Silence is Golden ☆ Gilded Surfaces ☆ Silver and Gold
Silver Leaf ☆ Gold Leaf ☆ Fool's Gold

Sympathy, Empathy and Intuition

When people think of the Gundam Pilots, most think of Quatre when it comes to empathy and being sympathetic. Duo would likely be next in line. In truth, I think Trowa is the second most empathetic and sympathetic. Despite he lacks the Space Heart Quatre possesses, he reads people well and understands them.

Viewers of the show like to say he is boring and lacks in personality. From what I have observed though, it shows in the anime that he is very tender, sensitive, gentle, caring, patient, understanding and intuitive. From observations, he also seems to be the most protective as well. Because of this he truly affects others deeply. The following makes note of these occurrences. Most of this is personal views, however.

Episode 02: The Gundam Deathscythe
Trowa displays his sensitivity to animals fearsome or otherwise. He understands them. He did not fear the lion before him and easily won its trust.

Episode 03: Five Gundams Confirmed
Quatre lowers the blast and shield doors on his cockpit and runs out to stand on the platform to address Trowa directly. He tells Trowa they shouldn't be fighting one another. Trowa soon echoes his action and comes out of his own cockpit. Some might say he was doing such as a tactic, but it also could have been an instinctual tug. He surrendered to the other easily. He possibly saw something Quatre and thus followed his instincts.

Episode 04: The Victoria Nightmare
Trowa's decision rang true. Quatre brought Trowa back to an estate house with a Maganac base. He freely had Trowa's Gundam fixed. In a music room Quatre was playing his violin while Trowa listened. After learning the song, Trowa soon joins in. The action seemed to touch Quatre as it showed that Trowa seemed to trust him.

Episode 05: Relena's Secret
In conclusion to his stay with Quatre, Trowa ultimately seems to consider Quatre trustworthy. His instincts were overall correct.

Episode 08: The Treize Assassination
After Wu Fei loses to Treize, Trowa soon comes to realize what happened. He understands Wu Fei. Perhaps it was due to them being Gundam Pilots, but I think he assessed Wu Fei with what little interaction they had with each other. He was sensitive enough to know how to handle the situation.

Episode 09: Portrait of a Ruined Country
Trowa brought Wu Fei back with him to the circus he stays with as a cover. He doesn't push or prod, understanding Wu Fei needs time to recuperate. In the end, Wu Fei tells Trowa his thoughts in a simple sentence. Trowa asks for no elaboration. He merely listens and gives his time. Wu Fei seemed to appreciate it despite his gloom.

Episode 10: Heero, Distracted By Defeat
When Heero self-detonated, Trowa snapped Quatre back to his senses. He took control and told them what to do. He went to Heero then. While uncertain of his condition, I think Trowa believed in him. Again, perhaps it was instinct. He gently grabbed Heero then and took him away to safety.

Episode 12: Bewildered Warriors
Like Wu Fei, Trowa brought Heero back with him to the circus. I suppose if Heero had indeed died, Trowa would have given him a proper burial instead of leaving him on the battlefield. He thought of him when he could have been more concerned about getting away like the others.

Heero lived though. Trowa and Catherine took care of his unconscious and beaten form for a month while he recuperated.

Episode 13: Catherine's Tears
He shows he truly cares for Catherine when a Leo soon appears. His worry is evident in his voice and expression. The Leo fires at her and he manages to save her. He then tells her to leave so he can self-detonate.

She runs up and punches him hard. He allows her to. He could have blocked, but he didn't. He let her take out her anger. More importantly he listened to her. He didn't get angry or try to push her away.

After chewing him out, her anger began to weaken and she cried. He then gently turns to her and holds her. He admits to Heero later that Catherine's tears stopped him. He put her before his role as a pilot. He then leaves with Heero to accompany him on his journey.

Episode 14: The Order To Destroy 01
Trowa could have stayed with the circus, but went with Heero. To a certain extent, his reasons seem to be in order to look after Heero. After all, he has no reason to follow. They are not on a Gundam mission.

Later, Heero drops a disk while he is working on the computer. Trowa rises to get it for him. He tells Heero to take care. The boy agrees to. Trowa tells him to also take care for his body. The rest of the episode Trowa does the physical work for Heero so he can recover.

