Inspiration For A Manhwa Plot?
So my favorite ship is Zelink. Specifically from the BOTW/TOTK timelines, and the dynamic is so BEAUTIFUL, and it got me thinking.
Even though Zelink isn’t canon, it has it’s own storyline that I think could be implemented into a manhwa. Read it and see if you agree with me.
So this is basically how it goes: (Note: Basically paraphrasing Zelda’s Zelink Storyline, but you’ll see what I mean) I want to know because.. maybe.. just maybe.. I could try and draw a manhwa version of this plotline if y’all think I can.
Anyways; Since I cant write out all the plot for totk too, I’m just going to go over botw, because TOTK Zelink doesn’t make much sense if you dont know the background. BTW: This is the actual plot of the game (partially, there is WAY more than just this, but Im focusing on the romance Nintendo says without saying.)
Princess Zelda, born with the blood of the goddess hylia, is born to seal away evil, and she is supposed to unlock a power. Howerver, no matter how hard she tries she cant unlock it. The thing is, if she cant unlock it, the world will literally end. You see, there is a legend of a calamity, that only a princess with the power of the goddess, and the hero with the master sword can defeat. Zelda cant unlock her powers, no matter how hard she tries. (Meaning praying until she literally passes out.)
Her dad is an asshole who always belittles her, and reminds her of how people are mocking her for her inability to awaken her power. She tries to contribute in any way she can. She is an avid researcher, especially of ancient tech, and she thinks she can help unlock it’s potential, she’s passionate about it, but her father tells her she’s just wasting time.
Then comes along Link, he’s assigned to guard her, and he’s the newly awakened chosen hero. He’s a stoic, handsome, guy who barely talks. He unlocked the master sword seemingly effortlessly. He unlocked his potential so easily, he didn’t even know he was supposed to be the hero, he literally just pulled the sword from a rock. He’s everything Zelda feels like she isn’t. He’s good at everything he does, he fits his role of the hero perfectly, his abilities are clear and unmatched.
Zelda hates him for that.
In turn, the usually kind princess treats him with contempt and resentment. She thinks his silence means he’s judging her, she thinks he looks at her the same way everyone else does, as a failure. Along with that, Link is assigned to follow her literally EVERYWHERE, and Zelda HATES that.
One day he shows up after her again, she tells him not to follow her, when he still does, she explodes, and lashes out at him aggressively. She then leaves him behind, hoping he doesn’t follow.
But later, when she’s alone, she’s chased by assasians, the yiga clan, she runs away but there are too many of them, Zelda has nothing to defend herself, and then, when the assasian raises their blade to kill her, she braces herself.
And it never comes. Link (being the giga Chad he is) comes in at the right time.
It’s at that moment Zelda falls in love with Link. (Seriously watch the cutscene and you’ll get it)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gxn6YZEDVjk
Anyways, so she like, now doesn't hate him lmao, and the two grow closer. Link learns of Zelda’s internal struggle, Zelda learns how Link feels pressured to be so stoic to live up to his image, and the two become close. Zelda tries to unlock her power said to be unlocked through a pure love, but nothing works. There’s lots more but I’m too lazy to type it out, along with the details of the other characters other than those two. Anyways, they definitely have something going on.
Then, on Zelda’ 18th birthday, the calamity hits, Zelda’s power hasn’t been unlocked, Link takes Zelda and runs with her to help save her. But he is outnumbered, ancient machines, meant to be used by the hero and princess, known as “Guardians” were taken over and are now attacking everyone. Link ends up too weak, and when a guardian targets him, Zelda pushes herself in front of him, and then, Zelda’s power unlocks, and the guardians shut off. But it’s too late, Link is near dead. Zelda knows it. She tells him everything is going to be alright and he’s gonna be okay. But he falls unconcious, she cries over him. Then some sheikh arrive, as a last resort, Zelda tells them to take Link to the shrine of ressurection, a place that can bring the dead back to life in the span of 100 years.
They bring him there. Zelda, meanwhile, goes back to the castle, and faces the thing that destroyed her everything. She cant seal it without Link, just like how Link cant defeat it without her, so she temporarily traps it, and herself, in the castle.
100 years pass Link wakes up, but he doesn’t remember anything. He now has to travel around hyrule, regain his strength, and his memories, and I like to think there’s lots of ✨angst✨ Anyways, when he finally makes it to the castle and defeats the villain, Zelda asks him a question.
“Do you really remember me?”
If you’ve gotten all the memories, then a “hidden” cutscene plays. Link and Zelda are working on rebuilding Hyrule, and Zelda tells him she has lost her powers, but shes fine with it, and smiles at him. Then the screen zooms out.
And they live happily ever after….
UNTIL THE SEQUAL CAME OUT IN 2023 😄 😄 😄 😄
Anyways, if you have stuck through to then end I’m proud of you, and I’m curious, do you think this could be adapted into a manhwa in a way.
Not even the same characters, for example, it could be like, the temple, and instead of a princess she’s the proficied saintess or something, and the chosen hero could be a holy knight or something. Or it could be a 1 to 1, either way, I think it does have potential. Let me know you’re thoughts, and how you think it could be changed to become more manhwa-esq.
