Love isn't always peaceful. Sometimes, love requires us to fight. But
weapons aren't the only answer. With faith and resolve, even the most
intense wars in the world can be overcome with love. Children, take
this message to heart, and forge a peaceful future for all...
___ __ __ __ ______ ________
\ \ /\ / / | | | | |___ \ / | GAME SCRIPT
\ \\ \/ / | | | | __ | | / /| | by: Shotgunnova
\ \\ / | | | |__ | |/ / / / |____|
\/ \/ |__| |_____| |_____/ / /_________
___ _____ ________ __ \_____________|
/ \ \ |__ \ | ____ \ / / ____
/ / \ \ __| | | | _ | | \ \ | |
/ /___\ \ \__ \ | | | || | _\_ \ | |
/_________\ |__| |_| |_||_| /____/ |____|
[TABLE OF CONTENTS]
____________________________
01. Ciel Shelter | |
02. Sunlit Path | Notation Legend: |
03. Ravaged Forest | ---------------- |
04. Sunlit Path II | |
05. Ciel Shelter II | (X) X-button |
06. Forsaken Road | (O) O-button |
07. Port Rosalia | ([]) Square button |
08. Culane Temple | (/\) Triangle button |
09. Celesti Ruins | <o> Phys. Atk. Symbol |
10. Great Stairway | {o} Magc. Atk. Symbol |
11. White Orphanage | <v> Magc. Def. Symbol |
12. Aerial Fortress Eulalia | |
13. Wunderweltraum \__________________________/
14. Sea of Trees
15. Guara Bobelo
16. Calucion Pass
17. Platapana Passage
18. Neve d'Argento
19. Cerulean Tunnel
20. Autumn River
21. Mim'krilu Skyway
22. Desolate Railway
23. Buckeye Station
24. Etemenanki
25. Buckeye Station II and the Silver Star Express
26. Forgotten City
27. Buckeye Station III
28. Abandoned Village
29. Garra de Leon
30. Dragon Fossil Mine
31. Frontier Town Halim
32. Valley of Oblivion
33. Frontier Town Halim II
34. Blue Amity Beach
35. Port Rosalia II
36. Fallen Bridge XdXS
37. Dievas Airport
38. Illsveil Prison
39. Frontier Town Halim III
40. NPC List
41. Amengard Script
42. Travel Guide Scripts
43. NPC Dialogue Scripts
44. Contributions & Thanks
45. Help Shotty!
46. Updates
47. Legal Junk
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 01. Ciel Shelter |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[On the new game, after a mini-cutscene with some well-wishing
dialogue (see: top of document), a boy will be lounging around in
a tree on the outskirts of town.]
Boy: I think the coast is clear now. Can't believe we're sparring
this early in the morning. All it does is make you hungry...
Even if I cut class, I don't think my stomach will cut me a
break. Oh well...maybe I'll sneak back home and see if Mom'll
fix me a snack.
[The boy (Jude, is his name) will jump down and head into town
for some munchies. When he gets to the edge of the screen he's
in, a tutorial will pop up.]
Tutorial: *Markers indicating the connections between areas are
called Route Trackers. Blue markers indicate routes yet
to be explored. Yellow markers indicate routes already
taken. Red markers indicate routes most recently used.
Press the [SELECT] button to toggle Route Trackers on
or off.
[In the town square, Jude can find a save point.]
Tutorial: *Press the (X) button while at a Break Point to completely
restore your characters' MP. You can also save your progress
onto a Memory Card (PS2).
[Jude goes into his house.]
Jude: "What's for lunch, Mom? I'm hungry..."
Ethelda: "... Hmm, now why would you be hungry? After all, it's not
like you've done anything today to build up an appetite...
right?"
Jude: "...Uh-oh...Does she know?"
Ethelda: "Instructor Henri came by earlier. He asked if you weren't
feeling well."
Jude: "Oh, great...Henri knows, too. Now I'll get double the
punishment."
Ethelda: "It's not too late, so you should go and see Henri. Just
think, if you work twice as hard at your lessons, lunch will
taste twice as good."
Jude: "... I...uh, I'll do my lessons later!"
[Jude bolts before his mom can protest.]
Ethelda: "Now when exactly is 'later?!' If you keep putting everything
off, you'll never grow up to be a mature adult!" (I think in
raising him by myself, I've spoiled him. ... At times like
this, I wish he were here...)
[Outside, Jude hangs around his doorstep.]
Jude: "I was hoping she'd heat up some leftover stew or something,
but I never expected her to know about me skipping class... Now
what? Didn't Henri say something about how you should "act on
your feelings" when thinking alone doesn't help? I guess I'll
just go and see if I can pick some berries in the forest. It's
not like I have a lot of other options at this point..."
[Jude scrams before anyone can remind him to do his lessons, and
he goes in search of some grub in the forest nearby.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 02. Sunlit Path |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[A tutorial comes up when Jude encounters some raised earth.]
Tutorial: *Pressing the (/\) button causes Jude to jump. If you
press the (/\) button again during a jump, it will turn
into a double-jump.
[A cutscene plays a ways ahead, where Jude sees a massive hole
suddenly break into the sky. Planes fly in through the gap and
fly off.]
Jude: "What the...? The sky...did it just shatter?! Something's
headed toward the forest... I'd better go check it out."
[A cutscene soon starts up ahead. The airplanes that had flown
in housed soldiers, who have already set up a temporary tent
base around a large airship. Out of the cargo bay, two soldiers
walk out in conversation.]
Thin Man: "An assault within the shelter? Isn't this pushing the
limits of our authority?"
Fat Man: "This entire mission's under my jurisdiction."
Thin Man: "Even so, shouldn't we report in? And perhaps wait for
Brionac's arrival so we can work in conjunction? But
that'd be your call, sir."
Fat Man: "What, are you kidding? And let them take all the
credit? Not likely."
Thin Man: "That's not what I'm saying. It's just, they're
well--"
Fat Man: "It's just that they're what? Oh yeah, that's right,
they're the 'special elites'. And how'd they get that
way? They proved themselves on the battlefield, that's
how they did it. I tell ya, we've got to take advantage
of every opportunity!"
Thin Man: "..."
Fat Man: "And just how many more opportunities do 'ya think we'll
really get after this?" I'll tell you how many--NONE! And
that's why wew've gotta make the most of every
opportunity, no matter how small! Ya want better rations
and booze?! If you wanna improve your lot in this world,
you best do things my way, Archibald!"
[A teen in a white jacket runs over, interrupting the conversation.]
Teen: "Hey, nobody said anything about any rough stuff when I
signed on. And I only agreed to all this because they
promised me the girl wouldn't be hurt. I'm responsible for
her...and my whole reputation as a Drifter will be stake!"
[Tony turns around and gives the teen "the look."]
Teen: "Ah, I mean, um...I'm not trying to tell you how to do your
job or anything. It's just, well...there's been so many
unexpected changes and developments, you know? I was hoping
maybe for a bonus to help compensate...?"
[The fat man punches the teen out of the way. As he tumbles off to
the side, the teen in white spies Jude from afar.]
Teen: "Huh? What's a kid doing here? Geez...He sure caught me at
an embarrassing...moment..."
[The cutscene ends.]
Jude: "I wonder if that guy's okay? ... I'll let things settle down
a bit before checking it out..."
[Later on, at dusk, Jude spies some of the soldiers standing 'neath
the berry tree he had planned to reap for lunch.]
Jude: "There's one, no two soldiers standing beneath the berry
tree... Hmm... First, those things came out of the sky... Then
a bunch of adults in uniform appeared... And then, for some
reason, that guy got hit. Hmm... What the heck is going on
around here?"
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 03. Ravaged Forest |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[Jude runs a bit closer, but the soldiers don't sound an alarm at
all. They keep conversing.]
Jude: "Hmm, even this close up, they still don't see me, huh...
If I hide behind things and stay out of their sight, I might
be able to go further in!"
[Jude sneaks through the camp in the next screen and hightails it
aboard the cruiser at the back. He sees a soldier patrolling in
there, too.]
Jude: (Man, they're in here, too?! I've got to find somewhere to
hide! If I enter his line of sight, he'll spot me. I need to
make it through here somehow without getting caught...)
[Jude enters the next room after awhile. He stops as he enters.]
Jude: "Hmm...? What is that...? I think I hear something... ...Is
that...singing?"
[Jude goes up to a cell window and spies a girl in a blue dress
sitting on her bunk, singing a tune. She spies Jude's unfamiliar
face halfway through.]
Girl: "Is...someone there?"
Jude: "Uh...sorry. It's just...I've never seen a real girl before.
I've only heard about them. I didn't mean to interrupt your
song. Hi, I'm jude. You...so you don't live here do you?"
Girl: "No...those men in unfirom captured me and locked me in here."
Jude: "That's what I thought. Don't worry, I'll find a way to get
you out, I promise."
[Jude runs down the nearby stairs. The girl wonders about the
boy helping her break out.]
????: "Jude..."
[Meanwhile, Jude is rummaging through a room below.]
Jude: "If I'm gonna rescue that girl, I'll need a key for the door
and a weapon to protect us. I wonder if I can find that kind
of stuff in here. I sure hope I can before anybody comes..."
[Jude opens a chest containing a sword.]
Jude: "Does this sword belong to one of those soldiers? If push
comes to shove, I'll use it to defend myself. ... If I'd
have known THIS was going to happen, I would've taken my
sword training more seriously..."
[Jude opens another chest containing a Key Ring, and runs out,
but finds his ascension blocked by some soldiers lounging around
on the stair. They don't see the stowaway.]
Jude: (...?!)
Soldier: "The impact from breaking through the barrier damaged parts
of the craft, including the door. Get everything fixed
before it's time for us to take off. Otherwise, it may cause
an accident."
[The soldier heads upstairs and leaves the guards on the stair. Jude
can't go up that way, so he heads to the back of the room, prying
open the damaged door with his sword. Outside, he finds the soldiers
have widened their area of encampment.]
Jude: "Giant machines that fly through the sky... And a bunch of
adults with weapons... Was that guy who got hit earlier, one
of them too? ... Hmm, somehow, I don't think so...but I guess
there's only one way to find out..."
Tutorial: *Pressing the ([]) button causes Jude to crouch down. If
you press a directional button while crouching, Jude will
slide in that direction.
[Jude uses his sliding skills to slip under the adults' radar,
entering a ship opposite the last. He opens a locked door with his
ring o' keys and finds the man who got socked by the fat soldier
in a cell not unlike the girl's.]
????: "Hey, you're that kid!"
Jude: "I have to ask, just to be sure... You're not a bad guy...
right?"
????: "What makes you think I'm not?"
Jude: "Because you're just a kid, like me."
????: "What? I look like a kid to YOU? Man, how depressing..."
[Jude holds up his ring of keys.]
????: "Well, can you get us out of here?! Then again...even if we
do escape from here, what can we do...?"
Jude: "We've got to hurry and rescue that girl."
????: "'That girl...?' You mean you've seen her?"
Jude: "Yeah. It was the first time I've ever seen a real girl."
[Jude opens the door, but some soldiers run into the room. Jude
barely has enough time to hide in the cell with Mr. ????.]
????: "Looks like something's going on. They're running around all
excited... If we leave now, we'll just wind up getting caught.
Let's stay here for a bit and see how things go."
[The two lounge around for awhile, from dusk to the dead of night,
at least.]
????: "You said your name was 'Jude,' right? Do you live in this
village?"
Jude: "Yeah. I was on my way to the forest when these strange
machines suddenly came flying in through a tear in the sky.
Do you all...live on the other side of the sky? Um..."
Arnaud: "You can call me Arnaud. Anyway, are you telling me you have
no idea what kind of place this is you're living in?"
Jude: "...? Ciel's the village I grew up in... What's so different
about it?"
Arnaud: "Sounds like you don't know much about anything... I guess
that means you don't know why that girl was brought here,
ether..."
Jude: "Oh no, the girl!! I promised her that I'd help her get out!"
[The two sneak out of the cell.]
Arnaud: "Doesn't look like there's a soul in the place, let alone
a sentry..."
Jude: "Let's go back to where they were keeping her.
[They start running back to the other ship, but find no soldiers'
watchful eyes on the way.]
Jude: "...Where did they all go?! There were so many of them on
the way over here---"
[When Jude gets back they find the door to her swell ajar.]
Jude: "The girl was locked up in that room. I hope the key I
obtained fits...
[They check it.]
Arnaud: "Looks like she's not here."
Jude: "Where could they have taken her?"
Arnaud: "Any ideas?"
Jude: "Hmm... ...None at all. There's nothing around here, other
than the village..."
Arnaud: "Then that must be where they're headed!"
Jude: "Why?!"
Arnaud: "There's nothing else around here, right?! Then that's the
only place they could've gone to!
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 04. Sunlit Path II |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The Sunlit Path's now the Moonlit Path, and the fireflies are out
now. Jude and Arnaud press on, but they're soon attacked by two
mechanical balls.]
Jude: "What the...?!"
Arnaud: "They must have released them on their way to the village!
What should we do...?"
Jude: "Better think fast...they're headed straight this way!"
Arnaud: "Man, why does this always seem to happen to me?"
Tutorial: Battles take place on a field divided into seven sections
called 'HEXes.' Upon selecting an Attack (Shoot) or Original
command, targetable HEXes will be displayed in red. If no
enemies are within your immediate attack range, try moving
from your current HEX to another one.
[The party defeats the two machines.]
Jude: "I'm sorry I got you mixed up in all this... You could've just
run away once your cell door was open, but instead you're..."
Arnaud: "What, and leave a kid like you behind? No, I couldn't do
anything that uncool."
Jude: "Thanks for fighting alongside me, Arnaud. I'm really glad
you're with me."
Arnaud: "You're welcome...Do you always just come out and just say
what's on your mind?"
[After a few skirmishes, another tutorial comes up.]
Tutorial: *Attack (Shoot), Original, Item, and other commands are
all effective on a per-HEX basis. If there are multiple
tragets within a single HEX, they are all affected. So
you can damage several enemies during an attack, or heal
multiple allies, but only if they are all standing in the
same HEX.
[In the screen where Jude saw the tear in the sky:]
Arnaud: "What's wrong? We need to hurry to the village, right?"
Jude: "Yeah... Even if they're just machines, I don't feel very
good about hurting and breaking things... I never really
thought about all this during my swordsmanship lessons
though..."
Arnaud: "... But what do you plan on doing if something happens
to your village?"
Jude: "I...I don't know. If I can't think of what to do even while
it's happening...then I'll just do what I feel is right. That's
what Instructor Henri taught me. How about you? What do you
think we should do?"
Arnaud: "Beats me. After all, if thinking alone could solve
everything, I wouldn't be in this mess right now. That
doesn't mean I'm going to stop thinking, though. In any
case, I'll tag along with you for a little while longer.
But once we get to the village, you'll have to manage on
your own."
Jude: "Yeah, no problem. And thanks. I want to keep my promise to
that girl, so help me out for just a little longer, okay? It's
really helpful to have you with me."
Arnaud: " *heh* I can't believe I'm letting this kid take advantage
of me..."
[The two continue back into town.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 05. Ciel Shelter II |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[Once there, the two find that soldiers have corralled everyone into
a group, containing them in the town square. Arnaud and Jude duck
down by the entrance.]
Arnaud: "Yep, looks like they're here..."
Jude: "Let's get a little closer."
Arnaud: "Whoa, hey...Don't do anything stupid..."
Jude: "They've captured everyone...!"
Arnaud: "You think rushing out is going to accomplish anything?!
Come on, use your head!"
[The fat man from before stands over Jude's mother.]
Acting Commander Tony: "Hand it over without a fight and we won't
have 'ta use force. I hope you'll make the
smart decision."
Ethelda: "We decided to live here and withdraw ourselves from the
world. The 'smart decision' you're hoping for is merely the
one that benefits you most, is it not? Starting
'negotiations' with a show of force like this...Have you no
shame?"
[From nearby, a soldier signals Tony.]
Soldier: "Commander! We've found it! There's no mistaking it!"
[The soldiers bring a taped-up box over. It looks like a black
casket.]
Ethelda: "What do you hope to accomplish with that? That sin left
behind by the war? Are you planning on repeating the same
mistakes?!"
[Jude speaks to himself from afar.]
Jude: "War?! What war?"
Acting Commander Tony: "What this is...is power. A power necessary
to open the future. You think you're so smart
just 'cause you carry on hysterically about
war, but you're nothing but a foolish woman."
Ethelda: "I'd like to think I'm better than you, a man simply drunk
on the power of his newfound toy. ... Leave that alone...you
can't use it. And what's the point of having it, if you can't
use it? The only ones who can use that--The only ones who can
use an ARM are..."
[A soldier brings the girl in blue out. Jude doesn't reveal himself
just yet.]
Jude: "That girl!"
Acting Commander Tony: "'What's the point in having it, if you can't
use it?' My, you're a smart one!"
Ethelda: "... Don't tell me that child is a gene driver...?"
Acting Commander Tony: "Maybe...or maybe not. That's what we're gonna
find out right now."
[Tony and some soldiers stand near the 'casket', waiting for the
girl in blue--the gene driver?--to do her thing. Jude scowls from
the entrance.]
Jude: "She's terrified! What should I do? How can I get over there?"
Arnaud: "Ah, well...that may actually be easier than you think..."
[Jude turns around and finds a soldier behind Arnaud. The two boys
are pushed out into the open.]
Ethelda: "Jude?!"
Jude: "Mom!"
Acting Commander Tony: "Welcome to the party...The more, the merrier."
Jude: "Get away from them! And don't you dare do anything to that
girl, either!"
Acting Commander Tony: "When I was a kid, I liked to play at being the
hero too. But even kids' games can go too far.
You need to learn how to address your elders,
boy. As an adult, it's only natural that I'm
passionate about the proper education of our
kids. It wouldn't have come to this, if you had
only cooperated with us."
[Tony snaps his fingers and some soldiers make Arnaud and Jude dance
to avoid bullets fired at their feet. The girl in blue cries out.]
????: "Please, stop! I'll do it! So...please...!"
Arnaud: "Hey, kid! It's your fault I got caught up in this! Do
something!!"
Jude: "I want to, but there's nothing I can do right now! They even
took my sword!"
[Jude and Arnaud jump away from the gunfire, but Jude trips over the
'black casket', spilling its contents all over the ground. Inside,
it appears its white sand. A soldier points a gun barrel at Jude's
head.]
Jude: "If only I had the power to fight, these guys wouldn't be
able to..."
[Jude's contact with the sand emits a bright blue light. When all
present can see again, Jude's holding a large gun in his hand.]
Ethelda: "The neutral state ARM...it reacted to Jude and
activated...?! There's no turning back now..."
Arnaud: "That silver sand...it transformed into a gun?! What...what
the heck is that thing in your hand?!"
Jude: "I don't know what it is...But now...maybe I can actually do
something! This is...the power to fight...That much, I know.
I can feel it...like it's a part of my own body! It's time to
turn the tables, Arnaud!! We're gonna save everyone!"
[Jude and Arnaud square off with some soldiers, and a Tutorial
appears.]
Tutorial: *Jude's 'Shoot' command can be used as many times as he has
loaded into his ARM. If he is out of ammo, the command will
change from Shoot to Attack. Not only does this result in
lower offensive power, it also suffers from other weaknesses
such as a reduced chance of a Critical Hit. To use the Shoot
command again, Jude must use the 'Guard' stance to remain in
the current HEX and finish his turn without taking any
further action. Then upon completion of the turn, ammo is
automatically reloaded.
[The soldiers get whipped by Jude's new ARM. As the troops get
defeated, Tony appears in battle...in a large, powerful-looking
machine.]
Arnaud: "You're using THAT against us?"
Acting Commander Tony: "That's 'cause you forced me to!"
Tutorial: *Each character has commands called 'Originals' that
consume MP. Originals are more powerful than Attack (Shoot)
commands and have special effects that can turn the battle
in your favor. The key to victory is to use them effectively
as the situation warrants.
[After the party's first few turns:]
Tutorial: *HEXes with yellow, blue, red, or green borders possess
earth, water, fire, or wind elemental properties,
respectively. These special HEXes are called ley points, and
three of these four elements will always be placed on the
outer ring of the battlefield. Characters on a ley point can
tap into the specific element with some of their commands.
In Arnaud's case, his Original, 'Blast,' changes its
functionality based on the ley point.
[The party defeats Tony's Land Gear after awhile.]
Acting Commander Tony: "How can that kid be so strong?! Is this
truly...the power of...ARMs...?!
Arnaud: "I can't believe it! The kid did it. He beat those
soldiers!"
[Jude holds his gun and can't let go.]
Arnaud: "Hey...what's the matter?
[A bright red light emits from Jude as he points his gun around.]
Villager: "A Resistance Impulse? The ARM! He can't control it!"
[A piece of Jude's Resistance Impulse flies up and hits the large
generator in the center of town, damaging it irreparably.]
Villager: "Is this really...the end of Ciel as we know it?
[The girl in blue goes over to Jude and lays her hands on him.]
Girl: "The power of yours isn't just for fighting...you must try
not to let it consume you."
Jude: "Thank goodness. We got rid of those jerks, didn't we? Uh..."
Girl: "It's Yulie, Yulie Ahtreide. And it's all because you kept
your promise. Thank you...Jude."
Villager: "The shield generator can't sustain its output! Ciel's
going to fall into the sea!"
[The soldier Tony was talking to before, Archibald, speaks up.]
Archibald: "We'll cease all operations and withdraw. This man you
see here, he's responsible for all of this... Though we
can't ask for your forgiveness, I want you to know that
we had hoped for a peaceful resolution..."
Jude: "If you think I'm gonna just..."
Ethelda: "Jude, listen to me, now is not the time. More
importantly, we have to escape from here!"
Jude: "But, Mom! They're the ones who attacked us!"
Ethelda: "But what about your friends? You have to help them, right?"
[At the urging of the townspeople, Arnaud, Yulie, and Jude head for
the escape pods near Instructor Henri's facility. They hop into the
nearest one, but Jude looks back.]
Jude: "Aren't you all coming?"
Woman: "We'll be escaping very soon, but there are some things we
must do first. We'll leave as soon as we're done."
[Ethelda runs over, out of breath.]
Ethelda: "I've got all the documentation together. If only we had
gone ahead and thrown it all away...things never would
have happened to us."
Woman: "That may be so..."
Jude: "Mom!"
Ethelda: "I guess it can't be helped. No none can remain a child
forever... Your hidden abilities were awakened today.
Whether or not you come to regret this day...you must
decide that for yourself."
Jude: "But Mom..."
Ethelda: "Hurry up and close the hatch. We'll be right behind you."
[The three in the pod sit in the dark.]
Arnaud: "Man, everything's gone crazy..."
Yulie: "It's all my fault..."
Jude: "No, those stupid soldiers are to blame, not you."
Arnaud: "Hey, we've got more important things to worry about now.
Like--will this escape pod really work? We're pretty high
up, you know..."
[Amidst the debris falling from the floating shelter of Ciel, the
pod lands safely in the ocean below. Jude opens the hatch and takes
his first look at the real world.]
Jude: "Is this...the outside world...? Mom?! Anyone?!
Helloooooooooo?!"
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 06. Forsaken Road |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[And this is where the real game begins. The opening video sequence
plays now, and after its done, the party finds their pod has drifted
on a beach. After a game of rock-paper-scissors, Arnaud walks off to
search the area.]
Yulie: "We may not know where we are, but at least the escape pod
made it safely to shore... ... Are you...feeling okay?"
Jude: "...Yeah. Actually, I'm feeling a little better than before..."
Yulie: "I'm sorry..."
Jude: "No, it's not your fault... It's my fault...for not being able
to use that power properly... If you hadn't stopped me, things
would've been much worse. Even I know that. So please, don't
say you're sorry."
Yulie: "..."
Jude: "It sounded like Mom and the others knew about this power,
but never told me about it... Yulie, this power of mine...and
yours which calmed my ARM...What the heck are they...?"
Yulie: "It's...well..."
Jude: "Is that a question I shouldn't have asked?"
Yulie: "No, it's not like that... It's just...once you know, you
won't be able to turn back. I can't answer knowing that I'd
be putting you in danger... I'm sorry..."
Jude: "You're saying I'd be better off not knowing? I bet Mom and
the others thought the same thing, which is why they didn't
tell me anything... But that didn't help at all, did it? Not
knowing or understanding anything is what led to me destroying
everything... I honestly can't believe that I'd be better off
not knowing..."
Yulie: "Jude..."
Jude: "I understand your fear, Yulie... Ciel Village and the forest
made up my entire world... When I think about what's happening
now, I get so scared that I can hardly breathe. But I know I
can't just stay like this, so..."
Yulie: "Jude, you don't know how cruel adults can be... I don't want
you--no, I don't want anyone to be hurt because of me...not
anymore! I'm sorry..."
Jude: "You keep apologizing for everything... But you really don't
have to feel bad about everything, you know. For one, you saved
me. So I think it's okay for you to be proud of that. Besides...
I'll protect you from now on if any adults try to do bad things
to you. Remember I promised you that when we first met?"
Yulie: "You would honor that promise? No, I can't allow you to get
further involved in this than you already are..."
Jude: "... I'm sorry...to tell you the truth, I just wanted to use
my power to protect something... And Yulie, you're acting as
though everything's your fault, but it's not... I know I'm
the one who destroyed Ciel. Because I used my power...but
couldn't use it properly, the village and everyone in it...
So...now, I want to use my power to do good. If I can use it
to protect you, I think I won't come to hate it. Is that a
good enough reason to want to protect you?"
Yulie: "Perhaps it's because you're a boy, but you're much stronger
than I am..."
Jude: "Mom warned me though. She said I can't remain a boy forever."
(Mom...everyone...)
[Arnaud comes back.]
Arnaud: "Why do I have to be the one to go look around? Even if I did
lose rock-paper-scissors, isn't this a task kids should do?"
Jude: "Well if you don't like it, maybe next time you should try to
win!"
Yulie: "Did you find anything?"
Arnaud: "Looks like ours is the only escape pod that made it here.
I didn't see any others. Anyway, let's not worry about it
right now. Trying to think on an empty stomach isn't very
effective. My razor-sharp mind is build in such a way that
it doesn't run on empty. Let's look for somewhere where we
can eat and get some rest. We'll have plenty of time left to
think about our situation afterwards."
[The party's gone nary a few steps when everyone stops.]
Arnaud: "Uh oh...looks like we're not alone. Don't tell me we're
surrounded by monsters?!"
Jude: "Monsters?! There are monsters on Filgaia? Do we have to
fight...? With that power...? With that power that was awakened
in me...?"
Yulie: "I'll back you up with my Material, too. If I Material Drive
the guardian programs..."
Jude: "Guardian? Material? Uh...Yulie...?"
Yulie: "..."
Arnaud: "So that's why...Is that why they were after you? If you can
help, please do! Right now, we really need your power...your
Material!"
[The battle starts.]
Tutorial: *Actions during battle result in an increase of a power
called 'Force' (FP). Use the Force Gauge located on the
right side of the screen to monitor its accumulation. Each
character has special moves or Force Commands used to
unleash FP, and these commands require a set amount of
FP. Yulie's Material is one such Force Command. When used
on a ley point, it executes a magic attack based on the
specific element of that ley point. When used on a HEX that
is not a ley point, it heals allies in all HEXes on the
battlefield.
[When the party comes to a rickety bridge, another tutorial appears.]
Tutorial: *A new ability, 'Accelerator,' has awakened within Jude.
When the [R1] button is pressed, Jude's reaction speed
increases dramatically and time slow down around him,
relatively. When the Accelerator is in effect (the AC Graph
at the top right corner of the screen displays the remaining
effective time), you can see hidden gella. Use the
Accelerator to get past traps and obtain hidden gella.
[In a nearby treasure chest, Jude finds a book.]
Tutorial: *The books you find as you progress through the game are
not required items, but they contain techniques which can
make your progress easier.
[The party continues a little ways.]
Jude: "This place looks like it's in pretty bad shape..."
Yulie: "This isn't the only place that's suffering either."
Arnaud: "This region isn't too badly off, comparatively speaking.
The place where I grew up was much worse off. Not much point
talking about that though..."
Jude: "...?"
[At the end of the path, everyone stops to look at an old sign.]
Arnaud: "It looks like we'll hit a port town if we continue along
this road."
Yulie: "So, there still are places inhabited by people."
Jude: "Let's check it out."
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 07. Port Rosalia |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[When Jude gets to the bustling town of Port Rosalia, he takes a
look around and can identify the differences between Ciel and there
immediately.]
Jude: "Wow... Even from here, I can see the difference... It's a
lot bigger and livelier than Ciel... Are all the towns in the
outside world this big? And filled with this many people?!"
Arnaud: "Well, not all towns but...it's nothing to get excited over."
Yulie: "A lively port town... We should be able to rest for a bit
here."
Arnaud: "Let's look for a place to eat and freshen up. I'm not the
only one who's hungry, right?"
Yulie: "Yes..."
Jude: "Now that you mention it, I haven't eaten anything at all... I
bet the food is better and comes in larger portions out here,
huh?"
Arnaud: "Kid... You're such a country bumpkin. Food's pretty much the
same everywhere so let's just find a restaurant and grab
some."
[If Jude tries to go into the general store:]
Tutorial: *The goods sold at shops fall into the following selections:
weapons, armor, battle items, and field items. The selection
will vary as the game progresses.
[The nearest restaurant is the Seabreeze Port, which everyone quickly
enters. They order their food, but when it comes, Jude and Yulie just
look at it for the most part.]
Yulie: "..."
Jude: "..."
Arnaud: "Hmm? Aren't you guys going to eat? You've only been picking
at it."
Jude: "Ah, um, yeah..."
Arnaud: "I thought you were hungry?"
Yulie: "Yes, we were but..."
Jude: "The food isn't very good here...uh, I mean I think I've had
enough to eat."
Yulie: "Me too...I'm sorry..."
Arnaud: "Doesn't taste good? Really? It's pretty much the same
everywhere. We don't have a lot of money for this trip--so
you better eat when you can, or you may regret it later."
[A girl in the place comes over.]
Lily: "My, you really seem to be enjoying the food, mister. I've
never seen anyone eat our food with such gusto... If you like
it that much, how about some seconds, 'on the house' of course."
Arnaud: "What, are you serious...? You bet! I'll eat as much free
food as you've got!"
[At that moment, some soldiers burst in the door.]
Jude: "Hey, those are the guys that attacked Ciel..."
Arnaud: "Don't start any trouble here, Jude!"
Jude: "I'm not happy about it, but...fine! I'll keep my face hidden.
Will that make you happy?"
Soldier: "Bring us some drinks! And make sure they're strong! And
some snacks to go with 'em too. But you'd better bring us
somethin' tastier than that junk the chef sent us last
time--or else! Hey, we're fightin' on the front lines for
your protection. Shouldn't you show us a little more
gratitude, Missy?"
Lily: "..."
Soldier: "You don't know how to treat your customers, do you?
Once you fill our orders, come over here and entertain
us! After all, if we didn't patronize the place, that
nasty food of yours would put you outta business in no
time!"
Jude: "Listen to what they're saying!"
Arnaud: "Calm down! What do you think'll happen if we got involved?!"
Jude: "We have to do something!"
Arnaud: "It has nothing to do with us. Besides, it's not like we have
the right to butt in."
Jude: "You don't need a 'right' to help someone in trouble!"
[At that moment, a girl at one of the tables slams her hands
down and gets up.]
Girl: "I won't insist that you eat quietly but...can't you behave
in a manner that is befitting for you age? It's embarrassing
for the rest of us to watch you behave like that in public."
Soldier: "Oh, we got ourselves a tough girl, eh? Well then, why
don't you serve us instead?"
Girl: "You are beyond uncouth...disgusting."
Soldier: "What did ya say?!"
[In a flash, the girl's sword is pointed at the soldier's neck.]
Girl: "I know a thing or two about swords, but unfortunately,
'charming' isn't in my repertoire. I'd be happy to give you
a taste, but I may fall short of your expectations."
[The soldiers grumble and leave.]
Soldier: "Never mind. C'mon, let's go find another joint."
Soldier 2: "Yeah, the food's bad, the waitress isn't worth looking
at, and even the customers are lame. Better leave, or we
might become like 'em. She'll learn her lesson, sooner or
later."
[When the soldiers are finally gone, Lily speaks up to the girl.]
Lily: "Thank you. I don't know what I would have done without you."
????: "I know you can't choose your customers, but if you let those
types do as they please, you'll only regret it later."
Jude: "That was so cool...I wish I'd taken my sword training more
seriously."
Yulie: "It's hard to believe...there really are people like that..."
Arnaud: " *ahem* And here is where I make my entrance."
[Arnaud goes over to the girl's table.]
Arnaud: "We intended to jump in, too, but you handled things so
flawlessly, we didn't even get the chance. Would you care to
join us at our table so that we might introduce ourselves?"
????: "You don't look very trustworthy. Are you with those guys
that just left? If so, I won't hold back."
Arnaud: "What are you saying?!"
Jude: "No, we're not with them. We were just so impressed with you...
That was really cool!"
????: "Oh uh, thanks..."
Arnaud: "You mentioned you were traveling alone? With the way things
are these days, I can't help but worry about a girl like you
traveling all by yourself."
Jude: "What are you talking about, Arnaud? How can someone as cool
as that be in any kind of danger?"
Arnaud: "Kid, what the heck do looking cool and being in danger have
to do with each other? What I'm trying to say is--"
Yulie: "I'm sorry we're making such a fuss...we didn't mean to
intrude upon you."
????: "I don't think it's anything you need to apologize for.
Besides, they say that 'friendship is a beautiful thing,' do
they not? I think a little fuss among friends is just fine."
Jude: "Do we look like we're friends?!"
Arnaud: "Well I sure would rather be friends with you! Why don't
you tell us your name...?"
Narrative: Jude and the others introduced themselves to the
swordswoman who called herself Raquel and told her about
everything that had happened to them so far.
Raquel: "An assault by soldiers, the awakening of a mysterious power,
your mother and the rest of the villagers gone missing during
the destruction of your home... ... I'd thought you looked
like an unusual group, but I never expected you to have that
kind of history. What do you intend to do now? Do you have an
objective or a destination in mind?"
Jude: "No...I don't know what to do. I have no idea where Mom or the
others are, or what we should be doing next..."
Raquel: "..."
Yulie: "What's the purpose of your journey, Raquel?"
Raquel: "My journey? It's nothing worth talking about... But if I had
to choose something, I guess I'd call it sightseeing."
Arnaud: "Sightseeing?! That's...almost surprisingly ordinary."
Raquel: "Yeah, I feel the same way myself. I don't have any particular
destination in mind. I'm just visiting any beautiful sights I
hear about. I'm traveling in the hopes of finding something
truly beautiful remaining in the world.I'm sure it must exist
somewhere."
Arnaud: "If that's the case, is there anything we can do to help?"
Jude: "Help? If anything, we'll just end up getting in her way. What
are you thinking, Arnaud?"
Arnaud: "I'm thinking about our travel budget. No matter what we
decide to do, we're going to need money. And earning money
isn't easy, kid."
Jude: "So...you weren't trying to be nice, were you?"
Arnaud: "I'm thinking we ought to set up an arrangement to make some
money. It's not all that unusual for Drifters to do that."
Jude: "A Drifter...?"
Raquel: "Well things certainly perked up around here. If you're
looking for work, I may be able to help you out. I came here
to visit Culane Temple, some ruins on the outskirts of town,
and I was just looking for someone to accompany me."
Arnaud: "Done and done! I'm yours!"
Raquel: "Hey, calm down. How about confirming the payment and
conditions, first? I can't give you very much, so it's
nothing to get excited about, but...let's see... If we make
it to Culane and back to town in one piece, I'll pay you
1,000 gella. Does that work for you?"
Arnaud: "You bet! You guys are okay with that, right?"
Jude: "Like you'd listen even if we said no..."
Arnaud: "It's a deal. Jude, Yulie, I'm counting on you."
Jude: "Now you're putting us on the spot."
Yulie: "...Are you sure it's okay, Raquel? Even without us, I don't
think you'd really have any trouble..."
Raquel: "It'll be nice having some company along. Traveling by
yourself gets so lonely sometimes. And besides...friendship
is a beautiful thing. And it's beauty that I seek. I think
I'll enjoy our time together."
Jude: "...Are we friends?"
Yulie: "We haven't known each other very long..."
Arnaud: "..."
Raquel: "What is it?"
Arnaud: "Ah, it's just, the reason you gave for your journey was
awfully simple."
Raquel: "Feel free to be suspicious, if you like. But it's a bit
childish to expect everything to be extraordinary. ...not to
mention rude to the person you're doubting."
[Everyone leaves the restaurant together.]
Tutorial: *Every time you level up you'll earn Growth Customization
(GC) points. Use them to learn Original Commands, Personal
Skills, and other special abilities that will aid in the
adventure. Use the GC Graph system to Distribute GC points
and customize your characters. Adjust your points upon
leveling up or as best meets your needs.
[On the world map:]
Yulie: "Is this...a map of the area?"
Raquel: "That's right. I'm planning to use this map to get to
Culane Temple. What's wrong?"
Yulie: "... No, it's nothing... Let's set out while there's still
daylight."
[Culane Temple's location opens up.]
Tutorial: *This is a map showing a region of Filgaia, the stage
upon which this adventure unfolds. Press the (X) button
to enter towns and dungeons. Press the ([]) button to
save the game or view badges. Press the (O) button to
open the main menu. Hold down the (/\) button to speed
up cursor movement.
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 08. Culane Temple |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party arrives at the temple's gate.]
Jude: "This is...Culane Temple...?"
Raquel: "That's right. This once was a holy place where people would
make pilgrimages to. I've heard that there's a magnificent
statue of a saint inside."
Jude: "That statue is the reason why you came here, right? In that
case, we'll all go together! *heh heh* I want to check out
this statue, too."
[The party heads into the temple and soon finds a glowing sphere-like
object on the floor.]
Tutorial: *When Jude approaches a photosphere, a tool that is key
to completing that area will appear within the light. Touch
the tool and press the (X) buton to pick it up. Press the
([]) button to activate any tools that Jude is carrying.
Keep in mind that Jude cannot jump while he is carrying
something. Press the (/\) button first to drop the tool.
Jude can carry tools from one area to another.
[Further in:]
Jude: "Traveling around to see beautiful things must be fun, huh?"
Raquel: "Well, it's not fun all the time... But it is fulfilling. I
try to capture the things I see and feel, with my brush."
Yulie: "You can paint, too?!"
Jude: "Can I see?! Show us what you've painted so far!"
Raquel: "Ah, um...maybe later..."
Arnaud: "It sure sounds like you're hiding something. You know what
they say: 'Heaven only grants but one blessing per person...'"
Raquel: "You're really rude, you know that?"
[In one of the chests Jude finds, he will get some Alter Parts.]
Tutorial: *Parts necessary for the control of ARMs. By using Alter
Parts, you can upgrade an ARM's ATP and ACN.
[A little ways further in:]
Jude: "Wow, not only are you great with your sword, but you can
paint, too...You're really amazing, Raquel. Unlike me, you're
so mature. Speaking of which...how old are you, anyway?"
Arnaud: "Kid...you need to be a bit more careful when you ask a
woman her age, you know."
Raquel: "Oh, I don't mind. I just turned 19 recently. ... So it's
been 19 years since I was born..."
Arnaud: "You're a year older than me?!"
Yulie: "I thought you were much older...I mean, there's nothing you
can't do! And you're so calm and mature...Oh, I'm sorry."
Raquel: "I get that occasionally, so it doesn't really bother me.
I don't really feel like an adult myself, though.. ...
Besides, I can never grow up..."
Arnaud: "Man, being a woman must be tough. I mean, you gotta worry
about concealing your age and all..."
Raquel: "It's not that big of a deal, really. Besides, it's the same
for men, too. I mean, what kind of a man would want to appear
younger than he actually is? You look far younger than you
do. Honestly, if you asked me, I'd say you could easily pass
for a child."
Arnaud: "What?!"
Jude: "So, Arnaud's a kid, too? In that case, I'm not gonna let you
treat me like a child anymore..."
Arnaud: "What are you talking about? I am an adult!"
[After awhile, the party runs into a large boss.]
Jude: "That thing's like...solid metal!"
Arnaud: "A frontal attack won't get us anywhere. Maybe if we focus
our magic against its weak points?!"
Yulie: "If we do that, we'll be in trouble when our MP runs out."
Raquel: "My sword should be able to penetrate its defenses! We'll
need a precision attack combining Arnaud's magic with my
sword... Jude, Yulie, you two support us."
Jude: "In other words, teamwork, right?! I'll do my best!"
Tutorial: *Many enemies possess special attributes so it's important
to identify and use attacks that are effective against these
attributes. Pay attention to the hints you find, and be sure
to make use of the 'Analyze' command."
[The party tangles with the boss and overcomes it with some
well-placed sword strikes.]
Raquel: "A lot of the enemies you'll face will have special
characteristics. Monsters like that one, with strong
defensive abilities, are best handled by my sword."
Arnaud: "On the other hand, my attack magic is effective against
soft-bodied monsters which would easily absorb regular
physical blows. And with your ranged attack, Jude..."
Jude: "So I can attack opponents who are high above us, those that
the others wouldn't be able to reach, right?"
Yulie: "Since I'm a Paladienne, I can heal injuries. I can also
support everyone with my magic."
Raquel: "Compared to monsters, human beings are weak creatures. To
triumph, we need to combine our limited power and use it
intelligently."
Arnaud: "Yeah, well, using his intellect isn't exactly Jude's forte.
But that's okay. There's more than one way to win a battle.
The key to victory is to choose the best card from your hand
to deal with the enemy."
Jude: "Hmmm... It sounds a little confusing, but I'll give this
teamwork thing a try!"
[The save point nearby lights up.]
Tutorial: *Break Points in a darkened state (sol niger) can be
purified by defeating the monster that is attuned to
them or by disabling devices in the area. A purified,
white Break Point has the ability to control battle
encounters in its area. To toggle encounters on and
off, press the [R2] button.
[The party heads into one of the rooms past the save point.]
Jude: "Back in town, you said something about being a 'Drifter?'"
Arnaud: "Yeah. Simply put, I'm a jack-of-all-trades for hire... An
adventurer who travels from one place to the next in search
of jobs. I'm actually kinda famous as a Drifter, you know..."
Jude: "So, what sort of things have you done?"
Arnaud: "I've explored ruins, exterminated monsters...once, I even
guarded a caravan... I've worked all sorts of jobs before
but on the most recent one...I was hired to find a certain
girl and take her into my protection. I did my job and
managed to locate the girl who had gone into hiding, but
the employer turned stingy on me... No matter how long I
waited, I never got paid! On top of that, they kept secrets
from me, too. In order for a job to be successful, a Drifter
and his employer need to be able to trust each other, you
know? Well they locked up the girl, saying they would
'protect' her, and took her to a floating shelter in the
sky. And so I... ... What...?"
