12th January 2005, 3:20 PM
I think when they put a Link on a boat it was because he needed to use a boat to see other lands, not to give you a hint that it's the begining of Link's Awakening. Dont forget that both Oracle games happen in another demension, whether it's the Sacred Realm or not, the game litteraly tells you that the stories do not take place on the earthly realm.
I'll list the stories in the order that i think is the correct timeline, in what I think is the chronological order:
THE MINISH CAP
A long, long time ago...
When the world was on the verge of being swallowed by shadow...
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.
When the peace had been restored, the people enshrined that blade with care.
(dunno if this is from the instruction booklet or the game)
FOUR SWORDS ADVENTURES
I have to go find my booklet for that one, I’ll post this later.
OCARINA OF TIME
A long time ago...
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.
Din, with her strong flaming arms, cultivated the land to create the earth.
Nayru poured her wisdom onto the earth to give the spirit of law to the
world. Farore's rich soul created all life forms who would uphold the law.
These three great goddesses returned to the Heavens, leaving behind the
Golden Sacred Triforce. Since then, the Triforce has become the basis for
Hyrule's providence, where the Triforce stood became sacred land.
In the vast, deep forest of Hyrule, the Great Deku Tree served as the
guardian spirit. The children of the forest, the Kokiri, lived with the Great
Deku Tree. Each Kokiri had his or her own guardian fairy, except one. His
name was Link.
Early one morning, Link was having a nightmare. It was the same nightmare he
had every night. During a storm, Link would find himself standing in front of
a mysterious castle. A rider on horseback, carrying a girl, would race by.
The girl would look at Link as if to say something. Then, another rider would
appear. This big man clad in black would look down menacingly at Link. Link
would then awaken.
"Link! Hey, get up, Link! The Great Deku Tree wants to talk to you!"
As Link opened his eyes, he saw a fairy floating in front of him. This
fairy's name was Navi. Navi was sent to summon Link to the Great Deku Tree.
"Oh Navi, thou hast returned!" said the Deku Tree. "Thank you, Link, for
coming. Thy slumber these past moons must have been restless, and full of
nightmares. A vile climate pervades this world. Verily, ye have felt it. The
time has come to test thine courage. I have been cursed. I need
you to dispel the curse with your wisdom and courage. Art thou prepared?"
Link entered the Great Deku Tree and broke the curse.
"Well done, Link! I knew that ye were worthy of carrying out my wishes. A
wicked man of the desert cast this dreadful curse on me. Employing his vile,
sorcerous energies, the evil one is searching for the Sacred Realm connected
to Hyrule. For it is there that one will find the divine relic. The Triforce,
that contains the essence of the gods. Whoever
holds the Triforce can make their wishes come true. Thou must never allow the
desert man to lay his hands on the Sacred Triforce. Thou must never suffer
that man to enter the Sacred Realm of Legend. Link, go now to Hyrule Castle.
There, ye will surely meet the Princess of Destiny. Present this stone to the
Princess. I have foreseen that she will
understand everything."
The Great Deku Tree gave Link the Spiritual Stone of the Forest. Before
dying, the Deku Tree's last words were, "The future depends on thee, Link.
Thou art courageous."
MAJORA'S MASK
In the land of Hyrule, there echoes a legend. A legend held dearly by the
Royal Family that tells of a boy...
A boy who, after battling evil and saving Hyrule, crept away from that land
that had made him a legend...
Done with the battles he once waged across time, he embarked on a journey. A
secret and personal journey...
A journey in search of a beloved and invaluable friend...
A friend with whom he parted ways when he finally fulfilled his heroic
destiny and took his place among legends...
ORACLE OF SEASONS (note that both oracle games happen at the same time in separate dimensions)
One day in Hyrule, a strange force drew Link deep within Hyrule castle,
where he found the Triforce resting, glittering brilliantly as it awaited him.
"Link... Link... Accept the quest of the Triforce!"
Suddenly, Link was enveloped in a circle of light, and the next moment,
he vanished.
When Link awoke, he found himself in a forest he had never seen.
Confused, he looked around blankly at the unfamiliar surroundings. He heard
pleasant music and laughing voices echoing from deep within the woods. Link
followed the inviting voices until he came upon a traveling troupe of actors.
He was immediately struck by the beauty of a young woman who was dancing about
in circles. When the girl noticed Link, she smiled brightly and called to
him.
"Welcome to Holodrum. I am Din, the dancer," she said with glee. "Would
you like to dance with me? Don't be shy. It will be more fun if we dance
together." She took him by the hand, and he reluctantly began to dance.
Unfortunately, this blissful moment did not last long. The sky suddenly
went dark, and there was a loud crash of thunder, followed by a resounding,
thunderous voice.
"I've found you, Din! You can't deceive me by disguising yourself as a
dancer. I am Onox, General of Darkness! Now reveal yourself, Oracle of
Seasons!"
Then a great tornado dropped from the sky and drew near Din, as if to
engulf her.
"Help me, Link!" she cried.
Link was blown back by the tornado as he struggled against its awesome
force, and Din was swept away in the wind...
And then strange things began to happen throughout the land.
When Onox carried off the Oracle of Seasons from the land of Holodrum,
the seasons fell into chaos and the land was deprived of the bountiful gifts
of nature. Life was slowly being drained from the land, and all living things
began to wither.
And so Onox set in motion his plan to gather the power from the withering
land and create a world of total darkness. Will Link be able to rescue Din
from the hand of evil, the General of Darkness?
Such is the quest Link must undertake.
ORACLE OF AGES (note that both oracle games happen at the same time in separate dimensions)
Link awoke one day to find himself deep in strange forest. As he started to
walk through the woods, he heard cries for help coming from just up ahead of
him. Link hurried toward the voice, only to find a group of monsters
surrounding the woman who was screaming. When the monsters saw Link, they
immediately fled.
