Ocarina of Time Fan Theory (spoilers)

[Haruki-kun]

So there I was nonchalantly reading some stuff on Reddit the other day when I stumbled upon a link full of speculation and fan theories about The Legend of Zelda, Ocarina of Time. There was something in particular that called my attention a bit:

There is a theory that the six sages died in their temples (based on slight differences in text in the Japanese version, in which the Sages themselves imply they have died and other situations in the game, such as Darunia not being found in Volvagia’s lair after he went inside, knowing he couldn’t do anything without the Megaton Hammer, Ruto disappearing after leading you to the place to change the water level).

Saria - Forest Sage
Saria is never found in her temple, which suggests that she went in there sometime in the seven years Link was in suspended animation and died. (The same is suggested with Impa, the only other sage to not be found in the respective temple).

Darunia - Fire Sage
It is very likely that Darunia was killed by Volvagia. Evidence includes him being concerned due to not having the Megaton Hammer, the only thing known to kill Volvagia, he wasn’t anywhere in the room at any point before, during or after the battle, and though he could have tried hiding in the lava, Volvagia was basically swimming in it and in the original Japanese version, his dialogue in the Chamber of Sages implies that he is dead.

Ruto - Water Sage
There is a theory that Princess Ruto is a ghost when Link meets her in the Water Temple. Support for this theory is that the original Japanese dialogue has her mention being regretful, as though she has already died, after asking you to follow her, she disappears and is never seen again and there is nowhere she could have gone, and in the Chamber of Sages, she says she cannot offer her eternal love, which implies not only because she is a sage, but because death has already parted them. The Japanese version alsohas Sheik saying that Hyrule must also be saved for Ruto’s sake, implying that Ruto has sacrificed her life and that they cannot waste her sacrifice.

Impa - Shadow Sage
Like Saria, it is implied that Impa entered the temple before Link awakened and died there. Supporting this is a man in Impa’s house who in addition to telling Link about the ghost of Dampe (and giving a clue to the whereabouts of the hookshot needed to enter the Forest Temple), tells Link that Impa went to seal up the monster in the graveyard and hasn’t returned. Impa is not known to have returned to Kakariko at anypoint in Link’s adulthood. Sheik is introduced as “Survivor of the Sheikah”, which would mean that all other Sheikah are dead, as Sheik was not introduced as “A survivor”, which would imply that at least one other was alive. The reason Sheik begs Link to help Impa, if Impa is already dead could be that Sheik has no knowledge of Impa’s death or that this knowledge needed to be kept secret from Link for some reason.

Nabooru - Spirit Sage
There is also the theory that Twinrova killed Nabooru right in front of Link. Before Link delivers the final blow to the Iron Knuckle, it falls apart, revealing Nabooru. Though Koume and Kotake say they will brainwash her and launch orbs of energy at her, she isn’t teleported away with black magic. In
Ocarina of Time, teleporting using black magic is shown during the boss battle in the Forest Temple, and when the witches capture Nabooru when Link is achild, and is shown as a purple vortex. When Nabooru is hit with the energy orbs, she screams and disappears, and an orange light floats away. Nabooru could have been so injured by the previousbattle that the orbs hit her killed her, possibly accidentally, and the orange orb that flies away is her spirit. This is supported by theorbs flying through the sky above Lon Lon Ranch during the credits that manifest as the sages on Death Mountain.

My friends also suggest that Rauru, the Light sage, was likely Zelda's ancestor, due to looking a lot like King Hyrule.

Thoughts on this theory?

[Cikomyr]

If digging in the metaplot is your thing, then you should know that the Dead sages theory is one of the most commonly accepted.


By resetting everything at the end of the game, Link saved these people's lives

You can also take the clue that in the final celebration fest in the future, the Sages don't join their respective brethren, but simply overlooking them from above. Some of which seems to be mourning.