Jude: "Hey, isn't that what you did to Yulie? Are 'Drifters' people
who get paid to do bad things?"
Arnaud: "No, it's not like that! I'm sorry about what happened! I
mean, I was a victim, too!!"
Jude: "..."
Raquel: "There are some Drifters who do bad things. In fact, the
majority may be that way. However...there are definitely
some Drifters who use their skills to help others. Being
a Drifter in and of itself isn't a good or bad thing, but
there are good ones and bad ones."
Jude: "... Are you a Drifter, too, Raquel?"
Raquel: "I've lent my strength to others on occasion. And if I
don't earn any money, I can't continue my journey. But...
I've never taken a job I've regretted. I'd like to keep
thinking of myself as a good Drifter."
Arnaud: "Exactly! I feel the same way. I want to help people."
Jude: "But no one in Ciel needed any special help. Why are there
people in the outside world who are in so much trouble, that
they need help from others?"
Arnaud: "Oh, that's right...You don't know anything about it do
you?"
Yulie: "..."
Jude: "About what?"
Raquel: "... A little over 10 years ago, there was a catastrophe
which destroyed the planet's environment along with the
hearts of its people. The Filgaia you see now, is a direct
result of it."
[The party arrives finally at the statue they had sought out.
Unfortunately, its head is blow clean off.]
Yulie: "The statue's been broken...How awful..."
Jude: "Who would do something like--"
Raquel: "It wasn't a 'who,' but rather a 'what.' The war is
responsible for this."
Jude: "War? Now that you mention it, Mom did say something about
that, back on that day..."
Raquel: "The war ended about 10 years ago. It had enveloped the
whole of Filgaia, and it seemed like it would go on forever.
It destroyed so much... The planet's environment...the hearts
of the people...The war destroyed many of the beautiful
things in this world... Sadly, this was probably one of them
too."
Jude: "..."
Raquel: "I wonder how many beautiful things remain in this world
that I'll be able to see on my journey..."
Tutorial: *Pressing the [L1] button causes '!' or '?' to appear
before targets of itnerest to Jude. Press the (X) button
while holding down the [L1] button to switch between
targets. Holding down the [L1] button while locked-on a
target will display information pertinent to Jude.
[Jude inspects a flower patch by the side of the path.]
Jude: "Raquel! There are still beautiful things here, after all! They
haven't all disappeared from this world!"
[Some gunfire scatters the flowers apart.]
Raquel: "Gunfire?! Those soldiers we ran into earlier must have come
to settle the score!"
Arnaud: "Hey, that's...!"
Acting Commander Tony (on probation): "I heard my men were made into
total fools earlier. Hardly
surprising, but I figured I
outta go check things out, and
it looks like it paid off!"
Arnaud: "Jude! Don't just jump into the fray like that!"
Jude: "You're stopping me again, Arnaud?! You want me to just lie
down and take it this time, too?! These idiots...they shot the
flowers to threaten us! They destroyed these tiny flowers, just
for that!"
Arnaud: "*argh* Why do I have to get dragged into this?!"
Acting Commander Tony (on probation): "Heh, I can't stand you little
brats. And this time, I'm gonna
pummel you right into the
ground! And I'll get credit for
capturing you, too, little miss
guinea pig..."
[The party defeats Tony and his cohorts when they attack.]
Acting Commander Tony (on probation): "Wha...?! Fall back, fall back!
Retreat, dammit! This isn't the
last you'll see of me, you
punks!"
[Tony flees.]
Jude: "Who the heck are those guys?!"
Raquel: "They're probably former soldiers. Smoldering violence,
walking around in human form, with no place to go, now that
the war is over." (Still, those weapons they were carrying,
they may, in fact, be more than just a bunch of has-been
soldiers...)
[Jude holds up a remnant of the once-pretty flowers.]
Jude: "They were such pretty flowers..."
Raquel: "Are you always doing crazy things like that?"
Jude: "No, not all the time. Last time, it was because they were
trying to do bad things to Yulie and the people in Ciel...
Today, it was because..."
Raquel: "You risked yourself just for the sake of some flowers?"
Arnaud: "In other words, he's just a kid."
Raquel: "Maybe so. But I think it's something to be proud of."
Jude: "I...I don't really understand..."
Raquel: "It's not something you have to understand yourself. As long
as the people around you know, that's enough. ... I'd like to
thank you, Jude. For myself, and on behalf of this flower as
well... Thanks. If I could have one wish, I'd ask that you
never lose that wonderful heart of yours. I'd love to see what
you're like when you're all grown up..."
[A cutscene takes place, from the Garra de Leon's Onyx Room, wherever
that may be. An old man in red stands before a man in a crisp white
uniform.]
High Minister Clifford: "Let's hear your report, Captain Lambda."
Captain Lambda: "Yes, Sir. We have confirmed multiple ARM activation
waveforms. We've also pinpointed the source
coordinates with a high degree of certainty."
Councilman Arlington: "A soldier out to gain a little glory for
himself caused some delays earlier, but it
sounds as though things will work out somehow."
Councilman Buckingham: "Those in power are corrupted by it. As they
wield power, they succumb to the pleasures of
oppression and become incapable of making wise
or constructive decisions. As we have always
said, the military must be regulated by
civilian representatives. That is to say, our
consensus supersedes all."
Lambda: "It is as you say. I take full responsibility for failing to
properly manage the military. To atone for this shame, I
shall deploy my personal elite force, Brionac. You can expect
good tidings in the near future."
Councilman Ashley: "Brionac, eh? The Special Forces unit which also
goes by the name of 'The Piercing Lance'... The
lethal dagger you keep close at hand...so you're
going to send them into action."
Councilman Lauderdale: "You graduated at the top of your class at the
old academy. I expected innovative strategies
from you. Why do you use such orthodox
methods?"
Lambda: "At the academy, I merely carried out the orders I was
given...something even a dog could do. Besides, graduating at
the top of the class is quite meaningless in this situation."
Councilman Buckingham: " *chuckle* Even standing before us, he speaks
his mind clearly. In that case, we'd like you
to show us that you're more than just a dog."
Councilman Lauderdale: "Allow us to ask...What will you do without
any orders?"
Councilman Ashley: "What conviction do you seek to carry out?"
Lambda: "The only conviction that pierces my heart is to create a
future for Filgaia. ... I shall return to Brionac Base at
once and send the Lieutenants to secure Yulie Ahtreide!"
High Minister Clifford: "Filgaia's future, is our future as well.
Show us the future reflected in your eyes
Captain Lambda Zellweger..."
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 09. Port Rosalia |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[After the Garra de Leon cutscene, the party's back in Port Rosalia.]
Tutorial: *You can use the 'Meeting' command at the green Break Points
found throughout the towns and villages. The meeting command
allows Jude to converse with his companions, and the content
of these conversations changes according to the events that
have transpired. Checking them occasionally may provide
hints to aid your progress.
[Jude holds a meeting with his party at the Break Point in town.]
Raquel: "I was thinking those has-been soldiers were after me, but
it seems they wanted something else."
Yulie: "... They want me...and the power I have to regulate ARMs..."
Jude: "The power to...regulate ARMs...? When I lost control of my
ARM in Ciel and your power embraced me... Was that the same
power I have?"
Yulie: "It looks similar, but it's completely different... I can
interact with ARMs that are already 'there,' adjusting and
controlling them somewhat, but I can't refine an ARM from
its raw form. I don't have the kind of high-level driver
compatibility that you do. They wanted me to have that
power, but..."
Jude: "...? Then, what exactly is my power...?"
Yulie: "I don't know the truth, myself... ... Jude, when you were
young, did you ever live in some sort of facility?"
Jude: "A facility...? ... Nope...I think I've always lived in that
village. That's the only place I remember..."
Yulie: "I see..It seems we ARE different, just as I thought. When
I was young, my power was given to me in that facility. I
wasn't born with it... But you...that's not true for your
power, is it?"
Jude: "I have my power for a different reason than you? Then why
am I able to use this ARM thing?"
Yulie: "I can't answer that for certain, myself... But before we
go on, let me tell you this one more time, Jude... If you
get any more involved in this, you won't be able to turn
back. You may have to keep running and running from the
adults who want your power. Do you still want to know about
it?"
Jude: "... To be honest, I'm scared...But... But, I'm even more
scared of never knowing anything. If learning things I don't
want to know means broadening my horizons, then I want to get
involved. I think somewhere in that bigger world is where I'll
find Mom and the others from the village... Yulie...I want to
know about myself."
Yulie: "... All right... ... When we headed for Culane Temple, I
looked at Raquel's map and could tell where we were. I think
the area we're in isn't very far from the facility where I
grew up. If you go there...you may be able to learn something
about yourself, Jude."
Jude: "Yulie...I'd like you to take me there...And..."
Arnaud: "Whoa, wait--don't tell me you're dragging me into this,
too?!"
Jude: "I'd like you to come, too. You were my first friend, and the
one who rescued me and all."
Raquel: "It sounds to me like you had some involvement in what
happened. If you're truly an adult, as you claim, then why
not show some sincerity?"
Arnaud: "... All right, fine! Jeez, a guy can't catch a break..."
Raquel: "Now that that's settled, Jude, aren't you going to invite
me?"
Jude: "But... Of course I want you to come, but... You have your
own journey, right? So..."
Raquel: "It's always been a journey with no set destination. I don't
see any problem with looking for what I seek while I travel
with you. ...No, I'm just making excuses. I like you, Jude,
so I want to travel with you. Is that a good enough reason?"
Jude: "Thanks! I'll help you with your journey, too."
Arnaud: "Um...excuse me... I hate to interrupt just as it's getting
all emotional, but let's at least go and get ourselves
properly prepared before we leave."
Raquel: "In that case, in addition to your payment, I'll entrust you
with what I have on me. It should help us a bit in getting
things for the trip."
Jude: "It's teamwork with our wallets, too!"
Tutorial: *Jude's companions strengthen their combat power by
acquiring new weapons--by purchasing them at shops, for
example. Jude, however, strengthens his own combat power
by customizing the power of his ARM. You can perform ARM
customizations only at Break Points and you will need
Yulie's ARM control ability to do so.
[As the party leaves Port Rosalia, a cutscene takes place--this time,
it's at the Brionac Base. Lambda is walking with a blonde girl and
a pensive-looking man.]
Lambda: "It's been more than ten years since the end of the war. Some
even claim that the post-war period has come to an end. But
is it really over? Have the raging flames of war been
extinguished? Can the people sleep peacefully through the
night? For those who would seek the truth, allow me to clear
the veil from your eyes! The war is NOT over!! The chaos
which gave rise to the war continues! A growing anarchy
threatens to blot out our future like a dark cloud! Yet
piercing this darkness is a lance, a weapon of conviction!
This lance is Brionac! And we shall herald the future!"
[The three walking in the hallway of the base come into a room with
people sitting around in simple chairs. Lambda takes his place at
a desk.]
Lambda: "It looks like all our elite peers are assembled."
Woman in Blue: "Oh really? All of us? But what about Commander
Kresnik and Jeremy? And besides--"
Red Doll: "Silly Heath, he got himself killed a long time ago. So
it's impossible for all of us to get together anymore."
Green Doll: "Yes...poor Heath..."
Confident Man: "These gatherings are always so amateur. You'd never
think this was a group was elite soldiers."
Man in Shades: "If only I'd gone out in a blaze of glory, I
wouldn't have to suffer this ignominious fate..."
Vampire?: "It's all right, don't worry, my dear. The only one who's
eager to die is that grizzly old macho-man over there.
After all, I am a Crimson Noble. I won't be dying that
easily."
Clingy Woman: "Scythe...if something were to...happen to you, I
don't know what I'd do. I'd probably lose my mind..."
Blonde Woman: "Oh my, get a room you two! Or maybe we ought to show
them a thing or two, ourselves, hmm?"
Pensive Man: "I too enjoy a good laugh every now and then, but
perhaps now is not the time, Commander Farmel?"
Lambda: "I have a special assignment for you all. This is a task
pertaining to case #354. We need to recover the girl, the
test subject. I've dispatched Jeremy to get a head start
on this mission."
Confident Man: "Well now we know why Jeremy's not here...but that
still leaves two questions. For one, none of us are
amateurs. Each member of Brionac is equivalent to
an entire batallion. Sending Jeremy alone should
suffice. Why then are the rest of us...here?
Lambda: "The recovery of the girl is a top priority for our
esteemed High Council. Though they didn't explain why the
task is so important, failure is not an option."
Scythe: "A group of tired old men chasing after an innocent little
girl...Honestly, what is this world coming to?"
Lambda: "And one more thing...we've confirmed the awakening of an
ARM. According to the reports however, it doesn't appear
that the girl was wielding it."
Man in Shades: "ARMs, the legendary weapons of the noble war heroes!
So...and ARM-wielding warrior has appeared?!"
Confident Man: "Though I'm confident in Jeremy's abilities, the
importance of this task makes it necessary for us
to have backup plans."
Pensive Man: "Very well. And I will be providing updates on the
mission, as they arrive."
Confident Man: "Alright, here's another question. We're supposed to
bring in that girl, unharmed, isn't that correct? If
that's the case, is Jeremy the best option?
Considering his personality, I can't say he's an
ideal candidate."
Farmel: "He was assigned to this mission only because he happened
to be on standby in this area. But there's no need for you
to worry. We've already dispatched a gallant knight to
watch over her."
Green Doll: "The Pale Rider..."
Red Doll: "That makes sense! Commander Kresnik's really nice to
girls!"
Woman in Blue: "I see. Commander Kresnik as Jeremy's chaperone?
He certain fits the bill but those two don't...
exactly...let's just say they don't get along so
well.
Pensive Man: "Indeed Lieutenant. I just hope that those two don't
let their personal feelings get in the way of their
mission. Otherwise as members of this elite unit, I'm
afraid their punishment for misbehaving would entail
much more than mere spanking..."
Farmel: "It's just that, well your sense of humor is a bit
different, you know."
Pensive Man: "Well they say an occasional joke or two is essential
for good relations. I wish you'd learn to appreciate
my jokes.
Lambda: "Augst's words of wisdom are going to have to wait. For now
my peers, we'll need to focus our energies on the task at
hand. Ladies and gentlemen, let's get to it."
[The cutscene ends. On the world map, two red dots appear, the
nearest one being that of the Celesti Ruins.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 10. Celesti Ruins |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The ruins are none other than a destroyed city.]
Yulie: "Past this town, on top of a hill, there's a facility that
used to house orphans. If we go there, we might be able to
find out something... About you...and me...and perhaps
something about what those adults are after..."
Jude: "... This town's in bad shape, too...Is this also because
of the war?"
Arnaud: "Towns like this aren't rare, kid. The town I lived in was
this way, too. That war destroyed everything..."
Raquel: "..."
Jude: "I want to know more about the war... I feel like I need to
learn all about this Filgaia I never knew of. I want you to
tell me all about it..."
Arnaud: "... The war started a long time ago.. The flames of war
spread quickly and soon engulfed all of Filgaia... The
massive conflict was caused by two groups that split Filgaia
in two. One of these was the Global Union, a group which
consisted of national leaders from around the world. The
other roup was known as the Congressional Knights, a
conglomerate of citizens who opposed the Union's absolute
rule. Dictatorship vs. parliamentarism... Although the two
groups were in direct opposition to one another politically,
they were basically fighting with the same purpose in mind...
It was all 'For the future of Filgaia.' Firm in their
beliefs, the two sides clashed violently, and soon the flames
of war engulfed all of Filgaia..."
Raquel: "As the fighting spread, the weapons that were used grew
ever more powerful and brutal... Soon they were not only
harming their enemies, but themselves as well..."
Jude: "So, the scars left by that war can still be seen throughout
Filgaia..."
[In a chest somewhere, Jude can find some Duplicators.]
Tutorial: *Duplicators open doors and treasure chests locked by
magic. Each time a door or treasure chest is opened,
one duplicator is used up.
[In one of the houses is a Duplicator Chest containing a Dragon
Fossil.]
Tutorial: *The fossils of ancient creatures form which ARMs are
made. By using Dragon Fossils, you can improve the
capabilities of ARMs.
[Sooner or later, Jude comes to a ladder.]
Tutorial: *If Jude comes in contact with a ladder during a jump,
he'll grab onto it. Use the directional buttons to climb
up or down.
[The party progresses through the town, and eventually comes in
contact with an undead spirit of a boss.]
Jude: "What is that thing?!"
Arnaud: "Oh no! It's the souls of the earthbound dead. We'd better
watch out!"
Yulie: "I must set them free from their suffering. Please, you must
help me!"
[The party defeats the spirit.]
Yulie: "Let us recite holy verses, and release these whispers of
lament... I pray you will find peaceful rest...Focus on the
warm feelings in your heart. Someday, you shal find the path
to the garden of Toldoka..."
[Spirits start to flie up and around Yulie before disappearing.]
Jude: "...?!"
Yulie: "... After I left the facility...I lived in an abbey for a
while, along with my foster father. He regretted his role at
the facility and instead chose a life of helping others...
Thats where I learned those prayers. I wanted the power to
protect people from suffering. No...by focusing on prayer,
I wanted to protect myself... I wanted to forget about my
power over ARMs... ..."
[The party comes to a street that passes in front of a large
building.]
Arnaud: "The Global Union and the Congressional Knights... Though
they fought one another, they ended up hurting themselves.
In the end everything was in ruins... The war raged on for
78 years. As time went by, it gradually became more and more
of a quagmire. In the final stages of the war, both sides
were exhausted and unable to continue fighting. The actual
end of the war came about quite suddenly though. An internal
coup d'etat caused the collapse of the Global Union. With
their opponents gone the Congressional Knights emerged
victorious, and this unprecedented world war effectively came
to an end. The Congressional Knights had won a victory of
sorts, but the path they chose to follow was not a bright one.
These 'Knights' the people had elected were either chosen
solely for their image, having had no political sense nor
background whatsoever, or because they had promised
concessions to the districts from which they hailed.
Predicably, the post-war deliberations were a chaotic mess,
and all attempts at reconstruction went nowhere. Feeling the
limits of democratic rule, the leader of the Knights
temporarily disbanded the council, and attempted to make a
fresh start. However, he was assassinated and the world soon
fell into chaos once again, exactly like it was during the
war."
Raquel: "The war was over... But order had not been restored, and
little by little, Filgaia fell into anarchy."
Yulie: "In order to protect themselves, the survivors organized into
villages and towns. Despite the harsh challenges, they're
trying to make the best of a terrible situation. But they've
got their hands full just trying to stay alive...The odds of
them being able to improve their lives are...well..."
Arnaud: "The Congressional Knights disappeared amidst all the chaos
and confusion. After all the violence that took place, the
peace that arrived seemed like one of tired desperation. But
that wasn't the sort of peace people had fought for during
the war... With no strength and no on left to build the
future, civilization slowly but surely began to regress...
That's the kind of world Filgaia has become in the 10 years
since the end of the war."
Jude: "Isn't there anything anyone can do?"
Raquel: "Everyone wants to do something about it. But in this world,
sometimes there are things that you just can't do anything
about... ... What would you do, faced with something like
that, Jude?"
Jude: "... I don't know... But... I don't like the idea of doing
nothing just because I don't know what it is I that I should
be doing... ... I really don't know what I should do, though..."
Raquel: "Yeah...I feel the same way...and I'm not one to just mope
around, either..."
[The party continues for awhile.]
Jude: "You said that the Global Union and the Congressional Knights
were the ones fighting, right? ... There was one thing I
didn't understand though. Which side was the bad one?"
Arnaud: "Kid...that's not how war works..."
Raquel: "Both sides had legitimate perspectives. That's what caused
the war to drag on for so long. Besides, wars can't be
categorized solely in terms of good and evil."
Yulie: "But a lot of people suffered because of the war... Even if
we can't say what's right and what's wrong, I still think it's
safe to say that war's a sad thing..."
Arnaud: "Well, you know how it is. People who throw around terms like
'good' and 'evil,' usually have a few screws loose anyway."
Jude: "Seriously?!"
Arnaud: "Remember that 'good' and 'evil' can easily be reversed,
depending on the time, place, and interpretation. That's how
vague and hard to pin down they are. Folks that were treated
as brave soldiers and heroes during the war are now
considered war criminals... Do you know what war criminals
are? They're the people whose war-time actions have been
judged as crimes. Although they were good at the time, the
world later labeled them evil. Giancana, the 'Soldier Prince,'
Granada, the 'Living Bomb'...they're all being held now on the
prison island of Illsveil. And Hauser--the 'Black Reaper'--the
hero of the Global Union, who has yet to be caught... At his
trial, from which he was absent, his prison sentences added up
to over 4000 years... Now do you see what I mean? To put it
bluntly, 'good' and 'evil' are just labels, not truths. The
only people who can use those words with a straight face are
swindlers, egoists, and children."
Jude: "Are you trying to treat me like a kid again? But...if what
you're saying is true, that's kind of..."
Raquel: "You can figure out for yourself what's true and what's not
as we go along. Facts don't always match up. The conclusions
you reach yourself will ultimately decide what's true for
you."
Jude: "Thanks, Raquel. Yeah...I'm going to think a lot...and try to
find my own truth."
[As the party passes through a courtyard with a giant statue, a
blast of gunfire stops them in their tracks.]
Arnaud: "Where'd that come from...?"
Raquel: "There!"
[On the top of a steeple off in the distance, a man with a long
gun stands looking at the party.]
Man: "Look, I know this mission was last minute and all, but I
can't belive they sent ME after some little girl..."
Jude: "What do you want with Yulie? Why can't you leave her alone!
Why do we have to fight one another?! The war... The war is
supposed to be over, isn't it?! So...why are you doing this?!
Man: "The war over? What are you talking about? Is that what you
think? That's the war's over? What'll it take to open your
eyes? If I beat her within an inch of her life and tear the
rest of you to shreds, will you finally understand?"
[Jude's ARM forms in his hand, reflexively.]
Man: "You say you want peace but what's that in your hand, huh?
It's a weapon! And look at this city! It's dead! Just like the
rest of this world destroyed by weapons!!
[The man jumps off the steeple and pulls out his gun, blowing the
statue to bits on the way down.]
Man: "The war...ain't over. Everybody is just pretending...
pretending not to see what's in front of their damn eyes!
[The man (Jeremy) attacks the party.]
Jeremy: "Come on, let's see you use it! The power that sparked and
fueled a war... Show me the power of ARMs!"
[The party defeats Jeremy with a little trouble.]
Jeremy: "What...the...?! Think you're pretty good, huh?"
[Jeremy raises his weapon to fire at the party, but midway through,
he falls backwards, unconscious. His gun discharges and hits the
steeple behind him, collapsing it on top of him.]
Arnaud: "Those are the kinds of people after Yulie...? We were really
lucky we managed to fight off someone like that. There's no
way we'll be as lucky the next time that happens... ... ...
... ...H-hey, guys...Let's hurry up and get moving while we
still have the chance!"
[The party gets out of the Celesti Ruins while the gettin's good.
A cutscene takes place a little while later at the scene of the
collapsed building. Jeremy blows his way out of the rubble.]
Jeremy: "You bunch of punks! I haven't lost, you hear me! That
ARM...it didn't beat me! Screw the mission! Like I give a
damn whether the brat's unharmed or not!! I'm gonna rip her
guts out!"
[Jeremy starts his pursuit, but sees a man on a motorcycle, holding
a music box in his hand (spin-off of A Few Dollars More?).]
Man: "The mission objectives must be executed at all costs. No
excuse or deviation will be tolerated."
Jeremy: "Kresnik! What are you, my keeper or something? Man! What
an annoying bastard!"
Kresnik: "Listen, your assignment here entailed bringing in the girl
unharmed. But if you allow your emotions to cloud your
judgment, I'm going to have to report you in. And I'll be
your judge, jury, and executioner, right here, right now, if
necessary..."
Jeremy: "Like I give a rat's ass about your rules. Stay outta my
way, Kresnik. I don't need a wet rag like you cramping my
style."
[Jeremy runs off after Jude's team. On the world map, the route to
the Great Stairway opens up.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 10. Great Stairway |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party arrives at the stairway which stretches over and across
the hills. It looks like the ruins of the biggest castle wall ever.]
Jude: "That guy...He referred to my ARM as the 'power that sparked
and fueled a war'... Weapons such as ARMs are responsible for
what happened to places like Ciel and that other town, aren't
they...? Maybe my power really can't protect anything..."
Yulie: "... My power, too, was born from war... Even now, adults are
pursuing me in order to obtain it..."
Jude: "When you said I wouldn't be able to turn back, this is what
you meant, wasn't it?"
Yulie: "..."
Raquel: "Remember when I told you that there are both good and bad
Drifters? And that I wanted to be a good Drifter?"
Jude: "Yeah..."
Raquel: "Well, it's the same for you. You just need to focus on using
your power for good, that's all."
Jude: "But I bet it's not as easy as it sounds, is it? I'll try my
best, and though I don't know what I should do, I don't want
to remain that way. I need to figure it out..."
[The party continues into the next screen.]
Arnaud: "I hope we won't be facing any more wackos like that guy we
ran into earlier, or else..."
Raquel: "Or else, what?"
Arnaud: "Ah...well...it's just...you know... From the start, I
haven't been all that thrilled about this. I've been feeling
like it's sure to get me mixed up in something bad..."
Yulie: "... I'm sorry..."
Arnaud: "..."
Raquel: "If this is how you've learned to deal with life, I can't say
I'm impressed. Stating your opinions after the fact and
talking about how you were right all aong isn't going to
convince anyone of anything... Although Jude's younger than
you are, even he knows better than that."
Arnaud: "Him? He's nothing more than a simple kid... I'm..."
Raquel: "What...?"
Arnaud: "... Sorry, I just got scared and freaked out a little. I'm
sorry, Yulie..."
Yulie: "It's okay, don't worry about it..."
Raquel: "Fortunately for us, we're not old enough yet to be expected
to shoulder every burden in silence. If you're scared, share
that with us. Nobody's going to hold it against you."
Jude: "She's right, Arnaud. We're friends and partners, right? When
something's wrong, go ahead and say so. We'll always be ready
to listen."
Arnaud: "I know I'm in trouble when a kid has to tell me that... All
right, Jude. When that time comes, I'll be counting on you."
[The party soon comes upon a merchant standing on the path.]
Tutorial: *You'll encounter these merchants during your journey. They
deal in weapons, armor, and items.
[The party continues on into the next screen.]
Yulie: "The facility where I grew up really wasn't an orphanage...
... It's a place where they performed research experiments on
orphaned children they had gathered there. In exchange for
room and board, we were subjected to various experiments, day
after day."
Jude: "Yulie..."
Yulie: "... I made lots of friends there...Friends who would suddenly
disappear without a trace... Each and every night, we went to
sleep dreading the arrival of another day."
Arnaud: "..."
Raquel: "..."
Yulie: "Even after the war ended, that facility quietly continued
with the experiments...and our suffering... ... The facility
was closed three years ago, and the remaining children taken
in by foster parents. All of us prayed constantly that we'd
never again have to return to that white orphanage..."
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 11. White Orphanage |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party arrives inside the 'orphanage,' and, not surprisingly,
find that it isn't a very kind looking place.]
Raquel: "It looks more like a large-scale medical facility than an
orphanage..."
Arnaud: "Other than that, it doesn't look that unusual."
Yulie: "... This is the block we lived in. Thinking back on it now,
they probably wanted it to look like an orphanage from the
outside..."
Jude: "Then the clues about my power aren't here, but rather..."
Yulie: "Yes, they'll be in the underground research facility...
Inside that dark room... Even while they did all those things
to us, the adults in the white coats kept saying... 'Our task
is to evolve the form that life takes.'"
Arnaud: "Evolve life?! By man's own hand? That's absurd..."
Yulie: "But that's what they said..."
[Jude continues on, finding a weird switch in a tunnel.]
Tutorial: *Pressing the ([]) button in the middle of a jump causes
Jude to drop quickly and stomp the ground beneath his feet.
[Inside the room opened by the switch:]
Jude: "I'm not really clear on what evolution is, but is it really
that special?"
Arnaud: "'Special' isn't quite it...Evolution isn't something people
can just do when they feel like it. For example... Say we
needed people with two or three feet long necks. What would
we have to do to make those sorts of people?"
Jude: "... What are you talking about? Is this some kind of riddle?"
Arnaud: "No! Listen... In order to make people with two feet long
necks, you'd put everyone in an environment where two feet
long necks are necessary, then wait a really long time. Do
that, and their necks'll probably get two feet long,
eventually."
Jude: "'Probably?' What if they don't?"
Arnaud: "Who knows? Generally, living things that are unable to
evolve, fail to adapt to their environment and die."
Jude: "Die?!"
Arnaud: "It's a story that's been repeated countless times throughout
the history of Filgaia. Us humans, too, were born from such
evolutionary processes which continue into the present...
And--"
Raquel: "...And research to accelerate these processes into the future
may have taken place right here...That's what this means?"
Arnaud: "... Artificial evolution...It's definitely a little hard to
swallow..."
[Arnaud goes over to a computer console.]
Arnaud: "... And there we are. That should restore most of the
facility's functionality."
Jude: "You're amazing, Arnaud. I didn't know you were so good with
machines and stuff."
Arnaud: "Well what do you know..."
Raquel: "What is it?"
Arnaud: "Hmm... Oh, it's just that...It looks like this terminal gives
me access to some interesting things."
Jude: "Interesting things?"
Raquel: "Leave this sort of thing to him. It's what he's good at."
Jude: "Yeah, I guess that's teamwork, too."
Arnaud: "... Allelic character, gene manipulation, ribosomes...
oligogenes, polygenes...environmental adaptation...mutation...
transition...nanotechnology...? ... Haha...What the hell...
They really were working on accelerating evolution... It
sounds ridiculous, but...it's just like Yulie said--it looks
like this really was an artificial evolution research
facility..."
Raquel: "But how could they actually accomplish such a thing?"
Yulie: "... Using viruses to alter genes...the acceleration of
evolution with nanotechnology..."
Arnaud: "That's tough for a regular human being like me to believe..."
Jude: "Huh? What do you mean...?!?"
Arnaud: "To put it simply...The evolutionary process I explained to
you a few minutes ago is called 'natural selection.' It's a
common theory that's been held for a long time."
Jude: "Uh-huh."
Arnaud: "With natural selection, environmental and other factors can
lead to some selection, but actual examples of evolution are
rare..."
Jude: "Uh-huh."
Arnaud: "Consequently, a large number of evolutionary hypotheses have
been proposed. One of them is the theory of viral evolution."
Jude: "Uh-huh."
Arnaud: "... It's nice that you're paying attention, but you don't
have to pretend to understand."
Jude: "Oh."
Arnaud: "Yulie...you must understand at least a little about your
power... But since it's so extraordinary, you decided that
rather than tell us yourself, it would be easier if we
learned about it here. ...Am I right?"
Yulie: "... Yes...I'm so sorry..."
Raquel: "It's okay. This was your way of telling us about yourself,
right?"
Yulie: "Well...I don't know everything about it myself. But I can
tell you what my foster father, who was originally a researcher
here, told me after the facility was closed. ... I think it
might give us some clues about Jude's power..."
Jude: "My...power..."
[In one of the hallways, a half-human monster kept in a large tube
awakens and lunges out to fight the party.]
Arnaud: "What the...? It's functional?! How can that be?"
Jude: "Well I remember SOMEONE reactivating the facility!"
Arnaud: "Now it's my fault?!"
Raquel: "This isn't the time, you two! If you stand there arguing,
it's going to get us!"
[They defeat the monster.]
Jude: "What the heck was that...?"
Yulie: "... Here they manipulated genes, and sought to evolve life
into new forms. The evolutionary mutant that attacked us just
now...it was an unnatural life form... It was created by
twisting other pre-existing life forms into something new..."
Arnaud: "Some form of previously existing life forms? You mean like
animals and insects?"
Raquel: "Or...you can't mean..."
Jude: "..."
Yulie: "... The facility took in quite a large number of children.
Bitter medicines...the intense pain from immune rejection...
the isolated operating table on which I had spent so much
time... That's what my days were like. And as time passed,
all my friends disappeared one by one. Now that the facility
is closed, even the children that were left there are
probably..."
[Yulie has a flashback. She's crying and a man is comforting her.]
????: "Don't cry, Yulie... I'm leavnig so that I can better protect
you, alright? So please stop crying, okay? And it's not just
you...I'm going to protect the entire world... I'm going to
assure a future in which everyone can live in peace. ... I
have to go now...so please don't cry. I'd like to hear you
sing, like you always used to do... If you sing for me, I
won't feel lonely, either. So, please Yulie..."
[The flashback ends with the boy being led out of the room by
soldiers. Jude wonders what's going on.]
Jude: "...Yulie...? What's wrong? You're spacing out..."
Yulie: "...I...I'm sorry...I was just remembering some things that
happened a long time ago..."
Jude: "..."
[In the next room:]
Yulie: "After much research, experiments using virus-sized microscopic
machines to directly manipulate DNA began. It had finally come
to testing artificial viral evolution... ... The inborn
characteristics of each individual test subject probably
affected the results... An extremely small number of cases were
identified as successes. Those included my older brother...the
19 other children who remained...and me."
Jude: "Your older brother...? What happened to you and your older
brother after that...?"
Yulie: "...Technically, the experiment was a success but...no one was
able to provide the results the adults were looking for... I
was categorized as a B+...The other children were all
categorized as F's or lower. In other words, despite everything
they did to our bodies, those adults decided we were
defective..."
Jude: "Defective?! They treated you...You mean they treated people
like objects?!"
Yulie: "In this place...people, lives, they're all just test subjects.
My brother was WG919F...I was WG920B+...Those ID codes were the
only identities we had."
[In the next room, there are a lot of crates stacked on one another.]
Tutorial: *You can break wooden crates, regardless of their size, by
sliding into them.
[In the next room:]
Jude: "...I don't understand. Was evolution so important to them, that
they had to do those horrible things to you?!"
Yulie: "..."
Arnaud: "The evolution itself was just likely a means to an end...
Their goal was to probably gain something from its success..."
Raquel: "Do you know what that 'something' was, Yulie...?"
Yulie: "...I...It's..."
Voice: "If you don't want to say it, perhaps I should tell them for
you?"
[The voice belongs to Jeremy.]
Jude: "You! You're that...! Did you follow us?!"
Jeremy: "What, did you think you could get rid of me that easily? I'm
a Lieutenant of the Brionac Forces. I can't just go back with
my tail tucked between my legs, after losing to a bunch of
kids."
Jude: "The Brionac Forces...Is that what you people chasing after
Yulie call yourselves? ... Were you also the ones who built this
facility and did those terrible things to Yulie...?!"
Jeremy: "No, stupid. Brionac doesn't do stuff like that. This is an
artificial evolution lab which the Congressional Knights
controlled during the war. They chose the path of evolution
in their search for a way to mass-produce heroes. Basically,
they wanted to create human weapons that could help them win
the war."
Jude: "Mass-produce heroes...? Weapons to win the war?!"
Jeremy: "Surely you've heard of 'Hauser,' haven't you? He was the
'Black Reaper' of the Global Union... The goal of the research
that took place here was to create artificial gene drivers or
people with ARM compatibility. Their objective was to
mass-produce heroes who were equal in power to Hauser
himself!"
Yulie: "So many tears and so much blood was shed in this place... And
yet, after all that...not a single one of us ever displayed
complete ARM compatibility! That's why these terrible
experiments and the facility were closed down!"
Jeremy: "Yeah...that may be so. But...There IS a gene driver right
here. A human weapon..."
Jude: "What?! Me...?"
Jeremy: "This facility's databanks have no record of your existence.
You're not a product of any experiments that took place
here... In other words, you're a natural born gene driver!!"
Jude: "That can't be... Are you saying...I was born with this
power...? This power they couldn't obtain even by doing all
those terrible things to Yulie and her brother? Are you saying
that my power's...that it's the power to control ARMs?!"
Jeremy: "Right you are. A heroic wunderkind who's got the power to
control ARMs... *heh heh* Now this is getting interesting."
Jude: "What's so funny?! There's nothing funny about it!"
Jeremy: "Look, kid, I've got a job to do...I have to take this girl
into custody. So tell me what you want to do. My orders said
nothing about you--so if you want to run and hide, I'm not
gonna come after you..."
Arnaud: "...J...Jude, c'mon..."
Jude: "My ARM is the very power they wanted for the war...This thing
is the reason why Yulie was made to suffer! Yet despite that,
I'm going to use this power to protect Yulie! I promised her I
would!"
[The battle with Jeremy starts.]
Jeremy: "Hmph! I've been waiting for this moment. After all, I've got
a score to settle with you and your ARM!"
Jude: "You'd fight for such little reason? No wonder the war won't
end!!"
[Jeremy uses Inertia Cancel +1.]
Tutorial: *Jeremy's special ability, 'Inertial Canceller,' not only
allows him to cancel a reaction to an action, but also take
another action on top of that. As such, Jeremy's actions
are not determined by the battle turn order, so it is best
to proceed with caution.
[The party defeats Jeremy.]
Jeremy: "What the...no frickin' way..."
Jude: "Now you better leave Yulie alone!"
[Jeremy kneels in pain.]
Jude: "Now I'm gonna..."
[Jude runs to attack him.]
Raquel: "...?! Jude, stop! Don't go rushing in!"
Jeremy: "Gotcha! I was just bluffing."
[Jeremy knocks Jude on his rear and points his massive chain gun
at his face.]
Jude: "Oh no!"
Jeremy: "Don't get cocky, ya little brat! You may be an ARM user just
like Hauser, but there's no way I'm gonna let some kid get the
best of me!"
[Yulie steps in front of the chain gun.]
Jeremy: "My my...what noble and selfless spirit you have! *hmph* It
only serves to annoy me! Little girl, betcha think I won't
pull the trigger, huh? Jeez, this whole thing is such a
pain... Screw this. I'm just gonna kill you all!"
[The chain gun starts to spin, but Kresnik's motorcycle drops down
from the glass roof and spins in front of Yulie. He also has a large
gun drawn, and he's pointing it at Jeremy.]
Jeremy: "...What do you think you're doing?"
Yulie: "Huh?! It can't be...! But there's no other way I would mistake
him for another. Why is my brother, Kresnik, here?"
Jeremy: "Did you say...brother?! Ahh...now it all makes sense. You
volunteered to keep an eye on me, so that you could watch over
your dear little sister from the shadows, huh? Are you
betraying Brionac?! Huh, Kresnik??"
Kresnik: "The only traitor here is you, Jeremy... Remember the
highest priority of the mission is to secure the target--
Yulie Ahtreide--completely unharmed... Or had you forgotten?"
Jeremy: "You're always so damned serious about everything..."
Arnaud: "It looks like there's a lot goin' on here, but this is our
chance! Run for it!"
Raquel: "Run where?!"
Arnaud: "Anywhere! As far away from here as possible. Sorry, Yulie,
but your tearful reunion will have to wait!"
[The party runs down a mesh walkway and leaves Kresnik and Jeremy to
their standoff. A cutscene starts in the Brionac Base.]
Augst: "We've received a transmission from the Eulalia. They've
successfully secured the girl and are now enroute to Garra de
Leon."
Farmel: "Just as planned...that's our Augst."
Augst: "No, it was the Captain's ability we have to thank. After all,
'Blue Destiny' allowed us to see into the future and know that
the children would take this path in search for their roots.
As Advisor, I merely analyzed the Captain's data and drew up
what I thought was the best plan. I do not possess superhuman
powers as you all do... So unimpressive as it may be, my only
means to carry out assignments is to use the information I
obtain to build up plans, piece by piece."
Lambda: "Yes, Brinoac is a collection of people with superhuman
abilities. That's exactly why we need someone like yourself.
Without some normalcy to light our way, it would be difficult
for us to remain standing on a battlefield filled with
darkness."
Farmel: "Oh just look at how much he needs you...I'm so jealous!"
Lambda: "Now Augst...things are going to get busy."
Augst: "The work of excavating the Divine Weapon is nearing
completion. And once we assemble the keys to unlock its
seal..."
Lambda: "...the High Council's Future Conception Project can be put
into motion. Light will shine once again upon this dying
world."
Farmel: "But will that project really bring light to Filgaia? You
couldn't see into the future of the High Council members,
right?"
Lambda: "That is correct. However, even if I cannot see into their
future, I believe that we work toward the same goals and
proceed forward together. Just as you and I, though our
thoughts may be different, are able to walk the same path."
Farmel: "Yes...As for me, I don't care what kind of world it is, as
long as you're there. I'll follow you anywhere, for the world
you exist in, is where I want to be."
Augst: "Commander Farmel, you're not trying to keep the Captain all to
yourself, are you? We can't have any of that, you know. I hope
you'll share him with me for at least a good portion of each
day."
Farmel: "Are you...serious...?!"
Augst: "Of course not. I'm only joking. But please do not forget that
the Captain is essential in the world to come."
Farmel: "Your jokes are as difficult to fathom as ever..."
Lambda: "Looks like I may need to clone myself in the near future,
just to satisfy everyone around here. But first, we must
complete our mission. Augst, continue to maintain
communications with the Eulalia, will you?"
Augst: "Yes, Sir. After all, the mission can't be considered to be
complete until everyone has returned safely to base."
Farmel: "You sound like you're talking about a field trip..."
[The view changes back to Jude's team, who're locked out from being
able to go back and see Kresnik.]
Yulie: "I checked the door we came through, but...it's locked."
Jude: "So doesn't that mean that guy can't come after us?"
Arnaud: " *heh* Always looking on the bright side, aren't you, kid?
It also means we're trapped in here."
Jude: "Oh, yeah... Whoa! what the?!"
[The ground starts to shake under everyone.]
Raquel: "An earthquake?!"
Arnaud: "No, it's... ... Great...it looks like we walked right into
a moving trap..."
[Out of the ground, the roof starts to retract, making it evident
that this is hangar for an airship. Somewhere, the High Council is
talking about the endeavor.]
Councilman: "The future shall soon be ours! And Yulie Ahtreide, she
is the key to bringing it about!"
Councilman: "The means to shape the future...and to think we once
opposed this line of thought!! It has been a long
journey indeed, to reach this point."
Councilman: "Some truths can only be seen from afar. The people are
so ignorant, and their ignorance serves only to cloud
the future of the world!"
Councilman: "Then we shall burn all those clouds away! Democracy
cannot illuminate the future, for only the chosen ones
are able to do that!"
High Minister Clifford: "We, who are the leaders of he future! We,
who are worthy to govern that future! We have the
wisdom! We have the power! There is but one thing we
still lack... Yet with the shrouded sword, and the key
to the seal, we shall overcome that as well. Oh Ye
Fates, bring us the girl, the key to the future! Guide
us as we raise the Divine Weap on from the depths of
the earth!"
[The cutscene ends and the view switches back to the Jude's team,
who are not airborne on the airship.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 12. Aerial Fortress Eulalia |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
Raquel: "To think, we had to take Yulie away from her brother, right
after they finally found one another... ... What is it,
Arnaud? What are you up to? Are you thinking of a way for us
to escape from here?"