The woman who was being attacked was none other than Impa, nurse to Hyrule's
Princess Zelda. Impa said she had come to the forest to search for a singer
named Nayru.
"Can't you help me look?" Impa asked. Despite the strange look she gave him,
Link could not refuse her request. Together they found a large stone with a
rune on it. Naturally, Link moved the stone, but Impa wouldn't so much as
lay a hand on it.
As they traveled even deeper into the forest, they found a young woman
singing. Invited to sit by the group of animals that listened to the girl's
song, Link joined in the circle and let the beautiful song fill his ears and
penetrate his heart. This was surely Nayru, the singer Impa was searching
for. Just then, Impa erupted in a cackling laugh.
"Ah ha ha ha ha ha!"
A darkness surrounded Impa, and a frightening shadow lifted from her body.
"Nayru! Oracle of Ages! I, Veran, Sorceress of Shadows, shall make you my
own!"
The shadow that called itself Veran began swooping about the forest before
flying straight into the body of the frightened singer. A blinding light
shone forth from Nayru's body.
When Link's eyes had grown used to the light, he realized that Nayru looked
very strange. Her face seemed veiled in shadow, and her bright smile had
vanished. A piercing, evil gaze had replaced it.
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
"Now the power of the Oracle of Ages is mine! I can travel through time at
will! Now a new age shall begin--an age of shadows!" And with that, Veran
and Nayru vanished.
Nayru was actually the Oracle of Ages who controlled time in this land of
Labrynna. When the oracle was kidnapped, the flow of time in Labrynna was
distorted, and strange things began to happen. Before vanishing, Veran said,
"When the past changes, so does the present." Her plan was to travel to the
past and gather power from the sorrows of the people of Labrynna so that she
could create her age of shadows.
WIND WAKER
Long ago, there existed a kingdom where a golden power lay hidden. One day,
a man of great evil found this power and took for himself, and with it at his
command, he spread darkness across the kingdom. But then, just as all hope
has died, a young boy clothed in green appeared as if from nowhere Wielding a
blade that repelled evil, he sealed the dark one away and gave the land
light. This boy, who traveled through time to save the land, was known as
the Hero of Time. The boy's tale was passed down through generations until
it became legend.
And then a day came when a fell wind began to blow across the kingdom, and
the great evil once again crept forth from the depths of earth. The people
believed that the Hero of Time would again come to save them. But the hero
did not appear...
What became of that kingdom? None remain who know. The memory of the
kingdom vanished, but its legend survived on the wind's breath.
On a certain island it became customary to garb young boys in green when they
come of age. Clothed in the green of fields, they aspire to find heroic
blades and cast evil down. The elders wish only for the youths to know
courage like the hero of legend...
LINK TO THE PAST
----------------------------The Creation of Hyrule-----------------------------
According to the Hylian scrolls, the mythical gods descended from a distant
nebula to the world and created order and life. The God of Power dyed the
mountains red with fire and created land. The God of Wisdom created science and
wizardry and brought order to nature. And the God of Courage, through justice
and vigor, created life - the animals that crawl the land and the birds that
soar in the sky. After the gods had finsihed 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.
Although it was an inanimate object, the Triforce had the power to bestow three
titles which gave the person who received them great powers: "The Forger of
Strength", "The Keeper of Knowledge", and "The Juror of Courage". From its
hiding place in the so-called Golden Land where the Gods placed it, the
Triforce beckoned people from the outside world to seek it in the hope that
someone worthy of these titles would find it. With their magic infused blood,
the Hylian people were endowed with psychic powers and skill in wizardry. It
was also said that their long, pointed ears enabled them to hear special
messages from the gods, so they were heldin high esteem by many people in
Hyrule. Their descendants settled in various parts of the world and passed on
their knowledge and magical lore to all people. But in its passing, the lore
was often distorted or lost altogether.
---------------------------Gates To The Golden Land----------------------------
In Hyrule, there are many Hylian buildings which are mentioned repeatedly in
the legends. These buildings, which now lie in ruin, pale shadows of their
former splendor, are closely tied to the Triforce. Some were even said to house
the Triforce...
If it were only a symbol of the gods, the Triforce would be coveted by many.
But a verse from the Book of Mudora (a collection of Hylian legends and lore)
made the Triforce even more desirable:
In a realm beyond sight,
The Sky shines gold, not blue.
There, the Triforce's might
Makes mortal dreams come true.
Many aggressively searched for the wish-granting Triforce, but no one, not even
the Hylian sages, was sure of its location; the knowledge had been lost over
time. Some said the Triforce lay under the desert, others said it was in the
cemetary in the shadow of Death Mountain, 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.
One day, quite by accident, a gate to the Golden Land of the Triforce was
opened by a gang of thieves skilled in the black arts. This land was like no
other. In the gathering twilight, the Triforce shone from its resting place
high above the world. In a long running battle, the leader of the thieves
fought his way past his followers in a lust for the Golden Power. After
vanquishing his own followers, the leader stood triumphant over the Triforce
and grasped it with his blood- stained hands. He heard a whispered voice: "If
thou has a strong desire or dream, wish for it..." And in reply, the roaring
laughter of the brigand leader echoed across time and space and even reached
the far-off land of Hyrule. The name of this king of thieves is Ganondorf
Dragmire, but he is known by his alias, Mandrag Ganon, which means Ganon of the
Enchanted Thieves.
------------------------------The Imprisoning War------------------------------
I do not know what Ganon wished for from the Triforce. However, in time evil
power begain to flow from the Golden Land and greedy men were drawn there to
become members of Ganon's army. Black clouds permanently darkened the sky, and
many disasters beset Hyrule. The lord of Hyrule sent for the Seven Wise Men and
the Knights Of Hyrule, and ordered them to seal the enterance to the Golden
Land.
The Triforce, being an inanimate object, cannot judge between good and evil.
