Zelda Timeline: Difference between revisions

[[File:E Timeline.png|thumb|right|x300px|The timeline shown on page 10 of {{E|-}}]]

The beginning of the timeline encompasses the events of {{SS}}, the backstory of {{TotK}}, {{TMC}}, {{FS}}, and {{OoT}}, in that order.

{{Main|Creation of the World}}

Before time began, the three [[Golden Goddesses]] descended upon the chaos that was [[Hyrule]].<ref>{{Cite|Before time began, before spirits and life existed... Three golden goddesses descended upon the chaos that was Hyrule... Din, the goddess of power... Nayru, the goddess of wisdom... Farore, the goddess of courage... Din... With her strong flaming arms, she cultivated the land and created the red earth. Nayru... Poured her wisdom onto the earth and gave the spirit of law to the world. Farore... With her rich soul, produced all life forms who would uphold the law.|Great Deku Tree|OoT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Manual|quote=Before life began, before the world had form, three Golden Goddesses descended upon the chaotic land of Hyrule. They were Din, the Goddess of Power, Nayru, the Goddess of Wisdom and Farore, the Goddess of Courage.|game= OoT|page=5}}</ref> [[Din (Goddess)|Din]], the Goddess of Power, created the earth.<ref>{{Cite Manual|quote=Din, with her strong flaming arms, cultivated the land to create the earth.|game= OoT|page=5}}</ref> [[Nayru]], the Goddess of Wisdom, bestowed order upon the world.<ref>{{Cite Manual|quote=Nayru poured her wisdom onto the earth to give the spirit of law to the world.|game= OoT|page=5}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Manual|quote=The God of Wisdom created science and wizardry and brought order to nature.|game= ALttP|page=3}}</ref> [[Farore (Goddess)|Farore]], the Goddess of Courage, created life.<ref>{{Cite Manual|quote=Farore's rich soul created all life forms who would uphold the law.|game= OoT|page=5}}</ref>

Their labor complete, the goddesses departed for the heavens. They left behind the [[Triforce]], an all-powerful artifact which would grant its holder their heart's desire.<ref>{{Cite Manual|quote=After the gods had finished their work, they left the world, but not before creating a symbol of their strength, a golden triangle known as the Triforce. A small but powerful portion of the essence of the gods was held in this mighty artifact, which was to guide the intelligent life on the world of Hyrule.|game= ALttP|page=3}}</ref>

{{Main|Ancient Battle}}

The Triforce was entrusted to the goddess [[Hylia]] during the '''Era of Hylia''',<ref>{{Cite Book|book= E |publisher=  |page= 12}}</ref> known more fully as the '''Era of the Goddess Hylia'''.<ref>{{Cite Book|book= E |publisher=  |page= 76}}</ref>  

Hylia rallied the remaining land dwellers, fought back the evil forces led by Demise, and sealed them away.<ref>{{Cite|With the humans safe, the goddess joined forces with the land dwellers and fought the evil forces, sealing them away. At last, peace was restored to the surface.|N/A|SS}}</ref> She suffered grave injuries in the battle. Knowing the seal on Demise would not hold, she devised a plan.<ref>{{Cite|However, soon after the demon king was imprisoned, it became clear that the seal would not hold long against his fearsome power. Hylia had suffered grave injuries in her battle with the demon king.|Zelda|SS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|She knew that if he broke free again, there would be no stopping him. And if the demon king were to free himself, it would mean the end of the world for all beings of this land. In order to put an end to the demon king, Hylia devised two separate plans and set them both into motion.|Zelda|SS}}</ref> As the Triforce could not be wielded by a god, Hylia renounced divinity and transferred her soul to the body of a mortal who would come of age when Demise returned.<ref>{{Cite|Her second plan...was to abandon her divine form and transfer her soul to the body of a mortal. ...She made this sacrifice, as you have likely guessed, so that the supreme power created by the old gods could one day be used. For while the supreme power of the Triforce was created by gods, all of its power can never be wielded by one.|Zelda|SS}}</ref> She created the [[Goddess Sword]] and the spirit [[Fi]] to aid her chosen hero, who would reveal himself when he drew the sword from its pedestal.<ref>{{Cite|First, she created {{Color|SS Blue|Fi}}. She made the spirit that resides in your sword to serve a single purpose: to assist her {{Color|SS Red|chosen hero}} on his mission.|Zelda|SS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|I've had my suspicions, but until now I wasn't sure. Yet here we are in the Chamber of the Sword, the very place where it was foretold the youth of legend would one day appear. It is said that this place was left to our people by the goddess herself. The very knowledge of this room's existence is a secret passed down to a  select few each generation, along with a handful of words... When the light of the goddess's sword shines bright, the great apocalypse will wake from its long slumber. Do not fear, for it is then that a youth, guided by my hand, shall reveal himself in a place most sacred.|Gaepora|SS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|The youth who draws forth the guiding sword shall be known as the goddess's chosen hero, and it is he who possesses an unbreakable spirit.|Fi|SS}}</ref>

{{Main|The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword}}

Thousands of years later,<ref name="HH 69">{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page= 69}}</ref> during the '''{{Section|Sky Era}}''',<ref name="HH 72">{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page= 72}}</ref> Hylia is reborn as [[Zelda]] in [[Skyloft]].<ref name="HH 73">{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page= 73}}</ref> On the day of the 25th annual [[Wing Ceremony]], she is taken down to the {{Term|SS|Surface|link}} in a tornado created by {{Term|SS|Ghirahim|link}},<ref>{{Cite|The day of the ceremony, Ghirahim's tornado tossed me out of the sky and down to the world below.|Zelda|SS}}</ref> who attempts to have her kidnapped to revive his master {{Term|SS|Demise|link}}.<ref>{{Cite|I MUST have the spirit maiden in order to resurrect my master!|Ghirahim|SS}}</ref> {{Term|SS|Zelda}} is rescued from his minions by {{Term|SS|Impa|link}},<ref>{{Cite|I was nearly captured by the demonic forces, but I was rescued at the last moment by the old woman who lives in the Sealed Grounds.|Zelda|SS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|I heard my underlings had finally captured the spirit maiden, so of course I rushed over here. What can I say? I was excited. Flustered, even... But what did I find when I arrived? That agent of the goddess... She had once again... You see, what I'm trying to say is... That goddess-serving dog escaped with the girl!|Ghirahim|SS}}</ref><ref name="HH 74">{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page= 74}}</ref> whom Hylia had sent through time to help her mortal self.<ref>{{Cite|Zelda, at the command of the goddess, I passed through the Gate of Time. I did so to protect you and aid the fight to prevent the world's destruction.|Impa|SS}}</ref>

