Split Timeline Theory
from Zeldapedia, the Legend of Zelda wiki
The Split Timeline Theory is one of the commonly accepted theories concerning the chronology of The Legend of Zelda games. This theory, in particular, was one of the two hotly debated theories among fans, the other being the Single Timeline Theory. The theory states that after the ending of Ocarina of Time, the Zelda timeline separated in two timelines thanks to Zelda sending Link back in time to relive his childhood. The two seprate timelines have been designated by fans of the series as the Adult Timeline and the Child Timeline respectively.
The theory first came into existence after a 2002 interview with Eiji Aonuma and Shigeru Miyamoto (both developers for the same series) over The Wind Waker. In it, Aonuma stated that Ocarina of Time had two endings, one where Link was a child, and another where he was an adult. However, the two did not further elaborate on the subject.[1] After The Wind Waker was released many fans speculated that the series had two timelines because of storyline problems The Wind Waker had with fitting in with other games in the series (e.g. Hyrule being destroyed at the end, or Ganondorf not being sealed up the the end for A Link to the Past). Despite this however, belief in the theory remained a minority opinion.
However, the release of Twilight Princess brought new life into the split timeline, as Ganondorf's role in the game seemed to contract his role in both The Wind Waker and Ocarina of Time. During a 2006 interview with the Japanese magazine Nintendo Dream, Eiji Aonuma reinforced what he had said earlier and stated that the timeline within the Zelda series did indeed follow this order. [2] Since then the theory has generally been accepted as fact for most of the Zelda community.
[edit] Adult Timeline
The events of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time take place. When Link pulls the Master Sword from its pedestal and is sealed for seven years, he unintentionally lets Ganondorf enter the Sacred Realm and steal the Triforce of Power. Ganondorf then goes on to conquer Hyrule, but Link (who had awakened after seven years as the Hero of Time) defeats him. Subsequently, Ganondorf is sealed in the Sacred Realm by the Seven Sages. As his tasks are done, Link is sent back in time by Princess Zelda to relive his lost years, and the Child Timeline is presumably formed. An unspecified amount of time after being sealed, Ganondorf escapes from the Sacred Realm and threatens Hyrule once again. Without the Hero of Time to protect Hyrule, the Gods are forced to flood Hyrule. Centuries later, the events of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, and presumably The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks unfold. Another theory states that in the opening sequence of Phantom Hourglass, Link and Tetra are searching for a land which they could call a new Hyrule. (This theory also opens up the fact that the Hyrule from The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap may be the new Hyrule Link and Tetra were searching for, putting it a few generations ahead, and explaining Link and Zelda's friendship in the game. Seeing that The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures clearly comes after The Minish Cap, it remains unexplained how they returned to the regular Hyrule.)
It would appear that the SNES game The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past takes place in the Adult Timeline at a point beyond that of Ocarina of Time, as its history (the game's opening backstory) includes the sealing away of Ganon by the seven sages, which took place when Link was still an adult. This would necessarily make the original The Legend of Zelda and The Adventure of Link games follow after A Link to the Past, since that game is directly stated to be a prequel.
It is possible that in this timeline, Skull Kid never got the chance to steal Majora's Mask, so Majora's ruin of the lives of the citizens of Termina never took place in this timeline, therefore Odolwa, Goht, Gyorg, and Twinmold never existed. As Ganondorf was never sealed away in the Realm of Twilight, it is unknown what became of Zant in this timeline, but as he couldn't have gotten his power without Ganondorf, it is unlikely he could have caused any serious trouble.
[edit] Child Timeline
Link, who has been returned to his childhood from the Adult Timeline, has a little talk with Princess Zelda, warning her (and presumably the rest of Hyrule) of Ganondorf's true intentions and as a result of this their relationship with Ganondorf changes. Because of this it was decided that Ganondorf be executed because he'd do something outrageous if they left him be. Sometime afterward, Ganondorf is exposed, subdued, and brought to justice.[3] and the Ancient Sages try to execute him; however, because he bears the Triforce of Power (supposedly obtaining it only by touching the Triforce), Ganondorf survives the attempt and breaks free of his shackles, killing one of the Sages in the process. The remaining Sages manage to seal Ganondorf into the Twilight Realm, setting up events for The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask is also thought to be placed in this timeline, a short while after Ocarina-Link warns Hyrule of Ganondorf's treachery, due to the fact that Epona is now ridable.
How the older games on the NES and Super Nintendo fit into this timeline has not been made completely clear as of yet. Although hints have been dropped in the more recent titles, the way people react to these hints has lead to a wide array of different theories (for example, some say that all of the older titles occur after The Wind Waker, others that The Wind Waker's 'Alternate' Imprisoning War legend suggests that they take place after Twilight Princess with Four Swords Adventures bridging the gap, others still that the NES and SNES adventures are split over either timeline). Ganondorf is the king of evil in every game.
Since Ganondorf was trapped inside the Realm of Twilight, it is likely that Volvagia was never revived in this timeline, Phantom Ganon and Morpha were never created, and Bongo Bongo never made it out of the well. However, the fate of Koume and Kotake is shown in the Oracle games. Also, the bosses of Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker never existed in this timeline.
[edit] References
- ^ 'Interviewer: Where does The Wind Waker fit into the overall Zelda series timeline? Aonuma: You can think of this game as taking place over a hundred years after Ocarina of Time. You can tell this from the opening story, and there are references to things from Ocarina located throughout the game as well. Miyamoto: Well, wait, which point does the hundred years start from? Aonuma: From the end. Miyamoto: No, I mean, as a child or as a... Aonuma: Oh, right, let me elaborate on that. Ocarina of Time basically has two endings of sorts; one has Link as a child and the other has him as an adult. This game, The Wind Waker, takes place a hundred years after the adult Link defeats Ganon at the end of Ocarina. Miyamoto: This is pretty confusing for us, too. (laughs) So be careful. {2002 Gamepro Interview}
- ^ Interviewer: When does Twilight Princess take place? Eiji Aonuma: In the world of Ocarina of Time, a hundred and something years later. Interviewer: And The Wind Waker? Aonuma: The Wind Waker is parallel. In Ocarina of Time, Link flew seven years in time, he beat Ganon and went back to being a kid, remember? Twilight Princess takes place in the world of Ocarina of Time, a hundred and something years after the peace returned to kid Link’s time. In the last scene of Ocarina of Time, kids Link and Zelda have a little talk, and as a consequence of that talk, their relationship with Ganon takes a whole new direction. In the middle of this game [Twilight Princess], there's a scene showing Ganon's execution. It was decided that Ganon be executed because he'd do something outrageous if they left him be. That scene takes place several years after Ocarina of Time. Ganon was sent to another world and now he wants to obtain the power... {Nintendo Dream Interview with Eiji Aonuma}
- ^ Ancient Sages: His name is... Ganondorf. He was the leader of a band of thieves who invaded Hyrule in the hopes of establishing dominion over the Sacred Realm. He was known as a demon thief, an evil-magic wielder renowned for his ruthlessness... But he was blind... In all of his fury and might, he was blind to any danger, and thus was he exposed, subdued, and brought to justice. {The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess}
