timeline [tahym-lahyn]
noun
1. A linear representation of important events in the order in which they occurred.
2. A schedule; timetable.
EX. Click the image above for a break down of the Zelda timeline in diagram form before I get into a heavy discussion on the matter and sum it up for you in linear a model as possible. A lot of confusion is possible because a lot of names are reused a lot in the series.
I. THE LEGENDS OF GODS & THE HERO OF TIME
- The Golden Goddesses, Farore, Nayru, and Din, create the world and the Triforce.
- The events of Skyward Sword take place
- Afterwards, during an "era of chaos" the Sacred Realm is sealed and the Kingdom of Hyrule rises to create an "era of prosperity".
- The evil craftsman Vaati is sealed into the Four Sword.
- After knowledge of the Triforce spreads, a civil war nearly tears apart the land, until it is putdown and united by the Kingdom of Hyrule.
- Shortly after Hyrule unites the lands, Ocarina of Time takes place, and the timeline is split into three routes, with each route being a different result at the end of Ocarina of Time:
- At the end of Ocarina of Time, in the first alternate timeline, Link fails to defeat Ganondorf and is slain, but Zelda and the people of Hyrule manage to seal Ganon and the Triforce away.
- The realm felt peace as most darkness was locked with Ganon in the Sacred Realm, turning it into the Dark World.
- The Sacred Realm was locked away by the Seven Sages to present Ganon's evil from seeping out into the realm. Aided by the Knights of Hyrule, they succeed in their task.
- The events of Link to the Past take place.
- Then the Oracles of Ages and/or the Oracles of Seasons take place; which takes place first is not definite.
- Then Link's Awakening takes place.
- The Triforce is used by the Hyrule Kingdom to rule until the Triforce of Courage is lost and Zelda is put in a deep sleep. These events lead to the Legend of Zelda and then The Adventure of Link.
II B.Link prevents Ganon from ever taking the Triforce
- After defeating Ganondorf in Timeline II C., Link is sent back in time to relive his lost childhood, and uses the opportunity to prevent Ganon from ever taking the Triforce. Thus, he alters the timeline.
- Ganondorf invades Hyrule, but is subdued. The sages attempt to execute Ganondorf, fail, and are forced to seal him away in the Twilight Realm.
- The same link from Ocarina of Time travels to Termina and the events of Majora's Mask take place.
- Eventually, the events of Twilight Princess take place.
- And then the events of the Four Swords Adventures take place.
II. C. Link defeats Ganon
- Link defeats Ganondorf as an adult and the villain is sealed away in the Sacred Realm with the help of the Seven Sages.
- Later, Ganondorf escapes the Sacred Realm and forces the gods to unleash the Great Flood.
- Eventually, the events of The Wind Waker occur, immediately followed by the events of The Phantom Hourglass.
- A new continent is discovered by Tetra's pirates and the heroes establish a New Hyrule.
- Then, the events of The Spirit Tracks take place in New Hyrule
And that sums it all up. A last side note, the events of the CD-I games and the animated series are not canon.
