A
Ace_Strife
Guest
I truly feel that The Legend of Zelda has no actual timeline, and that the games are similar to "series" such as Pokemon or Final Fantasy, where in many of the games, previous ones are mentioned, but the games really aren't that related at all for the most part.
However, we're all well aware of Nintendo reps claiming that there is some connection to the worlds somewhere, and two different Nintendo reps stating that Twilight Princess occurred 20 or a hundred years after Ocarina of Time, and Wind Waker occurring some time after Ocarina of Time as well. Now, no one knows why Nintendo did that because it's perfectly plausible, and many people thought this way, that the world's were not really conneccted in any way, that each game was contained in its own universe. The worlds don't really fit either, so Nintendo may have foolishly created a conundrum. Or perhaps not, because it adds to the mystique of the series, and may bolster sales...
Well, one day, just for the fun of it (my friends were arguing about it with each other), I came up with a "Timeline Theory" if the Zelda series really did have a timeline, but as I said, I really don't believe it.
First, I'm a split timeline "believer", a "believer" just for the sake of discussion.
However, I would believe that there are two Zelda universes, and in one of those universes, there is a split timeline.
DISCLAIMER: I've never, ever been in a Zelda forum before, and have never heard or read anyone's timeline theory before. If mine is exactly the same as someone else's cool, but I assure you I didn't steal it, nor was I influenced by it. After I post my own theory, I will look at others for the purpose of not being influenced beforehand.
The first Universe starts with the original NES Zelda and supposedly ends with A link to the Past. In between are Link's awakening and the oracle games, in that order.
I have no idea what to make of Minish Cap. It's the odd game out. Unfortunately, i haven't played Zelda 2 so I don't know where to place it either, though I'd assume it follows the original NES version (I wouldn't be surprised at all if I'm wrong.
Now, to the split timeline universe.
Ocarina of Time starts it off with two ages. Link as a kid and Link as an adult see two different ages, and, at the end of the game, adult Link returns to his own age (seven years in the past). However, unless I'm mistaken, I'm under the impression that the Princess Zelda of the future mentioned that she was only sending Link back to his own time, and she wouldn't come with him. I'm further convinced of this possibility because when Link sees the Princess in the ending movie, she seems completely shocked to see Link, as if she's never seen him before. In addition, I'm sure that she's spying on ganondorf, but the two don't do anything about, because Link's actions are what cause ganondorf to obtain the triforce in the first place. In Majora's Mask, Zelda "teaches" Link the song of time, as if she thought he's never heard it before. That must mean that Zelda never had to part with the Ocarina because ganondorf was never after her. Now, I will note that Link is completely aware of his journeys in OoT, as in Majora's Mask, you "relearn" (as the game points out) Epona's Song, the Song of Storms, and the Song of Time. However, Zelda must not be because she teaches him the Song of Time in person when Link embarks on a journey to find Navi (or so it's implied).
So, what do I make of this mess?
In the past, the timeline Link is sent back to, ganondorf never gains power of the triforce during Link's lifetime. Thus, evil does not spread into the world, and Wind Waker would never happen (the drowning of Hyrule). However, in the future, Ganondorf is sealed away, and as a safety measure, Hyrule is drowned and locked in time to make sure ganondorf is never released. That is the world of Wind Waker, and so, perhaps Wind Waker exists in the split timeline of the future.
Now, we know ganondorf lusts for power. That does not make him evil, just, greedy. His greed may have led to his attempts to seize power in a dangerous way, and the original sages (or the sages of the Dark World, where Midna comes from) seal him away. He emerges, however, because his actions gave him the triforce of power, as that piece allies itself with the most powerful being. that would lead to the events of Twilight Princess. Perhaps the skull knight (Stalfos) that teaches Twilight Princess Link the sword arts in Twilight Princess is Link, the Hero of Time (from OoT) himself, as he claims he was a previous hero/past-life of the TP Link.
So Ocarina of Time has a split timeline.
The future world of ruin where the legendary fight with Ganondorf occurred in OoT leads to Wind Waker. The past, where Link was sent back home to without the older Zelda reverting back leads to Majora's Mask and then much, much later, Twilight Princess.
