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--- lb:zelda [2025-08-13 18:50:50] – ninjasr
+++ lb:zelda [2026-02-11 19:48:15] (current) – [The Legend of Zelda] ninjasr
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ====== The Legend of Zelda ======
+<div subtitle>
+{{tag>games manga speculah}}
+</div>
 {{ img:b:r:zelda.png?460 }}
-**ゼルダの{{ruby|伝説|でんせつ}}**(The Legend of Zelda) is a [[lb:games|game]] franchise by [[lb:Nintendo]] mostly made up of Action-RPGs with basically the same story every time.
+<span denote :ja>**ゼルダの{{ruby|伝説|でんせつ}}**</span>(The Legend of Zelda) is a [[lb:games|game]] franchise by [[lb:Nintendo]] mostly made up of Action-RPGs with //basically// the same story every time.
-I'd consider //Zelda// to be among my favorites, though it's a bit of a stranger one, since I haven't personally experienced a lot of it.
+I'd consider <cite>Zelda</cite> to be among my favorites, though it's a bit of a stranger one, since I haven't personally experienced a lot of it.
-{{tag>games manga speculah}}
 ===== Reviews =====
 ==== In General ====
-Most of my understanding of //Zelda// comes from YouTube videos and the little I bothered to go thru myself. Thus, it could be said that my relationship with it is a bit strange as compared to something like [[lb:warcraft]] or [[lb:bionicle]].\\
+<div passage>
+Most of my understanding of <cite>Zelda</cite> comes from YouTube videos and the little I bothered to go thru myself. Thus, it could be said that my relationship with it is a bit strange as compared to something like [[lb:warcraft]] or [[lb:bionicle]].
 Buuut...that's not gonna stop me from talking about it.
+</div>
-The franchise is interesting in general because, to me, there is some interesting story/worldbuilding that makes it stand out...but it also repeats itself a lot. And I don't think that's a bad thing, necessarily, though it might be overdone. Obviously, the main appeal is gameplay, though I can’t comment on that much seeing as how I haven't played much of the franchise.
+The franchise is interesting in general because, to me, there is some interesting story/world-building that makes it stand out...but it also repeats itself a lot. And I don't think that's a bad thing, necessarily, though it might be overdone. Obviously, the main appeal is gameplay, though I can’t comment on that much seeing as how I haven't played much of the franchise.
 One thing I'm convinced of is that the timeline just...doesn't work. You can read about that in [[#Canon]].
@@ Line 16: / Line 21: @@
 Because I'm always a little more interested in story, I ended up reading the manga adaptations of a lot of the games...and it's an //interesting// experience.
-//In general//, I think I'd say the manga are kinda average or mediocre. Some exceptions include the 4コマ and //Twilight Princess//. //Twilight Princess//’ manga story might be (read: almost certainly is) better than the game's. But I can’t really remember the rest.
+//In general//, I think I'd say the manga are kinda average or mediocre. Some exceptions include the 4コマ and <cite>Twilight Princess</cite>. <cite>Twilight Princess</cite>’ manga story might be (read: almost certainly is) better than the game's. But I can’t really remember the rest.
-They generally showcase a Link who talks and has more of a backbone, which is kinda interesting.
+They generally showcase a <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> who talks and has more of a backbone, which is kinda interesting.
-Considering I started to re-read the manga, I may have more to say soon (Ocarina of Time, added just now, is the first step here).
+Considering I started to re-read the manga, I may have more to say soon (<cite>Ocarina of Time</cite>, added just now, is the first step here).
 === Ocarina of Time ===
+<div rating>
+<div star>★</div>
+<div star>★</div>
+<div star>★</div>
+<div star disabled>★</div>
+<div star disabled>★</div>
+</div>
 I re-read this recently and, thus, comes this.
-The Ocarina of Time manga is split into two main arcs: Child and Adult. So, unlike in the game, Link doesn't go back and forth between time periods.\\
+<div passage>
+The <cite>Ocarina of Time</cite> manga is split into two main arcs: Child and Adult. So, unlike in the game, <span [data-type=character]><dfn>Link</dfn></span> doesn't go back and forth between time periods.
 And, of those, the Child Arc is better. Things just kinda...happen in the Adult Arc and we bounce between locations in an illogical manner. In the Child Arc, meanwhile, events usually connect to each-other. There's a logical cause and effect here.
+</div>
 The sages thing is just...dumb, here. I dunno exactly what the issue is, but I thought it just wasn't great.
-The artwork is //very good// and the writing/dialog tends to be fine as well. Actually, Navi has an actual character (though it's not like I can compare directly) and, thus, she's actually kinda nice. You actually understand why Link likes her. The bonus story is pretty great too – especially in regards to Link and Navi.\\
+<div passage>
-However, this has the inexplicable departure of Navi make a bit less sense here than in the game.((:fn:>Assuming my read on the game is correct, where Navi is a bit more aloof/robotic than in the manga, where she seems much warmer.)) Though we don't know why she left in the first place.
