Characters in The Legend of Zelda series

This is a list of notable and recurring fictional characters from The Legend of Zelda series of video games developed by Nintendo.

Protagonists

Link

The protagonist of The Legend of Zelda series, Link, is the name of various Hylian youths who characteristically wear a green tunic and a pointed cap. He has the pointed ears of the ancient Hylian race. He also has the Triforce symbol on his left hand. Each Link is described on the series' official website as humble, hard-working and brave, and therefore appropriate to bear the Triforce of Courage. The various Links each have a special title, such as "Hero of Time", "Hero of the Winds" or "Hero chosen by the gods". Link is left-handed, with two exceptions. In the Wii version of Twilight Princess, Link is right-handed due to the "mirroring" used to accommodate the right-handed control scheme,^[1] which flips the entire game world's layout from that of its Nintendo GameCube counterpart. Link is also right-handed in the title Skyward Sword. In the manual for the original game, he is depicted as being right-handed, and in the game itself, Link is seen as ambidextrous as his sword is in the "down screen side" whether he is facing left or right . In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Master Quest, the game is also mirrored and instead, Link is right-handed.

Link does not usually speak, normally having a companion that speaks for him, and only produces grunts, yells, or similar sounds. One exception is The Wind Waker in which he says "Come on!" to make other characters or objects follow him, like the statues in the Tower of the Gods, or Medli and Makar, the Sages of the Earth and Wind Temples. When Link is asked questions, the player answers by choosing options from a list, with the exception of a few times in Spirit Tracks, where the microphone is used to speak; Link usually does not give any oral or visual indication that he has answered, however he sometimes nods his head in The Wind Waker. Link does speak in the cartoon series and the CD-i games produced by Philips, though these are not canon materials in the series. However, he does "speak" two lines in The Adventure of Link; when he locates a mirror under a table, the text, "I found a mirror under the table" appears on screen, and later on, if he examines a fireplace that he can enter, "Looks like I can get in the fireplace" is displayed.

In most games, the player can name Link before the start of the adventure, and he will be referred by that given name throughout by the NPCs.^[2]

Princess Zelda

Princess Zelda is the princess of Hyrule and guardian of the Triforce of Wisdom. Her name is shared by many of her female ancestors and descendants. While most titles require Link to save Zelda from Ganon, she is sometimes shown to be quite capable in battle, using magical powers and weapons such as Light Arrows to aid Link. With the exception of the CD-i games, she was not playable in the main series until Spirit Tracks, where she becomes a spirit and can possess a Phantom Knight that can be controlled by the player. Zelda also appears under various other aliases and alter egos, including Sheik (in Ocarina of Time) and Tetra (in The Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass).

Antagonists

Ganondorf

Ganondorf (or Ganon in his beast form) is the central villain in the series and serves as the final boss of most games.

In the games, Ganondorf is the leader of a race of desert brigands called the Gerudo, and the evil archenemy of Link. His specific motives vary from game to game, but most often they include him kidnapping Princess Zelda and planning to achieve domination of Hyrule, and presumably the world beyond it. To this end, he seeks the Triforce, a magical relic giving the holder ultimate power.

In many games, he already possesses or acquires a portion of the Triforce called the Triforce of Power, which gives him great strength but not enough to accomplish his ends, leading him to hunt the remaining Triforce pieces. This story is told during Ocarina of Time, when he uses the child Link, who has gained access to the Master Sword in the Temple of Time, to grab the Triforce. Since Ganondorf's heart is not in balance of all three pieces, but only to the Triforce of Power, it breaks in three - Power given to Ganondorf, Courage given to Link (who is then in an unconscious state for 7 years), and Wisdom to Zelda (who has gone into hiding as Sheik). In order to possess all three, he must vanquish the other two. Ocarina of Time splits the timeline in three: if the hero is defeated, if Ganon is sealed in the Earth, and if Ganon is sealed in the Sacred Realm. In the timeline of Ganon being sealed in the Earth, depicted in Twilight Princess, it is revealed that Ganondorf lost his piece before dying.

Unlike Link and Zelda (and most of the characters), he is the same character in every game with the exception of Four Swords Adventures where he is a reincarnation. He is also the physical personification of the Demon King Demise's hatred and is destined to reincarnate eternally if he is actually killed.

Agahnim

Agahnim is an evil wizard who appears in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past as the initial villain. First appearing in Hyrule during a period of flood, famine and disease, Aghanim assisted the Royal Family by dispelling the multiple plagues and became their trusted advisor for a time, but soon displayed his true colors and seized power for himself. After killing the King of Hyrule and brainwashing the castle soldiers, Aghanim begins using his power to capture the descendants of the Seven Sages and banish them to the Dark World in order to release Ganon from his imprisonment. Link is unable to stop Aghanim in time to save the last of the maidens, Princess Zelda, but he is able to defeat Aghanim by using the Master Sword to reflect the wizard's magic onto himself (a tactic that would be used in many later Zelda games).

As a last act of defiance, Aghanim escapes to the Dark World and drags Link with him, which begins the second half of the game's plot. Near the end, Aghanim meets with Link again on the highest floor of Ganon's Tower and is finally slain after another battle, and it is revealed that his body is a vessel for Ganon's soul to inhabit (as Ganon admits that Aghanim is his "alter-ego").

In Link's Awakening, Agahnim's Shadow was one of the Shadows of Link's former foes that attacked Link in the final battle in Koholint Island's Wind Fish Egg.

Dark Link

Dark Link (also known as Shadow Link in Oracle of Ages and Four Swords Adventures) is a recurring boss in the series, and is a doppelgänger of Link. Also known to Zelda as a twisted echo in the Four Swords manga, Dark Link is usually solid black with red eyes but is white with purple hair in the Four Swords Plus manga. In general, Dark Link just copies Link's swordplay, but in some games he is able to use Link's full arsenal of weapons. He is formed in various ways between the games, though always involving some sort of magical summoning. When he first appears in The Adventure of Link, he is the final boss of the game, and was created by a mysterious wizard as a test for the Triforce of Courage. In Oracle of Ages, Shadow Links are summoned by the sorceress Veran during the final battle. These Shadow Links do not directly attack and quickly die from repeated sword blows, but they mimic Link's movements so as to impede his ability to target Veran herself.

Shadow Link's largest appearance is that of a main character, a recurring boss, and respawning enemies in Four Swords Adventures. These Shadow Links are created by the Dark Temple's Dark Mirror, and one tricks Link into drawing the Four Sword from the Four Sword Shrine, which releases Vaati and splits Link into three clones. They plague the Links throughout the game by both directly attacking him, and impersonating him while they attack Hyrule's citizens, causing them to be suspicious and mistrusting of the Links. The Links eventually eradicate them in a final battle in which they destroy them while Zelda undoes the seal on the Dark Mirror and takes it into her possession. However, in the manga, Shadow Link destroys the mirror, and ultimately himself, to save the Links from Vaati.

Dark Link also appears in both Ocarina of Time and its manga, but only serves as a character in the manga. While Link is in Kakariko Village, a shadowy substance emerges from the well, grabs a child, and then manifests as Dark Link. It attacks Link and initially has the upper hand, due to Link's overall lack of skill, but Link eventually manages to hit it. At this point, it re-manifests riding a horse, and so Link and Epona engage it in a horse-battle and soon defeat it. His role in Ocarina of Time itself is merely as a sub-boss in the Water Temple. He copies almost all of Link's attacks and is hard to hit. When Dark Link is attacked, he falls through the floor and pops back up behind Link, trying to slash at his back.

Dark Link appears in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl as an enemy in one of the Event Matches, as well as an alternate costume for Link and Toon Link in Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.^[3] The design of the Brawl alternate color incarnation is similar to a shadowy Link seen in Twilight Princess, and the Dark Link in the events, in both games, have no color depth. In Hyrule Warriors, Dark Link appears as an in-game opponent and as a downloadable costume for Link.

Dark Link was also found briefly in Spirit Tracks at the end of the mini game "Take 'Em' All On" and was again just a shaded out Link.

