zelda timeline
what takes place first twilight princess or windwaker
shareTwilight Princess is supposed to take place about a hundred years afterward, whilst Wind Waker takes place some hundreds of years afterward.
So, to answer your question in simple terms: Twilight Princess.
(late answer)
The two games - WW and TP - also take place on separate timeline branches.
*Ocarina of Time Spoilers*
Twilight Princess takes place a 100 years after the young Link for Ocarina of Time warned Zelda about the events that were unfold - thus creating a timeline where the events Adult Link experienced in OoT didn't happen. In this timeline Ganondorf was captured, almost executed, and sealed away.
So TP occurs after Majora's Mask in this chronology, since MM was the continuing adventures of Young Link.
Wind Waker takes place in the timeline where Link was an adult and both he and Zelda sealed Ganon away (the final boss fight of OoT). In this timeline, Zelda sends Link away to the child-timeline - thus leaving the world with no hero when Ganon escapes - resulting in the flooding.
Although the exact specifics of where EVERY game takes places in this forking timeline is highly debated, the placements I mentioned are highly agreed upon with few detractors.
Just don't ask where any of the Four Swords, Minish Cap, or the Seasons games hook in, or in which timeline (child or adult) the original four games take place in. For now, the truth of the matter is very contested.
Thank god they clearly stated that Skyward Sword is a prequel to Ocarina. At least that makes it easy to figure out.
______________________________________
God bless America and the 'Ignore this User' link.
1-20-13