Timeline: Difference between revisions

The '''Zelda Timeline''' is an ordering of the ''Zelda'' games as their events occur within the fictional universe. This official chronology was revealed in detail in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia]]'', published in December of 2011. Before that, it had been kept a deeply held secret,{{Ref|[[Interview:Electronic Gaming Monthly June 2005|Electronic Gaming Monthly]], June 2005}}{{Ref|[[Interview:Camp Hyrule August 15th 2005|Camp Hyrule]], August 15, 2005}}{{Ref|[[Interview:GameTrailers October 28th 2011|GameTrailers]], October 28, 2011}} even to most of the developers.{{Ref|[[Interview:Official Nintendo Magazine July 21st 2010|Official Nintendo Magazine]], July 21, 2005}} This was done to prevent the developers from falling into the trap of focusing on the storyline instead of the gameplay{{Ref|[[Interview:Game Informer October 2011|Game Informer]], October 2011}} and to allow for more creative flexibility for future releases.{{Unsourced}} Before ''Hyrule Historia'' was published, the timeline was a major topic of debate among ''Zelda'' fans, owing to vague, open-ended, or absent connections between games, as well as many apparent contradictions.

[[File:HH-Timeline.png|350px|thumb|The official timeline published in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Hyrule Historia|Hyrule Historia]]'']]

| ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass|Phantom Hourglass]]''

|-

| ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures|Four Swords Adventures]]''

| ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks|Spirit Tracks]]''

| ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link|The Adventure of Link]]''

|-

|}

===Force Era===

{{Main|Force Era}}   

====Hero of Men====

In the celebration of the Picori and the ancient tale of the Hero, Link and Princess Zelda headed to the festival. It is said that one person is allowed to touch the ancient Picori Blade each year. This year, [[Vaati]] was chosen and he intended to shatter the blade and harness the Light Force. Vaati proceeded to release the power and Princess Zelda was turned to stone in the process. However, the ancient power was nowhere to be found, and due to the seal now being broken, all the evil within the chest was released upon Hyrule.  

[[File:Vaati-Wind-Mage.png|thumb|210px|Vaati the Wind Mage]]

{{Clear}}

====The Hero of Time====

{{Main|Ocarina of Time Story|Ocarina of Time}}  

With the three Spiritual Stones and the Ocarina, Link now proceeded through the Door of Time where the Master Sword laid. After pulling the Sword from the [[Pedestal of Time]], Link is kept in the [[Temple of Light]] for seven years as he was too young to be the Hero. However, this was the one key to the Sacred Realm and it allowed Ganondorf to enter, thus leading him to the Triforce. Due to his heart not being pure he was only able to obtain the Triforce of Power, and with this he took over Hyrule and cursed the Sages. Link is tasked by Rauru to retrieve the five medallions and awaken the Sages across Hyrule. Once he has united the medallions and the Sages, the path to [[Ganon's Castle]] is made clear and Link challenged Ganondorf.

After gaining the [[Moon Pearl]], Link could explore the treacherous Dark World in his Hylian form, and with the power of the [[Magic Mirror]], he could effectively travel to and from the dark and light world. Link must revive the Maidens, who are trapped within specific palaces across the Dark World. After doing so, it is revealed that Ganon is behind all of the events and he was simply using Agahnim. Link then battled Ganon in the [[Pyramid of Power]] and after defeating the Demon King, the Dark World vanished and peace is restored to Hyrule.

{{Clear}}

====Twinrova's Plan====

{{Main|The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons|Oracle of Seasons}}  

{{Clear}}

[[File:OoS Artwork.png|120px|thumb|right|Oracle of Seasons]]  

{{Main|The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons|Oracle of Seasons}}  

{{Clear}}

====The Revival of Ganon====

Upon the defeat of both Onox and Veran, the Flame of Destruction and the Flame of Sorrow were lit. With one final flame remaining, Twinrova kidnapped Princess Zelda to prepare her for the sacrifice to revive the Demon King. However, Link, who now had both the power of Din, the Oracle of Seasons, and Nayru, the Oracle of Ages, challenged the evil sorcerers. After their defeat, the surrogate mothers of Ganon sacrificed themselves. However, since the ritual wasn't fully complete, Ganon appeared, but was without intellect. The Hero defeated the mindless Demon King and saved Zelda while returning peace to both lands of Holodrum and Labrynna.