Therefore, it could not know that Ganon's wishes were evil; it merely granted
them. Suspecting that Ganon's power was based on the Triforce's magic, the
people of Hyrule forged a sword resistant to magic which could repulse even
powers granted by the Triforce. This mighty weapon became known as the blade of
evil's bane, or the Master Sword. It was so powerful that only one who was pure
of heart and strong of body could wield it. As the Seven Wise Men searched for
a valient person to take up the Master Sword, Ganon's evil army swarmed from
the tainted Golden Land into Hyrule and attacked the castle. The wise men and
the Knights Of Hyrule combined forces to wage war on this evil horde.
The Knights took the full brunt of the fierce attack, and although they fought
courageously many a brave soul was lost that day, However, their lives were not
lost in vain, for they bought precious time for the Seven Wise Men to magically
seal ganon in the Golden land. All of Hyrule rejoiced at the victory that
upheld peace and order over Ganon's evil and chaos. Thsi war, which had claimed
many lives, became known as the Imprisoning War in stories told in later
centuries.
----------------------------The Coming of the Wizard---------------------------
Many centuries have passed since the Imprisoning War. The land of Hyrule healed
its wounds and the people lived in peace for a long time. Memories of the
vicious Imprisoning War faded over the generations...
So it is no surprise that no one was prepared for the new disasters that have
recently struck Hyrule. Pestilence and drought, uncontrollable even by magic,
revaged the land. The king of Hyrule, after counsel with his sages, ordered an
investigation of the Imprisoned Dark World (as the Golden land had come to be
known) but the wise men's seal was apparently intact. he offered rewards for
anyone who could find the source of these troubles. In answer to these summons
a stranger named Agahnim came and quelled the disasters witha previously unseen
form of magic. As a reward, the king gave him a new position as chief advisor
and heir to the Seven masses proclaimed him their hero. Peace had returned to
Hyrule... or had it? Of late, rumors have traveled their whispering path with
alarming frequency. Rumors saying Agahnim now rules the country with his
magic... Rumors of strange magical experiments in the castle tower at night...
The people of Hyrule were gripped by dread.
-----------------------------------Prologue------------------------------------
One night, a girl's voice awakens you from your sleep.
She telepathically pleads.
You jump out of bed not knowing whether the voice was part of a dream or
reality. Upon leaving your bed, you find your uncle, who should be fast asleep
at this time, preparing to go out, girded for battle.
"I'll be back by moring," he says as he departs. "Don't leave the house."
You watch him leave with the family sword in hand and shield on arm. This night
is like no other... Who is Zelda? Where had your uncle gone and for what
reason?
And so, on an ill-fated night, a new chapter in the legend of Hyrule's hero
begins- a new chapter in The Legend of Zelda!
YOUR QUEST AS THE LEGENDARY HERO!
The Golden land of the Triforce has become a Dark World corrupted by Ganon's
evil wishes. However, this is not enough for Ganon; he also wants to make
Hyrule, the Light World, his own. To do this, he needs to break the Seal Of The
Seven Wise Men.
But he cannot do this with his power alone. He must also use the life force of
the descendants of the Seven Wise Men. With Agahnim the wizard as his pawn,
this is about to become a reality (thus the late night experiments in the
castle tower...).
You, as the legendary Hero of Hyrule, must enter the Dark World on a quest to
save the maidens that Agahnim has sent there. The aim of the game is to solve
the many mysteries and adventures that await you along the way to rescuing the
maidens, defeating Ganon, and returning peace to Hyrule.
LINK'S AWAKENING
Though you fulfilled the Hyrulian prophecy of the Legendary Hero and
destroyed the evil tyrant Ganon, the land of Hyrule enjoyed only a precarious
peace. "Who knows what threats may arise from Ganon's ashes?" the restless
people murmured as they knitted their brows and shook their heads. Ever
vigilant, you decided to journey away from Hyrule on a quest for
enlightenment, in search of wisdom that would make you better able to
withstand the next threat to your homeland. Months of difficult travel
passed. After a long and fruitful voyage, you breathed deeply the sea spray
from the deck of the ship that carried you home to Hyrule. But your
homecoming was not to be. Suddenly a squall struck your ship, and though you
valiantly fought the waves, a lightning bolt reduced your ship to splinters.
Your world faded to black as you sink into the darkness of the storm-tossed
sea with the remains of your craft. But in the cold darkness of the deep, you
heard a comforting voice that reminded you of home. It was the voice of
Princess Zelda! "You're going to be all right!" the voice said. "What a
relief!"
You opened your eyes to find Princess Zelda standing over you - or was it?!
Actually, it turned out to be a woman named Marin. She explained that you had
drifted with the wreckage of your ship to the shores of Koholint Island. This
mysterious island was unique for the gigantic egg, which crowned its central
mountain. It was said that a mythical creature, the Wind Fish, lay asleep
inside the egg.
You set out in search of your sword and other gear that might have washed up
on the beach with you. As you stood in the surf with your recovered sword, a
strange owl suddenly appeared and hooted this riddle:
"Awaken the Wind Fish and all will be answered."
"What is the Wind Fish?" you wonder... And what did its awakening portend?
Your most mysterious adventure yet, following the riddle of the Wind Fish
throughout the uncharted island of Koholint, is about to unfold.
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA
A long, long time ago the World was in an age of Chaos. In the middle
of this chaos, in a little kingdom in the land of Hyrule, a legend was
being banded down from generation to generation, the legend of the
"Triforce", golden triangles possessing mystical powers.
One day, an evil army attacked this peaceful little kingdom and stole
the Triforce of Power. This army was led by Gannon, the powerful
Prince of Darkness who sought to plunge the world into fear and
darkness under his rule. Fearing his wicked rule, Zelda, the princess
of this kingdom, split up the Triforce of Wisdom into eight fragments
and hid them throughout the realm to save the last remaining Triforce
from the clutches of the evil Gannon. At the same time, she commanded
her most trustworthy nursemaid, Impa, to secretly escape into the land
and go find a man with enough courage to destroy the evil Gannon.
