This is a script for Tales of the Abyss (PS2) version 0.994 It has been transcribed from the game manually (by a handful of people). There may be some mistakes that have not been caught. Permission is granted for posting on the following sites only: Tales Forum (tales.namco.com) Any other site wishing to post this script should contact ladynadiad at aol dot com for permission. Please put in subject “Tales of the Abyss Game Script” Comments and such can be directed via email or to our thread on the Tales Forum http://tales.namco.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=52245 PMs on the Tales forum are fine also, username ladynadiad There is also a link to the temporary file for sidequests in this thread. Sidequests are still being worked on and not even halfway done yet, it will likely be posted when I finish the Nebilim quest, as that is one of the more important sidequests. I likely will need a fourth playthrough to finish this all off! _______________________________________________________________________ !!SPOILER WARNING!! _______________________________________________________________________ It should go without saying, but this document contains spoilers. Version List 0.99 – First version posted to GameFAQs, almost done and formatted 0.992 – Fixed the table of contents, as I noticed some would not lead to the right area. Added in Guy’s alternate dialogue at the beginning that happens if Luke is wearing Towel Boy of Wild Saber, fixed a few minor typos. 0.993 – Added one minor scene in Baticul, corrected some formatting and typos 0.994 – Found another slight difference in dialogue depending on costumes for 2nd Yulia City Visit. Thanks cjbookworm for finding it! _______________________________________________________________________________ >>> Table of Contents \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Section Ctrl+F ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:INT} Baticul – Another boring day {Sec:BA1} Engeve – How do we get home now? {Sec:EN1} Cheagle Woods – Those dang thieves! {Sec:CW1} St. Binah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:SB1} Fubras River – Let’s get to Kaitzur! {Sec:FU1} Kaitzur – Not much longer now! {Sec:KA1} Kaitzur Naval Port – Let’s get on that ship! {Sec:NP1} Choral Castle – We have to save the engineer! {Sec:CC1} Katsbert Ferry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:KF1} Chesedonia – Almost home! {Sec:CH1} Baticul – Finally home again! {Sec:BA2} The Abandoned Factory – The decoy {Sec:ABF} Desert Oasis – A nice rest? {Sec:DO1} Zao Ruins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:ZA1} Chesedonia – We delayed long enough {Sec:CH2} Kaitzur Naval Port {Sec:NP2} Deo Pass – Finally almost to Akzeriuth {Sec:Deo} Akzeriuth – Finally! {Sec:AK1} Yulia City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:YU1} Belkend – What is Van up to? {Sec:BE1} Ortion Cavern – The replica research {Sec:OC1} Yulia City – Luke recovers {Sec:YU2} Aramis Spring – Let’s get back before more happens! {Sec:AR1} Daath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:DA1} Daath Bay – Let’s get out of here! {Sec:DBY} Keterburg – The Tartarus needs some repairs {Sec:KE1} Theor Forest – We need to get to Grand Chokmah {Sec:THE} Grand Chokmah – Let’s go talk to Emperor Peony {Sec:GC1} St. Binah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:SB2} Sheridan – We need a way to fly! {Sec:SH1} Meggiora Highlands – Let’s get that hover drive! {Sec:MH1} Sheridan (Ginji saved) {Sec:SH2a} Sheridan (Ginji not saved) {Sec:SH2b} St. Binah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:SB3} Yulia City – Let’s find out what to do next {Sec:YU3} Shurrey Hill – Let’s save St. Binah! {Sec:SY1} Engeve – Not Engeve too! {Sec:EN2} Kaitzur – We need to stop this war! {Sec:KA2} Desert Oasis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:DO2} Zao Ruins – We have to stop the land from falling! {Sec:ZA2} Chesedonia – Saved! {Sec:CH3} Daath – Captured! {Sec:DA2} Baticul – The daring escape {Sec:BA3} Inista Marsh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:INI} Belkend – So where do we go from here? {Sec:BE2} Keterburg – Catch Spinoza! {Sec:KE2} Grand Chokmah – Dang it, we missed him! {Sec:GC2} Daath – Let’s get Ion {Sec:DA3} Sheridan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:SH3} Tataroo Valley – Off to get the measurements {Sec:TAT} Sheridan – We need to stop the vibrations {Sec:SH4} Baticul – We need to face the King {Sec:BA4} Grand Chokmah – Let’s talk to Peony about this {Sec:GC3} Daath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:DA4} Chesedonia – Astor should be included too {Sec:CH4} Yulia City – Let’s talk about what to do next {Sec:YU4} Sheridan – To the core at last {Sec:SH5} Sheridan Port – The attack {Sec:SHP} Belkend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:BE3} Meggiora Highlands – Another Sephiroth? {Sec:MH2} Belkend – Catch Spinoza! {Sec:BE4} Daath – There is a Sephiroth near the Cathedral? {Sec:DA5} Mt. Zaleho – A Sephiroth in a volcano {Sec:MZ1} Belkend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:BE5} Ortion Cavern – Where did Tear go? {Sec:OC2} Sheridan – Star needs a good home {Sec:SH6} Keterburg – Let’s speak with Nephry before Mt Roneal {Sec:KE3} Mt. Roneal – The last Sephiroth {Sec:MR1} Keterburg . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:KE4} Absorption Gate – The final showdown? {Sec:AG1} Baticul – One month later {Sec:BA5} Sheridan – Need to get the Albiore {Sec:SH7} Yulia City – What could Asch be doing? {Sec:YU5} Daath . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:DA6} St. Binah – We missed Asch again! {Sec:SB4} Shurrey Hill – We need to find Asch {Sec:SY2} St. Binah – Meeting up with Jade {Sec:SB5} Grand Chokmah – What could have happened {Sec:GC4} Baticul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:BA6} Daath – It’s back! {Sec:DA7} Mt. Zaleho – We need to save Ion! {Sec:MZ2} Belkend – Following Ion’s Score reading {Sec:BE6} Mt. Roneal – After Asch…again {Sec:MR2} Baticul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:BA7} Chesedonia – Let’s find that Scorer? {Sec:CH5} Yulia City – Let’s report about Mohs {Sec:YU6} Isle of Feres – What is that moving island? {Sec:FER} Eldrant - Dang it, we can’t get it! {Sec:EL1} Grand Chokmah . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:GC5} Cheagle Woods – The final showdown {Sec:CW2} Yulia City – Let’s talk to Teodoro about the summit {Sec:YU7} Tower of Rem – We need to stop Asch! {Sec:TR1} Daath – Luke’s heavy decision {Sec:DA8} Tower of Rem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:TR2} Baticul – Let’s report back about the miasma {Sec:BA8} Yulia City – So how do we stop the Planet Storm? {Sec:YU8} Absorption Gate – He’s back! {Sec:AG2} Daath – Let’s drop this kid off! {Sec:DA9} Radiation Gate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:RA1} Grand Chokmah – An argument with Asch {Sec:GC6} Chesedonia – The night before the final battle {Sec:CH6} Eldrant – The end, at last! {Sec:EL2} FAQ Thanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . {Sec:THX} _______________________________________________________________________________ >>> List of Skits \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ There's 518 skits in the Keterberg viewer. Over 400 concern the plot. Of these, 356 have been included here to place them in "the right spot" in the story. There is already an FAQ on GameFAQs with skit transcripts. Many of the skits here have been copied from there. This document uses the same skit-numbering as the FAQ, but the skits do not appear in monotonically increasing order. Skit Ctrl+F ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ `Another Boring Day' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK001] `Sword Training' [SK002] `Tear's Purpose' [SK004] `This Place...' [SK006] `Going Home' [SK003] `You Could Always Camp Out' . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK007] `Impressions of Engeve' [SK010] `I Should've Asked' [SK019] `Who's Jade...?' [SK018] `An Ordinary Boy?' [SK009] `Homework' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK017] `To the Cheagle Woods!' [SK008] `About the Cheagles' [SK011] `More About the Cheagles' [SK012] `The Cheagles' Diet' [SK016] `Playing With Fire' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK015] `Jade's True Strength' [SK013] `Mieu's One of Us!' [SK014] `Unfair Treatment' [SK020] `The Tartarus' [SK021] `Fighting for Our Lives?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK022] `Fighting for Our Lives' [SK025] `The Six God-Generals' [SK026] `Hurry!' [SK028] `What Are They Trying to Do?' [SK023] `Luke's Grand Adventure' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK027] `Luke's Diary' [SK044] `Kill Or...' [SK030] `Is Anise Safe?' [SK029] `Let's Rejoin Anise' [SK031] `The Oracle Knights' Objective' . . . . . . . . . . [SK032] `What a Team!' [SK035] `What Kind of Girl...?' [SK033] `Watch Out for Water' [SK039] `Natural Disasters' [SK037] `To Kaitzur' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK038] `Asch the Bloody' [SK041] `An Ordinary Little Girl?' [SK040] `A Lovers' Quarrel?' [SK042] `The Border' [SK043] `Arietta Attacks!' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK047] `What's He Writing About?' [SK045] `To Go or Not to Go' [SK048] `To Choral Castle' [SK049] `Children' [SK050] `Who Needs Memories?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK051] `Dream Plans?' [SK055] `Guy's Feelings' [SK053] `The Mystery Machine' [SK052] `What are the Six God-Generals After?' [SK054] `How to Cure Guy?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK058] `The Oracle Knights Again' [SK057] `Look At All That Water!' [SK059] `I'll Be a Hero...!' [SK060] `Almost Home!' [SK062] `The Center of Trade' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK063] `Where is Astor?' [SK066] `Analyzing the Fon Disc' [SK061] `The Oracle Knights Attack!' [SK065] `Impressions of Baticul' [SK067] `The Letter' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK068] `The Upper-Class?' [SK069] `A Sword with a History' [SK078] `What a Wonderful Mansion!' [SK077] `To the Castle' [SK071] `Van Imprisoned' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK072] `Luke and Van' [SK073] `Taking Precautions' [SK074] `Just Ask Guy' [SK075] `Baticul Is Huge!' [SK076] `Keeping Secrets' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK081] `Natalia, the Seventh Fonist' [SK160] `The Princess' Guards' [SK079] `Natalia? The Leader?!' [SK080] `Be Careful!' [SK085] `Asch Revealed' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK083] `Ion's Safety' [SK082] `Where are the Zao Ruins?' [SK088] `Jade Knows Everything' [SK093] `Handling a Princess' [SK094] `Asch's Voice' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK087] `Showers Are Awesome! - Guy Talk' [SK096] `The God-Generals' Plan' [SK090] `A Memorable Character' [SK092] `Hurry to Akzeriuth' [SK089] `Ion Rescued' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK091] `Luke's Headaches' [SK097] `Guy's Injury' [SK099] `What We Can Do for Akzeriuth' [SK103] `Mohs and the War' [SK098] `Akzeriuth's Ore' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK105] `Careless Words' [SK102] `The Road to Akzeriuth' [SK106] `Stop Making Fun of Me!' [SK104] `A Kind Teacher' [SK107] `What I Can Do' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK109] `Tragedy' [SK108] `The Mining Town, Akzeriuth' [SK116] `The Pain of Akzeriuth' [SK112] `Into the Depths' [SK113] `Where's Master Van?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK114] `As the Goodwill Ambassador' [SK110] `Master Van Will Know!' [SK115] `What Happened...?' [SK117] `Van's True Intentions' [SK118] `Responsibility' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK119] `Luke and Asch - Part 1' [SK120] `Asch's Miscalculation' [SK121] `Back to the Outer Lands' [SK122] `Thinking of Luke' [SK124] `Searching for Van's Tracks...' . . . . . . . . . . [SK123] `Forbidden Technology' [SK125] `They All Went with Asch...' [SK127] `Guy Leaves' [SK126] `Memories' [SK134] `A Promise Fulfilled' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK129] `A Mysterious Facility' [SK130] `Watch Your Mouth!' [SK131] `Luke's Worries' [SK132] `Thinking for Myself' [SK135] `Lost Technology' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK138] `Starting a New Journey' [SK136] `Why Did You Stay?' [SK137] `Cheagles Never Forget' [SK146] `The Yulia Road' [SK140] `Has Luke Changed?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK141] `No Matter What the Score Says...' [SK142] `A Harsh Greeting' [SK143] `Daath' [SK145] `To Daath!' [SK144] `Finding Anise' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK147] `Regaining Trust' [SK148] `Twisted Love?!' [SK158] `Anise Gets Things Done' [SK149] `Protecting the Score' [SK152] `The Oracle Headquarters' . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK156] `Ring the Gongs!' [SK157] `We Meet Again' [SK154] `Tear's No Spy' [SK153] `Asch, Friend or...?' [SK155] `The Tartarus Takes a Beating' . . . . . . . . . . . [SK159] `Cruising in Style' [SK166] `The Emperor's Love' [SK163] `Children Caught Up in Politics' [SK161] `Looking for Love' [SK164] `Errors and Excuses' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK165] `The Movements of the Oracle Knights' [SK168] `Rising Tensions' [SK170] `Hide and Seek' [SK169] `Guy's True Feelings' [SK171] `Anise in a Bad Mood' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK172] `Go, Luke!' [SK179] `The Reborn Hot-Blooded Idiot' [SK178] `I Will Never Forgive Dist!' [SK180] `Ion, the Big Gun' [SK181] `Guy's Little Hobby' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK182] `Save Ginji!' [SK183] `Ginji Rescued!' [SK185] `Hurry to Ginji!' [SK187] `The Life We Couldn't Save...' [SK186] `Saving Lives' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK191] `A World of Death' [SK192] `Can People Change?' [SK193] `A Man Named Asch' [SK194] `To Shurrey Hill' [SK195] `Relics of the Dawn Age' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK198] `Van the Terrible!' [SK199] `Worried about Tear' [SK201] `At War! - Jade' [SK202] `Safe Reunion' [SK204] `Natalia's Secret' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK205] `The Dark Wings' [SK206] `To the Zao Ruins' [SK207] `Asch's Message' [SK208] `What Was That All About?' [SK209] `Mommy, Are We There Yet?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK213] `It Worked!' [SK212] `Thinking About Asch' [SK214] `Sweaty?' [SK215] `A Ruler's Duties' [SK216] `Who's the Bad Guy?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK217] `We Can't Stay Here' [SK218] `Natalia's Future' [SK219] `Run Away!' [SK221] `The Monster's Weakness?!' [SK222] `What We Can Do for Natalia' . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK220] `Is Asch Safe?' [SK223] `What Are Nobles?' [SK224] `Van's Plan' [SK225] `Friends...?!' [SK226] `Tear's Secret' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK230] `A Light at the End of the Tunnel' [SK227] `I Won't Lose to Asch!' [SK228] `Arietta's Changed' [SK231] `The Dark Wings...' [SK233] `Guy's Past' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK232] `Class M and Class I' [SK234] `Where It All Began' [SK235] `The Cured Guy is a Nice Guy' [SK236] `Over Two Thousand Years' [SK238] `To Sheridan!' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK237] `The Tartarus' Final Job' [SK239] `Natalia's Resolve' [SK240] `Let's Meet With the King' [SK241] `How Will the King Respond?' [SK242] `An Audience with the King' . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK243] `Natalia, I'm So Happy for You' [SK244] `Let's See Emperor Peony' [SK245] `Dist's True Identity?' [SK246] `The Oracle Knights' [SK247] `Ion's Suggestion' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK251] `Peace at Last...?' [SK252] `Guy's Revenge' [SK253] `Only One Chance' [SK254] `What Class are You?' [SK257] `Tragedy at Sheridan' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK255] `What Lorelei Wanted to Convey' [SK259] `Ion's Secret' [SK258] `What is Van Doing Now...?' [SK262] `What is Asch Doing Now...?' [SK261] `Priorities' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK260] `Legretta and Tear' [SK263] `The Seventh Fonstone Score' [SK264] `Absent-Minded' [SK267] `He Won't Get Away!' [SK268] `Spinoza, Unforgivable!' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK269] `Spinoza's Atonement' [SK270] `Feeling Weird' [SK271] `Anise Going Crazy?!' [SK272] `Things Are Going Too Well...' [SK273] `Dist's Curse?!' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK274] `Worried About Tear's Health...' [SK275] `Tear's Whereabouts' [SK276] `What is Oracle Up To?' [SK277] `The Siblings' Bond Broken' [SK279] `Van's Purpose' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK278] `When the World Changes' [SK282] `Jade and Dist' [SK283] `The Coming Confrontation' [SK281] `Beware of Avalanches' [SK287] `It's Freezing Up Here!' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK285] `Only One Entrance' [SK286] `Time to Settle Everything' [SK284] `The Night Before - Girl Talk' [SK290] `The Night Before - Guy Talk' [SK289] `The Decisive Battle' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK288] `Confronting Van' [SK293] `No Need for Little Tricks' [SK294] `Carefully and Quickly' [SK295] `Tear's Resolve' [SK296] `The Battle Nears' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK298] `Van's Strength' [SK297] `One Month Later' [SK299] `What Is Everyone Up To?' [SK300] `Mieu's Name' [SK301] `Let's Go to Yulia City' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK302] `Let's See Tear' [SK303] `Cheerful Anise' [SK306] `Tear Hasn't Changed at All' [SK304] `An Overworked Guy' [SK307] `Luke's Feelings' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK309] `The Result of the Bet' [SK308] `The Six God-Generals, Alive' [SK310] `What We Can Do, What We Must Do' [SK311] `Van's Alive?!' [SK312] `Anise, Confused' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK313] `Education Is Important' [SK314] `A World Without the Score' [SK315] `Where is the Key of Lorelei?' [SK316] `The Miasma' [SK317] `Legretta's Attack' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK318] `Betrayed by Anise' [SK319] `The Replica Soldiers' [SK320] `Keeping Cool' [SK322] `The Planet Score' [SK329] `Thinking of Anise' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK326] `Regret' [SK323] `Ion's Death...' [SK324] `Ion's Legacy' [SK327] `Two Different People' [SK325] `Replicas and Their Originals' . . . . . . . . . . . [SK330] `After Asch!' [SK331] `The Cost of Eliminating the Miasma' [SK332] `Jade's Sense of Curiosity' [SK344] `The Sword of Lorelei' [SK333] `Natalia's Birthday' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK334] `Luke Overdoing Things' [SK335] `Revenge for Ion!' [SK336] `The Past and the Present' [SK337] `Connected by Blood' [SK338] `Natalia's Future Husband?' . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK339] `The Score's Power, The People's Desire' [SK341] `A Fake Ion' [SK340] `Playing Catch-Up?' [SK342] `Something Big Moving in the Sea...' [SK343] `The Isle of Feres' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK345] `Where Are We, Anyway?' [SK346] `Floating Replica of Hod' [SK348] `Continuing Ion's Work' [SK350] `The Power of Hyperresonance' [SK349] `Solidarity' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK351] `For Arietta...' [SK352] `Memories of Ion' [SK354] `Crossed Wires' [SK353] `Causes to Die For' [SK356] `Let Her Be' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK355] `Replicas' [SK358] `The People's Unease' [SK359] `Like Father, Like Daughter?' [SK360] `Asch Again' [SK361] `What Do You Want to Do?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK362] `Unending Troubles' [SK363] `Stop Asch!' [SK364] `Always Charging' [SK365] `If There's One that Stands Out' [SK366] `Why Is Asch Rushing?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK367] `Farewell, Dist' [SK368] `My Worth, My Desire' [SK369] `A Fate of Death' [SK372] `The Jewel of Lorelei' [SK371] `A Great Sacrifice' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK370] `The Joy of Life' [SK373] `The Cruel Truth' [SK374] `After Natalia' [SK375] `Largo's Life' [SK377] `Thinking of Tear' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK378] `The Final Confrontation' [SK376] `A World Without the Planet Storm?' [SK379] `Largo's Death, Natalia's Feelings' [SK380] `Van Returns' [SK381] `Mohs' Fate' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK382] `The Grand Maestro' [SK383] `To the Last Battle' [SK384] `They Just Can't Get Along' [SK385] `Thinking Back' [SK392] `Luke and Asch, Part 2' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK386] `A Great Resolve - Guy Talk' [SK387] `A Great Resolve - Girl Talk' [SK388] `A Great Resolve - All' [SK389] `After Defeating Van' [SK390] `Van, Worried?' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK395] `Asch's Battle' [SK393] `The God-Generals Await' [SK391] `Ginji's Flying Skill' [SK397] `Don't Underestimate the Old Man' [SK398] `Tear and Legretta' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK399] `An Old Friend' [SK394] `Consoling Tear' [SK400] `Where Is Asch?!' [SK396] `Settling with Asch' [SK401] `The Last Fonic Hymn' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK402] `Sync, You Idiot...' [SK404] `Asch's Death' [SK403] `The Final Battle Looms' [SK405] `Yulia's Thoughts and Feelings' [SK408] `Van Won't Hold Back' . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . [SK406] ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:INT} \ >>> Introduction \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ ND2000. In Kimlasca shall be born one who inherits the power of Lorelei. He will be a boy of royal blood with hair of red. He shall be called the Light of the Sacred Flame. And he will lead Kimlasca-Lanvaldear to new prosperity. ND2002. The One Who Would Seize Glory shall destroy the land upon which he was born. A land by the name of Hod. War shall thereafter persist between Kimlasca and Malkuth for a full cycle of seasons. Tear: So, the time has come. Prepare... ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:BA1} \ >>> Baticul \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ It is Remday, Rem-Decan 23, year ND2018. Luke fon Fabre is looking out of the window of his room in Fabre manor. Luke is bored. When he goes to leave his room, a strange sound is heard and Luke gets a headache. Luke: ...Guess I'm hearing things. Luke heads to the entrance hall. Ramdas: The Order of Lorelei Maestro, Dorian General Van Grants will be arriving soon. Luke: What? Master Van's coming? Today's not a training day. Ramdas: I've heard he's here on urgent business. I was told they'll be calling you later, Young Master, so please wait in your room. Luke: Stop calling me "young" already. Ramdas: No, until you reach maturity at age 20, I shall continue to refer to you as Young Master. Luke heads to the hallway. Ramdas: Young Master... Please stop fraternizing with that gardener, Pere. It isn't fit for you to speaking to one of his status. Luke: ...I know, I know. Sheesh. And quit giving me orders! Ramdas: My apologies. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Another Boring Day' [SK001] | | Luke: *Sigh* If they're not going to let me leave, they could at least | try and keep me amused. If I didn't get to train with Master | Van, all I'd do every day is eat, sleep and hang out with Guy. | There's got to be SOMETHING more interesting to do around | here... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke goes back to his room. The odd sound can be heard again, but a voice is also heard. ??? voice: Luke...fragment...of my soul....heed...voice Luke falls to his knees. Luke: ...Argh! I knew it... It's that damn voice again! Guy: Luke! What is it? Not another one of those headaches? Luke: Guy...is that you? Guy is standing outside the window. Luke gets up after his head clears. Luke: ...It's okay. It's gone. Guy: You hearing things again? Luke: ...I wish I knew what the hell it was. It's so annoying. Guy: They're getting more frequent. They started after you were kidnapped by the Malkuth Empire. What's that, seven years now? Luke: Thanks to them, now I'm going crazy. Guy: Well, don't worry about it too much. So, what do you want to do today? How about some sword practice? Luke: Sorry, not today. Master Van's here. Guy: Van? But today's not a training day, is it? Luke: Apparently, something came up. IF LUKE IS WEARING THE TOWEL BOY COSTUME Guy is standing outside the window. Luke gets up after his head clears Luke: …It’s okay. It’s gone. Guy: You hearing things again? Luke: …I wish I knew what the hell it was. It’s so annoying. Guy: They’re getting more frequent. They started after you were kidnapped by the Malkuth Empire. What’s that, seven years now? Luke: Thanks to them, now I’m going crazy. Guy: Hey, what’s with that outfit? Luke: Yeah, I thought it was kind of weird, but… Guy: So why the hell are you wearing it? And what happened to your hair? Did you cut it? Luke: It’s a wig. Guy: …You’re wearing a rug? Luke: Wig, damn it! Wig! Guy: Why in the world… IF LUKE IS WEARING THE WILD SABER COSTUME Luke: …It’s okay. It’s gone. Guy: You hearing things again? Luke: …I wish I knew what the hell it was. It’s so annoying. Guy: They’re getting more frequent. They started after you were kidnapped by the Malkuth Empire. What’s that, seven years now? Luke: Thanks to them, now I’m going crazy. Guy: Hey, what’s with your head? Luke: Oh, you noticed! Guy: Who wouldn’t? Did you cut your hair? Ah…it’s a rug. Luke: It’s an expensive wig, damn it! Guy: Why in the world are you wearing it? Luke: Change of pace. New style. You know. A knock is heard on the door. Maid: Master Luke? May I come in? Guy: Uh-oh. I can't let anyone see me here. I'm out of here before I get caught. See you. Guy leaves through the window. The maid knocks again. Maid: Master Luke? Luke: Yeah, yeah, I hear you. Come on in, it's open. Maid: His Grace requests your presence in the drawing room. Luke: All right. Dismissed. The maid bows and departs. Luke: Guess I'll get going. Luke enters the drawing room. Duke Fabre, Susanne and Van are at the table. Luke: You wanted to see me, Father? Duke Fabre: Mmm. Have a seat, Luke. Luke: Hey! Master Van! Do I get to train with you today?! Van: We'll have time for that later. First, we have to talk about something. Duke Fabre: Dorian General Grants is returning to Daath tomorrow. Luke: Huh?! Why?! Van: You know that I am a member of the Oracle Knights, part of the Order of Lorelei. Luke: You're their commandant, right? Van: Right. As the leader of the Knights, it's my duty to provide protection for Fon Master Ion. Luke: What's a "Fon Master Ion"? Susanne: He's the leader of the Order of Lorelei. It's thanks to Ion that the truce between the Malkuth Empire and our Kingdom of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear is in place. Van: If Ion's predecessor, Evenos, is the hero who ended the Hod War, then the current Fon Master is a symbol of the peace that reigns today. Duke Fabre: Unfortunately, Ion has gone missing. Van: Therefore, I must attend to my duty as an Oracle Knight and join the search for Fon Master Ion. Luke: Hold on, you can't do that! If you go home, who's gonna train me?! Van: Heh heh. Settle down. I'll have one of my men come here until I return to Kimlasca. Luke: But I want YOU to teach me! Duke Fabre: Don't be selfish, Luke. Dorian General Grants will return soon enough. It's high time you learned some patience. Susanne: Please, dear! You know what this child's been through. He's still traumatized from the kidnapping. He even lost his childhood memories... The poor thing. Don't you feel for him? Duke Fabre: Susanne. You spoil him. Van: Still, a life locked inside a mansion like this is hardly easy. Luke: Seriously. Why does my uncle have to keep me trapped in here? Just because he's the king, he thinks he can just order people around. Makes me mad. Susanne: Luke, my brother is merely concerned for your safety. Just three more years, and you'll be free. Hold on a little longer, okay? Van: Cheer up, Luke. We'll train hard enough today to make up for the entire time I'm gone. Duke, Milady; by your leave. We must begin our training. Duke Fabre: Thank you. Dorian General. Van: I'll head on to the courtyard. Come join me as soon as you're ready. Van bows to the Duke and Susanne and departs. Susanne: Luke, dear, please do be careful out there. Luke: I know, I know. Jeez... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Sword Training' [SK002] | | Luke: Man...Master Van's leaving... I hope he comes back after he | finds that Fon Master or whoever. I mean, sword training's the | only thing keeping me sane around here. Oh, well. Guy's not too | bad with a sword. Guess I'll just practice with him. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke heads to the courtyard to find Guy and Van talking. Guy: I see. Sounds like the Oracle Knights have it pretty rough. Van: I'll have to leave everything to you for the time being. The Duke, the King, and Luke's-- Pere: Ah, Master Luke! Luke: Guy? What's up? Guy: Well, Van's a master swordsman, so I thought I'd ask for a little instruction. Luke: Really? That's not what it looked like to me. The screen goes white. The weird noise is heard again. Luke: (What the...? Something's coming...?) A song is heard. The screen cuts to a woman entering the manor. All guards suddenly fall asleep. Meanwhile, back in the courtyard... Van: ...Luke! Did you not hear me?! Luke: Huh? Oh right! Van: Are you ready? Luke: Yes, sir! Guy sits on a bench. Guy: I guess I'll just watch from over here. Let's see what you've got, Luke. Luke: Yeah, yeah. Luke pulls out his wooden sword and begins sword training. A tutorial on battle takes place. Once training is over, all goes quiet. Luke: What's that? The singing is heard again. Van falls to his knees. Van: That voice...! Luke: I...I can't move! Pere: That's a fonic hymn! Has a Seventh Fonist invaded the manor?! Guy: Damn it... It's putting me to sleep... What the hell are the guards doing?! A woman jumps into the courtyard from above. ???: I finally found you Vandesdelca! Prepare to die, traitor! Van: Tear! I knew it! Tear and Van clash. Luke: Who the hell are you?! Luke glows and goes after Tear. Van: No! Stop! Tear tries to block Luke's attack. Sparks come from their weapons and a voice is heard again. ??? voice: Resound...! The will of Lorelei shall reach you... and open the way! Luke: Not that weird voice again... Tear: The Seventh Fonon?! Tear and Luke disappear screaming. Van: Too late... The Seventh Fonons have reacted with each other! The scene in the courtyard fades out. Luke is unconscious and can hear Tear's voice, at first kind of fuzzy, then much clearer. Tear: ...Luke...wake up... Tear: ...Wake up Luke! Luke wakes up. He and Tear are in a beautiful valley filled with flowers. It is nighttime now. Luke: ...Who are you? Tear: Oh, good, you're okay. Luke: ...Where are we? Tear: I don't know. That was pretty strong. I almost thought we'd been caught in the Planet Storm... Luke: Wait, that's right! You were trying to...! Oww!! Tear: Stop, don't try to move so suddenly. Are you injured? Where does it hurt? Luke gets up and pushes Tear away, then runs a few steps away from her. Luke: I-I'm fine. What I want to know now is what the hell happened. And who are you? Tear: I'm Tear. It would seem that a hyperresonance occurred between us. Luke: A hyperresonance? What's that? Tear: An isofon-induced resonance. I didn't expect you to be a Seventh Fonist, too. That was careless of me. That would explain why the royal family is protecting you. Luke: Gah, shut up for a second! I don't understand a thing you're saying! Tear: ...... Luke: Well say something! Tear: First you tell me to shut up, now you're telling me to talk. Let's save the discussion for later. You don't seem to know anything. Talking here would be a waste of time. Luke: So what are we gonna do now? Tear: I'll escort you back to your manor in Baticul. Luke: How?! We don't even know where we are! Tear: You see the sea just over there, don't you? Luke: So that's what the sea looks like... Tear: At any rate, let's head out of this ravine and down to the coast. If we can find a road, there should be carriages passing along. We should be able to find a way back. Luke: And just how are we supposed to get to the sea from here? Tear: Stop and listen. Hear that water flowing? There's a river. If we follow the river, we should come out to the sea. Luke: ...Huh. Is that how it works? Tear: Let's go. As Tear and Luke depart from the area, a monster is heard in the bushes. Tear: ...Monsters. Luke: Monster?! Tear: Here they come! Luke: You've got to be kidding me! The monster comes out. Luke: Aaah! The monster attacks, but Luke and Tear beat it. Luke: ...Whew. Th-that wasn't so tough. Tear: Don't relax just yet. Look. There's more. More monsters walk past the road. Tear: If you come into contact with monsters like that, you'll have to fight them. Be careful. Luke: ...Humph. Think you know everything, don't you? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Tear's Purpose' [SK004] | | Luke: So, are you going to tell me why you broke into the manor, or | why you attacked Master Van, or...anything? | Tear: I don't see any point in telling you and I doubt you'd | understand, anyway. Besides, what would you do if I did tell | you? | Luke: I just figured, if you're plotting something, it might be kind | of risky to travel with you. | Tear: ...Heh heh. | Luke: Hey, what are you laughing at?! | Tear: I'm sorry. Don't worry, I have no intention of harming you. | That's all I can tell you for now, but...will you trust me? | Luke: ...Fine, fine. It's just the two of us... There's no point in | fighting, anyway. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `This Place...' [SK006] | | Luke: I don't like this place. It's all dark, you can't see anything, | there are monsters everywhere... | Tear: Once you leave the safety of town, monsters can appear anywhere. | This is no different from anywhere else. And as for the | darkness, well... it's nighttime. There's not much I can do | about that. | Luke: Well, yeah, but I mean, I get out for the first time in years, | and as soon as I open my eyes, it's all dark with monsters all | over the place. What's up with that? | Tear: Maybe right now it is dark and eerie and full of monsters, | but...I still think it's a pretty place. I mean, I've never | been around this much...nature... | Luke: Hmm... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke and Tear go further in. Now there are quite a few monsters in the bushes. Tear: ...Be careful. There's more than one of them this time. Luke: ...No way! Two enemies come at Luke and Tear. A targeting tutorial takes place. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Going Home' [SK003] | | Tear: I'm sorry... I'll get you back to your manor. | Luke: You damn well better! | Tear: It's my fault, after all... I'm very sorry. | Luke: Yeah...well, I don't get out all that often anyway, so I guess a | little walking around won't hurt. | Tear: So...do you want to go home or not? | Luke: Of course I want to go home! What the hell kind of a question is | that?! | Tear: Then stop talking and start moving. If you want to go for a | stroll, wait until we're someplace safer. | Luke: *Sigh* Fine, fine. | Tear: ...? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tear and Luke finally get to the exit. Luke appears quite tired. Tear: There's the way out! Luke: It's about time. I'm sick of this place. Tear: Someone's coming. ???: Uah! D-don't tell me you're with the Dark Wings! Tear: ...The Dark Wings? ???: They're bandits. Two men and a woman... Wait, there's only two of you. Luke: Humph. Don't go comparing me to some pathetic bandit. Tear: ...Yes, you might upset the bandits. Luke: Hey! Tear: We lost our way and wound up here. Who are you? ???: I'm a coachman. One of the wheels on my coach started acting up. We lost our drinking water when the jug fell off, so I came here to draw some more. Luke: A coach! Perfect! Tear: Do you go to the capital? Coachman: Yeah, that's my last stop. Luke: Let's hitch a ride! I'm sick of walking. Tear: Yes, we don't know this area very well. Would that be all right with you? Coachman: To the capital, it'll be 12,000 Gald a piece. You got enough on you? Tear: That's expensive... Luke: Really? Sound cheap to me. My dad'll take care of it when we get to the capital. Coachman: That's no good. I need payment in advance. Tear: ...Take this. Tear hands the coachman her pendant. Coachman: Wow, this is some gem. All right, hop aboard. Luke: Huh? You got some nice stuff. Now I don't have to get my shoes all dirty. Tear: (...) The coach goes along a road. Another coach approaches, chased by a ship. Luke: ...Wh-what was that? Tear: You're finally awake. Luke: H-hey! That coach is under attack! Coachman: The army's chasing those bandits! It's those Dark Wings I mistook you for! ???: You, there! Move your coach before you get caught in the crossfire! The coachman moves the coach. Luke almost falls over and they narrowly miss being hit by the ship. Aboard the ship... Soldier: Commander! Enemy has crossed Rotelro Bridge! They're putting gunpowder on the bridge! ???: My, my. They intend to drop the bridge, do they? Soldier: Fon slot activation detected! Soldier 2: The enemy set off fonic artes using the Fifth Fonon! The bridge is going to explode! ???: Tartarus, full stop. Activate fonic barrier. Soldier: Yes, sir! Tartarus, full stop! Soldier 2: Fonic barrier activated! Back in the coach... Luke: Whoa! That was cool! Coachman: Wow! That's Malkuth's newest land dreadnought, the Tartarus! Luke: M-Malkuth?! What's the Malkuth military doing hanging around here? Coachman: What do you mean? Of course they're here. There's been no end to the rumors that Kimlasca's going to start a war any day now. They've tightened security in this area. Tear: ...Wait a minute. This isn't Kimlasca? Coachman: What are you talking about? This is the Malkuth Empire. The West Rugnica Plains. Luke: Hang on! I thought this coach was headed for the capital, Baticul! Coachman: Nope, Grand Chokmah--capital of Malkuth and home to His Imperial Majesty, Peony the Ninth. Tear: ...Hmm, I was mistaken. Luke: How can you be so calm about it?! How could you make a mistake like that?! Tear: I didn't recognize the area. What's your excuse? Luke: I've been confined to the manor. I've never been outside. How the hell should I have known? Coachman: ...You're sure acting strange. Are you two Kimlascan? Tear: N-no. We're from Malkuth. We have business in Baticul. We were on our way there. Luke: Talk about bald-faced... Coachman: That's the other direction, then. If you're going to Kimlasca, you should've taken the road south, rather than crossing the bridge. Mind you, with that bridge out, you can't go back now.... Luke: Are you serious? NOW what do we do? Coachman: We're passing through Engeve to the east on the way to Grand Chokmah. What do you two want to do? Tear: If we go all the way to Grand Chokmah, we'll just wind up farther away. Let's stop in Engeve and think about how to get back to Kimlasca. Luke and Tear arrive in Engeve. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:EN1} \ >>> Engeve \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Tear: This must be Engeve. Man: Huh, you folks traveling on foot? Luke: You got a problem with that? Man: No, I just mean, with the bandits and monsters and all, most people come by coach. Tear: Could I ask you something? How can we get from here to Kimlasca? Man: I heard Rotelro Bridge is out, so you'd have to head to the Kaitzur checkpoint in the south. Tear: Thank you. Man: No problem. Bye! Tear: A checkpoint.... We won't be able to get through without passports. This could be a problem... Luke: It'll be fine. If I say I'm Duke Fabre's son, they'll let us through in no time. But right now, I want to check this place out! This is my first time in a city! Tear: A city...? Well, I suppose we do need to prepare a bit before we leave. Let's stay the night here. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `You Could Always Camp Out' [SK007] | | Luke: Some town this is. I bet they don't even have a decent place to | sleep. | Tear: Do you do anything besides complain? | Luke: All I want is a decent bed and decent food! What's wrong with | that?! I never even had to think about things like this back at | the manor. | Tear: With Rotelro Bridge out, we won't be getting back to Baticul | anytime soon. You may not be able to find your kind of meal for | a while. | Luke: *Sigh* Never thought I'd be homesick for the food back at the | manor... | Tear: Look, nobody's forcing you to stay at the inn here. If you'd | prefer, we can leave right away and sleep on the ground after | nightfall. | Luke: O-on the ground? No way. Anything's better than that. No more | complaints from me... | Tear: Oh? Well, then let's go. | Luke: *Sigh* I want to go home... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Impressions of Engeve' [SK010] | | Luke: Boy, this place sure looks poor. | Tear: ...How so? | Luke: Well, look, there're no mansions or anything, and all the roofs | look like they've got fur growing on them. And look at all the | animals wandering around! Doesn't that bother anyone? | Tear: No. It's a farming village. They raise crops and livestock. It's | what they do. Everyone looks like they're enjoying themselves. | I don't see anything poor about it. | Luke: Oh, okay... I thought this was, like, a village of gardeners or | something for a while there. So I guess they're working in the | "primary industries," or whatever. | Tear: ...Yes, I suppose you could say that. | Luke: Huh. Sure looks boring to me. | Tear: *Sigh* +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke and Tear head to the marketplace and stop by a grocer's stall. Luke: Wow, these apples look good. Luke takes an apple and bites into it. Man: Sir! You need to pay! Luke: (?) Luke: Why do I have to pay? Tear: You can't just take a store's products without paying! Luke: But the manor pays for everything all at once. ...Oh, wait, this is Malkuth. Tear: Malkuth OR Kimlasca, the normal way to shop at a store is to pay money for what you buy when you buy it. Luke: I haven't got any money on me! Tear: You have the money the monsters dropped. Luke: Oh. Yeah. It's not gold so I had forgotten all about it. Man: Hey! If you're not going to pay, I'm going to have you arrested! Luke: Nobody said anything about not paying! ...So, uh, how does this work? Tear: All right, let's explain how shops work... Tear: (I can't believe he doesn't know how to shop at a store. Are all aristocrats like this?) Luke and Tear head to the inn and see a crowd in front of a building. Kelly: Nothing... Every last scrap of food in the storehouse has been stolen. Man: This has happened time and time again since those fires up north. You think maybe some deserters hiding out up there have started to come here looking for food? Man 2: Or it could be the work of the Dark Wings, too. Luke: It's just food. Would those Dark Wings guys really bother to steal that? Kelly: What do you mean, "just food?!" In this village, food is the most valuable thing there is! Luke: Oh, come on. So someone stole it--just go buy some more. Man: What?! We break our backs all year tending these fields!! Man 3: Hey, I just heard Kelly's place got hit by a food thief, too... Man 3: (!) Man 3: It's you! So, you didn't just steal from me, you were at it over here, too, huh?! All but Luke & Tear: (!) Kelly: What...? You're the one who raided my storehouse?! Man 2: They say the criminal always returns to the scene of the crime. Luke: Are you calling me a thief?! Man 3: You tried to steal an apple from me! Kelly: That's it. I'm taking you to the authorities! Tear: (Letting Luke get arrested here might actually do him some good...) The scene then fades to Rose's house. Kelly kicks Luke inside. Man: Rose, we've got trouble! Rose: Hush! We've got an important guest from the military here. Calm down! Kelly: How can we be calm?! We caught him! We caught the guy stealing food! Luke: I'm telling you, it wasn't me! Man: Rose! This guy may be with the Dark Wings! Man 2: He's got to be responsible for all the food getting stolen lately! Luke: I'm telling you people, I'm not your damn thief! Do I look like I'm going hungry to you?! Rose: My, my, what a lively boy. Let's all just settle down first, all right? ???: Yes, please do. Rose: Colonel... Luke: Who the hell are you? Jade: I'm Colonel Jade Curtiss, Third Division, Malkuth Imperial Forces. And who might you be? Luke: Luke. Luke fon-- Tear: Luke!! Luke: What's your problem? Tear: Have you forgotten? This is enemy territory. Your father, Duke Fabre, is one of Malkuth's greatest enemies. Don't use your name so casually. Luke: Oh. Really? Tear: Yes. There are plenty of people here who've had family killed by your father. You don't want any unnecessary trouble, do you? Jade: Is something wrong? Tear pushes Luke away and talks to Jade. Tear: My apologies, Colonel. He's Luke. I'm Tear. We were headed for Chesedonia, but we boarded the wrong coach and wound up here. Jade: Oh? So you're with this man suspected of being with the Dark Wings? Tear: We're not with the Dark Wings. The Malkuth military forced the real Dark Wings to the other side of Rotelro Bridge. Jade: Ah...I see. So you were on that coach from earlier. Rose: What is all this about, Colonel? Jade: Just as Tear said, a group of bandits thought to be the Dark Wings fled toward Kimlasca. I can assure you that these two are not with them. Ion: They don't appear to be mere food thieves, either. Jade: Fon Master Ion... Ion: I was a bit curious, so I investigated the food storehouse. I found this in a corner of the room. Ion hands something to Rose. Rose: This is fur from a sacred cheagle. Ion: Yes. A cheagle is what probably raided your food stores. Luke: See! I told you I wasn't a thief! Tear: But you did eat that apple before paying. You need to learn not to do things that'll make you look suspicious. Luke: How was I supposed to know? I didn't know I had to pay. Rose: Well, sounds like that takes care of that. I think you all have something to say to this boy and his friend? Kelly: ...I'm sorry. With all the burglaries lately, I've been a little on edge. Man: Sorry for accusing you. Man 2: I'm sorry I made the situation worse. Rose: Do you think you could forgive them, boy? Luke: I'm not a boy. Rose: I'm sorry. Luke, could we let bygones be bygones? Luke: ...Yeah, whatever. Rose: Glad to hear it. Now, I have business with the Colonel. I'll think of a way to stop the cheagles, so all of you just go on home for today. Everyone leaves. Luke steals another look at Ion as he goes out. Tear: Why is Fon Master Ion here... Luke: Fon Master Ion? Tear: The supreme leader of the Order of Lorelei. Luke: Hey, wait a minute. I heard Ion was missing. Master Van said he was returning home to look for him! Tear: Really? That's news to me. I wonder what's going on... He didn't look like he was being held captive. Luke: I'll go ask him. Tear: Stop. They seemed to be in the middle of an important discussion. Let's come back tomorrow. Luke: Humph. Why do I have to follow your orders? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `I Should've Asked' [SK019] | | Luke: That business about Ion is really bugging me. I really should've | asked when I had the chance... | Tear: No need to rush it. You'll have a chance to talk to him | tomorrow. Let's get some rest at the inn for now. | Luke: Ahh. Dammit. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke and Tear head to the Inn. ???: Have you seen the person I was with?! A boy, pretty short? Kind of out of it? Kelly: Sorry, I was away from the inn for a little while.... ???: Honestly, that Ion! Where did he run off to? Luke: Ion? You mean Fon Master Ion? Tear: If you're looking for Ion, he was over at Rose's place. ???: Really?! Thank you! (music note) The girl runs towards Luke to leave the inn, but Luke blocks her way. Luke: Hey, wait a second. What's the Fon Master doing here? I heard he was missing. ???: Ack! Are there rumors like that floating around?! I have to tell Ion! The girl runs out of the inn. Luke: Hey! ...Humph. She didn't answer my question. Tear: Yes, but she looks like a Fon Master Guardian, so I assume Ion's journey is officially recognized by the Order of Lorelei. Luke: A Fon Master Guardian? Tear: They're Ion's personal guard, a special force within the Oracle Knights. They accompany him on all official business. Luke: That chick is one of Master Van's soldiers, huh.... ...What was up with Ion being "missing"? I'm gonna be so mad if that was just a mistake! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Who's Jade...?' [SK018] | | Luke: That four-eyed fool Jade really got on my nerves. | Tear: I thought he was quite proper for a military officer addressing | civilians. | Luke: Mmm... Well, all I know about the military is our White Knights, | so I wouldn't really know. | Tear: Colonel Jade, though... I know I've heard that name somewhere. | Luke: Yeah? I couldn't care less about military types, so if you want | to find out about him, do it yourself. | Tear: You really are selfish. Do something about that attitude before | it gets you in trouble. | Luke: Lay off already, would you? Now you're getting on my nerves, | too. | Tear: ...... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tear and Luke go up to the counter. Kelly: Sorry about earlier. You can stay here free tonight. It's the least I can do. Inside the room. Tear: Tomorrow, we'll head for the Kaitzur checkpoint. With the bridge out, that's the only way back to Baticul. We also have to do something about passports... Luke: (...) Luke: ...Grr, I can't stand it. I can't just leave like this! Tear: Unbelievable. Are you still mad? Luke: Of course! They called me a thief! Luke: Hey, do you know what cheagles are? They called them "sacred". Tear: They're herbivores that live in the woodlands of the East Rugnica Plains. They're one of the symbols of the Order of Lorelei, along with the Order's founder, Yulia. Their forest is just north of this village, actually. Luke: We're going there tomorrow. Tear: To do what? Luke: To look for proof that they're the thieves. Tear: I doubt we'll find any. Luke: Shut up! I've made up my mind! Tear: (...) The night passes. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `An Ordinary Boy?' [SK009] | | Luke: Zzz... | Tear: For all his whining, he sure sleeps soundly enough. Just like a | perfectly ordinary boy... | Luke: Zzz...mmm? Whoa! Wh-what are you staring at me for?! | Tear: I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. | Luke: Well, what the hell are you doing staring at people when they're | sleeping?! Go to bed already! | Tear: Yes, I suppose I will. Good night. | Luke: Man. What's your problem, anyway? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Homework' [SK017] | | Tear: What are you doing? | Luke: H-hey! Don't look! | Tear: Sorry, I just... I saw you with a notebook out and... | Luke: Shut up already! I have to do this every day. | Tear: Do what? | Luke: Well...don't laugh, but...it's a diary. | Tear: Oh. That's great. | Luke: ...You're not gonna laugh at me? | Tear: Why? There's nothing to laugh about. Though I didn't exactly | think you were the type to keep a diary. | Luke: Humph... I'm not doing it because I want to. | Tear: Oh? Then why...? | Luke: ...The doctors make me do it, just in case I get amnesia again. | Tear: ...! | Luke: ...What? | Tear: ...N-Nothing. Keep it up, okay? | Luke: Tch, I don't need you feeling sorry for me! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `To the Cheagle Woods!' [SK008] | | Luke: Cheagle Woods is north of Engeve, right? | Tear: Are you really going? You've been cleared of suspicion. Why | bother? | Luke: I'm not going to sit around while people laugh at me! | Tear: (Nobody's laughing at you...) But do you think there's anything | that can actually prove the cheagles are at fault? | Luke: Shut up already! I decided to go, and that's that! | Tear: I see... Well, I suppose there's no point in arguing it further, | then. | Luke: I'll find your proof! You'll see. I'll show those stupid | yokels! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke and Tear leave for the Cheagle Woods. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:CW1} \ >>> Cheagle Woods \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke and Tear enter to see Ion surrounded by monsters. Luke: Hey, it's that Ion kid! Tear: He's in trouble! Ion lifts his hand and uses something, causing all the monsters vanish. Ion then falls to the ground. Luke: Hey, are you okay? Ion: I-I'm fine. I just used too strong a Daathic fonic arte... Oh, you're the two from Engeve yesterday... Luke: I'm Luke. Ion: Luke...that means "light of the sacred flame" in Ancient Ispanian. That's a nice name. Tear: I'm Locrian Sergeant Tear Grants. 1st Platoon, Oracle Knights Intelligence Division, under Grand Maestro Mohs' command. Ion: (!) Ion: Ah, you're Van's younger sister. I've heard of you. This is the first time we've met, isn't it? Luke: You're Master Van's sister?! Then what was with you trying to kill him?! Tear received the Van's sister title. Ion: Kill him...? Tear: Sorry, it's nothing. Just something between us. Luke: Don't try to avoid the question! If you're his sister, why are you trying to kill him? Tear: It's... I... All: (!) Ion: It's a cheagle! Luke: So, they do live here! Come on, we're gonna catch that thing! Luke runs after the cheagle. Ion: Would it be best if I don't inquire about you and Van? Tear: I'm sorry. It relates to my homeland. I'd prefer not to get you or Luke involved... Luke: Hey! It's gonna get away! Ion: Let's go! Tear: What? Oh, right! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `About the Cheagles' [SK011] | | Luke: Hey, what are you even doing here if you can't fight? Get out of | our way! | Ion: I'm sorry. I just wanted to find out what really happened at | Engeve. | Luke: Huh? Why? It's none of your business, is it? | Ion: The cheagles are sacred creatures. If they're harming people, | they must have some reason for it. As one who is connected to | the cheagles, I cannot sit idly by and watch. | Luke: Well, they're just monsters, right? Just leave them alone. | Ion: I can't. Maybe I'm strange that way, but...that's how I am. | Anyway, if we find the cheagles, we should be able to learn | what's going on. | Luke: Tch, whatever... Let's just go find those cheagles already. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes further into the woods. Luke: Grrr! You see?! It got away! Could you two be any slower?! Ion: Don't worry. Their nesting ground should be up ahead. Luke: How do you know? Ion: Oh, um... Actually, I was curious about the thefts in Engeve and did a little looking. Cheagles are intelligent and peaceful creatures. It's not like them to steal food. Luke: ...Humph. Well, it looks like we're both headed to the same place, then. Ion: The two of you came here to investigate the cheagles, too? Luke: I'm not gonna just let people accuse me of things I didn't do. And you're coming with us. Ion: Really? You don't mind? Tear: How can you think of taking Fon Master Ion somewhere so dangerous?! Luke: Then what do you want to do with him? He'll just come wandering back here on his own. Ion: ...I'm sorry. I just have to know. Cheagles are the sacred beasts of our Order, after all. Luke: See? Besides, we can't just leave a guy with a face so pale he looks like he's about to die. Tear: (!) Ion: Oh! Thank you so much! You're such a nice person, Luke! Luke: (////) Luke: N-no I'm not! Now, quit saying stupid stuff and let's go! Ion: Okay! Luke: And don't use that weird arte again. You damn near passed out. We'll take care of the fighting. Ion: You're going to protect me? Sir Luke, I'm so moved! Luke: (////) Luke: Th-that's not what I mean! You'll just be in the way! Don't get all worked up over it. And it's just "Luke," got it? Now, let's go! Ion: Okay, Luke! The party heads further in the woods and spots a pink cheagle. Pink Cheagle: (!) Pink Cheagle: Mieu, mieu mieu mieu mieu, mieu! Luke: So, that's a cheagle? Ion: It looks like it's still a child. Tear: (It's so cute...) Tear walks up to it, but the cheagle runs off. Tear: (...) Luke: Hey! It ran away! Ion: It is a wild animal, after all. Tear: This must be the cheagles' nesting area. Ion: I do hope we can find some proof they stole food from the village. Luke: Those stupid things probably left proof all over the place. Ion: Let's explore a little. The party heads towards a large tree and sees some apples on the ground. Ion picks one up. Ion: These apples have the mark of Engeve on them. Luke: So, these guys did do it! Tear: I think I hear something inside this tree. Ion: Cheagles live inside tree trunks. Ion walks into the tree. Tear: Fon Master! That's too dangerous! Tear runs after him. Luke: This kid is hopeless... Luke walks after them, the whole party is then stopped by a bunch of cheagles saying mieu over and over again. Ion: Please let me through. Yellow Cheagle: Mieu mieu, mieu mieu mieu! Luke: Like the monsters are gonna understand you. Ion: The order's founder, Yulia Jue, made a pact with the cheagles and gained their aid... or so I've been told. Cheagle Elder: ...Mieu mieu. Mieu, mieu. The Cheagles break apart and let the party through. You can see an old cheagle holding a ring. Cheagle Elder: ...Are you of relation to Yulia Jue? All: (!) Luke: Whoa, that monster talked! Cheagle Elder: It is the power of the ring we were granted as part of our pact with Yulia. Are you of relation to Yulia? Ion: Yes. I'm Ion, Fon Master of the Order of Lorelei. Am I correct in assuming that you're the cheagle elder? Cheagle Elder: Indeed I am. Luke: Hey. Monster. You guys stole food from Engeve, right? Cheagle Elder: I see now. So, you've come to exterminate us. Luke: Humph. So you don't deny it. Ion: Cheagles are herbivores. Why do you need to steal human food? Cheagle Elder: ...To preserve the cheagle tribe. Tear: It doesn't look like you lack food. There's plenty of vegetation in this forest. Cheagle Elder: One of our members caused a fire in the northern region. As a result, the ligers that lived there moved down to this forest. ...In order to prey on us. Ion: Then, the reason you stole the food was so your people wouldn't be eaten. Cheagle Elder: ...Correct. If they aren't sent food periodically, we cheagles are captured and eaten. Ion: That's horrible... Luke: And totally not our problem. If you're weak, you're food. That's how it works. Besides, I'd be mad too, if you torched my land. Ion: That may be true, but this is hardly a normal food chain. Tear: Luke, we've confirmed that the thieves are cheagles. What do you want to do now? Luke: What else? We're gonna drag these guys down to Engeve and-- Tear: But if we do that, the ligers will likely attack Engeve next in search of food. Luke: I don't care what happens to that stupid village. Ion: That's not acceptable. Food from Engeve is shipped throughout the entire world--not just the Malkuth Empire. Luke: Then what do we do? Ion: Let's negotiate with the ligers. Tear: With monsters? Luke: Can those liger things talk, too? Ion: We can't talk to them directly, but if we take one of the cheagles with us as a translator... Cheagle Elder: ...Then, I shall lend this sorcerer's ring to the one who will be your interpreter. Mieu, mieu mieu mieu mieuuu. A blue cheagle bounces out at that. Luke: What the...? Cheagle Elder: This child is the one who caused the fire in the north. I want you to take him with you. The elder gives the ring to the cheagle, at first bonking it in the head, then it steps into it. Mieu: My name's Mieu. Pleased to meet you. Luke: ...Something about this thing is really annoying. Mieu: I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Luke: Argh! You're gonna drive me nuts! I should just roast you and eat you right now! Obtained Sorcerer's ring. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `More About the Cheagles' [SK012] | | Luke: These cheagles really get on my nerves. | Ion: Oh? I think they're rather cute, myself. | Tear: They're adorable. | Luke: Really? They keep on bouncing around all over the place, making | all those weird noises. I can't stand them. | Ion: I think it would be quite soothing to have a bunch just playing | all around. Though I must admit, for "sacred beasts," I was | expecting something a bit more...majestic. | Tear: I don't know...I'd say cute is best, personally. | Luke: ...Yeah, okay, whatever. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party leaves the tree. Mieu: Everyone, watch this. Mieu breathes fire. All: (!) Luke: Whoa! He breathed fire! Mieu: (squiggle) Mieu: Neat, huh? Tear: What was that? Mieu: I can breathe fire, so I'm useful for more than just interpreting. I'm going to work extra hard to make up for all the trouble I caused my friends. Ion: That's right, I'd forgotten that cheagles were a fire-breathing species. Mieu: Yes, we are! But mine is special! Tear: Special? Mieu: I'm still a child, so I can't actually breathe fire. But! Ion: But? Mieu: The Sorcerer's Ring! Thanks to that, I can breathe fire! And no matter how much fire I breathe out, I never get tired. Mieu turns around and breathes some more fire. Luke: So the Sorcerer's Ring is good for more than just translation, huh? Ion: It was originally made to amplify fonic artes. It's a type of capacity core. Tear: But a flame of that size isn't going to be of much use in battle... Mieu: Mieuuuuu... Luke: Yeah, but come on. Breathing fire! That'll be fun! Hey, you! Thing! Tear: Luke! That's horrible! Luke: Oh, shut up! It's fine for this little freak! Luke: Listen up, Thing. When I give the order, you spit fire. Got it? Mieu: ...Mieuuuu... ...Yes, sir... Mieu learned Mieu Fire. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Cheagles' Diet' [SK016] | | Tear: Hey, Mieu... I've heard that cheagles are herbivores, but what | exactly is it that you eat? | Mieu: Mieuu... Tataroo Grass, Baticul Grass, Yulia Grass, Fubras | Grass, Katz Grass... | Tear: Huh... You sure like your grass, don't you? | Mieu: Yup! But we eat mushrooms too! | Tear: Do mushrooms actually grow around here? | Mieu: Yup! There's lots of them up to the north! | Tear: That sounds interesting. Can you show me around sometime? | Mieu: Of course! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Playing With Fire' [SK015] | | Luke: C'mon, you! Fire! Fire! | Mieu: Mieuuuu... | Tear: Watch it! You very well could start a forest fire! Then what? | Luke: Forest fire? Hah hah! Like that'll ever happen. And even if it | did, it wouldn't be my fault. It's the one spewing fire all | over the place. | Mieu: Mieu?! If that happened, I'd be banished for real this time! | Tear: I can't believe I'm witnessing this level of idiocy... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads towards the river. Tear: The liger's lair is up ahead, right? Mieu: Yes. We cross the river and keep going. Luke: How are we supposed to cross the river when there's no bridge? Ion: We'll just have to wade through the river. Luke: Are you serious? My shoes, my clothes...everything'll get drenched! No way! Tear: Fine. You can stay here. Someone who cares that much about his clothing would just get in the way. Luke: Excuse me?! Luke: (angry) Luke: Hey. Thing. Breathe fire on that tree's roots. Mieu: (?) Mieu: Mieu? Luke: You heard me. Breathe fire already! Mieu: Mieu mieu mieuuuuu! Mieu uses fire on the tree. It falls making a bridge. Luke: Heh. What do you think of that? Ion: I see. The tree's roots were rotten. Excellent thinking, Luke. Luke: ...Heh. This is nothing. Tear: Indeed. Mieu is the one who deserves thanks. Luke: H-hey! Tear: I thought it was nothing for you. And stop yelling. Fon Master Ion, shall we be on our way? Ion: Oh, right. Luke, cheer up. Com on, let's get going. Mieu: Let's go. Luke: Shut up! Mieu: Mieuuuuuuuuu... The party heads further into the woods. Luke: Hey, Ion. Ion: Yes? Luke: How'd you learn strong moves like that arte you used earlier? Could I learn to do that, too? Ion: That was a Daathic fonic arte. ...You see, it's... Luke: Wait, wait, I don't need some long explanation. Just tell me if there's some easy way to get stronger. Tear: ...You're unbelievable. Luke: What? Ion: Please don't fight. I'll tell you an easy way to become stronger. Luke: Really? How? Ion: What kind of capacity core do you use, Luke? Luke: Capacity core? ...What's that? Ion: You don't know? Tear: He's somewhat ignorant about the world. Luke: Well, excuse me! Ion: Then take this, Luke. Ion gives Luke a capacity core. Luke: Is this a capacity core? Ion: Yes. You can think of it as an accessory with a fonic arte applied to it. Your body's abilities will increase in accordance with the fonic verse inscribed. These days, even regular citizens wear them as fashion accessories. Luke: So if I put this on, I can use that arte you used earlier? Ion: I'm sorry, only Fon Masters of the Order of Lorelei can use Daathic fonic artes. Luke: Oh. That sucks. Tear: But with a capacity core equipped you can learn special abilities. Use it well, and you'll be strong enough. Luke: How's it look? Ion: It looks good on you Luke. Luke: Cool. Now I can get stronger too. Tear: ...At least your muscles will. The party gets to the Liger Queen's lair. Tear: That must be the queen. Luke: The queen? Tear: Ligers live in packs formed around a giant female. Ion: Mieu, please go talk with the liger queen. Mieu: Yes, sir! Mieu: Mieu, mieu mieu mieu mieu mieu. Mieuuu mieu... The Liger queen roars at them. Mieu falls over. Ion: Are you all right? Luke: Hey, runt, what did she say? Mieu: She says her eggs are just about to hatch, so go away. Ion & Tear: (!) Mieu: Her Highness is really mad that I accidentally burned their home. Luke: Eggs?! Ligers lay eggs?! Mieu: I was born from an egg, too. A lot of monsters are born from eggs. Tear: This is bad. Ligers are more violent when they're guarding their eggs. Luke: So what, do we come back later? Ion: But if the liger eggs hatch, the young will likely swarm the village in search of food. Luke: Huh? Tear: Liger young like human flesh, so people hunt down any near cities before they can reproduce. Ion: Could you ask them to leave this land? Mieu: Y-yes, sir. Mieu, mieuu, mieu mieu.... The Liger roars again, this time it causes a boulder to drop and Luke stops it from falling on Mieu. Mieu: Th-thank you! Luke: Don't get me wrong. I wasn't protecting you. I was protecting Ion! The Liger queen approaches. Mieu: She says she's going to kill us and feed us to her children. Tear: Here she comes... Fon Master, please step back with Mieu. Luke: W-wait... If we fight here, the eggs might break. Tear: It may be cruel, but that would probably be for the best. If we leave the eggs and they hatch, the young could easily wipe Engeve out entirely. Ion: Look out! The queen! Luke: Damn it! The fight starts. After some time, the battle pauses... Luke: Hey! What the hell?! It's not dying! Tear: This isn't good. Our attacks aren't hurting it at all. Luke: So... So do something! Jade: Allow me... Tear: Who are you? Jade: Leave the inquiry for later. I'll use fonic artes to take care of this. You make sure I have time to cast. Luke: You can't order me-- Tear: Let's leave this to him. We'll buy time by taking on the liger queen. Don't let her attacks hit him. Luke: I know! I know! The battle restarts now with Jade helping out. The Liger queen eventually dies. Luke falls into a sitting position on the ground. Jade: Anise! Could I speak to you for a moment? Anise comes running in. Anise: Yes, Colonel! (heart) Did you call me? Jade whispers something to Anise. Anise: Okay...Understood. In exchange you have to keep a good eye on Ion! Luke: ...This left a bad taste in my mouth. Tear: You're quite kind. Or perhaps just soft... Luke: ...And you're cold! Jade: Oh, dear. Lover's quarrel? Luke: Shut up! Tear: Colonel Curtiss... We don't have that sort of relationship. Jade: I'm joking. And please, call me Jade. I'm not accustomed to being called by my family name. Ion: ...Jade, I'm sorry for running off and doing this. Jade: It's unlike you to do something like this when you know it's wrong. Ion: Together with Yulia, the cheagles are the foundation of the Order of Lorelei. I felt I had to take responsibility for any trouble they had caused... Jade: And that's why you used your power? Didn't the doctor tell you not to? Ion: ...I'm sorry. Jade: And you've involved civilians as well. Luke: ...Hey, old man, he's apologizing, right? Give him a break. Jade: Oh. I expected you to complain about being dragged into this. I'm a bit surprised. Tear: (So am I...) Jade: Well, we don't have much time, anyway. I'll stop the lecture at that. Ion: The letter arrived, didn't it? Jade: Yes. Now, let's go ahead and get out of this forest. Mieu jumps onto Luke's head. Mieu: No. We have to report to the elder. Jade: ...A cheagle speaking a human language? Luke steps on Mieu. A lot. Ion: It's the power of the Sorcerer's Ring. Jade, could we stop by the cheagles' home? Jade: All right. But please don't forget that we haven't much time. Ion: Luke, thank you for your help. Please join me for just a little longer. Luke kicks Mieu away. Luke: Well, I've come this far. Might as well. Jade joins the party. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Jade's True Strength' [SK013] | | Tear: That Colonel Jade is certainly quite strong. | Luke: Humph. I could've done just fine without him. You better not try | and get in my way again! I'm warning you! | Jade: I realize I may have interfered with your ambitions, but the | sight was just too much to bear. I'll refrain from "getting in | your way" in the future. In exchange, I ask that you do me the | same favor. | Luke: You stuck up piece of-- | Ion: *Cough* Well, in any case, the problem's been resolved and | nobody's hurt, right? Why not just leave it at that? | Tear: Yes. Let's go inform the Cheagle Elder and head back to Engeve. | Jade: "Resolved," indeed... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads back to the Cheagle's tree. Cheagle Elder: Mieu, mieu mieu mieu, mieu. Mieu: Mieuu, mieu mieu mieu... Jade: It's quite amusing to watch monsters talk like this. Tear: ...They're so cute! (heart) Luke: Huh? You say something? Tear: (////) Tear: ...N-no. Cheagle Elder: Mieu told me what happened. You met with great danger on our behalf. We are grateful that you have kept your promise even after 2000 years. Ion: Of course. Aiding the cheagles is part of Yulia's teaching. Cheagle Elder: But the original cause of all this was Mieu burning the ligers' home. So I will have Mieu atone for his mistake. Tear: What are you going to do? Cheagle Elder: I will exile Mieu from our tribe. Ion: That's too cruel. Cheagle Elder: Naturally, I don't mean forever. I hear that Master Luke saved Mieu's life. Cheagles do not forget their debts. Mieu will serve Master Luke for one cycle of seasons. Luke: Hey, I'm not involved in this. Cheagle Elder: Mieu insists upon accompanying you, Master Luke. I leave it up to you to decide what to do with him. Tear: Why not take him along? Luke: I don't need a pet! Ion: Cheagles are the sacred beasts of the Order of Lorelei. I'm sure he'd be well received by your family. Luke: Hmm, I guess I could give him to Guy and the others as a souvenir... Mieu: I'll do my best to be useful, Master! Luke: You're so annoying... Jade: Well, it appears his report has ended. Let's leave the forest. Luke: ...Humph. Who died and made him boss? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Mieu's One of Us!' [SK014] | | Tear: Luke, can't you walk a little slower? Mieu can't keep up. | Luke: Humph! Why do we have to slow down for that thing? | Mieu: *Huff* *huff* Don't worry, *huff* Tear. *huff* I'm okay. *huff* | Luke: See? Even he says he's fine! | Tear: Why do you have to be so mean? Can't you treat Mieu like one of | us? | Luke: One of us?! He's the most annoying thing I've ever seen! | Mieu: Oh, please don't fight! | Luke: Shut up already! It's your fault in the first place for burning | up the ligers' home! If you hadn't done that, the liger queen | could've hatched her eggs without bothering anybody, and | everything would've been fine! You got that? Huh?! | Mieu: Mieu... | Ion: Now, now...I'm sure Mieu understands the gravity of what he's | done. | Tear: You could stand to be a bit more mature, Luke. | Luke: ...Yeah, yeah. | Jade: Well, now that that's cleared up, shall we be going? | Luke: Little son of a.... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads back to the entrance of the woods. Luke: Hey, isn't that your bodyguard? Ion: Yes, that's Anise. Ion, Luke & Tear: (!) Anise: Welcome back! (heart) Jade: Greetings, Anise. What's the status of the Tartarus? Anise: It's in front of the forest, just like you asked. You said to hurry, so we came as fast as we could! (heart) Luke: Hey! What's going on? Jade: Restrain those two. They're the ones who've been emitting the Seventh Fonons. Ion: Jade! Don't do anything to hurt them... Jade: Don't worry. We won't kill them. Assuming they don't resist. Luke & Tear: (...) Jade: Be good, kids. Take them away! Aboard the Tartarus. Jade: The Seventh Fonon hyperresonance came from the direction of the capital of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear and converged inside Malkuth territory near Tataroo Valley. Now, if you two were the source of that hyperresonance, that would make you guilty of illegally crossing the border into our country, wouldn't it? Luke: Jeez, you're obnoxious. Anise: Heh heh, he called you obnoxious. (heart) Jade: I'm terribly hurt. But moving on, Tear, we already know you're with the Oracle Knights. But what about you, Luke? What's your full name? Luke: Luke fon Fabre. I'm the Luke you idiots tried to kidnap. Anise & Ion: (!) Jade: The son of Duke Fabre, who married into the Kimlascan royal family? Anise: A Duke? (heart) Ohhh... (heart) Jade: Why are you in Malkuth? And what's this about a kidnapping? That doesn't sound very pleasant. Tear: We're here only because our Seventh Fonons caused a hyperresonance. It wasn't an act of aggression against Malkuth by House Fabre. Ion: Colonel, I believe Tear is telling the truth. I don't feel any hostility from him. Jade: Yes. It does seem he's lived a sheltered life, completely ignorant of the world outside. Luke: Humph. Fine, make fun of me. Ion: Actually, why don't we ask for their help? Jade: We're headed for Kimlasca under orders from His Majesty, Peony the Ninth, Emperor of Malkuth. Tear: To declare war...? Luke: Wait, what? Are you saying a war's gonna start?! Anise: You've got it backwards, Luke! We're trying to prevent a war from breaking out. Jade: Anise, that's not public information. Luke: Trying to prevent a war...? Are relations between Kimlasca and Malkuth really that bad? Tear: I think you're the only one who doesn't know. Luke: ...You know, you're obnoxious, too. Jade: We're going to release you now. I'll grant you permission to enter any area you wish, apart from those containing military secrets. Luke & Tear: (!) Jade: First, learn a little about us. Then, if you feel you can trust us, we'd like to ask your help. So that we might prevent this war. Luke: If you want us to help you, why don't you just tell us what's going on? Jade: If we were to explain and then you decided not to cooperate with us, we would be forced to hold you captive. Luke: What...?! Jade: This matter is a state secret. That's why I'm urging you to make up your mind first. I hope we have your understanding. Jade departs. Ion: I'm sure they'll tell you the details after you agree to help. I'll be waiting. Ion departs. Anise: Luke... (heart) I'd so love to go places with you. (heart) Marco: Please come talk to me if you're willing to assist the Colonel. Tear: Why don't we take a walk around the ship? I think even you'll start to get an idea of what's going on in the world. Mieu: Let's go exploring, Master! Luke: *Sigh* +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Unfair Treatment' [SK020] | | Luke: Dammit, Jade... That bastard! I wouldn't have bothered with the | Cheagle Woods if I knew about this! | Tear: From what he was saying, it sounds like they've had their eyes | on us the whole time. We would've been captured one way or the | other. | Luke: But I didn't do anything! They don't have any right to treat me | like this! | Tear: Still, there are advantages to siding with them while we're in | Malkuth. You won't have to hide your identity, for one thing. | Luke: Whatever! It's all your fault anyway. Ever since you came, it's | been nothing but trouble! *Sigh* I want to go home already... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party walks up to Anise, who is standing by the exit of the cabin. Anise: Hey, Luke! (heart) I can show you around if you like! (heart) Um...Maybe I would just get in the way... Tear: Not at all. We'd appreciate it. Luke: Wow, so you do actually smile on occasion. Tear: ...Excuse me? Anise: Oh! Please don't fight. (heart) Come on, Luke! Let's go! (heart) Anise joins the party. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Tartarus' [SK021] | | Anise: So, Luke...(heart) Where do you want to go? | Luke: Where? Well, uh, I don't know anything about this ship, so... | What's on it? | Anise: Let's see... There's the bridge, there's the lounge where all | the soldiers relax, and there's a cafeteria too. ...Well, a | small one, anyway. Then there's the big room they use for | meetings, and a bunch of rooms for everyone to sleep in. | Luke: That's it? Doesn't sound very interesting. | Anise: Well, the Tartarus is a battleship, so it can't really compare | to a cruise liner... Oh! How about the engine room? It's great | if you're into fontech. | Luke: Uh, no, that's okay. I don't know any of that stuff anyway. | Anise: Oh, and the Colonel might not want you going to the bridge or | the engine room, so... | Luke: So basically, all I can do is wander around the hallways. Yeah, | great place... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Outside of the cabin, Luke is looking up at the lights. Luke: Huh? What's that? Tear: It's a fonstone. They're making it glow by heating it. They must use it for lighting here. Luke: Fonstones are those glass rocks floating up in the sky, right? Tear: Fonstones are sacred stones created when the Score is read. Don't call them "glass". Luke: All right, all right.... Inside the next cabin over from the one Luke and Tear were in, a soldier is trying to light a fire with his hand. Anise: Gah! Recruit Tony! Did you do it again?! Tony: I-I'm sorry! Luke: What were you doing? Tony: I want to become a fonist, so I was practicing fonic artes. Fonic artes are big in our country, so a soldier who cannot use them is an embarrassment... Luke: How do you use fonic artes, anyway? Can I use it, too? Tony: You take fonons from the fon belt into your body and then collide your fonon frequency with their own, generating special power. Luke: (?) Tear: The fon belt is a layer of fonons that surrounds the planet. There are six fonon elements in all. By opening your body's fon slots, you draw in fonons and then join them together using a fon verse... Luke: Huh? I have no idea what the hell you're talking about! Anise: Okay. Basically, a fonic arte uses a spell--a "fon verse"--to control elemental powers call "fonons." Tony: It's very difficult. Colonel Jade can do it as if it were nothing. He's a genius. The party explores some more, ending up on deck and meeting up with Ion. Ion: I'm sorry for getting you involved in this. Luke: No kidding. If you'd at least tell me what's going on.... Ion: I'm afraid I'm influencing the situation as well. That's why Jade is being so cautious. Luke: Because the Order of Lorelei is acting as a go-between? Ion: Yes, that's part of it, but... I'm afraid I can't tell you yet. Luke: Ugh. This is such a pain. The party then finds Jade on the deck. Jade: Well, well, Luke. A lovely lady on each arm? Tear: (////) Anise: Oh, Colonel... (heart) Tear: I...I'm not... We're not... Luke: He's not talking about you. He must mean Anise and Mieu. Tear: (...) Mieu: But Master, I'm a boy! Luke: You sure as hell don't sound like one! Jade: Now, now, settle down. By the way, what's this about a "kidnapping" you mentioned earlier? Luke: How should I know? You people from Malkuth are the ones who kidnapped me! Jade: ...Well, I'm afraid I don't know anything about it. Did it happen during the previous Emperor's reign? Luke: Humph. Beats me. Thanks to that, I lost all my childhood memories. Jade: (...) Jade: I'm sure you have your grievances, but I do hope that we can obtain your cooperation. The party then heads back to the original cabin to talk with Marco. Marco: Do you wish to speak with Colonel Jade? Luke: Yeah Marco: Understood. Tear: Are you sure? Luke: We won't get anywhere if we don't hear what he has to say. I've been locked up till not anyway. As long as they take me to Baticul, I don't care. Tear: ...You don't take anything seriously... Luke: Shut up already! The scene fades out. Jade and Ion are back in the cabin again. Jade: Small, localized conflicts have broken out recently. It's likely those will soon escalate into full-scale war. After all, the truce for the Hod War is only 15 years old. Ion: Emperor Peony has written a letter proposing a formal peace treaty. They requested my aid as a neutral ambassador. Luke: If that's the case, then why do people think you've gone missing? Master Van went looking for you, you know! Ion: That's due to matters within the Order of Lorelei. Jade: A conflict is unfolding between the reformist Fon Master faction, centered around Ion, and the conservative Grand Maestro faction, centered around Grand Maestro Mohs. Ion: Mohs is looking for a war. I managed to escape from Mohs' custody with the help of the Malkuth military. Tear: Fon Master Ion! There must be some mistake. Grand Maestro Mohs would never desire such a thing. Mohs prays only for the fulfillment of the Score. Anise: Tear, you're with the Grand Maestro faction? No way... Tear: I'm neutral. Yulia's Score is important, but so are the Fon Master's wishes. Luke: Hey, guys! Hello! You want to slow down so I can follow? Jade: My apologies. I'd forgotten the young master here hasn't a clue about the world around him. Luke: ...What did you say? Ion: Regardless of the state of affairs within the Order, I must deliver this letter to Kimlasca. Jade: But we're the soldiers of an enemy nation. Even as emissaries of peace, it won't be easy for us to cross the border. If we delay, the Grand Maestro faction will catch up with us and interfere. That is why we need your help... Well, really, we just need your social status. Luke: Oh, I'm hurt, gramps. Is that all I'm good for? And didn't anyone ever teach you to bow your head in respect when asking someone for a favor? Tear: Don't act like that, Luke. You don't want a war, either, do you? Luke: Would you shut up already? ...Well? Jade: *Sigh* Jade actually bows to one knee. Marco: Commander! Jade: Master Luke, please grant us your aid. Luke: Man, do you have any pride? Jade: None so cheap as to be shaken by something as petty as this, sir. Luke: ...Tch. Fine, whatever. You just need me to talk to my uncle, right? Jade gets up. Jade: You have my deepest gratitude. Now by your leave, Master Luke, I must attend to other matters. Luke: Stop calling me "Master". Coming from you, it's just...wrong. Jade: As you wish, "Master" Luke. Jade walks out. Marco follows him. Luke and Tear speak with Ion. Luke: If you were on an important mission like this, why the heck did you get involved in the mess at Engeve? Ion: Cheagles are considered sacred to the Order. And the letter I was supposed to receive in Engeve was late, anyway, so... Luke: You sure like sticking your neck out for people. Tear: He's the total opposite of you. Luke: Do you have to be a jerk about everything?! Tear: I could ask you the same thing. Ion: Please, don't fight... The party goes to leave the cabin. Ion: Complicated discussions are tiring. I'm going out to get some air. Ion leaves the cabin. The party leaves soon after, and see Jade in the hallway. Jade: Yes? Do you need something? An alarm suddenly goes off. Tear: Are we under attack? Anise: Oh, no! Luke, what should we do?! Tear: (...) Jade: Bridge! What's going on? Soldier on bridge: A large flock of griffins 20 kilometers ahead! Total number unknown! Contact in approximately 10 minutes! Commander, requesting permission to open fire with all cannons. Jade: You're the captain. The ship is yours. Soldier on bridge: Understood, Sir! Soldier on bridge: Large swarm of monsters 20 kilometers ahead. All hands, battle stations! Repeat! All hands, battle stations! Jade: You three, return to your cabin. Luke: Huh? It's just some monsters. Tear: Griffins don't normally work in groups. It's dangerous when monsters act unusually. The whole room shakes and tilts over a bit. Jade: What's wrong? Soldier on bridge: Ligers are dropping from the griffins! They're clinging to the hull and attacking! Engineering is--Uaaah! Jade: Bridge! Respond! Bridge! Luke: Ligers are those monsters we killed at the cheagles' place, right? Mieu: Yes... Luke: You're kidding! There's a whole horde of those things here?! We're dead if we stay on this ship! Let me off of this thing! Luke tries to run away. Tear: Stop! It's dangerous to go outside now! A mysterious man in red and black and a large scythe come in with two soldiers. ???: That's right. Jade is casting a fonic arte. Mieu: Master! Jade uses the arte on the two soldiers and they disappear. The man uses something. Luke dodges, but gets caught under the man's scythe. ???: ...Impressive. But it's time for you to calm down. Now. Colonel Jade Curtiss, Commander of the Third Division of the Malkuth Imperial Forces...Or maybe just, "Jade the Necromancer." Tear: Jade the Necromancer...! You?! Jade received the Necromancer title. Jade: Well, well. It seems I'm famous. ???: Rumors have spread far and wide--how you scavenge corpses after every battle. Jade: Oh, but my stories have nothing on yours, sir. "Largo the Black Lion." One of the Six God-Generals of the Oracle Knights. Largo: Heh... I've been waiting for a chance to cross blades with you, but, unfortunately, right now I must retrieve Fon Master Ion. Jade: I'm afraid I can't allow that. Largo: Hey! Don't move, unless you want this boy's head to roll. Tear: ... Largo: Jade the Necromancer... Letting you go now will only mean trouble later. Jade: Do you think you can kill me by yourself? Largo holds out a small box in his hand. Largo: If I seal your fonic artes. Largo throws the box, which sets off a barrier around Jade. Tear: A fon slot seal?! Largo: I brought that here to seal the Fon Master's fonic artes. I didn't expect to wind up using it like this. Jade: Argh... Largo and Jade go after each other with their weapons. Both miss. Jade: Mieu! Fifth Fonon at the ceiling! Hurry! Mieu: Y-yes, sir! Jade: Now! Anise! Get Ion! Anise goes running by. Anise: I'm on it! Jade: I trust you know where to meet... Anise: Don’t worry. Largo: Oh, no you don't! Tear casts nightmare. Jade stabs Largo as Luke watches in shock. Luke: ...H-he stabbed him... Jade: Anise will take care of Ion. We'll take back the bridge. Tear: But your artes are sealed... Jade: Indeed. It's likely to take several months to undo this fon slot seal. But as long as we have your hymns and Luke's sword, we can still take back the Tartarus. Tear: All right. Luke, let's go. Tear: Luke! Luke: (!) Luke: Right... Luke, Jade, and Tear depart for the bridge. Monsters can be seen everywhere +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Fighting for Our Lives?' [SK022] | | Luke: That Largo or whoever... Is he dead? | Jade: Well, that was certainly my intent. He could prove rather | problematic if he's still around. | Luke: But you didn't have to kill him... | Jade: So our enemies are free to kill us, but we should spare their | lives? I'm afraid I don't quite follow that logic. | Tear: Luke, this isn't a simple training exercise. We can't afford to | worry about the lives of our enemies. | Luke: But...! | Jade: I'm sure they're prepared to give their lives for their mission. | That's the duty of a soldier, after all... To give your life | for a greater cause. Though it seems those of a certain House | of Kimlasca do not share the same dedication. | Luke: That's not what I'm saying! Dammit! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party reaches the bridge, Tear uses a hymn on the guard. Luke: ...He's out like a light. Mieu: Tear, you're amazing! Jade: Let's take back the Tartarus. Tear, if you'd assist me. Tear: Right. Luke: Hey, what do I do? Tear: You stand watch here. Luke: ...Humph. More like "stay out of the way." Luke bends down to look at the soldier. Luke: How come that attack made him fall asleep, anyway? Mieu: Tear's fonic hymns use the Seventh Fonon! Luke: Here we go again. What the heck is a "Seventh Fonon"? Mieu: You don't know? It's the seventh known fonon. It's the fonon of sound. It was just discovered. The Score is made up of the Seventh Fonon, too. It's really special! Luke: Gaaah, your voice drives me up the wall! Mieu: Sorryyyyyyyy! Mieu accidentally breathes fire on the sleeping solder. Luke: Damn, that scared the hell out of me. Go back to sleep! Luke kicks the soldier, who wakes up. Luke: Wh-whoa, he got up... Soldier: ...Die! Luke: Aah! S-stay back! A fight breaks out. As it comes time to give the final blow, Luke gets scared. Luke: Aaah! Don't come any closer. Luke accidentally stabs the soldier too hard. Tear and Jade come out. Tear: What happened?! Jade: This is bad... The commotion has caused the fonic hymn to weaken. Luke: I...I stabbed him... I...killed him... ???: If you're scared of killing, then throw away your sword, you worthless reject! Icicles appear from above. A red haired man appears after they shower Luke. Luke can't see the man, but Jade gets a good look at him. ???: And you're as hard to kill as they say, Necromancer. Jade: ... Soldier: Captain, what shall we do with them? ???: Kill them. Another woman can be seen from behind the soldier. ???: Asch. Have you forgotten your orders? Or have you just decided to ignore them? The strange sound that Luke hears can be heard. Asch grabs his arm. Asch: Fine. Restrain them and lock them in a cabin somewhere! Asch turns and walks onto the bridge. In Luke's head: Luke...Heed...my voice...! Luke...! The scene then fades to a cabin. Luke is lying on a bed. Tear: Luke! Tear: ...Thank goodness. You were moaning in your sleep. Luke: ...Where am I? Jade: In a cabin, onboard the Tartarus. Luke: That's right... Monsters attacked, and then... Luke: (!) Luke: (I...I killed someone?!) Jade: All right, we need to get out of here and rescue Ion. Tear: It looked like they took Ion away... Jade: From what we overheard the Oracle Knights saying, it sounds like they'll be returning to the Tartarus. We'll ambush them and rescue him then. Luke: W-wait! If you do that, there'll be more fighting! Tear: Yes, what about it? Luke: We might end up killing people again! Tear: ...That can't be helped. Luke: (!) Tear: They'll kill us if we don't kill them first. Luke: Wh-what are you saying?! We're talking about human lives! Jade: Yes. Human life is a valuable thing. But if we sit here and do nothing, a war will start and even more people will die. Tear: Right now, this is our battlefield. There's no good or evil here. Just life or death. Luke: ...! Tear: There's danger even in normal life. One could be attacked by monsters or bandits... Those who lack strength do things like hire mercenaries, band together, and travel by coach. Those with the strength to fight, do. Sometimes even children. They do what they must in order to survive. Luke: That's got nothing to do with me! I didn't know anything about that, and I didn't come here because I wanted to! Jade: Astonishing. What kind of environment must one grow up in to be this ignorant of the situation...? Tear: Ever since the Malkuth attempt to kidnap him, he's been forbidden to leave his manor for his own safety. Jade: I see...Then I suppose it's natural for him not to know anything about the world... Luke: I can't help it! I don't have memories of my childhood! I don't know anything! Tear: It's my responsibility that all of this happened, so I promise I'm going to get you back home. Luke: .... Tear: In return, don't get in our way. If you're not willing to fight, you're only going to be a burden. Luke: ...I didn't say I wouldn't fight! I just don't want to kill anyone. Tear: It's the same thing. Right now, fighting means fighting against the human beings who took the Tartarus. If you don't want to kill the enemy, then stay hidden behind us. Luke: ...I'm just saying, let's not fight any more than we have to. I don't want to die, either. Tear: It's not like I...! It's not like I'm killing people because I want to. Jade: So, you're going to fight? I'll be counting on you as part of our force. Luke: I said I will. Jade: Good. Jade tosses something out through the bars and runs to the communications unit. Jade: By my name as Necromancer, heed my command. On the bridge. Jade: Initiate emergency plan, "Corpse Hunt." The power on the ship goes out. ???: Wh-what happened...? Soldier: Power systems down! Controls down! The Tartarus is completely inoperable! The scene then fades back to the party. Jade: It's an emergency shutdown system I set up in advance. It should take them some time to recover. Luke: Wow... Tear: Where should we head from here? Jade: Go to the port hatch. During an emergency shutdown, that's the only one that will open. The Oracle Knights holding Ion should try to enter from there as well. Luke: But they took away our weapons... Tear: They're probably still nearby. Let's look for them. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Fighting for Our Lives' [SK025] | | Tear: Luke, get a hold of yourself! Your life depends on it. | Luke: I said I'm fighting! It's just...I feel bad, that's all. | Jade: Feeling for those you've slain is an admirable trait...but only | if it doesn't become a hindrance. | Luke: Shut up... | Jade: Are you afraid? | Luke: I said shut up already! You want to know if I'm afraid? If I'll | get in the way? Let's go, and I'll show you! | Jade: If your performance lives up to your words, I'll have no | complaints whatsoever. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party looks for their equipment and soon finds it. Luke: Wow, they didn't take them very far. And they aren't even guarding them. Jade: I imagine they were guarding them originally. Right now, they're probably busy trying to revive the Tartarus. Luke: (...) Tear: Let's go. Recovered equipment. The party approaches the elevator. Tear: (...) Tear: ...The elevator isn't working. Jade: I expected as much. Luke: What do we do? Is there any other way out? Jade: Somewhere in one of these rooms should be something fun we can use to escape. Luke & Tear: (?) Luke: "Something fun?" Tear: Colonel, what are you talking about? Jade: It wouldn't be as fun if I told you, now would it? Let's search the rooms around here. Tear: O-okay! Luke: ...I sure hope nobody spots us. The party enters a cabin with a bunch of boxes in it. Jade: Ah, here we are. We'll find our something fun in the back, behind these boxes. Tear: So, we just need to move these boxes, then? Tear goes to move the boxes. Jade: That's right. By the way, Luke, I can't say I think much of you forcing a woman to do the heavy lifting. Tear: I'm fine, Colonel. Jade: Or do rich aristocratic boys lack any muscles? *Sigh* And here I thought even your brain was made of muscle. Luke: What did you say?! Luke: (sweating) Luke: Wait a minute. You're a guy, too. You help out. Jade: No, I'd rather not. You're younger than I am, after all. At my age, all my joints ache.... Luke: (angry) Luke: ...Fine, whatever. Out of the way. I'll do it. Tear: (////) Tear: Th-thanks... Mieu: You can do it, Master! Luke: I thought I told you to shut up! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Six God-Generals' [SK026] | | Jade: Let's get moving. We don't know how many of the Six God-Generals | attacked the Tartarus. | Luke: Are there more here besides that Largo the Black Lion you took | down before? | Jade: At least three. One controlling the ligers and griffins, and the | ones that attacked us at the bridge. | Tear: We have no chance against them like this. Granted they took us | by surprise, but we were still both downed in an instant... | Jade: If we can take them by surprise instead, like with Largo, things | would be different...but we can't count on that happening | again. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Hurry!' [SK028] | | Jade: We haven't got time for detours. We have to get into position | before those Oracle guys get back. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke moves some boxes. Jade: Here it is. Luke: (?) Luke: This is your "something fun"? Tear: Colonel, is that gunpowder? Luke: Gunpowder?! Why is THAT here? Jade: A group of soldiers aboard this ship had been pilfering supplies to sell on their own. I discovered that they'd been hiding gunpowder here. Though, this commotion has made my investigation pointless. Tear: I see. So we're going to ignite this and destroy the wall. Luke: Are you serious? You sure that's going to be okay? Jade: We'll be fine as long as we're not caught in the explosion. Now, let's hurry. Tear: Do we light it with a fonic arte? Jade: No, we light it with Mieu. You're on, Mieu! Mieu: Yes, sir! Luke: (sweating) Luke: Whoa! Wait a-- Mieu ignites the gunpowder, causing a small explosion. Luke: Jeez...! You could've waited half a second! Mieu: Mieuuu... I'm sorry, Master. Jade: No, that was perfect, Mieu. Now, let us be going. Luke: R-right... Luke: (...) Luke: (How can those two watch an explosion go off right in their faces? I swear, they're not human.) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What Are They Trying to Do?' [SK023] | | Luke: What are these guys trying to accomplish by kidnapping Ion? | Tear: Well, Ion is working to avoid war... So perhaps they're trying | to disrupt the peace talks? | Jade: Given Ion's influence on both Kimlasca and Malkuth, his presence | is critical to the peace process. Preventing him from reaching | Baticul would certainly be the most direct and effective method | to disrupt that process. But attacking a Malkuth military | vessel just for that...? It makes me wonder. | Tear: You think there could be more to it? | Luke: What do you mean? | Jade: Enough idle conjecture. Let's discuss this after we've taken | care of the present situation. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes to exit via the port hatch. Jade: It looks like we made it in time. There they are. Luke: Have they realized the Tartarus did an emergency shutdown? Jade: I'd be rather surprised if they haven't. More importantly, we can't use fonic artes. There's no time for casting. Luke: It's not like you can use any decent fonic artes anyway, with that fon slot seal. Tear: How can you say things like that? The Colonel's been working hard to undo the fon slot seal. Jade: I don't mind. It's the truth. ???: Open the emergency hatch. Soldier: Right away. The soldier opens the hatch, and see Luke. Luke holds up Mieu in the air. Luke: Fire! Now! Mieu breathes fire on the soldier. ???: Jade Curtiss... You're a force to be reckoned with, even with your fonic artes sealed. Jade: That's quite a compliment. I'm honored. Now, throw down your weapons. Luke hits the soldier with Mieu. The woman drops her guns. Jade: Tear! Your fonic hymn! ???: Tear...? Tear Grants! Tear can be seen from the bottom of the stairs. She looks surprised to see the woman. Tear: Major Legretta! A lightning bolt almost hits tear. Legretta gets her guns and gets back by Ion. The soldier is holding a sword to Luke. Mieu: Master...we're surrounded! Legretta: Arietta! What's happened to the Tartarus? Arietta: It's still inoperable... I was only able to get this far because my friend tore open the wall. Legretta: Good work. Restrain them and-- Someone else jumps in out of nowhere, grabs Ion, and runs. Guy: Enter the amazing Guy! Arietta: Aah! Legretta: Arietta! Jade quickly grabs Arietta and holds a spear to her. Jade: Now, drop your weapons once more and go back inside the Tartarus. Legretta walks back inside. Jade looks down to Arietta. Jade: You're next. Take your monster inside. Arietta: Fon Master... I...I... Ion: Please do as he says. Arietta. Arietta goes back inside and takes the liger with her. Jade: All of the hatches should stay closed for a while. Luke: Whew. Thank goodness.... Good timing, Guy! Guy: I looked all over for you. Never thought you'd turn up in a place like this! Jade: By the way, Ion, where's Anise? Ion: The enemy stole the emperor's letter. Anise went to get it back, but a monster knocked her out of a porthole. But I heard soldiers say they couldn't find the body, so I'm hoping she's all right... Jade: Then let's head for Saint Binah. That's our rendezvous point with Anise. Luke: Saint Binah? Ion: It's a city to the southeast of here. Luke: Okay. We just need to make it there, right? Guy: What about your troops? They're still inside this ship, right? Jade: I can't imagine there being any survivors. If they left any witnesses, it would lead to war between the Order of Lorelei and Malkuth. Luke: ...How many people were onboard? Jade: This was a top secret mission, so only half the usual number--around 140. Guy: Over a hundred people were killed... Tear: Let's get going. If we get caught here, the war that follows will claim the lives of many more. Guy joined the party. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Luke's Grand Adventure' [SK027] | | Guy: Looks like things have been pretty tough for you, huh, Luke? | Luke: Yeah, no kidding. It's just been one thing after another. | Guy: Heh heh heh. "Luke's Grand Adventure"... | Luke: Hey, this isn't a joke here! | Guy: Well, everything's mostly taken care of, right? We'll have you | back in Baticul in no time. | Luke: I sure hope so... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads towards St. Binah along a road in the countryside... Luke: Hey, you okay? Jade: Ion...you used Daathic fonic artes aboard the Tartarus, didn't you? Luke: That thing you did back at the cheagles' place? Ion: I'm sorry. My body just isn't built to use Daathic fonic artes... A fair bit of time has passed, so I thought I'd recovered, but... Jade: Let's rest for a while. At this rate, we risk shortening Ion's life. Later... Guy: ...So, you're an emissary on a mission to prevent war. But why would Mohs wants to start a way anyway? Ion: I'm afraid that's confidential to the Order. I can't talk about it. Luke: Oh, come on. Jade: Whatever his reasons, this war must be avoided. We won't let Mohs interfere. Guy: You've sure gotten yourself wrapped up in a mess here, Luke... Ion: By the way, who are you? Guy: Oh, right. I haven't introduced myself, have I? I'm Guy. I'm a servant in Duke Fabre's manor. Guy smiles and shakes hands with Jade and Ion. When Tear tries to shake hands with him, Guy freaks out. Ion & Jade: (...) Tear: (?) Tear: ...What? Guy: Aaaah! Ion & Tear: (...) Luke: Guy doesn't like women. Jade: I'd say it looks more like a phobia. Guy: S-sorry... It's nothing personal... It's just... Tear: If it helps, you don't have to think of me as a woman. Tear walks closer to Guy to try again. Guy matches he step for step in backing away, still scared. Tear: (...) Tear: ...Fine. I'll be sure to keep my distance. Will that take care of it? Guy: Sorry... Later... Jade: If you serve House Fabre, you must be from Kimlasca. Did you come looking for Luke? Guy: Yes, under orders from Duke Fabre. We knew he'd disappeared into Malkuth territory. I went by land from Chesedonia, while Dorian General Grants crossed the sea and started searching from Kaitzur. Luke & Tear: (!) Luke: Master Van's looking for me too?! Tear: ...My brother's here? Guy: Your brother? You mean... Soldiers appear. Jade pulls out his spear. Jade: Oh, dear. It looks like we've run out of time to chat. Luke: Th-those are people... Tear: Luke, stay back! You know you won't be able to kill them! Soldier: You won't get away! Battle ensues. The party wins. Luke is faced with the last one. Jade: Luke, finish him! Luke attempts to kill the soldier, but pauses. Luke: ...Ugh... The soldier uses the opportunity to knock Luke's sword away, gaining advantage. Guy: Luke, snap out of it! The soldier tries to kill Luke. Guy and Tear try to stop it. Tear gets there first and gets grazed by the soldier's sword. Luke: Tear...I-I... Tear: ...You idiot. Luke received the Frightful One title. The scenes fades to nighttime. The party sits around a campfire. Luke can talk with each party member. Ion... Ion: For Jade and Tear, fighting is their job, so the things they say can sound a bit extreme. You're a civilian, so I think your hesitation and concern are to be expected. Luke: Does it...not bother you that your subordinates kill people? Isn't it your job to save people? Ion: It can't be helped. Sadly, the Order of Lorelei has stopped being a religion of life. You'll see soon enough. Jade... Jade: Why so serious? Luke: Why did you become a soldier, Jade? Jade: ...Are you scared of killing people? Luke: ... Jade: I think your reaction is really quite natural. The world could probably benefit from having fewer soldiers anyway. Luke: I don't know what I should do... Jade: Relax. You'll be protected until we arrive at Baticul. We'd be in quite a bind if you died on us. Luke: Stop making fun of me! Jade: But I'm not. There's no shame in running or protecting your own life. Live a safe life inside a safe city, and hire guards when you're forced to leave it. That's how normal people live. Guy... Guy: It must have been tough for you, suddenly thrown out into the world like this. Luke: I...I had no idea things were this bad outside of the city. Guy: Sometimes, you can earn bounties for killing monsters and bandits. Outside the towns, killing people isn't considered a crime, as long as it's not proven to be for personal malice. Luke: How many people have you killed? Guy: Who knows? Less than that soldier right there, I imagine. Luke: ...Aren't you scared? Guy: Of course I'm scared. That's why I fight. Because I don't want to die. I still have things to do. Luke: Like what? Guy: ...Revenge. Luke: Huh? Guy: ...Just kidding. Tear... Tear: Are you sure you're all right? Luke: Huh...? Tear: The fighting was hard on you, wasn't it? I knew you were a civilian, but it seems I didn't really understand what that meant. I'm sorry. Luke: Wh-why are you apologizing? You're the one who got hurt. Tear: As long as I'm a soldier, it's my duty to protect civilians. Getting injured in the process merely means I wasn't strong enough. That's all. Luke: ...You're weird. To me, it just sounds like you're just trying to sound tough. Tear: Th-that's not true! Luke: Uh huh... Luke then talks to Mieu and chooses to call it a night. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Luke's Diary' [SK044] | | Mieu: Master, are you writing in your diary again? | Luke: ...Yeah, but not because I want to. It's because Mother and | everyone else will get all worried if I don't. | Mieu: I'll help too! | Luke: Huh? How the hell are you going to help? | Mieu: I know how to write the Fonic alphabet! | Luke: ...All right, let's see it. | Mieu: Ummm... Today...Master...called...me..."Thing"...38...times. | Luke: ...Hey, Thing! You're not supposed to keep count! | Mieu: Mieuuu... Make that 39... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Next morning... Tear: Luke, wake up. It's time to get going. Luke: Are you all right to be moving around? Tear: ...Yes. Thank you for your concern. Jade: Tear, Guy, and I will take up a triangle formation. You'll stay in the center with Ion and defend yourself if necessary. Luke: What? Guy: In other words, you don't have to fight, Luke. Come on. Let's get going. The rest of the party starts to walk onwards. Luke: W-wait a minute! Ion: What is it? Luke: ...I'll fight too. Jade: Aren't you afraid of killing? Luke: ...Of course not! Tear: You shouldn't force yourself, Luke. Luke: I'm serious! I mean, okay, yeah, I'm a little scared, but... If I have to fight to survive, then that's what I'll do. I'm not gonna hide in the corner! Mieu: I'm so proud of you, Master! Luke: Would you shut up! Anyway, I've made up my mind. From now on, I fight. Without hesitation. Tear walks over to Luke. She looks him in the eye and speaks gravely. Tear: ...To kill someone means to rob them of their future. Even if it is to protect yourself. Guy: ...And it can earn you the hatred of others. Tear: Are you prepared to deal with that? Can you face that responsibility? Without running away? Without making excuses? Luke: You said yourself, you aren't killing people because you want to. ...I've made up my mind. I'm not here just to be a burden. I'm gonna take responsibility, too. Tear: But... Jade: I don't see any problem with that. We'll give Luke a chance to show us his resolve. Guy: Just don't push yourself too hard, Luke. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Kill Or...' [SK030] | | Mieu: Master, are you okay? Isn't the fighting wearing you down? | Luke: Shut up! I said I'm fine! If it's kill or be killed, then | dammit, I'm killing! End of story! You got that?! | Mieu: Mieuuuu... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Is Anise Safe?' [SK029] | | Tear: I hope Anise is all right... | Luke: Yeah, it sounds like she fell from pretty high up... | Jade: She'll be fine. This is Anise we're talking about. | Ion: True... I can't imagine Anise not being safe. | Guy: This "Anise" sounds pretty incredible. | Jade: Hah hah hah... She's indeed a very cute and perky little girl. | Ion: Yes. She's very dependable. | Luke: Really? She sure didn't look it to me. | Jade: Well, as they say, you can't always judge a book by its cover. | Luke: ...Why does that sound like it's pointed at me? | Jade: It's just your imagination, Luke. Anyway, enough chitchat for | now. Shall we be going? | Ion: Yes, let's go. | [Luke, Tear, Jade & Ion leave.] | Guy: ...So why is everyone assuming this Anise girl is all right? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SB1} \ >>> St. Binah \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party arrives to find Oracle Soldiers at the gates. Luke: Why are the Oracle Knights here? Guy: St. Binah's the closest city to the Tartarus. They probably expected us to stop here. Jade: For a Kimlascan, you're certainly familiar with Malkuth geography, Guy. Guy: I like reading about vacation spots. Jade: Oh, I see. How nice. Tear: Colonel, look. A cart pulls up. Man: We're from Engeve. We're here to fulfill a purchase order for food supplies. Soldier: You may pass. Man: There's one more wagon after this one. The soldier waves the cart past. Jade: How convenient. Guy: We're going to stop the second one and hitch a ride, huh? Ion: Let's go back down the road toward Engeve a little ways. Tear: Yes, let's. Everyone but Luke walks off. Luke: Hey, quit making plans without talking to me first! Tear comes back. Tear: Grow up. Luke: (...) Later... Luke: Stop the wagon! Rose: Colonel Curtiss! And you're...Luke, was it? Luke: Sorry about this, but do you think you could hide us in your wagon? Guy: We'd like to enter St. Binah, but a group of malcontents chasing Fon Master Ion are guarding the entrance. Could we ask for your assistance? Rose: Goodness. My birthday Score didn't say anything about something like this happening. Tear: Please. Rose: Okay. We owe you for the trouble caused with all the mistaken thief nonsense. Hop in. Jade: Thank you. Back at the city gates... Rose: We're from Engeve. One wagon should have already arrived. Soldier: Right. Go on in. Rose: Thank you. Inside town... Rose: Well, this is where we part ways. Ion: Thank you for your help. Tear: Yes, thank you. Rose: Don't mention it. Take care, now. Rose walks off. Luke: So, Anise is here, right? Jade: She's to meet us at the Malkuth military base. If she's still alive, that is. Luke: Do you really have to say things like that? Let's go. Tear: Try not to do anything to draw the attention of the Oracle Knights. Luke: I know, I know. You don't have to tell me every little thing. Guy: Hmm? She's already got you whipped, huh, Luke? Princess Natalia's going to be jealous. Tear: (...) Tear grabs Guy's arm with both hands so he can't get away. Guy: ...Uaaah! Tear: Don't say stupid things. Guy: I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Stop touching me! Please! Tear lets go of Guy, who falls to the ground twitching. Tear dusts her hands off, mission-accomplished style. Ion: Perhaps this journey will help Guy to overcome his phobia. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Let's Rejoin Anise' [SK031] | | Tear: Looks like we got in unnoticed. | Luke: Good thing that woman was driving the cart. Must be my lucky | day! | Guy: So, now what? If we stick around for too long, they're bound to | notice us. | Jade: Indeed. I'm hoping we can collect some information here, but | let's check up on Anise first. | Luke: The plan was to meet her at the Malkuth base, right? Let's go! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads to the military headquarters. Jade: I'm Colonel Jade Curtiss, Third Division, Malkuth Imperial Forces. May I speak with General Glenn McGovern? Soldier: Yes, sir. General McGovern is currently seeing a guest, so please wait inside. Inside... Glenn McGovern: Father, we've already been over this. Officially, the Oracle Knights are considered Scorers. We can't restrict their actions without a direct order from His Imperial Majesty... Elder McGovern: Enough! You know how terrible the Hod War became with their involvement! Jade: My apologies for interrupting. Elder: (!) Glenn: Jade the Necromancer... Elder: Oh! If it isn't Jade! Jade: It's been a while, Field Marshal McGovern. Elder: I'm retired now. There's no need for those formalities anymore. And what about you? Don't you think its about time you accepted a promotion? Even at your age, you could have easily made lieutenant general by now. Jade: Oh, I don't know. I think I have my hands full just being a colonel. Luke: Is Jade somebody important? Guy: Sounds like it. Elder: You and His Majesty go way back, don't you? Could you ask him to do something about the Oracle Knights? Jade: I'm afraid they're after us. Once we leave the city, they should leave as well. Elder: What's happened? Jade: I'm afraid I can't tell you the details. I'm under direct orders from His Majesty. I'm sorry. Glenn: Colonel Curtiss. What business brings you here? Jade: Ah, yes, my apologies. Have you received any letters from a Fon Master Guardian? Glenn: Ah, that... I'm sorry, but I'm afraid we opened it to confirm the contents, for security reasons. Jade: That's fine. There shouldn't be anything in there that would be a problem for you to see. Glenn hands a letter to Jade. Jade reads it and passes it on to Luke. Jade: It appears half of it is addressed to you. Here you are. Luke: It's from Anise, right? I could see her writing Ion, but me? Anise's letter: Dearest Colonel Jade, (heart) I had a really scary time, but I managed to make it here. (music note) Don't worry, I'm taking good care of you-know-what! Aren't you proud of me? (music note) It looks like the Oracle Knights are going to close off St. Binah soon, so I'll go ahead to the next location. (heart) Is my beloved Luke safe? (Oh, I'm so embarrassed! (heart) I just confessed my feelings! (heart)) I'm really worried. Luke, I miss you so much. (heart) I can't wait to see you again! (music note) Oh, and give my regards to Ion, too. Bye-bye for now! (music note) Love, Anise. Luke: I think I'm gonna be sick... Guy: Damn, Luke, popular enough with the girls? Just don't get carried away. You're engaged to Princess Natalia, you know. Luke: You've gotta be kidding. I don't want anything to do with that annoying chick... Tear: What's the "next location"? Jade: Kaitzur. It's a city to the southwest of here, on the other side of the Fubras River. Guy: If we make it to Kaitzur, we can rendezvous with Van. Tear: Van's there... Guy: Hey, I don't know what happened between you two, but you're his sister, right? Don't go trying to slice him up like you did in Baticul, okay? Tear: I know. I won't. Jade: Well then, we'll bid you our leave. Elder McGovern: If the Oracle Knights are chasing you, I'll gladly lend a hand. I was elected by the city representatives here. Come by anytime you need help. Jade: Thank you, Field Marshal. Obtained World Map. The party is about to leave St. Binah... Tear: ...Quick, hide! It's the Oracle Knights! The party runs off. Four God-Generals can be seen at the entrance... Legretta: Have you found Fon Master Ion? Soldier: It doesn't appear he's entered St. Binah. Arietta: Those people with Ion are the ones who killed Mommy... My liger friends told me. I'll never forgive them... Sync: What about that Fon Master Guardian they said was hanging around? Soldier: She appears to have made contact with the Malkuth military. But Malkuth is saying it's "classified" and is refusing to provide any useful information. Largo: If I hadn't let that Necromancer get the better of me, Anise would've never gotten away. I'm sorry. Dist floats in... Dist: Ahh hah hah hah hah! That's why I told you! Dist: The only one who can defeat that beastly Jade is the elegant servant of the gods, the esteemed member of the Oracle Knights' Six God-Generals, yours truly, Dist the Rose! Sync: You mean "Dist the Reaper." Dist: How is one so beautiful as myself a "reaper" and not a "rose"?! Legretta: There's no point in dwelling on the past. What do we do now, Sync? Dist: Hey. Sync: Withdraw the troops from Engeve and St. Binah. Largo: But...! Sync: Your wound still hasn't healed. The Necromancer almost killed you. Why don't you take a break? And besides, the only way for them to cross the border is through Kaitzur. If we stay here and antagonize the Malkuth military, it could spark a diplomatic incident. Dist: Hey! Stop ignoring me! Legretta: So next comes deciding how to deal with them at Kaitzur. Let's return to the Tartarus for now and consider matters there. Largo: Inform the troops! First Division, withdraw! Soldier: Yes, sir! The soldier runs off. The God-Generals depart, leaving Dist alone. Dist: Grrrrrrr! You're all just jealous of my intelligence and beauty! Dist leaves. The party had been observing this meeting... Jade: Damn... Largo survived. Guy: This is the first time I've seen the Six God-Generals. Luke: Who are the Six God-Generals? Ion: The six executive officers of the Oracle Knights. Luke: But there were only five of them. Guy: There's Largo the Black Lion, Dist the Reaper, Sync the Tempest, Arietta the Wild, Legretta the Quick and... Looks like the one missing was Asch the Bloody. Tear: They're Van's immediate subordinates. Luke: Master Van's? Tear: If the Six God-Generals are taking action, then the one who's trying to cause a war is Van... Ion: The Six God-Generals side with the Grand Maestro. Mohs is likely giving orders to Van. Tear: Grand Maestro Mohs would never do something like this. My mission for the Grand Maestro is top secret, so I can't divulge any details. However, I assure you it is one of peace. Luke: Wait a minute! Master Van wouldn't try to cause a war, either! Tear: It's just the sort of thing my brother might do. Luke: What are you saying?! What about you, huh? How do we know you're not a spy working for that Mohs guy?! Ion: Please, settle down. Guy: He's right. Now's not the time to be worried about Van or Mohs. Right now, we have to get past the Six God-Generals and prevent this war. Tear: ...You're right. I'm sorry. Luke: ...Humph. I'm not accepting the apology of anyone who badmouths Master Van. Jade: Well, now that THAT's over, let's head for Kaitzur, shall we? Guy: You're unbelievable... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Oracle Knights' Objective' [SK032] | | Luke: The Oracle Knights sure are acting like they want to start a | war. | Tear: It couldn't be by the Grand Maestro's order! He only desires | peace. | Luke: Are you still trying to blame Master Van for this?! | Tear: Well, that's the only way everything makes sense! | Guy: Calm down, both of you. The important thing is that we're | escorting Fon Master Ion to Baticul to avert a war, and that | the Oracle Knights are after him. | Jade: Exactly. It may not be clear who is ultimately responsible, but | one thing is certain--Oracle Knights will continue to attack | until we reach Baticul. | Luke: *Sigh* All I want is to go home... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party is about to exit St. Binah once again, but... Ion: I'm sorry to trouble you, but would it be all right if we stopped here to rest? Luke: ...Huh? Yeah, your face does look pale again. Ion: I'm sorry... Luke: You sure are a bother, you know. Hey, guys, let's go to the inn. Jade: My, he has a kind side, after all. Guy: That's the good thing about Luke. And he's equally rude and demanding to both servants and those above him. Luke: Sh-shut up! In the inn... Jade: By the way, Ion, where did they take you when they abducted you from the Tartarus? Ion: To the Sephiroth... Luke: The "Sephiroth"? Tear: The Sephiroth are the world's ten most powerful fon slots. Guy: They're the planet's vital points. Places where memory particles, a kind of planetary fuel, concentrate and fonons gather easily. Luke: ...I-I knew that. You don't all have to launch into an explanation like I'm ignorant. Jade: What did they do at the Sephiroth? Ion: ...I can't say. It's confidential to the Order. Luke: You always say that. It's really starting to get on my nerves. Ion: I'm sorry. Luke: Oh, hey, Jade, how are you feeling? Is your body okay, I mean with that fon slot seal and all? Jade: My strength is somewhat diminished. My body's fon slots have been sealed, after all. Mieu: You're so considerate, Master! Luke: (////) Luke: N-no I'm not! It'd just be a pain if this old man keeled over on us, that's all... Guy: Aww, you're blushing, Luke! Luke: I am not!! Tear: Is it going to be difficult to undo completely? Jade: A fon slot seal is like a lock with a code that changes periodically. I'm unlocking it little by little, bit it looks like it will take a bit more time. Of course, my abilities are on a different level to begin with. Even after a partial drop, I don't imagine I'll have any trouble keeping up with the rest of you. Luke: Man, you're obnoxious... Jade: My apologies. It's my nature to be honest. Luke: Humph. Well, then, let's leave Ion in the hands of the great and powerful Colonel while we get some sleep. Luke, Tear and Guy depart. Jade: That exhaustion has to be more than just a weak constitution... Could Ion be the same as Luke...? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What a Team!' [SK035] | | Luke: Whew! Finally, a decent bed to sleep in! | Guy: Hah hah... Did the cold ground get to you? | Luke: No way! ...Well, okay, a little. I'll take a bed any day. | Guy: There's no need to worry about thieves or monsters here, | either. | Luke: Yeah, and if any did come, they'd be no problem for us. | Guy: Between Malkuth's Necromancer, a Locrian Sergeant of the Oracle | Knights, the leader of the Order of Lorelei, and the son of a | duke of Kimlasca, you'd have to be a fool not to run away. | Ion: And, of course, we have you, Guy. | Guy: Me? Nah, I'm just a servant, that's all. | Luke: Heh heh heh. | Jade: Just a servant, indeed... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party is about to exit St. Binah once again, but... Luke: (sweating) Man: Man, what am I going to do? I was headed for Akzeriuth, but the bridge on the road is broken. Are you headed south, too? You can't use the bridge, so be careful. Oh, well. I guess I'll head for Engeve. See ya. The man leaves. The party finally exits St. Binah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What Kind of Girl...?' [SK033] | | Jade: Let's head for Kaitzur to meet up with Anise. | Luke: When are you guys finally going to get me home...? | Guy: Well, with Rotelro Bridge out, we'd have to go grab a ship at | Kaitzur anyway, so we're really not losing any time this way. | Tear: Too bad the bridge to Akzeriuth is out, too. Now we'll have to | cross the Fubras River on foot... | Jade: The Fubras is pretty calm at this time of year, and the water | shouldn't be too high either. It's actually the shortest path | to Kaitzur, so depending on how you look at it, you might say | we're actually saving time. | Luke: But then Anise had to cross that river too, right? You think she | was okay? | Jade: She's fine. She's Anise. | Ion: There's no need to worry about Anise. | Luke: Huh... Well, anyway, let's get going. | [Luke, Tear, Jade & Ion leave.] | Guy: Just who is this Anise, anyway...? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:FU1} \ >>> Fubras River \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: Kimlascan territory is just ahead, once we cross here, right? Guy: Yeah, there's a city called Kaitzur after crossing the Fubras River. That whole area's a demilitarized zone. Luke: Man, I can't wait to get back... I'm sick of all this stuff. Mieu: Hang in there, Master! Cheer up! Luke: Do you ever shut up?! I thought I told you not to talk! Luke kicks Mieu away. Mieu: Mieu... Tear: Luke! Don't take things out on Mieu! Ion: I'm sorry I dragged you into this, Luke. Luke: (angry) Luke: Tch... Jade: Well, it sounds like Luke's done whining. Shall we be going? Luke: What do you mean, "whining"?! Hey! Stop ignoring me! Further in to the river... Jade: Luke, wait just a moment. Luke: ...What is it, oh great leader? Tear: Luke! Jade: I've been watching you fight. It appears you don't have a firm grasp on proper fonon use. Luke: (?) Luke: Using fonons is what fonists do. I don't need to worry about that. Jade: *Sigh* Did your Master teach you nothing but brute force? Tear: ... Luke: Don't make fun of Master Van! He didn't teach me that stuff because I don't need it! Jade: Whatever the case, you don't know how to use fonons in battle, correct? In that case, I'd like you to learn, so you can fight more efficiently. Luke: Why the hell should I bother? Guy: Luke, this man is a professional. If you want to survive, you should listen to what he has to say. Luke: ...Humph. Yeah, a professional killer. Jade: Indeed I am. And conveniently enough, there's a monster. I'll teach you during a real battle. The fon slot seal has already reduced my abilities. I don't want any further dead weight. Field of Fonim tutorial. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Watch Out for Water' [SK039] | | Luke: For a river that took out a bridge, this doesn't look all that | special. | Guy: Well, the water's probably receded a fair bit since then. Think | of how it would look after a rainstorm. | Luke: How would I know what that looks like? | Guy: Oh, right, sorry. Anyway, river or otherwise, water can be | dangerous, so you'd best be careful. | Luke: You sure talk about that a lot... The dangers of the sea and | all. | Tear: ...Yes, I've heard that too, that the sea is a dangerous place. | Jade: "Heard?" Interesting choice of words. With Daath on the | Padamiyan continent, I'd think there would be quite a few | beaches nearby. | Tear: Well...yes, that's true... | Jade: Anyway... Guy, are you from Baticul? | Guy: Mm? No, but I do like the water, though. I've even had training | in maritime rescue. | Luke: Wow, you can do anything, can't you? | Guy: Just listen to me when I tell you to be careful, okay? Don't try | to fool around with nature. | Luke: ...Would you all stop staring at me?! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Natural Disasters' [SK037] | | Luke: Dammit, I'm drenched... | Guy: Hey, don't complain. You wanted to get back as fast as possible, | right? | Luke: Well, yeah...but if I'd known it was this bad, I'd have gone to | Akzeriuth instead. | Tear: You're still not used to traveling yet, Luke? | Luke: Shut up! I just want to take the easiest way, that's all. | Tear: Well, with the bridge out, there's no way at all to Akzeriuth | right now, and it'll probably be a while before the bridge is | repaired. There's not much you can do about natural disasters. | Luke: Are there a lot of earthquakes and stuff around here? | Guy: I don't know. I haven't heard of many, but you can't exactly | predict them, either. | Luke: Yeah, you've got a point. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Further along, a Liger comes out of nowhere... Tear: ...A liger! Jade: There's someone behind them as well. Guy: It's Arietta the Wild. They've found us... Arietta: I won't let you get away. Ion: Arietta! Please, let us go. You understand, don't you? We can't let this war happen. Arietta: I...I want to help you, Ion... But those people are my enemies! Ion: Arietta, they aren't bad people. Arietta: Yes...yes they are... They killed Mommy! Luke: What're you talking about? When did we ever do something like that? Arietta: Mommy's home was burned, so she moved into the Cheagle Woods. She was just trying to protect her children... My brothers and sisters... Tear: Could she mean the liger queen? But, she's human... Ion: She was raised by monsters after losing her parents in the Hod War. She was recruited for the Oracle Knights because of her ability to communicate with monsters. Luke: The liger we killed was.... Arietta: That was Mommy! I'll never forgive you! I'll chase you to the ends of the earth...and kill you! Arietta holds up her doll. Suddenly, the earth shakes. Luke: Uaaah! Ion: Aah?! Guy: Whoa! Tear: Aah! Mieu: (!) Purple gas seeps out from the cracks in the ground. Jade: It's an earthquake! Guy: What's that mist?! Tear: It's the miasma...! Ion: Oh, no! The miasma is deadly poison! Arietta: Aah! Arietta faints after inhaling the miasma. Luke: This stuff kills you if you breathe it?! Tear: If you don't inhale a large amount over a long period of time, you'll be okay. Let's just get out of-- Luke: Now what do we do?! We can't run away! Tear: ... Tear starts casting Force Field. Jade: Fonic hymns, at a time like this? Ion: Wait, Jade. That song...it's one of Yulia's fonic hymns! Guy: The miasma disappeared! Tear: I've applied a vibration identical to the inherent vibration of the miasma. Its a temporary shield. It won't last long. Jade: The seven fonic hymns left behind by Yulia... I'd heard rumors of them, but... I heard they were too difficult for anyone to decipher... Guy: Worry about that later. We need to get out of here. Jade: ...Yes. Jade unleashes his spear and points it at the unconscious Arietta. Luke: H-hey, stop! Why do you have to kill her?! Jade: If we let her live, she'll come after us again. Luke: But...how can you kill someone unconscious and defenseless? Tear: ...You really are soft. Luke: Shut up, you cold- Ion: Jade. Please let her go. Arietta was originally one of my Fon Master Guardians. Jade: ...Very well. Guy: You don't mind if we at least move her so that the miasma won't hit her if it comes back, do you? Jade: I don't think I can complain about that, seeing as how I'm already letting her live. Tear: It won't hold much longer. Ion: Let's go. Tear learned Force Field. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `To Kaitzur' [SK038] | | Jade: Let's step up the pace a little, shall we? | Luke: Why? All we have to do is follow the coastline, right? | Jade: I'd prefer to avoid any more trouble from Arietta. | Luke: Oh...yeah. Good point. | Guy: So, shall we get going to Kaitzur before Arietta catches up with | us? | Luke: Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ En route to Kaitzur... Jade: If I may have a moment? Luke: ...Oh, come on. We're almost to Kaitzur. What do you want here? Ion: It's Tear's Fonic Hymns, isn't it? Jade: Yes. I've wondered about them for a while. Her fonic hymns are different from the ones I know. And, Ion... You say those are Yulia's fonic hymns. Luke: So what? Guy: Yulia's fonic hymns are special. Normally, fonic hymns are just the incantation used in a fonic arte, combined with a melody. They're not as strong as fonic artes. Ion: But Yulia's hymns are different. They are said to hold the same power as fonic artes. Tear: ...Yes, the fonic hymns I use are indeed those of Yulia. Jade: I thought Yulia's hymns meant nothing with only the verses and melody... Luke: Really? You can't just sing them? Guy: When one who truly appreciates the symbolism and meaning sings a verse, it draws a map to hidden wisdom. Luke: What's that supposed to mean? Guy: ...Or so they say, anyway. Supposedly, they're handed down in secret from one generation to the next. Tear: Y-yes. That's correct. You know a lot about them. Guy: I heard about it once, way back. Jade: (...) Jade: How are you able to sing Yulia's hymns? Who did you learn them from? Tear: I was told that it is because my family is descended from Yulia... I don't know whether that's true or not. Jade: A descendant of Yulia... I see... Luke: So that means Master Van's a descendant of Yulia, too? Guy: ...Well, yeah. I guess so. Luke: Whoa! Master Van's so cool! Tear: (...) Jade: Thank you, Tear. I would certainly like the chance to learn more about fonic hymns. Especially the Grand Fonic Hymn. Luke: "Grand Fonic Hymn"? What's that? Ion: The fonic hymn Yulia sang to use Lorelei's power. It is proof of their covenant. Tear: ...Shall we get moving? I believe I've answered your question. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:KA1} \ >>> Kaitzur \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party notices Anise trying to get past the border... Luke: Hey, isn't that Anise? Anise: I've lost my identification, and my passport, too. Please let me through! Please! Soldier: I'm sorry, but I can't let you pass. Anise: Ohh...You better watch your back. Ion: Anise, Luke can hear you. Anise: (!) Anise: Oh! It's my darling! (heart) My prince! (heart) Anise runs up and hugs Luke. Everyone else: (...) Guy: *Shudder* ...Women are scary! Anise: Luke! (heart) I'm so glad you're safe! I was so worried about you! Luke: We were worried, too. They said you were fighting monsters and fell from the Tartarus? Anise: Yeah... It was pretty scary... Heh heh... Ion: The poor thing must have been terrified. She screamed, "I'll kill you bastards!" as she fell. Anise: (vein) Anise: Fon Master, please! Shh! I kept the imperial letter safe. Aren't you proud of me, Luke? (heart) Luke: Oh, uh, yeah. Good job. Anise: Yay! (heart) Jade: I'm glad you're safe, Anise. Anise: Oh, my.(heart) Were you worried about me too, Colonel? Jade: Yes, we can't do a thing without that letter. Anise: You're mean... Tear: By the way, how are we going to cross the checkpoint? Neither Luke nor I have passports. Asch: You won't need any once you're dead! Asch comes from above and attempts to kill Luke. Van jumps in and stops him. Van: Stand down, Asch! Asch: ...Out of the way, Van! Van: What do you think you're doing? I don't recall giving any orders like this. Now stand down! Asch sheathes his sword and leaves. Luke: Master! Van: Luke. That parry was pathetic. Luke: We meet up after all that's happened and that's the first thing you say? Tear: ...Van! Van: Tear, put away your weapon. You misunderstand. Tear: What do you mean? Van: Calm down. Once you're ready to listen to me, come to the inn. Luke: Master! Thanks for saving me. Van: It must have been hard for you, Luke. You've done and admirable job. I'd expect no less from my pupil. Luke: Thank you!! Heh heh! Van heads to the inn. Ion: Tear, let's listen to what Van has to say. I think it would be foolish to insist on fighting and ignore an opportunity to communicate. Luke: Yeah. Seriously, how bloodthirsty are you? Tear: As you wish, Fon Master. Guy: Well, all right. Let's go see Van. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Asch the Bloody' [SK041] | | Guy: Was that Asch the Bloody? He attacked so suddenly, I couldn't be | sure. | Anise: Wow... If the Commandant hadn't stepped in, Luke could've been | killed... | Guy: But just attacking out of the blue, without even trying to | capture Ion... Are they that desperate? | Jade: Perhaps... In any case, caution would be well-advised. | Guy: Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inside the inn... Van: Have you calmed down a bit? Tear: ...Why are you trying to interfere with Fon Master Ion's efforts to prevent war? Van: *Sigh* Are you still saying that? Luke: She's wrong, isn't she, Master? Tear: But the Six God-Generals are trying to kidnap Ion! Van: Calm down, Tear. I have no idea why the Fon Master is even here to begin with. All I've heard from the Order is that Ion vanished from the cathedral in Daath. Ion: I'm sorry, Van. I did that of my own volition. Van: I'd appreciate it if you'd fill me in on what's happened up until now. Jade: I'm the one who took Ion away. Allow me to explain. Later... Van: ...I see. I do command the Six God-Generals, but they are part of the Grand Maestro faction. It's likely they are under orders from Grand Maestro Mohs. Guy: I see now. You may have been recalled to steal Ion back from the Malkuth military. Van: Yes, perhaps so. The one who attacked you earlier, Asch, is also one of the Six God-Generals. But even I didn't know he was involved in this matter. Tear: Then, are you saying you have nothing to do with all of this? Van: No, considering I was unaware of what my own troops were doing, I must take some responsibility. But I don't side with the Grand Maestro faction. Anise: That's news to me, Commandant. Van: I'm the leader of the Six God-Generals, so people tend to assume I side with the Grand Maestro. For that matter, Tear, you're part of the intelligence division under the Grand Maestro's command. Why are you here? Tear: I'm searching for something under orders from Mohs. I can't say any more than that. Van: The Seventh Fonstone? Tear: ...I'm not at liberty to say. Luke: The "Seventh Fonstone"? What's that? All: (...) Luke: What? Quit looking at me like I'm stupid... Guy: Talk about a sheltered life... Tear: It's part of the Score that Yulia read 2000 years ago. The world's future is written within. Ion: The Score was so long, it took up seven fonstones, each the size of a mountain. Eventually the stones broke apart. Some became the fon belt you see in the sky. Others fell to the earth. Anise: Malkuth and Kimlasca both tried to claim the stones that fell to land, and that led to war. Because, if you have the fonstones, you can learn the future. Luke: Huh. So, the thing with the seventh "Score" written on it is called the "Seventh Fonstone," huh? Jade: It's said that Yulia hid the Seventh herself after she read the Score. Therefore, numerous powers have been searching for the Seventh Fonstone. Luke: And that's what Tear is looking for now? Tear: Maybe. Maybe not. Van: At any rate, I have nothing to do with Mohs. I'll order the Six God-Generals not to interfere with you all, though I don't know how much good it will do. Guy: Van, what about passports? Van: Oh, yes. Duke Fabre has entrusted me with temporary passports. With the spares I brought just in case, there are just enough for all of you. Obtained passport. Luke: Now we can cross the border. Van: You should get some rest here before you go. I'll go on ahead across the border and ready a ship. Guy: So, we'll meet up at the Kaitzur naval port? Van: Right. Once you cross the border, just follow the sea and you'll be there shortly. Don't get lost, now. Van leaves. Luke: See? I told you Master Van wasn't doing anything wrong. Tear: I don't trust him. Luke: Oh yeah? Well, I don't trust you. Tear: That's fine with me. Guy: ...Nice friendly relationship you two have there. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `An Ordinary Little Girl?' [SK040] | | Tear: Anise, I'm glad you're safe. | Anise: Luke! (heart) It was so lonely without you! (heart) | Luke: Y-yeah, I'm glad you made it. | Ion: It sounds like you had a hard time. | Jade: A little longer and we might have actually started worrying. | Anise: Booo! How about worrying about me from the beginning? | Tear: Well, now we just need to head for Baticul. | Jade: Indeed. I just hope the Six God-Generals will leave us alone | until then... | Anise: Hmm? Guy, are you interested in me? | Guy: N-no... I mean, Jade and Ion were talking about you a lot, so I | wondered what you were really like.... | Anise: Me? Oh, I'm just your ordinary, everyday, cute little girl. | Jade: It seems that Anise has a slightly different definition of | "ordinary" than I do. | Ion: Hah hah hah. | Anise: That's mean, Colonel! And don't laugh, Ion! | Luke: Hey, enough talk. Let's get moving! | Guy: Oh, sorry. Anyway, Anise, nice to meet you. | Anise: Nice to meet you too! (heart) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party stays at the inn. Luke: Guy! Hey, Guy! Guy: What is it? Luke: Shh! Be quiet or they'll wake up. Come with me for a little bit. Oh, and don't forget your sword. Guy: What the heck...? Outside Kaitzur... Luke: Sorry for dragging you all the way out here with me. Guy: And what can I do for you, dear Master Luke? Luke: Give me a hand with some sword training. Guy: What? What's up all of a sudden...? Luke: I'm still not sure I can swing my sword against a human opponent without hesitating. I want to practice to get over that. You and I are the only ones who use swords, and besides, this is kind of embarrassing. You're the only one I can ask. Guy: Luke...All right. I'll give you a hand. Learn yourself a new move or something and get right over that fear! Luke pulls out his sword. Luke: Yeah! Let's do it! Guy pulls out his sword. Guy: Ready when you are! They practice for a bit, and Luke learns Sonic Thrust. The night passes. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Lovers' Quarrel?' [SK042] | | Luke: Hey, why can't you get along with Master Van? He's your brother, | isn't he? | Tear: Like I said, I don't trust him. He's hiding something. | Luke: Well, you're hiding something too, aren't you? | Tear: ...... | Luke: Say something! | Mieu: P-please, don't argue! | Luke & Tear: ...! | Mieu: ...Mieu... | Guy: Mieu, leave them alone. There's no point in getting involved in | a lovers' quarrel. | Luke & Tear: ...!! | Guy: Uh... Mieu...? | Mieu: Don't be a copycat! | Guy: Heh heh heh. | Luke: Will you quit it already? | Tear: *Sigh* | Guy: Let's get going, you two. Save it until after things have | settled down, okay? | Luke: Yeah, yeah. | Tear: Fair enough. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes to cross the border. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Border' [SK043] | | Luke: So this is the border... | Tear: It certainly feels tense around here. | Jade: The Akzeriuth mines aren't too far from here. Neither side will | give up their wealth of resources easily. | Guy: Didn't there used to be a lot of country estates here for the | nobility? | Jade: So I've heard. The coastline is said to be quite beautiful. | Tear: But under these conditions... | Guy: They'd all be abandoned. Nobody in their right mind would come | here for leisure these days. Except us, of course. | Luke: Hey, I never wanted to come here in the first place! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Malkuth Soldier: Passports, please. Have a safe journey. The party crosses to the Kimlascan side. Kimlascan Soldier: ...These passports! We've received direct orders from His Majesty the King to let you through immediately! Luke: We're finally back in Kimlasca... Guy: Don't relax yet. The vacation's not over until you're actually home. Luke: Yeah, I'll pass on any more "vacations" like this. Jade: It's been a while since I visited Kimlasca. Anise: The Kaitzur naval port is south of here, right? Come on, Luke! Let's go! (heart) ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:NP1} \ >>> Kaitzur Naval Port \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: ...Huh? What's going on? Tear: That sounds like a monster... Anise: That's one of Gloomietta's pets! Guy: Gloomietta...? Anise runs up to Guy and appears to punch him. Guy: Aaah! Anise: Arietta! The God-General, Arietta the Wild! Guy: O-okay, okay! I get it! Stop touching me! Tear: It flew from the direction of the harbor. Let's go. Jade: I'm sure you're enjoying yourself, Guy. But we'd best be going. Guy: Get her away from me! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Arietta Attacks!' [SK047] | | Tear: So Arietta came after all. | Guy: Yep. | Anise: Huh? What about Gloomietta? | Guy: She attacked us at the Fubras River, too. The miasma got her | that time... | Ion: But I asked them to let her go. | Anise: The Fubras? That close by? And she's already come back? | Gloomietta's always so stubborn...and she moves so fast...and | she never listens to anybody! She's such a pain... | Jade: I knew things would end up like this, but there's no point in | arguing over the past, so let's leave it at that. | Ion: Yes. Let's go over to where the trouble is. | Tear: Right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What's He Writing About?' [SK045] | | Anise: Hmm? Luke's keeping a diary? | Tear: Yes. Apparently it's a safeguard in case he gets amnesia again. | Anise: What's he writing in it? | Guy: Who knows? Probably "Master Van this, Master Van that..." | "Master Van did this awesome thing, Master Van's the best..." | Anise: If that's all he's writing about, I guess he doesn't have a | girlfriend yet. Perfect! | Tear: ...Anise? Did you say something? | Anise: N-No. No! Nothing at all! | Jade: That, or he might be making notes on his meals. "Rappig again | today" and "I sure would like some beef," and so on. | Guy: Nah, he doesn't care about food that much. Though given his | upbringing, his tastes may tend more toward the luxuriant. | Anise: Wow... I want to eat luxuriant meals, too! | Jade: If that's all you eat, you'll turn into a rappig, you know. | Anise: Boo booooo. | Jade: Nice pigtails... | Anise: T-that's not fair! Booo! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads towards the port area. Luke: ...Oh... A ship appears to be burning. Van has his sword drawn on Arietta. Van: Arietta! Who gave you permission to do this?! Anise: I knew it was you, Gloomietta! Stop causing trouble for people! Van: You all.... Arietta: I am NOT gloomy! You're mean, Anise! Tear: What happened here? Van sheathes his sword. Van: Arietta unleashed her monsters on the ship. Arietta: Commandant... I'm sorry... Asch asked me to... Van: Asch?! A griffin comes for Arietta. She grabs on. Arietta: I have to take away the engineer who can repair the ship. If you want him back, Luke and Ion have to come to Choral Castle. If they don't come... They'll...kill him... Arietta flies off with the griffin. Guy: Van, how's the ship? Van: ...Out of commission, I'm afraid. With our engineer kidnapped, we'll have to wait for the training ship to return. Jade: What's this "Choral Castle" that Arietta mentioned? Guy: It's Duke Fabre's vacation home. I heard he abandoned it when the front line of the previous war drew near. Luke: Huh. Really? Guy: Luke, come on! Choral Castle was where they found you when you were kidnapped seven years ago! Luke: I told you, I don't remember anything from back then! Maybe I'll remember something if I go there. Van: There's no need for you to go. Wait for the training ship to return to port. I'll deal with Arietta myself. Ion: ...But that means we'll be ignoring Arietta's demands. Van: Isn't preventing war what's important right now? Luke. Take Fon Master Ion and return to the border. There's nothing here but simple rest facilities. I'll remain here and put a stop to Arietta. Luke: Y-yes, sir. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `To Go or Not to Go' [SK048] | | Luke: Choral Castle... | Jade: I can understand your interest, but... | Luke: I know, I know! I'm not saying I want to go or anything. Master | Van said I didn't even have to go, anyway. | Jade: Even if you do go, you may not be able to accomplish anything. | Luke: I said I know! I just have to wait back at Kaitzur, right? | Sheesh. | [Luke leaves.] | Guy: But it might do him some good, you know? He might remember | something. | Jade: Then again, he might not. | Guy: Well, yeah, but... | Jade: ...Though to be honest, I wouldn't entirely disapprove of going, | either. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As the party goes to leave the port, it is stopped on its way out. Man: Fon Master Ion! Please, wait! Anise: What business do you have with the Fon Master? Man: The man Arietta the Wild kidnapped is our maintenance chief! Please, Fon Master, you have to save the Chief! Man 2: The Chief faithfully upholds the Score. He's a devout follower of the Order of Lorelei. He was relieved when this year's birth Score stated that calamity would be avoided. Man: Please! Ion: ...All right. Jade: Are you sure? Ion: Arietta told me to come. Tear: I agree with Ion. Luke: And you called me soft... Tear: If we abandon one the Score has foretold will be saved from calamity, we will be ignoring the Score. That would go against Yulia's teachings. And... Luke: And...? Tear: ...Never mind. Jade: It is true that the Score should be upheld... Anise: Um, I think we should go to Choral Castle, too. Guy: If you're going to Choral Castle, I'll go with you. There's something there I'd like to investigate. Jade: Arietta's female, you know. Guy: D-don't remind me! Mieu: Are you going too, Master? Luke: ...No way am I going. Even Master Van said we didn't have to. Ion: Arietta said for you to come as well. Man: Please don't abandon the Chief! He has a family in Baticul! Luke: ...All right, all right. I'll go. Are you happy now? Why do I have to bother with this.... Man 2: Th-thank you so much! Man: Choral Castle is southeast of here, along the coast. Please take care. Jade: ...Well, you heard him. Shall we be going? Luke: I thought you were against going to Choral Castle. Jade: Nope. Either way's fine by me. Luke: What the...? I don't get you at all. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `To Choral Castle' [SK049] | | Luke: So we're going... | Ion: We can't ignore Arietta's threat to the maintenance chief. I'm | sorry for involving you in this... | Luke: It's fine. Somebody's got to go along and protect you. I'll take | care of the monsters, so you just stay back. | Anise: Luke! (heart) Can you protect me too? (heart) | Ion: Protect Anise? I'm not really sure she needs-- | Anise: There are monsters all over! The frail maiden is supposed to | receive protection from the prince! Err...duke! Whatever! It's | so dreamy...(heart) | Ion: Hah hah... | Luke: ...All right, enough already. Let's go! | Anise: Okay! (music note) | Ion: Okay. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Children' [SK050] | | Guy: Still a ways to go, hmm, Luke? | Luke: Yeah. We finally made it back to Kimlasca, and now this... | Tear: The trip will go much faster once we board a Kaitzur ship. Just | be patient. | Luke: I've BEEN patient! Don't treat me like a baby! | [Luke leaves.] | Tear: Ah... I'm sorry. | Jade: Perhaps children are children precisely because they don't | realize they are children... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:CC1} \ >>> Choral Castle \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: THIS is the place they found me in...? It's falling apart. It looks haunted. Guy: Does it bring back any memories? Like from when you were kidnapped? Anise: You can't remember anything from your childhood, can you, Luke? Luke: Well...my memories really only start from the point I got back to the manor seven years ago. Anise: That's so sad... I'll help you get your memory back! Tear: ...Something's not right. No one's lived here for ages, but there are signs of recent activity. Mieu: Monsters... I can feel them. Guy: The chief engineer must be inside. Let's take a look. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Who Needs Memories?' [SK051] | | Luke: Man, I still can't remember anything. | Guy: Oh well. Maybe something will come back to you while we're | wandering around. | Luke: It's not like it really matters anyway. I'm not missing | anything. | Guy: Really? I'd have thought it would bother you more. I have to | admit I'm impressed. | Luke: Why? Things were probably just as boring for me when I was a | kid. | Guy: Poor Princess Natalia... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Dream Plans?' [SK055] | | Anise: Wow... My future country home... | Luke: Did you say something? | Anise: Luke! This is your estate, right? | Luke: Yeah... Well, it's my dad's, anyway. That's all I know about | it. | Guy: Actually...I don't think this place has been used in a while. | Close to a generation, is what I heard. | Luke: So why do they still bother holding onto it? | Guy: I doubt it's even that... More like they abandoned it. Doesn't | cost anything to maintain it that way. | Anise: Great! Okay, this is going to be Anise's Private Resort! | Luke: Huh...? Why're you talking to yourself all the time, anyway? | Weirdo. | [Luke & Guy leave.] | Anise: Oh, no! My dream plans are in danger! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party enters the castle. Luke runs ahead. Luke: So, this was our vacation home, huh? Guy: Luke, don't stray too far from the group. Luke: I know, I know. Shut up already. A monster moves and heads towards Luke. Guy, Jade & Tear: (!) Jade: Luke! Tear: Luke, behind you! Luke: Huh? The monster attacks. Guy: That's why I told you to keep close. Tear: Because you were careless our formation was broken, and we didn't have time to prepare for battle. I hope you learned your lesson. Luke: Shut up! How was I supposed to know that?! And what the hell was that thing, anyway?! Jade walks up to it. Jade: It's a fontech doll designed to eliminate intruders. This is a relatively recent model, though it looks like it has seen better days. Anise: Ohh, Luke! I was so scared! Guy: With monsters like that around, you've got to pay attention. Luke: Okay, okay! I'll be careful! Jeez! Enough! The party comes upon a strange machine. Luke: What the hell?! What's this weird machine doing in our vacation home? Jade: Is this...? Anise: Colonel, do you know what it is? Jade: ...No, I can't be sure. And even if I were... Luke: Wh-what? Has it got something to do with me? ...I can't be certain yet. Give me a little more time to think about it. Guy: I think this is the first time I've ever heard you sound nervous about something. There's something I'm concerned about as well. If what's troubling you is related to Luke's kidnapping-- A squeaking is heard. Anise jumps out and grabs Guy from behind. Anise: Aah! Guy: Uaaah! Get away! Anise: Wh-what...? Guy: Uh...I... Jade: That was more than just a startled reaction. What's wrong? Guy: I'm sorry. My body just reacted... Sorry about that, Anise. Are you all right? Anise: ...Y-yeah. Ion: Did something happen? That didn't look like a mere aversion to females. Guy: I'm sorry... I really don't know. I wasn't like this as a kid. But there's a part of my memory that's completely missing. The cause may lie there... Luke: Your memory is messed up, too? Guy: I don't think it's the same thing. I'm only missing the memory from a single moment. Tear: How do you know it's just one moment. Guy: I know. The only thing that's missing is the memory of when my family died. Enough about me. I want to hear what's on your mind, Colonel... Jade: Just as you'd rather not talk about your past, there are some things I wish not to talk about as well. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Guy's Feelings' [SK053] | | Luke: So Guy's parents are dead... | Tear: You didn't know, either? | Luke: Nope. I might've heard about it when I was a kid, but I can't | remember anything from before I was kidnapped. And Guy doesn't | talk about the past much, anyway. | Tear: Well, like the Colonel said, everyone has things they don't want | to talk about. You should probably let him be until he decides | to bring it up. | Luke: I don't need you telling me how to deal with Guy! Stop lecturing | me! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Mystery Machine' [SK052] | | Jade: *Sigh* | Anise: Colonel, you've been thinking about something ever since we saw | that fon machine... | Jade: Hmm? It's not like you to pry, Anise. | Anise: Well, you looked so serious. | Jade: What are you talking about? I'm always serious. | Anise: Huh?! | Jade: Hah hah. Don't worry, I'll talk about it once I'm certain of | what it is. Until then, let's leave the subject alone. Okay? | Anise: Okay. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party sees a liger going up the stairs. Luke: There's one! Anise: Luke! Let's follow it! Mieu: I'm going, too! Ion: Wait! Please don't hurt Arietta! Luke, Anise and Ion run after it. Tear: Wait! It could be a trap! Jade: My, my. There they go. Impetuous little things, aren't they? Guy: They really could stand to use their heads a little. Tear, Jade and Guy run after Luke, Anise and Ion. Luke, Anise and Ion reach the roof. They can see the chief on top of a liger. A griffin grabs Luke and Anise. Anise: Ohh... I covered Ion... Sorry, Luke... Arietta motions to the griffin to drop Anise. Anise: Owww! Not funny, Arietta! That hurt! Arietta: You hurt me first! You took Ion away from me! Ion: Arietta, that's not true! It's wasn't anything like that. The reason you were distanced from the Fon Master Guardians was-- Tear, Jade and Guy come running up. Guy: Luke! Tear: Honestly... If only he'd be a little more careful... The griffin drops Luke and Dist grabs him. Mieu: Oh, no! Arietta leaves on her liger. Jade: Dist is involved in this, too? Oh, brother. Tear: Ohh...what are we going to do now?! Guy: ...Hm? Tear, did you say something? Tear: N-no. It's nothing. Let's hurry up and rescue Luke and the chief. Anise: It's my fault... Ohhh, I can't believe I let this happen! That stupid Arietta! Jade: Now, now, calm down. If they're going to this much trouble, I doubt they intend to take his life. And the one they really want, Ion, is still with us. Back in the room with the strange machine. Dist: ...Ah, I see. Even the fonon frequency is the same. This is a perfect creation. Sync: That's not important. We have to erase the data before they come back. Dist: If the data here is that important, you shouldn't have had Asch use Choral Castle in the first place. Sync: That idiot came here on his own. We'll have to have Van punish him later. ...Oh, look. This idiot here is finally coming around. Dist: No matter. I've already opened his synchronized fon slots. Dist: I'll be going now. I can't wait to analyze this data. Heh heh heh heh. Luke: ...What the hell did you do to me? Sync: I see no reason to answer that question. Guy comes running in and tries to hit Sync, who dodges. Sync: No! Guy gets a hold of a disc, then goes after Sync again. Sync's mask comes off. Guy: ...What? ...You? Anise: Guy! What is it?! Sync hits Guy and grabs his mask before anyone else sees his face. Sync: Damn it, they're here! Sync: This was an unauthorized mission. It's too bad I can't kill you myself, but I'll leave it in Arietta's capable hands. She's on the roof with the hostage. Hope you enjoyed our little game. Jade turns the strange machine off. Luke: Whew... What the hell was all that...? Ion: What is it, Guy? Guy: Oh...nothing. I got hold of a strange fon disc, so I was just wondering what it was. Ion: Let's have Jade look into it later. Tear: Are you okay, Luke? What in the world did they want to kidnap you for...? Luke: How should I know?! Why the hell does this stuff always happen to me?! Anise: It's Arietta's fault! She's going to pay for this! Jade: She's on the roof, right? I hate running around like this, but we have no choice. Let's go. Obtained fonic disc. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What are the Six God-Generals After?' [SK054] | | Guy: What are the Oracle Knights up to, anyway? There was talk about | them starting a war, but... | Anise: The Oracle Knights aren't trying to start a war! | Tear: No... it seems more like the Six God-Generals are moving | independently under someone else's orders. Perhaps Arietta can | tell us more. | Anise: I doubt Gloomietta knows anything. She doesn't strike me as a | secret-orders kind of person anyway. | Tear: Well, she did say she was following Asch's instructions back in | Kaitzur... | Guy: Asch... You mean Asch the Bloody, of the Six God-Generals? ...Ah | well, it's not like we'll figure this out ourselves. | Anise: Yeah, and besides, if we can just get Ion and the Colonel to | Baticul before the war can break out, they won't be able to do | anything anyway. | Guy: Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads back to the roof, where Arietta is waiting. The griffin goes after Luke again, but he uses Mieu Fire. Luke: Heh heh! I'm not falling for that again! Anise: Luke, you're amazing! (heart) Jade: Not bad, for you. Luke: Oh, give it a rest! Arietta: You shot fire...at my friend! I'm really going to make you pay now! Luke: Shut up already! You've caused enough trouble, you little brat! Arietta: I don't care! I'm going to kill you all and take back Ion! You killed Mommy! Now, you die! The battle starts. Party wins. Jade: I knew letting her live would come back to haunt us. Jade pulls out his spear again, but Ion tries to stop Jade. Ion: Wait! I'll take Arietta back for an inquiry before the Order of Lorelei. So, please, don't take her life. Van: Yes, that would be best. Luke: Master... Van: There was no word of the Fon Master's arrival in Kaitzur, so I cane here just in case... Ion: I'm sorry, Van... Van: There's no point in dwelling on what's already been done. I'll take Arietta into my custody. Is that all right with you? Ion: Yes, please do. And please treat her wounds. Van picks up Arietta and starts to take her away. Guy: How do you plan to explain her crimes to His Majesty and the military? Ion: We will follow proper Order procedure, punish her, and issue a report. That's how lawful society operates. Van: I have soldiers and a coach from Count Almandine, the Kaitzur commander. I'll escort the maintenance chief home as well. What will you do, Ion? I'd prefer you to come with me, but... Ion: It seems some of us are interested in this castle, but... Luke: I want to walk back. Once we get on the ship, we'll be back in Baticul in no time anyway, right? Guy: Well, the route does have us stopping in Chesedonia along the way. Ion: ...It sounds like we'd prefer to walk, so we'll catch up to you later. Van: Understood. Please take care. Back at Kaitzur Naval Port... Man: Ah! We've been waiting for you! You have our deepest gratitude for rescuing the Chief! Luke: It was no walk in the part, that's for sure. Anise: Luke was so heroic! (heart) Luke: ...Heh heh. Was I really that good? Tear: Except for the getting kidnapped part. Luke: Shut up! Man: Oracle Knights Commandant Dorian General Van Grants gave me a message for you. Dorian General Grants if currently meeting with Lieutenant General Almandine, commander of the Kaitzur area. He would like you to come to the meeting hall later, at your convenience. As for the ship, repairs are proceeding smoothly. Luke: Keep up the good work. Man: Thank you. I'll get back to the repairs now! The man walks off. Luke: Where do they hold meetings? Guy: There should be a guest room down by the port. Luke: Okay. Let's go check it out later. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `How to Cure Guy?' [SK058] | | Anise: Hmm... | Jade: What are you up to, Anise? Plotting to murder Tear, perhaps? | Eliminate an obstacle to marrying Luke? | Anise: Of course not! I'd never do anything like that! It's about | Guy... | Jade: Ah, his fear of women? | Anise: You saw how seriously terrified he was. It's like I can't really | tease him anymore... | Guy: ...Seriously terrified, huh. | Anise: Whoa! | Guy: ...Don't worry about it. Not to quote Ion or anything, but | perhaps being teased during this journey might help me to get | over it. | Jade: Well, he reacted most strongly when you grabbed him from | behind... As long as you avoid that, you should be just fine. | Anise: Right. Here we go! Coochie coochie coochie coochie coochie... | Guy: S-stop that! Cut it out! No, don't...! Ack! No! Please! | Stoooooooooop!! | Anise & Jade: Coochie coochie coochie coochie coochie coochie... | Guy: ...Th-that's enough already! And you stay out of this, Jade! | Jade: ...Nibble. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At the Kimlascan base... Count Almandine: Ah, Luke, it's good to see you again. Luke: (?) Count Almandine: You don't remember me? I visited your mansion in Baticul once when you were young. I'm Almandine. Luke: Sorry, don't remember you. Count Almandine: Oh, well. You were still a small boy at the time. Van: Fon Master, I've informed Count Almandine about the incident with Arietta. Ion: Please forgive my servant's mistakes. Count Almandine: I hope I can expect Daath to deal with the matter in good faith. Luke: Say, could you send a message to my father? Count Almandine: A message? If we use a carrier pigeon, I believe we could get a message there before you arrive, but...? Luke: That's fine. Tell him I'm bringing Fon Master Ion and Colonel Jade Curtiss of Malkuth, and that-- Jade: Luke. Your lack of prudence is truly astounding. Count Almandine: Colonel Curtiss... You mean to say this is Jade the Necromancer? Jade: That's correct. My deepest apologies for not introducing myself. I carry a letter of peace on behalf of His Majesty, Peony the Ninth, Emperor of Malkuth. Count Almandine: ...Your entourage is smaller than I would expect. Jade: We suffered a great deal of interference. I hope you can forgive us. Luke: These guys saved me. Put in a good word for them. Count Almandine: ...All right. I'll send a carrier pigeon to the mainland at once. The ship will be ready by tomorrow, so please get some rest here in port tonight. Ion: Thank you. The night passes. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Oracle Knights Again' [SK057] | | Luke: Finally! Now I can get back home. That was one tough trip. | Tear: It's too early to start relaxing. | Mieu: How come? | Tear: The Oracle Knights may attack again. | Luke: They sure like getting in our way, don't they? Damn, they're a | pain. | Mieu: Don't worry, we'll be fine! | Tear: ...I sure hope so... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party prepares to depart Kaitzur. Ion: Thank you for your assistance. Count Almandine: Have a safe journey! ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:KF1} \ >>> Katsbert Ferry \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke goes to leave the cabin and gets one of his headaches. Luke: (Not again...!) ??? voice: Awaken... Hurry... Heed my voice... Luke: Oww! The headache goes away and Luke leaves the cabin. A soldier is outside. Soldier: Master Luke, Dorian General Grants wishes to see you. He asks that you wait on the deck. Luke: Master Van? Okay. Luke heads towards the deck. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Look At All That Water!' [SK059] | | Luke: My first boat trip, and I get those stupid headaches again... | *Sigh* But I guess the sea isn't all that bad... | Mieu: Wow, look! There's water all around us! | Luke: Would you shut up, already! Damn, you're annoying! | Mieu: Mieu... But this is my first trip to sea. I'm just surprised... | Luke: Tch... What's so great about water anyway? I'm totally bored | here. There's nothing to do. | Mieu: But Master, you just said that the sea isn't that bad... | Luke: Stupid Thing! Are you calling me a liar? Huh?! | Mieu: M-mieu... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Guy: Do you remember when the two of us first met, Luke? Luke: I told you I don't remember any of that. That was before I was kidnapped. Guy: ...Yeah. You're right. I mean, you're completely different. Luke: Huh? Guy: Ah, I'm just glad you're you. Jade: What would you do if you weren't really you? Luke: Huh? What are you talking about? Jade: Never mind... It was a stupid question. Forget I said anything. Ion: I hope what's happened won't incur King Ingobert's disfavor and cause negotiations to fall through. Luke: Don't worry. I'll explain everything to my uncle. I'll ask Father and Mother to help, too. Ion: That's right, your mother is His Majesty's younger sister. Luke: Yep. So, relax. Anise: Can I ask you a weird question? Luke: What? Anise: What do you think of Tear? [Choose "she's my type"] Luke: I'd say she's my type. Anise: Ohh...I see. I hope I fill out like Tear... Then maybe I'll be good enough for you.... Right now, I'm still a kid, but... I love you, Luke! (heart) Luke: (////) Luke: Aaah! Don't say weird stuff like that! Anise: You're so cute, Luke! (heart) [Choose "she's annoying"] Luke: She's annoying. Anise: That's not very nice. But I guess that means I still have a chance, so I'm kind of happy... (heart) Heh heh. ...I love you, Luke! (heart) Luke: (////) Luke: Aaah! Don't say weird stuff like that! Anise: You're so cute, Luke! (heart) Tear: So, you weren't actually a true Seventh Fonist after all. Luke: I remember you talking about "Seventh Fonists" before. What does that mean, anyway? Tear: Didn't your tutors teach you? Luke: How should I know? I don't remember! Tear: But you lost your memory seven years ago, right? Haven't you studied since then? Luke: I had a lot of other things I had to learn. Like my parents' faces... Tear: (...) Tear: ...All matter contains fonons--basic particles of sound. Fonons are divided into six elements. Luke: What, you decided to explain after all. Tear: Combining fonons with memory particles from the planet's core yields an enormous amount of energy. A device was made to supply fuel to the world by passing those particles through the fon belt. That's what's known as the Planet Storm. Luke: Sounds complicated. So...? Tear: The Planet Storm caused a mutation in the six fonon elements and the memory particles. And that was the birth of the Seventh Fonon. Those who use it to perform fonic artes are called Seventh Fonists. Luke: I don't know what to make out of that story. But I'm no fonist. Luke sits down. Tear: But you caused a hyperresonance with me. You're capable of using the Seventh Fonon. That's something you're born with. Luke: Now that you mention it, Jade can't use the Seventh Fonon. Tear: Right. There are very few Seventh Fonists. Scorers--those who read the Score--and healers are both Seventh Fonists. Luke: So, basically, it means special fonists who use a special fonon. Tear: ...I'm sorry. Luke: Huh? What's with you all of a sudden? Tear: I don't think I've been taking your memory loss very seriously. I've been unkind to you this whole time. I'm ashamed of myself... Luke: I-it's ok, it's not really a... Tear: I'm really sorry. Tear runs off. Luke continues to wander the deck looking for Van and gets another headache. Luke: ...Ow...oww! Luke: (My body's moving on its own!) Luke: Why am I moving...? ??? voice: I have reached you... Luke: Wh-who the hell are you?! ??? voice: Show me your power... The same power as mine... Luke: Are you the one controlling me?! What the hell are you?! I knew I wasn't just hearing things.... Van sees Luke. Luke: Wh-what's going on?! No! Stop! Van: Luke! Calm down! Calm down. Take a deep breath. ...That's it. Now, focus your mind on the tips of your fingers. Luke, listen to my voice. Now, relax, just like that.... Are you all right, Luke? Luke: What...what happened to me... Van: I would presume a hyperresonance occurred. Luke: A hyperresonance? You mean that thing that blew us to Tataroo Valley? Van: Yes, that was also the power of hyperresonance, though in an incomplete form. Luke: Master... What's happening to me? Van: Haven't you ever wondered about your kidnapping and the way you've been forbidden to leave the mansion? Luke: That's because, you know, my father's worried about me... Van: No. It's to keep you--the only person in the world who can cause a hyperresonance on his own--on a short leash here in Kimlasca. Luke: Wait, Master, hold on. I don't understand what you're saying. Just what is "hyperresonance," anyway? Van: A hyperresonance is a power that occurs when two Seventh Fonons interact. It can destroy and reform any matter. Normally, it occurs only under special conditions, with two Seventh Fonists present. Luke: But I can cause it by myself? Like what just happened? Van: Yes. With training, you could control it at will. It would be useful in war. Your father and the King both know that. That's why Malkuth wanted you. Luke: Are you saying I've been held captive in my own home as a weapon?! Luke: (!) Luke: ...Wait, do they plan to keep me this way my whole life?! Van: Well, your engagement to Princess Natalia means your holding cell will likely change to the castle. Luke: I refuse to accept that! Yeah, it can be annoying outside, but staying trapped in my home, just to be used in some war...? Van: Calm down, Luke. First, we avert the war. Then, we let everyone know of that success. If we do that, it will establish your status as a hero who preserved the peace. At the very least, you should be set free from your unfair imprisonment. Luke: You think so? You really think so, Master? Van: Don't worry. Have confidence in yourself. You've been chosen. The power of hyperresonance will make you a hero. Luke: A hero... Me, a hero... Van: Looks like we've arrived. Here we'll change ships for one headed to Baticul. Cheer up, Luke. A sullen face isn't becoming of a future hero. Luke: ...Right! ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:CH1} \ >>> Chesedonia \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Van: I'll bid you farewell here. I have to turn Arietta over to the inspector in Daath. Luke: What? I want you to come with us! Van: I'll head for Baticul later. Don't be selfish, Luke. Luke: But... Tear: (...) Van: The ship leaves port from the Kimlascan side. Inquire at the Kimlascan consulate. I'll see you again in Baticul. Tear, please look after Luke for me. Tear: Oh... R-right! Van leaves. Mieu: Master, it's a new city! It's full of sand! Luke: ...Shut up, Thing! Tear: (angry) Tear: (But he's so cute...) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `I'll Be a Hero...!' [SK060] | | Luke: The Seventh Fonon...hyperresonance... Dammit, I'm not a tool to | be locked up until I'm needed! If I can prove myself by | stopping the war, they'll make me a hero, and then I'll be | free... | Ion: Luke? Is something wrong? | Luke: Huh? Oh, no! Nothing at all. Let's go stop that war! | Ion: Y-yes, of course. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Almost Home!' [SK062] | | Anise: Now we just have to get to the consulate and sail back to | Baticul. | Guy: Well, Luke, that should wrap up your Grand Adventure. | Luke: Hey, quit it with the "Grand Adventure" thing! Besides, I've | still got stuff to do after we get back. | Anise: Yeah, you've got an important job back in Baticul! | Guy: Oh, right... Getting an audience with the King. | Anise: And introducing me to your parents! (heart) | Luke: You want to meet them? Sure, go ahead. | Anise: Really? I can't believe it! Yes! (heart) | Guy & Luke: Huh...? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Center of Trade' [SK063] | | Luke: Wow, this place sure is packed. | Guy: Well, you've got stuff coming in from all over the world. | Agricultural products, medicines--things like that from Malkuth | all pass through the consulate here in Chesedonia. Likewise for | products exported from Kimlasca. | Tear: That distribution system supports all those meals you've had. | Luke: Wow. All that food must've had a long trip. | Guy: Kind of like us. | Luke: So we're vegetables now...? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes further into town... Noir: Oh, my, what's a fine gentleman like you doing in a place like this? (heart) Luke: Huh? Wh-what do you want? Noir: Come, on. You have such a pretty face...Don't ruin it by frowning like that. Anise: (vein) Anise: Oh, no... Some old lady is after my Luke! Noir: (vein) Noir: Oh, my, pardon me, little girl. I didn't mean to interfere. I'll be on my way. Noir starts to walk off. Tear: Stop. Noir: Hmm? Tear: ...Return what you stole. Luke: Huh? Hey! My wallet's gone! Noir: ...Humph. So, you're not all chumps, huh? York! Take care of this! Urushi, we're outta here! Noir tosses the wallet to York, who tries to run away. Tear stops him. Tear: Don't move. If you return what you stole, I'll release you unharmed. York returns the wallet and runs away. York: ...You've got some guts making enemies of the Dark Wings. You haven't heard the last of us! They depart. Luke: They're the Dark Wings?! If I'd known that, I'd have cut them to pieces! Tear: Yes, after all, you did a great job of protecting your wallet. Luke: (...) Tear: By the way, Colonel, why did you just stand by and watch as she did that? Jade: Oh no, you got me. It looked like it would be so amusing.... Luke: ...What the?! You jerk! The party heads to the Kimlascan Consulate. Consul: Luke fon Fabre and the emissaries, I presume? Jade: What's the status of the ship to Baticul? Consul: Preparations are currently underway. Why not partake in some sightseeing around town while you wait? Guy: Why don't we take this opportunity to investigate that fon disc? Consul: If you need a fon disc analysis machine, I believe Mr. Astor of the Chesedonia Merchants' Guild has one. Guy: Luke, let's stop by there for a minute. Tear'll probably be busy after we get back to Baticul and all. Jade: I do wonder what's on it. Luke: Hmm. Well, okay. I want to take a look around, anyway. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Where is Astor?' [SK066] | | Luke: So where is this Astor, anyway? | Ion: Astor's mansion stands in the middle of the town. It actually | straddles the Kimlasca-Malkuth border. | Luke: So we just have to head up there, right? Let's go! | Guy: Yeah...but as long as we're here, why don't we do a little | shopping? Chesedonia's the trade capital of the world, after | all. There's bound to be interesting stuff lying around. | Luke: Sure, why not? Sounds like fun. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Analyzing the Fon Disc' [SK061] | | Luke: Guy, what are you planning to do with that fon disc, anyway? | Guy: Hmm? Nothing in particular. I'm just curious as to what's on it. | I figured there might be something interesting about the Six | God-Generals. | Luke: Yeah? | Jade: Indeed, that's a definite possibility. Though it could, of | course, be nothing more than a simple technological primer. | Guy: Or maybe it's a diary... | Luke: Yeah, right. | Jade: You never know. Now that would certainly be an enjoyable find... | Luke: Enjoyable?! | Guy: Hah hah. Whatever it is, we'll have to wait for the analysis to | find out for sure. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads to Astor's Mansion. Astor: Oh, my. Fon Master Ion! If only you'd let me know you were coming, I'd have prepared a grand welcome for you... Ion: Its fine. We're trying to keep a low profile. Also, I have a favor I'd like to ask. Astor: Name it. The Chesedonia Merchants' Guild is always at your service, Fon Master. Guy: We want to read the data from this fon disc. Astor: Leave it to me. You there! Astor claps his hands and a servant comes for the disc. Astor: Analyze that fon disc and deliver the results to him. Servant: Yes, sir. Guy: Thank you. Guy hands the disc to the servant. Luke: Ion, you know this guy? Astor: It's thanks to the Fon Master that we were able to establish this place of exchange on the border. Tear: The Merchants' Guild contributes large amounts of money to Daath. In return the Order enforces the recognition of Chesedonia as an autonomous state. Anise: You must be really right, Astor! (heart) I can't handle it! (heart) Wow, I wish I lived in a place like this! (heart) The servant returns. Servant: Here are the results of the analysis, sir. Guy: Thanks. Luke: That's a lot. Guy: I guess we'll read them on the ship. Jade: Then let's be going. Thank you for your assistance. Astor: Any time you need something, please don't hesitate to let me know. Hee hee hee. The party heads towards the Kimlascan side. A soldier meets with them. Soldier: Ah, here you are. The ship is ready. Please come to the Kimlasca-side port-- Sync comes running. Tear: (!) Tear: Look out! Sync attacks Guy as he runs by, then stops and turns around. Sync: Hand those over! Jade: We shouldn't cause a scene here. To the ship! Luke: Damn it! They just don't give up! The party runs away. Sync gives chase. Sync: You're not getting away! The party runs to the port. Soldier: Master Luke, departure preparations are complete. Luke: Get this ship moving! Now! Soldier: Excuse me? Luke: We're being chased! Hurry! Luke comes running with Mieu and barely makes it before the ship leaves. Sync: ...Ow! They got away. Dist: Ahhh hah hah hah hah! Looks like you blew this one, Sync! Sync: Oh, it's you. Dist: Leave the rest to me! With my ultra super hyper high-grade fonic technology, I'll flay that conniving, long-haired, four-eyed-- Sync is gone and crows can be heard cawing. Dist: Stop! Stop! Come back! I'm not done talking! Sync: I marked the one named Guy with a curse slot. I can make him my puppet at any time. As for you, make sure you properly dispose of those documents from the fomicry project. Dist: Now, who do you think you are? Just you wait! I'm putting this down in my revenge journal! Dist: (vein) On the ferry... Luke: If we made it this far, we should be in the clear. Guy: Damn! I lost part of the documents when Sync attacked. Jade: Let me see them. Jade: Looks like isofon research. 3.14159265358979322946... This is Lorelei's fonon frequency. Luke: Lorelei? Isofons? "Fonon frequencies"? What the heck are you talking about? Tear: "Lorelei" is the name for the aggregate sentience of the Seventh Fonon. Anise: When a certain amount of a particular fonon gathers together, it becomes sentient. Control that, and you can perform high-level fonic artes. Guy: Each one has a name. The First Fonon sentience is called "Shadow," the Sixth is called "Rem," and so on. Jade: Lorelei still hadn't been observed. Its existence is hypothetical. Luke: Huh... How come all of you know this stuff? Guy: Well... It's actually common knowledge. Tear: It's okay, Luke. You can't help it. Just keep learning from here on and you'll be fine. Anise: Is it just me...or are you being a lot nicer to Luke all of a sudden? Tear: I-I don't know what you mean. Oh, also! All matter emits a fonon frequency. They're like fingerprints; no two frequencies are the same. Guy: Way to change the subject. Very smooth. Tear: Be quiet, Guy! Isofons are two entities that have the exact same fonon frequency. Of course, they don't exist unless artificially created. Jade: Of course, if isofons were common, we'd have our hands full with hyperresonances all over the place. Luke: (!) Jade: Isofon research holds potential for weapons development, so the military has their eye on it. Anise: That "fomicry" technology they worked on a long time ago can make isofons, right? Ion & Jade: (...) Guy: Yeah, fomicry is like a copy machine, right? Jade: No, replicas created through fomicry are mere imitations. A replica may look identical, but its fonon frequency is different. One can' produce isofons that way. Luke: Gah! What the hell are you all talking about?! Enough of this complicated stuff. Jade can read those documents on his-- A soldier enters. Soldier: Emergency! A large number of monsters an unidentified fontech signature approaching from Chesedonia! Two Oracle soldiers burst into the cabin. Tear: Oh, no! They're here! The party defeats the soldiers. Tear: Can we assume their goal is to stop Ion and the letter from reaching Kimlasca? Guy: You don't suppose they'd try to just sink the whole ship, do you? Mieu: Master, what do we do?! I can't swim... Luke kicks Mieu. Luke: Shut up and drown. Jade: But if they intended to sink us, they wouldn't come storming aboard. Anise: Then they're trying to take it over! Guy: *Sigh* So then I guess we have to secure the bridge before they do, huh? Jade: Exactly. Luke: Why do those Oracle guys want to start a war so badly? What a pain.... Jade: There's no time for complaints. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Oracle Knights Attack!' [SK065] | | Anise: Arrgh! Why do they keep attacking us?! | Tear: At sea, there's nowhere to run. That's probably why they keep | attacking... | Jade: Oh, I wouldn't give them that much credit. | Anise: Colonel, why do you look so relaxed? Didn't you just say we need | to hurry? | Jade: It's just your imagination. As you said, we ought to hurry to | the bridge before things get worse. | Tear: Yes, let's hurry. | [Tear & Anise leave.] | Jade: These meticulously planned, yet silly attacks remind me of-- | Well, I just hope my premonition turns out to be groundless. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads out to the deck. NPC: Argh! Why, you little... Luke: (?) Robot: (music note) Robot: Now it belongs to me, the great Barrelow X! NPC: (sweating) NPC: Give back that fonstone! Barrelow X: No! We're going to use it in an experiment! The robot runs away. Luke: What's going on? NPC: That weird robot stole the fonstone fragment! Guy: Fonstone fragment? Does it want it for fontech work? Jade: Most likely. And considering the tacky design of that robot, I have a feeling I know who's behind this... Tear: You do, Colonel? Jade: (...) Jade: Unfortunately, I think so. At any rate, that fonstone fragment is a valuable resource. Let's get it back. The party catches up to Barrelow X. Barrelow X: Gaaah! Don't interfere! Guy pulls out his sword. Guy: If you don't want to get smashed, hand over that fonstone! Barrelow X: (...) Barrelow X: That's extortion! You're evil! But I'm scared so I'll give it back. Barrelow X gives the stone back. Barrelow X: You haven't heard the last of me! Barrelow X jumps into the sea. All: (...) Luke: It ran away... Anise: Um, is it okay for it to get wet? Barrelow X: Aaaaaaah!! All: (...) Jade: Naturally, we'll leave it alone. Guy hands the fonstone back to the man. Guy: Well, anyway, we got the fonstone fragment back. Here you go. NPC: Th-thanks. ...It's not much, but you can have this as thanks. I don't need it, anyway... Obtained Nobile and Winged boots. The party heads towards the bridge. Luke: ...Where the heck is their leader? Let's hurry up and finish this. Dist: Ahh hah hah hah hah! Ahh hah hah hah hah hah! Listen, you ignorant savages, and you shall hear my beautiful name. I am the most graceful member of the Six God-Generals, the one and only, Dist the-- Jade: Why, if it isn't Dist the Runny! Dist: The Rose! R-O-S-E, rose! Dist the Rose! Anise: You mean Dist the Reaper. Dist: Silence! I refuse to accept that name! It's Rose! ROSE! Luke: What, you know him? Anise: I'm in the Oracle Knights, too, so... But why do you know him, Colonel...? Dist: I, the genius Dist, once counted that duplicitous snake Jade amongst my friends. Jade: Which Jade is that? I don't know any Jades with such poor taste in friends. Dist: What did you say?! Jade: Ah ah, careful now, you know how your nose runs when you get mad. Dist: Grrrrrrrr! No it doesn't! Guy & Luke: (...) Luke: This is stupid... Guy: They're off in their own little world... Dist: Enough of this. Now, hand over the fon disc data! Jade: You mean this? Dist grabs the data. Everyone else: (!) Dist: Hah hah ha! How careless, Jade! Jade: You can have them. I've already memorized their contents. Dist: (!) Dist: Grrrrrrr! I'm being mocked by savages! When you taste the pain of my super ultra gorgeous artes, you'll regret what you've done! Kaiser Dist R attacks. Party wins. Dist ends up falling into the sea. Luke: Hey...look... Jade: It'll take more than that to kill him. He has the tenacity of a cockroach. Right now, I'm off to check the bridge. Guy: I'll go with you. Ladies, please protect Luke and Ion. Anise: Hmm? Don't tell me you're afraid of us, Guy... Guy: N-no! Of course not! Guy runs away to the bridge. Luke: What should we do? Tear: Let's check to see if anyone's injured. Ion: Yes, you're right. Anise: It's not easy being a messenger of peace... Luke: You got that right... The party arrives in Baticul at long last. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:BA2} \ >>> Baticul \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Goldberg: It is an honor. I am Goldberg, commander of the 1st Division, Kimlasca-Lanvaldear Royal Forces. Congratulations on your safe return. Luke: Yeah. Goldberg: A carrier pigeon arrived with a message from Count Almandine. He said you were traveling with an emissary of peace from the Malkuth Empire. Ion: I'm Ion, Fon Master of the Order of Lorelei. I bear a letter from His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Peony the Ninth of the Malkuth Empire. May I ask an audience with His Majesty, King Ingobert the Sixth? Goldberg: Of course. General Cecille here will be responsible for escorting you to the castle. Cecille: Brigadier General Cecille, at your service. Guy looks surprised. Cecille: (?) Cecille: Is something wrong? Guy: N-no, excuse me. I'm Guy. A servant of Luke's. Tear: Locrian Sergeant Tear Grants, 1st Platoon, Oracle Knights Intelligence Division. Anise: Ionian Sergeant Anise Tatlin. Oracle Knights Fon Master Guard. Jade: Colonel Jade Curtiss, commander of the Third Division, Malkuth Imperial Forces. I represent His Imperial Majesty. Cecille & Goldberg: (!) Cecille: You're THE Jade Curtiss...?! Jade: You taught me a painful lesson in our battle in northern Chesedonia, General Cecille. Cecille: You must be joking. My forces were virtually wiped out... Goldberg: You're well known as the Emperor's personal confidant, Colonel. If you're here, Malkuth must indeed be serious. Jade: Tensions along the border are greater now than at the start of the Hod War. We have no choice but to be serious. Guy: (...) Goldberg: Correct. Well, then, Luke, my Baticul defense unit will escort you back to your home. Luke: Hold on! Ion asked me to speak to Uncle on his behalf. I'm taking him to the castle! Ion: Thank you, Luke. I appreciate the support. Tear: I'm impressed, Luke. You truly understand your responsibility. Luke: Oh...uh...yeah... Goldberg: Understood. In that case, I shall send General Cecille to inform His Grace, Duke Fabre. If you would, General Cecille. Cecille: Yes, sir. Luke: (All right, now I'll get my chance to be a hero.) Ion: All right, then, Luke. If you'd show us the way. Luke: ...Right, let's go! After riding the aircar, Luke takes a good look at his unfamiliar home town. Luke: So...this is Baticul? Guy: What? You're acting like you've never seen it before. Luke: I can't help it! I don't remember! Guy: Oh... That's right. You've never been outside since you lost your memory. Anise: ...Wow, what a city! It goes straight up! Mieu: You could fit two or three Cheagle Woods in here! Maybe more! Guy: This city was built on a depression in the ground created when a fonstone fell from the sky. Tear: Meaning that it's protected by natural walls. That's a logical design. Luke: (Damn it... It doesn't feel like I've come home at all.) The party sees the Dark Wings talking with an Oracle Soldier. Noir: ...I see. That's our specialty. Urushi: We'll expect a fat check for this one. York: This is going to be a big job, Noir. Luke: What's up? You going thieving again? All: (!) Soldier: W-well, then. That will be all. Excuse me, Fon Master. The soldier runs off. Noir: Oh, is that boy Fon Master Ion? Anise: What do you want, old lady?! Noir: Quiet, little girl. Or are you a boy? It's hard to tell. We've got a great show in store for you kids. Look forward to it. Let's go boys. Anise: (vein) York: Yes, ma'am! Dark Wings leave. Anise: What's with them?! They're dressed like circus performers! Guy: Now that you mention it, they do resemble that circus troupe, the "Black Dream." I only saw them once a long time ago, so I'm not certain, but... Luke: What? You went to see the circus without telling me? Guy: Oh, sorry, man... Jade: ...I do wonder what they're up to. It sounded like they were scheming something. Tear: ...Yes. And they were interested in Ion. Fon Master, please be careful. Ion: Right, I will. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Impressions of Baticul' [SK067] | | Luke: *Sigh* | Tear: Luke seems unhappy. | Anise: Even after getting back home, it's no different than anywhere | else. Poor Luke... | Tear: Luke, um... | Guy: Hey, Luke. Let's wander around the city for a bit. | Luke: Why? I just want to get home already. | Guy: We've come all this way. Might as well have a little more fun. | Think of it as...sightseeing. | Luke: I don't really feel like-- | Guy: Come on. After all, not everyone here has been to Baticul | before. | Ion: Yes. That sounds good to me. | Jade: Sure, why not? I don't mind. | Anise: Me neither! | Tear: I think that's a fine idea. | Guy: There you have it, Luke. Shall we? | Luke: All right, all right. Whatever! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party gets to the castle and heads towards the audience hall. Soldier: Grand Maestro Mohs is currently in an audience with His Majesty. Please wait. Luke: Mohs is the guy trying to start the war, right? Let's get in there before he gives my uncle any weird ideas! Soldier: Please, stop. Luke: I'm Luke, son of Duke Fabre! Get in my way, and I'll have them fire you! Ion: Luke, are you sure it's okay to force our way in like this...? Luke: It'll be fine. Mohs: The Malkuth Empire is strengthening the defenses in their capital, Grand Chokmah. With Engeve as their supply base, even Saint Binah has been-- Alpine & Ingobert: (!) Alpine: How dare you?! Who gave you permission to enter the hall?! Luke: Shut up! Out of my way! Alpine: (angry) Ingobert VI: Is that you, Luke...? Susanne's son...? Luke: That's right, Uncle. Ingobert VI: Ahh! I heard what happened. I'm glad to see you back safely from Malkuth. Then the people beside you must be... Luke: Fon Master Ion, of the Order of Lorelei, and Jade, from the Malkuth military. Ion: It is an honor to see you again, Your Majesty. I am Ion. Mohs: Fon Master... W-we've been looking for you... Ion: Mohs. Let us speak later. Your Majesty, this is Colonel Jade Curtiss. He represents His Imperial Majesty, Peony the Ninth. Jade kneels. Jade: I am honored to be in your presence. I bear an imperial letter from my lord for His Glorious Majesty, King Ingobert the Sixth. Anise hands the letter to Alpine. Luke: Uncle, what Mohs is saying is nonsense. I went and saw Malkuth with my own eyes. We didn't get close to the capital, but Engeve and Saint Binah were completely peaceful. Mohs: Wh-what did you say?! I'm merely trying to convey to His Majesty the threat that Malkuth... Luke: Shut up! You're just trying to start a war! I don't even know you, and I'm sick of you already! Ingobert VI: Luke, calm down. The letter from Malkuth has made it here. I won't ignore it. You all must be tired from your long journey. Please, get some rest. Alpine: We've prepared rooms in the castle for our emissary guests. Please, allow me to escort you. Ion: If I may, I'd love to see Luke's manor. Alpine: Very well. When your business is finished outside, please return to the castle. Mohs: Tear, you stay here. I must hear your report regarding the matter I assigned you. Tear: Grand Maestro. It is my responsibility to see that Like makes it safely to his manor. I will return with my report shortly. Mohs: ...Very well. I bid you my leave, Your Majesty. Mohs leaves. Ingobert VI: Luke, Susanne has fallen ill. Luke: Mother's sick?! Ingobert VI: I've sent Natalia to her side in my place. Please look after them for me. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Letter' [SK068] | | Luke: That Mohs... Looks like he's trying to start a war after all. | Telling lies to Uncle about Malkuth... | Jade: Well, in any case, the letter has changed hands safely. I'm | certain that His Majesty won't ignore it. | Luke: I'll make sure to arrange a chance for you to talk with him | further later. | Jade: Well, well, Luke... I see your rank is indeed useful after all. | Luke: Do you always need to talk like that? | Jade: My apologies. I really do appreciate your help. | Luke: Humph, you think you're so special. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke returns to the manor. Luke: Father! I'm home. Duke Fabre: I've heard the report from General Cecille. I'm glad you're safe. Thank you for your help, Guy. Guy: ...It is my honor, sir. Duke Fabre: I see the emissaries are with you. You must be tired. Please, relax and make yourselves comfortable. Ion: Thank you. Duke Fabre: By the way, Luke, where is Dorian General Grants? Luke: Master Van? We split up at Chesedonia. He said he'd come by boat later... Cecille: Duke Fabre... I'll head to the port. Duke Fabre: Yes. I'll leave the matter of Van to you. I'll go to the castle. All: (?) Duke Fabre: I hear it was thanks to you that my son was spirited halfway across the world. Tear: ...I apologize for the trouble I've caused. Duke Fabre: You're Van's sister? Tear: Yes. Duke Fabre: I've received a report that you intended to assassinate Van. Or were you in fact conspiring with him instead? Tear: Conspiring? I don't understand what you mean. Duke Fabre: Well, I'll leave that alone for now. Let's go, General. Duke Fabre and General Cecille leave. Guy: His Grace was acting strangely. Luke: I wonder what's up with Master Van... Tear: I think I should be going, too... Guy: As long as you're here, you should probably apologize to the Lady as well. She probably fell ill because Luke went missing. Tear: ...You're right. I'll do that. Luke heads towards his parents' chamber and is stopped by Natalia. Natalia: Luke! Luke: Ugh... Natalia: What kind of attitude is that?! Do you realize how worried I was?! Guy: Oh, well, you know... Luke's just embarrassed, Your Highness. Natalia: Guy! You have some explaining to do, too! I told you to come tell me before you went searching for Luke! Why did you leave without speaking to me? Guy: You know a servant like me can't get into the castle! Natalia: Why are you backing away? Guy: You know why! Natalia: Once I marry Luke, you'll be my servant, too. Get used to it. Guy: I can't! Natalia: You're so strange. Look how pathetic you are. I don't know what the maids see in you. ...I'm sorry to hear about Van. Luke: What's going on with Master Van? Natalia: Oh, my father didn't tell you? They suspect Van of being behind your disappearance. Tear: So that's why he asked if I was "conspiring" with Van... Natalia: Oh...? Who's this...? Luke! Don't tell me you've taken advantage of one of your servant girls! Luke: What?! There's no way I'd touch a chick as cold as that! Besides, she's not a servant! She's Master Van's sister. Natalia: ...Ohh, you're the one who caused this commotion in the first place. "Tear", was it? Luke: Enough about that! Tell me what's gonna happen to Master Van! Jade: Van will likely be arrested as soon as he arrives in Baticul. Worst case, I presume he'd be executed. Anise: Oh, no! Ion! The Commandant's in danger! Ion: Yes. We must issue a protest from Daath at once. Luke: Natalia! Master Van wasn't involved! Please, talk to Uncle about it! You've got to save him! Natalia: ...All right. I can't turn down a request from you, Luke. In exchange, please hurry and remember that promise you made. Luke: I told you, I don't remember proposing to you when I was a little kid! Anise & Tear: (!) Natalia: Yes, yes. Your memory loss. But how romantic would it be if the first thing you remember was your proposal to me? (heart) Luke: (////) Luke: ...Hurry up and go talk to Uncle about Master Van! Natalia: Honestly, you can be so mean. Fine. Natalia leaves. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Upper-Class?' [SK069] | | Luke: There goes Natalia again. | Guy: Some things never change, I guess. | Anise: She sure looked like a princess, didn't she? Pretty clothes, | royal bearing, elegant speech... I guess that's the upper class | for you. A little boisterous, too. | Jade: Well, you must be upper-class yourself then, Anise. | Anise: Hey, what's that supposed to mean?! | Guy: Hah hah hah. | Luke: *Sigh* Enough already... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke heads to his mother's room. Susanne: Oh, Luke! Is it really you? I was so worried about you. I was certain you'd been kidnapped again! Luke: I'm fine. Here I am, home again. Tear goes to her knees. Tear: Madam, I beg your forgiveness. I'm the one who involved your son, I tried to strike down my brother without thought to where I was. Susanne: ...So you are Van's sister, Tear? Tear: Yes. Susanne: ...I see. You say that what happened this time was not the work of villains pursuing my son? Tear: By Lorelei and Yulia, I swear it was not. Susanne: Thank you. And Tear, I don't know what's happened between you and Van, but please, never again think of striking down your own brother. Family fighting family is entirely too sad. Tear: I am grateful for your kind words. Susanne: Luke, you've come back to me. I'm fine now. Go let everyone see that you've returned. Luke: Oh...Right... Back near the entrance of the manor. Tear: ...Princess Natalia's beautiful. That cute dress looked so nice on her... Luke: Huh? She's not pretty. She's annoying. She whines about everything. Guy: And besides, you're beautiful, too, Tear. Tear: (////) Tear: Uh...thank you. ...I-I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking Guy: No, it's all right. I'm sorry. Luke: See, Guy, that's why girls fall all over you. The way you just come out and say stuff like that. Guy: ...But all I did was say what came to mind. Luke stops to speak with Pere Pere: May I help you with something? Jade: I’m Jade. Excuse me for asking, but…have we met somewhere before? Pere: (!) Pere: N-not that I recall… Jade: I see… +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Sword with a History' [SK078] | | Tear: What an impressive manor... Look at all these decorations on the | walls. | Luke: Maybe, but I don't have a clue what they mean. I don't really | care, either. | Guy: What a shame. Just look at all this history around you! | Tear: How about that sword that's hanging near the entrance? | Guy: ...Oh, that? As I recall, that was brought back from some | battle...along with proof of victory over the enemy | commander... | Luke: Proof? | Guy: His head. The commander's head. | Luke: H-head? I'd better keep away from that thing... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What a Wonderful Mansion!' [SK077] | | Anise: Oh, Luke! Your mansion! All the way up here! It's awesome! | Luke: Yeah? I never knew it was so high up. | Anise: Not only that, but the manor itself is just great! | Luke: This? Oh, it's nothing special. | Anise: Oh, you don't have to be so modest! (heart) But I like that, | too... I hope I get to live in a place like this someday... | Mieu: I like the Cheagle Woods better. It's much prettier than this | place! | Luke: Nobody asked you, Thing! | Mieu: Mieuuu... | [Luke & Mieu leave.] | Anise: Stupid little... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke heads to his room with the group. Guy: Are you tired? Feel free to get some rest. Luke: Yeah, I'll do that. Guy: Well, I guess I'll be going, then. The White Knights are having a fit that your search was left in the hands of a "mere servant" like me. Time to go kiss up while I give my report. Ion: It's time for us to go as well. Anise: Luke...please don't forget about me. (heart) Jade: It was a fascinating experience. Thank you. Luke: See you. All but Tear leave. Tear: ...I need to report to Grand Maestro Mohs, so I'll be leaving now, too. Luke: Oh...okay... Tear: You have a kind mother. Make sure you take good care of her. Luke: Like you're in a position to be telling me that. Tear: I suppose you're right. ...Farewell. Luke: Hey, wait. Tear: ...Yes? Luke: Don't worry about it too much. Tear: (?) Tear: Mother fell ill because she was frail to begin with. Tear: ...Thanks. Tear leaves. The next morning, a maid knocks on Luke's door and comes in. Maid: Good morning, Master Luke. Another beautiful day today, isn't it? According to the Order of Lorelei's Score, though, there may be some slight rain later. A messenger arrived from Princess Natalia, requesting your presence in the castle. Luke: It's okay for me to leave the manor now? Maid: Yes, apparently so. The maid bows and departs. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `To the Castle' [SK071] | | Luke: What could Natalia want? She may have come here directly... | Could it have something to do with Uncle...? Maybe it's about | Master Van... But still, they sure let me out without much of a | fuss. So...what was with these past seven years? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke heads to the castle. Tear: Then the Seventh Fonstone is in Akzeriuth...? Mohs: Yes. It's likely that Luke will also wind up going there, and-- Luke: What about me? Mohs: (!) Tear: (...) Mohs: Oh, greetings, Luke. We've been waiting for you. Colonel Curtiss is already waiting inside. Luke: ...Jade's here? Mohs: Let's go. Mohs, Luke, and Tear head to the audience hall. Ingobert VI: Ah, we've been waiting for you, Luke. Alpine: An emergency assembly was called last night. We agreed to formalize a treaty with Malkuth. Ingobert VI: The letter from Malkuth contained the proposal for the peace treaty, but also a request for aid. Alpine: There is a mining city in Malkuth called Akzeriuth. It is facing a crisis due to the miasma, the poison blight that seeps up from Gnome's domain. Natalia: Malkuth can't rescue its own citizens because the miasma is blocking their road to Akzeriuth. Ingobert VI: But Akzeriuth was originally our territory. So, naturally, there's also a connecting road from the Kaitzur side. With that in mind, they requested our aid to protect their citizens. Luke: Yeah, helping their people would be a nice gesture, but what's that got to do with me? Duke Fabre: His Majesty has graciously assigned you the honor of becoming Kimlasca-Lanvaldear's goodwill ambassador. Luke: Me?! No! I've had enough fighting already. Ingobert VI: Natalia talked to me about Van. Luke: (!) Ingobert VI: We, too, are uncertain regarding Van's guilt. Thus, we have a proposal. If you will travel to Akzeriuth as a goodwill ambassador, we will release Van and have him aid you. Luke: Master Van's been arrested?! Natalia: He's being held beneath the castle. Luke: ...All right. If you'll set Master Van free... Jade: You become a lot more cooperative when Van is involved. Luke: ...Shut up. Ingobert VI: I'm glad you've agreed to help. There's actually a reason why you must be the one to fulfill this role. Luke: ...What? Duke Fabre: Look at this fonstone. This is part of Yulia Jue's Sixth Fonstone, which fell into our nation's territory. Ingobert VI: Tear, read the Score that is written on the lower portion of this fonstone. Tear: ...Yes, Your Majesty. Tear: "ND2000. In Kimlasca shall be born the scion of Lorelei's power. He will be of royal blood with hair of red. He shall be called the 'light of the sacred flame' and he will lead Kimlasca-Lanvaldear to new prosperity." Tear: "ND2018. The young scion of Lorelei's power shall bring his people to the miner's city. There..." ...And the rest is missing. Ingobert VI: That's sufficient. In other words, Luke, you are the chosen youth. Luke has a flashback where he talked to Van on Katsbert Ferry. Van: Don't worry. Have confidence in yourself. You've been chosen. The power of hyperresonance will make you a hero. Luke: A hero... Me, a hero... Back in the Audience chamber Duke Fabre: It pained us to confine you, but people sought you for your power. Now, though, it is time you became a hero. Luke: (Ah... It's just like Master Van said.) Jade: A hero... Alpine: What is it, Colonel? Jade: ...Nothing. Well, who shall accompany him besides me? Mohs: The Order of Lorelei wishes to send along Tear and Van. Duke Fabre: Luke, who would you like to take with you? You should take Guy with you as your personal attendant. Luke: I don't care, as long as Master Van's going. Natalia: Father, I really think that I should go along as an ambassador, as well. Ingobert VI: I told you last night, that will not do! Natalia: (angry) Luke: Uncle, may I go see Master Van? Ingobert VI: Do as you wish. I'll have the others who are to accompany you wait in front of the castle. Luke received the Ambassador title. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Van Imprisoned' [SK072] | | Luke: So Master Van really was captured... But me, a goodwill | ambassador...? ...If saving the people in Akzeriuth will free | Van, I'll do it. Besides, if the treaty goes through I might | become a hero... Then maybe they'd let me free. It's just like | Master Van said! I can't wait to tell him about this! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke heads to the prison and sees Van. Luke: Master! Soldier: I've provided him a summary of what's happened. The soldier leaves. Van: There's no one here now but us, so I want you to stay calm and listen to what I say. Luke: ...Huh? Van: Luke, will you join me as a member of the Oracle Knights? Luke: What are you talking about? Van: You probably assumed this trip to Akzeriuth was a simple matter. But in fulfilling that role, you will become Kimlasca's pet dog, trapped on a leash in Baticul for the rest of your life. Luke: Why? You're the one who told me I'd be free if I became a hero. Van: But going to Akzeriuth won't do. You heard Yulia Jue's Score, did you not? Luke: Yeah. It said I'd bring prosperity to Kimlasca and stuff. Van: The Score continues. "The youth will turn power to calamity and be as a weapon of Kimlasca." Those in the upper ranks of the Order believe you will bring war to the Rugnica Plains. Luke: Me, bring war...? That's ridiculous! Van: Yulia's Score has never been wrong. Not once. I want to save you before you're used for war! Luke: But what should I do...? If I don't go to Akzeriuth, those people will be in trouble. Van: This is what the Score says. You will take the people of Akzeriuth and move them away. As a result, war will break out. So what you must do is remove the miasma without moving the citizens of Akzeriuth. Luke: The miasma is that poison stuff, right? How can I do that...? Van: Cause a hyperresonance and neutralize the miasma. After that, you can run away with me to Daath. With that, war will be averted and you'll obtain your freedom. Luke: ...I wonder if I can. I don't know if I can cause a hyperresonance on my own. Van: I'll help you, like I did onboard the ship when I calmed your hyperresonance. Luke: ...Okay, I'll try. Van: You mustn't tell anyone of this plan until right before we put it into action. Especially anyone from Kimlasca. If they were to learn, you'd lose your chance to escape to Daath. Luke: Master, how come you're so nice to me? Van: ...Ah, that's right. That was lost with the rest of your memory. Luke: ...Did I say something before? Van: When you were young, you told me you wanted to go to Daath with me. You underwent cruel experiments for the purpose of hyperresonance research and you wanted to run away from this country. That's why on that day seven years ago... I kidnapped you. Luke: YOU kidnapped me?! Not Malkuth?! Van: This time, I won't fail. I need you. Luke: ...That's the first time anyone's ever told me they needed me. You're the only one who's ever praised me and scolded me and taken me seriously. Master...I'll join you! Van: Good. Then let's be going. To seize your future. Luke: Yeah! The pair are unaware that Natalia has been eavesdropping on their conversation from around the corner. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Luke and Van' [SK073] | | Luke: Heh heh... | Van: What is it, Luke? | Luke: I was just thinking about going to Akzeriuth. I'm all excited! | This is the first time I've gone anywhere with you, Master Van. | Van: I see... It's not the first time, though. | Luke: Huh? But I-- | Van: Don't worry about it. There's no need to concern yourself with | things you can't remember. It's time to start acting for the | future. | Luke: Right! | Van: And be very careful not to let anyone guess at our plans. | Luke: I will! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke and Van meet up with the rest of the party outside the castle. Tear: Van... Van: I've been informed of the situation. When do we leave? Guy: Jade says he has a proposal about that. Jade: I'm a little uncomfortable telling Dorian General Grants about it, but...oh, well. Oracle Ships are watching the Central Ocean. It's likely an attempt by the Grand Maestro faction to interfere. Tear: Colonel... Jade: It's a fact. Well, we don't know that it's the Grand Maestro faction. At any rate, going by sea would be dangerous. Luke: The what do we do? Jade: Let's send a ship out as a decoy while we head to Chesedonia by land. The Rotelro Sea past Chesedonia is under Malkuth's control. It won't be difficult to head for Kaitzur by ship. Van: I see. Then let's do this. I'll board the decoy ship. Luke: What?! Van: It's been announced that I'll be part of the aid team, yes? The Oracle Knights are more likely to consider the ship to contain the true group if I am on board. Jade: That's fine with me. We have no choice but to trust you regardless of what we do. Luke: But! Van: Luke. Don't you trust me? Luke: ...All right. Van: Then I'll head for the port, now. Tear, you look after Luke. Van leaves. Jade: A smaller group will attract less attention. Let's not add any more people than we have now. I'll go make the necessary arrangements. Please wait for me at the entrance to the city. Luke: So that leaves the cold-blooded woman and the woman-hater... Guy: Hey, don't give people the wrong idea! I love women! Tear: I'm not sure shouting declarations that you're a womanizer is much better.... Guy: That's not what I mean! What I mean is--! Tear: Let's get going. Guy: Hey! Listen to me! On the way to the entrance, the party runs into Anise. Anise: Luke! (heart) Guy: Eek! Anise: I missed you! (heart) But you're always together with Tear, aren't you... ...It's not fair. Tear: Oh...I-I'm sorry. But don't worry, Anise. I'm not with him because I want to be. Luke: (Ouch...) Jade: Anise, shouldn't you be with Ion? Anise: Colonel! When I woke up this morning, his bed was empty. People said they had seen someone that looked like Ion leave the city with some circus performers... Guy & Tear: (!) Guy: Circus performers? Don't tell me... Jade: Well this is a fine mess. It must be the Dark Wings. Luke: What?! Hey, now that you mention it, they HAD been talking with Oracle soldiers. They must be working together! Guy: Let's go get them! Anise: You can't! The God-General Sync is right outside the city. Tear: ...This is bad. If the Six God-Generals are outside, they'll find out that we're going by land. Anise: Huh? You're not going to Akzeriuth by ship? Luke: No, that's a decoy. Damn it, we've got to find a way out... Anise: Then take me with you on your way! If I can get outside the city, I can look for Ion! Luke: What do you think, Jade? Jade: I suppose we can't refuse her. ...It sounds like Mohs isn't involved in Ion's kidnapping this time. Anise: That's right. Mohs was mad. Tear: Then, Grand Maestro Mohs and the Six God-Generals really aren't connected...? Jade: Though, whether Mohs is trying to cause a war or not is a separate issue. Tear: (...) Luke: What do the Six God-Generals want with Ion? He said they took him to that place called the Sephiroth, right? Jade: We don't have enough information to guess. Right now, we should concentrate on getting out of this city. Guy: Wait... I know a way. Let's go to the abandoned factory in the old part of the city. We can get there by aircar. Luke: The abandoned factory? Okay. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Taking Precautions' [SK074] | | Luke: And just when I thought I could take a trip with Master Van... | Tear: We don't have much choice. The risk of being caught at sea is | just too great. | Jade: Indeed. The desert may be a harsh environment, but it will be | easier to deal with attackers there. | Luke: I thought we weren't going to get attacked in the first place! | Guy: Yeah, but you've seen how persistent the Oracle Knights are. | Jade: It certainly won't hurt to take precautions. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Just Ask Guy' [SK075] | | Anise: Let's hurry up and find Ion! | Tear: Yes. We'll have to go through the abandoned factory Guy was | talking about. | Anise: Guy, what's the best way for us to get there? | Guy: You remember the platform across from the aircar to the port, | where the guard was standing? That's the aircar that goes to | the factory. Supposedly, the workers used it back when the | factory was in operation. But ever since it was closed, it's | been off-limits. | Luke: Hey, Guy, how come you know so much? | Guy: Well...back when I was a kid, I always liked going to places I'd | never seen, and I just happened to come across the factory. I | didn't think it was much of anything at the time. | Luke: Huh... Is that so... | Anise: Come on, let's go already! | Tear: Yes, that's enough chatting, you two. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Baticul Is Huge!' [SK076] | | Luke: Wow, this city is amazing... | Tear: You really don't remember anything, do you? | Luke: Yeah...I didn't know there was a coliseum, or a military base, | or anything here. | Tear: I was surprised myself when I first came here. The Order of | Lorelei has a sanctuary here, so I'd thought it must be fairly | large, but... | Luke: All these people, all those buildings...it's amazing! I can't | believe I was living on top of all this. | Tear: Well, why not take the time to enjoy it, now that you've made it | back? | Luke: Yeah, this'll definitely keep me busy for a while. Who knows | when they'll let me out of the manor again... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads towards the factory and Guy stops them. Guy: Oh, wait. Hey, guys, can I do something? Tear: What is it? Guy: There's this place I've wanted to show Luke. Now that we have a chance, I'd like to take him... Luke: Me? Is it someplace fun? Anise: But Ion's in danger! Guy: I know. But remember that Luke has been stuck in his home for years. It'll also come in handy on our journey. Please? Anise: ...Well, make it quick, okay? Guy: Thanks, Anise, and everyone. The party enters Miyagi's dojo. Miyagi: Welcome. Guy: This is the place. Luke: What is this place? Guy: It's a civilian dojo. You like swords, right? You can practice a bunch of stuff here. Luke: Really? Miyagi: This is a place to practice martial...hmm, what's this? You already possess some skill. Tear: You can tell? Miyagi: Well, you know. By the particular air he has about him. ...But I see he still has far to go. Luke: ...What did you say? Miyagi: Now, now. A short temper will only do you harm. You are not weak. You merely lack creativity. Anise: Creativity? Miyagi: Yes. Strike artes can have a variety of effects based on how you use them. Depending on how your polish your skills, you can form countless different artes. Luke: So what exactly do I need to do? Miyagi: That's what I'm about to tell you. Miyagi: ...There you have it. Jade: I see. I'd heard many rumors about Kimlascan martial arts, but...this is fascinating. Miyagi: Baticul has a rich tradition of martial arts. You will only find this arte here. Anise: But we're not from this country... Miyagi: Ah, don't worry about that. Artes that aren't passed on will never be refined. They should be conveyed to all who need them. It is then up to those who learn them to take full advantage of them. Guy: I see... Tear: We'd best be going now. Miyagi: If there's anything you would like to know about fighting, do not hesitate to ask. This door is open to all. I'm here to tell all I know to those who desire to learn. The party heads to the aircar. Guy: That's strange. There's usually a soldier here... Luke: A soldier? Why? Guy: This place is off-limits. Man: If you're looking for that soldier, he just left saying he'd been called off to the castle. Are you people going to the old factory, too? I just saw another young lady get on the aircar a moment ago. I wonder why that place is so popular all of a sudden. Anise: Hmm? So someone else is headed there, too? Luke: Does it matter? Let's just get on this thing and go. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:ABF} \ >>> The Abandoned Factory \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Guy: So you know Baticul was built in the crater made by a fallen fonstone, right? If we go in through here, we should be able to make it out through the crater wall. Jade: (!) Jade: Yes, of course. If this was a factory, then... Tear: ...there would have to be facilities to dispose of waste water. Guy: Exactly. The sewage facility here doesn't work anymore, but we should be able to go through it. ???: My, you certainly do know a lot about it, Guy. All: (!) Natalia walks up to the group. Natalia: I found you. Luke: What are you doing here? And why are you dressed like that? Natalia: Why do you think? Two bitter enemies are finally about to make peace. This is no time for a princess to be sitting at home. Luke: ...Are you stupid? The world outside is no place for a spoiled little girl. You may wind up having to fight people, you know. Not just monsters. Natalia: Three years ago, at the battle in northern Chesedonia, I paid a visit to encourage the troops. I'm prepared for battle. Anise: Raising morale and actually fighting are two different things. You're probably better off staying behind. (heart) Tear: With all due respect, I'm afraid I have to agree. Guy: Your Highness, I think it would be best if you returned to the castle... Natalia: Silence! I am a master of Lanvaldear-style archery! I'm also a studied healer! I'll certainly be more useful than this empty-headed Oracle Knight, or that uncivil one. Anise: Anybody else think I should rip daddy's little girl a new hole? Natalia: How vulgar. You demonstrate your lack of refinement. Tear: (angry) Tear: This is some princess... Jade: Well, now, this is getting fun. Guy: ...This is why women scare me. Luke: Look, whatever, just don't follow us! Natalia: I'll tell them about you-know-what. Luke: ...What are you talking about? Natalia: I overheard you talking to Dorian General Grants beneath the castle... Luke grabs Natalia and drags her away from the group to talk privately. Luke: How much did you hear?! Natalia: That he's the one who kidnapped you, and that you're going to flee to Daath. Luke: ...What about before that? Natalia: I didn't hear anything else. I didn't go there to eavesdrop. I just thought I'd ask you to take me along. Luke: If I do, will you keep quiet about it? Natalia: As long as you'll remember your promise to me even after you escape to Daath. Luke: ...Okay, pinky swear. Natalia: ...Pinky swearing. I thought you hated that? Luke: Huh? Natalia: ...Never mind. Natalia and Luke rejoin the group. Luke: I've decided Natalia should come with us. Everyone else: (...) Luke: (sweatdrop) Natalia: I'm sure we'll get along just fine. Tear: ...Luke...I can't believe you. Luke: Shut up! I'm the ambassador! What I say goes! Understand?! Natalia: Oh, and everyone, please just speak normally with me, and call me Natalia. Otherwise, people may find out that I'm the princess. Natalia joined the party. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Keeping Secrets' [SK081] | | Luke: Natalia...you haven't told Uncle or Father about me and Van, | right? | Natalia: No, I haven't. | Luke: Really? | Natalia: Yes, really. If that's your decision, I have no intention of | interfering with it. Nor am I the type of person to spread | other peoples' secrets around. | Luke: Whew...good. Make sure you keep it that way, okay? | Natalia: Are you not even going to inform Guy? | Luke: ...No. Master Van said not to. | Natalia: I see... Very well. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Natalia, the Seventh Fonist' [SK160] | | Natalia: Whew...I see that real battles never go as easily as training. | Luke: So why don't you go back? | Natalia: No! I have no intention of returning to the castle. And besides, | did my healing skills not prove useful just now? | Guy: You have a point... Until now, we've had to rely on Tear for | healing. Having another Seventh Fonist like you on the team | would certainly be an asset... | Luke: Guy! You can't be serious! She'll make you do everything! | Natalia: Luke! I trust you have not forgotten our promise? | Luke: Ah-- | Natalia: And besides, you yourself chose to allow me to accompany you. I | expect no further complaints from you. Understood? | Luke: ...Stupid, stuck-up, wannabe queen. | Natalia: Be quiet! | Luke: Ow! Dammit! More like a wannabe dictator... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Princess' Guards' [SK079] | | Natalia: We must get out of this place quickly! | Guy: (Hey, Luke... You really think it's okay to bring her along?) | Luke: (You think she'd go back if you told her to?) | Jade: (It must be difficult work protecting a princess. You have my | sympathy.) | Guy: (Your sympathy, but not your help, huh?) | Jade: (Hah hah hah! I respectfully decline that privilege.) | Natalia: What are the three of you muttering about? If you have something | to say, say it out loud! Is that not the gentleman's way? | Jade: Oh dear, we seem to have aroused her anger. Hah hah hah hah hah! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Further in to the factory... Luke: Hey, Natalia! Slow down, would you?! Natalia: What? Are you tired already? How disappointing. Luke: Th-that's not what I'm saying! Anise: ...Ugh. For a princess, she's got the stamina of a farm hand. Natalia: Did you say something? Anise: Nothing! Natalia: Fon Master Ion's been kidnapped, remember? Besides, we need to work as quickly as possible for the sake of all who are suffering. Am I wrong? Tear: That's true, but this area is dark, so I think we should be a little cautious. Guy: She's right, Your Highness. Please, if you would, walk more slowly. Natalia: Guy! I told you not to treat me as a princess! Guy: Oh, that's right. My humblest apolo--err, I mean, sorry. Jade: Natalia. The six of us are in this together. It's not right for everyone to cater to your needs. For the time being, at least, you've cast aside your status as royalty, correct? Natalia: ...You're right. I'm sorry. Anise: Wow, never expected to hear her say that. Natalia: I've heard enough out of you! Tear: ... Jade: Ahh, it's so wonderful to see everyone come to understand one another. Luke: ...You need to get your ears checked. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Natalia? The Leader?!' [SK080] | | Natalia: All right, everyone, let's hurry to Akzeriuth! | Luke: Yeah, yeah. | Guy: Right! | Jade: Indeed. | [Luke, Jade, Guy & Natalia leave.] | Anise: Is it just me, or do the men seem particularly cooperative? | Tear: I don't see a problem with that... | Anise: I just wish they'd be like that for us. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Be Careful!' [SK085] | | Jade: Luke, please take care when making use of Mieu's fire. | Luke: Huh? Why? | Jade: It's possible there's still some oil left lingering in these | pipes. | Luke: So? | Tear: What do you think will happen if the flames spread to those | pipes? The whole factory could blow up! | Luke: What?! | Guy: That's a very definite possibility. | Luke: ...Humph! Like I'd make a stupid mistake like that! Hey, Thing! | Watch where you spew those flames, got it?! | Mieu: Yes, Master... Safety first! | [Luke, Tear, Guy & Mieu leave.] | Jade: I guess it's a good thing I mentioned it... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At the exit of the factory... Luke: Something smells. Anise: It smells greasy! Guy: Maybe its from when the factory was running? No, it's too strong for that... Tear: Wait! I hear something... Is something there? Natalia: I don't hear anything. Jade: No, there's definitely something here. A monster? Everyone readies their weapons.. Tear: Look out! Natalia: (!) Tear pushes Natalia out of the way. A monster comes out. Anise: Uah! Here it comes! The party wins the battle. Luke: What the hell was that thing? Guy: It's not one I've seen around here before. The inside looked like a spider. Tear: Well, it's hardly surprising that an abandoned factory has a few spiders, but... Jade: The oil it was feeding on may have caused a mutation due to fonon activity. Natalia: ...Tear? Tear: Yes? Natalia: Thank you. You saved me. ...I'm sorry for the trouble I caused you and everyone. Tear: (!) Tear: It's all right. Luke: No it's not. Don't drag us down, Natalia. Tear: (...) Luke: By the way, where's this sewage facility? Guy: I imagine it's down below...hmm? Guy: Hey, is that an emergency exit? Jade: Let's take a look. Luke: Okay, if we lower the ladder there, we should be able to get outside. Mieu: Yes, Master. Once we get out of here, it's on to Chesedonia! Tear: Chesedonia lies across desert. There should be an oasis midway, so we'll stop there to rest. Natalia: Guy, you head down first. Catch me if I slip. Guy: ...You're telling me to do that knowing full well that I can't, right? Natalia: I need you to get over your phobia, or we'll have problems once Luke and I are married. Anise: Luke prefers much younger, cuter girls, don't you Luke? (heart) You can call off that silly engagement any time. (heart) Natalia: Excuse me?! Anise: What?! Tear: (...) Tear: Luke, you're despicable. Luke: What?! Like this is my fault?! Jade: It's nice to see you all getting along so well. Luke: Are you blind?! The party heads outside. Luke: ...Huh? Luke sees Asch and Ion, along with some Oracle soldiers. Luke instantly runs towards them, unsheathing his sword along the way. Luke: Hand over Ion now! Asch draws his sword to meet Luke's. They cross swords and look at each other's faces close-up. Luke: Huh? Asch: It's you! The rest of the party, besides Jade, is confused about what's going on. They run towards Luke. Natalia: ..Uh? Tear: ..Huh? Anise: *huff* *huff* Guy: Luke! Sync calls out from a distance. Sync: Asch! Ion takes priority right now! Asch: (to Sync) I know! Asch: (to Luke, softly) Aren't you the ladies' man? Asch and Sync swiftly climb the Tartarus and leave with Ion. Luke is still in shock over what's he's just seen. Luke: He... He looks like me... Natalia: ...What does this mean? Jade: By the way, they took Ion and left. Anise: Aaah! I let them get away! Jade: Regardless, we've now encountered the Six God-Generals. The decoy is a failure. Guy: Wouldn't we be better off returning to Baticul and going by ship? Natalia: It would be a waste of time. Luke: Why? Natalia: Father still doesn't trust Malkuth. He'll have sealed the port against invasion once he dispatched the decoy. Tear: Let's go by land and search for Ion. If Ion were to die, it could affect this entire peace effort. Anise: That's right! Please, search for Ion! Even if its while you're doing something else. Please! Jade: It's your decision, Luke. Will we search for Ion as we go by land? Or will we turn over Natalia to His Majesty and have him unseal the port? Natalia: You can't do that! Luke! You KNOW what I mean! Luke: Gaaah, everyone shut up! Why am I the one deciding, anyway? Jade: Well, you're the one in charge, aren't you? Luke: You really are obnoxious. ...We go by land! We'll have all sorts of trouble if we don't take Natalia along. Anise: Ion... Where could they have taken him? Jade: The landship was headed east from here... That's the direction of the oasis. Anise: We were planning on stopping there, too. Luke, you'll chase after them, won't you? Luke: Yeah. Luke: (That guy who looked like me... They called him "Asch..." Man, that was creepy...) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Asch Revealed' [SK083] | | Anise: Asch the Bloody... He looked just like Luke. | Guy: A long-lost brother, maybe? I've never heard anything like that, | but... Natalia, do you know anything about that? | Natalia: No. Duke Fabre only has one son. | Jade: There's no point in thinking about it with no information to go | on. Asking Asch directly would be the simplest route, but we | have other priorities right now. Isn't that right? | Anise: Yeah. I'm worried about Asch, but for now, we have to find Ion. | Natalia: We certainly do. And since it seems Asch is the one who has | abducted Ion, perhaps we can get our question answered at the | same time. | Guy: Let's hope so. Anyway, we might as well start out for that | oasis. | Anise: Yeah, let's go! | [Anise, Guy & Natalia leave.] | Jade: ...Was this unavoidable destiny? Or might even this be written | in the Score? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Ion's Safety' [SK082] | | Anise: Oh, I hope we find Ion soon! | Tear: I doubt his life is in danger, but still... | Luke: Why are the Oracle Knights after him, anyway? If they want to | stop the peace talks, wouldn't it make more sense to come after | us? | Anise: Maybe there's something else they need Ion for. | Tear: I suppose... | Luke: What a pain... | Anise: Luke, please...! | Luke: All right, all right, I know! We'll catch them. | Tear: Yes. We will. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:DO1} \ >>> Desert Oasis \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Upon entering, Luke gets one of his headaches. He hears Asch's voice. Asch's voice: Answer me... Answer me! Luke: Aaah...what the hell?! Guy: Luke! Is it those headaches again? Tear: Headaches? Guy: Ever since he was kidnapped, he'll occasionally get headaches or sometimes even hear voices. Asch's voice: Answer me, you dreck! Luke: Who...the hell...are you?! Asch's voice: You know who I am. You look just like me. Luke: Asch! Asch's voice: Where do you think you're going, idiot? Don't blame me if something happens to Ion. Luke: Where are you?! Asch's voice: The Zao Ruins... Though I doubt dreck like you can make it here. Anise: Luke! Are you all right? Mieu: Master, do you feel sick? Tear: Hold on, Luke. Guy: Hearing imaginary voices again? Luke: I doubt that was just my imagination... Natalia: You said something about "Asch." Did you mean that Oracle Knight...? Luke: The voice I heard was definitely Asch's. He said he was with Ion in the Zao Ruins... Anise: Ion's there?! Jade: The Zao Ruins? From 2000 years ago? Luke: Where are they? Jade: I'm afraid I don't know. I'd be most grateful if the leader of this mission would find them for us... Luke: You really like to be a jerk, don't you? Jade: Not at all. I'm so good-natured and honest, it almost hurts. Tear: Colonel! Please stop teasing Luke. Luke, let's ask the people here in the oasis. Luke: ...Right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Where are the Zao Ruins?' [SK088] | | Tear: I hope someone here knows where the Zao Ruins are... | Natalia: Couldn't we simply search for them ourselves? Ruins ought to | stand out in the desert. | Anise: But if we don't find them, we'll all shrivel up out there like | raisins. We can't just go wandering around aimlessly. | Tear: Besides, there's a good chance the ruins are covered with sand. | The desert monsters aren't pushovers, either. | Natalia: I suppose it won't be an easy task... | Anise: Well, let's ask around for some help! | Natalia: That seems like a good idea. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Jade Knows Everything' [SK093] | | Tear: There certainly are a lot of ruined structures around here. Are | these remnants of something? | Jade: This is said to be the last remains of a city that flourished | here long ago. Well, the outskirts of a city, to be precise. | Natalia: So people used to live in this area? | Jade: It seems that this area used to be much more hospitable to life, | until some sort of disaster turned it into a desert and | rendered the city uninhabitable. | Luke: If it became a desert, how come there's all this water here? | Jade: Probably because of that giant fonstone over there. When it | crashed, it opened a hole to an underground stream which | created that pool. | Guy: Wow, you really do know everything, don't you Jade? | Jade: Not at all. I just asked a passing merchant about it. | All but Jade: ...When? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Handling a Princess' [SK094] | | Luke: Whew...I really needed that. | Natalia: It certainly is refreshing. | Luke: I could just stay here forever... I really don't want to go back | out there. | Natalia: I know what you mean... The thought is tempting. | Jade: Then I presume the two of you are ending your journey here? | Well, I'm sure it's provided you with plenty of valuable | experience, the sort you'd never have obtained at the palace. | Farewell, then. Until we meet again. | Natalia: W-what are you talking about?! Nobody's returning to the castle | yet! Come on, Luke! | Luke: Hey! Relax. Can't we just rest a little bit longer? | Natalia: No! We're going now! | Luke: All right, all right! Stop pulling! | [Luke & Natalia leave.] | Jade: Well, well. She certainly seems easy to handle. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Asch's Voice' [SK087] | | Luke: What's Asch up to? How come I heard his voice? I don't get it... | Guy: You mean Asch might have something to do with those headaches? | And the voices you kept hearing? | Luke: I don't know...but something seemed different about it this | time. | Guy: So are you going to go to the Zao Ruins? | Jade: Not that I see any other viable possibilities. | Luke: Yeah, but why'd this have to happen just when we finally got to | the oasis...? Tch... I hate this desert. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Showers Are Awesome! - Guy Talk' [SK096] | | Guy: This sand is crazy... It's getting all over the place. I could | probably make a mountain with all the sand that'll come out of | these clothes. | Tear: Yes... I wouldn't mind a good shower myself. | Luke: Mmm...shower... | Natalia: Luke! You are the worst! How could you! | Luke: W-what?! I'm not doing anything! | Anise: Luke! If you've got time for dirty thoughts, pay more attention | to rescuing Ion! | Luke: I-I'm not thinking anything! Leave me alone! | Natalia: Disgusting! I can't believe you're that kind of person! | Anise: You pervert! | Luke: Arrgh! Shut up already! | [Luke, Tear, Anise & Natalia leave.] | Jade: ...Well, Guy, it seems you got lucky. | Guy: ...Lucky? | Jade: You're drooling. They'd have been on you in an instant if they'd | noticed. | Guy: Ah... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:ZA1} \ >>> Zao Ruins \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Guy: That's got to be it! Luke: Inside here, huh... Natalia: It looks dark inside... Mieu: I'll breathe fire. Luke: You're gonna keep breathing fire the whole time? That'll never work. Jade: Perhaps it's because of the wind, but there aren't any landship tracks about. Tear: Have they already left? Or are they still inside...? Anise: Whatever the case, there could be clues about Ion, so let's go! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The God-Generals' Plan' [SK090] | | Tear: I still can't figure out what the Six God-Generals are up to... | Jade: They certainly are acting strangely. First they take Ion to | these ruins, then they tell us where he's being held... | Guy: Are they trying to lure us into a trap? | Tear: That doesn't make any sense... Not after they came straight | after us so many times. Why would they suddenly resort to | trickery like that? | Jade: Why, indeed. In any case... | Guy: ...Nothing to do but to go on, huh? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads further into the ruins and finds something odd. Luke: Hmm? What's that? Tear: Luke! It's dangerous to approach it carelessly. Natalia: But it's beautiful. It doesn't look like something dangerous. Jade: Well, well, what have we here? Mieu: Second Fonons! Mieu goes into the fonons. Anise: What? How come we can see fonons? Jade: They must be quite concentrated here. This area is likely a fon slot. Luke: I still don't really understand what fonons are... Tear: Every structure and living thing has its own intrinsic vibration and emits a corresponding sound. Those are divided into six fonons. Tiny differences in their vibration and connections distinguish individual matter. Luke: (?) Guy: They're one of the basic elements that compose matter. You're made up of fonons and elements. Tear: It's rare to find so much of a single fonon bonded together that it becomes visible like this. Natalia: By the way, Mieu, what are you doing? Mieu: I'm letting the Sorcerer's Ring soak up the fonons! The Elder told me that if the ring soaks up fonons, it'll grow stronger! Luke: Stronger, huh. Anise: So, how's it feel? Mieu: Mieuuuuuuuu. I can feel the power! All but Jade: (!) Mieu: ...Well, a little. Kind of. I think. All but Jade: (sweatdrop) Luke: What's that supposed to mean? What a waste of time... All: (!) Mieu: Mieu mieu mieu mieu mieuuuu!! The power... I can feel it! Mieu bounces over to a set of rocks and breaks them. Mieu: Wow! I feel like I can break anything! Tear: A stronger Sorcerer's Ring must grant its wearer new power. Jade: Mieu, please let me see the Sorcerer's Ring. Mieu: Okay. Jade looks at the ring. Jade: I see... Guy: What is it? Jade: The crystallized fonons must have carved the ring. There are letters engraved into it. Guy: Letters? What's it say? Jade: It's a fon verse. This must be what's granting Mieu's new power. Luke: There was something written on that ring before, wasn't there? Tear: That's probably the Fifth Fonon power that Mieu's been using so far. The newly engraved fon verse has given him a new fonic arte. Mieu: A new power! Luke: Shut up already, Thing! Jade: Looking at the ring, it appears there's space for another fon verse to fit. Anise: Really? Then if we find another cluster of fonons, let's give it a try! Mieu: I'm going to work really hard and be even more useful! Mieu learned Mieu Attack. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Memorable Character' [SK092] | | Natalia: What were the Zao Ruins originally? | Jade: Hmm. History is not my specialty, so I'm afraid I don't know. I | would guess, however, that they are in some way related to the | ruins at the oasis. | Luke: Huh, so you don't know everything after all. | Jade: I'm honored. But I'm still young--there are more things that I | don't yet know than those I do. | Anise: Young...? Colonel, you're over thirty! | Jade: Indeed. But one's personality does not become truly well-rounded | until their forties, at least. I intend to make good use of my | youth to develop a memorable character, much as these ruins | have been remembered over the ages. | Natalia: My. Such an admirable goal. | Jade: To that end, I'm devoting myself to driving you youngsters | crazy. | Natalia: My... Such a ridiculous goal... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Hurry to Akzeriuth' [SK089] | | Luke: You think Akzeriuth is okay? | Natalia: Well, since they're requesting help... | Jade: The only real solution is to evacuate them, but they should be | all right for now. Emergency supplies should be arriving as | well. | Luke: Let's get a move on. I don't want to keep Master Van waiting. | Jade: You do understand that our priority is to assist the people of | Akzeriuth, right? | Luke: I know, I know! I'M the ambassador, remember? | Jade: Ah, of course. My apologies, Mister Ambassador. | Luke: Humph! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party comes upon some rocks blocking a path. Luke: ...Stupid boulders are in the way. Hey, Thing! Use that power you got earlier to break these. Mieu: Yes, Master! Mieu breaks the rocks with Mieu Attack. Anise: Whoa! Natalia: The poor thing. Mieu, doesn't that hurt? Luke: It's a fonic arte, right? He's fine. Natalia: Luke, I'm asking Mieu. Mieu: I'm fine! Thank you for worrying about me! You're so nice, Natalia! Tear: Yes. You could stand to learn a thing or two from her. Luke: ...Shut up. Luke walks off. Luke: Come on! Hurry up! Jade: Though he's already similar in this regard. Anise: Similar to who? Guy: To Natalia, I assume. Natalia: Well! I never! Natalia walks off. Natalia: Stop dawdling and get moving! All: (colored lines) The party goes further in and finds Largo, Sync, Asch and Ion. Largo: The Fon Master is in the middle of a ritual. We'll have no interference from you. Tear: The Six God-Generals! Natalia: Such impudence, after kidnapping the one you're supposed to serve! Anise: Sync! Largo! Give Ion back! Sync: I think not. We still have work for him. Luke: Then we'll take him back by force. Largo: This should be fun. Let's see how you've grown since I last saw you, cowering on the Tartarus. Luke: That's nice, coming from someone who was half-dead after one shot by Jade. Largo: Wah hah hah hah! Yeah, well, we won't lose so easily this time, boy... Sync: Sync the Tempest, God-General of the Oracle Knights, shows no mercy. Largo: Neither does Largo the Black Lion. Prepare! A battle ensues with Largo and Sync. Sync: You're a nuisance, running around like rats! Tear: Be quiet! Luke: You're the ones causing everyone problems. Largo: You kids got some life in you! Luke: Shut up and stay out of this old man! I'll kill you! Guy: They say old soldiers never die, they just fade away. Sync: I'm tired of listening to your nonsense! Get out of here! Jade: That's our line! Be gone! Largo: You won't take us as easily this time! Get back if you don't want some pain! Guy: You can't win! The battle ends, the party wins of course Sync: Aah... Largo: Argh... Asch: The two of you together STILL can't handle them? Pathetic! Asch comes at Luke. The two clash, and both use the same move. Luke: That was... That was one of Master Van's moves! How did YOU know it?! Asch: What are you, stupid?! It's because we trained in the same style, how else?! Sync: Asch! Stop! You get carried away when left on your own. Put away your sword. Now! Asch sheathes his sword. Sync: Let's make a deal. In exchange for ending the fight here, we'll let the Fon Master go. Guy: We won't need any deals if we just wipe you out. Sync: Don't forget that we're standing beneath the desert. We can bury you along with us. Largo: We'd die, too, of course, but that is a sacrifice we're willing to make. Tear: Luke, let's agree to their offer. Right now, we need to recover Ion and hurry to Akzeriuth. Jade: We're already late from traveling by land. Luke: ...All right. Ion is released. Anise: Ion! I was worried about you. Ion: I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused. Sync: Turn around and leave this place. If you come back, we really will bury you. The party goes to depart, but Guy takes one last look at the God-Generals. Guy: ...They really are the same. Natalia: I can't stand being ordered around by filth like him. Guy: What? Oh...yeah. But you need to deal with it for now, Natalia. Natalia: I know that. On this journey, I'm not traveling as the princess. Natalia and Guy leave. Largo: (!) Largo: Natalia...? Natalia: ...What is it? Luke: Natalia, let's go! Natalia: Right... Natalia and Luke depart. Sync: That's Princess Natalia? It must be fate, Largo. Asch: Are you connected to Natalia somehow? Largo: ...It was a long time ago. I've forgotten. Sync: There's no need for the Six God-Generals to know each other's past. You should be painfully aware of that. You, of all people--the leftover ashes of the "holy flame". Asch: ...Tch. Sync: That one, Guy...he knows. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Ion Rescued' [SK091] | | Guy: Whew... Well, at least Ion's safe. | Anise: Yeah. Ion, I was so worried! | Ion: I'm sorry for causing so much trouble... | Luke: You'd better be! Master Van's probably already at Akzeriuth! | Anise: Hey--! | Ion: I apologize. But thank you all for coming to rescue me. I truly | appreciate it. | Tear: Ion, what are you saying? We should be apologizing for allowing | this to happen to you... | Ion: It's all right, Tear. Thank you. Let's head for Chesedonia, | then, shall we? | [Luke, Tear & Ion leave.] | Anise: Grrr... | Guy: Relax. Luke has his own issues. Come on. We're off to | Chesedonia! | [Guy leaves.] | Anise: *Sigh* Then a ship to Kaitzur, then a slog to Akzeriuth... It | never ends... All right. Let's go! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party leaves the ruins. Anise: Whew. Even if it's hot and sandy and dusty, it's still good to be outside. Ion: I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you all. If I hadn't been so careless... Anise: Yeah, no kidding, Ion! That was rough! Jade: By the way, Ion, what were they having you do? This is another one of the Sephiroth, isn't it? Ion: ...Yes, to protect the Sephiroth, the Order of Lorelei placed Daathic seals on them. Only a Fon Master can remove them. The Six God-Generals demanded that I do so here. Guy: Why is the Order protecting the Sephiroth? Ion: That's confidential to the Order. But even with the seal open, they shouldn't be able to do anything... Luke: Well, whatever. Let's hurry up and get to town. I'm gonna shrivel up out here. Tear: Yes. Let's head for Chesedonia. Natalia: I agree. Mieu: Me, too! Luke: ...Quiet, Thing! If you open your mouth, you'll just make things hotter. Mieu: I'm sorry, Master. Mieuu... ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:CH2} \ >>> Chesedonia \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Guy: We finally made it to Chesedonia. Tear: From here, we head by ship to Kaitzur, right? Jade: If we go to the Malkuth consulate, they should show us to the ship. Luke gets another headache. Luke: Not again! Guy: Luke! Another headache? They're becoming more frequent... Luke: It's gone now. I'm okay. Guy: No, you should get some rest just in case. Anise: Then let's go to the inn. We have to decide what to do about Ion, too. Luke: All right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Luke's Headaches' [SK097] | | Tear: Do you think we should have a doctor take a look at Luke? | Natalia: The best Tear or I can do with our skills is heal surface wounds | or poison... Headaches are a different matter. | Jade: We do need to hurry to Akzeriuth...but I suppose we could try | asking him. | Guy: Well...we did have him checked out once back in Baticul, but the | doctors couldn't find anything. Besides, Luke would probably | call it a waste of time. | Tear: I see... | Jade: Hmm... Well, I doubt the doctors in Chesedonia are better than | those in Baticul. We also don't have that much time to begin | with. | Natalia: I suppose so... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads towards the inn. Luke gets another headache, this time hearing Asch's voice again. Luke: Agh... Asch: What's wrong, huh? That's not the way to the inn! Luke: Shut...up... Luke tries to walk away from the inn, but struggles. Asch: Hah hah, look at you. You're connected to me. You ARE me! Mieu: Master! Are you all right? Tear: Luke, what's wrong? Asch: Let's see, what next... Turn your sword on that woman. Luke: Shut up! Stop controlling me! Tear approaches Luke, and Luke pulls his sword on her. Tear: Luke! What are you doing?! Luke: It...it's not...me! My body's just...! S-stop!! The headache stops, and Luke faints. Later, inside the inn... Guy: ...What's happened to Luke? Anise: Hmm, health problems, huh. If I have to nurse someone, I'd be better off with a rich geezer who's ready to kick it... Natalia: Did you say something, Anise? Anise: ...Nothing! (heart) Hee hee. (heart) Tear: Colonel, do you have any idea what's wrong with Luke? Jade: Hmm... Natalia: Could it have something to do with that man who looked like Luke? The one they called "Asch"? Jade: ...I'd prefer to avoid commenting at this point. Guy: Jade! Stop teasing us! Jade: I'm not teasing anyone. I just feel that Luke ought to be the first to learn of matters that concern him. Mieu: Master's waking up. Luke: ...What were you saying about me? Jade: It's nothing. How do you feel? Does it still feel like someone's controlling you? Luke: No...I don't feel anything, now... Jade: Dist probably did something to you at Choral Castle. I'll have him remove it when we catch him. Luke: ...I sure hope so. By the way, what are we gonna do with Ion? Tear: Until we know the Six God-Generals' objective, we should keep Ion out of their hands. Ion: Could you take me with you, if it's not too much trouble? Anise: Ion! Mohs will be angry with us! Ion: Emperor Peony entrusted me with his letter of peace. So I'd like to report to him about the Akzeriuth rescue operation myself. Jade: I think that's a fine idea. Once we're finished in Akzeriuth, you can head back to the capital with me. ...Oh, I'm sorry. It's up to Luke to decide, isn't it? Luke: ...Do whatever you want! Ion: Thank you, everyone. The next day, the party heads to the Malkuth Consulate. Woman: Colonel, Luke, we've been waiting for you. We received word via carrier pigeon from Dorian General Grants. He plans to proceed to Akzeriuth with a vanguard unit. Luke: Whaaat?! He's too early! Ion: We should hurry, too. The scene fades to outside, where Sync can be seen. Guy then falls to his knees, a weird symbol appearing on his arm. He's being controlled by Sync. Luke: Guy?! Guy knocks Luke back. Luke: Oww! Guy, don't tell me Asch is controlling you, now? Guy: I don't think so...I don't hear any voices, anyway... Jade: Hmm, your arm's been scarred. This symbol...It looks like a curse slot. Luke: "Curse slot"? Ion: It's a Daathic fonic arte applied to a person's fon slots. It reads information from the brain, using the person's memories to control him. Woman: Shall I call a doctor or a healer? Guy: I'm fine. Let's get on that ship and hurry after Van. Luke: ...Isn't it dangerous, though? Ion: The curse slot's power varies depending on the proximity of the user. The user is probably nearby. We should get away from Chesedonia. Woman: Right this way. All but Ion leave. Ion: Only a Fon Master can use Daathic fonic artes...He must be... Outside... Sync: He's resisting more than I expected. ...No matter. They'll be caught up in Akzeriuth, anyway. Onboard the ship. Guy: That's weird. After we left Chesedonia, the pain just vanished. Luke: You had me worried, you know. Guy: Sorry. Tear: Then the curse slot user must have been in Chesedonia after all. Natalia: It's a good thing we got away from Chesedonia so quickly, Guy. Guy: Yeah. Say, it was Sync who cut my arm like this. Does that mean he's the user? Ion: Most likely. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:NP2} \ >>> Kaitzur Naval Port \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Guy's Injury' [SK099] | | Ion: Guy...are you all right? | Guy: Yeah, no pain or anything. Sorry I worried you. | Ion: ...Not at all. | Guy: I should be okay for a while. I should get that looked at after | we take care of Akzeriuth, though. | Ion: Guy, are you sure you're okay? | Guy: I'm fine! Don't worry. | Ion: ...If you say so. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke: Say, how do we get to Akzeriuth from here, anyway? Jade: It's past the Deo Range to the northeast. Luke: Okay, let's get going. We might be able to catch up to Master Van. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What We Can Do for Akzeriuth' [SK103] | | Guy: How bad do you suppose things are in Akzeriuth? | Tear: The miasma is my main concern. Treating victims there on the | spot won't have much effect. | Natalia: Yes. Evacuation should be our top priority. | Guy: But with the Malkuth and Kimlasca roads both out... | Natalia: Tear and I can't handle all the casualties ourselves, but we'll | do what we can until everyone's ready to evacuate. | Guy: Both sides have been informed, so hopefully it won't take too | long...Until then, I guess we're counting on you. | Natalia: Understood. It is the duty of a country's ruler to protect her | citizens. We will not abandon them! | Tear: Right. Let's do our best here. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Mohs and the War' [SK098] | | Luke: So if I save Akzeriuth, the war will be averted, right? | Anise: Well, it should be, but I don't know if that'll be enough | now... | Tear: Yes... With the tension between Kimlasca and Malkuth, it may | take a lot of work to ease relations. | Luke: Shouldn't everything be fine as long as Mohs stays out of the | way? | Anise: Mohs doesn't seem to approve of Ion's actions, so it probably | won't be that easy... | Tear: *Sigh* | Luke: Huh? Aren't you going to speak up for Mohs again? | Tear: You wouldn't listen if I did. Besides, I'm sure he'll understand | once we save Akzeriuth. | Luke: Humph. Yeah, right... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Akzeriuth's Ore' [SK105] | | Tear: Malkuth controls the mineral resources in this area, right? | Guy: Well, Akzeriuth is theirs, after all. There're some mines on the | Kimlasca side, too, but I've heard their output is | lower-quality. | Natalia: Raw materials are hard to come by in Kimlasca. Especially during | wartime... | Anise: And if you go through Daath, you have the extra tariffs to deal | with. | Ion: I do apologize for the trouble, but the Order needs funds to | operate... | Natalia: I was hoping to have a conversation with you on that point, Ion. | It is, of course, thanks to Daath that we are able to sustain | trade with Malkuth in the first place. However-- | Jade: Please, save the economics discussion for a more appropriate | time. | Tear: I'm sorry... I shouldn't have brought it up. You're right; we | need to focus on Akzeriuth right now. | Jade: I do enjoy a lively debate, but the Six God-Generals have me | rather concerned here. | Guy: Yeah... We should get moving. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:Deo} \ >>> Deo Pass \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: Man, at this rate, we'll never catch up to Master Van. We shouldn't have wasted time in the desert. Anise: What do (you) mean "wasted time"? Luke: I mean wasted time. We don't need Ion anymore. The war won't start as long as I'm around. Anise: You moron. Luke: H-hey...! Tear: Luke, even I thought that was arrogant. Natalia: This peace is based on the respect the Malkuth Emperor and Father have for the Fon Master. Without Ion, there would be no mediator. Ion: No, it's not that either country holds respect for me. They merely want Yulia's Score. I'm not really needed. Guy: I can't agree with you there. You carry weight as a deterrent, Ion. Even if you do owe it to Yulia's Score. Jade: I see. You're all still young. So, how about we get going now? Guy: How does he pull out a line like that at a time like this? You can never tell what that guy's thinking. (But Luke...You do need to be more careful with your words...) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Careless Words' [SK102] | | Anise: That Luke... How stupid can he be, anyway...? | Jade: Still angry, are we? That's not like you. | Anise: I-I'm not angry! I love Luke (and his money)! | Jade: Really? I have to admit, I half expected you to lose your temper | on hearing Ion spoken of like that. | Anise: Huh? N-no, not at all... Um... Well, okay, I guess it did bother | me a little. | Jade: Indeed. For all his ignorance of the world, that was still quite | a careless choice of words. Then again, what more could one | expect from Luke? | Anise: Look, I don't really want to talk about this anymore! Let's go, | Colonel! | Jade: Yes, ma'am. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Road to Akzeriuth' [SK106] | | Jade: The road is in surprisingly good condition. | Guy: Yeah, especially since it's not really used anymore. | Luke: How come? | Guy: This road was in operation back when Akzeriuth was a part of | Kimlasca. | Natalia: Since Malkuth took it from us, there's been no reason to | maintain it any longer. | Jade: ...But, if Akzeriuth is Kimlasca's next target, it certainly | would make sense to clean it up... | Natalia: What is that supposed to mean? | Jade: I said "if." It certainly doesn't appear to have seen any recent | work. The fact that it's still in such good condition speaks | well for the Kimlascan engineers who constructed it. | Natalia: You have a most...trying way of putting things. | Jade: Hah hah hah... I suppose I do. I'll try to be more careful. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Further along the in the pass... Ion: *Huff*...*huff* *huff* Anise: Ion! Tear: Are you all right? Do you want to rest a bit? Ion: No...I'm fine. Anise: No, you have to rest! We're taking a break, everyone! Luke: A break? What are you talking about?! Master Van's gone on ahead! Natalia: Luke! There's no harm in resting a little! Guy: Yeah. This is a tough mountain path. There's nothing we can do. Luke: I'M the ambassador! If I say we go, we go! Guy: (...) Natalia: (...) Jade: (...) Tear: (...) Anise: (angry) L-listen, you! Jade: Let's get some rest. Ion. I trust that's all right with you? Luke: Hey! Ion: I'm sorry to be a burden, Luke... Luke: ...Tch. Fine. ...Just for a little. Ion: Thank you. The party goes off the path to rest. Tear comes up to Luke. Tear: Luke, I don't know why you're in such a hurry, but you could do with less attitude. Luke: ...What are you talking about? I don't have any "attitude." Tear: ...Fine, never mind. Luke: ...What's her problem? Damn it. The party heads further in. As they get closer to the exit, they are stopped by some shots. Legretta: Stop! Tear, why do you continue to spend time with those people? Tear: I'm under orders from Grand Maestro Mohs. What about you? Why are you kidnapping Ion and traveling to the Sephiroth?! Legretta: To win freedom and free will for human beings. Tear: What do you mean...? Legretta: This world is completely controlled by the Score. People read the Score for anything they do. The Score rules their lives. Don't you think that's wrong? Ion: The Score doesn't exist to control people. It's merely a tool to help them follow the correct path. Legretta: Perhaps for you, Fon Master, but most people depend on the Score. It controls them. The worst cases consult the Score to see what they should have for dinner. You are no different. Anise: We don't go that far, but... If the Score shows the future, then it's best to live as it says... Guy: The Score you get read on your birthday is a useful reference. Natalia: Yes. And you hear your life's Score, from the moment you're born, so... Jade: In the end, relying on the Score makes life easier. Mind you, the Scores other than Yulia's are vague and hard to understand. Legretta: That's what I'm talking about. This world is mad. Someone has to change it. Tear! Join us. Tear: I still don't trust my brother, and you're his loyal partner. Until my suspicions towards him are cleared, I can't return to you. Legretta: Then I'll stop you by force! The party battles Legretta and wins. Legretta: Tear... Get away from that reject! Luke: Reject? You talking about me?! Jade: ...So, it WAS you people who resurrected that forbidden technology! Ion: Jade, no! There are some things people are better off not knowing! Jade: Ion...you knew?! Luke: What? Stop leaving me out of the conversation! What are you talking about?! It's something to do with me, right?! Jade: Whose idea was it? Was it Dist's?! Legretta: Are you talking about fomicry? What good would it do you to know? The die had been cast, Necromancer! Jade: Over my dead body! Anise: Colonel...You're actually really angry... Jade: I'm sorry. I lost control. I'm all right now. Let's hurry to Akzeriuth. Everyone but Luke and Mieu depart. Luke: Damn it, you're keeping me in the dark on purpose! Tell me what the hell's going on! Mieu: Master, you mustn't get mad... Luke: They all jerk me around and then act like I'm not even here! I'm the ambassador, damn it! Mieu: Master... Luke: Master Van's the only one...He's the only one who understands! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Stop Making Fun of Me!' [SK104] | | Luke: Dammit... | Mieu: Master... | Luke: Why won't anyone tell me what's going on?! Why did Legretta call | me a reject?! And everybody else is keeping all these big | secrets from me! Stop making fun of me! I'm the ambassador, | dammit! | Mieu: Please don't get angry... | Luke: Then go away! Just leave me alone already! All of you, I swear! | Mieu: Master... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Kind Teacher' [SK107] | | Luke: Dammit! Why does everyone keep making fun of me?! | Tear: Luke... Perhaps we could have explained things better, but if | you're going to keep up that attitude... | Luke: Stop preaching and shut the hell up you cold-- | Tear: Stop being so childish! | Luke: Shut up! Master Van never made fun of me! He was always nice to | me! He always explained things if I didn't know them! He-- | Tear: So you're just a puppet who can't do anything without my brother | around? | Luke: What?! | Tear: Never mind. But let me tell you something: you'd better start | thinking on your own, or one of these days you're going to do | something you cannot undo. | Luke: Dammit... Master Van... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:AK1} \ >>> Akzeriuth \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: Wh-what IS this... Jade: This is worse than I imagined Luke: H-hey, Natalia, they're dirty. Get away from them. You might catch something. Natalia: ..What's dirty? What am I going to catch?! Don't say such stupid things! *to man on ground* Are you alright? ???: Did you all come from the Kimlascan side? Luke: Uh...um... Natalia: I'm Natalia, Princess of Kimlasca. We've come to offer aid at the behest of His Majesty, Emperor Peony. ???: Ah! A man named Grants told us you'd be coming! My name's Pyrope. I'm the local supervisor for the mine here. The mayor fell ill. So I'm handling things in his place. Jade: Where are Dorian General Grants and the rescue team? Pyrope: Grants is inside the mine. He's attempting to rescue our companions who collapsed there. Guy: It looks like the miasma isn't quite as thick here as by the Fubras River. Anise: Apparently, it's pretty bad inside the mine. Tear: Let's take a look around out here, then head for the mine. Luke! Luke: Huh? Oh...Right... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What I Can Do' [SK109] | | Luke: *Sigh* | Guy: Luke, come on! Think how everyone will feel if they see us | looking depressed. | Luke: But I'm the ambassador... I don't have anything to do. | Guy: Huh? There's plenty for you to do. Transport the injured, carry | things... | Luke: But why do I have to do THAT? That's not my job! | Guy: Luke... | Luke: W-what? | Guy: You don't honestly think that, do you? Look around you. Use your | head. Come on, let's go. | [Guy leaves.] | Luke: But carrying them off one at a time would take forever! I can | use hyperresonance to get rid of the miasma in an instant. But | first...I've got to find Master Van. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Tragedy' [SK108] | | Natalia: This is worse than I had imagined... | Anise: People could be dying already. We've got to hurry! | Guy: All these people lying on the ground..and there are probably | more still trapped in the mines. ...This is terrible. | Ion: It looks like some of them are still in decent shape, but asking | them to help would be rather harsh... | Tear: Should we split up? | Jade: First we need to assess the situation. We'll decide how to | proceed after that. We'll have to go through the entire town... | Tear: Is that okay with you, Luke? | Luke: ...... | Natalia: Luke! Are you listening? | Luke: Y-yeah... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Mining Town, Akzeriuth' [SK116] | | Guy: The blue and green stones in the walls... Those are minerals, | right? | Jade: Yes. Minerals from Akzeriuth are highly valued as raw materials | for weapons and armor. | Anise: So if we all just grab a couple along the way, we'll all be | rich! ...Just kidding. Hah hah hah hah hah... | Natalia: ...The people of Akzeriuth are risking their lives to mine the | minerals from these tunnels. It's our duty to do what we can to | rescue them. | Anise: Yeah. | [Jade, Anise, Guy & Natalia leave.] | Luke: What...what can I do here? ...Can I get rid of the miasma? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Pain of Akzeriuth' [SK112] | | Guy: Akzeriuth used to be part of Kimlasca, wasn't it? | Jade: Indeed, although this area has always been embroiled in | conflict. | Guy: The mining rights must be pretty tempting. | Jade: Undoubtedly. The raw materials from these mines can satisfy an | entire country's needs with ease. | Guy: But to think of how the people living here must suffer from such | pointless conflict... | Jade: And now there's this miasma to deal with as well... I can | sympathize with the people of Akzeriuth. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads into tunnel 14. Hyman: Locrian Sergeant Grants! A soldier runs up to the party. Hyman: My name is Hyman. I'm the one who informed Grand Maestro Mohs about the Seventh Fonstone. Tear: Good work. Ion: The Seventh Fonstone? Don't tell me it's been found?! Hyman: We think so, but we can't be sure until we excavate it. Ion: Tear, please go confirm the Seventh Fonstone's authenticity. Ion: I'll go with the others and catch up to the vanguard. Tear: All right. Please take care of the villagers. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Into the Depths' [SK113] | | Luke: The miasma is pretty bad in here... | Anise: Maybe the source is deeper in the mine. | Guy: So the farther we go, the worse it'll get...? | Jade: I know it's dangerous, especially without Tear, but there may | still be people left within the mine. | Anise: Maybe we can do something about the source of the miasma, too. I | guess we'll just have to go in. | Luke: The source... If I can get rid of that like Master Van said, | maybe everyone will start treating me a little better... | Guy: Luke, what's the matter? Let's go! | Luke: Ah! Right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads further into the mine. Natalia: Hold on. We're here to save you. Jade: Something's wrong. I don't see the vanguard anywhere. Luke: ...Oww! Not again! Asch: Don't take another step! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Where's Master Van?' [SK114] | | Luke: Those headaches again... | Mieu: Master, are you okay? | Luke: Leave me alone! | Mieu: Mieu... | [Mieu leaves.] | Luke: There's still nothing for me to do... Where is Master Van, | anyway? If only he were here, I could get rid of the miasma... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `As the Goodwill Ambassador' [SK110] | | Luke: Where the hell is Master Van...? | Ion: Luke, let's take care of the people here first. | Luke: Well, Master Van's here helping people too. He'll know what I | should do. I have to go find him! | Ion: Luke, the people here are counting on you, as the goodwill | ambassador, to rescue them as quickly as-- | Luke: I know, I know! You don't have to tell me! | Ion: I see... Very well, then. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke, Jade and Ion head into the next tunnel Jade: ...Something's wrong up above. I'll go take a look. Asch: Don't go any further! Stop, before it's too late! Listen to me! Luke: ...I'm not letting YOU order me around! Luke approaches Van. Van: You finally made it. Luke: Master! There you are. Where's the rest of the vanguard? Van: I have them standing by elsewhere. Fon Master, could I ask you to open this door? Ion: ...A Daathic seal. So this is another Sephiroth. I don't think opening this will serve any purpose. Van: It will. It's necessary for the revival of Akzeriuth. Luke: Ion, please! Everything will be okay if you say what Master Van says. Ion: ...All right. Ion opens the seal. Van and Ion go inside. Asch: Stop, damn you! Don't go! Are you trying to destroy Akzeriuth?! Luke: What are you talking about? I'm just gonna neutralize the miasma here. Luke follows Van and Ion inside. Ion: It's the same as Zao Ruins and Shurrey Hill... Van: Luke. This way... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Master Van Will Know!' [SK115] | | Luke: I'm going to be a hero, I won't let Asch stop me! | Ion: Luke, don't you think we should wait for the others? | Luke: Master Van's here. Isn't that enough? And besides, I'm going to | save Akzeriuth right now. Who's going to complain about that? | Ion: What do you mean? | Luke: Just wait and see. | Ion: ...... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke, Ion and Van approach a strange object. Van: Now, Luke, go down to that fon machine -- the passage ring -- and neutralize the miasma. Ion: What are you talking about? Is that even possible? Luke: Yeah, it is for me. I'm a chosen hero. Luke approaches the passage ring. The scene fades to Jade. Tear runs up to him. Jade: Tear! What's going on? Tear: Colonel! The vanguard was wiped out! Tear: The Oracle Knights who captured the Tartarus ambushed them! Jade: That explains the missing vanguard. They must be trying to stop us from saving Akzeriuth... Tear: No, they were waiting here under orders from Van to take me away. Jade: What do you mean? Tear: I went to verify the Seventh Fonstone. It turns out it wasn't real. Tear: But I was nearly kidnapped by Oracle soldiers when I went there. Jade: Why you...? Tear: It's my brother! He wants to protect me from what he's about to do...! Tear: Where is he now?! He's trying to do something horrible! Asch: Hey! Do something about that dreck you call Luke, or we're all going to die! Asch goes running by, being chased by monsters. Tear: It was him! Asch told me! There's no mistake. Tear: Van is- The scene fades back to Van, Luke and Ion. Van: Good, concentrate just like that. Luke: ... Van: Now, "Foolish replica Luke" unleash your power! Ion is knocked back by a force that seems to come from Luke. Luke: Wh--what the hell?! Something's coming out of me... The scene flashes back to Katsbert Ferry. Van: Luke, listen to my voice. Now, relax, just like that... Van: When I order you to release your power, you will open every fon slot in your body and unleash a hyperresonance. That same power you're using right now. The trigger phrase will be... "Foolish replica Luke" The scene fades back to Tear and Jade. Tear: Van is-- Tear: --planning to destroy Akzeriuth! The scene fades back to Luke, Ion and Van. The chamber starts collapsing. Van: ...You've finally proven useful, replica. Luke: Van...? Asch arrives at the scene. Asch: Damn! We didn't make it! Van: Asch! Why are you here?! I told you not to come! Asch: ...Too bad. I also brought the sister you tried to save! Van whistles and is picked up by a bird monster. So is Asch. Asch: ...let me go! I'm going to die here, too! Van: I'd intended to save Ion with that, but now I have no choice. I can't afford to lose you. Tear and the rest of the party arrive. Tear: Van! I knew it! You've betrayed me! You said you were going to preserve these Outer Lands! What about the people of Akzeriuth? The Oracle soldiers in the Tartarus? They'll all be killed! Van: ...Mystearica, some day you'll come to understand the folly and ugliness of this world. I want you to live... At least long enough for me to see you come to your senses. You have the fonic hymns. Use them... Van flies away. Jade: Damn! The tunnels are collapsing! Tear: Everyone, come close! Hurry! Tear sings a fonic hymn, and the party is protected by the force field while Akzeriuth is destroyed. Luke wakes up to see Mieu in front of him, the whole party is there, but the place does not look at all familiar. Mieu: Master! Thank goodness! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What Happened...?' [SK117] | | Luke: Damn. What the hell just happened...? I used hyperresonance to | get rid of the miasma in Akzeriuth, and then the mine | collapsed...and then...? Dammit, what's going on?! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke speaks with the party Natalia: …They’re already dead. Were we the only ones who survived…? Ion: Is this the Qliphoth? I never imagined I’d come here like this… …I’ll explain in due time. Right now, I want to find as many survivors as we can. Anise: I’m glad Ion’s safe… Jade: If Tear hadn’t sung that fonic hymn, we’d have been dead as well. Yulia’s fonic hymns are powerful indeed… Guy: Did we get caught in Akzeriuth’s destruction and fall underground? Didn’t anyone else survive? Tear: …It’s too late now. I failed to protect Akzeriuth… ???: Uh... Uh... Tear: There's someone there! John: Daddy... It hurts... Daddy... Natalia: Hang on! I'll save you! Tear: Stop! That's a bottomless sea of mud and miasma! You'll die if you jump in there! Natalia: Then what can we do for that boy?! Tear: Let's try healing fonic artes from here. They might reach. Guy: He's sinking! Jade: No! John: Mommy...help... Daddy...help... The boy sinks into the mud. Anise: Is this place going to break apart, too? Jade: Let's go to the Tartarus. The emergency buoy is operational, and it's managing to stay above the mud. Aboard the Tartarus... Jade: It looks like it will still run. Tear: There's a place called Yulia City here in the Qliphoth. It should be to the west. Let's try heading there. Jade: You seem to know a lot about this place. I'd like to hear an explanation once we're safe. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Van's True Intentions' [SK118] | | Natalia: That poor child... We weren't able to save him... | Ion: ...There was nothing we could have done. If we had seen him just | a little bit earlier, then perhaps... | Tear: ...If only I had been able to stop Van, we could have saved him | and everyone else in Akzeriuth... | Luke: What're you talking about?! Master Van and I were only trying to | get rid of the miasma! ...We were only...trying to... | Tear: ...It's too late for that now. | Guy: Tear... | Jade: I'm more concerned about Van's intentions. What does he gain | from destroying the town? | Ion: I don't know... But I doubt the fall of Akzeriuth is the end of | his plans. I'm worried about what may follow... | Natalia: Whatever may come, it is our duty to stop it. | Tear: Yes... I will stop him this time, for certain. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes towards Yulia City. Guy: No matter how far we go, there's nothing in sight. ...Are we really underground? Tear: ...In a way. The place you live down here is known as the "Outer Lands"--the world's outer shell. It's a floating land supported by pillars called "Sephiroth Trees" that extend from the Qliphoth. Natalia: I don't understand. Tear: Long ago, the Outer Lands were here in the Qliphoth. Anise: Unbelievable... Tear: Two thousand years ago, the miasma enveloped Auldrant and infected the land. That is when Yulia read the seven part Score, finding a way to escape destruction and bring prosperity. Ion: Based on the Score, Yulia proposed a plan to raise the planet's crust using the Sephiroth. Guy: And that was the beginning of the Outer Lands, huh... That's quite a story. Ion: Yes. Only maestros and above in the Order of Lorelei know. As do those born in the Qliphoth. Anise: Then, you're from the Qliphoth Tear...? Ion: ...At any rate, we've fallen down here. We were saved thanks to Tear's fonic hymn. Jade: Why did this happen? You said Akzeriuth was supported by a pillar, correct? Ion: Yes, but... that pillar disintegrated. Anise: How? Luke: ...I-I don't know anything about it! I was just trying to neutralize the miasma! He told me that if I caused a hyperresonance there, the miasma would disappear...! Tear: My brother deceived you. And you destroyed the pillar that supported Akzeriuth. Luke: No! That can't be... Ion: Van ordered you to stand next to the passage ring. Those passage rings are what produced the pillars... Tear is probably right. I was careless. I never dreamed Van would make Luke do such a thing. Jade: I wish Luke had at least discussed it with us beforehand. Neutralizing the miasma could of waited until the residents were evacuated. ...Of course, there is little point in saying that now. Natalia: Yes... Akzeriuth is gone. Thousands of live lost in an instant. Luke: A-are you saying it's my fault...? It's not...It's not my fault! Master Van said... Yeah! Master Van told me to do it! I had no idea this would happen! No one told me! It's not my fault! It's not my fault! Tear: ...Colonel? Jade: I'm returning to the bridge. If I stay here, I'll just be irritated by some ridiculous ranting. Jade walks away. Luke: What's your problem?! I tried to save Akzeriuth! Natalia: Ever since you lost your memory, you're like a completely different person... Natalia walks away. Luke: Y-you all couldn't do anything either! Don't just blame me! Ion: You're right. I'm powerless. But still... Anise: Ion! Don't even bother talking to him! He's not even worth it. Anise drags Ion away. Luke: I-it's Master Van's fault! Not mine! Right, Guy?! Guy: Luke... Don't make me think even less of you... Tear: I was stupid for starting to think you had some good in you... Tear and Guy walk away. Luke: Wh-why?! Why are you all blaming me?! Mieu: Master... Cheer up. Luke: Sh-shut up! What do you know?! Mieu: A lot of my people died because of me. So... I can understand what you're feeling, Master. Luke: Don't compare me to YOU! Don't compare me to... Aah... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Responsibility' [SK119] | | Natalia: Did no one else survive besides us...? | Guy: I doubt it. They were probably all swallowed up by that | sludge... | Anise: Ugh... This is horrible... | Ion: ...It's my fault. If only I hadn't opened the door so | carelessly... | Anise: You may have opened the door, but that doesn't make it your | fault. It's Van and... | Luke: ...... | Jade: Anise, don't bother. You're wasting your time. | Guy: Don't talk about Luke like that. We don't have time for that | kind of thing now. | Jade: ...You have a point. If we don't make it to Yulia City, we'll be | in danger ourselves. | [All but Luke leave.] | Luke: Dammit... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes further in the Qliphoth. Jade: I've detected an unusually strong fonon signature. It's to the west. Tear: That's probably Yulia City. Natalia: I can see something! Anise: Is that... a waterfall?! Tear: Yes. It's sea water from the Outer Lands coming down. The city is inside. Guy: Won't the water pressure crush the Tartarus?! Tear: Don't worry. The water vaporizes near the ground. Jade: Then here we go. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:YU1} \ >>> Yulia City \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Anise: Wow...! This is Yulia City? Tear: Yes. The mayor is inside. Let's go. Everyone but Luke and Mieu depart. Tear walks towards Luke. Tear: ...How long are you going to stand there? Everyone's gone to the mayor's house. Luke: All they'll do is keep accusing me of stuff. I don't want to go. Asch: You're even more pathetic then I though, reject! Asch approaches from behind. Luke: ...You! What are you doing here?! Where's Master Van?! Asch: Hah! You still call him "Master" even though he betrayed you?! Luke: ...Betrayed me? Then, Master Van really did want me to destroy Akzeriuth? Asch: Damn it! If I'd realized what Van was planning sooner, this never would've happened! And you! Why didn't you think before using your hyperresonance?! Luke: S-so you're saying it's my fault, too? Asch: Of course it's your fault! Don't even try to deny it! Luke: It's not my fault! It's not my fault! It's not... Asch: Are all replica brains this defective?! Luke: "Replica"? Master Van used the word replica, too... Asch: ...You STILL haven't figured it out?! Is this someone's idea of a joke? Luke: Wh-what?! What the hell are you talking about?! Asch: I'll tell you, Luke. Tear: Asch, stop! Asch: Why do you think you and I have the same face? Luke: H-how should I know? Asch: I am a noble who was born in Baticul. Seven years ago, I was kidnapped by a villain named Van. Luke: You can't mean... Asch: That's right! You're a second-rate copy of me! A mere replica! Luke: You're lying! It's not true! It's not true! Asch: ...You want to fight, replica? Luke: Stop lying! Battle with Asch. [If Luke loses] Luke: You're lying... I'm not... Asch: I don't want to acknowledge it either! To think that dreck like you is my replica! To think trash like you stole my family, my home...everything from me! I'm going to be sick. Die! [If Luke wins] Asch: I can't believe I lost to this trash... It's no wonder I lost my family, my home, everything... I'm pathetic! Luke: It's a lie... I... Luke received the Replica Model title. The scene fades in to Tear's room. Tear: ...ning? Asch! In Luke's head: ...Why am I wearing Asch's clothes? Tear: Asch! Asch: I'm listening. Don't shout. Tear: Talk to the mayor-to my grandfather-about launching the Tartarus. In Luke's head: ...What's going on?! Why is Tear looking at me but saying "Asch"? In Asch's head: Can you hear me Luke? You're over here. Luke is shown passed out on a bed. In Asch's head: You and I are perfect isofons. You're a perfect replica, right down to your fonon frequency. In Luke's head: I-I'm no replica... In Asch's head: A perfect replica and it's original can connect with one another via their fon slots. We adjusted your fon slots at Choral Castle so that they'd be open to me. You've heard my voice several times since then, right? In Luke's head: Then, right now my voice is inside your head...? Then that means I... In Asch's head: Not just your voice. I controlled your whole body. Of course, I doubt a dreck like you could pull that off. In Luke's head: Stop making fun of me! I'll do it! Just watch! Asch talks to Luke some more In Asch’s head: Shall I go ahead and kill you now? In Luke’s head: Like hell you will! In Asch’s head: …Humph. I’d never resort to using underhanded tactics on trash like you. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Luke and Asch - Part 1' [SK120] | | Luke: Why can't I control him...?! | Asch: Humph. Is that all a stupid replica like you can manage? | Luke: Shut up! I can control this body! I'll show you! | Asch: Oh you will, will you? Why don't you go ahead and try, you | defect! | Luke: Dammit...! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Asch's Miscalculation' [SK121] | | Luke: ...How come you opened the channel to me? | Asch: I wouldn't have if I'd known how stupid you were, defect. | Luke: W-what?! Why?! | Asch: I had hoped to use you to stop Van. | Luke: You mean...Akzeriuth? | Asch: That too, but after I attacked you in Kaitzur, I found out Van | was planning to use you to destroy the Outer Lands. I planned | to use my position in the Order to keep track of Van, and let | you deal with him instead... | Luke: So why didn't you tell me...? | Asch: Like you would have believed me. You would have gone straight to | Van and told him everything! | Luke: ...I... | Asch: Tch! I should never have counted on a damn replica in the first | place. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Asch speaks with the party members Mieu… Mieu: You’re my only Master, Luke. I’m staying here with you. Luke’s voice: Mieu… Tear… Tear: You’re going back to the Outer Lands, right? I told you, I’m not going with you. Luke’s voice: You’re going back up?! In Asch’s head: There’s no point to staying here. Natalia… Natalia: Luke! …Uh…I mean, Asch. …How have you been? Asch: …Fine. Natalia: …Um! Do you… Do you remember me? Asch: (…) Natalia: I…I’m sorry. That was a strange question, wasn’t it… Guy… Guy: What’s Luke doing? Asch: …Sleeping. I’m sure he’ll wake up eventually. Guy: I see… If he thinks by himself for a while, I’m sure he’ll realize what he needs to do. Asch: Humph. I wonder. Luke’s voice: Guy… Asch: (He’s as naïve a fool as he always was…) Guy: I don’t trust you, you know. Asch: (…) Guy: I’m going with you to make sure you don’t do anything suspicious. Asch: …Do as you please. Ion… Ion: This is your first time here, isn’t it? Asch: …Yeah. Ion: I don’t like this city. The people of this city and I think too differently in regards to the Score. Jade… Jade: If we make use of Akzeriuth’s Sephiroth as planned, we should be able to get back. Luke’s voice: “As planned”? Asch: (Carrying the Tartarus back to the Outer Lands.) Luke’s voice: You can do that?! Asch: (Shut up! Be quiet, replica!) Jade: What’s wrong? You look like you just swallowed a bug. …Oh wait, you always look like that. Asch: (…) Anise… Anise: To think, the mysterious “Asch the Bloody” is a Baticul aristocrat. Asch: Did you say you were coming, too? Anise: I’m just going with Ion. I didn’t know Luke was that stupid. I’m not so sure about marrying someone stupid…even if he is rich. In Asch’s head: (…Hear that, replica?) Luke’s voice: …… Anise: The color of the Qliphoth’s sky looks awful, and outside is all miasma… I want to go back to the Outer Lands! Teodoro: What do you think of the Qliphoth? Asch: It's just as I'd heard... Not very pleasant. Teodoro: The miasma and Outer Lands cover the sky. The land is a liquefied crust flowing over the mantle. Teodoro: It's no place for human beings to live. In Luke's head: Then why are these guys here? Asch: Then why don't you move to the Outer Lands? Teodoro: You know our role. We are the watchers. We cannot leave this land. In Luke's head: "Watchers"? ...What are they watching? Asch: So I hear there may be a way to raise the Tartarus back to the Outer Lands? Teodoro: We've attached a fonon activator to the Tartarus similar to those used by the passage rings. Teodoro: It should be able to stimulate Akzeriuth's Sephiroth and raise a tree one final time. Asch: Then we ride the Sephiroth Tree back up to the surface, huh? Teodoro: Exactly. But do you really need the landship that badly? Asch: I wouldn't have asked if we didn't! Teodoro: All right. Then would you like to head to the Tartarus right now? Asch: Yes. Teodoro: Then let's go. Aboard the Tartarus... Asch: Can we run a landship this size with only four people? Jade: Only with the bare minimum maneuverability. Anise: Sephiroth are pillars that support our Outer Lands, right? How are we going to use that to get back up? Ion: The Sephiroth are places where the planet's fonons are concentrated and memory particles spout forth. The pillars-Sephiroth Trees-are the result of artificially strengthening those memory particle spouts. Guy: In other words, we're going to be pushed up be memory particles. Jade: We'll temporarily stimulate the Sephiroth and catch the memory particle spout with the Tartarus' sails. Natalia: I hope it works... Asch: Don't worry. Begin! The Tartarus gets pushed back up to the Outer Lands. Jade: Looks like we made it up. Natalia: I can't believe this is floating in mid-air... Guy: So, were do we go now? Asch: We can get information from Fon Machine Lab 1 in Belkend. Van goes there often. Anise: He does? Asch: I misunderstood Van's objective. We'll have to uncover his activities to find out what he is really after. I want you to take Ion and me back to Daath... Asch: We'll take you back once were done. I need bodies here to operate the Tartarus. Guy: Why not use your own men? Asch: I can't. Everything I do would be leaked to Van. Natalia: I don't see any problem with helping Asch. We, too, need to know Van's true objective. Ion: Natalia is right. Anise: ...If you say so Ion, then I'll go along. Jade: I have something I want to confirm as well. I'll cooperate with Asch for a time. Guy: (...) Asch: Belkend is to the east. Now, get to work. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Back to the Outer Lands' [SK122] | | Natalia: Well, we're back safely from the Qliphoth. | Anise: So that huge thing that looked like a tree of light comes from | the Sephiroth? It's hard to believe those are all that's | supporting the Outer Lands. | Natalia: Yes... But it was enough to push us back up here. | Anise: Yeah, it's a good thing it worked! (music note) | Asch: ...Of course it worked. The theory was correct. | Guy: Only because we got lucky. We could've all ended up dead down | there. | Natalia: Guy, that's quite a sharp tone to be taking with L...Asch. | Guy: ...My apologies. | [Guy leaves.] | Natalia: Guy... | Asch: Natalia! Forget it. It doesn't bother me. | Natalia: Asch... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Thinking of Luke' [SK124] | | Guy: So Yulia City is miles below us, huh... | Natalia: Guy...are you thinking about Luke? | Guy: Huh? Well...yeah, I guess. Everyone but Tear's back up here... | I'm worried he'll think he's been abandoned. After all this, he | still needs me to help him along... | Natalia: That's some ego you have, Guy! Besides, you were too lenient | with Luke in the first place. The rest of us were quite shocked | at his irresponsible remarks. | Guy: But he's a replica, so... It's partly my fault he's grown up the | way he has over the past seven years. ... And partly yours, | too, Natalia. | Natalia: ...Yes...perhaps you're right. As you say, Luke may be in need | of someone to support him right now. But what of Asch, then? | Who is to support him, after seven years of loss? Isn't that | our job as well? | Guy: ...I suppose you have a point... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Belkend Port Natalia: Belkend is your father's territory, isn't it? When we were young we went together to Belkend's-- Asch: The city's to the south. Let's go. Natalia: Asch... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Searching for Van's Tracks...' [SK123] | | Anise: Do you think we'll find out what Van's up to in Belkend? | Ion: I don't know, but we don't have any other leads right now... | Jade: Indeed. We should investigate the Fon Machine Laboratory in | Belkend. | Asch: Yeah. Van's been in and out often. There's bound to be something | there. | Natalia: Yes, I'm certain we'll learn something. | Guy: ...You're all pretty optimistic... | [Guy leaves.] | Natalia: Guy! Do you have a problem? | Asch: Natalia! Don't bother. | [Natalia & Asch leave.] | Anise: Whoa, ouch! What's with all this drama, Colonel? | Jade: Anise, a proper lady doesn't pry. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:BE1} \ >>> Belkend \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party heads into lab. Spinoza: (!) Spinoza: Luke! No...Asch. Asch: Hah, so the traitor to Kimlasca still lives here in this city. What a joke. Natalia: What do you mean, "traitor"? Asch: This guy was involved in my kidnapping. Jade: (!) Jade: Don't tell me you're the one who broke the ban on fomicry! Asch: It's just as you imagine, Jade. Spinoza: Jade! The Necromancer! Jade: Applying fomicry to living creatures is forbidden. Spinoza: Every fomicry researcher longs to try it at least once! You're no different, Jade Curtiss! Or should I say, Dr. Jade Balfour! You're the father of fomicry! You made dozens of replicas! Natalia: (!) Ion: (!) Anise: (!) Guy: (!) Jade: I won't deny it. I am the one who proposed the principles of fomicry. Spinoza: Then you have no right to criticize me! Jade: I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I'm not interested in mutual wound-licking. I have no intention of covering for someone, just because they've committed the same sin as I. I'm well aware of what I've done. That's why I forbade it. The replication of living organisms presented both technical and ethical problems. You, a fomicry researcher, should know well the fate of the first replicas of living creatures. Spinoza: I-I only... All I did was help with Van's preservation project! I figured, if all we were doing was recording the replica information... Asch: Preservation project? What are you talking about? Spinoza: (!) Spinoza: You didn't know?! Asch: Tell us! Spinoza: ...I can't. I shouldn't have mentioned it at all. Spinoza runs away. Jade has received the Father of Fomicry title. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Forbidden Technology' [SK125] | | Ion: So you're the one who invented fomicry... | Jade: Yes. There was a time when I cared more about my own desires | than the multitude of problems surrounding fomicry. Even I had | my young and foolish days. | Ion: Jade... | Anise: Ion, are you okay? You don't look too good. | Ion: Yes...yes, I'm fine. I was just...a little surprised. | Guy: So your invention of fomicry was what allowed Luke to be | born... | Anise: Does that make the Colonel Luke's father? | Jade: Father...? If I had a son, I'd expect him to be much smarter and | more lovable. | Anise: Hey, that's mean! | Jade: In any case, it was Van that used fomicry on Asch, not me, so | that would make Van Luke's father. | [Jade, Anise, Guy & Ion leave.] | Luke: (Van...my father? But...) | Asch: ...... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Researcher 1: This is no good. We're out of fonimin. We can't make replicas without it. Researcher 2: Already? The next trip to Ortion Cavern to collect more is still a ways off. Researcher 1: That cave itself is convenient, but having to go all the way to Radessia to get to it sure isn't... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `They All Went with Asch...' [SK127] | | Luke: (Everyone...Everyone chose you over me...) | Asch: (It seems a former enemy is still preferable to worthless dreck | like you.) | Luke: (Hey!) | Asch: (Don't worry, replica. I won't be with them forever. If they're | that important to you, I'll send them back later. Though I | can't guarantee they'll actually return to you.) | Luke: (...They wouldn't want to come back anyway.) | Asch: (Probably not. They may be tough to work with, but at least they | have common sense. More so than you, anyway.) | Luke: (...Dammit...) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party leaves the lab. Natalia: Why is Van collecting replica data? What does he plan to do with it? Anise: Well, I'd assume he's going to make replicas... Asch: ...We're going to Ortion Cavern. Natalia: The cave on the western continent of Radessia? But why? Jade: I presume he intends to investigate the replica issue. Fonimin can be gathered there. And... Natalia: And? Jade: ...Well, you know. Radessia is Kimlascan territory. Malkuth can't interfere. Dist was originally a researcher from Malkuth. It's a logical place for him to go after stealing fomicry technology. Asch: Enough talk. Let's get going. Anise: Boooo. Do you really think we should go, Ion? Ion: Yes, for now, let's do what he says. Guy: I'm getting off here. Natalia: (!) Ion: (!) Anise: (!) Asch: (!) Why? Guy: I'm worried about Luke. I have to go back for him. Anise: I don't believe you! Who cares about that idiot! Guy: I do, because he's an idiot. I don't know what he'd do alone. And... I have faith that he can get past this. Natalia: Guy! You're Luke's attendant, and his friend! The real Luke is right here! Guy: This may be the real Luke. But my friend is that idiot. Luke: (Thanks, Guy... ) Jade: It's up to you if you want to go back for him, but how do you intend to return to Yulia City? Asch: ...Aramis Spring. It's a cave northwest of Daath. If the replica comes back to the Outer Lands, he'll pass through there. Guy: Thanks, Asch. Asch: ...Humph. I knew you'd choose him. Guy: Did Van tell you? Well...that's not the only reason. Natalia: What are you talking about? Guy: ...Nothing. See you. Natalia: Luke! Aren't you going to stop him?! Asch: Don't call me by that name. It's no longer mine. Natalia: (...) Guy has left the party. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Guy Leaves' [SK126] | | Natalia: Why did you not stop Guy? | Asch: ...He can do what he wants. You, too, you know. If you want to | go back to that replica, you can leave anytime. | Natalia: I... Well... | Jade: I can understand your dilemma. Though Luke may be only a | replica, that fact does not dilute seven years' worth of shared | memories. | Natalia: ...... | Jade: In any case, I'm more concerned about the loss of Guy as a | fighter. There are bound to be monsters in Ortion Cavern, as | well. | Asch: ...Forget about Guy. I can take care of monsters just as | easily. | Jade: I see this Luke likes Guy as well. He must feel quite lonely at | the loss of a friend. | Asch: ...Shut up! | Jade: Hmm... Their personalities are not so dissimilar, either. | Fomicry can't cause that in theory, but perhaps growing up in | similar environments pushed them in similar directions. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Memories' [SK134] | | Natalia: I had no idea there was a replica facility here. How can I be a | just princess when I know so little about my own country...? | Asch: Nothing is accomplished by just sitting around in a castle. You | learned that, didn't you? | Natalia: Oh...I remember that time! You took me outside the castle for | the first time, and... | Asch: ...and then Baticul became your castle. You'll only find the | truth by looking with your own eyes, walking on your own feet. | Otherwise this country will never change. | Natalia: ...You haven't changed. Even as a child, you were always | concerned about the future of our country...and you helped me | learn. | Asch: ...I'm no longer the person you knew. When I was taken away | seven years ago, the Luke inside of me died. All that's left is | his shadow. | Natalia: No, that's not true! I can tell... You really ARE Luke. | Asch: I said don't call me that. I'm Asch...the charred remains of the | "sacred flame"! | [Asch leaves.] | Natalia: Even so, I still... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Promise Fulfilled' [SK129] | | Natalia: L...Asch? Do you remember the time we visited this town as | children? | Asch: ...Yeah. You made me pinky swear to come here together when we | grew up... | Natalia: ...But you said there was no point to pinky swearing. That your | father had never kept his promises anyway. And then you left me | behind and went off to play with Guy... | Asch: ...That's all in the past. | Natalia: But you did keep your promise. The two of us have come here | again, in the end. Have we not? | Asch: You made that promise with Luke. ...I'm not Luke. | [Asch leaves.] | Natalia: No...you are Luke, the same Luke that I knew. I can tell... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:OC1} \ >>> Ortion Cavern \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Natalia: It's awfully damp in here. Ion: It's probably because of the sea breeze. Anise: Please wait in the Tartarus, Ion! Ion: But I'm interested too... Anise: No! It's too dangerous! Asch: Go back, Fon Master. You'll be in our way. Ion: ...Oh well. Luke: (Go ahead and take him with you!) Asch: (Are you stupid? What are we going to do with someone who can't fight?) Jade: Let's go inside. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Mysterious Facility' [SK130] | | Natalia: Asch... What was this facility built for? You were saying | something about replicas earlier... | Asch: ...I don't know for sure, but it's likely that this was the site | of research into replicas. | Anise: Those researchers were saying something about fonimin, weren't | they? And there's that dock... It looks like people come here a | lot. | Jade: Let's head inside. We may find something deeper in the cave. | Anise: You sure sound like you know something we don't, Colonel. | Jade: Not at all. This is the first time I've been here. Although... | Asch: Although what? | Jade: ...Nothing. | [Anise, Natalia & Asch leave.] | Jade: "Ortion" Cavern? You've got to be kidding me... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Watch Your Mouth!' [SK131] | | Anise: ...Wow! Asch! I just realized that you're actually really nice! | Asch: ...What are you talking about? | Anise: Ion, of course. With all that talk about getting in the way, you | really meant to keep him out of danger, didn't you? | Asch: I said he'd get in the way, and I meant he'd get in the way. | That's all. | Anise: Oh, come on! Don't get all shy and embarrassed! (music note) | Asch: You little...! Just shut up and walk! | Anise: Huh, you sure get angry just like Luke. | Asch: W-why you...! | Anise: See? There it is again! (music note) | Asch: Grrr... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party proceeds further into the cavern. Natalia sees some weird monsters. Natalia: I wonder what those are... Natalia walks closer. They try to attack. Natalia: (!) Asch comes out of nowhere and kills all of them. Anise: Wow! Asch, that was great! Asch: ...Are you okay? Natalia: Yes...yes, I'm fine. Thank you, Asch... Asch: ...Jade, do you recognize them? Jade: Well, biology is not exactly my specialty. Hmm...they don't appear to be indigenous to the area. And they seem odd for a new species. Asch: ...Looks like this may not go easily. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Luke's Worries' [SK132] | | Luke: (Hey, were you going easy on those monsters just now?) | Asch: (Huh? How stupid are you?) | Luke: (You're not planning to lure everybody in and let monsters kill | them or something...?!) | Asch: (Are you crazy?! ...The monsters here may be kind of strong, but | hardly a match for me. *Sigh* If you're going to keep bothering | me like this, you'd better be prepared to face the | consequences.) | Luke: (W-what do you mean? You can't do anything to me from there!) | Asch: (Not to you, no...) | Luke: (You...you can't mean... No! Don't!) | Asch: (Humph. I won't do anything...as long as you keep quiet.) | Luke: (......) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party reaches a room that was likely used for research or experiments. Natalia: What is this place? Jade: A fomicry research facility. Though it appears to have been abandoned for some time. Asch walks up to a machine and looks at it. Asch: The calculation device is still running. Everyone else walks up to the machine. Jade: Impressive. I doubt Luke could have handled this. Asch: This is...research regarding the effective scale of fomicry. Jade: They were trying to create replicas of large objects by increasing the data collection area. Anise: Large objects...? You mean like houses and stuff? Jade: Oh, larger than that. Even back when I was involved, we theoretically could have replicated a small island. Anise: That's huge! Asch: ...What the hell?! Impossible! Natalia: What's wrong? Asch: Look at the maximum replica size Van's research shows! Jade: ...Thirty million square kilometers?! That's more than a tenth of Auldrant! Natalia: Even if they succeeded in making something that size, there'd be no place to put it! Jade: They also have a list of previous replica data. The Malkuth military should have disposed of this. Asch: Did Dist smuggle it out? Jade: Most likely. It's data from the people of the destroyed island of Hod. There's no mistaking it. I was the one who had them take it at the time. Natalia: Don't tell me they're trying to resurrect a replica Hod...? Jade: ...I wonder. Let's take this data with us. Anise: (?) Anise runs over to two cages on the other side of the room. Anise: Hey, are these cheagles? Natalia: Oh! How can they eat if they're trapped in a place like this? Asch: Someone must be taking care of them. These two are probably a replica and its original. Jade: Yes, they both have a star-shaped mark in the same place. Anise: I wonder if these little guys breathe fire like Mieu. Anise hits the bars a bit, the cheagle breathes fire. Anise: Whoa! Natalia: I wonder if this one's the same. Natalia hits the bars and the cheagle breathes less fire. Natalia: Hmm, this one doesn't seem as energetic. Jade: It must be the replica. It's common for them to have reduced abilities. Anise: But, Colonel, the identification plate says this weak one is the original. Jade: I see. Replica data extraction can have a negative effect on the original in some cases... Natalia: Oh my. What sort of negative effect? Jade: In the worst case, the original dies. Though with perfect isofons, a different effect occurs... Luke's voice: N-no way.... So did making me mean that Asch is...? Jade: Natalia, Asch, there's no need to worry. Symptoms will always present themselves within ten days for inorganic matter. It's even faster for living things. Seven years later, Asch is doing fine. There's no need to worry. Natalia: Thank goodness. Luke's voice: Oh, good... Asch: (It's pretty sad when I've got dreck like you worrying about me...) Luke's voice: ...What? You want to start something?! Asch: (Enough! Shut up!) Anise: *Sigh* Replica stuff is complicated. You came up with this technology, right? Jade: ...Yes. Though it's a part of my past I wish I could erase. Asch: We've been here long enough. Let's go. Anise: So, all we learned was that the Commandant's trying to make a really big replica? Asch: That's plenty. Let's go. Natalia: Go where? Asch: I can do the rest alone. I'll take you back to your homeland. The party heads back towards the entrance. Asch: ...Be careful. There's something here. Natalia: What?! A monster drops from the ceiling an attacks the party. They win. Anise: What the heck was that?! It was huge! Disgusting! Jade: Fomicry research involves a number of chemicals that are harmful to living creatures. That may have been what caused this. Natalia: Asch... Thank you...for protecting me... Asch: ...Let's get moving. The party gets back to the Tartarus. Ion comes running out. Ion: Welcome ba- The ground starts shaking. Anise: An earthquake?! Natalia: Aah! Natalia almost falls, but Asch catches her and holds her steady. The earthquake soon stops. Natalia: Uh...um...thank you... Asch: ...I remember the last time I caught you like that. Natalia: Yes! I wanted to sneak out of the castle, so I jumped from a window... Asch: That earthquake may have been southern Rugnica falling. Anise: What?! Why?! Asch: Because Luke destroyed the Sephiroth Tree supporting southern Rugnica. It was barely hanging on by the Sephiroth from other areas. It's about time it fell. Jade: What effect will that have on other regions? Asch: Did you forget that we'd been having the Fon Master open the doors to the Sephiroth? Ion: Even with the doors opened, the passage rings are protected with Yulian seals. No one can use them. Asch: Van can! Jade: In other words, Van is able to control the Sephiroth. Then...is his objective the further destruction of the Outer Lands? Asch: That's what it looks like. From what I heard, the next to fall will be the area around St. Binah. Asch: (I don't have time to play with you anymore. Goodbye!) ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:YU2} \ >>> Yulia City \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke wakes up in a bed Luke: ...I guess the channel's closed. Mieu bounces onto the bed. Mieu: Master! Luke: Mieu.... Luke gets out of the bed and looks out a window. He sees Tear in a garden. Luke: Oh yeah! St. Binah's in danger! Luke goes out to the garden and walks up to Tear. Tear: Luke... You're awake. Luke: Is this a flower garden? Tear: They're selenias. The only flowers that grow in the Qliphoth. They bloom at night. The Outer Lands cover the sky, so hardly any sunlight gets through...Anyway, you looked like you were worried about something... Luke: Oh! Right! I want to go back to the Outer Lands! Tear: You'll be able to go back at some point. But for right now... Luke: No, I have to go back now! Asch said St. Binah's gonna fall! Tear: But...you've been asleep this whole time... Luke: I could hear! He and I are connected! Tear: Even if that's true, how do you plan to prevent St. Binah from falling? Luke: W-well... Tear: You don't understand a thing. You base all your actions on what others say and never try to understand things for yourself. That's no different than how you acted at Akzeriuth. Luke: ...Heh heh. You're right. "Master Van said so..." "Asch said so..." That's all I ever say... It's no wonder everyone got sick of me and left me behind. Tear: You knew? That they went back to the Outer Lands? Luke: I told you. Asch and I are connected. I saw it through him. ...I really am his replica. Tear: Luke... Luke: Up till now, all I ever paid attention to was myself... And I'm not even sure I saw myself clearly... Tear: ...Yeah. Luke: I want to change. I HAVE to change. Tear: If you really mean that, then perhaps you can. But even if you change, that's won't bring back Akzeriuth. ...And it won't erase the fact that thousands died. With the weight of all that on your shoulders, how do you plan to change? Luke: I don't know... Heh, that's all I know how to say. I'm pathetic. If I could make up for Akzeriuth by apologizing, I'd apologize as much as it took. If my dying could bring back Akzeriuth, then... I'd be scared, but...I'd die. But that's not how things are. Even if I tried to make up for it, I'd never be able to. So I'm going to start with what I can do. I don't know what that is yet, but I'm serious. I want to change. Tear: I still don't think you really understand. Not while you can talk about dying so easily. Luke: I won't ask you to trust me right away. ....Tear, you carry knives on you, right? Tear: Yes, why? Luke: Let me borrow one for a minute. Tear hands Luke a knife. He uses it to cut his hair. Tear: Luke! Luke: Heh heh. With this, I say good bye. To who I've been. Tear: Mmm. Luke: Tear, I want you to watch me from here on lout...and then make up your mind. I may not do a good job right away. I may make mistakes. But I'm going to change. Tear: All right. I'll be watching you. Luke: Please. Tear: I will. But don't ever take it for granted. I can give up on you at any time. Anyway, right now, if St. Binah is really going to fall, we have to find a way to stop it. Luke: Right. But what should we do? Tear: Let's ask the mayor, my grandfather. He should be in the meeting room. Luke: Okay. Let's go. If Luke is wearing the Viscount Costume Tear: …You know, I was so surprised when you took off your wig and cut your hair. Luke: How else was I supposed to cut it? Tear: So what next? Are you going to make a long-haired wig? Luke: That’s not a bad idea… Tear: (annoyed) Luke: …Sorry. I was just kidding… +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Thinking for Myself' [SK135] | | Luke: I have no idea how to keep St. Binah from falling, but we've got | to get there somehow. | Tear: Yes...even if we can't prevent its destruction, we can at least | evacuate everyone. Let's ask Grandfather about it. | Luke: Tear... | Tear: What? | Luke: I don't know much about anything, so I may not understand what | the mayor says, and... Well, I may need you to explain a lot of | it to me, but I'm going to make my own decisions. | Tear: Good...but don't use lack of knowledge as an excuse. | Luke: *Sigh* ...Yeah, sorry. | Tear: There's no need to rush things. Just start by doing what you | can, all right? | Luke: Yeah. And the first thing I can do is talk to the mayor. | Tear: Right. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Lost Technology' [SK138] | | Luke: This place looks a lot different from anything I've seen in the | Outer Lands... | Tear: You mean because of the miasma? | Luke: Well, that too, but these buildings... They look different, and | this strange material they're made of... | Tear: True... Yulia City is rather unique compared to towns in the | Outer Lands. But no one here knows how it was built. | Luke: What do you mean? | Tear: This city has been around since before the Outer Lands were | raised-- since the Dawn Age. It's protected from the miasma by | what was cutting edge technology even for the time, but since | then, we've lost most of that knowledge... | Luke: Huh? So we don't know how these buildings were built? | Tear: No, we don't. We can make simple repairs, but expanding or | rebuilding it is beyond our capabilities. | Luke: Wow... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke and Tear head into the conference room. Woman: Tear, I was looking for you. About the Third Fonic Hymn... Oh, so he's recovered? Tear: Layla! So has the Third Hymn's symbol been discovered? Luke: What's the "Third Hymn"? One of those fonic hymns you use? Woman: So he doesn't know about them. Luke: (?) Tear: The fonic hymns I use are Yulia's hymns. There are seven altogether. Luke: Oh, so the third of those seven? ...Wait. You always just use two of them. Tear: I don't understand the symbolism of the others. Woman: Yulia's hymns are useless with only the melody. If you don't understand the meaning and wisdom in the hymns, they're just songs. Oh, that's right... The symbol of the Third Hymn... There was a hidden page in a book Van left behind. It might be written there. When you have a chance, stop by my place and take a look. Layla walks off. Luke: Fonic hymns sound pretty tough... Tear: Yes. The symbols are very difficult. I know all but the Third and Fifth. But so far I only understand the First and Second... Luke: So if you don't know and understand the symbols, they really are just ordinary songs... Tear: (...) Tear: ...Actually, all seven of Yulia's hymns sung consecutively form another fonic hymn. It's called the Grand Fonic Hymn, and it works even if you don't understand its symbolism. The hymn itself is the symbol of the covenant. Luke: The whole "covenant with Lorelei" Grand Fonic Hymn? What power does that have? Tear: It's said that the Grand Fonic Hymn and the Key of Lorelei together can summon Lorelei. Luke: That sounds amazing! Tear: Yes. But the Key of Lorelei has been lost, and I don't know the Seventh Hymn. So it may not mean much in the end. Luke: ...Ch-cheer up. I don't know about the Grand Fonic Hymn, but your First and Second Hymns have really helped... That's good enough! Tear: Luke... Th-thank you... Luke and Tear enter the conference room and talk with Teodoro. Teodoro: Oh, Tear, it's you. And this must be... Luke: Ah...p-pleased to meet you. I'm Luke. Mieu: I'm Mieu! Luke: You, stay quiet. I...uh...I apologize for...for what happened at Akzeriuth... Teodoro: Ah, you're the Luke replica. I see. You really do look the same. Tear: Grandfather! Teodoro: Oh, I'm sorry. There's no need for you to apologize to us for Akzeriuth, however. Luke: Wh-what do you mean? Teodoro: The fall of Akzeriuth is written in Yulia's Score. It occurred because it was meant to. Tear: What are you saying?! I've never heard that! That makes it the same as Hod! Teodoro: It's part of the Closed Score. Only those of Maestro rank or higher know of it. Luke: If you knew about it through the Score, why didn't you try to stop it?! Teodoro: Luke...I'm surprised to hear someone from the Outer Lands say such a thing. A calm orderly life in accordance with the Score is the way of the Order of Lorelei. Luke: W-well, yeah, but... Teodoro: Why are people read the Score on their birthday each year? To learn of the next year and accept the possibilities it holds. Tear: Then why didn't you inform the world about Akzeriuth's destruction? Luke: Yeah! If you'd let everyone know, people wouldn't have had to die... Teodoro: That's the problem. When faced with a Score of death, people become unable to live peacefully. Luke: Of course...sir. Nobody wants to die! Teodoro: That's not acceptable. Yulia read prosperity for Auldrant in the Score. If we don't move history down that path, we'll lose the prosperity we are promised. We are the watchers who guide the Outer Lands to prosperity based on Yulia's Score. The Order of Lorelei is a tool for that purpose. Tear: ...And that's why Grand Maestro Mohs held Fon Master Ion and tried to cause a war? Luke: Master Van knew about the Score when he took me to Akzeriuth? Teodoro: That's correct. Tear: You told me neither Malkuth nor Kimlasca listened when you warned them about Hod! Was that a lie?! Teodoro: ...I'm sorry. You were young. I didn't want to tell you the truth. But Van knows the truth. Tear: Then my brother IS planning to take revenge on the world. He said that a world shackled to the Score is better off destroyed! Teodoro: Tear, you're mistaken in thinking that Van is trying to destroy the world. It's true that there was a time when Van hated the Score after what happened to Hod. But now, he's doing an admirable job as an observer. Luke: ...Admirable? Letting everyone in Akzeriuth die was admirable?! You're crazy! There's something wrong with all of you! Teodoro: Not at all. At the end of the Sixth Fonstone, Yulia's Score reads thus: "The land of Rugnica will be enveloped in war, and Malkuth shall lose territory. Kimlasca-Lanvaldear shall thrive, and this shall lead to unprecedented prosperity." We have watched all this time, in order to bring that unprecedented prosperity to the Outer Lands. Tear: But Grandfather... Van is trying to cause St. Binah to fall! Teodoro: The battle will take place around it. St. Binah will not fall. It is not written in the Score. A man walks in. Man: Mayor Teodoro, it's time for the council meeting. Teodoro: I'll be right there. If you two are that worried, take the Yulia Road to the Outer Lands. See for yourself that your concern is groundless. Teodoro departs. Luke: Tear, let's go back to the Outer Lands! We aren't going to accomplish anything here. Tear: Right. But before we go, there's something I want to get from my room. Okay? Luke: S-Sure... Luke and Tear go to exit the conference room, but Luke stops. Luke: Where's your room, Tear? Tear: It's the room you were sleeping in. The second floor on the house next-door is my room. Luke: Oh. Luke: (...) Luke: (Then...that whole time, I was sleeping in Tear's bed...?) Luke: (////) Mieu: Master? Is something wrong? Luke: (sweating) Luke: N-no! L-let's go! Mieu & Tear: (?) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Starting a New Journey' [SK136] | | Tear: Just like before... | Luke: Huh? | Tear: I left Yulia City like this last time...when I first met you. | Luke: Oh... | Tear: The time I went to the Outer Lands to stop my brother... | Luke: Tear. | Tear: I've got to stop him this time...and we've got to save St. | Binah. | Luke: ...Yeah. I can't let another Akzeriuth happen! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke and Tear head back to Tear's room. Tear: Van hated the Score. He was always talking about it, here in this room. He'd stand about where you are now and say he could never forgive a world that let Hod die. Luke: Why does he care so much about Hod? Tear: The Isle of Hod was Malkuth land, destroyed in the Hod War 16 years ago. It was our home. Hod fell into the Qliphoth just like Akzeriuth. Van and my mother, who was pregnant with me, fell into the Qliphoth. Van probably used a fonic hymn. Something happened before I went to the Outer Lands. Van returned to this city, something he didn't do very often. The scene flashes back to a conversation between Legretta and Van in the garden. Legretta: ...Asch seems to suspect something. Van: Asch is still a bit...dainty. He'll cause trouble if he learns that the people of the Outer Lands will be annihilated. Legretta: Shall we have Sync keep tabs on him? Van: Yes. The scene then flashes back to the present. Tear: I thought my brother was planning something terrible. At least, that many people were going to die... I couldn't allow that to happen, even if Hod had been left to die because of the Score. I swore I'd stop him, even if it meant killing both of us. Luke: Tear! Tear: But it looks like I failed. I couldn't save Akzeriuth. Luke: That's because I... Tear: I can't blame it all on you. I took an assignment in the Outer Lands in order to stop Van. Luke: You're strong. Tear: Am I? I wonder... Luke: Too strong. But...thanks for telling me about all this. I think maybe I understand you a little better now. Tear: That's the first time you've ever thanked me for anything. Luke: ...R-really? Mieu: I'm so happy you two are growing close to each other! Luke: I-it's not like that. By the way, what did you come here to get? Tear: A book on fonology. I thought you would need it. Luke: Why? Tear: A hyperresonance is caused by Seventh Fonons. I think this will help you learn to control them. Luke: Oh. Thanks. Obtained Principles of Fonology. Tear: The Yulia Road is to the right of the meeting room. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Why Did You Stay?' [SK137] | | Luke: How come you didn't go with Asch and the others, Tear? | Tear: Why should I have gone? I had no reason to. | Luke: Yeah, maybe not, but... | Tear: I was ordered by Mohs to search for the Seventh Fonstone. The | one in Akzeriuth turned out to be a fake. Granted I have to | report that, but that has nothing to do with Asch. Besides, he's | one of my brother's troops. ...I can't trust him. | Luke: Oh...so-- | Tear: Don't think I stayed for you, either. I planned to discuss my | course of action with Grandfather. You just woke up before I | left. That's all. | Luke: ...Oh...yeah. Right. | Tear: ...But I'm going with you now to watch you and see whether you | really can change. Remember that. | Luke: ...Yeah, I know. I...I'll do everything I can. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Cheagles Never Forget' [SK146] | | Mieu: Mieu, mieu mieu mieu! (music note) | Tear: You're certainly in a good mood, Mieu. | Mieu: I am! Master got better and I'm happy! | Tear: ...But Luke is always so mean to you. Don't you get tired of | him? | Mieu: No, I know that Master's actually a nice person! That's why he | saved me in the Cheagle Woods. | Tear: ...You know, I think you've helped him quite a bit as well. | Mieu: I did? Really?! Yay! I'm going to keep on helping, breathing | fire and breaking rocks! Breathing fire and breaking rocks! | (music note) Breathing fire and breaking rocks! (music note) | [Mieu leaves.] | Tear: Actually, I meant helping in an emotional sense... But I guess | it really is true that cheagles don't forget their debts. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke and Tear head to the Yulia Road. Tear: This path connects to the Aramis Spring on the Padamiyan continent. That place is crawling with monsters. Are you ready? Luke: Yeah, I'm ready. Mieu: I'm scared. Tear: It'll be all right, Mieu. Here we go. Tear steps into the glyph and disappears, and then the scene goes to show Yulia City from above going up to Aramis Spring. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:AR1} \ >>> Aramis Spring \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke, Tear, and Mieu arrive in the middle of a spring. Mieu: Mieuuuuu?! Luke: Whoa! It dumped us out into the water! Tear: It's all right. You won't get wet. All three get out of the water. Luke: How come? Tear: Apparently, the force from the Sephiroth spout pushes the water aside. Luke: Those Sephiroth things sure are strong if they can lift a whole land into the sky. And I destroyed one of them... Tear: Standing around depressed isn't going to help anything. Luke: You're right. I came back here to do what I can. Man, I'm hopeless. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Yulia Road' [SK140] | | Mieu: W-wow! That was neat! | Luke: It sure took me by surprise, getting thrown into a pool like | that. You said it uses the Sephiroth, right? How does it work? | Tear: We don't understand the theory behind it... We just make use of | it. There are many more fonic artes and fon machines left from | the Dawn Age, but we just don't fully understand them yet. | Luke: Oh... The Dawn Age must have been a pretty amazing time. | Tear: It probably was. In fact, Yulia herself is said to have helped | invent most of the technology of the time. | Luke: So that's why it's called the Yulia Road... | Tear: Yes. Yulia is said to have founded it. | Mieu: I heard that Yulia was a great person too. | Luke: Yeah, it sounds like it. I was never interested in that stuff, | so I never bothered to learn about it... | Tear: Well, now's a good time to start. One step at a time. | Luke: Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke and Tear enter a cave and go along for a bit when they see Guy sitting down waiting for Luke. Guy: It's about time you showed up, Luke. Luke: (!) Guy stands up. Guy: Hey, you cut your hair. Nice, clean-cut...Looks good. Luke: (It's just like I saw when I was connected with Asch! Guy waited for me...) Luke: Guy! Luke: (...) Guy: Huh? What is it? Luke: I...I'm not Luke... Guy: Jeez, I don't need you talking like Asch, too. Luke: But...I'm a replica... Guy: So? That guy doesn't like to be called Luke, anyway. I say take it. Luke: "Take it" Heh heh, you haven't changed a bit. Guy: You sure have, though. You don't have to put yourself down so much. Luke: I'm not! It's just... Guy: Sure you are. Who cares about names at this point? You could at least look happy to see me, after I went to the trouble of waiting here for you. Luke: ...You're right. Thanks. Guy: (!) Guy: Luke said thanks?! Tear: He says he's going to change. Luke & Tear: (...) Tear: Looks like you never do... Guy received the Friend for Life title. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Has Luke Changed?' [SK141] | | Guy: Luke sure seems different. | Tear: Yes. I suppose he's changed a bit. | Guy: That must have been a tough experience for him... Akzeriuth's | collapse, and Van's betrayal... | Tear: Well, we'll have to wait and see whether he can truly change or | not. | Guy: I just hope he doesn't let everything get him down... | Tear: I wouldn't worry. He's got you to depend on. | Guy: And you as well. | Tear: ...I suppose. | Guy: Anyway, shall we get going? | Tear: Yes, let's. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes further along and Luke strikes up another conversation with Guy. Luke: Why did you wait for me? Guy: We're friends, right? Oh, wait, I'm your servant. Sorry. Luke: ...I'm a replica. I'm not your master. Guy: It's not like I was acting friendly towards you just because you were my master. Luke: ...What? Guy: You're you, and Asch is Asch. Replica or whatever, you're real to me. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `No Matter What the Score Says...' [SK142] | | Luke: Tear... Teodoro said the fall of Akzeriuth was written in the | Score, right? | Tear: Yes, it seems Grandfather knew about it. | Luke: Then shouldn't we have asked him about what's going to happen | next? It might have been helpful... | Guy: You think so? I'm not really sure about that. If you can't | change it, it might be better not to know. | Tear: Yes... Grandfather probably didn't tell me about Akzeriuth for | the same reason. | Luke: Yeah, but... | Tear: Besides, Grandfather was saying that according to the Score, St. | Binah is safe, so I doubt it would help us much anyway. | Guy: Yeah. We won't know if it's going to fall or not until the time | comes. But if there's a chance it will, we can't just ignore it. | Luke: Yeah. All right, let's go! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes further along and Guy strikes up conversation with Luke. Guy: Do you remember? It was after the kidnapping, so I guess it was right after you were born. Luke: What? Did something happen? Guy: I asked you if it was hard not having your memory. You said "You can't go forward if you keep looking back." So you didn't need a past. That's what you told me. Luke: Hah hah... Man, I was stupid. I didn't "not need" one-I didn't have one. Guy: ...Actually, I thought it was pretty insightful. The party comes to a cliff area and Guy strikes up another conversation. Guy: All this must have been hard on you. Luke: ...I'm in no position to talk. Everybody died because of me. Guy: Part of that's my fault, though. Luke: You didn't have anything to do with it. Guy: I'm partly responsible for raising you from a blank slate to a selfish, spoiled kid. Luke: ...Huh? Guy: From the start, when you didn't remember how to walk-or didn't know, I guess-I was the one who looked after you. I've really learned my lesson. The path winds back into the cave and the party strikes up another conversation. Luke: How should I try to make up for Akzeriuth...? Tear: That's a difficult question. It's not something you can just apologize for. Guy: Yeah. Apologizing is important, but it can be hard on the one you apologize to. Luke: Why? Guy: The greater the loss, the more people need someone to hate for it, you know? You might feel better, but the ones you apologize to can't just say, "Okay! No problem!" Tear: Perhaps you should spend your life bearing that responsibility, never forgetting... No, that's too vague. Luke: Maybe I should never be happy...? Guy: Now, I know that's not right. Luke: Are you sure? I mean, I wasn't even supposed to be born. And then I destroyed Akzeriuth... Guy: Okay, stop, stop, no more of that. Hearing you talk like that is just annoying. Tear: Guy! Luke's thinking seriously about the issue... Guy: Just help people. Use the rest of your life to make everyone in the world happy. Luke: Th-there's no way I can do that! Guy: I know that, you idiot. I mean you need to put that much effort into it. Luke: ...Oh...right. I get it...I think... The party gets to the exit, Jade runs up to the party. Luke: Whoa! Guy: Jade?! Jade: Oh, good. I was afraid I might have missed you. Tear: Colonel, what are you doing here...? Jade: I have a favor to ask of Guy. He said he'd wait for Luke here, so I came looking for him. Guy: Me? Jade: Mohs has captured Ion and Natalia. Luke: What?! Jade: Oh, Luke, you're here, too? Luke: ...You got a problem with that? Jade: Not especially. Anyway, if we don't rescue them, there's going to be trouble. There aren't any Malkuth forces nearby, so I thought I'd ask for Guy's help... Guy: What do you mean by "trouble"? Jade: With the disappearance of Akzeriuth, Kimlasca has begun making preparations for war. They probably intend to use Natalia's death as justification. Tear: That's right... The people of the Outer Lands don't know why Akzeriuth disappeared... Jade: Ion was wary of this and returned to the Order to issue a decree. He was captured upon his arrival. Guy: Okay, Luke. We're going to rescue them. There's no way we're letting a war happen. Right? Luke: ...Yeah. Should we head to Daath? Jade: Yes, that's the idea. In case you were unaware, Daath is southeast of here. I hope you won't get too lost or slow us down too much. Tear: Luke, it's not easy to regain trust once you've lost it. Luke: ...I know. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Harsh Greeting' [SK143] | | Jade: Well, well. I'd never imagined traveling with YOU again. | Luke: ...I'm sorry about before. I won't do anything like that again. | At least I'll try not to... | Jade: I certainly hope not. | Guy: Come on, Jade. Remember when we all first met? Let's just take | it easy... | Tear: ...But too much has changed since then. | Luke: ...Yeah. | Guy: Jade, surely you're not so warped as to enjoy teasing poor, | troubled children? | Jade: ...Well, at least I don't have to be with him for long. I guess | I'll just have to manage. | Guy: (...So much for taking it easy...) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Daath' [SK145] | | Guy: You know, Daath may actually be one of the safest places in the | world. | Luke: What do you mean? | Guy: Well, it's the center of a religion based on the Score. They | wouldn't build that here if it was destined to fall anyway. | Jade: Indeed. Padamiya used to be considered dangerous because of the | Mt. Zaleho volcano, but if the Closed Score foretold any | danger, they would've undoubtedly chosen a different location. | Tear: Come to think of it, how can volcanoes erupt in the Outer Lands, | anyway? | Guy: I was wondering about that myself... | Luke: Yeah... If the Outer Lands are just the crust lifted off the | surface of the planet, then volcanoes shouldn't exist at all. | Jade: That might be related to the Sephiroth Trees. It may be that | they send not only fonons and memory particles, but also some | sort of planetary life force to the surface as well. | Tear: ...That's some technology Yulia thought up. | Jade: Not only Yulia, but her ten disciples and Dr. Southern-Cross as | well. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `To Daath!' [SK144] | | Mieu: Oh no! Is there going to be a war? | Luke: It hasn't started yet. We can still prevent it! | Mieu: But, but, what about St. Binah? | Luke: Oh yeah... We've got to do something about St. Binah too! | Tear: Luke, calm down. First things first... We have to rescue Ion and | Natalia from Daath. | Luke: But Mohs is in charge, right? Won't everyone be trying to stop | us? We don't have any time to waste dealing with them... | Tear: Not everyone in the Order listens to Mohs. Some are on Ion's | side; some are neutral. Don't worry. We have to move quickly, | but calmly. | Luke: ...Yeah, you're right. I understand. Let's hurry to Daath. | Tear: Right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Daath Fourth Stone Monument. Mieu: Master, Is that Daath? Luke: I don't know? Is it? Tear: Yes, Ion and Natalia are likely being held inside that cathedral Jade: Understandable, since those two hold the potential to stop the war. Mohs won't want them to leave Daath. Luke: Can't we just tell my uncle about them being captive? Tear: Natalia's probably thought to have been killed in Akzeriuth. I think that'd be difficult. Guy: Yeah. And Mohs has the king's ear too. Let's help them ourselves. Jade: Anise is looking into things at the Order. Hopefully we can find her in the city. Luke: I'll guess we'll have to look for her... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Finding Anise' [SK147] | | Guy: Where do you suppose Anise is? | Jade: She's quite the active one. It may be better to just wait for | her to reappear. | Luke: But she might be running on ahead, like that time at St. Binah. | Jade: Anise doesn't run ahead needlessly. Unlike you. | Luke: ...Okay, okay. Let's wait, then. | Guy: Oh, come on, Luke. If you let him get away with that, he'll | never stop teasing you. | Luke: Well, he is right about me running ahead... | Jade: Hmm, seems you've learned a new trick. Why, it almost sounds | like I'm the bad guy! | Tear: Stop it, all of you! We have to find Anise! Now come on, let's | go! | Luke: Okay. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:DA1} \ >>> Daath \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party heads towards the Cathedral. As they reach the steps, Anise jumps out behind Guy. Guy: Aaaaaaaah! Guy runs and hides behind Luke. Luke: Anise! Anise: (!) Anise: Whoa! Asch you cut your hair! Anise: (?) Luke: I-I'm... Anise: (!) Anise: Oh, no, it's Luke... Anise: (?) (...) (!) (sweating) Anise: Wait, What? Why is the spoiled brat here?! Hey, the others are with you, too. Wow! (heart) Must be Lorelei's will, huh! Guy, Luke & Tear: (...) Guy: ...That voice could break glass. Jade: Anise, we've gathered the manpower to rescue Ion. What is their situation? Anise: Ion and Natalia have been taken to Oracle Headquarters beneath the cathedral! Luke: Do they let people just walk right in? Tear: Into the cathedral, sure. But only Oracle members can enter the Headquarters below. Guy: Can we sneak in somehow? If we don't find a way to rescue them, we really will have a war on our hands. Anise: It looks like its already starting. Jade: Tear, you still haven't reported back that the Seventh Fonstone was fake, correct? Can you take us into the Headquarters as witnesses for its discovery? Tear: Okay. I'll try asking the Minister of Affairs, Maestro Tritheim. Luke: Well, that Tritheim guy's inside, right? Let's go on in. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Regaining Trust' [SK148] | | Anise: Luke, are you feeling better? You're welcome to just sleep | forever, you know...(music note) | Guy: Whoa, ouch... | Luke: Well, it's my fault, so... Still, I don't have time to be lying | around. I've got to keep going, no matter what! | Anise: Wow, since when did you get this worked up? Well, whatever. That | doesn't matter now. We have to save Natalia and Ion. | Luke: Yeah, let's go see that Tritheim guy. | Anise: Huh? You're giving the orders now?! | Luke: Huh? | Guy: Ahem. Come on, let's get going. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Twisted Love?!' [SK158] | | Anise: Ion, can't you be more careful? Getting caught like that... | Man... What are you, a princess?! | Tear: It just shows how important a figure he is. | Anise: Well, yeah, I know that... But his personality is part of it, | too. How can he be so...well, naive? | Luke: Yeah, he does seem to let other people use him a lot... | Tear: Oh, come on! The Fon Master is a fine person! Though...I will | admit that he can be...at times...a bit too trusting. | Guy: ...He'd make a perfect comedian, though. | Jade: With Anise as his foil, I suppose? Now that would be something | to see... | Anise: Ugh! Stop it, all of you! I don't want to hear another bad word | about Ion! | Guy: Hey, you started it. | Anise: I can complain about him, but nobody else can! You do it again, | I'll kill you! | [Anise leaves.] | Luke: Wh-whoa... | Tear: I wonder why she's so upset? | Guy: It's easy. Right, Colonel? | Jade: Ah, the scent of love is in the air. | Luke & Tear: Love?! | Mieu: I don't smell anything. What's it smell like? Apple gels? | Jade: More like a certain young religious leader. | Mieu: Really?! Wow! | [Tear, Jade, Guy & Mieu leave.] | Luke: ...Would somebody please shut these two up? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads into the cathedral and makes an immediate right to happen to find Legretta and Mohs talking. Mohs: Damn it, is there still no word from Van? Legretta: My apologies. The Commandant has gone to inspect Belkend... Mohs: We're finally close to causing this war as written in the Score. What's he doing at a time like this?! Legretta: Perhaps you could head to Baticul ahead of him. Mohs: *Sigh* Yes, I suppose I could. Legretta: I'll escort you. Legretta and Mohs come down the hallway towards the party, who runs off. Tear: Grand Maestro Mohs...and Legretta... They really are trying to start a war... Luke: We've got to find Ion and stop it! Guy: Right. The party heads into the Cathedral and speaks with a woman. Pamela: Oh, my! Anise! It's been a while! Anise: Mama, are you saving money like you're supposed to? Pamela: Oh, my, don't worry Anise. We donate our income to Lorelei every month, just like we should. Anise: Are you still doing that?! How are you going to live in retirement? Pamela: Don't worry. As long as you follow the Score, you don't need money. Anise: ...*sigh* Looks like I don't have any choice but to marry into money... Luke: (sweatdrop) The party heads into the chapel and meets a man who turns out to be Anise's dad. Oliver: Oh, hello, Anise! What are you doing here? Anise: Papa?! What are YOU doing here? Oliver: I just received a message from Maestro Tritheim. Anise: Papa... you'd better not be getting tricked into another weird scam. Oliver: Hah hah hah. I'm fine, Anise. I live each day according to the Score, so my life is always good. Anise: Are you sure? If you say so... Oliver: Of course. Just the other day, I got a letter saying I'd won a seven night, eight day trip to Keterburg. Anise: What? Was that a prize? Oliver: I didn't enter anything like that... so I sent them back a message informing them they had the wrong person, but it turns out it was a present for devout followers of the Order of Lorelei. It's a highly discounted trip-only 10,000 per person-so I paid at once. Anise: ...He's being tricked again. Luke: No kidding. What kind of trip could you take for a measly 10,000 Gald? Guy: You idiot, that's not the kind of scam it is! Tear: The first letter said he'd "won" a trip, so why does he have to pay for it? That's the question. Luke: Oh...I see. Jade: The perpetrator's probably long gone by now. Anise: Honestly, Papa! Why do you let people trick you so easily?! Oliver: It's not good to distrust everyone you meet. Besides, we don't know yet that we can't go on the trip. Anise: Of course you can't!! Oliver: Even if what you're saying's true, it must mean that that person needed money so badly that he had to trick someone to get it. I think it's better than us having it. Anise: Papa!! Oliver: Uh oh, I can't stay here any longer. I have to get back to work. Please take care of Anise, everyone. Oliver departs. The party goes to speak with Tritheim, who is by an altar. Tritheim: Welcome to the church of Lorelei. Personal Score readings are held each week during the mass on Remday. ...Hmm? Oh, Cantor Tatlin and Cantor Grants. Tear: Maestro Tritheim. I've completed my assignment from Grand Maestro Mohs. Could you grant permission for me to take these witnesses into headquarters to assist in giving my report? Tritheim: ...Ah, from Grand Maestro Mohs... Understood. Please take this with you. Tear: Thank you. Obtained Permit. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Anise Gets Things Done' [SK149] | | Tear: How did Ion and Natalia come to be captured, anyway? | Anise: Um, well, Asch was going to bring us all back home, so first he | stopped at Daath for me and Ion, but then we heard that a war | was about to start, and... | Jade: Natalia asked Ion to issue an official edict. They were | apparently taken when they tried to enter the cathedral. | Guy: Apparently...? Weren't you with them? | Jade: No, I was working on repairing the Tartarus' ability to travel | on land. | Anise: The rest of us managed to escape and ask the Colonel for help. | Then I came back to the cathedral to look for the two of them. | Luke: Sounds like you've been busy. | Anise: Unlike a certain rich kid, yes! | Tear: So, were you able to repair the Tartarus? | Jade: No. The mud from the Qliphoth got into some of the machinery. | It's hopeless. | Guy: Well, that's unusual. The Colonel not coming through for us. | Jade: Well, it certainly won't do to make me do all the work. In any | case, let us find Ion and Natalia instead of just talking about | them. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At the Oracle Headquarters... Luke: Where do we go from here? Anise: I don't know. We'll have to search the whole place... Luke: We'll get caught if we do that. Tear: We'll have to do our best not to draw attention. Jade: And we can't have them calling for reinforcements if they spot us. We'll have to make sure we leave them dead. Luke: ... I wish we didn't have to do this. Guy: It can't be helped. If we don't hurry, war really will start... and many more people will die. Luke: (I'm going to make even more people hate me...) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Protecting the Score' [SK152] | | Tear: Grand Maestro Mohs... Why is he doing this...? It's clear that | he's acting only for the sake of Auldrant's prosperity as | written in the Score, but... | Luke: But that's no reason to start a war! | Tear: The Score must be observed... That's what everyone in the Order | of Lorelei has been taught. | Jade: Most people in Auldrant consider observing the Score to be a | virtue. From that viewpoint, one cannot consider Mohs' thoughts | or actions to be evil. If anything, he is a perfect follower of | the Order of Lorelei. | Luke: So the two of you are okay with just letting this war start? | Jade: Certainly not. And in order to stop it, we need to find and | rescue Ion and Natalia. | Luke: Yeah. They should be in one of the rooms here... We'll just have | to search them all. | Tear: Let's hurry. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Oracle Headquarters' [SK156] | | Luke: Hey, what exactly is this place? I mean, I assume there are a | lot of Oracle soldiers here... | Anise: Why are you even asking? I can't imagine it has anything to do | with a spoiled rich kid like you. | Guy: Man, that's cold... | Luke: I...I just, well...there're so many things I don't know... | Anise: Humph... Well, whatever. This is all secret, okay? Headquarters | is kind of like the hidden side of the Oracle Knights. | Everybody else is kept out because it looks so military. Oracle | soldiers all undergo training here. Like me. I trained here. | Tear, you trained here, too, right? | Tear: ...N-no, actually. Major Legretta came to Yulia City to teach | me, so... | Anise: Really? Well, I guess you are the Commandant's sister, after | all... Anyway, there are dormitories here, too, and low-ranking | soldiers all sleep there. ...Is that enough for you? | Luke: Yeah, that's fine. Thanks. | Anise: Whoa! Luke said thank you?! | Guy: Yeah. Kind of startling the first time, isn't it? | Luke: Well, excuse me... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Ring the Gongs!' [SK157] | | Jade: These soldiers certainly are proper, coming out at the sound of | the gong and everything. | Tear: Well, of course. That's the assembly call. | Jade: But think of the opportunities for trickery here. | Tear: The Oracle Knights are peacekeeping soldiers of the Order of | Lorelei! Who could do such a childish... | Jade: Who, indeed? Who was it that just rang the gong to lure a | soldier out to play with? That seems like the same thing to me. | (music note) | Anise: Yeah, this is really fun! (music note) | Mieu: Fun! Fun! | Tear: Th-this isn't a game! It's a strategy to lure the enemy out... | Jade: Ringing the gong to fool the soldiers into following a | nonexistent order, throwing them into chaos. Yes, a very | enjoyable little game. | Tear: ...I guess there is no assembly order...but... Are we really | just tricking them...? | Jade: Ah, the worries of youth... | Guy: You're the one who made her worry... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party wanders around the headquarters and eventually find Ion and Natalia. Luke: Ion! Natalia! Are you okay? Natalia: ...Luke...it's you, isn't it? Luke: Sorry for not being Asch. Natalia: No one's saying anything like that! Luke: (angry) Anise: Ion! Are you all right? Did they hurt you? Ion: I'm fine. Thank you all for coming here just for us. Tear: Was my brother involved in imprisoning you? Ion: I haven't seen Van. But the Six God-Generals tried to get permission to take me away. Mohs refused... Tear: He's trying to remove the Daathic seals so he can wipe out the Sephiroth Trees... Anise: Which means the Commandant will come back to take Ion. Guy: Exactly. Let's hurry up and get out of here. We should be okay once we get outside town. We can decide what to do next then. Luke: Then how about that Fourth Monument thing? Let's head to the hill where that is. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `We Meet Again' [SK154] | | Anise: Looks like we're all together again. | Jade: If only by coincidence. | Ion: Perhaps Lorelei has brought us together. | Natalia: Yes, people spoken of in the Score, heads of state... I can't | imagine we all met by coincidence. | Guy: I wonder if this, too, was written in the Score. | Anise: Yeah, maybe. | Natalia: But, you know, Luke...you look somehow...different. Maybe it's | your hair. | Luke: Y-you think so? | Jade: Well, he's had a lot to think about. Pity it's far too late to | make any difference. | Luke: ...*Sigh*... | Anise: Well, people can't change overnight, after all. | Ion: Anise, Jade...I'm afraid I cannot agree with you. Luke has | always been kind. He just hasn't known how to express it. | Luke: No, Ion, it's okay. They can just watch me and see for | themselves. | Tear: Right. Now, come on. It's dangerous to linger here. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Tear's No Spy' [SK153] | | Tear: I can't believe the Grand Maestro is trying to start a war... | Luke: Tear...um... | Tear: What? If you've got something to say, say it. | Luke: ...Well... You know how I used to think you were a spy? | Tear: Yes... | Luke: Sorry! | Tear: What? | Luke: You weren't really a spy for Mohs... | Tear: I don't mind. After all, I am under Mohs' command. But please | believe me now. I want to avert this war. No matter what. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party leaves Daath and heads back to the Fourth Stone Monument hill. Guy: Looks like no one's following us. Tear: I don't think they can abduct Ion in a public space. Anise: But what do we do now? War's about to start and things look seriously bad! Luke: Can't we just go to Baticul and stop my uncle? Tear: Have you forgotten? Mohs has the His Majesty's ear. It would be running right into enemy territory. Natalia: I'm afraid Tear may be right. Father trusts Mohs. Jade: I'm also worried about the talk of St. Binah falling. Ion: Then why don't we petition help from Malkuth's Emperor Peony? He doesn't want war, and he would have gotten word of any signs of Rugnica's collapse. Anise: Sounds like a plan. Luke: Okay, let's do that. But where'll we get a ship to Malkuth? Jade: Asch left the Tartarus in Daath's harbor for us. Let's head there. Luke: He did...? Okay. The harbor's northwest, right? Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Asch, Friend or...?' [SK155] | | Luke: I wonder why Asch left the Tartarus behind... | Natalia: He probably wanted to help us. | Jade: I wouldn't be so certain. The Tartarus is one of Malkuth's | ships. Perhaps it was just inconvenient to use it for travel | between the two countries. | Guy: Well, whatever the reason, at least we won't be stranded here. | Luke: Asch... I wonder what he's up to...? | Guy: Who knows? He may be plotting something. | Natalia: Guy! Don't talk about Asch like an enemy. He's on our side! | Jade: Really? I wonder... Personally, I'd refrain from making any | hasty judgments. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:DBY} \ >>> Daath Bay \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: The Emperor's in the capital, Grand Chokmah. Where's that from here? Anise: Um, Northwest, I think. Guy: ...Doesn't Grand Chokmah turns into a fortress in wartime? Will the port be open? Jade: You're well informed. That's correct. Anise: But war hasn't started yet. Jade: Even so, I imagine they've sealed off invasion routes in preparation for an attack. Luke: But won't they let you through, Jade? Jade: Right now, mentioning my name would probably have the opposite effect. All of my men were killed, and I've been missing since Akzeriuth. Now I show up in a landship that was supposedly captured. I wouldn't be surprised if they opened fire on us. Ion: Why don't we dock somewhere and go by land? If we approach unarmed, then perhaps... Tear: Rotelro Bridge is still under repair. We should be able to land there. Jade: That looks like our best choice. Natalia: Then it's settled. Let's head for Rotelro Bridge. Anise: *Sigh* We have to walk... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Tartarus Takes a Beating' [SK159] | | Luke: So we can't get to Grand Chokmah by sea... | Guy: Nope. The Tartarus would probably sink if we tried to force our | way in. | Jade: Perhaps at full strength, the Tartarus could do something like | that. But with this small a crew, even that would be | impossible. Besides, there's no reason to be so aggressive | here. | Luke: Yeah. We're not going in to fight. | Guy: Besides, we'd have problems if the Tartarus got too banged up. | Jade: Indeed. It would likely be difficult to find another ship, given | the current situation. We'll need the Tartarus for a while | yet. | Luke: Coming up from the Qliphoth was pretty rough on it, so we should | probably play it safe for a while. | Guy: Huh? You knew about that? | Luke: Yeah. I'm connected with Asch. I saw it all through his eyes. I | remember it well. | Jade: Hmm... | Guy: In any case, all of us are probably as worn out as the Tartarus. | Let's get some rest before we move on. | Luke: Good idea. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Cruising in Style' [SK166] | | Luke: Wow. Looks like the Tartarus has no problem on the sea, either. | Guy: Yeah, it was built for both land and sea, but it's really just a | landship that happens to float. Real warships will have no | problem outrunning it. | Jade: Indeed. | Ion: Nonetheless, I've grown used to the Tartarus. I find it more | comfortable than some ferries. | Luke: Yeah, me too. | Natalia: Luke! The Tartarus is a Malkuth craft, you know. | Kimlasca-Lanvaldear's cruise ship, the Princess Natalia, is | much more enjoyable. | Anise: Yeah, that sounds a lot better. | Guy: Really? I think men would take the Tartarus any day. | Mieu: The Tartarus! | Anise: How about you, Tear? The Princess Natalia, right? | Luke: The Tartarus, of course! | Tear: I...I kind of like Tokunaga... | All: ...... | Tear: ...N-never mind. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Aboard the Tartarus, on the way to the bridge, an alarm goes off. Natalia: Aaah! Anise: Is it going to sink? Jade: I'll take a look Guy: I'll go too. I may be able to help if any fon machines need repair. Mieu: Master, I can't swim... Luke: ...I know. Don't worry. We're not going to sink. Jade: Guy managed to repair the engine damage. We should still be able to move. Guy: It's only temporary. I'd like to get it repaired in port somewhere. Tear: The closest port from here is Keterburg. Luke: Then let's go there. That's okay with you, right, Jade? Jade: I suppose so... At Keterburg Bay... NPC: Excuse me. I need to confirm your passports and ship registration. Jade: I'm colonel Jade Curtiss. Third Division, Malkuth Imperial Forces. NPC: M-my apologies. But I heard you were killed at Akzeriuth... Jade: That matter is top secret. Our ship's engine was damaged during our mission, so we stopped here. Jade: I'll explain the situation to the governor, Viscount Osborne. You may inspect the ship as you please. NPC: Yes, sir. Shall I show you to the city? Jade: That won't be necessary. I was born here. I'm familiar with the area. NPC: Understood. Then, if you'll excuse me. Luke: Huh, so you were born here, Jade? Jade: ...Yes. Luke: What are we going to do about repairs? Jade: We can report that to the governor and ask for help. Luke: Okay, then let's hurry to Keterburg. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:KE1} \ >>> Keterburg \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party heads to the casino. Luke: So this is the casino, huh? Looks pretty fun! Natalia: I had heard about it, but all of this gaudiness is rather discomforting. Tear: Yes... it is pretty, but it makes me feel out of place. Guy: This casino was built back when this area was first developed as a resort. There's actually a little legend about this place... Anise: (!) Guy: They say if you hit the jackpot on the second slot machine from the end, you win a castle... Anise runs off to try her luck. Guy: ...Oh, man. It's so obviously a lie just to attract customers... Anise: Hey, come on! You cheapskate! Tear: What's wrong, Anise? Everybody's staring at you. Anise: They said minors aren't allowed to play in the casino! Booo! Guy: Hah hah hah... It's not that bad. All you need is a parent. What about Jade? Anise: Papa! (music note) Can I please get my allowance? Pretty please? (music note) Jade: I'm afraid not. Anise: Booo. Fine then. Guy, go get me some chips! (music note) Guy: Uwaaaah! Anise: Tch... That's right, my looks don't work on Guy. Anise has received the Grown-up Child title. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Emperor's Love' [SK163] | | Luke: Hmm... For a nobles' resort, there sure aren't many nice | buildings. | Guy: Well, you can hardly compare it to your own place! You're in | line for the throne. Any place would look dull to you. | Luke: ...That's not what I meant! | Jade: Actually, development has been rather limited, due in part to | the Emperor's wishes. | Natalia: Really? Does he have some sort of special feelings for this | town? Perhaps he doesn't want to see his childhood home | disturbed. | Jade: ...Actually, it's more likely that his first love doesn't want | to see the town exploited by nobles. | Natalia: Oh my! (heart) | Anise: Ooh... | Tear: ...How nice. | Jade: Ultimately, he was forced to give up on her because she was a | commoner. But he's still reluctant to marry anyone else. | Natalia: How painful... | Anise: Ooh...what a story! | Tear: ...An unrequited love... | Guy: So all these recreational facilities were built for his first | love? | Jade: No. The Emperor just likes those. |Anise, Natalia & Tear: ...... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party explores the town and sees a mansion. Anise: Wow, what a mansion! (heart) I want to marry whoever lives here! (heart) Jade: I'm pretty sure he's still single, though he's in his thirties. Anise: What? Don't tell me this is your house, Colonel? If it is, then I'd go ahead and settle for you. (heart) Jade: Even if it were, I'm afraid I'd decline the offer. But the real owner might take you up on it. He likes every female he lays eyes on. Anise: Who is it? Jade: His Imperial Majesty, Peony. Anise: All right! (music note) My husband's gonna be loaded! (heart) Luke: The Emperor wasn't born in the capital? Guy: As I recall, he was run out of the capital as a child during a struggle for succession. Jade: Yes, that's correct. This mansion is from that era. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Children Caught Up in Politics' [SK161] | | Luke: The throne of Malkuth passes from father to son, right? | Natalia: As a rule, yes, though I do believe Assembly confirmation is | required... | Luke: Hmm... So what was with all the problems around Emperor Peony | becoming emperor? | Tear: The previous emperor may have had a lot of enemies. Perhaps | someone was after his son--his heir. He could have controlled | information to protect his son. | Natalia: But what need would there be to confine him? And wouldn't a | resort town like this be more perilous? There must have been | some other reason. | Luke: Yeah, they used the same excuse to keep me locked up, too... | Politics sure can be a pain for us kids who get caught up in it. |Tear & Natalia: ...... | Luke: ...Sorry. I was just curious, that's all. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party finally reaches the Governor's mansion. Nephry: ...Jade?! Oh, my brother's alive! Luke: "Brother"?! Seriously?! Jade: Hello, Nephry, it's been a while, hasn't it? Not since your wedding, I believe. Nephry: What's going on? They said you were killed at Akzeriuth... Jade: Well, what happened is... Later... Nephry: ...That's incredible. I'm just glad you're safe. Nephry: We'll inspect the Tartarus. Once you've resupplied, please go see Emperor Peony. He's been very worried. Jade: Oh? Didn't everyone think I was dead? Nephry: His Majesty was the only one who believed you were still alive. The rest of you, too, please wait a bit while we prepare your ship. This is a tourist city, so I think you'll be safe here. I'll book a room at the inn for you. Please get some rest. Nephry addresses Luke as the party leaves. Nephry: If you don't mind, I'd like a word with you. Please come by again later, alone. At the hotel desk... NPC: We've received word from the governor. Please, make yourselves comfortable. Luke: Oh, I forgot something at Nephry's place. I'll go get it real quick. Guy: Shall I go with you? Luke: Nephry's a woman, remember? Guy: Oh, I love LOOKING at beautiful women. Natalia: Guy is most certainly...a guy... Anise: She's an older woman, and married, you know. Guy: W-wait, hold on, I didn't mean it like that... Mieu: Master, I'll go with you, too. Luke: Gaaah, everybody just shut up! I don't need anyone to come with me! Mieu: (...) Mieu: (lightbulb) Luke goes to Nephry. Mieu follows him. Nephry: I'm sorry. When I heard you were a replica, I thought I simply must tell you about my brother. Luke: ...What are you talking about? Nephry: The reason why Jade created fomicry... Even now, I still remember that day. I was careless and broke my favorite doll. My brother developed a basis for fomicry, and used it to create a copy of my doll -- a replica. He was nine years old. Luke: Unbelievable... Nephry: Normally, you'd simply buy another doll, but my brother created a copy. I felt something abnormal in his way of thinking. Luke: "Abnormal"... You don't have to put it like that... Nephry: ...He acts nice now, but as a child, my brother was a terror. A devil. He could use fonic artes that even adults found difficult. He enjoyed killing even harmless monsters. My brother didn't understand what it meant for living things to die. Luke: He doesn't seem that way to me... Nephry: It was Professor Nebilim who changed him. She was a healer, a Seventh Fonist. Jade can't use the Seventh Fonon, so he admired her. But a tragedy occurred. He tried to use the Seventh Fonon and wound up unleashing a fonic arte he couldn't control. Jade's fonic arte struck down Professor Nebilim and set the building on fire. Luke: He killed her?! Nephry: She was still barely alive, just laying there. My brother looked at her, and had an idea. There was still time to make a replica. He could save Professor Nebilim. Luke: !! Nephry: Jade extracted her information and created a replica. But the replica that was born was nothing more than a monster. Luke: What happened to the real Nebilim? Nephry: She passed away. After that, my brother's talents were recognized, and he was adopted into the famous Curtiss military family. I think he probably wanted a better environment for studying how to bring back the Professor. Luke: ...But he stopped replicating living things. Why? Nephry: That's thanks to Emperor Peony. Those two are best friends. Luke: I see... Nephry: But honestly... I think, deep down, my brother still wants to resurrect Professor Nebilim. Luke: I don't really think that's the case. Nephry: Yes, it may just be a groundless fear. But I still wanted to let you know so you could help to keep him in check. I'm sorry for taking up so much of your time. Thank you for listening. Luke walks out of the room and meets Jade. Jade: So I presume Nephry's told you. Luke: ...T-told me what? Jade: You're a naughty boy, telling lies like that. Luke: ...How did you know? Jade: It doesn't matter. Though I will say, for the record, that I no longer desire to resurrect the Professor. Luke: Really? You're sure? Jade: ...You should know the reason for that better than anyone. I want to beg Professor Nebilim's forgiveness...so that I might feel better. But replicas have no memory of the past. A replica cannot forgive me. Luke: Jade... Jade: I'll live the rest of my life pained by the sins of my past. Luke: "Sins"...? You mean, killing Nebilim? Jade: Hmm... Perhaps my greatest sin was not understanding the significance of life and death. Luke: ...If I had the ability to make replicas... I think I would have done the same thing... Jade: Hah hah. Are you trying to cheer me up? You've somewhat missed the mark...but I appreciate the sentiment. In any case, you mustn't tell anyone of this. Understood? Luke: ...All right. Jade: That's a promise. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Looking for Love' [SK164] | | Mieu: It's so cold... The sorcerer's ring is freezing my tummy! | Ion: Cheagles don't like the cold, do they? I'm not fond of it | myself. | Mieu: I want some nice warm sunlight... | [Mieu leaves.] | Tear: It may be a little cold, but this town is so beautiful at night, | moonlight on the silver snow... | Natalia: Wouldn't it be splendid to walk with a gentleman through such | beauty? | Anise: Yeah! That would be so great! | Luke: *Achoo!* So cold... My belly's going to freeze solid... | [Luke leaves.] | Guy: *Sigh* Why do ladies at resorts have to get so close when they | talk to you...? I can't even go outside at this point... | [Guy leaves.] | Natalia: ...It looks like we have little hope with that group. | Anise: Huh? What about the maybe-not-so-bad-after-all Colonel? | Ion: I saw him walk off with a pretty woman earlier... | Anise: But there's already three pretty women right here! | Ion: Heh heh. Yes, indeed. | Tear: Oh, I think it's cute the way he's worried about his tummy | freezing. | Natalia: Oh my... | Anise: Well... | Ion: Heh heh heh... | Tear: W-what? | Natalia: Nothing at all. | Anise: Best wishes! | Ion: I think you make a fine pair. | Tear: ...I was talking about Mieu... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The next day. NPC: Thank you. Nephry: The Tartarus inspection is complete. You can leave any time. Guy: Okay, shall we head for Grand Chokmah now? Tear: Yes. We must inform the Emperor as quickly as possible about the danger of St. Binah falling. Natalia: Yes. First, let's hurry to Rotelro Bridge. Anise: *Sigh* And then we walk from there... Colonel (music note) If I get tired, carry me on your back, okay? (heart) Jade: I'm afraid not. Perhaps it's my age, but my joints ache, you see. To get to Grand Chokmah, we head northeast from the bridge and then pass through Theor Forest. It's a rough trip for an old man like me. You youngsters will have to shield me and lead the way. (heart) Guy: ...Um...yeah... Luke: There's no time to waste. Let's get going, guys! Thanks for your help Nephry. Nephry: Take care. Brother, please give my regards to His Majesty. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Errors and Excuses' [SK165] | | Luke: Mieu, what do you think about what Nephry said? | Mieu: What do you mean? | Luke: About how Jade killed Professor Nebilim... And then worked on | fomicry to bring her back to life... | Mieu: I don't know... It's too hard to understand. | Luke: Oh...sorry. I just wanted to ask someone... | Jade: Didn't you promise not to tell anyone? | Luke: Whoa! | Jade: At this rate, it looks like you'll be breaking that promise in | short order. | Luke: No, I won't! Really! | Mieu: Me too! Really! | Jade: Well, I still have my doubts, but I believe you yourself can | understand why there is no point in discussing it with anyone. | Luke: Yeah. Nobody's going to make excuses for what you've done wrong, | and you're not supposed to really be looking for them | anyway... | Jade: Indeed. If you put too much effort into making excuses, you end | up running from your mistakes. Accepting the truth is a | difficult thing to do. But it is also necessary. | Luke: Yeah. | Mieu: Yes! | Jade: Excellent. And you are, of course, aware that SHOULD you tell | this to anyone, you will be...punished. | Luke: Y-yeah... | Mieu: Yes... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:THE} \ >>> Theor Forest \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Malkuth Soldier: Who are you?! Jade: I'm Colonel Jade Curtiss, commander of the Third Division, Malkuth Imperial Forces. Soldier: Colonel Curtiss?! We heard you were lost in the destruction of Akzeriuth... Jade: Viscount Osborne of Keterburg will vouch for my identity. I seek an audience with His Imperial Majesty. Soldier: Well, we can let YOU through, Colonel, but.. Anise: Whaaat?! This is Ion, Fon Master of the Order of Lorelei! Luke: Come on! You can let us through! Soldier: No, this could still be a trap. Even if you are from Daath we must still refuse. Jade: Please wait here. Once I meet with His Majesty, They'll let you though right away. Guy: So we just hang out here. Oh, well. Guess there's nothing we can do. Luke: ...tch. Soldier: We'll escort you. Jade leaves the party. Luke: How much longer is this going to take? Natalia: Yes, it's hard just waiting. A scream is heard. Tear: What was that?! Mieu: A scream... Natalia: Let's go! The party runs toward the scream's direction and finds a soldier on the ground. Natalia: Hang on... Soldier: Those were Oracle soldiers...Damn it... Tear: Oracle?! Could Van be involved...? Luke: What's he trying to do in Grand Chokmah? Anise: Maybe he's working on destroying a Sephiroth Tree...? Ion: No, there shouldn't be a Sephiroth in this area... Luke: We're not getting anywhere standing around talking! Let's go get them! Natalia: Yes, We cannot permit this kind of wanton violence! Tear: Wait! If we go in without permission and the Malkuth soldiers find us... Guy: We'll just have to stay hidden. The last thing we want is a fight with Malkuth Anise: Hide and seek, huh? Ion, please don't screw it up. Ion: Oh...right! Tear: ...Everyone just decided to go on in... *Sigh* +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Movements of the Oracle Knights' [SK168] | | Tear: The Oracle Knights are really moving quickly. They're always | getting ahead of us. | Ion: Yes. Whether it's Van or Mohs who's giving the orders, they | always work quickly and efficiently. | Anise: Both of them ignore you too much! I hate them! | Tear: Ion, do you know what Van has been doing since Akzeriuth? | Ion: I'm afraid not. The only people I can give orders to are the Fon | Master Guardians, so I haven't been able to search for him. | Anise: The number of Guardians isn't what it used to be, either... | Tear: I see... | Anise: I wonder how bad it will be if the Oracle Knights get to Grand | Chokmah before us. They might try to trick the Emperor like in | Kimlasca... | Ion: I don't think that will be a problem. Emperor Peony should be | waiting for Jade's report. I suspect the Oracle Knights have a | different aim. | Tear: If we can find the Oracle soldiers hiding here, we should be | able to find out at least some of their plans. That'll be a | start. | Anise: Yeah, let's go find them! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Rising Tensions' [SK170] | | Luke: That Malkuth soldier... He thought letting us through could be a | trap... | Tear: Yes... Malkuth-Kimlasca relations appear to be deteriorating. | Anise: Even with Ion here, too... | Ion: I'm sorry I couldn't be of any help... | Anise: No, that's not what I meant! | Guy: In any case, things are looking pretty bad. At this rate, we | really will have war on our hands... | Luke: We've got to get through this forest as fast as we can... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Hide and Seek' [SK169] | | Anise: Sneaking through the forest like this is exciting, isn't it? | Guy: Yeah...it feels almost like hide-and-seek. | Luke: I haven't played hide-and-seek in years... | Guy: But you were pretty amazing at hiding in those days. | Anise: So you're good at sneaky stuff like that, huh? | Luke: ...Well, excuse me for being sneaky. | Guy: Well, like how you always ran somewhere else when you were about | to be found. You were certainly sneaky enough for the rest of | us. | Anise: Huh... Well, I could still beat him any day. A cute little body | like mine is perfect for hiding. | Luke: Ooh, look, she's calling herself cute. | Anise: What, are you trying to say I'm not cute?! | Luke: What do you care what a sneaky guy like me says about you? | You're about as sexy as Mieu. | Anise: Hey! Just you wait, I'll get as big as Tear when I'm grown up! | Luke: Please. No way you could hope to match those melons! | Tear: M-MELONS?! Both of you! Stop being stupid and be quiet! Now! | Luke: ...... | Anise: ...... | [Luke, Anise & Guy leave.] | Natalia: ...Um, Tear, you're being louder than both of them... | Tear: ...S-sorry... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party reaches the other side of the forest. Luke: We're almost at the exit. Have the Oracle soldiers already entered the city? Natalia: There's a Malkuth soldier on the ground! Natalia runs to the soldier. Largo jumps out from the tree at her. Largo: Not bad for a princess! Natalia: You're the one we met in the desert. You're Largo! The rest of the party catches up, prepared for a battle. Luke: So, you're the intruder! What are you doing in Grand Chokmah?! Largo: You'd better keep an eye on more than just what's in front of you, boy. Luke: What? Guy tries to attack Luke all of a sudden. Luke: Guy? Anise: Whoa, whoa, what's going on?! Ion: Oh, no! The curse slot! Sync must be nearby! Guy continues to try and attack Luke. Largo: Don't forget about me! Natalia shoots at Largo with an arrow. Natalia: Oh, no you don't! Largo: Hah hah hah hah hah! Not bad, princess! Guy continues to attack Luke, disarming him. The ground starts to shake. Anise: Aah! Another earthquake! Tear: Natalia, up there! Natalia shoots an arrow into a tree, and Sync falls out. Sync: ...The earthquake gave me away. Luke: Are you after Ion or something else?! Anise: Who's ordering you? Grand Maestro Mohs? The Commandant? Largo: Either way, it's the same. We need Fon Master Ion. Sync: We thought he'd perished along with Akzeriuth, but I guess he's tougher than the town. Natalia: How dare you speak so shamelessly! You destroyed an entire city! Sync: Don't accuse us. The one who destroyed Akzeriuth was that replica there. Soldier: What's going on here?! Sync: Largo, we're retreating for now! Largo: I guess we have no choice... Largo and Sync escape. Two Malkuth soldiers arrive. Soldier: Who the hell are you people?! Tear: We spotted some suspicious figures while waiting for Colonel Curtiss. We pursued them here. Soldier: You mean the people who just ran away? Tear: They're soldiers of the Oracle Knights. They wounded one of our companions. Soldier: But you've got Oracle Knights in your group as well. ...Arrest them. Luke: ...I guess we shouldn't resist. Tear: Of course not. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:GC1} \ >>> Grand Chokmah \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party is greeted by Brigadier General Frings and a group of soldiers. Soldier: Brigadier General Frings! Frings: Good work. We'll take them from here. I trust that won't be a problem? Soldier: Understood, sir! The soldiers from Theor Forest leave. Frings: You're Luke, correct? Son of Duke Fabre? Luke: How do you know who I am?! Frings: Colonel Jade asked me to go meet you outside Theor Forest. Though it seems you entered the forest before I could do so... Tear: I apologize. Malkuth Soldiers had been killed. We thought it would be dangerous not to act... Frings: Don't apologize. We should be thanking you. But, with all the commotion, I'm afraid I must treat you as prisoners until you meet with His Majesty. Luke: Who cares about that?! Guy needs help! Ion: He's had a curse slot placed upon him. It's so deep, he can't fight it. I can remove it if you lend us a place where he can rest. Luke: You can do that? Ion: I'm probably the only one who can. This curse is a type of Daathic fonic arte, a fonic arte passed down only through Fon Masters. Frings: We'll get you a room inside the castle. What about your audience with His Majesty...? Ion: I'll see His Majesty, the Emperor at another opportunity. Right now, I'm worried about Guy. Frings: All right. I'll leave my men with you. Two men run up towards Guy. Anise: I'm staying, too! I'm Ion's guard! Luke: Wait! So am I! Ion: I'm sure you'd find out sometime, so I guess I'll tell you now. A curse slot can't be used to take full control of the target. Luke: What does that mean? Ion: A curse slot stirs up memories and paralyzes rational thought. Guy wouldn't have attacked you if he didn't already have a strong desire to kill you. ...That's what it means. Luke: What...? Ion: You mustn't get near Guy until I've removed the curse. The rest of the party leaves, leaving Tear and Luke alone with Frings. Frings: How about taking a look around the castle for a while? You can't leave the city, but it might help you to relax... Tear: ...Yes, I think that would be good. Frings: Very well then. I'll be waiting in front of the castle. Please speak to me when you're ready. Frings leaves. Luke: ...Let me be alone for a while. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Guy's True Feelings' [SK171] | | Luke: Guy...hated me... But he never showed even a hint of that... | Maybe there was something when we were kids, but if he wanted | to kill me, he could've done that anytime he wanted to... But | he didn't... He's always been there to help me out. So why...? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke walks around for a bit. Tear follows. Luke: ...Don't follow me. Tear: I promised I'd watch you. Mieu: I'm going with you, Master. Luke: ...Leave me alone! Tear: If I leave you alone, you're liable to start dreaming up nonsense. Luke: What do you mean "nonsense"?! Tear: Like the idea that Guy hates you. Luke: But he has to! That's why he... Tear: Are you stupid? Luke: What did you say?! Tear: Do you think you've never done anything to make anyone dislike you at all? Luke: ...That's not what I... Tear: Guy is only human. I'm sure there have been times you made him angry. But he came back for you. Luke: Well, maybe so, but.... Tear: So, there was a time when Guy hated you so much he wanted to kill you. But he still believed in you, that you'd recover from Akzeriuth. Right? Luke: ...You sure don't pull any punches when you talk to people. Tear: What...? Luke: I know you were trying to make me feel better, but you only made it hurt worse. Tear: ...I-I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking. Luke: Maybe it's a good thing to have someone slap some sense into me. Tear: Luke... Luke: I'm so stupid. I don't have time to feel depressed. We have to see the Emperor. Thank you, too, Mieu. Mieu: Don't mention it! Now, let's go find Jade and Natalia! Luke and Tear find the others. Natalia: Luke, please try to keep your spirits up. There's no way Guy could truly desire to kill you. Jade: Things don't look good-I can feel tension in the air. It may be a sign of conflict to come. ...You look like you've calmed down. Let's go. Luke: Okay, that's everyone. Let's go see General Frings. The party goes to Frings. Frings: I've been waiting for you. Please come this way. In the audience hall... Peony: Ah, you must be the ones dragging my Jade all over the place and keeping him away from home. Luke: ...What? Peony: And then he goes and gets hit with a fon slot seal. This clod can be a real pain, huh? Luke: N-not at all, Your Majesty.... Jade: Your Majesty, must you confuse our guests? Peony: Hah hah, sorry. Yeah, I guess we should get down to business. Jade's basically explained everything to me. Luke: As things stand now, there is a danger that St. Binah could fall into the Qliphoth. Peony: So it seems. In fact, I've already been informed that the land around St. Binah has begun sagging. Natalia: Then we must evacuate the residents! Peony: I'd love to, but a lot of the council members are reluctant. Natalia: Why? Their countrymen are in danger... Jade: Because of the military threat from Kimlasca. Nordheim: The Kingdom of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear issued a proclamation. Sesemann: We hereby denounce Malkuth's destruction of Akzeriuth in order to bring about the deaths of Princess Natalia and the tertiary heir to the throne, Luke fon Fabre. In the name of Lorelei and Yulia, we shall initiate immediate sanctions. Tear: For all practical purposes, that's a declaration of war. Natalia: My father is mistaken! Nordheim: Or is he, Princess Natalia? We believe that Kimlasca may have destroyed Akzeriuth to create an excuse for war. Natalia: My country would never commit such a despicable act! Luke: Yeah! And besides...I was the one who... Jade: Luke. We all know what happened. Natalia, please calm down. It doesn't matter now whether Kimlasca destroyed Akzeriuth to start a war or not. Peony: Yes, the problem is that the council believes that the sink of St. Binah is Kimlasca's work. Tear: So they think that any forces sent to rescue the citizens will be wiped out along with the city. Peony: Exactly. Until we heard Jade's story, we'd thought Kimlasca had developed a fontech weapon capable of creating a hyperresonance. Luke: At the very least, Kimlasca was not responsible for Akzeriuth. And even if were, St. Binah is still going to fall. How can NOT rescuing them possibly be better?! ...I'm sorry, I don't mean to be rude, Your Majesty. If it's impossible to send troops, then please let us go. Natalia: Allow me to make the same request. If something happens, at least Malkuth forces won't be caught in it. Peony: I'm surprised. Why are royalty like yourselves so intent on helping an enemy country? Natalia: We're not enemies! Our citizens travel between our countries as if it were perfectly normal. And it's my duty as one born into the royal family to aid those in need. Peony: ...And you, Master Luke? Luke: I am a criminal to Malkuth. I am to blame for what's happening. I want to do anything I can. I want to save everyone! Peony: Well, you heard them. What do you think, Sesemann? Your dear apprentice, Jade, also says we can trust these guys regarding St. Binah. Sesemann: Your Majesty, it's not polite to refer to them as "these guys." Jade: If I may make a suggestion, perhaps Luke and my unit could evacuate St. Binah, while General Nordheim contains the northward moving Kimlascan army. Sesemann: Are you giving a general orders? Well, I suppose it will work. We'll try to gain the council's approval. Peony: Thanks, man. I owe you one. Luke: Then, you won't abandon St. Binah...? Peony: Of course not. Though you all are the ones who're going to save it. They're my dearest people. Please help us save them. Luke: I'll do everything in my power. Natalia: As will I. Tear: As you wish, Your Majesty. Peony: I have to summon the council now. I'll let you handle the rest, Jade. Jade: *Sigh* Evacuating an entire city is not an easy task, you know. Luke: What should we do, exactly? Jade: As His Majesty said, the military won't enter the city for fear of it becoming another Akzeriuth. We'll enter St. Binah first and get help from former Field Marshal McGovern. The party goes to check on Guy. Soldier: The curse has been removed. In the inn... Luke: Guy! I'm sorry... Guy: ...Luke? Luke: I...I must have done something to make you suffer. That's why you... Guy: Ah hah hah. What the hell are you talking about? It's not your fault, Luke. It's not your fault that I hated you so much I wanted to kill you. ...I'm originally from Malkuth. Anise: What? Really? Guy: I was born in Hod. On my fifth birthday, my relatives gathered at the mansion. Just as the Scorer started to read my Score, the war began. Tear: The Hod War... Natalia: If I recall, it was Duke Fabre who attacked Hod... Guy: Yes. Duke Fabre killed my family, my relatives, our servants. Everyone. He everything I loved and laughed as he did it. So I set out to make him experience the same thing I did. Jade: You entered House Fabre for revenge, then? Gailardia Galan, of the House of Count Gardios. Guy: ...Oh. You knew, huh? Jade: I noticed a few things, so I investigated. You fight in the Albert style, a technique that doesn't use a shield. It's unique to Hod. Luke: ...Then, you can't really want to be by my side, can you, Guy? I may be a replica, but I'm still a Fabre... Guy: Come one. I mean, I'd be lying if I said I didn't have any lingering feelings about it, but... Luke: But...? Guy: If you want me gone, then I'll cut ties with you right now. But if not, could I stick around a little longer? There's still something I want to confirm. Luke: ...Okay. I trust you. No... I should say... Trust me, Guy. Please. Guy: Hah hah. Either way works for me. Ion: Thank goodness. I was so worried you might start fighting. Jade: Well, now that that's all settled nicely, how about we head for St. Binah? Anise: Oh, yeah, we heard from a messenger that you're going to St. Binah. But Ion is drained from healing the curse slot. He'll stay here with me. Ion: Anise, I'm fine. And if I go with them, I may be able to help. Anise: Ion?! Ion: Anise. Everyone, please take me along. Please. Luke: If Master Van's after Ion, then he's in danger no matter where he is. Jade: Are you saying he'd be better off where we can keep an eye on him? I suppose we have no choice. Anise: Oooh! Not again, Ion! Guy received the Malkuth Nobleman title. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Anise in a Bad Mood' [SK172] | | Anise: A war's going to start, and towns are about to collapse, and | Van's coming after Ion, and the Six God-Generals won't go away, | and Mohs is scheming, and Gloomietta's gloomy, and Asch is | weird, and I'm poor, and I'm hungry, and, and... Arrgh! | Guy: In a bad mood, Anise? | Anise: No, not at all! I'm doing just fine. What about you, Guy? | Feeling okay? | Guy: Fine, thanks to Ion. But it looks like I caused him a lot of | trouble. | Anise: Ion, are you all right? You don't look too good... | Ion: I used a Daathic fonic arte, so I'm a little tired. That's all. | Don't worry. | Anise: You both look half dead right now. You all should get some rest. | And Ion, why don't you just stay here, under Emperor Peony's | protection? | Ion: No. We can't afford to lose any time, even if it means having to | push ourselves a little bit. | Guy: Yeah... If St. Binah falls, things'll get a lot worse. | Anise: Booo. Whatever. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SB2} \ >>> St. Binah \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party enters the Malkuth Base and goes to find Field Marshal McGovern. Glenn McGovern: I told you, Father, with Kaitzur overrun, we cannot afford to have troops leave the city. Elder McGovern: But if we don't evacuate the civilians, St. Binah will become the next Akzeriuth! Glenn: We cannot make a move without an order from His Imperial Majesty. Luke: If an order from Emperor Peony is what you're waiting for, we just brought it! Elder & Glenn: (!) Glenn: Colonel Curtiss?! You're alive! Elder: What did His Majesty say? Jade: We're to evacuate the civilians to the Engeve area. Glenn: But that will mean leaving the city unguarded... Luke: Who cares?! This whole area's started to fall! Jade: My troops will take over escorting the civilians partway along the route. Once the civilians are out, please have your forces go west to join General Nordheim's forces on the East Rugnica Plains. Glenn: Understood. So we're abandoning St. Binah. Elder: Right. I'll inform the residents. Both leave. Tear: We'll help, too. Luke: Right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Go, Luke!' [SK179] | | Guy: Luke sure is getting strong, isn't he? | Natalia: That he is... Nothing like how he was at Akzeriuth. He certainly | has changed. | Tear: It may be that he's trying to keep himself busy, to keep from | dwelling on Akzeriuth. | Natalia: You may be right. | Guy: So? The important thing is that he's getting things done. | Tear: True... Anyway, let's get moving ourselves. | Natalia: Yes. | Guy: Right! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Reborn Hot-Blooded Idiot' [SK178] | | Jade: Evacuating the entire population of a town certainly is | backbreaking work. | Anise: Yeah. We have to make things really clear, or people could | seriously panic. | Luke: We'll have to check the entire town to make sure nobody's left | behind. Women and children should get priority, right? Oh, and | the elderly. | Jade: Yes, that works. | Luke: Hmm, we'll probably need carts too. I'll direct the injured | people to the carts. Is that okay? | Jade: Yes. | Luke: Okay, I'm going to go check over there. | [Luke leaves.] | Jade: Hmm... I have to admit Luke has thrown me a bit off balance, | being so active and helpful. | Anise: Yeah, he's way different than he was at Akzeriuth. | Jade: It looks like he was serious about wanting to change. | Anise: I guess I can kinda sorta admit he's doing an okay job. But he | does look like an idiot, all worked up like that. | Jade: That's because deep down, he is essentially an idiot. | Luke: Hey! Come over here and help! Don't just stand around like | idiots! | [Luke leaves again.] | Jade: Well, well. Looks like we've become idiots as well. | Anise: Hah hah hah hah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Outside the military base, people are running around like crazy. Luke comes by, carrying an old man. Someone attacks, and Jade and Tear cast fonic artes to hold off the attacker. Jade: Run! A boy falls over. Luke grabs him as Dist arrives with another Kaiser Dist. Luke: What the hell?! Dist: Aah hah hah hah hah! I've finally found you, Jade! Jade: Now is not the time, Dist. You never were able to tell when you're not wanted. Dist: Say what you like! I'm taking Fon Master Ion! Jade: I'm afraid not. Now move. Dist: Are you trying to save these worms? And after you gave up on Professor Nebilim! Jade: ...Are you still pursuing that foolishness?! Dist: You have no right to criticize me! You gave up before you even started! Now, hand over the Fon Master! Kaiser Dist RX attacks. After losing, it breaks down and crumbles the gate. Dist: Noooooo! My precious Kaiser Dist! You haven't heard the last of me! Next time, I'll tear you to shreds! Dist flies off. Jade: I don't think you'll catch him, but follow him just in case. Soldier: Yes, sir! The town starts to fall. There is now a rather large chasm and most of the townspeople are on the other side from the party. Luke: Damn it! McGovern and the others are...! Tear: Luke, wait! I'll jump down and sing a fonic hymn! Jade: Wait. A considerable number of residents still remain. You can't protect them all with your hymn. Let's think of a more definite plan. Elder McGovern: Don't worry about us! Take care of the others! Luke: Damn it! Isn't there anything we can do?! Anise: If only we could fly. Guy: Fly...Hey, I heard they were doing flight experiments in Sheridan. Luke: Flight experiments? What's that? Guy: If I recall, they have an ancient hover drive that was excavated by the Order. Supposedly, back in Yulia's age, they attached those to vehicles and flew in them. All the fon machine buffs have been talking about it. Ion: Yes, I approved the project to share technology with Kimlasca. The flight experiments should be underway. Luke: That's perfect! Let's go borrow whatever they're using for the experiments! If we hurry, maybe we can save the people! Jade: Will we be in time? This situation looks different than Akzeriuth, but even still... Tear: From what I heard from Van, it took several days for Hod to fall. There's a force field called the "dividing line" between the Qliphoth and the Outer Lands. He said they fell faster just after crossing that line. Luke: Let's give it a try! It's better than doing nothing! Natalia: Yes. Let's at least do what we can. Jade: Sheridan is on Radessia, on the same side as Baticul. We'll need to be careful not to get caught by Kimlascan troops. Guy: Okay, let's get back to the Tartarus! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `I Will Never Forgive Dist!' [SK180] | | Natalia: That...Dist, was that his name? I cannot forgive him for calling | the townspeople worms! | Ion: At least they suffered no casualties from the battle. | Luke: But thanks to him, we couldn't save some of them... Dammit! | Jade: Tear says it will be some time before the area actually falls | into the Qliphoth, so we still have a chance to rescue them. | Luke: Yeah, we have to hurry! | Ion: We were able to defeat Dist, but the rest of the Six | God-Generals may still try to interfere. | Natalia: They just never learn, do they? | Jade: It would certainly help us if they did. | Luke: If they get in our way, we'll just take them out. That may not | be the best way, but we don't have a choice. Let's get going! | Natalia: Right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Ion, the Big Gun' [SK181] | | Tear: I can't imagine flying through the sky... | Anise: Yeah. Can fon machines really do that, Guy? | Guy: Well, not the kind we have now. The current research started | when a hover drive from the Dawn Age was unearthed. | Anise: But I heard the Sheridan craftsmen are pretty stubborn. Would | they really lend us something like that? | Guy: Well... I can't guarantee anything... | Anise: Then we'll just have to get Luke or Natalia to throw some Gald | at them! | Guy: Oh yeah? And are you planning on heading back to Baticul to get | it? That doesn't sound very realistic... | Anise: Then we pull out the big guns--me and Tear's sexy bods! | Tear: What?! I...I can't do that! | Guy: I, uh...I really don't think that will work... | Anise: Oh, really? Well, then I guess we'll just have to rely on Ion. | Guy: Why not just have him ask in the first place? | Anise: Ion's, like, the biggest gun there is! | Tear: I guess... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SH1} \ >>> Sheridan \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Guy's Little Hobby' [SK182] | | Tear: Sheridan handles ship construction for the entire Outer Lands, | doesn't it? It lies far to the west of St. Binah, across the | ocean, on the eastern side of the Radessian continent. | Luke: Huh... | Guy: Yes, exactly! Sheridan is technically part of Kimlasca, but | experienced craftsmen from all over the world live there. You | know how there's a huge canyon around Sheridan? The dry rocks | from there are invaluable for building fon machines, especially | weapons. Sheridan is pretty close to Daath, too, so they can | sell battleships and landships to Malkuth as well. So-- | Luke: Arrgh! Shut up already! | Guy: ...... | Anise: ...Stay away from me... | Natalia: Guy's obsession with fon machines is...incredible... | Jade: Or maniacal... | Guy: Well, sorry! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the town's northwest, the party finds three elderly people. Iemon: Well? Well?! What's happening?! Aston: I can see it plain as day! The gusts over Meggiora are going to blow it off any minute. Tamara: Oh, come on, Aston. Are you sure you're not going blind, old man? Aston: You know you only get farsighted with age, Tamara. I can see far away just fine. Iemon: This is bad. We might lose the hover drive. Tamara: How can you talk like that, Iemon?! That's your grandson, Ginji, trapped in there! Aren't you worried about him?! Tamara hits Iemon with the stick she's holding. Luke: Is something wrong? Iemon: ...The Albiore crashed in the Meggiora Highlands. Guy: The Albiore? You mean the machine equipped with the ancient hover drive?! Anise: Oh, no. Did we come all the way here for nothing? Guy: No, I heard two hover drives had been excavated... Iemon: You heard correctly. But the second hover drive hasn't been so much as started up yet. Aston: Iemon, there's no time to chat. We have to form a rescue party for Ginji and the hover drive! Iemon: Right. We can attach the hover drive to the Albiore II and resume experiments. Tamara: You're a heartless old man! Tamara, Aston and Iemon leave. Jade: The Meggiora Highlands are teeming with monsters. The rescue team may need rescuing themselves. Tear: But from what they said, we can't fly without the hover drive. Luke: Let's at least ask whether or not we can borrow the hover drive. Natalia: Yes. We probably should ask the one they called Iemon. Ion: I think it may help smooth things along if I'm the one who speaks with him. Let's go. The party heads to the meeting room in the front of the town. Iemon: ...Ah, I see. I must say, it's a surprise to see Princess Natalia alive and well. And working to save Malkuth citizens, no less.... Luke: It doesn't matter who's from Malkuth or Kimlasca right now! Tamara: That's true. But we also have our own problems. The Albiore I crashed on a cliff in the Meggiora Highlands... Aston: The pilot is trapped, and the Meggiora winds are in full force, it could fall at any moment. And there are no soldiers for a rescue party because they're all getting ready to fight Malkuth. Luke: Then I'll go! Natalia: Well said, Luke! That's how true royalty acts! Luke: It doesn't have anything to do with royalty! Natalia: ...What? Luke: I just... I have to do what I can. Helping people has nothing to do with being royalty or nobility or whatever. Th-that's all it is! Tear: ...Some of us have had military training. Would you entrust the rescue to us? Guy: We'll still go regardless, but if we do recover the hover drive, we'd like to borrow the Albiore II. Iemon: The Albiore II isn't finished. We lack some parts for the drive system. With the war, most of the parts have been used for landship construction. Jade: The Tartarus was originally a landship. Please use anything on it you can. Luke: Jade! Are you sure?! Jade: Ion, would you stay here and show them to the Tartarus? I'd like to have the Albiore II completed while we recover the hover drive. Ion: That's fine with me. All that's left is... Iemon: ...If we get the parts, I'll work on finishing that craft like my life depended on it. Luke: Okay, then we'll head for Meggiora. Where is it...? Aston: The Meggiora Highlands are southwest of here. Also, take this with you. Secure the Albiore with these launchers. Then lower it down the cliff. It'll be dangerous, what with the fierce winds and all. Luke: But I don't know how to use this... Guy: It's a fon machine. Leave it to me. Jade probably knows, too. Jade: Oh, maybe. Maybe not. Guy: ...I swear, it's impossible to tell what you're thinking. Obtained launcher. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Save Ginji!' [SK183] | | Natalia: I hope that Ginji is safe... | Jade: It looks like he's all right for the moment, but I doubt he | could survive if the craft falls from the cliff. | Luke: We've got to hurry. There's no telling when St. Binah could | fall, either. | Natalia: It'll be a race against time. | Jade: Just make certain you're well-prepared. As I mentioned earlier, | there are monsters in the Meggiora Highlands. | Luke: I know. Do you think we'll be able to get the machines from | Iemon to work? | Jade: Oh, things should probably work out. | Natalia: That is not very reassuring. | Jade: Hah hah. Surely you have better things to worry about than that. | Let's get going. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:MH1} \ >>> Meggiora Highlands \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party can see the Albiore I atop a cliff. Tear: That must be it. Anise: Uh, oh. It looks like it could fall any second. Jade: This isn't good. If we don't hurry, it could fall before we make it there. Luke: What'll happen if it falls? Jade: The pilot certainly won't survive. The hover drive could be destroyed as well. Mieu: Oh, no! Guy: We have to hit both sides of the craft with the launchers. Let's split into two groups. Tear: How should we split up? Who do you want to go with? Luke: If we're splitting into two groups, then I... You get to choose two party members (e.g. Tear and Jade). Tear: Me? Sure that's fine. Jade: ...Me? If you insist. Tear: All right, let's hurry. Jade: Well, I suppose it's better to have you lose control somewhere I can see you. Guy: Be careful when using the launcher. Anise: Don't screw up your side now! Natalia: Let's all do our best. Luke's party goes first. They meet up with a strong monster. Luke: Wh-what's that? Tear: (...) Tear: It's a monster. ...And it's close! Jade: (!) Jade: Behind us! Luke: Looks like we got it. Tear: I hope Guy and the others are all right. Jade: All we can do is trust in them. Now, let's hurry. Luke: Yeah, you're right. Guy's party reaches the goal in enough time. Luke: We made it! Jade: Are you ready over there? Guy: Any time! Jade: Here we go! Jade and Guy fire the launchers and lower the Albiore. Ginji: Thank you for rescuing me. Luke: Are you hurt? Ginji: No, thanks to you all. Tear: Let's talk later. We've got the hover drive. There's no time to lose. Luke: Yeah. Ginji, can you walk? Ginji: Yes. I'm fine. Obtained Hover Drive. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Ginji Rescued!' [SK185] | | Luke: That big monster had me worried, but we made it just in time. | Guy: Yeah. Even if we got the hover drive out, it would've been | terrible to lose Ginji. For all Iemon's talk, he was probably | pretty worried too. | Tear: Yeah. He was just too embarrassed to show his concern for his | grandson. I'm sure he'll be glad to see Ginji safe. | Jade: We don't have time to stand around, you know. We have to hurry | to St. Binah. | Guy: Unconcerned as always... | Jade: Really? How strange... | Luke: But yeah, we do have to hurry. Let's get back to Sheridan. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SH2a} \ >>> Sheridan \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Ginji: Thank you for everything! I'll go on ahead and deliver the hover drive! Ginji runs off. The party heads to the aircraft bay when stopped by Kimlascan soldiers. Soldier: You must be the nuts who sailed over here on a Malkuth landship! Soldier 2: Hmm? Are you a Malkuth soldier?! Luke: Uh-oh. Anise: Run! Soldier 2: Capture them! The party runs into the aircraft bay and the soldiers follow. Iemon: Ah, you're back! Aston's about to attach the hover drive right now! Guy is holding the door shut. Soldier: Open this door immediately! Tamara: What's going on? Jade: We were spotted by Kimlascan soldiers. Tamara: Oh, that's right, you're a soldier from Malkuth. Iemon: This city originally produced landships for Malkuth. If we weren't on the brink of war, nobody would have cared... Tamara: Speaking of landships, we took a load of parts from yours. There were even some parts that aren't being manufactured anymore. It was a big help. Ion: Thanks to that, the Tartarus is no longer operational. Anise: But if the Albiore can actually fly, we won't need the Tartarus anymore. Aston: What do you mean, "actually"?! Aston arrives via a lift. Aston: The Albiore carries our hopes and dreams! It will never fall! Luke: ...It already did. Guy: Hey! Guys! Hurry it up! They're breaking down the door! Tear: What's the condition of the Albiore II? Aston: It's finished! And the pilot's ready, too! Iemon: Okay. We'll handle those soldiers. Hurry! Natalia: But the soldiers are quite irate. Perhaps I should tell them who I am... Tamara: There's no time! Leave it to us. Aston: Never underestimate the elderly! Now, take off into the great sky of dreams! Luke: We'll leave the rest to you! The party goes down the lift as the soldiers bang down the door. Aston, Tamara and Iemon try to hold them off. Iemon: By our honor as Sheridan's Class M, this is as far as you go! Aboard the Albiore II... Noelle: I've been waiting for you. Luke: Who are you? Noelle: I'm the Albiore II's pilot, Noelle. Ginji, the Albiore I's pilot, is my older brother. I'll fly you to St. Binah in his stead. Luke: Thanks! Noelle: Let's go! The party flies to St. Binah. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Note: the above events slightly change if Ginji is not rescued. See below] +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Hurry to Ginji!' [SK187] | | Luke: Damn... We can't afford to waste any time, but with our strength | split up like this, we can't just barge through... Ginji, I | hope you're safe! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Guy's party heads to the Albiore I, but doesn't make it in time. The Albiore falls off the cliff. Luke: No! Tear: We didn't make it.... Luke: Damn it! I couldn't save someone again... Guy: All we managed to recover was the hover drive... Tear: Yes. Let's at least make sure we rescue the people in St. Binah... Luke: ...Yeah. There's no way I'm going to be too late for that! Obtained Hover Drive. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Life We Couldn't Save...' [SK186] | | Luke: We didn't make it... | Tear: We did our best... That's all we could do. | Luke: He's dead! Don't you feel anything for him?! | Tear: And what are you going to do if St. Binah falls into the | Qliphoth while you're wallowing in regret?! We don't have time | for this! | Luke: I know. But still... | Tear: ...It's just as hard on me, you know. | Luke: Tear... | Tear: Come on, we need to get that hover drive to Iemon. We have to | tell him about Ginji, too... | Luke: ...Yeah, you're right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SH2b} \ >>> Sheridan \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ A young woman comes running to the party. ???: Ah, there you are! Aston told me to pick up the hover drive from you. Luke gives the hover drive to her and she runs off. Luke: ...Who was that? Anise: ...I bet you're the type who gets conned easily. Jade: I suspect we'll find out if we head back to see Iemon. The party heads to the aircraft bay when stopped by Kimlascan soldiers. Soldier: You must be the nuts who sailed over here on a Malkuth landship! Soldier 2: Hmm? Are you a Malkuth soldier?! Luke: Uh-oh. Anise: Run! Soldier 2: Capture them! The party runs into the aircraft bay and the soldiers follow. Iemon: Ah, you're back! Aston's about to attach the hover drive right now! Guy is holding the door shut. Soldier: Open this door immediately! Tamara: What's going on? Jade: We were spotted by Kimlascan soldiers. Tamara: Oh, that's right, you're a soldier from Malkuth. Iemon: This city originally produced landships for Malkuth. If we weren't on the brink of war, nobody would have cared... Tamara: Speaking of landships, we took a load of parts from yours. There were even some parts that aren't being manufactured anymore. It was a big help. Ion: Thanks to that, the Tartarus is no longer operational. Anise: But if the Albiore can actually fly, we won't need the Tartarus anymore. Aston: What do you mean, "actually"?! Aston arrives via a lift. Aston: The Albiore carries our hopes and dreams! It will never fall! Luke: ...It already did. Guy: Hey! Guys! Hurry it up! They're breaking down the door! Tear: What's the condition of the Albiore II? Aston: It's finished! And the pilot's ready, too! Iemon: Okay. We'll handle those soldiers. Hurry! Natalia: But the soldiers are quite irate. Perhaps I should tell them who I am... Tamara: There's no time! Leave it to us. Aston: Never underestimate the elderly! Now, take off into the great sky of dreams! Iemon: Go out there and conquer the skies for that impatient grandson of mine! Luke: ...Right! We'll leave the rest to you! The party goes down the lift as the soldiers bang down the door, Aston, Tamara and Iemon try to hold the soldiers off. Iemon: By our honor as Sheridan's Class M, this is as far as you go! Aboard the Albiore II. Noelle: I've been waiting for you. Luke: You're that girl from earlier... Noelle: I'm the Albiore II's pilot, Noelle. Ginji, the Albiore I's pilot, was my older brother. I'll fly you to St. Binah in his stead. Luke: I'm sorry about your brother... Noelle: No. It's not your fault. Now, we should get going. Luke: ...Right. Thanks! The party flies to St. Binah. [End Ginji-saving branch.] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SB3} \ >>> St. Binah \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: Mr. McGovern! Are you all okay? Elder McGovern: Ah! It's you! What's that vehicle?! Jade: Field Marshal, we'll talk later. Right now, let's just get everyone onboard. The party runs to the Albiore II. Glenn McGovern helps an older man get on. A cutscene of St. Binah falling into the Qliphoth plays. Aboard the Albiore... Elder McGovern: Allow me to express my gratitude. But what's going to become of St. Binah...? Tear: I imagine it will sink into the mantle before long. Elder: No! Is there nothing we can do?! Tear: This is like when Hod fell. They say it took a month to sink. Elder: Hod...Hmm... So this is vengeance for Hod... Jade: (?) Guy & Tear: (...) Luke: ...Is there really nothing we can do? Mieu: It's sad to lose your home... Anise: It's already weird enough having the ground fall apart. I can't think of anything we can do. It's hopeless! Luke: I know! What about the Sephiroth? This place fell because Master Van messed with that passage ring thing and did something to the Sephiroth, right? Then can't we just bring it back? Tear: But we don't know how to use passage rings. Luke: Then we'll interrogate Master Van and...! Guy: Luke, there's no way we could pull that off. I understand how you feel, but... Luke: No you don't, Guy! None of you do! Tear: Luke... Luke: I'm the one who destroyed Akzeriuth! That's why I have to do something now! I know this won't make up for what I've done, but if I could just save this one city... Jade: Luke! Get a hold of yourself. You won't get anything done like that. Luke: (!) Jade: Let's go to Yulia City. They know more about the Sephiroth than we do. Now that the Score predicting St. Binah's safety has faltered... Tear: Yes, Grandfather might be willing to help. Jade: And, Luke. You sounded like a child a moment ago. Everyone here wants to save St. Binah. Luke: You're right...I'm sorry... Guy: Don't worry about it. We're not mad or anything. Noelle: I'll launch the Albiore, then. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Saving Lives' [SK191] | | Natalia: At least we were able to save the people of St. Binah. | Guy: Yeah. Where there's life, there's hope, after all. | Luke: But I want to save St. Binah itself... | Guy: I know. We all saw how worked up you were. | Natalia: Luke, you've performed your duty as a member of the Kimlascan | royal family admirably. Now we can search for a way to save the | town itself. | Luke: ...I know. Jade just chewed me out for getting too anxious, | too. | Guy: Yeah. Having saved the people is more than enough for now. | Natalia: Absolutely. I hardly think that atonement means having to feel | constant guilt. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A World of Death' [SK192] | | Jade: The Qliphoth looks even harsher from the sky. | Luke: The people of St. Binah must be so worried... | Natalia: Indeed. It's hard enough to believe that the entire town has | fallen in...but this, this looks like a world of death. | Jade: I wonder what really happened to this planet... | Natalia: Is this not the result of a war in the Dawn Age? | Jade: Yes, and the miasma was later sealed underground. Or rather, the | crust itself was raised to create the Outer Lands. But could a | simple war have triggered the miasma? | Luke: Do you think there's something else responsible? | Jade: I have no proof, but it would certainly be worth investigating. | Natalia: Researching the Dawn Age is difficult...but it's worth keeping | in mind. | Luke: ...Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:YU3} \ >>> Yulia City \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Tear: Grandfather! Teodoro: I figured you'd come. I've been waiting for you. Tear: Grandfather, please help us! We want to save St. Binah! Teodoro: Yes, I suppose we must. Though we are fearful of deviating from the Score... Ion: Before we talk, I'd like to let the people from St. Binah get some rest. Teodoro: Oh, yes. Let us take them in. Elder McGovern: ...Thank you. Elder: (...) Elder: Luke, don't be discouraged. Luke: What? Elder: Jade rarely scolds people. What he said earlier shows that he's taken a liking to you. Jade: Field Marshal! Don't put words in my mouth! Elder: Old folks don't have the time to bother scolding people we don't like. Jade is no different. Jade: (...) Jade: Honestly, of all the things to say. I'm going on ahead. Luke: (...) Guy: Hah hah. He pegged him. Guess Jade has a few soft spots, after all. Anise: Hee hee, yeah. (heart) The rest of the party walks off. Luke stops Tear as she walks by him. Luke: Tear...um...Thanks. Tear: What's this, all of a sudden...? Luke: You've scolded me from the very beginning. Tear: (////) Tear: Oh...that was just... I mean... Luke: (...) Luke: ...Heh it's weird. I always thought of getting scolded as a bad thing. Tear: It's not a good thing either. Luke: ...I know that! The party heads towards the conference room. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Can People Change?' [SK193] | | Tear: Well, at least we've reached Yulia City safely. | Guy: Though the people from St. Binah will probably take a while to | get used to it. | Luke: Yeah. | Guy: And it looks like Jade's finally starting to approve of you, | Luke. | Tear: Not just the Colonel, either. Anise, Natalia, and of course us, | too. We all think you're doing well. | Luke: ...I can't really tell, myself. I'm just doing what I have to. I | haven't really had any chance to really try and change myself, | or think about how I used to be... | Guy: Well, to be honest, nobody would believe you if you came out | saying "I'm going to change!" all the time. | Tear: Hee hee. Indeed. | Luke: Don't laugh about it! | Guy: Sorry. In any case, let's finish what we have to do. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Man Named Asch' [SK194] | | Luke: Every time I come here, I think about Asch. | Tear: Asch? | Luke: Yeah. He told me the truth about myself...and through him, I | learned a little about the world around me... That may be what | really got me thinking that I needed to change. | Tear: I see... | Luke: He always used to get in our faces and pick fights and all, but | lately...he's just left us alone. | Tear: You're right. I wonder what he's trying to accomplish... The | next time we encounter him, it may not be as an enemy. | Luke: You're not telling me I have to get along with him?! | Tear: I'm saying that we may not have to fight him. | Luke: ...... | Tear: When Asch appears, it's always been for something important, one | way or another. Don't forget that. | Luke: ...I'll try. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the conference room... Luke: I'll get to the point. Is there any way to save St. Binah? Teodoro: Oh, this is a difficult problem. If only we had the Key of Lorelei that Yulia used... Luke: The Key of Lorelei? What's that? It sounds kind of familiar... Jade: It refers to the Sword and Jewel of Lorelei. If I recall, it was used when creating the Planet Storm. I've also heard it referred to as the symbol of the pact between Yulia and Lorelei. Teodoro: Correct. The Key or Lorelei is said to be a fonic weapon created by Yulia using the power of Lorelei. Tear: The Sword of Lorelei gathers Seventh Fonons, and the Jewel of Lorelei disperses them. It's said that they Key itself is made of Seventh Fonons. Supposedly, Yulia summoned Lorelei into the Key and freely commanded that power... Teodoro: Whether that is true or not, what IS true is that it could control the Sephiroth. Tear: But once the Planet Storm was formed, the Key of Lorelei was cast down into the core. Teodoro: Yes. We can't use something we don't have-something that may not exist at all. In any case, I suspect it would be impossible to lift St. Binah back up to the Outer Lands. Anise: Hmm... Is there really nothing anyone can do? Teodoro: ...It may be possible to at least prevent it from sinking beneath the liquefied surface. Luke: With the Sephiroth? Teodoro: Yes. They are controlled by devices called "passage rings." By using the passage ring to restore the Sephiroth, we might be able to keep St. Binah afloat. Tear: Where is the passage ring that controls the Sephiroth Tree for the St. Binah region? Teodoro: At Shurrey Hill. It's to the east of St. Binah. Ion: That's where I was taken when I was captured on the Tartarus. At the time, I thought it would still be protected by the Albertesque and Yulian seals... Teodoro: The Albertesque seal disappeared once the passage rings for Hod and Akzeriuth were destroyed. But the Yulian seal should not unlock until the promised time. Anise: But the Commandant must have unlocked it and operated the passage rings, right? Teodoro: Yes. Even we don't know how he did it. Jade: Let's worry about that later. How do we operate the passage ring? Teodoro: I've heard that all of the control panels require the use of the Seventh Fonon. Guy: Well, we've got three people who can use that. Natalia: Tear, Luke, and myself. Teodoro: The other issue is whether Van has done anything to damage the passage ring... Tear: We won't know that until we get there. Luke: If its east of St. Binah, then it's probably falling along with the city. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `To Shurrey Hill' [SK195] | | Jade: The passage ring at Shurrey Hill... | Anise: I hope it actually works. | Ion: I doubt Van will be leaving it untouched for us to use... | Jade: Indeed, his planning so far seems to be impeccable. | Anise: That sounds sarcastic, for some reason... | Jade: How odd. I meant it quite literally. | Ion: Hah hah... Well, thinking about Van won't accomplish anything. | We'll just have to visit Shurrey Hill and see. | Anise: Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SY1} \ >>> Shurrey Hill \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Relics of the Dawn Age' [SK198] | | Guy: Akzeriuth, Shurrey Hill... These places with the passage rings | feel so strange. | Tear: That's probably because they're from the Dawn Age. They were | made to protect the Sephiroth Trees. | Anise: Oh, right, so this has been around for two thousand years. | Jade: Indeed. The technology in use seems to be quite advanced. We | can't build anything like this with our current knowledge. | Luke: So civilization was more advanced two thousand years ago? | Tear: So they say. Even in Yulia City, we don't understand how most of | the facilities work. | Guy: I wonder what the world was like when Yulia was around... I wish | I could have seen it. | Luke: You mean you wish you could have seen the machines, right? | Guy: ...Well, yeah, but come on. That's when they came up with the | idea of creating the Outer Lands. | Natalia: Those must have been turbulent times. | Tear: Now is hardly any different. After all, we're on the brink of | diverging from Yulia's Score. | Natalia: Yes...true enough. | Jade: Human history is one of eternal turbulence. Now let's take care | of what we came to do. | Anise: As dry as always... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party comes to the passage ring. Guy: This isn't your average fon machine. I don't have a clue what to do with it. Luke: What exactly are we supposed to do with Seventh Fonons? Ion: (...) Ion: ...This is strange. The Yulian seal hasn't been removed. Jade: What does that mean? Did General Grants not use it...? Anise: (angry) Anise: Ugh, don't tell me we came all this way for nothing? Natalia: There must be some way to use it. Let's look around. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Van the Terrible!' [SK199] | | Natalia: Van certainly has quite an arsenal. | Anise: Yeah. He's smart, he's quick, he's great with a sword, he can | use the Seventh Fonon... He's amazing! Incredible! And he's got | a beard. | Natalia: Is his beard special? | Anise: Of course! That's where he gets all his power! | Natalia: My... I had no idea... | Anise: And those eyebrows are amazing, too. | Natalia: What kind of power do they have? | Anise: His eyebrows...um...tell him where his enemies are. And watch | out for the hypno-rays they shoot out! | Natalia: Oh, such power! How fitting, for the Commandant of the Oracle | Knights. | Guy: Tear...are you going to let her say things like that? | Tear: S-sure...why not...? | Jade: Ah hah hah hah! Regardless of the beard, he certainly is | intelligent, and clever. Things will get difficult if he stays | ahead of us. | Guy: But what can we do? We can't fight him head-on, and we don't | even know where he is. | Tear: Asch might have an idea... | Guy: Asch, huh... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Yulian seal was broken. The party heads back to the passage ring. Tear: (...) Tear: Nothing's working.... Tear walks by the weird thingy and it opens up like a book. Natalia: Tear! Could you approach that fonstone? Tear: (?) Tear: Okay... Tear: (!) The device opens and shows a glyph. Tear: (What...?!) Another glyph appears above them. It has some circles, some with red outlines. Jade: It reacted to Tear. It says... "Warning." Is this the Yulian seal? Ion: ...I don't know, but it's definitely been unlocked. We can use the passage ring now. Anise: (sweating) Anise: Hey, this writing looks like an explanation of the passage ring. Jade walks up to the device and looks at it. Jade: (...) Jade: ...You've really outdone yourself this time, General Grants. Tear: My brother did something to it?! Jade: He's closed the valve, making it impossible to revive the Sephiroth tree. Natalia: What does that mean? Jade: He used a code to render the passage ring unusable. Mieu: Can we break the code? Jade: If I could use the Seventh Fonon, I'd break it myself. But... Luke: (...) Luke: ...What if I use hyperresonance to erase the code or whatever? That uses the Seventh Fonon, right? Jade: (...) Jade: ...If you could erase just the code, that might work. Tear: Luke! You can't control it yet...! Luke: I've been practicing! Besides, if I mess up here, we're no worse off than if we'd done nothing. Tear: (...) Tear: ...That's true. You're right. The view switches to the circles above. Jade: See how the diagram representing the third Sephiroth is lit up red? Erase just that red part. Luke: I'll give it a try. Luke holds his hands up, uses his hyperresonance and erases the red part. Memory particles start flowing upward. Jade: ...It looks like it started up. The Sephiroth has begun releasing memory particles to raise the land. Tear: Then St. Binah won't sink into the mantle! Luke: ...We did it! We did it! Luke hugs Tear. Tear looks surprised at him. Luke: Tear, thank you! Tear: (////) Tear: I-I didn't do anything. You're the one who operated the passage ring. Luke: But it wouldn't have started up if you weren't here. And everyone else, too...! It's because you all helped. Thank you all so much! Natalia: He doesn't sound like Luke at all. Guy: I don't see any problem with that. I like him better this way. Natalia: You're on Luke's side. Guy: Not really. Just like you're not on Asch's side either, right? Natalia: (...) Natalia: ...I can't choose either of them. Anise: (...) Anise: Oh, no! Wait! It's too soon to be celebrating! Look at that! Guy: ...Whoa, it says this Sephiroth supports almost the entire Rugnica Plains region! Doesn't that mean Engeve is going to fall, too?! Anise: Yeah! This is seriously bad for Engeve! Tear: (...) Natalia: Oh, no! We have to get back to the Outer Lands and evacuate the people from Engeve! Luke: ...Tear, you okay? Tear: Just a bit tired, I guess... I'm fine though. Luke received the Passage Commander title. The party moves to leave Shurrey Hill for the Albiore. Luke: Say, can we really get back up with just the power of the Albiore? Jade: I think it should be able to use the power of the Sephiroth just like the Tartarus. Luke: (That thing I saw them do when I was connected with Asch...) Guy: Yeah. The Sephiroth is northeast of Yulia City. We should be able to find out pretty quick once we get there. Luke: Northeast of Yulia City, huh? Okay. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Worried about Tear' [SK201] | | Luke: Tear, are you okay? | Tear: What do you mean? | Luke: Well, you were just saying you were tired... | Tear: Oh...I just got a little dizzy. I'm fine. | Luke: You sure? You always push yourself, so I can't trust your | saying-- | Tear: Well, excuse me for not being trustworthy. | Luke: H-hey, I was just... | Tear: ...I'm sorry. I guess I was acting a little strange. Thanks for | asking. | Luke: S-sure... I mean, if you're okay, that's fine. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The Rugnica plains has turned into a battlefield and a battle is in progress. The causalities are great on both sides. Natalia: Why...?! Why are they fighting?! Jade: This isn't good. Both armies could be completely wiped out. Anise: Yeah, we're above the Rugnica Plains. The Sephiroth Tree below is already gone... Tear: This must be...what my brother was trying to accomplish... Luke: What do you mean? Tear: He wanted to eradicate the people of the Outer Lands. He knew from the Score about the war in the Rugnica Plains... Jade: He eliminates the Shurrey Hill tree causing both armies to fall. It's quite efficient. Luke: You've got to be kidding me! I don't know what his reasons are, but what he's doing is insane! Natalia: If they're fighting here, then Kimlasca's main force must be at Kaitzur. I'll make them cease hostilities! Tear: I'm concerned about Engeve as well. It's likely to be targeted as a strategic supply point. With St. Binah gone, that village is virtually defenseless. Anise: You mean it could be attacked and destroyed even before it falls? Jeez... Luke: Let's split up. One team will check on Engeve, and the other will call for a cease-fire at Kaitzur. Jade: ...I should go to Engeve. Discussions won't even start without someone from the Malkuth military. Natalia: And I'll go to Kaitzur. Ion: Either one is fine with me. I have an idea. Guy: What about you, Luke? [You can choose to go to Engeve.] Luke: I'll go to Engeve. I owe the people there for their help, and I'm worried about them. Guy: Okay. How should we organize the teams? Is there anyone you want to take with you? Luke select a party member to take. Tear wants to go, and he can pick her. Tear: I want to go with you. I get worried when I'm not watching you. Luke picks Tear. Tear: Thanks for choosing me. Let's get to work. Anise: Please come with me, Ion. Ion: ...Okay. Jade: First, let's drop Natalia's team off at Kaitzur. Then we'll head to Engeve in the Albiore. Luke: Sounds good. Let's go. The Albiore drops Natalia and her team off then heads to Engeve. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:EN2} \ >>> Engeve \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party heads to Rose's house. Rose: Colonel! Is it true that the front line is moving north? Jade: I think the defenses will hold a bit longer, but this village is in extreme danger. Rose: What should we do? We can't evacuate to Grand Chokmah. They've already activated the capital's defenses... Jade: Yes, Grand Chokmah becomes a fortress during wartime. Luke: Regardless, this continent is in danger. Think they could run all the way to Chesedonia? Tear: Yes, the Order holds a strong influence there. It should be safe despite the fighting nearby. Jade: But it would be impossible to take the entire population aboard the Albiore. Though having them cross the battlefield on foot is no safer. Rose: Could you take just the children and the elderly on that Al-whatsitcalled? The rest of us will stay here and surrender to the Kimlascan army... Luke: You'll still be in danger of the land falling! Rose: Falling...? Wait, you mean like St. Binah and Akzeriuth?! Jade: Unfortunately, yes. Rose: ...Then we'll run to Chesedonia on foot. At least the bridge has been repaired. Luke: Let's leave the Albiore to Noelle, so we can escort those who are walking. Jade: Luke... Yes, let's do that. But I think we will need more than just us. I'll speak with the Engeve standing forces. If they could spare even one platoon to protect our rear... Noelle starts gathering people to take on the Albiore. Jade: If she finishes transporting them earlier than expected, she'll return here. Though I wouldn't get my hopes up. Luke: Yeah... There's no telling how many trips she'll have to make. Tear: At least the Malkuth army lent us troops. We won't have to watch our back. Luke: Yeah. Anyway, let's just make sure that everyone makes it there safely. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `At War! - Jade' [SK202] | | Luke: Dammit! Why'd they go and start fighting?! | Jade: I should have kept a closer watch on Mohs... I didn't expect him | to move this quickly. | Luke: I hope Natalia can get them talking again... | Jade: That would help, but right now we need to worry about getting | the people of Engeve out before the town falls. | Luke: I know. We don't have time to waste. | Jade: Exactly. Also keep in mind that it'll take more effort than you | expect to escort civilians through a battlefield. We should | prepare ourselves well. | Luke: Yeah. | Jade: We may not be able to replenish our supplies for some time. Make | certain you have everything you need. | Luke: Right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party departs for Chesedonia. The first night they stop to rest... Jade: Let's rest here for now. Luke: Somehow we managed to make it here safely. Jade: Yes. Good work. I thought you'd have more trouble. I'm impressed. Luke: ...Where are we now? Jade: We aren't even halfway there yet. Luke: Oh... Still a ways to go, huh... A man comes up to the party. Man: Excuse me... You were onboard the Tartarus, weren't you? Jade: Yes. I commanded the Tartarus. Is there something I can do for you? Man: Was there a soldier by the name of Marco amongst the crew? Luke: Marco? He was your aide, right, Jade? Man: The commander's aide! I had no idea he'd advanced that far! He's our son! Man, my wife is going to be so proud when she hears! Tear: But...he... Man: So, what's he doing now? With the way things are now, do you think he could be sent out to the front line? Luke: Uh...actually... Your son is... Jade: I'm sorry to have to tell you this, but your son was killed in battle during an enemy attack. Man: (!) Man: Wh-when?! When did that happen?! He was doing just fine when the Tartarus came to Engeve! Jade: It was after that. We were attacked by forces seeking to capture the Fon Master. Your son died an honorable death in combat. Man: ...I see. So Marco died protecting Fon Master Ion... When Marco was born, a Scorer from the Order of Lorelei said to us, "This child will one day aid a great and noble man." They told us he needed to become a soldier... ...That stupid boy. No matter how admirable it may have been, how could he die before me?! Luke: That means Marco died because of the Score! Tear: Scorers will never read a Score of death. They mustn't. Even if they know the Score leads to death. Luke: That's just wrong... That's the same as what happened to Akzeriuth! Jade: Growing angry here won't help anything. Right now, focus on getting the people of Engeve safely to Chesedonia. Luke: ...I know. The second day... Luke: We're finally halfway there. A man and a woman come up. Man: Excuse me, is there a healer or perhaps some extra gels available over here? Tear: I'm a healer. Jade: Is someone wounded? Miriam: No, I just hurt my foot... Luke: Who are you...? I thought we told all the women to get onboard the Albiore... Man: We told her that, too. But Miriam said not to worry about her and to take someone else instead. She just wouldn't listen... Luke: Why would you do something like that... Miriam: It's all right. Don't get me wrong-I don't intend to die here, either. But I lost both my husband and my child already, so... Luke: Because of the war? Man: Her husband worked in the mines at Akzeriuth. Luke: (!) Miriam: My son wanted to go visit him, and the city was destroyed right during the time my son was there... Luke: ...Um...I... Jade: I'm sorry to hear that. But in that case, it's all the more important that you survive. So you can live on in their stead. Miriam: ...Yes... Jade: Tear, please heal her. A soldier walks up to the group. Jade: Take them back to the line. Tear, the soldier, the man and woman all depart. Luke: Jade! Why didn't you let me apologize?! Jade: I don't want to cause needless chaos by exposing the truth here on this spot. If you want to escape your feelings of guilt, then do it later after she's been able to safely return home. Luke: You don't have to talk like that! Jade: If you know any Malkuth citizens who'd trust the criminal who destroyed Akzeriuth, I'd certainly like to meet them. Luke: (...) Jade: It's your business if you want to apologize, but I'd appreciate it if you'd choose an appropriate time and place for it. The third day... Jade: We're finally at a camp site. Chesedonia is just ahead. Luke: We had a few people injured... Jade: A little can't be helped. It's considerably better than I expected. Let's hand in there just a little longer. Miriam comes up to the party again. Miriam: Thank you for yesterday. Luke: It's you... Miriam: Thanks to you, Tear, my foot is feeling better and I was able to walk today with no problem. Tear: You don't need to thank me. It's my duty as a healer. Miriam: You're a member of the Oracle Knights, aren't you? Tear: Y-yes...I am. Miriam: Aren't your parents worried about you? Tear: ...They're both dead. Miriam: Oh...I'm sorry. I see. You must be lonely. Tear: ...No, I'm fine... Miriam: Come on now. I lost my husband and son, and it felt like a hole opened up in my heart. ...I wonder when the Score will finally tell us the war will end. Tear: The Score is... Regardless of the Score, we must put an end to this fighting. Miriam: But if the Score says it will continue for another ten years, then that's what will happen. Tear: ...Even if the Score says that it will continue for ten years...I believe we have to put a stop to it. Luke: ...Tear... Miriam: ...I never thought I'd hear someone from Daath say something so frightening. But...I do agree with you. I hope the war ends soon. Anyway, thank you, Tear. Miriam walks off. Luke: ...Tear. You've changed. Are you sure about what you said? Tear: ...To be honest, I'm scared of leaving the Score. But...now that I know the truth, I'm more scared to depend on it... Jade: I can imagine. I understand how you must be feeling. Luke: But ordinary people really are dependent on the Score. Because I was trapped in my manor, I didn't have much to do with the Score, so I don't really understand it myself. Jade: Yes...the Score is part of their lives. The fourth day (the party finally reaches Chesedonia)... Luke: We finally made it... Jade: We didn't lose a single villager. Though a few did trip and injure themselves. Luke: Yeah...I'm really glad everyone's safe. Two men come up to the party. Man: Thank you all so much! Man 2: We all made it here safely. This is a token of our thanks! Obtained items. Man: We can't thank you enough. You have our deepest gratitude. Man 2: Thanks for all your hard work! Luke: ...Wow, heh. Jade: You should be proud, Luke. You did an admirable job. Luke: No, I owe it to the support I had from you and the others. Jade: Flattery won't get you anywhere with me. Luke & Tear: (laughing) Jade: Now, then, let's enter the city. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:KA2} \ >>> Kaitzur \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Natalia and her group enter Kaitzur and see Cecille with some troops. Natalia: General Cecille! Cecille: Go on ahead! The troops leave. Cecille: ...Princess Natalia?! You're alive! Natalia: Yes. There's no longer any reason to fight. Call your troops back at once. Cecille: My deepest apologies, but I lack that authority. Lieutenant General Almandine is in command of this operation. Natalia: Then take us to him! Cecille: Unfortunately...he's headed to Chesedonia to meet with Grand Maestro Mohs. Natalia: Chesedonia?! How does a commander leave the battlefield in the middle of a war?! Cecille: We need recognition from the Order that this operation is justified retribution. He went there for the proceedings. Anise: Hey, that's for Ion to decide! Mohs is making me seriously mad! Ion: That's merely a formality. But I expected this might happen. Perhaps I should have stayed in Daath... Anise: If you'd done that, they'd have used you to open the Sephiroth seals. Natalia: But you have to! The battlefield is going to fall! Cecille: Are you saying Malkuth has a weapon that can do that? Natalia: No! That's not what it is, but it's dangerous. Cecille: I don't really understand, but unfortunately I lack the authority to pull the troops back. Natalia: Then I'll go see Count Almandine. Cecille: Traveling by sea is dangerous in wartime. I cannot permit Her Highness to board a ship. A soldier returns. Soldier: General Cecille, preparations are complete. Cecille: Understood. The soldier leaves. Cecille: I'm keeping my troops waiting. I apologize, Your Highness, but I must be going. I'll inform the authorities at the Kaitzur port of your presence. Please await their escort. Guy: Be careful. Cecille: ...What? Oh, yes. Thank you. Cecille leaves. Natalia: If we're taken to Kaitzur, we won't be able to do anything. Let's go to Chesedonia by land! Ion: If we're going to Chesedonia, I suppose that's the only way. Anise: It's too dangerous! I can't let you do that! Natalia: But it means we'll be able to meet with Count Almandine. Once he learns we're alive, he should understand that this war is meaningless. Ion: Let's go, Anise. Anise: If you give the order, I have to follow. *Sigh* Guy: *Sigh* I know better than to try to stop you. I'll go ,too. But be careful, okay? If you die, it defeats the entire purpose. Natalia: I'm sorry. Thank you. The party departs for Chesedonia. The first night... Natalia: ...We finally made it to a camp site. Guy: We still have a ways to go before Chesedonia... All: (!) Natalia: Is someone there?! Frings approaches the group. Frings: It's me. Guy: General Frings... What are you doing here? Natalia: Indeed! The Kimlascan army is deployed in this area! Frings: My troops reported seeing you. Guy: I can't imagine a General going out scouting on his own. Don't tell me you're trying to make use of Natalia in this conflict... Frings: Please don't misunderstand. I haven't come here to harm you. Nor to scout. I just want you to leave this battlefield. Natalia: What do you mean? Frings: If things stay the way they are now, we'll have to kill you, because you're from Kimlasca. Natalia: We're headed to Chesedonia to end this fighting. No matter the danger, we cannot turn back. Frings: You can't possibly make it. The fighting is only going to grow fiercer. I can't tell my troops to try to avoid attacking just you. Anise: Well, yeah, we understand what you're saying. But we can't back down. Um, but I don't mean we want to fight, either! Frings: I see...I'll try notifying those who understand the situation not to attack you. But...if it does come down to battle, please don't hate my soldiers. Natalia: After he came all the way here, despite the danger, I feel bad for refusing... Guy: But if this war continues, they'll be caught by the land falling. Right? Natalia: ...Yes. I hope we can at least avoid fighting Malkuth. Ion: Yes. Let's proceed carefully. The second night... Natalia: ...We finally made it to today's camp site. Guy: Somehow we managed to get here without encountering any Malkuth troops. Natalia: I hope we can continue like this. Guy: We're about halfway to Chesedonia... All: (!) Natalia: Who's there?! Cecille walks up to the group. Cecille: Brigadier General Cecille. Guy: How did you know we were here...? Cecille: My troops reported seeing you. What are you doing in a place like this...? Natalia: I told you. We're going to see Almandine in order to stop this conflict. Cecille: You can't be serious! Right now, you're still within our forces' area of control. Please, return to Kaitzur. It's too dangerous. Guy: If this war continues, everyone may die. Cecille: Our forces will not lose. Natalia: That's not what we mean. This battlefield is in danger. As things stand now, both armies will be wiped out. Cecille: Your Highness... Please understand my position. Natalia: I'm sorry to do this to you. But this is my duty. Cecille: ...All right. Then at least let me assign you some protection. Please. Natalia: ...All right. I appreciate your concern. Guy: But a large number of soldiers could actually draw attention to us. Cecille: Understood. Starting tomorrow, I'll have one platoon accompany you from behind. Please be careful... The third night... Natalia: ...Here's today's camp site. Guy: Just a little further to Chesedonia. Natalia: Yes... All: (!) Natalia: Who's there?! Cecille comes up to the party. Cecille: (!) Frings comes up to the party. Frings: (!) Frings: ...Kimlascan forces! Cecille: Malkuth troops! Both ready themselves to fight. Guy: Both of you, stop! Natalia: General Cecille, sheathe your sword. This man will not harm us. Cecille: But! Frings: General Cecille...? THAT General Cecille? Cecille: Who are you? Frings: ...Brigadier General Aslan Frings. Cecille: General Frings! Guy: We're headed to Chesedonia to stop this war. We're not going to let you start a fight right in front of us. Frings: That's why I'm here. I want you to remove the Kimlascan escort that's following behind you. Cecille: What are you saying?! From here on is Malkuth-controlled territory! I came here to ask permission to increase their escort! Frings: I've explained the situation to my troops in the area between here and Chesedonia. We can let Princess Natalia's group through alone, but if Kimlascan troops are with them, we'll have no choice but to attack. Cecille: We can't possibly trust that! Natalia: General Cecille, wait. General Frings is a trustworthy man. Cecille: But... Natalia: I've made up my mind. Frings: If anything happens to them, I'll take my own life. Natalia: Cecille. Don't make me order you. Cecille: ...Your life is hardly worth that of Princess Natalia's. Cecille sheathes her sword. Cecille: But I will do as Her Highness wishes. Frings: Thank you. Natalia: Now, both of you, return to your camps without fighting. Cecille and Frings leave. Anise: So, the Malkuth troops won't attack us tomorrow. Natalia: That doesn't mean we can be careless. We don't have any support, either. Anise: I know that. The fourth night... Natalia: Let's rest here tonight. The night passes without further interruptions. The party finally arrives in Chesedonia. Guy: ...We weren't able to avoid fighting, after all. Natalia: ...But it was better than I imagined. Guy: ...Still, I feel terrible. Natalia: Yes. That loss of life is all the more reason we MUST persuade Count Almandine. Guy: ...You're right. Let's go. Obtained items. Natalia and Jade's parties meet up. Luke: ...Hey! Natalia: Luke! Luke: What are you doing here?! What happened with the truce? Natalia: I was told that the commander-in-chief, Count Almandine, went to Chesedonia to meet Grand Maestro Mohs, so... Luke: You crossed the battlefield?! Are you stupid?! You know how dangerous it is! Natalia: You all did the same thing, didn't you?! Guy: Calm down, you two. Ion: Yes. The people who can stop this war are here in this city. Let's save the arguing and go talk to them. Luke: Ah...yeah. You're right. That's what's important. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Safe Reunion' [SK204] | | Luke: That was a pretty reckless thing to do. | Jade: The same could be said of you. | Guy: Well, at least we all managed to meet up again. | Mieu: Yeah. | Tear: I'm glad the people from Engeve made it here safely as well. | Natalia: But we still have work to do. | Anise: Yeah! We have to go find that Count Almandine and talk to him. | Ion: Yes, let's hurry. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads to the border and finds Mohs and Count Almandine. Natalia: Count Almandine! What is the meaning of this?! Almandine: Princess Natalia?! Natalia: I presume you receive a message from Emperor Peony the Ninth stating that the new of my death was an error! Almandine: His Majesty believed that message to be a Malkuth scheme... Natalia: Indeed, I should have returned to the castle sooner. But you have now witnessed that there is no justification for this war. Stop the fighting at once. Luke: Count Almandine, it's me, Luke. Almandine: (!) Almandine: You're...alive! Luke: I'm the one who caused the destruction of Akzeriuth. The blame should be placed on me alone... Luke fon Fabre! Natalia: If this war is one born of misunderstanding, then it must be corrected at once! Luke: And the battlefield on the Rugnica plains could fall-and be destroyed just like Akzeriuth! Natalia: Now, cease this conflict and open the border immediately! Mohs: Wait. There is no need to obey the orders of a false princess. Natalia: How dare you! Even a Grand Maestro cannot speak of me in such a manner! To insult me is to insult the Kingdom of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear! Mohs: For some time, I have received the sorrowful confessions of a certain pious believer. It appears the daughter that he fathered with an attendant to the Queen was substituted for Her Highness the Princess. Luke: That's a lie! Mohs: No, it's not. Look at her eyes. Her hair. From time immemorial, the royal family of Lanvaldear has had red hair and green eyes. But this woman's hair is gold. And the late Queen had hair as black as night. I've informed His Majesty about this matter as well. If you go to Baticul, His Majesty will punish you for conspiring against the Kingdom! Natalia: That's impossible... That can't be true... Natalia received the False Princess title. Mohs: Count, shouldn't you be returning to the battlefield? Almandine: ...Ah, uh, hmm. Yes. Count Almandine leaves. Luke: Hey! Wait! The battlefield is going to collapse! Mohs: What's your point? All: (!) Mohs: As long as the war occurs, the Score will be fulfilled. Why are those people in Yulia City worrying about a little collapsing land? Tear: Grand Maestro Mohs... That's horrible... Mohs: Humph. It's your brother who's doing the unthinkable. Now, Fon Master Ion. Do you still intend to demand a cessation of hostilities? Ion: No, I wish to return to Daath for the moment. Anise: Ion?! Are you serious?! The Commandant will make you open the Sephiroth seals so he can destroy the Trees! Mohs: I won't allow that. Having any more of the Outer Lands collapse would be a problem. Anise: And if he comes by force...? Ion: If that happens, then you'll come back to rescue me, Anise. Anise: ...What? Ion: Cantor Anise Tatlin, I hereby relieve you of your position as Fon Master Guardian. Anise: W-w-wait a minute! Ion! Don't do this! Ion: Stay with Luke at all times, protect him, and report everything you hear to me. Anise: (!) Anise received the Former Attendant title. Ion: Please take good care of Anise for me. Ion goes to Mohs. Ion: Let us go to Daath. Mohs: Yes. Fon Master. Mohs and Ion depart. Luke: What does Ion think he's doing? Jade: Leaving Anise here means he intends to come back. Right now, more importantly... Natalia: ...If you're worried about me, I'm fine. We should go to Baticul. The only one who can stop the Kimlascan army now is Fath...His Majesty the King. Tear: Then we'll need to find a way to cross the border. Jade: The border runs through this city. There must be a place we can slip through. Guy: Luke, don't take your eyes off Natalia. I'm worried about her. Luke: ...Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Natalia's Secret' [SK205] | | Anise: I wonder if Natalia really is a princess after all... | Guy: Whether she is or not, she's still one of us. | Jade: The problem, though, is what she herself thinks. | Tear: Yes...I'm worried. | Luke: Yeah. When I found out I wasn't the real Luke, I got really | depressed... That Mohs... True or not, he'll pay for this! | Tear: Luke... | Jade: She'll have to find her own answer to the question. As cold as | it may seem, we need to focus on stopping the war right now. | Luke: Yeah, I guess... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party enters the bar and attempts to go out the door on the other side of the border. A man is blocking the way. Guy: Can we get through here? Man: If you want to go through here, tell me the password. Guy: Aw, come on... Be a pal! Man: Never! If you don't know the password, you don't pass. Urushi: Heh heh heh. Want to buy the password? Luke turns around to see the Dark Wings. Luke: Hey! It's you! Noir: Oh, my, if it isn't you kids again. Anise: I don't believe you guys! First you kidnap Ion, and now you're conning people here?! What's wrong with you?! Noir: Heh heh heh heh. What can I say? We love money! Anise: So do I, but still- Guy: Anise... Okay, Dark Wings, just how much are you asking? Urushi: There's six of you, so... Mieu: Don't forget me! Urushi: There's seven of you, so it'll be seven-thousand Gald. Luke looks real pissed at Mieu, who is shaking. Tear: I don't believe this... Luke: You idiot! Your big mouth just cost us another thousand Gald! Mieu: Mieuuuuu.... York: Well? Are you going to pay or not? [You can choose "That's too expensive..."] Luke: That's too expensive. Guy: Yeah. And I don't think there's any reason to go along with this little scam. Anise: We're still in Malkuth, right? Colonel, just arrest them! Jade: ...You heard her. Though if you let us through, I supposed I could let you go this time. York: Yes, well, you see... We only set up shop because people like you up and started a war that's hurting people like us. Innocent civilians, that is. Natalia: ...That's true. Let's pay them. Tear: That's not like you, Natalia. War or no, the decision to commit a crime comes from one's own lack of morals. Natalia: Well...yes, but... Jade: Then let's call the military police. Jade starts to walk away. Noir: Wait. ...We'll let you through. But not a word to anyone else. There are always folks who get stuck on the wrong side of the border. Luke: Thanks. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Dark Wings' [SK206] | | Guy: Those Dark Wings are at it again... | Jade: I dislike letting criminal activity go, but we have more | important things to do. | Anise: Ruffians feeding off the horrors of war! I cannot forgive them! | Natalia: Absolutely not! | Anise: Dammit! Stupid noble thieves! Get outta my face! | Luke: ...Is that supposed to be me? | Anise: Idiots are idiots, so they can't help being idiotic. | Jade: Anise, you're letting your own feelings show. | Anise: Oops! | Jade: In any case, people like them will do anything to make a living. | It's just one more casualty of war. What a pity... | Tear: ...We need to stop this war. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ As the party leaves, a Kimlascan soldier runs up to the soldier at the entrance. Soldier: We've got trouble! The Zao Ruins are... Soldier 2: ...What?! Understood. We'll seal the exit. The soldier who came in runs to the center of the city. Tear: We can't get through here now... Let's go see Astor. Luke: Yeah. The party heads to Astor's mansion. Astor: Luke! Princess Natalia! There were rumors, all kinds of rumors that you'd both been killed. I'm so happy to see you again. Hee hee hee hee. Jade: We have a favor to ask you. Astor: Relax. Fon Master Ion has already requested that we take in the people of Engeve. Luke: Oh, good... Jade: We're in your debt. Thank you. Astor: Don't mention it. Hee hee hee. Luke: By the way, did something happen in the Zao Desert? Astor: News certainly travels fast. We have a bit of a problem. Earthquakes have split the Zao Desert and Ispanian Peninsula and this area has begun to sink. Anise: That sounds like...! Tear: Chesedonia is falling! A man enters. Man: Update, sir! The Kimlascan army reached Engeve at 11:32! Jade: *Sigh* So, the people of Engeve were fated to be in danger no matter what... Is that how it is? Tear: I wonder if Noelle made it in time. Astor: Thank you. Continue to observe the situation. The man leaves. Astor: I believe I heard you say that Chesedonia is going to fall? Luke: The same thing that happened to Akzeriuth and St. Binah is happening here! Astor: Citizens of both nations live here. There's nowhere for them to run in the middle of this war. Guy: Does this mean there's a passage ring in this area that Van shut down? Natalia: That would be the Zao Ruins, where Ion was taken... Luke: Damn it, what do we do? Maybe if we revive the Sephiroth Tree right away.... Jade: No, Teodoro said that was impossible. However... Anise: Colonel! Do you have an idea?! Jade: Well, even if we can't revive the Tree, the Sephiroth flow should still be rising. If we use that power, I wonder if we could lower the land slowly, like an elevator. Tear: Can we make the passage ring do that? Jade: That, I don't know. Luke: Let's go take a look. As it stands, we're just waiting for it to fall! Astor: I'm afraid I don't quite follow... Luke: There may be a way to prevent Chesedonia's destruction. Astor: What is it? Guy: Well... Astor: The Qliphoth... That's a difficult story to believe. Still, we have little choice but to trust in you all at this point. Allow me to take care of informing the residents. Please save Chesedonia. Luke: Right, let's get going for the Zao Ruins! All but Natalia and Luke depart. Luke: ...Natalia. Natalia: What? O-oh, right. We're going now? Luke: Hey...cheer up, okay? We still don't even know if what Mohs said is true. Natalia: Right... I know that. I'm fine... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `To the Zao Ruins' [SK207] | | Tear: Van...what are you trying to do...? Not just the battlefield, | but Chesedonia too... What purpose could there possibly be in | that...? | Luke: Tear... | Guy: I don't know what Van's up to either, but for the moment, let's | follow Jade's suggestion. | Anise: There's nowhere else to run, so it's that or nothing! | Luke: Yeah... If Chesedonia falls, we could get caught up in it. | Noelle isn't back yet, either. | Tear: I just hope we can activate the passage ring in the Zao Ruins as | easily as the one at Shurrey Hill... | Luke: We only get one chance again, huh...? Guess we just have to do | it. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads towards the Zao Desert. Soldier: Astor has informed us of the situation. Please take care. The party goes to leave when Luke hears Asch's voice again. Asch: Hey, replica! Can you hear me? Luke: ...Oww! Asch: Come to the oasis in the desert. We need to talk. Luke: ...The...oasis? Asch: Yes! Hurry up! Asch's voice goes away. Guy: Is it one of those headaches again? You can hear Asch's voice, can't you? Luke: ...Yeah. I'm his replica. Natalia: Asch! What did he say? Luke: What? Um... He said to go to the oasis, and that he had something to talk about. Tear: I wonder if Van is behind it. Jade: I don't think so. It's unlikely he's on Van's side at this point. Luke: Let's go to the oasis. We should still have time to operate the Sephiroth even after hearing Asch out. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Asch's Message' [SK208] | | Natalia: Asch... | Tear: There might be something behind that message... We'd better be | careful. | Natalia: But he isn't our enemy! | Anise: I wouldn't exactly call him an ally, either. Last time, he | didn't even tell us what he was up to. | Tear: Really? | Natalia: Yeah, only that he had something he wanted to investigate. | Tear: I see... In any case, until we know exactly what his | relationship is with Van, I think we should remain cautious. | Natalia: Very well... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:DO2} \ >>> Desert Oasis \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party finds Asch by the large Fonstone. Asch: It's about time you got here. Luke: What do you want? Asch: Has anything strange happened? Like your mind being mixed with someone else's? Luke: Huh? What are you talking about? Nothing weird happens other than when you connect with me. Asch: ...I see. Natalia: Asch, has something happened? Are you ill? Asch: ...No. Guy: Is that all you had to say? Asch: ...Engeve has begun to fall. The battlefield will likely fall soon after. Tear: No! Natalia: At this rate, everyone on the battlefield will die! Asch: Damn it! You will, too, if you stay here, you idiot! Natalia: I'm well aware of that. But we intend to use the Sephiroth stream to safely lower Chesedonia. Asch: ...Can you do that? Jade: Who knows? Asch: ... I can never tell what's going on in that head of yours. If what Natalia just said is true, then can't you lower the battlefield as well? Tear: We may not make it to Shurrey Hill in time... Asch: You will. The Sephiroth are connected inside the planet. Naturally, the passage rings are connected as well. Once the rings are activated, you can remotely control one ring from another. Jade: So, if we activate the Zao Ruins passage ring, we'll be able to control the Shurrey Hill ring as well? Asch: ...That's what Van said. Asch leaves, pushing Luke out of the way, Natalia tries to stop him. Natalia: Asch! Where are you going? Asch: To find out what Van's up to. We need to know what area he plans to drop next. ...Well, if you fail, I'll just die here along with everyone else. Natalia: I promise we'll lower it safely! I'll swear to it! Asch: What, you want to pinky swear? Don't be absurd. Natalia: Asch...! Asch: There are no guarantees in this world. That's why, before, I... ...I'm going now. You all should too. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What Was That All About?' [SK209] | | Luke: What did Asch want, anyway? He just said his thing and left. | Natalia: And just when we had finally met again... | Guy: Mysterious as usual. | Jade: His purpose may be unclear, but he has provided us with some | valuable information on the state of the continent and the | nature of the passage rings. | Natalia: So he's trying to help us...? | Jade: It's still too early to say. | Luke: Yeah...but it doesn't look like he's working with Master Van. | Guy: Of course, that may just make things more complicated. | Jade: We can worry about him later. Right now, we need to hurry to the | Zao Ruins. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:ZA2} \ >>> Zao Ruins \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Anise: I never thought we'd come to a place like this twice. Tear: As recent as it was, so many things have changed since the last time we came... Jade: Indeed. For one, Van wasn't our enemy at the time... Or rather, we were not aware of his true intentions. Anise: Yeah. I'd never have guessed the Commandant was up to anything. Jade: We weren't sure of YOUR true self either, Anise. Anise: Who, me? Oh, come now! I'm the same cute little Anise I always was! Jade: Oh, is that so, cute little Anise? (music note) Anise: Don't say it like that! Tear: I suppose neither of you has changed... Anise: Passage ring! (music note) Passage ring! (music note) Anise goes running ahead. Natalia: There's not an ounce of concern in her body. Guy: Hah hah, she's fine. ...I'm more worried about whether we can really trust what Asch told us. Natalia: Are you saying you don't? Guy: No, just that I'm concerned it may be a trap. Tear: Yes...that's certainly a possibility we can't dismiss. Jade: Given the nature of the passage rings, I'd suspect that the information is genuine. Though it's just as certain that Asch gave us that information to further his own ends. All but Jade: (...) Luke: ...Right now, let's focus on lowering the Outer Lands safely. Besides, I can't imagine Asch is trying to destroy the Outer Lands. Tear: True...Things will only get worse the longer we wait. Anise comes running back. Anise: What are you waiting for? Let's go take care of this! Guy: Hah hah... Anise might have the right idea. The party reaches the area right before where Sync, Largo and Asch were at the last visit. The ground starts to shake. Anise: Uaah! Luke: The bridge is shaking...?! Tear: ...Not just the bridge. This entire underground city is shaking. Jade: It's faint, but... I can feel fonic artes being used. Tear: I don't feel anything... Guy: Is it a trap? Or... Natalia: An enemy? Luke: Even if it is, we don't have a choice. We have to keep going. Let's be careful. Jade: My; I never would've expected you to say something like that. Luke: Shut up! Guy: I sure hope this bridge is still here when we come back... Anise: Don't say things like that! The party goes further in. The ground shakes again. Luke: Wh-what the hell?! An earthquake?! Jade: No. This is... Tear: Look out! A monster comes out. Jade: Here it comes! Party wins the fight. Guy: What the hell is this thing...? Tear: It may be a monster from the Dawn Age. I've seen it before, in a book in Yulia City. But I didn't think they were supposed to be this aggressive... Natalia: The Oracle's God-Generals were here before. Perhaps they agitated it. Luke: It may just have been guarding the ruins. Anise: Who cares? Let's just pray nothing else like this comes jumping out at us. Jade: I agree wholeheartedly. Now, shall we be going? The party reaches a bridge high up that has a great view of the passage ring. Anise: Wow! This place is huge! Luke: (...) Tear: What is it, Luke? Luke: I just can't believe we've been living on top of these things... Tear: But it's true. People can't see anything that's not right in front of them. Jade: ...But curiosity can at times reveal things that were better left unknown. Guy: Just like with the Outer Lands. Natalia: Nevertheless, we cannot run now that we have seen the truth. Luke: ...Let's go. The collapse won't wait for us. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Mommy, Are We There Yet?' [SK213] | | Anise: We're not there yet? We've walked all this way... | Guy: Well, we've gone deeper into the ruins than last time. I imagine | that's why it feels longer. | Anise: But look how far down we've come! And we have to walk back up | through all this to get out? No way! | Mieu: No way! | Jade: We don't have time for complaints. | Anise: I know. I know. Boooooo. | Jade: Besides, Guy says he'll carry you on the way back. | Anise: Ooh, really? Uh...Guy, can you do that? | Guy: ...Well, as much as I'd like to... | Anise: Figures... I guess you can't do anything about your special | condition. | Guy: Special condition, huh...? Well, maybe I just need a special | lady to condition me. | All: ...... | Jade: Well, THAT certainly perked us all up, didn't it? Let's get | moving. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party finally reaches the passage ring. Tear walks up to it. The device starts and the circle glyphs appear again. Tear: ...Oh, good, this one responded to me, too. Anise: Did the Commandant seal this one, too? Jade: So it appears. But... The Sephiroth are out of control...? Luke: I need to get rid of the red part, right? Luke raises his hands and uses his hyperresonance to get rid of the red circle. Luke: What next? Jade: Oh, right. Inscribe an upward-facing arrow immediately above the light. Tear: Shall I take over? Jade: No, we're erasing the code through brute force, so we can't write using the normal controls. We have to forcibly carve it in using Luke's hyperresonance... Next, we'll enter the commands, but...you don't know Ancient Ispanian, do you? Luke: Of course not! Jade: All right. Do it using the fonic language we use now. The grammar is almost the same, it should work. Luke: What do I write? Jade: Tree ascent. Triple speed. Hold. Luke: Got it. Luke writes the words above the circle he erased the red from earlier. Guy: Looks like it worked. Anise: But there's still Engeve... Jade: Next, trace a line from the fourth Sephiroth to the third. A line is drawn between two circles. Jade: Then, write the same commands on the third Sephiroth. Luke: The third Sephiroth is Shurrey Hill, right? I'll give it a try. Writing appears above another circle, then the scene switches to Chesedonia and Engeve being dropped slowly. Then it switches back to the party. Luke appears exhausted. Jade: ...It looks like it's begun to descend. Let's wait beside the passage ring until it finishes, just in case. Time passes, memory particles are now rising through the area. Jade: It finished the descent, and the passage ring seems normal. Luke: Whew. Heh, it's almost boring that it all went so smoothly. Anise: I wouldn't get too cocky about it if I were you. Luke: ...Yeah, you're probably right. Guy: Wow, you didn't even act insulted. Luke: I'm scared I might get overconfident and let something happen that I can't undo... Tear: (...) Luke: Tear, you don't have to look at me like that. I'm not going to have any more outbursts. Tear: No, that's not what it is... Anise: She's probably just tired. We spent more than a day on this. Tear collapses. All: (!) Luke goes to her. Luke: Whoa, hey! Are you okay?! Tear: I'm sorry. I'm fine. Guy: (...) Tear: I can't even take care of my own health. What a poor soldier. Natalia: Worry about yourself more than your reputation as a soldier. Are you sure you're all right? Tear stands up. Tear: Th-thanks. I'm fine. Jade: Then let's go outside. We should check to see if we've arrived in the Qliphoth. Everyone but Guy and Jade depart. Jade: ...When you think you're witnessing a problem, it's best to look for the cause. Guy: What? Oh... Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `It Worked!' [SK212] | | Mieu: It worked! | Jade: The battlefield made it down safely as well. | Luke: Now that we know we can operate multiple passage rings at the | same time, if someplace distant starts to fall, we can just do | the same sort of thing remotely. | Guy: Yeah. This way, we won't have to be running all over the place. | Luke: The battlefield falling into the Qliphoth must have changed the | state of war. | Guy: Yeah...so why don't we take a little break now? We haven't had a | real chance to rest since St. Binah. Tear looks like she's | pretty exhausted. | Luke: Yeah, that sounds like a good idea. | Mieu: Time to rest! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party exits the ruins. Luke: We're definitely in the Qliphoth. Anise: But how do we get back to the Outer Lands? Guy: That's right. The Albiore isn't back yet. Jade: Our rendezvous point is Chesedonia. I think Noelle is good enough to land even with the ground descending. Tear: Let's head to Chesedonia. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:CH3} \ >>> Chesedonia \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party enters Chesedonia and Noelle runs up to them. Noelle: You're all okay! Luke: It's good to see you're safe, too! When did you arrive in Chesedonia? Noelle: Just before this area started to descend. Tear: How about the people from Engeve? Noelle: I finished transporting them all here. Anise: Thank goodness! Good work, Noelle. (heart) Jade: I'm sorry to ask this right after you've arrived, but can you take us back up? Noelle: Of course. I'll be standing by on the Albiore. Come aboard when you're ready. Noelle runs off. Guy: Are we going back to the Outer Lands? Jade: Something's bothering me. I'd like to fly through the Qliphoth a little. Luke: What's wrong? Jade: ...I'd rather not say until I'm certain. Anise: Whenever you say things like that, something bad happens... Luke: Okay. Let's get airborne. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Thinking About Asch' [SK214] | | Luke: Hmm... | Jade: Is something wrong, Luke? You look so...serious. Tummy ache? | *Gasp* The runs? | Luke: Shut up! I was just thinking about Asch. | Jade: Oh? | Luke: When we met in Yulia City, he just snapped and came at me, but | at the oasis, he just said his thing and left. I was too busy | dealing with Chesedonia at the time, but now that I think about | it... | Jade: It seemed like he had problems of his own...having his mind | disturbed or some such. | Luke: I wonder if he's talking about those hallucinations I used to | have...? | Jade: I can understand the two of you being able to hear each other | after he opened a connection to you at Choral Castle, but | anything before that would have been due to something else. | Luke: Come to think of it, I haven't had any of those hallucinations | lately. I thought it was just because I'd gotten used to being | connected to Asch, but... | Jade: Hmm. If Asch would elaborate a bit more, I might have some | ideas...but he's not very straightforward, either. | Luke: "Either"...? You mean, like you? | Jade: Humph. So that's how it is? | Luke: Huh? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Aboard the Albiore. Luke: Whoa, what's wrong with that Sephiroth Tree? Anise: It's shining one moment and fading the next. It's like a fonon lantern that's about to go out. Jade: So the Sephiroth have gone out of control... Just like the warning on the passage ring said. Anise: Out of control...? Jade: Yes. It's likely that something caused the Sephiroth to go out of control and the Trees to stop working properly. The frequent earthquakes recently weren't only the fault of the land collapsing. Tear: Wait! If the Trees stop working, that would mean the Outer Lands will... Jade: The warning said the rings had reached maximum tolerance, likely due to the Sephiroth going out of control. There's not much time before the rings break, the Trees vanish and the Outer Lands fall. Luke: Are you serious?! Do the guys in Yulia City know about this? Tear: Grandfather said no more of the Outer Lands would collapse... He doesn't know. Guy: Hey, the Sephiroth is what's keeping Chesedonia floating on the liquefied surface, right? So, if the passage rings break... Jade: It'll be swallowed by the sea of mud. Unless the liquid surface were to solidify. Natalia: The whole reason people made the Outer Lands was to escape the miasma and liquefaction, right? Even they couldn't do anything about the liquid surface... Luke: Is there anything in Yulia's Score about the Sephiroth going out of control? There must be a reason. Doesn't the Score say anything about dealing with it? Tear: Even if it does, it may be privileged information that even Grandfather can't view... Anise: ...But Ion could. I think Ion can access the highest-level secrets in Yulia City. Luke: Really?! Anise: Yeah. I mean, he's the Fon Master... Luke: Then let's go to Daath! There may be a way to fix things! Natalia: But what about going to Baticul to stop the war? Tear: The battlefield fell into the Qliphoth. I doubt they will be thinking about war. Natalia: ...Yes, let's hope you're right. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:DA2} \ >>> Daath \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Sweaty?' [SK215] | | Natalia: This is like heaven after that desert. | Anise: It actually gets pretty humid here from the volcano, but right | now it's just perfect! | Luke: ...Is it just me, or do we smell really rank? | Guy: ...Everyone's so sweaty, I can't smell anything. | Natalia: ...A sweaty princess? Oh my! But then again, I may not actually | be a princess... | Tear: N-Natalia? Don't worry about it. I don't think we're really that | sweaty. | Anise: Tear, if you're trying to comfort her, use the princess angle. | Tear: Oh! I-I'm sorry... | Luke: Hmm... I guess we don't really smell that bad, but it does | bother-- Wait. Jade smells...nice. What is that, cologne? | Jade: Scent is the essence of the gentleman, after all. | Natalia: ...Even the soldiers are taking care of their appearance, and | look at me... I'm a failure at high society. | Guy: Natalia...you're starting to worry about the wrong things. | Luke: ...Natalia can be surprisingly out of it sometimes... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party approaches the cathedral and sees a crowd gathered there. Man: How long are we going to have to wait for a ship?! Man 2: When we went to the port, they chased us off and told us to come ask here! Tritheim: Eighty percent of the Rugnican continent is gone! It's too dangerous. We can't allow the ships to sail! Man 3: Stop lying! Who'd believe a story like that?! Tritheim: It's not a lie! The destruction of Rugnica has even put a halt to the war between Malkuth and Kimlasca. We can't send out any ships until we know more. Man: Rugnica's the largest continent in the world. How can it possibly be gone...? I can't believe it! Man 2: What's happening to the world...? The crowd leaves. Guy: Sounds like even King Ingobert wasn't foolish enough to keep fighting. Natalia: Yes, thank goodness for that, at least. Luke: There'll be a huge panic when more people find out, though. Tear: We might avoid that if we can clearly convey to them how we will deal with the situation. Jade: Yes. Let's meet with Ion about that. The party enters the cathedral. Guy: Where's Ion? Jade: Perhaps in his own room. Tear: But only executives of the Order can enter the Fon Master's room. In place of a lock, there's a fonic glyph that blocks intruders. Anise: Sounds like a job for Fon Master Guardian Anise Tatlin! (heart) Luke: You mean "Former" Fon Master Guardian. Anise: Booo. Fine, "former," but I still know the incantation to activate the fonic glyph! Luke: The fonic glyph's that thing in the next room, right? Anise: Yeah. Let's go! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Ruler's Duties' [SK216] | | Natalia: So most of the Rugnica Plains have fallen into the Qliphoth... | Anise: But at least the fighting has stopped. | Tear: How ironic that the only way to stop the war was with an even | greater disaster... | Natalia: Yes... Both threatened the lives of the people. If only those in | power would realize that truth, the war could have been easily | averted. | Anise: But they're all just thinking about themselves, those idiots. | Tear: In any case, both countries will need to take care of the | refugees from both the war and the collapse of the Outer Lands. | It will be a true test of the leaders' ability to govern. | Natalia: I...I suppose I should consider what I can do as well, as one | who has been involved in public affairs... | Tear: Natalia... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes over to the next room with the glyph. Anise: Here it is. Let's see... "The spirit of Yulia is with the Fon Master." Anise disappears. Luke: Whoa, she disappeared! Tear: It's the same principle as the Yulia Road. There's no need to worry. Luke: Okay. Let's go. The party heads to Ion's room. Luke: Where did Ion go? Tear: Quiet! Someone's coming! Anise: This is bad! Only authorized personnel are allowed here! Guy: We'd better hide! The party runs to the next room over, Dist and Mohs arrive. Mohs: Hmm...I thought I heard someone. Perhaps it was just my mind playing tricks on me. Dist: Grand Maestro Mohs, allow me to confirm your promise. If I help you restart the war, you'll give me Professor Nebilim's replica data... Mohs: Leave it to me. I'll take it from Van. Dist: Then allow Dist the Rose to offer you a plan for resuming the war. First, I believe we should have Fon Master Ion issue an official proclamation ending the truce. Mohs: Hmm. I'll make the arrangements as soon as the Fon Master returns from the library. Mohs and Dist depart. Jade: ...It sounds like Mohs and Van have different objectives. Luke: Yeah, it feels like Dist is playing them both for his own ends. Jade: Mohs just wants to cause the war as written in the Score. What's Van's objective? Tear: He's trying to drop the Outer Lands and exterminate humanity... Jade: He doesn't strike me as someone interested in pointless slaughter. Mohs feels like less of a threat, since his objective is at least clear. Guy: Then let's take care of the enemy we know first. Let's talk to King Ingobert and get him to stop listening to Mohs... Natalia: ...But...I wonder if Father will believe me... Luke: Natalia! Of course he will! Natalia: ...I may not be his real daughter. All but Jade: (...) Anise: Gaah, we'll deal with that when we find out! Right now, let's go to the library! The party heads to the library and finds Ion. Ion: Oh?! What are you all doing here...? Luke: Ion, the Outer Lands are in danger! Please tell us whether the Sephiroth going out of control is written in the Score! Ion: ...That's the first I've heard of it. I had never actually confirmed the existence of the Closed Score myself. Anise: What?! Really? Ion: If I'd know the Closed Score, I believe I would have recognized who Luke was the first time we met. ...I might have even been able to prevent what happened to Akzeriuth. Luke: (...) Ion: ...I returned to Daath to come to a full understanding of the Closed Score. Natalia: But does the Closed Score mention the Sephiroth going out of control? Ion: Not that I am aware of. Let's go to the back of the chapel and make sure. Luke: The back of the chapel? Why? Ion: There's a Fonstone enshrined there. We can check the Score. Anise: Ion! You know that's not good for your health! Ion: Please don't stop me, Anise. It must be done. The party heads to the back of the chapel. Ion: This Fonstone was formed by combining the First through Sixth Fonstones. Fon Masters can then read the entire Score from the Fonstone fragments. But the volume is immense. I'll just go over the Score regarding the collapses these past few years. Ion: "ND2000. In Kimlasca shall be born the scion of Lorelei's power. He will be of royal blood with hair of red. He shall be called 'the light of the sacred flame' and he will lead Kimlasca-Lanvaldear to new prosperity." Ion: "ND2002. The one who would seize glory shall destroy the island of his birth, a land named Hod. War shall persist between Kimlasca and Malkuth for a full cycle of the seasons." Ion: "ND2018. The young scion of Lorelei's power shall bring his people to the miner's city. There, the youth will turn power to calamity and be as a weapon of Kimlasca, destroying himself and the city. Thereafter, the land of Rugnica will be enveloped in war, and Malkuth shall lose territory. Kimlasca-Lanvaldear shall thrive, and this shall lead to unprecedented prosperity." The magic stops and Ion falls to his knees. Anise: Ion! Ion: ...That's all the Sixth Fonstone says about the collapse. Guy: So, all it talks about is Akzeriuth and the war... Luke: The Sephiroth going out of control might be written on the Seventh Fonstone. Tear: ...Who's the "scion of Lorelei's power"? Natalia: Luke, of course. Who else? Tear: But Luke was only born seven years ago. Jade: This is ND2018. It said 2000, so that has to be Asch. Tear: Asch was supposed to perish along with Akzeriuth, but he's still alive. Anise: But Luke went to Akzeriuth before that could happen. This Score is messed up. Guy: Asch did show up later, but he was no longer called Luke-the "light of the sacred flame." Tear: Luke's existence-the existence of a replica-is missing from Yulia's Score. Luke: Are you saying that me being born threw the Score off track? Tear: ...Luke? Three Oracle Soldiers arrive. Soldier: Found you! Anise: This is bad! Tear, Guy and Jade attack the soldiers. Ion: Everyone, please run! You, too, Anise! Jade: Let's get back to the Albiore. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Who's the Bad Guy?' [SK217] | | Mieu: I don't know who's the bad guy anymore... | Luke: Yeah... We can't tell what Asch is up to, or whether the Six | God-Generals are really taking orders from Master Van or not. | Natalia: Or what Dist's true intentions are. | Mieu: I have no idea! | Luke: About the only thing that IS clear is Mohs' plan... But we can't | let them go and start a war just because the Score says so! | We'd better do something before Mohs starts feeding lies to | Uncle. | Natalia: I suppose we have no choice but to meet with him... | Luke: Yeah, that's probably the only way. | Natalia: I'm afraid...afraid of Father rejecting me... I'm sorry, excuse | me. | [Natalia leaves.] | Luke: Natalia... | Mieu: Poor Natalia... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party attempts to leave Daath, but is stopped by Mohs and Oracle Soldiers. Tear: Grand Maestro Mohs. Auldrant has already gone down a different path from Yulia's Score! Jade starts casting a fonic arte. Mohs: Silence! You've forgotten your mission for the Seventh Fonstone and thrown yourself in with this rabble! As long as Luke dies and war begins as written in the Score, prosperity will follow! Dist: Don't resist Jade, or this woman dies. Dist appears, and Noelle is in his chair, unconscious. Jade stops casting and a soldier has a sword pointed at him. Dist: Aah hah hah hah hah! You look great like that, Jade! Jade: I'm honored by your compliment. Dist: No one's complimenting you! Luke: What are you going to do with us?! Mohs: We're taking you to Baticul. There, we're going to have you help us restart the war. Dist: Take them away! On board some ship on the way to Baticul. Natalia: I hope Noelle is safe. Anise: Daath is an autonomous theocracy. I don't think they'll just kill her... Guy: What's going to happen to us? Jade: Luke will likely be executed in order to follow the Score. Luke: ...That might be just as well. Tear: Luke! What are you saying?! Luke: Well, you know, my birth took the world off-track from the Score of prosperity. Maybe that's why the Sephiroth are going out of control. Guy: What the hell are you talking about? Luke: That's got to be it. And besides, you said it yourself, Tear. I don't exist in Yulia's Score. Tear: You're an idiot! Luke: Wh-what?! Hey! Tear: All I meant was that you aren't bound by Yulia's Score. You have the potential to create a new future, different from the Score! Luke: Tear... Tear: You said you would change! But here you are pouting again! Fine! Do whatever you want! Luke: Tear... I'm sorry... Tear: ...... Luke: ...I'm sorry. The ship arrives in Baticul. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:BA3} \ >>> Baticul \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke and Natalia are alone in some room, waiting to see what will happen next. Luke: ...They separated us from the rest. Natalia: I wonder what's going to happen to us now. The door opens. Alpine and some Kimlascan soldiers come in. Alpine: Meryl, imposter of the Princess of Kimlasca. Luke, imposter of the son of Duke Fabre. Natalia: "Meryl"...? What are you saying? Alpine: The Kingdom strips you both of your rights of succession. You also bear responsibility for the slaughter at Akzeriuth. Natalia: What are you talking about?! I've done nothing of the sort! Alpine: You were raised a noble. Now have the grace to die by your own hand. The soldiers walk up to Luke and Natalia with poison for them to drink. Alpine: His Majesty provided this so that you would not suffer. Natalia: Poison...! Suddenly, Tear can be heard singing. Alpine: ...Wh-what's that... Alpine and the soldiers fall asleep, the party comes into the room. Tear: We made it. Luke: Tear! Everybody! How did you get here?! Guy: They put us in a cell, but we got some unexpected help... Anise: We'll explain later! Let's go! Natalia: Wait! Let me see Father... Let me see His Majesty! I want to hear what he really thinks! Luke: I agree. Please. I need to see my uncle in order to stop this war. Jade: You understand the danger... Natalia: ...Thank you. Everyone but Luke and Tear leave. Luke: Tear. ...I thought you'd given up on me. Thanks for coming. Tear: ...You really are an idiot. Tear and Luke leave the room to go see the King. When they arrive in the audience hall, they find Ingobert with Dist, Largo, Mohs and an unknown woman. Ingobert VI: Natalia... Natalia: Father! Mohs: Traitor! You still live?! Natalia: Father! Am I really not your daughter?! Ingobert VI: I... I don't want to believe it, but... Mohs: The wet-nurse has testified. Meryl, daughter of Sylvia, attendant of the late Queen. Largo turns away, Mohs turns to the woman. Mohs: That is who she is, correct? Woman: ...Yes. The real Natalia was stillborn. But the Queen fell into despair. So I took my daughter's child, who was born a few days earlier, to her... Natalia: ...Is...is that really true, Nanny? Mohs: How disgraceful, Meryl. You learned that you were not the true Princess. You aided the destruction of Akzeriuth out of hatred for being ripped from your real parents! Natalia: No! I did nothing of the sort! Luke: Uncle! Would you really believe such a story?! Ingobert VI: I don't want to but... we found an infant's remains buried where she said! Luke: ...E-even if that's true, you raised Natalia as your own daughter! It makes no sense to condemn her for a crime she didn't commit! Mohs: This isn't only about her. You, too, will die here-the mastermind of the destruction of Akzeriuth. Ingobert VI: ...With your deaths, we will again declare war on Malkuth. Mohs: Kill them! The party tries to run off. Dist: What are you doing, Largo?! Do you not care if strangers do the job for you? Largo: ...Grr, so this is what you dragged me here to do?! Asch comes running in. Dist: Asch! Perfect timing! Capture them! Natalia: Lu-Asch... Asch runs up to block Dist and Largo. Asch: I just freed you! What the hell are you doing here? Go! Now! Luke: You rescued us?! Then come with us! Asch: Shut up! Someone has to hold them off! Now, go! Natalia: ...Be safe! The party runs away. Dist: Grr! You traitor! Asch: ...Shut up, freak. You betrayed Van and leaked information to Mohs! Largo: You...! A God-General betraying the Commandant?! Dist: All I care about is achieving my goal. That takes priority over my loyalty to Van. Outside of the audience chamber. Natalia: Father... Guy: Asch gave us a chance to escape. We can't waste it. Natalia: I... I know... Luke: Come on, let's get out of Baticul! All Asch did will be for nothing if we stay. The party reaches the first elevator down and sees Pere. Pere: Master Luke! The White Knights have opened the path ahead just as you ordered. Luke: Ordered...? Pere: Hmm? Your hair... Were you wearing a wig earlier...? Luke: (So, Asch set this up...) Kimlascan soldiers arrive. Luke: Thanks, Pere! Now you need to go! Pere: No, I will remain here and do what I can to shield you. Natalia: It's too dangerous! You must run! Guy: Don't worry. Old Pere was my sword instructor. We're counting on you, Pere. Pere: Master Gailardia, I pray for your safety. The party goes down to the next level and meets up with a white knight. Knight: Master Luke, Her Highness is our kingdom's beacon of hope. Please keep her safe! Luke: I will! The party descends to the lowest level, more Kimlascan soldiers come after them. Soldier: Stop, traitors! Citizens of Baticul come running and hold off the soldiers. Soldier: What are you doing?! Citizen: Your Highness, please run! Natalia: H-how did you know it was me...?! Citizen 2: The circus people said you were to be executed for crimes you didn't commit. Citizen: We didn't know what you looked like, but you were fleeing the upper level. You must be the Princess! Citizen 2: Now, please, run! Tear: Natalia! Let's go! Natalia: R-right... All over the city, citizens are holding off the soldiers at risk to their own lives. The party runs for the exit. Goldberg comes out to capture them. Goldberg: Stop! That heinous criminal usurped the Princess' name. Hand her over at once! More citizens come out to hold off Goldberg and his soldiers. Natalia: It's true! I am not of royal blood! I am an imposter. Do not endanger yourselves for me. Please, run! Man: We don't give a damn whether you're of royal blood or not. Woman: You're the one who opened the hospital for us. Man 2: You're the one who hired us to work on the port after we lost our jobs. Goldberg: Argh, enough! Out of the way! Goldberg slashes at two of the citizens. One gets out of the way, one falls over. Luke runs up to him, sword drawn. Luke: Stop! Goldberg: I've had enough of this! Goldberg tries to attack Luke, but Asch jumps in and stops him. Luke: Asch?! Asch: ...You wretch. Protecting the people of Kimlasca is your job as a soldier! Leave this to us. Now, go, Natalia! Natalia: Asch... Asch: ...I see you kept your promise. Natalia: Asch-"Luke"! You remember! Asch: Go! ...We can't change this country together if you're always moping around! Natalia: (!) Natalia: ...Okay! Asch: Luke! One mistake and I will kill you. Luke: ...You take care of yourself, too. Man: Part of the Zao Desert is destroyed! Head for Inista Marsh! Luke: Got it. Thanks. Natalia and Luke run out. As they leave, the citizens shout encouragement to Natalia. Citizen: Princess Natalia! Please take care! Citizen: We're so glad you came back to us alive! Please stay that way! Citizen: We don't want war! We know you can stop it! Citizen: We'll hold off the soldiers! Hurry! Citizen: Princess Natalia! The desert is too dangerous! Take the road south to Inista Marsh! Citizen: Inista Marsh is southwest of here. Please be careful! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `We Can't Stay Here' [SK218] | | Luke: Looks like we managed to escape. Asch sure saved us this time. | Natalia: Asch... Still, I wish I could have spoken with Father more... | Tear: The King seemed to be uncomfortable himself. I'm sure if you | talk to him again... | Natalia: Yes. I...I hope so. | Guy: For now, we should probably keep away from Baticul. The question | is, where can we go...? | Tear: With Chesedonia in the Qliphoth, and Noelle and the Albiore at | Daath, Inista Marsh looks like our only option. | Guy: The road hasn't been used in ages... There are probably monsters | all over the place. | Luke: We'll just have to deal with them. We can't afford to hang | around here. | Tear: Agreed. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:INI} \ >>> Inista Marsh \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Natalia: (...) Natalia: I hope Asch is all right... Tear: He'll be fine. The people of Kimlasca are on his side. Natalia: Yes. All those people, just for my sake... Guy: You can express your thanks by saving Auldrant. We're the only ones who know this world is in danger. Natalia: ...Yes. Luke: Where does the marsh lead? Anise: Belkend, I think. Luke: Let's first meet up with Asch there. Guy: Belkend is Duke Fabre's territory. We'll have to stay sharp. Luke: I know. Mieu: ...There's something scary about this marsh. Jade: ...Yes. Let's pray we don't run into any nasty monsters. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Natalia's Future' [SK219] | | Anise: Natalia looks pretty down... | Jade: You can't blame her. Recent events have proven to be too great | of a shock. | Anise: I guess we'll just have to let her sort her feelings out... | Jade: We should probably consider what to do with her once we reach | Belkend. It could be better for her not to travel with us | anymore. | Anise: But...! How come? | Jade: We'll have to eventually meet with King Ingobert again. If the | King should reject Natalia, that could be an even greater | injury to her psyche. | Anise: Oh... | Jade: It is, of course, a decision Natalia will have to make on her | own. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes further into the marsh. Luke: (sweating) Luke: What is it? Guy: About that nasty monster that Jade mentioned... All but Guy & Jade: (?) Jade: It looks like it's more than just a rumor. Luke: Is there something here? Guy: It's an old story, but... They say that a violent monster in these parts used to attack travelers. Jade: They sent teams to exterminate it multiple times. They never succeeded, so they instead trapped it inside the marsh, by planting flowers that it didn't like. Guy: I'd thought it was just a story, but you saw those flowers, right? Luke: You're saying that story's real? Anise: Whaaat? It should be dead by now, right? Jade: We can hope... All of a sudden the monster appears, the party runs away. Luke: N-no way! Tear: Is that the monster you were talking about...? Jade: We'll gain nothing from fighting that creature now. I doubt we could defeat it in our present state anyway. We should avoid any confrontations with it as we pass through the marsh. Natalia: Why are you so certain we can't defeat it? Guy: If you could beat it by brute force, other teams would have taken it out already! Jade: Exactly. For now, let's run. We know it doesn't like rafflesia pollen. We can use that fact to make it through the marsh! Luke: Okay! And if it does catch up to us, we run immediately! Tear: Understood. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Run Away!' [SK221] | | Anise: Wh...wh...what was that monster?! | Luke: Don't shout like that! It might still be looking for us. | Anise: Booo. ...I can't believe I got scolded by Luke. | Jade: I have to admit, I'm surprised that it actually existed. | Tear: We...can't beat this, can we? | Jade: I doubt it. For now, we'll have to use rafflesia pollen to keep | it at bay while we escape. | Guy: All the way through this huge marsh, huh... Natalia, are you | okay? | Natalia: Don't worry...I'm fine. | Guy: Okay... | Jade: Remember, if we encounter that monster again, we don't fight. We | run. Now let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Further along in the marsh. Natalia: What's wrong, Natalia? Natalia: Oh...it's nothing. Tear: Are you not feeling well? The monster appears between Natalia and the party. Natalia: Aaah! Tear: Oh, no! Luke: Damn! Tear sings her hymn and Luke goes at it with his sword. Jade: Anise! Rafflesia pollen! Anise: Right!! Anise throws pollen at it and it leaves. Luke: Let's get out of here, now! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Monster's Weakness?!' [SK222] | | Anise: It's a good thing we have this pollen... I don't want to become | lunch! | Guy: Yeah. I never would have thought such a big monster would be | afraid of a little thing like this. | Jade: I've seen similar cases myself. I suspect the rafflesia pollen | stimulates its brain cells in such a way that it flees. | Luke: Huh... Hard to believe that pollen could do that. | Jade: There are many more incredible things like that in this world. | Many small things, like this pollen, have the power to dispel | the greatest of monsters. They're simply amazing. | Guy: But running away like that... I guess it's not much of a monster | after all. Right, Natalia? | Natalia: Hee hee... Yes, indeed. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What We Can Do for Natalia' [SK220] | | Luke: It looks like Natalia's getting hold of herself again. | Tear: Thanks to Guy. | Guy: I just didn't like seeing her all gloomy like that. She's one of | us. It's our job to keep her spirits up. | Tear: You really are nice, aren't you? | Luke: Yeah. A little ditzy, though. | Guy: I never expected to hear YOU call ME ditzy. | Mieu: Ditzy! Ditzy! | Luke: Look who's talking! | Mieu: Mieuuuu... | Tear: Hee hee. But Natalia still has a lot ahead for her to face. I | hope we can help her. | Luke: Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads further towards the exit. Natalia: (...) Guy: ...Jade, time for a break! Jade: *Sigh* You're too nice. You know what happened earlier. Keep an eye out. Guy: Right. The people in Baticul would be in tears if Natalia got hurt here. Anise: Yeah. I was so surprised. They really love her. Luke: Natalia's in charge of public works. She uses the profits to help the needy... Everyone admires her. Guy: If Luke were the prince, he would have just enjoyed his nice, cushy life. Luke: (angry) Tear: Even statesmen need to have character. Guy: Yeah. The people of Baticul don't love the princess. They love Natalia. Natalia: But Father... Guy: If His Majesty insists on rejecting you, then come with me to Malkuth. I'd welcome you with open arms. Natalia: (////) Natalia: ...How can you say things like that with a straight face? Luke: Hey, don't let Guy sweet-talk you into defecting to Malkuth! Anise: How about instead we take King Ingobert off the throne and make Natalia queen? Natalia: ...Hah hah. ...I'm...sorry... I...I didn't mean to start crying... Guy: It's okay. So much has happened, it's got to have been unsettling. Natalia: ...I'm sorry, everyone. I'm all right. Thank you, Guy. Guy: I'm happy I could help bring back your smile. Natalia: (////) Natalia: You're going to make me blush. Natalia moves to hug Guy, but he backs off. Natalia: ...Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Is Asch Safe?' [SK223] | | Natalia: I wonder if we'll see Asch in Belkend... | Tear: If he crosses Inista Marsh like we did, it may take him a | while. | Jade: I doubt he'd try it alone. | Natalia: Perhaps he'll be able to board a ship from Baticul... | Anise: He'll be fine! He shows up all over the place, doesn't he? He's | got to have his own way of getting around. | Jade: Indeed. I'm sure he's fine. | Natalia: I hope so... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party is nearly out of the marsh. Luke: I think we're going to make it out of the marsh. The monster appears between Anise and the rest of the party. Anise: Aaah! Luke: Anise! Oh, no! We've got to do something! Jade: We'll keep it busy while the others perform the rescue. Luke: Okay! Go in for the rescue while we keep it busy! After that, run! Natalia: Understood! The party performs the rescue. Jade: They're safe! Time to run! Anise throws pollen at it, Tear sings the hymn. Luke: Now! Luke slashes it with his sword, it runs away. Guy: Did we get it?! Jade: We may not have killed it, but that's enough for now. Let's go! Luke: Right! The party runs away and is out of the marsh at last. Luke: Whew, we managed to get away. Anise: Jeez, I thought we were dead! Guy: I heard that attacks barely harm the Behemoth, but Luke's attacks worked. Natalia: Perhaps Luke's hyperresonances had an effect. Mieu: (squiggle) Mieu: You're amazing, Master! Luke: Heh heh. Nah.... Jade: Attacks damaged it twice. Both times, Tear was singing a fonic hymn. We should keep that in mind as well. Luke: Anyway, at least we got away. Let's get to town. Guy: Yeah. Belkend is to the west, along the mountains. Luke: Right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What Are Nobles?' [SK224] | | Tear: Belkend is part of your father's land, right? | Luke: So I've heard. | Tear: With the marsh separating this area from Baticul, the King must | have wanted a relative in charge here... | Jade: Indeed, far better than an ordinary noble who might start | getting ideas of his own. | Luke: Nobles...hmm... | Natalia: Is something wrong, Luke? | Luke: ...What are nobles, anyway? | Natalia: The people in charge of the country's lands, of course. | Luke: Yeah, I know, but... Oh, never mind. | Natalia: You're being silly. | Jade: That's actually a very interesting question to consider, Luke. | Luke: Yeah, maybe so... But first I've got to think about what I | am... | [Luke leaves.] | Guy: Nasty as always, I see. Luke's got enough on his mind without | having to worry about social classes. | Jade: Not at all. It's always beneficial to think about things from | different points of view. In this case, I think it would help | him resolve some questions about himself as well. | Tear: ...Different points of view... I could stand to learn that | lesson. | Guy: So could just about everybody else. It's so much easier to | assume that your own thoughts and beliefs are absolutely | correct. | Jade: However stupid it may make you look...though, of course, that in | itself is just another narrow point of view. | Guy: Hah hah hah. Yeah, really. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:BE2} \ >>> Belkend \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: Well, we made it here. Now what? Jade: There's a man here named Spinoza who has been researching replicas with Van. Tear: (!) Tear: Van... Jade: Let's pay a little visit to Spinoza at Fon Machine Lab 1. Luke: (Master... You tricked me... You're making replicas... What are you thinking...?) Luke: Let's go check it out. The party heads to the lab. Oracle soldiers stop them and mistake Luke for Asch. Soldier: Commander of Special Operations! We heard you caused quite a stir in Baticul, sir! Luke: ...Commander of Special Operation? Soldier: Commandant Grants wants to see you! Now, Commander Asch! Jade & Luke: (!) Jade: Now's our chance to see General Grants. Let's just play along. The party is taken to see Van, who has Legretta with him. Soldier: We've brought Commander Asch. Tear: Van! Major Legretta! Luke: Master! Back in Akzeriuth... You...you made me... Legretta: ...This is quite a mix-up. Shall I send them away? Van: No, it's all right. The soldier leaves. Tear: Why are you destroying the Sephiroth Trees and causing the Outer Lands to fall?! Luke: This wasn't written in Yulia's Score! Van: Yulia's Score... Don't make me laugh. If people continue to rely on that garbage, mankind will go extinct. Natalia: But you're trying to end the world yourself, by making the Outer Lands fall! Van: This is the only way to free the world from Yulia's Score. Jade: I suppose the Score won't matter if everyone's dead. Van: No. All that will die is that ghost of Yulia known as the Score and its support, Lorelei. Anise: Lorelei... The aggregate sentience of the Seventh Fonon? But its existence hasn't been proven... Van: It exists. It's the source of man's power to read the Score, and the force driving this world into madness. If Lorelei is not destroyed, this world will continue to be shackled by the Score. Luke: So many people will die if the Outer Lands fall. The Score will be the least of anyone's worries. Van: Humans are mere puppets, living only as the Score dictates. Replicas will suffice. Guy: You're going to recreate the entire world? Everything?! That's ridiculous! Van: Then what about this, Gailardia Galan Gardios? Guy: (!) Van: Mankind knew-through the Score-of Hod's destruction, and still did nothing! Guy: But... Van: My feelings have not changed. If you will aid me, I would gladly welcome you. My promise still stands. Luke: What promise...? What's he talking about, Guy? Guy: Well... Van: My family has served House Gardios for generations. When we were reunited under Duke Fabre, we swore revenge for the destruction of Hod. A crash can be heard from outside. All: (!) Legretta: He's here. Asch comes in. Natalia: Asch! Van: It's about time, Asch. With your hyperresonance, together we will create a new world order. Asch: No! If you need hyperresonance, then use that replica there! Van: That inferior product? He can't even control a complete hyperresonance on his own. Luke: (!) Van: He was merely a pawn to make the Order think history was following the Score. Tear: Take that back! Van: Tear, open your eyes. With the Sephiroth out of control, your efforts with this refuse are meaningless. Legretta runs towards Tear, who pulls out a knife and readies to attack. Van: It's all right, Legretta. They pose no threat. Jade: Tear, put away your weapon. The odds are against us here. Guy: Yeah. We wouldn't escape from this one unharmed. We can't die here, even if he dies with us. We still have to lower the Outer Lands. Asch: Van. We'll both withdraw. Legretta: Is that all right, Commandant? Van: Improving Asch's mood could be beneficial. Legretta: The Commandant has spoken. Now leave. The party leaves the lab. Natalia: Asch... Thank you for saving us at Baticul. Luke: Yeah, we're only here because of you. Asch: Don't get me wrong. I only saved you because the Fon Master told me to. Anise: Ion told you to?! Asch: I have something for you. Come to the inn. Asch walks off. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Van's Plan' [SK225] | | Luke: Master Van's trying to free the world from the Score...? | Tear: There's not much point in that if the world's destroyed in the | process! | Jade: Certainly not. He's oversimplifying things. He's treating the | Score as the source of all the world's problems. | Guy: Though it is true that people have died for the sake of the | Score. | Natalia: But that's no reason to sacrifice more lives! | Anise: Of course not! | Tear: In any case, he's a danger to all of Auldrant. We have to stop | him. | Luke: Master Van said he needed Asch for his plans, not me... Heh heh. | Rejected again. I'm useless. | Tear: Luke... | Luke: Don't worry, Tear. It's not like I didn't know. Let's go see | what Asch has to say. I don't like him, but for now, we need | his help. | Natalia: Yes, let us head for the inn. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Friends...?!' [SK226] | | Luke: I can't figure out whether Asch is on our side or not... | Mieu: But he helped you so much! | Luke: Well, yeah...but he keeps so many secrets. | Mieu: He is a mystery... | Luke: I wonder if he's going to come with us. | Mieu: Do you want him to? | Luke: No way! ...is what I'd like to say, but... ...Given what we're | trying to do, I guess it might be better to have him along. | Mieu: So why don't you just ask him to be friends? | Luke: No way! And I mean it on that one! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads towards the inn, but stops for a bit on the way. Luke: Hey, Guy, about what Master Van was saying to you... Guy: Hmm? Ah, that... Luke: The reason you attacked me because of the curse slot was.... Guy: ...Yeah. What Van said was true. I used to be on his side. But...not anymore. Our objectives are no longer the same. Tear: And you want us to believe that? Jade: You know we're a suspicious lot. Anise: Yeah! Natalia: Stop that! When we had all given up on Luke, Guy alone went back for him. Will you try to deny even that? Jade: It could just be part of his plan. Luke: (!) Guy: I won't demand you trust me. If you think I'm Van's spy, then I'll leave. That's all there is to it. Luke: ...I... I'll trust you, Guy. Guy: Are you sure? Luke: ...Well, I mean, I want you to trust me. To believe that I can change. I want you to watch me. Guy: ...I see. Natalia: Despite being from a nation that views mine as an enemy, Guy did his best to encourage me and cheer me up. I cannot believe that was an act to deceive us! Tear: I don't distrust Guy. If my brother intended to use Guy as a spy, he'd have hidden it more skillfully. Jade: I agree. I merely expressed distrust as a matter of formality. Anise: ...If you're that soft and naive, one of these days you're going to seriously regret it. Oh, well. Don't say I didn't warn you. Guy: Hah hah. Well, whatever works for you guys. I'm glad to be part of the team. Luke: And I'm glad you're with us. Guy...I trust you, okay? Guy: ...Yeah. I know. The party heads into the inn and speaks with Asch. Luke: Noelle! You're okay! Noelle: Yes. Asch rescued me. Luke: Asch...? Mieu: Thank goodness! Noelle: But the Albiore's ability to fly was sealed at Daath. Tear: What? If you can't fly, how did you get here? Noelle: It could still travel over water, so I managed with that. Guy: They probably removed the flightstone-the fonstone that controls the hover drive. Luke: So we can't fly until we get that back? Guy: Yeah. The Albiore's just a ship for the moment. Asch: Ion asked me to give this to you. Asch hands Jade a book. Jade: This is a history of the Dawn Age. It's one of the Order's forbidden texts. Anise: Forbidden texts are those the Order designated as harmful and gathered up, right? Jade: Correct. And this is a very old one at that. Asch: Ion said you'd find it useful in lowering the Outer Lands. Jade: It will take time to read it. Can we save the talk for tomorrow? Guy: Sure. You're probably the only one of us who could make sense of it, anyway. Luke: We're counting on you, Jade. Jade: Then I'll see you tomorrow morning. Obtained Genesis of the World. The night passes, and Luke oversleeps. Luke: Where'd everybody go? Mieu: You didn't wake up, Master, so they all left. Luke: They could have woken me up... Luke heads out of the room to the party. Asch: ...You sure sleep enough. Sooner or later, your brain is going to melt. Luke: ...And sooner or later, your face is going to freeze into that sneer. Asch & Luke: (angry) Tear: I can't believe my brother wants to remake the world with replicas. Is he insane...? Anise: ...Phew! I didn't expect to run into the Commandant here. That was startling! And he's using the Oracle Knights like they're his own private army. Who does he think he is? Guy: Van's watched over and protected me. Van's father and Pere were the sword and shield of the House of Gardios. It was kind of like how you and I are. Natalia: I can't forgive Van, even if he is Tear's brother. I can't believe how insulting he is to you. Luke: Jade! Did you learn anything? Jade: Yes. It seems the cause of the Qliphoth's liquefaction lies in the core. Natalia: The center of the planet, where memory particles form? Jade: Yes. It should be at rest, but it's vibrating violently. That's likely the cause of the liquefaction. Tear: The why didn't the people of Yulia City do something about the core shaking? Luke: Maybe because it's not in the Score? Jade: Partly. The primary reason was that the shaking is caused by the Planet Storm. Luke: The Planet Storm... That's that artificial planetary fuel distribution system, right? Tear: That's right. You remembered. The memory particles from the core pour out of the first Sephiroth-the Radiation Gate. And they return to the core through the second Sephiroth-the Absorption Gate. That's the Planet Storm that forms the planet's fuel. Natalia: Dr. Southern-Cross proposed the Planet Storm during the Dawn Age. Jade: They likely didn't have any idea that the Planet Storm would cause the core to vibrate. And, in fact, it probably didn't, originally. But over a long period of time, distortions developed, and the core began to vibrate. Anise: Even Dr. Southern-Cross didn't predict the core's vibration...? Jade: The only way to stop the shaking is to stop the Planet Storm. But stopping the Planet Storm would drastically weaken both fontech and fonic artes. The passage rings supporting the Outer Lands would also stop completely. Luke: Then there's nothing we can do... Jade: Actually, we just need to stop the core's vibrations while maintaining the Planet Storm. Luke: Can we do that? Jade: This forbidden text contains some ideas. Tear: But it was sealed away because it contradicts Yulia's Score? Jade: Correct. All we can do is fix the liquefaction and lower the Outer Lands. Granted, we will need to reconstruct the fon machine from the text. We'll need the help of the researchers in this city. Asch: But the people in this city are all connected with Father and Van. Luke: ...F...Father?! Asch: ...What? What's so funny?! Anise: What do you know? Asch really is a young noble. (heart) Asch goes to leave. Natalia: Asch! Where are you going?! Asch: ...For a walk! Fill me in later. For now, go figure out what you're going to do! Asch leaves. Anise: Uh, oh, made him mad. Heh heh. Whoops. (heart) Jade: My, my, he has some soft spots after all. Natalia: Honestly! Stop teasing him! Tear: If what Asch says is true, then won't it be difficult to gain the researchers' help...? Guy: No, there's a way. Look for a researcher named Hencken. Luke: What do we do when we find him? Guy: You'll see. (heart) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Tear's Secret' [SK230] | | Anise: Hmm? What's that, Tear? | Tear: Aah! | Anise: Hey, did you just hide something? | Tear: D-don't look! | Anise: Oh, come on. What is it? ...Oh, it's a rappig doll... | Tear: N-no! I just...I found it at a shop. It's not like I thought it | was cute or anything. It's just...I...you | know...it's...um...well... Anise...please don't tell anyone. | Anise: Don't worry, I'm great at keeping secrets. You know what? I'd | just love to have some chiffon cake... | Tear: ...I'll buy you some the next time I see it. | Anise: I love you, Tear! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Light at the End of the Tunnel' [SK227] | | Luke: If we can stop the core's vibration like Jade said, then | everybody will be all right! | Guy: It looks like we're finally making some progress. | Natalia: Yes. If we can solve the miasma issue and the collapse of the | Outer Lands, all that will be left are the disputes between | Kimlasca and Malkuth. | Luke: Though those may be difficult too... Are you up to it, Natalia? | Natalia: To be honest...I don't know... | Guy: Well, at least they aren't at war anymore. The rest, we can save | for later. | Luke: Yeah. Right now, let's go look for that researcher Hencken. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads back to Fon Machine lab 1 and meets up with Hencken and Cathy. Hencken: You want us to take on a secret job? Out of the question. Cathy: God-General Dist is in charge here. If he found out, there's no telling what would happen... Guy: Oh, well, I guess I'll leave building the contents of this forbidden text to Iemon's group in Sheridan. Hencken: What?! Iemon?! Cathy: That Tamara and her cronies aren't going to take another Dawn Age fon machine from us! Hencken: ...O-okay. If that's how it is, we'll take on your job. Anise: Huh? What? Why are you so opposed to the guys in Sheridan? Cathy: We've been rivals in fon machinery research since our days at the Royal Academy. Hencken: We of Belkend's "Class I" are at 99 wins, 99 losses against Sheridan's "Class M." I won't lose anymore! Luke: Guy, you knew about this? Guy: The rivalry between Class I and Class M is famous among fon machine buffs. Hencken: We should get the governor on our side, or information might leak to Dist. Tear: But the governor is currently our enemy. Cathy: Don't worry. Leave that to us. Hencken: All right, let's go, Cathy! Hencken and Cathy leave. Natalia: ...There they go. Jade: *Sigh* I suppose we'll explain our plan in front of the governor. The party heads to the Governor's residence. Viridian: Master Luke! Cathy: Relax. The governor is going to help us. Viridian: I've been ordered to search for Master Luke and Princess Natalia. I just can't seem to find them. That's all. Understand? Hencken: Oh, please. You're as excited as anyone about that forbidden text. Jade: Either way suits us. We'll explain what's happened so far. Go ahead, Guy. Guy: Me?! Oh, all right... Guy explains. Viridian: I see. That's some story. It's hard to believe... Cathy: What are you talking about? Rugnica's already gone! Hencken: We'll first need to measure the frequency of the core's vibration. Luke: How do we do that? Jade: By inserting a measuring device through a passage ring into a Sephiroth Tree. So we'll need a Sephiroth that we haven't lowered yet. Mieu: Shurrey Hill and the Zao Ruins are both in the Qliphoth now. Tear: Shall we ask Grandfather in Yulia City? Natalia: We need the Albiore to fly if we're going back to the Qliphoth. Luke: Oh, yeah. It can't fly right now. We could take the Yulia Road. Anise: Then let's go to Daath. Ion might know where the Sephiroth are, too. Luke: The Sephiroth will be closed with a Daathic seal. We'll need to take Ion. Hencken: We'll build the measuring device here. Guy: Thanks, we're counting on you. We'll head to Daath in the meantime. The party leaves the governor's residence. Luke: ...Wh-what was that about? Asch walks up to the party. Asch: Spinoza just ran away. Hencken: Spinoza? What was he doing? Jade: ...I'd say he was eavesdropping and is now going to report what he heard. Cathy: Spinoza's not that kind of man! Anise: You can't judge a book by its cover. Asch: ...Were you talking about something you wouldn't want overheard? Natalia: They're going to secretly rebuild the fon machine from the forbidden text. Luke: We're going to bring Ion here in the meantime. Asch: (?) Asch: ...At any rate, we just need to catch Spinoza, right? I'll find him. Natalia: Asch! You're helping us! Luke: Then let's look for him together! Asch: D-don't get me wrong! I want to ask Spinoza something myself. I'm just helping you on the side. I do not intend to get friendly with you people and that replica! Luke: Don't be stupid! We don't know where he went. And you'll need a vehicle! Asch: Enough! Just go get Ion! Asch walks off. Luke: Okay, that does it! I'm going to find Spinoza before that jerk does! Cathy: Don't talk about him like that. He reminds me of a young Iemon. He's probably shy and lonely. Hencken: Humph. That makes him all the worse. Listen, Luke. Spinoza will try to leave the country by ship. You find him before that Asch does! Luke: Of course! Tear: ...Just so you don't forget, bringing Ion here is what's important. Luke: I-I know that! We still can take a quick look around the cities along the way, right? Jade: *Sigh* You pick strange things to be stubborn about. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `I Won't Lose to Asch!' [SK228] | | Luke: That Asch... He really gets on my nerves! | Natalia: What do you mean? He's helping us. | Luke: Then why didn't he come with us?! I invited him! | Natalia: Well... | Luke: There's no way I'm going to let him find Spinoza before me! Come | on, Natalia! | [Luke leaves.] | Natalia: It seems they both share a certain...stubbornness +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Opt not to go to Daath right away, and look for Spinoza. The party heads toward the Fourth Stone Monument, and run into Asch and Noir. Asch: ...I see. So he obtained a forged Daath passport. Noir: It looks like he boarded a boat for Keterburg. Asch: Okay. You return to Belkend and check on the researchers. Noir: My, you're so demanding. Noir starts to walks off. Noir: That boy sure knows how to make a woman happy. (heart) Natalia: Wh-what?! Noir: Hee hee hee hee. Don't get jealous. Noir leaves. Asch: Humph. It's about time you got here. Luke: We came straight here! How did you get here?! Asch: I took a ship, stupid. How else? Luke: (vein) Asch: Forget about Spinoza and go get Ion. Asch leaves. Luke: She said Spinoza headed for Keterburg, right? Tear: ...Don't say you're going to chase Spinoza after we've come all the way here. Natalia: I think we SHOULD chase him. ...That Asch, I can't believe he's with a woman like that... Tear: (sweatdrop) Tear: *Sigh* Fine... ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:KE2} \ >>> Keterburg \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Urushi: You guys is looking for Spinoza, right? Asch tells me, he says, "You see them, you tell them to go to Daath." Tear: He knew exactly what you'd do. Luke: ...Shut up. Urushi: I been watching the place, 'cause Spinoza lived here once. He ain't come by, though. His house got torn down, so I guess the guy might head for Grand Chokmah. Guy: So, we're going there next? Luke: Yeah. Jade: *Sigh* The party looks around a bit. As they leave, they see Asch and Urushi. Urushi: He wrote a letter here and then got on a ship for Grand Chokmah. Asch: A letter? To whom? Urushi: I don't know. It's already on the freighter. Asch: Tch. Fine. Join up with Noir in Belkend. Urushi: You got it. Urushi leaves, and Asch heads towards the party. Asch: ...Are you still wandering around here? Stop being stupid! Natalia! That means you, too! Go to Daath! Now! Asch leaves. Luke: You don't have to shout. Tear: ...Yes. I'm the one who feels like shouting. Luke: ...Yeah. Sorry... Guy: He says he's sorry, but he's really headed for Grand Chokmah. Jade: I think you might be right. Anise: When are we going to get to see Ion?! *Sigh* ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:GC2} \ >>> Grand Chokmah \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ York: Our people have the port covered. We'll guide the ship to the target location. Asch: Good. Then we'll capture him. Luke: Aww... After all that, I still lost... Asch: This wasn't a contest, you inferior replica! Luke: ...Stop calling me inferior! Natalia: He's right, Asch. You don't need to speak like that. Asch: ...Humph. Even you're siding with him? Natalia: I didn't say that! Jade: Perhaps you could continue this terribly entertaining lovers' quarrel on our way to Daath? Asch: ...This what?! Natalia: Colonel! Jade: Fine. Call it whatever you like. Spinoza's been found. Let's leave the rest to Asch. Tear: I agree. Luke: (angry) Guy: Hah hah. Are you still mad you didn't find Spinoza? York: I'll give you a present for trying so hard. Obtained Dark Wings Badge. Luke: What's this? York: Our crew will help you as long as you have this. Give it a try sometime. Luke: Oh. Okay. Thanks. Anise: Can we finally head to Daath? I'm dead from getting dragged around everywhere. Luke: Sorry, Anise. Everyone. Jade: To Daath it is, then. Fourth Stone Monument. Anise: We're here! I can see the cathedral! (music note) Tear: It took a while to get here. Jade: Well, a certain someone decided to take the scenic route. Luke: Okay, okay, enough already. Natalia: But it's true. Guy: Yeah. I can't back you up on this one. Mieu: I can't defend you, Master. Luke: Don't you start in on me, too! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- [Note: you can decide not to go after Spinoza, and teleport to Daath.] -TODO;section, if any? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:DA3} \ >>> Daath \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party heads to the cathedral. Luke: This time we need to make sure Mohs doesn't catch us. Natalia: Mohs should still be in Baticul. Jade: Yes. But the Six God-Generals could still be here. Tear: We should be careful. Anise: ...Papa, Mama, I'm sorry. Luke: What? Did you say Papa? Anise: Oh, uh...I just thought if we ask my parents, we might find out about the Six God-Generals. Guy: Oh, that's right, your parents live here. Luke: So let's go visit them. The party goes to the chamber Anise's parents have. Oliver: Anise! We heard you've been working hard at the job Ion's given you. We're so proud. Anise: Papa, Mama, do you know what those Six God-General fools are up to? Pamela: Now, now, Anise, that's not very polite. Anise: Booo. Oliver: Hah hah hah. Pouting won't get you anywhere, Anise. Anise: Anyway, so what are the Six God-Generals and Grand Maestro Mohs doing? Oliver: Mohs, Largo and Dist went to Baticul. Pamela: Legretta is currently inspecting Belkend. Oliver: Sync headed to the Radiation Gate. Pamela: We heard that Arietta will be returning from the Absorption Gate. Luke: Oh, hey, then the place is empty right now. Tear: Let's go get Ion while that's still the case. Natalia: Yes. Jade: Where is Fon Master Ion? Pamela: He was in the library, but he should be returning to his room about now. Guy: Okay. Let's go see Ion. The party heads straight for Ion's room. Ion: Oh! You're all safe! Luke: It's because you sent Asch to help. Ion: No, Asch deserves the credit for acting so quickly. By the way, what brings you back here? Anise: We need your help, Ion! Jade: Guy will explain. Guy: ...Me again? Guy explains. Ion: So, you need to measure the core's vibration frequency. The Sephiroth I know of are the Absorption Gate and the Radiation Gate. They already made me remove the Daathic seals from both. Jade: Those are the start and end points for the Planet Storm. I doubt they'll be good for measurement. Luke: So what do we do? If we're going to ask in Yulia City, we'll have to use the Yulia Road or get the flightstone back. Ion: Unfortunately, Dist took the flightstone. Natalia: That's a problem. And you don't know the location of any other Sephiroth? Ion: I can't be certain, but there's something Legretta said onboard the Tartarus. "With the bridge out, we'll have to leave the Tataroo Valley Sephiroth for later." Guy: Oh yeah. I remember learning that the Ispanian Peninsula had a Sephiroth. Tear: Tataroo Valley also had selenia flowers in bloom. They tend to cluster around fon slots. Ion: It's worth taking a look, but the Daathic seal hasn't been unlocked. I've finished what I need to do here, so I'll assist you. Luke: Thanks. Then let's all go. The party goes to leave the cathedral when Luke hears Asch's voice again. Luke: Oww...Not again... Tear: Luke, are you okay?! Asch: ...It's about time you heard me, reject! Luke: Asch... Asch: I have bad news. Spinoza sent Van word of the plan to stop the core. The God-Generals got in my way and took Spinoza. Luke: What?! Asch: Spinoza barely knew anything, and they still took him. Stopping the core may interfere with their plans. Luke: What about Hencken and Cathy?! If Van knows... Asch: Relax. I put them on a freighter to Sheridan. Pick up the frequency counter there. Luke: What are you going to do? Asch: I'm going to keep looking for Spinoza and investigating the meaning to the core vibration. This is the last time I'll communicate with you. Asch's voice goes away. Natalia: Luke! What did Asch say?! Luke: ...Spinoza informed Van of our plan. Hencken and Cathy have fled to Sheridan. Jade: Damn. I'm responsible for this... Guy: It's not your fault. Jade: I was careless to have allowed him to eavesdrop. Natalia: What about Asch? Luke: He won't contact us anymore. I guess he intends to work alone again. Natalia: Oh... I see... Guy: If the God-Generals know about our plan, we shouldn't stay here long. ...Okay, Natalia? Natalia: ...Oh. Right. I'm fine. Tear: Then let's go to Sheridan. The party goes to leave Daath when they see Pamela. Pamela: Oh! Hello, Anise. Arietta's come back. Anise: Oh, great... Pamela: You were looking for her, weren't you? I went ahead and told her you were here. Anise: Argh! Mama! Are you nuts?! Arietta comes with two ligers. Arietta: I've found you, murderers! Anise: Wait, Gloomietta, this isn't the place to start- Arietta: I hate you! I'm going to avenge Mommy! Go! The ligers go to attack the party, Jade gets his spear ready. Jade: Anise! Get Ion! Anise: Right! Arietta: I'm not giving Ion to you! Pamela: Fon Master, look out! Pamela attempts to guard Ion, but is taken down by the liger using some sort of electricity attack. Pamela: Aaah! Ion: Pamela! Anise: Mama?! Jade is standing behind Arietta, holding onto her. Jade: Now, call of your friends. Arietta: Ah...! But... Ion: Arietta! You know you shouldn't involve Pamela! Arietta: Ion... Stop! Come back. The ligers run past Arietta and Jade. Jade: Natalia, take care of Pamela! Natalia runs towards Pamela, Anise and Ion. Natalia: Right! Pamela: Ion...are you hurt...? Ion: I'm fine. Thank you, Pamela. Pamela: If I was able to protect you, then I have no regrets... Guy has been watching this scene. Once he hears Pamela's words, the screen fades and he hears a woman's voice in his head. Woman: Guy, look out! If I was able to protect the heir to House Gardios, then I have no regrets... Guy drops to his knees. Guy: ...I...remember! Back in Anise's parent's chamber. Oliver: Thanks to you, Pamela's burns have nearly healed. Natalia: I'm glad I made it in time. Ion: Pamela, thank you. I'm so sorry. Pamela: You are too kind, Fon Master. Don't worry about me. What about Guy? He looked unwell. Anise: Honestly, Mama! You're the one who almost died! Oliver: Mama will be fine. You should go check on Guy. He's your friend, isn't he? Anise: ...Okay, but make sure you stay in bed until you're better. Tear: Guy's in the chapel. Let's go. Luke: ...Yeah. Take care, Pamela. Pamela: Thank you. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Arietta's Changed' [SK231] | | Anise: I'd like to thank you all for saving Mama. | Natalia: I'm glad her injuries weren't worse. | Anise: Thanks... | Ion: Allow me to thank you as well. | Natalia: Not at all. It is because you convinced Arietta to leave that we | were able to get to Pamela in time. | Luke: It's our fault for getting her caught up in it in the first | place. Sorry, Anise. | Ion: But Arietta was never one to hurt others so recklessly... | Anise: Ever since she lost her place as Fon Master Guardian...she's | changed. | Ion: Yes, she has... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads to the chapel. Jade: How's Pamela? Luke: She's okay now. Anise: What happened to Arietta? Jade: I turned her over to Maestro Tritheim as Ion advised. Though I imagine she'll be set free as soon as any of the God-Generals return. Anise: That little whiny, gloomy brat... Luke: Guy...are you okay? It sounded like you remembered something... Guy: ...Yeah. Sorry for startling you. Tear: May we ask what you remembered? Guy: My memory of when my family was killed. The scene flashes back to Guy's childhood in Hod, where three blonde women are in the room and he's hiding in the fireplace. Mary: Listen, Gailardia. You must survive to carry on House Gardios. Hide here. Don't make a sound. Guy: Mary! Screams can be heard from outside. Mary: Shh! The Kimlascan army is here. Stay quiet. Duke Fabre: Any fonist is a threat! Women, children, anyone! Show no mercy! Soldier: Move! Mary: No! Leave this place at once, serf! Soldier: Then I'll make you move! Mary: Aaaaaah! Guy: Mary! Guy comes out of the fireplace as Mary is taken down by the soldiers. Mary: Guy! Look out! The scene fades back to Daath... Guy: My sister shielded me when I was about to be killed. And not just her. All of the maids protected me, too. I was buried under their bodies, unconscious and covered in blood. When Pere rescued me, my memory was already gone. Jade: So, your female phobia is the result of emotional scarring from that incident. Guy: How pathetic. They gave their lives to protect me, and I just remember them as "scary"... Luke: Don't beat yourself up like that. You were just a kid, Guy. An army invaded your home and killed people right in front of you. Anyone would be scared. Natalia: Luke's right. And I made fun of that fear... I'm sorry. Anise: ...I'm sorry. Tear: I must apologize as well. I'm truly sorry. Guy: ...Come on, I'd forgotten all about it. You all don't have anything to apologize for. Don't worry about it. Jade: Guy, how do you feel? All right to move? Guy: Of course. Jade: Then let's get away from Daath. We're not in any shape to face the God-Generals again. Ion: Yes. We were headed for Sheridan, weren't we? Guy: Yeah. I'm fine, but I'm worried about Hencken and Cathy. Luke: Don't push yourself too hard, Guy. Guy: I'm not. Let's go. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SH3} \ >>> Sheridan \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party meets up with the Dark Wings. Noir: Oh, my, fancy meeting you kids here. Luke: Y-you! The Dark Wings! Urushi: Well, I guess as long as we're helping Asch, we're bound to run into you all, too. Natalia: Just what is your relationship to Asch? York: He hired us. Noir: Don't get jealous now, little lady. (heart) Natalia: (angry) York: We just finished bringing a couple of researchers from Belkend. Noir: Try not to irritate Asch, would you? (heart) He always takes it out on us. (heart) Noir pushes Luke and Guy aside, then York and Urushi follow her. Luke: ...Um, shouldn't we be arresting these guys? Tear: But they're working for Asch. They're probably the circus people who roused the citizens in Baticul to let Natalia escape. Anise: The old lady has been helping us out. Jade: I suppose we'll have to let them go again for now. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Dark Wings...' [SK233] | | Guy: We keep running into those Dark Wings, don't we? | Luke: Yeah, in the beginning, they always got in the way, but now | they're helping us out... It's weird. | Jade: At the moment, though, they're the only connection we have to | Asch, so they may be useful in keeping track of what he's doing. | Anise: Maybe, but I don't like them. | Natalia: True, they aren't very likeable, but it would be nice to know | about Asch. | Jade: The Dark Wings could turn out to be our next adversary, of | course. | Anise: Yeah, those money-grubbing fiends! They'll do anything for the | stuff! | Jade: Sounds just like you, Anise. | Anise: Booo. Money-grubbing? Cute little me? No no no. I don't "grub" | money. I love it. Love love love! (heart) | Natalia: Love! How sweet. (music note) | Anise: Yeah, isn't it? | Luke: Something sounds really wrong here. | Guy: I think we're better off not asking... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Guy's Past' [SK232] | | Luke: Wow, Guy has a pretty painful past... | Tear: Yes. Losing one's family like that would leave a scar on | anyone's mind. | Natalia: And we treated his condition so lightly... | Anise: Yeah, joking about it and all... I guess that was pretty mean. | Guy: Don't worry about it! Like I said, even I had forgotten about | it. It's not that big a deal. | Jade: Indeed, Guy seems to be quite fond of women. | Guy: Yeah. | Jade: So go ahead and play with him all you want. | Guy: I don't know about that... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads to the meeting room and sees Tamara and Cathy by the door. Tamara: Oh, it's you! Cathy: Did you hear? Thanks to Spinoza- Luke: Yeah, we heard. Guy: I'm glad to see you weren't hurt, Cathy. Cathy: Oh, my! I've got a handsome young man like this worried about me... Tamara: Honestly, Cathy, I take my eyes off you for one minute and you're already charming the boys... Guy: ...Um, wait, I didn't mean... Tear: By the way, what are you two doing here? Cathy: Ah...we're getting a little sick of the Class I vs. Class M rivalry. Tamara: You'll see if you go inside. The party goes into the meeting room. They see Hencken, Aston and Iemon arguing. Hencken: ...It's because you're so cold-hearted that you wound up lowering your GPA! Iemon: Shut up! You're the one whose friend betrayed him. If you're going to whine, then get out! Aston: Yeah! Yeah! Hey, it's you! Hencken: Hey! We finished the frequency counter for the vibration. Aston: With my help, I might add. Hencken: All you did was lend me some tools. Guy: They're sure lively for their age... Tear: Please. Stop fighting. Jade: I'll take the frequency counter. Jade walks up to Hencken and takes the frequency counter. Iemon: I've heard what you're trying to do. You're going to apply the same frequency to cancel the shaking, right? Hencken: It'll be hard to make a device that can stand the pressure of the core and produce enough of a vibration. Aston: Heh heh heh. Let Sheridan's Class M handle that. We'll build you something strong. Hencken: Only Belkend's Class I could make a calculation device capable of emitting vibrations in all directions. Iemon: Are you scheming to get the 100th win first? Natalia: Is this really the time to be worrying about that?! Auldrant is in danger! "Class I" and "Class M" are completely unimportant! Ion: She's right. This project would be easy if you worked together. Anise: You're old enough to know better. Show some maturity, would you? Iemon: ...We'll build the outer shell from the device to stop the core from shaking... Hencken: Leave the calculation device to us! Luke: Class I, Class M. We're counting on you. Tear: We should head for the Tataroo Valley. Obtained Frequency Counter. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Class M and Class I' [SK234] | | Tear: It looks like the construction of the device to neutralize the | core vibration is in good hands. | Ion: In the meantime, we need to visit Tataroo Valley to measure the | vibration frequency. | Guy: With Class I and Class M working together, they may actually | finish before we get back. | Ion: Yes, they certainly are very skilled. | Tear: But they're always fighting... | Ion: Oh, I'm sure that's only because they like each other. | Tear: Do you think so? | Guy: Yeah. Just like you and Luke. | Tear: ...... | Guy: Sorry! Sorry! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:TAT} \ >>> Tataroo Valley \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: I didn't see anything like a Sephiroth the last time we were here. Tear: It was at night. We may have missed something. Anise: Ohh? Night? In a place like this? Just the two of you? Natalia: Luke! You never told me you and Tear had that sort of relationship! Luke: W-wait a minute! What are you talking about?! It wasn't like that. We got blown out of the manor in Baticul and-- Tear: The very idea is absurd. What are you doing? Come on. Luke: ....Now I'm mad. Guy: Damn, that was cold... Jade: Yes, it was. Guy: You sound like you're having fun, Colonel. Jade: More than you could ever imagine. Guy: ...You're horrible. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Where It All Began' [SK235] | | Luke: It all started right here, didn't it... | Tear: Yes... I felt sorry at the time for accidentally involving you. | Luke: "At the time"...? How about now? | Tear: If you had stayed like you were then, I probably wouldn't have | felt that way for long. | Luke: Yeah... I really was a stupid, spoiled brat back then. | Tear: And you aren't now? | Luke: Um...am I? | Tear: I wonder... | Luke: Heh... I remember how much I hated it all back then. Thrown out | into the middle of nowhere, this annoying girl telling me what | to do... But now I'm glad it happened. If it hadn't been for | coming here, I probably would've lived the rest of my life as | an idiot. | Tear: Indeed. | Luke: Hey, you don't have to agree with me! | Tear: Hee hee. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes to the field of selenias. Luke: They don't bloom during the day, huh. Tear: Right. Selenia flowers bloom at night. Luke: ...The view here kind of reminds me of myself. I'm standing in the same place as before, but I'm not the same as I was then. Tear walks up to Luke. Tear: ...You've grown? Luke: Do you think I have? Tear: Yes. Luke: Really?! Tear: Of course. Human beings grow new cells in their body every day. ...That was a joke. Come on, let's go. Luke: You know, you're starting to sound like Jade. The party goes into a cave and finds another concentration of fonons. Anise: Hey, isn't that... Luke: Like that place in the Zao Ruins. What was it, a fon slot? Where fonons gather... Mieu: (squiggle) There's one here too! Mieu bounces over to it. Jade: Yes, a very high density of fonons. Tear: Around here, I suppose it would be the Third Fonon? Jade: Yes, probably. Luke: Mieu, any luck? Guy: The fonons carved a new fon verse in the ring, right? Mieu: Mieuuu... All: (!) Mieu: Heeeeere iiiiiiit cooooomes! Mieu is now flying. Anise: H-he's flying... Luke: Whoa! Tear: (////) Tear: How cute... Mieu: (squiggle) Master! I'm flying! I did it! Luke: Hey, let me grab on to-- Huh? Natalia: Oh my... Guy: Hah hah, that's quite the picture. The scene then shifts over to Tear holding Mieu and flying. Luke: Tear! That's not fair! Tear: I-I'm sorry... But this is so fun... Anise: Aww, me too! Me too! Natalia: I'd like to fly, too! Anise and Natalia run over to Tear and Mieu. Mieu: Mieuuuu... Guy: Hey, don't be mean to the little guy. Jade: Aww, it's not so bad. With any luck, he might come away from this an inch or two taller. Guy: Oh man... Mieu learned Mieu Wing. The party goes up to a button on the ceiling. Luke: Hey, Mieu, that thing you just did... Mieu: Mieu Wi- Anise: Mieu Wings! Mieu: Mieuuuu... Luke: ...Where can we use that, anyway? Guy: Good question, seeing as how he can't fly very high. Mieu: Mieuu... Tear: (sweating) Tear: D-don't worry, Mieu. It looks cute, and it's fun... Luke: (lightbulb) Luke: Hey, Mieu! Try flying over here! Mieu: Y-yes, Master! Mieu and Luke fly up and push the button, which opens a door. Jade: Interesting. Natalia: The door opened! Mieu: I did it! I'm being useful! Natalia: So it can be used like that, too. Anise: You know, Luke's actually pretty good at using Mieu. The party leaves the cave and walks through the valley. Anise sees something. Anise: Whoa, whoa, whoa! Tear: What's wrong, Anise? Anise: That's a legendary blue gorgonhod swallowtail! They're worth four million Gald a piece! Anise chases after it. Guy: Hey, Anise, you're going to trip. Anise: Please! Stop treating me like a child! The earth shakes violently, and Anise falls over the edge and barely holds on. Anise: Aagh! Tear: Anise! Tear and Guy run to her and pull her up. Tear: Guy?! Guy: ...Rr! Anise is pulled all the way up. Anise: Tear, Guy...thanks. Tear: I didn't really... But, Guy, you... Guy: ...I wasn't scared. Mieu: Congratulations, Guy! Luke: That's great! Natalia: I'm proud of you. Even with your past, if you hadn't saved Anise just then, I'd have lost all respect for you. Guy: ...Yeah. I'm really glad you weren't hurt because of me, Anise. Anise: Hee hee, I'm a little moved. (heart) Jade: Guy was a Malkuth aristocrat. He probably has a fortune set aside in the imperial treasury. Anise: Guy! (heart) You can propose to me anytime. (heart) Guy: ...I think I'll pass. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Cured Guy is a Nice Guy' [SK236] | | Jade: That was surprising. One would never think he was afraid of | female contact. | Natalia: I never imagined he would change so much with his memory back. | Tear: Perhaps his fear was so hard for him because he didn't know what | caused it. | Anise: Yeah...I really need to thank him. | Tear: Hopefully, he'll be able to slowly get over it. | Natalia: Yes, I hope so. | Jade: He might even be a lot closer after that little event. | Anise: Hmm, let's see... Oh, Guyyyy? | Guy: Hmm? What is it? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tear, Anise & Natalia surround Guy. Guy: Wh--uaaaah! Anise: Nope. Jade: I guess not. The party reaches a foggy area. Luke: Hey, there's something there. Is it a monster? Mieu bounces ahead a bit to speak with it. Mieu: Mieuu! Mieu mieu! A neighing can be heard from inside the fog. Jade: That cry... Anise: It's a uniceros! Ion: The sacred animal that appears in Ancient Ispanian myth?! Anise: Yeah! A legendary uniceros! If we catch it, we could get at least 50 million Gald easy! Jade: Uniceros like clean air. If you take one to a city, it may die. Anise: Ohh... Mieu: He sounds like he's suffering. Guy: Suffering? Why? The fog clears. All but Jade: (?) Jade: (...) Tear: Something's coming! Jade: It's behind us! The uniceros comes out and runs past them. Luke: Uah! Are uniceros violent?! Anise: Not at all. They're supposedly really gentle. They never attack people! Natalia: Here it comes again! Tear: Let's knock it unconscious and take a look at it. The uniceros attacks and is defeated. Tear: I'll heal it's wounds. Jade: But what do we do now? It may attack us again once it wakes up. Luke: Let's have Mieu talk to it. Mieu: Yes, Master! I'll try! The uniceros gets up. Uniceros: (!) Mieu: Mieu, mieu mieu mieu! Mieu mieu! Mieu: ...He doesn't like the miasma. Some got close to him, so he got irritated and attacked without thinking. Luke: But there's no miasma around here. Mieu: He says Tear has miasma inside her body. Tear: (!) Jade: Do you know what he means? Tear: No... Jade: (...) Guy: I don't get it. Maybe it has to do with Tear being born in the Qliphoth? The uniceros leaves. Luke: Oh, there it goes. Mieu: He was thanking Tear just now, for healing him. Tear: Oh... Natalia: The uniceros must have made a mistake. Once it realized that, it thanked her and left. Luke: I bet you're happy you didn't get kicked, huh, Tear? Tear: (...) Luke: D-don't look at me like that! It was a joke. The party goes up to the door with the Daathic seal. Ion: I'll open it. Ion breaks the seal and then almost falls over, Anise catches him. Anise: Are you okay, Ion? Ion: ...Yes, I'm just a little tired. Natalia: Tear gets the same way when she activates the passage rings. Perhaps it's a side effect of Dawn Age fon machinery and fonic artes. Ion: I don't think so... Tear: Ion, shall we rest over here? Ion: No, let's go. Luke: Don't force yourself, Ion. If you're not feeling good, say something. Ion: Thank you, Luke. The earth shakes again as the party goes further in. Luke: Did another place fall?! Or is it... Jade: Yes, it may be the Tree's instability due to the out of control Sephiroth. Natalia: These earthquakes have become more frequent. Guy: I feel sick every time there's an earthquake. They remind me we're floating in mid-air. Tear: I hope we can make the land safe again soon. The party reaches the passage ring, Tear walks up to the device, but it doesn't react this time. Guy: It's not reacting when Tear gets close. That must mean... Ion: It's the same as Shurrey Hill. The Yulian seal hasn't been unlocked. Luke: I guess we'll have to go look for it. It's kind of a pain... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Over Two Thousand Years' [SK238] | | Jade: Hmm... | Luke: What is it, Jade? | Jade: The monsters in these structures that protect the Sephiroth seem | to share a particular characteristic. | Luke: Huh? | Tear: At Shurrey Hill and the Zao Ruins, there were a lot of golems | and other artificial monsters. | Jade: They have spent two thousand years in here, after all... Living | creatures would have difficulty finding food for such a long | time. | Luke: Two thousand years... All that time, protecting the Sephiroth? | And here we are, just barging in... | Tear: ...One could feel a certain pity for them. But we can't worry | about that. There won't be much point to our efforts if | monsters get us now. | Luke: Yeah...I know. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party breaks the Yulian seal and then heads back. Ion: The Yulian seal's been unlocked. Now it should respond to Tear. Guy: If this happens again, we should probably check the devices in the area. The device responds and the glyph shows. Tear: My brother hasn't been here yet... Natalia: Does this mean anyone who can use the Seventh Fonon can control it? Jade: No, the control panel is dormant. Probably because we ignored Van's code when we used the passage rings at Shurrey Hill and the Zao Ruins. The passage rings in other lands, connected in parallel considered Luke and intruder. So they executed an emergency shut down. Guy: Then we can't control it? Jade: I think it'll work if Luke carves the commands into it with his hyperresonance. Luke: Brute force, huh. So, what should I do? Jade: For measuring the vibration frequency, nothing. But considering the future, we should probably set things up to lower the land. Luke: Should I write something? Luke raises his hands and uses his hyperresonance. Jade: Draw a line between the fourth Sephiroth and here-the sixth Sephiroth. Bypass the fifth Sephiroth. That's Akzeriuth. There's no point in connecting it. Also connect the first and third Sephiroth. Beside the sixth Sephiroth, write, "Tree descent. Normal speed." And then, "Activate simultaneously with the first Sephiroth descent." Luke writes all that in. Luke: What does this mean? Tear: When we lower the first Sephiroth-the Radiation Gate-that orders this passage ring to activate and lower this land as well. Jade: We'll inscribe that same order on every passage ring in the Outer Lands. Then, we'll give the descent command to the Radiation Gate. Guy: I see. Then all of the Outer Lands will descend at once. Luke: All right. Now all that's left is the vibration frequency of the core. Anise: How do we measure it, Colonel? Jade: It's simple. Touch the counter to the center fonstone. Guy: I'll do it. Guy takes the counter and touches it to the fonstone. Guy: Is this all? Jade: Yes. Anise: Booooring. I got all worked up for nothing. Jade: I'm afraid it wasn't designed for entertainment. Ion: Let's return to Sheridan. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `To Sheridan!' [SK237] | | Natalia: Things went more smoothly than I expected this time. | Tear: The passage ring seems to be working properly, too. | Guy: Did it affect you at all this time, Tear? | Tear: No, not at all. I was probably just tired before. | Luke: Yeah... We were running through deserts and war zones, after | all. I'm glad you're fine. | Guy: Yeah. | Natalia: How about the vibration frequency measurement? Did that work | properly? | Guy: Yeah, looks like it. | Tear: So now we just have to give that to Iemon. | Guy: They might be ready and waiting by the time we get there. | Natalia: Then let us go! The world's future depends on us. | Tear: Right. We can't afford to fail. We'd best prepare ourselves | well. | Luke: Yeah. Time to stop the core's vibration... Let's head to | Sheridan! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SH4} \ >>> Sheridan \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party enters the Sheridan meeting hall. Iemon: Good to see you back Luke: Here are the measurements. Tamara: We're currently modifying the Tartarus. Jade: The Tartarus? Cathy: Even the fall into the Qliphoth couldn't break it. It's perfect for a trip to the core. Jade: The Tartarus is certainly proving itself useful. Iemon: It will still take some time, though. You should go relax in town. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Tartarus' Final Job' [SK239] | | Anise: So we're using the Tartarus to stop the core's vibration? | Jade: It was originally a warship, but this certainly seems like a | more meaningful use for it. | Anise: I hope it works | Jade: We'll have to make it work. | Jade: After all, we need a place onto which the Outer Lands can be | lowered. | Anise: I know! | Jade: Hah hah hah. Either way , it looks like this will be the | Tartarus' final job. | Anise: Yeah. Go Tartarus! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party leaves the meeting hall. Luke: Could I talk to you all for a minute? Tear: What is it? Luke: Is it really okay for us to just lower all the land on our own? Anise: What do you mean? Luke: It's a really big deal. It'll change the way the whole world works. I was thinking we should explain things to Uncle and Emperor Peony and work together. Anise, Ion & Tear: (!) Natalia: ...But we'd have to go to Baticul to do that. Luke: I think we should. Natalia: Luke... Luke: They risked their lives for us...for you Natalia. Now it's our turn to protect them. Let's persuade Uncle to salvage the peace treaty that fell apart. Shouldn't Kimlasca, Malkuth and Daath work together to lower the Outer Lands? Tear: ...Luke! You're absolutely right. Natalia: ...Please let me think for a bit. I know that's best. But...the fact remains that Father rejected me...I'm scared. I'm sorry. Natalia walks off. Jade: We'll just have to wait until Natalia is ready. The party goes to an area overlooking the sea. Natalia: ...Please let me think about this overnight. I'm such a coward, aren't I? Natalia runs off. Luke: (I guess I'll go to the inn.) The party heads to the inn. Natalia leaves the inn at dusk. Luke follows her. Luke: (Where's she going?) Natalia comes to an area overlooking the sea. Luke comes out into the open, but quickly hides again. Natalia: Who's there?! Asch walks up from about where Luke was. Natalia: Asch! What are you doing here...? Asch: I'm looking for Spinoza. What are you doing here? Natalia: I'm.. Asch: Aren't you going to Baticul? Natalia: You knew?! Asch: ...It's not like you to be scared. Natalia: Well, there are some things that frighten even me. Asch: Really? Even though you have tens of thousands of Baticul citizens as your allies? Natalia: ...I know that. Asch comes closer to her. Asch: ...Some day, when we're grown up, let's change this county. Change it so that no one has to be poor. Change it so that war never happens. Natalia: ...Let's work to change our country. For the rest of our lives. Together. Asch: ...I didn't say that because you were a princess. Your birth doesn't matter. Just do what you can. Asch walks off. Luke: (..I guess I'll go back, too) Luke heads back to the inn and sees Tear. Luke: Uh... Tear: It's not nice to eavesdrop. Luke: ...I didn't do it on purpose. And it didn't seem like the best time to interrupt them. Tear: I see. Luke: If I hadn't been born, Natalia and Asch would have... Tear: If you hadn't been born, Asch would have died at Akzeriuth as Luke. Luke: Tear... Tear: Hypothesizing about not having been born is meaningless. You're living your own life. Experiences that only you know. Feelings that only you feel. Don't deny them. You're here. Luke: ...Yeah. Thanks. The night passes, Luke meets up with the rest in front of the meeting hall. Natalia: ...I'm sorry. It's not like me to act scared like that, is it? Ion: Then, we're going to Baticul now, are we? Natalia: Yes. I will do what I can as princess of--no, as a citizen of Kimlasca. Guy: There you go. Jade: I hoped you'd say that. I wrote a letter to King Ingobert describing everything that's happened. As well as the problems with lowering the Outer Lands. Anise: Problem? Was there a problem? Tear: ...The miasma. Guy: Oh, yeah. The whole reason the Outer Lands were made was to get away from that. Jade: We'll need more than the cooperation of Sheridan to solve this problem. We'll need Grand Chokmah's fonic researchers and Yulia City. But in order to get them... Luke: We have to get Kimlasca and Malkuth to agree to peace. Natalia: Let's go to Baticul. I'll convince Father no matter what. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Natalia's Resolve' [SK240] | | Anise: I hope the King will understand. | Mieu: Me too.. | Tear: Luke and Natalia are both taking a significant risk in returning | to Baticul | Tear: I'm he will understand | Luke: We'll have to make sure he does. | Natalia: Yes. The Outer Lands will fall to the Qliphoth very soon. In | order to lower them safely, | Natalia: both countries need to cooperate, now more than ever. | Ion: Yes, they do. | Luke: Natalia, thanks for deciding to go. | Natalia: I do not have time to be worrying about the circumstances of my | birth. | Natalia: I will do what I must. | Guy: Natalia... | Mieu: Natalia, you're great! | Jade: The world will change, one way or another. People must accept | that, or they'll have no future | Anise: Yeah, this isn't the time for stupid wars! | Ion: Both countries need to take a step forward from this history of | conflict. | Guy: Absolutely | Luke: Okay, let's go! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:BA4} \ >>> Baticul \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Let's Meet With the King' [SK241] | | Luke: Now, how to get Uncle to see us... | Natalia: Barging right in would lead to unnecessary conflict. | Ion: Don't worry. If I lead the way, the soldiers should allow us | through. So let's barge in. | Luke: Okay... We're counting on you, Ion. | Natalia: Yes. | Ion: By my name as Fon Master, I will see the both of you to King | Ingobert. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party reaches the castle. Guards stop them. Soldier: Princess Natalia! You've returned! You realize what this will mean... Ion: Stop. I am Ion, Fon Master of the Order of Lorelei. I seek an audience with His Majesty. Soldier: ...Y-yes, sir! Ion: Those who accompany me come under the protection of Daath. If they are treated with any disrespect, Daath will no longer read the Score for Kimlasca. Anise: Open the way. That's an order from Fon Master Ion. Ion: Let's go. First, we must deal with those who are inciting the King to war. Luke: ...Let's go, Natalia. This time, we will convince him. Natalia: Right! The party enters the King's chambers, where they find Ingobert and Alpine. Natalia: Father! Ingobert VI: Natalia! Alpine: Wh-where are the guards?! Luke: Uncle! There's no need for guards! Natalia is your daughter! Ingobert VI: M-my daughter died years ago... Luke: No! The Natalia here before you is your daughter! Seventeen years of memories should tell you that! Tear: Luke... Luke: ...Heh. I learned that from you. Ingobert VI: Memories... Luke: So someone told you she's not your real daughter! So what? That doesn't change your memories! The memories you two share as a family belong to you alone. Ingobert VI: ...I know that. I know that! Luke: Well, then...! Natalia: It's all right, Luke. Father...Your Majesty. You may call me a criminal if you wish. But, please, stop this war with Malkuth! Ion: I won't ask why you sent emissaries to Akzeriuth. I don't even want to know. But His Majesty Peony the Ninth trusted in me as an emissary of peace. I do not intend to lose that trust for your sake. Jade: Excuse me, Your Majesty. A monarch need not suffer these youthful tirades. May I suggest we come back at a later date to hear Your Majesty's feelings. Luke: Jade! Guy: What if they hide troops to ambush us? Jade: The people of this city would turn against His Majesty. Just as before. And Fon Master Ion is here as well. We all know what Daath's response would be were the Fon Master to die. Ingobert VI: ...Are you threatening me? Jade the Necromancer. Jade: Did you think I would enter a situation like this without taking certain precautions? Jade walks up to the King, kneels before him and hands him the letter. Jade: I've written a document detailing the crisis facing the world. Ingobert VI: ...I will read it and see you in my audience chamber tomorrow. Luke: Uncle... I trust you. Natalia: Excuse us... Your Majesty. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `How Will the King Respond?' [SK242] | | Jade: Everything rests in the King's hands now. | Guy: But the longer he takes, the more problems we could have. | Anise: Yeah, I just know that Mohs is up to something! | Tear: But the King seemed uncertain. I'm sure he understands what Luke | and Natalia were saying. | Jade: I expect he's already made his decision. He just needs a little | more convincing. That's why I gave him some time. I wouldn't | worry about the outcome. | Tear: If he realizes the danger the world is in, then surely... | Jade: We'll find out tomorrow. For now, let's trust in him--in the | strength of the Lanvaldear family. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party leaves the castle. Luke looks over towards the manor. Guy: Want to drop by? Luke: No, Dad is on my uncle's side. ...I shouldn't go there now. Let's stay at an inn in the city tonight. Say, Jade, just what "precautions" did you set up on such a short time, anyway? Jade: Hmm? Luke: You know. What you threatened my uncle with. Jade: Oh, that. I was just bluffing. Guy & Luke: (...) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `An Audience with the King' [SK243] | | Luke: I'm sure Uncle will understand. | Natalia: Father has always known what truly should be done. | Ion: If he really cares about the people of Kimlasca, about Natalia, | I'm certain he'll understand. | Luke: I wonder if Mohs will get in the way, though... | Ion: Probably... | Natalia: I will not let Mohs interfere. I will convince Father, no matter | what! | Jade: Well, at any rate, the die has been cast. Now we must meet with | the King. | Natalia: Yes, let us go! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes to the inn and stays. Tear: What will you do if King Ingobert responds with force tomorrow? Luke: ...We'll persuade him. No matter what. Guy: He might not come around that easily. Natalia: Then I'll stay and convince him, even if it costs me my life. Luke: Natalia...! Natalia: I was a fool. I thought my job was to help the suffering in places like Akzeriuth and the front lines. But I was wrong. I should have stayed by Father's side and admonished him when he strayed down this errant path. Tear: Natalia. You truly are this kingdom's Princess. Natalia: I want to be. I love this country, from the bottom of my heart. The night passes. In the audience chamber... Ingobert VI: I read your documents. Your proposal seems to contradict the Score of the Sixth Fonstone. Luke: The Score is no longer useful. It started to go wrong when I was born. Ingobert VI: ...Replicas. Natalia: Father! Clinging to the Score will no longer bring prosperity! This is the moment the world's leaders will truly be put to the test. We nobles exist precisely for times like this! The royal family does not exist to live in luxury, dependent upon the Score! Ingobert VI: ...What would you have me do? Luke: Sign a peace treaty with Malkuth and allow us to lower the Outer Lands into the Qliphoth. Alpine: Unthinkable! The Malkuth Empire is our sworn enemy! Only a traitor would suggest such a thing! Mohs: Do not let them deceive you, Your Majesty. They've likely been bought by Malkuth. These are merely the ramblings of ignoble imposters... Ion: Silence. Only a fool clings solely to lineage. Jade: No one is born a princess. Only through diligence does one achieve the grace and dignity required of that title. Natalia: ...I know not whether I possess the grace of which Jade speaks. But you raised me for seventeen years. It is with great pride in that time that I say this now. Make peace and lower the land. I ask this out of love for this country. And for you, Father. Ingobert VI: ...Very well. Alpine & Mohs: (!) Luke: Uncle! Really?! Mohs: No, Your Majesty! Alpine: Don't listen to the babblings of these- Ingobert VI: Silence! Do not insult my daughter's words! Natalia: Father... Ingobert VI: Natalia. You have awakened the love and concern for this kingdom that I had forgotten. Natalia: Father... It hurt not to be the princess. But what hurt so much more... ...was not being your daughter. Ingobert VI: ...While you do not share my blood. I will never forget our time together. ...I will never forget the moment you first called me father. Natalia: Oh, Father! Natalia runs and hugs the King. Natalia received the Child of Lanvaldear title. Luke: I'm happy for you, Natalia. Guy: No, they've still got a lot of talking to do. They're going to start over as family. Natalia: ...Yes. We can't go back to when we didn't know. Anise: ...Hey, what happened to Mohs? Ion: It looks like he withdrew to Daath. I doubt he'll do anything immediately. Anise: To Daath... Luke: Okay. Let's settle things before Mohs can interfere again. Tear: Then Malkuth is next. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Natalia, I'm So Happy for You' [SK244] | | Anise: Natalia, I'm so happy for you! | Mieu: Me too! | Tear: After seventeen years together, petty things like bloodlines | shouldn't mean anything. | Natalia: Thank you. I had never thought I would be so happy to be | accepted. | Guy: You'll have plenty of time to talk things over with the King | now. | Luke: Yeah. Now that he's accepted Natalia, he's acting more like he | did before the war. | Natalia: Yes...but I doubt we can think of each other as we had before I | learned the truth. As Guy said, the coming months and years will | be important for us. | Guy: Yeah, but there's no rush. You'll have plenty of time together. | Anise: Especially now that Mohs can't get in the way again. | Tear: Yes, I think Kimlasca is safe in the King's hands now. | Guy: I hope so, anyway... | Luke: Hmm? Guy, did you say something? | Guy: No, it's nothing. Let's head for Grand Chokmah. | Luke: Yeah, let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Let's See Emperor Peony' [SK245] | | Jade: Emperor Peony shouldn't present any problem. | Ion: Yes. He's been in favor of peace since the beginning. | Anise: So let's just run in there and get the treaty taken care of! | Jade: It's not something they can just agree to. We'll need a | conference to formally sign the treaty. | Ion: Yes, let's discuss that with the Emperor as well. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:GC3} \ >>> Grand Chokmah \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party heads to the audience hall. Peony: So Kimlasca is finally ready to talk. Natalia: I ask you on the behalf of the Kingdom of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear. Forgive our aggression and consider again a peace treaty between- Peony: Hold on. Aren't you forgetting your position? Luke & Natalia: (?) Peony: Saying it like that will mean that Kimlasca has bowed down before us. ...And shame on you for not stopping her, Jade. Jade: Was it that obvious? Peony: Let's just say it's...talks to end the battle of Rugnica Plains. Where should we hold them? Jade: Daath would be most appropriate, but... Ion: Not right now. Somewhere outside Mohs' influence would be better. Luke: Tear, how about Yulia City? Tear: But that's in the Qliphoth. Are you sure? Luke: Actually, they should probably learn what the Qliphoth is like. That's where the Outer Lands are going when we lower them. Jade: True. Well then, if it pleases Your Majesty, we'd like you to travel to the Qliphoth. Peony: Anywhere is better than when I was locked up in Keterburg. I'm there. Luke: We're going to need the flightstone. Ion: And Dist has it. We'll need to ask Tritheim in Daath to find out where Dist is. Guy: Daath... Mohs is probably back by now. It's going to be dangerous. Luke: Damn it, why the hell does Dist have the flightstone? What a pain. Jade: He has a freakish obsession with fontech and fon machines. Just like Guy. Guy: Excuse me? Jade: Luke! It's not nice to compare Guy to Dist. Luke: I didn't say anything! Tear: (angry) Jade: Oh, come now, enough foolishness. Tear is glaring at you. Tear: *Sigh* +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Dist's True Identity?' [SK246] | | Luke: So we have to get the flightstone back from Dist, huh... I hope | he has it in Daath. | Jade: Indeed. We may have to face him in person to retrieve it. | Natalia: I do not like him at all. That arrogant manner, that tone of | voice... | Anise: Yeah, almost like a lizard. | Natalia: A lizard... Yes, he does seem like a lizard, doesn't he? | Anise: I bet that chair he sits on is like a lizard's tail, and when he | gets in trouble, he just snaps it off and runs away! | Natalia: Oh my! Then that chair is attached to him? | Anise: Yeah! I bet if he loses it, he grows another one! | Natalia: Then he truly is a monster... | Luke: I can't believe I'm hearing this... | Jade: Hah hah hah. Well, why not? It seems plausible enough to me. | Luke: Hey... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:DA4} \ >>> Daath \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party heads to the cathedral. A paper airplane hits Anise in the head. Anise: Oww! Who the hell did that?! Luke picks up the paper. Luke: It's a letter. ...Hey, it's from Dist! Ion: What does it say? Luke: To my hated enemies, the Jade gang: Natalia: Well! Since when did we become the "Jade gang"? Luke: I, the elegant Dist the Rose now possess the flightstone. Dist: If you want it, come to the place of our covenant. We will settle this once and for all! You're scared, aren't you? Terrified?! But no matter. You'll never get the flightstone unless you meet me here. It's not in Daath. Most definitely not! Hurry! --Dist the Rose, God-General Luke: ...He should have just said it's in Daath. What an idiot. Tear: What do you think we should do, Colonel? Jade: Ignore him. Luke's right. The flightstone is almost certainly here in Daath. Ion: But Dist told us to... Jade: The promised place he mentioned is probably Keterburg. If we ignore him, he'll just wait there and freeze solid. Guy: The poor bastard... Anise: Just in case, let's ask Tritheim whether Dist's come back or not. Luke: Yeah. In the chapel... Tritheim: Fon Master Ion! We've been looking for you! Ion: My apologies, but I'm afraid I must be away a little longer. Tritheim: What about your duties as Fon Master?! Grand Maestro Mohs left as soon as he returned, taking a regiment of Oracle soldiers to Aramis Spring... Jade: Interesting... He must be planning to close off the Yulia Road and force us to meet Dist. Tritheim: If you're leaving, at least take another five-no, ten Fon Master Guardians with you... Ion: It's difficult to move as a large group. Anise is enough. Anise: Um, say, Maestro Tritheim, what's Dist been doing? Tritheim: Conductor Dist returned here briefly, but he hurried off again somewhere. His attendant, Cantor Reiner, should know the details. Luke: Where can we find him? Tritheim: Right now, he should be training at Oracle Headquarters. Tear: Let's go talk to him. Luke: Yeah. The party goes to enter Oracle Headquarters. Soldier: Fon Master Ion! Ion: I'm here to see Cantor Reiner. Please let me through. Soldier: But...Grand Maestro Mohs said- Ion: Who is the supreme leader of this Order? Soldier: F-forgive me! Please, go in! The soldier moves so the party can get through. More soldiers try to stop them inside the Oracle headquarters. Anise: Stand down! You are in the presence of Fon Master Ion! Soldier: Locrian Colonel Dist gave orders not to let anyone through, no matter who they are. Jade: Hah hah... Soldier: Wh-what's so funny?! Jade: My apologies. I wasn't laughing at you. Soldier: No one makes fools of us! Fon Master Ion stays unharmed! Kill the rest! Luke: Whoa, here they come! The soldiers attack the party, and lose. Jade: Dist is such an idiot. Guy: About what? Jade: Strengthening security like this is like saying there's something important here. Tear: Oh, then the flightstone really is here? Jade: Most likely. Natalia: I wonder where he hid it. Ion: Reiner may know. Luke: Then let's find this Reiner guy. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Oracle Knights' [SK247] | | Jade: We'll just have to search the Oracle headquarters for Reiner. | Anise: Those Oracle soldiers keep getting in the way... | Ion: At this point, very few are left that will listen to me. If only | I had taken a firmer hand... | Anise: Booo. It's not you! It's them! They're totally ignoring their | duties! | Jade: We don't have time to persuade them. We may have to resort to | more forceful means. | Ion: Yes...we don't have much choice. | Anise: I only hope the rest of the Six God-Generals stay out of the | way... | Jade: Yes, let us pray for that. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party finds Cantor Reiner who is doing some weird exercise. Anise: There he is! That's Reiner. Luke: What's he doing? Tear: Training for promotion from the rank of Bravo to Locrian Sergeant. Ion: Let's speak to him. Reiner: Fon Master! What brings you to a place like this? Ion: Do you know of the flightstone that Dist has? Reiner: Oh, I'm keeping it for him. Tear: Why you? Reiner: I began training for Locrian Sergeant two days ago, so I can't leave here for almost a month. Therefore, he asked me to hold it for him for a while... Ion: Could you give it to me? Reiner: I'm afraid not. Even for you, Fon Master. Dist instructed me not to let go of it...even for a moment. Tear starts singing. Luke: But we really... Reiner: ...Ugh... Reiner falls to the ground. Jade takes the flightstone from him. Jade: So, now the Albiore will be back to normal. Luke: ...I kind of feel like the bad guy now. Guy: I think there's a good reason for that. Natalia: Is it truly all right for us to do this? Ion: This makes me uncomfortable. Anise: Cheer up. (heart) It's for a good cause. Tear: We're in a state of emergency. Let's go. Guy, Ion, Luke & Natalia: (...) Obtained Flightstone. The party leaves the headquarters. Luke: Now all we have to do is take everybody in the Albiore. Ion: Before we do that, I have a proposal. Natalia: What is it? Ion: Kimlasca, Malkuth, and Daath can agree to the land lowering operation. But Chesedonia is an autonomous state, not a country... Jade: They're being left out. Ion: I know they wouldn't normally have this right, but could we let Astor participate? Luke: Yeah, it was quick and informal, but he was the first to approve of the plan. I don't see any problem with that. Guy: Then let's go to Chesedonia first. We'll have Noelle take the other heads of state on to Yulia City in the meantime. Anise: Yeah, that way, we won't waste any time. Ion: Thank you, everyone. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Ion's Suggestion' [SK251] | | Ion: Thank you all for accepting my suggestion. | Luke: Don't worry about it. Besides, the refugees from St. Binah are | in Chesedonia too. They should talk about their experience. | Tear: Yes. I'm sure it would be better if both sides heard about the | lowering from one who has survived it. | Ion: Once the Outer Lands are lowered, everyone will have to live in | the Qliphoth, after all. | Luke: Yeah, exactly. And Astor deserves to hear about our plans as | well. | Tear: True. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:CH4} \ >>> Chesedonia \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Noelle: I'll return to the Outer Lands, then I'll come back for you later. Luke: Thanks. Noelle leaves, the party heads to Astor's mansion. Astor: ...I see, so that's why you've come for me. You have my deepest gratitude. Hee hee hee hee. I can offer explanations of what to look out for, the effects of the miasma and other such issues. Tear: Yes, that should be useful to hear when preparing for the descent. Luke: What effect HAS the miasma had, anyway? Have people been getting sick? Astor: Some of the children and elderly who were exposed to the miasma became bed-ridden. People from Yulia City have taken in the most critical, but they can't take in all of them... I'm also worried about our emergency food stores. They were depleted because of the war. Guy: How about petitioning the King and Emperor? Ion: Yes. Natalia: By the way, when are we leaving? Anise: Noelle won't be back for a little while yet. Jade: Let's rest at the inn. That will also give Astor time to prepare. Astor: All right. I'll cover the cost of the inn for you. Please, relax and get some rest. Luke: Thanks. We appreciate it. Later, at the inn... Tear: What is it? You look serious. Luke: Yeah... I'm worried about the miasma. All I know is that the miasma is bad for people. That's it. ...It's not going to kill everybody all of a sudden, is it...? Tear: Like I said before, it's only bad if you inhale a lot over a long period of time. But if things stay like this, then I think the population will drop 80 percent by the next generation. Luke: ...Damn it! Even if we lower the Outer Lands, it won't change a thing. Tear: That's why the peace treaty includes an agreement to jointly research the miasma. Luke: ...I know. It's just... Why can't my hyperresonance disintegrate the miasma... I hate this! I caused all of this, but I can't... Tear comes closer to Luke and kneels down before him. Tear: Settle down. You said you were going to start with what you can do, right? One person probably can't do much alone. But people can work together. I... We're with you. Luke: ...Yeah. Sorry for talking like that again. Tear: It's okay. ...I'll see you tomorrow. Good night. Tear stands up. Luke: Night. ...Thanks. Tear leaves, the night passes and Noelle has arrived. Noelle: Good morning. Luke: Noelle! Welcome back! How did it go? Noelle: Everyone is safe in Yulia City. I arrived here earlier than I expected, so I went ahead and took Astor as well. Natalia: My! You must have not been able to get any rest at all! Noelle: I'm fine. Don't worry. I took naps when I had the chance. Ion: Thank you for all your hard work. Noelle: It is an honor, Fon Master. Well then, I-I'll be standing by on the Albiore! Noelle runs off. Jade: Shall we be going to Yulia City ourselves, then? Guy: ...Yeah. It's all finally coming together. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Peace at Last...?' [SK252] | | Luke: Finally, an end to the war... | Natalia: Yes, finally. | Jade: It's unfortunate that there were casualties, but at least we | managed to get this far. | Mieu: Yeah, good job! | Anise: Now we just have to lower the Outer Lands and take care of the | miasma. | Tear: I'm a bit concerned that Van hasn't shown himself, but so far, | so good, I guess. | Ion: Yes. | Guy: Now, let's just see how things go... | Tear: What's wrong, Guy? | Luke: Is something bothering you? | Guy: Huh? Oh, nothing. Come on, let's go. | Luke: ...Okay. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:YU4} \ >>> Yulia City \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ In the conference room... Teodoro: ...The please add your signatures to this document. Teodoro: Good. With this, we conclude the formation of the peace treaty. Guy: ...Wait just one minute. Luke: Guy! Guy walks up to King Ingobert. Guy: Sorry, Luke. This is important. Shut up for a minute. Guy: (to Ingobert) You made an agreement like this after the Hod War. Can you keep it this time? Ingobert VI: This is different from Hod. That was to bring us prosperity through the Score... Guy: That's why you destroyed Hod?! There were Kimlascans there, too! Like my mother. Guy draws his sword and points it across King Ingobert's throat. Natalia: Guy! What are you doing?! Ingobert VI: Your mother...? Guy: Eugenie Cecille. You sent her to marry into House Gardios as a gesture of peace. Don't try to say you've forgotten. Duke Fabre: ...Guy. If you've come for revenge, then kill me. I'm the one who killed Countess Gardios. Because she refused to aid in the invasion of Malkuth. Luke: (!) Luke: Father! You really... Duke Fabre: It was war. You do what you must in order to prevail. ...Just as we used your death to cause the battle of Rugnica Plains. Guy: My mother at least knew what she was doing when she married into that family. But what possible reason was there to involve everyone else? To destroy Hod?! Peony: I may be the more worthy target for your blade, Gailardia Galan. Guy: ...Your Majesty? Peony: Kimlasca didn't destroy Hod. It destroyed itself. ...No...WE destroyed it. Tear: ...What are you talking about?! Peony: Fomicry research was being conducted on Hod. Jade knows what I'm talking about. Jade: With war about to begin, we shut down all of our fonic experiments on Hod. There just wasn't time to deal with the fomicry research. Peony: The previous Emperor-my father-decided to destroy the Kimlascan army, and Hod with it. Jade: I heard a test subject was connected to a device that artificially generated a hyperresonance. Guy: So that's how Hod was destroyed... Peony: My father presented the event as Kimlasca's work to quash anti-war sentiment at home. Anise: That's horrible... I feel so sorry for the test subject... Jade: Yes. The record shows he was only 11 years old at the time. You may have known him, Guy. Guy: Me? Jade: He was the son of a knight who served House Gardios. I believe their family name was Fende. Tear: You can't mean... Vandesdelca Musto Fende?! Luke: You know him, Tear? Guy: ...If he's the son of Fende, she more than knows him. And so do you, Luke. Luke: What? Guy: It's Van. Van Grants. Vandesdelca Musto Fende is his real name. Guy, Ingobert, Luke & Peony: (!) Jade: So that's how he knew about animate replication even though we sealed the information... Ion: Guy, why don't you sheath your sword for now? It's beginning to sound like you'd have to kill almost everyone in this room. Guy sheathes his sword. Guy: ...I stopped wanting revenge a long time ago. Teodoro: I never thought Van's name would come up like this. Let's adjourn this meeting for now. I trust that suits everyone here. The meeting adjourns. Night passes, and the party heads back to the conference room to speak with Teodoro. Teodoro: Both rulers have consented to entrust us with the operation to lower the Outer Lands. Regarding the matter of the miasma, I've sent a Yulia City engineer to Belkend. As for you, I want you to first stop the core's vibration. Luke: Then we should go to Sheridan and check how the preparations are coming along. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Guy's Revenge' [SK253] | | Guy: I'm sorry about that little display... I just had to clear that | up. For my sake, for the sake of Mother and Mary...for all the | people of Hod. | Anise: War really is terrible... It's so unfair! | Natalia: Yes, even for the sake of one's homeland...it's unacceptable. | Jade: Such is the nature of war. | Anise: ...... | Luke: So Master Van suffered from the war, too... | Tear: But what he's doing goes way beyond revenge! | Guy: Yeah. I used to think he was planning revenge for the war, like | me, but it looks like I was wrong. | Jade: Even if the Hod War was his original impetus, it's just an | excuse for him now. | Luke: Yeah... | Guy: As someone who's suffered the same pain, I want to do everything | I can to stop Van. We've got just a little farther to go. | Luke: Yeah. Let's get going to Sheridan! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SH5} \ >>> Sheridan \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party enters the city and heads to the meeting hall. Iemon: Hey. We finished modifying the Tartarus. Luke: Really? Fantastic! Iemon: Heh heh heh. Never underestimate the elderly. We've moored the Tartarus in Port Sheridan. Tamara: All that's left is to cross the Auldrant Sea to where Akzeriuth collapsed and dive into the core. Iemon: The Tartarus' fonic barrier will protect you from the miasma and the planet's pressure. But it exerts severe stress on the system. It'll only last about 130 hours. Luke: That isn't exactly a lot of time. Iemon: The burden is just too great. The fon machinery should hold long enough to sail to Akzeriuth and reach the core. Tamara: Also, generating a high-energy fonic barrier requires support machinery. We'll send up a flare from here once you decide to start the core breach operation. Then Aston, who's waiting at the port, will activate the fonic barrier. Guy: So, the moment we set out from this city, the countdown starts. Jade: It's five days from here to Akzeriuth in the Tartarus. We'll have to breach the core and get out in less than 10 hours... Tear: The slightest delay or mistake will be fatal. Iemon: You'll escape in the Albiore. We'll have to attach a pressure neutralizing fon machine to it. Once you begin the operation, we'll send the Albiore to the harbor. Tamara: Once the fon machine is attached, Aston will store the Albiore in the Tartarus' hold. Anise: ...So we can't use the Albiore once the operation begins. Tamara: Right. You won't be able to go to other cities to buy supplies. Make sure to take care of anything you need to before you begin. Iemon: Okay, you've heard the plan, now go get yourselves ready. Once you're all set to begin, talk to me. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Only One Chance' [SK254] | | Luke: Now we just need to take the Tartarus to the core and neutralize | the vibration. | Guy: Yeah, at last. | Jade: Our time is limited, and there's no telling what may occur once | we're underway. If there's anything you'll regret not having | done, do it now. | Anise: You don't have to put it that way! | Jade: No, I'm serious. Once the operation begins, we won't be able to | use the Albiore. | Natalia: But we have to hurry, do we not? | Jade: As they say, haste makes waste. | Tear: I think Jade is trying to say that we should be emotionally | prepared before we start... | Luke: Yeah, let's do that--so we don't have any regrets later. | Jade: Exactly. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What Class are You?' [SK257] | | Anise: Hey, can I ask a little question? What is this Class I and Class | M thing, anyway? | Guy: Oh, those? They come from the names of instructors at the | Kimlasca-Lanvaldear Royal Academy. Professor Ian's class is | Class I, and Professor Melissa's is Class M. | Luke: The names of teachers, huh...? | Anise: So Luke and Asch are Class V? | Guy: I wouldn't call them a "class" to begin with. | Luke: Class V, huh... Hmm. | Guy: Hey, don't take it seriously! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party grabs supplies and such and then goes back to speak with Iemon. Iemon: Well? Ready to start the operation? Luke: Yeah, let's go. Tamara: After you activate the Tartarus' vibration device in the core, move to the deck in the Albiore. Iemon: There's a fonic glyph inscribed on the deck that generates a current of rising air. Use that to get yourselves out of there. Tamara: The Albiore's pressure neutralizer won't last more than three hours. Iemon: If you don't hurry out, you'll be flat as pancakes. Luke: So many great ways to die... A booming sound can be heard and man comes in. Man: The flare's up. Iemon: Looks like they're ready at the port. We'll see you off. Tear: Let's go, Luke. Every second counts now. Luke: Right. The party leaves the meeting hall for the port, only to find Legretta waiting. Tear: Major Legretta! Oracle Knights and Legretta surround the hall with swords out. Legretta: Spinoza was right. The rumors of Belkend's researchers running to Sheridan were true. Luke: Out of the way. Legretta: Letting you pass is not an option. We can't have you silencing the core. The Oracle Knights have secured the port. Cease your meaningless resistance! Throw down your weapons! Iemon can be seen hiding behind a wall. Iemon: Tamara! Get them! Tamara comes out with a flamethrower. Tamara: You got it! Iemon: Now! Run to the harbor! Luke: But... Tamara: If they sink the Tartarus, all our work will be wasted! Iemon: There's no time! Go! Luke and Tear run. Legretta shoots at them. Legretta: Oh no you don't! Stand your ground! Not even the Necromancer would use fonic artes in this crowd! Luke and Jade and a man from Sheridan hold off Oracle Knights. Luke: Jade! Jade: I can't! There are too many civilians without friend-or-foe marking! Natalia shoots at someone, but Legretta stops her. Natalia: Aah! Iemon tries to stop Legretta and gets pushed back. Legretta: Out of the... Iemon: Uagh! Luke: Iemon! Tamara: You have something you have to do that's more important than us old folk! Iemon: Now...go! Jade: ...Let's go. Hurry! The party runs for the entrance. Luke hesitates. Tear: Luke! Tear grabs Luke, but her exit is blocked by soldiers. Soldier: You aren't going anywhere! Citizens of Sheridan come and fight off the soldiers. Man: The Tartarus has my sweat and blood in it, too! I won't let you interfere! Master Luke! Princess Natalia! The north exit is poorly guarded! Hurry- The soldier breaks free from a man's grasp and kills the man. Man: Augh! Luke: D-damn it! The party runs to the northeast exit. Soldier: We'll dump your bodies into the sea! More citizens come to aid. Man: We'll hold them off! Now, hurry! The party runs past them... Anise: ...I'm sorry! All around, citizens can be seen trying in vain to hold off soldiers. Many are dead or dying. THe party reaches the northeast exit, and sees a Kimlascan troop. Soldier: Wh-what's going on?! Natalia: Ah! Thank goodness you're here! Luke: The Oracle Knights are attacking the people of the city! Natalia: Please save them! Soldier: Yes, Your Highness! The soldiers run past. Jade: Let's hurry. Time is running out! The party leaves. Legretta: Follow them! Tamara is stabbed from behind as Legretta's soldiers run past. Tamara: ...We're counting on you... Legretta jumps down from the roof. Legretta: Hurry! Join the troops at the harbor! We'll catch them from both sides! Legretta looks down at Tamara. Legretta: ...This happened because you civilians insisted on meddling where you don't belong. Iemon: Class M and Class I's first and final collaboration... Don't let us down...Luke... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Tragedy at Sheridan' [SK255] | | Anise: Iemon... Everybody...! | Tear: Major...attacking civilians... How could you...? | Luke: But they left us alone at the peace talks...! | Anise: You mean the peace treaty didn't even matter to them? | Tear: That's what it looks like... | Luke: Dammit! Where's Asch when we need him?! | Anise: We don't have time for him! | Tear: Yes...we need to hurry to the Tartarus...for their sakes! We | cannot afford to fail! | Luke: I know! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SHP} \ >>> Sheridan Port \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party enters the port, which is completely covered in fog. Jade: Damn! Get down and cover your nose and mouth! Luke: Wh-what is it?! Tear: It's fontech sleeping gas. Guy: Ugh... Can we neutralize it? Jade: I'll blow it away with a fonic arte. Jade uses an arte to remove the fog. Luke: Whew... we can breathe again. Mieu: But I'm sleepy... Anise: *Yawn* ...Me too... Hencken, Cathy and Aston come out of hiding. Hencken: Oh, good. I'm glad it didn't put you to sleep, too. Cathy: It works faster on young children. Natalia: Oh! Then this was your work? Aston: Those Oracle ruffians tried to steal the Tartarus. Cathy: It looks like they went into the city, too. How are Tamara and Iemon...? All: (...) Hencken: You can't mean...! Van: Should you really be standing around chatting? A sword slash knocks everyone but Jade down. Van and Spinoza enter the port. Luke: ...M-Master Van! Hencken: Spinoza...! You'd side with the Oracle Knights instead of your friends?! Spinoza: ...I...I... Legretta comes running into the harbor. Jade starts casting more artes. Legretta: Commandant! Van: That was a poor performance, Legretta. Legretta: My apologies. We'll take care of them at once. Jade's arte knocks Legretta down. Luke prepares to attack. Jade: Luke! No! Luke: Why?! Jade: Right now, our priority is stopping the core. We're going to the Tartarus. Luke: Damn it! Van tries to attack Luke. Tear fends it off. As Van moves closer, Hencken and Cathy block his way. Tear: That's too dangerous! Run! Hencken: We're not going anywhere. This happened because Spinoza betrayed Class I. Cathy: We may be old, but we can at least serve as obstacles. You go on to the Tartarus. Van: ...Move. Spinoza: You fools! Move! Hencken: Our comrade caused this. We'll atone for it. Cathy: Go! Jade: Luke! There's no time! Tear: If my brother catches us, the mission fails! Do you want to waste Iemon and Tamara's sacrifice?! Luke: I know that! Hencken, Cathy, Aston... I'm sorry! The party boards the Tartarus. Van: ...Elderly though you may be I respect your resolve. Van slashes at Cathy and Hencken. They fall. Van: Spinoza. Take a good look. This is what happens to those who oppose me. Legretta: Commandant, Sync made it in time. Van: So, the operation itself was a failure, but at least it distracted them. Very well. Withdraw. Legretta: Yes, sir! Hencken: You're supposed to say "thank you," not "sorry"... Cathy: Yes... when those kids get back... lets teach them how to speak properly... Aboard the Tartarus, everyone feels depressed. Anise: Why did this happen? They didn't do anything to deserve this... Natalia: I failed to protect my people... Luke: I wasn't strong enough. Damn it! Tear: There's no time for wallowing in depression. We still have to stop the core. Luke: Tear! Do you really have to say it like that?! Tear: Grieving here won't accomplish anything. The Colonel is busy preparing for this operation all be himself. Don't forget that. Tear walks off. Guy: ...Her eyes were welling up. Luke: What? Guy: The one who killed them was Tear's own brother. I wonder which one of us really wants to cry the most. Luke: ...Akzeriuth is were we drop to the core, right? ...I am going to the bridge to help Jade. On the bridge. Jade: We're an hour behind schedule. We can't allow any more delays. An alarm. Luke: Wh-what's that?! Tear: An intruder! Guy: Don't tell me it's Van?! Ion: They really don't want us to stop the core. Natalia: I wonder why... Anise: So do I, but right now, we've got an intruder to worry about. What do we do? Jade: We don't have any choice. We'll get rid of them after we breach the core. Natalia: Even without this, we barely have any time! Jade: We're starting! Take your seats! The Tartarus departs and reaches Akzeriuth. A glyph and a shining object are seen on the way to the core. Luke: ...Are we there? Jade: So it would seem. Guy: That thing we saw for a second there... Natalia: What is it, Guy? I did see something flash right before we dove into the core... Guy: ...I vaguely remember seeing it when I was a kid in Hod. If I could just... Jade: We'll worry about that later. The preparations here are done. Lets get out. The party exits to the deck, but there is no glyph. Anise: Hey... the fonic glyph Iemon talked about isn't here. Sync: I erased it for you. Sync can be seen at the other end of the deck. Luke: So you were the intruder... Sync: I won't let you get away. You're going to drown in the sludge here. Die! Battle ensues with Sync. Sync: I'll make the Tartarus your grave. Luke: No way! Sync: You're struggling for nothing! I won't lose! Tear: You aren't terribly valued yourself. Run now! Jade: Persistent, aren't we? Perhaps you'd rather we all die together? Sync: Not a bad idea, so hurry up and die! Luke: Hey, shut up! We aren't dying! Guy: Yeah. I'll pass on the mutual suicide thing. I'll die on my own, thanks. Sync: Fine! You'll all die here, anyways! The party wins and Sync's mask falls off. Luke: H-hey! Anise: It can't be... There are too Ions?! Sync: ...Grr. Ion: Just as I thought... You are also a replica of the Fon Master. Guy: Wait! What do you mean "also"?! Ion: ...I am Fon Master Ion's seventh replica-the final one. Anise, Guy & Luke: (!) Luke: You're a replica?! Anise: No way... Ion... Ion: I'm sorry Anise. It's only been about 2 years since I was born. Anise: Two years... That's when I became one of your Guardians... Wait... was Arietta reassigned because you had no memories of the past? Ion: Yes. The original Ion was sick. Near death. But there was no successor, so Mohs and Van used fomicry. Sync: ...You had the closest abilities to the original. Unlike us trash. Ion: Don't call yourself that... Sync: That's what I am. My powers were weak, so I was cast alive into the mouth of the Mt. Zaleho volcano. A replica that can't serve as a replacement is nothing more than garbage... Luke: ...Don't say that! We may be replicas, but we're still living beings! Sync: I'm not interested in the naive babbling of a replica who has people who need him. Ion: Don't talk like that! Escape from here with us! You and I are the same! Ion walks towards Sync and extends his hand, but Sync slaps it away. Sync: No, we're not. Sync steps backwards towards an opening on the deck. Sync: I'm only alive so Van can use me. In the end, only those of us who are useful are kept alive out of pity... Sync falls over the side. Anise: ...Ion, please don't cry. Ion: I'm not crying. Anise: But, those tears... Ion: ...You're right. Natalia: It's like losing a brother. Ion: I guess I was sad... This is the first time I've ever cried. I understand now... All this time, I had it wrong. Jade: We're out of time. Guy: But Sync erased the fonic glyph. Jade: I'll draw it again. But a circle of this scale will require significant concentration. Luke, Tear, please assist me. Luke: What do I do? Jade: I'll open all of my fon slots and create a mass of fonons. Luke, use Mieu's fire to move the fonons. Tear, please issue instructions based on the remains of the fonic glyph. Luke: So, I walk with you where Tear tells me to. Tear: Right. That's how we'll redraw the fonic glyph. Jade: Let's begin. Mini-game where Luke redraws the glyph. Tear: That was pretty haphazard, but it's finished. I think we should be able to escape, at least. Luke: Looks like we drew it. Jade: Yes. Now let's get to the Albiore- The same sound you hear when Asch speaks to Luke is heard. Luke kneels. Luke: Aagh... ??? voice: Heed my words! You who are the same as I, can you hear my voice? Luke: Asch...? No...this voice is... Tear kneels down beside Luke. Tear: Luke? Are you all right? I'll try healing you. ??? voice: Set me free from the prison of this eternal cycle... A descendent of Yulia...! I shall borrow your power! Tear's body is taken over. She glows and floats in midair. Luke: The pain's fading away... Tear: Luke, my isofon. I can finally speak to you. Luke: Tear? No...you're not Tear... Tear: Your kind knows me as Lorelei. Jade: The aggregate sentience of the Seventh Fonon! Its existence was hypothetical, but... Tear: I am the Seventh Fonon itself. And you, Luke. Your fonon frequency is the same as mine. You and the other you are both my perfect isofons. I am you. That is why I ask this of you. Right now, something enormous is absorbing my power. It is shaking the core and causing the Sephiroth to go out of control. Your actions have quieted the core and stabilized the Sephiroth, but as long as I am trapped here... Tear stops glowing and falls down. Luke: Tear! Luke bends down to check on Tear. Luke: Tear! Are you okay?! Tear: ...I'm fine. I just feel a little dizzy... What happened? Jade: It's dangerous here. We should get to the Albiore now. Aboard the Albiore... Jade: We made it somehow. Luke: Tear, are you feeling okay? Tear: Yes... I feel fine now. Natalia: I'm still worried. Your body was suddenly taken over by Lorelei. You should have a doctor examine you just in case. Anise: I bet we could get a thorough examination in Belkend. Luke: ...I hope the Oracle Knights aren't there. Guy: At this point, I'm sure even Duke Fabre has cut his ties with Van. Anise: We can find out if we ask the governor. Mieu: Let's go! I'm worried about Tear! Luke: O-okay, okay. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What Lorelei Wanted to Convey' [SK259] | | Guy: Who would've thought we'd end up meeting Lorelei... | Luke: Yeah... What was that all about, anyway? | Guy: The Score, maybe? It sounds like we were only able to hear part | of it... | Natalia: If what Van said is true, then Lorelei's words ARE the Score. | Tear: What was so important that Lorelei had to use my body to | communicate...? | Luke: We can think about that later, Tear. Worry about yourself | first! | Guy: Yeah, you really should get yourself looked at. | Jade: Indeed. Despite all that's happened, we have successfully | neutralized the core's vibration. We can afford the time for an | examination. | Tear: Very well. | Luke: Let's head to Belkend, then. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Ion's Secret' [SK258] | | Ion: *Sigh* | Anise: ...Are you okay? | Ion: I'm sorry I lied to you all this time, Anise. | Anise: I don't mind. After all, you're the only Ion that matters to | me. | Ion: Anise... | Anise: Come on, cheer up, Ion! | Ion: You'll still call me Ion...? | Anise: Of course I will!(music note) | Ion: Thank you, Anise. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:BE3} \ >>> Belkend \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party heads to the governor's residence. Viridian: Luke! We received a report from Sheridan that you headed for the core... Luke: The mission was a success. Only because Sheridan's residents and Belkend's researchers gave their lives... Viridian: ...I see. I've been informed of Iemon, Hencken, and the others. His Majesty and the Duke have also issued formal complaints against Daath. But Grand Maestro Mohs insists that Van separated from Daath and carried it out on his own. Ion: The crime of my subordinates are my own. You have my deepest apologies. Natalia: ...Are Duke Fabre and Van still connected? Viridian: No. With the attack on Sheridan, Daath's influence was lifted from this city. Luke: Then we have a favor to ask. Guy: Tear isn't well. We'd like her to get a full exam. Viridian: Understood. Please speak with Shu in the lab. Luke: Thanks. The party heads to the lab to speak with Shu. Shu: All right. The rest of you, please wait here. Tear and Shu head into the medical room. Later, only Shu comes out. The rest of the party go inside. Luke: ...How is she? Shu: We don't have all the results back yet, but... Tear's blood fonons are showing extremely unstable values. Luke: Blood fonons...? Shu: People who use fonic artes absorb fonons into their bodies. In her case, the fonons are contaminated and aren't properly exiting her body. Guy: What do you mean, contaminated? Shu: That poison...the miasma, I believe they call it? That's fused with the fonons. It's primarily Seventh Fonons that have accumulated. Natalia: She's absorbed Seventh Fonons that are contaminated with the miasma, then? Shu: Quite a lot. They are weakening her internal organs. She said that the fon machines called passage rings responded to her. Dawn Age fon machinery generally contains large amounts of Seventh Fonons. Jade: So, when we lower the land, the miasma flows into Tear from the passage ring? Shu: That's the only answer I see. If she continues, she's not likely to survive. Natalia: No...! Shu: We can give her a medicine to suppress the effects. Luke: Can't you cure it? I use the Seventh Fonon, too, but I'm fine! Shu: She's absorbed over 100 times what a Seventh Fonist would normally consume in a lifetime. Ion: ...Could you give us a little more detail? Jade: I have something I'd like to ask as well. Let's split up here. Jade: If what Lorelei said is true, then the core vibration has stopped and the Sephiroth should be stabilized. If the core had been stopped earlier, then the passage rings would probably not exceeded their endurance limit. If the rings were working normally, then Tear wouldn't need to perform any more lowering operations... ...There's no point in talking about that, now, though. Go to her side, Luke. Luke: (?) Jade: You're surprisingly dense. Ion: Please go be with Tear. I... No, never mind. Luke goes to see Tear. Tear: ...Did you hear about me? Luke: ...Yeah. Tear: If the Seventh Fonons in me are contaminated, maybe Lorelei's contaminated, too... Luke: D-don't talk to me like everything's normal! Tear: Are you worried about me? Luke: Of course! The core's stopped and the Sephiroth are under control, right? We don't have to lower the Outer Lands! Tear: It's too late. The passage rings are at their limit. Luke: ...So we have to keep going. ...I'm sorry. Tear: Why? Luke: I really want to tell you to stop lowering the Outer Lands... Tear: Luke... Luke: I thought about it as hard as I could, but... If the Outer Lands fall, then lots of people will die... So I can't just tell you to stop... Tear: ... Luke: My uncle and Emperor Peony have both agreed to help... I can't tell everyone to stop now after all this... Tear: You idiot. What's with that face? What you're saying is right. If you really had told me to stop, I'd have lost all respect for you. Thank you. I was right to believe in you. Luke: You're crazy! Tear: What? Luke: You can't possibly be okay with this! You always try to act tough! Say you were at least a little scared or sad or something! If you'd just tell me how you really feel... Tear: It's not an act. ...I'm sorry. Please let me be alone for a while. Luke: No. I'm staying right here. Tear: Luke! Please! I don't want anyone to see me like this... Luke: Then I'll turn around. Luke turns around. Tear: ...You idiot. Tear received the Strong of Heart title. Tear: Thank you. Shu: Please take care. Don't push yourself. Luke: So now we get back to lowering the land. Natalia: But where do we go next? The regions with Sephiroth to which we haven't yet gone are Padamiya, Radessia, and Sylvana, right? Guy: Minus the Absorption Gate and the Radiation Gate. Luke: Where are the Absorption Gate and the Radiation Gate? Guy: The Absorption Gate is northeast of Keterburg. I've heard the Radiation Gate is on an island far south of Baticul. Jade: Those are the largest Sephiroth, so we'll save them for later. They say the monsters there are stronger as well. Right now, we need to locate the passage rings for the remaining Sephiroth. Tear: There are researchers from Yulia City here. Let's ask them about the locations of the passage rings. Anise: But...are you really okay, Tear? Tear: Yes. The medicine's working. I don't feel any pain. I'm fine. The party locates the researcher from Yulia City. Man: Tear, I heard about your condition. I wish I could tell you to stop, but... ...I'm sorry. Tear: It's all right. Luke: Um, do you know where the passage rings are? Man: You're going to perform the lowering procedure, right? The only ones we've pinpointed are inside the Meggiora Highlands and Mt. Roneal. Ion: ...Mt. Roneal? I've heard the Six God-Generals were gravely injured by monsters when they were there on duty. It's a dangerous place. I think we should save it for last... Jade: I agree. Even people living nearby rarely approach that mountain. Luke: Okay, then let's head for the Meggiora Highlands first. Man: We'll track down the location of the remaining Sephiroth in Padamiya. Take care. Man: Oh, wait a minute. The Meggiora Highlands Sephiroth is at the upper land of the Nirni River. You won't be able to get there without a boat or something. Luke: Gotcha. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What is Van Doing Now...?' [SK262] | | Jade: Van's been quiet ever since we entered the planet's core. | Tear: I wonder what he's doing, and where... | Luke: Well, he needs fomicry for his plan, that's for sure. He's | probably looking for a new base now that he can't use Belkend. | Jade: Actually, I suspect he's already found one...or rather, he's | returned to an old one. He's not one to waste things. | Guy: Right now, we need to lower the Outer Lands safely, so humanity | isn't destroyed in the collapse. We can worry about Van after | that. | Tear: I know that worrying about him won't accomplish anything, | but... | Luke: Well, he's your brother. It's only natural to worry about him. | Tear: ...Thank you, Luke. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What is Asch Doing Now...?' [SK261] | | Luke: ...... | Natalia: Are you having trouble sleeping? | Luke: Oh...no, I was just trying to talk to Asch. Doesn't seem to be | working, though. | Natalia: Talk to Asch? | Luke: Yeah...but it looks like we can't connect unless he starts it. | Natalia: I see. I wonder what Asch is doing... | Luke: ...Natalia, you have things to tell him, don't you? | Natalia: W-what? | Luke: Like about Uncle, or what we're going to be doing... | Natalia: Oh...yes, we haven't seen him in a while... | Luke: Dammit, all he cares about is himself. | Natalia: Luke, were you trying to talk to him for my sake? | Luke: N-no! I just wanted to find out what that idiot's up to. I | wasn't doing it for you! | Natalia: Hee hee. I see. | Luke: Just...whatever! I'm going to bed! | [Luke leaves.] | Natalia: You and he are so alike that way. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Priorities' [SK260] | | Luke: Tear, how are you doing? | Tear: Fine. The medicine's working well. | Mieu: I'm worried... | Guy: Yeah, don't push yourself. | Tear: Don't worry. Let's work on lowering the Outer Lands. | Ion: Tear... | Jade: So let's go. | Anise: There you go again, Colonel. | Jade: Not at all. I'm worried too, but we've decided to proceed. | There's no point in waiting. | Tear: Exactly. We have to finish up before Van interferes again. | Natalia: Yes, but... | Luke: If things get tough, let us know. | Tear: I will. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:MH2} \ >>> Meggiora Highlands \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: We ran into one hell of a monster the last time we came here. Guy: I hope we don't run into it again. Natalia: I wonder where the passage ring is. Ion: It should be sealed with a Daathic seal, just like the others. Let's look for it. The party goes further in and Legretta comes up behind them. Tear: Major! Legretta: Too slow! Legretta attacks Tear. Tear: ...Ugh! Legretta: Tear. Stop this foolishness. Commandant Grants is worried about you. Tear: You are the fools! Legretta: We know about your health. Tear: (!) Legretta: Is this world really worth giving your own life to save? I'm sure you heard the truth about Hod. Tear: Politicians controlled by the Score, using it for their own ends...just as Van said. Legretta: Then join us. The Commandant will spare you and the other survivor of Hod. Guy: Thanks, but I'll pass on a world replaced entirely with replicas. What's wrong with the land and people we have now? Legretta: They will never escape the curse of Yulia's Score. Luke and Jade approach Legretta and attempt to attack her. She jumps back. Legretta: In time, you'll come to understand just how accurate Yulia's Score is. The Score is stronger than a few disturbances. History will proceed as the Seventh Fonstone shows. Guy: (!) Tear: The Seventh Fonstone! Has Van found it? Guy: No, Tear! That was it! That thing was the Seventh Fonstone! Luke: Wait! Jade: Apparently she didn't come here to fight. Guy, where did you see the Seventh Fonstone? Guy: In Hod. When I was a kid, Van took me to see it once. Jade: In Hod? That's the first I've heard of that. Guy: Van said it was in a secret place, its location passed down within the Fende family. Fende was one of the seven sages who served Yulia... Tear: Yulia's children carried on her fonic hymns and abilities from one generation to the next. Natalia: You're one of Yulia's descendents, yourself, are you not? Tear: That's what Van told me. I don't have any proof though... Anise: But you can sing those fonic hymns. Guy: And only a descendant of Yulia would be guarding the Seventh Fonstone. The Seventh Fonstone disappeared into the core along with Hod. That light we saw when going into the core. That was the Seventh Fonstone. I'm sure of it. Tear: If the Seventh Fonstone was in Hod, then when Hod was destroyed, it could have sunk into the liquefied land, but... Luke: Then Master Van knows the future written on the Seventh Fonstone? Could we actually be doing something bad? Guy: The Outer Lands will fall regardless. It's better to lower them slowly so people don't get hurt. Luke: Yeah, you're right. I'm just worried about everything we don't know. Tear notices something shining on the ground and picks it up. The party reaches the door to the passage ring. Ion: This is the place. Luke: There's no sign of Master Van being here. Go ahead, Ion. Ion: Right. Ion breaks the seal and falls to his knees. Anise: (!) Anise: Hang in there, Ion. Ion: Thank you. I'm sorry. This always happens. I have the original's abilities, but not his strength. Natalia: You weren't just sick, after all. Ion: Right... Jade: It's a strange feeling, seeing the research I began spread in this way. Luke: ...I think Asch is angry about it, but I'm seriously grateful. If you hadn't thought up fomicry, I'd never have been born. ...Though I probably wasn't meant to be. Tear: Luke! You said you weren't going to talk like that anymore. Guy: Yeah. Stop putting yourself down. Mieu: Yeah, stop, Master! Luke: (sweating) Luke: ...All right, all right! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Legretta and Tear' [SK263] | | Jade: It looks like Legretta didn't intend to attack us at all. | Luke: That's what I thought. | Jade: Legretta made the same offer to Tear once before, at the Deo | Pass. It seems she's concerned about Tear's well-being. | Guy: But we still can't go along with what they were trying to do. I | mean, Van's ideas are just crazy. | Tear: ...... | Luke: Tear? What's wrong? Are you feeling bad again or something? | Tear: Huh? Uh, no, I'm fine... I was just thinking. Sorry, let's go. | Luke: Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party enters the ruins. Guy: Wow! I didn't expect to see fon machines like these in a place like this! Luke: Why the hell do you sound so happy...? Guy: Living in Kimlasca opened my eyes to the wonders of fonic technology. Guy looks around excited. Guy: Dawn Age fon machines were built so well! Natalia: Men really like this sort of thing, don't they? Anise: My Papa likes building models, too. He's like a little kid. Guy: Whatever. Women just don't get it. Come on! Let's go! Let's go! Luke: (...) Luke: He should have become a fonic technician instead of a swordsman... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Seventh Fonstone Score' [SK264] | | Luke: I wonder what the Seventh Fonstone says about the future. I | wonder if it's an unpleasant future, like Master Van says... | Ion: No one knows the answer to that question. No one, except the | descendants of Yulia... | Mieu: Mieuu... Even cheagles don't know. | Natalia: Perhaps...perhaps Van chose to destroy the original world and | create a new one all because he knew that Score? | Jade: It is true that, aside from Luke's appearance, Yulia's Score has | been an almost perfect predictor of history. If Luke himself is | foretold in the Score of the Seventh Fonstone, then perhaps... | Guy: Hey! We're here to lower the Outer Lands and protect our world, | right? | Jade: I was speaking hypothetically. I think that if Luke WERE | mentioned in the Score of the Seventh Fonstone, Van would never | have created him in the first place. | Anise: So you mean Luke's existence wasn't foretold by Yulia? | Jade: ...No, probably not. Hypothetically, of course. | Natalia: In any case, the Seventh Score... No, the whole of Yulia's Score | plainly holds significant power over this world. | Tear: ...Huh? ...Yes...I suppose. | Luke: ...Tear? | Tear: I'm sorry. Don't worry, it's nothing... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes further in and finds an odd machine. Guy: Whoa! Awesome! It's a mechanical doll! Tear: (!) Guy runs to the robot. Tear: Wait! If it attacks you... Guy: This isn't a combat machine, Tear. It's probably here to maintain the fon machinery. Ion: You mean he's the one who maintains the passage ring? Guy: Well, the passage rings throughout the world are all connected. Maybe when there's a serious problem, this guy heads out to fix it. Luke: But the passage rings would up breaking anyway. Guy: (...) Guy: Well, yeah. Jade: If the Sephiroth going out of control had been written in the Score, then perhaps this mechanical doll was programmed with how to deal with it. The party finds an elevator. Ion: It looks like the passage ring is down below. Jade: (...) Jade: The elevator's not working. The power's out. Luke: (!) Luke: Are you serious? Are there any stairs or anything? Anise: (...) Anise: I don't see any... Luke: Then I guess Guy or Jade will have to work their magic. Jade: I'm sorry, I'm afraid my specialty is fonic artes. I'll pass. Luke: But you made fomicry. Jade: I just developed the theory. It was Dist who built the fon machinery. Guy: (...) Natalia: You look concerned. Guy: We need to replace the broken power supply with a new one, but... Tear: There's no replacement. Guy: ...Except for him. If we take his power supply and attach it here, it'll probably work. All: (!) Jade: (...) Anise: Whaaat?! If you take his power supply, he'll stop working! Guy: Yeah. But that's the only way. Mieu: But he's working so hard. I feel sorry for him. Jade: We don't have a choice. There's no other way. The party attacks the robot and takes its generator. Obtained Robot's Generator. Jade: Your turn Guy. Guy: ...Right. Guy installs the generator in the elevator. Luke looks at the robot. Luke: (...) Ion: ...Luke. Luke: ...I know. I'm coming. The party reaches the passage ring. Jade: Tear, please put this on your arm. Tear: What is it? Jade hands her some sort of device. Jade: A blood fonon meter. I want to confirm whether the passage rings really are the cause. Tear: (...) Tear: I see. Tear puts the blood fonon meter on. Jade: Now, please activate it. Tear steps up to the device. It activates, and the glyph appears. Jade: The measurement will occur automatically. Luke, please operate it as you did in Tataroo Valley. Luke: Okay. Luke holds up his hands and uses his hyperresonance. Luke: Done. Jade: Looks like the measurement is complete as well. May I have that back? Tear gives the meter back to Jade. Anise: How's the miasma reading, Colonel? Jade: ...An abnormal level of miasma is flowing into Tear from the passage ring. It's probably responding to Tear's genetic data. I don't think there's any doubt that she's a descendent of Yulia. Yulia must have entered her own data into this device. Tear: (...) Guy: Why are the Seventh Fonons contaminated with the miasma? Jade: The miasma seems to come from inside the planet. Perhaps the core is contaminated. Luke: So the center of the entire planet is contaminated... Can we really neutralize all that? Jade: Actually, if the core is the source, then we can probably find a solution. Anise: Wait, what? We can do something about the miasma? Jade: Yes, if we use the planet's gravity. I'm not an expert, so I can't promise anything... Luke: But at least there's a chance. Jade: Yes. And Belkend has done a lot of research on gravity. They should prove more useful than I am. Luke: Then let's get back to Belkend. Everyone but Luke and Tear depart, Tear coughs a bit. Luke: Tear, what is it? Feeling sick again? Tear: ...What? Oh, no. It's nothing. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Absent-Minded' [SK267] | | Luke: So, you really think we can do something about the miasma, | Jade? | Jade: It's only conjecture for now, but I think we can work it out. | Anise: So if that's taken care of, all we have left to do is stop Van! | Jade: You're getting ahead of yourself, Anise. | Anise: Heh heh... Sorry. | Luke: It looks like Tear's fine too, thanks to that medicine. | Tear: ...... | Luke: Tear? | Tear: Huh? Oh, sorry. Yes, I'm doing fine. | Anise: You've been acting a little strange ever since we came in here. | Tear: No, I haven't. Let's get going to the next Sephiroth. | Luke: Uh, weren't we going to Belkend? | Tear: Oh...right...Belkend. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads back to the Albiore and runs into Aston. Luke: Hey, it's Aston! Aston: Luke! How are you doing?! Luke: You're alive! Aston: I'm the only one of our senior brigade who survived... I didn't get to join them... Natalia: What are you saying?! Even if it's just you, thank goodness someone lived... Tear: But why are you here, Aston...? Aston: If I don't keep myself busy, I start thinking about Iemon and the others. So, I made the Albiore II-ah, wait, we broke the first one-the Albiore III. Anyway, I made it. Anise: (excited) Anise: And then it crashed again? Aston: (angry) Aston: Now listen here, little lady! I was in the middle of a teat flight when I saw you people, and- Guy & Jade: (!) Spinoza: Aaah! Luke: Y-you! Aston: S-Spinoza?! Anise: Eavesdropping again?! You're such a creep! Spinoza runs away. Aston: Stop! Aston goes after Spinoza, slowly. Luke: Let's follow him! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `He Won't Get Away!' [SK268] | | Jade: He sure is a strange one, coming all this way just to | eavesdrop. | Luke: We'll get Spinoza this time! | Jade: Indeed... I'm hoping for his assistance in resolving the miasma | problem. | Anise: Huh? Aren't you going to punish him? | Jade: That wouldn't change what's already happened. Though the work I | have for him will suffice for punishment. He won't get away | from us. | Anise: Right! We'd better hurry after him. | Luke: Yeah! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party reaches the exit. Luke: Aston! Where's Spinoza?! Aston: Look up at the sky! A black and red Albiore flies past. Luke: ...The Albiore?! Guy: No...it looks similar, but it's not the same. Aston: That's my Albiore III... Natalia: We let him get away again! Aston: Grr! Follow him in the Albiore II! He's only got enough fuel for a test flight. He should fall soon! Jade: Spinoza is a top physicist. If he were on our side, he'd be useful in dealing with the miasma. Luke: Got it! We'll catch up to him in the Albiore! Aston: I'm coming along, too! The party leaves the Meggiora highlands and chases Spinoza. Aboard the Albiore... Noelle: Pursue the Albiore III, right? Leave it to me. Luke: We're counting on you, Noelle! The Albiore II chases the Albiore III... Noelle: Albiore III spotted! But it's behaving strangely. Luke: What's wrong? Noelle: It's smoking and...ah! A booming is heard. It's likely the Albiore III crashing. Luke: I wonder if he's alive. Aston: The Albiore III is a sturdy craft. A mere crash isn't going to hurt its passengers! Jade: The monsters here would be rough on an elderly man. He'll probably run for the city. Luke: Okay, to Belkend! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Spinoza, Unforgivable!' [SK269] | | Guy: Spinoza... We've got him now. | Natalia: Yes. He gave us some trouble, but he can't escape anymore. | Guy: Yeah, I'll beat him to a pulp! | Natalia: I've never seen you this angry, Guy. Though I can't blame you, | considering what Spinoza has done. | Guy: He damaged the Albiore III! Those hover drives are the jewels of | fontech! | Natalia: That's what you're angry about...? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:BE4} \ >>> Belkend \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party sees Spinoza. Spinoza: (!) Tear: There he is! Spinoza runs away. Luke picks up Mieu. Luke: Let's go! Get him! Mieu: Y-yes, Master! Luke tosses Mieu at Spinoza. The cheagle burns him, and he gets caught by Guy. Guy: That's as far as you go. We have a lot to talk about. You're coming with us. The party takes Spinoza to the governor's residence. Aston: Just what did you plan to do after eavesdropping on us?! Luke: Were you going to report to Master Van again?! Spinoza: N-no... Ion: Please, everyone. We won't learn anything by shouting at him. Why were you in the Meggiora Highlands? Spinoza: O... I went to Sheridan to pay my respects to everyone's graves. There, I heard Aston was going to the Meggiora Highlands... I thought I'd apologize to him... Aston: Then why the hell did you run away?! Spinoza: I...I was scared! I didn't know what to say...so... Luke: (...) Anise: Do you expect us to believe that?! It's your fault the Commandant found out about us! Spinoza: ...It's true that I betrayed Hencken and Cathy now just once, but twice. I ignored them and conducted forbidden research. Then, I sold them up the river to Van... I know I can never undo that. But when they were killed, I realized what I'd done. I asked myself if my research was really worth killing my friends for. Luke: ...I think we can believe what he's saying. Tear: Luke... Luke: It was hard for me to acknowledge destroying Akzeriuth. Once I did, I felt I had to do something...to make up for it... Spinoza is me back then. Jade: If your resolve is true, then there's something we want your help on. Spinoza: Wh-what is it? Jade: Research. How to neutralize-or rather, isolate-the miasma. We need your expertise in physics. Anise: Colonel! You're going to trust him?! Jade: Whatever his character, we need his brain. Spinoza: Please, let me do it. Research is all I can do. Tear: ...You're my brother's-Van's research scientist. If you do that, he may kill you. Spinoza: ...I'll do it anyway. Please, let me do it. Aston: How about we try trusting this fool one last time? Anise: But...he's a traitor... Jade: What if we have him join the research under 24-hour surveillance? Viridian: I don't have the authority... Natalia: ...Then I'll give the order. Set things up as Jade said. Viridian: Yes, Your Highness. Spinoza: I'll put everything I've got into this research. Thank you so much... Guy: Well, if he betrays us after saying all that, he's quite the actor. Jade: My miasma isolation plan consists of just a few scribbles, but here you are. Please read it over. Jade hands some papers to Spinoza. Viridian: We'll take Spinoza to Fon Machine Lab 1. Aston: I'll repair the Albiore III and return to Sheridan. Show us what you can do, Spinoza. A guard comes and takes Spinoza away. Viridian: Oh, I have a message for you all from the researchers. The remaining Sephiroth is near Daath's cathedral. Ion: The cathedral?! I had no idea. Luke: That place is pretty big, after all. Let's go look for it. Everyone but Anise leaves. Anise: Why do they believe him so easily? They're all so stupid... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Spinoza's Atonement' [SK270] | | Anise: Are you sure we can trust that geezer? | Tear: What, are you still worried? | Anise: Of course! There's no way we can trust him! | Ion: His eyes were serious enough. Maybe we can't trust him | completely, but we can at least accept his willingness to atone | for his errors. | Tear: Besides, he's being watched. We should be fine. | Anise: It's not like we have a choice. We left everything to him... | Ion: Yes. For now, let's trust him. | Anise: Fine... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:DA5} \ >>> Daath \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: I wonder if the passage ring is inside the cathedral. Ion: I don't know. But it's rumors that there's a passage from the cathedral into Mt. Zaleho. If people are saying that much, there may also be a path to the passage ring. Tear: Let's see if we can find it. The party goes into the cathedral. Mohs and Tritheim approach. Luke: Mohs! Mohs: Fon Master Ion, you're back. Ion: We've come looking for the Sephiroth. Mohs: ...Yes, I've received a report from Yulia City. The passage ring is... Mohs motions to a door up above. Mohs: Beyond that door. It's a straight path, so you can't get lost. Luke: What's Master Van doing? Mohs: Humph. He abandoned his duty and ran off somewhere with the God-Generals. Tear: I don't see many Oracle soldiers either. Don't tell me... Mohs: More than half of them ran off to join Van. It's infuriating! Now, I've got my hands full rebuilding the Oracle Knights. Oh, the room connected to the passage ring is past a corridor that's hidden to keep out intruders. Good luck finding it. Mohs and Tritheim depart. Natalia: Well! What a loathsome human being! Guy: He's probably grumpy because the peace treaty had made it hard to start his war. Anise: It's a lot better than having him get in our way. Ion: Yes. He just wants to uphold the Score. His aim has nothing to do with Van's causing the land to fall or his vision of a replica world. He shouldn't have any reason to interfere with us. Luke: Master Van... I wonder where he went... Tear: ...It couldn't be. Jade: Do you have an idea? Tear: N-no. Not really... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Feeling Weird' [SK271] | | Guy: It sure feels weird for Mohs not to be jumping at us like | before. | Luke: Yeah, like he's got some hidden plan... I don't like it. | Jade: Well, as Ion says, he's only trying to uphold the Score, so he | probably doesn't have any reason to antagonize us. | Luke: So why couldn't he just tell us where the hidden passage is? | Guy: Probably just his little way of getting back at us. | Luke: Man... What a pain! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes down the halls until they reach a library. Luke: This room has a hidden corridor that goes to the passage ring? Tear: He said it was a straight path. Let's try looking around. The party looks for it. At one point, Anise trips and falls. Anise: Aah! I tripped! Ion: (!) A bookcase comes down, revealing a door. Anise: Oh! What's this? Ion: To think there was a hidden passage here. Guy: But why did Mohs know about this and not Ion? Ion: I imagine the original probably knew. Luke: Okay, let's go take a look. The party goes into the room and finds a glyph. Anise runs onto it. Anise: Oh, I bet we can get there if we step into this fonic glyph. Jade: Anise, could I ask you a question? Anise: Wh-what is it, Colonel? Jade: You knew about this place, didn't you? Ion: Really? Anise: No I didn't! I had no idea about it! Now, let's go! Come on! Hurry! Anise disappears. Luke: Gee, I wonder if she's lying... Jade: ...Don't worry about it. The rest of the party steps onto the glyph. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:MZ1} \ >>> Mt. Zaleho \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Guy: It looks like they're doing some sort of research here. Ion: It probably belongs to Mohs. Just what is he doing? Anise: Let's not worry about that! Where's the passage ring?! Jade: ...Anise, if you sound TOO suspicious, I'm going to feel like asking you to explain. Anise: Uh... Tear: Perhaps it's in here. Luke: Let's take a look. The party reaches a sealed door. Luke: Okay, Ion. If you would. Ion: Right. Ion walks up and breaks the seal. Anise catches him as he falls. Anise: You collapse every time you open one of these doors. Ion: I'm sorry. Anise: You don't have to apologize, but I'm worried about you... Luke: I'm sorry, Ion. Ion: No, I'm happy to be of use. The party goes further in. Tear: It's really hot in here. Luke: Ion, are you okay? Ion: Yes... Thank you. Anise: Um, okay, let's hurry up and take care of this place! Jade: (...) Anise: Wh-what is it, Colonel? Is it my cuteness? Jade: *Sigh* No matter. This isn't a place I'd like to linger around in, either. Luke: Right. Let's take care of what we came here to do. The party reaches the passage ring. Tear activates the device and the glyph. Luke: Are you feeling all right? Tear: ...Yes. The medicine's working. Go ahead and activate the controls. Luke: Right. Luke uses his hyperresonance. Luke: Done. Guy: Next up, Mt. Roneal? Jade: Yes, but before that, let's return to Belkend and check with Spinoza. We might be able to learn how to deal with the miasma. Anise: Y-yeah. Let's hurry up and get far away from here! Jade: *Sigh* You've been extremely suspicious right to the very end. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Anise Going Crazy?!' [SK272] | | Anise: Look at all the weird things here! | Jade: The only weird thing I see around here is you, Anise. | Anise: ...... | Jade: If you keep acting suspicious, I'm going to ask you what's going | on. | Anise: S-suspicious? Me!? | Jade: ...For now, I suppose I can wait until you're ready to tell us | about it. | Anise: The only thing I'm hiding from you is my weight! Really! I'm | pure, open, straightforward, honest, and virtuous (and cute) to | the core! And I'm probably definitely not hiding anything! | Jade: Oh dear, oh dear... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Things Are Going Too Well...' [SK273] | | Natalia: Things seem to be progressing smoothly so far. | Tear: That actually worries me more... Why hasn't Van shown up? | Ion: Perhaps he simply hasn't been able to keep up with our | movements. We do have the Albiore, after all. | Jade: Given his actions to date, that strikes me as overly | optimistic. | Natalia: Are you suggesting he may start interfering soon? | Jade: Since we haven't even seen the God-Generals lately, it seems | likely. | Tear: You think they may get in our way at the next Sephiroth at Mt. | Roneal? | Jade: Perhaps. We can always hope that our good luck continues, but I | wouldn't count on it. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Dist's Curse?!' [SK274] | | Luke: We took care of the passage ring at Daath pretty easily. It's | nice to have things go smoothly for once. | Anise: But you never know when it might bite back at you. | Luke: Like how? | Anise: Hmm... Like maybe a face appearing on your stomach. | Luke: ...What are you, stupid? | Anise: Well, you never know! It's the Colonel that created fomicry, | after all. | Luke: ...Th-that's not funny. | Anise: What would you do if Dist's face suddenly showed up? | Luke: Ugh... That would suck. | Jade: If that happened, I don't think I'd ever speak to you again. | [Jade leaves.] | Luke: ...What is it between Jade and Dist anyway? They sure don't ACT | like old friends... | Anise: Yeah...he seems on pretty good terms with the Emperor. | Luke: Maybe it has something to do with Nebilim...? | Anise: Did you say something? | Luke: N-no, nothing at all. Hah hah... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:BE5} \ >>> Belkend \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party heads to the lab. Spinoza: You live up to your reputation, Dr. Balfour. Your plan just might work. Luke: Then, you mean we can neutralize the miasma! Jade: No, not neutralize, isolate. All: (?) Guy: What do you mean? Jade: Between the Outer Lands and the Qliphoth exists a force field called the dividing line. Right, Tear? Tear: Y-yes. It's a region of force created by the Sephiroth Trees. It holds up the Outer Lands. Spinoza: More accurately, the upward force of the dividing line is in equilibrium with the planet's gravity. Jade: Lowering the Outer Lands means breaking that gravitational equilibrium. When the descent begins, the dividing line creates downward force. That becomes a membrane that will push the miasma back beneath the surface, into the core. Luke: But that isn't actually getting rid of it. Are you sure it won't come out again? Jade: If the miasma originates in the core, then it flooded the Qliphoth because the Sephiroth are open. Once the Outer Lands are lowered, if we shut down all the passage rings... Guy: The Sephiroth will close, and the miasma will stop coming out. Natalia: With the core's vibration stopped, the liquefied land has begun to solidify quickly. So even if we close the Sephiroth, the land won't be swallowed up. Luke: That's fantastic! Spinoza: And to think you came up with it before me, the master physicist. Jade: Even so, we couldn't have been sure without having it checked by an expert. Anise: Now all that's left is to do something about the Sephiroth at Mt. Roneal. Natalia: We should rest at the inn before heading there. Luke: Tear, get them to give you some more medicine in the meantime. Tear: ...R-right. I'll do that. I think it will take some time, so go on. Go to bed. Luke: Okay, then we'll meet up tomorrow in front of the inn! Tear leaves. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Worried About Tear's Health...' [SK275] | | Luke: Well, it looks like everything's taken care of, but I'm still | worried about Tear... | Guy: Yeah. Knowing her, she's probably still pushing herself. | Mieu: I'm worried too... | Luke: I wish I could tell her to stop wearing herself out... | Guy: But if you did... | Luke: Yeah, she wouldn't like it at all. | Mieu: Mieu... | Luke: As soon as we're done with the passage rings, let's find a way | to cure her once and for all. | Guy: Yeah, let's do that. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads to the inn. In the morning... Anise: Luke, wake up! Luke: ...Hm? What is it...? Anise: Tear's gone! Luke: Huh?! Guy: The researchers said she headed to the port with the fonimin gathering team. Natalia: Asch came here to see Spinoza. Supposedly he went with her. Luke: Asch, too? What's going on...? Natalia: And we found this in her room. Natalia shows him a stone of some sort. Luke: What is it? Jade: It's an ore that can be found in Ortion Cavern. Luke: So Tear went to go do something in Ortion Cavern? Guy: Yeah. What do you want to do? Luke jumps out of the bed. Luke: Go after her. What else? Guy: Right. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Tear's Whereabouts' [SK276] | | Luke: What is Tear thinking? | Natalia: It looks like Asch went along, too. | Guy: Come to think of it, she's had something on her mind ever since | the Meggiora Highlands. | Natalia: Yes, she has seemed a bit absent-minded since we encountered | Legretta. | Jade: But Tear going with Asch... | Luke: What could there even be in Ortion Cavern? | Guy: She only acts this impulsively when it involves a certain | someone... | Luke: Master Van! | Jade: It looks like we should hurry. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:OC2} \ >>> Ortion Cavern \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party meets up with Oracle soldiers who are hauling out boxes. Soldier: Who goes there?! Soldier 2: Locrian Colonel Asch... No, it's the replica! The soldiers prepare to attack. Legretta: Stop! Commandant Grants said to let them through. Ignore them and return to your work. Soldier: Yes, ma'am Soldier 2: As you command! The soldiers leave. Legretta approaches. Luke: ...What's that mean? Legretta: Just what I said. You're searching for Tear and Asch, are you not? I'll let you pass. Go on in. Guy: This is certainly a surprise. Legretta: I'm merely respecting Commandant Grants' wishes. You're headed for Mt. Roneal next anyway. We'll settle things between us there. Legretta leaves. Natalia: I'm worried about Tear and Asch. Let's hurry. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What is Oracle Up To?' [SK277] | | Anise: So this is where the Oracle Knights went! | Ion: Though it looks like they were leaving... | Guy: Yeah, like they're taking something they need somewhere else. | Anise: Shouldn't we go after them? | Ion: No. Tear is more important. Legretta said that she and Van are | deep inside the cavern. | Guy: Yeah, let's hurry. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party comes up to where Natalia was previously attacked. Natalia: This is where... (Asch...) Guy: What's wrong, Natalia? Natalia: No, it's nothing... Natalia trips and almost falls. Luke catches her. Natalia: Aah?! Luke: Are you okay? Natalia: *Gasp* Luke: You're actually kind of a klutz, aren't you? Natalia: (...) Luke: Huh? What's wrong? Natalia: N-nothing. Thank you, Luke. Luke: Don't worry about it. Natalia: (...) Natalia: Let's get going. The party reaches the secret lab. They find Asch, Tear and Van. Van slashes at Asch, knocking him to the ground. Tear: Van, stop! Natalia: Asch?! Van: ...I see your friends have come for you. Go. You, too, Asch. Tear: Van! If you keep this up, the miasma will destroy your body, too! The party runs up and prepares to fight. Natalia tends to Asch. Van: All that matters is that I free humanity from the Score and give it a way to survive. Luke: Master Van, what were you doing here...? Asch: They're planning to abandon Belkend and move to a new fomicry research facility. Luke: Master! Why are you so obsessed with making a replica world?! Jade: Fomicry consumes large volumes of Seventh Fonons. Even with all the Seventh Fonons in the world, you still couldn't replicate the entire planet. Asch: He intends to use the enormous mass of Seventh Fonons in the core-Lorelei. Van: The stronger the core's vibration, the stronger the Planet Storm, and the more Seventh Fonons available. But you all put a stop to that. Guy: So that's why you didn't want the core stopped... Jade: The slightest mistake in fomicry creates replicas that perish right away. Van: That phenomenon is caused by Seventh Fonons separating from the replica. If the separation is stopped, the replica survives. Jade: Impossible. To begin with, fonons of the same type are attracted to one another. The Seventh Fonons will separate from matter and return to the Planet Storm. Tear: He plans to destroy the aggregate of Seventh Fonons-Lorelei. Then the surplus Seventh Fonons will disappear. Luke: And without any Seventh Fonons to attract them, they won't separate. Van: Without the Seventh Fonon, the Score cannot be read. The Score will disappear, and replicas will persist. Two birds with one stone. Tear: Van intends to use Luke to accomplish that. Van: It can't be done using the reject. It has to be Asch. Asch: ... Soldier: Commandant, we've finished loading the supplies. Van: I need you. I'll wait for you at the Absorption Gate. Tear: Van, wait! Van: ...I didn't want to fight you. I'm sorry it had to come to this, Mystearica. Van leaves with the soldier. Asch: Damn it! I won't let you get away! Asch tries to get up, but falters. Natalia: You're in no shape to do that! Asch all of a sudden sees the two cages. One is empty. Asch: (It's gone, just as I thought...) Asch tries to leave but bumps into Natalia. Natalia: Where are you going?! Asch: I have no time. Asch leaves. Ion: We should return to town ourselves. Jade: Yes. We're near Sheridan. Mieu: Can we please take that cheagle with us? Anise: Oh, yeah. No one's going to be coming here anymore... Luke: Okay. Let's take him. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SH6} \ >>> Sheridan \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Aston: Oh, it's you. Jade: Good timing. We'd like to borrow the meeting room to discuss what we're going to do next. Aston: Feel free. I'm sure Iemon would be happy you've come. The party goes into the meeting room. Luke: Tear, please tell us what you were doing. Tear: ...I'm sorry. I thought the miasma might be accumulating in my brother, too, since he also used the passage rings. Luke: And you were worried about him? Tear: Worried... Yes, perhaps that's what it was. I saw Major Legretta drop the Ortion Cavern ore. I felt like he was calling me. So I thought I'd try to persuade him one last time, alone. Guy: That's a sister for you. Tear: ...But that's over now. This whole time, I kept hoping Van might stop this insanity. But...Van and I have chosen our separate paths. Luke: Are you sure you're okay with having to fight him? Tear: ...Did you forget? That's why I came to the Outer Lands. I won't hesitate any longer. Jade: It sounds like she's made up her mind. Shall we head for the next passage ring? Anise: Next is Mt. Roneal... Which is supposedly crawling with lots of nasty monsters. Natalia: ...Legretta and the other God-Generals will be waiting for us as well. Tear: Major... Ion: It's a dangerous place, but there's definitely a passage ring there. Luke: ...Are you ready, Tear? Tear: ...Yes. Of course. Luke: Okay, then let's head for Mt. Roneal. Jade: If you don't mind, I'd like to stop in Keterburg. Let's ask Nephry about the current conditions on Mt. Roneal. Luke: Okay. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Siblings' Bond Broken' [SK279] | | Anise: I guess Tear was hesitant to fight the Commandant after all. | Guy: Yeah, well, he is her only living family, after all. | Luke: I'd be more surprised if she didn't hesitate. | Anise: I don't think I could ever fight family... | Guy: Yeah...that must've been a really tough decision for Tear. | Luke: As if the strain on her body from the passage rings wasn't | enough... The strain on her heart must be terrible. | Ion: I wish we didn't have to force such pain on her... | Luke: But we can't afford to stop! For the sake of everyone on | Auldrant... | Anise: Luke... | Luke: ...Let's go to Mt. Roneal. We'll take care of the God-Generals | there. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mieu: Master, what are we going to do with this cheagle? Luke: Oh, yeah. Hmm... We can't take him back to the forest. It's in the Qliphoth now. Aston: What's up? Luke: Ah, we picked up this cheagle, but we can't take him with us... Aston: Oh. Well, heck, I'll take care of him at my place for a while. Mieu: Great! Thank you! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Van's Purpose' [SK278] | | Jade: Van's plan may seem crazy at first glance, but in fact, it's | remarkably well thought out. | Luke: Destroying Lorelei and the Seventh Fonon to prevent replicas | from disintegrating, and the Score from being read... | Natalia: It really is unbelievable. | Jade: Unbelievable, perhaps, but it seems like he intends to go | through with it. | Natalia: Asch would never cooperate with Van! | Jade: Van might be able to use Asch's power even without his | cooperation. Just as he did with Luke. | Natalia: B-but... | Jade: In any case, our top priority is to lower the Outer Lands | safely. Besides, now we know where Van is. | Luke: Jade's right. Before we head to the Absorption Gate to stop him, | we have to work the passage ring at Mt. Roneal. | Natalia: Yes...very well. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:KE3} \ >>> Keterburg \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party goes to Nephry's manor. Nephry: Jade! Perfect timing! Jade: What is it? Nephry: Saphir collapsed in the town square and hasn't woken up since. Luke: Saphir? Jade: Dist's real name. Anise: Huh?! What's Dist doing collapsed out here?! Nephry: Apparently my brother promised to meet Saphir here. He keeps mumbling "is Jade here yet?" Guy: ...Didn't we get a letter from him when we were looking for the flightstone? Natalia: My, he waited so dutifully for Jade. Jade: Well, he is an idiot, after all. Still, this is convenient. We'll beat him awake and ask him about Mt. Roneal. Where is he? Nephry: I rented a room at the inn and put him to bed there. Jade: Then call the military police and send them to the inn. Nephry: You're going to arrest him... Fine. But don't let them do anything violent to him. Jade: I wouldn't dream of it. Now then, Luke, let's go to the inn. Luke: ...Right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `When the World Changes' [SK282] | | Luke: Soon the entire world will change. | Jade: The question is, will people be able to accept the change...? | Mieu: I'm a little scared, too. | Natalia: Even if we lower the Outer Lands and eliminate the miasma, we | may not be able to live like we did before. | Luke: I guess some disorder can't be helped... | Mieu: Everybody in the forest will probably be surprised, too... | Natalia: It is the responsibility of the rulers of Kimlasca and Malkuth | to look after their people. That is the purpose of royalty, of | government. As for the cheagles...we'll have to leave that to | Mieu. Mieu, you can handle that, can't you? | Mieu: I'll try! | Jade: For now, let's worry about our own goals. | Luke: Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes to the hotel to find Dist, who is sleeping in a room. Dist: Jade...wait for me... ...zzz... Anise: ...He's playing tag with you in his dreams, Colonel. Jade: Well, now... I'll just ask him a little about Mt. Roneal. Please wait outside, everyone. The rest of the party waits outside, but can hear everything. Jade: ... The room shakes suddenly. Dist: ...Aaaaaaah! All: (!) Dist: S-stop! Stop! You're killing me! All: (sweatdrop) Dist: Jade! I'm sorryyyyyyyyyyy!! All: (...) The door opens and Jade comes out. Jade: It seems the earthquakes have lead to more frequent avalanches. Also, an extremely powerful monster has taken up residence in the deeper parts. The monsters in the area have likely grown aggressive due to that influence. Luke: O-okay... Um...about that scream just now... Jade: Oh, that was nothing. Now, let's be going. Luke: Right... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Jade and Dist' [SK283] | | Guy: Jade really is nasty to Dist, isn't he? | Anise: I don't know. I think they like each other. | Guy: They've known each other since they were kids, right? | Anise: Yeah, it looks like it. Nephry was nice to Dist, too, and | everyone here seems to think well of him. He must've been a | cute kid. | Tear: Maybe Jade has that attitude toward Dist in order to hide his | real feelings. | Guy: Hah hah hah! Maybe so... Kind of like getting angry at someone | you've fallen in love with. | [Tear leaves.] | Anise: Heh heh heh. Jade sure is cute, himself. | Jade: Hmm, a fascinating conversation. Cute, is it? | [Guy leaves.] | Anise: Whoa! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party leaves the hotel and meets up with a soldier. Jade: The God-General Dist is inside. Arrest him immediately. Soldier: Yes, sir! Jade: I softened him up a little, but stay cautious. Soldier: Understood! Luke: (...) Jade: Now we can head for Mt. Roneal. Luke: ...I think I understand now why everyone is so scared of you. As the party goes to exit Keterburg. Luke: Say, Jade, where is Mt. Roneal, anyway? Jade: It's to the west of here. If we walk for a while, it should come into view. Luke: Okay. Got it! Jade: Then, let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Coming Confrontation' [SK281] | | Anise: I wonder if Arietta will show up on Mt. Roneal, too... | Jade: Given their concern with our attempt to lower the Outer Lands, | it wouldn't surprise me to see them throw all of their strength | at us. | Tear: ...Including Largo? | Jade: The possibility does exist. | Mieu: Mieuuu... I'm scared of that big man. | Tear: Don't worry, Mieu. We'll protect you. | Jade: Besides, Mieu has a very important role to fill... | Mieu: Mieu? | Jade: ...Emergency rations, you know? | Mieu: M-m-mieu?! | [Mieu leaves.] | Tear: D-don't worry, Mieu! | Anise: Colonel, that's not funny. | Jade: Hah hah, I was serious. | Tear: ...... | Anise: ...You're the worst. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:MR1} \ >>> Mt. Roneal \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Ion: The God-Generals brought a regiment of Oracle Knights here once. The monsters and avalanches took many of them. Guy: Yeah, you can't outrun an avalanche. Jade: Don't make any more noise than you have to. All right? The party goes further in. Strong winds blow. Luke: Is that the wind...? Tear: It sounds like a woman crying... Anise: It's scary... Jade: (...) Guy: What is it, Jade? Don't tell me you're scared, too. Jade: No... I was just remembering the past. Natalia: The past? Jade: Heh heh. It's a story about the ghost of a woman who died in these mountains. Would you like to hear it? Natalia: Oh, I love those kinds of stories! Tear: S-stop wasting time! Let's go! Tear walks off. Luke: Huh? Don't tell me... Tear: I'm not scared at all! So let's get going! Tear: (////) All: (laughing) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Beware of Avalanches' [SK287] | | Natalia: Aaah! Ow...this area is rather slippery. | Tear: Natalia, are you okay? You have to be careful on--aaah! | Anise: Oh, look at you two! If you made sure to keep your feet planted | on the ground like I do-- Aaah! No way! | Jade: If you three scream like that, you could bring an avalanche down | on us. Please be caref--WHOA! | Luke: Whoa! Jade, don't grab onto my clothes like that! Ow ow ow... | [Luke leaves.] | Jade: ...My, my, Luke. I can't approve of your yelling and falling | down like that. | Natalia: ...... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `It's Freezing Up Here!' [SK285] | | Luke: Tear, are you okay? You look pale. | Tear: I do? I...I'm fine. | Guy: All this snow blowing around would get to anyone after a while. | Tear: No, really, I'm fine. Don't worry. | Guy: Yeah, but in this weather... | Tear: I'm fine, really! | Luke: Oh, I know! Hey, Anise...make that doll of yours really big. | That way Tear can snuggle with it and warm up. | Tear: What?! | Anise: With my doll? Well, I could, but wouldn't Tear be embarrassed? | Tear: I, um... | Luke: Oh, yeah. I guess she would be. | Guy: Tear's got her pride, after all. | Anise: I mean, I don't mind, but... | Luke: Oh, well. I guess I'll just have to get Jade to use fonic | artes... | Tear: But...I wanted the doll... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Only One Entrance' [SK286] | | Luke: Hey, Ion...only you can open the doors to the structures | protecting the Sephiroth, right? | Ion: Yes. The Daathic seals can only be opened by a Fon Master. | Luke: We just passed through a place that looked pretty similar to | those. Isn't that part of the same structure? | Ion: Most likely, yes. Tectonic shifts may have opened areas of the | structure to the outside. | Luke: So can't we just get to the Sephiroth from there, so you don't | have to open the whatever-it-was seal? | Ion: I thank you for your concern about my health. But the areas with | the passage rings are very solid. There's no way to enter | except through that door. ...Otherwise Van wouldn't have had | any reason to bring me here. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes further up the mountain and hears voices. Legretta's voice: Arietta, let's get a move on and make an avalanche... ...No matter. They already expect us to be here. Luke: ...There it is again. Now even I'm starting to feel weird. Tear: That's strange. That was... Jade: ...Yes. Human voices. Let's be careful. We're not alone here. Ion: Is it the God-Generals? Tear: ...I don't think there's any doubt. Luke: All right, stay on your toes. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Time to Settle Everything' [SK284] | | Anise: I wonder if we'll have to fight the God-Generals again... | Tear: Legretta said they would settle things here. | Luke: They're all still around except for Sync and Dist. | Natalia: They could attack us all at once. We need to prepare for a | difficult battle. | Jade: They can afford to sacrifice themselves to stop us, but we must | live through the battle. | Guy: Just where they want us. | Ion: Still, I don't think they'll be able to ambush us here. They'll | have to wait for us to enter the mountain, or they'll freeze to | death. | Anise: Maybe we'll get lucky and not even see them. | Natalia: I doubt that... | Guy: Either way, we'll have to deal with them eventually. Now is as | good a time as any. | Tear: Yes. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party reaches a snowy flat area. Legretta comes out. Luke: There they are! Natalia: Aah! Largo and Arietta appear. Arietta: Fon Master...don't get in the way. Ion: Arietta...I'm... Anise: Ion! There's no need to tell stupid Arietta! Ion: Anise... Anise: Some things are better left unknown. Arietta: (?) Legretta: Tear, stop sacrificing yourself. Is this world really worth that much? Tear: Major, I cannot follow my brother's extreme view. It frustrates me that I cannot stop him, but I look down on you more for not even trying. Legretta: ...Then I won't hold back any longer. We will eliminate all who oppose the Commandant! Largo and Natalia ready themselves for the fight. Largo: How about you go back to your castle and behave yourself, Princess? Natalia: Do not insult me. I have a duty to see everything through on behalf of my father. Largo: ...Your "father," huh. No matter. If we can't convince you, then we'll stop you by force! The battle begins. Largo: Looks like not killing you on the Tartarus has come back to haunt us. Luke: I'm not the same as I was then! Jade: You're mistakes are mine for not killing you earlier. Tear: The Fon Master has rejected a world of replicas! Arietta: You're the one who's putting the Fon Master in danger! Largo: What Arietta says is true. Legretta: The path of the Fon Master is the path of destruction! Guy: Oh, I can't let that one go! What do you think you are doing? Tear: Major! You are the ones trying to destroy the world! Legretta: You know too little of this world! Largo: Even if they did know, they'd just keep showing their petty sense of justice! Arietta: The Commandant will change the world. Legretta: We will not let you get in his way! The battle ends. The ground is shaking. Jade: No! The battle caused an avalanche! Tear: I'll sing a fonic hymn! Luke: There's no time! Soon after... Jade: Luke! Come on! Luke is dug out. Luke: We're alive...? Guy: We're lucky this was right below where we were. We managed to stop here... Luke: Then, those three God-Generals are... Anise: They fell into the ravine... Tear: ...It's all right. We would have killed Major Legretta regardless. She was an enemy. Anyway, look-it's the passage ring entrance. Luke: You're right! Of all the places... Jade: In a way, we were fortunate to have been caught in the avalanche. Ion: I'll unlock the seal. Anise: Ion, you're still weak from the avalanche... Ion: It's okay. Leave it to me. This is the last one. Luke: ...Thanks, Ion. Ion breaks the seal and falls to his knees again. Anise: Ion! Ion: ...It's all right. We're almost done. Luke: ...Okay. Let's go. The party reaches the passage ring. Luke: Tear, are you okay? Tear: ...If you mean in regard to the Major, I'm fine. Luke: That's not all. The miasma... Tear: Have you forgotten? We have to do what we can. Tear activates the device. The glyph appears. Jade: Now, Luke. We just need to connect all the Sephiroth to the Absorption and Radiation Gates. Luke: Got it. Luke uses his hyperresonance. Memory particles floating upwards. Luke: Okay. Done. Anise: Now, once we activate the two Gates, all the Sephiroth will connect. The earth shakes violently. Natalia: What's happening?! Luke: ...Did I screw something up?! Jade: Well played... Tear: What is it? What happened? Jade: Memory particles are flowing in reverse from the Absorption Gate. It's stimulating the Core by using the power of all the connected Sephiroth! Guy: Only someone who can control the passage rings could do that... Tear: Van! But why...?! He's at the Absorption Gate! If he reverses the flow of memory particles, then the Sephiroth Tree where he is will be reversed, and the entire Tuft Archipelago will fall along with the gate. Jade: No, we have made the power of all the world's Sephiroth to flow into the Absorption Gate. He's probably using the excess power from that to reverse the Sephiroth. In fact, if anything's going to fall, it'll be everything EXCEPT the Absorption Gate. Luke: We're sure as hell not letting that happen! Anise: Hey, the Tartarus is neutralizing the vibration in the core, right? If this stimulates the core... Natalia: The Tartarus will break apart! Luke: Damn it! We have to stop Master Van! Anise: Don't forget to let Ion get some rest back in town. Ion: I'm sorry... Guy: Don't apologize. You've been risking your life to save us. Even Luke understands we need to let you rest, right? Luke: Yeah. Sorry, Ion. Hang on just a little longer. Ion: Right. Thank you. The party is about to exit when Tear looks back. Tear: ...I don't understand why the Major and the others believe in Van's insane ideal. Guy: I'm sure they each have their reasons. I think I understand. Natalia: Guy... But why...? Guy: For years, I'd promised to work together with Van to get revenge on the Duke. If I'd taken a slightly different path somewhere, I might have been on their side. Luke: Guy... Even knowing the world Master Van is trying to create? Guy: If that means that Hod...that my friends and family would come back, even as replicas, that's fine with me... Luke: Guy! Guy: ...That's how I might have thought. Honestly, even now, I'm not sure what's right. Luke: ...Yeah. You lost your home. Jade: Presumably, each God-General has something they care about so strongly that they would destroy the world. And those feelings coincide with Van's ideal. Luke: We're both trying to preserve mankind, so why is Master Van so far apart from us? Tear: A world that keeps originals, and a world that kills them... So close, yet so very far... ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:KE4} \ >>> Keterburg \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Noelle: I've been waiting for you. Luke: Noelle! What are you doing here? Noelle: ...Actually, the Albiore's hover drive has frozen over in the cold Anise: Whaat?! Noelle: I'm working with Nephry to repair it, but it'll take at least the rest of the night. Luke: Oh...I was hoping we could set out as soon as we let Ion rest... Guy: Oh, well, some things can't be helped. Tear: Yes, let's use this time to prepare for tomorrow. Jade: Our enemy is Dorian General Grants. You saw what he was like at Belkend. We need to be as prepared as we can. Anise: Okay, I'll go leave Ion with Nephry. You guys work on getting ready to go. Anise drags Ion away. Natalia: ...All right, then. Let's split up here for today and make preparations. Noelle: I'll get the Albiore in top shape. Please get some rest. Jade: When you get tired, head for the inn. Luke gets to talks to the party members. Mieu: Master, what should I do tomorrow? Luke: You? Hmm... Mieu: Should I breathe fire in Van's face? Or... Luke: You can hide in the item bag like normal. Mieu: Really? But then I won't be helping... Luke: You already help plenty. You're annoying, but you do cheer us up. Mieu: Master praised me! Mieu bounces in circles around Luke. Luke: I take it back. You're just annoying. Mieu: Mieuuu... Guy... Guy: What's up? You look serious. Luke: Really? Well, maybe so. We are going to fight Master Van, after all. Guy: Yeah. We're going to fight Van... Luke: (?) Guy: Ah...sorry. I was just thinking about when we were kids. Luke: ...That's right, you and Master Van were childhood friends. Guy: Heh heh, well, yeah. I used to be scared of everything. My sister used to scold me for not being a man. It was Van who always defended me. Luke: It's hard for me to imagine Master Van having been a child. Guy: Don't be stupid. Everyone was a kid once. Luke: (...) Guy: ...Even you. Seven years old is still a child, you know. Luke: What are you talking about? I don't remember being that young! Guy: You idiot. You're only seven now. Luke: ...Oh. That's what you meant. Guy: You've got thirteen years before you're an adult. Enjoy your childhood. Luke: Guy...Thanks. I'm glad I grew up with you. Guy: Hah hah. Come on. Say, "shut up" or "what a pain" or something. That'd be more like you. Luke: (angry) Luke: ...All right. When this is all over, I'll say, "Man, that was a pain." Guy: Just don't say it in front of His Majesty. He'll give you that look of his. Jade... Jade: To be honest, when I first met you, I thought I'd never be able to like you. Luke: I felt the same way. You were obnoxious and insulting. Jade: But, well, since we've been traveling together, I've come to think that you're...not so bad. Luke: ...Are you being serious for a change? Jade: Yes. I know about the nightmares that still wake you in the middle of the night. Luke: (...) Jade: For you, the fall of Akzeriuth still isn't a part of the past. Luke: Well, yeah. What do you expect? Jade: On night when you've killed bandits or Oracle soldiers, you lie there awake, shaking. Luke: ...I'm a coward. Jade: No. That part of you is something I lack. I...still can't really grasp what it means for people to die. Luke: Jade... Jade: I've learned a lot of things by watching you. Luke: I'm glad I've traveled with you, Jade. Thanks to you, I've learned what I need to do. It's not the same as Master Van, but you're still a teacher and a mentor to me. Jade: I hate teaching. I don't take apprentices. I don't impart knowledge. Luke: That's okay. I'll just steal it on my own. Jade: Oh? Heh heh. All right. Natalia... Natalia: So many things have happened. Luke: Yeah. Natalia: You and I are both completely different people than we were before this journey. Luke: I'm sorry, Natalia. Natalia: My, what is it? It's rare for you to apologize. Luke: I couldn't keep my promise. Natalia: (?) Luke: My proposal. I couldn't remember the words. I never knew them. Natalia: ...You heard us talking. Luke: (?) Natalia: In Sheridan. Luke: Y-you knew I was there? Natalia: Would you say them to me? Luke: Wh-why...? Natalia: ...I think it will help me put a lot of things to rest. Luke: ...Some day, when we're grown up, let's change this country. Change it so that no one has to be poor. Change it so that war never happens. ...Let's work to change our country. For the rest of our lives. Together. Natalia: ...Thank you. I'll no longer hesitate or doubt who you are. Just as I've accepted that I'm not of royal descent, I'll accept you as you are. Luke: Natalia... Natalia: You're my dear childhood friend, just like Asch. Let's make it through all this alive and together make Kimlasca good. Luke: Yeah. Thanks. Tear... Tear: All of Van's God-Generals but Dist are dead. All that's left is Van himself. Luke: Tear, are you really okay with fighting Master Van? Tear: To tell the truth... Luke: Yeah? Tear: ...I don't want to. Van was like a father to me. Even after he left for the Outer Lands, he still came back to see me. Luke: ...Yeah. Tear: I loved him. That's why I wanted to make him stop this ridiculous plan... Luke: Let's try talking to him again, Tear. Tear: It's impossible! He'll never listen. Luke: Still, one last time. We'll start with what we can do, right? Tear: You've changed... Luke: ...What's with you, all of a sudden? Tear: People really can change. But...Van doesn't think so. My brother is the biggest fool, the real slave to Yulia's Score. Luke: Tear...If it's too painful, you don't have to come with us. Tear: You idiot. I promised I'd watch you. Luke: Tear... Tear: And besides, as his sister... It's my role to end his life. Luke: Just don't push yourself. Tear: ...Thanks, Luke. Anise... Luke: Anise...are you crying? Anise: I...I'm not crying! I was just thinking about a bunch of stuff. Luke: Don't try to hide it. I see the trails left behind by your tears... Anise: ...Man, how cheesy. You sound like Guy. Luke: I'm not trying to sound cool. I'm just worried about you. Anise: Oh? So you do love me, after all? Luke: Th-that's not what I meant! Anise: Really? I might not mind marrying you now, if you want. Luke: Oh. Gee. Anise: Arietta died without ever getting the chance to marry someone... ...It must have been cold, under all that snow... Luke: So that's what you were crying for. Anise: N-no! No it wasn't! ...Arietta never knew that the person she loved was no longer part of this world. But the Commandant knew it and used her. And she died because of it... It's just... Luke: I don't think that's really the kind of person Master Van is. Anise: ...You honor the Commandant way too much, Luke. Tear's suffering because of him... And he used Ion just like Arietta... I hate that old fool! Luke: ...O-old fool... Anise: Luke. Get ready to fight! Tomorrow, we're going to win! Luke: ...I know. I won't lose. I have all of you with me. Ion... Luke: So, you're a replica, too. Ion: Yes. Van made me. We were examined to find out who would be the most appropriate as the Fon Master... Luke: And you were chosen. Ion: Yes. I always thought. "It doesn't matter if I die because they can just replace me with another." Luke: No, they can't! I mean, if they could do that with you, then they could with me, too... Ion: You're right. When I saw Sync die right before my eyes, I finally understood. I'm Ion's replacement, but there are no replacements for me. Luke: (...) Ion: Sync and I both hated being someone's replacement. So I suppressed my feelings. And Sync cursed that he had ever been born. Luke: I...I wonder what I really want to do with my life... Ion: I think I probably know what you want to do. Luke: What? Ion: Van holds the answer. I think you'll realize when you're free of Van. When you stand on your own. Luke heads to the hotel. Tear sees him. Tear: Luke, could I speak to you? Luke: Hmm? Tear: The Colonel sent a letter to King Ingobert and Emperor Peony. Luke: Did something happen? Tear: He told them to prepare because we don't know when the Outer Lands will begin to descend. Luke: Why? We still have the Absorption Gate and Radiation Gate left. Tear: The Colonel said to keep this between you and me... Because of what Van has done, the Outer Lands could fall at any time. He said there may not be time to activate the Radiation Gate. Luke: But we've set the Outer Lands to descend when the Radiation Gate is activated. Tear: He seems to have a plan, though he said he wanted to avoid it if possible. Luke: Okay. In other words, the two of us need to be ready to deal with it. Tear: Right. Sorry to bother you. Sleep well. Tear leaves. During the night, Luke hears a that noise that signals Asch or Lorelei making contact with him. Luke: ...There it is again! The scene flashes to Asch talking to Noelle. Asch: ...You're heading for the Absorption Gate right away, then? Okay. Noelle: Take care. Noelle walks off. Asch: What do you want, replica? Luke walks up to Asch. Luke: Didn't you call me? I heard that noise that always gives me headaches. Asch: ...The time must be drawing near. Luke: Who cares! Are you okay? Master Van wounded you... Asch: ...I don't need YOU worrying about me! What?! If you've got something to say, say it! Luke: ...Thanks. Even though you hate me, you still keep helping us with everything... Asch grabs Luke by the collar. Asch: Don't get me wrong! I'm just using you! It's not for your sake! If you ever say that again, I'll kill you! Asch throws Luke down. Luke: ...Asch! Come with us to stop Master Van. Let's stop him together. Asch: ...No! Luke: Why?! Luke runs up to Asch and knocks him over. Asch grabs at his side. Luke: Asch! Your stomach is bleeding! Asch: ...Damn it! If I wasn't in this shape, I'd have headed for the Absorption Gate ages ago! ...If you don't take Van out, then I'll kill him, even if I have to go down with him. Luke: All right. I swear I'll stop him. Asch: Not "stop"! Kill! Luke: Right... The scene goes back to a room in the hotel. Luke is ready to depart. The party meets up near the front area of Keterburg. Ion: They've finished the repairs on the Albiore. Noelle's waiting for us at the port. Anise: Ion, are you feeling okay? Ion: I'd like to say I'm fine...but I think I'd be a burden if I went with you. Luke: Okay... Ion: I'll await your return here. So, Anise, I want you to see things through for me. Anise: ...You got it! Jade: Well then, it's finally time. Are you ready, Luke? Luke: Yeah. Ready, guys? Anise: You bet! (heart) I've got to go stop the Commandant's scheme for Ion. Tear: ...Yes. Even if we have to take his life. Natalia: Tear. Are you really sure? Tear: ...Yes. Guy: If Tear is that resolved, we all need to be, as well. Luke: We'll stop the reverse flow from the Absorption Gate and lower the Outer Lands. ...Even if it means fighting Master Van! Mieu: I'll do my best too! Luke: Hah hah. I'm counting on you, Mieu. Everyone. Luke: Let's go! To the Absorption Gate! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Night Before - Girl Talk' [SK290] | | Anise: I'm getting a little nervous... | Natalia: As am I. The fate of Auldrant rests in our hands. | Tear: We can't lose this battle. Van shows no mercy to those who | oppose his ideals... Not even his own sister. We need the same | resolve. | Anise: We have to give it everything we've got! | Natalia: Yes... For the sake of everyone who helped us get this far, and | for the sake of the world. | Tear: Even if it means taking my brother's life, we must see this | through. | Anise: Tear...don't push yourself too hard. | Natalia: Remember, you are not fighting alone. | Tear: Anise, Natalia...thank you. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Night Before - Guy Talk' [SK289] | | Luke: Guy, can I borrow you for some sword practice? | Guy: Huh? What for, all of a sudden? | Jade: Are you worried, Luke? | Luke: I've never fought a real battle with Master Van before, | so...yeah, I guess... | Guy: Well, he's a top-class swordsman, and a Seventh Fonist on top of | that. I can't blame you. | Luke: To be honest, I'm scared...really scared. But we can't lose | this! | Guy: Well, let's do it! I could use the workout myself. | Jade: Perhaps I'll take advantage of this opportunity too. | Luke: That's unusual. | Guy: To what do we owe this honor? | Jade: I'm not particularly fond of such activities, but after all, we | can't afford to lose here. | Luke: Yeah! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Decisive Battle' [SK288] | | Luke: So this is it... Everything gets settled today. | Tear: The Outer Lands, the miasma, Van's ambitions... | Mieu: I'm excited! | Guy: It sure has been an eventful journey, though... | Anise: Reminiscing like that is a sure sign of old-fogeyness, you | know. | Guy: Hey, I'm not that old! | Natalia: Hee hee. It certainly forced us to confront what our duties | truly are. | Jade: And we still have one duty left. | Luke: Yeah. Let's head for the Absorption Gate and stop Master Van! | All: Yeah! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:AG1} \ >>> Absorption Gate \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party gets near the entrance. Mieu: I feel a huge amount of fonons! Jade: The Absorption Gate is one of the largest Sephiroth. It's part of what creates the Planet Storm. Guy: You're staying here all alone, Noelle? Don't you get scared doing that every time? Noelle: Thank you for your concern. But I'm fine. I'll stay here and pray for your safety. Please take care! Luke: Thanks. ...We'll see you when we get back. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Confronting Van' [SK293] | | Jade: ...... | Luke: Jade? What's wrong? | Jade: I was thinking about why Van might have chosen to settle things | here at the Absorption Gate. | Tear: Wouldn't it be so he could operate the passage ring? | Luke: Yeah. That's what I thought, too. | Jade: If that were the case, then his work should have been finished | back at Mt. Roneal. | Tear: So he wanted to prevent us from operating the passage ring | here? | Jade: That would be the most obvious reason... He has demonstrated | very thorough planning, after all. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes inside. Natalia: My, is this the Absorption Gate? Anise: The Planet Storm is being sucked in... What's that sparkling stuff...? Guy: Memory particles. It's beautiful, like falling snow... The party goes further in and the area shakes. Anise: What the...?! Luke: Whoa...that was close... Tear: The Outer Lands may be approaching their limit. Natalia: ...Let's hurry. We can't allow this world to end. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `No Need for Little Tricks' [SK294] | | Natalia: All these earthquakes... We must not have much time left. | Anise: Oh no! Really? | Guy: We should be safe for a while. Van hasn't created his replicas | yet. He probably isn't finished with his preparations. | Anise: But that doesn't mean we can just stand around! | Natalia: No...this is Van, after all. There's no telling what traps he | may have set. | Guy: Well, I don't think he's the type to resort to little tricks at | this point. | Anise: Why not? | Guy: I've known him for a long time. That just doesn't seem like | him. | Anise: Huh... Well, let's get it over with! I don't like waiting like | this. | Guy: Yeah, I'm with you there. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Carefully and Quickly' [SK295] | | Luke: How far down does this thing go, anyway? | Tear: Well, since the Planet Storm ends here, it would have to go down | at least as far as the bottom of the Outer Lands. | Luke: The bottom of the Outer Lands... | Tear: Depending on the location of the passage ring, we may have a | long way ahead of us. Luke, don't forget to keep yourself | healed. We have to proceed carefully. | Jade: Carefully, yes, but also quickly. We don't have much time left. | Tear: Yes. | Luke: Carefully and quickly. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes further in. Luke: This is a big one! Guy: Be careful, the floor's--! Tear: Aah! The floor breaks apart and the scene fades out. Luke: Uahh! The scene fades back in. Luke, Tear and Mieu have been separated from the rest of the group. Luke: Tear, are you okay? Tear: ...Yes, I think so. What about the others? Luke: We got separated. I hope they're all right... Tear: ...The one I'd be the most worried about is safe. I'm sure the rest are fine. Luke: Hey... Tear: Heh heh... Sorry. Oh... Tear walks up to Luke. Luke: (...) Luke: (////) Tear: You're bleeding. Mieu: Tear's right! We have to do something! Tear: Hold on. I'll heal you- Luke: It's no big deal! It'll heal on it's own! Tear: What are you so mad about? Luke: I'm not mad! A-anyway, let's keep going. Maybe we can join up with the others. Tear: (?) Tear: R-right. Okay. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Tear's Resolve' [SK296] | | Tear: Van... | Luke: Tear? Is something wrong? | Tear: No...I was just thinking about fighting Van... | Luke: That's what you came to the Outer Lands for, isn't it? ...It | must hurt, having to fight your brother. | Tear: ...I wish I could say it didn't. But...I have no choice. | Luke: I'll fight too, as hard as I can. Let's make this our last | battle... | Tear: Heh heh... I never expected you to cheer me up. | Luke: Uh...did I mess it up? | Tear: Not at all. Thank you, Luke. Let's go. | Luke: Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Battle Nears' [SK298] | | Natalia: It seems we will have to fight Van after all... | Guy: Probably. He was never one to bend to someone else's will. No | matter how we argue, he won't listen. | Natalia: I suppose this will be another fight to the death for us. | Guy: It'll be the last one. If we take care of Van, the Outer Lands | will be saved. Right? | Natalia: Right. The arrow of Natalia Luzu Kimlasca-Lanvaldear shall | strike him down--for the world. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After Guy and Natalia travel for a bit... Natalia: Do you think it's safe to continue downward? Guy: I can't make any guarantees, but we don't have much choice. Natalia: True... I hope we can rejoin everyone soon. Guy: Are you worried? Natalia: ...No. I have you at my side, and I've seen everyone's strength in our travels together. Guy: Yeah. And we've gotten Asch's seal of approval, too. Natalia: Asch...? Guy: You know how he is. If he didn't think we could do this, he'd be here taking care of Van himself. The fact that he hasn't shown himself means he trusts us. Natalia: ...Yes. I'll have to show him that his trust is not misplaced. Guy: And the first step to doing that is to rejoin everyone else. Natalia: Right! Guy starts to walk off. Natalia: You know, Guy... Guy: What's wrong? Natalia: ...You really are very nice. Thank you. Guy: You're welcome! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Van's Strength' [SK297] | | Anise: At last, we fight the Commandant... Do you think we have a | chance, Colonel? | Jade: Hmm... Van is quite skilled with both strike and fonic artes, | but his mind is particularly strong. That's why we can't | convince him to stop. He's likely to continue the fight as long | as he can. | Anise: Yeah... He seems really stubborn. | Jade: But we can't afford a drawn-out battle. The Outer Lands may | collapse at any moment. | Anise: Oh, man... But...but we'll get him anyway! We have to! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Tear and Luke go further in. Luke: Whew...these battles sure are tough with just the two of us. Tear: Yes...but things are much different than they were back then. Luke: Back when? Tear: When we were thrown into Tataroo Valley. Luke: Oh, yeah... That was just the two of us, too, wasn't it? Tear: To be honest, at the time I couldn't trust you are all on the battlefield. Luke: ...W-well, excuse me. Tear: But now, I feel differently. You've grown. Luke: (////) Luke: Th-thanks. But I still have a long way to go. Tear: What? Luke: None of that growth will matter if I don't stop Master Van and his replica scheme. Tear: Yes...you're right. Luke: Tear... Tear: ...I can trust you now. Luke: Tear... Tear: Let's go Luke. Luke: Right! Jade's party goes along further in. Anise: It's kind of lonely with just the two of us, huh? Jade: There's Tokunaga as well. It doesn't feel like just the two of us to me. Anise: I guess you're right. Well, I lucked out and got you, but do you think Luke and the others are okay? Jade: Well, Tear and Guy are both reasonably experienced fighters... Anise: Colonel! What about Luke and Natalia? Jade: Oh...they'll be fine. They've managed to survive this long. Anise: (lightbulb) Anise: Now I get it. It's not that you don't care. It's that you really believe in them. Right? (music note) Jade: (!) Jade: ...Hah hah hah hah hah! Anise: Wh-what? What is it, Colonel? Jade: Yes, I suppose one could view it that way. She's right. I suppose I wouldn't have stayed with them this far if I didn't. Anise: Colonel! What are you standing there agreeing with yourself about? Jade: Oh nothing. Let's hurry up and rejoin the others. Anise: Okay! Jade: I'm counting on you, Anise. Anise: Heh heh (heart) I'm counting on you too! (heart) The party rejoins. Luke: You're okay! Natalia: Of course we are! What about you? You took so long, we were starting to get worried. Tear: I'm sorry. Jade: We've been waiting for you. We have something important to talk about. Luke: What's up? You sound serious. Guy: The passage ring is up ahead. Luke: That means Master Van is there, too... Anise: The Colonel says we lower the Outer Lands as soon as we defeat the Commandant. Luke & Tear: (!) Luke: There's not enough time, huh? Jade: Even in the Albiore, it would take too long to get to the Radiation Gate from here. The Outer Lands would probably fall while we were in transit. Tear: But how do we lower the Outer Lands without activating the Radiation Gate? Jade: We write, "Redirect the Radiation Gate commands to the Absorption Gate." It should be possible in theory since the passage rings are connected. Though it is a rather clumsy method. Tear: Yes, we haven't activated the Gate. Luke: What about after that? Is that it? Jade: We'll send Seventh Fonons into the Absorption Gate Sephiroth. That's the sign to begin the descent. But the Seventh Fonons must come from the one who issued the command-you, Luke. Luke: ...Got it. I'll do it. I can't fail after coming this far. Jade: Well then, shall we be going? Is everyone ready? Luke: I am. How about you all? Tear: Of course. I'm going to stop my b...Van. Guy: I was originally Van's lord, after all. The master has to clean up after his servant's mistakes. Natalia: I'll stop Van's scheme. I'll save the world no matter what. Anise: I have to get to Commandant under control, or I'll never get to marry a rich husband. Jade: My, my, what passion! What fervor! Guy: But you're the same as always. Jade: Indeed. I'm afraid those sort of lines don't fit me. Luke: True enough. ...Okay, let's go! The party reaches Van at last. He is sitting down, playing an organ. Van: ...Why are you here? It was Asch-the original-who was meant to come, to build a new order together with me. Van stands and turns towards the party. Van: Don't get in my way, replica! Luke: Then... Then why did you make me?! Who am I?! Why was I born?! Van: Can you not live unless you were born for some purpose? That's why you're nothing more than a replica. Well then, you poor, pitiful replicas. You were born as a throwaway pawn, a substitute to overturn Yulia's Score. That is all. Luke: ...Master. Is that really all I am? My existence caused the Score to go off track, didn't it? Van: An insignificant deviation like you is as nothing before Yulia's Score. Though its leaves may change, the true essence of the tree does not. The Score is a drug. "If you walk to the east, you shall discover great riches." If that reading came true, you would want to believe the next as well. Over the course of 2000 years, Yulia has caused mankind to become addicted to the Score. Van randomly presses the keys on the organ. Van: A powerful medicine is needed to remedy 2000 years of distortion. Jade: And your replica world is that medicine? You have quite the imagination. Van: Heh... Imagination... Yes, perhaps we can call it that. Guy: It's true that this world is twisted, ruled by the Score. But a replica world is a pretty twisted idea, too. Natalia: Exactly. If you don't cease this terrible undertaking, you'll force Tear to suffer... Anise: She's your sister! Are you really going to fight her?! Van: Mystearica. It is indeed unfortunate. If only you'd stayed in Yulia City... I could have at least spared you. Tear: You're trying to make a world of replicas, aren't you? Then just kill me and make a replica. Van turns again towards the party. Van: ...You insist on fighting me? Tear: ...Yes. That was the reason I originally came to the Outer Lands. Luke: Master... ...No...Van! Even if you refuse to acknowledge me... I... Luke pulls out his sword. Luke: ...I am me! Van: Meaningless babble... Van draws his sword. Van: Die! The battle starts. Tear: Van, wasn't there any other way? Van: Fools! Yulia's Score controls the world! If humanity does not create a new world, without the Score, it will perish! Tear: The Score is not the absolute future! Jade: The fact that Luke exists shows that there are deviations from the Score. Van: No, you don't know the true essence of the Score! Even if it is not written, the Score exists nevertheless, leaving us with certain destruction! Luke: People aren't that foolish! People have their own wills to avoid destruction Van: Such impudence from a replica! Anise: Yeah, well, you're too stubborn to listen to anybody! So our only choice is to crush you! Van: You will be the ones who are crushed. You who are fooled by the Score will die! Van is defeated. He puts his sword into the ground. Van: I never thought I would be defeated by such a failure. Heh heh heh heh heh hah hah hah heh heh heh. Oh how utterly ironic... Heh heh heh. Van falls backwards over the side, into the core. Guy: Tear... The rest of the party departs. Luke stays, and puts his hand on her shoulder. The party goes to the passage ring. Luke uses his hyperresonance, and The Outer Lands begin to descend. But Luke falters this time. Luke: Damn it! I don't have enough power! Argh! Asch appears in a short flash, helping Luke. Luke: This hyperresonance... It's him! The Outer Lands finish descending, thanks to Asch's help. Jade: It appears that the miasma is adhering to the dividing line just as we had expected. A strange sound is heard. Lorelei: Asch...Luke...I will send you the key! Use it to set me free! One who would seize glory...is trying...to capture me! Luke falls to his knees in obvious pain. Jade: Luke? What is it? Luke: Lorelei... ...No, it's not important right now. We have to tell everyone it worked. Natalia: Yes. Ion and Noelle and Father... I'm sure they're all worried about us. Tear: ...Van. Luke: Tear... Tear: I'm sorry, Luke... I'm glad we did what we did. Luke: Okay. Let's go home, guys! To our world! Luke: (Asch... Thanks...) Asch can be seen at another passage ring. He leaves. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:BA5} \ >>> Baticul \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ It's Remday, Gnome-Decan 28. Luke is sleeping on his bed. Mieu is there. Mieu: Master, wake up! Luke rolls over. Luke: No... Mieu: Mieuuu. You Mom and Dad are calling you. Luke sits up. Luke: (I really don't want to go...) Luke goes to the drawing room. Duke & Madam Fabre and General Cecille are there. Duke Fabre: Were you still asleep? Luke: ...I'm sorry. Duke Fabre: It's been a month since you came home. Princess Natalia is traveling the world on official business, and look at you! Start living a little more like a member of House Fabre. Luke: ...Is that all you wanted to talk about? Duke Fabre: No. I want to confirm something regarding the battle at the Absorption Gate. When Van fell into the core, did his sword stay stuck in the floor? Luke: (?) Luke: Yes... Cecille: Field Marshal, that must mean someone has... Duke Fabre: Yes. Luke: Did something happen? Cecille: We received word from Belkend that the Planet Storm has suddenly grown more active. Duke Fabre: We sent teams to investigate the Absorption Gate and the Radiation Gate. They found signs that someone else had been there, and Van's sword was gone. Luke: Someone took it? Cecille: We believe so. Duke Fabre: Brigadier General Cecille, we must report this to His Majesty. Cecille: Yes. Your Grace. Duke Fabre departs with Cecille. Susanne: ...How about going to see your fiends? Luke: Mother...? Susanne: You've been moping about ever since you returned to the manor... You look as though you feel you don't belong here. Luke: Th-that's not... Susanne: Ever since His Grace gave Guy time off, this manor has been nothing but stuffy and uncomfortable for you, hasn't it? Why don't you go out. Enjoy a change of scenery. Just promise me you'll come back. Luke: ...It's okay for me to come back? Susanne: Of course. Let's see... Ramdas should know where your friends are. Please do be careful. Luke received the Lost Child title. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `One Month Later' [SK299] | | Luke: *Sigh* | Mieu: Master, ever since we came back, you've been sighing all the | time... | Luke: Yeah... I guess there's just a lot on my mind. | Mieu: Like what? | Luke: Stuff... How everybody's doing, what's going to happen next... | What Asch is up to, I guess... | Mieu: Hmm... | Luke: And now I've managed to blow a whole month thinking about | them... | Mieu: Master... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke speaks with Ramdas. Ramdas: His Graces had asked me not to deliver them, but I have some letters addressed to you. Luke: Why would Father do that...? Ramdas: His Graces wishes you associate only with people befitting the heir to the Duchy. Luke: The real heir is Asch, not me! You know that! Give me those letters! Luke obtained A Letter From Friends. Luke runs outside to read them. Luke: ...Guy, Anise and Tear, huh. I guess there's no way Asch would send one. Mieu: Master... Do you miss Asch? Luke: He helped us lower the Outer Lands. And he's the one who should really be here, not me... Luke & Mieu: (...) Luke: I wish I could project my voice the way he does. I did it once before... Mieu: Now that you mention it, Master, since defeating Van, you haven't had any headaches. Luke: Yeah, you're right. I don't hear Asch or Lorelei anymore. Luke remembers what Lorelei said. Lorelei's voice: ...Asch, Luke! I will send you the key! Use it to set me free! ...One who would seize glory... is trying to capture me... Luke: (That was the last time I heard it...) Luke: Oh, well. Let's go. Mieu: You're going to go see everyone? Luke: Yeah. I'm worried about what Father said. I'd like to ask what the others think. Mieu: We're going on another journey! Where do we head first? Luke: The port. Mieu: Mieuu? Luke: We're going to Sheridan to borrow the Albiore. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What Is Everyone Up To?' [SK300] | | Mieu: It's been so long since we've seen everybody! I'm so excited! | Luke: Yeah...it sure has been a while. | Mieu: What's everybody been up to? | Luke: Tear's probably in Yulia City helping out Teodoro. I think Guy | is with Jade in Grand Chokmah. Ion's the Fon Master, so he's in | Daath, and Anise apparently got her job back as Fon Master | Guardian. And Natalia's been all over the place as an emissary | of Kimlasca. | Mieu: They sound busy. | Luke: Yeah...I'm the only one who's been sitting around, really. | Mieu: Oh, it's all right! You've been eating all your meals properly! | Luke: That doesn't really make me feel any better, Mieu. | Mieu: Mieu... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Mieu's Name' [SK301] | | Luke: Wait... If I'm going to borrow the Albiore, I'll need Noelle's | help too. | Mieu: Can't you fly it yourself? | Luke: Guy might've been able to. Me...well, I'm not much good for | anything. | Mieu: That's not true! You gave me the name "Thing"! | Luke: ...*Sigh* I'm sorry I called you that... | Mieu: Mieu? Are you taking it back? | Luke: (...Well, he really is, like, a "thing," but...) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Aboard the ferry to Sheridan... Mieu: Master, aren't you going to read the letters? Luke: Hmm? Yeah, I guess. Tear: Luke. With the descent of the Outer Lands, Yulia City fell into a temporary state of chaos. Even the lowest members of the Order of Lorelei know of its connection to Yulia City. My grandfather, Teodoro, is rushing to establish a new order. My brother Van's crimes were concealed due to his death, and a service was held. Some Oracle Knights have left the Order. Their whereabouts are presently unknown. Significant time is thought necessary before the situation settles down. I'm sorry if this sounds strange. I've never written a letter before. Luke: ...This is a situation report, not a letter. Guy: Luke, how are you doing? Thanks to Emperor Peony, I built a mansion in Grand Chokmah and have started a new life. I guess I'm a noble, too, so I've started visiting the House of Lords. Although my job at the moment is just to walk His Imperial Majesty's pet rappigs. It's not that different from being your servant. I get nostalgic for the old days with you. I'd love to have you out here any time you want to visit. Luke: Walking rappigs... Anise: Hi, Luke! It's cute, loveable Anise! And I'm really bored! Ion is as out of it as ever, and the only other folks here are crusty old men. If things stay like this, I'm going to end up an old maid! So, if you insist, Luke, I'm willing to become your Duchess any time. I'll come visit you if you cover the trip. (heart) Please make it a VIP suite aboard the luxury cruiser Princess Natalia. Luke: *Sigh* She hasn't changed a bit... ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SH7} \ >>> Sheridan \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke heads to the meeting room. Aston: What, you came to borrow the Albiore, too? Luke: ...Someone else came to borrow it? Aston: He looked just like you. Said his name was Asch. Luke: (!) Aston: He was so insistent, I lent him the Albiore III. Luke: When was that?! Aston: About a month ago...around the time the Outer Lands got lowered. He said he was going to the Radiation Gate. Luke: Ah... That's when he helped me...) Luke: What about after that? Did he say anything? Like where he was going? Aston: Nope... Noelle: If you're looking for Asch, he said he was going to Yulia City. Luke: What? Noelle: The Albiore III returned for maintenance the other day. I heard he was going to Yulia City. Aston: So, you want the Albiore, right? Noelle, will you fly it for him? Noelle: Of course. Luke: Thanks. I'm always troubling you. Noelle: Not at all. I like flying, and it's an honor to do so with you again. Noelle: (////) Noelle: I'll move the Albiore outside. Noelle runs off. Aston: By the way, where are you going? Luke: I'm going to visit the others. Mieu: If we're following Asch, we're going to Yulia City. Tear's there, too! Luke: (angry) Luke: No one asked you to decide. Aston: Oh, I figured it was about the Planet Storm getting stronger. Luke: You've heard about that, too? Aston: Yep. It's all right for now, but if the Planet Storm grows any stronger, the Tartarus may not be able to suppress the core's vibration. Luke: I see... When I get to Yulia City, I'll ask them about that, too. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Let's Go to Yulia City' [SK302] | | Luke: I wonder what kind of business Asch might have in Yulia City... | Mieu: At least we know where he went now. | Luke: Yeah. | Mieu: And Tear's in Yulia City, too! | Luke: Who said anything about Tear? | Mieu: Mieu? Don't you want to see her? | Luke: Well...yeah, I want to...I mean, I want to see everybody. | Mieu: Do you want to see Tear or not? | Luke: I said everybody, not just Tear! Come on, we're going! | B-besides, if we miss Asch, we'll have to go find him again! | Mieu: Mieu? What are you angry about? | Luke: Look, you're getting on my nerves today! | Mieu: What did I do...? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:YU5} \ >>> Yulia City \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Teodoro: It's good to see you again, Luke. Luke: How are things in Yulia City? I heard it got a little chaotic. Teodoro: I was worried about what would happen to this world now that it's strayed from the Score. I wasn't sure if the people of this city could adapt, but we seem to be managing. So, what brings you here? Luke: Um, I wanted to ask if Asch had been here lately... Teodoro: Ah, he was just here. He asked if there were a way he could get to the core. Luke: The core? Why? Teodoro: He mentioned something about Lorelei, but wouldn't tell me the details. Luke: Lorelei... Luke thinks about what Lorelei said. Lorelei's voice: ...Asch, Luke! I will send you the key! Use it to set me free! ...One who would seize glory...is trying to capture me... Luke: (Is it connected to that voice I heard? Is that why he hasn't come back to Baticul?) Mieu: Master? What is it? Luke: Nothing. Teodoro: Asch may have been concerned about the Planet Storm strengthening as well. Luke: Is the situation with the core vibration that serious? Teodoro: No, there is no immediate risk. Tear is collecting documents for a report on the subject to Fon Master Ion. Please speak with her if you're concerned. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Let's See Tear' [SK303] | | Luke: What's Asch up to, anyway? Is he just going to skip out on | Baticul entirely...? | Mieu: I don't know... | Luke: The core, Lorelei, the Planet Storm... I don't have a clue | what's going on. | Mieu: Would Tear know? | Luke: She's writing up a report, so she probably knows something. | Let's go see her. | Mieu: Okay. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke heads toward Tear's room. In the garden, a stone was added in the middle. Tear: Thank you for...praying for Van. Luke: ...Long time no see. Thanks for the letter. Tear: Y-you're welcome. I'd never written a letter before... Luke: It was very...you. Tear: I was just telling Van about you. Luke: Tear... Tear: Van tried to abandon the original human race in order to eliminate the Score. But I'm sure we can turn this world into one without the Score. Why did my brother choose such an extreme method? What was wrong with your method, Luke? That's all I've been thinking about for this past month. I'm hopeless... Luke: ...I'm the same way. The more I think about it, the more scared I get. I shouldn't be in that manor. Asch should. But if I were forced out of my home, I don't know how I'd live. Tear: You can always find a way to live. You can get a job, even if it's a meager one. Luke: I know that! I'm sorry... But I don't even really have a name. Or a family. I'm empty. But in that mansion, I have the role of "Luke." At least I don't have that worry there. Tear: ...But you don't look happy. You look very worried. Luke: Mother said the same thing. I guess it really is written on my face. I don't even have a place at home. Everyone looks at me like, "There's the replica." Tear: ...Oh. But at the very least your mother isn't one of them, right? Luke: But what if Asch comes back? How do I know they won't say they don't need me anymore? Tear: Have you forgotten what you said to King Ingobert about Natalia? Your memories of those seven years together are real. For you and your parents. Luke: I understand that in my head! I'm me! But...what am I? Master Van asked me, "Can you not live unless you were born for some purpose?" That's the way I am. I get worried, not knowing what I was born for. Tear: ...What did that journey mean to you? Wasn't it a journey to change yourself? Luke: ...I wanted to change. But first I need a "me" to change. I don't have a "me" in the first place. So I think I need to find myself. Tear: ...Maybe you should ask everyone whether you really have a "you" or not. Luke: Everyone? Tear: The companions you traveled with. I'll go with you, too. Luke: But your body's suffering from the miasma... Tear: I can suppress the pain with medicine. It shouldn't get any worse since the miasma's gone. And... Luke: And? Tear: ...Never mind. I need to deliver my report to Daath, anyway. We can see Anise there. Luke: Okay. Let's go together. But take care of yourself. Tear: Right. Thanks. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:DA6} \ >>> Daath \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Tear and Luke enter town to find Anise giving an explanation to a tourist. Anise: ...And so, this stone lists the victims. That concludes the explanation of the monument. (heart) Woman: Thank you. Here's the sermon fee. The woman pays Anise and leaves. Tear: Anise, you know it's forbidden to take offerings outside the institution. Anise: Uaah! Tear! And Luke! Ohh...please let it go, just this once! Tear: No. Anise: I have to pay back the debt Papa and Mama were tricked into. Please? Please? Luke: That's some story... Anise: Yeah, don't you feel sorry for me? Thanks to that, all my income and all of Papa and Mama's income is taken away! Tear: I do feel sorry for you, but that doesn't make it okay to trick people, now does it? Anise: ...Booo. Fine, I'll go give it back. Luke: Oh, wait. We want to see Ion. Can you get us an audience with him? Anise: Okay. Wait for me at the cathedral. *Sigh* You people sure are demanding. Anise runs off. Anise: ...You don't have any idea the situation I'm in. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Cheerful Anise' [SK306] | | Luke: Anise certainly hasn't changed. | Mieu: Yeah, she's so cheerful! | Tear: Even so, pocketing illicit donations is going too far. | Luke: Come on. It was just a little. It's not that big a deal. That | woman didn't seem to mind. | Tear: Tricking people out of their money is still wrong. | Mieu: It's wrong! | Luke: Okay, okay. But debt, huh...? Must be tough on Anise. | Tear: Yes. She did say her parents had been tricked into it... | Luke: Maybe we should ask her about it later. | Tear: I don't know... She may have her own reasons for hiding it. | Luke: Oh, yeah... I guess we shouldn't pry. | Tear: Anyway, right now we need to see Ion. | Luke: Yeah. | Mieu: Let's go! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Tear Hasn't Changed at All' [SK304] | | Tear: Hee hee... Luke, Mieu, it's nice to see you again. | Mieu: You too! | Luke: Yeah, it feels like it's been a long time. | Tear: Yes, it does. | Luke: Though it looks like you haven't changed at all. | Tear: I kept myself prepared so I could leave at any time. | Mieu: Mieu mieu? | Tear: Even with the crust lowered, there's no telling what could | happen... These Order of Lorelei clothes may still prove useful. | Luke: What are you talking about? | Tear: Um, my clothes? | Luke: Hah hah hah... You really haven't changed, have you? That's a | relief. | Mieu: Heh heh heh. Master, you look a little more cheerful now. | Luke: Yeah, I guess. | Tear: ...? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Inside the cathedral. Luke: Hey, what happened to Mohs? Tear: He was removed as Grand Maestro. He's being detained, awaiting a court of inquiry. Luke: Then who's the highest ranking member of the Order of Lorelei now? Tear: It is and always has been Fon Master Ion. Luke: Oh, yeah. I forgot. Mohs was always acting like he was in charge of everything. Anise: I'm back! (heart) It's so good to see you all again! Especially you, Luke! I sent you a letter but you didn't write back. What've you been doing? Luke: Oh, yeah. Sorry... Anise: Ion was worried about you, too. He said, "I hope defeating Van let Luke find the answer he was looking for." Luke: Well...actually... Anise: Honestly, pull yourself together. I wish I had the time to mope around like you. Everyone keeps asking us to read the Score. Not to be pessimistic, but a religious overhaul looks pretty impossible. Luke: They all still want to know the Score... Tear: They think that falling into the Qliphoth was part of the Order's Closed Score. Anise: So they're convinced the Score is still on track. Mieu: Ion must be having a hard time. Luke: Yeah. I hope he doesn't wear himself out again. Anise: Oh, that's right, you two- Mieu: I'm here, too! Anise: I know, I know. You three wanted to talk to Ion, right? He's in his room. Luke: Okay, let's go. The party goes to Ion's room. Ion: Luke! Tear! It's good to see you again. Luke: I'm glad to see you're doing okay. Ion: Yes. I haven't used Daathic fonic artes since our journey, so I'm in good shape. How have you been? Anise: Well, he sounds like he's pretty messed up. Luke: I'm not "messed up." Ion: So you're still troubled. Luke: Ion, what do you think you'd be doing if your original were still alive? Ion: Are you concerned about Asch? Luke: ...How could I not be? Ion: Hmm. This is only hypothetical, of course... But I'd want to work to inform the world about replicas. Luke: That sounds like you. Ion: I realized on our journey that I didn't want to be someone's substitute. Though it certainly took me long enough. Anise: (...) Tear: Fon Master, I've brought a report regarding the Planet Storm's increased activity. Tear hands the report to Ion. Ion: Large-scale consumption of Seventh Fonons... That's the cause? Tear: Yes. We still don't know what is consuming the Seventh Fonons. Also, increasing the strength of the Planet Storm was part of my brother's plan. I've also heard that there have been signs of intrusion at the Absorption Gate... Ion: Do you think Van is alive? Tear: No, not my brother himself, but perhaps the plan he left behind. I have a feeling that the ghost of his vision for a replica world is stirring anew. Luke: Master Van's vision... I wonder why he was so intent on erasing every trace of the Score... All: (...) Anise: Uh, oh! Ion, the Maestro Council meeting is about to start. Ion: Oh, that's right. I'm sorry, I'm out of time. I'll at least see you off. Tear: No, please don't let us keep you. Ion: I want to. Let's go. The party heads to the entrance of the cathedral. Guy is inside. Luke: Guy?! Guy: Luke?! Why are you here?! Luke: That's my line. What are you doing here? Guy: Well, actually... Oh, Ion's with you. That's convenient. Ion: Did you need to speak to me? Guy: I've come on the behalf of the Malkuth House of Lords. There's something I'd like to inform you of, but would it be better to follow official procedure? Ion: I don't have much time. It's fine to tell me here. Besides, that's why they sent a friend of mine, isn't it? Guy: Very perceptive. I have two things to report. First, Locrian Colonel Dist. He has broken out of the Grand Chokmah penitentiary. Ion, Luke & Tear: (!) Anise: (...) Guy: Second, Mohs. It seems Dist attacked the ship carrying Grand Maestro Mohs to his hearing. When a Malkuth Navy ship found it, the crew had been wiped out, but no trace of Mohs' body was found. Tear: Does that mean Dist rescued Mohs? Guy: Looks like it. Anyway, please be aware of the possible danger. Luke: I wonder if it was Dist who took Master Van's sword from the Absorption Gate... Guy: Someone took his sword? Luke: I have a bad feeling about this. Asch seems to be looking into Lorelei and stuff, too. Guy: Asch... He never did return to Baticul. Luke: How did you know that? Guy: I ran into him in Grand Chokmah. He warned me to watch the God-Generals. That's how I found out about Dist's breakout so quickly. Luke: Did he saying anything else? Guy: Yeah, actually. He said he was going to St. Binah. Something about setting Lorelei free... Luke: (!) Luke: He heard Lorelei's voice, too! Does that mean he understood what it meant?! Tear: What?! What are you talking about, Luke? Luke: I'm going to St. Binah! I have to go find Asch! Guy: I don't quite understand, but if your going after Asch, let's go together. His Majesty has asked me to look for him, too. Luke: Guy... Sure thing. Thanks. Anise: ...Um...Ion... Ion: What is it, Anise? Anise: May I go with them? Ion: By yourself? That's unusual. Naturally, I don't mind. I'm concerned about Asch's words, too. Tear: Yes. He didn't say "watch Dist." He said, "watch the God-Generals"... He may know something. Luke: Okay, guys, let's head for St. Binah. Ion: Please take care. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `An Overworked Guy' [SK307] | | Guy: That was a rather hectic reunion...but I'm glad to see you all | again. | Tear: Yes, me too. | Anise: Me three! | Luke: Sounds like you've been pretty busy. | Guy: Yeah...you wouldn't believe how hard Emperor Peony and Jade make | me work. I'm probably busier now than I was back when I was | your servant. | Luke: Hah hah hah. | Tear: So you haven't been able to figure out where Mohs and Dist have | gone? | Guy: You haven't changed either... | Tear: ...? Do you mean my clothes? | Luke: Come on... | Guy: Hah hah... Anyway, no, at the moment I don't have any clue where | they've gone. | Anise: They sure couldn't come back here. I wonder where they went? | Guy: Asch might know. If we talk to him, we might learn something. | Luke: And not just about the God-Generals. I bet he knows something | about Lorelei and about what Master Van is up to. | Tear: Yes...let's hurry to St. Binah. | Luke: Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SB4} \ >>> St. Binah \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party approaches the Field Marshal. Elder McGovern: Luke! Did you cut your hair again? Luke: Huh? Elder: Ah, so that was a wig earlier? What was that silliness about "my hair grows fast"? Jade's sarcastic personality must be rubbing off on you. All: (sweatdrop) Tear: ...He must be talking about Asch. Guy: What kind of excuse is "my hair grows fast"? Anise: Maybe Asch isn't as bright as we thought. Luke: Um, that guy who looks like me with long hair-his name's Asch. Do you know where he went? Elder: Hmm? Is he your twin or something? Anise: In a manner of speaking... Guy: Asch would pitch a fit if he heard that. Luke: Yes, sir. Something like that. Did he saying anything? Elder: I think he was headed for Shurrey Hill. He was asking if he could still get inside. A Malkuth soldier runs past. Elder: ...Is something going on? I'm on my way to my son's place. Was there anything else you wanted to ask? Tear: No. Thank you. Elder McGovern leaves. Guy: Shurrey Hill, huh. Shall we go take a look? Luke: Y-yeah... Guy: (...) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Luke's Feelings' [SK309] | | Guy: ...So why did Luke suddenly get so gloomy? | Anise: Probably because he was holed up in his room the whole time. | Tear: There were times before when he blamed himself for things, | but... | Guy: Well...I guess I can understand it. After all, the replica wound | up stealing the place of the original. But... | Anise: But...what? | Guy: Ion's always known that he was a replica, but he never talked | about himself as a fake. | Tear: Yes...but that's because the original Ion has already passed | away... | Guy: Yeah. It weighs more heavily on Luke because Asch is alive. He's | such an idiot, thinking of himself as just a replacement... | Anise: Well, usually you'd never think there was another "you" out | there. | Guy: True. But in the end, it's really simple--what does Luke himself | want to do? | Tear: Isn't there any way we can help him? | Guy: ...This is the kind of thing he has to deal with by himself. | That's how people are. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Result of the Bet' [SK308] | | Guy: Tear, Anise, it looks like you two are the same as always. | Anise: Booooo. I got bigger! Well, all the important parts, anyway. | Guy: Oh...? Sorry. | Luke: But she's still obsessed with money. Looks like I win the bet, | Tear. | Tear: ...Oh, so Mieu's master is now... | Luke: ...Still me. Damn, I knew I should've bet something better. | Guy: Huh? What kind of a bet is that? It doesn't hurt you whether you | win or lose. | Anise: Seriously. If you're going to bet, lay down, like, a billion | Gald or something. I mean, if you made a bet like that, I'd | take it any day! | Luke: Even I couldn't play around with that much money... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SY2} \ >>> Shurrey Hill \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Guy: Say, Luke. Are you scared to meet Asch? Luke: ...A month apart, and you can still tell right away, huh? Guy: Well, yeah, we've been together for years. Luke: Guy, are you okay with the way things stand with my father and Hod and all? Guy: If I said I wasn't, would it change anything? Luke: Well... Guy: It was war. Plenty of other people suffered just like I did. At least I got to hear what really happened in the Hod War from the people responsible. Isn't it more productive for me to make sure something like that never happens again? Tear: It sounds like you've been able to put your past behind you. Guy: I still have some lingering feelings, but... It's not like there's any way to change things. Anise: You're so mature! (heart) That's my Count Gailardia! (heart) Anise hugs Guy. He still freaks out a bit. Guy: Th-thanks... Anise: ...You're still not used to it? Guy: Sorry. It's just... When it happens all of a sudden... Tear: Luke, let's go inside. Okay? Luke: Yeah. I can't keep saying I'm scared. Even Guy conquered his fear. Guy: ...Are you making fun of me? The party enters the Sephiroth and finds some dead Oracle soldiers. Anise: It's one of our soldiers! Luke: ...He's dead. Tear: What? The God-Generals are dead. The Oracle Knights are being reorganized. All units should be on standby. Guy: If Asch is here, then maybe it was by his order. Tear: Asch was removed as Commander of Special Operations for breaking military procedure. Luke: I have a bad feeling about this. Let's go inside! The party reaches the passage ring and finds Legretta pointing her gun at Asch. Legretta: Hand over the Key of Lorelei. Asch: ...No. Tear: Major?! Luke and Asch attack Legretta, while Tear tosses a dagger. Legretta dodges. Legretta: Your reaction was slow, Tear. I taught you to respond even in unexpected situations. Tear: Major... You're alive... Luke: How did you survive that avalanche? Legretta: Arietta's monsters rescued us. We couldn't protect Commandant Grants because of our injuries in that avalanche... But the world is on our side. This time, we will realize his wish! Asch: ...Like hell you will! Legretta: Asch. Next time we meet, I WILL take the Key of Lorelei. Legretta flies off with a monster. Tear: I can't believe they're alive... They must be trying to fulfill Van's vision for a replica world... Luke: Asch, are you okay? Asch is down on his knees. Luke offers him a hand, but Asch slaps it away. Anise: ...He's as unfriendly as ever. Guy: Did you know Legretta was alive? Asch: ...It's not just Legretta. It's possible all of the God-Generals are alive. Tear: ...But Sync fell into the core. If he's alive...then Van could be, too... All: (...) Luke: So you were investigating the core because Master Van could still be alive? Asch: You're sure taking things lightly. Asch gets up. Asch: If you were connected to Lorelei... Maybe it's just my fonon transformation. Asch starts to leave. Luke: Asch, hang on a second! What are you talking about? What do you mean, "then"? When Lorelei said to set it free? What did it mean? Asch: Exactly what you heard. Lorelei is trapped. Tear: Trapped? Where? Asch: (...) Anise: Is it bad for Lorelei to be trapped? Asch: The total volume of Seventh Fonons in the world will drop. When that happens, the Planet Storm will grow stronger to compensate, creating more Seventh Fonons. Guy: Wait, that means the core's vibration will get worse. The Tartarus alone won't be enough to stop it. Anise: Which means the miasma comes back? This is seriously bad! Luke: Asch, where is Lorelei trapped?! Asch: ...Lorelei told you. Try to remember. Even without this, I'm already cleaning up after you! Don't cause me any more trouble, you useless replica! Luke: You don't have to talk like that! Asch: Shut up! Asch leaves. Guy: Hey, wait! His Imperial Majesty wants to talk to you! *Sigh* The way he stops listening when he gets mad reminds me of a certain someone. Tear: But what does this mean? If the God-Generals are creating the replica world, then replica creation would cause a large consumption of Seventh Fonons. Or is trapping Lorelei somewhere also part of the plan? And what's that Key of Lorelei that the Major was talking about? Could it be the same Key that Yulia is said to have used...? Anise: Asch probably knows. Let's go after him. He looked like he was hurt. He might stop in St. Binah. Guy: Yeah. Luke, stop looking like that. Cheer up. Luke: Looking like what? Guy: You look like you're about to cry. Luke: I'm not going to cry! Guy: Right, right. Anyway, pull yourself together and let's go. Luke: Yeah... Everyone but Luke leaves. Luke: (Lorelei's voice made sense to Asch, but not to me... I guess I really am just a replica...) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Six God-Generals, Alive' [SK310] | | Guy: It's hard to believe Legretta's alive... | Anise: If she survived that avalanche, then Arietta and Largo-- | Tear: Probably survived as well. | Anise: Hmm... And from what Asch was saying, Sync and the Commandant | might be alive, too. | Tear: And even if Van isn't, the God-Generals are probably already | creating replicas. The decrease in Seventh Fonons would make | sense, then... | Guy: Asch was saying that Lorelei's imprisonment would cause that, | too. | Anise: We need to find out more from him. | Tear: Yes. Let's hurry after Asch. | Guy: Luke, you okay? Let's go. | Luke: Oh, yeah... | Guy: Luke...you're not thinking that you're inferior to Asch because | you're a replica or anything stupid like that, are you? | Luke: N-no! Of...of course not... | Guy: Good. Okay. | Luke: ...... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:SB5} \ >>> St. Binah \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party arrives to see Jade with a company of Malkuth soldiers. Jade: Prepare a carriage at once! The soldiers run off. Anise: Hey, it's the Colonel! Jade: Well, hello there. Luke: Perfect timing. Jade, has Asch been here? He's injured. Jade: No, I haven't seen him. Even if he had come, I don't think he'd get any closer once he saw this. Guy: There sure is a big commotion. Did something happen? Jade: Malkuth's Chesedonia regional forces were attacked during training. This city is still under reconstruction. We're carrying the wounded to the capital. Anise: Whaaat?! Who would attack the Malkuth Imperial Forces?! Jade: Exactly. Until recently, it would have been Kimlasca, but... Luke: Natalia would bite your head off if she heard you say that. Jade: Then it will be our little secret. Anise: The Colonel looks scary, but he's a fun guy on the inside. (heart) Guy & Luke: No, he's scary on the inside, too... Elder McGovern runs over. Elder: Jade! We've just received word that Frings was wounded! All: (!) Luke: Frings... General Frings?! Elder: They've already transported him to the capital. Jade: Understood. Luke: Jade! If you're going to Grand Chokmah, we'll take you. Jade: Oh? Why? Luke: Well, we owe him one from before... I'm worried about him. Jade: I see. I'll take you up on your offer. I need to have him explain the situation to me. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:GC4} \ >>> Grand Chokmah \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Frings: Colonel Curtiss... Everyone... Luke: Are you okay to sit up? Frings: If I lie down now... I won't ever open my eyes again. Luke: Don't say things like that! Jade: What about the military healers? Frings: I was under treatment until a short while ago...but they said it's too late. Luke: No... Frings: Colonel Curtiss. Please convey to His Majesty the identity of the attackers. Jade: ...Understood. I'll hear your report here. Frings: It was approximately one company, carrying the banner of the Kimlascan Royal Forces. Luke: That can't be right! Frings: They took out our flank with suicide bombers using Fifth Fonon-based fontech bombs. Tear: ...That's not the sort of tactic a national military would use. Frings: Correct. The majority of them were poorly equipped. Only a few had military uniforms. Their flag and some equipment was Kimlascan, but I don't believe they were a part of the Royal Military... Frings falls over. Tear: Colonel! We need to get him to a bed! Frings: No... If you can, please take me to the sanctuary... Anise: But... Jade: Let's take him. This is his final request. Guy and Luke help Frings to the sanctuary. Frings: I heard my birth Score for the year here. But...it didn't mention falling into the Qliphoth... Luke: The world has left the path of Yulia's Score... Frings: A future not written in the Score... It's so frightening...and so free... Anise: ...Free? Frings: Yes...I wish I could have lived in this world just a little longer. Frings falls onto the floor. Frings: They-the ones who attacked my forces-I don't think they were with Kimlasca. They all had empty eyes...like they were dead... Luke: ...Right. Neither King Ingobert nor Natalia would ever break this treaty. Frings: Master Luke... Please...don't allow war to start again... Luke: I won't. Frings: Yulia... Please bring happiness to this world that has lost the Score...and to her... Frings dies. Anise: A world without the Score isn't free. It's just scary. Guy: Maybe that's how you feel, Anise. But General Frings was trying to find a way to live in a world without the Score. Tear: ...My brother was wrong. I'm sure of that now. There was at least one human being who was trying to escape the Score's shackles. Luke: But General Frings was killed, and we don't even know who did it... Jade: I'm going to see His Majesty. If you don't mind, Luke, I'd like you to accompany me. Luke: Me? That's fine, but... Guy: Hmm? You don't sound very happy about it. Luke: ...I don't really feel comfortable around him. Anise: Why? He's really rich! Guy, Luke & Tear: (sweatdrop) Guy: I have to report about Asch, myself. Let's go together. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What We Can Do, What We Must Do' [SK311] | | Luke: ...Even though General Frings is dead, there's so much we have | to get done right away. | Jade: We're still alive. We can't afford to stop moving. If we do, | others may be killed in the same manner as Frings' unit. | Luke: Can't we just take a little time to mourn for him? | Tear: ...I understand your desire for some peace and quiet to | mourn... | Luke: So...! | Tear: The purpose of mourning is to allow the living to make peace | with the dead. You'll have to work through your feelings | yourself. | Luke: ...Yeah... | Tear: If you can't do that, then others could suffer similar fates in | the future. Right now, what you need to do is-- | Luke: ...Just keep going...and do what I can. Dammit! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads to the audience chamber. Peony: ...I see. So Aslan has passed away. Jade: Yes. I would like Luke to inquire within the Kimlascan court regarding the matter. Peony: Luke, could I get you to do that? Luke: I wonder if they'll listen to me... Anise: What are you talking about? You're King Ingobert's nephew. Peony: Are they picking on you for being a replica? You can come live here with Gailardia if you want. Jade: Your Majesty, please don't make inappropriate jokes. Peony: I was serious... Oh, well. Luke, have confidence in yourself. You formed the peace treaty between Kimlasca and Malkuth. Luke: ...Y-yes, Your Majesty. Peony: Okay. I'm counting on you, Luke. Now, all that's left is Asch... Guy: Yes. Just as Your Majesty thought, he knew that the God-Generals were still alive. He also appears to be aware of the growing Planet Storm. Tear: If I may ask, Your Majesty, why are you searching for Asch? Peony: A witness reported that he has the Key of Lorelei. We think it may be possible to use it to suppress the Planet Storm. Luke: Oh, yeah. Legretta was saying something about the Key of Lorelei, too. Tear: Yes. I wonder if they're looking for it as well. Jade: But according to Guy's information, the Planet Storm's heightened activity is the result of Lorelei being trapped somewhere. Perhaps we should understand that situation before concerning ourselves with the Key. Anise: You can hear Lorelei's voice, too, right Luke? Has it said anything? Luke: Yeah, I can...but I haven't heard it since we lowered the Outer Lands. Tear: What did it say then? Luke: Umm... "I'll send you the key." "Save me." And then something about "one who would seize glory" trying to capture Lorelei. All: (!) Guy: Luke! Why didn't you say anything about it before now?! Luke: (?) Luke: What? Well, I didn't get what it meant... Anise: How could you not?! If Lorelei said the word "key," anybody would think of the Key of Lorelei! Guy: Yeah. Not to mention Van. Luke: Van? Jade: He couldn't have known. Luke doesn't know Ancient Ispanian. Guy: ...Oh, that's right. We only taught him what he needed to know for daily life. Luke: What are you talking about? Tear: The Ancient Ispanian word for "One who would seize glory" is "Vandesdelca." Luke: (!) Jade: Van was absorbed by the Planet Storm. He'll have ended up at the core. Luke: Are you saying Master Van trapped Lorelei?! Tear: That's what Asch thinks. Or rather, that's what he heard from Lorelei. Luke: But Master Van's already...! Guy: No, we don't know that. If Asch is right, then Sync is still alive. And Van could be, too. Peony: Luke, you didn't get the Key of Lorelei? Luke: No... Never... Jade: That's strange. Lorelei said that it would send the Key, and apparently Asch has one. So where is the other Key supposedly sent to Luke? Guy: We have to find Asch... He knows more about this than we do. Tear: I've got a bad feeling about all this... We know something's happening, but we don't know what it is or who's doing it. Jade: Yes. But let's start with what we can confirm. Were the Malkuth forces attacked by the real Kimlascan military? That should be easy to check. Peony: We'll investigate as well. Jade, pursue Asch once you confirm Kimlasca's activity. Gailardia- Guy: Could I continue to assist Jade? Peony: ...Worried about your childhood friend? Guy: Something like that. Peony: Very well. I'm counting on you. Peony stands and departs. Anise: Then, we're off to Baticul, huh? I'll send a letter to Ion, so wait at the entrance of the city for me. Jade: (...) Anise runs off. Jade: A letter...? Now...? Oh well. Let's head to the entrance and wait. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Van's Alive?!' [SK312] | | Luke: So Master Van's the one who trapped Lorelei...? | Jade: Almost certainly, judging from Lorelei's last words to you. | Tear: So Asch has been going after Van all this time... | Luke: There's the Key, too... We'd better go find Asch and talk to-- | Jade: Didn't we just talk about that? Right now, let's confirm whether | those who attacked the Malkuth army were indeed Kimlascan | soldiers. It shouldn't take long to learn. | Guy: Yeah, it'll be a lot easier than trying to find Asch. We might | even run into him in Baticul anyway. | Tear: The mysterious attackers are a problem. I agree that we should | check on them first. | Luke: Okay... Baticul, right? | Jade: Yes. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes to the entrance to meet Anise. Anise: Argh, you got here too fast! Guy: Did you send the letter already? Anise: Yep. (heart) Now, let's go to Baticul! ...Hmm? Tear, you don't look well. Are you okay? Tear: I'm sorry. I was thinking about Van. I never thought he could be alive... Luke: Tear... Tear: ...I'm a terrible sister. I should be happy that he's alive. But I'm scared. When I think about what he was trying to do... Luke: If Master Van is alive, then you can ask him about all of your doubts. Right? Guy: You're pretty good at spotting silver linings so long as it's someone else's cloud. Luke: ...Yeah, well, I'm sorry it still bothers me that I'm a replica. Guy: I have a feeling I know why you don't feel comfortable around His Majesty. Luke: Wh-what are you talking about? Guy: If you haven't realized it, then don't worry about it. And what are you grinning at? Jade: Oh, nothing. This conversation just brings back memories. Tear: How so? Jade: Dist hated His Majesty, too. Anise, Guy & Jade: (laughing) Luke: (angry) Luke: Don't you dare say I'm the same as Dist! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Anise, Confused' [SK313] | | Tear: Anise, what did you report to Ion? | Anise: Huh? Oh, just about General Frings and the attack on the Malkuth | army and all that. I just thought he might want to know. | Tear: Yes...Ion knew the General, so I imagine it must be hard on | him. | Anise: ...Y-yeah... | Tear: We must find out who's responsible...for his sake, too. | Anise: ...Um, Tear? | Tear: What? | Anise: ...Um...what would you think if... | Tear: ...? | Anise: ...... Never mind. Let's get going to Baticul! | [Anise leaves.] | Tear: Anise? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Education Is Important' [SK314] | | Guy: It's kind of late, but I guess I really should have taught you | Ancient Ispanian. | Luke: That's okay. I didn't bother trying to learn it, really. | Besides, it was hard enough just learning the Fonic language. I | don't know if I could have done both. | Jade: Ancient Ispanian uses the same characters and similar grammar, | but the pronunciation is different. You might have ended up | mixing them up and being unable to speak either correctly. | Luke: What...? So how come we got to learn that crazy language, | anyway? It's a pain, is all it is. Jeez. | Jade: ...Of course, it's not as if your fluency in your own language | is very commendable, either. | Luke: E-excuse me?! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:BA6} \ >>> Baticul \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party heads towards the castle. Luke: I hope Natalia's back. We could really use her help. Natalia: Did you call me? Luke: Uwah! Natalia dismisses the soldiers that were escorting her. Luke: What are you doing here? Natalia: I just returned from inspecting Chesedonia. Actually, I was just wanting to speak to you. Natalia grabs Jade by the collar. Jade: My, my! Natalia: As unconcerned as ever, I see! Perhaps you can explain just what's going on! The Kingdom of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear has taken no military action against the Malkuth Imperial Forces. Jade: Ah, that's what I thought. Natalia: "Ah, that's what I thought!" Don't you have anything more to say?! Everyone in Chesedonia stared at me like I was the devil! It was insulting! Don't tell me this was all just some show of Malkuth force? Luke: That's what we've come to talk about, Natalia. Could you get us an unofficial audience with His Majesty? Natalia: Certainly. Let's discuss the details in Father's room. The party goes to the King's chambers. Natalia: ...I see. So that's what happened. Ingobert VI: I have issued no orders to attack Malkuth. Natalia: Indeed. My country is innocent. Guy: Then, who WAS it that attacked General Frings? Jade: He said that they eyes of the unidentified soldiers were like those of the dead. That concerns me. Luke: Does that mean something to you? Jade: Similar cases have appeared in connection with fomicry experiments. With the God-Generals involved, it's possible that they have created replica soldiers. Luke: Replicas... The same as me... Ingobert VI: This is an outrage. What could they gain by using replicas to impersonate my kingdom? Tear: Perhaps they're trying to cause a war between Kimlasca and Malkuth. Luke: That's no different than Mohs. Guy: That's right... Dist took Mohs away. If Mohs is involved, he might be trying to restore the Score by making Kimlasca and Malkuth fight. Natalia: Father, please allow me to go to Daath. Ingobert VI: Why Daath? Natalia: After our journey, I spent a long time thinking about the Score. The world has veered from Yulia's Score, yet countless people still live bound by it. Anise: Yeah. It's scary not having it... Natalia: I believe we need to hold a summit regarding what to do about the Score. Whether this incident was Mohs' work or not, we cannot allow any further foolish action in the name of the Score. And to do that, we need to cooperation of the Fon Master. Jade: Yes, that's not a bad idea. Luke: Yeah. We don't know where Asch went, and we don't know where Mohs is, either... Ingobert VI: Mmm. Then I shall permit your departure, Natalia. Natalia: Thank you, Father! Anise: ...So we're going to Daath... Tear: I think we should. We need to inform them that my brother may still be alive as well. Anise: I told them that in my letter. So let's pass, okay? Luke: What, you don't want to go home? Anise: ...No, it's not that. Luke: Okay, then we're off to Daath. Ingobert VI: Luke, take care of Natalia. Luke: Y-yes, Your Majesty. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A World Without the Score' [SK315] | | Guy: Do you really think people will be able to get along without the | Score? | Anise: Well...whenever we've been faced with decision, the Score has | always told us the best answer. If the Score goes away, we'll | have to make those decisions all by ourselves. | Natalia: I don't know... The Score is embedded so deeply into society, | even politics. True, the world has diverged from the Score. We | understand why that has happened, but most people are unaware | of the circumstances... | Anise: In fact, they don't even know it's diverged in the first place. | We can't just say "Okay, let's live without the Score!" and | expect everybody to agree. | Tear: It's like a guidepost to life, after all. It would be like | telling someone to walk around in the darkness without a light. | Luke: Even if they decide to proceed without the Score, it could take | decades before people accept that... | Jade: Naturally. People are not that simple. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Where is the Key of Lorelei?' [SK316] | | Jade: I wonder just how Lorelei intended to send the Key... | Tear: The Key of Lorelei is said to be made out of the Seventh Fonon. | If it does exist, couldn't it have been disassembled into fonons | and sent that way? | Guy: Could something broken down into fonons and atoms really reach | someone else on its own? If you did that to a living creature, | it'd die. | Jade: The Key is inorganic, so it should be...well, not completely | impossible. And as for a broken-down Key being able to reach | Luke, Lorelei did say that Luke's fonon frequency is the same | as that of the Seventh Fonon. | Tear: So it'd take advantage of the fact that like fonons attract? | Jade: Yes. In a sense, Luke, Asch, and Lorelei are one and the same, | at least in terms of their fonon frequencies. It's certainly a | possibility. | Guy: ...? I still don't get it, but assuming Lorelei did send part of | the Key to Luke, why didn't Luke get it? | Tear: I think we'll have to ask Asch about that. | Guy: It all comes down to Asch, huh...? | [Tear & Guy leave.] | Jade: ...Could it be...the contamination effect? ...No, it shouldn't | be. That would be too cruel... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:DA7} \ >>> Daath \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Tear slumps over. Luke catches her before she falls. Luke: Tear! Tear: I... I'm sorry. I just felt a little dizzy... Anise: I'll call Ion! Anise runs off. Tear: I'm fine. I think it's just my medicine wearing off. Luke: But... Jade: That's odd. If it were merely your medicine wearing off, you shouldn't look that pale. Luke: What's going on? Is it getting worse? Tear: I don't think so. It shouldn't progress as long as I don't inhale any more miasma. Guy: Can you walk to the cathedral? Anise is probably preparing a place to rest there. Tear: Yes...I'm fine. Thank you. The party heads to the cathedral. Ion runs to meet up with them. Ion: Everyone! Anise told me what happened to Tear... Tear: Fon Master... I'm all right. I'm sorry to have worried you. Ion: ...Tear, you look far from all right to me. Guy: Hey, where did Anise go? Ion: That's strange, she said she was heading back to meet you, Luke... Luke: I haven't seen her. Ion: Well, I'm sure she'll be back shortly. Let's all head to my room in the meantime. The party heads to Ion's chamber. Ion: Something isn't right. Barring further exposure to the miasma, she shouldn't be this tired. Jade: It's possible that the miasma has pervaded the Planet Storm. If so, it should pass through the fon belt, exiting the atmosphere. It's impact should be minimal... Luke: You don't mean that the stronger Planet Storm is making more of the miasma? Natalia: Shouldn't we be more concerned with removing the miasma built up in Tear's body? Tear: Didn't the doctor in Belkend say that was impossible? And Natalia, weren't you going to propose that summit on the Score to the Fon Master? Natalia: Well, yes, but... Ion: ...Well, actually, I do have an idea about how to get rid of the miasma in Tear's body. All: (!) Ion: But to do it, my... Anise comes in. Anise: Ion! We have a problem! Ion: Anise, just where have you been? Anise: That's what I'm saying! We have a serious problem outside! Luke: What's happened? Anise: The miasma's everywhere! It's seriously bad! Ion, please come quickly! Anise drags Ion out of the room. Tear: We should go, too! Natalia: Tear! You may have fainted because of a strong sensitivity to the miasma. You should stay here. Tear: If the miasma is really back, then it won't make much of a difference where I stay. Luke: You're always so damn stubborn... Tear: Stubborn and right. Luke: ...Fine. Just try to take it easy. Tear: I will. Thank you. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Miasma' [SK317] | | Guy: Why could the miasma have returned? | Jade: Well, it was sealed away instead of destroyed, so there was a | small possibility of it leaking out...but this does not seem | like just an accident. | Tear: Let's go see what's happening. | Natalia: Tear, you need to take care of yourself. | Luke: Yeah, you'll just collapse again. | Tear: I told you. It doesn't matter where I am. Worry about the | miasma, not me. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party warps down and finds Oracle Soldiers waiting for them. All: (!) Guy: What?! Legretta: Don't move. Tear: Major Legretta! Luke: What the hell is this?! Legretta: We can't afford to have you meddling now. We also have a few questions about the Key of Lorelei. Now, behave yourselves. Tear throws a dagger that Legretta easily dodges. Legretta: I told you before that you throw too slowly! Don't make the same mistake twice. Tear: Grr... A liger comes out of nowhere and takes care of the soldiers. Arietta comes out and stands with her liger in between the party and Legretta. Arietta: What are you doing to do with Ion, Legretta? Legretta: Arietta! Stand down! Arietta: Are you really going to make Ion read the Seventh Fonstone Score?! Tear: The Planet Score? But that would... Arietta: It would kill him! His body's too weak! I won't let you do that! Legretta: It's the most convenient bait to lure Mohs. It's necessary in order to raise the Isle of Feres. You want that, don't you? Arietta: Luke! Anise has taken Ion to the Sephiroth in the cathedral here. Luke: Anise?! Legretta: Arietta! You'd betray us?! Arietta: Van said he wouldn't kill Ion! You all are the traitors! Jade: Luke! Let's hurry to the secret passage. I'd noticed Anise had been acting strange lately. Luke: All right. Arietta, thank you! The party departs for the passage. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Legretta's Attack' [SK318] | | Natalia: What could Legretta be trying to do? | Jade: Forcing Ion to read the Score runs counter to Van's | intentions... | Guy: Yeah. And she said something about bait for Mohs, too... | Luke: Whatever, we've got to go after Ion! If they make him read the | Score, he'll die! | Tear: Arietta didn't desire Ion's death. The God-Generals must be | divided at the moment. | Jade: So it would seem. In any case, we don't have time to waste. | Guy: I'm worried about Anise, too. | Luke: Yeah, let's hurry! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party reaches the room with the passage and sees Ion and Anise with Mohs. Luke: Wait! Ion: Luke! Luke: What the hell is Mohs doing here?! Anise, what are you trying to do? Anise: I... Mohs: Legretta's useless. She couldn't even keep this band of children occupied? Anise! Take care of this mess! Do not betray me. Oliver and Pamela are counting on you. Mohs and Ion walk off. Guy: Wait, Anise! What does he mean? Anise: Shut up! It's been my job from the start to keep Mohs informed about Ion! Anise received the Spy title. Anise tosses something at the party and runs off. Jade: Stop! The party attempts to follow, but the glyph doesn't work. Jade: Hmm, no use. It's not responding. Tear: Is there no other way to get to the Sephiroth? Guy: Hey, take a look at this. Luke: It's holding a letter... Luke: You can reach the Sephiroth through the volcano's shaft in Mt. Zaleho. I'm sorry. Natalia: It's from Anise. It sounded like Mohs has taken her parents hostage. Jade: Indeed. It's also probably true that she was Mohs' spy from the beginning. Tear: In any case, let's trust Anise for now and hurry to Mt. Zaleho. It's dangerous for Ion to read the Planet Score. Jade: Yes. Ion is a replica. The moment he reads it, the Seventh Fonons in his body will run out. He won't survive. Luke: Yeah, we have to save him! The party leaves the cathedral. Guy: No sign of Arietta... Tear: Or Legretta... I wonder what happened... Jade: Had they killed each other here, we'd at least still see their corpses. Natalia: Colonel! Arietta may have been our enemy, but she did just help us. And Legretta was Tear's instructor. Please show some consideration. Jade: My apologies. Tritheim: Ohh! Tear! I heard from Arietta. Has Mohs really kidnapped Fon Master Ion...? Tear: Yes. We're headed to Mt. Zaleho to help the Fon Master now. Do you know where Arietta is? Tritheim: She was injured, so I put her to rest in Oliver's room. First Legretta and Arietta turn up alive, now the miasma reappears... Just what the devil is going on? Luke: So that talk of the miasma coming back was true? Tritheim: Yes, and thanks to that, the city is in a panic. Please be careful. I'll send the Oracle Knights to the volcano right away. Tritheim walks off. Tritheim: Oh, also, if you find Oliver or Pamela anywhere, tell them to hurry back here. As it stands, there's no one here to look after Arietta. Guy: Sounds like Anise's parents really have been taken hostage. Luke: Yeah, we've got to do something to help them. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Betrayed by Anise' [SK319] | | Natalia: To think that Anise and Mohs were connected... | Luke: There has to be a reason for it! She wouldn't-- | Guy: She did tell us how to find her, so it's pretty certain there's | something going on. | Jade: Save the chit-chat for later. If we don't hurry, things could | take a permanent turn for the worse. | Tear: Ion is a replica, after all. If he's forced to read the Planet | Score... | Natalia: We can reach Mt. Zaleho's crater with the Albiore. Let's hurry! | Luke: Yeah. Ion...don't die on us! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes outside. Its almost completely dark because of the miasma. Luke: Damn... Is this also a result of Lorelei being locked up somewhere? Natalia: If so, then Van is really... Tear: Is my brother...alive? *Cough* Natalia: Tear! Are you all right? Tear: I'm fine... I was just exposed to a bit of the miasma is all. Guy: Tear's body was the first to sense that the miasma was returning. Tear: I'll be fine. Right now, we need to go after Ion. Luke: Tear, I'm sorry. I wish I could do something to help you. Tear: You idiot. Now is no time to be wallowing in guilt. Let's go. The party goes to exit Daath and sees a crowd gathered. There are some unknown soldiers blocking the way for people leaving. Natalia: What is that?! Tear: Th-that's...! Luke: Iemon? That's not possible! Man: Shut up and move! The man tries to go forward, and is knocked back. Natalia: Steady, everyone. Jade: Replicas... Luke: What? Jade: Might these perhaps be replicas? The military experimented with programming replicas to perform a set task. These people's eyes are the same as those of the subjects of those experiments. Mary: Targets sighted. Move to secure them now. The replicas attempt to attack the party. Guy: Mary... Luke: Mary? Guy, what are you talking about...? Guy: Why...? Why is my sister here?! Luke: Guy! What's going on?! Tear: General Frings, too! But we saw him die in Grand Chokmah! Natalia: I see others who have already passed away! The Colonel is right. They must be replicas! Mary: You all know Grand Maestro Mohs' order... Kill them. Jade: Any fonic artes here would hurt civilians as well. We should eliminate the replicas by the exit, and- Guy: Wait! That's where my sister...where Mary is! Jade: It's a replica! Guy: I know! But still... Luke: Even knowing that they're replicas doesn't mean we could just kill Iemon and the others. Jade: And that is exactly what Mohs is counting on. Tear: Leave them...to me. Tear sings a fonic hymn and puts the replicas to sleep. She then falls over. Luke: Tear! Tear: I've never tried to put so many top sleep at once. I doubt it will last long. Let's get out of here, fast! On the Fourth Monument Hill... Luke: Damn it! So much has happened. My head is a mess. Natalia: Deciding what to do about the Score is the least of our worries now. Guy: I never thought I'd see a replica made of my sister. Tear: It was probably a plan to shake us up by making replicas of people close to us. Luke: Mohs is such a bastard! Jade: But an effective one. Luke: Don't say things like that. Jade: My apologies. In any case, the first order of business is aiding Ion. If we don't help him, Ion will die. Luke: You're right. I'm also worried about Anise. Let's go to Mt. Zaleho fast. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Replica Soldiers' [SK320] | | Jade: I never imagined that they would create so many replicas... | Luke: How could they turn replicas of the dead into their soldiers...? | Guy: Mary... | Jade: Guy, that's a replica. | Guy: Yeah, I know...but... | Natalia: All just to make us hesitate... How inhuman...! | Jade: If they attempt to stop us again, we may have no choice but to | eliminate them. | Luke: But...! Isn't there anything else we can do? | Jade: Do you want to have Tear sing them to sleep again? She seems | very weak. | Luke: Dammit... | Tear: I'm fine. If they attack again, then I'll stop them. | Luke: But you're-- | Jade: With all that's happened, I can understand if you're flustered. | But right now, rescuing Ion takes priority. You need to calm | down, Luke. | Tear: Yes, exactly. Remember what we have to do. | Luke: Yeah... Let's head for Mt. Zaleho. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:MZ2} \ >>> Mt. Zaleho \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: ...Man, it's hot. I can't breathe in here. Natalia: Mt. Zaleho is more active than ever now that it has descended into the Qliphoth. Guy: Anyway, let's head towards the passage ring for now. Mieu: I can feel the Sephiroth's location. Luke: We'll count on you if we get lost, Mieu. Mieu: Yes, sir! The party goes further in. Guy: Man, it's hot... Jade: Well, we are inside a volcano. The air seems to burn my throat and lungs with every breath. Luke: Then how come you look so comfortable? Jade: Oh, not at all. I'm so hot, I could just die. Guy: ...You really know how to get on people's nerves. Tear: The volcano feels even hotter than the last time we were here... Natalia: Mieu, is it much father to the Sephiroth? Mieu: Just a little more. Mieu... Tear: If the heat doesn't get to us first. Jade: Perhaps Anise's plan is to take care of all of us in one fell swoop... Luke: Jade! Jade: Just kidding. Luke: *Sigh* Jade: ...Well, half-kidding. All: (...) Mieu: Everybody, this way! Jade: Good work, Mieu. Mieu: Sure! Luke: He's got way too much energy... Guy: Looking at Jade and Mieu is only making this more exhausting... The party barely misses being hit by a fireball. Luke: Whoa?! What in the hell...? Tear: It's... Natalia: Unbelievable! It's a dragon! Guy: Impressive, to live inside a volcano like this. Jade: If we go this way, we'll have to settle things with him. Or should I say her. Natalia: Goodness, Colonel. Do you know how to tell the sex of dragons? Jade: If you could observe how they breathe fire... Luke: Amazing, Jade, you really do know everything, huh? Jade: "...and be able to determine their sex, wouldn't it be interesting?" was all I was going to say. All: (...) Jade: Well, shall we move on? Guy: ...I figured as much. Tear: No kidding. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Keeping Cool' [SK322] | | Luke: ...Every time we go someplace hot like this, I always wonder | Luke: if Jade's using some kind of fonic arte to keep himself cool. | Natalia: Yes, I get the same feeling. | Mieu: That's not fair... | Jade: Oh, please. There's no way I could use fonic artes that | precisely. | Guy: No...there has to be some secret to it...Maybe in those | clothes...? | Natalia: Yes, Malkuth could easily have invented air-conditioned | uniforms.. | Luke: ...Take it off. | Jade: What? | Guy: Yeah, take it off. | Natalia: Yes, remove it right now! | Mieu: Take...it...off! | Jade: C-calm down,you... Wh-what are you...?! | Tear: ...I can't believe you're trying to undress a soldier in his | thirties! How could you?! | All: Huh?! ....... | Jade: *blush* +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party comes up to the dragon. Tear: Careful! Here it comes! Luke: Grr! Wait for an opening, then attack! Luke: Now! Let's go! The battle with the dragon begins. After the party wins, it falls into the lava. Mieu: ..I feel kind of bad for it. Luke: Yeah. We were the ones to come into its home uninvited. Jade: I'm concerned for Ion's safety. Let's move on. Luke: ...Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Planet Score' [SK329] | | Luke: Hey, Tear...what is the Planet Score, anyway? Is it any | different from the regular Score? | Tear: The Planet Score records the entire life of the planet. It's the | Score written on the Seventh Fonstone. | Luke: The Seventh Fonstone...? The one we saw in the planet's core? | Tear: Yes, The Planet Score written there can only be read by the Fon | Master...by Ion | Tear: But it places a tremendous burden on the reader. | Luke: A burden...? He's so weak in the first place--is he okay with | doing that? | Tear: ...Of course he isn't...Ion... | Luke: ...Damnit! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes further in, and eventually gets back to the entrance of the area from Daath where the fonstone is. Mohs is forcing Ion to read the score. Ion: "...Which will ultimately lead to the downfall of Auldrant." Ion: "ND2019, The forces of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear shall march northward, through the Rugnica Plains." Ion: "After inflicting atrocities upon the villages in their wake, the army shall surround the fortress capital." Ion: "Within a fortnight, the city shall fall. The Kimlascan army will stain the Malkuth throne with the blood of its last emperor." Ion: "Their howls of victory shall resound throughout the land." Ion: "ND2020, A mountain of corpses shall bury the fortress capital. Death and disease shall envelope the city." Ion: "The plague born thence shall become a new poison unto humanity, killing all within its reach." Ion: "Its spread shall mark the true end of Malkuth." Ion: "Kimlasca shall enjoy decades of prosperity as the plague of Malkuth grows." Ion: "Ultimately, the plague shall be brought into the Kimlascan kingdom by a single man." Luke comes running in towards Ion. Mohs: Y-you! Luke: Stop it Ion! You have to stop Ion falls into Luke's arms. Ion's voice grows more normal (not the monotone that he had while reading the previous parts). Ion: "...The light of the sacred flame shall approach a Kimlascan city of fon machines, seeking a way to purify the taint." Ion: "There, salvation shall be found through the use of a forbidden power..." Ion slumps to the ground. The rest of the party, except for Jade and Natalia, who run to Anise's parents, come up to Ion. Luke: Ion! Are you okay?! Ion: Luke... That was my reading of the Score for you... Ion: A single path...among your many possible futures... Ion: I know you don't depend on others...but this was the only way I could help you. Luke: Shut up! You've helped us out a million times! And you'll keep helping... Ion: ...Luke. Don't look at me like that. There are plenty of replacements for me... Luke: How can you say that?! Those other replicas don't know me at all! You're the only Ion that went to the Cheagle Woods with me. Ion: Tear, come closer... Tear walks over to Ion and puts her hand under his. Ion: I will...take the miasma from your body into my own. Tear: But Fon Master, you'll... Ion: I told you before. There's only one way to save you. The Seventh Fonons are drawn to one another. As my own Seventh Fonons dissipate, so will your contaminated ones. Luke: Ion! Ion: Don't you see..? This way...Tear is...safe. Anise: Ion... Ion: You don't have to...watch over me...any more...Anise... Anise: I'm so sorry, Ion! I... I... Ion: Thank you...for everything... My most...cherished... Ion dies. Anise: ...Ion! Ion's body disappears from Luke's arms. Mohs: Humph. The best replica of the bunch, and even he couldn't read the Score properly... Luke: Score, Score, Score! Is that the only thing you can think of?! The Score isn't worth a damn! Mohs: Preposterous fool! The Score is crucial to mankind's continued survival! Luke: Mankind can get by just fine without it! Mohs: It promises prosperity for all! What possible reason could we have to ignore it?! I am a watcher! I have been charged with protecting and guiding humanity! Mohs: I swear, I will use these replicas to bring about war as foretold in Yulia's Score. Therein lies out only path to salvation. Natalia runs up. Natalia: ...What should we do? These are civilians. Fighting them would be far too... Jade, Oliver and Pamela walk up. Oliver: Those people won't harm you unless someone directs them to. I can swear to that. Pamela: Please, allow Grand Maestro Mohs to leave unharmed. They'll back down peacefully if you do. Jade: But... Mohs runs away. Jade: ...He's escaped. There's nothing we can do now. The three replicas walk off. Natalia: Still, to think that so many replicas have been created... Guy: It must be the result of fomicry data Van left behind. There's no way they could have made replicas of the people of Hod without it. Jade: We can investigate this later. For now, let's escort Anise's parents to Daath... Jade: Anise, that's all right with you, I presume? Anise: ...Yes. Scene fades into Oliver and Pamela's room in Daath cathedral. Arietta is there. Pamela: Arietta! If you move around, your wounds will reopen! Arietta walks up to Anise and slaps her. Arietta: ...You killed him! Anise, you killed Ion! Oliver: Please wait! It's only because Mohs had taken us hostage... Anise: Papa, be quiet! Anise: Yeah, I did. Want to make something of it, Gloomietta?! Arietta: Ion helped me so much. This is beyond avenging Mommy, Anise. I'll avenge Ion, too! Arietta: Anise, I challenge you to a duel. Anise: ...Accepted! Pamela: Anise! Anise: I have to finally settle things with her! Arietta: I'll send someone to tell you the time and place later. And I'll never forgive you if you run away! Arietta leaves the room. Pamela: Anise! A duel? This is foolishness! Can't you talk about this? I'm sure Arietta would understand... Anise: Mama, be quiet! Pamela: But Anise... Anise: Shut up! Anise runs out. Luke: Wait! Anise! Tear: Let's split up and look for her. Luke: Yeah... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Thinking of Anise' [SK326] | | Luke: Anise...Where'd she go? I think I know how she feels. | Luke: She's being crushed by the weight of what she's done. | Luke: She's blaming herself for everything. If we leave her | alone...it'll destroy her. | Luke: We've got to find her! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke finds Anise in the chapel area. Luke: So, you were out here. Look, everyone's worried about you. Oliver and Pamela, too... Anise: Don't talk to me about them! Luke: ...Come on Anise. You couldn't have done anything differently. He was holding your parents hostage. Anise: No! I was lying to Ion from the very start. Mohs ordered me to report everything Ion did. Trying to stop the war, spending time with you guys... I reported it all! Luke: Anise... That's all-- Anise: Listen! The attack on the Tartarus, the ambushes by the Six God-Generals, it's all my fault! Luke: Wasn't that all because you were worried for your parents? Anise: ...Papa's pretty gullible, right? When I was really little, he got scammed for a ton of money and got deep into debt. Mohs bailed him out. Since then my parents have worked for the Cathedral without pay. I... I couldn't disobey his orders... Luke: ...I know. Anise: I hated it all along... Ion was so trusting, it really hurt to have to lie... Luke: Yeah... Anise: But I...I loved Mama and Papa. Luke: Anise... You did the right thing. Anise: It wasn't right! It wasn't right at all! I... I... I killed Ion! Poor Ion... It's all my fault... And now he's dead...! Luke: Anise... Here...take this. Luke gives Anise a stone. Luke: I picked it up in Mt. Zaleho. It's a fragment of the fonstone from the Score Ion read. Anise: Ion's fonstone... Obtained Ion's Fonstone. Luke: ...What are you going to do now? Do you want to stay in Daath? Anise: ...No. I'm going with you. I think that Ion would have wanted to help you, if he had lived. Luke: Thanks. Let's head back and see everyone, then. Luke and Anise leave the cathedral and meet up with the party. Jade: ...It appears you've calmed down a bit. Anise: Yes, Colonel. I'd like to stay with you all and think about what I should do from here on. Natalia: Stay strong, Anise. Tear: What should we do next? It would be hard to pursue the Score further until the Order has been restructured. And we don't have the first clue about where to search for Asch... Anise: I... I'd like to put Ion's final reading of the Score to use. Guy: You mean that bit about finding out how to clear away the miasma in Belkend? Luke: You're right. Ion sacrificed everything to give us that clue. Jade: I agree. That's all we have to go on at the moment. Natalia: That said...We will have to deal with this issue eventually. Natalia: We stopped Van's vision of a world where the Score can't be read. But, it's not as if we fully support the Score either. Luke: Once things have settled down, we should hold a summit about what to do with the Score. Natalia: Yes, you're right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Regret' [SK323] | | Anise: Ion...it's all my fault...I'm sorry...You'd only lived a few | years.... | Anise: I should've...I should've died instead... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Ion's Death...' [SK324] | | Luke: ...Ion...Why'd he go and read the Planet Score...? | Natalia: Because Anise's parents were being held hostage...? Or... | Jade: He's quite intelligent. He knew we would try to rescue him, so | he may have chose his own death, | Jade: in order to remove the miasma from Tear's body. | Luke: ...If Tear knew that... | Guy: I think she knows. She's looked depressed ever since we got | back, just like Anise. | Luke: Ion... Why'd you go and throw your life away... You idiot... | Natalia: Luke, you're blaming the wrong person. It was Mohs who forced | Ion to make that choice. | Luke: ....Yeah, Mohs...You're going to pay for this! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Ion's Legacy' [SK327] | | Luke: So we rejected the Score, but now we have to rely on the Score | Ion read to us..? | Tear: Ion said to teat the Score as one possibility out of many. We | aren't being forced to obey it. | Natalia: He wants it to be used for the future of the world... Not as an | unbreakable rule, but as a guide in making decisions. | Anise: Ion's Score is always accurate. Luke, are you saying you don't | trust it...? Or you don't want to trust it? | Luke: ...No, I'm not. I know it's accurate. That's why I'm following | it. But... | Jade: If this does succeed, you may be tempted to follow the Score | again in the future, right? | Luke: How long can we go on saying "Just this once" before it becomes | a habit? | Anise: So you're going to ignore Ion's Score? Please, you can't do | that! | Luke: ...I won't. I'm just frustrated with this gap between ideals and | reality... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Two Different People' [SK325] | | Natalia: Arietta was truly fond of Ion, wasn't she? | Tear: As was Anise. But the two of them were thinking of different | Ions. | Luke: Ion was a replica, after all. The Ion that Arietta liked is long | gone... | Natalia: How sad that those misunderstandings have lead to a duel... | Jade: The same thing could easily have happened with Luke and Asch | Guy: Natalia and Tear, huh...Yeah, it could have. | Jade: ...I know it is my doing, but fomicry truly is an unethical | technology. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:BE6} \ >>> Belkend \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party enters Belkend. A man falls over dead. Tear: Are you all right?! Were we too late? Why has he...? Soldier: ...He's the third one today. Natalia: What's going on? Soldier: We've had several unexplained deaths these last few days. It seems like people are dying right after hearing the Order of Lorelei read the Score. It's not an injury. Even the healers can't cure it--maybe it's a disease...? Anise: That's strange. Ion commanded the Order to stop public readings. Soldier: Well, they started back up just before this miasma stuff started appearing again. A traveling Scorer arrived. I asked for a reading myself. Tear: Do you know where that Scorer is now? Soldier: Hmm... I think he headed off towards Baticul. The soldier departs with the dead man. Jade: The deaths may be the result of extracting their replica data through fomicry. Guy: What makes you say that? Jade: During our experiments, we observed that within a week of having their data extracted, some originals died or exhibited physical disorders. Jade: The conditions of that man's death closely resembled those of the subjects that didn't survive. Luke: If someone really is extracting replica data from people, we have to stop them. This world doesn't need any more cases of Asch and me. Guy: Let's talk to Spinoza and then find that traveling Scorer. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Replicas and Their Originals' [SK330] | | Luke: So do people die once they've had their replica data extracted? | Jade: In some cases, yes. Some originals die, but others don't. Like | Asch for example. Of course... | Luke: Of course... what? | Jade: ...Never mind. In any case, we cannot allow them to continue | creating replicas. For the sake of both the original and the | replica. | Luke: Yeah, I agree... | Jade: For now, let's see what can be about the miasma. Spinoza may be | able to tell us something. | Luke: Yeah...Asch and Lorelei are just a big question mark at the | moment. Let's at least take care of the miasma. | Jade: Indeed, let's start with what we can handle. | Luke: Yeah. That's the only thing we can do, after all. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Spinoza: Oh, now its you! Things really have gone from bad to worse, here. Guy: Have the core's vibrations gotten too intense for the Tartarus to suppress? Spinoza: Yes. At this rate, there will be nothing to prevent the earth's liquefactions. Luke: The miasma, the liquefaction... The Qliphoth is going back to the way it was. Guy: And the passage rings have stopped working, so we can't form the dividing line any more... Luke: I guess we should start thinking of ways to actually destroy the miasma. Spinoza: Precisely. How about using your hyperresonance, Luke? Luke: But I thought hyperresonance couldn't destroy the miasma.... Spinoza: Hyperresonance can break down matter to an atomic level. I'm no specialist, but it's possible in theory. Researcher: Based on the hyperresonance that destroyed Akzeriuth, they do seem to be quite powerful. Jade & Luke: (...) Jade: By the way, from your greeting, I assume we're not your first visitors today? Spinoza: Asch came by the research the flow of Seventh Fonons since the land was lowered. Natalia: Asch?! Asch was here? Luke: Where did he go?! Spinoza: He was staring intently at the Sephiroth measurements we'd taken here... Researcher: That was the data for Mt. Roneal. Jade: Shall we take a look? Luke: Yeah. We'll hit Baticul after--for now, let's follow Asch. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `After Asch!' [SK331] | | Luke: Here we were, planning to deal with Asch later, but he pops up | anyway! And it involves the Score, so out come the God-Generals | and Mohs! And we're still clueless about the Key of Lorelei! And | we still don't know how to take care the miasma! What are we | supposed to deal with first?! | Guy: For once, I can't blame you for getting flustered. | Jade: It's probably because they are all closely interrelated. | Tear: What do you mean, Colonel? | Jade: They're all strongly bound together. The miasma, the Seventh | Fonon, the replicas, the Score, Lorelei... Asch is involved with | every one of those. It's likely he holds the key to them all. | Natalia: That is a guess, is it not? | Anise: Wow, the Colonel made a guess! | Jade: I merely thought it would simplify deciding on our next | destination. | Luke: So we should go after Asch instead of trying to figure | everything out? | Guy: Well, we were running out of options anyway. | Natalia: Even if we went right back to Baticul there isn't much we could | do that would help... We are hardly in a condition to hold any | sort of conference on the Score. | Luke: So right now, all we can do is follow Asch? | Jade: Correct. Let's be efficient with it. We can't afford to waste | any time. | Tear: Yes, let's head for Mr. Roneal. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party leaves the Fon Machine Lab. Luke: Jade, about that idea of using a hyperresonance on the miasma... Jade: ...It was a ludicrous idea. Forget about it. Luke: But if it could really neutralize the miasma... Jade: Have you forgotten? You're a replica, unable to fully control your hyperresonance. One wrong move, and you would die. Luke: Well then maybe Asch could do it? If we see him on Mr. Roneal... Jade: My apologies, I was unclear. It doesn't matter if it's the original or not. No one can cause a hyperresonance strong enough to destroy all of the miasma on the planet. If we had something to amplify his powers, it might be a different story. Luke: Like what? Jade: You don't know when to give up, do you? Jade: ...Something that would reduce the strain on the body when manipulating hyperresonance. Luke: You're stalling! Like what? Jade: The Sword of Lorelei for one, One could gather a large amount of Seventh Fonons with that. Luke: And another? Jade: Any large quantity of Seventh Fonons. Let's see.... Kill around ten thousand Seventh Fonists, or at least potential Seventh Fonists. Luke: (!) Jade: Of course, the recoil from the hyperresonance would cause fonon separation, killing the user as well. The miasma would disappear at the cost of ten thousand lives. A small price to some. Luke: But that's... Jade: Impossible, obviously. Which is why I told you to forget it. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Cost of Eliminating the Miasma' [SK332] | | Luke: ..... | Jade: Are you still troubled? | Luke: Jade... | Jade: Everyone's worried about you--wondering what could make you, of | all people, think so hard. | Luke: ...Is that really the only way to get rid of the miasma? I mean, | sacrificing 10,000 Seventh Fonists...? | Jade: Hmmm...this must be quite serious for you to ignore my jab. | Luke: But Jade, that's the only-- | Jade: Ten thousand murders... You've destroyed Akzeriuth, hurt the | people of Sheridan, and made yourself a lot of enemies. Are you | willing to stain your hands with the blood of even more unknown | masses? | Luke: ...I... | Jade: You can't do it. Don't even consider it. | [Jade leaves.] | Luke: But this is the Score Ion left for me... He must have seen what | would happen? Tell me, Ion! What would you do? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Jade's Sense of Curiosity' [SK344] | | Jade: Hmmm... | Luke: What's up, Jade? I thought hell would freeze over before I saw | you worry about anything. | Jade: How rude. I've led a very troubled life, you know. | Tear: But it's still unusual. What's wrong? | Jade: I was just preparing some medicines. | Luke: Medicines? | Jade: For example, to induce paralysis and temporary unconsciousness | or to cause temporary cardiac arrest... | Luke: Wait...What are you planning to do with those? | Jade: Oh, I was just curious | Tear: ...Well, don't use them on people, please? | Jade: But what else would I use them on? Perhaps I'll see if they | still work when I mix them with food... | Luke: ...I'm staying away from anything he cooks | Tear: ...S-so am I. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:MR2} \ >>> Mt. Roneal \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: Is Asch really out here? Things would be easier if I could just call out to him like he does to me. Guy: Nothing you can do about it. Let's start by checking the Sephiroth further on. The Dark Wings walk up to the party. Noir: Oh, my. Are you kids looking for the Jewel of Lorelei too? Luke: How do you know about the Jewel of Lorelei?! York: Because Asch never shuts up. Urushi: Apparently you all failed to get the Jewel. Asch was awful mad. Natalia: So is Asch here, then? Noir: Heh heh. You know, he drones on and on about Natalia this, Natalia that. Now you're droning on and on about Asch this, Asch that. How touching. York: Sixty percent is Natalia, thirty is the replica, and the rest is Van. Add that all up, and you've got everything the boss ever talks about. Anise: ...I can totally imagine. Jade: Indeed. Guy: A-anyway, that means that Asch is here, right? Noir: He's looking for the Jewel inside. We were told to wait out here. Luke: Let's go after him! We'll get him on our side, this time. Noir: I just know this is going to end in an argument. The Dark Wings depart. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Sword of Lorelei' [SK333] | | Natalia: So, Asch did receive part of the Key of Lorelei after all. | Jade: So it would seem. | Natalia: From what the Dark Wings said, Asch must have the Sword of | Lorelei... | Guy: He's looking for the Jewel, so yeah, he presumably has the | Sword. | Luke: The Sword of Lorelei... | Jade: *sigh* | Natalia: My, Colonel, that was quite a sigh. | Jade: ...My apologies. I'm not good at dealing with obtuse children. | [Jade leaves.] | Guy: Did you do something to make Jade angry? He never gets like | that. | Natalia: There's no need to ask. Of course he did. | Luke: ...I guess nobody trusts me... (Not that they're wrong, of | course.) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party reaches the point where the Daathic seal was. Natalia: So everyone caught in the avalanche here managed to get out alive? Guy: Apparently so. Tear: Why would the Major be cooperating with Mohs? Their goals were completely opposite... Jade: They've already cooperated several times. Perhaps it suits their respective purposes. Jade: Or they may both be simply using one another. Anise: Mohs thinks the God-Generals follow him, but the God-Generals seem to have other ideas. Luke sees something shining in the snow and bends to pick it up. Luke: (What's this?) Luke: ND1999, in commemoration of the birth of my daughter, Meryl...? Luke: (!) Guy: ...What is it, Luke? Find something? Luke: N-no, just some trash. Jade: (...) Guy: Uh-huh... Luke: (Meryl... That was Natalia's real name, right?) Luke: (The birth year is the same too...) Natalia: I'm sorry. We stopped because of all my chatter. Let's hurry onward. Obtained Locket. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Natalia's Birthday' [SK334] | | Luke: Natalia, you were born in the month of Rem, 1999, weren't you? | Natalia: Yes. Oh, are you going to give me a present? | Luke: Huh? | Guy: Come to think of it, the last time she had a birthday, we were | busy wandering around Malkuth. | Luke: Oh, yeah...Just after Tear and I were blown all the way over | there... | Natalia: My. Well, I'll be looking forward to a lovely present. | Luke: I was just trying check the date on the locket... | Guy: Locket? | Luke: N-nothing, never mind! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party reaches the area with the passage rings and they see Asch. Asch: ...No sign of the Jewel here, either. Luke: Is that sword the Key of Lorelei? Asch: You again? Natalia: Asch, please tell us. Where is Lorelei being kept? Is Van still alive? Luke: You can contact Lorelei, right? You know where it is, don't you? Asch: ...No, I haven't heard Lorelei since the land was lowered. It won't respond to me, either. Luke: So it's no use, even to an original. Guy: In that case, would you at least tell us what you know? Natalia: Asch, please? Asch: From the start, Lorelei has wanted to be freed from the core. Lorelei contacted us because it thought staying in the core would harm the planet. Jade: That's what Lorelei was saying when it inhabited Tear's body. Natalia: So Lorelei is being held within the planet's core? Asch: No, not any more. It disappeared from the core when you defeated Van. Luke: Then where...? Asch: During our final contact, Lorelei said it had been trapped inside Van. Tear: So my brother is alive! Anise: But the Commandant was really hurt! How could he have possibly...? Asch: I don't know. But Van's absorbed Lorelei into his body. The Seventh Fonon has the power to heal. I suppose Van was lucky. Guy: So freeing Lorelei means from it from within Van? Asch: That's right. Lorelei wants to leave Auldrant's gravity and become the seventh layer of the fon belt. I'm looking for the Jewel of Lorelei to help make that happen. This sword won't work as the Key without the Jewel inlaid into it. Luke: Oh...Yeah, Lorelei said to use the Key to free it. Tear: Just like in Yulia's legends. You imbue the Key with the essence of Lorelei, and guide it to the fon belt. Luke: But where is the Jewel...? Asch: It's your fault! If you had gotten the Key from Lorelei, none of this would have happened! Luke: Me...? Asch: It must have flown out through one of the Sephiroth. The God-Generals are looking for it, too. Asch: If those bastards get to the Key first, we won't be able to set Lorelei free. Natalia: If we can't free Lorelei, the Planet Storm will grow stronger to create more Seventh Fonons... Tear: Destroying the world. Asch: Exactly. Luke: Asch! Wait up! Where are you going? Asch: The Jewel wasn't here, either. I'm looking somewhere else. Luke: Then we'll look with you! Asch: I have no intention of getting friendly with a replica! Luke: It's because I'm just a replica that I need your help! Asch: Do you really think you have any right to say that? Tear: Stop it! This is no time for the two of you to be arguing. Asch: ...I'm going on to the next Sephiroth. That's the only way I'll find the Jewel you failed to receive. You all do whatever you want. I supposed I could let you know if I find something. Asch walks off. Jade: Let's leave the Jewel to Asch and head on to Baticul to look for that Scorer, shall we? Luke: ...Fine. So once again, Asch and I go our separate ways...Why does it always end like this? Guy: ...Don't you realize? Luke: Huh? Guy: ...Never mind. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Luke Overdoing Things' [SK335] | | Guy: Hmm... | Tear: What's wrong, Guy? | Guy: Oh, I was just thinking about Luke... | Mieu: What about Master? | Guy: He still doesn't realize that he's part of the reason Asch gets | so angry... | Tear: ...Luke overdoes everything, doesn't he? Too arrogant, too | excited, too depressed, too repentant... | Guy: Yeah. He treated Mieu pretty horribly, too. | Mieu: No it wasn't! Master was just playing with me! It was fun! | Tear: That's not playing, Mieu! You can't just-- | Mieu: Master even gave me a name! It made me so happy! | Guy: ...Yeah...I...I guess it's a not a bad name. Thing... | Mieu: It's great! | Guy: Do you suppose Mieu's been infected by Luke? Now he's overdoing | it too... | Tear: Yes...poor thing, he's so easily fooled. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:BA7} \ >>> Baticul \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Some soldiers are running about. Anise: What's with all the commotion? Luke walks up to one of the soldiers at the entrance of the city. Luke: Hey, what happened? Soldier: They arrested that criminal Mohs and brought him in from Daath! Tear: What?! Soldier: But then he got away. They're closing off the perimeter and starting a city-wide search. Natalia: Which means that Mohs is still somewhere within Baticul. Luke: All right. Let's search for Mohs, too! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Revenge for Ion!' [SK336] | | Luke: That bastard Mohs! | Anise: We're going to get him! | Mieu: Yeah! | Jade: Everyone, if you don't cool down--- | Natalia: That filthy coward doesn't deserve to be called a holy anything! | Tear: It's time to avenge Ion! | Guy: ...Even Tear's lost her composure. | Jade: Well, I do understand their feelings.... | Guy: But we need to remain calm, now more than ever, right? | Jade: Exactly. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads to the port. Mohs: Arrgh! I can't afford to be captured here, with Eldrant almost arisen! Mohs runs towards the harbor. The party chases him. Luke: Stop! Mohs! Tear: Turn yourself in to the Order of Lorelei and face the consequences of your crimes. Mohs: Please! Those who must atone for their crimes are you fools who would ignore the Score! I am right! How can you not understand?! Dist: Of course you are, Grand Maestro Dist appears from above in his floating chair. Mohs: Ahh, Dist! Jade: ...Dist. Perhaps I ought to have left you permanently frozen. Dist: S-silence, you! You always break your promises! You never play fair! Dist: Now, Mohs, let's leave this riffraff behind and proceed to Eldrant. Mohs: Wait, Dist! The power of the Fon Master shall be mine, here and now. Dist: Perhaps the austere majesty of Eldrant would make a more fitting stage... Mohs: I'll reveal my new might to these fools who have lost sight of how the world should be. Dist: In that case, by all means! Jade: Dist! What are you thinking?! That arte... Dist: Silence! Mohs has decided this for himself. You have no right to interfere! Mohs glows a purplish color and the screen goes white. Mohs: Uaah?! Mohs turns into a monster. Luke: Wh-what the hell? Jade: ...It's just like my eyes. He's strengthening his fonic artes by inscribing a fonic glyph on himself to gather fonons. But that... That's the fonic glyph to gather the Seventh Fonon. Tear: But if that's inscribed on someone who can't use the Seventh Fonon, every fonon in their body would mutate! Mohs: Guaah... Dist?! What have I become?! Dist: Your body has simply taken a more suitable form to prevent your Seventh Fonons from going out of control. Have no fear. Your powers are now truly those of a Fon Master! Mohs: ...Ohhh! I can feel it surging within me! So this is the power of Yulia! I'm heading straight to Eldrant from here. See that you follow shortly. Mohs departs. Guy: To think that a human could become something so hideous... Jade: When the Seventh Fonon is implanted in one who cannot use it, his body rejects it, leading to madness. Dist: Mohs desired the power of a Fon Master above all else. I'm sure he won't mind. Personally, I'm satisfied to perform experiments, regardless of the subject. Dist departs. Luke: ...So that bastard Mohs would become a monster to protect the Score. Anise: Speaking of the Score, where did that traveler giving illegal readings go? Tear: Perhaps he's moved on to a new city. We should report to the Order about him...and Mohs. Guy: That's fine, but who's in charge of the Order these days? Tear: ...I'm not sure. Perhaps it's Grandfather, now. Luke: Nobody in Daath has any idea of what's going on. I say we talk to Teodoro. Anise: You're right. Ugh, what's going to happen to the Order...? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Past and the Present' [SK337] | | Tear: Dist should have known what would happen if someone tried to | control the Seventh Fonon by force... | Luke: But for someone to turn into...that... How can that happen? | Jade: ...That technology, for bringing fonons into the body...I | invented that as a child as well. | All: ...! | Anise: Wow...You really do make everything. | Jade: ...I wish I could go back and kill myself as a newborn. | Jade: I keep coming up with such troublesome things... | Luke: ...That would suck. | Anise: If you did that. Luke and Ion wouldn't have been born. | Jade: ...That's true. I suppose I can't change the past. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads back to the aircar. Luke: Sorry, as long as we're in Baticul, I'd like to go see His Majesty... Natalia: Oh, you're right. Yes, let's go. Luke: Ah... Luke: (Well that didn't work. It's not like I can mention this locket in front of Natalia...) Natalia: Luke? We're leaving now. Luke: Y-yeah... The party heads towards the castle gates. Luke: Uh, a-actually...I kind of want to meet with His Majesty... alone. Natalia: My, what's wrong? Is it something we shouldn't know about? Luke: W-well, not exactly.... Guy: (lightbulb) Ah hah hah, you're such a bad liar. Just tell her! Luke: Guy?! Guy: Truth is, Natalia, he's got a letter of a personal nature from Emperor Peony. Natalia: But why hide it? Jade: (lightbulb) This is highly confidential. His Imperial Majesty is considering making you his bride. All but Natalia: (!) Natalia: M-Me?! But I've got Luke! And Asch, too, I suppose. Oh, what to do... Tear: (...) Anise: Natalia, you can't have both! No fair! Guy: Anyway, he asked that the letter get to your father without you knowing Natalia: ...Now I understand. Very well, I'll be waiting here. Natalia receives the Popular Princess title. Jade: Thank you for understanding. Well, Luke, shall we? Luke: Huh? No, but, I was going to go alone... Guy: Now, now, don't be stubborn. Let's go. Jade and Guy drag Luke into the castle. Anise: Then we're coming, too. Tear: R-right.... Anise and Tear also go into the castle. Luke: Hold on! Guy, Jade, Anise, fine. Tear?! Tear: I'm sorry, it just kind of happened... Guy: It's that locket you found on Mt. Roneal, isn't it? Luke: Y-yeah... I guess you noticed. Guy: You were standing there, staring at some locket you found, looking like somebody just died. Jade: He's right. Sometimes one just can't help being curious. Anise: Yep! ...heh heh. (heart) Guy, Luke & Tear: (sweatdrop) Luke: ...Just don't tell Natalia. The scene fades to King Ingobert's chamber. Ingobert VI: What's going on, Luke? I don't see Natalia with you...? Luke: Your Majesty, please take a look at this. Luke hands the King the locket. Ingobert VI: This is...! Anise: (!) Luke: I don't know what Natalia looked like as a baby, so I thought maybe Your Majesty could... Ingobert VI: ...This is Natalia. I'm almost certain of it. Where did you find this? Luke: On Mt. Roneal. At the spot where we and the God-Generals were caught in that avalanche. Anise: I think I've seen that before. I could have sworn that Largo... Everyone else: (!) Luke: Are you sure? Well, Largo is about the only possible candidate, but... Ingobert VI: ...I hear that Natalia's childhood wet-nurse is away on leave. I hear she's now working for Astor in Chesedonia. Try to speak with her. Luke: Yes, Your Majesty. Ingobert VI: Do you plan to...tell Natalia? Luke: What would Your Majesty have us do. Ingobert VI: ...I don't know. Perhaps it would be best to tell her... But if it is indeed Largo... Luke: We'll report to Your Majesty again once we have a solid answer. Ingobert VI: Thank you. Luke, what's with all this "Your Majesty" business? It's unlike you. Luke: ...Well, I'm just a replica. Ingobert VI: Oh, don't be foolish. You're still a nephew to me. Luke: ...Yes, sir. In the hallway outside the King's chamber... Jade: This is quite a surprise. To think that Natalia could be Largo's daughter. Luke: Nothing is sure yet. Guy: ...But it will be so hard for her if it is true. Anise: So, are we going to Chesedonia? Be careful. Natalia will catch on eventually. Tear: What about that Scorer performing illicit readings? How about we tell her we heard the Scorer was heading for Chesedonia? Luke: Nice. Natalia should go along with that. Anise: But we're going to have to tell her sometime, right? She'll probably be really hurt. Tear: ...Yes. It's hard to face one's own blood as an enemy. Luke: Right. And Natalia in particular has a fragile side to her that makes me worry. Tear: (...) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Connected by Blood' [SK338] | | Anise: All this heavy talk is really getting me down... | Guy: Yeah, it sure is depressing. | Luke: Yeah... | Tear: If you all look so gloomy when you go outside, Natalia will know | something's up. | Jade: Indeed. Life has its ups and downs, after all. | Luke: But it's Largo! | Jade: The what about Tear? | All: ...! | Anise: Oh yeah...the Commandant is her brother, isn't he...? | Jade: Now is not the time for such thoughts. We need to be calm and | rational. | Luke: Yeah. After all, it's not us the truth will hurt the most...Its | Natalia. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Natalia: W-welcome back. So, what did father have to say...? Luke: Oh, he talked about how you had Asch and all. Natalia: Asch? So father is thinking of Asch and me...? Natalia: But then you... Luke: Ahh, no, I meant he said Asch or me, either one. Jade: More importantly, we heard that traveling Scorer had headed to Chesedonia. We're already going in that direction. Let's follow him. Natalia: I see, perhaps he'll move straight on to Malkuth from there. Perhaps we could delay our report to Teodoro until after Chesedonia, then? Tear: S-sure, of course. Luke: ...All right. Let's see what we find in Chesedonia. Luke, Tear and Natalia depart. Anise: ...You're an amazing liar, Colonel. Your smile hasn't budged. Jade: Oh, I assure you. I'm crying on the inside. Racked with guilt. Guy: Uh huh... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Natalia's Future Husband?' [SK339] | | Natalia: I wonder whether Father will choose Luke or Asch... | Anise: Huh? That should be up to you, right? | Anise: Asch, with a zillion wrinkles from a hard life, or Luke, with a | zillion wrinkles from moping around all day. | Anise: Whatever floats your boat. | Luke: It's more like wrinkles from getting mad at stupid chicks. | Tear: ...S-so which do you like, Natalia? | Natalia: I...that is... You can't expect me to answer that! | Natalia: Besides, it's Father that will decide, not me. | Luke: ...It'll be Asch, anyway. Don't worry about me. The arrangement | was with the original Luke. | Natalia: Nobody said anything about that! | Natalia: Besides, perhaps I don't like either Luke or Asch! | Tear: Huh? So, what, Guy then? | Anise: Or maybe even the Colonel? | Guy: Hey, stop teasing her. Look how troubled she is. | Anise: Boooo. Love is what girls always talk about! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:CH5} \ >>> Chesedonia \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party heads towards Astor's mansion. Natalia: That's quite a crowd over there! Let's take a look. Natalia runs towards the crowd. Luke: I suppose if we snuck off now to ask around, Natalia would be pretty mad, huh? Tear: ...Luke, wait! Something's odd here. ???: All who desire a reading of the Score, follow me! All who come shall have a reading! Guy: Looks like our lie has become the truth. The rest of the party heads towards the crowd. Anise: Hold it right there! The Order of Lorelei has called a halt to all Score readings! That Scorer is a fake! Sync: That hurts, Anise. From now on, it won't be the old Order of Lorelei reading the Score. The Score will be read by the New Order of Lorelei, and its glorious leader, Fon Master Mohs. Anise: Ion...no. You're... Luke: Sync... So you survived too?! Jade: *Sigh* There go our last hopes for at least one casualty among the God-Generals. I imagine its true then, that Van survived and assimilated Lorelei within himself. Sync: If you know that much, shouldn't you be looking for the Jewel a little harder? Luke: You all haven't found it yet, either. Sync: If no one finds it, we keep the upper hand. Natalia: Brazen as ever, I see! Anise: ...Sync, what's this New Order of Lorelei? What do you mean by Fon Master Mohs? Sync: Didn't Mohs tell you, our darling little traitor? Anise: ...I wasn't working for him because I wanted to! Sync: Easy. I'm not carrying that deadweight Mohs around for kicks, either. Now, as I was saying before that interruption, all who want Score readings, follow me. Anise: Stop right there! NPC: We want to know the Score! NPC 2: Yeah! He's right! Anise: But... Sync (in Ion's voice): Anise. Please let me go. You, of all people, should understand. Anise: ...Ion... Sync: Ah hah hah! Don't forget. Fighting with me means fighting with Ion. Sync departs with part of the crowd. Luke: That bastard! How cruel... Natalia: Anise, you can't let it get to you. Sync and Ion are completely different people. Guy: She's right. Just like Luke and Asch are different people. Anise: ...Y-yeah. I'm fine! I'm NOT letting it bother me! I'm fine. I'm fine. I'm FINE! Jade: Anise. Don't push yourself too hard. Anise: I'm not pushing anything... Jade: Natalia, would you take Anise to the bazaar or somewhere to cheer her up a bit? The rest of us will go speak to Astor to alert him of the traveling Scorer. Anise: (angry) Natalia: Certainly. Anise, let's take a walk. Anise departs with Natalia. Guy: Damn, you're good, Jade. Tear: Yes, but Anise looked angry at being used as the bait. Luke: Jade will take responsibility for that later. But she was really depressed, Jade: Let's set aside responsibility for the moment and go see Astor. The party then enters Astor's mansion. Astor: ...I see. We'll pay careful attention to any and all Scorers coming through the area. Luke: Please do. With that out of the way, might we... Astor: You'd like to speak with Natalia's nanny, correct? Ee hee hee. I'll call for her. Astor claps and the nanny comes in. Nanny: Goodness, if it isn't Master Luke! Luke: There's something I'd like to show you. Luke walks up to Nanny and shows her the locket. Nanny: This was Badaq's! Tear: Badaq? Nanny: Meryl's father... He was Sylvia's... My son-in-law. Luke: Could you tell us a little bit about him? Nanny: Badaq used to work as a guard for a caravan that traveled across the desert. His closest friends used to call him the Lion of the Desert. Nanny: He was a big man, with a big heart. Guy: Lion of the Desert... The Black Lion... His large stature... Jade: There's little doubt. Luke: So, where is this Badaq person now? Nanny: I'm afraid I haven't seen him since my daughter, Sylvia, passed away. Luke: ...Thank you very much. That's more than enough. Astor: If there's anything else I can do for you, don't hesitate to come by again. Ee hee hee hee. The party rejoins with Anise and Natalia. Natalia: Oh my, that was fast. Did you pass along a warning to Astor? Luke: Yeah, more or less. Anise: ...Luke, I want a full report later. Luke: I know. I'm sorry. Anise: You're weird. Why should you apologize, and not the Colonel? Jade: Whew, I appreciate it Luke. Anise & Luke: (...) Natalia: What's all this about? Luke: Oh, uh, hah hah, n-nothing. Natalia: Really? Well, in any case, this New Order of Lorelei business is worrisome. Tear: Let's go talk with Grandfather. Guy: Which means Yulia City, right? Nice, I love that town! Tear: Oh, really? Why? Luke: Fon machines. Fon machines. Tear: Ugh... Guy: ...There's no need to react like that. Anyway, let's get moving. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Score's Power, The People's Desire' [SK341] | | Jade: This does present a problem. | Anise: You mean the New Order of Lorelei? | Tear: People will turn to the Order that reads the Score... | Luke: And they're giving readings...Dammit! | Jade: Such is the result of using as a basis for Politics. | Natalia: We haven't...! Well...perhaps we have overemphasized it | somewhat. | Luke: They also said something about Mohs being Fon Master. | Luke: Mohs was obsessed with the Score, so I can see him going along | with it, but the God-Generals... | Tear: Indeed. Their ideals are in complete opposition. Perhaps Mohs is | simply being used... | Anise: But for what? | Jade: To chip away at the Order's military strength and provide a base | to build their power until Van returns. | Jade: That seems the most likely reason. | Luke: What an idiot...to let himself be used, be turned into a monster | like that, all for the Score | Tear: Mohs...All he ever wanted was the prosperity of humanity... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Fake Ion' [SK340] | | Anise: I can't believe Sync did that... | Tear: Anise...hang in there. | Anise: ...I'm okay. I know that he's not Ion. But his face, his | voice... | Natalia: How cruel, to use his appearance to hurt Anise... | Luke: Why...? Ion said he didn't want to be a substitute for anyone | Luke: I don't really want to be Asch's substitute...I don't think. | Luke: So how can he play Ion so easily..?. | Guy: He may think of replicas differently than you or Ion. | Luke: I can't understand him... I wish I could ask him about it | Natalia: If he would listen... | Luke: Yeah... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Playing Catch-Up?' [SK342] | | Anise: Grrr... We can't even tell what's going on right now, but things | just keep changing and changing! | Anise: We keep playing catch-up when we don't have a clue about | anything! | Luke: we have to get ahead of the God-Generals somewhere, or we'll be | playing catch-up forever. | Jade: Our lack of information certainly puts us at a disadvantage. | Anise: Would the Key of Lorelei turn things around? We could free | Lorelei if we had that, right? | Jade: Indeed. It looks like the God-Generals intend to create a | replica continent, then destroy Lorelei once it's complete. | Jade: So if we free Lorelei into the fon belt, their plan will fail. | Luke: But that still leaves us at a disadvantage. All they have to do | is prevent us from using the Key. | Luke: But we have to stop their replica plan, deal with the miasma and | free Lorelei too. | Anise: well, it's a good thing you've got Anise here to help you! | Luke: ...Uh...yeah. That's great. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:YU6} \ >>> Yulia City \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The scene fades to the conference room. Teodoro: ...I see. The first order of business is to restore the Order of Lorelei. Leave the Order to me. I'll pull something together centered around Tritheim. To think that Mohs, a paragon of what a watcher should be, should come to this... It is truly a shame. Tear: Grandfather, Mohs mentioned an "Eldrant." Do you have any idea what he meant? Teodoro: The only Eldrant I know is the name of the Glorious Land of Ancient Ispanian legend... All: (...) Teodoro: I'm afraid I don't know much about Eldrant, but something odd has come up. Guy: Something odd? Teodoro: There is an overall decline in Seventh Fonons. But there are spots at which they're being expended at an astonishing rate. Anise: Where? Teodoro: One is an undersea location near the sixth Sephiroth, but an investigation team found nothing. We're currently in pursuit of a second site now. Jade: Pursuit? How can one pursue a stationary location? Teodoro: There's no other way to put it. For whatever reason, its position keeps changing. Guy: Could it be some mobile facility? A ship, or a carriage? Teodoro: I don't know. But it would take much more than a ship to expend this many Seventh Fonons. Jade: Is there no pattern to the movement? Teodoro: That's currently being looked into. We do know that it's traveling around the ocean. Luke: A giant object traveling the ocean, huh.... Jade: The only peacetime occupation of that many Seventh Fonons would be fomicry. This is most disturbing. Luke: If you think so, Jade, then it probably is a facility for fomicry. Tear: Let's search the ocean as thoroughly as possible. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Something Big Moving in the Sea...' [SK343] | | Anise: Something big moving in the sea...Like a huge marwhal? | Natalia: Even the largest of them only reach around thirty meters. | Natalia: Rather small for" something giant moving through the sea," no? | Tear: Baby marwhals are so cute... | Anise: But they attack people when they get bigger. They are monsters, | you know. | Natalia: Could it be a battleship? I have heard of very large ships in | recent years... | Guy: Yeah, but I don't think there are many ships in the | thousand-meter class... | Jade: Whatever it is, if it's that large, we should be able to find it | by just watching the sea. | Anise: But I get so sleepy watching the water... Oh well. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ In the Albiore... Luke: Hey! Is that island moving?! Jade: A floating island? That's physically impossible... Guy: That island... I feel like I've seen it before... Natalia: Shall we land and take a look? We may find some clue down there. Tear: It just may be the facility consuming Seventh Fonons that Grandfather was talking about. The party lands on the mysterious island. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:FER} \ >>> Isle of Feres \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Guy: I'm sure I've seen this place before... Jade: Is this the Isle of Feres? It was crushed in the tidal wave after the destruction of Hod... Guy: Yes! It's the island across from Hod! Luke: The Isle of Feres? Guy: It's an island from the Hod archipelago. It had a lot of trade back when Hod still existed. Tear: But...even hit by a tidal wave, how could solid land become a floating island? Natalia: Yes. I can't imagine it's a natural phenomenon. Anise: Which means there's some trick to it. Let's keep looking. Luke: I've got a bad feeling about this. Keep your eyes open. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Isle of Feres' [SK345] | | Luke: Could a tidal wave have destroyed this town this completely? | Tear: The power of water is frightening... | Mieu: I can't swim...I hope a tidal wave doesn't come again | Luke: Don't worry; we're safe. We have the Albiore, anyway. | Tear: ...It doesn't look like much of Feres' population could have | survived... | Luke: The collapse of Hod's affected so many other places... | Akzeriuth, too... | Mieu: Mieuuu... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes further in to the Isle. Natalia: The buildings here all look similar... Luke: Now that you mention it, they do. Guy, how come they're all like this? Guy: Hmm? Well...I don't know the details, but I heard that a single architect planned the whole town. They named the island after him. Tear: So the architect was named Feres? Guy: Yeah. Apparently the emperor of the time was struck by the uniform beauty of the town and the architecture of Grand Chokmah was influences by Fere's style as well... Jade: I see, I see. Guy: What do you mean, "I see?" You know more about it than I do! Jade: Not at all. I quite dislike giving explanations. Anise: ...Liar. You've been explaining things all this time. Jade: That's why I dislike it. Especially explaining general knowledge. I'd rather leave that to others. It's quite exhausting. Natalia: Goodness, simple explanations aren't that tiring, are they? Jade: I am getting on in my years, after all. Luke: Right... The party heads further in to the Isle. Guy: What is it, Luke? Luke: Oh... I was just thinking. It must have been a beautiful town... Guy: ...Yeah. I don't remember much, but there was a big port, and the town was always lively. Luke: Yeah...? Jade: The collapse of Hod, the tidal wave... Most of the people probably died without even knowing what had happened. It may have been easier on them that way. Relatively speaking, of course... Tear: It must have horrible for the survivors as well. Nothing would have grown... Guy: And all of them were just innocent bystanders... Luke: An innocent island, washed away and forgotten... Tear: An innocent island indeed... Anise: Arietta... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Where Are We, Anyway?' [SK346] | | Natalia: All of these buildings look alike. It's hard to know exactly | where we are. | Luke: What? It's easy. We came from the right, over there, so now we | just need to head to the left... | Tear: No, Luke, we just came from the left. | Luke: Huh? | Jade: Luke, if a monster loses its homing instinct, then it is nothing | but a domesticated animal...a pet | Luke: Hey! Who are you calling a monster?! And what's this about | pets?! | Guy: ...Jade's the one who's someone's pet, anyway... | Jade: ...Guy? Did I just hear you say something? | Guy: Oh, no, not at all. I was just thinking about the names Emperor | Peony gave to his rappigs. | Jade: ...*sigh*... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes even further in. Tear: ....There's someone here. ???: ....... Anise: That voice...! Arietta: ...Anise! Arietta: This is my special place! You can't just come barging in! You're not welcome here, Anise! Guy: Feres is your special place? What do you mean? Arietta: This...this is where I was born. My family all died in the flood. Mommy Liger saved me. I was so lonely, but Van came one day and invited me to join him. He stopped Feres from sinking and made it into my own private ship. Van and the others have visited several times. They said they'd make this our base. Tear: So this was my brother's headquarters. Jade: And most likely a facility for fomicry. Arietta: If you're talking about a replica machine, then yes, we have one. All: (!) Arietta: We need it. After all, Van promised he would recreate my whole city. Tear: That's nothing but an illusion! Replicas aren't your family, or even a replacement. Arietta: No, you're wrong! Look at Luke! He's a replacement for Asch! Luke: (!) Arietta: Ion understood me. He even helped Van! The only reason Ion changed was because Anise took over as Fon Master Guardian! Luke: You're wrong! Master Van has tricked you! Anise: Luke! Be quiet! Arietta: But you betrayed him, Anise! Anise: What? Are you saying you want that duel here and now? Arietta: My mediator, Largo, will decide the place. You can wait to hear from him. Arietta gets onto the Liger with her and goes to depart. Arietta: I fought for Ion, and for Van. But now Ion is gone. I'm going to get revenge. I won't lose! Arietta departs. Anise: What a fool... She doesn't even realize she's being used... Jade: If what Arietta said is true, then we can assume that this is one of Van's facilities. Natalia: Yes. Let's keep looking. Is that all right, Anise? Anise: ...Yeah. The party enters the building. Inside is a machine similar to Choral Castle. Jade: This is fomicry...? Impressive. Such a large-scale endeavor, operating even now. Luke: So, this is where they're making the replicas. Anise: Iemon and the others may have been made here, too. Jade: Let's shut it down. Perhaps that will help ease the expenditure of Seventh Fonons. Luke: Right. I don't think this world needs any more replicas. Even with just me, it's already one too many... Guy: Luke... Mary: Stop! Why are you doing this? Why do you oppose the birth of our brethren? Iemon: We will all be given a new place to live upon the heavenly plane. Mary: Do not interfere! Luke: Are all of you okay with that? It's not like you were born because you were wanted. Mary: You're wrong. We were all born because Mohs wanted us. Guy: If you say so Mary... But once your heavenly plane is completed, your originals will all be killed. Iemon: Why should we care if those who don't accept us are killed? Luke: That's barbaric! Without those originals, we... No replicas could be born! Mary: So? Now that we have been born, why should we stay beholden to the originals? Tear: Luke, you could learn a thing or two from them. Luke: ...What?! Guy: Confidence. That's why Asch gets mad at you. That's why you have trouble with Emperor Peony. You lack confidence. Tear: Call it a will to live that borders on arrogance. You had it, once. Mary: You would call us arrogant? Tear: Yes. I would. And some day, your own words may be turned right back at you. I wonder if you'll be able to say the same thing then. All: (!) The ground shakes and the Frings replica enters. Frings: No! Mohs has moved ahead with his plan without us! The scene shifts to a view of the sea, from which something is rising. The scene cuts to Mohs, Sync, Legretta, Dist and Largo in another location. Mohs: ...Heh heh heh. This continent of Van's will become my new stronghold. Behold the dawn of the New Order of Lorelei! All hands, begin preparations! Heh heh heh! Hah hah hah hah! Mohs: I shall bring prosperity to all of Auldrant in fulfillment of the Score! Hah hah hah hah! The scene fades back to the Isle of Feres. Luke: What's going on?! What is that...?! Mary: Mohs! You promised us a place on the new Hod... Guy: The new Hod? So that's Hod?! Frings: What are we to do?! Iemon: We go to the site of our covenant--the Tower of Rem. Surely Mohs will come for us. Mary: But the navigational equipment was destroyed with the fomicry facility. Frings: We'll eventually drift ashore if we follow this current. We'll walk from there! Mary: Agreed. Spread the word. The replicas depart. Luke: ...They're gone. What should we do? Do we just let them go? I can't imagine Mohs taking them in... Jade: Well, if it were me, I would certainly cut them off. As long as he has the data, he can make as many replicas as he pleases. Natalia: So they're simply to be abandoned...?! Jade: In all likelihood. Though I doubt they'll realize that for a while. Luke: They still believe in Mohs. Guy: So is that island in the sky really Hod? If so, then that would make it the replicas land that Van envisioned. Anise: I guess we'll find out when we get there. Jade: It seems risky...but you're right. Luke: Okay, let's ask Noelle to take us up to that floating island. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:EL1} \ >>> Eldrant \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Aboard the Albiore, during entry... Noelle: I can't take you any closer. I can't break through the Planet Storm's protective barrier! Luke: Wait, does that mean we can't get near it as long as the Planet Storm is active? Jade: There's nothing we can do. Let's head to Grand Chokmah. The military is keeping the Hod data at their headquarters. Luke: Understood. But what do we do if it really is Van's replica land up there? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Floating Replica of Hod' [SK348] | | Guy: That huge thing floating in the sky is Hod? Impossible... | Tear: Even assuming it's a replica, given those claw-like | anti-aircraft around it, it must have been created some time | ago. | Jade: Presumably they erected the defense system underwater, then used | the Sephiroth to raise it. | Luke: The Sephiroth? But haven't those all but lost their power to | raise up land? | Jade: The Sephiroth itself is a replica, too. Remember, this is a | replica of Hod from before it collapsed. | Tear: ...Wait. If they replicate other areas, including the | Sephiroth... | Jade: Yes, Tear, what you're thinking is exactly what will come to | pass... | Luke: What? What will happen? | Jade: ...It would be difficult to explain. Let's wait until it | actually comes about. | Jade: Either way, there's nothing we can do about it right now. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:GC5} \ >>> Grand Chokmah \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Nordheim: Colonel Curtiss, I'm en route to His Majesty to report on the island floating above the Central Ocean. Jade: Have you found anything out about it yet? Nordheim: Chief of Staff Sesemann has all the information. He's in the rear conference room. Luke: The rear conference room. Let's hurry. In the conference room... Sesemann: Oh, Jade. Things have really gone bad, huh? Jade: Yes, sir. We've learned that the island floating above the Central Ocean may be Hod. Sesemann: Ahh, so it's true! Luke: So that really is Hod? Sesemann: Well, its surrounded by a protective barrier formed by the Planet Storm. It's impossible to observe from here. Tear: Then what led you to suspect it might be Hod, sir? Sesemann: It is located exactly where Hod was in the Outer Lands. Jade: If it is Hod, then we can assume it's a replica created through fomicry. Sesemann: Yes, I doubt it could be anything else. Replica data for the entire island was taken just before its destruction. Guy: Hence the "new Hod"... Weren't a lot of Seventh Fonons being consumed in that area? Natalia: Correct. Which suggests that all of this was Van's doing... Luke: But wait, the replicas were all saying it was Mohs. A soldier enters. Soldier: Sir! Several islands in the Hod archipelago have disappeared! The cause is unknown! All: (!) Sesemann: ...What do you think, Jade? Jade: Perhaps fonons within the two lands are interfering with one another, causing a hyperresonance. Sesemann: Yes, I would imagine that's the case. I'm headed to speak with His Majesty! Sesemann departs. Anise: What's happening, Colonel...? Jade: Let's go see the King ourselves. I'll explain things there. The party heads towards the castle when they hear Mohs. Mohs: Hark, fools who have forgotten the Score! Anise: That's Mohs' voice! Luke: Huh? Where is it coming from? Jade: I don't know. It seems like...the sky. But that's... Mohs: I am Mohs, Fon Master of the New Order of Lorelei! Hah hah! Ah hah hah hah hah! Mohs: Swallowed by the Qliphoth, shrouded by the miasma, the world today lies on the verge of destruction. Mohs: And why is that? It is because both Kimlasca and Malkuth have abandoned Yulia's Score! The scene fades to the audience chamber in Kimlasca. Mohs: False messengers have deceived both into ignoring the Score! Goldberg: Your Majesty! This is... Ingobert VI: Yes...Mohs, that bastard! Just what is he trying to accomplish? The scene fades back to Grand Chokmah, in the audience chamber. Mohs: It is my duty to protect the Score. To establish the New Order of Lorelei! Peony: ...This isn't good. Nordheim: No, this sort of thing could easily make the citizens panic. Meanwhile, in Chesedonia... Mohs: We, the new Order of Lorelei, have created the Glorious Land of Eldrant from the Isle of Hod. From here, we will see that the world once more follows the Score. Hah hah hah hah! In Daath... Mohs: Furthermore, we demand reparations from and the surrender of Kimlasca and Malkuth. Mohs: If you...d-do not accept...these conditions...*cough*...we will...use force...! Back to the party... Mohs: The Order shall dispatch a messenger to both nations. I eagerly await your responses. Mohs: C-citizens, I say it is y-your duty to r-rise up against a-any who would reject the Score! Mohs: Justice lies innn Yulia's Score alone! Hah hah, ah hah hah hah! Jade: ...Mohs' mind has already begun to degenerate from the neural contamination. Luke: Neural contamination? Tear: Mohs absorbed many Seventh Fonons without any ability to control them. Jade: Mohs consciousness has begun to reject the Seventh Fonon. He's losing his capacity for rational thought. Guy: So that's neural contamination... Natalia: He still created this preposterous New Order of Lorelei of his own will. His zeal for the Score us beyond all reason. Anise: I won't allow someone like him to destroy the Order Ion tried to renew! Luke: Let's see the Emperor. Neither Emperor Peony nor King Ingobert would give into Mohs' demands. Jade: Yes, I agree. We should start formulating countermeasures now to prepare for the worst. The party runs towards the castle. On Eldrant... Mohs: Hah hah hah! Wh-what's...happening?! Sommething...innside mee..Hah hah... Dist: Hmm, he didn't last long after the Seventh Fonon implantation. Legretta: This extreme a result, from such a small quantity... What if the Commandant cannot control Lorelei...? Sync: Van is a Seventh Fonist. He won't see consequences like these. Mohs: Wh...whhat are yyou...talkk...*cough*...?! Largo: ...Pitiful. To think that he'd be so fixated upon the Score as to assume such a form... Legretta: It's time. Let's go. The God-Generals leave the area. The scene fades back to Grand Chokmah, where Luke and co. head to the audience chamber. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Continuing Ion's Work' [SK350] | | Anise: What was that...? Not even Ion did anything like that... | Tear: That technology...they couldn't have dug it up from the Dawn | Age! | Natalia: But this is a problem. Now people all over the world know about | the New Order of Lorelei. | Natalia: The entire world will fall into panic... | Anise: Grrr! Ion tried so hard to reform and protect the Order of | Lorelei...I won't let that faker destroy it! | Tear: Anise... | Anise: Natalia! Tear! I'm going to need your help! | Natalia: Of course. I shall not allow that lot to disturb my beloved | Kimlasca. | Tear: Yes, Anise, let's stop them! | Anise: Watch over me, Ion... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Peony: I've heard. They said several islands in the Hod archipelago have disappeared. Jade: Yes. We believe it's due to a quasi hyperresonance cause by the replica land interacting with the original. Peony: Quasi hyperresonance? Jade: The replica land currently expanding around Eldrant is in all likelihood being constructed as replica data is extracted from the world's surface. Sesemann: So for an instance, the newly created replica and the original share the same Seventh Fonons. At that time, interference similar to a hyperresonance takes place. Luke: ...I'm so lost right now. Tear: In other worlds, the original land is destroyed as the replica land is created. Luke: Well then I guess we'd better stop it soon! Peony: Where do you think the fomicry facility creating the replica landmass is? Jade: On Eldrant, would be my guess. It takes a long time to extract the data from a landmass. We should still be able to stop it. Peony: Might we leave this matter to you? We have no means of reaching the sky. Natalia: Of course, we'll do everything in our power. Nordheim: The Malkuth armed forced will secure land defenses. Natalia: Kimlasca will aid you in that as well. Tear: Natalia, why don't you propose that summit about the Score now? Luke: Oh, that's right. Kimlasca, Malkuth, and the Order of Lorelei should all come together. They'll be a lot more effective against the New Order of Lorelei that way. Natalia: Yes, you're right. Perhaps now is the time for such a gathering. Jade: If Your Majesties would grant us your presence, we could also discuss strategies against Eldrant. Peony: What are you all suggesting? Jade: Guy, explain. Guy: Isn't that Natalia's job? ...All right, whatever. Peony: Very well. I'll make the time whenever you wish. Is Daath an acceptable location? Natalia: Yes, I think that would be best. Luke: King Ingobert is already aware of the situation, so that leaves Teodoro next, right? Tear: Yes. Let's head to Yulia City. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Power of Hyperresonance' [SK349] | | Luke: Quasi hyperresonance...Like when Tear and I were thrown to | Tataroo Valley... | Guy: "Quasi" it may be, but its still hyperresonance. How strong is | it? | Jade: Around forty percent of real hyperresonance, in theory. That's | still enough to destroy matter. | Luke: No different from my hyperresonance, then? | Jade: If you set off a full-strength hyperresonance, not even dust | would remain. | Jade: The fact that even part of Akzeriuth remained is because your | abilities are limited, and unstable. | Luke: Oh...okay. | Jade: That's also why Asch doesn't use hyperresonance in battle---it's | simply too strong. | Jade: Real hyperresonance would even annihilate the atmosphere. We | should consider ourselves lucky. | Guy: Yeah, but that's not going to stop the world from disintegrating | as the replicas are made. | Guy: You can hardly call that lucky. | Luke: Dammit... We've got to do something about Eldrant. | Guy: Which means dealing with the Planet Storm, and the New Order of | Lorelei, and ...well we got a lot of work ahead of us. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Solidarity' [SK351] | | Luke: This might be the first time Malkuth and Kimlasca have ever | cooperated openly. | Tear: Yes. | Tear: Kimlasca, Malkuth, and Daath must all work together to deal with | Eldrant. | Jade: "The enemy of my enemy is my friend." | Natalia: ...I can't agree with that way of stating it, but I suppose that | if this did not occur, not even a peace treaty would have been | enough to make them work with each other. | Anise: Who cares what sets it off as long as both countries get along | better? | Guy: I just hope they can continue working toward a peaceful | relationship after this is over, even if it doesn't last | forever. | Jade: Well, regardless of how the future may go, right now we need to | concentrate on Eldrant. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party leaves the castle and finds Largo standing there. Largo: So you were out here... Luke: Largo...! Natalia: You certainly took your time. Not that I was eager to see you again. Largo: Hah hah hah. Don't be that way. Arietta says she'll meet you in the Cheagle Woods. Anise: Arietta...So she really wants to go through with this duel. Mieu: She wants to fight in our forest? Luke: I wonder why there of all places... Largo: That was where her mother died. Anise: So you're her mediator. Jade: Then if Arietta should lose, you're the next in line to fight. Is that correct? Largo: No. I'm only here to move things along. And I can't imagine Arietta losing. Largo walks off. Anise: ...Okay! Time to teach that Arietta a lesson! Luke: Anise, you okay? You look like you're pushing yourself a bit. Anise: ...Isn't there someone else you should be worrying about more than me? Luke: Who? Natalia? Anise: He hasn't realized how badly she was hurt... Guy: He's still not very sensitive to these things. Luke: What? What are you guys talking about? Guy: You'll figure it out. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `For Arietta...' [SK352] | | Natalia: Is it really necessary for the two of you to duel? | Luke: Arietta probably needs, at the very least. | Tear: There is the option of not accepting the duel and inviting her | hatred... | Tear: It would give Arietta something to live for, you could say. | Natalia: But that would be too cruel to Anise... | Anise: ...Actually, I thought about that too. | Natalia: Anise...How could you...? | Anise: But...ever since she was born, Van's been pulling her strings. | Anise: This duel is something she finally decided on all by | herself...so I want to accept it. | Luke: Well...all right. I won't try to stop you anymore. | Natalia: But it's so sad, though. If only there was some way to avoid | it... | Anise: ...Thanks, Natalia. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:CW2} \ >>> Cheagle Woods \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: (Ion...You're really gone...) Anise: Wait here, you guys. Tear: Anise! Are you planning on going alone? Anise: Yes. This is my problem. Luke: Like hell it is! Ion was our friend too. If this is about him, then it is our problem. All of us. ...You're our friend too, Anise. Anise: ...Me? The one who was spying on you this whole time? Natalia: You didn't have any other choice, did you? Guy: Arietta will have all her monster friends. We should keep things fair. Tear: Ion sacrificed himself to save me. If that led to a duel, I need to be present. Jade: *sigh* I'm not sure about "friend" but I suppose we have an awkward bond of sorts. Anise: You would say something like that, Colonel. ...Okay. All right. All of you, you're coming with me. Luke: Right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Memories of Ion' [SK354] | | Luke: Come to think of it, this is the first place I ever really | talked to Ion. | Tear: So it is. He gave you a capacity core, too. | Luke: He sure was weird. | Luke: I mean, I was pretty nasty back then, but he kept talking about | how nice I was.... | Anise: And he said you felt familiar... | Luke: I wonder if it's because both of us are replicas? | Jade: I don't know if replicas can recognize each other, but... | Tear: ...But what? | Jade: I don't believe in reincarnation, but perhaps, somewhere in the | distant past, you and Ion were close friends. That sounds | better than "because we're replicas." At least to me, it does. | Guy: Hah hah hah! That doesn't really seem like you, but yeah, that's | nice. | Luke: Yeah, it is. Ion...I'm so glad I met you. | Luke: You were the first stranger who ever gave me a compliment. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Crossed Wires' [SK353] | | Mieu: The woods are so quiet... | Luke: Maybe because the God-Generals are here. | Mieu: Yeah, probably... | Guy: The creatures of the forest may have realized what's about to | happen.... | Mieu: I'm Arietta's enemy too... I'm a no-good cheagle... | Luke: You mean about the ligers...? Oh, that's just because everyone | got their wires crossed | Luke: You can't really blame anyone for that.... | Mieu: ...But I don't have any wires, Master... | Luke: Uh...don't worry about it, Mieu.... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party goes to the point where Arietta awaits. Largo: Finally. I was getting tired of sitting around. Arietta: I've been waiting...! Anise: All right. Let's get this over with. Largo: What a lively little girl. But a duel needs some rules. Arietta: I'll fight with my friends. You fight as a group of four, too. Natalia: Arietta, you've helped us in the past. Can't we talk this over? Arietta: That was to help Ion. But Ion is dead. Your deaths will be for Mommy. Anise, yours is for Ion! For Van too! I'll finish all of you! Anise: Don't act all innocent. You killed everyone on the Tartarus under Van's orders. You're not the only one who wants vengeance! Arietta: ...Anise, prepare to die! Battle. Arietta: You're Ion, Mommy and everyone's enemy! I'm not holding back! Anise: Your forgiveness...but I won't lose either! Luke: If you're going to fight Anise, you'll have to fight us too! Arietta: How could you? You were supposed to protect Ion! That was your job! Murderer! Tear: You should understand that that is part of a soldier's job! Jade: For me, you are the enemy of those under my command! Arietta: I don't feel bad. Hush! Anise: Whining won't do you any good I bear your grudge. I'll take it. Arietta: Good bye, Anise! Battle ends. Arietta: Van...I...lost. I'm sorry. Anise: Arietta... Arietta: Mommy...everyone...I'm sorry...I couldn't avenge you... Ion...where are you...? It hurts...Ion... Anise: Arietta... I'm sorry. I really hated you, but...but...I'm sorry... Largo picks up Arietta. Largo: Anise, don't cry or apologize over the corpse of your enemy. You'll only insult her. Arietta risked her life fighting for her goals, and died in the process. Pitying her means mocking the ideals she fought for. Anise: ...Yeah. Largo: The one true shame is that she couldn't witness the rebirth of the Isle of Feres. Tear: If that's how you feel, why didn't you stop her? Largo: She resolved herself to do this, even if it cost her her life. Who could have stopped that? Arietta felt indebted to Ion, Van, and those monsters for their help. It's only natural that she would fight for them. Natalia: ...Even though Van was only deceiving her? Largo: He wasn't deceiving her. Arietta would have killed herself if she knew the real Fon Master had died. That was Van's kindness. Luke: So Arietta joined the Six God-Generals to repay that debt. What about you, Badaq? Largo: (!) Largo: That name died long ago. In the sea of Baticul where my wife sleeps. Luke tosses the locket back to Largo. Largo: I see. So you found it. Luke: So you won't introduce yourself? Largo: What's the point? An enemy's an enemy. It's as simple as that. You're soft, boy. The next time we meet will be the day I kill you all. I'll avenge Arietta then. Largo walks off. Natalia: Luke, what was that all about? Luke: I'm sorry. I can't tell you right now. Natalia: ...But you'll promise to tell me later? Luke: ...Yes, I promise. Guy: All right. We can't just hang around here all day. Weren't we headed to Yulia City for that summit about the Score? Luke: Yeah, you're right. Anise, you okay to head out? Anise: ...Yeah, I'm fine. Tear: Then let's go. Anise received the Last Fon Master Guardian title. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Causes to Die For' [SK356] | | Tear: I wonder if the God-Generals all have something they're willing | to their lives to make happen... | Luke: The elimination of the Score...? | Guy: Since they're following Van's ideals, I'd assume so. | Guy: They probably have their different motives... | Guy: whether its to eliminate the Score or to help Van. | Luke: And they'll even sacrifice their lives for it... | Tear: ...I used to think that way. | Tear: I thought it was the proper approach, and I never doubted | myself. | Guy: And now? | Tear: Is sacrifice really the only way to be serious about something? | I...I don't know anymore... | Guy: Yeah? It sounds like you've come closer to to my way of | thinking. | Luke: You don't think that sacrificing your life is being serious? | Guy: Well, everybody's different, but I think that clinging to life | Guy: is what makes people really want to change the world | Guy: It's not right or wrong, it's just...faith | Luke: Clinging to life...sacrifice for a greater purpose... | Tear: Yes...perhaps I'm uncertain because both are right, in their own | ways. | Guy: I don't think there's any such thing as right or wrong, in this | world. | Guy: You have to decide on your own. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Let Her Be' [SK355] | | Anise: Okay, onward and upward! | Natalia: ...She really is pushing herself, isn't she? | Tear: Yes... | Mieu: Anise? | Anise: What? | Mieu: There are tears on your face. | Anise: *sniff* | Anise: This is the sweat of youth! No tears, nope! Enough about the | past, let's go forward! | Luke: Maybe we shouldn't try too hard to comfort her. | Jade: I'd say that Anise is less concerned with the pain of killing | Arietta and more concerned about worrying us by showing that | pain. | Jade: We should let her be. It's quite admirable for such a little | girl, wouldn't you say? | Guy: Yeah. She fought Arietta. | Guy: She'll have to cope with that herself. All we can do is watch | over her. | Luke: ...Right +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:YU7} \ >>> Yulia City \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Natalia: Goodness, are you all right? Replica: (...) Two people from Yulia City come up to the Replica. NPC: Come with us, now. The replica walks off with one of the residents. NPC 2: Tear, what is it? Tear: Who was that person...? NPC 2: A replica. She probably fled here from Sheridan. Luke: Fled? Why? NPC 2: It's been happening a lot recently. People who have died, just show up with no memories of the past. People being spotted at their own funerals... Jade: A natural result of such large-scale replication. NPC 2: They don't know anything. Some fall prey to monsters; others just take things from shops. Many replicas are the victims of terrible abuse. Natalia: That's... That's inhuman! NPC 2: More and more people are learning that living creatures are being replicated. Some people think that their loved ones died because a replica of them was created. Maybe some did, but a lot of replicas are just innocent victims. Guy: ...And these newborn replicas can't say a thing to defend themselves. NPC 2: Exactly. In the end, we've begin offering them asylum here. There aren't many places safe from monsters. They have nowhere else to go. But it's not like we have infinite resources. We're in just as bad a bind as they are. Luke: (...) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Replicas' [SK358] | | Luke: What are we replicas, anyway...? | Anise: What do you mean?! You're people! | Luke: But we only look like people. I don't think we'll be treated | like people. | Guy: We know Luke. We know Ion, and Sync. We understand that replicas | are no different from ordinary people. But... | Jade: Most people see fomicry only as a means to create copies of | inanimate objects. So they see replicas as simple copies or | substitutes. Maybe a few will accept them, but... | Luke: So where do we go? Where can we live? We're as helpless as small | children... | Jade: Luke... | Luke: Jade, you created us! You know everything, don't you?! | Guy: Luke! Yelling at Jade won't accomplish anything. | Luke: ...S-sorry... | Jade: No...it's the truth. I can't find an answer, I'm ashamed to say. | What good is this head of mine, I wonder... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads to the conference room. Teodoro: Welcome, all of you. The situation has become quite grave, hasn't it? Tear: Grandfather. We've come here today to consult with you. Teodoro: ...I understand. Now that we've lost Fon Master Ion, I am the logical representative to attend the summit. Tear: Then you'll...! Teodoro: Yes. I'll head to Daath shortly. Luke: That's great! Natalia: We should tell Father. The summit can now finally begin. The party is instantly in Baticul. As they go in, many replicas appear. Guy: That's odd. There seem to be more people here than before... Anise: Hey, couldn't those be replicas? Tear: What's going on? What are replicas doing in a place like this? Luke: Looks like we should see what's going on in the city before seeing His Majesty. The party heads towards the castle and one person yelling at another. NPC: Wh-what the hell?! Who are you?! D-don't come any closer! The NPC punches the replica. Luke: What are you doing?! Stop it! NPC: Hey! That thing's a monster! Don't get near it! Luke: Huh? What do you mean a monster? NPC: That's my buddy who died two weeks ago on his way back from getting a Score reading! Luke: (!) NPC: No, m-my buddy's dead--that thing, i-it's an impostor! But he...he just...he looks just like him! Luke: A replica... Natalia: Calm down! This person is no monster. NPC: F-fine! He's still a freak! The NPC runs off. Replica: Rem... The Tower of Rem... The replica walks off. Guy: What's this Tower of Rem the replicas are talking about? Tear: It's the name of an ancient tower that stands in the Qliphoth. It's from the Dawn Age, part of a plan to travel to another planet, should they fail to create the Outer Lands. Luke: A-another planet?! Is that even possible?! Tear: Supposedly it was a radical idea, even at the time. Guy: If they couldn't do it in the Dawn Age, it's just a dream for us. We can barely fly. Anise: So these replicas are trying to reach the Outer Lands through that tower? Natalia: Even if that's the case, how could they all know about the Tower of Rem? Jade: If one were to implant the memory of the Tower of Rem when they were created... It's unlikely, but not impossible. Luke: If we're not reaching any conclusions here. Let's stop now and go see the King. Natalia: You're right. The party heads towards the castle. They note a crowd. NPC: Ask for salvation from the New Order of Lorelei! NPC 2: Respect the Score! I will not sit by and be smothered by the miasma! NPC 3: My father in Chesedonia died from this outbreak of miasma! NPC 4: I don't want to go to the Qliphoth! Put me back on the old Outer Lands! Natalia: Calm down! Everyone just calm down! Cease this at once! A man hits Natalia, knocking her to the ground. Man: Shut up! Luke: Natalia! Natalia: Silence! I am Natalia! The crowd silences and turns towards Natalia. Natalia: Natalia Luzu Kimlasca-Lanvaldear! Beloved citizens of Kimlasca. I beseech you to be calm. Hear what I have to say. Woman: Your Highness! The miasma! At this rate, we're all done for! Natalia: We are aware of the situation and are doing everything we can to stop the miasma. Man: Why don't we just raise the ground again like before? Natalia: That's not possible! The Outer Lands of the New Order of Lorelei are created by destroying the land we have now! The appearance of Eldrant has caused several islands in the Central Ocean to disappear. This land will be erased...and you along with it! Man 2: But... that can't be... Luke: You all know better by now. What good can come from obsessing over the Score? Yulia's Score never predicted that the Outer Lands would fall into the Qliphoth. Man: That's because we didn't obey the Score! Luke: Why should we obey it? A prophecy that only comes true if you obey it is no prophecy at all! The Score is not a future set in stone. It's just one of many possible futures! Natalia: I ask you all to please give us just a little more time. If...if we cannot come up with a solution in time, we will petition the New Order of Lorelei for help. Man 2: Princess Natalia. We believe in you. Man: As long as the miasma goes away, we've got no complaints with His Majesty's rule. Man 3: The miasma has already killed several people. Now there are replicas? These weird human things just hang around and root through our property! Luke: (!) Woman: We just want to live a normal, peaceful life. The crowd disperses. Luke: Human things... Tear: Luke, they're just upset. Once they calm down and get a grip on the situation... Luke: It's fine! It's fine... The party enters the castle and heads to the audience hall. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The People's Unease' [SK359] | | Natalia: The Score really does wield sway over people's hearts. It will | take time for that to change. | Anise: And with the world full of miasma... | Luke: And weird human things...like me. | Tear: Luke, don't put it that way. | Luke: No...I think that's probably how we look to ordinary people. We | don't have mothers or fathers, after all. | Tear: ...... | Anise: Well, I know it's mean to Luke, but as far as normal people are | concerned, it's bad enough already without the Score, and now | these things are popping up all over the place. | Jade: Fear is infectious. At this rate, there could be riots | worldwide. | Guy: It all depends on how well the rulers can lead their people... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ingobert VI: Ohh! Natalia! What the devil has happened to Mohs? Natalia: We're looking into that now ourselves. Ingobert VI: Well, at the moment we can't openly cross him. We do not intend to give into him, but many people still have faith in the Score. If we were to oppose it, it could lead to violence. Luke: Damn...! Alpine: His Majesty is also working to settle the issues of the replicas. But there are too many to accept as refugees, and the city's public safety is suffering. Ingobert VI: A small riot broke out when a replica went to his own funeral. Several people died. And there's the matter of feeding them all. These replicas are such a headache. Luke: (...) Ingobert VI: ...Ah, Luke. I'm not talking about you. Don't let it upset you. Goldberg: Your Majesty. I propose we work on an allied response with the Malkuth ambassador. Ingobert VI: Agreed. I leave that to you. Natalia: By the way, Father. All sides have agreed to hold that summit on the Score. Ingobert VI: I see. You've made a fine ambassador, Natalia. I'm proud of you. The timing is perfect. All three powers can agree on how the Score is to be handled. I also intend to propose taking joint military action against the New Order of Lorelei. Anise: That makes sense. This world is about to get erased because of that replica land. Jade: That said, any direct attack on Eldrant is precluded by the Planet Storm. Ingobert VI: Yes, another headache. And we'll need to discuss the replica issue as well. Natalia: Is the replica problem really that bad? Ingobert VI: It's better than it was. It seems they are headed to a place called the Tower of Rem. Many have already left. But between clashes with the citizens and the stress on the economy, they caused quite an uproar. There were enough of them for an entire country. And the majority of them couldn't speak a word... Some people tried to snatch up replicas for untoward purposes... Luke: ...So there really is no place for replicas. Natalia: These problems only arose from a lack of preparedness and infrastructure. Alpine: It's also an emotional matter for many. Replicas are identical copies of the originals. Ingobert VI: In any case, this summit comes first. Gather the advisors together to formulate Kimlasca's policy. And you all should wait at Duke Fabre's manor until things are settled here. Natalia: Father! Please allow me to participate. Ingobert VI: ...Very well. Luke: Natalia, we're all counting on you. Natalia: Thank you. Luke: Your Majesty, we also have a report concerning that other issue... Ingobert VI: (!) Ingobert VI: ...Come to my chambers later. Luke: Understood. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Like Father, Like Daughter?' [SK360] | | Anise: Those two sure do look different. | Tear: Those two...? | Anise: Natalia and Largo. Natalia's so elegant and beautiful... | Guy: She probably got it from her mother. | Luke: I sure wouldn't want to see a Natalia that got her looks from | Largo... | Jade: She'd certainly be taller than you. | Luke: I-I'm still growing! ...Huh? What is it? | Guy: Oh...I was just imagining a Natalia that... | Anise: ...looked like Largo. | Tear: ...... | Jade: Well, I imagine she'd be quite the character. | Luke: Y-yeah... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads to Ingobert's chambers. Ingobert VI: ...I see. So that Largo fellow really is Natalia's true father. Luke: Yes, sir. There's no doubt. Ingobert VI: What to do... That child could very well be forced to battle her own father. Jade: Natalia still doesn't know. There's always the option of not telling her at all. Anise: Yeah, knowing the truth doesn't always bring happiness... Ingobert VI: How about you? Luke, what do you think? Luke: ...When I found out I was a replica, I felt like I didn't want to know. I was sad. But...I had already begun to get a sense that I wasn't really myself. I hadn't known, I would have been in complete despair. I'd have just given up...on everything. I know her case is completely different, but...I think it's probably better to know. Guy: I think you're right. Ignorance can be bliss. But the idea of us knowing, while Natalia, the one in question here, doesn't... It feels wrong to me. Tear: It'll only make it more painful when she finds out later. Ingobert VI: You're right... Give me some time to think it over. Luke: Yes, Your Majesty. The party leaves the castle and is in front of Luke's manor. Jade: I'll use this time to go to Malkuth to suggest the Emperor settle on a policy. I'll be borrowing the Albiore. (heart) Jade walks off. Guy: Well, then, what's it going to be, Luke? Back to the manor? Luke: Yeah... Tear: Luke, what's wrong? Anise: Yeah, you're acting weird, Luke. Off in your own little world... Luke goes into Asch-communicating mode. Luke: Oww... Tear: Luke?! Guy: Lorelei? Or is it... Asch: Hey. Replica. Where are you? Luke: Asch...! We're in... Asch: Never mind. I see it. Baticul. Luke: Damn it, first you put your voice in my head, now you're looking through my eyes?! Asch: ...I'm close to Baticul. I'll meet you there. Stay in the city. Luke: (!) Luke: I'll be back in the manor. If you want to come see me there, be my guest. Asch: No, head to the port or something... Luke: I want to go back to my home! Asch: ...Fine! Do what you want! Anise: What did Asch have to say? Luke: He's coming to meet us. I told him we'd be at the manor. Guy: The manor? Are you okay with that? Luke: ...Yeah. It's better this way. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Asch Again' [SK361] | | Luke: I wonder what Asch wants... | Guy: It's probably about the Jewel of Lorelei. | Anise: I guess that means he hasn't found it. | Luke: Why? | Anise: If he had, he'd have come and said, "I got it, replica," or | something with that convenient communications network of his. | Luke: Convenient communications network... | Tear: Anise does have a point, though. | Guy: ...So I guess he's come to vent at you for not finding it. | Luke: ...That's fine. There's something I wanted him to do, anyway. | Anise: Something you wanted him to do? | Luke: You'll see. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads in to the manor, Asch has arrived. Guy: I never thought I'd see you back here... Asch: I never thought I'd return. Luke: Asch, how is Lorelei? Asch: I couldn't make contact. It must be trapped inside Van, unable to communicate. Luke: So your search for the Jewel of Lorelei is... Asch: Still ongoing. But we do know that Lorelei passed the Key up through the Sephiroth. If you didn't pick it up, it should still be somewhere around the Sephiroth. Anise: But you searched them, didn't you, Asch? What, did you miss one? Asch: I'm not an idiot. You have me confused with someone else here. Luke: What are you trying to say? Tear: They say the Sword and Jewel react to one another. You should have found it... Luke: If we don't get the Jewel, things play right into Van's hands. Asch: Damn. And with the miasma, the people are leaning towards the New Order of Lorelei... Luke: The miasma... The scene fades to a flashback of Ion's last moments. Ion: "...The light of the sacred flame shall approach a Kimlascan city of fon machines, seeking a way to purify the taint." Ion: "There, salvation shall be found through the use of a forbidden power..." The scene fades back to the manor. Luke: Asch... What if the miasma could be neutralized through a hyperresonance? Asch: ...What are you talking about? That's impossible. Luke: Not if you have the Sword of Lorelei! It would cost someone their life, but... Tear: Luke, what are you talking about? Anise: That's the first time I've heard anything like that! Guy: (...) Asch: ...So? You saying you'll die for us? Luke: I... I'm saying... Asch: Must be nice for you replicas, being able to say you'd just give it all up like that. The scene fades to a flashback of when Luke and Tear were in the garden in Yulia City, after the destruction of Akzeriuth. Luke: If I could make up for Akzeriuth by apologizing, I'd apologize as much as it took. If my dying could bring back Akzeriuth, then... I'd be scared, but... I'd die. The scene fades back to the manor. Luke: ...I don't want to die any more than anyone else. Asch: (...) Asch: Humph, of course you don't. I... I'm not ready to die yet, either. Asch turns to leave. Luke: B-but wait! Asch: This little chat is over. I've got something to do... Luke runs up to Asch and grabs his shoulder. Luke: I'm not done talking! Just give me ten--five more minutes! Asch: L-let go of me! Guy: Come on, hear him out, Asch. Asch: (...) Asch: ...Fine. Asch joins the party. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `What Do You Want to Do?' [SK362] | | Anise: Looks like House Fabre has its own issues. | Luke: Not really. Everything would be fine if Asch would stop being | stubborn and just come back. | Tear: What would you do, then? | Guy: If you're going to start up about how nobody needs you, I'm | leaving. | Luke: I... I don't really know what I'd do. But-- | Anise: Loser. | Luke: ...! | Anise: Before you go telling Asch what to do, how about you decide what | you're going to do with yourself? | Tear: Absolutely. If you don't have your own purpose, you can hardly | force anyone else to do anything. | Luke: ...*Sigh* Why do all the girls around me have to be so harsh? | Guy: What do you want? It's the truth, after all. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party heads towards Duke and Madam Fabre's chamber. Susanne: Luke! Luke?! Duke Fabre: You're...! Asch: (...) Luke: ...Father, Mother, I've brought the real Luke home. Asch: You bastard! What are you planning to- Luke: We'll be waiting in the courtyard! Everyone but Asch leaves the room. Susanne: Luke! It's really you, isn't it, Luke? Asch: ...It...it's good to see you again...Mother. Duke Fabre: So you've been with the Oracle Knights? Asch: Yes... Duke Fabre: ...You've grown up, Luke. Asch: Father... The scene fades to the courtyard and the rest of the party. Anise: I get it. You want Asch to meet up with your parents. Tear: But, Luke, are you okay with this? The thought of Asch coming here always made you... Luke: Terrified. It still does. But... I'm just a replica... He's real. If I'm going to get told I'm not needed, I'd rather hear it sooner than-- Guy: Stop it, Luke. Luke: Guy? Guy: I thought something was up with you. You've got this stupid idea about killing yourself to stop the miasma, don't you? Anise & Tear: (!) Luke: (...) Tear: Luke! Don't be an idiot! Guy: You keep telling yourself you're just a worthless replica impostor. You keep worrying that you'll be told you're unnecessary. What does that even mean? Luke: I've been asking myself ever since I found out I'm a replica... Why was I born? Who am I? Why am I alive? I have no right to exist! No replica does! Guy: I've heard enough! Asch: So have I. Asch enters the courtyard. Asch: I'm not Luke anymore, I'm never coming back here. Get over that inferiority complex before you go proposing anything stupid. You're infuriating! Asch leaves. Guy: ...Luke. Let's get some rest. You've got to be tired... Luke: Yeah... The next day, in the castle audience chamber in Baticul... Natalia: ...It's true that we'd lose the limitless energy provided by fon power. But what good is maintaining the Planet Storm if all of humanity is lost? Ingobert VI: The Score is no longer our guide. The time has come to shape the future by our own wills. The scene then fades to audience chamber in Grand Chokmah. Jade: Most fontech and fonic artes would be lost if the Planet Storm were gone. But not all fonons would disappear. We simply have to develop a way to make use of those limited fonon resources. Correct? Peony: Why worry about future inconveniences when we may not have a future at all? I agree that stopping the Planet Storm is the logical solution. The scene fades back to the manor. Natalia: Everyone, good news. We've agreed to stop the Planet Storm. Jade: As have we. Now we should head to Daath for the formal summit. Their Majesties have set sail for Daath already. Guy: Yeah, but we're taking the Albiore. We'll probably pass them along the way. Luke: ...Okay, let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Unending Troubles' [SK363] | | Natalia: At last. Now we just need to ensure that the international | conference proceeds uninterrupted... | Luke: ...Yeah... | Guy: The heads of the three major powers... Everything's secure. And | I can't imagine them making unreasonable demands at this | point. | Luke: ...Yeah... | Tear: But as long as people are involved, nothing is certain. I think | we should assist in keeping the conference secure. | Luke: ...Yeah... | Mieu: Master, does your stomach hurt or something? | Luke: ...Yeah... | Jade: Your father will go bald one of these days. | Luke: ...Yeah... | Anise: Luke's completely gone, isn't he. | Jade: Well, the lights are on...but sadly, nobody seems to be home. | Guy: Neutralizing the miasma again? ...What an idiot. | Tear: Luke... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party starts to leave Baticul but runs into Spinoza at the exit. Spinoza: Ah! I was afraid I'd missed you! Luke: What's going on? What are you doing all the way out here? Spinoza: So, you've left the neutralization of the miasma to Asch? Jade: What? Spinoza: Asch came by just a bit ago, asking about how to neutralize the miasma using hyperresonance. Natalia: Asch?! But why?! Luke: That jerk... What is he thinking? Spinoza: I did some calculations at his request for the likelihood of that plan succeeding, but... Jade: There simply aren't enough Seventh Fonons to make it work. With Lorelei asleep, there wouldn't be enough even if the Planet Storm were active. And even if there were enough... Spinoza: No one could endure it. The fonon bonds would break, the fonons would separate, and the person would die. Natalia: Don't tell me that Asch was fully aware of that... Spinoza: Yes. I tried to stop him, but he was insistent. Luke: But what about the ten thousand Seventh Fonists he'd need to sacrifice? Jade: He'll use the replicas. All: (!) Jade: ...The Seventh Fonon is used to bond a replica's atomic particles. They could be used as a substitute for the Seventh Fonists. He has the Sword of Lorelei to use as an amplifier as well. Luke: That idiot! He's planning to kill himself, and take all the replicas with him?! Guy: What the hell is he thinking now, after all that talk about not wanting to die? Natalia: Luke, you have to stop him! We can't let him do something like this! Luke: I know. Anise: Where is he now? Tear: If he's planning on using the replica's Seventh Fonons, then he's at the Tower of Rem. Guy: Where is that? Tear: The Qiubi Peninsula. It was part of the Qliphoth, but now it should be at the tip of the Rugnican continent. Luke: All right, let's go get Asch! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Stop Asch!' [SK364] | | Guy: Looks like there's one more idiot. | Natalia: What could Asch possibly be thinking?! Sacrificing himself to | eliminate the miasma... I won't accept this! | Jade: Having this many suicidal people around really gets on my | nerves. | Luke: Killing himself and ten thousand replicas... And after saying he | didn't want to die...! | Guy: It's hard to figure out what he's thinking... It's all so | twisted inside there. | Tear: But if he really is planning to eliminate the miasma, he should | be in the Tower of Rem. Let's hurry! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:TR1} \ >>> Tower of Rem \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party enters. Luke: What the...?! Natalia: So many replicas! Tear: Do you see the look in their eyes? Guy: Yeah... There's no life in them. Anise: Luke, I can't believe that these people are the same as you. Tear: Its like they have no individual identity... Jade: It's forced programming. Replicas come into the world like babies. They don't even know how to walk. If you implant that basic degree of knowledge, this is what you get. Luke: I think I'm going to be sick... What the hell are replicas, anyway?! Noir comes down the stairs from above. Noir: Oh, it's you kids! Nice timing! Luke: You! The Dark Wings... What are you doing here?! Noir: Asch hired us, dear. Remember? Natalia: So Asch really is here! Noir: Yeah! He's planning on some kind of mass suicide with the replicas to erase the miasma. My partners are going after Asch now. You kids go look for him, too. Tell him not to do anything stupid. Luke: Got it. Let's take the elevator up... Luke: (!) And right as Luke says that, the elevator closes and goes up before he has a chance to get to it. Anise: Oh, no! It closed! Jade: This isn't good. Is there another way to get up there...? Luke: (...) Luke: ...Well, should we see how far we can get on those stairs? Guy: Whoa, whoa, whoa! Did you not see how tall this tower is? Tear: Waiting here will get us nowhere. Natalia: She's right. There may be other entrances to the elevator higher up. Guy: ...Fine. If the girls are all for it, I guess I can't complain. Jade: *sigh* This is rough on us old folks. Luke: Some soldier you are... Anise: Anyway... Asch really is your original, Luke. He's every bit as stupid as you are! I don't know what he thinks he's doing! Guy: Seriously. Let's hurry, Luke. Luke: Yeah. He's my original. I can't just sit by and watch him die! The party takes the stairs. At one point they meet York and Urushi. York: You guys! Luke: Where's Asch?! York: So, you all came here to look for him, too. Urushi: We ain't seen him. Natalia: Asch... What's pushing him to sacrifice himself like this...? York: Well, Princess, I'd think that would be you. Natalia: What? York: Asch doesn't want you or your kingdom to sink into the miasma. Guy: And he doesn't think that his death will make Natalia suffer, too? What an idiot. Urushi: Yeah, about that... He keeps talking about how there's no time. He was saying that he was gonna die anyway, so he may as well take the miasma with him. York: I don't know what he's getting at, but I can't just sit by and watch it happen. Luke: All this after saying he wasn't ready to die... He really is an idiot! Jade: He must already be higher up. Luke: You're right. Let's hurry! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Always Charging' [SK365] | | Anise: This tower is too tall! We'll never make it to the top this way. | Guy: Yeah, we'll have to find some way onto that elevator. | Natalia: Maybe he already reached the top... | Guy: I don't know. Maybe if he caught the elevator, but if he's | taking the stairs like us, he should still be wandering around | here. | Anise: Asch could probably just run to the top without even breaking a | sweat... | Natalia: Anise, just what kind of person do you think Asch is...? | Anise: Always charging into things. | Guy: ...Good description. Let's find a way onto that elevator so we | can stop that charge of his. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party gets to the end of the stairs. Anise: Hey! The stairs just end here! Jade: It looks as if this tower was still under construction. Guy: So it was abandoned partway through? If we weren't in such a hurry, I'd love to stick around and investigate the place... Natalia: (!) Natalia: There's an elevator here. Perhaps it was used to carry freight. Luke: All right. Let's use it. Jade: I wonder how far it will take us. I'm ready for a break. Tear: You look the least tired of all of us. Jade: No, no. I've been frail since birth... *Cough*, *cough*... All: (...) The party proceeds further within the tower. Anise: Oooh, no stairs OR elevator. Looks like this really is the end. Luke: Damn! After we've come so far... Jade: (...) Jade: How about we use this device to break away the glass covering the elevator? All: (!) Natalia: Wouldn't we destroy the whole elevator in the process? Jade: That's why we break only the glass covering it. A piece of cake. Right, Guy? Guy: Putting it like that, makes it awfully tough to say no... Well... From the look of it, this device should work, but it'll need a power source...*sigh* I just know someone's going to say I'm boring... Luke: What's wrong? Guy: It's just like in the Meggiora Highlands. Tear: So we need to take the power source from something else again. Guy: Exactly. We just need to find a way to charge this power unit. Jade: How about the golems we passed down below? Guy: That sounds like a safe bet. We can charge it with the cores from the golems. Luke: So we'll need to take this with us. Natalia: Guy, carry that... Tear: Natalia! Natalia: Oh, oh my, I'm sorry! You're not a servant any more. How rude of me... Guy: Quite all right, Your Highness. At your command, I would happily carry it. Jade: He's used to being treated as a servant by His Majesty, as well. Guy: Don't remind me... Even I realize how pathetic I am. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `If There's One that Stands Out' [SK366] | | Luke: Hey, Guy... We just have to defeat monsters and fill this thing | with energy until it's full, right? | Guy: Yeah. The monsters around here should work well enough for | that. | Luke: It sure is a pain... | Guy: We don't have much choice. Who knows, there might be one around | here with a bunch of energy in it. | Luke: If there is, we ought to go after it so we can collect energy | faster. | Guy: Yeah, whatever. That's fine with me. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ After the party gets the needed energy to break the glass. Guy: Okay, it should work now. Luke: (!) Guy jumps off the machine, which then breaks the glass. Luke: ...Wow! Jade: You're so amazing, Professor Fon Machine. Guy: Compliments from you don't really sound like compliments... Anise: Whoa, look down! Natalia: The elevator is coming up! Tear: Let's hurry and jump on it! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Why Is Asch Rushing?' [SK367] | | Luke: What's Asch thinking? Is he satisfied with dying to get rid of | the miasma? | Jade: Not so much satisfied as forced into the choice, I'd say. | Natalia: You mean, in order to eliminate the miasma? | Jade: Well, no...not so much that, but more as though he's being | rushed by something... | Luke: Even more reason to convince him to stop. | Jade: You can try, but... | Natalia: But...? Is there something bothering you? | Jade: If we don't know what's pushing him, I doubt we can stop him. | Luke: ...You think Asch might be hiding something from us, don't you. | Natalia: Why does he not trust us more...? +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party approaches the elevator and sees some replicas. Mary: You! Guy: M-Mary?! Mary: ...I am not Mary. I am 8-027. Luke: Why are you here? Are you waiting for Mohs to come save you? Mary: Yes. There is no place for replicas in this land. We cannot survive outside the cities, but the cities are the domain of the originals. Frings: The originals despise us. We have no refuge in this world. And now the originals ask us to offer our live to save them? Iemon: Mohs will guide those who wait atop the Tower of Rem to a life upon the new Hod. Such was his promise. Mary: And there, we shall create our own nation. Luke: W-wait! The party gets on to the elevator. Luke: Who asked you to give up your lives for the originals? Mary: A man with your face. He said that if we gave our lives to rid the world of the miasma, that he would guarantee a safe haven for the many replicas who have yet to reach this tower. Iemon: If he wants to die, let him die alone. We have a life awaiting us on Hod. Mary: We are going to Hod. Mohs will surely accept us there! Dist arrives. Dist: Ah hah hah hah! You could wait a millennium and such a day would never come! Tear: Stop! Dist: I'm afraid I can't. Not before eradicating every last one of these meddlesome replicas. Until then, I can't get back to my plan to resurrect Professor Nebilim, you see. Jade: ...Hardly a day since you escaped and already you're back to your foolish games. Stop this at once! Dist: Never! Once Professor Nebilim is revived, you'll go back to your old self, as well. Together with the Professor, we can relive that golden era! Jade: ...I suppose this is my fault for having let you live this long. Goodbye, Saphir. Dist: ...So you would really abandon me?! Then...then I'll fight in earnest as well! You can die along with these replicas! Battle. The party beats Dist. Dist: ...They're still fools. Mohs will never come for them... ...Once Eldrant's anti-air system is activated...this whole tower will be reduced to ashes... Heh heh... Hah hah hah hah. Dist presses a button on Kaiser Dist XX. It flashes red and sounds an alarm. Dist: Professor Nebilim... I'm coming! Luke: We won't let that happen! Luke sets off a hyperresonance on Kaiser Dist XX and causes it to explode. Mary: So, there really is no place for us... Luke: We...we were never meant to live in this era. Tear: No, you're wrong! You're here now, living and breathing! If the world won't accept you, the fault lies with it, not you! Guy: But, some people have died because the replicas were born. People aren't so simple that they can accept anything and everything... Asch arrives. Asch: Exactly. That's why I asked you to make a deal. So what's it going to be? You have nowhere else to go. Mary: I want to speak with the self-aware replicas to reach a decision. Luke: Asch! This is insane! You were the one who said you didn't want to die! Asch: Then how the hell do you propose we stop the miasma?! Are you saying you'll die in my place? Luke: I... Well... Asch: I have somewhere I need to go. Have your people's decision ready by the time I return. Asch turns to leave. Natalia: Please, wait! Where are you going?! Asch: ...... Asch leaves by the elevator. Natalia: Luke! We have to stop him! Luke: You're right. Let's follow him! The party follows Asch and goes back to the entrance. Urushi: We was waiting for you. Luke: The Dark Wings! Urushi: We're taking Asch back to Daath. York: We can't stop him by ourselves. You've got to help dissuade him. Noir: We're leaving you behind! Dark Wings leave. Luke: I guess for now all we can do is chase him down and try to reason with him. Even if we get rid of the miasma, we still need to free Lorelei. I think we'll need the original's power for that. We'll need Asch. Jade: (...) Jade: ...Luke, do you sincerely believe that? Luke: Huh? Yeah, of course. Jade: Is that so...? Tear: Colonel? Is there something wrong? Jade: ...No. It's nothing. Anise: Anyway, we're chasing after Asch now, right? Let's get going! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Farewell, Dist' [SK368] | | Luke: So Dist is dead now... | Jade: ...He was a fool, chasing an impossible dream to the end. | Luke: A dream...? | Jade: A promise made by two foolish children long ago. A foolish dream | of overcoming death. | Luke: Jade...you mean-- | Jade: Luke, I believe you promised not to talk about that. | Luke: Are you okay with that? | Jade: Yes. I will accept Dist's--Saphir's--death. | Luke: As an old friend? | Jade: No, as his owner. He was a charming pet. | Luke: ...... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:DA8} \ >>> Daath \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Inside the chapel... Peony: Ah, it's you! I was just reading Asch's letter. Luke: A letter from Asch?! Was he here? Did you see where he went? Teodoro: He said he was looking for the Jewel of Lorelei. He headed to the Sephiroth from this cathedral. Natalia: What did the letter say? Ingobert VI: That he had found a way to neutralize the miasma. In exchange for the replicas' help, he asks that we provide them with refuge. Luke: That jerk... Figures he would leave out the part about him dying. Peony: What's going on? Jade: Guy, explain the situation. Guy: ...Me again? Fine, whatever. You see... Teodoro: What is Asch thinking? A mass suicide with thousands of replicas is absurd! Anise: You won't permit it, will you? It's totally out of the question, right? Ingobert VI: Replica or not, we cannot sacrifice so many lives so easily... But... Natalia: Father! There is no but! Peony: ...Jade. You have nothing to say about all this? Jade: The only alternative I can imagine is even crueler. Tear: Colonel, you can't mean...! Luke: ...Me? Jade: (...) All but Luke: (!) Guy: You bastard! You're going to tell Luke to die in Asch's place?! Natalia: That's horrible! I could never agree to such a thing! I want both Luke and Asch to live. Jade: Of course I feel the same way. However, the miasma has gone past all other hope of remedy. Luke: I... Tear: Stop it, all of you! Stop pushing Luke like this! You all know he's still struggling to find his own worth! Don't make him choose so casually... Jade: My apologies. Tear, you're absolutely right. Luke: ...Please, give me some time to think. Luke can now speak to everyone in the room. Ingobert VI: I'm an uncle who already sent you out to die once. But I really want you to live. Though, perhaps I can't expect you to believe me. If either you or Asch were to die, Natalia would grieve, as would Susanne and Duke Fabre. You mustn't forget that. Peony: No matter what path you choose, I will not condemn you. So stop thinking that you have no choice but to die. We have Jade on our side, after all. His brain is all he has going for him. If we make more use of him, we might be able to come up with something. Teodoro: This is not a decision to be made lightly. The miasma was born of the foolishness of mankind during the Dawn Age. It's not something you need to bear alone. I trust you understand that. Outside the chapel area, Luke can talk to all the party members... Natalia... Natalia: If you're thinking of taking Asch's place for my sake, then please stop it. I... I hold the both of you very dear. Luke: It's not that. It's just that I'm the fake here, so... Natalia: You are not a fake! You're my other childhood friend. I want the both of you to be here to support the kingdom of Kimlasca. You're both members of House Fabre. It's not a matter of which of you is real or fake. Luke: I'm happy to hear you say that but... Natalia: You don't want to die, either! I'll talk to Father and the others. Don't make any hasty decisions, Luke. Understood? Guy... Guy: I refuse to accept it. Luke: Guy... Guy: You've only been alive for seven years! You're a child talking like he knows everything! You should be thinking about fighting with every last drop of blood in you to stay alive! Luke: But that won't stop the miasma. I...I don't want to die either... Guy: Then don't! Damn the miasma! Luke: Guy... Guy: ...Sorry. I know it's not that simple. The fact that you realize that shows just how much you've grown, too. But I... I want you to stay alive. No matter what anyone else says. Luke: Guy. Thanks... Jade... Jade: I would understand if you chose to hate me. Even if you died, we would still have an original with stable powers. The miasma would be gone, and fewer replicas would place less strain on resources. Luke: Jade... Would you really ask me to- Jade: I would ask you to die, yes. If I were an emperor with a country to consider. But as your friend...I feel compelled to stop you. Luke: ...I never knew that you thought of me as a friend. Jade: Really? I suppose that's understandable. I am a terribly cold person. ..I'm sorry, Luke. Anise... Anise: First Ion, now you... How can you people throw away your lives so easily? Luke: This isn't easy for me... Anise: It is too! We're all here telling you not to, but you still... If you die, Like, the miasma may go away... But the people who know you will suffer just the same. Luke: Anise... Anise: I... I can't stand seeing anyone else die like Ion! I can't! Why do we have to suffer like this? It's...it's just too much... Luke: I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... Tear... Tear: ...Have you made up your mind? Luke: Hey, I said before that if I could bring back Akzeriuth by dying, I would, right? Tear: Yes. Luke: Well, you were right. I... I really didn't know what I was talking about. Tear: Luke... Luke: I'm so scared. My body is shaking. I don't want to die. Tear: Of course you don't! Luke: But Asch chose this path. And Asch isn't someone who'd choose to die. Don't you think that means that there really aren't any other options? Tear: ...You really are an idiot. Luke: Tear... Tear: You talked with the others, didn't you? They're all trying to stop you, aren't they? But...not me. I chose to activate the passage rings, knowing full well what the consequences would be. You allowed me to make that choice. If you tell me you've made your decision, I'll trust that you've thought it through. But that doesn't mean that I'll agree with your choice. If you make this choice, and the miasma disappears... I'll hate you. Everyone else may call you a hero, but I'll never forgive you. Luke: ...Okay. Tear: ...Idiot. The rest of the party enters. Guy: Luke. Their Majesties are calling for you. Luke: ..."Make up your mind," huh? Come on, Tear. Let's go. Tear: ...All right. The party heads to the chapel. Natalia notices Asch as he leaves the Sephiroth. Natalia: Asch! Anise & Jade: (!) Asch: Did you follow me all the way from the tower? Luke: Are you really set on dying? Asch: That's not important. I looked around every Sephiroth and still haven't found the Jewel of Lorelei. We can't free Lorelei like this. You look for the Jewel. Luke: You idiot! How dare you say it's not important whether you die or not?! Even if we do find the Jewel, we can't free Lorelei if you're not around! Asch: I'm the idiot? What use is a replica if you can't take my place in a time like this? Tear: Don't say it like that! Asch: You stay out of this! Tear: (!) Asch: Do it, Luke! Take my place! Luke: Asch! Wait! We can't afford for you to... No, I don't want you to die! Asch pushes Luke to the ground and draws the Sword on him. Asch: Enough! Luke: Asch... Asch: You know there is no other way, so shut up! Luke: Then... Then I'll do it! I'll disappear in your place! Tear: Luke?! Guy: Don't be stupid! Asch: Disappear in my place?! You piece of- Asch tries to hit Luke. Luke pulls his sword out to block, and a hyperresonance forms around them. Jade: Stop! We're trying to destroy the miasma here, not Daath! Asch: Humph... Listen to me. You ate my whole existence! That's why I'm going to do this. Natalia: Asch! Is there really no other way? I--we want you to live! I'm begging you, please, stop this! Asch: It's not like I want to die. There's no other way. Asch walks out. Luke: I can't! I can't lose him. Guy: Luke! Guy slaps Luke hard enough that he falls onto the ground. Luke: Oww... Guy: ...If you die, you won't be able to feel me punch you anymore. So drop this stupid idea right now. Luke: Guy... I'm sorry. Guy: Luke... Luke gets up. Luke: I've made up my mind. I'm scared, but...I've made up my mind. Natalia: Luke! You're such a... Anise: ...So you're going to just disappear like Ion? Luke: (...) Jade: If you've truly made up your mind, then I won't stop you. But we should report to the summit before leaving for the Tower of Rem. Luke: Everyone... I'm sorry... Guy received the Best Friend title. The scene fades to the chapel. Luke: ...I'll do it. I'll give up my life to neutralize the miasma. Ingobert VI: ...You won't reconsider? Luke: ...No, sir. Peony: Is there any chance for survival? Jade: No. Next to none at all. Teodoro: So that leaves us to...command you to die? Tear: Grandfather! Teodoro: At this rate...all of us will die. There was talk of place our hopes on the replica land of the New Order of Lorelei... But I can't imagine they would welcome all citizens of Auldrant openly. Peony: Hate me if you will. I'll understand if you think me inhuman. But we are charged with the protection of our subjects. Ingobert VI: To tell the truth, I...I am against this. Even now. But there appears to be no alternative. Will you do this for us...Luke? Luke: ...Yes, sir. Teodoro: It's ironic... The Tower of Rem was built at the center of a mining town in the Qiubi Peninsula. If Luke succeeds, he will have fulfilled the Score... All: (!) Jade: "ND2018. The young scion of Lorelei's power shall bring his people to the miner's city." Anise: "There, the youth will turn power to calamity and be as a weapon of Kimlasca, destroying himself and the city." Guy: It's just like Van said. Deviations are as nothing before the Score... Tear: ...Stop it! Peony: If you eliminate the miasma, this summit will have resolved the last of its issues. Aside from the miasma... We've agreed to an alliance, to military action against Eldrant, and to halting the Planet Storm. Teodoro: Yes. With this...the summit is officially over. Ingobert VI: But there's no need to rush. If you still have things left to do, take care of them first. Or...should you decide to run, know that we would not pursue you. Peony: ...I am sorry. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `My Worth, My Desire' [SK369] | | Luke: Maybe getting rid of the miasma was what I was born for. | Wouldn't that mean I can only prove my worth by doing that? | ...I don't want to die. But...I have to. That's the only thing | I'm good for. That's the only reason I have to exist... But...I | don't want to...I don't want to die... I don't want to die! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:TR2} \ >>> Tower of Rem \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ The party reaches the top of the tower and sees the group of replicas. Luke: Looks like Asch isn't here yet... The Mary replica is near an injured replica on the ground. Tear: ...What happened to her? Mary: She's one of us, chased out of a city and treated like a slave before coming to this tower. Mary: ...Why have you come? Are you the one who will walk the path of death with us? Natalia: You intend to give up your lives to erase the miasma? Mary: ...We realized that there was no other way. No...we decided it is what we must do. Guy: You're being persecuted by the originals, just like he is. Yet you'll still disappear for them? Mary: ...This is not for the originals. It is so that our many brethren who have not yet made it here can find a place to live. A new nation will arise from our corpses. Do you not desire our deaths as well? Luke: I... Asch: I told you I'd do it! Why are you here?! The party looks back to see Asch. Luke: Asch! I told you, I- Asch: Replicas, I am the one who will die with you. Come! One replica picks up the replica Mary was treating. The replicas follow Asch. Natalia: Asch! Stop this foolishness! Luke: Listen to her, Asch! Stop! Asch: Stop trying to tell me what to do! Get out of here! You're a replica, too. If you stay here, you'll be caught up in the reaction and disappear! Who's going to free Lorelei if that happens?! Luke: You can free Lorelei! I'm going to do this! Asch: Do you want to die that badly?! Luke: ...No! I'm the same as you. I don't want to die! But I'm a replica! I'm weaker! I couldn't even receive the Jewel to free Lorelei. It needs you, not me. The one who dies here should be the one who's unneeded...The replica...Me! Asch: ...That's enough! "Unneeded"?! I did not have everything stolen from me by someone "unneeded"! Don't insult me! Asch holds up the Sword of Lorelei. Luke runs over to him and tries to grab it. Asch: Let go of me! Luke: No! I can't let you die! Asch: What the...? The Sword's reacting. Is the Jewel nearby? Luke pushes Asch away. Asch tries to run, but Jade grabs him by the arm. Asch: Let go! Jade: I agree with Luke. If we must choose one, it should be the original. Luke takes the sword and is about to place it into the ground. Tear: Luke! Stop! Luke: ...Everyone, give me your lives. I'm...I'm going with you! Tear runs towards Luke. Luke: Stay back! Guy stops Tear. Luke: Guy. Thanks.... Guy: ...You stupid bastard. Luke places the sword into the ground. The replicas glow. Luke: (I don't want to die. I don't want to die! I don't want to die! I...I want to stay here! Not for anybody else...I want to live!) Luke: (But...!) Luke falls to his knees, and his stomach glows. Luke: It's not working... The hand Luke holds the sword with begins to fade. Jade: The Seventh Fonons that had gathered are dissipating! The miasma won't be neutralized! Asch: ...The Jewel! The Jewel's power to disperse is interfering! Damn it! That idiot just didn't realize he had it! Asch runs to where Luke is and puts his hand on the Sword. Asch: Could he possibly be any more of a nuisance?! Both Asch and Luke begin to glow, as both are holding the Sword. Luke: Asch?! Asch: ...Don't worry. I have no intention of dying with you. I'm just going to give your hyperresonance some power. You can disappear by yourself! Luke: ...Thanks...Asch... A cutscene shows the miasma going away from the whole planet. Back in the Tower, Asch and Luke still have their hands linked. Luke: Aagh... Asch: Ugh...?! Mary: ...Remember your promise. Give the surviving replicas a place to live. In return for our lives. Natalia: I, Princess Natalia of Kimlasca, swear on my life that I will fulfill that promise! Guy: As do I. We won't abandon the replicas...in memory of your sacrifice, like that of my sister. Anise: M-me, too...You're just like Ion, after all... Mary fades away. Luke gets up. Luke: I'm alive? Why? Tear: Thank goodness! I thought you were going to disappear... Luke turns to Tear and puts his hands behind his back. There's a sudden flash and a Jewel appears in his hand. Luke: Wh-what's this? Asch: ...The Jewel of Lorelei. Anise: This is? How? I thought you couldn't find it anywhere! Asch: This idiot accepted it from Lorelei just fine. He just happened to absorb the fonons that compose it into his own body. He was so stupid that he didn't realize it until his body began to disintegrate. Asch goes to the elevator to leave the Tower. Natalia: Wait! Where are you going?! We have the Key now! We can go together! Asch: If we were together, the God-Generals would come after us. I'll act on my own until we locate Van and are ready to release Lorelei. Asch goes down the elevator and leaves. Jade: ....Luke. Luke runs toward Jade. Jade: You used a level of power that should have destroyed you. Jade: I'm extremely concerned. Please, get a medical examination in Belkend. Luke: ...R-right. Jade walks off. Luke: (...I saw right through my arm. What WAS that...?) Obtained Jewel of Lorelei. The scene changes to Belkend's medical room. Dr. Shu is there. Luke has his hands on his hips and looks exasperated. Luke: Stop following me around like I'm a little kid! Go wait outside. Guy: What are you talking about? We're all worried about you. Luke: Just go! Natalia: ...Well, if he insists. Anise: Okay, we'll be waiting at the inn. The party leaves. Shu: I'll be blunt. You should check in to this hospital immediately. Luke: Why? Shu: The fonons binding your cells together are separating and declining dramatically. It's highly likely that very soon, your cells will disintegrate, and you will die. Luke: Can you cure it if I check in here? Shu: No, we can only postpone the day you vanish. Luke: ...So I'm going to die. Luke gets up. Luke: ...Don't tell the others about this. Shu: But...! Luke: ...It's okay. I don't want them worrying about me. Shu: Very well. Luke meets up with the party at the inn. Tear: How did it go? Luke: Uh, he said my blood fonons are a little low, but I'll be fine. Guy: Really? That's great! Anise: You sure are tough, Luke! Natalia: I'm relieved. Jade: (...) Jade: Well, I guess we can relax a little, then. You must be tired. Return to Baticul with your report on the miasma, then get some rest. Understand? Tear: His Majesty should have returned to the castle from the summit by now. Natalia: Yes. And we still have the task of freeing Lorelei. You have to regain your strength. Luke: All right. All the members but Luke, Jade and Mieu leave. Luke: What? Jade: You're a naughty boy, telling lies again. Luke: (!) Jade: ...I'll go along with your story. But take care of yourself. Luke: ...No one can keep anything from you, huh? Jade: You're just a bad liar. Also, let me warn you. Your fonons must be undergoing rapid separation. Don't use your power any more than you absolutely must. Mieu: (!) Luke: ...Right. Thanks, Jade. Jade receives the Insightful One title. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Fate of Death' [SK372] | | Luke: ...I'm going to...disappear? I'm going to die...? No... | Luke: Just...just when I started really wanting to live... | Luke: I don't want to die...How long do I have...? | Luke: Is it going to hurt...? Did the people I killed feel the same | way...? | Luke: Did they feel how I do now? I don't want to die...I don't want | to die! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Jewel of Lorelei' [SK371] | | Guy: So this is the Jewel of Lorelei, huh? | Luke: Yeah. Looks like it's a capacity core. | Tear: Perhaps the Sword and Jewel served as Yulia's weapon and armor. | Luke: Oh...then shouldn't I give this to you? | Tear: Lorelei entrusted it to you and Asch. It's your responsibility | Guy: Yeah, And while you're at it, take responsibility for making us | go all over the place when you had it the whole time. | Luke: But this whole thing with the Jewel getting broken down into | fonons and going inside my body...Does this happen a lot? | Jade: It's called the contamination effect. | Tear: But doesn't that require a special kind of fonic arte to occur? | Jade: Replicas' fonons separate easily. As a result it's also easy for | other fonons to get mixed in. | Jade: If the fonons have similar frequencies they could easily get | taken into a replica's body. | Guy: Oh...and since the Jewel's made of the Seventh Fonon it got | mixed with the Seventh Fonons in Luke. | Tear: So, you mean that Luke is susceptible to the contamination | effect? | Jade: Yes, his fonon frequency is identical to that of the Seventh | Fonon, after all. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Great Sacrifice' [SK370] | | Guy: I wonder if they really accepted their disappearance... | Natalia: I don't know. It may be that our lack of acceptance pushed them | into the pit of despair | Tear: Perhaps, but regretting that won't do anything. They died | believing that a new nation would be born for them. It's our job to | see that that gets done. | Guy: Offer a helping hand to the remaining replicas so that they can | live in this world... | Guy: I guess that's the one thing we can do for Mary...I mean, for | the replicas. | Natalia: ...Yes the fact is that we let the replicas die so that we could | live. Regretting that will accomplish nothing. | Tear: That regret is only selfish sentimentality...though we should | not forget it, either. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Joy of Life' [SK373] | | Luke: The weather sure is nice today! | Guy: ...Luke? What's with you, all of a sudden? | Luke: The sky is so blue...You can see the fonstone ring really well | It's really pretty. Anyway, we've got our report to do so let's | head to the manor in Baticul | Tear: Luke do you have a fever? | Anise: Did you hit your head? | Natalia: Might you have eaten something bad? | Luke: Stop that! Its just...well, with almost dying and all, I | realized how wonderful it is to be alive. | Guy: Hah hah hah. Wow. I never expected to hear YOU say that. | Luke: ...Well, anyway, yeah, it's not bad | Jade: ...Indeed its not... | Anise: Colonel, don't be so nice... You're scaring me. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:BA8} \ >>> Baticul \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ In the manor... Jade: We can report to His Majesty tomorrow. Natalia: I'll return to the castle. Please come to the audience hall tomorrow. Luke: Okay. The rest of you, make yourselves comfortable in the manor. I'm going to my room to rest. The party walks off. Tear and Mieu remain. Mieu: Tear! Tear! Tear: Mieu? What is it? Mieu: I have to tell you a secret. Luke walks up to them. Luke: Secret? What are you talking about? Mieu: I can't tell you, Master! Luke: What?! Tear: Heh heh. Okay, okay. I'll listen. You go get some rest, Luke. Luke: Fine! I know when I'm not wanted! Luke walks away to his bedroom. Luke: (I'm going to disappear....I wonder when...How much time do I have...?) Tear knocks on his door. Luke: I-I'm here! Come in! Tear: Luke... Luke: Oh, it's you. What's with the serious look? Tear: ...Is it true your fonons are separating? Luke: (!) Luke: Who told you that? Tear: Mieu. He told me what you and the Colonel had discussed. Luke: That little...Damn it... Tear: How is your condition? Will you get better? Luke: The doctor said it was too late.... Tear: No! Luke: Tear, please keep this between us. Luke: The only other one who knows is Jade. Tear: Do you intend to keep them in the dark forever? Luke: My condition won't change whether I tell them or not. There's no need to worry them. Tear: Why...? Why are you doing this....? Luke: If I'm going to die, I want to enjoy the time I have left. Luke: ...No, that's not it. I'm scared. If I tell everyone, they'll treat me differently. Luke: And every time they do, I'll be reminded that I'm going to die. Tear: Luke...you're shaking.... Luke: ....See? I'm a coward. I'm already like this now. Luke: If the others knew...I'd never stop shaking and crying. I'd crawl into a little shell. Luke: So I figure...at least while I'm around them all...I can pretend it's going to be okay. Tear: ...You idiot. Luke: Yeah, no kidding. I really am... Sorry to worry you, Tear. Tear: Okay. But please...Don't ever hide anything from me again. Luke: Okay. I won't. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Cruel Truth' [SK374] | | Tear: Why did things have to end up like this... | Mieu: Tear...you look like your suffering... | Tear: No, it's Luke who's suffering... | Mieu: But you were saved before... Can't Master be saved too? | Tear: ...I don't know. But...if the Colonel isn't saying anything, | then... | Mieu: ... | Tear: Isn't there anything I can do? Can't I help him somehow? | I...I... | Mieu: I'm sad too...I love Master... | Mieu: He saved me once. I wish I could disappear instead of him... | Tear: Mieu...don't say things like that. I want all of us to be | together...All of us, as long as possible. | Tear: I just wish I had the power to make that happen. But I...I can't | do anything... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Next morning, Luke heads to the drawing room. Soldier: Your Grace! An emissary of the New Order of Lorelei has arrived at the castle! Duke Fabre: ...So, they've come. Luke, I'm going to the castle. I want you to come, as well. Duke Fabre walks off. Guy: I wonder if it'll end up with a declaration of war, Luke: Yeah. Anyway, let's go to the castle. The party goes to the castle audience hall. Largo is there. Luke: Largo?! Largo: I am here as an emissary of the New Order of Lorelei. How will you answer Fon Master Mohs? Alpine: Our Kingdom of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear has agreed to abandon the Score. Alpine: Therefore, we refuse the New Order of Lorelei's proposal. Largo: Then, I can take that as a declaration of war against the New Order of Lorelei? Ingobert VI: We have no desire to fight. However, know that if our land or people are threatened we will respond in kind. Largo: ...Do you understand what this means, boy? Scion of Lorelei's power? Largo: In erasing the replicas at the Tower of Rem, you've brought about a new conflict. Largo: The Score is a fearful thing. Duke Fabre: That's sophistry. To begin with, both of my sons are alive. Luke: Father... Largo: Is it? We both know that a Score of extinction is written on the Seventh Fonstone Luke: We'll build a future where people survive. We won't let you destroy the world. Largo: And we'll do the same. Natalia: It's not the same! You're aiding Mohs, who persists in clinging to the Score! Natalia: According to your logic, you're walking the path to destruction! Largo: I have pledged my sword to one master alone. Never forget that! Largo walks towards the door. Guy: Van... Tear: Van is gathering his strength somewhere, isn't he? But where...? Ingobert VI: Luke...I apologize for the matter of the miasma. Ingobert VI: But I was struck by the spirit of your resolve in the face of death. Luke: N-not at all... Ingobert stands. Ingobert VI: We can no longer avoid conflict with the New Order of Lorelei. Ingobert walks towards Luke. Ingobert VI: Please come to my room later with Natalia. Ingobert VI: I believe now is the time to hold strong our hearts and reveal the truth. Luke: Your Majesty... Natalia: Father...? Ingobert walks out. In his chambers... Natalia: Father, what is it? Ingobert VI: I have something to tell you. About your real parents. Natalia: ...My real mother was Nanny's daughter. Ingobert VI: Yes, Sylvia. But I presume you do not know of your father. Natalia: No, Nanny left the castle before I could ask any more. Ingobert VI: Your father was a mercenary by the name of Badaq. Natalia: A mercenary...I see. But why tell me this now? Ingobert VI: We've learned of his whereabouts. Natalia: He's alive? Ingobert VI: Yes. Natalia...Be strong and listen. Ingobert VI: I feel I must tell you about your father because of the situation we now face. Natalia: ...Wh-what is it? Ingobert VI: Badaq is now in the New Order of Lorelei. Natalia: What?! Why?! Are you sure that's correct?! Ingobert VI: There's no doubt. Luke has confirmed it. He currently goes by the name of Largo the Black Lion. Natalia: I-it can't be... Luke: Natalia... Natalia: Luke! This is some kind of mistake! Right?! Luke: Natalia...It's true...He confirmed it himself. Natalia runs towards the door. Tear: Natalia! Where are you going?! Natalia: I'm going to ask him myself. I can still catch him if I hurry. I refuse to accept this! Natalia runs out. Luke: After her! There's no telling what she'll do! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `After Natalia' [SK375] | | Luke: I hope Natalia doesn't go and do anything rash.... | Anise: Even if she does, Largo controls himself pretty well, so things | should be okay. | Guy: Where would Largo be? The port? | Jade: Yes, I doubt he'd have crossed the desert. | Mieu: To the port! Let's hurry! | Tear: Yes. Stay calm Natalia....! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At the port, Natalia is pointing her bow at Largo... Luke: Natalia! Largo: Your friends are here, Princess. Natalia: Why! Why did you join the Six God-Generals?! Largo: What good will it do to know? Natalia: Answer me! Badaq! Largo: My wife, Sylvia, love to watch the sunset from here. Natalia lowers her bow. Largo: One day, I had finished escorting a caravan across the desert and was coming home. When I got home, neither Sylvia nor our newborn child were there. I finally knew what people meant when they said they had a bad feeling. The setting sun was shining in through the windows, blood red... I searched all over the city. But I couldn't find Sylvia. Natalia: ...What happened to her? Largo: Several days later, she was found floating in this harbor. Sylvia was hysterical when her newborn child was taken from her. She killed herself. Luke: No.... Largo: Sylvia's body was weak. But the Scorer said we would have a child--no, that we must have a child. When I learned why, I threw away my life in Baticul. I drifted between countries. Eventually, Commandant Grants found me and took me in. Van said to me, "The Score is the planet's memory." Every memory until the end of the world. And everything moves according to that memory. The Score is merely a small portion of it, translated into human words. So Sylvia's horrible death was predetermined? I hated the Score--the planet's memory. Natalia: ...That is a horrible story. But the Score isn't absolute. Isn't it just one possible choice of futures? Largo: But if you always end at the same place no matter what path you take, then free will means nothing. Luke: The end is the same... Largo: Even without readings of the Score, this planet will keep it's own memory and follow it. Van's vision of destroying the Score is to destroy Lorelei—the planet's memory itself. He will earn the right for all living things to build their own future. I believe in that ideal, and have chosen to join him. Remember this. Your methods are too weak. Largo starts to walk off. Natalia: Wait! You're my... Largo: Princess Natalia. My beloved daughter is no more. She was taken from me eighteen years ago. Guy: If what he said is true, then as long as the planet's memory exists, the future we choose will always arrive at a single conclusion... Tear: Is that why Van is trying to erase the originals? To entrust the future to a new hummanity of replicas, beyond the planet's memory... Anise: ...Even if that's true! Even if that's true, the originals still die, right? The Commandant's plan won't save the people of this world! Jade: Now, now, calm down. The most distraught person here is in no doubt Natalia. Luke walks up to Natalia. Luke: Natalia...Let's go back to the castle for now. His Majesty is worried about you. The scene then shifts to the castle in Ingobert's chamber. Natalia: Father... Ingobert VI: Natalia! I was so worried about you! Natalia: Father...I... Ingobert VI: I knew that was painful for you. But you don't have to suffer anymore. You need not stand in the front lines against the New Order of Lorelei any longer! Natalia: Father! Why?! Ingobert VI: Your journey was as an emissary to arrange a summit on the role of the Score. You've fulfilled your duty. Why must you fight your own flesh and blood? Natalia: Precisely because we share that blood...some things must be overcome. Ingobert VI: Natalia! Natalia: No...I don't know. You may be right, Father. Perhaps I shouldn't fight. But...the others also know Largo is my father. It won't be any easier for them. I don't know what I should do.... Tear: Natalia, I don't think you need to make a decision right away. It will take time for the New Order of Lorelei to prepare for battle. Luke: Yeah. Right now Asch should be searching for Master Van. And we have to stop the Planet Storm. You can use that time to think things over. Guy: You can stay here, or you can come with us and think on the way. Whichever you like. Natalia: ...I'll go. Let me think there, with you. Ingobert VI: ...Very well. Be careful, Natalia. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Largo's Life' [SK377] | | Anise: Natalia, you don't look too good. | Natalia: ...I'm sorry. I just had a strange thought.... | Anise: What? | Natalia: That its my fault that Largo became part of the God-Generals. | That I changed his life...Heh, I'm as bad as Luke | Anise: Yeah, that's not like you at all. | Natalia: Indeed it is not. | Anise: I mean it's not like you decided to go to the castle as a baby. | Besides, he's the one who decided to enter the New Order of | Lorelei and destroy the original world with his daughter in it. | Anise: You had nothing to do with it. | Natalia: ...Yes, but... | Anise: He's not a coward. He wouldn't blame other people for what he's | done. | Natalia: Anise... | Anise: He's just like you. He knows what he's done, and he takes | responsibility for it. So don't worry. Don't think about "good" or | "bad". Just think about what you want to do. | Natalia: ...At times you can be quite grown-up. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party leaves the King's chamber. Luke: So, next we stop the Planet Storm...? Tear: Hmmm, yes. I think Grandfather would know the details. Luke: Okay, then let's go to Yulia City. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:YU8} \ >>> Yulia City \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Conference room. Luke: What do we need to do to stop the Planet Storm? Teodoro: The Planet Storm is controlled by a giant fonic glyph. It's said that Yulia used the Sword of Lorelei to carve the fonic glyph into the land. Anise: So we'll need to do something about that fonic glyph. Jade: The Sword of Lorelei gathers Seventh Fonons, and the Jewel disperses them. If Yulia gathered Seventh Fonons with the Sword of Lorelei and opened the gate, then we should be able to disperse them with the Jewel and close it. Guy: Do we even know how to use the Jewel? Teodoro: Let us use documents from the time to analyze the Jewel here. Luke: Thank you. Tear: Could we split up for a bit while that's being done? Anise: That's unusual coming from you, Tear. Luke: I don't see why not. Tear: Then, we'll meet back here later. Luke can talk to the party members in turn. Anise... Anise: Wow...Ion managed the Order in conjunction with this place... Luke: Yeah. This is like the real core of the Order of Lorelei. Anise: I'd better shape up. I've got to beat the people here. Luke: Why? Anise: It's still a secret. ...Anyway, do you think Natalia's okay? Luke: Hmmm... Anise: "Hmmm"? You've been friends since you were kids! Go and cheer her up! Jade... Jade: How are you feeling? Luke: Fine, right now...But Tear and Mieu found out. Mieu: Mieuu. I know. Jade: I see...So Tear knows. Poor thing... Luke: Yeah...I feel bad for making her worry about me.... Jade: ...You're amazingly dense, aren't you Luke? Luke: I don't think so... Jade: Oh? Then perhaps you're so preoccupied with her that you haven't noticed. Or maybe it's a self-defense reflex. Oh, well, it's none of my business. Luke: What are you talking about? Jade: I'm just telling you to go see Tear. Go on. Luke: (?) O-okay... Guy... Guy: Tear seems pretty cold, but she's actually pretty nice, huh? Luke: What do you mean? Guy: ...You haven't really seen her at all. Luke: Sure I have. She's always hard on me. Well, she's nice sometimes, I guess. Guy: Are you stupid? Only a child needs kindness to be blatantly obvious in order to see it. If you haven't realized it for yourself yet, go and look for her now and see what you find. Luke goes to Tear's room. She's talking with Natalia, so Luke eavesdrops. Natalia: Tear, do you mind if I ask you how it felt? When you learned that Van...that your brother had this terrible plan... Tear: Hmmm. ...It didn't sound real. Natalia: Real? Tear: It felt like I was listening to a story. I didn't understand what he was talking about. Natalia: I think I know what you mean. My whole mind just went blank for a moment.... Tear: After that, I frantically investigated what he was trying to do...And I decided I had to stop him, no matter what. Even if it killed the both of us. Natalia: How did you become so determined? Tear: Van was the only relative I had in this world. As one who shared the same blood, I felt I had to stop him. No matter how many times I asked him, he wouldn't tell me the truth...When I first confronted Van, turned my blade on him, I was like a cornered animal. I couldn't see anything at all... Natalia: Tear... Tear: You shouldn't make the same choice I did, and I don't think you need to. Natalia: I want to save this world. Even if the planet's memory really is absolute. Yulia left behind an absolute Score, yet she didn't read anything in it about replicas. I want to bet on that--on the hope that Luke represents. Tear: Yes. Luke taught us that people can change. Watching him, I put to rest the old me that thought of nothing but killing my brother. I was able to try to understand Van's real feelings. Natalia: ...But...I have a feeling I understand why Largo is supporting Van. I don't mean to say that he should be allowed to do what he is doing! But... Tear: Natalia, I don't think it's necessary to understand everything rationally. Natalia: (!) I never thought I'd hear you say something like that. Tear: I can say this only because I hold on so hard to being rational. Some answers you can only find by letting go. Natalia: Tear...Thank you... Luke: (I should leave Natalia to Tear for now.) Luke: (I'll head back to Teodoro...) +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Thinking of Tear' [SK378] | | Luke: Tear's in the same position as Natalia, isn't she...? She never | shows it, so I tend to forget. | Mieu: Tear's a nice person, so she doesn't let you see when she's | hurt. | Luke: ...Yeah I know, but... | Mieu: So just be nice to her. | Luke: I said I know, Thing! You don't need to tell me! | Mieu: Mieuuuuu...Master can I ask you something? | Luke: ...What? | Mieu: Why do you call me Thing? | Luke: Oh...well...you know...You're blue, have weird ears, sound like | a girl, and breathe fire...You're a Thing! | Mieu: Mieuuuu...I don't understand... | Luke: Don't worry. Anyway I'll...I'll try to keep Tear in mind. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party reconvenes in the conference room. Teodoro: Just as I thought, this Jewel is inscribed with a fonic arte as well. Please focus Seventh Fonons into it. It's dispersive power and fonic arte will activate, stopping the fonic glyph. Luke: That'll close the Gate, huh? Teodoro: Yes, I would seal it off at the Absorption Gate. That's where the Planet Storm finishes its cycle. Closing it there is the most logical choice. Tear: The Absorption Gate...That's where we fought Van... Guy: Tear. If we stop the Planet Storm, we'll be able to approach Eldrant. It may be painful for you, but let's do our best. Tear: Right. Luke: ...What about you, Natalia? Are you going to be okay? Natalia: I'm fine. Thank you. Anise: Hey, what about me? Mieu: And me! Luke: Okay, okay! Is everybody ready? All but Tear: Ready! (heart) Luke: Then we're off to the Absorption Ga--wait, one of those responses sounded weird. Jade: Oh, details, details. There's no time, Luke! Let's go! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Final Confrontation' [SK376] | | Luke: So we're finally going to confront the New Order of Lorelei... | Guy: Natalia looks really troubled. | Tear: She doesn't have much time to make her decision.. And she knows | that, which makes things even harder on her. | Luke: Why doesn't she just run away? She doesn't need to fight her | real father! | Guy: Yeah, I know... But she is who she is now because she's never | turned aside from | the obstacles in her path. | Luke: She won't run even if we tell her to, huh...? | Jade: Well, if she's a burden, we'll leave her behind. If she doesn't | want that, she'll have to settle her feelings. | Guy: Tough as usual, aren't you? | Jade: I'm only stating the obvious.... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A World Without the Planet Storm?' [SK379] | | Anise: Once we stop the Planet Storm, fonic artes and fontech will all | get a lot weaker, right? | Jade: Well, that wouldn't happen right away. Things shouldn't change | too much for a few years. | Luke: So we'll have to figure out a new source of energy in that | time. | Anise: But that'll probably take a while, so fonists probably won't | have much to do... | Jade: Those with sufficient abilities will still be able to use fonic | artes. Those without will likely be out of a job. | Tear: The Seventh Fonon will become harder to use, too... | Anise: Because there's less of it and without the Planet Storm no new | Seventh Fonons will be made. | Jade: Yes, I expect Seventh Fonists will encounter particular | difficulty | Jade: But in any case, we can talk about it this after we stop the | Planet Storm. | Luke: Yeah. we don't have time to be thinking about the future-- we | need to focus on the immediate danger. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:AG2} \ >>> Absorption Gate \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Luke: I never thought we'd come here again.... Anise: A lot more people have died since then.... Guy: We've got to put an end to this.... Natalia: That's why we've come here. Right? Tear: Yes. But it looks like we're not the only ones who've come. Jade: That's an Oracle ship. We'd best be careful. Proceeds down the first elevator... Luke: The Planet Storm...We're going to stop this. Anise: Colonel, how do we do that? Jade: Let's head for the absorption point at the bottom. There should be a fonic glyph controlling the Planet Storm there. Tear: Below the passage ring. Luke: All right. At the final save point... Natalia: ...One of the Oracle Knights is waiting for us up ahead. Anise: Legretta, Largo or Sync... Jade: Or possibly all of them. Natalia: Largo... I... Luke: Natalia...are you okay? Guy: You look pale... Don't push yourself. Natalia: I'm sorry. I'm ashamed of myself for becoming so distraught. ...But I'm all right. Let's go. The party arrives to where they fought Van. Mohs, Legretta, Sync, and another Ion replica are there. Anise: Ion?! Luke looks back and sees Asch and Largo. Asch: Replica! Why have you come here?! Asch and Largo clash weapons. Asch: Ugh! Natalia: Asch! Largo! A glow is seen and the whole place shakes. Van: ...I'm finally able to maintain a physical form again. Luke: That voice... A light appears, fades, and reveals Van. Mohs: Ah! Van! I'll forgive you for all your insubordination. Now, hah hah hah! Give me the Seventh Fonstone! Van: ...This is the fragment of the Seventh Fonstone that sank into the core. Mohs takes it. Mohs: Noww, noww, I can ffinally learn the sScore of the Seventh Fonstone... Hah hah hah hah hah!! Tear: Stop! Tear runs up to Van. A shot from Legretta is seen on the ground. Luke: Master! Van: To think I would be bested in battle... Replica or not, you were magnificent. Tear: Van...! What have you done with Lorelei? Van: Lei va neu kuloa tue lei lei Tear: That's.... Yulia's fonic hymn... Van: My body, its fonons separating, was drawn into the Planet Storm. Van: Just as I thought I was going to vanish, I remembered Yulia's fonic hymns and sang. Van: Those were the words of the covenant. Lorelei responded, answering his pact with Yulia. Jade: The separating fonons composing Van's body were drawn in by Lorelei... Guy: And reconstructed? Van: Yes. Lorelei patched my scattered body together, although it is surprisingly...awkward. Van: I finally succeeded in putting the struggling Lorelei to sleep and left the Planet Storm. Legretta: Commandant, I think Mohs will go mad soon. Asch: Stop! I'm going to send you back to the hell you came from! Largo blocks Asch's way to Van. Largo: The Commandant has returned. We can finally destroy Lorelei--this planet's cursed memory. I won't let you interfere! Asch: Damn it! Get that stupid mound of flesh out of my way! Van: Asch. Join me. With your hyperresonance, we can erase the memory of a future destined for destruction. Man will be set free. Asch: ...I refuse! Van: Then, Luke, how about you? It seems I underestimated you. You are worthy of my attention. If you come with me, I will welcome you just as I would welcome Tear and Guy. Luke: I...I refuse. Van: Heh...I expected no less. Van and Legretta leave. Largo blocks the party from following them. Luke: Asch! Stop Master Van! Asch runs after Van. Natalia draws her bow at Largo. Natalia: ...Largo. Please put away your weapon. Largo: This world is rotten. Natalia: That's not true. Largo steps away from Luke. Largo: Day in and day out. Score, Score, Score! Largo turns around with his weapon out. Largo: How many lives have been thrown away for it? Natalia: What you're trying to do is no different in the end! Largo: Van's plan...our plan is twisted. But without a medicine this strong, the world will follow Yulia's Score...and die. As long as the originals remain, so will remnants of the planet's memory. Luke: The idea of killing everyone alive today is crazy. Largo: This, coming from the man who massacred replicas to consume them. Luke: ...That's right. I consumed their lives and chose to preserve this original world! Largo: Well said. You are a worthy opponent. En garde! Battle. Largo: Never show your enemy mercy, Princess, no matter who he is. Mercy has no place with two people, as enemies. Tear: If that's what you wish, then we'll face you as warriors. Jade: We will use simple, honest strategy to fight you with everything I have. Guy: It's too bad, I don't mind idiots like you. Largo: Hah hah hah! That's good! The Black Lion might be a fool, but he's not weak! Luke: We're not weak either! We will win! Tear: I give you fair warning, as a fellow Oracle Knight. Largo: Come children, let me crush you! Largo is defeated. Largo: I'm taking you with me! Luke: ...Ugh! Largo is about to strike Luke when Guy and Tear come running in, and an arrow hits him in the back. Largo: Aagh! He falls over. Largo: Good shot... Meryl...How you've grown... Luke: Largo... We both want the same thing. We're both trying to get away from the Score. Why do we have to kill each other like this? Largo: It's not the same thing... Listen...boy. This is a battle of beliefs, of convictions... Luke: Convictions... Largo: We think...that this world should be destroyed and reborn....You think that...people should start over again...The result may be the same...but they're different... Luke offers Largo his hand. Largo: Show your enemy...no mercy....With shallow feelings like that...you'll never....defeat him...Farewell...Meryl... Largo dies. Natalia: Father...! Jade: ...I'm sorry to sound cruel, but we didn't come here to defeat Largo. We came here to close the Absorption Gate. Luke: I know. But Natalia... Guy: ...How about you wait here, Natalia? There's no reason to push yourself. Natalia: No...No...I'm going with you. Guy: Okay...Can you stand? Natalia stands up. Anise: Natalia. You don't have to force yourself. Natalia: I'm fine. Let's go. The party goes down further into the Absorption Gate. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Largo's Death, Natalia's Feelings' [SK380] | | Luke: I wonder why Largo said all that to us... | Anise: All what? | Luke: Show your enemy no mercy. With shallow feelings like that, | you'll never defeat him... | Guy: He probably meant that for Natalia. | Natalia: For me...? | Guy: As his final wish, that you--his daughter--should survive. | Natalia: ... | Anise: Hmmm...But Largo's not the type to push guilt on Natalia for | killing her father. | Luke: Then what did he mean? | Anise: "I'm your enemy, so don't pity me. Defeat me and Van and do it | ruthlessly" Something like that? | Luke: Both of those make sense to me... | Natalia: ...Only Largo knows the truth and I will keep my own belief in | my heart. | Anise: Huh? What do you think he meant? | Natalia: ...I'm not telling. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ At the glyph... Luke: How do we close this thing? Jade: ...It's a giant fonic glyph. It's just like the legends. Yulia opened the Gate here with the Sword of Lorelei. Tear: Then we need to use the Jewel. Luke: Got it...I'll give it a try. Luke holds the Jewel up to a column of light. Everything goes white. Luke: Uah?! Luke: Is this...the core? Luke sees Van float by. Luke: I see...So Master Van took Lorelei inside himself here... Then he can see Van holding a limp Sync. Van: I will give you some of Lorelei's power. Live for a while longer and lend me your aid. Sync: ...I didn't expect to see you here, Commandant... Luke: ...What's going on? How come I'm seeing this? Luke: ...Am I merging with the Planet Storm because I've started to disappear? Then, is this the planet's memory? Asch is shown, with a sword drawn against Sync. Luke: Is this reality? Asch: Out of my way! Sync: Van hasn't yet fully recovered. And you have the Key. It may lack the Jewel, but it's still a threat. Hand it over. Luke: Asch! Asch: Replica! What do you want?! Luke: I'll take the Jewel and join you! We'll set Lorelei free! Just hold out until I get there! Asch: Don't tell me what to do! Everything then goes white and Asch and Sync are gone. Tear: Luke! Are you okay? The scene then fades back to the glyph. Natalia: Luke, hang on! Luke: Was that a dream...? What happened to the Gate?! Jade: The fonic glyph reacted to the Jewel and appears to have lost its effect. Guy: In other words, it worked. You did it! Luke: Great! Then we can close the Radiation Gate the same way. Tear: I wonder what Van and the others are doing... Luke: That's right! Asch is in danger! We have to go after him! The scene switches back to the first room. Asch and Sync are there. Tear runs towards Sync to attack him, but he jumps away and disappears. Luke: Asch, where's Master Van?! Asch: Outside. He's watching Mohs make Ion's replica read the Score on the Seventh Fonstone. Tear: Let's go! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Van Returns' [SK381] | | Tear: So Van was alive after all...and he's made Lorelei a part of | himself... | Luke: Master Van's incredibly strong. Even without Lorelei I was | shaking at the thought of fighting him. | Tear: Yes...and now we'll have to fight him again. | Luke: Maybe if he'd listen to us, we might not have to... | Tear: That won't happen. His ideals are too different from ours.... | Luke: I wonder if we can beat him.... | Tear: ...We have to. Right? | Luke: But are you really okay with this? | Tear: .... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party exits the Gate and sees Mohs, Legretta, Sync, and Van with Ion. Ion Replica: "...Thus shall Auldrant be destroyed by the miasma and turned to dust." Ion Replica: "This is the end of Auldrant." The Ion Replica falls to his knees. Mohs: Hah hah hah hah hah hah! Lies! Vaaan! Izzz this ffragment really ffrom the Seventh Fonstone?! Van: Of course. Luke: Stop this! Mohs: Grr! Don't gget in the wayy! Luke: Stop it!! Mohs: Gaaagh?! Mmy bodyyyyy! Wwhat's ggoing onn? Mohs: The Score...the Score...Hah hah hah hah! S-stop! Aagh, uagh?! Legretta: Hyperresonance?! But I can't see how that would-- Van: No, that's not it. Lorelei inside me grew restless for a moment. Van walks towards Luke. Luke blocks him with his hand. Van: ...The Jewel of Lorelei?! Ugh...no! Lorelei is...awakening! Tear: Van! Legretta: Commandant, your body... The ground shakes. Van: Uaaaaaaaaaagh! Guy: Y-you've got to be kidding me! What was that power?! Asch: Lorelei...Van was unable to contain Lorelei's power within his body... Legretta: Commandant! What happened to Lorelei..?! Van: There's no cause for concern. I've ...suppressed it. Legretta: But we should return to Eldrant for the sake of your health! Van: Step across the sea of corpses and make your way to me....Asch...and Luke. And at that time, I shall ask you once more. Tear: Van, wait! Van: Mystearica...The next time we meet, I will show no mercy, even to you. Van flies away with aid of some monsters. Asch: Now they know where the Key of Lorelei is. Be careful. Van will be coming in full force to steal it from you. Luke: If we release Lorelei into the fon belt, Van will lose his chance to destroy Lorelei. The Seventh Fonon, the Score, and the planet's memory will all remain. Asch: Exactly. I'll come see you once you stop the Planet Storm. Don't let them take the Jewel. Asch walks off. Guy: ...Asch has started acting nicer towards you. Luke: You think so? Natalia: But...he seemed sad for some reason. Anise: Hey....is it okay if we take this kid to Daath? I don't think he has anywhere else to go... Luke: Good idea. Okay, let's get him to Daath. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Mohs' Fate' [SK382] | | Anise: That's some shape Mohs got himself into. | Tear: Could he even understand us talking to him anymore? | Jade: He's suffering from sever neural contamination. I doubt he's | still sane. | Tear: I wonder if he'll live out the rest of his life as a monster | like that... | Jade: More likely, all his atoms and fonons will separate soon, and he | will die | Anise: He's so stupid...Why couldn't he have taken a more open view of | the Score? | Tear: No, Anise...in other circumstances we might have ended up the | same way. | Tear: Believing strongly in something can require great sacrifice at | times. | Anise: We should be careful. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:DA9} \ >>> Daath \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Cathedral. Tritheim: I-it's...! Tear: I believe Yulia City already sent a report, but this is a replica of Fon Master Ion. Anise: ...I thought it would be best if Daath took him in. Tritheim: I see. We'll take good care of him. Anise: Don't worry. The people here won't force you to read the Score. Ion Replica: ...You aren't staying...Anise? Anise: No. I have something I need to do. Luke: Don't worry. Anise will be back once it's all over. I'm sure she'll come see you. And I will too, of course. Tritheim: By the way, what should we call him? "Ion" would be a bit... Luke: Hmm..... Tear: Why don't you name him, Anise? He has grown attached to you, after all. Anise: ...Florian. Luke: Florian? Jade: It means "innocent one." Anise: Florian, I'll come back to see you later, okay? Ion... Tear: Anise. Let's go. Outside.... Luke: So, to stop the Planet Storm... Jade: We head to the Radiation Gate, at the southernmost point of Auldrant. Luke: All right, let's go! ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:RA1} \ >>> Radiation Gate \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Inside the Albiore... Luke: Damn it! They're trying to stop us from closing the Gate! Noelle: I'll force our way through! Luke: Right! At the entrance... Mieu: My head is going in circles from all that looping and swerving... Tear: Hang in there, Mieu. Luke: That was some amazing flying, Noelle. We owe you. Noelle: No...I think my brother could have done it better. I'm still so new. Anise: No way! Don't say that! We never could have made it by ourselves. Guy: Enemies may attack from Eldrant. If it looks dangerous, get out of here. Noelle: Thank you. Please be careful. At the passage ring... Anise: This is a passage ring, right? So there was one here too. Jade: Of course. We had planned to come here, you know. Natalia: ...This is where Asch helped us. Luke: Yeah...Seems like I can't do anything without his help. Tear: Of course. Luke: Huh? Tear: The two of you managed to lower all of the Outer Lands together. Anise: Asch might not have been able to do it by himself, either. Guy: Yeah. A single person doesn't really have much power. Jade: But a single person can easily destroy a country. Anise: Colonel! Jade: Both are true. There are two sides to the power people hold. That power cannot be used properly until one recognizes them both. Luke: ...Yeah. I know what you mean. My power is just like that. Tear: You know both the horror and importance of power. Don't fear it, but don't let it go to your head. Luke: ...Yeah. At the final save point... Luke: What's that? Is something coming? Guy: I've got a bad feeling here. Let's hurry up and get this done. At the glyph... Tear: It's that sound again! Luke: Damn it! Is it an enemy? We've got to get this gate closed fast.... Anise: Hurry! Hurry! We're not going to make it in time! Luke holds up the Jewel. The glyph shifts, the Gate closes, and Mohs appears. Jade: Up there! Mohs: The Score...! Hah hah hah hah hah! To pprotect the sScore...! Yyou...! Tear: He still has his mind... Mohs: Hah hah hah hah. Aagh?! As a watcher... I will lead the worldd to pprosperity...Hah hah! Anise: I know he killed Ion..but..I kind of feel sorry for him... Tear: Fon Master...no, Grand Maestro Mohs! Please! Return to your senses... Tear: Mohs! Mohs: ...Tttraitorrrr! Uohh... I wwon't llet the world bbe dddestroyyed... Luke: Let's end it. Even he doesn't deserve this! Mohs: Dieeeee! Haaah hah hah hah hah!! Battle. Mohs: The SScore...Yulia...Bring prosperity to the world...! Mohs dies by melting into a puddle of goo. Luke: Ugh... Anise: It's horrible... Guy: Mohs clung to the Score to the very end...Even after becoming a monster, it was all about the Score. Tear: He truly believed that as long as we had Yulia's Score, the world would be saved. He was trying to save the world in his own way... Anise: That was what protecting the Score meant to him... Luke: ...Let's go to Eldrant. Tear: Luke... Luke: If Master Van completes his replica world, this will all have been for nothing....Let's prove that Mohs' way was wrong...No...Let's stop Master Van and free Lorelei so we can build our own future. Jade: If we're going to Eldrant, we'll have to pass through their anti-aircraft fire. Let's look into the matter at the military headquarters in Grand Chokmah. Luke: Right. Good idea. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Grand Maestro' [SK383] | | Tear: Grand Maestro Mohs...please forgive me.... | Luke: Tear... | Tear: ...I'm being silly, aren't I? I know that Mohs let many die in | order to fulfill the Score. | Tear: But that's just the way the Order of Lorelei was until now. | Luke: Yeah...all this stuff recently has really shaken the Order. | Luke: But if Mohs had been Grand Maestro in the past, history might | have seen him as an admirable clergyman. | Tear: Yes...I can't forgive, but it's hard to hate him too. All of us | in the Oracle Knights are equally at fault. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `To the Last Battle' [SK384] | | Luke: We've stopped the Planet Storm. Now we just have to get to | Eldrant. | Jade: Yes. Once there we'll free Lorelei and stop Eldrant from | replicating the land. | Tear: At last...This will be final major battle. | Guy: Yeah. Will we save our original world--or will Van's new world | be born? | Natalia: We will not let Van have his way. We are not simply entering | Eldrant alone. | Natalia: We carry the future of the people of Kimlasca, Malkuth and Daath | with us. | Luke: Yeah. We can't turn back now... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:GC6} \ >>> Grand Chokmah \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ Malkuth Military Headquarters. Sesemann: We've been waiting. With the Planet Storm gone, Eldrant has lost its armor. Nordheim: The Kimlascan and Malkuth allied forces began preparations for deployment the moment the Planet Storm stopped. All to support you. Luke: Thank you. Luke: But Eldrant still has strong anti-aircraft cannons. If we can't get past those... Sesemann: Hmm, Eldrant's anti-air fire takes approximately 15 seconds to reload between barrages. Noelle: We could use that time to predict the next attack and get close...My brother could do it, but... Jade: Shall we find Asch and have Ginji take your place? Noelle: ...No, please allow me to do it. I'm the pilot of the Albiore II. I've had the same training as my brother. It's all right. I'll do it. Luke: We're counting on you. Guy: Sounds like that settles it, then. Natalia: So, this is it. Luke: Are you all really okay with going to Eldrant? Natalia, you're the successor to the throne of Kimlasca. Jade, you have your military post defending Malkuth. And then... Natalia: What are you saying after everything that's happened? I can't leave after coming this far. Tear: I have to make my brother...make Van take responsibility. Anise: If Ion were here, he'd tell me to see everything through to the end. Guy: When I met my sister's replica, I realized. As a citizen of Hod myself, I cannot allow the dead to be raised in such a manner. Jade: I'm under orders from His Majesty. And besides, you need a captain when deploying soldiers. Luke: ...Yeah. Okay. Thanks, guys. Jade: Chief of Staff Sesemann, can we request support fire during the assault? We'll neutralize the anti-aircraft fire from inside Eldrant and head directly to Van. Sesemann: Very well. But eliminating Van takes priority. Even with the anti-aircraft fire neutralized, we have no means of flying. Jade: Understood. Luke: All right. All that's left is to find Asch and complete the Key of Lorelei. Nordheim: The allied force will await your arrival in Chesedonia. We're all counting on you. At the entrance of Grand Chokmah, Asch walks up. Natalia: Asch! Asch: The Planet Storm has stopped. Luke: Oh, good! We were just about to go tell you! Asch: No, I could tell immediately. That's why I came to you... Luke runs up to Asch and gives him the Jewel. Asch: (?) Asch: Why are you giving me this? Luke: I told you before. You're the original--you're the only one who can free Lorelei. Asch: (...) Luke: The rest of us will do everything in our power to get you to Master Van. Then you'll free Lorelei-- Asch: Bastard! Luke: ...What? Asch: You stupid bastard! Who asked you to do that?! Luke: What are you mad about? Are you saying you won't come with us to stop Master Van? Is me being a replica really that-- Asch: Shut up! And stop calling him "Master"! Luke: ...Asch. Asch: And even now you're still saying you're going to "stop" him?! What can you possibly accomplish?! You're so naive it's disgusting! He is honestly trying to make a replica world. He believes it's the right thing to do. He has faith in it. I was a fool. I thought perhaps, even though you're a replica, if we worked together you might be useful in helping to kill him. You're me! How can you just accept calling yourself inferior?! We're the same! Why don't you try to fight and prove who you are?! Why can't you say you're superior?! Why do you insist on putting yourself down?! Luke: It's not like that! I'm not you. Asch: Wh-what... Luke: I am your replica. But I'm different from you. My thoughts, my memories, the way I live. Asch: Shut up! You're an inferior, defective replica! I refuse to accept you! Luke: Whether you accept me or not doesn't matter. I'm not part of you or a substitute. Asch throws the Jewel back to Luke. Luke: Asch! What are you doing...? Asch: How amusing. In that case, let's make it clear! Clear that you're nothing more than a copy! Luke: Asch, I have no intention of fighting you! Asch: Shut up! Are you going to run away after all that babbling? You are you own self, right? Prove it! If you don't, I'll refuse to acknowledge you! I'll refuse to accept you! Natalia: Asch! Stop! You're making no sense! Asch: Shut up! Natalia: Asch... Luke: Hey. Don't take it out on Natalia. I-- Asch: I am Van's student! Only me! You're just an imposter. Natalia: Asch! How can you say such a thing?! Asch: I respected him. I wanted to believe in his ideal of rejecting the Score. I knew he just wanted to use my hyperresonance, but I didn't mind. If only he hadn't said anything about that idiotic idea of replacing everyone with replicas... I would have wanted to stay his student... Luke: Asch... Asch: Come to Eldrant! Defeating the master is the role of the student. We'll settle who the real student is there. Asch walks off. Luke: I'm jealous. Master Van accepted and acknowledged him from the beginning. I wanted Master to acknowledge me too. I wanted to be his student... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `They Just Can't Get Along' [SK385] | | Luke: Asch...why can't we cooperate? | Luke: Is fighting the only way for us to accept each other? | Luke: I've already accepted you No matter what you say, you can't deny | the fact that I'm here. I'm alive. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Thinking Back' [SK392] | | Mieu: Things sure have gotten tough. | Luke: Yeah. It went from a little trip to a worldwide crisis. | Mieu: I never imagined any of this would happen when I left the woods. | Luke: Me too. All of a sudden I get blown out of the manor, and before | I knew it I was caught up in all this... | Mieu: Master... | Luke: A lot sure has happened. I found out I wasn't really Luke. I | destroyed Akzeriuth, I neutralized the miasma...and now... | Mieu: Master! | Luke: Hah hah. Don't worry. I've still got things to do. | Luke: I still have to settle things with Asch...and Master Van! | Mieu: Good luck, Master! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Luke and Asch, Part 2' [SK386] | | Guy: After all this they're suddenly in opposite positions... | Jade: After all this time? | Guy: Yeah...Asch is the same as always. I guess Luke's the one who | changed. | Jade: Yes...He saw death with his own eyes, and he grew up. | Jade: But Asch doesn't realize that, and he's angry that his replica | has started thinking for itself. | Guy: No, I think Asch does realize it. He just doesn't want to | acknowledge that the puppet that took everything from him has | become independent. | Jade: Judging from his anger, that's probably the case. Though it | could be worse. | Jade: If he had simply ignored Luke and left, there would have been no | hope. | Guy: Now it's Asch's turn to become independent. | Jade: Yes...To free himself from feeling victimized by a replica that | pushed him into the shadows. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:CH6} \ >>> Chesedonia \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Great Resolve - Guy Talk' [SK387] | | Luke: Eldrant, huh? Sure is huge... | Guy: Well, yes you've got a whole island floating up there. | Jade: Attack large targets from the inside. That's one of the most | basic principles of battle. | Luke: It feels weird. When the three of us met I never would have | imagined that we'd be here fighting like this. | Guy: Hah hah hah! Yeah, really, Van wasn't our enemy at the time, | either. | Jade: And Malkuth was, I suppose? | Luke: Heh heh, I thought you were pretty annoying back then, but | now... | Guy: He's still pretty annoying | Luke: Yeah | Jade: ...Heh heh, Well, then please bear with this annoying soldier | for just a little while longer. | Luke: Same to you. Jade, Guy let's do our best. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Great Resolve - Girl Talk' [SK388] | | Anise: La la la la la. (music note) | Natalia: My, you're certainly putting effort into your preparations | Anise: Of course! This'll be our last battle. Let's go gorgeously! | Beautifully! | Tear: Aren't you nervous? | Anise: Nope. | Tear: Liar. your fingers are shaking. | Anise: They're trembling in excitement! Not shaking! | Natalia: Both of you put such a strong front. | Anise: So do you! | Tear: Hee hee...I supposed we're all alike that way. | Natalia: Yes, indeed. When I first met you, I thought I could never come | to like you. | Anise: Hey, that's my line! | Tear: But now? | Natalia: You are very dear to me. | Anise: That's my line too! | Tear: Let's do our best...together. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Once you tell Sesemann or Goldberg that you are ready... Jade: The operation will be tomorrow, after we rendezvous with the allied force. Guy: So we've got today for ourselves? Jade: Yes. Before any deployment, soldiers are given 24 hours of leave to do as they please. Anise: Then let's do that, too! Jade: That's fine with me, but please don't stray very far from Chesedonia. Anise: Yes, sir, no problem! (heart) Guy, Natalia, come on! Luke: You're not going anywhere? Tear: No...Not really...You? Luke: Nah, Chesedonia's in a desert, so...And it still doesn't feel real, you know? That tomorrow's the final battle. Noelle: Then would you two join me for a little while? Mieu: Me, too! Noelle: Sure. We'll all go together. Later in the day, around sunset, Natalia is sitting by the shore. Guy: Looks like you're waiting for someone to show up. Natalia: I'm afraid there's little hope of that... Guy: Asch hated replicas. That gave him purpose. He lost that the moment Luke stood on his own. I don't think he'll show. The next time he does... Natalia: Will be when they fight. But why do they have to fight? Guy: It's not to hurt each other. It's to settle who they are. To recognize that they're two different people now. Natalia: I wonder what I should do when that happens? Guy: If you really care about both of them...then just accept the result. Natalia: Will you? Guy: Well...That's what friends do, right? Natalia: Asch is your friend, too? Guy: ...I've put my past behind me as best I can. I think that's what Asch is trying to do now. When that happens, he will no longer be the son of my enemy, and I no longer his servant. We'll start over as Asch and Gailardia. Just two people. I bet he's a pretty fun guy, without all his baggage. Natalia: You're so mature. I don't know... I just... Guy: You see Luke as your friend, right? Natalia: Yes. Guy: Then that's enough for now. Once everything's settled, go with what you feel. Natalia: ...You're right. Some answers won't come no matter how much you think. The scene then goes to Jade at the bar. Anise walks in. Anise: Are you drinking, Colonel? Jade: I would have preferred somewhere a bit nicer than this, but... Weren't you going to enjoy your free time Anise? Anise: I wanted to give Tear some time. Jade: Hmm... That may have been cruel in its own way... Anise: Colonel, you're hiding something, aren't you? Jade: No, of course not. Anise: Oh, well... What are you going to do after we defeat Commandant Grants? Jade: I'm a soldier. I'll return to my life in the military. But... Anise: But...what? Jade: ...I've been thinking about starting fomicry research anew once I return. To raise replicas to a status of something more that mere substitutes. Anise: ...Yeah. Please do. I think that would make Ion happy. Jade: You're going to reform the Order, aren't you? Anise: You noticed, huh? I'm giving up on marrying into money. I'm going to be the first female Fon Master! Jade: Excellent. But I think now it's about time you returned to the inn. Anise: Hey, you're going to stay here drinking, aren't you? Jade: This is grown-up time now. Time for children to go to bed. Anise: Booo. Meanie. The scene then shifts to night, on the Albiore in the cockpit. Mieu: I'm worried about Master. Noelle: No. You're staying here with me. Mieu: Mieuuuu... Outside... Tear: Tomorrow... Luke: ...Yeah. I hope my body holds together until then. Tear: It will. Luke: Tear... Tear: Tomorrow...and the day after...and on and on... Luke: Tear... I... Tear: What is it? Luke: ...Ah, never mind. Tear: You're weird. Luke: ...I am not! I just... Thanks. Tear: What's with you, all of a sudden? Luke: You watched me this whole time, just like you promised. Tear: ...You idiot. I'm going to keep on watching you, too. Luke: You're the idiot. I'm going to disappear... Tear puts her finger on his mouth. Tear: It's okay. Luke: It's weird. I'm really happy right now. I have friends... and you... I can finally think of myself as...me. This is probably the happiest moment of my life. Tear: ...What? Luke: I mean, I wish I could think it wouldn't be... Tear: ..... ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:EL2} \ >>> Eldrant \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `A Great Resolve - All' [SK389] | | Luke: Everybody ready? | Anise: Who died and made you boss? | Luke: ...Shut up! | Guy: Hah hah. Don't tease him, Anise. | Natalia: We're fully prepared, of course. | Tear: Yes, we can fight at any time. | Mieu: Me too! | Jade: Well, let's not get too excited just because its the final | battle. | Jade: Besides, once we're safely back, I'll finally be free from | playing babysitter. | Luke: You always have to say things like that, don't you? | Jade: My apologies. | Anise: Aaaanyway, this is our final battle! | Luke: Yeah. Let's go! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `After Defeating Van' [SK390] | | Anise: *sigh* ...Even after we take care of the Commandant, there's so | much left to do. | Guy: Well, yeah. There's lots to do as long as you're alive. | Natalia: We have to rebuild Kimlasca and think about how to support the | replicas. | Anise: The Order of Lorelei is falling apart too...I've got to help | pull it together | Guy: Malkuth, too. Especially since we've lost part of our land... | Natalia: Yes, indeed. | Anise: But that's better than worrying about who we have to kill next. | Guy: Yeah, really. | Natalia: I hope this world remains one where we can work to help people. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Goldberg: The operation begins at noon. Our ships will be deployed in the Central Ocean and Ispanian Peninsula. Nordheim: They'll take longer to get in position than the Albiore. Standby in the Central Ocean beneath Eldrant and wait for our arrival. Luke: Understood. Jade: The artillery bombardment will begin as soon as the allied forces arrive. With that support, we will breach Eldrant from below, where there is less anti-aircraft fire. Guy: We'll destroy the anti-air facilities if possible, and then go after Van. Natalia: Our final objective is the release of Lorelei. I think that covers everything. Anise: Okay, your turn Luke. This is the final battle, so give the order and make it good! Luke: M-me? Tear: Well, you're more or less the leader now. All of the party smiles at him. Mieu smiles and waves. Luke: Okay. Everyone, we're going to protect out world! The Albiore departs and gets into position. Luke: There's still some time left. Mieu: I'm kind of nervous. Anise: The Commandant won't hold back. We have to fight with everything we've got. Jade: Don't get yourself so worked up that you wear yourself out before we even get there. Guy: Yeah, good point. Be careful Luke. Luke: Why me?! Natalia: Heh heh, yeah, you're the one we're most worried about. An alarm sounds. All: (!) Luke: Wh-what's that? Mieu: Run away! Fonons...fonons are attacking! Tear: ...Luke! Look! A scene then occurs with the Eldrant attempting to come down upon the Albiore and the Albiore evades it. Luke: We made it... Jade: I didn't expect them to come after us first... Eldrant was propelled into that dive by retrograde memory particle thrust. The Tartarus in the core must have been completely destroyed. Luke: The Tartarus is gone?! That means... Jade: There's nothing to neutralize the core's vibration. Of course, that's not a problem now. Guy: Yeah. Heh, I guess it's a good thing Lorelei was taken out of the core... Natalia: Yes...And as long as we don't revive the Planet Storm, the core should stay quiet. Tear: It's just like Asch said. Trying to ram us with Eldrant... That's how much of a threat the Key of Lorelei is to Van. Shots can be heard. Noelle: ...Ugh! Eldrant's fall didn't seem to affect the anti-aircraft system. Jade: ...No wait a minute. On Eldrant's port side--the flat part on the left. The anti-air cannons are dead! Noelle: Okay! I'll land there! The Albiore goes in. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Van, Worried?' [SK395] | | Natalia: I never imagined they would try to crash Eldrant itself into us! | Anise: And Noelle still managed to evade it...She's really amazing. | Guy: Van must be after the Jewel of Lorelei. | Luke: I won't let him have it. If he's going to these lengths to get | rid of it, it must really be our key to defeating him. | Tear: Van may be starting to worry... | Jade: There's no question that we will reach Van much sooner than he | can finish replicating the land. | Jade: Worried or not, he undoubtedly wanted to get us out of his way. | Luke: But we're safe. Master Van...I'm coming for you. To free | Lorelei from your control! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Asch's Battle' [SK393] | | Natalia: I wonder if Asch has already reached Eldrant. | Luke: Probably. | Natalia: Then where are the Dark Wings...? | Anise: Oh yeah...they're always with, aren't they? | Jade: I suspect that he's left them behind this time. | Jade: With Van here, Eldrant is a dangerous place. | Natalia: ...I see. Then Asch is here alone... | Luke: Let's catch up and join him. I'll drag him along if I have to. | Natalia: Yes...He is one of us, after all. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party then sees the Albiore III. Luke: Hey, that's Aston's Albiore! Guy: That's right, Asch was riding the Albiore III. Natalia: Asch...no, that's...! Noelle runs to Ginji. Noelle: Ginji?! You got through that anti-aircraft fire?! Ginji: It was dangerous, but I had to. I flew in from the interceptor system's blind spot and rammed it with the Albiore. That was the only way to stop the anti-air fire. Ginji falls onto Noelle. Jade: That's insane... Luke: Whoa, are you okay? Ginji: ...Yes, I'm fine. I just got knocked around a little when Eldrant fell. Noelle: I'll take care of him. You all go ahead. Jade: Luke. Let's go. Luke: ...Okay. Thanks, Noelle. All right, let's go! IF GINJI WASN’T SAVED BEFORE Luke: Hey, that’s Aston’s Albiore! Guy: That's right, Asch was riding the Albiore III. Natalia: Asch...no, that's...! Noelle runs to Aston Noelle: Grandpa Aston?! When did you get here?! Aston: Asch said he was going in. With Ginji gone, we’re the only ones who could make it through that anti-aircraft fire. While I was at it, I rammed the Albiore into one of the interceptors and took it out. Noelle: And that’s how you got here?! Honestly! You’re crazy! Aston falls onto Noelle Luke: Hey, are you okay? Aston: …Don’t worry about me. Go find Asch. He ran off by himself… I tell you, that kid is just like Iemon… Noelle: I’ll take care of him. You all go ahead. Jade: Luke. Let’s go. Luke: ...Okay. Thanks, Noelle. All right, let's go! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The God-Generals Await' [SK391] | | Tear: Legretta and Sync will probably be waiting for us on Eldrant. | Luke: Trying to take the Key of Lorelei from us... | Jade: It may actually be good that we're separated from Asch. The | enemy will have to split its forces as well. | Tear: I hope that doesn't prove to be too much for Asch... | Jade: Let's count on his strength. | Luke: He'll be fine. He won't let anyone get him before we meet. | Tear: ....Are you okay with fighting him? | Luke: What about you? You'll have to fight both Legretta and Master | Van. | Tear: ...I've already made my decision | Jade: They're quite strong. The more an enemy believes in his purpose, | the harder he is to get rid of. | Jade: Let's take it nice and easy. | Luke: That's just like you. But don't worry about me. We can't afford | to lose, either. | Tear: Right. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Ginji's Flying Skill' [SK397] | | Tear: Ginji's amazing. He managed to squeeze the craft in through all | that firepower. | Guy: He's crazy but he's good. I'm glad he's safe. | Anise: Yeah, I'd just cry if he died now after surviving that crash in | the Meggiora Highlands. | Tear: Yes...he seems to be very lucky indeed. | Guy: Luck, huh? In this day and age, it takes more than a bit of luck | to survive. Just look at us. | Anise: Yeah, really! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Don't Underestimate the Old Man' [SK398] | | (If Ginji wasn't saved) | Tear: Aston's amazing. He managed to squeeze the craft in through all | that firepower. | Guy: It looks like he's kept his skills up, despite his age. I'm glad | he's safe. | Anise: Yeah, I'd just cry if he died now after surviving the | Commandant's attack | Tear: Yes...he seems to be very lucky indeed. | Guy: Luck, huh? In this day and age, it takes more than a bit of luck | to survive. Just look at us. | Anise: Yeah, really! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party enters Eldrant and goes down a set of stairs to meet with a gunshot. Legretta: Hand over the Key of Lorelei. Luke: That's not going to happen. We've come here to set Lorelei free. Legretta: I won't allow anyone to get in the Commandant's way. Tear: Major... Do you think the planet's memory needs to be erased, too? Legretta: Of course. What good is free will if the future is decided by the planet's memory? I refuse to accept that my emotions are controlled by the planet's memory. The will of the people should be their own. Tear: Even if you have to destroy the original world to do it? Legretta: If the original world is completely under the control of the planet's memory, yes. Tear: Don't you have any attachment to the original world at all?! Is there not a single thing left in it you care about?! Legretta: Anyone would feel some lingering attachment. People always cling to something. But the Commandant lifted me out of loneliness and despair. If this is his wish, then so be it. Tear: Those are your true feelings? Then I've lost all respect for you. You talk about free will, and yet you don't have any of your own! You are not the knight of Lorelei I looked up to. Legretta: I never imagined I would be the one to kill you. It is truly unfortunate. Tear: ...Yes. It is. I thought at least you would understand. Legretta: Tear...and you, replica! The Jewel of Lorelei WILL be ours! Battle. Tear: Major! Where is your honor? Legretta: My will shall bring about the Commandant's reformation. And for that, I will eliminate you all! Guy: We won't be eliminated that easily! Jade: You will be the one who dies. Legretta: Of course, for your future and ours are different. We are different. Tear: My future and yours, Major, have now diverged! Luke: Our future is important to us too! So we will defeat you. Now! Legretta: No you won't! Die! Legretta is defeated. Legretta: ...Tear. You got one thing wrong. People don't just lay down their lives for nothing. At least... I didn't... I loved him and his ideals... I was willing to die for him. That is my will. That's...all... Legretta falls over and dies. Legretta: Van... Reform this...twisted world... Tear: Major... Luke: Tear... Are you okay? Tear: ...Yes. There's no time for grief now. Let's go. Luke: ...You never change. It's okay to cry, you know. Tear: I won't cry. Crying won't change anything. If I can't control my emotions-- Anise & Natalia: You're a poor soldier. Guy: Tear wouldn't be Tear if she didn't act tough. Jade: Tear needs to be the ideal soldier. Otherwise, in her mind, Legretta's death means nothing. It's one way of overcoming the loss. Luke: ...You all understand Tear a lot better than I do. Tear: ...That's not true. Luke: Huh? Tear: Never mind. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Tear and Legretta' [SK399] | | Luke: What kind of person was Legretta, anyway? | Anise: Hmmm...She was a mystery to the end. | Luke: Don't you know anything about her? | Anise: Only that she was an Oracle member before I joined. She never | talked much about herself. | Anise: Tear might know something about her. | Guy: Tear, huh...? She had to kill her respected instructor. She may | not show it, but I'm sure it hurt her. A lot | Luke: Yeah...But what can I say to her...? I was thinking that maybe | if I knew something about Legretta, I could go with that... | Anise: Don't think. Just go for it! | Guy: Yeah. Just say to her what you want to say instead of spending | time thinking about it. | Luke: ...Yeah, I guess. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `An Old Friend' [SK394] | | Guy: Vandesdelca...you idiot... | Tear: Guy...? | Guy: Huh? ...Sorry did you hear that? | Tear: I don't mind....What is it? | Guy: I've known Van since we were little. He always treated me like a | little brother. He was calm, cool, smart...and kind. | Tear: ...Yes. | Guy: To be honest, I don't want to fight him. You don't, either, do | you? | Tear: ...I... | Guy: ...He was always so serious. And that eventually led him down | this crazy path. So as his friend, I feel it's my duty to try | and stop him...to tell him to come back. | Tear: I...I want to talk to him, too. Convince him to stop all this. | If only he'd listen... But... | Guy: I know. I just can't help feeling that way. I know he won't | listen to us, but even so. | Tear: ...Thank you, Guy. Thank you for caring about my brother. | Guy: ...Not at all. I hate not being able to do anything. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Luke: Seeing it like this...it's huge. Anise: And tall, too... Jade: This is the city of Hod after all. But to think someone would replicate an entire city... Guy: Damn... Luke: Come on. We won't let them make any more replicas. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Consoling Tear' [SK400] | | Luke: Tear...aren't you pushing yourself? | Tear: No, I'm not. | Anise: Luke. Do you actually think there's anyone in the world who'd | say "yes, I'm pushing myself"? You're so dumb! | Natalia: Yes, there are many other things you could have done. Everyone | knows you have no skill with words, so perhaps put an arm on her | shoulder... | Guy: Or hold her, without saying a word. | Luke: I don't need YOU telling me that. | Tear: ...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make all of you worry.... | Jade: Not at all. We're enjoying it. | Luke: You're the only one enjoying anything! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Where Is Asch?!' [SK396] | | Natalia: We've yet to see Asch. Could he be that far ahead of us? | Jade: I doubt it. Judging from the state of the Albiore III, not much | time has passed since it crashed into Eldrant. | Luke: So if we hurry we can still catch up? | Jade: Either way, he'll be waiting for you. There's no need to rush. | Unless of course, he's killed by the enemies first... | Natalia: Why must you always say such horrible things? | Jade: Apologies, I was only considering the worst-case scenario +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The party arrives at a room. a hole opens up and Luke falls in. Luke: Ahh! Tear: Luke! Guy: Damn it! We could jump in and... Jade: No. Guy: Jade! Jade: If he drops out of the running here, he's nothing more than a burden. Natalia: But the others are after the Jewel of Lorelei that Luke has. Jade: Precisely. So the enemy must have a safe path leading to Luke's location. Let's go on ahead and look for it. Tear: Luke! Please be okay! The scene then fades to the room below. Asch is kicking at a door. Asch: Damn it! I don't have time for this! Am I already too late?! Luke falls into the room. Asch: You... Luke: Asch! What are you doing here?! Asch: Humph. I could ask you the same thing. House Fabre must have very stupid genes. Even my replica fell into the same trap...Disgusting. Luke: Don't say things like that! Asch: It's true! Luke: Isn't there any way out? Asch walks to the center and uses his hyperresonance. A door opens, the moment he stops, the door closes. Asch: One of us has to stay here. Luke walks up to Asch and offers him the Jewel. Asch: ...What are you doing? Luke: If only one of us can get out, you should be the one to go. Use the Key to free Lorelei... Asch: Stop it! Just stop! Are you trying to insult me?! Luke: No. I'm a replica. My hyperresonance isn't as powerful. If our skill with the sword is equal, then the one who is better in another area should go. Asch: ...Now that you're not just putting yourself down, you're even more irritating! Luke: Asch... Asch: Better in another area? You don't know anything. How can you possibly say that? You couldn't possibly know which of us is better! Luke: Either way, I'm... Asch: Shut up! Asch draws his sword and points it at Luke. Luke: Asch! What are you... Asch: Only one of us can leave this room. The stronger one will destroy Van! This isn't about hyperresonance or who is or isn't a replica... As two of Van's pupils, we're going to find out who's stronger...who the real "Luke" is. This is a fight to settle who we are. Luke: We're both real. You and I are two different people! Asch: Shut up! This isn't about logic! You can't possibly understand how I feel! You stole my past and my future! Now is all the time I have! Luke: ...Now is all I have, too. I don't even have a past to lose. But I've still decided that I'm me. It doesn't matter what you think. Here I am. If that's the source of the strength you're talking about, then I won't lose. Asch: Well said. I will make those words your last, replica! Battle. Asch: Damn it... The original lost to the replica... Asch throws the Sword of Lorelei down towards Luke. Asch: Take it. Luke picks it up. Luke: Asch...I... Doors open a bunch of soldiers come in. Soldier: Stop! Hand over the Key of Lorelei! Asch opens the other door. Asch: I'll hold them off! Go! Luke: I'll fight with you! Asch: Don't be stupid! Are these guys important right now?! Of course not! Luke: But if I take the Key, you won't have a weapon... Asch: I'll just take one from an enemy! Hurry! Luke: ...Promise me you'll survive! If you don't, Natalia and I will... never stop grieving! Asch: Shut up! Fine, I promise! Now go! Asch closes the door. Asch: Humph... No time left... I'm going to disappear soon... The soldiers come at Asch. Soldier: Out of the way! Asch: No. Your fight is with me, Asch--no, Luke fon Fabre! Asch: Prepare to die. Obtained Incomplete Key of Lorelei. Luke comes running out and sees the party. Luke: Hey! Tear: You're okay! Luke: Yeah... Asch helped me. Natalia: Asch?! What's he doing now? Luke: Holding off the enemy. Jade: Then we should keep going so his efforts won't go to waste. Natalia: We're not going to save him?! Jade: Asch hates Luke, but he let him go ahead. He must have his reasons. Natalia: You're right... But... I have a bad feeling about it. Luke: Natalia... Natalia: I'm sure it's just my imagination. I'm sorry. Let's go. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Settling with Asch' [SK401] | | Guy: So, you beat Asch, huh? | Luke: Yeah... | Natalia: And that is why he told you to go ahead? | Luke: ...I'm still worried about him. There were a lot of soldiers. I | hope he doesn't do anything stupid... | Jade: I told you. The reason Asch let you go on, however unwillingly, | is because he entrusted everything to you. You must face what | lies ahead | Luke: ...Yeah I know want to lose whatever fragment of respect he | still has for me. | Guy: Natalia? Are you okay? | Natalia: Yes...I'm fine I was just thinking about Asch. He'll be all | right...He has to be.... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Anise: Whoa! Tear: The land is...being born. Jade: It seems the replication is still in progress. Guy: Hod... It's just like when I saw Mary's replica. I know it's a replica, but the feelings just come rushing out. Natalia: That's a natural human emotion. Luke: Guy, are you okay? Guy: ...Yeah, I'm fine. I know my homeland lives on only in my memories now. The party approaches some ruins. Guy: This is... Luke: What is it Guy? Guy: This is my... Guy runs over to a ruined room and looks around. Some broken drawers and a wooden box on top of a fireplace looks familiar. Guy: It really is... It's the remains of my manor. Anise: Whaat?! Really? Tear: This is a replica of Hod. I suppose it shouldn't be surprising... Guy: ...So this really is Hod. Luke: Would you rather not fight Master Van? Guy: It's not that. I never thought I'd be able to come back. It's a strange feeling. Tear: Yes. This is the first time I've ever been to my homeland. Natalia: I can't bring myself to hate fomicry. I think it could actually do some wonderful things. Jade: That applies to everything. Any tool can be used for wonderful or foolish things. Luke: Even the Score. Anise: Luke...Yeah, I think so, too. I think maybe Yulia didn't mean for the world to follow the Score exactly. Guy: But Yulia hid the Seventh Fonstone which has the Score of destruction written on it. Tear: People can't stay calm when faced with a Score foretelling their death. Luke: Yulia wanted us to overturn the Score...? Tear: ...That's it. The Seventh fonic hymn... Luke: What? Tear: ...I just remembered the first time I ever learned fonic hymns from Van. He said, "Yulia wished for people to overturn the Score. Yulia loved the world. The fonic hymns are the pact that Yulia offered to Lorelei out of that love..." Luke: Van was trying to fulfill Yulia's will by rebuilding the world... Tear: But Lorelei doesn't approve of Van's intent. That's why it's remained dormant within him. Jade: I see...If the fonic hymns are the symbol of the trust between Lorelei and Yulia, then the melody of the fonic hymns may awaken Lorelei. Guy: Van was controlling Lorelei by force. But if Lorelei were to awaken, even Van would need to concentrate on Lorelei to prevent neural contamination. Natalia: Leaving him vulnerable...He might also lose the ability to use Lorelei's power. Mieu: Tear, you have to sing! Anise: Yeah, Tear. If the fonic hymns awaken Lorelei, we can use the Key to free it. Tear: But, I wonder if I can...I just now remembered the seventh one. I'm not sure if I have the melody, feeling, and lyrics correct.... Luke: You've remembered all the other ones correctly so far. Don't worry. I know you can sing it. Tear: ...And it's not like we have time to stop and worry about it. I'll give it a try. Tear receives Fonic Hymn Master title. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Last Fonic Hymn' [SK402] | | Luke: I'm glad you remembered the Seventh Fonic Hymn. | Tear: Yes...I can't believe I forgot it. | Tear: Van always sang it to me as a lullaby... | Guy: Now you'll be able to sing the Grand Fonic Hymn as well. | Natalia: Together with the Key of Lorelei, we can awaken Lorelei. | Tear: I will awaken Lorellei with the Grand Fonic Hymn | Luke: And I will draw Lorelei from Master Van with the sword. | Anise: Right. Then maybe we can fight evenly with him. | Jade: Even so, we have to be careful. He is Van, after all. | Luke: Yeah, I know. I know Master Van's strength better than anyone. | Tear: Luke...Let's free Lorelei.... Together. | Luke: Yeah. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ When approaching a set of stairs, Asch communicates with Luke. Asch: ....Heh, I didn't expect it to come to this. Asch: You're the last! You see a tired Asch standing in a room of fallen Oracle soldiers. Asch: Can you hear me, replica...? An Oracle soldier stands and runs towards Asch's back. Soldier: Die! Asch: Aagh! Two more soldiers run towards him and stab him. Soldier: Haaa...Aagh. Asch struggles to pull one sword out of him. Asch: It looks like I had a little trouble...the rest is up to you. Asch slumps down near a column. He appears to die. Something glowing comes out of him and goes back to the party. Luke looks back and closes his eyes. He sees Asch one last time before the screen fades black. Luke glows for a moment. Luke: Asch is... Asch is dead...?! Natalia: No! Luke: ... A weird glyph appears on the ground under the party. Jade: Look out! It's a trap! Luke: Natalia! We have to run! Natalia: I...I... Luke: Natalia! Jade: Grrr...we won't make it! Guy: Damn it! Not like this....! Luke: (Asch! Help me!) All of a sudden, a glowing column of light appears and the glyph disappears. Luke was glowing for a moment. Luke: ...Wh-what happened? Jade: Hyperresonance...no...second-order hyperresonance? Impossible! Tear: What was that power? Luke: I-I don't know...But the moment I thought about Asch, something in me just.... It was like when I destroyed Akzeriuth... But I think I can actually control it... Sync: A second-order hyperresonance...You've got to be joking. The party looks up to see Sync standing at the top of the stairs. Anise: Sync! Sync: Even with Yulia's divine protection, power like that could harm Van. Sync: You have two choices. Hand over the Key and join Van, or die. Luke: ...I choose neither! Luke: I'm freeing Lorelei. And to do that, I will defeat Master Van...and you. Anise: Sync, you're a replica, just like Ion! Why are you helping a project like this? Sync: I'm not like him. You know that. Ion...the seventh Ion was a naive child. He believed the Score was merely one possible choice for the future. But in the end, he couldn't oppose the Score. Fon Master Ion will die. That was the planet's memory. Your Ion died like a dog. Anise: Take that back. Now! Sync: No. It's the truth. But Van's plan will destroy Lorelei itself, and with it the Seventh Fonon. The Score will truly vanish. Guy: Do you really hate the Score that much? Sync: I was born because the Score dictated that Fon Master Ion would die. You already know that I was thrown away once. Luke: That's why you hate the Score? Because you were thrown away? Sync: Because I was born! I'm not even a substitute like you. I was born a piece of meat. If the Score hadn't existed, I wouldn't have been stuck with this pathetic life! Anise: ...Are you saying you've gained nothing since you were born? Sync: Not a thing. I'm empty. But it doesn't matter. I didn't care who it was, as long as they would erase the Score--the Seventh Fonon! The party runs up to Sync. He jumps back. Sync: I may be inferior, but my power of the Seventh Fonon is that of the Fon Master. Sync puts his hands together. The ground starts to shake. Sync: You would know if I unleashed my full power! Let's test it. You, or the empty me. Let's see which side this world wants to survive! Battle. Sync: So, how is it fighting someone who looks just like Ion? Luke: You might look the same, but you are not Ion! Tear: You didn't want to be the Fon Master's replacement, did you? Sync: Heh heh, are you trying to tell me I am who I am? I am nothing! My existence means nothing! Guy: For someone who thinks they are nothing you sure like to fight for your life. Jade: You should be a bit more honest with yourself before you die. Sync: I stand resolved! I am tired of this world! Everyone can just die along with it! Sync is defeated. Sync: ...Van...Destroy...Lorelei... Sync fades away. Luke: They're all laying down their lives for Master Van's vision... Tear: ...Don't let them get to you. We're doing the same for ours. Right? Luke: Yeah.... Asch, too... Natalia: Asch really is dead, isn't he...? Luke: Natalia...I'm sorry. If I'd stayed with him... Natalia: ... Jade walks up to Natalia and slaps her in the face. Natalia: Ow! What was that for?! Jade: Your actions have been a nuisance to us all...and to Asch. Natalia: ...To Asch? Jade: Asch fought so Luke could kill Van, even if that wasn't his original intention. What you did interfered with that. Natalia: ...I'm sorry. Jade: You're free to care about Asch. But you must not forget what you came to do. Natalia: ...Yes. You're right. I'm truly sorry. I'm not the only one who's suffering. Anise and Guy both lost people dear to them. And Tear must... Jade: Exactly. Guy scratches the back of his head and turns towards Jade. Guy: Jade you called that a second-order hyperresonance, right? Jade: Yes, but the theory behind second-order hyperresonance hasn't yet been established. It's said that when two hyperresonances interact, they neutralize the effects of all fonons. Luke: ...I don't know what this power is. But if it is second-order hyperresonance, then it was Asch who gave it to me. Right? He and I are the only ones who can cause a hyperresonance. Natalia: Yes. Asch is inside you. Asch accepted you and gave you his power. Luke: ...Yeah. I've got to put up a fight worthy of him. Guys, lend me your strength. The Incomplete Key of Lorelei and the Jewel of Lorelei merge and create the Key of Lorelei. Luke receives the title Swordsman of Lorelei. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Sync, You Idiot...' [SK404] | | Anise: ...... | Tear: Anise... | Anise: Tear? Wh-what? You don't have to look so worried. I'm doing | fine...just fine.... | Tear: Anise...it's okay | Anise: Sync...you idiot... Looking just like Ion...sounding just like | him...but so mean and twisted... | Tear: ... | Anise: I hate you! I didn't want to see Ion die anymore! You went on | about being so lonely and empty...and then you went and died...! | Tear: It's okay Anise... you can cry. | Anise: ...Sync, you idiot! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Asch's Death' [SK403] | | Luke: Asch...How could you die like that...? | Luke: I just...never thought that you would die... | Natalia: Asch...I wish I could have seen you one more time... | Guy: Yeah...the rest of us never did see him on Eldrant. | Jade: Luke, I know this is a painful question but...How did Asch die? | Luke: ...Surrounded by Oracle soldiers, with swords thrust through his | body... | Natalia: ...Asch! | Jade: Did you feel anything enter you after that? | Luke: Now that you mention it...there was a feeling like something | warm falling into me.... | Jade: ...Did you feel anything leave you? | Luke: Huh? Well, when Asch died I felt a little weak, but other than | that.... | Jade: I see... | Guy: What was that about Jade? | Jade: ...Nothing...Nothing at all. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `The Final Battle Looms' [SK405] | | Mieu: I'm scared...My tail's shaking... | Guy: So we're almost to the end... | Jade: I'm sure you're all aware of this, but our goal is not to battle | Van, but to free Lorelei from within Van and shut down the | fomicry devices on Eldrant. | Luke: Yeah. That's why we have the Key of Lorelei and Tear's fonic | hymns. | Jade: It will be a fierce battle, so prepare yourselves. Tear if you | have a chance, sing the Grand Fonic Hymn. | Jade: That should nullify some of Van's power. | Tear: I'll try. | Anise: And the rest of us just gang up on him, right? | Jade: No we need an escape route...so two of us will stay out of the | battle. | Natalia: But we must fight him at all our strength! | Jade: Remember, our goal is not defeating Van. | Jade: In the worst case we need to be able to at least destroy the | fomicry facilities on Eldrant. | Luke: Yeah...let's follow Jade's plan. Four of us will free Lorelei, | and the others secure our escape route. | Mieu: I'll help too! | Guy: Right. | Tear: I'm ready. | Anise: Me too. | Natalia: I'll do my best. | Luke: Let's go everyone! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Yulia's Thoughts and Feelings' [SK408] | | Guy: I wonder what Yulia thinks of this situation... | Tear: She's probably grieving ...or rather, I hope she is | Anise: I sure don't want to imagine Yulia taking Van's side. | Luke: Don't worry, Lorelei isn't cooperating with Master Van and Yulia | made a pact with Lorelei. | Luke: I'm sure she wouldn't do anything to upset Lorelei. | Guy: Yeah, Yulia, please lend us strength... | Mieu: Please.... +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A bit further in, the party reaches an area where Van awaits. Mieu: ...I feel a really really scary power ahead. Luke: Yeah. Even I can feel it. Master Van is here. Once we go past this point, we probably can't come back. Jade: There's no need to come back. We're going to defeat Van and put an end to everything. Luke: You make it sound so simple... Jade: It is. They believe that the planet's memory sets the future in stone so they seek to erase it. We believe that the planet's memory is but one of infinite choices. That the future can be changed. I'm not particularly fond of this word, but...Our faith is simply different. We've reach a point where the matter cannot be resolved with words. Tear: Yes. Van has Lorelei inside himself. If Lorelei perishes, the world will attempt to recover Seventh Fonons, destroying their balance. Luke, we've come here to stop that. It's not like the last time. We understand what Van is trying to do and we cannot accept it. Anise: Yeah! It's irresponsible to just erase everything and start all over again. If we were going to follow the Score and die, it would be people's responsibility to accept that. But we realized along the way that we could work together to avoid that. So we're going to live our lives. We're going to walk our own path. We're going to shove the Commandant's ideas up his ass! Heh, heh... Natalia: Luke, I kept thinking about you and Asch. I wished that Asch would come back to Kimlasca and support Father, together with you. But I was wrong. You and Asch each had your own path. I'd been trying to tie both of you down with a promise that was no longer valid. Asch is inside you now. In the past, I might have mixed you and Asch together in my mind. But you're you. So please live the way you want to live. I'll do everything in my power to support you so you can do that. As your childhood friend. Guy: You've barely begun to be you, and you bear the weight of countless lives. You have to live enough to make up for the lives you've consumed. Luke: ...Yeah. Just seven years and I'm covered in blood. Guy: What I'm saying is cruel. Live, and live, and keep living the whole time carrying the weight of that malice, hatred, grief and anger. But I won't let you carry it alone. I'm the same as you. Even if the whole world rejected you, I'd still be here, by your side. I'm not like the Six God-Generals. I'm going to help you by staying alive. Tear: Like, let's go. So we can rewrite Van's future with our own. Luke: Yeah! +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ | Skit `Van Won't Hold Back' [SK406] | | Luke: Master Van isn't going to fool around with us, is he? | Tear: No. I doubt he went easy on us, but it's likely he | underestimated our abilities. | Guy: But he's lost to us once. He won't do that again... He'll use | all of his strength from the start. | Anise: Well, we are stronger now! We can't lose! | Natalia: Yes. We carry the hopes of thousands...of millions of people. We | will defeat Van. | Jade: Now, now, let's not get overly excited. Let's proceed | calmly--but seriously. | Luke: Yeah. I know. Now's the time we have to stay cool, right? | Jade: Yes, exactly. | Tear: Let's brace ourselves for the upcoming battle. +~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Party runs up the stairs. Van is kneeling with a sword in the ground. Van: I'm impressed. I expected Asch. Luke draws his sword. Luke: ...Asch is here, too. He's inside me, lending me his strength. Van walks towards Luke. Van: Second-order hyperresonance...You've surpassed your original. You are now a true human being. You've stepped across a sea of corpses and made it here. Now, join me, Luke. We will destroy the planet's memory and overturn the Score of Final Judgment. Luke: No. Van: Well, well. Why not? Luke: I finally understand what it is I wanted. I wanted you to acknowledge me. To accept me as a human being, not a replica. Van: Yes. And you have become a human being. Luke: ...But that's not enough. You said to me, "Can you not live unless you were born for some purpose?" I'm not living for anyone else. There's no special meaning in living. When I sensed my own death, I wanted to live. I know now. That's all I needed. So...I don't need you anymore. It doesn't matter if you accept me or not. Here I am. Alive! Van: ...Heh, heh heh. You've acquired some impudent wisdom. Tear: Van! People can change. Just as Luke has. Reconsider, one more time. The planet's memory may exist, just as you say. But is it really absolute? Luke isn't here because it's written. He's here because he chooses to be. The planet's memory is one possible choice for a future, but only people make that choice. Van: That isn't absolute, either. You might not be choosing, but rather being made to choose. Guy: If so, maybe you're being made to choose to destroy the planet's memory. If you say you've decided to erase the planet's memory of your own will, then that itself is proof that the planet's memory isn't absolute. Van: That's an empty argument. Yulia's Score represents the planet's memory I speak of. The destruction of mankind is written in it. The destruction of the planet's memory is not. Natalia: So you will carry out that destruction with the originals, then create a replica world. That's no different than those who let Hod be destroyed. That's why Asch rejected you. Didn't you resent the destruction of Hod and despite those who caused it? Van: I did. But I must do whatever it takes to destroy the absolute path of the planet's memory. Jade: It's strange to hear that from such a wise man. People and planets all eventually die. Regardless of whether the planet has a memory or not, that alone is guaranteed. Even if the absolute path you speak of exists, people have the right to choose their own path to destruction. Van: Fitting words for a Necromancer. Everything dies. It's merely a matter of time. But the planet's memory calls for it too soon. I cannot accept perishing early the way you can. Anise: But you're trying to destroy the originals even earlier than the planet's memory. You hate the Score so much, you're shackled to it more than anyone else. Van: Heh...perhaps so. I--no, all of us--are bound to the future we call the Score. Luke: We believe we can choose our future. Van: I know the future is predetermined. As I thought...It would seem we cannot see eye to eye. Draw your weapons. I'll take you all on at once. Luke: Van...prepare! Battle. After a time, Van staggers. Tear sings her Fonic hymns. Van: ...The fonic hymns. Their melody will indeed awaken Lorelei. But you don't know the true wish contained in those hymns. They won't work on me. Tear: No, brother...I do know. I can feel the thoughts and emotions Yulia placed in these hymns. Van: ...If that's true, Mystearica, then sing. Now, for me! The battle restarts. The battle ends. Tear sings again. Luke lunges at Van with the sword. Luke: Die Van: Too slow! Luke: Aagh! Van: Have you forgotten? I'm the one who taught you the sword. Luke: Release Lorelei! Van glows. Luke runs towards him, and they clash swords. Van: ...You've grown strong. Luke: Van... Van: To think you could push me this far... It seems I have no choice but to unleash this terrible power within me. The battle starts anew. There's a huge glow that everyone is trying to fend off. Guy: This force..! So this is...the power of Lorelei. Jade: So, he's finally used it. ...But I will be victorious. Van: You have strong allies, Luke. Luke: They've supported me through everything. For their sake, I can't lose. No. For my own existence, I will not lose. Tear: When you use Lorelei's power, your control over Lorelei weakens. Luke recognized that and forced you to use it. The same Luke you refused to acknowledge for so long. Luke will not... No... WE will not lose! Van: ...I commend you on making me use this power. I would expect no less from my student. But that, too, ends now. Goodbye, Luuuuuke! The battle pauses. Luke: Damn it...what is this power?! Jade: Lorelei is going out of control within Van. It's drawing in our fonons! ...At this rate, our life itself will be drained! Luke: No! Tear: Luke! The second-order hyperresonance! It can neutralize any fonon! Luke: ...I'm going to free Lorelei! Tear, help me! Tear: ...Right. Tear sings the Grand Fonic Hymn. The field turns blue and the battle starts again. Luke uses Radiant Howl and the battle ends. Van is floating among a whiteness. Tear is behind him with her back to him. Van: The seventh melody...you've learned it...Tear.... Tear: I remembered...you sang it to me when I cried. You knew what the fonic hymn meant. You were telling me everything... right from the start. Tear: Thank you...Van... Van: Farewell...Mystearica... The scene fades to Van on the ground on his hands and knees. Luke: ...Master Van!! Van: Stop!! After all that's happened, you still call me master... You fool. Forgive me...my brethren. Van glows and fades away. Luke: Master Van...Thank you! Tear: (Goodbye...my beloved brother) The ground shakes. Luke: All right. Everybody hurry up and escape. I'll stay here and free Lorelei. Tear: Luke! Luke: It's my promise to Lorelei. This is what I need to do. Jade walks over and offers his had to Luke, who tries to shake it with the wrong hand at first. Luke: Jade...? Jade: Luke. How you've changed. Luke: I was really bad, wasn't I? Jade: But no matter how much you change or regret your actions, not all of what you've done will be forgiven. That's why you must come back alive... or rather, I hope you do. Luke: Jade... Shut up. Jade: Sorry. Jade walks off. Guy runs up to Luke and hits him a bit. Guy: I'll be waiting. It's lonely being a servant without a master. Luke: Hey, you're not my servant anymore. Guy: So I'm not a servant in the manor, I'd still serve as your friend. Luke: You're being stupid. Guy: So hurry back home. I'll never forgive you if you just disappear. Luke: You knew, huh? Guy: When you come home I'm gonna teach you not to hide things from your friends. Guy walks off. Anise comes over to Luke and bumps into him. Luke: Anise?! Anise: I knew, too. I wasn't as sure as Guy, but... Luke: What are you talking about? Anise: Hee hee. (heart) You're an easy read. But... I have to have you come back alive. Luke: You're not expecting me to... We're not... Anise: No, no (heart) I'm going to reform the order for Ion. But in order to do that, I need a patron. So...come home. Anise leaves. Luke: Whatever. Natalia comes up to Luke. Natalia: Luke...live...please. I don't want to lose any more people dear to me. Luke: Natalia... Natalia: Not to protect Kimlasca. To live your life, understand? Luke: I wanted to live. Natalia: You will. You can not disappear. You can not. Luke: Thanks. Natalia walks off. Mieu bounces up to Luke. Mieu: Master... Luke: Your job's done now. Go home, and be proud of what you did. Mieu: I'll be waiting for your return, Master. Luke: Thanks. Tear can be seen running up to Luke. It sounds like she's sobbing. Tear: Come home! Luke: Tear... Tear: You have to come home. You have to! I'll be waiting... always. Luke: I will. I promise. I'll come home. Tear walks away from him. Tear: Luke...I love you. The scene shifts to Tear backing away towards the party. They look back at look as they depart. They all look depressed. Anise is crying. They all turn around and walk off, except Tear. Luke thrusts the Key into the ground. A glyph and column of light appears. Guy: Tear! Tear turns around and follows the party. Luke is surrounded by a blue light and glows. Asch's body appears and falls into his arms. Then, Lorelei appears. Lorelei: So the world did not vanish. To think, the future I saw would be rewritten. You have done admirably. Lorelei vanishes to the sky after circling Luke. The party sees Lorelei depart, then it switches back to Luke, who closes his eyes and leans his head back a bit. Asch's hand can be seen moving slightly. The scene then fades out and the credits roll. The scene switches to a lovely field filled with selenia flowers. Tear is singing the Grand Fonic Hymn while sitting on a rock. Everyone (except Mieu) is also there. Natalia: You didn't come. I believe your presence was requested at Luke's coming of age ceremony at the Duke's manor. Tear: I'm not interested in some ceremony in front of Luke's grave. Anise: That's why... the both of you came here, isn't it? Guy: He said he'd be back, so let the others sit around and tell stories at his grave. But I won't be joining them. Jade: We should be heading back soon. The valley is dangerous at night. Tear looks back. Someone is walking towards them. Tear: Why are...you here? ???: This place has a nice view of Hod...also, I promised someone... Tear cries. Everyone approaches the man, except Jade (who smiles for a moment.) As the man's cape blows in the wind, you can see a sword strapped to his back in the same manner that Luke carries one. ___________ __________________________________________________________________/ {Sec:THX} \ >>> Thanks \ ŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻŻ NBGI and `Team Symphonia' for making a truly wonderful game, and Namco US for localizing it. Ladynadiad Most speech. Apparently, "it was relaxing". Cjbookworm Hair Cutting scene with costume difference LunarDemise Daath. Angel of Darkness Keterburg, Akzeriuth. AikokuHime Yulia City post-St. Binah fall. Mizu236 Port Sheridan and Sync battle. Isenet Chesedonia, Deo Pass, Belkend. Blue Lightning Deo Pass. Cyllya Scene videos and the original idea for this. Kestal Skit FAQ (www.gamefaqs.com).