Editorial: The Zelda Timeline interpretation

You may need to refer to this table:

Source

The most popular assumption about the Zelda series was that the timeline was split in two: One following adult Link route, the other following child Link’s cycle. It was actually a good guess, but there was an eventuality we have not pondered before, and it was if Link had lost to Ganon in Ocarina of time.



As Zelda fan, we have a difficult time swallowing the idea that Link can fail. He has always been described as the brave chosen hero who can overcome any obstacle. We also become attached to Link to the point of identifying with the silent hero. Link is you. Thus, it becomes disconcerting to imagine that Link could fall at the hands of Ganon. Since you are get so engrossed into the game, you begin to play the game as if you are Link; meaning that implying that Link failed means YOU failed. Not only does it feel “off” for the chosen hero to lose after you beat the game and saved Hyrule, but the timeline in which he failed is the timeline with the most iconic classics. The original Zelda title, The Adventure of Link, Link’s Awakening and even A Link to the Past, the most celebrated 2D Zelda game are part of this continuity.

The gap between his failure and A Link to the past was explained as a “sealing war”, meaning that individuals other than Link managed to seal Ganondorf in his place. However, one thing escapes me. Who is the next Link? From what I understand, every Link is a descendant from the first Skyward Sword Link. If Link in Ocarina of Time died, where does his descendant come from? I’m just going to assume that Link had a jolly time at Lon Lon ranch before going to meet up with Ganondorf. Of course, by defeated, “death” is not the only option. He could have lost and survived, but I highly doubt that Ganondorf would have let Link live and I highly doubt that Link would have given up. Link’s Awakening could have been placed anywhere in the timeline, being a dream.

The successful version is a puzzle of its own. On the child side, we had all come to expect that Majora’s Mask would be in this timeline, and there is some sense in Twilight princess being part of it. Let me explain. From my understanding, there are two possibilities: One explanation could be that this is not what happens after Link gets sent back in time at the end of Ocarina of time, but rather, “Sealed realm protected” could mean that child Link prevented Ganondorf to get access to the temple of time but did not fight him. Link never got the master sword and Ganondorf remained as the king of thieves. Then, the event in which he was thrown into the Twilight world in Twilight Princess end up making sense because they could not seal him without the master sword.



Another alternative is that after Link sealed Ganondorf, he went back in time and was able to use what he knew from the future to prevent Ganondorf from gaining access to the sacred realm; perhaps by warning royalty. Perhaps it was his warning that caused him to be sealed for the events of Twilight Princess. I do not know which option is more sensible.

The next timeline has Ganondorf sealed and seemingly remaining as an adult. Another possibility is that when Link is sent back into the past, he disappears from the timeline completely explaining the absence of a hero when Ganon is revived again. However, this option removes the possibility that Link has a descendant, “unless” he got lucky with Malon. I did say yes when Talon asked me if I wanted to marry his daughter on my playthrough after all.



What Nintendo is basically telling us is one of two things. One possibility is that “there is no canon route”. The storyline branches out into what-if situations based on what happened in Ocarina of time. The other interpretation that I adhere most to is that they are all canon. The events of Ocarina of Time would have caused several timelines to exist independently from one another due to Link messing with the chain of events through time. They are all happening in three alternate realities.

Take none of what I said at face value. These are hypotheses and nothing more. I believe that one of the beauties of the Zelda uni(or multi?)verse is that it allows for interpretation. Part of the storytelling is up to our imagination. If you have alternate explanations you wish to share, write them in the comments below. I would love to read them.

SPOILER ALERT for Skyward Sword:

My intepretation of the ending is really simple. Link and Zelda are the "Adam and Eve" of Hyrule. The hylians are all their descendants. As for Demise, I theorize that Ganondorf is his reincarnated form.

Merry Christmas as well by the way.