Upon hearing this, Gannon grew angry, imprisoned the princess, and sent
out a party in search of Impa.
Braving forests and mountains, Impa fled for her life from her
pursuers. As she reached the very limit of her energy she found
herself surrounded by Gannon's evil henchmen. Cornered! What could
she do?... But wait!
All was not lost. A young lad appeared. He skillfully drove off
Gannon's henchmen, and saved Impa from a fate worse than death.
His name was Link. During his travels he had come across Impa and
Gannon's henchmen. Impa told Link the whole story of the Princess Zelda
and the evil Gannon. Burning with a sense of justice, Link resolved to
save Zelda, but Gannon was a powerful opponent. He held the Triforce of
Power. And so, in order to fight off Gannon, Link had to bring the
scattered eight fragments of the Triforce of Wisdom together to
rebuild the mystical Triangle.
If he couldn't do this, there would be no chance Link could fight his
way into Death Mountain where Gannon lived. Can Link really destroy
Gannon and save the Princess Zelda? Only your skill can answer that
question. Good luck. Use the Triforce wisely.
THE ADVENTURES OF LINK
At the end of a fierce fight, Link overthrew Ganon, took back the Triforce
and rescued Princess Zelda. However, is it all really finished? Many
seasons have passed since then. Hyrule was on the road to ruin. The power
that the vile heart of Ganon has left behind was causing chaos and disorder
in Hyrule. What's more, even after the fall of Ganon, some of his underlings
remained waiting for Ganon's return. The Key to Ganon's return was the
blood of Link - the valiant lad who overthrew the King of Evil. Ganon would
be revived by sacrificing Link and sprinkling his blood on the ashes of
Ganon.
Meanwhile, Link remained in the little kingdom of Hyrule and lent his hand
to its restoration. But circumstances did not look very good. One day, a
strange mark, exactly like the crest of the kingdom, appeared on the back of
Link's hand as he approached his 16th birthday. The worried Link, went to
Impa, Princess Zelda's nursemaid who was shocked and frightened when she
saw the birthmark. When she regained her composure, she took Link to the
North Castle.
There was a door in North Castle called "the door that does not open." Only
the descendants of the Impa family who served the king knew how to open the
door. Impa took Link's left hand and pressed the back of it against the
door. There was a sound of a locking falling open, the door slowly creaked
open and there on an alter in the middle of the room lay a beautiful woman.
"Here lies Princess Zelda." Impa began to speak calmly.
"Link, the time has come when I must tell you the legend of Zelda handed
down in Hyrule. It is said that a long ago, when Hyrule was one country, a
great ruler maintained the peace in Hyrule using the Triforce. However, the
king too was a child of man and he died. Then, the prince of the kingdom
should have become and king and inherited everything, but he could inherit
the Triforce only in part. The Prince searched everywhere for the missing
parts, but could not find them. Then, a magician close to the king brought
him some unexpected news. Before he died, the king had said something about
the Triforce to only the younger sister of the prince, Princess Zelda. The
prince immediately questioned the princess, but she wouldn't tell him
anything. After the prince, the magician threatened to put the princess into
an eternal sleep if she did not talk, but still, she said nothing."
"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. At the same time, the magician also fell down and breathed his
last."
"In his grief, the prince placed the princess in this room. He hoped that
someday she would come back to life. So that this tragedy would never be
forgotten, he ordered that every female child born into the royal household
shall be given the name Zelda."
From the stand next to the alter where Princess Zelda lay in a deep sleep,
Impa took six crystals and a scroll with the same crest and handed them to
Link. "For generations, my family has been handed down these things which
have been set aside for a time when a great king will come. They are
written in an ancient script that no-one can read now. But you who have the
crest may be able to read it. It is said that the key to uniting the
Triforce is hidden there. Now it is time for you to read it."
Link glanced at the scroll half in doubt, but what do you know? Although he
had never seen the letters before, he found that he could read them as if
they were talking to him.
This was written on the scroll. "You who'll control the Triforce of the
future. I shall hand down to you the secrets of the Triforce. There are
three kinds of Triforce - Power, Wisdom, and Courage. When these three are
brought together, the Triforce will show its maximum power. Of the three, I
left Power and Wisdom in the kingdom. But the Triforce Courage I have hidden
for a reason."
"Not everybody can use the Triforce. It requires a strong character with no
evil thoughts. But an inborn special quality is also necessary.
Unfortunately, I have not found such a person during my lifetime."
"Therefore, I have decided to cast a spell on all of Hyrule. A crest will
appear on a young man with the character who has been brought up correctly,
has gained many kinds of experiences and reached a certain age. But, what
will happen if someone else uses the Triforce before then? If it misused, it
will produce many evils."
"The Triforce of Courage is hidden in the Great Palace in the Valley of
Death on the largest island in Hyrule. However, to enter there you must
first fight the guardians and undo the "binding force." When you have
defeated the guardians, which I made to prevent enemies from invading the
six palaces in Hyrule, set a crystal in the forehead of the statue you find.
When you have set crystals in all of the statues in the six palaces, the
"binding force" places on the Valley of Death will be removed and you will
be able to enter the great palace. There, you must fight the last guardian.
And you can obtain the Triforce only by defeating the guardian."
"There's nothing to fear. You are the one to get the Triforce. You are the
beacon of hope for Hyrule."
Impa implored Link, who raised his head slowly after reading the scroll.
"The magic spell cast upon Princess Zelda will sure to be broken if the
Triforce is used."
"Please, Link. Unite the Triforce and save the princess. And bring back
peace to Hyrule."
Link nodded silently in approval, and left the room after taking a long
glance at the altar.
Then, with a magical sword in his left hand and a shield in his right, he set
off alone on his long travels. At that time, Ganon's underlings were calling
up new allies from the Underworld, and were beginning to work devilishly
toward the revival of Ganon.
