There are many games in the Zelda series where Link is accused of being lazy. From the lofty heights of Skyloft to the land of Twilight, Link loves a good sleep. Perhaps the greatest example of this comes from The Wind Waker. It’s been my experience that when it comes to calling someone calling you lazy, that statement is going to come from one of two sources: family or friends.
As a salty breeze blows during the opening scenes of The Wind Waker, Aryll finds Link napping and proceeds to call remind him of his laziness when she says, “You’re so lazy, Link! You never help Grandma with the chores!” In their artwork “Wind Waker” by Sleepless-Piro, we capture another moment of a sleepy hero being prompted to start the quest already!
Looming over the hero, Tetra is standing on one of the decks on Outset Island with an arm outstretched. Her finger points off into the distance in desperation. Her mouth is open, and the audience can imagine her saying something like “Link! Get up, you lazy bones. We have a world to save!”
Despite Tetra’s cries, Link remains asleep. His legs dangle about the sea. His arms behind his head, acting as a makeshift pillow. A contented smile on his face as he rests his eyes, the sun warming his chest, the wind rustling the palm fronds of Outset Island, and the sky-splitting screech of the magic of the Triforce erupting from Dragon Roost Island. What the what? That’s what happens when you sleep on the job, Hero of Winds!
Contrasting the bright and sunny skies of Outset Island are the dire and threatening skies surrounding the island of the Ritos. Swirling purple and red clouds call to mind the evil malice of Ganondorf while the base of the island bubbles with dark magic. The evil assaulting the island has even dyed the sea itself with its demonic essence. This is surely too big a threat to sleep through!
While in the end, Link always comes through. I cannot imagine the frustration his sleepiness must cause the women who are constantly trying to get him to wake the heck up. Sure, a well-rested hero can surely defeat the Demon King, but a worried sister or princess is stuck having a lot of sleepless nights before then.
