Impa
Impa is a recurring character in The Legend of Zelda series. She often serves as the guardian or nursemaid of Princess Zelda.
Appearances
The Legend of Zelda
In the first game of the series, The Legend of Zelda, Impa was the first one to inform Link of Princess Zelda's plight, and how she was captured by Ganon and spread the pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom across the land. Impa sends Link on his journey to collect the Triforce of Wisdom, and, in turn, save Zelda. She is never actually seen in game; only in a part of the story that happens before Link starts his quest. Because of this, there are no sprites to be found of her, only artwork.
The Adventure of Link
Years after the events of The Legend of Zelda, Link asks Impa about a mark resembling the Triforce that appears on the back on his hand. She takes him to the North Castle and explains that a sleeping spell was cast on a previous princess and that Link must locate the Triforce of Courage to awaken her. According to Impa, he must place crystals in six palaces.
Ocarina of Time
Impa appears in Ocarina of Time as the loyal Sheikah body guard, or nursemaid, of Princess Zelda. She is depicted as a woman with a sturdy build, short white hair in a small ponytail and red eyes. Her appearance is quite younger than some of the other games she appears in. She was born and raised in Kakariko Village, and still maintains a watchful eye over the village despite her duty to the Royal Family.
Link first meets Impa after sneaking past the guards in Hyrule Castle to meet with Princess Zelda. Impa then teaches Link Zelda's Lullaby and escorts Link out of the castle. After they are safely outside the Castle, Impa advises Link to go to Kakariko Village and see what clues he can find that lead to the Spiritual Stone of Fire.
Upon collecting all the Spiritual Stones, Link returns to a scene much like the dream he had at the start of the game. Impa is shown fleeing on a white horse with Zelda. Zelda then throws an object at Link, which he discovers to be the Ocarina of Time. Ganondorf is shown following close behind them on a black horse, and questions Link as to which direction Impa and Zelda went. It becomes apparent that Ganondorf has taken over Hyrule Castle, and this forced Impa to flee with Zelda.
Seven years later when Link goes to Kakariko in order to investigate the location of the Shadow Medallion, Link finds out that Impa has sealed away a great evil in the Bottom of the Well prior to the events in Ocarina of Time. This great evil had taken up residence in the Shadow Temple, and Impa had disappeared trying to seal it again. After defeating Bongo Bongo, the great evil, Impa awakens as the Sage of Shadow. She asks Link to take care of Zelda since her duties of being a Sage keep her from Zelda's side. Impa and the other Sages lend Link their power in sealing Ganondorf. Impa is last seen during the end credits standing atop Death Mountain with the other Sages.
Oracle of Seasons
As the nursemaid of Zelda, Impa is sent to Holodrum to protect Din, the Oracle of Seasons. She works as the cook for the troupe of performers that Din dances for. After Onox kidnaps Din, she tells Link that he must save Holodrum and restore the seasons, and that he should first visit the Maku Tree.
Oracle of Ages
In Oracle of Ages, Link finds Impa, the nursemaid of Princess Zelda, being attacked by Octoroks. They flee when Link arrives, and Impa remarks that it was likely because he has the mark of the Triforce on the back of his hand. She explains that she is looking for a singer named Nayru, the Oracle of Ages, on Princess Zelda's orders. She follows Link until they arrive at an area with a stone marked with a triangle that she says she needs Link to move for her. This leads into the grotto where Nayru is singing to animals.
Suddenly, it is revealed that Impa was actually being possessed by the sorceress Veran. Veran leaves Impa's body and switches to Nayru, then uses the Oracle's power to travel back in time. Impa apologizes for the events that transpired. She then gives Link the Wooden Sword. In a linked game, she gives him the Wooden Shield.
The Wind Waker
Impa does not make a direct appearance in this game, though in the room where the Master Sword is kept there are stain glass windows depicting all the sages from Ocarina of time.
Skyward Sword
Of the Sheikah race from the Zelda series, Impa bears all their markings and style of dress. An enemy of Ghirahim, Impa saves Zelda from Ghirahim and continues to evade him and protect her from the Demon Lord. She is a wielder of magic and uses it to defend Zelda in battle, although she is clearly no match for him, who can break her barriers with ease.
At the Temple of Time, Impa defends Zelda from Ghirahim to the best of her ability before Ghirahim overpowers her. Link acquires the Goddess's Harp from Zelda as she escapes with Impa through the Gate of Time.
Impa is the "servant of the goddess" that Ghirahim refers to as being the one who snatched Zelda out of his clutches.
Template:Spoiler/Begin In the end of Skyward Sword, Zelda begs Impa to follow her back to Skyloft. Impa refuses, saying that as the "servant of the goddess" she must remain in her regular time era. Impa then tells Zelda to not worry because they will meet again when the time comes. Zelda then gives Impa one of her bracelets as a parting gift. Once Zelda travels back to her current time era, she sees that the old woman at the Sealed Temple has her bracelet. She realizes that she actually was with Impa the whole time. Impa then disappears. Template:Spoiler/End
Gallery
Artwork of Link & Impa from The Legend of Zelda
Stain Glass of Impa in The Wind Waker
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Trivia
- Impa's name comes from the verb "to impart", referring to her original role as the one who delivers Link's "linking" ability to Zelda.[1]
