Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Skyward Sword - Link and the Kokiri


If there is one person that I associate with the Zelda series, it is not the titular princess, Link, or any of his many companions. Rather, it is a lone Kokiri who in her own way saved the entire land of Hyrule. I am of course talking about Saria, the Sage of Forest and the person most precious to the Hero of Time. She is my most favorite character in the Zelda franchise. For that reason, I did ponder her possible appearance in Skyward Sword.

For many years I've clamored for her reappearance in another Zelda game, and I've been disappointed many times. A stained glass window just doesn't cut it. It's even become a joke in some circles. I am often greeted with "Saria will not be in the next Zelda game." Most would think I would give up, but hope springs eternal, and this time with Skyward Sword I believe she has a greater chance of showing up more than ever.

That belief fits in with this last article in the Skyward Sword Connection series. Like with Zelda's Lyre, I will focus on one particular item, this time the tunic Link obtains from the apparent Rauru. Many believed that the iconic tunic Link wears originated from the Kokiri garb that the Hero of Time wore, and as such believed it was thanks to the Kokiri that the tunic was passed down throughout generations.

With Skyward Sword however, all that changed when the 1st Link in existence was seen wearing the tunic. I was a bit disgruntled by this, since it meant the Kokiri were not the originators and were being pushed further into obscurity. Some time later though, I gave some thought to it and realized that the fact Link possessed the tunic in Skyward Sword pointed to a possible role the Kokiri could have in the story.

We know that the land below Skyloft is experiencing great strife, which is certainly affecting all of the races who live in the land. We've already seen Gorons, so other familiar races will definitely be there, including the Kokiri hopefully. Link will of course end up helping these races, eventually ending up in the Kokiri's forest. There he will slay the monsters sent by Ghirahim and his group.

Let's say that before this, the forest children had never seen anyone from the outside world. Link will be quite a sight for them, and his actions in saving them will leave an impression. Likely before Link arrived, the Kokiri wore clothes of their own design, crafted from leaves and vines. Grateful to Link, they will make and wear clothes modeled after his tunic in appreciation and remembrance.

The Hero of Time will eventually wear these clothes, and they will become engrained in Hyrule's history as the garb of the one who saved the kingdom from Ganondorf's evil. Upon thinking of this, I realized the Kokiri were responsible for the tunic's notoriety, as the Hero of Time would eventually overshadow Skyward Sword Link's legacy.

Indeed, it wasn't until hundreds of years later that Skyward Sword Link was brought up in Twilight Princess. At the time, many thought Ocarina of Time Link was the legendary hero mentioned in that game, and the tunic Twilight Princess Link received was his. However, Skyward Sword showed that it was in fact the hero from Skyloft, the inspiration for the Kokiri and the precursor to the Hero of Time.



The connection doesn't end there however. I believe one more connection will be shown, one very significant that could possibly be presented as a post credits scene. Many years later, an injured woman will arrive in the forest with a baby. That day, Saria will unknowingly repay Skyward Sword Link for saving her and the Kokiri by nurturing his descendant, who will become her most precious person and the next savior of Hyrule.

1 comment:

  1. Awesome theory! In fact now that i think about it. The Kokiri don't age and stay kids forever. So saria might appear in the game. Hopefully this is right =D

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