Super Smash Bros. Fighters – The Legend of Zelda series – 04 Young Link 

Debut

In the Legend of Zelda series: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (1998)
In the Super Smash Bros. series: Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001)

Boxing Ring Title: Master of the Ocarina

Theme Song: Termina Field (Remix)

Young Link is a particular Link who stars as the main protagonist of “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time” and “The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask.” Like many Links, Young Link wields the Triforce of Courage

Before the events of “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time,” Young Link's mother was fleeing from a war that was occurring at the time. Gravely injured, she manages to make it to the Kokori Forest, where she asks the Great Deku Tree to watch over her child. Since then, The Great Deku Tree raised Young Link as one of his Kokori children. However, unlike the other Kokori, Young Link lacked a fairy companion, and thus was shunned by all but his close friend Saria and the Great Deku Tree himself.

One day, Link finally receives a fairy named Navi! Navi tells Young Link that the Great Deku Tree has summoned him. Once they arrive, The Great Deku Tree reveals that an evil man has cursed him, and asks Young Link to help take care of it. Although victorious, the Deku Tree reveals that the curse has sapped most his strength away. Before he passes away, he gives Young Link the Kokori's Emerald and instructs him and Navi to meet with Princess Zelda at Hyrule Castle.

Once they arrive, the princess would inform Young Link of her suspicions about a man named Ganondorf, a Gerudo who pledges allegiance with her father. She's been having nightmares that he'll bring ruin to Hyrule, but her father won't believe her. Deciding to help her, Young link is told to journey to Death Mountain to obtain the Goron's Ruby, then head to Zora's Domain to get the Zora's Sapphire. After that, they would use the three gems to access the Temple of Time, obtain the Master Sword, and expose Ganondorf's treachery. Young Link manages to obtain the gemstones, but their plans go awry when Ganondorf attacks much earlier than they anticipated, forcing Zelda and her aide Impa to flee from the castle. Picking up the Ocarina of Time that Zelda tossed near him, Young Link heads to the Temple of Time, opens the massive gates, and pulls out the Master Sword!

However, Young Link was considered too... young... to wield the mighty blade, and thus he and Navi were put to sleep for seven years. Waking up, they come across Sheik, who instructs Link to find and awaken the seven sages across Hyrule to that they can defeat Ganondorf. The trip is filled with many new perils, but Link manages to find the sages and heads to the Temple of Time. Meeting up with Sheik again, Sheik reveals her true identity as Princess Zelda, only for Ganondorf to kidnap her. Rushing to Ganondorf's castle, Link would face his toughest challenge against the King of Evil himself.

The outcome of Young Link's battle with Ganondorf splits into three timelines: The Child Timeline, The Adult Timeline, and the Downfall Timeline. The Child and Adult Timelines happen simultaneously if Link defeats Ganondorf with Zelda and the Six Sages sealing Ganon away. Princess Zelda decides to send Link back in time so he can relive his lost childhood, effectively writing Link out of existence for the Adult Timeline, and allowing him to have new adventures for the Child Timeline. In the Downfall Timeline, Ganondorf manages to successfully kill Link, though Zelda and the seven sages manage to seal Ganon away somewhat.

Following the Child Timeline, Young Link is sent back in time, and his fairy companion Navi flies off to parts unknown. Young Link rushes to Zelda to warn her of future events so that she and the Hyrulean Army can prepare for Ganondorf's betrayal. Princess Zelda decides to give him her Ocarina of Time so that Ganondorf would not be able to enter the Temple of Time. Some time later, Young Link visits Lon Lon Ranch and borrows a horse named Epona from his friend Malon, before setting off to try and find Navi.

In "The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask," Young Link and Epona are deep in the Lost Woods. There, they get ambushed by a mischievous imp named Skull Kid and his two fairy companions, Tael and Tatl. Skull Kid manages to steal both his Ocarina and his horse Epona, so Young Link gives chase. After a massive fall, Skull Kid would then transform Young Link into a Deku Scrub before fleeing, accidentally leaving his fairy companion Tatl behind. Forced to team up with the rather rude fairy, Young Link and Tatl arrive underneath Termina's Clock Tower, where they meet the Mask Salesman. He reveals that Skull Kid stole a mask from him, and asks Young Link to try and to get it back in about three days. Stepping out into Termina Town, Young Link soon learns the reason for the tight schedule: Termina is going to get crushed by a giant moon on the third day, which will result in the town - and every location nearby - getting wiped out!

Managing to at least snag his Ocarina back from the Skull Kid, Young Link discovers that by playing the Song of Time, he can go back time! Heading back to the Mask Salesman and learning the Song of Healing so that he - Young Link - can turn back to normal, he and Tatl travel to Termina's four nearby regions to awaken the Guardian Deities, who may be able to prevent the upcoming disaster.

Obtaining two other transformational masks - Goron and Zora masks - and managing to awaken the four Guardians, Young Link and Tatl wait for the final day to arrive. Climbing up to the top of the Clock Tower and playing Oath to Order, the Guardians manage to stop the moon from falling... only for Skull Kid's mask, Majora's Mask, to reveal it is fully sentient. Determined to destroy Termina no matter what, Young Link and Tatl chase after it and end up inside the Moon.

Meeting with the Moon Children - and playing their weird little games - Young Link finally confronts Majora. Utilizing a new transformation masked called Fierce Deity, Young Link manages to remove all of the evil within Majora, reducing it to a plain old mask. Skull Kid, who was heavily influenced by Majora's evil, apologizes for the troubles he's caused and promises to make up for it. With Termina saved, Young Link hops on Epona and bids farewell to Skull Kid, Tatl, and Tael, deciding to head back home.

