Princess Zelda

Princess Zelda, often shortened to Zelda, is one of the main characters of The Legend of Zelda franchise. It is also the name traditionally provided to princesses born into the Royal Family of Hyrule. As such, several incarnations of Princess Zelda have appeared throughout the franchise. Her first appearance is in the first The Legend of Zelda. The various Princess Zeldas are usually in possession of the Triforce of Wisdom, which grants them the ability to control certain psionic powers.

Although she is the series' titular character, Link is the actual main protagonist. Zelda, like Link, appears in various incarnations throughout the series. In some games, Link and Zelda are childhood friends. There are a few The Legend of Zelda games that Zelda does not appear in, such as The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. Princess Zelda sometimes has the role of but to a lesser extent than Princess Peach of the Super Mario series.

Series creator Shigeru Miyamoto named Princess Zelda after a real world person,. This was because he liked the sound to "Zelda" and described Fitzgerald as "a famous and beautiful woman from all accounts".

The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda series received its own animated television series with The Legend of Zelda, produced by DiC Entertainment. It aired under the The Super Mario Bros. Super Show! syndication, with the animated Mario segments running Monday through Thursday, and being replaced by Zelda segments on Fridays. The Zelda segments still received an accompanying live-action Mario and Luigi short. The series revolved around Link and Princess Zelda protecting the Triforce of Wisdom from Ganon. Cynthia Preston (credited as Cyndy Preston) voiced Princess Zelda in the series.

Captain N: The Game Master
Link and Zelda appear in Captain N: The Game Master, borrowing their appearance and personality from The Legend of Zelda television series. Cynthia Preston (credited as Cyndy Preston) returned to voice Princess Zelda in the series.

The Legend of Zelda
In The Legend of Zelda, Zelda is kidnapped by Ganon, who imprisons her in his lair on Death Mountain. Before she was kidnapped, she shattered the Triforce of Wisdom into eight shards and scattered them throughout Hyrule to hide them from Ganon and prevent him from gaining its power. She then sent her nursemaid Impa in search of a hero that could reassemble the Triforce of Wisdom, be powerful enough to defeat Ganon, and rescue her. Zelda is not actually seen in this game until after Ganon is defeated.

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
In Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, which has a similar plot to the classic tale of . The Zelda in this game is not the one from the first game, but rather her distant ancestor. The whereabouts of the Zelda from the first game are unknown. Long ago, the power of the Triforce had belonged to one man alone, the Great King of Hyrule; however, before his death, he divided the artifact and concealed the part called the Triforce of Courage; the heir to the throne could inherit only the rest.

Before his death, the King had imparted a secret to his daughter, Princess Zelda; with the Magician later finding out about it. The Magician then reported it to the Prince, who was looking for the Triforce of Courage, it being the only piece he did not possess. Thinking the secret to be the location for the Triforce Piece, the Prince ruthlessly asked about it to his sister.

The Princess responded by refusing to reveal it, even when her brother and the Magician threatened her. In his anger, the Magician put a powerful curse on the Princess, despite the objections of the new King. The exertions caused the Magician himself to drop dead after casting the spell, so he could not be induced to undo it. Devastated, the grieving brother had his sister locked in a tower of the North Castle, and decreed that every female born into the royal family would thereafter be named Zelda, in memory of the tragedy.

Several years passed, with Zelda remaining the same because of the curse. Link, who had become sixteen, learned of this tragedy and sets off on a journey to reclaim the lost section of the Triforce to lift the curse. Once Link gains the full Triforce, he goes back to the palace where Zelda resides in and disperses the curse. Now free from the curse, Zelda thanks Link and calls him a "real hero" for saving Hyrule. The curtains then fall as Link and Zelda appear to embrace each other.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
In The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Princess Zelda is one of the Seven Maidens descended from the sages who sealed Ganon away during the Imprisoning War. At the beginning of the game, she is imprisoned in the dungeon of Hyrule Castle by Agahnim, who plans on sacrificing her along with the other six maidens so as to break the seal between the Light and Dark World. This would free Agahnim's alter ego, Ganon, from the Dark World and allow him to wreak havoc on Hyrule. Zelda telepathically calls for help, contacting both Link's Uncle and Link in their house.

Link rescues Zelda and takes her into the Sanctuary, where she remains under the protection of the Loyal Sage for part of the game. After Link retrieves the Master Sword from the Lost Woods, Zelda is kidnapped by Agahnim's henchmen and sent to the Dark World in his final ritual, breaking the seal. She is not seen again until she is rescued by Link from Turtle Rock. Saving her and the other six maidens opens the entrance to Ganon's Tower, the final dungeon of the game. Zelda is last seen together with her revived father in the end credits sequence. It is hinted in the Oracle games and A Link Between Worlds that this Zelda became intimate with Link later on.

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
In The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening and its reissues, Princess Zelda does not appear, and is only mentioned once at the start of the game, where Link mistakes Marin for being Princess Zelda.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Zelda is the daughter of the King of Hyrule, and eventually the Seventh Sage and the holder of the Triforce of Wisdom. She is also the leader of the Sages. The heir to the Royal Family, Zelda is of the Hylian race with blonde hair and blue eyes. She begins the game as a young girl about 10-12 years old, who is gifted with psychic abilities. In a dream of symbolic importance, she senses Ganondorf's treachery and predicts Link's arrival before either occurs. When Link meets her for the first time in Hyrule Castle's courtyard, she sends him on a quest to collect the three Spiritual Stones and protect the Triforce from Ganondorf. When Ganondorf attacks Hyrule Castle, Zelda and her nursemaid, Impa, flee the castle on horseback.

