The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2016) / Characters

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Characters/TheLegendOfZeldaTwilightPrincess2016

Characters from The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2016). For how they are portrayed in the game, see this character sheet.

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Heroes

Link

^{Click to see Link in wolf form}
^{Click to see Link in Volume 1}

A young man with more than a few skeletons in his closet. After an attack on his adopted home of Ordon Village, he unwillingly finds himself in the role of the new Hero of Hyrule.

Adaptational Angst Upgrade: Link manages to acquire some PTSD and Survivor's Guilt before the story even starts, on account of accidentally making his original hometown disappear.
Adaptational Curves: Though he starts out scrawnier, the manga's Link easily outstrips his game counterpart in muscle mass, definition, and tightness of clothing once he's finished growing.
Adaptational Nationality: Of sorts. In the original game, the Ordon region was considered to be something of a tributary state to Hyrule. This version of Link was born on the outskirts of Hyrule proper.
Adaptational Slimness: At first. While still very fit, Link doesn't start off with the Heroic Build of his game counterpart, instead sporting a thinner, more boyish frame to reflect his youth and inexperience. He's more than caught up by the end, however.
Adaptational Wimp: Link's (pre-Master Sword) Charles Atlas Superpower of the video game is scaled down to impressive but believable feats for an athletic teenager, and all that Goron wrestling at Eldin is only accomplished by copious covert assistance on Midna's part. And even with the shiny Infinity +1 Sword that lets him bisect dragons, Link is forced to learn the hard way that he isn't a One-Man Army so much as a One Man Infantry Battalion who still needs to coordinate with The Cavalry to get things done.
Adaptation Personality Change: The marketing for the original Twilight Princess aside, the Link shown in that game was a very straightforward Knight in Shining Armor. Here, under his cover as a Stepford Smiler, Link is neurotic, emotionally weak, deeply doubtful of his potential as the hero, and Secretly Selfish before Character Development finally sets in.
Always Save the Girl: Link develops this attitude towards Midna, even being willing to turn his sword against Auru without a thought for his role, the kingdom, or his destiny.
Animal Motifs: Not just wolves, but canines in general, even acting as Midna's loyal (if disobedient) Canine Companion
Animal Eyes: Link's eyes are "beastlike" more than just figuratively. Closely looking at his irises in most panels shows that they have a starkly differentiated pupillary zone characteristic of wolf and husky eyes rather than human ones◊.
Animation Anatomy Aging: Thanks to an oddly specific case of Emotional Maturity Is Physical Maturity and a god-given quest that forces him to grow up a little too fast, Link's face matures quite noticeably over the course of the story, giving him narrower eyes, a longer, more defined nose, and a stronger neck and jaw◊. The change is gradual enough to either miss or chalk up to Art Evolution until another character ribs him for hitting his physical prime about ten years early.
Ax-Crazy: Upon tapping into the Master Sword's power further, he goes on a binge slaughtering the Twilight Realm's forces left and right and brutalizing King Bulblin. He slips into this a little again in the final battle with Ganondorf, although he pulls himself back out.
Blood Knight: Pulling the Master Sword awakens in Link a thrill for combat that persists to some extent even after getting over his power trip. He genuinely enjoys his Training from Hell; and in an Ironic Echo of the story's beginning, he briefly wishes his duel with Ganondorf would last forever, as he's never felt more alive.
Broken Ace: Link is handsome, physically capable, great with kids and animals, and easily charms his way into being Loved by All of Ordon in little more than a year. But under the desperation and false bravado (as the Hero's Shade calls it), he's needy, fragile, unstable, and easily driven to despair or paralysis without a guiding hand. And injecting some self-confidence to treat his Heroic Self-Deprecation only makes things worse.
Bow and Sword in Accord: Downplayed. Although he does use a bow against Fyrus, he is a swordsman first and foremost.
Call to Agriculture: Subverted. Link wanted to do this in Ordon Village, but destiny found him anyway.
The Champion: Link is Zelda's Champion by fate and Midna's by choice. With Zelda, this manifests as a supernatural Dulcinea Effect and complete inability to hurt her. But if given the freedom to act on his own feelings, he'd forsake all of Hyrule for Midna.
The Charmer: Though he's not the One-Man Army he is in the game, he's charismatic enough to recruit one. And while he does consciously lean into it to inspire hope and/or secure cooperation in a desperate situation, he's most effective when entirely sincere.
Midna: Heh. Good job shaking off that deadweight.
Link: I meant what I said.
Contrasting Sequel Main Character: While the Hero of Time in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1999) was a naive, sheltered, optimistic child who answered the Call to Adventure with little hesitancy, took setbacks in stride, and easily took to his role, his successor is cynical, emotionally fragile, and has to be dragged kicking and screaming into his destiny.
Cosmic Plaything: Link is pretty sure this is the actual role of The Chosen One rather than saving Hyrule. He's not entirely wrong.
Dark and Troubled Past: During the search for the missing kids, Link reveals to Rusl that he was the only survivor of his hometown, a desert border town that protected Hyrule by watching over the Arbiter's Grounds. Pulling the Gaurof Sword from its stone pedestal on a dare from his fellow trainees sent the town into the Twilight Realm (which Link didn't know at the time), leaving only him behind in the Light Realm because of the Hero's Shade keeping him from being dragged in as well. Survivor's Guilt was the reason why Link came to live in Ordon, and his collection of books on magic was him researching ways to bring his hometown back.
Determined Defeatist: Despite being an effective Hope Bringer, Link is pretty doubtful about his chances against Ganondorf and takes it as given it's a Suicide Mission. But as he explains to Shad, he doesn't have the freedom to give up, so he pushes forward and keeps himself from falling apart by repeating to himself, "This is my mission."
Desperately Needs Orders: Link admits he's hopelessly lost without clear guidance, and he will either fall into Unfulfilled Purpose Misery or violent Power Fantasy without someone to give him duties. This isn't something he can overcome so much as just what he is. He eventually makes peace with it by internalizing the Spirit of a Hero (something he views as distinct from his own soul, associating it more with the Hero's Shade) as one of his chosen guides.
Doom Magnet: Link is the chosen Triforce bearer of Courage, a virtue which can only appear in the face of adversity and suffering, and thus is destined to deal with far more of it than anyone reasonably should. And if he doesn't go seek that adversity out, it goes looking for him.
Glory Seeker: He was one back when he was fourteen, training for knighthood in hopes he might one day be a legendary hero. He would like to take that all back now.
Heroes Prefer Swords: Link, as usual, uses the Master Sword as his main weapon. When the power gets to his head, however, the sword allows Dark Link to attack him and actively weighs itself down afterward, signifying that he's no longer pure enough to use it.
Heroic Build: Quickly develops one thanks to the physical demands of his role. Amusingly, a comment from Zeu implies that people apply this logic in-universe—everyone's more willing to take Link seriously as a hero simply because he's built like one.
Heroic Self-Deprecation: Link is downright angry that the gods would be irresponsible enough to make him The Chosen One instead of someone who actually knows what they're doing, hasn't already accidentally wiped a town off the map, and doesn't need his friends taken hostage to stop ignoring the Call to Adventure.
His Own Worst Enemy: A point repeatedly emphasized that Link's self-hatred, self-doubt, and inner thirst for battle plague him more than anything else. This becomes dangerously literal when Dark Link manifests.
Identical Stranger: Link may not be the Hero of Time's descendant as in the games, but the brief glimpse Link catches of his face in life shows, alongside bonus art included at the end of volume 2, that he has an even more uncanny resemblance to his predecessor than in the games.
I Got Bigger: Link's already halfway through a growth spurt◊ when the series begins, and by the end of it, he's all but unrecognizable to his old friends from his Doomed Hometown.
Intrinsic Vow: The Spirit of the Hero exists for the sake of Hylia's living incarnation, Zelda. As such, Link can't bring himself to hurt Zelda no matter what, which Ganondorf exploits by pitting Zelda's possessed body against him.
