Queen Rutela's LIE | Zelda: Twilight Princess Theory

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The Zora Queen Rutela from the Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess may very well have lied to us about something very important... her husband. Could it be that she actually HAD no husband, and that she made the Zora Armor herself? Join me to find out!
#Zelda #Nintendo #TwilightPrincess
Footage Credit:
ZeldaMaster (Twilight Princess HD)
ZorZelda (Ocarina of Time 3D)
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00:00 - Ace Defender!
01:21 - Theory!
#acedefender

[@BanditGames]

Many thanks to Ace Defender for sponsoring this theory! You can install the game using this link and receive 10 Royal Recruit tickets after completing Level 2-8: mtchm.de/j2vjw What's your favorite race in Hyrule: Kokiri, Koroks, Zora, Rito, Gorons, Gerudo, or Hylians?

[@ScarletRainfall]

Gerudo

[@Cliffordlonghead]

Awesome Video

[@Cliffordlonghead]

What happen?

[@Cliffordlonghead]

Hylian

[@muinatsudragneel]

Koroks is that a even a question who does love golden💩

[@disgustedluigi]

The first question is easy to answer: political marriage. She didn’t love her husband so she didn’t give Link the armor but instead buried it with her husband, basically burying her political expedient husband and her true love and choosing to leave it behind. When Link never returned she betrayed her heart for the sake of her people. That also explains why she lied and said her husband made the armor. To her, it is no longer the armor she made for the man she loved (Link), but a testament to a betrayal of her heart. She can’t say it’s armor for her lover because she already betrayed those feelings once, and by giving it to his descendent she’s betraying her feelings again. Therefore all she could do is lie.

[@Matthew10950]

You can just say 'bitches be trippin.' Seriously though, I liked your comment.

[@bartman64]

I like your theory and it could be even easier. She made the armor for Link but gave it to her arranged fiancée to fulfill Zora custom. He later passed and was buried with the armor that never quite fit right

[@disgustedluigi]

@@bartman64 I considered that but then it wouldn’t have fit a Hylian (Link). The body proportions of Zoras are a bit different even in Twilight Princess. I suppose she could have given the armor to her Zora husband as custom but he never wore it because it didn’t fit. Now that I’m not outright dismissing the idea due to the sizing issue, I kind of like the idea of her giving her husband Zora armor that clearly doesn’t fit him as if to say “I’m giving this to you because I dedicate my life to you as Queen, but know that you’ll never have my heart.”

[@celtrive8996]

Rutela buried her love (symbolically and literally).

[@mysryuza]

Oh damn

[@literallywhy6162]

She could also, if she’s Ruto, have chosen to marry someone else for political reasons, and then have kept the armor and sapphire since she meant them for Link

[@tanukidrummer]

That could be the case. With nobility and royalty, marriages are often arranged for some sort of political gain or other reason. If Rutellia is Ruto, she likely married a high ranking male Zora within her community. Since they would have likely been of a lower status than she is, she would be crowned as queen with her husband being given the title of Royal Consort. However when it comes to Zora Armor that Bandit mentions from Breath of the Wild, he left out a piece of backstory in the game about why Zora princesses make the garment for their lovers. According to an old Zora tale in Breath of the Wild, ages ago a Zora princess was engaged to a Zora warrior. One day when monsters came to invade Zora's Domain, the princess sewn a silver scale from her chest into the chest piece of her lover's armor as a good luck momento. During battle, the warrior was in fierce combat with a Lynel and was knocked to the ground. When the beast was preparing to do a killing blow, the sun glinted off the princess' silver scale and temporarily blinded it. Seeing an opportunity, the Zora warrior got to his feet and quickly landed a mortal blow on the Lynel. As a way to honor this tale, other Zora princesses began crafting armor with their on silver scales sewn into them as gift to their lovers in the hopes they too will give them luck in battle.

[@mysryuza]

@@tanukidrummer I was hoping he'd mention this but he didn't :')

[@leylatheloser8364]

it might sound crazy but hear me out what if link hero of time was her husband , explaining why her husband is dead and explaining why the armor is also at her husbands grave

[@annieandelsieofarendelle3294]

@@leylatheloser8364 I don’t think so. He didn’t really take much interest in her in his own game, and TP Link is full Hylian and lives in Ordon province and he’s OoT Link’s blood descendant

[@The10thDecision]

Also, to everyone bringing up the point that Ruto reaches adolescence in the 7 year jump in OoT as a potential inconsistency with the way Zora’s age, there’s a very simple answer to that: we don’t know how long she had looked like a child. She could have actually already been a lot older than she looked. In BotW, Finley explains that she’s “at that awkward Zora age where she is a young woman but still has not had her growth spurt yet,” implying that once the growth spurt hits, it happens relatively quickly.

[@Sanakudou]

There’s also the possibility that they are kids for the same amount of times as humans but stay as the equivalent of young adults for MUCH longer.

[@peterhudson8125]

Was just thinking this what about Ruto from adult link after the 7 years she should be looking young still if you go by the age theory

[@chaoscontroller316]

So Zoras in Zelda are the equivalent to the Manakete from Fire Emblem?

[@Ristyo1992]

That's the stupidest thing Zelda doesn't have a coherent time line. It's stupid to speculate.

[@TheLadyLiddell]

@@Ristyo1992 hush and let people have fun.

[@joshuabittar]

Maybe she just married a random Zora to keep the lineage going but she secretly was still in love with Link, considering that Ruto is the only child of the king in OoT (that we know of), after all, royalty getting married to people they don't love isn't exactly unseen.

[@nickalexander3755]

I was just about to say this! It adds a layer of tragedy to her whole story. She loved Link but Link didn't love her back, so she married for political reasons but secretly kept the armor for Link, so much that she literally took it with her to her grave

[@LadyEspia]

A bot copied your comment. :)

[@Domriso]

Especially since the Zora live so long. Ruto could have pined after Link for a while, but once he didn't come back and a few decades passed, meaning Link was now an old man and definitely not coming back for her, she took on a traditional Zora husband.

[@casseroledragon3277]

It's also not unlikely that she could have had a kid without being married. Lots of cultures do that and don't have to be married to have a child be considered an heir.