Zelda ([[Hylia]] reincarnate), Link, and others from [[Skyloft]] repopulated the surface world. Their descendants became known as [[Hylian]]s.{{Note|According to {{HH}}, the Hylians are the descendants of Hylia.<ref name="HH 77">{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page= 77}}</ref> However {{E}} states that Hylia lived ''among'' the Hylians.<ref>{{Cite Book|quote= |book= E |publisher= |page= 14}}</ref> In {{SS}}, the people of Skyloft are only ever referred to as humans.}} During this time, the land was named [[Hyrule]].<ref name="HH 77"/>

{{Main|Battle for the Sacred Realm}}

After many years of peace in Hyrule, word spread of the supreme power of the Triforce. War engulfed the land, heralding the '''{{Section|Era of Chaos}}'''.<ref name="HH 69"/><ref name="HH 77"/> In particular, a group of powerful sorcerers known as the [[Interlopers]] sought dominion over the Sacred Realm, where the Triforce was located. The goddesses sent the [[Spirits of Light]] to banish them to the [[Twilight Realm]].<ref>{{Cite Book|quote= |book= E |publisher= |page= 11}}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page=113}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|For ages, the people lived at ease, content in mind and body... But soon, word of the Sacred Realm spread through Hyrule, and a great battle ensued... Among those living in the light, interlopers who excelled at magic appeared. Wielding powerful sorcery, they tried to establish dominion over the Sacred Realm. It was then that the goddesses ordered us three light spirits to intervene. We sealed away the great magic those individuals had mastered.|Lanayru (Spirit)|TP}}</ref> To protect the Triforce, the sage [[Rauru]] built a new [[Temple of Time]] at the location of the Sealed Temple, around the pedestal holding the Master Sword — the location of the only entrance to the Sacred Realm.<ref>{{Cite Book|quote= Borrowing the name of the legend, Rauru constructed the new Temple of Time on the ruins of the Sealed Temple, and made the Master Sword a key for passage into the Sacred Realm. Since only someone worthy could pull the sword from the pedestal, it would keep those unworthy of the Triforce from entering the Sacred Realm.|book= E |publisher= |page= 25}}</ref> He placed the Triforce in the [[Temple of Light]] and sealed off the Sacred Realm with him inside it in an event called {{Term|Series|Sealing the Sacred Realm|link}}. The Master Sword became the key that joined the Temple of Time to the Temple of Light. It was closed behind the [[Door of Time]].<ref name="HH 77"/><ref name="E 24">{{Cite Book|quote= |book= E |page= 24}}</ref>

{{Main|Founding of the Kingdom of Hyrule}}

{{Main|Minish Legend}}

[[File:TMC Stained Glass Hero of Men Artwork 2.png|thumb|right|200px|The Legend of the Hero of Men]]

During the '''{{Section|Force Era}}''', Hyrule was attacked by evil beings.<ref name="HH 78">{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page= 78}}</ref> The [[Minish]], known to the Hylians as Picori, descended from the sky to save Hyrule. They brought the [[Picori Blade]] and the [[Light Force]] to the [[Hero of Men]].<ref>{{Cite|The tiny Picori appeared from the sky, bringing the hero of men a sword and a golden light. With wisdom and courage, the hero drove out the darkness.|N/A|TMC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|Long, long ago, and then even longer before that...Evil creatures appeared in the world of humans. They were powerful, frightening beasts, and they created such trouble! But then the Picori came from the sky, bringing humans powerful magic. With the magic light force and the Picori Blade, the beasts were repelled. And the world of humans once more knew peace, thanks to the Picori.|Marshall|TMC}}</ref> The Hero sealed the evil beings in the [[Bound Chest]] and locked it with the Picori Blade.<ref>{{Cite|Do you know about that sword, Link? It is called the Picori Blade, and it locks much evil away in that chest.|Minister Potho|TMC}}</ref> To commemorate the event, a [[Picori Festival]] was held once a year.<ref name="HH 78"/> During the festival, the champion of a sword-fighting tournament would earn the right to touch the Picori Blade.<ref>{{Cite|Whoever wins the competition earns the honor of touching the sacred blade.|Minister Potho|TMC}}</ref>

{{Main|The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap}}

On the hundredth anniversary of the [[Picori Festival]], a corrupted, power-seeking [[Minish]] named [[Vaati]] wins the sword-fighting tournament. During the award ceremony, Vaati breaks the [[Picori Blade]] and opens the [[Bound Chest]], hoping to find the {{Term|TMC|Light Force|link}}. This unleashes evil onto the Hyrule. He turns Zelda to stone and later kidnaps her when he discovers the Light Force is within her. He uses the Light Force to transform into a [[Vaati's Wrath|winged demon]].

[[Link]], a blacksmith's apprentice and Zelda's friend, is enlisted by [[King Daltus]] to have the Picori Blade reforged so it can break the curse on Zelda. He teams up with [[Ezlo]], a Minish sage and Vaati's former mentor—Vaati had gained his power when he stole the [[Mage's Cap]] from Ezlo. With the help of {{Term|TMC|Ezlo}} and other {{Term|TMC|Minish}}, Link reforges the Picori Blade and infuses it with the {{Term|TMC|Four Elements|link}} to create the {{Term|TMC|Four Sword|link}}. With it in hand, {{Term|TMC|Link}} vanquishes {{Term|TMC|Vaati}}, breaking the curse on {{Term|TMC|Princess Zelda}}. Zelda uses the {{Term|TMC|Mage's Cap|link}} to wish Hyrule back to normal.

