RauZel

RauZel is the family ship between Zelda and Rauru from The Legend of Zelda fandom.

Canon
As Princess Zelda appears from the future after a certain incident, Rauru and his wife Sonia came across her. Once she comes around, she is startled by their presence, which Sonia apologizes and introduces herself and when Zelda was asked by Rauru for her name, she does and also calls herself the daughter of King Rhoam, which surprises him as he and Sonia are the founders of Hyrule the last time he checked leading Zelda to deduce who they are. Zelda is then taken to a cliff to observe it which she confirms that she it wasn't the Hyrule she recognized, and she truly ended up in Hyrule's founding era. Rauru replies that her presence here is just as odd but given her possession of a Secret Stone as well as her power over time which ended up making sense for her to end up here, as Sonia taunts him that he needed to rely on that for proof since she sees that Zelda has power over light and time coming from both of them leading them to learn of their blood relation. Rauru recalls that Zelda is seeking to return to the present age as Zelda realizes that a terrible event is happening. As Sonia invites Zelda to the castle while promising her new clothing, Rauru suggests that she consults his older sister about how they can help her return to her time. Upon arrival at her study, Mineru examines the Purah Pad that Zelda brought with her and confirms it is not from their era. Under Zelda's permission that she holds onto it for a while, Rauru asks Mineru how Zelda can return to her own time. Mineru explains that Secret Stones amplify the powers of their users, but they do not grant immediate mastery of the power over the power since Zelda has not yet mastered her time power which her lack of experience will not help her return home. Mineru adds the alternative way through a prohibited act called draconification involving one swallowing their Secret Stone to become an immortal Dragon, Rauru states that it was another way into the future, but a slow one. Mineru adds more that draconfication will result in individuals becoming mindless which is why the act is prohibited and apologizes for being unable to be of help, which disappoints Rauru, though he decides that studying the art of time power could be the key to help bring her back to the present age and suggests getting help from Sonia to help her.

Later, Ganondorf attempts to attack Hyrule and sends an army of Moldugas to lead the assault. Rauru, Sonia, and Zelda ready their Secret Stones, though to their surprise, Zelda's power has a much stronger glow and combine them together to form a single laser which wiped out the Moldugas in a single shot. Ganondorf realizes that brute force alone won't do, but he takes interest in Rauru's Secret Stone which would be the key. After that, Ganondorf visits Hyrule Castle with the Gerudo and swears allegiance to the Royal Family which Rauru accepts. After Ganondorf and the Gerudo leave, Zelda is extremely concerned and knows that Ganondorf is not sincere and even his name sparks much suspicion. But Rauru tells her that this is the way they can keep a close eye on him, and they have it under control. As Zelda and the king and queen were having tea, Zelda accidentally knocks her cup off the table only for Sonia to use her time power to return it to its original position intact it. As Zelda and Sonia have their conversations about how time power works, her wanting to help them, and about Link. Rauru takes interest of the Hero and notes that he's never heard of such a name before as Zelda describes him. As Zelda speaks highly of Link, Rauru and Sonia note that they would like to meet him one day.

Unfortunately, accepting Ganondorf's allegiance proved to be a grave mistake as Ganondorf managed to assassinate Queen Sonia and as he and Rauru have a standoff, Zelda reminds the latter that Sonia needs him right now as she teleports them to safety. With the Demon King attacking Hyrule, he brings the Sages together as they make a vow to serve him. As Rauru mourns Sonia, who was buried with a Sundelion Flower in front of her grave, where Zelda approaches him and tells him that she came into the past shortly after they find a mummified man deep underground and it wasn't until Ganondorf was empowered by the Secret Stone that confirmed that it was him and he has survived all the way to her own time and adds that Rauru will not survive. Rauru comforts her and that he made a huge mistake that brought Hyrule down to this, and it is his responsibility to protect his people by any means possible and he must at least try and if they cannot defeat him, Link will be the last line of Hyrule's defense. It was the future where Zelda never appeared in their time and there must be a reason why she is brought all the way back there. The following day, Rauru, Zelda, and the Sages go into battle against the Demon King, but they were overwhelmed by his power and the Sages throw their weapons only for him to deflect them and Zelda uses Recall to send them back though Ganondorf blocks them claiming he saw them before. This turned out to be a distraction as Rauru vanished and managed to ambush him and uses his power to drain him of his as Zelda cries out for him. Both of them were frozen as a result and Rauru would inevitably die, with only his spirit being able to guide Link in the future. Princess Zelda, with the Demon King sealed and the severely damaged Master Sword reaching her from the future, undergoes draconification to repair the broken blade.

After Ganondorf is destroyed forever, Rauru and Sonia assist Link in undoing the Light Dragon's transformation and reverts her into her human form before they vanish for the afterlife. During the epilogue, Mineru promises Zelda to tell Rauru and Sonia that she cares before she leaves to join them.

Fanon
RauZel is a somewhat uncommon ship among the fanbase though fanfictions do exist for them. Many fans have loved the familial relationship between them moreso than Zelda's relationship with her own biological father, Rhoam. This is due to the fact that Rauru does not push her into doing something she doesn't know how to do, nor does he try to forbid her from having any hobbies that she genuinely enjoys doing, and instead puts being a father over being a king for her sake and helps to put her worries to rest and giving her space when she needs it without stressing her out too much.

Fandom
FAN FICTION