THE LEGEND OF ZELDA

3-TIMELINE EXPLANATION

THEORY #1: THE MAIN OR ORIGINAL TIMELINE IS THE DEFEATED TIMELINE

In A Link to the Past, the Seven Sages, together with the Hylian Knights, were the ones who defeated and sealed Ganon in the Dark World (Imprisoning War).

In Ocarina of Time, Link was the one who defeated Ganon. Since Nintendo made Ocarina of Time as a prequel to A Link to the Past, then how could they explain this discrepancy in history?

Since there was no mention of a “Hero” in A Link to the Past (obviously, since it was made before Ocarina of Time), Nintendo concluded that the “Hero” must have been defeated in Ocarina of Time. This way, the history of A Link to the Past (and all succeeding games in the timeline) is preserved.

The Defeated Timeline is the main timeline. It did not “branch out“ from the timeline, rather, it is the Main Branch.

THEORY #2: THE DEFEATED TIMELINE WAS CREATED TO PRESERVE THE HISTORY OF A LINK TO THE PAST

Why would Nintendo create a game where Link will be defeated by Ganon? But, if Link defeats Ganon in Ocarina of Time, then the history of A Link to the Past will change (thus, making the game non-canon).

So the main reason the Defeated Timeline was introduced is to prevent any changes in the history of A Link to the Past.

So, how was Link defeated in Ocarina of Time?

In the game, after Link pulled the Master Sword from the Pedestal of Time, Ganon suddenly appeared. Notice that the background was all white. This could be a foreshadowing that Link (child) will face Ganon, and will be subsequently defeated.

This was also hinted on by the Sage Rauru when he said that Link is not ready yet to be the Hero of Time. Hence, one can conclude that if Link faces Ganon as a child, he will surely be defeated. It seems that this is what happened in the Original Timeline (Defeated Timeline).

Of course, Link will defeat Ganon. But Nintendo has to find a way for Link to defeat him in a way that the history of A Link to the Past will not change.

Enter the Timeline Splits!

THEORY #3: THE ACTIONS OF THE SAGES CREATED THE TIMELINE SPLITS

The first timeline split was created when the Sage RauruSealed Link in the Sacred Realm for 7 years.

In the original timeline, Rauru did not interfere, hence ChildLink was defeated by Ganon.

Remember that Ocarina of Time was created as the “history”of A Link to the Past. That means that all the events in Ocarinaof Time has already happened. It’s all in the past. Link hastaken the Master Sword, faced Ganon, and was defeated.

So when Rauru interfered , you could say that he changed the past. Instead of letting Link face Ganon after taking the Master Sword, he kept him in the Chamber of the Sages instead for 7 years.

This created a timeline split(so that the history of A Link to the Past will not change). This is the Adult Timeline.

The second timeline split was also caused by a Sage. This time it was Zelda.

After Link defeated Ganon in the Adult Timeline. Zelda sents Link back to the time before the first timeline split. The Child Link was able to warn Child Zelda about Ganon, so the Defeated Timeline and the Adult Timeline did not happen. This resulted in another timeline split, the Child Timeline. This way, the history of A Link to the Past and the events of Ocarina of Time were not altered.

THEORY #4: USING THE MASTER SWORD WILL ONLY ALLOW YOU TO TRAVEL ON YOUR CURRENT TIMELINE. IT DOES NOT CREATE SPLIT TIMELINES.

When Link travels back and forth in time using the Master Sword, he was onlytravelling on the newly created timeline, the Adult Timeline.

If you notice, whenever Child Links takes the Master Sword (to travel 7 years in the future), the scene where Ganon arrives is no longer played. That means he is no longer In that timeline (Defeated Timeline).

That’s it! Remember, this is just my opinion, nothing more.I hope it made sense.

Thanks!