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.