{{Main|The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords}}

Vaati was presumed dead, but soon reappeared. Having no memory of his previous life as a Minish, he declared himself Wind Mage and claimed the [[Palace of Winds]].<ref>{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page= 82}}</ref> He brought terror to the land by kidnapping young maidens. A Hero appeared carrying the [[Four Sword]]. He sealed the demon inside the sword, which was then enshrined in the [[Four Sword Sanctuary]].<ref>{{Cite|Vaati terrorized the people of Hyrule and kidnapped many beautiful girls from their homes. When all hope seemed lost, a young boy carrying little more than a sword appeared. According to the legends, when the boy drew his sword, he split into four, the four-who-are-one worked together to vanquish Vaati. The hero used his sword to bind Vaati in a remote area of Hyrule. The people christened the blade the Four Sword and built a shrine around it. There it remained undisturbed for many years.|N/A|FSA}}</ref>

Generations later, [[Vaati]] the Wind Mage breaks free and kidnaps [[Princess Zelda]], taking her to the [[Palace of Winds]]. [[Link]], who witnessed the kidnapping, draws the [[Four Sword]] and is split into four [[Links]]. The Links gather three keys to [[Vaati's Palace]] from the [[Great Fairy|Great Fairies]] in the [[Sea of Trees]], [[Talus Cave]], and [[Death Mountain]]. The Links defeat Vaati in his palace and rescue Princess Zelda. The Wind Mage is once again sealed in the Four Sword, which is returned to its pedestal. Link regains his original form.<ref>{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page= 83}}</ref>

[[File:OoT Pedestal of Time Artwork.png|thumb|right|200px|Link draws the [[Master Sword]] from the [[Pedestal of Time]]]]

Hyrule enters a long period of [[Hyrulean Civil War|civil war]]. During the war, a dying [[Link's Mother|Hylian woman]] flees to the [[Kokiri Forest]] and entrusts her baby boy {{Term|OoT|Link|link}} to the [[Great Deku Tree]]. The boy is raised as a [[Kokiri]].<ref>{{Cite|Some time ago, before the King of Hyrule unified this country, there was a fierce war in our world. One day, to escape from the fires of the war, a Hylian mother and her baby boy entered this forbidden forest. The mother was gravely injured... Her only choice was to entrust the child to the Deku Tree, the guardian spirit of the forest. The Deku Tree could sense that this was a child of destiny, whose fate would affect the entire world, so he took him into the forest. After the mother passed away, the baby was raised as a Kokiri.|Deku Tree Sprout|OoT}}</ref> Eventually, the [[King of Hyrule]] ends the war and unifies the kingdom.<ref name="HH 84">{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page= 84}}</ref>

{{Main|The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time}}

{{Term|OoT|Ganondorf|link}}, leader of the {{Plural|OoT|Gerudo|link}}, openly swears fealty to the king, but plots to open the {{Term|OoT|Door of Time|link}} to obtain the {{Term|OoT|Triforce|link}}. To that end, he curses the Great Deku Tree in an attempt to wrest from him the [[Kokiri's Emerald]]. With his dying breath, the Great Deku Tree sets {{Term|OoT|Link}} and the fairy {{Term|OoT|Navi|link}} on a quest to stop {{Term|OoT|Ganondorf}}.<ref>{{Cite|Thou must never allow the desert man in black armor to lay his hands on the sacred Triforce... Thou must never suffer that man, with his evil heart, to enter the Sacred Realm of legend... That evil man who cast the death curse upon me and sapped my power... Because of that curse, my end is nigh... Though your valiant efforts to break the curse were successful, I was doomed before you started... Yes, I will pass away soon... But do not grieve for me... I have been able to tell you of these important matters... This is Hyrule's final hope...|Great Deku Tree|OoT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|Link... Go now to Hyrule Castle... There, thou will surely meet the Princess of Destiny... Take this stone with you. The stone that man wanted so much, that he cast the curse on me...|Great Deku Tree|OoT}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|The future depends upon thee, Link... Thou art courageous... Navi the fairy... Help Link to carry out my will...|Great Deku Tree|OoT}}</ref>

The timeline splits into three branches after {{OoT|-}}.<ref name="HH 69"/> The [[#Fallen Hero Timeline|Fallen Hero Timeline]] is a branch in which Ganon defeats the Hero of Time. The branch where Link defeats Ganon is itself split in two when Zelda sends Link back in time to childhood. The [[#Child Timeline|Child Timeline]] is the branch that follows Link back to his own time. The [[#Adult Timeline|Adult Timeline]] is the branch where the Hero of Time has disappeared from the world. Inexplicably, the [[Master Sword]] exists in both branches. In the Child Timeline, Link returns it to the Pedestal of Time. In the Adult Timeline, Zelda does it.<ref name="HH 122">{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page= 122}}</ref>

This timeline branch contains the events of {{ALttP}}, {{LA}}, {{OoS}} and {{OoA}}, {{ALBW}}, {{TFH}}, {{TLoZ}}, and {{TAoL}}.

{{Main|Imprisoning War}}

After a brief time of peace, the doorway to the Sacred Realm re-opened.{{Note|According to the original SNES manual of {{ALttP|-}}, the Sacred Realm is opened accidentally by a gang of thieves led by Ganondorf. He kills them and takes the Triforce—it is then that the Sacred Realm becomes the Dark World.<ref name="ALttP Manual 5">{{Cite Manual|quote=|game=ALttP|page=5}}</ref> This latter story is inconsistent with {{OoT|-}} and was omitted from the manual for {{ALttP&FS}}.}}  

People fought each other to claim the Triforce, but none who entered the Sacred Realm returned. Instead came forth an army of Ganon's demons.{{Note|It is unclear whether this demon army originated from the Dark Realm, or whether it consists of people who entered the Sacred Realm and were then corrupted by it. The original {{ALttP|-}} manual—again inconsistent with all other accounts—states that greedy Hyruleans were drawn to the Sacred Realm to become members of Ganon's army.<ref name="ALttP Manual 5"/>}}  

