snowrain

A conflict which started between the Earth Alliance [aka Naturals] and Zaft [aka Coordinators], which started because of economic troubles was clearly undecided. The two sides had no other choice, and war broke out. 11 months after this war started is when the timeline of Gundam SEED all begins. Heliopolis; a colony which is a 'neutral' colony was dragged into the war while Earth hid their secret mobile suits here. ZAFT mobile suit force raids Heliopolis and thus capturing all but 1 of the Gundams.

This series is truely one that has interesting twists and turns and seems to always have new things that will hit you out of no where. Character development is something that Gundam Seed seems to have plenty of... the characters are involved in various relationships and seem to not care about 'fighting' in general compared to some other series.

While Gundam Seed Destiny takes place in Cosmic Era 73. By now, the war that had taken place in Gundam Seed has been long ended and new characters are appearing taking the role of the nemesis. Athrun has left ZAFT and a new counterpart appears. His name is Shin Asuka, and he is one of the leading characters in the series. Athrun is now a part of Orb along with Cagalli. Same characters from the previous series appears here. and then, the rest is history. ^-^

Age: 16 (18 in GSD)
Birthday: October 29, CE 55
Blood type: O
Genetic type: Coordinator
Height: 170 cm (5'7")

A coordinator from PLANTS and son of Chairman Patrick Zala, Athrun Zala first made his appearance in the very first episode of Gundam SEED. He was a mission to capture five elite GUNDAMS that were held in Heliopolis of the neutral nation of Orb. During the mission, he did not expect to come across an old dear friend named, Kira Yamato. This lead them both to a state of confusion, since their reunion was in an unfortunate place.

Athrun decided to be a part of the military when he discovered that his mother, Lenore Zala, was killed in a Bloody Valentine incident. Since then he only fights for justice and the peace of all human kind. Being a soldier of ZAFT, Athrun has many skillful abilities, such as eye-to-eye coordination (he's excellent with pistols) and good with physical combat. He's also very talented with mechanics and builds a robotic-pet-bird for Kira when they were younger and has created numerous abouts of haros (a robotic-ball-shaped pet) for his ex-fiance, Lacus Clyne.

Throughout the series he encounters Kira and attemptes to persuade him to join his side and fight against the Naturals. Kira refuses his offer since he has friends that he wants to protect aboard the Archangel, which is an Earth Alliance ship.

Athrun continues on in battle and lives on to what he believes is right. As a soldier of only sixteen, he can be unsure of himself sometimes, but eventually with the help of his friends and assuring words from Kira, Cagalli and Lacus, he gets back on his own two feet, no problem -- most of the time.

Age: 16 (18 in GSD)
Birthday: May 18, CE 55
Blood type: A
Genetic type: Natural
Height: 162 cm (5'3")

Princess of Orb, Cagalli Yula Athha is the adoptive daughter of Uzumi Nara Athha, who is the representative of the Orb Union. In the later part of the series, we learn that she is the twin sister of Kira Yamato. Although Kira is a first-generation coordinator, Cagalli was born a Natural. She first made her appearance in the first episode of Gundam SEED in Kira's school and was involved, but sheltered in the ZAFT invasion of episode one.
Even though she's under a title of a "princess," Cagalli is your typical sixteen-year-old teenager, a bit of a rebel and a tomboy. She doesn't mind taking a few risks here and there and can be very bold about her rights and beliefs. She was even nicknamed the "Goddess of Victory" back when she was a member of the Desert Dawn Resistance Movement because of her strong, inspiring role in the group.

During Kira and Cagalli's meetings in the series, they are unaware of their relation as brother and sister, but they eventually become close friends and at times turn to one another for comfort. Before her father sacrifices his life for his people, he hands Cagalli a photograph with her and Kira as infants. He tells her that even though he'll leave her, she will not be alone because she will be with her brother.

As the series continue, she meets Athrun, first in a marooned island, then again when she finds out that Athrun has supposedly killed Kira, because Kira has killed his comrade, Nicol in battle. With her wise words quoted from her father, she tells Athrun that vengeance will lead no where, but only bring more suffering and conflict. Cagalli is a strong-willed young lady, who only matures more and more. Just like anyone, she refuses growing conflicts and with everything she has, she fights alongside with friends to end the war.

Athrun and Cagalli first encountered one another when they were both marooned in an island and both of their transportations were shot down. At first Athrun has mistaken Cagalli for being a male. Appalled, Cagalli couldn't believe what she was hearing since this was not the first time, since Kira has also mistaken her for being a boy back when they first met in Heliopolis. Athrun then ties her up and takes her as his prisoner since they are enemies.

In their time together, Athrun eventually sets her free, but tries to keep a close watch on her, since Cagalli can be very stubborn and continues to argue with him. They end up discussing about the war and their beliefs and views. Athrun tells her that he lost his mother in the destruction Junius 7 and it's impossible for ZAFT to not do anything. Cagalli counters back saying that nothing would have ever happened to Heliopolis if his team did not invade in the first place.

