In the backstory of ALBW, both through its opening and a series of paintings in Hyrule Castle, it is said that, some time prior to the game, the Triforce was split again, Ganon reappeared and was sealed away with the Triforce of Power, and the other pieces were then hidden in their respective ways. However, this sequence of events directly contradicts the ending of ALttP (where Ganon was defeated) and the events in the Oracle games (in which Ganon was resurrected and defeated again, but the Triforce remained whole). Here's my attempt to reconcile them, via a few creative retcons based on details elsewhere in the series.
To start with, we need to examine precisely what happened to Ganon in ALttP. Upon being defeated, his body explodes and he disappears, which seems to indicate total death. However, a mere two games later, it is revealed that his spirit is very much alive- and, as Twinrova puts it, sealed in darkness. This seems to coincide with ALBW's backstory- and in the interests of reconciling them, we can thus conclude that Ganon was not destroyed in ALttP at all, but instead, his body was broken and his spirit sealed away. In order to revive him, Twinrova required a powerful energy source to break the seal- and they thus used the Dark flames to do so. However, Ganon was then defeated again, and so returned to the darkness- where he remained until ALBW.
This still fails to explain the splitting of the Triforce, however. To do so, we must take a look at the start of the Oracle games- Link rides to Hyrule Castle to do something with the Triforce (which, in light of the timeline, could involve using it on Zelda's orders to wish the Oracles to Hyrule), but is then cocooned in a strange light and sent on his way. As he is, however, a voice (or perhaps group of voices) tells him to "Accept our quest, Hero!" This, in addition to some details given in Hyrule Historia, hints that the Golden Goddesses may have been the speakers, and transported Link. However- and this is critical- they used the Triforce to do so, likely by remotely focusing their power through it. However they did it, though, as established in Skyward Sword, deities cannot use the Triforce. As a result, the relic was split, and the fragmented pieces then sought out their chosen wielders, with Link getting Courage, Zelda Wisdom, and Ganon Power. Several characters even reference the mark on Link's hand (which, up until now, was assumed to be a Mark of the Hero, and nothing more). From there, Ganon was re-sealed in the darkness with his ToP after his defeat; Zelda continued to hand down her ToW in the Royal Family; and Link left to continue his training (setting up the events of Link's Awakening in the process), taking the ToC with him.
Centuries later, Yuga used the power of the Seven Sages to once more release Ganon, while the other Triforce pieces were then revealed in their own time. Et vóila- ALBW now synergizes with the timeline, without any major loss of canon.
Thoughts?
To start with, we need to examine precisely what happened to Ganon in ALttP. Upon being defeated, his body explodes and he disappears, which seems to indicate total death. However, a mere two games later, it is revealed that his spirit is very much alive- and, as Twinrova puts it, sealed in darkness. This seems to coincide with ALBW's backstory- and in the interests of reconciling them, we can thus conclude that Ganon was not destroyed in ALttP at all, but instead, his body was broken and his spirit sealed away. In order to revive him, Twinrova required a powerful energy source to break the seal- and they thus used the Dark flames to do so. However, Ganon was then defeated again, and so returned to the darkness- where he remained until ALBW.
This still fails to explain the splitting of the Triforce, however. To do so, we must take a look at the start of the Oracle games- Link rides to Hyrule Castle to do something with the Triforce (which, in light of the timeline, could involve using it on Zelda's orders to wish the Oracles to Hyrule), but is then cocooned in a strange light and sent on his way. As he is, however, a voice (or perhaps group of voices) tells him to "Accept our quest, Hero!" This, in addition to some details given in Hyrule Historia, hints that the Golden Goddesses may have been the speakers, and transported Link. However- and this is critical- they used the Triforce to do so, likely by remotely focusing their power through it. However they did it, though, as established in Skyward Sword, deities cannot use the Triforce. As a result, the relic was split, and the fragmented pieces then sought out their chosen wielders, with Link getting Courage, Zelda Wisdom, and Ganon Power. Several characters even reference the mark on Link's hand (which, up until now, was assumed to be a Mark of the Hero, and nothing more). From there, Ganon was re-sealed in the darkness with his ToP after his defeat; Zelda continued to hand down her ToW in the Royal Family; and Link left to continue his training (setting up the events of Link's Awakening in the process), taking the ToC with him.
Centuries later, Yuga used the power of the Seven Sages to once more release Ganon, while the other Triforce pieces were then revealed in their own time. Et vóila- ALBW now synergizes with the timeline, without any major loss of canon.
Thoughts?