{{Tone|Story}}

{{Main|The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past}}

{{Image

|caption=Link, in {{ALttP}}

}}

Once trapped in the Dark World, Link could use the [[Magic Mirror]] to travel back and forth between worlds and rescue the maidens who were trapped in the Dark World palaces. During his adventures, Link learned that Agahnim was merely Ganon's pawn. He climbed Ganon's Tower and met Agahnim at the top. Link defeated Agahnim once more, but then saw Ganon rise out of Agahnim's crumpled body. Agahnim was in fact Ganon's alter ego.<ref>{{Cite|It's unbelievable that you defeated my alter ego, Agahnim the Dark Wizard, twice!|Ganon|ALttP}}</ref> Ganon then fled to the [[Pyramid of Power]] in the center of the Dark World, with Link in hot pursuit. They faced off in one final battle, with Link emerging victorious. Following Ganon's defeat, he found the Triforce within the Pyramid of Power, whereupon it spoke to him. He touched it, and his wish restored Hyrule to peace. The king and Link's uncle returned to life, and the Triforce once again rested in the hands of Hyrule’s royal family.<ref>{{Cite Book|quote=Ganon, in the form of a giant demonic beast, pressed his attack, wielding dark magic and a three-pronged trident. Link, evading the power of darkness, succeeded in destroying him. The Hero laid his hands on the Triforce and wished for peace to return to the world. The people who had been sacrificed, including Link's uncle and the king of Hyrule, were also restored to good health. The Triforce once again rested in the hands of Hyrule's royal family. With Ganon suppressed, the Dark World that had been born of his wicked heart gradually faded away|book=HH|page=97|publisher=Dark Horse Books}}</ref>

{{Main|The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening}}

After defeating Ganon, Link embarked on a journey of training in preparation for new disasters. On his sea voyage back to Hyrule, Link ran into a terrible storm. The waves and winds overpowered his boat and sunk it. Link awoke, washed ashore on an island known as [[Koholint]]. He was rescued by [[Marin]], a young woman who bore a striking resemblance to Princess Zelda. Upon his attempts to leave the island, its inhabitants insisted that there was nothing beyond the sea. He learned that the only way to get off the island was to collect the [[Instrument of the Sirens]] and wake the [[Wind Fish]] who slept in an egg atop [[Mt. Tamaranch]].<ref>{{Cite Book|quote=Link was in the midst of journeying back to Hyrule by boat after finishing his training. During the voyage, he was caught up in a storm that sank his ship. Upon regaining consciousness, Link found that he had washed ashore on an island called Koholint. Link was rescued by a girl named Marin who lived on the island. He woke up in a house belonging to Tarin, where the two made their home. Though Link attempted to leave the island, the citizens insisted that there was nothing beyond the ocean.|book=HH|page=102|publisher=Dark Horse Books}}</ref>

{{clear}}

{{Main|The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages}}

After the defeat of Ganon, his surrogate mothers, the witches [[Twinrova]], plotted to revive him. For this ritual, they required three flames to be lit: The Flame of Destruction, the Flame of Sorrow, and the Flame of Despair, and follow these with a human sacrifice. In order to obtain these flames, the witches sent their minions: [[General Onox]], General of Darkness, to [[Holodrum]]; and [[Veran]], Sorceress of Shadows, to [[Labrynna]].<ref>{{Cite Book|quote=The twin witches known as Twinrova were plotting ways to perform the ceremony that would resurrect the Demon King. For the resurrection ceremony to occur, it was necessary to light the Flame of Destruction, the Flame of Sorrow, and the Flame of Despair, derived from the chaos, sorrow, and hopelessness of humanity. They would also need to offer up a sacred sacrifice. In order to obtain the Flame of Destruction and the Flame of Sorrow, Twinrova sent Onox, the General of Darkness, to the land of Holodrum, and Veran, the Sorceress of Shadows, to the land of Labrynna.|book=HH|page=98|publisher=Dark Horse Books}}</ref> One day, when Link visited Hyrule Castle, the Triforce beckoned him into its chamber. Once he placed his hands on the Triforce, it transported him to the distant land of Holodrum, where a new adventure began.

Upon awakening in Holodrum, Link met with a group of traveling performers who were watching after a dancer named [[Din (Oracle)|Din]]. Link danced with Din, but suddenly a whirlwind appeared and snatched Din away. Din was actually the Oracle of Seasons, and her capture by Onox meant that the seasons in the land of Holodrum were thrown into chaos. The only way to restore balance to the seasons was to collect the eight [[Essences of Nature]] scattered around Holodrum. Link quested for the essences, using the mythical [[Rod of Seasons]] in order to manipulate the seasons as he went.<ref>{{Cite Book|quote=Link, the boy who had saved the land of Hyrule, was guided by the Triforce in Hyrule Castle and transported to the unfamiliar soil of Holodrum. After arriving in this new land, the Hero lay sprawled on the ground, unconscious. Just then, a dancer called Din happened to pass by. The traveling performer affectionately nursed Link back to health. When Link awoke, Din invited him to dance. Suddenly, darkness engulfed her troupe of performers. Whirlwinds raged around them, accompanied by the voice of Onox, General of Darkness. Onox sought Din, the oracle who safeguarded the four seasons. Link issued a bold challenge to the general, but Onox succeeded in kidnapping the oracle. Once Din, the Oracle of Seasons, was sealed away, the four seasons of the land of Holodrum were thrown into chaos. Wielding the Rod of Seasons, Link set out in search of the eight Essences of Nature. With the aid of the Maku Tree, guardian of Holodrum, Link ousted the power of darkness and set out to tackle Onox's Castle, located in the northern reaches of the land.|book=HH|page=98|publisher=Dark Horse Books}}</ref> Once Link defeated Onox and rescued Din, he was magically transported to the land of Labrynna, the setting of his second trial. However, even after his death, Onox's actions caused the Flame of Destruction to be lit.

In order to light the third and final flame, Twinrova kidnapped Princess Zelda who had arrived in Labrynna. This would complete their dark ritual and light the Flame of Despair. However, Link challenged them and killed them in battle. As a last-ditch effort to complete the sacrifice needed to revive Ganon, the witches offered their own bodies and revived the King of Darkness. However, because the ritual was incomplete, Ganon returned as a mindless beast. Link battled Ganon and defeated him, restoring peace to Holodrum and Labrynna.<ref name="Ganon's revival(Oracles)">{{Cite Book|quote=Twinrova, who had lurked behind the scenes in Holodrum and Labrynna, pulling the strings, managed to light the Flame of Destruction and the Flame of Sorrow. All that remained was to kidnap Princess Zelda and light the Flame of Despair. Using the princess as a sacred sacrifice, they attempted to resurrect Ganon. Link borrowed the power of the Oracle of Seasons and the Oracle of Ages and threw himself upon the ceremonial altar. He cornered and defeated Twinrova, but the twin witches sacrificed themselves to resurrect Ganon. Because the ceremony had not been completed, however, Ganon returned as a witless, demonic beast. Link brought down the rampaging Demon King and rescued Princess Zelda, restoring peace to the lands of Holodrum and Labrynna.|book=HH|page=101|publisher=Dark Horse Books}}</ref>

His quest to stop Ganon's revival complete, Link departed Labrynna by boat.

