Link headcanons
The first Link was the Hero of Time. He arrived just after the Forest Temple.
Melee, he came back just before raiding Ganondorf’s castle, and his friendships with the other Smashers truly began to grow and flourish in this tournament. However, he was confused as to his younger self: he KNEW he hadn’t been in Smash as a child.
Young Link is actually from AFTER Ocarina of Time, just before Majora’s Mask. He’s a bit weirded out since he remembers seeing his own child self, and knows that this older version of him is his past self (and remembers that from his perspective). It’s confusing, but he’s dealt with weirder things before.
Before he leaves, he explains this to the original Veterans (minus Adult link/his past self). They’re confused, but they get it.
Link even loans the Mirror Shield to one of the other Original Twelve, promising that he’ll be back for it next Tournament.
The next Tournament, Brawl, has Twilight Princess Link. The other Original Smashers-especially Mario, Luigi, Fox (who was a Friendly Rival with Link), and especially Samus (who saw Link as a brother,) feel very betrayed and upset that the Link they knew, the Hero of Time, has been dead for a long time.
Poor Twilight Princess Link has to fight an uphill battle of approval from the Original Smashers. He manages it, but it’s not easy. (They’re grieving for someone they didn’t know they lost until they met him, after all.)
He’s significantly more accepted in Smash 4, and the other Original Smashers have warmed up to him, but he still feels awkward around them.
This time, he warns them that he might be stepping down. So when BotW Link arrives, they’re less surprised.
(TP Link reappears after World of Light as Wolf Link, and is allowed to hang around Smash Mansion as long as he doesn’t fight unless BotW Link is sick or injured. He’s perfectly fine with this: he gets to spectate and be with his friends, AND not stress out about living up to his ancestors’ legacy.
He and BotW Link get along swimmingly.)
Young Link, in Ultimate, is the Hero’s Shade. He just takes the form of his younger self in battle so as not to disturb people.
He returned in order to ease his final regrets: he never returned to Smash, and his friends had to learn about his death from his descendant. So he returns in order to have one final fight, and to give them closure.
Toon Link is Wind Waker/Phantom Hourglass Link. He’s just happy to be here.
(submitted by anonymous)