So there you have it, everything is in order and nothing has changed in the game series from the instruction booklet's stories.
I'll list the stories in the order that i think is the correct timeline, in what I think is the chronological order:
THE MINISH CAP
A long, long time ago...
When the world was on the verge of being swallowed by shadow...
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.
When the peace had been restored, the people enshrined that blade with care.
(dunno if this is from the instruction booklet or the game)
FOUR SWORDS ADVENTURES
I have to go find my booklet for that one, I’ll post this later.
OCARINA OF TIME
A long time ago...
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.
Din, with her strong flaming arms, cultivated the land to create the earth.
Nayru poured her wisdom onto the earth to give the spirit of law to the
world. Farore's rich soul created all life forms who would uphold the law.
These three great goddesses returned to the Heavens, leaving behind the
Golden Sacred Triforce. Since then, the Triforce has become the basis for
Hyrule's providence, where the Triforce stood became sacred land.
In the vast, deep forest of Hyrule, the Great Deku Tree served as the
guardian spirit. The children of the forest, the Kokiri, lived with the Great
Deku Tree. Each Kokiri had his or her own guardian fairy, except one. His
name was Link.
Early one morning, Link was having a nightmare. It was the same nightmare he
had every night. During a storm, Link would find himself standing in front of
a mysterious castle. A rider on horseback, carrying a girl, would race by.
The girl would look at Link as if to say something. Then, another rider would
appear. This big man clad in black would look down menacingly at Link. Link
would then awaken.
"Link! Hey, get up, Link! The Great Deku Tree wants to talk to you!"
As Link opened his eyes, he saw a fairy floating in front of him. This
fairy's name was Navi. Navi was sent to summon Link to the Great Deku Tree.
"Oh Navi, thou hast returned!" said the Deku Tree. "Thank you, Link, for
coming. Thy slumber these past moons must have been restless, and full of
nightmares. A vile climate pervades this world. Verily, ye have felt it. The
time has come to test thine courage. I have been cursed. I need
you to dispel the curse with your wisdom and courage. Art thou prepared?"
Link entered the Great Deku Tree and broke the curse.
"Well done, Link! I knew that ye were worthy of carrying out my wishes. A
wicked man of the desert cast this dreadful curse on me. Employing his vile,
sorcerous energies, the evil one is searching for the Sacred Realm connected
to Hyrule. For it is there that one will find the divine relic. The Triforce,
that contains the essence of the gods. Whoever
holds the Triforce can make their wishes come true. Thou must never allow the
desert man to lay his hands on the Sacred Triforce. Thou must never suffer
that man to enter the Sacred Realm of Legend. Link, go now to Hyrule Castle.
There, ye will surely meet the Princess of Destiny. Present this stone to the
Princess. I have foreseen that she will
understand everything."
The Great Deku Tree gave Link the Spiritual Stone of the Forest. Before
dying, the Deku Tree's last words were, "The future depends on thee, Link.
Thou art courageous."
MAJORA'S MASK
In the land of Hyrule, there echoes a legend. A legend held dearly by the
Royal Family that tells of a boy...
A boy who, after battling evil and saving Hyrule, crept away from that land
that had made him a legend...
Done with the battles he once waged across time, he embarked on a journey. A
secret and personal journey...
A journey in search of a beloved and invaluable friend...
A friend with whom he parted ways when he finally fulfilled his heroic
destiny and took his place among legends...
ORACLE OF SEASONS (note that both oracle games happen at the same time in separate dimensions)
One day in Hyrule, a strange force drew Link deep within Hyrule castle,
where he found the Triforce resting, glittering brilliantly as it awaited him.
"Link... Link... Accept the quest of the Triforce!"
Suddenly, Link was enveloped in a circle of light, and the next moment,
he vanished.
When Link awoke, he found himself in a forest he had never seen.
Confused, he looked around blankly at the unfamiliar surroundings. He heard
pleasant music and laughing voices echoing from deep within the woods. Link
followed the inviting voices until he came upon a traveling troupe of actors.
He was immediately struck by the beauty of a young woman who was dancing about
in circles. When the girl noticed Link, she smiled brightly and called to
him.
"Welcome to Holodrum. I am Din, the dancer," she said with glee. "Would
you like to dance with me? Don't be shy. It will be more fun if we dance
together." She took him by the hand, and he reluctantly began to dance.
Unfortunately, this blissful moment did not last long. The sky suddenly
went dark, and there was a loud crash of thunder, followed by a resounding,
thunderous voice.
"I've found you, Din! You can't deceive me by disguising yourself as a
dancer. I am Onox, General of Darkness! Now reveal yourself, Oracle of
Seasons!"
Then a great tornado dropped from the sky and drew near Din, as if to
engulf her.
"Help me, Link!" she cried.
Link was blown back by the tornado as he struggled against its awesome
force, and Din was swept away in the wind...
And then strange things began to happen throughout the land.
When Onox carried off the Oracle of Seasons from the land of Holodrum,
the seasons fell into chaos and the land was deprived of the bountiful gifts
of nature. Life was slowly being drained from the land, and all living things
began to wither.
And so Onox set in motion his plan to gather the power from the withering
land and create a world of total darkness. Will Link be able to rescue Din
from the hand of evil, the General of Darkness?
Such is the quest Link must undertake.
ORACLE OF AGES (note that both oracle games happen at the same time in separate dimensions)
Link awoke one day to find himself deep in strange forest. As he started to
walk through the woods, he heard cries for help coming from just up ahead of
him. Link hurried toward the voice, only to find a group of monsters
surrounding the woman who was screaming. When the monsters saw Link, they
immediately fled.
The woman who was being attacked was none other than Impa, nurse to Hyrule's
Princess Zelda. Impa said she had come to the forest to search for a singer
named Nayru.