[@pocketdirt338]

@@Domriso Link died...and became the Hero's Shade. So he never had a chance to grow old. Only enough time to produce an heir

[@The10thDecision]

One thing not addressed is that her name is different, but Ruto could have been a childhood nickname, which she dropped in preference of her more formal name as an adult. Happens all the time in real life.

[@SarukiKnight]

Yet the name would be famous enough to name a divine beast after it.

[@Redgrapes-uv1ru]

And a name of a village in Zelda 2.

[@8BitPancakes]

@@SarukiKnight I mean, Ruto, Rutela, and Ruta are all in the same ballpark of names. Ruta could be named after Rutela for all they know. It's all legends for a reason! 😊

[@SarukiKnight]

@@8BitPancakes Except if you read the weathered Zora diaries spread across Lanayru referencing OoT specifically.

[@8BitPancakes]

@@SarukiKnight But that still doesn't discount the theory that Ruto and Rutela are the same. Ruto, as stated previously, could have just been an endearing nickname. Many people go strictly by their nicknames.

[@wearywanderer1912]

Brilliant theory! Rutela's "hair" could be a simple art style change, just like the Hero's Tunic is supposed to mimic Ocarina's but it clearly has differences.

[@BanditGames]

Exactly. They definitely changed up many things in TP but only for the sake of the art style

[@ikanarabbit]

Right! Or her "hair" could be a part of the headpiece we can see she's wearing!

[@josemero157]

I've been thinking on her name now that I saw this theory and it brought me this question: What if actually "Ruto" is just a short way to say "Rutela"?

[@zimmerwald1915]

@@josemero157 I think that's backwards - "Rutela" is a diminutive, "Little Ruto."

[@wearywanderer1912]

@@josemero157 That's well thought.

[@Cryseris]

i am a simple man; i see twilight princess, i click

[@justmerepanda7721]

Same

[@tutiiis98]

Big mood

[@bloobushviper5709]

I see Zelda, I click

[@JLynnT]

Agree.

[@TheTiger896]

Same just waiting for a remake

[@arlaxazure486]

Her wording was always weird to me. Rutela's line was "In life, I was the elder of this Zora village and the queen of my people. I was called Rutela" Not "My name is Rutela". What if this was, in fact, Ruto who simply changed her name? I could be wrong here, but I don't believe any other game mentions Ruto by name, only as a Princess of the Zoras that fell in love with the Hero of Old/Time. This could be a deliberate attempt from Nintendo to keep names vague in order to pull stunts like this, where canonical characters from chronologically older games make a cameo under a new disguise. My theory is: Ruto was getting to the age of needing to marry soon. In the courts of nobility, marriage is the key component to ensure alliances. ESPECIALLY when princes and princesses are involved. All this time she'd been waiting for Link to come back only for each day to be a disappointment. So when it came time to prove her allegiance to her people and marry another Zora, she donned on a new name: Rutela. That way Rutela could marry a Zora for the sake of her people, and Ruto would forever remain betrothed to Link and never break her promise after giving him the sapphire.

[@pluspiping]

I like this theory. Not only would it have symbolic meaning to Ruto, but LOTS of monarchs in this world take on new names at their coronation, too.

[@miltonivanguerrerovazquez9675]

@@pluspiping I agree, for example. When a cardinal becomes Pope, he takes a new name... Cardinal Ratzinger becomes Pope Benedict XVI. Now the fact that the Queen of the Zoras did not take the name of Rutela the II...or III or IV implies that she was the first one to have taken that name. The theory of Arlax have many sense to me.

[@annieandelsieofarendelle3294]

@@miltonivanguerrerovazquez9675 I actually have a headcanon that the Zeldas have names like the daughters of Maria Theresa with Zelda being a name of protection and official name and a second name they use with family and friends.

[@defearl]

I’m interested to see the Japanese script text. If it’s written the way you suggested (“I was called X” instead of “My name is X”), then you might be on to something.

[@MrAtheistQueen]

FYI - Link warned the princess Zelda about Ganondorf's plan after being sent back, which means he would have been sent back PRIOR to the time she was fleeing the castle with Impa, which was BEFORE Link got the ocarina of time and BEFORE he could open the chamber to the sword. So, that part is a big hole you might want to fix.

[@kingdaniel3519]

It's not a hole. It's called time travel. It creates all kinds of unexplainable paradoxes.

[@lakotasotaru]

I agree but let's try to put it together as well, what if when link warned zelda of the danger she told her father, who then captured Gannon, link would also tell her about the evil curses he put on the people's he had visited before he came back, explaining that they needed help, they would have to explain everything to the other peoples in order to offer aid and they would bring link bearing the kokiri emerald to validate their claims thus link would have met ruto and in hearing his claims and since she was already in the belly the king (in true royal fashion) would have his daughter thank the young link for his aid in recovering her.. That is if he didn't just say "hey, here's the thing Gannon is doing I gotta go save the world"

[@kingdaniel3519]

@@lakotasotaru Look. Try as we might, it'll never be explainable. By sending Link back in time Zelda created a new timeline where events happen out of sequence. That's one of the many problems with time travel and why I dislike it as a plot point. It's lazy storytelling because they can't figure out another way to move the story along. That's why I'm hoping Nintendo comes up with something better in the BotW sequel than time travel, again.

[@lakotasotaru]

@@kingdaniel3519 true, time travel is a difficult mechanic to tell a decent story around but we all knew this was high fantasy when we started and I believe that there is some room for a little bending. They established their own internal rules of time travel and we simply need to realize the repercussions of the actions taken. There are rules, and some glaring contradictions such as the door was open when zelda sent link back in time, yet he was still able to meet her before she fled? Considering the events we saw, not likely. So what can we come up with to tell the story? I mean come on, filling in the gaps and explaining away the obvious issues with the infinite possibilities that we as fans get to agree on and believe to be true. It is one giant story we are all realizing together so let's not be sour or upset at something we can't change and have no power over in this instance and enjoy what we have here in this small area of the internet where we like minded individuals all clicked on a zelda vid by MNB and took to the comments to spread our own interpretation of the events and find those that resonate and make the most sense in our own thoughts. You don't have to agree with me, but I hope you are having fun while you do what you do, stay awesome.

