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{{Main|Link#Ocarina of Time|Link}}
{{TODO|Expand OOT adult text, rewrite MM text from the start of D1 onward from scratch}}
{{Infobox|character
{{Infobox|character
|image = [[File:MasterLink.jpg]]
| name = Link
|game = ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]''<br>''[[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|Majora's Mask]]''
| image = [[File:Links - OOT.png|400x500px]]
|locations = [[Hyrule]]<br>[[Termina]]
| caption = Young Link & Adult Link art from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]''
|race = [[Hylian]]
| title = Hero of Time
| race = [[Hylian]]
| gender = Male
| occupation =
| member =
| game = ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]'' (''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D|3D]]'')<br/>''[[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|Majora's Mask]]'' (''[[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D|3D]]'')
| series = [[The Legend of Zelda (Series)|''The Legend of Zelda'' series]]
| location = [[Hyrule]]<br/>[[Termina]]
| when = [[Era of the Hero of Time]]
| related = [[Young Link]]<br/>[[Deku Link]]<br/>[[Goron Link]]<br/>[[Zora Link]]
| gallery = [[Gallery:Link]]
}}
}}
The '''Hero of Time''' is the main protagonist of ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|Majora's Mask]]'', given his title by [[Rauru (Ocarina of Time)|Rauru]], the Sage of Light.


When [[Link]] pulled the [[Master Sword]] from it's pedestal in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]'', he advanced in time seven years. Once this happened, Link was given the title '''Hero of Time'''. ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia]]'' suggests that the [[Hero's Shade]] from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]]'' is the ghost of the Hero of Time.{{Ref|''Hyrule Historia''|Some theorize that the fact that [the Hero's Shade] holds his sword in his left hand indicates he is actually Link from ''Ocarina of Time''.|pg. 179}}
This incarnation of [[Link]] was raised in [[Kokiri Forest]], and was awakened to his destiny as the hero by the [[Great Deku Tree]]. He set out on a journey across [[Hyrule]] to prevent [[Ganon (Ocarina of Time)|Ganondorf]], the [[Gerudo]] King of Thieves, from obtaining the [[Triforce]] and conquering [[Hyrule]]. After pulling the [[Master Sword]] from the [[Pedestal of Time]] inside the [[Temple of Time]], Link was sealed away for seven years - as an adult, he fought to reclaim Hyrule from the King of Evil, and eventually succeeded using the power of both the [[Triforce of Courage]] and the [[Seven Sages]]. Link was then returned to his childhood, going on a journey of self-reflection; along the way, he would come across the land of [[Termina]], and save its inhabitants from an apocalypse at the hands of [[Majora's Mask]].
 
==''Ocarina of Time''==
{{quote|{{Dump|OOT|906-907}}|[[Great Deku Tree]], Opening text of ''Ocarina of Time''}}
[[File:Young-Link.png|160px|thumb|left|Young Link in ''Ocarina of Time'']]
Link is a [[Hylian]] who was born during the [[Hyrulean Civil War]]. His father was a soldier who died in said war, and his mother was mortally wounded in the conflict - before she died, she left Link in the care of the [[Great Deku Tree]]. Link was raised in [[Kokiri Forest]] among the other [[Kokiri]] - he was bullied for being the only "Kokiri" without a [[Fairy]] companion, especially by [[Mido]], and received the nickname "Boy Without a Fairy", but was close friends with [[Saria]]. In spite of his troubled childhood, Link was a courageous and noble individual who never hesitated to help others, no matter how difficult it was.
 
At the beginning of the game, Link is 9 years old,{{ref| https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/3ds/zelda-ocarina-of-time/4/1 | When we decided to handle Link growing up from a 9-year-old child to a more mature 16-year-old, I wanted lots of characters to fulfill various roles. For example, Kaepora Gaebora is a grandfather figure who gives Link all kinds of advice and looks out for him. And since Link is a boy, I wanted girls besides Princess Zelda to show up. | Shigeru Miyamoto}}, and has a nightmare. In the nightmare, he is in a grassy field, and witnesses a woman and a young girl riding out from across a drawbridge on a horse - chasing them is a sinister-looking man with black skin and red hair on his own horse, who runs Link over when he turns back to look. Awakening in his [[Link's House|house]], Link is suddenly bequeathed a fairy companion, [[Navi]], who instructs him to visit the Great Deku Tree.
 
After obtaining the [[Kokiri Sword]] and a [[Deku Shield]] to arm himself, Link visits the Deku Tree, who explains that Link's nightmares are the result of a great evil descending upon Hyrule. He reveals that he has been cursed with a fatal disease, and that Link can break the curse if he is willing to do so. Link accepts, and goes [[Inside the Deku Tree]]. After obtaining the [[Fairy Slingshot]] and defeating [[Queen Gohma]], Link returns outside. The Deku Tree informs Link that he was too late to purge the curse, and that he is dying. The Deku Tree tells Link the creation story of [[Hyrule]] and the [[Triforce]], and reveals that [[Ganondorf]], the [[Gerudo]] King, wanted the three [[Spiritual Stones]] in order to enter the [[Sacred Realm]] and obtain the Triforce; the Deku Tree refused to relinquish the [[Kokiri's Emerald]], one of the Stones, so Ganondorf cursed him. Before passing, the Deku Tree entrusts Link with the Kokiri's Emerald and orders him to seek out the "Princess of Destiny" in [[Hyrule Castle (Ocarina of Time)|Hyrule Castle]].
 