Episode 15: To The Battleground, Antarctica
As Heero finishes his rounds of apologizing to each member of the Noventa family, Trowa asks him if he is satisfied now. When Heero responds it isn't so simple, Trowa replies with the facts that it was a mistake and he had been tricked. He could understand Heero's position as well though.

When they find they are being followed, Heero plans to take care of them. Trowa disagrees. Heero is injured, therefore he will do it. Heero looks at and his voice gives tone of slight shock.

Thus, they do as agreed. Trowa takes care of the situation by leading them away on a motorcycle and then got rid of them.

When they meet up again, Noin soon finds them. Again, Trowa takes offense for them both and quickly draws a gun. He even does most of the talking towards her while Heero listens. Trowa relaxes though as soon as Heero shows he trusts her. Automatically he tells Heero he can use Gundam Heavy Arms for the purpose of battling Zechs Merquise. Heero again responds with surprise in his voice, likely due to the enormous gesture.

Both scenarios with Heero's shock are notable. With everything Trowa has been doing for Heero, it likely really gained Heero's trust in him and perhaps made them more along the lines of friends than Heero was with Duo. Even when Duo offered to help fix Heero's Gundam back in the first episodes, Heero didn't care much about the gesture. Twice in a row though, Trowa managed to "move" Heero enough for it to show in his voice.

The reason for his being moved is later elaborated on while they are on a plane to Antarctica. Trowa helps Heero learn how to pilot his Gundam and Heero notes that usually pilots don't like others touching their Mobile Suits. Trowa responds to make it up to him Heero should learn his suit's characteristics. I'm inclined to believe that Trowa says such to make Heero not feel guilty and thus make him focus on himself.

When they are being followed by others, Noin takes command. Once she has given orders and they are alone with her, though, Trowa points out she is lying. He can tell. He already can read her well. He knows she would do what she could not to burden Zechs.

After destroying the present search party after them, Trowa did overkill and hurt his right hand. He falls out of his cockpit and Noin shows concern for him. He calmly tells her he will require her to help Heero learn his Gundam for him. Noin thinks he should be more concerned for his own well-being. He's pretty selfless in this episode.

Episode 16: The Sorrowful Battle
When Trowa finds Heero can no longer make adjustments to his Gundam, he takes over so Heero can rest. While this occurs though Trowa takes into consideration Heero's injured arm and modifies Gundam Heavy Arms for him. I really wonder if the other Gundam Pilots would have been as considerate. Quatre, sure, but would he have thought of it?

After three hours of watching Zechs and Heero battle, Trowa leaves to fight off the search party after them so that the battle going on can continue. He decides to fight in Heero's Gundam. He says Heero can do something for him now. Perhaps a person will find that presumptuous, but if Trowa really felt Heero would be against such, I doubt he would use Wing Gundam.

In any case, the battle between Zechs and Heero continues. Soon the gattling gun runs out of missiles. Heero does as instructed and loses the gun to find the left hand has been replaced with a beam saber to his surprise. He realizes Trowa thought of everything. In the dub script he thinks, "Trowa went out of his way for me." In both scenarios, it is the same though... Trowa is very considerate.

Episode 17: Betrayed By Home Country, Far Away
As Quatre and Duo try to get to space, they fight OZ to try to send a message to the other three Gundam Pilots. The message gets through. Trowa's thoughts are like Quatre's. The Colonies no longer understand that the Gundam Pilots are doing what they do for the right of things. Despite that, Quatre will still fight knowing the others are the same.

Trowa's snippet varies between dub script and other subtitles. In the dub he is more in tune with the others it seems as he says, "It's gonna be a difficult battle. But right now I sense peace in our five hearts." In other translations he is simply relieved like Quatre that the others are of the same mindset.

Episode 19: Assault On Barge
Always the one to go to another when he or she needs help, Trowa looks to see if he can go to Duo when the other winds up being captured by OZ. He learns he is too far away though. Heero however is closest. He trusts Heero will do something.

Episode 20: The Lunar Base Infiltration
Even though he was able to show no change in his brain wave and heart beat after destroying Deathscythe, Trowa proves not to be unmoved. Despite all his training to be able to master such feats, his true emotions showed through his tears.

