The Legend of Zelda franchise is notorious for its intricate timeline, with diverging paths leading to different scenarios and game subseries. The timeline begins with The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword and splits into three separate timelines after The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Among the potential directions, the Child timeline following Ocarina of Time's young Link is one of the most fascinating aspects of the series.
While the Zelda timeline is official, Nintendo has stressed its flexibility to incorporate new titles like The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. For instance, the Fallen Hero timeline accounts for the hypothetical situation of Link's defeat in Ocarina of Time. The story of Ocarina of Time creates two coexisting timelines: one where Zelda sends Link back to his childhood at the game's conclusion and another where the Hero of Time vanishes from the world.
Unraveling The Child Link Timeline
The Child timeline emerges when adult Link is sent back to his childhood after the defeat of Ganondorf in Ocarina of Time's conclusion by Princess Zelda. At this point, Link forewarns the King of Hyrule about Ganondorf's future rise to power, averting the grim outcome and leading to Ganondorf's imprisonment in the Twilight Realm. Having thwarted Ganondorf's ascent, Link departs Hyrule in search of his companion, Navi, setting the stage for the subsequent game in the Child timeline.
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Majora's Mask marks the first complete game in the Child timeline, introducing a peculiar twist compared to its predecessor. After encountering the Skull Kid in Termina, Link is compelled to aid the Happy Mask Salesman in retrieving the stolen mask within three days to prevent the moon from obliterating Termina. A dark fan theory suggests that Link is deceased during the events of this game, and subsequent to Majora's Mask, it is confirmed that this version of Link perishes and transforms into the Hero's Shade.
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Surviving the execution at the conclusion of Ocarina of Time, Ganondorf is banished to the Twilight Realm, where he orchestrates his return by empowering the usurper Zant to dethrone Princess Midna. Midna flees the Twilight Realm to Hyrule, and Zant pursues her with his army of Shadow Beasts. Midna joins forces with the descendant of the Hero of Time, and this Link gains strength and swordsmanship skills by training with his ancestor, the Hero's Shade. Together with Midna, he vanquishes Zant and Ganondorf using the Master Sword, ultimately defeating the Demon King.
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
Following Twilight Princess, the timeline advances several hundred years, where a new incarnation of Ganondorf emerges within the Gerudo. This Ganondorf embarks on a conquest to seize control of Hyrule, prompting the current Link to wield the Four Sword and split into four copies to confront this threat. The battle ensues against both Ganondorf and Vaati, culminating in Vaati's demise and Ganondorf's imprisonment within the Four Sword, concluding the Child timeline.