Upon leaving, Link decides to run away from Kokiri Forest, as Mido mistakenly believes that Link killed the Deku Tree and has spread the rumor across the other Kokiri. Before he leaves, Saria meets Link in private and gives him the [[Fairy Ocarina]] as something to remember her by. After meeting [[Kaepora Gaebora]], Link travels across [[Hyrule Field]], during which he visits [[Lon Lon Ranch]] and befriends a horse named [[Epona]], before arriving at Hyrule Castle. Link sneaks into the castle courtyard and meets the young [[Zelda (Ocarina of Time)|Princess Zelda]], who explains that the Triforce has the ability to grant wishes. She informs Link that Ganondorf has falsely pledged allegiance to her father, the King, and that Link must obtain the Sacred Stones and enter the Sacred Realm before Ganondorf does. She gives him a [[Zelda's Letter|letter]] that grants Link her royal authority, and he is escorted out by [[Impa (Ocarina if Time)|Impa]], Zelda's bodyguard, who also teaches him [[Zelda's Lullaby]].
 
Link arms himself with a [[Hylian Shield]] before venturing out into Hyrule, briefly returning to Saria, who teaches him [[Saria's Song]]. In [[Goron City]], he meets [[Darunia]], the [[Goron]] chief, who entrusts him with the [[Goron Bracelet]] and requests that Link defeat all the monsters in [[Dodongo's Cavern]]; Link retrieves the [[Bomb Bag]], defeats [[King Dodongo]], and receives the [[Goron's Ruby]]. He then ventures to [[Zora's Domain]], where he goes [[Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly]] to rescue [[Ruto|Princess Ruto]], obtaining the [[Boomerang]] and [[Zora's Sapphire]] in the process and defeating [[Barinade]].
 
With all three Spiritual Stones, Link returns to Hyrule Castle, but as he reaches [[Castle Town|Hyrule Castle Town]], he witnesses his nightmare come true; Impa and Zelda flee the town on a white horse, the latter tossing the [[Ocarina of Time]] into the moat - Link then attempts to face Ganondorf, the man chasing them, only to be easily knocked aside. Link obtains the Ocarina of Time, and receives a vision from Zelda - she reveals that Ganondorf has murdered the King and is hunting her to obtain the Ocarina of Time, so she teaches him the [[Song of Time]] so he can access the Sacred Realm. Link journeys to the [[Temple of Time]], places the three Spiritual Stones in their pedestals, and plays the Song of Time, revealing a hidden chamber housing the [[Master Sword]]. Link pulls it from the pedestal, only to be frozen in time - before losing consciousness, he witnesses Ganondorf entering the Sacred Realm, mocking Link for obtaining the Stones for him.
 
[[File:OoT-Link-FairyBow.png|180px|right|thumb|Adult Link in ''Ocarina of Time'']]
Seven years later, Link, now 16, awakens in the [[Chamber of Sages]], and is greeted by [[Rauru (Ocarina of Time)|Rauru]], the Sage of Light. Rauru explains that Link was too young to wield the Master Sword, so he was sealed away until he was old enough. During the seven-year time gap, Ganondorf was able to enter the Sacred Realm, obtaining the Triforce and using its power to conquer Hyrule as the King of Evil. Link, now the Hero of Time, must gather and awaken the [[Seven Sages]] so they can seal Ganondorf's evil away in the Sacred Realm, and save Hyrule - Rauru then gives Link the [[Light Medallion]], as proof of the Sage of Light's awakening, before he returns to the Temple of Time. He then meets Sheik, a [[Sheikah]] man who informs Link that five of the seven Sages are trapped inside temples across Hyrule, and cannot awaken until Link cleanses the evil from each temple.
 
Link travels to [[Kakariko Village]] and obtains the [[Hookshot]] from the ghost of [[Dampe]], the grave keeper, before he returns to Kokiri Forest. He learns that the forest has become infested with monsters and that all the Kokiri leave in fear, locked up in their houses - however, Saria has journeyed to the [[Forest Temple]] i n the [[Sacred Forest Meadow]] to try and stop the sudden surge of monsters. Link travels to the Temple and meets Sheik, who teaches him the [[Minuet of Forest]]. Inside the Temple, Link obtains the [[Fairy Bow]] and defeats [[Phantom Ganon]] - Saria then awakens as the Sage of Forest, and gifts Link the [[Forest Medallion]]. With the Sage of Forest awakened, the monsters swarming Kokiri Forest vanish. Link then meets the [[Deku Tree Sprout]] in front of the deceased Deku Tree, who reveals Link's past to him.
 
Back at the Temple of Time, Link meets Sheik again, who teaches him the [[Prelude of Light]] and reveals that Link can return to the past by placing the Master Sword back in the [[Pedestal of Time]] - regardless, Link proceeds to Goron City. He learns that Ganondorf is planning to exterminate the Gorons by feeding them all to [[Volvagia]], a dragon who dwells in the [[Fire Temple]]. After receiving the [[Goron Tunic]] to protect him from the heat, Link enters the temple (learning the [[Bolero of Fire]] from Sheik on his way), acquires the [[Magic Hammer]], and defeats Volvagia - Darunia then awakens as the Sage of Fire, giving Link the [[Fire Medallion]]. Next, Link returns to Zora's Domain, which has been frozen over and is all but abandoned. Link explores the [[Ice Cavern]] and discovers the [[Iron Boots]].
 