[@hilarybee-chan5259]

@@lakotasotaru Knowing Link, he wouldn't just let the problems happening with Jabu Jabu and Dodongo's cavern persist after being sent back before completing those dungeons anyway.

[@jacintacapelety9600]

Alternate idea to explain Ralis and the idea of the Zora king crafting the armor: Let's assume Rutela is Ruto but older. Ruto was a zora *princess* . The only heir to her throne that we knew of. If a royal family were to die out, that would open a massive power vacuum and send the peoples into chaos. I mean, the zora could barely function enough to send out search parties for Ralis while he was missing, and that's just how unorganized they were when they knew they still had a rightful ruler to lead them. Imagine how monumentally worse the chaos would have been if the zora royal family had just been wiped out entirely?! I think it's more likely that, as Ruto got older and realized the hero of time wasn't going to come back to her, either she was pressured into marrying and having a kid solely for the sake of having an heir to inherit the throne, or she felt doing so was a royal obligation she had to fulfil. Being the only heir to the throne, and therefor the only member of the royal family capable of producing another heir, meant she didn't get the luxury of marrying for love. She had to marry and have a kid for the continuation of the monarchy. It's possible she originally made and gave the zora armor to the zora king she married purely for traditions sake, but the zora king could have very easily figured out that his wife was pining for someone else. I mean, the whole reason Ganon got captured in the first place is because child Link having the triforce of courage meant he could convince the OoT king of Hyrule that Ganon was up to no good, and if word got out that a hylian had the triforce of courage, ergo had opened the door of time, ergo had gotten all the spiritual stones, ergo had the zora sapphire, ergo had been given the zora engagement ring by princess Ruto, the zora king probably would have put two and two together. It's possible that after Ruto's husband realized who Ruto actually loved and would have married given the choice, he decided to modify the zora armor to suit the individual Ruto had truly wanted to give it to, hence why Rutela says her husband made the armor. But at the end of day, all of this is just rampant speculation and theory crafting. And I've never player OoT, so I could be completely mistaken in thinking the zora king would hear about a hylian opening the door of time and all that implies. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@pluspiping]

Using a logical chain of information to arrive at a "marriage-of-convenience-guy was a decent guy" theory is a sweet thought for this rather tragic theory.

[@masonschwalm2010]

The name thing checks out too since it’s common in royalty for people to take on a different name upon ascending to the throne. Also great video! 👍🏻

[@saneminds3700]

Could just be that cultures and customs change over time. It might not of started out as a armor that only the women Zora give to their prospective husbands.

[@oswiniarty4586]

i came to comment this

[@dkin7685]

Yes maybe the og king zoras brother made it and he gifted it to his brother the fat king in ocarina of time and he lovingly gifted it to his wife, who made it a tradition for her daughters to gift the same armour to their lovers. Maybe rutela is the og kings wife and not his daughter ruto who became a sage. The og king and rutela had a second child after ruto left to become a sage.

[@autumnmusic22]

Well, according to the zora stone monuments in botw, it really only notes Ruto and how Vah Ruta is named after her. And it is located by Rutala mountain so I think it might be safe to say Rutala is Ruto in twp.

[@Pedro_Marangon]

5:00 actually A Link Between Worlds also doesn't have a king zora, only a queen (Queen Oren)

[@bastienlafleur5838]

Yeah but aren't they river Zoras (Zola) unless I'm missing out something.

[@xinpingdonohoe3978]

@@bastienlafleur5838 so? They're still Zora. Given Oren's Sage status, she may well be a descendant of Ruto (which makes sense as they're both Zora Royalty). They are Zora too.

[@bastienlafleur5838]

@@xinpingdonohoe3978 Yeah but I though that this could mean that their traditions and such could be different.

[@xinpingdonohoe3978]

@@bastienlafleur5838 their traditions change with time anyway. The Zora Armour thing in BotW is from the story of the Zora King whose wife made him some armour and wove one of her scales into it, which ended up reflecting the sun's light and blinding the cunning Lizalfos general he was fighting. As such, it became tradition for the Zora Princesses to make Zora Armour for their lovers and to weave one of their scales into it. That is a change of culture within the Sea Zora.

[@bastienlafleur5838]

@@xinpingdonohoe3978 Yeah I guess you got a point.

[@mariocruno3772]

Other option… the sages die shortly after their destiny wasn’t met (or Ruto in particular dies shortly after OoT for uncertain reasons). Then the king marries again (with Rutela) and have a son. I think that could also fit into the timeline. But it would mean a sad destiny for Ruto T,T (unless she is traveling around the world or in another kingdom) The armour could have been left by the king without the Queen knowing the full history of said item

[@phannicide7761]

She wouldn't know that the King didn't make that armor but kept it after Ruto's death as a way to honor her, that would make more sense than Ruto having been kept alive and having a son with the King who also happens to be her father. Because Rutella kept saying that her husband, the late King. And if the King from TP is the same from OOT, and Ruto had a child with the King, that would be weird....

[@pdspear1]

I was playing OOT today and realized that we know next to nothing about the spiritual stones. Who made them? Why were they created? Who decided who held onto each of the three stones? I'd love to see you do a video on the 3 Spiritual Stones from OOT.

[@dawnkryxel]

Well... Tradition's can start and evolve over the years. This crafting and transfer of the armor may be the first incident of the tradition that is shown in BOTW.

[@NeoMiyaSan]

While I do see what you mean (and completely agree with the statement), Muuzu's (or whoever's) direct quote begins with the words "countless generations of Zora princesses", which implies the tradition started long, long before breath of the wild. And if the Zora lifespan is really so long, it must be a hell of a long time to be considered "countless" I don't have an answer to how to feel about the theory either, I'm just saying

[@muinatsudragneel]

I was about to go to sleep listening to oot title theme but that must wait

[@liblib620]

That’s certainly an interesting theory, but the biggest problem I see with it is that in Breath of the Wild, the second stone tablet in Zora’s Domain tells of the history of the tradition with Zora princesses and their husbands. According to that tablet, the tradition was added after the Calamity of 10,000 years ago. We know that because the first Zora tablet tells of how the East Reservoir was built 10,000 years ago and the second tells of how the Zora king was going to help or save the reservoir for some reason and that’s why his wife made him special armor. Also, Ruto and Rutella don’t even look alike.