Episode 22: The Fight For Independence
Trowa's perception is clearly shown in this episode. He understands Colonel Une well now.

"Lady Une would have prevented the attack on the colony. She's learned just how fragile the colonies are."

He wasn't near her at all in the beginning of this episode, but he obviously caught on to her internal ways.

Episode 24: The Gundam They Called Zero
While Heero was correct about Quatre not being their ally at the time, Trowa believed in the other. He held no suspicions at all. While not a good thing when undergoing war, Trowa knew Quatre was a good person no matter what. He knew Quatre's true nature and considered him strong enough to stay that way.

"But this is Quatre, there's no need to worry."

Heero was right to be suspicious though and his point about Quatre destroying a Colony was eye opening. Trowa was more trusting than that though.

Later when they meet up to see the Gundam Zero, Trowa doesn't see Quatre as a threat to him. Due to that he still approached when it was confirmed it was indeed Quatre piloting Gundam Wing Zero despite Quatre told him not to get closer. He was utterly shocked when Quatre attacked him.

Even when the suit is half gone, he can only ask what is going on. He listens and looks at the other at loss. He cannot believe this is Quatre. He can only ask what is wrong with him concernedly. He knows it isn't like him and thus Trowa looks at him hopefully. To his luck, Heero comes along before he can be killed.

Episode 25: Quatre vs. Heero
When Heero can't move his Mobile Suit, he refuses to leave. Quatre then readies to kill him since he won't escape. Before the beams from his twin buster rifle reaches Heero, Trowa propels the ruined Vayeate over to shield Heero.

The suit is badly beaten from the blow, but Heero was saved. Heero takes action and uses the beam cannon against Quatre. He notices the Vayeate Trowa is in will explode soon and tells Trowa to escape. Using himself to snap Quatre back to his senses Trowa risks his life by blasting the Vayeate away from the scene.

It works. Quatre no longer cares about anything but to save Trowa. By then Trowa understands well what the matter with Quatre was. As Trowa drifts away he talks to Quatre with understanding,

"Quatre. Whatever happens, the truth is the colonies have sided themselves with OZ. For all intents and purposes it means our war is over. At this present time, our responsibilities have been terminated.
"We're the ones who fought for the colonies... So what they have chosen to do is really disappointing. But this is war. We have to accept that.
"The outcome now depends on how the other freedom fighters feel about this. It will depend on how we feel in our hearts. We have the potential to become the perfection of what warriors should be. It's because we fight with all our hearts, and truly believe that we can change the world. It's not just you, Quatre. It is how we all feel.
"I know you're under a lot of pressure. We give everything we have, and try and figure out what it all means. Yet in the end, everything we had fought for came to nothing. I have to accept this. The five of us are now unnecessary soldiers.
"So, Quatre, let's accept this fact. And please go back to being the kind-hearted Quatre we knew. I wish you could calm your heart somehow, Quatre. Somehow, Quatre..."

His last words trail off as the Vayeate explodes with him in it. He is what triggered Quatre's return to sanity.

Ever the selfless, Trowa's last words as he drifts off into space are for Heero not to be too hard on Quatre.

Episode 26: The Eternal Flame of the Shooting Star
While it is already given that Trowa has touched the lives of Wu Fei and Heero with his kindness, he certainly impacted Quatre the most up to now. He helped release him from the ZERO System's influence and told him how to go on.

When Quatre and Heero are picked up by the part of OZ controlled by Romefeller, Quatre tries to get away so he can simply see if Trowa is still alive or at least in the beaten up Vayeate suit. Heero gives him time by knocking down the others.

Heero and Quatre end up meeting the scientists. Quatre is determined to find out what happened to Trowa unlike the others (the two doctors, the instructor, the professor and the master who worked on the Gundams and possibly Heero.)

Later when Heero is influenced by the ZERO System, Quatre catches on. He remembers what Trowa told him,

"Trowa warned me of this. It's not good if the pilot goes out fighting recklessly. Fighting alone won't bring an end to this war."

While in translations of when Quatre, while in the Mercurius, is trying to reason with Heero he spoke of losing the most important thing about himself, in the dub it is rephrased as him losing "something important" thus giving indication to Trowa. In either case he lost something. The first translation he lost an important facet of himself. In turn, Trowa managed to help him recover it. In the dubbed translation, he ultimately lost an important person to him.

