- Joined
- Dec 18, 2010
- Location
- Idaho, USA
Nintendo has left us completely in the dark about the obscure origins of the entity Dark Link. Not a single shred of information has really been given about this recurring enemy. However, with the release of Skyward Sword, a new possibility comes to light. This is a pretty radical theory, and it probably sounds pretty goofy. (And trust me, I've seen a lot of theories and thought, "That's silly. You're trying too hard." but bear with me if you can bear to read all this). Thus, I'll try and back it up with as much evidence as I can think of and leave you to make a verdict. Anyways, get comfortable. This will probably be a long read.
Anyway, near the end of Skyward Sword, it is revealed that Ghirahim, is only the "Dark Master Sword's" equivalent of Fi. This "Dark Master Sword" seems to be a direct evil counterpart to the Master Sword. Both swords have similiar guards, Triforces on their blades, and spirits dwelling within them. The only difference between the two is size, color, and the orientation of the Triforce, with Demise's being upside-down. Aside from this, they seem to be nearly identical. Whether the Master Sword was made to counter Demise's sword or vice versa, we can't know, but it doesn't really matter. What matters is this:
Ghirahim is the antithesis of Fi and the Master Sword, serves Demise, and harbors strong hate for the goddess's chosen hero.
The Master Sword and Demise's sword appear to be direct counterparts to each other.
So, with this in mind, let's talk about Dark Link.
In Adventure of Link, Dark Link's first appearance (in real-world chronology) he does not appear to be in direct servitude to Ganon but rather as a final test for those seeking the Triforce of Courage. However, in Ocarina of Time, Dark Link's first appearance in Zelda chronology, he does appear to be in alliance with Ganon. He resides, or perhaps waits for Link, in the Water Temple, a place infested with monsters because of a curse placed on the temple by Ganondorf. This time, although, gameplay-wise, defeating him rewards the Longshot, he does not appear to be a guarding a special or precious item that the hero needs, eg. Triforce or Master Sword. It seems unlikely that, if Dark Link is only a trial, that he would be placed to guard such a small, normal item. He also appears to wield a Dark equivalent of the Master Sword and obviously does not like Link. In addition, Ganon is only the reincarnation of Demise's hatred.
However, at the end of Skyward Sword, Demise's sword evaporates into dust, leaving Ghirahim's fate unclear. That said, it is never stated that Ghirahim was a creation of Demise or that he needs Demise to live for his own existence to continue. In fact, in the game's intro, Ghirahim is shown with the other demons in their assault on the surface world. It is also clear that Ghirahim can exist in a physical form outside of the sword. Thus, if Ghirahim did survive, then he would do the obvious thing: Wait a few centuries for Demise's hate's reincarnation to show up, and then serve him, as his original master is dead. Which brings up how likely it is or not that Ghirahim survived.
It's no question that we give Ghirahim quite a beating in Skyward Sword. We slash all over him with the Goddess Sword, and later with the Goddess White Sword. Finally, we put a hole in his chest with three fatal blows from the True Master Sword. It is shown in other games that not even Ganon can survive fatal wounds made with the Master Sword at full power. He is defeated in Ocarina of Time by various slashes to the face followed by a stab. In The Wind Waker, a sword thrust to his skull completely kills him. In Twilight Princess, an ending blow to the chest kills him also. Ganon reincarnates without cease, but that's beside the point. What matters is that these sorts of wound made with the Master Sword will kill Ganon for the time being. When the Master Sword creates a hole in his chest, he dies. What's interesting is that a far bigger and deeper hole in the same spot on Ghirahim doesn't even slow him down. Which brings up the question:
Can these sword spirits even die?
