It is written* that there was a fourth timeline that split off of Ocarina of Time: the Circumvented Doom Intervention Timeline.
In this timeline, Link does not meet with Princess Zelda after acquiring the Kokiri Emerald, but instead bypasses the guard in Kakariko to reach Death Mountain, using a clever trick involving an empty bottle. After acquiring the Goron's Ruby, Link then met with Princess Zelda at a slightly later time.
This small change set in motion a series of events in which Zelda had more time to study the seal on the Sacred Realm, so she was able to inform Link that he would not be able to become the Hero of Time until he was an adult, and would become frozen within the Temple of Time (leaving the seal open) until adulthood if he attempted it too early.
For this reason, Link retrieved the three spiritual stones, but then spent 7 years waiting and hiding from Ganondorf, before he finally lifted the Master Sword. Thus, Link was able to immediately become the Hero of Time and was not frozen, and was able to immediately retrieve the three Triforce Pieces, causing Ganondorf to flee from his unsuccessful ambush at the Temple of Time.
However, Ganondorf later sneaked into Hyrule castle under the cover of night, and stole the Triforce of Power in a sneak attack, though he was unable to claim the other two pieces. Ganondorf transformed into the monstrous Gannon, but was driven off by Link, unsuccessful in his assault against the king. Afterwards, Link entrusted the Triforce of Wisdom to Impa, who became it's guardian for generations to come. Meanwhile, an obscure prophet had a vision that Link would be the only one who could defeat Gannon.
Aware that Gannon still lurked in obscurity with the Triforce of Power, the Kingdom of Hyrule maintained a constant vigil for his return. A few years later, Gannon launched an attack against Duke Onkled in the land of Gamelon, and soon after, he twisted the island of Koridai into a series of evil visages. The Hero of Time and Princess Zelda, respectively, went on adventures to save the two lands, and successfully sealed Gannon within the Book of Koridai twice, though he quickly escaped both times. Afterwards, a prophecy was written: the Scroll of Shoemac, which warned of Gannon's return to invade the land of Tolemac a century later.
One later adventure effectively mirrors the events of A Link to the Past from the downfall timeline, but with one difference: Link, having difficulty seeing in Hyrule Castle's Dungeon, was startled and nearly killed Princess Zelda by mistake, though not quite.
Many further adventures passed without disturbance of this status quo, as Gannon remained in possession of the Triforce of Power while Hyrule Castle held the Triforce of Wisdom. This era included a series of minor skirmishes between a later hero and Gannon, who would conjure minions in an artifact known as the Evil Jar. However, hero was disinclined to take the conflict seriously and was known to make clumsy romantic advances to his era's Princess Zelda, in between his complaints. This status quo was nearly disturbed in an event in which Gannon's minions turned against him, but Link unwittingly freed Gannon from confinement and the cycle resumed. Nevertheless, effective peace remained in Hyrule for many generations.
Later, Gannon attacked Hyrule Castle with his ultimate weapon, the Gannon Cannon.
* - In this thread, by me [citation needed]
Edited by Mitsukara, 21 October 2016 - 08:10 PM.