A Picture's Worth a Curious Question

Getting the bombs in The Wind Waker's a bit of a pain, but really not that bad. Plus, it involves some cute cinematics and Tetra being the tough leader that she ought to be even after she's revealed to be Zelda. What's more, getting the bombs allows a rare glimpse into Tetra's cabin.

You find some framed pictures there, each begging the question of why it's there more than the last. That is, so long as you go dead ahead, then look left (or right), look in the remaining direction, and then look left as you leave.

She has a chart of the Triangle Islands that makes an obvious picture of the Triforce, two pages/plates/scenes from the story of the Hero of Time and the flood (of the harmonious world, and of the Hero of Time, respectively), and then a portrait. The chart of the islands makes fine sense, since she's a pirate, and no doubt has trace memories of her true self. The two scenes make sense for a similar reason, perhaps they give comfort because of a strange familiarity. But the portrait is of nothing ever seen before.

As can be seen in the photo (from the Zelda Wiki), it's a portrait of a woman sitting in what looks like a rather important chair. This is thought to be Tetra's mother, the pirates' former captain, and the one who had entrusted the Triforce to Tetra. This sequence of events raises one big question for me: If her mother wasn't Zelda, why is Tetra Zelda? Is there a Zelda born only when there's a Link born?

Since most of the games are at least 100 years (or so) apart, then it's clear that not every ancestor of Link and Zelda becomes the next Link and Zelda, but then what determines those who do? Are Zelda and Link (re)born each time in response to the rise of Ganon? Is it the encroaching darkness that forces the light to shine brighter?

If it is the case that Ganon needs to threaten Hyrule for Link and Zelda to appear, then why hasn't there been a game where we have a pretender Link or a pretender Zelda? What would happen if someone began to spread the rumour that they were the legendary princess or hero during a time of absolute peace? Would that cause Ganon to rise? Or simply an uproar among the populous and a possible civil war of sorts?

The Legend of Zelda games have always been about similar stories but varied mechanics. This is fine (and has resulted in some real gems), but maybe as a break between innovative gameplay or control schemes they could release a Zelda where the story shifted somewhat. It might set a dangerous precedent, but it'd also have the potential to be as, or more, incredible than the much-lauded Ocarina of Time.