127 replies to this topic

[Lance9384]

There are many controversies over OoT's ending. Some argue that it created two timelines, while others believe it's just a single timeline. I have thought about it and came up with a theory that dissolves the two timeline theory. First off, i'll say that KoRL mentioned the Hero of Time setting off on another journey in tWW. I believe that, since he didn't mention specifics, he left to a completly DIFFERENT journey which isn't MM. Here's why.

So Ocarina of Time's story takes place. Link collects the stones, opens the door, goes in time 7 years. He awakens the seven sages, and seals Ganondorf into the Sacred Realm. Princess Zelda sends Link back in time.
Now, when Zelda sends Link back in time, we don't know exactly where. It is most likely before Ganondorf raided Impa and Zelda out of the castle. Link gets the Triforce of Courage, as seen in the ending, and Ganondorf comes about obtaining the Triforce of Courage. It's probably certain that the King knew of Ganondorf's whereabouts and took the Triforce of Courage, or Princess Zelda just simply skipped along and grabbed it herself. Whatever way, the three pieces were taken.

Anyhoo, Link goes to the courtyard and hangs with Zelda for a few months and leaves to Termina. The Ocarina was never thrown because Ganondorf never raided Impa and Zelda. Zelda gives Link the Ocarina before he leaves.
Link possibly loses the Triforce of Courage and it is split into shards, as he leaves Hyrule, OR he gives it to the King/Princess Zelda. This may indicate that Ganondorf was searching for the Triforces, and couldn't find the courage.
Link does his deeds in Termina and ends up back in the woods. If he did return to Hyrule, which I believe, he returned 7 years later way after Ganondorf attacked Hyrule Castle, causing Zelda to possibly flee. Link meets up with Zelda and obtains the Triforce of Courage back, leaving Zelda with Wisdom. Link knows exactly what to do at this point: Awaken the seven sages. He does this deed, and fights Ganondorf just like the eliminated future timeline. The sages seal Ganondorf into the sacred realm. Link is NOT sent back in time, and he is still the holder of the Ocarina most likely. Now, this is the explanation of the beginning of the post. Link is sent off on another journey, a journey in which we do not know of officially. Link leaves Hyrule, and the Triforce of Courage split into the 8 shards this time, if it didn't when he left for Termina. Thus, the Hero of Time never returns.


Now, you're probably going to reply asking for the explanation on how people know of Link being the Hero of Time. Well, as the MM intro states, the Royal FAmily held the legend of the hero of time dearly. Link could've possibly told Zelda that he came back in time after defeating Ganondorf and sending him into the Sacred Realm. Princess Zelda shows Link to the King, and I guess they all are convinced with the story he gave, if he told of any story.

Whew. I am open to any comments and thoughts, and please show of any errors that occured in this speculation.

[mohammedali]

If Link comes back to a point in time before Ganon envaded the castle, why does he have the ToC on his hand at that point? I mean, Zelda leaves the castle before the Triforce split. How is this possible?

Mohammed Ali

[MikePetersSucks]

oi, can we stop making OOT threads without any new information? -.- but anyway...

Now, when Zelda sends Link back in time, we don't know exactly where. It is most likely before Ganondorf raided Impa and Zelda out of the castle. Link gets the Triforce of Courage, as seen in the ending, and Ganondorf comes about obtaining the Triforce of Courage. It's probably certain that the King knew of Ganondorf's whereabouts and took the Triforce of Courage, or Princess Zelda just simply skipped along and grabbed it herself. Whatever way, the three pieces were taken.

Um...the earliest Link could've ever gone back to is the first time he drew the Master Sword, as he only traveled astrally. There can't be two Links and two Master Swords. and you're saying all three of them took the Triforce of Courage? Huh? I think you mean Link got Courage, Ganon got Power, and Zelda got Wisdom. None of them skipped along to grab it. They were chosen to receive them.