+The artwork is //very good// and the writing/dialog tends to be fine as well. Actually, <span [data-type=character]><dfn>Navi</dfn></span> has an actual character (though it's not like I can compare directly) and, thus, she's actually kinda nice. You actually understand why <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> likes her. The bonus story is pretty great too – especially in regards to <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> and <span [data-type=character]>Navi</span>.
+However, this has the inexplicable departure of <span [data-type=character]>Navi</span> make a bit less sense here than in the game.((:fn:>Assuming my read on the game is correct, where <span [data-type=character]>Navi</span> is a bit more aloof/robotic than in the manga, where she seems much warmer.)) Though we don't know why she left in the first place.
+</div>
-Some changes, as compared to the game are: Link and Zelda clearly like each-other, which sorta adds to the tragedy of Link being sent back; Link talks and he talks a lot; the Deku shield was crafted from the Deku Tree instead of being bought; that's all I know for now, as I need to play the game first.
+Some changes, as compared to the game are: <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> and <span [data-type=character]><dfn>Zelda</dfn></span> clearly like each-other, which sorta adds to the tragedy of <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> being sent back; <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> talks and he talks a lot; the <dfn>Deku shield</dfn> was crafted from the <span [data-type=character]><dfn>Deku Tree</dfn></span> instead of being bought; that's all I know for now, as I need to play the game first.
 But that Adult Arc made me remember why I thought it was kinda mediocre. I think that if the manga were longer (maybe 1.5 or 2x longer), it would have been vastly improved. Though that probably wasn't possible.
+=== Majora's Mask ===
+<div rating>
+<div star>★</div>
+<div star>★</div>
+<div star>★</div>
+<div star disabled>★</div>
+<div star disabled>★</div>
+</div>
+The manga this time is about the same quality as <cite>Ocarina of Time</cite>. Though I //believe// that it's shorter than the last one – which is relevant because the story does feel overly condensed as compared to <cite>Ocarina of Time</cite>.
+I don't have much to say beyond that, honestly. I might later if I remember anything.
+Oh, right. There was a bonus story which offers a very mythical origin for <dfn>Majora's Mask</dfn>. I believe it was created //before// the game came out which is probably why it's so light on details. I think it's interesting, but I wasn't particularly impressed.
+=== A Link to the Past ===
+<div rating>
+<div star>★</div>
+<div star>★</div>
+<div star disabled>★</div>
+<div star disabled>★</div>
+<div star disabled>★</div>
+</div>
+I finished it and, honestly, I think this is the worst one so far. Actually, <cite>Majora's Mask</cite> (or perhaps <cite>Ocarina of Time</cite>) started a trend that will plague all the manga: they're too short.
+Generally, all of the manga would be improved by having more time in-between events. But since they're so short, they have to condense the story //a lot//. It just so happens that the manga this time around is //very obviously// condensed.
+There's plenty of stuff in here that //is// interesting, but the short length means that we never really explore it (like the <span [data-type=character]>main villain</span> having a connection to <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> and Link's parents being involved).
+Also, unlike with the <span [data-type=character]>Hero of Time</span>, the <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> this time around doesn't have an obvious romantic connection with <span [data-type=character]>Zelda</span>. They //do// like each-other, but I get the impression <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> doesn't really see the situation in that way. Which is fitting because <span [data-type=character]>bandit waifu</span>.
 ==== The Phantom Hourglass ====
-This is the first //Zelda// game I played and was my introduction to it in general. As a kid I...didn't finish it and, to this day, it remains unfinished. Some action bits were too difficult for me.
+This is the first <cite>Zelda</cite> game I played and was my introduction to it in general. As a kid I...didn't finish it and, to this day, it remains unfinished. Some action bits were too difficult for me.
 It still holds a special place in my heart.
 ==== Twilight Princess ====
-This is, I believe, the second //Zelda// game that I've ever played. Though //Minish Cap// is the third.
+This is, I believe, the second <cite>Zelda</cite> game that I've ever played.((:fn:>I remembered recently that I actually played <cite>Majora's Mask</cite> emulated very very briefly before I ever touched <cite>Twilight Princess</cite>.)) Though <cite>Minish Cap</cite> is the third.
 I started playing it after reading the manga and getting annoyed that the translation just kinda stopped.((:fn:>I think that, at the time, the English translation was unfinished. I haven't checked whether it's finished yet.)) So I decided to play the game because I found the story very interesting.
@@ Line 46: / Line 92: @@
 Imagine my surprise upon learning the story was...quite different.
-Here I'll note that my experience with //Twilight Princess// was mostly neutral until it became negative. I found the gameplay very repetitive and the story not very good, though I don't remember any specifics. The only thing I've found that I wrote about the game is that I thought it was “too easy”.