Link travels through Hyrule once more to awaken the Sages. He first travels to Kokiri Forest, now infested with monsters, to defeat the evil in the Forest Temple and awaken Saria as the Sage of Forest. He then travels to Death Mountain, where the Gorons have been trapped by the dragon Volvagia, to slay the dragon in the Fire Temple and awaken Darunia as the Sage of Fire. Afterwards, Link travels to Lake Hylia, which has been drained of water, to remove the curse on the Water Temple and awaken Ruto as the Sage of Water. He then must journey to Kakariko Village and defeat the evil spirit hiding in the Shadow Temple to waken Impa as the Sage of Shadow. His last stop is Gerudo Valley, where he must free Nabooru from the evil magic of Twinrova in the Spirit Temple and awaken Nabooru as the Sage of Spirit.
 
With the Sages awakened, Link returns to the Temple of Time to find Princess Zelda waiting for him. She explains that he holds the Triforce of Courage and gives him the Light Arrows before being captured by Ganondorf. Link enters Ganon's Castle to save her and to face Ganondorf, first in his Gerudo form, then in his beastly Ganon form after the castle collapses. With Ganondorf defeated and sealed away, Link is sent back to his own time to relive the childhood that he missed during his seven-year slumber. After being sent back, he found he was in a time before he had ever touched the Master Sword. While Navi flew away, her job done, he went to tell the young Princess Zelda what had gone wrong to avoid it happening again.
 
===''Ocarina of Time'' Gallery===
====Key art====
<gallery caption="Young Link">
File:Young-Link-Art.png|Young Link from ''Ocarina of Time'' (N64)
File:Young-Link.png|Young Link (''Ocarina of Time 3D'')
File:OoT-Link-Navi.png|Young Link with Navi from ''Ocarina of Time'' (N64)
File:Sping-Attack-Deku-Babas.png|Link performing a [[Spin Attack]] on [[Deku Baba]]s
File:Link-Entering-Great-Deku-Tree.png|Link entering the [[Great Deku Tree]]
File:Link-Fighting-Queen-Gohma.png|Link fighting [[Queen Gohma]]
File:Link-and-Princess-Zelda.png|Young Link and [[Zelda (Ocarina of Time)|Princess Zelda]] from ''Ocarina of Time''
File:Link-Encountering-Ganondorf.png|Link encountering [[Ganon]]dorf
File:Link-Pulling-Master-Sword.png|Link lifting the [[Master Sword]]
</gallery>
 
<gallery caption="Adult Link">
File:LinkOcarinaofTime.png|Artwork from ''Ocarina of Time'' (N64)
File:OoT-Link-FairyBow.png|Artwork from ''Ocarina of Time'' (N64)
File:Link Hanging.png
File:Link Rolling.png
File:Link_Running.png
File:Linkclimb.jpg|Artwork from ''Ocarina of Time'' (N64)
File:LinkEpona.png|Artwork from ''Ocarina of Time'' (N64)
File:OoT-LinkandEpona.png|Artwork from ''Ocarina of Time'' (N64)
File:Linkepona.png|Adult Link on Epona (''Ocarina of Time 3D'')
File:Main-Characters.png|The main characters of ''Ocarina of Time''
File:Link-Sheik-Fighting-Enemies.png|Link and Sheik fighting [[Moblin]]s, [[Stalfos]], and [[Lizalfos]]
File:Link-Fighting-Volvagia.png|Link fighting [[Volvagia]]
File:Link-Sheik-Instruments.png|Link and [[Sheik]] playing their instruments
File:Link-Fighting-Morpha.png|Link fighting [[Morpha]]
File:Link-Fighting-Ganondorf.jpg|Link fighting Ganondorf
File:Link-Fighting-Ganondorf-Fire.png|Link fighting Ganondorf
File:Ocarina-of-Time-3D-Art.png|Artwork from ''Ocarina of Time 3D''
</gallery>
 
====Concept art====
<gallery>
File:Child Link - OOT Turnaround front HH.png|Child Link colour design sketch, front view.
File:Child Link - OOT Turnaround side HH.png|Child Link colour design sketch, side view.
File:Child Link - OOT Turnaround back HH.png|Child Link colour design sketch, back view with Kokiri Sword and Deku Shield broken out.
File:Adult Link - OOT Turnaround front HH.png|Adult Link colour design sketch, front view.
File:Adult Link - OOT Turnaround side HH.png|Adult Link colour design sketch, side view.
File:Adult Link - OOT Turnaround back HH.png|Adult Link colour design sketch, back view with Master Sword and Hylian Shield broken out.
File:Link-Entering-Great-Deku-Tree-Concept.png|Link entering the Great Deku Tree
File:Link-Fighting-Ganondorf-Concept.png|Link fighting Ganondorf
File:Link-Sheik-Fighting-Enemies-Concept.png|Link and Sheik fighting Moblins, Stalfos, and Lizalfos
File:Main-Characters-Concept.png|The main characters of Ocarina of Time
File:Rejected OOT poster concept 1 - HH.png|Concept for a rejected poster design
File:Rejected OOT poster concept 2 - HH.png|Concept for a rejected poster design
</gallery>
 
