Stella (Chocobo series)

Stella is a character from Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon. She is Shirma's aunt, who raises the young White Mage as her own daughter.
==Appearances==
===Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon===
====History====
Stella most likely used to live in the town that would later be known as Lostime and grew up with a sister, Elena, a White Mage. Through her sister's eventual marriage to Nero, a Black Mage, Stella became an aunt to her nieces Shirma and Croma. Stella came to respect Nero particularly well, and most likely visited Shirma's home in the suburbs. She would later set up a farm farther away from Lostime. Stella became good friends with Dardola, the owner of Dardola's dining, a cafe in Lostime. They would often go fishing together and Dardola made use of Stella's special biscuits as a unique dish for his cafe. 
When a monster that fed on fear, despair, and suffering called the Destroyer attacked the town that would later be known as Lostime, Mayor Gale deemed they must sever their emotions. Stella argued that emotions were what made them all human, including fear, but Gale did not listen and gathered the Oracles to release the Guardian Beasts from the crystals who sealed the Destroyer away alongside everyone's memories and Memoria from the rest of the world. Stella's sister and brother-in-law were killed in the battle and Croma disappeared and would not be seen for a long time. 
The Bell of Oblivion was created during the sealing of the Destroyer. Under its influence, everyone in the town kept losing their memories, including Shirma. Stella became exasperated at everyone preaching about the so-called beauty of "forgetting". After Shirma did not recognize her mother in a photograph at her old house, Stella took her to live at her farm in the outskirts of town to save her from the memory erasion. Stella raised Shirma like her own child and also comforted Meja, who was lost after her parents were killed in the battle with the Destroyer.
One day, Shirma returned from town to Stella's farm with two newcomers: Chocobo and Cid. When Stella later introduced herself to Chocobo Shirma acted as interpreter, able to understood him even if she did not speak chocobo language. Learning that Cid and Chocobo were treasure hunters, Stella suggested that Chocobo might know something about Shirma's sister whom Shirma had forgotten about. Shirma realized she had left her staff in town, and went to go find it. Stella asked Chocobo to go after her. 
Later that night, Shirma returned to Stella's home with a baby boy, Raffaello, who had hatched from an egg that fell from the sky and had helped Mayor Gale recover his memories. Raffaello started to say Stella's name, and Shirma suggested they use him to recover Cid's memories, which they did. The next morning Raffaello went missing, Stella bewildered he could have disappeared when he could not even crawl. Chocobo, Shirma, and a grown-up Raffaello later returned to Stella's farm. Cid was suspicious Raffaello had grown up so fast, but Stella dismissed Cid's worries, saying that Raffaello could only be Raffaello. Raffaello was eager to see the rest of the world and Stella allowed him despite Shirma voicing her concerns.
Chocobo later came to speak to Stella after she had been shopping for oil in town from Meddit's Medicines. She began to talk about the old house Shirma used to live in with her parents and about Shirma's father, but suddenly forgot what Shirma's father looked like, realizing she heard the bell. The whirlpool of memories hovered over her head. After Chocobo cleared her memory dungeon, Stella remembered to start the windmill with the oil she had bought and got the water pump working again. From then on, Chocobo was able to water and plant flowers bought from Flora's shop in the front yard.
Chocobo returned to Stella's house just as she had finished baking fresh biscuits for Dardola's place and she asked him to deliver them, starting to understand him better. Some time later, Chocobo and Shirma returned to Stella's house with Raffaello, who had grown up into a teenager. Raffaello worried some unknown frightening thing was growing inside of him and ran out of the house. Shirma followed him to town where she collapsed in pain and the sky turned dark. Stella and Chocobo moved Shirma into the house and onto a bed. 
When Shirma woke up, she apologized for worrying the others. She was nervous about going back to sleep because of a recurring scary dream but Stella assured she and Chocobo would be there for her. As Shirma fell back to sleep, the whirlpool of memories appeared over her head while Shirma slept restlessly, talking in her sleep. Unnerved, Stella pleaded with Chocobo to help Shirma. He returned with some of Shirma's memories recovered, and Shirma awoke remembering her nightmare. Stella tried to comfort her by saying she would forget the dream, but Shirma wanted to remember it and to keep believing and loving everyone around her, catching Stella by surprise.
When Shirma fell asleep again, Stella went back downstairs and asked Chocobo to look for Raffaello. Just as Chocobo exited, Freja arrived saying the sun had not risen for hours, probably because the Oracle of Light was losing power. Stella knew who the Oracle of Light was and told Freja that Shirma was not feeling well and promised to keep an eye on her. Chocobo restored day upon recovering the rest of Shirma's memories, putting an end to her suffering.
Chocobo and Shirma eventually caught up with Raffaello, who entered the clocktower, and Chocobo followed him in. At the culmination of the events, Croma, Shirma's sister, revealed herself; the Destroyer returned, manifesting through Raffaello and possessing him; and Croma was killed. Devastated and grief-stricken, Shirma lost consciousness. Chocobo and Cid brought her back to Stella's house, and explained everything that had happened. Stella begged for Shirma to pull herself together, but Shirma's fever steadily worsened. Stella believed Mayor Gale might know more about Raffaello's true mystique and the Floating Fortress, which had been summoned during the encounter at the top of the clocktower. Chocobo joined Cid in speaking with Mayor Gale while Stella looked after Shirma.
After Shirma woke up, everyone gathered ar the clocktower piazza to watch Chocobo defeat the Destroyer. The Floating Fortress fell apart and exploded, but Chocobo was saved by the airship, and Stella and the others rushed over to Seaside Park to meet and applaud him. They were joined by Croma and Raffaello, now in his teenage form again and no longer possessed by the Destroyer. Raffaello looked different, Mayor Gale suggesting he had been reborn as a result of his struggle inside the Destroyer. Stella felt this was a good thing since Raffaello had grown up too fast. She encouraged Raffaello to start a new life, no matter how difficult.
Sometime later, Stella was present at Seaside Park alongside Croma, Shirma, Cid, and Chocobo to see Raffaello depart Lostime on the airship that Cid had built to atone for his sins and embark on a new path. Afterward, Stella returned to her farm. When Chocobo came to see her, she thanked him for his heroic deeds in saving the world.
====Characteristics====
Stella is a kind, compassionate, and generous woman who respects most people she meets. Stella resembles Shirma, the two holding many of the same values, such as the importance of family and holding on to memories. However, Stella is more level-headed and composed, and able to calm Shirma down when she acts emotional or when she is suffering. Stella acts motherly to those around her, providing hospitality to Chocobo and Cid after they arrived at Lostime and cooking food for Raffaello and allowing him to play outside.
Stella looks down on people whose behavior she does not understand. She lacked tolerance for the townspeople preaching of the beauty of forgetting, holding on to the importance of keeping and making memories. She loves her family, speaking fondly of Shirma's parents, reminiscing on her past and being protective of Shirma. Her capacity for family and compassion allowed Stella to help support Chocobo on his missions and made her stand out alongside her niece to the townspeople.
====Gallery====
StellaRanch.png|Concept art of Stella Ranch.
StellaRanch Sketchvers.png|Sketch of Stella Ranch.
StellaRanch ingame.png|Stella Ranch.
===Chocobo to Mahou no Ehon: Majo to Shoujo to Go-nin no Yuusha===
Stella appears to be a guardian in Cid's Castle along with Mayor Gale, who is now only called "Gale". She is not a major story character, but also seems like a nice friend to Cid.
==Voice==
Stella is voiced by Laura Post in Chocobo's Mystery Dungeon Every Buddy!.
==Etymology==
Category:Characters in the Chocobo series
Category:Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon