• The original 13 memories
• Diary entries from Zelda and her father, the King
• Zelda’s research journal
• The Champion’s Ballad DLC, containing 5 extra memories + diary entries from all 4 champions
• Masterworks/Creating a Champion, in which the routes of the Champion’s in relation to Ganon’s return are mapped

This is a good starting place. If you’re writing this, you’ll have to decide which of them is older. We already know of Zelda’s origins as a princess, but as for Link, we know via the Masterworks book that he is not noble-born, and that he was birthed to a family of knights (aka being a knight was a family tradition to some extent, aka his father didn’t just decide to become a knight after Link was born).

This is to visit Urbosa, whom she’s very close with, and to introduce baby Zelda.

Who the Fortune Teller is will continue to be a significant mystery. This is mostly up to the writer.

He’s traveling with a group of Hylians, maybe diplomats from the Hyrulian Kingdom. At this point he’s known to be good with a sword (why is up to writer if they choose to include it). Here, he meets Princess Mipha and witnesses her healing magic.

It’s mentioned in the King’s Diary that more and more relics, including the beasts, are being dug up. These efforts were put in place in response to the prophecy. The Queen is still alive at this time.

Zelda is 6 when her mother dies. Urbosa is at this funeral. How she dies and where is up to the writer.

It’s stated that this occurs a year and three months after the Queen’s passing. Urbosa visits the castle shortly after to check in on Zelda, and witnesses her praying in a freezing spring.

Where and how this occurs is mentioned nowhere in any BOTW resource. Masterworks states that the location of the sword had been a mystery, so there wouldn’t have been any cannon document of Link pulling the sword either. It’s likely that the sword was on “its pedestal” in the Lost Woods when Link pulled it, but how he got there is a mystery as well. What we do know is that any attempt to pull the sword by someone who wasn’t worthy would’ve resulted in death. It takes incredible spiritual and physical strength to pull it. We also know that Link had the sword for several years before becoming a Champion, and its estimated by Masterworks that he may have been 12 or 13 when he pulled the sword.

This would begin a long time later, after a long period of study on the excavated divine beasts.

While talking to Impa, who at this point is a royal adviser and is in charge of relic research, Zelda is introduced to the two other Sheikah scientists. It’s estimated that the three of them are in their 20s at this time.

Together, Zelda, Purah, and Robbie manage to restore functionality to the Sheikah Slate. With it they manage to activate the Devine Beasts.

It’s written in Zelda’s research journal that Robbie led the effort in reactivating the Guardian stalkers. There are said to be more stored in the “five columns under Hyrule Castle”, and yet, these columns are nowhere to be found.

Revali states in his dairy that he had the Flight Range built so he could practice his archery skills at different elevations.

Revali waits for two days before giving Zelda his official agreement on becoming a champion. Some regard this as the first “memory,” although it is not Link’s memory. It’s Zelda’s/Revali’s.

Urbosa’s people fear that she shouldn’t accept the role of pilot, as she is the Gerudo Chief and should not shoulder that separate responsibility. However, Urbosa accepts and presumably does her best to ease the fears of her people. Again, this memory is not Link’s, but could be Urbosa’s/Zelda’s.

This is not the visit where he fights a Lynel - that comes later. He may have just been visiting on personal leave, perhaps just to visit Mipha (I’m not establishing here whether Lipha is cannon or not). Mipha notices that he smiles a lot less now that he carries the Master Sword.

I honestly have no idea why Link was anywhere near Goron City. The reason I put this here was because it’s possible his visit to Zora’s Domain was part of his kightly duties- a work trip. That same journey may have brought him to Goron City. Here, he meets Daruk, and they become good friends. It’s also separately possible that Link and Daruk met somewhere on the road crossing paths.

Urbosa’s Song could come after Daruk’s; this was just my interpretation of events. Daruk readily agrees to become a champion pilot.

I’m aware that Mipha’s Song isn’t listed as last- Urbosa’s Song is. However, in this memory, when Mipha asks who will be piloting the other beasts, Zelda tells her (with considerable confidence) the names of the other three. I’ve put Mipha as the last champion to be recruited, but of course this isn’t quite as rigid.

This is likely the moment in which Mipha fell in love with Link. He finishes off the beast with a spin attack using the Master Sword. In her diary, Mipha notes how interesting that move was, and how she’d like to replicate it somehow - it’s implied that this is what inspired Mipha’s apparently famous spin attack with her spear.

We have details of how this went from Mipha’s diary - there were a lot of tears. Mipha is well aware of the cost this may have, but she’s doing this for both her people and all of Hyrule.

This is stated in Mipha’s diary. She’s trying her damn best ok.

This is told from the perspective of Daruk’s training journal, presumably because Link told Daruk himself. It’s after this event that Link is appointed as Zelda’s personal knight. Remember, it’s important to note that Link was not invisible before this - he had already acquired the Master Sword. Even before he stops the Guardian, he has all eyes on him. He is the Hero. Becoming Zelda’s appointed knight may just be adding more pressure to Link’s shoulders. If he held in his emotions before, it suddenly has become crucial that he continue to do so.

The good thing about this scene is that it can be told from anyone’s POV - the whole gang is there. However, when referring to it as a memory, keep in mind that the memory is Link’s specifically.