==''Majora's Mask''==
{{quote|{{Dump|MM|3908-3912}}|Opening text of ''Majora's Mask''}}
[[File:MM-Link-Artwork.png|130px|right]]
Link apparently stayed with [[Zelda (Ocarina of Time)#Majora's Mask|Zelda]] and the Royal Family for a while after his second "first meeting" with her. During this time, he obtained the young [[Epona#Majora's Mask|Epona]] as his permanent steed. Eventually, after what Zelda felt was only "a short time", he decided to take Epona and leave Hyrule on a personal quest, implied to be a search for [[Navi]]. While saying their goodbyes, she told him she was sure they would meet again and would pray for him to have a safe journey. She also gave him the [[Ocarina of Time#Majora's Mask|Ocarina of Time]] and retaught him the [[Song of Time#Majora's Mask|Song of Time]], telling him the [[Goddess of Time]] was protecting him, and if he played the Song of Time, the Goddess would aid him. While she waved goodbye, the Song of Time lingered on his mind.
 
Subsequently, while travelling through the [[Lost Woods]], Link is accosted by a pair of fairies, who startle Epona and knock him to the ground, unconscious. With him out cold, the fairies are joined by a [[Skull Kid]] wearing a mysterious mask, who rifles through his pockets and takes the Ocarina. As the three are arguing over the instrument, Link wakes up and confronts the thieves, but the Skull Kid dodges him, leaps on Epona and starts galloping away; with Link barely managing to cling on before they are out of reach. Dragged through the woods, Link is eventually flung off as the Skull Kid and his fairies gallop into a tunnel.
 
Recovering once again, he walks into the tunnel, only to find himself falling through a huge shaft with strange lights and symbols surrounding him.
 
Landing on a [[Deku Flower]], he finds himself confronted by the Skull Kid, now hovering in the air and flanked by his fairies, [[Tatl]] and [[Tael]]. Skull Kid complains that Epona wouldn't listen to a word he said, "so [he] did [Link] a favor and got rid of it." Seeing Link's anger, the Skull Kid mocks him, and then attacks him with a strange wave of energy. After being tormented by visions of [[Mad Scrub]]s, Link comes back to full consciousness to find himself turned into a [[Deku Scrub]]. After Skull Kid laughs at [[Deku Link]], telling him he'll stay that way forever. As Skull Kid begins to float out of the room, Link attempts to chase after him, but is knocked back by Tatl. Unfortunately for the yellow fairy, this means that when the door is slammed shut, she's left behind with Link.
 
With no sense of irony, Tatl blames Link for her becoming separated from her brother, and demands "Deku boy" do something. When Link just stares at her, she grudgingly apologises and asks that he take her with him, offering to sell out the Skull Kid's location and help Link in return for his helping her to reunite with Tael. With few other options, Link shrugs and agrees.
 
Once they make it through the door, they find themselves inside a [[Clock Tower]], where the [[Happy Mask Salesman]] observes that he's met with a terrible fate. Telling him that the mask the "imp" was wearing was stolen from him, he offers to return Link to his normal self if he can retrieve the Ocarina of Time, and the mask stolen from him, within three days.
 
Link learns the Skull Kid has caused mischief across the new world he has entered called [[Termina]], and that he is trying to get the Moon to crash into Clock Town and destroy the world at the end of Day 3. Link gets the Ocarina of Time back and uses the [[Song of Time]] to transport him and Tatl back to the beginning of Day 1. The Happy Mask Salesman turns Link back to a Hylian, leaving a mask behind that will allow him to turn back to the Deku Scrub whenever he wants. Link now must awaken the 4 Giants in the 4 compass directions to prevent the Moon from falling, and must repeat the same 3 days over and over until he can awaken them. After saving the Deku Princess and removing the poison from the [[Southern Swamp]], bringing [[Snowpeak]] to spring, saving the Zora eggs and clearing the fog from [[Great Bay]], and bringing peace to souls in [[Ikana Canyon]]. Link stops the Moon from crashing into Termina, but the mask the Skull Kid was wearing, called [[Majora's Mask]] and harnessing dark evil powers, takes over the Moon itself. Link lands on the moon through the portal left from Majora's Mask dark powers, and defeats Majora in his Mask, Wrath, and Incarnate forms. Link then leaves to return to Hyrule and continue his search for Navi.
 
