Okay, so I have been wondering this for a long time now. Just how did Ocarina of Time get split into 3 seperate timelines? The 3 timelines that the Zelda series has is "The Hero Is Defeated" timeline and "The Hero is Successful" timeline (which on its own made 2 new timelines). I really fail to understand how it got split into 3 timelines when,  what I've seen in the events of OoT, should have been made into 1 timeline since in the end of OoT Link defeats Ganondorf, goes back to his his childhood time, and goes to Hyrule Castle to meet Zelda again and  sets out to go look for Navi (which we all know starts the events of MM). And there's another thing I've always wondered. How the heck did Link from OoT get turned into Hero's Shade in Twilight Princess? Because if I remember correctly, if you head into the Lost Woods without a fairy to guide you you will get lost inside the woods and eventually turn into a Stalfos. But somehow instead of turning into a Stalfos he's Hero's Shade and helps his descendent train to learn new skills. Was this ever explained how OoT Link turned into Hero's Shade? Or did Miyamoto just decided to keep the fans guessing on what happened to him?

Edited May 8, 201411 yr by Tails

In the timeline of defeat, Ganondorf collected all 3 pieces of the triforce successfully and became the Demon King after killing Link. That's about all there is to it. However, as a last resort, Zelda and the Six Sages sealed Ganon and the Triforce within the Sacred Realm.

 

In the timeline of success, Link defeats Ganondorf as an adult. Afterward, Zelda uses her power to rewind the seven years Link spent sleeping and put him back in his original era. Link immediately went to Zelda and warned her of the future. Zelda entrusts the Ocarina of Time with Link and told him to travel far away so Ganondorf could not enter the Sacred Realm. Link leaves on a secret journey, his Triforce of Courage glowing on the back of his hand. Ganondorf was later set for execution, however, killing one of the Sages, scared them enough to only force him into the Twilight Realm. The Hero's Shade occurred due to the fact that ever since returning to the Child's Era, the Hero of Time lamented the fact that he was not remembered as a hero. This is why he passed down his secrets and proof of courage to Link in TP.

 

In the Adult Era, Link, Zelda, and the Sages seal Ganon away. Afterword, she sends Link back to his original era and ensures that the Sacred Realm would never be opened again, by putting the Master Sword in its pedestal and closing the Door of Time. The passage between eras was sealed and the Triforce of Courage continued its slumber somewhere in the land. When the Hero of Time became nothing but a legend, Ganondorf resumed his reign of terror over the lands of Hyrule. Thus, King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule called upon the gods and they sealed Hyrule away beneath the ocean.

In the timeline of defeat, Ganondorf collected all 3 pieces of the triforce successfully and became the Demon King after killing Link. That's about all there is to it. However, as a last resort, Zelda and the Six Sages sealed Ganon and the Triforce within the Sacred Realm.

 

In the timeline of success, Link defeats Ganondorf as an adult. Afterward, Zelda uses her power to rewind the seven years Link spent sleeping and put him back in his original era. Link immediately went to Zelda and warned her of the future. Zelda entrusts the Ocarina of Time with Link and told him to travel far away so Ganondorf could not enter the Sacred Realm. Link leaves on a secret journey, his Triforce of Courage glowing on the back of his hand. Ganondorf was later set for execution, however, killing one of the Sages, scared them enough to only force him into the Twilight Realm. The Hero's Shade occurred due to the fact that ever since returning to the Child's Era, the Hero of Time lamented the fact that he was not remembered as a hero. This is why he passed down his secrets and proof of courage to Link in TP.

 

In the Adult Era, Link, Zelda, and the Sages seal Ganon away. Afterword, she sends Link back to his original era and ensures that the Sacred Realm would never be opened again, by putting the Master Sword in its pedestal and closing the Door of Time. The passage between eras was sealed and the Triforce of Courage continued its slumber somewhere in the land. When the Hero of Time became nothing but a legend, Ganondorf resumed his reign of terror over the lands of Hyrule. Thus, King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule called upon the gods and they sealed Hyrule away beneath the ocean.

Wow, well thanks for the full explanation. 

