#altfp

So just to make this clear, as obvious as this already is, Younger Four is basically Four back when he was on his adventure with Ezlo during the Minish Cap.  Idk but I imagine younger Four more cautious at this time because of the fact Vaaiti is still at large and he is the reason Zelda got turned to stone in front of his very eyes and that his Hyrule is under a bit of chaos since the princess isn't exactly present. I would say the environment or atmosphere of Four's Hyrule at this time might have been tense, full of uncertainty of the fate of the kingdom. So granted, younger Four would be very wary of others around him, he is a smart child after all. 

As for Future/Present Four, as soon as they are thrown into his past Hyrule he wasn't 100% sure it was his Hyrule at first. The chain was still in some confusion as to where they were. After some confirmation, Four believes without a doubt they are in his past but some Link are not too sure about it. Some of the Link's would ask him what makes him so sure and that it's also possible they might be in another Hyrule entirely with a new Hero. Four starts explaining events that are supposed to come to pass, and it works the first time but then things start to change slowly and he starts getting it wrong. Which baffles Four even more! It is not until they meet his younger self they fully believe him. They meet younger Four in the middle of a battle with monsters that horde over castle town.

During this time, Four wasn't feeling very well either, after the time jump he was having the worst case of headaches and occasional dizziness and nausea. This is actually because future Four is physically Linked to past Four. I had this idea that Four doesn't feel very well when his other self is in danger, which later on he seems to figure it out. Depending on Younger Four's condition, Four starts to feel faint.  It becomes this weird kind of spidey sense that the chain uses later to figure out the disruptions happening in his timeline due to changes it is facing because of Dink's influence. But this change always usually involves the attempted assassination to his younger self sent by Dink, Vaaiti and Shadow joining forces. 

Other things to note is that Four has made it clear to everyone to NOT reveal his identity to his younger self. However, they don't entirely lie to him either, they still tell him that they are all Links from different timelines. Four just kinda passes himself as a whole other link entirely, even as younger Four seems suspicious when he realizes they both have the four sword. But knowing that the master sword is also common in each timeline, they easily come up with an excuse. 

Future Four is also a little worried (or self conscious?) about his secrets getting revealed to the chain by his younger self. But at the same time he also know himself very well and knows that the use of his Minish powers or the Four sword is not something that his younger self would just outright share or reveal with a bunch of strangers. That much puts Four at ease but it still works as a double edged sword for him, because he also can't use certain powers that may give away who he really is.

That being said when younger Four does use his powers it's Four that ends up being the only one that saw it and the secret remains with them even though younger Four wasn't fond of someone finding his secret they choose to keep it hush hush. Four is also not 100% sure whether at this point in time Younger Four has Split or not with the Four Sword yet. Although, the idea of them both splitting at the same time and older colors meeting the younger colors would be so funny and awesome. But that also means Four's cover would be blown indefinitely, at this reveal.  

Still, the more things change in his timeline that end up differently than what was supposed to happen, Four starts to wonder if this change in his past would actually change him or create another split in the timeline with a whole new Link that isn't quite him, due to all the changes in their experiences. This very much worries Four, and he tends to talk to Sky and Time about it. The idea scares him a little. 

I know this seems like all angst but I could also imagine the chain gushing over younger Four. And four finding it way too embarrassing, like this is far worse than seeing an old photo of him because they are literally there experiencing his younger self in the flesh. Lol 

Like I definitely imagine Twilight being the first one to just pick up lil' Four like an annoyed cat getting man held by its human owner Or Sky just wanting to hug him, and both Fours being utterly overwhelmed with embarrassment. Or Legend using this moment to ruffle his hair because he can easily pass it off as him teasing him instead of actually wanting to show a bit of affection. <3

All of these questions (some I didn't necessarily have answers to...lol) until now! have had me really take a moment to consider the possibilities. Thanks! 

Yeah I agree, the trio of villains that should have never came to be just sound a lot more threatening when you have help from the future to eliminate a common goal. Unfortunately the same could be said for our heroes and there are NINE (ten with smol Four lol…) of them, so good luck to the villains. 

Now as far as Younger Four ever finding out who Older Four is, the answer is yes. Though the way he finds out is sort of a rude awakening. I've had this scene play in my mind a few times like a sad amv, lol. 

At one point the villains nearly achieve their goal, ambushing younger Four at his most vulnerable state. He doesn't have time to dodge a sword attack from Shadow, but older Four jumps in in his place and takes the brunt of the strike straight to his abdomen.  In which he holds it in place to allow a chance for the others to gain the advantage. In the end Shadow escapes, just barely from the rest of a very vengeful group of Links. 

But rewinding back a little, in that moment Older Four gets stabbed, Younger Four is in shock: YOU, WHY? Why would you give up your life for mine! 

(So the reason younger is so surprised Older Four jumped in for him is because he believed Four didn’t like him (Since he had been avoiding him most of the time for various reason younger Four just doesn’t understand. lmao...)

Older Four: Haha.. give you say? Ah, the irony... No, it's quite the opposite you see... without your life I would cease to exist. 

 I am only taking hold of our life and sustaining both of our futures. 

That's when older Four would finally reveal his identity, although younger Four doesn’t understand it at first and is later told by Time. Of Course I wouldn't kill off older Four, I wouldn't do that to my boy. Lol..

Talking about things I would never do, I would never do what Akira Toriyama did to Trunks at the end of Black Goku Saga. Lmfao. And that's basically allowing Future Trunks to exist alongside another version of himself that is mere weeks in the past of himself because his timeline was destroyed so he had to be put in a timeline where everyone is alive including himself. (I will never forgive Toriyama for this sad conclusion.) 

That being said, as much as another timeline would be cool, the fact remains that this Four would be way too similar to Four as far as his abilities and mental state. Therefore I refuse to allow another timeline to exist, but that doesn’t mean I can't make it seem like that conclusion is very much possible. I would like to highlight this possibility as an alarming problem that is very close to being reality for older Four. I want it to be something that is clearly a situation they are fighting against time with and often teased as a possibility but in the end they are still able to resolve the situation. 

Although, I'm not sure how to make it so that younger Four forgets this happens. Maybe with the help of Zelda, (like when they save her) Time helps Zelda with a spell using his ocarina. Since Zelda is part of the royal bloodline, she can possibly activate its abilities, and with Time, play the song of time to send them back to the present while also returning Younger Four and correcting his timeline. There will be sad goodbyes I guess, since it will be the last time he will remember them… but he leaves them with content in his heart; knowing what he will experience in his distant future and the idea of meeting friends like that is something he is grateful to have planned in his future.

This is pretty much all I got.

Ahhh, I really love this comment, seriously thank you Seeking, you are truly awesome! And for the encouragement to make this post. Love ya! 💛💛💛