+Here I'll note that my experience with <cite>Twilight Princess</cite> was mostly neutral until it became negative. I found the gameplay very repetitive and the story not very good, though I don't remember any specifics. The only thing I've found that I wrote about the game is that I thought it was <q :en>too easy</q>.
 But I am certain the story in the manga adaptation is actually better than the game.((:fn:>I decided to check on it and it turns out that the manga adaptation is a lot stranger than I initially thought it was. It not only post-dates the game by a few years, but continued until 2021...possibly for a bit longer, though I'll need to do more digging.))
 ==== The Cartoon ====
-Yes, I watched the cartoon. Arguably, it's the second piece of //Zelda// media that I actually went thru and, unlike Phantom Hourglass, I actually finished this.
+Yes, I watched the cartoon. Arguably, it's the second piece of <cite>Zelda</cite> media that I actually went thru and, unlike <cite>Phantom Hourglass</cite>, I actually finished this.
-It's okay, though not very good. **Zelda's hot**. That's //all// that you need to know.
+It's okay, though not very good. **<span [data-type=character]>Zelda</span>'s hot**. That's //all// that you need to know.
 ===== Speculah & Analysis =====
 ==== Canon ====
-Here I'll mention something again that I really should just make an article on: the Japanese approach to canon. Namely, the Japanese don't really //recognize// the concept. At least not in the Western sense.\\
+<div passage>
+Here I'll mention something again that I really should just make an article on: the Japanese approach to canon. Namely, the Japanese don't really //recognize// the concept. At least not in the Western sense.
 As far as I can tell, they mostly categorize entries in a franchise on whether or not they're official...and that's it. Everything else is mostly up to individual interpretation. Whether you want to ignore a part of the franchise or not is up to you.
+</div>
-And this may explain why Zelda's continuity is so weird: //nobody ever considered continuity to even exist//.
+And this may explain why <cite>Zelda</cite>'s continuity is so weird: //nobody ever considered continuity to even exist//.
 **But!** And this is important to note: they still did sequels and prequels and usually connected new games to past games...just that the approach they took to this is a bit different from how most do.
@@ Line 64: / Line 113: @@
 Rather than fitting everything into one big timeline, it makes a lot more sense to think in terms of **starting points** and direct connections.
-What do I mean? Let's take //Ocarina of Time// as an example. //Ocarina of Time// leads to three separate timelines as it's where the split occurs.\\
+<div passage>
+What do I mean? Let's take <cite>Ocarina of Time</cite> as an example. <cite>Ocarina of Time</cite> leads to three separate timelines as it's where the split occurs.
 In a //starting point// sense, its continuities would be:
-  * //Majora's Mask//.
+  * <cite>Majora's Mask</cite>.
-  * //Wind Waker//.
+  * <cite>Wind Waker</cite>.
-  * //Twilight Princess//.
+  * <cite>Twilight Princess</cite>.
-All three of those games use //Ocarina of Time// as a jumping-off-point, but ultimately go in very different directions. And that's mostly how all the games treat continuity.
+All three of those games use <cite>Ocarina of Time</cite> as a jumping-off-point, but ultimately go in very different directions. And that's mostly how all the games treat continuity.
+</div>
-//Link to the Past// uses the original //Legend of Zelda// as its starting point. //Oracle of Ages/Seasons// and //Link's Awakening// then both use //Link to the Past//.\\
+<div passage>
-Along similar lines, //Zelda II: The Adventures of Link// uses the original as a starting point as well, but takes it in a different direction.
+<cite>Link to the Past</cite> uses the original <cite>Legend of Zelda</cite> as its starting point. <cite>Oracle of Ages</cite>/<cite>Seasons</cite> and <cite>Link's Awakening</cite> then both use <cite>Link to the Past</cite>.
-//Phantom Hourglass// uses //Wind Waker// and //Spirit Tracks// uses //Phantom Hourglass// in turn. //Wind Waker// used //Ocarina of Time//, just like //Twilight Princess//, but they otherwise are disconnected.
+Along similar lines, <cite>Zelda II: The Adventures of Link</cite> uses the original as a starting point as well, but takes it in a different direction.
+</div>
-And this also explains why some things aren't shared between timelines. Logically, the Twilight Realm exists in both //Wind Waker//’s and //Link to the Past//’s timeline...right? But it never shows up in either of those. That's because it //doesn't actually exist// in those continuities.\\
+<cite>Phantom Hourglass</cite> uses <cite>Wind Waker</cite> and <cite>Spirit Tracks</cite> uses <cite>Phantom Hourglass</cite> in turn. <cite>Wind Waker</cite> used <cite>Ocarina of Time</cite>, just like <cite>Twilight Princess</cite>, but they are otherwise disconnected.
-Why is it that //Skyward Sword// Link has a hat when //The Minish Cap// established that //that// Link got the hat? Because //The Minish Cap// and //Skyward Sword// don't exist in the same continuity.
