Emerode is the princess of Cephiro, called "Pillar" because her prayers determines everything in her strange and fragile world. To a certain extent, the events in Cephiro are the portrait of Emerode's mind. She looks like a comely little girl with impossibly long blond wavy hair and emerald-green eyes, simply clad in a pink dress and wearing a magnificent tiara adorned with round jewels. The girls learn of the legend of the Magic Knights of Cephiro, which describes three girls from another world being summoned to Cephiro in times of crisis. The girls must become the Knights of the legend and save the dying world. This is the starting point of the tale, but the painfully learn at the end that the legend as they're told is incomplete.

Since the beginning the girls believe theirs was a quest to revive the Machines in order to save her from Zagato, but as the story unfolds, she turns out to be the last, true enemy of Cephiro----and consequently of the Magic Knights, whose only purpose is to kill the Pillar, as the legend says, when something gets awry with it. Considering the essence of the role of a Pillar, no being born in Cephiro can come to harm her: which is why the Magic Knights needs to be from another world. Emerode hopes that the girls will have the courage and determination to kill her. Cephiro's pillar can't think of anything but Cephiro, and falling in love with Zagato meant being unable to devote all of her wishes to the planet, breaking its balance and peace: the land soon becomes invaded by monsters, the manifestation of its inhabitants fears at being without a working Pillar. This forbidden love was doomed from the start, by Emerode very own wish. In fact the high priest never kidnapped her, it was her who voluntary locked herself up in the Water Dungeon after the discovered her love was returned. She hoped by doing so to forget about him, but with no avail. As extreme measure, seeing her thinking about Zagato was destroying Cephiro, she puts her duties before her life and she decides to commit suicide. She summons the Knights, the only beings able to grant her wish. Clef never reveals to the girls the truth behind their role, so they overcome obstacle by obstacle believing to be committed to a good cause, saving the princess from the evil Zagato. In the last episode they finally learn Zagato was actually trying to keep them from harming his beloved Emerode, while it is them who have to kill her in order to save the world. The Knights fight against the high priest and win still completely unaware of what was really going on. They will learn the truth soon. When Emerode finds out that her beloved Zagato is dead, her firm resolve to die crumbles in pieces and she's overcome by rage: she wills herself to take a sphinx-like Mashin form. Carrying Zagato's swords she faces the Knights with the intent of killing them. She's so powerful that the Magic Knights stand only a chance of defeating her by combining their three Mashin, but they succeed partly because until the end she never stops loving her world and her former will briefly flickers through the chaos of Dark Emerode and she finally prefers to die rather than betray her people's trust. The end of these unlucky lovers will rouse a deep wound in Knights' hearts, who get convinced of being her murders and start to question the whole ethical system of division of people in good and bad, a theme much developed in season II.

Princess Emerode looks like a typical princess in need of a hero to save the day. But her situation and her wish isn't exactly the typical defeat-the-big-bad-guy-and-live-happily-ever-after. In fact, it is nearly the complete opposite. She summoned the Magic Knights to kill her, for she has done something anybody who becomes Pillar in Cephiro is forbidden to do: she fell in love. She loves Zagato so much that she is willing to give up being Pillar, throwing everything away just to be with him. However, her conscience doesn't allow her to, but she loves him too much to step back. She doesn't see a chance for her to be happy with the man she loves and she's crushed by the weight of the sin of neglecting the well-being of Cephiro to free her won feelings. Therefore, following the legend, she summons the Magic Knights, whom are destined to kill her and give and end to her dilemma. Knowing it'll be a hard fight, she gives Mokona to Clef and instructs him to help the Knights when they arrive, and apologize to them - since it's her fault they were dragged into this. Of course, the girls are later taken aback and shocked from the Pillar's request, but they finally decide to grant Princess Emerode her wish so she can live with Zagato in eternal peace...The whole battle causes death for people the Magic Knights came to respect, as well as grieves and regrets to those who survive. Her appearance changes with her heart wishes, she's a little innocent-looking girl when trying to resist her love and failing as a Pillar, but she suddenly gets older and looks like a mature woman warrior when she's overcome by rage and selfishly tries to kill the Knights and to wreak havoc on Cephiro, because she cares no more. This warped love turned hate nearly destroys her completely, but she is able to hang on briefly to her former self and the true Emerode delivers the shocking truth to the Magic Knights, and begs for death, while her adult form fights them. She asks them to grant her wish, her "first, and last, selfish wish", to be with Zagato for eternity. She doesn't mention Cephiro, or her duties, or peace. She simply wishes to be reunited with her love. The devastated Knights comply, and give Emerode the one thing she always lacked in her life - freedom.

Emerodo Hime ()
Personal Interests:

Birthplace: Cephiro
Comic profile (Emerode):

Princess Emerode's prayers are what support the world of Cephiro, which is why she's known as the "Pillar". The state of Cephiro is merely a reflection of her heart. While she is in the Water Dungeon, she's unable to pray for Cephiro's peace and safety which is why there are so many monsters invading the land. She's not quite as old as Clef, but she's still ancient, even though she looks like a little girl.

Comic profile (Dark Emerode):

As the Pillar, Emerode had to devote all of her thoughts to keeping Cephiro safe. When she fell in love with Zagato, she found herself unable to give all of her prayers to protecting her people. And so she locked herself up in the Water Dungeon and summoned the three Magic Knights in the hopes that they would kill her and end her dilemma. After she learns of Zagato's death, she grows older and more menacing, becoming the dark Emerode seen at the end of season 1 (and below on your right in SD form).

Did you know that...

Her corresponding car is "Mitsubishi Emeraude".
Her name is also officially spelt as "Emeraude".
In some versions her name is "Emerald".
Her name in the Spanish version is "Esmeralda".
Emerode's title is "Hime", which means Princess.
Her first appearance is in ep. 1

Voice actress: Ogata Megumi
(she is the talent voice for Eagle Vision as well)

Voice sample:

"Watashi wa Cephiro no Emerode"
(I'm Emerode of Cephiro)

Magic Knight Rayearth © CLAMP