My timeline with the explanation

The official timeline as revealed in Hyrule Historia is exactly what the developers always said they were over the years in so many interviews. For example, The Minish Cap and Four Swords were always intended to go before Ocarina of Time; A Link to the Past were intended to come after Ocarina of Time and be followed by Link's Awakening; The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess were intended to come after Ocarina of Time in separate continuities that could no co-exist with A Link to the Past/Link's Awakening; Zelda I and II were intended to come after A Link to the Past (and thereby Link's Awakening); there was once an interview revealing that the Oracles were intended to be tied to A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening, placing them before Zelda I and II; and Majora's Mask was an obvious direct sequel to Ocarina of Time that evidentially fell into the Twilight Princess continuty (Child Timeline).

The Four Swords series are standalone stories not directly tied to most of the other games, which meant they could easily go anywhere. However, Four Swords Adventures clearly followed a game wherein Ganon had been completely killed off. Of those, it could only follow either A Link to the Past, The Wind Waker or Twilight Princess. It could not follow The Wind Waker for other obvious reasons, it was originally intended to follow A Link to the Past but Miyamoto didn't want that, and so it was only left to follow Twilight Princess.

Many details of continuity between the games in the official timeline are actually very consistent even with backstories occurring between them: only a few Gorons exist in Hyrule during Skyward Sword and don't inhabit a mountain, more are moving into Hyrule The Minish Cap, and the whole race has moved into Hyrule by the time of Four Swords and now inhabit Death Mountain; the unified Triforce falls into the Royal Family's possession by the end of A Link to the Past, it is in their possession during the Oracles, it is also in their possession prior to Zelda I and II; after a war takes place been Ocarina of Time's game over ending and A Link to the Past, the Goron and Zora races have disappeared from Hyrule and are found to have moved to new lands in the Oracles, and they remain absent from Hyrule by the time of Zelda I and II; the Decline Timeline games also see the River Zoras become prominent; The Minish Cap's Hyrule is unlike Hyrule in any other game, as is the case in Skyward Sword, but becomes standard Hyrule by the time Four Swords, creating a link to Ocarina of Time's Hyrule.

...except that the DT doesn't follow a game over ending. It does co-exist with the other branches.

Originally Posted by Kasuto

...except that the DT doesn't follow a game over ending.

The Hero of Time being defeated is a game over. Before, we had no idea what would happen if he was defeated because we never got past the game over screen and simply reset. In the case of Zelda II, Ganon returns if you get a game over. For Majora's Mask, Termina is destroyed. For Ocarina of Time, the entire Decline Timeline happens.

It does co-exist with the other branches.

I am very aware of that. I suspect that they would all exist in the Zelda multi-verse along with possibly a universe where Termina is destroyed (alternate child timeline) and a universe where Ganon returns after The Adventure of Link (alternate Decline Timeline). We have only explored three co-existing timelines in a shared multi-verse so far, however; nothing is known what happens if Termina is destroyed, nor how many timelines there truly are beyond the main three. Some people entertain the possibility of the time travel in Skyward Sword creating yet another timeline, that the game's ending leads into the Unified Timeline that we know of but leaves behind another one since Demise is killed in two different ways. I go by the theory that all major changes to time cause splits.

Originally Posted by Her Grace

The Four Swords series are standalone stories not directly tied to most of the other games, which meant they could easily go anywhere. However, Four Swords Adventures clearly followed a game wherein Ganon had been completely killed off. Of those, it could only follow either A Link to the Past, The Wind Waker or Twilight Princess. It could not follow The Wind Waker for other obvious reasons, it was originally intended to follow A Link to the Past but Miyamoto didn't want that, and so it was only left to follow Twilight Princess.

I'd also like to point out that there was a removed portion of Ganondorf's dying speech at the end TP that suggests his eventual reincarnation and that his death was just the beginning of the battle between Light and Shadow. FSA fits that description perfectly, as it features both a reincarnated Ganondorf and a continuation of the battle between Shadow and Light.

Ganondorf(Removed speech from TP)
When the chosen ones appear...
They are always born into this world in perfect balance.
That is the destiny of the chosen. That is the fate decreed by your gods, the only path for those who bear their crests.
When this world brings forth another marked as you are...
Know too, that it shall also be visited by one of my blood.
Do not think this ends here...
The history of light and shadow will be written in blood!

