@kitxkatrp Said:
Does Zelda resent her Father at all? Does she have any thoughts about the other Sages that she would like to share? Saria, Ruto, etc. Does she feel like a leader, or one of many?
She tries so hard not to, but, yes. She resents her father. She saw evil in Ganondorf by his eyes, and nothing more. It was not because he was Gerudo. It was not because he was different, it was all in his eyes. That's all she ever commented on in the game. This coupled with she know her to be a prophet, says a lot. Zelda's father, Reinhardt, was a truly racist man.
He wouldn't allow Gorons, or Zora to have shops in Castle Town. They were inherently under Hylians by his standards. He treated none as bad as he treated the Gerudo, and as a child, Zelda hated it. She prays he find understanding in the afterlife, but she can't help resenting him. She can't deny her feelings, that he was a cruel man. Even Impa... she was forced to raise her from infancy, because she was of the Sheikah people.
Zelda learned a lot of the history of the Sheikah people from Impa, during her seven years of hiding. Learning Hyrule's bloody history of greed, and cruelty. It inspired her to write history herself. She's written history books, and she spared no detail. She doesn't write of Hyrule in golden terms. She's honest. If only the victors are to be written, history is doomed to repeat itself.
Yes, she considers herself sole ruler, even though she's not the only princess.
That's her feeling the need to do absolutely everything herself. A guilt towards accepting help from others. The last time she did that, she caused a boy to lose his childhood. To put himself in life threatening danger constantly. She's so afraid she's going to do the same thing to someone else, that she only accepts help in the way only the other Sages can do.
Nothing compares to the regret she feels towards what she did to Ruto. Especially in the verse where she's fallen in love herself. She has shed tears over just knowing what she did, and feels undeserving of her potential husband's love. She doesn't even know if he'd be interested in marriage. She doesn't care if they never get married. But the idea of having the person you love so dearly ripped away from you... she can't fathom the pain. It's Ruto she feels the most towards in terms of regret, and she'll never ask for forgiveness.
As for friends, Darunia is her closest friend that is still somewhat tethered to the world. Rauru helps guide her in her training of light magic, but Darunia is a true friend. She can talk to him about anything, and expect a hearty response. He can be tender when he wants to be, serious. He doesn't sugarcoat, like the other Sages do (barring Impa).
Her role as the Goddess born mortal is to be the leader of the Sages, but she doesn't consider herself above anyone at all. Not even who most royals would call peasants. She's a unique royal, even demigoddess in that way. The blood of the Goddess, and yet a human heart. She can't bring herself to look down on anyone without just cause.
Her kindness and patience knows no bounds.
...Sometimes peace has to come at any cost.