+<div passage>
+And this also explains why some things aren't shared between timelines. Logically, the <span [data-type=location]><dfn>Twilight Realm</dfn></span> exists in both <cite>Wind Waker</cite>’s and <cite>Link to the Past</cite>’s timeline...right? But it never shows up in either of those. That's because it //doesn't actually exist// in those continuities.
+Why is it that <cite>Skyward Sword</cite> <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> has a hat when <cite>The Minish Cap</cite> established that //that// <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> got the hat? Because <cite>The Minish Cap</cite> and <cite>Skyward Sword</cite> don't exist in the same continuity.
+</div>
 Honestly, I don't mind this approach: I just wish that people didn't try to cram it all into one timeline. Or Nintendo attempting the same thing.
+==== How many Links are related to each-other? ====
+I'm making this section just to quickly jot down a thought I had: how many of the Links in <cite>Zelda</cite> are relatives?
+<div passage>
+So far, I think that the only definitive connection is between the <span [data-type=character]><abbr "Ocarina of Time">Hero of Time</abbr></span> and the <span [data-type=character]><abbr "Twilight Princess">Hero of Twilight</abbr></span>...the latter being descended from the former.
+The <span [data-type=character]>Hero of Twilight</span> may also be related to <span [data-type=character]>Zelda</span> from <cite>Twilight Princess</cite>. Though this is speculative and you should read [[#whodidtheherooftimehavekidswith|the section below]].
+</div>
+I think that, maybe, the <span [data-type=character]><abbr "A Link to the Past">Hero of Hyrule</abbr></span> is related to the <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> from the first game, though that's a guess on my part.
+Oh, right: the <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> from <cite>Spirit Tracks</cite> is definitely related to the <span [data-type=character]><abbr "Wind Waker">Hero of Winds</abbr></span> //and// <span [data-type=character]>Tetra</span>. Which, yes, means that that <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> is also related to <span [data-type=character]>Zelda</span>.
 ==== Hylian Language Project ====
-There was a fan-made Hylian language at some point, which I learned of from [[https://zelda.fandom.com/wiki/Community:Hylian_Language_Project|here]]. I'm mentioning it just because, though I wouldn't call it especially notable.
+There was a fan-made <dfn>Hylian</dfn> language at some point, which I learned of from [[https://zelda.fandom.com/wiki/Community:Hylian_Language_Project|here]]. I'm mentioning it just because, though I wouldn't call it especially notable.
 If there's gonna be a Hylian Language Project, I'll just do it myself.
 ==== Is Link ‘Link’ and is he Green? ====
-This is an idea that I had at some point, but there's no evidence to suggest that Link is actually called Link in most games (as far as I know)...and, well, that's not that interesting. You name him, so obviously his name isn't Link. Sometimes.
+This is an idea that I had at some point, but there's no evidence to suggest that <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> is actually called Link in most games (as far as I know)...and, well, that's not that interesting. You name him, so obviously his name isn't Link. Sometimes.
-But where it gets weird is the green tunic: in actuality, Link probably doesn't wear green most of the time. Now, this assumption is based on the assumption that the games are not accurate portrayals of what //actually// happens, but rather representations. The games mostly follow the story that happened, but make adjustments for one reason or another.
+But where it gets weird is the green tunic: in actuality, <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> probably doesn't wear green most of the time. Now, this assumption is based on the assumption that the games are not accurate portrayals of what //actually// happens, but rather representations. The games mostly follow the story that happened, but make adjustments for one reason or another.
 There is little evidence to suggest this, so consider it a crack theory.
+=== Evil Hero & Donning the Hero's garb ===
+One aspect of the overall Legend that raises questions is why nobody really recognizes <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> as a hero despite him looking like the Heroes of legend. I mean: he's wearing green clothes in basically every game and many of the games have those other games as backstories. Additionally, it //is// confirmed that there are other heroes outside of the games...so the green clothing should be a telltale sign that <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> is a hero.
+Along that line of thinking...what if somebody dons the hero's green clothes because they //want// to be a hero or wish to be //perceived// as a hero...but then end up bad? This is just a natural twist you could apply to the story, though I doubt Nintendo would ever.
+==== Is the Triforce hereditary? ====
+<div passage>
+An issue I may have identified has to do with the <dfn>Triforce</dfn>. There is //some// evidence to suggest that //some// characters end up gaining the Triforce due to being related to someone who previously earned it.
+I think that this applies to the <span [data-type=character]>Hero of Twilight</span> (who inherits it from the <span [data-type=character]>Hero of Time</span>, his ancestor) and <span [data-type=character]><dfn>Tetra</dfn></span> (who inherits it from <span [data-type=character]>Ocarina!Zelda</span>).
+</div>
+This raises not-great questions surrounding the Triforce. I may elaborate later.
 ==== The Prequel Problem ====
 I'm titling the section like this because it's catchy.