"Can't you help me look?" Impa asked. Despite the strange look she gave him,
Link could not refuse her request. Together they found a large stone with a
rune on it. Naturally, Link moved the stone, but Impa wouldn't so much as
lay a hand on it.
As they traveled even deeper into the forest, they found a young woman
singing. Invited to sit by the group of animals that listened to the girl's
song, Link joined in the circle and let the beautiful song fill his ears and
penetrate his heart. This was surely Nayru, the singer Impa was searching
for. Just then, Impa erupted in a cackling laugh.
"Ah ha ha ha ha ha!"
A darkness surrounded Impa, and a frightening shadow lifted from her body.
"Nayru! Oracle of Ages! I, Veran, Sorceress of Shadows, shall make you my
own!"
The shadow that called itself Veran began swooping about the forest before
flying straight into the body of the frightened singer. A blinding light
shone forth from Nayru's body.
When Link's eyes had grown used to the light, he realized that Nayru looked
very strange. Her face seemed veiled in shadow, and her bright smile had
vanished. A piercing, evil gaze had replaced it.
"Ha ha ha ha ha!"
"Now the power of the Oracle of Ages is mine! I can travel through time at
will! Now a new age shall begin--an age of shadows!" And with that, Veran
and Nayru vanished.
Nayru was actually the Oracle of Ages who controlled time in this land of
Labrynna. When the oracle was kidnapped, the flow of time in Labrynna was
distorted, and strange things began to happen. Before vanishing, Veran said,
"When the past changes, so does the present." Her plan was to travel to the
past and gather power from the sorrows of the people of Labrynna so that she
could create her age of shadows.
WIND WAKER
Long ago, there existed a kingdom where a golden power lay hidden. One day,
a man of great evil found this power and took for himself, and with it at his
command, he spread darkness across the kingdom. But then, just as all hope
has died, a young boy clothed in green appeared as if from nowhere Wielding a
blade that repelled evil, he sealed the dark one away and gave the land
light. This boy, who traveled through time to save the land, was known as
the Hero of Time. The boy's tale was passed down through generations until
it became legend.
And then a day came when a fell wind began to blow across the kingdom, and
the great evil once again crept forth from the depths of earth. The people
believed that the Hero of Time would again come to save them. But the hero
did not appear...
What became of that kingdom? None remain who know. The memory of the
kingdom vanished, but its legend survived on the wind's breath.
On a certain island it became customary to garb young boys in green when they
come of age. Clothed in the green of fields, they aspire to find heroic
blades and cast evil down. The elders wish only for the youths to know
courage like the hero of legend...
LINK TO THE PAST
----------------------------The Creation of Hyrule-----------------------------
According to the Hylian scrolls, the mythical gods descended from a distant
nebula to the world and created order and life. The God of Power dyed the
mountains red with fire and created land. The God of Wisdom created science and
wizardry and brought order to nature. And the God of Courage, through justice
and vigor, created life - the animals that crawl the land and the birds that
soar in the sky. After the gods had finsihed 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.
Although it was an inanimate object, the Triforce had the power to bestow three
titles which gave the person who received them great powers: "The Forger of
Strength", "The Keeper of Knowledge", and "The Juror of Courage". From its
hiding place in the so-called Golden Land where the Gods placed it, the
Triforce beckoned people from the outside world to seek it in the hope that
someone worthy of these titles would find it. With their magic infused blood,
the Hylian people were endowed with psychic powers and skill in wizardry. It
was also said that their long, pointed ears enabled them to hear special
messages from the gods, so they were heldin high esteem by many people in
Hyrule. Their descendants settled in various parts of the world and passed on
their knowledge and magical lore to all people. But in its passing, the lore
was often distorted or lost altogether.
---------------------------Gates To The Golden Land----------------------------
In Hyrule, there are many Hylian buildings which are mentioned repeatedly in
the legends. These buildings, which now lie in ruin, pale shadows of their
former splendor, are closely tied to the Triforce. Some were even said to house
the Triforce...
If it were only a symbol of the gods, the Triforce would be coveted by many.
But a verse from the Book of Mudora (a collection of Hylian legends and lore)
made the Triforce even more desirable:
In a realm beyond sight,
The Sky shines gold, not blue.
There, the Triforce's might
Makes mortal dreams come true.
Many aggressively searched for the wish-granting Triforce, but no one, not even
the Hylian sages, was sure of its location; the knowledge had been lost over
time. Some said the Triforce lay under the desert, others said it was in the
cemetary in the shadow of Death Mountain, 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.
One day, quite by accident, a gate to the Golden Land of the Triforce was
opened by a gang of thieves skilled in the black arts. This land was like no
other. In the gathering twilight, the Triforce shone from its resting place
high above the world. In a long running battle, the leader of the thieves
fought his way past his followers in a lust for the Golden Power. After
vanquishing his own followers, the leader stood triumphant over the Triforce
and grasped it with his blood- stained hands. He heard a whispered voice: "If
thou has a strong desire or dream, wish for it..." And in reply, the roaring
laughter of the brigand leader echoed across time and space and even reached
the far-off land of Hyrule. The name of this king of thieves is Ganondorf
Dragmire, but he is known by his alias, Mandrag Ganon, which means Ganon of the
Enchanted Thieves.
------------------------------The Imprisoning War------------------------------
I do not know what Ganon wished for from the Triforce. However, in time evil
power begain to flow from the Golden Land and greedy men were drawn there to
become members of Ganon's army. Black clouds permanently darkened the sky, and
many disasters beset Hyrule. The lord of Hyrule sent for the Seven Wise Men and
the Knights Of Hyrule, and ordered them to seal the enterance to the Golden
Land.
The Triforce, being an inanimate object, cannot judge between good and evil.
