Ocarina of Time

Table of Contents:

Backstory Questions

Can you tell me more about the wars that happened prior to OoT? Are these the same wars mentioned in ALttP?

The game itself gives very little information about these wars. According to the Deku Tree Sprout, "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." So, apparently these wars were still going on up until Link's lifetime. It is not known when these wars started, or what their duration was, but one of the voices in the Shadow Temple says: "Here is gathered Hyrule's bloody history of greed and hatred..." It is not known exactly when these wars ended, but evidently Zelda's father decided to bring these wars to an end by unifying Hyrule into one country. The various peoples of Hyrule thus swore allegiance to the King of Hyrule. Presumably the King became the Sworn Brother of the Goron boss as part of this. According to the owl, the Zoras were already "longtime allies of Hyrule's Royal Family," which probably means they were allies of Hyrule during the wars. As for the Sheikah, the old man in blue in Hyrule Castle town says that they "swore allegiance to the King of Hyrule and guarded the Royal Family. But with the long peace, no one has seen a Sheikah around here for a long time." Ganondorf, the King of the Gerudo, is said by Zelda to have swore allegiance to the King. But since he was secretly harboring plans, it may be said that the war never truly ended before OoT, since the King didn't succeed in maintaining the peace.

This war is sometimes interpreted as being the same one described in the ALttP manual. According to the manual, the location of the Triforce had been lost over time, but an ancient legend kept the dream of finding it alive. Many searched for the wish-granting Triforce, but no one ever found it. "That yearning for the Triforce soon turned to lust for power, which in turn led to the spilling of blood. Soon the only motive left among those searching for the Triforce was pure greed." This war was interrupted when Ganondorf, the king of thieves, accidentally opened the gate to the Golden Land (or Sacred Realm). Ganon slew his own followers and took the Triforce for himself. Darkness soon covered Hyrule, and Ganon's army attacked Hyrule Castle. But the Knights valiantly defended the castle as the Seven Sages cast a seal to keep Ganon and his evil sealed away. This war came to be known as the Seal War (or Imprisoning War in the NOA version). It might be said that the "Seal War" only refers to this one battle. But note that we have a war here. A war usually does not consist of just one battle. So, it might alternately be said that the "Seal War" refers to the bloody wars for the Triforce, which ended with Ganondorf finding the Triforce and being sealed away.

Note that the new version of ALttP for the GBA changes this account slightly. The bloody war for the Triforce happened after the gate to the Golden Land was opened. However, it could simply be a different version of the same story, and an incomplete one at that. It is true that evil men were drawn to the tainted Golden Land, and became part of Ganon's army. They were drawn there by desire for the Triforce. So, we can probably harmonize this account with the previous account in the following way. There was a bloody war for the Triforce, but nobody knew where it was. Then, one day, the gate was opened by accident, and nobody really knew who had opened it. But, still desiring the Triforce, they flooded in. Instead of getting the Triforce, they became part of Ganon's army.

Another possibility is that the Fierce Wars is the same as the �interlopers conflict� referenced in TP by Lanayru. According to the spirit, �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.�. However, although the interlopers story seems to be based in ALttP backstory and hence in the OoT Fierce Wars, there are many details that make it independent to the OoT story, such as the light spirits or the Fused Shadows.

Several sources outside of OoT and ALttP tell more about the wars prior to OoT. These sources may not be reliable, but then again, they may contain accurate material. We will list these sources for the sake of completeness.

Zelda.com tells (or used to tell) the following story about these wars: "Warfare and strife became common in Hyrule, as the armies of the Zora marched on the Hylians. The Gorons fought the Gerudo. It seemed every race of Hyrule was at the other's throat. Only the secluded Kokiri, sheltered by their magical forest and the Great Deku Tree, were spared the destruction of Hyrule's civil wars. After 50 years of ceaseless combat, there arose a Hylian King of great wisdom, courage and power. Through his brilliant military campaigns and wise diplomacy, he was able to bring the varied people of Hyrule into a tenuous harmony. Treaties of peace were signed, and prosperity once again seemed to bloom in Hyrule."

Who were Link's parents?