The Princess throws the Ocarina of Time into the moat in front of Hyrule Castle Town for Link to retrieve; as he touches it, Zelda appears before him in a vision and teaches him the "Song of Time", the final key to the Sacred Realm. Ironically, since the final barrier in the Sacred Realm could only be broken by the chosen Hero of Time, had Zelda not attempted to retrieve Triforce before Ganondorf, the timeline split and tragedies of the Adult Timeline could have been avoided. When Link awakens from his seven-year slumber in the Sacred Realm, he encounters Zelda, disguised as a young man of about Link's age named Sheik, who claims to be a survivor of the Sheikah Tribe. Thereafter, Sheik gives Link clues to the locations of the various temples, and teaches him special songs enabling him to warp to specific points near these temples.

After the final temple guardian is conquered, Zelda risks her life by revealing her identity and disclosing her position as the Seventh Sage. She informs Link that both of them hold pieces of the Triforce and gives him the Light Arrows, but moments later is captured by Ganondorf and imprisoned in a pink crystal in his castle. Following Ganondorf's defeat, she is freed and assists Link in his escape from the collapsing fortress. During the final battle, once Link has significantly weakened Ganon, Zelda intervenes using her magic. She and the other sages seal Ganon away without taking away his Triforce piece.

After Hyrule is saved, Zelda uses the Ocarina of Time to send Link back to the past, allowing him to regain his lost seven years.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
In The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, when Link retrieves the Ocarina of Time from the Skull Kid, he is overcome with memories about his departure from Hyrule. In a flashback, the young Princess Zelda from Ocarina of Time is seen saying her goodbyes to Link; she gives him the Ocarina of Time to help him on his journey, and teaches him the Song of Time again, which becomes vital to his quest. Zelda makes no further appearances.

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons/Ages
According to Hyrule Historia, the Princess Zelda in both The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages is the same one as in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Impa tells Link she has been sent by Zelda to guard Din, the Oracle of Seasons, and Nayru, the Oracle of Ages, and to escort them back to Hyrule. Zelda herself only appears in the Linked Game by linking both counterparts. She is briefly captured, either by the Great Moblin or Vire depending on which counterpart is played, but Link rescues her. She then stays safely with Impa for a while. Towards the end of the story, she becomes upset at seeing the citizenry distraught over the evil powers pervading the land and speaks to them encouragingly to not give up hope. While she is out and about, Twinrova kidnaps her in a plan to revive Ganon, attempting to sacrifice her in order to light the Flame of Despair. Link saves her by defeating Twinrova, who sacrifice their own bodies instead of Zelda's. After Link defeats the mindless Ganon, Zelda kisses him on the cheek in gratitude. The seemingly surprised and genuinely flustered Link swoons while hearts float above the pair's heads, and Zelda looks away, blushing.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords
At the start of The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, Zelda goes to the Sanctuary of the Four Sword with her childhood friend, Link, to check on the seal containing the Wind Mage, Vaati. The seal has weakened, however, and Vaati emerges and kidnaps Zelda in order to make her his bride. The four Links eventually save Zelda and seal Vaati away again.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Near the start of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Link saves a young pirate girl named Tetra after the Helmaroc King drops her into the nearby forest on Outset Island. After the bird kidnaps Link's sister Aryll, Tetra and her pirates bring Link to the Forsaken Fortress to rescue her. During the race for Nayru's Pearl, Link runs into Tetra at Windfall Island, where he steals the bombs from her pirate ship. Tetra allows Link until morning before she comes after him and Jabun. Link meets Tetra one last time, at the Forsaken Fortress, where she saves his sister and warns him of the Helmaroc King. She then attempts to save Link during his confrontation with Ganondorf. Her blows are easily deflected and Ganondorf strikes back, grabbing Tetra by the neck. Before he can do anything to her, his Triforce resonates, showing him that he has finally found Princess Zelda, with Tetra confused by Ganondorf's words.

At that moment, the Ritos Quill and Prince Komali fly through the open windows, grab Link and Tetra, and fly off. Link then takes Tetra to ancient Hyrule beneath the Great Sea, where the King, Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule, reveals that she is the last descendant of the Royal Family. She then receives the other half of the Triforce of Wisdom, revealing her true identity as Princess Zelda. She hides in Hyrule while Link embarks on another mission. Once Link completes this mission, Zelda is kidnapped by Ganondorf, who takes her to his tower. Link storms the castle, defeats Puppet Ganon, and faces off against Ganondorf in a final battle. Zelda aids Link during the battle by shooting Light Arrows at their foe. After defeating Ganondorf, Link and Zelda, once again in the form of Tetra, return to the Great Sea and embark on a new adventure together, searching for a land to call their own.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
In The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, at the start of the game, Zelda is worried about the seal on Vaati, so she goes with six other mystical maidens to check on the Sanctuary of the Four Sword, and Link accompanies her. Something goes horribly wrong, however, and a dark shadowy Link attacks them. Link is forced to draw the Four Sword to fight Shadow Link, and Vaati escapes. The girls are abducted, and the Links come to their rescue. Zelda helps them defeat Shadow Link, and after Vaati is dispatched, the five quickly flee the collapsing Tower of Winds. Finally, the Links face Ganon, who is behind the catastrophe, and Zelda helps them deliver the final blow.

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
In The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, the game starts with Zelda taking Link, whom she has been childhood friends with since they were infants, to the Picori Festival in Hyrule Town. During the ceremony following the Picori Festival Tournament, she is turned into stone by the winner, Vaati. Vaati is an evil mage searching for a legendary Light Force, and knowing Zelda has mystical powers of her own, he wants to keep her out of the way. Later, discovering that her power is, in fact, the Light Force, Vaati invades Hyrule Castle and abducts the petrified Princess, planning to sacrifice her and become a god. Link, after reforging the Four Sword, attacks the castle and faces off against Vaati. Upon defeating the evil mage, Link uses the power of the Four Sword to restore Zelda, who tells Link she had seen him on his adventure as if through a dream, to normal. Zelda then uses the power of the Magic Cap and Light Force to return Hyrule to its natural state. The overflowing power of life causes the Minish Cap to break apart. Ezlo then states that Zelda's kindness as well as the power of the Minish Cap (or Light Force, in the Japanese version of the game) created a miracle. With the time to part nearing, Zelda and Link see Ezlo off as he returns to the Minish World.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
In The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, Zelda was the young matriarch of Hyrule until its invasion by Zant, the Twilight King, to whom she surrendered in order to prevent the death of her people. Subsequently, she is imprisoned inside a tower in Hyrule Castle, although unlike her people, she does not become a spirit under the influence of the Twilight (possibly due to her implied possession of the Triforce of Wisdom). It is here that she meets Link, transformed into a wolf by the Twilight's power, though their conversation is cut short due to the arrival of her guard.