It Sucks to Be the Chosen One: Being The Chosen One is less about being a badass so much as it is becoming the gods' new Cosmic Plaything in a divine Forever War. In fact, attempting to enjoy it as a Power Fantasy only leads to the Master Sword rejecting Link at the worst moment possible.
Knight in Sour Armor: Link makes peace with his unwanted role by choosing to fight for reasons other than Because Destiny Says So. He quickly finds his answer when he discovers the girl who nursed him back to health is a Sole Survivor much like himself, as a result of Zant's invasion, and decides he'll fight so no one else has to feel the pain they both endured. (Well, and for Midna)
Lust Object: Being Midna's Human Pet seems to include being her boytoy, as Midna's happy to get handsy, tease him, and gleefully leer at him as he bathes, all long before she respects him enough to even call him by name.
Mood-Swinger: As a teenage boy with post-traumatic stress and the fate of Hyrule on his shoulders, Link is not exactly the most stable of heroes, and his sudden shifts in demeanor can concern or outright scare his friends. This makes him especially vulnerable to getting high on the Master Sword's power, and a spiral of near-suicidal self-loathing when it rejects him. He does even out considerably after the Hero's Shade talks some sense into him, though he still has his moments.
Mr. Fanservice: The manga not only gives him a few more shirtless scenes, but gives him a Heroic Build that easily outdoes his game counterpart's.
Mysterious Waif: Link walks into Ilia's life one day as a mysterious Gaussian Boy looking for a place to say, which she immediately sets about getting him. Even a year and a half into their relationship, Link remains very cagey about his past and faint triangle on his left hand he insists has no significance whatsoever until The Call finally finds out where he lives.
No Place for Me There: While Link fights for Hyrule, he doesn't actually believe he'll ever find peace in Ordon Village, or even his own restored hometown. Midna has to shove him away from the Twilight Mirror to give him a chance to find someplace in Hyrule he can call home.
Oh, Crap!: Link is completely dumbstruck that, when he finally manages to land a solid blow on Dark Link, he ends up hurting himself in the exact same way.
One of the Kids: Link sees himself more as a peer for the Ordon children rather than a Big Brother Mentor, and doesn't really appreciate that Talo and Colin see him as an adult to look up to instead of just a big kid. He actually breaks down sobbing when Colin calls him his hero, suddenly realizing jut how close he was to completely failing them, and takes a much more mature approach with later child characters such as Ralis and Anika.
The Only One: Deconstructed. Most of Link's problems are caused or exasperated by his conflation of being The Chosen One with The Only One, be it Heroic Self-Deprecation, Condescending Compassion, or getting Drunk with Power. It takes the Master Sword for him to finally feel good enough to get by without help, a nearly deadly bout of Acquired Situational Narcissism to realize he never would be, and the Hero's Shade throttling him in sheer frustration to understand he was never supposed to in the first place. And unlike the game, saving Hyrule requires all the help Link can get, as Ganondorf kicks off the endgame by unleashing an infinitely-respawning Keystone Army from Hyrule Castle to devastate the land while Link is still finishing his business in the Twilight Realm.
Link: Everyone's weak. Even the greatest warriors aren't much on their own.
Prodigal Hero: Left Hyrule proper for its annex Ordon after accidentally destroying his home city, and is reluctant to return, refusing Bo's request to bring the tributary sword to Hyrule Castle Town because someone there might recognize where he's from and what he did. He eventually comes across the town itself in the Twilight Realm. And while they're too relieved by their impending rescue to think of blaming Link himself for anything, they are not happy to learn their city was purposefully established in such a dimensionally unstable region by Hyrule's leadership and never informed of the risk.
Prophecy Armor: While Link doesn't have a specific death in store for him, fate will not allow Link to die before battling Ganondorf, even if he wishes it would.
Hero's Shade: That is not for you to decide. Even if you suffer defeat, fall, and flee, unable to bear the fear and shame. Even if you hope for death, you do not have that freedom.
Savage Wolf: Link has a pretty terrifying prey drive as a wolf, and his fights usually become Mook Horror Shows. Even when he's docile, humans (save for Zelda) invariably regard him as a dangerous predator rather than a Big Friendly Dog.
Secretly Selfish: While Link is friendly and compassionate, he’s inwardly obsessed with finding happiness for himself and, later in the story, proving himself to be a hero to atone for mistakenly making his hometown disappear.
She Is All Grown Up: While Link is established as attractive from the outset, the additional muscle he puts on over his quest doesn't go unappreciated. On the less physical side, Midna's ambiguous feelings for him solidify into more romantic ones after recognizing how much he's matured emotionally.
Shell-Shocked Veteran: Link has many triggers and trained to become a knight, although he was actually a trainee rather than a previously active soldier.
Southpaw Advantage: Link's old friends attributed his talent with a sword to his left-handedness. Tellingly, while Link had insisted to them that he'd have no more trouble winning using his right hand, he gets much more nervous about fighting the Hero's Shade once he realizes the Shade is also left-handed.
Stepford Smiler: While in Ordon Village, Link plays the part of a Big Brother Mentor and The Ace to the hilt. He's inwardly anchored by what happened when he pulled the Gaurof Sword, and he finds it a lot harder to hide his inner turmoil after King Bulblin's assault.
Sucksessor: Unlike the Hero of Time, he's emotionally and spiritually unstable, meaning that he struggles a lot more with his responsibilities as a hero.
Survivor's Guilt: As the Sole Survivor and Unwitting Instigator of Doom of his Doomed Hometown, Link has some issues. Things get better for him when it's revealed his city wasn't destroyed, but instead translocated to the Twilight Realm; not everyone survived, but most did, and the survivors are gracious enough not to blame a mere child who could not possibly have predicted the outsized consequences of typical teenaged rule-breaking.
Tranquil Fury: In the final battle, he acts unsettlingly calm towards Ganondorf even after it seems that Midna has died at his hands.
Link: Wake up, Ganondorf. Killing you once isn’t enough for me.
Trigger Phrase: Link is deeply unnerved to discover he has a prey drive triggered by the mere mention of Ganondorf's name.
Link: I must fight Ganondorf, and I must not fail to defeat him.
[Beat Panel]
Link: ...Why do I think that?
Undying Loyalty: Link may have been born to protect Hyrule, but he lives for Midna. He even threatens to turn his sword on Auru and the knights under his command when they decide Midna is too dangerous to live.
Unfulfilled Purpose Misery : He's prone to this even before he learns what his purpose even is, as his happiness in Ordon is dragged down by the unshakable feeling that he's defrauding and endangering everyone simply by being there. When the Master Sword rejects him, he writes off his own existence entirely, questioning why the Hero's Shade would save him when he'd just proven himself completely worthless.
Unluckily Lucky: To the point of borderline Black Comedy. He was the only person from his hometown left when he pulled the Gaurof Sword, he was freed from his imprisonment from Hyrule Castle by an imp who wanted to make him her Human Pet, etc…
Unwitting Instigator of Doom: When he pulled the Gaurof Sword from its pedestal in his youth, it sent his entire hometown to disappear. Link does not learn until later that the citizens were sent to the Twilight Realm.
Weak, but Skilled: At the start, he's a Badass Normal who, even after being out of practice a couple of years, is a skilled swordsman who would have given King Bulblin a fatal wound if the monster had been human. The Master Sword more than evens out the power gap between Link and the monsters he faces later in the story.
Well-Trained, but Inexperienced: Unlike in the game, Link has a good bit of training to be a soldier, and was even at the top of his class before he answered the Call to Agriculture. But no amount of formal sword training prepares Link for his first encounter with King Bulblin, who's not just Made of Iron, but also perfectly comfortable using human shields.
What Beautiful Eyes!: The guardian spirits call Link the Blue-Eyed Beast thanks to his distinctive, wolf-like eyes, which are often the focus of detailed close-ups. Zant hates them for provoking the inferiority half of his Inferiority Superiority Complex.
Wonderful Werewolf: Like in the game, he becomes a wolf under the effect of Twili magic.
Younger Than They Look: Link starts off looking every bit the teenager he is, but the weight of his journey ages him quite noticeably. By the time he enters the Twilight realm to battle Zant, he looks to be in his mid-twenties rather than his late teens, which Darpa teases him for when they reunite.

