Princess Ruto


 * "Ruto" redirects here, for the location, see Series:.

, also known as simply, is a recurring character in. 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 the Zoras' patron deity Lord Jabu-Jabu, preparing his meals. 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 Series: that guards the OoT3D: beneath Lake Hylia.

It is implied that Ruto's mother passed away some time before the events of, though she gave Ruto the Zora's Sapphire at some point in her youth. Ruto's mother told her that the stone serves as the so-called "Zora's Engagement Ring" by tradition, and instructed her to give it to the man that would one day become her husband.

OoT3D: is first mentioned when OoT3D: comes to OoT3D: in search of the OoT3D: in. When OoT3D: arrives, OoT3D: has been thrown into a state of disarray with the sudden disappearance of OoT3D:, the Princess of the NaN Zoras. After learning of OoT3D:'s disappearance and earning the OoT3D: from the OoT3D:, OoT3D: makes use of the object to investigate OoT3D:'s disappearance, as her father does not seem to be able to give any attention to OoT3D:'s quest while his daughter remains missing. Taking the shortcut leading from OoT3D: to OoT3D:, OoT3D: discovers a bottle with a note inside it at the bottom of the lake. The note is signed with OoT3D:'s name and reveals that she has been swallowed by the NaN Zoras' patron deity, OoT3D:, and requires rescue. Showing the letter to OoT3D:, the OoT3D: ruler commands OoT3D: to rescue his daughter and allows him access to see OoT3D:. It is later revealed that OoT3D: accidentally dropped the OoT3D: OoT3D: and lost it. Instead of getting help, OoT3D: chose to go deeper within OoT3D: hoping to find the stone on her own.

OoT3D: finds OoT3D: fairly quickly upon his entry into OoT3D:'s belly. The feisty OoT3D: princess denies knowledge of the letter OoT3D: had found in OoT3D: and initially tries to deny any need for assistance, telling OoT3D: she could care less about her father's worry and ordering him to leave her. However, OoT3D: continues to pursue OoT3D:, attempting to convince her to either come with him or accept his help in recovering what she had lost. OoT3D: eventually reconsiders her opposition to the idea and accepts OoT3D:'s assistance, deciding to have him carry her around OoT3D:'s interior while they search for the OoT3D: together. Eventually, the two find the stone resting upon a raised platform deep within OoT3D:'s belly. OoT3D: tosses OoT3D: up onto the platform, where she recovers the stone, though this causes the platform to rise into the chamber above them with OoT3D: still on it. The platform descends again carrying a OoT3D:, which OoT3D: is forced to battle. After defeating the beast, OoT3D: jumps onto the platform and rises into the chamber above, but finds no trace of OoT3D:.

Eventually, OoT3D: is forced to battle against OoT3D: and, once he defeats it, OoT3D: is shown waiting for him. The visibly shaken OoT3D: princess scolds OoT3D: for the time it took him to rescue her, but the two are soon transported outside via the portal. Once outside OoT3D:'s belly, OoT3D:'s demeanor toward OoT3D: changes entirely, with the OoT3D: princess having grown quite fond of him and asking him what reward he would ask for rescuing her and helping her recover the OoT3D:. OoT3D: requests the OoT3D:, and OoT3D: happily hands it over to him, calling it her most "precious possession" and revealing that the stone effectively acts as the "Zora Engagement Ring", meaning that she now considers the two of them engaged to be married. Despite this, OoT3D: is unaware of his engagement to OoT3D:, only knowing that he had finally obtained the three NaN Spiritual Stones.

Seven years after OoT3D: is placed into suspended animation by the OoT3D:, evil returns to OoT3D: when OoT3D: uses the power granted to him by the OoT3D: and causes the entire area and its inhabitants to be frozen under a thick layer of OoT3D:. This fate also befalls OoT3D: initially, but she is rescued from beneath the cursed ice by OoT3D:. She then goes to the OoT3D: in the hope of finding a way to save her people from being eternally frozen. This is where she and OoT3D: meet again for the first time in seven years. Although OoT3D: is happy to see him, she is aware that this is not a time to talk about love. OoT3D: asks OoT3D: to assist her in saving the NaN Zoras by destroying the monster at the heart of the temple and informs him of the workings of the OoT3D:. After this, OoT3D: leads OoT3D: into one of the temple's upper chambers but mysteriously vanishes. OoT3D: does not see her again until he defeats the Giant Aquatic Ameoba OoT3D:, the monster responsible for the sad state of both OoT3D: and the nearly dry OoT3D:. Inside the OoT3D:, OoT3D: learns that OoT3D: is the new OoT3D: that guards the OoT3D:. She tells OoT3D: that she still loves him, but their engagement must be put on indefinite hold due to her duty as a OoT3D:, and he must continue his search for OoT3D:. Right before he returns to OoT3D:, OoT3D: gives him the OoT3D:, and asks him to thank OoT3D: for saving her if he sees him again.

