrived by Sooga and the Yiga to prevent usage of the tower due to the threat it posed to finding the Yiga's main stronghold. Terrako helps get past many of the Yiga's makeshift barricades by activating the dormant Guardian Stalkers to remove them, including one inside the Citadel, forcing the Yiga to open the main gate to flee from it in terror. Despite heavy resistance from the Yiga and Ganon's monsters, including Sooga and a Blue-Maned Lynel, Sooga is defeated and forced to order a full retreat, returning control of the Citadel and its Sheikah Tower to Hyrule.
After a successful hunt for the Yiga Clan's hideout using the Towers and attacking them there with support from Urbosa in Vah Naboris, forcing Kohga and Sooga into retreat, Impa reports to King Rhoam that Calamity Ganon will awaken on Zelda's 17th birthday, the day she will be allowed to climb Mount Lanayru to access the Spring of Wisdom. With time not on their side, Rhoam sends Zelda to train at the Spring of Courage while he has Castle Town and the surrounding area evacuated of civilians and soldiers, thus minimizing casualties from the Guardians when they turn against Hyrule thanks to Ganon's Malice, and reinforcing the garrisons at Akkala Citadel and Fort Hateno, strengthening them to ensure they won't fall to Ganon's forces as if they fall, Hyrule is sure to capitulate.
After changing into her ceremonial white dress and sandals, Zelda heads to the spring. Despite her best efforts at the Spring of Courage, Zelda is unable to awaken her dormant powers, and the spring is attacked by Ganon's monsters as well, but Zelda, Impa, and Link are able to fight them off. As she then prepares to leave for the Spring of Wisdom, saying goodbye to her father before departing, her departure is interrupted when Terrako comes scurrying up in a panic with the Sheikah Slate. Before she and Impa can look at what new info Robbie and Purah found, Calamity Ganon awakens and engulfs the castle. Fighting to find her father, as Zelda and Link attempt to escape later, they are confronted by one of the corrupted Guardian Stalkers.
As it locks on and begins lazing them to fire its eye laser, it is suddenly stunned from behind by King Rhoam himself when he strikes it with his claymore. He immediately orders Zelda to run for it, but when Link is about to draw the Master Sword to assist, Rhoam reminds him that his duty is to protect the Princess, not the King. Understanding the King's orders, Link keeps the Master Sword holstered and grabs Zelda to flee while the King and his elite guard stay behind to buy them time to escape. As Rhoam and his men are surrounded by two more Guardian Stalkers as the stunned one recovers and glares at the King, Link and Zelda hear them acquire target lock and fire, presumably killing the King of Hyrule and his elite guard, leaving Zelda to look back horrified as Hyrule Castle is engulfed in Ganon's swirling vortex of Malice.
Once a safe distance from the castle, as Zelda watches as Ganon manifests above the castle and roars, Impa shows Zelda the Sheikah Slate and pictures of the Divine Beasts, tainted with Ganon's Malice, meaning they have fallen to Ganon, and Urbosa and the other Champions have been slaughtered. Collapsing to her knees in guilt and grief, Zelda blames herself for what's happened, asking in frustration why her dormant powers won't awaken when they are needed the most. Seeing her upset, Terrako attempts to comfort her with Zelda's Lullaby again, but it is not until one of Zelda's tears falls on Terrako's eye that he suddenly lights up, startling Zelda out of her crying as he plays the same tune to open another time portal that splits into four different ones that take off in different directions.
After it happens, Zelda stares at Terrako in shock, who can only whistle in puzzlement, before hearing the screech of Divine Beast Vah Medoh. Zelda sees that, despite Malice bleeding from the wings, Vah Medoh's circuitry still glows blue, indicating that Revali is holding on and is still alive, meaning there is still a chance to save the Champions and keep the Divine Beasts under Hyrulean control. With that and the Champions' lives on the line, Zelda takes off after Impa, Link, and Terrako to save the Divine Beasts from becoming Ganon's pawns.
