Who is Ocarina of Time’s Impa?

In Ocarina of Time, Impa is the nursemaid of the young Princess Zelda. She is a Sheikah, and a key member of the race, having founded Kakariko Village. In the relatively recent Hyrulean Civil War, the Sheikah were almost brought to extinction, and Impa is now one of the last members of the race. When she left Kakariko to protect Princess Zelda, she left the village to the other races of Hyrule. After helping Link as a child, she is awakened as a Sage seven years later. The history of the Sheikah is very mysterious, as is the recent history of the race and how it may or may not have impacted Impa’s choices. Let us now examine Impa and the presence of the Sheikah in this era of Hyrule.

Having met Princess Zelda, Link is instructed to talk with Impa. Impa reveals herself to be Zelda’s caretaker, and that if Zelda trusts him, she trusts him. She then teaches Link how to play Zelda’s Lullaby, telling him that it will grant him access to the people and places he needs to talk and go to if he is to get the last two Spiritual Stones. Leading him safely out of the castle and back to Hyrule Field, she points him in the direction of Kakariko Village, but also explains that he should purchase a sturdier shield from the Bazaar back in the Market.

As a game mechanic, it’s an interesting choice for the player to either go back and get a brand new, shiny Hylian Shield, or go straight on to Kakariko Village, where the NPC that you have to talk to to progress through the game will enable you to get a discount at the Bazaar, and direct you back to the Market anyway to get a mask for him so that he will open the gate to the Death Mountain Pass. But looking at each character as their own, why didn’t Impa get Link to buy a Hylian Shield on their way through the Market? Possibly because she knew Link would get a discount if he first went to the soldier guarding the Death Mountain Pass, however, it is much more likely that she simply did not realise Link would need a sturdier shield until she points out Death Mountain to him.

And then Impa goes and does her famous disappearing act, throwing a Deku nut at the ground and disappearing in the flash. Having used the Deku nut only once before to know that it was that item that created that sound and flash, I tried it again for myself, thinking that I could use it to disappear or teleport. Nope. The only other time Impa is seen before Link travels through time is when she escapes the Market with Zelda by horse, and you can’t question her motivations for that, she was clearly saving Zelda from Ganondorf and his followers… or… was she?

Yes, of course she was. Why in Hyrule would she escape with Zelda for any other reason? After Link travels to the future, we only meet Sheik once more: after Link has gone and rescued those he met as a child, he is drawn to Kakariko Village, which he finds in flames and under attack by what appears to be a ghost. Sheik reveals the ‘ghost’ to be the evil that was sealed under the well, and that Impa has now gone to the Shadow Temple to seal it again. At the request of Sheik, Link goes to find the Lens of Truth so that he can navigate the Shadow Temple.

Link eventually finds his way through the Shadow Temple, but with no sign of Impa. After defeating the evil that was once sealed in the well, Link is teleported back to the Chamber of the Sages, where he meets up with Impa one last time. It’s interesting to note, from the way she speaks, that it would seem that she always knew that she was and is the Sage of Shadow:

“I am Impa, one of the Sheikah. I am Princess Zelda’s caretaker, and I am also the Sage who guards the Shadow Temple.”

While others who are awakened as Sages are surprised at this revelation, Impa simply takes it in her stride, as if to say, “So I’m a Sage, huh? What else is new?” With the Sheikah also being known as the Shadow Folk, it’s understandable that she’d make an educated estimate, but, she can’t know for certain… or can she? If so, how?

Impa goes on to explain that the Sheikah have been the guardians of the Royal Family for generations, and that when Ganondorf attacked the castle, Impa fled with Zelda. She tells Link that Zelda is safe, and that he will soon meet her, and in conclusion, adds her power to his in the form of the Shadow Medallion. I have no idea what this Medallion might do, just let me know what you guys think.

Going back to Impa saying the Sheikah protect the Royal Family, it is also said that Impa founded Kakariko Village, and it was once the town of the Sheikah. The Sheikah were nearly wiped out after the Hyrulean Civil War, just before Zelda was born, and being one of the only survivors, Impa followed the duty of the Sheikah and left the village in the hands of the other races of Hyrule (however, only the Hylians populate it) to go and protect the young Princess, after she had been born. But Impa is one of the last Sheikah, not the last Sheikah, as is proven by the fact that the Sheikah continue their existence in the Downfall and Child Timelines, so where are the other surviving Sheikah? They have no reason to hide, so where could they be? Hidden amongst the population of Kakariko, or amongst the whole kingdom?

Wherever the Sheikah might be, why are they hiding? Is it simply in Impa’s character to not be surprised, or did she somehow know that she was going to be the Sage of Shadow? Could another, hiding member of the Sheikah have been the Sage of Shadow? What is the purpose of the Shadow Medallion? Let me know in the comments.