OoT3D: appears within the water room inside OoT3D: after OoT3D: dispels the OoT3D: protecting the castle, where she urges OoT3D: onward to rescue the captive seventh OoT3D: and leader of the NaN Sages, OoT3D:. After OoT3D: defeats OoT3D: both in his OoT3D: form and in the form of the Dark Beast OoT3D:, OoT3D: combines her power with that of the other NaN Sages to cast OoT3D: back into the tainted OoT3D: and to create a powerful seal that would imprison him there. She is last seen alongside several of the other NaN Sages atop OoT3D:, overlooking a jubilant OoT3D: now freed of OoT3D:'s evil tyranny.

While Ruto does not physically appear in, one of the stained glass windows in TWW: basement, where the TWW: now rests, depicts her as the Series:. The fact that the Rito evolved from the Zora combined with the fact that TWW:, another Zora sage with a very similar name, is TWW: ancestor, has led some to believe that Laruto is a relative or descendant of Ruto.

NaN Treasures called NaN Ruto Crowns appear in, where they are said to have been worn by a Zora princess.

NaN Ruto Crowns reappear in, where they are said to have been worn by many princesses of the Zora royal family.

In, the fifth BotW:, entitled the BotW:, details the story of Ruto. She lived in a time long before the BotW: and the creation of BotW:. It is known that she was the attendant to the Zora's patron deity and was widely beloved.

When an OoT: threatened OoT:, Ruto awoke as a OoT: and fought against him with the OoT: and the OoT:. Her achievements are forever etched into the history of BotW:, passed on and remembered by the Zora. BotW:, which would later be piloted by another BotW:, was named in honor of Ruto.

Princess Ruto is also mentioned in Mipha's Diary when the Zora princess, Mipha recalled the story of Ruto, who had fallen in love with a Hylian knight, who is the Link in her time, which gave her some hope for confessing her feelings for Link, and when it came the occasion that Link is traveling without Princess Zelda at his side, she calls upon her for courage.

In, TotK: recounts Ruto's story on a TotK: titled TotK:, similar to the above writings from. Sidon ends with saying that as Ruto's descendant, he shall carry on her legacy and bravery.

(Himekawa)
Ruto largely fills the same role in the as she did in the actual game, though there are some slight differences that can be seen in her character when comparing the two. In the story of the manga, Ruto is swallowed by Jabu-Jabu intentionally, as she hopes to escape an engagement to a suitor presented to her by her father whom she deems unacceptable. After Link saves her, she grows quite fond of him and grants him the Zora's Sapphire in rebellion against the marriage her father was attempting to arrange for her. As in the game, she comes to truly believe she and Link are destined for marriage following these events. In this take on the story, she seems to be far less tolerant of her father, ill concealing that she considers him annoying. She also makes a habit of saying 'Zora' at the end of her sentences.

In }, Princess Ruto appears as a playable Warrior. She is based on her slightly redesigned adult form in. She wields the Zora Scale, which she uses as a medium for water magic. Similarly to Lana, she can be considered a wizardly character, as her moveset often consists of area-of-effect attacks, such as forming whirlpools, a giant sphere of water which she uses to trap her enemies and unleashing wide splashes. She has a unique mechanic where executing her combos causes a blue gauge to fill. At any point, she can use the gauge to fire off long-range waves of water that plow through enemies.

In Legend Mode, Princess Ruto first appears in the Scenario "Land of Myth", where she has been taken hostage by Darunia and held in Death Mountain. The Hyrulean Forces, led by Impa and Sheik, come to her rescue and defeat Darunia. It is then discovered that Darunia was being manipulated by an outside force. Princess Ruto, along with Darunia, then accompany the Hyrulean Forces as they venture to locate and close the Gate of Souls in Lake Hylia in the Scenario "The Water Temple". Princess Ruto assists the Hyrulean Forces by opening the floodgates allowing passage to the Water Temple. She then shortly leaves to find the Lens of Truth, in order to reveal the true identity of the false Princess Zelda. She is however soon captured by Zelda. After being rescued, she hands the Lens of Truth to Sheik before retreating from the battle.

Ruto otherwise does not play a large role in Legend Mode by default. She, however, will appear in place of Zelda, Sheik, or Darunia should any one of them be chosen in a Scenario they appear in. In "The Sacred Sword", Ruto will be the one to activate the Fire and Water Statue if Darunia is being played as. In "Liberation of the Triforce", Ruto will be the one to grant Link the Light Arrows during the final battle if Zelda is picked.

When defeated in battle, Princess Ruto may occasionally drop her Earrings as a silver Material, and rarely her Scale as a gold Material.

Young Princess Ruto appears as a Spirit in.

Trivia

 * Series:, like the other NaN Sages from, share name with a town from.
 * In and, Series: is the namesake for Series:, Series:, and Series:. In , the Series: also bears her name.

Nomenclature
Ruto's name may come from the Japanese word naruto, which means "spiral" or "whirlpool".