Arnaud: "Yes, of course I am but... ... Well it's really minor, but
there's something that's bugging me. I feel like the facts
aren't adding up, and it's making the truth difficult to
see."
Raquel: "The facts? And what truth...?"
Arnaud: "That guy--Jeremy, wasn't it? He said that the facility where
Yulie grew up was researching artificial evolution in order
to mass-produce gene drivers with ARM compatibility."
Raquel: "And that Jude wasn't a product of that research, but rather
a natural born gene driver... Wait...?!"
Arnaud: "...Exactly. Simply put...why are they after Yulie rather
than Jude--who is a complete version of what they were trying
to create?"
Yulie: "... There's more than one type of genetic ARM compatibility...
My ability doesn't allow me to control ARMs directly... But I
can interact with ARMs that are already active, and adjust or
control them. For example, my ability to perform Material
Drives on the Guardian programs is an application of that
ability."
Arnaud: "How does that work?"
Yulie: "I don't know the exact details, myself... Apparently, I can
control natural phenomena via microscopic ARM devices which
are distributed throughout the land and air..."
Arnaud: "Localized weather control? No, it's got to be something more
sinister than that...Perhaps some kind of meteorological
weapon...?
[Jude and Raquel just listen to Arnaud.]
Jude: "Do you get what he's talking about?"
Raquel: "I understand that we should definitely leave Arnaud in
charge of the thinking from now on."
Arnaud: "... Yulie's power...The Material Drives on the Guardian
programs are certainly impressive, but... If power were their
only concern, they'd be interested in Jude as well... It
sounds like power isn't the only thing they're after... There
may be a hidden truth lurking in between the facts...and the
real reason why they're after Yulie..."
Jude: "Who cares? Their motive doesn't matter. Even I know that much.
Protecting Yulie is what's important."
Raquel: "If we're going to do that, we'll need to escape from here.
That means there's only one thing for us to do."
Jude: "If we give up, it's all over."
Arnaud: "You think you can solve everything by rushing headlong into
action, don't you? Kids, I tell you..."
[The party sets out. Eventually, Jude comes to a pole.]
Tutorial: *If Jude comes in contact with a pipe during a jump, he'll
grab on to it. Use the directional buttons to climb up or
down.
[The party continues until they come to a pathway over the open sky.]
Jude: "Just when did we get airborne?!"
Raquel: "A flying machine from the war...?! No, it's much larger than
that!"
Arnaud: "There must be a means to escape from here. Perhaps some
sort of aircraft..."
Yulie: "Arnaud, do you know how to operate one?!"
Arnaud: "Although I've never actually held a flight stick myself, my
father was a pilot during the war. I've heard him talk about
the basics."
Jude: "You rule, Arnaud!"
Raquel: "...To think, we're going to be relying on some second-hand
piloting skills... But it looks like we don't have any other
choice. We're counting on you to manage somehow."
Arnaud: "Believe me, my gumption surprises even me. But you can count
on me and my abilities above the neck."
[Later, Jude sees a pipe hanging horizontally.]
Tutorial: *If Jude comes in contact with a pipe during a jump, he will
grab on to it and hang from it. Press the left or right
directional buttons to move while hanging. Press the (/\)
button while hanging to climb on top of the pipe. Press the
([]) button to let go of the pipe and drop down.
[On the way through, the party's attacked by a boss not unlike the
one they fought in White Orphanage.]
Yulie: "It's another evolutionary mutant..."
Arnaud: "This one doesn't look like the other one. It must be fully
functional."
Raquel: "Looks like they're pulling out all the stops in their
efforts to stop us."
Jude: "What should we do?! We don't have that many options."
Yulie: "We should keep moving forward...For our sake, as well as his."
[The party defeats the evolutionary mutant.]
Raquel: "Well, we've managed somehow, but...this place is huge. It's
like a flying fortress..."
Arnaud: "Something this scale...it's got to be an airborne
battleship...Or perhaps a flying carrier...Which means there
should be at least a few aircraft on board. Let's hurry up
and find 'em!"
Jude: "Yeah, and get the heck outta here!"
[Soon, the party finds a giant box lying near a save point.]
Tutorial: *These vending machines can be found hidden away in dungeons
and perform the same function as shops. Who placed them
there? How do they restock their items? Nobody knows.
[Past the save point, the party finds some army members, who stick
their gun barrels in their direction immediately.]
Raquel: "We'd like to speak to the person in charge! We don't want
any bloodshed. Release us, and there won't be any trouble!"
Jude: "And stop chasing after Yulie!"
Soldier: "No need to bother the Lieutenant with this! They may be
aggressive, but they're only children! It's nothing we can't
handle!"
[The party defeats the last of the soldiers.]
Soldier: "Damn...How can these kids...be so strong... ... We'll see
how you fare against Lieutenant Scythe. He'll teach you a
lesson. Lieutenant Scythe is a member of the elite Brionac
Forces...and a legendary Crimson Noble. You'll need more...
than a strong will...and luck...to beat him."
[The soldier dies.]
Arnaud: "A Crimson Noble...?! It's just one insane thing after
another..."
Jude: "'Crimson Noble'?"
Yulie: "An old race, spoken of in legends and fairy tales. They look
like regular people, but they're said to be far more
powerful..."
Raquel: "They supposedly drink blood, and their names are spoken with
fear. They are the rulers of demons, the kings of the
undead..."
Jude: "Whoa..."
Raquel: "To think that they really exist..."
Jude: "If...if they really do exist, how are we supposed to fight
them?"
Arnaud: "That's an easy one...We run! If we start taking on every
legendary monster we run across, there's no way we're going
to survive!"
[In the control room, Arnaud goes over to a flight device.]
Jude: "I noticed this as the orphanage, but you're really good with
these machines, Arnaud! It's pretty amazing how reliable
everything above your neck is!"
Raquel: "I won't disagree with you, but you really should choose your
words more carefully, Jude. What you just said isn't
necessarily a compliment."
Arnaud: "It's all right...if there's one thing I'm happy about with
myself, it's what I've got goin' on upstairs... ... I lost
my mother during the war. Not such an unusual thing in itself,
but I was even younger than Jude at the time. I just thought
Mom had gone way up into the sky. I begged my father to teach
me how to fly so that I could go up and see her someday...
... I admired my father...but because of that, I was also
quick to lose respect for him... In the confusion after the
war, my father was saddled with a debt he didn't even incur.
He was always being hounded by the collectors, and seeing how
powerless he was, I swore I'd never wind up like him. I wasn't
good at physical activity, so I put my all into studying
instead. I wanted an intellect that was as sharp as a razor.
I wasn't going to let anyone deceive me. If it came down to
'trick or be tricked,' I was definitely going to be in the
first camp..."
Jude: "Arnaud..."
Arnaud: "Anyway...why is it these stories about the past are always
so boring...? All right, this should do it! The door to the
deck should be open now. I've located the aircraft, too. Now
let's get the heck out of here!"
[As the party leaves to the deck, a cutscene at the Brionac Base
occurs.]
Lambda: "The scheduled communication is late... ...Can you open a
channel to Scythe?"
Augst: "Under these conditions, could it be that..."
Lambda: "...Yes..."
Farmel: "What's wrong? It's not like you to be so worried. Or is
Scythe, the Crimson Noble, not up to handling this matter on
his own?"
Lambda: "No...I just wanted to tell him to be careful..."
Augst: "The Brinoac Lieutenants possess superhuman combat abilities.
You know that as well as any of us, Captain. And most of all,
his opponents are mere children... The mere thought that
Scythe could lose and wind up looking like a child himself is
inconceivable, don't you think?"
Lambda: "...It's precisely because his opponents are children that he
needs to be careful..."
[On the deck of the Eulalia, the party finds the aircraft. Scythe is
also standing around, waiting for them.]
Scythe: "My...that was fast. I knew if I kept an eye on the aircraft,
you'd end up here."
Jude: "You're a Crimson Noble?!"
Scythe: "Mmm...such fresh, succulent children... You look so tasty
and sweet..."
Arnaud: "He...he really is a Crimson Noble! Run! There's no way we
can take someone like him on!"
Raquel: "We're completely surrounded by nothing but sky. Where do you
intend on running to? Besides, the very reason we came here
was to find the means of escaping, right? Time to face the
facts, Arnaud! Our only means of escape lies on the other
side of him!"
Arnuad: "Why do I always wind up in situations like this? I swear,
my life is like a broken record!"
[Scythe attacks.]
Scythe: "You're probably getting bored with this aerial adventure,
aren't you? Well do I have a special treat in store for you.
I'll give you a taste of my mastery over the fabric of space
on the battlefield!"
Jude: "'Fabric of space?' What are you talking about?!"
Scythe: "That Lieutenant Scythe is none other than a Crimson Noble...
and a master over space itself!"
[Scythe's turn comes up.]
Arnaud: "The amount of magic welling up in him is insane!"
Jude: "You can tell?"
Arnaud: "Magic's my specialty...I can't help but sense it. He's
beyond inhuman...Maybe he is a Crimson Noble!"
Jude: "Arnaud, it's all about teamwork. I'm sure if we combine our
powers together--"
Arnaud: "It doesn't matter how many of us there are! We're only
human! We don't stand a change against him!"
[The party defeats Scythe, but not before he uses Noble Madness and
brings their HP to one.]
Scythe: "My mastery over the fabric of space allows me to attack or
defend at will on the battlefield. I've no patience for
children who defy adults, nor for mere humans who are to
challenge a Crimson Noble!"
Jude: "Don't you dare touch Yulie..."
Scythe: "I wouldn't dream of it. I'm well used to dealing with women,
you know. I've no intention of causing her any harm..."
Jude: "...
Scythe: "But you children are another story entirely. You've caused a
lot of trouble on my ship, and I've no choice but to make you
pay for your actions. ... So...how about a little illegal
dumping from the sky...?"
Arnaud: "W-whoa, wait! You're a Crimson Noble, aren't you? You should
just lock us up somewhere! You don't want to kill us! That
way, you can feed off us, whenever you like! Mmm, doesn't
that sound yummy?!"
Scythe: "Mmm...I'm afraid I must decline your offer. If I let you
live, there's a chance it might cause problems for Brionac
later. Belial is the only one I need to supply me with
blood...She satisfies me quite well. Speaking of which...
I wonder where she is? I've drained my power, and could use
a litlte pick me up..."
[Cutscene time. Arnaud runs away, shaking, and hides behind a panel.]
Scythe: "My my...where do you plan to go now. Don't you know there's
no where to escape on this ship...
[Jude stands in front of Scythe as he walks to Arnaud.]
Scythe: "Oh...? Don't tell me you're defending that coward?"
Jude: "No..."
Scythe: "Then what are you doing, standing in front of me with
that battered and bloody body of yours?"
Jude: "No! Arnaud's not a coward!"
Scythe: "Well if he's not a poster child for cowardice, what is he?
Not only did he surrender immediately just to save his own
hide...but he was ready to betray you all at the drop of a
hat!"
Jude: "No! How many times do I have to say it?! Arnaud isn't a
coward. Arnaud... Arnaud's our friend! And friends look out
for each other!"
[Arnaud, who was hiding, rises up and pushes some buttons the
panel behind him.]
Jude: "Arnaud?!"
[An airship on the carrier's engines fire up and jets right
towards Scythe and Jude.]
Scythe: "What in the world...?!"
Arnaud: "Juuuuuuuuuuuude!!!"
[Jude uses his Accelerator and gets out of the way.]
Scythe: "Maximum power!"
[Scythe tries to warp out but finds he can't do anything except
look at all the airplanes tumbling towards him now.]
Scythe: "What the hell am I supposed to--"
[All the airplanes blow up on Scythe, killing him.]
Jude: "Arnaud! Arnaud, you saved us!! Thank you so much!"
Arnaud: "Uh...yeah..."
Jude: "But...how can we escape now? Maybe there are others.
Let's go look!"
[Arnaud just looks at his shivering hand. Raquel puts her hand
in his.]
Raquel: "Will it help if...if I hold your hand?"
Arnaud: "I'm sorry...I'm such a coward. My intellect is the only
thing I've got going for me."
Raquel: "That may be so. But your intellect alone didnt' save
us...it was also your heart."
Arnaud: "I don't know if you'll believe me, but I've always
wanted to become a better person..and more...more of a
man. Hey...your hands! They're really cold..."
[Raquel looks around nervously, but any further questions about
her hands are interrupted as the woman who hangs around Scythe
(Belial) furiously floats in the air.]
Belial: "Who...has done such a thing? You! You're the ones that did
this? You're the ones...who murdered Scythe, didn't
yoooooou?!"
[Belial opens a gigantic space-time field and starts sucking the
party in, as well as the debris from the airship...and the airship
itself. Cut to the Brionac Base.]
Augst: "All communications with the Eulalia have been cut off...
We can't even determine its present coordinates. What should
we do?"
Farmel: "I can't believe this could happen to Scythe, the Crimson
Noble..."
Lambda: "Ah yes, I've been meaning to speak about that... Scythe
isn't really a Crimson Noble. He just believed he was."
Farmel: "What?! How can you drop a bomb like that and still maintain
a straight face?!"
Augst: "Scythe is a hematophiliac. He felt a constant urge to drink
blood...and eventually began to believe that he was a Crimson
Noble."
Farmel: "Now that I think about it, in the old fairy tales, Crimson
Nobles never could walk outside in broad daylight. But if
he's not a Crimson Noble, then...how is he able to control
the fabric of space...?"
Lambda: "The source of Scythe's power is the woman he keeps at his
side, Belial. Unlike Scythe, she really isn't human."
Augst: "By sipping Belial's blood, Scythe temporarily gains the power
to affect the fabric of space. Conversely, Belial's power is
far more powerful than that of Scythe. If Scythe's ability is
to 'control' space, then Belial's power could be described as
absolute mastery over it..."
Farmel: "...That's not one of your jokes, is it?"
Augst: "This hardly seems to be the proper time for jokes..."
Farmel: "...How unbelievable...Oh well, I guess it really doesn't
matter at this point."
Augst: "Was my explanation satisfactory?"
Farmel: "Well they do say women are monsters, don't they? I guess
it isn't too hard to convince myself that it's entirely
possible."
Lambda: "The problem is that despite the attendance of two powerful
members, the progress of the mission has been jeopardized.
Have the unknown factors introduced a force so strong that it
can alter the future I saw? If so, we must deal with it
immediately. Augst, I want you to continue investigating the
situation onboard the Eulalia."
August: "Understood."
Lambda: "Farmel, arrange a train to escort the heretic engineers to
Garra de Leon. Also, call a meeting of the Brionac
Lieutenants."
Farmel: "I've already arranged for the Silver Star Expres so go on
ahead and enjoy your private trip, traversing the abandoned
tracks. ... But...when you say 'assemble the Lieutenants,'
do you mean...Well, are you saying to assemble ALL of them?"
Lambda: "Hmm, all of them, eh... ... No, I don't think it's necessary
to play our trump card just yet..."
Farmel: "Understood. I'll see that the summons reaches all Lieutenants
under my command by the time Kresnik returns."
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 13. Wunderweltraum |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party appears in a weird subspace, with floating airship parts
all around. Belial floats in front of them.]
Belial: "You bastards...You're going to pay for taking my dear
Scythe from me... I'll take my sweet time killing you,
and I'll make sure you suffer every agonizing moment of
it... Otherwise, Scythe will surely never be able to
rest in peace. I've created a subspace from which you
can NEVER escape. Now, let your struggles begin..."
[Belial leaves and the party continues.]
Yulie: "Look!"
[Part of the broken Eulalia disappears out of thin air.]
Raquel: "Part of the subspace disappeared? It seems she's trying to
tell us that she cannot only create but destroy this space
at will. And it doesn't look like she intends for us to get
out of here either..."
Jude: "What should we do...?"
Arnaud: "If she's the one who made this place, then the only thing we
can do is go and find her. If she made it, then she should
know how to undo it, too. Man, why did we have to get caught
up in this..."
[The party continues on a bit.]
Arnaud: "Wow, it looks as if a war took place here... No, it's a
graveyard for weapons..."
Raquel: "... The wounds brought about by the war still remain, even
though the war itself has ended...Just like with me..."
Yulie: "...Huh...?"
Raquel: "Ah, it's nothing...just being sentimental. Right now, we've
got more important things to worry about..."
[Five monsters attack the party.]
Jude: "Go ahead! I'll take you on!"
[They defeat the monsters.]
Raquel: "By interacting with the subspace, she's able to track us
down, no matter where we run. This entire world is her
creation... She may have the same ability as that other guy,
but she's clearly more powerful."
Arnaud: "...You may be right. Nevertheless, that's exactly why we
just might have a chance..."
Jude: "What are you thinking, Arnaud?"
Arnaud: "Mmm...it's just a hunch but... ... The next time we face
her, I want everyone to hit her with everything we've got.
Fight like there's no tomorrow, alright? With enough effort,
I think we might have a shot at breaking out of this
subspace!"
[In the seventh area, they find Belial.]
Belial: "Welcome to the farthest reaches of my world. Here, you
shall meet your end."
Jude: "I don't think so! I'm gonna protect everyone... That's the
purpose of having this power."
Belial: "...Protect? How amusing... Tell me, then, what I should do?
Since I was unable to protect my dear Scythe?"
Jude: "Huh?!"
Belial: "You, who protect those you care about, and I, who failed
to do so... Show me the difference between your fight and
mine!"
[The battle with Belial starts.]
Jude: "No...our fight...and your fight...They AREN'T the same..."
Belial: "How amusing...Pray tell me then, how do they differ? There
is no difference when you take up arms and kill your enemies,
is there?"
[The party defeats Belial.]
Belial: "This isn't...possible! How can I...be defeated...by mere
humans? Spineless, weak, and mortal that they are? And by
some snot-nosed kids, no less. How is this possible...?
How can I lose to mere humans? What have you done?"
Arnaud: "We haven't done a thing. It was all you..."
Belial: "...?!"
Arnaud: "That other guy who could also control space said, "I've
drained my power, and could use a little pick me up.' So
seeking revenge and creating this subspace to prevent our
escape, is what did you in. Interacting with space consumes
an inordinate amount of energy in a short period of time,
right? In your case, you didn't just cause minor local
alterations, you created an entire alternate universe! And
you're that much weaker because of it!"
Raquel: "So that's what you meant when you said 'With enough effort,
I think we might have a shot at breaking out of this
subspace!'"
Arnaud: "Just my razor-sharp mind at work..."
Belial: "...Foolish humans...think you've won, do you? But you won't
escape from here... I'll destroy this subspace...After all,
it takes an inordinate amount of energy just to maintain it!
You'll be crushed by the collapse of this space! These are
the furthest reaches... There'll be no escape from death!"
[Belial warps out.]
Arnaud: "Listen up, guys! She said this is the deepest part of the
subspace, right? If we look at it the other way around, then
the farthest place from here, is right where we first came
in--"
Yulie: "...the entrance to our world?!"
Arnaud: "At least it MAY be the place we're looking for... But there's
only one way to find out if I'm right or wrong...and for that,
we need to run like hell!"
[The party runs back to the entrace as the subspace deteriorates
around everyone. Raquel stumbles on the last leg, however.]
Jude: "Raquel?!"
Arnaud: "What are you doing?!"
Raquel: "...I'm not good at running...it's okay...you go on...
Your life has more value than mine."
Arnaud: "Don't you dare talk like that! All you need to do is stand
up, and follow me!"
[Arnaud takes her hand they run across a propeller, just making it
back to the start of the world.]
Raquel: "Thanks...I owe you one... ... I'm all right...you can let
go now..."
Arnaud: "I'm not used to doing that sort of thing... I'm...still
shaking... ... Just a little bit longer...won't you help
me stop the shaking?"
[Belial warps in.]
Belial: "...I've had enough of you! Now, draw your weapons...let's
settle this once and for all. I'll put an end to everything!"
[The last battle with Belial starts.]
Belial: "When will you recognize that there is no difference between
your fight and mine... The strong will crush the weak... from
time immemorial, this has been and continues to be the
universal rule."
Jude: "You're wrong! ... You people attacked my village...and hurt
those that I care for...and now, you won't leave Yulie alone...
But I... I'm not fighting for vengeance! ... I'm fighting so
that the strong won't prey on the weak...and to prevent that
from ever happening again! It isn't easy...taking up this ARM...
After all, it's a weapon which takes lives away so easily. It's
a power born of war! And it's not something to be used lightly,
the way you people do!"
[Belial racks up another loss on her record.]
Belial: *gasp* "...How...amusing...You spout off about the gravity
of ARMs...Then you ought to know the weight of your words.
Over the ages, I bore witness...As humans waged countless
wars, from one generation to the next...Power used to take,
not save lives. ...Yet you children, you who inherit the
earth and wield this power, you espouse different ideals?
How ironic...if such a thing were possible...then Scythe
and I...if only we..."
[Belial dies, fading away. The entire world starts to be shaken up.]
Yulie: "It's almost..as if a powerful force is pulling at it.
Jude "What's happening...Arnaud?!"
Arnaud: "Hey, I don't always have the answers! Why don't you try
thinking for yourself?"
Raquel: "You think this is way out, don't you, Arnaud? Then we'll
just have to trust your instincts!"
[A cutscene takes place in the Brionac Base.]
Augst: "There has been no communications from the Eulalia at all. It
appears that they were unable to complete their mission."
Farmel: "It's almost too much to believe. I never would have thought
a Brionac Lieutenant could lose."
Lambda: "Nevertheless, we must face reality. We have failed the
assignment we had sworn to complete and betrayed the
expectations of the High Council. Isn't that right?
Commander Kresnik...and Lieutenant Jeremy?"
Jeremy: "It was a bad thing...and I shouldn't have underestimated
them just because they were kids! I won't screw it up next
time. I'll secure Yulie Ahtreide, unharmed. The task will be
my top priority, over all else. So, Captain--"
Farmel: "The only thing less appealing than an unsightly man, is one
who doesn't know when to quit."
Jeremy: "But Farmel... ... This has to be a joke...and a bad one at
that. *laughter* Isn't that right? Augst, this is one of your
jokes, right? Say something will ya? Otherwise, I..."
Augst: "I do enjoy jokes, but I don't count tolerating failure among
my hobbies. After all, it's necessary to acknowledge one's
faults."
Jeremy: "If that's how it's going to be..."
Farmel: "My, what menace he exudes...He looks like he's about to
burst. Surely you aren't thinking about doing anything silly?
I'd really advise you against it. After all, I am the fortress
that guards Brionac's ideals..."
Kresnik: "And I am the lance that enforces Brionac's ideals. Know that
any misbehavior will need to answer to us."
Augst: "Violation of service regulations and second-degree
insubordination...You've earned yourself a transfer to a new
post, Jeremy. Why don't you cool your heels for a while over
at Illsveil Prison island."
Jeremy: "Don't forget, Kresnik...I know all about your..."
[Some guards come up behind Jeremy.]
Lambda: "Jeremy...I do not like your ferocity. We can use your
ferocity to force into motion that which has stagnated. When
the time comes, let us fight together once again. For you,
too, are one of Lambda's Elite...a member of Brionac."
Jeremy: "Enlisted soldiers...? You're sending THESE guys to escort
me?! Hey! Don't you DARE touch me! I can make it to Illsveil
by my damn self!! And I'll make it back that way, too!!"
[Jeremy exits.]
Lambda: "We appreciate your hard work, Kresnik. Continue to watch
over your sister carefully."
Kresnik: "If it is for the sake of this world's future..."
Augst: "Just before the Eulalia was lost, we observed a spatial
distortion reaction...most likely caused by Belial. Let's
start our trace near the dimensional nexus stones she
established. If anyone is able to return, that is where they
are most likely to appear."
Farmel: "Who do you intend to send in pursuit?"
Augst: "If we are to ensure our success, it would be inadvisable to
send the Lieutenants one at a time. To guarantee the completion
of the mission, we must concentrate our forces while preparing
for all possible contingencies."
Lambda: "I'll leave the administration of our forces in this matter to
you, Augst. I'd like you to formulate a foolproof plan."
Augst: "Yes, Sir. I shall not fail to meet your expectations."
Lambda: "Now then, what would you like to do, Kresnik? Will you
remain on standby until Augst's plan is ready?"
Kresnik: "No...I..."
Lambda: "I'll let you decide what's best for you while on standby...
You may do as you please."
Kresnik: "Understood. I'll be on standby for the time being. As soon
as my orders are ready, I'll join in on the operation."
Farmel: "You're so considerate, Lambda. But aren't you being a bit
lenient? Especially with regard to Jeremy's punishment..."
Lambda: "It's only natural that I treat my valuable subordinates
well."
Farmel: "Jeremy and Kresnik are the valuable ones?"
Lambda: "Of course they aren't alone. What matters is the future of
this world, and I would sacrifice anything for that."
Farmel: "I can't tell if you're really cruel or really kind. Of
course, that's what I like about you...It's just, well,
following you takes its toll."
Lambda: "I do hope you'll continue to follow me, Farmel."
Farmel: "Yes, yes...I'll follow you anywhere."
[The Base cutscene ends and a mini-flashback happens to someone in
Jude's party.]
Raquel: Birds..chirping... Just like... that day... Like...death
incarnate..."
[Jude's voice calling her name wakes her up.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 14. Sea of Trees |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[As the face of a man in black comes closer, it changes into Jude's
face. Raquel wakes up in a forest, with the party standing over her.]
Raquel: "We made it back...alive..."
Arnaud: "You know, I appreciate your trust in me at the crucial
moment, but you sure took your sweet time waking up."
Raquel: "...Sorry... I don't recognize this place...It looks like
we've ended up in some forest I've never seen before."
Arnaud: "Yeah, it would be best to keep moving, but..."
Yulie: "You don't look well, Raquel. You should rest a bit more."
Raquel: "I'm fine. I'll be back to normal once I get back on my
feet. If we're going to rest, let's wait until we find a
town where we can actually relax."
[The party continues until they get to a save point.]
Arnaud: "Well...why don't we take a break."
Raquel: "We just barely started walking out of the forest. Don't
tell me you're tired already...?"
Yulie: "He's being considerate of you, Raquel."
Raquel: "Oh for crying out loud... I told you that I was fine. But
if you keep fussing over me, THAT is going to wear me out."
Jude: "Yeah, well, I'm hungry! How about some lunch?"
Raquel: "..."
Arnaud: "The truth is, I really am beat. Come on, let's rest a bit."
Yulie: "I'll make us something to eat."
Jude: "Really? You can cook, Yulie?"
Yulie: "It's nothing special, just a simple dish."
Arnaud: "In that case, Jude and I will take a look around and we'll
leave the cooking to you."
Raquel: "First he says he's tired, then he says he's going to take
a look around. I don't understand him."
Yulie: "We'd better have something ready by the time they return."
Raquel: "Hmm...I don't understand why you should like you're enjoying
this too."
[Later on...]
Raquel: "So...how is it?"
Yulie: "..."
Raquel: "...Too good for words?"
Yulie: "Raquel...uh...How did you go about flavoring this dish?"
Raquel: "Flavoring it? Well, in swordplay terms, I guess you could
say I 'read the wind.' In other words, follow the flow, align
the blad, show no hesitation...and strike with full power!"
Yulie: "I think the 'show no hesitation' and 'strike with full
power' is probably where you went wrong..."
Raquel: "Oh...I'm just no good at this sort of thing, am I? I hope
our rations weren't wasted?"
Yulie: "No, I discovered a side of you I never knew about before,
so I don't think it was a waste. And I should be able to
adjust the flavor, so it'll be fine."
Raquel: "I learned something new about you too, Yulie. So you
enjoy cooking, do you?"
Yulie: "It's a lot of fun to have people enjoy the dishes that you've
prepared. I'd be happy to teach you, if you'd like."
Raquel: "I'd be greatly obliged. I'd like to learn to be a little
more ladylike... Ah, and look who's back..."
Jude: "Man, I'm starving"
Yulie: "Welcome back every-"
Jude: "What's wrong"
Raquel: "What did you drag back with you?"
Jude: "What are you...talking about?"
[From behind Jude and Arnaud, a man rises and yells.]
Jude: "It's a bear!!"
Man: "Uh...I'm not a bear."
Jude: "A monstrous bear-man-thing, then."
Man: "Oh man...Bears, bears... What's with the bears, kid? Do I
look like some kind of bear to ya? I'm just a starvin' man
in search of some grub. Whatcha got there? Sure smells
tasty!"
Arnaud: "By the way you're acting, you sure seem to be a bear
to me."
Man: "I haven't eaten in five days. For the love of all that's
holy, please, give me some food. Hey what's in the pot? Looks
delicious!"
[Yulie steps in front of the man's advance to the food.]
Yulie: "No!"
Raquel: "What's the matter wih you, Yulie?"
Yulie: "NO! You can't have any! We haven't adjusted the flavor yet!"
It isn't fit to be eaten!"
Man: "C'mon, don't be so stingy! I'm frickin' starvin' here! I
don't care! It doesn't matter what it tastes like!
Yulie: "Yes it does! And if you don't care, I don't want you
eating it!"
[The man rumbles with power.]
Man: "I can't take it any moooore!!!
[The man starts devouring the contents of the pot.]
Jude: "Whoa... He's sucking it up like a vacuum cleaner... ... But
I've never seen you so stubborn, Yulie. You wouldn't even let
him taste it until it was done."
Yulie: "That's because...I mean, it's...! I'm sorry..."
Arnaud: "Think you can wolf it down any faster? Sheesh..."
[The man (Gawn) looks up.]
Gawn: "Hmm? Oh that's 'cause I came across some guy passed out at
the edge of the forest, and I need some energy in order to
rescue him."
Raquel: "Then how can you sit here eating?! Go rescue him already!"
Gawn: "Well, y'know, if I'm gonna rescue him, I'll need enough
energy for the both of us..."
Arnaud & Raquel: "You've already eaten enough for an entire army!"
Jude: "Anyway, we'd better go along on the rescue! We were looking
for a way out of the forest anyway, so let's go together!"
[They go to the edge of the forest and find a man lying face-down.]
Gawn: "That's the guy who's been waitin' for our help. As you can
see, he really needs it. By the way, uh...the guy who left
him here...was me..."
Raquel: "So if anything had happened to him it would be entirely
your fault!"
Jude: "It's Raymond! He's the guy that was always exercising on
his balcony back in Ciel!"
Gawn: "You know him?!"
Jude: "We're from the same village..."
Gawn: "I found him a little whil ago, driftin' out at sea. I had no
trouble getting him out of the water, but I got lost as I was
carryin' him around and got hungry, then a giant bearcat
attacked us. It was just one thing after another..."
Jude: "Thank goodness I wasn't the only one that made it... That
means the others might be okay, too..."
Gawn: "...Uh, sounds like there's more to this than meets the eye."
Raquel: "You could say that...It's kind of a long story."
Jude: "Thanks for rescuing him mister! Thank you so much!"
Gawn: "Oh, uh...yeah...Don't mention it."
Arnaud: "It'll make for a better story if we forget about the part
where you left him for dead while you went to chow down."
Gawn: "Gee, thanks...Yeah, do me a favor and forget about that part,
will 'ya?"
Yulie: "That sign indicates that there's an old town nearby. We
should be able to get treatment for him there..."
Raquel: "So he carried this man for several days, all by himself,
huh...That's pretty impressive. Guess I'll have to reconsider
my opinion of him."
Jude: "Lend me a hand until we get to the town, guys. I want to
help Raymond!"
[On the world map, the town of Guara Bobelo appears in the north.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 15. Guara Bobelo |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party walks into the shady city.]
Yulie: "Did we get lost? Didn't the sign say this was supposed to
be a town build up around a church?"
Jude: "Boy, this sure looks like a really fun town!"
Arnaud: "Do you even understand what kind of place this is, kid? But
it really does look like a fun sort of place..."
Gawn: "Yeah, I betcha we could have some real fun here."
Raquel: "I don't know what you two have got in mind, but we've got
things we need to take care of, right? This town is pretty
sordid, but there should be at least one medical clinic of
sorts. Let's get moving."
[The party explores. If they talk to the Gamer Geek in Area 1:]
Tutorial: *By collecting ROMs scattered throughout Filgaia, you
can attempt additional stages of the legendary action
game, 'Extra Challenge.' (Each ROM adds one additional
stage.)
[The party finds a medical center near the arena.]
David: "Doc, we've got a patient! Could you take a look at him,
please?"
Rogue Doctor Black: "Whoa, he's still alive...I'd rather you bring
'em in after they're done for, ya know...Oh,
well...Lie down over there."
[The doctor fixes Raymond up.]
Raymond: "Sorry for the trouble but thanks for saving me, Jude. I'm
so glad to see that you're safe too."
Jude: "Yeah..."
Rogue Doctor Black: "Although at first glance he looked pretty bad,
thanks to the expert first aid he received, he
isn't too badly off. Still, he's got a couple
broken bones so we'll need to keep him in bed
for awhile."
Raquel: "We'll be waiting outside, Jude. I'm sure you two have
plenty to talk about."
[The party waits outside.]
Jude: "What happened to Mom and everyone else from Ciel?"
Raymond: "I was the last one to get into the escape pods, so I'm
sure they all made it out okay. But, after that...well, I
hope everyone's all right..."
Jude: "...Don't worry...I'm sure they all landed somewhere."
Raymond: " *heh* I never imagined our little troublemaker Jude would
be trying to cheer me up... But the funny thing is that just
seeing you makes me feel like things really are going to be
okay. Yeah...I'm sure you're right. They probably are just
fine."
Jude: " *heh heh* "
Raymond: "...Jude...about Ciel..."
Jude: "Yeah... ... It was a little rushed, but...I learned a lot of
things. And to think, I lived there all that time without
knowing anything..."
Raymond: "I see... So what are you going to do now? Are you going to
search for the others?"
Jude: "...I've got some things I want to do, and there's a bunch of
things I want to know more about. I feel like Mom and the
others are waiting for me to accomplish those things too..."
Raymond: "You mean, like...staying by that girl's side?"
Jude: "Yeah. Yulie warned me that I wouldn't be able to turn back
if I got involved. But as long as time moves forward, then no
matter how you choose to live your life, you can never really
turn back. So, I..I want to do things...And right now, I want
to protect Yulie."
Raymond: "...Jude...you seem to have grown a bit."
Jude: "What?! Really? I don't think so...? ... Now you're
embarrassing me...I'm gonna go now but I'll visit you again
soon."
Raymond: (Being in the outside world sure has changed him...)
[Jude goes outside to his party.]
Jude: "Sorry to keep you guys waiting."
Raquel: "Are you done already?"
Jude: "Yeah. Hmm...? Where's Gawn? I wanted to thank him."
Yulie: "He said he was going to do his own thing."
Arnaud: "He's off to the pubs. Must be nice, not having to worry
about babysitting a kid."
Jude: "What are you talking about, Arnaud? It's not as if YOU'RE an
adult."
[Jude goes to the pub to visit Gawn.]
Jude: "Oh, there you are. I wanted to thank you earlier, but you
already left."
Gawn: "Yeah, I wanted some time to wander around by myself. Anyway,
what's up? You here to collect? Need more money to pay for his
treatment?"
Jude: "I said I wanted to say thank you, didn't I? So...thanks! If
you hadn't saved him, Raymond might have suffered more than
just those injuries."
Gawn: "Aww, don't thank me for that. It was just a coincidence I
happened to run into him."
Arnaud: "By the way, Gawn...what's your profession?"
Gawn: "Isn't it obvious? I'm a traveler."
Jude: "No, it's not obvious. That's why he's asking."
Raquel: "You don't really look like you're dressed or properly
equipped for traveling."
Gawn: "Well despite that, I am traveling... I don't have a
destination, but I do have an objective. My journey doesn't end
here though. I've still got to wander around some more."
Arnaud: "Oh, so you're like Raquel, then."
Gawn: "Speaking of which, what the heck are you all doing anyway?"
Jude: "We're traveling, too...We want to go somewhere far away from
here. Somewhere so quiet and far away that no one'll ever come
after us..."
Yulie: "..."
Gawn: "...So you wanna go 'far away?' You're the ones with a strange
for traveling... I dunno where you're headed, but have you
thought about takin' a train? A train'll get you far away from
here in no time at all."
Jude: "A train?"
Arnaud: "It's like an iron car that runs on iron roads. It transports
people and cargo at high speeds using powerful machinery."
Jude: "Oh! If we can use that...!"
Gawn: "I thin there's a station in a town called Buckeye, which is a
long, long way from here... And there you'll find tracks that
head in all sorts of different places. It's perfect for a
journey with no set destination. Well, then...I'd better get
back to my journey, too."
Jude: "Gawn, you don't have a set destination either, right? If it
won't interfere with your objective, would you like to travel
together with us?"
Gawn: "...That doesn't sound half bad, but...My journey is...well,
it's also my job."
Jude: "Oh..."
Gawn: "I tell ya, bein' an adult's no fun at all. After a while,
instead of working to live, you're living to work." (The bill
from the clinic, plus what I owe here... Damn, I've spent more
than I thought...) "Aww...I was thinking it'd be fun to travel
together, even if it's just until our paths split... Actually,
uh...I wouldn't mind travelin' with you at least part of the
way..."
Jude: "Really?!"
Arnaud: "That sudden change in your expression... You're scheming
something, aren't you, mister?"
Gawn: " *chuckle* Just a little give and take, ya know? Besides, we
gotta maintain the bonds between us, right? I mean, I could
never forget Miss Yulie's home cooking..."
Yulie: "...Er...thank you..."
Raquel: " *sigh* He's like an adult version of Arnaud."
Arnaud: "I'd never become an adult like him! And besides, I'm already
an adult!"
Jude: " *laughter* It's good to have you along, Gawn!"
Gawn: "You bet! But two things you ought to know... One: my wallet's
empty. Two: I'm no good at fightin'. So you'll be all on your
own for those things."
[As the party leaves town, a cutscene takes place in the Silver Star
Express's VIP Guest room. Jude's mom and Lambda are there.]
Lambda: "Are the refreshments not to your liking? ... You are an
important guest, Ethelda. We have no reason to cause you
any harm."
Ethelda: "Where do you plan on taking us on this train?"
Lambda: "Are you not enjoying your time on the Silver Star Express?
After all, you've faced so many hardships. Your secret
shelter was destroyed...then you were forced to drift at
sea in an escape pod...I thought I'd invite you to our main
base at Garra de Leon where we can talk more comfortably,
and so I arranged this train especially for you."
Ethelda: "We cast aside our research and destroyed the results. I
don't see how we can be of any use to you at this point."
Lambda: "...I'm afraid I really do need your help. What must I say
to convince you?"
Ethelda: "I've already told you, there's nothing we can do to help
you with your little fantasy. The 'Divine Weapon' was
nothing more than propaganda dreamed up by the Global Union.
It doesn't exist."
Lambda: "Brionac is an organization well versed in the acquisition
and control of information. For us, discovering the truth
behind a rumor is a trivial matter."
Ethelda: "..."
Lambda: "Illsveil, the permanently neutral territory... Primarily
used for holding Class A war criminals, this prison island
keeps the ugliness of the war hidden from the eyes of the
public... The perfect place to conceal something far too
powerful for humans to handle."
Ethelda: "Don't tell me you've occupied an autonomous and neutral
territory... You know it's too powerful for humans to use,
yet you still seek to use it? Why is it that you military
types never have any common sense? You probably believe
that as long as you use it carefully, even a weapon can be
used to build the future, right?"
Lambda: "It's not for me to decide how the Divine Weapon should be
used. That will be up to the representatives chosen by the
people. The Divine Weapon wil not be controlled by the
military, but by a consensus of all the people of this
world."
Ethelda: "I sense the spirit of the Congressional Knights hovering
over your shoulder."
Lambda: "The path to the future won't be opened by weapons, and
certainly not by gods. The ones to build and support this
planet's future must be the people themselves."
[On the world map, Buckeye Station appears far, far, to the northeast,
and the local destination becomes Calucion Pass.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 16. Calucion Pass |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party enters the snowy mountain pass.]
Jude: "You're traveling because of your job, right Gawn? What kind
of a job is it?"
Gawn: "To put it simply, I'm lookin' for someone. My job is to find
a certain individual who vanished during the war."
Arnaud: "So that's what you meant by a journey with an objective,
but no destination."
Raquel: "Searching for someone with no set destination is no
differently from wandering around aimlessly. Can you really
call that a job?"
Gawn: " *chuckle* You got me there."
Yulie: "This person who disappeared...is it a friend or family
member of yours?"
Gawn: "This search started out as just another job a friend of mine
hired me for...But somewhere along the way, it went beyond just
another job, and I started wanting to meet this guy and talk to
him myself. He's neither friend nor family, but for me, we're
bound by a bond stronger than blood. ... We met once on the
battlefield...which is the worst possible way to meet someone,
if you ask me. We met...and we parted ways several times. We
hardly spoke at all, but I still felt a close bond with him...
Back then, he was known by a different nae than the one people
use now... ... The guy I'm searching for...is a war criminal."
[In the next screen:]
Jude: "Gawn, the guy you're looking for...you said he's a war
criminal. Did he do something bad?"
Gawn: "... 'Bad?' Now that's a good question... ... Well let me ask
you something, then. How would you define 'bad?'"
Jude: "Huh...?! Um...hmm...like...making trouble for people...Or the
war that took place 10 years ago...Stuff like that..."
Gawn: "...The war...Yeah...A lotta blood, and a lotta tears...
Pointless tragedies were repeated over and over again, all
around the world. But, then again...was every single aspect of
the war 'bad?'"
Jude: "..."
Gawn: "War itself is stupid and pointless. It's a tragedy that should
never be repeated. But does that mean that all the soldiers who
fought on the battlefield were 'bad' as well? ... There were
those who stepped forward and took up arms to fight for the
families they loved--fathers, mothers, wives, and children. And
there were those who stepped forward and became shields to
protect their friends and lovers, those they were grateful to,
their homelands..."
Yulie: "..."
Arnaud: "..."
Raquel: "..."
Gawn: "The man I'm pursuing is known as a war criminal. But me? I
don't think he's all that bad of a guy."
Jude: "How would YOU define 'bad,' Gawn?"
Gawn: "...It's when you fail to live up to the beliefs in your heart,
your own moral code. Those who fail to folow their own beliefs
should be ashamed to call themselves adults... ... That guy
always lived and fought for what he believed in...There was
nothin' he needed to be ashamed about... He was by far the
coolest person I've ever known."
[In the third screen:]
Arnaud: "I get what you mean about 'bad' being related to looking
shameful and pathetic... But what's 'good,' then? Does it
have something to do with looking cool?"
Gawn: "...Who knows? But that's what I believe in. And believing
is a part of being 'good.'"
Arnaud: "Huh?"
Gawn: "When you're lost in the darkness and feel like you're about
to slip down the easy path, stop what you're doing and face
your beliefs. Being good means never betraying those beliefs,
no matter what the circumstances."
Arnaud: "But...they say there's no such thing as 'good' and 'evil'...
Tossing those words around like that sounds pathetic--like
you're trying to make yourself look good."