Midna

^{Click to see Midna's true form}

A mysterious Twili imp that saves Link from his imprisonment in Hyrule Castle under the condition that he serves as her underling.

Adaptational Badass: Midna is more proactive in using her magic in combat, and demonstrates that she is strong enough to stop Gorons in their tracks on two separate occasions.
Adaptational Jerkass: This Midna is much more openly condescending and resentful towards Light Worlders. This turns out to be partly because she was abandoned by the one friend she had in the Light World, or so she thought at the time.
Affectionate Gesture to the Head:
- During the journey to Hyrule Castle Town, Link sees a vision of Midna's true form. Midna laughs it off, but takes the opportunity to get close and begin stroking Link's cheek.
  Midna: There's no woman here. You're imagining things. Or...were you fantasizing? Heh...heh heh heh...
- When asking Link to come with her to the Twilight Realm, Midna cups his face with both hands.
Bigot with a Crush: Midna detests Light Worlders in the early stages of the story, but she’s not above checking Link out in the hot spring and has trouble keeping her hands off him.
Bratty Half-Pint: Midna admits that she was an overbearing little princess in her childhood.
Character Development: On multiple levels.
- Midna is dismissive towards the Light World's troubles, believing that whatever happens to it is karma for the Twilight World's maladies. Even when recruiting Link, she makes it clear that she's just helping herself by helping him, and assisting Light Worlders with anything is just collateral. The selflessness shown by Link and Zelda helps change her mind and make her believe that both the Light World and the Twilight Realm deserve salvation.
- Midna was something of a loner even among her peers, something exacerbated by losing contact with Zelda. As she follows Link and has her inaccurate perception of Zelda corrected, she finds value in companionship.
- Midna develops an unwelcome physical attraction to Link. Despite her professed distaste for Light Worlders, she takes opportunities to paw at him, and her imp form is the only thing stopping her from going further. During her continued travels with Link, she learns to treat him as a partner and develops genuine romantic feelings towards him.
The Cynic: When regarding the world of light, at least.
Cynicism Catalyst: It is revealed that as a child, Midna managed to strike up a friendship with Princess Zelda, only for Auru to abruptly cut their communications short. Not knowing of Aura's actions, Midna developed a personal sense of distaste for Light Worlders.
Expressive Hair: She often uses her Prehensile Hair as a third hand for the purposes of gesticulation.
Everyone Has Standards: She refused Zant’s suggestion for the Twilight Realm to declare war on the Light World on the grounds that it would only bring suffering to both, especially since one had gods in the corner.
Even the Girls Want Her: It turns out that Zelda has held a lifelong and borderline romantic fixation on her, even after they were separated by Auru.
Freakiness Shame: She refers to her cursed form as ugly, but a couple of her royal staff think she looks cute as an imp.
Freudian Excuse: Part of her distrust for the Light World stems from the fact that she believes that Zelda, her Only Friend from the other side, purposely chose to cut off contact. It is revealed later that Zelda never intended to abandon her and never forgot her.
Hypocritical Heartwarming: After spending most of the second volume treating Link like a steed, she sends Ook flying with one blow when the ape uses him as a chair.
Midna: Know your place! Riding on his back is my spot!
Inconvenient Attraction: Although Midna had resigned herself to having to make use of a servant from the Light World she despised, she was unprepared for it to be someone as handsome and (seemingly) noble as Link. Midna struggles against her own insistence that she's only using Link as a means to an end, even as they do grow closer.
Living Emotional Crutch: Midna's guidance is just about the only thing keeping Link together during his journey.
Loved I Not Honor More: Even if she loves Link, she is not willing to jeopardize either of their worlds by leaving the Mirror of Twilight intact or taking the Hero of Hyrule with her, resigning them to be Star-Crossed Lovers who will, at most, see brief glances of each other through the two worlds' scattered "windows."
Lust Object: Midna both has one and is one.
- When Midna first sees Link in his human form, she is stunned silent and has a delayed reaction to being burned by Faron's light. She thereafter isn't any less touchy-feely with him than she was when she was using his wolf form as a ride, even inviting herself to the hot spring with him. Her feelings for Link grow over time, even sharing a chaste hug with him after he's recovered from his Heroic BSoD.
- Zant has an insane, creepy Villainous Crush on her, even after she rejected his marriage proposal.
Magic Staff: As the Twilight Princess, her main weapon is a staff that she can use to cast spells. She uses a piece of the Fused Shadow as a substitute after Zant's takeover.
No Sense of Personal Space: Midna is very handsy with her "pet" from the word go. Initial annoyance at being someone's Sapient Steed aside, Link doesn't seem to mind.
Nay-Theist: Although Midna believes in the gods of Hyrule, she doesn't think of them as anything worth worshiping, since they condemned her ancestors and all generations thereafter to the Twilight Realm.
Never Be Hurt Again: Midna is aggressively uninterested in forming any emotional attachments with light-dwellers, since she's sure that, even if they take a liking to her now, they'll just discard her as trash, as she believes Zelda had done.
Link: When we part... say my name.
Midna: There's no need for that. You'll forget me anyway.
Oblivious to Love: While she recognizes Link has a strong attachment to her, even calling him a "lost child crying for mommy," it doesn't cross her mind that he's in love with her until he threatens to turn his sword against Auru for her sake in an Anguished Declaration of Love and gives her a Now or Never Kiss.
O.O.C. Is Serious Business: The snarky, haughty Midna is uncharacteristically concerned when Link starts to descend into Smug Super territory with the Master Sword’s power.
Prehensile Hair: Midna can shape her hair into a hand, allowing her to deliver heavy blows or anchor herself against even a rolling Goron.
Sarcasm Failure: The normally snarky and demeaning Midna stares with quiet awe when she sees Link's true form for the first time.
The Sleepless: And annoyed that humans aren't.
Smug Smiler: Has a condescending grin as her default expression for the first half of the manga.
The Tease: Just because she denies deeper feelings doesn't mean she won't mess with her Human Pet a little.
Tsundere: Over the course of the story, she grapples with her instinctive need to be snarky and her explicitly romantic interest in Link.
Unskilled, but Strong: In contrast to Link, Midna can freely use magic and enhance it further with items like the Fused Shadow, on top of her being strong enough to push aside Gorons. However, Midna has limited combat experience, gets outmaneuvered by other spellcasters, and has a hard time controlling the Fused Shadow even when she does have the complete set.
Weakened by the Light: Exposure to Hyrule's natural light for too long will burn and poison Midna, so she spends much of her time hiding in Link's shadow. Zelda's sacrifice removes this weakness.
Why Did It Have to Be Snakes?: Midna is not a fan of bugs, which is why she makes Link deal with them. The Twilit Bloat freaks her out so badly that she loses control of herself and... oneshots it completely by accident.

Princess Zelda

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tvtzelda.jpg

Princess of Hyrule

The heiress of the Royal Family of Hyrule.