In 2010 IGN ranked Dark Link as 77th in Top 100 Video Game Villains.^[4]

Twinrova

Kotake (コタケ) and Koume (コウメ, Kōme), collectively referred to as the Twinrova Sisters (双生魔術師ツインローバ, Sōseimajutsushi Tsuinrōba, lit. "Twin Magicians Twinrova") /ˌtwɪnˈroʊvə/, are a pair of Gerudo witches who play an important role in a few games. They are the surrogate mothers of the Gerudo King, Ganondorf, being his more devoted servants. They can brainwash others to serve Ganondorf (they do so to the Sage Nabooru in the Spirit Temple of Ocarina of Time) and merge to form the stronger witch Twinrova. The brooms the sisters use to fly become scepters through which Twinrova channels her power.

They portray the same characters in Majora's Mask, though they are more benevolent than their Ocarina of Time counterparts. Koume operates a tour-boat service in the Southern Swamp, while Kotake runs a potion store in the same region. At one point, Koume is injured by the Skull Kid in the nearby Lost Woods and requests that Link bring her a red potion from Kotake's store to heal her wounds. After saving Koume from the woods and returning the swamp to normal, she will host a shooting game that Link can play and win a Piece of Heart from.

In Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, Koume and Kotake are the main villains of both games. Sending their servants Onox and Veran to Holodrum and Labrynna, the witches obtain from them the necessary energies needed for their spell to resurrect Ganon. Near the end of the second game, they capture Princess Zelda and prepare to offer her up as a sacrifice in order to finish the spell. Link is able to follow the witches to their chambers with help from the Oracles Din and Nayru, and Koume and Kotake fight him as both separate witches and in their fused Twinrova form. After being defeated, Twinrova sacrifices herself instead of Zelda to complete the spell, but this results in Ganon being resurrected as a mindless beast, which Link subdues before it causes any harm to the world.

A similar boss called Fraaz appears in Spirit Tracks, unlike Twinrova, who start off as separate characters, Fraaz starts off as one character, then splits into two.

Demise

Demon King Demise (終焉の者, Shūen no Mono) is the primary antagonist in the The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword who was punished by the Goddess Hylia when he attempted to take the Triforce and was trapped within the form of a giant monster known as the Imprisoned (封印されしもの, Fūinsareshi Mono). But his sword, which assumes the form of the arrogant Demon Lord Ghirahim, tracks down Hylia's reincarnation Zelda so he can use her life force to restore Demise to his true form. Impressed to see a human like Link willing to stand up to him, Demise decides to battle him out of amusement. After Link mortally wounds him and restores Zelda's soul to her body, Demise's remains are sealed within the Master Sword, but Demise's final words speak of a new incarnation of his malice living on, alluding to Ganondorf and the bonds that tie him with Zelda and Link's descendants. In Hyrule Warriors, Demise appears in his Imprisoned form before being defeated, with Ghirahim eventually serving Ganondorf while sensing his master's presence in him.

Ghirahim

Demon Lord Ghirahim (ギラヒム, Girahimu) is the secondary antagonist in Skyward Sword. He is encountered several times throughout the game, as he relentlessly pursues Zelda in order to revive Demise. Though he appears delicate and acts in a playful, flamboyant manner, Ghirahim is a cruel sadist with a dangerous short-fused temper. He arrogantly toys with Link in their first two battles, then reveals his full power in a final battle prior to Demise's release. With his mission accomplished, Ghirahim is revealed to be the spirit of Demise's sword, given life for the sole purpose of restoring his master to his original form. He returns to his sword form before being shattered during Demise's climactic battle with Link. During the events of Hyrule Warriors, Ghirahim is summoned from the past by Cia to fight for her before becoming a follower of the revived Ganondorf. Ghirahim also appears in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U as an Assist Trophy.

Zant

Usurper King Zant (僭王ザント, Senō Zanto) is the secondary antagonist of Twilight Princess, a member of the Twili who willingly offered himself to Ganondorf, whom he saw as a god, so he could have the means to depose Midna and begin an invasion of Hyrule. Though Midna recruits Link to help her collect Fused Shadows so she can regain both her original form and her birthright as the ruler of the Twili, Zant reveals the curse he placed on Midna is Ganondorf's after being fatally wounded. Though Zant claims he would be revived while being subsequently destroyed by a furious Midna, Zant's death is assured with Ganondorf's. The final battle against Zant involves fighting him in the arenas of other bosses and sub-bosses in the game such as Blizzeta, before fighting him in a final sword fight in front of Hyrule castle. During the events of Hyrule Warriors, Zant is summoned from the past by Cia to fight for her before becoming a follower of the revived Ganondorf.

Vaati

Vaati (グフー, Gufū), is the main antagonist of The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, Four Swords Adventures, and The Minish Cap. His most common appearance is a black orb with a single eye, though he was originally a human-shaped being. In Four Swords, Vaati is initially sealed in the "Four Sword" weapon, but escapes and captures Princess Zelda, only to be returned to the sword by Link, who is split into four by the sword. In the sequel, Four Swords Adventures, he escapes with Princess Zelda yet again with the help of Ganon, forcing Link to be split up and defeat him. Before the events of The Minish Cap, Vaati was a Picori that became corrupted by the evil in the hearts of mankind. He used the Wishing Cap created by his master, Ezlo, to transform himself into a Hylian sorcerer, and in the game he begins seeking out the power of the Light Force. He eventually becomes his black orb form in this game.

Yuga

Yuga is a character and one of the two primary antagonists of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. He hunted the descendants of the Seven Sages from Ocarina of Time and A Link to the Past, as well as Princess Zelda, to resurrect Ganon and use his power to rule the worlds of Hyrule and Lorule, and eventually take his place among the gods. He is a sorcerer who has the power to transform himself and others into two-dimensional art. With his magic staff, he can trap people within picture frames, turning them into Lorule paintings.

Majora

The primary antagonist in the game, Majora's Mask, "Majora", inhabits the eponymous "Majora's Mask"; once used by a nameless tribe for hexing and torture. The mask is primarily seen being worn over the face of "Skull Kid", the game's secondary antagonist, who is corrupted by Majora's influences and uses the mask's dark magic to wreak havoc across Termina. During the final boss, two more forms of Majora are shown; Majora's Incarnation and Majora's Wrath. Both are humanoid creatures, though Majora's Wrath has long, whip-like arms. "Skull Kid" with Majora's Mask also appears as an assist trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.

Supporting characters

Epona

Epona is Link's horse who helps Link in Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask and in Twilight Princess. She comes to Link's aid when called by her special song, which he plays on the ocarina in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, and on a blade of grass (called Horse Grass) in Twilight Princess. In The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, the horse that Link rides in the title screen is possibly either Epona or a different horse.

Fi

Fi (ファイ, Fai) is a female humanoid representation of the Goddess Sword, which later evolves into the Master Sword, in Skyward Sword. Fi serves as Link's companion and assists him throughout the game, though she has a logical mindset and grows to understand her master and others. In the end, after Demise is sealed within the Master Sword, Fi reveals her last order from the goddess is to let Link put her into an endless sleep within the weapon, which he does after encouragement from Fi and Zelda. Fi appears as a playable character in Hyrule Warriors.

Golden Goddesses

The three Golden Goddesses (Din, Farore and Nayru) are responsible for the creation of Hyrule, as well as the creation of the Triforce, which houses a fraction of their divine power. Din is the Goddess of Power, associated with the color red and the elements of earth and fire; Farore is the Goddess of Courage, associated with the color green and the elements of wind and forest; and Nayru is the Goddess of Wisdom, associated with the color blue and the elements of water and time. Each Goddess is also associated with a fragment of the Triforce—Din with the Triforce of Power, Farore with the Triforce of Courage, and Nayru with the Triforce of Wisdom. Each Goddess has a spell that Link may acquire from a Great Fairy—Din's Fire, Farore's Wind, and Nayru's Love. These three spells are used by Princess Zelda in Super Smash Bros. Melee and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. Statues appear in The Wind Waker, depicting the three Goddesses. These statues are arranged in a triangle shape.