===''Majora's Mask'' Gallery===
====Key art====
<gallery>
File:Link facing left with Tatl - MM64 art.jpg|Link & [[Tatl]] from ''Majora's Mask'' (N64)
File:Link-Artwork-MM.png|Artwork from ''Majora's Mask'' (N64)
File:MM-Link.png|Artwork from ''Majora's Mask'' (N64)
File:Link-RazorSword-MM64-Art.png|Link with [[Razor Sword]] and [[Hero's Shield]] from ''Majora's Mask'' (N64)
File:MM3D-Link.png|Link with Tatl, Razor Sword and [[Mirror Shield]] from ''Majora's Mask 3D''
File:MM-Link-Artwork.png|Link with Goron Mask from ''Majora's Mask'' (N64)
File:MM3D-Link-2.png|Link with Zora Mask & Deku Mask from ''Majora's Mask 3D''
File:Deku-Link-MM64-Art.png|Artwork of [[Deku Link]] from ''Majora's Mask'' (N64)
File:MM3D-Deku-Link.png|Deku Link with the Pipes of Awakening from ''Majora's Mask 3D''
File:Goron-Link-MM64-Art.png|Artwork of [[Goron Link]] from ''Majora's Mask'' (N64)
File:MM3D-Goron-Link.png|Goron Link with the Drums of Sleep from ''Majora's Mask 3D''
File:Zora-Link-MM64-Art.png|Artwork of [[Zora Link]] from ''Majora's Mask'' (N64)
File:MM3D-Zora-Link.png|Zora Link with the Guitar of Waves from ''Majora's Mask 3D''
File:Fierce-Deity-Link-MM64-Art.png|Artwork of [[Fierce Deity Link]] from ''Majora's Mask'' (N64)
File:Link-Epona-Characters.png|[[Link (Ocarina of Time)#Majora's Mask|Link]] riding [[Epona]] with many characters in the background
File:Link-Transformations.png|Link with [[Goron Link]], [[Deku Link]], and [[Zora Link]].
File:Fierce-Deity-Majora-Moon-Children.png|Fierce Deity Link, [[Majora's Incarnation]], and the [[Moon Children]] from ''Majora's Mask 3D''
File:Main-Cast-Moon.png|The main cast from ''Majora's Mask 3D''
File:Majora-mask-3d-website-background.jpg|The cast of ''Majora's Mask 3D''
</gallery>
 
====Concept art====
<gallery>
File:Link donning Goron Mask - MM concept art.jpg|Concept art
File:Link-Transformations-Concept.png|Concept art of Link and his transformations
File:Majoras-Mask-Preliminary-Artwork-Sketch-1.png|Preliminary version of the character art for ''Majora's Mask 3D''
File:Majoras-Mask-Preliminary-Artwork-Sketch-2.png|Preliminary sketch of the character art for ''Majora's Mask 3D''
</gallery>
 
==''Twilight Princess''==
{{Main|Hero's Spirit}}
''[[The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia|Hyrule Historia]]'' suggests that the [[Hero's Spirit]] from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]]'' is the ghost of the Hero of Time.{{Ref|''Hyrule Historia''|Some theorize that the fact that [the Hero's Spirit] holds his sword in his left hand indicates he is actually Link from ''Ocarina of Time''.|pg. 179}}
 
==Other games and media==
{{see also|Young Link}}
 
===Gallery===
<gallery>
File:N64 art 3D Link.png|3D artwork for [[Nintendo 64]]
File:Link art - SSB64.png|Link key art from ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]''
File:Link Character Select headshot - SSB64.png|Link icon from ''Super Smash Bros.''
File:Link - SSB Melee Trophy 8 (Link Smash 1).png|Link's first "Smash" trophy in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]''.
File:Link - SSB Melee Trophy 7 with text.png|Link trophy from ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', using ''Ocarina of Time'' Kokiri Tunic costume.
File:Link - SSB Melee Trophy 8 (Link Smash 1) with text.png|Link (Smash: Green Tunic) trophy from ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', using ''Ocarina of Time'' Kokiri Tunic costume.
File:Link - SSB Melee Trophy 9 (Link Smash 2) with text.png|Link (Smash: Red Tunic) trophy from ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee]]'', using ''Ocarina of Time'' Goron Tunic costume.
File:Young Link - SSB Melee Trophy 70 with text.png|[[Young Link]] trophy from ''Super Smash Bros Melee''
File:Young Link - SSB Melee Trophy 71 (Young Link Smash 1) with text.png|Young Link (Smash: Green Tunic) trophy from ''Super Smash Bros Melee''
File:Young Link - SSB Melee Trophy 72 (Young Link Smash 2) with text.png|Young Link (Smash: Blue Tunic) trophy from ''Super Smash Bros Melee''
File:Link (SCII).png|Artwork from ''[[Soulcalibur II]]''
File:SoulcaliburII-Link1.png|Artwork from ''[[Soulcalibur II]]''
File:SoulcaliburII-Link2.png|Artwork from ''[[Soulcalibur II]]''
File:SoulcaliburII-LinkPortrait.png|Portrait from ''[[Soulcalibur II]]''
File:Hyrule Warriors Artwork Link Ocarina of Time Costume.png|Link [[Kokiri Tunic]] costume from ''[[Hyrule Warriors]]'' (originally DLC, unlockable in ''[[Hyrule Warriors Legends]]'' & ''[[Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition]]'')
File:Hyrule Warriors Screenshot Link Ocarina of Time Costume Magic Rod.jpg|''Hyrule Warriors'' screenshot with Link in Kokiri Tunic
File:Hyrule Warriors Screenshot Link Ocarina of Time Costume Magic Rod2.jpg|''Hyrule Warriors'' screenshot with Link in Kokiri Tunic
File:Hyrule Warriors Artwork Young Link.png|Young Link artwork from ''Hyrule Warriors'' (originally DLC, unlockable in ''Hyrule Warriors Legends'' & ''Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition'')
File:Hyrule Warriors Artwork Young Link Mask.png|Young Link artwork from ''Hyrule Warriors''
File:Hyrule Warriors Screenshot Young Link Spin Attack.jpg|''Hyrule Warriors'' screenshot with Young Link
File:Adult Link (Ocarina of Time) - SSB3DS Trophy with EU-AUS text.png|Adult Link (Ocarina of Time) trophy from ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U|Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]''
File:Link Ocarina of Time - Concert 2018.png|''Ocarina of Time'' Link [[The Legend of Zelda Concert 2018]] promotional art, with the [[Ocarina of Time]]
File:Link-oot-amiibo.png|''Ocarina of Time'' Link [[amiibo]]
File:Link-mm-amiibo.png|''Majora's Mask'' Link amiibo
File:Hero of Time Set - BotW.png|[[Link (Breath of the Wild)|''Breath of the Wild'' Link]] in the amiibo-exclusive [[Hero of Time Set]]
File:Ssbu-younglink-art.png|Young Link key art from ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''
File:Young-link-amiibo.png|Young Link amiibo
</gallery>