Episode 27: The Locus of Victory and Defeat
When Heero's monologue starts, it interesting how he starts off with the thought of Trowa.

"I wasn't the only one who was ordered to come down to Earth in Operation Meteor. Pilot of Gundam Heavy Arms, Trowa Barton."

It then leads to Quatre, Wu Fei and Duo. The fact that he thought of Trowa first seemed interesting since it was Duo who helped him first and then he later met the other three simultaneously. Why didn't he start off with Duo? Perhaps it is fishing for significance, but based on how much each pilot affected him upon meetings seems to give it a sort of sense.

Trowa saved him from his self-detonation, took care of his injured and unconscious form for a month, followed him on his trip to apologize to the Noventa family, helped make things easier for him when trouble began to rise while he was still healing and loaned him his Gundam when fighting against Zechs. They are similar pilots, Trowa admires him and trust is clearly between them if not strongly. Quatre came second. He helped bring Heero back to his senses after the ZERO System warped his mind for battle and then helped them escape.

Wu Fei is thought of third. They are similar warriors, lone wolfish and go for the throat. They likely got to know each other better when prisoners of OZ.

Duo did help him escape from the hospital he was held at and tried to be friends and comrades with him. Other than that... I sadly can't think of how much he gave back or influenced Heero. They did spend some time together, but it wasn't long... in truth, Duo spent the most time with Quatre if anyone.

Thus, it seems Trowa's ways won out on impact when it comes to Heero. Who knows though? Perhaps he thought of Duo last because of the "save the best for last" concept.

Admittedly when it goes to a monologue by Heero, in his last memory it is when he first encountered Duo, he says,

"I don't think of the other Gundam Pilots as friends. Actually, I haven't had a friend from the very beginning. This guy named Duo is just like Relena. They're just annoyances keeping me from my mission."

That is pretty harsh and blunt, but he never said he hated either/any of them. It is true that they have interrupted his focus as a pilot, but it still proves that they have an effect on him. He is affected by the other pilots. He may not like it, but they get to him. He is moved by them, despite grudgingly, and it seems Trowa is able to do it the most. I don't think that is a bad thing. Heero needs some more humanization.

Episode 31: The Glass Kingdom
Members of the Sanc Kingdom, Noin specifically, have looked in on the whereabouts of Trowa. Relena notes from Noin's view, he is an important person. In subtitles not from the dub she says, "He too is an important person to you." Quatre seems quite surprised.

In any case, Noin could see how fundamental Trowa was with what time she saw him and Heero. She was right in her beliefs he was important as a Gundam Pilot and as a person to the others. Heero might be disagreeable at this point, but inside, I think he feels the same as much as he hates to admit it.

Such is indicated slightly later in the episode. He helped fight off Romefeller's OZ from Sanc Kingdom despite he told Relena earlier that he only intended to stay for a brief time and told others he'd leave once he finds his Gundam. Well, he found his Gundam and could have left Sanc Kingdom on its own since he found Wing Gundam before OZ attacked. His excuse afterwards is that he did this to repay for what he did to help in Trowa's disappearance, in terms of other subtitle translations, and for her and the Kingdom looking into Trowa's whereabouts, in terms of the dub's translations.

He cares about Trowa and the effect of what happened to others enough to show his guilt.

Episode 33: The Lonely Battlefield
Trowa's missing still affects Quatre the most. Sure, it could be because Quatre is the empathic one and thus feels the loss more than the others would, but I still it does greatly with how Trowa affected him that day he last saw him. He understands just what Trowa did to save Quatre by using himself as a sacrifice. Trowa could have left the scene without the Vayeate. He could have tried going to the Colony while the rest of the fight continued. I believe Quatre is able to consider that.

Episode 34: And Its Name Is Epyon
When Relena goes off to accept the invitation sent by Romefeller, Heero goes off to fight when it is established that Romefeller intends to hit at Sanc Kingdom by getting at her and at the same time hit at the Treize Fraction at Luxembourg. Quatre intends to follow, but Heero tells him not to. Quatre has to stay there and not die, at least not until Trowa is found. Heero understands the importance of Trowa to Quatre. While fishing, I believe it is also because Heero wants Trowa to be found as well and knows that if he should die, Quatre will carry out the search until he is.