-An issue that the Zelda franchise suffers from is the frequency of prequels. There are //a lot// of prequels...in fact, let me list them:
+<div passage>
-  * A Link to the Past (Prequel to Zeldas I & II)
+An issue that the <cite>Zelda</cite> franchise suffers from is the frequency of prequels. There are //a lot// of prequels...in fact, let me list them:
-  * Ocarina of Time (Prequel to A Link to the Past)
+  * <cite>A Link to the Past</cite> (Prequel to <cite>Zeldas I</cite> & <cite>II</cite>)
-  * Oracle of Seasons & Oracle of Ages (Prequel to Link's Awakening)((:fn:>Something notable here is that, at some point, Link's Awakening was placed //after// the events of the Oracle games. This makes zero sense as those games end with Link departing by boat which is where he ends up at the start of Link's Awakening. This ‘new’ timeline order is the one presented on the Zelda Wiki. But note that the Hyrule Historia timeline (which you see everywhere) is the original (and correct) order.))
+  * <cite>Ocarina of Time</cite> (Prequel to <cite>A Link to the Past</cite>)
-  * The Minish Cap (Prequel to the whole series)
+  * <cite>Oracle of Seasons</cite> & <cite>Oracle of Ages</cite> (Prequel to <cite>Link's Awakening</cite>)((:fn:>Something notable here is that, at some point, <cite>Link's Awakening</cite> was placed //after// the events of the <cite>Oracle</cite> games. This makes zero sense as those games end with <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> departing by boat which is where he ends up at the start of <cite>Link's Awakening</cite>. This ‘new’ timeline order is the one presented on the Zelda Wiki. But note that the Hyrule Historia timeline (which you see everywhere) is the original (and correct) order.))
-  * Skyward Sword (Prequel to the whole series)
+  * <cite>The Minish Cap</cite> (Prequel to the whole series)
-While this doesn't seem like a big deal, there's a bit of a domino effect caused by so many prequels. One issue is that each prequel sorta kinda (but not always) positions itself as revealing some important truth relevant to the timeline/story as a whole (with the exception of the Oracle Games).\\
+  * <cite>Skyward Sword</cite> (Prequel to the whole series)
-I'm not actually sure about A Link to the Past, so let's just move on for now...\\
+While this doesn't seem like a big deal, there's a bit of a domino effect caused by so many prequels. One issue is that each prequel sorta kinda (but not always) positions itself as revealing some important truth relevant to the timeline/story as a whole (with the exception of the <cite>Oracle</cite> Games).
-Ocarina of Time attempts to explain where Link got his iconic green clothes (he grew up among the Kokiri in the forest ), how Ganondorf became a thing and...that's all I'm sure of for now.\\
-The Minish Cap explains where Link got his green hat and why the heroes following him have worn it since.\\
-Skyward Sword tries the same thing as Ocarina of Time, but taken to the extreme and tries to be the definitive prequel. It explains where //Zelda//, //Link// and //Ganon// come from and why the same events seem to happen over and over again. It explains the origin of Hyrule and the Master Sword.
-There are several issues with constantly doing prequels – one being diminishing returns as, at some point, the past becomes uninteresting when we //could// have been moving forward instead – but one aspect is that it raises questions about the worldbuilding. This is a point made by matthewmatosis in his Skyward Sword review, where he points out that it //can’t// be the ultimate definitive sequel for the simple fact Link is still exploring ancient ruins in that game. Somebody must have built those ruins before they were abandoned.\\
+I'm not actually sure about <cite>A Link to the Past</cite>, so let's just move on for now...
-This point applies to the series as a whole, too...like, who built the ruins and why are they now abandoned?\\
-At a certain point you'll end up going so far back in time that there's no way you can take the worldbuilding seriously...though I think that this stage had been hit with Skyward Sword. The Minish Cap is debatable.((:fn:>Which is something I say because I get the feeling it leans more into that “Different variations of the same legend” idea than other games. This is just a ‘vibe’ I get from it though. If we run with that legend assumption, The Minish Cap is almost like the type of myth/legend that exists to help explain all the other legends...just that we're seeing them explaining the hat instead of why there are multiple Links.))
-One other issue with these prequels is that they end up undermining each-other. Zelda II introduced ‘Zelda I’ as the explanation behind all the girls in the Hyrulean royal family being named ‘Zelda’. But thanks to...//every game set before Zelda II//...that explanation makes no sense. You could excuse it with Link to the Past (if the Zelda there //really// pre-dates Zelda I) as one of the few Zeldas prior...but there is functionally no difference between “Zelda is just a popular name in the royal family~” and “All the girls are legally to be named ‘Zelda’.”
+<cite>Ocarina of Time</cite> attempts to explain where <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> got his iconic green clothes (he grew up among the <dfn>Kokiri</dfn> in the forest ), how <span [data-type=character]><dfn>Ganondorf</dfn></span> became a thing and...that's all I'm sure of for now.
