Where exactly in time does Link in Oot return to?

I already tried beating Ganon with my kokiri shield equipped last and the final cutscene still has Link wearing his HYLIAN SHIELD anyway. But I guess it just varies depending on the individual player then. Well....that only means that according to my own save file, Link returned to the Child Timeline after he met Zelda but before he pulled the MS from the pedestal.

I only used the Hylian Shield as a kid on Death Mountain and he had the Deku Shield at the end. I should probably point out that this is on the 1.1 cartridge. It is the first grey one that still has a lot of stuff from the 1.0 gold one (i.e. crescent moon/star symbol, chanting in Fire Temple, Ganondorf coughing up red blood, etc.)

the shield in the final cutscne is the last shield you had equipped as a child, not as an adult.

Since canonical in game evidence shows that the DOT was already opened, I always assumed OOT Link came back to a time after he already met Zelda but before he pulled the MS from the pedestal. Not to mention that I acquired the Hylian Shield AFTER Link met Zelda the first time and the final cutscene when he returns to the Child Timeline at the end shows Link wearing his Hylian Shield.

It's impossible for that to be the case, because by that point Ganondorf would have attacked the castle, and Zelda would have fled. She's in the courtyard in the final cutscene so she obviously didn't.

I have no idea when Link returned, but I don't think possession of the Hylian Shield is counter evidence to the theory he returned to before meeting Zelda. Every other time you travel backwards in time, you hang on to everything you obtained in the future (golden skeleta, medallions, deku nuts, rupees, heart peaces/containers, etc). Why should the last time be any different? Even if you were sent to before your first meeting with Zelda, why wouldn't you have the Hylian shield still?

I want to think you are sent back to right before you pull the sword, but I don't know how to reconcile the fact that Zelda's still in the court yard.

Originally Posted by jjmc85

but I don't think possession of the Hylian Shield is counter evidence to the theory he returned to before meeting Zelda.

thats true, since Link could have made a quick stop at Kakariko graveyard getting the Hylian Shield there, before heading into the Castle to speak with Zelda for the first time.

Originally Posted by JoGoron

the shield in the final cutscne is the last shield you had equipped as a child, not as an adult.

It's impossible for that to be the case, because by that point Ganondorf would have attacked the castle, and Zelda would have fled. She's in the courtyard in the final cutscene so she obviously didn't.

So...that is a moot argument since I purchased the Hylian Shield after Link met Zelda for the first time anyway. Therefore, Link came back at a time AFTER he met Zelda and before he pulled the MS.

The Goron Bracelet has more weight as evidence, hence Link watches his arms and it shows that he noticed that he lacks the bracelet. Therefore he returned to the point before he is going to purchaise the two other stones and the first meeting with Zelda, hence Zelda reacts in the same way like before.

Then how do you explain why the DOT is already opened without resorting to silly fanfic theories?? Game over my good friend Thanatos Zero.

Easy, Zelda(adult) powers, it was the probably last thing she could of done before the Timeline completely split.

What POWERS??? She played Zelda's lullaby and not the Song of Time, so that proves she did not open the DOT period, because it was already opened. C'mon I need better fanfic crap than this to convince me otherwise.

Oh? so the fact that she can have prophetic dreams doesn't count? or opening the doors in Ganons castle without playing any piece of music was from saying Please open sesame?

Fine. During her play of Zelda's Lullaby, she had the power to control time(she sent Link back in time, just try to disprove that!) not only that but she used those time altering powers to bring the Door of Time to a time period of when it was open, and then back to when it was close.

Ganonslayer2000, you forgot one thing, that the temple of time itself is a timetravelling devise, as it has shown to us in Twilight Princess. Anyway it is still fact that Link and Zelda take a different path on dealing Ganondorf, by doing nothing.

Originally Posted by Ganonslayer2000

What POWERS??? She played Zelda's lullaby and not the Song of Time, so that proves she did not open the DOT period, because it was already opened. C'mon I need better fanfic crap than this to convince me otherwise.

I think the Goron's Bracelet's absence is much better evidence than the Door of Time being closed, seeing as we don't even get a view of the door.

Originally Posted by ZeldaZealot

Easy, Zelda(adult) powers, it was the probably last thing she could of done before the Timeline completely split.

I'm...not sure that's very plausible.

Then how can you explain to me why Zelda was surprise and doesnt relax at all when Link goes off to see her?

Everytime you go off to see her, before Ganon chased her out of the Castle she is not surprised at all.

Originally Posted by Thanatos-Zero

Anyway it is still fact that Link and Zelda take a different path on dealing Ganondorf, by doing nothing.

I agree on this 100%. But whether Link came back before or after he met Zelda the first time makes no difference on this issue.

Originally Posted by Bingo675

I think the Goron's Bracelet's absence is much better evidence than the Door of Time being closed, seeing as we don't even get a view of the door.

The door of time is viewed as being already opened in the cutscene itself.

Originally Posted by ZeldaZealot

Oh? so the fact that she can have prophetic dreams doesn't count? or opening the doors in Ganons castle without playing any piece of music was from saying Please open sesame?

Fine. During her play of Zelda's Lullaby, she had the power to control time(she sent Link back in time, just try to disprove that!) not only that but she used those time altering powers to bring the Door of Time to a time period of when it was open, and then back to when it was close.

Prophetic dreams proves nothing, and its pretty clear by IN GAME evidence of the DOT being already opened, that Adult Timeline Zelda sent Link to a time after he met her the first time anyway. Now I want proof not bad fanfic as a counter argument please.

EDIT: Then how do you explain Link now having the HYLIAN SHIELD, NO FAIRY, AND THE TOC on his hand at the end cutscene??

Originally Posted by Ganonslayer2000

The door of time is viewed as being already opened in the cutscene itself.

Then if the Door of Time was opened because of Link's doing, why has Zelda not fled with Impa yet?

Zelda and Impa probably managed to evade Ganon and return to the castle safely. Simple just like that. Remember...IN GAME evidence shows the DOT ALREADY opened.

Originally Posted by Ganonslayer2000

Then how do you explain Link now having the HYLIAN SHIELD, NO FAIRY, AND THE TOC on his hand at the end cutscene??

Link could of made a quick stop at Kakariko, getting the Hylian shield at the graveyard before heading off to the Castle, no Navi, lol, Navi flew away right after you was sent back into the past, before the Door of Time closed, and how is the TOC relevant? Tell me how do you think he got it?

The TOC is right there on his hand in the cutscene. What more proof do you need?? And I already stated that I purposely obtained the HYLIAN SHIELD AFTER Link met Zelda the first time. Your fanfic theory is irrelevant in this discussion.

Originally Posted by Ganonslayer2000

Zelda and Impa probably managed to evade Ganon and return to the castle safely. Simple just like that. Remember...IN GAME evidence shows the DOT ALREADY opened.

It does. But the developers also chose to remove the Goron Bracelet for some reason. In addition, although we see the Door of Time open, unless I'm mistaken (which I very well may be), I cannot see the Spiritual Stones resting before the Door of Time.

Also, I'm going to add, I find it unlikely that Zelda would be standing in the same exact spot, staring into a window looking at nothing, if Ganondorf weren't there.

Try to be open-minded, bud.