Three humanoid women of the same name exist in Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages. Din is the Oracle of Seasons and Nayru is the Oracle of Ages. Din has red hair, and is a dancer. Earlier in the game, she is captured by a knight named Onox, who uses her to disrupt the seasons. Nayru has blue hair, and is a singer. She is possessed by the witch Veran, who uses her to disrupt time. Farore has green hair, and lives inside of the Maku Tree, an entity in both Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages. She has no relevance to the plot. The Minish Cap uses the same design for the three Oracles. In The Minish Cap, they are travelers who are staying at an Inn in town who are seeking permanent residence. Later in the game, Link may only pick two who get to live in their own homes, and, depending on who the player pick, they will give him special potions.

In Twilight Princess, they do not appear, though allusions to their names are found in the names of 3 of the Light Spirits and their respective provinces: Faron (Farore), Eldin (Din), and Lanayru (Nayru) and the three of them can be seen as statues surrounding a carving of the Triforce on top of the Hylian throne in Hyrule Castle.

In Skyward Sword, they are collectively referred to as the "old gods", in contrast to the goddess Hylia. The three first area zones are named after the Twilight Princess' alterations of their names (Faron Woods, Eldin Volcano, and Lanayru Desert).

Great Deku Tree

The Great Deku Tree is considered the "Father of the Forest"; he first appears in Ocarina of Time, where he is charged with watching over the Kokiri, a childlike race of forest spirits that live in the Kokiri Forest. He is an ancient, exceptionally large tree, with a humanoid face and big mustache.

When Ocarina of Time begins, the Great Deku Tree is suffering from a curse cast upon him by Ganondorf in an effort to gain the Spiritual Stone of the Forest, which is in the Deku Tree's possession. Knowing Link's destiny, the Deku Tree sends Navi the fairy to retrieve the boy, who is living among the Kokiri as one of them. He asks Link to destroy the cause of the curse, the game's first boss, called Queen Gohma, within him. Although Link defeats Queen Gohma, the Deku Tree was doomed before Link had begun; before he dies, the Deku Tree gives Link the Kokiri's Emerald and tells him to seek Princess Zelda at Hyrule Castle. After adult Link completes the Forest Temple and returns to the site of the Deku Tree, he discovers a little sprout, which grows into the Deku Sprout. The sprout tells Link the truth about his past, and reveals that Link is not a Kokiri, but a Hylian entrusted to the Deku Tree by his mother, who died soon after.

In The Wind Waker, the Great Deku Tree is the guardian of Forest Haven and is a legendary forest and earth spirit. He is at first plagued by ChuChus and, after Link assists in removing the ChuChus, the Deku Tree tells Link about Forest Haven and the Koroks who live there. He confesses to Link that his energy is waning and that he has become feeble with age. It is assumed that this is the same Deku Tree that was a sprout in Ocarina of Time, as he speaks Hylian and remembers old times when he sees Link's green tunic. He gives Link the Deku Leaf to help him on his quest, and later Farore's Pearl after Link rescues Makar from the Forbidden Woods. Like Valoo and Jabun, he speaks Hylian, but can also speak the modern language of the Great Sea.

The Great Deku Tree and its Sprout also appear in Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland.

Groose

Groose is a bully from the Knights' Academy in Skyward Sword, initially jealous of Link's relationship with Zelda, and often acts in a hostile manner towards Link, which is shown to be a constant source of exasperation for Zelda. However, following Link to Hyrule, Groose finds himself over his head upon learning he is not the hero and is forced to accept it. Becoming more caring, Groose begins acting more noble from building a catapult called "The Groosenator" to aid Link in halting The Imprisoned from escaping the pit of the Sealed Grounds and reaching the Sealed Temple, and begins to look after the elderly overseer of the Sealed Grounds whom he calls "Grannie". He is playable during the last two battles with the Imprisoned. In these circumstances, the player can move the Groosenator around the edge of the Sealed Grounds and then fire giant bombs at it.

Happy Mask Salesman

The Happy Mask Salesman (お面屋, Omen'ya, Mask Shop Owner) is a mysterious man who specialises in masks, which Link can use for different purposes. He is almost always happy, with few exceptions. He first appears in Ocarina of Time. He is found in his Happy Mask Shop located in Hyrule Castle town during Link's childhood. Here, Link can borrow masks to sell to people around Hyrule. If Link returns without enough Rupees to repay the Happy Mask Salesman, he will become enraged and kick Link out of the shop. Once Link sells all the masks, he may borrow any of them, as well as a few extras, which are used merely for humorous purposes. The exception is the Mask of Truth, which Link can use to talk to Gossip Stones.

In Majora's Mask, he plays an integral role. On his travels to find rare masks, he is ambushed by the Skull Kid and his two fairies, Tatl and Tael; they steal Majora's Mask, a powerful, but malevolent, mask, who becomes the main antagonist. Later, he meets Link inside the Clock Tower in Termina; Link, whom the Skull Kid has cursed into a Deku Scrub, is asked to return the mask and to regain his own Ocarina. Once Link returns with the Ocarina, the Happy Mask Salesman teaches Link the Song of Healing, which transforms Link back into his normal form. Once Link finally destroys Majora, the entity inhabiting the mask, the Happy Mask Salesman regains the now-powerless mask, and leaves Link with some advice before walking away, then simply vanishing. It is unknown if he is the same character that appears in Ocarina of Time, as most inhabitants of Termina are counterparts corresponding to inhabitants of Hyrule.

In Oracle of Ages, he is found in his shop in Nuun Highlands, in present-day Labrynna. Here, he is suffering from hunger. To help him, Link can give him the Tasty Meat. In return, he gives Link the Doggie Mask, which is part of the trading quest for the Noble Sword.

IGN ranked him number 4 of the Top 20 Weirdest Zelda Characters.^[5]

Impa

Impa (インパ, Inpa) is a caretaker to Princess Zelda. There are many incarnations of the character named Impa throughout the Zelda series, some being of the ninja-like Sheikah, just as there are multiple incarnations of Link and Zelda. As with Link and Zelda, all incarnations of Impa share certain personality traits.

The original Impa (appearing in The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link instruction manuals, but not in the actual games) is portrayed as an old woman who calls for Link to save Zelda from Ganon and his henchmen. The Impa from The Legend of Zelda is also supposed to be the same Impa who appears in the Philips spin-off Zelda: Wand of Gamelon. The voice of Impa in Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon is Eve Karpf.

The Impa of Ocarina of Time is a Sheikah who is both Zelda's bodyguard and a descendent of the tribe that founded Kakariko Village. It is later revealed that she is in fact the Sage of Shadow, one of the Seven Sages. An overweight version of Impa is a main character in Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, the latter having her briefly possessed by Veran.

In Twilight Princess, a character named Impaz dwells in a village which Hylian text suggests is called "Old Kakariko Village", and claims both that she is serving the Royal Family and that she was named after the founder of the village.

In Skyward Sword, Impa is a member of the Sheikah under Hylia assigned to protect Zelda during her time on the surface. Impa appears as both a young time traveler who eventually returns to her time and as the elderly overseer of the Sealed Grounds who eventually passes away once her purpose is fulfilled. In The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Lady Impa is once again Zelda's nursemaid, and her lineage from one of the Seven Sages is well known.

Impa returns as a playable character in Hyrule Warriors. This version is a general in the Hyrulean army, capable of wielding a giant sword or a naginata.

Kaepora Gaebora

Kaepora Gaebora (ケポラ・ゲボラ Kepora Gebora) is a wise owl who guides Link throughout various games in the series. One of the Gossip Stones in Ocarina of Time (found in the Sacred Forest Meadow) says he is the reincarnation of an ancient sage. This sage is Rauru, the Sage of Light in the Temple of Light. Another Gossip Stone in the same area tells Link that Kaepora Gaebora "may look big and heavy, but its character is rather lighthearted." Despite him guiding Link throughout his childhood in Ocarina of Time, he is not encountered while an adult except near the end. He is seen flying over Lon Lon Ranch when Link learns Epona's Song and in shadows when Link learns the Requiem of Spirit, but makes no other appearance until Link completes the child half of the Spirit Temple; after that, he is seen flying away during the credits. Kaepora Gaebora remarks, "Even I thought that the tales of a boy who traveled back and forth through time were merely a legend," when Link meets him for the last time. He also tells Link, "The future of all the people in Hyrule is on your shoulders. Maybe it's not my time anymore." He is notorious for asking Link if he would like to hear what he said again at the end of each conversation. The default choice is always "Yes".