When Link goes back to the castle, she expends all of her power, even losing her physical form, in order to save a dying Midna. She regains her body later only to become possessed by Ganondorf, but his influence is purged from her body by Midna with the power of the Fused Shadows. Ganondorf makes another attempt on Zelda's life soon after, but she is protected by the Light Spirits of Hyrule, who grant her the magical Light Arrows so she can assist Link in part of his final battle. With the battle won and Midna revived, Zelda and Link bid her goodbye at the Mirror of Twilight.

It is possible that Link actually went to Hyrule Castle to meet Zelda again as hinted during the ending scene where Link left Ordon village and the Castle was shown again. This is also the only game where she appears as a brunette, instead of a blonde. Unlike other games, Zelda's interaction with Link was rather limited in Twilight Princess.

According to Zelda's card in the official Twilight Princess trading card deck, she was going to become Queen of Hyrule. Zant's invasion came a few days before her scheduled coronation, thus preventing it from taking place. The game manual for Super Smash Bros. Brawl, which uses Zelda in her Twilight Princess form, does refer to her as the Queen of Hyrule, implying that once Link lifted the Twilight, the coronation took place as planned.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
While Princess Zelda does not make a physical appearance in her normal look, she is seen as Tetra with her original name and appearance. Zelda is also shown with her classic princess appearance in the prologue. Somewhat to tease her, the pirates occasionally call Tetra "Princess Zelda", much to her annoyance.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
In The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, following after the events of The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, Tetra and Link eventually founded New Hyrule and befriended the Lokomo guardian of the Tower of Spirits, Anjean. The Zelda of Spirit Tracks, the princess of New Hyrule, is the granddaughter of Tetra. This marks the first time a Zelda has been playable in a main series title.

When awarding Link with the title of Royal Engineer during his Graduation Ceremony, Zelda slips him a note, warning him of the suspicious Chancellor Cole and instructing Link to take a hidden path and meet her in secret. Zelda requests Link's aid in investigating the mystery of the vanishing Spirit Tracks, which entails Link helping her sneak out of the castle. She then presents Link with a change of clothing, the Recruit Uniform, which will help Link blend in with the similarly dressed guards as they escape the castle. Upon exiting the castle, Link and Zelda enlist the aid of Alfonzo, Link's Master Engineer and mentor, to take them towards the Tower of Spirits. However, the tracks begin to vanish out from underneath their train before they witness the tower's levels being separated and then are stopped in their tracks by Chancellor Cole and Byrne. Byrne easily defeats Link and Alfonzo while Cole uses his magic to force Zelda's spirit out of her body.

With only Link able to see her, Zelda helps him obtain a sword before the two make their way Tower of Spirits. There, Anjean tells the duo that Zelda's body contains a sacred power and that Cole took it in order to serve as a vessel for the Demon King, Malladus. Learning that she can inhabit Phantoms to aid Link, Zelda proceeds to help him restore the tracks and the Tower of Spirits to its former glory.

However, Cole releases his master before Link and Zelda could stop him. No longer in imprisonment, Malladus possesses Zelda's body, seeking to wreak havoc across New Hyrule and beyond. Using a specially made Phantom, Zelda aids Link in defeating Cole and forcing Malladus out of her body. With Byrne holding Malladus off, Zelda swiftly returns to her body, much to her joy. Immediately though, Byrne is defeated by Malladus, with the Demon King proceeding to use Cole's body as a new vessel. Having little time to spare, Link and Zelda perform a duet using the Spirit Flute and Zelda's sacred powers, with the Lokomo's joining in. Their combined powers significantly weaken Malladus, allowing Link and Zelda to finish him off. Soon after, Zelda joins Link in saying their farewells to the Lokomo, where they learn that Byrne will be reborn, though without the memories of past events. Afterwards, the ending credits show Zelda and Link back to New Hyrule castle, much to everyone's relief.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
In The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, unlike earlier installments, Zelda does not bear the title of princess. She resides in Skyloft, where she attends the same boarding school as Link and rides a blue Loftwing. A childhood friend of Link and the object of affection of Link's rival Groose, Zelda has been confirmed to be Link's love interest throughout the game. Zelda is very cheerful around Link and rather nervous when alone with him, even bashfully asking him to fly around the sky together, like a date. Link also reciprocates these feelings. Toward the beginning of the game, she is swept off of her Loftwing by a tornado that Ghirahim created. Before she is captured, however, Zelda is snatched up by Impa and undergoes a journey to be purified in the springs of the Skyview Temple and the Earth Temple. Zelda is eventually brought to the Temple of Time where she manages to give the Goddess's Harp to Link before she and Impa enter a Gate of Time to evade Ghirahim.

After Link finds a second Gate of Time and goes to the past, he meets up with Zelda there. It is then revealed that Zelda is the reincarnation of Hylia. She also confesses to manipulating Link's feelings for her (as Hylia) so that he could fulfill his destiny, a deed for which she is very remorseful. In order to maintain Demise's imprisonment, Zelda seals herself. While doing so, Zelda asks Link for him to wake her up when his mission is complete.

