Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (2002–2003)

Sam Vincent: Athrun Zala

Quotes 

• Athrun Zala : I can't exactly fight a war with a big smile on my face.

• Athrun Zala : Kira... what are you thinking about, now?

• Tolle Koening : Kira!

  Kira Yamato : Tolle no! Stay back!

  [Tolle fires a missile at the Aegis Gundam piloted by Athrun Zala, but Athrun dodges the attack and smashes the Skygrasper with his shield, beheading Tolle] 

  Kira Yamato : Tolle!

  [Back on the Archangel, Miriallia gasps as the signal from Tolle's Skygrasper disappears. Meanwhile, back on the battlefield, Kira activates his SEED mode with tears in his eyes, having just lost a close friend] 

  Kira Yamato : Athrun!

  [Kira uses the Strike Gundam to cut off the Aegis Gundam's right arm and kick it in the face] 

  Athrun Zala : [to Kira]  I'm going to...

  [activates his SEED mode for the first time] 

  Athrun Zala : ... KILL YOU!

  [Kira and Athrun fight each other to the death] 

  Kira Yamato : Athrun!

  Athrun Zala : Kira!

• Clotho Buer : What's the deal with you two anyway? Why are you fighting so desperately?

  Athrun Zala : I want to ask you the same thing. What do you guys think you're fighting for?

  Clotho Buer : Don't ask me, I don't really know. I hate losing. That's my only reason!

  Athrun Zala : What?

  Clotho Buer : Not that I would ever lose!

• Athrun Zala : Is this... yours?

  [holds out Birdy to Kira] 

  Kira Yamato : [Birdy hops on to Kira's outstretched hands]  Yes...

  [pauses] 

  Kira Yamato : It's a valuable gift, from a valuable friend.

  Athrun Zala : I see...

  [turns to leave] 

• Athrun Zala : [screams]  KIRA!

  Kira Yamato : [screams back]  Athrun!

• Cagalli Yula Athha : What? You're just going to fall asleep like that?

  Athrun Zala : Why not?

  Cagalli Yula Athha : I'll steal your gun.

  Athrun Zala : Do that and I'll have to kill you.

• Cagalli Yula Athha : There's something I have to know. Were you the one who destroyed the Strike?

  Athrun Zala : It was me.

  Cagalli Yula Athha : What happened to the pilot? Did he escape like you did? Eject? Or... we couldn't find Kira... anywhere. Say something!

  Athrun Zala : He's gone. Hmm... Because I took his life. It's true. I did it. I trapped the Strike with my Aegis and blew up. I don't see how he could have escaped. That was the only option I had left... to finish him.

  Cagalli Yula Athha : Murderer!

  [hits wall] 

  Cagalli Yula Athha : It's not fair!

  Athrun Zala : But why... am I still alive. I guess because I got out just in time... or maybe... your destined to finish me.

  Cagalli Yula Athha : Kira... took too many risks, didn't always know what he was doing and always cried. But he was kind. He was a nice guy!

  Athrun Zala : Yeah, I know. Sounds like Kira hadn't changed a bit. He was always like that.

  Cagalli Yula Athha : Did you...

  Athrun Zala : He was a sentimental crybaby. And he was smart, but he never thought things through.

  Cagalli Yula Athha : Did you really know Kira?

  Athrun Zala : Yes. We were... close. We've been friends, ever since the days when we were kids. We were the best of friends.

  Cagalli Yula Athha : But then... that's crazy! If you consider yourself such a good friend, then why would you do this?

  Athrun Zala : I dunno. I have no idea why either ok?

  Cagalli Yula Athha : Huh?

  Athrun Zala : We separated as friends and the next time I saw him we were enemies.

  Cagalli Yula Athha : Enemies?

  Athrun Zala : I asked him to come with us, over and over, because he was a coordinator, can't you see? He was one of us, that's where he belonged! It wasn't right for him to be on the side of the Earth forces!

  Cagalli Yula Athha : So you...

  Athrun Zala : But whenever we talked, he wouldn't listen! He fought against us, even hurting friends of mine! And then he took Nicol's life!

  Cagalli Yula Athha : And so... that's why you did this to... your friend?

  Athrun Zala : He was an enemy. He wasn't on my side anymore! I had no choice but to destroy him!

  Cagalli Yula Athha : Ugh! You idiot! How could you have ever come up with something so stupid? How could you end up doing something so terrible?

  Athrun Zala : He took Nicol's life right before my eyes! Nicol was fifteen. He loved the piano. He only fought to protect the Plants and Kira just cut him down.

  Cagalli Yula Athha : The reason Kira fought was to protect other people too, but it doesn't explain why he had to pay with his life, and at the hands of his best friend, of all people! One guy takes the life for vengeance and then someones gets revenge by taking his life. How is that kind of twisted thinking every gonna bring us peace? Well?

• Cagalli Yula Athha : [has a gun drawn on Athurn, whose knife is drawn upon her in a combat stance]  I won't let you get back in that Mobile Suit! Many more will die if I do!

  Athrun Zala : [With courageous sincerity]  Then shoot me.

  [Cagalli gasps] 

  Athrun Zala : I must fight the naturals, for if I don't, more of my people will be murdered like the innocents on PLANT. Such is my duty, for I am a warrior of ZAFT. So if you intend to stop me, I suggest you open fire.

• Athrun Zala : Using a rescued civilian as a hostage? So do you still feel justified in fighting by their side with these cowards? Kira?

• Athrun Zala : But you...

  Kira Yamato : I know.

  [recalls Nicol's death] 

  Kira Yamato : I killed a comrade of yours. A personal friend. But I never knew him or even met the guy. And it's not as if I wanted to kill him.

  [Athrun absorbs Kira's remorse] 

  Kira Yamato : And you...

  [recalls Tolle's death] 

  Kira Yamato : ... you killed Tolle.

  [Athrun gasps as does Miriallia and Dearka] 

  Kira Yamato : You didn't know him either. You didn't want to kill him, right?

  Athrun Zala : No. But I tried my hardest to kill you.

  Kira Yamato : Same here.

• Athrun Zala : You're one of us Kira.

  Kira Yamato : No! I won't join ZAFT.

• Athrun Zala : Athrun Zala. Justice. Launching!