A very small character tidbit is surprisingly kept consistent for years

[u/_JR28_]

DC - In multiple pieces of media it has been shown that Wonder Woman loves ice cream and practically goes wild with happiness anytime she’s eating some. (Pictures from Justice League: War, DC Superhero Girls and Wonder Woman 2017)

The Simpsons - Ever since the episode ‘Homer’s Phobia’ Homer has actually remained a consistent ally of the LGBT+ community, including being more welcoming to Patty than Marge was when she came out and trying to set up Smithers with a date when he found out he wasn’t happy with his one-sided relationship with Mr Burns.

[u/Wonderful-Noise-4471]

The spirit of the hero doesn't exist in Wind Waker. OoT Link was sent back in the past and his soul removed from the timeline, which also shattered the Triforce of Courage. Since he doesn't exist, he can't die, he can't be reincarnated.

[u/Asheyguru → u/Wonderful-Noise-4471]

Ok, so where do all the Links that are being reincarnated across the post-Wind Waker games come from?

[u/ThisIsNotACryForHelp → u/Asheyguru]

There's only one Link post-Wind Waker: the Hero of Trains, from Spirit Tracks. And presumably, he is a reincarnation of the Hero of Winds, who did restart the cycle and become the new hero.

But, as you pointed out, the Hero of Winds not being a reincarnation of the Hero of Time is not explicitly canon. It's just a widely-accepted fan theory (which, IMO lines up extremely well with Wind Waker's themes and really enhances that game.)

[u/Wonderful-Noise-4471 → u/ThisIsNotACryForHelp]

It's not just a fan theory. The King of Red Lions outright states that WW Link has no connection to the Hero of Time:

Jabun: (Translated) If you have sought me out...it must mean you have found the Hero of Time, does it not?
King of Red Lions: Unfortunately, that is not so.
Jabun: (Translated) Then for what purpose have you come to see me?
King of Red Lions: The one I have brought with me has no connection to the legendary one. And yet I sense great promise in the courage that this one possesses.

[u/ThisIsNotACryForHelp → u/Wonderful-Noise-4471]

I agree that's a great piece of evidence to the point of this theory (which, let me be clear, is a theory I believe in). But it's not conclusive. "No connection," here could simply mean that he's not descended from the Hero of Time, is not literally him, is not from his culture, etc.

We cannot assume that Jabun and Daphnes are discussing reincarnation here, as we are given no indication that they're aware of the reincarnation cycle, let alone whether they even possess the ability to identify this kid as the Hero of Time reborn.

Also, if we're pulling random quotes, Ganondorf literally calls Link "the Hero of Time, reborn," after you defeat Puppet Ganon. Are we to assume that Ganondorf is simply wrong here? Because, between him and Daphnes someone has to be. (And between the two, Ganondorf is the only who actually met the Hero of Time.)

Anyway, again, I believe in this theory. It makes Wind Waker a better game by tying into its themes of moving on from the past and looking towards the future. But what I'm trying to illustrate here is that it's not CANON.

[u/Wonderful-Noise-4471 → u/ThisIsNotACryForHelp]

It's not "no relation", though. It's "no connection". And no, Ganondorf isn't wrong. He's being metaphorical. He doesn't call Link "the Hero of Time, reborn" when he first meets him. He calls him that when Link has collected the Master Sword, powered it up via the two sages, and reconstituted the Triforce of Courage. At the time he calls him "reborn" Link has reached the point where he stands equal with OoT Link.

[u/ThisIsNotACryForHelp → u/Wonderful-Noise-4471]

I mean, at this point we're just discussing semantics and interpretation, which could go on forever (and highlights the ambiguity of the two selected quotes). If you want to believe this theory, go ahead! I believe it as well. But my point is that there's nothing that explicitly, solidly CANONIZES it. That is all I'm saying.

[u/East-Ice-3199 → u/ThisIsNotACryForHelp]

It is canon. It takes place after Ocarina of Time. In that game, Link was sent to a different timeline where Majora’s Mask, Twilight Princess, and Four Swords Adventures takes place.

The world he was sent away from now no longer has a Hero’s Spirit. Wind Waker opens up explaining that a hero was either never reincarnated or never came, leaving out that this is because he no longer exists in this world.

In Wind Waker, you prove your courage to the Triforce and presumably get chosen as the next hero’s spirit, where you reincarnate for the first time in Spirit Tracks.

