=========================================================== Guide: FF9 Full Game Script By: Shotgunnova (P. Summers) From: 02-24-06 -to- 4-02-06 Email: shotgunnova (at) gmail (dot) com =========================================================== !!!WARNING!!!WARNING!!!WARNING!!!WARNING!!!WARNING!!! This is _not_ supposed to be an easy read. It's meticulous, it's not compact, and there are no cliff's notes. This is an attempt at capturing all the spoken dialogue in the game and a little that isn't, so if you want to breeze through and get a summary, look elsewhere. You have been notified. =========================================================== SITES THAT HAVE PERMISSION TO HOST: -Gametalk -GameFAQs -Eyes on FF -Neoseeker -Super Cheats =========================================================== UPDATES AND REASONS FOR ALL THE SEASONS 02-24-06 +Started guide, founding point, etc. 03-08-06 +Disc 1 'stuff' completed 03-17-06 +Disc 2 'stuff' completed 03-31-06 +Disc 3 'stuff' completed 04-02-06 +Disc 4 'stuff' completed 04-08-06 +Notation update +Notation modifications +Search mode revisions 04-23-06 +Updated permissions list 06-07-06 +Updated ATE Script Listing 08-09-06 +Added 3 Missing ATEs 09-19-06 +Corrected a few grammatical errors +Added disclaimer at closing of the game 09-22-06 +Updated permissions 03-05-07 +Updated Desert Palace dialogue =========================================================== THINGS I NEED HELP WITH, KUPO! / THINGS I WILL UPDATE +Hippaul Race Quotes (his leveled ones) +Mogster Location Hints (Early on in Disc 1 & 2) +Valia Pira bloodstone detection quotes +Party caution quotes (see: DP07) +Card game quotes (I might do these later on, actually) +Ragtimer quotes +Moguo quotes +Template-type quote (for moogles, etcetera) =========================================================== NOTATION INFORMATION =========================================================== (PF) = Pointer finger. Substituted in place of a picture. { / } = Options in the weird brackets mean no dialogue is said by picking either option, so I'm not going to list them like usual. One usually sees these when talking to shopkeepers and moogles. An example would look like "{Yes/No}". (note) Means there's a song note symbol in the dialogue. Shown only when someone's singing, of course. ([]) My attempt at portraying the Square button. (/\) My attempt at portraying the Triangle button. (><) My attempt at the X button, but only because I thought they would all look better as 4-character symbols (for semblance). I'll probably end up changing this... (O) Denotes the O button. =========================================================== NOTATION INFORMATION, PART II =========================================================== Normal dialogue is single-spaced to show that there is more than one different speaker, like this example: Zidane: "Hey!" Eiko: "What's crackin'?" In other places, dialogue will be compacted without that single-spaced portion, which denotes that it's either text said in unison, like this similar example: Zidane: "Hey!" Eiko: "What's crackin'?" Steiner: "You startled me!" In addition to that context, NPC dialogue may have compact dialogue to show that the speaker says something new after the initial talk, like this example: Soldier: "Sure is hot out here!" Soldier: "I wish it'd rain..." There are few times when it's hard to tell which 'tense' is being used, so the reader can probably figure it out. ;) =========================================================== TABLE OF CONTENTS =========================================================== DISC ONE 01. Alexandria ---> AL01 02. Alexandria Castle ---> AL02 03. Evil Forest ---> EF01 04. North Gate ---> NG01 05. Ice Cavern ---> IC01 06. Village of Dali ---> DL01 07. Cargo Ship ---> CS01 08. Lindblum ---> LB01 09. Festival of the Hunt ---> FH01 10. Qu's Marsh ---> QU01 11. Chocobo's Forest ---> CF01 12. Gizamaluke's Grotto ---> GZ01 13. Grand Citadel S. Gate ---> SG01 14. North Gate ---> NG02 15. Burmecia ---> BR01 DISC TWO 16. Grand Citadel S. Gate ---> SG02 17. Dark City Treno ---> TR01 18. Cleyra ---> CL01 19. Red Rose ---> RR01 20. Alexandria Castle ---> AL03 21. Pinnacle Rocks ---> PR01 22. Lindblum ---> LB02 23. Qu's Marsh ---> QU02 24. Fossil Roo ---> FR01 25. Conde Petie ---> CP01 26. Black Mage Village ---> BM01 27. Conde Petie ---> CP02 28. Conde Petie Mtn. Path ---> CM01 29. Madain Sari ---> MS01 30. Iifa Tree ---> IT01 31. Madain Sari ---> MS02 32. Iifa Tree ---> IT02 DISC THREE 33. Al. Castle & The Town ---> AC03 34. Dark City Treno ---> TR02 35. Al. Castle & The Town ---> AC04 36. Lindblum ---> LB03 37. Black Mage Village ---> BM02 38. Desert Palace ---> DP01 39. Oeilvert ---> OV01 40. Desert Palace ---> DP02 41. Mount Gulug ---> MG01 42. Lindblum ---> LB04 43. Ipsen's Castle ---> IC01 44. The Four Shrines ---> FS01 45. Shimmering Island ---> SI01 46. Bran Bal ---> BB01 DISC FOUR 47. Black Mage Village ---> BM03 48. Memoria ---> MM01 49. Memoria Aftermath ---> MM02 OTHER STUFF 50. Mognet Letters ---> LT01 51. Points of Interest ---> PO01 52. ATE Script Listing ---> AT01 53. NPC Dialogue Index ---> NP01 =========================================================== 01. Alexandria (AL01) =========================================================== [As the game starts, the player sees a boy with a tail walk into a dark room on a ship, looking around.] ??????: "Sure is dark... Guess nobody's here yet..." [The boy with a tail lights the candle in the room's center. Someone yells from behind a door immediately, and the player can name the character. Zidane is the default.] Voice: "Who's there!?" Zidane: "It's me, Zidane!" [Three guys run out: one with red hair, one with a bandanna, and one carrying a hammer. The former speaks.] Blank: "Hey, Zidane! You sure are late!" Zidane: "Sorry. So, where's the boss?" [The man with the hammer speaks.] Cinna: "Ain't here yet." [Just then, a guy with a dragon's head jumps down from the stairway and attacks the party. They attack it and the dragon head eventually pops off, revealing a bearded guy. Bearded Guy: "UGHUUA! Oh, my head! Go easy, you guys!" [Everyone's tired from the battle. The Bearded Man is addressed as Baku.] Blank: "Whew!" Cinna: "Whew!" Marcus: "Whew!" Zidane: "Whew!" Baku: "Hey, fools! You're lookin' a lot better! Gwahahaha! Alright! Let's start this meeting already!" [They all hurry into the room next door.] Baku: "Here's the plan! Tantalus, the infamous band of daring thieves (that's us) is headin' to the Kingdom of Alexandria... Our mission: to kidnap the heir to the throne, Princess Garnet!" Cinna: "I'll take it from here, so listen up! Our ship's about to dock at Alexandria... And when it does, we're gonna put on our costumes... ...and perform 'I want to Be Your Canary,' the most popular play in Alexandria! Break a leg, Marcus! 'Cause you're playin' the lead!" [The man with the bandanna stands up.] Marcus: "Leave the actin' to me! Of course, the real kidnappers'll be Blank and Zidane!" Blank: "I'll distract the audience from backstage with these little buggers. I can't stand oglops... But I'll manage, so don't worry about me. And that'll be your cue, Zidane!" Zidane: "Okay!" R1 --> That's when I kidnap Queen Brahne, right? R2 --> That's when I kidnap Princess Garnet, right? R1 (Baku): "You bet! You're gonna kidnap the fat-ass, butt-ugly Queen Br--... What...what'm I sayin'!?" R2: "You bet! You're gonna kidnap the most babe-ilicious beauty in all of Alexandria, Princess Garnet!" [The view changes to the town below. A boy in a large hat looks up as the ship the Tantalus crew is in flies overhead. The ship docks near the castle, and then the view fixes back to the boy with a hat. As the crowd runs off, he drops his ticket, and a little girl comes over to him.] Girl: "Are you awright? Here! You dwopped your ticket. Bye-bye!" [The boy runs along, but a rat kid bumps into him.] Rat Kid: "Owww! Why you--get outta my way!!! [The boy in the hat runs further into town. There, a penguin-like man welcomes some nobles on the street.] Herald: "Honorable nobles of Treno... Castle Alexandria is this way!" [The herald leads the nobles away and the boy in the hat heads to the ticketbooth located in the main square.] Ticketmaster: "Can I help you, son?" Pointy-Hat Boy: "Uh... Umm..." R1 --> Show Ticket R2 --> What's showing today? R2a --> What kind of troupe is Tantalus? R2b --> What's 'I Want to Be Your Canary' about? R3 --> Tell me about Alexandria! R3a --> Who's Queen Brahne? R3b --> Tell me about Queen Brahne! R3c --> Who's Princess Garnet? R3d --> Tell me about Princess Garnet! R3e --> Is Princess Garnet really that pretty? R4 --> Leave R1 (Ticketmaster) "What's this? There's something odd about this ticket... Why, it's another fake! I've seen so many today." Pointy-hat Boy: "Nooooo!" Ticketmaster: "Now, now. Don't cry. I know how you must feel. Here, I'll give you these. Do try to cheer up now, hmm?" [He gives Vivi some cards.] Talk to Alleyway Jack to learn more about Cards. Good luck, lad!" R2 (Ticketmaster): "This year's performance is the masterpiece 'I Want to Be Your Canary.' The Tantalus Company is performing." R2a (Ticketmaster): "They're star performers in Lindblum, the regency to the west, with accompaniment by Lav Layderce!" R2b (Ticketmaster): "This play is a tale of romance between a noble and a peasant! You really must see it!" R3 (Ticketmaster): "The Kingdom of Alexandria is a fine country, ruled by Queen Brahne." R3a (Ticketmaster): "Did you know Queen Brahne has a beautiful daughter, Princess Garnet?" R3b (Ticketmaster): "Unfortunately, I've heard strange things about Queen Brahne recently." R3c (Ticketmaster): "Today is Princess Garnet's sixteenth birthday, you know!" R3d (Ticketmaster): "Her Highness is a beautiful princess, and everyone in Alexandria loves her!" R3e (Ticketmaster): "Why, she's the most beautiful princess in the history of Alexandria!" R4: [The Pointy-hat boy leaves.] [After finding out his ticket's a fake, the Pointy-hat Boy walks into the alley near the square. He trips and faceplants, making Dante the Signmaker mess up.] Dante the Signmaker: "Blast it! Hey! You made me miss, you little klutz! Whew. That should do it. Well, it's been a long day." [Dante walks off but the rat kid from before comes over.] Rat Kid: "Hey, you! Shrimp! You're the one with the phony ticket, ain'tcha? I saw the guy tell you it was a fake!" R1 --> Y-Yeah, it's fake R2 --> N-No, it's not fake R3 --> Are you Alleyway Jack? R1: "I'll let you see the show if you become my slave! Well, whaddya say?" R4 --> Alright R5 --> N-No, I don't want to R2: "Liar! I'll let you see the show if you become my slave! Well, whaddya say?" R4 --> Alright R5 --> N-No, I don't want to R3: "Do I look like that loser!? But I'll let you see the show if you become my slave! Well, whaddya say?" R4 --> Alright R5 --> N-No, I don't want to R4: [See below.] R5: "Okay... Later!" [He runs off.] [After picking R4:] Rat Kid: "Awesome! Now for your first assignment! You go stand over there and see if anyone's comin'! All clear?" R1 --> Yeah, it's clear R2 --> I think someone's coming R1: "Awesome! Engage according to mission parameters!" R2: "You 'think'!? I wanna know!!! [He repeats his original question.] [The Rat Kid steals Dante's ladder and runs towards the church.] Rat Kid: "Over here! Don't fall behind! Into the steeple!" [They run into the steeple.] Rat Kid: "Now we're gonna climb up this tower! It's very dangerous. You go first." [The Pointy-Hat Boy goes up to the ladder, and a moogle falls on him.] Pointy-Hat Boy: "Oww!" Rat Kid: "Ahahaha! What the heck was that!?" Moogle: "Sorry 'bout that, kupo!" Rat Kid: "That's Kupo. He's a moogle." Kupo: "Kupo!" Rat Kid: "And this is slave number one! Try to get along, okay?" Kupo: "Kupo! Pleased to meet you! I sorry. I enter you in Moogle Diary! If you want to save game onto MEMORY CARD, just ask us moogles, kupo! And you can regain health if you have a Tent, kupo! You understand?" R1 --> I understand R2 --> Once more... R1: "Glad I can help, kupo!" R2: [Kupo repeats, starting at "If you want to..."] Rat Kid: "Alright, time for some upward mobility!" [He takes Dante's ladder and climbs up the steeple's ladder.] Rat Kid: "Okay, come on up, slave!" [Just then, a moogle in clothes walks into the church.] Stiltzkin: "Kupo...? You here?" Kupo: "Kupo! Stiltzkin! Why that getup? You leaving, kupo?" Stiltzkin: "Yeah, and this time I might be away for a long time." Kupo: "I'll miss you, kupo." Stiltzkin: "Now, don't you worry. I'll write." Kupo: "Okay, kupo!" Stiltzkin: "Well, I'm off. Take care! Oh, and say hi to Mosh in the castle for me." [Stiltzkin leaves.] Pointy-Hat Boy: "Was that a friend of yours?" Kupo: "Yes, kupo. A very special one, kupo!!!" Rat Kid: "Hey, slave! I thought I ordered you up here!!!" [The Pointy-Hat Boy climbs up.] Rat Kid: "Alright, the play's gonna start if we don't hurry!" [They start running across the rooftops. The Pointy-Hat Boy stops a rickety plank stretched across some eaves.] Rat Kid: "Come on! Get over here! Lemme guess... You're afraid of heights, aren't you? It's okay! Just pretend you're on the ground! Come on, already! We're runnin' outta time!" [Pointy-Hat Boy crosses and comes to another plank.] Rat Kid: "Not again... Don't worry! It won't fall!" [Pointy-Hat Boy crosses, barely, just as it falls.] Rat Kid: "Hahaha... I guess it fell. No point in worrying now, right?" [They continue.] Rat Kid: "Oh yeah, I almost forgot! I don't even know your name!" [The player can name the Pointy-Hat Boy, default 'Vivi'.] Rat Kid: "So your name's Vivi, huh? Kinda funny name... My name's Puck! Pleased to meetcha!" [They head to the castle wall.] Puck: "Whew... We finally made it! After this wall, well be inside the castle! C'mon, let's go!" [They head inside, using the ladder as a walkway and an FMV starts where the band strikes up and the play raises up, with a lot of jazz and fanfare. Baku, dressed in regalia, walks onto the stage.] Baku: "Ladies and Gentlemen! Tonight's performance is a story that takes place long, long ago. Our heroine, Princess Cornelia, is torn from her lover, Marcus. She attempts to flee the castle, only to be captured by her father, King Leo. When our story begins, Marcus, having heard of this, crosses swords with the king. And now, Your Royal Majesty, Queen Brahne, Your Highness, Princess Garnet... ...noble ladies and lords, and our rooftop viewers, Tantalus proudly presents 'I Want to Be Your Canary'!" [Baku bows, and the scene changes to backstage. Cinna, Blank and Zidane ready their entrance.] Blank: "Bereft of father! Bereft of mother! Marcus! Thou has lost even thy love!" Cinna: "Fortune hath escap'd thee! For what end shalt thou live?" Zidane: "For the sake of our friend... Let us bury our steel in the heart of the wretched King Leo!" Blank: "Aye!" Cinna: "Aye!" [The three run out onto the stage, where Marcus, Baku, and two others are readying to square off.] Blank: "We shall back thee, kinsman!" Marcus: "Pray, sheathe thy swords! This villain is mine alone!" Cinna: "Nay, kinsman! For I, too, have lost a brother to this fiend!" King Leo: "What ho? Out, vermin! Away! Thou darest bare thy sword before the king!? All who stand in my way will be crush'd!" Zidane: "Treaherous Leo, my kinsman's suffering shall not be in vain! For I shall instruct thee in his incomparable pain!" [The stage battle starts, and King Leo's defeated. He runs to the stairway afterwards.] King Leo: "Arrg... Grr... Thou hast not seen the last of me, Marcus!" Zidane: "Come back!" [Blank stops him.] Zidane: "Out of the way, Blank!" Blank: "Consider this, Zidane! If Prince Schnieder were to marry Princess Cornelia, peace would reign over both their kingdoms!" Zidane: "'Tis foolishness! If all were so easy, why, none would suffer in this world!" [Zidane and Blank start their fake sword battle.] Zidane: "Aha!" Blank: "Mph!" Zidane: "Aha!" Zidane: "Aha!" [They head down to the viewing area to fight.] Blank: "En garde!" Zidane: "Expect no quarter from me!" Narrative: To follow Blank's lead, enter the correct commands from the following choices: Up (/\) Left Right ([]) (O) Down (><) [They fight a bit.] Blank: "We shall finish this later!" Zidane: "Come back here!" =========================================================== 02. Alexandria Castle (AC01) =========================================================== [They run into the castle, and the crowd thinks its part of the act. Inside, Zidane and Blank beat up two guards and take their clothes behind a blacked-out screen.] Voice: "Argh!" Voice: "Ungh!" Voice: "Ooof!" Voice: "Unghaa!" Blank: "Hehehe! Finished changing, Zidane?" Zidane: "Yeah, but this helmet... It kinda smells..." Blank: "What are you talkin' about!? My helmet totally reeks! My armor's way too big... And my back's real itchy... The boots are wet... My gloves are all slimy... There's cookie crumbs in my pockets..." Zidane: "Okay, I get the picture... You still have the package, right?" Blank: "Don't worry! I won't screw up!" Zidane: "Alright! First, I'll go pour some sleep potion into Princess Garnet's teacup!" Blank: "And I've got a special something for the lovely queen!" [Blank goes over to the beaten-up guards.] Blank: "Hehehe. They're sleeping so soundly!" [They both leave the room.] Blank: "According to recon... ...the royal seats should be right above these stairs!" Zidane: "Got it!" [They hear the crowd roar.] Blank: "Uh-oh! The scene where Marcus sneaks into Cornelia's chamber is about to start! Let's get this over with before the finale, okay?" [They go up the stairs, and a hooded girl runs out.] Zidane: (Hmm? She sure is dressed funny...) Hooded Girl: "Umm... Would you please let me pass?" Zidane: "Hmm..." R1 --> Let her pass R2 --> Examine her face R1: "Wait. Hold on a sec! Haven't we met before?" Hooded Girl: "No, I do not know you..." Zidane: "Hmm... Maybe you're right... I'd never let someone as pretty as you get away. Say, you wouldn't--" Blank: "Hey, what's goin' on, Zidane?" Hooded Girl: "I... I must go!" [The girl runs by both men.] Blank: "Who the heck was that!?" Zidane: "Get up, Blank! That was Princess Garnet!" Blank: "Are you serious!?" R2: "Let's see..." Hooded Girl: "Is there something on my face?" Zidane: "Oh, no. You see... I just thought you were the one I'd been waiting for all this time." Hooded Girl: "Excuse me? You were waiting for me?" Zidane: "Yeah! I've dreamt of meeting you here ever since I was born!" Hooded Girl: "Do you mock me?" Zidane: "No, of course not..." Hooded Girl: "Then, I shall take my leave of you!" Zidane: "Just a sec! Haven't we met before?" Hooded Girl: "No, I do not know you..." Zidane: "Hmm... Maybe you're right... I'd never let someone as pretty as you get away. Say, you wouldn't--" Blank: "Hey, what's goin' on, Zidane?" Hooded Girl: "I... I must go!" [The girl runs by both men.] Blank: "Who the heck was that!?" Zidane: "Get up, Blank! That was Princess Garnet!" Blank: "Are you serious!?" [They run after the princess and the view changes to a large stairway where two jesters run up to each other.] Zorn: "We are in trouble!" Thorn: "Trouble we are in!" Zorn: "This is terrible!" Thorn: "Our heads, Queen Brahne will have!" Zorn: "We must hurry!" Thorn: "Hurry, we must!" [They run up the stairs.] Zorn: "We are in trouble!" Thorn: "Trouble we are in!" [They head into the screen Blank and Zidane were in a second ago.] Thorn: "The right way, that is not!" Zorn: "I know it is not the right way!" Thorn: "Really, do you?" Zorn: "I really do!" Thorn: "Wonder, I sometimes do." Zorn: "N-Now is not the time to wonder!" Thorn: "Hurry to Queen Brahne, must we!" Zorn: "We must hurry to Queen Brahne!" [They go up the stairs and stop again.] Zorn: "That is not the right way!" Thorn: "N-Not the right way, I know!" Zorn: "Do you really?" Thorn: "Know I really do!!!" Zorn: "I really wonder sometimes." Thorn: "Th-The time to wonder, now is not!" Zorn: "We must hurry and tell Her Majesty!" Thorn: "Hurry to see Her Majesty, we must!" [They head to Brahne's seat.] Zorn: "Your Majesty!" Thorn: "See the queen, we must!" Captain of the Knights of Pluto: "Her Majesty is busy! Come back later!" [A girl with a sword at her side walks over.] Beatrix: "Is it an emergency?" Thorn: "An emergency, it is!" Zorn: "A veritable emergency of terrible urgency!" Beatrix: "Very well. I'll see what I can do." Thorn: "Very grateful, we'll be!" Zorn: "We'll be very grateful!" Captain of the Knights of Pluto: "Grrr! Curse that Beatrix! Always trying to one-up me!" Beatrix: "So, what exactly is the problem?" Zorn: "Her Royal Highness..." Thorn: "Princess Garnet..." Zorn: "...is in danger!" Thorn: "...is in danger!" Beatrix: "I see. Wait right here." [Beatrix walks to Brahne's seat.] Queen Brahne: "No interruptions! Can't you see I'm watching the show!?" Beatrix: "Your Majesty, I'm afraid Princess Garnet has--" Queen Brahne: "Ah, yes... She did leave her seat awhile ago." Beatrix: "Your Majesty, it seems that Princess Garnet has run off with the Royal Pendant." Queen Brahne: "Well, of all the... What could she be thinking!? General Beatrix!" Beatrix: "Your Majesty!" Queen Brahne: "And, Captain...uh..." [You can name the Knights of Pluto captain. Default: Steiner.] Queen Brahne: "Captain Steiner!" Steiner: "Yes, Your Majesty!" Queen Brahne: "Go find Garnet!" Steiner: "Yes, my queen!" Beatrix: "At once, Your Majesty!" [Steiner walks to the screen where Zidane and company were before.] Steiner: "Knights of Pluto! ASSEMBLE!!! Huh? Where is everybody!?" [The two guards who were stripped of their uniform run out.] Blutzen, Pluto Knight II: "Captain, sir!" Kohel, Pluto Knight III: "All present and accounted for, sir!" Steiner: "What are you talking about!? There's only two of you! Where are the other six!? Why, you useless good-for-nothings! I bring orders from the queen! Get dressed and go find Princess Garnet!" [Steiner runs outside, and the crowd roars.] Steiner: "What!? The play seems to be a hit! But if we fail to find the princess before the curtain falls, Her Majesty will be most displeased... And we will be the laughingstock of Beatrix and her retinue! I must hurry!" [Steiner climbs the West Tower stairs.] Steiner: "Whew... Fatigue rears its ugly head. No! I must persevere! The princess must be found! Wait! Over there! It's Princess Garnet! Being hounded by brigands! Fear not, Princess! Your knight is coming!" [Zidane is chasing the hooded princess around on the opposite tower. FMV. Garnet gets on a ledge, takes a banner, and swings down to the Prima Vista. Zidane and Steiner follow, except Zidane reaches his mark and Steiner crashes off into one of the ship's wooden towers.] Zidane: "Huh? Where'd the princess go? Woo! Owww..." [Garnet jumps down, disrupting the band in the process, and flees. Zidane follows her into the next room, where she runs into Ruby and looks for a way out.] Ruby: "Whoa! Whut in tarnation!? Hold yer horses, there! Whut kinda cattle you chasin', darlin'? You should at least say yer sorry!" Hooded Girl: "Please pardon me. I was in a hurry, you see..." Ruby: "And here I am, fixin' to get ready fer my big entrance! [Zidane runs in.] Ruby: "Hey, Zidane! Did you see the way she hit me!? This cowgirl's wilder than a buckin' bronco!" Zidane: "Just let me talk to her, Ruby!" Ruby: "Come again, pardner!? Did you hear what I was sayin'!?" [Garnet leaves in the commotion.] Zidane: "Hey! Ruby! We'll talk later!" [He follows her into the next room.] Zidane: "Whew... Well, it looks like you've finally made up your mind." (Wow. We really had to improvise. But hey, we got her!) Hooded Girl: "Do you... do you work on this theater ship?" Zidane: (Aww... So she figured it out, huh?) Hooded Girl: "As you have no doubt suspected... ...the truth is that... I am actually... Princess Garnet Til Alexandros, heir to the throne of Alexandria. I have a favor I wish to ask of you... I wish to be kidnapped...right away." Zidane: "H-Huh!? I don't... I mean..." [Steiner makes a racket somewhere.] Steiner: "Princess! Where are you!?" Garnet: "Please... They've come for me!" Zidane: "Aha... So that's what's going on... Alright! Leave them to me!" Garnet: "Thank you. You have my gratitude." Zidane: "Alright then, Your Highness! I shall hereby do my best to kidnap you!" [Cinna runs in.] Garnet: "Ahh!" Cinna: "What are you two doin'? Come on, this way!" Zidane: "Don't worry, Princess. It's my friend Cinna!" Garnet: "Oh, really? I am sorry. You startled me." Zidane: "Well, with a face like his, I'd be pretty shocked, too!" Cinna: "Man, that hurts! I wash up every morning, you know!" [Steiner calls out again.] Steiner: "Princess!?" Cinna: "This way!" Zidane: "Alright, we'll follow you! [They run into the meeting room and shut the door.] Steiner: "Princess?" [Steiner runs in.] Steiner: "Princess... Princess! Princess...? PRINCESS!!!? Princess?" [A Pluto Knight runs in.] Steiner: "Where have you been!?" Knight of Pluto: "Sir! I'm sorry, sir!" Steiner: "Princess!" [Inside the meeting room:] Zidane: "Hey, Cinna! This is a dead end!" Cinna: "Hehehe. I thought this might happen... Open! Sesame!" [The table falls over and a passageway down appears.] Cinna: "So I set up this escape hatch!" Steiner: "Princess!" Cinna: "Come on! Jump inside!" [They all jump in before Steiner can find them.] Steiner: "The princess must be down there!" Pluto Knight: "I-I'll go first, sir!" [The knight (Blank) jumps in and intentionally gets stuck.] Steiner: "Hey!!! What do you think you're doing!?" Pluto Knight: "Captain, sir! I'm stuck, sir!" Steiner: "Grrrr! Blast it!!!" [Steiner runs out.] Pluto Knight: "Hehehe. He bought it!" [Down below, the three escapees jump down on the engine.] Zidane: "Wow, you're really athletic, Princess. I think I'm falling for you!" Garnet: "This is nothing. I have been training to escape the castle, after all." Zidane: "What a waste. If only you weren't a princess..." Garnet: "We have no time for idle banter. Come, let us move on!" [They go into the adjacent room, where Steiner enters via a pole.] Steiner: "Aha! Princess! I, Steiner, shall come to your rescue!" [Blank runs in.] Pluto Knight: "You needn't worry, Your Highness!" Steiner: "Good work! This will be remembered as the Pluto Knights' finest hour!" Pluto Knight: "Hehehe! Just relax, Princess. We'll get you outta here!" Steiner: "WHAT!!!? You're not one of my knights!" Zidane: "You can just..." Cinna: "...leave the princess..." Zidane: "...to us!" Cinna: "...to us!" Blank: "...to us!" [The battle starts.] Steiner: "Villains! How dare you trick the princess! [The party knocks Steiner's block off.] Steiner: "I'll never give up!" [Steiner uses a sword technique on Blank, knocking the shoddy Pluto armor off. A bunch of oglops roam free.] Steiner: "N-NO!!! I hate oglops!!! I hate oglops!" Blank: "Oglops are the worst!" Cinna: "Get these oglops offa me!" Zidane: "Now's our chance! Come on!" [Zidane and Garnet flee into the next room. Up above, the play is continuing smoothly. King Leo appears.] King Leo: "Tonight, I shall finally see my daughter Princess Cornelia betroth'd to Prince Schneider! And then Prince Schnieder and his kingdom will be mine! Gwahahahaha!" [The two lackeys from before restrain Marcus.] Zenero: "Your Majesty!" Benero: "We have caught an intruder!" King Leo: "Why, my poor Marcus! Hark, lad. No matter how much thou dost treasure Cornelia... ...no matter how deeply she might believe she doth love thee... ...never shall I see her marry a peasant such as thee! When yon bell strikes three... Under the axe thou shall be!" [Below, Zidane and Garnet run into the room where the actors are elevated onto the stage.] Garnet: "What now? We cannot go any further!" Zidane: "Hmmm..." [Cinna runs in.] Cinna: "Zidane! Get on Number Two!" Zidane: "Okay! Princess Garnet, this way!" [At that moment, Steiner runs in...] Steiner: "Stop! [...and punches Cinna in the face...] Cinna: "Yow!" [...and gets on one of the machines himself. King Leo is still saying his speech above, when Garnet, Zidane, and Steiner appear.] King Leo: "Furthermore! (P-Princess Garnet!?) Zidane: (Guys! Just improvise!) Steiner: "Ho? What's all this?" [Marcus breaks free and goes to Garnet.] Marcus: "Cornelia!" Garnet: (Um...) Zidane: "(Marcus is Cornelia's lover!)" Garnet: "Oh, Marcus!" Zidane: "(Yeah, you're doing great!)" Garnet: "(Ahaha. I have studied drama, you know.)" Baku: "(Okay, guys. Let's keep going. Brahne's still watchin', after all!)" Garnet: "Oh, Marcus! I missed you so! I wish never to leave thy side. Prithee, lead me from this place!" Zidane: "See, King Leo? Thou shouldst give them thy blessing!" King Leo: "Never! Never leave his side, thou sayest? Foolish banter! I'll not allow it! Cornelia shall marry none other than this man--Prince Schnieder! Is that not so, Prince Schnieder?" Steiner: "M-Marry the princess? Me!?" King Leo: "Aye! And this traitorous crew, I will put to death! [Zidane and Marcus "beat up" Benero and Zenero.] Benero: "Ooof!" Zenero: "Oww!" Benero: "Too many of them!" Zenero: "Run away!" King Leo: "Pray, sweet daughter, come home to the castle with me." Garnet: "Nay, Father! I shan't return!" King Leo: "Cornelia... Trouble me no more. This wedding is for thine own welfare. Be mindful of that." Marcus: "Not if I can help it!!! Now is my moment of vengeance! For my parents, and for my love, Cornelia... I shall cut thee down!" [Garnet runs in front of the blade and "gets stuck."] Garnet: "Ngh!" Marcus: "No... Cornelia!!!" Garnet: "Mar...cus, forgive me. I still love my father..." Steiner: "Princess!" King Leo: "Cornelia!" Garnet: "Prithee, forgive my selfishness, Father, and spare my sweet Marcus..." [Garnet 'dies'.] Marcus: "What have I done!? Am I never to hear her loving voice again!? Am I cursed never again to feel her soft touch!? O, cruel fate! Thou hast robbed me of all I treasure!" Zidane: "Marcus!" [Marcus "stabs" himself.] Marcus: "Ngah!" [Up in her box:] Brahne: "Oh, my! This year's show is splendid! Waaaaaaa! Why did she have to die!? Why!?" (Now, where could Garnet be?) "Boo-hoo- hoooo!!!" [Down at the spectators seats:] Puck: "Wow, what a show!" Vivi: "Yeah, so sad..." Puck: "I'm glad we climbed all the way over here. How 'bout you, huh? Uh-oh! Look out!" [Two Pluto Knights run after them.] Haagen, Pluto Knight VIII: "Stop, you!" Weimar, Pluto Knight VII: "Come back, trespassers!" [Vivi trips.] Puck: "Fool! I'm outta here!" Haagen, Pluto Knight VIII: "Fury!!!" Weimar, Pluto Knight VII: "Come back here!" [They chase Vivi onto the stage during the dramatic mourning scene.] King Leo: "Forgive me!!!" Steiner: "Princess!!!" Vivi: "Leave me alone!" Haagen, Pluto Knight VIII: "Stop!" Weimar, Pluto Knight VII: "Come back here!" Vivi: "Don't come any closer!" [Vivi uses some fire magic, but it hits Garnet.] Garnet: "Ow! That's hot!" [She throws off her hood and everyone can see who it really is.] Baku: "Zidane! It's time!" Zidane: "Princess Garnet! Let's get outta here!" Steiner: "What... What is going on!?" Garnet: "Steiner! Don't follow me anymore!" Haagen, Pluto Knight VIII: "Captain, sir! We await your orders, sir!" Steiner: "Hmmm... Well... Umm... Errr... Princess! I'm afraid I cannot comply!" Garnet: "Stubborn as always, aren't you?" Zidane: "Come on, Princess. Let's ditch Sir Rustalot and get outta here!" Steiner: "Princess, wait!" [Zidane goes over to Vivi.] Zidane: "Hey, kid... You okay!?" Vivi: "Y-Yeah. I just trippd, that's all..." Steiner: "Princess, I cannot allow you to go! Seize them at once!" [The party fights the two Pluto Knights and Steiner and beat 'em. Inside the ship, at the helm:] Cinna: "Stabilizers configured!" Baku: "Good!" Blank: "Engine room is ready to go!" Baku: "Alright! We're movin' out!" Cinna: "Roger that!" Blank: "It's about time!" [FMV. The Prima Vista attempts to take off, and the Queen orders the soldiers to fire harpoons onto the deck to detain it. One of the cannons shoots a gigantic Bomb monsters as well, which attacks the party, coming up from behind Steiner (in-battle).] Zidane: "Hey, look behind you!" Steiner: "I'll not fall for such an old trick!" Garnet: "Please, Steiner! Behind you!" Steiner: "Surrender at once!" Vivi: "It's a bomb!" Marcus: "It's gonna blow!" Steiner: "I'll not fall for such an old trick!" [The bomb grows and grows until Steiner finally sees it. Unfortunately, it's too late and it blows up. The ship still sails, though, albeit barely, and it heads out of town. Brahne snaps her fan, frustrated. In the cockpit:] Cinna: "We're gonna crash!!!" [FMV. The Prima Vista sails through the mist clouds and crashes in a forest below, lighting up the sky. Back in Alexandria, the queen sits in her throne.] Queen Brahne: "Garnet... I never imagined you would do such a thing. Perhaps you're not such a helpless little girl anymore... Zorn! Thorn! Is our little experiment ready?" Zorn: "Yes, Your Majesty. It is combat-ready!" Thorn: "Easily terminate Princess Garnet, it can, Your Majesty." Queen Brahne: "I need her alive! Bring her back at once!" [Back down at the forest, Zidane walks to a cliff and surveys the wreckage to the theater ship, which isn't looking quite as merry.] =========================================================== 03. Evil Forest (EF01) =========================================================== [In the cockpit:] Baku: "Oww... My back's killin' me. Are you alright?" Cinna: "Yeah, but the Prima Vista's wasted." Baku: "Just our luck to crash into this forest... It's gonna get interesting..." Cinna: "What do you mean, 'interesting,' Boss? I hear no one's ever made it outta here alive." Blank: "Boss! There's fire everywhere! It's outta control!" Baku: "Quit yer whinin' and get it under control! And get the wounded outta here!" Blank: "Alright!" [Blank leaves.] Baku: "Get our goods outta here, too: weapons, items, anything we can use! There's no way we can survive if all our stuff is toast." Cinna: "I'm on it!" [Awhile later, Cinna lies outside on the ground. Boxes and some of the wounded lie there, too.] Cinna: "Phew... I'm beat... Hurry up and put out the fire! I can't carry 'em all by myself! What the hell are they doin'!? The whole ship's gonna burn up!" Zenero: "They're lookin' for Garnet... Can't find her anywhere. Maybe she fell off... Got squashed under the ship." Cinna: "This is great. First we kidnap her, then we kill her. We'll hang for sure." [Zidane finds his way down and runs over.] Cinna: "Zidane, I'm surprised you made it! I can't believe you jumped off! You're nuts, you know that?" Zidane: "I didn't jump off. I got thrown out from the impact. So, is everyone okay?" Cinna: "Yeah. We've all got the devil's luck. But if we don't find Princess Garnet, we're all dead meat." [A moogle flies down and the words ATE appear on the screen.] Moogle: "ATE, kupo! Active Time Event is a system that lets you see other events that are happening at the same time elsewhere, kupo! Press the SELECT button when you see the icon flashing below. You can press the button anytime while the icon is flashing. Try pressing [SELECT], kupo!" [The player sees 'The Forest Keeper' ATE, heading into the forest at Benero's urging. He finds Vivi on his rear, staring in fear.] Vivi: "Sh-She's in trouble..." Zidane: "...What the hell is that?" [Zidane runs to Steiner's aid, finding a large plant with Garnet encaged inside of it.] Steiner: "Release the princess at once!!!" Zidane: "Yeah, like it's gonna actually listen to you. Come on!" [The party wounds the Prison Cage, but it flees with Garnet.] Steiner: "Princess? PRINCESS!!!" Zidane: "What the heck? Where did they go?" Vivi: "She's gone... I was too scared to cast any spells... That monster's probably gonna eat her..." Steiner: "How could I let this happen!?" Zidane: "Don't worry. She's not dead yet. That monster was only a minion. He's probably gonna take her to his master." Steiner: "That means the princess might still be-- Come! We must go find her at once!" Vivi: "WHOA!!!" [Another Prison Cage swings down and gets Vivi.] Steiner: "!!!" Zidane: "!!!" [The second fight begins and they rescue Vivi.] Vivi: "Phew... Th-Thanks..." Zidane: "Are you alright?" Vivi: "Y-Yeah... I think so." [The Prison Cage rises up...] Vivi: "!!!" Zidane: "!!!" Steiner: "!!!" [...and sprays a noxious-looking gas at the three. Zidane jumps over the spray, though. Vivi goes down.] Steiner: "UGH! P-Prin...cess..." [Later on, Vivi is resting in a bed on the Prima Vista. Blank stands there and appears to have been taking care of him.] Blank: "You guys are lucky. If it weren't for Zidane, you'd both be dead. Some of the monsters in this forest reproduce by planting seeds in other animals. And when the seeds sprout, it's hasta la vista: you become beef jerky." Vivi: "Um... A-Am I gonna die?" Blank: "No. You're gonna be fine. Here, drink this. It'll remove all the seeds from your body." Vivi: "Ugh...eeyuck..." [Elsewhere, a drowsy Steiner is being led to a room by Zenero.] Steiner: "Princess... I'm coming right now..." [He runs into Benero.] Steiner: "...Stand aside!" Benero: "Room behind you. Go." Steiner: "The princess...is in grave danger! Do you intend to ABANDON HER!?" Benero: "You're in no condition." Zenero: "Don't worry about the princess. The boss'll think of something." [They turn him around...] Steiner: "Hey! Stop!" [...and push him into a room.] Zenero: "Get some rest." Benero: "Yeah, and take that medicine I gave you." [In the room:] Steiner: "Dammit... I can't just stand here... The princess's life rests in my hands. What cantheir boss possibly accomplish!? This medicine... It smells terrible. And the color... This is obviously poison! Ugh... I can't take it anymore... God help me!" [He chugs the medicine.] Steiner: "Hey... Not bad." [Up in the cockpit, Baku and Zidane are speaking.] Baku: "Forget it. Monsters born from the Mist are crawlin' everywhere." Zidane: "So what? There's nothing out there we can't handle." Baku: "Yeah, but what are we gonna do about the wounded?" Zidane: "We can take 'em with us." Baku: "How are we gonna carry all of them? Trust me. We go out now, and we'll all get wasted. My boys come before the princess, you know. It's too bad..." Zidane: "!!!" Baku: "We're gonna stay put 'til everyone recovers. You better not set one foot outside this ship. You got that!?" Zidane: "I can't believe you're abandoning her! You're nothing but a big coward!" [Zidane storms off, and goes down to Vivi's room.] Vivi: "Oh... Th-Thank you for helping me." Zidane: "Ah, don't mention it. Besides, it was your black magic that saved the day. You know, you've got some major power for such a little guy." Vivi: "......" Zidane: "What's wrong...? Are you peeved at me because I called you little? Hey, you're a great mage with great powers, alright? To hell with looks. It's what inside that counts." Vivi: "I'm sorry. When that monster caught her, I couldn't do anything..." Zidane: "Hey, don't worry about the princess. I'll get her back. I promise." Vivi: "Thank you, Mr. Zidane." Zidane: "Whoa, that's the first time anyone's called me 'Mr.' Just call me Zidane, alright?" Vivi: "Okay...Zidane." [Zidane walks out of the room.] Zidane: "Geez... He was pretty down... Maybe I shouldn't have made that promise. I don't even know if I'll be able to find her..." [Zidane thinks back to when he first met the princess on the stairway when she was making her escape.] Zidane: "She was cute... Then again, maybe I only thought so because she's a princess. Hmm...... No... She was definitely cute." [The flashback ends.] Zidane: "Man, I can't stop thinking about her... What am I gonna do...?" R1 --> Go look for her R2 --> Forget her R1: "Yeah! What's there to think about!? She's cute...and she's in trouble. That's all that matters." [The Blank scene that takes place afterwards starts immediately with this option.] R2: "...The boss is right. The guys come first." [Zidane walks up to the empty cockpit.] Zidane: "Geez. I don't know what to do..." [Another flashback, to when she asks him to kidnap her.] Zidane: "I don't know why I was chasing her so hard. I didn't really care about our plan at that point. And it wasn't just because she's such a doll. ......... I can't explain it. I'm just drawn to her so strongly..." [Flashback ends.] Zidane: "This is crazy. I don't even know her. What am I gonna do...? Yeah! What's there to think about!? She's cute...and she's in trouble. That's all that matters. Blank: "...There you are. Why do you look so serious? Uh-oh... What are you up to this time?" Zidane: "I'm gonna take that knight and the black mage and find the princess." Blank: "You're crazy! Man, you don't even know what's out there. Besides, there's no way the boss'll allow that." Zidane: "I know..." Blank: "Sheez... Why do you always gotta play hero? The boss is gonna kill you. Well, what are you waiting for? Go talk to the boss." [Zidane finds Baku in the meeting room.] Baku: "AH! AAAH! AAACHOOO!!! Took you long enough... I fell asleep, darn it. So, you're leaving, eh?" Zidane: "Yeah... I promised Garnet I'd kidnap her." Baku: "Gwahaha! I didn't ask you why! I can't blame you, though. She's damn beautiful. I guess that's reason enough! Well, I hope you're ready! 'Cause I'm gonna bust you up for breakin' the rules." Zidane: "...Alright." Baku: "Okay, get your butt over to the cargo room. We got more room there." [They go to the cargo room.] Baku: "You ready!?" R1 --> Anytime! R2 --> Hold on R1: "I ain't holdin' back." [The fight starts.] R2: "Hurry up!" [Zidane wins the battle.] Baku: "I'll be damned... Bravo!" [He gut-punches Zidane.] Baku: "Go find your princess! Gwahahahaha..." [He leaves.] Zidane: "Damn, that hurt! He pulled his punches 'til that last one." [Zidane goes to Steiner's room. He's sleeping with Cinna's doll.] Steiner: "............" Zidane: "Come on. You're too old to be playing with a doll." Steiner: "Silence! A scoundrel like you could never understand! I'm just overwhelmed with concern for the princess! If only you rogues hadn't kidnapped her... This is all your fault! If anything should happen to the princess, I will have your head!" Zidane: "Take it easy. Geez... I'm gonna go look for her now. I'll let you come with me if you promise to be good. What do you say, Rusty?" Steiner: "RR...RUSTY!!!? I am Adelbert Steiner, Captain of the Knights of Pluto, and I will never work with you conniving thieves!" Zidane: "Captain? I figured you were a private, what with that cheap, rusty armor... Look, this has nothing to do with Tantalus. It's something I decided to do on my own. I just wanna save Garnet." Steiner: "Hmph...! You had better not be lying! Because if you are, I won't hesistate to kill you!" Zidane: "Yeah, yeah. I'm counting on you, Rusty." Steiner: "Make no mistake. I'm only going with you to rescue the princess! I'll deal with you personally when this is over!" Zidane: "...Whatever." Steiner: "It may be difficult with just the two of us. We should seek Master Vivi's help as well." Zidane: "Why are you calling him 'Master'?" Steiner: "You fool. That black mage has unimaginable powers... I don't want to get him involved, but alas, it can't be helped. We need Master Vivi's help to rescue the princess." Zidane: "Alright, let's go talk to Vivi." [They go to see Vivi.] Zidane: "Well, Vivi, we're ready to go look for the princess." Vivi: "Really!? That's great! Be careful, okay?" Zidane: "Actually, we want you to come with us, too." Vivi: "Huh!? B-But I can't do anything." Steiner: "Hardly, Master Vivi. Your magic was highly effective against that monster. In all honesty, I hold your power in greater esteem than I do this scoundrel's." Vivi: "B-But...I'm scared. I couldn't even move last time." Steiner: "Please, Master Vivi. For the sake of Princess Garnet and all of Alexandria, I humbly request your assistance!" Zidane: "Come on! You're a black mage, for crying out loud! Show us what you've got! Alright, let's get going." Vivi: "...Okay. I'll...try my best." Steiner: "Thank you, Master Vivi." [Zidane leaves.] Steiner: "Master Vivi..." Vivi: "Yeah?" Steiner: "It's about your black magic. I wish to try an experiment. (I was wondering if...)" Vivi: "Magic sword...? Okay. I'll give it a try." [The party goes to leave, but Blank stops Zidane at the exit.] Blank: "Sheez...you really dig her, huh?" Zidane: "I can't sit around knowing a girl's in trouble. Goes against my nature." Blank: "Whatever. You're full of crap." Zidane: "Ohhh.... I get it. You're jealous that I'm gonna get me a sweetie pie." Blank: "Pshhh... She's not even my type. I came down here to give you this." Zidane: "You're always thinking about me...but I won't need a love potion to reel this one in." Blank: "Why don't you get your mind off girls for a second? This is the medicine I gave to that black mage and the knight. It's sort of like a seed remover." Zidane: "Cool. This'll really come in handy." Blank: "Why am I always helping you...?" [He gives Blank's Medicine to Zidane.] Blank: "Oh yeah. Here's a little tip from the boss." Don't forget to set your abilities. Leaving the band is your business, but you better keep training! Learning more abilities is gonna make you even stronger. Good luck, Baku Zidane: "Hey, Blank, how do you set abilities again?" Blank: "Man, how can you forget? It's so basic. Open the Menu, select Ability, select Equip, and choose the abilities you wanna set." Zidane: "Thanks, Blank. I'll see you when I see you." Blank: "How about never?" [Zidane and company head into the forest, eventually coming to a spring.] Zidane: "Hmm... No sign of any monsters here. A spring..." [An ATE, 'Do As I Say, Not As I Do' plays. The party heads on and eventually comes to a cavern where a giant plant and an unconscious Garnet are.] Vivi: "There she is!" Zidane: "So this is the master." Steiner: "Princess!!! You stay out of this! Alexandria would be disgraced if a mere bandit should rescue the princess." Zidane: "You think you can handle him on your own?" Steiner: "......" Zidane: "Let's get him, Vivi!" [The battle starts, and Blank arrives during it. They defeat the creature together. Steiner cradles the princess afterwards.] Steiner: "Princess!!! Please get a hold of yourself!" Blank: "Zidane, give her the stuff." Garnet: Steiner: "Princess, please try to drink all of it." Vivi: "Is she gonna be okay?" [The ground rumbles.] Blank: "Oh, man! What now!?" [The place where the Plant Brain sat collapses, and spiders come out.] Blank: "Sheez! We're gonna be surrounded!" Zidane: "Let's get out of here!" Blank: "GO! What are you waitin' for!?" [They continue on, battling a few spiders as they make their getaway. Zidane turns around for a moment.] Blank: "What are you doin'!?" Zidane: "Something's wrong..." Blank: "What?" Zidane: "The entire forest is coming after us. Blank... Take care of everyone." Blank: (What did he mean by that?) [They start running again. FMV: legions of spiders chase the fellows and the forest starts to petrify itself in an effort to stop them. A spider attacks Zidane, but he moves out of the way and it catches Blank. Zidane takes a map that Blank threw at him and runs to the exit, dodging spiny plant tentacles, and makes it out. The forest entrance closes and the player sees that Blank was petrified along with the forest. Afterwards, Zidane searches for a way in.] Zidane: "Dammit!!! That idiot! Blank..." [The party makes camp as dusk hits, and they gather around a campfire on the outskirts of the forest.] Vivi: "I hope she gets well soon..." Steiner: "This is all his fault! Have you nothing to say, you filth!?" Garnet: "...Oh..." Steiner: "P-Princess!!!" Garnet: "...Steiner? ...How did I survive...? You brought me here?" Steiner: "It is my sworn duty to protect you at any cost." Zidane: "What are you talking about? It was Vivi's magic and my dagger that got you out of there, Princess." Garnet: "I thank you both." Steiner: "That monkey deserves no praise! None of this would've happened if you and your band hadn't abducted the princess! And how dare you claim to have rescued her!? When we get back to Alexandria, I will--" Garnet: "Steiner... I left the castle of my own will." Zidane: "What a coincidence, eh? We went to snatch her, and she wanted to be snatched." Steiner: "Impossible!" Garnet: "It's true." Zidane: "So what do you say, Rusty? Friends? Come on, let's enjoy this camping trip while it lasts." Steiner: "Camping--you imbecile! Surely even you must know something about the Mist! The vicious monsters it spawns! The abnormalities it stirs in the mind and body! Princess, we must leave this dangerous place at once." Zidane: "You've got to be kidding. She hasn't even fully recovered yet." Steiner: "Silence! Who asked for your opinion!?" Zidane: "Alright, tell me... How do you plan to get out of here? We're standing in a valley surrounded by tall cliffs. And last I heard, North Gate and South Gate were sealed off." Steiner: "........." Zidane: "Yeah. That's what I thought." Steiner: "Grrrrr..." Zidane: "The princess can barely walk right now. You went through this. You should know. I think we should rest here for now." Steiner: "I will never follow your--" Zidane: "Steiner!!! State your sworn duty!" Steiner: "What else!? To protect Princess Garnet Til Alexandros! ...Very well. Until the princess recovers, I will guard this place with my life." Zidane: "Sounds good to me. Vivi, let's get some rest." [The next morning, Zidane inspects the forest entrance again. The princess walks over.] Zidane: "How are you feeling?" Garnet: "Good...thanks to that medicine you gave me. Could this be...?" Zidane: "Yeah, I was surprised, too. After we beat that big plant-guy, the forest got completely petrified." Garnet: "Vivi told me that we were able to escape because of your friend." Zidane: "...His name is Blank." Garnet: "We must go help him." Zidane: "We can't do anything for him right now." Garnet: "But...I can't--" Zidane: "We'll come back for him. I'm sure there's a way to cure him. Let's get going. According to the map that Blank gave me, there's a cavern to the south of us. Maybe we can get above the mist through that cavern. Are you alright? Everything's gonna be fine. Trust me." [At the campsite, a moogle comes out of the forest.] Vivi: "Look! There's something coming!" Monty: "Wait! Kupo! I'm impressed, kupo! First time I've seen anyone escape from Evil Forest. You all must be strong, kupo! But don't get cocky, kupo. Lots of stronger monsters ahead. Before you go out to the world, Mogster will teach you a few things." [An ATE plays ("Teach me, Mogster!" Lesson 1) and afterwards:] Monty: "I have a gift for you, kupo. Take this flute. With this flute, you can call us anywhere in the world, kupo. Press ([]) to play it. Happy trails! Kupo!" Garnet: "Thank you." Monty: "Kupopo!" Vivi: "Bye." Monty: "Kupoo!" [Zidane slaps Steiner on the back and walks off with the rest of the party. Steiner looks around unwittingly.] Steiner: "!!! What the... Who goes there!?" Monty: "Your friends already left, kupo." Steiner: "Princess, wait!" [On the world map:] - Normal Navigation - (><) :Enter buildings Ride a vehicle ([]) :Call moogle [SELECT] :Toggle navigation map [L1][R1] :Camera control [L2] :Lock/unlock camera rotation [R2] :Switch perspective =========================================================== 04. North Gate (NG01) =========================================================== [On the world map, after leaving Evil Forest, a large gate is at the end of the valley. It's not a necessary stop, however. When the party gets there, they see banners flying and smoke plumes on the other side.] Garnet: "Where are we?" Zidane: "I think this is the North Gate. It's beneath the Mist. It lies between Alexandria and Burmecia. I think it's called... Melda Arch or something? Fresh footprints... And there's smoke rising." Steiner: "That flag...! That is Alexandria's war banner! How dare they commit crimes in the name of Alexandria! I should like to arrest and punish them if the circumstances were different!" Garnet: "......" Zidane: "Let's get outta here. The cavern lies to the left of this arch. We'll follow the ledge! =========================================================== 05. Ice Cavern (IC01) =========================================================== [The party walks up to the mouth of the frigid place from the world map. Cold mist pours out constantly.] Zidane: "This must be the cavern..." Vivi: "U-Um..." Zidane: "What's up, Vivi?" Vivi: "Have you ever heard of the Ice Cavern?" Zidane: "Sure... Is this the place?" Vivi: "I think so... It's supposed to be near Evil Forest." Garnet: "...I've heard of it. It's supposed to be a beautiful place, covered in ice." Vivi: "My grandpa told me about this place. He said the cavern takes travelers to the top of the Mist." Steiner: "Bravo! Master Vivi's grandfather must be quite a scholar! We must thank him upon escaping the Mist!" Vivi: "My grandpa used to teach me lots of things, but he passed away..." Steiner: "Oh... Forgive my indiscretion." Vivi: "Don't worry about it." Zidane: "Well...why don't we go inside?" [They all walk in. There are plants frozen in bloom near the ledges.] Garnet: "Oh...! What a beautiful place! Seeing the actual cavern is so much better than reading about it! Oh, how pretty... I wonder what kind of flower this is?" Steiner: "Princess! Please, don't touch anything!" Zidane: "Can we get moving? I'm freezin' here. [On the side of the path ahead is a weird wall.] Zidane: "Huh? What's this...? What a strange wall... There's gotta be something behind it. Hey, Vivi!" Vivi: "Y-Yes?" Zidane: "Can you break this wall down with your magic?" Vivi: "I...I'm coming. [Vivi melts the wall, revealing a treasure chest.] Zidane: "Whoa! I knew it! See? There might be other walls like this... I'm counting on you, Vivi!" Vivi: "S-Sure!" [They come to another wall soon.] Zidane: "Huh? What's this...?" [Vivi destroys it.] Zidane: "Whoa! [A stump near by gets the same treatment.] Zidane: "Whoa! [After a few more walls the party comes to forked path, and a long ledge by taking the right way. Vivi straggles in the weird mist.] Zidane: "Vivi, hurry up, or you'll be left behind!" Vivi: "I...I'm coming." Garnet: "Oh no!" [Vivi falls over a ledge and collapses. Steiner walks over...] Steiner: "Master Vivi! Are you okay?" [...and collapses, too.] Zidane: "Yo, Rusty! You're...not alright, are you? What happened to you guys? Hey, Rusty! Move it or lose it! Get up! ...It's no use." [Garnet collapses when Zidane isn't looking.] Zidane: "Oh no! Garnet! Not you, too? Garnet? She's out cold... Shoot... I'm falling asleep..." [Zidane collapses, too, but wakes up later, hearing something.] Zidane: "What's that sound...? It came from over there... Is somebody there...? [Zidane walks to the bottom of a frozen waterfall.] Voice: "Why didn't you fall asleep?" [Zidane looks up to see a black mage-type thing.] Black Waltz No. 1: "You should be dead by now..." Zidane: "Are you the one causing this blizzard?" Black Waltz No. 1: "Hee-hee-hee... That's right!" [Zidane fights the Black Waltz and its summoned Sealion, defeating them. After-battle, a voice yells:] Voice: "You defeated No. 1, but No. 2 and No. 3 will reclaim the princess!" Zidane: "Wh-Who's there? Oh, whatever... I've gotta go back and check on them!" [Zidane leaves and the player can see that Zorn and Thorn were up near the exit, watching the entire course of events. Back where the rest of the sleeping party was, everyone's waking up now that the strange blizzard's stopped.] Garnet: "Zidane!" Zidane: "Hey, there. Everybody okay?" Steiner: "You! What just happened?" Zidane: "It was no big deal." Steiner: "You're hiding something!" Zidane: "Hey, nothing happened. You heard me." Steiner: "You...didn't touch the princess, did you?" Zidane: "Just what are you accusing me of?" Garnet: "Steiner, he said nothing happened. Why are you being so rude?" Steiner: "...My apologies, Princess." Garnet: "Well, I'm glad everyone is safe. Shall we move on? Zidane? Is something bothering you?" Zidane: "No... It's nothing." [The party heads up to the exit and emerges into the mountain air.] Garnet: "We made it through the Mist! Oh, the sun feels great!" Zidane: "Look, there's a village. I think I've been there before..." Garnet: "It sounds like you've been everywhere before, Zidane. The only other worlds I've visited are in books. You may have been to that village. Let's go visit." Zidane: "Wait. Hold it. You're a princess! You can't just go rushing in there. People are looking for you. You need a new identity." Steiner: "Insolent fool! The princess need not sneak around! Besides, we're heading back to the castle. You leave her alone. And you will address her as 'Princess' from now on, you silly peasant!" [Steiner pushes Zidane and he drops his dagger.] Zidane: "Dammit, Rusty! Why don't you just shut up? Who do you think you are? I don't take orders from a stuck-up jerk like you!" Vivi: "You guys!" Garnet: "Stop it, you two! ...Steiner, I do not intend to return to the castle. And I do see Zidane's point. I need a new name... Zidane... What is this called?" Zidane: "That? That's a dagger. All knives of that length are called daggers. Short swords are a bit longer. The big sword you hold with both hands is called a broadsword. And..." Garnet: "Oh, okay... I understand now. So this is called a 'dagger'..." Steiner: "Princess! It's a weapon! Please be careful." Garnet: "I've decided! From now on, my name is..." [Garnet's name now becomes Dagger. The player can choose it to his/her fitting, though.] Garnet: "I will be called Dagger from now on. What do you think, Zidane?" Zidane: "Is that okay with you?" R1 --> Yes R2 --> No R1: "Great, Dagger. Now, let's work on your speech... Try to sound more casual. Like me." Garnet: "I shall try." Zidane: "No, no, no..." (What would Vivi say...?) Vivi: "?" Zidane: "Just say... 