Anyhoo, Link goes to the courtyard and hangs with Zelda for a few months and leaves to Termina. The Ocarina was never thrown because Ganondorf never raided Impa and Zelda. Zelda gives Link the Ocarina before he leaves.
Link possibly loses the Triforce of Courage and it is split into shards, as he leaves Hyrule, OR he gives it to the King/Princess Zelda. This may indicate that Ganondorf was searching for the Triforces, and couldn't find the courage.
Link does his deeds in Termina and ends up back in the woods. If he did return to Hyrule, which I believe, he returned 7 years later way after Ganondorf attacked Hyrule Castle, causing Zelda to possibly flee. Link meets up with Zelda and obtains the Triforce of Courage back, leaving Zelda with Wisdom. Link knows exactly what to do at this point: Awaken the seven sages. He does this deed, and fights Ganondorf just like the eliminated future timeline. The sages seal Ganondorf into the sacred realm. Link is NOT sent back in time, and he is still the holder of the Ocarina most likely. Now, this is the explanation of the beginning of the post. Link is sent off on another journey, a journey in which we do not know of officially. Link leaves Hyrule, and the Triforce of Courage split into the 8 shards this time, if it didn't when he left for Termina. Thus, the Hero of Time never returns.

Now this is just extremely complicated and fanficish. It's much easier to believe that Link didn't change history, but only caused a time loop. He goes to Termina and keeps the Triforce of Courage, while Ganondorf basically repeats history. Adult Link comes seven years later, realizes the situation, and takes the Master Sword, causing a reverse Butterfly Effect where his Child Consciousness manifests and possesses him. the battle is fought once more, and afterwards, the Child Consciousness is sent back in time so it can go to Termina and whatnot. Adult Link then abandons the Triforce of Courage to give it to the Royal Family, leaving for another journey. Perhaps Soul Calibur 2 if you go for that kind of thing

Now, you're probably going to reply asking for the explanation on how people know of Link being the Hero of Time. Well, as the MM intro states, the Royal FAmily held the legend of the hero of time dearly. Link could've possibly told Zelda that he came back in time after defeating Ganondorf and sending him into the Sacred Realm. Princess Zelda shows Link to the King, and I guess they all are convinced with the story he gave, if he told of any story.

This I agree on.

[Lance9384]

I didn't really mean to make in fanfic-ish. It's more like just giving a better understanding of it. Princess Zelda sent Link back in time to some point before Ganondorf raided the castle to cause Zelda to flee. Instead of raiding the castle, he saw the door of time open and entered. He obtained the Triforce of Power, and Link the Triforce of Courage. Princess Zelda OR the King may have entered to obtain the Triforce of Wisdom, and split it into two shards giving Zelda a piece. It is then passed down, hence the necklace Tetra wears. Sorry if that wasn't too clear. Also, I was exaggerating a few things(Zelda happened to skip along..etc).

To sum it up, Link goes back in time to some point before Zelda and Impa fled. The gates to the SR are open, Ganon enters. The two get their piece, and the King possibly gets the Wisdom piece. If not the King, then Zelda. Now, Princess Zelda still had the Ocarina to begin with. Therefore there are NOT two Ocarinas. Link set off to Termina, and came back in a seven year time period when Hyrule is destroyed by Ganondorf. Two Master Swords? No. He placed it back to go back in time. He simply goes to the ToT and draws it again, but this time he doesn't go in time seven years because he is already of age. He awakens the sages, seals Ganon, and peace is restored. Link, the Hero of Time, who got the title because he told Princess Zelda who told the King, leaves Hyrule for good and never comes back. The Triforce of Courage splits into 8 shards.

Again, I purposely made my first post exaggerated.

[Showsni]

But the Sacred Realm was only opened after Zelda fled. If Link goes back to before then, and isn't given the Ocarina, the SR is never opened, so the Triforce can't leave.