Episode 35: The Return of Wu Fei
At the beginning of this episode Trowa is wandering the streets while it is raining out. It is shown how he was rescued briefly from floating in space. The memory is cut short when Catherine appears. She is happy to see him. She soon gets a good look at him and is shocked though.

Later it is shown she brought him back to the circus with her and poses as his sister. After the show the Ring Master decides it is time to leave. Catherine asks why it is their last show there when they made everyone so happy. He tells her a Gundam appeared in a nearby Colony. They move on because Trowa is with them and his presence can make the matter involve them.

Despite the troubles Trowa indirectly causes them at the moment, it is obvious they all care for him. Catherine doesn't like the fact he's lost his memories, but at least with such an issue he doesn't remember his time as a pilot and will not be involved with fighting.

Even though he's caused the circus problems in the past and often made the Ring Master frustrated, they all have been affected by him positively enough for them to worry for him. With Catherine, she feels a strong need to protect him. Some of her feelings might simply due to hating war and having known Trowa for a while, but she really seems to feel a bond to him.

Episode 36: Sanc Kingdom's Collapse
True to her word, Catherine protects Trowa from his past and thus from going back to war. Duo went to the circus with Hilde to find Trowa there. He never learned of what happened to him in space and approaches him thinking he is still himself as well as aware of the other Gundam Pilots.

Catherine goes to Trowa and pushes Duo away. She doesn't tell him of Trowa's amnesia, but insists he leave them alone and that Trowa will no longer fight anymore.

Episode 38: The Birth of Queen Relena
Duo is thoughtful about Trowa while he is sitting next to Hilde. While they never truly met or passed words, just the fact that a fellow Gundam Pilot being in such a state is enough. While this scene doesn't show how Trowa is sympathetic to others and instead gives in to Duo's sympathy, I just still wanted to note it due to the understanding of a situation there.

Now later in this episode is where Trowa's empathy truly shows. Duo meets up with Quatre and gives note to him that if he is looking for the other Gundam Pilots, he'd "probably want to see him too." Quatre picks up on his meaning easily and looks considerably happy.

Quatre ends up going to the circus Trowa works at. He soon finds Trowa as he takes care of the lion he performs with. He is still close to the lion and his calmness and affection show towards it.

Seeing him alive brings tears to Quatre's eyes. Sadly, Trowa doesn't recognize him. Catherine soon arrives and is livid. She orders Trowa to leave so she can face Quatre. He seems to understand her protectiveness of him and thus relents easily.

And Catherine is protective. She makes sure Quatre can't follow by blocking him with her body. Ready to keep Trowa from feeling the pains of war again she tells Quatre he is her little brother and how she doesn't want him to suffer anymore. She informs Quatre of his amnesia and her beliefs that he lost his memory because he didn't want to remember any of his painful experiences anymore.

By the looks of that Catherine truly believes that and her concern for him is utterly apparent. What time they spent together, she knew he belonged there. He produced a feeling of family out of her in a way that seems stronger than anyone else.

In hearing all of this Quatre is remorseful. Again all the feelings and knowledge of what Trowa did to correct his mistakes with Wing Zero and the fact that he sacrificed himself come to mind.

Trowa hid and listened in though and watches Quatre walk away in sorrow. Out of all the things familiar to him, Quatre affected him the most. While he didn't remember Catherine and merely went along with her to the circus and he had already met Duo... he never responded so intensely. He realized quickly he did know Quatre without needing to be told. He knew Quatre felt familiar. Some of that leads to wonder though. His mind or body seemed to want to remember Quatre despite its blocks.

Soon enough the Space Colony the circus is visiting comes under fire as OZ troops and White Fang bring their battle towards the area. The place begins to quake and a light fixture at the circus comes loose and plummets towards Trowa. Catherine reacts fast and dives to push him away, putting her life on the line as well. Yep, his effect on her is strong.

Trowa meanwhile is frozen into a curled up position and he trembles as his time drifting in space brings back memories of coldness. He mutters out that something is coming, perhaps instincts of his life as a Gundam Pilot acting up. Catherine looks at him compassionately as she holds him. Her affection for him is apparent despite she knows they are not really family.