'Alrighty.'" Garnet: "A-Alrighty!" Zidane: "You're getting the hang of it! Well... Let's go." R2 (Garnet): "I'll pick a different name. Let's see..." [Her name can be chosen again.] Garnet: "I will be called ______ from now on. Is that better?" [The party walks down the slope and arrives at the world map.] =========================================================== 05. South Gate (SG01) =========================================================== [Up on the plateau, opposite from the village, is a gate.] Guard: "Huh? What do you want?" R1 --> I want to pass through R2 --> I want to take a break R3 --> I want to talk R4 --> Nothing R1: "You gotta have a Gate Pass to pass through here. There's no work here right now. Try again when they need construction workers." R2: "The shopgirl at Vega won't be here for a while." R5 --> I can wait. R6 --> Maybe some other time. R3: "South Gate is the border of Alexandria and Lindblum. We check every airship and person crossing the border. We're doing the best we can to keep the two nations safe. Have you ever been on an airship?" R4: [Dialogue cancelled.] R5: "Then wait right there." R6: [Dialogue cancelled.] [After selecting R5, a girl comes down the path a few minutes later.] Part-time Worker Mary: "Hello! I'm Mary. I work at Vega, an item shop. Sorry to keep you waiting. How can I help you?" R1 --> I want to rest R2 --> I want to shop R3 --> Nothing R1: "It's 100 Gil to rest here." {Rest/Don't Rest} R2: [She shows her wares.] R3: [Dialogue cancelled.] =========================================================== 06. Village of Dali (DL01) =========================================================== [The party walks into the quaint village.] Vivi: "Gee whiz, a windmill!" Zidane: "Vivi, the inn is this way!" Vivi: "Aw, do we have to? ...But I wanna go see the windmill." Zidane: "I know. But let's get some rest first. We also need to decide what to do next." [They walk into the inn. Two little boys emerge once they're gone.] Boy in Blue: "Did you see that?" Boy in Brown: "I sure did!" [Inside the inn, they find a man snoozing at the front desk.] Zidane: "Sleeping on the job?" Innkeeper Hal: "Oh, I'm sorr...y. ......" [He stares in Vivi and Garnet's direction.] Zidane: "Hey, I know she's cute, but it's rude of you to stare." Innkeeper Hal: "Oh, I-I wasn't looking at the young lady. I was just... The room is right over there. Make yourselves at home." Dagger: "Um...Zidane? Where will I be staying?" Zidane: "In the same room. Where else?" Dagger: "But, Zidane... I mustn't..." Zidane: "I understand how you feel, but these country inns don't have private rooms. Get inside, everyone." [They all walk into the four-bed room.] Zidane: "Tell me one thing before we go to sleep. Why did you wanna leave the castle, Dagger?" Dagger: "If the theater ship hadn't crashed..." Zidane: "It would've arrived at the neighboring regency of Lindblum. You were gonna leave Alexandria!? I see. If you hadn't been caught, you would've reached Lindblum by now. But now... We'll have to cross South Gate on foot. Border crossing, huh?" Dagger: "Zidane, please listen. There is a reason I must leave this kingdom. I cannot tell you why... But...please..." Zidane: "I understand... I'll get you to Lindblum somehow." Steiner: "I've heard enough! Princess, you cannot trust the words of a thief! He may expose you to even more danger, like he did in Evil Forest! I beg of you, Princess. Please return with me to the castle." Zidane: "I know I screwed up in Evil Forest. But there's no doubt in my mind now. I'll protect Dagger with my life!" Steiner: "Don't be ridiculous! It is I who protect the princess, now and forever!" Zidane: "Then tell me. How do you intend to take her back to the castle?" Steiner: "I-I will think of a way..." Vivi: "Zzz... Zzz..." Steiner: "Master Vivi..." Zidane: "He was tired. But you had to go on a tirade." Steiner: "What!?" Zidane: "Let's go to sleep." [Everyone takes a nap. Later on, a girl sings.] Zidane: "What a...beautiful voice... Who's singing...? I've never heard a song like that before... ...Was that Dagger singing? Oh, everyone's up already. I wonder where they went?" [Vivi goes into town and sees Vivi by the windmill.] Vivi: "Zidane!" Zidane: "Hey, Vivi. What's up?" Vivi: "N-Nothing, I was just thinking." Zidane: "Ah, I see." Vivi: "?" Zidane: "You met a girl!" Vivi: "No, no! Nothing like that!" Zidane: "What? Don't tell me you don't like girls!" Vivi: "I never really thought about stuff like...that." Zidane: "I'm always thinking about girls. I'm popular with ALL the ladies in Lindblum. Come to me if you have any girl trouble, okay?" Vivi: "S-Sure. Thanks." Zidane: "Okay, then. We need to decide what to do. I'm gonna go look for Dagger and Rusty. Would you mind heading back to the inn?" Vivi: "Sure, I'll head back." Zidane: "So, what were you staring at?" Vivi: "Nothing. But I keep hearing a sound like 'kweh.'" Zidane: "That's the sound chocobos make..." Vivi: "......" Zidane: "......" Zidane: "I'll see you back at the inn!" Vivi: "Okay!" [Zidane leaves.] Vivi: "What are chocobos...? Chocobo!?" [A man snatches up Vivi and runs off.] Vivi: "Aaah!" [Zidane stops on his way back to the inn.] Zidane: "Huh? Forget Steiner. I wonder where Dagger is." [He finds her staring at merchandise in the equipment shop.] Zidane: "Dagger..." (What's she looking at?)" [It takes a moment before she notices him over her shoulder.] Dagger: "Zidane!?" Zidane: "You got a fever or something? Your face is all red." Dagger: "I-It's nothing. I'm fine." Zidane: "You're acting strange..." Dagger: "What?" Zidane: "I get it!!! You changed the way you talk!" R1 --> You're doing great! R2 --> You still sound funny, though R1 (Dagger): "Thanks!" R2 (Dagger): "I just started! I'll master it soon enough!" [Dagger waits a moment.] Dagger: "I did fine in the play, didn't I?" Zidane: "Oh yeah, I thought..." R1 --> You were Ruby! R2 --> You sure know how to fake it! R1 (Dagger): "I'm a big fan of Lord Avon's plays. I have-- I mean, I've seen all of them. 'I Want to Be Your Canary' is one of my favorites!" Zidane: "Oh yeah?" Dagger: "Is Ruby the young lady with the strange accent?" Zidane: "Uh, yeah." Dagger: "Should I talk more like her?" Zidane: "What? No, no. She's really finicky about her speech. She always laughs at us whenever we try to mimic her. So you should just be yourself, Dagger." Dagger: "I understa...Alrighty!" Dagger: "Tee hee." Zidane: "Ha ha..." R2 (Dagger): "Fake!? How insensitive! I love Lord Avon's plays. I've seen all of them. 'I Want to Be Your Canary' is one of my favorites. I even have all the lines memorized! I shall...I'll learn soon enough." Zidane: "Geez, you don't have to get so mad. I'm sorry. We need to decide what to do from here. Will you go back to the inn?" Dagger: "What about you?" Zidane: "I'll head back soon." Zidane: "I'm gonna look for Vivi and Steiner." [Said if you haven't talked to Vivi yet.] Dagger: "Alrighty. I'll catch you later." Zidane: (Good! You sound just like a normal village girl. Crossing the border might not be so tough after all...) [Dagger bows to Eve before leaving.] Dagger: "Thanks. I had fun!" Shopkeeper Eve: "Bye!" [Zidane looks around for Steiner.] Zidane: "I'll just let Steiner be and go back to the inn. [Zidane heads back.] Zidane: "Did you wait long? I asked Vivi to head back. He should be back soon. How do you like this village? Pretty different from the castle, I bet." Dagger: "Yes. The kids are very energetic, and there are so many things to see. I've never walked around so freely in my life! But... Where are all the adults?" Zidane: "Yeah... I used to see them tending the farm next to the village." Dagger: "But that farm is tiny." Zidane: "Yeah. There's something strange going on... We'll leave once Vivi gets back." Dagger: "But... What about Steiner?" Zidane: "I have a good plan for crossing South Gate. It's gonna be easy! They're not looking for the rest of us, so we'll just hide you! Forget about Rusty. Leave everything to me!" [The ATE 'Queen Brahne's Steiner' plays. Afterwards, Dagger is listening to Zidane tell a story.] Zidane: "...As it turns out, it didn't matter that we snuck into their mansion. But the Kings were hiding something in their mansion... What's wrong? Am I boring you?" Dagger: "Oh, no. Your story is very interesting. But I'm concerned about Vivi. Why isn't he back yet?" Zidane: "You're right. He is late. I'm not worried about Steiner, but Vivi, I'm not so sure about. Let's go look for him." [They go out into the square.] Zidane: "Wait a minute... Last time I saw Vivi, he was standing over there." [They go closer.] Zidane: "Did I hear a chocobo? Vivi said he heard a chocobo here." Voice: Zidane: "Is someone crying...?" Voice: [Zidane looks at a little pipe by the windmill shed.] Zidane: "It's coming from the hole... Vivi...?" Vivi: "...Zidane?" Zidane: "Vivi! Where are you? Are you underground? Can you move?" Vivi: "They told me to stay here..." Zidane: "Are you hurt?" Vivi: "No." Zidane: "Don't worry, we'll get you out. We'll hurry, so stay where you are, okay?" Vivi: "...Okay." Zidane: "What's going on in this village...? There's gotta be a way into the underground somewhere. Let's look for one." Dagger: "Okay!" Zidane: "It seems like such a quiet village..." [In the windmill, Yaff is no longer present. Zidane cracks open a hatch the guard'd previously rested on.] Zidane: "Heh, isn't this obvious? There's a cool breeze..." R1 --> Go down R2 --> Don't go down R1: [Zidane and Dagger go down.] R2: [Hatch is closed, unentered.] [Inside, the party runs down a path to where some light in a little hut streams out.] Zidane: "This isn't... ...just a regular storage facility." Dagger: "What's going on?" Zidane: "(Shhh!)" [Inside the little hut, two men talk.] Man: "Why is it moving? Is it true that the mayor's brother found it?" Young Man: "I guess they reconciled. His brother's one of us now." Man: "...Wasn't he on the old lady's side before?" Young Man: "Oh, about abandoning the farm? He probably only said that because he was fighting with the mayor. Who cares? We need more workers anyway. Hey, let's put this in a box." Man: "I guess the guys at the castle will take care of it." Zidane: (The castle...!?) Young Man: "Yup. We're only in charge of production." Garnet: "!" Man: "Gotcha." Garnet: (The pattern on this barrel...) Young Man: "Come along, now." [The two men come out of the hut with--] Zidane: "(Vivi!)" Young Man: "Hurry up!" Zidane: "That bastard!" Garnet: "(Zidane! Wait!)" Zidane: "(Geez! Hey!)" [Garnet drags Zidane back into the previous screen. Vivi walks with the men.] Vivi: "......" [In the other hallway:] Zidane: "What is it!?" Dagger: "Did you see the large barrel next to the shed? I've seen the exact same pattern on some of the barrels at the castle. This place must have some kind of connection with Alexandria Castle. I must know what it is! So please... I beg of you, don't cause any trouble just yet." Zidane: "...Alright. But I will start trouble if Vivi is in danger. Agreed?" Dagger: "Sure." Zidane: "Alright, let's go. They went further inside." [The two enter and come into a large room.] Zidane: "What the heck is that?" Garnet: "Zidane!" [He runs to a gigantic machine that's in use.] Zidane: "What is it?" Dagger: "Someone's crying..." Voice: Zidane: "...... ...Vivi?" [A voice comes from a box nearby.] Vivi: "Zidane!?" Zidane: "It IS you! I'll get you out! Why would they stuff you in a box?" Dagger: "How could they...?" Vivi: "U-Um..." Zidane: "We'll talk later! Hooold on! ...It's open!" [Vivi's freed.] Zidane: "What happened?" Vivi: "After you left, some men kidnapped me and brought me here. They told me to stay put. I was so scared... I didn't know what to do. They asked me, 'Why were you outside?' and then they said, 'The cargo ship isn't even here yet.' I didn't know what they were talking about, so I didn't say anything, and then they said, 'Let's put it in with today's shipment.'" Dagger: "And they put you in that box?" Vivi: "...Yeah." Zidane: "Well, I'm glad you're safe. Listen, Vivi. You gotta do something next time. You should try-- screaming back or whatever." Vivi: "Screaming...?" Zidane: "Yeah, like...'Get off me, you scumbag!'" Garnet: (Scumbag?) Zidane: "Like that! It surprises your attacker and empowers you!" Vivi: "Huh... I see." Zidane: "I need to ask you a favor, Vivi. We want to check out what's ahead. I know you might not be thrilled with the idea, but..." Vivi: "...Zidane, I wanna know more, too. Look... What is that thing?" [The gigantic machine spits out a weird ball, which travels along down the assembly line.] Zidane: "Alright, we'll all go together!" [They head past the 'egg' conveyor belt, and Zidane takes a peek at what's happening in the darkness.] Zidane: "I can almost see inside... ...but I can't see anything. I just hear some noise. Are the eggs...hatching?" [They run into the next room.] Vivi: "Ahhh! What is this!?" [Large-scale version of Vivi-like black mages are coming out of the end of the 'egg' machine, and they ride lifeless on hooks that head towards a last machine.] Zidane: "They're... Some parts are different, but... (...They look like Vivi.)" Vivi: "Wh-What is this...? Are they...dolls?" [Zidane looks behind him.] Zidane: "!" (Someone's coming!) "Vivi! Dagger!" Dagger: "Why...? Is my mother behind this...? Zidane: "This is the only way!" Vivi: "Wh-Whoa!" Dagger: "Ahhh! What are you doing, Zidane!?" [Zidane picks up Garnet and takes Vivi's hand and runs away, taking refuge inside the last machine." Dagger: "Ahhh! ...Murf...! !!! ...!!!" Zidane: "Sorry! But stay quiet!" [A man walks to where the three just were.] Young Man: "Hey! Did you say something?" Worker: "Nope. Not me." Young Man: "Okay. Never mind. It's almost time. Hurry it up, will ya?" Worker: "I hear ya!" [A box drops in through the top of the machine.] Zidane: "Whoa!" Dagger: "Zidane!?" [A boxed-in Zidane travels the length of the conveyor belt and is stuck into a large barrel. Two more boxes come to collect on Vivi and Dagger, too.] Vivi: "Ahhhhhh!" Dagger: "Vivi!" [Meanwhile, at the mountain nearby, Steiner is talking to Morrid.] Steiner: "Pardon me! I must escort a person of high rank to the castle! When will the cargo ship arrive?" Morrid: "Hmm... Looks good. You're in my way." [Morrid goes down the stairs.] Steiner: "I shall persevere!" [Steiner follows him down to his hut.] Morrid: "The smell off coffee relaxes me. How about a cup?" Steiner: "Oh, thank you." [Steiner thinks a moment.] Steiner: "I am not here to drink coffee! Tell me when the cargo ship will arrive, or else the Alexandrian royal family will appropriate this property!" Morrid: "And then what?" Steiner: "I order you to tell me when the cargo ship will arrive! Tell meeeee!!!" Morrid: "You're not a very creative interrogator." Steiner: "I am just trying to do what is right!" Morrid: "Who decides right and wrong? You?" Steiner: "Anyone can tell right from wrong." Morrid: "Ha ha ha... Still as green as a pickle." Steiner: "When will the cargo ship arrive!?" Morrid: "It's already here. They should be loading it now." Steiner: "Why couldn't you tell me sooner!? Thank you!" [Steiner runs out of the mountain and towards the cargo ship.] Steiner: "Ah! It is indeed the cargo ship! Now I can take the princess back to the castle! Now I must think of a way to get her on the ship... Wha!? There is something coming out of the ground!" [At the loading dock, a flap in the ground lets the chocobo pull one of the barrels out.] Man: "I wonder what they're gonna use them for? We've been making lots of 'em since they set up the factory six months ago." Young Man: "Who cares? This is a piece of cake compared to farming. Better money, too. ...... H-Hey! Is that scary guy in armor running towards US!?" Young Man 2: "...... Let's get outta here!" [The men flee, and Steiner runs over to a barrel.] Steiner: "This barrel... What could be inside!? What could they possibly be shipping out from this village? What the--" [The barrel moves.] Steiner: "Did I just see that barrel move? Let's see..." R1 --> Poke it with a sword R2 --> Observe it some more R1: "Hyah!" [He stabs.] Voice: "OW! OOOWWWWWWCH!!!" [Zidane skyrockets out.] Zidane: "What did you do that for!?" Steiner: "You!!!" Zidane: "You almost stabbed Dagger!" Steiner: "The princess!?" [Zidane jumps off onto Steiner's head.] Steiner: "Ouch!" R2: "I've seen this pattern somewhere before... Ah!" [The barrel moves again.] Steiner: "It's moving!" Zidane: "Alright, give it another push!" Steiner: "Aaargh! The barrel spoke! Gragh!" [The barrel tips over onto Steiner.] [Soon, everyone's piled out and Steiner's in a huff.] Steiner: "Princess, what in the world is going on!? You scoundrel! Is this your doing!?" Dagger: "Steiner, please!" Steiner: "Yes, Your Highness..." Dagger: "Zidane, I don't know what to say to Vivi. I never knew anything suspicious was going on at the castle..." Zidane: "We still don't know for sure. Let's stay by Vivi's side." Steiner: (This is not the time to panic... I must get the princess onboard the cargo ship somehow. Then we can head back to Alexandria Castle.) Zidane: "Yo, Rusty, do you know where this airship's going?" Steiner: "...... ...L-Lindblum. Yes, to Lindblum." Zidane: "That's convenient! Did you ask someone?" Steiner: "Th-The old man in the shack told me! So it must be true!" Zidane: "You're acting strange..." Steiner: "Something is headed this way!" [A large winged monster, like Black Waltz No. 1, flies over.] Creature: "Princess Garnet, the queen is waiting for you at the castle!" Zidane: "You were all sent by the castle!?" Steiner: "What? What are you talking about!?" Zidane: "You were all unconscious from the blizzard. He said he was a Black Waltz!" Creature: "Are you the one who defeated No. 1? I am Black Waltz No. 2! My power, magic, and speed make me far superior to No. 1! Resistance is futile! Come, Princess. The queen awaits!" Dagger: "No! I will not return to the castle." Black Waltz No. 2: "Come with me, or you'll regret it!" Steiner: "Wait! I, Steiner, shall escort the princess back to the castle!" Black Waltz No. 2: "Kee hee hee! You think I care? I won't let you stand in the way of my mission!" [The battle begins and they defeat No. 2] Dagger: "Black Waltz No. 2... Did my mother really send him to capture me...?" Steiner: "It can't be! There is no reason to trust the words of some bandit. He was just another criminal, scheming to use the princess for some evil deed." Dagger: "Have I not been careful enough?" Steiner: "Your noble upbringing cannot be disguised so easily." Zidane: "That's not true at all. You haven't been watching. Dagger is trying really hard. You're the one with the problem! Walking around, yelling 'Princess!' everywhere... About the border crossing..." Dagger: "Yes?" Zidane: "Why don't we hitch a ride on this airship?" Steiner: "!" Dagger: "Sure, Lindblum should not be terribly far by airship! I mean...'won't be too far.' But why don't we get some rest before we go?" R1 --> Rest at the inn R2 --> Depart now R1 (Zidane): "Okay. Let's head back to the village. Vivi, you'll be safe with me." [They head back to the village, etc.] R2: [See below.] [After picking R2:] Zidane: "Wait here while I ask the people inside if we can hitch a ride." Steiner: "I-I shall go ask them!" Zidane: "Oh, really. How come?" Steiner: "I-It is not for your benefit. I am only doing this for the princess!" [He runs off.] Dagger: "Steiner... He was so adamant about going back to the castle before... ...... An airship full of barrels like the ones I saw at the castle... Steiner was against going... Zidane, is this ship really headed for Lindlum?" Zidane: "No. It'll probably take us straight to Alexandria Castle." Dagger: "But why...? Didn't you just say we should get on the ship?" Zidane: "Yeah, I know. Trust me!" Vivi: "...Zidane." Zidane: "What is it, Vivi?" Vivi: "Those dolls they were making underground... Did you think they look like me?" R1 --> Yes R2 --> Not really R1 (Zidane): "Maybe a little... But they're just dolls, Vivi." R2 (Zidane): "Not really. They're just dolls, Vivi." [The cargo ship's propellers start up.] Zidane: "It's moving. What the heck is Steiner up to? Alright, we have to get on, Dagger." Dagger: "On a ship that's not going to Lindblum!?" Zidane: "I don't have time to explain. This way!" [They run to the ladder at the back-end of the ship; Vivi ascends.] Zidane: "Hurry up! You have nothing to worry about. Hurry, before she takes off!" Dagger: "But..." Zidane: "I'll take you to Lindblum. I promise!" Dagger: "Fine, I'll get on!" Zidane: "It's taking off!" [The two get on the ladder and Zidane touches Dagger's back-end.] Dagger: "Aaah!" Zidane: "Ooo, soft..." [FMV. The "piece of junk" cargo ship takes off on the grassy plains, heads up towards the Observatory Mountain, and veers off.] =========================================================== 07. Cargo Ship (CS01) =========================================================== [Everyone makes it safely aboard.] Zidane: "Come on, it's not like I did it on purpose." Dagger: "Please, enough." Zidane: "There's that royal tone in your voice again. ...Are you okay, Vivi?" Vivi: "Feels like I'm going to get sucked into the sky..." Dagger: "Let's go inside, Vivi." [She lets Vivi in.] Dagger: "I trust you, Zidane." [...and slams the door in his face.] Zidane: "I get the feeling she doesn't quite trust me yet... Maybe she'll reward me with a kiss or two if I try hard enough." [She runs back out.] Zidane: (Wow, already!?) Garnet: "Zidane...!" Zidane: "What is it? Something wrong?" Dagger: "It's Vivi..." Zidane: "Vivi?" [They go inside, finding Vivi talking to some of the factory-made black mages with no response. Apparently, they're the crew of the ship.] Vivi: "U-Um..." Zidane: "...! Wow, they're alive, and they're moving around!" Vivi: "U-Um..." Zidane: "So, the mages built in the village bring back the new ones?" Dagger: "Oh, Vivi..." Zidane: "Vivi! Vivi!!!" Vivi: "U-Um..." [The black mage crewman walks off.] Zidane: "Were you able to talk to any of them?" Vivi: "No... It's like... ...they don't even... ...see me at all... I tried... ...again and again... ...but... ...they won't even turn around." Zidane: "Vivi." [Vivi doesn't look at him; Zidane turns to Dagger.] Zidane: "I need to go upstairs for a little bit. I gotta turn the ship around before it reaches the castle." Dagger: "......" Zidane: "Keep an eye on Vivi, okay? [Zidane goes up to the deck, and peeks in.] Zidane: "......" [Steiner is lying on his knees.] Steiner: "How could I let this happen...? What am I to do...? I never expected things to go so badly... I cannot believe the ship took off without the princess! What will I say to Queen Brahne...?" Zidane: "What the heck were you doing? You almost took off without us!" Steiner: "That is because...this ship's crew... ! Why, you! Where is the princess!?" Zidane: "In the engine room." Steiner: "She is on the ship!? All is well, now. The ship is returning to the castle. You will be hanged for the kidnapping of a member of the royal family! Enjoy your freedom while you can." [Zidane goes into the cockpit. Steiner gazes out across the skyscape and reflects on his accomplishment.] Steiner: "At last! Queen Brahne is sure to be pleased. However...the princess would have been left behind without the thief's aid. I shall petition for a life sentence on his behalf. Yes, that would be the honorable thing! But that was because the crew wouldn't listen! I must run a background check on them. Ah, yes. It is my duty as a knight! Wh-What the--" [FMV. Zidane steers the ship off its course to Alexandria, and hangs a direct course away from it. Somewhere in the mountains, a third Black Waltz watches the cargo ship flitter on by. In the cockpit, the monkey-tailed hero happily steers the ship.] Black Mage Crewmember: "......" [Steiner runs in.] Black Mage Crewmember: "......" Steiner: "Y-Y-Y" Zidane: "What's wrong? Something stuck in your throat?" Steiner: "Y-You insolent fool! Turn the ship around!" [He tries to punch Zidane, but he jumps out of the way with ease.] Steiner: "Graaagh!!!"" [He tries to uppercut Zidane again, but he jumps to an overhanging pipe, using his tail to grapple.] Steiner: "I will have your head for that!" Zidane: "Hey, I think we upset them." [A bunch of Black Mage crewmembers walk swarm onto the deck.] Steiner: "But they didn't respond to anything until now... You're the one who started this trouble! I apologize! Please wait while I take this fool into custody and turn the ship around. Wh-What's wrong!?" [The crewmembers start to leave. On the deck, Dagger and Vivi are climbing up. Just then, the third Black Waltz descends onto the deck.] Vivi: "No...!" Dagger: "Vivi! Are you okay!?" Black Waltz No. 3: "So, No. 2 was defeated by a small child! You are no match against my power! Kwahahaha! Princess, stay there while I eliminate this child!" [The crewmembers swarm towards the Black Waltz.] Black Waltz No. 3: "Are you protecting him? ...Nonsense. You are no different from mindless dolls! What can you do? Get out of my way! Do you dare to fight a Black Waltz? I said, get out of my way!" [FMV. An explosion rips the black mages back and around the deck, as Vivi watches on in painful silence. Barrels drop out of the sky, and shatter, dropping more black mages off through the clouds. The Black Waltz crackles with energy. In the cockpit:] Steiner: "Wh-What cruelty!" Vivi: "...Aaahhh!" [Vivi runs to fight.] Steiner: "Master Vivi, I shall assist you!" [Steiner follows suit.] Zidane: "Hey, you guys! Dagger!" Dagger: "Y-Yes?" Zidane: "We'll take care of the Black Waltz. You steer the ship. Things are gonna get even more dangerous from here on. It's not too late to turn back. You can go back to the castle or cross South Gate into Lindblum. It's your choice! I'll be with you either way! But try not to crash the ship!" [Zidane runs to fight, too.] Dagger: "Be careful, Zidane!" Zidane: "I'll be fine!" [Vivi is confronting the Black Waltz, meanwhile.] Vivi: "Why...? Why would you do such a thing!? Weren't they your friends!?" Black Waltz No. 3: "You fool. Do I look like some lowly black mage soldier?" Steiner: "Even if they weren't your allies, what you did was reprehensible!" Black Waltz No. 3: "Kwahahaha! Worry not about them: many more are being produced even now!" Zidane: "What are you?" Black Waltz No. 3: "Ah, the princess's bodyguards have gathered! How very convenient!" Zidane: "Answer me!" Black Waltz No. 3: "It wouldn't do you any good if I answered, since you're all going to die! Kwahahaha! I will eliminate any who stand in my way!" [The battle starts, but it's over pretty soon.] Black Waltz No. 3: "You... You scum...! I exist only to kill!" [The Black Waltz flies off.] Steiner: "Just how many Black Waltzes do we have to fight!? This is becoming ridiculous!" Zidane: "I think that was the last one." Steiner: "How do you know!? Are you...!?" Zidane: "He said 'Waltz,' right? Don't you think No. 3 would be the last one?" Steiner: "?" Zidane: (I can see South Gate... She's gonna go for it!)" [Somewhere else, in a ship, Zorn and Thorn watched the fight.] Zorn: "Did you see that?" Thorn: "That I did see!" Zorn: "Our enhanced black mages!" Thorn: "Our black mage enhancements!" Zorn: "All defeated!" Thorn: "Betrayed us, Steiner did! It is all his fault!" Zorn: "Huh?" Thorn: "Unstable, the ship becomes! Don't let go of the steering wheel!" Zorn: "No. 3 is coming back!" Thorn: "True is it!? Hurray!" Zorn: "But something is wrong... It's broken!!!" Thorn: "Made its magic too powerful, we did!" Zorn: "There's nothing we can do now!" Thorn: "Depart shall we!" Zorn: "We shall depart!" Thorn: "Run away!" Zorn: "Run away!" [The two jokers jump out of the ship. Black Waltz No. 3 sits down in the captain's seat.] Black Waltz No. 3: "I exist only to kill! I exist only to kill! I exist only to kill! I exist only to kill...!" [Back at the cargo ship's cockpit:] Zidane: "Do you see South Gate?" Dagger: "Yes!" Zidane: "South Gate is a huge gate built exclusively for airships, but... ...maneuvering through it could be tricky. Do you want me to do it, Dagger?" Dagger: "I want to do it on my own..." Zidane: "Alright... We don't have clearance. They might close the gate on us. It should be okay, though. Security was totally lax when I came through here on the theater ship. It'll be fine, Captain Dagger!" Dagger: "Roger!" Zidane: "...It's old, but the engine's got power." [Steiner bursts in.] Steiner: "We must turn back!!! Princess! Please turn the ship around! The Black Waltz is heading straight toward us on an airship! He might crash into us!" Zidane: "Dagger, Rusty's right! It's headed straight for us! Punch it! Go through South Gate!" Steiner: "Don't be ridiculous! What if the gate closes on us!?" Zidane: "There's no way we can outmaneuver him in this cargo ship! We'll slide in before the gate closes and shut him out! That's our only chance! Rusty! Turn the power up to max with that lever over there! Dagger, stay on course no matter what!" Dagger: "Okay!" Zidane: "I know we can make it!" [FMV. The cargo ship heads for South Gate with the smaller airship of the Black Waltz heading in. When it gets close, Vivi blasts it with some fire magic, knocking it off course a bit. Vivi blasts it again when they zoom through the gate, catching it on fire. It explodes as they make it out, into Lindblum territory. In the cockpit, Zidane looks over the engine.] Zidane: "I think we pushed it a little too hard. Why so silent, people? We made it! Come on, cheer up!" Dagger: "South Gate was badly damaged... It was my fault, wasn't it...?" Zidane: "Don't worry about it! They'll fix it up in no time." Steiner: "You idiot! The cargo ship was wrecked, we lost all the cargo, and South Gate was destroyed! I can't believe I played a part in this debacle!" Dagger: "Steiner." Steiner: "Yes, Princess!" Dagger: "I didn't mean to get you involved... But you saved us. I thank you." Steiner: "Such kind words! I am not worthy! Well, now I've made up my mind! I vow to protect you, Princess, until we return to the castle!" Zidane: "How do you feel about that, Dagger? He'll follow you to the end of the world." Dagger: "It's okay, Zidane. Hey, I can see the main gate of Lindblum!" Steiner: "That's Lindblum Castle!? How gigantic...!" Dagger: "The city of Lindblum is inside the castle.) Zidane: (I guess Dagger and I will go our separate ways once we reach Lindblum...) Steiner: "I see..." Zidane: (Just when we were beginning to get close...) Vivi: "...Zidane. Those...black mages and I... Are we...the same...?" Zidane: "......" Garnet: "......" Steiner: "I don't understand, Master Vivi. Just what seemed to be the problem...?" Vivi: "...I don't know." Steiner: "Master Vivi, why would those mages be the same as you? And why would it matter if they were...?" Zidane: "Rusty's right!" Steiner: "?" Zidane: "You're an individual, no matter what happens, Vivi!" Vivi: "R-Right!" Zidane: "Let's go check out the deck, Vivi! You've gotta see Lindblum from above! It's the best! Look, the Falcon's Gate is right in front of us! Vivi: "Why?" [FMV. The cargo ship goes through Lindblum's Falcon's Gate and into the town.] =========================================================== 08. Lindblum (LB01) =========================================================== [The ship docks in the Grand Castle portion.] Vivi: "Wow! This castle is huge! It's even bigger than Alexandria Castle!" Zidane: "Yeah. They don't call it Lindblum Grand Castle to nothing." Steiner: "An indoor airship dock! This is truly amazing...! Even Her Majesty's Red Rose would easily fit in here." Zidane: "...Dagger, you don't look too impressed. Have you been here before?" Dagger: "Yes, I came here a few times when I was little... I haven't been here since my father passed away." Zidane: "Here comes the welcome committee." [Three Lindblum guards approach.] Elite Guard: "That's a really old airship." Dagger: "Greetings. I am Princess Garnet Til Alexandros. I humbly request an audience with Regent Cid." Elite Guard: "You must be kidding! No member of the royal family, let alone a princess, would ever ride in such a shabby airship. And look at the company you're keeping." Steiner: "How dare you accuse the princess of lying!? The princess was forced to come here under extreme circumstances!" Elite Guard: "Then show me some kind of proof of your royal heritage." Dagger: "Very well..." [She shows her pendant to the guard.] Elite Guard: "This pendant... Is it a Falcon Claw!? ...No. The shape is a little different. Call Minister Artania!" [A guard leaves and Steiner turns to Zidane.] Steiner: "If you weren't such a filthy-looking oaf, they would not be suspicious of us!" Zidane: "Hey, I'm not the idiot with the loud voice, and the dirty, rusty armor." Steiner: "WHAT!!!?" [The minister appears.] Minister Artania: "What is going on?" Elite Guard: "Sir, we have unknown visitors who wish to see the regent. And one of them is carrying a pendant that looks like a Falcon Claw." Minister Artania: "! You are dismissed. I'll talk care of this." Elite Guard: "Yes, sir!" [The guards leave.] Dagger: "Uncle Artania!" Minister Artania: "It's good to see you, Princess. Please follow me. The regent is waiting." Dagger: "?" [They get on an elevator.] Minister Artania: "Lindblum Castle has three levels, all connected by this lift. From the base level, which lies below the Mist, you can take a trolley to the harbor and the back gate. Ships hardly arrive at the harbor anymore since travel by air has become so popular. The Mist poses great danger, so we've sealed off everything. Just above the Base Level is the Mid Level. You can ride the air cab from the Mid Level to go to town. The Upper Level contains the royal chambers and conference room. Access to that level is restricted, because the regent himself resides there." Zidane: "Hey, Dagger, what's Regent Cid like? I lived in Lindblum for a while, but I've never met him." Dagger: "Regent Cid is very wise. He always thinks ahead. He may seem a bit odd at times, but he is very dependable. He and my father were best friends... ...I wonder if he will listen to what I have to say..." Zidane: "Don't wory. We're not leaving until he does." Minister Artania: "We will arrive at the Upper Level shortly." [The party goes into the throne room.] Minister Artania: "Sire, Princess Garnet of Alexandria wishes to see you." Steiner: "Princess, is something wrong?" Dagger: "The regent isn't here, and I don't know who... Take a look at the throne." Steiner: "? What in the world...?" [A creature peeks from behind the throne.] Creature: "Greetings!" Steiner: "!!! OG...!!! OGLOP!!!" [He punches the advancing oglop into the throne's back." Minister Artania: "Sire!" [The creature appears to be the regent.] Regent Cid: "What!?" Steiner: "!?" Dagger: "Wh...!?" Zidane: "Dagger, what's wrong? Why aren't you talking to-- GEEZ! That's an oglop!" Vivi: "Wow... Even the oglops are big in Lindblum." Steiner: "What is the meaning of this!? How dare you greet the princess like this!? Get that repulsive bug off the throne immediately, and call the regent!" Minister Artania: "Please, settle down! You ARE before the regent!" Steiner: "What!? Enough of your nonsense!" Dagger: "Steiner, stand down. I remember that moustache. Is that really you, Uncle Cid?" Regent Cid: "Yes. Greetings, all . I am Cid Fabool, Regent of Lindblum. I knew it was you--I recognized your pendant's description; it's so much like my 'Falcon Claw.' I'm delighted to see you again, Garnet. You have truly become a fine lady. I, on the other hand..." Minister Artania: "Allow me to explain. About six months ago, someone snuck into the castle and attacked the regent in his sleep. Unfortunately, we were too late... The regent had been transformed into an oglop, and his wife, Lady Hilda, was abducted." Dagger: "My goodness..." Zidane: "Whoever pulled this off had to be highly skilled, like me." Steiner: "Hmph! I bet it was you!" Regent Cid: "That's not possible." Zidane: "How can you be so sure? Do you know who we are?" Regent Cid: "Of course. I may be a bug , but I am still the ruler of Lindblum." Dagger: "Uncle Cid, I appreciate you seeing me on such short notice. I desperately need to speak to you about my mother." Regent Cid: "That's what I figured. But I'm sure it can wait 'til tomorrow. Why don't you all get some rest for today?" Dagger: "Thank you." Minister Artania: "It is time for lunch. Please follow me." [The rest of the party goes to eat; Zidane hits the town by himself to find some dining. He stops by a cafe.] Zidane: "I can't stand the food at the castle. It's way too high-class for my tastes. How can anyone get full on that stuff? The cheap food here is a lot better. Today's special is... Soup du Silence. Not bad." [He heads inside.] Zidane: "Yo, Pops. I'll have the stupid special." Bobo: "Who said that!? Zidane... I figured it was you." Zidane: "How've you been?" Bobo: "Alright, I guess... Have a seat. Your soup'll be ready in a minute." [A waitress stands by Zidane.] Lilian: "Do you mind? You're standing in everyone's way." Zidane: "Wow... Hey." Lilian: "Yeah? Do you want a drink?" Zidane: "How about you and me go for a cruise on an airship?" Lilian: "Really!? An airship!?" Zidane: "Sounds like you've never been on one. You know, Lindblum is quite a sight from high above." [A woman in red at the bar speaks.] Woman at the Counter: "Hey, monkey-tail, you're disturbing the other customers." Zidane: "What the--you've got a tail, too, rat-face!" Woman at the Counter: "Rat-face...After I finish my drink, I'm gonna kick your butt." Bobo: "Hey, Zidane, take it outside." Zidane: "!!!" Woman at the Counter: "Long time, Zidane." Zidane: "Hey! What's up!? Wait a minute..." Woman at the Counter: "You forgot my name?" Zidane: "No, I remember. You're Helga, right?" Woman at the Counter: "Wrong." Zidane: "...Christine?" Woman at the Counter: "No!" Zidane: "...Oh yeah! You used to live next door to me. How's it going...Ratchel? Man, you've really gotten...big." Woman at the Counter: "You nasty little--" Zidane: "Come on. I'm just kiddin'. You know I never forget a pretty girl's name." [The player can name the woman in red. Default: Freya.] Zidane: "So, how've you been, Freya?" Freya: "...Same old Zidane." Zidane: "How long has it been?" Freya: "About 3 years." Zidane: "Hey, did you ever find out anything about your boyfriend?" Freya: "No..." Zidane: "So... What brings you to Lindblum?" Freya: "The Festival of the Hunt. What else? It's a good opportunity to test my skills." Zidane: "Oh... Well, I'm sure you'll find him someday." Freya: "Aren't you participating?" Zidane: "...Nah. I think I'll pass." Freya: "Lazy bum." Zidane: "...Are you ever gonna go back?" Freya: "I have no reason to return to Burmecia. There is nothing there for me anymore." [The view changes to the Lindblum throne room, where the regent and the princess are talking alone.] Regent Cid: "So, how is the queen? Is she still as vibrant as ever?" Dagger: "Yes, but... Since Father died, Mother has been acting rather strangely..." Regent Cid: "I'm not surprised . They loved each other so much..." Dagger: "We haven't spoken much lately. Also, a suspicious man has been prowling around the castle. I don't know what's going on anymore... I fear that she might be planning something terrible. I've brough this matter to everybody's attention, but no one has taken me seriously. They all think I'm distraught over losing Father..." Regent Cid: "I understand why you are so eager. I'm happy that you came to me for help." Dagger: "At this point, I think you're the only person Mother will listen to... When I heard that Lindblum's theater ship was coming to Alexandria, I decided to sneak on board and come here no matter what. I just never expected the crew to kidnap me..." Regent Cid: "It was me... I was the one who ordered Tantalus to kidnap you." Dagger: "!?" Regent Cid: "I once promised your father , that should anything happen, I would protect you. We've known about the disturbances in Alexandria for some time. But had we acted directly, it would've started a war. So, I asked Baku for help. He and I go way back. The play was the perfect cover to enter Alexandria and get you out. No one would suspect Lindblum was behind it. We were forced to take action, because we knew Alexandria would never seek our help. I'm relieved we were able to get you here." Dagger: "At the Village of Dali, we saw numerous black mages. They looked like golems, controlled by some powerful magic. On top of that, they were being created under Alexandria's supervision. I don't know how they're related to Vivi, but if Mother is planning to use them for war..." Regent Cid: "We won't let that happen. Even if she were to command an army of black mages, she won't make a move as long as we have our airship fleet. Don't worry . Everything will be fine." Dagger: "I'm so sorry, Uncle." Regent Cid: "Now, now, come on. Don't be so formal. I'm helping you because I am your Uncle Cid, not because I am the regent of Lindblum." Dagger: "Thank you so much." [The two go to an empty airship hangar.] Dagger: "What is this place...?" Regent Cid: "The heart and soul of Lindblum: our airship dock. This is Dock No. 1, where we conduct our research ." Dagger: "But...where are the airships?" Regent Cid: "Lonely, isn't it...? We had a new airship model in here about 6 months ago. It was our latest creation; it didn't require Mist to fly." Dagger: "The man who attacked you--was he the one who ran off with it?" Regent Cid: "Good guess, but no... Actually... I met a lovely lady at the pub..." Dagger: "...Um?" Regent Cid: "When Hilda found out about my little affair, she used her magic and turned me into an oglop. Then she stormed off in the new airship, which I named Hilda Garde. Pretty ironic, eh? ...... She hasn't been back since . I've been working on Hilda Garde 2, but it hasn't been going too well. My mind just isn't the same as an oglop. I'm hopeless... But that doesn't mean I can't help you. I'll do my best for Alexandria." Dagger: "Thank you... But with South Gate badly damaged, I don't know how we can get to Alexandria..." Regent Cid: "Don't worry. South Gate is being repaired as we speak. Once the repairs are finished, we'll go to Alexandria." Dagger: "Yes. I'm sure Mother will finally open her eyes to the truth." Regent Cid: "......" Dagger: "Uncle, is something wrong?" Regent Cid: "Huh? No, I was just thinking...about how the theater ship crashed. Baku sure has good men working under him..." [The scene ends. The next day, Zidane wakes up in the hotel and Vivi comes into his room after a bit.] Vivi: "Good morning." Zidane: "You're up early." Vivi: "Lindblum is a really busy place. I've never seen this many people before. I wonder where people go when the wanna be alone..." Zidane: "Lindblum has always been like this. People come here from all over the world. Some of them come here to become airship engineers, sculptors, actors..." Vivi: "Wow..." Zidane: "I don't even remember why I came here my first time. Before I knew it, I was living here with my Tantalus brothers." Vivi: "Do they still live here?" Zidane: "Yeah. Our hideout is in the Theater District. I'm gonna go there right now. Do you wanna come along?" Vivi: "Um, that's okay. I'm gonna go look around town." Zidane: "Okay. Then I'll give you a little tour." Vivi: "...No, that's okay. I can go by myself." Zidane: "Ohhh...okay... Go find yourself a cute girl, alright?" [The third "Teach me, Mogster!" ATE plays and after sitting through another ATE (Vivi's Shopping) later, Zidane heads to the hideout in the Theater District. It's empty, though...] Zidane: "I figured there wouldn't be anybody here... It looks like no one's been here for a while. What to do, what to do...?" [The bell starts to ring.] Zidane: "Geez. It's that late already... I wonder what Dagger's doing." [An ATE "What can I do?" plays. Two kids run in after its over.] Bunce: "There he is!" Lucella: "I told you he'd be here." Bunce: "Why didn't you tell us that you were back? We're in Tantalus, too, you know." Zidane: "What?" Lucella: "Yeah. Uncle Baku said if we find some treasure, we can be in Tantalus, too." Bunce: "Yeah. Check this out." Zidane: "Wow, those are trick sparrow's wings! That sure is some treasure you found, alright!" Lucella: "Yay!" Bunce: "Yipee! So, did the plan work?" Zidane: "...Yeah. Princess Garnet is at the castle." Lucella: "Really!? Wow... So, what's she like? Is she cute?" Bunce: "Did you ask her out yet?" Zidane: "No... I think she's pretty busy. Plus, she's a princess and I'm a...you know, so...I don't know." Lucella: "I bet she misses you." Bunce: "Yeah. You should go see her." Lucella: "Good luck!" Bunce: "See ya!" [They leave.] Zidane: "I wonder if she got to talk to Cid... Maybe I should go see her..." [Zidane heads to the Grand Castle, finding Steiner in the guest room.] Zidane: "What are you doing here?" Steiner: "You! What have you done with the princess!? Where is she!?" Zidane: "Whoa, take it easy. I just got here." Steiner: "The princess is gone! She was supposed to stay in this room." Zidane: "Maybe she went for a little walk." Steiner: "How can you be so calm!? This is a very serious matter! Have you forgotten all the danger she faced just to get here!? What if something terrible happens to her!? What am I doing here!? I must go find her! Out of my way!" [Steiner runs out with Zidane following soon after.] Zidane: "I wonder where she went..." [He walks a little further, hearing a familiar song being sung.] Zidane: "That song... I've heard it somewhere before. That sweet voice... It's Dagger. She's upstairs." [Zidane is rebuffed as he goes to the elevator, though:] Soldier: "Sorry. Only authorized personnel can use the lift." Zidane: "Man, I've gotta get past this guy somehow. Maybe if I disguise myself as a guard, he'll let me through." [Zidane finds a sleeping guard upstairs.] Zidane: "Hey, wake up!" Sleepy Soldier: "...Huh?" Zidane: "I just saw a suspicious character wandering around!" Sleepy Soldier: "WHAT!? Wh-Where!?" Zidane: "Upstairs. Follow me." [The guard follows and starts to head away.] Zidane: "No! In here!" Sleepy Soldier: "Huh!?" [The two run into the guest room.] Sleepy Soldier: "Alright, you bastard! Show yourself! Hey what are you doing!?" [Zidane emerges in the guard's clothes.] Zidane: "That was easy. I should be able to get on the lift now." [Zidane goes up to the rooftop and finds Dagger. FMV: Zidane sees Dagger singing next to some pigeons, and she sees him from across the way.] Zidane: "Nice song." Dagger: "How did you get up here? This is a restricted area." Zidane: "Come on, I do this for a living." Dagger: "...Oh yeah. You're a member of Tantalus. It must've been easy for you. ......" Zidane: "...? Whew... What a view... Hey! There's a telescope! Let's go check it out. Come on." [They go up to the telescope.] Zidane: "Hmmm..." [Zidane can look around at the sights: Aerbs Mountains ----> "Those are the mountains that surround Burmecia. I guess the best way to get there is through the cavern at the base." Marshland ----> "There's probably a lot of weird things living there. Maybe I should check it out sometime. South Gate ----> "Oh, there's South Gate. I wonder if they've started repairing it... It'll probably take a while to fix everything." Ceebell River ----> "That river flows right by South Gate. You can get to the gate by walking along the river." ??? Forest ----> "Hey, there's a chocobo. Maybe I can catch a chocobo in that forest." Aerbs Mountains ----> "Alexandria is beyond those mountains. I bet they're looking for us." [Once Zidane's found all the locations:] Dagger: "Let me see." [She looks.] Zidane: "How's the view?" Dagger: (...I've made so much trouble for everyone... Uncle Cid knew everything... That's why he asked Tantalus to get me out of Alexandria. No matter how hard I try, I'm always one step behind in everything... I'm so helpless...) Zidane: "...What's wrong?" Dagger: "Zidane... Why did you help me come here--to Lindblum? ...Is it because your boss ordered you to?" Zidane: "I just wanted to help you. That's all. The boss didn't agree with me... ...so I ended up leaving the band." Dagger: "Really!? I'm sorry." Zidane: "Don't worry about it. It isn't the first time I've left." Dagger: "Zidane..." Zidane: "Yeah?" Dagger: "Oh...um... How were you planning to abduct me?" Zidane: "We were gonna put you to sleep with sleeping weed, then kidnap you. It's mostly used for kids, but a big dose can knock out an adult just as easily." Dagger: "I guess you didn't need it, since I came along on my own. Hey... Would you mind giving me some? I've had a hard time sleeping lately." Zidane: "Um, I don't think that's a good idea. You might get addicted. Maybe all you need is some company, eh?" Dagger: "Oh, please. Do you think I'm that naive?" Zidane: "Heh, heh. Can't blame me for trying." Dagger: "......" Zidane: "U-Um... Th-That song... Were you singing it in the Village of Dali?" Dagger: "...Yes. So, you were up that night." Zidane: "What is that song, anyway?" Dagger: "...I don't know. I can't even remember where I learned it. I sing it whenever I feel sad or lonely... For some reason, it comforts me and reminds me that I'm not alone." Zidane: "I guess it's a mystical song... Let me hear it again." [She starts singing, and the view changes to Steiner, who's now looking at armor in Dragoos' shop (the same armor, I might add, that Zidane calls "cheesy" crap).] Steiner: "Hmm... I never expected to find such fine armor in a place like this." Customer: "Yes, I'll buy that one, too. Who knows when that Brahne will start another war..." Steiner: "WHAT!? The queen would never start a war! You dare speak ill of the queen!?" Customer: "Who the hell are you?" Steiner: "I'm a......an armor collector!" Customer: "Oh. Well, in that case, can you recommend some good armor?" Steiner: "I...I must go!" [Steiner leaves and the view changes to a street in the Business District, where a little hippo kid is playing with figurines.] Phillipo: "GO, Knights of Pluto! Yeah!!!" Poncho: "What are those things? They look so stupid. I'm gonna take Cid's airships and destroy them." Phillipo: "HEY, cut it out! YOU BROKE MY KNIGHT! I'm gonna go tell your mom!!!" Poncho: "No, come on!!!" [The two kids run off just as Vivi walks by.] Vivi: "'Royal Action Figures'...? Those black mages were like toys... being controlled by someone..." [The view changes to Freya, who's leaping around in the Theater District. She stops on the Tantalus hideout's roof.] Freya: "The sky looks ominous... Something's about to happen. Sir Fratley, where are you...? I need you..." [The view changes again to the empty airship hangar. The oglop regent stands at a drawing board.] Regent Cid: "Okay! It should work now." Engineer Zebolt: "Sire, it's no good." Regent Cid: "What!?" Engineer Zebolt: "We can't stabilize the engine system. It can't run for more than 10 minutes." Regent Cid: "Darn it... My mind hasn't been the same since I became an oglop..." [The view changes back to Zidane and Dagger.] Zidane: "Hey, Dagger. So when do you wanna go on that airship cruise?" Dagger: "What are you talking about?" Zidane: "...!? (What am I thinking!? I asked the girl at the...) Never mind." Dagger: "Well...it sounds like you've asked the wrong girl." Zidane: "Wait. I-I can explain." Dagger: "Why bother? Go have a wonderful time." Zidane: "Oh, man... Okay, how about this? If I get first place in tomorrow's hunting festival, you and me'll go out on a date!" Dagger: "How does that have anything to do with me?" Zidane: "Come on. Pleaaase." Dagger: "...Fine." Zidane: "Okay, it's a date!" [Zidane runs off.] Dagger: "......" [Somewhere, preparations for the Festival are in full swing, and a large cage shakes full of monsters in one of the residential areas.] Officer: "It may be tradition, but this is a dreadful festival. So many lives lost each year, especially because of him..." Captain: "Hardly. The festival is a test of manhood. I tingle with excitement every year." Soldier: "This is the last carraige. All the preparations for the Festival of the Hunt are complete." Officer: "Very good. Now we wait for the signal." Captain: "Yes, sir." [The carriage opens and a flock of Fangs runs out.] Officer: "Whoa!" [The Soldier & Officer flee. A fang licks its chops at the Captain.] Captain: "......" [The view changes to another area.] Soldier: "The fangs have been freed." Officer: "What!? We haven't even received the minister's authorization!" Soldier: "We believe that they're going to release 'him' any minute." Officer: "Alright, release the mus before they let him loose. Hurry!" [The two run off as the squirrel-like mus scamper out. The view goes to a large cage with a walkway over it somewhere.] Voice: "All is ready!" Soldier: "Alright. Standby!" Breeder: "This year's specimen is perfect. Nothing can stop him! Ha ha ha! What power!" Soldier: "Hey, make him stop! It's too early to let him loose!" Breeder: "How? I have no control over him." Soldier: "Dammit! Open the gate at once! The gate's gonna fall apart!" Breeder: "GO, ZAGHNOL!" [The gigantic swine stampedes into the city. Up in the Grand Castle's guest room, Vivi, Steiner, and Dagger all stand around. Freya is there as well.] Vivi: (Where's Zidane...?) Steiner: "Please, Princess. You might actually enjoy it." Dagger: "Okay..." Freya: (I wonder if Zidane has improved his skills...) [Zidane enters.] Zidane: "Hey, guys. Sorry I'm late." Elite Guard: "Alright, let's begin." Narrative: = Festival of the Hunt = Hunters, on your mark! Ferocious beasts swarm about the castle town! The bigger the catch, the higher the score! The time limit is 12 minutes. Use air cabs to go to other districts. Once you lose in a battle, you will be forced to retire. The winner will be crowned Master Hunter and receive the hunter's reward. Who will come out on top!? Elite Guard: "What do you wish for your hunter's reward?" Zidane: "I'll go with Gil all the way!" Freya: "I'll take an Add-on." Elite Guard: "And you, Mr. Vivi?" Vivi: "WHAT!? I never signed up!" Zidane: "I thought you would do pretty well, so I signed you up. Don't worry. With your black magic, it'll be a piece of cake." Vivi: "I...I don't know..." Freya: "That was very inconsiderate of you, Zidane." Zidane: "Oh! (How about this? If you win, I'll fix you up for a date with Dagger.)" Vivi: "Me and the princess!?" Zidane: "(SHHH! Keep it down!)" Steiner: "What was that!? You just mentioned the princess. What evil deeds are you plotting now!?" Zidane: "It's nothing, right, Vivi?" Vivi: "Y-Yeah." Elite Guard: "So, what would you like for your reward?" Vivi: "Oh, um... I'll take a Card." Elite Guard: "Okay. Gil, an Add-on, and...a Card. The festival will begin shortly. You all have different starting points. Hunter Zidane will start in the Theater District, Hunter Freya will start in the Industrial District, and Hunter Vivi will start in the Business District." [Everyone but Zidane and the guard leaves.] Elite Guard: "Your starting point is the Theater District. You'll need to take an air cab to get there. =========================================================== 09. Festival of the Hunt (09) =========================================================== NOTE: This dialogue is separated so there isn't one big block of all-Lindblum stuff. No one wants a wall of text, right? ;p [Steiner and Garnet take their spectator's view on the bridge above where the Zaghnol was kept caged up.] Steiner: "Such rudeness! Princess, they are treating you like a commoner!" Dagger: "Oh, hush. We get a great view from here." Steiner: "Hmm, you're right. I can see the entire town. Princess, look! Master Vivi is also participating!" Dagger: "I can't believe it. He seemed to reluctant earlier." Steiner: "MASTER VIVI!!! THE PRINCESS AND I ARE ROOTING FOR YOU!!!" Dagger: "COME ON, VIVI!!! YOU CAN DO IT!" Steiner: "No! Master Vivi! Dagger: "Look out! Oh, gosh! I can't watch anymore!" Steiner: "YOU CAN'T WIN JUST BY RUNNING! A GOOD OFFENSE IS THE BEST DEFENSE! ATTACK! You can't lose to that monkey Zidane! YES! THAT'S IT! NOW'S YOUR CHANCE! ONE MORE TIME! VIVI, BEHIND YOU! YES! GO!" [The view changes to Zidane, arriving in the Theater District. As he fights, different participants and their scores are given, in this format:] ______ leads with ___ points! [The participants (as far as I know) consist of:] -Lani -Zidane -Freya -Ivan -Genero -Vivi -Belna -The Strange Gourmand [When the contest ends, narrative says:] The time is up! The winner is..._____! ___ points! [Afterwards, there is a ceremony at the GC Throne room.] Regent Cid: "That was marvelous! All of you!" Minister Artania: "____ points! Congratulations!" Regent Cid: "We grand you the 'Master Hunter' and your reward." [They give the winner the reward. If Freya wins:] Zidane: "My hat's off to you, Freya. I don't know how you racked up so many points." Freya: "The fruits of my training, I suppose. [If Vivi wins:] Steiner: "Well done, Master Vivi!" Vivi: "Thanks... I can't believe I won." [If Zidane wins:] Vivi: "Congratulations, Zidane!" Zidane: "Thanks!" [No matter who wins, the following happens:] Voice: "Regent..." [A rat soldier enters, wounded.] Burmecian Soldier: "Please forgive my intrusion... I bring urgent news... from our king." Regent Cid: "The king of Burmecia?" Minister Artania: "(Sire, you must not let him see you like this!)" Regent Cid: "(Take a good look at him. An injury has blinded him.) Continue." Burmecian Soldier: "Our kingdom is being attacked by some unknown force! We are severely outmatched! Please send reinforcements immediately!" Regent Cid: "!!!" Burmecian Soldier: "The enemy looks like an army of mages wearing... steeple-crowned hats." Regent Cid: "The king and I are old friends. We will send reinforcements to Burmecia immediately." Burmecian Soldier: "Thank you, Regent! The kind...and all of Burmecia will be most grateful! I must...return now... ...Ugh." Regent Cid: "Take him to the infirmary!" Freya: "It's too late. He's gone... It's a miracle he even made it this far. I can't believe this is happening..." Minister Artania: "This is a problem... Because of the Festival, there are hardly any men left in the castle. It will take time to mobilize." Regent Cid: "We have no choice... Call back the 4th aerial division patrolling the border." Minister Artania: "But if we recall the 4th, we will lose our