The thing about The Count of Black Shadows Zelda is that she can't even identify with any other Zeldas, for better or worse, because she's the only one. Link has someone to compare himself to, the Hero who trapped Ganon under the ice, but Zelda? She's alone. She's so, so alone.
Her family is dead, her royal guard is dead, everyone she's known since she was a child is dead, other than Impa.
She's been trapped within the walls of Assam since she was a child, the keeper of the triforce since her mother died.
She has no title but Maiden, no matter how desperately she clings to being her own person, she's treated as weak by everyone. Impa begs Link to save her, Count Ruguel pretends to support her, nobody acknowledges her ability to be strong on her own.
And we see that. We see that she's strong. Only 12 and she climbs down ivy on a castle wall to try to escape, walks with broken ribs, tricks Count Ruguel even.
She's SUCH an amazing character, I love her so