[@00yiggdrasill00]

Yeah it's an interesting theory but I think they are pushing a log uphill this time.

[@liblib620]

@@00yiggdrasill00 Is that like an expression? I’ve never heard that before so I don’t really know what it means. 😆

[@00yiggdrasill00]

@@liblib620 sorry. I mean they are putting in a heap of effort for something that isn't really going to work.

[@liblib620]

@@00yiggdrasill00 Could you elaborate on that?

[@00yiggdrasill00]

@@liblib620 in what way?

[@LozPlaya]

the main problem with this theory is the whole door of time thing. If Link HAS opened the door of time, and that's where future Zelda sent him to, after getting all the spiritual stones, then Zelda ISN'T at the castle anymore peering through the window. She is fleeing Ganondorf. Link HAS to show up BEFORE he completes the spiritual stone quest at the least simply due to this fact. the spiritual stones may be needed to open the door from the outside, but who is to say there isn't some magic that someone going the other way might activate the door in another manner? Also rutela is pink, not blue... so... ya... good video though! interesting ideas! I do like the idea of Rutela being the daughter of Ruto, I don't think that means we need to answer who the father is... He's some random Zora she married after the hero dumped her. where is Ruto then? She probably died prematurely, maybe there was an accident. as for the armor.... well there is as far as we know no rule that a king can't make armor for a hylian, just that zora women traditionally make armor too for their betrothed.

[@liblib620]

Unless Link came back at a time right after he got the Zora Sapphire but before Zelda left.

[@Ty_The_Miqote]

@@liblib620 But you need the Ocarina of Time with the stones to open the door. He didn't get the ocarina till zelda escaped the castle,

[@CheekieCharlie]

Some animals change colours as they get older

[@LozPlaya]

@@liblib620 If he got it there BEFORE zelda left the door would still be closed, as it is that, once Link gets the sapphire and heads back to the castle, is exactly when Ganondorf attacks. Link doesnt set the stones in the temple until AFTER zelda has left. It cannot be done. You have to get the saphire first, and Ganondorf has to attack first, And zelda has to flee and give him the ocarina first, in order for the stones to be used to open the door. Therefore Link MUST be returned to before he completes his quest. There is no way around this fact. He must have all three stones, and the ocarina (which he only gets when Zelda flees) in order to open the door from the outside. it is literally impossible then for him to arive after the door is opened, with zelda still at the castle. The game's narrative doesn't allow for that.

[@LozPlaya]

@@CheekieCharlie True, I suppose, but that's more of an aside from my main argument anyways. My main point was that Link can't have been sent back by future zelda to After the door was opened. It is a narrative impossibility.

[@Velkanredgrave]

Always thought something sounded off. Glad I'm not the only one. Good theory

[@peach_levell]

Rutella got some secrets up her fins

[@Aqua_Toad]

Oh my goodness!! We need much story to be written to fill in the gap between these characters and timeframes. This is THE Zelda theory kind of gold that I miss.

[@HectorT52]

The problem I see in this theory is that ruto doesn't seem to grow as mipha, she ages like link when he is 17, the only explanation then would be that zoras just reach certain age and then their growth slows down dramatically, then she could have marry a zora for appereances although she could still be in love with link.

[@MiraBoo]

I agree, but we also don’t know how old she is when Link’s a kid. She could be an adolescent that’s 30+ years old.

[@ghsvideosreviews5499]

Is not that with fishs ? Don't they age just internally after sometime And they die mostly in nature by others predators? .

[@crimsonninja4097]

Ruto was most likely the so called Sage of Water who in Twilight Princess was killed by Gananodorf while it seems that it was the Queen who died in the previous timeline, it was the King who died in the timeline in which Twilight Princess takes place so Rutela would be the only Zora Ruler left (until Zants invasion of course) answering why you don't see either King Zora or Ruto.

[@extravirginoliveoil44]

I love the Zelda theories! Keep up the good work! I was always so sad about Rutela’s murder

[@adriennemichelle6757]

This is actually the MOST fascinating LoZ theory video I´ve seen. I love it! It makes me happy that Ruto has ¨lived on¨ -in some sense, and that her lineage continues through her little brother. The description of the Zora aging process was very helpful too.

[@saribeepo.o5111]

He can't be returned to the past after the stones were claimed, because he shows up with Zelda when Zelda does not know who Link is. He's showing up at the time that he did in the game when they first met, as she is watching Ganondorf approach the throne (that's why she's looking through the window). The whole reason for the split in the timeline is because they warn Zelda's father and show him the parts of the triforce. There would have been no time if he was dropped off after getting the stones, as Gandondorf had been watching to time his pursuit of Zelda to ensure Link would open the door. That is, Ganondorf was there when he opened the door, and therefore returning him to that point would accomplish nothing, but to put Link in a time loop. ... The door can be open without the stones because it is connected to the master sword and the triforce, so when the triforce split in the child timeline, it had an affect on the temple of time, which caused the door to be open. No stones required because, as we see the only things that are affected differently from his return in time are those related to the master sword (ie if he is returned to the past by Zelda, there would be two master swords as he didn't put it in the pedestal) and the Triforce ( if he is returned to the past at any point without Ganondorf tried to take the Triforce, there would be no Triforce segments connected to the three of them). ... The Zora armor may have been created by the King at the behest of child timeline, Hero of Time. Just because the armor is made as an engagement present to the princess' intended does not mean it's the only time the armor is crafted. It can be that, it is specifically when the princess makes it, it is given to her intended husband symbolically but it is only significant in that way in that case. For example, not everyone who buys a ring for someone is necessarily doing it to marry them.... Unlike what some say about the Hero of Time lingering as the Hero's Shade having to do with his lack of acknowledgement for his accomplishments, it seems more likely when he returned from his adventures in Majorah's Mask, he became aware of the botched imprisonment of Ganondorf. He knew that sealing him away would not be permanent, and that someone would have to defeat him down the line. Knowing this, remembering his need to fight in the water temple, he goes to the Zora King, with the blessing of the royal family and requests that Zora Armor be made for his descendent, who will take up the mantel and finish the work he had started (but now is not complete because of the time split). So it was made for him, because his ancestor had asked the Zora to make it for the hero that would come to them to take up the fight with Ganondorf. just as Hero's Shade waited for the hero he knew would rise up to finish off the evil King.

