Princess Ruto


 * This article refers to the Zora princess that serves as the Sage of Water in Ocarina of Time. For the town of the same name seen in The Adventure of Link, see Ruto Town.

"Don’t tell my father!"

- Princess Ruto

Princess Ruto (ルト) is a female Zora introduced in Ocarina of Time. She is the daughter and only child of King Zora, the ruler of the Sea Zora population residing in Hyrule, and serves as the attendant of Lord Jabu-Jabu, the Zoras’ patron deity. As a child, Ruto appears to be a tomboy and is shown to be very strong-willed and stubborn even in the face of danger, a trait she would temper and yet benefit from in her adult years when danger once again threatened her people. Though she initially shows a selfish streak in her youth, she grows to become much more benevolent in her adult years, especially after she is awakened to the knowledge that she is the Sage of Water that guards the Water Temple beneath Lake Hylia.

Biography
Ruto is the daughter and only child of the Zora ruler King Zora, who rules from his throne chamber within the watery grotto that serves as the home of the Zoras, Zora’s Domain. Constantly proving to be a major distraction for her father as he executes his duties in governing the Zora population, Ruto is described by other Zoras as being a tomboy in nature with a wildly independent streak while at times showing a selfish demeanor (at least in her youth). It is implied that Ruto’s mother passed away some time before the events of Ocarina of Time, though she did give Ruto the Zora’s Sapphire at some point in her youth while telling her that the stone serves as the so-called “Zora’s Engagement Ring” by tradition, and thus instructing her to give it only to the man that would one day become her husband. As the Princess of the Zoras, it became Ruto’s duty to serve as primary attendant to Lord Jabu-Jabu, the giant fish that serves as the Zoras’ patron deity and lives in the source of Hyrule’s water behind Zora’s Domain, Zora's Fountain. In this capacity, Ruto would prepare Jabu-Jabu’s meals and feed him regularly at his shrine. At some point in her early childhood, Ruto discovered that she could enter Jabu-Jabu's belly and exit unscathed and chose to make it a practice of coming here when she felt the need to be alone. Though her father worried about her constantly even into her adulthood, Ruto often rebuffed his concern and gave little thought to his worry in her early life. Little did she know that she had a much greater role to play yet in Hyrule’s history and that her fame would grow so much that her name would survive for ages beyond her lifespan.

Appearances
Ruto has made only a single actual appearance within the series, with that appearance being in Ocarina of Time, where she, like several of the other Sages of that game, receives her name from one of the towns featured in The Adventure of Link.

Ocarina of Time
Ruto is the princess of the Zoras in Ocarina of Time. She's very independent and tends to solve problems on her own, often causing her father a lot of trouble. She is the keeper of the Spiritual Stone of Water, the Zora's Sapphire, which she was given by her mother. It is unclear how Ganondorf intended to get his hands on this Spiritual Stone, but the monsters infesting and influencing Lord Jabu-Jabu do seem to be his doing. When Ruto was attending to Jabu-Jabu one day, he swallowed her along with his lunch. Ruto accidentally dropped the Zora's Sapphire inside Jabu-Jabu and lost it. Instead of getting help, Ruto went deeper inside Jabu-Jabu in order to get the stone herself.

Some time later, she may or may not have written a letter for help. The letter was found in a bottle in Lake Hylia and was signed "Ruto", but she denied knowledge of it. This letter at least is what brought Link on Ruto's trail. Ruto's disappearance had not been unnoticed, and the Zoras were looking for her. Link showed the letter he had found to Ruto's father, the King of the Zoras and guardian of the entrance to Zora's Fountain, where Jabu-Jabu resided. King Zora immediately granted Link access to Zora's Fountain so that he could go find Ruto. Link entered Jabu-Jabu the same way Ruto had done: getting swallowed while feeding the creature. He found her pretty quickly, but she refused to come with him stating that she could care less about her father being worried, that she did not know anything about the letter and that she did not want Link's help. Link kept trying to convince her to either come with him or accept help, and eventually, she accepted his help. Link had to carry her around, could use her to keep switches down, and kill enemies by throwing her at them. The duo managed to find the gem, but just as Ruto picked it up, the platform on which she stood was raised, and she was separated from Link. Link went searching for her again, and ended up battling Barinade, which was infesting Jabu-Jabu's insides. After that, he and Ruto found each other again outside of Jabu-Jabu. Ruto confessed that she was quite impressed with Link's achievement and asked him what kind of reward he wanted. Link asked for the Spiritual Stone of Water. Ruto, having grown quite fond of Link, was happy to give it to him. When her mother gave her the stone, she had told Ruto that she should give it only to the man who will be her husband. Thus, after giving Link the Zora's Sapphire, she considered them engaged, even though Link did not understand what she was talking about.

Seven years later, evil returned to Zora's Domain and caused the complete area and its inhabitants to be frozen under a thick layer of ice. This fate also befell Ruto, but she was rescued by Sheik. She then went to the Water Temple in the hopes of finding a way to save her people. There is where she and Link met again. She was happy to see him, but was aware that was not the time to talk about love. Ruto asked Link to assist her in freeing the other Zoras and informed him on the workings of the Water Temple. After that, she headed off and Link did not see her again until he defeated Morpha. In the Temple of Light, Link learned that Ruto was the new Sage of Water. She told Link that she still loved him, but their engagement was no longer meant to be (due to her being a Sage), and he had to continue his search for Princess Zelda. Right before he left, she gave him the Water Medallion, and asked him to thank Sheik for saving her if he'd see him again.

When Link defeated Ganon, Ruto and the other Sages bundled their powers to seal away Ganon. During the ending, she could be seen overlooking a celebrating Hyrule on Death Mountain with the other Sages.

Minor References
While only appearing in a single game in the series, there have been multiple references to Ruto made in several subsequent games following the release of Ocarina of Time.

The Wind Waker
While Ruto does not physically appear in The Wind Waker, one of the stained glass windows in Hyrule Castle's basement, where the Master Sword now rests, depicts her as the Sage of Water.

Phantom Hourglass
In the Phantom Hourglass, one of the available treasure items is titled the "Ruto Crown". In an obvious reference to Ruto herself, the description states: "Some say this regal crown was worn by a princess of Zora".

Spirit Tracks
Like Phantom Hourglass, the Ruto Crown reappears in  Spirit Tracks as one of the ancient treasures available to be discovered and traded around the re-established land of Hyrule, marking another reference to Ruto despite the long period of time that has passed following the end of her lifespan and the many events that have occurred in the meantime.

Other Media
Ruto has appeared in other forms of media outside the main game series, most prominently in the manga produced by Vizkids that supplements Ocarina of Time.

Ocarina of Time Manga
Ruto seems to be far less tolerant of her father in the manga, ill concealing that she considers him annoying. She also says 'Zora' at the end of her sentences.

Trivia

 * Ruto, like several other characters from Ocarina of Time, was named after a town featured in The Adventure of Link.
 * Ruto has a doppelgänger in Majora's Mask named Lulu. Her model is slightly altered though: while Ruto did not wear any clothes, Lulu wears a dress.
 * Interestingly enough, if you throw Ruto in the water of Jabu-Jabu, she will fade away even though she is a Zora.