Terrako had summoned Prince Sidon, Yunobo, Teba, and Riju from the Breath of the Wild timeline to this one to save the Champions and prevent the Divine Beasts from falling under Calamity Ganon's control. Thanks to their efforts in holding off the Blight Ganons until Zelda and Link arrived to help, the Blights are slain, and the Champions are saved from their gruesome fates, grateful to Zelda and Link for coming to their aid. With the Divine Beasts still under Hyrule's command, the tide begins to turn against Ganon. It is only later, after remembering how Sidon showed up to save Mipha in Vah Ruta, Zelda realizes that Terrako was responsible for calling the future Champions to the past to help alter Hyrule's fate for the better. Following that, Zelda decides the next stop is to save Akkala Citadel, which was under siege by Ganon's monsters and corrupted Guardians.
Despite the reinforced garrison of more troops thanks to King Rhoam's earlier precautions, the Citadel is under heavy siege, with Robbie having taken refuge there after fleeing the Yiga at the Science Academy. Luckily, Vah Ruta arrives to help, and Vah Rudania shortly later, and the aid of two Divine Beasts and their pilots of the present and future sees to the full retreat of Ganon's forces from the Citadel, saving it from further threat. From there, Zelda and her allies head to Fort Hateno, which was already heavily besieged and on the verge of collapse from Ganon's forces. As if to make things worse, Astor arrives with resurrected Blight Ganons to deal with Zelda himself. Link stays back to fight a four-on-one battle with the Blights while Zelda and Impa flee to help the fort. However, after apparently losing her father, Zelda can't bear seeing Link being killed by the Blights, and breaking free from Impa, she rushes back to help him.
As she reaches out for him and calls his name, her holy power from the Triforce and Hylia finally awakens, stunning the Blights and purging the Malice from the corrupted Guardians, much to her surprise and Astor's horror. With her holy power having awoken at last, Zelda is able to help kill the Blights and save Fort Hateno, and Purah is able to activate a failsafe that shuts down and destroys most of the corrupted Guardians, crippling Ganon's forces beyond repair and stunting his assault on Hyrule. With Ganon forced to recall his remaining Guardians and monsters back to defend what territory they still possessed, Zelda rallies the surviving members of the Hyrulean Army at Fort Hateno under her command, raising their morale, and prepares to launch their counterattack.
However, drawn away by a Hyrulean soldier, Zelda and Impa wonder what he wants, before the soldier reveals himself to be Master Kohga in disguise. Although Impa moves to fight her traitorous Yiga brethren, Kohga bends down on his knees and plans his face against the ground, subjugating and surrendering himself to Zelda, showing that he needs her help. Having been betrayed by Astor and lost many of his Yiga clansmen to him to revive the Blights, Kohga now asks for Zelda's help to avenge his clansmen, having the surviving Yiga rejoin Impa and the Sheikah and join the Hyrulean coalition. With the support of Kohga and his men, Zelda learns of a detachment of Hyrule forces defending the Great Plateau with great fervor. When her forces manage to reach the Temple of Time and she enters to see who was leading the defense, to her her shock, it is King Rhoam himself, her father.
Rhoam reveals that when the Guardians were about to kill him and his Royal Guard, the disc Zelda gave him earlier reacted, and he held it up, deploying a Guardian Shield that reflected the lasers back at the Guardian Stalkers, stunning the corrupted automatons, and buying the King valuable time to have himself and his Royal Guard retreat to the Great Plateau to regroup. Apologizing to his daughter for his earlier behavior, as Rhoam calls Zelda "the light and hope of Hyrule", the touching moment is so powerful that not even Kohga and his Yiga can resist crying at the heartwarming sight, causing them to have a moment of reconsidering their hatred against the Royal Family for their past transgressions. With the Commander-in-Chief still alive and able to lead, Rhoam orders all his forces to regroup in Hyrule Field for the final push to take back their homeland from Ganon.
Once Rhoam and Zelda gather their forces in Hyrule Field, Purah activates the Sheikah Towers to summon the Gorons, Rito, Gerudo, and Zoras to join their Hyrulean and Sheikah allies, along with the Divine Beasts and their pilots of the present and future. With the army gathered, Rhoam hands command to Zelda, who offers a stirring speech to rally the troops, before turning to look at Hyrule Castle, surrounded in the maelstrom of Calamity Ganon's Malice, and gives the order to attack. Despite their initial advance with clearing out the monsters defending Ganon's barrier so the Divine Beasts can open fire on Ganon directly, Ganon summons his Blood Moon, allowing his power to reach its zenith, and revive his fallen minions to reinforce the barrier, to Zelda's horror when she sees it.