He also has a Terminan counterpart (though they may be one and the same) appearing in Majora's Mask, who first appears in the Southern Swamp to teach Link the Song of Soaring, and in Goron Village to help Link cross a large abyss. There are statues of his likeness spread across Termina, which have two functions: they are used as warp points that can be teleported to with the Song of Soaring, though only after they are discovered by Link, and can be used to temporarily save the game and quit. In The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D, Kaepora Gaebora is first met in Goron Village which he helps Link get the Lens of Truth.

In Link's Awakening, a similar owl guides Link, and arrives at certain points to give hints and back-story. He believes in a prophecy that says Link will wake the Wind Fish. In the game's ending, it is revealed that the Owl is a part of the Wind Fish's spirit (rather than just another part of his dream). Once the Wind Fish awakes, the Owl vanishes.

In Four Swords Adventures, Kaepora Gaebora serves a similar purpose as in the other games.

In Twilight Princess, Link must travel Hyrule to find Owl Statues, found at points marked on the map, in order to complete the Ancient Sky Book, which was missing some of its letters.

Kaepora Gaebora doesn't appear in Skyward Sword, but set before the other games, Zelda's father is named Gaepora; he bears a strong resemblance to Kaepora Gaebora.

King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule

King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule is the last king of Hyrule in The Wind Waker. To meet with Link, he remotely operates the King of Red Lions, a talking boat, using magic. By the end of the game, the King wishes to the Triforce for Hyrule to be destroyed, and stays with the kingdom as it is flooded.

Other Kings of Hyrule appear or are mentioned in the series. In A Link to the Past, the king only appears during the intro and ending credits. In Ocarina of Time, it is stated that Princess Zelda's father is the king and Ganondorf is seen approaching and kneeling to him when Link and Princess Zelda first meet, although the king himself is never shown and his ultimate fate is never revealed. In The Minish Cap, the current ruler, King Daltus, is a major character during the game, and his ancestor King Gustaf appears to help Link enter the fifth dungeon. King Daphnes appears as a playable character in Hyrule Warriors Legends, with the ability to transform into the King of Red Lions in battle.

Linebeck

Linebeck first appears in Phantom Hourglass as one of the main characters who helps Link save the World of the Ocean King from Bellum. He provides transport for Link in his ship, the S. S. Linebeck, and is greedy and self-centered. For the first half of the game, his goal is to obtain the Ghost Ship's treasure. After the Ghost Ship's treasure is revealed as merely a rumor devised by Bellum to attract people to the Ghost Ship, Oshus, revealed as the Ocean King, promises Linebeck one wish if he continues to sail Link across the oceans, to be granted after Bellum is defeated. In the endgame, Linebeck saves Link and Tetra from Bellum by stabbing him, showing a rare burst of courage. Bellum, enraged, then possesses Linebeck. After Bellum is defeated by Link once again, he finally dies, and Linebeck is freed. Linebeck has been considerably humbled at this point, however, and when the now-restored Ocean King asks him what his wish will be, Linebeck first questions whether he even has to make a wish, then decides that he merely wants to have his ship back (it was destroyed by Bellum just before he possessed Linebeck), rather than asking for some great treasure. After Link and Tetra are returned to their world, Link looks off into the distance, where Linebeck's ship can be seen sailing away.

In Spirit Tracks, Linebeck's grandson, Linebeck III, runs Linebeck Trading at the Trading Outpost in New Hyrule. Linebeck III hires a bridgemaker to build a bridge for Link, in exchange for a precious ring Link retrieves from the resting place of the original Linebeck.

Midna

Midna (ミドナ, Midona) is one of the main characters in The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. She is an imp-like creature, the princess of the Twili race. She serves as Link's companion, much like Navi in Ocarina of Time. Initially Midna shows contempt for Link, and uses him to further her own goals; however, she grows to like him, and continues to help him on his quest. Midna is shown to be a kind-hearted character, even though she was born in the Twilight Realm. She is the counterpart to Link's battles as a wolf in the Realm of Twilight. Midna returns in Hyrule Warriors as a playable character in both her imp and Twili forms.

Navi

Navi (ナビィ, Nabi) is a fairy who is Link's "navigator" throughout The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. She is instructed by the Great Deku Tree in Kokiri Forest to assist Link in his quest to stop Ganondorf. All Kokiri have companion fairies, but because Link is actually a Hylian, he never received one until Navi joins him near the beginning of the events in Ocarina of Time. In gameplay, Navi functions primarily as a guide that points out clues in the environment and helps the player learn the controls and advance in the game. Most of her hints are about how to progress in the story or defeat enemies. She can also be used to lock on enemies in the game, items and other characters. She is one of the few characters with any voice-acting in the series, and the only character who (aside from Beedle Link in The Wind Waker) actually uses English words, such as "Hey", "Look", "Listen", "Watch out" and "Hello". Navi leaves Link at the end of the game after he puts the Master Sword back in the Pedestal of Time. In The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, Link sets out to search for a "beloved and invaluable friend," which is implied to be Navi. This is what eventually leads him into the land of Termina.

GamesRadar editor Mikel Reparaz ranked Navi as the most irritating female character, stating that she would have been bearable if she did not interrupt the game with "Hey!" and "Listen!" constantly. Fellow GamesRadar editor Tom Goulter listed her as the second most annoying sidekick ever,^[6]

Old Man

The Old Man is a character in multiple titles in the series, notably the original Legend of Zelda. He is bald, and wears a red robe and has a white beard. Link can usually find the Old Man inside dungeons or caves, often in an off-map location, standing between two torches. The Old Man has several functions, commonly giving Link items or advice. He is known for his vague advice, such as "DODONGO DISLIKES SMOKE". Some of this text was corrected in later releases of the game. He later appears in The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons. He reappears in Zelda: Breath of the Wild.

In Ocarina of Time, the Sage Rauru, shares a similar character design and role to the Old Man. Whether or not this is a coincidence has not been confirmed by the game's creators or designers.

IGN ranked him number 5 of the Top 20 Weirdest Zelda Characters.^[7] His expression "IT'S DANGEROUS TO GO ALONE! TAKE THIS." from Legend of Zelda has enjoyed popularity as an Internet meme. It has been included in a list of the most repeated video games quotes compiled by GamesRadar.^[8]

Sages

The Seven Sages are a group of individuals destined to aid a chosen hero in times of crisis; as such, they possess varying magical powers and responsibilities. Each era has its own group of sages, and those groups often aid Link in different ways (though only after they are rescued).

The Seven Sages (originally called "Wise Men") are first mentioned in A Link to the Past. The in-game story reveals that during the great Imprisoning War fought between the evil Ganon and the Knights of Hyrule, the Seven Sages combined their powers to banish the wicked sorcerer and seal him in the Sacred Realm; Ganon's corrupt heart warped that region into the Dark World. After centuries passed, the wizard Agahnim appeared and placed spells on the King of Hyrule and his knights, bringing them under his control. Agahnim gathered the Seven Maidens--the descendants of the original Sages, including Princess Zelda herself--and leeched their power to break the seal to the Dark World in an attempt to resurrect Ganon. Link, after defeating Agahnim, journeyed across the Dark World to free the Seven Maidens, who used their combined strength to open the way to Ganon's Tower, the final dungeon of the game. After defeating Ganon and making a just wish on the Triforce, Link returned the Maidens to the Light World.