[[File:ALBW The Triforce, Split Apart.jpg|thumb|right|The Triforce splits into three pieces once again]]

{{Main|The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds}}

[[File:ALBW Link Fighting Yuga Artwork.png|thumb|right|Link facing off with Yuga]]

Link is too late to stop Yuga. Using his magic and that of the Seven Sages, he is able to release Ganon.<ref>{{Cite|I will use the Sages to reach the one who shall help me attain true beauty. I mean, of course... GANON!|Yuga|ALBW}}</ref> Along with the Triforce of Power, Yuga and Ganon are joined as one,<ref>{{Cite|Join with me! Let us destroy all ugliness in this world or any other! We shall be TRULY superior!|Yuga|ALBW}}</ref> and using this power, Yuga desires to consume both Hyrule and Lorule.<ref>{{Cite|Now he has used them to summon the Demon King and siphon his power. Yuga's appetite will soon consume our worlds. Hyrule and Lorule-the beast's for the taking.|Hilda|ALBW}}</ref> Link is protected from the beast's onslaught by [[Hilda]], the princess of Lorule and the dark counterpart of [[Princess Zelda|Zelda]], who urges Link to rescue the Seven Sages who have been sent to the far reaches of Lorule. With Hilda holding back Yuga and guiding Link in his quest, he succeeds in rescuing the Seven Sages and, with their power, awakens the Triforce of Courage in himself.  

Returning to their own Sacred Realm with the connection between worlds gone, Link and Zelda find the [[Triforce]] once again whole. It awaits for Link to make a wish upon it, and with his wish, Lorule's Triforce is restored to its former glory, and a new, brighter age dawns upon both Lorule and Hyrule.

{{Main|The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes}}

Link leaves the kingdom of Hyrule and ventures to the kingdom of {{Term|TFH|Hytopia|link}}. There he is recruited by the {{Term|TFH|Witch-Hunting Brigade|link}} to defeat the evil witch {{Term|TFH|Lady Maud|link}}. The witch had cursed {{Term|TFH|Princess Styla|link}} into wearing an irremovable brown jumpsuit.{{Fact|TFH}}

Link teams up with two other lookalike heroes to gather the pieces of the {{Term|TFH|Lady's Ensemble|link}}. They obtain the last piece by defeating Lady Maud. The witch's younger sister, {{Term|TFH|Madame Couture|link}}, assembles the {{Term|TFH|Outfit|link}}. With the complete Lady's Ensemble, Princess Styla is freed from her cursed one-piece.{{Fact|TFH}}

Following the recovery of the Triforce in {{ALBW|-}}, Hyrule enters a '''{{Section|Golden Era}}'''. Successive [[King of Hyrule|Kings of Hyrule]] govern the land with the strength of the united Triforce.<ref>{{Cite Manual|quote= It is said that a long ago, when Hyrule was one country, a great ruler maintained the peace in Hyrule using the Triforce.|game= TAoL|page=6}}</ref> The Kingdom of Hyrule flourishes.<ref name="HH 104">{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page= 104}}</ref>

The last such {{Term|Series|King of Hyrule|link}}, doubting his son's worthiness, hides the {{Term|Series|Triforce of Courage|link}} in the {{Term|TAoL|Great Palace|link}}. Upon his death, he casts a spell on Hyrule such that a crest will one day appear on a young man worthy of wielding the Triforce of Courage.<ref name="HH 104"/><ref name="E 222">{{Cite Book|quote= |book= E |publisher= |page= 222}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Manual|quote= |game= TAoL|page= 9}}</ref> The King confers the secret location of the Triforce of Courage to his daughter {{Term|Series|Princess Zelda|link}}.<ref>{{Cite Manual|quote= Before he died, the king had said something about the Triforce to only the younger sister of the prince, Princess Zelda.|game= TAoL|page= 6}}</ref>

[[File:TAoL Princess Zelda I Artwork.png|thumb|right|Princess Zelda I in her eternal sleep]]

The {{Term|TAoL|Prince of Hyrule|link}} ascends to the throne but inherits only the Triforce of Power and the Triforce of Wisdom.<ref name="E 222"/>{{Note|{{HH}} presents a conflicting account in which the former King passes the Triforce on to Princess Zelda instead. On the same page, {{HH|-}} states that the Prince inherits an incomplete Triforce.<ref name="HH 104"/>}} Abetted by a {{Term|TAoL|Magician|link}}, the new King questions Princess Zelda on the location of the missing Triforce. When she refuses to reveal her father's secret, the enraged Magician places her under a spell of eternal sleep.<ref>{{Cite Manual|quote= In his anger, the magician tried to cast a magic spell on the princess. The surprised prince tried to stop him, but the magician fought off the prince and went on chanting the spell. Then, when the spell was finally cast, Princess Zelda fell on that spot and entered a sleep from which she might never awake.|game= TAoL|page= 9}}</ref>{{Note|According to the manual for {{TAoL}}, the {{Term|TAoL|Magician}} dies after casting the spell on Princess Zelda. The "Database" section of {{E}} equates the {{Term|TAoL|Magician}} with the {{Term|TAoL|Wizard|link}} enemy and states, "He was among the Wizzrobes that served the prince and were banished for putting Princess Zelda to sleep."<ref>{{Cite Book|quote= |book= E|publisher= |page= 212}}</ref> In the "Archives" section {{E|-}} mentions the {{Term|TAoL|Magician}} but not mention his fate.<ref name="E 222"/>}} Filled with regret, the new King places the princess on the altar in {{Term|TAoL|North Castle|link}}. He decrees that all women born into the royal family are to be named "Zelda". The cursed princess becomes known as Princess Zelda I.<ref name="E 222"/>{{Note|Though the practice of naming princesses "Zelda" had existed since the establishment of the Royal Family, it became customary only after the tragedy of the sleeping princess.<ref name="HH 105">{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page= 105}}</ref>}}

