OVA
Description
Marimeia Barton Khushrenada is a central figure in the events of Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz, introduced as the purported daughter of Treize Khushrenada and Leia Barton. Born in After Colony 189, she lost her mother at the age of two and was subsequently raised by her maternal grandfather, Dekim Barton. During her early childhood, she was publicly known under the name Marimeia Barton before the rebellion that would come to bear her first name. From infancy, she was groomed by Dekim to serve as the figurehead leader of the Mariemaia Army, a private military force built upon the remnants of loyalty to Treize. Dekim manipulated her into believing that as Treize's daughter, it was her destiny to conquer the Earth Sphere and fulfill what she was told were her father's final wishes, though in truth he intended to use her as a puppet ruler to advance his own ambitions.
Her personality reflects the contradictory nature of her upbringing. She displays intelligence and composure well beyond her years, carrying herself with an imperious and dignified manner that gives the impression she looks down on others. She speaks with certainty about her right to rule and articulates a cynical view of history as an endless cycle of war, peace, and revolution, which she believes her ascension will break. However, beneath this carefully constructed facade, glimpses of her true age occasionally surface. She treasures a music box left to her by her mother as a Christmas gift, keeping it close at all times, and this attachment reveals the vulnerable child hidden behind her regal posture. Her motivations are rooted entirely in the indoctrination she received from Dekim, who exploited her desire to honor a father she never knew. She genuinely believes she is continuing Treize's legacy, unaware that she is being used as a symbol for a power grab.
Her role in the story is that of the public face of the Mariemaia Rebellion, which takes place in December of After Colony 196, one year after the end of the Eve Wars. She declares war on the Earth Sphere Unified Nation and orders the kidnapping of Vice Foreign Minister Relena Darlian during a diplomatic visit to Colony X-18999. Under her banner, hundreds of Serpent mobile suits descend on the ESUN capital of Brussels, quickly seizing control of the presidential office. She confronts Relena inside the fortified shelter of the building, proclaiming that her reign will change history. As the Gundam pilots and Preventer agents mount a counterattack, she remains confident in her victory until Heero Yuy arrives in the Wing Gundam Zero and destroys the shelter's defenses with pinpoint shots from the twin buster rifle. For the first time, she experiences genuine fear, though she struggles to maintain her composure.
Her key relationships define her trajectory. The most significant is with her grandfather Dekim Barton, who raised her but viewed her as nothing more than a disposable tool. When she hesitates after Relena slaps her and urges her to recognize her mistakes, Dekim attempts to shoot Relena, and Marimeia takes the bullet intended for the vice foreign minister. Dekim callously remarks that he created her and can make another, revealing the complete absence of genuine familial affection. This moment shatters her indoctrination. Lady Une, who had served under Treize and understood his true ideals, rescues her from the collapsing shelter and ensures she receives medical treatment. Following the rebellion, Une becomes a mother figure to her. Relena Peacecraft also plays a pivotal role in her awakening, delivering the physical and emotional shock that forces Marimeia to confront the reality of her situation. Heero Yuy, after pointing an empty gun at her and declaring that she is now dead and free from her grandfather's manipulation, symbolizes her release from the role she was forced to play.
Her development is considerable within the span of the conflict. She begins as a proud, confident child parroting the rhetoric of conquest and destiny, fully convinced of her righteousness. When that confidence is stripped away by the collapse of her plans and the betrayal of her grandfather, she experiences a moment of emptiness and confusion. After being shot and saved by those she considered enemies, she undergoes a fundamental change in her understanding of the world. She becomes humbler and more reflective, freed from the manipulation that had defined her entire life. In the aftermath, she is shown recovering from her wound, now using a wheelchair, and is taken by Lady Une to visit Treize's grave. This visit represents the beginning of her learning who her father truly was, separate from the distorted image Dekim had constructed.