I don't know why it was removed, but it does reveal developer intent at one point in development. It could possibly have been removed for the same reason the Master Sword references were removed from FSA.

Strangely, it's surprisingly similar to Demise's speech at the end of SS. Perhaps they took it out so that it could be used in another game.

Game over means defeat, yes, but I still don't believe that the DT follows a game over. It doesn't happen if the player can't beat Ganon - It just happens, period.
Noone has to agree with this notion, but to me, it's a given.

Originally Posted by Her Grace

It could not follow The Wind Waker for other obvious reasons, it was originally intended to follow A Link to the Past but Miyamoto didn't want that, and so it was only left to follow Twilight Princess.

Really? That's the first I've heard of this. The usual speculation was that it was intended to be the Seal War and as such would have preceded LttP.

Originally Posted by Darth Yoshi

Really? That's the first I've heard of this. The usual speculation was that it was intended to be the Seal War and as such would have preceded LttP.

If I may... I'm pretty sure that's what he meant

Originally Posted by tlozbj

2-It can also be another incarnation of Demise that went by the same name. Also he had the Trident of power. What turned him into the beast Ganon if I am not wrong. Ganondorf magwier or something like that wasn't. He had that trident since OOT. We see that Phantom Ganondorf had it
3-the hero of time legend is more dominant in the opening so it was four sword mixed with HoT

2. Same difference. Just another incarnation/reincarnation that goes by Ganondorf and is also Gerudo. But he is even more proof that FSA can't go between OoT-TWW. It's a different incarnation of Ganondorf/Demise, which probably would not exist while the other is sealed.

3. Still doesn't matter which order they go in. Depending on how stories are told, you could even end up with primarily SS lore. But if you want logic, if the HoT legend is more prominent, then it must have happened more recently. That's very obvious because it would be the most recent and detailed legend. There is no way that FS/FSA can go between OoT and TWW.

One of the things that I would speculate in the series is that just the same as Ganondorf was reincarnated several times throughout the series, the Hero himself, Link, was possibly provided the essence of courage through several different young men in the series.

Not all necessarily direct descendants of the Hero himself (dismissing the haters that dislike the idea of Link and Zelda having children and they have children of their own and such) and this child (not always named Link [which is why you're always given the chance to name him whatever you want]) was present with extraordinary courage and daring to face challenges that normal citizens of (whatever location he was in) wouldn't dream of doing.

Originally Posted by The Doctor

3. Still doesn't matter which order they go in. Depending on how stories are told, you could even end up with primarily SS lore. But if you want logic, if the HoT legend is more prominent, then it must have happened more recently. That's very obvious because it would be the most recent and detailed legend. There is no way that FS/FSA can go between OoT and TWW.

Not quite. People in OoT shouldn't even be aware that any time travel had taken place, so the fact the WW legend remembers that of all things indicates that things aren't quite so straightforward. Any hypothetical Heroes that might have followed the Hero of Time could have been mistakenly folded into the Hero of Time legend as part of "time travel" if none of them had a prophecy associated with to stand out with. *shrugs*

I like to believe that the Decline Timeline is the Imprisoning War.

Originally Posted by Anima†eur

I like to believe that the Decline Timeline is the Imprisoning War.

In-between Oot and Alttp, yes.

So may someone tell me when did OOT Link visited a great fairy in Lake Hylia. In WW Outset island is in the area where Lake Hylia would be. Because Forest Haven is Kokiri forest so Outset island most be the mountain entrance to Lake Hylia. So what great fairyy does OOT Link visit there none. Only FS Link visit a great fairy by that area. The fairy in Outset island the fairy is a fortune fairy and the FS Fairies where fairies that gave you keys depending on your fortune. So they would get the name of Fortune fairies. Also I am pretty sure none or a small countity of houses had shields over the fire place and Grannie says it is a tradition to put the family shield in the house. Also hinting at a connection of MC Link and WW Link. Also Miyamoto was never interested in the timeline. That is why the original games did not had any continuity. Aonuma was the one who brought up the timeline.

Edit: May you all please read the complete theory. At the end it says no HH. Use your imagination and brains. Do not depend of a book that haven't even been release in US. Sorry if I sound mean

There's a little island near Jabu-Jabu withboulders on it, which houses a Great Fairy who gives you Faraoh's Wind.