{{References}}
{{References}}
{{Links}}
{{Listbox|Ocarina of Time Characters}}
{{Listbox|Majora's Mask Characters}}
{{Cat|Link|Ocarina of Time}}
{{Cat|Ocarina of Time Characters}}
{{Cat|Majora's Mask Characters}}

Latest revision as of 21:46, March 17, 2024

TODO: Expand OOT adult text, rewrite MM text from the start of D1 onward from scratch
Link
Links - OOT.png
Young Link & Adult Link art from Ocarina of Time

Title

Hero of Time

Race

Gender

Male

Games

Series

Location

Occurrence

Related

Media

Gallery

The Hero of Time is the main protagonist of Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, given his title by Rauru, the Sage of Light.

This incarnation of Link was raised in Kokiri Forest, and was awakened to his destiny as the hero by the Great Deku Tree. He set out on a journey across Hyrule to prevent Ganondorf, the Gerudo King of Thieves, from obtaining the Triforce and conquering Hyrule. After pulling the Master Sword from the Pedestal of Time inside the Temple of Time, Link was sealed away for seven years - as an adult, he fought to reclaim Hyrule from the King of Evil, and eventually succeeded using the power of both the Triforce of Courage and the Seven Sages. Link was then returned to his childhood, going on a journey of self-reflection; along the way, he would come across the land of Termina, and save its inhabitants from an apocalypse at the hands of Majora's Mask.

Ocarina of Time

"Navi... Navi, where art thou? Come hither.... Oh, Navi the fairy... Listen to my words, the words of the Deku Tree... Dost thou sense it? The climate of evil descending upon this realm... Malevolent forces even now are mustering to attack our land of Hyrule... For so long, the Kokiri Forest, the source of life, has stood as a barrier, deterring outsiders and maintaining the order of the world... But...before this tremendous evil power, even my power is as nothing... It seems the time has come for the boy without a fairy to begin his journey... The youth whose destiny it is to lead Hyrule to the path of justice and truth... Navi...go now! Find our young friend and guide him to me... I do not have much time left. Fly, Navi, fly! The fate of the forest, nay, the world, depends upon thee!"

Great Deku Tree, Opening text of Ocarina of Time
Young Link in Ocarina of Time

Link is a Hylian who was born during the Hyrulean Civil War. His father was a soldier who died in said war, and his mother was mortally wounded in the conflict - before she died, she left Link in the care of the Great Deku Tree. Link was raised in Kokiri Forest among the other Kokiri - he was bullied for being the only "Kokiri" without a Fairy companion, especially by Mido, and received the nickname "Boy Without a Fairy", but was close friends with Saria. In spite of his troubled childhood, Link was a courageous and noble individual who never hesitated to help others, no matter how difficult it was.

At the beginning of the game, Link is 9 years old,[1], and has a nightmare. In the nightmare, he is in a grassy field, and witnesses a woman and a young girl riding out from across a drawbridge on a horse - chasing them is a sinister-looking man with black skin and red hair on his own horse, who runs Link over when he turns back to look. Awakening in his house, Link is suddenly bequeathed a fairy companion, Navi, who instructs him to visit the Great Deku Tree.

After obtaining the Kokiri Sword and a Deku Shield to arm himself, Link visits the Deku Tree, who explains that Link's nightmares are the result of a great evil descending upon Hyrule. He reveals that he has been cursed with a fatal disease, and that Link can break the curse if he is willing to do so. Link accepts, and goes Inside the Deku Tree. After obtaining the Fairy Slingshot and defeating Queen Gohma, Link returns outside. The Deku Tree informs Link that he was too late to purge the curse, and that he is dying. The Deku Tree tells Link the creation story of Hyrule and the Triforce, and reveals that Ganondorf, the Gerudo King, wanted the three Spiritual Stones in order to enter the Sacred Realm and obtain the Triforce; the Deku Tree refused to relinquish the Kokiri's Emerald, one of the Stones, so Ganondorf cursed him. Before passing, the Deku Tree entrusts Link with the Kokiri's Emerald and orders him to seek out the "Princess of Destiny" in Hyrule Castle.

Upon leaving, Link decides to run away from Kokiri Forest, as Mido mistakenly believes that Link killed the Deku Tree and has spread the rumor across the other Kokiri. Before he leaves, Saria meets Link in private and gives him the Fairy Ocarina as something to remember her by. After meeting Kaepora Gaebora, Link travels across Hyrule Field, during which he visits Lon Lon Ranch and befriends a horse named Epona, before arriving at Hyrule Castle. Link sneaks into the castle courtyard and meets the young Princess Zelda, who explains that the Triforce has the ability to grant wishes. She informs Link that Ganondorf has falsely pledged allegiance to her father, the King, and that Link must obtain the Sacred Stones and enter the Sacred Realm before Ganondorf does. She gives him a letter that grants Link her royal authority, and he is escorted out by Impa, Zelda's bodyguard, who also teaches him Zelda's Lullaby.