Once Link wishes for the destruction of Demise with the Triforce, Zelda is freed, and she happily reunites with the hero. Her reunion with Link, Groose, and the Old Woman is cut short however, when Ghirahim abducts her. He then takes Zelda through the remaining Gate of Time to resurrect Demise in the past, which he means to accomplish by performing a ritual on Zelda that will allow the Imprisoned to swallow her life force. Though Zelda's life force is taken by Demise, Link learns that Zelda can still be revived, provided that he act quickly. Thus, Link challenges Demise to a duel. With the Demon King accepting and setting the battle grounds to another dimension, Link and Demise face off against each other. Ultimately, Link proves victorious, allowing Zelda to be revived.

Once Link returns to his own world, Zelda is overcome with joy at seeing him again, shedding tears. Soon after, Fi asks Link to put Master Sword back in its pedestal, which would mean their parting. While understanding Link's feelings and feeling sad herself, Zelda encourages Link to do, to which he complies with. Their parting is not a sad one however, with said goodbye ending on a happy note.

Afterwards, Impa reveals to Zelda and the others of her intent to remain in the past to safeguard the Master Sword, much to Zelda's sadness. As a token of her appreciation, Zelda gives one of her armlets to the Sheikah. Impa assures Zelda that they will reunite, before watching the Hylians depart to their own time. At the Sealed Grounds' overseer of their time, Zelda, Link, and Groose are greeted by the Old Lady. Zelda notices the Old Lady's armlet, realizing that it is the one she gave to Impa. The Old Lady is then revealed to be Impa of the present, to everyone's surprise. Immediately afterwards, Impa passes on, with Zelda thanking her for everything she did for them.

Standing on the Statue of the Goddess with the Triforce, Link and Zelda watch as Groose, Cawlin, and Stretch depart back to the sky. Zelda decides to live on the Surface while asking Link what he will do. Link smiles at her while their Loftwings fly off toward the sky, implying that he chose to stay on the Surface to live with Zelda.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
In The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Zelda is once again the princess of Hyrule. In Link's dream, he sees Princess Zelda being snatched away by a pig-shaped creature. Later, Zelda meets up with Link and she is shocked to hear the news about the latest events. She fears that the evil of the past has re-awakened and sends Link to go to Kakariko Village to see Sahasrahla. Before he leaves she gives him a special charm. Yuga later turns Zelda into a portrait and takes her to Lorule. He then uses her portrait and those of the Seven Sages to revive Ganon. After Link rescues all the sages, Zelda grants Link the Light Arrows needed to defeat Yuga, now fused with Ganon. After the fight, Zelda tells Princess Hilda that she wished it did not have to be this way. She and Link then use Hyrule's Triforce to restore Lorule's Triforce.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
In Breath of the Wild, Zelda is one of Link's companions along with Mipha, Daruk, Revali and Urbosa. She wears a blue shirt with Hylian embroideries on it, similar to Link's one and the scarves worn by the four allies. They were all members of the Champions, a group of protectors of Hyrule and the ancient relics, created by her father King Rhoam and commanded by Zelda herself.

After Zelda was born, her parents named her Zelda in accordance with royal tradition, and her mother would eventually take the infant Zelda to Gerudo Town to introduce her daughter to her close friend Gerudo Chieftain Urbosa. For the first six years of her life, Zelda was raised by both parents and apparently had a happy childhood. Her mother encouraged Zelda, saying she could do anything with the latent power Zelda inherited from her grandmother (who is implied to have been a previous Zelda) indicating her mother was not of royal blood. When Zelda was six years old, her mother died, changing her life and putting her under the protection of her father thereafter. Unfortunately, the Queen's death robbed Zelda of her mother's support, preventing the Queen from teaching Zelda about her abilities. Zelda hid her grief, as her parents had taught her to be a strong Princess. Although King Rhoam found Zelda's steadfastness inspiring, he failed to see that his daughter's inability to awaken her sealed powers caused her great stress. For a year after her mother's funeral, Zelda struggled to awaken her powers. Urbosa then accompanied Zelda to the Spring of Power, where Zelda futilely prayed for her powers to awaken until Urbosa dragged her out of the water, causing Zelda to break down. Zelda confided her true feelings, revealing her grief and the stress she was under while Urbosa listened and consoled her. She ended up befriending Urbosa, who did her best to help her. Even with Urbosa's support, Zelda came to believe her mother was wrong about her capabilities and began to feel more and more like a failure.

Interested in the Divine Beasts, Guardians, and Ancient Sheikah technology, Zelda began dedicating herself to science instead of prayer, feeling it would be a better use of her knowledge. Although she continued to train and pray, Zelda continued her studies as a way to contribute to Hyrule's defense. Zelda and a team of Sheikah researchers led by Impa's elder sister Purah worked together to understand ancient technology, discovering the Sheikah Slate, Shrine of Resurrection, and a better understanding of Guardians and the Divine Beasts which Zelda recorded in her research notes. Zelda shared her knowledge concerning Vah Ruta's water pumps with the Zora Royal Family and researched other things such as plants and animals that would enhance physical abilities when consumed. It seemed Zelda enjoyed scholarly research, finding it fascinating and unburdening; unlike prayer, which Zelda had nothing to show for despite her fervent dedication, Zelda felt she was making a difference with her research. Zelda personally recruited the four Champions to pilot the Divine Beasts, convincing all of them to join her in defending Hyrule.