After taking out the monsters again, the Champions, Zelda, Rhoam, and the others charge into the courtyard, only to be met by Astor and Harbinger Ganon, ready to defend their master, with Astor apparently on the verge of a psychotic breakdown from how the Hyrulean forces have gotten this far and defied Ganon's will and destiny to conquer Hyrule, while Zelda is shocked to see that Harbinger Ganon looks just like Terrako, indicating that Harbinger Ganon was that timeline's Terrako corrupted by Ganon's Malice and happened to be the true culprit behind the attacks on Rito Village.
After defeating Harbinger Ganon and Astor, Astor completely loses it and orders Ganon to devour the heroes but fed up with Astor's failures one time too many, and as Sooga had warned Astor earlier, Ganon was no one's servant, Ganon absorbs Astor, destroying Harbinger Ganon, and gaining a complete, and perfected form, that he was unable to attain in the Breath of the Wild timeline. Roaring in triumph, Ganon unleashes a surge of Malice, and some of it hits Terrako, who despite his attempts to fight off the Malice's influence, falls victim to it and turns on Zelda and Link, forcing them to fight him until he is critically damaged, but purged of the Malice. Horrified at what happened to him, Zelda finally remembers Terrako from her childhood, and how Terrako comforted her after her mother, the Queen of Hyrule, passed away, before Rhoam confiscated him, despite Zelda's desperate pleas not to, only for Rhoam to sadly apologize as he needed her to focus on the prophecy of Calamity Ganon's return and unlock her dormant powers. After finally remembering him, Zelda is filled with a burning passion of hatred and fury towards Calamity Ganon. Now, it was personal.
| “ | Calamity Ganon...For the sake of Hyrule, for all those harmed or slain, for our future...This is where you fall! | „ |
| ~ Princess Zelda |
Fighting past the elite of Ganon's monsters and corrupted Guardians still under his command, they reach Calamity Ganon, but he proves invulnerable to their strikes. When he tries to attack himself, Link protects Zelda from being crushed by a large slab of the ceiling when Ganon brings it down, and Zelda returns the favor by blocking Ganon's strike with her holy light. As she repeats the same line Terrako heard her say during her desperate attempt to protect Link during the fall of Fort Hateno in the original timeline, but this time in confidence and not desperation to protect Link, her father, the Champions, and all of Hyrule from Ganon, Terrako is able to find some amount of strength left to limp, walk, and then run into the castle citadel and hurl himself at Calamity Ganon before activating his self-destruct in Ganon's face, destroying Terrako, but shattering Ganon's defenses, leaving him vulnerable to conventional attacks.
Thanks to Terrako's heroic sacrifice, Zelda and the others seize the moment and attack Ganon with everything they've got. Once he is weakened enough, Link delivers the finisher with cleaving Ganon in two vertically with the Master Sword, before Zelda summons her holy light to seal him away once and for all. Although Ganon tries to stop her, his punch to try and take her out is easily blocked by her shield of divine light from Hylia and the Triforce, and Ganon is soon engulfed in that divine power.
Sometime later, Hyrule is at peace. Ganon has been defeated and sealed away forever, and the Great Calamity is over. As Link, Zelda, and the Champions gather on the balcony of Hyrule Castle to see their land free of Ganon's Malice, the Ancient Screw that Zelda recovered following Terrako's sacrifice glows, as do the future Champions. With Ganon's threat gone and Hyrule safe, it was time for the future Champions to return to their own timeline, and Terrako, despite being gone, was granting one last favor with sending them home. After the future Champions are returned to their timeline, Zelda and the others look out over a Hyrule that will not fall into ruin thanks to Ganon, and it was all thanks to Terrako.
Shortly thereafter, they manage to recover Terrako's pieces to try and rebuild him. Once Robbie and Purah finish, everyone notices that Terrako doesn't seem to be responding, despite all their efforts to restore him. Only when Zelda tries to look into his eye does Terrako, upon recognizing her, fully reactivates, much to everyone's relief and happiness, while Zelda takes Terrako in her arms, gives him a loving hug, and welcomes him home. Terrako, unaware that Zelda was crying tears of joy and not sadness, begins playing Zelda's Lullaby for her, much to her happiness and amusement.