Therefore, it could not know that Ganon's wishes were evil; it merely granted
them. Suspecting that Ganon's power was based on the Triforce's magic, the
people of Hyrule forged a sword resistant to magic which could repulse even
powers granted by the Triforce. This mighty weapon became known as the blade of
evil's bane, or the Master Sword. It was so powerful that only one who was pure
of heart and strong of body could wield it. As the Seven Wise Men searched for
a valient person to take up the Master Sword, Ganon's evil army swarmed from
the tainted Golden Land into Hyrule and attacked the castle. The wise men and
the Knights Of Hyrule combined forces to wage war on this evil horde.
The Knights took the full brunt of the fierce attack, and although they fought
courageously many a brave soul was lost that day, However, their lives were not
lost in vain, for they bought precious time for the Seven Wise Men to magically
seal ganon in the Golden land. All of Hyrule rejoiced at the victory that
upheld peace and order over Ganon's evil and chaos. Thsi war, which had claimed
many lives, became known as the Imprisoning War in stories told in later
centuries.
----------------------------The Coming of the Wizard---------------------------
Many centuries have passed since the Imprisoning War. The land of Hyrule healed
its wounds and the people lived in peace for a long time. Memories of the
vicious Imprisoning War faded over the generations...
So it is no surprise that no one was prepared for the new disasters that have
recently struck Hyrule. Pestilence and drought, uncontrollable even by magic,
revaged the land. The king of Hyrule, after counsel with his sages, ordered an
investigation of the Imprisoned Dark World (as the Golden land had come to be
known) but the wise men's seal was apparently intact. he offered rewards for
anyone who could find the source of these troubles. In answer to these summons
a stranger named Agahnim came and quelled the disasters witha previously unseen
form of magic. As a reward, the king gave him a new position as chief advisor
and heir to the Seven masses proclaimed him their hero. Peace had returned to
Hyrule... or had it? Of late, rumors have traveled their whispering path with
alarming frequency. Rumors saying Agahnim now rules the country with his
magic... Rumors of strange magical experiments in the castle tower at night...
The people of Hyrule were gripped by dread.
-----------------------------------Prologue------------------------------------
One night, a girl's voice awakens you from your sleep.
She telepathically pleads.
You jump out of bed not knowing whether the voice was part of a dream or
reality. Upon leaving your bed, you find your uncle, who should be fast asleep
at this time, preparing to go out, girded for battle.
"I'll be back by moring," he says as he departs. "Don't leave the house."
You watch him leave with the family sword in hand and shield on arm. This night
is like no other... Who is Zelda? Where had your uncle gone and for what
reason?
And so, on an ill-fated night, a new chapter in the legend of Hyrule's hero
begins- a new chapter in The Legend of Zelda!
YOUR QUEST AS THE LEGENDARY HERO!
The Golden land of the Triforce has become a Dark World corrupted by Ganon's
evil wishes. However, this is not enough for Ganon; he also wants to make
Hyrule, the Light World, his own. To do this, he needs to break the Seal Of The
Seven Wise Men.
But he cannot do this with his power alone. He must also use the life force of
the descendants of the Seven Wise Men. With Agahnim the wizard as his pawn,
this is about to become a reality (thus the late night experiments in the
castle tower...).
You, as the legendary Hero of Hyrule, must enter the Dark World on a quest to
save the maidens that Agahnim has sent there. The aim of the game is to solve
the many mysteries and adventures that await you along the way to rescuing the
maidens, defeating Ganon, and returning peace to Hyrule.
LINK'S AWAKENING
Though you fulfilled the Hyrulian prophecy of the Legendary Hero and
destroyed the evil tyrant Ganon, the land of Hyrule enjoyed only a precarious
peace. "Who knows what threats may arise from Ganon's ashes?" the restless
people murmured as they knitted their brows and shook their heads. Ever
vigilant, you decided to journey away from Hyrule on a quest for
enlightenment, in search of wisdom that would make you better able to
withstand the next threat to your homeland. Months of difficult travel
passed. After a long and fruitful voyage, you breathed deeply the sea spray
from the deck of the ship that carried you home to Hyrule. But your
homecoming was not to be. Suddenly a squall struck your ship, and though you
valiantly fought the waves, a lightning bolt reduced your ship to splinters.
Your world faded to black as you sink into the darkness of the storm-tossed
sea with the remains of your craft. But in the cold darkness of the deep, you
heard a comforting voice that reminded you of home. It was the voice of
Princess Zelda! "You're going to be all right!" the voice said. "What a
relief!"
You opened your eyes to find Princess Zelda standing over you - or was it?!
Actually, it turned out to be a woman named Marin. She explained that you had
drifted with the wreckage of your ship to the shores of Koholint Island. This
mysterious island was unique for the gigantic egg, which crowned its central
mountain. It was said that a mythical creature, the Wind Fish, lay asleep
inside the egg.
You set out in search of your sword and other gear that might have washed up
on the beach with you. As you stood in the surf with your recovered sword, a
strange owl suddenly appeared and hooted this riddle:
"Awaken the Wind Fish and all will be answered."
"What is the Wind Fish?" you wonder... And what did its awakening portend?
Your most mysterious adventure yet, following the riddle of the Wind Fish
throughout the uncharted island of Koholint, is about to unfold.
THE LEGEND OF ZELDA
A long, long time ago the World was in an age of Chaos. In the middle
of this chaos, in a little kingdom in the land of Hyrule, a legend was
being banded down from generation to generation, the legend of the
"Triforce", golden triangles possessing mystical powers.
One day, an evil army attacked this peaceful little kingdom and stole
the Triforce of Power. This army was led by Gannon, the powerful
Prince of Darkness who sought to plunge the world into fear and
darkness under his rule. Fearing his wicked rule, Zelda, the princess
of this kingdom, split up the Triforce of Wisdom into eight fragments
and hid them throughout the realm to save the last remaining Triforce
from the clutches of the evil Gannon. At the same time, she commanded
her most trustworthy nursemaid, Impa, to secretly escape into the land
and go find a man with enough courage to destroy the evil Gannon.