In the Ocarina of Time prequel, the story of the Sages from A Link to the Past is expanded upon; this was the first title in the series to refer to the group as "Sages." In this era, the Seven Sages are the protectors of the Triforce and the Sacred Realm; the original Sages built the Temple of Time and established various special locks to prevent evildoers from entering that sanctuary. Exactly what happened to the original Sages is unknown; by the time of the game, there is only one remaining. When Ganondorf uses Link to bypass the Sages' protection and steal the Triforce for himself, his dark heart corrupts the Sacred Realm and sends evil power throughout five temples in Hyrule, transforming the world into a dark mirror of its former self. To save the kingdom, the powers of the Sacred Realm send out an "awakening call" to five special individuals, who are summoned to the temples to become the new Sages and thus break the curses on the holy sites. Link's quest throughout the second half of the game is to cleanse the five temples of monsters and allow the Sages to perform their duties, weakening Ganondorf's power and strengthening the group to perform a banishment ritual. The Sages of this era are:

• Rauru – A Hylian and the Sage of Light; he is the last of the ancient Sages. He cares for Link during the hero's temporary imprisonment in the Sacred Realm, and provides him with information about the Sages and the events of the past seven years. Rauru tasks Link with finding the five remaining Sages, and gives him the Light Medallion to begin the quest.
• Saria – A Kokiri and the Sage of Forest; she was one of Link's only childhood friends. When the Kokiri Forest was seized by monsters due to Ganondorf's curse, Saria traveled to the Forest Temple in an attempt to solve the problem herself. After Link defeated the ghostly Phantom Ganon, Saria awakened as a Sage and used her new powers to break the spell, freeing the forest from evil influences and ushering in a new era of peace.
• Darunia – A Goron and the Sage of Fire; he is the leader of the Goron Tribe and considers Link a "Sworn Brother." The Gorons resisted Ganondorf's rule after he took over Hyrule; as punishment, he captured nearly all of them and prepared to feed them to Volvagia, a monstrous dragon hiding in the Fire Temple. Darunia traveled to the Temple to free his people, and briefly met Link inside. After Link freed the Gorons and slayed Volvagia, Darunia awakened as a Sage and added his power to the hero's. Darunia returns as a playable character in Hyrule Warriors.
• Princess Ruto – A Zora and the Sage of Water; she is the Princess of the Zora people. The Zora refused to follow Ganondorf's rule, and the sorcerer-king punished them by sealing their entire domain in ice. The mysterious Sheik saved Ruto from her frozen prison, and she immediately traveled to the Water Temple to break Ganondorf's curse. She met Link, who she had become engaged to as a child due to a misunderstanding, and showed him the way through the temple. After Link killed Morpha, the source of the curse, Ruto awakened as the Water Sage and reluctantly put her marriage on hold to aid him. Ruto returns as a playable character in Hyrule Warriors.
• Nabooru – A Gerudo and the Sage of Spirit; she is the second-in-command of the Gerudo tribe, a race of thieves. Nabooru protested Ganondorf's cruelty toward innocents, and traveled to the Spirit Temple in an attempt to interfere with the wizard's plans, recruiting Young Link to recover a rare pair of Silver Gauntlets for her. Unfortunately, Nabooru was kidnapped by Twinrova, Ganondorf's surrogate mothers, and brainwashed into becoming his follower. After Link defeated the witches, Nabooru awakened as a Sage and delighted in the prospect of vengeance against her captors.
• Impa – This particular incarnation of Impa is a Sheikah, Zelda's nursemaid, and the Sage of Shadow. In addition to being Zelda's trusted caretaker, Impa was the founder and leader of Kakariko Village, and defended that town by trapping the monstrous Bongo Bongo in a well within the area. When Bongo Bongo broke free and attacked the village, Impa traveled to the Shadow Temple to reseal the monster. Link went to the temple to assist her and defeated Bongo Bongo, allowing Impa to awaken as the Sage and join the group.
• Zelda - As in A Link to the Past, Zelda is ultimately revealed as the Seventh Sage, who leads the rest of the group. After removing her disguise as the Sheikah ninja Sheik, she is captured by Ganondorf and brought to his Tower; the Six Sages aid Link by undoing the barriers the wizard established to protect himself. After defeating Ganondorf and escaping the tower, Link and Zelda found themselves fighting Ganon, who is revealed as a monster Ganondorf becomes when he uses the Triforce of Power. After Link incapacitates Ganon, Zelda calls upon the Six Sages, who combine their powers, open the door to the Sacred Realm, and seal Ganondorf away.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess establishes a new and completely different group of Sages, despite taking place relatively soon after the events of Ocarina of Time; this disparity has never been explained, although the book Hyrule Historia reveals that there are three distinct timelines branching out from the events of Ocarina. These Sages, who dwell in the Arbiter's Grounds, are a group of identical-looking elderly men wearing kabuki-like masks which seem to be their actual faces; they do not possess physical forms, and are instead made out of light. They attempted to execute Ganondorf for his crimes, but the Triforce of Power gave him immortality, and the wizard stole the Sword of the Sages and used it to kill the spiritual Sage of Water. The remaining five Sages used the nearby Mirror of Twilight to open a portal to the Twilight Realm and banish Ganondorf there to protect themselves and Hyrule. During the events of the game, the Sages reveal themselves and this story to Link, tasking him with finding the shards of the shattered Mirror to reopen the passage to the Twilight Realm and gain power there to defeat Ganondorf and his minion Zant. The Sages are also the ones who announce Link's companion Midna as the Princess of the Twili people.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker reveals the existence of a new group of Sages (though the Sages from Ocarina of Time appear as stained-glass windows in the basement of Hyrule Castle). This second group is responsible for keeping the power to repel evil within the Master Sword by praying to the gods in their own temples. After being resurrected, Ganondorf immediately attacked those temples and killed their Sages, thus robbing the blade of its magic abilities and protecting himself from it. Link meets the ghosts of these original sages and is tasked with finding their descendants, bringing them to their respective temples, and restoring the power to repel evil to the Master Sword. The Sages of this world are:

• Medli: A young Rito girl and the Sage of Earth, she is the apprentice attendant of Valoo, a powerful dragon and the Sky Spirit. When not serving Valoo, she tends to young Prince Komali and practices her harp; this instrument is revealed to be the symbol of her office as the Sage of Earth. Her ancestor Laruto, a Zora, was the original Sage; Laruto teaches Link the Earth God's Lyric and appears to Medli in a vision, informing her of her sacred duty. Medli travels to the Earth Temple with Link, helps him navigate it, and eventually begins offering up her prayers, which restores the energy and edge of the Master Sword. She later reappears as a downloadable player in Hyrule Warriors.
• Makar: A young Korok and the Sage of Wind, he is one of the beloved children of the Great Deku Tree. During the annual Seeding Ceremony, Makar performs a special song on a leafy cello; this is the sign of the Sage of Wind, although the instrument was originally used as a violin (Makar is too short to use the item as such). His ancestor Fado, a Kokiri and the original sage, teaches Link the Wind God's Aria to awaken Makar to his destiny. Though Makar is captured in the Wind Temple, Link frees him, and the young plant uses his powers to assist Link and fully restore the power to repel evil to the Master Sword, which manifests as a brilliant glow.

