What timeline does Majoras mask take place?

What Timeline Does Majora’s Mask Take Place In?

The Legend of Zelda series is renowned for its intricate timeline, and Majora’s Mask, the dark horse of the series, is no exception. For years, fans have debated the location of Majora’s Mask in the vast expanse of the Zelda timeline. While the game’s plot hints at a connection to other games, the precise location remains unclear. This article aims to shed light on the timelines and reveal where Majora’s Mask resides.

The Three Timelines: Child Era, Adult Era, and Downfall Era

The Legend of Zelda timeline is comprised of three eras: Child Era, Adult Era, and Downfall Era. The Child Era is significant in this context, as it is during this era that Majora’s Mask takes place.

Direct Answer to the Question

Majora’s Mask takes place in the Child Era. This conclusion is reinforced by the events of Ocarina of Time and subsequent games, such as Four Swords and Twilight Princess, which mention the game taking place on a alternate dimensional plane within the same timeframe.

The Triforce of Wisdom

As the protagonist of Majora’s Mask, Link plays a significant role in his own fate. Upon becoming the Hero of Time in Ocarina of Time, the Triforce of Wisdom is restored. Link’s transformation allows him to return to his childhood, creating an alternative timeline, which we have come to know as Majora’s Mask. Here, the events are cyclical, with time recurring every 72 hours until the fateful three days are spent.

Alternate Dimension vs. Separate Timeline

In the timeline sense, Majora’s Mask occurs in a different dimension within the Child Era. This implies a separate and distinct existence outside the traditional Zelda continuity, allowing the game’s self-contained storyline to develop with minimal direct connections to the main timeline.

Comparing Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask

To clarify Majora’s Mask’ position in the Child Era, a comparison to Ocarina of Time can be useful. As revealed in Hyrule Historia, after Ocarina of Time, Zelda has a different fate:

• Hyrule: Ocarina of Time:
  Link battles Ganondorf and seizes the Triforce of Power, only for Ganondorf to attempt to kill Zelda using a magical crystal. Faced with imminent death, Link returns to the Sacred Realm as a baby, re-enacting his childhood with all memories lost.
  Time passes as Link ages within the realm, finally completing his mission and taking revenge on Ganondorf with the aid of Zelda, who saved his soul while he slept.

  However, another possibility:

  If Link chose a different route, leaving a portion of his consciousness at the bottom of the sacred realm while his consciousness transferred to a new entity or a version of him when he leaves the sanctuary…
  There is evidence showing that when Link reaches and leaves the Sacred Realm’s bottom layer, all data from this layer of information is actually lost by most of society, thus if this consciousness is truly removed from existence, most parts of history would cease for that civilization.

• Majora’s Mask: Link travels back to the past after Ocarina of Time, aiming for his younger self who then becomes an adult before having his death. Time can be cycled or "re-tried".

  • Three distinct eras from majora:
    We have now seen from evidence that Zelda’s last time with this Link led in the creation of the downfall with the hero’s spirit going back to its child as that child lives out for almost 100 years… as that he becomes, what we all know.

    • Three distinct ages – the timeline of ages…
      These three possible actions, this is indeed because of it, when three different links are. Because of how the storyline’s events progress, that final action.
      They don’t have the same timeline, they exist in various moments of it. All information from events in our stories, when they took an action the same to link,
      which occurred in majora when each of three different types can be created. But still, different eras
      that are being set up – the new storyline of the downfall.