The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages/Continuity forks

In any fictional work where time travel is involved, it always makes sense from the point of view of the main character. It does not always makes sense from a strictly historical/chronological point of view, though.

In other words, how does Labrynna look from the point of view of all characters who do not travel in time?

Time paradoxes: a plot flaw

A typical time paradox is when an author treats the past time and the present time as if they were at the same time. In other words, a time paradox is a turn of phrase to hide a plot flaw.

For example, let us analyze this sentence from Oracle of Ages:

"She is doing it now, in the past!"

• Now = present time
• In the past = past time
  • They are obviously two different times!

The statement "now in the past" makes the reader think: "When? Now!" and "Where? In the past!" This is obviously wrong, because the past is a time (when?), not a location (where?).

The sentence above is equivalent to:

"She is doing it now, 400 years ago!"

Written this way, it becomes apparent that there is a contradiction.

Criteria

• Any time in the past and in the future is the Present sooner or later. There is no privileged point of view along the timeline.
• For the statement above, "alteration of the past" is the same as "alteration of the present", and the latter is apparently nonsense. Therefore, an "alteration of the past" is just a plot flaw.
  • Still, "alterations of the present" can be nice and functional for comedies ("Back to the Future", "Sliding Doors"), but nobody considers The Legend of Zelda a comedy.
• Let us give priority to what is said and shown in the games; use pure logic, not physics; never fully trust any manual.
• Try and avoid retroactive corrections to continuity as much as possible.

NONETHELESS, the game says that the flow of time is disrupted. This means that the forked continuities can mix up randomly.

History of Labrynna

Biography of the Maku Tree

The Maku Tree is born Ambi becomes queen of Labrynna At this point, two facts ''do and do not happen'' at the same time; continuity splits in three:
Both Veran and Link DO arrive from the future (TRUE)	.	Veran DOES but Link DOES NOT arrive from the future (FALSE)	.	Veran and Link DO NOT arrive from the future (FALSE)
During Ambi's age: Veran tries to kill the Maku Tree. Link saves the Maku Tree.		During Ambi's age: Veran has the Maku Tree killed.		During Ambi's age: The Maku Tree grows happily.
For 400 years the Maku Tree keeps growing		For 400 years Veran rules Labrynna. The Maku Tree is dead.		For 400 years the Maku Tree keeps growing
During Zelda's age: The Maku Tree disappears because this continuity mixes up with the next one, but then she reappears shortly after. Veran abducts Naryu and uses her to travel back in time (i.e. she moves up, in the same column of this table). Link uses a Time Portal to travel back in time (i.e. she moves up, in the same column of this table).		During Zelda's age: The Maku Tree is dead since 400 years. Veran abducts Naryu and uses her to travel back in time (i.e. she moves up, in the same column of this table). Link uses a Time Portal to leave this continuity (i.e. he moves up, to the other column of this table).		During Zelda's age: The Maku Tree is alive and well. Veran abducts Naryu and uses her to leave this continuity (i.e. she moves up, to the other column of this table). Link follows Veran and uses a Time Portal to leave this continuity (i.e. he moves up, to the other column of this table).
Conclusion: The Maku Tree has been alive and well for 400 years, then disappears for a little while because of Veran's time-twisting magic. Veran is here, but she will lose. Link fights Veran, and he will eventually win (HERO!!!)		Conclusion: The Maku Tree died centuries ago. Veran won. Link left this continuity for good (COWARD!!!).		Conclusion: Veran left this continuity for good. There are no threats anymore along this continuity. Link left this continuity to save Nayru, but he will never come back (LOSER!!!).
THE GAME CONTINUES...		GAME OVER		GAME OVER

History of the Western Woods

Along the True timeline, since the Maku Tree senses the Essence of Time during Zelda's age, it has to be assumed that the Essence materializes again after it was collected by Link during Ambi's age. With this logical assumption, the True timeline becomes self-consistent, and the False one becomes unnecessary.