Upon hearing this, Gannon grew angry, imprisoned the princess, and sent
out a party in search of Impa.
Braving forests and mountains, Impa fled for her life from her
pursuers. As she reached the very limit of her energy she found
herself surrounded by Gannon's evil henchmen. Cornered! What could
she do?... But wait!
All was not lost. A young lad appeared. He skillfully drove off
Gannon's henchmen, and saved Impa from a fate worse than death.
His name was Link. During his travels he had come across Impa and
Gannon's henchmen. Impa told Link the whole story of the Princess Zelda
and the evil Gannon. Burning with a sense of justice, Link resolved to
save Zelda, but Gannon was a powerful opponent. He held the Triforce of
Power. And so, in order to fight off Gannon, Link had to bring the
scattered eight fragments of the Triforce of Wisdom together to
rebuild the mystical Triangle.
If he couldn't do this, there would be no chance Link could fight his
way into Death Mountain where Gannon lived. Can Link really destroy
Gannon and save the Princess Zelda? Only your skill can answer that
question. Good luck. Use the Triforce wisely.
THE ADVENTURES OF LINK
At the end of a fierce fight, Link overthrew Ganon, took back the Triforce
and rescued Princess Zelda. However, is it all really finished? Many
seasons have passed since then. Hyrule was on the road to ruin. The power
that the vile heart of Ganon has left behind was causing chaos and disorder
in Hyrule. What's more, even after the fall of Ganon, some of his underlings
remained waiting for Ganon's return. The Key to Ganon's return was the
blood of Link - the valiant lad who overthrew the King of Evil. Ganon would
be revived by sacrificing Link and sprinkling his blood on the ashes of
Ganon.
Meanwhile, Link remained in the little kingdom of Hyrule and lent his hand
to its restoration. But circumstances did not look very good. One day, a
strange mark, exactly like the crest of the kingdom, appeared on the back of
Link's hand as he approached his 16th birthday. The worried Link, went to
Impa, Princess Zelda's nursemaid who was shocked and frightened when she
saw the birthmark. When she regained her composure, she took Link to the
North Castle.
There was a door in North Castle called "the door that does not open." Only
the descendants of the Impa family who served the king knew how to open the
door. Impa took Link's left hand and pressed the back of it against the
door. There was a sound of a locking falling open, the door slowly creaked
open and there on an alter in the middle of the room lay a beautiful woman.
"Here lies Princess Zelda." Impa began to speak calmly.
"Link, the time has come when I must tell you the legend of Zelda handed
down in Hyrule. It is said that a long ago, when Hyrule was one country, a
great ruler maintained the peace in Hyrule using the Triforce. However, the
king too was a child of man and he died. Then, the prince of the kingdom
should have become and king and inherited everything, but he could inherit
the Triforce only in part. The Prince searched everywhere for the missing
parts, but could not find them. Then, a magician close to the king brought
him some unexpected news. Before he died, the king had said something about
the Triforce to only the younger sister of the prince, Princess Zelda. The
prince immediately questioned the princess, but she wouldn't tell him
anything. After the prince, the magician threatened to put the princess into
an eternal sleep if she did not talk, but still, she said nothing."
"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. At the same time, the magician also fell down and breathed his
last."
"In his grief, the prince placed the princess in this room. He hoped that
someday she would come back to life. So that this tragedy would never be
forgotten, he ordered that every female child born into the royal household
shall be given the name Zelda."
From the stand next to the alter where Princess Zelda lay in a deep sleep,
Impa took six crystals and a scroll with the same crest and handed them to
Link. "For generations, my family has been handed down these things which
have been set aside for a time when a great king will come. They are
written in an ancient script that no-one can read now. But you who have the
crest may be able to read it. It is said that the key to uniting the
Triforce is hidden there. Now it is time for you to read it."
Link glanced at the scroll half in doubt, but what do you know? Although he
had never seen the letters before, he found that he could read them as if
they were talking to him.
This was written on the scroll. "You who'll control the Triforce of the
future. I shall hand down to you the secrets of the Triforce. There are
three kinds of Triforce - Power, Wisdom, and Courage. When these three are
brought together, the Triforce will show its maximum power. Of the three, I
left Power and Wisdom in the kingdom. But the Triforce Courage I have hidden
for a reason."
"Not everybody can use the Triforce. It requires a strong character with no
evil thoughts. But an inborn special quality is also necessary.
Unfortunately, I have not found such a person during my lifetime."
"Therefore, I have decided to cast a spell on all of Hyrule. A crest will
appear on a young man with the character who has been brought up correctly,
has gained many kinds of experiences and reached a certain age. But, what
will happen if someone else uses the Triforce before then? If it misused, it
will produce many evils."
"The Triforce of Courage is hidden in the Great Palace in the Valley of
Death on the largest island in Hyrule. However, to enter there you must
first fight the guardians and undo the "binding force." When you have
defeated the guardians, which I made to prevent enemies from invading the
six palaces in Hyrule, set a crystal in the forehead of the statue you find.
When you have set crystals in all of the statues in the six palaces, the
"binding force" places on the Valley of Death will be removed and you will
be able to enter the great palace. There, you must fight the last guardian.
And you can obtain the Triforce only by defeating the guardian."
"There's nothing to fear. You are the one to get the Triforce. You are the
beacon of hope for Hyrule."
Impa implored Link, who raised his head slowly after reading the scroll.
"The magic spell cast upon Princess Zelda will sure to be broken if the
Triforce is used."
"Please, Link. Unite the Triforce and save the princess. And bring back
peace to Hyrule."
Link nodded silently in approval, and left the room after taking a long
glance at the altar.
Then, with a magical sword in his left hand and a shield in his right, he set
off alone on his long travels. At that time, Ganon's underlings were calling
up new allies from the Underworld, and were beginning to work devilishly
toward the revival of Ganon.
So there you have it, everything is in order and nothing has changed in the game series from the instruction booklet's stories.