Another group of Sages appears in The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds; they appear to be descendants of the Seven Sages from Ocarina of Time. In this era, the Sages' chief duty is protecting the Triforce of Courage from the forces of darkness, as only their combined power can reveal its hiding place. After the mysterious kingdom of Lorule loses its own Triforce due to a ferocious war, the passionate but misguided Princess of the realm, Hilda, decides to have her minion Yuga kidnap the Seven Sages and use their power to assemble Hyrule's Triforce that she might take it for herself. Yuga does this by turning the Sages into paintings, which are used for a ritual which summons Ganon and binds his Triforce of Power to Yuga himself; the sorcerer also kidnaps Zelda and siphons her Triforce of Wisdom. Hilda, pretending to be Link's ally, instructs the hero to gather the Seven Sages' paintings, free them, and convince them to grant him the Triforce of Courage, which would give her control of all three pieces. The Sages of this era are:

• Gulley: A young boy and the son of Hyrule's Blacksmith, he is a friend of Link's, who in this time period is the Blacksmith's apprentice. Gulley wears green, loves animals, and spends much of his time outdoors, implying a connection to the Sage of Forest. His youthful enthusiasm is unbounded, though he is confused about his powers, referring to himself as a "Sevensage."
• Rosso: A stout, strong man and a miner who works on Hyrule's Death Mountain. He befriends Link and gives him the Power Glove to allow him to lift rocks. Rosso's red hair, somewhat inhuman features (including pure black eyes), and ties to rocks imply a connection to the Gorons, and thus the position of the Sage of Fire. Humorously, after being restored, Rosso reveals that he has always known about his sagely duty--he simply never bothered to mention it.
• Osfala: A prideful young man and the apprentice of Sahasrahla, Elder of Kakariko Village. Osfala arrogantly assumed himself to be the hero destined to save Princess Zelda, and tried to challenge Yuga head on, only to fail miserably and be transformed into a painting. After Link frees him, Osfala apologizes, acknowledges Link as a true hero, and agrees to help summon the Triforce. His yellow clothing and white hair tie him to the Sage of Light.
• Irene: An apprentice witch (she boasts of being the "best witch of her generation", despite being the only witch in that generation). She is told by a fortune teller to "take care of green," and takes this to mean Link, who wears green clothing. Though caustic, she considers Link a friend and is eager to help him as one of the Sages. It is suggested that she is a descendant of the Sage of Spirit.
• Oren: The Queen of the Zora. Link initially helps her when her Smooth Stone is stolen, causing her to overflow with power and bloat to a massive size. After being restored to normal, she goes for a swim, only to be kidnapped by Yuga. She praises Link as among the best humans she knows, and urges him to defeat Yuga so she may return to her people. As a Zora, she is descended from the Sage of Water.
• Seres: A nun in Hyrule's Sanctuary and a gentle soul. Seres is the first of the Sages to be transformed into a painting, an action Link witnesses firsthand; he travels to Princess Zelda to tell her about this action, which spurs his quest. After being saved from the forces of darkness, she sincerely thanks Link and promises to help him however she can. She has no apparent connection to any particular element, which suggests that she is a descendant of Zelda herself.
• Impa: Zelda's loyal handmaiden, who in this incarnation is a stooped, elderly woman. She immediately believes Link's warnings about Yuga and agrees to help the young hero on his quest. Despite her courage, though, Yuga still transforms her into a painting and uses her in his evil rituals. As she is the "latest" Impa, she is likely this generation's Sage of Shadow.

Tingle

Tingle is a jolly middle-aged man obsessed with fairies.^[9] He wears a green bodysuit, reminiscent of Link's tunic. He made his first appearance in Majora's Mask, where he was found floating around on a balloon selling maps.

He subsequently appeared in Wind Waker, first in a jail room in located on Windfall Island, and then in a tall wooden tower, where again he acted as a map maker.

He has also appeared in Oracle of Ages, Four Swords Adventures and The Minish Cap.

He cameos in Phantom Hourglass as a poster, in Spirit Tracks, an almost shop figurine, and in Skyward Sword as a doll in Zelda's room at the Knight Academy.^[10] He is a playable character via downloadable content in Hyrule Warriors.

Tingle has gained some notoriety, being ranked first in IGN's list of weird Zelda characters^[11] and seventh, one place ahead of Navi, in Cracked's list of annoying video game characters.^[12] He has gone on the feature in his own games, including Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland.

In Twilight Princess, the character Purlo was designed as a more realistic version of Tingle.^[13] He is similar in appearance, and shares Tingle's obsession with Rupees, but can be hostile and unfriendly.^[14] He runs the STARS minigame in Hyrule Castle Town, and complains when Link beats it.

Recurring characters

Many minor characters in the games have returned multiple times throughout the series, having Link in some form perform minor tasks for them.

Agitha

Agitha first appears in Twilight Princess. She is a cheery ten-year-old girl who calls herself the "Princess of Bugs" and sees the good in things. She lives in a house in Hyrule Castle Town that is her personal castle, though she can also be found out in the castle garden during the day. Thinking he was a grasshopper when they first met, Agitha asks Link to help her collect twelve pairs of Golden Bugs for a ball she is having, with the promise of awards for his help. Agitha returns in Hyrule Warriors as a playable character, armed with her parasol and using her golden bugs to fight for her.

Anju

Anju first appears in Ocarina of Time but is unnamed and generally referred to as the "Cucco Lady." She resides in Impa's old house in Kakariko Village. She says that she is allergic to Cuccos, and hers are always escaping from their pen. The first time that Link rounds them up for her, he receives an empty bottle in return.

Majora's Mask is the first of the Zelda series in which Anju is named. She is troubled over the disappearance of her fiancé, Kafei. In a lengthy side-quest resulting in the reunion of those betrothed, Link can acquire several masks: the Keaton Mask, the Kafei Mask, the Postman's Hat, and the Couple's Mask.

Anju reappears in The Minish Cap, wherein she again employs Link's help to retrieve her Cuccos, compensating with rupees and a Piece of Heart.

Beedle

Beedle, also known as Terry in different localizations of the games, is a traveling merchant who sells Link numerous items to help aid him as well sometimes exotic items. He also values his consumers with rewards discounts. He first appears in The Wind Waker where he can be found around numerous islands in the Great Sea on his boat shop.

In The Minish Cap, Beedle appears in Hyrule Town selling Picolyte after Link fuses kinstones and clears the area with Gust Jar.

In Phantom Hourglass, his role is the same as that in The Wind Waker as well he sells boat parts.

In Spirit Tracks his role is the same but instead of a boat, he is seen soaring above in a balloon across New Hyrule. Link has to bring the boy from Aboda Village to Beedle to fulfill his dream of flying which Beedle agrees to have him on board and as well to obtain a Force Gem.

In Skyward Sword his role is the same, traveling from his island home to Skyloft in a pedal-powered wooden shack with helicopter-type propellers.

IGN ranked him number 14 of the Top 20 Weirdest Zelda Characters.^[15]

Biggoron

Biggoron, like his name suggests, is a Goron who is approximately the size of a mountain. He first appears in Ocarina of Time, where he can be found sitting atop Death Mountain, scratching at his dry eyes. He has a brother half of his size named Medigoron who resides in the second level of the Goron city and will sell Link the easily-broken Giant’s Knife for a steep price. At the close of a time-centric trading sequence, Link gives the giant special Eye Drops; in return, Biggoron makes the Biggoron's Sword, which requires a few days of waiting for it to be done. It is unbreakable, and inflicts twice as much as damage as the Master Sword, but its immense size requires two hands to wield and prevents Link from using his shield.

In Majora's Mask, Biggoron has been cursed with invisibility by the Skull Kid, and sits at the far end of the narrow ridge which leads to Snowhead Temple, blowing gusts of wind to prevent anyone from traversing the path (which caused the Goron Darmani to fall off and die). Once Link learns the Goron Lullaby, he uses this to lull Biggoron to sleep, thus making the giant fall off the cliff and allow access to the Snowhead Temple.

In Oracle of Seasons, Biggoron can be found at the top of Goron Mountain, where he is suffering from a terrible cold. Link gives him some Lava Soup for this illness in exchange for the Goron Vase. Through a linked game with passwords, Link can tell Biggoron a password which then gives Link Biggoron's Sword.

In The Minish Cap, he resides in the mountains near Veil Falls, only appearing once Link fuses kinstones with a Goron in a cave near Lon Lon Ranch. The giant is hungry, and asks Link for a shield to eat; when Link returns, after Biggoron has eaten, he presents Link with the Mirror Shield.

In Phantom Hourglass, Biggoron is not his usual monstrous size, but of normal Goron height—though he remains the largest on Goron Island. Here he has a son named Gongoron. Link is required to answer his questions in order to be allowed further exploration of the island; when he responds correctly, he is then titled Goro-Link.

