There are two Master Swords in Breath of the Wild *SPOILERS*

You are now cursed with this knowledge

Music credited to - Game Chops & Mikel

[purplmastr]

Perhaps a separate timeline appears when Zelda goes into the past, so the botw we play is actually in another timeline that never results in totk.

[chriscruz]

It could have been that the light dragon was trapped in the depths during botw. That would explain why we didn't see her during the game, but yeah, there would be two zeldas and two master swords.

[mkjjoe]

Thing is, all this has been addressed since release so it's surprising people into it are still confused.

This is a closed time loop, it always happened like that. The lore reason that we didn't see the light dragon and sky islands in BOTW is because there's a magical cloud barrier that dissipates as we finish the tutorial in TOTK. As soon as Zelda receives the sword, two swords co-exist. When BOTW Zelda is born, she also exists as a dragon out of sight.

This kingdom isn't necessarily the very start of Hyrule, more likely a re-founding which even the director Fujibayashi said _could_ be the case though it's still up to interpretation. So let's take the simpler explanation: this is a re-founding long after older games we've played. There were other incarnations of the princess, the hero and Ganon. When beating all shrines in TOTK we get a tunic that represents the hero in the tapestry of 10, 000 years before BOTW, who doesn't look human but not entirely Zonai either. We don't know what it means yet.
The "give up on reincarnation" was a mistranslation as Nintendo of America is known for, the meaning was that Ganon was so bent on coming back that he resorted to an enraged ethereal form as Calamity. That form stems from Ganondorf underground as Rauru's seal could not contain him completely and indefinitely. Calamity's resurrections weakened that seal and Rauru gave up as Zelda and Link found them.

TOTK didn't build much in depth or continuity, but nothing it does contradicts previous lore.

There's an art book that will release in Japan by the end of the month.

[a.jthomas]

People said that the Imprisoning War sets 10, 000 years before the Events of BOTW and TOTK. But clearly it set way longer than that. The First Great Calamity sets way after the Imprisoning War and 10, 000 years before the second great Calamity (in which happens in the pre Calamity in Breath of the Wild). There is a bit of misconceptions when it comes to fan theories.

[a.jthomas]

I wondered if there are two master swords in the Age of Calamity alternate timeline. In this reality, Terrako went back to warned Hyrule about the destruction Ganon will bring upon. And changed the fates of the Kingdom and the 4 champions (Urbosa, Daruk, Mipha, and Revalli).

The same theory that I have with Ganondorf’s mummified body living in that reality similar to the one from the original timeline. Time travel has always been a part of the Legend of Zelda mythology. Whether it is a time loop or creating diverted timelines (like how the events of Ocarina of Time created the Child and Adult timelines), the possibilities are endless.

People had been asking Nintendo for the Sequel of Age of Calamity for a while now, and I think Hyrule Warriors: The Imprisoning War is the answer.

[DillonMaynard]

Yes, there are 2 sets of Zeldas and Master Swords from BOTW's POV. BOTW Zelda & Pedestal Master Sword and TOTK Dragon Zelda & Healing Master Sword.
There could have been incarnations of Link and Zelda between the 10k years but no Ganondorf as he was sealed. Those hypothetical versions of Link would've been able to use the Pedestal Master Sword.
TOTK Zelda's journey is actually paradox-free.👍

[a.jthomas]

If the Light Dragon (Zelda) has been around throughout her life watching her younger self and reliving her moments even though she lost a part of herself, how would Zelda feel that bother her’s and Link’s fates had been decided from the start? Are they free to choose their own paths or are they just slaves to their destinies? And were such flawed ideals, such as King Rauru’s idea of Hyrule living in eternal peace, led to Eternal peace is unrealistic/flawed when there will be disagreements, greed, and power tug of war happening centuries after the Imprisoning War? How would Link feel if she inadvertently broke his heart (since they pair are in a relationship as you can see them living together in Hatendo Village) and his promises to her champions since Urbosa and Zelda’s mother only wants for her to live her life happily but threw it all away because of the heavy destiny she is forced to carry? That is alot for Princess Zelda to take in!

[brentonarp]

I'm gonna guess she's wherever all the Zonai ruins are, which I've always assumed it all started super high altitude and over time lost whatever power it had and began descending. Mainly just assuming it's a loss of power because in Totk random Zonai ruins fall, and we're shown that Link has to use a battery to use the devices, implying they don't have infinite power, I'd assume the same for the floating island's.

[novustalks]

The dragon travelled forward in time when she went through the cloud

[fabledfrog]

0:50

The sword does regenerate, like we see from cutscenes in the Korok forest, but I also believe that Zelda dragon was using Recall in combination with that to rejuvenate the sword over the incredibly long timeskip. The light dragon parts give healing when you attack with them, so I believe that effect was somewhat given to the master sword - it was easily destroyed by Gloom before, but now the sword is able to withstand the gloom because it is in a state of healing. Could also be why it regenerates after it breaks, but that also happened in BOTW so i'm not sure

[WistyFish]

I imagine that this must mean that dragon Zelda was either flying up in the sky islands or was trapped in the depths for 10000 years. I vote sky because it would be sadder if she was underground lol

[thecountalucard]

You wouldn’t have seen the Light Dragon in Breath of the Wild because she was in the place *over* the sky. The sky islands that emerge during the Upheaval were literally on another plane of existence. Remember how in Skyward Sword Link and presumably other residents of Skyloft need a hole to appear in the solid cloud cover barrier to descend into Hyrule?

[a.jthomas]

Would you considered the Ancient Hero (from the History of the Great Calamity) a spirit of the hero?

[JakeYolk]

They state the sword doesn't need a pedestal?

[KasperFenix]

I think you’re the first person to figure this out!