[MikePetersSucks]

I didn't really mean to make in fanfic-ish. It's more like just giving a better understanding of it. Princess Zelda sent Link back in time to some point before Ganondorf raided the castle to cause Zelda to flee. Instead of raiding the castle, he saw the door of time open and entered. He obtained the Triforce of Power, and Link the Triforce of Courage. Princess Zelda OR the King may have entered to obtain the Triforce of Wisdom, and split it into two shards giving Zelda a piece. It is then passed down, hence the necklace Tetra wears. Sorry if that wasn't too clear. Also, I was exaggerating a few things(Zelda happened to skip along..etc).

That's not what I meant at all. They didn't go to the Triforce. The Triforce went to them. When Ganondorf found the Triforce and touched it, it split, leaving him with the peice most suited for him. The Triforce of Power. The other two went to Link and Zelda, who were chosen by the Gods to receive them.

To sum it up, Link goes back in time to some point before Zelda and Impa fled. The gates to the SR are open, Ganon enters. The two get their piece, and the King possibly gets the Wisdom piece. If not the King, then Zelda. Now, Princess Zelda still had the Ocarina to begin with. Therefore there are NOT two Ocarinas. Link set off to Termina, and came back in a seven year time period when Hyrule is destroyed by Ganondorf. Two Master Swords? No. He placed it back to go back in time. He simply goes to the ToT and draws it again, but this time he doesn't go in time seven years because he is already of age. He awakens the sages, seals Ganon, and peace is restored. Link, the Hero of Time, who got the title because he told Princess Zelda who told the King, leaves Hyrule for good and never comes back. The Triforce of Courage splits into 8 shards.

Again, you don't listen. Link can't go back to any time before he drew the Master Sword. He can't freely travel through time by any method, only through a rift to two specific times, like Kagome does in Inuyasha.

[Fyxe]

Oy, I'm getting lost in all this mess. Lets get this straight and look at the facts, firstly by looking at what later games say.

NUMBER ONE - Link is KNOWN to be the Hero of Time and Ganon was Sealed in the Sacred Realm (manual for MM, intro and in-game from WW).

NUMBER TWO - Majora's Mask probably DID happen (information based on some Tingle stuff from WW).

NUMBER THREE - Link left Hyrule after saving it, and thus was not there to protect it from Ganon's return (more stuff from WW).

Now, look at the last one first. Link leaving Hyrule can really mean anything, but it implies he left for his adventure in Termina. However, it could also mean Zelda sending Link back to the past.

Quite simply, we have two options...

When Link goes back in time, time is not changed, Ganon still gets the Triforce of Power. After a few months he goes to Termina, and time occurs as normal, and Ganon takes over Hyrule, after seven years, adult Link shows up.

The other option...

When Link goes back in time, Ganon is sealed in the past as well as the future. I don't exactly know how this works, and there are problems with this idea; Link will not be known by the world as the Hero of Time if his entire adventures are not recorded. It also leads to the Imprisoning War NOT HAPPENING. This leads to a split timeline in which MM occurs. However, Wind Waker suggests MM occured as well.

I personally think him going back in time did nothing. He saved the future, his mission was over, he left to find Navi, he did not return. The Imprisoning War (later events of OOT) occurs, and many centuries later the events of Wind Waker occur.

This is the only timeline that seems to be free of the majority of plot holes. The main problem with this, however, is the Ocarina of Time.

Zelda send Link back with the Ocarina of Time. She appeared to keep it. How can Link have the Ocarina in Majora's Mask? Link cannot be sent back BEFORE he opened the gateway to the Sacred Realm, this is impossible because the Door of Time is open. Therefore, the only way Link can end up with the Ocarina is that either, despite Zelda using it to send him back, it goes back with him anyway, or that just because he lost it in the future, does not mean he loses it from his past self. I think that is most likely.

[Crazy Penguin]

There's a flashback in Majora's Mask, which shows child Zelda giving child Link the Ocarina of Time before he departs on Epona.

You are already leaving this land
of Hyrule, aren't you?

Even though it was only a short
time, I feel like I've known you
forever.

I'll never forget the days we
spent together in Hyrule...

And I believe in my heart that a
day will come when I shall meet
you again...

Until that day comes, please...
Take this...

I am praying...
I am praying that your journey be
a safe one.