Not much is known about Link's parents. All the game itself says is that Link's mother, a Hylian, fled into the forest to escape the fires of the war prior to OoT. Before she died, she entrusted her baby son to the Deku Tree.

Other clues to the identity of Link's parents can be found outside of OoT. According to ALttP, the legendary Hero must come from the line of Knights of Hyrule. This is why most people assume that OoT Link's father was a Knight. This usually follows from one of two assumptions: (1) the Links are all related; or (2) all of the Links are Heroes in the same sense as in ALttP. Thus, they must all have Knight blood in them.

The theory that Link's father was a Knight is supported by several non-canon sources:

In the OoT manga by Akira Himegawa, volume 1, chapter 6, Rauru tells Link about his heritage. According to him, Link was "born into the guardian house of the current Hyrule kingdom." His father died in battle during the war. His mother, seriously injured, fled their burning mansion horseback with the infant Link. She fled into the forbidden forest and died in front of the Deku Tree.

The European OoT comic (published by the official Club Nintendo magazine) tells a slightly different version of the events. Link's father died defending the King from a surprise attack on Hyrule Castle by rebels. Meanwhile, Link's mother, unharmed, flees horseback to the forbidden forest. But any mortal who enters Kokiri Forest will be turned into a plant. The Deku Tree allowed Link's mother to bring her child into the Kokiri Forest, after telling her that only her son would survive. She turned into a tree, becoming a part of the immortal Kokiri Forest.

To the extent that these two stories agree, it is interesting to wonder whether they are both based on a common story given by the creators. But there is no way to know for certain whether this is true.

Some fans assume that Link's parents were killed by Ganondorf, but there is no evidence of this in any source that I know of.

Was the Triforce never used before OoT?

This is a fairly common assumption when first playing the game. However, when the evidence is examined, it turns out that nothing specifically says that the Triforce was never used before OoT. It is easy to get the impression that it was never used, because of how the story is told. You are given the creation legend, which says the Triforce was hidden in the Sacred Realm. You are told that the ancient sages hid the entrance to the Sacred Realm long ago. Legends tell what will happen if an evil one gets the Triforce. All these things may, at first, seem to add up to the conclusion that the Triforce has never been used before OoT. One can assume that the Triforce remained untouched all that time, resting peacefully in the Sacred Realm. But a closer look at the evidence reveals that this assumption has no solid support in the evidence. Nothing says how the Triforce was used between creation, and the time that the ancient sages hid the entrance to the Sacred Realm. For all we know, the Triforce could have been used, and studied, many times over the intervening centuries, or perhaps even millenia. Only when the ancient sages realized that the Triforce could do terrible things in the wrong hands did they think to hide it. And they hid it in the best place they could think of: its original hiding place, the Sacred Realm. In any case, the location of the entrance to the Sacred Realm had to at least be known. How could the ancient sages have hidden the entrance otherwise? A further point is, how could there be so many legends and knowledge about the Triforce if it had never been used or observed?

How much history happens prior to OoT? How long after creation does OoT happen?

OoT is generally regarded as the first Zelda game in the continuity. However, in the game it is apparent that a long time has passed between the Creation of Hyrule and the events of the game. There are many references within the game to Hyrule�s long history, such as Great Deku Tree�s long service as spiritual guardian, Zora�s long loyalty to the Royal Family� Moreover, the legends of Hyrule�s creation or the Triforce are just kept by a few chosen ones, especially the Royal Family.

It�s possible to draw evidence from Ocarina of Time, A Link to the Past and Twilight Princess to rebuild some of the events that happened between the creation of the world and OoT. As said in all three games, after the creation of the world, the goddesses left the Triforce as a symbol of their power in the Sacred Realm. The world lived in harmony, unaware of the existence of the Sacred Realm. But rumours of its existence spread, and, according to Twilight Princess, a group of people who excelled at magic tried to take control of the Sacred Realm. They were stopped by the goddesses themselves, who sent the Light Spirits against the interlopers. There was a long peace, and it was probably around this time where all the Triforce legends told in OoT originated. Afterwards, the entrance to the Sacred Realm was sealed by the ancient Sages, who built the Temple of Time and forged the Master Sword. The Spiritual Stones and the Ocarina of Time are probably created around this time as well.