Abstract Apotheosis: "Zelda is Hyrule, and Hyrule is Zelda."
Action Girl: Zelda is shown to be a skilled archer and is implied to have some skill in swordsmanship. She joins Link in fighting Ganondorf after being freed of his possession and shoots him with the Light Arrows bestowed to her.
Adaptational Badass: Unlike her game counterpart, she tries to fight off Ganondorf's possession of her body.
Ambiguously Gay: She directly equates her "Romantic" Two-Girl Friendship with a young Midna to Link and Midna's own relationship before giving her a Dying Declaration of Love. Midna later notes that her Heroic Sacrifice was possible only through The Power of Love rather than the Triforce's power alone.
Ascended Extra: In the game, while a main character, Zelda was largely Out of Focus in comparison to Link and Midna, and it was largely suggested she also transferred her soul inside of Midna along with her power to keep Midna alive. In the manga, she is still sentient after transferring a part of her power into Midna and receives more focus as a character, which details her friendship with Midna as children, her forced tea time with Ganondorf who rants about his connections with Link and Zelda, and her connection to the Hero of Time through her ancestor.
Composite Character: Of the preceding Zelda from The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.
Defiant Captive: Even while being held hostage in Hyrule Castle, she holds her ground against Zant and Ganondorf.
Fighting from the Inside: When Ganondorf voices his intention to torture Link to death rather than merely kill him using Zelda's body, Zelda wrests control away from him and begins to slit her own throat.
Girl in the Tower: As in the game, she is held prisoner inside a tower in her own home, Hyrule Castle.
Heroic Suicide: After Ganondorf pulls a Grand Theft Me on Zelda and tries to force her to kill Link, she instead tries to move her sword towards her own neck. Midna comes in just in time to drive Ganondorf out.
Horse Archer: She helps Link in the final battle by riding on Epona with him and firing Light Arrows at Ganondorf, nullifying all of his powers short of his Triforce-granted immortality.
Lonely Rich Kid: As a child, she spent her entire life under the thumb of the royal court. This led to her fascination with Midna.
Nice Girl: Zelda is honest, supportive, and altruistic.
Past-Life Memories: Upon tapping into the Triforce of Wisdom, she was able to remember her predecessor's role in both sides of the time split of Ocarina of Time.
Princesses Rule: Is de facto queen, like in the game. Though in this case, it's because the king himself was killed in Zant's initial assault.
Proper Lady: Zelda was primed her whole life to be noble, self-sacrificing, and generous. Although she retains this behavior despite all her newfound misfortune, she has a personal interest in being there for the people she values most, Link and Midna.
Ripple-Effect-Proof Memory: Thanks to the Triforce of Wisdom, Zelda is able to remember that her past incarnation, or rather the Alternate Self of said incarnation, helped the Hero of Time defeat Ganondorf and stopped his reign from occurring by using the Ocarina of Time.
Silk Hiding Steel: This actually gets used against her and Link in the Puppet Zelda battle. While no Master Swordsman, Zelda is physically and magically capable enough that Link can't safely disarm her or fend her attacks off without seriously injuring her—something he's inherently incapable of doing. Thus, he gets absolutely Curb Stomped when forced to fight her.
Zelda: Do not take me for nothing more than a fine doll good only for decoration. If the need arises, I will not hesitate to take up a sword and fight.
Ganondorf: Excellent. That's precisely why I would like you as my ally.
Two Beings, One Body: The soul of the Zelda from Ocarina of Time resided in the Triforce of Wisdom and, once awakened, either becomes part of or exists alongside the present Zelda's soul. When the present Zelda pours her soul into saving Midna, her predecessor remained, which opens the door for passive-aggressive tea parties with her arch nemesis and Fighting From Within during her possession.

Hero's Shade

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tvthshade.png

^{Click to see the Shade's wolf form}
^{Click to see the Hero's Shade in life (Spoilers)}

A mysterious phantom who Link first saw when he accidentally doomed his hometown.

Abled in the Adaptation: He has two eyes instead of one (whether or not it actually negatively affected him in the original is debatable).
Arch-Enemy: While Ganondorf is a threat to everyone in Hyrule, he has never gotten over his loss to the Hero of Time. In return, the Hero’s Shade helps both Midna and Link in their battle against the Demon King.
Dark Is Not Evil: Becoming an undead Black Knight does not diminish the Hero of Time's innate good nature, even if he does act Older and Wiser.
A Form You Are Comfortable With: Inverted. The Hero's Shade spends most of his time as a skeletal wraith, but has the ability to make himself look like his old self as the Hero of Time.
The Hero's Idol: He becomes this after Link witnesses the battle against Ganon in the Temple of Time and realizes the Hero's Shade is his direct predecessor, the Hero of Time. Midna finds Link's preoccupation with him a bit much.
Horrifying Hero: He’s an absolutely terrifying wraith with a Skull for a Head, and initially scares Link to the point that even thinking about their first encounter gives him the shivers years after the fact.
Identical Stranger: Though Unrelated in the Adaptation, the Hero's Shade in life looked almost exactly like the Eternal Hero's present incarnation, Link, save for how he parted his hair, and he even uses this resemblance to shock Link out of his Heroic BSoD.
In the Hood: In the scene where he forces Link to confront his inner demons before handing over the Master Sword, he wears a hooded cloak very similar to one Link had when he was a wanderer.
I Was Quite a Looker: The Hero's Shade may be a decrepit skeleton ghost who haunts Link's nightmares these days, but in life, he was the Hero of Time and looked very much like Link himself.
Master Swordsman: He was the legendary hero who defeated Ganondorf, and the previous wielder of the Master Sword.
The Mentor: Assigns himself as one for Link.
Morality Pet: Almost literally. As it turns out, he was Midna’s Only Friend and is the only character she's only ever completely nice to.
Mysterious Protector: Benevolently haunts Link throughout the story, intervening when things get especially dire.
No Name Given: Even after his true identity is revealed, the Hero's Shade is never called by name, merely his title. Readers will have to look to other materials to learn that his name is also Link.
Older and Wiser: The Hero’s Shade is considerably different from his younger self as the Hero of Time, with all of his moments of childishness burned out of him.
Only Friend: He was the closest companion Midna had after Auru cut her off from contacting Zelda.
Southpaw Advantage: Link gets even more uneasy fighting him when he realizes the Shade is left-handed.
Stern Teacher: He is a physically and verbally demanding mentor for Link.
Threshold Guardian: Invokes this and appoints himself as one when it becomes clear to him that Link needs a bit of work, taking him into his realm and engaging him in a nonstop battle for days until Link can finally manage to land a fatal blow on him.
Unrelated in the Adaptation: The Hero's Shade states that he and Link have no actual blood relation. Doesn't stop him from treating him like his son.
Wonderful Werewolf: Like Link, he can transform into a wolf, which is part of how he made himself approachable to Midna.

Villains

Zant

The King of the Twilight Realm, or so he claims.

