Editing Impa

{{character infobox
|image=[[File:ALBW Impa art.jpg|300px]]<br>Impa's artwork in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds]]''
|first_appearance=''[[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|The Legend of Zelda]]'' (manual only)<br>''[[Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon]]'' (in-game)
|latest_appearance=''[[Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition]]''
|species=[[Sheikah]]
|other_forms=[[Unknown (Impa)]]
|counterparts=[[Gwonam]]<br>[[Impaz]]
}}

'''Impa''' is a recurring character in the ''[[The Legend of Zelda (series)|The Legend of Zelda]]'' franchise. Introduced as [[Princess Zelda]]'s haggard old nursemaid, Impa has gone through many different interpretations over the years. Generally, however, she has the duty to protect or otherwise take care of Zelda or offer information or quests. Her name comes from the word "impart," alluding to the latter of these. Starting with ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]'', she has been depicted as a member of the [[Sheikah]] tribe, and acts as its most prominent member. Her appearances vary between depicting her as a frail old woman and a fit, vaguely aged warrior, with some more variance in between.

==History==
===''The Legend of Zelda'' series===
====''The Legend of Zelda''====
In ''[[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|The Legend of Zelda]]'', Impa appears in the manual's backstory. She unsuccessfully tries to protect Zelda from [[Ganon]] and his forces, and is then attacked herself before being rescued by a young boy named Link. Seeing how capable she is, she tells him of Zelda's plight and that she had split the [[Triforce of Wisdom]] into eight [[Triforce shard]]s before her capture. She is depicted with red hair under a large robe and a long, toucan-like nose.

====''Zelda II: The Adventure of Link''====
In ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link]]'', Impa is once again a manual-only character. When an older Link discovers a Triforce-shaped mark on the back of his hand, he goes to her for advice. She sees it as a sign of a prophecy, and tells him a story of how a previous Princess Zelda was put to sleep by a curse that can only be broken with the complete Triforce, including the [[Triforce of Courage]] hidden in the [[Great Palace]]. Her design has been changed, now having a small nose, gray hair, and light blue eyes.

====''The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time''====
In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]'', Impa has been revamped completely. She is now depicted as a fit, masculine, middle-aged warrior of the Sheikah tribe, and has red eyes and white hair that would go on to become defining characteristics of the race. She is the owner of [[Kakariko Village]], yet spends all her time at [[Hyrule Castle]], watching over Zelda. She initially appears briefly in a prophetic dream of Link's, where Zelda and her are escaping the castle on horseback while being pursued by [[Ganondorf|an ominous figure]]. Later, after Link meets Zelda for real, she teaches him [[Zelda's Lullaby]], escorts him from the castle and town, and shows him the way to [[Death Mountain]] before vanishing with an item that makes a bright flash, the first thing showing that Sheikah are ninjas. Later, Link's nightmare comes true, and she takes Zelda to safety from Ganondorf.

In the intervening seven years, Zelda has herself disguised as a Sheikah named Sheik, likely with the help or direction of Impa. Impa herself is not mentioned until after Link has obtained at least four [[Medallion]]s and goes to Kakariko Village, where it is revealed she is the [[Sage]] of Shadow, now fighting the [[Bongo Bongo|monster]] in the [[Dark Palace|Shadow Temple]]. Link does not actually see her again until after defeating the monster, at which point she appears in the [[Chamber of Sages]] and tells him that Zelda is safe and he will see her again soon. In [[Ganon's Castle]], she, like the other Sages, appears in one of the wings after dispelling the specific corresponding barrier, then after Ganon is defeated to seal him in the [[Sacred Realm]]. Her last appearance is looking over [[Hyrule]] on Death Mountain's peak with the other Sages other than [[Rauru]].

====''The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons''====
[[File:Impa OoS-OoA sprite.png|frame]]
In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons]]'', Impa is depicted as a very large woman. She initially appears as part of the [[Troupe of Performers]]. If the player is playing a linked game going off ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages|Oracle of Ages]]'', she will recognize Link and immediately tell him the truth about how they are using it as a way to protect [[Din (oracle)|Din]], though otherwise, she will simply tell him they are performers. After [[Onox]] attacks and flings all the performers away with a tornado, she is injured and tells Link he must rescue her instead, going to an empty house to recuperate.

====''The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages''====
In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages]]'', Impa is the first person Link meets, being menaced by some [[Octorok]]s. After Link drives them away, she has him move a triangle-marked rock blocking the way to [[Nayru (oracle)|Nayru]]. However, it is soon revealed that Impa is being possessed by [[Veran]], who goes on to possess Nayru. After this, she stays at [[Nayru's House]] for the rest of the game. At a certain point, she tells Link she feels a draft, leading to a hidden room where the [[Harp of Ages]] is kept.

====''The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker''====
While Impa does not directly appear in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker]]'', a stained-glass representation of her ''Ocarina of Time'' design is on display at Hyrule Castle, along with the other Sages from that game.

====''The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess''====
Impa does not appear in the final version of ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess]]''. However, concept art for an "Old Man Impa" was made for the game, showing a male version of the character was considered. The final instead has an old woman named [[Impaz]] appear in the [[Hidden Village]].

