The Seven Sages

Not to be confused with The Crystal Sages.

The Seven Sages are a group of seven beings, often of multiple races, that have their own associated element, an accompanying symbol and appropriately themed temple in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and its remake.

During times of peace, there are no Sages, only those who could become them if evil takes control over Hyrule. If that happens, the Sacred Realm sends out a call to them, awakening the destined ones as Sages. Usually, the Sages-to-be have no knowledge about their status until they are awakened. An exception to this is the seventh Sage, who is always a member of the Royal Family of Hyrule, keepers of much of Hyrule's history.

The original Sages built the Temple of Time to protect the Triforce against those who would use it for evil. The Triforce was hidden in the Temple of Light, the only Sage-temple to be built in the Sacred Realm. While each of the Sage-temples seems to grant access to it, only the Temple of Time is meant to do so for non-Sages. Therefore, it was protected with a seal controlled by the Master Sword, which evil cannot touch, and the Door of Time, which could not be opened unless one possessed the three Spiritual Stones, the Ocarina of Time and knowledge of the "Song of Time."

Ganondorf managed to bypass all this by manipulating Link into doing the work for him. After seizing the Triforce and corrupting the Sacred Realm, he caused that corruption to seep into the temples of the Sages, which became infested with all kinds of monsters, so that the Sages-to-be would not be able to fulfil their duty and aid Link. Led by Rauru's and Sheik's instructions, Link managed to cleanse the temples and help each Sage to gain their power. Upon Rauru's advice, he then returned to the Temple of Time, where he found Sheik waiting. His mysterious ally revealed himself to be none other than Princess Zelda, keeper of the Triforce of Wisdom and the seventh Sage, leader of them all. The reunion was cut short when Ganondorf came and abducted Zelda, leaving Link with one more reason to take him on.

The Sages helped Link first by creating a bridge for Link to use to get to the entrance of Ganon's Castle. Rauru used the moment to inform Link of the barriers Ganondorf had put up to protect himself against the Sages. Link destroyed them, clearing the path to Ganondorf. When Link defeated him in the form of Ganon, the Sages joined their powers and sealed the King of Evil into the Sacred Realm.

## List

### Rauru

Rauru is an ancient Hylian and the **Sage of Light**. Unlike the others, he is not a new Sage. Rather, he is one of the ancient Sages, and possibly the only remaining one. He seems to act as the leader in absence of the seventh Sage.

Rauru made his appearance after Link opened the Door of Time and drew the Master Sword from the Pedestal of Time. Recognizing the destined hero, he took his chance and kept Link sealed within the safety of the Temple of Light for the seven years he needed to mature. Upon Link's awakening, he summarized the events that had taken place during his slumber and informed him of his role as the Hero of Time. Then he instructed him to find and help the other Sages so that they could assist him in taking on Ganondorf, handing Link the Light Medallion to start off his quest. After that, it wasn't until all Sages had been awakened that Rauru contacted Link again, telling him that the time of the final confrontation had come. He fulfilled his role as Sage during that final fight and was the only one of the group not to return to Hyrule once Ganon had been defeated, presumably opting to stay in the Sacred Realm.

The owl Kaepora Gaebora, who kept track of Link since the start of his quest, is a form taken by Rauru.

### Saria

Saria is a Kokiri and the **Sage of Forest**. She is the second of the Sages who lend their power to the Hero of Time.

Deciding that something had to be done about the evil emanating from the Forest Temple that brought danger to Kokiri Village, she left to give it her best. When Link arrived in the Forest Temple some time later, he defeated the monsters infesting it and thereby awakened Saria as Sage. She and Link had a conversation thereafter on their childhood friendship, after which Saria bestowed her powers on Link in the form of the Forest Medallion. When the time to face Ganondorf came, she fulfilled her role as Sage and could later be seen travelling to Death Mountain with the other Sages.

### Darunia

Darunia is a Goron and the **Sage of Fire**. He is the third of the Sages who lend their power to the Hero of Time.

In the future years, Ganondorf wanted to make an example out of the Goron race by feeding them all to a dragon. Darunia was one of the few to escape this fate, but as leader felt the obligation to go free his people who were locked up in the Fire Temple. There, he met his Sworn Brother Link again after seven years, though he knew this wasn't the time for reunion. As such, he gave Link instructions to free the Gorons, while he would take on the dragon. Link followed into the dragon's lair later and killed the beast, thereby awakening Darunia as Sage. The two had a talk about their old brotherhood, followed by Darunia giving him the Fire Medallion. During the final stages of the Hero of Time's quest, he fulfilled his role as Sage and could later be seen travelling to Death Mountain with the other Sages.

### Ruto

Ruto is a Zora and the **Sage of Water**. She is the fourth of the Sages who lend their power to the Hero of Time.

Like many races, the Zoras didn't want Ganondorf as their king, and as revenge they and their domain were locked away under ice. After being freed from the Red Ice by Sheik, Ruto obeyed her obligations as princess and went to the Water Temple to save her people. There she met her fiancé Link again after seven years, whom she requested to help her save Zora's Domain. Link lost track of her in the temple, but managed to find his own way to the monster that kept the curse intact and defeat it. Ruto awakened as a Sage because of that and told Link their childhood vows could not be kept now. Instead, she gave him the Water Medallion as symbol of her support and love. When Link went to defeat Ganondorf, she fulfilled her role as Sage and could later be seen travelling to Death Mountain with the other Sages.

### Impa

Impa is a Sheikah and the **Sage of Shadow**. She is the fifth of the Sages who lend their power to the Hero of Time. It is hinted that she, like Zelda, was aware of her status as Sage before becoming one.

When the evil spirit she had locked away in the well of Kakariko Village years ago broke free, Impa immediately headed for the Shadow Temple to seal it away again. When Link followed after her and defeated the spirit, she awoke as the Sage of Shadow. She told Link her point of view on the day she and Princess Zelda fled Hyrule Castle and ensured him he'd do fine as a hero. Then she gave him the Shadow Medallion, staying quiet until Link took up arms against Ganondorf himself; then she fulfilled her role as Sage and could later be seen travelling to Death Mountain with the other Sages.

### Nabooru

Nabooru is a Gerudo and the **Sage of Spirit**. She is the sixth of the Sages who lend their power to the Hero of Time.

Nabooru tried to infiltrate the Spirit Temple in the past years to thwart Ganondorf's plans, but got captured and brainwashed to be a servant of Ganondorf for seven years. Her mental imprisonment ended when Link defeated her Iron Knuckle form, but she was recaptured shortly thereafter. Link permanently freed her and awakened her as a Sage when he defeated Twinrova. For that, she gave him the Spirit Medallion, but not before she complimented him on the results of seven years aging. At the battle with Ganondorf, she fulfilled her role as Sage and could later be seen travelling to Death Mountain with the other Sages.

### Zelda

Zelda is a Hylian and the leader of the Sages. Her element, provided she has one, is unknown, though it is often assumed to be Time.

Zelda waited for Link at the Temple of Time to reveal herself as the seventh Sage, leader of them all, and speak with Link about the battle ahead. However, Ganondorf found her as well and abducted her to his tower. Link went after them and freed her, causing Ganondorf to change into Ganon. While Link took him on again, Zelda prepared for her role as Sage from the sideline and when Ganon fell, she united her powers with the other Sages to lock him away. After that, she and Link had a private conversation about all that had happened since they met, and Zelda revealed that she wished to use her powers as a Sage to return Link to the past, so time could flow as it should've done. Goodbyes were made shortly thereafter.