Dampé

Dampé is an old mysterious friendly gravekeeper who appears in multiple games. He can be recognized by his pale skin and hunched back.

He first appears in Ocarina of Time where he can be found in the Kakariko Village graveyard. As child Link he's usually inside his hut sleeping and just sunset for a few hours he appears outside where he provides a mini-game for Link to try to win a piece of heart. As Adult Link, Dampé is dead and Link has to enter his grave in order to claim the hookshot. Once inside, Dampé's ghost challenges him to a race which Link has to follow him so to obtain it without failing. After you receive the hookshot, if you beat the challenge under or in 1 minute, you will receive a piece of heart as a prize.

In Majora's Mask, he can be found in Ikana Graveyard where during the day he walks around outside however takes an entire day for him to go back to his hut. If Link wears the Captain's Hat whilst talking to him, he gets scared and quickly rushes inside. On the final day, he can be found underground of the graveyard looking for a treasure which Link helps him find.

In Four Swords Adventures, he is found at the graveyard in the swamp area. Link can talk to him which he warns Link that he shouldn't be out late and tells about the Forest of Light.

In The Minish Cap, he is found in the Royal Valley in western Hyrule where Link can fuse with him kinstones and even gives Link the Graveyard key.

In A Link Between Worlds, he appears as the caretaker of the graveyard near the sanctuary.

Great Fairy

Great Fairies appear in all of the games as giant fairies that reside in springs called "Great Fairy's Fountains". They are much older than other fairies, and are thus much more powerful.^[16] Most of those depicted wear dresses, full-length or knee-length, though in Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask and Twilight Princess, they are more risque. According to their figurine in The Wind Waker, they were born on the Angular Isles, and are destined to aid the "Great Hero", Link.^[17] In all games, they will completely refill Link's health. In some of their appearances, they will reward Link with new items or upgrades of his items or meters, usually for merely visiting them, though sometimes he must complete a task. These tasks usually involve some selflessness on the part of the player.^[18] In Hyrule Warriors, one of Link's unlockable weapons allows the player to control a Great Fairy, with Link held in a bottle that she carries with her.

Guru-Guru

Guru-Guru is a bald, bearded man who's always seen playing the "Song of Storms" on what looks like an organ grinder. He first appears in Ocarina of Time where he's found inside the Windmill in Kakariko Village, happily playing away. In the future, he's angry because 7 years ago a young boy played the Song of Storms with a magical ocarina, messing up the windmill. Unaware Link is that same boy, he teaches him the "Song of Storms", and Link returns to the past to fulfill his predetermined destiny, draining the well to access the next dungeon.

In Majora's Mask he's part of the Gorman Troupe set to play at the Clock Town Carnival. During the day he can be found playing in the troupe's room in the Stock Pot Inn. He's found at the Laundry Pool during the night, because his playing annoys the other members greatly. Some time before Link's arrival to Termina, he was a member of a different troupe, led by a dog. Out of anger and jealousy, he steals from the leader the Bremen Mask, and gives it to the player after confessing his story. By wearing the mask and marching, Link can make some animals follow him, and is required to obtain the Bunny Hood by helping a flock of baby Cuccos reach adulthood as they march.

In Oracle of Seasons, he's found beside a windmill again in the Eastern Suburbs of Holodrum. Here, Link can trade him the engine grease for a phonograph to continue the trading sequence for the Noble Sword.

IGN ranked him number 13 of the Top 20 Weirdest Zelda Characters.^[19]

Malon

Malon (マロン, Maron) has appeared in several games in the series, and is almost always found at Lon Lon Ranch with her father Talon.^[20] Like the series' protagonist, Link, and its namesake, Princess Zelda, Malon is depicted with many varying incarnations. Her largest appearance is in Ocarina of Time, where she interacts with Link on various occasions when he visits the ranch. Link helps her and her father with their ordeals while Malon mainly raises Epona, and teaches Link Epona's Song, which can call the horse to Link at any time. In other games, she has smaller roles, involving Link helping her and Talon. If Link beats Malon's record of an obstacle course on Epona under 50 seconds, she will put a cow in his house in Kokiri Forest.

In Oracle of Seasons, she and her father breed Cuccos north of Horon Village near Eyeglass Lake in Holodrum. As part of the trading quest, if Link gives her the Cuccodex, she'll give him the Lon Lon Egg.

In Four Swords Adventures, the four Links guide Malon to her father, Talon, when her path is blocked by castle knights. Upon reuniting her with Talon, he gives the Links permission to use his horses, which appear when one of the Links touch a carrot. She also makes an appearance in The Minish Cap, in which Link helps her and Talon back into their house by finding a key, later moving to the town to sell Lon Lon Milk.

Malon does not appear in Majora's Mask, but both the child and adult versions of Malon appear as the sisters Romani and Cremia, separate characters who own Romani Ranch in the southwestern area of Termina. On his first visit to the ranch, Link learns that Epona had been found by Romani since being separated from him in the beginning of the game. In exchange for reclaiming Epona, Romani asks Link to help protect the ranch and its cows from otherworldly creatures. Later, Link is offered by Cremia to ride into town with a shipment of milk, which must be protected from masked bandits.

Though Malon and Talon don't appear in Twilight Princess, allusions to the characters can be found in the names of two of the youths from Link's home village: Malo and Talo. The music that plays in Hyrule Field during the nighttime has Malon's singing voice through most of it.

Maple

Maple is an apprentice witch serving under her grandmother Syrup. She first appears in Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, frequently flying by Link on her broomstick. Upon crashing into Link, he and Maple will both drop their items, prompting a race between them to gather up as much of it as possible. As the game continues, Maple will upgrade her broomstick to a vacuum cleaner and, in a linked game, a U.F.O., each being faster and making the item races more challenging. Maple is also a part of the trading sequence in both games, as she seeks a Lon Lon Egg in Seasons and a Touching Book in Ages.

In the Game Boy Advance remake of A Link to the Past, Maple appears inside the magic potion shop as the salesclerk, replacing the unnamed shopkeeper character from the original version of the game. In A Link Between Worlds it is hinted that the witch who runs the magic shop is also named Maple, though it is unclear if she is meant to be the same character.

Marin

Marin is a young girl resembling Princess Zelda who appears in The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening. She finds Link washed ashore on Koholint Island after a fierce storm shipwrecks him and nurses him back to health, after which she spends her time in the village with her father Tarin. Marin is loved by the villagers for her singing, specifically her favorite song "Ballad of the Wind Fish". During a side-quest in which Link must escort her to a neighboring village, Marin reveals that unlike the rest of the ignorant islanders living within the Wind Fish's dream world, she desires to explore the world beyond Koholint Island. In the ending (if the player did not die for the entire game), the Wind Fish grants her desire by reincarnating her as a seagull.

Marin appears as a trophy in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and is a playable character through downloadable content in Hyrule Warriors Legends.

Mutoh

Mutoh is an old and short-tempered boss of a group of carpenters who are responsible for building structures around Hyrule and other lands. However his employees are always lazy or either lost to which he has to yell at them. He first appears in Ocarina of Time where during the present he's busy constructing a building in Kakariko Village. Seven years later in the future, they're found in Gerudo Valley where all the carpenters except for Mutoh are captured by the Gerudo after a failed attempt in joining them. Link later has to help free them so they can escape. In this game only, he has two children, Anju and Grog.

In Majora's Mask, his carpenters are busy getting ready for the Clock Town carnival however Mutoh is busy arguing to the mayor to keep the carnival running whilst the guards are arguing to close the fair in fear that the moon will fall from the sky. On the Final Day he's the only one found outside the clock tower as everyone has fled. However, in the final scene, he is seen running towards Stone Tower.

In Oracle of Ages, here he is responsible for building the bridge connecting Nuun Highlands to Symmetry City in Labrynna. However all the carpenters have scattered across the highlands and he asks Link to find them so they can build the bridge.

In The Minish Cap, he is found in Hyrule Town where if Link fuses kinstones with him, the carpenters will construct houses for either Nayru, Din or Farore to live in. When not working, they're located in the sawmill in the town.

