Shiny Things
The Legend of Zelda is a video game franchise beloved by many, and perhaps notably (to me anyways) to almost every trans person I've ever met including myself. Link is a protagonist that is easy to project upon, and the possession of the triforce of courage in a world that quickly turns scary is a relatable tale in some ways.
I first encountered the series at a friend's house as a kid. His mom was playing Ocarina of Time on the N64 and it was the coolest game I'd ever seen (not especially difficult, seeing as my own household didn't have video games at all, and wouldn't until I could buy them myself). I would go over to his house almost exclusively to watch his mom play video games, since we were never allowed to play them ourselves, and it wasn't until I was in my late teens that I would be able to play it for myself on GameCube.
Ocarina of time feels so much like a trans story to me, I think because we open on Link living in the Kokiri forest, a fairy-less child. He feels like he is not really part of the Kokiri even though he looks like one. The mirror of my own life, feeling like I was never a girl even though I looked like one.
I want to be a bit more profound or insightful but I literally only have so much brain to brain with, so here's my stupidest take: The Master Sword is HRT.
As an adult it's been so nice to see the different nods to earlier games in the franchise that Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom have made. The many armors and weapons you can find hit all the sweet spots for nostalgia and make the game feel like home. The story of our fated three pieces of triforce still manages to remain fresh dispite it being about a reincarnation cycle and battle that stretches on through time. I have been watching my fiance play the latest game (waiting my turn lol), so we haven't gotten to the end yet, and I wonder how they will tie things up here.
I'm also pretty excited to see the new Zelda game, Echos of Wisdom. Although I am starting to think I will never be able to finish another Zelda game again if I have to keep waiting for my husband to finish them. As of time of writing 25/10/24, he has not finished Tears of the Kingdom.
Triforce of Wisdom
Princess Zelda is driven by her curiosity about the past and her dedication to making the lives of her people better. She posesses the power of the Triforce of Wisdom, which seems to physically manifest itself as light and time powers.
Triforce of Power
Ganon is the main antagonist in Tears of the Kingdom, and in nearly all Legend of Zelda games. I've been thinking what a more Ganon sympathetic story might look like, much in the same vein as all these movies about Disney villains getting backstory movies (Cruella, Maleficent etc). I wonder if being attached or having access to the Triforce of Power is corrupting, like the saying "Absolute power corrupts absolutely". What if Ganon is a fair and just ruler of the Gerudo and then the Triforce of Power gets into his psyche and makes him go all crazy with a lust for more power?
I just think it'd be interesting.
