Cute cute Eiko Carol... of all the people in these shrines, she is probably the one that I have the most trouble explaining why I like her. Eiko is, to put it simply, a cute little kid. She tends to be a little jealous, a little whiney, a little obnoxious - all of these being traits that I usually despise in characters. But for some reason Eiko strikes me as being almost unbearably cute, and one of my favorite characters in Final Fantasy 9. Perhaps it is her tragic and difficult past. Or perhaps it is just that the majority of the cast in Final Fantasy 9 is a little weak in the character department. ^_^;;

To the far north there lies a city known as Madarin Sari, a city that appears to have lain in ruin for many years. Its only occupants are a pack of moogles, and the small girl that they tend for who has been living alone in the city for many years. Eiko Carol, apparently the last survivor of the inhabitants of the city - and one of the most powerful sorceresses in the world.

The city of Madarin Sari was one the home of the Summoner Tribe, a band of magic users who excelled in the creation and control of eidolons, mythic images of monsters who could be summoned and control. Because of this practice, the Summoner Tribe were among the most powerful magic users in the world - a power that would one day lead to their destruction.

The Summoner Tribe was destroyed by a man named Garland and his airship, the Invincible, in order to eliminate the threat that their eidolons presented to his quest. The only survivors were a young girl who would later become Garnet, the Princess of Alexandria, as well as Eiko's parents and grandfather. Several years after the destruction of the city, Eiko was born.

As the years passed, every member of Eiko's family passed away, leaving her alone in the city with the small group of moogles that arrived to help care for her. And thus things remained until many years later, when Zidane and his party arrived in Madarin Sari...

For all of her childish habits, Eiko is actually a very intelligent young lady, especially for her young age. Both a white mage and a summoner, Eiko provides even greater support to the party in combat. But rather unexpectedly, she also proves to be a source of lore and information about what has happened in the world - as part of her training, Eiko has studied most of the accumulated history, knowledge, and techniques of the Summoner Tribe. Remarkably intelligent, she is the one that helps the party to infiltrate the Ilfa Tree, as well as provides them with part of the means to summon the eidolon Alexander.

Of course, she also has her mischievous side - from the first moment that she lays eyes on him, Eiko decides that she is in love with Zidane. Also realistic enough to realize that Zidane is in love with Garnet, she embarks on a campaign to win his heart over. She eventually realizes that is is a lost cause, but not before several odd slip ups - including a love letter that brings together the two gruffest, most unfeeling characters in the game - Beatrix and Steiner.

And to be completely honest, Eiko is probably one of the cutest Final Fantasy character ever... from the blue hair to her tiny, strap on wings, and heck, even the summoner horn on her heads helps to contribute. ^_^ Adding to this her determination, intelligence, and honesty, and what is there not to like? Of course she occasionally backslides into being a bratty child from time to time, but for the most part she acts almost two or three times her age... a rare trait indeed among 'chibi' characters. ^_^