Realizing that their arguments would lead them no where, Athrun took the initiative decided that they should give it a rest. While sleeping, Cagalli got hold of his weapon in attempt to kill Athrun, since she cannot stand the fact that if she lets him go now, he'll only continue to kill innocent people on Earth with his GUNDAM. Tears in her eyes, she gives up and throws the loaded weapon in the air giving Athrun a minor injury. Feeling guilty of what she's done, Cagalli does what she can and helped Athrun with his small wound and it's her thanks to him for everything he's done even though they are from opposing sides.

They meet once again when Cagalli and forces from Orb find an unconscious Athrun by the beach shores after a battle that appears to have killed Kira. Cagalli points a gun at Athrun once he had regained consciousness and demands to know what happened out there and to Kira. Athrun tells her that he killed Kira because he killed several ZAFT comrades and his friend Nicol. Cagalli also learns that Kira and Athrun were best friends and was shocked since he would kill his own friend. This brings both to tears and Cagalli tells him that there's no use for vengeance since it will only bring never ending suffering and more deaths. Cagalli ends up giving Athrun a necklace with a red stone pendant since he always ends up in trouble and doesn't want anyone else to die.

With such close connections to Kira, Athrun and Cagalli have several more encounters and meet again when they find out that Kira was alive. Athrun was ordered to destroy the Freedom (a GUNDAM that Lacus has given to Kira), but instead aids him in battle to fight off enemies. Since then Athrun and Cagalli come to a deeper understanding with one another as they further discuss the events and the causes of human kind hatred towards one another.

Athrun and Cagalli both develop feelings for one another as they spend more time together when they notice that Lacus and Kira were getting pretty close themselves. Before another battle in episode 48, Cagalli swears that she will protect Athrun and Kira and join them on the battle field. Touched, Athrun gives her a hug and they share their first kiss.

When Athrun was on the verge of sacrificing his life while destroying GENESIS (an elite weapon of ZAFT), Cagalli was there to remind him to not be a coward and instead have the courage to keep on living. They both escape the explosion and Athrun boards Cagalli's Strike Rouge mobile suit and find a damaged Freedom and an injured Kira in space. Both are in tears of joy at the sight of him being alive.

Since then after the war Athrun has always been by Cagalli's side when she became the new Representative of Orb as her bodyguard. Even in GS Destiny series he remained close and watches over her.

MY POINT OF VIEW:

Now to tell you the truth, I simply adore Cagalli! well because we have something in common, her style, beliefs and personalities. plus, she look-alike with my 1st character in Ragnarok (Online Game) lol. anyway, The only reason why I watch Gundam Seed series is *points-out* them.. so when I completed the whole series including destiny and some extra series, here's what I can comment about this pair:

First things first, about Athrun hugging Cagalli before joining the battlefield mean something that the viewers can obviously see. Based on their facial expressions and actions, it is so clear that they had a deep relationship and don’t want to let go of it. However, Cagalli has a duty to face *ruling the orb* and Athrun already understand that, he even said that * its fine, at least for now, we don’t need to rush. Our dreams are the same.* Yes, sometime in the future, the chance of those two getting back together is possible. They just have to wait.

Ok.. And for the Meyrin issue, here it goes, Cagalli said to Meyrin to look after Athrun… I basically think that Meyrin following Athrun in the ending only means that she only doing what Cagalli told her. To act like a guardian fairy for Athrun or something. I think Meyrin is not that idiot to be in love with Athrun. Why? As a woman Meyrin saw something on Cagalli’s sad tone and expression when she is asking that. Meyrin’s character is too innocent to be a bitch. She is not the type of person who will seduce someone else boyfriend. If someone said Athrun likes Meyrin I will jump off from the tallest building i can find. lol

As for Athrun’s behavior in the entire series, I honestly did not understand his moves in the first few episodes but after watching the episode that he only did that (joining the Zaft team) because he only seek the enough power to protect everyone who is important to him… that includes Cagalli. I thought he was just confused and being a little bit coward, but no, he had his own purpose and intention, like Lacus said to him that *That is for you to decide, Power alone is just power, and you maybe a soldier but you’re Athrun aren’t you?* he believes that joining the Zaft’s forces will change everything including his fame and of course to become a more suitable husband to Cagalli, then he proposed to her by giving the ring to her finger, Cagalli remove it twice. She regretted it for the 1st time and yet she removed it again in the ending. That does mean they totally had a break up? Hmmm, I believe that she only removes the ring because she is not ready to get married; Cagalli has a lot thing to do with the Orb. and the fact that when couples break up, the girl usually gives the ring back to the guy. I certainly didn't see that happening.

Athrun’s nature being kind, caring and well..a gentleman resulted the quick attachment to the girls that he just met. *Lunamaria, Meyrin and Meer* but comparing to Kira and Shinn’s experiences with their other girls, Athrun controlled himself and stick to the idea that he is a one woman man. His experiences with the other girls does not involve the following romantic moments unlike the things he shared with Cagalli: Sharing a room *except for the fact that Meer tried to seduce him!* , blushing, jealousy, intimate hugs and kisses and of course the word “protect”. Athrun and Cagalli are not that opposite but they fit together.

The reason why I continue supporting them is because their relationship has obstacles that a normal couple could never experience. I simply believe they will survive those tests. I mean, They've been for 2 years. They can't just throw it away or forget everything they'v been through in the past.. My oh my, It seems Gundam series releases endings like this so that everything is open ended enough to satisfy most fans. Geez ^-^

Piczo