Abhorrent Admirer: He is a particularly odious one to Midna, having asked for her hand in marriage to become King and obsessing over her even after getting rejected.
Adaptational Intelligence: In the original game, Midna remarked that Zant was so blatantly insane and power hungry that their peers immediately wrote him off as a candidate for the Twilight Realm's ruler. His manga counterpart was much better at concealing his true nature and acting Faux Affably Evil, at least before he became Drunk on the Dark Side.
Adaptational Seriousness: While no less of a pathetic Manchild, Zant is much less Laughably Evil, and his temper tantrums are accompanied by violent retaliation against the Twili under his thrall.
Adaptational Wimp: In his final confrontation with Link in the original game, Zant copied the tactics of Link's previous enemies and used Confusion Fu to the fullest extent. Here, he relies on illusions to hide from Link and is absolutely no match for him in a sword duel.
Age Lift: In the game, he seemed to be a contemporary of Midna. His expanded backstory depicts him being at least in his late teens when he joined the Twili Royal Court.
Beyond Redemption: Once he loses to Link in their final confrontation, Zant has a Heel Realization over the fact that he never cared about the Twilight Realm, and only ever wanted to get over his own self-hatred by dominating it. When Link tries to reach out to him further, he angrily doubles down and declares his allegiance to Ganondorf once more, leading Midna to kill him with the Fused Shadow.
Big Bad Wannabe: Zant talks big, but he's only a threat to Hyrule because of the power Ganondorf gave him.
Characterization Marches On: Zant is initially portrayed as quite similar to his game counterpart, being an overly ambitious Twili who was a rival to Midna for the throne of the Twilight Realm. He is later established to have been a Villain with Good Publicity, even though the elders still eventually refused to give him rulership, and a creepily toxic yandere towards Midna.
Cornered Rattlesnake: Having become so reliant on Ganondorf's power, Zant breaks down in fear whenever a sufficiently powerful foe approaches, such as the Golden Wolf or Link. In the end, he manages to pull off a Curb Stomp Cushion against Link.
Dirty Coward: Zant's biggest flaw, apart from his constant sense of inadequacy, is his refusal to ever take risks or stand against the odds. Even when he served as the Twilight Realm's counselor, he quickly bowed his head when Midna vetoed his plan to wage war on the Light World. Even accepting Ganondorf’s power doesn't cure this tendency of his, since he cowers against anyone who is strong enough to stand up to him.
Entitled Bastard: He believes his years of serving the Twili Royal Court and teaching Midna entitle him to control over the former and marriage to the latter.
Evil Chancellor: In his revised backstory, Zant is presented as an aide to the royal Twili court before he betrayed them.
Evil Counterpart: Beneath his veneer of control, he's revealed to be just as fragile, needy, and self-hating as Link is. But while Link steps up as the Hero of Hyrule and stands up to Ganondorf, Zant sells his soul to the Demon King.
Freudian Excuse Denial: Throughout the manga, Zant tries to paint himself as an unsung hero who could liberate the Twili by conquering both the Twilight Realm and Hyrule. When Link defeats him and berates him for his excuses, Zant chuckles weakly and admits he was lying before; he only ever cared about rising above his perceived status as a nobody.
Green-Eyed Monster: While the Usurper King acts as if he thinks Link's worth less than the dirt on his shoes, it turns out that he nurses a vitriolic envy towards the hero, since Zant believes he has everything he wants; that is, personal strength, fortitude, and Midna's affection.
Hate Sink: There's nothing remotely likable about Zant. He's a cowardly, cringing, power hungry, and lecherous man who spoils his one moment of self-reflection with an Ignored Epiphany. He lacks Ganondorf's dark sense of valor, King Bulblin's Heel–Face Turn at the end, or even his own game counterpart's moments of comic relief.
I Have You Now, My Pretty:
- Zant has a small case of this when he invades Hyrule Castle.
  Zant: Princess Zelda...your beauty is too radiant for the Twilight Realm.
- When he tries to pitch his plan of ruling alongside Midna, he tries to embrace her while she’s immobilized in the air. Midna gives him a punch with her Prehensile Hair to make him back off.
Ignored Epiphany: When Zant loses to Link, he finally admits that he never really believed in himself and that all of his conquests and mayhem were a futile attempt to escape that truth. When Link tries to reach out to him more, however, Zant doubles down and keeps asserting that he won’t surrender his throne to anyone.
I Reject Your Reality: Even when it's spelled out to him that Ganondorf is from the Light World and was only ever using him, Zant refuses to believe it.
Killed Off for Real: He is obliterated by Midna, and unlike in the game, Ganondorf never sees a Dying Dream of him.
Murder the Hypotenuse: Besides the threat Link poses to his rule, Zant wants to kill him for being close to Midna.
Not Good with Rejection: The Elders didn't make him king, so he murdered them all. Midna refused to rule by his side, so he stripped her of her magic and transformed her into an imp. And when she allied with a light dweller instead of crawling back to him and groveling, Zant decided they both needed to die.
Not Me This Time: When the Master Sword rejects Link, Zant admits that he has nothing to do with Link's sudden case of bad luck. He gloats that an unworthy hero must have taken hold of it.
Not-So-Well-Intentioned Extremist: While Zant claims that his motive for conquering Hyrule was to give his people what he claims to be their birthright, Link lashes out over how much of a hypocritical piece of work he's become and points out that no real king would even consider turning his people into mindless monsters.
Older Than They Look: When he appears in Midna's flashback to her youth, Zant looks exactly the same as his present-day self.
Regent for Life: His initial plan to become the King of the Twilight Realm was to wait for his liege to die, and then rule in Midna's stead. This fell through when the elders nominated Midna anyway.
The Sociopath: Zant moved quickly up the ranks of the Twili Royal Court thanks to his superficial charm and refinement, but always had a strong sense of entitlement and couldn't handle any criticism. The minute he was able to, he turned his peers into Shadow Beasts and launched a brutal invasion of Hyrule.
Somebody Doesn't Love Raymond: By Midna's account, Zant was a popular and well-respected court noble who only narrowly lost his bid to become regent because the elders ultimately decided, correctly, that his ambition could get out of hand. No matter how much respect and trust he earned, it was never enough because Midna always disliked him.
Villain with Good Publicity: Unlike his game counterpart, who was The Friend Nobody Likes at best, this Zant was charming and charismatic enough that the elders seriously considered naming him regent of the Twilight Realm.

Ganondorf

Once a Gerudo thief, this Demon King plans to subjugate Hyrule after his conquest of the kingdom was prevented by the Hero of Time and the Princess a century past.