====''The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword''====
In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword]]'', Impa appears in two forms: one as an extremely thin and nimble ninja who guides Zelda throughout the land in order to perform her duties, and the other being [[Unknown (Impa)|the mysterious old woman]] in the [[Sealed Temple]]. The young Impa is first seen partway up [[Eldin Volcano]] on a bridge, and she frees Zelda from [[Ghirahim]] inside the [[Earth Temple (Skyward Sword)|Earth Temple]], before leading her to the [[Earth Spring]] behind it. When Link catches up, she glares at him and admonishes him for failing to protect Zelda himself so far. She next appears at the ruined [[Temple of Time]], where she and Zelda go through a [[Gate of Time]], with her destroying it in the process in order to lose Ghirahim. When Link manages to later go back to the past version of the Sealed Temple, he finds Impa there with Zelda. Once the game is complete, she stays at the Temple to watch over the past version of Zelda, thereby eventually becoming the old lady, who herself seems to ascend directly to the afterlife in the present.

====''The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds''====
In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds]]'', Impa is depicted as a short old lady, similar to her earliest depictions, though she still has red eyes. She is first shown leading Link to Zelda to tell her about [[Yuga]]'s attack on the [[Sanctuary]]. She is later turned into a painting due to her being a Sage (implied to be descended from ''Ocarina of Time''{{'}}s Impa). She is rescued from [[Turtle Rock]].

====''The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild''====
In ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild]]'', Impa is depicted as a very short old woman who resembles Impaz. She is the leader of Kakariko Village and lives with her easily flustered granddaughter [[Paya]]. Once Link meets her, she instructs him to travel to [[Hateno Village]] to meet her old friend [[Purah]], who can help upgrade the [[Sheikah Slate]] to full power. Once Link has done so, she instructs him to conquer the four [[Divine Beast]]s and find the areas shown in the gallery of his Slate to help restore his lost memories. Once Link has every memory in the gallery, she tells him the way to the final memory, which took place the moment Link was struck down 100 years before and when Zelda's sealing power finally activated. Additionally, once Link has helped every Sheikah in the village with all their problems, she will allow him access to the "Sheikah heirloom," which is in fact a [[Shrine Key]].

===''Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon''===
[[File:Impa ZWoG sprite.png|frame]]
In ''[[Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon]]'', Impa makes her first on-screen appearance. In the opening, she tells Zelda that the Triforce of Wisdom promises [[King Harkinian]] will return safely from his journey to [[Gamelon]], though it does not specify when. Much later, after Link has disappeared as well, Zelda wakes her up in the middle of the night and they travel there too. Impa's role in gameplay is essentially the same as [[Gwonam]]'s in ''[[Link: The Faces of Evil]]'', in that she gives advice in various areas if spoken with, though she uses the Triforce of Wisdom to do so.

===''Hyrule Warriors'' series===
====''Hyrule Warriors''====
In ''[[Hyrule Warriors]]'', Impa is again a warrior, having a design between her ''Ocarina of Time'' and younger ''Skyward Sword'' designs, with the former also appearing as an alternate costume. She has two weapons, the [[Giant Blade]] and the [[Naginata]], which are capable of different attacks. In the story, she initially helps during the first battle, being surprised at Link's skill. She is taken by surprise when Zelda disappears. Later, when Sheik appears and aides the party, Impa remains skeptical, as no one in her tribe has that name. She keeps a close eye on Sheik until she reveals herself to be Zelda, traveling to the Era of the Hero of Time when [[Cia]] successfully opens up portals of time. She remains a primary playable character throughout the story afterwards. If defeated as an enemy, she can leave behind a weapon, [[Impa's Hair Band]], or more rarely, [[Impa's Breastplate]].

====''Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity''====
In ''[[Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity]]'', the younger version of the Impa from ''Breath of the Wild'' appears as a playable warrior, closely resembling Paya. She wields a kunai in battle.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
TLoZ Impa Link art.jpg|''[[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|The Legend of Zelda]]''
Link seeing Zelda TAoL artwork.jpg|''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link]]''
Impa tells the legend of Zelda to Link.png|''Zelda II: The Adventure of Link''
Impa OoT artwork.png|''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]''
OoX Impa art.jpg|''[[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons]]/[[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages|Ages]]''
SS Impa art.jpg|''[[The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword]]''
SS Impa old art.jpg|''The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword''
AoC Impa art.png|''[[Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity]]''
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jap=インパ
|JapR=Inpa
|JapM=Impa
}}

{{TLOZ}}
{{TAOL}}
{{OOT}}
{{OOS}}
{{OOA}}
{{HW}}
[[Category:Sheikah]]
[[Category:Sages]]
[[Category:The Legend of Zelda characters]]
[[Category:Zelda II: The Adventure of Link characters]]
[[Category:The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time characters]]
[[Category:The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons characters]]
[[Category:The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages characters]]
[[Category:The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword characters]]
[[Category:The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds characters]]
[[Category:The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild characters]]
[[Category:Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon characters]]
[[Category:Hyrule Warriors warriors]]
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