If something should happen to you,  
remember this song...

The Goddess of Time is
protecting you.
If you play the Song of Time,
she will aid you...

Also remember that the intro to The Wind Waker shows Link leaving Hyrule on a horse.

[Fyxe]

Her line 'I believe in my heart a day will come when I shall meet you again' seems to me to be a clear reference to Link returning in the future to save Hyrule in the Imprisoning War.

[Doopliss]

I don't believe the events of Ocarina of Time to be the same as the ones of the Imprisoning War. There are a lot of inconsistences that can't be solved even considering the translation mistakes.

Lance9384, how could Zelda send Link back to a time before Zelda fled if the Door of Time is open? The Door just opened after Zelda fled and tossed the Ocarina into the river. When Ganon touched the Triforce, it split, the characters that were chosen to posses the other parts didn't have to search them.

How is Link able to change the events of Ocarina of Time without another timeline being created? Things can't simply be erased, that would create a paradox.

What's the point of the quest that is mentioned in TWW not being the same as Links quest? As I can see, it doesn't seriously affect the timeline. You just have tried to demonstrate that it can be possible, but you haven't proven yet that the backstory doesn't refer to Termina, which is the most common and accepted belief.

[Crazy Penguin]

I don't believe the events of Ocarina of Time to be the same as the ones of the Imprisoning War. There are a lot of inconsistences that can't be solved even considering the translation mistakes.

The small inconsistencies don't matter, it's obviously what the Ocarina of Time team were going for, they had to jazz a few things up to suit the game.

How is Link able to change the events of Ocarina of Time without another timeline being created?

See Oracle of Ages.

[Fyxe]

Did you read daveogone's article about the *all* the mistranslations in the ALttP manual? They coincide almost perfectly with the events of OoT. The other differences between the two stories can be put down to the fact that events changes over time in their retelling, becoming legends. The background of ALttP is based on legends from many centuries ago, and the events of OoT are how it really happened.

Consider the implications of OoT NOT being the Imprisoning War. That means that two ALMOST IDENTICAL events happened at two different points in Hyrule's history. And how can Ganon accidentally discover the Sacred Realm *twice*, and touch the Triforce for the first time *twice*?

Also consider the fact that the creators themselves SAID that they intended OoT to be the events of the Imprisoning War.

Lance9384, how could Zelda send Link back to a time before Zelda fled if the Door of Time is open? The Door just opened after Zelda fled and tossed the Ocarina into the river. When Ganon touched the Triforce, it split, the characters that were chosen to posses the other parts didn't have to search them.
 
How is Link able to change the events of Ocarina of Time without another timeline being created? Things can't simply be erased, that would create a paradox.

Who says Link returns BEFORE Zelda fled? Just because she fled, does not mean she will return at some stage. Hyrule Castle was not destroyed, indeed, from what you can see it did not suffer much damage, it is still heavily guarded. After Ganon travels to the Sacred Realm, Link returns, closes the Door of Time and eventually meets with Zelda again, before leaving to Termina.

There's no paradox. He doesn't change the future.

[Crazy Penguin]

It seems more than strange that shortly after Impa and Zelda's daring escape that they would simple return to the place they were running away from.

[Fyxe]

I didn't say 'shortly'. I said 'at some stage'. Once it was clear Ganon had vanished somewhere (Sacred Realm). And they also had no reason *not* to return eventually, they had nothing to hide, they no longer had the Ocarina of Time so Ganon had no real reason to chase them.

After awhile Impa probably hid Zelda somewhere, returned to check on the situation at Hyrule Castle, then returned with her at some stage.

I may be assuming somewhat here, but simply there is no possible way that Link could of returned before Ganon had entered the Sacred Realm. It would of cause all sorts of problems; a massive paradox that would stop the Imprisoning War from ever happening. Clearly, this doesn't occur.

[Doopliss]

I don't see the fact of the king commanding the sages and an army working together with the sages to seal Ganon as minor details.