The repentant king governs Hyrule to the best of his ability, but without the power of the full Triforce the kingdom falls into decline and its borders recede. The Triforce of Power and the Triforce of Wisdom continue to be passed down within the Royal Family. The existence of the Triforce of Courage is forgotten.<ref name="HH 105"/><ref name="E 13">{{Cite Book|quote= |book= E |publisher= |page= 13}}</ref>

{{Main|The Legend of Zelda}}

Many years later, an evil army led by a revived {{Term|TLoZ|Ganon|link}} attacks {{Term|TLoZ|Hyrule|link}} and steals the Triforce of Power. To keep the Triforce of Wisdom out of Ganon's hands, {{Term|TLoZ|Princess Zelda|link}} (a descendant of Princess Zelda I) splits it in eight and hides the pieces throughout Hyrule. The Princess sends her nursemaid {{Term|TLoZ|Impa|link}} to find someone with the courage to defeat Ganon. Ganon imprisons Zelda and sends a search party to find Impa.<ref name="E 218">{{Cite Book|quote= |book= E |publisher= |page= 13}}</ref><ref name="HH 106">{{Cite Book|quote= |book= HH|publisher= |page= 106}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Manual|quote= |game= TLoZ|page= 3}}</ref>

A traveling {{Term|TLoZ|Link|link}} (possibly a descendant of the hero from the Era of Light and Dark) happens upon Impa as she is accosted by Ganon's henchmen. Link drives off the evil minions and learns of Ganon's invasion from Impa. He sets off to recover the eight pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom. Having collected them from eight {{Plural|TLoZ|Dungeon|link}} in the land, Link confronts Ganon in {{Term|TLoZ|Death Mountain|link}} and defeats the Demon King using the Triforce of Wisdom, the {{Term|TLoZ|Magical Sword|link}}, and {{Plural|TLoZ|Silver Arrow|link}}. Zelda declares Link the hero of Hyrule.<ref name="HH 106"/><ref name="E 218"/><ref>{{Cite Manual|quote= |game= TLoZ|page= 3}}</ref>

{{Main|Zelda II: The Adventure of Link}}

[[File:TAoL Triforce.png|thumb|right|The Triforce unites before the altar in North Castle]]

{{Clear}}

[[File:OoT Ending.png|thumb|220px|Link warns Zelda about Ganondorf]]

The '''{{Section|Child Timeline}}''',<ref name="encyclopedia-timeline"/> or '''{{Section|Child Era}}''',<ref name="HH 69"/> is the branch of the timeline that follows Link back in time at the end of {{OoT|-}}. The young hero warns the [[Royal Family]] of Ganondorf's treachery during the {{Term|Series|Return of the Hero|link}}, thus averting his rise to power and thwarting him from the start.{{Note|{{HH|-}} does not explain how Link and Zelda succeeded in convincing the king that Ganondorf was evil the second time around.}} Link leaves Hyrule on [[Epona]] to search for [[Navi]]. Years later, Ganondorf is sealed within the [[Twilight Realm]].

This timeline contains the events of {{MM}}, {{TP}}, and {{FSA}}.

{{Main|The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask}}

The Skull Kid, corrupted by Majora's Mask, aims to destroy Termina by bringing the [[Moon (Object)|Moon]] down upon it. Link has only three days to stop the [[Terminan Apocalypse|apocalypse]], but he is able to return to the [[First Day]] by playing the [[Song of Time]].  He ventures to the four outer regions of Termina, using [[Transformation#Majora's Mask|transformative masks]] to free the [[Four Giants]]. On the [[Final Day]], the Four Giants hold up the Moon. Link thwarts [[Majora's Mask (Item)|Majora]], the demon inhabiting the mask.

{{Clear}}

[[File:Ganon's execution.png|thumb|right|220px|Ganondorf survives his execution due to the [[Triforce of Power]]]]

{{Main|Failed Execution of Ganondorf}}

Several years after {{OoT|-}}, Ganondorf is sentenced to death.<ref name=Aonuma>{{Cite Person|quote=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.|name=Eiji Aonuma|url=http://www.thehylia.com/index.php?subaction=showfull&id=1173582355&archive=|title=Nintendo Dream: Eiji Aonuma Interview}}</ref> The [[Sages]] attempt to carry out the execution but Ganondorf survives, blessed with the [[Triforce of Power]] by the gods.<ref>{{Cite|By some divine prank, he, too, had been blessed with the chosen power of the gods.|Sage|TP}}</ref> Instead, the Sages use the [[Mirror of Twilight]] to banish Ganondorf to the [[Twilight Realm]],<ref>{{Cite Book|book= E |publisher= |page= 113}}</ref> which had become inhabited by the [[Twili]], descendants of the [[Interlopers]].

Many years later, in the '''{{Section|Twilight Era}}''',<ref name="HH 69"/> Ganon appears before [[Zant]], a disgruntled servant of the Twili royal family.<ref>{{Cite|The people of our tribe...a tribe that mastered the arts of magic... were locked away in this world like insects in a cage. In the shadows we regressed, so much so that we soon knew neither anger nor hatred...nor even the faintest bloom of desire. And all of it was the fault of a useless, do-nothing royal family that had resigned itself to this miserable half-existence! I had served and endured in that depraved household for far too long, my impudent princess. And why, you ask? Because I believed I would be the next to rule our people! THAT is why! But would they acknowledge me as their king? No! And as such, I was denied the magic powers befitting our ruler. It was then, in the thrall of hatred and despair, that I turned my eyes to the heavens...and found a god.|Zant|TP}}</ref> Ganon grants Zant his power, which he uses to usurp [[Midna]], the Twilight Princess. Midna flees to the [[Light World]]. Zant invades [[Hyrule]] with an army of [[Shadow Beast]]s, who steal the light from the [[Spirits of Light]], bringing [[Twilight]] to Hyrule.<ref>{{Cite Book|book=HH |publisher= |page= 114}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|The black beast you slayed was a shadow being. It had come to seize the power of light I wield. My brethren in Hyrule have already had their light stolen by these fell beasts. The entire kingdom has been reduced to a netherworld ruled by the cursed powers of darkness.|Ordona (Spirit)|TP}}</ref> [[Princess Zelda]] is held captive in [[Hyrule Castle]].  