Above Good and Evil: Interestingly, while he paints himself as a Card-Carrying Villain, he seems to think power itself, and the pursuit of it, is the be-all and end-all of existence itself. In his mind, it's not his fault that he has divine power and has the choice to turn Hyrule into his personal Hell on Earth.
Ganondorf: One who possesses the power to rule worlds….cannot squander it on frivolous emotions! To do so is a sin!
Adaptational Villainy: While Ganondorf wasn't a good person by any means, The Wind Waker and Skyward Sword indicate that he initially had noble intentions for his people before the curse of Demise corrupted him into lusting for power, and he was largely Out of Focus compared to Zant. He also has no outward animosity toward Link and treats him as nothing more than an opponent in his way. Here, his character is portrayed as far more petty, sinister, and bloodthirsty which is displayed with him being more sadistic towards Link while fighting him and killing himself out of petty spite instead of taking Link's offer of a truce.
Alas, Poor Villain: Subverted. Link can't help but regard Ganondorf with some pity when he finally runs him through with the Master Sword, and muses on whether or not there's some way to break the eternal conflict between them. Ganondorf smirks at the idea that Link could dream of something so "harmonious" and kills himself out of spite.
Ax-Crazy: This is one of the most openly bloodthirsty incarnations of Ganondorf shown in media. In his first fight with Link alone, he declares his intention to crush the hero's bones, rip out his organs, and gouge out his eyes.
Big Bad: Having failed in his first attempt to conquer Hyrule, he enlists Zant to his cause, pitting the Twilight Realm and Hyrule against each other so he can rule whatever's left when the dust clears.
Card-Carrying Villain: While Zant has delusions of being a noble king, Ganondorf makes it clear that he's a cruel, bloodthirsty barbarian who wants to turn the world into his personal playground.
Complete Immortality: Thanks to the Triforce of Power, Ganondorf can survive anything, even having his heart ripped out or his skull pulled apart. Even the Master Sword can only banish and seal him away, not kill him. The only thing that can kill Ganondorf is Ganondorf himself, which he does just to piss Link and Zelda off.
Devil Complex: Ganondorf reveals he's well aware of the reincarnation cycle that has him pitted as against the hero and the princess for all eternity. But rather than seeing it as a curse, Ganondorf embraces it as his destiny to the point that he willingly kills himself rather than accept an offer of redemption from Link, knowing he'll reincarnate and terrorize Hyrule again in the future.
Dies Differently In The Adaptation: In the original game, he dies when the Triforce of Power leaves him. Here, he willingly renounces it in order to pull off a Spiteful Suicide against Link and Zelda.
Dystopia Justifies the Means: Ganondorf has absolutely no interest in leading people or building any kind of stable society. He just wants to turn everywhere he goes into a barren wasteland where he can crush the inhabitants under his heel.
Faux Affably Evil: He puts on a cultured facade that barely hides the condescending, vicious monster beneath.
Finger-Tenting: He assumes this pose when he reveals to Zelda that he was the one who empowered Zant.
A Glass in the Hand: When Zelda insists that the hero will defeat him, he grips his teacup hard enough to break it.
Jerkass to One: Ganondorf views most mortals as insignificant, dismisses Zant as a pawn, and actually seems to like Zelda, in a twisted Faux Affably Evil way. But he really has it out for the Hero's Shade, and by extension his successor. He spends his fight with Link trash talking him and plans to mutilate him to death.
Maou the Demon King: He openly refers to himself as the "Demon King," although he poses as a god to Zant.
Muscles Are Meaningful: It's only by virtue of the divine evil-repelling properties of the Master Sword that Link can survive a Blade Lock with Ganondorf. Striking Link anywhere else—including a raised shield—launches Link across the battlefield and coughing up blood. Once Ganondorf realizes this, he switches tactics to sucker-punching Link when his blade is otherwise occupied.
No, Mr. Bond, I Expect You to Dine: Ganondorf prepares tea for himself and Zelda so that he can have an audience while he rants about his past and gloats about his plan.
Physical God: Ganondorf is the "god" Zant received his power from. While he was once a mortal Gerudo, the heroes learn the hard way that the power granted to him by his Triforce has made him an almost unstoppable demigod.
Rage Quit: When he finally loses his duel against Link, he chooses to kill himself out of spite rather than consider the hero's offer of a truce, knowing he will reincarnate one day and have another chance to torment Hyrule.
Ripple-Effect-Proof Memory: Same as with Princess Zelda, but with the Triforce of Power. While initially baffled by the royal family catching him off guard, he eventually remembers not only the rulership and defeat of the future Ganondorf from Ocarina of Time, but how the Hero of Time and the Princess joined forces to set up his downfall.
Strong and Skilled: Beyond his skill with his sword, he has superhuman strength even after the Light Arrow nullifies most of his powers, as demonstrated by him sending Link flying multiple times with glancing blows.
Sword and Fist: While his main weapon is the Sword of the Six Sages, he's not above using kicks or punches against Link.
Tea Is Classy: The first thing he does when he takes over Hyrule Castle is brew himself a pot and force Zelda to join him for tea.
Then Let Me Be Evil: While Ganondorf's always been a power-hungry despot, realizing that Zelda and the Hero of Time's actions against him have cursed him into the role of Satanic Archetype has driven what was once simple power lust into a furious rage to either obliterate Link's very soul to break free from his own eternal hell or drag Link and Zelda down with him.
The Poorly Chosen One: If Link wasn't already certain the gods were terrible at picking The Chosen One, learning Ganondorf was given the Triforce of Power certainly convinced him.
To the Pain: While controlling Zelda's body, Ganondorf states his intention to crush Link's bones, rip out his organs, and relish his screams of pain. He is just barely stopped from gouging out Link's eye by Zelda fighting back against his possession of her.
Un-person: Ganondorf was purged from Hyrule's historical record after his execution, and even Zelda was unaware of who he was until she awakened her Past-Life Memories.
Villainous Breakdown: He’s practically frothing when the Hero’s Shade joins Link in the fight against him, recognizing him as the Hero of Time who helped foil him in the past.
Villainous Crush: Ganondorf has a peculiar and twisted fixation on Princess Zelda. He "invites" her to tea, claiming that he had always wanted to speak to her alone, and tries to pull a We Can Rule Together speech on her. As he prepares his Spiteful Suicide, he looks at Zelda, grins, and says that he looks forward to meeting her in the future.
World's Strongest Man: Ganondorf is by far the most powerful individual on the mortal plane, with only the gods being out of his reach. Acquiring the Triforce of Power granted Ganondorf nearly unlimited magical might, on top of the knowledge of swordplay and strategy he already possessed. It takes a combination of one of Zelda’s Light Arrows, the Master Sword, and Ganondorf's own pettiness to put him down.

King Bulblin

The King of the Bulblin race, and a recurring enemy of Link.

Adaptational Dumbass: In the game, King Bulblin finds ways to adapt to Link's tactics, such as wearing buckler shields to counter the hero's sword blows and even preparing his own fortress to self-destruct on the off-chance he loses their rematch in the desert. Here, he's a bruiser through and through.
Adaptational Villainy: In the game, he is just a strong monster following orders from who he deems the strongest. While that is also true here, his viciousness in battle is more pronounced, and he has a thirst for sadism not seen in his original incarnation. On the other hand, he does end up making a full Heel–Face Turn in this story.
Adaptational Weapon Swap: Downplayed. In the game, King Bulblin had a two-handed axe with a hammer head for a poll. The manga gives him a one-handed axe with only a blade. Halfway through the story, he gets his hands on his in-game weapon.
And Now You Must Marry Me: He kidnaps Ilia to make her the "princess" of his tribe.
Barbaric Battleaxe: The axe is King Bulblin's preferred weapon of choice, and he's a rough, violent social darwinist. He starts off with a cavalry axe before losing it and switching over to the two-handed axe used by his game counterpart.
But Not Too Challenging: While King Bulblin stresses the need for the strong to become stronger still and to dominate the weak, he takes both of his losses to Link rather poorly.
Disproportionate Retribution: When Link actually manages to wound King Bulblin in his attempt to rescue Ilia and Colin, King Bulblin retaliates by ordering his minions to hold him down so he can cut off his arm with his axe.
Don't You Dare Pity Me!: King Bulblin is angry when his former captive Ilia is shocked to find him wounded and in the middle of a Villainous Breakdown.
Evil Cannot Comprehend Good: King Bulblin is baffled that Ilia isn't leaping at the opportunity to become his queen after his impressive display of dominance (i.e. murdering her crush).
Heel–Face Turn: At the end of the story, he joins the Hylian forces to fight off Ganondorf’s army, even giving his own life in the process.
Hypocrite: Although he claims to be a Blood Knight and that he prizes personal strength above all else, he sics a gang of Bokoblins on Link when the youth actually manages to land a couple of hits on him.
Killed Offscreen: At the end of the final volume, Ilia finds his body riddled with weapons from fighting off Ganondorf's monsters.
Made of Iron: Like in the game, he survives a hundred-story fall from the Bridge of Eldin. He ultimately goes down fighting Ganondorf’s army, and his body is found practically pincushioned with spears and swords.
One-Handed Zweihänder: He's initially shown wielding a battleaxe one-handed, even on Bulboback. He later switches over to an axe similar to the one used by his game counterpart and uses it with both hands, not that it makes any difference against Link.
Painting the Medium: His dialogue is written in a rougher typeface than other characters
The Social Darwinist: While the King Bulblin of the game was a pragmatist who believed in fighting for the strongest side, the manga version openly despises the weak and declares that his strength alone gives him the right to do whatever he wants.
The Warlord: While nominally a vassal of Zant, King Bulblin treats the landscape he dwells over like his personal sandbox, not having interest in anything other than raiding and pillaging.
What Does She See in Him?: In his mind, Link was a weakling who died far too quickly at the hands of himself and his minions. That Ilia would mourn him afterward is utterly baffling to him.

Dark Link

A ghostly copy of Link that both attacks him directly and tests his worthiness as the wielder of the Master Sword.

Adaptational Attractiveness: Played with. Unlike most Dark Links, who are faceless shadows, this one basically looks like Link with a Palette Swap. However, the fact that he now has a face means that he often pulls off disturbing facial expressions.
Adaptational Badass: In most of his appearances, Dark Link is a difficult but surmountable enemy. Here, he's the only foe Link is outright unable to beat in a fight, since Dark Link is not only just as strong and skilled as him, but can weaponize synchronization.
Ascended Extra: While Link only sees Dark Link in a magical vision in the game, he makes a full appearance as an enemy in Volume 6.
Composite Character: While superficially based on the vision of Dark Link from the Twilight Princess game, he is a Mirror Boss like his Ocarina of Time counterpart, and like Shadow Link from The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords (2004), is fully capable of speech.
Decomposite Character: Of sorts. In the manga, Dark Link's design is not used to represent the Dark Interlopers, with one of them depicted as a vampire-like Hylian instead.
Enemy Without: Dark Link is a manifestation of Link's Inferiority Superiority Complex, who has been repeatedly lamenting how he is unfit for the hero title. Once Link gets the Master Sword, he becomes incredibly violent towards Bulblins and gets offended by people not treating him well enough as their savior. After Link loses a fight against him, and then to Zant, Dark Link rubs everything into his face.
The Heartless: Dark Link is Link’s inner rage, shame, and Acquired Situational Narcissism given physical form.
Invincible Villain: King Bulblin, Zant, and Ganondorf are all eventually overtaken by Link in battle. Not this guy.
Legacy Character: As far as the Hero of Time's storyline is concerned, he's the second incarnation of Dark Link.
Red and Black and Evil All Over: Volume 6's cover depicts him with black clothes, gray skin, and red hair.
A Sinister Clue: Inverted. As Link’s Evil Twin, he is right-handed.
Slasher Smile: His face often breaks out into wide, unnerving smiles.
Synchronization: Dark Link uses this to his advantage in his fight with Link; the hero can't land a blow on him without feeling the pain himself.