When Link was appointed as Zelda's personal knight by King Rhoam after defeating a Guardian that went haywire during an experiment with a simple Pot Lid, her insecurities about her inability to awaken her powers rose. Zelda, jealous of Link due to his success in fulfilling his destiny (he could already wield the Master Sword), lashes out at him, mistaking Link's silence as a sign that he hated her. Zelda quickly grew tired of him following her around, seeing Link as a constant reminder of her own failure. However, Link refused to leave Zelda, as it was his sworn duty as Captain of her Imperial Guard. Zelda, irritated, resorted to abusing Gerudo Town law to allude Link's protection detail, though she fell asleep while calibrating Vah Naboris, and Urbosa informed Link of Zelda's whereabouts. Urbosa would then foil an assassination attempt by disguised Yiga Clan members, though Zelda convinced her to spare their lives. After Link saved Zelda's life when the Yiga Clan tried to assassinate her again near Kara Kara Bazaar, she realized that it was wrong of her to take her frustrations out on him, and befriended him thereafter. Zelda was surprised to discover how Link's silence was due to his burden as the chosen hero and how Link still doubted himself despite his skills. Zelda came to respect and admire his dedication to his knightly training. The two bonded over the burdens they carried, although Zelda became worried by Link's tendency to be reckless (noting that "there is a thin line between courage and recklessness").

King Rhoam initially supported Zelda's research efforts, but as signs of Ganon's return increased, he came to believe Zelda was neglecting her duty as Princess of Hyrule to play scholar. Unaware Zelda had been diligently training and only used her studies to contribute without her powers, King Rhoam scolded her during a Guardian test, attempting to convince his daughter that she should be focusing every waking moment to activating her power. Zelda insisted she already was, but King Rhoam refused to hear any "excuses" and forbid her from further research. Rhoam attempted to encourage Zelda by telling her that gossip mongers had been whispering she would inherit a Kingdom of nothing, and it was Zelda's destiny to prove them wrong. This had the opposite effect and led Zelda to loathe herself due to her "uselessness in the battlefield" and inability to awaken her innate powers. She continued to do research such as a survey of the Shrines alongside her Sheikah court poet in secret.

Zelda vigorously continued to attempt to awaken her sealing powers, praying at the Spring of Courage and the Spring of Power for hours upon end, guarded faithfully by Link. Zelda then dreamed of a beautiful woman, who tried to speak to Zelda although Zelda could not hear her. The woman is implied to be Hylia, and Zelda believed she would have been able to hear the woman if her powers had awoken. Inspired by Link, Zelda hoped she could awaken her powers at the Spring of Wisdom on Mount Lanayru. Zelda waited until her seventeenth birthday to train there, as only the wise are allowed to train upon the mountain; much to her disappointment her powers failed to awaken. Urbosa and her fellow Champions consoled her with Mipha, trying to explain what helped her focus while using Mipha's Grace. In a stroke of misfortune, Ganon returned that same day, attacking Hyrule Castle. Urbosa tried to take Zelda to safety, but Zelda refused, joining them in confronting Ganon without her sealing power. Zelda's bad premonition came true, as Ganon (having learned from his previous defeat) used his power to corrupt the Guardians and create the Scourges of the Divine Beasts to kill the Divine Beast pilots before taking control of them. By turning the ancient technology against Hyrule, Ganon wreaked havoc on Hyrule Castle and the surrounding area, killing King Rhoam and entrapping all of the Champions' spirits in their Divine Beasts. Out of options, she and Link fled in the rain, where upon Zelda collapsed to the ground in tears, lamenting her failure to fulfill her destiny while grieving those she had lost including her father and fellow Champions with only Link to console her. Link however continued to protect Zelda as they fled.

As they continued to flee, they were cornered in West Necluda near Fort Hateno. Link, wielding the Master Sword, defeated countless Guardians until both he and the sword became battle worn and exhausted. With the remaining corrupted Guardians closing in, Zelda begged Link to run and save himself. However, Link refused, staying to protect Zelda. When a Guardian began to target lock onto Link, Zelda threw herself in front of him in an act of self-sacrifice, raising her right hand up to the Guardian. In that moment, her powers awakened, and all of the Guardians in the surrounding area were shut down by a blast of magical light which purged Ganon's influence from them. After this, Zelda turned around to find Link had collapsed, badly injured and on the verge of death. Hopeless despite her success Zelda cried beside Link in total despair. Suddenly the Master Sword began to glow as its dormant spirit then spoke to Zelda, telling her that Link could still be saved using the Shrine of Resurrection. When the two were found by two Sheikah warriors, Zelda instructed Purah and Robbie to carry Link to the ancient medical as soon as possible. The Master Sword's spirit told Zelda she still had a role to play.

Zelda then took the Master Sword to the Great Deku Tree in Korok Forest, which would be a safe place for the blade to rest for the next century. While Link would likely lose his memories as a result of the Slumber of Restoration Zelda was certain the blade would reunite with its "master". Zelda asked the tree deity to relay a message to Link when he awoke, but he politely refused, telling Zelda it would sound better in her voice. Zelda placed the sword in its pedestal, saying her goodbye to the tree before returning to Hyrule Castle. Using her powers, Zelda sealed Calamity Ganon and herself away for the next one hundred years, halting her aging.

When Link awakens a century later, Zelda communicates with him telepathically, telling him that he is the light of Hyrule and that he must remember who he is in order to defeat Ganon. She also warns Link to be careful of the Blood Moon. Zelda had tasked Impa with guiding Link and ensured he would regain his memories of her through pictures recorded in the Sheikah Slate's Album. Though the data became corrupted, Purah restored it using her Guidance Stone. After recalling twelve memories using the pictures, Impa reveals there was another picture framed inside her house which had apparently been printed. The picture allows Link to recall how he became injured. Afterwards, Zelda contacts him telepathically to congratulate Link before reminding him that he must defeat Ganon soon- Zelda struggles to keep Ganon contained, so Link must quickly free the Divine Beasts and the spirits of their pilots. While exploring Hyrule Castle, Link finds Zelda's Diary in Princess Zelda's Room and her research notes in Princess Zelda's Study. He also finds a Castle Library Book in the Library which contains a recipe for Zelda's favorite desert Fruitcake. King Rhoam's Journal reveals the King's personal thoughts concerning Zelda, admitting that he regretted how he treated his daughter, resolving to support her research when she returned from Mount Lanayru. Although the King died shortly afterward during the Great Calamity, his regrets as both a King and father caused him to become a spirit. King Rhoam's spirit watched over and guided Link, who was the only person who could free Zelda, as Ganon fed on Zelda's power in an attempt to reincarnate.