Back at Hyrule, Young Link would live a peaceful live. Despite this, he lived most of it with regret. In Hyrule's doomed future, he was known and revered as the Hero of Time, but in the present, he's nothing more than a footnote in Hyrule's history. That's not even mentioning the fact that he never taught any of his descendants his various sword techniques he's mastered in his life. Due to these regrets, his spirit wanders around as the Hero's Spirit, unable to find rest.

In "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess," which takes place 99 years after the events of Majora's Mask, the Hero's Spirit would have a chance encounter with this game's Link, who is his descendant. After teaching Link how to perform the Ending Blow, Hero's Spirit offers to teach Link his other six Hidden Skills... but only if Link can find one of the six hidden Howling Stones to summon him. Once Link masters them all, Hero's Spirit is finally able to rest in peace, but not before giving his descendant some words of encouragement.

In "The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker," which takes place in the Adult Timeline 100 years after the events of Ocarina of Time, Young Link doesn't make a physical appearance, but is mentioned in the game's opening sequence about how he defeated Ganondorf. Due to that, it became a custom to dress boys in green on their twelfth birthday. Young Link - as an adult - also makes a cameo in Hyrule Castle as a statue, which guards the entrance to the Master Sword.

In Super Smash Bros., Young Link might have a similar fighting style to Link, but he’s slightly faster than him, and shorter too. The Hero of Time has got his own tricks up his sleeve…

Special Moves 

Neutral Special: Fire Arrow

Young Link shoots a Fire Arrow from his bow. The distance and speed it travels depends on how much you charge it up. It charges up much faster than Link’s.

Inspired by the Bow and Arrow weapon that debuted in “The Legend of Zelda.” Link could use the move to attack foes from afar, though each shot caused Link to lose 1 Ruppee. Starting in "The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past," Arrows would be given their own inventory slot. The Bow and Arrow's deign is based on "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time."

The Fire Arrow would make its debut in “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.” In that game, Fire Arrows are an optional power-up, and aren’t necessary to beat the game. (not to mention that only Adult Link can use them.) In “The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask,” Young Link can use them just fine! 

Side Special: Boomerang

Young Link tosses a Boomerang at his opponent. The distance it flies depends on whether or not you input the attack like a Smash Attack. Young Link can also aim it upwards or downwards. If it hits someone, it come flying back to Young Link. While it’s returning to Young Link, it’ll pass through the opponent while dealing damage.

Young Link can actually avoid regrabbing the boomerang if he is too high up or too low from where he threw it, but he won’t be able to use the move again until the boomerang “disappears.”

Inspired by the the Boomerang weapon that debuted in “The Legend of Zelda.” In that game, Link could use it to defeat weak enemies, stun stronger ones and grab items from afar. The design here is based on “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.”

Up Special: Spin Attack

Young Link begins spinning around super-fast with his sword extended to his side. When used in the air, Young Link will slowly rise upward while dragging his opponent(s) with him before delivering a final slash that sends them away.

On the ground, Young Link spins in place, dragging opponents towards him before flinging them away. Young Link can also charge the ground version to do more damage and knockback.

Inspired by the Spin Attack that debuted in “The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.” The ability to rise in the air with it is original to Super Smash Bros., though in "Hyrule Warriors," one of Link's attacks involves him spinning around into the air. Young Link himself doesn't perform it, though.

Down Special: Bomb

Young Link pulls out a bomb.

He can then try and throw it at his foes. Once it hits the foe, it’ll explode, dealing damage and minor knockback. The bomb will also explode if it hits a solid object.

If Young Link holds on to the bomb too long, it’ll start flashing red, signaling that it’s about to explode. Best get rid of it at that point before it blows up in Young Link’s hands!

Inspired by the Bombs in “The Legend of Zelda.” In that game, once Link placed one on the ground, it would explode a few seconds later. The bombs take their appearance from “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.” 

Final Smash: Triforce Slash

With the Triforce of Courage in hand, Young Link fires a beam of light from his left hand straight ahead of him. If anyone within a certain distance gets hit by it, Young Link rushes on over, trapping the opponent between the Triforce before relentlessly slashing them over and over. Young Link finishes off with a stab, shattering the Triforce and sending his opponent flying away!

If no one is in the light’s path, then the move fails.

This move is original to Super Smash Bros., though the final hit is similar to how Link finishes Ganon off in “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time.” Later on, in the game "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild," Link can perform something similar to this called Flurry Rush. If Link dodges the enemy’s attack at the last second, Link could unleash a barrage of attacks on his opponent, though the Triforce doesn’t play a role in it.

The Triforce of Courage is an item introduced in "Zelda II: The Adventure of Link." In that game, Link goes on a long journey to place six crystals in six palaces to gain access to the Great Palace, where the Triforce of Courage rests. Once he obtains it, he uses it alongside the Triforce of Wisdom and the Triforce of Power to awaken the sleeping Zelda. In various games, the Triforce of Courage is always associated with Link.

Additional Notes 

Young Link, while either standing or ducking, can use his shield to block projectiles. That is, as long as he isn’t holding something else, like one of his bombs. He can even block flame attacks despite the fact that the Deku Shield is unable to do so in “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time."

When using Young Link’s grab, the Hookshot, in the air, can be used to attack opponents.

Young Link can also use it to grab on to ledges to pull himself up.

One of Young Link's alternate costumes is Dark Link. Dark Link is a mysterious doppelganger of Link. His origins are unknown, though it’s speculated that Ganondorf is responsible for his existence. His appearance here somewhat resembles how he looked in “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D,” though the Dark Link there took on the appearance of Adult Link rather than Young Link.