[@kreiskhaos8516]

This makes much more sense.

[@albert3ization]

That would explain the Hero's Shade regret. This could his regret not going to Princesses Ruto

[@albert3ization]

@@hakboi2269 That too, i am just saying ruto got "tail". Has a joke. But yeah, not being around to teach the techniques he learn over the years

[@g.f.martianshipyards9328]

BotW 2 needs a sequence where King Dorephan crawls to the side and it takes even longer. Also, one of the most interesting theories in a long time.

[@dylanharrison494]

Good theory, I love the Zora and love any videos about their lore! I have a few ideas for how to iron out the discrepancies. What if she didn't lie at all; sometime after Ocarina of Time Link does come back to her, they marry and have Prince Ralis, and then shortly thereafter the hero is killed in battle. The hero's shade obviously died violently and probably at a young age, so this would explain why His Highness never mentions his father. At some point between their marriage and the Hero of Time's death he makes alterations to the Zora armour for his successor, the Hero of Twilight. This is why the Queen says that her husband made the armour for Twilight Princess' Link specifically, he didn't originally make it but he altered it specifically for the Hero of Twilight. Rutella doesn't mention that she was the original maker of the armour because it isn't relevant to the new hero, and it is painful for her to recall her short lived romance before her husband's life was tragically cut short. She gives the Hero of Twilight a shortened version of the story to save herself from reliving painful memories.

[@The10thDecision]

I like this! What’s funny about it as that your theory could easily make Ralis way older than he looks, which does track with info we get from BotW. Which would make Beth’s crush on him extra hilarious, because she thinks he’s her age, and the whole time he’s just thinking, “Why won’t this *child* leave me alone??” 😂

[@JoshuaRWorkman]

The Hero's Shade may have died young, but he was still an adult. I do agree, however, that Ruto did see Link again after giving him the Spiritual Stone of Water, but it would have happened after the events of Majora's Mask and an unknown amount of time between then and seeing her again. I don't know if I buy into the theory that Link and Ruto were able to marry and have Prince Ralis, simply because we don't know if Hylians can have offspring with Zoras. We do know, however, thanks to Majora's Mask and the Hero's Shade, that after being sent back in time and telling Princess Zelda what he knows about the future, Link continued to live an adventurous life. I think that Ruto did see Link again as an adult and she began making the armor for him then, but he died, perhaps wearing the armor the Hero's Shade wears, before he could return to her again. But we also have the fact that the Hero of Twilight knows Epona's Song. Clearly, it was passed down in the family, but the evidence points toward the Hero of Time getting with Malon in part because he would have been physically compatible with her. Sure, he could have had offspring with both Malon and Ruto, but I don't think Ruto and Rutela are the same person.

[@tanandalynch9441]

Hero's Shade is confirmed to be the Hero Of Time. Idk if that helps you at all with your theory

[@pluspiping]

I've heard of the "link marries zelda" vs "link marries malon" theories... but I am THRILLED to have a third option of "link marries ruto AND it arguably fits in canon". Love it.

[@JohnnyYeTaecanUktena]

@@JoshuaRWorkman Laruto in wind waker is kinda a implication that they can. Also just because he knows a song from his ancestor does not mean he got with Malon neither does the fact that hero of twilight happens to be a farm hand means he got with Malon

[@WarmLillie]

Twilight Princess is Dark. The random idea I got from this theory. I was originally thinking that Link and Rutela did got together now. Link was previous king but actual died early. Zora are able live for hundreds of years but Hylian aren’t. Change there name to fit there new tities The Zora armor was ditch in favor for the golden armor. His remain were lost so they buried his armor only. Fighting in the war becoming the hero shade and to be reincarnated again. He would be in service in the royal family because they have strong ties.

[@The10thDecision]

We know for a fact that Zora / Hylian relationships are possible - Mipha was planning on proposing to Link, her father and brother were in full support of it, and then there’s that other couple from a side quest in BotW - yet we’ve never seen an obvious Zora / Hylian hybrid child. Similarly, the Gerudo *have* to reproduce with Hylians, yet they don’t resemble them more over time and remain a distinctly separate people. This leads me to believe that the Zora and Gerudo genes completely dominate in these intermarriages, so it would be totally plausible for Ralis to have a Hylian father. The only issue with it being Link is that it’s stated that the Hero of Twilight is a direct descendant of the Hero of Time, so he would have probably had to have had kids with a fellow Hylian at some point, and I don’t think any Link would be a cheater / abandon one family for another.

[@alexzaze1407]

Makes more sense if the Hero of Time got together with Malon(explaining her singing spirit thing looking for her descendant at night or calling the Hero's Shade in TP night time Hyrule field OST)

[@zimmerwald1915]

@@alexzaze1407 Also, you know, the Hero of Twilight being a descendent of the Hero of Time. Can hylians and zoras even have children?

[@alexzaze1407]

@@zimmerwald1915 exacly, I never really drove my mind into that question but, if the Gerudo probably do have with other species like hylians to keep their women-warrior species then... I guess humanoid-fish can maybe...? I don't think that's even possible because we don't see hybrids in the franchise at all as far as I'm concerned, Gerudo are very similar to Hylians so it does make sense, but not Zoras(or Gorons for that matter, a whole other unecessary can of worms)

[@JadeJuno]

@@alexzaze1407 the Gerudo aren't a different species to Hylians, they're just a different race but they're both part of the human species (unlike, say, Zoras and Goron)

[@nathanaelfugate3324]

This is an interesting and thought provoking video. Thanks! One note on Ralis. If he is indeed Ruto's sister then it would make sense for her to take on the role of queen/mother. The Zora seem to be a patriarchal society with the eldest son inheriting the throne (at least this is reasonable since we only see Zora kings in every other game). If the eldest son is too young to inherit the throne when his father dies as Ralis seems to be, then his mother, or if she is dead too his older sister, would take on the role of queen/princess regent. She would train him and exercise sovereign power until he came of age. Unfortunately, Ruto is killed before this can happen rendering the Zora effectively without leadership. This could also be a strategic move by Zant. Unlike the Gorons who have four elders to lead them the Zora only have the monarchy. What better way to control a people than by assassinating the princess regent and taking under your wing the malleable prince. In doing so Zant could create a puppet state for his own benefit. He is thwarted because Ralis goes into hiding as evidenced by the fact that no one knows where he is when you are trying to find him to get the coral earring. It still does not answer why Ralis calls the queen his mother and not his sister (unless he was too young and that details was kept even from him). But it is fun thinking about all the possibilities now!

