[Discussion] The Ending of Ocarina of Time

Really, I'm surprised no one's posted this here before.

Since this is a hot topic among timeline theorists, I think we need to go to great pains to deliberate it amongst ourselves, the Bombers, for the sake of good discussion and increased activity among our membership. As such, I am going to review the facts and the uncertainties regarding the ending of Ocarina of Time, both in the Adult aspects and the Child aspects. This topic is intended to discuss the uncertainties.

What We Know About the Adult Ending

• Ganondorf is sealed in the Sacred Realm by seven sages.
• Link is returned to his original time in order to live a fuller life.
• Hyrule is returned to peace.
• The Triforce of Courage is split when Link goes on his journey back in time.

What We Know About the Child Ending

• Link returned to the past, and presumably closed the Door of Time.
• Link has the Triforce of Courage mark on his left hand in the very last scene.
• Link meets with Princess Zelda, and they discuss things that inevitably result in the execution of Ganondorf.

What We Do Not Know About Either Ending

• What became of the Master Sword in the Adult Timeline after Link was sent back?
• Did Link also have to restore the Master Sword to the Pedestal of Time in the past?
• What is the meaning of the mark of the Triforce of Courage in the ending scene?
• At what point in time did Link get sent back in time to?
• What became of Ganondorf after Link returned to the past, before the execution?
• How/when did Ganondorf obtain the Triforce of Power?

Discuss.

EDIT: Thanks to MDK for pointing that one out.

No discussing from me yet, but a point to add:

• When did Ganondorf obtain the Triforce of Power?

Come on, gents. A little activity won't kill you.

Originally Posted by LexLionHart

• The Triforce of Courage is split when Link goes on his journey back in time.

I was under the impression that the Triforce of Courage doesn't split until Link leaves hyrule. We see the mark in his hand in the Child ending, but not in Majora's Mask, if I recall correctly.

During a debate, it was brought up that in the japanese introduction to The Wind Waker it was stated the Triforce of Courage split when the The Hero "travelled through the flows of time" or something very similar. Can this be verified?

It's in the Hylian text, actually.

Well, in that case I would say that the phrase holds less water due to it's "secret" nature. Can we all agree on the point of time where the Triforce of Courage is Shattered? Is it when Link leaves the Adult Timeline or when Link leaves Hyrule?

Link left Hyrule in the Adult Timeline to go to Hyrule in the Child Timeline.
Link left Hyrule in the Child Timeline to go to Termina.
The Triforce of Courage split in Hyrule in the Adult Timeline.

Logically, it follows that Link leaving Hyrule in the Adult Timeline would lead to the Triforce splitting in Hyrule in the Adult Timeline as opposed to Link leaving Hyrule in the Child Timeline being the cause of said split.

Hence, there is really no loophole necessary to say that it was when he left the Adult Timeline, though you could argue that Link wasn't embarking on a journey when he went back in time.

There is also the uncertainty of whether the creators were working with a split timeline when they made The Wind Waker. I think the shattering was originally intended to happen when Link left Hyrule, but this has been retconned by the "blue swamp" revelation.

Originally Posted by Studebaker Hoch

There is also the uncertainty of whether the creators were working with a split timeline when they made The Wind Waker. I think the shattering was originally intended to happen when Link left Hyrule, but this has been retconned by the "blue swamp" revelation.

Well, the thing is, why would the shattering happen when Link returns to the past? Doesn't he have to ensure that the past is changed, first?

Wouldn't his presence in the past already ensure it?

From a linear perspective the shattering could happen at either point, but looking at the split, the Triforce of the Adult Timeline cannot first travel to the Child Timeline, be shattered and then return to the Adult Timeline.

Originally Posted by Studebaker Hoch

Wouldn't his presence in the past already ensure it?

Depends. He could, say, leave Hyrule and go to Termina, save Termina, and then come back in seven years to trump Ganon.

And that would change basically nothing for Hyrule, since he will have again put himself out of the action.

but looking at the split, the Triforce of the Adult Timeline cannot first travel to the Child Timeline, be shattered and then return to the Adult Timeline.

Agreed. Which is why I say the Triforce splits in the future, and the timeline splits in the past, when the Door of Time is closed.

Originally Posted by LexLionHart

Depends. He could, say, leave Hyrule and go to Termina, save Termina, and then come back in seven years to trump Ganon.

And that would change basically nothing for Hyrule, since he will have again put himself out of the action.

I'm personally all for the theory that the slightest change in the past already causes the future to take a different course thus creating an alternate future. Therefor, the timeline would already split when Zelda sends Link back with the Ocarina of Time.

The problem with this is of course that Link would create an alternate future every time he puts the Master Sword back to its pedestal. We once again have to face the question: Did the developers actually intend there to be fully functional timetravel system, that actually makes sense. Personally I think it's just a simple gameplay and storyline device, which was never ment to be scrutinized like this.

I'm of the opinion that "single-timeline time travel" was only possible while the Door of Time was still open. Once he closed the "door between times", he prevented himself from returning from the Sacred Realm to save the future, which meant he had to save it another way.