[Not a theory, just a theory extension] Hyrule Historia, non-canon.

Originally Posted by Hylian Sam

Good question, animateur.

The reason I would like the Hyrule Historia to be non-canon is pretty much because I don't like the idea of Nintendo telling us what's what. I mean, that just kills a lot of theories... if you ask me, I think Nintendo made a bit of a wrong move bringing out the Hyrule Historia... I like the mystery and the capability to use the creative side of your brain to come up with great theories that have never been thought of before!

Sounds like a case of "I don't like this information, so I'll just disown it for no acceptable reason."

The only real problem I have with the HH timeline is the Downfall Timeline. It seemed extremely uneeded to add an alternate scenario where Link dies. If they would explain why there is a DT maybe I wouldn't have such a problem. But you can't just say "well what if Link dies? oh, then there is a third timeline split!" Well, i geuss you can say that but it certainly doesn't fly with me.
Or maybe I should be happy they added the DT. Gives us something to theorize about.
Basically what I'm trying to say is, I'm not really sure what to think about HH just yet. My gut tells me to go with it because it is Aunoma approved but I'm still not sure.

That's just the thing, though: HH doesn't explicitly state that the DT happens as an alternate scenario if Link dies. Since there is no post-"game over" scenario in OOT, I take the DT as happening in parallel with the other two branches. That's the only way for this timeline to make sense.

I think the reason they have a DT split is because the games that occur within that particular branch couldn't have possibly fit elsewhere. I have no in-game evidence of this, but that's what I think. I bet I could find some if I had the the patience to.

What that split means is that there's a possibility of a new branch for every Zelda game, a branch that appears with the theory of Link's death. So that means infinite Zelda games. That's reassurance for if anyone ever thinks that Zelda games can't continue in a proper story. Just kill Link, and suddenly 7 new games.

Originally Posted by Kasuto

Oh. Well, that's just a misunderstanding. Zelda may have accused Ganondorf, but he was executed years later for something entirely different. That's what Aonuma said. It had little to do with Link's story.

I'm not so sure of that. The fact was that her initial accusations, based on what the Hero of Time told her, were enough to change the original status quo. That meant either the King took her seriously enough to order Ganondorf's arrest, or she spooked Ganondorf enough that he incriminated himself somehow. Either way, the King should have asked how Zelda knew what she did about Ganondorf, so the entirety of the Heor of Time's story should have come out, and with it the fact that Ganondorf was the Bearer of Power in the future. Since the Hero of Time was known to still be the Bearer of Courage as he was in the future (according to the Historia even Ganondorf was aware of it) the possibility of Ganondorf having received Power once again was very real, even if it seemed remote. Considering the potential consequences if Ganondorf did in fact have Power, it would have been irresponsible not to check, and if that had happened the Sages shouldn't have been surprised to see he had it during the execution. But they were, so one of the parties involved really dropped the ball.

Originally Posted by Advance123

I think the reason they have a DT split is because the games that occur within that particular branch couldn't have possibly fit elsewhere. I have no in-game evidence of this, but that's what I think. I bet I could find some if I had the the patience to.

Not really, the entirety of it could have fit before the Flood with minimal fuss. Certainly less of one than "OoT is the Seal War but not really because only the Hero of Time's death is important in any way."

I don't being Triforce bearer is something you could hide. In the execution cutscene you can see that the Triforce mark appears over his glove and remains visibile. I think the Sages did check if he had it but he didn't, but when they are about to execute him, he suddenly gets it.

I don't know what the big deal it, really. It makes perfect sense to me.

The Triforce mark doesn't appear unless something significant happens, like the bearer being close to another bearer, or the Triforce being used. Ganondorf doesn't suddenly receive the ToP, as if from out of nowhere, at just the right moment. That wouldn't make any sense at all, IMO. He had it all along, from the moment when the Hero of Time appeared in the CT.

HH contradicts Aonuma's earlier statements regarding this. He originally said that Link and Zelda chose to leave Ganondorf and the Sacred Realm alone. Years later, Ganondorf apparently did something outrageous that earned him a death sentence.
According to HH, Zelda threw accusations Ganondorf's way and Ganondorf himself was aware of Link's Triforce mark. Ganondorf could hardly be accused for having committed a crime that he had yet to commit, however, so what Zelda told the King must be that Ganondorf was planning to steal the Triforce - something she'd already tried to tell her father. This time, though, she used Link and his Triforce mark to back up her claim.
The problem with this is that since Link has the ToC, Zelda and Ganondorf must have the ToW and ToP. Whenever one of those artifacts is near one of its siblings, they resonate. Everyone must've seen this happen! Even if Ganondorf was not present at the time, the Triforce marks on the hands of Link and Zelda would show them that Zelda's story is true.

You think so? It always seemed to me that he got it that very moment. That's why the event is called "the divine prank" I think.

The divine prank, as I see it, is that Link involuntarily brought the Triforce with him into Hyrule when he entered the CT.

Originally Posted by Advance123

I think the reason they have a DT split is because the games that occur within that particular branch couldn't have possibly fit elsewhere. I have no in-game evidence of this, but that's what I think. I bet I could find some if I had the the patience to.

What that split means is that there's a possibility of a new branch for every Zelda game, a branch that appears with the theory of Link's death. So that means infinite Zelda games. That's reassurance for if anyone ever thinks that Zelda games can't continue in a proper story. Just kill Link, and suddenly 7 new games.

First of all, there's a number of ways you could fit the DT games into the other branches. Like DY said, for example, they can be placed before TWW.
Second, do you seriously believe that Nintendo would ever feel the need to kill Link in order to make a new game fit in? Even if Hyrule is completely destroyed in all time branches, it can easily be rebuilt by the goddesses and Link & co could be reborn into the new world.
No, it's highly unlikely that they will ever create another DT and that makes it painfully obvious that this was nothing more than a completely unnecessary cop-out. Aonuma is obviously dedicated to the Zelda series, but if you ask me, he shouldn't be put in charge of arranging timelines, because he'll only cause more problems than he solves.

Ohohoho, but if we had all agreed with Ocarinahero10's timeline, than maybe we wouldn't need a Decline Timeline...

Originally Posted by Kasuto

The divine prank, as I see it, is that Link involuntarily brought the Triforce with him into Hyrule when he entered the CT.

Not sure about that.

After Link was sent back in time he had the ToC with him to the past as well, meaning that in the past the Triforce was no longer in the the Sacred Realm. Thus allowing the Triforce of Power to find Ganondorf in the Child timeline without him knowing. I think the Sages calling it a "divine prank" was just a misconception on their part(though I wouldn't past NoA to mistranslate that)

But in terms of the Triforce mark, thanks to SS I think I thought of the answer. I think...

Basically, the mark appears to those destined by fate to have the potential of wielding the Triforce. That is if they don't already possess a piece of the Triforce already. Only thing I don't like about it is it could suggest that Ganondorf may also have been destined with the potential to wield it as well.

But I'm not sure because say if Ganondorf never existed and the Triforce separated, the ToP could possibly gone to someone else.

Originally Posted by Kasuto

First of all, there's a number of ways you could fit the DT games into the other branches. Like DY said, for example, they can be placed before TWW.
Second, do you seriously believe that Nintendo would ever feel the need to kill Link in order to make a new game fit in? Even if Hyrule is completely destroyed in all time branches, it can easily be rebuilt by the goddesses and Link & co could be reborn into the new world.
No, it's highly unlikely that they will ever create another DT and that makes it painfully obvious that this was nothing more than a completely unnecessary cop-out. Aonuma is obviously dedicated to the Zelda series, but if you ask me, he shouldn't be put in charge of arranging timelines, because he'll only cause more problems than he solves.

That was my reasoning. Surely it isn't just shoved in there for absolutely no reason?
They probably have tons and tons of stories, not told to us fans, up in Zelda HQ. If it's there for no reason then that's just a bit stupid, and that's why I think there is a reason for it. Perhaps the next Zelda game fits in just before ALttP that explains why this is so. That's just my guess, and my hope.

I hope so, too

keyaki: I don't see much difference between our interpretations of the "divine prank". I see it the way you see it - except that I think they were right in calling it a divine prank. Divine powers are behind it and it is kind of a prank of fate.

Originally Posted by Kasuto

HH contradicts Aonuma's earlier statements regarding this. He originally said that Link and Zelda chose to leave Ganondorf and the Sacred Realm alone. Years later, Ganondorf apparently did something outrageous that earned him a death sentence.

I thought his original statement was that Ganondorf’s arrest was a consequence of their talk, because the Royal Family was afraid that he might do something outrageous if left to his own devices.

The problem with this is that since Link has the ToC, Zelda and Ganondorf must have the ToW and ToP. Whenever one of those artifacts is near one of its siblings, they resonate. Everyone must've seen this happen! Even if Ganondorf was not present at the time, the Triforce marks on the hands of Link and Zelda would show them that Zelda's story is true.

Yes, that's pretty much my thoughts on this.

I thought his original statement was that Ganondorf’s arrest was a consequence of their talk, because the Royal Family was afraid that he might do something outrageous if left to his own devices.

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...

Timeline Quotes - Zelda Wiki

Originally Posted by The King of Red Lions

I'm saying it's not canon because I've yet to see evidence for the DT in any game. Link doesn't die during OoT.

It doesn't matter if Link doesn't die in game. It's an actual event in Hyrule's history. It's the history of ALttP.

The universe isn't solely the games. Unseen events happen, and what's not explain in games is explained in HH.

I'm not saying that HH is for sure false, but until it is backed by in game evidence I'm going to question it.

Well that's retarded. You're waiting for in game proof of something that cannot exist in game?

Originally Posted by Cayenne Pepper

It doesn't matter if Link doesn't die in game. It's an actual event in Hyrule's history. It's the history of ALttP.

The universe isn't solely the games. Unseen events happen, and what's not explain in games is explained in HH.



Well that's retarded. You're waiting for in game proof of something that cannot exist in game?

Well I'm sorry you think my opinion is retarded.

So you think that if I were to say that Earth collided with Mars last year, even though it was unseen, if I were to right it down it happened? Cause what's unseen is explained in writing, right?

And why can't they come up with a plausible way that Link died?

---------- Post added at 10:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:44 PM ----------

I know it's not exactly the same thing, but I fail to see your point. Plus you calling me retarded makes me just a little bit less inclined to agree with you.

Originally Posted by amladeus

The only real problem I have with the HH timeline is the Downfall Timeline. It seemed extremely uneeded to add an alternate scenario where Link dies. If they would explain why there is a DT maybe I wouldn't have such a problem. But you can't just say "well what if Link dies? oh, then there is a third timeline split!" Well, i geuss you can say that but it certainly doesn't fly with me.
Or maybe I should be happy they added the DT. Gives us something to theorize about.
Basically what I'm trying to say is, I'm not really sure what to think about HH just yet. My gut tells me to go with it because it is Aunoma approved but I'm still not sure.

Actually, it wasn't HH that decided the DT. Although, I will say that maybe they hadn't come up with Link's death idea until later. But when Aonuma wrote up Wind Waker, he knew it would create another scenario where there are two stories coming right after OoT. He basically replaced the old future time line, and had to come up with an explanation for it. But they've had the 2 future time lines for sometime, and way before HH was written.

Calling anyone or anyone's opinions retarded is an ignorant statement in itself. To be honest, any outsider reading in on these would think we're retarded but that's not the case. We are all inclined to our opinions, beliefs, hopes etc. And although you too are inclined to believe that another's statements are retarded it is a narrow minded view.