Gawn: " *laughter* Yeah... I thought the same thing when I was your
age. I guess everybody probably does, huh? And they probably
think that they're cool for thinking that way."
Arnaud: "..."
Gawn: "What to think is up to you...but 'good' really does exist.
It's in your heart. It's okay to believe in it, and it's not
a mistake to do so either."
Arnaud: "R...really...?"
Gawn: "For example... Say you saw someone dive into the water, with
no regard for his own life, to save a drowning child. Wouldn't
you say that was something good? Or is putting your own life
in danger to rescue another, just an act of foolishness and
nothing more?"
Arnaud: "..."
Raquel: "Although good and evil are hard to see and feel, that doesn't
mean they don't exist. And though it may be hard to discern, I
think the concept is a beautiful and precious thing."
Gawn: "It's important to ask questions about good and evil. That's how
children expand their worldview and find their way along the
path to adulthood. But if you just stop there, you'll always be
a child. You can't grow up without first confronting your
beliefs about what's right and what's not. And you gotta be
responsible for what you believe in. See, growin' old doesn't
automatically make you an adult. It just makes you old..."
Arnaud: "..."
Jude: "I worry about that sometimes...whether what I thought was right
at the time was really right or not. Sometimes, I'd really worry
that maybe there was no such thing as right or wrong. But after
what you just said, I think I feel a little better. I don't want
things to just end with me being scared and unable to do
anything."
Gawn: "Well, it's not like I'm a paragon of adulthood that I should be
lecturing other people about it, either."
[The party finally arrives at the exit.]
Jude: "...I wish all adults were as understanding and easy to talk
to as you, Gawn..."
Gawn: "Hmm? Sounds like you're a regular kid after all. Come on,
you can tell me what's on your mind. A little adult wisdom'll
give you a big boost in growin' up."
Jude: "Okay...about our journey... ... We're on the run from some
soldiers. I think they call themselves 'Brionac.'"
Gawn: "--BRIONAC?!"
Arnaud: "You don't have to yell..."
Raquel: "You've heard of Brionac?"
Gawn: "Ah, um...yeah, kind of...It sounds like you're in some serious
trouble."
Jude: "Yeah...they're after Yulie. You don't like Brionac either,
huh?"
Gawn: "I'm not sure 'like' is the right term for it. Let's just say
they're a never-ending source of trouble for me, and leave it
at that."
Jude: "What's wrong, Gawn? Why are you looking back?"
Gawn: "Ah, it's just...I'd rather not run into them... I just wanted
to make sure they hadn't caught up with us... ... Look, I hate
to wimp out on ya, but I think I better split."
Arnaud: "After everything you said, the moment you learn that we're
up against soldiers, you run away?!"
Gawn: "I've got my own problems, too. C'mon, you understand, right...?
Besides, it's not like I'm turnin' against you or anything. I'll
always be on your side. And if you get in any kind of real
trouble with Brionac, I promise I'll come and help you out."
Arnaud: "You're making that awfully hard to believe..."
Gawn: "What if I told you I want to protect the young lady who made
that tasty meal? Is that more believable? In any case, I don't
want you to go thinking all adults are your enemies."
Jude: "...Gawn...we'll meet again, right?"
Gawn: "...Yeah, of course."
Jude: "Then--"
Gawn: "No need to say goodbye, and we don't need to shake hands,
either. Instead, at times like this-- This'll do for sayin'
goodbye! And this'll do for shakin' hands!"
[Gawn and Jude lock elbows.]
Jude: "Gawn!"
Gawn: "Yeah!"
[Gawn leaves.]
Raquel: "Just as suddenly as he appeared, he's gone... He's loud,
he's obnoxious, and he--"
Yulie: "He's a fun person, isn't he?"
Arnaud: "It sounds like he doesn't think things through very much.
That's why he's always running around like that."
[On the world map, the route to the Platapana Passage opens.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 17. Platapana Passage |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party enters the lava pits and fiery atmosphere of the Passage.]
Jude: "Do we really have to go through here to get to the train
station...?"
Raquel: "According to the map, the path is blocked by several
mountains and valleys. In order to reach our destination
quickly, we'll have to take a roundabout route."
Yulie: "...?!"
Jude; "What's wrong, Yulie?!"
Yulie: "There's...something...and it's coming this way..."
Arnaud: "Oh, no...Don't tell me those Brionac people have already
caught up with us...?"
Raquel: "No...this one is coming from...underground!"
[The party's attacked by a giant one-eyed lava fish.]
Jude: "Whoa! It's huge!"
Arnaud: "A monster up ahead...and Brionac to the rear... What are
we supposed to do now?"
[The party defeats the Graboid (homage to Tremors?) and heads into
a room with giant flames.]
Tutorial: *When Jude triggers an explosion or trap, he'll be knocked
back. Although he won't suffer any HP damage, his ACG will
be depleted.
[The party continues onto a stairwell, and they spy Kresnik at the
bottom, waiting.]
Jude: "Isn't that Yulie's...brother?!"
[They go down there.]
Yulie: "Kresnik..."
Kresnik: "Come with me, Yulie...Filgaia's future needs you."
Jude: "You're Yulie's brother, right? Then why are you doing things
that frighten her?"
Kresnik: "I'm grateful for you taking care of my sister this far.
But I can't answer your question. This is strictly between
siblings."
Jude: "Just because you're her big brother doesn't give you the
right to be mean to her!"
Kresnik: "...Yulie, do you remember the promise I made to you,
way back when? I told you I'd protect you, right? And even
now, I haven't forgotten that vow. I want to protect the
future of this world, in order to protect you..."
Yulie: "...Okay, I understand..."
Jude: "You're going with him, Yulie?!"
Yulie: "...But...just tell me one thing, Kresnik... ... Do you want
me to come with you? Or is it someone else's idea...?"
Kresnik: "... Of course, it's...what I...want...as well..."
Jude: "If you really believe that you're protecting Yulie, you
ought to be able to answer her question with confidence!
Otherwise, she's just gonna get scared!"
[Jude takes out his ARM in the shape of a sword.]
Kresnik: "If you think you can gain everything without a single
sacrifice...It's only illusion only children can fool
themselves with.
[Kresnik takes out a giant ARM.]
Arnaud: "He assembled an ARM from the nanomachines? He can do that?"
Raquel: "Anoher...gene driver?!"
Yulie: "Kresnik, you're using an ARM?! But, how?! At the orphanage,
neither you nor I...no one there was able to assemble an ARM
from raw materials... None ever reached that category, and
yet now, you have...?!"
Kresnik: "Even if it's only an illusion...I swear I'll keep the
promise I made on that day...Even if I have to lose
everything!"
Jude: "I made a promise, too...that I'd protect Yulie! And I'm not
gonna let anyone lose anything, anymore!"
[Kresnik and Jude start to fight.]
Kresnik: "A nature born gene driver?! Yet, is that the extent of
your ARM's power?!"
Jude: "Power isn't everything! My will to protect Yulie gives me
strength!"
Kresnik: "Will alone won't suffice to protect her! Even the strongest
convictions can sometimes be overcome with power."
Jude: "How can you believe that, if you're concerned for her safety?"
[Jude defeats Kresnik in battle.]
Kresnik: " *gasp* *groan* "
Jude: "Wha...what's wrong with him?"
Kresnik: "...Ah...argh..."
Yulie: "A Resistance Impulse?! No, it's different... His mind and
body are rejecting the ARM... He's being...consumed...by the
ARM?"
[Kresnik pushes her away and drops a bunch of pills, which he tries
to scoop up again.]
Yulie: "You're using drugs to...?! Kresnik, stop it! That'll only..."
Kresnik: "...Without them, a Category F like me couldn't even use a
prototype ARM...I couldn't even obtain the power I need to
protect my own sister!"
[Kresnik stands and stretches his hand out.]
Kresnik: "Please, come with me...Yulie...I have something I want to
give you as well... So please..."
Yulie: "...I...I'm sorry I can't go with you... If you really needed
me, I'm sure you would have taken my hand. But instead, you...
... I can't go with you...I don't want to go with you..."
[At the top of the stair, good ol' Tony and some soldier lackeys are
watching the entire scene.]
Recon Unit Leader Tony: "I finally found you! To think, you'd be
hiding in a hole like this!"
Arnaud: "Him again?! He just doesn't know when to quit, does he?"
Raquel: "Then we'll just have to take him down!"
Arnaud: "If we do that, the main pursuit force is sure to catch up
with us! My razor-sharp mind tells me that in times like
these, discretion is the better part of valor!"
Jude: "Yulie, we have to run!"
[Jude's party escapes with the soldiers on his heal. Tony walks
over to Kresnik.]
Recon Unit Leader Tony: "Well, if it isn't Brionac's Commander
Kresnik! We're the special recon team
assembled by the Congressional Knights. I'm
Corporal Tony, the one in charge of the unit!
*ha ha ha* Now that we've gotten this close,
there's no need for recon! I'm gonna capture
that girl and prove myself once and for all!
There's no need for you to trouble yourself
with trivial matters like this, Sir! Just
leave everything to us!"
[Tony salutes and runs off, leaving Kresnik to stand and think
about his actions against his sister. After progression through
some puzzles, the soldiers come upon the runaways.]
Arnaud: "Whoa! Did they somehow get ahead of us while we were
busy dealing with the switches?!"
[The soldiers attack.]
Raquel: "So what do we do in situations when your razor-sharp
intellect can't help us?"
Arnaud: "Why I let you handle it, of course!"
[The party steamrolls the soldiers and continues on to the exit.
Yulie lags behind.]
Jude: "Yulie, are you worried about Kresnik?"
Yulie: "..."
Jude: "I understand how you feel, but... Right now, I'm gonna keep
pulling you along!"
[A cutscene at the Brionac Base takes place. The green doll and
the Red Doll are moping around. The Red Doll speaks first.]
Fiore: "With Scythe and Belial both gone, it's gotten so lonely."
Asia: "And Jeremy was taken to Illsveil...so he may never come back.
And our master, Heath, was purged a long time ago..."
Fiore: "Brionac was once called Lambda's Elite, but now its
reputation has been ruined."
Asia: "Now, Brionac only has eight members."
Fiore: "Wait...are you sure you're counting correctly?"
Asia: "Of course I am."
Fiore: "But Brionac's other name is 'Lambda's Elite.' And since
'Lambda' means '11' in some ancient language, the name
means the 'Elite 11.'"
Asia: "Really?"
Fiore: "Belial and the two of us aren't regular members so we don't
count. That leaves..."
Asia: "Captain Lambda..The two Commanders, Kresnik and Farmel...
Advisor Augst...And the remaining Lieutenants, Hugo, Balgaine,
and Enil. Oh, I guess you're right. There are only seven left...
Why is there one missing?"
Fiore: "I wonder if there really is an 11th member..."
Asia: "Was there someone like that...?"
Fiore: "The rumor I heard is that the 11th member is a trump card,
unbeknownst even to the others. I wonder if it's true?"
[The cutscene ends and the icy mountain location of Neve d'Argento
opens up in the north.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 18. Neve d'Argento |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party stops to look at a dazzling light display in the hills.]
Arnaud: " *Huff* *huff* *huff* We made it this far...Did we lose
them...?"
Jude: "...What a mysterious looking night sky..."
Raquel: "Yes... It's called an aurora."
Jude: "I wish we could spend more time enjoying it. It's really
pretty..."
Yulie: "...I'm sorry..."
Arnaud: "Don't worry about it. After all, it was my idea to run."
[In the second screen:]
Yulie: "...But even if we're able to run away from Brionac, does
that really solve anything? By running away, I'm putting
you all in danger..."
Jude: "What's wrong with running? I think that's the best thing
we can do right now."
Raquel: "Yes. If it still bothers you, think of it this way...
You're not running away, you're hurrying toward your
destination. We're headed for Buckeye Station which is
further up this road."
Yulie: "...I'm sorry...You're doing this all for my sake..."
[In the last screen:]
Jude: "Snow is cold and it hurts...but it also sparkles like silver.
It's really pretty."
Raquel: "Yeah. It can be harsh on people, but it also has a cold,
solemn beauty. Not all the beautiful things in this world
are warm or gentle."
Jude: "What made you decide to go on a journey to see the remaining
beauty of Filgaia, Raquel?"
Arnaud: "Yeah, I'd like to know, too. How can you go on a journey
that won't make you any money?"
Raquel: "... My hometown was a cold, industrial place--as far away
from beautiful as you can get. My final memories of it were
roaring noise, waves of heat, shattered ground, and--...All
my eyes could see was a world of ugliness. I left my hometown,
and since then I've been seeking out whatever beauty I could
find. I keep hoping that if I come across beauty in my
travels, it'll help wash away those ugly memories..."
Arnaud: "..."
[As the party leaves Neve d'Argento, a cutscene on the Silver Star
Express' VIP Guest room takes place again.]
Lambda: "We've received word from the excavation team. The first
stage of excavating the Divine Weapon beneath Illsveil is
complete. The research team will begin analyzing it in order
to get it operational. We would very much appreciate your
assistance."
Ethelda: "It wasn't originally intended to be used as a weapon."
Lambda: "Yes, you Global Union scientists were researching
nanomachines in order to repair the environmental damage
caused by the war. 'Ambient-Reorganization-Material.' The
research was intended to heal Filgaia's wounds, using swarms
of virus-sized microscopic machines."
Ethelda: "If you think of the world as a single organism, you could
say that it's mortally wounded and close to death. It needs
to be revived. Eventually, the damaged environment will make
it impossible for humans to live there."
Lambda: "That troubles me, as well."
Ethelda: "..."
Lambda: "The Ambient Reorganization Material project was near
completion. However, continued research was not possible
because the national budget, long depleted by the war, was
unable to support it. So that in turn led to..."
Ethelda: "Yes...The research of our research was handed over to the
military. In hopes of continuing our research, we agreed to
aid them--but we ended up destroying the environment, rather
than restoring it. But we still believed that someday, the
fruit of our labor would fulfill its original purpose..."
Lambda: "Fueled by the massive defense budget, the Ambient
Reorganization Material project was completed, with little
regard for your anguish. The official project name was an
abbreviation of its name--ARM."
Ethelda: "ARM...A word that also means 'weapon.' They couldn't have
possibly come up with anything more insulting."
Augst: "My apologies for the interruption."
Lambda: "I expected you'd show up about now."
Ethelda: (Augst?!)
Augst: "If you've surmised the purpose of my visit, that'll make
things go faster, and if you will allow me to be succinct
as well. Might I ask you to explain why you disregarded the
plan I drew up for the pursuit of the children? Previously,
I urged you to concentrate our forces on this matter. But it
appears that you went ahead and issued orders for the
Lieutenants to deploy separately. I am unable to comprehend
the reasoning behind your actions."
Lambda: "I examined your proposal and found no flaws with it...I'm
well aware of its merits. The order to deploy the Lieutenants
separately came directly from the High Council."
Augst: "... Knowing that we've already lost one Lieutenant, why would
the High Council issue such an order? Not only does it lower
the chances of a successful mission, it also needlessly
increases the likelihood that our force is further reduced."
Lambda: "Judging by what we can see, you are certainly correct.
However... The High Council has stated that this is just
another step in the process of bringing the Future Conception
Project to fruition. Moreover, if those in power wield it as
they please, it's the same as despotism--a select few ruling
the masses. Behaving in the same manner as the Global Union
will not bring about popular rule. And though it may increase
the risk to us, all 11 members of Brionac, including myself,
are tools that exist to build the future of this planet. If
we are to bring a better future to Filgaia, we must gladly
allow ourselves to be used."
Augst: "... I still don't understand what the High Council is
thinking, but if this is your decision Captain, I will support
it. I will now assume the operation."
[Augst leaves.]
Lambda: "I apologize for the interruption."
Ethelda: "You spoke of the planet's future just now...yet how much
of it is the truth?"
[Lambda closes his eyes for a moment before yelling.]
Lambda: "What could a false heart possibly accomplish? Never could
it pierce the dark clodus that seal our world's future! If
is for the sake of mankind's future, I would not hesitate
to make the entire world my enemy...!
Ethelda: "He's weeping...?"
[The cutscene ends. On the world map, the path heads east to the
Cerulean Tunnel.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 19. Cerulean Tunnel |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party arrives in the tunnel.]
Raquel: "According to the map, this tunnel runs right under the
river. The shortest route is to good thought it..."
Arnaud: "Now why did they dig a tunnel through here? If they wanted
to get across the river, there are more efficient methods,
such as boats and bridges..."
Jude: "There must've been a good reason why they couldn't use those
methods. Boy, you sure do like to complain, don't you Arnaud..."
Arnaud: "Well, that's not my only complaint. This sort of route
doesn't leave us with any options to choose from. It's
definitely bad for us when we're on the run, and it's good
for those people that are chasing us..."
Yulie: "..."
Raquel: "Our pursuers are showing up shortly?"
Arnaud: "That, or they might already be here, lying in wait for us."
Jude: "Well, whatever the case, we can't just stand around here. Look
at the bright side--if we don't have many paths to choose from,
it'll be harder to get lost!"
[The party continues until they see a crank in the ground.]
Tutorial: *Press the (X) button to grab a handle, then rotate the
cylinder by pressing the directional buttons.
[The party continues into a smaller section of the tunnels. A man
runs back through towards them, from a giant monster chasing it.]
Raquel: "Is it the Brionac?!"
Jude: "No, it's not them!"
Gawn: "Yeah, I'm not the one you should be afraid of! He is!"
[The party starts to fight the monster chasing Gawn.]
Arnaud: "So why do we have to baby-sit him?"
Jude: "He's in trouble, we have to help him."
Raquel: "It seems those that need the most help are often reluctant
to lend a hand themselves."
Arnaud: "Are you talking about me?"
Raquel: "I was just making a general statement."
Jude: " *laughter* "
Yulie: "I don't think this is the best time for joking around. It's
definitely coming after us now!"
[The party slays the monster.]
Jude: "Gawn! What are you doing here?!"
Gawn: "This is the only way to get across this river. Why else would
I be here? Mind you, I didn't plan on a little accident makin'
me run back the way I came..."
Raquel: "You're traveling alone with no means to defend yourself?"
Gawn: "I told you I'm no good at fightin', remember? I'm also good
at eatin' tasty food, but really suck at makin' it. Well, you
know how it is..."
Yulie: "I see...but..."
Arnaud: "Do you always go around getting others to help you out like
this? You're something else..."
Jude: "But you're not all that different from himn either, Arnaud..."
Arnaud: "He, shut up, kid!"
Gawn: "By the way...are you all still heading for Buckeye Station?"
Jude: "Yeah...and it looks like we were able to shake those Brionac
guys off our trail, too..."
Gawn: "...I see...What if...instead of chasing after you, they were
waitin' for you to show up? Would you still head for Buckeye?"
Jude: "...Yeah, I don't know of any other way to take Yulie to
somewhere safe. So no, I don't think I'd stop moving forward."
Gawn: "You're nothin' but a kid, but ya sure don't talk like one...
Actually, that single-minded dedication might be somethin' we
all had as children..."
Jude: "...?"
Gawn: "All right. I'm gonna tag along with you kids for a while!"
Jude: "Really?!"
Gawn: "Well, to be honest...I don't think I could get past the next
part on my own... I think it just may be in my own best
interest, then again, maybe not..."
Arnaud: "Hmph, I should have known..."
Raquel: "Well, it's not as if it's a real big surprise."
Gawn: "We'll have a good time together! But there'll be no fightin'
for me! *ha ha*"
Jude: " *heh heh* "
Arnaud: " *sigh* Not a care in the world, for these guys..."
[Soon, the party comes to an underground tunnel beneath the river
from which they can see up into the water.]
Yulie: "I can't believe there really is a path beneath the river..."
Gawn: "So whaddaya think? Impressive, huh?"
Arnaud: "I don't get why you're so proud of it..."
Raquel: "Does it really matter? You ought to be used to him by now..."
Jude: "Oh, by the way, Arnaud...you were saying that you didn't
understand why they built a tunnel beneath the river, right?"
Arnaud: "Exactly. Especially when a boat or a bridge would've clearly
been easier and less expensive."
Gawn: "Boats can't cross, and they can't build a bridge, either. You
wanna know why? There's a monster...the king of the river, if
you will. He destroys every boat that tries to cross and every
bridge that they try to build."
Raquel: "What's that?!"
[They see a giant red fish outside.]
Arnaud: "Is that him?!"
Gawn: "It's pretty big...Yeah, it looks like..."
[A blue shark-like monster ten times the size eats the red one.]
Jude: "No, I think that other bigger one over there, is the king..."
Arnaud: "Whoa...uh, I think we'll want to avoid fighting THAT guy..."
Gawn: "It looks like his Majesty's had his fill for now. Let's get
movin' while the gettin's good! There's no way we can fight
somethin' like that..."
[In the room past the tunnel, Jude presses a switch. Gawn 'removes'
himself from the party and walks out.]
Gawn: "Looks like we've hit an obstacle of sorts, so maybe it's time
I showed off some of the wisdom and resourcefulness that comes
with age."
Jude: "You're gonna help us?!"
Gawn: "Well the doctor did say I ought to limit helping others to no
more than five times a year, but it looks like I don't have
much of a choice."
Jude: "Gawn...what you need is a shrink, not a doctor. Let's just get
this started, okay?"
Gawn: "Heh, you may be a kid, but you sure know how to handle people,
just like an adult..."
Jude: " *heh heh* "
Gawn: "You can activate the switches up ahead just by stomping on
'em, but the darn things turn off as soon as you step off. So,
while you're standing on a switch, I'll go down the other
route."
Jude: "And then, when you're standing on a switch, we'll move forward
on this side. Teamwork here too, huh? Sounds like fun. Let's
give it a try."
Gawn: "You're pretty sharp, kid. All right, then, let's get rollin'.
The path goes straight to the right, but some of the floor
panels are missing. To make 'em reappear, we'll have to use the
switches."
Jude: "Even if we turn the switches on, they'll turn off again after
awhile, which means..."
Gawn: "Bingo! You're getting pretty good at guessing at what comes
next. That's the sign of an experienced traveler, you know."
Jude: "I don't know what these switches are for, but we keep running
into them everywhere we go. You'd think it would be inconvenient
for the people who built them..."
Gawn: "Hey, if you got the time to complain, you've got time to get
movin'. I'm getting kinda bored with just standing around."
[Gawn and Jude run through and press the switches. At the end:]
Gawn: "We need to hit the switches on both sides, at the same time."
[They hit 'em at the same time.]
Gawn: "I gotta say, these switches are a serious pain. What the heck
are they for, anyway?"
[The next room has a series of switches, too.]
Jude: "Not this setup again..."
Gawn: "Hey, I'm the one who should be complaining! I ain't so young
no more, so don't make me work any harder than I have to, all
right?"
Jude: "Gawn...you know, this is a good opportunity for you to quit
smoking."
Gawn: "What? Oh, this thing I got in my mouth? This ain't a cigarette,
it's a freeze-dried noodle."
Jude: "What?!"
Gawn: "This particular type of noodle is high in nutritional value,
and easy to digest. In other words, it's a great source of
energy--What? You on a low-carb diet or something?"
Jude: "I can't believe what's coming out of your mouth. A freeze-dried
noodle? Come on..."
Gawn: "Hmm...well, you know how it goes. I'll tell you all about it
when you grow up. Alright, let's get started! Same as the last
time!"
[They run through the course and get to a similar switch setup.]
Gawn: "That look on your face...you're thinking, 'Not again,' aren't
ya? Well we don't have a choice, all right? It's not like I'm
doing this for my health, ya know!"
[They press the switches concurrently.]
Gawn: "All I can say is that the bathroom better not have the same
setup."
[Soon, a third room with switches comes into view.]
Gawn: "Man, this is the third one already... Hmm...although this
one looks exactly the same as the others, we might have some
trouble getting past it..."
Jude: "How can you tell?!"
Gawn: "The punchline always comes the third time around. It's a
classic technique in comedy. Don't worry, if it looks like
there ain't no punchline, I'll come up with one myself!"
Jude: "We're perfectly fine without one! Let's just get through this
like we've been doing so far, okay?"
Gawn: "Boy, oh boy, what a tough crowd. I'd love to put on a funnier
show for ya, kid, but I'm afraid I'm a bit out of practice."
Jude: "Don't quit your day job, okay? It's hard enough just trying
to work with you on this..."
Gawn: "So, that's how it's gonna be, huh? Fine, then! I'm gonna do
things at my own pace, so you just match me as best as you can."
Jude: "So now you're forcing us to work with you? Nothing you've been
saying is making any sense!"
Gawn: "It wouldn't be me if it were any other way, right? If you've
got time to flap your gums, move your butt instead!"
[The party crosses to the set of switches they're familiar with, now.]
Gawn: "Ya think you got it bad? You're still at an age where you don't
look like an idiot jumping on those switches. But me? I'm 30
years old...uh, that is if you rounded down. I'm old enough to
have people staring at me like I'm crazy for doing something
like this! But I'm still here, giving it my all, so try to be a
bit more cheerful, will ya?"
[They press the switches at the same time.]
Gawn: "I'd hope that was the last one..."
[The party comes to an elevator, but it jams as it rises.]
Yulie: "Hmm...? It stopped moving... It looks like this elevator's
broken..."
Raquel: "We can't get any further this way."
Jude: "It's times like these when a razor-sharp mind comes in really
handy!"
Arnaud: "Hey, don't expect my razor-sharp mind to conveniently come
and save you every time you get in hot water."
Gawn: "Hey, I've got a good idea! Why don't ya leave it to me."
Jude: "All right, Gawn! So what's your plan?"
Gawn: "First, we eat! My brain gets weak when I'm feeling hungry!"
Jude: "Didn't Arnaud say something along those lines a little while
back?"
Raquel: "Fundamentally, they're no different. In about 15 years or
so, Arnaud will probably turn out just like Gawn."
Arnaud: "I'm already an adult, so I won't be any different than I
am now!"
[Gawn eats his fill and falls asleep.]
Jude: "That was delicious. Thanks, Yulie!"
Yulie: "It was the least I could do, after all that everyone has
done for me... I just wish it wasn't the only thing I could
do..."
Jude: "Don't say that, Yulie!"
Yulie: "I always feel as though I'm taking advantage of everyone's
kindness..."
[Yulie looks at Gawn.]
Yulie: "His snoring...is incredible! It's like thunder... It might be
a bit difficult to talk with all that noise in the background."
Jude: " *ha ha* "
Arnaud: "...He went out like a light, the moment he had satisfied his
appetite."
Raquel: "You'd be hard-pressed to find even a wild animal that
behaves that simply..."
Arnaud: "C'mon Gawn, it's time to wake up! We can't lounge around
forever."
Gawn: "Hmm? Oh...are we goin' already?"
Arnaud: "'Going?' The elevator's still broken, remember? Where
exactly do you plan on going to?"
Gawn: "Up, of course. That's where the exit is, and beyond that is
your destination, Buckeye."
Raquel: "But how...?"
Gawn: "Jump on top of me, and I'll boost you up! That should be
enough to get you up there, right?"
Jude: "You mean jump up...and step on you?!"
Gawn: "Yeah...pretty much."
Jude: "No way! We couldn't do something like that..."
Gawn: "But there's no other way, right? So we don't have much of a
choice..."
Jude: "But then, you'll be..."
Gawn: "Aw don't worry, I'm not in a hurry anyway. Besides, it's me
we're talking about here. I'll come up with somethin'! Yulie's
home cooking recharged me, so let's hurry up and do this before
all that energy goes to waste!"
Jude: "..."
Gawn: "Jude, children always go on to surpass adults and stride into
the future. So there's no need for hesitation. Use me as your
stepping stone! After all, you're not gonna just stop here,
right?!"
Jude: "...All right...I'll give it a try!"
[Jude's launched onto a platform by Gawn's strength.]
Gawn: "Hurry up and go! As long as you keep running at full speed
ahead you'll always grow stronger--today more than yesterday,
and tomorrow more than today!"
Jude: "Thanks, Gawn!"
Gawn: "Ehh, don't mention it."
[The party continues to the exit, but a man with unruly hair (earlier
addressed as 'Confident Man') blocks the way. He wields two swords.]
Hugo: "I've been waiting for you children... I'm Hugo, a member of
Lambda's Elite--the Brionac Forces. My first priority is to
complete the mission, but...I also wanted to see for myself
this power that defeated a Brionac Lieutenant. Is your strength
due to the ARM's power? Or is it because you, yourself, are a
warrior fit to wield the ARM...? Come, face off against ME, and
we'll figure out the truth! En garde!"
[Hugo advances and, suddenly, he's right in front of Jude, swinging
his sword. Raquel's quick blade blocks the attack, and Hugo jumps
into the air, throwing his swords at Jude. Raquel rises up to meet
him.]
Raquel: "You tossed away your weapons!"
[She swings her sword, but Hugo's body isn't even there anymore--it's
launching downwards to reclaim his weapons.]
Arnaud: "He avoided Raquel's weapon by instantaneously changing his
position! What, does he have the ability to move faster than
the eye can see?!"
Jude: "If this is a contest of speed, then he's not the only one who
can compete!"
[Jude uses his Accelerator to meet Hugo on his descent, but Hugo
'teleports' behind Jude and kicks him in the rear.]
Hugo: "Your Accelerator enables super-fast movement by overclocking
your biological time. That speed can be a powerful weapon in
virtually any situation. However... Extreme acceleration though
it may be, it's still subject to the laws of physics. There's
no way it can match movement that has been completely liberated
from those same constraints..."
[Hugo picks up his swords.]
Hugo: "They call me 'System Chronos'... My ability is to compress
the flow of time, allowing me, and me alone to move amidst
high-density time which is practically standing still... Do you
understand? No matter how much you accelerate, when I compress
time, your speed approaches zero! The super-speed ability of
your Accelerator is completely powerless before System Chronos.
You shall never surpass me!"
Jude: "My power's not enough...? Is this too much for a kid like me
to handle...? What should I do?"
Hugo: "Now that you amateurs have seen just how powerless you are,
it's time to hand over Ms. Ahtreide. That's the mission I was
assigned to, and it's your only chance if you hope to survive."
Raquel: "I see...time compression. That's an impressive ability no
doubt, but as you can see, we're still standing. Don't you
think it's a bit premature for you to be claiming a victory?"
Hugo: "I don't enjoy pointless killing...but if you're going to
resist, you leave me no choice..."
[Hugo attacks, but Raquel blocks all of his strikes.]
Hugo: "Huh?! That's not possible! My sword attacks executed within
compressed time...she blocked them all?!"
Raquel: "'System Chronos'...It would appear that time continues to
move during the moment of your attack, and that is the weak
point of your ability! If we exist in the same moment in time
together, even if it's only for a split second, you'll never
escape my blade. Follow the flow, align the blade, show no
hesitation...and strike with full power!"
Arnaud: "We're winning!"
[Hugo goes to attack again, but Raquel coughs a bit.]
Raquel: " *cough* *hack* "
[She still manages to repel Hugo's onslaught, though.]
Hugo: "What a fearsome swordswoman! Yet it looks as though you're
not in the best of health. This battle is mine!"
Jude: "Raquel, what's wrong?!"
Raquel: "Don't worry about me! Worry about yourself!"
Jude: "What?!"
Raquel: "Just because your Accelerator's been defeated, it doesn't
mean you're helpless. Believe in your fight...Believe in
yourself!"
Jude: "Believe in...myself?"
Raquel: "That's right! Confidence will make you strong! Believe in
yourself and step forward!"
Jude: "... ... Hey, over here! Why don't you try me on for size!"
[Jude whizzes around Hugo before leaping in the air.]
Arnaud: "Jude just doesn't get it! Even if he uses his Accelerator,
he'll still get caught by the compressed time!"
Yulie: "Jude?! No!"
Hugo: "You may be able to use ARMs, but you're still just an
amateur...Looks like it was foolish of me to have such high
expectations!"
[Hugo appears behind the airborne Jude, but his blows strike Jude's
ARM in the form of a shield, doing nothing.]
Jude: "I didn't rush out...I pulled him in!"
Hugo: "He predicted that I'd go behind him, and chose instead to
block me with his shield...Did this kid just get the better of
me?!"
[Jude's shield turns into a gun which blasts Hugo across the room.]
Jude: "I'm gonna believe in this power. I promised that I'd protect
Yulie with it! Now, c'mon! We've gotta give it our all!"
[The battle with Hugo starts.]
Hugo: "This isn't...possible."
Raquel: "Raquel told me to believe in myself, so I trusted in the
Accelerator and my ARM..."
Arnaud: "What? Our fate's in the balance and that's all it's resting
on?"
[Jude attacks, but Hugo simply appears in an adjacent HEX.]
Tutorial: *Hugo's special ability, 'System Chronos,' enables him to
move to another HEX before an opponent's attack hits, thus
nullifying it. It might seem like an unstoppable ability,
but it must have some sort of weakness. Find the gaps in
his ability and claim victory.
[The party traps Hugo so he can't dodge attacks and they defeat him.]
Hugo: "How did...that kid...overcome...the time compression?"
Jude: "Even when you stopped time, you couldn't stop our progress
forward! We won't let time stand still...To be more than we
were yesterday...and continue down that path into tomorrow.
No one can stop us, except ourselves."
Hugo: "...I wasn't defeated...by some amateur kid... ... I lost...to
a full-fledged warrior... You've bested me...As a warrior, I
acknowledge defeat... Go now...the road you must take stretches
into the future...
[Hugo dies (?) and the party runs out of the Tunnel. On the world
map, the Autumn River opens up a little ways away.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 20. Autumn River |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[A cutscene in the Silver Star Express' VIP Guest Room starts when
the August River's first selected.]
Lambda: "The development of ARMs proceeded in a direction far from
its creators' original intent, and it was eventually completed
as a weapon. An ARM cluster is a swarm of virus-sized machines
that respond to the psychic commands of the user. In other
words the will of the user can instantly organize the cluster
into a variety of shapes and uses. Its destructive power is
comparable to a warship cannon, and when the limiter is
disengaged, the records reflect that its precise output is
beyond measurement. According to unofficial accounts, it may
be on the same level as that terrible nuclear weapon...
Grauswein."
Ethelda: "But as a weapon, they had one fatal flaw... ARMs weren't
weapons that just anyone could handle, so the number of
people who could wield them was severely limited. Only those
with heightened senses and psychic ability could operate
them, and even then, to a limited degree. They were never
able to tap into the full theoretical power... Even when
those without combat training tried to use them, they were
unable to control them."
Lambda: "So a great limitation was placed upon the ARMs' astonishing
capabilities...Was this perhaps of your doing?"
Ethelda: "..."
Lambda: "Despite that, the Global Union did not abandon their plans
for deploying ARMs on the battlefield. They moved on to the
second stage of their plan. If normal human beings couldn't
control ARMs, then they would simply have to build ones that
could... They attempted to induce artificial viral evolution
in the human species. The result was the birth of a single
super-soldier, whose genes were modified by nanotechnology.
He drew forth even greater power from ARMs than was predicted,
bending them to his every whim and became a Black Reaper of
death on the battlefield... It was the birth of a man who
would eventually be heralded as a hero."
Ethelda: "..."
Lambda: "And now...the former 'hero' is called a war criminal."
Ethelda: "He lost his life in the nightmare that was Verklarung.
'Hero' and 'war criminal' are names from that bygone era.
There's no need to keep them alive."
Lambda: "...The accident during the experiment at Verklarung, within
the Congressional Knights' territory, can only be described
as a tragedy. Many lives were lost, but considering the scale
of the accident, even more lives were saved. Saved by a
miracle brought about by the hero of the Global Union, who
laid down his life for the enemy."
Ethelda: "..."
Lambda: "He averted disaster not only for his own country, but that
of his enemy, too. He was truly a hero amongst heroes. ...
What if that hero were still alive today?"
Ethelda: "What...?!"
Lambda: "At this time, it's nothing more than a rumor, but it won't
be long until the truth is verified. Even as we speak, my
friend is chasing down that rumor."
[The cutscene ends. At the Autumn River, the party sees Gawn looking
out into the water.]
Jude: "Gawn!"
Gawn: "Yo!"
Yulie: "You made it safely."
Gawn: "Just after we split, I stumbled across a hidden passage. *heh*
Looks like I got ahead of you guys."
Arnaud: "Unbelievable...We had a hell of a time getting here, you
know."
Gawn: "Aww gimme a break, will ya? I've got my own problems trying
to complete this job."
Jude: "That's right, you mentioned you were trying to find someone,
right?"
Gawn: "Yeah."
Jude: "It looks like we're heading in the same direction once again...
Could it be that the person you're looking for, is where we're
headed?"
Gawn: "...If so, then...tell me, where exactly are you all headed?"
Jude: "Huh?!"
Gawn: "I don't mean Buckeye Station. I mean, once you get on a train
there, what kind of a world do you want to head to?"
Jude: "...I won't really know until the time comes but...I hope we
can get to a place where no one has to fight anymore."
Gawn: "I see...The guy I'm looking for isn't likely to be where you're
headed then. He was always smack dab in the middle of a
battlefield."
Jude: "You really think so? I don't think anyone really wants to hurt
other people... I'm sure he wants peace, too...even if he's a
hero...even if he's a war criminal..."
Gawn: "Why don't we stick together until our paths split again,
Jude..."
Jude: "Yeah..."
[In the second screen:]
Jude: "Why are you trying to find this person, Gawn?"
Gawn: "...Hmm, I guess it's because there are a lot of things I want
to ask him. Like what he thought of being called a hero during
the war...? And why would someone whom everyone called a hero
do what he did...? For that matter, was he really even
involved...? ... Still...even if I do catch him, I may not be
able to get him to tell me everything."
Jude: "Why not?"
Gawn: "Because adults are cowardl, selfish, and without honor...And
because we're unable to live without lying."
Jude: "...Do you lie too, Gawn...?"
Gawn: "Yep, I sure do. Like, even when I'm hungry, I try to act like
I'm fine."
Jude: " *laughter* "
Gawn: "So, even if I catch the guy I'm after, I may not be able to
get any answers from him. But I'm not about to let that stop
me from chasing him."
Jude: "..."
Gawn: "The war is over...We can't keep dragging it out. This era
has no need for heroes. If he wants peace like you say, then he
should feel the same way."
[In the third screen:]
Gawn: "Shortly before the end of the war...in a town within the
Congressional Knights territory...there was a storm of terrible
destruction. An overwhelming blast of heat and energy seared,
melted, and crushed the buildings...And took countless lives,
burning and devouring all in its path. In the eye of that storm
a single man remained... It was supposedly the man I'm after."
Raquel: "...?!"
Gawn: "Even today, nobody knows what really happened in that town.
But... People whisper that this man may have been responsible...
If that's really true...Then I want to ask this warrior, this
man who was once called a 'hero,' why he took the lives of
innocents."
Jude: "So that's the reason behind your journey... But, what town
did this happen in...?"
Gawn: "Its name, its very existence...everything about it was buried.
There are very few who--"
Raquel: "...Verklarung..."
Gawn: "...?! You...know it?"
Raquel: "No matter how hard they try to erase it, they cannot bury
the hearts of those who once lived there, and survived..."
Gawn: "...One of the few survivors... Please, tell me! What happened
in that town?! Why was he there?!"
Raquel: "Hold on! Please...I was less than 10 years old at the time.
Besides, there's no way anyone could know the whole truth
behind such massive destruction."
Gawn: "Ah...Yeah, that's true...But, please! Tell me anything,
anything you remember about it...anything at all!"
Raquel: "All I remember is suddenly being crushed by a collapsing
building. The next time I opened my eyes, I saw a man in
black who looked like Death himself..."
Gawn: "What was he doing?!"
Raquel: "He stood alone inside a sea of rubble, yelling at the sky.
That's all that I remember. When I finally regained
consciousness, I found myself laying in a hospital bed..."
Gawn: "I see..."
Raquel: "I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help."
Gawn: "No, I'm the one who should apologize. I didn't mean to, but
I wound up digging up your past..."
Jude: "Raquel..."
Raquel: "I wasn't trying to keep it hidden, but it's not a very
beautiful memory. Besides, there never was a good opportunity
to bring it up, anyway."
Jude: "I understand..."
[The party continues down a ways when Jude sees a dog in a box
floating in the river. He uses his Accelerator to snatch it from
its ride, but as he jumps back on land, he almost falls in himself.
A man in black catches his hand as he falls.]
Jude: "Thanks mister."
Man in Black: "I saw you rush out to rescue the dog... I intended to
do so myself, but it looks like you beat me to it."
[The two shake hands, but as they do so, Jude sees a flashback of
the man he's shaking hands with. In a sea of rubble, the man looks
around from the destruction and fires an...ARM towards the sky?!]
Jude: "Wh..what was that...? Just now...something flashed through my
head, and... ... Were those your..."
[Jude looks behind him and sees his party running to him.]
Jude: "Guys! Guys, this man, he...?! Oh..."
[The man's already walking away with the dog.]
Jude: "I hadn't even thanked him yet..."
Gawn: "Jude...What happened here?"
Jude: "Hmm...? I was trying to rescue the puppy, but I got rescued
instead and--When I shook hands with him, these strange images
flashed through my head, and--Gawn...? What's wrong?"
Gawn: "That guy...It's him, the former hero. The war criminal...The
man I'm chasing!"
[The party runs after him a ways.]
Gawn: "Looks like this is where we part ways...I have to follow my
own path."
Jude: "Gawn...That guy...he's..."
Gawn: "Yeah, I know. He's not a bad guy. I know that. That's why I--
Well...it's because he and I both want the same thing...peace.
That's why I have to go."
Jude: "Yeah."
Gawn: "See ya, kid. We'll meet again someday since all paths cross
at some point.
[Another cutscene takes place in the Brionac Base. The woman in blue
from before is talking.]
Enil: "Fiore and Asia should be making contact with the targets
soon..."
[The Man in Shades from before is also present.]
Balgaine: "Heath's pet dolls...I've heard that his deviant obsession
breathed life into those two puppets. I can't understand
the attraction. The very idea is disgusting."
Enil: "'Invisible Stalker'...that was the name of Heath's special
ability. He was unable to love anyone, not even himself, so he
erased his existence from the perception of others. He became
completely invisible, undetectable by any human sense or even
machine. The only things he loved were Fiore and Asia. It's
hardly a surprise that the dollrs returned his affections."
Balgaine: "A miracle born from the obsession of one who never knew
love...Like I said, it's a disturbing thought."
Enil: "I wouldn't expect you to understand...not that I completely
understand it myself."
Balgaine: "But I do understand how great a loss it was to lose Heath.
He was a fearsome warrior, and his 'Invisible Stalker' was
a terrifying ability...But why was Heath purged? I heard he
somehow incurred Captain Lambda's disfavor..."
Enil: "The 'Invisible Stalker' was to blame. Although Heath existed,
he had no form to speak of. The contradiction in logic of
existing yet not existing, ended up twisting his psyche."
Balgaine: "Don't beat around the bush. You're saying his invisibility
made him lose sight of his honor as a member of Brionac?
What did he do? Did he leak secrets? Commit espionage...?"