Where is the Sacred Realm? Is it the same thing as the Golden Land in ALttP?

Although it�s not apparent from the NOA and PAL versions of the game, the Golden Land and the Sacred Realm are the very same thing, since they are both called �seichi� in Japanese, which can be translated as �Holy Grounds� or �Sacred Region�.

However, the question on the nature of the Sacred Realm is much more complicated. The Sacred Realm is apparently a separate dimension to Hyrule, connected to it through the portals in the temples. The properties of this world are very different from those of Hyrule: it is a mirror that reflects the heart of those entering in it. However, according to the Great Deku Tree, the Sacred Realm was the place from where the goddesses departed to the heavens, so it had to be a place in the same physical dimension as Hyrule. But it is a fact that the Sacred Realm cannot be accessed by simply walking, flying or sailing, as one would access Labrynna from Hyrule, for example; but through a magic portal.
How these two facts are compatible is difficult to determine. It�s very likely that the Sacred Realm as a separate dimension of Hyrule is a creation of the Triforce. This belief is backed by the Great Deku Tree�s statement that the resting place of the Triforce became the Sacred Realm. This Sacred Realm, once a part of Hyrule, became more and more seperate, possibly to prevent conflicts within the Light World, such as the Interlopers Conflict, as told in TP.

Is OoT the first game in the series' internal history?

As of the date this answer is published, fourteen Zelda games have been released. Of them, ten show Ganon in some way, but only two of them (OoT and FSA) show how their particular Ganon was born, while the others just show a Ganon from ancient times, that generally has been sealed for ages. It�s logical that the first game in Ganon�s continuity story is one of those two games. There is an interview, prior to FSA�s release, that points to an early placing of FSA:

Billy Berghammer: How do the Links in The Four Swords Adventure relate to the overall story line? Or is it just a subchapter or something like that?

Eiji Aonuma: The GBA Four Swords Zelda is what we�re thinking as the oldest tale in the Zelda timeline. With this one on the GameCube being a sequel to that, and taking place sometime after that.

But the game doesn�t seem to support this point of view, since Zelda calls Ganon �ancient demon reborn�, which many interpret as an indication that he wasn�t the first Ganon of Hyrule�s history, but a reincarnation of a former one. In OoT, however, there is no sign that its Ganon is a reincarnation. Most storyline theorists conclude from here that OoT is the first story to portray Ganon.

This doesn�t mean that OoT is the first game in the continuity of the series, since there are four Zelda games that do not show Ganon: LA, MM, FS and TMC. LA and MM cannot come before OoT because they are sequels to ALttP and OoT, respectively. FS cannot come before OoT for similar reasons, since it is said to happen mere months before FSA, which most likely comes after OoT. However, it is less certain whether TMC can come before OoT. Some place it before OoT because it is said within the game to be Link�s first adventure in Hyrule, and tells the origin of Link�s trademark hat. On the other hand, others think it must go after OoT, because of its strong ties with FS and FSA. This complicated issue is treated in depth in this article.

Main Game Questions

Do the Kokiri live forever?

Anything dealing with the nature of the OoT Races is, by definition, highly speculative, because very little detail is given about them. The issue of the Kokiri�s immortality is no different, because it�s based on very few quotes, which do not give enough detail.

�That's because the Kokiri never grow up!�. This is the only evidence we have for the hypothesis that says they are immortal. But �never growing up� is not necessarily indicative of immortality, and Kokiri seem to be aware of that: they don�t go out of the Forest because the Great Deku Tree says they will die if they go out, they hide in their houses when the forest is invaded by dangerous creatures� From this, it seems very likely that they can, at least, die from unnatural causes. This is confirmed in TWW, where Wind Sage Fado is killed by Ganondorf�s minions, proving Kokiri�s mortality.