Quatre comes to make sure they are alright. He finds the two and tells them to evacuate to a shelter. Catherine is livid when she learns what is happening. Slowly her anger turns to tears. She doesn't want to lose anymore of those important to her. Trowa soon leaves his position then and grabs Catherine's shoulders. Despite he has no memories and is scared as well, her tears move him and he finds strength. He tells her reassuringly, "Don't cry, Sister. I'll protect you."

Catherine is shocked. A part of me wonders if the look to her is due to seeing some of the old Trowa in him shining through.

Quatre responds he doesn't want to lose any one important either. He tells Trowa he saved his soul and in turn he will save everyone else now. He looks at Trowa fondly and with teary eyes and then leaves. Trowa watches him with a look of certainly on his features that have been lacking since his amnesia.

As Quatre is fighting outside the Colony, Trowa stands outside the circus tent and looks forward thoughtfully. He begins to leave. Catherine comes along and asks him where he is going. He responds, "He is calling."

Catherine doesn't understand what he means. Even without a Space Heart, Trowa knew. He tells Catherine, "He's crying."

She soon understands what he is getting at and tries to stop him. Trowa then turns at her and looks at her with a gentle appearance to him.

"I recall somebody telling me a long time ago that the only way to live a good life is to act on your emotions."

Catherine knows then that he is steadfast and she can't stop him. His expression lightens a bit to what I assume to be affection. Perhaps it is due to her reluctant acceptance. He promises to come back to her. His expression is certain and at peace.

With that he takes a shuttle and heads for space. Quatre catches sight of him and knows it is him.

Episode 39: Trowa's Return to the Battlefield
Noin, Quatre and Trowa are on a ship carrying Sanc Kingdom Taurus Suits and Quatre's Gundam. Noin is grateful to have Trowa aboard. Trowa tells them he doubts he'll be any help due to his amnesia, but admits he feels at peace being there with them. He knows he belongs there. He feels that and trusts in it.

Later when battling off OZ Taurus Suits, Trowa is in the font line obliterating many. Quatre is unable to help much since his Gundam isn't made for fighting in space. So, despite Noin set the shuttle they were on to explode, he risks his life to help Trowa by going to it. When it explodes his Gundam is propelled forward to reach where Trowa is. Yeah, Trowa had that sort of affect on Quatre.

When Trowa runs out of ammunition, he does what he can. When left defenseless he gives in. He thinks of Catherine, likely due to the promise he made to her about returning and feeling regret over not being able to keep it.

Quatre meanwhile arrives in time to save him by careening his Gundam into the OZ Taurus about to kill Trowa. That pretty much shows the dedication he inspired from Quatre.

Soon enough Duo arrives and more or less takes Trowa's place. They finally demolish the OZ Taurus Suits, and the four step out of their suits to face each other.

Trowa questions who Duo is. Duo jokes and asks him that he couldn't have forgotten one of his best friends, not realizing Trowa still suffers from amnesia I suppose. In turn, Trowa apologizes, his expression and tone sincere and somewhat downtrodden.

Episode 40: A New Leader
Despite Trowa is in the state he is in, Howard still sees him as being at his usual form as a Gundam Pilot. Trowa asks if there is a Mobile Suit he can use. His voice shows his will to help out all he can. When Howard notes he has nothing suiting a Gundam Pilot and that they still have no idea where Heavy Arms is, Trowa can only reply with a sincere apology for not being able to remember.

Episode 41: Crossfire At Barge
Even though Trowa is hindered by lack of memory and the lack of his Gundam he still tries to be useful and help as much as possible. Thus, when Noin goes to try to talk with Zechs, he soon follows with Duo and Quatre. He cannot offer much, but he will offer what he can, thus he offers to cover their backs.

Later on they reach the area where Zechs is. Trowa makes a fast decision to go off and protect the civilian Colony. By guess it is because he has assessed the situation and knows he is best suited for that at the time. In any case, Quatre shows something more along the lines of admiration now rather than just worry and guilt.

When OZ fires its Barge Cannon, the beam wipes out OZ Taurus Suits and members of White Fang. It extends all the way to the Colony Trowa headed for and hits it in a corner area. Trowa is shocked and a bit rattled from witnessing such, but he soon regains his resolve and his expression shows anger.