Enil: "No, nothing like that. Just eavesdropping and spying on
people...specifically, the female staff members."
Balgaine: "A Lieutenant of the proud Brionac Forces committed such
base acts?! Unthinkable!"
Enil: "Behind the hearts of no small number of people lurks a dark
and filthy side. Even if they project an image of nobility,
honesty, and goodness, the same is not necessarily true with
regard to their hearts. Physical existence acts as a lid that
not only hides but restrains that darkness from coming forth.
Remove that existence, and all that would normally be kept
hidden spills out."
Balgaine: "That darkness is the weakness in people's hearts. The
Captain detests weakness...I can understand why he'd
eliminate Heath."
Enil: "But weakness is a burden that we all carry. Can Captain
Lambda lead us into the future?"
[On the world map, the path to the Mim'krilu Skyway appears.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 21. Mim'krilu Skyway |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party comes to the skyway, which floats high above the earth.]
Arnaud: "Floating steps that connect one peak to another...It's like
a bridge which exists between heaven and earth..."
Raquel: "Accompanying Jude on this journey has given us the
opportunity to visit so many sights that we'd normally
never be able to see.
Yulie: "I'm sorry, Raquel... It's my fault everyone got dragged into
this, and you don't have time to truy enjoy the sights..."
Raquel: "Ah...no, that's not what I meant..."
Jude: "You're always apologizing, Yulie. You've got to keep in mind
that we're doing what we want to do. When you're apologizing
all the time like that, I worry that we're the ones bothering
you, instead of helping you."
Yulie: "I'm sorry..."
Jude: "Yulie..."
Yulie: "..."
Raquel: "Jude, don't you go making things hard for her. I don't
mind, okay, Yulie?"
Arnaud: "I don't mind, either. After all, I really WAS dragged into
all this."
Yulie: "..."
Jude: "Arnaud! How can you say something like that? Yulie's our
friend!"
Raquel: " *sigh* Even after all that we've been through, it isn't
about to get any easier... Let's head towards Buckeye. Once
we arrive, we'll have plenty of time to enjoy the scenery."
[The party continues on until they see a mesh-wire screen hanging
overhead.]
Tutorial: *If Jude comes in contact with a metal grating while
jumping, he will grab and hang from it. Press the
directional buttons to move while hanging. When hanging
from the edge of a metal grating, press the (/\) button
to flip up on top of it.
[The party continues until they're attacked by a bunch of monsters
all at once.]
Jude: "There are so many of them!"
Arnaud: "We can't take on all of them!"
Raquel: "We don't have a choice! C'mon!"
[The party defeats the twelve enemies, but four more loads of
monsters warp in.]
Arnaud: "Not again! They just won't quit, will they?"
Raquel: "You're getting too far ahead of everyone. You need to work
with us to take them out!"
Arnaud: "No, if we split up and hit them individually, we'll get
past them much faster! Always keep your mind as sharp as a
razor!"
Raquel: "You're getting carried away!"
Jude: "Hey, is splitting up and fighting also a form of teamwork?!"
[Arnaud attacks one of the monsters that warped in.]
Arnaud: "What the...? It's not like the others!?"
[Arnaud defeats the Spriggan and Raquel attacks one of the monsters
that warped in, too.]
Raquel: "So the others were just decoys? To get us to let our guard
down?"
[Raquel defeats the Spriggan and Jude's turn comes up.]
Jude: "We'll do what we can, but it looks like Yulie may be in
danger."
[Jude defeats his monster and Yulie's turn comes up. She's heavily
outnumbered.]
Yulie: "Am I...the one they're after?"
[The party comes to Yulie's rescue and defeats the monsters.]
Arnaud: "Damn, I totally blew it...It's my fault we...Argh!"
Voice: "How pathetic...Despite all your bragging, your razor-sharp
mind didn't do much good, did it?"
[They turn around to find Heath's pet dolls, Fiore and Asia, making
their entrance.]
Raquel: "Dolls?! Are they a part of Brionac?!"
Fiore: "We're Fiore and Asia. Our job is to secure that girl and
finish off the rest of you nobodies."
Asia: "People call us the dreaming dolls."
Jude: "It doesn't matter who you are--we'll never hand over Yulie!"
Fiore: "Oh, look! A hot-blooded boy! He makes my heart pitter-patter
just by looking at him..."
Asia: "No, Fiore! It's too soon for our hearts to race!"
Raquel: "Be gone, little dolls...Yulie is our dear friend. If you
insist on threatening her, we will show no mercy."
Fiore: "This lady cares about her friends. Yet that other guy
ignored his friends' warnings and took off by himself, putting
them all in danger..."
Asia: "All because of his 'razor-sharp' mind...Must have been a
pretty cheap razor for it to break so easily..."
Arnaud: " *grrr* Dammit..."
Fiore: "Will you hand over the girl quietly? Or will you choose to
fight us? Either way, I guess you need time to reach a
decision. We'll be waiting for you on the other side of this
bridge."
Asia: "Please make up your mind before you cross over. I must warn
you, if you choose to challenge us, you'd best be prepared.
We'll be waiting to welcome you with our hearts-a-racing."
[The dolls disappear.]
Arnaud: "..."
Jude: "It doesn't matter what they say! I still trust you, Arnaud.
We can count on what's above your neck, right? Then--"
Arnaud: "Yeah...That's right...This time...I'm going to show you what
a real razor-sharp mind can do..."
Jude: "..."
[The party goes to the end of the bridge where Fiore and Asia wait.]
Fiore: "So, did you make up your mind?"
Asia: "There's no value to a fool's thinking...No matter which choice
you made, the lack of quality in your razor won't change."
Arnaud: "I don't need to take any lip from a doll...You're in for a
big surprise if you think you're going to get the best of me
again!
Fiore: "Differentiating between humans and dolls...You have no
ability to dream, do you?"
Asia: "Our master Heath...he loved us. And if you believe in your
dreams, they'll always come true. Our master believed in our
hearts so strongly, we were brought to life."
Arnaud: "Do you think that just having dreams and goals is enough
to make you special?!"
[The party starts to fight with Fiore and Asia.]
Fiore: "How dare you insult our master...our poor old Heath!"
Asia: "You're nothing but a flimsy razor that's soon to shatter,
anyway!"
[The party sticks it to the dolls and defeats 'em.]
Fiore: "It's not fair...How can we lose? How can we lose to people
who don't even have dreams?!"
Asia: "Our loss is Heath's loss...It's so unfair...We can't let it
end like this..."
Raquel: "This 'Heath' you call your master...Did he really believe
in dreams? You inherited all your thoughts and your behavior
from him, right? You speak of dreams, yet you look down upon
people and toy with them. Looking at you, I'd conclude that
this Heath didn't really believe in dreams, but chose to
escape into convenient fantasies."
Fiore: "Stop saying bad things about Heath!"
[Fiore lunges at Raquel and starts to choke her, but Raquel pushes
her at arms length. A glowing red energy surrounds Fiore.]
Fiore: "I'm going to join Heath, and I'm taking you with me!! My
heart races at the very thought!"
Raquel: "Run everyone! She's going to try something!"
[Raquel tosses Fiore aside and she explodes, but does no damage
past knocking everyone down. Asia stands over Yulie.]
Asia: "I'm all alone, now...I'm so sad, I feel like my heart is about
to burst..."
[A glowing red energy surrounds Asia, but Arnaud takes her and uses
his Jump ability to launch into the sky with her.]
Asia: "You really are a fool. I bet you were trying to look cool
rushing out like that, but you're just gonna go 'boom' along
with me. I may be unable to continue my mission, but I can
still cause some serious damage. In the end, you'll just cause
misfortune to your comrades again. I'm sure Heath would be
pleased."
Arnaud: "Would you shut up already!"
Asia: "...Ah, soon my heart will burst...I suppose it was your
razor-sharp mind that came up with this futile effort...?"
Arnaud: "That's right...but it's not futile...Because my razor is
double-edged!"
[Jude uses his Accelerator to lunge up and kick Asia away before
she explodes, then uses his ARM as a shield to protect the blast
from himself and Arnaud.]
Raquel: "You never think before you act, do you?! Is rushing out
and sacrificing yourself what you call razor-sharp thinking?!"
Arnaud: "Now you're saying the same as the doll...All's well that
ends well, right? And besides, I wasn't sacrificing myself.
I was fully intending to come back."
Raquel: "How can you say that when you had us so worried..."
Arnaud: "If I used my jump ability and made a big show of rushing
out...I figured it'd make the kid jump out after me with
his Accelerator. And then...well, I figure he'd come up with
something."
Raquel: "...You really take the cake, you know that?"
Jude: "But, that means...you trusted me enough to risk your life..."
Arnaud: "You're not supposed to mention that sort of thing. Kids, I
tell you..."
Jude: " *ha ha* "
Yulie: "...Uh...um..."
Arnaud: "There's no need to apologize. Saving you was just a side
effect of saving myself."
Yulie: "...No, I wasn't about to...Arnaud, Jude...thank you..."
Arnaud: "...Oh...uh...You're welcome."
Jude: "That's it, Yulie! Not an 'I'm sorry,' but a 'Thank you!'
Apologizing all the time is weird anyway, and besides...It's
much nicer to hear 'thanks' rather than a 'sorry' when you're
on the receiving end."
Yulie: "R...really?"
Jude: "Yeah, definitely! I was really happy to hear you say that!"
Raquel: "Buckeye is just ahead. Let's hurry on before anything else
gets in our way."
[The party leaves and a cutscene takes place in the Garra de Leon's
Onyx Room.]
Councilman Arlington: "We, the Congressional Knights, emerged
victorious in the great war against the Global
Union!"
Councilman Buckingham: "But lo and behold, what awaited us at the
conclusion of the war? The limitations of
democracy--in other words, defeat."
Councilman Ashley: "The concept of representative democracy is
fatally flawed!"
Councilman Lauderdale: "The public is ignorant and foolish! They
cannot uphold ideals! They cannot understand
government!"
High Minister Clifford: "Indeed...By opening it up to the masses, the
quality of government decreases, and even the
simplest issues take an enormous amount of
time to resolve. The idea of a democratic
government by the people is nothing more than
an outdated fantasy. For the future of
Filgaia, the guidance of its leaders is all
that matters."
Councilman Arlington: "We are the true leaders. Only through us can
there be a future for this world."
Councilman Buckingham: "But we have so very little time. Where is the
technology that will make us eternal?"
Councilman Ashley: "Eterniy stands before us. Yet what does Brionac
do?!"
Councilman Lauderdale: "Lambda...no matter the cost, bring us the
girl, the sacrifice, at once!"
High Minister Clifford: "The Divine Weapon is our future. And the key
to opening the door to the future is Yulie
Ahtreide. Eternal life unto us...for an
eternal future for the world!"
[The cutscene ends. On the world map, the path to the Desolate
Railway opens.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 22. Desolate Railway |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party enters.]
Jude: "So, the trains travel along this iron road...And Buckeye
Station is just down this road, right?"
Arnaud: "Yeah...it is, but..."
Jude: "...?"
Arnaud: (They're so rusty...? Don't tell me these tracks are--)
Raquel: "Once we make it to Buckeye, we should be able to shake off
Yulie's pursuers."
Yulie: "Yes, thanks to you all."
[In the second screen:]
Yulie: (Once I get to Buckeye, I'll be able to run to a land where
no one will come after me... I won't have to be scared
anymore...More than anything else, I won't have to hurt
anyone anymore... ... But will running away to the ends of
the earth really mean it'll all be over...? Will my running
away really solve everything...?)
Jude: "...Are you okay, Yulie...?"
Yulie: "Ah, yes...it's nothing..."
[In the third screen:]
Yulie: (...)
Jude "...What's on your mind?"
Yulie: "...I was just thinking that our journey will be over soon."
Jude: "Yeah..."
Yulie: (I only made it this far because of the kindness of my
friends... They told me it was okay to run... ... But I've
brought them nothing but trouble because that's all I do...
...Running alone won't change anything... ... The paths we
take all lead somewhere... These tracks lead to Buckeye...
But running away won't lead to the world I want... ... What
should I do...? Please, tell me...Kresnik...)
[At the end of the area, a short cutscene shows Kresnik sitting on
his bunk, listening to a music box. His eyes turn red for a moment
before the cutscene ends, and the tracks to Buckeye Station finally
come into play.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 23. Buckeye Station |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party arrives through the city gates.]
Jude: "We finally made it...So this is Buckeye...We can get a
train here!"
Raquel: "...I imagined the town would be a little more lively than
this..."
Yulie: "It's as though a sere and lonely wind blows through the
entire town..."
Arnaud: "We need to head to the station if we're gonna board a train.
We can choose a destination and time once we get there."
[The party goes to the station and finds no trains. They talk to the
nearest guy.]
Station Staffer Emmett: "You want to know the status of the trains
coming through this station?! ...
Unfortunately, it's been some time since any
trains left from or arrived at Buckeye
Station."
Jude: "But we heard that we could catch a train to take us far away
from here..."
Station Staffer Emmett: "In the past, Buckeye was a bustling town
where lots of trains came and went, but..."
Arnaud: "On the way here, I noticed that the tracks were covered in
rust so I thought there might be something to that."
Station Staffer Emmett: "The last trains were in operation about six
or seven years ago. They were used to
transport soldiers and weapons during the
war. After the war, they were filled with
soldiers coming home from the front lines but
that didn't last very long either. The long
war had finally ended. We had all expected a
government of the people to be administrated
by the Congressional Knights. But the chaos
never abated, and life only got more
difficult. For none of us knew anything about
political administration. When asked to vote,
we could only make our choices based on image.
I think a lot of people never even voted at
all...When a political regime weakens, cities
and public institutions naturally stop working
as well. The number of trains visiting Buckeye
Station continued to dwindle until things came
to be the way they are now."
Jude: "Can't you get the train working, mister?"
Station Staffer Emmett: " *laughter* Don't be silly. Trains are large
contraptions. One person alone can't move
something that big."
Jude: "Oh..."
Station Staffer Emmett: "I still wear my uniform because I'm hoping
that someday the trains will start running
again and bring this town back to life. I know
I should just give it up...but these days,
even adults need something to cling to in
order to keep our spirits up."
Raquel: "It sounds like Gawn's information is a bit past its
expiration date."
Arnaud: "What should we do? I guess there's nothing we can do... The
whole time, we were so sure that it we made it here,
everything would work out."
Yulie: "..."
Jude: "Well, we've gotta do something. So let's see what we can do
together!
[As the party leaves the station, Yulie gets all excited.]
Yulie: "...?!"
Jude: "What is it?"
Yulie: "Over there...That looks like Kresnik..."
Jude: "What...?"
Yulie: "It IS him! It's Kresnik!! Kresnik!"
Jude: "Where?! Where is he?"
Yulie: "He was just over there..."
Raquel: "Yulie, calm down. Was he really there...? Jude couldn't
see him, and neither could I."
Yulie: "But..."
Arnaud: "I'm sorry, but I didn't see him either..."
Yulie: "I'd never mistake my own brother! That was Kresnik... He
looked at me and said, 'I'll be waiting for you at
Etemenanki.'"
Jude: "Ete...man...anki??"
Raquel: "Is that the name of a nearby place or structure? Either
way, this is clearly--"
Arnaud: "Yeah...another one of Brionac's traps."
Yulie: "..."
Jude: "What do you want to do, Yulie?"
Yulie: "If Kresnik is waiting for me at Etemenanki, I've got to...
But, that'll mean..."
Raquel: "You remember the reason why we came here, Yulie. Remember?"
Arnaud: "I'm used to being dragged into things by now. Don't worry
about it."
Jude: "Let's go, Yulie!"
Yulie: "Thank you...It's because all of you are with me that I'm
able to keep going... I'm so glad to have all of you with
me..."
[On the world map, the eastern path to Etemenanki opens up.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 24. Etemenanki |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party enters the giant tower.]
Yulie: "..."
Jude: "Are you scared, Yulie...?"
Yulie: "A little...but I'm all right."
Jude: "Well, we already know there's something here, so there's no
need to be scared. Besides, I'll be with you."
Yulie: "Thanks. You're right, I'm sure we'll be okay."
[In one of the rooms, Jude finds a springboard.]
Tutorial: *Use a springboard to jump to high places that are normally
inaccessible through regular jumps.
[After going through a wing in the tower, the party finds a boss
that looks like something Yulie would summon.]
Jude: "Yulie's Material?! No, it's something else..."
Yulie: "It's as though several guardians all joined into one... (It
feels like a giant, twisted terror...a darkness without cease,
that's about to devour me... It's just like the indescribable
fear I felt when I was at the facility... Yes...this monster
represents the very memories within my heart... ... ...those
same memories carved into my heart, that I can never escape
from. ... ...)
[A flashback to White Orphange occurs.]
Yulie: "They called me specimin WG920B+. And the only things they
gave me were meals and a bed...alone with bitterness, pain and
lonenliness. And in return, they sought in me the aiblity to
drive ARMs. The environmental repair nanomachines scattered
throughout the world...and the ability to control the ARM
devices...All my fears...the utter despair in my heart..they
manifested themselves and took on the shape of terrible
beasts. This wasn't at all the power to heal the planet, but
in fact, a tool for utter destruction! I hated it...this
frightening power. I wanted to rid myself of it. At first I
didn't know what to do, but I could see the adults were
pleased. Eventually, I internalized this power. This was power
which took on the form of monstrous beasts...That's it...If I
do everything they want, then the others...the other children
would be freed from these awful experiments. No one has to
suffer anymore...my determination enabled me to raise my
drive compatibility coefficient. But as my drive coefficient
rose, the others began to disappear from the facility,
one-by-one. It wasn't until much later that I learned what
happened to them.
[The flashback ends and Yulie's back in the present.]
Yulie: "My power...it only brings pain and suffering. It destroys
everything around me...and everyone I care for."
Jude: "Yulie!!!"
Yulie: " *gasp* "
Jude: "C'mon!"
Yulie: "Okay..."
[Together, the party defeats the Guardian Chimera.]
Arnaud: "Well, that certainly wasn't an illusion..."
Raquel: "But what was it?"
Yulie: "The dark shadows in my heart...they have taken on physical
form..."
Jude: "The shadows in your heart...?"
Yulie: "The fear...dread...and anxiety...I just can't bring myself
to like my power...I can't accept it, the way you have, Jude...
because...I'm not strong..."
[The party enters a room after a save point and sees Kresnik.]
Yulie: "Kresnik!"
Raquel: "Is that..."
Arnaud: "-Yeah"
Raquel: "But is it...really him...?"
Arnaud: "I see him too. It isn't a mirage or anything."
Yulie: "Kresnik...Why is that you seek me? Why do you want this
terrible power? Do you seek it for yourself or for others...
If you really need me, Kresnik, then I'll go with you..
But...if this power'll be used to cause pain and suffering
in others--"
Kresnik: "I need you because there are others who want that power.
The future of our world depends on it."
Jude: "Yulie..."
Kresnik: "You must understand Yulie, there's more to power than
just destruction. With that power of yours, we can pick up
the pieces and fix all that is broken. Look at this
world...This war-ravaged land...The crushed spirit of its
people! It's for them that I use my power...It's for
them...that I serve as a Brionac. Come with me, Yulie...
With your power, we can restore peace and happiness to this
world together. And you'll never be alone...or live in fear
again. Now...put your hand in mine, Yulie."
Yulie: "Wait!"
Jude: "Yulie! Is that...is that really your brother?! ... I
can't quite explain it...but your brother Kresnik...Well
Kresnik, he wasn't such a smooth talker. He didn't try to
trick you with words! Instead of relying on words, he took
action! And his actions...they spoke form themselves! Our
ARMs are a direct link to our hearts...When we fought, I saw
the truth!"
Kresnik: "Yulie...After all that you've been through, I understand
your uncertainty. That's precisely why I want you to put
your trust in me. If you do, I know all your doubts will
be swept away, and you will be able to see the truth."
Jude: "No Yulie!"
[Yulie walks to Kresnik, singing a song.]
Yulie: "Let us make a promise here and now
Walking together hand touching hand
Let us make a promise, make it true
Never again to cry alone..."
Kresnik: "What a beautiful song. You'll have to sing it for me
again later."
[Yulie runs away from Kresnik.]
Yulie: "Are you...are you really my brother?"
Kresnik: "In this entire world, all we have is each other, Yulie.
So why is that you won't trust me?"
Jude: "Don't be fooled, Yulie!"
[Jude looks at Kresnik but sees his mother instead.]
Jude: "Mom?!"
[Kresnik picks Jude up by the neck.]
Kresnik: "You have got some nerve interfering in our reunion. You're
like a cancer which destroys the order that we bring to
this world."
[Yulie runs behind Kresnik, but he thinks someone's attacking, so
he elbows her in the face as he flings Jude at her.]
Kresnik: "Damn I didn't mean to--"
Yulie: "It's all clear now...stop pretending to be my brother!
Stop doing these cruel things!"
Kresnik: "Just what are you talking about...Yulie?"
Yulie: "You can't fool me anymore! If you don't know our song...
there's no way you can be my brother! My brother Kresnik...
he was strong but kind! But you...you're not the brother I
love."
[Kresnik changes forms into Enil, earlier referred to as 'Woman
in Blue'. She stands smirking.]
Enil: "I'm quite impressed that you saw through my illusion of
Commander Kresnik. It looks as though you've overcome your
your doubts about your brother too."
Yulie: "When you took his form, it forced me to reaffirm what's in
his heart. Kresnik was kind, and he always watched over me.
And so I...I've been able to come to terms with everything
that he has said and done."
Enil: "Then come with me now. After all, it's your brother's wish."
Yulie: "I'm afraid that I can't."
Enil: "What?!"
Yulie: "Because you're a liar and someone who preys on people's
fears!"
[The battle with Enil starts.]
Enil: "The power to materialize someone's deepest doubts and fears.
And they're not illusions. My Dark Whisper gives them real
physical form! Yes, it's just like your power Yulie. You and I
are the same."
Yulie: "No we're not! In the past, that may have been true...but
Kresnik explained to me the true purpose of my power for the
future of this world. So...From now on, I'll only use my power
to better our world...and to transform hope into reality!
Never again to materialize doubts and fear."
[The party defeats Enil.]
Enil: "No one is free from doubts and fears. They must learn to live
with them everyday. None are immune to this curse... Yet
somehow you..."
Yulie: "No matter how much I ran, my fears would always follow me.
I thought I'd spend my whole life running from my fears...
But...then I met you all...And you told me it was all right
to run, but at the same time, you gave me the strength not
to. And that it's 'Thank you,' not 'sorry.' I'm not going to
tremble in fear and run away anymore. I'm going to step
forward and overcome my fears."
Enil: "...A way to break free from the chains of fear...So, it's not
by running, but by overcoming... ...I never knew such a thing
was possible...I wish I had met you sooner...If I had, I
probably would never have materialized anyone's fears... By
giving shape to my own fears, I became unable to trust
anyone... ...I won't go after you anymore..."
Yulie: "And I won't run anymore, either."
Enil: "You're tougher than you look... I wonder if I can gain that
strength, too. ...Please...give me the strength to...face...
my fears...too..."
[Enil dies (?).]
Yulie: "I don't want to run anymore...When presented with a choice,
I don't want to take the path that lies behind me. If there's
no other path, I want to create one for myself. This is my
fight. I'm tired of just being protected. I want...to fight!"
Jude: "...Okay...if that's what you want, then we won't protect you
anymore. Instead, we'll lend you our strength so that you can
fight together with us. We'll support your fight."
Yulie: "...Thank you...I'm going to be strong, so I can support you
all, too."
[Cutscene in Garra de Leon's Onyx Room again.]
High Minister Clifford: "Yes...! We must grow stronger!"
Councilman Ashley: "Strong and superior leaders are necessary in order
to bring a secure future to Filgaia. This requires
that we evolve!"
Councilman Lauderdale: "How ironic that nanotechnology--the heretical
technology developed by the Global Union--will
now open the path to our future."
Councilman Arlington: "We failed to mass-produce super-soldiers, but
the data from the experiments at the artificial
evolution facility has proved to be useful.
*chuckle* Surely those sacrificed during the
experiments are resting in peace, knowing that
their deaths were not in vain."
Councilman Buckingham: "The only means to a stable future is one where
the military reports to the representatives of
the people, not other soldiers. By deploying
Lambda's elite soldiers--the Brionac
Lieutenants--one at a time, we have in effect
thinned out his ranks. With his power
curtailed, he shall be nothing but an obedient
dog who fetches ARMs for us. Lambda shall
merely be an observer, as we rule over eternity
with our ARMs."
High Minister Clifford: "And to accomplish that we must have Yulie
Ahtreide in hand, for she shall be the holy
mother to conceive this planet's future..."
[Nothing appears on the World Map, so the party heads back to Buckeye
Station.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 25. Buckeye Station II and the Silver Star Express |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[When the party arrives back, the town is talking about the special
military train that's arrived in the station. The party goes to
check it out.]
Raquel: "The train..."
Arnaud: "Yeah, but the train's already taking off..."
[Jude looks at the train and sees a soldier pushing Ethelda
around. He clenches his fists hard enough to break his knuckles.
He runs off to catch up.]
Raquel: "What's wrong with Jude?!"
Yulie: "Jude's mother...is on the train?!
Raquel: "What?!"
[The rest of of the party members beat it to a truck nearby.]
Narrative: *The train kicks up dust as it begins to pull out of
Buckeye!
[Jude runs to a bicycle and starts pedaling in Accelerator mode.
Gawn sticks his head out of one of the slide doors.]
Gawn: "Jude?! What the hell are you doing?!"
Jude: "What does it look like? I'm catching the train!"
Gawn: "Jude, don't! There is no regular...service from Buckeye! I
got my information mixed up! Believe me, you don't want to
GET ON THIS TRAIN!"
Jude: "I have to!"
Gawn: "Listen to me! Get away from here! This is a Brionac
military train!
Jude: "I know that!"
Gawn: "Well then why are you--?!"
Jude: "Because despite all that...I have got to get on that train!"
[The old bike falls apart, propelling Jude forward. Jude tries to
grab onto something, but can't...but then Gawn's long arm pulls him
on board.]
Gawn: "You're one crazy kid..."
Jude: "But... ... Say...why are you here, Gawn...?"
Gawn: "Why? Well...I, uh...Ah, um...hey, we can't just stay here,
you know. If anyone serious about their job were to show up..."
[Gawn goes to the back of the train.]
Jude: "...?"
[Just then, some soldiers come into the cabin and point their guns
at Jude. The rest of the party members arrive, too, having used the
green truck to get aboard.]
Arnaud: "They're onto us already?!"
Jude: "Then we'll just have to take them head-on!!"
[They defeat the soldiers.]
Jude: "Gawn!"
Gawn: "Y...yeah?"
Jude: "Hide here. I won't let 'em get past me."
Gawn: "What are you gonna do?!"
Jude: "There's something I've gotta do...And I'm gonna do it!"
[The team sneaks through the train. When they get to a part where
the trains are coupled, Gawn runs after them.]
Gawn: "Jude, wait! This is a military train! You don't know what
might be onboard!"
Jude: "It doesn't matter, I have got to go through this train! My
Mom is onboard...they must have captured her!"
Gawn: "What...did you say...? Then, that means your mother is...
...She'll most likely be in the first car...If they know you
guys have come for her, they'd probably move her there."
Jude: "Thanks, Gawn."
Gawn: "... ...And remember, if things get really out of hand, just
stop what you're doing and apologize. When a kid apologizes,
most adults can't help but forgive them. And I'll apologize
for you, too."
Jude: " *heh heh* But...that isn't something I'd want to do. After
all, I know they're not about to free my Mom. So even if it
would save me, it wouldn't save Mom!"
Gawn: "All right..I won't tell you not to do anything crazy...but
don't do anything TOO crazy, all right?"
Jude: "All right. You be careful, too, Gawn. Shouldn't you be finding
a place to hide?"
[The party runs through the cars until they open a door and look
down the barrel of a tank. They all jump out of the way and the
blast blows the cars behind them off the track.]
Jude: "That unexpected cannonfire blew away the rear...Wait,
where's Gawn?!"
Gawn: "Yo!"
[Gawn gets up behind him.]
Arnaud: "How the heck did you dodge that?"
Raquel: "You've got some unbelievable reflexes, but I'm glad to
see you're safe."
[The tank approaches the party.]
Yulie: "Look out! There's a...tank? Inside the train?!"
[The battle starts.]
Raquel: "This is just unbelievable!"
Arnaud: "Never in a million years did I imagine myself in a situation
like this!"
Yulie: "Don't worry, I don't think any of us did!"
[The party dismantles the tank and continues on. They eventually
see some empty cars being uncoupled to impede their progress. They
cross and look back to see Balgaine standing in the tracks. He
takes out a chainsaw and cuts the cars in half, then uses his rocket
pack to jet after the moving train.]
Arnaud: "No way!"
Raquel: "That's impossible!"
[Balgaine lands inside the car.]
Arnaud: "He cut the car in half and just kept on coming...!
Balgaine: "My partner, this anti-tank chainsaw, is made for close
quarters combat against tanks--it's hardly a challenge to
tear apart a mere train car."
Raquel: "It's not surprising as much as it's ridiculous. Still,
this guy is..."
Jude: "Yeah, I can tell. He's really strong..."
Balgaine: "I give thanks to the gods for this opportunity to face off
against the little hero with an ARM...No...for even the gods
do not stand a chance against my partner and I. Then to whom
shall I show my gratitude?"
Jude: "You're happy to fight?! Don't you know it hurts to be
wounded? And that it's painful to hurt others?!"
Balgaine: "A child who has never known war couldn't possibly
understand. Warriors exist by fighting, and by facing death
head-on, they give meaning to their lives! They fight on,
in search of a place to die! Since the end of the war, my
life has lost all meaning. Will you grant me a place to die,
little hero? Will you grant me the joy of war, just once
more?!"
[The battle with Balgaine starts.]
Jude: "Why can't you adults understand?! There's no end to war
because there'll always be people like you to glorify it."
Balgaine: "As long as people are people, wars will never cease! Unless
humans evolve their desire, no, their need to fight won't
vanish! Little hero, do you think you can lead the way for
the evolution of the human race?"
Jude: "Big words alone don't make an adult. You say these things,
yet you've never really tried to bring about an end to war!"
[Someone uses magic on Balgaine.]
Tutorial: *Balgaine's special ability, 'Baron of Gore,' enables him
to nullify any kind of support magic. Against the Baron of
Gore, the only way to prevail is with a head-on assault.
[The party defeats Balgaine with much effort.]
Balgaine: "You did not disappoint me, little hero. The power of the
ARMs was just as I imagined...So where does your path lead
you to now?"
Jude: "My path stretches behind you...I'll rescue you and protect
Yulie, then I want to live without having to fight any more."
Balgaine: "Is that truly...peace? Is that what we shall find in a
world without war?"
Jude: "..."
Balgaine: "Don't forget...it was only through fighting...that you
were able...to open up your path. If what you seek...lies
down that path...then go...and embrace your future...little
hero...But run as fast as you can...for time is precious,
and you may not have...as much time...as you think..."
[Balgaine's chainsaw explodes and they both disappear. Jude's party
continues on until they see Ethelda being knocked around by some
soldiers.]
Jude: "Mom!!"
Ethelda: "Jude?!"
[Jude tries to take another step, but Lambda cracks a whip at him.]
Jude: "You...you're the ones responsible...!"
[Lambda only looks at him as the train uncouples and the train
starts to steer away.]
Raquel: "They've detached the car!"
Arnaud: "And switched the tracks! Damn!"
[Jude's mom and Lambda take off on one track while the uncoupled
car Jude's in go off on another.]
Gawn: "Guys! We're on an unfinished track! Everyone get down!!"
[The train swandives over the cliff and a cutscene in the Onyx Room
takes place again.]
Councilman Lauderdale: "So, Balgaine has fallen as well. There aren't
that many of Lambda's proteges remaining."
Councilman Arlington: "Of Brionac, or Lambda's Elite, only six remain
including Lambda himself."
Councilman Buckingham: "However...No matter the cost or sacrifices
necessary, we must obtain Yulie Ahtreide!
Isn't that right, Commander Farmel?"
Farmel: "Yes, the final excavation of the Divine Weapon at Illsveil
is complete. All that remains is to wait for the arrival of
the heretical engineers and the test subject girl."
Councilman Ashley: "Did the accursed Global Union think that by
entombing it deep beneath Illsveil, they had
eliminated all traces of its existence? We simply
used the prisoners interned on Illsveil to excavate
it. It was a trivial task."
Farmel: "May I ask a question? What do the distinguished members of
the High Council intend to do with the Divine Weapon and the
heretical engineers? And...the test subject, Yulie
Ahtreide..."
High Minister Clifford: "It is not your job to question us, Commander
Farmel! Like the pursuit and capture of war
criminals, it is necessary for a better
post-war future. Do not burden yourself with
needless concerns. You need only to focus on
doing your job."
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 26. Forgotten City |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[When the cutscene ends, Arnaud wakes up in some industrial place.
Raquel, who was trying to light a fire, looks over at him.]
Raquel: "Hey, you're finally awake."
Arnaud: "Yeah...Ow...Did you patch me up?"
Raquel: "When I came to, I realized that someone had already tended
to my wounds. So I assume that same person probably took care
of you as well..."
Arnaud: "Did we get separated from the others when we were thrown
from the train? ... Well, it'd be wise for us to stay put
then. At the very least, if we stay here, whoever took care
of us might come back."
Raquel: "Yeah... *cough* *hack* *gasp* "
Arnaud: "H...hey!"
[Elsewhere, Jude wakes up alone.]
Jude: "Man... ... Looks like I got separated from the others... ...
Well, I can't just stand here all day! I've gotta find
everyone!"
[Jude starts looking for everyone and the view switches back to
Arnaud and Raquel.]
Arnaud: "Raquel!"
Raquel: "It's nothing to be concerned about."
Arnaud: "What do you mean, 'Nothing to be concerned about?!' This
isn't the first time it's happened, either! Are you
injured...? Or sick?!"
Raquel: "No... It's not an injury...nor an illness either. It was
just over 10 years ago... I suffered an incurable wound...
right here, at this very place...and it was the beginning of
the end for me."
Arnaud: "An incurable...wound? The beginning of the end? Huh...?"
Raquel: "When the train went over that cliff, it led us directly to
the underground ruins of a city... A city that was buried,
never to be seen or spoken of again... ... Arnaud...do you
know where we are?"
Arnaud: "No...I can't say I do."
Raquel: "Of course you don't. The events which took place here were
buried along with its very name. This is Verklarung...a city
whose existence was erased by a sudden catastrophe. This is
my hometown."
Arnaud: "...That's really tragic...but rather than dwell on the past,
we should think about what to do now...Raquel, don't you have
any medicine or something?"
Raquel: "Unfortunately, there is nothing modern medicine can do for
this broken body of mine..."
Arnaud: "Are you serious...?"
Raquel: "I'm sure it's difficult for you to believe me. But if you
saw the body that's hidden beneath this coat, you'd have no
choice but to do so. Just a minute...I'll show it to you."
Arnaud: "No, stop! You don't have to... ... I don't need to see,
because I believe you... Because you confided in me..."
Raquel: "I don't have too much time left...I'll never grow up to be
an adult, or grow old."
Arnaud: "...When you said you wanted to see all the beauty that
remains in Filgaia...Is this why...?"
Raquel: "I wanted to forget the terrible memories I had of the city
and its people, so I set out in search of beautiful things.
I didn't want to fall into despair...I wanted to believe
there was still some light left in this world."
Arnaud: "...When we first met, and you told us about the purpose of
your journey...I didn't understand at all...But now..."
Raquel: "..."
Arnaud: "Everyone seems to be carrying all these burdens... Not just
you, but Jude and Yulie, too... ... By comparison, I must
look like an idiot, traveling around with no good reason..."
Raquel: "Do you need a reason to travel?"
Arnaud: "..."
Raquel: "If you don't have a reason, then perhaps you just need to
find one. What's wrong with a journey where you find your own
reason somewhere along the way?"
[Raquel hands him some soup.]
Raquel: "Here, have some. It'll warm you up...but no guarantees on
how it'll taste..."
Arnaud: "...Mmm, it's good."
Raquel: "Really?"
Arnaud: "Yeah. Can I have seconds?"
Raquel: "This is kind of nice..."
[Jude continues until another cutscene takes place--back to his
other two friends.]
Arnaud: "Are you feeling any better?"
Raquel: "I think the worst is over. I can move now..."
Arnaud: "Don't push yourself..."
Raquel: "Sometimes you have no choice..."
Arnaud: "Well, when those times come--"
[They both turn to the door.]
Raquel: "...?! Is someone there?!"
Arnaud: "Jude!"
Jude: "Arnaud! Raquel! You're all right!!"
Raquel: "Jude, are you alone?"
Jude: "Yeah..."
Raquel: "Oh..."
Arnaud: "Say, Jude, were you the one who treated our injuries?"
Jude: "...? Nope...this is the first I've seen you. And when I woke
up, someone had already taken care of me as well."
Arnaud: "Then..."
Jude: "Yeah...maybe it was Gawn..."
Arnaud: "Anyway, we're glad to see you're okay. Come on over and
have something to eat."
Jude: "Okay. We can't stay here for very long, though. I'm worried
about Yulie."
Arnaud: "Yeah...it doesn't seem like there are monsters around here,
but still, it's almost TOO quiet..."
Raquel: "We need to hurry and rejoin Yulie."
[Raquel looks over at Arnaud.]
Raquel: (Hey, about what I said earlier...)
Arnaud: (Yeah...it's up to you whether you want to say anything to
the others or not.)
Raquel: (I don't really like talking about myself...I'd prefer you
to keep it a secret.)
Arnaud: (Someday, you should tell them yourself...)
Raquel: (...If that someday comes, I will...)
Arnaud: (...)
[After awhile, a cutscene shows Yulie being led around in the dark
by the war criminal Gawn's been after. He still has the puppy from
before.]
Yulie: "Um... Thank you for treating my injuries."
[He says nothing, just beckoning her on.]
Yulie: "Um... Where are we going to?"
????: "We're here."
Yulie: "What is this place?"
????: "This is an old battle site. I want you to pray for the lives
that were lost, and release the souls of the earthbound dead.
You can do that, can't you, Paladienne?"
Yulie: "Let us recite holy verses and release these whispers of
lament...I pray that you look to the warm feelings in your
heart, and find peaceful repose...And someday, you shall find
your way to the garden of Toldoka..."
[A bunch of souls depart for the sky.]
Yulie: "Their thoughts and emotions are flowing over me... There is
so much sadness..."
????: "For freeing the spirits of the earthbound dead and ending
their suffering, you have my gratitude... On this very day,
long, long ago...countless innocents lost their lives in the
blink of an eye..."
Yulie: "..."
????: "It wasn't just here, either. All throughout Filgaia, people
were taking the lives of others..."
Yulie: "War..."
????: "I'm sorry to put you through this, but I couldn't free them
myself."
Yulie: "..."
????: "I too, was an accomplice to the war...My presence would only
serve to frighten them. I want to eliminate war from this
world... That is my one and only wish..."
[The cutscene switches back to Jude's progress for a while, until
they come upon Yulie and the war criminal.]
Jude: "Yulie! I'm so glad you're okay!"
Yulie: "Jude!"
Jude: "You saved Yulie, didn't you? Thanks! This is the second time
you've helped us out."
[The two shake hands, and in doing so, Jude gets a glimpse of the
man in black dismantling something that's pulsating with light.]
Jude: (Why does this happen when I touch him..? Sights I've never
seen before enter my head... Wait...I DO know this place..."
[Jude runs around the Ciel Shelter, finding it filled with scientists
who resemble all the villagers there before. Jude goes to the area
with the large tree, finding a man standing by himself. The man is
Augst, but Jude's never met him before so he wouldn't know.]
????: (We can live peacefully within this shelter. Although everyone
has got their concerns, my companions are adjusting to their
new lives here. But I cannot help thinking...Is this what we
ought to be doing? Our heretical technology hurt the world...
But I have faith that it can become a force to heal those same
wounds. For ARMs were originally a means to heal and restore
the world's ruined environment... But all we do is lament our
sin, rather than use the power that we still have. We have the
knowledge to save everyone, yet we do nothing... Is that not a
sin as well? ... I shall leave Ciel Shelter. If the Global
Union can only think of ARMs as weapons, then I shall defect to
the Congressional Knights. And this time, I will complete the
development of ARMs so that they can be used for their original
objective...the restoration of the planet's environment. I'm
sure there will be those who condemn my actions...and I'm sure
I shall stain my hands anew... But with the future of the world
at stake, those are trivial concerns... Even if it costs me my
life, I shall become a force to open up the future...)
Jude: (I've never seen this person before, but I can feel how strong
his feelings are... He really cares deeply about the future of
the world...)
[Jude goes back to the entrance and finds the man in black there.]
Jude: "Are these...his memories...? If so... How does he know about
Ciel...?"
[Jude's back in the present.]
Jude: "The same thing...happened the last time. Just who are
you...?"
[The man's about to answer when a spotlight shines on him. The
man standing near it's Gawn.]
Jude: "Gawn...?"
Gawn: "Remember how I told you that...I had been searching for
someone and that he was the one I was looking for? Well his
name is Hauser Blackwell. He was a celebrated hero during the
war, but now that it's over, he's wanted as war criminal. He's
the Black Reaper... Jude...get out of the way. I'm taking him
in. And one more thing... You'll be coming with me Yulie
Athreide. The Brionac Forces will be taking you into custody.
Jude: "Gawn..w...what's wrong with you? You're like a totally
different person!"
Gawn: "Yes, I suppose so...Today I'm acting in my capacity as a
member of the elite Brionac Forces. As Gawn Brawdia."
Jude: "You decieved us! All this time...you were lying?"
Gawn: "No, it's not like that. Believe me, I really did like all
you kids... And that's the honest truth. But... Well..I
guess... It doesn't matter what I say at this point...
does it..."
Raquel: "If that's how you feel...then surely you can understand
our position. Yulie's a very good friend of ours. We're
not about to just hand her over."
Gawn: "I wouldn't expect anything less...from you kids. But I'm
an adult, and I've got a job to do. There's no way I can
just back away."
[A bunch of spotlights hit the team and Hauser, showing that there
are a massive amount of soldiers all around them. Helicopters fly
around, too.]
Arnaud: "All that just to take on a couple of kids?! Some adult
you are!"
Gawn: "Do you see these soldiers...and weapons? Not to mention,
myself as well? We've assembled this entire force just to
take you, so don't even think that you have a chance of
escaping!"
Hauser: "That kind of power is what scorched the planet! You continue
to feed the flames of war with your arrogance! Why the hell
can't you see that?!"
[Hauser forms a massive ARM and points it at a helicopter. Yulie
jumps on, hugging it.]
Yulie: "No, please don't! No, don't let the anger and frustation
take over...you know that's not what you really want. I'll
go...with you, and I won't resist. So please...please don't
do anything that might end up hurting someone!"
