Margie Fatima
The saying goes, “Behind every great man, there’s a great woman.” In the case of Xenogears videogame character Bart Fatima, that woman is a girl. Her name is Marguerite Fatima. She’s his cousin.
Margie isn’t any ordinary little girl. She’s the Nisan Mother, leader of the Nisan religion. Like Bart she’s the last living members of the Aveh monarchy (of which Bart is the deposed Crown Prince). She ascended to the position when her mother and grandmother were murdered during current despot Shakhan’s coup of the Aveh monarchy. Yet even at the tender age of ten, Margie handles her responsibility with astounding grace.
Margie’s one tough little girl. It is clear upon her return to Nisan (after being kidnapped by Shakhan’s forces) that she wants to break down and cry. Instead puts on a cheery front and teases Bart in front of main protagonist Fei Fong Wong. From that moment on, Margie becomes a member of the Xenogears team. She doesn’t fight in battle; instead she is the designated “party-changer.” The player has to talk to her to switch playable characters into the current battle party. This means the player will constantly interact with her, solidifying her position as a true ally.
Her relationship with Bart is more complex. In the days after Shakhan’s coup, Bart withstood torture to protect her. Thus, Margie constantly feels like she owes Bart for his protection, and bemoans the fact that she doesn’t have the strength to stand by his side and help him. Thus she often puts herself in danger in order to even the score. Her second kidnapping by Shakhan resulted from such a venture.
On the other hand, Margie is one of Bart’s true friends. Thanks to their responsibilities and social obligations, they’re uniquely suited to understand the other’s burdens. Their playful, almost bickering banter is an example of how relaxed they are in the other’s company. Margie’s always quick to point out Bart’s mistakes, and regularly admonishes him for his immaturity. Save for Bart’s minders Sigurd and Maison, Margie’s the only one to gets away with such chiding.
Margie also acts as Bart’s emotional mediator. Bart has a notable problem with expressing his emotions. Of particular note is his difficulty to apologize (something he does regularly due to his impulsive nature). Oftimes Margie explains Bart’s feelings to those he’s indirectly wronged.
For every great man, there is a great woman standing at his side. Margie Fatima is that woman. She shoulders the responsibility of being her religion’s leader with a maturity beyond her years. She has the incredible ability of being the Nisan Mother, yet is able to find friendship in her followers. To the nuns of Nisan, she is Margie first and the Nisan Mother second. Her responsibilities makes her the perfect person to understand Bart’s predicament as the Crown Prince, which is why the two are best friends. You can’t ask for a better friend than Margie Fatima. You just can’t.
Worldwalker 