Daily Debate: What is Your Theory About What Happened to the Hero of Time?
Posted on March 27 2024 by Chakell Herbert
The Zelda fandom has countless theories about the series’ games, with stories bolstering conversations all over the web these days. One thing I love about my favorite series of all time is the fact that the developers often leave side details or elements in these games ambiguous. Many story points are often hinted at or implied, but not directly shown on screen, leaving fans with opportunities to theorize potential answers.
One such story point that always provides me with scintillating conversation is questioning what happened to one of my favorite iterations of our green-clad hero: the Hero of Time. Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask are classic adventures in the Zelda series, and they were the first time we ever saw Link in 3D, so it’s no wonder so many fans are emotionally attached to this specific version of Link. However, every time I play through Twilight Princess and see this beloved character in the monstrous undead form known as the Hero’s Shade, my need for answers grows.
There are theories floating around that suggest that the Hero of Time passed away during his time in Termina, or that he fell in fierce battle when he returned to Hyrule. However, the theory I have always been drawn to is one of the more depressing ones. The fact that Link’s appearance is Stalfos-like as the Hero’s Shade, suggests to me that maybe he was lost in the Lost Woods. This theory is tragic because the Lost Woods is somewhat in the Hero of Time’s childhood home (the Kokiri Forest), which suggests he returned home after his adventure, burdened by all he went through, and was never seen again after entering the forest.
Something that supports this theory is the start of the Biggoron Sword quest in Ocarina of Time. This quest first leads you to the Lost Woods where you find Grog, a depressed, sleeping youth from Kakariko Village. He requests that you retrieve medicine for him and doesn’t give much reason why, and by the time you return with the said medicine, he’s nowhere to be found. This is when Fado, a Kokiri girl, explains that Grog is gone, because adults who become lost in the Lost Woods eventually become a Stalfos, or in other words, a skeletal monster. Did this happen to the Hero of Time? To me, it seems quite possible! Even though I don’t want it to be true.
What do you think happened to the Hero of Time after the events of Majora’s Mask? He is one of the more tragic heroes in the series, and I hope one day we get to see the rest of his story unfold. Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
Featured Image: Magdaamm
Chakell (pronounced shuh-kell) is an associate editor for Zelda Dungeon! She has loved The Legend of Zelda series since she was a little girl because of its equal mix of princesses, besting bad guys, and heartfelt stories. Chakell lives in the overall tame state of Utah, but holds onto her childhood hopes to find an adventure in her backyard one day. She has a degree in English and is a full-time editor for a magazine. You can usually find her gaming (obviously), laughing with her husband, taking a long time to tell stories because she keeps getting distracted; getting sucked into books and podcasts; or snuggling her cute Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