As a seven-year-old child, she possesses no combat abilities or special skills of her own. Her power is entirely derived from her symbolic value as Treize's heir and the military forces loyal to that name. Her notable ability, rather than physical or tactical, is her capacity to project authority and command presence despite her age, a testament to the conditioning she received. She is able to deliver public declarations of war and maintain a regal bearing in high-stakes negotiations. Ultimately, her greatest strength is her capacity for growth and change, as she is able to recognize the truth of her situation and begin the process of reclaiming her identity as a child rather than a political instrument.
Her personality reflects the contradictory nature of her upbringing. She displays intelligence and composure well beyond her years, carrying herself with an imperious and dignified manner that gives the impression she looks down on others. She speaks with certainty about her right to rule and articulates a cynical view of history as an endless cycle of war, peace, and revolution, which she believes her ascension will break. However, beneath this carefully constructed facade, glimpses of her true age occasionally surface. She treasures a music box left to her by her mother as a Christmas gift, keeping it close at all times, and this attachment reveals the vulnerable child hidden behind her regal posture. Her motivations are rooted entirely in the indoctrination she received from Dekim, who exploited her desire to honor a father she never knew. She genuinely believes she is continuing Treize's legacy, unaware that she is being used as a symbol for a power grab.
Her role in the story is that of the public face of the Mariemaia Rebellion, which takes place in December of After Colony 196, one year after the end of the Eve Wars. She declares war on the Earth Sphere Unified Nation and orders the kidnapping of Vice Foreign Minister Relena Darlian during a diplomatic visit to Colony X-18999. Under her banner, hundreds of Serpent mobile suits descend on the ESUN capital of Brussels, quickly seizing control of the presidential office. She confronts Relena inside the fortified shelter of the building, proclaiming that her reign will change history. As the Gundam pilots and Preventer agents mount a counterattack, she remains confident in her victory until Heero Yuy arrives in the Wing Gundam Zero and destroys the shelter's defenses with pinpoint shots from the twin buster rifle. For the first time, she experiences genuine fear, though she struggles to maintain her composure.
Her key relationships define her trajectory. The most significant is with her grandfather Dekim Barton, who raised her but viewed her as nothing more than a disposable tool. When she hesitates after Relena slaps her and urges her to recognize her mistakes, Dekim attempts to shoot Relena, and Marimeia takes the bullet intended for the vice foreign minister. Dekim callously remarks that he created her and can make another, revealing the complete absence of genuine familial affection. This moment shatters her indoctrination. Lady Une, who had served under Treize and understood his true ideals, rescues her from the collapsing shelter and ensures she receives medical treatment. Following the rebellion, Une becomes a mother figure to her. Relena Peacecraft also plays a pivotal role in her awakening, delivering the physical and emotional shock that forces Marimeia to confront the reality of her situation. Heero Yuy, after pointing an empty gun at her and declaring that she is now dead and free from her grandfather's manipulation, symbolizes her release from the role she was forced to play.
Her development is considerable within the span of the conflict. She begins as a proud, confident child parroting the rhetoric of conquest and destiny, fully convinced of her righteousness. When that confidence is stripped away by the collapse of her plans and the betrayal of her grandfather, she experiences a moment of emptiness and confusion. After being shot and saved by those she considered enemies, she undergoes a fundamental change in her understanding of the world. She becomes humbler and more reflective, freed from the manipulation that had defined her entire life. In the aftermath, she is shown recovering from her wound, now using a wheelchair, and is taken by Lady Une to visit Treize's grave. This visit represents the beginning of her learning who her father truly was, separate from the distorted image Dekim had constructed.
As a seven-year-old child, she possesses no combat abilities or special skills of her own. Her power is entirely derived from her symbolic value as Treize's heir and the military forces loyal to that name. Her notable ability, rather than physical or tactical, is her capacity to project authority and command presence despite her age, a testament to the conditioning she received. She is able to deliver public declarations of war and maintain a regal bearing in high-stakes negotiations. Ultimately, her greatest strength is her capacity for growth and change, as she is able to recognize the truth of her situation and begin the process of reclaiming her identity as a child rather than a political instrument.