Either it could have been out of considering the situation wisely or feeling he was needed elsewhere, Trowa left his spot near the Colony and headed for the battle site. Reaching it he manages to save Noin by getting rid of some OZ Taurus Dolls while she is distracted from the shocking words she exchanged with Zechs.

Episode 43: Target: Earth
Upon looking at Heavy Arms for the first time since his amnesia, he automatically feels a familiarity to it and knows it is his Gundam without being told. It isn't noted until Endless Waltz, but Trowa had a strong connection with Heavy Arms when he merely worked as a mechanic for it. His fondness for the Gundam is apparent here.

Wu Fei, sadly, notes to Trowa even if it is equipped for space; he will likely only be a target for their enemy. Trowa takes his words, probably believing that Wu Fei was right. He gives resigned a look that gives a slight feeling of sadness though. Despite that, he doesn't try to argue or lash out.

On Colony L-3's C421, Catherine tends to the lion Trowa usually looks after. She notes the lion must miss him. Perhaps she is merely reflecting her feelings. Perhaps the lion really does miss Trowa. In either account, he managed to steal one or both their hearts.

Soon enough, OZ is pushed into a corner and thus uses the Colony Catherine and the circus are on as a shield. Trowa hears this and his eyes narrow in anger. Upon hearing Heero's views that the colony will be sacrificed since it is Zechs OZ is going against and then seeing on the screen that Catherine is in that very Colony he gasps. Soon enough though his eyes narrow in determination and he leaves the room. He suits up and upon finding Heavy Arms is not usable, he takes hold of Wing Zero.

When he manages to reach the outer rim of the Colony, he fights off OZ-Taurus Dolls. The ZERO System is affecting him by now. He tries his best to remember his purpose there, "Please be all right, Sister..."

Meanwhile in the Colony, Catherine tries to speak out against their captors, but ultimately the Ring Master gets butted in the left cheek by one of the captor's weapons. Catherine talks about how it is wrong and the Ring Master replies,

"That's right, it is wrong. But no one will set things to rights, because they want to live... But he's different... Trowa is risking his life to pursue what he thinks is right. If he wasn't he wouldn't be taking on the danger of piloting a Gundam."

Trowa certainly won the Ring Master's respect it appears.

Outside the Colony he still fights. He also still continues to tell himself that he must save his "sister" in assumable defiance to the ZERO System. Sadly, he soon begins to hallucinate from it and sees himself killing Catherine with Wing Zero: a possible future ZERO shows him should he hit the Colony. He hyperventilates from such images and his terror of such an act is expressed in screams.

Luckily Quatre arrives in time before Trowa blasts a Taurus suit that is right in front of the Colony. Quatre does his best to snap Trowa out of it. In the dub translation Quatre says, "The person you have to protect lives there!" In other translations he says, "There are people you want to protect there!" Either phrase, it sticks with Trowa. Trowa still struggles against the ZERO System and brokenly repeats the phrase.

Like a key, a door opens. He first sees when Wing Zero shot its twin buster rifle at Heero for less than a second. He remembers his time looking after Heero for less than a second. Then he sees the time Catherine hit him for less than a second. Finally he sees the time he first met Quatre for three seconds. Slowly, everything becomes clear for him again.

Looking at how he remembered those times when thinking of the people he wants to protect... I wonder if that gives indication that they are the three people he wants to protect most?

Anyway, Quatre is worried sick about him while this is occurring. Trowa soon comes to though and replies that Quatre is right. They have people they wish to protect. Quatre knows then that Trowa has his memories back. Trowa tells him, "Let's go. Catherine's waiting." Thus, together they go to save the Colony.

Episode 46: Milliardo's Decision
Trowa is the first to respond to Duo when he wonders where Heero is. While the other two, Quatre and Wu Fei, likely already know, he seems to understand why he left. Quatre confirms this when he gives indication that Heero wasn't going only to fight Zechs.

When Wu Fei begins to think a bit less of Heero for being affected by a girl Trowa comes to his defense though. In the dub translation he says it just goes to show how powerful Relena is to be able to influence Heero like that. In other translations he says it along the same lines but gives less indication to Heero directly and more to anyone who is like Heero. He is perceptive most certainly here as well as the one to defend others.

