Wind Fish
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| The Wind Fish in Link's Awakening. | |
| Wind Fish | |
| Species | Whale-Like Deity |
| Debut | The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening |
The Wind Fish is a mysterious whale-like deity who was featured in The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, which was set entirely within his dream.
Background
The Wind Fish resembles a large whale with wings. It seems to be a wise being and flies through the skies, although little about it is actually known. At some point, the Wind Fish was trapped within an endless slumber by the Nightmares, so that they would thrive within the Wind Fish's dream world and eventually rule it. The Wind Fish's dream world slowly expanded until it became Koholint Island. The center of the island and the first area to be dreamed up was the Wind Fish's Egg, which was where the Wind Fish slept. However, the egg also contained a maze and the most powerful of the Nightmares. Most of Koholint Island's other inhabitants lived normal, peaceful existences and were unaware of their nature as figments of the Wind Fish's imagination. The exception was an owl that was formed from the Wind Fish's spirit and acted as the guardian of the dream world. The key to awakening the Wind Fish was the Ballad of the Wind Fish, which was known by a local girl named Marin. This song had to be played with the eight Instruments of the Sirens to have an effect, but these instruments were hidden in eight dungeons and protected by different Nightmares.
In Link's Awakening, Link was drawn into the dream world when he was shipwrecked in a storm. The owl appeared to him at various points in his journey and provided guidance, although he initially thought Link was another construct of the dream until Link's actions convinced him otherwise. The owl still feigned obliviousness about the island's true nature until later in the mission. Link was able to gather all eight of the instruments and learned the Ballad of the Wind Fish on his ocarina. Playing it at the the Wind Fish's Egg caused an opening to appear so that Link could enter. After Link defeated the last nightmares, the owl appeared before him and revealed his true nature. Link was then brought to a staircase leading to the Wind Fish's resting place, and playing the Ballad there finally awakened the Wind Fish. Before awakening, the Wind Fish finally spoke to Link and thanked him while assuring him that although the dream world would be erased when he awoke, the dream world of Koholint would still live on as part of Link's memory. The ending showed the Wind Fish flying away while Link was left floating on driftwood in the ocean. In a bonus ending (where the player has no deaths), it is shown that the Wind Fish used his power to grant Marin's wish and allowed her to incarnate in the real world as a seagull.
Trivia
- According to one of the owl statues, the Wind Fish is "in name only" and "is neither", which provides further ambiguity about his true nature.
- Jabu-Jabu has a strong resemblance to the Wind Fish, as they both resemble whales, have similar coloration and bear ornate headpieces. However, they are notably different in that Jabu-Jabu shows no signs of higher intelligence or special powers and seems to be a figurehead deity, while the Wind Fish is much more like a true deity.
- Some later games have featured characters with strong resemblances to the Wind Fish. Oshus in Phantom Hourglass also resembles a whale and subjects others to some type of dream-like state, although he specifically resembles a sperm whale which contrasts sharply with the Wind Fish, which is closer to a humpback whale. Skyward Sword has since introduced Levias, who is nearly virtually identical to the Wind Fish. An official connection is not confirmed, however.