+<cite>The Minish Cap</cite> explains where <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> got his green hat and why the heroes following him have worn it since.
+<cite>Skyward Sword</cite> tries the same thing as <cite>Ocarina of Time</cite>, but taken to the extreme and tries to be the definitive prequel. It explains where //<span [data-type=character]>Zelda</span>//, //<span [data-type=character]>Link</span>// and //<span [data-type=character]><dfn>Ganon</dfn></span>// come from and why the same events seem to happen over and over again. It explains the origin of <span [data-type=location]><dfn>Hyrule</dfn></span> and the Master Sword.
+</div>
+----
+<div passage>
+There are several issues with constantly doing prequels – one being diminishing returns as, at some point, the past becomes uninteresting when we //could// have been moving forward instead – but one aspect is that it raises questions about the world-building. This is a point made by [[lb:matthewmatosis]] in his <cite>Skyward Sword</cite> review, where he points out that it //can’t// be the ultimate definitive prequel for the simple fact <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> is still exploring ancient ruins in that game. Somebody must have built those ruins before they were abandoned.
+This point applies to the series as a whole, too...like, who built the ruins and why are they now abandoned?
+At a certain point you'll end up going so far back in time that there's no way you can take the world-building seriously...though I think that this stage had been hit with <cite>Skyward Sword</cite>. <cite>The Minish Cap</cite> is debatable.((:fn:>Which is something I say because I get the feeling it leans more into that “Different variations of the same legend” idea than other games. This is just a ‘vibe’ I get from it though. If we run with that legend assumption, The <cite>Minish Cap</cite> is almost like the type of myth/legend that exists to help explain all the other legends...just that we're seeing them explaining the hat instead of why there are multiple Links.))
+</div>
+----
+One other issue with these prequels is that they end up undermining each-other. <cite>Zelda II</cite> introduced ‘<span [data-type=character]>Zelda I</span>’ as the explanation behind all the girls in the Hyrulean royal family being named ‘Zelda’. But thanks to...//every game set before <cite>Zelda II</cite>//...that explanation makes no sense. You could excuse it with <cite>Link to the Past</cite> (if the <span [data-type=character]>Zelda</span> there //really// pre-dates <span [data-type=character]>Zelda I</span>) as one of the few Zeldas prior...but there is functionally no difference between <q :en>Zelda is just a popular name in the royal family~</q> and <q :en>All the girls are legally to be named ‘Zelda’.</q>
 === Any true sequels? ===
-Another issue that I noticed later – after counting the number of prequels among all the games and realizing that there aren't that many – is that there aren't a lot of sequels that are just...sequels.\\
+<div passage>
+Another issue that I noticed later – after counting the number of prequels among all the games and realizing that there aren't that many – is that there aren't a lot of sequels that are just...sequels.
 As in: most of the sequels are sequels to prequels, which has an interesting effect.
+</div>
 So...I decided to count them.
-To be clear, I'm identifying a ‘true sequel’ as any sequel which isn't a sequel to a prequel...which means that games like //Twilight Princess// and //Wind Waker// are excluded since those are both sequels to //Ocarina of Time//.
+To be clear, I'm identifying a ‘true sequel’ as any sequel which isn't a sequel to a prequel...which means that games like <cite>Twilight Princess</cite> and <cite>Wind Waker</cite> are excluded since those are both sequels to <cite>Ocarina of Time</cite>.
-So, how many? There are two: //Zelda II// and //Breath of the Wild//.
+So, how many? There are two: <cite>Zelda II</cite> and <cite>Breath of the Wild</cite>.
-This may or may not be a problem depending on your perspective, but Zelda as a series is (or was, until Breath of the Wild) stuck in the past. Though I wouldn't say it's //that// big of an issue since, as I have established, I don't think canon really exists.
+This may or may not be a problem depending on your perspective, but <cite>Zelda</cite> as a series is (or was, until <cite>Breath of the Wild</cite>) stuck in the past. Though I wouldn't say it's //that// big of an issue since, as I have established, I don't think canon really exists.
 ==== Repeating Legends ====
 This is another crack theory of sorts, but it's one which has a little more behind it (I hope).
@@ Line 128: / Line 225: @@
 Basically, what if each game is actually just an account of the same legend? Any differences between the accounts is explainable as geographic/chronological differences between each telling.\\
 This would explain why the same stuff seems to happen over and over again, while the details change.
-=== Evil Hero & Donning the Hero's garb ===
-One aspect of the overall Legend that raises questions is why nobody really recognizes Link as a hero despite him looking like the Heroes of legend. I mean: he's wearing green clothes in basically every game and many of the games have those other games as backstories. Additionally, it //is// confirmed that there are other heroes outside of the games...so the green clothing should be a telltale sign that Link is a hero.
-Along that line of thinking...what if somebody dons the hero's green clothes because they //want// to be a hero or wish to be //perceived// as a hero...but then end up bad? This is just a natural twist you could apply to the story, though I doubt Nintendo would ever.