Link arms himself with a Hylian Shield before venturing out into Hyrule, briefly returning to Saria, who teaches him Saria's Song. In Goron City, he meets Darunia, the Goron chief, who entrusts him with the Goron Bracelet and requests that Link defeat all the monsters in Dodongo's Cavern; Link retrieves the Bomb Bag, defeats King Dodongo, and receives the Goron's Ruby. He then ventures to Zora's Domain, where he goes Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly to rescue Princess Ruto, obtaining the Boomerang and Zora's Sapphire in the process and defeating Barinade.

With all three Spiritual Stones, Link returns to Hyrule Castle, but as he reaches Hyrule Castle Town, he witnesses his nightmare come true; Impa and Zelda flee the town on a white horse, the latter tossing the Ocarina of Time into the moat - Link then attempts to face Ganondorf, the man chasing them, only to be easily knocked aside. Link obtains the Ocarina of Time, and receives a vision from Zelda - she reveals that Ganondorf has murdered the King and is hunting her to obtain the Ocarina of Time, so she teaches him the Song of Time so he can access the Sacred Realm. Link journeys to the Temple of Time, places the three Spiritual Stones in their pedestals, and plays the Song of Time, revealing a hidden chamber housing the Master Sword. Link pulls it from the pedestal, only to be frozen in time - before losing consciousness, he witnesses Ganondorf entering the Sacred Realm, mocking Link for obtaining the Stones for him.

Adult Link in Ocarina of Time

Seven years later, Link, now 16, awakens in the Chamber of Sages, and is greeted by Rauru, the Sage of Light. Rauru explains that Link was too young to wield the Master Sword, so he was sealed away until he was old enough. During the seven-year time gap, Ganondorf was able to enter the Sacred Realm, obtaining the Triforce and using its power to conquer Hyrule as the King of Evil. Link, now the Hero of Time, must gather and awaken the Seven Sages so they can seal Ganondorf's evil away in the Sacred Realm, and save Hyrule - Rauru then gives Link the Light Medallion, as proof of the Sage of Light's awakening, before he returns to the Temple of Time. He then meets Sheik, a Sheikah man who informs Link that five of the seven Sages are trapped inside temples across Hyrule, and cannot awaken until Link cleanses the evil from each temple.

Link travels to Kakariko Village and obtains the Hookshot from the ghost of Dampe, the grave keeper, before he returns to Kokiri Forest. He learns that the forest has become infested with monsters and that all the Kokiri leave in fear, locked up in their houses - however, Saria has journeyed to the Forest Temple i n the Sacred Forest Meadow to try and stop the sudden surge of monsters. Link travels to the Temple and meets Sheik, who teaches him the Minuet of Forest. Inside the Temple, Link obtains the Fairy Bow and defeats Phantom Ganon - Saria then awakens as the Sage of Forest, and gifts Link the Forest Medallion. With the Sage of Forest awakened, the monsters swarming Kokiri Forest vanish. Link then meets the Deku Tree Sprout in front of the deceased Deku Tree, who reveals Link's past to him.

Back at the Temple of Time, Link meets Sheik again, who teaches him the Prelude of Light and reveals that Link can return to the past by placing the Master Sword back in the Pedestal of Time - regardless, Link proceeds to Goron City. He learns that Ganondorf is planning to exterminate the Gorons by feeding them all to Volvagia, a dragon who dwells in the Fire Temple. After receiving the Goron Tunic to protect him from the heat, Link enters the temple (learning the Bolero of Fire from Sheik on his way), acquires the Magic Hammer, and defeats Volvagia - Darunia then awakens as the Sage of Fire, giving Link the Fire Medallion. Next, Link returns to Zora's Domain, which has been frozen over and is all but abandoned. Link explores the Ice Cavern and discovers the Iron Boots.

Link travels through Hyrule once more to awaken the Sages. He first travels to Kokiri Forest, now infested with monsters, to defeat the evil in the Forest Temple and awaken Saria as the Sage of Forest. He then travels to Death Mountain, where the Gorons have been trapped by the dragon Volvagia, to slay the dragon in the Fire Temple and awaken Darunia as the Sage of Fire. Afterwards, Link travels to Lake Hylia, which has been drained of water, to remove the curse on the Water Temple and awaken Ruto as the Sage of Water. He then must journey to Kakariko Village and defeat the evil spirit hiding in the Shadow Temple to waken Impa as the Sage of Shadow. His last stop is Gerudo Valley, where he must free Nabooru from the evil magic of Twinrova in the Spirit Temple and awaken Nabooru as the Sage of Spirit.

With the Sages awakened, Link returns to the Temple of Time to find Princess Zelda waiting for him. She explains that he holds the Triforce of Courage and gives him the Light Arrows before being captured by Ganondorf. Link enters Ganon's Castle to save her and to face Ganondorf, first in his Gerudo form, then in his beastly Ganon form after the castle collapses. With Ganondorf defeated and sealed away, Link is sent back to his own time to relive the childhood that he missed during his seven-year slumber. After being sent back, he found he was in a time before he had ever touched the Master Sword. While Navi flew away, her job done, he went to tell the young Princess Zelda what had gone wrong to avoid it happening again.