eyes over Alexandria." Regent Cid: " Burmecia is our ally. We must help them." Freya: "Steple-crowned hats... They might be black mages, like Vivi." Vivi: "It can't be..." Dagger: "Could it be Mother...!?" Freya: "I must go now. I cannot sit and wait for the reinforcements." Zidane: "I'm coming with you." Freya: "No. This doesn't concern you." Zidane: "What's this, I'm a stranger all of a sudden!? I'm not gonna sit back and watch your home get destroyed, alright?" Freya: "...Thank you, Zidane." Vivi: "Um, c-can I come, too? I wanna find out who they really are." Zidane: "Sure." Dagger: "Alright then. Let's go to Burmecia." Steiner: "Princess! This is a foreign matter! It has nothing to do with us!" Regent Cid: "Steiner is right. We don't know if Alexandria is involved." Dagger: "But if black mages are involved... Zidane, you know what I'm talking about." Zidane: "......" Dagger: "If Mother is behind this, I'll make her stop! I promise!" Zidane: "...I think you should stay here." Dagger: "What!?" Zidane: "We don't know what to expect there." Dagger: "I've already faced great danger coming here! What's the difference!?" Zidane: "Dagger, this is war. A lot of people are gonna die." Dagger: "I know that!" Zidane: "...How did you feel when you saw that Burmecian soldier die, just now?" Dagger: "...I felt sad, of course." Zidane: "Just sad? Weren't you scared, too? Obviously, you haven't realized how dangerous this is gonna be... You could get killed. This is no time to be convincing your mother of anything." Dagger: "But..." Regent Cid: "Now's not the time to argue." Freya: "He's right. We must head to Burmecia at once. Will you open the Dragon's Gate?" Regent Cid: "Of course. If you're going by foot, leaving from that gate is the best way. Let us eat while we wait for the gate to open." [The party goes down to the dining hall later, finding a lavish meal.] Vivi: "Yay! I'm so hungry!" Regent Cid: "The Festival of the Hunt feast is one of our oldest traditions. It began well over five centuries ago. It is customary to eat everything with your hands, so go on, before it gets cold." Dagger: "Thank you, Uncle." [Everyone starts eating except Dagger and Freya.] Vivi: "Mmmm! It's so good!" Freya: "......" Zidane: "Let's just eat. We can't do anything until the gate opens." Freya: "...You're right." Zidane: "Hey, not bad!" Steiner: "This is wonderful! Princess, how is everything? Why aren't you eating?" Garnet: "Oh... I'm sorry. You're right. Everything is so delicious." Steiner: "Indeed, it is. Especially this beef. It is superb!" Vivi: "Oh, I'm so full. I'm getting sleepy now..." [Cid, Freya and Vivi all fall over in a deep sleep.] Steiner: "What the--THE FOOD IS POISONED!" Zidane: "Dagger...?" [Zidane falls over, too.] Steiner: "How could I be so careless!!! Ugh... I'm starting to feel sick... F-Forgive me, Princess. I should have tasted it for poison..." Dagger: "That's impossible. There shouldn't be any in your dish." Steiner: "What...? Now that you mention it, I feel just fine. !!! How did you know!? Princess! You didn't!" Dagger: "It's not poison. It's just a medicinal herb Zidane gave me. Believe me, this was not what I had planned. Steiner, I have to make my own decisions... I had no choice. Uncle Cid would never let me leave the castle." Steiner: "That is because he is concerned about you!" Dagger: "I understand that, but--" Steiner: "No, you don't understand...! War is a terrible thing! You must never experience it like I have. I'm sorry, Princess. I cannot follow any orders that might put your life in danger." Dagger: "...What if Alexandria is behind the attack on Burmecia? It could lead to war between the three great nations. Many innocent people will die... As the princess of Alexandria, there must be something I can do. I have to help Mother... I don't want to see anything happen to her..." Steiner: "...... ...Very well. Princess, I will follow you wherever you choose." Dagger: "Thank you. Let's go before everyone wakes up. I'm sorry, Zidane. Come on." [Dagger and Steiner leave. In his sleep, Zidane asks:] Zidane: "Dagger... Where are you going...?" [Later on, the groggy party wakes up.] Freya: "It must've been some sort of sleeping medicine." Zidane: "It was sleeping weed." Regent Cid: "We've been had..." Zidane: "I gave her some because she said she was having problems sleeping." Freya: "I'm impressed. There's more to her than meets the eye." Zidane: "Damn, what the heck is she thinking!? Maybe she's heading to Burmecia." Regent Cid: "Then you might still be able to catch up with her." Zidane: "Vivi, wake up! We're going to Burmecia!" Freya: "Let's head for Gizamaluke's Grotto. Once we pass through the grotto, we will be in Burmecia." Regent Cid: "You can leave from the Dragon's Gate located on the Base Level." [The party goes down the elevator and leaves through Serpent's Gate.] =========================================================== 10. Qu's Marsh (QU01) =========================================================== [The party wanders into the marsh and finds a strange creature by the pond, looking for frogs. Zidane catches one for it.] Qu: "You got frog! Frogs very good! Mmmm!" Zidane: "Who the heck are you?" Qu: "Me?" [You can name the strange Qu. Default: Quina] Zidane: "Quina, do you want this frog?" Quina: "Yes, yes! Yes, yes!" Zidane: "...Alright. Here." Quina: "Yaaay! Mine, mine!" [Just then, a man in a chef's hat walks over.] Quale: "You pathetic, Quina. Can't even feed yourself." [They all go back to Quale's house, deep in the marsh.] Quale: "Can't master art of eating just chasing frogs, Quina." Quina: "But, Master, frogs very good! Frogs here best! Better than Alexandria's." Quale: "Quina, you in darkness. Need some light. World big place. Many many foods. Alexandria just one kingdom. You need go out more, eat other food." Quina: "Go out into world...? Sound scary. Are there yummier frogs outside?" Quale: "Of course! Many good frogs! All Qus love frogs the best. Eating frogs is key to growth. Qu marshes exist all over the world. Go eat frogs in other marshes. I promise, you get much learning. Traveler, please show Quina the world. Anywhere with good food." Zidane: "You want me to take him with us?" R1 --> Why not R2 --> Forget it R1 (Quina): "Will I find yummier frogs outside?" Zidane: "There is plenty of stuff in the world that tastes better than frogs." Quina: "Really really!? Okay, I go with you!" Quale: "......" Zidane: "......" R2 (Quina): "It okay, Master. I stay, eat frogs here." Quale: "Lazy fool... Traveler, if you change your mind, take Quina with you." Zidane: "...I'll think about it." [After meeting Quale in his house, the party leaves. Vivi turns back around.] Vivi: "......" Zidane: "What's up, Vivi?" Vivi: "Um... That man looks exactly like my grandpa." Zidane: "Your grandfather? Who, that Quale guy?" Vivi: "Yeah... Maybe he knows my grandpa. I'm gonna go talk to him, Zidane." [They both walk back inside.] Quale: What wrong? Something on my face?" Vivi: "Um... Do you know a man named Quan?" Quale: "! ...I not know that bigot!" Vivi: "Grandpa Quan was a bit strange, but... How do you know him?" Quale: "I-I no can answer." Vivi: "Grandpa Quan looks exactly like you, Mr. Quale..." Quale: "Of course. We from same tribe." Vivi: "......" Zidane: "You really don't know him?" Quale: "No! I not know this Quan!" Zidane: "Honestly...? That's too bad... Let's go, Vivi." Vivi: "Okay..." [With their newly-found party member, they leave the marsh.] =========================================================== 11. Chocobo's Forest (CF01) =========================================================== [The party stumbles into the forest in the King Ed Plains, finding a moogle riding on a chocobo.] Moogle: "Kupooo!!! I'm Mene, master of this forest! This chocobo is my friend, kupo. His name is Choco." Choco: "Kweeeh!" Mene: "And this is..." [The words "Chocobo's Forest" come on the screen.] Zidane: "Hey, did a cute girl with long hair come by here?" Mene: "No. But ugly girl came by here." Zidane: "Oh... I guess she didn't come this way. Maybe she's heading toward Burmecia after all... I'd better get movin'." Mene: "You in a hurry, kupo?" Zidane: "Yeah, sort of." Mene: "Then take Choco. You won't run into monsters if you ride Choco. Choco, come here." Zidane: "It's okay. Don't force him..." Mene: "No. If Choco hates, Choco runs away. Choco, come on! Kupo!!!" Choco: "Kweeeh!!!" [Choco runs out of the forest.] Mene: "Fine. I'll just get to the point, kupo. These are Gysahl Greens! You can call Choco outside the forest with these. Find chocobo footprints near the forest, kupo. Use Gysahl Greens there, and Choco will come. Choco likes you, kupo. You call, and he'll come! Please train Choco! Make him strong! Come back to this forest after you call him in the world. I'll tell you a big secret, kupo." [Zidane catches Choco outside and brings him back.] Mene: "Choco! How are you, kupo?" Choco: "Kweeeh!!!" =========================================================== 12. Gizamaluke's Grotto (GZ01) =========================================================== [They find two dead soldiers at the cavern entrance.] Freya: "No...! Come on! Get up! Dammit! Say something!" Zidane: "Oh, man..." Freya: "The black mages! Who are they!?" Vivi: "U-Um..." Zidane: "It's okay. You didn't do anything." Freya: "Vivi, aren't they your-- !!! The king might be in danger! Come on!" Zidane: "I sure hope Dagger didn't come here... Let's go." [Inside, they find a soldier still clinging to life.] Zidane: "Hey, are you alright!?" Burmecian Soldier: "...Black mages... Couldn't do anything." Zidane: "We're here to help. We're on our way to Burmecia." Burmecian Soldier: "Ugh... I'm done for. Take this bell, and... go to Burmecia... The black mages... took our bells... The king's in...palace... Please protec..." [The soldier dies.] Zidane: "Hey!!! I'll protect him. Don't worry." [He takes the bell and rings it by the door.] Narrative: The bell in your hand and the door bell are ringing! The bell in your hand shattered..." [In the next room, black mages are still attacking soldiers.] Black Mage 1: "KILL!" Black Mage 2: "KILL!" Black Mage 3: "KILL!" Black Mage 1: "KILL!" [The first mage shoots fire at a guard.] Burmecian Soldier: "ARGH!" [Zorn and Thorn walk out onto a ledge over where Zidane and co. are standing.] Zorn: "Who is that?" Thorn: "That, I don't know." Zorn: "I know I have seen him somewhere before." Thorn: "Somewhere before? I have not seen him. I know." Zorn: "I guess it is not important. Let's kill him." Thorn: "Yes, kill him, shall we?" [They sic two mages on the party, but they get defeated.] Thorn: "HEEE! Savage monsters, they are!" Zorn: "Run away!" [The party runs into another black mage...] Black Mage: "KILL!" [...and they easily defeat it, getting a bell as spoils. Using it to get into the next room, they find an odd sight. A female moogle stands next to a broken bell, yelling at something inside of it.] Moogle: "Darling! Can you hear me!? Darling!!! Please say something!" Zidane: "I didn't expect to see a moogle here. What's wrong?" Mogmi: "My husband! He's inside the bell! He's trapped! Kupo!!!" Freya: "You poor thing..." Mogmi: "We just held our wedding here. Then some scary clowns attacked us! I was so scared! Kupopo!!!" Zidane: "That bell's huge. I don't know if we can lift it." Freya: "Hmm..." Mogmi: "No, please!!! Huh?" [She sniffs around Vivi.] Mogmi: " " Vivi: "H-Hello. Um..." Mogmi: "Oh! Oh!!! Wait... Yeah! It's you!!! I know you! I know you!! I know you!!! Um, um, um, um, um, um, um! Hey, hey, hey!!! You have Kupo Nut!" Vivi: "Y-Yeah... I got one in Lindblum." Mogmi: "Really!? Really!? Really!? Really!? C-Can I have it?" R1 --> Yes R2 --> No R1: [See below.] R2: "Pleaaase!!! Kupooo!!! [At R1, Vivi gives her the Nut.] Mogmi: "Kupooo!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Darling! Darling! I have yummy Kupo Nut!" [A moogle lifts the gigantic bell and topples it off of him.] Moogle: "Kupooo!" Mogmi: "Darling!!!" Moogle: "Kupooo! I love Kupo Nuts!" [He runs off.] Mogmi: "Darling! Where are you going!? U-Um, thank you! Darling!!!" [She runs off after her husband.] Zidane: "What a crazy couple... [The little bell underneath the large one doesn't open the way to the exit, so the party uses it to find the other moogles again.] Moguta: "I love Kupo Nuts! Do you like Kupo Nuts?" R1 --> Yes R2 --> Not really R1: "I like you." R2: "I hate you." [He repeats his question.] [After picking R1 (you have to), when you leave, Moguta'll stop you.] Moguta: "Kupo! Wait! Kupo!" [He spins a statue nearby, takes something, and spins it back.] Moguta: "Kupo! Take this, kupo!" [Zidane gets the Holy Bell.] Moguta: "Give me Kupo Nuts again, okay, kupo? I'm kupo for Kupo Nuts!" [Using the Holy Bell, the party enters the last room of the cavern. A Burmecian Soldier, still alive, is slumped near the water.] Freya: "Are you alright!?" Burmecian Soldier: "Freya... Please be careful... Master Gizamaluke has gone mad. He's being controlled by some strange clowns." [Just then, a large snake falls into the water and it attacks. They defeat Master Gizamaluke.] Freya: "What happened to Master Gizamaluke...? We must hurry! His Majesty is in danger! [The view changes to Steiner at the Grand Citadel South Gate.] =========================================================== 13. Grand Citadel South Gate (SG01) =========================================================== [Steiner approaches the gate with a bag tied to a stick slung over his shoulder. This is a different South Gate than the one by Dali, by the way -- it's, I guess, past the gate to the Bohden Arch near Chocobo's Forest.] Steiner: (Once we cross this gate, we are in Alexandrian territory!) [He walks up to two guards.] Short Guard: "Hold it right there." Tall Guard: "What's the purpose of your visit?" Steiner: "I heard workers were needed to fix South Gate. I brought my belongings so that I might live and work here." Tall Guard: "That's great! They've been working on the gate non-stop since the accident, but it's still broken." Short Guard: "I need to check your bag. Rules and regulations, you know." Steiner: "......" [Steiner sets his...large bag down.] Short Guard: "Would you step back?" Tall Guard: "There, that's good. Sorry, just doing our job. So... Where are you from?" Steiner: (Blast, I must do something!) Tall Guard: "The police are searching for a girl and a middle-aged man. Did you see a pair like that on your way here?" Short Guard: "This knot is really tight..." Tall Guard: "The girl supposedly looks exactly like Princess Garnet, the most beautiful princess ever to grace Alexandria Castle." Short Guard: "I got it now." Tall Guard: "But you know how Queen Brahne looks. It's hard to believe she'd have such a beautiful daughter." Short Guard: "Ungh!? WHAT IS THIS!? Wh-What is that!? What are those...those... ...rotten things! Are they poison!?" Steiner: "Rotten? I'm not carrying anything that's rotting..." Tall Guard: "Oh, it's your least favorite food... ...the Lindblum delicacy, gysahl pickles. I can't believe how many you brought with you!" Steiner: "They are my favorite! I cannot start my day without them." Tall Guard: "Yeah, sure. People who like 'em all say that. You can go now." Steiner: "Thank you. Good day." [Steiner walks through the gate. There are a few people around, and he whispers to the contents of the bag:] Steiner: (We're inside the gate! Princess, you've done it again. I must find a spot where I won't be seen... That alley looks acceptable. But a girl and a man are in the way.) [Steiner talks to the jobless man and the worker around. He talks to a man inspecting a pile of machinery afterwards:] Earnest Young Man: "Let's see... I need two of Model #3... Oh, you brought your things with you. Are you here to work?" R1 --> Answer R2 --> Remain silent R1: "I-Indeed." R2: [Garnet kicks him through the bag.] Steiner: "I-Indeed." Earnest Young Man: "Welcome! I'm also new here. I've been working here for five months as the chief engineer of Bohden Gate. But he's the only one working under me. I'll be going back to the castle next month, when my contract expires. I'll be joining a team of engineers who are developing a new engine that runs without Mist. The world outside the Mist Continent is uncharted territory, but there's no need to worry about our safety if we can explore it on an airship. Regent Cid is an advocate of technological advancement. Oh, sorry. I talked your ear off." Steiner: "There's something I must tell you." Chief Engineer: "...The gate to the bottom of the Mist has been left broken!? Did he think he could get away with that!? Excuse me!" [The man runs off after learning of his worker's incompetance.] Steiner: (Now I just need to get rid of that girl...) [If you talked to the girl first, he'll say:] Steiner: (That just leaves the young man over there...) [Steiner runs over to the girl.] Part-time Worker Mary: "I can't believe he went out of business... I didn't know, because I was on the other side of the moutain." R1 --> Console her R2 --> Don't console her R1 (Steiner): "What good is it to bemoan what has already happened?" [Garnet kicks him] Steiner: "Wh-What I meant to say was that... Now that we are here, there must be things we can do to help the ones we love." Part-time Worker Mary: "You're right. I gotta encourage him. Thanks!) R2: [Garnet kicks him; dialogue cancelled.] [After Mary goes to talk to Jeff:] Steiner: (The coast is clear.) [Steiner heads into the alley, but--] Short Guard: "Hey, hold on! Rules and regulations, you know. Would you come over here? Stop right there! Don't make a move until I tell you! Now, turn toward me slowly... Don't make a false move. Phew... You need a Gate Pass to reach the South Gate summit. I'm leaving it right there. Pick it up after I leave. I'd come closer, but you're carrying those stinky pickles! See? I'm leaving it right here!" [Steiner picks up the pass after the guard leaves and hits the alley.] Steiner: "Ahem... 'Tis foolishness! If all were so easy, why, none would suffer in this world'" Dagger: "Steiner...? Is it okay for me to come out?" Steiner: "Yes!" Dagger: "Thank you. I will come out now. Please keep an eye out." Steiner: "Yes!" Dagger: "Oh, finally! Some fresh air! What a horrible smell... It gave me a terrible headache." (Maybe I'll get changed while he's on lookout.) Steiner: "Let's see..." R1 --> Continue looking R2 --> Go over to the other side R1: "Uh-huh... R2: [Steiner runs to the other side, past Dagger.] Dagger: (Ahh!) "(Don't look this way...)" [Dagger comes out from behind the crate.] Dagger: "You can turn around now, Steiner." Steiner: "Princess...!" Dagger: "Steiner!" Steiner: "Yes...? Oh, um, yes, Miss Dagger." Dagger: "You have to call me Dagger until we reach Treno. Don't salute me, either." Steiner: "Yes, until we reach Treno and find a way back to the castle, I will be careful." Dagger: "Okay, let's go." [They head to the cable car screen.] Dagger: "Wow...! That cable car will take us to the summit. We're almost there, Steiner. Alexandria is just beyond the summit, right? I managed it without Zidane's help...!" Steiner: "You never needed him to begin with, Princess." Dagger: "......" [They board the Berkmea cable car and sit down.] Dagger: "Let's sit here." Conductor: "Please wait while I prepare for departure." Part-time Worker Mary: "Wait! Wait for me! I made it! Thank you for your kind words earlier." Steiner: "No, I thank you." Part-time Worker Mary: "?" Conductor: "Now departing! [The cable car takes off.] Garnet: "Phew... I feel more relaxed now." Steiner: "That is understandable. Our journey from Lindblum was very tough. But... ...it was your white magic that helped me through the battles against all those monsters... ...your fortitude that got us past the obnoxious moogles in Chocobo's Forest... ...and, finally, your idea to use gysahl pickles to get past the South Gate guards! I am thoroughly impressed by your intelligence and courage, Princess!" Dagger: "Steiner, you can't call me that." Steiner: "My apologies. I'm just not used to..." Dagger: "It's okay. I made lots of mistakes when Zidane taught me how to talk like this." Steiner: "That peasant had no manners whatsoever! Although...he did have some wit for a bumpkin, but... The way he spoke to you was simply unacceptable! I say good riddance." [The view changes back to the party in Gizamaluke's Grotto, talking with the wounded soldier nearby.] Freya: "Can you stand up?" Burmecian Soldier: "Don't worry... about me... Please... protect Bur...me..." Freya: "I will protect Burmecia. You have my word." [They all run out of the exit.] =========================================================== 14. North Gate (NG02) =========================================================== [On the right cliff wall from the exit is another arch the party can visit.] Freya: "The smell of fire... And blood! There must have been a huge battle on the other side of that gate..." Quina: "Something smell bad. I get bad feeling! Flower smell good! You smell flower!" Freya: "Quina does whatever s/he feels like doing. I must learn from his ways." Zidane: "I don't think it's intentional, Freya." Freya: "No, if I had done as I pleased, I would've been..." Quina: "Zidane, this flower taste good!" Zidane: "See what I mean?" Freya: "But still... Let's go! Burmecia is just ahead!" =========================================================== 15. Burmecia, Realm of Eternal Rain (BR01) =========================================================== [The party runs to the gate of the dreary, rain-splattered city, finding it broken and battered.] Zidane: "So...this is Freya's home... What are you doing? Get over here." Freya: "It's been five years... I've been away for so long. Not a night went by when I didn't dream about home. I can't believe I'm here... I am no longer the selfish child I was five years ago. The time has come for me to serve my kingdom as a Burmecian dragon knight once again!" Zidane: "I'll do what I can to help!" Vivi: "Me, too!" Quina: "I help, too!" Zidane: "Let's go." [They all run off, but Freya lingers.] Freya: "What can I do for my kingdom? This is not the time." [She runs off to meet the others. Soon, they come to a residential screen, and Zorn and Thorn appear on two balconies, looking down at them.] Zorn: "It is them again!" Thorn: "Most persistant, they are!" Zorn: "Black mages!" Thorn: "Black mages!" [Two Black Mages appear.] Black Mage: "KILL!" Black Mage: "KILL!" [Zidane and company trounce them, however.] Zorn: "The general will punish you for this!" Thorn: "Yes! Very scary, it is, when the general gets mad!" [Zidane runs upstairs in an effort to find the two, but fails. He finds a soldier, though, who directs him to a bell hidden under a bed. They use it to progress towards the castle.] Freya: "Zidane... Burmecia's royal palace is beyond these steps. It must be in ruins, just like everything else. I can't bear to see it like that..." Zidane: "I understand, but we can't go back now. We have to find out who's behind this." Vivi: "...I wanna find out who those guys were...and why I look like them." Zidane: "Look, Vivi's scared, too. But we have to face reality." Vivi: "Come on, Freya. It'll be okay..." Freya: "Vivi... Do you really know what you're doing? The answer you seek may forever change your life for the worse." Vivi: "Um...... Y-Yeah... But... But I have to... I have to find out who I am... I'm scared... What if I'm not even human...?" Freya: "Vivi..." Quina: "What you talking about? I not human, but you definitely human!" Zidane: "Someone's coming!" [A soldier with woman and child run down the stairs, stopping.] Burmecian Soldier Dan: "Who are you!? Are you in league with the black mages!?" Zidane: "No!" Burmecian Soldier Dan: "You're lying! There's a black mage right behind you!" Vivi: "No! I didn't do anything! I would never hurt anyone!" Burmecian Soldier Dan: "Lies!" Freya: "He's telling the truth!" Burmecian Soldier Dan: "...Freya!?" Freya: "It's good to see you, Dan." Burmecian Soldier Dan: "Damn, I haven't seen you in years. Where've you been!? Actually, this isn't the best time to talk! We've gotta get out of here fast. There are black mages swarming all over the place. What are you waiting for!?" Freya: "Where is the king?" Burmecian Soldier Dan: "I don't know. I didn't see him in the palace. Well, I'm going. I have my own family to worry about. Freya, forget about the king and get out of here! We're no match for those black mages!" [Dan runs off.] Freya: "I will protect my home and my king at any cost. Let's go to the palace. [The party walks up to the steps of the ransacked and broken palace.] Zidane: "Geez, this is terrible... Freya, I'm sorry, but from the looks of this, I don't think the king made it. ......" R1 --> Talk to her R2 --> Leave her alone R3 --> I wonder if Dagger's alright R1: "I don't know what to tell you... We can only hope that the king and the others escaped." Freya: "......" R2: [See below.] R3: "I don't think Dagger came here... I wonder where she went..." [After picking R2:] Zidane: "Vivi, let's go see what's over there." Freya: "!!!" Zidane: "Freya!" [Freya jumps up high and lands on a statue above.] Freya: "There's someone inside the palace! What are you waiting for? Get up here." [She runs inside.] Zidane: "You make it sound so easy... I guess I'll start here. Come on." Vivi: "Um...okay." [Vivi jumps up and faceplants, like usual.] Zidane: "Oh, man. I'm gonna go on ahead. Try to find a way up here. I'll meet you up top." Quina: "I meet you after I eat food inside palace!" [Zidane jumps up and runs in after Frey. He finds her hiding behind a statue, watching some people down below in the palace.] Zidane: "Who is that?" Freya: "I knew she was behind all this." Zidane: "What do you mean, you knew?" Freya: "I decided to return to Burmecia because I heard rumors that Brahne had set her sights on our kingdom." Zidane: "Then that girl standing next to her must be Beatrix, Alexandria's general." Freya: "That's Beatrix? The cold-blooded knight who shows no mercy. Beatrix... [Freya has a flashback with a man.] Freya: "Beatrix?" Man: "Yes... Beatrix. I hear there are many fierce warriors out in the world--some even more powerful than even I... ...Beatrix of Alexandria, in particular. They say her swordsmanship is the best in the land." Freya: "Sir Fratley, do you still insist on going on your journey?" Sir Fratley: "Yes... Please understand, Freya. Right now, Burmecia is at peace, while other nations are slowly but surely gaining power. I don't know if my spear alone is enough to protect Burmecia... ...which is precisely why I must go out into the world." Freya: "Sir Fratley...I don't think I can live on my own--not without you." Sir Fratley: "Freya, you're going to be fine. Trust your strength... and have faith in your destiny. Once I complete my journey around the world, I will return to Burmecia." Freya: "Then promise me, one more time, that you will return." Sir Fratley: "I promise." [Fratley walks away, and the screen blacks out.] Freya: "Fratley... You never came back... You've left me with nothing except rumors of your death. I couldn't believe it! I still won't believe it! Never. Not until I witness proof of your death with my own eyes. And I will travel forever across the world forever if I must..." [The flashback ends and Zidane looks over.] Zidane: "Are you alright?" Freya: "Yes. I was just thinking...about the past..." Zidane: "...You still can't get over him, huh? Who is that?" [Just then, someone in white walks towards Beatrix and Brahne. Freya and Zidane listen in.] Mystery Man: "I find this rain quite pleasant... I feel as though the raindrops are blessing our victory..." Brahne: "This is a great victory for us. Kuja, your black mages made this conquest so simple. My only concern now is finding the king of Burmecia. We must take care of him once and for all, and prevent these rats from ever rising up again. Beatrix, what's taking so long!?" Beatrix: "I don't know, Your Majesty. I've ordered Zorn and Thorn to search the preimeter, but there's been no word so far. I will join them and lead the search right away." Kuja: "You're wasting your time." Beatrix: "What?" Kuja: "Rats often look for new homes when they sense an earthquake. They probably moved to the sandy tree house by now... So, you see, it's too late. The king has already turned tail and fled." Brahne: "Sandy tree house... Surely, you can't mean Cleyra!? It'll be quite difficult if they escaped to Cleyra." Beatrix: "Cleyra... Unless we can get through that sandstorm, it will be impossible to attack them." Brahne: "Sneaky, little rats! Kuja, what do you think? Surely, with your powers, there must be something you can do." Kuja: "Of course, Your Majesty. I will present you a marvelous display of my power. I am certain that you will be most pleased. I was wondering if you would gather your troops near Cleyra. I'm certain those filthy rats will retaliate in full force, and my black mages may not be enough." [Up at the statue:] Zidane: "Sounds like we got trouble." Freya: "That sinister man... Who is he?" Zidane: "Beats me... I've never seen him before. Well, it sounds like they're going to Cleyra. I've always wondered why people call it the 'City of Illusion.'" Freya: "I don't know, either. Cleyra has remained in isolation for hundreds of years. If my poeple escaped to there, they'll be safe, at least for a while." Zidane: "What's the place like?" Freya: "The people of Cleyra are originally from Burmecia. Long ago, they severed ties with Burmecia over a trivial conflict. Now the kingdom is at peace, shielded by a large sandstorm." Zidane: "Look, there's someone else coming!" [A Burmecian soldier runs over to Beatrix.] Freya: "What is he thinking!?" Zidane: "Geez, he's gonna get killed!" [Zidane and Freya jump down and run towards him.] Burmecian Soldier: "Burmecia will never fall! Prepare to die!!!" Beatrix: "You wish to fight me, Beatrix of Alexandria?" Burmecian Soldier: "B-Beatrix!?" Beatrix: "I commend your courage, but I will show you no mercy." [Zidane and Freya arrive.] Zidane: "Hold it!" Freya: "You'll have to deal with us, first! We'll take care of this. Go find the king. Protect him with your life." Burmecian Soldier: "...Thank you, Freya." Beatrix: "Ha ha ha. I've never been so humiliated in my life. I once killed a hundred knights single-handedly... To me, you two are nothing more than insects." [Vivi and Quina run over, and the battle begins, but Beatrix stands strong until the end.] Beatrix: "You're no match for me!" [She uses Stock Break on the party, reducing them all to critical health (1 HP). The battle then ends.] Beatrix: "Ignorant fools." [The party members lie on the ground, huffin' and puffin'.] Beatrix: "How ridiculously weak... Isn't there anyone who is worthy of facing me?" Brahne: "Come, Beatrix. We must prepare to attack Cleyra." Beatrix: "Yes, Your Majesty." [The two leave.] Kuja: "Now what do we have here...? Another filthy rat, and... Hmm... This boy could become a problem..." [FMV. Kuja looks over the wounded members of the party before riding away on a silver dragon. The finish of the sequence concludes the first disc.] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ###### # ###### ##### #### ###### #### # ###### ## # # # # # ## # ## # ## # ## # # ###### # # ##### # ## # ## # ## # # # # # ## # ## # ## # ###### # ###### ##### ####### ###### # #### ###### ----------------------------------------------------------------------- =========================================================== 16. Grand Citadel South Gate (SG02) =========================================================== [The disc opens on the two gate guards Steiner encountered before.] Tall Guard: "There's been a lot of trouble lately." Short Guard: "Oh, you mean about Burmecia? I heard they were attacked by an army of soldiers wearing pointy hats. I wanna go fight on the frontline. Instead, I'm rotting away in this stinkin' place." Tall Guard: "Really? I don't like wars. Why would someone start a war...? That guy who passed through here with the huge bag... Did he look suspicious to you?" Short Guard: "No... I don't think so." Tall Guard: "But weren't you the one who thought he was suspicious?" Short Guard: "You know me! I'm always like that. I'm telling you, people who eat pickles are nice people. I envy him. Gysahl pickles are the only picles I can't eat." Tall Guard: "You're really confusing, you know that?" Short Guard: "I know... Why do you think I ended up here?" [On the cable car, Steiner walks back to where Dagger is sitting.] Steiner: "The conductor said we'll be arriving at the Summit Station soon. Prin... Ahem... Miss Dagger? She's sleeping... (The princess believes what she heard about Queen Brahne. Queen Brahne would never start a war... It's all a misunderstanding. She will see that when she talks to the queen. ...I need not concern myself with such matters. My only mission is to protect the princess.) Conductor: "Summit Station! Summit Station!" [Everyone walks off.] Dagger: "Thank you very much." Conductor: "Take care. You'll have to wait awhile until the car to Alexandria arrives." Dagger: "How long will it be?" Conductor: "It arrives when this car reaches Bohden Station, so... ...about as long as you spent in the car. Why don't you wait in the rest area up ahead?" Dagger: "Okay. What's wrong, Steiner?" Steiner: "P-Princess..." Dagger: "Hey, what did I say about--" Steiner: "It's Alexandria! We're finally home!" Dagger: "Really...?" [They go to see the view on the other side of the station.] Dagger: "We're home...! But I still can't see the castle." Steiner: "Princess, Alexandria may only mean the castle to you, but..." Dagger: "Hey, are you making fun of me for being naive?" Steiner: "N-No, I'm not..." Dagger: "It's okay. Let's go." [They enter the rest stop area.] Dagger: "This must be the rest area." Steiner: "Let us gather information while we wait for the car to Alexandria!" [Dagger talks around and hears a familiar voice down at the station. She goes down there and finds Cinna and Marcus talking.] Dagger: "That's..." Cinna: "I missed my ride! What am I gonna do now!?" Marcus: "How the heck should I know...? You were the one who wanted to watch the scenery while eating South Gate Bundt Cake." Cinna: "I'm gonna be late returning to Lindblum..." Marcus: "There's nothing we can do. I won't tell the boss." Cinna: "Thanks, buddy! Let's eat another bundt cake! Marcus: "Geez..." [Marcus and Cinna walk inside; Dagger follows 'em in. Steiner finds them both first, though.] Steiner: "Scoundrels!" Dagger: "???" Steiner: "Are you here to kidnap the princess again!?" Cinna: "Who's the big tin man?" Steiner: "WHAT!? How dare you!" Marcus: "He's the captain of the Knights of Pluto." Cinna: "Oh yeah! You're one bad actor." Steiner: "Grrr...! Have you no respect?" [Dagger goes over to Steiner.] Steiner: "Princess...!" Dagger: "Steiner! That's enough!" Steiner: "Wh-Wha...!?" Dagger: "Can't I even talk to my friends?" Steiner: "Freinds!? But they're..." Dagger: "Adelbert Steiner!" Steiner: "Yes, Prin--ma'am!" Cinna: "He's bein' scolded." Marcus: "How embarrassing." [They hear a sound outside.] Attendant: "The cable car to Alexandria has arrived!" Cinna: "It's here!" Marcus: "But you're goin' to Lindblum." Cinna: "I-I know that! But you're going to Alexandria!" Marcus: "Yeah, I'm heading to Treno." Cinna: "I'll see you off." [They walk to the station.] Dagger: "Marcus is going to Treno, too? Let's go, Steiner. Steiner? Are you mad at me?" Steiner: "No, ma'am! I'm coming along." [They go to the station, where Cinna's seeing Marcus off.] Cinna: "Good luck!" Marcus: "Yeah. I'll save our bro!" Dagger: "...Bro?" [Dagger and Steiner climb onto the car.] Conductor: "Now departing." Garnet: "Why are you going to Treno, Marcus?" Marcus: "To save our brother." Dagger: "Who?" Marcus: "There's only man I call 'Bro.' That's Blank. We've been gathering info to cure his petrification. We finally learned about an item called Supersoft that cures all forms of petrification." Dagger: "What about Cinna?" Marcus: "Cinna's going back to the Tantalus hideout in Lindblum to tell the others." Dagger: "I see..." Marcus: "It's my turn for questions." Dagger: "Yes?" Marcus: "Where's Zidane?" Dagger: "We separated in Lindblum." Marcus: "Got rid of him as soon as he got you to Lindblum, huh?" Dagger: "How could you say that!? It's only because Zidane kept treating me like a child! ...I don't care about him." Marcus: "Fine. Then I don't know anything." Dagger: "......" [Dagger talks to him again.] Dagger: "Say, Marcus... Um, is there any way I can help?" Marcus: "Help with what?" Dagger: "Well... I was partially responsible for what happened, so..." Marcus: "No, thanks. We'll be fine on our own." Dagger: "But wouldn't it be better if--" [The cable car shakes.] Steiner: "Wh-What was that!?" Conductor: "It might be engine trouble! Please remain in your seats while I check. Ahhhhhh! It's a demon! A demon in a pointy hat!!!" Dagger: "A pointy hat!?" Marcus: "What's wrong!?" [They all pile out and see none other than Black Waltz No. 3.] Marcus: "What's going on!? !!!" Black Waltz No. 3: "Mission...retrieve...princess...alive..." Dagger: "Isn't that the one we saw on the cargo ship?" Steiner: "Monster! I'll finish you off this time!" Dagger: "Wait, Steiner! Tell me something! Why do you want to capture me?" Steiner: "Princess, it's too dangerous! Please stand back!" Black Waltz No. 3: "Mission...retrieve...princess...alive..." Marcus: "It's no use! It doesn't understand!" Dagger: "But--" Black Waltz No. 3: "Eliminate...all!" [The party kills the Black Waltz once and for all.] Dagger: "Why...? Why...? What did he want with me?"" Steiner: "Princess..." Marcus: "Burmecia was attacked by an army of black mage soldiers..." Dagger: "...I know." Marcus: "Those mages wiped out the people of Burmecia..." Dagger: "......" Steiner: "Who would do such a thing?" Marcus: "Are you serious!? How ignorant can you be!?" Steiner: "What do you mean!?" Dagger: "Stop it, Steiner... I know who did it." Steiner: "Princess?" Dagger: "We're almost in Alexandria... I must go to the castle and see my mother... She'll listen to me." [Back on the moving cable car, Dagger sits down next to Marcus.] Dagger: "I think we're almost there." Marcus: "So, you already heard about the attack on Burmecia." Dagger: "Of course. I'm not like Steiner." Marcus: "You've changed." Dagger: "Me? You mean the way I talk?" Marcus: "Not just that." Dagger: "Well... A lot has happened. Oh, speaking of which...!" Marcus: "Yeah?" Dagger: "I've been through tons of battles. I'm a seasoned pro, now!" Marcus: "What are you talking about?" Dagger: "You need to find Supersoft and save Blank, right?" Marcus: "You're gonna come along, even if I refuse, right?" Dagger: "Of course I am! This is so exciting! I've always wanted to see the marvelous architecture of Treno. I can hardly wait!" Marcus: (On second thought, maybe she hasn't changed that much.) [The Berkmea car cruises to a stop in Alexandria territory and the four passengers pile out.] Conductor: "Take care! The road splits up ahead. Go right to reach Treno, and left to reach Dali." [The party hangs a right and goes through the gate. On the world map, they soon arrive at the city of Treno, under an eternal veil of night.] =========================================================== 17. Dark City Treno (TR01) =========================================================== [The party walks in through the front gate.] Steiner: "Princess, this is Treno, the City of Nobles." Dagger: "We need to find out which noble has the Supersoft." Marcus: "There aren't many nobles living here. The nights are long. It's a great place for thieves." Steiner: "People like you turned this city into a slum!" Marcus: "...Let's steal the Supersoft and get this over with." Steiner: "Steal!? How dare you! Do you think I'd let you commit a crime before my very eyes!?" Marcus: "How else would we get the Supersoft?" Steiner: "Quiet! I will not allow such disgraceful behavior!" Marcus: "I never asked you to come along. Quit complaining." [Dagger walks off.] Steiner: "Don't you talk back to me! First of all--" Marcus: "...Uh-oh." Steiner: "Do not interrupt me while I'm talking!" Marcus: "Look behind you." Steiner: "What!? Princess, I urge you not to...!!! P-Princess!? No... Not again... Never have I dealt with such hardship in my 18 years of service. This is all because of you and your scoundrel friends...!" [...but Marcus has already left, too.] Steiner: "Gone... An Alexandrian knight must not let such a frivolous matter get to him! I must find the princess!" [Steiner goes to the auction house.] Steiner: "Princess! Thank goodness I found you. I was worried." Dagger: "How can I find the Supersoft if I have to keep listening to your complaints?" Steiner: "Such harsh words..." Dagger: "I don't think it's here, anyway. Where's Marcus?" Steiner: "I do not know..." Dagger: "Maybe Marcus found it already. Are you coming? I'm going, with or without you." Steiner: "I-I shall follow you, Princess." [Steiner runs out; Garnet gazes back up at the empty balcony.] Dagger: "...I've seen him before..." [Dagger and Steiner find Marcus in the downstairs of the bar.] Marcus: "We're ready to retrieve the Supersoft." Dagger: "Good! At last, we can save Blank! When do we leave?" Marcus: "We can leave right away. So you're coming along, huh? Are you ready?" R1 --> Ready R2 --> Not yet R1: [See below.] R2 (Dagger): "I still need time to get ready. Is that alright?" Marcus: "Sure... But make it quick." [After picking R1:] Dagger: "Let's go." Steiner: "Princess! Princess! Please wait!" Marcus: "Boss's waiting at the dock." Dagger: "Boss? You mean..." Marcus: "Yup, there's only one man we call 'Boss.'" [They start walking to the dock.] Steiner: "Princess! Please wait! It may be a trap! You cannot trust criminals! Think of the consequences! You are a princess! If the queen hears about this... Princess!" Baku: "Princess, do you know that breakin' and enterin' is a crime?" Dagger: "I need to make sure you don't steal anything else." Marcus: "Let's go." Steiner: "Dammit! I am coming along. It is my duty to protect the princess from bad influences!" Marcus: "Do whatever you want..." Baku: "Always talkin' about yer duty. Ain't you got any thoughts of yer own?" Steiner: "Don't you talk back to me! I am escorting the princess--" Baku: "I thought you might've changed after travelin with Zidane, but... ...you ain't changed. Do you even know why you're here?" Steiner: "Wh-What do you mean!?" Dagger: "Let's just go, okay?" [The view changes to the auction house, where Kuja and the auctioneer are standing in an empty parlor.] Auctioneer: "How was Burmecia?" Kuja: "Not bad... Better if I didn't have to see those vermin and the ugly elephant-lady. They offend my senses." Auctioneer: "You must be tired." Kuja: "It's not over yet. The rest of the vermind must be done away with." Auctioneer: "Will you be heading to Cleyra, then?" Kuja: "Yes; I trust you will deliver them?" Auctioneer: "Certainly. I shall prepare now..." Kuja: "By the way, did you see a pretty lady in the crowd today?" Auctioneer: "A pretty lady? Shall I arrange a meeting?" Kuja: "There's no need. The canary I've been after... She flew into my cage of her own free will." Auctioneer: "?" Kuja: "Never would I have imagined running into you in a place like this. It must be fate. But you cannot rest your wings yet... Fly home to your mother, little canary. I, too, will welcome you home with open arms." [Back at the dock, the ship's already rolling through the water under the many arches of Treno's underbelly. Dagger and Steiner reflect, but I'll add in the parentheses myself (just so one knows).] Steiner: (What in the world am I doing...? I'm assisting thieves in committing a crime... No... I must be patient. Protect the princess. Escort her back to the castle. Focus on your duties... Trust the queen. She would never commit an atrocity. There must be a good reason. No thoughts of my own? Nonsense. How can I, a lowly knight, undrestand the queen's thinking? I need not worry about the ramblings of a criminal. Just think about escorting the princess home. I'll probably never see him again... He was the culprit... He pulled the princess and me into his intrigues.) [On the other side of the ship, Dagger's also gazing out at the water.] Dagger: (It was your fault, Zidane. If you hadn't treated me like a child... ...I wouldn't be here hunting after Supersoft to save one of your friends. Why am I doing this...? Because Blank saved me? Yes, he saved me. He saved my life... The least I can do is return the favor... But I never thought about things like this before...) [The party arrives at a building and looks around the empty place. It is the synth shop, actually.] Steiner: "How are we to find Supersoft in this mountain of boxes?" Marcus: "Just find it." Dagger: "?" Marcus: (Someone's coming!) [A short man in glasses walks down the stairs nearby.] Scholarly Man: "Oh, I can't believe I ran out of ink on a night like this. I must find more ink and go back to the observatory..." Marcus: (Should I take care of him?) Dagger: (......! Wait!) Steiner: (Princess! No!) [Dagger runs out into the open.] Scholarly Man: "Hmm?" Dagger: "......" Scholarly Man: "Y-You're...!" Dagger: "I've missed you, Doctor Tot." Tot: "P-Princess! Princess Garnet!" Steiner: "Doctor Tot?" Marcus: "You know him?" Steiner: "Doctor Tot is the highly respected scholar who tutored the princess." Tot: "Ah, Master Steiner. You must be quiet or you'll wake the shopkeeper. But, Princess, what on earth are you doing here?" Dagger: "It's a long story. We're looking for Supersoft right now." Steiner: "There is a proper reason for this! We are not here to steal, or commit any form of crime--" Voice: "Somebody down there?" Dagger: "!" Marcus: "!" Steiner: "!" Tot: "Run along! I will give you Supersoft later. Go left from the Treno entrance, and continue until you find a large tower. The tower is my home, but I shall unlock it and await your arrival." Dagger: "Alright. Let's go back! Thank you, Doctor Tot. I'll see you later!" [The three run off just as the Shopkeeper comes down.] Shopkeeper: "Oh, it's you, Doctor Tot." Tot: "Ah, great timing. I ran out of ink." Shopkeeper: "You should've called me. I'll get yelled at if the inventory's wrong!" [The shopkeeper walks back upstairs.] Tot: "Princess..." [Back at the bar, Baku and the others are walking upstairs, too.] Baku: "So, this Tootsie's gonna give us Supersoft?" Marcus: "It's Tot." Baku: "ACHOO!!! Whatever. I can't believe Tantalus is at the mercy of some old man. Hmph. I guess we gotta keep babysittin' the princess." [Steiner and Dagger walk up the stairs, too.] Marcus: "Still?" Baku: "He ain't gonna give you the Supersoft unless you're with the princess. That's the deal, Princess. I'm askin' you to take Marcus to this Toot." Marcus: "...It's Tot." Dagger: "I was going to, anyway." Baku: "Well, go get some rest before you go. I'm sure Ted needs time to prepare." Marcus: "...It's Tot." [Later on, the party goes to the tower, and Dagger stops.] Dagger: "Oh..." [She sees Tot looking at the moon before disappearing up.] Dagger: "Doctor Tot..." [Dagger goes up.] Tot: "Princess! Thank you for coming. Welcome to my humble abode." Dagger: "This is your home?" Tot: "I traveled quite far in search of a sponsor for my research after I departed Alexandria. I finally found one here in Treno. You have grown into a fine young woman. I am pleased to see you again." Steiner: "Doctor Tot! You look quite well." Tot: "Ah, Master Steiner! Are you escorting the princess?" Steiner: "Yes, sir! I deeply regret my earlier actions." Tot: "Still a straight arrow, aren't you? I'm sure you had your reasons, but I won't ask why. The Supersoft is in the box right there. Please take it." Marcus: "Don't mind if I do!" [Marcus gets the Supersoft.] Steiner: "Have you no manners? Thank the good doctor!" Marcus: "It's quite alright, Master Steiner..." [Garnet looks up at the large globe in his room.] Dagger: "Master Tot, is this Gaia?" Tot: "Yes, it's a globe of our planet, Gaia." Dagger: "I remember your lessons." Tot: "You remember the ramblings of an old fool..." [A flashback of Tot in the Alexandrian library takes place.] Tot: "Two phrases are commonly found in documents more than 500 years old... One is 'jewel.' The other is 'summoner tribe.' But 500 years ago, the phrases mysteriously vanished from history... The archaeologist Frederick Ash theorized that 'jewel' refers to the pendant passed down to the ruler of Alexandria. But the pendant... It is much too small to be referring to the same 'jewel.' Other research suggests a relationship betwen 'eidolons' and 'magic stones'..." Garnet: "Doctor Tot!" [Dagger as a little girl runs down the stairs.] Tot: "Ah, Princess!" Garnet: "Were you reading big books again?" Tot: "Ha ha ha... I've already read every book in this library. But I think better when I'm surrounded by old books." Garnet: "Really? I don't like books." Tot: "You are a person of dignity. It is imperative that you study hard." Garnet: "I know, I know... Oh, but I was quite taken by that book you gave me. What was it called? It was..." Tot: "Was it 'I Want to Be Your Canary,' by Lord Avon?" Garnet: "Oh yes, that's the one! So there is a book I like after all." Tot: "My, my..." Garnet: "What's this, Doctor Tot?" Tot: "That is a globe of Gaia. It's a model of our planet." Garnet: "A Gaia globe? I never knew our castle was shaped like a sphere." Tot: "Ha ha ha... We live on the surface, Princess." Garnet: "?" [Tot starts talking to himself again.] Tot: "Ah, yes, the stars! They inspired the theories relating stones and eidolons. That is why... Oh! I'm sorry, I was lost in thought again." Garnet: "It's okay. Where is my room on this globe?" Tot: "Oh, your room is much too small to point out on this globe..." Garnet: "What about the castle?" Tot: "That, I can do..." Garnet: "Oh, and Uncle Cid's castle?" [The flashback ends and Garnet and Tot have moved up inside the giant globe in Tot's room via a ladder.] Dagger: "How long has it been? Eight years?" Tot: "Time passes quickly. But I haven't changed. I continue to collect and research these items." Dagger: "Where did you find this globe?" Tot: "It's an antique. It's broken, as you can see, but I use it as an observation deck. Ironic, isn't it? Looking up at the stars from inside a globe." Dagger: "It sure is..." Tot: "I don't mean to meddle in your affairs, but... I am on your side, now and forever. Please tell me if there is anything I can do." Dagger: "Doctor Tot..." [Dagger tells him the story of their happenings, and Tot paces the room in pensive thought.] Tot: "I see... So the queen's forces have already grown quite powerful... Okay, then. It may be dangerous, but I shall see to it that you reach Alexandria." Dagger: "How?" Tot: "I had an old transportation device remodeled in the case of such an emergency. This way, please." [He opens a hatch in the floor.] Steiner: "Ah! We can finally return to Alexandria!" Marcus: "I'm coming with you." Steiner: "What!? Why!?" Marcus: "I can reach Blank more easily from Alexandria." Dagger: "Yes, come with us, Marcus. Okay, Steiner?" Steiner: "Grrr..." Dagger: "Let's go save Blank! And restore my mother to her former self!" [Dagger, Tot, and the others climb down the hatch.] =========================================================== 18. Gargan Roo (GR01) =========================================================== [They all climb down inside.] Tot: "This is Gargan Roo, an ancient travel route between Treno and Alexandria." Marcus: "Why was this thing built under a tower?" Tot: "Actually, Gargan Roo was in use long before the invention of airships! The tower was on top of a disused tunnel." Dagger: "But it looks fairly new." Tot: "I convinced Mr. Bishop to keep this place intact. I haven't used it since it was remodeled, mind you. We must first activate the tunnel-connection sequence and call the gargant inside. Let's see... Where was the sequence trigger?" Steiner: "So all we have to do is find the sequence trigger. Princess, let us find it!" [In the adjacent room, there's a lever.] Narrative: Pull the lever? {Yes/No} [Dagger pulls it and runs back into the next room, heading into the other adjacent room. There's a long handle near the passage side.] Tot: "Ah, this is it! This is where we call the gargant inside." Dagger: "What do you mean?" Tot: "Gargant Roo Treno station is shaped like a circle. When you pull on that lever, gargant circles around the station continuously." Dagger: "I don't understand what you're saying..." Tot: "Better to show than tell. Princess, will you pull on that lever over there? [Dagger pulls the lever and something comes down the tunnel.] Dagger: "Wh-What is it!?" [A giant spider-like thing with a carriage crawls on a rail above.] Dagger: "What's that!?" Tot: "Ah, perfect timing! That is the gargant, a giant insect that pulls this trolley! Next, we must hail the gargant." [Dagger runs into the next screen and goes to an object on the wall.] Tot: "Yes, that's the one! The gargant should stop when you pull on the lever." [Dagger pulls it, and a food tray stops the gargant.] Tot: "Please hurry. It'll resume once it's finished eating." Dagger: "Are you sure it won't keep going around in circles?" Tot: "It won't. I will reverse the connection sequence and let the gargant out of the station. Please look after the princess, Master Steiner." [Marcus and Dagger get on.] Steiner: "Of course!" Tot: "The princess is bright, but she is still young and naive. I am concerned about her safety. Please make your own decision on the matter at hand and protect her." Steiner: "I am but a humble knight. I cannot exceed my authority..." Tot: "Is that an honest answer? You may endanger the princess if you keep telling yourself that." Steiner: "...I shall take note of your counsel." [Steiner gets on.] Tot: "fare you well, Princess!" Dagger: "Take care, Doctor Tot!" [The gargant leaves.] Tot: "I must hurry!" [He runs to the lever.] Tot: "I just pull the lever..." [The gargant goes out of sight.] Tot: "Be safe, Princess..." [Down the tunnel, on the gargant:] Marcus: "Finally!" Dagger: "We can reach Alexandria now..." Marcus: "You can't even see Treno anymore." Dagger: "I wonder how long it's going to take? I never dreamed of going home in a vehicle like this." Steiner: "Doctor Tot remains a unique charact--" Marcus: "!" Steiner: "!" [The gargant stops.] Steiner: "Wh-What's wrong?" Dagger: "It's hesitating. !!! [Dagger jumps out.] Steiner: "Princess!" [A large snake-type monster is coiled in the passage, and they run to fight it.] Dagger: "Could this be the reason?" [The party fights the monster and chases it away. They get back in the gargant's carriage and continue to Alexandria, coming to a station like the one in Treno.] Marcus: "We're finally here." Dagger: "I think the gargant is tired, too." Steiner: "I never knew such a place existed in Alexandria..." Marcus: "Where are we?" Dagger: "Let's keep moving!" [They walk into the next room.] Marcus: "Is this really Alexandria?" Steiner: "Well, it must be!" Marcus: "How do we get out?" Steiner: "Hmm... Well... This way! Princess, let us make haste." Dagger: "Wait, Steiner! I know this place. Doctor Tot told me about this place. My ancestors built this place to keep enemies from invading. Doctor Tot also said..." Steiner: "Princess! We can hear your stories later! The stale air cannot be good for us!" Marcus: "And we gotta save Blank!" Dagger: "Right. We need to hurry. Let's go Steiner." [Dagger and Marcus walk to where Steiner had walked to, and a gate rises up, blocking their path. Steiner looks at Marcus.] Steiner: "You! What kind of trick is this!?" Marcus: "I didn't do anything! Don't blame me." Steiner: "You really didn't do anything!?" Marcus: "You don't believe me!?" [A gate rises up behind them, trapping them in a small space.] Marcus: "Look, we missed our chance to escape." Steiner: "Graaagh!" [Zorn walks out on one side and looks down at them.] Zorn: "They fell for it!" [Thorn walks on the other side.] Thorn: "Fell for it, they did!" Steiner: "Zorn! Thorn! I am Steiner, Captain of the Knights of Pluto! I have returned! Let us out at once!" Thorn: "Too bad, it is." Zorn: "You're all under arrest." Dagger: "Zorn! Thorn! I've returned to Alexandria to speak with my mother. Take me to my mother!" Zorn: "Yes, we will take you to Queen Brahne, whether you like it or not." Thorn: "'Capture Princess Garnet,' Queen Brahne said. Ordered us, she did." Dagger: "What!?" Steiner: "Lies!" Marcus: "What's going on!?" [The screen blacks out, and control switches over to Zidane's party which is still in Burmecia.] Zidane: "Can you stand, Freya?" Freya: "It is nothing." Zidane: "Take it easy, okay? How 'bout you, Vivi?" Vivi: "Y-Yeah, I'm alright..." Zidane: "So what now, people? They said they were going to Cleyra." Freya: "We have no choice! We must go to Cleyra, too!" Zidane: "I knew you'd say that! You coming, Vivi?" Vivi: "Um... Do you think we'll learn more about those black mages if we go to Cleyra?" Zidane: "Yeah, I'd say we'll learn a lot about them as long as we follow Brahne and that Kuja guy." Vivi: "Then I'm with you!" Quina: "Cleyra...? Sound yummy. I go with you!" Vivi: "O-Oh, and what about the princess?" Zidane: "Dagger? I'd never forget about her! She might not be here in Burmecia, but I know we'll find her soon. Well, let's move out!" Freya: "Some say it lies in the desert west of Burmecia, but I know not whether we can enter the town itself." Zidane: "Brighten up a little! We'll figure it out when we get there!" [The screen blacks out.] Zidane: (Oh, dagger! Where could you be!?) [On the world map, the party goes to the whirlwind's base.] =========================================================== 18. Cleyra (CL01) =========================================================== [The party walks up at the bottom of the trunk, braving the intense sand being blown into