Young Link

Young Link (子供リンク, Kodomo Rinku, lit. Child Link) embodies the child stage of Link's life in the Ocarina of Time adventure and is the primary protagonist in Majora's Mask. Young Link is advantageous over his adult form in that he can access certain small passages and crawl spaces, as well as the ability to equip and utilize key items unusable by Adult Link, such as the Slingshot, Boomerang, and the enemy-stunning Deku Nut. Despite this, Young Link lacks the fighting power of his later self, as well as access to Adult Link's equipment, such as the Hookshot and the Silver Gauntlets. Young Link is also an unlockable character in Super Smash Bros. Melee.

Ocarina of Time
Ocarina of Time is the first of the Legend of Zelda series where Link's age is actually specified as "young", rather than indirectly implied adulthood. Just like his adult self, Link doesn't speak unless he is asked a question, the only time he actually says anything is when Young Zelda asks him of his name; his reply is the only green-lettered response in the game.

Relationships
It is Young Link that establishes the relationships that will come to his benefit in his adult years, after pulling the Master Sword from the Pedestal of Time. Young Link is the one to establish his beneficial and plot-necessary relationship with Saria, and Mido's dislike for him can be attributed to this in addition to the Great Deku Tree's favor for him over anyone else, namely Mido himself. Young Link also strikes up a friendship with Princess Zelda, and indirectly with Impa as well, while conversing with her about Ganondorf and the fate of her kingdom in the Hyrule Castle coutryard, after vanquishing the parasite from the Great Deku Tree. In helping Darunia reopen the Dodongo's Cavern, and saving Princess Ruto from the depths of the stomach of Lord Jabu-Jabu, Young Link had, unbeknownst to him, met and aided almost all of the future Sages who would, in turn, help him in his quest to relinquish Hyrule from the clutches of Ganon in his adult years.

Dungeons
Interestingly, the dungeons of the Young Link era are all similar in theme to the temples he must face even years down the road (i.e the Forest Temple is akin to the inside of the Great Deku Tree), yet are much more proportionate in respect to his strength, size, and skill set. If anything, the dungeons Young Link must complete are likely to be strength and skill tests in preparation for the temples he will face later, after he pulls the Master Sword from its pedestal in the Temple of Time. Not only are these dungeon puzzles easier, but the entire dungeon scope is smaller and shorter - however, Young Link is not going for Medallions in respect to the completion of these dungeons, but Spiritual Stones, items that will provide him passage into his adult years. The Spirit Temple is the only temple in the game that Young Link visits and completes (at least, his section), and the only one whose dungeon treasure he does not directly benefit from. After completing the left side of the temple, he receives the Silver Gauntlets, enabling him to return to the temple as an adult and complete the previously closed-off right side; the Gauntlets can only be worn by Adult Link, and must be used to relieve the temple's right side from a large black rock blocking its entrance.

Equippable Items
Because Young Link is a child, he can only equip and wield items that can be proportionally held and used in respect to his strength and small stature. Young Link can only carry these items while in this form in Ocarina of Time:


 * Slingshot
 * Boomerang
 * Deku Shield
 * Hylian Shield
 * Fairy Ocarina
 * Ocarina of Time
 * Kokiri Sword
 * Bottles filled with various things
 * Various masks from the Happy Mask Shop

Majora's Mask
In Majora's Mask, Young Link appears as the primary character of the game. Although Link is as young as he was in Ocarina of Time, he now possesses several abilities the former Young Link did not possess, such as an adult wallet, the ability to ride Epona, Bow and Hookshot usage; he can still use the Ocarina of Time like he could in Ocarina of Time, and much of his weaponry from the previous title. Since Adult Link does not appear in this title, the characteristics of Young Link are not seen as unique as they were in Ocarina of Time, since he is the only player-controlled character in the game (with the exception of a brief instance in Sakon's Hideout where Kafei can be controlled).

A facet of the Young Link of Ocarina of Time that returns in full force in Majora's Mask is the wearing and usage of masks as a plot device.

The story tells of Young Link who, after beating Ganon, left Hyrule to find a friend. It's unknown why or who he is looking for, though it is hinted to be Navi. As he drifts along in his adventures he comes along a dark being known as Skull Kid. It seems Skull Kid has cursed the world of Termina and at the same time placed a spell over Link to become a Deku Scrub. After removing the spell, he finds out who the Skull Kid actually is and what is happening around him. He begins to take action as soon as possible, saving people, freeing at least 5 spirits and bring the sacred giants to stop an oncoming fate. At the end of the game Link never finds his friend, but the world of Termina is safe at last, and Link is free to move on with his life.

Super Smash Bros. Melee
Young Link is an unlockable character within the game Super Smash Bros. Melee. There are two ways to unlock him: 1) Play 500 Vs. matches 2) Complete Classic mode with 10 different characters, including Adult Link and Zelda, at any difficulty/stock. You'll then be challenged by Young Link with the ability to play him upon defeating him. Also, you can change Young Link's tunic from normal green to blue, red, white and black (despite white and black tunics being hidden from normal gameplay in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask).

When you fight with him, Link is dressed in his usual clothes like in the other games. He is possibly the Majora's Mask version because he can use the Fire Arrow and he appears in Majora's Masks Great Bay instead of Ocarina of Times Lake Hylia. However, he also wields the Deku Shield and the Ocarina of Time version of the Kokiri Sword. Thus, since the Link in both Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask are the same Link, it seems logical that his Super Smash Bros. Melee appearance is based on both of his appearances as a youngster rather than a specific one. He seems to be faster and more flexible with his movements then his adult counterpart which makes him a bit harder to defeat. The best choice of beating him is ether with Link or Mario. When he taunts his foes, he drinks a bottle of Lon Lon Milk then wipes his mouth.

See also:

Trivia

 * Young Link is able to use the Fire, Ice, and Light Arrows in Majora's Mask and Fire Arrows in Super Smash Bros. Melee, and, non-canonically, he uses them in the Nintendo Heroes book, Link and the Portal of Doom, whilst he is in Ocarina of Time as a kid.
 * In Super Smash Bros. Melee, Young Link has the same skills as Link, including a weaker and shorter range on the Hookshot, amongst other small decrepancies.
 * In the English version, as the crowd cheers for Link they only call him by his U.S. name; the crowd in the Japanese version does not cheer at all.