I never said that Link returned before Zelda fled, it was Lance9384. Link does change the story according to the theory presented on the first post of this thread. Plus, if the future was erased, how could Link be there and remember everything if everything that happened for him to be able to return was erased?

[Fyxe]

But they ARE minor details, I'm afraid. Think about it, this is a story recalled CENTURIES in the future, a story which hardly anybody actually witnessed, in an age where most stories are passed on via word of mouth. The legend is stronger than the truth. The fact is, it got many, many facts *correct*, the fact that there WAS a king, there WERE seven sages that sealed Ganon, and there WAS an army of soldiers that were destroyed by Ganon, and that Ganon was defeated by a knight and sages working together.

While there was no command from the king, there was the command from Zelda, a royal representative. This is the sort of thing that gets distorted over time, loses detail and becomes little more than someone saying 'the king ordered the seven sages and knights to seal Ganon away'.

Look back upon ancient legends, like the stories of the battles of Troy and similar events in history; many of these stories remain only as legend, the true events are lost and what remains is little more than a story. Think of it like that, if you will.

[Doopliss]

Do you think that the fact of a hero like Link would be ignored? People like particulary the leyends in which heroes appear. Plus, the ALttP manual says that no one to use the Master Sword was found, and in Ocarina of Time, that person is found.

[Crazy Penguin]

I didn't say 'shortly'.  I said 'at some stage'.  Once it was clear Ganon had vanished somewhere (Sacred Realm).  And they also had no reason *not* to return eventually, they had nothing to hide, they no longer had the Ocarina of Time so Ganon had no real reason to chase them.

After awhile Impa probably hid Zelda somewhere, returned to check on the situation at Hyrule Castle, then returned with her at some stage.

I may be assuming somewhat here, but simply there is no possible way that Link could of returned before Ganon had entered the Sacred Realm.  It would of cause all sorts of problems; a massive paradox that would stop the Imprisoning War from ever happening.  Clearly, this doesn't occur.

It makes absolutely zero sense for Impa and Zelda to return to Hyrule Castle, and for Impa to leave her alone at that. Time travel is always a tricky thing, and it simply wasn't handled with much precision in Ocarina of Time, it changed to suit the story. This isn't sci-fi, it's a fantasy video game, time paradoxes should be ignored in favour of the bigger picture.

[Doopliss]

I agree with Fyxe, we have no other option but speculate, because obviously Link returned to a time after Zelda fled. Impa could see Link and then tell Zelda about it and take her to the castle secretly and then leave after meeting Link.

[Chaltab]

If Link comes back to a point in time before Ganon envaded the castle, why does he have the ToC on his hand at that point? I mean, Zelda leaves the castle before the Triforce split. How is this possible?

New info: I have replayed the OoT ending multiple times, and there is no ToC on Link's hand at the end. It's not 'unclear' either. There is clearly no mark of any kind on his left hand.

[MK.]

New info: I have replayed the OoT ending multiple times, and there is no ToC on Link's hand at the end. It's not 'unclear' either. There is clearly no mark of any kind on his left hand.

I used to feel the same way, but I went and played it again, and it IS there...

Here's where you look:

*watch the credits roll, the scene occurs RIGHT AFTER the zoom in of the master sword back in the pedastal fades out...

When it shows Hyrule Castle and begins playing Zelda's Theme, Link walks by the and almost takes up the whole camera, LOOK AT HIS HAND, the mark is there and the TOC symbol is bright!

[Showsni]

But they ARE minor details, I'm afraid. Think about it, this is a story recalled CENTURIES in the future, a story which hardly anybody actually witnessed, in an age where most stories are passed on via word of mouth. The legend is stronger than the truth. The fact is, it got many, many facts *correct*, the fact that there WAS a king, there WERE seven sages that sealed Ganon, and there WAS an army of soldiers that were destroyed by Ganon, and that Ganon was defeated by a knight and sages working together.

While there was no command from the king, there was the command from Zelda, a royal representative. This is the sort of thing that gets distorted over time, loses detail and becomes little more than someone saying 'the king ordered the seven sages and knights to seal Ganon away'.