[@LMan86]

WHOA BanditGames has done a literal mic drop with this video! Blew my mind 🙌🏻

[@bryze9594]

This kind of theory is what I like from this channel Good jobs man 👍

[@jeremycabrera3424]

I always assumed he was sent back after leaving the forrest before meeting the princess for the first time… If he was sent after he opened the Door of Time Zelda would of already fled Hyrule Castle.

[@Xershade]

Okay except all he literally needs to do is go back when the door is open, and close it before Ganondork shows up. Ganondork is already in BIG trouble for attacking the castle, literally everyone knows about him at this point, all that needs to be done is preventing him from getting to the sacred realm. That and Zelda knew Ganondork was up to something anyhow and her father didn't care before he attacked the castle, telling her something she already knows and her father gives less than three triforce pieces about proves what exactly?

[@papayapeaks1693]

Im so surprised there are still so many cool theories to come out of this game❤️

[@imjustelm]

BANDIT. this is a fantastic theory! who knew the Zora family tree would be so complicated :’) this might be one of my favorite theories yet!

[@crabbuckets7506]

It's a great theory, and is almost flawless. Love your videos man.

[@curtisrobinson1042]

You had me until Ralis being Ruto’s brother. Ruto probably laid an egg and another Zora could have fertilized the egg. I can’t imagine Zora’s can’t have traditional sex with a human so they must just be in more romantic relationships with Hylians than sexual. I also believe that it’s entirely possible that OoT link was actually Ruta’s husband with your theory - he probably made the armour and they made it a tradition together based on their marriage. He died and then years later Ruta could have had a child. And Ralis isn’t that tall he looks pre adulthood zora so I imagine that he’s just an illegitimate child. Because cross species stuff doesn’t really work…

[@kingdaniel3519]

One other possibility, though I hate to be the one to bring it up. Historically speaking, incest occurred for centuries in many royal families throughout Europe and Asia. She could still have been Princess Ruto, but took a new name when she married her father and became queen, and the prince could still be her biological son.

[@Mama_Gobos_Apl]

no pls

[@DanielisAwesome52]

This could explain Ralis's frailty, with him being sick often enough the doctor in Castle Town already had the medicine for him

[@kingdaniel3519]

@@DanielisAwesome52 That's true and a very good point.

[@GideonGrimmGaming]

Another thing that throws a wrench into Zora lore as a whole is how much Ruto visibly ages between the events of child link and adult link in ocarina of time.

[@williamdrum9899]

Maybe they just have an awkward growth spurt and just stop there

[@inscription8099]

I love your theories, they are so perplexing and well thought out. Of course no zelda theory is 100% solid just because we always lack information but you always make a great case.

[@AidenLustigorLightes1nSanity]

5:00 Twilight Princess actually isn't the only appearance of the Zora where no king is mentioned, there's also not a king in A Link Between Worlds, though the queen is the one that gives you the Zora flippers (and is one of the sages you later rescue from being a painting)

[@VestigeSmash21]

(*this comment is just for laughs*) MNB: ( puts up the video showing it to everyone) yeah..... so here's Queen Rutela's lie me: w-w- what!!! w-wait, she-! SHE LIED?! Queen Rutela: I LIED! :D

[@ggpt9641]

Thankful for the work that went into this! I'd like to mention having a remarkably close name too (Rut) either gives it more ground or coincidental.

[@deanparsons2895]

Your theories are better and more logical than actually zelda lore! Nice work :)

[@kolboi7097]

Great theory! One thing I do want to point out, though, is that Ruto seemed to have aged much like a human (or Hylian) would in the span from when link first met her in Jabu-Jabu to the future when he met her again. If that's the case, it may be that Zora mature regularly up to a point and then remain that age which could still fit the theory. But then it also opens up the case that it wouldn't have to necessarily be an aged up Ruto that was Rutella but another Zora woman.

[@DerNiko]

That doesn't seem to be the case though. I'm pretty sure there are Zora children in BoTW that are a couple of decades old already. Zora might just get a couple sudden and major growth spurts throughout their lives. Kinda like a butterflies metamorphosis only with just size. That would put one of Ruto's spurts (Child to young adult) within that seven year period.

[@pastelharmonies]

hey Bandit!! did you ever notice when link is entering the twilight realm a symbol similar to the mirror of twilight appears on the ground? well it looks a LOT like the symbol on the travel medallion from breath of the wild! what if the Travel Medallion is made out of the Mirror of Twilight and thats why it can bring you anywhere? do you think maybe you can do a theory about this?

[@RobotKitsune]

It's also interesting that there is something that looks like the broken Mirror of Twilight on a beach in BOTW. Maybe Robbie found it and started tinkering

[@rtxmorshu4502]

I agree, I thought of this years ago, but didnt have enough information, you did a good job.

[@loreleiwhiteblade7919]

Great theory! I like that you’re coming up with content other then just BOTW 2 theories since so many people r doing it.

[@zimmerwald1915]

Re: Ralis, Rutela could have just taken a husband who wasn't a love match.

[@Zarvain]

It doesn't have to be a complete retcon, remember that Wild takes place a long, LONG time after all of this. Plenty of time for traditions to shift and/or change. Therefore there is no real reason both could not be true. In the past there was no tradition for the princess to craft such armor for the man she wished to marry, while centuries later at an as of yet unknown point this has changed and new meaning has been given to the armor.

[@JohnnyYeTaecanUktena]

Don't forget you can just buy them at the shop in Zora village in Ocarina of Time so the tradition probably was not made yet

[@MiketheElectricExplorer]

I was the one of the people asking about this like 2 years ago. Glad to see there was finally a video about it.

[@psychosparten049.esquire9]

I think your right. Just such a cool theory honestly and man I was so surprised when it actually made sense.

