Princess Alter Ego Visions Sitely Main

Grace DoubleNegative

The Princess and the Pirate

A lot of people have a grudge against The Windwaker, and I for the life of me can't imagine why. I thought the graphics in the game were innovative and insanely cool looking, and I guess I'm sort of a sucker for naval adventures. It wasn't Ocarina of Time, but that's not something you can hold against any game. I also really enjoyed the character of Tetra- she was brash and insulting, but sublimely competent. And if you haven't noticed, I have a kind of inclination towards teasing Link (though I adore him) and so does Tetra, so we got along great.

For those of you who don't know, Tetra is a pirate captain who takes Link on board as he tries to search for his kidnapped sister. You read that right- pirate captain. Though she does look a little young for the job, it happens to be one of the coolest jobs in the world.

The other important thing to note is that Tetra is also Zelda, though at the beginning of the game she has no knowledge of this. The Hylian kingdom is long forgotten, and Tetra is as surprised as anyone when Ganondorf identifies her as the lost princess. After being secluded in a safe place, she is awakened to her other identity and exists for the duration of the game as Zelda. Her clothes and hairstyle change, and she takes on a whole different persona. Also, as she is Zelda, she is locked up in a castle for her own protection (...)

This adds a whole different level to the mythos of the Triforce. The Triforce of Wisdom is passed along by blood, it seems, and as Tetra was a matrilinal descendent of the royal line, she had the power to manifest as Zelda. "Princess Zelda" in the Windwaker is almost a title, as much as "Hero of Time."

What is also uncovered is that the Zelda of Ocarina of Time must have married or at least had children at some point (and it's hard to see her doing things the illegitimate way) and kept the Triforce of wisdom guarded within her line. She didn't let it scatter about into many peices like some heros who shall remain nameless...