their faces.] Freya: "The tempest subsides... By the gods!" Vivi: "C'mon, let's go while we can!" Freya: "Indeed. Let us press on." Quina: "Must hurry. Must find yummy-yummies!" [The party climbs up the tree trunk with great effort, and finally reaches Cleyra's settlement. Some veiled rat-people are at the entrance.] Forest Oracle Kildea: "Might you be Lady Freya?" Freya: "Indeed, I am." Sand Oracle Safrea: "We have awaited your coming, my lady." Freya: "How did you come to know my identity?" Forest Oracle Kildea: "The king of Burmecia has requested that we guide you to him." Freya: "Long live the king! Take me to him immediately!" Sand Oracle Safrea: "At once, my lady." Freya: "Zidane, I shall go to see the king. Why not take this chance to rest?" Zidane: "Yeah, good idea." Sand Oracle Safrea: "This way, my lady." [The two walk off.] Forest Oracle Kildea: "Allow me to be your guide and show you our town." R1 --> Yes, please R2 --> No thanks R1: "Please walk this way, sirs." Quina: "I go find yummy-yummies by myself!" R2: "I see... I am sorry that I cannot be of any service." Zidane: "Kinda strange place, don't ya think? Hey, Vivi and Quina, let's just poke around the town a little, okay?" Vivi: "Uh...okay. Let's." Quina: "I go search for tasty munchies!" [Zidane walks around town and, after receiving a message from a guard at the cathedral that Freya wanted them to wait at the inn, he heads back. However, before he can reach it, Burmecian Soldier Dan runs up the stairs, yelling.] Burmecian Soldier Dan: "Help!!!" [The night oracle comes out of the inn.] Night Oracle Donnegan: "What is the matter?" Burmecian Soldier Dan: "Th-The antlion's mauling a kid!" Night Oracle Donnegan: "The antlion!? It is usually so docile... How could--" Burmecian Soldier Dan: "We gotta teach that beast a lesson!" Night Oracle Donnegan: "This calls for immediate action. I shall inform the high priest at once." [Donnegan walks away slowly.] Burmecian Soldier Dan: "Hey, buddy, wh-where ya going? These Cleyrans are all so damn lazy! You there! Gimme a hand if you think you're good enough!" [At the antlion pit, Vivi and Quina are already there. The antlion is a large frightening-looking monster with a large pair of pincers.] Zidane: "So that's the antlion!" [The Rat Kid from Alexandria is there, dangling off a sharp claw.] Puck: "Aaaa! Help me!!!" Vivi: "NO!!!" Zidane: "Hang in there, champ! We're gonna save you! [Freya arrives.] Freya: "Is the child alright, Zidane?" Zidane: "Yeah, he's fine." Puck: "Like hell, I'm fine!!" Freya: "That voice! Might it be Prince Puck!?" Puck: "Freya! Where you been!?" Antlion: "Urgurrrra!" Puck: "Aaaaaaa!" [The antlion throws puck at Freya and Zidane.] Puck: "Oww! That hurt, ya stupid jerk!" Zidane: "Here it comes!" [The antlion attacks but is repelled by the party. It sinks, wounded, into the sandpit and disappears from sight.] Freya: "Are you alright, Your Highness?" Puck: "Hey, Freya! Whassup?" Freya: "But how can this be? I heard that Your Highness disappeared upon leaving Burmecia..." Puck: "Uh...yeah!" Freya: "Well, let us go at once to the catheral to inform His Majesty!" Puck: "My old man, huh? Nah, I don't want to see him! Just tell him I said hi, okay? Later!" Freya: "But, Your Highness!!!" [Puck runs off the runs back to say:] Puck: "Take care, Vivi!" [...then runs off.] Quina: "He so rude. Vivi much nicer." Vivi: "He's the first friend I ever had. I've gotta tell him something!" [Vivi runs off and the screen blacks out. Up in the cathedral, the party members talk with the king of Burmecia.] King of Burmecia: "I see. So you saw Puck, eh?" Freya: "As mischievous as ever, Your Majesty." King of Burmecia: "I haven't seen him in ages." Freya: "I heard his Highness left Burmecia one month after me. That makes it three years." King of Burmecia: "And yet both you and Puck decided to return to me in this time of danger. I am grateful!" Cleyran High Priest: "Freya, we shall conduct an ancient ceremony to strengthen the sandstorm. Surely, no enemy of ours would attack with the powerful sandstorm protecting Cleyra. And with the help of a dragon knight like you, the storm should grow even more powerful." Freya: "Ah, the ceremony from the time when Burmecia and Cleyra were one. I understand. Zidane, I met with utter failure when trying to defend Burmecia... And I will not allow Brahne to exert her will upon us any longer!" Zidane: "You've changed, Freya. I didn't think you were so strong when I first met you." Freya: "I could not bring peace to Burmecia and thus fulfill Sir Fratley's wish. But now, all I can do is protect this beautiful place." Zidane: "Yeah, protecting Cleyra is the best thing you can do for yourself." Freya: "Doing so will help me." [Zidane walks aside and lets Freya stand with the maidens dancing. The harp player flicks the strings and they begin to the strengthening dance. Towards the end, though, the strings break.] Moon Maiden Claire: "The strings have snapped... A terrible omen, this is..." [FMV. The sandstorm surrounding Cleyra melts away, revealing the gigantic tree for all to see. A terrible omen, indeed.] Zidane: "I can't believe the sandstorm disappeared. What happened...?" Freya: "I don't know..." Cleyran High Priest: "I have never witnessed anything like this since we settled here. On the harp, there is a magic stone. Since ancient times we have used the magic stone to control the sandstorm." King of Burmecia: "Perhaps someone is trying to invade Cleyra." Cleyran High Priest: "I fear you may be right, my lord." King of Burmecia: "I only hope our enemies don't come up the trunk..." [The view changes and focuses back to somewhere in Alexandria, where Steiner and Marcus are locked in a suspended cage, watched by guards.] Steiner: "How dare they imprison us like this! Those wretched court jesters! Zorn and Thorn will never get away with this!" Marcus: "I can't believe I got dragged into this." Steiner: "No one asked you to meddle in our affairs!" Marcus: "It's pretty sad, gettin' backstabbed by your own queen." Steiner: "This is all some kind of mistake! I know the queen! She would never betray me!" Marcus: "Wishful thinking! Who knows what she's gonna do to the princess..." Steiner: "...... I must save the princess at all costs!" [Elsewhere, the princess sits alone in her room.] Dagger: "I wonder if Mother will even listen to me... Why did she attack Burmecia? And why did she arrest us like this? I must be sincere with her. She hasn't been herself lately... Actually, she's been acting rather strange since my birthday last year. The same day that tall man visited us... Maybe he had something to do with it... Come to think of it, that was when things began to change. Doctor Tot left Alexandria shortly afterwards, too. What happened that day?" [Zorn and Thorn run into the room.] Zorn: "Queen Brahne summons you!" Thorn: "Come with us!" Dagger: "What!? How dare you speak to me like that!?" Zorn: "Quiet!" Thorn: "With us, you are coming, and that is that!" Dagger: (What was that phrase...? Oh yeah.) "Get off me, you scumbag!" Zorn: "What was that? I do not understand." Thorn: "Understand what said, I do not, either." Zorn: "Enough! Now come with us!" Thorn: "Enough! Now come with us!" [Zorn and Thorn take Dagger to the Queen's room.] Zorn: "Hurry up!" Thorn: "For so long, the queen has waited." [Dagger enters and bows.] Dagger: "Mother..." Brahne: "Darling, there you are. Where were you? I've been worried sick. Here, come closer." Dagger: "Mother, there is something I need to ask you." Brahne: "What is it, darling? I will tell you anything you wish to know." Dagger: "Did you... Is it true that you are responsible for the destruction of Burmecia?" Brahne: "Oh... Well, no wonder you look so concerned. That is far from the truth, Garnet. You see, those Burmecian rats have been planning to destroy Alexandria for some time. I couldn't just wait for them to attack and destroy our precious kingdom. So, I had no choice but to take the initiative." Dagger: "Mother, is that really the truth?" Brahne: "Of course. I wouldn never lie to you." R1 --> Believe her R2 --> Don't believe her. R1 (Dagger): "Alright... I'm sorry, Mother." Brahne: "It's okay, darling. I'm just happy you understand." R2 (Dagger): "I don't believe you!" Brahne: "Oh, darling, what's wrong? Why wouldn't you believe your own mother?" [Kuja enters.] Kuja: "May I play a part in this act?" Dagger: "Act?" Kuja: "Yes, an act from a beautiful play... There is a knight on a white horse.. ...and a beautiful princess. It is a tale of tragic love. Overcome by grief, the princess must sleep for a hundred years..." Dagger: "You... I've seen you before..." Kuja: "It appears we were destined to meet again. My sweet angel, come to me. I will take you to a world of dreams." [Kuja waves his hand and magic puts Dagger to sleep.] Kuja: "She is beautiful, even in sleep." Brahne: "Hmph, impudent little girl. Zorn, Thorn! Prepare to extract the eidolons from Garnet." [Sometime after, deep in the castle bowels, Zorn and Thorn hover over a sleeping Garnet, lying on a raised platform.] Zorn: "A belated happy birthday, Princess. Hee-hee-heee!" Thorn: "Sixteen years old, the princess has become. Draw the eidolons from her, finally, we can." Zorn: "Eidolons of eternal life!" Thorn: "Eidolons of eternal power!" Zorn: "Depart after a 16 year sleep!" Thorn: "Depart after a 16 year wait!" Zorn: "Let there be light!" Thorn: "Let there be life!" Zorn: "The time has come!" Thorn: "The time is now!" Zorn: "Come forth!" Thorn: "Odin, warrior of the dark!" [Garnet levitates as magic is extracted from her, in the form of the eidolon Odin. The screen fades out and back into Cleyra, where Zidane walks to the observatory where Freya gazes out.] Zidane: "What are you doing here?" Freya: "Tell me. Why do you think the sandstorm disappeared?" Zidane: "I don't know. I was surprised that there even was a sandstorm." Freya: "Did you know the sandstorm was here for a thousand years...? And in all that time, it never disappeared, not even once. Perhaps Brahne is behind all this." Zidane: "......" R1 --> No doubt; Brahne is behind this R2 --> What about that guy that was with Brahne? R3 --> Right now, my mind's only on Dagger R1: "It's gotta be Brahne." Freya: "I thought you might feel the same way." R2: "Actually, I'm more concerned about who that guy with Brahne in Burmecia was." Freya: "That man... I wonder who he was..." R3: "Who cares? Dagger's the only thing on my mind right now." Freya: "That girl... She's Brahne's daughter." Zidane: "Yeah. So what?" [After picking whatever option:] Freya: "...... Zidane, I'm going to head down to find out why the sandstorm disappeared." Zidane: "Hey, I was thinking the same thing! Let's go together. I'm gonna find Vivi and Quina. I'll meet you at the town entrance." [Freya goes down to the entrance after awhile.] Zidane: "Hey, what took you so long? Alright, let's get going." Vivi: "I couldn't find Puck... I wonder if he went down the trunk?" Quina: "This city have very yummy sand! This city delicious." Freya: "I failed Burmecia...but I won't fail Cleyra, no matter what." [The party heads down into the lower tunnels and encounter some fairly familiar troops.] Zidane: "Alexandrian soldiers!" [The party defeats groups of soldiers en route to the bridge. When they arrive, Freya stops the group.] Freya: "A moment, Zidane. Those Alexadrian soldiers back there... Weren't they too few in number to constitute a determined attack?" Zidane: "Well..." R1 --> Yeah, I thought so, too R2 --> Let's wipe 'em out! R1: "Yeah, I thought so, too." Voice: "Bingo!" R2: "Let's wipe 'em out! Voice: "Moron!" [Puck runs into Vivi.] Puck: "Ow! Freya! The town's in trouble! Ya gotta come back, please!" Freya: "No! My fears were true! At once, my lord!" Puck: "C'mon, you deadweights! Hustle!" Zidane: "You heard him! Let's go!" [They run back the way they came, just missing Beatrix' appearance.] Beatrix: "Ha! They fell for it!" [In town, mages are teleporting in and attacking the citizenry.] Burmecian Soldier Dan: "How dare you show up here! Ungah!" [A mage kills Dan, and two more mages take out some oracles.] Black Mage: "KILL!" Black Mage: "KILL!" [Meanwhile, at the entrance, Mopli, Sharon, and Shannon are running down to get away from the violence just as the party arrives.] Mopli: "Kupo! Flower Maiden Sharon: "Please save us!!!" Water Maiden Shannon: "The town is full of demons!" Zidane: "Are there really that many!?" Flower Maiden Sharon: "They just keep coming!" [One teleports in just then.] Flower Maiden Sharon: "Aaa!" Water Maiden Shannon: "Aaa!" Black Mage: "KILL!" [They slay the black mage.] Flower Maiden Sharon: "Aaa!" Water Maiden Shannon: "Aaa!" [Some soldiers have breached the town gates.] Alexandrian Soldier: "Foolish Cleyrans, your time has come!" Zidane: "Over here! I'm the one you want!" [He slays the three soldiers.] Zidane: "This must be the main attack force..." [Two mages warp in.] Black Mage: "KILL!" Black Mage: "KILL!" [Zidane schools 'em.] Zidane: "Ha! They got nothin' on me! But the town's in trouble!" [Zidane runs up and finds two clerics.] Zidane: "Enemies are on their way up! How about your side?" Tree Oracle Wylan: "The Burmecians are fighting back, but the demons keep coming..." Sand Oracle Safrea: "We fled, unable to resist any longer..." Zidane: "Damn those Alexandrians! Sand Oracle Safrea: "What are we to do...?" Tree Oracle Wylan: "What are we to do...?" Zidane: "We're out of time!" R1 --> Let's head up! R2 --> Let's head right! R1: "Let's head up!" [A black mage warps in...] Black Mage: "KILL!" [...and kills Wylan and Safrea.] Zidane: "Not again!" [Zidane fights and slays the mage.] Zidane: "They're after the king and the high priest!" R2: "Let's head to the right!" [They all go into the right screen.] [Zidane heads right into the inn front area. Jack, Adam, and Learie are running down the stairs towards him.] Burmecian Refugee Learie: "Excuse me... Have you seen my husband?" Zidane: "No, I sure haven't..." Burmecian Kid: "Daddy's gone!" Burmecian Kid: "Waaaah!" Zidane: "It's too dangerous here!" R1 --> Let's go left! R2 --> Climb the stairs to the right! R1: "Let's go left!" [Zidane slays the mages/soldiers.] Zidane: "We gotta be fast, or we'll lose them all!" [Zidane follows them into the next screen, safely.] R2: "Climb the stairs on the right!" [A black mage teleports in...] Black Mage: "KILL!" Zidane: "We can't go that way! Here, let's try this way!" [The black mages close in.] Zidane: "Bring it on!" Burmecian Refugee Learie: "Was my husband...killed by these demons...?" Zidane: "Come on! Let's get outta here!!!" Burmecian Refugee Learie: "You did kill him, didn't you!? Zidane: "Look out!" Burmecian Refugee Learie: "Aaah!" [...screams Learie as she's firebomb'd by the mages.] Zidane: "Dammit! You bastards! [He kills the mages.] Zidane: "How the heck am I supposed to save these people!?" [Zidane runs to the windmill area.] Burmecian Kid Jack: "Hurry, tell us! Burmecian Kid Adam: "Which way now!?" Zidane: "Let's see..." R1 --> Up the stairs! R2 --> Cross the bridge to the right! R3 --> Down the stairs to the left! R1: "Up the stairs!" [A mage comes down and says its signature line.] Zidane: "I'll hold them off! You guys run ahead, now!" Burmecian Refugee Learie: "Please, see my children to safety..." Zidane: "You're out of your mind!" Burmecian Refuge Learie: "For him!" [She races at the mage.] [The mage kills Learie.] Zidane: "You heartless bastards! [He slays the mages.] Zidane: "Don't worry! I'll protect your children!" [Zidane runs to the right.] R2: "Cross the bridge!" [The civilians escape, but soldiers advance.] Zidane: "Persistant bastards!" [Zidane kills 'em.] Zidane: "We can't hold them off forever!" R3: "Down the stairs!" [Alexandrian soldiers run up.] Zidane: "Nothing'll happen to Cleyra as long as I'm here!" [He defeats the soldiers.] Zidane: "This area's too dangerous! Let's get out of here!" [They head to the right bridge.] [In the next area:] Burmecian Kid: "Are we safe now?" Burmecian Kid: "No more monsters?" Zidane: "Hmm..." R1 --> Yeah, they won't come back R2 --> We're not safe yet R1: "Yeah, they won't come back." Burmecian Kid: "Alright!" Burmecian Kid: "Yeah!" Flower Maiden Sharon: "Have we really seen the last of them?" R2: "We're not safe yet... So stay alert for more!" Burmecian Kid: "Waaa!!!" Burmecian Kid: "No!" Flower Maiden Sharon: "I knew it wasn't over yet." Zidane: "Huh? What are you guys still doing here?" Water Maiden Shannon: "We like this place very much." Flower Maiden Sharon: "Even though we have lost the soul- soothing view of the sandstorm..." Zidane: "Yeah, I think it's pretty, too. This whole town is pretty. And everyone here is so nice. That's why I wanna protect you! C'mon, let's head to the cathedral. We can make our stand there!" [They all run to the cathedral's front.] Zidane: "So, these are the only survivors..." Flower Maiden Sharon: "Where is the high priest?" Water Maiden Shannon: "Where is the king?" Burmecian Kid: "Where's dad?" Burmecian Kid: "Waaa!" Zidane: "I hope they're all safe inside the cathedral... Alright, everyone inside!" [They start to head in, but a black mage comes down.] Zidane: "They're back!" Water Maiden Shannon: "Yeeow!" Zidane: "Over there!" [A mage lands in front of Shannon. Sharon runs, but a mage blocks her way out, too.] Zidane: "Dammit! We're surrounded! Black Mage: "KILL!" Black Mage: "KILL!" Black Mage: "KILL!" Zidane: "Dammit! I can't save 'em all!" Voice: "Minions of evil, you have gone too far!" [Someone stands atop the cathedral's spire, with a dragon lance.] Stranger: "My spear will purge the land of you! You shall fall like leaves in the wind under the force of my blade!" [The man jumps around and cuts down the black mages.] Stranger: "Now, run!" Zidane: "Dunno who you are, but I owe you one!" [Inside the cathedral, Freya talks with the Stranger.] Freya: "Sir Fratley, I... I have missed you so much... I began my search for you immediately after you left Burmecia. Where have you been all these years...? To what corners of the world have you traveled? My dear Fratley... I climbed the highest mountains only to hear rumors of your victories... I searched the deepest valleys only to find your footsteps. But I never found you. And in the end, I heard something... Something unbearable!" Fratley: "Freya, you say? I believe this is the first time we have met..." Freya: "What...did you just say?" Fratley: "I'm sorry, but I cannot remember you for the life of me..." Freya: "Y-You jest! You cannot have forgotten me! It's me, Freya! Freya of Burmecia!!" Fratley: "I am sorry..." Freya: "No..." Zidane: "Wait a minute! You can't be serious! It's Freya, your lost love! How could you forget her!? Well, say something!!!" Freya: "That is enough, Zidane..." Zidane: "What!!!? You've been searching for this guy for years, and now he's right here!" King of Burmecia: "Fratley! Do you remember me, the King of Burmecia?" Fratley: "Not at all, I'm afraid." King of Burmecia: "Impossible! Have you forgotten everything that has passed!? Then let me ask you this: What brought you back to Burmecia? Is it not because you learned of the crisis in Cleyra, whose people are our brothers?" Fratley: "As a matter of fact..." Voice: "As a matter of fact, I'll tell ya!" [Puck runs in.] Zidane: "Puck!" Freya: "Prince Puck!" Fratley: "Lord Puck!" King of Burmecia: "Puck!" Puck: "I found Fratley during my travels around the world! And you guessed it, he didn't know who I was! Or even who he was! But when Burmecia was attacked and he heard that Cleyra was in danger... His faint memories as a dragon knight called him back here!" Fratley: "Dragon knight... Yes, I was once called that... But now, that is all I can remember..." Freya: "Fratley..." Fratley: "I must go." [Fratley disappears in a single bound.] Zidane: "Freya, aren't you gonna follow him?" Freya: "No... I am happy simply knowing Sir Fratley still lives." Puck: "I'm sorry, Freya. I knew you weren't ready to see him, but with Cleyra under attack and all..." Freya: "I need no such courtesy, Your Highness." Puck: "Uh...well, I'm gonna go after Fratley! Later!" [Puck runs off.] King of Burmecia: "Wait, Puck! I haven't seen you in ages!" Vivi: "Wh-What? That was Puck? So what happened? What's the matter, Freya? Are you crying?" Freya: "Ahahaha... What irony. To find the man about whom I have dreamt endlessly... ...only to discover that he cannot even remember who I am! Come, Zidane! The enemy's hand has not been stilled!" We must regroup!" Zidane: "Freya..." Voice: "Eeeeek!" [Everyone turns around to see Beatrix' sword pointed at the high priest.] Cleyran High Priest: "Eeeeek! Have mercy!" Beatrix: "Hmph! Pathetic rodents! You fail to grasp the true power of this jewel!" [Beatrix cuts it loose and takes it.] Cleyran High Priest: "Our magic stone!" Beatrix: "Now that I have this jewel, I am through with your city! Zidane: "Wait!" Freya: "Halt, villain!" [Beatrix runs through the lobby and out to the cathedral front; the party follows in kind.] Zidane: "Think you can get away?" Beatrix: "Get away? Hahaha. You're a bigger fool than I imagined... Have you forgotten how badly I beat you back in Burmecia?" Freya: "So, you are more of a fool for not finishing what you started!" Vivi: "You're gonna pay!" Quina: "I find no tasties in this town, so we cook you for breakfast!" Beatrix: "Then allow me to shatter your delusions of grandeur." [The party fights Beatrix, but once again...] Beatrix: "No more games." [She uses Stock Break to put everyone in critical condition.] Beatrix: "I shall leave with the jewel now." [The battle ends.] Zidane: "She's t-too powerful!" Beatrix: "Black mages, our work here is done. Commence withdrawal immediately! [A black mage jumps into a teleport sphere, along with Beatrix, and it soars away into the sky.] Zidane: "Hey, they disappeared! What now, Freya?" Freya: "Good question... Zidane! Look out behind you!" [A black mage has wandered up, but it only jumps into a teleport sphere.] Zidane: "There! I'm gonna follow 'em! Everyone follow me!" [Zidane jumps into the sphere before it dissipates, and he zooms off into the horizon, too.] Vivi: "Zidane! He's gone!" Freya: "I highly doubt I will return to this place... Besides, this may be your last chance to find the truth abou who you are... Come, Vivi! Show us your courage!" [Freya jumps into the next teleport sphere.] Vivi: "Oh no... Freya's gone, too!" [Vivi jumps into the next teleport sphere and leaves.] Quina: "I no like heights..." [Quina hightails it out of there. Meanwhile, up on an airship looming over Cleyra somewhere, Brahne sits on the front deck.] Brahne: "It's time... Without her summoning powers, Garnet is helpless. With this Dark Matter, I now hold the power to summon an eidolon. Now, I'll find out if Kuja's claims are true. Odin, come to me!!!" [FMV. The frightening eidolon Odin appears on his horse Sleipner and throws his lance into the tree-town below, literally ripping it apart. Odin fades away afterwards. Meanwhile, Freya, Vivi, and Zidane have landed on the same ship.] =========================================================== 19. Red Rose (RR01) =========================================================== Zidane: "Geez... Did you see that!?" Vivi: "Cleyra...Puck...Quina... They're all gone..." Zidane: "Dammit! Oh yeah! What happened to Beatrix!? I'll bet she's on this ship! [Zidane runs to the stairs and beckons the others. Freya stays put.] Vivi: "Freya... I think Zidane's calling for us." Freya: "Please... Leave me alone..." [Zidane runs over.] Zidane: "We have to get behind the stairs! Someone's coming!" [Freya manages to get out of sight with the others. Beatrix emerges from one of the rooms and sees a soldier.] Alexandrian Soldier: "Welcome back, General!" Beatrix: "How is Her Majesty?" Alexandrian Soldier: "She has eagerly awaited your return. I am certain she will shower you with praise for our victory. Your supremacy is without question now. Steiner and his Knights of Pluto are nothing compared to you!" Beatrix: "That is enough!" Alexandrian Soldier: "Forgive me, General." Beatrix: "Tell Her Majesty that I will report to her shortly." [The guard salutes and walks off.] Beatrix: "That was ridiculous... My troops alone would've been more than enough to take Cleyra. Why does the queen insist on using black mages and eidolons? I didn't train all these years so that I could take a backseat to anyone..." [A soldier (the same?) comes near Beatrix and turns back to the door.] Alexandrian Soldier: "This way! Hurry up! You three, et on the telepod and go to Alexandria immediately!" [Beatrix watches three black mages walk away with the soldier.] Beatrix: "...There's no difference between them and me. We're all just blindly following orders. My heart and my will mean nothing... Maybe Steiner was right..." [Beatrix walks away.] Zidane: "Did you hear that? Looks like Brahne's onboard this ship." [The party runs to a cabin door, and Zidane looks in.] Freya: "Can you see anything?" Zidane: "...... It's too dark. I can't see anything." Voice: "Beatrix!" Vivi: "That's her!" Freya: "That's her!" Zidane: "That's her!" [Inside the cabin, Beatrix walks to Brahne.] Brahne: "Did you get the item!?" Beatrix: "Is this it, Your Majesty?" [Brahne takes it from her hand.] Brahne: "Yes! This is it! Hahaha! With this, I can finally... ...No. I need one more! I must get the last jewel!" [Beatrix speaks under her breath.] Beatrix: "Not even a word of gratitude..." Brahne: "Beatrix! Go find the last jewel!" Beatrix: "...Yes, Your Majesty. By the way, how is the princess doing?" Brahne: "Garnet... We have drawn all the eidolons from her. She is no longer of any use to me." Beatrix: "What do you mean, Your Majesty?" Brahne: "Garnet has committed a crime. She will be executed for stealing the jewel." Beatrix: "What?" Brahne: "Don't make me repeat myself! When we get back to Alexandria, I'll have Garnet beheaded! Now, go! Find the last jewel!" Beatrix: "Your Majesty..." Brahne: "Hahahahaha!" [Outside the door:] Zidane: "Dagger!!!" Freya: "Calm down! Fighting them now would be senseless. They still have Garnet in custody." Zidane: "So what are you saying!? We should just stand here!? We've got to get to Alexandria before Brahne! That's the only way! The only question is how..." Vivi: "Zidane, follow me!" Freya: "Vivi! Where are you going!? [Zidane chases after Freya and Vivi back to the pod deck.] Vivi: "Remember how that soldier was talking about using these pods to go to Alexandria?" Zidane: "Oh yeah..." R1 --> Alright, let's try using the pods R2 --> Let me think it over R1: "Alright, let's try it." [They all jump in the pods.] Zidane: "Well, here goes nothing! Dagger! I'm coming!" [The pods fly out towards Alexandria.] R2: [Nothing is done yet.] [After R1, the view changes to Steiner and Marcus inside their little cage in the Alexandrian castle depths.] Steiner: "The time has come to escape!" Marcus: "How?" Steiner: "...I don't know! But we must do something!" Marcus: "Wait, I have an idea. Press (d-left) or (d-right) to shift your center of gravity!" [Steiner tries it.] Marcus: "There you go." [The two build up a momentum so that the cage hits a railing and breaks, letting the two of them out.] Steiner: "Princess, I'm coming! [The party runs by/defeats the guards around and emerges from a secret staircase in the castle floor.] Steiner: "Princess!" Marcus: "I'm outta here. I'm goin' to Evil Forest to save my bro." Steiner: "You heartless cur! Huh? What was that!?" [Zidane, Freya, and Vivi warp in to that exact location after Marcus has left.] Steiner: "You!!! Wh-What are you doing here!?" Zidane: "Steiner! Is this Alexandria!?" Steiner: "What!? I have no time for your silly questions! I must escape this wretched dungeon of Alexandria and rescue the princess!" Zidane: "Enough said! Let's go!" [The three run off.] Steiner: "Why is everyone leaving me behind!?" [The three run back.] Zidane: "Hurry up, Rusty! Dagger's life is in danger!" Steiner: "What are you talking about!? Enough with your nonsense!!!" Vivi: "It's true. We were just on the Red Rose, and we overheard Brahne talking. She said that once she returns to Alexandria, she is going to have Dagger executed." Steiner: "...Is this really true?" Zidane: "Yeah!!! We've got 30 minutes before Brahne arrives! Let's go!" [The party runs out of the dungeon area and sees Marcus.] Zidane: "Marcus!?" Marcus: "Watch out. I'm closin' the gate." [He drops a portcullis before any guards can get at them.] Zidane: "What are you doing here?" Marcus: "It's a long story. I'm gonna go to Evil Forest and help Blank." Zidane: "Good luck! We're gonna go find Dagger!" =========================================================== 20. Alexandria Castle (AC02) =========================================================== [Marcus runs off. Zidane searches the castle and they finally make their way up to the queen's room.] Zidane: "Where could she be...?" [Zidane goes to a candle.] Zidane: "What a weird-looking candle..." R1 --> Try to move it R2 --> Leave it alone R1: [The fireplace pulls back to reveal a stairway.] R2: [No action taken.] [Zidane takes the staircase down to the room where Zorn and Thorn were extracing the eidolons from Garnet.] Zidane: "!!!?" [Zorn and Thorn run all the way over.] Zorn: "What are you doing here!?" Thorn: "So meddlesome, you are! Mercy no more!" [The party whips Zorn and Thorn like the pitiful jesters they are.] Zorn: "Damn you! We will get you for this!" Thorn: "Matters not to us. Finished with Garnet, we are." Zorn: "You are too late!" Thorn: "You are too late!" [The party finds the unconscious/sleeping dagger where she had the eidolons extracted from her.] Zidane: "Dagger, it's me! Dagger!!! ......" Vivi: "Oh, no..." Steiner: "P-PRINCESS!!! NOOOOO!!! Princess, please forgive me!!! I don't deserve to be a knight! I don't deserve to live!" Freya: "Her heart's still beating." Zidane: "Yeah. I know... Let's get her out of here. Dagger, you're gonna be alright." [The ATE 'Friendship' plays; afterwards, Zidane picks up Garnet and runs back to the queen's chamber.] Freya: "I don't think anyone followed us." Steiner: "My queen... Why have you done this...!? I have devoted my whole life to serving you and the princess...! Why did you harm the princess!!!? Why!!!?" Zidane: "Steiner..." Vivi: "Zidane. Do you think she'll ever wake up?" Zidane: "Of course. She's asleep because she's tired. That's all. I wanna let Dagger rest a little. Do you guys mind? Thanks." [He lies Dagger down on the parlor couch.] Zidane: "If only I had gotten here sooner... I'm sorry..." Steiner: "What happened to you? You are not your usual self. Go on... Blame my incompetence! Tell me it is my fault!" Zidane: "No! I can't... I...don't know what I feel right now... I can't even shed a tear..." Steiner: "......"" [Zorn and Thorn run in...] Zorn: "There they are! There is no escape!" Thorn: "There they are! There is no escape!" [...followed by Beatrix.] Beatrix: "Welcome back, Steiner. Where have you been all this time? Don't tell me you have been enjoying the company of these scoundrels." Steiner: "What the hell!? The only scoundrels around here are you and your fat queen!" Beatrix: "Fools like you will never learn." [Beatrix fights...] Beatrix: "I'll kill all enemies of Alexandria!" [...and pummels the party with Climhazzard (HP-->1).] Beatrix: "Never step into this land again." [The battle ends.] Beatrix: "Your pathetic powers are useless against me." Zidane: "...Hey, wait a minute... You're the general of this kingdom. As the general of Alexandria, what is your sworn duty!? Isn't it to protect Dagger--your Princess Garnet? I'm sure you know who's sitting over there." Beatrix: "It can't be... Princess... ...So, it was true. The queen really did mean to kill her..." Steiner: "WHAT!? No! The queen would never do such a thing!" Beatrix: "Steiner, it is time for you to accept the truth. ...My heart is set. All this time, I have been mistaken..." Zidane: "I hate to say it, but the lady's right, Rusty. You'd better learn to accept it." Beatrix: "...Citizens of Burmecia, please forgive me." Freya: "It is too late to seek forgiveness! ...But you can still save Dagger." Zidane: "Freya..." Freya: "I tell you this because I acknowledge your powers. Help your princess." Beatrix: "I don't know if I can... ...but I will give it a try. I hope this will work." [Beatrix tries a spell remover.] Thorn: "Irrevocable is the spell we have cast! [Beatrix tries it again.] Zorn: "It is useless!" [Third time's the charm, and Dagger wakes up.] Dagger: "...Oh..." Beatrix: "Princess, are you alright?" Dagger: "...Ohh, my head... What happened...?" Zidane: "Dagger! Vivi: "Yay!" Steiner: "Princess!" Dagger: "You're all here." Voice: "What is all this ruckus!?" [Brahne enters the chamber.] Zorn: "The princess has awakened, Your Majesty!" Thorn: "Kidnapping the princess, they are, Your Majesty!" Brahne: "...... Have you extracted all the eidolons from her?" Zorn: "We have, Your Majesty!" Thorn: "We have, Your Majesty!" Brahne: "Then what are you waiting for? Take Garnet and throw her in prison!" Zorn: "Yes, Your Majesty!" Thorn: "Yes, Your Majesty!" Beatrix: "I won't allow that." Brahne: "Oh? Are you defying me as well?" Beatrix: "Your Majesty, it is my duty to protect the princess. I beg you, reconsider. Please do not harm the princess anymore. All of you, leave here at once!" Freya: "I'm staying! Zidane, go. Now!" Brahne: "You two are joining forces? How amusing... Get rid of them." Dagger: "Mother!" [Brahne stops for a moment and then walks out anyway.] Zidane: "Freya! Be careful!" Freya: "Don't worry. Zidane: "Come on. Let's go!" [Dagger, Vivi, and Zidane run down into the stairwell behind the fireplace. Steiner waits a moment, and runs after them.] Steiner: "Wait! [Freya and Beatrix stand against Zorn and Thorn, who sic a giant tongue-wagging dog at 'em.] Zorn: "Bandersnatch, bite their heads off!" Thorn: "Bandersnatch, bite their heads off!" [Freya and Beatrix slay the Bandersnatch. In the stairwell, Zidane takes Garnet and Vivi down until they find three black mages coming up the stairs.] Zidane: "Black mages! Dammit!" Black Mage: "KILL!" Black Mage: "KILL!" Black Mage: "KILL!" [The party runs down the stairs even further, then Zidane stops.] Zidane: "Where's Steiner?" [Steiner is literally walking after them.] Zidane: "Hey! Hurry up!" Steiner: "What am I doing here...?" Zidane: "What's the matter?" Steiner: "Beatrix served the queen all these years, and now she is turning against her... Freya lost her comrades, yet she insists on protecting the princess... The queen will never forgive them. She will kill them both... Zidane, I have a request." Zidane: "What? Why are you goin' formal all of a sudden?" Steiner: "I want you to escort the princess out of Alexandria and take her to Doctor Tot. I'm sure Doctor Tot can come up with a plan to help us and our kingdom." Zidane: "Piece of cake. I'm an escape artist." Vivi: "Don't worry, Steiner. We'll get her out there." Steiner: "Zidane, Master Vivi, I'm counting on you." [Steiner runs back towards Freya nad Beatrix.] Steiner: "Princess, I bid you farewell!" [...and he's gone.] Dagger: "Steiner... Everybody is fighting for me..." Zidane: "That's right. They're all fighting for you...and for Alexandria... They're moving forward, giving everything they got! So we have to move on, just like they are. We can't stop now! Come on!" Dagger: "But..." [A bandersnatch jumps down near Garnet.] Zidane: "Damn! We've got company!" [They pound the pooch.] Zidane: "Alright, let's go. [Up in the spiral stairway, Beatrix and Freya are fighting a pair of bandersnatches.] Freya: "What do you think!?" Beatrix: "It's not going to be easy..." [They lay the two to rest.] Freya: "They're toughter than I expected..." Beatrix: "We're not out of danger yet." [Steiner runs up the stairway.] Steiner: "Beatrix! Freya!" Beatrix: "Steiner! What are you doing here!?" Steiner: "I am Captain Adelbert Steiner of Alexandria. Grant me the honor of assisting you brave knights!" Freya: "Enough with your babble! Fight!" [The three kick the dogs around, then the view changes back to Zidane. They head down towards the Alexandrian gargant station, but they run into the familiar box-in trap again.] Zidane: "What the hell!?" Zorn: "They fell for it again!" Thorn: "Really stupid, they are!" Zidane; "You bastards!" Thorn: "Bastards, we may be, but clever are we." Zorn: "Hee-hee-heee." [Marcus sneaks up behind Thorn and punches his lights out.] Marcus: "Hey, what's up!?" [Blank kicks Zorn unconscious.] Blank: "Zidane, are you alright!?" Zidane: "Blank!" [A mini-flashback finds Marcus in Evil Forest, leading Blank on.] Marcus: "Bro, over here!" Blank: "Hold up. My body still feels kinda stiff." Marcus: "We've gotta hurry! Zidane and Dagger are in trouble!" Blank: "Who's Dagger? Zidane's new girl?" Marcus: "What? YOu don't know?" Blank: "Know what? What are you talking about?" Marcus: "Just keep running!" Blank: "Sheez..." [End flashback.] Blank: "We came here straight from Evil Forest." Zidane: "Man, I love you guys!" [Marcus lowers one of the gates.] Marcus: "Zidane, you can ride the gargant downstairs." Dagger: "Blank... Marcus..." Blank: "Get out of here! We'll take care of this! There's more bad guys coming!" Zidane: "I owe you guys big-time! Let's get outta here!" [They run to the station.] Zidane: "So this is Gargan Roo... Dagger? Are you alright?" Dagger: "......" Zidane: "Forget I asked. I'm sure you have a lot on your mind..." Vivi: "There's something coming!" Zidane: "Is this a gargant!? It's huge!" Vivi: "...We're riding this thing?" Zidane: "Yeah, let's get going. We have no time to waste. Dagger!" Dagger: "I...I don't know what to do anymore..." Zidane: "Oh, come on! Why do you think everyone stayed behind!? Yeah, they're fighting for you, but also, they know, deep down inside, that they have to fight! Beatrix, Freya, Marcus, Blank, even Steiner... Sometimes, you can't think everything out. You have to listen to your heart." [Dagger nods and gets on.] Zidane: "Alright..." [The gargant carries the three towards Treno.] Vivi: "Where are we going?" Zidane; "We're going to Treno. We'll stay there for the time being and try to figure out our next move." Dagger: "......" [The gargant halts.] Vivi: "Y-Yikes!" Dagger: "That's--" ]They jump off and see another big snake-thing in the passage.] Zidane: "Is this what the gargant is scared of?" Dagger: "I think this one's different form the one I ran into! Be careful!" [They fight and defeat the monster, climbing into the ride afterwards.] Vivi: "Umph!" Zidane: "It's moving again... But why is it going so slowly? Hey, hurry up!" Dagger: "Don't yell at it. The poor thing must be scared to death." Vivi: "But it's..." [It speeds up.] Zidane: "See? It can go faster. Good job!" Dagger: "!!! No, Zidane! Look!" [The monster they had just defeated is chasing after them.] Zidane: "Dammit, it's chasing us!" Dagger: "We'll pass Treno if we don't stop soon!" [They pass the Treno Station with the snake monster on their tail, still.] Vivi: "I think we just passed Treno..." Zidane: "Dammit! We can't jump off at this speed." Dagger: "! Zidane, look!" Zidane: "Huh? What's the... Shoot!!!" [The Gargant races and crashes out the other end of the tunnel, wherever that is. In the white screen:] Dagger: "M-Mother..." [Cut to the Alexandria Castle throne room.] Zorn: "Your Majesty!" [Zorn and Thorn run in, but a guard blocks their way.] Thorn: "In my way, you are. Step back, underling!" Zorn: "Let us through!" Alexandrian Soldier: "I have strict orders from the queen not to let either of you through. I shall make any inquiries on your behalf." [Zorn and Thorn race to the other side, and are stiff-armed again.] Alexandrian Soldier: "State your business." Zorn: "The queen's guests have arrived." Thorn: "Let them come in, shall we?" Alexandrian Soldier: "I shall inquire. Stay here." [She goes to the queen.] Alexandrian Soldier: "Your Majesty... ...Yes, Your Majesty." [The guard goes back to the jesters.] Alexandrian Soldier: "Let the guests through. You two are dismissed." Zorn: "What does that mean?" Alexandrian Soldier: "Queen Brahne is quite upset with you two for letting the princess escape with the pendant. You should go now." Thorn: "Whatever to do are we!?" Zorn: "We cannot live without the queen's backing! We must first tell the guests to come in!" [The two run out.] Queen Brahne: "Phew..." Voice: "What a view." [A woman with an axe walks into the room, and is stopped by a guard.] Boisterous Woman: "Who are you? Out of my way! The queen summoned me." Alexandrian Soldier: "Restrain yourself before the queen." [A man with a large mop of red hair walks in, too, and pushes past the guard on the other side of the throne.] Boisterous Woman: "Do you understand who you're talking to? I'm Lani, the best and most beautiful bounty hunter in the world!" [Lani walks past the guard.] Lani: "It's a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty. I hear things aren't going too well." Queen Brahne: "Have you no manners? This is what I get for hiring a lowlife." Lani: "I'm sure you didn't hire me for my manners, Your Majesty." Queen Brahne: "Hmph. You have two objectives. The first is to retrieve the pendant, a national treasure, from Princess Garnet. The other is to assassinate the black mage traveling with them." Red-headed Man: "...What is that?" Queen Brahne: "A soulless golem. A defect is running free." Lani: "I don't know what happened between you and the princess, but what should I do if I meet with resistance?" Queen Brahne: "Hmph. Just get the pendant back from that wretched girl!" Lani: "Wonderful. My axe is pleased to hear that. It won't take long. Good day, Your Majesty." [Lani takes her leave.] Red-headed Man: "Is it true that a boy with a tail is traveling with the princess?" Queen Brahne: "Yes, that accursed monkey! I shall give you an extra reward if you take care of him." Red-headed Man: "...I was right. I'll take care of your request after I finish him." [The red-headed man jumps off the balcony and disappears. A guard runs in and comes to Brahne's throne.] Alexandrian Soldier: "Reporting! The Alexandrian fleet has returned to home waters! Please prepare to depart on the Red Rose." Queen Brahne: "Ah, finally! We leave immediately! Bwahahahaha!" =========================================================== 21. Pinnacle Rocks (PR01) =========================================================== Dagger: "Mother... Ugh... Uh... I... Vivi... We made it?" [Dagger looks over at Vivi, whose sitting on some gargant wreckage.] Dagger: "Where are we...?" Vivi: "We're at Pinnacle Rocks. It's supposed to be near Lindblum Castle..." Dagger: "Pinnacle Rocks...? Lindblum...? The gargant took us this far? ! Where's Freya? Steiner? And Beatrix? And...Zidane?" Vivi: "He went to check the area." Zidane: "Dagger, you're awake!" [Zidane jumps down.] Zidane: "Do you feel okay?" Dagger: "Where is everyone, Zidane?" Zidane: "I don't know... We're really far from Alexandria. Hey, don't worry. The Tantalus guys are with them, too. It's almost nightfall. They're probably in Treno by now." Dagger: "Do you think we can borrow an airship in Lindblum? Treno is only steps away if we can reach South Gate." Zidane: "Yeah..." [A floating old man appears before them.] Zidane: "Are you our enemy?" Old Man: "That is up to you... My name is Ramuh." Dagger: "I've heard your name somewhere... ! I've seen your name in a book I read about summoning magic... You must be Ramuh, the Thunder God." Ramuh: "...Do you know that your summon magic destroyed Cleyra? An eidolon follows its summoner's orders... It responded to the orders of a woman filled with greed this time..." Dagger: "No... Mother...! I can't believe it... I was confined while Cleyra was destroyed..." Zidane: "It wasn't your fault, Dagger. They knew. That's why they stayed behind." Dagger: "Everyone..." Ramuh: "True, you were not the one who caused the destruction. But I must ask you... What will you do now?" Dagger: "If I were more powerful... If I could use summon magic... I beg of you, please help me!" Ramuh: "And cause more destruction?" Dagger: "No... I was afraid of my summon magic, but not anymore!" [The figure of the old man changes into a brilliantly dressed man with a large staff.] Ramuh: "...Many years have passed since I last served a master... I must test you to see whether you are truly fit to be my master. I will hide five manifestations of myself in this forest. Each one will carry a piece of the 'Hero's Story.' Collect all 5 pieces and tell me the story. If you put together the story to my satisfaction, I shall become your eidolon." [Ramuh disappears.] Dagger: "I'm sorry. I know we must hurry..." Zidane: "It's okay, Dagger." Vivi: "I'll help you, too." Dagger: "Thanks, you two." [They find all five pieces and head to the exit.] Ramuh: "So you found all 5... Let's hear the story. However, the story comprises 4 parts. One of them doesn't belong. Be sure to choose only 4." R1 --> Start R2 --> Cancel R1: [See below.] R2: "Then I shall wait..." [After picking R1:] Ramuh: "Choose the 4 pieces carefully." [The correct order goes like so: Beginning, Cooperation, Silence, and then one of the two endings.] Ramuh: "Let's recite your story..." [He recites it (see PR01 for options) and then asks:] Ramuh: "Are you satisfied with your choices?" R1 --> Yes R2 --> Listen again R3 --> Do over R1: [See below.] R2: "Let's recite your story..." [He recites it.] R3: "Do you want to begin?" R4 --> Yes R5 --> No R4: [You do the entire procedure over again.] R5: "Then I shall wait..." [After picking R1:] Ramuh: "Let me ask you one thing... How come you chose 'Hero' for the conclusion?" Dagger: "People follow a person who keeps on track. That's why I think a hero who acts in a straightforward manner is remembered for generations." [If you picked 'Human' as the end piece:] Ramuh: "Let me ask you one thing... How come you chose 'Human' for the conclusion?" Dagger: "People pass down stories of other people to whom they feel an affinity. The people in the story had flaws, as we all do. That is why they became heroes in the people's mind." Ramuh: "...I want to know what you think, in your own words." Dagger: "Me...? I am away from my country, but I haven't forgotten about my people..." Ramuh: "...Your soul is very tense right now. Maybe you'll begin to relax once I become your eidolon..." Dagger: "Thank you!" Ramuh: "There are many paths. Remember that you alone choose the path on which you walk." [Ramuh disappears and Dagger gets a Peridot.] Dagger: (Maybe now...) "Let's go to Lindblum!" Zidane: "...Hey, old man! You're gone already?" Vivi: "What's wrong?" Zidane: "I wanted to know why he made Dagger play such a silly game. Heroic? Human? Those are just things people say after the fact. Why try to give meaning to what the main character of the story chose?" Vivi: "...I think the old man would've become her eidolon either way. That's the impression I got." Dagger: "Zidane! Vivi! Let's go!" [Dagger runs away again and Ramuh's voice rings out:] Voice: "You're exactly right... It's not what the people say afterward... What's important is being true to oneself. She may not have realized it, but when she wished to learn how to use summon magic... The summon power returned to her. Summon magic can e used for good or evil. She is still young, but there is room for growth... So I chose her as my master. I'll be watching over her... I hope you two will also protect her." Vivi: "Y-Yeah!" Zidane: "Of course!" [The two run after Dagger.] Dagger: "Look! It's Lindblum Castle! I don't think we can turn back once we jump off. What do you want to do?" R1 --> Jump off now R2 --> Jump off later R1: [They jump off; see below.] R2: [They can run back into the forest.] [When they jump down:] Dagger: "Zidane. I want to use summon magic to protect everyone..." Zidane: "I know you can do it, Dagger!" Vivi: "Zidane! Look...!" [Zidane looks up.] Zidane: "...Is that the Red Rose!?" [FMV. The Red Rose fleet bombards Lindblum from the outside while black mages destroy the industrial district from the inside. It's a complete takeover.] Zidane: "Those lights must be telepods! They're sending black mages directly inside the castle! In Cleyra, they used summon magic afterwards..." Dagger: "No...! Mother... Mother!" Zidane: "Dagger!" [They all start running out of the Pinnacle Rocks, but Vivi trips and the other two run together. FMV. Dagger and Zidane run through the plains as a gigantic eidolon starts to suck in all the loose stuff in Lindblum. Guards and soldiers and mages alike are swept up into its mouth. Dagger collapses in disgust at her mother's doing. The eidolon disappears almost as soon as its gone, and the Red Rose starts to dock in the city... Afterwards, the party walks into the desolate Hunter's Gate.] =========================================================== 22. Lindblum (LB02) =========================================================== Zidane: "It's so quiet..." Dagger: "Mother... I can't believe you attacked Lindblum!" Zidane: "Careful, they might still be around. Vivi, you stay here and hide." Vivi: "No way! It's dangerous here!" Zidane: "There are Alexandrian soldiers everywhere. You should stay out of their sight." Vivi: "...Okay." Zidane: "Don't fret. We'll be right back." Dagger: "I'm sorry, Vivi." Vivi: "It's okay... Just make it quick." [The two wander through Lindblum and come to the Business District's fountain plaza. Artania is there.] Officer: "The Industrial District is gone, and the Business and Theater Districts are also in ruins." Minister Artania: "Allocate soldiers to the reconstruction. We must get the citizens' lives back on track." Officer: "Yes, sir." Dagger: "Uncle Artania!" Minister Artania: "Princess Garnet! Master Zidane! Glad to see you're both safe!" Dagger: "Where is Uncle Cid...? Is the regent safe?" Minister Artania: "Yes, Princess. The castle was spared. Regent Cid is alive." Dagger: "Thank goodness..." Minister Artania: "I will take you both to see him." [Artania leads them to Cid.] Artania: "Princess Garnet is back!" Dagger: "Uncle Cid!" Regent Cid: "Garnet! I thought Brahne had imprisoned you!" Dagger: "Zidane rescued me." Regent Cid: "Thank you, Zidane. " Dagger: "But Freya, Steiner, and Beatrix were left behind. I..." Regent Cid: "Ah, the renowned General Beatrix. I don't think you have anything to worry about." Zidane: "I don't think so either, Dagger. We wound up in Pinnacle Rocks instead of Treno, but... ...they'll be fine on their own." Regent Cid: " Pinnacle...? Did you ride the gargant?" Zidane: "How did you know?" Regent Cid: "It's my job to know the land surrounding my country. However... I sometimes lack foresight. Brahne was after the eidolons. That much, I knew. But I underestimated the power of the eidolons. Maybe I deserve to be cursed with this body." Zidane: "I'm glad you surrendered. Cleyra resisted and perished." Dagger: (What should I say...? What can I do...?) Voice: "Hey, we got a live one here! Watch out! It might attack! Hey, this one's much smaller than the others." Voice: "Ouch! Let me go! I'm not one of them! Voice: "Then why are you dressed like a black mage!?" Zidane: "!" Dagger: "!" Zidane: "That must be..." [Vivi's led by two guards to the others.] Soldier: "We took an Alexandrian soldier into custody!" Vivi: "I just said--" Soldier: "Should we turn it over to Alexandria?" Dagger: "Uncle Cid..." Minister Artania: "Let him go. Master Vivi is not an Alexandrian soldier. It's only a disguise to deceive the enemy." Soldier: "I-I see! My apologies." Vivi: "......" Regent Cid: "I've acquired more information about Queen Brahne . A weapons dealer named Kuja is behind the recent string of attacks. Kuja has been supplying Brahne with highly advanced magic weapons." Dagger: "Supplying my mother...with weapons?" Regent Cid: "Yes. The black mage soldiers are among these weapons. According to eye witnesses in Treno, Kuja appeared from the northern sky on a silver dragon." Zidane: (That's the guy I saw in Burmecia!) Minister Artania: "That he came from the north suggests he's from the Outer Continent." Dagger: "The Outer...Continent?" Zidane: "There are many unexplored continents in the world. The Outer Continent is an unexplored continent located to the north of our Mist Continent." Regent Cid: "I believe Kuja is the only one supplying Brahne with weapons." Dagger: "The man I saw at the castle must have been Kuja. He must be the one who is corrupting my mother!" Zidane: "If we defeat Kuja...!" Dagger: "If we eliminate Kuja..." Regent Cid: "You both catch on quickly. Defeat Kuja, and Brahne loses her weapon supply. That will be our cue for a counterattack." Minister Artania: "Challenging Brahne now will only resist in more casualties." Zidane: "So we crush the source of the evil!" Minister Artania: "Yes. Kuja will find other clients, even if we defeat Brahne." Dagger: "I make no excuses for my mother's behavior, but I shan't forgive Kuja for taking advantage of her! But first, we must rescue Steiner and the others..." Regent Cid: "I'm afraid I can't spare any soldiers. They must remain to protect our citizens." Zidane: "Hey, Dagger. I'm telling you, they'll be fine. The best dragon knight in Burmecia, the female general of Alexandria, and Rusty... How could they lose? Besides, you have me to protect you!" Dagger: "Then I'll look for Kuja." Vivi: "I wanna go, too... There's no place for me here..." Zidane: "Alright! Let's go kick Kuja's butt! Will you lend us the fastest ship in Lindblum?" Regent Cid: "Airships can only fly where there is Mist, and the Mist only exists on this continent. That means you can't cross the ocean on an airship." Zidane: "What about the new airship that can fly without Mist?" Regent Cid: "It's not ready yet . Besides, it's under Brahne's control. Brahne gave us two conditions for our surrender. One was the surrender of the new airship. The other was to hand over the Falcon Claw." Zidane: "The airship, I can understand, but what does she want with a piece of stone?" Regent Cid: "I have no idea..." Zidane: "Alright. We'll take a boat." Regent Cid: "That's not an option, either. The harbor was also seized." Zidane: "Ahhhhhh!!! What do you want us to do!? Swim!?" Regent Cid: "There is a way. There's an old excavation site near a swamp located north from the castle. Monsters not native to our continent are rumored to appear in the excavation site. The cave, which was found during excavation, is rumored to lead to another continent." Dagger: "Will this cave lead us to the Outer Continent?" Zidane: "Doesn't sound too reliable... Are you sure?" Regent Cid: " I'm not sure..." Zidane: "I guess we'll find out. Not knowing is half of the fun, huh?" Regent Cid: "Please protect Princess Garnet. We'll prepare the counterattack in the meantime. It's not much, but use it to prepare for your journey." [He gives the party 3000 Gil.] Vivi: "I-I'll wait here. Zidane, will you get my stuff, too?" Zidane: "Yeah. That's probably a good idea." [Zidane and Garnet go down to the business district's shop square.] Man: "Listen, Lindblum is Alexandrian territory now. You won't be able to come back for a while. Prepare yourself well. Let me know when you're ready." [Zidane shops around and comes back.] Man: "Are you ready?" R1 --> Ready R2 --> Need more time R1: "Follow me. The regent is waiting on the Base Level." R2: "Let me know when you're ready." [An ATE 'Brahne's Fleet Arrives' plays by picking R1. After, some soldiers are shown in the Grand Castle's fountain hallway.] Alexandrian Soldier: "I wonder where we are going next? I don't know of any kingdom that poses a threat to our country..." Alexandrian Soldier: "I'm sure Queen Brahne has a plan. There's no need for us to worry about such matters. Come now, we need your help. Some Lindblum soldiers have locked themselves up in the guest room." [They walk upstairs, and Zidane walks in the room. He beckons Dagger to the elevator and they make a run for it while they can. On the way down:] Zidane: "I wonder what Brahne is going to do..." Dagger: "Zidane... Do we really have to go to the Outer Continent...?" Zidane: "Hey, what's up with you? You said you wanted to go." Dagger: "What if... What if something happens to you or Vivi...? I might not be okay on my own." Zidane: "Are you worried about me?" Dagger: "What? Well, I mean, um... A princess needs her elite guards, you know...? I'd be stranded without you guys!" Zidane: "Are you trying to flatter me by calling me your elite guard? Sorry, I was only kidding. You'll be fine with me. What about you, Dagger? We don't know anything about the Outer Continent." Dagger: "I've made up my mind. I don't want my mother to commit any more atrocities." Zidane: "Alright, then. I'll protect both you and Vivi!" Dagger: "Thank you..." [They finally reach the bottom. Vivi's there.] Vivi: "Zidane! I'm so glad you're here!" Dagger: "Vivi, where's Uncle Cid?" Vivi: "U-Um... He said, 'Gwok-gwok. Wait here,' and went away somewhere." Zidane: "Where could he be...?" Vivi: "!" [Regent Cid runs down the rail track to them.] Regent Cid: " I did it! I stopped a trolley between here and the Serpent's Gate! That'll show them not to fool around in my castle! Now, go. The excavation site is like a maze. Be careful not to get lost. And... Take this with you!" Zidane: "It's a rag." Regent Cid: "You big dope! It's not just a rag! That is a national treasure of Lindblum! That is an ancient map of the entire world!" Zidane: "Wow. Thanks!" Regent Cid: "Now, go, before they find you! Zidane, Vivi. Please protect Princess Garnet." Vivi: "Okay." Dagger: "Uncle Cid..." Regent Cid: " Don't worry about me. I'm stronger than I look! Now, go! They'll squeeze all the oglop oil out of my body if we're caught!" Zidane: "Let's go, Dagger." [They get on the trolley and depart, while the ATE ' How Infuriating!' plays. Afterwards, the party sets out and heads to Qu's Marsh.] =========================================================== 23. Qu's Marsh (QU02) =========================================================== [Zidane finds Quina near the pond.] Zidane: "Quina! You're safe!" Quina: "Long time no see, Zidane. Much trouble, coming back from Cleyra alone." Zidane: "Do you know a way to the Outer Continent? I heard there was an entrance somewhere around here..." Quina: "Outer Continent... Maybe I find more delicious frogs. Sound interesting. I help you, and I eat more frogs. I come with you." [On the path to the right of Quale's house, Quina starts to run off on her own.] Zidane: "Quina! Where are you going!?" Quina: "I smell! I smell frogs!" Zidane: "No, we have to look for the entrance to the Outer Continent!" Quina: "I smell frogs this way!" Zidane: "Hey, Quina! Hold on! Darn it..." [Quina comes out of the brush near a railing.] Quina: "A-HA! Frogs!!! Hold!" [S/he chases a frog into a cement opening, then runs back.] Quina: "They run away again..." Zidane: "Wait a minute, Quina. Check it out. This entrance... This must be the entrance to the excavation site!" Quina: "First time I see this. Zidane, we going inside?" Zidane: "Of course we will. It might lead to the Outer Continent. Let's go!" [They enter, coming to Fossil Roo.] =========================================================== 24. Fossil Roo (FR01) =========================================================== [Zidane walks into the tunnel, past a suspicious door. Once he's walked a ways, the ground shakes...] Zidane: "Wh-What the--" [...and a large creature on wheels starts chasing him.] Zidane: "You've gotta be kidding!" [The Armodulluhan chases the party through a passageway of swinging guillotine blades, and they all stumble out the other side when the monster falls into a pit.] Vivi: "Yikes!" Garnet: "Aah!" [They both get up.] Garnet: "Sorry, Vivi. Are you okay?" Vivi: "Yeah... Look out!" [Zidane and Quina run into each other.] Quina: "Aiya!" Zidane: "Outta my way!" [The party regroups.] Zidane: "That was a close call." Lani: "Geez... That didn't do much good." Zidane: "Who's there!?" [Lani walks up the stairway into sight.] Lani: "I've been looking for you, Princess Garnet." Zidane: "H-Have we met?" Dagger: "(Quit flirting with her!)" Zidane: "(Yes, ma'am...)" Lani: "I'm Lani. I'm under order by the queen to find you, Princess." Dagger: "My mother? What does my mother want with me? I am not returning to Alexandria." Lani: "I've got bad news for you, Princess. It's not you I'm after." Dagger: "What do you mean?" Lani: "The pendant. Does this sound familiar?" Dagger: "!" Lani: "Let's have it back. It belongs to Queen Brahne." Dagger: "......" Lani: "Listen carefully, Princess. You escaped unscathed from the monster, but you're not gonna be so lucky with me. Hand over the pendant right this minute." Zidane: "Are you the one who set that monster loose?" Lani: "Retrieving the pendant far outweights the safety of the princess." Zidane: "...What do you mean by that?" Lani: "I meant exactly what I said. My orders don't include Princess Garnet's safe return." Dagger: "What...? My mother would never order that." Lani: "That's enough! Give me the pendant! You're trying my patience!" Zidane: "Hmph. What if we refuse?" Lani: "Stubborn fools! Have it your way!" [The battle starts, but they beat Lani after awhile.] Lani: "What a drag. I'll let you guys go for now!" [She runs off the way the party entered; they head the opposite way. Zidane sees a wild gargant on an overhead track.] Zidane: "An untamed gargant, huh? Maybe I can ride it." [Zidane picks a flower and rides it into a room down the way. After flipping a multitude of switches, the party finds the exit.] Zidane: "This light... There's no mist here." [He runs out and finds a large turtle-shaped town spanning across a ravine. They enter.] =========================================================== 25. Conde Petie (CP01) =========================================================== Vivi: "We came all this way and there's still no Mist at all..." Zidane: "Yeah, and what a weird-shaped...village? What is that thing?" Dagger: "Maybe it's a temple of some kind." Quina: "Is very delicious shape. Inside might have fine cuisine!" [Quina runs into the entrance.] Zidane: "Geez... All s/he ever thinks about is food." Dagger: "Well, all you ever think about is girls..." [Dagger starts walking off, too.] Zidane: "Uh, that's right! My mind is filled with thoughts of...you!" Vivi: "..." Zidane: "..." [Vivi runs off.] Zidane: "Maybe I'm trying too hard..." [Zidane arrives at the entrance, and a goblin-like guy is there.] Goblin?: "Rally-ho!" Goblin?: "Rally-ho!" Goblin?: "Rally-ho!" Zidane: "Wh-What's up with these little guys?" Dagger: "Wr-Wraly-ho...?" Vivi: "Rh-Rhallie-who...?" Goblin?: "Rally-ho!" Goblin?: "Rally-ho!" [Dagger and Vivi get to enter, and walk off.] Zidane: "Hey, hold up..." Goblin?: "Rally-ho!" Zidane: "Oh, come on..." Villager: "Rally-ho's oor sacred greetin'!" Villager: "If ye dinnae say Rally-Ho, then ye cannae enter Conde Petie, hametoon o' the dwarves!" Zidane: "Now, wait just a minute here..." Villager: "Rally-ho!" Villager: "Rally-ho!" Zidane: "... ...Rally-ho..." Dwarf: "Rally-ho! Ye can pass!" Villager: "Rally-ho!" [Zidane walks around and talks to Vivi in the upper shrine (CP05) and then watches the ATE 'Hungry Bryan' to cue the events up. He heads down into the grocery and sees a Black Mage there.] Zidane: "Hm?" Wendy Grocer: "Plenty thanks. Yir goods are always welcome here." Black Mage: "..." Zidane: "Hey..." Black Mage: "!!!" Vivi: "What the--" Black Mage: "..." [The black mage runs off.] Vivi: "W-Wait!" Zidane: "Hang on, Vivi!" [They chase the mage to the exit.] Vivi: "Come back!" Zidane: "Vivi!" [Dagger runs over.] Dagger: "Zidane, what's going on?" Zidane: "I have no idea... But we gotta catch up with Vivi!" [They find Vivi at the exit.] Zidane: "Vivi, where's the black mage?" Vivi: "He ran away." Zidane: "Huh. Where the heck did he come from? Has Brahne found us?" Harold Pathknower: "Do ye ken the Pyntie-Hats?" Vivi: "Huh? Did you just say Pointy-Hats!?" Harold Pathknower: "Nay, Ah said Pyntie-Hats! They often come from the Soothern Forest tae trade wi' us." Zidane: "They!? You mean there's lots of them? And...they live near here?" Harold Pathknower: "Aye! But ye gots tae go all the way aroon' yon cliff an' then go east tae find the Sootheast Forest! They live sae deep in the forest, that even owls dinnae live there!" Zidane: "What's that supposed to mean?" Vivi: "Zidane, I want to go to the Southeast Forest and find them!" Zidane: "Yeah, me too." Dagger: "I think it's a good idea. We might find some clues." Quina: "If possible to try new food, anywhere fine." Zidane: "Alright, let's head to the Southeast Forest." [The party runs to the forest in question and enters the deepest part.] =========================================================== 26. Black Mage Village (BM01) =========================================================== [The party follows the mage in but loses sight of him.] Zidane: "I think they live 'so deep in the forest tha owls don't even live there.'" [Using a sign as their guide, they follow the mage into the village which was hidden behind an illusion of dead trees. The party runs to the entrance.] Black Mage: "!" Black Mage: "Ahh! H-H-Humans..." Black Mage: "? What's wrong?" [He turns around.] Black Mage: "!" Black Mage: "HUmans! Run!!!" [They scatter like the wind.] Vivi: "W-Wait... Did you see them!?" Zidane: "Y-Yeah..." Vivi: "They were talking! There ARE others like me!" [Vivi runs off.] Dagger: "Why would anyone build a village in the middle of a dying forest...?" Zidane: "Beats me..." Dagger: "Where's Vivi?" Zidane: "He went that way...but I... Hey!" [Dagger runs off on her own, too.] Quina: "A village! Village always have good food. I go find!" [Quina bolts.] Zidane: "Geez, you people..." [Zidane heads towards the cemetery to the left of the synth shop, and the ATE 'Different Language' plays (if not viewed). Afterwards, Vivi flees past him.] Zidane: "! Hey, Vivi! What's up with him...?" [Zidane finds him in the inn.] Zidane: "...Vivi? What's wrong?" Vivi: "Huh? Oh, Zidane... It's... It's nothing." Zidane: "Did something bad happen? All the black mages seem pretty nice." Vivi: "Nothing happened..." [Quina enters the inn.] Quina: "Grr... I hungry! This village people eat terrible food." [Dagger enters.] Dagger: "Oh, Vivi. You're back. Where were you? You look very..." Zidane: "You got tired, right, Vivi?" Vivi: "Y-Yeah..." Dagger: "I don't blame you. We've been walking around non-stop. We should call it a day." Quina: "I go to forest and look for food." Dagger: "What about you, Zidane?" R1 --> Rest R2 --> Not yet R1 (Zidane): "Yeah, we'll call it a day." R2 (Zidane): "I'm not tired yet." [After choosing to rest, the party lazes around 'til nightfall. Vivi talks with a mage, then walks out on his own; Garnet sees him.] Dagger: "Zidane... Vivi just walked out." Zidane: "Maybe he's letting us have a little romantic quiet time." Dagger: "I'm serious!" Zidane: "...I wouldn't worry too much." Dagger: "But..." Zidane: "He's trying to figure something out for himself." Dagger: "......" [Zidane and Dagger's following words show up as Vivi walks alone in the still of the night.] Zidane: "Think about it... Vivi's never met black mages like himself before." Dagger: "But what if they're being mean to him, or saying nasty things?" Zidane: "Do you really think the people of this village gathered to do something like that?" Dagger: "......" Zidane: "Maybe... Just maybe, he'll find what he's looking for." Dagger: "...Find what?" Zidane: "A place to call home." Dagger: "Home?" Zidane: "Yeah... A place where he belongs..." [The screen shows Zidane and Dagger lying on some bunk beds.] Dagger: "Hey, Zidane... When you said home..." Zidane: "What's the matter? Can't fall asleep? How about a bedtime story? Let's see... Once upon a time..." Dagger: "There you go again, teasing me..." Zidane: "Once upon a time... ...there was a man. There was a man who didn't know where he came from..." Dagger: "...Zidane?" Zidane: "This man had longed to find his birthplace ever since he was a small child. His birthplace. A place he only remembered in his dreams..." Dagger: "Why...?" Zidane: "He wanted to know more about himself, maybe. About his place, the house where he was born... One day, the man left the home of his adoptive father and went on a quest to find the answer. His only clue was the blue light he saw in his dreams..." Dagger: "A blue light?" Zidane: "Yeah. He thought it might be a memory of his birthplace. An ocean, maybe...?" Dagger: "Did he find it?" Zidane: "Hey, you're jumping ahead. A lot of things happened along the way. Alright, we can skip ahead... No, he never found it. How could he? His only clue was a colored light. So he went back to the home of his adoptive father... What do you think his father did when he came home?" Dagger: "...Welcomed him home?" Zidane: "No way! The father raised his fist and beat the son he had worked so hard to raise..." Dagger: "Why?" Zidane: "I don't know... But you know what surprised him even more? The father smiled, after beating up his son! Can you believe that? He just gave his son a beating. But this is what the man thought when he saw his father smile... This is my home. This is the place I call home. The man is still searching for his birthplace. But he already has a home. Maybe... ...it's the same for Vivi. He's looking for a place to call home." Dagger: "I wonder if Vivi will stay in the village?" Zidane: "Who knows... That's for him to decide." [At the cemetery, Vivi finds Mr. 288.] Black Mage No. 288: "Hello. Nice to see you again." Vivi: "Um... I wanted to ask you something." Black Mage No. 288: "What is it?" Vivi: "I was wondering how many people have...stopped...moving." Black Mage No. 288: "You're very kind to use our words. But you already know what it means to live...and to die. You're asking about our friends who have 'died,' not 'stopped.'" Vivi: "Um..." Black Mage No. 288: "Several of our friends stopped functioning recently... I think our life span is limited... I've suspected this ever since the first one came to a stop. It varies a little, but most of us stop moving one year after production." Vivi: "No..." Black Mage No. 288: "I haven't told anyone else about this. If I did, they'd feel the same way I do." Vivi: "What do you feel?" Black Mage No. 288: "I don't know... Fear? I don't want to stop. And maybe I want to run away from it all. But living in the village with everyone fills me with joy. The joy of living with them far outweighs the fear of death. Isn't it the same with you? Traveling with your friends gives your life meaning." Vivi: "I..." [The next morning, Zidane walks to the town gates and finds Dagger conversing with a mage.] Dagger: "Really?" Black Mage No. 144: "Yeah, I think that's what you're looking for." Dagger: "Thank you!" Zidane: "What's up, Dagger?" Dagger: "Zidane! Someone saw a silver dragon in the northwest part of this continent. The people of Conde Petie said there was a place called Sanctuary, where entrance is restricted..." Black Mage No. 144: "I think this 'Kuja' said something about a secret being hidden on this continent." Zidane: "You heard him say that?" Black Mage No. 144: "Yeah. Something about the source of the Mist..." Dagger: "Maybe we can find our more if we go there. And maybe save my mother..." Zidane: "Right..." Dagger: "Oh, where's Vivi? If Vivi's says he's staying behind..." [Vivi runs to everyone.] Vivi: "Wait for me!" Dagger: "Vivi?" Vivi: "Everyone in the village asked me to see the outside world and tell them all about it." Dagger: "I see..." Zidane: "Oh, man! I thought Dagger and I'd get to spend some quality time together." Quina: "What you say?" [Quina runs into town.] Quina: "You no can leave me here. I starve." Zidane: "Oh yeah, I forgot about you..." Dagger: "Let's go, everyone! To Conde Petie! And to the Sanctuary, that lies beyond!" [The party rolls back to Conde Petie.] =========================================================== 27. Conde Petie (CP02) =========================================================== [The party stops before the entrance.] Zidane: "So the Sanctuary is on the other side of that valley..." Vivi: "But the exit leading there from the upper floor is guarded by a dwarf who won't let us through." Quina: "Twin dwarfes block way out from shop on right side. No can get through." Zidane: "Hmm... Well, let's just try to go as far as we can." [The party tries to leave town and gets stiff-armed by Shanis or the two watchmen by the shop. They tell Zidane to seek out 'His Holiness'; they find the person in question in a corridor.] Zidane: "Hey, mister... Are you the holy guy?" David Heavenguard: "Aye. Ah'm Father David." Zidane: "What are you doing, hanging around this hallway?" David Heavenguard: "Well...a priest has much tae worry aboot, ye see?" Zidane: "Yeah...whatever. Look, we wanna get past this village." David Heavenguard: "Hmph! Tradition states that only those who undergo the ceremony kin approach the Sanctuary." Zidane: "So, what the heck is that ceremony about, anyway?" [Dagger walks into the hallway.] David Heavenguard: "Well, after a man an' a woman are blessed in holy union, they leave oan holy pilgrimage tae the Sanctuary." Zidane: "So...basically it's a wedding...and a honeymoon, right?" David Heavenguard: "Ah dinnae ken yir words, lad, but methinks ye understan'." Dagger: "So we can go to the Sanctuary if we undergo that ceremony, right?" Zidane: "Oh, hey, Dagger! So yeah, that's the deal. Whaddya think? We can go if we get hitched. But there's no way we'd actually--" Dagger: "Let's do it." Zidane: "What!?" David Heavenguard: "Sae ye wantae be joined, eh? The ceremony's only fer dwarves, see... ...But we have sae few young folk nowadays. We're doon tae ninety-nine couples. Ah was worryin' aboot that very thin'... But where's the harm? Now we can have oor hundredth ceremony!" Zidane: "... Uhh... Dagger? Wh-What's going on?" [Later on, Dagger and Zidane stand on the Kirkboat and face the altar where David Heavenguard stands preaching.] David Heavenguard: "Speerits o' the moontain, Speerits o' the wood..." Zidane: (Uh... Now, how did I get into this?) David Heavenguard: "Watch ower this man an' woman as they begin their journey..." Zidane: (We gotta do this ceremony to get past this village... And only a guy and girl can have the ceremony...) [Flashback to a few moments before the ceremony:] Zidane: "Now hold on a sec, Dagger! Don't you get it? This is marriage, m-a-r-r-a-i-g-e!" Dagger: "No kidding... But we have to do it to go on, right?" Zidane: "Yeah, but... But that's not reason enough!" Dagger: "Oh, come on." [Flashback: end.] Zidane: (What is she thinking? She's supposed to get angry and say no way!) David Heavenguard: "...In sickness an' in health..." Zidane: (Of course we're just trying to get past this village...) David Heavenguard: "...Have the strength to carry ye through the trials..." Zidane: (Could it be that she...likes me?) David Heavenguard: "...An' the wisdom tae follow the path..." Zidane: (Gotta admit, I was pretty deep that night in the black mage village. Maybe that's when she fell for me? I'm such a stud!) David Heavenguard: "May the blessin's o' heaven be upon this man an' woman!" Zidane: "Dagger! Now we're man and wife! Time for the kiss..." [Zidane lunges and misses as Dagger walks away.] Zidane: "Playing hard to get, eh?" [Afterwards, near the gatekeeper's station:] Shanis Gatekeeper: "Happy fit! Now ye need anoonce yer joinin' tae the twins at the other gate!" Zidane: "What!? You mean there's more?" Shanis Gatekeeper: "We have tae follow tradition, lad!" Zidane: "Ah, well... Time for us newlyweds to make the rounds, Dagger." Dagger: "Remember, we're only married while we're here." Zidane: "Bliss is so fleeting." Vivi: "Zidane... What are we supposed to do?" Zidane: "Hey! You guys tryin' to ruin our honeymoon?" Quina: "But you no can just leave us here!" Zidane: "Don't worry. I'll figure something out. Hmm, let's see..." R1 --> First, let's go see the twins R2 --> Why don't you guys get married, too? R1: "I think we should all go see the twins first." {They go to see the watchmen; see below.] R2: "Why don't you guys get married, too?" Vivi: "What!?" Zidane: "Yeah, that's it! In the meantime, Dagger and I can go announce our marriage." Vivi: "..." Quina: "..." [The ATE 'Nuptial Joy' is automatically cued.] [The party goes to see the watchmen regardless of the option.] Zidane: "Hi, guys! We're the newlyweds, Zidane and Dagger." Richard Watchman: "Rally-ho! Happy fit! Off tae the Sanctuary then, are ye?" Dagger: "That's right. Will you let us through now?" Matthew Watchman: "Rally-ho! O' coorse! Safe journey tae both o' ye!" Zidane: "Let us be off, my darling!" Voice: "Thief!" Dagger: "Huh? [A little girl with purple hair runs by.] Girl: "Mog, hurry!" Mog: "Kupo!" [They run off.] Watchman: "Stop, thief!" Watchman: "Stop, thief!" Dagger: "Wh-What's going on?" Zidane: "I dunno. Let's go take a look." [They find the watchmen near the town's edge.] Richard Watchman: "They got away..." Matthew Watchman: "Feuch! An' we cannae go any farther..." Zidane: "Does anyone live out here?" Richard Watchman: "O' course no! It's forbidden!" Matthew Watchman: "Och! Yon two thieves are always snitchin' food!" Zidane: "Oh yeah?" Richard Watchman: "Weel, Ah'd best go report the theft. [The watchmen leave; Vivi and Quina walk over.] Dagger: "Oh, hi, guys..." [If Vivi/Quina didn't have a wedding, the scene'll be:] Zidane: "Hey, you guys snuck through during the commotion?" Vivi: "Y-Yeah..." Dagger: "I guess we didn't have to go through with that ceremony, after all." Zidane: "What!? But it's the stuff memories are made out of!" Dagger: "And we'll forget it all once we leave. Come, it's time to press on." Zidane: "Yes, dearest..." [If they did get married, the scene'll be:] Zidane: "So you've had your ceremony, right?" Vivi: "Y-Yeah..." Quina: "They have nerve to steal food right in front of me." Zidane: "Okay, time to press on." =========================================================== 28. Conde Petie Mountain Path (CM01) =========================================================== [The party walks onto the mountain path and stops soon.] Zidane: "Hey..." [The little girl from before is suspended in the air, her shirt caught on a branch.] Mog: "Kupopo!!!" Little Girl: "Hurry, Mog! Before we get caught!" Mog: "Kupo." Little Girl: "What's wrong, Mog?" Mog: "K-Kupo!!!" [Mog flies off.] Little Girl: "W-Wait!!! Don't leave me here!!! Sigh... Stuck on a branch... Betrayed by my own trusted moogle... Is this how I meet my end? Mog... I'm gonna haunt you if I die here! Oh, am I hallucinating? That person has no horn. He has a tail, though. Huh!? AHHH!!! Help!!! Don't eat me! I won't taste good! It's true! I taste awful!!!" Zidane: "You heard her, Quina." Quina: "I see. Too bad. But moogle that ran away a very strange color. I go find and eat it." Little Girl: "No, don't!" [Quina jumps over the little girl and knocks her loose.] Little Girl: "Ahhh!" Zidane: "Gotcha...!" [Quina runs off.] Little Girl: "...... Th-Thanks..." Dagger: "Are you okay?" Little Girl: "Yeah..." Dagger: "You're not hurt?" Little Girl: "I told you I'm okay! I'm not a child, like that kid in blue!" Vivi: "But... You don't look any older than me." Little Girl: "Are you kidding!? And I do have a name, you know!" [Default: Eiko] Eiko: "The name's Eiko! Shouldn't you introduce yourself before addressing a lady?" Vivi: "You introduced yourself first..." Eiko: "You got a problem!?" Vivi: "......" Dagger: "I'm Dagger, and this is Vivi." Eiko: "Yeah? What about you?" Zidane: "Me? I'm Zidane." Eiko: "Zidane. Alright." Zidane: "So, Miss Eiko, why did you steal from the village?" Eiko: "I was hungry..." Zidane: "Ha ha ha... You sound just like Quina. Hey, did s/he really go chasing after that moogle?" Eiko: "Oh no... S/he's gonna eat Mog!" Dagger: "I don't think Quina would eat a moogle. Do you live nearby, Eiko?" Eiko: "Yeah, beyond this path. I'm sure Mog went home..." Dagger: "Why don't we take her home?" Zidane: "Yes, yes... Anything for my lovely wife." Eiko: "You two are married!?" Zidane: "Yep, we're newlyweds." Dagger: "No, no. We're just friends." Zidane: "Well, I guess that's better than nothing..." Eiko: "I wanna be your friend, too!" Zidane: "Alright, then, let's go to our new friend's house." [The party starts walking and Zidane stops when he sees a gigantic tree in the distance, roots stretching everywhere.] Zidane: "What's that...?" [FMV. Zoomed-in picture of the tree.] Zidane: "Is that the Sanctuary?" [In the next screen, the ground shakes.] Zidane: "What the...!?" [The party engages the giant Hilgilgars in battle and gives it a giant beating.] Eiko: "That big monster just shows up from time to time. I usually just run away." Zidane: "But you're a pretty good fighter, Eiko." Eiko: "Tee-hee. Thanks. Hey, that's not the way to my house! That's the way to the Iifa Tree! This way to my place!" Vivi: "I was only looking at the mountains..." Zidane: "The Iifa Tree? I thought it was called Sanctuary." Eiko: "Huh? Oh, that's what the dwarves call it. Everyone else calls it the Iifa Tree." Dagger: "The Iifa Tree...?" Eiko: "Let's go!" [The party goes to the world map and heads to the ruins on the beach of the peninsula.] =========================================================== 29. Madain Sari, Village of the Lost Summoners (MS01) =========================================================== [They walk into the broken-down town.] Eiko: "Zidane! This is my home: Madain Sari, the village of summoners!" Zidane: "The village of the summoners...? You live here...?" (It's a pile of rubble.) "Dagger?" Dagger: "What happened here...? This place is in ruins. [Three moogles appear, all saying their "Kupo!"s.] Eiko: "Mocha! Moco! Chimomo!" [Two more poke up in some junk.] Eiko: "Momatose! Morrison! Where's Mog? No... Mog got eaten!? MOG!" [The little mog peeks out and flies over to Eiko.] Mog: "Kup! Kupo... Kupo?" Eiko: "No, I'm not mad. But don't ever leave me behind again, okay?" Mog: "Kupo! Kupo!" Eiko: "Good! Zidane! Follow me!" [The cloud of moogles hails Eiko into town, and the rest follow. At the square (or what's left of it), Eiko talks to her fluffy friends.] Eiko: "Get to work, you guys!" Moogle: "Kupo! Yes, ma'am. Eiko: "Mog, you stay here with me." Mog: "Kupo!" Eiko: "Okay, come on! Mog: "Kupo!" [Mog jumps inside Eiko's clothing.] Zidane: "Did that moogle just go inside your dress?" Eiko: "Yup! Mog always stays with me." [Mog jumps out again.] Mog: "Kupo!" [...then jumps right back in.] Eiko: "Zidane, come sit over here!" Zidane: "H-Hey!" Eiko: "Tell me more about yourself! Tell me!" Zidane: "Sure. I wanna know more about you, too, Eiko." Eiko: "Really!?" Zidane: "For instance, this eidolon..." Eiko: "Where are you from? How old are you? What do you do? Where are you going?" Zidane: "No, what I wanna know is..." Eiko: "What kind of foods do you like? What kind of eidolons do you like? What type of moogles do you like? What type of girls do you like? [The party converses for awhile.] Eiko: "I never met anyone like you before..." Zidane: "Dagger? What's wrong? You look dazed." Dagger: "Oh, it's nothing." Zidane: "Do you have a fever?" Dagger: "Ahhh!" Zidane: "You're fine. Hey, are you jealous?" Dagger: "Why would I be jealous?" Eiko: "Are you and Dagger really just friends? Seems like...you guys are...something more." Zidane: "Well... Yeah, we're more than friends." Eiko: "So? What are you guys?" Zidane: "We're a team." Eiko: "A team...?" Zidane: "Yeah. Vivi's also part of the team. Hey... Where did he go?" Eiko: "Is it sort of like me and the moogles?" Zidane: "Something like that." [A moogle runs over.] Mocha: "All clean! Kupo!" Eiko: "Thanks, Mocha! I'll be right there! I'm gonna start cooking! You have to come and eat at my place later, okay?" [She runs off.] Zidane: "There's still stuff I want to ask her. Let's accept her invitation." Dagger: "Okay..." [Eiko runs back over.] Eiko: "I'll call you when the food's ready. Don't go to far!" [She runs off again. Zidane finds Vivi near the seaside balcony.] Zidane: "...Vivi? What's up? Is something wrong?" Vivi: "Oh, it's nothing. I was just thinking..." Zidane: "...Well, ry not to think too much. Get some rest." Vivi: "Okay. Thanks, Zidane." [Vivi talks to Morrison by the kitchen entrance.] Morrison: "Thank you for waiting. Lady Eiko says the food will be ready soon. I'll take you to the Eidolon Wall in the meantime. Please follow me." [He follows Morrison to the Eidolon Wall.] Moco: "!" [Moco flies away when Morrison talks to him.] Morrison: "Moco was very proud of his role as the Eidolon Wall guard. Eiko's decision to show the Eidolon Wall to outsiders upset him. But we moogles love Eiko. He'll understand, in time." Zidane: "Why does the wall need protection?" Morrison: "The Eidolon Wall has been protected by Eiko's summoner tribe for generations." Zidane: "...Summoner tribe? I'm gonna go get Dagger. She can use summon magic." Morrison: "Is that true?" [Zidane finds Dagger by the town entrance.] Zidane: "Hey, Dagger. Come with me. I'll show you something big! Summon-magic stuff." Dagger: "Summon magic?" Zidane: "Yeah, it's called the Eidolon Wall!" [They both go back to the Wall.] Morrison: "Please come in. The Eidolon Wall is this way." [The three go inside. The Wall is actually a circular structure with a large incense pile burning in the middle. Paintins are everywhere.] Morrison: "The Eidolon Wall is a collection of paintings. The summoner tribe painted all their eidolons they found during their research." Dagger: "These eidolons all exist?" Morrison: "Kupo. This is a holy place for the summoner tribe. Lady Eiko comes here everyday to pray and burn incense for her ancestors." Dagger: "What's this one...? There's Atomos. That's Bahamut." [Dagger stoops down.] Zidane: "What's wrong, Dagger?" Dagger: "I..." Zidane: "You'll get it back." Dagger: "...... I want to look at the murals some more." Zidane: "...Okay." [Zidane goes back to the kitchen.] Mog: "Kupopo! [The feast is set on the table. Zidane says one of these lines, which are rather indictative of your meal's worth.] Zidane: "Wow, this looks great!" Zidane: "Ah, so you finished." Mog: "Kupopopo!" Eiko: "Welcome, Zidane! Have a seat." Zidane: "You made a lot!" Zidane: "This food's gonna be gone so fast!" [If Eiko had Quina's help, she'll say:] Eiko: "What's his name? Quina? S/he helped me." Zidane: "S/he helped you without eating all the food? Amazing." Eiko: "Vivi, too!" Vivi: "Hehehe." Zidane: "Let's eat!" [If she had no help from Quina, she'll say:] Eiko: "I cooked it all for you, Zidane!" Zidane: "Let's eat!" [Everyone starts eating.] Eiko: "How is it?" [Zidane will say one of these lines:] Zidane: "Wow, this stew tastes amazing! You should start a restaurant. The fish is just right. Hey, Eiko, where are all the other summoners? Are they hiding underground or something?" Zidane: "The stew tastes...interesting. The fish tastes better than it looks, but it doesn't have much meat on it. Hey, Eiko, where are all the other summoners? Are they hiding underground or something?" Eiko: "Underground? Yeah. They're all underground, sleeping the eternal sleep." Zidane: "What...?" Eiko: "I'm the last survivor of my tribe. I've been living with moogles ever since my grandpa died last year." Dagger: "I'm sorry..." Eiko: "Oh, don't worry about me. I'm really happy here." Moogle: "Kupo!" Moogle: "Kupo!" Eiko: "Ten years ago, which is four years before I was born... A natural disaster struck the village. Even the survivors suffered a great deal. But my mom and dad fell in love and had a family. Not that I remember what they look like, because they died when I was very young." Zidane: "I see..." Eiko: "I'm like a beautiful young heroine in turmoil, don't you think?" Zidane: "Huh?" Eiko: "You know why I'm here in this village? It was to meet you, Zidane, my beautiful shooting star..." Dagger: "That's a line from Lord Avon's play 'Wishing Upon A Star.'" Eiko: "How did you know!? Darn it!" Zidane: (How does Eiko know about that play? This place is far from the Mist Continent.) [Vivi can interrupt Eiko starting at her shooting star line (and consequently skipping the above dialogue) if she added an oglop into the stew. Like so:] Vivi: "Whoa!!! Ahhh!!!" Eiko: "What is it? interrupt me!" Vivi: "There's something in here with feelers..." Zidane: "...An oglop?" Eiko: "Don't you know that oglops are a Conde Petie delicacy?" Moogle: "Kupo!" Vivi: "......" Dagger: "......" Zidane: "L-Let's eat the fish. That should be okay." [They finish their meal.] Dagger: "Thank you." Vivi: "Thanks, Eiko!" Zidane: "That was really good!" Eiko: "See? Don't you wanna eat my food everyday?" Zidane: "Maybe. Hey, there's some other stuff I wanna ask you." Eiko: "Maybe!? That's soooo rude of you!!! Zidane, help me clear the table! Bring the pot over to the kitchen!" [Zidane gets the pot; meanwhile, Eiko is thinking to herself.] Eiko: "So it wasn't just Dagger... Zidane is really slow, too! Those two are going nowhere fast. Well, this is good news for me!" [Zidane comes in.] Zidane: "Is there something on my face?" Eiko: "Thanks, Zidane. Could you leave it there?" Zidane: "Hey, Eiko, do you know anything about the Iifa Tree?" Eiko: "What about the Iifa Tree?" Zidane: "We want to go there." Eiko: "It's sealed with an eidolon. You can't get in." Zidane: "Sealed? Did you seal it, Eiko?" Eiko: "Well..." (So he's sharp about certain things.) "It all happened before I was born, but they sealed an eidolon that we failed to summon in the Iifa Tree. It's our custom to seal a failed eidolon where we summon it." Zidane: "An eidolon you failed to summon...?" [Zidane tries to leave the dining room, but Momatose barges in.] Momatose: "You should get some sleep before you go!" {Sleep/Don't Sleep} [In the middle of the night, Zidane finds Vivi by the balcony.] Zidane: "Vivi... You better get some sleep before we leave tomorrow." Vivi: "I tried to stop worrying about things, but I just can't. I know you told me not to think too much, but..." Zidane: "That's because we're different, Vivi. You don't have to do everything my way, you know?" Vivi: "I want to stop... I don't wanna feel like this anymore. What if I keep feeling like this?" Zidane: "Vivi... Well...in the end, it boils down to two simple choices. Either you do or you don't. You'd think with all the problems in this world, there'd be more answers. It's not fair... ...but that's the way things are. The choice is yours." Vivi: "Zidane..." Zidane: "I just wanna protect the people I'm with. Doesn't matter if I can or not. It's what I believe in." [Eiko is sitting on the kitchen steps and can hear them, but not see them on the other side of the building.] Eiko: "I knew it! I was right! Zidane is the man for me! He's right. Either you do, or you don't. My choice is clear! I wanna go with Zidane!" Zidane: "You wanna know a trick to get your mid off things?" Eiko: "Okay." Zidane: "This is an age-old ritual between male friends!" Eiko: "Uh-huh." Zidane: "Come over here, Vivi. Let's go together. Doesn't it feel nice to let yourself go under the stars?" Eiko: "......" Noise: [Eiko runs inside. The next morning, the party gathers at the city entrance, ready for departure.] Dagger: "Zidane, I want to come back here. When I first saw the Eidolon Wall, I was scared... But when I went inside and saw the murals, they calmed me. I want to see more." Zidane: "Sure. We'll come back after we check out the Iifa Tree." Dagger: "Thank you..." Zidane: "We gotta come back and get Quina, anyway. We can't just leave him here." Dagger: "Are you coming back here for Eiko?" [A glob of purple hair listens to the conversation at this point.] Zidane: "Eiko is only six years old. She acts tough, but I think she's lonely." Vivi: "I haven't seen her today." Zidane: "You're right." [Two moogles appear.] Moogle: "Kupo!" Moogle: "Kupo!" [Two more poke up right by Eiko, giving her position away.] Moogle: "Kupo!" Moogle: "Kupo!" Zidane: "Eiko!" Eiko: "Tee hee. You can't break the seal of the Iifa Tree without calling an eidolon." Zidane: "You're coming with us?" Eiko: "Don't you want me to?" Zidane: "Of course I want you to come along!" Eiko: "That's what I thought. Okay, I'll join your team for a while! Vivi, Dagger, let's have fun! The Iifa Tree is beyond the Conde Petie Mountain Path! Let's go!" [Eiko runs out of town, jumping over Vivi and knocking him over.] Dagger: "Why are you so nice to everyone, Zidane?" Zidane: "Huh? What do you mean by that?" Dagger: "Forget I asked... [She leaves.] Vivi: "I think she was mad..." Zidane: "You think so, too?" [Morrison flitters down.] Morrison: "Please look after Lady Eiko. Come see us if there is any trouble." Zidane: "Sure thing! Vivi, have you figured out a solution to your problem?" Vivi: "Not really. But I'm moving on." Zidane: "Good!" =========================================================== 30. Iifa, the Ancient Tree of Life (IT01) =========================================================== [The party walks to a promontory near the tree roots.] Dagger: "There's Mist here...!" Zidane: "So this place really must be the source of the Mist." [Vivi trips.] Eiko: "You okay?" Vivi: "...I-I'm fine." [Zidane is repelled by a barrier as he advances.] Zidane: "Whoa! What was that?" Eiko: "That was the seal. It shouldn't hurt you, but are you alright?" Zidane: "Yeah, it didn't hurt. Hmm..." R1 --> Poke again R2 --> Body slam R3 --> Ask Eiko R1: [Zidane pokes it.] R2: [Zidane kicks recklessly.] "Graaagh!" [He's repelled still (of course).] Zidane: "Only you can break the seal? No wonder the dwarves of Conde Petie call this place a Sanctuary." [R3 segways after this.] R3: "Did you say they used the power of an eidolon to seal this place? Amazing. How do you break it?" Eiko: "I'm going to ask the eidolon to come back. The summoner's horn allows us to communicate with eidolons and wild animals. I'll break the seal now. Watch! Boom boom boom! Boom boom boom! By the light of our spirits! I call upon thee! Answer my call! Wherever your soul may be!" [The seal crackles in a few places and disappears. A Ruby remains.] Eiko: "Finished! We can go inside now." Zidane: "Thanks!" Vivi: "Was that the spell to break the seal?" Eiko: "Nope. All I do is focus my thoughts into my horn." Vivi: "Then why were you...?" Eiko: "That was just for show! The spell is actually much longer, but the eidolon asked me to hurry it up." Dagger: (I didn't hear anything...) Zidane: "Alright. Let's go!" [The party runs over the roots 'til they find a weird platform with a circular indentation in the middle.] Zidane: "What's this...? Looks old. I wonder who built it?" Eiko: "This way! Hey, are you alright?" Vivi: "A-Aren't you guys scared of heights...?" Eiko: "Gosh, you look so helpless. Why don't you stay here and let us handle the rest?" Vivi: "No, I'm going with you guys! I have to." Eiko: "Then don't leave my side, okay?" Vivi: "O-Okay. Thanks." Zidane: "Eiko, do you know anything about this place?" Eiko: "Nope. This is my first time inside the Iifa Tree." Zidane: "This place looks ancient..." [Zidane taps on the indentation part, making it glow.] Eiko: "!" Vivi: "!" Dagger: "!" Zidane: "!" Zidane: "What the..." R1 --> Touch it again R2 --> Try standing on it R3 --> Ask Eiko R1: [He touches it again and it glows for a moment.] R2: "Alright, then!" Dagger: "Zidane..." Zidane: "I'll be fine. Don't worry!" R3: "What do you think, Eiko?" Eiko: "Maybe...try standing on it?" [Option R2 plays, then.] [Zidane gets on the indentation and it starts to move down; he makes sure to jump back up before he leaves everyone behind.] Zidane: "......" Dagger: "......" Zidane: "Here it comes again. It works. I'm gonna see where it takes me. I'll call you guys over if everything is alright." Eiko: "I'm coming with you!" Dagger: "Me, too." Vivi: "M-Me, too." Zidane: "Okay, we'll all go. [Everyone hops on the elevator and heads down, eventually coming to a large pillar with briars wrapped around it. An unearthly green glow comes from all over.] Zidane: "Everything up there looks withered. This place looks totally different. It's so bright I can't see the bottom... I guess we should try to get to the bottom of this!" Eiko: "Hey, Zidane. I found something here." [She looks at a large leaf-shaped object connected to the pillar.] Zidane: "Hmm... Maybe it'll move like the last one..." Eiko: "It didn't move when I got on..." Zidane: "You got on it!? Well..." Eiko: "Why don't we all try getting on?" [They all get on the 'leaf' and it glows.] Zidane: "When I got on, I felt it respond. I guess we're in luck!" [The leaf starts to head down the pillar, encircling it. There's no backdraft or breeze knocking anyone around, though.] Zidane: "Whoa... It sure freaked me out at first, but there's no wind or anything... I guess that glowing powder is stopping the wind somehow. You okay, Dagger?" Dagger: "Yes... I wonder where we're going?" Zidane: "Yeah...me, too." Eiko: "Maybe Mog can tell us something!" [Eiko lets Mog out.] Eiko: "What do you feel, here inside the Iifa Tree?" Mog: "Kupo... ...Kupo? KUPO! POPO!" Eiko: "Really?" Mog: "Kupo!" Eiko: "Alright... Thanks!" Mog: "Kupopo!" [Mog goes back inside the dress.] Zidane: "Well? What's the word?" Eiko: "Um, Mog senses a lot of life beneath us. Moogles are faeries, so they sense life everywhere, but Mog says there's a whole lot here!" Dagger: "I wonder if agents of Kuja are down there..." Zidane: "But what's the connection between Kuja and the Mist?" Eiko: "!? Incoming!" [The party defeats some zombies that had attacked.] Eiko: "There are so many strange monsters here in the Iifa Tree!" Dagger: "Could the Mist be causing it?" Zidane: "Beats me... The Evil Forest and Gargan Roo had unique monsters, too." Eiko: "But if the Mist comes from this tree, how come it only appears on Zidane's continent?" Zidane: "I guess there has to be something that channels the Mist." Dagger: "Yes, but the question is, why?" Vivi: "......" Dagger: "Zidane..." Zidane: "Hmm? What's the matter? ...Vivi? What's wrong, Vivi? You've been lost in thought for a while." Vivi: "Oh, Zidane... I've been thinking about the Mist. Do you remember the...factory we saw in Dali?" Dagger: "Yes, the factory where black mages were being made?" Eiko: "Huh? Black mages?" Dagger: "They look a lot like Vivi." Zidane: "Dagger!" Dagger: "Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to..." Vivi: "It's okay. I'm not upset anymore...about being made and everything." Zidane: "Vivi..." Vivi: "Anyway, that factory had a lot of Mist inside, right?" Zidane: "Oh, yeah... There was a huge machine filled with Mist." Dagger: "That's right. And there were those strange eggs we saw." Vivi: "There's gotta be a connection between the Mist, Kuja, and... the black mages." Dagger: "......" Eiko: "I'm so confused. !? Another one's headed this way!" [The party fends off a Dracozombie.] Zidane: "Hey, I can finally see the bottom." Eiko: "It's so deep!" Zidane: "I don't know what's down there...but we'll soon find out!" [The leaf platform lands at the bottom.] Eiko: "Come with me! Are you gonna make a helpless little girl like me go all by herself!?" Zidane: "Wait! There might be some monsters lurking there!" [Vivi and Eiko go down anyway.] Dagger: "Say, Zidane... Mog said he sensed life down here. Do you sense anything?" Zidane: "Yeah, but you sense it, too, don't you? We don't even need Mog to tell us there's life down here." Dagger: "You're right. I can tell there's something down here. [Zidane goes down and looks over one of the platform's bows:] Zidane: "Is it moving...? Just my imagination. So much for Kuja. None of his lackeys are here, either. Or maybe we have to go down there? I definitely sense something down there." Eiko: "Zidane!" Zidane: "What's up?" Eiko: "M-Mog's saying... Something coming from above!" Zidane: "From above!? Dagger, come here! Now!" [Dagger heads down but the platform rumbles and she falls over.] Dagger: "Aaaa!" Zidane: "Dagger!!!" [He runs up to her.] Zidane: "Are you alright!?" Dagger: "I'm sorry! I was just startled. Is something wrong?" Eiko: "Over there!" Zidane: "It's them! We'd better go, too! Can you stand?" Dagger: "Yes, let's go." [They run back down to Vivi and Eiko.] Eiko: "Look! The wall is moving!" Vivi: "You're right... It's like it's alive!" Zidane: "Eiko! Vivi!" Eiko: "Zidane! The wall's shaking faster!" Zidane: "It's here!" [A large mass of something drops past.] Dagger: "What was that!?" [The mass pulls itself up and looks at the party. It speaks directly into their minds, too.] ?????: So, it wasn't Kuja. Vivi: "Huh? What's going on? I can hear a voice inside my head!" Zidane: "You just said Kuja! Where is he!?" ?????: I do not know. Dagger: "What are you doing here!?" Zidane: "Are you the one who makes the Mist!?" ?????: It is not produced... Mist is a by-product of the refining process. It is discharged through the roots. Vivi: "Discharged?" Dagger: "So it's sent to other continents through the roots, right?" Zidane: "But why!? Why would you do that!?" ?????: I contaminate the other continents with Mist to stimulate the fighting instinct. This, in turn, leads to war among the leaders of nations, and then to the fall of civilization. Kuja merely puts the by-product to a different use. Vivi: "A different use!? What is Kuja trying to do!?" ?????: I cannot lie. Kuja used the waste product to make weapons. Weapons...like yourself. Vivi: "!?" Eiko: "He's really ticking me off! Can I kill him?" Zidane: "Wait, Eiko! What kind of weapons did Kuja make?" ?????: Kuja called them black mages, dark spawn of the Mist. Zidane: "!?" Dagger: "So the factory in Dali was really..." ?????: Defeat me, and no more Mist will flow. And then no more weapons like this puppet will be made. Answer me, puppet. Do you deny your very birth? Zidane: "Why, you--" Vivi: "...... No more!" Dagger: "Vivi?" Vivi: "I won't let you make any more instruments of murder!" Eiko: "Way to go, Vivi! I know it must be hard for you. We can knock off this rat now, right?" Zidane: "Alright! Let's bust him up! Who knows, it might even lure Kuja here!" ?????: I have seen the end of my thousand-year life, and it is not now. You cannot stop me. It is futile to even try. [They give it a shot anyway and knock Soulcage's undead block off. The bowels of the Iifa Tree shake afterwards.] Zidane: "Uh oh! Let's get outta here!" [FMV. Outside, the Mist from the roots blows away in the wind and stops being produced. On the Mist Continent, the sky over Evil Forest is de-Misted and sunshine finally shines through...everywhere, the mist evaporates, actually. The party regroups at the Iifa Tree gate.] Eiko: "Wow, the air's so clean! The Iifa Tree looks so pretty now. Will this clear up your Mist Continent?" Zidane: "I think so. Now, let's see if Kuja shows up. ...Vivi?" Vivi: "Zidane... Did I do the right thing? It said that black mages are made from the Mist, right? When I thought about how other black mages were being made for war... I didn't want that to happen, no matter what. Now, there'll be no more new black mages. I think they'll all hate me." Eiko: "No way! Listen to me. You should never lie to yourself. After all, your brothers wouldn't want you to do that." Vivi: "Do you really think so? Do you think...they'll understand?" Eiko: "Of course! They're your brothers. It'll be alright. Huh? What is it, Mog?" [Just then, Moco runs to the party.] Eiko: "Moco!?" Moco: "Eiko!" Eiko: "What's the matter? Why did you come all this way? No way! Okay, I'll be right back!" Moco: "Alright, I'll go on ahead and tell the others." [Moco leaves.] Eiko: "You guys are going ot wait hre for Kuja, right? I gotta go back to the village!" Zidane: "Wait, Eiko! What's up?" Eiko: "Someone stole something precious from the village!" Dagger: "Zidane!" Zidane: "We'll go with you, Eiko!" Eiko: "Thanks, but what about Kuja!?" Zidane: "Madain Sari isn't that far. He can wait." =========================================================== 31. Madain Sari (MS02) =========================================================== [The party walks into Madain Sari.] Eiko: "I'm home! I'M HOME!!!" [The moogles all run to her.] Eiko: "Moco told me the news. Are you alright?" Morrison: "Come now! Talk later, kupo!" Moogle: "Kupo!" Morrison: "Kupo!!!" [Eiko runs off after the moogles.] Zidane: "H-Hey, Eiko! We'd better follow her!" [They find her in a room below the kitchen.] Zidane: "What's going on, Eiko?" Eiko: "It's... It's... The precious stone that has been passed down in this village for generations is gone! My grandparents said... They said that we should take care of it because it's a symbol of the summoners' heritage." Zidane: "Well...how about crying for a change? It'll help." Eiko: "I'm not gonna cry! I'm a grown-up now, and crying won't help one bit!" Zidane: "Alright. How about we start looking for clues?" Dagger: "I'll help, too." Eiko: "Is it..." "Is it my fault?" "Is it 'cause I broke my promise and opened the Iifa Tree's seal?" "Everyone...everyone was watching over the stone." Zidane: "Eiko? It just happened that way! It wasn't your fault." Eiko: Zidane: "Besides, we're the ones who made you open the seal! You understand, right? The real villain is the one who stole it. So, let's look for some clues and get that stone back, okay?" Eiko: "Okay! I wasn't going to cry, you know! After all, I'm a grown-up!" Zidane: "We know, Eiko. But if you feel like crying, just cry." Eiko: "I'm gonna go pray to my grandparents! I'll be right back." [Eiko leaves.] Zidane: "If you need to, you can cry, too, Dagger. My shoulder's always available." Dagger: "Yeah, thanks. What about you, Zidane? What do you do when you need to cry?" Zidane: "Oh, I get really clingy when I'm sad!" Dagger: "Cut it out!" Zidane: "Hey, I was serious." [Someone screams.] Dagger: "!!!" Zidane: "!!!" Dagger: "I heard a scream. It sounded like Eiko!" Zidane: "Dammit! The thief was still here!" [Vivi runs in.] Vivi: "Zidane, I saw her! It's that girl from Fossil Roo! She took Eiko... They went to the Eidolon Wall!" Zidane: "Let's go!" [They run to the Eidolon Wall.] Morrison: "Look what happened to Eiko... The ancestors will be displeased. Tell us if there's anything we can do for you, kupo!" Zidane: "Hmm..." R1 --> Peek inside R2 --> Heal us R3 --> Hold on a sec R1: [Inside, Lani holds a flailing Eiko by the back of her dress.] Eiko: "This is no way to treat a lady!" Lani: "What's this ornament thing on your back? It makes you so easy to pick up." Eiko: "My grandpa gave it to me! Get your grubby hands off of it!" Lani: "Oh, shut up. Just be still until he gets here." R2 (Narrative): HP and MP Restored! Status effects removed! R3 (Morrison): "Tell us if there's anything we can do for you, kupo!" [Zidane can walk around again.] [After peeking inside:] Moco: "I found a treasure, Kupo!" Chimomo: "Use it for Eiko, kupo!" [Zidane gets an Exploda and Elixir.] Morrison: "Tell us if there's anything we can do for you, kupo!" Zidane: "Hmm..." R1 --> Where's Mog? R2 --> Heal us R3 --> Hold on a sec R1: "Was Mog captured, too?" Morrison: Nope, Mog is right here behind me." Mog: "Kupo..." Zidane: "Mog, I need your help to save Eiko." Mog: "Ku-Kupo..." Zidane: "I got an idea. It's alright. You won't be in any danger." Mog: "Ku...po..." Morrison: "It's no use. Mog has always been a coward." Zidane: "Yeah... Well, we gotta do something." Zidane: "Hmm..." R1 --> Go save her R2 --> Heal us R3 --> Hold on a sec [By picking R1 (the other options are the same as listed above):] Zidane: "Alright, let's go!" [The party goes into the Eidolon Wall. Eiko is no longer moving.] Lani: "Well, so there's my good sir knight." Zidane: "What have you done to Eiko!? Lani: "She was too rambunctious, so I put her to sleep with a sleeping weed." Zidane: "Sleeping weed, eh? Then she's probably sleeping well." Dagger: "If it's my pendant you're after, then leave the others out of it!" Lani: "No can do. This is way too convenient to pass up! Hand over your pendant, and I'll hand over the girl, capice? What happened to the pendant that you always have on!?" Zidane: "I have it." Lani: "Oh, you really are a good knight. Now, cough it up already!" Zidane: "First, tell me something. Was it you who stole the village stone?" Lani: "Queen Brahne is after the royal pendant. I found another jewel just like it in this village! I'm glad I came all this way looking for it! Now, hand it over!" Zidane: (If only Eiko was conscious...) Lani: "Hold on! You're plotting something, aren't you? Stay right there!" Zidane: "Grr!" Lani: "You, black mage!" Vivi: "Huh? M-Me?" Lani: "Bring me the pendant! Remember, do as I say if you value this brat's life!" Vivi: "Zidane..." Zidane: "Do it, Vivi." Vivi: "O-Okay..." [Vivi takes the jewel to Lani.] Lani: "Hahaha..." Voice: "Hold it!" [The red-haired man appears and jumps down at Lani, who drops Eiko into Zidane's arms.] Lani: "Aaa!!!" Zidane: "I dunno who you are, but thanks!" Red-haired Man: "......" Eiko: Zidane: "Yo, can you stand?" Eiko: "Huh? What's going on? !!! Where's that old hag?" Lani: "Oh, that's it! Who are you calling a hag!?" Eiko: "You!" Zidane: "So, the tables turn! Now, hand over the jewel you stole!" Lani: "What are you tryin' to do, Red!? I thought you're supposed to be the number one bandit!" Dagger: "I've seen him before... He's the one with wanted posters all over Treno!" Red-haired Man: "I'm not here to help. I just want it to be fair." Lani: "What are you talking about?" Red-haired Man: "Leave the jewel and get out of here." Lani: "What!? We're partners on this job!" Red-haired Man: "I don't work with hostage-taking scumbags. Now, get lost. Or...would you rather fight me?" Lani: "Mark my words! I'll collect the bounty on YOU someday!" [Lani jumps onto a pillar and runs away.] Red-haired Man: "Now, fight me!" Zidane: "Just a second here. What's going on?" Red-haired Man: "I told you. I'm not here to help. I just want to level the playing field." Zidane: "Fair enough. Let's do it." Dagger: "Zidane!" Zidane: "It's okay. I was just looking for more ways to impress you!" [Zidane defeats 'Scarlet Hair'.] Red-haired Man: "I...lost? Go on. Finish me!" Zidane: "Can you stand?" Red-haired Man: "......" Zidane: "Give back what you stole." Red-haired Man: "......" [He does the honorable thing and returns the stolen jewel.] Zidane: "Eiko, I got it back!" Red-haired Man: "Now, finish me!" Zidane: "You wanna die that bad? I just spared your life." Red-haired Man: "So you want to banish me, then?" Zidane: "You can go if ya want. I won't follow you." Red-haired Man: "Aha! Trying to trick me, eh?" Zidane: "Trick you?" Red-haired Man: "I tried to kill you. Why are you letting me go?" Zidane: "The fight's over, and we're both still alive. Good enough, right? We got back what was stolen from us, after all." Red-haired Man: "Listen to you. I lost to some spineless thief." Zidane: "The sly eagle doesn't kill at whim." Red-haired Man: "......" [The man jumps on a pillar and then disappears over the wall.] Zidane: "Keep that in a safe place." Eiko: "I will! Thanks, Zidane!" [She starts to leave and turns to Vivi.] Eiko: "Well!? You're not going to leave me alone after what just happened, are you!?" Vivi: "Huh?" Eiko: "I'm going!" [Vivi follows her.] Dagger: "......" Zidane: "Shall we?" [They find Eiko and Vivi in the room 'neath the kitchen, again.] Vivi: "She's been quiet the whole time." Eiko: "Zidane, let me ask you something. My grandfather told me not to leave the village until my sixteenth birthday... But I want to go with you guys! I really do! Do you think it's okay if I leave the village?" R1 --> Yes R2 --> No R1 (Zidane): " 'Eiko, come with us. Forget what your grandpa said.'" Eiko: "......" R2 (Zidane): "You want me to stop you? Fine. 'Stay here 'til you're sixteen. Keep the promise you made to your grandpa.' Eiko: "......" Zidane: "It doesn't matter what I say. You've already made up your mind." Eiko: "......" Zidane: "Don't you have something to say to her, Vivi?" Vivi: "Huh?" Eiko: "......" Vivi: "Remember what you taught me at the Iifa Tree? You said I shouldn't ever lie to myself. I'll try to be more honest with my own feelings... You should, too, Eiko..." Eiko: "Hmmm... I forgot my own advice, Vivi! Thanks! I'll wear the jewel as an earring. It'll be okay then, right, Zidane?" [Receive: Memory Earring] Dagger: "Eiko? I think Mog wants to talk to you." [Mog comes in.] Mog: "Ku-Kupo." Eiko: "......" Mog: "Kuuupoh!" Eiko: "What? You think I'm mad at you? I'm furious! You went off without me again! You promised me you wouldn't! What would you do if you went off and got into trouble!?" Mog: "Kupo..." Eiko: "Oh, well. Thank goodness we're both alright." Vivi: "You're always nice to Mog, aren't you, Eiko?" Eiko: "Well, yeah. We're best friends, after all! We were born on the same day, and we have always been together! This is our friendship ribbon! Mog gave it to me! Mog, do you have the ribbon I gave you?" Mog: "Kupo!" Eiko: "This is the one I gave to Mog! It's too big for her now, but once we're both sophisticated ladies, we'll wear them together!" Mog: "Kupo!" Eiko: "Maybe then, Zidane, you'll dance with me? Zidane?" Zidane: "I didn't know Mog was a girl..." [Zidane walks out of the room.] Zidane: "I wonder where Dagger went...?" [Zidane finds a "?" up on the balcony.] Zidane: "I can hear a song... Dagger...? From down there? Dagger, you there?" [Zidane goes down to the dock somehow. Dagger's sitting in a boat.] Dagger: "Zidane..." Zidane: "It's okay. Keep singing. 'Cause it's our song, right? I'm surprised you found this place. You got the talent to be a bandit! How 'bout you and me team up? We'll call ourselves 'The Betrothed.'" Dagger: "My talent's up to snuff, but that name isn't." Zidane: "Hehehe. You're really something these days." Dagger: "If I am, I must've gotten it from you." Zidane: "Naw... It's all because you made the effort to learn." Dagger: "No, it's because you stuck with me. Without you, I couldn't have made it to Lindblum, much less seen a whole new continent. Everything I tried to do on my own was a total failure. I couldn't stop my mother... At times I almost lost hope... You helped me so much... Not just you, either." Zidane: "Yeah... Vivi and Eiko helped out at the Iifa Tree. Quina was real helpful when we left the continent. Freya, Steiner...and even Beatrix, who I thought was our enemy." Dagger: "I haven't forgotten... I want to believe everyone is alright, but sometimes I just can't. I hope I can live up to the hopes of everyone who has helped me." Zidane: "You don't have to feel so responsible, Dagger." Dagger: "But I do!" Zidane: "Nobody wants you to feel that way. They didn't do it all for you, either. Each was following his own path." Dagger: "His own...path? Well, what about you?" Zidane: "Huh?" Dagger: "Why did you come with me?" Zidane: "Hey, that's Ipsen's line." Dagger: "Ipsen? Who's that?" Zidane: "Ipsen is a character from a play, but he's a real-life adventurer. I think the play is based on his adventures. It kind of goes like this... Ipsen and his good friend Colin worked at a tavern in Treno. One day Ipsen got a letter. The letter was so wet from rain that most of the writing was illegible. The only part he could read said 'Come back home.' Nowadays, we have airships and stuff, but back then, it was really hard to travel. He didn't know why he had to go back, but he got some time off, gathered his things, and set out on his journey home. He walked a thousand leagues through the Mist. Sometimes he was attacked by vicious monsters, but he made it, because his friend Colin was by his side. And then, after much time on the road... He had to ask Colin something. 