Gawn: "Miss Yulie..."
Jude: "Yulie!"
Yulie: "There's no other way, Jude. We can't avoid all these guns
and escape. And besides...I swore to myself...that I'd stop
running away... That I'd fight my own fight..."
Jude: "But Yulie!"
Yulie: "And Kresnik will be there too...I'm sure that he'll
watch over me. That's why..."
Jude: "But! Yulie...but you're shaking..."
Yulie: "Please don't worry, Jude. If we party with a smile, I'm
sure...we'll meet again someday. May the blessings of St.
Calucion...be with you always..."
[She and Hauser are led away. Gawn turns to leave, too.]
Arnaud: "Gawn!! Gawn, I thought...I thought that...I had hoped
that you would be different."
Gawn: "Well kid...what you see... ...is what you get with me. How
you feel about it, is up to you. You need to grow up, Arnaud."
Arnaud: "Yeah...don't worry! I'd sooner die than grow up to be
anything like you!"
Gawn: "That's pretty harsh, isn't it, kid?
[Gawn gets in a helicopter and takes off.]
Jude: "Yulie! Yulie!! Yulie!!! What is that supposed to mean?!"
[On the World Map, all that's left to is go back to Buckeye Station
minus one of the members.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 27. Buckeye Station III |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party goes back to Buckeye Station and enters the hotel.]
Jude: "Now what the heck does that mean?!"
Arnaud: "What does what mean...?"
Jude: "When she left, Yulie whispered something like, 'May the
blessings of St. Calucion be with you.'"
Raquel: "..."
Arnaud: "It probably means...goodbye..."
Jude: "What?"
Raquel: "I've heard of people wishing for someone's happiness when
they say goodbye, but..."
Jude: "...Maybe that's true, and you could probably take it that way,
but..."
Arnaud: "What are you trying to say...?"
Jude: "Well, why didn't she actually say 'goodbye' then?"
Arnaud: "How should I know...?"
Raquel: "..."
Jude: "She didn't want to go...not really..."
Arnaud: "Well, yeah...probably not."
Jude: "That's precisely why she couldn't bring herself to
out-and-out say 'goodbye'..."
Arnaud: "..."
Jude: "Let's go rescue her...Let's go rescue Yulie!"
Arnaud: "Are you out of your mind?!"
Raquel: "We don't even know where they took her..."
Jude: "That may be so, but...!"
Arnaud: "...I don't know for certain where they've taken her, but I
just might have an idea... Your mother and the others were
taken away, and so was Yulie. The one thing that connects
those two events is a hideout. It's probably somewhere
nearby."
Raquel: "If we ask around town...If we can just get some
information...anything at all!"
Arnaud: "That would be a lot more effective than just searching
randomly. Of course, it'd be very dangerous, too..."
Jude: "Thanks! I knew you were worried about Yulie too, Arnaud!"
Arnaud: "It's more like I can't stand to watch a kid run around like
a chicken with its head cut off!"
Jude: "Hah!"
Arnaud: "But that's not all... Gawn pulled a fast one on us...and
I'm not gonna just let him get away with it..."
Raquel: "Wow..."
Arnaud: "What?"
Raquel: "Oh, it's just...well...you sounded a bit out of character
just now."
Jude: "Time to go ask around town. We're gonna rescue Yulie, Mom,
and everyone else--no matter what!!"
[The party asks around, finally finding their answer at the station.]
Station Worker Emmett: "Once you pass the ruins of the Baskar Village
to the west, all you'll see if the expansive
wasteland of the dunes. Lately, there've been
rumors of a suspicious shadow appearing out
there, but you'd have to go beyond the village
to find the truth. No one in this town has
been able to confirm any of this information
though."
Jude: "A suspicious sandship in the western dunes? Beyond the ruins
of a village? That's got to be Brionac's base! We have to
hurry...We're going to rescue Yulie!"
[On the world map, the passage to the Abandoned Village opens up.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 28. Abandoned Village |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[Once selected, a cutscene in the Onyx Room of the Garra de Leon
takes place. Lambda's present this time.]
Councilman Arlington: "It's good to see that you've returned safely.
We must congratulate you on your splendid
performance. First, the completion of the
Divine Weapon's excavation, and now this. All
this good news is quite welcome."
Councilman Buckingham: "You secured Yulie Ahtreide and brought us the
heretical engineers, the nanotechnology
authorities who were involved in ARM research.
On top of that, you even captured the fugitive
war criminal, the Black Reaper. Were these all
the results of a future that you had foreseen?"
Lambda: "No, it was nothing like that. The future I saw was obscured
by unknown factors. We had been proceeding on multiple fronts
for quite some time. The synchronization of the schedules was
nothing more than a coincidence. In the course of securing the
test subject for case #354, I lost many Brionac Lieutenants.
The results are not worth of commendation."
Councilman Buckingham: "The completion of the mission is paramount. It
doesn't matter how many Lieutenants die. Their
loss will not affect Filgaia's future."
Lambda: "..."
Councilman Ashley: "What became of the Black Reaper...of Hauser
Blackwell?"
Lambda: "Gawn Brawdia captured Hauser and is currently escorting him
to Illsveil Prison. After Hauser has been interned, he will
rejoin Brionac and operate in conjunction with us."
Councilman Lauderdale: "Gawn Brawdia...the man they call the Twin
Gunner... The pride of the Congressional
Knights, and a warrior capable of facing off
with Hauser of the Global Union... ...not to
mention your best friend as well, if I'm not
mistaken."
Lambda: "He's also Brionac's 11th Lieutenant...and my trump card."
High Minister Clifford: "Thanks to your work, the project can proceed
to the next stage. Our plan to make the world
eternal--the Future Conception Project--will
now commence. Lambda...we will be expecting
even greater dedication from you henceforth."
Lambda: "Yes Sir...if it is for the sake of Filgaia's future..."
High Minister Clifford: " *laughter* Yes, we know we can count on
you... So we shall share with you the entirety
of this project...for the sake of a better
future..."
[The party passes into the second screen of the Abandoned Village,
and another scene in the Onyx Room takes place.]
High Minister Clifford: "According to records from the artificial
evolution research facility, Yulie Ahtreide
is classified as a category B+ driver. B+ is
not a rank, but rather indicates the vector of
her ARM compatibility. Although she lacks the
ability to utilize weaponized ARMs, she
displays very high capability in their
calibration and activation."
Councilman Arlington: "This is the reason why we refer to Yulie
Ahtreide as the 'key.' And what she unlocks
is...the Divine Weapon."
Councilman Buckingham: "The Divine Weapon was developed by the Global
Union. It's basically an 'egg' which is made up
of microscopic machines whose purpose is to
repair the planet's environment. Yulie Ahtreide
will incubate it until it is ready to hatch.
The ARM born from this egg will give us all the
time we need, and with it, a future."
Councilman Ashley: "The Divine Weapon will not restore the world
however, for that alone won't create a future. It
was not only the environment that was ruined and
lost...What must truly be restored is authority and
leadership!"
Councilman Lauderdale: "The world needs qualified leaders to guide it
towards a proper future! And we, the High
Council, are the only ones qualified for that
task!"
Councilman Arlington: "But we have grown far too old. The sputtering
flames of our lives only linger on because of
this armor. They not only support our bodily
functions, but block all interference from
others...including your ability to see into the
future. Yet soon, even these sputtering flames
supported by the Armor of Leadership will
finally fade... If that happens, we will be
unable to lead the world into the future."
Councilman Buckingham: "Having told you this much, I'm sure you can
figure out the rest... That's right...the
Divine Weapons will be used to restore our very
bodies. Both our bodies and this world are on
the verge of succumbing to the Hayflick limit.
Using the environmental repair functionality,
we shall repair the telomere sequences inside
our cells...so that eternal life shall be
ours."
Councilman Lauderdale: "We were initially concerned that our bodies
would have autoimmune reaction to the Divine
Weapon, but we were able to find a solution.
By severing the frontal lobe--the portion that
controls the thoughts--from Yulie Ahtreide's
brain, this will allow us to control her
category B+ driver capability through a
terminal. And as our bodies have reached their
limit, we shall use ARMs to repair them and
maintain them as needed, indefinitely... We
shall obtain eternal life! The people and the
world shall live in happiness, guided by
leaders with absolute authority and immortal
bodies. That is the Future Conception Project--
the plan that will conceive and give birth to
a new future."
Councilman Ashley: "The excavation of the Divine Weapon is complete,
we have secured the girl who is the key, and the
researchers are here as well."
High Minister Clifford: "Our aged and damaged flesh shall not only be
repaired, but sublimated into eternal life...
A future governed by those who are immortal
is absolutely essential for this world.
Lambda, you shall bear witness to the moment
in which eternity leaves the realm of fantasy
and becomes reality. *laughter* "
[Another cutscene takes place when Jude's team enters the third
screen of the Abandoned Village.]
Lambda: "...That's the entirety of the Future Conception Project? ...
Do the distinguished members of the High Council intend to
become gods?"
High Minister Clifford: "We shall become one with the world and live
forever. In doing so, we shall build a future.
In a way, yes, we will be as gods."
Lambda: "Even if the gods did create the world...they do not weave
the future. It must be the hand of man that spins the Wheel
of Fate. Moreover, your plan opposes the very ideal of
representative democracy for which the Congressional Knights
stand! It's no different from the tyranny of the Global
Union!!"
High Minister Clifford: "Over the course of the long and terrible war
we finally realized the truth... Government
is not something the public can handle. When
the war ended just over 10 years ago, we had
high expectations for an enlightened form of
government. But instead, the democratic
government of the people quickly fell into
deadlock and collapsed. The public too,
desires a society administrated by gifted
leaders. I'm sure you understand...Lambda
Zellweger..."
Lambda: "No, I do not!! We Brionac performed our duties so that we
could revive a government of the people in this world once
more! And we held our resolve for this ideal, even in the
face of condemnation!"
High Minister Clifford: "Captain of the Brionac Forces or not, take
heed in how you address us."
Lambda: "Scythe, Belial, Hugo, Fiore and Asia, Enil, and Balgaine...
They gave their very lives for my belief in the restoration
of democracy in the post-war future! Yet to you, they were
nothing more than tools to be used and discarded! If they had
known it was for the sake of this ludicrous objective..."
High Minister Clifford: "Lambda Zellweger! We have heard enough! So
be it, then. I hereby place your authority as
Captain of the Brionac Forces on indefinite
suspension. All Brionac operations shall be
postponed until further notice! In light of
your past achievements, that will be the
extent of your punishment--but you'd best
learn your place, young one..."
[Lambda turns to the door.]
High Minister Clifford: "The ideals for which you strive are
admirable. But unattainable ideals are nothing
more than fantasies. You must become an adult
like us, Lambda Zellweger... To realize your
ideal, mankind as a whole would have to
mature--to evolve, even. Do you intend to
somehow accelerate the evolution of the entire
human race?"
Lambda: "If it is necessary for the future of the world, then so be
it."
[After leaving the third screen, yet another cutscene onboard the
Garra de Leon happens. This time, it shows Kresnik walking down an
aisle, thinking back to a meeting that had happened a short while
ago (i.e. flashback-ish).]
Augst: "All our efforts...for the sake of an absurb plan such as
that?"
Farmel: "It comes as no surprise considering those dirty old geezers."
Kresnik: "...And to think that I didn't realize I was placing Yulie's
life in danger..."
Lambda: "..."
Kresnik: "Captain Lambda, will you petition the High Council to halt
the Future Conception Project?"
Lambda: "That's what I intend to do. After all, tyrannical rule by a
select few was no the reason why I chose to lead Brionac.
However, right now, my authority is under suspension. Until
it's lifted..."
Kresnik: "You're telling me to wait until then?! What guarantees are
there for Yulie's safety in the meantime?! None at all!!"
[Farmel and Augst look at Kresnik.]
Kresnik: "I'm sorry, Sir..."
[Kresnik turns to leave.]
Lambda: "What do you intend to do?"
Kresnik: "Well...I'm going to do something...I don't know what is is
that I should do, but...If I don't do anything at all, my
sister's life may be in danger!"
Lambda: "..."
Kresnik: "Captain, what do you intend to do in order to stop this
project?"
Lambda: "If I am powerless as Captain of Brionac...then I will strive
for my ideals as plain old Lambda Zellweger."
[The flashback ends and Kresnik's still walking down the hall.]
Kresnik: "Then I too, shall go back to plain old Kresnik Athreide..."
[The cutscene ends and it
Jude: "Well we made it this far... But can we actually get inside?"
Arnaud: "Don't worry about that, there's more to me than my charm
and my good looks."
Raquel: "Putting asside Arnaud's...over-inflated ego...we're all
set to go."
Arnaud: "Well then, let's get his party started!"
[Arnaud sucks in a large breath, but coughs.]
Jude: "Are you crazy? If you don't keep it down, they'll catch us."
Arnaud: "Yeah, exactly."
Jude: "Whaat?"
Arnaud: "Okay, let's try that again."
[Arnaud yells at his loudest.]
Arnaud: "The prisoners have escaaaaaaaaped!"
Jude: "What are you doing, Arnaud!?"
[The back of the Garra de Leon opens and airboats filled with
soldiers come out...leaving the backend wide open.]
Arnaud: "Hey kid, relax. This is all part of my plan, you'll see.
Watch! The hear the word 'escape' and they all let loose.
They're so predictable! Never in a million years would they
imagine someone's trying to break in!"
Jude: "Arnaud.. You are... a master trickster..."
Arnaud: "I guess I'll take that as a compliment, Jude. Raquel,
let's do it."
[Raquel throws a grappling hook onto the back of the ship, and as it
speeds away, it pulls a sled across, letting them have access to the
back of the ship.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 29. Garra de Leon |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party climbs onto the back and goes inside.]
Arnaud: "Infiltration successful. Looks like everything's going
pretty smoothly so far."
Jude: "Yeah, so far... Well, what's next?"
Raquel: "We're inside the enemy's headquarters. We can't do anything
that would draw attention."
Arnaud: "In other words, your signature move of rushing in won't
work here, Jude."
Jude: "What's that supposed to mean...?"
Raquel: "Let's slip past the guards and quickly find Yulie. Arnaud,
while we're doing that, I'd like you to think of a way for
us to get out of here."
Arnaud: "Wh...what's that supposed to mean?"
Raquel: "I figured you probably haven't thought beyond getting us in
here."
Jude: "Yeah, Arnaud's signature moves always seem to lack
something..."
[The party continues until they hear a voice as they open a door.]
Voice: "I knew you'd come after her. But as a member of Brionac, I
must say...it's a bit embarrassing to see how easily you
managed to infiltrate our base."
Jude: "That voice...!"
[It's Kresnik.]
Kresnik: "This way...Follow me..."
Jude: "Are you gonna stand in our way again? Yulie's your sister!
How can you do this?"
Kresnik: "I have something to ask of you. I want to free my sister...
and I need your help to do so."
Arnaud: "... You're willing to cast aside your standing as a member
of Brionac in order to rescue Yulie? I find that difficult
to believe. Is this some kind of a trap?"
Kresnik: "I don't care if you trust me or not. But there's no time...
I need your help."
Jude: "...All right. I trust you. ...I want to trust you. I mean,
you're Yulie's brother, right? I might get laughed at for being
so naive but...I trust you."
Kresnik: "I don't intend for this to settle everything between us...
but right now..."
Jude: "Yeah, saving Yulie comes first. This isn't about who's helping
who, but that we should all help each other--and fight
together!"
[Jude tries to do a handshake, but Kresnik doesn't go for it.]
Kresnik: "You have my gratitude... Thank you..."
Jude: "...What, you can't even shake hands as a sign of friendship?
...well, whatever. Right now, rescuing Yulie is more important,
anyway."
[In the next room, they find Tony waiting for them, in his trademark
land armor.]
Third Class Pilot Tony: "Well, well...If it isn't Commander Kresnik...
Never thought I'd see you fraternizin' with
the enemy."
Kresnik: "Out of my way! I have no business with you. I'm here for my
sister."
Third Class Pilot Tony: "In other words, you're engaging in an act of
treason 'gainst the Congressional Knights...
That won't do...even for a member of Brionac,
I'm afraid that won't do at all!"
Kresnik: "I...I must carry out my conviction. That's all there is to
it!"
[Kresnik forms his giant ARM in his hand and fires at the land armor.]
Third Class Pilot Tony: "ARMs... Those things've only brought me
grief. But yours is nothing more than a
prototype, eh? I know all about you! You're
an incomplete gene driver who can't even
taking 'LiNKER,' the medicine developed by
Augst! The only reason they tolerate you is
because you've got the genes they need to
research and control ARMs! Once the
development of Limited Apoptosis is complete,
they'll have no use for you or your genes.
You'll be disposed of, just like the defective
product you are! You're nothing but a guinea
pig, just like your sister! What can a guinea
pig possibly do?! What can you do against a
real human being?!"
Kresnik: "I can carry out my conviction!"
[Kresnik fires off some more shots.]
Third Class Pilot Tony: "What are you still blabbing about, guinea
pig?"
[Kresnik punches the armor with his bare hands, knocking it back.]
Kresnik: "I'll carry out my conviction, not with an ARM...but with
my own power!"
Third Class Pilot Tony: "Impossible! This is a fully-tuned land gear!
Yet, with his bare hands...?! This guy's
supposed to be defective! He's nothing more
than a lab rat raised by the Congressional
Knights!"
Kresnik: "If you've got any conviction, then do your best to stop me!"
Third Class Pilot Tony: "Oh, I'll stop you, all right...I'll put an
end to the traitor Kresnik and earn myself a
huge promotion! No way my career's ending at
this rank! You're gonna be my ticket to
greatness! My war's only just beginning!"
[The battle with Tony starts.]
Third Class Pilot Tony: "I infiltrated Ciel with the intent to
capture those ARMs researchers. But then I
stumbled across an inactive ARM there, and
planned on taking it too. After all, it's only
natural to grab as much fame and fortune as
possible before the war comes to an end. But
you damn brats kept getting in my way! And
because of all the trouble you cause I've been
demoted down to a Third Class Pilot! So now...
it's about time for some payback!"
[The party defeats Tony and his land gear.]
Third Class Pilot Tony: "Nooo, the war can't end, not yet! For people
like us...for us soldiers, there ain't no
other way for us 'ta make...a living. I can't
let ya...I won't...let you...No way I can let
this war end just yet!"
[The land gear blows up, taking Tony with it.]
Arnaud: "He sounded the alarm!"
Raquel: "Then we'll just have to change our plans. Right, Jude?"
Jude: "There's no time, so let's just find a spot to break through!
We'll take the shortest route possible to rescue Yulie!"
Kresnik: "Hmph..."
Jude: "What, did I say something funny?"
Kresnik: "No, it's just...even in the face of considerable adversity,
you don't react any differently. You guys are really strong.
No wonder my little sister who used to cry so much, was able
to grow stronger."
Jude: "Yulie's strong, Kresnik. She came here with the intention to
fight her own fight..."
Kresnik: (To fight her own fight...? ... What the hell have I been
fighting for all this time...? And why...?)
[The party continues until they see Yulie behind a cell.]
Jude: "Yulie!"
Kresnik: "I'm sorry I'm so late, Yulie... It was a long and twisted
path that ultimately led me here..."
Yulie: "...but you came! You came back to me..."
Arnaud: "Let's save the tearful reunions for later, okay? We're right
in the middle of enemy territory."
Yulie: "Hauser, Jude's mother, and the people from Ciel are being
held captive here."
Kresnik: "Hauser's not here. He's already been sent to Illsveil Prison
as a war criminal. The heretical engineers from Ciel are in a
holding facility here, but in a different block."
Yulie: "We have to save them! I'm the one who got the people of Ciel
mixed up in all this!"
Kresnik: "..."
Jude: "No...right now, the first thing we have to do is get out of
here safely!"
Yulie: "Jude?!"
Raquel: "But Jude, your mother and the people from your hometown are
here."
Jude: "With security as tight as it is, I don't know how far we'd
get, so..."
Arnaud: "You know, he's got a point. They must have brought his mother
here for some reason, right? So it's likely that she's not in
any immediate danger. ... But, still...Are you sure about
this, Jude?"
Jude: "Yeah...if we get captured too, we'll never be able to rescue
them..."
Arnaud: "Al right! Now, as for the escape plan I've come up with--"
Kresnik: "This battleship is equipped with small airboats. If you can
get onto the deck, you should be able to escape from there."
Raquel: "Kresnik knows a lot about this ship. Why don't we trust in
him?"
Yulie: "Kresnik?! Where are you going?!"
Kresnik: "I...I can't go with you."
Jude: "But you said you'd fight alongside us!"
Kresnik: "I don't recall ever agreeing to that. ... I have something
I must do. So...I can't fight by your side."
Yulie: "Kresnik..."
[The party continues and a cutscene inside the Onyx Room occurs.
Kresnik walks to the room and sees Farmel there.]
Kresnik: "Is Captain Lambda in the Onyx Room?"
Farmel: "He sure is. Was there something you needed?"
Kresnik: "I've come to turn myself in for a violation. I must be
punished for high treason."
Farmel: "As serious as ever, I see... Hmm...you can go in and see
the Captain, but... What's beyond this door may be a bit too
much for you to handle... Well, if you inside thought...go
ahead."
[Kresnik walks into the room and finds all the councilmen slaughtered
by Captain Lambda's hand. The High Minister sits unmasked on the
floor.]
Kresnik: "...?! Captain! What is going on here?"
High Minister Clifford: "Kresnik! You've got to stop Lambda! He's
no longer the Captain of Brionac, but a
traitor! You must destroy this evil which
threatens the future!"
Lambda: "'The evil which threatens the future?' To whom do those
words truly apply, Minister?! Me...or you?"
High Minister Clifford: " *gasp* S-Stay away from me!"
Lambda: "Unable to bear their own frailty, the souls of the weak
become twisted and ugly... Lieutenant Heath, a former member
of Brionac, suffered in this way... But people, self-aware as
they are, strive to conceal this ugliness from others. That's
mortality, which in turn guides us between right and wrong.
But what of you? You sequester yourselves in an underground
society, covering yourselves in armor and masks... You've
fallen into a state where no one even knows who you are! From
your position of invincibility, you babble on, mindless of the
pain you cause others. So weak! And repulsive! Creatures like
you fear all that is good and just! You shun those who uphold
these virtues! The souls of the weak can't even cope with
their own frailty! Becoming an adult isn't about growing old
and cowardly! If you truly consider yourself to be adults,
you should be ashamed of your actions against the path of
righteousness! You create nothing, and you bequeath nothing!
Weak creatures cannot build Filgaia's future!
High Minister Clifford: " *mwah ha ha* You say that weak creatures
cannot build the future...Then, let me ask you
this...Who's behind a representative
democracy? That's right, it's the public! Now,
just what kind of group is this 'public' we're
talking about?"
Lambda: "..."
High Minister Clifford: "Ha! You can't answer that, can you? After
all, the 'public' is an entity made up of
people who have given up their individuality.
They're creatures who have 'fallen into a
state where no one even knows who they are,'
just as you said! So the 'public' is no
different from the High Council! Are you
suggesting that we leave the future of the
world in the hands of such weak creatures?!
Don't make me laugh! There is nothing as weak
and repulsive as the public! They're cowards
who are eager to hide within the ambiguity of
the masses, all in order to avoid individual
responsibility! They thirst for a government
of the people, yet when they obtain it, they
shrink from the responsibilities and abandon
their roles. This is the government they
desired...so why do they not participate in
it?! It was their weak hearts that drove
representative democracy from the world! The
post-war democracy was killed by the very
people themselves! Yet in spite of that, you
still choose to pursue your ideals?! Answer
me, Lambda Zellweger!!"
[Lambda hits Clifford with his whip and kills him.]
Lambda: "I still want to leave the future of Filgaia to its people.
If the people are weak, then they'll just have to become
strong. Life would be nothing were it not for its potential
to grow stronger..."
[Back to Jude's perspective. They run into some soldiers in a
hallway.]
Raquel: "This way's blocked, too?!"
Yulie: "If only we had asked Kresnik how to get to the deck..."
Jude: "Let's switch to Arnaud's escape plan!"
Arnaud: "What?! We can't just switch plans midstream!"
[The party defeats the soldiers. The view switches back to Lambda
and Kresnik in the Onyx Room.]
Lambda: "Now, what is it that brought you here, Kresnik?"
Kresnik: "...It...I...ah... ... I came to report a personal violation
of the regulations."
Lambda: "You violated regulations? Well, Brionac is about to be
reborn...We will no longer be under the command of the High
Council. This is a good opportunity, so why don't we let our
previous transgressions be bygones."
Kresnik: "But..."
Farmel: "Isn't that nice? Now why don't you lighten up?"
Kresnik: "...Captain Lambda...I've lost sight of what to belive in...
...After all, I was part of an organization that threatened
the welfare of my own dear sister. Although I carried out
my convictions thinking it was for the sake of the world, in
the end, did it really mean anything? Hearing your words and
those of High Minister Clifford, I find myself unable to
maintain a strong vision of the future in my heart...I...I
don't know what to do."
Lambda: "If you've lost your faith, then all you must do is find a new
one. Then you can carry out your convictions once more..."
Kresnik: "Faith isn't the only thing I've lost... ...my ARM...I'm no
longer able to..."
[Jude's team arrives.]
Jude: "You again?!"
[Jude rushes at Lambda, but Kresnik punches him in the stomach before
he can strike a blow. He fires off a Phantom Line, too, but Farmel's
shield absorbs the impact; she then smacks him in the face with it.]
Yulie: "Jude!"
Kresnik: "Don't move!"
Farmel: "Is this child the 'unknown variable' Lambda spoke of? I
didn't know he'd be so cute...But, if the order comes through,
I'm afraid I'll have to be a bit cruel."
Kresnik: "Captain...would you allow me to handle this?"
Lambda: "Yes, I shall leave him to you. Besides, it's not as though
I dislike spirited children. In fact...strong hearts like his
are necessary for our future."
[Later on, Gawn lands his airship on the Garra de Leon. He finds
Lambda in the Onyx Room and takes his collar, throwing him up against
the wall.]
Gawn: "Tell me everything, Lambda! What happened through yesterday,
what's starting tomorrow, what you're thinking today! I know
you! You've got a trump card hidden somewhere, don't you?!!"
Lambda: "I never thought I'd be in danger of being killed by my own
best friend...I can't talk if I'm dead, you know."
Gawn: "Sorry..."
Lambda: "...I believe I shared this with you once...I seek a future
for this world. Not one controlled by a select few, but a
future where all who live in this world take an active role.
That's why I fought as a member of the Congressional Knights.
That's why I strove to realize my ideals as a member of
Brionac. Nothing has changed...my intentions are sincere."
Gawn: "And that's why you killed the old men of the High Council?!
...I can believe in the ideals you strive for, right...? Your
ideals haven't changed from those we shared back at the academy,
right?! I can still call you my friend...right?"
Lambda: "That's for you to decide, but as for me...I still consider
you my friend."
Gawn: "All right, then I'll consider you a friend, too. But I want
to get one thing straight. The Divine Weapon that was excavated
in Illsveil...It looks like you're moving forward with the
preparations to activate it. From what you told me earlier, that
was a toy the old men were after...So why are YOU playing with
it? What are you planning on doing with the Divine Weapon?!"
Lambda: "I determined it was necessary for the ideal future I
envisioned. After all, everything I do is for that cause. On
the prison island, you saw the Gungnir system, didn't you?
Illsveil's greatest defense mechanism...It's development was
also for that cause."
Gawn: "Gungnir...the interceptor system with 10 guided missiles...The
very reason why Illsveil is known as the inescapable and
unapproachable prison isle..."
Lambda: "If it's for an ideal future, I wouldn't think twice about
using Gungnir...no matter who the opponent may be."
Gawn: (They're only children, Lambda...they're the ones who will live
in the future you hope to create...)
Lambda: ...I want to transfer the ARM researchers to Illsveil. Gawn,
ready the gyro."
Gawn: "Sure..."
Lambda: "..."
Gawn: "Even back at the academy, your ideas were always correct. But
your one fatal flaw is the way you always try to rush the
results. You make a lot of unnecessary enemies that way, you
know? Don't you think it's about time you changed your ways?
It's getting harder to keep up with you, the older I get."
Lambda: "It's because my best friend has always stood by my side,
that I've been able to get those results. Thanks, Gawn...
I know I can count on you."
[Elsewhere, Jude wakes up in a cell with his party.]
Arnaud: "Are you all right?!"
Jude: "Arnaud...Raquel...Yulie... ... Thank goodness...you're all...
okay..."
Arnaud: "Yeah... Thank to Mr. Big Bro shoving us in this lovely prison
hotel, free of charge. But I guess there may be a silver
lining to this cloud. Thre are some guests that you just might
recognize."
Jude: "The villagers from Ciel!"
Solon: "It's good to see you're all right."
Diana: "I guess our little troublemaker can't be dissuade that
easily."
Jude: "I ran into Raymond a while ago! He was injured, but the doctor
said he'll be fine!"
Heinrich: "I see...then I'm sure the others are also doing fine, too."
Samuel: "Yes, not everyone from the village was brought here...For
example..."
Jude: "Where's Mom...?"
Heinrich: "She was taken somewhere else, apart from the rest of us.
She's probably being interrogated about ARMs..."
Diana: "We were only researching ARMs in order to repair the
environment...so how did things end up like this? Because of
us, even you children have had to suffer..."
Jude: "..."
[Just then, Kresnik appears.]
Yulie: "Kresnik..."
Kresnik: "Now's your chance to escape. The preparations to move the
research team to Illsveil are almost complete. Once that
happens, no one can escape, and no one will be able to get
close to them."
Arnaud: "Can we trust you...? Especially after what you just did to
Jude..."
Jude: "It's okay, Arnaud. I know what he was doing."
Yulie: "..."
Jude: "I trust him. I know now that even if I had fought that guy,
as much as I hate to admit it, there was no way I could have
won. Thanks for doing what you did."
Kresnik: "It's a straight shot from here to the deck. You won't get
lost if you just keep making your way up."
Jude: "Will you come with us?"
Kresnik: "...I just informed Captain Lambda of my decision to
disembark from the ship...However, I cannot walk alongside
you."
Yulie: "Kresnik!"
Jude: "Why not?! You're leaving this ship, right? Then, why not?!"
[Kresnik tries to form an ARM, but the light fizzles out.]
Jude: "Huh...?"
Kresnik: "As a member of Brionac, I once believed in myself and the
Congressional Knights...But now...the faith that supported
me has crumbled. What can I believe in? What should I
believe in?"
Jude: "..."
Kresnik: "Since then, I haven't been able to wield my ARM...I'm no
longer a member of Brionac, nor am I even the Kresnik you
knew...I'm nothing more than a burden to everyone."
[Kresnik starts to walk away.]
Yulie: "Kresnik!"
Kresnik: "Don't come after me!! I'm...I'm someone who lacks the power
to even protect his own sister!"
Yulie: "..."
Raquel: "We'll make our own way out of this ship. Surely our paths
will cross one another someday. Don't you think so too?"
Yulie: "Yes...I'll trust in the bond between us. I can believe in
it, now..."
[The party continues a ways until they spy Ethelda behind a glass
wall.]
Jude: "Mom!!"
Ethelda: "Jude?!"
[As they run to her, a large robotic machine runs and attacks them.]
Arnaud: "What the...?! There's no pilot! Is it sentient?"
Jude: "Who cares about that! It better get out of my way!"
[The party blows up the Proto Gear.]
Ethelda: "Jude...how in the world...?"
Jude: "Mom, stand back! I'm gonna break the glass!"
[Jude uses his ARM and shatters the glass.]
Jude: "Mom! Mom! I finally rescued you..."
Ethelda: "Oh, Jude..."
Jude: "Everything's gonna be okay, Mom. I'll protect you, so come
on, let's escape!"
Ethelda: "Escape...? Jude, I can't escape. That man, Lambda...he's
planning to use the Divine Weapon for some terrible purpose!
I can't go back yet. I must first destroy the Divine Weapon!"
Jude: "What are you talking about?! Why do YOU have to do that?!"
Ethelda: "We were involved in the development of the Divine Weapon.
In all ARM development and research, actually. We have to
take responsibility for our actions. You understand this
don't you, Jude?"
Jude: "Maybe, so, but...! But..."
[The villagers from before enter.]
Heinrich: "You're still here?!"
Samuel: "You wee able to reunite with one another! You must flee
immediately!"
Jude: "Mom says she won't escape..."
Ethelda: "They intend to activate the Divine Weapon. If they do that,
the world will..."
Diana: "That's understandable, but the Divine Weapon is on Illsveil
Prison island. Right now, there's nothing we can do about it!"
Solon: "That's right...and besides...On our way over here, we managed
to sabotage portions of the ship. Pretty soon this ship will
overheat, and then...BOOM!"
Heinrich: "...E...exactly! The Divine Weapon certainly is a concern,
but right now, we have to get out of here."
Ethelda: "All right...let's escape, then. But we WILL stop the
Divine Weapon. Jude...you can't stay a boy forever. You do
understand this, right?"
Jude: "Y...yeah..."
[Jude's team enters the hole the robot broke through, triggering a
cutscene above-deck.]
Lambda: "Gawn is readying the gyro and says he can take off as soon
as we arrive. But... ... Augst...are you really planning to
stay?"
Augst: "I shall act as a shield to slow down those children. Please,
hurry to Illsveil."
Farmel: "Is this another one of your jokes?! You don't have any
fighting skills. What do you think you're going to do?"
[Augst holds out an injector gun in his hand.]
Lambda: "Those are the Divine Weapon sample cells we collected for
research purposes... I'm trying to maintain a calm facade,
but I'm so scared, I can barely stand... I'm afraid I'm in
no shape to be telling jokes right now."
Lambda: "Yet your rseolve does not waver...Augst...the 'Trifler'..."
Augst: "Yes. Besides, if we don't actually test the sample cells, we
won't be able to collect the data necessary to activate the
Divine Weapon."
Farmel: "You know, your jokes weren't funny, but I still liked
them..."
Augst: "Is that a joke, Farmel? Such words from a beautiful woman are
enough to harden the resolve of any man."
Farmel: "You silly old fool..."
Augst: "I leave the future in your hands, Captain..."
[Augst leaves.]
Lambda: "Farmel...notify the troops. Garra de Leon's self-destruct
mechanism will activate..."
Farmel: "Now that Commander Kresnik has left, the development of
Limited Apoptosis--which requites the Ahtreide siblings'
DNA--can no longer be completed. There's nothing left to
stop Augst, is there?"
Lambda: "...I'm a contemptible man, aren't I?"
Farmel: "Yes...all you do is force awful orders on me. Someday, you
might even make me cry..."
Lambda: "This is the path I am destined to tread... Whether or not
to follow my lead is for you to decide."
Farmel: "You know I'll always follow you. I'd follow you to the
very depths of Hell itself... After all, the future you see
for this world lies on the other side of Hell, doesn't it?"
[The cutscene ends and Jude's team sets out for the deck. En route,
they have an encounter with Augst. He takes out the injector gun
and looks at it.]
Augst: "This is a dead end, children. I won't let you go any further."
Jude: "You...you're..."
Augst: "Do I know you?"
Jude: "Out of our way! You care about the world, too, don't you?! So
why are you doing all these terrible things?!"
Augst: "...I don't know what you're referring to, but my concern has
always been for the future of Filgaia. I do not wish to hurt
the children who carry that future on their shouldes. I beg of
you, please don't force a confrontation."
Jude: "And let you capture Mom and the others again?! No way!"
Augst: "...It would seem I have no choice...The power of the sample
cells in this syringe shall transform me into a shield to
block your way to the deck. Please, stand back. It's
dangerous..."
[Augst injects himself and writhes in agony. His body bloats, he
grows wings, and pulsating flesh comes out of him. He looks like a
regular ol' gigantic mutant and attacks the party.]
Jude: "A human turning into a monster?!"
Arnaud: "That cellular material swallowed him up!"
Yulie: "But what about his mind...?"
Raquel: "It's probably gone...What a terrible thing!"
[The party "defeats" Augst.]
Jude: "It's not attacking us...but our attacks aren't affecting it
either!"
Raquel: "No they are...but...!"
Arnaud: "It's absorbing the energy from the attacks and using it to
regenerate...like cancerous cells..."
[Suddenly, an explosion somewhere rocks the boat.]
Yulie: "Explosions...? What's going on?!"
Raquel: "Are they sinking their own ship?! They set us up while we
were occupied... ... This isn't the time to be dealing with
monsters... Looks like there's only one option. It's
dangerous, but we'll have to make our way to the deck via
the wall damaged by the explosion!"
[The party runs into the wall-hole and manage to get on the deck.
The Ciel villagers and Ethelda run onto the deck, too.]
Ethelda: "You made it to the deck, too?! Good timing! Start the
airboat's engine! We're going to jump from the slope to the
dunes!"
Heinrich: (Why is the ship exploding like this?! Did we really make
it overheat?!)
Solon: (No way! It should have only caused a little system trouble.
You know that as well as I.)
Ethelda: (The explosions are increasing in number and the flames are
spreading...The ship won't last much longer...)
Jude: "Even if we make it out of here, are you still gonna go after
those guys?"
Ethelda: "Yes...and I'll fight them...in order to stop the Divine
Weapon."
Jude: "Why do you have to fight?! That doesn't make any sense!"
Ethelda: "During the war, we developed ARMs for the sake of Filgaia's
future...But then ARMs wound up being used as weapons to hurt
Filgaia...I don't want that to happen again...and we must
atone for our past. For the sake of the future..."
[The party goes over to the airboat and inspects it.]
Arnaud: "Dammit, is the engine shot?! It's not responding at all!"
Diana: "It probably hasn't been maintained. If it's broken, all we
have to do is fix it."
Solon: "Exactly. Never underestimate the power of a heretical
engineer!"
Heinrich: "You kids go on ahead in that airboat. We've already got
the engine going for you."
[Jude goes over to his mom.]
Jude: "For the sake of the future? You have no way of knowing whether
Filgaia's future will be better than its present! Why are you
going to fight for something you can't even be sure about?!"
Ethelda: "...I will fight for the future...I will fight to stop the
Divine Weapon...Because mothers are allowed a glimpse into
the future..."
Jude: "..."
Ethelda: "That jacket should fit you perfectly in a couple of years.
I want to be around to see that, so I will do everything I
can. It looks like your airboat is ready. Hurry, Jude."
Jude: "Okay...but you hurry too, Mom. I don't want us to get
separated again."
[Everyone piles into the boats and set down the Garra de Leon's
sinking frame. Unfortunately, an explosive concussion envelopes
the villagers' boat in flames, which race towards Jude's boat.
All of a sudden, Augst appears on deck in a larger size, having
used the fiery air to grow larger.]
Arnaud: "It absorbed the energy from the explosion? To increase
its size?
Raquel: "Does that mean it...saved us...?"
[The battle with Augst starts.]
Raquel: "An immense amount of energy...it's about to explode!"
Yulie: "What little remains of his mind is begging us to stop him...
but what can we do...?"
Raquel: "Something more than lament our inability to do anything!"
[The party defeats Augst and Jude looks to the burning wreckage of
the second airboat.]
Jude: "Mom...!! Nooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!"
[High agove, in the gyro, Farmel and Lambda watch Augst die, with
Gawn flying the thing.]
Farmel: "Measuring coefficient of sample cell activation. Predicted
values exceeded by 43%...Thank you, Augst. I'm sure the
Captain will make good use of the data from your final
experiment..."
Lambda: "Set course for Illsveil Prison island. We must hurry the
activation of the Divine Weapon."
Farmel: "We have neither the key--Yulie Ahtreide--nor the ARM
researchers. What do you intend to do?"
Lambda: "I've already prepared another key..."
Farmel: "..."
Gawn: (I've become such a pathetic adult...I no longer have the right
to speak as if my actions are just... If despite all that, you
still believe in me Jude, then, when the time comes...)
[Gawn flies the gyro out of sight.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 30. Dragon Fossil Mine |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The airboat runs out of fuel eventually.]
Raquel: "It looks like this is as far as the airboat can go. At least
it got us across the dunes."
Yulie: "Yes..."
Jude: "..."
Arnaud: "Well that doesn't mean we can just hang around here all day.
C'mon, let's go."
Raquel: "Do you have any idea where we should go?"
Arnaud: "The only thing we can do is follow the road. Right, Jude?"
Jude: "..."
Arnaud: "Jude!"
Jude: "Oh...yeah, that's fine..."
Yulie: "..."
Raquel: "Jude..."
Arnaud: "Let's hurry, while it's still light..."
[In the second screen:]
Raquel: "Jude..."
Jude: "..."
Raquel: "Jude...I understand how you feel. But you've got to let it
go or else you'll never get over it..."
Jude: "..."
Raquel: "It's because you've always been so energetic that we--"
Jude: "That's enough already!! Your Mom didn't die right before your
eyes, did she? It's easy for you to be calm like that! But I..."
Raquel: "On that day...near the end of the war...I lost both my
parents and my little sister...right before my eyes."
Jude: "Wh..."
Raquel: "You remember that buried city we visited because of the
train accident? Everything in that ruined city, including its
name, was lost. That was my hometown...Verklarung."
Jude: "..."
Raquel: "I, too, was more or less killed that day...for my body
sustained a wound that'll never heal."
Arnaud: "...so there you go..."
Jude: "...I'm sorry..."
Raquel: "My intention wasn't to make you apologize... Instead of
apologizing, I'd rather you go back to being your normal
self."
Jude: "Yeah..."
[In the third screen:]
Arnaud: "...Was it all right not to tell him everything?"
Raquel: "You mean about how much longer I have to live? Telling him
that wouldn't help since he'll just withdraw further into
his shell."
Arnaud: "Well, maybe so, but... ... You sure do take a detached view
of things, Raquel."
Raquel: "Do I give that impression? I wish I could say that it was
true... Some nights, I can't sleep because of the
bone-chilling coldness in my body. On nights like these, I
feel hopelessly scared...I tremble until morning, unable to
sleep. How long will I get to live...? How much longer--"
Arnaud: "Come on!! There may be some sort of incredible medicine or
new method of treatment or something else that could help!!
Until you've tried everything, stop talking like you've
already given up!!"
Raquel: "...I'm sorry...I don't know why I sometimes say these
things...I'll apologize to Jude later as well. I'm the one
who's acting weak, not him."
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 31. Frontier Town Halim |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[After progressing through the mine's scaffolding, the next stop's
at the nearest town, Halim. But, when they get there, they see the
people scurrying about cautiously.]
Yulie: "Did something...happen...?"
[They see some soldiers.]
Arnaud: "Soldiers?! Don't tell me...?!"
[Jude spies Archibald, a soldier who was involved in the destruction
of Ciel. He rushes to punch him but Henri stops him with one hand.]
Instructor Henri: "I never taught you to raise your fist in hatred,
Jude."
Jude: "Instructor Henri...? What are you doing here...? ... That's
the guy who ruined Ciel Village! That's why I... ... Didn't
you teach me that at times when I don't know what to do, I
should do what feels right?!"