Look back upon ancient legends, like the stories of the battles of Troy and similar events in history; many of these stories remain only as legend, the true events are lost and what remains is little more than a story. Think of it like that, if you will.

If you're going by the distorted over time theory, then it's practically pointless doing a timeline at all. Look at LoZ and Oracles - Zelda is kidnapped, but Link saves her and kills Ganon. They're the same event! FSA and OoT - Link unwittingly helps evil at the beginning, but makes up for it by sealing Ganon with seven sages help. TMC and the sleeping Zelda story - a wizard tries to get the triforce/light force from Zelda, but dies during the attempt. Clearly, none of these games are the same, but they are about as similar as OoT and the IW.

What are the similarities between OoT and the IW? They're set in Hyrule. Ganon is sealed in the sacred realm by some sages somehow. There is a fight between Ganon's army and the men of Hyrule. Ganon leads some thieves. That's about it really.

[Fyxe]

You have to remember that at the time OoT was released, there were only four other Zelda games released. The creators clearly intended it to be the Imprisoning War; why else would they copy so much of it so accurately?

Later games like the Oracles and especially FSA borrow from previous games in the series. This is a common feature of many video game series.

I always thought it was very clear that OoT was the Imprisoning War.

[MikePetersSucks]

Zelda send Link back with the Ocarina of Time. She appeared to keep it. How can Link have the Ocarina in Majora's Mask? Link cannot be sent back BEFORE he opened the gateway to the Sacred Realm, this is impossible because the Door of Time is open. Therefore, the only way Link can end up with the Ocarina is that either, despite Zelda using it to send him back, it goes back with him anyway, or that just because he lost it in the future, does not mean he loses it from his past self. I think that is most likely.

Link travels by consciousness, so the Ocarina isn't an issue.

See Oracle of Ages.

Except OOA has a completely seperate form of time travel.

Did you read daveogone's article about the *all* the mistranslations in the ALttP manual? They coincide almost perfectly with the events of OoT. The other differences between the two stories can be put down to the fact that events changes over time in their retelling, becoming legends. The background of ALttP is based on legends from many centuries ago, and the events of OoT are how it really happened.

Consider the implications of OoT NOT being the Imprisoning War. That means that two ALMOST IDENTICAL events happened at two different points in Hyrule's history. And how can Ganon accidentally discover the Sacred Realm *twice*, and touch the Triforce for the first time *twice*?

Also consider the fact that the creators themselves SAID that they intended OoT to be the events of the Imprisoning War.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Doopliss
Lance9384, how could Zelda send Link back to a time before Zelda fled if the Door of Time is open? The Door just opened after Zelda fled and tossed the Ocarina into the river. When Ganon touched the Triforce, it split, the characters that were chosen to posses the other parts didn't have to search them.

How is Link able to change the events of Ocarina of Time without another timeline being created? Things can't simply be erased, that would create a paradox.
 



Who says Link returns BEFORE Zelda fled? Just because she fled, does not mean she will return at some stage. Hyrule Castle was not destroyed, indeed, from what you can see it did not suffer much damage, it is still heavily guarded. After Ganon travels to the Sacred Realm, Link returns, closes the Door of Time and eventually meets with Zelda again, before leaving to Termina.

I agree 100%

It seems more than strange that shortly after Impa and Zelda's daring escape that they would simple return to the place they were running away from.

It seems stranger that they wouldn't return after they saw Link heading towards the castle, don't you think?

But they ARE minor details, I'm afraid. Think about it, this is a story recalled CENTURIES in the future, a story which hardly anybody actually witnessed, in an age where most stories are passed on via word of mouth. The legend is stronger than the truth. The fact is, it got many, many facts *correct*, the fact that there WAS a king, there WERE seven sages that sealed Ganon, and there WAS an army of soldiers that were destroyed by Ganon, and that Ganon was defeated by a knight and sages working together.