'Why did you come with me?'" Dagger: "And? What was Colin's answer?" Zidane: "'Only because I wanted to go with you.'" [The boat carries the two out to sea, slowly.] Dagger: "Zidane... I... ..." Zidane: "Dagger?" Dagger: "Can't you... Can't you hear the song?" Zidane: "Huh!? Yeah... It's that song!" Dagger: "How come... Who's singing it!? !!! The sun makes the Eidolon Wall look like it's on fire! I've seen this somewhere before..." Zidane: "What? Where?" [FMV. Garnet watches the Eidolon Wall and has a flashback of the past when a large eye in the sky loomed over the flaming village. In a tiny boat at sea, a toddler Garnet (!?) and her mother (?) were thrashed around by the sea, away from Madain Sari. Zidane catches Dagger as she collapses.] Zidane: "Dagger! Dagger!? Wake up!" [Later on, Dagger, Eiko, Mog, and Zidane sit around the kitchen table.] Zidane: "Where's Vivi?" Eiko: "He's sleeping. I don't wanna wake him up." Zidane: "Well?" Dagger: "I have no memory of my early childhood. I never really thought about it. Besides, nobody ever told me. I was raised in Alexandria...but only from the age of six or so." Zidane: "Six!? So where you were you till then?" Dagger: "Until then... Until I turned six... I must have been here, in Madain Sari. I still can't remember everything. Some things are like they're shrouded in fog. But I do remember one thing... About ten years ago, an unbelievably huge hurricane hit this village. That's as far as I remember. That day, I...I was with my true mother on a little boat, far from the village. There's a cove behind Eiko's house, right? The boat I was on was just like the one there. It all came back to me when I heard that song on the boat." Zidane: "That song is from Madain Sari. That's why nobody else knows it." [The party walks to the Eidolon Wall.] Eiko: "How did you get to Alexandria? How come you got to be a princess? How come you don't have a summoner's horn?" Dagger: "I don't know. But maybe Doctor Tot can tell me. About the lady who protected me from the storm as the boat lurched about in the waves... My biological mother, who died on that boat." Zidane: (The woman she thought was her mother was someone else, and her true mother was already dead... Dagger has lost two mothers...) Dagger: "I used to pray every day here, at the Eidolon Wall." Eiko: "You, too? Dagger: "You pray here, too, Eiko? I'm so happy I remembered." Eiko: "Dagger! Welcome home!" Dagger: "So glad to be back." Eiko: "Ahaha." Dagger: "What?" Eiko: "I just realized that I'm not alone anymore! Yep, I made up my mind! Zidane, Dagger, I'm going with you! I'll be breaking my promise to my grandpa, but I wanna go! Besides, grandpa always told me to be honest with myself!" Dagger: "I don't know what the future holds... But I want to finish what I came here for." Zidane: "So do I! Let's all go together!" Eiko: "Come on, Dagger, let's go pray together!" Dagger: "Alright! [The next day, at the town gates:] Dagger: (I still don't know what I should do... By the time we defeat Kuja and return to Alexandria...) Eiko: "Grandpa, I'll be back soon!" Vivi: "Oh, you're coming with us!?" Eiko: "Hey! Why the long face!?" Vivi: "Oh, nothing... My face is always like this." Eiko: "Mog's coming, too! Mog!!!" [Mog flies over. The other five moogles pop out, giving their "Kupo!"s as they see fit.] Morrison: "Lady Eiko! Now, don't forget that you'll always have a home in Madain Sari. Don't let our memory become a burden. You must always be light-hearted and free. Thoughts of the Eidolon Wall will always lift your heart." [Eiko nods and Mog jumps into her dress. Just then, the red-haired man who fought Zidane walks over.] Zidane: "What now? You want some more, eh?" Red-headed Man: "The victor lives, the defeated die. You know the rules. Your actions yesterday were incomprehensible to me. Tell me! Why didn't you kill me!?" Zidane: "Well, that's a tough question... Are you really that unhappy that I let you live?" Red-headed Man: "I'd rather die as a warrior than live as a beggar." Zidane: "Then come with me." Dagger: "Zidane!?" Vivi: "What!?" Red-headed Man: "What are you after?" Zidane: "Follow me and maybe you'll understand. Besides, you're pretty good in a fight. We could use someone like you. We're hunting a man down." Red-headed Man: (Hmph. His only constant is his unpredictability...) Zidane: "Huh? You say something'?" Red-headed Man: "Very well. I'll find out what makes you so strong." Zidane: "What's your name?" Red-headed Man: "Call me what you will." Zidane: "Hmm... Lani called you 'Red,' right?" [His default name is 'Amarant'.] Red-headed Man: "Some call me the Flaming Amarant." Zidane: "Fine. We'll call you Amarant. The more the merrier. Let's decide our marching order." [Zidane picks the party.] Zidane: "Alright. We'll do fine. Just follow me! Next stop, the Iifa Tree!" =========================================================== 32. Iifa Tree (IT02) =========================================================== [The party walks to where they broke the seal.] Zidane: "There's still a little Mist, but at least there's no more coming out. That must mean Kuja isn't here yet." Amarant: "And what happened to the Mist?" Eiko: "We beat the beast that breathes it. So much for the Mist Continent!" Amarant: "No more Mist...?" (They must possess incredible powers to accomplish such a feat.)" Dagger: "Zidane, there's a silver dragon!" Zidane: "It's him! He flew from the ruins of Burmecia riding a silver dragon! It's Kuja alright! And he's riding that dragon!" [Up in the air, Kuja stands atop his dragon.] Kuja: "Oh, how I've longed for this day. ...the day I might finally cast away this mask to reveal my true self. Now it no longer matters if the Iifa Tree is liberated! It means nothing to me! Mwahaha... The tree is so beautiful! Its beauty becomes the great mother tree that lives among the stars! Silver Dragon, let us watch the drama unfold from the trunk of Iifa. No one shall interrupt us there." [Back down below...] Zidane: "Who do I wanna take with me to fight Kuja...?" R1 --> Change party members R2 --> Go to menu R3 --> Keep current members R1: [Zidane can change party members.] R2: [The menu opens.] R3: [The process is completed; Zidane can run in, now.] [The party starts running along the roots.] Zidane: "We'll pass the trunk if we go any farther. Kuja went down that trunk." Eiko: "Say, Zidane... How are we gonna get up there?" Zidane: "Can't we climb there?" Eiko: "Not me!" Vivi: "M-Me neither." Dagger: "I don't think I can, either." Zidane: "We came all this way... Now what?" Amarant: "What's the problem? You should just go by yourself!" Zidane: "We gotta go face Kuja together." Amarant: "How did this wimp end up beating me?" [He starts walking by the others.] Vivi: "Whoa!" Dagger: "Hey!" Eiko: "You almost knocked me down!" Zidane: "Hey, Amarant! Watch where you're walking!" Amarant: "'He who hesitates is lost.' You'd best remember that." Zidane: "Well, I prefer 'My way or the highway.'" Amarant: "Whatever. Like you actually have a plan." Eiko: "Oh yeah, smarty-pants!? Don't forget you're the one who lost to Zidane." Amarant: "Shut up, brat." Zidane: "A plan, huh? That's right, Amarant! You owe me one, rememer? It's payback time!" Amarant: "Shoot." Zidane: "There's some gargant grass around here, so a gargant can't be far. I want you to catch one for me. Then we can all get on and ride it to the top." Amarant: "Why should I do that when I can just take the kids up myself?" Zidane: "Huh...?" Amarant: "How'd I ever let this dimwit beat me?" Eiko: "H-Hey!" Vivi: "Whoa!" [Amarant puts the two kids under his arms and jumps off the root, heading for the trunk.] Zidane: "He sure has spirit. Alright, Dagger... I'll just carry you piggyback." Dagger: "Huh? Hey! Zidane! Wait just a--" [Up on the trunk, Kuja and his dragon stand.] Kuja: "The weak lose their freedom to the strong. Such is the way of the strong. And it is the providence of nature that only the strong survive. That is why I needed strength. I learned of power that would daunt even him...over ten years ago. Such a long time... Now my forces are ready to strike! Ahh... The suspense is terrible! So they've come this far, have they? Perfect. I'll warm up to them until the elephant-lady shows up." [The party regroups up on the trunk.] Zidane: "Thanks, Amarant!" Amarant: "Now we're even. Show me what you guys can do." Dagger: "There's Kuja!" Zidane: "Yeah. Get ready, guys!" R1 --> Organize party R2 --> Menu R3 --> Finished R1: [Party select screen opens.] R2: [Menu opens.] R3: [See below.] [After R3:] Vivi: "Kuja... Maker of black mages..." Eiko: "Any enemy of Zidane is an enemy of mine!" Zidane: "Okay, let's go!" [The party sprints to a root near Kuja.] Dagger: "You are Kuja, correct? My name is... ...Princess Garnet Til Alexandros. I wish to ask you something. Was it really you who persuaded my mother to start the war--" Kuja: "The war that threw the entire Mist Continent into chaos?" Vivi: "And you made everyone...the black mages...into instruments of war!?" Kuja: "Oh, dear... The princess has such a bloodthirsty little puppet. I don't have the power to do such a thing. I just gave them a little recipe. Begin with broth of Mist, and fermented souls, and boil... Then, pour genuine black magic into a mixing bowl and heat to--" Zidane: "Stop it!" Kuja: "I'm not done telling how to make soulless toys out of the dregs of souls!" Zidane: "Dregs of souls? You mean Mist!?" Kuja: "First, you don't want to listen, now you start asking questions? Oh, brother... But you're not ready yet!" Dagger: "Why, you-- don't you feel anything!? Taking the lives of so many..." Kuja: "Spare me the lecture. Lives come and go all the time. What's the big deal? Speaking of warmongers, why... what about that mother of yours, Princess? She said she won't feel alive until she has everything! It breaks my heart to see such greed! The war was my fault? No, no! Your mother wanted it! All I did was give her a little push!" Dagger: "Liar! My mother was sweet and kind. You changed her!" Kuja: "Mwahaha... So the curtain rises! Perfect, my canary. Let me show you the truth about your mother! First Act: The End of Ugly Desire. It's showtime!" [FMV. Brahne's fleet gathers near the Iifa Tree.] Brahne: "Bwahahaha! Kuja! So you finally decided to show your girly face here! You're all that stands between me and total domination! Gehehe! But I haven't forgotten all you've done for me! In return, I will show you the ultimate power! Attention, all hands! Order the black mages to focus all their magical energies into a single spell! Lay suppressing fire upon Kuja until the casting is finished! Fire! Fire at will!!!" [On one of other boats:] Senior Officer: "Orders from Her Majesty! Black mages, focus all your magical energies into a single spell!" [Back on the trunk, the party sees the fleet gathering around Iifa.] Dagger: "I...I can't believe it!" Kuja: "Your mother isn't satisfied with just one continent! Her ugliness and stupidity are truly impressive. Ahh... everything is proceeding as I have foreseen." Zidane: "What are you talking about!?" Kuja: "You're just the opening number. Time for the real show." Zidane: "We won't let you get away!" Kuja: "The Mist may be created no more, but it still lurks in the caves and forests, right?" Zidane: "Huh!?" Kuja: "I can make monsters with magic! Come forth, spawn of the mist!" [Kuja sics two Mistodons on the party. When the party defeats them, they find Kuja's flown the coop.] Amarant: "So, two of your enemies are dukin' it out? Why not leave 'em, and finish off the winner? My money's on Kuja." [Kuja rides in the air on the dragon once more.] Kuja: "Hahaha! Foolish Brahne! Your cannons are useless against the spawn of the Mist! Mwahaha... but even a fool like you knows that there is only one path you can take, right? Stupid elephant-lady! Why do you hesitate? Very well... I'll make the first move. I'll give you a clean target. You can't miss! Silver Dragon, descend!" [Back on the trunk:] Zidane: "Amarant's right. Let's split before we get dragged in." Dagger: "No... I can't... I can't let anything happen to my mother." Zidane: "Dagger?" Dagger: "Zidane, I... I have to save her!" Zidane: "Uhh, Dagger? She extracted eidolons from you and started a war!" Dagger: "I still don't want her to die!" Zidane: "But she didn't care one bit whether you lived or died! You don't have to call her mother anymore!" Dagger: "She's my only mother! I don't care if you don't understand! Eiko, you said that there was an eidolon imprisoned near here, right?" Eiko: "Uh, yeah." Dagger: "Please! Tell me where!" Eiko: "It's a long way down. You see the place with lots of roots? That's it." Dagger: "There. I see it." [Dagger bolts.] Eiko: "Dagger, don't go alone!" [The party's attacked by another Mistodon, but they slice it up good.] Amarant: "Hehe... This is turning into quite a show." Eiko: "Anyone can get emotional at a time like this! Give her a break! Zidane, let's go. Dagger's in danger all by herself." Zidane: "Yeah... Let's go after her." [The party runs down a lower root; Dagger stands at an old shrine, shaped like a serpent.] Dagger: "I sense the eidolon's power! Now... Now I can save my mother!" (Please help me...) [The statue lights up and two gigantic wings appear on its back. But, only an Aquamarine falls into Dagger's hand.] Dagger: "...No! I can't save my mother with this eidolon!" [The party arrives.] Eiko: "Dagger! What's wrong? Can't you free it?" Dagger: "No, I have it. I sense it's a great eidolon. But...but..." Eiko: "I don't believe it! This is the legendary sea serpent, Leviathan!" Vivi: "Leviathan!?" Eiko: "An eidolon who wipes out its enemies with a huge wave! I"m sorry, Dagger!" Dagger: "No, it's not your fault. But my mother's still in danger!" [On one of the boats with the mages:] Cannoneer: "Isn't Her Majesty ready yet!? All remaining ammunition was spent on that last wave of monsters! The next wave will chew us up unless we pull out now!" Senior Officer: "That is not your decision! Get back to your post, soldier!" [On Brahne's ship:] Alexandrian Soldier: "Your Majesty, the black mages have completed their preparations." Brahne: "That insolent whelp! Now I can finish him off! Come! Draconic Seedling! Bahamut, King of Dragons!" [FMV. Brahne summons Bahamut, which quickly shoots massive fireballs at Kuja, destroying part of the seaboard in no time at all. Kuja flees with ease, and the dragon only succeeds in making him bleed a little.] Amarant: "I've heard the stories, but I never thought summoning could be so powerful." (If Zidane is after their power, I'd better watch out...) Dagger: "Now... Now we can win! And Mother won't have to die! Eiko, don't you think... What's wrong?" Eiko: "Mog... She's terrified!" Dagger: "How come? Don't you know? That's the last eidolon, Bahamut, the Dragon King! He'll win for sure!" [Up in the air:] Kuja: "Blood... Hahahaha... Excellent, Bahamut! Power, mobility... You truly are the best! You even hurt me...a little. And you, Brahne... Your tragic role in this drama now comes to an end! I'm sure you'll enjoy the second act from your soul's hellish prison, since the stage will be your former home! The final act will take us away from Gaia, and I will kill my nemesis...with my own hand! Hahaha! Everything is going according to plan." [FMV. Kuja makes the clouds part and the giant eye in the sky appears. Bahamut starts to go mad, and the black mages start to mess up. Bahamut stands in front of Brahne's ship and blows a fireball,exploding it. The other ships, too, suffer the same fate, and Bahamut flies out of the area in a disappearing act. Kuja rides the clouds out of there as well. Later on, Vivi narrates the party's finding at the beach in the aftermath.] Vivi: I don't know why Bahamut attacked the one who summoned him. But we found Queen Brahne on the beach, next to her escape pod. She could hardly move. And I thought she'd come to a stop any second. I hate Kuja a lot. But I hate Brahne a lot, too... ...so much that I wanted this to happen to her. I should be happy, but... Once I saw Dagger start to cry, I didn't know how I should feel. I kind of wanted to cry, too... [Away from the others, Dagger kneels near her mother, who's lying on her back.] Brahne: "I...I...can hear...my daughter's voice." Dagger: "Yes, Mother! I'm here! Right here... Brahne: "I...I am empty now... Free... Free...of that...terrible... greed..." Dagger: "Mother..." Brahne: "I haven't...felt this way...since I saw that play...with you...and your father. I led...Alexandria...down...the path... of ruin... The people...will be...happier...with you...on the throne..." [Brahne dies. Vivi's words restart.] Vivi: We went back to Alexandria on Queen Brahne's escape pod. We also brought... Dagger's mother with us..." [Somewhere in Alexandria, Tot walks into a gazebo-type area with a shrine in the middle.] Tot: "This way, Princess." [Dagger, Steiner, and Beatrix appear.] Dagger: "Steiner, Beatrix... How horrible that her life had to end this way. I still can't believe all that has happend..." Beatrix: "Princess, it was my..." Steiner: "No! It was my fault!" Dagger: "Thank you, both of you... I must now carry the burden of ruling Alexandria alone. Will both of you please help me during this, my time of need?" Beatrix: "Certainly!" Steiner: "Yes, Princess!" Dagger: "Thank you." [Dagger walks to Tot, holding a wreath.] Tot: "Princess, here is a wreath of roses, your mother's favorite. The townspeople sent it as an offering for the queen's grave. True, Queen Brahne had been acting quite erratic before her death... ...but the people are still very fond of her, as you can see." [Dagger puts it next to the memorial; Dagger and Beatrix salute it.] Dagger: "Mother... I shall become a great queen!" [FMV. Dagger walks down the memorial's steps to the lakeside overlooking the castle. She gazes at the reflection and castle, then turns around with a determination in her eyes.] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ###### # ###### ##### ##### ###### #### # ###### ## # # # # # ## # ## # ## # ## # # ###### # ##### ##### # ## # ## # ## # # # # # ## # ## # ## # ###### # ###### ##### ####### ###### # #### ###### ----------------------------------------------------------------------- =========================================================== 33. Alexandria Castle (AL03) =========================================================== [Tot, Dagger, and her two guards arrive at the castle via a gondola.] Tot: "Princess, we have arrived at the castle." Beatrix: "She won't be a princess for much longer, Doctor Tot." Tot: "Ha ha ha... Indeed. I shall have to call you 'Queen Garnet' after the coronation. I must make preparations for the crowning of our new queen. General Beatrix, Master Steiner, will you help her? Princess, please watch your step." [Dagger gets off the boat.] Dagger: "Doctor Tot..." Tot: "Princess... I know how hard this must be. But I will be by your side. Please take the throne with full confidence." [Everyone leaves except Steiner, who rowed the boat.] Steiner: "Three more days until the crowning of a new queen... What a day!" [In the pub, the Tantalus gang (sans Baku) is reunited with Ruby.] Ruby: "We ain't seen each other in ages! Why the sour puss, partner?" Marcus: "What happened?" Blank: "Maybe that Dagger chick dumped him." Zidane: "......" Cinna: "Bingo..." Ruby: "This ain't like you at all, Zidane!" Cinna: "H-Hey, Ruby! I heard you started a mini-theater." Ruby: "That's right, darlin'! My plays are a hit!" Blank: "Cool! Let's go watch!" Marcus: "Yeah!" Ruby: "Alright, cowboys! Zidane... You ain't comin', are ya? That's awright, darlin'. Come on over whenever you want. Let's go, boys!" [Everyone but Zidane clears out of the bar, onto the street.] Ruby: "This way, everyone!" [Blank runs by Vivi and knocks him down.] Blank: "Oops! Sorry... Huh!? Hey, Vivi!" Vivi: "Hello..." Blank: "I haven't seen ya since you left Alexandria Castle. How are ya?" Vivi: "Well, a lot of things happened, but I'm doing fine. How about you? What have you been doing since we left the castle?" Blank: "Me? Let's see... Oh yeah, it's been crazy since you guys escaped! Rusty, that rat chick, Freya, and... ...what's her face, that girl general of Alexandria..." Voice: "Beatrix." [Marcus walks over.] Blank: "Yeah, the three of them got totally worked! Marcus and I had to carry 'em out on our backs! M-Marcus!?" Marcus: "We gotta get goin' before Ruby gets mad at us again." Blank: "Oh yeah, she hates it when we're late... Sorry, Vivi. I'll see you later!" [Vivi walks around town and finds Blank and company outside the theater. A few scenes where he talks to them and takes the brunt of Ruby's anger plays (see: AL26 for all dialogue). Afterwards, a scene with Dagger in her room plays.] Dagger: "Steiner?" Steiner: "Yes, Princess!" Dagger: "Um... I'd like to find Zidane and talk to him..." Steiner: "Princess, you have more important matters at hand! You live in a different world now!" [Just then, Tot walks in.] Tot: "O-Oh. What's happening here? Princess, it is time for you to get changed. General Beatrix, will you help her?" Beatrix: "Yes, sir!" Tot: "Oh, there is something I must give you, Princess. Those stones contain your power, which Queen Brahne forcibly... Well, that is all in the past..." [He walks to the door.] Tot: "Master Steiner...? Master Steiner, do you intend to stay here and watch?" Steiner: "N-No, I am not... E-Excuse me!" [The men leave.] Dagger: "Beatrix... I'd like to see Zidane... Please?" Beatrix: "Now may not be a good time." Dagger: "Even you agree with Steiner." Beatrix: "Your Highness..." Dagger: "I know... It's okay." [Down near the guardhouse hallway, Eiko skips along.] Eiko: "With Dagger out of the picture, now's my chance to win Zidane's heart! First, I'll write him a love letter. I'm gonna make it the most romantic letter ever written!" [On the walkway above, Tot talks to himself like normal.] Tot: "Becoming a queen may place quite a burden on Princess Garnet... But she must persevere. The people of Alexandria are watching." [Tot heads down the stairs and Eiko sees him.] Eiko: "He looks pretty smart! Hey, you look like the bookish type!" Tot: "Ha ha ha... What gives you that impression?" Eiko: "You really want me to explain?" Tot: "Oh, yes. I'm very curious." Eiko: "Where should I start...? First, your beard! Second, your nerdy hat! Third, your thick eyeglasses! All signs of a nerdy philosopher!" Tot: "Ha ha... You don't hold back, do you?" Eiko: "Hey, are you a writer?" Tot: "Well, yes. I did make my living as a writer for a while." Eiko: "Will you help me write a letter?" Tot: "A letter? Gladly, if you think I can be of assistance." Eiko: "Okay, then. Follow me." [Eiko walks away.] Tot: "That girl has a horn... That horn... I had completely forgotten about it until now... I'd never been as surprised as I was that day. A ship drifted ashore after a storm... Inside the ship were a woman and a baby girl... The woman was dead, but the girl was still breathing... Imagine my surprise as I looked into the girl's face! Because the girl... ...looked exactly like Princess Garnet, who had just passed away. With one exception... She had a horn! A human with a horn... Wher did she come from? The king ordered the girl's horn removed. The girl cried out in pain... He and his wife, Queen Brahne, decided to raise he girl as Princess Garnet... But that girl who spoke to me... Could she be related to Princess Garnet...?" [Eiko comes back over.] Eiko: "Hey, will you hurry up?" Tot: "Oh, excuse me." [Back in Garnet's room:] Beatrix: "Princess, you look splendid." [Garnet's in her royal gown, now.] Dagger: "Thank you... By the way... There is something I must tell you, Beatrix." Beatrix: "Yes, Princess?" Dagger: "I am not my mother's... I mean, Queen Brahne is not my real mother." Beatrix: "Princess Garnet... Doctor Tot has already informed us. However... My alliegance to you remains the same, if not stronger." Dagger: "Beatrix... Thank you..." [Inside the guardhouse:] Eiko: "It's finished! Zidane will fall in love with me the instant he reads this letter! Thanks, Mister!" Tot: "Ha ha... It was my pleasure, my lady." Eiko: "Oh, I forgot to tell you. My name is Eiko! I'm from Madain Sari! I hope to see you again! Buh-Bye!" [Eiko runs out with her letter.] Tot: "From Madain Sari...? Madain Sari is the village of the summoners... But I thought it was only a legend. What could this mean...?" [Eiko runs into the balcony screen.] Eiko: "Oh, I can't wait to hand this letter to Zidane! Where did he go, anyway?" [Eiko starts running along a balcony side, but Baku inadvertantly belly-bumps her off.] Eiko: "Aaaah!" [She gets stuck on a jutting piece of architecture and dangles.] Eiko: "AHHH!!! HELP!!!" Baku: "Hey, are you okay?" Eiko: "C-C-Can't breathe...!!!" Baku: "Sorry! I didn't see ya jump out. But yer too high up! I can't getcha down! Gwahahaha!" Eiko: "Stop laughing, you poop! Oh, shoot. My letter..." [The letter she dropped flitters down to Baku.] Eiko: "Hey, if you can't get me down... ...deliver that letter to Zidane! Alright!?" Baku: "To Zidane? Yeah, no problem. Gwahahaha!" [Baku walks off with the letter.] Eiko: "What am I supposed to do now!?" [Baku walks out to the castle gondola dock.] Baku: "Hey, the boat ain't here!" [Steiner and two Pluto Knights run by.] Steiner: "Castle patrol, completed! Huh? Why, if it isn't Baku, the leader of Tantalus!" Baku: "Who just called my name? Oh, it's you." Laudo, Pluto Knight IV: "Should we capture him?" Steiner: "No, he saved my life. You may go. I will handle this." Laudo, Pluto Knight IV: "Yes, sir!" Other Pluto Knight: "Yes, sir!" [The knights run off.] Baku: "Ain't such a knucklehead anymore, huh?" Steiner: "Silence! This is no place for thieves! You must leave, now." Baku: "So that's how it is, huh? Do I gotta remind you that one of my boys saved your kingdom? But I bet you ain't got no ears for listenin' to a lowlife like me." Steiner: "Are you talking about Zidane? Yes, he did protect the princess and her kingdom... But that doesn't change the fact that you are all thieves! I cannot let your kind roam around the castle!" Baku: "No appreciation whatsoever, eh? Well, I ain't got any reason to stay here, anyway. Hey, you know where Zidane might be?" Steiner: "He hasn't visited the castle since we returned. Maybe he can teach you a thing or two about proper manners! Baku: "Okay, I get yer point! I've had enough of your self-righteousness! [Baku drops the letter in his momentary furor. The boat approaches.] Baku: "Gwahahaha! Perfect timing! Take me into town!" [Steiner clenches his fists and runs off. Beatrix walks into the screen and down to where Baku and Steiner were shouting.] Beatrix: "Ah, so it was Steiner... I thought I heard him yelling. Sigh... Alexandria is at peace again... Yet my heart is full of sorrow. Why...? Hmm? Steiner must've dropped this. Let's see..." [She reads the letter, which says: 'When the night sky wears the moon as its pendant, I shall await you at the dock.'] Beatrix: "Wh-What is this letter!? Did Steiner... ...write me a love letter? Steiner..." [The scene shifts to Zidane, still moping around the Morning Star Bar.] Zidane: "Dagger... Are you all cozy on your throne already!? No! No, no, no! I can't start my day without Dagger! Her smile! Her voice! Her voice is like a beautiful song... And her song makes me soar high into the sky! But now..." Voice: "You can still fly high, darlin'!" [Ruby and the Tantalus brothers run in.] Ruby: "Zidane, you can do it!" Cinna: "She's right!" Blank: "Why are you still moping? This isn't like you at all!" Marcus: "Yeah!" Zidane: "Stop it! You don't understand how I feel! Whoa!" [As Zidane headed for the exit, Baku belly-bumped in him back in.] Baku: "Long time no see, Zidane! What happened? You look pathetic." Zidane: "Boss! Let me join Tantalus again! We can steal treasure together, just like old times!" Baku: "Treasure, eh? There ain't much treasure lyin' around this world, boy. Besides... A Tantalus always gets what he sets his eyes on! That's our number one rule, remember!? Now, you don't. You got no right to join us. You understand what I'm sayin'? If you can't even capture a canary, you ain't got what it takes to join Tantalus!" Zidane: "Boss..." [Vivi walks in.] Vivi: "Hey, Zidane, can we go see Dagger?" Baku: "Gwahahaha! Why can't you be more honest, like this little guy?" [Baku, Ruby, and the Tantalus boys all walk out.] Vivi: "Can we? Can we? Please?" Zidane: "Alright. Let's cheer her on before she becomes a queen!" Vivi: "Yeah!" [Zidane and Vivi head toward the town gondola dock. Freya is there, talking to herself.] Freya: "That Zidane... Doesn't even stop by to say hello!" [Amarant walks by and the two start at each other in passing.] Freya: "What are you staring at?" Amarant: "...Are you really that tough?" [They get in battle stances.] Freya: "Try me!" Amarant: "I don't go looking for trouble, but I'll fight back if trouble finds me. Why don't you apologize, and maybe I'll forgive you." Freya: "Ha!" [The two guards at the dock see the fight starting to heat up.] Alexandrian Guard: "!" Alexandrian Guard: "!" Alexandrian Guard: "Stop right now or I will charge both of you with disorderly conduct!" [Zidane and Vivi finally arrive.] Zidane: "Hey! What's going on here?" Freya: "Zidane! I'd love to stop and talk, but I'm busy right now." Amarant: "Is she...a friend of yours? Then tell her who I am. Tell her I'm the Flaming Amarant." Zidane: "Sorry, Amarant. She's just a little worked up about something." [He goes over to the nearest guard.] "Sorry, babe. They're my friends." [He goes over to the nearest guard.] "Will you let them go for my sake?" Alexandrian Soldier: "S-Sure... Princess Garnet asked us to give special treatment to you, Master Vivi, and Miss Freya." Zidane: (Dagger...) "I-I see. Thanks! Hey, Freya... Stop being so mad, alright?" Freya: "Do you know why I'm really mad? It's because of you! Where have you been!? Dagger is about to become queen, and you're off wandering about! Have you found out anything more about Kuja!? Well? Answer me!" Zidane: "Um... Well, I tried to find more info, but..." Freya: "Look, if Kuja was responsible for taking Dagger's eidolons... ...and killing Brahne, who was working with him... Don't you think he'd come after Dagger again!?" Zidane: "I know... But what can I do? I couldn't even talk to her, remember? I don't even know if I can protect her... Besides, she's gonna be queen. She'll have all the guards she'll need. She won't need me." Vivi: "But Zidane... I think Dagger wants to see you. So... Let's go see her!" Zidane: "Yeah... But we'll leave as soon as we're done." Amarant: "Zidane... You're not gettin' away from me. You still owe me a rematch." Zidane: "Suit yourself." [The gondola arrives and they take it to the castle. As they arrive at the main hallway, Steiner walks out carrying Eiko by her angel- -wing ornament.] Eiko: "Aaahhh! Leggo!!!" [He throws her on her bottom.] Eiko: "Ouch! This is no way to treat a lady!?" Steiner: "Quit screaming, or I'll throw you into the dungeon!" Eiko: "GAAAHHH!" Zidane: "What happened, Eiko?" Eiko: "Zidane! Oh, it was horrible! He called me a liar and a loudmouth and a brat!!!" Amarant: "...He's right." Eiko: "What did you just say!? Do you want to repeat that!?" Amarant: "Man, I hate kids..." Freya: "Calm down a little. What's your name?" Eiko: "Me? I'm Eiko! Eiko from Madain Sari!" Freya: "Madain Sari? Why, I've never heard of it. Eiko: "Don't you know anything? Madain Sari is a--" Steiner: "Silence! What are you all doing here!? This is a royal castle! You do not belong here!" Vivi: "Hello, Master Steiner." Steiner: "Master Vivi! A pleasure to see you again." Vivi: "We came here to see Dagger." Steiner: "The princess? Hmm... If that is Master Vivi's wish, I shall arrange a meeting." [He takes them up to the hallway near the guardhouse.] Steiner: "You all wait right there! Princess, we are ready." [A dressed-up Dagger comes out with Beatrix.] Garnet: "Thank you for coming, everyone." Eiko: "She looks beautiful..." Vivi: "Wow... You look beautiful!" Freya: "Splendid! Zidane? Have you nothing to say?" Zidane: "...No. Steiner: "Princess, we must go now." Garnet: (Zidane...) "...Alright." Eiko: "Dagger, wait!" [She runs up the stairs.] Eiko: "Dagger! Is this the last time we're ever gonna see each other?" Garnet: "Oh, no. Of course not. I won't be able to wander around the world with you anymore... ...but I'll never forget our journey together." Eiko: "Dagger... I wanted us to remain good rivals forever." Garnet: "Rivals? Eiko, you say funny things sometimes. Oh, there are some things I wanted to give you. Let's trade the jewels as a symbol of our friendship. Two of my jewels..." Eiko: "Two of my jewels..." Garnet: "Goodbye, Eiko." [Beatrix, Steiner, and Garnet leave.] Vivi: "Why didn't you say anything to her, Zidane?" Zidane: "I don't know... I tried..." Freya: "And?" Zidane: "I couldn't say anything! I had a whole speech ready for her. But it would have been a lie! How could I lie to her!? 'Good luck, Dagger! I'll be watching you from afar. Come find me if you need someone to talk to.' It's a big fat lie! That's not how I feel at all! That's not how I feel...at all." [Later on, when night hits the castle, Eiko hangs around near the empty gondola dock.] Eiko: "So, there's only room for Dagger in Zidane's heart... I wish I hadn't written that stupid letter. Zidane looked so sad... Isn't there anything I can do for him? Aaahhhhhh! Zidane!!! I hate you!!! You insensitive fool!!! You don't even know how I feel... I feel bad about ditching him, but I really don't feel like seeing him tonight. I gotta hide before he shows up! Shoot! Someone's coming! Could it be Zidane!?" [Eiko finds a hiding place; Blank and Marcus sneak around.] Marcus: "There's no one here, Bro." Blank: "I guess I'm early..." Marcus: "...Maybe. I wonder who wrote you that love letter?" Blank: "Well... Just read the letter. I bet she's beautiful!" Marcus: "Really? Are you sure you didn't write it yourself? I mean, you caught the letter falling from the floor above you, right?" Blank: "I'm telling you, she was too shy to hand me the letter herself! And if you don't think I'm a ladies' man, you're wrong. Chicks are intimidated by good-looking guys. That's why..." Marcus: "Someone coming!" Blank: "Marcus! Don't interrupt me while I'm talking!" Marcus: "Let's hide, Bro!" Blank: "Alright, alright..." [The two run to hide and Blank drops the letter in the hustle. Steiner appears and looks around.] Steiner: "I must tighten up security around the castle from now on! Dusk to dawn, rain to shine, I must patrol the castle! Right, clear! Left, clear! Huh? It's a piece of paper... This looks like a letter. Let's see..." Letter: When the night sky wears the moon as its pendant, I shall await you at the dock. Steiner: "M-M-My goodness! Th-This is a love letter! Who wrote it to whom!? Hmm... No address or addressee... Did someone drop it here, knowing that I would pass by? Who could it have been...?" [Beatrix walks by.] Beatrix: "Steiner..." Steiner: "Beatrix... Was it you...?" [Eiko watches from her hiding place.] Eiko: (A-Are they in love?) [Blank and Marcus watch, too.] Marcus: "(B-Bro...)" Blank: "(Shh! Quiet!)" Beatrix: "Steiner..." Steiner: "Beatrix..." Eiko: (Ooo! What's gonna happen?) Marcus: "(M-My nose is bleeding...)" Blank: "(Then stick your thump up it!)" [The three hiding move to a better position to watch. Beatrix and Steiner move in for the kiss, but--] Voice: "AAA-CHOO! AAA-CHOO!" [Baku walks into view; Beatrix ducks out of sight.] Blank: "Boss!?" Eiko: "Oh, you totally ruined the scene!" [Eiko walks off and the scene ends. The next day, the party hangs around the Morning Start Bar.] Freya: "That Zidane... Where did he go?" Amarant: "Who knows..." Vivi: "I'll go look for him..." [Eiko knocks him over as he runs out and she walks in.] Eiko: "Ahh! Hey, watch it! I'm NOT in a good mood right now! Stay out of my way!" [Tot walks in.] Tot: "Excuse me. Have you seen a young lady named Eiko?" Eiko: "Oh! It's the nerdy guy!" Tot: "Ha ha ha... You're as energetic as ever." Eiko: "Yup! I'm always energetic! (But I'm really hurting on the inside from being rejected by Zidane...)" Tot: "Did you say something?" Eiko: "No, I didn't! Didn't you come here to talk to me about something?" Tot: "Oh, yes. I almost forgot... Your village... What was the name...?" Eiko: "Madain Sari." Tot: "Yes, I wanted to ask you a few questions about Madain Sari." Eiko: "Sure, I'll tell you everything I know. You helped me out. But why don't we go to your place? We can relax there." Tot: "To my home? My home is located in Treno. It's a bit far from here..." Eiko: "Treno? Sounds like a cool place! I'm really interested in sightseeing! I wanna go there." Voice: "I'm coming with you!" [Zidane walks in.] Zidane: "There's a card game tournament going on in Treno right now. I wanna participate." Vivi: "A card game tournament? That sounds fun. I wanna go, too..." Freya: "I'd like to go, as well." Amarant: "Treno, huh...?" Tot: "Ha ha ha... Quite a party this is becoming. It would be my pleasure. We shall all go to Treno." [They all go down to the Alexandria gargant station.] Zidane: "There's still Mist here..." Eiko: "Kinds looks like the Iifa Tree before we got rid of the Mist." Vivi: "I don't think the Mist is as dense as it was before." Tot: "Yes, I heard that you all stopped the Mist... The Mist permeated through the roots. That is probably why it still lingers here." [The gargant comes around.] Freya: "...This is a gargant?" Tot: "Yes. Shall we?" [The ATE 'Clowns on a Dark Night' plays. When it finishes, the party has already arrived in Tot's abode.] =========================================================== 34. Dark City Treno (TR02) =========================================================== Amarant: "I never know about this secret passage..." Tot: "I apologize for the lack of space." Amarant: "It's fine..." Zidane: "Hey, Amarant, have you been here before?" Amarant: "...What about you?" Zidane: "Me? I've been to every place where there are beautiful women!" Amarant: "......" Eiko: "Can we talk about Madain Sari later? I wanna go sightseeing." Tot: "Oh, of course. There's no hurry. Eiko: "What are you staring at? Let's go!" Vivi: "Wh-Who? Me?" Eiko: "Yes, you! This is my first time in Treno. Show me around." [The two go off.] Freya: "Then I shall go, as well. I'll take this chance to relax." [She leaves.] Zidane: "What about you, Amarant?" Amarant: "......" [He walks off.] Zidane: "...I don't understand him." Tot: "You know, today is the last day for the card game tournament registration." Zidane: "Well, then I better go register." Tot: "I'm a skilled card player. Let me know if you need assistance." Zidane: "Hey, I'm not so out of practice that I'd need your help." Tot: "I see. Good luck." [Zidane goes down to the stadium.] Card Seller: "Registration for the card tournament is still open. You must win two games before you can challenge the champion. Fantastic prizes await the contestant who defeats the champion." Zidane: "What's the champion like?" Card Seller: "Lo and behold...!" Zidane: "Is he that amazing?" Card Seller: "Oh, yes, very much so..." Zidane: "Just tell me what he's like!" Card Seller: "Well..." Zidane: "Wh-What!? She's a cutie in a sailor's uniform!? Wow, I'd love to challenge her!" Card Seller: "See? Now, go ahead and register!" Zidane: "Sure, I'll register. Anything to meet this girl!" Card Seller: "You're registered now. Please enter through the gate. The game will begin automatically." [Zidane goes in to play. The contestants are announced in this format:] Card Game Tourament _____ Round Opponent: ___________ [Zidane can play:] R1 - Attic Man Wake R2 - Cardona Bishop R3 - Sailor Erin [After entering to play the last round, Erin (the girl Zidane can talk to in Lindblum Castle) and Regent Cid come alone.] Erin: "This way, Regent!" Regent Cid: "Yes, I know... But remember my condition..." Erin: "Please, Regent! You must behave like a champion! Let's register!" Boy: "It's the champion!" Father: "Yeah, here she comes... Erin: "I'm the champion, Erin! I'd like to enter the tournament, please!" Card Seller: "Ah, we've been waiting for you! Please go inside." Erin: "Thanks. Hey..." Boy: "Ewww, Dad, it's an oglop!" Father: "Shoo! Shoo! Go away you filthy oglop!" Regent Cid: "......" Erin: "Um... I'm sorry, but this oglop is my..." Boy: "It's the champion's pet?" Father: "I-I'm sorry!" Erin: "It's okay..." [The two start walking inside the arena.] Regent Cid: "Since when am I your pet!? " Erin: "Well, you ARE an oglop right now, after all..." Regent Cid: "Silence! I'm the champion! No one understands..." [They enter.] Father: "I heard the champion is a master of winning games with oglop cards... Her name is... 'Erin the Oglop Master'..." [After the game:] Card Game Usher: "Congratulations, you're the winner!" Zidane: "Wow, I didn't know you were the champ, Erin." Erin: "Long time no see, Mr. Zidane!" Regent Cid: "Don't be ridiculous! I'm the champion!" Zidane: "Hey, Regent Cid. Still an oglop, I see." Regent Cid: "And you still haven't learn any manners..." Zidane: "Cut me some slack, will ya? What are you doing here, anyway?" Regent Cid: "Mainly participating in the tournament, but there was something I wanted to test." Zidane: "What are you testing?" Erin: "Our new airship, Hilda Garde 2!" Zidane: "The one that can fly without Mist?" Regent Cid: "Correct. We can't go very fast yet, but we made it to Treno." Zidane: "Why now?" Regent Cid: "I have a funny feeling there'll be more trouble on the horizon." Zidane: "Don't you worry. I'm sure our almighty Queen Garnet will take care of everything." [Eiko and Mog run over.] Eiko: "Oh no! This is horrible!!!" Zidane: "What's up, Eiko?" Eiko: "Oh, it's horrible! A moogle from Treno just told me--" Regent Cid: "What's wrong? " Eiko: "It's Alexandria! Something horrible is happening!" =========================================================== 35. Alexandria Castle & The Town (AC05) =========================================================== [A scene happens in the vacant entrance plaza to Alexandria. Someone stands behind a statue and speaks.] Voice: "Peace is but a shadow of death Desperate to forget its painful past... Though we hope for promising years After shedding a thousand tears, Yesterday's sorrow constantly nears. An while the moon still shines blue, By dawn, it will turn to scarlet hue." [Kuja walks out from behind the statue.] Kuja: "What an auspicious day for Alexandria. Garnet's ascension to the throne has brought hope and peace to this kingdom. The people are overjoyed; they believe a wonderful future is ahead of them. ...But the celebration isn't over yet. It's time to really light things up! Your former master is here, Bahamut. Play a requiem for her and all of Alexandria!" [FMV. Bahamut rips through the clouds and starts blowing fireballs at the houses nearby. Garnet sees the destruction happening and Bahamut floats in the fire. Afterwards, a boy runs by the Morning Star Bar.] Boy: "This way! Hurry!" Girl: "I don't wanna die!" [The local villagers all start heading towards the town entrance. Up at the throne room, Beatrix runs to Dagger.] Beatrix: "Your Highness!" Dagger: "That's Bahamut, isn't it...? Beatrix, please gather the soldiers." Beatrix: "Yes, Your Highness! Our soldiers have already assembled and await your orders." [At the main stairway, Steiner yells at his ramshackle crew.] Steiner: "HURRY UP, YOU FOOLS! This is an emergency! Get your act together before the princess arrives! Line up!!!" [Dagger and Beatrix walks to the balcony.] Beatrix: "Your Highness, as you can see, we are ready to act at any time. Please give your orders." Narrative: Your orders? R1 --> Gather information R2 --> Protect the townspeople R3 --> Contact Lindblum and request reinforcements R4 --> Begin preparations to fire the cannons [Zidane picks one of the options, then pairs it with these groups of Pluto Knights:] -Weimar & Haagen -Breireicht & Laudo -Blutzen & Kohel -Dojebon & Mullenkedheim [After they're picked and run off, Beatrix will say, from worst to best:] Beatrix: "Trust your powers, Your Highness. I know you will succeed..." Beatrix: "Well done, Your Highness." Beatrix: "You were splendid, Your Highness." [Receive: Hi-Potion , Elixir, or Angel Earrings, respectfully.] Steiner: "Beatrix, let's go!" [They run off to fight.] Dagger: "...Everyone's gone. I don't know what to do... Mother...I need your help." [A strange energy flows around her pendant(s) and she collapses. In the town, Beatrix and Steiner arrive to find Mistodons wreaking havoc in the square.] Steiner: "This is it, Beatrix." Beatrix: "I will give my all for Alexandria!" Steiner: "Well said! Let us march on to victory! [They slay the nearest monster and run into the next screen.] Steiner: "Beware, Beatrix! The enemy is close!" [A mistodon jumps off a roof and attacks...and dies. They head to the bar front and find another.] Steiner: "You wish to fight us!? You despicable beast!" [Another attacks from behind in a pincer.] Beatrix: "For Her Highness!" Steiner: "For the princess!" [They slay them both together, finding another one soon.] Steiner: "Prepare to die!" [They kill it.] Steiner: "Beatrix, are you alright?" Beatrix: "I'm fine. What about you? You're wounded!" Steiner: "It's just a scratch." [A monster attacks.] Steiner: "Persistent bastards!" [They kill it like the rest.] Beatrix: "This is futile! Let us return to the castle!" Steiner: "No! I cannot face the princess until we destroy all these beasts. On my honor, I vow to protect the princess, the citizens of Alexandria, and... Beatrix! I...I shall protect you!" Beatrix: "Steiner..." [A Mistodon nears.] Steiner: "Watch out! [They make it go the way of the Mist.] Steiner: "...This might be it for us!" Beatrix: "I have no regrets!" Steiner: "Beatrix...there is something I must tell you!" Beatrix: "What is it?" Steiner: "I..." Beatrix: "Save your valediction, Steiner. We'll live to see another day." [They defeat the monsters, and the view switches to Garnet, who is just coming back into consciousness on the stair.] Dagger: "...? I hear music... Where is it coming from...? Is it coming from upstairs...?" [She runs upstairs to the castle roof. FMV. The castle builds itself up around the large sword in the center, and a stairway platform rises up for access. At the top:] Dagger: "What is this place...? I can still hear the music. Where is it coming from...? ...What am I doing here...? Mother... Zidane... No... I can't depend on them anymore! As the queen of Alexandria, I must protect my kingdom." [Up in the sky, the party heads to Alexandria on the Hilda Garde 2.] Freya: "The ship is rocking pretty bad." Regent Cid: "It can't be helped. I designed this ship as an oglop, after all. So, I have no idea what could happen." Zidane: "Sounds like it might crash at any minute." Regent Cid: "Perhaps... But I think we can at least make it to Alexandria." Zidane: "Oh, man... I guess we'd better cross our fingers." Vivi: "Zidane... ...I'm starting to feel sick..." Amarant: "It's probably from the flight. Go inside and get some rest. Try to stay in the middle of the ship. You'll feel less movement." Regent Cid: "Go on, Vivi." Vivi: "Okay... Thanks..." [Vivi sees Eiko's pendant start to gather energy.] Vivi: "Eiko?" Eiko: "What?" Vivi: "I saw something sparkle." Eiko: "Huh?" [The burst of energy from the pendant knocks most everybody down.] Eiko: "Dagger...?" Zidane: "Dagger!? Eiko, what's going on?" Eiko: "I thought I just heard Dagger's voice." [The ship rocks furiously again.] Zidane: "What? Geez, something's wrong with this ship..." Eiko: "This light... Maybe it's the holy judgment!" Zidane: "Holy judgment? Hey, what are you doing!?" [Eiko stands on the ship's jutting bow.] Eiko: "The summoner is being called... Alexander's judgment has come!" [She jumps off the ship's bow. FMV. Eiko flies through the air and heads straight for Dagger. Both pendants glow and Eiko lands safely as a bright light comes from the palace.] Dagger: "Eiko! How--why are you here!?" Eiko: "I heard your voice on the airship." Dagger: "No wonder... I felt your presence, too, and all of a sudden, I was covered in light. It's happening again!" [Both pendants start to gather energy again.] Eiko: "Dagger, this is the light of destiny." Dagger: "The light of destiny?" Eiko: "A summoner's light of destiny, brought on by the hidden powers of the 4 jewels. This light appears when a holy eidolon calls for its summoner. Come on, Dagger! As summoners, we have to fulfill our destiny!" Dagger: "But... I don't know what to do." Eiko: "It's okay. I'll show you. First, we have to put our hands together." Dagger: "Like this?" Eiko: "Uh-huh. Now pray in your heart." Narrative?: O holy guardian, hear our prayers. Darkness overshadows us once again. O holy guardian, hear our prayers. Deliver us out of darkness into light." [The girls start to glow. FMV. A bright pillar of light shines on the castle as two large angel's wings wrap around the castle entire. The dragon king shoots fireballs at it, but Alexander shrugs them off with ease. He then sends streams of light after Bahamut, which entangles and disappears him(!?). Kuja stands in the square, watching.] Kuja: "It's so beautiful... Alexander...the legendary eidolon... So, you wish to defend the castle with your brilliant wings...? How admirable... Your powers even transcend Bahamut's... Alexander, I've been waiting for you. I've called a magic carriage for you. I'm sure you'll like it. Invincible, come forth! You're mine, Alexander!" [FMV. The giant eye in the sky opens up above Alexander. In the pilot seat, an unfamiliar man stands back turned.] Man: "You have gone too far, Kuja. I granted you the freedom to do as you wish in Gaia for one purpose alone. Now that you have lost sight of your mission, I will no longer tolerate your actions. You have not the slightest idea whom you are defying. I will show you soon enough. You too, Zidane..." [The man gathers energy and the eye starts to glow. Below, Kuja stares up, mystified.] Kuja: "!!!? What happened to the Invincible!? Enslave Alexander, as you enslaved Bahamut! !!! Could it be...Garland!? Impossible! Why would he come to Gaia!? If it is indeed Garland, he must know my plan! But why has he assumed control of the Invincible...? !!!? No! He can't be..." [In the castle, the party finally arrives.] Regent Cid: "Phew... That was quite a trip..." Amarant: "You little bug. We could've been killed." Freya: "Amarant's right. It was a mistake to come here on that airship." Regent Cid: "Well, we had to get here somehow." Zidane: "Come on, guys. We made it here in one piece. That's all that matters." Regent Cid: " That's right!" Vivi: "I'm never gonna ride on an airship again... Never ever..." Regent Cid: "Sorry, Vivi." [A Pluto Knight runs in.] Haagen, Pluto Knight VIII: "Captain!!! Where is Her Highness!?" Zidane: "I don't know. We're looking for her, too." Haagen, Pluto Knight VIII: "Shoot! I must find the captain!" [Haagen runs off.] Zidane: "Alright, let's go find Dagger." Vivi: "We have to find Eiko, too." Zidane: "They're probably together." [They go up the same way Dagger took, to the roof.] Vivi: "Gee... What is this?" Regent Cid: " So, this is the secret of Alexandria Castle..." Freya: "Are Dagger and Eiko up there?" Regent Cid: "Maybe. Let's go see." [Zidane runs up.] Regent Cid: " What are you doing!?" Zidane: "There's no point in us all going. I'll take it from here." Vivi: "Wh-Why? I wanna go with you. I wanna help Dagger and Eiko, too." Zidane: "Kuja might destroy this castle at any minute. Get out of here while you can. Go on, Vivi. Don't worry about me. Someday, you'll probably do the same thing for someone who's really important to you. Dagger is more important to me than anything else." Amarant: "Man, you make me sick. I'm outta here. Next time you wanna play hero, don't even bother calling me. Later..." [Amarant bails.] Freya: "I guess here's no way to stop you. But remember, this is not just your war, so don't even think about fighting Kuja now. As soon as you find Dagger, leave." Zidane: "Alright." Freya: "Come on, Vivi. Let's go." Vivi: "Freya. Wait." Regent Cid: "Let him go, Vivi. He'll be alright." [Freya and Regent Cid leave.] Zidane: "Sorry I can't take you with me. But I have to go with my instincts on this one. I don't know what else to say..." Vivi: "Okay, Zidane... Good luck." [Vivi leaves; Zidane heads up. The castle shakes as he runs, though.] Zidane: "Whooooa! What the heck was that!? GEEZ!" [It starts shaking again. FMV. The Invincible's "eye" shoots a large beam down at Alexander, disintegrating it. A piece of the castle falls and Dagger almost becomes squashed tomatoes...but Zidane jumps with a banner cord in hand and rescues her, earning a warm hug from his trouble. Eiko scowls, naturally. Back up where it's safe:] Zidane: "Dagger... I'm sorry... I don't know why I wasn't honest with you..." Eiko: "Zidane... We really made a big mess, didn't we?" [A tremor shakes the castle again.] Zidane: "We'll talk later! Let's get out of here! [FMV. The Invincible fires a beam and the castle starts to explode, with a devastating shockwave ripping through all sections of the town... Up in the Invincible, Garland watches.] Garland: "More souls have returned... In microscopic proportions, the process still continues after thousands of years. Eventually, these circulating souls will no longer belong to Gaia. They must never be circulated back... Kuja did well. If only he had lasted longer... I never imagined he would choose to end his remaining days on Gaia... Perhaps, this was his fate, set in ages past. I, too, cannot escape my fate; someday, I must face your counterpart..." [He walks away. When the screen comes back into view, it's Lindblum.] =========================================================== 36. Lindblum (LB03) =========================================================== [Artania and the Regent walk through the Business District.] Minister Artania: "As you can see, the reconstruction is moving right along." Regent Cid: "Good. We've started building airship No. 3. It's going well, too . Many engineers from the Industrial District have volunteered. Our people are so strong. I never realized it until now..." Minister Artania: "They have faith in you, Regent. That is why they can be strong. They are proud to be citizens of Lindblum." Regent Cid: "......" Voice: "AAH...ACHOOO!!!" Regent Cid: "Baku?" [Baku and Blank walk over.] Baku: "Hey, Regent. What's goin' on?" Regent Cid: "I'm tired from working day and night on a new airship... Hey, why don't you come by the research center and give us a hand sometime?" Baku: "......" Blank: "......" Baku: "You talkin' to both of us?" Regent Cid: "Heh, heh, heh. I'm just kidding. We already have enough people working on it." Baku: "Oh... Do you know how Zidane's doing?" Regent Cid: "He's fine. In fact, he's probably awake now." Baku: "Blank, go to the castle and see how he's doing." Regent Cid: "Oh, and tell him to come to my room." [Blank shrugs and walks off. In the castle guest room, Zidane wakes.] Zidane: "Dagger... Eiko... ...How did I get here? Blank: "Zidane." Zidane: "!?" [Blank runs in.] Blank: "So, how are you feelin'?" Zidane: "Okay, I guess... By the way..." R1 --> Where's Dagger? R2 --> How did I get here? R1: "Do you know where Dagger is?" Blank: "No, I haven't seen her. Maybe she's upstairs by the telescope." Zidane: "Oh yeah!" Blank: "Man, isn't there anything on his mind besides girls...?" R2: "So what happened after that? How did I get here?" Blank: "Slow down. Geez... Things were so chaotic; it took forever to find you guys. No one really got hurt except you. I heard you pulled some crazy stunt." Zidane: "Yeah... Eiko and Dagger were in trouble, so..." Blank: "Always showing off. You got hurt pretty bad because of that. After we found you guys, we stole a ship by the port and escaped." Zidane: "Wow. I don't remember any of that." Blank: "I didn't think so. You know, you slept three days straight..." Zidane: "Really!?" Blank: "By the way, Cid said he wanted to talk to you in the royal chamber." Zidane: "Oh. Okay. I wonder what he wants..." [Zidane runs off. If you asked where Garnet was, you can go up and see Garnet near the rooftop telescope:] Zidane: "Well, look who's here. Man, we went through some crazy stuff, huh? I honesty didn't think I was gonna make it this time. But as you can see, I'm alright now." Dagger: "......" Zidane: "Dagger... Is something wrong?" [Dagger shakes her head.] Dagger: "......" Zidane: "Ohhh, okay. You're so happy to see me, you don't know what to say. I didn't know you loved me so much." (Did I do something wrong...?) "Alright, what did I do wrong?" Dagger: "......" Zidane: (...Maybe she's just tired. A lot has happened since Brahne's death... ...I'd better cheer her up.) "Hey, remember that promise we made before the festival? You still owe me a date. Come on. Let's go." Dagger: "......" Zidane: (...I think she's starting to get annoyed. Maybe I should leave her alone.) "I guess you have a lot on your mind right now. Sorry to bother you. I'll see you later." [Zidane runs off.] Dagger: (Zidane... You're so sweet. Thank you.) [If you asked Blank where Garnet was and saw her up at the telescope, you can see the ATE 'My Bad' and Blank will be in the elevator hall, and will say when you come back down:] Blank: "About time. Yo!" Zidane: "What, are you following me or something?" Blank: "Hey, I don't have time to play around, like you. I forgot to tell you something earlier." Zidane: "Yeah, what?" Blank: "Sheez... What's with you?" Zidane: "?" Blank: "Ohhh... You had a fight with her, huh?" Zidane: "Shut up! None of your damn business!" Blank: "Heh-heh-heh. Take it easy. Cid said he wants to see you. He's in the royal chamber." Zidane: "What does he want?" Blank: "I don't know." [He leaves. Zidane heads for the royal chamber.] Regent Cid: " At last, the hero has awakened." Zidane: "I heard you wanted to see me. What's up?" Regent Cid: "After reviewing the attack on Alexandria, we discovered some interesting facts... ...facts, I think, you all should know ." Minister Artania: "The others are waiting in the conference room. We can begin the meeting at any time." Regent Cid: "Alright, let's