Instructor Henri: "Jude...when you saw this place, were hatred and
anger really the only things you felt?"
Jude: "Henri...?"
Instructor Henri: "Jude...we should talk. Why don't you meet me just
outside of the village, later."
[Jude meets Henri later.]
Instructor Henri: "This way, Jude..."
[Henri leads him to a graveyard not yet grown over. Jude tells his
tale to him.]
Instructor Henri: "...I see...so that's what happened to your mother
and the others...It must have been hard for you..."
Jude: "...Henri..."
Instructor Henri: "Our escape pod drifted away in a different
direction from the others...We were then captured
by forces led by that Tony character. All our
research materials and weapons were confiscated, and
we were about to be sent to the Congressional
Knights' main base. But just as they were about to
ship us off, Archibald set us free."
Jude: "What...?"
Instructor Henri: "He and some others had differing opinions on the
situation, and they were planning to split off from
under Tony's command."
Jude: "..."
Instructor Henri: "Since then, we've been helping each other and
settled together in this developing village."
Jude: "..."
Instructor Henri: "Jude...What do you intend to do now?"
Jude: "...I forgot your teachings and gave in to hatred. All I was
thinking of was getting revenge...Not only that...I forgot what
Mom and the others had wanted. I was only thinking of myself...
I ought to know by now that acting like that won't accomplish
anything..."
Instructor Henri: "Nobody likes conflict. It's not that unusual to
feel hatred over past fights and continue to hold
resentment over them. But if you let those feelings
shackle you, then the chains of hatred and the
vicious cycle of resentment can never be broken.
The sea of sadness will merely continue to expand...
The objective of my fighting style is ostensibly to
increase strength. But that strength is not the
strength to defeat the enemy before you. Is is the
strength to forgive that enemy, and to master
yourself. It is not an easy path. That is why we
must devote ourselves to our studies daily. I think
you can understand that now, Jude..."
Jude: "Yes..."
Instructor Henri: "..."
Jude: "I...I didn't even stop to mourn for Mom and the others...What
the heck was I doing...?"
Instructor Henri: "Jude...could you lend us a hand? For the sake of
the village?"
Jude: "Huh...?"
Instructor Henri: "Could you go and listen to what Archibald has to
say? He's the one running the village right now."
[The party goes to see Archibald, who's up by the windmill.]
Archibald: "...So you came because Henri asked you to...?"
Jude: "..."
Archibald: "Okay...I'll explain what's happened. This place, Halim,
is in the process of being developed by settlers. It's a
small village made up of people who lost their homes in
the war or have nowhere to go."
Jude: "..."
Archibald: "One day, during routine construction work, an unexploded
bomb was unearthed. It was a wide effective range
ordnance and it would've dispersed poisonous gas over a
large area if detonated. We carefully disarmed it, but
there was still another buried in the ground. Although we
managed to avoid an explosion, the poisons within the bomb
leaked out and contaminated the water supply beneath our
village. We've been looking for volunteers to go and purify
the water supply, but..."
Jude: "The people in this village are probably too busy, right? If
it's okay with you, we'd like to help out."
Archibald: "...Thank you..."
Jude: "..."
Archibald: "And...I'm sorry for what's happened."
Jude: "...?"
Archibald: "I can't blame you for wanting to take out your anger on
me. I intended to take whatever blows you gave me... In the
hopes of finding some forgiveness in those blows. In the
end, all that makes me is a scheming coward..."
Jude: "..."
Archibald: "I don't think I can make up for everything that's
happened, but even so, I'd like to develop this village as
part of my atonement."
Jude: "So...what do we need to do?"
Archibald: "A little ways from this village, there's a valley where
the Holy Root supposedly grows. It's a purifying plant
known to neutralize all forms of poison."
Jude: "Okay...We'll look for it."
Archibald: "Thank you so much. Your help is greatly appreciated."
[On the world map, the Valley of Oblivion shows up.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 32. Valley of Oblivion |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party enters the rank, dark place.]
Arnaud: "Do Holy Roots really glow in such gloomy places like
this...?"
Jude: "..."
Arnaud: "I hope they won't keep sending us to the bonnies like this
every time something comes up."
Jude: "..."
Arnaud: "When you think about it, those soldiers in the village are
pretty amazing, aren't they?"
Jude: "...Huh?"
Arnaud: "They dismantled one of the bombs themselves. And they did
it by figuring it out on their own. Bomb disposal is a skill
that was born from war, but that's not the only place the
technique is being used..."
Jude: "..."
[Later on:]
Jude: "...Maybe the war gave rise to more than just the power to
fight and the power to protect... ... Those people used
techniques born from war to heal the wounds that the war left
behind. So there must be more to my power than just fighting
and protecting...This power created by Mom and the others...
their hopes and dreams for what it would achieve are built
into my ARM... ... The war...it didn't just give rise to the
power to fight and to protect... There's also the power to end
war, too. I think that's what my ARM was meant to do..."
[The party continues until they find a boss floating in the air. It
uses a skill called 'Best Smile'.]
Arnaud: "Dammit! It's almost as if it's taunting us!"
Yulie: "I think that's part of its strategy."
Arnaud: "You think so...?"
[They defeat the boss and continue on to a bridge. As they try to
cross, however, the planks break and they fall into the river. A
little ways downstream:]
Arnaud: "It's because Jude rushed out across the bridge..."
Jude: "Hey, I'm not the only one at fault! It's because we all
crossed the rickety bridge together! Hmph... Just because I'm
the youngest doesn't mean you get to pick on me all the time,
you know! Geez, I'm soaking wet... This is all a part of
teamwork, so don't try to make it like it's all my fault..."
Yulie: " *tee hee* Everyone's soaked... ... But I'm glad you're back
to sounding more like your usual self..."
Jude: "My usual self...? Really...? Was I acting that different? I
can't say for sure, but... If you say so Yulie, then it's
probably true..."
Arnaud: "...Well, I'm more concerned about how drenched we are. Our
clothes are sopping wet!"
Raquel: "We better dry our belongings too, or they'll be ruined."
Jude: "Guys...I'm sorry...I've probably caused a lot of trouble..."
Arnaud: "If we've got time for apologies, how about we spend it
obtaining that Holy Root and getting out of here?"
[A little while later, the party runs into another boss fight (the
boss from Clive's prologue in WA3, actually).]
Raquel: "It's powerful...can we defeat it?!"
Jude: "Don't worry, Raquel! We can, with teamwork!"
Raquel: "Jude..."
[The party defeats the Goldrake and continue along until they find
a large shining tree with tiny flowers floating at the pond near
its base.]
Yulie: "It's like a sacred place... The ancient trees stand guard
over the land, and the Holy Root grows as if embracing them...
This place...it's very mysterious...and powerful..."
Raquel: "Yes...it's truly beautiful... The light of life...so simple
and needing no ornamentation...Life is truly beautiful..."
Jude: "Raquel...Why don't you make a painting of it?"
Raquel: "...Unfortunately, I can't. When we fell from the bridge my
art supplies got soaked...Besides...we need to go back and
help the villagers. We can't tarry here."
Jude: "Yeah, you're right. In that case, let's hurry! Everyone's
waiting for us."
Yulie: "So this tiny little plant will remove the poison from the
water supply..."
Raquel: "..." (Holy Root, a medicine that can cure any poison...
Except for the poison that consumes my body...)
Jude: "What's wrong, Raquel?"
Raquel: "...Ah, nothing..."
Arnaud: "...Let's get back to the village. If we don't dry off, we'll
catch a cold."
Raquel: "...Yeah..."
[A cutscene takes place in the Illsveil Prison War Criminal facility.
Hauser Blackwell's locked up and bound in chains. Lambda walks in.]
Lambda: "Hauser Blackwell, the hero...the Black Reaper...I have a
question for you. Do you think YOU can eliminate war from
the world of man? Do you think human beings, which you've
spent your life protecting, can live peacefully in a world
without conflict? I don't think it's possible. As long as
humans remain human, wars won't cease in this world. That
would deny the very nature of humans. Human beings were once
the same as other animals. They struggled within the harsh
environment and fought other animals. Only by emerging
victorious were they able to evolve into human beings. A
direct result of conflict, human beings were developed and
polished in the crucible of war."
[Lambda holds up a dog collar.]
Lambda: "This belonged to the puppy that had the misfortune of
following you. Human beings, be they men or women, young or
old, are all capable of cruelty. ... No matter how much you
dream, war will never disappear. Because the very people
you've protected, thirst for war and live for killing. As
long as people carry the burden of evil with which they were
born, the flames of war will never vanish from the world. I
say to you again, human beings are creatures capable of
boundless cruelty. You, of all people, should know that."
[Lambda tosses the dog collar at Blackwell and leaves. Red flames
pulsate from the captured criminal and, for a moment, it shows the
Divine Weapon excavation site, with soldiers looking around at
something. Back to Halim.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 33. Frontier Town Halim II |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party goes back to Archibald and gives him the Holy Root.]
Archibald: "Despite the daner, you persevered...You've brought back
the Holy Root... Thank you... On behalf of the entire
village...Thank you so much."
Jude: "I got a chance to think about a lot of things... And besides,
I can't just ignore those in trouble."
[Some villagers come over.]
Gordon: "Please use the root to purify the water supply."
Louise: "Yes...with this, Halim will be saved. All the hard work
we've put into developing this place won't be for naught!"
Jude: "Yeah!"
[Raquel gives the Root to a little boy.]
Raquel: "This will restore life to the water, as well as the
village...Remember that there's nothing more beautiful than
life..."
[Raquel wanders off and Arnaud follows her. He finds her crying
behind a house.]
Arnaud: "Raquel..."
Raquel: "You said I was detached, but I wonder whether that's true...
I wanted to see for myself...the power of the Holy Root. ...
I almost could not hand it over, as waves of greed and desire
washed over me... ... Standing before me was a child...with a
future that stretched far ahead of him, and yet, I still
hesitated, thinking of myself instead. Despite knowing there
was no salvation possible, the ugly need for self-preservation
arose within me. ... Go ahead and laugh, if you want...I can't
ever grow up..."
Arnaud: "Who would laugh at that? I wouldn't. Actually, I'm
relived..."
Raquel: "Relived?"
Arnaud: "Yeah...to learn that you're a real human being with
weaknesses, just like the rest of us..."
Raquel: "Learning that I'm weak makes you feel relieved?"
Arnaud: "Well if you were perfect, you wouldn't need my support,
right? I want to support you..."
Raquel: "Arnaud..."
[The two hug and she cries on his shoulder.]
Raquel: "I'm so scared...I feel as though I'm drowning in fear... How
long can this life hold onto its warmth...? How long can this
body hold onto its strength...?"
Arnaud: "I'll be with you. I'll always support you. If your legs
lose their strength, I'll carry you. If your eyes lose their
light, I'll describe the world to you. I'll always be with
you... So when I'm with you, please stop trembling... I want
to be with you... To always be with you... That's the purpose
I've found for my journey..."
Raquel: "Arnaud...you're so warm...I see...and understand now...
People are warm so that they can help warm others... Since
you're with me, I won't tremble anymore..."
[The next day, Archibald and Jude go near the river to a structure.]
Archibald: "This is the workshop where we make the tools that we
need. Please, use it as you like. It's the least we can
do to thank you for saving Halim."
Jude: "Okay... Thank you..."
Instructor Henri: "Are you leaving, Jude...?"
Jude: "Mom said that the Divine Weapon must be stopped, so I want to
carry out her wish."
Instructor Henri: "I see...but, Jude..."
Jude: "I know...When it's all over, I plan to come back to Halim. I
need to build memorials, for Mom and the others from Ciel...
for a lot of people."
Instructor Henri: "I'm sure they'd appreciate it."
Jude: "...Yeah."
Archibald: "I've heard that the Divine Weapon is on Illsveil Prison
island. I want you to be careful. That place is known for
being unapprochable--and inescapable."
Jude: "I know I can't go to a dangerous place like that alone,
but... I've never experienced war, but that doesn't mean I
can pretend to not see the war that still continues. Mom meant
to stop the Divine Weapon in order to protect the future of our
world. I want to carry out her wish. So I'd like you all to--"
Arnaud: "No. It's too dangerous. It's beyond insane. ... So...we're
only gonna do it this once, you hear? 'Protecting the future
of Filgaia' is a bit much for us, anyway. Not to mention out
of character."
[If Jude enters the workshop:]
Tutorial: *A workshop where you can take the items and gella you
have in your possession, and create more effective items,
weapons, armor, and badges.
[A cutscene plays as the party leaves town, showing Hauser Blackwell
standing at the Divine Weapon's excavation site, with dead soldiers
all around him. On the world map:]
Jude: "So...How do we get to Illsveil?"
Arnaud: "It's known as a 'prison island,' so I'd imagine our
destination is somewhere out on the sea. Let's head for Port
Rosalia. We can try to find a sea route from there."
Yulie: "I can't tell if you're dependable or not. Boys are so
mysterious..."
Jude: " *laughter* "
Raquel: "Anyway, I don't think there's any need to worry. Jude seems
to be back to normal."
Jude: "Err...that's a good thing, right?"
[Far to the southwest, Illsveil appears on an island; closer to home,
Blue Amity Beach shows up on the way back to the Port.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 34. Blue Amity Beach |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[In the second screen:]
Raquel: "Although there are monsters, there's no sign of Brionac
either chasing us, or lying in wait for us... It's quiet..."
Arnaud: "But this could be the eye of the storm. The threat is
already closing in around us...at Illsveil."
[In the third screen:]
Yulie: "..."
Jude: "What is it, Yulie?"
Yulie: "It looks like it might be getting a little cloudy..."
Jude: "Really? Hmm... Yeah...maybe so..."
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 35. Port Rosalia II |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party finally enters Port Rosalia.]
Arnaud: "To think, we're back in this town again..."
Raquel: "Looking back...our journey together started here in this
town."
Yulie: "Although it feels like a lot of time has passed, thinking
about it, everything's happened so fast..."
Jude: "Why are you guys talking like our journey's over? It's not
over yet. We're heading for Illsveil Prison...and we'll end
this fight there. That's why we came here to get a boat,
remember?"
[The party goes down to the docks and finds a guy named Pico, who's
auctioning off a boat the next day.]
Pico: "My job is repairing salvaged wrecks and making them useable
once more. I have a brand spanking-new one I just finished
restoring. If you need a ship, could you come back tomorrow?
I'll be holding an open auction where bidding starts at
1,000,000 gella."
Jude: "One million gella?!"
Pico: "Yep, that'll be the opening bid. Depending on how things go,
I think it'll go for higher than that..."
Jude: "I see..."
Raquel: "Jude! Look!"
[They see the back of a man leaving the docks.]
Yulie: "Kresnik?!"
Pico: "Do you know him?"
Arnaud: "You could say that..."
Pico: "He recently drifted into town and doesn't work but instead
just wanders around all day. The lady doctor's taking care of
him but they say he doesn't even really eat or anything... I
don't know if I should be jealous or not..."
Jude: "Hey mister! So we should come back tomorrow for the ship,
right?"
Pico: "Yeah..."
Jude: "Okay, we'll be back tomorrow!"
[The party goes after Kresnik and go to the lady doctor's place up
near the edge of town.]
Dr. Morgan: "My, what a surprise. Here to visit Mr. Listless? He
doesn't get very many visitors. Stay as long as you
like, but I'm afraid I can't offer much in the way of
hospitality. This is a clinic after all, not a
restaurant. *laughter* "
[They see Kresnik.]
Kresnik: "..."
Yulie: "...Kresnik..."
Jude: "Are you hurt or something? Did you injure yourself when you
left the sandship?"
Kresnik: "...My conviction...was broken... That's all. The lance of
my heart with which I carried out my conviction...was broken.
I can manage my way through daily life, but I can no longer
stand upon the battlefield..."
Jude: "We want to go to Illsveil...We want to stop the Divine Weapon.
We'd like you to help us, Kresnik."
Kresnik: "Without the support drug LiNKER that Brionac once supplied
me with, I can no longer use even a prototype ARM. How could
I possibly help you?"
Jude: "..."
Kresnik: "I cannot walk the same path as you. I have no conviction
to believe in now...nothing to live for. I would be nothing
but a burden..."
Jude: "..."
Dr. Morgan: "When people lose that which holds their hearts together,
their bodies begin to weaken, as well... In the case of
Mr. Listless here, it's gone to an extreme. He's lost
faith in himself, and he's given up on everything around
him...It's not uncommon among people who are very serious
and diligent. If he can't find something to believe
in--some 'conviction,' as he calls it--then sooner or
later...well..."
Kresnik: "..."
Yulie: "Why do you have to find something? Why can't you just be the
same Kresnik you were before?"
Kresnik: "...The same as I was before...?"
Yulie: "You're my dear brother...that's all I need you to be..."
Kresnik: "..."
[The party goes back outside, leaving Kresnik alone.]
Arnaud: "I understand you wanting to rely on Kresnik but we can't
assume that he'll be able to pull himself together before
something happens at Illsveil. We don't have the time for
this, Jude."
Jude: "Yeah...I know. But we can't do anything about a ship until
tomorrow, anyway. So there's no point in rushing things right
now."
Yulie: "I'll try talking to Kresnik again tomorrow..."
Raquel: "When everyone's ready, let's get a rom at the Seabreeze
Port. Things are going to get busy again from tomorrow."
[The party goes to the Seabreeze Port. Lily welcomes 'em.]
Lily: "Oh...You're the ones who helped me out before, aren't you...?
For you, everything is on the house. You can dine or stay the
night here for free. I'm happy to be of help to you on your
journey."
[The party rests up for the next day. That night, the boat that was
to go for sale explodes, and the party runs out later to find the
town in a panic.]
Raquel: "What's going on?! The town... Is Port Rosalia under attack?!"
Jeremy?: "Sorry to keep you waiting, 'brother'..."
[A disfigured Jeremy shows himself. He looks grotesque and where
his right arm used to be is his old missile-launching weapon.]
Jude: "It's Jeremy, from Brionac!! Are you responsible for this?!
Why are you doing this?! And why did you call me 'brother?!'"
Jeremy: "I'm back from Illsveil...and I've got the power of ARMs,
just like you..."
Jude: "What the heck is going on at Illsveil?!"
Jeremy: "Why not go and take a look? Actually, don't bother...Soon,
you'll be able to see it no matter where you are. 'Cause it's
just a matter of time before this disaster takes over all of
Filgaia! Heh heh...hahaha!! Bwaaahahahahahahahahahaha!!
Everything will be blotted out! The people...the world...
everything!"
[Jeremy runs off.]
Jude: "Come back!! ... He went towards the pier... Come on, guys!
If we don't stop him, he's gonna destroy the town!"
[The party sees Kresnik on their way to the pier.]
Yulie: "Kresnik!"
Jude: "Kresnik, it's Jeremy! He's destroying the town!! He's hurting
everyone!!"
Raquel: "Jude, we have to hurry! Now that he has that power, we're
the only ones who can stop him."
Arnaud: "We're going after him! Because we've got to keep moving
forward."
[The boys and Raquel dash to the pier.]
Yulie: "Kresnik..."
Kresnik: "..."
Yulie: "I have to go, too...But, please, don't leave me again..."
[The two hug.]
Yulie: "Even though I cried constantly, you always held me... Even
when I shook with fear, you always comforted me... ... Even
if they're not wielding an ARM, those hands can still do many
things... And I still love the things you did for me, even
before you ever held an ARM... ... I have to go...they're
waiting for me. But please, don't go anywhere... I promise
I'll be back...and when I do, please be here to welcome me
back...with those same hands, okay...?"
[Yulie leaves.]
Kresnik: "...The things these hands can do while wielding an ARM...
and these things these hands can do when they're not... ...
Why have I been hesitating for so long...? I've always
carried out my convictions by my own power... Yes...It
doesn't matter what organization I'm with. All I have to
do is carry out my conviction... I am the lance of Brionac!
I am the Pale Rider! I am Kresnik Ahtreide!!"
[At the pier, the party squares off with Jeremy.]
Jeremy: "There you are, little brother! Oh hold on...he got his ARM
first. So does that make him my big brother? But I'm obviously
older than he is! Bah, screw it! Who cares!! I'm gonna crush
you all right here, so it's not like it matters!!"
[The battle starts.]
Jeremy: "Don't you know? It's human nautre to prey on the weak, and
enjoy it! When humans have power over others, or when they
find themselves impervious to harm, this desire, no, this
need wells up from inside... This time it's got nothing to
do with no mission...it's personal!! And we're about to have
a whole...lotta...fun!"
[The party knocks Jeremy's block off.]
Jeremy: "There's no use struggling. Besides, you ought to know by
now that I prefer my victims to be weak and helpless, so why
don'tcha comply?!
[Jeremy fires a net-type thing and traps all the party members in
a spherical cage. Elsewhere, Kresnik beats it back to the doctor's
office.]
Dr. Morgan: "I went ahead and washed your clothes, so that you can
wear them at any time."
[Kresnik gets ready.]
Kresnik: "To protect my sister... To protect those who can't wield
ARMs... These are the reasons why I chose to wield an ARM!
THIS is the conviction I bring to the world... Proof of my
place as a member of Brionac!! What is there to hold me
back now? I'll be right there, Yulie..."
[Back at the pier, Jeremy sits around, watching the party members'
energy being drained in the cage.]
Jeremy: "The capture web isn't very strong so you could probably take
it out with a single blast of your ARM but... You don't even
have the strength to stand right now...due to the restraining
effect of the web!"
Kresnik: "Then shooting it should suffice."
[Jeremy looks up to see Kresnik on the stair.]
Jeremy: "Kresnik?!"
Yulie: "...Kresnik..."
Jeremy: "...I've heard about you from Lambda, and know you quit
Brionac. What do you plan to do? Where're your little support
meds? Just what do ya think you can accomplish without your
ARM?! Bwaahahahahaha! What can you possibly do without your
meds? You couldn't possibly do anything alone from there!!"
Kresnik: "No matter what the obstacle, I will carry out my conviction
and pierce on through. I will show you just who I am!"
[Kresnik struggles as he forms his large ARM and shoots the top right
off of the capture web. The party members spring out.]
Kresnik: "Jude...where is the path that leads to Filgaia's future...?"
Jude: "It's the one that runs right through Jeremy!"
[The party fights Jeremy again.]
Jeremy: "Just what the hell is going on here? I didn't obtain this
power to lose to no sorry asses like you!"
[The party defeats Jeremy once and for all.]
Jude: "Our ship...!"
Pico: "Wrong! It's still my ship!! Damn it all...What am I gonna do
about today's auction..."
Arnaud: "Illsveil isn't exactly close enough to swim to, you know..."
Kresnik: "If the sea is closed to you, then why not go by air?"
Raquel: "What do you mean?"
Kresnik: "There's an old decommissioned military airport, Dievas,
not far from here. ... Officially, it's closed, but that
was just for appearances. The facilities as well as the
equipment and aircraft requisitioned by the Congressional
Knights, are still functional."
Yulie: "You mean..."
Kresnik: "You'll assault the Congressional Knights' facility, seize
an aircraft, and penetrate Illsveil Prison--Lambda's final
stronghold--from the air!"
Arnaud: "Your brother sure likes the dramatic approach..."
Kresnik: "The sabotage of the ship was probably part of Lambda's
plan to keep anyone from approaching Illsveil."
Raquel: "So we'll just take things one step higher, then..."
Jude: "Yeah, into the sky!"
[Kresnik turns to leave.]
Jude: "Huh?"
Yulie: "Kresnik...!"
Kresnik: "I...cannot walk the same path as you..."
[He leaves.]
Yulie: "..."
Jude: "Don't worry, Yulie. Kresnik's working for the world's future
too... Even if his path is different from ours, we still have
the same goal in mind...Right?"
[On the world map, the path to Dievas opes, as well as the nearer
place of the Fallen Bridge XdXS.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 36. Fallen Bridge XdXS |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party enters the destroyed suspension bridge and travels across
it, no problem. Nothin's said, either! On the other side's Dievas
Airport.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 37. Dievas Airport |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party enters the airport and soon find a runway.]
Jude: "Look at all these flying aircraft! Which one should we pick?"
Arnaud: "They've all been exposed to the elements for the past 10
years, ever since the end of the war. None of them will
function well."
Yulie: "You think there are any that still work?"
Raquel: "Probably. But...right now, it looks like we've got other
things to worry about..."
[Three women show up, and it's pretty clear they're undead...ish.
If one read a console in White Orphanage, they might be familiar.]
Jane Doe SW: "We are the Jane Does. We are the undead corps who serve
the Congressional Knights from the shadows. Our orders
are but one: to end your lives."
Jane Doe GN: "Data from your previous battles has been analyzed and
hardcoded into our bodies."
Jane Doe AX: "To ensure that we always catch our prey, we are
specially tuned fo each and every mission. We are the
perfect hunting hounds."
[The battle with the Jane Does starts.]
Arnaud: "Don't you know you're setting yourself up to lose when you
talk smack like that?"
Jude: "And when did they obtain this data on us, anyway? Besides,
I'm sure by now we're way beyond such numbers."
[The party defeats 'em with ease, even without Hi-Sanctify.]
Jane Doe SW: "...Do we now wither...? Should our immortal bodies
turn to dust?!"
Jane Doe GN: "We must return at once and inpput the results of our
most recent analysis."
Jane Doe AX: "Our lives and our power shall be reconstructed. Next
time we return, we shall claim victory..."
[The Jane Does die.]
Raquel: "In life, there is no 'next time.' That is why it's so
important to devote all your power to the moment."
[The party continues on into the airport and, in its depths, finds
Gawn Brawdia standing around.]
Gawn: "Hey! Long time no see."
Jude: "Yeah...it's been a while. ... Tell me, Gawn... What is Lambda
trying to do at Illsveil with the Divine Weapon?"
Gawn: "For the sake of Filgaia's future--he's..."
Jude: "Do you really think so, Gawn?!"
Gawn: "..."
Jude: "If you think what Lambda's doing is wrong...please let us
through. We're here to stop the Divine Weapon."
Gawn: "...I'm afraid I can't do that... Us adults...we have
responsibilities, you know? We can't just do as we please."
Jude: "If it's your job to stop us...If that's really what you have
to do, then...!"
Gawn: "There's a steep divide between adults and children."
[The battle starts and Gawn uses his Finest Art to unload two guns
into everyone.]
Gawn: "Six to the left...six to the right...Together, these twelve
bullets form an impenetrable wall! Let's see how strong your
convictions are! If you want to get past me, you'll have to
make it past all twelve shots!"
[The party survives all twelve shots, even when they do 9999 damage.]
Gawn: "You...kids..."
Jude: "That's twelve all together...We're still standing! You haven't
beaten us yet!"
Gawn: "Are your minds really made up?"
Jude: "Yeah."
Gawn: "I like you kids and I don't want to let you go on. Lambda's
readied 'Gungnir,' the interceptor system...And the Divine
Weapon itself...The dangers that await, will show you no
mercy..."
Jude: "Even so...We're committed to stopping the Divine Weapon.
We're going, no matter what."
Gawn: "So then I, an adult, have no choice but to watch you children
go off to die..."
Jude: "There's no need to say goodbye, and we don't need to shake
hands in parting, either. Right, Gawn?"
Gawn: "...Yeah..."
[The party continues until they hit the underground hangar for the
airplanes they were looking for.]
Arnaud: "Here we are! This is the underground hangar for the
aircraft! It even comes with a launch catapul we can
use! ... They must have been planning on using these
themselves...It looks like they've been carefully
maintained!"
Raquel: "Then we could..."
Arnaud: "Yeah... These machines are Le Bourget 3330s. They're famous
from the final days of the war, and the same type my father
flew. Sure, it boasts top-of-the-line specs, but more
importantly, it's a four-seater. It's perfect for us."
Jude: "Let's get going Arnaud."
Arnaud: "Yeah, they could shut this facility down at any moment. We
can't afford to waste any time."
[They all climb in, with Arnaud steering.]
Jude: "Yulie, can you tighten my harness?"
Yulie: "Sure!"
Arnaud: (Who would've thought my first flight would be this chaotic...
I should've had Dad teach me a bit more thoroughly... Of
course, a little chaos will give me a good kick in the pants.
Otherwise I may never get started. Unlike this kid of
course...)
Jude: "Hmm? Did you say something, Arnaud?"
Arnaud: "Nope! Nothing at all! Now then... Listen up, guys!
Everything's ready to go. Our aerial tour can begin whenever
you're ready! There's gonna be a big shock right as we take
off, so make sure you're ready for it!"
[The aircraft launchers readies itself, moving the airship out
to the pad.]
Arnaud: "I learned to fly so that I could go see my mom in Heaven.
Thinking back on it now, that was pretty silly.
Anyway, I'll give it my best shot! Dad, I hope you're
watching over us, right?! Alright! This is it! Here we
come!"
[Once airborne, Lambda's Gungnir radar picks up their trail easily.
He stands at a large console screen.]
Lambda: "Ah, the last remaining hope for the future... Let's see if
you can fly above this headwind!"
[He moves a missile launcher in their direction and lets one fly.
It explodes in midair, changing into a volley of more missiles.]
Jude: "Something's headed this way! One, two, three... there's a
whole bunch of them!"
Arnaud: "What?! Do you mean missiles?! Should we dodge...?! Or...
shoot them down?!"
[Gawn appears in an aircraft.]
Gawn: "You kids go on ahead, and shoot straight for Illsveil!"
Lambda: "Gawn?!"
Gawn: "Lambda! Your intentions aren't misguided but you... you
can't rush the results! Wasn't it all to protect the future
of the world!? And the people who live in it? Damn you,
Lambda! Answer me! You have to listen to me! I won't let you
destroy what you sought to protect. Even if I have to...turn
my guns against you!"
[Gawn shoots down a few of the missiles, letting one crash into his
aircraft, too. He flies out of the pilot's seat and, guns blazing,
starts to shoot the missiles down with his ammo. When he starts to
lose altitude, he flies back up and shoots the last one down. From
the smoke, however, another one comes.]
Gawn: "What? an eleventh missile?"
[His ammo spent, Gawn drops his guns into the sea and punches the
head of the missile. As it starts to explode, a slo-mo seen with
the party occurs, since they're passing right by there.]
Gawn: "Ah, well... it's the way of the world, isn't it? Children
going on..to surpass those who have come before them... I've
done all I can. Now's it all up to you to go further. Go now...
the future of the world... is in your hands, children..."
[The missile explodes and turns Gawn's form into dust.]
Jude: "Gaaaaaaaaawn!!!"
[The party flies away towards Illsveil.]
Arnaud: "I hope that someday...I can be half the man he was...
but...what can I do!?"
Raquel: "Jude...Gawn didn't sacrifice himself so that...we'd turn
around and dwell on the past, right?"
Jude: "You're right... now's not the time for looking back. Our
journey still lies ahead!"
[The party lands at their destination...their last.]
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 38. Illsveil Prison |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
[The party lands and looks out to sea, as a way of acknowledging
Gawn's sacrifice.]
Jude: "...This place is kinda spooky...It doesn't feel like anyone--
or anything, really-is alive here... And this smoke... What
the heck's going on in there?"
Yulie: "I can sense something stirring, deep within the island...
something like an ominous resonance... It's expanding with
each passing moment, as if it wants to envelop all of
Filgaia... This terrible resonance must belong to the Divine
Weapon... Jude...if we don't stop it quickly..."
Narrative: *Illsveil's defense system is active. If you attempt to
leave the island, you will be targeted by missiles. Unless
you destroy Illveil's defense system, you will not be able
to escape from the island.
[The party enters one of the rooms of Illsveil.]
Jude: "Is that..a Wild ARM?"
Yulie: "I can sense its uncontrolled emanations from all across the
entire island..."
Raquel: "You can sense that?"
Yulie: "...Yes...and from deep within the island, an even stronger
emanation..."
Jude: "Is that where Lambda is?"
Arnaud: "Never mind where he is. I'm more worried about what he's
trying to do with the Divine Weapon."
[The party looks around and finds a large computer display.]
Arnaud: "If this is what's controlling the system, then...!"
[Jude fires a few shots into it and destroys it. Farmel appears.]
Farmel: "I applaud your success. You've managed to disarm Illsveil's
defense system. Now, this island is vulnerable. If you leave,
Gungnir cannot attack you... But that's assuming I would let
you go, of course. Lambda is trying to bring about a new
future to this world...so I can't let you interfere."
Jude: "A new future for this world?! You mean he wants the same thing
as Mom?"
Farmel: "Human beings are too weak to live in the desolation that is
Filgaia. In their current state, they'll never be able to
create a decent future. People must evolve and become
stronger, for the sake of a better future. Do you understand?"
Jude: "No, I don't understand! What the heck does that have to do
with any of this?!"
Farmel: "You don't understand? That's too bad... Then I suppose you
also wouldn't understand the significance of Lambda choosing
to be 'the villain' for the greater good..."
[The battle with Farmel starts.]
Farmel: "If you draw your sword against Lambda, then I shall have no
choice but to take up my shield. For I am also known as
Asgard--the citadel of the gods--the final and absolute wall
which protects the future."
[The party attacks Farmel and she counters with a Finest Art, 9999-
-hitter doozy.]
Tutorial: *Farmel's special ability, 'Citadel of the Gods,' blocks
all attacks with one of three impregnable defenses. In
particular, her Darkness Stance neutralizes all forms of
attack and unleashes an extremely powerful counter upon
the surrounding HEXes. She presents a steep wall that
cannot be overcome by mere reckless attacks.
[The party overcomes the 'steep wall' that is Farmel, but she's not
down for the count yet. Jude runs at her after the battle's finished
but she repels all his attacks with her shield.]
Farmel: "I won't let you past me, or to carry out your convictions.
As Asgard, the citadel of the gods, I shall repel your every
action!"
Jude: "I know you'll counter...but I won't just take it! I'll counter
your counter!"
Farmel: "I'll send that back as well."
Jude: "Then, I'll counter that too!"
Farmel: " *chuckle* *laughter* Do you seriously intend on trying to
get past me?"
Jude: "If I wasn't serious, I wouldn't be here, facing you head-on!"
Farmel: "All right... Then I guess I'll permit you to touch me. But
in exchange for letting you do so, I'm going to snap your
bones with my ultimate counter. If you're not afraid, step
forward and accept my embrace."
[Farmel blocks Jude's first attack and tries to punch him, but gets
her hand stuck with Arnaud's throwing feathers; she tries to kick
Jude, but Raquel's sword stops the leg's progress; her shield's
batted away by Yulie's series of rings. And all of this without any
discussion.]
Farmel: "...?! You teamed up to block my triple counter?! But you
didn't even signal one another! How did...?!"
Raquel: "Human beings are weak, so they learn to work together.
That's how they become strong!"
[Jude fires a blast of Phantom Line at Farmel and sends her flying
against a wall.]
Farmel: "You flew straight at me without any fear. How were you able
to do that? If you'd hesistated even a little, no amount of
cooperation would have been enough to break my counter..."
Jude: "...I WAS scared...and nervous. But I knew that cowering in
fear wouldn't accomplish anything, so I firmed my resolve and
made my move."
Farmel: "You thought if you just rushed out, things would somehow
work out? Only a child could have that kind of confidence."
Jude: "Confidence...Maybe so. But it wasn't just believing in
myself...My confidence comes from believing in my friends. I
trusted them to help me."
Farmel: " *chuckle* So that's why you're so strong."
Jude: "Tell me about Lambda...What is he trying to do for the future
of the world?"
Farmel: "Ask him yourself. Once you learn about his intentions, you
can decide what to do next..."
Jude: "..."
Farmel: "What are you doing? The contamination from the Wild ARM
is spreading...This area won't be safe for long."
Jude: "Thanks, but we'll search for our own answers. Because after
all, that's our future."
[The party can then return to the world map. If they do so:]
Tutorial: *You can now travel freely all across Filgaia using the
aircraft piloted by Arnaud. You can travel instantly to
faraway places.
[The party continues into the next room into Illsveil, and the view
changes to Farmel.]
Farmel: "Oh, my...Did they think this would be enough to destroy
the defense system? Honestly, they're so naive... If they
don't get ot the source of the Wild ARM that's spread itself
throughout Illsveil, the control system will just repair
itself... Those children will never be able to leave Illsveil
like this... ... He is SUCH a cut little boy, after all.
Perhaps it wouldn't hurt to help him out...just a little..."
[The monitor explodes nearby Farmel, the view changes back to Jude,
who, after running through some lasers, finds a large boss to cut
down.]
Yulie: "The Wild ARM's taking over the facility... It's trying to
absorb us, too!"
Raquel: "It infects, devous, and speads! Is this what our future
needs?!"
Arnaud: "At this rate, the entire world will be consumed by the
Wild ARMs! Surely no one wants that!"
[The party defeats the Reclaimer Dragon, but afterwards, a tentacle
swoops towards Yulie. It's repeled by some force and the nanomachines
break apart.]
Arnaud: "Of course...! Yulie's power...! The ablity to regulate
ARMs!!"
Raquel: "Her power causes its structure to collapse."
Jude: "Does that mean Yulie can stop this craziness?"
Yulie: "But...I'm not sure I can...over such a large area..."
Arnaud: "Right, of course. That's why we have to hit it at the core!!"
Jude: "The Divine Weapon!"
Yulie: "My reason to fight..."
[The party continues on to a statue that's been consumed and entangled
by celluar material from the Wild ARM about.]
Raquel: "It taints and disfigures everything it touches..."
Yulie: "The contamination is spreading!"
Jude: "Where's the Divine Weapon?!"
Arnaud: "Although we can't find what we're looking for, it seems
trouble keeps finding us..."
[Two giant tentacles come up and a large monster forms.]
Arnaud: "These things take shape by consuming everything that lies
in their path, and absorbing it into themselves."
Raquel: "Left unchecked, it'll devour the entire world!! Is this the
future Lambda desires? No, we can't let this happen! We've
got to save all the remaining beauty in this world."
[The party defeats the monster.]
Raquel: "It's no use..."
Yulie: "This ominous presence.. there's no doubt about it. The
Divine Weapon lies just ahead."
Jude: "Now what do we do?!"
Arnaud: "'What do we do?!' What do you think?! At times like
these...you do what it takes to survive!"
[The party starts to run, but Kresnik rides in on his motorcycle
with a tentacle right behind him. Together, they all shoot and
stab the tentacles to bits.]
Yulie: "Kresnik!"
Kresnik: "Yulie... Now that we're all here, we've got to combine
our powers! The future of the world depends on it!"
[Kresnik and Jude go to shake hands, but the floor gives way and
Kresnik's motorcycle falls in. A large chasm forms between them
and the rest of the party.]
Yulie: "No...why now?"
Kresnik: "Even if we take separate paths, we're working towards the
same goal. You know that alright..."
Yulie: "Yes...but--"
Kresnik: "Besides, I have something for you, and until its safely
in your hands, I have no intention of going very far."
Yulie: "All right Kresnik...but...promise that you'll be the one to
give it to me. I won't accept it from anyone else. You have to
promise me...Kresnik..."
Kresnik: "Okay, I promise...Yulie."
[Kresnik and Jude head into the next room.]
Jude: "Wow, I never imagined anything like this to be underneath the
prison..."
Kresnik: "Illsveil was mainly used to hold Class A war criminals...
But it was also used to conceal the technology and truths
deemed to be unnecessary for the post-war world. A great
deal of the ugliness of the war lies hidden here... The
ARM known as the Divine Weapon is part of that. The
Congressional Knights assumed control of Illsveil and had
the war criminals dig up the Divine Weapon..."
Jude: "And now the Divine Weapon is out of control. But isn't that
kinda strange? How is it running wild without any power from
Yulie, you, or me? Don't tell me Lambda also has the power to
connect his mind to ARMs...?"
Kresnik: "It's probably the work of the Black Reaper, Hauser
Blackwell...the captured former war hero..."
Jude: "No way! There's no way he'd ever help Lambda! I can tell...
he doesn't want any more fighting. He wants peace more than
anyone!"
Kresnik: "...At the Divine Weapon excavation site, the truth will be
revealed..."
[Kresnik and Jude continue on into a screen with a large orb housing
an hourglass inside.]
Tutorial: *If Jude is exposed to the effects of this mysterious
object, he will become unable to use his Accelerator.
To restore his Accelerator ability, he must neutralize
the effect by touching the object, or another of its
kind, once again.
[Kresnik and Jude continue until they're attacked by a boss.]
Jude: "It's blocking our way!"
Kresnik: "It's as if it's sentient, and it's actions are thought
out. ...?! Jude, have you come across anyone since arriving
here...?"
Jude: "...? Well, that Brionac lady...What about her?"
Kresnik: "Oh, Farmel... No, regular people...like convicts that
you'd expect in a prison."
Jude: " *gasp* "
Kresnik: "They're not out of control... They're out to destroy
mankind!"
Jude: "If any should escape from here..."
Kresnik: "Never mind the future of the world, all humans will be
consumed!"
[The two kill the monster.]
Kresnik: " *groan* "
Jude: "Are you okay?"
Kresnik: "...It's the Resistance Impulse... Due to my low drive
compatibility coefficient, I can't use an ARM, not even a
prototype, without the support of drugs... I wasn't able to
become a gene driver like you... But I still wanted the
power to protect my own sister..."
Jude: "Kresnik..."
Kresnik: "...I hate you..."
Jude: "..."
Kresnik: "You're able to wield an ARM without undergoing any physical
modifications...yet you maintain the innocence of a child,
and never hesitate to charge straight ahead... ... You're
doing so many things I couldn't, and for that I hate you..."
Jude: "Yeah, well, I hate you too, Kresnik. I can't understand how
you could do things that make your sister sad... ... But you
won't make Yulie sad anymore, right?"
Kresnik: "I'm not planning to... That's why I want to fight alongside
you..."
[The view switches back to the Yulie/Arnaud/Raquel team after a
little while. They're running through the dungeon, too.]
Arnaud: "Are you feeling okay?"
Raquel: "The future depends entirely on us. We can't stop now."
Arnaud: "Ah, well...yeah."
Raquel: "And to think, that you're able to show concern for others
at a time like this... You sure have changed, Arnaud... Have
you grown up a little?"
Arnaud: "I already finished growing up a long time ago! So--"
[A large boss attacks.]
Arnaud: "Let's take care of this and go help the kid!"
Yulie: "Even when we're apart, I can feel Kresnik's presence close
to my heart. So I won't hesitate or try to run away from my
battles!"
[The party slays the beast. Parts of the rock shake accordingly.]
Raquel: "Look at that!"
Arnaud: "It's spreading through the rock. That must be why the rock's
getting weaker... ... Be careful...the Wild ARM is a threat,
but the cave itself is becoming dangerous, too..."
Yulie: "Jude...Kresnik..."
[The ground shakes again and the Jude/Kresnik Team comes up. As
soon as the part starts, the ground cracks and Kresnik starts to
fall in.]
Jude: "Kresnik!"
[A tentacle rises up behind Jude.]
Kresnik: "Javelin!"
[Kresnik's motorcycle rides up some debris and explodes on the
tenticle behind Jude.]