Thats is above kokiri woods so above forest haven. Outset island,where Link lives in WW is in the same chart line as Forest haven. Also that area should had been flooded completely for being so deep.

Originally Posted by Her Grace

The official timeline as revealed in Hyrule Historia is exactly what the developers always said they were over the years in so many interviews. For example, The Minish Cap and Four Swords were always intended to go before Ocarina of Time; A Link to the Past were intended to come after Ocarina of Time and be followed by Link's Awakening; The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess were intended to come after Ocarina of Time in separate continuities that could no co-exist with A Link to the Past/Link's Awakening; Zelda I and II were intended to come after A Link to the Past (and thereby Link's Awakening); there was once an interview revealing that the Oracles were intended to be tied to A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening, placing them before Zelda I and II; and Majora's Mask was an obvious direct sequel to Ocarina of Time that evidentially fell into the Twilight Princess continuty (Child Timeline).

The Four Swords series are standalone stories not directly tied to most of the other games, which meant they could easily go anywhere. However, Four Swords Adventures clearly followed a game wherein Ganon had been completely killed off. Of those, it could only follow either A Link to the Past, The Wind Waker or Twilight Princess. It could not follow The Wind Waker for other obvious reasons, it was originally intended to follow A Link to the Past but Miyamoto didn't want that, and so it was only left to follow Twilight Princess.

Many details of continuity between the games in the official timeline are actually very consistent even with backstories occurring between them: only a few Gorons exist in Hyrule during Skyward Sword and don't inhabit a mountain, more are moving into Hyrule The Minish Cap, and the whole race has moved into Hyrule by the time of Four Swords and now inhabit Death Mountain; the unified Triforce falls into the Royal Family's possession by the end of A Link to the Past, it is in their possession during the Oracles, it is also in their possession prior to Zelda I and II; after a war takes place been Ocarina of Time's game over ending and A Link to the Past, the Goron and Zora races have disappeared from Hyrule and are found to have moved to new lands in the Oracles, and they remain absent from Hyrule by the time of Zelda I and II; the Decline Timeline games also see the River Zoras become prominent; The Minish Cap's Hyrule is unlike Hyrule in any other game, as is the case in Skyward Sword, but becomes standard Hyrule by the time Four Swords, creating a link to Ocarina of Time's Hyrule.

All of this go nowhere. If you play WW you will know that the shield Grannie gives you belonged to a legenderay hero and that it was the family shield. That shield belonged to the hero itself. But OOT Link never wielded the shield. That was Four sword saga Link. So the saga most happen between them. We also have the fairy of fortune. OOT Link never visits a fairy that is related to fortunes. Neither doess he visits one around the area of Outset island was located in Hyrule A.K.A the proximities of Lake Hylia. The only Link that goes to a close place with a fortune fairy is FS Link in the Talus cave. But Talus cave is closer to being Zora domain still frozen by Ganondorf and Morpha's spell in OOT. Also may you please read all the sections in the explanation. Everything will make sense then.

Originally Posted by tlozbj

All of this go nowhere. If you play WW you will know that the shield Grannie gives you belonged to a legenderay hero and that it was the family shield. That shield belonged to the hero itself. But OOT Link never wielded the shield. That was Four sword saga Link. So the saga most happen between them. We also have the fairy of fortune. OOT Link never visits a fairy that is related to fortunes. Neither doess he visits one around the area of Outset island was located in Hyrule A.K.A the proximities of Lake Hylia. The only Link that goes to a close place with a fortune fairy is FS Link in the Talus cave. But Talus cave is closer to being Zora domain still frozen by Ganondorf and Morpha's spell in OOT. Also may you please read all the sections in the explanation. Everything will make sense then.

Actually it's just a rumor that the shield belonged to a hero, and even if it isn't, there's no proof one way or the other when it came from, aside from being an "old" shield.

Originally Posted by tlozbj

All of this go nowhere. If you play WW you will know that the shield Grannie gives you belonged to a legenderay hero and that it was the family shield. That shield belonged to the hero itself. But OOT Link never wielded the shield. That was Four sword saga Link. So the saga most happen between them. We also have the fairy of fortune. OOT Link never visits a fairy that is related to fortunes. Neither doess he visits one around the area of Outset island was located in Hyrule A.K.A the proximities of Lake Hylia. The only Link that goes to a close place with a fortune fairy is FS Link in the Talus cave. But Talus cave is closer to being Zora domain still frozen by Ganondorf and Morpha's spell in OOT. Also may you please read all the sections in the explanation. Everything will make sense then.