As for the natural immortality issue, nothing can be known from OoT, since the time between Child and Adult OoT is not enough to see any difference. It is, however, very important this quote by the Great Deku Tree in TWW: �Once upon a time, long ago, the Koroks took on human forms, but when they came to live on the sea, they took these shapes.� Having checked all five European translations (English, French, German, Italian and Spanish), it is interesting to note that the Spanish version is the only one makes explicit mention of Koroks changing from humans to spirit through generations, while the others leave the wording ambiguous. Because of this, it can be interpreted in two equally valid ways:

1 - The same Koroks from TWW used to have human appearances (Kokiri), but after a long time in the sea, they took a different appearance

2 - The ancestors of the Koroks from TWW were Kokiri, and after many generations, they took the Korok forms.

The exact meaning of this is important to determine whether the Kokiri are immortal, since if hypothesis 1 is correct, we can know they, at least, have very long life spans, and if possibility 2 is correct, it�s certain that Kokiri are not immortal (and that they somehow reproduce).

To determine which interpretation is more correct, it�s worth noting that Makar refers to his ancestors. Apparently, this is an argument for the second possibility, but these quotes are possibly a mistranslation, since only the English and German translation say specifically �ancestors�, while the Spanish and Italian versions refer to Makar�s predecessor and the French version to the �ancient ones�

What is the owl 's true identity?

According to a gossip stone in the Sacred Forest Meadow, "the owl named Kaepora Gaebora is the reincarnation of an ancient Sage." This would explain how he knows about the old legends, and why he is helping Link on his quest.

The above quote is usually interpreted to mean that the ancient sage in question died long ago, and is living again in the body of an owl. However, another interesting theory is that the owl is actually Rauru. Rauru is an ancient sage, and his guardian role and knowledge fit perfectly with the owl's. It is likely that Rauru is spirit, which means he is not confined to his "body" in the Chamber of Sages. A good example of how this works can be seen in how the King of Hyrule controls the King of Red Lions in TWW. While the King has some kind of "body" in Hyrule, on the surface world he controls the boat. This can be seen as either the King's spirit entering the boat, or the King's spirit controlling the boat from afar. Either possibility is equally applicable to the owl in OoT.

However, there is evidence against the theory that he is one of the ancient Sages that built the Temple of Time. When Link gets the Silver Gauntlets as a child in the Spirit Temple, the owl says: �Even I thought that the tales of a boy who could travel back and forth through time was merely a legend.� If the owl was one of the ancient Sages, it would know that only one worthy of the title �Hero of Time� would be able to pull the Master Sword, as said by Rauru. Therefore, it seems more likely that the owl has no connection to Rauru. It�s possible then that he�s just a reincarnation of one of the other ancient Sages, not an ancient Sage himself. In that case, it�s possible he is the reincarnation of the Sage of Spirit, since the only area where he�s seen in the adult half of the game is the Desert Colossus. It�s also possible that he was a reincarnation of a sage from antiquity, with no relation to the Temple of Time.

Who were the Sheikah and why have they died out?

Very little is known about the Sheikah. This mysterious race is best known through their ninja look, their red eyes, and their total devotion to the Hylian Royal Family. But there are many unsolved mysteries around them.

The "shadow folk", the shadows of Hylians, are nothing more than a legend for most people. Sheikah are said to have died out, and no-one has seen any since the ending of the Fierce War, save for Impa, who is quickly identified as a Sheikah by some of the Hylians in the Market.

Twilight Princess gives a explanation on the disappearance of Sheikah. It says that their numbers dwindled during the prolonged wars, presumably the Fierce Wars. This explanation might not be totally consistent with the OoT script, which claims the Sheikah have disappeared in the peace period.

How do Gerudo reproduce if they are all women?

There are three different hypotheses on the Gerudo reproduction. These three hypotheses are:

� The Gerudo can only reproduce with the leader of their tribe, the only male.
� The Gerudo can only reproduce magically.
� The Gerudo use male Hylians to reproduce.

