Zelda Fanfiction
Nintendo's flagship fantasy about Link, Zelda, and Ganon reborn across eras, from Ocarina of Time's child hero to Breath of the Wild's amnesiac knight. AO3 writers treat the timeline as a sandbox: Linked Universe fics gather every incarnation of Link into one found-family party, post-Calamity Hyrule rebuilds slowly around Link and Zelda's wartime bond, and Twilight Princess's Midna still inspires bittersweet mirror-shattering fic decades on. The mute hero tradition makes Link characterization itself a beloved fandom craft.
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What is Zelda fanfiction?
Zelda fanfiction is fan-created stories set in the The Legend of Zelda universe. With over 60,000 works on Archive of Our Own, Zelda is one of the most popular fandoms in the fanfiction community.
These stories explore beloved characters like Link, Zelda, Ganondorf, Midna, and many more. Writers create everything from short one-shots to epic novel-length adventures, exploring relationships, alternate universes, and "what if" scenarios.
Most Popular Zelda Fanfics
These are the highest-rated Zelda stories on AO3, ranked by kudos from readers.
Am I really good enough to save Hyrule?
by Alicetheskeletons
With Link going after Zelda, Haley is left in the dust, but when this hero is struggling, will she help?“But you always went after the princess, Link…” “Well maybe, that can change. Haley,”
The Fics That Weren't (Vol. 2)
by newwwwusername
These are fics that I started to write but then didn't finish for whatever reason. Most of these are just starters so feel free to use any of them for your own fics, just credit me
Zelda: Princess of the Wild
by InfiniteDragon
A trap was laid before the danger was known, and a minor change to the timeline- a miniscule scar- left a Princess unable to access her divine birthright. As a result, her Champion had to step in at the last moment. Breath of the Wild with Zelda as the main character, her memories completely gone bu
Scars on your skin
by Fisch_Fisch
When Link though It couldn't get worse it gets worse in form of a very displeased acquaintance. He has to safe Hyrule and pay back the debt he owed along the way. Between self doubt and a duty that seemed far to heavy for him to carry, Link slowly finds comfort in his unlikely ally. Maybe... not bei
Adrift
by kitchen_cat
After a battle, Wind finds himself dissociating alone atop Skyloft.
A Zora and a Hylian
by when_froggies_drink_milk
Link and Sidon were friends, dear friends. Sidon knew this, just as he knew his duties as a royal and a protector of his Domain. Even after the Calamity, rebuilding and establishing new connections was just as perilous. As the Zora work to create ties with the Gerudo, King Dorephan pushes Sidon to f
The Legend of Zelda: Sanctified Arcanum
by the_reincarnated_heroes_spirit
Linksona fic for one of my Linksonas in Eyes Where They Shouldn't Be Arcanum's
Breathe
by HotCheetoHatred
Wingfic Link wasn't ready
Lets get SMASHed (by the weight of time travel)
by Nancyheart
Just because we don't see the different Links talk much in Smash, it doesnt mean that they don't.
A Measure of Worth
by CravingPaprika
The rancher is musically untalented. Occasionally, he fears it’s a reflection of his worth.
The Scowling Sidekick: A My Hero Academia Fanfiction
by Tatt3d_Violet
This is a fanfiction of the My Hero Academia story with original characters. The main character is Sekai, who believes she is quirkless like Midoriya, whom she hates. She has a tragic backstory and ends up wanting to jump off a building to end it, and stumbles upon a dark-purple-haired beauty being
The Legend of Zelda: Arcane Sanctity
by the_reincarnated_heroes_spirit
Finally doing fics for the linksonas in Eyes Where They Shouldn't Be This is Sanctity's
Sketchys Drabbles for Fic Fight!
by AllwaysWildChild
Each chapter in this fic is a different drabble written for a specific prompt in For The Triforce or Fic Fight 2026!
Once Upon a Songbird
by hatenohouse
The Hylian Royal Family is dead. At least, that’s the official report. Ten years after Ganondorf’s decisive purge of the Castle, Hyrule carries on beneath new banners. Whispers persist of the lost Princess’s ghost living on in the kingdom’s most elusive, notorious courtesan, the Songbird. For the me
Kissing Disease
by somerknights
Sky's got mono.
practice at being a pet
by tendertendrils
Ravio introduces something new to his and Link's pet play exploration.
Tremble And Shrink From The Touch Of My Hand
by LordGrimwing
Hyrule was looking forward to having help around the house. Too bad the new omega hasn’t quite learned to stay in his place.
The Scales of Balance
by BiboGear
An original story based in the universe of The Legend of Zelda, with original iterations of canon characters. The Gerudo King Ganondorf kneeled and surrendered to the Hyrulian King Doran Thelmarus Hyrule to end a 100 year war started by the witches Twinrova. Now, 10 years later, the vindictive warlo
The Skeksis Slayer
by UncommonVillian
Reality and fiction are blended, fantasies become nightmares. In a multiverse of madness, one lone Mandalorian bounty hunter wages a one man war on the Skeksis. Along the way, he makes new allies and finds a family in unexpected places.
Entwined in Time
by Pyxie_Dust
Alaren and her family have been living peacefully for a number of years, but she is summoned once again for an investigation into the strange and dangerous gloom that has been emanating out from the castle. When the survey goes wrong and she finds herself far from home, she has to figure out not onl
Zelda Fanfics by Length
Pick a reading commitment — from one-sitting one-shots to 100k+ epics:
Best Zelda Fanfic Rec Lists
Popular Zelda Ships
Zelink
Link/Zelda
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.
9,000 works →
Sidlink
Link/Sidon
Prince Sidon of the Zora greets Link with unconditional enthusiasm in a Hyrule that mostly greets him with monsters, cheering the hero through the Divine Beast Vah Ruta and beyond. Their bond is shadowed by Mipha, the sister who loved Link a century ago. Breath of the Wild's fandom made the encouraging shark prince its breakout love interest almost overnight.
6,000 works →
GanLink
Ganondorf/Link
Demise's curse binds the hero and the Gerudo king to fight across every incarnation of Hyrule, an eternal recurrence dark-ship fandom reads as fate's most twisted intimacy. Tears of the Kingdom's imposing Ganondorf brought a fresh wave of works.
1,500 works →
Midlink
Midna/Link
Twilight Princess pairs its wolf-cursed hero with the imp who rides his back, mocks him constantly, and shatters the Mirror of Twilight rather than let their worlds collide again. Her unspoken goodbye remains one of Zelda's great heartbreaks.
1,200 works →
Common Zelda Tropes
Popular Characters
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Zelda fanfics are on AO3?
There are over 60,000 Zelda fanfiction works on Archive of Our Own, making it one of the platform's largest fandoms.
What are the best Zelda ships?
Popular Zelda pairings include Zelink, Sidlink, GanLink. Each ship has thousands of dedicated stories exploring their relationship.
How can I read Zelda fanfiction on my phone?
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