 ==== Where did ‘Timeline Fever’ begin? ====
-Having started rewatching matthewmatosis’ review on Zelda (linked in Trivilinks), I started to wonder where exactly Nintendo decided that Zelda needed to consistently reference past games and maintain a strict continuity...well, ‘strict’.\\
+<div passage>
-My gut reaction is telling me that this definitively started with Majora's Mask or Wind Waker, but I can’t be certain yet.
+Having started re-watching matthewmatosis’ review on <cite>Zelda</cite> (linked in Trivilinks), I started to wonder where exactly Nintendo decided that <cite>Zelda</cite> needed to consistently reference past games and maintain a strict continuity...well, ‘strict’.
+My gut reaction is telling me that this definitively started with <cite>Majora's Mask</cite> or <cite>Wind Waker</cite>, but I can’t be certain yet.
+</div>
 So far, this is just a “thing I noticed” and I may expand on it in the future.
 ==== Who did the Hero of Time have kids with? ====
-Twilight Princess suggests that the Hero of Twilight is the direct descendant of the Hero of Time. I'm noting quickly though that I'm not sure and I will either re-play the game or check some gameplay to make sure.\\
+<div passage>
-Though I'm about 93% sure that these two Links are related.\\
+<cite>Twilight Princess</cite> suggests that the <span [data-type=character]>Hero of Twilight</span> is the direct descendant of the <span [data-type=character]>Hero of Time</span>. I'm noting quickly though that I'm not sure and I will either re-play the game or check some gameplay to make sure.
-But this raises the question of who the Hero of Time bangs.
-My thinking (from what I know about the franchise) is that there are only two real options: Zelda and Malon. Of those, I used to lean towards Zelda...but I'm not sure anymore.
+Though I'm about 93% sure that these two Links are related.
-There are different reasons for why Link is more likely to go one way or the other.
+But this raises the question of who the <span [data-type=character]>Hero of Time</span> bangs.
+</div>
-In Zelda's case, I think there are a few things backing this up as the likely option:
+My thinking (from what I know about the franchise) is that there are only two real options: <span [data-type=character]>Zelda</span> and <span [data-type=character]>Malon</span>. Of those, I used to lean towards <span [data-type=character]>Zelda</span>...but I'm not sure anymore.
-  * Zelda is one of only //3?// people who know that Link saved the world, granting her a unique connection with him.
-  * The manga adaptation suggests that Link only has eyes for Zelda (to the point Malon gives up before she even started).
+There are different reasons for why <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> is more likely to go one way or the other.
-  * Link and Zelda have very clear romantic interests in each-other.
-  * The Hero of Time (or Cursed Swordsman or whoever) serves the Hyrulean Royal family as a knight, so they'd be in direct contact (presumably).
+In <span [data-type=character]>Zelda</span>'s case, I think there are a few things backing this up as the likely option:
+  * <span [data-type=character]>Zelda</span> is one of only //3?// people who know that <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> saved the world, granting her a unique connection with him.
+  * The manga adaptation suggests that <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> only has eyes for <span [data-type=character]>Zelda</span> (to the point <span [data-type=character]>Malon</span> gives up before she even started).
+  * <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> and <span [data-type=character]>Zelda</span> have very clear romantic interests in each-other.
+  * The <span [data-type=character]>Hero of Time</span> (or <span [data-type=character]>Cursed Swordsman</span> or whoever) serves the Hyrulean Royal family as a knight, so they'd be in direct contact (presumably).
+<div passage>
+<span [data-type=character]>Malon</span>'s case is a bit more complicated, since I'm relying on context that I don't currently have because I haven't played <cite>Ocarina of Time</cite>. So I'm extrapolating: matthewmatosis says in his <cite>Ocarina of Time</cite> video that <cite>Skyward Sword</cite> <span [data-type=character]>Zelda</span> is the first <span [data-type=character]>Zelda</span> who has an explicitly romantic connection between the two of them and his wording (which I'll find later) implies that previous games didn't have any explicit //or// implicit suggestion that they'd end up together.
+Now, I find that dubious if you include //all// the games, but he could mean within the review series he was doing (which means it includes <cite>Ocarina</cite>). So, based on that, the games might suggest that <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> and <span [data-type=character]>Zelda</span> have zero interest in each-other and, if that's the case, <span [data-type=character]>Malon</span> is basically the guaranteed choice.
-Malon's case is a bit more complicated, since I'm relying on context that I don't currently have because I haven't played //Ocarina of Time//. So I'm extrapolating: matthewmatosis says in his //Ocarina of Time// video that Skyward Sword Zelda is the first Zelda who has an explicitly romantic connection between the two of them and his wording (which I'll find later) implies that previous games didn't have any explicit //or// implicit suggestion that they'd end up together.\\
-Now, I find that dubious if you include //all// the games, but he could mean within the review series he was doing (which means it includes //Ocarina//). So, based on that, the games might suggest that Link and Zelda have zero interest in each-other and, if that's the case, Malon is basically the guaranteed choice.\\
 Now that that's out of the way, here's the other stuff suggesting it:
-  * Malon is a normal girl. This is important because Link is basically a nobody when he goes back to the past.