[@twisted_foxy4328]

Correction actually the “hero is dead” timeline happens during ocarina of time when adult link tries to fight and beat Ganondorf and gets killed in the process making the sages and people rise up to beat him on there own

[@kreiskhaos8516]

Is it when Ganondorf fights Link the first time or when Ganondorf becomes Ganon? I thought the latter, as Ganon is the enemy in downfall timeline, already transformed. We never see Ganon as a Gerudo in that timeline.

[@twisted_foxy4328]

@@kreiskhaos8516 i do believe its when ganondorf turns into ganondorf or because in most other timelines he is ganon or another villain but in the hero is dead he is usually ganondorf before become ganon as seen in twilight princess

[@kreiskhaos8516]

@@twisted_foxy4328 I'm confused by your statement. Beast Ganon is seen in Downfall Timeline, but not Gerudo Ganondorf. Twilight Princess is Child Timeline (as evidenced by the Hero's Shade explicitly being the Hero of Time), not the Downfall Timeline.

[@twisted_foxy4328]

@@kreiskhaos8516 just imagine how when link dies the sages rise up and kill ganon themselves because link is dead

[@kreiskhaos8516]

@@twisted_foxy4328 yes, but that's established. And TP is not that timeline

[@MondayKnight92]

There are a few gaps that I think it's possible to fill by telling the hero of times story, basically, link and prince railis are brothers, or half brothers, OoT link was a royal soldier, but also had a connection with the zora, so what if TP link is the son of Zelda and link and railis is the son of ruto and link

[@tanandalynch9441]

isn't The Hero Of Twilight confirmed to be a descendant of the Hero Of Time and Malon?

[@JohnnyYeTaecanUktena]

@@tanandalynch9441 Where is it stated that he is a descendent of Malon? just because he is a farm boy and knows Epona's song does not make it so

[@tanandalynch9441]

@@JohnnyYeTaecanUktena Did the hero of time not marry and have kids with Malon? Also I was literally ASKING. It is confirmed that TP link is a direct descendant of OOT Link, who is confirmed to be Hero's Shade

[@JohnnyYeTaecanUktena]

@@tanandalynch9441 As far as i know it is not confirmed who the Hero of Time married even if TP Link is the descendent of Ocarina Link. Like sure you were asking but you tacked on Malon at the end so i was asking you WHERE IT IS CONFIRMED FOR MALON BEING HERO OF TIME'S WIFE. It is fine to have theories and all but you are making it sound like you believe it when it is not confirmed to be true as he literally could have married anyone

[@PedroDiniz12]

Now thats a great theory. Congratz!

[@bedwablackburn]

Let's MWEEP it up! Loved the theory today. Keep up the great work

[@notacupcake5598]

Did you forget something when you uploaded it before?

[@BanditGames]

Well, it had a really bad visual glitch in it where it rendered part of the promo segment in the middle of the video. Weird stuff! But it's gone now

[@notacupcake5598]

@@BanditGames Thank you for clearing it up for me, I was a little bit confused at first. Keep up the great videos!

[@litefeather1123]

@@BanditGames Omg I thought that was intentional so we wouldn't forget about the game xD

[@DrakeAng]

I want to start with this: I really like this hypothesis, and am inclined to believe it. I will be investigating it further on my own. I think that Ruto could have taken the name "Rutela" upon being crowned as queen after her father's death, explaining the change in name. Alternatively, she could have changed her name after his death in an (failed) attempt t o hide from Ganondorf after learning of the Sage of Water's murder, but this seems unlikely. As for her husband, Ralis, and the lie to the Hero of Twilight, I think it is most probable that she did craft the Zora Armor for the Hero of Time, but his lack of return led her to hide it. Eventually, she married a zora and had her son, Ralis, in order to maintain her royal line. A marriage of state, though she truly loved her offspring. Since the zora she married has no need for the Zora Armor, and she does not truly love him, she never mentioned the hidden armor. This lie of omission became second nature until she also had to lie to herself, or feel the pain of unrequited love from the Hero of Time. Upon meeting the Hero of Twilight, she no doubt recognized his soul, but also knew that this was not her Link. To mention her drama with a previous incarnation of him would be unnecessarily complicated, both to the writers and to the characters. Additionally, she may have matured beyond the Ruto we know from Ocarina of Time, and simply recognized the logic in not bringing up a complication that could neither bear the desired fruit nor aid the active player on their side of an ongoing conflict. Her choice to lie to the Hero of Twilight was both out of convenience and pride, but also that it would serve no purpose to reveal a long complicated history that this Link would have no reason to believe, and that no good could come from. Did she lie? Yes. A small white lie that is of no consequence as the truth would not be better for any but her, and that would only be small if it even helped her rest at all. Alternatively, she could have come to resent the Hero of Time some time after having completed the Zora Armor, and wanted to distance herself from her childish fantasies. So she his the armor, married a zora, begot Ralis, and moved on with her life. Upon finding both the need for help with her son and the availability of a new Hero, she did what any good mother would do and requested help for her child, but had either moved on from her infatuation with the Hero of Time or found herself incapable of being honest when faced with the Hero of Twilight who reminded her so much of her lost love, whom she had though herself beyond pining for.

[@seanmackin1277]

Thats freaking awesome. What a good theory my friend.

[@MiketheElectricExplorer]

Thank you. I've been waiting for this.

[@thedragonsarchives1733]

It's not a bad theory, but I feel it tough to say that her "hair" grew out, seeing as how it certainly seems more like that of a hammerhead, simply just part of her. The other issue I see is why would she change her name. It is not as though the descendant would recognize her, nor would her own people care since they already knew her. In fact, it might seem even more odd to them should she randomly change her name. I certainly have no answers, but otherwise it is an interesting thought.

[@thesymbiotenation.4552]

It might be that the "la" part of her name could be a suffix that in the Zora native language could mean "Queen" or "Royalty", so in the Zora language, when they refer to her as Rutela, they might actually eb saying "Queen Ruto" or "Lady Ruto"

[@The10thDecision]

I was thinking Ruto could just be a shortened childhood nickname that she dropped as an adult, but that’s a really cool idea, too!

[@shadowgale11]

Is it bad if I haven't played Twilight Princess yet and am still watching these theories on the game?