Deku Scrubs settle in the western woods of Labrynna, henceforth called Deku Forest. At this point, one fact ''does and does not happen'' at the same time; continuity splits in two:
Link DOES arrive from the future (TRUE)	.	Link DOES NOT arrive from the future (FALSE)
During Ambi's age: Link collects the Essence of Time from the dungeon.		During Ambi's age: The Essence of Time stays in the dungeon.
The Deku Scrubs leave the forest. The Faeries settle in the western woods, that changes name to Faerie Woods. During 400 years, the Essence of Time materializes again in the dungeon (assumption).		The Deku Scrubs leave the forest. The Faeries settle in the western woods, that changes name to Faerie Woods.
During Zelda's age: The Maku Tree senses an Essence of Time in the western woods. Link accidentally destroys the entrance to the dungeon. Link uses a Time Portal to travel back in time (i.e. he moves up, to the same column of this table).		During Zelda's age: The Maku Tree senses an Essence of Time in the western woods. Link accidentally destroys the entrance to the dungeon. Link uses a Time Portal to leave this continuity (i.e. he moves up, to the other column of this table).
Conclusion: One Essence of Time is in the dungeon. A copy of the Essence of Time (from the past) was collected by Link (HERO!!!).		Conclusion: The Essence of Time is in the dungeon. Link left this continuity for good (COWARD!!!).
THE GAME CONTINUES...		GAME OVER

History of Symmetry City

Hylian humans settle on Talus Peak and establish Symmetry City around the volcano mouth. The magic power of the Tuni Nut keeps the volcano quiet for several years. The Tuni Nut breaks and the volcano starts erupting. At this point, one fact ''does and does not happen'' at the same time; continuity splits in two:
Link DOES arrive from the future (TRUE)	.	Link DOES NOT arrive from the future (FALSE)
During Ambi's age: Link brings the Tuni Nut to Patch, who fixes it. The Tuni Nut stops the eruption and Symmetry City is saved.		During Ambi's age: Symmetry City is destroyed.
For 400 years Symmetry City is fine.		For 400 years Symmetry City is in ruins.
During Zelda's age: Symmetry City is fine. Link arrives in Symmetry City, but timelines mix up and he ends up in the "false" continuity. Link uses a Time Portal to travel back in time (i.e. he moves up, to the same column of this table). Link comes back to Symmetry City, where everything was actually fine for 400 years.		During Zelda's age: Link arrives in the ruins of Symmetry City. Link uses a Time Portal to leave this continuity (i.e. he moves up, to the other column of this table).
Conclusion: Symmetry City has never been in ruins during its history. Link temporarily shifted to the "false" timeline. Link enters the dungeon and collects another Essence of Time (HERO!!!).		Conclusion: Symmetry City is in ruins since 400 years. Link left this continuity for good (COWARD!!!).
THE GAME CONTINUES...		GAME OVER

History of the Zora seas

Zoras establish a kingdom in the seas south of Labrynna. The sea gets polluted and King Zora gets sick (in any order) At this point, one fact ''does and does not happen'' at the same time; continuity splits in two:
Link DOES arrive from the future (TRUE)			.	Link DOES NOT arrive from the future (FALSE)
During Ambi's age: Link heals King Zora. Another fact ''does and does not happen'' at the same time; continuity further splits in two:				During Ambi's age: King Zora dies. The sea remains polluted. Jabu-Jabu dies.
Link DOES AGAIN arrive from the future (TRUE)	.	Link DOES NOT ANYMORE arrive from the future (FALSE)
Link rescues a Great Faerie and she cleans the sea. Jabu-Jabu lives.		The sea remains polluted. Jabu-Jabu dies.
During 400 years Jabu-Jabu grows up. The sea gets polluted again (for unknown reasons)		For 400 years the sea remains polluted.		For 400 years the Zora civilization dwindles away.
During Zelda's age: King Zora temporarily leaves the village with all his court. LINK'S 1st VISIT : A liar tells Link that King Zora died 400 years earlier. Link travels back in time. King Zora returns to the village. LINK'S 2nd VISIT : Link meets King Zora, then travels back in time again. While Link is away, the sea gets cleaned (for unknown reasons). LINK'S 3rd VISIT : Link can enter the dungeon.		During Zelda's age: King Zora temporarily leaves the village with all his court. LINK'S 1st VISIT : A liar tells Link that King Zora died 400 years earlier. Link travels back in time. King Zora returns to the village. LINK'S 2nd VISIT : Link meets King Zora, then uses the Harp of Ages and leaves this continuity.		During Zelda's age: Link arrives in Zora Village, where he learns the history of these Zoras. Link uses the Harp of Ages and leaves this continuity.
Conclusion: King Zora is alive. The sea is clean, Jabu-Jabu is alive. Link collects another Essence of Time (HERO!!!).		Conclusion: King Zora is alive. The sea is polluted, Jabu-Jabu is dead. Link left this continuity for good (COWARD!!!).		Conclusion: King Zora is dead. The sea is polluted, Jabu-Jabu is dead. Link left this continuity for good (COWARD!!!).
THE GAME CONTINUES...		GAME OVER		GAME OVER