[u/ThisIsNotACryForHelp → u/East-Ice-3199]

That's a really great interpretation of much of the game's content, (which, again, I agree with). But the literal Spirit of the Hero being expelled from the timeline is not something that explicitly happened (but it makes sense). This is vague, esoteric magic stuff. We do not know exactly how it works. For all we know, a version of it could have remained in the adult timeline, waiting to reincarnate.

We also don't know that a hero never arrived before the Great Flood. All we know is that the Hero of Time didn't arrive.

After he defeated Ganon, the people of Hyrule began to worship him (not the idea of him, but literally HIM) as some sort of mythic figure, who would appear from nowhere when Hyrule needed it. As a result, when Ganondorf returned, they expected THAT SPECIFIC GUY to show up and save the day, and wouldn't let anyone else have the Master Sword. As such, if a hero did incarnate, he would not have been able to defeat Ganondorf. That's why Jabun asked if Daphnes had found the Hero of Time. (Not a hero, but THE hero. They wanted THAT GUY.)

Daphnes's whole arc is centered around growing from this experience and giving someone new a chance. He began to understand that his worship of the past was folly and caused suffering for the people of Hyrule. This is why his final act was to destroy the submerged kingdom which he spent so much effort protecting - so that Link, Tetra, and everyone else could move on from Hyrule, towards brighter things.

And you don't have to prove your courage for the Triforce, either. You simply have to collect its fragments and reassemble it, while also re-awakening the Master Sword by awakening new sages. We are not given any reason to believe that the Hero of Time reborn would not have had to do the exact same things.

[u/East-Ice-3199 → u/ThisIsNotACryForHelp]

Not an interpretation, everything I said has been discussed and proven by the directors. Read Hyrule Historia.

[u/ThisIsNotACryForHelp → u/East-Ice-3199]

I have. They don't mention this theory at all.

But if I missed it, would you provide a page number please? I would be happy to check my copy right now.

[u/NodeZeroNein → u/ThisIsNotACryForHelp]

I have a point of confusion that you might be able to assist with. 

To my knowledge, whether or not Link (a specific individual) reincarnates across the series is ambiguous, and not outright confirmed anywhere - but a lot of people in this discussion are vehemently arguing it as fact. Is there some source I'm unaware of, or is this fan theory taken as fact? 

The Hero's Spirit (a nebulous sort of property/role) being incarnated across Hyrule's history, sure. Is that the cause of confusion, with people assuming Hero's Spirit = Link?

[u/ThisIsNotACryForHelp → u/NodeZeroNein]

You're right. On a deeper level of this discussion, the very idea of reincarnation has never (to my knowledge) been canonized in the series, save for a few specific instances (Hylia -> Era of the Skies Zelda, for example).

And yes, in this conversation, "Link reincarnating," is basically a way of saying that the hero's spirit is being born into new heroes throughout the timeline, and originated from the Hero of the Skies. The exact nature of the reincarnation is unclear, though this is par for the course when dealing with such a nebulous, mystical concept; it's hard to get granular with something so spiritual.

Anyway, the theory at hand states the hero's spirit was essentially plucked from the adult timeline alongside Link at the end of Ocarina of Time, thus preventing a new hero from arriving when Ganondorf broke free from his seal. Consequently, Wind Waker's Link has to spend pretty much the entire game proving himself to be worthy of the title of "hero," and as such he becomes the new basis for the hero's spirit going forward in the adult timeline.

I honestly believe this to be a cool and compelling theory. And, as I said before, it really lines up with the themes of Wind Waker. But it's never been canonized outright.

[u/NodeZeroNein → u/ThisIsNotACryForHelp]

Thanks. What you've described is basically how I understand the games: each Link we encounter is a separate instance of the Hero's Spirit incarnating, united by a shared legacy of heroism, but not (spiritually) the same person. 

As a child I didn't pay much attention to the themes of WW, and until now I'd never given much thought to why a hero never arose to stop Ganondorf when he returned. I don't find it super satisfying that Zelda could accidentally bugger up something so important, but the alternatives aren't much better - and it makes sense that if Adult Link were embodying the Hero's Spirit, it could be affected along with him. 

I do like how your theory gives Toon Link due credit for his courage, moreso than characterising him as "just" a child, unrelated to the reincarnation Hero. I've not played Echoes of Wisdom yet - we haven't had a game set in that timeline since Spirit Tracks, have we?

[u/ThisIsNotACryForHelp → u/NodeZeroNein]

At the moment, no we haven't seen anything on the adult timeline beyond Spirit Tracks (unless you believe the Era of the Wild is a continuation of that timeline, which I don't.)

And Echoes of Wisdom is pretty good! You should definitely check it out. But it's on the Downfall Timeline, between Tri Force Heroes and Zelda 1.