Now, I'm sure there are holes in this theory, and I welcome anyone to point them out. Also, if anyone needs clarifying, I'm all ears. If anyone wants to debate, shoot for it! I may agree with you beccause I haven't read anyone else's theories.
However, we're all well aware of Nintendo reps claiming that there is some connection to the worlds somewhere, and two different Nintendo reps stating that Twilight Princess occurred 20 or a hundred years after Ocarina of Time, and Wind Waker occurring some time after Ocarina of Time as well. Now, no one knows why Nintendo did that because it's perfectly plausible, and many people thought this way, that the world's were not really conneccted in any way, that each game was contained in its own universe. The worlds don't really fit either, so Nintendo may have foolishly created a conundrum. Or perhaps not, because it adds to the mystique of the series, and may bolster sales...
Well, one day, just for the fun of it (my friends were arguing about it with each other), I came up with a "Timeline Theory" if the Zelda series really did have a timeline, but as I said, I really don't believe it.
First, I'm a split timeline "believer", a "believer" just for the sake of discussion.
However, I would believe that there are two Zelda universes, and in one of those universes, there is a split timeline.
DISCLAIMER: I've never, ever been in a Zelda forum before, and have never heard or read anyone's timeline theory before. If mine is exactly the same as someone else's cool, but I assure you I didn't steal it, nor was I influenced by it. After I post my own theory, I will look at others for the purpose of not being influenced beforehand.
The first Universe starts with the original NES Zelda and supposedly ends with A link to the Past. In between are Link's awakening and the oracle games, in that order.
I have no idea what to make of Minish Cap. It's the odd game out. Unfortunately, i haven't played Zelda 2 so I don't know where to place it either, though I'd assume it follows the original NES version (I wouldn't be surprised at all if I'm wrong.
Now, to the split timeline universe.
Ocarina of Time starts it off with two ages. Link as a kid and Link as an adult see two different ages, and, at the end of the game, adult Link returns to his own age (seven years in the past). However, unless I'm mistaken, I'm under the impression that the Princess Zelda of the future mentioned that she was only sending Link back to his own time, and she wouldn't come with him. I'm further convinced of this possibility because when Link sees the Princess in the ending movie, she seems completely shocked to see Link, as if she's never seen him before. In addition, I'm sure that she's spying on ganondorf, but the two don't do anything about, because Link's actions are what cause ganondorf to obtain the triforce in the first place. In Majora's Mask, Zelda "teaches" Link the song of time, as if she thought he's never heard it before. That must mean that Zelda never had to part with the Ocarina because ganondorf was never after her. Now, I will note that Link is completely aware of his journeys in OoT, as in Majora's Mask, you "relearn" (as the game points out) Epona's Song, the Song of Storms, and the Song of Time. However, Zelda must not be because she teaches him the Song of Time in person when Link embarks on a journey to find Navi (or so it's implied).
So, what do I make of this mess?
In the past, the timeline Link is sent back to, ganondorf never gains power of the triforce during Link's lifetime. Thus, evil does not spread into the world, and Wind Waker would never happen (the drowning of Hyrule). However, in the future, Ganondorf is sealed away, and as a safety measure, Hyrule is drowned and locked in time to make sure ganondorf is never released. That is the world of Wind Waker, and so, perhaps Wind Waker exists in the split timeline of the future.
Now, we know ganondorf lusts for power. That does not make him evil, just, greedy. His greed may have led to his attempts to seize power in a dangerous way, and the original sages (or the sages of the Dark World, where Midna comes from) seal him away. He emerges, however, because his actions gave him the triforce of power, as that piece allies itself with the most powerful being. that would lead to the events of Twilight Princess. Perhaps the skull knight (Stalfos) that teaches Twilight Princess Link the sword arts in Twilight Princess is Link, the Hero of Time (from OoT) himself, as he claims he was a previous hero/past-life of the TP Link.
So Ocarina of Time has a split timeline.
The future world of ruin where the legendary fight with Ganondorf occurred in OoT leads to Wind Waker. The past, where Link was sent back home to without the older Zelda reverting back leads to Majora's Mask and then much, much later, Twilight Princess.
Now, I'm sure there are holes in this theory, and I welcome anyone to point them out. Also, if anyone needs clarifying, I'm all ears. If anyone wants to debate, shoot for it! I may agree with you beccause I haven't read anyone else's theories.
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