begin." Minister Artania: "Please, follow me." [The two walk into the downstairs dining room; the throne plummets on mechanic arms down, too.] Freya: "!!!" Steiner: "!!!" Vivi: "!!!" Eiko: "!!!" Regent Cid: "Is that everyone?" Steiner: "We are still missing the princess." Zidane: "...She's probably upstairs, by the telescope." Eiko: "I'll go get her." Zidane: "Wait! ...Oh well." Regent Cid: "Let's begin. Where should I start...?" [The ATE 'Self-reproach' plays. Afterwards...] Steiner: "...The town is now in shambles. Many innocent lives were lost." Regent Cid: " ...I can imagine." Minister Artania: "Her Highness is probably beyond despair." Steiner: "I have never witnessed such tragedy. There was nothing we could do. We fought with everything we had, but to no avail. Beatrix and I were prepared to give our lives. ...I don't know what happened to her." Minister Artania: "We have spent much time and effort rebuilding Lindblum. But I believe it will take much longer for our people to overcome their losses. Those who survived have a long, tough road ahead of them." Freya: "Burmecia, Cleyra, Lindblum and now Alexandria... Kuja has vanquished all four nations. What is he trying to accomplish?" Zidane: "Who knows!? Let's just go get him!" Amarant: "It's not that easy. Kuja's powers are beyond ours. How do you plan to fight him?" Zidane: "......" Regent Cid: "Kuja is a man of many mysteries, indeed. I still can't believe what I saw when we were evacuating from Alexandria." Zidane: "What!? What did you see?" Regent Cid: "I saw him escape on my stolen airship, Hilda Garde 1 . There were black mages onboard, too." Vivi: "!!!" Zidane: "!!!" Regent Cid: "They weren't any old black mages! They were talking normally!" Vivi: "NO!" Zidane: "No way... Are you sure about this?" Regent Cid: "There's no doubt." Vivi: "WHY!? Why are they with Kuja...?" [The ATE 'Deep Anger' plays. Afterwards...] Zidane: "...So basically, your wife got mad at you and used her magic to turn you into an oglop." Regent Cid: "Sad sotry, isn't it? My lecherous character has led to my undoing." Steiner: "But how did Kuja get a hold of Lady Hilda's airship?" Regent Cid: " That's what I'd like to know. He probably commandeered it to further his mad schemes, whatever they may be. In any case, I must get Hilda and her airship back somehow !" Freya: "What a shame, for a ruler to end up like this... But we can't ignore this situation. Kuja must be stopped!" Steiner: "Indeed! We must deal with him before it is too late!" Zidane: "It's easier said than done. We don't know where he is. We don't even have an airship to look for him." Regent Cid: "He's right. No. 2 is still out of commission. And I doubt I can oversee the construction of a new airship in my current form. If only I were a man again... Artania, is there anything that can be done?" Minister Artania: "I have spoken to Doctor Tot regarding this matter and asked him to join us. He should be here any minute." Steiner: "That's wonderful! I'm certain Doctor Tot will be most helpful!" [Tot walks in.] Tot: "I'm sorry I'm late." Minister Artania: "Please forgive me for calling you on such short notice, Doctor. Thank you very much for giving up your precious time to come here." Tot: "Please, Minister. You need not be so formal. I heard what happened in Alexandria. I am so relieved to see you all again. Hmm? Where is the princess? Eiko is missing, too. !!!? Are they alright!?" Zidane: "Don't worry, Doc. They're alright. Eiko's out looking for Dagger right now." Tot: "Oh, I see. Well, that's a relief." Regent Cid: "So, Doctor Tot, I was wondering--" [Eiko runs in.] Eiko: "HEY, GUYS!" Zidane: "Geez, what's up?" Tot: "Ho-ho-ho. I see you are as energetic as ever." Eiko: "It's Dagger. She's..." Zidane: "What!? What's wrong!?" Eiko: "...I think she's lost her voice. She can't talk anymore." Tot: "!!!?" Vivi: "!!!" Zidane: "What!?" Steiner: "WHAT!!!?" Eiko: "Just come with me! She's in the guest room." Zidane: "Wait! Hold on!" [Eiko runs off.] Zidane: "I'll be back in a minute! Come on, Doc!" Steiner: "I'm coming, too!" Regent Cid: "Let's postpone this meeting." Minister Artania: "I agree, sire... We will resume this meeting later." Regent Cid: "Zidane, report back to me after you find out more about her condition." [They go to the guest room.] Tot: "Please wait! " Eiko: "She's sitting on her bed." Zidane: "...Dagger?" Dagger: "......" Tot: "Princess?" Dagger: "......" Steiner: "Princess, what is the matter...?" Dagger: "......" Zidane: "This is a bad joke. Doctor, isn't there anything you can do?" Tot: "What tragedy... The princess has indeed lost her voice. After all that she has gone through--the death of her mother, the destruction of her beloved kingdom... She has suffered so much pain." Steiner: "P-Princess..." Eiko: "Dagger..." Zidane: "So that's it!? There's no hope!?" Tot: "I believe this is only temporary. But it may be months, even years before she can speak again... ...until she can overcome her grief." Zidane: "So, all we can do is wait." Tot: "I'm afraid so... This is no ordinary illness. We must keep her heart at peace. That is all I can think of." Zidane: "......" Steiner: "Princess, please forgive me!!!" Zidane: "...Eiko, can you look after her for awhile?" Eiko: "...Sure. What are you gonna do?" Zidane: "Find Kuja and beat the crap out of him! Doc, I need an airship to find Kuja. Tell me how to turn Cid back into a human! That's the only way!" Tot: "Now, now. Calm down... Let's go see the regent." Zidane: "Come on, Rusty. Get up." Steiner: "Princess, Please... Say something! " Zidane: "You're gonna have to baby-sit him, too..." [Zidane goes up to the royal chamber, where Tot inspects the regent.] Tot: "......" Regent Cid: "So... is there any hope for me?" Tot: "...I'm sorry, sire. We must find the person who cast the spell to reverse the effect." Zidane: "Dammit..." Tot: "...Actually, there may be another way. Long ago, I read a book on metamorphosis that discussed methods to reverse the effect." Regent Cid: "Is this true!?" Tot: "Yes. However, I don't know if it is a reliable source. The book had a rather comical tone." Regent Cid: "Is there a chance that I could die from it?" Tot: "I doubt it would be lethal, sire. We will simply mix three ingredients and apply the formula to your body." Zidane: "Let's just try it." Regent Cid: " That's easy for you to say." Zidane: "What are the three ingredients?" Tot: "Unusual Potion, Beautiful Potion, and Strange Potion. They must be mixed in a 5:2:3 ratio." Minister Artania: "Oh... Magicians of early times often used those potions. They were all fairly common in the old times." Tot: "Yes. I expected the ingredients to such a powerful cure to be more exotic, too. But as you mentioned, they are no longer popular, so I do not know if we can find them." Zidane: "...I think Cinna has the Unusual Potion. I'll take care of this. I'm gonna go downtown and look for the ingredients." Regent Cid: "I'm counting on you ." [Zidane wanders around and finds the Beautiful Potion in the Business District and the Strange Potion in an artist's studio. He wanders down to the hideout to find Cinna.] Zidane: "I thought you'd all be here." Marcus: "Zidane! Are you alright!?" Cinna: "I heard you got injured pretty bad!" Zenero: "You can walk. That's a good sign." Zidane: "Yeah, looks like I'll live." Marcus: "Have you talked to Blank?" Zidane: "Yeah, I saw him at the castle." Cinna: "So what are you doing here? Just stopping by to say hi?" Zidane: "Actually, I came here for a favor. Do you happen to have the Unusual Potion?" Cinna: "Yeah." Zidane: "Nice! Can I borrow it?" Cinna: "Yeah, sure. Hold on." [Cinna goes inside.] Marcus: "So, Zidane, are you ever going to rejoin us?" Zidane: "I don't know... I'm gonna think about it after things settle down." Zenero: "It's boring without you." [Cinna returns.] Cinna: "Here you go." [Receive: Unusual Potion] [If that's the last potion he has to find:] Zidane: (That's all of 'em. Finally, I can get back to the castle and see Cid.) Cinna: "What are you gonna use it for?" Zidane: "To turn Cid back into a human." Marcus: "???" Cinna: "???" Zenero: "???" Zidane: "Thanks a lot!" [Zidane runs back to the royal chamber.] Zidane: "Hey, I got 'em! I mixed the 3 potions in this bottle, like you told me to." Tot: "Excellent. Let's test it right away. Sire, are you ready?" Regent: "...Oh, what the hell. Go ahead." Zidane: "This better work." Tot: "Alright. Here we go." [Tot pours the potion on the regent and he begins to change into many different forms.] Zidane: "Whoa!" Regent Cid: "Did it work!? ...Hmmm? Something's wrong ." Zidane: "...Ribbit?" Tot: "...... It didn't work." Minister Artania: "Good gracious! The regent has become a frog!" Zidane: "Oh, man... Now we'll never get a new airship." Regent Cid: "That's it !!! No more potions, no more medicine! We're gonna go find Hilda! Gather everyone in the conference room! " Zidane: "Geez. This sucks..." [Everyone is soon gathered in the meeting room.] Minister Artania: "Thank you for coming. The regent has an important announcement." Steiner: "!!!? Now he's a frog!" Regent Cid: "I wanted to become a man again, but this is all I got. We all know that Kuja holds the key to our fate . We must find him at any cost!" Steiner: "But we don't have an airship!" Regent Cid: "We can use that ship we stole in Alexandria. Artania, order Zebolt to service that ship immediately." Minister Artania: "Yes, sire." Zidane: "So, where exactly are we going?" [Artania leaves.] Regent Cid: "... I'm still working on that." Vivi: "...Um, you said earlier that there were black mages on Kuja's airship. So if we go to the Black Mage Village, maybe we can learn something." Regent Cid: "Hmmm..." Vivi: "...I still can't believe it. Why were they on Kuja's ship!? WHY!?" Zidane: "Well, I'm with Vivi. I think we should go to the Black Mage Village." Steiner: "Yes. Brilliant idea, Master Vivi. Princess...will you be going as well?" Dagger: "......" Eiko: "Of course she will!" Zidane: "I don't know if that's a good idea." Dagger: "......" Eiko: "Don't worry. I'll take care of her." Regent Cid: "Alright then! Let's go to the Black Mage Village! We'll all meet onboard the ship at the harbor in the Base Level." [Zidane gets on the ship docked at Serpent's Gate.] Zidane: "Man... I hope this thing can get us there." Voice: "Finally, I found you!" Zidane: "?" [Quina's on the ship.] Zidane: "Quina! What are you doing here?" Quina: "Where you go, Zidane!? I travel everywhere, look all over for you!" Blank: "Who's this? Your new girlfriend? Heh-heh-heh." Quina: "I so tired. From Madain Sari, I climb mountains, cross ocean, fight monsters..." Zidane: "Wow. You've been through one hell of a trip. So, Blank, you're coming, too?" Blank: "Yeah, I was asked to." Zidane: "By whom?" Blank: "The boss, of course. But it wasn't his idea." Regent Cid: "It was mine ." Quina: "!?" Regent Cid: "We need at least one person to look after the ship when we reach our destination." Blank: "Plus, I still owe you guys one, so I volunteered." Quina: "F-Frog..." Zidane: "...You don't owe us anything." Regent Cid: "Okay, anchors aweigh!" Quina: "Is talking..." Zidane: "Hey. Quina loves frogs, so you'd better watch out." Quina: "Maybe I eat it...?" Regent Cid: "I'm not worried. I've had more enemies as an oglop. Oh, by the way, if you ever want to change your party members, talk to me." Blank: "Okay, where are we off to?" Zidane: "We're going to the Black Mage Village on the Outer Continent." Blank: "Alright. Press [SELECT] whenever you wanna verify your location!" [On the world map, the controls are presented:] -Blue Narciss Controls- (><) :Forward (/\) :Return to the deck ([]) :Reverse (O) :Disembark [SELECT] :Switch navigation map [L1][R1] :Camera control [L2] :Align camera [R2] :Switch perspective =========================================================== 37. Black Mage Village (BM02) =========================================================== [The party runs in.] Vivi: "...Looks like nobody's here." Zidane: "Where did they go?" Vivi: "I'm gonna go look around." [Zidane finds Vivi talking to the last (?) black mage in the village, at the cemetery. It's Mr. 288, of course.] Vivi: "Where is everyone!?" Black Mage No. 288: "They went away with Kuja... Two other guys stayed behind. They're probably at the chocobo shack." Vivi: "Why!? Why did they go with him!?" Black Mage No. 288: "They learned about our lifespan... We can only live for a given amount of time. Kuja said he knew how to extend our life spans, so everyone followed him..." Vivi: "He's lying! I bet he's lying! Look what he's done to us. He's been using us, treating us like puppets." Black Mage No. 288: "...Maybe we are just puppets, created to serve humans." Vivi: "!" Zidane: "Come on. That's nonsense." Vivi: "...Where did they go?" Black Mage No. 288: "...I can't tell you that. I can't betray them." Vivi: "Then why didn't you go with them?" Black Mage No. 288: "......" Vivi: "You said the two other guys are in the chocobo shack, right?" Black Mage No. 288: "......" [Vivi runs off.] Zidane: "Vivi!" [Zidane finds him at the stable door.] Vivi: "Hello. Is anyone there?" Zidane: "Vivi..." Vivi: "Please! Open the door!" [A 'kweh' is heard.] Zidane: "?" [The door opens.] Black Mage: "It's born!!!" Vivi: "!?" Black Mage: "Oh..." Vivi: "Wait!" [Inside, the mages look at a baby chocobo.] Black Mage No. 111: "Finally..." Black Mage No. 33: "Finally..." Black Mage No. 111: "Hurray!!!" Black Mage No. 33: "Hurray!!!" Black Mage No. 111: "I still can't believe it..." Black Mage No. 33: "Yeah..." Vivi: "I don't understand. Why are you here?" Black Mage No. 33: "We're here to look after the chocobo." Black Mage No. 111: "At first, we were gonna go with everyone, but someone had to stay behind to look after the chocobo egg, so we stayed." Black Mage No. 33; "We kept the egg nice and warm by ptuting a lot of hay over it." Black Mage No. 111: "I can't wait to show him to everyone." Black Mage No. 33: "They're gonna be so happy." Black Mage No. 111: "We have to come up with a name." Black Mage No. 33: "Hey... What's happening to me? I feel strange..." Black Mage No. 111: "M-Me, too..." Vivi: "......" [Vivi walks outside and finds Mr. 288 standing at the gate.] Vivi: "...You stayed behind because you were worried about the chocobo egg." Black Mage No. 288: "...I don't know. I wanted to follow Kuja because I was so scared of dying. But I couldn't... I felt like I was leaving something important behind." Vivi: "...... I wanna ask you something." Black Mage No. 288: "What is it?" Vivi: "A-Am I gonna stop pretty soon, too?" Zidane: "!" Black Mage No. 288: "I don't know... Kuja said the prototype built before us would last longer." Vivi: "But...I am gonna stop eventually." Black Mage No. 288: "......" Vivi: "...I was really confused when my grandpa died. He told me, 'Vivi, no need be sad.' So I told myself, I can't be sad. That's why I felt confused again when I heard that everyone was stopping around him. I don't know what to do or what to feel... But when I saw Dagger crying when her mom died, I wasn't confused anymore. I was sad... If I were just a puppet, I never would have felt that way. Mr. 288...we aren't puppets. I know we aren't. ...I hate him. I hate Kuja!!! He's turning everyone into puppets just to kill people!!! If it weren't for him, I know everyone would understand someday. It's not fair..." Zidane: "Vivi..." Black Mage No. 288: "...Kuja's secret palace is on the eastern side of this continent." Zidane: "!" Black Mage No. 288: "It's buried under quicksand. You'll need a ship to get there." Vivi: "Thanks..." Black Mage No. 288: "I hope we can become strong like you someday..." [He walks away. Dagger walks alone in town.] Dagger: (Vivi has so much on his mind... Unlike me, he's fighting so hard... ...I thought I would change after I met Zidane. ...Once I acceded tothe throne, I knew I had to change. But nothing has changed...! I'm so helpless...) [Eiko walks by.] Eiko: "Wow... Dagger, were you listening, too? That crybaby sure has come a long way, don't you think?" Dagger: "......" Eiko: "Dagger? Are you alright? ...Don't worry too much. Vivi has his own way of dealing with things, and you have yours. Come on, cheer up! We'll beat up Kuja, and you'll get your voice back in no time." Dagger: "......" [Zidane walks over.] Eiko: "Zidane." Zidane: "Is something wrong? Okay. Let's get going." Vivi: "Mr. 288 said Kuja's palace is buried under quicksand, right?" Zidane: "Yeah. We're taking the ship to the eastern side of the continent to get there." [The party heads to the eastern desert and drops down into the northernmost quicksand pit, disappearing instantly...] =========================================================== 38. Desert Palace (DP01) =========================================================== [On the blacked-out screen:] Kuja: "Huhaha... I knew you'd come. Everything is going according to plan..." [Zidane wakes up in a circular room with the regent.] Regent Cid: "Zidane! , wake up!" Zidane: "U-Ungh... Cid... Where the heck are we?" Regent Cid: "Good question ! I wish I knew!" Zidane: "After I fell into the quicksand, everything went dark... That's all I can remember." Regent Cid: "Me, too ! When I woke up, I was in this room." Zidane: "Oh yeah! Where is everyone?" Regent Cid: "I don't know . I hope they're alright." [Kuja's voice rings out.] Kuja: "So you're finally awake..." Zidane: "That voice...it's Kuja!" Kuja: "I'm so happy to see you again." Zidane: "You rat bastard! Where're my friends?" Kuja: "My, my... Aren't we feisty today? No need to worry about them. They're in rooms not unlike yours. Oh, yes... I should probably enlighten you as to your current situation." [The floor spirals out a little, revealing a lava-pool bottom.] Zidane: "Yikes!" Kuja: "I'm sure that even your feeble mind can grasp what would happen if you were to take that plunge. Ahahahahahahaha!" Zidane: "Kuja! You're dead!!!" Kuja: "Oh, dear. Was it something I said? Either way, now that you're aware of your predicament, I'd like you to do a tiny little favor for me. I'll let your friends live if you say yes." Zidane: "Dammit..." R1 --> I have no choice R2 --> Never! R2: "Never!" Kuja: "You still don't get it, do you? Do you still refuse?" [The floor spirals in a little more.] Zidane: "Yikes! ...... Dammit, I don't have a choice!" Kuja: "Very good. You've chosen wisely. First, step outside." [Zidane and the regent get the heck out of the lava room.] Zidane: "Hey, Cid. I need you to look after the others." Regent Cid: "Fine ! I won't let you down! And you ! You come back safe!" Zidane: "Yeah, I will. See ya." [Zidane walks down the hall and sees the branching paths blocked by mages.] Zidane: "Not these guys again..." Black Mage: "......" Black Mage: "......" Kuja: "Stand between the two black mages." [The black mages warp Zidane off. He appears in a room somewhere.] Kuja: "Welcome to my humble abode." Zidane: "Just cut to the chase and tell me what the hell you want!" Kuja: "My, we're upset, aren't we? Well, this is your errand... I want you to go somewhere and bring something back for me." Zidane: "So tell me what it is already, you demon!" Kuja: "I'd watch my mouth if I were you. Surely, you haven't forgotten that I hold your friends' lives in my hands." Zidane: "Grr!" Kuja: "I'm going to send you to a place called Oeilvert." Zidane: "Where's that?" Kuja: "Oeilvert is south of the Seaways Canyon on the Forgotten Continent. It really isn't my kind of place." Zidane: "What do you mean by that?" Kuja: "You see, there's an anti-magic barrier around the place. And I want to send you because you're too stupid to use magic. Once there, I want you to retrieve the Gulug Stone for me. What do you say? Isn't it a simple task? I'll even send you on my luxury cruise ship, so you won't have to worry about transportation. Perhaps it's too much for you. I'd better send you with three of your friends just to be safe. Besides, nobody likes to fight against himself." Zidane: "???" Kuja: "Heheh, nevermind. Speak their names when you've chosen your partners." [Zidane selects his party.] Zidane: "I want _____, _____, and ______." Kuja: "Fine. I shall summon them. ________... ________... and ______... Step through the door." [The three chosen party members walk out.] Kuja: "Proceed to the center of the platform." Black Mage: "......" Black Mage: "......" [They teleport the party members to Kuja's room.] Zidane: "!!!" Kuja: "Spare me the emotional reunion scene, please. Now, go stand with your friends." Zidane: "You'd better keep your promise, Kuja!" Kuja: "Of course. You needn't worry one bit." [The four teleport out.] Kuja: "Khehehe... What a bunch of idiots." [Zidane's party warps to the hangar shown in the "Deep Anger' ATE. He goes around the bend and sees the ship.] Zidane: "Whoa! That must be the Hilda Garde 1!" [Zidane's party gets on and it takes off on the world map, airborne faster than greased lightning. As it soars over the waves, Zidane makes his way to the cockpit to find some black mages.] Zidane: "Hey, can we really trust Kuja?" Black Mage: "......" Zidane: "Hey, can we really trust Kuja?" Black Mage 2: "......" Zidane: "Hey! Say something!" Black Mage 2: "......" [Zorn walks into the screen.] Zorn: "They will not answer to you." [Thorn appears.] Thorn: "Respond to our orders only, they do." Zidane: "Why, y-you backstabbing bozos!" Zorn: "Those are slanderous words!" Thorn: "Worse lies, I have never heard." Zorn: "You needn't concern yourself with such things." Thorn: "Or an end to your friends' lives, we shall bring." Zidane: "Dammit!" Zorn: "The black mages were originally designed just to oppress." Thorn: "But a strong sense of self, the Black Waltzes came to possess. Always obey us, these mages do, because a strong ego, they have not." Zorn: "These mass-produced ones are to break once we're through with their lot." Thorn: "Other purpose than war they have not!" Zorn: "They have grown attached to life, yet they'll soon disappear!" Thorn: "Hilarious! Nothing but toys are they here!" Zidane: "I don't think you guys are any different." Thorn: "What!?" Zorn: "Rubbish!" Zidane: "You say that the black mages have no souls, but you guys are pawns, just like them! Am I right, or what?" Zorn: "You won't be talking so big once we're done with you!" Thorn: "Regret those words, you will!" Zidane: "Well, let's just take it easy until we arrive. Drive safe, alright?" [On the world map, the majestic HG1 flies over the Shimmering Island and lands on the Forgotten Continent, where it lands. Zidane's crew is kicked out. Down the Seaways Canyon, the party stumbles upon their destination: Oeilvert.] =========================================================== 39. Oeilvert (OV01) =========================================================== [The party walks up to the spooky place's gigantic locked gate.] Zidane: "This must be the entrance. Mph! Open up! No way I can open a door this big! Party Member #1: "!!!" Party Member #2: "!!!" Party Member #3: "!!!" [The door opens by itself.] Zidane: "!!! ...... I dunno what's going on, but I guess we gotta go inside. It's an honor to be here, hehe." [The party walks in and Zidane touches some orb, making it light up. In the next room, a planet hologram surprises everyone.] Zidane: "Is this...a planet?" Steiner: "Was that writing that just appeared?" Zidane: "...Mother...Terra...?" Party Member #1: "!!!" Party Member #2: "!!!" Party Member #3: "!!!" Zidane: "Aww...I can't make it out..." Freya: "Zidane, can you really read it?" Zidane: "It's not that I can read it... It's more like the words are talking to me. I don't even know why..." [The party moves on and comes to a room with four pods. Zidane starts to figure out the order and gets the first to work.] Zidane: "Aha, it worked! Ancient...ship... Oldest...in history... I knew you just had to do it in the right order!" [Zidane goes to the next one.] Zidane: "The ship...for war... Shipbuilding...technology...primitive..." [He goes to the next and reads.] Zidane: "Battleship...Invincible...prototype... Prototype...failure..." [At the last one:] Zidane: "The first...battleship...Invincible... Improved version... currently...in use..." [Zidane goes back to the globe that didn't glow in the Grand Hall.] Zidane: "Huh? It's gone. Whoa! Beginning...of the city... ...? Huh? Now it's gone again. Whoa! At first...the city...flourished... Soon...began to decline... At its peak...cities...all over... Terra... Then...the decline...began... So what the heck is all this?" [Zidane heads back to the room with the planet and finds a door able to be opened. Inside is a room with many stone faces carved into wall 'sockets'.] Zidane: "What is this place?" Steiner: "Wh-What a disturbing room!" [One of the faces lights up.] Voice: "%/\[]oo#+x..." Freya: "Friend or foe!?" Zidane: "Wait! It's saying something..." Voice: "Visitors... Climb atop the stone..." Quina: "I hear it say!" Zidane: "Huh. I guess it's speaking directly into our minds. Well, let's go!" [They climb onto the stone and it rises up.] Voice: "Visitors, listen well... This is the record of our civilization... The seeds' decline was not our fault... All vegetation and... vessels...died out... The decay of our Terra...triggered it all... In order to stop the decay, many methods were considered... Ultimately, the best minds of Terra's civilization gathered... Then, a final resuscitation was attempted on the mother continent... Unfortunately, it ended in failure... It was later discovered to have been the catalyst... Subjects were selected... After four tremendous sacrifices, eternal prosperity seemed within reach... Flora and fauna were revived, but...is still in stasis. Final results...are still pending... In order that our glorious history not die with us, we were constructed..." [The faces quit lighting up and the stone descends.] Steiner: "Zidane, what could this possibly be!?" Zidane: "I wanna know, too...but our friends are in danger! So let's save them first!" [Zidane runs into the room with the moogle (Stiltzkin is now gone) and stops when a display starts to light up before him.] Zidane: "? Hmm... It looks different than before. It looks like that other planet." [Another planet appears beside the other hologram.] Zidane: "Wh-What's this? Another planet?" [The two planets merge into one.] Zidane: "What the heck could this mean?" [In the next room, a plate takes them to the bottom of a long tunnel. Zidane goes up to a tombstone and a stone drops down from above.] Zidane: "!!! So this is what Kuja was harping about. Time to head back. Whoa! ...? Something's coming!" [The party squares off with Ark and defeats it, taking the Gulug Stone.] Zidane: "We gotta get back to the others!" [The view switches back to Desert Palace again.] =========================================================== 40. Desert Palace (DP02) =========================================================== Eiko: "Why am I trapped in here!? Hey! Someone lemme out! This is no way to treat a lady! Aww... I hope Zidane and the others are alright... I'm sure they'll come back for me." [Kuja's voice rings.] Kuja: "So, how do you like the special suites I reserved for each of you? By the way, Zidane is out running an errand for me in return for your safety. But I hate keeping promises... And I so love deceit. So, I thought I would give you a special death to remember me by. My palace is home to a magnificent hourglass. As its sands fall, the floors of your rooms slowly open. Well? Isn't it a fabulous idea? Your lives will be spared if the hourglass is reset. If Zidane comes back in time, that is. Oops, just ten more minutes. Better start praying. Farewell... My sweet, lovable morons. Ahahahahahahaha!" Eiko: "What!? Somebody help me!" [Outside, Cid listens to Kuja speak.] Kuja: "Farewell... My sweet, lovable morons. Ahahahahahahaha!" Regent Cid: "That bastard Kuja! That does it ! If I don't save them, no one will!" [Two black mages walk by.] Black Mage No. 69: "Say... I reset the hourglass and locked it because I was ordered to. What we're doing is wrong, isn't it?" Black Mage No. 12: "Wait. Isn't that better than to stop functioning?" Black Mage No. 69: "......" Black Mage No. 12: "C-Come on, let's go back." Black Mage No. 69: "Turning off that trap again? I still don't understand how you do it." Black Mage No. 12: "You basically have to turn them all on. You're just thinking too hard. Let's go." [Regent Cid watches them walk off, then enters the room they left.] Regent Cid: "That must be the key they were talking about !" Narrative: Get the key! Press the (O) button to go forward. [Cid gets the key and does the minigame (see DP03 for full details) and gets up to the hourglass.] Regent Cid: "Just have to turn this upside-down ! Now, everyone should be alright !" [In the cells, the party that was left behind walks out.] Eiko: "I thought I was a goner! Thank goodness we made it!" Regent Cid: "Aha! You all made it !" Eiko: "!? Huh? You saved us?" Regent Cid: "And it wasn't easy, mind you... But we've no time to celebrate ! I heard from two black mages that there's some kind of trap up ahead. They said you basically just have to turn them all on, whatever that means . Let's hurry!" Eiko: "That's right! We can't just rely on Zidane! We have to work together until Zidane gets back! We can do it if we stick together!" [The party runs through the palace corridors, lighting candles and removing bloodstones. At the last candle:] Voice: Intruder alert. Defense system activated. Initializing automatic countermeasures. Transferring from observation to attack mode." Eiko: "Huh? That's not Kuja's voice! Who's there!? Come out and show yourself!" [A battle begins with Valia Pira, and ends with its destruction. The party lights the last candle, and hops on the new teleportation pad.] Narrative: Meanwhile... [Zidane is just arriving back in the place on the Hilda Garde 1.] Zidane: "Finally made it back. Well, no rest for the wicked! I gotta get movin'! [The party gets on a teleport pad and ends up somewhere unfamiliar.] Zidane: "What the... Where are we now? Did I take a wrong turn?" [Kuja's voice rings out.] Kuja: "Welcome back... I'm inside the room past the stairs. But I want you to come alone, Zidane. Alone." Steiner: "It is surely a trap! Proceed with caution!" Zidane: "Yeah, tell me about it. I'll be okay! You guys just wait here." [The door opens for Zidane in the next screen.] Kuja: "Come inside..." [Kuja's there.] Kuja: "I'm so happy to see you again, Zidane." Zidane: "My friends better be alright!" Kuja: "Oh my! Blunt as always, I see... Take a look in there." [In the hole in the floor, four "party members" lie unconscious.] Zidane: "!!!" Kuja: "No need to worry. They just needed some rest, that's all. Now, give me the Gulug Stone..." [Outside, in the teleportation room, the three party members pace the halls.] Steiner: "...... I wonder how the others are doing... Why, if something happened to the princess, I don't know what I would do!" Freya: "!!!" Steiner: "!!!" [The rest of the party members come in on a teleportation device.] Eiko: "Huh? Where's Zidane?" Steiner: "He went alone to Kuja's chamber. But how did you escape?" Regent Cid: "Actually..." Eiko: "There's no time! We gotta go stop Zidane! [Everyone races into the room, with Eiko bringing up the tail-end. The door closes as she tries to enter, though, and she runs into it.] Eiko: "Aaa! What the heck!?" [Zorn and Thorn sneak up behind her... Inside Kuja's Room:] Kuja: "Now, give me the Gulug Stone..." Zidane: "You bastard! You're the worst scum alive!" Kuja: " I grow weary of your tantrums. Well, will you hand it over or not?" Vivi: "Don't give it to him, Zidane!" [The party runs in.] Zidane: "Huh!? So, who's inside this cage?" Kuja: "Oh dear, I wasn't expecting this. That's right, the ones inside are fake! But don't think you've won yet." Zidane: "What do you mean by that?" Kuja: "Hehehe..." [Eiko yells from the hall.] Eiko: "Aaa! Leave me alone!" Zidane: "Eiko!" [Regent Cid yells, too.] Regent Cid: " I'll protect you!" [One of the jesters says:] Jester: "What a freak! This frog can speak!" Jester 2: "Frog that goes squish, you'll make a fine dish!" Regent Cid: "...Ungph!... ...... ......" Zidane: "Aw, man... Hey!!" [Kuja uses his magicks to take the Gulug Stone from across the room.] Kuja: "I wanted to finish you off after getting the Gulug Stone and killing all your friends... Instead, I'll just take the girl. I hope we meet again." [Kuja teleports out of the room.] Zidane: "Arrg! It won't respond." Freya: "He plans to flee in the Hilda Garde!" Zidane: "Let's get him!" [Zidane selects his party and runs after Kuja, finding the hangar empty. He runs to the path previously blocked by a black mage.] Zidane: "Dammit! He got away!" Regent Cid: "We can still follow him in the Blue Narciss!" Zidane: "Great minds think alike! Let's go, people!" [The Hilda Garde cruises to the Lost Continent, with the Blue Narciss hanging out of sight in its wake. Onboard:] Blank: "He headed toward some weird-looking structure." Freya: "Is there anything beyond there?" Zidane: "What the hell is Kuja up to...? Why did he take Eiko?" Regent Cid: "His motives are unclear ... That girl can summon eidolons, too ?" Zidane: "Yeah. That's it! He's probably after her for the same reason he was after Dagger!" Dagger: "......" Zidane: "Don't worry, Dagger... We're not gonna let him have his way. Kuja's got a lot to answer for." =========================================================== 41. Mount Gulug (MG01) =========================================================== [The party runs into Esto Gaza, which is at the foot of the mountain. The town, which was fairly full before, is now deserted for the most part.] Bishop: "What do you beggars want? You are in a holy place. Keep the noise down. Hmph! Just like all the other pointy-hats! No manners at all." Zidane: "Hey, mister, what did you just say? Have you seen some guys that look like my friend here?" Bishop: "How dare you address me so! I am the priest of Esto Gaza, the holy place in which you stand. Mind your tongue, child. Are you in league with that brazen crew?" Zidane: "Tell me where they went! Was there a little girl with them? My friend's life is in danger! Tell me what you know, now!" Bishop: "All life is equal. The living will return to the stars. Through the Path of Souls of the Shimmering Island." Zidane: "What are you talking about? Didn't the black mages have a girl with them?" Steiner: "How dare a man of the cloth turn a blind eye to evil!" Bishop: "I just watched them. Besides, they didn't do anything wrong. They barged in, hundreds of them! So, that was the dreaded black mage army... They headed straight for Mount Gulug without even looking at me." Zidane: "Mount Gulug?" Bishop: "An enormous volcano that went extinct in the days of old. Legend has it that a race of great moles once lived within the caverns. But that was a very long time ago. No mortal has entered those depths ever since the entrance was mysteriously sealed. They passed through here and went straight for Mount Gulug." Zidane: "And? What about the girl?" =========================================================== 41. Mount Gulug (MG01) =========================================================== [The party descends into the depths, and eventually finds a path that overlooks a would-be extraction ceremony about to take place.] Vivi: "Zidane, it's Eiko! Kuja and the black mages are there, too!" Zidane: "Eiko! That must be the extraction spell!" [Down below, Zorn and Thorn start up their chant.] Zorn: "Eidolon of eternal life!" Thorn: "Eidolon of infinite powers!" Zorn: "Arise from they eternal slumber!" Thorn: "Depart after thy endless wait!" Zorn: "Let there be light!" Thorn: "Let there be life!" Zorn: "The time has come!" Thorn: "The time is now!" [Up above, Dagger runs in and sees the scene.] Dagger: "!!! ..." Zidane: "Wait, Dagger!" Dagger: "!!!" Zidane: "We all know how you feel, Dagger, so leave this to us... Okay?" Dagger: "..." Zidane "C'mon, let's do it! [The party runs off and Dagger just watches. Back below, Zorn and Thorn look at Eiko.] Zorn: "That was odd." Thorn: "Odd, that was." Zorn: "We failed again!" Thorn: "Again we have failed!" Zorn: "Did you make some mistake?" Thorn: "Make mistake, I did not! Yours, the mistake must be!" Zorn: "I made no mistake at all!" Thorn: "The truth, do you speak?" Zorn: "Of course, I speak the truth!" Kuja: "Will you two just shut up!?" Zorn: "I-It's his fault!" Thorn: "H-His fault, it is!" Zorn: "The one who messed up is you!" Thorn: "You're the one who messed up!" Kuja: "I said shut up! I don't want to hear excuses! I sense power from within her. Continue the extraction!" Zorn: "Continuing further will endanger the subject's life!" Thorn: "Only at the age of sixteen can eidolons be extracted!" Kuja: "You two just don't get it! I need an eidolon more powerful than Alexander! An eidolon with the power to bury Garland! His powers are so incredible; I cannot even come close. I must destroy him before Terra's plan is activated, or my soul will no longer be my own! Who cares if she lives? I want that eidolon!" [Zorn and Thorn watch Kuja walk away, then approach Eiko. Mog hops out and knocks 'em back.] Mog: "Kupo!" Zorn: "Where did that come from?" Thorn: "You, get out of our way! [The moogle persists.] Zorn: "Master!" Thorn: "Master!" Mog: "Kupo...!" Kuja: "Well!?" Zorn: "Her pet moogle is interfering with the extraction process!" Thorn: "Certain are we that it caused the failure!" Kuja: "Kill the runt! We're running out of time!" Mog: "Kupo...!" Eiko: "Mog... No, Mog. Hide behind me... Mog? What is it?" [Mog starts to float.] Mog: "Eiko, thank you for everything." Eiko: "Mog, what are you saying?" Mog: "Don't worry, kupo. I will always be with you, kupo." [A bright light ensues. From the passageway, Zidane hears Eiko yelling.] Eiko: "Mog!" Zidane: "This way!? Whoa!" [The light stops Zidane from entering. Eiko watches Mog start to glow.] Eiko: "Mog!" Zorn: "We will put you to death!" Thorn: "Put you to death, we will!" [Zorn and Thorn attack Eiko and the Trance (!?) Mog.] Mog: "Eiko! Use Terra Homing, kupo!" Eiko: "Okay!" [Eiko blows Zorn and Thorn away with her most powerful (and new) summon.] Mog: "I wanted to be by your side, Eiko...so I became Mog. Don't worry. I'll always watch over you, kupo." [Mog disappears and Zidane runs over to Zorn and Thorn's silent bodies.] Zidane: "!!! Eiko, are you okay?" Eiko: "I'm alright. Mog saved me... I never knew that Mog was an eidolon. She always looked after me...disguised as a moogle. Even though... even though she was weak... She fought her best to protect me." Zidane: "So that's what happened..." [Eiko looks up and catches Mog's ribbon.] Eiko: "Mog's ribbon... Mog..." [Receive: Ribbon] Zidane: "It's alright, Eiko. Mog'll always watch over you." Eiko: "You're right..." [Kuja walks into the screen.] Kuja: "How can that--That moogle went into a Trance!?" Zidane: "Kuja!" Kuja: "So...an eruption of anger against one's surroundings induces a complete Trance! It's not the will to live, nor is it the desire to protect another!" Zidane: "Man, you're really goin' off! Hello!?" Kuja: "That means...I simply need a powerful soul, even if that soul is not my own! No, wait... And it can be found there! Hahahaha!!" Zidane: "Kuja! What are you plotting?" Kuja: "I am done with you!" Vivi: "W-Wait a minute!" Zidane: "Vivi! Look out!" Kuja: "Don't worry, I hear these twins put on quite a good show. Of course, they're really not twins at all..." [Kuja leaves.] Vivi: "Wait! What about the black mages?" [Vivi runs off.] Zidane: "No, Vivi! It's too dangerous!" [Zidane attempts to run after, but Zorn and Thorn's lifeless bodies thump the ground and startle him.] Zidane: "Whoa!" Eiko: "Zidane, something's wrong." Zidane: "I thought we defeated them!" [The two rise up and mesh, becoming Meltigemini; the party defeats them anyway. Vivi walks over with some mages afterwards.] Zidane: "Vivi, where's Kuja? Did he get away!? Vivi?" Vivi: "Everyone knew he was lying...but they still followed him. He said that our life spans can't be extended, and that we were fools for believing him." Zidane: "What!? Kuja said that?" Black Mage No. 78: "I-I'm so sorry...for all I've done..." Zidane: "You guys don't have to apologize. Where are the others?" Vivi: "They were so shocked to hear it, they're all sitting down over there. Zidane! What am I supposed to tell them!?" Zidane: "Vivi... Hey, Vivi, where're you going?" Vivi: "All I can do...is just sit with them." [Vivi leaves with the mages.] Zidane: "That bastard! When I get my hands on him--" Woman: "Pardon me, but is someone there?" [Zidane runs into a room where a woman is.] Woman: "Who might you be? Where has that...Kuja gone?" Zidane: "Oh, him. He split, lady." Woman: "What? You chased him away? I know not who you are, but you have my sincere gratitude." Dagger: "..." Woman: "Could this be...Princess Garnet? Why is it! It is you!" Dagger: "..." Woman: "Oh, how long has it been! I haven't seen Your Highness for ages! Why, look how you've grown... So, whatever brought you to this dreadful place?" Zidane: "Who is this lady? What's a friend of yours doing here, anyway?" [The frog regent runs in.] Regent Cid: "Oh! My darling Hilda! I finally found you !" Hilda: "I do not remember ever marrying a toad." Regent Cid: "I-It's me ! Cid!" Hilda: "Of course, that mustache... It really is you!" Regent Cid: "Hilda, come back to the castle and return me to my former self !" Hilda: "Dreadfully sorry, my sugar cup, but I surrendered your favorite airship to a man named Kuja." Regent Cid: "Forget about it ! As long as you're alright !" Hilda: "Oh, my sweet froggy-woggy!" Eiko: "So, uhh... You know Kuja? I'm gonna make him pay! Please tell me all about him!" Hilda: "Very well, my dear. I shall tell you everything once we reach Lindblum." =========================================================== 42. Lindblum (LB04) =========================================================== [The party goes back to Lindblum, and the regent and Hilda talk in private in the royal chamber.] Regent Cid: " Kuja didn't touch you, did he?" Hilda: "His soul was filled with hate, but he was polite to me. He just talked an awful lot." Regent Cid: "What about? " Hilda: "Well, he divulged his master plan to me. I didn't even have to ask. It was tiresome. But what he spoke of... It was truly a scene from a nightmare." Regent Cid: "What did he say?" Hilda: "That he was not of this world. He said his aim was to use this world to acquire an even more destructive power... The taking of Hilda Garde 1 was a part of this process." Regent Cid: "We must tell Zidane about this! You have valuable information!" Hilda: "Which lead me to believe that my abduction wasn't a part of his plan. He was a hopeless narcissist, but... But at least he wasn't a skirt-chaser, like you." Regent Cid: "...Ugh! You just hit me where it hurts most. I'm sorry about that! That's why I risked my life to rescue you!" Hilda: "Oh, really? Are you sure you weren't there to take back Hilda Garde 1?" Regent Cid: "I'm not lying! I apologize! So please turn me back! I'm sick of being an oglop or a frog! I'll never cheat on you again! I promise!" Hilda: "...Can your words be trusted?" Regent Cid: "I don't lie! I swear on my father's name!" Hilda: "Alright. I'll turn you back. But it's going to be much worse if you ever cheat on me again!" Regent Cid: "I...I understand. Now turn me back!" Hilda: "Maybe I'll turn you into a hedgehog pie." Regent Cid: "Erk... P-Please, no! Now turn me back!" Hilda: "Alright, alright." [She gives him a kiss and the Regent is back to his old mustache'd self.] Regent Cid: "Finally... Ribbit! I'm human again! Gwok! Now I can concentrate on building Hilda Garde 3! ......" Hilda: "......" Regent Cid: "...D-Darn it! I must stop that." Hilda: "Dear... Regent Cid: "I'm sorry about everything, Hilda." [Cue the embrace!] Dagger: "Zidane..." Zidane: "Hmm...? Dagger?" Voice: Mr. Zidane... [A guard wakes Zidane up from a Dagger dream.] Zidane: "Why are you calling me 'Mister' Zidane...?" Soldier: "Mr. Zidane! Please get up!" Zidane: "! Oh, it was just a dream... What's up?" Soldier: "Lady Hilda is calling a meeting. Please go to the conference room." Zidane: "Okay. I just wish I could've dreamt a bit longer..." Soldier: "Huh?" Zidane: "Oh, it's nothing. Don't worry about it. [Zidane walks to the conference room upstairs. Everyone is there except Dagger. Zidane looks at the mustached man on the throne.] Zidane: "Who's that guy?" Freya: "...It's Regent Cid." Zidane: "WHAAAT!?" Regent Cid: "...Still hasn't got any manners. Ribb-- ...... Ahem! Still haven't learned your manners!" Zidane: "You can stop the frog-talk now." Regent Cid: "S-Silence! Ribbit!" Zidane: "...Oh well." Regent Cid: "Ugh... I didn't gather you all to talk about that." Hilda: "I called for this meeting to tell you about what I learned while in Kuja's captivity." Regent Cid: "It may provide a hint about where he may be. Listen carefully." Steiner: "...I don't see the princess. I shall look for her." [Steiner retreats.] Regent Cid: "I will begin constructing Hilda Garde 3. The Blue Narciss will be used for its construction. Now, Hilda will tell you the rest. Hilda?" Zidane: "So? What did Kuja discuss with you?" [Cid leaves.] Hilda: "Some parts of the story may be hard to believe, but please hear me out. ...Kuja plans to use this world as a means of acquiring an even greater power." Zidane: "Greater power? What would he do with it?" Hilda: "I don't know... He indicated that he wasn't of this world." Quina: "!!!" Vivi: "!!!" Eiko: "!!!" Freya: "!!!" Amarant: "!!!" Zidane: "What?" Hilda: "We call our world Gaia. But he called his birthplace Terra." Freya: "Terra, huh...?" [The ATE 'Team' plays.] Hilda: "This Terra seems to be connected with a place called the Shimmering Island." Zidane: "I don't know where Kuja went, but maybe we can find him if we go there..." Hilda: "...Unfortunately, you can't get directly to Terra from the Shimmering Island." Amarant: "Of course you can't. Everyone would've discovered this 'other world' by now if it were that easy." Zidane: "So, what do we do?" Hilda: "...I'll tell you. The gateway that connects the two worlds is sealed, but Kuja said there is a place where the seal can be broken." Zidane: "Where's that?" Hilda: "He said it's an old castle located in the northern area of the Forgotten Continent. An explorer left a record of his trip to this particular castle on the Forgotten Continent. If I remember correctly, he wrote that the cliffs were too steep to explore. Other than that, very little is known about the Forgotten Continent... Well, since this castle doesn't have a name, let's call it Ipsen's Castle." Zidane: "Ipsen's Castle, huh...? Yeah, we don't know anything about the world beyond our continent." [The ATE 'Recovery' plays.] Hilda: "...That's all I heard. You may find a clue if you go to Ipsen's Castle." Eiko: "Did you ask Kuja about all of this?" Hilda: "These are things he discussed voluntarily. He became very impassioned as he spoke... And he volunteered information without even my asking. He probably thought telling me his plans wouldn't affect his grand scheme." Amarant: "He's right. His power is great, but we're at a disadvantage." Vivi: "But I can't forgive Kuja! He toyed with my friends' lives!" Zidane: "Now we know where we need to go. The problem is getting there. I guess we'll have to wait until Cid finishes building Hilda Garde 3..." [Steiner runs in.] Steiner: "Zidane! I bring troubling news!" Zidane: "What? What now?" Steiner: "I cannot find the princess! I've looked all over Lindblum! The members of Tantalus aided me in my search, but..." Zidane: "She's not in Lindblum? ...Then there's only one place." Steiner: "Do you know where she is?" Zidane: "I think so... You guys wait here in Lindblum. I'll be right back." [Zidane runs off to...Alexandria!? Members of Tantalus are also there, running around the streets.] Cinna: "Ahhh! Where are you guys going!?" Zenero: "We're gonna look for Dagger!" Benero: "Is there anyone else we need to look for?" Cinna: "No! But we looked there already! Go someplace where we haven't already looked!" [Cinna runs off.] Zenero: "Cinna's so demanding..." Benero: "True, true..." [They follow him. By the mini-theater, Blank and Marcus see Ruby.] Blank: "Hey, Ruby!" Ruby: "Blank! Marcus! How y'all doin'?" Blank: "We're doing alright. How's show business, Ruby?" Ruby: "Well, the money ain't no good, but I'm havin' fun. I like it." Blank: "That's great! Our hideout in Lindblum got completely destroyed. It's gonna take a miracle to fix the place." Marcus: "Bro, we better..." Blank: "Oh! Sorry! We came to Alexandria for a reason. Have you seen Dagger?" Ruby: "Dagger...? Naw, I ain't seen her. What about her? You fixin' to kidnap her again?" Marcus: "No, we're just looking for her this time." Ruby: "I was only kiddin', Marcus. I'll ask the patrons to be on the lookout." Blank: "Thanks, Ruby!" [They run off.] Ruby: "I wonder if Zidane is here with these good ol' boys...?" [At the castle, Zidane sits by the empty gondola dock.] Zidane: "This is strange... I was sure that she'd be back in Alexandria... Where else can I look?" [Baku appears.] Baku: "Hey, Zidane! I've been lookin' for ya!" Zidane: "Boss! Have you found Dagger?" Baku: "Nah... Can't find her anywhere! I didn't find Dagger, but... I think I saw that chick..." Zidane: "That chick?" Baku: "Yeah, you know, that chick! I'm gonna check again." Zidane: "Hey, wait! Who is she? What are you talking about!?" [Zidane follows Baku down to the harbor.] Zidane: "Where are you going, Boss? Is she here?" Baku: "She was standin' over there just a second ago..." Zidane: "Over there...? !" [Beatrix walks into sight on a pier below.] Zidane: "Is that who I think it is?" [Zidane runs down there, but Beatrix isn't there anymore.] Zidane: "Hey!" [He runs to a different place and sees her back in the same spot.] Zidane: "Ah, over there!" [He runs down there and she's gone...] Zidane: "Where did she go...?" [Beatrix walks up by Baku.] Baku: "Still alive, eh?" Beatrix: "You are...Baku?" Baku: "Yup, I'm the man who abducted yer princess!" Beatrix: "Let us forget about that. It happened a long time ago..." Baku: "You got a big heart, unlike that knucklehead, Steiner. No wonder the women are runnin' the show here. Gwahahaha!" [Zidane runs up.] Zidane: "Boss! You must've seen Beatrix! Hey!" [They all talk by the gondola dock later.] Beatrix: "As you can see, Alexandria was completely destroyed... Steiner and I did our best to protect Alexandria... ...but our efforts were in vain." Zidane: "Steiner was worried about you. Why haven't you contacted him? Dagger's still in shock. She's been mute ever since the attack." Beatrix: "She is...? Then it is better for her not to return to this city for a while... It won't do her any good to see Alexandria like this..." Zidane: "Well, here's the thing... We can't find her. I thought she'd be back here, but I can't find her anywhere." Alexandria: "She is back in Alexandria? But she's nowhere to be found...? Have you looked in the resting place?" Zidane: "'Resting place'?" Beatrix: "Yes, if she is back in Alexandria, I am certain that she will be there. ...There are a couple of favors I'd like to ask you... If you see Princess Garnet, please tell her not to worry about Alexandria... She must take care of herself first." Zidane: "Sure. What else?" Beatrix: "I'd like you to give something to her." [Receive: Garnet] "Maybe it will help the princess get through this time of uncertainty..." [Zidane walks up the stairs to the resting place later on, and finds Dagger standing in front of her mother's memorial.] Zidane: "I've been looking for you, Dagger." Dagger: "Zidane!" Zidane: "You can talk again!?" Dagger: "I... I've been thinking since...the disaster. I've been thinking that I have to become a queen and bring back peace to Alexandria. That's why I came back here, but... Can I stay with you guys for a while longer?" Zidane: "Can I ask why?" Dagger: "When my mother was still alive... My primary concern was how to talk and look like a princess. Those were the only things on my mind... That didn't change when my mother died and I was about to become a queen... I only thought about how to look and act like a queen. I don't think the people will accept me as their queen the way I am right now." Zidane: "I don't know about that." Dagger: "I have no right to rule over this country..." Zidane: "Hmm... Oh, I almost forgot! Beatrix wanted me to give this to you." [He tosses it to Dagger.] Dagger: "Is this...a garnet?" Zidane: "That's right... Isn't it pretty?" Dagger: "It's beautiful..." Zidane: "That gem used to be just another ordinary stone... The stone made a wish... 'I want to shine!' The stone traveled from person to person, in keeping with its wish... And now, it's shining in your hand, Dagger. If you're willing to make an effort... You'll shine, too, someday! The day will come when Alexandria needs you! There's no rush. The important thing is to have the desire." Dagger: "Thanks... I have to apologize for using you guys as an excuse to run away from my responsibilities..." Zidane: "Hey, what's important is that you honestly want to stay with us..." Dagger: "Zidane...? Can I borrow that knife again...?" Zidane: "Which one?" Dagger: "The one that helped me make my last big decision..." [She snatches it from him and tosses up in the air like pro.] Dagger: "I'm borrowing this! Zidane... Remember the way I was...for me." [Dagger runs down the steps, leaving Zidane behind. FMV. Dagger uses the knife to cut her hair short, kinda like a right of passage into womanhood. In Lindblum, the Hilda Garde 3 lifts off from the dock and flies out into the sky successfully. Dagger and Zidane get onboard eventually.] Eiko: "Wh-Wh-Wh-What happened!? What happened to your hair!?" Steiner: "P-P-Princess!!! What have you done!?" Eiko: "I know! Zidane broke your heart, didn't he!? How dare he--" Steiner: "I-I-Is that true!?" Zidane: "Whoa, hold on. Don't jump to conclusions!" Dagger: "Zidane's right, Eiko." Steiner: "!?" Eiko: "Dagger! You can talk again?" Dagger: "Yes... I'm sorry I made you all worry." Eiko: "It's okay, but your hair... It was so beautiful." Dagger: "Short hair doesn't suit me?" Eiko: "Oh, no. You look great!" Dagger: "Thanks, Eiko." Zidane: "It's still too early to celebrate... Erin! You know our destination." Erin: "Yes, Ipsen's Castle on the Forgotten Continent!" Zidane: "That's right. We'll go there to find out how to enter Terra through the 'Shimmering Island.'" Dagger: "I'm sure we'll find out more about what's going on once we reach Terra." Zidane: "Yeah... And hopefully, we'll learn about what Kuja wants to achieve..." Erin: "The location of Ipsen's Castle has been marked on a map based on Lady Hilda's information. Please check by pressing [SELECT] after we depart! You can also press (><) on the bright spots on the map, and the ship will take you to those locations automatically. You can check how to maneuver the hsip automatically by pressing (/\) while the large map is open!" [A sailor walks up.] Crew Member: "Excuse me! Please let me know if you'd like to switch out your party members! I shall assist you in any way that I can during your journey." Zidane: "You don't have to be so formal. Let's just relax and enjoy our flight." [On the world map, the navigation screen opens:] -Airship Navigation- (><) : Forward (/\) : To the deck ([]) : Reverse (O) : Disembark [SELECT] : Switch navigation map [L1][R1] : Camera control [L2] : Align camera [The party heads to the castle in question, on the continent far away.] =========================================================== 43. Ipsen's Castle (IC01) =========================================================== [The party walks to the old castle which, strangely, is built like a mirror image of itself across a horizontal axis -- in other words, the bottom looks like the top...] Zidane: "Is this the old castle Hilda told us about? What a strange- -looking place... Like it's upside-down or something... Alright, I'll take 3 of you with me. The rest of you secure this spot." Amarant: "...Hey, Zidane." Zidane: "...? What's up, Amarant?" Amarant: "I work alone. Always have, always will. I don't know why you bother carryin' dead weight all the time." Zidane: "What's your point?" Amarant: "I'm sayin' working alone beats working in a team any day, and I'm gonna prove it. Hilda said there's some key here to break the seal, am I right?" Zidane: "Yeah." Amarant: "Let's see who finds it first. I'll be going by myself, of course." Steiner: "Amarant! You selfish, ignorant fool!" Zidane: "Calm down, Rusty." Steiner: "B-But...!" Zidane: (What should I do?) R1 --> Let him go R2 --> Don't let him go R1: "...Okay. I don't know what you're thinking, but if that's what you want, it's okay by me." Amarant: "Well, aren't you an agreeable fellow?" R2: "...Sorry, I can't let you do that." Amarant: "That's too bad. I'm going anyway." Zidane: "......" Amarant: "Well, see you later." [Amarant leaves.] Freya: "...Are you sure about this, Zidane?" Zidane: "What can I do? I can't change the way he thinks. Let's get going, everyone! We'll beat Amarant at his own game!" [Zidane forms his party and sets inside. They finally get to the mural room, but Amarant has beat them to the punch.] Zidane: "!" Amarant: "You're late, Zidane, and I'm the winner. See how much you lose by working with others?" Zidane: "...Have you figured out how to break the seal?" Amarant: "Take a look at that wall. Maybe you can figure it out. But it's no longer my concern." Zidane: "What do you mean?" Amarant: "I proved myself right. I don't need to follow you around anymore. We may be enemies next time we meet... See ya." [Amarant walks out.] Eiko: "Ugh! Who does he think he is!?" Zidane: "...It's his way. We can't change him." [Zidane goes up to the mural and finds four mirrors on it.] Zidane: "Let's see... ...? There's something written on it. 