The top 11 video game heroes- Number 10

We continue our countdown with the tenth greatest hero in all video games. Now this girl, she's one of a kind. She has the power to control phantoms, and can summon them to do her bidding. She has ties to some of the biggest names in her world, from (implied) mobsters, to dukes, to the greatest swordsman around, to the freaking hero who single handed took down a demon that threatened the world of Ivoire. This girl is one who has faced the prejudices and ignorance of a world that would sooner chop off her head than so much as give her a hello. And she's only 13 years old. Her name is Marona, and she comes from the fantastic, though under-appreciated video game, Phantom Brave. 

When Marona was five years old, she lost her parents to a demon that had manifested itself on the Island of Evil. Marona's parents were Chromas, special mercenaries who used their special skills to deal with monsters. Marona was raised by her parent's friend, Ash. The problem is that Ash was also killed in the Island of Evil, alongside her parent's. Marona's father had used the last of his strength to use his special magical skill, helping Ash become a phantom, a type of ghost that can walk the earth. Because of this turn of events, Marona had gained a new skill: the ability to control phantoms.

Ash and Marona lived together (well...Marona lived) on a tiny place called Phantom Isle. To pay the bills, Marona took on work as a Chroma, like her parents. Marona keeps a cheery attitude in life, always ready with a smile, always willing to go the extra mile for everyone. This is great, but everyone in Ivoire who knows of her, hates her.

Marona is seen by many as a cursed child, due to the fact that she can see, talk to, and control phantoms. She very often gets hate mail, and Ash is the one who has to throw away these awful letters, lest Marona sees them. This is where game play and story segregate, because the player is given the chance to read these letters for him/herself. And boy, let me tell you, they are awful. Allow me to quote one, just ONE, of these letters, directly from the game:

"My family and I were sailing out at sea, when we passed near your cursed island. When we had returned, our son grew sick and died! You monster, you killed our son! Bring him back!"

Thirteen years old, ladies and gentlemen. Thirteen. She's still growing, still in puberty. And this is what she has to deal with, at this tender age.

Marona is often taken advantage of. Sometimes, her customers skimp on their payments whenever they can, often using the flimsiest of excuses. At the beginning of the game, we see that Marona had been given a few (old) dresses as payment for her work as a Chroma. Ash expresses his anger, not at Marona for accepting the dresses, but at the customer. Marona tries calming him down, saying that she likes the dresses anyway. Ash lets this go. Another instance is when, after Marona defeats a werewolf that had been terrorizing an island, the elder of the island pays Marona a quarter of what the job would have costed, and no more. His reasoning? The island was poor, and most of the valuables were stolen or destroyed. The real reason? 'Why pay full price to a cursed Chroma?' A child, feeling grateful to Marona, had walked to her, offering her a lollipop for her trouble. But the child's mother yanked him away, calling Marona a monster to her face.

Marona then gets an opportunity to rid another island of monsters. The client, at first, is friendly to her. Marona immediately bonds with her, but Ash knows that it is only a matter of time before Marona gets her heart broken once more. Marona fights off the monsters, while meeting a bad man named Walnut. Walnut is a Chroma Oxide, a mercenary that steals the jobs, and rewards, of other Chromas.

Walnut attacks Marona, but her phantoms prove more than a match for this jerk. However, Walnut goes back to the client, takes credit for all of Marona's work, and reveals Marona to be the cursed Chroma everyone has been talking about. In one of the most heartbreaking moments in the game, the client chews out Marona, denies her payment, and orders her to leave. Marona cries herself to sleep that night.

"People will judge you, because they can't understand your gift. But don't hate them, because you were blessed with that power so you could help people. Grow up compassionate and kind, help even those who hurt you. Then, one day, everyone will come to like you."

Marona repeats herself those words, to get her through the toughest of times. Marona, rather than dwell on her own sorrow, seeks to look forward in life, to the future. She never turns away anyone who asks for her help. When the group "Human Activists for Rare Monsters" (Wow, check our that acronym) comes looking for her help to help catch a Putty, which is a type of fairy monster that can't talk, Marona decides to help. When she finds the Putty being attacked by a monster, Marona springs into action, saving the little critter. Unfortunately, the Putty had to be returned to the circus that was holding it captive...