After defeating Calamity Ganon in Hyrule Castle, at Windvane Meadow, Zelda aids Link in his battle with Calamity Ganon's second form, Dark Beast Ganon, gifting him with the Bow of Light and giving him advice on how to defeat Ganon. After Link hits Ganon's weak spot, Zelda herself appears, freed from her own sealing magic. She then uses her powers to seal away Ganon for good, entrapping him in an explosion of light. As she and Link reunite face-to-face for the first time in a hundred years, she asks him with a smile if he remembers her.

With Ganon sealed away, Zelda and Link then embark on a journey to try and fix Hyrule piece by piece, starting by visiting King Dorephan to give him closure over Mipha's death. Zelda remarks that she feels her powers dwindling as she cannot hear the voice of the Master Sword anymore. However, she says that she is okay with that now, and can accept the fact that her powers are going to disappear shortly. She and Link then walk towards their horses to begin their new adventure. Presumably she, Link, Paya, Impa, Purah, Robbie, Dorephan, Prince Sidon, Gerudo Chieftain Riju, Daruk's descendant Yunobo, Goron Patriarch Bludo, Teba, and Rito Elder Kaneli work together to rebuild Hyrule after Ganon's defeat. Zelda presumably visits King Dorephan to seek his assistance in helping her take the Hyrulean throne, as some Hyruleans may doubt she is the real Zelda because Zelda had not physically aged since sealing Calamity Ganon. King Dorephan and the Zora could help Zelda prove her legitimacy along with Impa, Purah, and Robbie.

A previous incarnation of the Princess of Hyrule is mentioned by Kass and Impa in the legend of the creation of the Divine Beasts and Guardians. In this tale, the princess, her knight, and four unnamed Champions successfully utilized the ancient Sheikah technology and were able to defeat Calamity Ganon ten thousand years prior to the events of Breath of the Wild. Both the current and Princess of Hyrule from ten thousand years ago are referred to as the "Goddess-blood Princess". This is likely a reference to the suggestion the Royal Family of Hyrule is descended from Hylia's mortal reincarnation the Spirit Maiden Zelda from Skyward Sword.

Additionally, it is revealed that Kass' teacher, who was a Sheikah who served as the Royal Family's court poet, once aided Princess Zelda in surveying the Shrines located throughout Hyrule. Kass's teacher had developed an unrequited love for Zelda, before coming to realize she had feelings for Link. Despite this, the poet believed Link would return and entrusted Kass with the task of guiding Link to the Shrines. After freeing all four Guardians, Link learns of the Final Trial and assists Kass in completing his mentor's unfinished work, The Champions' Ballad. Afterwards, Kass gives Link the Picture of the Champions, a printed Sheikah Slate photo taken by Purah during the Champions' inauguration ceremony which had been his mentor's prized possession.

For the first time in the series, Zelda is fully voiced by the actress Patricia Summersett, who voices her with an English accent.

Mario Artist: Paint Studio
Young and adult artwork of Princess Zelda from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time can be used as a stamp in Mario Artist: Paint Studio.

Super Smash Bros. Melee
Zelda appears as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and is designed after her adult incarnation from Ocarina of Time. She debuted first as Sheik, and it was later revealed that this was one of the character's two forms. Zelda is one of the most diverse characters in the entire game as she is actually two characters in one, each with its own unique moves, attacks, and fighting style. At any time during play, she can change form to take advantage of the full range of her abilities. This unique gameplay mechanic made her one of the most anticipated characters during the game's pre-release hype.

Initially, the player assumes control as Zelda, although it is possible to start a round as Sheik by holding down the following selection of a stage until the round begins. Zelda is somewhat slow but is rather graceful and agile, and her special attacks, if they connect, are extremely powerful&mdash;boosted by magic, if the sparkles and flashes of light are any indication. Her aerial movements and dodging skill, as well as her attacks' high priority and strong impact, make her an ideal counter-defensive character. She is very much built for defensive attacking, but her moves leave her very open if timed incorrectly, and if attacked, her gracefulness can work against her. She has a light frame and is easily sent flying.

Zelda's attacks lend themselves to this defensive style of play as well. Din's Fire is a long range setup attack allowing the player to control a guided fire "mine," which explodes upon release. Nayru's Love is a crystal shield which not only reflects projectiles, but damages nearby enemies and pushes them away. Farore's Wind is Zelda's third jump, a teleport move which can be directed and has enormous range, but leaves her somewhat vulnerable. If Zelda invokes the teleport while physically touching an enemy character, that character will take damage, but this is very hard to pull off in practice. Fans may remember her three magic attacks as the same ones Link acquired in Ocarina of Time, albeit with quite different applications. Instead of a fourth attack, her final command is the transformation to Sheik.

As Sheik, the character is completely different. Sheik is not only extremely fast, but also easy to control, making her a very popular character both in casual circles and in the tournament scene. Her close range attacks are possibly the fastest and most easily chainable of any character, with her martial arts training allowing fluid and swift ninja-like attacks. Sheik is at her best when using her speed and high-momentum attacks for an evasion-based "hit-and-run" offense. Her needle throwing attack is extremely flexible, and can be used to start combos or keep the enemy at bay. Her chain whip, while situational, is an excellent way to sabotage an opponent's strategy by interrupting their movements. Her Deku Nut-concealed vanish move is shorter than Farore's Wind but leaves Sheik much less open to attack, and is easier to use as an attack as well.

The instruction booklet and in-game trophies refer to Sheik as a female; it is also interesting to note that Sheik's poses and general body form in Super Smash Bros. Melee are considerably more feminine than those in Ocarina of Time. In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Zelda and Sheik are voiced by Jun Mizusawa.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl
In Super Smash Bros. Brawl, Zelda's design is based on her appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess, and she retains her Sheik transformation. As Sheik, game director Masahiro Sakurai states that her updated character design is based on a potential design made in the early drafting stages of The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. This version of Sheik now carries a small blade at the waist and sports longer hair in the back, tied in a similar style to her Princess Zelda form. Interestingly enough, Sheik's hair remains blonde, while Princess Zelda's updates to light brown per her Twilight Princess appearance. As Nintendo established via Sheik's trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee that the Sheik disguise was a magical costume change, the magic could presumably explain the hair color as well.

The changes to Zelda's move set in this game were mostly balancing issues. Essentially, Zelda was powered up, with several of her moves being made more powerful and easier to execute. This can be seen in Din's Fire, which is substantially more powerful than in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and in several of Zelda's Smash Attacks, which literally "stop time" for a moment before sending the opposing character flying off the screen. She retains her Lightning Kick from Super Smash Bros. Melee. Sheik's attacks, meanwhile, were made weaker but faster.

Zelda and Sheik both have the same Final Smash: the Light Arrow. The Light Arrow is a powerful attack that inflicts heavy damage in a straight line originating from Zelda or Sheik. When Zelda uses the attack, it sends anyone it hits in a more upward direction that Sheik's version.

Zelda is featured on four stickers. Two of these are titled "Young Zelda," while the other two are simply titled "Zelda." The first two depict artwork of Zelda as a child from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, and provide a +20 bonus to electric attacks and a +16 bonus to battering resistance, respectively. The latter can only be used by Link, Toon Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf. The two stickers titled "Zelda" depict artwork of Zelda from The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and of her adult form from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. The former grants a +27 bonus to magic attacks and, like all other stickers that grant bonuses to magic attacks, can only be used by Zelda and Peach. The latter grants a +18 bonus to flame resistance and can only be used by Link, Toon Link, Zelda, and Ganondorf.

Supposedly, the development team of Super Smash Bros. Brawl was originally going to create a Toon Zelda/Toon Sheik character as well, but the idea was abandoned.

Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary
In Adventure Mode: The Subspace Emissary, Zelda is spectating a match between Mario and Kirby alongside Princess Peach. When the flying battleship Halberd appears over the stadium, both princesses join Mario and Kirby in fighting off the enemies that emerge from it. After the fight, Mario is blown out of the stadium, and Zelda and Peach are captured by Petey Piranha, one of Mario's enemies. Kirby fights Petey to rescue the princesses, but can only save one of them (the player can choose which one). The other princess is turned into a trophy by Wario, and Kirby escapes with the rescued princess as the entire stadium is pulled into Subspace by a Subspace Bomb.

The rescued princess journeys alongside Kirby until she is attacked and turned into a trophy by Bowser, who uses a swarm of Shadow Bugs to create a clone of the princess. If the princess is Zelda, the clone tries to attack Link and Yoshi, but is intercepted and destroyed by Mario and Pit. Link notices the battle just in time to see what appears to be Zelda's trophy dissolve into nothing, and attacks Mario and Pit in a rage.

Zelda and Peach are taken onto the Halberd, but are rescued when Metal Gear protagonist Solid Snake infiltrates the ship and defeats another pair of clones. Snake insists that the princesses stay were they are, but Peach and Zelda (who dons her Sheik disguise for the first time in the game, but can transform back to Zelda during the level) instead make their way to the upper deck of the ship, which has come under attack by Star Fox protagonist Fox McCloud. When Peach gets trapped in the crossfire, Sheik teleports into the air and directly attacks Fox's Arwing, forcing him to eject. Peach stops them before they can fight hand-to-hand. As they are joined by Snake and the Pokémon Lucario, a group of Mr. Game & Watches are forcibly ejected by Meta-Knight, who had infiltrated the Halberd with Lucario to take his ship back. The Game & Watches merge into the boss Duon, which is defeated by the heroes. Duon turns back into a single Mr. Game & Watch, who is befriended by Peach. The various heroes subsequently unite to launch an attack on the Subspace Realm from which the attacks have been originating.

Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U
In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, Zelda returns as a playable fighter. She retains her The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess design. She can no longer transform into Sheik, as she is her own character now. Her move set and Final Smash is largely the same as in Brawl. However her ability to transform is replaced by the Phantom Slash, where she summons a Phantom Knight straight from The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks to block enemy attacks and projectiles.

In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS, trophies for Princess Zelda and Ghost Zelda from Spirit Tracks, as well as trophies for Young and Adult Zelda from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D. In Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, there is a Trophy of Princess Zelda from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker and Hooded Zelda from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.

Super Smash Bros. Ultimate
In Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Princess Zelda is once again a playable fighter. She is now designed after her appearance in The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, with elements from A Link to the Past, since Masahiro Sakurai and the developers felt her Breath of the Wild incarnation was more suited to research than combat. Her move set is largely the same as previous games with some adjustments. However, Zelda's Final Smash has changed from the Light Arrow to the Triforce of Wisdom, which will trap opponents inside the titular Triforce piece for huge damage.

In this game, Ayumi Fujimura reprises her role as Zelda from The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. In World of Light, Zelda also speaks a single English line, provided by Brandy Kopp.

Game & Watch Gallery 4
In Game & Watch Gallery 4, Zelda appears in the Zelda Game & Watch game, which is playable in the Museum after unlocking enough stars. This game is a remake of the Zelda Game & Watch game in which Link must battle monsters, including dragon bosses, in order to collect pieces of the Triforce and thus free Zelda.

Hyrule Warriors
Princess Zelda appears in Hyrule Warriors as a playable character. She wields Rapiers that can transform into a Bow of Light, Batons that can manipulate wind and lightning, and Dominion Rods that allow her to control Owl Statue and Hammer Guardian Statue. Her appearances from Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword are alternate costumes available via downloadable content. Other downloadable content gives her recolors of her default look to resemble Hilda from A Link Between Worlds and her A Link to the Past incarnation artwork to unlock, a costume that makes her look like Ilia and the Dominion Rod is added as a weapon for her to use. In Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition, Princess Zelda gains a new alternate costume based on her Breath of the Wild incarnation.

In the game, she is depicted as a strong graceful warrior, a talented magic user, and a capable military commander, leading the Hyrulean Forces into battle against the enemies of Hyrule such as Cia, Wizzro, Zant, Ghirahim, and even Ganondorf. She is supported by Impa who acts as her general and military advisor. She also possesses the Triforce of Wisdom; although she eventually loses it to Cia while disguised as Sheik, it is later returned to her by Cia to prevent the partially revived Ganondorf from obtaining the complete Triforce. She loses it again to the fully revived Ganondorf, though she reclaims it after Ganon's defeat.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity
In Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity, Zelda returns as a playable character.

Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda
In Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer featuring The Legend of Zelda, Zelda is a playable character.

Other appearances
Two incarnations of Zelda, each based on her respective appearances in The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, appears on the Puzzle Swap panel "Nintendo Starlets" of the StreetPass Mii Plaza, alongside Princess Peach, Pauline and Rosalina.

Portrayals
Zelda was originally voiced by Jun Mizusawa in her first three Super Smash Bros. appearances, matching her appearances in both The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess, but was replaced for the first time in series by in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, who previously voiced her in The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, applying a similar situation to what Link and Ganondorf received in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Ultimate.

On a side note, the opening cutscene for the World of Light in Ultimate marks the first time in the series where Zelda has fully spoken lines. During this, she is voiced in the English release by Brandy Kopp, who also voiced Palutena starting from the previous game, in a similar vein to how Fox and Falco are dubbed exclusively in Smash Taunts in Super Smash Bros. Melee; thus making her one of the few characters to have two voice actors in one game.

Link
In the games, Zelda and Link are close friends. In the television show and the Philips CD-i games, Link: The Faces of Evil and Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon, Link has romantic feelings for Zelda, but she does feel the same about him. If Zelda is not the damsel-in-distress, she often accompanies Link during his adventures. In some of the games, Zelda helps Link battle the final boss, usually Ganondorf.

There have been a few hints of romance between both of them. In the ending for Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, after Zelda is awoken, it is presumed that she and Link are kissing behind the falling curtains. In the linked game for the Oracle games, the true ending sequence shows Zelda lightly kissing Link on the cheek, causing him to swoon as hearts float above his head. In separate interviews, Eiji Aonuma and Shigeru Miyamoto have not denied the possibility of a future relationship between Zelda and Link.

In manga, the romantic relationship between Link and Zelda is more obvious than in the games. In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time manga, this is shown by manga's dialog and Link's inability to stop thinking about Zelda. In a scene of the childhood chapters, Zelda kisses Link, causing him to react in excitement. In the adult chapters, there is a scene of tenderness between Link and Zelda, which is quickly interrupted when Ganondorf kidnaps Zelda. The last page of the manga shows that Link and Zelda are very close, because she cries in joy when Link visits her in the castle courtyard.

The Nintendo Comics System issues has a few direct romantic moments between Link and Zelda and some of the first overall. Their romance slowly develops throughout the issues. Both stories of issue 1, He Also Serves and Missing in Action, end with Zelda denying Link a kiss. Both stories of issue 3 reveal Zelda's romantic feelings for Link. In the first story, The Power, Link and Zelda are about to kiss, but are interrupted by a Wallmaster and two Darknuts. At the end of issue 3's The Price, Zelda tells Link that she loves him, thinking that he was asleep. Link then asks loudly what she meant about loving him, but Zelda denies. The strip ends with them arguing back and forth. Lastly, issue 6's two-page short story, The Perfect Date, are about Link and Zelda dating.

Captain N: The Game Master has a few moments where Zelda kisses Link. These are the earliest instances in official media where Zelda is shown to be kissing Link.

List of game appearances

 * The Legend of Zelda (1987)
 * Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (1988)
 * The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (1991)
 * Link: The Faces of Evil (1993)
 * Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon (1993)
 * The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
 * The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (2000)
 * The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (2001)
 * The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (2001)
 * The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (2002)
 * The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords (2002)
 * The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest (2003)
 * The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (2004)
 * The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (2005)
 * The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2006)
 * The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (2007)
 * The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks (2009)
 * The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword (2011)
 * The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (2013)
 * The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild (2017)
 * The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Nintendo Switch) (2019)
 * Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity (2020)

Trivia

 * In the level Jelly Pipe in Yoshi's Story, Zelda's name is seen in the background along with Mario and Luigi in what is apparently a molded newspaper.
 * In Super Smash Bros. Melee's Classic Mode, Zelda cannot appear as an ally.
 * Zelda appears in Nintendo Monopoly, where she replaces North Carolina Avenue/Oxford Street and costs $300.
 * Zelda's name appears on the scoreboard in both Mario Golf for the Nintendo 64 and its Game Boy Color counterpart.
 * Zelda and Peach are the only characters in Super Smash Bros. Brawl to share a snapshot in the Subspace Emissary with each other.
 * In Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS / Wii U, if Zelda summons a Phantom and she is KO'd after it is destroyed, she will be unable to use the move as usual, but the purple cloud on her hand will disappear.
 * In the Japanese version of the E3 2018 presentation for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Zelda's model is said to be based on her appearance in A Link to the Past, while the English version states that the model is based on the one from A Link Between Worlds . Masahiro Sakurai later settled this inconsistency by stating that the design takes elements from both appearances.
 * Sakurai also stated during the same presentation that the choice of her design from said games (instead of the more recent Breath of the Wild like Link) is due to that incarnation being "more into research than fighting", combined with his wish that he wanted to choose the characters' design from different The Legend of Zelda games instead of having the characters' design come from a single game (like Ocarina of Time in Melee and Twilight Princess in Brawl and for 3DS / Wii U).