Alright I promised an analysis post on the timeline split girls. This one is a long one so I’m putting it under a cut ^_^
I’ll be drawing from The Founders’ Call Part Twelve and from the accompanying side story Time’s Refrain. Please go check both of these out if you haven’t already! Brilliant pieces of art :D
Let’s start at the beginning, shall we?
This panel from the recent chapter really drew my eye to it. This is our first glimpse at Elegy and Requiem —- and we can see how their designs differ from Lullaby herself despite stemming from the same person. They are also pictured with the red/blue/green triad that is a staple in the Zelda series, power/wisdom/courage. Zelda is always going to be associated with Wisdom, so how do these fall into play with these three?
Starting off: Elegy.
In her timeline, Link never grew into an adult and as soon as he drew the Master Sword that was the moment that Ganondorf effectively won. Elegy was a child when Link was killed and assumingly never had the chance to become Sheik.
As an adult, she keeps a close design to her child iteration, with the wimple and the similar dress. Her hair is long because she never had to cut it. This keeping on child theme could also be a form of mourning, remembering Link as one of her closest friends in childhood. Not pictured is the scar and gray hair that Ganondorf left her with in chapter one of TR.
She’s pictured in pink (red), symbolizing Power. This can be attributed to her effectively being the original, the first, who started the time splits. But she’s also the one who had to fight for decades before Ganon was sealed. She, no matter how broken, set into motion the wheels of the Golden Age of Hyrule. Most notably, her descendants also have great identity in their royal power: Fable the charismatic Diplomat, Echo the powerful Mage, Dawn the blossoming Queen.
Next is transgender legend Requiem, pictured in blue.
I’m not going to spent much time delving into her design, since it’s all there in OoT. This Zelda became Sheik during the seven years Link slumbered in the Temple of Time, spying on Ganondorf. She seems to have kept her hair short and the design motifs from Sheik.
Her representation in blue, Wisdom, could be in part attributed to the seven years she spent as Sheik, different than the way Lullaby uses Sheik. She had to use cunning and her wits to survive while by Ganondorf’s side as a double spy. She also notably kicks off the trend of having to hide in plain sight; as seen in Wind Waker, neither Tetra or her mother went by Zelda despite that (presumably) being their legacy name in order to hide from Ganondorf. Her wisdom also lent her to know that Link’s duty as Hero was not finished, which is why she sent her Ocarina alongside in him to the new branch.
(This might be getting into conspiracy territory, but the following panel with Tetra thinking of Requiem has a blue background. Coincidence? I. THINK. NOT. >:) )
Finally, Lullaby, my love.
Lullaby design draws from both Sheik and her Princess Zelda incarnations. She can change her hair color and her eyes are red from the magic, but keeps her hair long and auburn most of the time. She also wears the Hyrule crest on her paldrons. She’s a spy, but she also openly lives as Queen Zelda. She started training earlier than both of lives before her, allowing her to blend the two identities better.
She is bathed in green, Courage. She lives in a long drawn-out civil war, not quite peace but not outright chaos. She must dive into the fray without hesitation. She, arguably, has had the longest time with her Link, so his courage may have rubbed on her! Also, she wields Farore’s Wind, a spell associated with the Goddess of Courage herself.
a somewhat serious wisdomverse character alignment chart. more thoughts below the cut.
(art/icon credits go to @/linderosse. tap image for better quality)
upper left quadrant (shoots the dog, wants to):
Echo: In the past, Echo probably would’ve fallen somewhere farther right, but after her 100+ year nap, she’s fallen into a pattern of self-destructive rage. She desperately wants to shoot the dog. The only thing holding her back is her love for Dawn and Hyrule, and the faded memories she has of home.
Artemis: Like Dusk, is bound by duty and would and has sacrifice much for her people. She’s also balanced in a precarious political state in a power-hungry court. Has a lot pent up rage, but ultimately wants to do good.
lower left quadrant (shoots the dog, does not want to)
Dusk: Bound by duty and her love for her Kingdom. If it’s the safest and most logical choice. She really does not want to shoot the dog, but she’s already given so much for her people. What’s one thing more?
Lullaby: It does not matter if she wants to shoot the dog. If shooting the dog will give her information she needs or further her goals, she will likely shoot the dog. The only reason she’s not fully there is because, like Echo, others people tend to influence her actions. More than she thinks they do.
upper right quadrant (wants to shoot the dog, doesn’t)
Dot: She’s sweet on the surface but has a vindictive eldritch side. On some level, she’s the executioner and has that sense of justice in her Wisdom. Ultimately doesn’t shoot the dog though because she chooses joy. (Also, wait long enough and the dog will eventually die on its own. Patience is key :))
Tetra: Lowkey curious about what would happen if she would shoot the dog. But I feel she’s not the type for needless violence? Theft and kidnapping, and if a person deserves it, sure, but living on such open, dangerous waters has cemented that she is not judge, jury, and executioner. The sea will get them first. Besides, killing for sport is likely to cause a lot more problems than it’s worth.
lower right quadrant (would not shoot the dog, doesn’t want to)
Flora: She’s already suffered through so much violence: her father, her friends, Link. At one point in her life, she would have shot the dog out of reluctant obligation. As it stands now, she chooses happiness.
Fable: Does not want to shoot the dog because she’s lowkey squeamish. While she is great at navigating through debates and court, and that requires some sort of cunning on her part, she also holds great empathy and understanding. She broke through to Hilda with her words alone. That’s enough.
Dawn: It’s Dawn. Does not want to inflict suffering, would not commit violence.
Phantom: While she’s strong and a bit of a freak (sorry Phantom you ain’t escaping the allegations), she falls more into a protector role. Would kill the dog if she has to, but if there is choice not to, she will try and dazzle. Also similar to Fable she’s a bit squeamish lol.
middle of the chart
Sun: She who contains multitudes. Sun knows the grooves of Time itself well; the dog must eventually be shot. If she’s the one to shoot it, she will carry that guilt for the rest of her life. But she’s also a leader of her community and, on some level, once a Warrior Goddess who took up arms. She’s also just a woman trying to live her life. Lots of implications with her.