{{Clear}}

{{Main|The Tragedy of Princess Zelda I|The Tragedy of Princess Zelda}}

[[File:Sleeping Zelda Artwork.jpg|230px|left|thumb|Link discovering Princess Zelda in her eternal sleep]]  

{{Clear}}

===Shadow Era===

{{Main|Shadow Era}}  

Centuries passed since the defeat of Ganondorf in the Era of Twilight and peace returned to the Kingdom of Hyrule. The relationship between Hyrule and the [[Gerudo]]s grew strong, but a new King was born among the race. This was the second coming of Ganondorf, a reincarnation of the previous evil king. Ganondorf sought out the sacred power known as the [[Trident]], which was hidden in the [[Pyramid|Ancient Pyramid]]. Once he obtained it, he proceeded to bring darkness to Hyrule by stealing the [[Dark Mirror]] from the [[Temple of Darkness]]. The Mirror bore an ancient power once wielded by a dark tribe: the power to reflect the evil of the person who used it. Ganondorf used the Mirror to create a dark version of Link, known as [[Shadow Link]], and plotted to release the seal on the powerful sorcerer Vaati.  

One day in Hyrule, Princess Zelda sensed the seal on Vaati was weakening so she called upon Link and the [[Shrine Maidens|six maidens]] in order to watch over the Four Sword Sanctuary. It was at this moment that Shadow Link appeared out of a portal and he trapped the six maidens within separate crystals. Link proceeded to follow his dark self into the portal and, in order to save the six maidens, he drew the Four Sword, subsequently releasing the Wind Mage Vaati. Link traveled throughout the Dark World and saved the six maidens and discovered that Ganondorf was behind the darkness in Hyrule. After defeating the second coming of the evil king Ganondorf, he seals both Vaati and Ganondorf within the Four Sword, thus restoring peace to the land.

{{Clear}}

==The Hero of Winds and a New World==

{{Main|Era without a Hero}}  

[[File:WW-Prologue.jpg|thumb|270px|left|The tale of the lost Hero in the prologue to ''The Wind Waker'']]  

Left hopeless, [[Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule]] left the fate of Hyrule with the Goddesses. The three Goddesses informed the people of Hyrule to climb to the mountaintops as they proceeded to flood and seal all of Hyrule and Ganondorf in the process. This event was known as the [[Great Flood]]. King Daphnes decided that he would remain within the sealed Hyrule. The people who were able to take refuge on the mountaintops went on to build a new civilization on the land now known as the [[Great Sea]].

{{Main|Era of the Great Voyage}}  

[[File:PH Official Artwork.jpg|200px|thumb|left|Link and Linebeck sailing the seas]]  

Link washed up on the shore of [[Mercay Island]], where he befriended a fairy named [[Ciela]]. After speaking with her grandfather [[Oshus]], Link sets off in [[Linebeck]]'s [[S.S. Linebeck|Ship]] in search of The Ghost Ship. Link found the [[Leaf|Spirit of Power]] and the [[Neri|Spirit of Wisdom]], and Ciela revealed herself to be the Spirit of Courage. With the three Spirits, Link successfully located the Ghost Ship and he rescued Tetra, who had been turned into stone. Oshus revealed himself as the Ocean King and told Link that this was the work of the evil phantom [[Bellum]], in order to defeat Bellum, Link found the three [[Pure Metals]]. Link obtained the [[Phantom Sword]] and with the help of the [[Phantom Hourglass]], he successfully navigated through the [[Temple of the Ocean King]]. After defeating Bellum, Link and Tetra awaken next to the Pirates Ship and find out only ten minutes had passed. Link was unsure if the adventure was a dream, however, he then saw Linebeck's ship off into the distance.

Tetra and the rest of the Pirates sailed the seas until they finally found a new land. In this new continent there stood a tall tower called the [[Tower of Spirits]], it is here where Tetra formed the [[New Hyrule|New Hyrule Kingdom]]. Across the land there were the [[Spirit Tracks]], which connected the realms throughout the land.  

{{Clear}}

===The Beginning to Ocarina of Time===

===The Wind Waker: A New World===

===Four Swords Saga: Side-Stories?===

===Twilight Princess: Expanding Both Timelines===<!-- might not be notable enough to have its own section. only thing it added was the interview supporting the split -->

===Skyward Sword and Hyrule Historia===

{{References}}