Midna returns to the Twilight Realm. She shatters the Mirror of Twilight, severing the link between the two worlds.<ref name="HH 118"/>{{Note|{{FSA}}, the next game in the timeline after {{TP|-}}, also has a [[Dark World|shadow world]] and a [[Dark Mirror|mirror]] used to seal away a dark tribe. {{HH|-}} draws the parallel between the two mirrors<ref name="HH 119">{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page= 119}}</ref> and alludes to a connection between the Twilight Realm and the Dark World,<ref name="HH 118"/> but makes no further attempt to tie the two games together. {{E|-}} makes the distinction that the Twilight Realm is "behind" the Light World, whereas the Dark World is the "opposite" of the Sacred Realm.<ref>{{Cite Book|quote= |book= E|publisher= |page= 28}}</ref>}}

{{Main|The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures}}

{{Tone|Story}}

{{Clear}}

The '''Adult Timeline''',<ref name="encyclopedia-timeline"/> or '''{{Section|Adult Era}}''',<ref name="HH 69"/> is the branch of the timeline in which Link has disappeared from Hyrule after being sent back in time at the end of {{OoT|-}}. In this timeline, Ganondorf is sealed within the void of the [[Dark World|corrupted Sacred Realm]] along with the Triforce of Power.<ref>{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page= 91}}</ref> The Triforce of Wisdom remains in Zelda's possession. When Link goes back in time, the Triforce of Courage is left behind, shattered into eight shards scattered across Hyrule.<ref>{{Cite|When the Hero of Time was called to embark on another journey and left the land of Hyrule, he was separated from the elements that made him a hero. It is said that at that time, the Triforce of Courage was split into eight shards and hidden throughout the land.|King of Red Lions|TWW}}</ref> Zelda returns the [[Master Sword]] to the [[Temple of Time]].<ref name="HH 122"/>

This timeline contains the events of {{TWW}}, {{PH}}, and {{ST}}.

{{Main|Great Flood}}

[[File:TWW Scroll of the Hero of Time 5.png|thumb|right|The people of Hyrule plead to the gods as Ganon casts the land in darkness once again]]

The gods responded by bringing forth a deluge that would seal away all of Hyrule and Ganon with it.<ref>{{Cite|When the gods heard our pleas, they chose to seal away not only Ganon, but Hyrule itself...and so, with a torrential downpour of rains from the heavens... Our fair kingdom was soon buried beneath the waves, forgotten at the bottom of the ocean.|Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule|TWW}}</ref> The gods chose those who would build a new world and commanded them to take refuge on the mountaintops, which became the islands of the new world known as the [[Great Sea]]. The [[Triforce of Wisdom]] was split in two: one part remained with King Daphnes beneath the waves, the other with his daughter the princess, who ascended to the new world.<ref name="HH 123"/> The Triforce fragment passed on to her namesakes, from daughter to daughter. Beneath the waves, Hyrule remained frozen in time.{{Fact}}

{{Main|The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker}}

Hundreds of years later, during the '''{{Section|Era of the Great Sea}}''',<ref name="HH 69"/> Ganondorf escapes to the surface world. Seeking to regain the Triforce of Wisdom, he commands the [[Helmaroc King]] to kidnap young girls with pointed ears, in the hopes of capturing Zelda.<ref name="HH 124">{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page= 124}}</ref> The Helmaroc King kidnaps [[Aryll]], [[Link]]'s sister. Link, a resident of [[Outset Island]] unrelated to the Hero of Time,<ref>{{Cite|The one I have brought with me has no connection to the legendary one. And yet I sense great promise in the courage that this one possesses.|King of Red Lions|TWW}}</ref> sets out to rescue her. He is guided by the [[King of Red Lions]], a boat sent forth by the gods.<ref name="HH 124"/>

Link restores the power to repel evil to the Master Sword. He gathers the shards of the [[Triforce of Courage]] to re-open the way to Hyrule. Upon returning to Hyrule, he discovers Zelda has been kidnapped by Ganondorf and taken atop [[Ganon's Tower]]. When Link purses them to the top of the tower, the full Triforce is reunited. Before Ganondorf is able to touch the Triforce and make his wish, Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule steps in and wishes for Hyrule to be washed away forever. Together, Link and Zelda defeat Ganondorf. They return to the surface, but Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule stays behind and vanishes along with his kingdom. Above the waves, Zelda becomes Tetra once again. Link and Tetra set sail in search of a new continent.

{{Main|The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass}}

During the '''{{Section|Era of the Great Voyage}}''',<ref name="HH 69"/> Link and Tetra happen upon the [[World of the Ocean King]]. To investigate a rumor about disappearing ships in the area, Tetra boards the {{Term|PH|Ghost Ship|link}} and is taken away by it. Link falls into the ocean trying to rescue her and washes up on [[Mercay Island]].<ref>{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page= 130}}</ref> There he meets the fairy [[Ciela]] and her so-called grandfather [[Oshus]].  

Phantom Sword in hand, Link defeats [[Bellum]] and frees Tetra. The Ocean King regains his true form. Link and Tetra return to their world and continue their search for a new continent.<ref>{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page= 132}}</ref>

{{Main|Founding the Nation of Hyrule}}

Link and Tetra's pirate crew eventually discovered a new continent. [[Spirit Tracks]] spanned the land, at the center of which stood the [[Tower of Spirits]]. These were created by the [[Lokomo]] to bind the Demon King [[Malladus]] to the land.{{Fact}} Tetra christened the land [[New Hyrule]].<ref name="HH 133">{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page= 133}}</ref> Over a hundred years, the land of New Hyrule Thrived.