Ocarina of Time Gallery

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Concept art

Majora's Mask

"In the land of Hyrule, there echoes a legend. A legend held dearly by the Royal Family that tells of a boy... A boy who, after battling evil and saving Hyrule, crept away from the land that had made him a legend... Done with the battles he once waged across time, he embarked on a journey. A secret and personal journey... A journey in search of a beloved and invaluable friend... A friend with whom he parted ways when he finally fulfilled his heroic destiny and took his place among legends..."

— Opening text of Majora's Mask
MM-Link-Artwork.png

Link apparently stayed with Zelda and the Royal Family for a while after his second "first meeting" with her. During this time, he obtained the young Epona as his permanent steed. Eventually, after what Zelda felt was only "a short time", he decided to take Epona and leave Hyrule on a personal quest, implied to be a search for Navi. While saying their goodbyes, she told him she was sure they would meet again and would pray for him to have a safe journey. She also gave him the Ocarina of Time and retaught him the Song of Time, telling him the Goddess of Time was protecting him, and if he played the Song of Time, the Goddess would aid him. While she waved goodbye, the Song of Time lingered on his mind.

Subsequently, while travelling through the Lost Woods, Link is accosted by a pair of fairies, who startle Epona and knock him to the ground, unconscious. With him out cold, the fairies are joined by a Skull Kid wearing a mysterious mask, who rifles through his pockets and takes the Ocarina. As the three are arguing over the instrument, Link wakes up and confronts the thieves, but the Skull Kid dodges him, leaps on Epona and starts galloping away; with Link barely managing to cling on before they are out of reach. Dragged through the woods, Link is eventually flung off as the Skull Kid and his fairies gallop into a tunnel.

Recovering once again, he walks into the tunnel, only to find himself falling through a huge shaft with strange lights and symbols surrounding him.

Landing on a Deku Flower, he finds himself confronted by the Skull Kid, now hovering in the air and flanked by his fairies, Tatl and Tael. Skull Kid complains that Epona wouldn't listen to a word he said, "so [he] did [Link] a favor and got rid of it." Seeing Link's anger, the Skull Kid mocks him, and then attacks him with a strange wave of energy. After being tormented by visions of Mad Scrubs, Link comes back to full consciousness to find himself turned into a Deku Scrub. After Skull Kid laughs at Deku Link, telling him he'll stay that way forever. As Skull Kid begins to float out of the room, Link attempts to chase after him, but is knocked back by Tatl. Unfortunately for the yellow fairy, this means that when the door is slammed shut, she's left behind with Link.

With no sense of irony, Tatl blames Link for her becoming separated from her brother, and demands "Deku boy" do something. When Link just stares at her, she grudgingly apologises and asks that he take her with him, offering to sell out the Skull Kid's location and help Link in return for his helping her to reunite with Tael. With few other options, Link shrugs and agrees.

Once they make it through the door, they find themselves inside a Clock Tower, where the Happy Mask Salesman observes that he's met with a terrible fate. Telling him that the mask the "imp" was wearing was stolen from him, he offers to return Link to his normal self if he can retrieve the Ocarina of Time, and the mask stolen from him, within three days.

Link learns the Skull Kid has caused mischief across the new world he has entered called Termina, and that he is trying to get the Moon to crash into Clock Town and destroy the world at the end of Day 3. Link gets the Ocarina of Time back and uses the Song of Time to transport him and Tatl back to the beginning of Day 1. The Happy Mask Salesman turns Link back to a Hylian, leaving a mask behind that will allow him to turn back to the Deku Scrub whenever he wants. Link now must awaken the 4 Giants in the 4 compass directions to prevent the Moon from falling, and must repeat the same 3 days over and over until he can awaken them. After saving the Deku Princess and removing the poison from the Southern Swamp, bringing Snowpeak to spring, saving the Zora eggs and clearing the fog from Great Bay, and bringing peace to souls in Ikana Canyon. Link stops the Moon from crashing into Termina, but the mask the Skull Kid was wearing, called Majora's Mask and harnessing dark evil powers, takes over the Moon itself. Link lands on the moon through the portal left from Majora's Mask dark powers, and defeats Majora in his Mask, Wrath, and Incarnate forms. Link then leaves to return to Hyrule and continue his search for Navi.

Majora's Mask Gallery

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Twilight Princess

Main article: Hero's Spirit

Hyrule Historia suggests that the Hero's Spirit from Twilight Princess is the ghost of the Hero of Time.[2]

Other games and media

See also: Young Link

Gallery

References

  1. " When we decided to handle Link growing up from a 9-year-old child to a more mature 16-year-old, I wanted lots of characters to fulfill various roles. For example, Kaepora Gaebora is a grandfather figure who gives Link all kinds of advice and looks out for him. And since Link is a boy, I wanted girls besides Princess Zelda to show up. " — Shigeru Miyamoto, https://iwataasks.nintendo.com/interviews/#/3ds/zelda-ocarina-of-time/4/1
  2. "Some theorize that the fact that [the Hero's Spirit] holds his sword in his left hand indicates he is actually Link from Ocarina of Time." — pg. 179, Hyrule Historia