The first hypothesis is based in the belief that the Gerudos are based on the harem organization. There are plenty of similarities between harems and the Gerudo tribe. The harems and Gerudo tribe both shared a male leader over the many women that form the harem/tribe and no men apart from the leader can enter in the tribe/harem. There is also a clear Eastern influence in their architecture, in the way they dress, in their weapons�

According to this hypothesis, the Gerudo would only breed with their leader, and would depend on him to avoid extinction. But this hypothesis has very big flaws. First, if for whatever reason the Gerudo King dies before being able to have a male descendant, the Gerudos must face the extinction. Second, only one male child is born every 100 years, and it doesn�t seem likely that Gerudos have such a long life span. Third, the Gerudos celebrate Ganondorf�s seal in OoT, and fire him out of the tribe in FSA; these are illogical behaviours if they depend on Ganondorf to reproduce. And last, but not least, it�s inconceivable that Nintendo, a children friendly company, would create a race for which mother-son and father-daughter incest would be obligatory.

The hypothesis that says that Gerudos reproduce magically is much more far-fetched, since it basically says that two female Gerudo can have a child by using magic. The argument for this theory is that both Kotake and Koume are Ganondorf�s mothers. But this is hardly an argument for this theory since, according to Navi they are Ganondorf�s surrogate mothers, not his real mothers.

The third hypothesis is the most likely. It says that Gerudos are dependant on other races to continue existing. This is suggested by a Gossip Stone, that says �They say that Gerudos sometimes come to Hyrule Castle Town to look for boyfriends.�. Though no more evidence is given on the Hylian-Gerudo interbreed, it seems very likely this is the way they usually reproduce, because it�s also the way the legendary Amazons, on which the Gerudo are largely based, reproduce. It also offers an explanation on why the Carpenters were imprisoned by the Gerudo.

Some have pointed out some objection to this theory. The first is that if Gerudos depended on Hylians to reproduce, their blood would become thinner, and they would eventually disappear. This argument is flawed because it doesn�t take into account that through Hardy-Weinberg�s Law, the proportions of Gerudos and Hylian would remain the same, and because it doesn�t take into account that Zelda is a game with magic, where genetics are not necessarily taken into account. The second objection is that Gerudo-Hylian descendants just show an intermediate version of those two races. It is alleged that Malon, who is a ginger haired girl (like all Gerudos), but with Hylian ears, is a crossbreed between a Gerudo and Talon. He even says this when Link wears the Gerudo Mask: �Hey, that reminds me of my wife... On second thought, it doesn't... It doesn't look like her at all!�. However, it seems that this is just a joke with no storyline importance, since he makes the same comment when Link is wearing the Goron Mask.

It is most likely that Nintendo just introduced an all-female race without thinking too much about the way they would reproduce. But the most likely explanation on this issue is that they breed with Hylians, since it�s suggested in-game and it is consistent with the way Amazons reproduce.

What happened during the seven years Link was asleep?

�You're a terrible man to have kept me waiting for these seven long years...�. There are many quotes in OoT referring to the seven years Link spent in the Sacred Realm. However, it�s very difficult to draw the evidence from them, since the information given is often scarce and repetitive. Here I will explain a plausible reconstruction of the events that happened then.

After Link was sealed in the Sacred Realm, Ganondorf got inside the Temple of Light, through the Temple of Time. How he was able to do this is not known, but he might have either attacked the Hyrule Castle Town, like he did when he attempted to get the Ocarina of Time, or was able to sneak using magical arts. Either way is possible, and determining which one is true is mostly irrelevant.

When Ganondorf touched the Triforce, it divided into its three parts, and the Sacred Realm became a world of monsters through his power. As said by Rauru, his evil radiated from the five temples of Hyrule, and his evil mood spread across the whole land. If one interprets this as the Imprisoning War, then the Knights of Hyrule fought against the evil from the Sacred Realm, and were wiped out.

Afterwards, Ganondorf emerged from the Sacred Realm, conquered Hyrule Castle, and tried to conquer the rest of Hyrule from there. He sent his Phantom to the Forest Temple, revived the ancient dragon Volvagia, cursed the Zora�s Domain and created the shadow spirit Bongo Bongo. He may have also sent Gerudo, commanded by the brainwashed Nabooru, against the Hylians (�Nabooru's gang of thieves stands for cruelty and brutality.�). Meanwhile, he attempted to find the other holders of the Triforce parts, with no result, since Link was in the Sacred Realm, and Zelda was in hiding.

