This is a script for Tales of the Abyss (PS2) version 0.994 It has been transcribed from the game manually (by a handful of people). There may be some mistakes that have not been caught. Permission is granted for posting on the following sites only: Tales Forum (tales.namco.com) Any other site wishing to post this script should contact ladynadiad at aol dot com for permission. Please put in subject “Tales of the Abyss Game Script” Comments and such can be directed via email or to our thread on the Tales Forum http://tales.namco.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=52245 PMs on the Tales forum are fine also, username ladynadiad There is also a link to the temporary file for sidequests in this thread. Sidequests are still being worked on and not even halfway done yet, it will likely be posted when I finish the Nebilim quest, as that is one of the more important sidequests. I likely will need a fourth playthrough to finish this all off! _______________________________________________________________________ !!SPOILER WARNING!! _______________________________________________________________________ It should go without saying, but this document contains spoilers. Version List 0.99 – First version posted to GameFAQs, almost done and formatted 0.992 – Fixed the table of contents, as I noticed some would not lead to the right area. Added in Guy’s alternate dialogue at the beginning that happens if Luke is wearing Towel Boy of Wild Saber, fixed a few minor typos. 0.993 – Added one minor scene in Baticul, corrected some formatting and typos 0.994 – Found another slight difference in dialogue depending on costumes for 2nd Yulia City Visit. Thanks cjbookworm for finding it! _______________________________________________________________________________ >>> Table of Contents \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Section Ctrl+F ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:INT} Baticul – Another boring day {Sec:BA1} Engeve – How do we get home now? {Sec:EN1} Cheagle Woods – Those dang thieves! {Sec:CW1} St. Binah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:SB1} Fubras River – Let’s get to Kaitzur! {Sec:FU1} Kaitzur – Not much longer now! {Sec:KA1} Kaitzur Naval Port – Let’s get on that ship! {Sec:NP1} Choral Castle – We have to save the engineer! {Sec:CC1} Katsbert Ferry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:KF1} Chesedonia – Almost home! {Sec:CH1} Baticul – Finally home again! {Sec:BA2} The Abandoned Factory – The decoy {Sec:ABF} Desert Oasis – A nice rest? {Sec:DO1} Zao Ruins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:ZA1} Chesedonia – We delayed long enough {Sec:CH2} Kaitzur Naval Port {Sec:NP2} Deo Pass – Finally almost to Akzeriuth {Sec:Deo} Akzeriuth – Finally! {Sec:AK1} Yulia City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:YU1} Belkend – What is Van up to? {Sec:BE1} Ortion Cavern – The replica research {Sec:OC1} Yulia City – Luke recovers {Sec:YU2} Aramis Spring – Let’s get back before more happens! {Sec:AR1} Daath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:DA1} Daath Bay – Let’s get out of here! {Sec:DBY} Keterburg – The Tartarus needs some repairs {Sec:KE1} Theor Forest – We need to get to Grand Chokmah {Sec:THE} Grand Chokmah – Let’s go talk to Emperor Peony {Sec:GC1} St. Binah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:SB2} Sheridan – We need a way to fly! {Sec:SH1} Meggiora Highlands – Let’s get that hover drive! {Sec:MH1} Sheridan (Ginji saved) {Sec:SH2a} Sheridan (Ginji not saved) {Sec:SH2b} St. Binah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:SB3} Yulia City – Let’s find out what to do next {Sec:YU3} Shurrey Hill – Let’s save St. Binah! {Sec:SY1} Engeve – Not Engeve too! {Sec:EN2} Kaitzur – We need to stop this war! {Sec:KA2} Desert Oasis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:DO2} Zao Ruins – We have to stop the land from falling! {Sec:ZA2} Chesedonia – Saved! {Sec:CH3} Daath – Captured! {Sec:DA2} Baticul – The daring escape {Sec:BA3} Inista Marsh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:INI} Belkend – So where do we go from here? {Sec:BE2} Keterburg – Catch Spinoza! {Sec:KE2} Grand Chokmah – Dang it, we missed him! {Sec:GC2} Daath – Let’s get Ion {Sec:DA3} Sheridan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:SH3} Tataroo Valley – Off to get the measurements {Sec:TAT} Sheridan – We need to stop the vibrations {Sec:SH4} Baticul – We need to face the King {Sec:BA4} Grand Chokmah – Let’s talk to Peony about this {Sec:GC3} Daath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:DA4} Chesedonia – Astor should be included too {Sec:CH4} Yulia City – Let’s talk about what to do next {Sec:YU4} Sheridan – To the core at last {Sec:SH5} Sheridan Port – The attack {Sec:SHP} Belkend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:BE3} Meggiora Highlands – Another Sephiroth? {Sec:MH2} Belkend – Catch Spinoza! {Sec:BE4} Daath – There is a Sephiroth near the Cathedral? {Sec:DA5} Mt. Zaleho – A Sephiroth in a volcano {Sec:MZ1} Belkend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:BE5} Ortion Cavern – Where did Tear go? {Sec:OC2} Sheridan – Star needs a good home {Sec:SH6} Keterburg – Let’s speak with Nephry before Mt Roneal {Sec:KE3} Mt. Roneal – The last Sephiroth {Sec:MR1} Keterburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:KE4} Absorption Gate – The final showdown? {Sec:AG1} Baticul – One month later {Sec:BA5} Sheridan – Need to get the Albiore {Sec:SH7} Yulia City – What could Asch be doing? {Sec:YU5} Daath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:DA6} St. Binah – We missed Asch again! {Sec:SB4} Shurrey Hill – We need to find Asch {Sec:SY2} St. Binah – Meeting up with Jade {Sec:SB5} Grand Chokmah – What could have happened {Sec:GC4} Baticul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:BA6} Daath – It’s back! {Sec:DA7} Mt. Zaleho – We need to save Ion! {Sec:MZ2} Belkend – Following Ion’s Score reading {Sec:BE6} Mt. Roneal – After Asch…again {Sec:MR2} Baticul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:BA7} Chesedonia – Let’s find that Scorer? {Sec:CH5} Yulia City – Let’s report about Mohs {Sec:YU6} Isle of Feres – What is that moving island? {Sec:FER} Eldrant - Dang it, we can’t get it! {Sec:EL1} Grand Chokmah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:GC5} Cheagle Woods – The final showdown {Sec:CW2} Yulia City – Let’s talk to Teodoro about the summit {Sec:YU7} Tower of Rem – We need to stop Asch! {Sec:TR1} Daath – Luke’s heavy decision {Sec:DA8} Tower of Rem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:TR2} Baticul – Let’s report back about the miasma {Sec:BA8} Yulia City – So how do we stop the Planet Storm? {Sec:YU8} Absorption Gate – He’s back! {Sec:AG2} Daath – Let’s drop this kid off! {Sec:DA9} Radiation Gate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:RA1} Grand Chokmah – An argument with Asch {Sec:GC6} Chesedonia – The night before the final battle {Sec:CH6} Eldrant – The end, at last! {Sec:EL2} FAQ Thanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:THX} _______________________________________________________________________________ >>> List of Skits \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ There's 518 skits in the Keterberg viewer. Over 400 concern the plot. Of these, 356 have been included here to place them in "the right spot" in the story. There is already an FAQ on GameFAQs with skit transcripts. Many of the skits here have been copied from there. This document uses the same skit-numbering as the FAQ, but the skits do not appear in monotonically increasing order. Skit Ctrl+F ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ `Another Boring Day' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK001] `Sword Training' [SK002] `Tear's Purpose' [SK004] `This Place...' [SK006] `Going Home' [SK003] `You Could Always Camp Out' . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK007] `Impressions of Engeve' [SK010] `I Should've Asked' [SK019] `Who's Jade...?' [SK018] `An Ordinary Boy?' [SK009] `Homework' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK017] `To the Cheagle Woods!' [SK008] `About the Cheagles' [SK011] `More About the Cheagles' [SK012] `The Cheagles' Diet' [SK016] `Playing With Fire' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK015] `Jade's True Strength' [SK013] `Mieu's One of Us!' [SK014] `Unfair Treatment' [SK020] `The Tartarus' [SK021] `Fighting for Our Lives?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK022] `Fighting for Our Lives' [SK025] `The Six God-Generals' [SK026] `Hurry!' [SK028] `What Are They Trying to Do?' [SK023] `Luke's Grand Adventure' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK027] `Luke's Diary' [SK044] `Kill Or...' [SK030] `Is Anise Safe?' [SK029] `Let's Rejoin Anise' [SK031] `The Oracle Knights' Objective' . . . . . . . . . . [SK032] `What a Team!' [SK035] `What Kind of Girl...?' [SK033] `Watch Out for Water' [SK039] `Natural Disasters' [SK037] `To Kaitzur' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK038] `Asch the Bloody' [SK041] `An Ordinary Little Girl?' [SK040] `A Lovers' Quarrel?' [SK042] `The Border' [SK043] `Arietta Attacks!' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK047] `What's He Writing About?' [SK045] `To Go or Not to Go' [SK048] `To Choral Castle' [SK049] `Children' [SK050] `Who Needs Memories?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK051] `Dream Plans?' [SK055] `Guy's Feelings' [SK053] `The Mystery Machine' [SK052] `What are the Six God-Generals After?' [SK054] `How to Cure Guy?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK058] `The Oracle Knights Again' [SK057] `Look At All That Water!' [SK059] `I'll Be a Hero...!' [SK060] `Almost Home!' [SK062] `The Center of Trade' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK063] `Where is Astor?' [SK066] `Analyzing the Fon Disc' [SK061] `The Oracle Knights Attack!' [SK065] `Impressions of Baticul' [SK067] `The Letter' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK068] `The Upper-Class?' [SK069] `A Sword with a History' [SK078] `What a Wonderful Mansion!' [SK077] `To the Castle' [SK071] `Van Imprisoned' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK072] `Luke and Van' [SK073] `Taking Precautions' [SK074] `Just Ask Guy' [SK075] `Baticul Is Huge!' [SK076] `Keeping Secrets' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK081] `Natalia, the Seventh Fonist' [SK160] `The Princess' Guards' [SK079] `Natalia? The Leader?!' [SK080] `Be Careful!' [SK085] `Asch Revealed' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK083] `Ion's Safety' [SK082] `Where are the Zao Ruins?' [SK088] `Jade Knows Everything' [SK093] `Handling a Princess' [SK094] `Asch's Voice' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK087] `Showers Are Awesome! - Guy Talk' [SK096] `The God-Generals' Plan' [SK090] `A Memorable Character' [SK092] `Hurry to Akzeriuth' [SK089] `Ion Rescued' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK091] `Luke's Headaches' [SK097] `Guy's Injury' [SK099] `What We Can Do for Akzeriuth' [SK103] `Mohs and the War' [SK098] `Akzeriuth's Ore' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK105] `Careless Words' [SK102] `The Road to Akzeriuth' [SK106] `Stop Making Fun of Me!' [SK104] `A Kind Teacher' [SK107] `What I Can Do' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK109] `Tragedy' [SK108] `The Mining Town, Akzeriuth' [SK116] `The Pain of Akzeriuth' [SK112] `Into the Depths' [SK113] `Where's Master Van?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK114] `As the Goodwill Ambassador' [SK110] `Master Van Will Know!' [SK115] `What Happened...?' [SK117] `Van's True Intentions' [SK118] `Responsibility' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK119] `Luke and Asch - Part 1' [SK120] `Asch's Miscalculation' [SK121] `Back to the Outer Lands' [SK122] `Thinking of Luke' [SK124] `Searching for Van's Tracks...' . . . . . . . . . . [SK123] `Forbidden Technology' [SK125] `They All Went with Asch...' [SK127] `Guy Leaves' [SK126] `Memories' [SK134] `A Promise Fulfilled' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK129] `A Mysterious Facility' [SK130] `Watch Your Mouth!' [SK131] `Luke's Worries' [SK132] `Thinking for Myself' [SK135] `Lost Technology' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK138] `Starting a New Journey' [SK136] `Why Did You Stay?' [SK137] `Cheagles Never Forget' [SK146] `The Yulia Road' [SK140] `Has Luke Changed?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK141] `No Matter What the Score Says...' [SK142] `A Harsh Greeting' [SK143] `Daath' [SK145] `To Daath!' [SK144] `Finding Anise' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK147] `Regaining Trust' [SK148] `Twisted Love?!' [SK158] `Anise Gets Things Done' [SK149] `Protecting the Score' [SK152] `The Oracle Headquarters' . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK156] `Ring the Gongs!' [SK157] `We Meet Again' [SK154] `Tear's No Spy' [SK153] `Asch, Friend or...?' [SK155] `The Tartarus Takes a Beating' . . . . . . . . . . . [SK159] `Cruising in Style' [SK166] `The Emperor's Love' [SK163] `Children Caught Up in Politics' [SK161] `Looking for Love' [SK164] `Errors and Excuses' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK165] `The Movements of the Oracle Knights' [SK168] `Rising Tensions' [SK170] `Hide and Seek' [SK169] `Guy's True Feelings' [SK171] `Anise in a Bad Mood' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK172] `Go, Luke!' [SK179] `The Reborn Hot-Blooded Idiot' [SK178] `I Will Never Forgive Dist!' [SK180] `Ion, the Big Gun' [SK181] `Guy's Little Hobby' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK182] `Save Ginji!' [SK183] `Ginji Rescued!' [SK185] `Hurry to Ginji!' [SK187] `The Life We Couldn't Save...' [SK186] `Saving Lives' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK191] `A World of Death' [SK192] `Can People Change?' [SK193] `A Man Named Asch' [SK194] `To Shurrey Hill' [SK195] `Relics of the Dawn Age' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK198] `Van the Terrible!' [SK199] `Worried about Tear' [SK201] `At War! - Jade' [SK202] `Safe Reunion' [SK204] `Natalia's Secret' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK205] `The Dark Wings' [SK206] `To the Zao Ruins' [SK207] `Asch's Message' [SK208] `What Was That All About?' [SK209] `Mommy, Are We There Yet?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK213] `It Worked!' [SK212] `Thinking About Asch' [SK214] `Sweaty?' [SK215] `A Ruler's Duties' [SK216] `Who's the Bad Guy?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK217] `We Can't Stay Here' [SK218] `Natalia's Future' [SK219] `Run Away!' [SK221] `The Monster's Weakness?!' [SK222] `What We Can Do for Natalia' . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK220] `Is Asch Safe?' [SK223] `What Are Nobles?' [SK224] `Van's Plan' [SK225] `Friends...?!' [SK226] `Tear's Secret' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK230] `A Light at the End of the Tunnel' [SK227] `I Won't Lose to Asch!' [SK228] `Arietta's Changed' [SK231] `The Dark Wings...' [SK233] `Guy's Past' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK232] `Class M and Class I' [SK234] `Where It All Began' [SK235] `The Cured Guy is a Nice Guy' [SK236] `Over Two Thousand Years' [SK238] `To Sheridan!' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK237] `The Tartarus' Final Job' [SK239] `Natalia's Resolve' [SK240] `Let's Meet With the King' [SK241] `How Will the King Respond?' [SK242] `An Audience with the King' . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK243] `Natalia, I'm So Happy for You' [SK244] `Let's See Emperor Peony' [SK245] `Dist's True Identity?' [SK246] `The Oracle Knights' [SK247] `Ion's Suggestion' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK251] `Peace at Last...?' [SK252] `Guy's Revenge' [SK253] `Only One Chance' [SK254] `What Class are You?' [SK257] `Tragedy at Sheridan' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK255] `What Lorelei Wanted to Convey' [SK259] `Ion's Secret' [SK258] `What is Van Doing Now...?' [SK262] `What is Asch Doing Now...?' [SK261] `Priorities' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK260] `Legretta and Tear' [SK263] `The Seventh Fonstone Score' [SK264] `Absent-Minded' [SK267] `He Won't Get Away!' [SK268] `Spinoza, Unforgivable!' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK269] `Spinoza's Atonement' [SK270] `Feeling Weird' [SK271] `Anise Going Crazy?!' [SK272] `Things Are Going Too Well...' [SK273] `Dist's Curse?!' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK274] `Worried About Tear's Health...' [SK275] `Tear's Whereabouts' [SK276] `What is Oracle Up To?' [SK277] `The Siblings' Bond Broken' [SK279] `Van's Purpose' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK278] `When the World Changes' [SK282] `Jade and Dist' [SK283] `The Coming Confrontation' [SK281] `Beware of Avalanches' [SK287] `It's Freezing Up Here!' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK285] `Only One Entrance' [SK286] `Time to Settle Everything' [SK284] `The Night Before - Girl Talk' [SK290] `The Night Before - Guy Talk' [SK289] `The Decisive Battle' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK288] `Confronting Van' [SK293] `No Need for Little Tricks' [SK294] `Carefully and Quickly' [SK295] `Tear's Resolve' [SK296] `The Battle Nears' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK298] `Van's Strength' [SK297] `One Month Later' [SK299] `What Is Everyone Up To?' [SK300] `Mieu's Name' [SK301] `Let's Go to Yulia City' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK302] `Let's See Tear' [SK303] `Cheerful Anise' [SK306] `Tear Hasn't Changed at All' [SK304] `An Overworked Guy' [SK307] `Luke's Feelings' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK309] `The Result of the Bet' [SK308] `The Six God-Generals, Alive' [SK310] `What We Can Do, What We Must Do' [SK311] `Van's Alive?!' [SK312] `Anise, Confused' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK313] `Education Is Important' [SK314] `A World Without the Score' [SK315] `Where is the Key of Lorelei?' [SK316] `The Miasma' [SK317] `Legretta's Attack' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK318] `Betrayed by Anise' [SK319] `The Replica Soldiers' [SK320] `Keeping Cool' [SK322] `The Planet Score' [SK329] `Thinking of Anise' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK326] `Regret' [SK323] `Ion's Death...' [SK324] `Ion's Legacy' [SK327] `Two Different People' [SK325] `Replicas and Their Originals' . . . . . . . . . . . [SK330] `After Asch!' [SK331] `The Cost of Eliminating the Miasma' [SK332] `Jade's Sense of Curiosity' [SK344] `The Sword of Lorelei' [SK333] `Natalia's Birthday' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK334] `Luke Overdoing Things' [SK335] `Revenge for Ion!' [SK336] `The Past and the Present' [SK337] `Connected by Blood' [SK338] `Natalia's Future Husband?' . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK339] `The Score's Power, The People's Desire' [SK341] `A Fake Ion' [SK340] `Playing Catch-Up?' [SK342] `Something Big Moving in the Sea...' [SK343] `The Isle of Feres' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK345] `Where Are We, Anyway?' [SK346] `Floating Replica of Hod' [SK348] `Continuing Ion's Work' [SK350] `The Power of Hyperresonance' [SK349] `Solidarity' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK351] `For Arietta...' [SK352] `Memories of Ion' [SK354] `Crossed Wires' [SK353] `Causes to Die For' [SK356] `Let Her Be' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK355] `Replicas' [SK358] `The People's Unease' [SK359] `Like Father, Like Daughter?' [SK360] `Asch Again' [SK361] `What Do You Want to Do?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK362] `Unending Troubles' [SK363] `Stop Asch!' [SK364] `Always Charging' [SK365] `If There's One that Stands Out' [SK366] `Why Is Asch Rushing?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK367] `Farewell, Dist' [SK368] `My Worth, My Desire' [SK369] `A Fate of Death' [SK372] `The Jewel of Lorelei' [SK371] `A Great Sacrifice' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK370] `The Joy of Life' [SK373] `The Cruel Truth' [SK374] `After Natalia' [SK375] `Largo's Life' [SK377] `Thinking of Tear' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK378] `The Final Confrontation' [SK376] `A World Without the Planet Storm?' [SK379] `Largo's Death, Natalia's Feelings' [SK380] `Van Returns' [SK381] `Mohs' Fate' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK382] `The Grand Maestro' [SK383] `To the Last Battle' [SK384] `They Just Can't Get Along' [SK385] `Thinking Back' [SK392] `Luke and Asch, Part 2' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK386] `A Great Resolve - Guy Talk' [SK387] `A Great Resolve - Girl Talk' [SK388] `A Great Resolve - All' [SK389] `After Defeating Van' [SK390] `Van, Worried?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK395] `Asch's Battle' [SK393] `The God-Generals Await' [SK391] `Ginji's Flying Skill' [SK397] `Don't Underestimate the Old Man' [SK398] `Tear and Legretta' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK399] `An Old Friend' [SK394] `Consoling Tear' [SK400] `Where Is Asch?!' [SK396] `Settling with Asch' [SK401] `The Last Fonic Hymn' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK402] `Sync, You Idiot...' [SK404] `Asch's Death' [SK403] `The Final Battle Looms' [SK405] `Yulia's Thoughts and Feelings' [SK408] `Van Won't Hold Back' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK406] ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:INT} \ >>> Introduction \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ ND2000. In Kimlasca shall be born one who inherits the power of Lorelei. He will be a boy of royal blood with hair of red. He shall be called the Light of the Sacred Flame. And he will lead Kimlasca-Lanvaldear to new prosperity. ND2002. The One Who Would Seize Glory shall destroy the land upon which he was born. A land by the name of Hod. War shall thereafter persist between Kimlasca and Malkuth for a full cycle of seasons. Tear: So, the time has come. Prepare... ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:BA1} \ >>> Baticul \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ It is Remday, Rem-Decan 23, year ND2018. Luke fon Fabre is looking out of the window of his room in Fabre manor. Luke is bored. When he goes to leave his room, a strange sound is heard and Luke gets a headache. Luke: ...Guess I'm hearing things. Luke heads to the entrance hall. Ramdas: The Order of Lorelei Maestro, Dorian General Van Grants will be arriving soon. Luke: What? Master Van's coming? Today's not a training day. Ramdas: I've heard he's here on urgent business. I was told they'll be calling you later, Young Master, so please wait in your room. Luke: Stop calling me "young" already. Ramdas: No, until you reach maturity at age 20, I shall continue to refer to you as Young Master. Luke heads to the hallway. Ramdas: Young Master... Please stop fraternizing with that gardener, Pere. It isn't fit for you to speaking to one of his status. Luke: ...I know, I know. Sheesh. And quit giving me orders! Ramdas: My apologies. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Another Boring Day' [SK001] | | Luke: *Sigh* If they're not going to let me leave, they could at least | try and keep me amused. If I didn't get to train with Master | Van, all I'd do every day is eat, sleep and hang out with Guy. | There's got to be SOMETHING more interesting to do around | here... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke goes back to his room. The odd sound can be heard again, but a voice is also heard. ??? voice: Luke...fragment...of my soul....heed...voice Luke falls to his knees. Luke: ...Argh! I knew it... It's that damn voice again! Guy: Luke! What is it? Not another one of those headaches? Luke: Guy...is that you? Guy is standing outside the window. Luke gets up after his head clears. Luke: ...It's okay. It's gone. Guy: You hearing things again? Luke: ...I wish I knew what the hell it was. It's so annoying. Guy: They're getting more frequent. They started after you were kidnapped by the Malkuth Empire. What's that, seven years now? Luke: Thanks to them, now I'm going crazy. Guy: Well, don't worry about it too much. So, what do you want to do today? How about some sword practice? Luke: Sorry, not today. Master Van's here. Guy: Van? But today's not a training day, is it? Luke: Apparently, something came up. IF LUKE IS WEARING THE TOWEL BOY COSTUME Guy is standing outside the window. Luke gets up after his head clears Luke: …It’s okay. It’s gone. Guy: You hearing things again? Luke: …I wish I knew what the hell it was. It’s so annoying. Guy: They’re getting more frequent. They started after you were kidnapped by the Malkuth Empire. What’s that, seven years now? Luke: Thanks to them, now I’m going crazy. Guy: Hey, what’s with that outfit? Luke: Yeah, I thought it was kind of weird, but… Guy: So why the hell are you wearing it? And what happened to your hair? Did you cut it? Luke: It’s a wig. Guy: …You’re wearing a rug? Luke: Wig, damn it! Wig! Guy: Why in the world… IF LUKE IS WEARING THE WILD SABER COSTUME Luke: …It’s okay. It’s gone. Guy: You hearing things again? Luke: …I wish I knew what the hell it was. It’s so annoying. Guy: They’re getting more frequent. They started after you were kidnapped by the Malkuth Empire. What’s that, seven years now? Luke: Thanks to them, now I’m going crazy. Guy: Hey, what’s with your head? Luke: Oh, you noticed! Guy: Who wouldn’t? Did you cut your hair? Ah…it’s a rug. Luke: It’s an expensive wig, damn it! Guy: Why in the world are you wearing it? Luke: Change of pace. New style. You know. A knock is heard on the door. Maid: Master Luke? May I come in? Guy: Uh-oh. I can't let anyone see me here. I'm out of here before I get caught. See you. Guy leaves through the window. The maid knocks again. Maid: Master Luke? Luke: Yeah, yeah, I hear you. Come on in, it's open. Maid: His Grace requests your presence in the drawing room. Luke: All right. Dismissed. The maid bows and departs. Luke: Guess I'll get going. Luke enters the drawing room. Duke Fabre, Susanne and Van are at the table. Luke: You wanted to see me, Father? Duke Fabre: Mmm. Have a seat, Luke. Luke: Hey! Master Van! Do I get to train with you today?! Van: We'll have time for that later. First, we have to talk about something. Duke Fabre: Dorian General Grants is returning to Daath tomorrow. Luke: Huh?! Why?! Van: You know that I am a member of the Oracle Knights, part of the Order of Lorelei. Luke: You're their commandant, right? Van: Right. As the leader of the Knights, it's my duty to provide protection for Fon Master Ion. Luke: What's a "Fon Master Ion"? Susanne: He's the leader of the Order of Lorelei. It's thanks to Ion that the truce between the Malkuth Empire and our Kingdom of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear is in place. Van: If Ion's predecessor, Evenos, is the hero who ended the Hod War, then the current Fon Master is a symbol of the peace that reigns today. Duke Fabre: Unfortunately, Ion has gone missing. Van: Therefore, I must attend to my duty as an Oracle Knight and join the search for Fon Master Ion. Luke: Hold on, you can't do that! If you go home, who's gonna train me?! Van: Heh heh. Settle down. I'll have one of my men come here until I return to Kimlasca. Luke: But I want YOU to teach me! Duke Fabre: Don't be selfish, Luke. Dorian General Grants will return soon enough. It's high time you learned some patience. Susanne: Please, dear! You know what this child's been through. He's still traumatized from the kidnapping. He even lost his childhood memories... The poor thing. Don't you feel for him? Duke Fabre: Susanne. You spoil him. Van: Still, a life locked inside a mansion like this is hardly easy. Luke: Seriously. Why does my uncle have to keep me trapped in here? Just because he's the king, he thinks he can just order people around. Makes me mad. Susanne: Luke, my brother is merely concerned for your safety. Just three more years, and you'll be free. Hold on a little longer, okay? Van: Cheer up, Luke. We'll train hard enough today to make up for the entire time I'm gone. Duke, Milady; by your leave. We must begin our training. Duke Fabre: Thank you. Dorian General. Van: I'll head on to the courtyard. Come join me as soon as you're ready. Van bows to the Duke and Susanne and departs. Susanne: Luke, dear, please do be careful out there. Luke: I know, I know. Jeez... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Sword Training' [SK002] | | Luke: Man...Master Van's leaving... I hope he comes back after he | finds that Fon Master or whoever. I mean, sword training's the | only thing keeping me sane around here. Oh, well. Guy's not too | bad with a sword. Guess I'll just practice with him. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke heads to the courtyard to find Guy and Van talking. Guy: I see. Sounds like the Oracle Knights have it pretty rough. Van: I'll have to leave everything to you for the time being. The Duke, the King, and Luke's-- Pere: Ah, Master Luke! Luke: Guy? What's up? Guy: Well, Van's a master swordsman, so I thought I'd ask for a little instruction. Luke: Really? That's not what it looked like to me. The screen goes white. The weird noise is heard again. Luke: (What the...? Something's coming...?) A song is heard. The screen cuts to a woman entering the manor. All guards suddenly fall asleep. Meanwhile, back in the courtyard... Van: ...Luke! Did you not hear me?! Luke: Huh? Oh right! Van: Are you ready? Luke: Yes, sir! Guy sits on a bench. Guy: I guess I'll just watch from over here. Let's see what you've got, Luke. Luke: Yeah, yeah. Luke pulls out his wooden sword and begins sword training. A tutorial on battle takes place. Once training is over, all goes quiet. Luke: What's that? The singing is heard again. Van falls to his knees. Van: That voice...! Luke: I...I can't move! Pere: That's a fonic hymn! Has a Seventh Fonist invaded the manor?! Guy: Damn it... It's putting me to sleep... What the hell are the guards doing?! A woman jumps into the courtyard from above. ???: I finally found you Vandesdelca! Prepare to die, traitor! Van: Tear! I knew it! Tear and Van clash. Luke: Who the hell are you?! Luke glows and goes after Tear. Van: No! Stop! Tear tries to block Luke's attack. Sparks come from their weapons and a voice is heard again. ??? voice: Resound...! The will of Lorelei shall reach you... and open the way! Luke: Not that weird voice again... Tear: The Seventh Fonon?! Tear and Luke disappear screaming. Van: Too late... The Seventh Fonons have reacted with each other! The scene in the courtyard fades out. Luke is unconscious and can hear Tear's voice, at first kind of fuzzy, then much clearer. Tear: ...Luke...wake up... Tear: ...Wake up Luke! Luke wakes up. He and Tear are in a beautiful valley filled with flowers. It is nighttime now. Luke: ...Who are you? Tear: Oh, good, you're okay. Luke: ...Where are we? Tear: I don't know. That was pretty strong. I almost thought we'd been caught in the Planet Storm... Luke: Wait, that's right! You were trying to...! Oww!! Tear: Stop, don't try to move so suddenly. Are you injured? Where does it hurt? Luke gets up and pushes Tear away, then runs a few steps away from her. Luke: I-I'm fine. What I want to know now is what the hell happened. And who are you? Tear: I'm Tear. It would seem that a hyperresonance occurred between us. Luke: A hyperresonance? What's that? Tear: An isofon-induced resonance. I didn't expect you to be a Seventh Fonist, too. That was careless of me. That would explain why the royal family is protecting you. Luke: Gah, shut up for a second! I don't understand a thing you're saying! Tear: ...... Luke: Well say something! Tear: First you tell me to shut up, now you're telling me to talk. Let's save the discussion for later. You don't seem to know anything. Talking here would be a waste of time. Luke: So what are we gonna do now? Tear: I'll escort you back to your manor in Baticul. Luke: How?! We don't even know where we are! Tear: You see the sea just over there, don't you? Luke: So that's what the sea looks like... Tear: At any rate, let's head out of this ravine and down to the coast. If we can find a road, there should be carriages passing along. We should be able to find a way back. Luke: And just how are we supposed to get to the sea from here? Tear: Stop and listen. Hear that water flowing? There's a river. If we follow the river, we should come out to the sea. Luke: ...Huh. Is that how it works? Tear: Let's go. As Tear and Luke depart from the area, a monster is heard in the bushes. Tear: ...Monsters. Luke: Monster?! Tear: Here they come! Luke: You've got to be kidding me! The monster comes out. Luke: Aaah! The monster attacks, but Luke and Tear beat it. Luke: ...Whew. Th-that wasn't so tough. Tear: Don't relax just yet. Look. There's more. More monsters walk past the road. Tear: If you come into contact with monsters like that, you'll have to fight them. Be careful. Luke: ...Humph. Think you know everything, don't you? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Tear's Purpose' [SK004] | | Luke: So, are you going to tell me why you broke into the manor, or | why you attacked Master Van, or...anything? | Tear: I don't see any point in telling you and I doubt you'd | understand, anyway. Besides, what would you do if I did tell | you? | Luke: I just figured, if you're plotting something, it might be kind | of risky to travel with you. | Tear: ...Heh heh. | Luke: Hey, what are you laughing at?! | Tear: I'm sorry. Don't worry, I have no intention of harming you. | That's all I can tell you for now, but...will you trust me? | Luke: ...Fine, fine. It's just the two of us... There's no point in | fighting, anyway. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `This Place...' [SK006] | | Luke: I don't like this place. It's all dark, you can't see anything, | there are monsters everywhere... | Tear: Once you leave the safety of town, monsters can appear anywhere. | This is no different from anywhere else. And as for the | darkness, well... it's nighttime. There's not much I can do | about that. | Luke: Well, yeah, but I mean, I get out for the first time in years, | and as soon as I open my eyes, it's all dark with monsters all | over the place. What's up with that? | Tear: Maybe right now it is dark and eerie and full of monsters, | but...I still think it's a pretty place. I mean, I've never | been around this much...nature... | Luke: Hmm... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke and Tear go further in. Now there are quite a few monsters in the bushes. Tear: ...Be careful. There's more than one of them this time. Luke: ...No way! Two enemies come at Luke and Tear. A targeting tutorial takes place. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Going Home' [SK003] | | Tear: I'm sorry... I'll get you back to your manor. | Luke: You damn well better! | Tear: It's my fault, after all... I'm very sorry. | Luke: Yeah...well, I don't get out all that often anyway, so I guess a | little walking around won't hurt. | Tear: So...do you want to go home or not? | Luke: Of course I want to go home! What the hell kind of a question is | that?! | Tear: Then stop talking and start moving. If you want to go for a | stroll, wait until we're someplace safer. | Luke: *Sigh* Fine, fine. | Tear: ...? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tear and Luke finally get to the exit. Luke appears quite tired. Tear: There's the way out! Luke: It's about time. I'm sick of this place. Tear: Someone's coming. ???: Uah! D-don't tell me you're with the Dark Wings! Tear: ...The Dark Wings? ???: They're bandits. Two men and a woman... Wait, there's only two of you. Luke: Humph. Don't go comparing me to some pathetic bandit. Tear: ...Yes, you might upset the bandits. Luke: Hey! Tear: We lost our way and wound up here. Who are you? ???: I'm a coachman. One of the wheels on my coach started acting up. We lost our drinking water when the jug fell off, so I came here to draw some more. Luke: A coach! Perfect! Tear: Do you go to the capital? Coachman: Yeah, that's my last stop. Luke: Let's hitch a ride! I'm sick of walking. Tear: Yes, we don't know this area very well. Would that be all right with you? Coachman: To the capital, it'll be 12,000 Gald a piece. You got enough on you? Tear: That's expensive... Luke: Really? Sound cheap to me. My dad'll take care of it when we get to the capital. Coachman: That's no good. I need payment in advance. Tear: ...Take this. Tear hands the coachman her pendant. Coachman: Wow, this is some gem. All right, hop aboard. Luke: Huh? You got some nice stuff. Now I don't have to get my shoes all dirty. Tear: (...) The coach goes along a road. Another coach approaches, chased by a ship. Luke: ...Wh-what was that? Tear: You're finally awake. Luke: H-hey! That coach is under attack! Coachman: The army's chasing those bandits! It's those Dark Wings I mistook you for! ???: You, there! Move your coach before you get caught in the crossfire! The coachman moves the coach. Luke almost falls over and they narrowly miss being hit by the ship. Aboard the ship... Soldier: Commander! Enemy has crossed Rotelro Bridge! They're putting gunpowder on the bridge! ???: My, my. They intend to drop the bridge, do they? Soldier: Fon slot activation detected! Soldier 2: The enemy set off fonic artes using the Fifth Fonon! The bridge is going to explode! ???: Tartarus, full stop. Activate fonic barrier. Soldier: Yes, sir! Tartarus, full stop! Soldier 2: Fonic barrier activated! Back in the coach... Luke: Whoa! That was cool! Coachman: Wow! That's Malkuth's newest land dreadnought, the Tartarus! Luke: M-Malkuth?! What's the Malkuth military doing hanging around here? Coachman: What do you mean? Of course they're here. There's been no end to the rumors that Kimlasca's going to start a war any day now. They've tightened security in this area. Tear: ...Wait a minute. This isn't Kimlasca? Coachman: What are you talking about? This is the Malkuth Empire. The West Rugnica Plains. Luke: Hang on! I thought this coach was headed for the capital, Baticul! Coachman: Nope, Grand Chokmah--capital of Malkuth and home to His Imperial Majesty, Peony the Ninth. Tear: ...Hmm, I was mistaken. Luke: How can you be so calm about it?! How could you make a mistake like that?! Tear: I didn't recognize the area. What's your excuse? Luke: I've been confined to the manor. I've never been outside. How the hell should I have known? Coachman: ...You're sure acting strange. Are you two Kimlascan? Tear: N-no. We're from Malkuth. We have business in Baticul. We were on our way there. Luke: Talk about bald-faced... Coachman: That's the other direction, then. If you're going to Kimlasca, you should've taken the road south, rather than crossing the bridge. Mind you, with that bridge out, you can't go back now.... Luke: Are you serious? NOW what do we do? Coachman: We're passing through Engeve to the east on the way to Grand Chokmah. What do you two want to do? Tear: If we go all the way to Grand Chokmah, we'll just wind up farther away. Let's stop in Engeve and think about how to get back to Kimlasca. Luke and Tear arrive in Engeve. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:EN1} \ >>> Engeve \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Tear: This must be Engeve. Man: Huh, you folks traveling on foot? Luke: You got a problem with that? Man: No, I just mean, with the bandits and monsters and all, most people come by coach. Tear: Could I ask you something? How can we get from here to Kimlasca? Man: I heard Rotelro Bridge is out, so you'd have to head to the Kaitzur checkpoint in the south. Tear: Thank you. Man: No problem. Bye! Tear: A checkpoint.... We won't be able to get through without passports. This could be a problem... Luke: It'll be fine. If I say I'm Duke Fabre's son, they'll let us through in no time. But right now, I want to check this place out! This is my first time in a city! Tear: A city...? Well, I suppose we do need to prepare a bit before we leave. Let's stay the night here. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `You Could Always Camp Out' [SK007] | | Luke: Some town this is. I bet they don't even have a decent place to | sleep. | Tear: Do you do anything besides complain? | Luke: All I want is a decent bed and decent food! What's wrong with | that?! I never even had to think about things like this back at | the manor. | Tear: With Rotelro Bridge out, we won't be getting back to Baticul | anytime soon. You may not be able to find your kind of meal for | a while. | Luke: *Sigh* Never thought I'd be homesick for the food back at the | manor... | Tear: Look, nobody's forcing you to stay at the inn here. If you'd | prefer, we can leave right away and sleep on the ground after | nightfall. | Luke: O-on the ground? No way. Anything's better than that. No more | complaints from me... | Tear: Oh? Well, then let's go. | Luke: *Sigh* I want to go home... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Impressions of Engeve' [SK010] | | Luke: Boy, this place sure looks poor. | Tear: ...How so? | Luke: Well, look, there're no mansions or anything, and all the roofs | look like they've got fur growing on them. And look at all the | animals wandering around! Doesn't that bother anyone? | Tear: No. It's a farming village. They raise crops and livestock. It's | what they do. Everyone looks like they're enjoying themselves. | I don't see anything poor about it. | Luke: Oh, okay... I thought this was, like, a village of gardeners or | something for a while there. So I guess they're working in the | "primary industries," or whatever. | Tear: ...Yes, I suppose you could say that. | Luke: Huh. Sure looks boring to me. | Tear: *Sigh* +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke and Tear head to the marketplace and stop by a grocer's stall. Luke: Wow, these apples look good. Luke takes an apple and bites into it. Man: Sir! You need to pay! Luke: (?) Luke: Why do I have to pay? Tear: You can't just take a store's products without paying! Luke: But the manor pays for everything all at once. ...Oh, wait, this is Malkuth. Tear: Malkuth OR Kimlasca, the normal way to shop at a store is to pay money for what you buy when you buy it. Luke: I haven't got any money on me! Tear: You have the money the monsters dropped. Luke: Oh. Yeah. It's not gold so I had forgotten all about it. Man: Hey! If you're not going to pay, I'm going to have you arrested! Luke: Nobody said anything about not paying! ...So, uh, how does this work? Tear: All right, let's explain how shops work... Tear: (I can't believe he doesn't know how to shop at a store. Are all aristocrats like this?) Luke and Tear head to the inn and see a crowd in front of a building. Kelly: Nothing... Every last scrap of food in the storehouse has been stolen. Man: This has happened time and time again since those fires up north. You think maybe some deserters hiding out up there have started to come here looking for food? Man 2: Or it could be the work of the Dark Wings, too. Luke: It's just food. Would those Dark Wings guys really bother to steal that? Kelly: What do you mean, "just food?!" In this village, food is the most valuable thing there is! Luke: Oh, come on. So someone stole it--just go buy some more. Man: What?! We break our backs all year tending these fields!! Man 3: Hey, I just heard Kelly's place got hit by a food thief, too... Man 3: (!) Man 3: It's you! So, you didn't just steal from me, you were at it over here, too, huh?! All but Luke & Tear: (!) Kelly: What...? You're the one who raided my storehouse?! Man 2: They say the criminal always returns to the scene of the crime. Luke: Are you calling me a thief?! Man 3: You tried to steal an apple from me! Kelly: That's it. I'm taking you to the authorities! Tear: (Letting Luke get arrested here might actually do him some good...) The scene then fades to Rose's house. Kelly kicks Luke inside. Man: Rose, we've got trouble! Rose: Hush! We've got an important guest from the military here. Calm down! Kelly: How can we be calm?! We caught him! We caught the guy stealing food! Luke: I'm telling you, it wasn't me! Man: Rose! This guy may be with the Dark Wings! Man 2: He's got to be responsible for all the food getting stolen lately! Luke: I'm telling you people, I'm not your damn thief! Do I look like I'm going hungry to you?! Rose: My, my, what a lively boy. Let's all just settle down first, all right? ???: Yes, please do. Rose: Colonel... Luke: Who the hell are you? Jade: I'm Colonel Jade Curtiss, Third Division, Malkuth Imperial Forces. And who might you be? Luke: Luke. Luke fon-- Tear: Luke!! Luke: What's your problem? Tear: Have you forgotten? This is enemy territory. Your father, Duke Fabre, is one of Malkuth's greatest enemies. Don't use your name so casually. Luke: Oh. Really? Tear: Yes. There are plenty of people here who've had family killed by your father. You don't want any unnecessary trouble, do you? Jade: Is something wrong? Tear pushes Luke away and talks to Jade. Tear: My apologies, Colonel. He's Luke. I'm Tear. We were headed for Chesedonia, but we boarded the wrong coach and wound up here. Jade: Oh? So you're with this man suspected of being with the Dark Wings? Tear: We're not with the Dark Wings. The Malkuth military forced the real Dark Wings to the other side of Rotelro Bridge. Jade: Ah...I see. So you were on that coach from earlier. Rose: What is all this about, Colonel? Jade: Just as Tear said, a group of bandits thought to be the Dark Wings fled toward Kimlasca. I can assure you that these two are not with them. Ion: They don't appear to be mere food thieves, either. Jade: Fon Master Ion... Ion: I was a bit curious, so I investigated the food storehouse. I found this in a corner of the room. Ion hands something to Rose. Rose: This is fur from a sacred cheagle. Ion: Yes. A cheagle is what probably raided your food stores. Luke: See! I told you I wasn't a thief! Tear: But you did eat that apple before paying. You need to learn not to do things that'll make you look suspicious. Luke: How was I supposed to know? I didn't know I had to pay. Rose: Well, sounds like that takes care of that. I think you all have something to say to this boy and his friend? Kelly: ...I'm sorry. With all the burglaries lately, I've been a little on edge. Man: Sorry for accusing you. Man 2: I'm sorry I made the situation worse. Rose: Do you think you could forgive them, boy? Luke: I'm not a boy. Rose: I'm sorry. Luke, could we let bygones be bygones? Luke: ...Yeah, whatever. Rose: Glad to hear it. Now, I have business with the Colonel. I'll think of a way to stop the cheagles, so all of you just go on home for today. Everyone leaves. Luke steals another look at Ion as he goes out. Tear: Why is Fon Master Ion here... Luke: Fon Master Ion? Tear: The supreme leader of the Order of Lorelei. Luke: Hey, wait a minute. I heard Ion was missing. Master Van said he was returning home to look for him! Tear: Really? That's news to me. I wonder what's going on... He didn't look like he was being held captive. Luke: I'll go ask him. Tear: Stop. They seemed to be in the middle of an important discussion. Let's come back tomorrow. Luke: Humph. Why do I have to follow your orders? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `I Should've Asked' [SK019] | | Luke: That business about Ion is really bugging me. I really should've | asked when I had the chance... | Tear: No need to rush it. You'll have a chance to talk to him | tomorrow. Let's get some rest at the inn for now. | Luke: Ahh. Dammit. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke and Tear head to the Inn. ???: Have you seen the person I was with?! A boy, pretty short? Kind of out of it? Kelly: Sorry, I was away from the inn for a little while.... ???: Honestly, that Ion! Where did he run off to? Luke: Ion? You mean Fon Master Ion? Tear: If you're looking for Ion, he was over at Rose's place. ???: Really?! Thank you! (music note) The girl runs towards Luke to leave the inn, but Luke blocks her way. Luke: Hey, wait a second. What's the Fon Master doing here? I heard he was missing. ???: Ack! Are there rumors like that floating around?! I have to tell Ion! The girl runs out of the inn. Luke: Hey! ...Humph. She didn't answer my question. Tear: Yes, but she looks like a Fon Master Guardian, so I assume Ion's journey is officially recognized by the Order of Lorelei. Luke: A Fon Master Guardian? Tear: They're Ion's personal guard, a special force within the Oracle Knights. They accompany him on all official business. Luke: That chick is one of Master Van's soldiers, huh.... ...What was up with Ion being "missing"? I'm gonna be so mad if that was just a mistake! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Who's Jade...?' [SK018] | | Luke: That four-eyed fool Jade really got on my nerves. | Tear: I thought he was quite proper for a military officer addressing | civilians. | Luke: Mmm... Well, all I know about the military is our White Knights, | so I wouldn't really know. | Tear: Colonel Jade, though... I know I've heard that name somewhere. | Luke: Yeah? I couldn't care less about military types, so if you want | to find out about him, do it yourself. | Tear: You really are selfish. Do something about that attitude before | it gets you in trouble. | Luke: Lay off already, would you? Now you're getting on my nerves, | too. | Tear: ...... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tear and Luke go up to the counter. Kelly: Sorry about earlier. You can stay here free tonight. It's the least I can do. Inside the room. Tear: Tomorrow, we'll head for the Kaitzur checkpoint. With the bridge out, that's the only way back to Baticul. We also have to do something about passports... Luke: (...) Luke: ...Grr, I can't stand it. I can't just leave like this! Tear: Unbelievable. Are you still mad? Luke: Of course! They called me a thief! Luke: Hey, do you know what cheagles are? They called them "sacred". Tear: They're herbivores that live in the woodlands of the East Rugnica Plains. They're one of the symbols of the Order of Lorelei, along with the Order's founder, Yulia. Their forest is just north of this village, actually. Luke: We're going there tomorrow. Tear: To do what? Luke: To look for proof that they're the thieves. Tear: I doubt we'll find any. Luke: Shut up! I've made up my mind! Tear: (...) The night passes. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `An Ordinary Boy?' [SK009] | | Luke: Zzz... | Tear: For all his whining, he sure sleeps soundly enough. Just like a | perfectly ordinary boy... | Luke: Zzz...mmm? Whoa! Wh-what are you staring at me for?! | Tear: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. | Luke: Well, what the hell are you doing staring at people when they're | sleeping?! Go to bed already! | Tear: Yes, I suppose I will. Good night. | Luke: Man. What's your problem, anyway? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Homework' [SK017] | | Tear: What are you doing? | Luke: H-hey! Don't look! | Tear: Sorry, I just... I saw you with a notebook out and... | Luke: Shut up already! I have to do this every day. | Tear: Do what? | Luke: Well...don't laugh, but...it's a diary. | Tear: Oh. That's great. | Luke: ...You're not gonna laugh at me? | Tear: Why? There's nothing to laugh about. Though I didn't exactly | think you were the type to keep a diary. | Luke: Humph... I'm not doing it because I want to. | Tear: Oh? Then why...? | Luke: ...The doctors make me do it, just in case I get amnesia again. | Tear: ...! | Luke: ...What? | Tear: ...N-Nothing. Keep it up, okay? | Luke: Tch, I don't need you feeling sorry for me! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `To the Cheagle Woods!' [SK008] | | Luke: Cheagle Woods is north of Engeve, right? | Tear: Are you really going? You've been cleared of suspicion. Why | bother? | Luke: I'm not going to sit around while people laugh at me! | Tear: (Nobody's laughing at you...) But do you think there's anything | that can actually prove the cheagles are at fault? | Luke: Shut up already! I decided to go, and that's that! | Tear: I see... Well, I suppose there's no point in arguing it further, | then. | Luke: I'll find your proof! You'll see. I'll show those stupid | yokels! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke and Tear leave for the Cheagle Woods. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:CW1} \ >>> Cheagle Woods \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke and Tear enter to see Ion surrounded by monsters. Luke: Hey, it's that Ion kid! Tear: He's in trouble! Ion lifts his hand and uses something, causing all the monsters vanish. Ion then falls to the ground. Luke: Hey, are you okay? Ion: I-I'm fine. I just used too strong a Daathic fonic arte... Oh, you're the two from Engeve yesterday... Luke: I'm Luke. Ion: Luke...that means "light of the sacred flame" in Ancient Ispanian. That's a nice name. Tear: I'm Locrian Sergeant Tear Grants. 1st Platoon, Oracle Knights Intelligence Division, under Grand Maestro Mohs' command. Ion: (!) Ion: Ah, you're Van's younger sister. I've heard of you. This is the first time we've met, isn't it? Luke: You're Master Van's sister?! Then what was with you trying to kill him?! Tear received the Van's sister title. Ion: Kill him...? Tear: Sorry, it's nothing. Just something between us. Luke: Don't try to avoid the question! If you're his sister, why are you trying to kill him? Tear: It's... I... All: (!) Ion: It's a cheagle! Luke: So, they do live here! Come on, we're gonna catch that thing! Luke runs after the cheagle. Ion: Would it be best if I don't inquire about you and Van? Tear: I'm sorry. It relates to my homeland. I'd prefer not to get you or Luke involved... Luke: Hey! It's gonna get away! Ion: Let's go! Tear: What? Oh, right! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `About the Cheagles' [SK011] | | Luke: Hey, what are you even doing here if you can't fight? Get out of | our way! | Ion: I'm sorry. I just wanted to find out what really happened at | Engeve. | Luke: Huh? Why? It's none of your business, is it? | Ion: The cheagles are sacred creatures. If they're harming people, | they must have some reason for it. As one who is connected to | the cheagles, I cannot sit idly by and watch. | Luke: Well, they're just monsters, right? Just leave them alone. | Ion: I can't. Maybe I'm strange that way, but...that's how I am. | Anyway, if we find the cheagles, we should be able to learn | what's going on. | Luke: Tch, whatever... Let's just go find those cheagles already. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes further into the woods. Luke: Grrr! You see?! It got away! Could you two be any slower?! Ion: Don't worry. Their nesting ground should be up ahead. Luke: How do you know? Ion: Oh, um... Actually, I was curious about the thefts in Engeve and did a little looking. Cheagles are intelligent and peaceful creatures. It's not like them to steal food. Luke: ...Humph. Well, it looks like we're both headed to the same place, then. Ion: The two of you came here to investigate the cheagles, too? Luke: I'm not gonna just let people accuse me of things I didn't do. And you're coming with us. Ion: Really? You don't mind? Tear: How can you think of taking Fon Master Ion somewhere so dangerous?! Luke: Then what do you want to do with him? He'll just come wandering back here on his own. Ion: ...I'm sorry. I just have to know. Cheagles are the sacred beasts of our Order, after all. Luke: See? Besides, we can't just leave a guy with a face so pale he looks like he's about to die. Tear: (!) Ion: Oh! Thank you so much! You're such a nice person, Luke! Luke: (////) Luke: N-no I'm not! Now, quit saying stupid stuff and let's go! Ion: Okay! Luke: And don't use that weird arte again. You damn near passed out. We'll take care of the fighting. Ion: You're going to protect me? Sir Luke, I'm so moved! Luke: (////) Luke: Th-that's not what I mean! You'll just be in the way! Don't get all worked up over it. And it's just "Luke," got it? Now, let's go! Ion: Okay, Luke! The party heads further in the woods and spots a pink cheagle. Pink Cheagle: (!) Pink Cheagle: Mieu, mieu mieu mieu mieu, mieu! Luke: So, that's a cheagle? Ion: It looks like it's still a child. Tear: (It's so cute...) Tear walks up to it, but the cheagle runs off. Tear: (...) Luke: Hey! It ran away! Ion: It is a wild animal, after all. Tear: This must be the cheagles' nesting area. Ion: I do hope we can find some proof they stole food from the village. Luke: Those stupid things probably left proof all over the place. Ion: Let's explore a little. The party heads towards a large tree and sees some apples on the ground. Ion picks one up. Ion: These apples have the mark of Engeve on them. Luke: So, these guys did do it! Tear: I think I hear something inside this tree. Ion: Cheagles live inside tree trunks. Ion walks into the tree. Tear: Fon Master! That's too dangerous! Tear runs after him. Luke: This kid is hopeless... Luke walks after them, the whole party is then stopped by a bunch of cheagles saying mieu over and over again. Ion: Please let me through. Yellow Cheagle: Mieu mieu, mieu mieu mieu! Luke: Like the monsters are gonna understand you. Ion: The order's founder, Yulia Jue, made a pact with the cheagles and gained their aid... or so I've been told. Cheagle Elder: ...Mieu mieu. Mieu, mieu. The Cheagles break apart and let the party through. You can see an old cheagle holding a ring. Cheagle Elder: ...Are you of relation to Yulia Jue? All: (!) Luke: Whoa, that monster talked! Cheagle Elder: It is the power of the ring we were granted as part of our pact with Yulia. Are you of relation to Yulia? Ion: Yes. I'm Ion, Fon Master of the Order of Lorelei. Am I correct in assuming that you're the cheagle elder? Cheagle Elder: Indeed I am. Luke: Hey. Monster. You guys stole food from Engeve, right? Cheagle Elder: I see now. So, you've come to exterminate us. Luke: Humph. So you don't deny it. Ion: Cheagles are herbivores. Why do you need to steal human food? Cheagle Elder: ...To preserve the cheagle tribe. Tear: It doesn't look like you lack food. There's plenty of vegetation in this forest. Cheagle Elder: One of our members caused a fire in the northern region. As a result, the ligers that lived there moved down to this forest. ...In order to prey on us. Ion: Then, the reason you stole the food was so your people wouldn't be eaten. Cheagle Elder: ...Correct. If they aren't sent food periodically, we cheagles are captured and eaten. Ion: That's horrible... Luke: And totally not our problem. If you're weak, you're food. That's how it works. Besides, I'd be mad too, if you torched my land. Ion: That may be true, but this is hardly a normal food chain. Tear: Luke, we've confirmed that the thieves are cheagles. What do you want to do now? Luke: What else? We're gonna drag these guys down to Engeve and-- Tear: But if we do that, the ligers will likely attack Engeve next in search of food. Luke: I don't care what happens to that stupid village. Ion: That's not acceptable. Food from Engeve is shipped throughout the entire world--not just the Malkuth Empire. Luke: Then what do we do? Ion: Let's negotiate with the ligers. Tear: With monsters? Luke: Can those liger things talk, too? Ion: We can't talk to them directly, but if we take one of the cheagles with us as a translator... Cheagle Elder: ...Then, I shall lend this sorcerer's ring to the one who will be your interpreter. Mieu, mieu mieu mieu mieuuu. A blue cheagle bounces out at that. Luke: What the...? Cheagle Elder: This child is the one who caused the fire in the north. I want you to take him with you. The elder gives the ring to the cheagle, at first bonking it in the head, then it steps into it. Mieu: My name's Mieu. Pleased to meet you. Luke: ...Something about this thing is really annoying. Mieu: I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Luke: Argh! You're gonna drive me nuts! I should just roast you and eat you right now! Obtained Sorcerer's ring. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `More About the Cheagles' [SK012] | | Luke: These cheagles really get on my nerves. | Ion: Oh? I think they're rather cute, myself. | Tear: They're adorable. | Luke: Really? They keep on bouncing around all over the place, making | all those weird noises. I can't stand them. | Ion: I think it would be quite soothing to have a bunch just playing | all around. Though I must admit, for "sacred beasts," I was | expecting something a bit more...majestic. | Tear: I don't know...I'd say cute is best, personally. | Luke: ...Yeah, okay, whatever. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party leaves the tree. Mieu: Everyone, watch this. Mieu breathes fire. All: (!) Luke: Whoa! He breathed fire! Mieu: (squiggle) Mieu: Neat, huh? Tear: What was that? Mieu: I can breathe fire, so I'm useful for more than just interpreting. I'm going to work extra hard to make up for all the trouble I caused my friends. Ion: That's right, I'd forgotten that cheagles were a fire-breathing species. Mieu: Yes, we are! But mine is special! Tear: Special? Mieu: I'm still a child, so I can't actually breathe fire. But! Ion: But? Mieu: The Sorcerer's Ring! Thanks to that, I can breathe fire! And no matter how much fire I breathe out, I never get tired. Mieu turns around and breathes some more fire. Luke: So the Sorcerer's Ring is good for more than just translation, huh? Ion: It was originally made to amplify fonic artes. It's a type of capacity core. Tear: But a flame of that size isn't going to be of much use in battle... Mieu: Mieuuuuu... Luke: Yeah, but come on. Breathing fire! That'll be fun! Hey, you! Thing! Tear: Luke! That's horrible! Luke: Oh, shut up! It's fine for this little freak! Luke: Listen up, Thing. When I give the order, you spit fire. Got it? Mieu: ...Mieuuuu... ...Yes, sir... Mieu learned Mieu Fire. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Cheagles' Diet' [SK016] | | Tear: Hey, Mieu... I've heard that cheagles are herbivores, but what | exactly is it that you eat? | Mieu: Mieuu... Tataroo Grass, Baticul Grass, Yulia Grass, Fubras | Grass, Katz Grass... | Tear: Huh... You sure like your grass, don't you? | Mieu: Yup! But we eat mushrooms too! | Tear: Do mushrooms actually grow around here? | Mieu: Yup! There's lots of them up to the north! | Tear: That sounds interesting. Can you show me around sometime? | Mieu: Of course! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Playing With Fire' [SK015] | | Luke: C'mon, you! Fire! Fire! | Mieu: Mieuuuu... | Tear: Watch it! You very well could start a forest fire! Then what? | Luke: Forest fire? Hah hah! Like that'll ever happen. And even if it | did, it wouldn't be my fault. It's the one spewing fire all | over the place. | Mieu: Mieu?! If that happened, I'd be banished for real this time! | Tear: I can't believe I'm witnessing this level of idiocy... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads towards the river. Tear: The liger's lair is up ahead, right? Mieu: Yes. We cross the river and keep going. Luke: How are we supposed to cross the river when there's no bridge? Ion: We'll just have to wade through the river. Luke: Are you serious? My shoes, my clothes...everything'll get drenched! No way! Tear: Fine. You can stay here. Someone who cares that much about his clothing would just get in the way. Luke: Excuse me?! Luke: (angry) Luke: Hey. Thing. Breathe fire on that tree's roots. Mieu: (?) Mieu: Mieu? Luke: You heard me. Breathe fire already! Mieu: Mieu mieu mieuuuuu! Mieu uses fire on the tree. It falls making a bridge. Luke: Heh. What do you think of that? Ion: I see. The tree's roots were rotten. Excellent thinking, Luke. Luke: ...Heh. This is nothing. Tear: Indeed. Mieu is the one who deserves thanks. Luke: H-hey! Tear: I thought it was nothing for you. And stop yelling. Fon Master Ion, shall we be on our way? Ion: Oh, right. Luke, cheer up. Com on, let's get going. Mieu: Let's go. Luke: Shut up! Mieu: Mieuuuuuuuuu... The party heads further into the woods. Luke: Hey, Ion. Ion: Yes? Luke: How'd you learn strong moves like that arte you used earlier? Could I learn to do that, too? Ion: That was a Daathic fonic arte. ...You see, it's... Luke: Wait, wait, I don't need some long explanation. Just tell me if there's some easy way to get stronger. Tear: ...You're unbelievable. Luke: What? Ion: Please don't fight. I'll tell you an easy way to become stronger. Luke: Really? How? Ion: What kind of capacity core do you use, Luke? Luke: Capacity core? ...What's that? Ion: You don't know? Tear: He's somewhat ignorant about the world. Luke: Well, excuse me! Ion: Then take this, Luke. Ion gives Luke a capacity core. Luke: Is this a capacity core? Ion: Yes. You can think of it as an accessory with a fonic arte applied to it. Your body's abilities will increase in accordance with the fonic verse inscribed. These days, even regular citizens wear them as fashion accessories. Luke: So if I put this on, I can use that arte you used earlier? Ion: I'm sorry, only Fon Masters of the Order of Lorelei can use Daathic fonic artes. Luke: Oh. That sucks. Tear: But with a capacity core equipped you can learn special abilities. Use it well, and you'll be strong enough. Luke: How's it look? Ion: It looks good on you Luke. Luke: Cool. Now I can get stronger too. Tear: ...At least your muscles will. The party gets to the Liger Queen's lair. Tear: That must be the queen. Luke: The queen? Tear: Ligers live in packs formed around a giant female. Ion: Mieu, please go talk with the liger queen. Mieu: Yes, sir! Mieu: Mieu, mieu mieu mieu mieu mieu. Mieuuu mieu... The Liger queen roars at them. Mieu falls over. Ion: Are you all right? Luke: Hey, runt, what did she say? Mieu: She says her eggs are just about to hatch, so go away. Ion & Tear: (!) Mieu: Her Highness is really mad that I accidentally burned their home. Luke: Eggs?! Ligers lay eggs?! Mieu: I was born from an egg, too. A lot of monsters are born from eggs. Tear: This is bad. Ligers are more violent when they're guarding their eggs. Luke: So what, do we come back later? Ion: But if the liger eggs hatch, the young will likely swarm the village in search of food. Luke: Huh? Tear: Liger young like human flesh, so people hunt down any near cities before they can reproduce. Ion: Could you ask them to leave this land? Mieu: Y-yes, sir. Mieu, mieuu, mieu mieu.... The Liger roars again, this time it causes a boulder to drop and Luke stops it from falling on Mieu. Mieu: Th-thank you! Luke: Don't get me wrong. I wasn't protecting you. I was protecting Ion! The Liger queen approaches. Mieu: She says she's going to kill us and feed us to her children. Tear: Here she comes... Fon Master, please step back with Mieu. Luke: W-wait... If we fight here, the eggs might break. Tear: It may be cruel, but that would probably be for the best. If we leave the eggs and they hatch, the young could easily wipe Engeve out entirely. Ion: Look out! The queen! Luke: Damn it! The fight starts. After some time, the battle pauses... Luke: Hey! What the hell?! It's not dying! Tear: This isn't good. Our attacks aren't hurting it at all. Luke: So... So do something! Jade: Allow me... Tear: Who are you? Jade: Leave the inquiry for later. I'll use fonic artes to take care of this. You make sure I have time to cast. Luke: You can't order me-- Tear: Let's leave this to him. We'll buy time by taking on the liger queen. Don't let her attacks hit him. Luke: I know! I know! The battle restarts now with Jade helping out. The Liger queen eventually dies. Luke falls into a sitting position on the ground. Jade: Anise! Could I speak to you for a moment? Anise comes running in. Anise: Yes, Colonel! (heart) Did you call me? Jade whispers something to Anise. Anise: Okay...Understood. In exchange you have to keep a good eye on Ion! Luke: ...This left a bad taste in my mouth. Tear: You're quite kind. Or perhaps just soft... Luke: ...And you're cold! Jade: Oh, dear. Lover's quarrel? Luke: Shut up! Tear: Colonel Curtiss... We don't have that sort of relationship. Jade: I'm joking. And please, call me Jade. I'm not accustomed to being called by my family name. Ion: ...Jade, I'm sorry for running off and doing this. Jade: It's unlike you to do something like this when you know it's wrong. Ion: Together with Yulia, the cheagles are the foundation of the Order of Lorelei. I felt I had to take responsibility for any trouble they had caused... Jade: And that's why you used your power? Didn't the doctor tell you not to? Ion: ...I'm sorry. Jade: And you've involved civilians as well. Luke: ...Hey, old man, he's apologizing, right? Give him a break. Jade: Oh. I expected you to complain about being dragged into this. I'm a bit surprised. Tear: (So am I...) Jade: Well, we don't have much time, anyway. I'll stop the lecture at that. Ion: The letter arrived, didn't it? Jade: Yes. Now, let's go ahead and get out of this forest. Mieu jumps onto Luke's head. Mieu: No. We have to report to the elder. Jade: ...A cheagle speaking a human language? Luke steps on Mieu. A lot. Ion: It's the power of the Sorcerer's Ring. Jade, could we stop by the cheagles' home? Jade: All right. But please don't forget that we haven't much time. Ion: Luke, thank you for your help. Please join me for just a little longer. Luke kicks Mieu away. Luke: Well, I've come this far. Might as well. Jade joins the party. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Jade's True Strength' [SK013] | | Tear: That Colonel Jade is certainly quite strong. | Luke: Humph. I could've done just fine without him. You better not try | and get in my way again! I'm warning you! | Jade: I realize I may have interfered with your ambitions, but the | sight was just too much to bear. I'll refrain from "getting in | your way" in the future. In exchange, I ask that you do me the | same favor. | Luke: You stuck up piece of-- | Ion: *Cough* Well, in any case, the problem's been resolved and | nobody's hurt, right? Why not just leave it at that? | Tear: Yes. Let's go inform the Cheagle Elder and head back to Engeve. | Jade: "Resolved," indeed... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads back to the Cheagle's tree. Cheagle Elder: Mieu, mieu mieu mieu, mieu. Mieu: Mieuu, mieu mieu mieu... Jade: It's quite amusing to watch monsters talk like this. Tear: ...They're so cute! (heart) Luke: Huh? You say something? Tear: (////) Tear: ...N-no. Cheagle Elder: Mieu told me what happened. You met with great danger on our behalf. We are grateful that you have kept your promise even after 2000 years. Ion: Of course. Aiding the cheagles is part of Yulia's teaching. Cheagle Elder: But the original cause of all this was Mieu burning the ligers' home. So I will have Mieu atone for his mistake. Tear: What are you going to do? Cheagle Elder: I will exile Mieu from our tribe. Ion: That's too cruel. Cheagle Elder: Naturally, I don't mean forever. I hear that Master Luke saved Mieu's life. Cheagles do not forget their debts. Mieu will serve Master Luke for one cycle of seasons. Luke: Hey, I'm not involved in this. Cheagle Elder: Mieu insists upon accompanying you, Master Luke. I leave it up to you to decide what to do with him. Tear: Why not take him along? Luke: I don't need a pet! Ion: Cheagles are the sacred beasts of the Order of Lorelei. I'm sure he'd be well received by your family. Luke: Hmm, I guess I could give him to Guy and the others as a souvenir... Mieu: I'll do my best to be useful, Master! Luke: You're so annoying... Jade: Well, it appears his report has ended. Let's leave the forest. Luke: ...Humph. Who died and made him boss? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Mieu's One of Us!' [SK014] | | Tear: Luke, can't you walk a little slower? Mieu can't keep up. | Luke: Humph! Why do we have to slow down for that thing? | Mieu: *Huff* *huff* Don't worry, *huff* Tear. *huff* I'm okay. *huff* | Luke: See? Even he says he's fine! | Tear: Why do you have to be so mean? Can't you treat Mieu like one of | us? | Luke: One of us?! He's the most annoying thing I've ever seen! | Mieu: Oh, please don't fight! | Luke: Shut up already! It's your fault in the first place for burning | up the ligers' home! If you hadn't done that, the liger queen | could've hatched her eggs without bothering anybody, and | everything would've been fine! You got that? Huh?! | Mieu: Mieu... | Ion: Now, now...I'm sure Mieu understands the gravity of what he's | done. | Tear: You could stand to be a bit more mature, Luke. | Luke: ...Yeah, yeah. | Jade: Well, now that that's cleared up, shall we be going? | Luke: Little son of a.... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads back to the entrance of the woods. Luke: Hey, isn't that your bodyguard? Ion: Yes, that's Anise. Ion, Luke & Tear: (!) Anise: Welcome back! (heart) Jade: Greetings, Anise. What's the status of the Tartarus? Anise: It's in front of the forest, just like you asked. You said to hurry, so we came as fast as we could! (heart) Luke: Hey! What's going on? Jade: Restrain those two. They're the ones who've been emitting the Seventh Fonons. Ion: Jade! Don't do anything to hurt them... Jade: Don't worry. We won't kill them. Assuming they don't resist. Luke & Tear: (...) Jade: Be good, kids. Take them away! Aboard the Tartarus. Jade: The Seventh Fonon hyperresonance came from the direction of the capital of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear and converged inside Malkuth territory near Tataroo Valley. Now, if you two were the source of that hyperresonance, that would make you guilty of illegally crossing the border into our country, wouldn't it? Luke: Jeez, you're obnoxious. Anise: Heh heh, he called you obnoxious. (heart) Jade: I'm terribly hurt. But moving on, Tear, we already know you're with the Oracle Knights. But what about you, Luke? What's your full name? Luke: Luke fon Fabre. I'm the Luke you idiots tried to kidnap. Anise & Ion: (!) Jade: The son of Duke Fabre, who married into the Kimlascan royal family? Anise: A Duke? (heart) Ohhh... (heart) Jade: Why are you in Malkuth? And what's this about a kidnapping? That doesn't sound very pleasant. Tear: We're here only because our Seventh Fonons caused a hyperresonance. It wasn't an act of aggression against Malkuth by House Fabre. Ion: Colonel, I believe Tear is telling the truth. I don't feel any hostility from him. Jade: Yes. It does seem he's lived a sheltered life, completely ignorant of the world outside. Luke: Humph. Fine, make fun of me. Ion: Actually, why don't we ask for their help? Jade: We're headed for Kimlasca under orders from His Majesty, Peony the Ninth, Emperor of Malkuth. Tear: To declare war...? Luke: Wait, what? Are you saying a war's gonna start?! Anise: You've got it backwards, Luke! We're trying to prevent a war from breaking out. Jade: Anise, that's not public information. Luke: Trying to prevent a war...? Are relations between Kimlasca and Malkuth really that bad? Tear: I think you're the only one who doesn't know. Luke: ...You know, you're obnoxious, too. Jade: We're going to release you now. I'll grant you permission to enter any area you wish, apart from those containing military secrets. Luke & Tear: (!) Jade: First, learn a little about us. Then, if you feel you can trust us, we'd like to ask your help. So that we might prevent this war. Luke: If you want us to help you, why don't you just tell us what's going on? Jade: If we were to explain and then you decided not to cooperate with us, we would be forced to hold you captive. Luke: What...?! Jade: This matter is a state secret. That's why I'm urging you to make up your mind first. I hope we have your understanding. Jade departs. Ion: I'm sure they'll tell you the details after you agree to help. I'll be waiting. Ion departs. Anise: Luke... (heart) I'd so love to go places with you. (heart) Marco: Please come talk to me if you're willing to assist the Colonel. Tear: Why don't we take a walk around the ship? I think even you'll start to get an idea of what's going on in the world. Mieu: Let's go exploring, Master! Luke: *Sigh* +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Unfair Treatment' [SK020] | | Luke: Dammit, Jade... That bastard! I wouldn't have bothered with the | Cheagle Woods if I knew about this! | Tear: From what he was saying, it sounds like they've had their eyes | on us the whole time. We would've been captured one way or the | other. | Luke: But I didn't do anything! They don't have any right to treat me | like this! | Tear: Still, there are advantages to siding with them while we're in | Malkuth. You won't have to hide your identity, for one thing. | Luke: Whatever! It's all your fault anyway. Ever since you came, it's | been nothing but trouble! *Sigh* I want to go home already... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party walks up to Anise, who is standing by the exit of the cabin. Anise: Hey, Luke! (heart) I can show you around if you like! (heart) Um...Maybe I would just get in the way... Tear: Not at all. We'd appreciate it. Luke: Wow, so you do actually smile on occasion. Tear: ...Excuse me? Anise: Oh! Please don't fight. (heart) Come on, Luke! Let's go! (heart) Anise joins the party. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Tartarus' [SK021] | | Anise: So, Luke...(heart) Where do you want to go? | Luke: Where? Well, uh, I don't know anything about this ship, so... | What's on it? | Anise: Let's see... There's the bridge, there's the lounge where all | the soldiers relax, and there's a cafeteria too. ...Well, a | small one, anyway. Then there's the big room they use for | meetings, and a bunch of rooms for everyone to sleep in. | Luke: That's it? Doesn't sound very interesting. | Anise: Well, the Tartarus is a battleship, so it can't really compare | to a cruise liner... Oh! How about the engine room? It's great | if you're into fontech. | Luke: Uh, no, that's okay. I don't know any of that stuff anyway. | Anise: Oh, and the Colonel might not want you going to the bridge or | the engine room, so... | Luke: So basically, all I can do is wander around the hallways. Yeah, | great place... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Outside of the cabin, Luke is looking up at the lights. Luke: Huh? What's that? Tear: It's a fonstone. They're making it glow by heating it. They must use it for lighting here. Luke: Fonstones are those glass rocks floating up in the sky, right? Tear: Fonstones are sacred stones created when the Score is read. Don't call them "glass". Luke: All right, all right.... Inside the next cabin over from the one Luke and Tear were in, a soldier is trying to light a fire with his hand. Anise: Gah! Recruit Tony! Did you do it again?! Tony: I-I'm sorry! Luke: What were you doing? Tony: I want to become a fonist, so I was practicing fonic artes. Fonic artes are big in our country, so a soldier who cannot use them is an embarrassment... Luke: How do you use fonic artes, anyway? Can I use it, too? Tony: You take fonons from the fon belt into your body and then collide your fonon frequency with their own, generating special power. Luke: (?) Tear: The fon belt is a layer of fonons that surrounds the planet. There are six fonon elements in all. By opening your body's fon slots, you draw in fonons and then join them together using a fon verse... Luke: Huh? I have no idea what the hell you're talking about! Anise: Okay. Basically, a fonic arte uses a spell--a "fon verse"--to control elemental powers call "fonons." Tony: It's very difficult. Colonel Jade can do it as if it were nothing. He's a genius. The party explores some more, ending up on deck and meeting up with Ion. Ion: I'm sorry for getting you involved in this. Luke: No kidding. If you'd at least tell me what's going on.... Ion: I'm afraid I'm influencing the situation as well. That's why Jade is being so cautious. Luke: Because the Order of Lorelei is acting as a go-between? Ion: Yes, that's part of it, but... I'm afraid I can't tell you yet. Luke: Ugh. This is such a pain. The party then finds Jade on the deck. Jade: Well, well, Luke. A lovely lady on each arm? Tear: (////) Anise: Oh, Colonel... (heart) Tear: I...I'm not... We're not... Luke: He's not talking about you. He must mean Anise and Mieu. Tear: (...) Mieu: But Master, I'm a boy! Luke: You sure as hell don't sound like one! Jade: Now, now, settle down. By the way, what's this about a "kidnapping" you mentioned earlier? Luke: How should I know? You people from Malkuth are the ones who kidnapped me! Jade: ...Well, I'm afraid I don't know anything about it. Did it happen during the previous Emperor's reign? Luke: Humph. Beats me. Thanks to that, I lost all my childhood memories. Jade: (...) Jade: I'm sure you have your grievances, but I do hope that we can obtain your cooperation. The party then heads back to the original cabin to talk with Marco. Marco: Do you wish to speak with Colonel Jade? Luke: Yeah Marco: Understood. Tear: Are you sure? Luke: We won't get anywhere if we don't hear what he has to say. I've been locked up till not anyway. As long as they take me to Baticul, I don't care. Tear: ...You don't take anything seriously... Luke: Shut up already! The scene fades out. Jade and Ion are back in the cabin again. Jade: Small, localized conflicts have broken out recently. It's likely those will soon escalate into full-scale war. After all, the truce for the Hod War is only 15 years old. Ion: Emperor Peony has written a letter proposing a formal peace treaty. They requested my aid as a neutral ambassador. Luke: If that's the case, then why do people think you've gone missing? Master Van went looking for you, you know! Ion: That's due to matters within the Order of Lorelei. Jade: A conflict is unfolding between the reformist Fon Master faction, centered around Ion, and the conservative Grand Maestro faction, centered around Grand Maestro Mohs. Ion: Mohs is looking for a war. I managed to escape from Mohs' custody with the help of the Malkuth military. Tear: Fon Master Ion! There must be some mistake. Grand Maestro Mohs would never desire such a thing. Mohs prays only for the fulfillment of the Score. Anise: Tear, you're with the Grand Maestro faction? No way... Tear: I'm neutral. Yulia's Score is important, but so are the Fon Master's wishes. Luke: Hey, guys! Hello! You want to slow down so I can follow? Jade: My apologies. I'd forgotten the young master here hasn't a clue about the world around him. Luke: ...What did you say? Ion: Regardless of the state of affairs within the Order, I must deliver this letter to Kimlasca. Jade: But we're the soldiers of an enemy nation. Even as emissaries of peace, it won't be easy for us to cross the border. If we delay, the Grand Maestro faction will catch up with us and interfere. That is why we need your help... Well, really, we just need your social status. Luke: Oh, I'm hurt, gramps. Is that all I'm good for? And didn't anyone ever teach you to bow your head in respect when asking someone for a favor? Tear: Don't act like that, Luke. You don't want a war, either, do you? Luke: Would you shut up already? ...Well? Jade: *Sigh* Jade actually bows to one knee. Marco: Commander! Jade: Master Luke, please grant us your aid. Luke: Man, do you have any pride? Jade: None so cheap as to be shaken by something as petty as this, sir. Luke: ...Tch. Fine, whatever. You just need me to talk to my uncle, right? Jade gets up. Jade: You have my deepest gratitude. Now by your leave, Master Luke, I must attend to other matters. Luke: Stop calling me "Master". Coming from you, it's just...wrong. Jade: As you wish, "Master" Luke. Jade walks out. Marco follows him. Luke and Tear speak with Ion. Luke: If you were on an important mission like this, why the heck did you get involved in the mess at Engeve? Ion: Cheagles are considered sacred to the Order. And the letter I was supposed to receive in Engeve was late, anyway, so... Luke: You sure like sticking your neck out for people. Tear: He's the total opposite of you. Luke: Do you have to be a jerk about everything?! Tear: I could ask you the same thing. Ion: Please, don't fight... The party goes to leave the cabin. Ion: Complicated discussions are tiring. I'm going out to get some air. Ion leaves the cabin. The party leaves soon after, and see Jade in the hallway. Jade: Yes? Do you need something? An alarm suddenly goes off. Tear: Are we under attack? Anise: Oh, no! Luke, what should we do?! Tear: (...) Jade: Bridge! What's going on? Soldier on bridge: A large flock of griffins 20 kilometers ahead! Total number unknown! Contact in approximately 10 minutes! Commander, requesting permission to open fire with all cannons. Jade: You're the captain. The ship is yours. Soldier on bridge: Understood, Sir! Soldier on bridge: Large swarm of monsters 20 kilometers ahead. All hands, battle stations! Repeat! All hands, battle stations! Jade: You three, return to your cabin. Luke: Huh? It's just some monsters. Tear: Griffins don't normally work in groups. It's dangerous when monsters act unusually. The whole room shakes and tilts over a bit. Jade: What's wrong? Soldier on bridge: Ligers are dropping from the griffins! They're clinging to the hull and attacking! Engineering is--Uaaah! Jade: Bridge! Respond! Bridge! Luke: Ligers are those monsters we killed at the cheagles' place, right? Mieu: Yes... Luke: You're kidding! There's a whole horde of those things here?! We're dead if we stay on this ship! Let me off of this thing! Luke tries to run away. Tear: Stop! It's dangerous to go outside now! A mysterious man in red and black and a large scythe come in with two soldiers. ???: That's right. Jade is casting a fonic arte. Mieu: Master! Jade uses the arte on the two soldiers and they disappear. The man uses something. Luke dodges, but gets caught under the man's scythe. ???: ...Impressive. But it's time for you to calm down. Now. Colonel Jade Curtiss, Commander of the Third Division of the Malkuth Imperial Forces...Or maybe just, "Jade the Necromancer." Tear: Jade the Necromancer...! You?! Jade received the Necromancer title. Jade: Well, well. It seems I'm famous. ???: Rumors have spread far and wide--how you scavenge corpses after every battle. Jade: Oh, but my stories have nothing on yours, sir. "Largo the Black Lion." One of the Six God-Generals of the Oracle Knights. Largo: Heh... I've been waiting for a chance to cross blades with you, but, unfortunately, right now I must retrieve Fon Master Ion. Jade: I'm afraid I can't allow that. Largo: Hey! Don't move, unless you want this boy's head to roll. Tear: ... Largo: Jade the Necromancer... Letting you go now will only mean trouble later. Jade: Do you think you can kill me by yourself? Largo holds out a small box in his hand. Largo: If I seal your fonic artes. Largo throws the box, which sets off a barrier around Jade. Tear: A fon slot seal?! Largo: I brought that here to seal the Fon Master's fonic artes. I didn't expect to wind up using it like this. Jade: Argh... Largo and Jade go after each other with their weapons. Both miss. Jade: Mieu! Fifth Fonon at the ceiling! Hurry! Mieu: Y-yes, sir! Jade: Now! Anise! Get Ion! Anise goes running by. Anise: I'm on it! Jade: I trust you know where to meet... Anise: Don’t worry. Largo: Oh, no you don't! Tear casts nightmare. Jade stabs Largo as Luke watches in shock. Luke: ...H-he stabbed him... Jade: Anise will take care of Ion. We'll take back the bridge. Tear: But your artes are sealed... Jade: Indeed. It's likely to take several months to undo this fon slot seal. But as long as we have your hymns and Luke's sword, we can still take back the Tartarus. Tear: All right. Luke, let's go. Tear: Luke! Luke: (!) Luke: Right... Luke, Jade, and Tear depart for the bridge. Monsters can be seen everywhere +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Fighting for Our Lives?' [SK022] | | Luke: That Largo or whoever... Is he dead? | Jade: Well, that was certainly my intent. He could prove rather | problematic if he's still around. | Luke: But you didn't have to kill him... | Jade: So our enemies are free to kill us, but we should spare their | lives? I'm afraid I don't quite follow that logic. | Tear: Luke, this isn't a simple training exercise. We can't afford to | worry about the lives of our enemies. | Luke: But...! | Jade: I'm sure they're prepared to give their lives for their mission. | That's the duty of a soldier, after all... To give your life | for a greater cause. Though it seems those of a certain House | of Kimlasca do not share the same dedication. | Luke: That's not what I'm saying! Dammit! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party reaches the bridge, Tear uses a hymn on the guard. Luke: ...He's out like a light. Mieu: Tear, you're amazing! Jade: Let's take back the Tartarus. Tear, if you'd assist me. Tear: Right. Luke: Hey, what do I do? Tear: You stand watch here. Luke: ...Humph. More like "stay out of the way." Luke bends down to look at the soldier. Luke: How come that attack made him fall asleep, anyway? Mieu: Tear's fonic hymns use the Seventh Fonon! Luke: Here we go again. What the heck is a "Seventh Fonon"? Mieu: You don't know? It's the seventh known fonon. It's the fonon of sound. It was just discovered. The Score is made up of the Seventh Fonon, too. It's really special! Luke: Gaaah, your voice drives me up the wall! Mieu: Sorryyyyyyyy! Mieu accidentally breathes fire on the sleeping solder. Luke: Damn, that scared the hell out of me. Go back to sleep! Luke kicks the soldier, who wakes up. Luke: Wh-whoa, he got up... Soldier: ...Die! Luke: Aah! S-stay back! A fight breaks out. As it comes time to give the final blow, Luke gets scared. Luke: Aaah! Don't come any closer. Luke accidentally stabs the soldier too hard. Tear and Jade come out. Tear: What happened?! Jade: This is bad... The commotion has caused the fonic hymn to weaken. Luke: I...I stabbed him... I...killed him... ???: If you're scared of killing, then throw away your sword, you worthless reject! Icicles appear from above. A red haired man appears after they shower Luke. Luke can't see the man, but Jade gets a good look at him. ???: And you're as hard to kill as they say, Necromancer. Jade: ... Soldier: Captain, what shall we do with them? ???: Kill them. Another woman can be seen from behind the soldier. ???: Asch. Have you forgotten your orders? Or have you just decided to ignore them? The strange sound that Luke hears can be heard. Asch grabs his arm. Asch: Fine. Restrain them and lock them in a cabin somewhere! Asch turns and walks onto the bridge. In Luke's head: Luke...Heed...my voice...! Luke...! The scene then fades to a cabin. Luke is lying on a bed. Tear: Luke! Tear: ...Thank goodness. You were moaning in your sleep. Luke: ...Where am I? Jade: In a cabin, onboard the Tartarus. Luke: That's right... Monsters attacked, and then... Luke: (!) Luke: (I...I killed someone?!) Jade: All right, we need to get out of here and rescue Ion. Tear: It looked like they took Ion away... Jade: From what we overheard the Oracle Knights saying, it sounds like they'll be returning to the Tartarus. We'll ambush them and rescue him then. Luke: W-wait! If you do that, there'll be more fighting! Tear: Yes, what about it? Luke: We might end up killing people again! Tear: ...That can't be helped. Luke: (!) Tear: They'll kill us if we don't kill them first. Luke: Wh-what are you saying?! We're talking about human lives! Jade: Yes. Human life is a valuable thing. But if we sit here and do nothing, a war will start and even more people will die. Tear: Right now, this is our battlefield. There's no good or evil here. Just life or death. Luke: ...! Tear: There's danger even in normal life. One could be attacked by monsters or bandits... Those who lack strength do things like hire mercenaries, band together, and travel by coach. Those with the strength to fight, do. Sometimes even children. They do what they must in order to survive. Luke: That's got nothing to do with me! I didn't know anything about that, and I didn't come here because I wanted to! Jade: Astonishing. What kind of environment must one grow up in to be this ignorant of the situation...? Tear: Ever since the Malkuth attempt to kidnap him, he's been forbidden to leave his manor for his own safety. Jade: I see...Then I suppose it's natural for him not to know anything about the world... Luke: I can't help it! I don't have memories of my childhood! I don't know anything! Tear: It's my responsibility that all of this happened, so I promise I'm going to get you back home. Luke: .... Tear: In return, don't get in our way. If you're not willing to fight, you're only going to be a burden. Luke: ...I didn't say I wouldn't fight! I just don't want to kill anyone. Tear: It's the same thing. Right now, fighting means fighting against the human beings who took the Tartarus. If you don't want to kill the enemy, then stay hidden behind us. Luke: ...I'm just saying, let's not fight any more than we have to. I don't want to die, either. Tear: It's not like I...! It's not like I'm killing people because I want to. Jade: So, you're going to fight? I'll be counting on you as part of our force. Luke: I said I will. Jade: Good. Jade tosses something out through the bars and runs to the communications unit. Jade: By my name as Necromancer, heed my command. On the bridge. Jade: Initiate emergency plan, "Corpse Hunt." The power on the ship goes out. ???: Wh-what happened...? Soldier: Power systems down! Controls down! The Tartarus is completely inoperable! The scene then fades back to the party. Jade: It's an emergency shutdown system I set up in advance. It should take them some time to recover. Luke: Wow... Tear: Where should we head from here? Jade: Go to the port hatch. During an emergency shutdown, that's the only one that will open. The Oracle Knights holding Ion should try to enter from there as well. Luke: But they took away our weapons... Tear: They're probably still nearby. Let's look for them. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Fighting for Our Lives' [SK025] | | Tear: Luke, get a hold of yourself! Your life depends on it. | Luke: I said I'm fighting! It's just...I feel bad, that's all. | Jade: Feeling for those you've slain is an admirable trait...but only | if it doesn't become a hindrance. | Luke: Shut up... | Jade: Are you afraid? | Luke: I said shut up already! You want to know if I'm afraid? If I'll | get in the way? Let's go, and I'll show you! | Jade: If your performance lives up to your words, I'll have no | complaints whatsoever. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party looks for their equipment and soon finds it. Luke: Wow, they didn't take them very far. And they aren't even guarding them. Jade: I imagine they were guarding them originally. Right now, they're probably busy trying to revive the Tartarus. Luke: (...) Tear: Let's go. Recovered equipment. The party approaches the elevator. Tear: (...) Tear: ...The elevator isn't working. Jade: I expected as much. Luke: What do we do? Is there any other way out? Jade: Somewhere in one of these rooms should be something fun we can use to escape. Luke & Tear: (?) Luke: "Something fun?" Tear: Colonel, what are you talking about? Jade: It wouldn't be as fun if I told you, now would it? Let's search the rooms around here. Tear: O-okay! Luke: ...I sure hope nobody spots us. The party enters a cabin with a bunch of boxes in it. Jade: Ah, here we are. We'll find our something fun in the back, behind these boxes. Tear: So, we just need to move these boxes, then? Tear goes to move the boxes. Jade: That's right. By the way, Luke, I can't say I think much of you forcing a woman to do the heavy lifting. Tear: I'm fine, Colonel. Jade: Or do rich aristocratic boys lack any muscles? *Sigh* And here I thought even your brain was made of muscle. Luke: What did you say?! Luke: (sweating) Luke: Wait a minute. You're a guy, too. You help out. Jade: No, I'd rather not. You're younger than I am, after all. At my age, all my joints ache.... Luke: (angry) Luke: ...Fine, whatever. Out of the way. I'll do it. Tear: (////) Tear: Th-thanks... Mieu: You can do it, Master! Luke: I thought I told you to shut up! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Six God-Generals' [SK026] | | Jade: Let's get moving. We don't know how many of the Six God-Generals | attacked the Tartarus. | Luke: Are there more here besides that Largo the Black Lion you took | down before? | Jade: At least three. One controlling the ligers and griffins, and the | ones that attacked us at the bridge. | Tear: We have no chance against them like this. Granted they took us | by surprise, but we were still both downed in an instant... | Jade: If we can take them by surprise instead, like with Largo, things | would be different...but we can't count on that happening | again. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Hurry!' [SK028] | | Jade: We haven't got time for detours. We have to get into position | before those Oracle guys get back. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke moves some boxes. Jade: Here it is. Luke: (?) Luke: This is your "something fun"? Tear: Colonel, is that gunpowder? Luke: Gunpowder?! Why is THAT here? Jade: A group of soldiers aboard this ship had been pilfering supplies to sell on their own. I discovered that they'd been hiding gunpowder here. Though, this commotion has made my investigation pointless. Tear: I see. So we're going to ignite this and destroy the wall. Luke: Are you serious? You sure that's going to be okay? Jade: We'll be fine as long as we're not caught in the explosion. Now, let's hurry. Tear: Do we light it with a fonic arte? Jade: No, we light it with Mieu. You're on, Mieu! Mieu: Yes, sir! Luke: (sweating) Luke: Whoa! Wait a-- Mieu ignites the gunpowder, causing a small explosion. Luke: Jeez...! You could've waited half a second! Mieu: Mieuuu... I'm sorry, Master. Jade: No, that was perfect, Mieu. Now, let us be going. Luke: R-right... Luke: (...) Luke: (How can those two watch an explosion go off right in their faces? I swear, they're not human.) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What Are They Trying to Do?' [SK023] | | Luke: What are these guys trying to accomplish by kidnapping Ion? | Tear: Well, Ion is working to avoid war... So perhaps they're trying | to disrupt the peace talks? | Jade: Given Ion's influence on both Kimlasca and Malkuth, his presence | is critical to the peace process. Preventing him from reaching | Baticul would certainly be the most direct and effective method | to disrupt that process. But attacking a Malkuth military | vessel just for that...? It makes me wonder. | Tear: You think there could be more to it? | Luke: What do you mean? | Jade: Enough idle conjecture. Let's discuss this after we've taken | care of the present situation. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes to exit via the port hatch. Jade: It looks like we made it in time. There they are. Luke: Have they realized the Tartarus did an emergency shutdown? Jade: I'd be rather surprised if they haven't. More importantly, we can't use fonic artes. There's no time for casting. Luke: It's not like you can use any decent fonic artes anyway, with that fon slot seal. Tear: How can you say things like that? The Colonel's been working hard to undo the fon slot seal. Jade: I don't mind. It's the truth. ???: Open the emergency hatch. Soldier: Right away. The soldier opens the hatch, and see Luke. Luke holds up Mieu in the air. Luke: Fire! Now! Mieu breathes fire on the soldier. ???: Jade Curtiss... You're a force to be reckoned with, even with your fonic artes sealed. Jade: That's quite a compliment. I'm honored. Now, throw down your weapons. Luke hits the soldier with Mieu. The woman drops her guns. Jade: Tear! Your fonic hymn! ???: Tear...? Tear Grants! Tear can be seen from the bottom of the stairs. She looks surprised to see the woman. Tear: Major Legretta! A lightning bolt almost hits tear. Legretta gets her guns and gets back by Ion. The soldier is holding a sword to Luke. Mieu: Master...we're surrounded! Legretta: Arietta! What's happened to the Tartarus? Arietta: It's still inoperable... I was only able to get this far because my friend tore open the wall. Legretta: Good work. Restrain them and-- Someone else jumps in out of nowhere, grabs Ion, and runs. Guy: Enter the amazing Guy! Arietta: Aah! Legretta: Arietta! Jade quickly grabs Arietta and holds a spear to her. Jade: Now, drop your weapons once more and go back inside the Tartarus. Legretta walks back inside. Jade looks down to Arietta. Jade: You're next. Take your monster inside. Arietta: Fon Master... I...I... Ion: Please do as he says. Arietta. Arietta goes back inside and takes the liger with her. Jade: All of the hatches should stay closed for a while. Luke: Whew. Thank goodness.... Good timing, Guy! Guy: I looked all over for you. Never thought you'd turn up in a place like this! Jade: By the way, Ion, where's Anise? Ion: The enemy stole the emperor's letter. Anise went to get it back, but a monster knocked her out of a porthole. But I heard soldiers say they couldn't find the body, so I'm hoping she's all right... Jade: Then let's head for Saint Binah. That's our rendezvous point with Anise. Luke: Saint Binah? Ion: It's a city to the southeast of here. Luke: Okay. We just need to make it there, right? Guy: What about your troops? They're still inside this ship, right? Jade: I can't imagine there being any survivors. If they left any witnesses, it would lead to war between the Order of Lorelei and Malkuth. Luke: ...How many people were onboard? Jade: This was a top secret mission, so only half the usual number--around 140. Guy: Over a hundred people were killed... Tear: Let's get going. If we get caught here, the war that follows will claim the lives of many more. Guy joined the party. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Luke's Grand Adventure' [SK027] | | Guy: Looks like things have been pretty tough for you, huh, Luke? | Luke: Yeah, no kidding. It's just been one thing after another. | Guy: Heh heh heh. "Luke's Grand Adventure"... | Luke: Hey, this isn't a joke here! | Guy: Well, everything's mostly taken care of, right? We'll have you | back in Baticul in no time. | Luke: I sure hope so... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads towards St. Binah along a road in the countryside... Luke: Hey, you okay? Jade: Ion...you used Daathic fonic artes aboard the Tartarus, didn't you? Luke: That thing you did back at the cheagles' place? Ion: I'm sorry. My body just isn't built to use Daathic fonic artes... A fair bit of time has passed, so I thought I'd recovered, but... Jade: Let's rest for a while. At this rate, we risk shortening Ion's life. Later... Guy: ...So, you're an emissary on a mission to prevent war. But why would Mohs wants to start a way anyway? Ion: I'm afraid that's confidential to the Order. I can't talk about it. Luke: Oh, come on. Jade: Whatever his reasons, this war must be avoided. We won't let Mohs interfere. Guy: You've sure gotten yourself wrapped up in a mess here, Luke... Ion: By the way, who are you? Guy: Oh, right. I haven't introduced myself, have I? I'm Guy. I'm a servant in Duke Fabre's manor. Guy smiles and shakes hands with Jade and Ion. When Tear tries to shake hands with him, Guy freaks out. Ion & Jade: (...) Tear: (?) Tear: ...What? Guy: Aaaah! Ion & Tear: (...) Luke: Guy doesn't like women. Jade: I'd say it looks more like a phobia. Guy: S-sorry... It's nothing personal... It's just... Tear: If it helps, you don't have to think of me as a woman. Tear walks closer to Guy to try again. Guy matches he step for step in backing away, still scared. Tear: (...) Tear: ...Fine. I'll be sure to keep my distance. Will that take care of it? Guy: Sorry... Later... Jade: If you serve House Fabre, you must be from Kimlasca. Did you come looking for Luke? Guy: Yes, under orders from Duke Fabre. We knew he'd disappeared into Malkuth territory. I went by land from Chesedonia, while Dorian General Grants crossed the sea and started searching from Kaitzur. Luke & Tear: (!) Luke: Master Van's looking for me too?! Tear: ...My brother's here? Guy: Your brother? You mean... Soldiers appear. Jade pulls out his spear. Jade: Oh, dear. It looks like we've run out of time to chat. Luke: Th-those are people... Tear: Luke, stay back! You know you won't be able to kill them! Soldier: You won't get away! Battle ensues. The party wins. Luke is faced with the last one. Jade: Luke, finish him! Luke attempts to kill the soldier, but pauses. Luke: ...Ugh... The soldier uses the opportunity to knock Luke's sword away, gaining advantage. Guy: Luke, snap out of it! The soldier tries to kill Luke. Guy and Tear try to stop it. Tear gets there first and gets grazed by the soldier's sword. Luke: Tear...I-I... Tear: ...You idiot. Luke received the Frightful One title. The scenes fades to nighttime. The party sits around a campfire. Luke can talk with each party member. Ion... Ion: For Jade and Tear, fighting is their job, so the things they say can sound a bit extreme. You're a civilian, so I think your hesitation and concern are to be expected. Luke: Does it...not bother you that your subordinates kill people? Isn't it your job to save people? Ion: It can't be helped. Sadly, the Order of Lorelei has stopped being a religion of life. You'll see soon enough. Jade... Jade: Why so serious? Luke: Why did you become a soldier, Jade? Jade: ...Are you scared of killing people? Luke: ... Jade: I think your reaction is really quite natural. The world could probably benefit from having fewer soldiers anyway. Luke: I don't know what I should do... Jade: Relax. You'll be protected until we arrive at Baticul. We'd be in quite a bind if you died on us. Luke: Stop making fun of me! Jade: But I'm not. There's no shame in running or protecting your own life. Live a safe life inside a safe city, and hire guards when you're forced to leave it. That's how normal people live. Guy... Guy: It must have been tough for you, suddenly thrown out into the world like this. Luke: I...I had no idea things were this bad outside of the city. Guy: Sometimes, you can earn bounties for killing monsters and bandits. Outside the towns, killing people isn't considered a crime, as long as it's not proven to be for personal malice. Luke: How many people have you killed? Guy: Who knows? Less than that soldier right there, I imagine. Luke: ...Aren't you scared? Guy: Of course I'm scared. That's why I fight. Because I don't want to die. I still have things to do. Luke: Like what? Guy: ...Revenge. Luke: Huh? Guy: ...Just kidding. Tear... Tear: Are you sure you're all right? Luke: Huh...? Tear: The fighting was hard on you, wasn't it? I knew you were a civilian, but it seems I didn't really understand what that meant. I'm sorry. Luke: Wh-why are you apologizing? You're the one who got hurt. Tear: As long as I'm a soldier, it's my duty to protect civilians. Getting injured in the process merely means I wasn't strong enough. That's all. Luke: ...You're weird. To me, it just sounds like you're just trying to sound tough. Tear: Th-that's not true! Luke: Uh huh... Luke then talks to Mieu and chooses to call it a night. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Luke's Diary' [SK044] | | Mieu: Master, are you writing in your diary again? | Luke: ...Yeah, but not because I want to. It's because Mother and | everyone else will get all worried if I don't. | Mieu: I'll help too! | Luke: Huh? How the hell are you going to help? | Mieu: I know how to write the Fonic alphabet! | Luke: ...All right, let's see it. | Mieu: Ummm... Today...Master...called...me..."Thing"...38...times. | Luke: ...Hey, Thing! You're not supposed to keep count! | Mieu: Mieuuu... Make that 39... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Next morning... Tear: Luke, wake up. It's time to get going. Luke: Are you all right to be moving around? Tear: ...Yes. Thank you for your concern. Jade: Tear, Guy, and I will take up a triangle formation. You'll stay in the center with Ion and defend yourself if necessary. Luke: What? Guy: In other words, you don't have to fight, Luke. Come on. Let's get going. The rest of the party starts to walk onwards. Luke: W-wait a minute! Ion: What is it? Luke: ...I'll fight too. Jade: Aren't you afraid of killing? Luke: ...Of course not! Tear: You shouldn't force yourself, Luke. Luke: I'm serious! I mean, okay, yeah, I'm a little scared, but... If I have to fight to survive, then that's what I'll do. I'm not gonna hide in the corner! Mieu: I'm so proud of you, Master! Luke: Would you shut up! Anyway, I've made up my mind. From now on, I fight. Without hesitation. Tear walks over to Luke. She looks him in the eye and speaks gravely. Tear: ...To kill someone means to rob them of their future. Even if it is to protect yourself. Guy: ...And it can earn you the hatred of others. Tear: Are you prepared to deal with that? Can you face that responsibility? Without running away? Without making excuses? Luke: You said yourself, you aren't killing people because you want to. ...I've made up my mind. I'm not here just to be a burden. I'm gonna take responsibility, too. Tear: But... Jade: I don't see any problem with that. We'll give Luke a chance to show us his resolve. Guy: Just don't push yourself too hard, Luke. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Kill Or...' [SK030] | | Mieu: Master, are you okay? Isn't the fighting wearing you down? | Luke: Shut up! I said I'm fine! If it's kill or be killed, then | dammit, I'm killing! End of story! You got that?! | Mieu: Mieuuuu... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Is Anise Safe?' [SK029] | | Tear: I hope Anise is all right... | Luke: Yeah, it sounds like she fell from pretty high up... | Jade: She'll be fine. This is Anise we're talking about. | Ion: True... I can't imagine Anise not being safe. | Guy: This "Anise" sounds pretty incredible. | Jade: Hah hah hah... She's indeed a very cute and perky little girl. | Ion: Yes. She's very dependable. | Luke: Really? She sure didn't look it to me. | Jade: Well, as they say, you can't always judge a book by its cover. | Luke: ...Why does that sound like it's pointed at me? | Jade: It's just your imagination, Luke. Anyway, enough chitchat for | now. Shall we be going? | Ion: Yes, let's go. | [Luke, Tear, Jade & Ion leave.] | Guy: ...So why is everyone assuming this Anise girl is all right? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SB1} \ >>> St. Binah \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party arrives to find Oracle Soldiers at the gates. Luke: Why are the Oracle Knights here? Guy: St. Binah's the closest city to the Tartarus. They probably expected us to stop here. Jade: For a Kimlascan, you're certainly familiar with Malkuth geography, Guy. Guy: I like reading about vacation spots. Jade: Oh, I see. How nice. Tear: Colonel, look. A cart pulls up. Man: We're from Engeve. We're here to fulfill a purchase order for food supplies. Soldier: You may pass. Man: There's one more wagon after this one. The soldier waves the cart past. Jade: How convenient. Guy: We're going to stop the second one and hitch a ride, huh? Ion: Let's go back down the road toward Engeve a little ways. Tear: Yes, let's. Everyone but Luke walks off. Luke: Hey, quit making plans without talking to me first! Tear comes back. Tear: Grow up. Luke: (...) Later... Luke: Stop the wagon! Rose: Colonel Curtiss! And you're...Luke, was it? Luke: Sorry about this, but do you think you could hide us in your wagon? Guy: We'd like to enter St. Binah, but a group of malcontents chasing Fon Master Ion are guarding the entrance. Could we ask for your assistance? Rose: Goodness. My birthday Score didn't say anything about something like this happening. Tear: Please. Rose: Okay. We owe you for the trouble caused with all the mistaken thief nonsense. Hop in. Jade: Thank you. Back at the city gates... Rose: We're from Engeve. One wagon should have already arrived. Soldier: Right. Go on in. Rose: Thank you. Inside town... Rose: Well, this is where we part ways. Ion: Thank you for your help. Tear: Yes, thank you. Rose: Don't mention it. Take care, now. Rose walks off. Luke: So, Anise is here, right? Jade: She's to meet us at the Malkuth military base. If she's still alive, that is. Luke: Do you really have to say things like that? Let's go. Tear: Try not to do anything to draw the attention of the Oracle Knights. Luke: I know, I know. You don't have to tell me every little thing. Guy: Hmm? She's already got you whipped, huh, Luke? Princess Natalia's going to be jealous. Tear: (...) Tear grabs Guy's arm with both hands so he can't get away. Guy: ...Uaaah! Tear: Don't say stupid things. Guy: I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Stop touching me! Please! Tear lets go of Guy, who falls to the ground twitching. Tear dusts her hands off, mission-accomplished style. Ion: Perhaps this journey will help Guy to overcome his phobia. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Let's Rejoin Anise' [SK031] | | Tear: Looks like we got in unnoticed. | Luke: Good thing that woman was driving the cart. Must be my lucky | day! | Guy: So, now what? If we stick around for too long, they're bound to | notice us. | Jade: Indeed. I'm hoping we can collect some information here, but | let's check up on Anise first. | Luke: The plan was to meet her at the Malkuth base, right? Let's go! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads to the military headquarters. Jade: I'm Colonel Jade Curtiss, Third Division, Malkuth Imperial Forces. May I speak with General Glenn McGovern? Soldier: Yes, sir. General McGovern is currently seeing a guest, so please wait inside. Inside... Glenn McGovern: Father, we've already been over this. Officially, the Oracle Knights are considered Scorers. We can't restrict their actions without a direct order from His Imperial Majesty... Elder McGovern: Enough! You know how terrible the Hod War became with their involvement! Jade: My apologies for interrupting. Elder: (!) Glenn: Jade the Necromancer... Elder: Oh! If it isn't Jade! Jade: It's been a while, Field Marshal McGovern. Elder: I'm retired now. There's no need for those formalities anymore. And what about you? Don't you think its about time you accepted a promotion? Even at your age, you could have easily made lieutenant general by now. Jade: Oh, I don't know. I think I have my hands full just being a colonel. Luke: Is Jade somebody important? Guy: Sounds like it. Elder: You and His Majesty go way back, don't you? Could you ask him to do something about the Oracle Knights? Jade: I'm afraid they're after us. Once we leave the city, they should leave as well. Elder: What's happened? Jade: I'm afraid I can't tell you the details. I'm under direct orders from His Majesty. I'm sorry. Glenn: Colonel Curtiss. What business brings you here? Jade: Ah, yes, my apologies. Have you received any letters from a Fon Master Guardian? Glenn: Ah, that... I'm sorry, but I'm afraid we opened it to confirm the contents, for security reasons. Jade: That's fine. There shouldn't be anything in there that would be a problem for you to see. Glenn hands a letter to Jade. Jade reads it and passes it on to Luke. Jade: It appears half of it is addressed to you. Here you are. Luke: It's from Anise, right? I could see her writing Ion, but me? Anise's letter: Dearest Colonel Jade, (heart) I had a really scary time, but I managed to make it here. (music note) Don't worry, I'm taking good care of you-know-what! Aren't you proud of me? (music note) It looks like the Oracle Knights are going to close off St. Binah soon, so I'll go ahead to the next location. (heart) Is my beloved Luke safe? (Oh, I'm so embarrassed! (heart) I just confessed my feelings! (heart)) I'm really worried. Luke, I miss you so much. (heart) I can't wait to see you again! (music note) Oh, and give my regards to Ion, too. Bye-bye for now! (music note) Love, Anise. Luke: I think I'm gonna be sick... Guy: Damn, Luke, popular enough with the girls? Just don't get carried away. You're engaged to Princess Natalia, you know. Luke: You've gotta be kidding. I don't want anything to do with that annoying chick... Tear: What's the "next location"? Jade: Kaitzur. It's a city to the southwest of here, on the other side of the Fubras River. Guy: If we make it to Kaitzur, we can rendezvous with Van. Tear: Van's there... Guy: Hey, I don't know what happened between you two, but you're his sister, right? Don't go trying to slice him up like you did in Baticul, okay? Tear: I know. I won't. Jade: Well then, we'll bid you our leave. Elder McGovern: If the Oracle Knights are chasing you, I'll gladly lend a hand. I was elected by the city representatives here. Come by anytime you need help. Jade: Thank you, Field Marshal. Obtained World Map. The party is about to leave St. Binah... Tear: ...Quick, hide! It's the Oracle Knights! The party runs off. Four God-Generals can be seen at the entrance... Legretta: Have you found Fon Master Ion? Soldier: It doesn't appear he's entered St. Binah. Arietta: Those people with Ion are the ones who killed Mommy... My liger friends told me. I'll never forgive them... Sync: What about that Fon Master Guardian they said was hanging around? Soldier: She appears to have made contact with the Malkuth military. But Malkuth is saying it's "classified" and is refusing to provide any useful information. Largo: If I hadn't let that Necromancer get the better of me, Anise would've never gotten away. I'm sorry. Dist floats in... Dist: Ahh hah hah hah hah! That's why I told you! Dist: The only one who can defeat that beastly Jade is the elegant servant of the gods, the esteemed member of the Oracle Knights' Six God-Generals, yours truly, Dist the Rose! Sync: You mean "Dist the Reaper." Dist: How is one so beautiful as myself a "reaper" and not a "rose"?! Legretta: There's no point in dwelling on the past. What do we do now, Sync? Dist: Hey. Sync: Withdraw the troops from Engeve and St. Binah. Largo: But...! Sync: Your wound still hasn't healed. The Necromancer almost killed you. Why don't you take a break? And besides, the only way for them to cross the border is through Kaitzur. If we stay here and antagonize the Malkuth military, it could spark a diplomatic incident. Dist: Hey! Stop ignoring me! Legretta: So next comes deciding how to deal with them at Kaitzur. Let's return to the Tartarus for now and consider matters there. Largo: Inform the troops! First Division, withdraw! Soldier: Yes, sir! The soldier runs off. The God-Generals depart, leaving Dist alone. Dist: Grrrrrrr! You're all just jealous of my intelligence and beauty! Dist leaves. The party had been observing this meeting... Jade: Damn... Largo survived. Guy: This is the first time I've seen the Six God-Generals. Luke: Who are the Six God-Generals? Ion: The six executive officers of the Oracle Knights. Luke: But there were only five of them. Guy: There's Largo the Black Lion, Dist the Reaper, Sync the Tempest, Arietta the Wild, Legretta the Quick and... Looks like the one missing was Asch the Bloody. Tear: They're Van's immediate subordinates. Luke: Master Van's? Tear: If the Six God-Generals are taking action, then the one who's trying to cause a war is Van... Ion: The Six God-Generals side with the Grand Maestro. Mohs is likely giving orders to Van. Tear: Grand Maestro Mohs would never do something like this. My mission for the Grand Maestro is top secret, so I can't divulge any details. However, I assure you it is one of peace. Luke: Wait a minute! Master Van wouldn't try to cause a war, either! Tear: It's just the sort of thing my brother might do. Luke: What are you saying?! What about you, huh? How do we know you're not a spy working for that Mohs guy?! Ion: Please, settle down. Guy: He's right. Now's not the time to be worried about Van or Mohs. Right now, we have to get past the Six God-Generals and prevent this war. Tear: ...You're right. I'm sorry. Luke: ...Humph. I'm not accepting the apology of anyone who badmouths Master Van. Jade: Well, now that THAT's over, let's head for Kaitzur, shall we? Guy: You're unbelievable... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Oracle Knights' Objective' [SK032] | | Luke: The Oracle Knights sure are acting like they want to start a | war. | Tear: It couldn't be by the Grand Maestro's order! He only desires | peace. | Luke: Are you still trying to blame Master Van for this?! | Tear: Well, that's the only way everything makes sense! | Guy: Calm down, both of you. The important thing is that we're | escorting Fon Master Ion to Baticul to avert a war, and that | the Oracle Knights are after him. | Jade: Exactly. It may not be clear who is ultimately responsible, but | one thing is certain--Oracle Knights will continue to attack | until we reach Baticul. | Luke: *Sigh* All I want is to go home... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party is about to exit St. Binah once again, but... Ion: I'm sorry to trouble you, but would it be all right if we stopped here to rest? Luke: ...Huh? Yeah, your face does look pale again. Ion: I'm sorry... Luke: You sure are a bother, you know. Hey, guys, let's go to the inn. Jade: My, he has a kind side, after all. Guy: That's the good thing about Luke. And he's equally rude and demanding to both servants and those above him. Luke: Sh-shut up! In the inn... Jade: By the way, Ion, where did they take you when they abducted you from the Tartarus? Ion: To the Sephiroth... Luke: The "Sephiroth"? Tear: The Sephiroth are the world's ten most powerful fon slots. Guy: They're the planet's vital points. Places where memory particles, a kind of planetary fuel, concentrate and fonons gather easily. Luke: ...I-I knew that. You don't all have to launch into an explanation like I'm ignorant. Jade: What did they do at the Sephiroth? Ion: ...I can't say. It's confidential to the Order. Luke: You always say that. It's really starting to get on my nerves. Ion: I'm sorry. Luke: Oh, hey, Jade, how are you feeling? Is your body okay, I mean with that fon slot seal and all? Jade: My strength is somewhat diminished. My body's fon slots have been sealed, after all. Mieu: You're so considerate, Master! Luke: (////) Luke: N-no I'm not! It'd just be a pain if this old man keeled over on us, that's all... Guy: Aww, you're blushing, Luke! Luke: I am not!! Tear: Is it going to be difficult to undo completely? Jade: A fon slot seal is like a lock with a code that changes periodically. I'm unlocking it little by little, bit it looks like it will take a bit more time. Of course, my abilities are on a different level to begin with. Even after a partial drop, I don't imagine I'll have any trouble keeping up with the rest of you. Luke: Man, you're obnoxious... Jade: My apologies. It's my nature to be honest. Luke: Humph. Well, then, let's leave Ion in the hands of the great and powerful Colonel while we get some sleep. Luke, Tear and Guy depart. Jade: That exhaustion has to be more than just a weak constitution... Could Ion be the same as Luke...? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What a Team!' [SK035] | | Luke: Whew! Finally, a decent bed to sleep in! | Guy: Hah hah... Did the cold ground get to you? | Luke: No way! ...Well, okay, a little. I'll take a bed any day. | Guy: There's no need to worry about thieves or monsters here, | either. | Luke: Yeah, and if any did come, they'd be no problem for us. | Guy: Between Malkuth's Necromancer, a Locrian Sergeant of the Oracle | Knights, the leader of the Order of Lorelei, and the son of a | duke of Kimlasca, you'd have to be a fool not to run away. | Ion: And, of course, we have you, Guy. | Guy: Me? Nah, I'm just a servant, that's all. | Luke: Heh heh heh. | Jade: Just a servant, indeed... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party is about to exit St. Binah once again, but... Luke: (sweating) Man: Man, what am I going to do? I was headed for Akzeriuth, but the bridge on the road is broken. Are you headed south, too? You can't use the bridge, so be careful. Oh, well. I guess I'll head for Engeve. See ya. The man leaves. The party finally exits St. Binah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What Kind of Girl...?' [SK033] | | Jade: Let's head for Kaitzur to meet up with Anise. | Luke: When are you guys finally going to get me home...? | Guy: Well, with Rotelro Bridge out, we'd have to go grab a ship at | Kaitzur anyway, so we're really not losing any time this way. | Tear: Too bad the bridge to Akzeriuth is out, too. Now we'll have to | cross the Fubras River on foot... | Jade: The Fubras is pretty calm at this time of year, and the water | shouldn't be too high either. It's actually the shortest path | to Kaitzur, so depending on how you look at it, you might say | we're actually saving time. | Luke: But then Anise had to cross that river too, right? You think she | was okay? | Jade: She's fine. She's Anise. | Ion: There's no need to worry about Anise. | Luke: Huh... Well, anyway, let's get going. | [Luke, Tear, Jade & Ion leave.] | Guy: Just who is this Anise, anyway...? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:FU1} \ >>> Fubras River \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: Kimlascan territory is just ahead, once we cross here, right? Guy: Yeah, there's a city called Kaitzur after crossing the Fubras River. That whole area's a demilitarized zone. Luke: Man, I can't wait to get back... I'm sick of all this stuff. Mieu: Hang in there, Master! Cheer up! Luke: Do you ever shut up?! I thought I told you not to talk! Luke kicks Mieu away. Mieu: Mieu... Tear: Luke! Don't take things out on Mieu! Ion: I'm sorry I dragged you into this, Luke. Luke: (angry) Luke: Tch... Jade: Well, it sounds like Luke's done whining. Shall we be going? Luke: What do you mean, "whining"?! Hey! Stop ignoring me! Further in to the river... Jade: Luke, wait just a moment. Luke: ...What is it, oh great leader? Tear: Luke! Jade: I've been watching you fight. It appears you don't have a firm grasp on proper fonon use. Luke: (?) Luke: Using fonons is what fonists do. I don't need to worry about that. Jade: *Sigh* Did your Master teach you nothing but brute force? Tear: ... Luke: Don't make fun of Master Van! He didn't teach me that stuff because I don't need it! Jade: Whatever the case, you don't know how to use fonons in battle, correct? In that case, I'd like you to learn, so you can fight more efficiently. Luke: Why the hell should I bother? Guy: Luke, this man is a professional. If you want to survive, you should listen to what he has to say. Luke: ...Humph. Yeah, a professional killer. Jade: Indeed I am. And conveniently enough, there's a monster. I'll teach you during a real battle. The fon slot seal has already reduced my abilities. I don't want any further dead weight. Field of Fonim tutorial. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Watch Out for Water' [SK039] | | Luke: For a river that took out a bridge, this doesn't look all that | special. | Guy: Well, the water's probably receded a fair bit since then. Think | of how it would look after a rainstorm. | Luke: How would I know what that looks like? | Guy: Oh, right, sorry. Anyway, river or otherwise, water can be | dangerous, so you'd best be careful. | Luke: You sure talk about that a lot... The dangers of the sea and | all. | Tear: ...Yes, I've heard that too, that the sea is a dangerous place. | Jade: "Heard?" Interesting choice of words. With Daath on the | Padamiyan continent, I'd think there would be quite a few | beaches nearby. | Tear: Well...yes, that's true... | Jade: Anyway... Guy, are you from Baticul? | Guy: Mm? No, but I do like the water, though. I've even had training | in maritime rescue. | Luke: Wow, you can do anything, can't you? | Guy: Just listen to me when I tell you to be careful, okay? Don't try | to fool around with nature. | Luke: ...Would you all stop staring at me?! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Natural Disasters' [SK037] | | Luke: Dammit, I'm drenched... | Guy: Hey, don't complain. You wanted to get back as fast as possible, | right? | Luke: Well, yeah...but if I'd known it was this bad, I'd have gone to | Akzeriuth instead. | Tear: You're still not used to traveling yet, Luke? | Luke: Shut up! I just want to take the easiest way, that's all. | Tear: Well, with the bridge out, there's no way at all to Akzeriuth | right now, and it'll probably be a while before the bridge is | repaired. There's not much you can do about natural disasters. | Luke: Are there a lot of earthquakes and stuff around here? | Guy: I don't know. I haven't heard of many, but you can't exactly | predict them, either. | Luke: Yeah, you've got a point. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Further along, a Liger comes out of nowhere... Tear: ...A liger! Jade: There's someone behind them as well. Guy: It's Arietta the Wild. They've found us... Arietta: I won't let you get away. Ion: Arietta! Please, let us go. You understand, don't you? We can't let this war happen. Arietta: I...I want to help you, Ion... But those people are my enemies! Ion: Arietta, they aren't bad people. Arietta: Yes...yes they are... They killed Mommy! Luke: What're you talking about? When did we ever do something like that? Arietta: Mommy's home was burned, so she moved into the Cheagle Woods. She was just trying to protect her children... My brothers and sisters... Tear: Could she mean the liger queen? But, she's human... Ion: She was raised by monsters after losing her parents in the Hod War. She was recruited for the Oracle Knights because of her ability to communicate with monsters. Luke: The liger we killed was.... Arietta: That was Mommy! I'll never forgive you! I'll chase you to the ends of the earth...and kill you! Arietta holds up her doll. Suddenly, the earth shakes. Luke: Uaaah! Ion: Aah?! Guy: Whoa! Tear: Aah! Mieu: (!) Purple gas seeps out from the cracks in the ground. Jade: It's an earthquake! Guy: What's that mist?! Tear: It's the miasma...! Ion: Oh, no! The miasma is deadly poison! Arietta: Aah! Arietta faints after inhaling the miasma. Luke: This stuff kills you if you breathe it?! Tear: If you don't inhale a large amount over a long period of time, you'll be okay. Let's just get out of-- Luke: Now what do we do?! We can't run away! Tear: ... Tear starts casting Force Field. Jade: Fonic hymns, at a time like this? Ion: Wait, Jade. That song...it's one of Yulia's fonic hymns! Guy: The miasma disappeared! Tear: I've applied a vibration identical to the inherent vibration of the miasma. Its a temporary shield. It won't last long. Jade: The seven fonic hymns left behind by Yulia... I'd heard rumors of them, but... I heard they were too difficult for anyone to decipher... Guy: Worry about that later. We need to get out of here. Jade: ...Yes. Jade unleashes his spear and points it at the unconscious Arietta. Luke: H-hey, stop! Why do you have to kill her?! Jade: If we let her live, she'll come after us again. Luke: But...how can you kill someone unconscious and defenseless? Tear: ...You really are soft. Luke: Shut up, you cold- Ion: Jade. Please let her go. Arietta was originally one of my Fon Master Guardians. Jade: ...Very well. Guy: You don't mind if we at least move her so that the miasma won't hit her if it comes back, do you? Jade: I don't think I can complain about that, seeing as how I'm already letting her live. Tear: It won't hold much longer. Ion: Let's go. Tear learned Force Field. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `To Kaitzur' [SK038] | | Jade: Let's step up the pace a little, shall we? | Luke: Why? All we have to do is follow the coastline, right? | Jade: I'd prefer to avoid any more trouble from Arietta. | Luke: Oh...yeah. Good point. | Guy: So, shall we get going to Kaitzur before Arietta catches up with | us? | Luke: Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ En route to Kaitzur... Jade: If I may have a moment? Luke: ...Oh, come on. We're almost to Kaitzur. What do you want here? Ion: It's Tear's Fonic Hymns, isn't it? Jade: Yes. I've wondered about them for a while. Her fonic hymns are different from the ones I know. And, Ion... You say those are Yulia's fonic hymns. Luke: So what? Guy: Yulia's fonic hymns are special. Normally, fonic hymns are just the incantation used in a fonic arte, combined with a melody. They're not as strong as fonic artes. Ion: But Yulia's hymns are different. They are said to hold the same power as fonic artes. Tear: ...Yes, the fonic hymns I use are indeed those of Yulia. Jade: I thought Yulia's hymns meant nothing with only the verses and melody... Luke: Really? You can't just sing them? Guy: When one who truly appreciates the symbolism and meaning sings a verse, it draws a map to hidden wisdom. Luke: What's that supposed to mean? Guy: ...Or so they say, anyway. Supposedly, they're handed down in secret from one generation to the next. Tear: Y-yes. That's correct. You know a lot about them. Guy: I heard about it once, way back. Jade: (...) Jade: How are you able to sing Yulia's hymns? Who did you learn them from? Tear: I was told that it is because my family is descended from Yulia... I don't know whether that's true or not. Jade: A descendant of Yulia... I see... Luke: So that means Master Van's a descendant of Yulia, too? Guy: ...Well, yeah. I guess so. Luke: Whoa! Master Van's so cool! Tear: (...) Jade: Thank you, Tear. I would certainly like the chance to learn more about fonic hymns. Especially the Grand Fonic Hymn. Luke: "Grand Fonic Hymn"? What's that? Ion: The fonic hymn Yulia sang to use Lorelei's power. It is proof of their covenant. Tear: ...Shall we get moving? I believe I've answered your question. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:KA1} \ >>> Kaitzur \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party notices Anise trying to get past the border... Luke: Hey, isn't that Anise? Anise: I've lost my identification, and my passport, too. Please let me through! Please! Soldier: I'm sorry, but I can't let you pass. Anise: Ohh...You better watch your back. Ion: Anise, Luke can hear you. Anise: (!) Anise: Oh! It's my darling! (heart) My prince! (heart) Anise runs up and hugs Luke. Everyone else: (...) Guy: *Shudder* ...Women are scary! Anise: Luke! (heart) I'm so glad you're safe! I was so worried about you! Luke: We were worried, too. They said you were fighting monsters and fell from the Tartarus? Anise: Yeah... It was pretty scary... Heh heh... Ion: The poor thing must have been terrified. She screamed, "I'll kill you bastards!" as she fell. Anise: (vein) Anise: Fon Master, please! Shh! I kept the imperial letter safe. Aren't you proud of me, Luke? (heart) Luke: Oh, uh, yeah. Good job. Anise: Yay! (heart) Jade: I'm glad you're safe, Anise. Anise: Oh, my.(heart) Were you worried about me too, Colonel? Jade: Yes, we can't do a thing without that letter. Anise: You're mean... Tear: By the way, how are we going to cross the checkpoint? Neither Luke nor I have passports. Asch: You won't need any once you're dead! Asch comes from above and attempts to kill Luke. Van jumps in and stops him. Van: Stand down, Asch! Asch: ...Out of the way, Van! Van: What do you think you're doing? I don't recall giving any orders like this. Now stand down! Asch sheathes his sword and leaves. Luke: Master! Van: Luke. That parry was pathetic. Luke: We meet up after all that's happened and that's the first thing you say? Tear: ...Van! Van: Tear, put away your weapon. You misunderstand. Tear: What do you mean? Van: Calm down. Once you're ready to listen to me, come to the inn. Luke: Master! Thanks for saving me. Van: It must have been hard for you, Luke. You've done and admirable job. I'd expect no less from my pupil. Luke: Thank you!! Heh heh! Van heads to the inn. Ion: Tear, let's listen to what Van has to say. I think it would be foolish to insist on fighting and ignore an opportunity to communicate. Luke: Yeah. Seriously, how bloodthirsty are you? Tear: As you wish, Fon Master. Guy: Well, all right. Let's go see Van. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Asch the Bloody' [SK041] | | Guy: Was that Asch the Bloody? He attacked so suddenly, I couldn't be | sure. | Anise: Wow... If the Commandant hadn't stepped in, Luke could've been | killed... | Guy: But just attacking out of the blue, without even trying to | capture Ion... Are they that desperate? | Jade: Perhaps... In any case, caution would be well-advised. | Guy: Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inside the inn... Van: Have you calmed down a bit? Tear: ...Why are you trying to interfere with Fon Master Ion's efforts to prevent war? Van: *Sigh* Are you still saying that? Luke: She's wrong, isn't she, Master? Tear: But the Six God-Generals are trying to kidnap Ion! Van: Calm down, Tear. I have no idea why the Fon Master is even here to begin with. All I've heard from the Order is that Ion vanished from the cathedral in Daath. Ion: I'm sorry, Van. I did that of my own volition. Van: I'd appreciate it if you'd fill me in on what's happened up until now. Jade: I'm the one who took Ion away. Allow me to explain. Later... Van: ...I see. I do command the Six God-Generals, but they are part of the Grand Maestro faction. It's likely they are under orders from Grand Maestro Mohs. Guy: I see now. You may have been recalled to steal Ion back from the Malkuth military. Van: Yes, perhaps so. The one who attacked you earlier, Asch, is also one of the Six God-Generals. But even I didn't know he was involved in this matter. Tear: Then, are you saying you have nothing to do with all of this? Van: No, considering I was unaware of what my own troops were doing, I must take some responsibility. But I don't side with the Grand Maestro faction. Anise: That's news to me, Commandant. Van: I'm the leader of the Six God-Generals, so people tend to assume I side with the Grand Maestro. For that matter, Tear, you're part of the intelligence division under the Grand Maestro's command. Why are you here? Tear: I'm searching for something under orders from Mohs. I can't say any more than that. Van: The Seventh Fonstone? Tear: ...I'm not at liberty to say. Luke: The "Seventh Fonstone"? What's that? All: (...) Luke: What? Quit looking at me like I'm stupid... Guy: Talk about a sheltered life... Tear: It's part of the Score that Yulia read 2000 years ago. The world's future is written within. Ion: The Score was so long, it took up seven fonstones, each the size of a mountain. Eventually the stones broke apart. Some became the fon belt you see in the sky. Others fell to the earth. Anise: Malkuth and Kimlasca both tried to claim the stones that fell to land, and that led to war. Because, if you have the fonstones, you can learn the future. Luke: Huh. So, the thing with the seventh "Score" written on it is called the "Seventh Fonstone," huh? Jade: It's said that Yulia hid the Seventh herself after she read the Score. Therefore, numerous powers have been searching for the Seventh Fonstone. Luke: And that's what Tear is looking for now? Tear: Maybe. Maybe not. Van: At any rate, I have nothing to do with Mohs. I'll order the Six God-Generals not to interfere with you all, though I don't know how much good it will do. Guy: Van, what about passports? Van: Oh, yes. Duke Fabre has entrusted me with temporary passports. With the spares I brought just in case, there are just enough for all of you. Obtained passport. Luke: Now we can cross the border. Van: You should get some rest here before you go. I'll go on ahead across the border and ready a ship. Guy: So, we'll meet up at the Kaitzur naval port? Van: Right. Once you cross the border, just follow the sea and you'll be there shortly. Don't get lost, now. Van leaves. Luke: See? I told you Master Van wasn't doing anything wrong. Tear: I don't trust him. Luke: Oh yeah? Well, I don't trust you. Tear: That's fine with me. Guy: ...Nice friendly relationship you two have there. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `An Ordinary Little Girl?' [SK040] | | Tear: Anise, I'm glad you're safe. | Anise: Luke! (heart) It was so lonely without you! (heart) | Luke: Y-yeah, I'm glad you made it. | Ion: It sounds like you had a hard time. | Jade: A little longer and we might have actually started worrying. | Anise: Booo! How about worrying about me from the beginning? | Tear: Well, now we just need to head for Baticul. | Jade: Indeed. I just hope the Six God-Generals will leave us alone | until then... | Anise: Hmm? Guy, are you interested in me? | Guy: N-no... I mean, Jade and Ion were talking about you a lot, so I | wondered what you were really like.... | Anise: Me? Oh, I'm just your ordinary, everyday, cute little girl. | Jade: It seems that Anise has a slightly different definition of | "ordinary" than I do. | Ion: Hah hah hah. | Anise: That's mean, Colonel! And don't laugh, Ion! | Luke: Hey, enough talk. Let's get moving! | Guy: Oh, sorry. Anyway, Anise, nice to meet you. | Anise: Nice to meet you too! (heart) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party stays at the inn. Luke: Guy! Hey, Guy! Guy: What is it? Luke: Shh! Be quiet or they'll wake up. Come with me for a little bit. Oh, and don't forget your sword. Guy: What the heck...? Outside Kaitzur... Luke: Sorry for dragging you all the way out here with me. Guy: And what can I do for you, dear Master Luke? Luke: Give me a hand with some sword training. Guy: What? What's up all of a sudden...? Luke: I'm still not sure I can swing my sword against a human opponent without hesitating. I want to practice to get over that. You and I are the only ones who use swords, and besides, this is kind of embarrassing. You're the only one I can ask. Guy: Luke...All right. I'll give you a hand. Learn yourself a new move or something and get right over that fear! Luke pulls out his sword. Luke: Yeah! Let's do it! Guy pulls out his sword. Guy: Ready when you are! They practice for a bit, and Luke learns Sonic Thrust. The night passes. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Lovers' Quarrel?' [SK042] | | Luke: Hey, why can't you get along with Master Van? He's your brother, | isn't he? | Tear: Like I said, I don't trust him. He's hiding something. | Luke: Well, you're hiding something too, aren't you? | Tear: ...... | Luke: Say something! | Mieu: P-please, don't argue! | Luke & Tear: ...! | Mieu: ...Mieu... | Guy: Mieu, leave them alone. There's no point in getting involved in | a lovers' quarrel. | Luke & Tear: ...!! | Guy: Uh... Mieu...? | Mieu: Don't be a copycat! | Guy: Heh heh heh. | Luke: Will you quit it already? | Tear: *Sigh* | Guy: Let's get going, you two. Save it until after things have | settled down, okay? | Luke: Yeah, yeah. | Tear: Fair enough. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes to cross the border. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Border' [SK043] | | Luke: So this is the border... | Tear: It certainly feels tense around here. | Jade: The Akzeriuth mines aren't too far from here. Neither side will | give up their wealth of resources easily. | Guy: Didn't there used to be a lot of country estates here for the | nobility? | Jade: So I've heard. The coastline is said to be quite beautiful. | Tear: But under these conditions... | Guy: They'd all be abandoned. Nobody in their right mind would come | here for leisure these days. Except us, of course. | Luke: Hey, I never wanted to come here in the first place! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Malkuth Soldier: Passports, please. Have a safe journey. The party crosses to the Kimlascan side. Kimlascan Soldier: ...These passports! We've received direct orders from His Majesty the King to let you through immediately! Luke: We're finally back in Kimlasca... Guy: Don't relax yet. The vacation's not over until you're actually home. Luke: Yeah, I'll pass on any more "vacations" like this. Jade: It's been a while since I visited Kimlasca. Anise: The Kaitzur naval port is south of here, right? Come on, Luke! Let's go! (heart) ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:NP1} \ >>> Kaitzur Naval Port \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: ...Huh? What's going on? Tear: That sounds like a monster... Anise: That's one of Gloomietta's pets! Guy: Gloomietta...? Anise runs up to Guy and appears to punch him. Guy: Aaah! Anise: Arietta! The God-General, Arietta the Wild! Guy: O-okay, okay! I get it! Stop touching me! Tear: It flew from the direction of the harbor. Let's go. Jade: I'm sure you're enjoying yourself, Guy. But we'd best be going. Guy: Get her away from me! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Arietta Attacks!' [SK047] | | Tear: So Arietta came after all. | Guy: Yep. | Anise: Huh? What about Gloomietta? | Guy: She attacked us at the Fubras River, too. The miasma got her | that time... | Ion: But I asked them to let her go. | Anise: The Fubras? That close by? And she's already come back? | Gloomietta's always so stubborn...and she moves so fast...and | she never listens to anybody! She's such a pain... | Jade: I knew things would end up like this, but there's no point in | arguing over the past, so let's leave it at that. | Ion: Yes. Let's go over to where the trouble is. | Tear: Right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What's He Writing About?' [SK045] | | Anise: Hmm? Luke's keeping a diary? | Tear: Yes. Apparently it's a safeguard in case he gets amnesia again. | Anise: What's he writing in it? | Guy: Who knows? Probably "Master Van this, Master Van that..." | "Master Van did this awesome thing, Master Van's the best..." | Anise: If that's all he's writing about, I guess he doesn't have a | girlfriend yet. Perfect! | Tear: ...Anise? Did you say something? | Anise: N-No. No! Nothing at all! | Jade: That, or he might be making notes on his meals. "Rappig again | today" and "I sure would like some beef," and so on. | Guy: Nah, he doesn't care about food that much. Though given his | upbringing, his tastes may tend more toward the luxuriant. | Anise: Wow... I want to eat luxuriant meals, too! | Jade: If that's all you eat, you'll turn into a rappig, you know. | Anise: Boo booooo. | Jade: Nice pigtails... | Anise: T-that's not fair! Booo! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads towards the port area. Luke: ...Oh... A ship appears to be burning. Van has his sword drawn on Arietta. Van: Arietta! Who gave you permission to do this?! Anise: I knew it was you, Gloomietta! Stop causing trouble for people! Van: You all.... Arietta: I am NOT gloomy! You're mean, Anise! Tear: What happened here? Van sheathes his sword. Van: Arietta unleashed her monsters on the ship. Arietta: Commandant... I'm sorry... Asch asked me to... Van: Asch?! A griffin comes for Arietta. She grabs on. Arietta: I have to take away the engineer who can repair the ship. If you want him back, Luke and Ion have to come to Choral Castle. If they don't come... They'll...kill him... Arietta flies off with the griffin. Guy: Van, how's the ship? Van: ...Out of commission, I'm afraid. With our engineer kidnapped, we'll have to wait for the training ship to return. Jade: What's this "Choral Castle" that Arietta mentioned? Guy: It's Duke Fabre's vacation home. I heard he abandoned it when the front line of the previous war drew near. Luke: Huh. Really? Guy: Luke, come on! Choral Castle was where they found you when you were kidnapped seven years ago! Luke: I told you, I don't remember anything from back then! Maybe I'll remember something if I go there. Van: There's no need for you to go. Wait for the training ship to return to port. I'll deal with Arietta myself. Ion: ...But that means we'll be ignoring Arietta's demands. Van: Isn't preventing war what's important right now? Luke. Take Fon Master Ion and return to the border. There's nothing here but simple rest facilities. I'll remain here and put a stop to Arietta. Luke: Y-yes, sir. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `To Go or Not to Go' [SK048] | | Luke: Choral Castle... | Jade: I can understand your interest, but... | Luke: I know, I know! I'm not saying I want to go or anything. Master | Van said I didn't even have to go, anyway. | Jade: Even if you do go, you may not be able to accomplish anything. | Luke: I said I know! I just have to wait back at Kaitzur, right? | Sheesh. | [Luke leaves.] | Guy: But it might do him some good, you know? He might remember | something. | Jade: Then again, he might not. | Guy: Well, yeah, but... | Jade: ...Though to be honest, I wouldn't entirely disapprove of going, | either. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As the party goes to leave the port, it is stopped on its way out. Man: Fon Master Ion! Please, wait! Anise: What business do you have with the Fon Master? Man: The man Arietta the Wild kidnapped is our maintenance chief! Please, Fon Master, you have to save the Chief! Man 2: The Chief faithfully upholds the Score. He's a devout follower of the Order of Lorelei. He was relieved when this year's birth Score stated that calamity would be avoided. Man: Please! Ion: ...All right. Jade: Are you sure? Ion: Arietta told me to come. Tear: I agree with Ion. Luke: And you called me soft... Tear: If we abandon one the Score has foretold will be saved from calamity, we will be ignoring the Score. That would go against Yulia's teachings. And... Luke: And...? Tear: ...Never mind. Jade: It is true that the Score should be upheld... Anise: Um, I think we should go to Choral Castle, too. Guy: If you're going to Choral Castle, I'll go with you. There's something there I'd like to investigate. Jade: Arietta's female, you know. Guy: D-don't remind me! Mieu: Are you going too, Master? Luke: ...No way am I going. Even Master Van said we didn't have to. Ion: Arietta said for you to come as well. Man: Please don't abandon the Chief! He has a family in Baticul! Luke: ...All right, all right. I'll go. Are you happy now? Why do I have to bother with this.... Man 2: Th-thank you so much! Man: Choral Castle is southeast of here, along the coast. Please take care. Jade: ...Well, you heard him. Shall we be going? Luke: I thought you were against going to Choral Castle. Jade: Nope. Either way's fine by me. Luke: What the...? I don't get you at all. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `To Choral Castle' [SK049] | | Luke: So we're going... | Ion: We can't ignore Arietta's threat to the maintenance chief. I'm | sorry for involving you in this... | Luke: It's fine. Somebody's got to go along and protect you. I'll take | care of the monsters, so you just stay back. | Anise: Luke! (heart) Can you protect me too? (heart) | Ion: Protect Anise? I'm not really sure she needs-- | Anise: There are monsters all over! The frail maiden is supposed to | receive protection from the prince! Err...duke! Whatever! It's | so dreamy...(heart) | Ion: Hah hah... | Luke: ...All right, enough already. Let's go! | Anise: Okay! (music note) | Ion: Okay. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Children' [SK050] | | Guy: Still a ways to go, hmm, Luke? | Luke: Yeah. We finally made it back to Kimlasca, and now this... | Tear: The trip will go much faster once we board a Kaitzur ship. Just | be patient. | Luke: I've BEEN patient! Don't treat me like a baby! | [Luke leaves.] | Tear: Ah... I'm sorry. | Jade: Perhaps children are children precisely because they don't | realize they are children... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:CC1} \ >>> Choral Castle \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: THIS is the place they found me in...? It's falling apart. It looks haunted. Guy: Does it bring back any memories? Like from when you were kidnapped? Anise: You can't remember anything from your childhood, can you, Luke? Luke: Well...my memories really only start from the point I got back to the manor seven years ago. Anise: That's so sad... I'll help you get your memory back! Tear: ...Something's not right. No one's lived here for ages, but there are signs of recent activity. Mieu: Monsters... I can feel them. Guy: The chief engineer must be inside. Let's take a look. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Who Needs Memories?' [SK051] | | Luke: Man, I still can't remember anything. | Guy: Oh well. Maybe something will come back to you while we're | wandering around. | Luke: It's not like it really matters anyway. I'm not missing | anything. | Guy: Really? I'd have thought it would bother you more. I have to | admit I'm impressed. | Luke: Why? Things were probably just as boring for me when I was a | kid. | Guy: Poor Princess Natalia... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Dream Plans?' [SK055] | | Anise: Wow... My future country home... | Luke: Did you say something? | Anise: Luke! This is your estate, right? | Luke: Yeah... Well, it's my dad's, anyway. That's all I know about | it. | Guy: Actually...I don't think this place has been used in a while. | Close to a generation, is what I heard. | Luke: So why do they still bother holding onto it? | Guy: I doubt it's even that... More like they abandoned it. Doesn't | cost anything to maintain it that way. | Anise: Great! Okay, this is going to be Anise's Private Resort! | Luke: Huh...? Why're you talking to yourself all the time, anyway? | Weirdo. | [Luke & Guy leave.] | Anise: Oh, no! My dream plans are in danger! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party enters the castle. Luke runs ahead. Luke: So, this was our vacation home, huh? Guy: Luke, don't stray too far from the group. Luke: I know, I know. Shut up already. A monster moves and heads towards Luke. Guy, Jade & Tear: (!) Jade: Luke! Tear: Luke, behind you! Luke: Huh? The monster attacks. Guy: That's why I told you to keep close. Tear: Because you were careless our formation was broken, and we didn't have time to prepare for battle. I hope you learned your lesson. Luke: Shut up! How was I supposed to know that?! And what the hell was that thing, anyway?! Jade walks up to it. Jade: It's a fontech doll designed to eliminate intruders. This is a relatively recent model, though it looks like it has seen better days. Anise: Ohh, Luke! I was so scared! Guy: With monsters like that around, you've got to pay attention. Luke: Okay, okay! I'll be careful! Jeez! Enough! The party comes upon a strange machine. Luke: What the hell?! What's this weird machine doing in our vacation home? Jade: Is this...? Anise: Colonel, do you know what it is? Jade: ...No, I can't be sure. And even if I were... Luke: Wh-what? Has it got something to do with me? ...I can't be certain yet. Give me a little more time to think about it. Guy: I think this is the first time I've ever heard you sound nervous about something. There's something I'm concerned about as well. If what's troubling you is related to Luke's kidnapping-- A squeaking is heard. Anise jumps out and grabs Guy from behind. Anise: Aah! Guy: Uaaah! Get away! Anise: Wh-what...? Guy: Uh...I... Jade: That was more than just a startled reaction. What's wrong? Guy: I'm sorry. My body just reacted... Sorry about that, Anise. Are you all right? Anise: ...Y-yeah. Ion: Did something happen? That didn't look like a mere aversion to females. Guy: I'm sorry... I really don't know. I wasn't like this as a kid. But there's a part of my memory that's completely missing. The cause may lie there... Luke: Your memory is messed up, too? Guy: I don't think it's the same thing. I'm only missing the memory from a single moment. Tear: How do you know it's just one moment. Guy: I know. The only thing that's missing is the memory of when my family died. Enough about me. I want to hear what's on your mind, Colonel... Jade: Just as you'd rather not talk about your past, there are some things I wish not to talk about as well. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Guy's Feelings' [SK053] | | Luke: So Guy's parents are dead... | Tear: You didn't know, either? | Luke: Nope. I might've heard about it when I was a kid, but I can't | remember anything from before I was kidnapped. And Guy doesn't | talk about the past much, anyway. | Tear: Well, like the Colonel said, everyone has things they don't want | to talk about. You should probably let him be until he decides | to bring it up. | Luke: I don't need you telling me how to deal with Guy! Stop lecturing | me! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Mystery Machine' [SK052] | | Jade: *Sigh* | Anise: Colonel, you've been thinking about something ever since we saw | that fon machine... | Jade: Hmm? It's not like you to pry, Anise. | Anise: Well, you looked so serious. | Jade: What are you talking about? I'm always serious. | Anise: Huh?! | Jade: Hah hah. Don't worry, I'll talk about it once I'm certain of | what it is. Until then, let's leave the subject alone. Okay? | Anise: Okay. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party sees a liger going up the stairs. Luke: There's one! Anise: Luke! Let's follow it! Mieu: I'm going, too! Ion: Wait! Please don't hurt Arietta! Luke, Anise and Ion run after it. Tear: Wait! It could be a trap! Jade: My, my. There they go. Impetuous little things, aren't they? Guy: They really could stand to use their heads a little. Tear, Jade and Guy run after Luke, Anise and Ion. Luke, Anise and Ion reach the roof. They can see the chief on top of a liger. A griffin grabs Luke and Anise. Anise: Ohh... I covered Ion... Sorry, Luke... Arietta motions to the griffin to drop Anise. Anise: Owww! Not funny, Arietta! That hurt! Arietta: You hurt me first! You took Ion away from me! Ion: Arietta, that's not true! It's wasn't anything like that. The reason you were distanced from the Fon Master Guardians was-- Tear, Jade and Guy come running up. Guy: Luke! Tear: Honestly... If only he'd be a little more careful... The griffin drops Luke and Dist grabs him. Mieu: Oh, no! Arietta leaves on her liger. Jade: Dist is involved in this, too? Oh, brother. Tear: Ohh...what are we going to do now?! Guy: ...Hm? Tear, did you say something? Tear: N-no. It's nothing. Let's hurry up and rescue Luke and the chief. Anise: It's my fault... Ohhh, I can't believe I let this happen! That stupid Arietta! Jade: Now, now, calm down. If they're going to this much trouble, I doubt they intend to take his life. And the one they really want, Ion, is still with us. Back in the room with the strange machine. Dist: ...Ah, I see. Even the fonon frequency is the same. This is a perfect creation. Sync: That's not important. We have to erase the data before they come back. Dist: If the data here is that important, you shouldn't have had Asch use Choral Castle in the first place. Sync: That idiot came here on his own. We'll have to have Van punish him later. ...Oh, look. This idiot here is finally coming around. Dist: No matter. I've already opened his synchronized fon slots. Dist: I'll be going now. I can't wait to analyze this data. Heh heh heh heh. Luke: ...What the hell did you do to me? Sync: I see no reason to answer that question. Guy comes running in and tries to hit Sync, who dodges. Sync: No! Guy gets a hold of a disc, then goes after Sync again. Sync's mask comes off. Guy: ...What? ...You? Anise: Guy! What is it?! Sync hits Guy and grabs his mask before anyone else sees his face. Sync: Damn it, they're here! Sync: This was an unauthorized mission. It's too bad I can't kill you myself, but I'll leave it in Arietta's capable hands. She's on the roof with the hostage. Hope you enjoyed our little game. Jade turns the strange machine off. Luke: Whew... What the hell was all that...? Ion: What is it, Guy? Guy: Oh...nothing. I got hold of a strange fon disc, so I was just wondering what it was. Ion: Let's have Jade look into it later. Tear: Are you okay, Luke? What in the world did they want to kidnap you for...? Luke: How should I know?! Why the hell does this stuff always happen to me?! Anise: It's Arietta's fault! She's going to pay for this! Jade: She's on the roof, right? I hate running around like this, but we have no choice. Let's go. Obtained fonic disc. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What are the Six God-Generals After?' [SK054] | | Guy: What are the Oracle Knights up to, anyway? There was talk about | them starting a war, but... | Anise: The Oracle Knights aren't trying to start a war! | Tear: No... it seems more like the Six God-Generals are moving | independently under someone else's orders. Perhaps Arietta can | tell us more. | Anise: I doubt Gloomietta knows anything. She doesn't strike me as a | secret-orders kind of person anyway. | Tear: Well, she did say she was following Asch's instructions back in | Kaitzur... | Guy: Asch... You mean Asch the Bloody, of the Six God-Generals? ...Ah | well, it's not like we'll figure this out ourselves. | Anise: Yeah, and besides, if we can just get Ion and the Colonel to | Baticul before the war can break out, they won't be able to do | anything anyway. | Guy: Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads back to the roof, where Arietta is waiting. The griffin goes after Luke again, but he uses Mieu Fire. Luke: Heh heh! I'm not falling for that again! Anise: Luke, you're amazing! (heart) Jade: Not bad, for you. Luke: Oh, give it a rest! Arietta: You shot fire...at my friend! I'm really going to make you pay now! Luke: Shut up already! You've caused enough trouble, you little brat! Arietta: I don't care! I'm going to kill you all and take back Ion! You killed Mommy! Now, you die! The battle starts. Party wins. Jade: I knew letting her live would come back to haunt us. Jade pulls out his spear again, but Ion tries to stop Jade. Ion: Wait! I'll take Arietta back for an inquiry before the Order of Lorelei. So, please, don't take her life. Van: Yes, that would be best. Luke: Master... Van: There was no word of the Fon Master's arrival in Kaitzur, so I cane here just in case... Ion: I'm sorry, Van... Van: There's no point in dwelling on what's already been done. I'll take Arietta into my custody. Is that all right with you? Ion: Yes, please do. And please treat her wounds. Van picks up Arietta and starts to take her away. Guy: How do you plan to explain her crimes to His Majesty and the military? Ion: We will follow proper Order procedure, punish her, and issue a report. That's how lawful society operates. Van: I have soldiers and a coach from Count Almandine, the Kaitzur commander. I'll escort the maintenance chief home as well. What will you do, Ion? I'd prefer you to come with me, but... Ion: It seems some of us are interested in this castle, but... Luke: I want to walk back. Once we get on the ship, we'll be back in Baticul in no time anyway, right? Guy: Well, the route does have us stopping in Chesedonia along the way. Ion: ...It sounds like we'd prefer to walk, so we'll catch up to you later. Van: Understood. Please take care. Back at Kaitzur Naval Port... Man: Ah! We've been waiting for you! You have our deepest gratitude for rescuing the Chief! Luke: It was no walk in the part, that's for sure. Anise: Luke was so heroic! (heart) Luke: ...Heh heh. Was I really that good? Tear: Except for the getting kidnapped part. Luke: Shut up! Man: Oracle Knights Commandant Dorian General Van Grants gave me a message for you. Dorian General Grants if currently meeting with Lieutenant General Almandine, commander of the Kaitzur area. He would like you to come to the meeting hall later, at your convenience. As for the ship, repairs are proceeding smoothly. Luke: Keep up the good work. Man: Thank you. I'll get back to the repairs now! The man walks off. Luke: Where do they hold meetings? Guy: There should be a guest room down by the port. Luke: Okay. Let's go check it out later. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `How to Cure Guy?' [SK058] | | Anise: Hmm... | Jade: What are you up to, Anise? Plotting to murder Tear, perhaps? | Eliminate an obstacle to marrying Luke? | Anise: Of course not! I'd never do anything like that! It's about | Guy... | Jade: Ah, his fear of women? | Anise: You saw how seriously terrified he was. It's like I can't really | tease him anymore... | Guy: ...Seriously terrified, huh. | Anise: Whoa! | Guy: ...Don't worry about it. Not to quote Ion or anything, but | perhaps being teased during this journey might help me to get | over it. | Jade: Well, he reacted most strongly when you grabbed him from | behind... As long as you avoid that, you should be just fine. | Anise: Right. Here we go! Coochie coochie coochie coochie coochie... | Guy: S-stop that! Cut it out! No, don't...! Ack! No! Please! | Stoooooooooop!! | Anise & Jade: Coochie coochie coochie coochie coochie coochie... | Guy: ...Th-that's enough already! And you stay out of this, Jade! | Jade: ...Nibble. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At the Kimlascan base... Count Almandine: Ah, Luke, it's good to see you again. Luke: (?) Count Almandine: You don't remember me? I visited your mansion in Baticul once when you were young. I'm Almandine. Luke: Sorry, don't remember you. Count Almandine: Oh, well. You were still a small boy at the time. Van: Fon Master, I've informed Count Almandine about the incident with Arietta. Ion: Please forgive my servant's mistakes. Count Almandine: I hope I can expect Daath to deal with the matter in good faith. Luke: Say, could you send a message to my father? Count Almandine: A message? If we use a carrier pigeon, I believe we could get a message there before you arrive, but...? Luke: That's fine. Tell him I'm bringing Fon Master Ion and Colonel Jade Curtiss of Malkuth, and that-- Jade: Luke. Your lack of prudence is truly astounding. Count Almandine: Colonel Curtiss... You mean to say this is Jade the Necromancer? Jade: That's correct. My deepest apologies for not introducing myself. I carry a letter of peace on behalf of His Majesty, Peony the Ninth, Emperor of Malkuth. Count Almandine: ...Your entourage is smaller than I would expect. Jade: We suffered a great deal of interference. I hope you can forgive us. Luke: These guys saved me. Put in a good word for them. Count Almandine: ...All right. I'll send a carrier pigeon to the mainland at once. The ship will be ready by tomorrow, so please get some rest here in port tonight. Ion: Thank you. The night passes. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Oracle Knights Again' [SK057] | | Luke: Finally! Now I can get back home. That was one tough trip. | Tear: It's too early to start relaxing. | Mieu: How come? | Tear: The Oracle Knights may attack again. | Luke: They sure like getting in our way, don't they? Damn, they're a | pain. | Mieu: Don't worry, we'll be fine! | Tear: ...I sure hope so... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party prepares to depart Kaitzur. Ion: Thank you for your assistance. Count Almandine: Have a safe journey! ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:KF1} \ >>> Katsbert Ferry \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke goes to leave the cabin and gets one of his headaches. Luke: (Not again...!) ??? voice: Awaken... Hurry... Heed my voice... Luke: Oww! The headache goes away and Luke leaves the cabin. A soldier is outside. Soldier: Master Luke, Dorian General Grants wishes to see you. He asks that you wait on the deck. Luke: Master Van? Okay. Luke heads towards the deck. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Look At All That Water!' [SK059] | | Luke: My first boat trip, and I get those stupid headaches again... | *Sigh* But I guess the sea isn't all that bad... | Mieu: Wow, look! There's water all around us! | Luke: Would you shut up, already! Damn, you're annoying! | Mieu: Mieu... But this is my first trip to sea. I'm just surprised... | Luke: Tch... What's so great about water anyway? I'm totally bored | here. There's nothing to do. | Mieu: But Master, you just said that the sea isn't that bad... | Luke: Stupid Thing! Are you calling me a liar? Huh?! | Mieu: M-mieu... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Guy: Do you remember when the two of us first met, Luke? Luke: I told you I don't remember any of that. That was before I was kidnapped. Guy: ...Yeah. You're right. I mean, you're completely different. Luke: Huh? Guy: Ah, I'm just glad you're you. Jade: What would you do if you weren't really you? Luke: Huh? What are you talking about? Jade: Never mind... It was a stupid question. Forget I said anything. Ion: I hope what's happened won't incur King Ingobert's disfavor and cause negotiations to fall through. Luke: Don't worry. I'll explain everything to my uncle. I'll ask Father and Mother to help, too. Ion: That's right, your mother is His Majesty's younger sister. Luke: Yep. So, relax. Anise: Can I ask you a weird question? Luke: What? Anise: What do you think of Tear? [Choose "she's my type"] Luke: I'd say she's my type. Anise: Ohh...I see. I hope I fill out like Tear... Then maybe I'll be good enough for you.... Right now, I'm still a kid, but... I love you, Luke! (heart) Luke: (////) Luke: Aaah! Don't say weird stuff like that! Anise: You're so cute, Luke! (heart) [Choose "she's annoying"] Luke: She's annoying. Anise: That's not very nice. But I guess that means I still have a chance, so I'm kind of happy... (heart) Heh heh. ...I love you, Luke! (heart) Luke: (////) Luke: Aaah! Don't say weird stuff like that! Anise: You're so cute, Luke! (heart) Tear: So, you weren't actually a true Seventh Fonist after all. Luke: I remember you talking about "Seventh Fonists" before. What does that mean, anyway? Tear: Didn't your tutors teach you? Luke: How should I know? I don't remember! Tear: But you lost your memory seven years ago, right? Haven't you studied since then? Luke: I had a lot of other things I had to learn. Like my parents' faces... Tear: (...) Tear: ...All matter contains fonons--basic particles of sound. Fonons are divided into six elements. Luke: What, you decided to explain after all. Tear: Combining fonons with memory particles from the planet's core yields an enormous amount of energy. A device was made to supply fuel to the world by passing those particles through the fon belt. That's what's known as the Planet Storm. Luke: Sounds complicated. So...? Tear: The Planet Storm caused a mutation in the six fonon elements and the memory particles. And that was the birth of the Seventh Fonon. Those who use it to perform fonic artes are called Seventh Fonists. Luke: I don't know what to make out of that story. But I'm no fonist. Luke sits down. Tear: But you caused a hyperresonance with me. You're capable of using the Seventh Fonon. That's something you're born with. Luke: Now that you mention it, Jade can't use the Seventh Fonon. Tear: Right. There are very few Seventh Fonists. Scorers--those who read the Score--and healers are both Seventh Fonists. Luke: So, basically, it means special fonists who use a special fonon. Tear: ...I'm sorry. Luke: Huh? What's with you all of a sudden? Tear: I don't think I've been taking your memory loss very seriously. I've been unkind to you this whole time. I'm ashamed of myself... Luke: I-it's ok, it's not really a... Tear: I'm really sorry. Tear runs off. Luke continues to wander the deck looking for Van and gets another headache. Luke: ...Ow...oww! Luke: (My body's moving on its own!) Luke: Why am I moving...? ??? voice: I have reached you... Luke: Wh-who the hell are you?! ??? voice: Show me your power... The same power as mine... Luke: Are you the one controlling me?! What the hell are you?! I knew I wasn't just hearing things.... Van sees Luke. Luke: Wh-what's going on?! No! Stop! Van: Luke! Calm down! Calm down. Take a deep breath. ...That's it. Now, focus your mind on the tips of your fingers. Luke, listen to my voice. Now, relax, just like that.... Are you all right, Luke? Luke: What...what happened to me... Van: I would presume a hyperresonance occurred. Luke: A hyperresonance? You mean that thing that blew us to Tataroo Valley? Van: Yes, that was also the power of hyperresonance, though in an incomplete form. Luke: Master... What's happening to me? Van: Haven't you ever wondered about your kidnapping and the way you've been forbidden to leave the mansion? Luke: That's because, you know, my father's worried about me... Van: No. It's to keep you--the only person in the world who can cause a hyperresonance on his own--on a short leash here in Kimlasca. Luke: Wait, Master, hold on. I don't understand what you're saying. Just what is "hyperresonance," anyway? Van: A hyperresonance is a power that occurs when two Seventh Fonons interact. It can destroy and reform any matter. Normally, it occurs only under special conditions, with two Seventh Fonists present. Luke: But I can cause it by myself? Like what just happened? Van: Yes. With training, you could control it at will. It would be useful in war. Your father and the King both know that. That's why Malkuth wanted you. Luke: Are you saying I've been held captive in my own home as a weapon?! Luke: (!) Luke: ...Wait, do they plan to keep me this way my whole life?! Van: Well, your engagement to Princess Natalia means your holding cell will likely change to the castle. Luke: I refuse to accept that! Yeah, it can be annoying outside, but staying trapped in my home, just to be used in some war...? Van: Calm down, Luke. First, we avert the war. Then, we let everyone know of that success. If we do that, it will establish your status as a hero who preserved the peace. At the very least, you should be set free from your unfair imprisonment. Luke: You think so? You really think so, Master? Van: Don't worry. Have confidence in yourself. You've been chosen. The power of hyperresonance will make you a hero. Luke: A hero... Me, a hero... Van: Looks like we've arrived. Here we'll change ships for one headed to Baticul. Cheer up, Luke. A sullen face isn't becoming of a future hero. Luke: ...Right! ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:CH1} \ >>> Chesedonia \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Van: I'll bid you farewell here. I have to turn Arietta over to the inspector in Daath. Luke: What? I want you to come with us! Van: I'll head for Baticul later. Don't be selfish, Luke. Luke: But... Tear: (...) Van: The ship leaves port from the Kimlascan side. Inquire at the Kimlascan consulate. I'll see you again in Baticul. Tear, please look after Luke for me. Tear: Oh... R-right! Van leaves. Mieu: Master, it's a new city! It's full of sand! Luke: ...Shut up, Thing! Tear: (angry) Tear: (But he's so cute...) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `I'll Be a Hero...!' [SK060] | | Luke: The Seventh Fonon...hyperresonance... Dammit, I'm not a tool to | be locked up until I'm needed! If I can prove myself by | stopping the war, they'll make me a hero, and then I'll be | free... | Ion: Luke? Is something wrong? | Luke: Huh? Oh, no! Nothing at all. Let's go stop that war! | Ion: Y-yes, of course. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Almost Home!' [SK062] | | Anise: Now we just have to get to the consulate and sail back to | Baticul. | Guy: Well, Luke, that should wrap up your Grand Adventure. | Luke: Hey, quit it with the "Grand Adventure" thing! Besides, I've | still got stuff to do after we get back. | Anise: Yeah, you've got an important job back in Baticul! | Guy: Oh, right... Getting an audience with the King. | Anise: And introducing me to your parents! (heart) | Luke: You want to meet them? Sure, go ahead. | Anise: Really? I can't believe it! Yes! (heart) | Guy & Luke: Huh...? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Center of Trade' [SK063] | | Luke: Wow, this place sure is packed. | Guy: Well, you've got stuff coming in from all over the world. | Agricultural products, medicines--things like that from Malkuth | all pass through the consulate here in Chesedonia. Likewise for | products exported from Kimlasca. | Tear: That distribution system supports all those meals you've had. | Luke: Wow. All that food must've had a long trip. | Guy: Kind of like us. | Luke: So we're vegetables now...? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes further into town... Noir: Oh, my, what's a fine gentleman like you doing in a place like this? (heart) Luke: Huh? Wh-what do you want? Noir: Come, on. You have such a pretty face...Don't ruin it by frowning like that. Anise: (vein) Anise: Oh, no... Some old lady is after my Luke! Noir: (vein) Noir: Oh, my, pardon me, little girl. I didn't mean to interfere. I'll be on my way. Noir starts to walk off. Tear: Stop. Noir: Hmm? Tear: ...Return what you stole. Luke: Huh? Hey! My wallet's gone! Noir: ...Humph. So, you're not all chumps, huh? York! Take care of this! Urushi, we're outta here! Noir tosses the wallet to York, who tries to run away. Tear stops him. Tear: Don't move. If you return what you stole, I'll release you unharmed. York returns the wallet and runs away. York: ...You've got some guts making enemies of the Dark Wings. You haven't heard the last of us! They depart. Luke: They're the Dark Wings?! If I'd known that, I'd have cut them to pieces! Tear: Yes, after all, you did a great job of protecting your wallet. Luke: (...) Tear: By the way, Colonel, why did you just stand by and watch as she did that? Jade: Oh no, you got me. It looked like it would be so amusing.... Luke: ...What the?! You jerk! The party heads to the Kimlascan Consulate. Consul: Luke fon Fabre and the emissaries, I presume? Jade: What's the status of the ship to Baticul? Consul: Preparations are currently underway. Why not partake in some sightseeing around town while you wait? Guy: Why don't we take this opportunity to investigate that fon disc? Consul: If you need a fon disc analysis machine, I believe Mr. Astor of the Chesedonia Merchants' Guild has one. Guy: Luke, let's stop by there for a minute. Tear'll probably be busy after we get back to Baticul and all. Jade: I do wonder what's on it. Luke: Hmm. Well, okay. I want to take a look around, anyway. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Where is Astor?' [SK066] | | Luke: So where is this Astor, anyway? | Ion: Astor's mansion stands in the middle of the town. It actually | straddles the Kimlasca-Malkuth border. | Luke: So we just have to head up there, right? Let's go! | Guy: Yeah...but as long as we're here, why don't we do a little | shopping? Chesedonia's the trade capital of the world, after | all. There's bound to be interesting stuff lying around. | Luke: Sure, why not? Sounds like fun. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Analyzing the Fon Disc' [SK061] | | Luke: Guy, what are you planning to do with that fon disc, anyway? | Guy: Hmm? Nothing in particular. I'm just curious as to what's on it. | I figured there might be something interesting about the Six | God-Generals. | Luke: Yeah? | Jade: Indeed, that's a definite possibility. Though it could, of | course, be nothing more than a simple technological primer. | Guy: Or maybe it's a diary... | Luke: Yeah, right. | Jade: You never know. Now that would certainly be an enjoyable find... | Luke: Enjoyable?! | Guy: Hah hah. Whatever it is, we'll have to wait for the analysis to | find out for sure. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads to Astor's Mansion. Astor: Oh, my. Fon Master Ion! If only you'd let me know you were coming, I'd have prepared a grand welcome for you... Ion: Its fine. We're trying to keep a low profile. Also, I have a favor I'd like to ask. Astor: Name it. The Chesedonia Merchants' Guild is always at your service, Fon Master. Guy: We want to read the data from this fon disc. Astor: Leave it to me. You there! Astor claps his hands and a servant comes for the disc. Astor: Analyze that fon disc and deliver the results to him. Servant: Yes, sir. Guy: Thank you. Guy hands the disc to the servant. Luke: Ion, you know this guy? Astor: It's thanks to the Fon Master that we were able to establish this place of exchange on the border. Tear: The Merchants' Guild contributes large amounts of money to Daath. In return the Order enforces the recognition of Chesedonia as an autonomous state. Anise: You must be really right, Astor! (heart) I can't handle it! (heart) Wow, I wish I lived in a place like this! (heart) The servant returns. Servant: Here are the results of the analysis, sir. Guy: Thanks. Luke: That's a lot. Guy: I guess we'll read them on the ship. Jade: Then let's be going. Thank you for your assistance. Astor: Any time you need something, please don't hesitate to let me know. Hee hee hee. The party heads towards the Kimlascan side. A soldier meets with them. Soldier: Ah, here you are. The ship is ready. Please come to the Kimlasca-side port-- Sync comes running. Tear: (!) Tear: Look out! Sync attacks Guy as he runs by, then stops and turns around. Sync: Hand those over! Jade: We shouldn't cause a scene here. To the ship! Luke: Damn it! They just don't give up! The party runs away. Sync gives chase. Sync: You're not getting away! The party runs to the port. Soldier: Master Luke, departure preparations are complete. Luke: Get this ship moving! Now! Soldier: Excuse me? Luke: We're being chased! Hurry! Luke comes running with Mieu and barely makes it before the ship leaves. Sync: ...Ow! They got away. Dist: Ahhh hah hah hah hah! Looks like you blew this one, Sync! Sync: Oh, it's you. Dist: Leave the rest to me! With my ultra super hyper high-grade fonic technology, I'll flay that conniving, long-haired, four-eyed-- Sync is gone and crows can be heard cawing. Dist: Stop! Stop! Come back! I'm not done talking! Sync: I marked the one named Guy with a curse slot. I can make him my puppet at any time. As for you, make sure you properly dispose of those documents from the fomicry project. Dist: Now, who do you think you are? Just you wait! I'm putting this down in my revenge journal! Dist: (vein) On the ferry... Luke: If we made it this far, we should be in the clear. Guy: Damn! I lost part of the documents when Sync attacked. Jade: Let me see them. Jade: Looks like isofon research. 3.14159265358979322946... This is Lorelei's fonon frequency. Luke: Lorelei? Isofons? "Fonon frequencies"? What the heck are you talking about? Tear: "Lorelei" is the name for the aggregate sentience of the Seventh Fonon. Anise: When a certain amount of a particular fonon gathers together, it becomes sentient. Control that, and you can perform high-level fonic artes. Guy: Each one has a name. The First Fonon sentience is called "Shadow," the Sixth is called "Rem," and so on. Jade: Lorelei still hadn't been observed. Its existence is hypothetical. Luke: Huh... How come all of you know this stuff? Guy: Well... It's actually common knowledge. Tear: It's okay, Luke. You can't help it. Just keep learning from here on and you'll be fine. Anise: Is it just me...or are you being a lot nicer to Luke all of a sudden? Tear: I-I don't know what you mean. Oh, also! All matter emits a fonon frequency. They're like fingerprints; no two frequencies are the same. Guy: Way to change the subject. Very smooth. Tear: Be quiet, Guy! Isofons are two entities that have the exact same fonon frequency. Of course, they don't exist unless artificially created. Jade: Of course, if isofons were common, we'd have our hands full with hyperresonances all over the place. Luke: (!) Jade: Isofon research holds potential for weapons development, so the military has their eye on it. Anise: That "fomicry" technology they worked on a long time ago can make isofons, right? Ion & Jade: (...) Guy: Yeah, fomicry is like a copy machine, right? Jade: No, replicas created through fomicry are mere imitations. A replica may look identical, but its fonon frequency is different. One can' produce isofons that way. Luke: Gah! What the hell are you all talking about?! Enough of this complicated stuff. Jade can read those documents on his-- A soldier enters. Soldier: Emergency! A large number of monsters an unidentified fontech signature approaching from Chesedonia! Two Oracle soldiers burst into the cabin. Tear: Oh, no! They're here! The party defeats the soldiers. Tear: Can we assume their goal is to stop Ion and the letter from reaching Kimlasca? Guy: You don't suppose they'd try to just sink the whole ship, do you? Mieu: Master, what do we do?! I can't swim... Luke kicks Mieu. Luke: Shut up and drown. Jade: But if they intended to sink us, they wouldn't come storming aboard. Anise: Then they're trying to take it over! Guy: *Sigh* So then I guess we have to secure the bridge before they do, huh? Jade: Exactly. Luke: Why do those Oracle guys want to start a war so badly? What a pain.... Jade: There's no time for complaints. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Oracle Knights Attack!' [SK065] | | Anise: Arrgh! Why do they keep attacking us?! | Tear: At sea, there's nowhere to run. That's probably why they keep | attacking... | Jade: Oh, I wouldn't give them that much credit. | Anise: Colonel, why do you look so relaxed? Didn't you just say we need | to hurry? | Jade: It's just your imagination. As you said, we ought to hurry to | the bridge before things get worse. | Tear: Yes, let's hurry. | [Tear & Anise leave.] | Jade: These meticulously planned, yet silly attacks remind me of-- | Well, I just hope my premonition turns out to be groundless. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads out to the deck. NPC: Argh! Why, you little... Luke: (?) Robot: (music note) Robot: Now it belongs to me, the great Barrelow X! NPC: (sweating) NPC: Give back that fonstone! Barrelow X: No! We're going to use it in an experiment! The robot runs away. Luke: What's going on? NPC: That weird robot stole the fonstone fragment! Guy: Fonstone fragment? Does it want it for fontech work? Jade: Most likely. And considering the tacky design of that robot, I have a feeling I know who's behind this... Tear: You do, Colonel? Jade: (...) Jade: Unfortunately, I think so. At any rate, that fonstone fragment is a valuable resource. Let's get it back. The party catches up to Barrelow X. Barrelow X: Gaaah! Don't interfere! Guy pulls out his sword. Guy: If you don't want to get smashed, hand over that fonstone! Barrelow X: (...) Barrelow X: That's extortion! You're evil! But I'm scared so I'll give it back. Barrelow X gives the stone back. Barrelow X: You haven't heard the last of me! Barrelow X jumps into the sea. All: (...) Luke: It ran away... Anise: Um, is it okay for it to get wet? Barrelow X: Aaaaaaah!! All: (...) Jade: Naturally, we'll leave it alone. Guy hands the fonstone back to the man. Guy: Well, anyway, we got the fonstone fragment back. Here you go. NPC: Th-thanks. ...It's not much, but you can have this as thanks. I don't need it, anyway... Obtained Nobile and Winged boots. The party heads towards the bridge. Luke: ...Where the heck is their leader? Let's hurry up and finish this. Dist: Ahh hah hah hah hah! Ahh hah hah hah hah hah! Listen, you ignorant savages, and you shall hear my beautiful name. I am the most graceful member of the Six God-Generals, the one and only, Dist the-- Jade: Why, if it isn't Dist the Runny! Dist: The Rose! R-O-S-E, rose! Dist the Rose! Anise: You mean Dist the Reaper. Dist: Silence! I refuse to accept that name! It's Rose! ROSE! Luke: What, you know him? Anise: I'm in the Oracle Knights, too, so... But why do you know him, Colonel...? Dist: I, the genius Dist, once counted that duplicitous snake Jade amongst my friends. Jade: Which Jade is that? I don't know any Jades with such poor taste in friends. Dist: What did you say?! Jade: Ah ah, careful now, you know how your nose runs when you get mad. Dist: Grrrrrrrr! No it doesn't! Guy & Luke: (...) Luke: This is stupid... Guy: They're off in their own little world... Dist: Enough of this. Now, hand over the fon disc data! Jade: You mean this? Dist grabs the data. Everyone else: (!) Dist: Hah hah ha! How careless, Jade! Jade: You can have them. I've already memorized their contents. Dist: (!) Dist: Grrrrrrr! I'm being mocked by savages! When you taste the pain of my super ultra gorgeous artes, you'll regret what you've done! Kaiser Dist R attacks. Party wins. Dist ends up falling into the sea. Luke: Hey...look... Jade: It'll take more than that to kill him. He has the tenacity of a cockroach. Right now, I'm off to check the bridge. Guy: I'll go with you. Ladies, please protect Luke and Ion. Anise: Hmm? Don't tell me you're afraid of us, Guy... Guy: N-no! Of course not! Guy runs away to the bridge. Luke: What should we do? Tear: Let's check to see if anyone's injured. Ion: Yes, you're right. Anise: It's not easy being a messenger of peace... Luke: You got that right... The party arrives in Baticul at long last. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:BA2} \ >>> Baticul \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Goldberg: It is an honor. I am Goldberg, commander of the 1st Division, Kimlasca-Lanvaldear Royal Forces. Congratulations on your safe return. Luke: Yeah. Goldberg: A carrier pigeon arrived with a message from Count Almandine. He said you were traveling with an emissary of peace from the Malkuth Empire. Ion: I'm Ion, Fon Master of the Order of Lorelei. I bear a letter from His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Peony the Ninth of the Malkuth Empire. May I ask an audience with His Majesty, King Ingobert the Sixth? Goldberg: Of course. General Cecille here will be responsible for escorting you to the castle. Cecille: Brigadier General Cecille, at your service. Guy looks surprised. Cecille: (?) Cecille: Is something wrong? Guy: N-no, excuse me. I'm Guy. A servant of Luke's. Tear: Locrian Sergeant Tear Grants, 1st Platoon, Oracle Knights Intelligence Division. Anise: Ionian Sergeant Anise Tatlin. Oracle Knights Fon Master Guard. Jade: Colonel Jade Curtiss, commander of the Third Division, Malkuth Imperial Forces. I represent His Imperial Majesty. Cecille & Goldberg: (!) Cecille: You're THE Jade Curtiss...?! Jade: You taught me a painful lesson in our battle in northern Chesedonia, General Cecille. Cecille: You must be joking. My forces were virtually wiped out... Goldberg: You're well known as the Emperor's personal confidant, Colonel. If you're here, Malkuth must indeed be serious. Jade: Tensions along the border are greater now than at the start of the Hod War. We have no choice but to be serious. Guy: (...) Goldberg: Correct. Well, then, Luke, my Baticul defense unit will escort you back to your home. Luke: Hold on! Ion asked me to speak to Uncle on his behalf. I'm taking him to the castle! Ion: Thank you, Luke. I appreciate the support. Tear: I'm impressed, Luke. You truly understand your responsibility. Luke: Oh...uh...yeah... Goldberg: Understood. In that case, I shall send General Cecille to inform His Grace, Duke Fabre. If you would, General Cecille. Cecille: Yes, sir. Luke: (All right, now I'll get my chance to be a hero.) Ion: All right, then, Luke. If you'd show us the way. Luke: ...Right, let's go! After riding the aircar, Luke takes a good look at his unfamiliar home town. Luke: So...this is Baticul? Guy: What? You're acting like you've never seen it before. Luke: I can't help it! I don't remember! Guy: Oh... That's right. You've never been outside since you lost your memory. Anise: ...Wow, what a city! It goes straight up! Mieu: You could fit two or three Cheagle Woods in here! Maybe more! Guy: This city was built on a depression in the ground created when a fonstone fell from the sky. Tear: Meaning that it's protected by natural walls. That's a logical design. Luke: (Damn it... It doesn't feel like I've come home at all.) The party sees the Dark Wings talking with an Oracle Soldier. Noir: ...I see. That's our specialty. Urushi: We'll expect a fat check for this one. York: This is going to be a big job, Noir. Luke: What's up? You going thieving again? All: (!) Soldier: W-well, then. That will be all. Excuse me, Fon Master. The soldier runs off. Noir: Oh, is that boy Fon Master Ion? Anise: What do you want, old lady?! Noir: Quiet, little girl. Or are you a boy? It's hard to tell. We've got a great show in store for you kids. Look forward to it. Let's go boys. Anise: (vein) York: Yes, ma'am! Dark Wings leave. Anise: What's with them?! They're dressed like circus performers! Guy: Now that you mention it, they do resemble that circus troupe, the "Black Dream." I only saw them once a long time ago, so I'm not certain, but... Luke: What? You went to see the circus without telling me? Guy: Oh, sorry, man... Jade: ...I do wonder what they're up to. It sounded like they were scheming something. Tear: ...Yes. And they were interested in Ion. Fon Master, please be careful. Ion: Right, I will. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Impressions of Baticul' [SK067] | | Luke: *Sigh* | Tear: Luke seems unhappy. | Anise: Even after getting back home, it's no different than anywhere | else. Poor Luke... | Tear: Luke, um... | Guy: Hey, Luke. Let's wander around the city for a bit. | Luke: Why? I just want to get home already. | Guy: We've come all this way. Might as well have a little more fun. | Think of it as...sightseeing. | Luke: I don't really feel like-- | Guy: Come on. After all, not everyone here has been to Baticul | before. | Ion: Yes. That sounds good to me. | Jade: Sure, why not? I don't mind. | Anise: Me neither! | Tear: I think that's a fine idea. | Guy: There you have it, Luke. Shall we? | Luke: All right, all right. Whatever! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party gets to the castle and heads towards the audience hall. Soldier: Grand Maestro Mohs is currently in an audience with His Majesty. Please wait. Luke: Mohs is the guy trying to start the war, right? Let's get in there before he gives my uncle any weird ideas! Soldier: Please, stop. Luke: I'm Luke, son of Duke Fabre! Get in my way, and I'll have them fire you! Ion: Luke, are you sure it's okay to force our way in like this...? Luke: It'll be fine. Mohs: The Malkuth Empire is strengthening the defenses in their capital, Grand Chokmah. With Engeve as their supply base, even Saint Binah has been-- Alpine & Ingobert: (!) Alpine: How dare you?! Who gave you permission to enter the hall?! Luke: Shut up! Out of my way! Alpine: (angry) Ingobert VI: Is that you, Luke...? Susanne's son...? Luke: That's right, Uncle. Ingobert VI: Ahh! I heard what happened. I'm glad to see you back safely from Malkuth. Then the people beside you must be... Luke: Fon Master Ion, of the Order of Lorelei, and Jade, from the Malkuth military. Ion: It is an honor to see you again, Your Majesty. I am Ion. Mohs: Fon Master... W-we've been looking for you... Ion: Mohs. Let us speak later. Your Majesty, this is Colonel Jade Curtiss. He represents His Imperial Majesty, Peony the Ninth. Jade kneels. Jade: I am honored to be in your presence. I bear an imperial letter from my lord for His Glorious Majesty, King Ingobert the Sixth. Anise hands the letter to Alpine. Luke: Uncle, what Mohs is saying is nonsense. I went and saw Malkuth with my own eyes. We didn't get close to the capital, but Engeve and Saint Binah were completely peaceful. Mohs: Wh-what did you say?! I'm merely trying to convey to His Majesty the threat that Malkuth... Luke: Shut up! You're just trying to start a war! I don't even know you, and I'm sick of you already! Ingobert VI: Luke, calm down. The letter from Malkuth has made it here. I won't ignore it. You all must be tired from your long journey. Please, get some rest. Alpine: We've prepared rooms in the castle for our emissary guests. Please, allow me to escort you. Ion: If I may, I'd love to see Luke's manor. Alpine: Very well. When your business is finished outside, please return to the castle. Mohs: Tear, you stay here. I must hear your report regarding the matter I assigned you. Tear: Grand Maestro. It is my responsibility to see that Like makes it safely to his manor. I will return with my report shortly. Mohs: ...Very well. I bid you my leave, Your Majesty. Mohs leaves. Ingobert VI: Luke, Susanne has fallen ill. Luke: Mother's sick?! Ingobert VI: I've sent Natalia to her side in my place. Please look after them for me. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Letter' [SK068] | | Luke: That Mohs... Looks like he's trying to start a war after all. | Telling lies to Uncle about Malkuth... | Jade: Well, in any case, the letter has changed hands safely. I'm | certain that His Majesty won't ignore it. | Luke: I'll make sure to arrange a chance for you to talk with him | further later. | Jade: Well, well, Luke... I see your rank is indeed useful after all. | Luke: Do you always need to talk like that? | Jade: My apologies. I really do appreciate your help. | Luke: Humph, you think you're so special. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke returns to the manor. Luke: Father! I'm home. Duke Fabre: I've heard the report from General Cecille. I'm glad you're safe. Thank you for your help, Guy. Guy: ...It is my honor, sir. Duke Fabre: I see the emissaries are with you. You must be tired. Please, relax and make yourselves comfortable. Ion: Thank you. Duke Fabre: By the way, Luke, where is Dorian General Grants? Luke: Master Van? We split up at Chesedonia. He said he'd come by boat later... Cecille: Duke Fabre... I'll head to the port. Duke Fabre: Yes. I'll leave the matter of Van to you. I'll go to the castle. All: (?) Duke Fabre: I hear it was thanks to you that my son was spirited halfway across the world. Tear: ...I apologize for the trouble I've caused. Duke Fabre: You're Van's sister? Tear: Yes. Duke Fabre: I've received a report that you intended to assassinate Van. Or were you in fact conspiring with him instead? Tear: Conspiring? I don't understand what you mean. Duke Fabre: Well, I'll leave that alone for now. Let's go, General. Duke Fabre and General Cecille leave. Guy: His Grace was acting strangely. Luke: I wonder what's up with Master Van... Tear: I think I should be going, too... Guy: As long as you're here, you should probably apologize to the Lady as well. She probably fell ill because Luke went missing. Tear: ...You're right. I'll do that. Luke heads towards his parents' chamber and is stopped by Natalia. Natalia: Luke! Luke: Ugh... Natalia: What kind of attitude is that?! Do you realize how worried I was?! Guy: Oh, well, you know... Luke's just embarrassed, Your Highness. Natalia: Guy! You have some explaining to do, too! I told you to come tell me before you went searching for Luke! Why did you leave without speaking to me? Guy: You know a servant like me can't get into the castle! Natalia: Why are you backing away? Guy: You know why! Natalia: Once I marry Luke, you'll be my servant, too. Get used to it. Guy: I can't! Natalia: You're so strange. Look how pathetic you are. I don't know what the maids see in you. ...I'm sorry to hear about Van. Luke: What's going on with Master Van? Natalia: Oh, my father didn't tell you? They suspect Van of being behind your disappearance. Tear: So that's why he asked if I was "conspiring" with Van... Natalia: Oh...? Who's this...? Luke! Don't tell me you've taken advantage of one of your servant girls! Luke: What?! There's no way I'd touch a chick as cold as that! Besides, she's not a servant! She's Master Van's sister. Natalia: ...Ohh, you're the one who caused this commotion in the first place. "Tear", was it? Luke: Enough about that! Tell me what's gonna happen to Master Van! Jade: Van will likely be arrested as soon as he arrives in Baticul. Worst case, I presume he'd be executed. Anise: Oh, no! Ion! The Commandant's in danger! Ion: Yes. We must issue a protest from Daath at once. Luke: Natalia! Master Van wasn't involved! Please, talk to Uncle about it! You've got to save him! Natalia: ...All right. I can't turn down a request from you, Luke. In exchange, please hurry and remember that promise you made. Luke: I told you, I don't remember proposing to you when I was a little kid! Anise & Tear: (!) Natalia: Yes, yes. Your memory loss. But how romantic would it be if the first thing you remember was your proposal to me? (heart) Luke: (////) Luke: ...Hurry up and go talk to Uncle about Master Van! Natalia: Honestly, you can be so mean. Fine. Natalia leaves. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Upper-Class?' [SK069] | | Luke: There goes Natalia again. | Guy: Some things never change, I guess. | Anise: She sure looked like a princess, didn't she? Pretty clothes, | royal bearing, elegant speech... I guess that's the upper class | for you. A little boisterous, too. | Jade: Well, you must be upper-class yourself then, Anise. | Anise: Hey, what's that supposed to mean?! | Guy: Hah hah hah. | Luke: *Sigh* Enough already... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke heads to his mother's room. Susanne: Oh, Luke! Is it really you? I was so worried about you. I was certain you'd been kidnapped again! Luke: I'm fine. Here I am, home again. Tear goes to her knees. Tear: Madam, I beg your forgiveness. I'm the one who involved your son, I tried to strike down my brother without thought to where I was. Susanne: ...So you are Van's sister, Tear? Tear: Yes. Susanne: ...I see. You say that what happened this time was not the work of villains pursuing my son? Tear: By Lorelei and Yulia, I swear it was not. Susanne: Thank you. And Tear, I don't know what's happened between you and Van, but please, never again think of striking down your own brother. Family fighting family is entirely too sad. Tear: I am grateful for your kind words. Susanne: Luke, you've come back to me. I'm fine now. Go let everyone see that you've returned. Luke: Oh...Right... Back near the entrance of the manor. Tear: ...Princess Natalia's beautiful. That cute dress looked so nice on her... Luke: Huh? She's not pretty. She's annoying. She whines about everything. Guy: And besides, you're beautiful, too, Tear. Tear: (////) Tear: Uh...thank you. ...I-I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking Guy: No, it's all right. I'm sorry. Luke: See, Guy, that's why girls fall all over you. The way you just come out and say stuff like that. Guy: ...But all I did was say what came to mind. Luke stops to speak with Pere Pere: May I help you with something? Jade: I’m Jade. Excuse me for asking, but…have we met somewhere before? Pere: (!) Pere: N-not that I recall… Jade: I see… +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Sword with a History' [SK078] | | Tear: What an impressive manor... Look at all these decorations on the | walls. | Luke: Maybe, but I don't have a clue what they mean. I don't really | care, either. | Guy: What a shame. Just look at all this history around you! | Tear: How about that sword that's hanging near the entrance? | Guy: ...Oh, that? As I recall, that was brought back from some | battle...along with proof of victory over the enemy | commander... | Luke: Proof? | Guy: His head. The commander's head. | Luke: H-head? I'd better keep away from that thing... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What a Wonderful Mansion!' [SK077] | | Anise: Oh, Luke! Your mansion! All the way up here! It's awesome! | Luke: Yeah? I never knew it was so high up. | Anise: Not only that, but the manor itself is just great! | Luke: This? Oh, it's nothing special. | Anise: Oh, you don't have to be so modest! (heart) But I like that, | too... I hope I get to live in a place like this someday... | Mieu: I like the Cheagle Woods better. It's much prettier than this | place! | Luke: Nobody asked you, Thing! | Mieu: Mieuuu... | [Luke & Mieu leave.] | Anise: Stupid little... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke heads to his room with the group. Guy: Are you tired? Feel free to get some rest. Luke: Yeah, I'll do that. Guy: Well, I guess I'll be going, then. The White Knights are having a fit that your search was left in the hands of a "mere servant" like me. Time to go kiss up while I give my report. Ion: It's time for us to go as well. Anise: Luke...please don't forget about me. (heart) Jade: It was a fascinating experience. Thank you. Luke: See you. All but Tear leave. Tear: ...I need to report to Grand Maestro Mohs, so I'll be leaving now, too. Luke: Oh...okay... Tear: You have a kind mother. Make sure you take good care of her. Luke: Like you're in a position to be telling me that. Tear: I suppose you're right. ...Farewell. Luke: Hey, wait. Tear: ...Yes? Luke: Don't worry about it too much. Tear: (?) Tear: Mother fell ill because she was frail to begin with. Tear: ...Thanks. Tear leaves. The next morning, a maid knocks on Luke's door and comes in. Maid: Good morning, Master Luke. Another beautiful day today, isn't it? According to the Order of Lorelei's Score, though, there may be some slight rain later. A messenger arrived from Princess Natalia, requesting your presence in the castle. Luke: It's okay for me to leave the manor now? Maid: Yes, apparently so. The maid bows and departs. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `To the Castle' [SK071] | | Luke: What could Natalia want? She may have come here directly... | Could it have something to do with Uncle...? Maybe it's about | Master Van... But still, they sure let me out without much of a | fuss. So...what was with these past seven years? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke heads to the castle. Tear: Then the Seventh Fonstone is in Akzeriuth...? Mohs: Yes. It's likely that Luke will also wind up going there, and-- Luke: What about me? Mohs: (!) Tear: (...) Mohs: Oh, greetings, Luke. We've been waiting for you. Colonel Curtiss is already waiting inside. Luke: ...Jade's here? Mohs: Let's go. Mohs, Luke, and Tear head to the audience hall. Ingobert VI: Ah, we've been waiting for you, Luke. Alpine: An emergency assembly was called last night. We agreed to formalize a treaty with Malkuth. Ingobert VI: The letter from Malkuth contained the proposal for the peace treaty, but also a request for aid. Alpine: There is a mining city in Malkuth called Akzeriuth. It is facing a crisis due to the miasma, the poison blight that seeps up from Gnome's domain. Natalia: Malkuth can't rescue its own citizens because the miasma is blocking their road to Akzeriuth. Ingobert VI: But Akzeriuth was originally our territory. So, naturally, there's also a connecting road from the Kaitzur side. With that in mind, they requested our aid to protect their citizens. Luke: Yeah, helping their people would be a nice gesture, but what's that got to do with me? Duke Fabre: His Majesty has graciously assigned you the honor of becoming Kimlasca-Lanvaldear's goodwill ambassador. Luke: Me?! No! I've had enough fighting already. Ingobert VI: Natalia talked to me about Van. Luke: (!) Ingobert VI: We, too, are uncertain regarding Van's guilt. Thus, we have a proposal. If you will travel to Akzeriuth as a goodwill ambassador, we will release Van and have him aid you. Luke: Master Van's been arrested?! Natalia: He's being held beneath the castle. Luke: ...All right. If you'll set Master Van free... Jade: You become a lot more cooperative when Van is involved. Luke: ...Shut up. Ingobert VI: I'm glad you've agreed to help. There's actually a reason why you must be the one to fulfill this role. Luke: ...What? Duke Fabre: Look at this fonstone. This is part of Yulia Jue's Sixth Fonstone, which fell into our nation's territory. Ingobert VI: Tear, read the Score that is written on the lower portion of this fonstone. Tear: ...Yes, Your Majesty. Tear: "ND2000. In Kimlasca shall be born the scion of Lorelei's power. He will be of royal blood with hair of red. He shall be called the 'light of the sacred flame' and he will lead Kimlasca-Lanvaldear to new prosperity." Tear: "ND2018. The young scion of Lorelei's power shall bring his people to the miner's city. There..." ...And the rest is missing. Ingobert VI: That's sufficient. In other words, Luke, you are the chosen youth. Luke has a flashback where he talked to Van on Katsbert Ferry. Van: Don't worry. Have confidence in yourself. You've been chosen. The power of hyperresonance will make you a hero. Luke: A hero... Me, a hero... Back in the Audience chamber Duke Fabre: It pained us to confine you, but people sought you for your power. Now, though, it is time you became a hero. Luke: (Ah... It's just like Master Van said.) Jade: A hero... Alpine: What is it, Colonel? Jade: ...Nothing. Well, who shall accompany him besides me? Mohs: The Order of Lorelei wishes to send along Tear and Van. Duke Fabre: Luke, who would you like to take with you? You should take Guy with you as your personal attendant. Luke: I don't care, as long as Master Van's going. Natalia: Father, I really think that I should go along as an ambassador, as well. Ingobert VI: I told you last night, that will not do! Natalia: (angry) Luke: Uncle, may I go see Master Van? Ingobert VI: Do as you wish. I'll have the others who are to accompany you wait in front of the castle. Luke received the Ambassador title. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Van Imprisoned' [SK072] | | Luke: So Master Van really was captured... But me, a goodwill | ambassador...? ...If saving the people in Akzeriuth will free | Van, I'll do it. Besides, if the treaty goes through I might | become a hero... Then maybe they'd let me free. It's just like | Master Van said! I can't wait to tell him about this! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke heads to the prison and sees Van. Luke: Master! Soldier: I've provided him a summary of what's happened. The soldier leaves. Van: There's no one here now but us, so I want you to stay calm and listen to what I say. Luke: ...Huh? Van: Luke, will you join me as a member of the Oracle Knights? Luke: What are you talking about? Van: You probably assumed this trip to Akzeriuth was a simple matter. But in fulfilling that role, you will become Kimlasca's pet dog, trapped on a leash in Baticul for the rest of your life. Luke: Why? You're the one who told me I'd be free if I became a hero. Van: But going to Akzeriuth won't do. You heard Yulia Jue's Score, did you not? Luke: Yeah. It said I'd bring prosperity to Kimlasca and stuff. Van: The Score continues. "The youth will turn power to calamity and be as a weapon of Kimlasca." Those in the upper ranks of the Order believe you will bring war to the Rugnica Plains. Luke: Me, bring war...? That's ridiculous! Van: Yulia's Score has never been wrong. Not once. I want to save you before you're used for war! Luke: But what should I do...? If I don't go to Akzeriuth, those people will be in trouble. Van: This is what the Score says. You will take the people of Akzeriuth and move them away. As a result, war will break out. So what you must do is remove the miasma without moving the citizens of Akzeriuth. Luke: The miasma is that poison stuff, right? How can I do that...? Van: Cause a hyperresonance and neutralize the miasma. After that, you can run away with me to Daath. With that, war will be averted and you'll obtain your freedom. Luke: ...I wonder if I can. I don't know if I can cause a hyperresonance on my own. Van: I'll help you, like I did onboard the ship when I calmed your hyperresonance. Luke: ...Okay, I'll try. Van: You mustn't tell anyone of this plan until right before we put it into action. Especially anyone from Kimlasca. If they were to learn, you'd lose your chance to escape to Daath. Luke: Master, how come you're so nice to me? Van: ...Ah, that's right. That was lost with the rest of your memory. Luke: ...Did I say something before? Van: When you were young, you told me you wanted to go to Daath with me. You underwent cruel experiments for the purpose of hyperresonance research and you wanted to run away from this country. That's why on that day seven years ago... I kidnapped you. Luke: YOU kidnapped me?! Not Malkuth?! Van: This time, I won't fail. I need you. Luke: ...That's the first time anyone's ever told me they needed me. You're the only one who's ever praised me and scolded me and taken me seriously. Master...I'll join you! Van: Good. Then let's be going. To seize your future. Luke: Yeah! The pair are unaware that Natalia has been eavesdropping on their conversation from around the corner. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Luke and Van' [SK073] | | Luke: Heh heh... | Van: What is it, Luke? | Luke: I was just thinking about going to Akzeriuth. I'm all excited! | This is the first time I've gone anywhere with you, Master Van. | Van: I see... It's not the first time, though. | Luke: Huh? But I-- | Van: Don't worry about it. There's no need to concern yourself with | things you can't remember. It's time to start acting for the | future. | Luke: Right! | Van: And be very careful not to let anyone guess at our plans. | Luke: I will! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke and Van meet up with the rest of the party outside the castle. Tear: Van... Van: I've been informed of the situation. When do we leave? Guy: Jade says he has a proposal about that. Jade: I'm a little uncomfortable telling Dorian General Grants about it, but...oh, well. Oracle Ships are watching the Central Ocean. It's likely an attempt by the Grand Maestro faction to interfere. Tear: Colonel... Jade: It's a fact. Well, we don't know that it's the Grand Maestro faction. At any rate, going by sea would be dangerous. Luke: The what do we do? Jade: Let's send a ship out as a decoy while we head to Chesedonia by land. The Rotelro Sea past Chesedonia is under Malkuth's control. It won't be difficult to head for Kaitzur by ship. Van: I see. Then let's do this. I'll board the decoy ship. Luke: What?! Van: It's been announced that I'll be part of the aid team, yes? The Oracle Knights are more likely to consider the ship to contain the true group if I am on board. Jade: That's fine with me. We have no choice but to trust you regardless of what we do. Luke: But! Van: Luke. Don't you trust me? Luke: ...All right. Van: Then I'll head for the port, now. Tear, you look after Luke. Van leaves. Jade: A smaller group will attract less attention. Let's not add any more people than we have now. I'll go make the necessary arrangements. Please wait for me at the entrance to the city. Luke: So that leaves the cold-blooded woman and the woman-hater... Guy: Hey, don't give people the wrong idea! I love women! Tear: I'm not sure shouting declarations that you're a womanizer is much better.... Guy: That's not what I mean! What I mean is--! Tear: Let's get going. Guy: Hey! Listen to me! On the way to the entrance, the party runs into Anise. Anise: Luke! (heart) Guy: Eek! Anise: I missed you! (heart) But you're always together with Tear, aren't you... ...It's not fair. Tear: Oh...I-I'm sorry. But don't worry, Anise. I'm not with him because I want to be. Luke: (Ouch...) Jade: Anise, shouldn't you be with Ion? Anise: Colonel! When I woke up this morning, his bed was empty. People said they had seen someone that looked like Ion leave the city with some circus performers... Guy & Tear: (!) Guy: Circus performers? Don't tell me... Jade: Well this is a fine mess. It must be the Dark Wings. Luke: What?! Hey, now that you mention it, they HAD been talking with Oracle soldiers. They must be working together! Guy: Let's go get them! Anise: You can't! The God-General Sync is right outside the city. Tear: ...This is bad. If the Six God-Generals are outside, they'll find out that we're going by land. Anise: Huh? You're not going to Akzeriuth by ship? Luke: No, that's a decoy. Damn it, we've got to find a way out... Anise: Then take me with you on your way! If I can get outside the city, I can look for Ion! Luke: What do you think, Jade? Jade: I suppose we can't refuse her. ...It sounds like Mohs isn't involved in Ion's kidnapping this time. Anise: That's right. Mohs was mad. Tear: Then, Grand Maestro Mohs and the Six God-Generals really aren't connected...? Jade: Though, whether Mohs is trying to cause a war or not is a separate issue. Tear: (...) Luke: What do the Six God-Generals want with Ion? He said they took him to that place called the Sephiroth, right? Jade: We don't have enough information to guess. Right now, we should concentrate on getting out of this city. Guy: Wait... I know a way. Let's go to the abandoned factory in the old part of the city. We can get there by aircar. Luke: The abandoned factory? Okay. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Taking Precautions' [SK074] | | Luke: And just when I thought I could take a trip with Master Van... | Tear: We don't have much choice. The risk of being caught at sea is | just too great. | Jade: Indeed. The desert may be a harsh environment, but it will be | easier to deal with attackers there. | Luke: I thought we weren't going to get attacked in the first place! | Guy: Yeah, but you've seen how persistent the Oracle Knights are. | Jade: It certainly won't hurt to take precautions. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Just Ask Guy' [SK075] | | Anise: Let's hurry up and find Ion! | Tear: Yes. We'll have to go through the abandoned factory Guy was | talking about. | Anise: Guy, what's the best way for us to get there? | Guy: You remember the platform across from the aircar to the port, | where the guard was standing? That's the aircar that goes to | the factory. Supposedly, the workers used it back when the | factory was in operation. But ever since it was closed, it's | been off-limits. | Luke: Hey, Guy, how come you know so much? | Guy: Well...back when I was a kid, I always liked going to places I'd | never seen, and I just happened to come across the factory. I | didn't think it was much of anything at the time. | Luke: Huh... Is that so... | Anise: Come on, let's go already! | Tear: Yes, that's enough chatting, you two. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Baticul Is Huge!' [SK076] | | Luke: Wow, this city is amazing... | Tear: You really don't remember anything, do you? | Luke: Yeah...I didn't know there was a coliseum, or a military base, | or anything here. | Tear: I was surprised myself when I first came here. The Order of | Lorelei has a sanctuary here, so I'd thought it must be fairly | large, but... | Luke: All these people, all those buildings...it's amazing! I can't | believe I was living on top of all this. | Tear: Well, why not take the time to enjoy it, now that you've made it | back? | Luke: Yeah, this'll definitely keep me busy for a while. Who knows | when they'll let me out of the manor again... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads towards the factory and Guy stops them. Guy: Oh, wait. Hey, guys, can I do something? Tear: What is it? Guy: There's this place I've wanted to show Luke. Now that we have a chance, I'd like to take him... Luke: Me? Is it someplace fun? Anise: But Ion's in danger! Guy: I know. But remember that Luke has been stuck in his home for years. It'll also come in handy on our journey. Please? Anise: ...Well, make it quick, okay? Guy: Thanks, Anise, and everyone. The party enters Miyagi's dojo. Miyagi: Welcome. Guy: This is the place. Luke: What is this place? Guy: It's a civilian dojo. You like swords, right? You can practice a bunch of stuff here. Luke: Really? Miyagi: This is a place to practice martial...hmm, what's this? You already possess some skill. Tear: You can tell? Miyagi: Well, you know. By the particular air he has about him. ...But I see he still has far to go. Luke: ...What did you say? Miyagi: Now, now. A short temper will only do you harm. You are not weak. You merely lack creativity. Anise: Creativity? Miyagi: Yes. Strike artes can have a variety of effects based on how you use them. Depending on how your polish your skills, you can form countless different artes. Luke: So what exactly do I need to do? Miyagi: That's what I'm about to tell you. Miyagi: ...There you have it. Jade: I see. I'd heard many rumors about Kimlascan martial arts, but...this is fascinating. Miyagi: Baticul has a rich tradition of martial arts. You will only find this arte here. Anise: But we're not from this country... Miyagi: Ah, don't worry about that. Artes that aren't passed on will never be refined. They should be conveyed to all who need them. It is then up to those who learn them to take full advantage of them. Guy: I see... Tear: We'd best be going now. Miyagi: If there's anything you would like to know about fighting, do not hesitate to ask. This door is open to all. I'm here to tell all I know to those who desire to learn. The party heads to the aircar. Guy: That's strange. There's usually a soldier here... Luke: A soldier? Why? Guy: This place is off-limits. Man: If you're looking for that soldier, he just left saying he'd been called off to the castle. Are you people going to the old factory, too? I just saw another young lady get on the aircar a moment ago. I wonder why that place is so popular all of a sudden. Anise: Hmm? So someone else is headed there, too? Luke: Does it matter? Let's just get on this thing and go. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:ABF} \ >>> The Abandoned Factory \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Guy: So you know Baticul was built in the crater made by a fallen fonstone, right? If we go in through here, we should be able to make it out through the crater wall. Jade: (!) Jade: Yes, of course. If this was a factory, then... Tear: ...there would have to be facilities to dispose of waste water. Guy: Exactly. The sewage facility here doesn't work anymore, but we should be able to go through it. ???: My, you certainly do know a lot about it, Guy. All: (!) Natalia walks up to the group. Natalia: I found you. Luke: What are you doing here? And why are you dressed like that? Natalia: Why do you think? Two bitter enemies are finally about to make peace. This is no time for a princess to be sitting at home. Luke: ...Are you stupid? The world outside is no place for a spoiled little girl. You may wind up having to fight people, you know. Not just monsters. Natalia: Three years ago, at the battle in northern Chesedonia, I paid a visit to encourage the troops. I'm prepared for battle. Anise: Raising morale and actually fighting are two different things. You're probably better off staying behind. (heart) Tear: With all due respect, I'm afraid I have to agree. Guy: Your Highness, I think it would be best if you returned to the castle... Natalia: Silence! I am a master of Lanvaldear-style archery! I'm also a studied healer! I'll certainly be more useful than this empty-headed Oracle Knight, or that uncivil one. Anise: Anybody else think I should rip daddy's little girl a new hole? Natalia: How vulgar. You demonstrate your lack of refinement. Tear: (angry) Tear: This is some princess... Jade: Well, now, this is getting fun. Guy: ...This is why women scare me. Luke: Look, whatever, just don't follow us! Natalia: I'll tell them about you-know-what. Luke: ...What are you talking about? Natalia: I overheard you talking to Dorian General Grants beneath the castle... Luke grabs Natalia and drags her away from the group to talk privately. Luke: How much did you hear?! Natalia: That he's the one who kidnapped you, and that you're going to flee to Daath. Luke: ...What about before that? Natalia: I didn't hear anything else. I didn't go there to eavesdrop. I just thought I'd ask you to take me along. Luke: If I do, will you keep quiet about it? Natalia: As long as you'll remember your promise to me even after you escape to Daath. Luke: ...Okay, pinky swear. Natalia: ...Pinky swearing. I thought you hated that? Luke: Huh? Natalia: ...Never mind. Natalia and Luke rejoin the group. Luke: I've decided Natalia should come with us. Everyone else: (...) Luke: (sweatdrop) Natalia: I'm sure we'll get along just fine. Tear: ...Luke...I can't believe you. Luke: Shut up! I'm the ambassador! What I say goes! Understand?! Natalia: Oh, and everyone, please just speak normally with me, and call me Natalia. Otherwise, people may find out that I'm the princess. Natalia joined the party. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Keeping Secrets' [SK081] | | Luke: Natalia...you haven't told Uncle or Father about me and Van, | right? | Natalia: No, I haven't. | Luke: Really? | Natalia: Yes, really. If that's your decision, I have no intention of | interfering with it. Nor am I the type of person to spread | other peoples' secrets around. | Luke: Whew...good. Make sure you keep it that way, okay? | Natalia: Are you not even going to inform Guy? | Luke: ...No. Master Van said not to. | Natalia: I see... Very well. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Natalia, the Seventh Fonist' [SK160] | | Natalia: Whew...I see that real battles never go as easily as training. | Luke: So why don't you go back? | Natalia: No! I have no intention of returning to the castle. And besides, | did my healing skills not prove useful just now? | Guy: You have a point... Until now, we've had to rely on Tear for | healing. Having another Seventh Fonist like you on the team | would certainly be an asset... | Luke: Guy! You can't be serious! She'll make you do everything! | Natalia: Luke! I trust you have not forgotten our promise? | Luke: Ah-- | Natalia: And besides, you yourself chose to allow me to accompany you. I | expect no further complaints from you. Understood? | Luke: ...Stupid, stuck-up, wannabe queen. | Natalia: Be quiet! | Luke: Ow! Dammit! More like a wannabe dictator... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Princess' Guards' [SK079] | | Natalia: We must get out of this place quickly! | Guy: (Hey, Luke... You really think it's okay to bring her along?) | Luke: (You think she'd go back if you told her to?) | Jade: (It must be difficult work protecting a princess. You have my | sympathy.) | Guy: (Your sympathy, but not your help, huh?) | Jade: (Hah hah hah! I respectfully decline that privilege.) | Natalia: What are the three of you muttering about? If you have something | to say, say it out loud! Is that not the gentleman's way? | Jade: Oh dear, we seem to have aroused her anger. Hah hah hah hah hah! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Further in to the factory... Luke: Hey, Natalia! Slow down, would you?! Natalia: What? Are you tired already? How disappointing. Luke: Th-that's not what I'm saying! Anise: ...Ugh. For a princess, she's got the stamina of a farm hand. Natalia: Did you say something? Anise: Nothing! Natalia: Fon Master Ion's been kidnapped, remember? Besides, we need to work as quickly as possible for the sake of all who are suffering. Am I wrong? Tear: That's true, but this area is dark, so I think we should be a little cautious. Guy: She's right, Your Highness. Please, if you would, walk more slowly. Natalia: Guy! I told you not to treat me as a princess! Guy: Oh, that's right. My humblest apolo--err, I mean, sorry. Jade: Natalia. The six of us are in this together. It's not right for everyone to cater to your needs. For the time being, at least, you've cast aside your status as royalty, correct? Natalia: ...You're right. I'm sorry. Anise: Wow, never expected to hear her say that. Natalia: I've heard enough out of you! Tear: ... Jade: Ahh, it's so wonderful to see everyone come to understand one another. Luke: ...You need to get your ears checked. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Natalia? The Leader?!' [SK080] | | Natalia: All right, everyone, let's hurry to Akzeriuth! | Luke: Yeah, yeah. | Guy: Right! | Jade: Indeed. | [Luke, Jade, Guy & Natalia leave.] | Anise: Is it just me, or do the men seem particularly cooperative? | Tear: I don't see a problem with that... | Anise: I just wish they'd be like that for us. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Be Careful!' [SK085] | | Jade: Luke, please take care when making use of Mieu's fire. | Luke: Huh? Why? | Jade: It's possible there's still some oil left lingering in these | pipes. | Luke: So? | Tear: What do you think will happen if the flames spread to those | pipes? The whole factory could blow up! | Luke: What?! | Guy: That's a very definite possibility. | Luke: ...Humph! Like I'd make a stupid mistake like that! Hey, Thing! | Watch where you spew those flames, got it?! | Mieu: Yes, Master... Safety first! | [Luke, Tear, Guy & Mieu leave.] | Jade: I guess it's a good thing I mentioned it... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At the exit of the factory... Luke: Something smells. Anise: It smells greasy! Guy: Maybe its from when the factory was running? No, it's too strong for that... Tear: Wait! I hear something... Is something there? Natalia: I don't hear anything. Jade: No, there's definitely something here. A monster? Everyone readies their weapons.. Tear: Look out! Natalia: (!) Tear pushes Natalia out of the way. A monster comes out. Anise: Uah! Here it comes! The party wins the battle. Luke: What the hell was that thing? Guy: It's not one I've seen around here before. The inside looked like a spider. Tear: Well, it's hardly surprising that an abandoned factory has a few spiders, but... Jade: The oil it was feeding on may have caused a mutation due to fonon activity. Natalia: ...Tear? Tear: Yes? Natalia: Thank you. You saved me. ...I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you and everyone. Tear: (!) Tear: It's all right. Luke: No it's not. Don't drag us down, Natalia. Tear: (...) Luke: By the way, where's this sewage facility? Guy: I imagine it's down below...hmm? Guy: Hey, is that an emergency exit? Jade: Let's take a look. Luke: Okay, if we lower the ladder there, we should be able to get outside. Mieu: Yes, Master. Once we get out of here, it's on to Chesedonia! Tear: Chesedonia lies across desert. There should be an oasis midway, so we'll stop there to rest. Natalia: Guy, you head down first. Catch me if I slip. Guy: ...You're telling me to do that knowing full well that I can't, right? Natalia: I need you to get over your phobia, or we'll have problems once Luke and I are married. Anise: Luke prefers much younger, cuter girls, don't you Luke? (heart) You can call off that silly engagement any time. (heart) Natalia: Excuse me?! Anise: What?! Tear: (...) Tear: Luke, you're despicable. Luke: What?! Like this is my fault?! Jade: It's nice to see you all getting along so well. Luke: Are you blind?! The party heads outside. Luke: ...Huh? Luke sees Asch and Ion, along with some Oracle soldiers. Luke instantly runs towards them, unsheathing his sword along the way. Luke: Hand over Ion now! Asch draws his sword to meet Luke's. They cross swords and look at each other's faces close-up. Luke: Huh? Asch: It's you! The rest of the party, besides Jade, is confused about what's going on. They run towards Luke. Natalia: ..Uh? Tear: ..Huh? Anise: *huff* *huff* Guy: Luke! Sync calls out from a distance. Sync: Asch! Ion takes priority right now! Asch: (to Sync) I know! Asch: (to Luke, softly) Aren't you the ladies' man? Asch and Sync swiftly climb the Tartarus and leave with Ion. Luke is still in shock over what's he's just seen. Luke: He... He looks like me... Natalia: ...What does this mean? Jade: By the way, they took Ion and left. Anise: Aaah! I let them get away! Jade: Regardless, we've now encountered the Six God-Generals. The decoy is a failure. Guy: Wouldn't we be better off returning to Baticul and going by ship? Natalia: It would be a waste of time. Luke: Why? Natalia: Father still doesn't trust Malkuth. He'll have sealed the port against invasion once he dispatched the decoy. Tear: Let's go by land and search for Ion. If Ion were to die, it could affect this entire peace effort. Anise: That's right! Please, search for Ion! Even if its while you're doing something else. Please! Jade: It's your decision, Luke. Will we search for Ion as we go by land? Or will we turn over Natalia to His Majesty and have him unseal the port? Natalia: You can't do that! Luke! You KNOW what I mean! Luke: Gaaah, everyone shut up! Why am I the one deciding, anyway? Jade: Well, you're the one in charge, aren't you? Luke: You really are obnoxious. ...We go by land! We'll have all sorts of trouble if we don't take Natalia along. Anise: Ion... Where could they have taken him? Jade: The landship was headed east from here... That's the direction of the oasis. Anise: We were planning on stopping there, too. Luke, you'll chase after them, won't you? Luke: Yeah. Luke: (That guy who looked like me... They called him "Asch..." Man, that was creepy...) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Asch Revealed' [SK083] | | Anise: Asch the Bloody... He looked just like Luke. | Guy: A long-lost brother, maybe? I've never heard anything like that, | but... Natalia, do you know anything about that? | Natalia: No. Duke Fabre only has one son. | Jade: There's no point in thinking about it with no information to go | on. Asking Asch directly would be the simplest route, but we | have other priorities right now. Isn't that right? | Anise: Yeah. I'm worried about Asch, but for now, we have to find Ion. | Natalia: We certainly do. And since it seems Asch is the one who has | abducted Ion, perhaps we can get our question answered at the | same time. | Guy: Let's hope so. Anyway, we might as well start out for that | oasis. | Anise: Yeah, let's go! | [Anise, Guy & Natalia leave.] | Jade: ...Was this unavoidable destiny? Or might even this be written | in the Score? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Ion's Safety' [SK082] | | Anise: Oh, I hope we find Ion soon! | Tear: I doubt his life is in danger, but still... | Luke: Why are the Oracle Knights after him, anyway? If they want to | stop the peace talks, wouldn't it make more sense to come after | us? | Anise: Maybe there's something else they need Ion for. | Tear: I suppose... | Luke: What a pain... | Anise: Luke, please...! | Luke: All right, all right, I know! We'll catch them. | Tear: Yes. We will. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:DO1} \ >>> Desert Oasis \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Upon entering, Luke gets one of his headaches. He hears Asch's voice. Asch's voice: Answer me... Answer me! Luke: Aaah...what the hell?! Guy: Luke! Is it those headaches again? Tear: Headaches? Guy: Ever since he was kidnapped, he'll occasionally get headaches or sometimes even hear voices. Asch's voice: Answer me, you dreck! Luke: Who...the hell...are you?! Asch's voice: You know who I am. You look just like me. Luke: Asch! Asch's voice: Where do you think you're going, idiot? Don't blame me if something happens to Ion. Luke: Where are you?! Asch's voice: The Zao Ruins... Though I doubt dreck like you can make it here. Anise: Luke! Are you all right? Mieu: Master, do you feel sick? Tear: Hold on, Luke. Guy: Hearing imaginary voices again? Luke: I doubt that was just my imagination... Natalia: You said something about "Asch." Did you mean that Oracle Knight...? Luke: The voice I heard was definitely Asch's. He said he was with Ion in the Zao Ruins... Anise: Ion's there?! Jade: The Zao Ruins? From 2000 years ago? Luke: Where are they? Jade: I'm afraid I don't know. I'd be most grateful if the leader of this mission would find them for us... Luke: You really like to be a jerk, don't you? Jade: Not at all. I'm so good-natured and honest, it almost hurts. Tear: Colonel! Please stop teasing Luke. Luke, let's ask the people here in the oasis. Luke: ...Right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Where are the Zao Ruins?' [SK088] | | Tear: I hope someone here knows where the Zao Ruins are... | Natalia: Couldn't we simply search for them ourselves? Ruins ought to | stand out in the desert. | Anise: But if we don't find them, we'll all shrivel up out there like | raisins. We can't just go wandering around aimlessly. | Tear: Besides, there's a good chance the ruins are covered with sand. | The desert monsters aren't pushovers, either. | Natalia: I suppose it won't be an easy task... | Anise: Well, let's ask around for some help! | Natalia: That seems like a good idea. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Jade Knows Everything' [SK093] | | Tear: There certainly are a lot of ruined structures around here. Are | these remnants of something? | Jade: This is said to be the last remains of a city that flourished | here long ago. Well, the outskirts of a city, to be precise. | Natalia: So people used to live in this area? | Jade: It seems that this area used to be much more hospitable to life, | until some sort of disaster turned it into a desert and | rendered the city uninhabitable. | Luke: If it became a desert, how come there's all this water here? | Jade: Probably because of that giant fonstone over there. When it | crashed, it opened a hole to an underground stream which | created that pool. | Guy: Wow, you really do know everything, don't you Jade? | Jade: Not at all. I just asked a passing merchant about it. | All but Jade: ...When? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Handling a Princess' [SK094] | | Luke: Whew...I really needed that. | Natalia: It certainly is refreshing. | Luke: I could just stay here forever... I really don't want to go back | out there. | Natalia: I know what you mean... The thought is tempting. | Jade: Then I presume the two of you are ending your journey here? | Well, I'm sure it's provided you with plenty of valuable | experience, the sort you'd never have obtained at the palace. | Farewell, then. Until we meet again. | Natalia: W-what are you talking about?! Nobody's returning to the castle | yet! Come on, Luke! | Luke: Hey! Relax. Can't we just rest a little bit longer? | Natalia: No! We're going now! | Luke: All right, all right! Stop pulling! | [Luke & Natalia leave.] | Jade: Well, well. She certainly seems easy to handle. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Asch's Voice' [SK087] | | Luke: What's Asch up to? How come I heard his voice? I don't get it... | Guy: You mean Asch might have something to do with those headaches? | And the voices you kept hearing? | Luke: I don't know...but something seemed different about it this | time. | Guy: So are you going to go to the Zao Ruins? | Jade: Not that I see any other viable possibilities. | Luke: Yeah, but why'd this have to happen just when we finally got to | the oasis...? Tch... I hate this desert. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Showers Are Awesome! - Guy Talk' [SK096] | | Guy: This sand is crazy... It's getting all over the place. I could | probably make a mountain with all the sand that'll come out of | these clothes. | Tear: Yes... I wouldn't mind a good shower myself. | Luke: Mmm...shower... | Natalia: Luke! You are the worst! How could you! | Luke: W-what?! I'm not doing anything! | Anise: Luke! If you've got time for dirty thoughts, pay more attention | to rescuing Ion! | Luke: I-I'm not thinking anything! Leave me alone! | Natalia: Disgusting! I can't believe you're that kind of person! | Anise: You pervert! | Luke: Arrgh! Shut up already! | [Luke, Tear, Anise & Natalia leave.] | Jade: ...Well, Guy, it seems you got lucky. | Guy: ...Lucky? | Jade: You're drooling. They'd have been on you in an instant if they'd | noticed. | Guy: Ah... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:ZA1} \ >>> Zao Ruins \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Guy: That's got to be it! Luke: Inside here, huh... Natalia: It looks dark inside... Mieu: I'll breathe fire. Luke: You're gonna keep breathing fire the whole time? That'll never work. Jade: Perhaps it's because of the wind, but there aren't any landship tracks about. Tear: Have they already left? Or are they still inside...? Anise: Whatever the case, there could be clues about Ion, so let's go! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The God-Generals' Plan' [SK090] | | Tear: I still can't figure out what the Six God-Generals are up to... | Jade: They certainly are acting strangely. First they take Ion to | these ruins, then they tell us where he's being held... | Guy: Are they trying to lure us into a trap? | Tear: That doesn't make any sense... Not after they came straight | after us so many times. Why would they suddenly resort to | trickery like that? | Jade: Why, indeed. In any case... | Guy: ...Nothing to do but to go on, huh? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads further into the ruins and finds something odd. Luke: Hmm? What's that? Tear: Luke! It's dangerous to approach it carelessly. Natalia: But it's beautiful. It doesn't look like something dangerous. Jade: Well, well, what have we here? Mieu: Second Fonons! Mieu goes into the fonons. Anise: What? How come we can see fonons? Jade: They must be quite concentrated here. This area is likely a fon slot. Luke: I still don't really understand what fonons are... Tear: Every structure and living thing has its own intrinsic vibration and emits a corresponding sound. Those are divided into six fonons. Tiny differences in their vibration and connections distinguish individual matter. Luke: (?) Guy: They're one of the basic elements that compose matter. You're made up of fonons and elements. Tear: It's rare to find so much of a single fonon bonded together that it becomes visible like this. Natalia: By the way, Mieu, what are you doing? Mieu: I'm letting the Sorcerer's Ring soak up the fonons! The Elder told me that if the ring soaks up fonons, it'll grow stronger! Luke: Stronger, huh. Anise: So, how's it feel? Mieu: Mieuuuuuuuu. I can feel the power! All but Jade: (!) Mieu: ...Well, a little. Kind of. I think. All but Jade: (sweatdrop) Luke: What's that supposed to mean? What a waste of time... All: (!) Mieu: Mieu mieu mieu mieu mieuuuu!! The power... I can feel it! Mieu bounces over to a set of rocks and breaks them. Mieu: Wow! I feel like I can break anything! Tear: A stronger Sorcerer's Ring must grant its wearer new power. Jade: Mieu, please let me see the Sorcerer's Ring. Mieu: Okay. Jade looks at the ring. Jade: I see... Guy: What is it? Jade: The crystallized fonons must have carved the ring. There are letters engraved into it. Guy: Letters? What's it say? Jade: It's a fon verse. This must be what's granting Mieu's new power. Luke: There was something written on that ring before, wasn't there? Tear: That's probably the Fifth Fonon power that Mieu's been using so far. The newly engraved fon verse has given him a new fonic arte. Mieu: A new power! Luke: Shut up already, Thing! Jade: Looking at the ring, it appears there's space for another fon verse to fit. Anise: Really? Then if we find another cluster of fonons, let's give it a try! Mieu: I'm going to work really hard and be even more useful! Mieu learned Mieu Attack. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Memorable Character' [SK092] | | Natalia: What were the Zao Ruins originally? | Jade: Hmm. History is not my specialty, so I'm afraid I don't know. I | would guess, however, that they are in some way related to the | ruins at the oasis. | Luke: Huh, so you don't know everything after all. | Jade: I'm honored. But I'm still young--there are more things that I | don't yet know than those I do. | Anise: Young...? Colonel, you're over thirty! | Jade: Indeed. But one's personality does not become truly well-rounded | until their forties, at least. I intend to make good use of my | youth to develop a memorable character, much as these ruins | have been remembered over the ages. | Natalia: My. Such an admirable goal. | Jade: To that end, I'm devoting myself to driving you youngsters | crazy. | Natalia: My... Such a ridiculous goal... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Hurry to Akzeriuth' [SK089] | | Luke: You think Akzeriuth is okay? | Natalia: Well, since they're requesting help... | Jade: The only real solution is to evacuate them, but they should be | all right for now. Emergency supplies should be arriving as | well. | Luke: Let's get a move on. I don't want to keep Master Van waiting. | Jade: You do understand that our priority is to assist the people of | Akzeriuth, right? | Luke: I know, I know! I'M the ambassador, remember? | Jade: Ah, of course. My apologies, Mister Ambassador. | Luke: Humph! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party comes upon some rocks blocking a path. Luke: ...Stupid boulders are in the way. Hey, Thing! Use that power you got earlier to break these. Mieu: Yes, Master! Mieu breaks the rocks with Mieu Attack. Anise: Whoa! Natalia: The poor thing. Mieu, doesn't that hurt? Luke: It's a fonic arte, right? He's fine. Natalia: Luke, I'm asking Mieu. Mieu: I'm fine! Thank you for worrying about me! You're so nice, Natalia! Tear: Yes. You could stand to learn a thing or two from her. Luke: ...Shut up. Luke walks off. Luke: Come on! Hurry up! Jade: Though he's already similar in this regard. Anise: Similar to who? Guy: To Natalia, I assume. Natalia: Well! I never! Natalia walks off. Natalia: Stop dawdling and get moving! All: (colored lines) The party goes further in and finds Largo, Sync, Asch and Ion. Largo: The Fon Master is in the middle of a ritual. We'll have no interference from you. Tear: The Six God-Generals! Natalia: Such impudence, after kidnapping the one you're supposed to serve! Anise: Sync! Largo! Give Ion back! Sync: I think not. We still have work for him. Luke: Then we'll take him back by force. Largo: This should be fun. Let's see how you've grown since I last saw you, cowering on the Tartarus. Luke: That's nice, coming from someone who was half-dead after one shot by Jade. Largo: Wah hah hah hah! Yeah, well, we won't lose so easily this time, boy... Sync: Sync the Tempest, God-General of the Oracle Knights, shows no mercy. Largo: Neither does Largo the Black Lion. Prepare! A battle ensues with Largo and Sync. Sync: You're a nuisance, running around like rats! Tear: Be quiet! Luke: You're the ones causing everyone problems. Largo: You kids got some life in you! Luke: Shut up and stay out of this old man! I'll kill you! Guy: They say old soldiers never die, they just fade away. Sync: I'm tired of listening to your nonsense! Get out of here! Jade: That's our line! Be gone! Largo: You won't take us as easily this time! Get back if you don't want some pain! Guy: You can't win! The battle ends, the party wins of course Sync: Aah... Largo: Argh... Asch: The two of you together STILL can't handle them? Pathetic! Asch comes at Luke. The two clash, and both use the same move. Luke: That was... That was one of Master Van's moves! How did YOU know it?! Asch: What are you, stupid?! It's because we trained in the same style, how else?! Sync: Asch! Stop! You get carried away when left on your own. Put away your sword. Now! Asch sheathes his sword. Sync: Let's make a deal. In exchange for ending the fight here, we'll let the Fon Master go. Guy: We won't need any deals if we just wipe you out. Sync: Don't forget that we're standing beneath the desert. We can bury you along with us. Largo: We'd die, too, of course, but that is a sacrifice we're willing to make. Tear: Luke, let's agree to their offer. Right now, we need to recover Ion and hurry to Akzeriuth. Jade: We're already late from traveling by land. Luke: ...All right. Ion is released. Anise: Ion! I was worried about you. Ion: I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused. Sync: Turn around and leave this place. If you come back, we really will bury you. The party goes to depart, but Guy takes one last look at the God-Generals. Guy: ...They really are the same. Natalia: I can't stand being ordered around by filth like him. Guy: What? Oh...yeah. But you need to deal with it for now, Natalia. Natalia: I know that. On this journey, I'm not traveling as the princess. Natalia and Guy leave. Largo: (!) Largo: Natalia...? Natalia: ...What is it? Luke: Natalia, let's go! Natalia: Right... Natalia and Luke depart. Sync: That's Princess Natalia? It must be fate, Largo. Asch: Are you connected to Natalia somehow? Largo: ...It was a long time ago. I've forgotten. Sync: There's no need for the Six God-Generals to know each other's past. You should be painfully aware of that. You, of all people--the leftover ashes of the "holy flame". Asch: ...Tch. Sync: That one, Guy...he knows. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Ion Rescued' [SK091] | | Guy: Whew... Well, at least Ion's safe. | Anise: Yeah. Ion, I was so worried! | Ion: I'm sorry for causing so much trouble... | Luke: You'd better be! Master Van's probably already at Akzeriuth! | Anise: Hey--! | Ion: I apologize. But thank you all for coming to rescue me. I truly | appreciate it. | Tear: Ion, what are you saying? We should be apologizing for allowing | this to happen to you... | Ion: It's all right, Tear. Thank you. Let's head for Chesedonia, | then, shall we? | [Luke, Tear & Ion leave.] | Anise: Grrr... | Guy: Relax. Luke has his own issues. Come on. We're off to | Chesedonia! | [Guy leaves.] | Anise: *Sigh* Then a ship to Kaitzur, then a slog to Akzeriuth... It | never ends... All right. Let's go! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party leaves the ruins. Anise: Whew. Even if it's hot and sandy and dusty, it's still good to be outside. Ion: I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you all. If I hadn't been so careless... Anise: Yeah, no kidding, Ion! That was rough! Jade: By the way, Ion, what were they having you do? This is another one of the Sephiroth, isn't it? Ion: ...Yes, to protect the Sephiroth, the Order of Lorelei placed Daathic seals on them. Only a Fon Master can remove them. The Six God-Generals demanded that I do so here. Guy: Why is the Order protecting the Sephiroth? Ion: That's confidential to the Order. But even with the seal open, they shouldn't be able to do anything... Luke: Well, whatever. Let's hurry up and get to town. I'm gonna shrivel up out here. Tear: Yes. Let's head for Chesedonia. Natalia: I agree. Mieu: Me, too! Luke: ...Quiet, Thing! If you open your mouth, you'll just make things hotter. Mieu: I'm sorry, Master. Mieuu... ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:CH2} \ >>> Chesedonia \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Guy: We finally made it to Chesedonia. Tear: From here, we head by ship to Kaitzur, right? Jade: If we go to the Malkuth consulate, they should show us to the ship. Luke gets another headache. Luke: Not again! Guy: Luke! Another headache? They're becoming more frequent... Luke: It's gone now. I'm okay. Guy: No, you should get some rest just in case. Anise: Then let's go to the inn. We have to decide what to do about Ion, too. Luke: All right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Luke's Headaches' [SK097] | | Tear: Do you think we should have a doctor take a look at Luke? | Natalia: The best Tear or I can do with our skills is heal surface wounds | or poison... Headaches are a different matter. | Jade: We do need to hurry to Akzeriuth...but I suppose we could try | asking him. | Guy: Well...we did have him checked out once back in Baticul, but the | doctors couldn't find anything. Besides, Luke would probably | call it a waste of time. | Tear: I see... | Jade: Hmm... Well, I doubt the doctors in Chesedonia are better than | those in Baticul. We also don't have that much time to begin | with. | Natalia: I suppose so... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads towards the inn. Luke gets another headache, this time hearing Asch's voice again. Luke: Agh... Asch: What's wrong, huh? That's not the way to the inn! Luke: Shut...up... Luke tries to walk away from the inn, but struggles. Asch: Hah hah, look at you. You're connected to me. You ARE me! Mieu: Master! Are you all right? Tear: Luke, what's wrong? Asch: Let's see, what next... Turn your sword on that woman. Luke: Shut up! Stop controlling me! Tear approaches Luke, and Luke pulls his sword on her. Tear: Luke! What are you doing?! Luke: It...it's not...me! My body's just...! S-stop!! The headache stops, and Luke faints. Later, inside the inn... Guy: ...What's happened to Luke? Anise: Hmm, health problems, huh. If I have to nurse someone, I'd be better off with a rich geezer who's ready to kick it... Natalia: Did you say something, Anise? Anise: ...Nothing! (heart) Hee hee. (heart) Tear: Colonel, do you have any idea what's wrong with Luke? Jade: Hmm... Natalia: Could it have something to do with that man who looked like Luke? The one they called "Asch"? Jade: ...I'd prefer to avoid commenting at this point. Guy: Jade! Stop teasing us! Jade: I'm not teasing anyone. I just feel that Luke ought to be the first to learn of matters that concern him. Mieu: Master's waking up. Luke: ...What were you saying about me? Jade: It's nothing. How do you feel? Does it still feel like someone's controlling you? Luke: No...I don't feel anything, now... Jade: Dist probably did something to you at Choral Castle. I'll have him remove it when we catch him. Luke: ...I sure hope so. By the way, what are we gonna do with Ion? Tear: Until we know the Six God-Generals' objective, we should keep Ion out of their hands. Ion: Could you take me with you, if it's not too much trouble? Anise: Ion! Mohs will be angry with us! Ion: Emperor Peony entrusted me with his letter of peace. So I'd like to report to him about the Akzeriuth rescue operation myself. Jade: I think that's a fine idea. Once we're finished in Akzeriuth, you can head back to the capital with me. ...Oh, I'm sorry. It's up to Luke to decide, isn't it? Luke: ...Do whatever you want! Ion: Thank you, everyone. The next day, the party heads to the Malkuth Consulate. Woman: Colonel, Luke, we've been waiting for you. We received word via carrier pigeon from Dorian General Grants. He plans to proceed to Akzeriuth with a vanguard unit. Luke: Whaaat?! He's too early! Ion: We should hurry, too. The scene fades to outside, where Sync can be seen. Guy then falls to his knees, a weird symbol appearing on his arm. He's being controlled by Sync. Luke: Guy?! Guy knocks Luke back. Luke: Oww! Guy, don't tell me Asch is controlling you, now? Guy: I don't think so...I don't hear any voices, anyway... Jade: Hmm, your arm's been scarred. This symbol...It looks like a curse slot. Luke: "Curse slot"? Ion: It's a Daathic fonic arte applied to a person's fon slots. It reads information from the brain, using the person's memories to control him. Woman: Shall I call a doctor or a healer? Guy: I'm fine. Let's get on that ship and hurry after Van. Luke: ...Isn't it dangerous, though? Ion: The curse slot's power varies depending on the proximity of the user. The user is probably nearby. We should get away from Chesedonia. Woman: Right this way. All but Ion leave. Ion: Only a Fon Master can use Daathic fonic artes...He must be... Outside... Sync: He's resisting more than I expected. ...No matter. They'll be caught up in Akzeriuth, anyway. Onboard the ship. Guy: That's weird. After we left Chesedonia, the pain just vanished. Luke: You had me worried, you know. Guy: Sorry. Tear: Then the curse slot user must have been in Chesedonia after all. Natalia: It's a good thing we got away from Chesedonia so quickly, Guy. Guy: Yeah. Say, it was Sync who cut my arm like this. Does that mean he's the user? Ion: Most likely. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:NP2} \ >>> Kaitzur Naval Port \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Guy's Injury' [SK099] | | Ion: Guy...are you all right? | Guy: Yeah, no pain or anything. Sorry I worried you. | Ion: ...Not at all. | Guy: I should be okay for a while. I should get that looked at after | we take care of Akzeriuth, though. | Ion: Guy, are you sure you're okay? | Guy: I'm fine! Don't worry. | Ion: ...If you say so. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke: Say, how do we get to Akzeriuth from here, anyway? Jade: It's past the Deo Range to the northeast. Luke: Okay, let's get going. We might be able to catch up to Master Van. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What We Can Do for Akzeriuth' [SK103] | | Guy: How bad do you suppose things are in Akzeriuth? | Tear: The miasma is my main concern. Treating victims there on the | spot won't have much effect. | Natalia: Yes. Evacuation should be our top priority. | Guy: But with the Malkuth and Kimlasca roads both out... | Natalia: Tear and I can't handle all the casualties ourselves, but we'll | do what we can until everyone's ready to evacuate. | Guy: Both sides have been informed, so hopefully it won't take too | long...Until then, I guess we're counting on you. | Natalia: Understood. It is the duty of a country's ruler to protect her | citizens. We will not abandon them! | Tear: Right. Let's do our best here. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Mohs and the War' [SK098] | | Luke: So if I save Akzeriuth, the war will be averted, right? | Anise: Well, it should be, but I don't know if that'll be enough | now... | Tear: Yes... With the tension between Kimlasca and Malkuth, it may | take a lot of work to ease relations. | Luke: Shouldn't everything be fine as long as Mohs stays out of the | way? | Anise: Mohs doesn't seem to approve of Ion's actions, so it probably | won't be that easy... | Tear: *Sigh* | Luke: Huh? Aren't you going to speak up for Mohs again? | Tear: You wouldn't listen if I did. Besides, I'm sure he'll understand | once we save Akzeriuth. | Luke: Humph. Yeah, right... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Akzeriuth's Ore' [SK105] | | Tear: Malkuth controls the mineral resources in this area, right? | Guy: Well, Akzeriuth is theirs, after all. There're some mines on the | Kimlasca side, too, but I've heard their output is | lower-quality. | Natalia: Raw materials are hard to come by in Kimlasca. Especially during | wartime... | Anise: And if you go through Daath, you have the extra tariffs to deal | with. | Ion: I do apologize for the trouble, but the Order needs funds to | operate... | Natalia: I was hoping to have a conversation with you on that point, Ion. | It is, of course, thanks to Daath that we are able to sustain | trade with Malkuth in the first place. However-- | Jade: Please, save the economics discussion for a more appropriate | time. | Tear: I'm sorry... I shouldn't have brought it up. You're right; we | need to focus on Akzeriuth right now. | Jade: I do enjoy a lively debate, but the Six God-Generals have me | rather concerned here. | Guy: Yeah... We should get moving. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:Deo} \ >>> Deo Pass \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: Man, at this rate, we'll never catch up to Master Van. We shouldn't have wasted time in the desert. Anise: What do (you) mean "wasted time"? Luke: I mean wasted time. We don't need Ion anymore. The war won't start as long as I'm around. Anise: You moron. Luke: H-hey...! Tear: Luke, even I thought that was arrogant. Natalia: This peace is based on the respect the Malkuth Emperor and Father have for the Fon Master. Without Ion, there would be no mediator. Ion: No, it's not that either country holds respect for me. They merely want Yulia's Score. I'm not really needed. Guy: I can't agree with you there. You carry weight as a deterrent, Ion. Even if you do owe it to Yulia's Score. Jade: I see. You're all still young. So, how about we get going now? Guy: How does he pull out a line like that at a time like this? You can never tell what that guy's thinking. (But Luke...You do need to be more careful with your words...) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Careless Words' [SK102] | | Anise: That Luke... How stupid can he be, anyway...? | Jade: Still angry, are we? That's not like you. | Anise: I-I'm not angry! I love Luke (and his money)! | Jade: Really? I have to admit, I half expected you to lose your temper | on hearing Ion spoken of like that. | Anise: Huh? N-no, not at all... Um... Well, okay, I guess it did bother | me a little. | Jade: Indeed. For all his ignorance of the world, that was still quite | a careless choice of words. Then again, what more could one | expect from Luke? | Anise: Look, I don't really want to talk about this anymore! Let's go, | Colonel! | Jade: Yes, ma'am. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Road to Akzeriuth' [SK106] | | Jade: The road is in surprisingly good condition. | Guy: Yeah, especially since it's not really used anymore. | Luke: How come? | Guy: This road was in operation back when Akzeriuth was a part of | Kimlasca. | Natalia: Since Malkuth took it from us, there's been no reason to | maintain it any longer. | Jade: ...But, if Akzeriuth is Kimlasca's next target, it certainly | would make sense to clean it up... | Natalia: What is that supposed to mean? | Jade: I said "if." It certainly doesn't appear to have seen any recent | work. The fact that it's still in such good condition speaks | well for the Kimlascan engineers who constructed it. | Natalia: You have a most...trying way of putting things. | Jade: Hah hah hah... I suppose I do. I'll try to be more careful. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Further along the in the pass... Ion: *Huff*...*huff* *huff* Anise: Ion! Tear: Are you all right? Do you want to rest a bit? Ion: No...I'm fine. Anise: No, you have to rest! We're taking a break, everyone! Luke: A break? What are you talking about?! Master Van's gone on ahead! Natalia: Luke! There's no harm in resting a little! Guy: Yeah. This is a tough mountain path. There's nothing we can do. Luke: I'M the ambassador! If I say we go, we go! Guy: (...) Natalia: (...) Jade: (...) Tear: (...) Anise: (angry) L-listen, you! Jade: Let's get some rest. Ion. I trust that's all right with you? Luke: Hey! Ion: I'm sorry to be a burden, Luke... Luke: ...Tch. Fine. ...Just for a little. Ion: Thank you. The party goes off the path to rest. Tear comes up to Luke. Tear: Luke, I don't know why you're in such a hurry, but you could do with less attitude. Luke: ...What are you talking about? I don't have any "attitude." Tear: ...Fine, never mind. Luke: ...What's her problem? Damn it. The party heads further in. As they get closer to the exit, they are stopped by some shots. Legretta: Stop! Tear, why do you continue to spend time with those people? Tear: I'm under orders from Grand Maestro Mohs. What about you? Why are you kidnapping Ion and traveling to the Sephiroth?! Legretta: To win freedom and free will for human beings. Tear: What do you mean...? Legretta: This world is completely controlled by the Score. People read the Score for anything they do. The Score rules their lives. Don't you think that's wrong? Ion: The Score doesn't exist to control people. It's merely a tool to help them follow the correct path. Legretta: Perhaps for you, Fon Master, but most people depend on the Score. It controls them. The worst cases consult the Score to see what they should have for dinner. You are no different. Anise: We don't go that far, but... If the Score shows the future, then it's best to live as it says... Guy: The Score you get read on your birthday is a useful reference. Natalia: Yes. And you hear your life's Score, from the moment you're born, so... Jade: In the end, relying on the Score makes life easier. Mind you, the Scores other than Yulia's are vague and hard to understand. Legretta: That's what I'm talking about. This world is mad. Someone has to change it. Tear! Join us. Tear: I still don't trust my brother, and you're his loyal partner. Until my suspicions towards him are cleared, I can't return to you. Legretta: Then I'll stop you by force! The party battles Legretta and wins. Legretta: Tear... Get away from that reject! Luke: Reject? You talking about me?! Jade: ...So, it WAS you people who resurrected that forbidden technology! Ion: Jade, no! There are some things people are better off not knowing! Jade: Ion...you knew?! Luke: What? Stop leaving me out of the conversation! What are you talking about?! It's something to do with me, right?! Jade: Whose idea was it? Was it Dist's?! Legretta: Are you talking about fomicry? What good would it do you to know? The die had been cast, Necromancer! Jade: Over my dead body! Anise: Colonel...You're actually really angry... Jade: I'm sorry. I lost control. I'm all right now. Let's hurry to Akzeriuth. Everyone but Luke and Mieu depart. Luke: Damn it, you're keeping me in the dark on purpose! Tell me what the hell's going on! Mieu: Master, you mustn't get mad... Luke: They all jerk me around and then act like I'm not even here! I'm the ambassador, damn it! Mieu: Master... Luke: Master Van's the only one...He's the only one who understands! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Stop Making Fun of Me!' [SK104] | | Luke: Dammit... | Mieu: Master... | Luke: Why won't anyone tell me what's going on?! Why did Legretta call | me a reject?! And everybody else is keeping all these big | secrets from me! Stop making fun of me! I'm the ambassador, | dammit! | Mieu: Please don't get angry... | Luke: Then go away! Just leave me alone already! All of you, I swear! | Mieu: Master... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Kind Teacher' [SK107] | | Luke: Dammit! Why does everyone keep making fun of me?! | Tear: Luke... Perhaps we could have explained things better, but if | you're going to keep up that attitude... | Luke: Stop preaching and shut the hell up you cold-- | Tear: Stop being so childish! | Luke: Shut up! Master Van never made fun of me! He was always nice to | me! He always explained things if I didn't know them! He-- | Tear: So you're just a puppet who can't do anything without my brother | around? | Luke: What?! | Tear: Never mind. But let me tell you something: you'd better start | thinking on your own, or one of these days you're going to do | something you cannot undo. | Luke: Dammit... Master Van... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:AK1} \ >>> Akzeriuth \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: Wh-what IS this... Jade: This is worse than I imagined Luke: H-hey, Natalia, they're dirty. Get away from them. You might catch something. Natalia: ..What's dirty? What am I going to catch?! Don't say such stupid things! *to man on ground* Are you alright? ???: Did you all come from the Kimlascan side? Luke: Uh...um... Natalia: I'm Natalia, Princess of Kimlasca. We've come to offer aid at the behest of His Majesty, Emperor Peony. ???: Ah! A man named Grants told us you'd be coming! My name's Pyrope. I'm the local supervisor for the mine here. The mayor fell ill. So I'm handling things in his place. Jade: Where are Dorian General Grants and the rescue team? Pyrope: Grants is inside the mine. He's attempting to rescue our companions who collapsed there. Guy: It looks like the miasma isn't quite as thick here as by the Fubras River. Anise: Apparently, it's pretty bad inside the mine. Tear: Let's take a look around out here, then head for the mine. Luke! Luke: Huh? Oh...Right... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What I Can Do' [SK109] | | Luke: *Sigh* | Guy: Luke, come on! Think how everyone will feel if they see us | looking depressed. | Luke: But I'm the ambassador... I don't have anything to do. | Guy: Huh? There's plenty for you to do. Transport the injured, carry | things... | Luke: But why do I have to do THAT? That's not my job! | Guy: Luke... | Luke: W-what? | Guy: You don't honestly think that, do you? Look around you. Use your | head. Come on, let's go. | [Guy leaves.] | Luke: But carrying them off one at a time would take forever! I can | use hyperresonance to get rid of the miasma in an instant. But | first...I've got to find Master Van. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Tragedy' [SK108] | | Natalia: This is worse than I had imagined... | Anise: People could be dying already. We've got to hurry! | Guy: All these people lying on the ground..and there are probably | more still trapped in the mines. ...This is terrible. | Ion: It looks like some of them are still in decent shape, but asking | them to help would be rather harsh... | Tear: Should we split up? | Jade: First we need to assess the situation. We'll decide how to | proceed after that. We'll have to go through the entire town... | Tear: Is that okay with you, Luke? | Luke: ...... | Natalia: Luke! Are you listening? | Luke: Y-yeah... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Mining Town, Akzeriuth' [SK116] | | Guy: The blue and green stones in the walls... Those are minerals, | right? | Jade: Yes. Minerals from Akzeriuth are highly valued as raw materials | for weapons and armor. | Anise: So if we all just grab a couple along the way, we'll all be | rich! ...Just kidding. Hah hah hah hah hah... | Natalia: ...The people of Akzeriuth are risking their lives to mine the | minerals from these tunnels. It's our duty to do what we can to | rescue them. | Anise: Yeah. | [Jade, Anise, Guy & Natalia leave.] | Luke: What...what can I do here? ...Can I get rid of the miasma? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Pain of Akzeriuth' [SK112] | | Guy: Akzeriuth used to be part of Kimlasca, wasn't it? | Jade: Indeed, although this area has always been embroiled in | conflict. | Guy: The mining rights must be pretty tempting. | Jade: Undoubtedly. The raw materials from these mines can satisfy an | entire country's needs with ease. | Guy: But to think of how the people living here must suffer from such | pointless conflict... | Jade: And now there's this miasma to deal with as well... I can | sympathize with the people of Akzeriuth. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads into tunnel 14. Hyman: Locrian Sergeant Grants! A soldier runs up to the party. Hyman: My name is Hyman. I'm the one who informed Grand Maestro Mohs about the Seventh Fonstone. Tear: Good work. Ion: The Seventh Fonstone? Don't tell me it's been found?! Hyman: We think so, but we can't be sure until we excavate it. Ion: Tear, please go confirm the Seventh Fonstone's authenticity. Ion: I'll go with the others and catch up to the vanguard. Tear: All right. Please take care of the villagers. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Into the Depths' [SK113] | | Luke: The miasma is pretty bad in here... | Anise: Maybe the source is deeper in the mine. | Guy: So the farther we go, the worse it'll get...? | Jade: I know it's dangerous, especially without Tear, but there may | still be people left within the mine. | Anise: Maybe we can do something about the source of the miasma, too. I | guess we'll just have to go in. | Luke: The source... If I can get rid of that like Master Van said, | maybe everyone will start treating me a little better... | Guy: Luke, what's the matter? Let's go! | Luke: Ah! Right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads further into the mine. Natalia: Hold on. We're here to save you. Jade: Something's wrong. I don't see the vanguard anywhere. Luke: ...Oww! Not again! Asch: Don't take another step! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Where's Master Van?' [SK114] | | Luke: Those headaches again... | Mieu: Master, are you okay? | Luke: Leave me alone! | Mieu: Mieu... | [Mieu leaves.] | Luke: There's still nothing for me to do... Where is Master Van, | anyway? If only he were here, I could get rid of the miasma... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `As the Goodwill Ambassador' [SK110] | | Luke: Where the hell is Master Van...? | Ion: Luke, let's take care of the people here first. | Luke: Well, Master Van's here helping people too. He'll know what I | should do. I have to go find him! | Ion: Luke, the people here are counting on you, as the goodwill | ambassador, to rescue them as quickly as-- | Luke: I know, I know! You don't have to tell me! | Ion: I see... Very well, then. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke, Jade and Ion head into the next tunnel Jade: ...Something's wrong up above. I'll go take a look. Asch: Don't go any further! Stop, before it's too late! Listen to me! Luke: ...I'm not letting YOU order me around! Luke approaches Van. Van: You finally made it. Luke: Master! There you are. Where's the rest of the vanguard? Van: I have them standing by elsewhere. Fon Master, could I ask you to open this door? Ion: ...A Daathic seal. So this is another Sephiroth. I don't think opening this will serve any purpose. Van: It will. It's necessary for the revival of Akzeriuth. Luke: Ion, please! Everything will be okay if you say what Master Van says. Ion: ...All right. Ion opens the seal. Van and Ion go inside. Asch: Stop, damn you! Don't go! Are you trying to destroy Akzeriuth?! Luke: What are you talking about? I'm just gonna neutralize the miasma here. Luke follows Van and Ion inside. Ion: It's the same as Zao Ruins and Shurrey Hill... Van: Luke. This way... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Master Van Will Know!' [SK115] | | Luke: I'm going to be a hero, I won't let Asch stop me! | Ion: Luke, don't you think we should wait for the others? | Luke: Master Van's here. Isn't that enough? And besides, I'm going to | save Akzeriuth right now. Who's going to complain about that? | Ion: What do you mean? | Luke: Just wait and see. | Ion: ...... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke, Ion and Van approach a strange object. Van: Now, Luke, go down to that fon machine -- the passage ring -- and neutralize the miasma. Ion: What are you talking about? Is that even possible? Luke: Yeah, it is for me. I'm a chosen hero. Luke approaches the passage ring. The scene fades to Jade. Tear runs up to him. Jade: Tear! What's going on? Tear: Colonel! The vanguard was wiped out! Tear: The Oracle Knights who captured the Tartarus ambushed them! Jade: That explains the missing vanguard. They must be trying to stop us from saving Akzeriuth... Tear: No, they were waiting here under orders from Van to take me away. Jade: What do you mean? Tear: I went to verify the Seventh Fonstone. It turns out it wasn't real. Tear: But I was nearly kidnapped by Oracle soldiers when I went there. Jade: Why you...? Tear: It's my brother! He wants to protect me from what he's about to do...! Tear: Where is he now?! He's trying to do something horrible! Asch: Hey! Do something about that dreck you call Luke, or we're all going to die! Asch goes running by, being chased by monsters. Tear: It was him! Asch told me! There's no mistake. Tear: Van is- The scene fades back to Van, Luke and Ion. Van: Good, concentrate just like that. Luke: ... Van: Now, "Foolish replica Luke" unleash your power! Ion is knocked back by a force that seems to come from Luke. Luke: Wh--what the hell?! Something's coming out of me... The scene flashes back to Katsbert Ferry. Van: Luke, listen to my voice. Now, relax, just like that... Van: When I order you to release your power, you will open every fon slot in your body and unleash a hyperresonance. That same power you're using right now. The trigger phrase will be... "Foolish replica Luke" The scene fades back to Tear and Jade. Tear: Van is-- Tear: --planning to destroy Akzeriuth! The scene fades back to Luke, Ion and Van. The chamber starts collapsing. Van: ...You've finally proven useful, replica. Luke: Van...? Asch arrives at the scene. Asch: Damn! We didn't make it! Van: Asch! Why are you here?! I told you not to come! Asch: ...Too bad. I also brought the sister you tried to save! Van whistles and is picked up by a bird monster. So is Asch. Asch: ...let me go! I'm going to die here, too! Van: I'd intended to save Ion with that, but now I have no choice. I can't afford to lose you. Tear and the rest of the party arrive. Tear: Van! I knew it! You've betrayed me! You said you were going to preserve these Outer Lands! What about the people of Akzeriuth? The Oracle soldiers in the Tartarus? They'll all be killed! Van: ...Mystearica, some day you'll come to understand the folly and ugliness of this world. I want you to live... At least long enough for me to see you come to your senses. You have the fonic hymns. Use them... Van flies away. Jade: Damn! The tunnels are collapsing! Tear: Everyone, come close! Hurry! Tear sings a fonic hymn, and the party is protected by the force field while Akzeriuth is destroyed. Luke wakes up to see Mieu in front of him, the whole party is there, but the place does not look at all familiar. Mieu: Master! Thank goodness! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What Happened...?' [SK117] | | Luke: Damn. What the hell just happened...? I used hyperresonance to | get rid of the miasma in Akzeriuth, and then the mine | collapsed...and then...? Dammit, what's going on?! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke speaks with the party Natalia: …They’re already dead. Were we the only ones who survived…? Ion: Is this the Qliphoth? I never imagined I’d come here like this… …I’ll explain in due time. Right now, I want to find as many survivors as we can. Anise: I’m glad Ion’s safe… Jade: If Tear hadn’t sung that fonic hymn, we’d have been dead as well. Yulia’s fonic hymns are powerful indeed… Guy: Did we get caught in Akzeriuth’s destruction and fall underground? Didn’t anyone else survive? Tear: …It’s too late now. I failed to protect Akzeriuth… ???: Uh... Uh... Tear: There's someone there! John: Daddy... It hurts... Daddy... Natalia: Hang on! I'll save you! Tear: Stop! That's a bottomless sea of mud and miasma! You'll die if you jump in there! Natalia: Then what can we do for that boy?! Tear: Let's try healing fonic artes from here. They might reach. Guy: He's sinking! Jade: No! John: Mommy...help... Daddy...help... The boy sinks into the mud. Anise: Is this place going to break apart, too? Jade: Let's go to the Tartarus. The emergency buoy is operational, and it's managing to stay above the mud. Aboard the Tartarus... Jade: It looks like it will still run. Tear: There's a place called Yulia City here in the Qliphoth. It should be to the west. Let's try heading there. Jade: You seem to know a lot about this place. I'd like to hear an explanation once we're safe. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Van's True Intentions' [SK118] | | Natalia: That poor child... We weren't able to save him... | Ion: ...There was nothing we could have done. If we had seen him just | a little bit earlier, then perhaps... | Tear: ...If only I had been able to stop Van, we could have saved him | and everyone else in Akzeriuth... | Luke: What're you talking about?! Master Van and I were only trying to | get rid of the miasma! ...We were only...trying to... | Tear: ...It's too late for that now. | Guy: Tear... | Jade: I'm more concerned about Van's intentions. What does he gain | from destroying the town? | Ion: I don't know... But I doubt the fall of Akzeriuth is the end of | his plans. I'm worried about what may follow... | Natalia: Whatever may come, it is our duty to stop it. | Tear: Yes... I will stop him this time, for certain. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes towards Yulia City. Guy: No matter how far we go, there's nothing in sight. ...Are we really underground? Tear: ...In a way. The place you live down here is known as the "Outer Lands"--the world's outer shell. It's a floating land supported by pillars called "Sephiroth Trees" that extend from the Qliphoth. Natalia: I don't understand. Tear: Long ago, the Outer Lands were here in the Qliphoth. Anise: Unbelievable... Tear: Two thousand years ago, the miasma enveloped Auldrant and infected the land. That is when Yulia read the seven part Score, finding a way to escape destruction and bring prosperity. Ion: Based on the Score, Yulia proposed a plan to raise the planet's crust using the Sephiroth. Guy: And that was the beginning of the Outer Lands, huh... That's quite a story. Ion: Yes. Only maestros and above in the Order of Lorelei know. As do those born in the Qliphoth. Anise: Then, you're from the Qliphoth Tear...? Ion: ...At any rate, we've fallen down here. We were saved thanks to Tear's fonic hymn. Jade: Why did this happen? You said Akzeriuth was supported by a pillar, correct? Ion: Yes, but... that pillar disintegrated. Anise: How? Luke: ...I-I don't know anything about it! I was just trying to neutralize the miasma! He told me that if I caused a hyperresonance there, the miasma would disappear...! Tear: My brother deceived you. And you destroyed the pillar that supported Akzeriuth. Luke: No! That can't be... Ion: Van ordered you to stand next to the passage ring. Those passage rings are what produced the pillars... Tear is probably right. I was careless. I never dreamed Van would make Luke do such a thing. Jade: I wish Luke had at least discussed it with us beforehand. Neutralizing the miasma could of waited until the residents were evacuated. ...Of course, there is little point in saying that now. Natalia: Yes... Akzeriuth is gone. Thousands of live lost in an instant. Luke: A-are you saying it's my fault...? It's not...It's not my fault! Master Van said... Yeah! Master Van told me to do it! I had no idea this would happen! No one told me! It's not my fault! It's not my fault! Tear: ...Colonel? Jade: I'm returning to the bridge. If I stay here, I'll just be irritated by some ridiculous ranting. Jade walks away. Luke: What's your problem?! I tried to save Akzeriuth! Natalia: Ever since you lost your memory, you're like a completely different person... Natalia walks away. Luke: Y-you all couldn't do anything either! Don't just blame me! Ion: You're right. I'm powerless. But still... Anise: Ion! Don't even bother talking to him! He's not even worth it. Anise drags Ion away. Luke: I-it's Master Van's fault! Not mine! Right, Guy?! Guy: Luke... Don't make me think even less of you... Tear: I was stupid for starting to think you had some good in you... Tear and Guy walk away. Luke: Wh-why?! Why are you all blaming me?! Mieu: Master... Cheer up. Luke: Sh-shut up! What do you know?! Mieu: A lot of my people died because of me. So... I can understand what you're feeling, Master. Luke: Don't compare me to YOU! Don't compare me to... Aah... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Responsibility' [SK119] | | Natalia: Did no one else survive besides us...? | Guy: I doubt it. They were probably all swallowed up by that | sludge... | Anise: Ugh... This is horrible... | Ion: ...It's my fault. If only I hadn't opened the door so | carelessly... | Anise: You may have opened the door, but that doesn't make it your | fault. It's Van and... | Luke: ...... | Jade: Anise, don't bother. You're wasting your time. | Guy: Don't talk about Luke like that. We don't have time for that | kind of thing now. | Jade: ...You have a point. If we don't make it to Yulia City, we'll be | in danger ourselves. | [All but Luke leave.] | Luke: Dammit... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes further in the Qliphoth. Jade: I've detected an unusually strong fonon signature. It's to the west. Tear: That's probably Yulia City. Natalia: I can see something! Anise: Is that... a waterfall?! Tear: Yes. It's sea water from the Outer Lands coming down. The city is inside. Guy: Won't the water pressure crush the Tartarus?! Tear: Don't worry. The water vaporizes near the ground. Jade: Then here we go. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:YU1} \ >>> Yulia City \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Anise: Wow...! This is Yulia City? Tear: Yes. The mayor is inside. Let's go. Everyone but Luke and Mieu depart. Tear walks towards Luke. Tear: ...How long are you going to stand there? Everyone's gone to the mayor's house. Luke: All they'll do is keep accusing me of stuff. I don't want to go. Asch: You're even more pathetic then I though, reject! Asch approaches from behind. Luke: ...You! What are you doing here?! Where's Master Van?! Asch: Hah! You still call him "Master" even though he betrayed you?! Luke: ...Betrayed me? Then, Master Van really did want me to destroy Akzeriuth? Asch: Damn it! If I'd realized what Van was planning sooner, this never would've happened! And you! Why didn't you think before using your hyperresonance?! Luke: S-so you're saying it's my fault, too? Asch: Of course it's your fault! Don't even try to deny it! Luke: It's not my fault! It's not my fault! It's not... Asch: Are all replica brains this defective?! Luke: "Replica"? Master Van used the word replica, too... Asch: ...You STILL haven't figured it out?! Is this someone's idea of a joke? Luke: Wh-what?! What the hell are you talking about?! Asch: I'll tell you, Luke. Tear: Asch, stop! Asch: Why do you think you and I have the same face? Luke: H-how should I know? Asch: I am a noble who was born in Baticul. Seven years ago, I was kidnapped by a villain named Van. Luke: You can't mean... Asch: That's right! You're a second-rate copy of me! A mere replica! Luke: You're lying! It's not true! It's not true! Asch: ...You want to fight, replica? Luke: Stop lying! Battle with Asch. [If Luke loses] Luke: You're lying... I'm not... Asch: I don't want to acknowledge it either! To think that dreck like you is my replica! To think trash like you stole my family, my home...everything from me! I'm going to be sick. Die! [If Luke wins] Asch: I can't believe I lost to this trash... It's no wonder I lost my family, my home, everything... I'm pathetic! Luke: It's a lie... I... Luke received the Replica Model title. The scene fades in to Tear's room. Tear: ...ning? Asch! In Luke's head: ...Why am I wearing Asch's clothes? Tear: Asch! Asch: I'm listening. Don't shout. Tear: Talk to the mayor-to my grandfather-about launching the Tartarus. In Luke's head: ...What's going on?! Why is Tear looking at me but saying "Asch"? In Asch's head: Can you hear me Luke? You're over here. Luke is shown passed out on a bed. In Asch's head: You and I are perfect isofons. You're a perfect replica, right down to your fonon frequency. In Luke's head: I-I'm no replica... In Asch's head: A perfect replica and it's original can connect with one another via their fon slots. We adjusted your fon slots at Choral Castle so that they'd be open to me. You've heard my voice several times since then, right? In Luke's head: Then, right now my voice is inside your head...? Then that means I... In Asch's head: Not just your voice. I controlled your whole body. Of course, I doubt a dreck like you could pull that off. In Luke's head: Stop making fun of me! I'll do it! Just watch! Asch talks to Luke some more In Asch’s head: Shall I go ahead and kill you now? In Luke’s head: Like hell you will! In Asch’s head: …Humph. I’d never resort to using underhanded tactics on trash like you. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Luke and Asch - Part 1' [SK120] | | Luke: Why can't I control him...?! | Asch: Humph. Is that all a stupid replica like you can manage? | Luke: Shut up! I can control this body! I'll show you! | Asch: Oh you will, will you? Why don't you go ahead and try, you | defect! | Luke: Dammit...! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Asch's Miscalculation' [SK121] | | Luke: ...How come you opened the channel to me? | Asch: I wouldn't have if I'd known how stupid you were, defect. | Luke: W-what?! Why?! | Asch: I had hoped to use you to stop Van. | Luke: You mean...Akzeriuth? | Asch: That too, but after I attacked you in Kaitzur, I found out Van | was planning to use you to destroy the Outer Lands. I planned | to use my position in the Order to keep track of Van, and let | you deal with him instead... | Luke: So why didn't you tell me...? | Asch: Like you would have believed me. You would have gone straight to | Van and told him everything! | Luke: ...I... | Asch: Tch! I should never have counted on a damn replica in the first | place. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Asch speaks with the party members Mieu… Mieu: You’re my only Master, Luke. I’m staying here with you. Luke’s voice: Mieu… Tear… Tear: You’re going back to the Outer Lands, right? I told you, I’m not going with you. Luke’s voice: You’re going back up?! In Asch’s head: There’s no point to staying here. Natalia… Natalia: Luke! …Uh…I mean, Asch. …How have you been? Asch: …Fine. Natalia: …Um! Do you… Do you remember me? Asch: (…) Natalia: I…I’m sorry. That was a strange question, wasn’t it… Guy… Guy: What’s Luke doing? Asch: …Sleeping. I’m sure he’ll wake up eventually. Guy: I see… If he thinks by himself for a while, I’m sure he’ll realize what he needs to do. Asch: Humph. I wonder. Luke’s voice: Guy… Asch: (He’s as naïve a fool as he always was…) Guy: I don’t trust you, you know. Asch: (…) Guy: I’m going with you to make sure you don’t do anything suspicious. Asch: …Do as you please. Ion… Ion: This is your first time here, isn’t it? Asch: …Yeah. Ion: I don’t like this city. The people of this city and I think too differently in regards to the Score. Jade… Jade: If we make use of Akzeriuth’s Sephiroth as planned, we should be able to get back. Luke’s voice: “As planned”? Asch: (Carrying the Tartarus back to the Outer Lands.) Luke’s voice: You can do that?! Asch: (Shut up! Be quiet, replica!) Jade: What’s wrong? You look like you just swallowed a bug. …Oh wait, you always look like that. Asch: (…) Anise… Anise: To think, the mysterious “Asch the Bloody” is a Baticul aristocrat. Asch: Did you say you were coming, too? Anise: I’m just going with Ion. I didn’t know Luke was that stupid. I’m not so sure about marrying someone stupid…even if he is rich. In Asch’s head: (…Hear that, replica?) Luke’s voice: …… Anise: The color of the Qliphoth’s sky looks awful, and outside is all miasma… I want to go back to the Outer Lands! Teodoro: What do you think of the Qliphoth? Asch: It's just as I'd heard... Not very pleasant. Teodoro: The miasma and Outer Lands cover the sky. The land is a liquefied crust flowing over the mantle. Teodoro: It's no place for human beings to live. In Luke's head: Then why are these guys here? Asch: Then why don't you move to the Outer Lands? Teodoro: You know our role. We are the watchers. We cannot leave this land. In Luke's head: "Watchers"? ...What are they watching? Asch: So I hear there may be a way to raise the Tartarus back to the Outer Lands? Teodoro: We've attached a fonon activator to the Tartarus similar to those used by the passage rings. Teodoro: It should be able to stimulate Akzeriuth's Sephiroth and raise a tree one final time. Asch: Then we ride the Sephiroth Tree back up to the surface, huh? Teodoro: Exactly. But do you really need the landship that badly? Asch: I wouldn't have asked if we didn't! Teodoro: All right. Then would you like to head to the Tartarus right now? Asch: Yes. Teodoro: Then let's go. Aboard the Tartarus... Asch: Can we run a landship this size with only four people? Jade: Only with the bare minimum maneuverability. Anise: Sephiroth are pillars that support our Outer Lands, right? How are we going to use that to get back up? Ion: The Sephiroth are places where the planet's fonons are concentrated and memory particles spout forth. The pillars-Sephiroth Trees-are the result of artificially strengthening those memory particle spouts. Guy: In other words, we're going to be pushed up be memory particles. Jade: We'll temporarily stimulate the Sephiroth and catch the memory particle spout with the Tartarus' sails. Natalia: I hope it works... Asch: Don't worry. Begin! The Tartarus gets pushed back up to the Outer Lands. Jade: Looks like we made it up. Natalia: I can't believe this is floating in mid-air... Guy: So, were do we go now? Asch: We can get information from Fon Machine Lab 1 in Belkend. Van goes there often. Anise: He does? Asch: I misunderstood Van's objective. We'll have to uncover his activities to find out what he is really after. I want you to take Ion and me back to Daath... Asch: We'll take you back once were done. I need bodies here to operate the Tartarus. Guy: Why not use your own men? Asch: I can't. Everything I do would be leaked to Van. Natalia: I don't see any problem with helping Asch. We, too, need to know Van's true objective. Ion: Natalia is right. Anise: ...If you say so Ion, then I'll go along. Jade: I have something I want to confirm as well. I'll cooperate with Asch for a time. Guy: (...) Asch: Belkend is to the east. Now, get to work. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Back to the Outer Lands' [SK122] | | Natalia: Well, we're back safely from the Qliphoth. | Anise: So that huge thing that looked like a tree of light comes from | the Sephiroth? It's hard to believe those are all that's | supporting the Outer Lands. | Natalia: Yes... But it was enough to push us back up here. | Anise: Yeah, it's a good thing it worked! (music note) | Asch: ...Of course it worked. The theory was correct. | Guy: Only because we got lucky. We could've all ended up dead down | there. | Natalia: Guy, that's quite a sharp tone to be taking with L...Asch. | Guy: ...My apologies. | [Guy leaves.] | Natalia: Guy... | Asch: Natalia! Forget it. It doesn't bother me. | Natalia: Asch... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Thinking of Luke' [SK124] | | Guy: So Yulia City is miles below us, huh... | Natalia: Guy...are you thinking about Luke? | Guy: Huh? Well...yeah, I guess. Everyone but Tear's back up here... | I'm worried he'll think he's been abandoned. After all this, he | still needs me to help him along... | Natalia: That's some ego you have, Guy! Besides, you were too lenient | with Luke in the first place. The rest of us were quite shocked | at his irresponsible remarks. | Guy: But he's a replica, so... It's partly my fault he's grown up the | way he has over the past seven years. ... And partly yours, | too, Natalia. | Natalia: ...Yes...perhaps you're right. As you say, Luke may be in need | of someone to support him right now. But what of Asch, then? | Who is to support him, after seven years of loss? Isn't that | our job as well? | Guy: ...I suppose you have a point... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Belkend Port Natalia: Belkend is your father's territory, isn't it? When we were young we went together to Belkend's-- Asch: The city's to the south. Let's go. Natalia: Asch... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Searching for Van's Tracks...' [SK123] | | Anise: Do you think we'll find out what Van's up to in Belkend? | Ion: I don't know, but we don't have any other leads right now... | Jade: Indeed. We should investigate the Fon Machine Laboratory in | Belkend. | Asch: Yeah. Van's been in and out often. There's bound to be something | there. | Natalia: Yes, I'm certain we'll learn something. | Guy: ...You're all pretty optimistic... | [Guy leaves.] | Natalia: Guy! Do you have a problem? | Asch: Natalia! Don't bother. | [Natalia & Asch leave.] | Anise: Whoa, ouch! What's with all this drama, Colonel? | Jade: Anise, a proper lady doesn't pry. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:BE1} \ >>> Belkend \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party heads into lab. Spinoza: (!) Spinoza: Luke! No...Asch. Asch: Hah, so the traitor to Kimlasca still lives here in this city. What a joke. Natalia: What do you mean, "traitor"? Asch: This guy was involved in my kidnapping. Jade: (!) Jade: Don't tell me you're the one who broke the ban on fomicry! Asch: It's just as you imagine, Jade. Spinoza: Jade! The Necromancer! Jade: Applying fomicry to living creatures is forbidden. Spinoza: Every fomicry researcher longs to try it at least once! You're no different, Jade Curtiss! Or should I say, Dr. Jade Balfour! You're the father of fomicry! You made dozens of replicas! Natalia: (!) Ion: (!) Anise: (!) Guy: (!) Jade: I won't deny it. I am the one who proposed the principles of fomicry. Spinoza: Then you have no right to criticize me! Jade: I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'm not interested in mutual wound-licking. I have no intention of covering for someone, just because they've committed the same sin as I. I'm well aware of what I've done. That's why I forbade it. The replication of living organisms presented both technical and ethical problems. You, a fomicry researcher, should know well the fate of the first replicas of living creatures. Spinoza: I-I only... All I did was help with Van's preservation project! I figured, if all we were doing was recording the replica information... Asch: Preservation project? What are you talking about? Spinoza: (!) Spinoza: You didn't know?! Asch: Tell us! Spinoza: ...I can't. I shouldn't have mentioned it at all. Spinoza runs away. Jade has received the Father of Fomicry title. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Forbidden Technology' [SK125] | | Ion: So you're the one who invented fomicry... | Jade: Yes. There was a time when I cared more about my own desires | than the multitude of problems surrounding fomicry. Even I had | my young and foolish days. | Ion: Jade... | Anise: Ion, are you okay? You don't look too good. | Ion: Yes...yes, I'm fine. I was just...a little surprised. | Guy: So your invention of fomicry was what allowed Luke to be | born... | Anise: Does that make the Colonel Luke's father? | Jade: Father...? If I had a son, I'd expect him to be much smarter and | more lovable. | Anise: Hey, that's mean! | Jade: In any case, it was Van that used fomicry on Asch, not me, so | that would make Van Luke's father. | [Jade, Anise, Guy & Ion leave.] | Luke: (Van...my father? But...) | Asch: ...... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Researcher 1: This is no good. We're out of fonimin. We can't make replicas without it. Researcher 2: Already? The next trip to Ortion Cavern to collect more is still a ways off. Researcher 1: That cave itself is convenient, but having to go all the way to Radessia to get to it sure isn't... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `They All Went with Asch...' [SK127] | | Luke: (Everyone...Everyone chose you over me...) | Asch: (It seems a former enemy is still preferable to worthless dreck | like you.) | Luke: (Hey!) | Asch: (Don't worry, replica. I won't be with them forever. If they're | that important to you, I'll send them back later. Though I | can't guarantee they'll actually return to you.) | Luke: (...They wouldn't want to come back anyway.) | Asch: (Probably not. They may be tough to work with, but at least they | have common sense. More so than you, anyway.) | Luke: (...Dammit...) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party leaves the lab. Natalia: Why is Van collecting replica data? What does he plan to do with it? Anise: Well, I'd assume he's going to make replicas... Asch: ...We're going to Ortion Cavern. Natalia: The cave on the western continent of Radessia? But why? Jade: I presume he intends to investigate the replica issue. Fonimin can be gathered there. And... Natalia: And? Jade: ...Well, you know. Radessia is Kimlascan territory. Malkuth can't interfere. Dist was originally a researcher from Malkuth. It's a logical place for him to go after stealing fomicry technology. Asch: Enough talk. Let's get going. Anise: Boooo. Do you really think we should go, Ion? Ion: Yes, for now, let's do what he says. Guy: I'm getting off here. Natalia: (!) Ion: (!) Anise: (!) Asch: (!) Why? Guy: I'm worried about Luke. I have to go back for him. Anise: I don't believe you! Who cares about that idiot! Guy: I do, because he's an idiot. I don't know what he'd do alone. And... I have faith that he can get past this. Natalia: Guy! You're Luke's attendant, and his friend! The real Luke is right here! Guy: This may be the real Luke. But my friend is that idiot. Luke: (Thanks, Guy... ) Jade: It's up to you if you want to go back for him, but how do you intend to return to Yulia City? Asch: ...Aramis Spring. It's a cave northwest of Daath. If the replica comes back to the Outer Lands, he'll pass through there. Guy: Thanks, Asch. Asch: ...Humph. I knew you'd choose him. Guy: Did Van tell you? Well...that's not the only reason. Natalia: What are you talking about? Guy: ...Nothing. See you. Natalia: Luke! Aren't you going to stop him?! Asch: Don't call me by that name. It's no longer mine. Natalia: (...) Guy has left the party. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Guy Leaves' [SK126] | | Natalia: Why did you not stop Guy? | Asch: ...He can do what he wants. You, too, you know. If you want to | go back to that replica, you can leave anytime. | Natalia: I... Well... | Jade: I can understand your dilemma. Though Luke may be only a | replica, that fact does not dilute seven years' worth of shared | memories. | Natalia: ...... | Jade: In any case, I'm more concerned about the loss of Guy as a | fighter. There are bound to be monsters in Ortion Cavern, as | well. | Asch: ...Forget about Guy. I can take care of monsters just as | easily. | Jade: I see this Luke likes Guy as well. He must feel quite lonely at | the loss of a friend. | Asch: ...Shut up! | Jade: Hmm... Their personalities are not so dissimilar, either. | Fomicry can't cause that in theory, but perhaps growing up in | similar environments pushed them in similar directions. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Memories' [SK134] | | Natalia: I had no idea there was a replica facility here. How can I be a | just princess when I know so little about my own country...? | Asch: Nothing is accomplished by just sitting around in a castle. You | learned that, didn't you? | Natalia: Oh...I remember that time! You took me outside the castle for | the first time, and... | Asch: ...and then Baticul became your castle. You'll only find the | truth by looking with your own eyes, walking on your own feet. | Otherwise this country will never change. | Natalia: ...You haven't changed. Even as a child, you were always | concerned about the future of our country...and you helped me | learn. | Asch: ...I'm no longer the person you knew. When I was taken away | seven years ago, the Luke inside of me died. All that's left is | his shadow. | Natalia: No, that's not true! I can tell... You really ARE Luke. | Asch: I said don't call me that. I'm Asch...the charred remains of the | "sacred flame"! | [Asch leaves.] | Natalia: Even so, I still... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Promise Fulfilled' [SK129] | | Natalia: L...Asch? Do you remember the time we visited this town as | children? | Asch: ...Yeah. You made me pinky swear to come here together when we | grew up... | Natalia: ...But you said there was no point to pinky swearing. That your | father had never kept his promises anyway. And then you left me | behind and went off to play with Guy... | Asch: ...That's all in the past. | Natalia: But you did keep your promise. The two of us have come here | again, in the end. Have we not? | Asch: You made that promise with Luke. ...I'm not Luke. | [Asch leaves.] | Natalia: No...you are Luke, the same Luke that I knew. I can tell... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:OC1} \ >>> Ortion Cavern \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Natalia: It's awfully damp in here. Ion: It's probably because of the sea breeze. Anise: Please wait in the Tartarus, Ion! Ion: But I'm interested too... Anise: No! It's too dangerous! Asch: Go back, Fon Master. You'll be in our way. Ion: ...Oh well. Luke: (Go ahead and take him with you!) Asch: (Are you stupid? What are we going to do with someone who can't fight?) Jade: Let's go inside. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Mysterious Facility' [SK130] | | Natalia: Asch... What was this facility built for? You were saying | something about replicas earlier... | Asch: ...I don't know for sure, but it's likely that this was the site | of research into replicas. | Anise: Those researchers were saying something about fonimin, weren't | they? And there's that dock... It looks like people come here a | lot. | Jade: Let's head inside. We may find something deeper in the cave. | Anise: You sure sound like you know something we don't, Colonel. | Jade: Not at all. This is the first time I've been here. Although... | Asch: Although what? | Jade: ...Nothing. | [Anise, Natalia & Asch leave.] | Jade: "Ortion" Cavern? You've got to be kidding me... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Watch Your Mouth!' [SK131] | | Anise: ...Wow! Asch! I just realized that you're actually really nice! | Asch: ...What are you talking about? | Anise: Ion, of course. With all that talk about getting in the way, you | really meant to keep him out of danger, didn't you? | Asch: I said he'd get in the way, and I meant he'd get in the way. | That's all. | Anise: Oh, come on! Don't get all shy and embarrassed! (music note) | Asch: You little...! Just shut up and walk! | Anise: Huh, you sure get angry just like Luke. | Asch: W-why you...! | Anise: See? There it is again! (music note) | Asch: Grrr... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party proceeds further into the cavern. Natalia sees some weird monsters. Natalia: I wonder what those are... Natalia walks closer. They try to attack. Natalia: (!) Asch comes out of nowhere and kills all of them. Anise: Wow! Asch, that was great! Asch: ...Are you okay? Natalia: Yes...yes, I'm fine. Thank you, Asch... Asch: ...Jade, do you recognize them? Jade: Well, biology is not exactly my specialty. Hmm...they don't appear to be indigenous to the area. And they seem odd for a new species. Asch: ...Looks like this may not go easily. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Luke's Worries' [SK132] | | Luke: (Hey, were you going easy on those monsters just now?) | Asch: (Huh? How stupid are you?) | Luke: (You're not planning to lure everybody in and let monsters kill | them or something...?!) | Asch: (Are you crazy?! ...The monsters here may be kind of strong, but | hardly a match for me. *Sigh* If you're going to keep bothering | me like this, you'd better be prepared to face the | consequences.) | Luke: (W-what do you mean? You can't do anything to me from there!) | Asch: (Not to you, no...) | Luke: (You...you can't mean... No! Don't!) | Asch: (Humph. I won't do anything...as long as you keep quiet.) | Luke: (......) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party reaches a room that was likely used for research or experiments. Natalia: What is this place? Jade: A fomicry research facility. Though it appears to have been abandoned for some time. Asch walks up to a machine and looks at it. Asch: The calculation device is still running. Everyone else walks up to the machine. Jade: Impressive. I doubt Luke could have handled this. Asch: This is...research regarding the effective scale of fomicry. Jade: They were trying to create replicas of large objects by increasing the data collection area. Anise: Large objects...? You mean like houses and stuff? Jade: Oh, larger than that. Even back when I was involved, we theoretically could have replicated a small island. Anise: That's huge! Asch: ...What the hell?! Impossible! Natalia: What's wrong? Asch: Look at the maximum replica size Van's research shows! Jade: ...Thirty million square kilometers?! That's more than a tenth of Auldrant! Natalia: Even if they succeeded in making something that size, there'd be no place to put it! Jade: They also have a list of previous replica data. The Malkuth military should have disposed of this. Asch: Did Dist smuggle it out? Jade: Most likely. It's data from the people of the destroyed island of Hod. There's no mistaking it. I was the one who had them take it at the time. Natalia: Don't tell me they're trying to resurrect a replica Hod...? Jade: ...I wonder. Let's take this data with us. Anise: (?) Anise runs over to two cages on the other side of the room. Anise: Hey, are these cheagles? Natalia: Oh! How can they eat if they're trapped in a place like this? Asch: Someone must be taking care of them. These two are probably a replica and its original. Jade: Yes, they both have a star-shaped mark in the same place. Anise: I wonder if these little guys breathe fire like Mieu. Anise hits the bars a bit, the cheagle breathes fire. Anise: Whoa! Natalia: I wonder if this one's the same. Natalia hits the bars and the cheagle breathes less fire. Natalia: Hmm, this one doesn't seem as energetic. Jade: It must be the replica. It's common for them to have reduced abilities. Anise: But, Colonel, the identification plate says this weak one is the original. Jade: I see. Replica data extraction can have a negative effect on the original in some cases... Natalia: Oh my. What sort of negative effect? Jade: In the worst case, the original dies. Though with perfect isofons, a different effect occurs... Luke's voice: N-no way.... So did making me mean that Asch is...? Jade: Natalia, Asch, there's no need to worry. Symptoms will always present themselves within ten days for inorganic matter. It's even faster for living things. Seven years later, Asch is doing fine. There's no need to worry. Natalia: Thank goodness. Luke's voice: Oh, good... Asch: (It's pretty sad when I've got dreck like you worrying about me...) Luke's voice: ...What? You want to start something?! Asch: (Enough! Shut up!) Anise: *Sigh* Replica stuff is complicated. You came up with this technology, right? Jade: ...Yes. Though it's a part of my past I wish I could erase. Asch: We've been here long enough. Let's go. Anise: So, all we learned was that the Commandant's trying to make a really big replica? Asch: That's plenty. Let's go. Natalia: Go where? Asch: I can do the rest alone. I'll take you back to your homeland. The party heads back towards the entrance. Asch: ...Be careful. There's something here. Natalia: What?! A monster drops from the ceiling an attacks the party. They win. Anise: What the heck was that?! It was huge! Disgusting! Jade: Fomicry research involves a number of chemicals that are harmful to living creatures. That may have been what caused this. Natalia: Asch... Thank you...for protecting me... Asch: ...Let's get moving. The party gets back to the Tartarus. Ion comes running out. Ion: Welcome ba- The ground starts shaking. Anise: An earthquake?! Natalia: Aah! Natalia almost falls, but Asch catches her and holds her steady. The earthquake soon stops. Natalia: Uh...um...thank you... Asch: ...I remember the last time I caught you like that. Natalia: Yes! I wanted to sneak out of the castle, so I jumped from a window... Asch: That earthquake may have been southern Rugnica falling. Anise: What?! Why?! Asch: Because Luke destroyed the Sephiroth Tree supporting southern Rugnica. It was barely hanging on by the Sephiroth from other areas. It's about time it fell. Jade: What effect will that have on other regions? Asch: Did you forget that we'd been having the Fon Master open the doors to the Sephiroth? Ion: Even with the doors opened, the passage rings are protected with Yulian seals. No one can use them. Asch: Van can! Jade: In other words, Van is able to control the Sephiroth. Then...is his objective the further destruction of the Outer Lands? Asch: That's what it looks like. From what I heard, the next to fall will be the area around St. Binah. Asch: (I don't have time to play with you anymore. Goodbye!) ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:YU2} \ >>> Yulia City \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke wakes up in a bed Luke: ...I guess the channel's closed. Mieu bounces onto the bed. Mieu: Master! Luke: Mieu.... Luke gets out of the bed and looks out a window. He sees Tear in a garden. Luke: Oh yeah! St. Binah's in danger! Luke goes out to the garden and walks up to Tear. Tear: Luke... You're awake. Luke: Is this a flower garden? Tear: They're selenias. The only flowers that grow in the Qliphoth. They bloom at night. The Outer Lands cover the sky, so hardly any sunlight gets through...Anyway, you looked like you were worried about something... Luke: Oh! Right! I want to go back to the Outer Lands! Tear: You'll be able to go back at some point. But for right now... Luke: No, I have to go back now! Asch said St. Binah's gonna fall! Tear: But...you've been asleep this whole time... Luke: I could hear! He and I are connected! Tear: Even if that's true, how do you plan to prevent St. Binah from falling? Luke: W-well... Tear: You don't understand a thing. You base all your actions on what others say and never try to understand things for yourself. That's no different than how you acted at Akzeriuth. Luke: ...Heh heh. You're right. "Master Van said so..." "Asch said so..." That's all I ever say... It's no wonder everyone got sick of me and left me behind. Tear: You knew? That they went back to the Outer Lands? Luke: I told you. Asch and I are connected. I saw it through him. ...I really am his replica. Tear: Luke... Luke: Up till now, all I ever paid attention to was myself... And I'm not even sure I saw myself clearly... Tear: ...Yeah. Luke: I want to change. I HAVE to change. Tear: If you really mean that, then perhaps you can. But even if you change, that's won't bring back Akzeriuth. ...And it won't erase the fact that thousands died. With the weight of all that on your shoulders, how do you plan to change? Luke: I don't know... Heh, that's all I know how to say. I'm pathetic. If I could make up for Akzeriuth by apologizing, I'd apologize as much as it took. If my dying could bring back Akzeriuth, then... I'd be scared, but...I'd die. But that's not how things are. Even if I tried to make up for it, I'd never be able to. So I'm going to start with what I can do. I don't know what that is yet, but I'm serious. I want to change. Tear: I still don't think you really understand. Not while you can talk about dying so easily. Luke: I won't ask you to trust me right away. ....Tear, you carry knives on you, right? Tear: Yes, why? Luke: Let me borrow one for a minute. Tear hands Luke a knife. He uses it to cut his hair. Tear: Luke! Luke: Heh heh. With this, I say good bye. To who I've been. Tear: Mmm. Luke: Tear, I want you to watch me from here on lout...and then make up your mind. I may not do a good job right away. I may make mistakes. But I'm going to change. Tear: All right. I'll be watching you. Luke: Please. Tear: I will. But don't ever take it for granted. I can give up on you at any time. Anyway, right now, if St. Binah is really going to fall, we have to find a way to stop it. Luke: Right. But what should we do? Tear: Let's ask the mayor, my grandfather. He should be in the meeting room. Luke: Okay. Let's go. If Luke is wearing the Viscount Costume Tear: …You know, I was so surprised when you took off your wig and cut your hair. Luke: How else was I supposed to cut it? Tear: So what next? Are you going to make a long-haired wig? Luke: That’s not a bad idea… Tear: (annoyed) Luke: …Sorry. I was just kidding… +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Thinking for Myself' [SK135] | | Luke: I have no idea how to keep St. Binah from falling, but we've got | to get there somehow. | Tear: Yes...even if we can't prevent its destruction, we can at least | evacuate everyone. Let's ask Grandfather about it. | Luke: Tear... | Tear: What? | Luke: I don't know much about anything, so I may not understand what | the mayor says, and... Well, I may need you to explain a lot of | it to me, but I'm going to make my own decisions. | Tear: Good...but don't use lack of knowledge as an excuse. | Luke: *Sigh* ...Yeah, sorry. | Tear: There's no need to rush things. Just start by doing what you | can, all right? | Luke: Yeah. And the first thing I can do is talk to the mayor. | Tear: Right. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Lost Technology' [SK138] | | Luke: This place looks a lot different from anything I've seen in the | Outer Lands... | Tear: You mean because of the miasma? | Luke: Well, that too, but these buildings... They look different, and | this strange material they're made of... | Tear: True... Yulia City is rather unique compared to towns in the | Outer Lands. But no one here knows how it was built. | Luke: What do you mean? | Tear: This city has been around since before the Outer Lands were | raised-- since the Dawn Age. It's protected from the miasma by | what was cutting edge technology even for the time, but since | then, we've lost most of that knowledge... | Luke: Huh? So we don't know how these buildings were built? | Tear: No, we don't. We can make simple repairs, but expanding or | rebuilding it is beyond our capabilities. | Luke: Wow... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke and Tear head into the conference room. Woman: Tear, I was looking for you. About the Third Fonic Hymn... Oh, so he's recovered? Tear: Layla! So has the Third Hymn's symbol been discovered? Luke: What's the "Third Hymn"? One of those fonic hymns you use? Woman: So he doesn't know about them. Luke: (?) Tear: The fonic hymns I use are Yulia's hymns. There are seven altogether. Luke: Oh, so the third of those seven? ...Wait. You always just use two of them. Tear: I don't understand the symbolism of the others. Woman: Yulia's hymns are useless with only the melody. If you don't understand the meaning and wisdom in the hymns, they're just songs. Oh, that's right... The symbol of the Third Hymn... There was a hidden page in a book Van left behind. It might be written there. When you have a chance, stop by my place and take a look. Layla walks off. Luke: Fonic hymns sound pretty tough... Tear: Yes. The symbols are very difficult. I know all but the Third and Fifth. But so far I only understand the First and Second... Luke: So if you don't know and understand the symbols, they really are just ordinary songs... Tear: (...) Tear: ...Actually, all seven of Yulia's hymns sung consecutively form another fonic hymn. It's called the Grand Fonic Hymn, and it works even if you don't understand its symbolism. The hymn itself is the symbol of the covenant. Luke: The whole "covenant with Lorelei" Grand Fonic Hymn? What power does that have? Tear: It's said that the Grand Fonic Hymn and the Key of Lorelei together can summon Lorelei. Luke: That sounds amazing! Tear: Yes. But the Key of Lorelei has been lost, and I don't know the Seventh Hymn. So it may not mean much in the end. Luke: ...Ch-cheer up. I don't know about the Grand Fonic Hymn, but your First and Second Hymns have really helped... That's good enough! Tear: Luke... Th-thank you... Luke and Tear enter the conference room and talk with Teodoro. Teodoro: Oh, Tear, it's you. And this must be... Luke: Ah...p-pleased to meet you. I'm Luke. Mieu: I'm Mieu! Luke: You, stay quiet. I...uh...I apologize for...for what happened at Akzeriuth... Teodoro: Ah, you're the Luke replica. I see. You really do look the same. Tear: Grandfather! Teodoro: Oh, I'm sorry. There's no need for you to apologize to us for Akzeriuth, however. Luke: Wh-what do you mean? Teodoro: The fall of Akzeriuth is written in Yulia's Score. It occurred because it was meant to. Tear: What are you saying?! I've never heard that! That makes it the same as Hod! Teodoro: It's part of the Closed Score. Only those of Maestro rank or higher know of it. Luke: If you knew about it through the Score, why didn't you try to stop it?! Teodoro: Luke...I'm surprised to hear someone from the Outer Lands say such a thing. A calm orderly life in accordance with the Score is the way of the Order of Lorelei. Luke: W-well, yeah, but... Teodoro: Why are people read the Score on their birthday each year? To learn of the next year and accept the possibilities it holds. Tear: Then why didn't you inform the world about Akzeriuth's destruction? Luke: Yeah! If you'd let everyone know, people wouldn't have had to die... Teodoro: That's the problem. When faced with a Score of death, people become unable to live peacefully. Luke: Of course...sir. Nobody wants to die! Teodoro: That's not acceptable. Yulia read prosperity for Auldrant in the Score. If we don't move history down that path, we'll lose the prosperity we are promised. We are the watchers who guide the Outer Lands to prosperity based on Yulia's Score. The Order of Lorelei is a tool for that purpose. Tear: ...And that's why Grand Maestro Mohs held Fon Master Ion and tried to cause a war? Luke: Master Van knew about the Score when he took me to Akzeriuth? Teodoro: That's correct. Tear: You told me neither Malkuth nor Kimlasca listened when you warned them about Hod! Was that a lie?! Teodoro: ...I'm sorry. You were young. I didn't want to tell you the truth. But Van knows the truth. Tear: Then my brother IS planning to take revenge on the world. He said that a world shackled to the Score is better off destroyed! Teodoro: Tear, you're mistaken in thinking that Van is trying to destroy the world. It's true that there was a time when Van hated the Score after what happened to Hod. But now, he's doing an admirable job as an observer. Luke: ...Admirable? Letting everyone in Akzeriuth die was admirable?! You're crazy! There's something wrong with all of you! Teodoro: Not at all. At the end of the Sixth Fonstone, Yulia's Score reads thus: "The land of Rugnica will be enveloped in war, and Malkuth shall lose territory. Kimlasca-Lanvaldear shall thrive, and this shall lead to unprecedented prosperity." We have watched all this time, in order to bring that unprecedented prosperity to the Outer Lands. Tear: But Grandfather... Van is trying to cause St. Binah to fall! Teodoro: The battle will take place around it. St. Binah will not fall. It is not written in the Score. A man walks in. Man: Mayor Teodoro, it's time for the council meeting. Teodoro: I'll be right there. If you two are that worried, take the Yulia Road to the Outer Lands. See for yourself that your concern is groundless. Teodoro departs. Luke: Tear, let's go back to the Outer Lands! We aren't going to accomplish anything here. Tear: Right. But before we go, there's something I want to get from my room. Okay? Luke: S-Sure... Luke and Tear go to exit the conference room, but Luke stops. Luke: Where's your room, Tear? Tear: It's the room you were sleeping in. The second floor on the house next-door is my room. Luke: Oh. Luke: (...) Luke: (Then...that whole time, I was sleeping in Tear's bed...?) Luke: (////) Mieu: Master? Is something wrong? Luke: (sweating) Luke: N-no! L-let's go! Mieu & Tear: (?) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Starting a New Journey' [SK136] | | Tear: Just like before... | Luke: Huh? | Tear: I left Yulia City like this last time...when I first met you. | Luke: Oh... | Tear: The time I went to the Outer Lands to stop my brother... | Luke: Tear. | Tear: I've got to stop him this time...and we've got to save St. | Binah. | Luke: ...Yeah. I can't let another Akzeriuth happen! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke and Tear head back to Tear's room. Tear: Van hated the Score. He was always talking about it, here in this room. He'd stand about where you are now and say he could never forgive a world that let Hod die. Luke: Why does he care so much about Hod? Tear: The Isle of Hod was Malkuth land, destroyed in the Hod War 16 years ago. It was our home. Hod fell into the Qliphoth just like Akzeriuth. Van and my mother, who was pregnant with me, fell into the Qliphoth. Van probably used a fonic hymn. Something happened before I went to the Outer Lands. Van returned to this city, something he didn't do very often. The scene flashes back to a conversation between Legretta and Van in the garden. Legretta: ...Asch seems to suspect something. Van: Asch is still a bit...dainty. He'll cause trouble if he learns that the people of the Outer Lands will be annihilated. Legretta: Shall we have Sync keep tabs on him? Van: Yes. The scene then flashes back to the present. Tear: I thought my brother was planning something terrible. At least, that many people were going to die... I couldn't allow that to happen, even if Hod had been left to die because of the Score. I swore I'd stop him, even if it meant killing both of us. Luke: Tear! Tear: But it looks like I failed. I couldn't save Akzeriuth. Luke: That's because I... Tear: I can't blame it all on you. I took an assignment in the Outer Lands in order to stop Van. Luke: You're strong. Tear: Am I? I wonder... Luke: Too strong. But...thanks for telling me about all this. I think maybe I understand you a little better now. Tear: That's the first time you've ever thanked me for anything. Luke: ...R-really? Mieu: I'm so happy you two are growing close to each other! Luke: I-it's not like that. By the way, what did you come here to get? Tear: A book on fonology. I thought you would need it. Luke: Why? Tear: A hyperresonance is caused by Seventh Fonons. I think this will help you learn to control them. Luke: Oh. Thanks. Obtained Principles of Fonology. Tear: The Yulia Road is to the right of the meeting room. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Why Did You Stay?' [SK137] | | Luke: How come you didn't go with Asch and the others, Tear? | Tear: Why should I have gone? I had no reason to. | Luke: Yeah, maybe not, but... | Tear: I was ordered by Mohs to search for the Seventh Fonstone. The | one in Akzeriuth turned out to be a fake. Granted I have to | report that, but that has nothing to do with Asch. Besides, he's | one of my brother's troops. ...I can't trust him. | Luke: Oh...so-- | Tear: Don't think I stayed for you, either. I planned to discuss my | course of action with Grandfather. You just woke up before I | left. That's all. | Luke: ...Oh...yeah. Right. | Tear: ...But I'm going with you now to watch you and see whether you | really can change. Remember that. | Luke: ...Yeah, I know. I...I'll do everything I can. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Cheagles Never Forget' [SK146] | | Mieu: Mieu, mieu mieu mieu! (music note) | Tear: You're certainly in a good mood, Mieu. | Mieu: I am! Master got better and I'm happy! | Tear: ...But Luke is always so mean to you. Don't you get tired of | him? | Mieu: No, I know that Master's actually a nice person! That's why he | saved me in the Cheagle Woods. | Tear: ...You know, I think you've helped him quite a bit as well. | Mieu: I did? Really?! Yay! I'm going to keep on helping, breathing | fire and breaking rocks! Breathing fire and breaking rocks! | (music note) Breathing fire and breaking rocks! (music note) | [Mieu leaves.] | Tear: Actually, I meant helping in an emotional sense... But I guess | it really is true that cheagles don't forget their debts. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke and Tear head to the Yulia Road. Tear: This path connects to the Aramis Spring on the Padamiyan continent. That place is crawling with monsters. Are you ready? Luke: Yeah, I'm ready. Mieu: I'm scared. Tear: It'll be all right, Mieu. Here we go. Tear steps into the glyph and disappears, and then the scene goes to show Yulia City from above going up to Aramis Spring. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:AR1} \ >>> Aramis Spring \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke, Tear, and Mieu arrive in the middle of a spring. Mieu: Mieuuuuu?! Luke: Whoa! It dumped us out into the water! Tear: It's all right. You won't get wet. All three get out of the water. Luke: How come? Tear: Apparently, the force from the Sephiroth spout pushes the water aside. Luke: Those Sephiroth things sure are strong if they can lift a whole land into the sky. And I destroyed one of them... Tear: Standing around depressed isn't going to help anything. Luke: You're right. I came back here to do what I can. Man, I'm hopeless. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Yulia Road' [SK140] | | Mieu: W-wow! That was neat! | Luke: It sure took me by surprise, getting thrown into a pool like | that. You said it uses the Sephiroth, right? How does it work? | Tear: We don't understand the theory behind it... We just make use of | it. There are many more fonic artes and fon machines left from | the Dawn Age, but we just don't fully understand them yet. | Luke: Oh... The Dawn Age must have been a pretty amazing time. | Tear: It probably was. In fact, Yulia herself is said to have helped | invent most of the technology of the time. | Luke: So that's why it's called the Yulia Road... | Tear: Yes. Yulia is said to have founded it. | Mieu: I heard that Yulia was a great person too. | Luke: Yeah, it sounds like it. I was never interested in that stuff, | so I never bothered to learn about it... | Tear: Well, now's a good time to start. One step at a time. | Luke: Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke and Tear enter a cave and go along for a bit when they see Guy sitting down waiting for Luke. Guy: It's about time you showed up, Luke. Luke: (!) Guy stands up. Guy: Hey, you cut your hair. Nice, clean-cut...Looks good. Luke: (It's just like I saw when I was connected with Asch! Guy waited for me...) Luke: Guy! Luke: (...) Guy: Huh? What is it? Luke: I...I'm not Luke... Guy: Jeez, I don't need you talking like Asch, too. Luke: But...I'm a replica... Guy: So? That guy doesn't like to be called Luke, anyway. I say take it. Luke: "Take it" Heh heh, you haven't changed a bit. Guy: You sure have, though. You don't have to put yourself down so much. Luke: I'm not! It's just... Guy: Sure you are. Who cares about names at this point? You could at least look happy to see me, after I went to the trouble of waiting here for you. Luke: ...You're right. Thanks. Guy: (!) Guy: Luke said thanks?! Tear: He says he's going to change. Luke & Tear: (...) Tear: Looks like you never do... Guy received the Friend for Life title. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Has Luke Changed?' [SK141] | | Guy: Luke sure seems different. | Tear: Yes. I suppose he's changed a bit. | Guy: That must have been a tough experience for him... Akzeriuth's | collapse, and Van's betrayal... | Tear: Well, we'll have to wait and see whether he can truly change or | not. | Guy: I just hope he doesn't let everything get him down... | Tear: I wouldn't worry. He's got you to depend on. | Guy: And you as well. | Tear: ...I suppose. | Guy: Anyway, shall we get going? | Tear: Yes, let's. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes further along and Luke strikes up another conversation with Guy. Luke: Why did you wait for me? Guy: We're friends, right? Oh, wait, I'm your servant. Sorry. Luke: ...I'm a replica. I'm not your master. Guy: It's not like I was acting friendly towards you just because you were my master. Luke: ...What? Guy: You're you, and Asch is Asch. Replica or whatever, you're real to me. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `No Matter What the Score Says...' [SK142] | | Luke: Tear... Teodoro said the fall of Akzeriuth was written in the | Score, right? | Tear: Yes, it seems Grandfather knew about it. | Luke: Then shouldn't we have asked him about what's going to happen | next? It might have been helpful... | Guy: You think so? I'm not really sure about that. If you can't | change it, it might be better not to know. | Tear: Yes... Grandfather probably didn't tell me about Akzeriuth for | the same reason. | Luke: Yeah, but... | Tear: Besides, Grandfather was saying that according to the Score, St. | Binah is safe, so I doubt it would help us much anyway. | Guy: Yeah. We won't know if it's going to fall or not until the time | comes. But if there's a chance it will, we can't just ignore it. | Luke: Yeah. All right, let's go! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes further along and Guy strikes up conversation with Luke. Guy: Do you remember? It was after the kidnapping, so I guess it was right after you were born. Luke: What? Did something happen? Guy: I asked you if it was hard not having your memory. You said "You can't go forward if you keep looking back." So you didn't need a past. That's what you told me. Luke: Hah hah... Man, I was stupid. I didn't "not need" one-I didn't have one. Guy: ...Actually, I thought it was pretty insightful. The party comes to a cliff area and Guy strikes up another conversation. Guy: All this must have been hard on you. Luke: ...I'm in no position to talk. Everybody died because of me. Guy: Part of that's my fault, though. Luke: You didn't have anything to do with it. Guy: I'm partly responsible for raising you from a blank slate to a selfish, spoiled kid. Luke: ...Huh? Guy: From the start, when you didn't remember how to walk-or didn't know, I guess-I was the one who looked after you. I've really learned my lesson. The path winds back into the cave and the party strikes up another conversation. Luke: How should I try to make up for Akzeriuth...? Tear: That's a difficult question. It's not something you can just apologize for. Guy: Yeah. Apologizing is important, but it can be hard on the one you apologize to. Luke: Why? Guy: The greater the loss, the more people need someone to hate for it, you know? You might feel better, but the ones you apologize to can't just say, "Okay! No problem!" Tear: Perhaps you should spend your life bearing that responsibility, never forgetting... No, that's too vague. Luke: Maybe I should never be happy...? Guy: Now, I know that's not right. Luke: Are you sure? I mean, I wasn't even supposed to be born. And then I destroyed Akzeriuth... Guy: Okay, stop, stop, no more of that. Hearing you talk like that is just annoying. Tear: Guy! Luke's thinking seriously about the issue... Guy: Just help people. Use the rest of your life to make everyone in the world happy. Luke: Th-there's no way I can do that! Guy: I know that, you idiot. I mean you need to put that much effort into it. Luke: ...Oh...right. I get it...I think... The party gets to the exit, Jade runs up to the party. Luke: Whoa! Guy: Jade?! Jade: Oh, good. I was afraid I might have missed you. Tear: Colonel, what are you doing here...? Jade: I have a favor to ask of Guy. He said he'd wait for Luke here, so I came looking for him. Guy: Me? Jade: Mohs has captured Ion and Natalia. Luke: What?! Jade: Oh, Luke, you're here, too? Luke: ...You got a problem with that? Jade: Not especially. Anyway, if we don't rescue them, there's going to be trouble. There aren't any Malkuth forces nearby, so I thought I'd ask for Guy's help... Guy: What do you mean by "trouble"? Jade: With the disappearance of Akzeriuth, Kimlasca has begun making preparations for war. They probably intend to use Natalia's death as justification. Tear: That's right... The people of the Outer Lands don't know why Akzeriuth disappeared... Jade: Ion was wary of this and returned to the Order to issue a decree. He was captured upon his arrival. Guy: Okay, Luke. We're going to rescue them. There's no way we're letting a war happen. Right? Luke: ...Yeah. Should we head to Daath? Jade: Yes, that's the idea. In case you were unaware, Daath is southeast of here. I hope you won't get too lost or slow us down too much. Tear: Luke, it's not easy to regain trust once you've lost it. Luke: ...I know. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Harsh Greeting' [SK143] | | Jade: Well, well. I'd never imagined traveling with YOU again. | Luke: ...I'm sorry about before. I won't do anything like that again. | At least I'll try not to... | Jade: I certainly hope not. | Guy: Come on, Jade. Remember when we all first met? Let's just take | it easy... | Tear: ...But too much has changed since then. | Luke: ...Yeah. | Guy: Jade, surely you're not so warped as to enjoy teasing poor, | troubled children? | Jade: ...Well, at least I don't have to be with him for long. I guess | I'll just have to manage. | Guy: (...So much for taking it easy...) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Daath' [SK145] | | Guy: You know, Daath may actually be one of the safest places in the | world. | Luke: What do you mean? | Guy: Well, it's the center of a religion based on the Score. They | wouldn't build that here if it was destined to fall anyway. | Jade: Indeed. Padamiya used to be considered dangerous because of the | Mt. Zaleho volcano, but if the Closed Score foretold any | danger, they would've undoubtedly chosen a different location. | Tear: Come to think of it, how can volcanoes erupt in the Outer Lands, | anyway? | Guy: I was wondering about that myself... | Luke: Yeah... If the Outer Lands are just the crust lifted off the | surface of the planet, then volcanoes shouldn't exist at all. | Jade: That might be related to the Sephiroth Trees. It may be that | they send not only fonons and memory particles, but also some | sort of planetary life force to the surface as well. | Tear: ...That's some technology Yulia thought up. | Jade: Not only Yulia, but her ten disciples and Dr. Southern-Cross as | well. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `To Daath!' [SK144] | | Mieu: Oh no! Is there going to be a war? | Luke: It hasn't started yet. We can still prevent it! | Mieu: But, but, what about St. Binah? | Luke: Oh yeah... We've got to do something about St. Binah too! | Tear: Luke, calm down. First things first... We have to rescue Ion and | Natalia from Daath. | Luke: But Mohs is in charge, right? Won't everyone be trying to stop | us? We don't have any time to waste dealing with them... | Tear: Not everyone in the Order listens to Mohs. Some are on Ion's | side; some are neutral. Don't worry. We have to move quickly, | but calmly. | Luke: ...Yeah, you're right. I understand. Let's hurry to Daath. | Tear: Right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Daath Fourth Stone Monument. Mieu: Master, Is that Daath? Luke: I don't know? Is it? Tear: Yes, Ion and Natalia are likely being held inside that cathedral Jade: Understandable, since those two hold the potential to stop the war. Mohs won't want them to leave Daath. Luke: Can't we just tell my uncle about them being captive? Tear: Natalia's probably thought to have been killed in Akzeriuth. I think that'd be difficult. Guy: Yeah. And Mohs has the king's ear too. Let's help them ourselves. Jade: Anise is looking into things at the Order. Hopefully we can find her in the city. Luke: I'll guess we'll have to look for her... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Finding Anise' [SK147] | | Guy: Where do you suppose Anise is? | Jade: She's quite the active one. It may be better to just wait for | her to reappear. | Luke: But she might be running on ahead, like that time at St. Binah. | Jade: Anise doesn't run ahead needlessly. Unlike you. | Luke: ...Okay, okay. Let's wait, then. | Guy: Oh, come on, Luke. If you let him get away with that, he'll | never stop teasing you. | Luke: Well, he is right about me running ahead... | Jade: Hmm, seems you've learned a new trick. Why, it almost sounds | like I'm the bad guy! | Tear: Stop it, all of you! We have to find Anise! Now come on, let's | go! | Luke: Okay. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:DA1} \ >>> Daath \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party heads towards the Cathedral. As they reach the steps, Anise jumps out behind Guy. Guy: Aaaaaaaah! Guy runs and hides behind Luke. Luke: Anise! Anise: (!) Anise: Whoa! Asch you cut your hair! Anise: (?) Luke: I-I'm... Anise: (!) Anise: Oh, no, it's Luke... Anise: (?) (...) (!) (sweating) Anise: Wait, What? Why is the spoiled brat here?! Hey, the others are with you, too. Wow! (heart) Must be Lorelei's will, huh! Guy, Luke & Tear: (...) Guy: ...That voice could break glass. Jade: Anise, we've gathered the manpower to rescue Ion. What is their situation? Anise: Ion and Natalia have been taken to Oracle Headquarters beneath the cathedral! Luke: Do they let people just walk right in? Tear: Into the cathedral, sure. But only Oracle members can enter the Headquarters below. Guy: Can we sneak in somehow? If we don't find a way to rescue them, we really will have a war on our hands. Anise: It looks like its already starting. Jade: Tear, you still haven't reported back that the Seventh Fonstone was fake, correct? Can you take us into the Headquarters as witnesses for its discovery? Tear: Okay. I'll try asking the Minister of Affairs, Maestro Tritheim. Luke: Well, that Tritheim guy's inside, right? Let's go on in. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Regaining Trust' [SK148] | | Anise: Luke, are you feeling better? You're welcome to just sleep | forever, you know...(music note) | Guy: Whoa, ouch... | Luke: Well, it's my fault, so... Still, I don't have time to be lying | around. I've got to keep going, no matter what! | Anise: Wow, since when did you get this worked up? Well, whatever. That | doesn't matter now. We have to save Natalia and Ion. | Luke: Yeah, let's go see that Tritheim guy. | Anise: Huh? You're giving the orders now?! | Luke: Huh? | Guy: Ahem. Come on, let's get going. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Twisted Love?!' [SK158] | | Anise: Ion, can't you be more careful? Getting caught like that... | Man... What are you, a princess?! | Tear: It just shows how important a figure he is. | Anise: Well, yeah, I know that... But his personality is part of it, | too. How can he be so...well, naive? | Luke: Yeah, he does seem to let other people use him a lot... | Tear: Oh, come on! The Fon Master is a fine person! Though...I will | admit that he can be...at times...a bit too trusting. | Guy: ...He'd make a perfect comedian, though. | Jade: With Anise as his foil, I suppose? Now that would be something | to see... | Anise: Ugh! Stop it, all of you! I don't want to hear another bad word | about Ion! | Guy: Hey, you started it. | Anise: I can complain about him, but nobody else can! You do it again, | I'll kill you! | [Anise leaves.] | Luke: Wh-whoa... | Tear: I wonder why she's so upset? | Guy: It's easy. Right, Colonel? | Jade: Ah, the scent of love is in the air. | Luke & Tear: Love?! | Mieu: I don't smell anything. What's it smell like? Apple gels? | Jade: More like a certain young religious leader. | Mieu: Really?! Wow! | [Tear, Jade, Guy & Mieu leave.] | Luke: ...Would somebody please shut these two up? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads into the cathedral and makes an immediate right to happen to find Legretta and Mohs talking. Mohs: Damn it, is there still no word from Van? Legretta: My apologies. The Commandant has gone to inspect Belkend... Mohs: We're finally close to causing this war as written in the Score. What's he doing at a time like this?! Legretta: Perhaps you could head to Baticul ahead of him. Mohs: *Sigh* Yes, I suppose I could. Legretta: I'll escort you. Legretta and Mohs come down the hallway towards the party, who runs off. Tear: Grand Maestro Mohs...and Legretta... They really are trying to start a war... Luke: We've got to find Ion and stop it! Guy: Right. The party heads into the Cathedral and speaks with a woman. Pamela: Oh, my! Anise! It's been a while! Anise: Mama, are you saving money like you're supposed to? Pamela: Oh, my, don't worry Anise. We donate our income to Lorelei every month, just like we should. Anise: Are you still doing that?! How are you going to live in retirement? Pamela: Don't worry. As long as you follow the Score, you don't need money. Anise: ...*sigh* Looks like I don't have any choice but to marry into money... Luke: (sweatdrop) The party heads into the chapel and meets a man who turns out to be Anise's dad. Oliver: Oh, hello, Anise! What are you doing here? Anise: Papa?! What are YOU doing here? Oliver: I just received a message from Maestro Tritheim. Anise: Papa... you'd better not be getting tricked into another weird scam. Oliver: Hah hah hah. I'm fine, Anise. I live each day according to the Score, so my life is always good. Anise: Are you sure? If you say so... Oliver: Of course. Just the other day, I got a letter saying I'd won a seven night, eight day trip to Keterburg. Anise: What? Was that a prize? Oliver: I didn't enter anything like that... so I sent them back a message informing them they had the wrong person, but it turns out it was a present for devout followers of the Order of Lorelei. It's a highly discounted trip-only 10,000 per person-so I paid at once. Anise: ...He's being tricked again. Luke: No kidding. What kind of trip could you take for a measly 10,000 Gald? Guy: You idiot, that's not the kind of scam it is! Tear: The first letter said he'd "won" a trip, so why does he have to pay for it? That's the question. Luke: Oh...I see. Jade: The perpetrator's probably long gone by now. Anise: Honestly, Papa! Why do you let people trick you so easily?! Oliver: It's not good to distrust everyone you meet. Besides, we don't know yet that we can't go on the trip. Anise: Of course you can't!! Oliver: Even if what you're saying's true, it must mean that that person needed money so badly that he had to trick someone to get it. I think it's better than us having it. Anise: Papa!! Oliver: Uh oh, I can't stay here any longer. I have to get back to work. Please take care of Anise, everyone. Oliver departs. The party goes to speak with Tritheim, who is by an altar. Tritheim: Welcome to the church of Lorelei. Personal Score readings are held each week during the mass on Remday. ...Hmm? Oh, Cantor Tatlin and Cantor Grants. Tear: Maestro Tritheim. I've completed my assignment from Grand Maestro Mohs. Could you grant permission for me to take these witnesses into headquarters to assist in giving my report? Tritheim: ...Ah, from Grand Maestro Mohs... Understood. Please take this with you. Tear: Thank you. Obtained Permit. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Anise Gets Things Done' [SK149] | | Tear: How did Ion and Natalia come to be captured, anyway? | Anise: Um, well, Asch was going to bring us all back home, so first he | stopped at Daath for me and Ion, but then we heard that a war | was about to start, and... | Jade: Natalia asked Ion to issue an official edict. They were | apparently taken when they tried to enter the cathedral. | Guy: Apparently...? Weren't you with them? | Jade: No, I was working on repairing the Tartarus' ability to travel | on land. | Anise: The rest of us managed to escape and ask the Colonel for help. | Then I came back to the cathedral to look for the two of them. | Luke: Sounds like you've been busy. | Anise: Unlike a certain rich kid, yes! | Tear: So, were you able to repair the Tartarus? | Jade: No. The mud from the Qliphoth got into some of the machinery. | It's hopeless. | Guy: Well, that's unusual. The Colonel not coming through for us. | Jade: Well, it certainly won't do to make me do all the work. In any | case, let us find Ion and Natalia instead of just talking about | them. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At the Oracle Headquarters... Luke: Where do we go from here? Anise: I don't know. We'll have to search the whole place... Luke: We'll get caught if we do that. Tear: We'll have to do our best not to draw attention. Jade: And we can't have them calling for reinforcements if they spot us. We'll have to make sure we leave them dead. Luke: ... I wish we didn't have to do this. Guy: It can't be helped. If we don't hurry, war really will start... and many more people will die. Luke: (I'm going to make even more people hate me...) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Protecting the Score' [SK152] | | Tear: Grand Maestro Mohs... Why is he doing this...? It's clear that | he's acting only for the sake of Auldrant's prosperity as | written in the Score, but... | Luke: But that's no reason to start a war! | Tear: The Score must be observed... That's what everyone in the Order | of Lorelei has been taught. | Jade: Most people in Auldrant consider observing the Score to be a | virtue. From that viewpoint, one cannot consider Mohs' thoughts | or actions to be evil. If anything, he is a perfect follower of | the Order of Lorelei. | Luke: So the two of you are okay with just letting this war start? | Jade: Certainly not. And in order to stop it, we need to find and | rescue Ion and Natalia. | Luke: Yeah. They should be in one of the rooms here... We'll just have | to search them all. | Tear: Let's hurry. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Oracle Headquarters' [SK156] | | Luke: Hey, what exactly is this place? I mean, I assume there are a | lot of Oracle soldiers here... | Anise: Why are you even asking? I can't imagine it has anything to do | with a spoiled rich kid like you. | Guy: Man, that's cold... | Luke: I...I just, well...there're so many things I don't know... | Anise: Humph... Well, whatever. This is all secret, okay? Headquarters | is kind of like the hidden side of the Oracle Knights. | Everybody else is kept out because it looks so military. Oracle | soldiers all undergo training here. Like me. I trained here. | Tear, you trained here, too, right? | Tear: ...N-no, actually. Major Legretta came to Yulia City to teach | me, so... | Anise: Really? Well, I guess you are the Commandant's sister, after | all... Anyway, there are dormitories here, too, and low-ranking | soldiers all sleep there. ...Is that enough for you? | Luke: Yeah, that's fine. Thanks. | Anise: Whoa! Luke said thank you?! | Guy: Yeah. Kind of startling the first time, isn't it? | Luke: Well, excuse me... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Ring the Gongs!' [SK157] | | Jade: These soldiers certainly are proper, coming out at the sound of | the gong and everything. | Tear: Well, of course. That's the assembly call. | Jade: But think of the opportunities for trickery here. | Tear: The Oracle Knights are peacekeeping soldiers of the Order of | Lorelei! Who could do such a childish... | Jade: Who, indeed? Who was it that just rang the gong to lure a | soldier out to play with? That seems like the same thing to me. | (music note) | Anise: Yeah, this is really fun! (music note) | Mieu: Fun! Fun! | Tear: Th-this isn't a game! It's a strategy to lure the enemy out... | Jade: Ringing the gong to fool the soldiers into following a | nonexistent order, throwing them into chaos. Yes, a very | enjoyable little game. | Tear: ...I guess there is no assembly order...but... Are we really | just tricking them...? | Jade: Ah, the worries of youth... | Guy: You're the one who made her worry... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party wanders around the headquarters and eventually find Ion and Natalia. Luke: Ion! Natalia! Are you okay? Natalia: ...Luke...it's you, isn't it? Luke: Sorry for not being Asch. Natalia: No one's saying anything like that! Luke: (angry) Anise: Ion! Are you all right? Did they hurt you? Ion: I'm fine. Thank you all for coming here just for us. Tear: Was my brother involved in imprisoning you? Ion: I haven't seen Van. But the Six God-Generals tried to get permission to take me away. Mohs refused... Tear: He's trying to remove the Daathic seals so he can wipe out the Sephiroth Trees... Anise: Which means the Commandant will come back to take Ion. Guy: Exactly. Let's hurry up and get out of here. We should be okay once we get outside town. We can decide what to do next then. Luke: Then how about that Fourth Monument thing? Let's head to the hill where that is. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `We Meet Again' [SK154] | | Anise: Looks like we're all together again. | Jade: If only by coincidence. | Ion: Perhaps Lorelei has brought us together. | Natalia: Yes, people spoken of in the Score, heads of state... I can't | imagine we all met by coincidence. | Guy: I wonder if this, too, was written in the Score. | Anise: Yeah, maybe. | Natalia: But, you know, Luke...you look somehow...different. Maybe it's | your hair. | Luke: Y-you think so? | Jade: Well, he's had a lot to think about. Pity it's far too late to | make any difference. | Luke: ...*Sigh*... | Anise: Well, people can't change overnight, after all. | Ion: Anise, Jade...I'm afraid I cannot agree with you. Luke has | always been kind. He just hasn't known how to express it. | Luke: No, Ion, it's okay. They can just watch me and see for | themselves. | Tear: Right. Now, come on. It's dangerous to linger here. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Tear's No Spy' [SK153] | | Tear: I can't believe the Grand Maestro is trying to start a war... | Luke: Tear...um... | Tear: What? If you've got something to say, say it. | Luke: ...Well... You know how I used to think you were a spy? | Tear: Yes... | Luke: Sorry! | Tear: What? | Luke: You weren't really a spy for Mohs... | Tear: I don't mind. After all, I am under Mohs' command. But please | believe me now. I want to avert this war. No matter what. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party leaves Daath and heads back to the Fourth Stone Monument hill. Guy: Looks like no one's following us. Tear: I don't think they can abduct Ion in a public space. Anise: But what do we do now? War's about to start and things look seriously bad! Luke: Can't we just go to Baticul and stop my uncle? Tear: Have you forgotten? Mohs has the His Majesty's ear. It would be running right into enemy territory. Natalia: I'm afraid Tear may be right. Father trusts Mohs. Jade: I'm also worried about the talk of St. Binah falling. Ion: Then why don't we petition help from Malkuth's Emperor Peony? He doesn't want war, and he would have gotten word of any signs of Rugnica's collapse. Anise: Sounds like a plan. Luke: Okay, let's do that. But where'll we get a ship to Malkuth? Jade: Asch left the Tartarus in Daath's harbor for us. Let's head there. Luke: He did...? Okay. The harbor's northwest, right? Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Asch, Friend or...?' [SK155] | | Luke: I wonder why Asch left the Tartarus behind... | Natalia: He probably wanted to help us. | Jade: I wouldn't be so certain. The Tartarus is one of Malkuth's | ships. Perhaps it was just inconvenient to use it for travel | between the two countries. | Guy: Well, whatever the reason, at least we won't be stranded here. | Luke: Asch... I wonder what he's up to...? | Guy: Who knows? He may be plotting something. | Natalia: Guy! Don't talk about Asch like an enemy. He's on our side! | Jade: Really? I wonder... Personally, I'd refrain from making any | hasty judgments. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:DBY} \ >>> Daath Bay \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: The Emperor's in the capital, Grand Chokmah. Where's that from here? Anise: Um, Northwest, I think. Guy: ...Doesn't Grand Chokmah turns into a fortress in wartime? Will the port be open? Jade: You're well informed. That's correct. Anise: But war hasn't started yet. Jade: Even so, I imagine they've sealed off invasion routes in preparation for an attack. Luke: But won't they let you through, Jade? Jade: Right now, mentioning my name would probably have the opposite effect. All of my men were killed, and I've been missing since Akzeriuth. Now I show up in a landship that was supposedly captured. I wouldn't be surprised if they opened fire on us. Ion: Why don't we dock somewhere and go by land? If we approach unarmed, then perhaps... Tear: Rotelro Bridge is still under repair. We should be able to land there. Jade: That looks like our best choice. Natalia: Then it's settled. Let's head for Rotelro Bridge. Anise: *Sigh* We have to walk... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Tartarus Takes a Beating' [SK159] | | Luke: So we can't get to Grand Chokmah by sea... | Guy: Nope. The Tartarus would probably sink if we tried to force our | way in. | Jade: Perhaps at full strength, the Tartarus could do something like | that. But with this small a crew, even that would be | impossible. Besides, there's no reason to be so aggressive | here. | Luke: Yeah. We're not going in to fight. | Guy: Besides, we'd have problems if the Tartarus got too banged up. | Jade: Indeed. It would likely be difficult to find another ship, given | the current situation. We'll need the Tartarus for a while | yet. | Luke: Coming up from the Qliphoth was pretty rough on it, so we should | probably play it safe for a while. | Guy: Huh? You knew about that? | Luke: Yeah. I'm connected with Asch. I saw it all through his eyes. I | remember it well. | Jade: Hmm... | Guy: In any case, all of us are probably as worn out as the Tartarus. | Let's get some rest before we move on. | Luke: Good idea. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Cruising in Style' [SK166] | | Luke: Wow. Looks like the Tartarus has no problem on the sea, either. | Guy: Yeah, it was built for both land and sea, but it's really just a | landship that happens to float. Real warships will have no | problem outrunning it. | Jade: Indeed. | Ion: Nonetheless, I've grown used to the Tartarus. I find it more | comfortable than some ferries. | Luke: Yeah, me too. | Natalia: Luke! The Tartarus is a Malkuth craft, you know. | Kimlasca-Lanvaldear's cruise ship, the Princess Natalia, is | much more enjoyable. | Anise: Yeah, that sounds a lot better. | Guy: Really? I think men would take the Tartarus any day. | Mieu: The Tartarus! | Anise: How about you, Tear? The Princess Natalia, right? | Luke: The Tartarus, of course! | Tear: I...I kind of like Tokunaga... | All: ...... | Tear: ...N-never mind. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Aboard the Tartarus, on the way to the bridge, an alarm goes off. Natalia: Aaah! Anise: Is it going to sink? Jade: I'll take a look Guy: I'll go too. I may be able to help if any fon machines need repair. Mieu: Master, I can't swim... Luke: ...I know. Don't worry. We're not going to sink. Jade: Guy managed to repair the engine damage. We should still be able to move. Guy: It's only temporary. I'd like to get it repaired in port somewhere. Tear: The closest port from here is Keterburg. Luke: Then let's go there. That's okay with you, right, Jade? Jade: I suppose so... At Keterburg Bay... NPC: Excuse me. I need to confirm your passports and ship registration. Jade: I'm colonel Jade Curtiss. Third Division, Malkuth Imperial Forces. NPC: M-my apologies. But I heard you were killed at Akzeriuth... Jade: That matter is top secret. Our ship's engine was damaged during our mission, so we stopped here. Jade: I'll explain the situation to the governor, Viscount Osborne. You may inspect the ship as you please. NPC: Yes, sir. Shall I show you to the city? Jade: That won't be necessary. I was born here. I'm familiar with the area. NPC: Understood. Then, if you'll excuse me. Luke: Huh, so you were born here, Jade? Jade: ...Yes. Luke: What are we going to do about repairs? Jade: We can report that to the governor and ask for help. Luke: Okay, then let's hurry to Keterburg. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:KE1} \ >>> Keterburg \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party heads to the casino. Luke: So this is the casino, huh? Looks pretty fun! Natalia: I had heard about it, but all of this gaudiness is rather discomforting. Tear: Yes... it is pretty, but it makes me feel out of place. Guy: This casino was built back when this area was first developed as a resort. There's actually a little legend about this place... Anise: (!) Guy: They say if you hit the jackpot on the second slot machine from the end, you win a castle... Anise runs off to try her luck. Guy: ...Oh, man. It's so obviously a lie just to attract customers... Anise: Hey, come on! You cheapskate! Tear: What's wrong, Anise? Everybody's staring at you. Anise: They said minors aren't allowed to play in the casino! Booo! Guy: Hah hah hah... It's not that bad. All you need is a parent. What about Jade? Anise: Papa! (music note) Can I please get my allowance? Pretty please? (music note) Jade: I'm afraid not. Anise: Booo. Fine then. Guy, go get me some chips! (music note) Guy: Uwaaaah! Anise: Tch... That's right, my looks don't work on Guy. Anise has received the Grown-up Child title. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Emperor's Love' [SK163] | | Luke: Hmm... For a nobles' resort, there sure aren't many nice | buildings. | Guy: Well, you can hardly compare it to your own place! You're in | line for the throne. Any place would look dull to you. | Luke: ...That's not what I meant! | Jade: Actually, development has been rather limited, due in part to | the Emperor's wishes. | Natalia: Really? Does he have some sort of special feelings for this | town? Perhaps he doesn't want to see his childhood home | disturbed. | Jade: ...Actually, it's more likely that his first love doesn't want | to see the town exploited by nobles. | Natalia: Oh my! (heart) | Anise: Ooh... | Tear: ...How nice. | Jade: Ultimately, he was forced to give up on her because she was a | commoner. But he's still reluctant to marry anyone else. | Natalia: How painful... | Anise: Ooh...what a story! | Tear: ...An unrequited love... | Guy: So all these recreational facilities were built for his first | love? | Jade: No. The Emperor just likes those. |Anise, Natalia & Tear: ...... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party explores the town and sees a mansion. Anise: Wow, what a mansion! (heart) I want to marry whoever lives here! (heart) Jade: I'm pretty sure he's still single, though he's in his thirties. Anise: What? Don't tell me this is your house, Colonel? If it is, then I'd go ahead and settle for you. (heart) Jade: Even if it were, I'm afraid I'd decline the offer. But the real owner might take you up on it. He likes every female he lays eyes on. Anise: Who is it? Jade: His Imperial Majesty, Peony. Anise: All right! (music note) My husband's gonna be loaded! (heart) Luke: The Emperor wasn't born in the capital? Guy: As I recall, he was run out of the capital as a child during a struggle for succession. Jade: Yes, that's correct. This mansion is from that era. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Children Caught Up in Politics' [SK161] | | Luke: The throne of Malkuth passes from father to son, right? | Natalia: As a rule, yes, though I do believe Assembly confirmation is | required... | Luke: Hmm... So what was with all the problems around Emperor Peony | becoming emperor? | Tear: The previous emperor may have had a lot of enemies. Perhaps | someone was after his son--his heir. He could have controlled | information to protect his son. | Natalia: But what need would there be to confine him? And wouldn't a | resort town like this be more perilous? There must have been | some other reason. | Luke: Yeah, they used the same excuse to keep me locked up, too... | Politics sure can be a pain for us kids who get caught up in it. |Tear & Natalia: ...... | Luke: ...Sorry. I was just curious, that's all. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party finally reaches the Governor's mansion. Nephry: ...Jade?! Oh, my brother's alive! Luke: "Brother"?! Seriously?! Jade: Hello, Nephry, it's been a while, hasn't it? Not since your wedding, I believe. Nephry: What's going on? They said you were killed at Akzeriuth... Jade: Well, what happened is... Later... Nephry: ...That's incredible. I'm just glad you're safe. Nephry: We'll inspect the Tartarus. Once you've resupplied, please go see Emperor Peony. He's been very worried. Jade: Oh? Didn't everyone think I was dead? Nephry: His Majesty was the only one who believed you were still alive. The rest of you, too, please wait a bit while we prepare your ship. This is a tourist city, so I think you'll be safe here. I'll book a room at the inn for you. Please get some rest. Nephry addresses Luke as the party leaves. Nephry: If you don't mind, I'd like a word with you. Please come by again later, alone. At the hotel desk... NPC: We've received word from the governor. Please, make yourselves comfortable. Luke: Oh, I forgot something at Nephry's place. I'll go get it real quick. Guy: Shall I go with you? Luke: Nephry's a woman, remember? Guy: Oh, I love LOOKING at beautiful women. Natalia: Guy is most certainly...a guy... Anise: She's an older woman, and married, you know. Guy: W-wait, hold on, I didn't mean it like that... Mieu: Master, I'll go with you, too. Luke: Gaaah, everybody just shut up! I don't need anyone to come with me! Mieu: (...) Mieu: (lightbulb) Luke goes to Nephry. Mieu follows him. Nephry: I'm sorry. When I heard you were a replica, I thought I simply must tell you about my brother. Luke: ...What are you talking about? Nephry: The reason why Jade created fomicry... Even now, I still remember that day. I was careless and broke my favorite doll. My brother developed a basis for fomicry, and used it to create a copy of my doll -- a replica. He was nine years old. Luke: Unbelievable... Nephry: Normally, you'd simply buy another doll, but my brother created a copy. I felt something abnormal in his way of thinking. Luke: "Abnormal"... You don't have to put it like that... Nephry: ...He acts nice now, but as a child, my brother was a terror. A devil. He could use fonic artes that even adults found difficult. He enjoyed killing even harmless monsters. My brother didn't understand what it meant for living things to die. Luke: He doesn't seem that way to me... Nephry: It was Professor Nebilim who changed him. She was a healer, a Seventh Fonist. Jade can't use the Seventh Fonon, so he admired her. But a tragedy occurred. He tried to use the Seventh Fonon and wound up unleashing a fonic arte he couldn't control. Jade's fonic arte struck down Professor Nebilim and set the building on fire. Luke: He killed her?! Nephry: She was still barely alive, just laying there. My brother looked at her, and had an idea. There was still time to make a replica. He could save Professor Nebilim. Luke: !! Nephry: Jade extracted her information and created a replica. But the replica that was born was nothing more than a monster. Luke: What happened to the real Nebilim? Nephry: She passed away. After that, my brother's talents were recognized, and he was adopted into the famous Curtiss military family. I think he probably wanted a better environment for studying how to bring back the Professor. Luke: ...But he stopped replicating living things. Why? Nephry: That's thanks to Emperor Peony. Those two are best friends. Luke: I see... Nephry: But honestly... I think, deep down, my brother still wants to resurrect Professor Nebilim. Luke: I don't really think that's the case. Nephry: Yes, it may just be a groundless fear. But I still wanted to let you know so you could help to keep him in check. I'm sorry for taking up so much of your time. Thank you for listening. Luke walks out of the room and meets Jade. Jade: So I presume Nephry's told you. Luke: ...T-told me what? Jade: You're a naughty boy, telling lies like that. Luke: ...How did you know? Jade: It doesn't matter. Though I will say, for the record, that I no longer desire to resurrect the Professor. Luke: Really? You're sure? Jade: ...You should know the reason for that better than anyone. I want to beg Professor Nebilim's forgiveness...so that I might feel better. But replicas have no memory of the past. A replica cannot forgive me. Luke: Jade... Jade: I'll live the rest of my life pained by the sins of my past. Luke: "Sins"...? You mean, killing Nebilim? Jade: Hmm... Perhaps my greatest sin was not understanding the significance of life and death. Luke: ...If I had the ability to make replicas... I think I would have done the same thing... Jade: Hah hah. Are you trying to cheer me up? You've somewhat missed the mark...but I appreciate the sentiment. In any case, you mustn't tell anyone of this. Understood? Luke: ...All right. Jade: That's a promise. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Looking for Love' [SK164] | | Mieu: It's so cold... The sorcerer's ring is freezing my tummy! | Ion: Cheagles don't like the cold, do they? I'm not fond of it | myself. | Mieu: I want some nice warm sunlight... | [Mieu leaves.] | Tear: It may be a little cold, but this town is so beautiful at night, | moonlight on the silver snow... | Natalia: Wouldn't it be splendid to walk with a gentleman through such | beauty? | Anise: Yeah! That would be so great! | Luke: *Achoo!* So cold... My belly's going to freeze solid... | [Luke leaves.] | Guy: *Sigh* Why do ladies at resorts have to get so close when they | talk to you...? I can't even go outside at this point... | [Guy leaves.] | Natalia: ...It looks like we have little hope with that group. | Anise: Huh? What about the maybe-not-so-bad-after-all Colonel? | Ion: I saw him walk off with a pretty woman earlier... | Anise: But there's already three pretty women right here! | Ion: Heh heh. Yes, indeed. | Tear: Oh, I think it's cute the way he's worried about his tummy | freezing. | Natalia: Oh my... | Anise: Well... | Ion: Heh heh heh... | Tear: W-what? | Natalia: Nothing at all. | Anise: Best wishes! | Ion: I think you make a fine pair. | Tear: ...I was talking about Mieu... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next day. NPC: Thank you. Nephry: The Tartarus inspection is complete. You can leave any time. Guy: Okay, shall we head for Grand Chokmah now? Tear: Yes. We must inform the Emperor as quickly as possible about the danger of St. Binah falling. Natalia: Yes. First, let's hurry to Rotelro Bridge. Anise: *Sigh* And then we walk from there... Colonel (music note) If I get tired, carry me on your back, okay? (heart) Jade: I'm afraid not. Perhaps it's my age, but my joints ache, you see. To get to Grand Chokmah, we head northeast from the bridge and then pass through Theor Forest. It's a rough trip for an old man like me. You youngsters will have to shield me and lead the way. (heart) Guy: ...Um...yeah... Luke: There's no time to waste. Let's get going, guys! Thanks for your help Nephry. Nephry: Take care. Brother, please give my regards to His Majesty. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Errors and Excuses' [SK165] | | Luke: Mieu, what do you think about what Nephry said? | Mieu: What do you mean? | Luke: About how Jade killed Professor Nebilim... And then worked on | fomicry to bring her back to life... | Mieu: I don't know... It's too hard to understand. | Luke: Oh...sorry. I just wanted to ask someone... | Jade: Didn't you promise not to tell anyone? | Luke: Whoa! | Jade: At this rate, it looks like you'll be breaking that promise in | short order. | Luke: No, I won't! Really! | Mieu: Me too! Really! | Jade: Well, I still have my doubts, but I believe you yourself can | understand why there is no point in discussing it with anyone. | Luke: Yeah. Nobody's going to make excuses for what you've done wrong, | and you're not supposed to really be looking for them | anyway... | Jade: Indeed. If you put too much effort into making excuses, you end | up running from your mistakes. Accepting the truth is a | difficult thing to do. But it is also necessary. | Luke: Yeah. | Mieu: Yes! | Jade: Excellent. And you are, of course, aware that SHOULD you tell | this to anyone, you will be...punished. | Luke: Y-yeah... | Mieu: Yes... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:THE} \ >>> Theor Forest \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Malkuth Soldier: Who are you?! Jade: I'm Colonel Jade Curtiss, commander of the Third Division, Malkuth Imperial Forces. Soldier: Colonel Curtiss?! We heard you were lost in the destruction of Akzeriuth... Jade: Viscount Osborne of Keterburg will vouch for my identity. I seek an audience with His Imperial Majesty. Soldier: Well, we can let YOU through, Colonel, but.. Anise: Whaaat?! This is Ion, Fon Master of the Order of Lorelei! Luke: Come on! You can let us through! Soldier: No, this could still be a trap. Even if you are from Daath we must still refuse. Jade: Please wait here. Once I meet with His Majesty, They'll let you though right away. Guy: So we just hang out here. Oh, well. Guess there's nothing we can do. Luke: ...tch. Soldier: We'll escort you. Jade leaves the party. Luke: How much longer is this going to take? Natalia: Yes, it's hard just waiting. A scream is heard. Tear: What was that?! Mieu: A scream... Natalia: Let's go! The party runs toward the scream's direction and finds a soldier on the ground. Natalia: Hang on... Soldier: Those were Oracle soldiers...Damn it... Tear: Oracle?! Could Van be involved...? Luke: What's he trying to do in Grand Chokmah? Anise: Maybe he's working on destroying a Sephiroth Tree...? Ion: No, there shouldn't be a Sephiroth in this area... Luke: We're not getting anywhere standing around talking! Let's go get them! Natalia: Yes, We cannot permit this kind of wanton violence! Tear: Wait! If we go in without permission and the Malkuth soldiers find us... Guy: We'll just have to stay hidden. The last thing we want is a fight with Malkuth Anise: Hide and seek, huh? Ion, please don't screw it up. Ion: Oh...right! Tear: ...Everyone just decided to go on in... *Sigh* +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Movements of the Oracle Knights' [SK168] | | Tear: The Oracle Knights are really moving quickly. They're always | getting ahead of us. | Ion: Yes. Whether it's Van or Mohs who's giving the orders, they | always work quickly and efficiently. | Anise: Both of them ignore you too much! I hate them! | Tear: Ion, do you know what Van has been doing since Akzeriuth? | Ion: I'm afraid not. The only people I can give orders to are the Fon | Master Guardians, so I haven't been able to search for him. | Anise: The number of Guardians isn't what it used to be, either... | Tear: I see... | Anise: I wonder how bad it will be if the Oracle Knights get to Grand | Chokmah before us. They might try to trick the Emperor like in | Kimlasca... | Ion: I don't think that will be a problem. Emperor Peony should be | waiting for Jade's report. I suspect the Oracle Knights have a | different aim. | Tear: If we can find the Oracle soldiers hiding here, we should be | able to find out at least some of their plans. That'll be a | start. | Anise: Yeah, let's go find them! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Rising Tensions' [SK170] | | Luke: That Malkuth soldier... He thought letting us through could be a | trap... | Tear: Yes... Malkuth-Kimlasca relations appear to be deteriorating. | Anise: Even with Ion here, too... | Ion: I'm sorry I couldn't be of any help... | Anise: No, that's not what I meant! | Guy: In any case, things are looking pretty bad. At this rate, we | really will have war on our hands... | Luke: We've got to get through this forest as fast as we can... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Hide and Seek' [SK169] | | Anise: Sneaking through the forest like this is exciting, isn't it? | Guy: Yeah...it feels almost like hide-and-seek. | Luke: I haven't played hide-and-seek in years... | Guy: But you were pretty amazing at hiding in those days. | Anise: So you're good at sneaky stuff like that, huh? | Luke: ...Well, excuse me for being sneaky. | Guy: Well, like how you always ran somewhere else when you were about | to be found. You were certainly sneaky enough for the rest of | us. | Anise: Huh... Well, I could still beat him any day. A cute little body | like mine is perfect for hiding. | Luke: Ooh, look, she's calling herself cute. | Anise: What, are you trying to say I'm not cute?! | Luke: What do you care what a sneaky guy like me says about you? | You're about as sexy as Mieu. | Anise: Hey! Just you wait, I'll get as big as Tear when I'm grown up! | Luke: Please. No way you could hope to match those melons! | Tear: M-MELONS?! Both of you! Stop being stupid and be quiet! Now! | Luke: ...... | Anise: ...... | [Luke, Anise & Guy leave.] | Natalia: ...Um, Tear, you're being louder than both of them... | Tear: ...S-sorry... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party reaches the other side of the forest. Luke: We're almost at the exit. Have the Oracle soldiers already entered the city? Natalia: There's a Malkuth soldier on the ground! Natalia runs to the soldier. Largo jumps out from the tree at her. Largo: Not bad for a princess! Natalia: You're the one we met in the desert. You're Largo! The rest of the party catches up, prepared for a battle. Luke: So, you're the intruder! What are you doing in Grand Chokmah?! Largo: You'd better keep an eye on more than just what's in front of you, boy. Luke: What? Guy tries to attack Luke all of a sudden. Luke: Guy? Anise: Whoa, whoa, what's going on?! Ion: Oh, no! The curse slot! Sync must be nearby! Guy continues to try and attack Luke. Largo: Don't forget about me! Natalia shoots at Largo with an arrow. Natalia: Oh, no you don't! Largo: Hah hah hah hah hah! Not bad, princess! Guy continues to attack Luke, disarming him. The ground starts to shake. Anise: Aah! Another earthquake! Tear: Natalia, up there! Natalia shoots an arrow into a tree, and Sync falls out. Sync: ...The earthquake gave me away. Luke: Are you after Ion or something else?! Anise: Who's ordering you? Grand Maestro Mohs? The Commandant? Largo: Either way, it's the same. We need Fon Master Ion. Sync: We thought he'd perished along with Akzeriuth, but I guess he's tougher than the town. Natalia: How dare you speak so shamelessly! You destroyed an entire city! Sync: Don't accuse us. The one who destroyed Akzeriuth was that replica there. Soldier: What's going on here?! Sync: Largo, we're retreating for now! Largo: I guess we have no choice... Largo and Sync escape. Two Malkuth soldiers arrive. Soldier: Who the hell are you people?! Tear: We spotted some suspicious figures while waiting for Colonel Curtiss. We pursued them here. Soldier: You mean the people who just ran away? Tear: They're soldiers of the Oracle Knights. They wounded one of our companions. Soldier: But you've got Oracle Knights in your group as well. ...Arrest them. Luke: ...I guess we shouldn't resist. Tear: Of course not. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:GC1} \ >>> Grand Chokmah \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party is greeted by Brigadier General Frings and a group of soldiers. Soldier: Brigadier General Frings! Frings: Good work. We'll take them from here. I trust that won't be a problem? Soldier: Understood, sir! The soldiers from Theor Forest leave. Frings: You're Luke, correct? Son of Duke Fabre? Luke: How do you know who I am?! Frings: Colonel Jade asked me to go meet you outside Theor Forest. Though it seems you entered the forest before I could do so... Tear: I apologize. Malkuth Soldiers had been killed. We thought it would be dangerous not to act... Frings: Don't apologize. We should be thanking you. But, with all the commotion, I'm afraid I must treat you as prisoners until you meet with His Majesty. Luke: Who cares about that?! Guy needs help! Ion: He's had a curse slot placed upon him. It's so deep, he can't fight it. I can remove it if you lend us a place where he can rest. Luke: You can do that? Ion: I'm probably the only one who can. This curse is a type of Daathic fonic arte, a fonic arte passed down only through Fon Masters. Frings: We'll get you a room inside the castle. What about your audience with His Majesty...? Ion: I'll see His Majesty, the Emperor at another opportunity. Right now, I'm worried about Guy. Frings: All right. I'll leave my men with you. Two men run up towards Guy. Anise: I'm staying, too! I'm Ion's guard! Luke: Wait! So am I! Ion: I'm sure you'd find out sometime, so I guess I'll tell you now. A curse slot can't be used to take full control of the target. Luke: What does that mean? Ion: A curse slot stirs up memories and paralyzes rational thought. Guy wouldn't have attacked you if he didn't already have a strong desire to kill you. ...That's what it means. Luke: What...? Ion: You mustn't get near Guy until I've removed the curse. The rest of the party leaves, leaving Tear and Luke alone with Frings. Frings: How about taking a look around the castle for a while? You can't leave the city, but it might help you to relax... Tear: ...Yes, I think that would be good. Frings: Very well then. I'll be waiting in front of the castle. Please speak to me when you're ready. Frings leaves. Luke: ...Let me be alone for a while. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Guy's True Feelings' [SK171] | | Luke: Guy...hated me... But he never showed even a hint of that... | Maybe there was something when we were kids, but if he wanted | to kill me, he could've done that anytime he wanted to... But | he didn't... He's always been there to help me out. So why...? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke walks around for a bit. Tear follows. Luke: ...Don't follow me. Tear: I promised I'd watch you. Mieu: I'm going with you, Master. Luke: ...Leave me alone! Tear: If I leave you alone, you're liable to start dreaming up nonsense. Luke: What do you mean "nonsense"?! Tear: Like the idea that Guy hates you. Luke: But he has to! That's why he... Tear: Are you stupid? Luke: What did you say?! Tear: Do you think you've never done anything to make anyone dislike you at all? Luke: ...That's not what I... Tear: Guy is only human. I'm sure there have been times you made him angry. But he came back for you. Luke: Well, maybe so, but.... Tear: So, there was a time when Guy hated you so much he wanted to kill you. But he still believed in you, that you'd recover from Akzeriuth. Right? Luke: ...You sure don't pull any punches when you talk to people. Tear: What...? Luke: I know you were trying to make me feel better, but you only made it hurt worse. Tear: ...I-I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. Luke: Maybe it's a good thing to have someone slap some sense into me. Tear: Luke... Luke: I'm so stupid. I don't have time to feel depressed. We have to see the Emperor. Thank you, too, Mieu. Mieu: Don't mention it! Now, let's go find Jade and Natalia! Luke and Tear find the others. Natalia: Luke, please try to keep your spirits up. There's no way Guy could truly desire to kill you. Jade: Things don't look good-I can feel tension in the air. It may be a sign of conflict to come. ...You look like you've calmed down. Let's go. Luke: Okay, that's everyone. Let's go see General Frings. The party goes to Frings. Frings: I've been waiting for you. Please come this way. In the audience hall... Peony: Ah, you must be the ones dragging my Jade all over the place and keeping him away from home. Luke: ...What? Peony: And then he goes and gets hit with a fon slot seal. This clod can be a real pain, huh? Luke: N-not at all, Your Majesty.... Jade: Your Majesty, must you confuse our guests? Peony: Hah hah, sorry. Yeah, I guess we should get down to business. Jade's basically explained everything to me. Luke: As things stand now, there is a danger that St. Binah could fall into the Qliphoth. Peony: So it seems. In fact, I've already been informed that the land around St. Binah has begun sagging. Natalia: Then we must evacuate the residents! Peony: I'd love to, but a lot of the council members are reluctant. Natalia: Why? Their countrymen are in danger... Jade: Because of the military threat from Kimlasca. Nordheim: The Kingdom of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear issued a proclamation. Sesemann: We hereby denounce Malkuth's destruction of Akzeriuth in order to bring about the deaths of Princess Natalia and the tertiary heir to the throne, Luke fon Fabre. In the name of Lorelei and Yulia, we shall initiate immediate sanctions. Tear: For all practical purposes, that's a declaration of war. Natalia: My father is mistaken! Nordheim: Or is he, Princess Natalia? We believe that Kimlasca may have destroyed Akzeriuth to create an excuse for war. Natalia: My country would never commit such a despicable act! Luke: Yeah! And besides...I was the one who... Jade: Luke. We all know what happened. Natalia, please calm down. It doesn't matter now whether Kimlasca destroyed Akzeriuth to start a war or not. Peony: Yes, the problem is that the council believes that the sink of St. Binah is Kimlasca's work. Tear: So they think that any forces sent to rescue the citizens will be wiped out along with the city. Peony: Exactly. Until we heard Jade's story, we'd thought Kimlasca had developed a fontech weapon capable of creating a hyperresonance. Luke: At the very least, Kimlasca was not responsible for Akzeriuth. And even if were, St. Binah is still going to fall. How can NOT rescuing them possibly be better?! ...I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude, Your Majesty. If it's impossible to send troops, then please let us go. Natalia: Allow me to make the same request. If something happens, at least Malkuth forces won't be caught in it. Peony: I'm surprised. Why are royalty like yourselves so intent on helping an enemy country? Natalia: We're not enemies! Our citizens travel between our countries as if it were perfectly normal. And it's my duty as one born into the royal family to aid those in need. Peony: ...And you, Master Luke? Luke: I am a criminal to Malkuth. I am to blame for what's happening. I want to do anything I can. I want to save everyone! Peony: Well, you heard them. What do you think, Sesemann? Your dear apprentice, Jade, also says we can trust these guys regarding St. Binah. Sesemann: Your Majesty, it's not polite to refer to them as "these guys." Jade: If I may make a suggestion, perhaps Luke and my unit could evacuate St. Binah, while General Nordheim contains the northward moving Kimlascan army. Sesemann: Are you giving a general orders? Well, I suppose it will work. We'll try to gain the council's approval. Peony: Thanks, man. I owe you one. Luke: Then, you won't abandon St. Binah...? Peony: Of course not. Though you all are the ones who're going to save it. They're my dearest people. Please help us save them. Luke: I'll do everything in my power. Natalia: As will I. Tear: As you wish, Your Majesty. Peony: I have to summon the council now. I'll let you handle the rest, Jade. Jade: *Sigh* Evacuating an entire city is not an easy task, you know. Luke: What should we do, exactly? Jade: As His Majesty said, the military won't enter the city for fear of it becoming another Akzeriuth. We'll enter St. Binah first and get help from former Field Marshal McGovern. The party goes to check on Guy. Soldier: The curse has been removed. In the inn... Luke: Guy! I'm sorry... Guy: ...Luke? Luke: I...I must have done something to make you suffer. That's why you... Guy: Ah hah hah. What the hell are you talking about? It's not your fault, Luke. It's not your fault that I hated you so much I wanted to kill you. ...I'm originally from Malkuth. Anise: What? Really? Guy: I was born in Hod. On my fifth birthday, my relatives gathered at the mansion. Just as the Scorer started to read my Score, the war began. Tear: The Hod War... Natalia: If I recall, it was Duke Fabre who attacked Hod... Guy: Yes. Duke Fabre killed my family, my relatives, our servants. Everyone. He everything I loved and laughed as he did it. So I set out to make him experience the same thing I did. Jade: You entered House Fabre for revenge, then? Gailardia Galan, of the House of Count Gardios. Guy: ...Oh. You knew, huh? Jade: I noticed a few things, so I investigated. You fight in the Albert style, a technique that doesn't use a shield. It's unique to Hod. Luke: ...Then, you can't really want to be by my side, can you, Guy? I may be a replica, but I'm still a Fabre... Guy: Come one. I mean, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have any lingering feelings about it, but... Luke: But...? Guy: If you want me gone, then I'll cut ties with you right now. But if not, could I stick around a little longer? There's still something I want to confirm. Luke: ...Okay. I trust you. No... I should say... Trust me, Guy. Please. Guy: Hah hah. Either way works for me. Ion: Thank goodness. I was so worried you might start fighting. Jade: Well, now that that's all settled nicely, how about we head for St. Binah? Anise: Oh, yeah, we heard from a messenger that you're going to St. Binah. But Ion is drained from healing the curse slot. He'll stay here with me. Ion: Anise, I'm fine. And if I go with them, I may be able to help. Anise: Ion?! Ion: Anise. Everyone, please take me along. Please. Luke: If Master Van's after Ion, then he's in danger no matter where he is. Jade: Are you saying he'd be better off where we can keep an eye on him? I suppose we have no choice. Anise: Oooh! Not again, Ion! Guy received the Malkuth Nobleman title. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Anise in a Bad Mood' [SK172] | | Anise: A war's going to start, and towns are about to collapse, and | Van's coming after Ion, and the Six God-Generals won't go away, | and Mohs is scheming, and Gloomietta's gloomy, and Asch is | weird, and I'm poor, and I'm hungry, and, and... Arrgh! | Guy: In a bad mood, Anise? | Anise: No, not at all! I'm doing just fine. What about you, Guy? | Feeling okay? | Guy: Fine, thanks to Ion. But it looks like I caused him a lot of | trouble. | Anise: Ion, are you all right? You don't look too good... | Ion: I used a Daathic fonic arte, so I'm a little tired. That's all. | Don't worry. | Anise: You both look half dead right now. You all should get some rest. | And Ion, why don't you just stay here, under Emperor Peony's | protection? | Ion: No. We can't afford to lose any time, even if it means having to | push ourselves a little bit. | Guy: Yeah... If St. Binah falls, things'll get a lot worse. | Anise: Booo. Whatever. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SB2} \ >>> St. Binah \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party enters the Malkuth Base and goes to find Field Marshal McGovern. Glenn McGovern: I told you, Father, with Kaitzur overrun, we cannot afford to have troops leave the city. Elder McGovern: But if we don't evacuate the civilians, St. Binah will become the next Akzeriuth! Glenn: We cannot make a move without an order from His Imperial Majesty. Luke: If an order from Emperor Peony is what you're waiting for, we just brought it! Elder & Glenn: (!) Glenn: Colonel Curtiss?! You're alive! Elder: What did His Majesty say? Jade: We're to evacuate the civilians to the Engeve area. Glenn: But that will mean leaving the city unguarded... Luke: Who cares?! This whole area's started to fall! Jade: My troops will take over escorting the civilians partway along the route. Once the civilians are out, please have your forces go west to join General Nordheim's forces on the East Rugnica Plains. Glenn: Understood. So we're abandoning St. Binah. Elder: Right. I'll inform the residents. Both leave. Tear: We'll help, too. Luke: Right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Go, Luke!' [SK179] | | Guy: Luke sure is getting strong, isn't he? | Natalia: That he is... Nothing like how he was at Akzeriuth. He certainly | has changed. | Tear: It may be that he's trying to keep himself busy, to keep from | dwelling on Akzeriuth. | Natalia: You may be right. | Guy: So? The important thing is that he's getting things done. | Tear: True... Anyway, let's get moving ourselves. | Natalia: Yes. | Guy: Right! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Reborn Hot-Blooded Idiot' [SK178] | | Jade: Evacuating the entire population of a town certainly is | backbreaking work. | Anise: Yeah. We have to make things really clear, or people could | seriously panic. | Luke: We'll have to check the entire town to make sure nobody's left | behind. Women and children should get priority, right? Oh, and | the elderly. | Jade: Yes, that works. | Luke: Hmm, we'll probably need carts too. I'll direct the injured | people to the carts. Is that okay? | Jade: Yes. | Luke: Okay, I'm going to go check over there. | [Luke leaves.] | Jade: Hmm... I have to admit Luke has thrown me a bit off balance, | being so active and helpful. | Anise: Yeah, he's way different than he was at Akzeriuth. | Jade: It looks like he was serious about wanting to change. | Anise: I guess I can kinda sorta admit he's doing an okay job. But he | does look like an idiot, all worked up like that. | Jade: That's because deep down, he is essentially an idiot. | Luke: Hey! Come over here and help! Don't just stand around like | idiots! | [Luke leaves again.] | Jade: Well, well. Looks like we've become idiots as well. | Anise: Hah hah hah hah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Outside the military base, people are running around like crazy. Luke comes by, carrying an old man. Someone attacks, and Jade and Tear cast fonic artes to hold off the attacker. Jade: Run! A boy falls over. Luke grabs him as Dist arrives with another Kaiser Dist. Luke: What the hell?! Dist: Aah hah hah hah hah! I've finally found you, Jade! Jade: Now is not the time, Dist. You never were able to tell when you're not wanted. Dist: Say what you like! I'm taking Fon Master Ion! Jade: I'm afraid not. Now move. Dist: Are you trying to save these worms? And after you gave up on Professor Nebilim! Jade: ...Are you still pursuing that foolishness?! Dist: You have no right to criticize me! You gave up before you even started! Now, hand over the Fon Master! Kaiser Dist RX attacks. After losing, it breaks down and crumbles the gate. Dist: Noooooo! My precious Kaiser Dist! You haven't heard the last of me! Next time, I'll tear you to shreds! Dist flies off. Jade: I don't think you'll catch him, but follow him just in case. Soldier: Yes, sir! The town starts to fall. There is now a rather large chasm and most of the townspeople are on the other side from the party. Luke: Damn it! McGovern and the others are...! Tear: Luke, wait! I'll jump down and sing a fonic hymn! Jade: Wait. A considerable number of residents still remain. You can't protect them all with your hymn. Let's think of a more definite plan. Elder McGovern: Don't worry about us! Take care of the others! Luke: Damn it! Isn't there anything we can do?! Anise: If only we could fly. Guy: Fly...Hey, I heard they were doing flight experiments in Sheridan. Luke: Flight experiments? What's that? Guy: If I recall, they have an ancient hover drive that was excavated by the Order. Supposedly, back in Yulia's age, they attached those to vehicles and flew in them. All the fon machine buffs have been talking about it. Ion: Yes, I approved the project to share technology with Kimlasca. The flight experiments should be underway. Luke: That's perfect! Let's go borrow whatever they're using for the experiments! If we hurry, maybe we can save the people! Jade: Will we be in time? This situation looks different than Akzeriuth, but even still... Tear: From what I heard from Van, it took several days for Hod to fall. There's a force field called the "dividing line" between the Qliphoth and the Outer Lands. He said they fell faster just after crossing that line. Luke: Let's give it a try! It's better than doing nothing! Natalia: Yes. Let's at least do what we can. Jade: Sheridan is on Radessia, on the same side as Baticul. We'll need to be careful not to get caught by Kimlascan troops. Guy: Okay, let's get back to the Tartarus! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `I Will Never Forgive Dist!' [SK180] | | Natalia: That...Dist, was that his name? I cannot forgive him for calling | the townspeople worms! | Ion: At least they suffered no casualties from the battle. | Luke: But thanks to him, we couldn't save some of them... Dammit! | Jade: Tear says it will be some time before the area actually falls | into the Qliphoth, so we still have a chance to rescue them. | Luke: Yeah, we have to hurry! | Ion: We were able to defeat Dist, but the rest of the Six | God-Generals may still try to interfere. | Natalia: They just never learn, do they? | Jade: It would certainly help us if they did. | Luke: If they get in our way, we'll just take them out. That may not | be the best way, but we don't have a choice. Let's get going! | Natalia: Right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Ion, the Big Gun' [SK181] | | Tear: I can't imagine flying through the sky... | Anise: Yeah. Can fon machines really do that, Guy? | Guy: Well, not the kind we have now. The current research started | when a hover drive from the Dawn Age was unearthed. | Anise: But I heard the Sheridan craftsmen are pretty stubborn. Would | they really lend us something like that? | Guy: Well... I can't guarantee anything... | Anise: Then we'll just have to get Luke or Natalia to throw some Gald | at them! | Guy: Oh yeah? And are you planning on heading back to Baticul to get | it? That doesn't sound very realistic... | Anise: Then we pull out the big guns--me and Tear's sexy bods! | Tear: What?! I...I can't do that! | Guy: I, uh...I really don't think that will work... | Anise: Oh, really? Well, then I guess we'll just have to rely on Ion. | Guy: Why not just have him ask in the first place? | Anise: Ion's, like, the biggest gun there is! | Tear: I guess... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SH1} \ >>> Sheridan \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Guy's Little Hobby' [SK182] | | Tear: Sheridan handles ship construction for the entire Outer Lands, | doesn't it? It lies far to the west of St. Binah, across the | ocean, on the eastern side of the Radessian continent. | Luke: Huh... | Guy: Yes, exactly! Sheridan is technically part of Kimlasca, but | experienced craftsmen from all over the world live there. You | know how there's a huge canyon around Sheridan? The dry rocks | from there are invaluable for building fon machines, especially | weapons. Sheridan is pretty close to Daath, too, so they can | sell battleships and landships to Malkuth as well. So-- | Luke: Arrgh! Shut up already! | Guy: ...... | Anise: ...Stay away from me... | Natalia: Guy's obsession with fon machines is...incredible... | Jade: Or maniacal... | Guy: Well, sorry! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the town's northwest, the party finds three elderly people. Iemon: Well? Well?! What's happening?! Aston: I can see it plain as day! The gusts over Meggiora are going to blow it off any minute. Tamara: Oh, come on, Aston. Are you sure you're not going blind, old man? Aston: You know you only get farsighted with age, Tamara. I can see far away just fine. Iemon: This is bad. We might lose the hover drive. Tamara: How can you talk like that, Iemon?! That's your grandson, Ginji, trapped in there! Aren't you worried about him?! Tamara hits Iemon with the stick she's holding. Luke: Is something wrong? Iemon: ...The Albiore crashed in the Meggiora Highlands. Guy: The Albiore? You mean the machine equipped with the ancient hover drive?! Anise: Oh, no. Did we come all the way here for nothing? Guy: No, I heard two hover drives had been excavated... Iemon: You heard correctly. But the second hover drive hasn't been so much as started up yet. Aston: Iemon, there's no time to chat. We have to form a rescue party for Ginji and the hover drive! Iemon: Right. We can attach the hover drive to the Albiore II and resume experiments. Tamara: You're a heartless old man! Tamara, Aston and Iemon leave. Jade: The Meggiora Highlands are teeming with monsters. The rescue team may need rescuing themselves. Tear: But from what they said, we can't fly without the hover drive. Luke: Let's at least ask whether or not we can borrow the hover drive. Natalia: Yes. We probably should ask the one they called Iemon. Ion: I think it may help smooth things along if I'm the one who speaks with him. Let's go. The party heads to the meeting room in the front of the town. Iemon: ...Ah, I see. I must say, it's a surprise to see Princess Natalia alive and well. And working to save Malkuth citizens, no less.... Luke: It doesn't matter who's from Malkuth or Kimlasca right now! Tamara: That's true. But we also have our own problems. The Albiore I crashed on a cliff in the Meggiora Highlands... Aston: The pilot is trapped, and the Meggiora winds are in full force, it could fall at any moment. And there are no soldiers for a rescue party because they're all getting ready to fight Malkuth. Luke: Then I'll go! Natalia: Well said, Luke! That's how true royalty acts! Luke: It doesn't have anything to do with royalty! Natalia: ...What? Luke: I just... I have to do what I can. Helping people has nothing to do with being royalty or nobility or whatever. Th-that's all it is! Tear: ...Some of us have had military training. Would you entrust the rescue to us? Guy: We'll still go regardless, but if we do recover the hover drive, we'd like to borrow the Albiore II. Iemon: The Albiore II isn't finished. We lack some parts for the drive system. With the war, most of the parts have been used for landship construction. Jade: The Tartarus was originally a landship. Please use anything on it you can. Luke: Jade! Are you sure?! Jade: Ion, would you stay here and show them to the Tartarus? I'd like to have the Albiore II completed while we recover the hover drive. Ion: That's fine with me. All that's left is... Iemon: ...If we get the parts, I'll work on finishing that craft like my life depended on it. Luke: Okay, then we'll head for Meggiora. Where is it...? Aston: The Meggiora Highlands are southwest of here. Also, take this with you. Secure the Albiore with these launchers. Then lower it down the cliff. It'll be dangerous, what with the fierce winds and all. Luke: But I don't know how to use this... Guy: It's a fon machine. Leave it to me. Jade probably knows, too. Jade: Oh, maybe. Maybe not. Guy: ...I swear, it's impossible to tell what you're thinking. Obtained launcher. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Save Ginji!' [SK183] | | Natalia: I hope that Ginji is safe... | Jade: It looks like he's all right for the moment, but I doubt he | could survive if the craft falls from the cliff. | Luke: We've got to hurry. There's no telling when St. Binah could | fall, either. | Natalia: It'll be a race against time. | Jade: Just make certain you're well-prepared. As I mentioned earlier, | there are monsters in the Meggiora Highlands. | Luke: I know. Do you think we'll be able to get the machines from | Iemon to work? | Jade: Oh, things should probably work out. | Natalia: That is not very reassuring. | Jade: Hah hah. Surely you have better things to worry about than that. | Let's get going. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:MH1} \ >>> Meggiora Highlands \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party can see the Albiore I atop a cliff. Tear: That must be it. Anise: Uh, oh. It looks like it could fall any second. Jade: This isn't good. If we don't hurry, it could fall before we make it there. Luke: What'll happen if it falls? Jade: The pilot certainly won't survive. The hover drive could be destroyed as well. Mieu: Oh, no! Guy: We have to hit both sides of the craft with the launchers. Let's split into two groups. Tear: How should we split up? Who do you want to go with? Luke: If we're splitting into two groups, then I... You get to choose two party members (e.g. Tear and Jade). Tear: Me? Sure that's fine. Jade: ...Me? If you insist. Tear: All right, let's hurry. Jade: Well, I suppose it's better to have you lose control somewhere I can see you. Guy: Be careful when using the launcher. Anise: Don't screw up your side now! Natalia: Let's all do our best. Luke's party goes first. They meet up with a strong monster. Luke: Wh-what's that? Tear: (...) Tear: It's a monster. ...And it's close! Jade: (!) Jade: Behind us! Luke: Looks like we got it. Tear: I hope Guy and the others are all right. Jade: All we can do is trust in them. Now, let's hurry. Luke: Yeah, you're right. Guy's party reaches the goal in enough time. Luke: We made it! Jade: Are you ready over there? Guy: Any time! Jade: Here we go! Jade and Guy fire the launchers and lower the Albiore. Ginji: Thank you for rescuing me. Luke: Are you hurt? Ginji: No, thanks to you all. Tear: Let's talk later. We've got the hover drive. There's no time to lose. Luke: Yeah. Ginji, can you walk? Ginji: Yes. I'm fine. Obtained Hover Drive. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Ginji Rescued!' [SK185] | | Luke: That big monster had me worried, but we made it just in time. | Guy: Yeah. Even if we got the hover drive out, it would've been | terrible to lose Ginji. For all Iemon's talk, he was probably | pretty worried too. | Tear: Yeah. He was just too embarrassed to show his concern for his | grandson. I'm sure he'll be glad to see Ginji safe. | Jade: We don't have time to stand around, you know. We have to hurry | to St. Binah. | Guy: Unconcerned as always... | Jade: Really? How strange... | Luke: But yeah, we do have to hurry. Let's get back to Sheridan. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SH2a} \ >>> Sheridan \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Ginji: Thank you for everything! I'll go on ahead and deliver the hover drive! Ginji runs off. The party heads to the aircraft bay when stopped by Kimlascan soldiers. Soldier: You must be the nuts who sailed over here on a Malkuth landship! Soldier 2: Hmm? Are you a Malkuth soldier?! Luke: Uh-oh. Anise: Run! Soldier 2: Capture them! The party runs into the aircraft bay and the soldiers follow. Iemon: Ah, you're back! Aston's about to attach the hover drive right now! Guy is holding the door shut. Soldier: Open this door immediately! Tamara: What's going on? Jade: We were spotted by Kimlascan soldiers. Tamara: Oh, that's right, you're a soldier from Malkuth. Iemon: This city originally produced landships for Malkuth. If we weren't on the brink of war, nobody would have cared... Tamara: Speaking of landships, we took a load of parts from yours. There were even some parts that aren't being manufactured anymore. It was a big help. Ion: Thanks to that, the Tartarus is no longer operational. Anise: But if the Albiore can actually fly, we won't need the Tartarus anymore. Aston: What do you mean, "actually"?! Aston arrives via a lift. Aston: The Albiore carries our hopes and dreams! It will never fall! Luke: ...It already did. Guy: Hey! Guys! Hurry it up! They're breaking down the door! Tear: What's the condition of the Albiore II? Aston: It's finished! And the pilot's ready, too! Iemon: Okay. We'll handle those soldiers. Hurry! Natalia: But the soldiers are quite irate. Perhaps I should tell them who I am... Tamara: There's no time! Leave it to us. Aston: Never underestimate the elderly! Now, take off into the great sky of dreams! Luke: We'll leave the rest to you! The party goes down the lift as the soldiers bang down the door. Aston, Tamara and Iemon try to hold them off. Iemon: By our honor as Sheridan's Class M, this is as far as you go! Aboard the Albiore II... Noelle: I've been waiting for you. Luke: Who are you? Noelle: I'm the Albiore II's pilot, Noelle. Ginji, the Albiore I's pilot, is my older brother. I'll fly you to St. Binah in his stead. Luke: Thanks! Noelle: Let's go! The party flies to St. Binah. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Note: the above events slightly change if Ginji is not rescued. See below] +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Hurry to Ginji!' [SK187] | | Luke: Damn... We can't afford to waste any time, but with our strength | split up like this, we can't just barge through... Ginji, I | hope you're safe! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Guy's party heads to the Albiore I, but doesn't make it in time. The Albiore falls off the cliff. Luke: No! Tear: We didn't make it.... Luke: Damn it! I couldn't save someone again... Guy: All we managed to recover was the hover drive... Tear: Yes. Let's at least make sure we rescue the people in St. Binah... Luke: ...Yeah. There's no way I'm going to be too late for that! Obtained Hover Drive. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Life We Couldn't Save...' [SK186] | | Luke: We didn't make it... | Tear: We did our best... That's all we could do. | Luke: He's dead! Don't you feel anything for him?! | Tear: And what are you going to do if St. Binah falls into the | Qliphoth while you're wallowing in regret?! We don't have time | for this! | Luke: I know. But still... | Tear: ...It's just as hard on me, you know. | Luke: Tear... | Tear: Come on, we need to get that hover drive to Iemon. We have to | tell him about Ginji, too... | Luke: ...Yeah, you're right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SH2b} \ >>> Sheridan \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ A young woman comes running to the party. ???: Ah, there you are! Aston told me to pick up the hover drive from you. Luke gives the hover drive to her and she runs off. Luke: ...Who was that? Anise: ...I bet you're the type who gets conned easily. Jade: I suspect we'll find out if we head back to see Iemon. The party heads to the aircraft bay when stopped by Kimlascan soldiers. Soldier: You must be the nuts who sailed over here on a Malkuth landship! Soldier 2: Hmm? Are you a Malkuth soldier?! Luke: Uh-oh. Anise: Run! Soldier 2: Capture them! The party runs into the aircraft bay and the soldiers follow. Iemon: Ah, you're back! Aston's about to attach the hover drive right now! Guy is holding the door shut. Soldier: Open this door immediately! Tamara: What's going on? Jade: We were spotted by Kimlascan soldiers. Tamara: Oh, that's right, you're a soldier from Malkuth. Iemon: This city originally produced landships for Malkuth. If we weren't on the brink of war, nobody would have cared... Tamara: Speaking of landships, we took a load of parts from yours. There were even some parts that aren't being manufactured anymore. It was a big help. Ion: Thanks to that, the Tartarus is no longer operational. Anise: But if the Albiore can actually fly, we won't need the Tartarus anymore. Aston: What do you mean, "actually"?! Aston arrives via a lift. Aston: The Albiore carries our hopes and dreams! It will never fall! Luke: ...It already did. Guy: Hey! Guys! Hurry it up! They're breaking down the door! Tear: What's the condition of the Albiore II? Aston: It's finished! And the pilot's ready, too! Iemon: Okay. We'll handle those soldiers. Hurry! Natalia: But the soldiers are quite irate. Perhaps I should tell them who I am... Tamara: There's no time! Leave it to us. Aston: Never underestimate the elderly! Now, take off into the great sky of dreams! Iemon: Go out there and conquer the skies for that impatient grandson of mine! Luke: ...Right! We'll leave the rest to you! The party goes down the lift as the soldiers bang down the door, Aston, Tamara and Iemon try to hold the soldiers off. Iemon: By our honor as Sheridan's Class M, this is as far as you go! Aboard the Albiore II. Noelle: I've been waiting for you. Luke: You're that girl from earlier... Noelle: I'm the Albiore II's pilot, Noelle. Ginji, the Albiore I's pilot, was my older brother. I'll fly you to St. Binah in his stead. Luke: I'm sorry about your brother... Noelle: No. It's not your fault. Now, we should get going. Luke: ...Right. Thanks! The party flies to St. Binah. [End Ginji-saving branch.] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SB3} \ >>> St. Binah \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: Mr. McGovern! Are you all okay? Elder McGovern: Ah! It's you! What's that vehicle?! Jade: Field Marshal, we'll talk later. Right now, let's just get everyone onboard. The party runs to the Albiore II. Glenn McGovern helps an older man get on. A cutscene of St. Binah falling into the Qliphoth plays. Aboard the Albiore... Elder McGovern: Allow me to express my gratitude. But what's going to become of St. Binah...? Tear: I imagine it will sink into the mantle before long. Elder: No! Is there nothing we can do?! Tear: This is like when Hod fell. They say it took a month to sink. Elder: Hod...Hmm... So this is vengeance for Hod... Jade: (?) Guy & Tear: (...) Luke: ...Is there really nothing we can do? Mieu: It's sad to lose your home... Anise: It's already weird enough having the ground fall apart. I can't think of anything we can do. It's hopeless! Luke: I know! What about the Sephiroth? This place fell because Master Van messed with that passage ring thing and did something to the Sephiroth, right? Then can't we just bring it back? Tear: But we don't know how to use passage rings. Luke: Then we'll interrogate Master Van and...! Guy: Luke, there's no way we could pull that off. I understand how you feel, but... Luke: No you don't, Guy! None of you do! Tear: Luke... Luke: I'm the one who destroyed Akzeriuth! That's why I have to do something now! I know this won't make up for what I've done, but if I could just save this one city... Jade: Luke! Get a hold of yourself. You won't get anything done like that. Luke: (!) Jade: Let's go to Yulia City. They know more about the Sephiroth than we do. Now that the Score predicting St. Binah's safety has faltered... Tear: Yes, Grandfather might be willing to help. Jade: And, Luke. You sounded like a child a moment ago. Everyone here wants to save St. Binah. Luke: You're right...I'm sorry... Guy: Don't worry about it. We're not mad or anything. Noelle: I'll launch the Albiore, then. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Saving Lives' [SK191] | | Natalia: At least we were able to save the people of St. Binah. | Guy: Yeah. Where there's life, there's hope, after all. | Luke: But I want to save St. Binah itself... | Guy: I know. We all saw how worked up you were. | Natalia: Luke, you've performed your duty as a member of the Kimlascan | royal family admirably. Now we can search for a way to save the | town itself. | Luke: ...I know. Jade just chewed me out for getting too anxious, | too. | Guy: Yeah. Having saved the people is more than enough for now. | Natalia: Absolutely. I hardly think that atonement means having to feel | constant guilt. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A World of Death' [SK192] | | Jade: The Qliphoth looks even harsher from the sky. | Luke: The people of St. Binah must be so worried... | Natalia: Indeed. It's hard enough to believe that the entire town has | fallen in...but this, this looks like a world of death. | Jade: I wonder what really happened to this planet... | Natalia: Is this not the result of a war in the Dawn Age? | Jade: Yes, and the miasma was later sealed underground. Or rather, the | crust itself was raised to create the Outer Lands. But could a | simple war have triggered the miasma? | Luke: Do you think there's something else responsible? | Jade: I have no proof, but it would certainly be worth investigating. | Natalia: Researching the Dawn Age is difficult...but it's worth keeping | in mind. | Luke: ...Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:YU3} \ >>> Yulia City \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Tear: Grandfather! Teodoro: I figured you'd come. I've been waiting for you. Tear: Grandfather, please help us! We want to save St. Binah! Teodoro: Yes, I suppose we must. Though we are fearful of deviating from the Score... Ion: Before we talk, I'd like to let the people from St. Binah get some rest. Teodoro: Oh, yes. Let us take them in. Elder McGovern: ...Thank you. Elder: (...) Elder: Luke, don't be discouraged. Luke: What? Elder: Jade rarely scolds people. What he said earlier shows that he's taken a liking to you. Jade: Field Marshal! Don't put words in my mouth! Elder: Old folks don't have the time to bother scolding people we don't like. Jade is no different. Jade: (...) Jade: Honestly, of all the things to say. I'm going on ahead. Luke: (...) Guy: Hah hah. He pegged him. Guess Jade has a few soft spots, after all. Anise: Hee hee, yeah. (heart) The rest of the party walks off. Luke stops Tear as she walks by him. Luke: Tear...um...Thanks. Tear: What's this, all of a sudden...? Luke: You've scolded me from the very beginning. Tear: (////) Tear: Oh...that was just... I mean... Luke: (...) Luke: ...Heh it's weird. I always thought of getting scolded as a bad thing. Tear: It's not a good thing either. Luke: ...I know that! The party heads towards the conference room. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Can People Change?' [SK193] | | Tear: Well, at least we've reached Yulia City safely. | Guy: Though the people from St. Binah will probably take a while to | get used to it. | Luke: Yeah. | Guy: And it looks like Jade's finally starting to approve of you, | Luke. | Tear: Not just the Colonel, either. Anise, Natalia, and of course us, | too. We all think you're doing well. | Luke: ...I can't really tell, myself. I'm just doing what I have to. I | haven't really had any chance to really try and change myself, | or think about how I used to be... | Guy: Well, to be honest, nobody would believe you if you came out | saying "I'm going to change!" all the time. | Tear: Hee hee. Indeed. | Luke: Don't laugh about it! | Guy: Sorry. In any case, let's finish what we have to do. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Man Named Asch' [SK194] | | Luke: Every time I come here, I think about Asch. | Tear: Asch? | Luke: Yeah. He told me the truth about myself...and through him, I | learned a little about the world around me... That may be what | really got me thinking that I needed to change. | Tear: I see... | Luke: He always used to get in our faces and pick fights and all, but | lately...he's just left us alone. | Tear: You're right. I wonder what he's trying to accomplish... The | next time we encounter him, it may not be as an enemy. | Luke: You're not telling me I have to get along with him?! | Tear: I'm saying that we may not have to fight him. | Luke: ...... | Tear: When Asch appears, it's always been for something important, one | way or another. Don't forget that. | Luke: ...I'll try. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the conference room... Luke: I'll get to the point. Is there any way to save St. Binah? Teodoro: Oh, this is a difficult problem. If only we had the Key of Lorelei that Yulia used... Luke: The Key of Lorelei? What's that? It sounds kind of familiar... Jade: It refers to the Sword and Jewel of Lorelei. If I recall, it was used when creating the Planet Storm. I've also heard it referred to as the symbol of the pact between Yulia and Lorelei. Teodoro: Correct. The Key or Lorelei is said to be a fonic weapon created by Yulia using the power of Lorelei. Tear: The Sword of Lorelei gathers Seventh Fonons, and the Jewel of Lorelei disperses them. It's said that they Key itself is made of Seventh Fonons. Supposedly, Yulia summoned Lorelei into the Key and freely commanded that power... Teodoro: Whether that is true or not, what IS true is that it could control the Sephiroth. Tear: But once the Planet Storm was formed, the Key of Lorelei was cast down into the core. Teodoro: Yes. We can't use something we don't have-something that may not exist at all. In any case, I suspect it would be impossible to lift St. Binah back up to the Outer Lands. Anise: Hmm... Is there really nothing anyone can do? Teodoro: ...It may be possible to at least prevent it from sinking beneath the liquefied surface. Luke: With the Sephiroth? Teodoro: Yes. They are controlled by devices called "passage rings." By using the passage ring to restore the Sephiroth, we might be able to keep St. Binah afloat. Tear: Where is the passage ring that controls the Sephiroth Tree for the St. Binah region? Teodoro: At Shurrey Hill. It's to the east of St. Binah. Ion: That's where I was taken when I was captured on the Tartarus. At the time, I thought it would still be protected by the Albertesque and Yulian seals... Teodoro: The Albertesque seal disappeared once the passage rings for Hod and Akzeriuth were destroyed. But the Yulian seal should not unlock until the promised time. Anise: But the Commandant must have unlocked it and operated the passage rings, right? Teodoro: Yes. Even we don't know how he did it. Jade: Let's worry about that later. How do we operate the passage ring? Teodoro: I've heard that all of the control panels require the use of the Seventh Fonon. Guy: Well, we've got three people who can use that. Natalia: Tear, Luke, and myself. Teodoro: The other issue is whether Van has done anything to damage the passage ring... Tear: We won't know that until we get there. Luke: If its east of St. Binah, then it's probably falling along with the city. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `To Shurrey Hill' [SK195] | | Jade: The passage ring at Shurrey Hill... | Anise: I hope it actually works. | Ion: I doubt Van will be leaving it untouched for us to use... | Jade: Indeed, his planning so far seems to be impeccable. | Anise: That sounds sarcastic, for some reason... | Jade: How odd. I meant it quite literally. | Ion: Hah hah... Well, thinking about Van won't accomplish anything. | We'll just have to visit Shurrey Hill and see. | Anise: Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SY1} \ >>> Shurrey Hill \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Relics of the Dawn Age' [SK198] | | Guy: Akzeriuth, Shurrey Hill... These places with the passage rings | feel so strange. | Tear: That's probably because they're from the Dawn Age. They were | made to protect the Sephiroth Trees. | Anise: Oh, right, so this has been around for two thousand years. | Jade: Indeed. The technology in use seems to be quite advanced. We | can't build anything like this with our current knowledge. | Luke: So civilization was more advanced two thousand years ago? | Tear: So they say. Even in Yulia City, we don't understand how most of | the facilities work. | Guy: I wonder what the world was like when Yulia was around... I wish | I could have seen it. | Luke: You mean you wish you could have seen the machines, right? | Guy: ...Well, yeah, but come on. That's when they came up with the | idea of creating the Outer Lands. | Natalia: Those must have been turbulent times. | Tear: Now is hardly any different. After all, we're on the brink of | diverging from Yulia's Score. | Natalia: Yes...true enough. | Jade: Human history is one of eternal turbulence. Now let's take care | of what we came to do. | Anise: As dry as always... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party comes to the passage ring. Guy: This isn't your average fon machine. I don't have a clue what to do with it. Luke: What exactly are we supposed to do with Seventh Fonons? Ion: (...) Ion: ...This is strange. The Yulian seal hasn't been removed. Jade: What does that mean? Did General Grants not use it...? Anise: (angry) Anise: Ugh, don't tell me we came all this way for nothing? Natalia: There must be some way to use it. Let's look around. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Van the Terrible!' [SK199] | | Natalia: Van certainly has quite an arsenal. | Anise: Yeah. He's smart, he's quick, he's great with a sword, he can | use the Seventh Fonon... He's amazing! Incredible! And he's got | a beard. | Natalia: Is his beard special? | Anise: Of course! That's where he gets all his power! | Natalia: My... I had no idea... | Anise: And those eyebrows are amazing, too. | Natalia: What kind of power do they have? | Anise: His eyebrows...um...tell him where his enemies are. And watch | out for the hypno-rays they shoot out! | Natalia: Oh, such power! How fitting, for the Commandant of the Oracle | Knights. | Guy: Tear...are you going to let her say things like that? | Tear: S-sure...why not...? | Jade: Ah hah hah hah! Regardless of the beard, he certainly is | intelligent, and clever. Things will get difficult if he stays | ahead of us. | Guy: But what can we do? We can't fight him head-on, and we don't | even know where he is. | Tear: Asch might have an idea... | Guy: Asch, huh... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Yulian seal was broken. The party heads back to the passage ring. Tear: (...) Tear: Nothing's working.... Tear walks by the weird thingy and it opens up like a book. Natalia: Tear! Could you approach that fonstone? Tear: (?) Tear: Okay... Tear: (!) The device opens and shows a glyph. Tear: (What...?!) Another glyph appears above them. It has some circles, some with red outlines. Jade: It reacted to Tear. It says... "Warning." Is this the Yulian seal? Ion: ...I don't know, but it's definitely been unlocked. We can use the passage ring now. Anise: (sweating) Anise: Hey, this writing looks like an explanation of the passage ring. Jade walks up to the device and looks at it. Jade: (...) Jade: ...You've really outdone yourself this time, General Grants. Tear: My brother did something to it?! Jade: He's closed the valve, making it impossible to revive the Sephiroth tree. Natalia: What does that mean? Jade: He used a code to render the passage ring unusable. Mieu: Can we break the code? Jade: If I could use the Seventh Fonon, I'd break it myself. But... Luke: (...) Luke: ...What if I use hyperresonance to erase the code or whatever? That uses the Seventh Fonon, right? Jade: (...) Jade: ...If you could erase just the code, that might work. Tear: Luke! You can't control it yet...! Luke: I've been practicing! Besides, if I mess up here, we're no worse off than if we'd done nothing. Tear: (...) Tear: ...That's true. You're right. The view switches to the circles above. Jade: See how the diagram representing the third Sephiroth is lit up red? Erase just that red part. Luke: I'll give it a try. Luke holds his hands up, uses his hyperresonance and erases the red part. Memory particles start flowing upward. Jade: ...It looks like it started up. The Sephiroth has begun releasing memory particles to raise the land. Tear: Then St. Binah won't sink into the mantle! Luke: ...We did it! We did it! Luke hugs Tear. Tear looks surprised at him. Luke: Tear, thank you! Tear: (////) Tear: I-I didn't do anything. You're the one who operated the passage ring. Luke: But it wouldn't have started up if you weren't here. And everyone else, too...! It's because you all helped. Thank you all so much! Natalia: He doesn't sound like Luke at all. Guy: I don't see any problem with that. I like him better this way. Natalia: You're on Luke's side. Guy: Not really. Just like you're not on Asch's side either, right? Natalia: (...) Natalia: ...I can't choose either of them. Anise: (...) Anise: Oh, no! Wait! It's too soon to be celebrating! Look at that! Guy: ...Whoa, it says this Sephiroth supports almost the entire Rugnica Plains region! Doesn't that mean Engeve is going to fall, too?! Anise: Yeah! This is seriously bad for Engeve! Tear: (...) Natalia: Oh, no! We have to get back to the Outer Lands and evacuate the people from Engeve! Luke: ...Tear, you okay? Tear: Just a bit tired, I guess... I'm fine though. Luke received the Passage Commander title. The party moves to leave Shurrey Hill for the Albiore. Luke: Say, can we really get back up with just the power of the Albiore? Jade: I think it should be able to use the power of the Sephiroth just like the Tartarus. Luke: (That thing I saw them do when I was connected with Asch...) Guy: Yeah. The Sephiroth is northeast of Yulia City. We should be able to find out pretty quick once we get there. Luke: Northeast of Yulia City, huh? Okay. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Worried about Tear' [SK201] | | Luke: Tear, are you okay? | Tear: What do you mean? | Luke: Well, you were just saying you were tired... | Tear: Oh...I just got a little dizzy. I'm fine. | Luke: You sure? You always push yourself, so I can't trust your | saying-- | Tear: Well, excuse me for not being trustworthy. | Luke: H-hey, I was just... | Tear: ...I'm sorry. I guess I was acting a little strange. Thanks for | asking. | Luke: S-sure... I mean, if you're okay, that's fine. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Rugnica plains has turned into a battlefield and a battle is in progress. The causalities are great on both sides. Natalia: Why...?! Why are they fighting?! Jade: This isn't good. Both armies could be completely wiped out. Anise: Yeah, we're above the Rugnica Plains. The Sephiroth Tree below is already gone... Tear: This must be...what my brother was trying to accomplish... Luke: What do you mean? Tear: He wanted to eradicate the people of the Outer Lands. He knew from the Score about the war in the Rugnica Plains... Jade: He eliminates the Shurrey Hill tree causing both armies to fall. It's quite efficient. Luke: You've got to be kidding me! I don't know what his reasons are, but what he's doing is insane! Natalia: If they're fighting here, then Kimlasca's main force must be at Kaitzur. I'll make them cease hostilities! Tear: I'm concerned about Engeve as well. It's likely to be targeted as a strategic supply point. With St. Binah gone, that village is virtually defenseless. Anise: You mean it could be attacked and destroyed even before it falls? Jeez... Luke: Let's split up. One team will check on Engeve, and the other will call for a cease-fire at Kaitzur. Jade: ...I should go to Engeve. Discussions won't even start without someone from the Malkuth military. Natalia: And I'll go to Kaitzur. Ion: Either one is fine with me. I have an idea. Guy: What about you, Luke? [You can choose to go to Engeve.] Luke: I'll go to Engeve. I owe the people there for their help, and I'm worried about them. Guy: Okay. How should we organize the teams? Is there anyone you want to take with you? Luke select a party member to take. Tear wants to go, and he can pick her. Tear: I want to go with you. I get worried when I'm not watching you. Luke picks Tear. Tear: Thanks for choosing me. Let's get to work. Anise: Please come with me, Ion. Ion: ...Okay. Jade: First, let's drop Natalia's team off at Kaitzur. Then we'll head to Engeve in the Albiore. Luke: Sounds good. Let's go. The Albiore drops Natalia and her team off then heads to Engeve. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:EN2} \ >>> Engeve \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party heads to Rose's house. Rose: Colonel! Is it true that the front line is moving north? Jade: I think the defenses will hold a bit longer, but this village is in extreme danger. Rose: What should we do? We can't evacuate to Grand Chokmah. They've already activated the capital's defenses... Jade: Yes, Grand Chokmah becomes a fortress during wartime. Luke: Regardless, this continent is in danger. Think they could run all the way to Chesedonia? Tear: Yes, the Order holds a strong influence there. It should be safe despite the fighting nearby. Jade: But it would be impossible to take the entire population aboard the Albiore. Though having them cross the battlefield on foot is no safer. Rose: Could you take just the children and the elderly on that Al-whatsitcalled? The rest of us will stay here and surrender to the Kimlascan army... Luke: You'll still be in danger of the land falling! Rose: Falling...? Wait, you mean like St. Binah and Akzeriuth?! Jade: Unfortunately, yes. Rose: ...Then we'll run to Chesedonia on foot. At least the bridge has been repaired. Luke: Let's leave the Albiore to Noelle, so we can escort those who are walking. Jade: Luke... Yes, let's do that. But I think we will need more than just us. I'll speak with the Engeve standing forces. If they could spare even one platoon to protect our rear... Noelle starts gathering people to take on the Albiore. Jade: If she finishes transporting them earlier than expected, she'll return here. Though I wouldn't get my hopes up. Luke: Yeah... There's no telling how many trips she'll have to make. Tear: At least the Malkuth army lent us troops. We won't have to watch our back. Luke: Yeah. Anyway, let's just make sure that everyone makes it there safely. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `At War! - Jade' [SK202] | | Luke: Dammit! Why'd they go and start fighting?! | Jade: I should have kept a closer watch on Mohs... I didn't expect him | to move this quickly. | Luke: I hope Natalia can get them talking again... | Jade: That would help, but right now we need to worry about getting | the people of Engeve out before the town falls. | Luke: I know. We don't have time to waste. | Jade: Exactly. Also keep in mind that it'll take more effort than you | expect to escort civilians through a battlefield. We should | prepare ourselves well. | Luke: Yeah. | Jade: We may not be able to replenish our supplies for some time. Make | certain you have everything you need. | Luke: Right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party departs for Chesedonia. The first night they stop to rest... Jade: Let's rest here for now. Luke: Somehow we managed to make it here safely. Jade: Yes. Good work. I thought you'd have more trouble. I'm impressed. Luke: ...Where are we now? Jade: We aren't even halfway there yet. Luke: Oh... Still a ways to go, huh... A man comes up to the party. Man: Excuse me... You were onboard the Tartarus, weren't you? Jade: Yes. I commanded the Tartarus. Is there something I can do for you? Man: Was there a soldier by the name of Marco amongst the crew? Luke: Marco? He was your aide, right, Jade? Man: The commander's aide! I had no idea he'd advanced that far! He's our son! Man, my wife is going to be so proud when she hears! Tear: But...he... Man: So, what's he doing now? With the way things are now, do you think he could be sent out to the front line? Luke: Uh...actually... Your son is... Jade: I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but your son was killed in battle during an enemy attack. Man: (!) Man: Wh-when?! When did that happen?! He was doing just fine when the Tartarus came to Engeve! Jade: It was after that. We were attacked by forces seeking to capture the Fon Master. Your son died an honorable death in combat. Man: ...I see. So Marco died protecting Fon Master Ion... When Marco was born, a Scorer from the Order of Lorelei said to us, "This child will one day aid a great and noble man." They told us he needed to become a soldier... ...That stupid boy. No matter how admirable it may have been, how could he die before me?! Luke: That means Marco died because of the Score! Tear: Scorers will never read a Score of death. They mustn't. Even if they know the Score leads to death. Luke: That's just wrong... That's the same as what happened to Akzeriuth! Jade: Growing angry here won't help anything. Right now, focus on getting the people of Engeve safely to Chesedonia. Luke: ...I know. The second day... Luke: We're finally halfway there. A man and a woman come up. Man: Excuse me, is there a healer or perhaps some extra gels available over here? Tear: I'm a healer. Jade: Is someone wounded? Miriam: No, I just hurt my foot... Luke: Who are you...? I thought we told all the women to get onboard the Albiore... Man: We told her that, too. But Miriam said not to worry about her and to take someone else instead. She just wouldn't listen... Luke: Why would you do something like that... Miriam: It's all right. Don't get me wrong-I don't intend to die here, either. But I lost both my husband and my child already, so... Luke: Because of the war? Man: Her husband worked in the mines at Akzeriuth. Luke: (!) Miriam: My son wanted to go visit him, and the city was destroyed right during the time my son was there... Luke: ...Um...I... Jade: I'm sorry to hear that. But in that case, it's all the more important that you survive. So you can live on in their stead. Miriam: ...Yes... Jade: Tear, please heal her. A soldier walks up to the group. Jade: Take them back to the line. Tear, the soldier, the man and woman all depart. Luke: Jade! Why didn't you let me apologize?! Jade: I don't want to cause needless chaos by exposing the truth here on this spot. If you want to escape your feelings of guilt, then do it later after she's been able to safely return home. Luke: You don't have to talk like that! Jade: If you know any Malkuth citizens who'd trust the criminal who destroyed Akzeriuth, I'd certainly like to meet them. Luke: (...) Jade: It's your business if you want to apologize, but I'd appreciate it if you'd choose an appropriate time and place for it. The third day... Jade: We're finally at a camp site. Chesedonia is just ahead. Luke: We had a few people injured... Jade: A little can't be helped. It's considerably better than I expected. Let's hand in there just a little longer. Miriam comes up to the party again. Miriam: Thank you for yesterday. Luke: It's you... Miriam: Thanks to you, Tear, my foot is feeling better and I was able to walk today with no problem. Tear: You don't need to thank me. It's my duty as a healer. Miriam: You're a member of the Oracle Knights, aren't you? Tear: Y-yes...I am. Miriam: Aren't your parents worried about you? Tear: ...They're both dead. Miriam: Oh...I'm sorry. I see. You must be lonely. Tear: ...No, I'm fine... Miriam: Come on now. I lost my husband and son, and it felt like a hole opened up in my heart. ...I wonder when the Score will finally tell us the war will end. Tear: The Score is... Regardless of the Score, we must put an end to this fighting. Miriam: But if the Score says it will continue for another ten years, then that's what will happen. Tear: ...Even if the Score says that it will continue for ten years...I believe we have to put a stop to it. Luke: ...Tear... Miriam: ...I never thought I'd hear someone from Daath say something so frightening. But...I do agree with you. I hope the war ends soon. Anyway, thank you, Tear. Miriam walks off. Luke: ...Tear. You've changed. Are you sure about what you said? Tear: ...To be honest, I'm scared of leaving the Score. But...now that I know the truth, I'm more scared to depend on it... Jade: I can imagine. I understand how you must be feeling. Luke: But ordinary people really are dependent on the Score. Because I was trapped in my manor, I didn't have much to do with the Score, so I don't really understand it myself. Jade: Yes...the Score is part of their lives. The fourth day (the party finally reaches Chesedonia)... Luke: We finally made it... Jade: We didn't lose a single villager. Though a few did trip and injure themselves. Luke: Yeah...I'm really glad everyone's safe. Two men come up to the party. Man: Thank you all so much! Man 2: We all made it here safely. This is a token of our thanks! Obtained items. Man: We can't thank you enough. You have our deepest gratitude. Man 2: Thanks for all your hard work! Luke: ...Wow, heh. Jade: You should be proud, Luke. You did an admirable job. Luke: No, I owe it to the support I had from you and the others. Jade: Flattery won't get you anywhere with me. Luke & Tear: (laughing) Jade: Now, then, let's enter the city. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:KA2} \ >>> Kaitzur \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Natalia and her group enter Kaitzur and see Cecille with some troops. Natalia: General Cecille! Cecille: Go on ahead! The troops leave. Cecille: ...Princess Natalia?! You're alive! Natalia: Yes. There's no longer any reason to fight. Call your troops back at once. Cecille: My deepest apologies, but I lack that authority. Lieutenant General Almandine is in command of this operation. Natalia: Then take us to him! Cecille: Unfortunately...he's headed to Chesedonia to meet with Grand Maestro Mohs. Natalia: Chesedonia?! How does a commander leave the battlefield in the middle of a war?! Cecille: We need recognition from the Order that this operation is justified retribution. He went there for the proceedings. Anise: Hey, that's for Ion to decide! Mohs is making me seriously mad! Ion: That's merely a formality. But I expected this might happen. Perhaps I should have stayed in Daath... Anise: If you'd done that, they'd have used you to open the Sephiroth seals. Natalia: But you have to! The battlefield is going to fall! Cecille: Are you saying Malkuth has a weapon that can do that? Natalia: No! That's not what it is, but it's dangerous. Cecille: I don't really understand, but unfortunately I lack the authority to pull the troops back. Natalia: Then I'll go see Count Almandine. Cecille: Traveling by sea is dangerous in wartime. I cannot permit Her Highness to board a ship. A soldier returns. Soldier: General Cecille, preparations are complete. Cecille: Understood. The soldier leaves. Cecille: I'm keeping my troops waiting. I apologize, Your Highness, but I must be going. I'll inform the authorities at the Kaitzur port of your presence. Please await their escort. Guy: Be careful. Cecille: ...What? Oh, yes. Thank you. Cecille leaves. Natalia: If we're taken to Kaitzur, we won't be able to do anything. Let's go to Chesedonia by land! Ion: If we're going to Chesedonia, I suppose that's the only way. Anise: It's too dangerous! I can't let you do that! Natalia: But it means we'll be able to meet with Count Almandine. Once he learns we're alive, he should understand that this war is meaningless. Ion: Let's go, Anise. Anise: If you give the order, I have to follow. *Sigh* Guy: *Sigh* I know better than to try to stop you. I'll go ,too. But be careful, okay? If you die, it defeats the entire purpose. Natalia: I'm sorry. Thank you. The party departs for Chesedonia. The first night... Natalia: ...We finally made it to a camp site. Guy: We still have a ways to go before Chesedonia... All: (!) Natalia: Is someone there?! Frings approaches the group. Frings: It's me. Guy: General Frings... What are you doing here? Natalia: Indeed! The Kimlascan army is deployed in this area! Frings: My troops reported seeing you. Guy: I can't imagine a General going out scouting on his own. Don't tell me you're trying to make use of Natalia in this conflict... Frings: Please don't misunderstand. I haven't come here to harm you. Nor to scout. I just want you to leave this battlefield. Natalia: What do you mean? Frings: If things stay the way they are now, we'll have to kill you, because you're from Kimlasca. Natalia: We're headed to Chesedonia to end this fighting. No matter the danger, we cannot turn back. Frings: You can't possibly make it. The fighting is only going to grow fiercer. I can't tell my troops to try to avoid attacking just you. Anise: Well, yeah, we understand what you're saying. But we can't back down. Um, but I don't mean we want to fight, either! Frings: I see...I'll try notifying those who understand the situation not to attack you. But...if it does come down to battle, please don't hate my soldiers. Natalia: After he came all the way here, despite the danger, I feel bad for refusing... Guy: But if this war continues, they'll be caught by the land falling. Right? Natalia: ...Yes. I hope we can at least avoid fighting Malkuth. Ion: Yes. Let's proceed carefully. The second night... Natalia: ...We finally made it to today's camp site. Guy: Somehow we managed to get here without encountering any Malkuth troops. Natalia: I hope we can continue like this. Guy: We're about halfway to Chesedonia... All: (!) Natalia: Who's there?! Cecille walks up to the group. Cecille: Brigadier General Cecille. Guy: How did you know we were here...? Cecille: My troops reported seeing you. What are you doing in a place like this...? Natalia: I told you. We're going to see Almandine in order to stop this conflict. Cecille: You can't be serious! Right now, you're still within our forces' area of control. Please, return to Kaitzur. It's too dangerous. Guy: If this war continues, everyone may die. Cecille: Our forces will not lose. Natalia: That's not what we mean. This battlefield is in danger. As things stand now, both armies will be wiped out. Cecille: Your Highness... Please understand my position. Natalia: I'm sorry to do this to you. But this is my duty. Cecille: ...All right. Then at least let me assign you some protection. Please. Natalia: ...All right. I appreciate your concern. Guy: But a large number of soldiers could actually draw attention to us. Cecille: Understood. Starting tomorrow, I'll have one platoon accompany you from behind. Please be careful... The third night... Natalia: ...Here's today's camp site. Guy: Just a little further to Chesedonia. Natalia: Yes... All: (!) Natalia: Who's there?! Cecille comes up to the party. Cecille: (!) Frings comes up to the party. Frings: (!) Frings: ...Kimlascan forces! Cecille: Malkuth troops! Both ready themselves to fight. Guy: Both of you, stop! Natalia: General Cecille, sheathe your sword. This man will not harm us. Cecille: But! Frings: General Cecille...? THAT General Cecille? Cecille: Who are you? Frings: ...Brigadier General Aslan Frings. Cecille: General Frings! Guy: We're headed to Chesedonia to stop this war. We're not going to let you start a fight right in front of us. Frings: That's why I'm here. I want you to remove the Kimlascan escort that's following behind you. Cecille: What are you saying?! From here on is Malkuth-controlled territory! I came here to ask permission to increase their escort! Frings: I've explained the situation to my troops in the area between here and Chesedonia. We can let Princess Natalia's group through alone, but if Kimlascan troops are with them, we'll have no choice but to attack. Cecille: We can't possibly trust that! Natalia: General Cecille, wait. General Frings is a trustworthy man. Cecille: But... Natalia: I've made up my mind. Frings: If anything happens to them, I'll take my own life. Natalia: Cecille. Don't make me order you. Cecille: ...Your life is hardly worth that of Princess Natalia's. Cecille sheathes her sword. Cecille: But I will do as Her Highness wishes. Frings: Thank you. Natalia: Now, both of you, return to your camps without fighting. Cecille and Frings leave. Anise: So, the Malkuth troops won't attack us tomorrow. Natalia: That doesn't mean we can be careless. We don't have any support, either. Anise: I know that. The fourth night... Natalia: Let's rest here tonight. The night passes without further interruptions. The party finally arrives in Chesedonia. Guy: ...We weren't able to avoid fighting, after all. Natalia: ...But it was better than I imagined. Guy: ...Still, I feel terrible. Natalia: Yes. That loss of life is all the more reason we MUST persuade Count Almandine. Guy: ...You're right. Let's go. Obtained items. Natalia and Jade's parties meet up. Luke: ...Hey! Natalia: Luke! Luke: What are you doing here?! What happened with the truce? Natalia: I was told that the commander-in-chief, Count Almandine, went to Chesedonia to meet Grand Maestro Mohs, so... Luke: You crossed the battlefield?! Are you stupid?! You know how dangerous it is! Natalia: You all did the same thing, didn't you?! Guy: Calm down, you two. Ion: Yes. The people who can stop this war are here in this city. Let's save the arguing and go talk to them. Luke: Ah...yeah. You're right. That's what's important. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Safe Reunion' [SK204] | | Luke: That was a pretty reckless thing to do. | Jade: The same could be said of you. | Guy: Well, at least we all managed to meet up again. | Mieu: Yeah. | Tear: I'm glad the people from Engeve made it here safely as well. | Natalia: But we still have work to do. | Anise: Yeah! We have to go find that Count Almandine and talk to him. | Ion: Yes, let's hurry. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads to the border and finds Mohs and Count Almandine. Natalia: Count Almandine! What is the meaning of this?! Almandine: Princess Natalia?! Natalia: I presume you receive a message from Emperor Peony the Ninth stating that the new of my death was an error! Almandine: His Majesty believed that message to be a Malkuth scheme... Natalia: Indeed, I should have returned to the castle sooner. But you have now witnessed that there is no justification for this war. Stop the fighting at once. Luke: Count Almandine, it's me, Luke. Almandine: (!) Almandine: You're...alive! Luke: I'm the one who caused the destruction of Akzeriuth. The blame should be placed on me alone... Luke fon Fabre! Natalia: If this war is one born of misunderstanding, then it must be corrected at once! Luke: And the battlefield on the Rugnica plains could fall-and be destroyed just like Akzeriuth! Natalia: Now, cease this conflict and open the border immediately! Mohs: Wait. There is no need to obey the orders of a false princess. Natalia: How dare you! Even a Grand Maestro cannot speak of me in such a manner! To insult me is to insult the Kingdom of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear! Mohs: For some time, I have received the sorrowful confessions of a certain pious believer. It appears the daughter that he fathered with an attendant to the Queen was substituted for Her Highness the Princess. Luke: That's a lie! Mohs: No, it's not. Look at her