Each installment in the Zelda series predominantly focuses on the rise of a powerful antagonist and Link’s heroic conquest to defeat the evil forces. As the chosen hero triumphs over Ganon and returns the Master Sword to its slumbering pedestal, fans are left to speculate the happenings that follow the ending credits. Does Link set out on his own adventure? Has he earned enough clout to no longer need to herd goats in Ordon Village? Can he finally afford the Castle Town villa that has been on his mind for ages?
Although still speculative, the official chronology in Hyrule Historia fills some of those gaps. After the timeline split in Ocarina of Time, the Child and Adult Eras tell relatively cohesive stories. Childhood Link journeys to Termina in search of Navi, and he eventually transforms into the saddened being called the Hero’s Shade. In the Adult Era, the kingdom of Hyrule is flooded, and Link eventually sets sail on the high seas with Zelda to discover New Hyrule.
While both timelines admirably document the events between each game, the Fallen Hero Timeline is perhaps the most opaque. Following the events in A Link to the Past, Link takes a detour to save the lands of Holodrum and Labrynna and eventually becomes shipwrecked during Link’s Awakening. Apart from those adventures, Link’s whereabouts between each game in the downfall timeline are relatively unknown. In particular, the original two games for the Nintendo Entertainment System are the most unclear; however, a subtle reference in the Japanese version of The Adventure of Link offers a clue.
The Japanese version of The Adventure of Link contains an Easter egg that hints about our hero’s whereabouts. When visiting Saria Town en route to Death Mountain, Link passes a graveyard. In the western version of the game, no dialogue options exist for the tombstones; however, the Japanese version includes a tribute to a fallen Square Enix hero.
When translated to English, the text reads, “The hero Loto sleeps here.” Loto is the Japanese name for Erdrick, who is the main protagonist of the third Dragon Quest game. In subsequent games, the Hero of Legend is often referred to as Erdrick, which pays homage to the original Dragon Quest games. Perhaps the Zelda series and other Square Enix games share a similar universe?
Our search continues, but this time from the Square Enix side of the universe. In the original Final Fantasy game, the Warriors of Light travel to the village of Elfheim to rescue the inhabitants from the dark elf Astos. After crossing a river that runs through the middle of the village, the heroes stumble across three gravestones. In the English version of the game, the marker reads, “Here lies Erdick 837 – 866 R.I.P.”
The English translation creates quite the time paradox. Was Erdrick not laid to rest in the Hyrule town of Saria? How could the Dragon Quest hero also be buried in the Final Fantasy village of Elfheim? Was this another split in the timeline? Do the parallel fantasy worlds of Square Enix and Nintendo know no bounds? Are we researching an episode of Fringe? (For the younger generation, Fringe was a late 2000s television series created by J.J. Abrams. The show explores the supernatural and convoluted timelines. Watch the first season, but do not go any further. Now back to the story).
Consequently, the English translation of Final Fantasy contained many errors, which included the reference in Elfheim. The Japanese version clearly states that Elheim is the final resting place for Link. Although the original English translation on the NES was incorrect, Square Enix fixed the mistake for future ports on the Game Boy Advance, PlayStation Portable, and other platforms. The corrected version clearly reads, “Here lies Link.”
So, there you have it. After reclaiming the Triforce of Courage in The Adventure of Link, our hero settled down in the quaint village of Elfheim. Link undoubtedly felt right at home as Elfheim residents wear green attire and sport elongated ears, which are eerily similar to the Zelda series. Even the name “Elfheim” is a not-so-subtle nod to the Hylian race.
Although the reference is merely an Easter egg, I like to think that our hero settled down in that peaceful little village. He surely needed a rest after saving Hyrule in The Adventure of Link. After finishing the game in 2020, I, too, felt the urge to retire to a quiet abode. But I cannot rest on my laurels. Instead, I am in the midst of my first playthrough of the original Final Fantasy. While the game is punishingly difficult, I take comfort in knowing that I will soon pay homage to my favorite video game hero.
