Zelda (Skyward Sword)

* Casual
* White Dress

While it's true that I am Hylia reborn, I'm still my father's daughter and your friend...I'm still your Zelda.—Zelda reassuring Link to be her Zelda.

**Zelda** is the titular tritagonist of the 2011 action adventure video game *The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword*. She is chronologically the earliest known incarnation of the princess of Hyrule and the true ancestor of Hyrule's royal family. She is also the daughter of Gaepora, the headmaster of the Knight Academy, and a childhood friend of Link and Groose.

She is later revealed to be the reincarnation of the goddess Hylia, who had been reborn in Skyloft with no memory of her past life. Because of her true nature, she becomes a target of the Demon Lord Ghirahim, who desires to use her to soul to revive his master Demise. As such, she sets out on her own journey with Impa to awaken her memories and prevent Demise's return.

In an attempt to ensure Demise doesn't return, Zelda travels back in the past and seals herself away, but is thwarted by Ghirahim who manages to bring Demise back with her power. However, both Demise and Ghirahim would eventually be defeated in their final confrontation with Link, allowing Zelda to be finally rescued.

With peace now restored to both Skyloft and the Surface, Zelda decides to live, asking Link to accompany her. Her descendants would live on to establish the kingdom that would become known as Hyrule.

She is voiced by Yū Shimamura, who also voices her in *The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild* and *The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom* in the Japanese versions.

## Appearance

Zelda appears to be a young girl with long, blonde hair, with two strands held together by straps wrapped around together and a ponytail at the end. She wears a pink dress with a strap that carries a blue cloth the symbol of the Triforce. She also wears a white cloth on her shoulders with the symbol of the Triforce on the back. She later wears a white dress, signifying her role and purity.

Because she is the reincarnation of Hylia, it is very likely her appearance is based on what Hylia had looked like in her past life.

## Personality

Zelda in general is a kind and outgoing girl that is beloved and respected by her loved ones and friends. Because she is not a princess in this timeline, she doesn't act as royal and formal as her later incarnations. In fact, she tends to have a playful and energetic side of her, as shown from her interactions with Link.

She is also not shy to call out Link on his lazy performance or standing up against Groose, when she sees him picking on Link, repeatedly. Despite this, she still has a sense of duty when performing as the surrogate Goddess of Hylia during the Wing Ceremony.

However, when she learns of her past life as Hylia herself, she develops a further sense of responsibility of ensuring that she regains her lost memories and do what she needs to prevent Demise's return. It's also for this reason that she was willing to use Link's feelings for her to put him on the challenging task of helping her accomplish her goal. However, she did later feel regret for taking advantage of Link this way and decided to seal herself away in the past as an act of atonement for her actions.

## History

Zelda is depicted as a commoner girl living in Skyloft who takes up the role of the goddess at the Wing Ceremony. Afterwards, she and Link go for a flight together, but are separated after a twister summoned by Ghirahim knocks Zelda off her Loftwing and is sent falling towards the surface below. Ghirahim plots to use Zelda to summon the Demon Lord Demise, but an elderly woman locates her first and informs the maiden about her role in Demise's destruction. She is lead to the sacred springs in Faron Woods and Eldin Volcano where she must bathe in their waters to awaken her dormant powers and memories of her previous life as the Goddess Hylia.

Zelda eventually traveled with her protector Impa to the Temple of Time where they briefly encountered Link before Ghirahim suddenly attacks them, forcing Zelda to flee through the Gate of Time. However, she would later meet Link again in the past to explain about her connection to the Goddess Hylia and her duty to remain locked within the Temple of Hylia (later known as the Sacred Temple) so she can strengthen the seal on Demise until Link can obtain the Triforce to finally destroy the Demon Lord.

Zelda remained inside the temple's back chamber for many years until Link vanquished Demise in the present, thus finally allowing her to be reunited with him. Unfortunately, Ghirahim appears and kidnaps Zelda so he can revive Demise in the past. She is taken through the Gate of Time once more and drained of her life-force during a demonic ritual to free Demise from his imprisonment. Link was unable to stop the ritual in time, but learnt that Zelda's soul could still be saved by destroying Demise before the demon can absorb it completely.

After Link manages to slay Demise in combat, Zelda is revived and returns to the present to reunite with friends and family. However, rather than going back to Skyloft, she decides to remain on the surface before asking Link what he will do in the future, to which Link smiles. Link and Zelda's Loftwings are then shown flying off in the distance, implying that Link chose to stay with Zelda.

## In Other Media

### Hyrule Warriors

Zelda appears in *Hyrule Warriors* as an alternate skin for Princess Zelda in the Wisdom costume sets, alongside her Twilight Princess and Ocarina of Time incarnations.

## Trivia

* This incarnation of Zelda is notable for being the first one that isn't a princess of Hyrule. Her descendants, however, would go on to establish the kingdom and its royal family.