When Hyrule’s princess was captured by the evil king Ganon, few believed there was any hope left for the kingdom. The princess had managed to hide the Triforce of Wisdom from the villain, but he already had the Triforce of Power in his possession. With just one of those sacred triangles, Hyrule’s ultimate sources of power, Ganon was able to overrun the land. Once he found the Triforce of Wisdom, his control would be absolute. What chance could Hyrule possibly have?
It could have a small chance. A small, modest chance that came in the form of a young boy named Link. Though he was no great knight or warrior, this child, who had an unrivaled sense of duty and courage, heeded the kingdom’s call for a hero. Hyrule was his home, Zelda was his princess, and he would do anything to rescue them both. All he needed to do was take those first few steps into the wilds of Hyrule.
First appearances didn’t help Link much. From the outside, most saw him as a boy who needed protection. Few could fathom his dormant abilities. Luckily, some people had vision rather than sight, such as the Old Man that Link met in a cave. This Old Man knew the road ahead for Link was a treacherous one. Whether by the wisdom of old age or guidance from the goddesses, the Old Man knew he had to help Link however possible. And in this instance, that help came in the form of a simple sword. It was by no means a legendary weapon, but it was the first key to Link’s victory. Link could do so much with so little, and what he was going to accomplish with this sword would be the proof.
This Link, this first Hero of Hyrule, set the standard for all of the heroes that would follow him. (This isn’t the case according to the timeline, but for the original fans of the series, this Link is the true forefather.) Being the savior of Hyrule was not about being the strongest or most impressive. A hero needed to have integrity, compassion, resourcefulness, and above all, courage. These combined traits would give any true hero the will to act and the ability to succeed.
After his quest’s simple start, Link’s success continued to grow. The monsters he encountered, as terrifying as they might have been, were no match for this unknown champion. The fleet-footed and quick-witted boy would almost instantly figure out his enemy’s patterns and exploit them. None of the beasts, the Tektites, the Moblins, the Darknuts, and more, could put up a solid defense against him.
The same happened in every dungeon Link explored. Both the monsters and the traps they set could do little more than slow Link down. It was inconceivable that a mere child could overwhelm these dungeons and their trials, but Link wasn’t concerned with how his enemies perceived him. This sentiment also held true for the dungeons’ masters, those most powerful of Ganon’s forces. They were massive and terrible beasts, but they all had weaknesses, and Link knew how to find them. They couldn’t intimidate him into fleeing, either. One by one, the dungeons and their lords were conquered.
Link had a goal in mind as he systematically freed Hyrule: Find these dungeon masters, destroy them, and claim the pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom that they protected. Once he had all of the pieces, he would take his fight to Ganon himself. Once the eighth piece was found, it was time to enact the final part of the plan.
Ganon’s home on Death Mountain was the final test of Link’s fortitude. The challenges were greater than anything Link had seen before, and the monsters that lurked in its corridors were the mightiest that Ganon had at his disposal. But Link had been learning and getting stronger throughout his journey. He had learned new techniques. He had found new tools and weapons, such as the mighty Magical Sword. And within Ganon’s own lair, Link also found the secret key to slaying the demon: the Silver Arrows. With those together, Link knew he was ready for the final fight.
The battle went into full fury the moment Link entered Ganon’s chamber. The demon king summoned all of his sorcerous tricks to try to confuse and overwhelm Link. The beast would vanish and reappear at will, leaving only a moment to stage any form of counterattack. A moment was all Link needed. When the chance came, Link’s blade would come crashing down on his enemy, and Ganon would feel the sting of Hyrule’s hope. Once the sword brought Ganon to his knees, Link secured his victory by drawing his Bow and firing a single Silver Arrow. The arrow hit its mark, and in a flash of fire and explosions, the evil king crumbled to dust and memory.
With the enemy now gone, Link was free to enter the final room in Ganon’s lair. That is where he found her: Princess Zelda. The young princess thanked the young hero for his valor, the two departed from Death Mountain, both pieces of the Triforce in hand, and returned to their now free homeland.
This incarnation of Link, both in terms of the narrative of Hyrule and the Zelda franchise, is often underplayed when compared to many modern Links from many modern games, but his importance will never be completely lost to history. He started it all. Every Link is a modest and noble hero in every game, but this first Link is the humble beginnings of their greatness. Befitting to the series, he is legendary.
The Legend of Zelda series is 35 this week, and we’re celebrating with the game that started it all! Be sure to check out more articles from Classic Zelda Week 2021.
