The Hero of Time still played a part in saving Hyrule, he just ended up dying in the process.
This is being super charitable.
The Hero's Shade/Hero of Time accepted the life of the hero, but on the AT. Both Historia and the Japanese intro of Majora's Mask make it clear that his legend was not remembered on the CT. Therefore, since his legend was not remembered, the ''ancient hero'' mentioned by the people must, by necessity, be a different offscreen hero, either between OoT and TP, or before OoT.
Wouldn't he have been remembered as the "savior from the future, the wielder of the Triforce of Courage"? It is
only because of him that Ganondorf was sealed in the Twilight Realm, and he should have formed a relationship with Zelda (unless he died in the Lost Woods, except we know that he had kids). I just don't understand, I guess logically, how Link was not remembered as a hero in the Child Timeline (especially if he was remembered as a hero in the Downfall Timeline if that's what you're arguing). I thought he
was remembered as a hero but died before he could train anyone? Maybe I need to replay TP.
BotW/TotK Rito are different from TWW Rito from culture to biology, and Koroks are just transformed Kokiri, with the Kokiri existing before the split.
They have the same naming convention (with the -i surletter). Maybe there is a world where the Rito evolved without the Zora, maybe they're the Watarara, and I might be fudging the evidence cuz I don't think TotK works in the DT, but I think it is fair to say that the only timeline pre-BotW that we saw the Rito was in the AT.
Hyrule was literally ERASED at the end of TWW.
So what was the Great Deku Tree on about with his "seeds of Hyrule" plan?
Alright, this argument is becoming lond winded, so I'll put it plainly as to why there I think TotK past must be between SS and TMC, as that is the original point of contention: Because, officially speaking, aside from the founding of New Hyrule on the AT, that's where the only time when Hyrule Kingdom is OFFICIALLY said to have been founded. If TotK were to support multiple foundings of Hyrule, with TotK-past being the first founding before the one between SS-TMC, they wouldn't have just called it ''the founding of Hyrule'', they would've specifically called it ''the first founding'' or the ''the founding of the FIRST kingdom'', or atleast would've acknowledged other times the kingdom has been founded, instead of just saying THE founding. There's also been times in which the Spirit of the Hero hasn't shown up, such as the backstory of ALttP, for example, so it's not hard to fathom the same would happen here.
I agree with this, a major plotpoint in TotK is the necessity of building Hyrule Castle in its
specific location after the original Hyrule Castle was built on the Great Plateau. This turns very quickly from a timeline theory to a geography theory, but there was no Hyrule Castle pre-SS, that's for sure.
That only takes into account that Rauru, himself didn't use the Master Sword, if it even existed, but ignores the fact that it would have still been mentioned, and the blade, as well as the accompanying hero, were a completely foreign concept to everyone in the Tears of the Kingdom past. Nothing about a lost weapon matching Zelda's description, or being at a loss for someone who can use it, or even a comment about her descriptions sounding like some old fairy tail. There wasn't even a hint of reconition, asside from what information Zelda provided. To say that there was a Spirit of the Hero, but it just didn't appear, in a time of Hyrule's need (which it is supposed to do), and everyone simply forgot about it, but remembered a few generations later; is quite a lot of supporting your theory with a theory.
I think after the Master Sword was used to seal the Triforce in the Sacred Realm, early Hyrule didn't care much about it. Minish Cap and Four Swords speak to this. By tying the Master Sword
to the ability to gain the literally infinite power that was used to destroy the final remnants of an Imprisoned Demise, it makes the Master Sword exceptionally dangerous to wield.
As for the Spirit of the Hero, maybe Rauru or Zelda got it, doing what was necessary to "save" Hyrule. Kind of a copout, the question still remains, but Rauru
did seal Ganondorf, just like Link did in OoT.
wasn't the backstory of ALBW supposed to be ALTTP?
It's supposed to be but Moblinking is right that it doesn't line up perfectly.
From ALBW: "This gift from the gods, Hyrule's greatest treasure [the Triforce], will grant the wish of any mortal who touches it. The Triforce once stoked greed in the hearts of men. A legendary war was fought to keep it out of evil hands. To end the war for the Triforce, the royal family decided to hide it in the Sacred Realm. They summoned the Seven Sages of legend, who used their power to seal the Triforce away. The Demon King Ganon was once just a thief -- until the man broke into the Sacred Realm. There he stole the Triforce and transformed himself. Then he took his evil campaign back to Hyrule. A hero of legend arose from humble beginnings, awoken to his purpose by a princess of Hyrule. With the Master Sword, the blade of evil's bane, he sought the descendants of the Seven Sages. Together they defeated the Demon King Ganon -- and sealed him away in darkness. The Triforce was split into three pieces, separated forever. One piece remains with the royal family. Another piece has fallen into the hands of Ganon, sealed away with him. The third piece has vanished, though legend says it is hidden in the spirit of a true hero. It slumbers now somewhere in Hyrule -- waiting for the time when the world needs a new hero."
This describes the pre-OoT Triforce wars, an event that kinda lines up with ALttP but not really, and the ending of the Oracle games when the Triforce splits.
The "and sealed him away in darkness" does not appear to be true for ALttP: the silver arrows
killed him in ALttP, like the Master Sword
killed him in TP. BUT! After his defeat in the Oracle games, located in the Room of Rites, who knows what happened to his corpse. The theory I propose is that the Room of Rites' "unknown location" is in Lorule. Which explains how his corpse ends up sealed in Lorule in ALBW.
But the "legendary war" part brings into question: what "royal family" and sage-group sealed the Triforce with the Master Sword in the Temple of Time. If TotK takes place before SS, we still don't know the answer to this question. If TotK takes place after SS, then Rauru, Sonia, Lizardgoro, Camelgerudo, Elezora, and Birdrito put down a bunch of post-SS fighting and sealed the Triforce before Zelda was sent to the past. Is that right? Or am I missing something.