It's obvious that Ghirahim can take much more of a beating than Ganon, but can beings like Fi and him even die? An ending blow to Ganon's chest kills him completely, but three fatal blows to Ghirahim's doesn't even put him on the ground. Obviously, the fatal blow and ending blow are practically the same maneuver, so what this means is that it takes more than three times the physical trauma to kill Ghirahim than it does Ganon. Therefore, I can conclude that these "sword spirits" simply cannot be harmed to a point where their life ends. Why, then, should the eradication of his master end his life, when it's not probable that his master even created him? Perhaps Ghirahim was a demon who adopted that role, but it doesn't really matter. In addition, perhaps when Demise's sword evaporates, Ghirahim is fleeing. Demise looks baffled or confused that it happened as well, so it's a possibility. We know that Ghirahim likes running away when he's had enough of fighting, as shown in the Skyview Temple and Fire Sanctuary. What I'm getting at here is that Ghirahim won't die, which means that, knowing Ghirahim, he would love an opportunity to get back at the chosen hero. And the chosen hero's reincarnation is just as good as the original, right? And he can kill him and please his new master to boot! Why, then, should he not come back to haunt Link if he gets the chance?
So, our list of "What matters" is a bit longer now.
Ghirahim has likely not died and would like to "get back" at Link to avenge his master and for humiliating him three times and interfering with his plans.
Ghirahim is the spirit of a dark counterpart to the Master Sword.
Dark Link is a dark counterpart of Link, and appears to hold a (probably not the because of size difference) dark Master Sword.
Dark Link appears to be serving Ganon, the reincarnation of Demise/Demise's hatred.
Demise's sword (Ghirahim) is an evil counterpart to the Master Sword.
Also, as long as we're talking about the word "antithesis" we might as well point out that Dark Link appears in front of a dead tree, which may serve to contrast to the fact that Link in Ocarina of Time grew up surrounded by flourishing trees. I'm not sure why Ghirahim would take the form of a "dark Link" but it doesn't really matter.
Obviously, Nintendo couldn't have been planning this back in the late years of the 90's when they were producing Ocarina of Time, but Skyward Sword is an origin story after all, and why not explain the origin of a recurring major enemy who is shrouded in mystery while they were at it? They might not come out and say it directly, but they can give clues that fans might piece together. And they did try and tie Skyward Sword to Ocarina of Time, which they did and did quite well, but I digress.
Anyways, that's about all I've got. My opinion is that Ghirahim and Dark Link are the same being or at least directly related, and I feel I've provided enough possible evidence to support this possibility. So, yeah, that's about it.
Your thoughts? Discuss.
Anyway, near the end of Skyward Sword, it is revealed that Ghirahim, is only the "Dark Master Sword's" equivalent of Fi. This "Dark Master Sword" seems to be a direct evil counterpart to the Master Sword. Both swords have similiar guards, Triforces on their blades, and spirits dwelling within them. The only difference between the two is size, color, and the orientation of the Triforce, with Demise's being upside-down. Aside from this, they seem to be nearly identical. Whether the Master Sword was made to counter Demise's sword or vice versa, we can't know, but it doesn't really matter. What matters is this:
Ghirahim is the antithesis of Fi and the Master Sword, serves Demise, and harbors strong hate for the goddess's chosen hero.
The Master Sword and Demise's sword appear to be direct counterparts to each other.
So, with this in mind, let's talk about Dark Link.
In Adventure of Link, Dark Link's first appearance (in real-world chronology) he does not appear to be in direct servitude to Ganon but rather as a final test for those seeking the Triforce of Courage. However, in Ocarina of Time, Dark Link's first appearance in Zelda chronology, he does appear to be in alliance with Ganon. He resides, or perhaps waits for Link, in the Water Temple, a place infested with monsters because of a curse placed on the temple by Ganondorf. This time, although, gameplay-wise, defeating him rewards the Longshot, he does not appear to be a guarding a special or precious item that the hero needs, eg. Triforce or Master Sword. It seems unlikely that, if Dark Link is only a trial, that he would be placed to guard such a small, normal item. He also appears to wield a Dark equivalent of the Master Sword and obviously does not like Link. In addition, Ganon is only the reincarnation of Demise's hatred.