[@GODOFAWSOMENESS1]

And now you made me question the logistics of the Zora surviving the rapid thawing amongst other things in that scene.

[@felixmckinney7132]

It’s always a good day when bandit uploads the new Zelda video.

[@Nintendominator]

Why was this video taken down and then re uploaded?

[@vinsonblaryo7439]

I think because that was a part of the video where he passes again the ending of the ad.

[@Nintendominator]

I love the side theories, but going back to zelda sure is nice!

[@BirdieSenpai]

My dude. I am all but certain that pretty much nobody on God's green Earth has thought of before. What a Legend you are! Reminds me of a theory I came up with based on a connection that I'm positive nobody has ever thought of regarding the Curse of Demise I wanted to make a video on but never did, making it likely that nobody else will ever know it, lol.

[@Erivel]

that theory is so cool, probably it's just something nintendo just didn't thought of, but the theory is belivable (even if a bit scuffed sometiles)

[@thajocoth]

I'm seeing a lot of holes in this one... Blue vs red color, wide back of head vs not, using the aged up version of Ruto for your estimate instead of the child version that would've existed when Ocarina ended... The armor tradition could've come about later, but even if it didn't, who's to say King Zora didn't fancy a Hylian? (There are a lot of examples of Zora royalty falling for Hylian men throughout the games, so that could simply be a running theme.)

[@MaximillianRobesphere]

Maybe Ruto is a pink salmon fish? She could have been blue until twilight link was bestowed the master sword.

[@starlight381a]

...Or, Ruto actually married Link, before he became the shadow hero and the prince of the Zora is their son. I also have evidence that Link is always the same in any title, but for now, let's skip this topic.

[@dr.kokiri7013]

This is a really good theory, nice video bandit.🙃

[@pumbapie]

You are by far my fave theorist! Thank you for the entertainment and laughs ❤️

[@DrTimes99]

If we want to get really weird with it, Ralis is OoT Link's son. We don't rightly know how Zora Biology works, but Ruto seemed pretty confident that she could wed Link. Taking the unknown gestation period with the prolonged aging process of Zora's it's entirely possible that Link is the Father. Rutela is then all secretive about her relationship with the hero and who she really is because TP Link is the descendent from the other woman (my money's on Malon).

[@kileysevens9116]

I agree with this. Or he could have just had a child with Malon at some point on his adventures and left her and went and married the Zora queen to uphold his end of the promise and cause he did love her. Or something lol but ya he could be both father of Ralis and a direct ancestor to TP Link too. I'm happy I'm not the only one who thought this lol everyone says "no but he married this girl or that girl" and I'm like... but he doesn't oesnt have to marry he could have just loved many women or even just had a fling with one and fell in love with the Ruto. Maybe that's why BotW Link is close to Mipha because his Hero Spirit once loved a Zora in his past life.

[@EduardoCeballos953]

Maybe Ruto and Link had an affair. I mean, the grave didn't have a body, but it doesn't mean it isn't meant for someone. Also, interspecies marriage seems to exist, like Rosso from ALBW.

[@eriklagergren7124]

This theory does tie the games alot closer than before. I never really been a big fan of the games being to isolated from each other. So this really ties them together

[@pumpkinman2955]

Great theory bandit. You never disappoint

[@Zeldahol]

A Bandit theory!! Awesome. And good theory at that. Maybe her name was Rutella all along and she got and she just went by Ruto back in the day. You know how teenagers like to shorten their names. Good seeing a theory video take care Dude. See ya.

[@JamisonHingle]

5:00 Note in a link between worlds there is a zora queen who is also a sage

[@mgrimm5500]

I am glad you and I are on the same page. The fact is another thing with link no one talks about is that Link could have gotten with Ruttella and Marin from kakkiriko village. Meaning Link tried to dive into the ocean and journey on land.

[@sectorzisnumbuhone]

Interesting theory and quite believable! Well done! :)

[@HateSonneillon]

This is really convincing and a nice theory. I like this a lot!

[@sera-chan8194]

I like the theory! :D Reminds me of Lilo and Stitch where Nani takes care of Lilo after their parents died ^^

[@zigazav1]

Cool, someone besides kid me from the past, who also tied the connections that Rutela being Ruto. As a young kid, I too believed that to be the case as well. Dunno bout now, but it warms my heart seeing someone accidentally taking past me's speculations, and turning it into a theory of your own

[@alexzaze1407]

Duuude cool, gives Twilight Princess' world so much more depth and makes Rutela's story so much more sad and tragic

[@cameronnowicki1290]

Sweet video dude. Really dig this one

[@kylenickel871]

Legend of Zelda Link between worlds also had a Zora queen and I believe she took up a role as a sage in that game too. That's one Zelda I haven't played myself. Great video on my favorite Zelda race tho. Keep it up.

[@archangelshiro]

There’s another connection between the kid, mentioning mother and child rocks- in wind waker, the mother and child isle has a fairy fountain (like jabu jabu’s pond!!), and even better, that’s where you get the ICE ARROW in wind waker. Just like you get the ice arrow from ocarina nearby jabu jabu as well in the frozen cave!

[@tapewormrage]

OoT Link fugged the fish and faked his death to gtfo out of there. Smart move.

[@liv9541]

perfect timing, playing thru the game again for the thousandth time 😅

[@FastFoodVicar]

Reminding me of Miphas story and that she never got to give the armor to link is just so sad. I would have loved to have seen link with Mipha, but he did nothing about it and then she died. There was no one better for link in the entire zelda universe 😞

[@RwanLink]

What if the Zora King in Zelda Oot had a second child after the events of Zelda oot? Ruto and Rutela

[@chaosgilleon6433]

Back when I 1st played through Twilight Princess I had a headcanon that the queen was Ruto. Happy to see I wasn't alone.

[@killablue1279]

Omg thank you for the timestamp and theory

[@MisfortunateJustice]

Yo Bandit. I think this one was well connected. Very intriguing to entertain... 🤔

[@extraterrestrian]

Sometimes I don’t understand a thing that’s going on, but that’s ok. I just like hearing this guy talk about Zelda.

[@typical8903]

“surrender or die.” “no i dont surrender!” *zant freezes over the domain*