Link
Also known as: Hero of the Wild, Hero of Time, Champion
Hyrule's eternally reincarnating hero, a silent swordsman bound across eras to the princess and the demon king. Breath of the Wild's amnesiac knight gave fandom its richest version yet to write around.
Popular Link Ships
Link/Zelda
9k works
The hero and the princess have been reborn together across every Hyrule for nearly forty years, but Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom gave the pairing its richest canon yet — a knight sworn to silence and a princess crushed by failure, rebuilding a kingdom side by side. Skyward Sword even roots their bond in a goddess's ancient promise. It is the franchise's eternal ship in the most literal sense.
Link/Prince Sidon
Common Tropes in Link Fanfiction
Link · Hurt/Comfort
920k works
One character is hurt (physically or emotionally) and another provides comfort and care.
Link · Adventure
120k works
Quests, journeys, and expeditions: fic where characters leave home, face dangers, and come back changed — or don't come back at all. Adventure tags everything from epic original quests to road trips through canon settings the source material never explored.
Other Zelda Characters
Zelda
14k works
Princess of Hyrule and vessel of the goddess's sealing power, reborn alongside her knight in every age. Breath of the Wild reframed her as a frustrated scholar who held back Calamity Ganon alone for a hundred years.
Sidon
4k works
The Zora prince whose relentless encouragement — 'I believe in you!' — made him Breath of the Wild's breakout heartthrob. Sidon's sunny chivalry and his grief for his sister Mipha power an ocean of Link/Sidon fic.
Ganondorf
3k works
The Gerudo king of evil, bearer of the Triforce of Power and Hyrule's eternally reincarnating doom. Fic complicates Ganondorf far beyond the games, exploring desert kingship, cursed cycles, and the rare timeline where he chooses differently.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many fanfics feature Link?
Link appears in 22k+ works on AO3, making them one of the most popular characters in the Zelda fandom. You can browse all Link fanfiction using the Fanfict Reader app.
What are the most popular Link ships?
The most popular Link ships include Link/Zelda, Link/Prince Sidon. These pairings feature prominently in AO3 fanfiction.
What tropes are common in Link fanfiction?
Common tropes in Link fanfiction include Hurt/Comfort, Adventure. Use Fanfict Reader to filter and find exactly the type of story you're looking for.
Read Zelda on the go
Fanfict Reader is the best way to browse, search, and read AO3 fanfiction on your iPhone. Download for free and start reading your favorite Zelda fics today.