However, at the end of Skyward Sword, Demise's sword evaporates into dust, leaving Ghirahim's fate unclear. That said, it is never stated that Ghirahim was a creation of Demise or that he needs Demise to live for his own existence to continue. In fact, in the game's intro, Ghirahim is shown with the other demons in their assault on the surface world. It is also clear that Ghirahim can exist in a physical form outside of the sword. Thus, if Ghirahim did survive, then he would do the obvious thing: Wait a few centuries for Demise's hate's reincarnation to show up, and then serve him, as his original master is dead. Which brings up how likely it is or not that Ghirahim survived.
It's no question that we give Ghirahim quite a beating in Skyward Sword. We slash all over him with the Goddess Sword, and later with the Goddess White Sword. Finally, we put a hole in his chest with three fatal blows from the True Master Sword. It is shown in other games that not even Ganon can survive fatal wounds made with the Master Sword at full power. He is defeated in Ocarina of Time by various slashes to the face followed by a stab. In The Wind Waker, a sword thrust to his skull completely kills him. In Twilight Princess, an ending blow to the chest kills him also. Ganon reincarnates without cease, but that's beside the point. What matters is that these sorts of wound made with the Master Sword will kill Ganon for the time being. When the Master Sword creates a hole in his chest, he dies. What's interesting is that a far bigger and deeper hole in the same spot on Ghirahim doesn't even slow him down. Which brings up the question:
Can these sword spirits even die?
It's obvious that Ghirahim can take much more of a beating than Ganon, but can beings like Fi and him even die? An ending blow to Ganon's chest kills him completely, but three fatal blows to Ghirahim's doesn't even put him on the ground. Obviously, the fatal blow and ending blow are practically the same maneuver, so what this means is that it takes more than three times the physical trauma to kill Ghirahim than it does Ganon. Therefore, I can conclude that these "sword spirits" simply cannot be harmed to a point where their life ends. Why, then, should the eradication of his master end his life, when it's not probable that his master even created him? Perhaps Ghirahim was a demon who adopted that role, but it doesn't really matter. In addition, perhaps when Demise's sword evaporates, Ghirahim is fleeing. Demise looks baffled or confused that it happened as well, so it's a possibility. We know that Ghirahim likes running away when he's had enough of fighting, as shown in the Skyview Temple and Fire Sanctuary. What I'm getting at here is that Ghirahim won't die, which means that, knowing Ghirahim, he would love an opportunity to get back at the chosen hero. And the chosen hero's reincarnation is just as good as the original, right? And he can kill him and please his new master to boot! Why, then, should he not come back to haunt Link if he gets the chance?
So, our list of "What matters" is a bit longer now.
Ghirahim has likely not died and would like to "get back" at Link to avenge his master and for humiliating him three times and interfering with his plans.
Ghirahim is the spirit of a dark counterpart to the Master Sword.
Dark Link is a dark counterpart of Link, and appears to hold a (probably not the because of size difference) dark Master Sword.
Dark Link appears to be serving Ganon, the reincarnation of Demise/Demise's hatred.
Demise's sword (Ghirahim) is an evil counterpart to the Master Sword.
Also, as long as we're talking about the word "antithesis" we might as well point out that Dark Link appears in front of a dead tree, which may serve to contrast to the fact that Link in Ocarina of Time grew up surrounded by flourishing trees. I'm not sure why Ghirahim would take the form of a "dark Link" but it doesn't really matter.
Obviously, Nintendo couldn't have been planning this back in the late years of the 90's when they were producing Ocarina of Time, but Skyward Sword is an origin story after all, and why not explain the origin of a recurring major enemy who is shrouded in mystery while they were at it? They might not come out and say it directly, but they can give clues that fans might piece together. And they did try and tie Skyward Sword to Ocarina of Time, which they did and did quite well, but I digress.
Anyways, that's about all I've got. My opinion is that Ghirahim and Dark Link are the same being or at least directly related, and I feel I've provided enough possible evidence to support this possibility. So, yeah, that's about it.
Your thoughts? Discuss.
Last edited: