FSA: Between OoT and ALttP? Explanations and Guesswork

[Casual Matt]

First of all, let me clear a little something out of the way here. I do consider the events of Ocarina of Time to be the Imprisoning War. Ergo, I believe that A Link to the Past follows afterwards, with Ganon still sealed in the Dark World, making it nigh impossible for games featuring Ganon to take place between these two games.

Also, I very much consider the Dark World in Four Swords Adventures to be the same Dark World in A Link to the Past, simply because it seems like the simplest assumption, and I like to keep the timeline as simple as I possibly can. (Not an easy feat, really).

If you disagree with the above two points, you will probably disagree with my theory in general. Ye have been warned.

Anyway, I think the biggest tip off that FSA is between OoT and ALttP is that it's the only time the Dark World exists. The Sacred Realm becomes the Dark World when Ganon wishes on the Triforce in Ocarina of Time, and changes back when Link wishes so in A Link to the Past. Honestly, if you consider it to be the same Dark World, like I do, you pretty much have to put FSA somewhere between OoT and ALttP no matter where you place the other games.

So assuming you agreed with my first two points, that's essentially the proof. What I intend to do now is try to explain how this can work with Ganon in the Dark World but appearing in FSA.

Most people like to bring up the possibility of FSA Ganondorf being OoT Ganondorf reborn. My take on this is little more than a shot in the dark, but hear me out. What if the male Gerudo was born (as one is every 100 years), but was possessed by Ganon just like Agahnim was in ALttP.

The fact that it happened with Agahnim proves it's possible. Except where it's unclear whether Agahnim was still his own individual, I think that Ganon took complete control over the Gerudo that became FSA Ganondorf and used his body to gather his dark forces, steal the trident, steal the Dark Mirror, etc. I'm assuming this body was just discarded when it's usefulness was used up.

Now that's pretty much guesswork, which I usually hate, but it's just one idea to how Ganon existed in human Ganondorf form in FSA. This next part of my theory actually has evidence. I promise.

The next question to arise is how Ganon himself escaped from the Dark World. It's obvious he did somehow as we face Ganon with his full power (and a fancy new trident) in the Palace of the Winds. Well, don't forget that in ALttP, Ganon tried to escape by using the power of the Seven Maidens. They were the descendants of the Seven Sages, so their life force could allow him to escape.

Now, in FSA, there was a time where Ganon had all Seven (albeit different) Maidens captured and trapped in these weird dark energy things. I'd say it's likely the FSA Maidens carry the same bloodlines of the OoT Sages and ALttP Maidens. If so, then that means Ganon could have used their power to allow him to escape the Dark World.

Of course there's the whole ending where Ganon gets sealed inside the Four Sword, but didn't somebody point out that the Four Sword can be found broken in the Dark World in the ALttP remake? The very fact that it's broken not only demands that FSA take place before ALttP, but explains why Ganon is in the Dark World once again. At some point, the Four Sword must have been moved to the Dark World, and sometime after, Ganon broke free only to find himself again in the Dark World, setting up for ALttP.

And of course there's always the detail that Ganon has the trident in ALttP.

Now, in retrospect, it's probably pretty obvious that FSA is before ALttP. Even if you don't subscribe to the same Dark World theory, the broken Four Sword is the ultimate proof. I just wanted to shed some light on how the finer details connecting the games might be possible, and express my opinion that it is indeed the same Ganon in OoT, FSA, and ALttP.

Now, while I obviously don't expect everybody to agree with what I've said, I do thank anybody who took the time to read it. As always, I just hope I've been able to shed some light on a few things, and maybe open up a few minds to some new ways of looking at things.

[Mr. Lexxi Aileron]

Firstly, Agahnim is Ganon's alter-ego. In the Japanese, this word more closely translates to "clone." In other words, Ganon becomes Agahnim. In Phantom Hourglass, the same word is used to describe either the Ocean King's human form or Ciela's double, I forget which, and is said to be how s/he was able to escape from his/her seal. Going by Ciela's example, her alter-ego is created when she splits her soul, and splitting her soul allows part of her to escape the seal. It is most likely that this is what Agahnim is to Ganon; a fragment of his soul.

Secondly, if we liberally employ the idea of splitting souls to many of Ganon's great escapes, we can explain a number of otherwise unexplained phenomena. He could have escaped the sages' seal prior to TWW by splitting his soul. (We see that he somehow created a portal to escape the flood seal, so there's no need to explain that.) Heck, his soul could have survived his human body's death in TWW to survive on to the later games (specifically LoZ), where it is then destroyed, revived, and hunts the Triforce again in ALttP (if you follow my order).

[dallascowboy927]

My timeline has WW-LoZ-AoL-OoX-TMC-FS-FSA-ALttP, him escaping the seal in WW, plus the fact that the IW (or more accurately the seal war) happens only in the adult timeline, i fully support. However, im not sure at all about the Dark World's nature in FSA, i really dont lean either way to any direction about it, im trying to make time to play back through it to check it out, but it is a possibility.

[bitterlime]

Originally Posted by Mr. Lexxi Aileron

Firstly, Agahnim is Ganon's alter-ego. In the Japanese, this word more closely translates to "clone." In other words, Ganon becomes Agahnim. In Phantom Hourglass, the same word is used to describe either the Ocean King's human form or Ciela's double, I forget which, and is said to be how s/he was able to escape from his/her seal. Going by Ciela's example, her alter-ego is created when she splits her soul, and splitting her soul allows part of her to escape the seal. It is most likely that this is what Agahnim is to Ganon; a fragment of his soul.

Is it "bunshin"?
And yes PH talks about Ciela splitting her soul. Aghanim is most likley something similar.

[Erimgard]

Originally Posted by bitterlime

Is it "bunshin"?
And yes PH talks about Ciela splitting her soul. Aghanim is most likley something similar.

Pretty sure that's correct, yes.
It's the same word used for Ciela.

I too believe that FSA comes in between OoT and aLttP, and I share the same timeline with Dallas.

OoT is the Seal War in my mind, but there's no need for a direct progression from the Seal War to aLttP.
It's stated to have happened long ago, and WW clearly comes after OoT.