His sensitivity shows when he notes to Wu Fei that if Heero brings her there, Wu Fei should more or less be polite. He is aware of the fragility of a woman's feelings as well as the fact that Wu Fei can be harsh.

Episode 47: Collision In Space
When Wu Fei suddenly leaves them Trowa tells Duo to let him go. While it is true that Trowa is likely the only Gundam Pilot who knows about Wu Fei's loss when dueling Treize he still understood it was something Wu Fei had to do and thus gave no question and automatically knew what Wu Fei was up to. Again he had that understanding look to him.

Episode 48: Takeoff Into Confusion
Back in episode 27, Duo, Quatre and Trowa went in search for the control rooms for the Mobile Dolls. Duo ends up looking for Heero and Relena only to find the scientists who created the Gundams. Trowa goes to his Gundam to destroy as many Mobile Dolls as he can. Quatre finds the room at the central core of Libra only to encounter Dorothy.

Soon enough she challenges him to a duel he is unable to back out of in this episode. Trowa meanwhile is still in Heavy Arms and is suddenly in search of Quatre. How he suddenly knew he was needed is something to note. Again, it seems he has a great sense of empathy to the point he can even tell when Quatre is distressed despite they are not even in the same proximity.

Duo shows up and helps him destroy some Mobile Dolls. Whether Duo could feel Quatre's distress, it is unknown. Still, when they part, Duo thinks to him not to die. Trowa seemed to understand his feelings despite not hearing his thoughts. He thinks back, "You too..."

When he comes upon the hall leading to the control room, he knows. He just somehow knows and leaves his Gundam. Whether he realizes it is to the control room or not, it is unknown. He seems to know that Quatre is there though.

Eventually Dorothy stabs Quatre in his left abdomen area. Dorothy tells him the significance of the war and he sees his past self in her.

"You're like me... detesting war... but never able to forgive yourself for your gentleness... but... you can't deny your gentle nature..."
"Trowa taught me that... you have to accept everything... humanity needs that quality... or else... there is no reason to exist... isn't that so? The remaining humans... would be nothing better than animals..."

Trowa really did understand Quatre and his words taught him well. For that, Quatre really takes what the other said to heart and tries to teach what Trowa taught him to Dorothy. I'd say it is pretty amazing that he had that sort of impact.

Sadly, Quatre passes out after relaying the truth to the message to her.

Later Trowa manages to arrive. Depending on the translation he can be seen as one who understands the both sides to things or simply stating what he saw occurring in Dorothy. In the dub translation he displays the former,

"Things didn't go as planned. In a way, what you were attempting was probably correct. But it still won't bring true peace."

In the latter he simply states,

"Looks like your hopes were defeated..."

In both he ends this by a somewhat pitying observation. He finds it sad that Dorothy is a woman unable to cry.

Episode 49: The Final Victor
Trowa goes to necessary objectives first, of course. He disables the Mobile Dolls. Without ridding the others of them, there is more chance of killings and troubles for the others. During this he talks to Dorothy though.

"As I fought, I slowly killed my heart. That's why my heart has been empty for a long time. Perhaps as a human I have no worth, but I must stay alive."
"Because I have a place to go back to."

It is speculation, but I think that was his way of telling Dorothy to keep on living. Once his first objective is finished, he goes to Quatre. He eyes him with gentleness and concern.

His understanding of Quatre and Dorothy's personal situations are set. When Quatre tells him to save Dorothy instead of him, Trowa tells him Dorothy is not weak enough to lose herself. Quatre understands. He trusts Trowa and perhaps he too comes to know on his own based on his time with Dorothy.

They leave the room then, Trowa supporting Quatre. They turn though and Trowa tosses Dorothy her helmet and tells her she should hurry and Quatre tells her not to get killed. They leave then.

Overall, Trowa seems to indeed be sensitive and at times empathetic. He is intuitive when it comes to people and thus understands them. He notices individual weaknesses and strengths a person is capable of. He tries his best and often is apologetic and feels guilt when he cannot fulfill expectations or what he sees to be expectations. He also tries to be helpful whenever he can. He is also sensitive to other people and in turn protectiveness is inspired in him. So much for the reasons some people believe that he has no personality. He has one; they just don't bother to notice.

☆ Main Page
☆ Silver Leaf