{{Main|The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks}}

[[File:Spirit Train ST.png|thumb|right|200px|New Hyrule]]

Link and Princess Zelda's ghost travel to four temples to restore the Spirit Tracks and the Tower of Spirits. They climb to the top of the tower, but are too late to stop Malladus from possessing Zelda's body. They pursue Malladus into the [[Dark Realm]]. Together, they defeat Malladus and Cole using the [[Bow of Light]] and the [[Lokomo Sword]]. Zelda regains her body and peace returns to Hyrule. Their protection no longer needed, the Lokomo return to the heavens.<ref>{{Cite Book|book= HH |publisher= |page= 135}}</ref>

About 9,883 years after the Calamity's defeat, a new princess is born and named Zelda in line with tradition.<ref name="CaC 360"/> Around this same time, a prophecy warned of the return of {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon}}.<ref>{{Cite|The return of Ganon looms—a dark force taunting us from afar. I must learn all I can about the relics so we can stop him. If the fortune-teller's prophecy is to be believed, there isn't much time left...|Zelda|BotW}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|Stories of Ganon were passed from generation to generation in the form of legends and fairy tales. But there was also...a prophecy. "The signs of a resurrection of Calamity Ganon are clear. And the power to oppose it lies dormant beneath the ground."|King Rhoam|BotW}}</ref> Hoping to prepare in the same fashion as their ancestors, the people of Hyrule began working to locate and excavate the Divine Beasts and Guardians, which they eventually managed to restore and activate.<ref>{{Cite|We decided to heed the prophecy and began excavating large areas of land. It wasn't long before we discovered several ancient relics made by the hands of our distant ancestors. These relics, the Divine Beats, were giant machines piloted by warriors. We also found the Guardians, an army of mechanical soldiers that fought autonomously.|King Rhoam|BotW}}</ref> Subsequently, four warriors from each of Hyrule's races were selected to pilot the Divine Beasts.<ref>{{Cite|We selected four skilled individuals from across Hyrule and tasked them with the duty of piloting the Divine Beasts.|King Rhoam|BotW}}</ref> Around that time, the chosen bearer of the [[Master Sword]] was found to be a Hylian knight named Link, the only one who was able to pull the sword from its resting place in the [[Korok Forest]]. The four pilots and Link were then dubbed [[Champions]].<ref>{{Cite|The princess, her appointed knight, and the rest of the Champions were on the brink of sealing away Ganon...|King Rhoam|BotW}}</ref>

A now 17-year-old Princess Zelda<ref>{{Cite Book|book= CaC |page= 361}}</ref> worked to awaken her sealing powers while being accompanied by Link, who had been appointed as her protector.<ref>{{Cite Book|book= CaC |page= 361}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|One hundred years ago, there was a princess set to inherit a sacred power and a skilled knight at her side.|King Rhoam|BotW}}</ref> Zelda was determined to awaken her power and prayed at the springs of the goddesses in Hyrule, but she was unsuccessful.<ref>{{Cite|So you didn't feel anything? No power at all?|Revali|BotW}}<br/>{{Cite|I'm sorry, no.|Zelda|BotW}}</ref> Minutes after she had finished praying at the [[Spring of Wisdom]], the Calamity broke its seal and rose up around the castle. Immediately after, it managed to corrupt the entire Guardian army by possessing it with [[Malice]] and turned it against Hyrule.<ref>{{Cite|Ganon was cunning, and he responded with a plan beyond our imagining. He appeared from deep below Hyrule Castle, seized control of the Guardians and the Divine Beasts, and turned them against us.|King Rhoam|BotW}}</ref> The Champions, who were with Zelda near the Spring of Wisdom at the time, then rushed to their respective Divine Beasts hoping to still be able to defeat Calamity Ganon in time. By that point, Ganon had already sent [[Windblight Ganon|four]] [[Waterblight Ganon|incarnations]] [[Fireblight Ganon|of]] [[Thunderblight Ganon|Malice]] after the Divine Beasts and possessed them, killing the Champions inside.<ref>{{Cite|That...thing is one of Ganon's creations.|Mipha|BotW}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|You're here to wrest control of Medoh away from Ganon, correct?|Revali|BotW}}</ref> With their strongest weapons lost, Hyrule was laid to ruin and Link was fatally injured while protecting Zelda, who had awakened her sealing powers while fleeing from Guardians, requiring him to sleep in the [[Shrine of Resurrection]] for 100 years.<ref>{{Cite|The appointed knight, gravely wounded, collapsed while defending the princess...And thus, the kingdom of Hyrule was devastated absolutely by Calamity Ganon.|King Rhoam|BotW}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|I spoke with Purah about the Shrine of Resurrection we discovered earlier. As we speculated, this particular shrine is, in fact, a medical facility with the power to heal. It also has a long-term stasis function that can be activated and maintained until healing is complete.|Zelda|BotW}}</ref><ref>{{Cite|You have been asleep for the past 100 years.|Zelda|BotW}}</ref> Princess Zelda, after returning the Master Sword to the Korok Forest, then went to confront {{Term|BotW|Calamity Ganon}} alone and managed to seal it, though this required her to become imprisoned inside it in order to maintain the seal, as she could not completely seal Ganon away while he was undamaged by the Master Sword.<ref name="Old Man">{{Cite|I assume you caught sight of that atrocity enshrouding the castle. That...is {{Color|BotW Red|Calamity Ganon}}. One hundred years ago, that vile entity brought the kingdom of {{Color|BotW Blue|Hyrule}} to ruin. It appeared suddenly and destroyed everything in its path. So many innocent lives were lost in its wake. For a century, the very symbol of our kingdom, Hyrule Castle, has managed to contain that evil. But just barely. There it festers, building its strength for the moment it will unleash its blight upon the land once again. It would appear that moment is fast approaching...|Old Man|BotW}}</ref>

{{Main|The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild}}

After defeating the Calamity, Hyrule begins to slowly flourish again. Princess Zelda focuses on rebuilding the Kingdom, while Link continues to support and protect her.<ref name="CaC 410"/>

{{Main|The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom}}

While {{Term|TotK|Link|link}} and {{Term|TotK|Zelda|link}} are exploring underground tunnels decorated with cave paintings in order to track the origin of a mysterious substance called [[Gloom]], they discover the chamber in which the first Ganondorf had been sealed away in ancient times. The seal breaks soon after the enter and Ganondorf is freed, triggering the cataclysmic event known as the [[Upheaval]].