+  * <span [data-type=character]>Malon</span> is a normal girl. This is important because <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> is basically a nobody when he goes back to the past.
   * The manga implies that they like each-other.
-  * Though if the game suggests zero interest between Link/Zelda (the opposite of the manga), then Malon is guaranteed to be with Link.
+  * Though if the game suggests zero interest between <span [data-type=character]>Link</span>/<span [data-type=character]>Zelda</span> (the opposite of the manga), then <span [data-type=character]>Malon</span> is guaranteed to be with Link.
+</div>
-All of this is important to know because the Hero of Twilight, if he bangs Zelda, might be banging his cousin. Though in that specific case, I think it's heavily implied by the game that they don't really see each-other in that way. Which may or may not suggest they can tell they're related.
+All of this is important to know because the <span [data-type=character]>Hero of Twilight</span>, if he bangs <span [data-type=character]>Zelda</span>, might be banging his cousin. Though in that specific case, I think it's heavily implied by the game that they don't really see each-other in that way. Which may or may not suggest they can tell they're related.
+<div passage>
+The other thing to consider regarding the above is that the <span [data-type=character]>Hero of Twilight</span> is a nobody at the start of the game. In the manga, he's a soldier in a faraway location. Both of those harm the theory that <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> and <span [data-type=character]>Zelda</span> are related, though I don't think it's by much.
+I'd have to think about it a little longer though.
+</div>
 ==== Zelda Names ====
 Considering just how many Zeldas there are...I think that, realistically, girls in the Hyrulean royal family would start giving their daughters additional names to differentiate them from other Zeldas. Y'know, like how Mary-Jane is named Mary-Jane instead of just Mary.
-The closest the games ever seem to get to this is with Tetra...who is the only Zelda (that I'm aware of) who has a name besides Zelda. Though the question is: is that her first or second name? Or are they both first names? ‘Zelda Tetra’?\\
+<div passage>
+The closest the games ever seem to get to this is with <span [data-type=character]>Tetra</span>...who is the only Zelda (that I'm aware of) who has a name besides Zelda. Though the question is: is that her first or second name? Or are they both first names? ‘Zelda Tetra’?
 Though I guess this is besides the point.
+</div>
 The other issue here is that mothers (even Zelda XVI) would have specific names in mind for their daughters, right? Legally, they'd be forced to name their children ‘Zelda’...but what's stopping them from just adding another name? It would be the best of both worlds.
@@ Line 178: / Line 290: @@
   * From prior experience with the Zelda wikis, they make some...strange choices. The only one that I've noted, though which may not apply anymore, is with how they treat characters: every ‘Zelda’ is treated as a single character – combining all the versions into one article. The same for ‘Link’. This is an odd choice because, even if you subscribe to the idea that they're reincarnations, they are still distinctly different people.
     * There's actually a bit of a rabbit-hole here, so I may end up writing a dedicated article for the Zeldadungeon.
-  * As a side note, Twilight Princess' Link cannot be the same as Ocarina of Time's Link because they literally meet each-other...so Twilight Link can’t be a reincarnation.
+  * As a side note, <cite>Twilight Princess</cite>' <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> cannot be the same as <cite>Ocarina of Time</cite>'s <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> because they literally meet each-other...so <cite>Twilight</cite> <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> can’t be a reincarnation.
-  * The 1d6chan [[1d6>The Legend of Zelda|article]] says that there's an implication //Link to the Past// Link is Zelda's brother. What...?
+  * The 1d6chan [[1d6>The Legend of Zelda|article]] says that there's an implication <cite>Link to the Past</cite> <span [data-type=character]>Link</span> is <span [data-type=character]>Zelda</span>'s brother. What...?
-  * I don't remember exactly //where// he said it, but matthewmatosis once said that he thinks Nintendo are better game designers than they are storytellers and...after looking at the stories of all the Zelda games, I think I have to agree with him. Though I may elaborate on my own thoughts later.
+  * I don't remember exactly //where// he said it, but matthewmatosis once said that he thinks Nintendo are better game designers than they are storytellers and...after looking at the stories of all the <cite>Zelda</cite> games, I think I have to agree with him. Though I may elaborate on my own thoughts later.
-  * The banner on this page features ‘Zelda’ written in [[lb:zelda:Hylian]]. Though it mixes the scripts from //Link to the Past// and //The Wind Waker//.
+  * The banner on this page features ‘Zelda’ written in [[lb:zelda:Hylian]]. Though it mixes the scripts from <cite>Link to the Past</cite> and <cite>The Wind Waker</cite>.