The Resistance

Rusl

A swordsman from Ordon Village and a trusted friend of Link.

Abled in the Adaptation: In the original game, he is severely injured fighting off Bulblins. That does not happen here.
Action Dad: He is Colin's father, and is prepared to personally fight anything that might endanger his family or kingdom.
Adaptational Attractiveness: Rusl's gotten a bit of a facelift and looks considerably less droopy than his game counterpart.
Adaptational Badass: In the game, Rusl largely stays out of action even after recovering from his injuries. Here, he not only stays in his physical prime, but participates in the final battle against Ganondorf's forces.
Adaptational Dumbass: His game counterpart was a skilled smith in addition to being a swordsman, and it's commented that the Ordon Sword he crafted was a worthy tribute to the Hylian Royal Family. In the manga, he credits an unseen character named Gine for forging the Ordon Sword.
Decomposite Character: In the game, Rusl was said to be the one who forged the Ordon Sword. While he is still a swordsman in the manga, the work for the blade was done by the smith Gine.
Dual Wielding: Rusl wields both a sword and his machete during the final assault on Hyrule Castle Town.
Entertainingly Wrong: He comes to the reasonable but inaccurate assumption that Wolf Link is a dangerous wild animal.
Innocently Insensitive: Rusl tries to encourage Link early on to learn swordsmanship, not knowing about Link's disastrous first attempt at learning the trade.
Master Swordsman: He is an experienced swordsman, even able to dual wield a sword and a machete.

Telma

The owner of Telma's Bar in Castle Town.

Adaptational Badass: In the game, she drove her wagon through Hyrule Field while under attack from monsters but didn't take an active part in the fight. Here she brains a Bulblin with a bucket when he refers to her as "the old lady".
Brutal Honesty: Telma makes it clear she doesn't expect Shad to make too much off his books, and that he should head back to his hometown.
Ma'am Shock: Telma straight up brains a Bulblin for calling her "the old lady."
Sacred Hospitality: Telma expects Shad and Dr. Borville to pay their tabs, and lets Ilia stay at the tavern as long as she earns her keep. However, she has the injured Ralis brought in to rest while she and the others try to find a way to heal him.
The Spymaster: Serves as this for the Resistance.
Stout Strength: Telma's not a fighter, but she's strong enough to knock the wind out of Link and throw his back out with a friendly Smack on the Back.

Ashei

A young woman raised as a warrior by her father.

Adaptational Badass: While she only shows up to point the player towards Snowpeak and then disappears from the game, here she easily takes out some armored Lizard Folk enemies and even takes part in the Blizzeta fight.
Adaptation Origin Connection: The Snowpeak Ruins is revealed to be her family home.
Badass Normal: Ashei has no legendary swords, magic, destiny, or divinely gifted power. She's just a normal soldier who's good enough with a sword to oneshot Darkhammers.
Eagle-Eye Detection: After picking up on a few key oddities,—namely, his abrupt departure from the tavern after hearing about the Mirror of Twilight, unexplained presence at her family's estate, and apparent ability to traverse frozen mountains with no winter gear—Ashei successfully deduces that Link holds some special power, knows exactly what they're up against, and has decided to shut the Resistance out of his one-man quest to save Hyrule because he doesn't want to endanger "regular people."
Good Is Not Nice: She's as brusque and tactless as she is noble and selfless.
Brutal Honesty: She does not hesitate to tell people when they suck, including Link.
Not So Stoic: The normally unflappable Ashei lets her jaw drop when she sees Midna tap into the Fused Shadows to become an Eldritch Abomination.
Supporting Leader: In The Final Battle, Ashei takes up the role of The Captain and mobilizes Hyrule's knights against Ganonforf's never-ending Keystone Army until Link can end the man himself.

Shad

A scholar who hangs out in Telma's bar.

Adaptation Personality Change: In the game, Shad is the very picture of a gentlemanly scholar. Here, he’s a neurotic, nerdy buffoon.
Adaptational Wimp: Kinda. While he wasn't seen fighting much in the game, here he becomes an outright liability during the City in the Sky fight.
Be Careful What You Wish For: Shad has always wanted someone to be able to understand his work and lifelong dream of discovering the City in the Sky. He finally gets that kindred spirit in the form of Link, Ilia's First Love. In the end, he agrees to help Link.
Butt-Monkey: Hardly anything goes right for Shad. He is deep in debt, has a hard time keeping a roof over his head, makes little if any money off his written work, and when he finally manages to reach the City in the Sky, he nearly loses his life.
Call to Agriculture: At the end, Shad decides to go to Ordon Village under the pretext of "doing research." Judging by his new clothes, he has no intention of going back to Hyrule Castle Town anytime soon.
Drowning His Sorrows: After receiving more bad news on his new book, he goes straight to Telma's bar and asks for "the usual."
The Fool: Shad's no warrior, but he manages to survive the pitfalls and the battles in the City of the Sky without a scratch.
Hopeless Suitor: Poor guy has to compete against Link. Surprisingly, he wins.
Perpetual Poverty: Even when he does publish his works, his royalties are nil. In his first scene alone, his landlady complains he's three months behind on rent.
Promoted to Love Interest: Takes an interest in Ilia, and she reciprocates in the end.
Redundant Researcher: At least when it comes to language; the very first Oocca Shad meets, much to his shock and disbelief, is completely capable of speaking the Hylian tongue in addition to that of her own people.
Throw the Dog a Bone: At the end, after everything he's gone through, he at least has a chance for a new life in Ordon Village with Ilia.

Auru

Formerly Princess Zelda’s teacher, he now serves as a member of the Resistance.

Adaptational Jerkass: This Auru is openly prejudiced against Twili.
Ascended Extra: Aura is a much more prominent character in Zelda’s backstory, and by extension, Midna's.
Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: He's not quite the Cool Old Guy he seems to be. He’s had an irrational fear and hatred towards those of the Twilight Realm long before Zant usurped the throne and declared war on Hyrule.
Cruel to Be Kind: He believed that he was this when he ordered the magic fountain that Zelda used to contact Midna be walled off. All this did was bring a lot of heartache to both.
Fantastic Racism: Since the Twili are the descendants of a literally godforsaken tribe, Auru believes in nothing but complete separation between them and those of the Light World.
Knight Templar: Auru opposes all darkness, actual morality of it be damned. And while he's willing to tolerate an allyship with Midna in The Final Battle, he immediately changes his tune after witnessing the power of the Fused Shadows go wild and almost kill Link.
Non-Action Guy: While Auru does stand his ground in Hyrule Castle Town, he's mostly there to help direct the counterattack. When he demands that Midna be killed, neither he nor any of his men are actually willing to get within slashing range of Link when the hero defends Midna. However, he finally subverts it by firing a cannon to save Midna from a monster.
Pet the Dog: Auru tries to dissuade Rusl from participating in the final battle on account of the latter having a wife and a new baby to care for.

Others

Ilia

The daughter of Ordon's mayor, Bo.