'My power is protected underwater, surrounded by the earth.'" [Receive: Water Mirror] [Zidane goes to the next one.] Zidane: "Let's see... ...This one, too. 'My power is protected high atop a fiery mountain.'" [Receive: Fire Mirror] [Zidane goes to the next one.] Zidane: "Let's see... And this one... 'My power is protected behind a tornado.'" [Receive: Wind Mirror] [Zidane goes to the next one.] Zidane: "Let's see... That means... This one, too. 'My power is protected under the shaking ground.'" [Receive: Earth Mirror] [Zidane runs back to his party.] Zidane: "Well, looks like we got what we came for. Let's go." Freya: "Were those writings in a language only you can read?" Zidane: "Yeah, they were the same as the ones I saw at Oeilvert... Like Hilda said, those things on the wall must have something to do with the seal. Let's think about that later. We need to get out." Voice: "M-Mirror... Return...to me..." Zidane: "Who's there?" [A large clawed monster appears.] Monster: "Energy flow...interrupted... Energy to...Terra... You dare get in the way of Terra's master plan...?" Zidane: "Wh-What is this!?" Monster: "My name...is Taharka. Return...my mirrors..." Zidane: "You should say please when you ask for things." Taharka: "Fool! You'll regret this..." [Taharka attacks but, for a guardian, is repelled like an insect.] Taharka: "One is all, all is one... You'll never break the seal..." [Taharka's dying body disappears. The party heads back to the court with the moogle. Eiko almost steps in a trapdoor.] Eiko: "Ahhh!" Zidane: "Hey! Are you okay?" Eiko: "O-Of course I'm okay!" Freya: "How clever. We must have activated a trap when we reached the top." Zidane: "Well, I'm glad you're okay. Let's go. They're waiting for us outside." [They run back to the outside screen.] Zidane: "Hey, sorry to keep you all waiting." Dagger: "You win, Zidane. You came out first!" Zidane: "What? What happened to Amarant? He was waiting for us at the top and left as soon as we got there! I thought he took off! Is he still inside...? You guys wait here. I'm gonna go look for him." [Zidane heads inside and soon hears a--] Voice: "Uh..." Zidane: "Who's there!?" Voice: "Uh..." Zidane: "Who's there?" [Amarant is lying on his back near a drop-off.] Amarant: "Zidane...? Why did you come back...?" Zidane: "Amarant? What happened to you?" Amarant: "Answer my question... I told you we might be enemies next time we met... Or did you come back to mock me?" Zidane: "You say some strange things. The guys outside told me that you hadn't come out yet. That's why I came here looking for you." Amarant: "We don't have anything to do with each other anymore... You don't have anything to gain from this. Or do you? I don't understand you. I don't understand the way you think..." Zidane: "Who cares about what I have to gain? You need help right now." Amarant: "You don't care...? You're willing to put yourself at risk to save me?" Zidane: "Come on. We've helped each other many times since we joined forces. You're a part of the team. That's all that matters. I don't know why I'm doing this, but I can't just walk away. It goes against my nature." Amarant: "And that's what being part of the team means...?" Zidane: "Isn't it? Come on, that's enough talk. Let's get outta here!" [They head back to the entrance.] Zidane: "Listen up, everyone. Let's sort out what we found in the castle. On top of this castle is a mural, a map of the world. There were 4 mirrors on the mural. The writing on the mirrors was in the language only I can read. 'My power is protected under the shaking ground.' 'My power is protected behind a tornado.' 'My power is protected high atop a fiery mountain.' 'My power is protected underwater, surrounded by the earth.' I'm sure the mirrors are pointing us to the locations that help us break the seal. What the monster said before he perished was a clue about the seal... 'One is all. All is one.' Meaning, there is a connection between these 4 seals..." [The party gets back on the Hilda Garde.] Dagger: "So, what do we do? Are we going to take each location one by one?" Zidane: "'One is all, all are one'... We're going to conquer all 4 locations at once." Eiko: "We're not going together like we always do?" Zidane: "No. I'm going to drop off two of us in each location." Eiko: "I see... Hey, I'll go with Dagger!" Zidane: "What? Why...?" Eiko: "It's called 'ladies first,' Zidane! And we girls have things to talk about!" Zidane: "Uh-huh. Is that okay with you, Dagger?" Dagger: "Sure, but... Where are we going first?" Zidane: "Well... The nearest location would be..." Crew Member: "One of the locations you mentioned is just south of us!" Zidane: "Oh, you were listening to us?" Crew Member: "I've been a sailor for a long time! I'm confident in my sense of direction. 'My power is protected underwater, surrounded by the earth.' The location must have something to dowith water; why not go there first?" Zidane: "Alright... Thanks for your help." Crew Member: "Please don't hesistate to ask me if you forget your destination! And please remember to equip yourselves properly while we are onboard!" Zidane: "You can relax, buddy. You're beginning to sound like someone I know." Steiner: "?" Zidane: "Alright, Erin! Let's go!" Erin: "Yes, sir! Now departing!" [The party flies south to the nearest shrine, that of water.] =========================================================== 44. The Four Shrines =========================================================== [Zidane, Eiko, and Dagger drop down onto the temple in the whirlpool.] Zidane: "Are you gonna be okay by yourselves?" Dagger: "You're the one who suggested we split up." Eiko: "What? Don't you trust me and Dagger?" Zidane: "It's not that I don't trust you..." Eiko: "Hmph! You just wanted to pair up with Dagger!" Dagger: "You better get going. We need to take all points simultaneously." Zidane: "You're right..." Dagger: "Where are you going next, and who are you going to drop off?" Zidane: "'My power is protected atop a fiery mountain.' I think I'll ask Freya and Amarant to take that location." Eiko: "Alright, now, get going! Don't make us ladies wait!" Zidane: "I'll be back to get you guys soon!" [Zidane leaves.] Eiko: "Well, now that the men are gone, we can do all the girl talk we want!" Dagger: "...Girl talk?" [Zidane's team flies to the volcano on the Lost Continent, and the two to depart meet with Zidane in the engine room.] Crew Member: "We're going to overheat!" Zidane: "Just a little closer!" Freya: "Zidane! The heat is going to kill the engine if we get any closer!" Zidane: "Okay... When we get closer to the volcano, you two head to the shrine's entrance." Amarant: "...Why do I have to go with her?" Zidane: "Oh, sorry. Did you want to go with Eiko?" Amarant: "......" Zidane: "Good luck!" [The two depart.] Zidane: "Alright, the next destination is...'protected behind a tornado.' Pairing up Steiner and Quina seems like a bad idea... I think I'll ask Vivi to babysit Steiner." [The party flies to the Wind Shrine on the Forgotten Continent.] Vivi: "W-Wow, the wind is strong..." Zidane: "It's the wind shrine, so it's protected by strong gusts... Be careful not to get blown away!" Steiner: "There is no need to worry! Master Vivi, just follow me." Vivi: "O-Okay..." [Vivi stands behind the armor-heavy Steiner.] Steiner: "See? There is nothing to fear!" Vivi: "Really?" [Vivi steps out from behind the lee side of Steiner and almost blows off of the ship. Steiner runs to him.] Steiner: "Master Vivi!" Zidane: "You're okay because you're wearing armor." Steiner: "Let us move forward, Master Vivi!" [They leave.] Zidane: "Are they gonna be okay...? But I'm with Quina. I should worry more about myself. We should check our equipment and see what blue magic Quina can use... 'My power is protected under the shaking ground,' huh...?" [Zidane and Quina go down to the Earth Shrine, near the Kiera Desert.] Zidane: "Let's get going..." Quina: "Ah, Zidane. You want go with me!" Zidane: "Well... I sort of got stuck with the leftovers..." Quina: "You no have to explain! I so happy." Zidane: "Huh?" Quina: "There old saying in my tribe... 'Leftovers good!'" Zidane: "...Let's hope we find good things in this cave." Quina: "Is probably full of good food!" [They walk in a ways.] Quina: "Is no one here... Is empty." Zidane: "Yeah... Huh?" Quina: "What wrong?" Zidane: "Did the ground just shake...?" [The floor panels start moving up to trap the party, but they jump over them. The view switches to Eiko and Dagger.] Eiko: "This place is creepy..." Dagger: "It's too quiet..." Eiko: "They probably got scared of us and ran away!" Dagger: "I hope so..." Eiko: "Aaargh! I hate it when you fret like that! That's why I always worry about you!" Dagger: "Wh-What are you talking about?" Eiko: "Oh, nothing. I just have a lot of things on my mind..." Dagger: "...... !? Look out!" [Dagger dive-tackles Eiko so she doesn't get crushed by a large chunk of ice. The view switches back to Zidane and the Qu.] Quina: "Aiyaaa! We almost flat like pancake!" Zidane: "I hope there aren't too many more of those. Dagger... Please be safe..." [View switch to Eiko/Dagger, again.] Eiko: "W-What the--" Dagger: "It's a trap! Be careful..." Eiko: "Aaah!" [She dodges another one.] Dagger: "Let's go, Eiko!" [The view changes back to the Earth Shrine party.] Quina: "Aha! Is place to put mirror." [Zidane approaches the indentation.] Zidane: "I'll place the mirror right here..." Voice: "I've been waiting for you..." Zidane: "!?" [The view switches to the Fire Shrine party.] Freya: "That was too easy... It must have been disappointing for you." Amarant: "......" Freya: "Now, I'll place the mirror here..." Amarant: "!? Freya, stand back!" [A large monster pops up where she was just standing.] Freya: "!?" Fire Guard: "It's just as Kuja said... He said I should expect intruders." [At the Earth Shrine party, a large skull-faced monster descends.] Zidane: "Are you under Kuja's command!?" Quina: "He not good person! Why you work for him?" Earth Guard: "No... We are the guardians of Terra..." Zidane: "Guardians of Terra...?" [At the fire shrine:] Fire Guard: "Yes, we are the guardians of Terra. Filled with the power of Terra itself..." Freya: "What is Terra!?" Fire Guard: "We did not become guardians to chat with mortals... We derive pleasure from ending your worthless lives..." Amarant: "Just to prove how powerful you are..." Fire Guard: "So you understand. But will that knowledge help you?" Amarant: "Foolish." Fire Guard: "What?" Amarant: "Picking fights with strangers in a place like this... I used to know someone like that. He was a loser... He refused to find beneficial ways to use his power. Instead, he'd seek out people to fight..." Freya: "Amarant..." Fire Guard: "What...are you talking about?" Frea: "We'll show you what he means!" Fire Guard: "Interesting...but you'll regret this!" [In the Wind Shrine, Vivi and Steiner are fleeing from a dragon boss.] Vivi: "Ahhh!!!" Steiner: "Grahhh!!!" Wind Guard: "Finished already? Such weaklings." Steiner: "You...!" Vivi: "He's too fast! I can't target him with my magic. We can't take him on with just the two of us..." Steiner: "Master Vivi! A true man never gives up in a fight!" Vivi: "But..." Steiner: "We can defeat this monster if we work together!" Wind Guard: "So? Which one of you will perish first?" Steiner: "Silence! I shall vanquish you!" Vivi: "What!?" Steiner: "...Master Vivi, I shall attempt to hold him down. You attack him with your magic while I hold him down!" Vivi: "But...what if I miss the target...?" Steiner: "I trust you, Vivi." Vivi: "...Okay." Steiner: "AAAAAAAAARGH!!!" [The two lunge into the fray; meanwhile, Zidane and Quina speak to the skull-faced freak.] Earth Guard: "Kuja told us there'd be eight rats..." Zidane: "Sorry, it's just the two of us. Did you have a feast prepared?" Quina: "You no worry! We eat everything." Earth Guard: "Ah, so you're attempting to conquer all 4 shrines at once... How futile." Zidane: "We'll see about that!" Quina: "Must try eating before we give up!" Earth Guard: "What will you lower life-forms do on Terra?" Zidane: "We won't know until we get there!" Quina: "Must eat to find out what taste good! Is my lesson from traveling around world." Earth Guard: "Good... I shall show you the true meaning of fear!" [The party kills the Earth Guard. Zidane places the mirror.] Zidane: "All done!" Quina: "I wonder if everything okay?" Zidane: "Yeah, I'm pretty sure they're waiting for us by now." Quina: "Right! We go back to airship now." [They leave the shrine. The view switches to Eiko and Garnet.] Eiko: "Fresh air! Finally! Zidane is unbelievable... Asking us ladies to fight a monster like that... Oh my gosh!!!" Dagger: "What's wrong, Eiko?" Eiko: "Oh, I completely forgot! And we're all alone, too!" Dagger: "Wh-What is it?" Eiko: "There's a question I need to ask you! I've been waiting for a chance to ask you for longest time! Give me an honest answer, okay?" Dagger: "Well, you have to ask the question before I can answer..." Eiko: "...Do you love...Zidane...?" Dagger: "Wh-What? Why...?" Eiko: "You have to answer me! Do you love him or not? Hey, it's the airship! Zidane's back!" Dagger: "......" Eiko: "Did you just say something, Dagger?" Dagger: "Let's go, Eiko!" Eiko: "H-Hey, wait! That's not fair!" [Everyone is on the airship now.] Zidane: "Well, now that we've got everyone, we can head to Shimmering Island... Hey, Amarant. I didn't know you were here." Amarant: "So we'll go to Shimmering Island, then to Terra?" Zidane: "Yeah. It's near Esto Gaza. It won't take long." Amarant: "...... Tell me something... What motivates you to do this?" Zidane: "What motivates me...?" R1 --> I do everything for Dagger R2 --> To find out what Kuja is after R3 --> I don't know R1: "I do everything for Dagger! Why would I be doing this if not for her?" Amarant: "...Too embarrassed to answer the question seriously?" Zidane: "But I AM serious! It's true, man. What's the deal? Why so serious all of a sudden?" Amarant: "I don't understand you..." Zidane: "There's no fun in figuring things out right away!" R2: "I want to find out what Kuja is after. I also want to know more about the planet Terra..." Amarant: "Can't resist the urge to step into an unknown world, huh...?" Zidane: "What, you think I'm going there just to satisfy my curiosity?" Amarant: "Am I wrong?" Zidane: "No, I guess you're right." R3: "I really don't know." Amarant: "You don't even know why you do the things you do?" Zidane: "I didn't say that. Maybe I do it because I don't know what motivates me. To understand something is interesting, but what's already understood is boring. I'm sure we'll understand something when we go to Shimmering Island and go to Terra." [Zidane leaves.] Amarant: "I'm beginning to understand why he won and I lost... I lost against his way of thinking..." [The party heads to the Shimmering Island.] =========================================================== 45. Shimmering Island (SI01) =========================================================== [The party rides the Hilda Garde above the island.] Crew Member: "Master Zidane! I'm showing abnormal readings!" Erin: "It feels like the ship's getting sucked in!" Steiner: "Zidane! It might be dangerous to keep going!" Eiko: "Are we gonna bust in on the airship!?" Zidane: "All we know is that this is the entrance..." Dagger: "I heard the people of Esto Gaza call it the 'Spirit Road'..." Zidane: "The path that leads the souls to Terra..." Dagger: "Maybe it's a teleportation gate, like the one in Kuja's hideout..." Erin: "Mister Zidane! We're going to get sucked in! What shall I do!?" Eiko: "What now, Zidane? We may not be able to turn back!" Zidane: "Alright, then..." R1 --> Keep moving forward! R2 --> Let's pull back for now! R1: "Keep moving forward! We're going out on the deck!" Eiko: "What do you mean?" Zidane: "If Dagger is right, we can jump into the teleporter!" Dagger: "From this height!?" Zidane: "We'll be fine! Considering all that we've been through, this is nothing!" R2: "Let's pull back! We need to get equipped before we go." [After seeing R1, an FMV plays. The Hilda Garde rides into the soul's gate and the party floats off the deck into the gate. It's kinda reminiscent of some 2001: A Space Odyssey scenes, actually... After that, they end up in a strange place...] Zidane: "Could this be...Terra? What's this light? Could it be... !?" [The man in black last scene on the Invincible (Garland) appears near where Zidane stands.] Old Man: "So you finally came. The time has come at last... The one who folds time is here." Zidane: "Who the heck are you!?" Old Man: "Ask my name, will you? Then let us ask... What is your name?" Zidane: "Me!? My name is--" Old Man: "What is your name?" Zidane: "Hey, what's your problem!? I'm trying to tell you my name." Old Man: "So you believe a given name has meaning... Boy, you have been bewitched by the light of the blue moon." Zidane: "What do you know? You must be from Terra." Garland: "You know nothing, and that is all. Come and see for yourself... See what Terra is, and what you are..." Zidane: "H-Hey, hang on!" [Garland disappears.] Zidane: "He's gone..." Voice: "Zidane!" [Dagger appears.] Zidane: "Dagger! Are you alright?" Dagger: "Yes. Everyone's fine. Come, let's hurry..." [Zidane picks his party and sets down the road. He spies a girl.] Zidane: "!? Hey...!" [She flees; he follows. In the next screen he finds her...] Zidane: "!? Hey, wait up!" [...but she runs off again. In the next screen:] Zidane: "...? What's your problem...?" [He gives chase again.] Zidane: "Where'd she go?" [He finds her after climbing down some webs.] Zidane: "Who are you?" Mysterious Girl: "You don't remember anything, do you?" Zidane: "!?" Mysterious Girl: "Follow me, and you will understand us. ...and maybe your own heritage as well." [She runs off.] Zidane: "Hey, wait! Hold on a sec! [Zidane runs ahead, and the girl beckons him to go on and see Terra for himself. The party walks up some steps.] Zidane: "What the heck...? What is this place?" Dagger: "It looks so artificial. So different than before." Zidane: "Yeah... But it doesn't seem very lively." Mysterious Girl: "Welcome home." Zidane: "!?" Mysterious Girl: "This is where you belong. The place to which you shall offer yourself... ...is here." Zidane: "Hold on a second! What the heck are you talking about!? Wh-What the--" [FMV. The Invincible rises up near the two. Dagger stares up at the hideous eye that destroyed Alexandria and Madain Sari and faints.] Zidane: "Dagger! Wake up! Dagger! Dammit! What the heck is going on!?" [On a blacked-out screen, the mysterious girl says:] Mysterious Girl: "You are completely oblivious. Just like a newborn child. You don't know why you were given life, or for what purpose you exist... You simply shout to emphasize your life...your own existence. You are completely oblivious." [The screen opens again and Zidane runs up the steps.] Zidane: "We gotta find a place for her to rest!" Steiner: "Zidane! Leave the princess to me. You must go reconnoiter at once!" Zidane: "Yeah, you're right. There's gotta be some place around here... Watch over her, Steiner! I'll be right back! =========================================================== 46. Bran Bal (BB01) =========================================================== [Zidane runs into town and sees a lot of monkey-tailed people like him.] Zidane "!? Wh-What's going on? Everyone has a tail...and their hair is just like mine!" [Zidane goes into an inn nearby.] Zidane: "This looks like a good place for Dagger to get some rest. But...what's up with everyone here? They're all so...stiff. I dunno why...but I have a bad feeling about this place. Well, first things first. I gotta bring Dagger back here!" [Meanwhile, Eiko is running around town, talking to monkey-tails who are ignoring her.] Eiko: "'Scuse me... Do you have any medicine...? ... Hello... Is there a place I can buy some medicine around here?" Person: "..." Eiko: "Hello!? I'm asking if you have any medicine! Ngaaa! How come this place is full of weirdos? Everyone has a tail like Zidane... Aww, if I could only find some Pimo-pimo herbs, I could make some wake-up powder for her... But is this my lucky day? No! Huh!?" [Eiko looks at the girl who led Zidane into Terra.] Eiko: "Found ya! You're that girl, right? It's your fault Dagger collapsed, you know... Oh, never mind. Say! Do you have any medicine at all?" Girl: "She will soon awaken." Eiko: "How do you know?" Girl: "Where is your man?" Eiko: "M-My man? MY man!? Are you talking about Zidane!? Even I never called him that! But too bad for you! He and Dagger are super hot for each other! You don't have a chance with him." Girl: "Tell him I am waiting in the underground laboratory." [She walks away.] Eiko: "Oh, the nerve! What makes you think I'd tell him that!? Hey, where do you think you're going!? What a bimbo! Uh-oh! I don't have time for this!" [She runs into the inn. Meanwhile, the party's already inside, waiting on Dagger to wake up.] Zidane: "Dagger..." Steiner: "Princess... Why must you suffer more...? Zidane: "Dammit!" Freya: "What is the matter, Zidane? You haven't been yourself at all." Zidane: "What the heck do you mean, I haven't been myself...?" Freya: "..." Zidane: "I'm sorry... I don't even know what's wrong with me. I just...I just can't concentrate with this blue light..." Dagger: "Ah... Uhhh..." Steiner: "Princess! You have awoken!" Freya: "What made you lose consciousness so suddenly?" Dagger: "I remembered." Zidane: "Remembered what?" Dagger: "It wasn't a storm that destroyed Madain Sari. It was...it was the eye on that airship that destroyed Madain Sari. You remember, don't you? The eye was also there when Alexandria was leveled." Freya: "Yes, there was a large eye in the sky above from which light emanated." Zidane: "Now that you mention it... It was there when Bahamut went wild at the Iifa Tree." Dagger: "Yes... It was there in the sky. It must be the same airship." Steiner: "WHAT!? Then that must be the ship that slew Her Majesty..." Zidane: "Rusty!" Steiner: "Oh... I-I'm sorry, Princess!" Dagger: "Don't worry about it! I've already come to terms with that. That ship took everything from me... It took away my parents, my homeland, Alexandria...everything." Freya: "How terrible..." [Eiko runs in.] Eiko: "Dagger! Are you alright?" Dagger: "Yes, I'm fine..." Eiko: "No, you're not! You're still pale! You gotta rest! Hmm? How come everyone looks so pale? What's wrong?" Freya: "No need to be concerned. A strange place such as this is cause enough for exhaustion." Eiko: "Oh... Hey! Where are you going, Zidane? Oh, that's right! That weird girl! The girl that led us here said something strange again! She said she was waiting for you in some underground laboratory! What a pervert!" [Zidane walks off.] Eiko: "Zidane?" [Zidane goes down to the laboratory.] Zidane "..." [He sees people similar to him in test tube stasis.] Zidane: "Oh, so that's what's going on... Geez, I should've guessed... So, that is what you wanted to show me?" Girl: "Yes. I am glad you understand." Zidane: "I don't wanna understand! Sorry, but I'm not like that. I mean all these guys with tails, who look just like me... They're a bunch of zombies." Girl: "They are my peers. We are Genomes. We live in this village." Zidane: "Genomes? Is that what they're called?" Girl: "Not just them, but you and me, too. It is the name of the seed given to all of us. Its name is Genome." Zidane: "Talk about a let-down. Who would've guessed that the home I've yearned for would be a dump like this. No wonder I never found it. It's not even on Gaia!" Girl: "Why are you not happy? You have returned to the place of your birth." Zidane: "Happy? You guys can process that emotion? Look at 'em! Look at all their blank faces!" Girl: "What can we do? After all, we are made that way. And we are built to watch over each other and work together as soulless Genomes." Zidane: "What's it all for!? Get to the point already! How come I grew up on Gaia if I was born here!? I'm alive! I have a soul! Why is everyone here so..." Girl: "Because you are...special." Zidane: "What!?" Girl: "We are mere vessels. You have been given a greater purpose. The will of Garland is absolute..." Zidane: "Garland? Who's that?" [Zidane follows her up to the meeting room.] Girl: "Garland watches over this planet. His mission is to restore the people of Terra." Zidane: "R-Restore the people of Terra? You mean people besides these guys here?" Girl: "They are merely vessels. So am I, and so are you. But the true people of Terra have been asleep for ages, waiting for their time to come. When the time is right, the light of this planet will change from blue to red, and Gaia will become Terra." Zidane: "Wait a sec! So the people of Terra are out to take over Gaia!?" Girl: "What else can there be? Terra has always absorbed new planets to survive. And when the time comes, the souls of the people of Terra will occupy the Genomes. Such is the restoration of the people of Terra." Zidane: "Why do they have to be so tedious!? Why don't they just wipe us out with magic like they did Alexandria!?" Girl: "Once, Garland tried to use a more forceful method, but failed." Zidane: "Then he should just quit and leave Gaia alone!" Girl: "Because of his failure, he was forced to wait a long time. ...To wait until Gaia's civilizations gained tremendous power: The power to use eidolons." Zidane: "So that's why you attacked the summoner's village and destroyed Alexandria." Girl: "Planets have a cycle of souls. Souls are born from the planet, and then return to it. Garland planned to gain control of that very cycle... ...and you were supposed to help him achieve that." Zidane: "What!?" Girl: "Garland is waiting for you. Come..." [She walks off.] Zidane: "What do you think you're doing!? I don't care about all this Terra and Gaia stuff!" [The view changes to Eiko inside the inn.] Eiko: "Zidane isn't back yet. And with Dagger not feeling well... I wonder where he is." Dagger: "Eiko..." Eiko: "No, Dagger! You can't get up yet!" Dagger: "I'm alright. Listen, I want to ask you a favor." Eiko: "Oh? Just tell me, and I'll get right on it!" Dagger: "I want you to go find Zidane." Eiko: "Huh? Oh, sure. Okay. Oh, I get it! You're getting jealous!" Dagger: "No, I'm not... I just have a feeling something terrible is going to happen." Eiko: "Alright! I'll go get him. So you just stay here and rest!" [Eiko runs around town and goes to the hilltop past the green aura, finding the 'Girl' with Zidane.] Eiko: "Now, you listen to me! Where did you take Zidane?" Girl: "He went on his own to see Garland." Eiko: "Garland!? Oooo, THAT's a sinister name! But Zidane wouldn't just leave us hanging!" Girl: "He went... Yes, he went to find out the reason for his existence." Eiko: "Liar! That's a terrible lie!" Girl: "'I am an enemy of the people of Gaia,' he said as he walked through the gate to Pandemonium." Eiko: "! We-We gotta tell the others!" [Eiko runs off.] Girl: "Heaven grant the wandering souls eternal repose..." [At the gate to Pandemonium, Zidane appears.] Zidane: "So, this must be Garland's haunted mansion... Talk about bad taste in interior decorating. Alright... Time to teach this tyrant a thing or two..." [Zidane enters the 'haunted mansion.'] Voice: "So, we meet again." Zidane: "!?" [Garland appears.] Zidane: "Who are you!?" Old Man: "Twelve years ago, I lost one of my most prized Genomes. I created him and sent him to Gaia to disrupt the cycle of souls there. You are that Genome... I am glad you have returned." Zidane: "Shut up! Nobody tells me what to do! And I didn't come here to answer to you! Lemme guess... You must be Garland!" Garland: "And what if I am?" Zidane: "Then you're goin' down! But first, you're gonna tell me everything! Like, why did I grow up on Gaia, and why do you want to destroy it!?" Garland: "I have no intention of destroying Gaia. I only wish to make Gaia into Terra." Zidane: "What did you just say!?" Garland: "Of course, not everything went as planned. You growing up on Gaia, for example. There is another one built as you were. He may be the one who threw a wrench into my gears." Zidane: "He!? Who the heck are you talking about!?" Garland: "Someone you know quite well. Follow me... The time when the aura of Gaia will turn to the crimson glow of Terra has not yet come. I may need your help anyway." [Zidane follows him into the next screen.] Zidane: "Stop! Now, tell me everything!" Garland: "I constructed the Genomes to be vessels for the souls of the people of Terra when they awaken. But 24 years ago, I gave life to a Genome that was very much like you. His will was too strong to make him into a proper vessel, and I even considered discarding him. But then I thought that I should put his strength to use. I sent that Genome as my servant, to disrupt the cycle of souls on Gaia." Zidane: "Yeah, so tell me who he is already." Garland: "Do you not yet know? You and he are so very much alike." Zidane: "Alike? I've never met anyone like me..." Garland: "You judge only be appearances. I mean someone with a soul similar to yours. The one I sent to Gaia might also be called your brother... And his name is Kuja." Zidane: "Kuja!? He's a Genome!? Impossible! He doesn't even have a tail..." Garland: "He is only hiding it. He denies his own identity. He rejects the meaning of his own existence and tries to assert his own individuality. Don't you see the resemblance?" Zidane: "Shut up! I'm not like him at all!" Garland: "He said the same thing when speaking about the other Genomes: 'I'm not like these guys.'" [In the next screen:] Garland: "His ambition was unbecoming of a Genome, but it was perfect for the mission I gave him. To bring war and chaos to Gaia... That was what I sent him to do. To induce an unnaturally chaotic flow." Zidane: "So then, why--" Garland: "The disruption of the flow of souls is best brought about by war. And what he did for me far exceeded my greatest expectations." Zidane: "What about me!? How did I end up on Gaia?" Garland: "When you received the gift of life in Bran Bal, Kuja could not bear it. He could not bear to see a Genome with more power than his own; he felt threatened. Kuja discarded you. He dropped you onto Gaia, the world he would destroy." Zidane: "So I was to be slave, just like Kuja, to start a war on Gaia?" Garland: "That is correct. I did not expect Kuja to abandon you, but I believed it was his nature. And to him, bringing war to Gaia would prove his victory over you. Perhaps it is because of his desire to justify his existence that he let you live as well." Zidane: "So, that is why the blood of thousands had to be spilled?" Garland: "Are you referring to Kuja's ambition? Or to our plan to disrupt the cycle of souls?" Zidane: "Both! And what exactly do you gain by disrupting that cycle of souls, or whatever..." Garland: "We must sort the souls. I want to disrupt Gaia's cycle and drain its souls, filling the void with the souls of Terra. To speed the cycle of souls is to speed the work as a whole. Thus, war... And in time... Gaia's souls are gone, and Gaia becomes Terra." Zidane: "But...how!?" Garland: "You saw it with your own eyes. You saw the Iifa Tree and the Mist it emits. The role of the Iifa Tree is that of Soul Divider. The Mist you see comprises the stagnant souls of Gaia..." Zidane: "Oh yeah? But we stopped the Mist! So much for that!" Garland: "All you saw was the back of the tree... Even now, the Iifa Tree blocks the flow of Gaia's souls, while it lets those of Terra flow freely. Come and see for yourself. See the true form of this planet." [In the next screen, Zidane sees a picture of Gaia starting to redden.] Zidane: "What is this?" Garland: "Think of it as an observatory. A place to measure the radiance of Gaia and Terra." Zidane: "What are you talking about? And what is this weird light?" Garland: "That is the center of the planet. The end and the beginning of the cycle of souls. The light remains Gaia's for now, but when the blue changes to crimson, all will belong to Terra, and its restoration will be complete. That is why I wrapped up the light in the Iifa Tree, to prevent the cycle of the judgment of souls on Gaia from inside the planet. Such is the Iifa Tree's true purpose, its true form. All you saw was its material form. The flow of Gaia's souls cannot be changed by stopping the disposal of the Mist." Zidane: "So...Kuja is just an angel of death who sends souls to the Tree of Iifa." Garland: "Yes, my angel of death. But only until you came of age." Zidane: "What do you mean!?" Garland: "His soul is not eternal... I was going to create you next, after all." Zidane: "You mean you won't need Kuja's soul once I grow stronger than him?" Garland: "Precisely... Soon, that time will come." Zidane: "..." Garland: "Well...now you should be fully aware of the meaning of your existence... !?" [Zidane has jumped towards Garland's position, and is advancing to him by way of the stairs.] Zidane: "Yeah, I'm aware of all the laughter, all the tears I've shared with the people I grew up with on Gaia." Garland: "Forget all that. You are destined to live among the stars for all eternity. You have the power, the position, and the motive to do it." Zidane: "I wouldn't want that kind of power...if I only had a place to call home... My brothers in Tantalus, Vivi, Freya, Amarant, Quina, Steiner, Eiko, and...Dagger... My home is with them in Gaia! If you say I have a motive, then it's to punish all of you who brought pain to my friends! I'll destroy Terra! That's reason enough for my birth here as a Genome!" Garland: "Regrettable... I thought your soul would be perfect for a new angel of death..." Zidane: "I AM the new angel of death! Yours!!!" Garland: "Don't you know what it means to meet your maker?" Zidane: "Shut up! I've heard enough of your crap! I'm taking you out, right here, right now!" Garland: "Foolishness..." [Garland speaks, but only in Zidane's head (?):] Voice: The body becomes a vessel, which greets a new soul... [Zidane holds his head.] Zidane: "What's happening!?" [He collapses.] Garland: "He's too good to make into a regular Genome... But I have no choice." [Elsewhere in Terra, Kuja walks by a cliff.] Kuja: "Ungh... ...... I can't believe I actually returned to this place, but... Soon... Soon, the power will be mine alone. Mhwahahah... Just you wait, Garland! And you too, Zidane! I'll exact sweet revenge upon you both for insulting me! I'll make the people of both Gaia and Terra know who rules over all of them! Ha-Haha... Ahahahahahaha..." [Below, the Invincible starts to activate. Somewhere else, Zidane sits in a chair all alone in a dark room, in a subsconscious identity fight. A blacked-out screen denotes the nature.] Zidane: "Who am I? I don't know anything. I cannot think at all." Voice: "Zidane!" Zidane: "Yeah... I was called that once. Many people called me that." Eiko: "You always have to show off, don't you?" Zidane: "Yeah, maybe I do." Steiner: "Why, you worthless mendicant!" Zidane: "Yep... Sounds about right." Freya: "How very becoming of you." Zidane: "Becoming of me...?" Vivi: "I really learned a lot by traveling with you, Zidane." Zidane: "Yeah, right. I have nothing to teach..." Quina: "You teach me many things more important than tasty munchies." Zidane: "No! I don't know anything!" Amarant: "You call that friendship?" Zidane: "Friendship... Friendship...?" Dagger: "Zidane!" Zidane: "I don't know...who I am..." Dagger: "You were always there for me, Zidane..." Zidane: "I'm so... tired..." Dagger: "How come you're always so...?" Zidane: "I... I am...an...empty...vessel..." Voice: "Zidane!" Zidane: "Who?" Voice: "Wake up, Zidane!" Zidane: "Who...?" Voice: "Come on, Zidane, wake up! [The blacked-out screen fades and Eiko and Vivi are by Zidane.] Zidane: "Ow..." Vivi: "Zidane!" Zidane: "Vivi... Eiko..." Eiko: "Thank goodness, you're alive! We thought you were dead!" Zidane: "Oh... I..." Vivi: "We were so worried! Why did you come here all by yourself?" Zidane: "What...are you doing here?" Vivi: "Huh? We came to save you, of course..." Eiko: "And it wasn't easy! You went off all alone!" [Zidane starts to walk past them.] Zidane: "Leave me alone..." Eiko: "Huh?" Zidane: "This has nothing to do with you." Vivi: "Oh, come on!" Eiko: "There he goes, being the tough guy... Look, Zidane... It's not just about you." Vivi: "Come on, Zidane... Don't be like that. Let's--" Zidane: "Shut up! Just shut up, you stupid brat!" [Zidane walks through the door, but a portcullis prevents the other two from following after.] Vivi: "Zidane!?" Eiko: "Zidane..." Zidane: "..." Eiko: "Zidane, wait up!" Vivi: "You need rest, Zidane!" Zidane: "Will you little twits just shut up! There are some things kids can't understand." [Zidane is attacked by an Amdusias, but defeats it. Amarant and Freya arrive mid-battle.] Freya: "How foolish of you to go alone." Zidane: "..." Amarant: "Damn hypocrite. Always talking about friendship, when you're nothing but a selfish loner." Zidane: "I can take care of myself." Freya: "Come back, Zidane!" Amarant: "..." [Zidane walks into the next room.] Zidane: "!?" [Steiner's blown back by something.] Steiner: "Ngwah!" [Quina is, too.] Quina: "Aiya!" Steiner: "I will not be defeated so easily!" Quina: "Now I mad! I cook you good!" Zidane: "Steiner...Quina... What are you doing..." Steiner: "Have at thee!!!" Quina: "Taste this!!!" [The battle begins against an Abadon, which gets defeated, too. Zidane fights with them halfway through.] Steiner: "Hmph! What an unworthy opponent!" Quina: "Zidane, you no can leave us! I still want you take me place have lots good food!" Steiner: "And I have not yet concluded whether or not you are the right man for Her Highness, mind you!" Zidane: "Just...leave me alone. I don't want to trouble you anymore." Quina: "..." Steiner: "..." [In the next room:] Zidane: "You're all a bunch of babysitting bastards! But trust me, I know that I'm the worst bastard here." [A Shell Dragon attacks, but is defeated with some help from Garnet.] Zidane: "Dagger..." Dagger: "You try to do everything yourself, don't you?" Zidane: "Try to understand... I don't want to cause trouble to anyone." Dagger: "Aren't we your friends!?" Zidane: "I want to think so! That's why I always... Look, I'm not from Gaia! I was just a hairbreadth from becoming the destroyer of Alexandria! I can't accept your friendship so easily!" Dagger: "You've always protected us. But you still don't understand that we looked out for you, too! We watched your back while you watched ours. And we believed in you the same way you believed in us! Just like you protected us... We want to protect you." Zidane: "Dagger..." [The party starts to come in.] Quina: "You say it! My master tell me, somebody give you tasties, you give them tasties, too. Is good manners! I still not cook you succulent frog yet, Zidane." Zidane: "Quina..." Steiner: "Chivalry requires a knight to look after his comrades-in-arms. I will not abandon you! And I shall follow you to kingdom come if I must. You remember that!" Zidane: "Steiner... Ha... What am I gonna do with you guys?" Steiner: "The feeling is mutual!" Dagger: "Alright, let's go! Wait... Where are the four others?" Zidane: "You don't think...they've been trapped?" Quina: "Is possible..." Steiner: "You should not have left them!" Dagger: "That's right! I mean, really..." Zidane: "Aww... I'm sorry. Let's head back... Together, this time!" [The party walks back to that first room.] Freya: "!?" Vivi: "Zidane!" Eiko: "Zidane! Why did you leave us!?" Zidane: "I'm sorry... You were right... I need everyone's help." Vivi: "Don't leave us again, okay?" Zidane: "Never..." Freya: "So, you've had a change of heart." Amarant: "What a busy guy, coming and going all the time..." Zidane: "Yeah, but not anymore. We have to stop Garland..." Eiko: "Oh yeah, that's right! A moogle followed me all the way from Bran Bal!" Moorock: "Just tell me if you need to rest, kupo!" Zidane: "Alright! Now we can work our way out of this depressing castle!" Vivi: "'Cause we're all together now!" [The party regroups and sets off to the elevator. The ATE 'The Elevator' may or may not play during this. Eventually, the party will be asked--] Narrative: Go up one floor? {Y/N} [The party soon passes by a moogle who yells at them when they try to exit the area:] Mozme: "Danger ahead, kupo! Do you still want to go on, kupo?" {Y/N} [The party enters the next area and finds Garland.] Garland: "There's the observatory... You told me you'd become my angel of death... But think for a moment... Isn't life death itself? It must kill other life-forms to survive... Sometimes it even kills those with whom it shares blood... To live is to give life meaning, yet one must take others' lives to survive... A mature civilization becomes aware of this paradox... Terra's souls will sleep until they forget such nonsense. They will begin a new life in a new dimension. It's a world in which life and death become one... That is the dimension in which we are meant to live, as beings that transcend life and death! Zidane... I'll ask you one more time. Who are you!?" Zidane: "You're a sad man, Garland... We know more than you... We're not perfect, but we have friends who help us. That is reason enough for us to live!" [The three other party members give their say:] Eiko: "We live to protect the ones we love!" Quina: "I exist to eat, but also exist to live!" Amarant: "Blind pursuit of power is a meaningless vice." Vivi: "It took us a long time, but we've all found our way." Freya: "We live not to forget our past, but to learn from it!" Steiner: "I may not know who I really am, but that is my question alone to answer!" Dagger: "We may be weak, but that's what makes us work together and help one another!" Garland: "...Then show me! Lecture me again when you are on the verge of death!" [A Silver Dragon drops down and attacks, but gets smoked soon after.] Zidane: "Garland, tell me... What is it that you want to accomplish?" Garland: "The restoration of Terra! Isn't it obvious!?" Zidane: "No! That's what the people of Terra want. Why aren't you asleep with the rest of them?" Garland: "I was created to oversee Terra... I exist to wait for a time when this world is without life or death... I am the absolute controller of this planet!" [Garland attacks, but is rebuffed.] Garland: "You fight well..." Zidane: "Give it up, Garland!" [A weird red aura appears around Garland.] Garland: "!?" Zidane: "What the--" [FMV. The Invincible flies overhead, its red eye above Garland. You can guess who's piloting the thing...] Kuja: "Hahahahaha! This is too easy! The Invincible is mine! Now, I have the power to control all souls! Garland gave me everything without a fight. The old fool was too busy dealing with him. Now, only death awaits him. Poor Garland... Bitten by his own dog... This is no accident. Fate has chosen me to become the new ruler of Terra! Time for me to put on the finishing touches." [Kuja comes down from the ship to where Garland and Zidane are.] Kuja: "I must say... I truly love you all. You not only broke the seal to Terra, but did me the favor of defeating Garland! Zidane... You are truly an extraordinary Genome, deserving of my love!" Zidane: "What are you doing here, Kuja!?" Kuja: "That's not a very nice way to greet your brother." Zidane: "Shut up! You're not brother of mine!" Kuja: "Oh, such ferocity... Master Garland, he intends to fight Terra." Garland: "Kuja... What are you scheming?" Kuja: "Scheming? Me? Watch me as I defeat these enemies of Terra! Come on, now! You may sleep alongside the souls of Terra. For all eternity!" [The party finally gets the chance to whoop up on Kuja...but...he goes into a Trance and knocks everyone out with a swift Ultima to the face.] Kuja: "Yes! This is the power I've longed for!!! The mighty power of souls! They assault any threat that tries to destroy them!" Zidane: "Wh-What do you mean...?" Kuja: "It's Trance! You know how it works. But a normal Trance won't be enough to defeat you... You're all as resilient as oglops. Even tiny moogles possess the power of Trance... When I saw that in Gulug Volcano, I came up with a plan. It was easy. I just needed to borrow the power from wretched souls that can't die... Where did I acquire it? It was the Invincible, or should I say, that large eyeball in the sky? The ship sucked up the souls of Madain Sari, the Iifa Tree, Alexandria, to feed upon them... When it fought Bahamut at the Iifa Tree, the Invicible drew in a powerful spirit... Can you guess to whom it belonged?" Zidane: "!?" Kuja: "Queen Brahne's soul! The soul of your mother! The souls trapped inside the Invincible welcomed me with open arms. They were fed up with being your prisoners, Garland. So, Master Garland. You are no longer needed. And after you've worked so hard... I shall rule Terra and Gaia with my unconditional love from now on..." Garland: "What will you do with such...power?" Kuja: "Master Garland... You, of all people, should accept defeat gracefully." [Kuja kicks him in the stomach.] Garland: "Gragh!" Kuja: "How sad... Any last words?" Garland: "Your power is...meaningless." Kuja: "..." [Kuja kicks him off the platform, into the darkness below.] Garland: "GRAAAHHHHHH!!!" Kuja: "Now, it's your turn... Should I kill you quickly to show my appreciation for all you've done? Or should I kill you slowly and painfully to show you my love... Oh, I've got a great idea! How's this? I'll make you pillars for my castle! You'll all decorate my castle as a symbol of my eternal kingdom... How do you like that?" Zidane: "No... Never!" Voice: "You could never build an eternal kingdom..." Kuja: "That voice... Garland!? Did you leave something behind?" Voice: "Do you think a defect like you could last forever...?" Kuja: "...What? What do you mean!?" Voice: "I built you to last only until the worthy Genome, Zidane, grew. It was too dangerous to let you last any longer than that." Kuja: "What are you saying...?" Voice: "There's a limit to your life... You'll be dead soon... Even as I die, you'll have died without ever leaving your mark on the world..." Kuja: "... H-Ha ha ha... What an interesting lie. You're telling me that my life will end soon? Ha ha ha... Nice try, Garland, but I won't fall for your silly tricks... Garland? ... Garland!? Answer me!" Voice: "You were created to destroy. You are a mortal..." Kuja: "A mortal...? ...I'm finished? I don't believe you! Why would I believe such a silly story! You're telling me that I'll die soon, now that I'm more powerful than anyone? I'm gonna...die!? Lose my soul...? Ha... HAHAHAHAHAHA! What comedy! Zidane, isn't it hilarious!? I'll die just like the black mages I so despise! I single-handedly brought chaos unto Gaia, but in the end, I'm nothing but a worthless doll!" Zidane: "Kuja... ...Kuja?" Kuja: "...I won't let it happen. I won't... I won't let this world exist without me!" [FMV. Kuja rises up into the air and starts firing his Ultima attack all over the place, destroying the landscape with ease. Zidane's party escapes in Kuja's madness.] Zidane: "Kuja... I can't believe him...!" Freya: "Zidane! We must escape before the tower collapses!" Zidane: "But how...? We need to carry the injured out, too." Freya: "We must seize that ship Kuja mentioned, the Invincible! It's docked at the bottom of the tower." Zidane: "Oh yeah... But... Alright, you guys head for the ship!" Freya: "!?" Zidane: "I'm gonna rescue the Genomes! They're victims. I just can't abandon them!" Dagger: "I'm coming with you!" Zidane: "Dagger!?" Dagger: "I don't want you to leave us again. So, I'll keep watch over you!" Zidane: "...Okay. We should be able to go back through the warp gate on the other tower! Dagger and I will head back to Bran Bal. You guys come get us on the Invincible!" [Zidane and Dagger head off, coming to a room.] Dagger: "Looks like a teleporter leading to the upper levels... It might take us back to Bran Bal." [An eyeball on the wall blinks at Zidane.] Zidane: "Ahhh!" Dagger: "What's wrong?" Zidane: "B-Behind you..." Dagger: "They're just eyes. It's okay. Let's go." Zidane: "Just eyes...? How very bold of you... U-Um... Dagger?" Dagger: "Yes?" Zidane: "Um... About what happened earlier..." Dagger: "What is it, Zidane?" Zidane: "Oh, geez... I feel like I'm being watched." Dagger: "Just say it! We need to hurry." Zidane: "Um... You came to my rescue, right? And... Uh... What you said to me... It made me really happy..." Dagger: "Zidane..." Zidane: "How can I say this...? Um... Thanks..." [The rest of the party exits via the elevator system.] Eiko: "Hurry! Hurry! This dinky old tower is gonna collapse any minute!" Quina: "...I no find good food on Terra. Maybe I eat eyeball over there..." Freya: "Quina, hurry up, or you'll be left behind!" Quina: "I happy we leave. No good food anywhere..." [Meanwhile, Dagger and Zidane come through the green hilltop gate.] Zidane: "I think we're still okay." Dagger: "Let's evacuate the Genomes!" [They run through the green gate into town.] Dagger: "Zidane, let's split up!" Zidane: "Yeah! I'll go this way! We'll split up when the Invincible arrives!" [Dagger and Zidane start talking to the nearest Genomes. Simultaneously, the party has just entered inside the Invincible.] Eiko: "My gosh... This ship is enormous!" Steiner: "Judging from our current position, I believe the bridge is that way!" Freya: "Hold it! Where is Quina!?" Eiko: "Aaargh! Is s/he late again!?" [Quina teleports up on some device.] Quina: "Ho ho ho! I arrive! I warp inside from bottom of ship!" Vivi: "Why were you underneath the ship in the first place...?" Freya: "Save it for later! We must get the ship moving!" [They all run to the bridge. Zidane goes down into the laboratory and finds the girl that had led him around before.] Zidane: "What are you still doing here!? We need to evacuate." Girl: "What's the point? They're only empty vessels..." Zidane: "Stop talking like that! Do you really believe what you just said!?" Girl: "...Unlike the rest of them, Garland gave me a soul, that I might replace you and Kuja. But Garland is dead. Terra will soon be destroyed. What's the point?" Zidane: "I asked myself the same question..." Girl: "Did you find an answer?" Zidane: "No... But maybe the point is to just try. It's gonna be hard...but I've got my friends. It isn't so bad." Girl: "..." Zidane: "Hey, what's your name?" Girl: "Huh?" Zidane: "Garland gave you a name, didn't he?" Girl: "My name is...Mikoto." Zidane: "Mikoto, huh? That's a nice name... A lot of people are gonna call you that from now on. You have to find the answer yourself. It'll be hard, but you can do it. Let's go to the new world, Mikoto! There, you can find your answer..." [Meanwhile, Freya and Dagger meet up.] Freya: "Dagger! Where is Zidane!?" Dagger: "He'll be here any minute! He's looking for the last Genome..." Zidane: "Sorry to keep you guys waiting!" Dagger: "Zidane!" Zidane: "Sorry I'm late. But now we got everyone." Freya: "Everyone on board, now! We must leave immediately!" [They rush onboard. FMV: The Invincible rises up out of Terra amidst a downpour of flaming debris. The ship emerges out of the planet and back onto Gaia. Back on the ship:] Zidane: "We made it..." Freya: "Yes, we managed to escape from Terra, but..." Zidane: "What's wrong, Freya?" Freya: "Well, I was talking to Amarant about it earlier..." Amarant: "You don't think this is the end, do you?" Zidane: "...Are you talking about Kuja?" Amarant: "Do you really think he perished with Terra?" Freya: "Even with his power, it's hard to believe that he'd have escaped unscathed..." Amarant: "What do you think, Zidane? What will Kuja do next?" Zidane: "...He'll probably try to destroy Gaia..." Freya: "But how?" Zidane: "There was one thing Garland said... Something about a tree that serves as a gateway of souls between Gaia and Terra..." Amarant: "That must be..." Zidane: "Yeah... It's the Iifa Tree." [Steiner emerges from the bridge.] Steiner: "Everyone! You must come look! Come with me!" Zidane: "What's up, Steiner? Can't you just tell us?" Steiner: "It would be faster to come see it on the bridge!" [Everyone runs to the bridge and sees a hazy view of...clouds?] Zidane: "What's up? They're just clouds." Dagger: "It's not a normal cloud..." Zidane: "What...? Let's lower our altitude and see." Steiner: "Don't you see? Our altitude is not very high. And this is all we can see!" Zidane: "Then what could it be..." Vivi: "It's Mist... It's what black mages are made out of, and what used to cover the Mist Continent..." Dagger: "The Mist...has covered all of Gaia..." Zidane: "Why...? How...? Kuja... What are you planning now!?" [Fade to black.] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- ###### # ###### ##### ###### ###### #### # ###### ## # # # # # ## # ## # ## # ## # # ###### # ##### ##### # ## # ## # ## # # # # # ## # ## # ## # ###### # ###### ##### ###### ###### # #### ###### ----------------------------------------------------------------------- =========================================================== 47. Black Mage Village (BM03) =========================================================== [The disc opens at the cemetary. Vivi runs to Mr. 288.] Vivi: "Thanks! They were uneasy at first, but I think they'll get along fine." Black Mage No. 288: "There's no need to thank me. You've done us all a great service." Vivi: "It wasn't a big deal... Well, anyway, everything's gonna be okay!" [Vivi runs off just as Zidane walks in.] Zidane: "Are you sure it's okay for them to stay here?" Black Mage No. 288: "Of course it is. So, this was Vivi's idea?" Zidane: "Yeah... He wanted the Genomes to start their new lives here." Black Mage No. 288: "We're similar in many ways... Maybe we can understand them better, and they might open up to us." Zidane: "Right... He also said... If you guys can get along with the Genomes, maybe humans and black mages can live alongside each other someday..." Black Mage No. 288: "Like you and Vivi..." Zidane: "I don't even know if I truly understood him until recently." Black Mage No. 288: "We'll take good care of them. Your friends are our friends." Zidane: "Thanks..." [In the stable, Eiko and a genome look at the baby chocobo with its handler.] Genome: "Is this a monster?" Black Mage No. 33: "He's a chocobo, not a monster. He's called Bobby Corwen." Eiko: "Oh, you gave him a name!" Black Mage No. 33: "Yeah. Bobby Corwen. Isn't it a great name?" Eiko: "Sounds great! Bobby Corwen, huh?" [The chocobo moves towards the Genome.] Genome: "!?" Black Mage No. 33: "I think Bobby Corwen likes you, too." Genome: "It won't bite?" Eiko: "Oh, come on! He's just a little baby chocobo." Genome: "!?" [The chocobo chases the Genome off.] Black Mage No. 33: "Bobby Corwen! No! Come back here! Wow. I think Bobby Corwen really likes our new friend." Eiko: "Can't you just call him by his first name...?" [Quina and a Genome look around the mages' item shop.] Genome: "Why do you display these items?" Black Mage No. 163: "Why...? For the customers, I think..." Genome: "What are customers?" Black Mage No. 163: "Well, they bring money, and they hand the money over to the shop, and then..." Genome: "What is money?" Black Mage No. 163: "Money is, uh..." Quina: "Why you care about small things? World very simple place. World only have two things: Things you can eat and things you no can eat." Black Mage No. 163: "......" [Outside, Amarant listens to a mage and a Genome converse by the pond.] Genome: "Does the water here ever stay still?" Black Mage No. 87: "...? Water flows, doesn't it?" Genome: "The water of Bran Bal was always still..." Black Mage No. 87: "Hey, did you know that time flows, just like water?" Genome: "So, water and time both flow in Gaia...?" [Freya walks by.] Amarant: "......" Freya: "Looks like they're off to a good start." Amarant: "Hmph... It's like watching kids play." Freya: "It's not their fault... They've only just begun to live their lives..." Amarant: "...Can lost time be recovered?" Freya: "I don't know... But there's only one thing we can do." Amarant: "Of course." Freya: "We must protect them from anyone who tries to take their time away from them!" [Dagger and Steiner stand by some villagers at the entrance.] Steiner: "Princess, is this what you really wish?" Dagger: "Hmm? What are you talking about?" Steiner: "Kuja must have done something in the Iifa Tree to cover the world in Mist... Do you not think it wise to consult Regent Cid before the final battle?" Dagger: "Kuja probably plans on destroying Gaia. If we go to Lindblum now and tell the regent about it, it might cause a panic. I'm sure everyone is apprehensive about the reappearance of the Mist... I need Uncle Cid to protect Lindblum right now." Steiner: "Indeed. We must defeat the enemy on our own..." Dagger: "Even if we go back to Lindblum to get equipped, please don't tell Uncle Cid about our plans." [Zidane walks over.] Zidane: "Are we ready...?" Dagger: "Yes. Let's go." Voice: "You haven't got a chance." [Mikoto walks over.] Mikoto: "You saw Kuja's power. He destroyed a world by himself... You don't even have a million in one chance of defeating him... You'll all die." Dagger: "......" Black Mage No. 24: "Wow! This girl knows lots of difficult words!" Zidane: "Doesn't she? She's a bit cynical, but take good care of her, will ya? Her name is Mikoto. She's kind of like my little sister." Mikoto: "Wha--" Zidane: "Mikoto! Listen to your big brother and make some friends!" Mikoto: "H-How silly!" Zidane: "We might be desperate insects to Kuja, but I'll show you how powerful we can be." Steiner: "'Even a fly lives for a day'!" Dagger: "I don't think that's what Zidane meant..." Zidane: "Let's go to the Iifa Tree! We won't let Kuja have his way!" [The party heads to the weird ball of light atop the Iifa Tree.] =========================================================== 48. Memoria (MM01) =========================================================== [FMV. Leagues of silver dragons blow out of the ball atop the Tree...] Zidane: "They're coming! !?" [...