Why is Rauru still around if he's an ancient sage? Is he a spirit?

Rauru is the only surviving member of the ancient Sages. He seems to have lived for many centuries, since the existence of the Triforce is just a legend and Rauru himself claims to have helped build the Temple of Time "ages ago." Given that Sages are certainly not immortal this raises a question: Why is Rauru different? For this question there might be three possible answers:

� Rauru is just a spirit that lives inside the Chamber of Sages. Those who think this, could also say Kaepora Gaebora is Rauru's earthly counterpart and reincarnation. This fits in with the theory that only spirits can exist in the Chamber of Sages. (Only Link's spirit is sealed in the Chamber of Sages, and one can speculate that the other five sages have died, something the game implies, although they are seen alive in the ending.) But this possibility raises more questions, such us why Rauru remains as spirit, while the others don�t, or whether a spirit can really be a Sage (something that TWW and TP seem to contradict).

� All Sages are immortal while they are inside the Chamber of Sages. Rauru implies that his power is greater inside Chamber of Sages (�My power now has only little influence, even in this Sacred Realm... Namely, this Chamber of Sages.�). So it is also possible that this very power is what keeps him alive. Another evidence for this theory is that Rauru is the only Sage that doesn't go out of the Chamber of Sages.

� Rauru doesn't belong to Hyrule but to the Sacred Realm, and because of this he's immortal. This is supported by the fact that he doesn't return to Hyrule like the other Sages. It also points towards this the fact that, just like the Forest Sage comes from the forests, the Sage of Light should come from the Sacred Realm.

More evidence about Rauru's immortality comes to light in TWW where a new immortal character appears: The King of Hyrule Daphnes Nohansen Hyrule. Parallels between Rauru and the King of Hyrule are easily found, just like their similar appearance or their role in the game.

Is Sheik merely Zelda's disguise, or is there more to him?

Very little can be said with certainty about the true nature of Sheik. This mysterious character, who claims to be the survivor of Sheikahs, and fights alongside Link, is eventually revealed to be nobody less than Princess Zelda, the legitimate sovereign of Hyrule. The real question is, �What is the real nature of Zelda�s disguise?�. There is very little canonic evidence on this topic. We only know that the disguise was good enough to hide Zelda from the nearly all-knowing Ganondorf, and that it most likely uses the magic of the Triforce of Wisdom, since its crest appears on Sheik�s hand just before he transforms into Zelda. But anything else is highly speculative.

There are at least three sensible possibilities on the origin of her custom:

� Sheikah outfits and powers are a general trait of the Royal Family. The evidence for this possibility is that some characters of the Royal Family have shown Sheikah outfits as well (Zelda in TP) and that Sheikahs have served the Royal Family. On the other hand, if that were the case, it would be expectable for Zelda to disguise as a Sheikah, something that would ruin the purpose of the disguise.

� Either Impa or other Sheikahs taught Zelda how to become a Sheikah. This is backed by the non-canonic OoT Manga, which shows Impa transforming child Zelda into a male Sheikah.

� Zelda took on the persona of a male sheikah, using her magic to create the disguise.

There is much evidence for the second explanation, at least in part; Zelda shows a knowledge of Sheikah magic and techniques, which were likely taught to her by Impa.

Paradoxically, the non-canonical sources seem to be much more specific on Sheik�s nature. Firstly, we have the already mentioned OoT Manga. According to the manga, Impa put Zelda�s consciousness to sleep to become a male Sheikah, betrayed by the Royal family, and willing to serve the Evil King. The implication of the manga is clear, Sheik is much more than a mere disguise, but a male Sheikah, with a different aspect, and consciousness. However, the Sheik�s Trophy in the Nintendo fighting game Super Smash Bros. Melee seems to contradict this belief, by calling Sheik �she� and treating her as nothing more as a simple, yet ingenious disguise (�It's believed that she's not just a quick-change artist, but rather that she is able to instantaneously alter her clothing and her eye and skin color by using her magical skills.�).

Ocarina of Time itself gives no evidence that Sheik is any more than a disguise, albeit a very effective and probably magical one. Any other explanation is a result of less canonical sources such as the manga and fan speculation.

Do Kokiri reproduce?

This question is clearly answered by one of the Kokiri, who says: �That's because the Great Deku Tree is our father, the forest guardian, and he gave life to all of us Kokiri!�. It is concluded from here that Kokiri are a creation of the Great Deku Tree. But it is doubted by some whether this is the origin of all Kokiri. It is thought that the Great Deku Tree created a few Kokiri, while the others are descendants of these original Kokiri.

However, there is evidence within the games that this is not the case. First, with Nintendo being a family friendly company, it�s unconceivable that they would make a race of child-like creatures reproduce between themselves. Second, they have no family relations between them, other than that of brothers and sisters. Third, in TWW, no Korok is said to have been descended from a Kokiri.

The last point is not apparent from the English version, because Makar, as a Korok, speaks of his ancestors. He is referring to Fado as one of his ancestors, which would mean that Kokiri can have descendants. But it is possible that this quote is a mistranslation, since, as said above, only the German translation says �ancestors�.

Ultimately, the evidence is inconclusive.

Ending Questions

Why are the Kokiri in Lon Lon Ranch? Won't they die if they leave the forest?

It seems likely that the developers, when creationg this cutscene, simply forgot that Kokiri are supposed to die when they abandon the forest. However since the ending scene is canonical, Kokiri�s presence in the Ranch should be explained. It is a known fact that, according to the Great Deku Tree �if a Kokiri leaves the wood, he or she will die�. Therefore, there are no Kokiri in OoT outside of the forest, except for Saria, who is an exception, since she is the Sage of Forest. But this rule is broken in the ending. Because of this, there are several possibilities regarding Kokiri�s survival outside of the forest:

� Kokiri do not die immediately after they leave the forest. Like a plant which needs water, but doesn�t die except after a long period of draught, Kokiri only die if they lose contact with the forest for a long time. Because of this, they are able to abandon the forest to join the rest of Hyrule in the celebration for Ganon�s downfall, but just for limited time.

� Kokiri die if they abandon the forest, but this is a special occasion, and this doesn�t happen. In that case, it�s most likely that the Great Deku Tree sprout would use his magic to protect his children, but just for a limited time, so that they can go to celebrate with the rest of Hyrule.

� Kokiri lose their agelessness if they leave the forest, allowing them to age and, eventually, die from old age.

� Kokiri do not die if they abandon the forest, it�s just a lie invented by the Great Deku Tree to prevent the children of the forest to expose themselves to the dangers outside of the forest.

There is no conclusive evidence for these theories or any others, and any interpretation is purely speculative.

What happened to Navi? Why did she leave?

Navi is one of the most underdeveloped main characters of OoT. Apart from the beginning, she has no personal lines, which might help to explain why she goes immediately after Link lies the Master Sword to rest.

A likely explanation for her departure is that, once she finished her mission with Link, she had to return to the Kokiri Forest with the other fairies. As said by Navi, the reason why they are together is that the Great Deku Tree has asked her to accompany Link in his journey to save Hyrule, and when this journey comes to an end, it�s the time for Link and Navi to say good bye, as happens with the other sidekicks in MM, TWW, TMC and TP. If we consider the �lost friend� in MM to be Navi, there is more evidence for this interpretation, because Link becoming a legend seems to be the cause of the departure of Link�s beloved friend.

This interpretation is backed by the OoT manga as well, since it is said that �Navi can return now in peace to the forest�, meaning that she has already fulfilled her function, and can now go back in peace.

Is it true that Link has the Triforce of Courage symbol on his hand in the child ending? What does this imply?

Well it is clear that this is not a simple rumour, but a fact, as shown in this picture:

user posted image

The implication of this is clear, that the splitting of the Triforce has already happened in the Child Timeline. The alternative would be that Link has brought his Triforce shard from the Adult Timeline, but that would mean that there are two Triforces of Courage in the Child Timeline (Link�s and the one in the Sacred Realm), and none in the Adult one.