Adaptational Angst Upgrade: Ilia's trauma from being her time in captivity is emphasized here, to the point of her having panic attacks.
Amnesiac Lover: Which Shad unfortunately didn't learn until well after he became smitten with her.
Amnesiac Resonance: She retains her ability to drive horse carts despite her amnesia, which briefly tricks Link into thinking she might have gotten her memory back.
Dude Magnet: Ilia gets attention from Link, Shad, and King Bublin.
First Love: Ilia was Link's first companion in Ordon Village, and is one of the driving forces behind Link’s initial quest. Things ultimately don't work out between them, since Link won't put her above his mission or his new connection with Midna.
Girl Next Door: She's not Link's childhood friend like in the game, as he's only been in Ordon for a year and a half, but she's been his neighbor and closest friend since the day he arrived in town.
Heroic BSoD: She sinks into one when she believes that Link is dead.
In-Series Nickname: As a guest at Telma's bar, she goes by the nickname “Liza” on account of not remembering her name.
Kind Hearted Cat Lover: So much so that she adopts a kitten during captivity to off suicide. When she escaped and blocked out her memories, she unfortunately blocks out those of the kitten too... only to instantly adopt it all over again when she notices it following her around.
Loving a Shadow: This implied to be the reason she doesn't end up with Link. She knew him as a confident, well-adjusted, and ever-committed dream guy when he's the farthest thing from it, and had been a Stepford Smiler the whole time he was in Ordon Village.
Nice Girl: Ilia's most prominent feature. The kids of Ordon consider her a Cool Big Sis.
Promoted to Love Interest: While she had some Ship Tease with Link in the original Twilight Princess, Ilia has a clear romantic interest in him here. By the end of the story, her attention has shifted to Shad.
Trauma-Induced Amnesia: Ilia's amnesia is explained as a trauma response after escaping King Bulblin. And while she does regain most of her memories, she still blocks out much of her time during captivity.

Renado and Luda

A shaman and his daughter from Kakariko Village.

Adaptational Badass:
- Once Renado gets his hands on his old bow, he manages to take down several Bulbins that tried to attack Link.
- Luda personally accompanies Link through the Goron Mines, even distracting Fyrus at a crucial moment so that Link can shoot his Third Eye.
Composite Character: Renado is the original owner of the Hero's Bow, combining him with the ancient hero revered by the Gorons.
Cool Old Guy: Renado does everything he can to keep the kids of Ordon safe, and turns out to be a capable archer during King Bulblin's attack on Kakariko Village.
Interspecies Friendship: The Hylian Luda treats the Goron Darb as an uncle figure to her.
Morality Pet: Even as Fyrus, Darb is unable to bring himself to harm Luda.
Nice Girl: Luda is always ready to make sure Darb has the stone medicine he needs, and is a trustworthy companion to the Ordon kids.

Darb

A Goron who befriended the young Hylian Luda.

Adaptational Wimp: To the extent that he's an adaptation of Fyrus. Unlike the game Fyrus, who withstood multiple arrows and sword strikes from Link, Darb is freed when Link fires one shot at his Third Eye.
Canon Character All Along: An odd example. He's initially introduced as Luda's Goron friend, and as it turns out the Fused Shadow corrupted him into the monster Fyrus. This plotline belonged to the Goron chief Darbus, who has a much smaller role here than he did in the game.
Decomposite Character: In the game, the Goron chief Darbus was turned into Fyrus when he touched the Fused Shadow. Here, Darb became Fyrus and assimilated the chief when he tried to fight him.
Hidden Disdain Reveal: As Fyrus, it turns out that he's actually just as angry towards Hylians as his fellow Gorons are, despite his past display of friendship towards Luda. However, when Luda herself appears, Fyrus is unable to go through with attacking her.
Fighting from the Inside: When Luda appears, Darb manages to fight off the Fused Shadow's influence at the last second.
Hero Killer: Subverted. The Gorons believe that he killed Chief Darbus when he was turned into Fyrus, but he actually just assimilated the chief.
Intergenerational Friendship: He is an adult Goron who has a friendship with the young Hylian Luda, who makes medicine for him.
Nice Guy: Despite the resentment he has towards Hylians (something apparently unknown even to himself), he's nothing but supportive and kind to Luda.
Superpowered Evil Side: As Fyrus, Darb is a rampaging monster with fire-based powers. It took the entire Goron tribe put together to just put him in chains.
Would Not Hurt A Child: When Luda is at his mercy, he stops short of actually attacking her, giving Link a chance to shoot his weak spot and free him from the influence of the Fused Shadow.

Anika

A young girl living in a village devastated by Zant’s forces

Battle Axe Nurse: She's not sadistic, but Anika's depressing circumstances and Link's adjacency to her Trauma Button make her less than concerned for his comfort during recovery, and she answers any of his complaints about her treatment (read: screams of agony as she presses a red-hot iron against his open wounds) by bluntly telling him he's lucky he's getting treated at all.
Canon Foreigner: Anika has no counterpart in the original game.
Commonality Connection: Link is a lot more forgiving of her bedside manner after realizing all the other residents of the town reside in a mass grave at its outskirts.
Due to the Dead: She buried every resident who left a corpse behind, and she refuses to leave her Ghost Town so she can maintain their graves.
Heal It With Fire: As per her village's medical tradition.
Sacred Hospitality: Anika grudgingly agrees to the request of the Hero's Shade to take care of a wounded Link.
Sole Survivor: Anika lost her father, mother, big brother, and neighbors to Zant's monsters.
Trauma Button: Weapons and soldiers, since Zant wiped out her village for trying to fight back.

Darpa (Spoilers)

A young swordsman who lived in Link’s hometown.

Aesop Collateral Damage: Bitterly lampshaded. After learning Link is The Chosen One, Darpa comes to the realization that fate trapped him and nearly everyone he knew in a hostile alternate realm entirely for Link's character development and absolutely loses it.
Canon Foreigner: Darpa is an original character created for the manga.
Hot Blooded Sideburns: Sports a pair when he finally reunites with Link, and he's certainly got the fire to back them up.
Hypocritical Humor: "Humor" is a stretch, but he jokes about Link getting "old" when his own hair has prematurely gone grey.
Hypocrisy Nod: Darpa is well aware of the above and asserts he's only Prematurely Grey-Haired from being stuck in a lightless alternate dimension for years—what's Link's excuse?
Normal Fish in a Tiny Pond: By his own grudging admission, Darpa was never more than a decently talented knight candidate. While trapped in the Twilight Realm, he gains some status for himself as an impromptu commander for his city, something promptly undone by Link pulling the Gaurof Sword again.
Prematurely Grey-Haired: When Link reunites with him the first time since he pulled the Gaurof Sword a few years back, Darpa's hair has started growing in grey at the roots, which he insists is from the Twilight Realm's lack of light.
Reports of My Death Were Greatly Exaggerated: Link does not find out until later that Darpa actually survived the town's disappearance.
Unwitting Instigator of Doom: He is the one who brought Link, Roma, and Zeu to the Gaurof Sword's chamber, not knowing that Link pulling it out would send the entire town to the Twilight Realm.
Vitriolic Best Buds: Darpa may be a Sore Loser prone to constantly ribbing Link, but the two are nonetheless openly fond of each other.

Rioma and Zeu (Spoilers)

Two young trainees who accompany Darpa wherever he goes.

Pretty Boy: Rioma is a lithe blond who can be easily mistaken for a young woman.
Those Two Guys: They always follow Darpa, who refers to them as his "subordinates."
True Companions: They stuck with Darpa thick and thin when they were trapped in the Twilight Realm, and are willing to help fight Ganondorf's monsters for Link's sake.
Smart Ball: While Zeu mostly tags along with his fellows and never seems to put much thought into things, he's the first to consider that Link pulling the Gaurof Sword from the pedestal again could send their hometown back to the Light World.
Stunned Silence: They were speechless when, against all odds, Link managed to draw the Gaurof Sword.

Characters / The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (2016)

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