Marona's first friend is a girl named Castille. Castille is a sickly, one who can not get out of bed because she lacks the strength to do so. Marona met Castille when Castille's family hired Marona to get rid of the monsters that had been appearing near their home. Marona eventually finds the source of the monsters: the demon Sulphur, which had been destroyed by Scarlet the Brave, was reviving. Marona defeats the monsters, and Castille asks Marona to be her friend. Tears in her eyes, Marona accepts her offer.

A very nice girl

With time, Marona keeps taking missions, proving herself to be a capable Chroma. Eventually, she manages to impress Sienna, the owner of Phantom Isle, and Cauldron, one of the most important businessmen in Ivoire. Marona proves herself by hunting down the Rainbow Bird in the Island of Evil, overcoming an entire army of Chromas (hired by Cauldron). When Walnut attacks her for the bird, she beats him, too. However, feeling sorry for him (she deduces that Walnut wouldn't risk his life going to the Island of Evil, going against hundreds of Chromas, without reason), she lets the Chroma Oxide have the bird, and with it, the reward Sienna had offered to anyone that would find it. This act of kindness, plus her versatility, is what impresses both Cauldron and Sienna. Sienna gives full ownership of Phantom Isle to Marona, and Cauldron offers many, many jobs to Marona.

Marona, with time, proves herself to the world, and gains the favor of some of the most important people in existence. She earns the respect of a billionaire, the world's strongest warrior, and even the appreciation of the world's entire population of Putties. She even earns the begrudging respect of Walnut, who confesses that he became a Chroma Oxide to earn money for his sister's treatment. Who is his sister? Castille.

This is a Putty, by the way.

But the world is still in danger. Sulphur, the demon that had threatened the world 30 years ago, is returning.

Marona discovers that Sulphur is going to try again and destroy the world. To prevent this from happening, she seeks the help of Scarlet the Brave, the previous hero who stopped Sulphur from destroying the world. Eventually, Marona is given the task of destroying Sulphur. Together with her new friends, and with the support of everyone in the world, Marona manages to send Sulphur back to the Netherworld, allowing her to live happily ever after...

Except that Walnut sacrificed himself to help seal Sulphur away, sending the two into another world. The world hopping witch, Lujei Piche, sent Sulphur back to Ivoire, forcing Marona to deal with the demon once more. This time, she destroys him once and for all. Concerned for Walnut, Marona and Castille recruit a Putty named Mocha to help them traverse the Universe, in search of Castille's older brother. This...

...doesn't really lead to a sequel, but the story of Castille is continued in the video game Makai Kingdom, where it turns out Castille becomes a vassal to Overlord Zetta, the most badass demon in the Universe. Marona herself continues having adventures, hopping the many worlds in search of Walnut and Castille. Walnut's story is continued in the game Soul Nomad and the World Eaters, while Marona appears again in Disgaea 3, Disgaea 4, among others.

Marona is motivated primarily by her desire to be accepted. Some may claim this is selfish, however, it is very normal to seek approval from your peers, especially someone who has been so ostracized by the entire world. Marona can't help but be who she is. She was born with her special ability to control phantoms.

Marona is everyone who has ever been ostracized for being different. She is the tall, the short, the crippled. She is everyone that has ever been bullied for having braces, for wearing glasses. She is everyone who has ever been punched in the gut for having a lisp, she is everyone who has ever been beaten up for being autistic. But she is also everyone that has ever surpassed this bullying, this ostracism. You know that pro Gay Rights campaign, It Gets Better? Marona is the person who can look you in the eye, say those three words, and actually mean them.

What makes Marona so good is the fact that she perseveres, in spite of all the things she has to deal with. She is hated, but she smiles and refuses to hate anyone back. She helps those in need, often disregarding any rewards. She is kind and loving, evidenced with how she gave Walnut the Rainbow Bird. Marona is someone who keeps looking forward, refusing to let herself be brought down by a world that insists on stomping on her. She is a beam of light in the darkness, the hero Ivoire needs, but doesn't deserve. She is the tenth greatest video game hero.

The summary:

Name: Marona

Motivation: Compassion for others, a desire to be accepted

Main Enemy: Sulphur

Finest Achievement: Destroying Sulphur once and for all

Current Status: Traveling the Netherworlds of the Universe, searching for Walnut.