Princess Zelda

Princess Zelda, often shortened to Zelda, is one of the main characters of The Legend of Zelda series. Although her name appears in the series' title, the series' main protagonist is Link, and there are a few games that Zelda does not appear in.

The Legend of Zelda
The great king of evil, Ganon, captures Zelda, hoping she will reveal to him where she has hidden the Triforce of Wisdom. Zelda sends Impa to seek out a hero to put an end to Ganon's ambitions.

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
A different Princess Zelda guarded the secret location of the Triforce of Courage, and because she would not reveal the location was cast into an eternal sleep by magic. Afterwards, all princesses were to be named "Zelda" in her honor.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Captured by Aganihm, Ganon's alter ego, Zelda reaches out telepathically to Link, who carries the spirit of a hero. Along with the maidens who carry the blood of the Wise Men, she guides Link to the Triforce.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Zelda learns in a dream that the thief Ganondorf is targeting the Triforce and that a boy from the forest will become the hero who saves the world. However, unable to convince her father, the king, she takes matters into her own hands, granting Link the Ocarina of Time, which allows him to manipulate time. Zelda's nurse Impa arranges to disguise her as Sheik, a male of the Sheikah Tribe and saves her from Ganondorf's clutches when the Gerudo storm Hyrule Castle. Seven years later, Ganon is sealed and Zelda sends Link back to the world of seven years ago.

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons & The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
Princess Zelda is the symbol of hope for the people of the Kingdom of Hyrule. When Zelda is threatened, the Flame of Despair is lit.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Tetra, a pirate captain sailing the Great Sea, is revealed to have been Princess Zelda the entire time, having had her memories taken to help the authenticity of her new form.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords
Princess Zelda is tasked with protecting the Four Sword in the Sanctuary. The blade has the demon Vaati sealed within. When Vaati breaks the seal and returns to Hyrule, the demon attempts to make the princess his bride, stealing her away to the Palace of Winds. Link uses the Four Sword to save her.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
The demon Vaati escapes his seal and works to revive Ganon. Link, wielding the Four Sword, defeats Vaati and a primal form of Ganon with the aid of Zelda's magic.

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Princess Zelda is turned to stone by the Wind Mage Vaati, who was attempting to steal the Light Force from within her. Link reverses the spell and defeats Vaati. Zelda uses the Mage's Cap and the Light Force to undo the damage that Vaati had done.

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
When Hyrule is invaded by the army of the Twilight Realm, Zelda is asked to choose between surrender and the destruction of her people. The princess chooses to surrender in order to save her people. Accepting subjugation, she wears a black robe. She comes to meet the princess of the Twilight Realm, Midna. Together, they overcome the ancient grudges between the Light World and the Twilight Realm to help Link stop Ganondorf, with Zelda and Midna both nearly sacrificing themselves in the process.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
When Zelda's body is stolen as a vessel for the revival of the Demon King Malladus, Zelda manages to keep her soul. Able to possess the armor of Phantoms and fight, she journeys alongside Link to stop Malladus from bringing terror to Hyrule.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
Before the kingdom of Hyrule and the royal family exist, the goddess Hylia is reborn as a mortal to the headmaster of the Knight Academy. She regains the power of the ancient goddess, awakens the hero, Link, and bears the fate of protecting the world from demons.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Taken away to the parallel world of Lorule, the princess is turned into a painting in a plot to possess the power she holds. Zelda is freed, and together with Link, she saves both Hyrule and Lorule from a dark path.