Dark Rites

"The Flames of Sorrow and Destruction burn brightly! Only the Flame of Despair remains! Eee hee hee hee! When the three flames are lit, we will offer the sacrifice and complete the Dark Rites. Then the Evil King shall return!"

- Twinrova

The Dark Rites is an evil method of reincarnation featured in the Oracle Series. When the three sinister Flames of Sorrow, Destruction, and Despair are lit, and the blood of the holy sacrifice is sprinkled over the ashes of one who is deceased, the deceased one will be revived. Koume and Kotake use this method to revive Ganon in the Room of Rites.

Flame of Sorrow
The Flame of Sorrow is lit in by Veran, Sorceress of Shadows, when she used Nayru's powers to travel back in time 400 years and create an "Age of Darkness", making the citizens of Lynna Village suffer by working endlessly on Queen Ambi's Black Tower. Although Veran is defeated by Link and Nayru is saved, the sorrow of the people of Queen Ambi's age reaches Twinrova, igniting the Flame of Sorrow.

Flame of Destruction
The Flame of Destruction is lit in when Onox throws the seasons of Holodrum into chaos by kidnapping Din and sinking the Temple of Seasons into Subrosia. Despite the fact that Onox is defeated by Link, the damage caused to the land of Holodrum and Subrosia is enough to accomplish Twinrova's plan to light up the Flame of Destruction.

Flame of Despair
The final flame, the Flame of Despair, is lit when Twinrova capture Princess Zelda. At the loss of the princess, the voice of hope of the land, the people of Labrynna and Holodrum are stricken with despair, causing the Flame of Despair to light. However, Link is able to rescue the princess before she is sacrificed, foiling Twinrova's plan. After the evil witches are defeated by Link, Koume and Kotake sacrifice themselves instead to revive Ganon, but since they were the sacrifice instead of Princess Zelda, a mindless form of the King of Evil is revived, allowing the young hero to easily defeat him.

Trivia

 * The affinities of the three flames represent a twisting of the virtues of the Triforce that are associated with the goddesses the oracles are named for. Specifically, the Flame of Destruction is lit by Din, the Flame of Sorrow by Nayru, and the Flame of Despair lights in a linked game in which secrets are transferred by Farore. Thus, Destruction parallels Power, Sorrow parallels Wisdom, and Despair parallels Courage. The three Flames also appear in a triangular formation similar to the Triforce.