There are no heroes between Ocarina of Time's adult ending and The Wind Waker. Just because the shield used by the Link in The Minish Cap appeared as a family heirloom of the Link seen in The Wind Waker doesn't mean that the Four Swords saga happened recently. For all we know, that shield was passed down since long since The Minish Cap, through Ocarina of Time and never came to be used again until over a thousand years later by the time of The Wind Waker. This is no different than from how Four Sword remains hidden during Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess, and every classic game. Just because it doesn't make an appearance, does not mean that it doesn't exist yet. We simply would have no idea of telling who owns the shield at the time and where they are keeping it; for all we know, it is under Malon's bed during Ocarina of Time.

There are more heroes between OoT and WW. In the opening of WW clearly says that Ganon broke free once again to continue his dark designs. The same designs he was doing in FSA pulling the lght world into the dark world. Also forest haven surely is kokiri forest and outset island would be the mountain entrance to Lake Hylia. OoT Link never went to a great fairy fountain there and the sign says that a hero went there. So a hero most go there for the sign to be correct. All the Link seen in the WW legend are depicted diferently. We see OoT Link sealing Ganon. ALttp/oracle/LA Link going away in a horse just like the ending or beginning of one of the oracles. Zelda 1-2 have the descendant of ALttp link so it automatically falls after it. In the end of the legend we see four sword saga Link. Yes FSS Link. Same tunic,apparance and sword. He is also standing in the wind. The only way for that to happen is Link to be in Vaati's palace. Do not go by simple eyeview. You most interpret everything more than it seems. Also the people of Hyrule where not suppose to know about time travel in OoT. But it is mention that the hero time travel. Explanation more than hero appaer in Hyrule and disapaer and the people atributed to time travel. Also the opening says Ganon got the golden power. When he only obtain a part of it. Now lets see what Ganon have the golden power. Yes the ALttp Ganon he is the only to have the golden power and not a part of it.

Originally Posted by tlozbj

There are more heroes between OoT and WW.

Which is in direct contradiction to what Wind Waker points out over and over again:

"But the hero did not appear."

Originally Posted by tlozbj

In the opening of WW clearly says that Ganon broke free once again to continue his dark designs. The same designs he was doing in FSA pulling the lght world into the dark world.

Where does it say he was "pulling the light world into the dark world"? You can't just pull stuff like that out of no where, you have to have something to back it up.

It seems to me like he was just angry and assaulting all of Hyrule in order to exact revenge for being sealed, which is pretty much what he said he'd do at the end of Ocarina of Time.

Originally Posted by tlozbj

OoT Link never went to a great fairy fountain there and the sign says that a hero went there. So a hero most go there for the sign to be correct.

How do we know it wasn't just a rumor? The sign says "The legendary hero was said to come here", not "The legendary hero came here." There is a difference, the former implying that it's just a rumor and not a solid fact.

Originally Posted by tlozbj

All the Link seen in the WW legend are depicted diferently. We see OoT Link sealing Ganon. ALttp/oracle/LA Link going away in a horse just like the ending or beginning of one of the oracles.

They're just depictions, tlozbj. They're not intended to be 100% accurate. However, the first image of Link shows him battling Ganon, which did happen in OoT. The second one shows him on a horse, yes, but he did have a horse in OoT... Epona.

Originally Posted by tlozbj

Zelda 1-2 have the descendant of ALttp link so it automatically falls after it.

I don't understand how this is relevant?

Originally Posted by tlozbj

In the end of the legend we see four sword saga Link. Yes FSS Link. Same tunic,apparance and sword.

Again, it's just a depiction. Do you expect any and all drawings to be 100% accurate?

Originally Posted by tlozbj

He is also standing in the wind. The only way for that to happen is Link to be in Vaati's palace.

Forgive me for repeating myself, BUT IT'S JUST A DEPICTION. Jesus x_x

Originally Posted by tlozbj

lso the people of Hyrule where not suppose to know about time travel in OoT. But it is mention that the hero time travel. Explanation more than hero appaer in Hyrule and disapaer and the people atributed to time travel.

Or, a simpler explanation... Zelda simply told people the truth about how he time-traveled.