While there was no command from the king, there was the command from Zelda, a royal representative. This is the sort of thing that gets distorted over time, loses detail and becomes little more than someone saying 'the king ordered the seven sages and knights to seal Ganon away'.

Look back upon ancient legends, like the stories of the battles of Troy and similar events in history; many of these stories remain only as legend, the true events are lost and what remains is little more than a story. Think of it like that, if you will.

First FSA and now this...

Do you think that the fact of a hero like Link would be ignored?

Link could've been dismissed as another one of the Knights. OR the one knight that remained to carry on the legacy to LTTP.

It makes absolutely zero sense for Impa and Zelda to return to Hyrule Castle, and for Impa to leave her alone at that.

It makes absolutely zero sense for Zelda NOT to return to the castle at some point. She can't just abandon her people, it's what her entire quest is about. Zelda could've wandered from Impa on her own to her secret garden.

There is clearly no mark of any kind on his left hand.

Are you stupid? It's right there, you can't miss it.

If you're going by the distorted over time theory, then it's practically pointless doing a timeline at all. Look at LoZ and Oracles - Zelda is kidnapped, but Link saves her and kills Ganon. They're the same event! FSA and OoT - Link unwittingly helps evil at the beginning, but makes up for it by sealing Ganon with seven sages help. TMC and the sleeping Zelda story - a wizard tries to get the triforce/light force from Zelda, but dies during the attempt. Clearly, none of these games are the same, but they are about as similar as OoT and the IW.

But OOX never had a broken Triforce. OOT didn't have four Links. TMC never mentioned the Triforce at all. What OOT has above these other games is that it was INTENDED to be the Imprisoning War. There are no interviews hailing TMC as a Sleeping Zelda remake.

[Doopliss]

MikePetersSucks, Link could have difficultly been confused with the other knights because he never fought among them, more importantly, we don't even see knights in the adult time.

Well, Fyxe, there are a lot of people who think that FSA clearly is the Imprisoning War.

[Crazy Penguin]

Except OOA has a completely seperate form of time travel.

Read in context.

It seems stranger that they wouldn't return after they saw Link heading towards the castle, don't you think?

Not at all, Zelda purposefully entrusted the ocarina to Link.

It makes absolutely zero sense for Zelda NOT to return to the castle at some point. She can't just abandon her people, it's what her entire quest is about. Zelda could've wandered from Impa on her own to her secret garden.

They were fleeing for their lives and went into hiding. Returning to the castle in broad daylight undisguised and without even keeping close to each other is the absolute worst thing Zelda and Impa could do.

[Showsni]

Who's to say that Impa isn't near Zelda? Whenever you go to visit her as a child, Impa is nowhere in sight when you go in, but then appears before you leave.
And the castle would be the safest place for them, once Ganon had left. Look at all the guards. And they couldn't just abandon the king - Impa is one of the race who swore fealty to the royal family.

[Crazy Penguin]

So Impa and Zelda fled from the castle, got bored, went back to the castle, chilled for a while and then fled again?

[Fyxe]

And who says they'd return at broad daylight undisguised without keeping close to each other, anyway? More likely they would keep close, go at night and maybe even in disguise. Once inside the disguises would no longer be needed.

Of course, once they learnt Ganon was away in the Sacred Realm, what difference would it make when they went back?

It's not like anyone's suggesting they return immediately. But Zelda MUST return at some point, because nothing makes sense otherwise. Link needs to meet her, and he couldn't of returned *before* the Door of Time was opened, Zelda's dialogue at the end states otherwise.

They didn't flee again until Ganon began his main assualt. By the evidence of Majora's Mask, this doesn't happen for at least a few months.

[MK.]

I haven't had time to read all the posts, so I'll just say what "I always say..."

At the end of OOT, Link is sent back to a time BEFORE he was ever given the Ocarina of Time, even before he met Zelda, yet he still has the TOC with him. He goes to Hyrule Castle and meets Zelda for the first time, he tells her "Hey, don't go !@#$ with the Sacred Realm, cause Ganondorf is still around and as long as they don't open the Door of Time all will be well."