Wow, well thanks for the full explanation. 

No, thank the Hyrule Historia!  If it weren't for this book, I wouldn't be nearly as knowledgeable about the series as I am now.

 

Also, the Historia never stated how the timeline splits with the defeat of Link, but I assume Zelda reversed time after sealing Ganon away in the Sacred Realm.

Edited May 8, 201411 yr by Vexoria

In the timeline of defeat, Ganondorf collected all 3 pieces of the triforce successfully and became the Demon King after killing Link. That's about all there is to it. However, as a last resort, Zelda and the Six Sages sealed Ganon and the Triforce within the Sacred Realm.

 

In the timeline of success, Link defeats Ganondorf as an adult. Afterward, Zelda uses her power to rewind the seven years Link spent sleeping and put him back in his original era. Link immediately went to Zelda and warned her of the future. Zelda entrusts the Ocarina of Time with Link and told him to travel far away so Ganondorf could not enter the Sacred Realm. Link leaves on a secret journey, his Triforce of Courage glowing on the back of his hand. Ganondorf was later set for execution, however, killing one of the Sages, scared them enough to only force him into the Twilight Realm. The Hero's Shade occurred due to the fact that ever since returning to the Child's Era, the Hero of Time lamented the fact that he was not remembered as a hero. This is why he passed down his secrets and proof of courage to Link in TP.

 

In the Adult Era, Link, Zelda, and the Sages seal Ganon away. Afterword, she sends Link back to his original era and ensures that the Sacred Realm would never be opened again, by putting the Master Sword in its pedestal and closing the Door of Time. The passage between eras was sealed and the Triforce of Courage continued its slumber somewhere in the land. When the Hero of Time became nothing but a legend, Ganondorf resumed his reign of terror over the lands of Hyrule. Thus, King Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule called upon the gods and they sealed Hyrule away beneath the ocean.

 

Actually by what HH says, Zelda simply sended Link back those seven years, and not exactly rewind time. If she had rewind time, then the AT would dissapear, since Link would had changed history, but like she simply sended him back, and the Door of Time, was closed, so both eras became separated, permiting for both timelines to exist.

Actually by what HH says, Zelda simply sended Link back those seven years, and not exactly rewind time. If she had rewind time, then the AT would dissapear, since Link would had changed history, but like she simply sended him back, and the Door of Time, was closed, so both eras became separated, permiting for both timelines to exist.

I took directly from the Hyrule Historia. It physically stated that Zelda used her power to rewind the seven years that Link spent sleeping in the Sacred Realm.

I took directly from the Hyrule Historia. It physically stated that Zelda used her power to rewind the seven years that Link spent sleeping in the Sacred Realm.

 *looks through pages*Oh there it is, I just saw this and stopped reading there  

Hyrule Historia, page 91, Peace Returns To Hyrule

Thus, the curtain fell on the battle for Hyrule.Seven years earlier, Princess Zelda had mistakenly allowed Ganondorf to enter the Sacred Realm in her attempt to maintain control over the holy domain. In order to right her wrongs, she played the ocarina, returning Link to his original era and allowing him to regain the seven years that had passed while he remained sealed.Peace had been restored to the land of Hyrule, but its return marked the parting of Link and Princess Zelda

 

 *looks through pages*Oh there it is, I just saw this and stopped reading there  

Hyrule Historia, page 91, Peace Returns To Hyrule

Thus, the curtain fell on the battle for Hyrule.Seven years earlier, Princess Zelda had mistakenly allowed Ganondorf to enter the Sacred Realm in her attempt to maintain control over the holy domain. In order to right her wrongs, she played the ocarina, returning Link to his original era and allowing him to regain the seven years that had passed while he remained sealed.Peace had been restored to the land of Hyrule, but its return marked the parting of Link and Princess Zelda

 

Yeah, I believe this is a little earlier than the part I pulled the timeline split post together on. 

Yeah, I believe this is a little earlier than the part I pulled the timeline split post together on. 

 

19 pages earlier. Though I wonder why do they changed from simply sending him back, to time being rewind, I guess it is related to the point of view of the "in-universe narrator"