Postman

The Postman is an unnamed character who appears in multiple titles. A similar man appears in Ocarina of Time not as a postman but as a man running around Hyrule, known as the Running Man, copying an extinct race of rabbits. Link sells him the Bunny Hood, causing him to run faster. Seven years later he is living with the carpenters of Kakariko Village outside the Gerudo's Fortress entrance after Link frees all the carpenters from Gerudo's Fortress, where he is given the option of racing him; despite much speculation and frequent rumors to the contrary, it is not possible to win this race.

He first debuts as the Postman in Majora's Mask, where he runs around delivering mail in Clock Town. As the moon gets closer, he's seen running quicker as he wants to flee, but he cannot bring himself to break his schedule. After Link has him deliver Kafei's letter to his mother on the Final Day (as part of the Anju & Kafei quest), he is relieved of his duties and gives his Postman's Hat to Link before fleeing town. Whenever he speaks, he says "Ya!" loudly, though this practice was discontinued in later games.

In Oracle of Ages he is a human (being Hylian/Terminian in the last two) again as a Postman at the Post Office in Lynna Village in Labrynna. Here he is unable to deliver the mail on time due to not having a clock. Link later gives him the Poe Clock, prompting him to rush out to deliver the mail. In his haste, he leaves behind Stationery, which Link takes.

In Minish Cap he's seen running around Hyrule Town making deliveries. He works together with another post office worker named Stamp, the two of whom start a newsletter once Link and the Postman fuse Kinstones.

In The Wind Waker Koboli is a Rito mail sorter who is said to have descended from a postman long ago. He has a striking resemblance to the postman in "Majora's Mask" and it is likely that he is the descendent of that postman.

In Twilight Princess, he appears whenever Link walks into a certain area, and delivers mail from other characters and unknown sources. He's also found in certain places at certain times, such as in Telma's bar where he wonders what food to buy, or in the Zora's domain wondering which exact Zora his mail is to be delivered to. When Link is in his wolf form, he automatically transforms into human form to receive the mail. In this game, there is a glitch that can send the postman running off a cliff, to his death.

In Phantom Hourglass when Link approaches a wiggling mailbox, the Postman flies over to him with a winged backpack and reads the mail aloud.

In Spirit Tracks he looks similar to the Phantom Hourglass mailman, but has no wings. He gives people their mail, and is depressed by the fact that he can only hand out letters.

Skull Kid

Skull Kid, known in Japan as Stalkid (スタルキッド, Sutaru Kiddo), is an Imp who first appears in the Nintendo 64 video game The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. He is dressed in a red cloak and hat covering an underlayer of clothing. There are a few Imps that can be found in the Lost Woods, a maze-like forest. Two play a memory game with Link as a child, and one rewards him if he plays a particular song for him on his ocarina.^[21] However, if Link, as an adult, meets Skull Kid, he shall attack him out of fear. It is possible to kill the Skull Kid; doing so rewards Link with 200 Rupees.

In the direct sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, the Skull Kid is seen cavorting with a pair of fairies named Tatl and Tael. He serves as the secondary antagonist in the storyline after stealing a mask called Majora's Mask which grants him great power but corrupts him.^[22] Under the influence of its power, he cursed many of the inhabitants of Termina, Link included, and caused the moon to fall toward Clock Town. He also treats Tatl and Tael poorly. He is thwarted when his old friends the Four Giants of Termina stop the moon from falling and Link defeats Majora. Afterward, Skull Kid befriends Link and reunites with his fairies as well as the Four Giants. At the end, the Skull Kid notes that Link "smells a lot like that fairy kid who taught me that song in the woods," suggesting that he is the same Skull Kid as seen in Ocarina of Time.^[23]

Skull Kid also makes an appearance in the Nintendo GameCube/Wii game, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. Chronologically a century after the events in Majora's Mask,^[24][25] Skull Kid is the sage or keeper of the Lost Woods. He has the ability to open doors in the Sacred Grove, to guide Link to the Master Sword and the Temple of Time on two different occasions. For that, the Skull Kid challenges him by playing a game of hide-and-seek with him. Like before, the Skull Kid still plays music with his instrument, which he uses to summon his puppets. Skull Kid made a cameo appearance in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as a pair of stickers.^[26] He also appears in The Legend of Zelda manga, under his Japanese name, Stalkid. Soon after the events of Ocarina of Time, Link met the Skull Kid in the Lost Woods, who was one of the Skull Kids who work for the Bagu Tree, the evil rival of the Deku Tree. Skull Kid appears as a playable character in Hyrule Warriors Legends.

IGN editor Lucas M. Thomas listed Skull Kid as a good addition for the video game Super Smash Bros. Brawl, when he was the first likely included amongst the other characters listed.^[27] UGO Networks editor Marissa Meli listed him 27th out of 50 in The Best Kids in Video Games, criticizing him and calling him an "...ugly looking scarecrow who hates Link and uses a flute as a weapon."^[28] Skull Kid (wearing Majora's Mask) appears as an Assist Trophy in Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii U.

Syrup

Syrup is a friendly old witch who first appears in Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages. She specializes in selling restorative potions and is Maple's grandmother. In Oracle of Seasons her shop is found in Sunken City in Eastern Holodrum where it can only be accessed during winter. During the quest for the Noble Sword, Link has to trade with her a Mushroom for a Wooden Bird, and she will not sell Magic Potions until she receives the Mushroom. In Oracle of Ages, her shop is located in Yoll Graveyard during the present in Labrynna. At one point, Link has to use one of her Magic Potions to cure the King Zora's illness.

In The Minish Cap, her shop is found in the Minish Woods. Link has to purchase from her the Wake-Up Mushroom for Rem the Shoemaker so to wake him up. At first she only sells Blue Potions, but after Link fuses kinstones with a Minish in South Hyrule Field, she will then start selling Red Potions.

Though not named, similar witches like Syrup appear in A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening. In A Link to Past she can be found in Eastern Hyrule outside her shop while her apprentice (Maple in the Game Boy Advance version) tends the shop itself. Link can find her a Mushroom from the Lost Woods which she can use to complete her potion and which Link can use. In Link's Awakening, the shop can be found in Koholint Prairie on Koholint Island. She asks Link to find the Sleepy Toadstool so for to make some Magic Powder to give to Link and instructs him to use it on unlit torches.

Talon

Talon is the father of Malon and owner of Lon Lon Ranch who first appears in Ocarina of Time. Link first finds him sleeping outside Hyrule castle, which Malon has asked to find him. Link uses a cucco to wake him up, and then hurries back to find Malon. Later, if Link heads to Lon Lon Ranch, he can participate in a mini-game to earn a bottle of milk. Also at the farm is his farmhand Ingo, who seven years later is given the ranch by Ganondorf to take-over, which forces Talon to stay at Kakariko Village. However, he returns once Link defeats Ingo in a horse race.

In Majora's Mask, in Termina (which is set in a parallel universe), Talon is known as Mr. Barten and is the bartender of the Milk Bar in Clock Town. On the Final Day he doesn't leave the town over the falling moon and instead stays at the bar.

In Oracle of Seasons, his farm is found north of Horon Village, where he's again with Malon where they raise Cuccos. Talon is found sleeping at Mt. Cucco; if Link wakes him up with the Megaphone, he'll give him the Mushroom as part of the trading quest.

In Four Swords Adventures, he's seen briefly when Link returns Malon after rescuing her. He allows Link to use their horses by collecting carrots.

In The Minish Cap, he can be found at Lon Lon Ranch east of Hyrule Town where he's lost his keys to his house. However, Link is able to find the spare key by shrinking to help them get inside.

In Link's Awakening, a similar character named Tarin appears as Marin's father. Early in the game, Tarin is turned into a raccoon when he eats a strange mushroom in the forest and blocks Link's path until the transformation is undone with Magic Powder. Later, Link gives Tarin a stick as part of the trading sequence; he uses it to try and shoo bees away from a honeycomb but is chased off by the angry swarm, leaving Link to take the honeycomb.

References