Jude: "...?!!"
Jude: "Gimme your hand!"
[Kresnik jumps as the ground falls into the darkness, and he
manages to cling on the side of the path.]
Kresnik: "Is this the end of the road... for a defective gene
driver like me? If I could only...just get this...to
Yulie... You have to... ...accept it for--"
[The cave starts to show the signs of falling apart.]
Kresnik: "Stop, let me go, Jude! This cave is going to collapse!"
Jude: "No, I can't do it!"
Kresnik: "Sometimes all you can do, is make the best of the
situation!"
Jude: "How can I say I made the best of the situation if...I
let you die?! There's been too much suffering already!"
[Kresnik forms his ARM and Jude grabs a hold of it.]
Kresnik: "Jude...listen to me. I want to protect my sister, but
without the ability to use ARMS... With you resides all
hope for the future. You can make a leap from the present,
and fly towards the future, Jude and so...I entrust Yulie
to you--"
Jude: "I'll protect Yulie. That's a promise I made to her! And
remember your own promise to her! You can't give up! We'll
protect her together, Kresnik!"
Kresnik: "Together...yes...you're right...together, we'll protect
Yulie...she's my precious sister, after all...together...
you...and my ARM..."
[Kresnik lets go of his ARM and falls into the darkness.]
Jude: "Kresniiiiiiiik!! Noooooo!!"
[Jude sits at the edge with Kresnik's weapon, furious.]
Jude: "Kresnik...nothing's changed...I still hate you. How is...
sacrificing yourself the best option? How can there be anything
good in making Yulie cry? I hate you Kresnik...I hate you for
making Yulie cry! But...I promise you...I promise I'll always
protect Yulie...together...along with your ARM...I won't fail!"
[Jude continues on into the next screen, finding his party.]
Arnaud: "Jude!"
Jude: "Guys..."
Arnaud: "Jude...What happened to Kresnik...?"
[Raquel takes him aside.]
Jude: "...Yulie...he..."
Yulie: "Where's my brother...?"
Jude: "..."
[Yulie takes his hand.]
Yulie: "Even if we take separate paths, we're working toward the
same future... ... I understand...He went on ahead, didn't
he?"
Jude: "Yulie..."
Yulie: "Your left hand, Jude...I can sense Kresnik's conviction
emanating from it... He must be worried about me... ... Am
I that...undependable? Am I still...a crybaby? I need to show
everyone how strong I can be, so Kresnik won't have to worry
about me. Right, Jude?"
Jude: "Yeah...and I need to be strong, too, or Kresnik will--No,
EVERYONE will laugh at me and keep treating me as a kid...
... Let's go, Yulie..."
Yulie: "Yes, let's go together, Jude..."
[Soon, the party finds Lambda waiting around for them.]
Lambda: "The world is soon to be torn apart...but allow me to welcome
you."
Jude: "What are you scheming, Lambda?! How can any of this be for
the sake of the world's future?!"
Lambda: "...Filgaia is far too harsh, and its people far too weak,
to ever build a future... If they are to build a future for
this world, people must first evolve and become stronger...
That is why I have activated the Divine Weapon and triggered
a catastrophe of global proportions."
Jude: "You're not making any sense!!"
Arnaud: "Actually...I think I may know what he's talking about...But
you're not going to like it..."
Raquel: "What do you mean?"
Arnaud: "These guys were researching artificial evolution at the
orphanage where Yulie was..."
Yulie: "...Artificially-inducd evolution that circumvents the natural
process... Putting the world through a devastating crisis is a
new method of actualizing evolution?!"
Arnaud: "Well, it's not necessarily a new way of triggering
evolution... It's an attempt to return the original theory
and put it into practice, right?"
Lambda: "Yes, the theory of natural selection... The Wild ARM that's
devouring humans and everything else, in effect creates a
harsh environment to live in. The old and the weak will die
off, but those who survive will surely evolve into a stronger
and more perfect species."
Jude: "'Surely?' What happens if they don't?!"
Yulie: "Species that are unable to evolve and adapt to their
environment simply die out..."
Arnaud: "That's right. While there are examples of species dying out
due to natural selection, few cases of true evolution exist.
What possible reason could make the desire to evolve so strong
that you'd be willing to use such uncertain methods?"
Lambda: "The reason? Why to overcome weakness, of course... The human
species has a weakness which makes it impossible to prevent
wars... The same weakness makes them unable to accept the
conclusion of wars. It is a defective species where people
can't even manage the society in which they live in!"
Jude: "Is he...crying? Even though he's an adult?!"
Lambda: "If humans are to reach the future, they must become strong!
They must evolve to become stronger! I have the ability to
get a glimpse of the future with these eyes... I have learned
the terrible truth...that the future is closed off to this
species. To protect the world for the people of this world, I
will bear any shame and condemnation!"
[The battle with Lambda starts.]
Jude: "You're willing to sacrifice so many lives?! How can you hurt
people and still live with yourself?"
Lambda: "It's inevitable that humans, by virtue of being alive, will
hurt others. This is a karmic burden we cannot escape. That
is why humans must evolve and grow more powerful and
resilient."
Jude: "No, you're wrong! When you know enough to realize that you're
hurting others, then all you need to do is just care enough to
stop! Evolution isn't about power!"
[When Lambda's attacked, sometimes the attack will have no effect.]
Tutorial: *Lambda's special ability, 'Blue Destiny,' is also known
as the 'Future Veiled in Tears.' It allows him to predict
future events via high-speed calculations based on
visually-acquired information. When the information within
his field of vision is simple, he is able to predict the
future with incredible accuracy and neutralize it with a
high probability of success.
[The party defeats Lambda regardless of his ability.]
Lambda: "Will this...change the future I've seen?"
Jude: "Blinded by your tears, you could only see a future full of
sorrow... C'mon, you're part of the human race, right?! I know
that you can change the future if you believe in yourself, your
companions, and the people of this world. There's no limit to
what we can accomplish together, yet you..."
Lambda: "..."
Jude: "We're going now...we've got to keep moving forward."
Lambda: "Why don't you go ahead and finish me off? You can avenge
your mother that way."
Jude: "...When we escaped from the battleship, I swore I'd get
revenge... But that's not why I'm here now... I didn't fight
you to avenge Mom. I fought you to stop the Divine Weapon."
Lambda: "Adults are like insurmountable obstacles to children. You
never know when I might stand in your way again."
Jude: "I'll deal with that when the time comes. I'll show you I can
overcome you again."
[Just then, debris starts to fall on the party...but Lambda rises
up and destroys it with kicks and punches. When a beam from a crane
above falls, he catches it bare-handed.]
Lambda: " *roar* I have entrusted the future to these children of
Filgaia! I will not let their journey end here!"
[He throws the beam and forms a makeshift pathway for them.]
Lambda: "The Divine Weapon is straight ahead, through there. Go now,
and change the future... No...create your own future, by your
own hands."
[The party approaches the massive door.]
Narrative: *The party can sense that once they pass the point, they
won't be able to turn back.
[The party can save, enter, or leave; they choose to enter. As they
do, the cave Lambda's in starts to collapse. At that moment, Farmel
enters. Lambda looks at her, seeing her eyes are closed.]
Lambda: "Farmel...your eyes...?!"
Farmel: "Yes...I had a little trouble getting here as a result."
Lambda: "I'm not much better off myself. I no longer have even the
strength to stand..."
Farmel: "...Lambda, your intention from the very start was to lose
to those children, wasn't it? To set loose the Divine Weapon
and make them the one last shining hope for mankind, in a
world on the eve of destruction..."
Lambda: "No, not at all...I fought with all my might...and lost.
That's why I changed my plan. I just helped them out a
little, so that they might stop the Divine Weapon."
Farmel: "Really? I was certain there was no way they could get past
you, if you fought in earnest."
Lambda: "Those children had already surpassed me. The boy told me
that despite striking me, it wasn't to avenge his mother.
His eyes were strong and true, without a trace of doubt...
I decided to believe in the strength of human beings once
more. I decided I would entrust Filgaia to the future that
I saw in their eyes."
Farmel: "Yes...the strength of their trust in one another was
undeniable. That's what made me decide to help them out.
In return, I even got a lecture on the importance of believing
in your comrades...something we'd forgotten about long ago.
It's embarrassing to admit, but that's the reason why they
were able to defeat Brionac, isn't it..."
Lambda: "...Now I know what Gawn meant when he said, 'You always try
to rush the results.' I wasn't able to believe in people the
way those children do... I had thought mankind to be a pitiful
species that would march toward its own destruction if left
unchecked. I didn't believe that people had the strength to
direct the world--the future--down a positive path... For the
future I saw was filled with the utter darkness of human
weakness, ugliness, and cruelty..."
Farmel: "Did your ability let you see the future that lies ahead of
those children?"
Lambda: "My glimpses of the future are distorted by my tears. ... The
future I truly wanted is one I cannot create myself... The
only ones able to build Filgaia's future...are Filgaia's
children."
Farmel: "That's too bad...I wanted to see the future you would
create."
Lambda: "In that case, will you come with me, Farmel? If you'll
support this body that can no longer move..."
Farmel: "Of course... If you'll be my eyes to gaze upon the world to
which we head..."
[Lambda and Farmel die, and rubble from the cavern's ceiling quickly
falls onto them, just in case. Jude's team heads across a long bridge
to where the Divine Weapon rests.]
Jude: "Raquel!"
[A tentacle picks up Yulie.]
Jude: "Yulie!"
Yulie: "It's all right! This will allow me to affect the Divine
Weapon directly!!"
[Just then, some tentacles come up and attack, but Raquel's
dead-on sword slices through 'em. Yulie breaks apart the third
one.]
Yulie: "Intense feelings of negativity, such as the malice of dead
souls, made it a Wild ARM. I don't think I'll be able to
control it properly. Our only chance is to shut it down..."
[Just then, Hauser forms out of nanomachines.]
Hauser: "I'm afraid I can't let you stop the Divine Weapon,
Paladienne..."
Jude: "Hauser...?!"
[Hauser forms his massive ARM.]
Hauser: "Goodbye."
[He fires at Yulie, but Jude makes his ARM into a shield and
acts as a barricade.]
Hauser: "A single shield isn't enough. You won't last long..."
Yulie: "No Jude! please run!"
[A flash of white light occurs as Hauser's attack gets pushed back
towards him. When it clears, Jude's holding Kresnik's ARM.]
Raquel: "He countered...countered and cancelled the attack!"
Arnaud: "The kid really did it! And not a moment too soon!"
Yulie: "That ARM, it's..."
Hauser: "You stopped me with a prototype ARM...? One that's
lacking full power?!"
[Jude gazes at Kresnik's ARM.]
Jude: "I promised that we'd protect Yulie together. Besides...
Kresnik's conviction is real! There's nothing lacking about
it!"
Yulie: "Kresnik..."
[Jude runs at Hauser.]
Jude: "Why...? Why are we doing this?!!"
[Jude runs at Hauser and jump kicks towards him, but Hauser stops
the attack with one hand. Just then, a scene from the Blackwell's
past plays out. He and a woman are in room.]
Hauser: "I'm sorry, Ethelda...I've got to go..."
Ethelda: "The accident at Verklarung...it's in enemy territory, so
why must you go? Is it because they call you a hero? If
so...I'm responsible for this curse which made you a hero,
I'm going with you!
Hauser: "No, you can't! It's too dangerous! And you know as well as
I do that the heat and the toxins from the reactor will
poison and devour everything in sight! Left unchecked, it's
a threat to us all. The air we breathe, the land we live on,
our entire world will be poisoned! I can't let that
happen!"
Ethelda: "..."
Hauser: "But I...I can't take you..I can't take the two of you with
me..."
Ethelda: "Hauser..."
Hauser: "I became an ARM driver to rid this world of war...and to
provide a future for coming generations. That's why I must
go and shut down the reactor in Verklarung. It's for the
sake of the coming generations.
Ethelda: "As a woman, can't I dissuade you from facing certain
death?"
Hauser: "Men are able to face danger, only because their women are
protecting the hearth and homes to which they'll return to
one day. Besides... There's no need to worry, the ARM I'm
equipped with was originally created to repair the
environment. I'll use the ARM to shield myself and purify
the heat and toxins. And even if it should break, all I have
to do is regenerate."
Ethelda: "No, you can't..."
Hauser: "Yes I can and I will do it. And I'll...I'll come home to
you...so that's why...I need you to stay here. You're going
to be a mother soon. Surely you can understand? The children
of the future deserve a peaceful world, free of war and
destruction...
[The cutscene ends.]
Jude: "Why is he...? But that's...my..."
Hauser: "They betrayed me! I wanted peace! I wanted to put an end to
the war! Yet, why does war still persist?! It's because
humans desire it!! If it's human nature to make war, then
I'll just have to eliminate all of humanity! Eternal peace
has no need for humans!!"
[The battle with Hauser starts.]
Jude: "By believing that humans were unnecessary...look what that's
done to you! What happened to the kind-hearted Hauser I knew?"
Hauser: "Kindness changes...nothing!"
Jude: "Well power failed to change anything, didn't it? Besides,
you can't call a world without people, a peaceful world!"
Hauser: "What do you know?! You've never experienced war!"
Jude: "Why can't you adults believe in peace, and do what you know
is right?! It's just...plain stupid!"
[The party defeats Hauser, but he changes into a gigantic monster
that resembles nothing like his kindly self that he displayed earlier
in the game.]
Jude: "I've seen inside your heart, and it's not that I don't
understand what you're trying to do... But I know without a
doubt, that what you're doing is wrong! You will only bring
about more anguish...so that others will suffer like you did.
Just because you rationalized good and evil in the past, it
doesn't mean you have to continue doing so, in the future.
We'll never attain the peace you're seeking, if you use
violence to fight violence."
[The party fights and defeats that incarnation, but another comes
after it, and this one's flamboyant with its evil energies. Some
lackeys accompany it into battle.]
Jude: "Is there no way we can stop him? Can't you hear our voices
anymore...Hauser...?! ... If you can't stop yourself, then...
we'll be the ones to stop you! I'm sick of all this fighting!"
Yulie: "And so am I...and I pray that none shall ever suffer from
war again!"
Raquel: "To live...and weave together a future! This battlefield
shall be the last place where blood is spilt to protect the
future!"
Arnaud: "The children of this world still have so much left to
accomplish. So we won't stand by and let you adults have
your way unchallenged!"
Jude: "We've got to combine our powers! Individually, our powers are
limited, but combined together, they become strong!"
Arnaud: "Let's do it!"
Yulie: "Yes, we must!"
Raquel: "Let's go together, into the future!"
Jude: "Arc Impulse!!!"
[The party defeats the Divine Weapon's third incarnation.]
Raquel: "If it means a life enslaved to power, I'll fight it with
everything I got."
Arnaud: "No matter what, everyone's got the right to choose their
own path!"
Yulie: "Certain convictions are worth more than life!"
Jude: "Combining our powers and our hearts into one...with this
final Arc Impulse...we'll strike Hauser will all our
conviction!"
[The party uses Arc Impulse on the third incarnation that has 1 HP
left over, ripping the Divine Weapon apart once and for all.]
Arnaud: "The aura of the Divine Weapon's energy has disappeared, and
it's turned white and brittle looking... ... It's so quiet...
Is it finally over...?"
Raquel: "Now that Hauser's gone, the sinister energy given off by
the Wild ARM is also fading..."
Yulie: "...The Divine Weapon should cease functioning now. The
contaminated areas should die out soon, too."
Jude: "Yeah..."
[All of a sudden, the area starts to shake.]
Arnaud: "If the contaminated areas around us are dying that means...
the structural integrity of this place is about to drop
dramatically!"
Raquel: "That doesn't sound good..."
Jude: "Let's get out of here, guys!!"
[The party starts to run off. As Jude looks back, Hauser reforms
from the nanomachines and runs towards him with his ARM. Jude
forms his ARM...and tosses it aside, running to Hauser.]
Jude: "Stop it! That's enough! You said you wanted to eliminate war
from this world...well, guess what?! We both want the same
thing! I know that...everything you've done was to protect
the world...and I'm grateful for it. Thank you...thank you
for fighting in the war...And creating a future for this
world and the rest of us. And it's not only you... I want to
thank everyone that's fought for the sake of our future.
Because of your sacrifices in the past, we have our lives
today...and a tomorrow to look forward to. So there's no need
to wield your ARM anymore, Hauser. You can put the anger inside
your heart to rest.
[Hauser slowly lets go of his ARM.]
Jude: "Thank you...thank you for everything you've done. From now on,
we, the children who inherited this world you fought so hard for,
we'll be the ones to forge the future. And we promise to work so
that some day, in the future, there'll be no more war... Don't
you think that's the true meaning of evolution?"
Hauser: "..."
Jude: "So your sacrifices...it was all to provide us with the time
and opportunity to do just this, wasn't it?"
[Hauser smiles and pats Jude on the head. With the anger in his
heart gone, he fades away into nanomachines, scattering off the
side of the bridge. Jude's team, who didn't see the encounter,
run back when he starts to wail.]
Arnaud: "H...hey...what's the matter?"
[Jude hugs Arnaud, crying.]
Jude: "I...I..."
[They let him cry for a moment. When he turns around, he sees the
puppy from the August River looking at them.]
Jude: "Is that...is that the puppy from the river?"
Dog: "..."
[The dog sniffs them each and stands looking at them again.]
Jude: "Yeah...that's right...we can't just hang around here, can
we? Hey, he probably knows a safe way out. Let's follow him.
C'mon, everyone! Let's head back...back to our own world!"
[The party leaves and flies out of Illsveil Prison, which is now
smoking and smoldering from the internal chaos. The screen blacks out
and the view eventually changes to the Halim cemetary.]
Narrative: "A few days after the battle...
[Jude puts the finishing touches on his mother's memorial.]
Jude: "Guys...thank you. With your help, I was able to fulfill Mom's
wish and put a stop to the Divine Weapon once and for all. ...
And.. We were able to create a resting place for Mom and the
other villagers... ... ...and for everyone else... I was able
to do things I couldn't have done by myself, because you were
all with me."
Arnaud: "In the end, all I did was let myself get dragged into one
thing after another... But thanks to you, I think I've changed
a little, and for the better too."
Yulie: "And it's not just Arnaud. Little-by-little, we've all changed
since we first met."
Raquel: "We didn't just spend time together. This must be--"
Jude: "We went to all the trouble of protecting the world's future...
so we'd better make good use of it now!"
[The party starts to leave.]
Jude: "Let's see, before we go, is there anything I've forgotten...?
Arnaud...Are you and Raquel really leaving?"
Arnaud: "Yeah...I've finally found my purpose. I want to cure Raquel."
Jude: "Then why don't we go together?"
Arnaud: "You're going to stay and develop this village, right? And
Yulie says she's going to take care of the kids in the
village..."
Jude: "But I thought we'd...always be together..."
Arnaud: "Our paths may be different, but we share the same future.
We'll cross paths again sometime... Right?"
Jude: "Yeah... You're right..."
[The four walk toward the workshop.]
Arnaud: "Once we retrieve our belongings we left in the workshop...
it'll be about time for us to go."
Jude: "You're leaving already?"
Arnaud: "I don't really want a big send-off...Besides, the longer
we wait, the harder it'll be to say goodbye, right?"
Jude: "It's already hard enough to say goodbye..."
Arnaud: "Sorry for being so selfish Jude, but you understand, right?"
[They go into the workshop.]
Raquel: "When did you realize we were leaving?"
Jude: "I didn't realize anything at first until Yulie mentioned it..."
Yulie: "Well, it's just that...Arnaud seemed restless..."
Arnaud: "I gave it away?!"
Jude: " *heh heh* You're supposed to be a master trickster, but you
couldn't keep it hidden at all."
Arnaud: "I don't need to take that from you, kid. You'd never know
if Yulie didn't say something."
Jude: " *laughter* "
[Arnaud tells the story of Raquel and him (?) in a quick fade-in/
fade-out scene.]
Arnaud: "So anyway, that's the story. We're going on a journey to
cure Raquel."
Raquel: "I feel bad having Arnaud help me, but... I intend to continue
my search for the beautiful things left in Filgaia. My journey
with all of you helped me to realize that it's a bit too early
for me to be giving up on this world."
Yulie: "Please take care, Raquel..."
Raquel: "Arnaud will be with me, so there's no need to worry. He's a
lot more reliable than he looks."
Yulie: "If you really feel that way, you could at least hold hands..."
[Raquel blushes.]
Raquel: "Wh-what?! You don't do that sort of thing in front of
others!!"
[This is where the funny Raquel-wielding-sword/Arnaud-running-away
picture comes into play.]
Arnaud: "Well anyway, that's how things are. And don't worry, there's
plenty going on when you two aren't around. Well, we'll be
taking off now. Take care, you two."
Raquel: "If we find a cure, this'll be the first place we come back
to. So I want you to see us off with smiles today."
Jude: "I know you'll be back! It's a promise, okay?! And you have to
keep that promise no matter what, got it? Remember, no matter
what! It's a promise between the four of us! We'll all meet
again in this village! Really, I hate that we're parting like
this... There's all sorts of things I want to tell you! ...
But... I'll save those things for next time. I'll tell you about
them when we all meet up again! I'll see you off today with a
smile. So you two have to go with smiles too!!"
[Raquel and Arnaud leave.]
Yulie: "They're gone..."
Jude: "Yeah... But we'll see them again soon...'Cause we made a
promise..."
Yulie: "Everyone's taking steps toward their own futures... I better
not fall behind, myself."
Jude: "You're gonna take care of the children in the village, right?"
Yulie: "Yes, I... All this time, I've been receiving help from others.
From now on, I want to help people, too..."
Jude: "I know you can do it, Yulie. That sort of thing suits you."
Yulie: "Thanks, Jude. When I hear you say that...it makes me feel
really happy."
[The two walk outside now that their friends have left. On the
stone railing nearby, the music box Kresnik used to carry around
sits. Yulie opens it to hear her song.]
Jude: "Isn't that..."
Yulie: "That melody...Yes...it's the song, the one I used to
listen to.
Jude: "Someone must have forgotten it."
Yulie: "Then, what should we do?"
Jude: "Why don't you keep it, Yulie?"
Yulie: "Huh?"
Jude: "Yeah, hang onto it until someone comes back to claim it."
Yulie: "You're just trying to get out of being responsible for
it!"
Jude: "What do you mean? You wouldn't want me to lose it, would
you?"
[Jude laughs and runs off back into town with Yulie behind him.]
Jude: "Look at us! We're acting like Arnaud and Raquel!"
Yulie: "Hey, Jude!"
Jude: "What?"
Yulie: "What are you going to do?"
Jude: "What do you mean?'
Yulie: "In the future."
Jude: "I'm gonna help develop this place!"
Yulie: "No...I mean a little further down the line. Like, when
we're older."
Jude: "I'm not really sure...it's hard to say. But one thing's for
certain. I'm never going to let my doubts stop me from moving
forward again. I'm going...I'm going to face the future
head-on... ...and not get mired in the past...to become more
than I am today. After all, I wanna measure up to all those who
came before us, and make them proud. Think I can do it?"
[Jude turns around to Yulie and sees her trip. He runs to catch her
and the screen fast-forwards.]
Narrative: 10 years later...
[The screen shows pictures of Halim in all seasons, and then Jude
up in the mountains looking through binoculars.]
Narrative: Jude became a forest ranger, working to protect what
remained of Filgaia's precious wilderness after the
flames of war subsided.
[It shows Jude surrounding by animals, including a large bear.]
Narrative: He now lives in a cabin in the mountains near Halim,
surrounded by animals rather than people. Perhaps this
is why he still retains his youthful innocence to this
day.
[In Halim, it shows Yulie looking very scholarly and surrounded
by her own brood of students.]
Narrative: Yulie Ahtreide became a schoolteacher in Halim. The
settlement has expanded and she spends much of her time
teaching its many children. Although she gets teased
from time to time, she's beloved by all. She has
also managed to add a few new recipes to her
repertoire."
[The screen shows a dusty town off somewhere.]
Narrative: Arnaud G. Vaszquez married Raquel Applegate somewhere
along their journey to find a cure for her illness.
Soon after ,they were blessed with the birth of a
daughter.
[They show the inside of a diner with Arnaud's daughter pointing
to a picture of her when she was young, when she was still alive.]
Narrative: Later, they settled down in a town they were passing
through and opened a restaurant. He currently runs it
with the help of his daughter, but business is far
from booming.
[It shows a wall full of pictures in the restaurant.]
Narrative: Raquel never did find a cure for her illness, but she did
find something truly beautiful in this world.
[The screen shows a picture of Arnaud, Raquel, and their daughter.]
Narrative: She was filled with a sense of peace as she caressed her
newborn daughter's hand, and her journey quietly came to
an end.
[The credits roll. Afterwards, a picture shows the four smiling in
a framed picture on Arnaud's wall.]
Narrative: The four friends may not have been able to fulfill their
promise to meet again, but even now, Filgaia's future
continues onward...
THE END
----------------------------------------------------------------------
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 40. NPC List |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
| /
| LEGEND: /
| TS = Traveling Salesman /
| [1],[2],[3] = Area NPC is Located /
| 01, 02... = NPC Number /
| [Rusty Luster], etc. = Area Name if NPC is Indoors /
| ________________________________________________________/
||
||
| --------------------
| Abandoned Village |
| --------------------
||
|| 01. Brewer [2]
|| 02. TS ???????
||
||
| -------------------
| August River |
| -------------------
||
|| 01. TS Lenny [2]
||
||
| -------------------
| Blue Amity Beach |
| -------------------
||
|| 01. TS Julian [2]
||
||
| -------------------
| Buckeye Station |
| -------------------
||
|| 01. Fitz [1]
|| 02. Charlie [1]
|| 03. Timothy [1]
|| 04. Garcia [1]
|| 05. Jennifer [1]
|| 06. Andy [1]
|| 07. Oswald [1]
|| 08. Vernon [1]
|| 09. Josie [1]
|| 10. Ivana [1][The Copper Kettle]
|| 11. Doris [1][Rusty Luster]
|| 12. Annette [1]
|| 13. Grace [1][Comfortably Retired Grace's House]
|| 14. Francois [1][Widower Francois' Home]
|| 15. Victoria [1][Buckeye Station Waiting Room]
|| 16. Leonard [1][Buckeye Station Waiting Room]
|| 17. Station Worker Emmett [2]
|| 18. Volcan [2]
|| 19. Theresia [2]
|| 20. Henrick [2]
|| 21. Cid [3][Penman Cid's Cottage]
|| 22. Sasha [3]
|| 23. Willy [3]
||
| ------------------------
| Calucion Pass |
| ------------------------
||
|| 01. TS Kanaan [2]
||
||
| ------------------------
| Ceil Shelter |
| ------------------------
||
|| 01. Hakim
|| 02. Solon
|| 03. Diana
|| 04. Maybell
|| 05. Wyoming
|| 06. Samuel
|| 07. Raymond
|| 08. Alec
|| 09. Helga
|| 10. Heinrich
|| 11. Instructor Henri
|| 12. Ethelda
||
| ------------------------
| Desolate Railway |
| ------------------------
||
|| 01. Rebecca [1]
|| 02. Black Box [2]
||
| ------------------------
| Dragon Fossil Mine |
| ------------------------
||
|| 01. Johnny [1]
|| 02. TS Landis [2]
||
| ------------------------
| Frontier Town Halim |
|.------------------------
||
|| 01. Gil [1]
|| 02. Hakim [1]
|| 03. Archibald [1]
|| 04. Bill [1]
|| 05. Wyoming [1]
|| 06. Maybell [1]
|| 07. Helga [1][Helga's Temporary Residence]
|| 08. Blaire [1][Blaire's House]
|| 09. Charlotte [1][General Store Sweet Teddy]
|| 10. George [1]
|| 11. Elaine [1]
|| 12. Aki [1]
|| 13. Sasha [1]
|| 14. Amengard [1][Occult Buff's House]
|| 15. Gordon [1][Retiree Gordon's House]
|| 16. Caroline [2]
|| 17. Pick [2]
|| 18. Annie [2]
|| 19. Simon [2]
|| 20. Rebecca [2]
|| 21. Mathilda [2]
|| 22. Instructor Henri [3]
||
||
| -------------------
| Great Stairway |
| -------------------
||
|| 01. TS ___________ [2]
||
||
-------------------
Guara Bobelo |
-------------------
||
|| 01. Matt [1]
|| 02. Chloe [1]
|| 03. Jean [1][Jean's Workplace]
|| 04. Clark [1]
|| 05. Mitchell [1]
|| 06. Vilen [1]
|| 07. Bruce [1][Shopkeeper]
|| 08. Sarah [1]
|| 09. Phoebe [1]
|| 10. Rand [1][Gamer Geek's House]
|| 11. Trish [2]
|| 12. Willy [2]
|| 13. Pierre [2]
|| 14. Catherine [2]
|| 15. Gaston [2]
|| 16. Haley [2]
|| 17. Jacky [2]
|| 18. Izzy [2]
|| 19. Tatiana [2]
|| 20. Richie [2]
|| 21. Basil [2]
|| 22. Abigail [2]
|| 23. Marcello [2]
|| 24. Alexando [2][Alexandro's Bar]
|| 25. Goltres [2][Maiden Goltres' Residence]
|| 26. Samantha [2]
|| 27. Kid [3]
|| 28. Jibril [3][Black Market]
|| 29. Owen [3]
|| 30. David [3]
|| 31. Barbara [3]
|| 32. Raymond [3]
|| 33. Black [3]
|| 34. Sally [3][Screams of the Sacrificed]
||
| -----------------
| Port Rosalia |
| -----------------
||
|| 01. Audrey [1]
|| 02. Duke [1]
|| 03. Pedro [1]
|| 04. Natalie [1]
|| 05. Glenn [1]
|| 06. Russel [1]
|| 07. Lily [1][Seabreeze Port]
|| 08. Mike [1]
|| 09. Anabel [1]
|| 10. Steven [1]
|| 11. Sonetica [1]
|| 12. Camus [1][General Store Gargantua]
|| 13. Tommy [1]
|| 14. Stewart [1]
|| 15. Sasha [1]
|| 16. Ethan [1]
|| 17. Felicia [1][Felicia's Club]
|| 18. Neville [1]
|| 19. Bernard [1][Fisherman Bernard's House]
|| 20. Johnson [1]
|| 21. Rose [2]
|| 22. James [2]
|| 23. Kai [2]
|| 24. Angelica [2]
|| 25. Lesley [2]
|| 26. Keith [2]
|| 27. Alison [2][Merchant Alison's House]
|| 28. Shiela [2]
|| 29. Dr. Morgan [2][Dr. Morgan's Clinic]
|| 30. Colin [2]
|| 31. Bryan [2]
|| 32. Monica [2][Monica, Home Alone]
|| 33. Valentine [2]
|| 34. Kenneth [2]
|| 35. Rebecca [2]
|| 36. Nest [2]
|| 37. Riber [2]
|| 38. Brewer [3]
|| 39. Pico [3]
|| 40. Umberto [3]
|| 41. Siemens [3]
|| 42. Paige [3]
||
| \_______________________________________________________/|
|__________________________________________________________|
/+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+\
| 41. Amengard Script |
\+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+--+/
Amengard is a quirky NPC who lives in the treehouse in the Frontier
Town Halim. She's an occult fan, so, by nature she knows a lot of
mysterious goings-on. She's really a throwback to the WA3 character
who found pleasure in telling people about the days of the year. In
this game, she tells different spook stories for each day. So, to
honor her presence, here's the script of her daily tales, starting
with her initial little entrance dialogue (she says it once):
Amengard: "Welcome. I am called Amengard. Hmm? Aren't you...? Let
me see your face. I have a strange feeling I've met you
before in a parallel universe...No, perhaps it was the
spirit that accompanies you that I met...? ...Whatever
the case, I feel a connection with you, so starting now,
I'll tell you my 365(+1) scary stories. Wait...don't run
away. Well, actually, you can run if you want, but
you'll come back to me again like a boomerang!"
January 01 -- "Today is January 1st, New Year's Day. On New Year's
Eve, I counted as the bell of desire tolled 366 times
for me. My mother was flabbergasted by the sheer
number of my earthly desires... But for me, I learned
that I possess absolutely no earthly desires other
than my interest in the occult, so it was a lovely
way to start the year. By the way, how many earthly
desires do you possess?"
January 02 -- "There once was a man who lived in a village up in
the mountains... He claimed he was descended from
Balam, the three-faced monster. The people of the
village didn't take his claim seriously, for no
evidence supported his tale. Then one day, the man
fell from a tree while working, and passed away. You
can imagine how stunned the villagers were when they
saw his body...for on the back of his head were
wounds that resembled eyes, nose, and mouth."
January 03 -- "There once was a palm reader whose fortunes were
rumored to always come true. But the secret to his
fortune-telling was that he looked at the blood
vessels on the hand to judge a person's health. When
his secret was revealed, you would have expected his
popularity to go up, but instead he found himself
with fewer customers."
January 04 -- "Unwrap a piece of caramel, and you'll find pictures
of girls with a variety of expressions on the
wrappers. There was once a girl who received a box
of these caramels as a farewell gift from her
classmates. But the girl never got around to eating
the caramels for on the day of the move she was hit
by a car. It's said that caramel wrappers were
scattered all across the road...and they all had
faces of weeping girls on them."
January 05 -- "There once was a gambler who had a magical item known
as the Coin of Ruin...a coin that always came up
tails. He used the coin at crucial times and became a
very wealthy man. Yet they say his life was not a
happy one...For though he could win at gambling by
betting on tails, predicting the coin toss of life
proved to be much more difficult..."
January 06 -- "About 100 years ago, there was a lady in Buckeye
named Mathilda. She always wore pure white gloves
and never once removed them. Mathilda died of old
age, and when her family gathered at her bedside,
they saw the gloves liquify and melt away. And with
the exception of the ring finger on her left hand--
on which her wedding ring was placed--her hands were
gone as well."
January 07 -- "When you hear the phrase 'Seven Wonders,' you never
hear anyone describe what the seventh one actually is.
That's because those who learn what the seventh one
is, always lose their lives. It's just like how only
six of the spices in seven-spice are revealed."
January 08 -- "Many people say they have encountered supernatural
creatures on snowy mountains. The creatures are
usually white as snow, as if they had no blood.
Perhaps it acts as a sort of camouflage amidst the
white snow. Because of that, there's no end to the
number of people who encounter them...before even
realizing what they are."
January 09 -- "At night, the statue of the saint in Culane Temple
turns into a beautiful woman dressed in white, and
travels to Port Rosalia. ...Or so they claim... Many
scoff at the tale as nothing but humbug, and yet...
After the statue was destroyed during the war, the
beautiful woman in white was no longer seen about
Port Rosalia."
January 10 -- "A traveling salesman was making his way through
Calucion Pass when he saw a wrinkled old gob watching
him from atop a tree beside the road. The gob asked
the salesman for a shotel but considering what would
happen after he handed it over, the salesman refused.
The old gob persisted, so the salesman sighed and
compromised, saying he'd sell it for 102 tree nuts.
The old gob nodded and disappeared into the forest to
search for nuts, and the salesman promptly fled."
January 11 -- "There once was a woman who could fortell how long
people had to live. As was common amongst people with
such abilities, she kept it hidden. One day, she
stepped out onto the street and was stunned to see
that everyone who walked by had exactly the same
amount of time left. She quickly gathered her
belongings and put her hometown of Verklarung behind
her."
January 12 -- "One day, an honest old man dropped his axe in a
spring, but he spirit of the spring admired his
honesty and gave him a golden axe instead. When a
mean old man heard that, he went to the spring himself
and dumped in his own axe. But the spirit of the
spring never appeared. The mean old man got mad and
invited the other man to come over and drink with him
so that he might forget his troubles. But upon
arriving, the honest old man seemed a bit nervous.
After fidgeting for a while, he suggested they go out
for ice cream. The mean old man didn't want to go, but
he gave in eventually and went out for a waffle cone.
As soon as they left the house, the honest old man
said to the other, 'The spirit of the spring was under
your bed, clutching an axe.' The spirit of the spring
of the spring was arrested, and she confessed that she
had planned to strke once the two of them had gone to
sleep."
January 13 -- "Trish, the girl in charge of the library at Clan, was
organizing the books as usual when an old vellum scroll
fell from the shelves. The aged, yellow paper was
clearly addressed to her, 'Trish S.' She was surprised,
but quickly regained her composure and headed for the
library office. She addressed a letter to the girl
whose name popped in her mind, and placed it back
inside the book, and returned it to the shelf."
January 14 -- "They say there's an old umbrella shop in the back
alley of Port Rosalia. In that shop is an umbrella
that, when opened, allows you to see a rainy day--
no matter how nice the weather outside happens to
be. It's a useless item, but very valuable when
you're walking along the beach and feeling blue."
January 15 -- "Today is Alien Day! It's the day when all the aliens
who've come to Filgaia from outer space gather
together in one place to hold a ceremony. When the
ceremony ends, they all receive commemorative gifts.
Filgaian dictionaries are always a popular choice."
January 16 -- "Once, in a certain town, there was a green-haired
demon who lived with a human girl. Shortly after the
girl died, the demon passed away as well. His friend
buried the body, and a silly looking flower sprouted
from the surface of the grave, and it became a spot
where the town's children were forbidden to tread."
January 17 -- "There once was a woman in Port Rosalia who lamented
the fact that she had no money. One day as she was
walking along the beach, she found a pendant with a
large gem lying on the ground. She quickly pocketed
it, and sold it for a large sum of money. She went to
bed feeling quite chipper, but she was never able to
use the money because she was killed by a burglar
who'd heard rumors of her find."
January 18 -- "Guara Bobelo, the home of the Arena... They say that
experiments where the organs of the dying are
exchanged with those of fallen warriors, take place
there. ...It's frightening to imagine. I think I'll
go ahead and engrave the serial number '666' on my
innards."
January 19 -- "There was a girl who spent all day and night
collecting scary stories. But she couldn't remember
when she started this habit of frightening yarns.
Maybe I've been doing it since I was a little girl,
or maybe I started last year. Hmm, I may have to
rely on hypno-therapy..."
January 20 -- "There once was a man who found countless candles
inside a cave near Calucion Pass. As a joke, he blew
on a candle closest to him, but he then felt a warm,
wet breeze blow over his body. He shuddered and left
the cave. Several days later, he took a friend back
to Calucion Pass, but they were unable to find the
cave..."
January 21 -- "Today's scary-but-true story is 'Pollyanna's Spirit
Eye.' Sometimes, a blue eye will appear in your miso
soup. But even if this should happen, you must
continue eating your soup! That eye belongs to a
little girl who died in an accident when she was five.
She's a good spirit who loves lurking in miso soup--
her favorite food--and watches the faces of people
enjoying it."
January 22 -- "Today's scary-but-true story is about the Rorschach
test. Cook meat in boiling water, and you'll get
tasty meat with all the unwanted fat removed. If you
continue cooking the meat, after a while, you'll find
fat floating on the surface of the water. In order to
keep the meat delicious, you can remove the fat from
the surface by using a blotting paper. When you do
so, you'll see an image on the paper that can look
like a human face or an ominous giant butterfly. When
you have friends over for stew on long winter nights,
it can be a hoot trying to analyze their personalities
based on what they see on the paper."
January 23 -- "The monster known as a Greater Beast is a fearsome
creature with nine heads. Because its heads are close
together, even if it washes itself carefully, there
are still spots that are missed. The unwashed parts
petrify over time, and right now, the most popular
perfume in Filgaia is made by grinding up that stuff.
They say that when you wear it, you'll be popular not
only with people but with Greater Beats, to boot!"
January 24 -- "Every day, my mother would buy vegetables that were
labeled 'organic.' But when she learned the veggies
had been grown by the Ogre, Nick, who had used his
own personal material, she quickly put the kibosh on
buying them. I think as long as they taste good, it
doesn't matter how they're grown. I guess adults have
a lot of unresolved issues..."
January 25 -- "There was a statue of a wolf left inside a
dilapidated old house. But one day, a female Drifter
brought the statue back out into the light of day.
The wolf statue felt such gratitude that he presented
the Drifter with sliced up people and monsters. I
suppose it's just like received a dead mouse from
you pet cat."
January 26 -- "They say wandering souls still linger upon old
battlefields. Human souls emit a bioluminescent green
light and cool the area around them, so they make
great presents for students who study at night."
January 27 -- "It's said that long ago, people would use turtle
shells to predict the year's harvest. They would do
this buy heating a turtle shell, and reading the
cracks that resulted. But after a time, the great
turtle general Schturdark grew angry, and any time
a turtle shell was used, a flood would follow. The
scheming Mizar slipped into an enemy country in the
guise of a fortune teller, and performed the turtle
shell divination. Just as Mizar planned, Schturdark
caused terrible floods in the country and greatly
weakened its power."
January 28 -- "Today is the day on which Heal Berries were first
invented... During the great war, the military
distributed canned meat called 'rations' to the
soldiers as healing kits. But after a time, rumors
spread that the meat in the rations came from cats,
rats, and people... The military then developed Heal
Berries as a replacement for rations."
January 29 -- "Today is Saint Calucion's birthday... Saint Calucion
brought miracles to every land she visited. She cured
the sick with a touch of her staff. She pioneered
flood-control construction, and found a third of the
world's hot springs... If this town had been developed
during her era, there might have been a hot spring
here. We lost a truly great person..."
January 30 -- "The eyes of the creeping chaos are yellow, and when
people feel its hungry gaze, they lose their will to
resist and become dizzy. They're released a short
time later, but they can't remember anything that
happened during the interim. ...Wait, why am I saying
this like it's the absolute truth instead of hearsay?
When I start thinking about it, my head hurts so much
it feels like it's going to explode...Help me,
Drifters!"
January 31 -- "A biological weapon developed during the war seeped
into the water supply and infected the wells,
transforming the villagers into orc-like forms...
Well, such an incident occured...supposedly. I'm not
certain if it's true or not, but they do say a tribe
of violent orcs live in Calucion Pass."
February 01 -- "I had a dream in which a black box with a hand
growing out of it grabbed me and said, 'To think I
would be able to see you in this Filgaia, too...' I
woke up thinking I'd had a bad dream, but I found red
marks on my wrist. It must have been a very strong
manifestation of the subconscious. Does it mean my
ideal partner is the square black type?"
February 02 -- "Back when trains departed from Buckeye, they say
the ghost of a woman in a soaking wet dress would
haunt the night trains. Supposedly, those who heard
her muttering words of loathing and chagrin all died
within a week... Now that trains no longer leave
from Buckeye and she's lost her haunting spot, they
say she now wanders with even stronger resentment..."
February 03 -- "According to legend, if you tell 100 scary stories,
a real supernatural creature will visit. The other
day, a woman making a living as an exorcist asked me
to tell as many scary stories as I could in order to
call forth spirits. I was able to summon about three
of them. The exorcist was fine, but I was warn out
from talking so much. I think he method of having
people stand in the four corners of the room and tap
each other's shoulders to summon spirits would
probably has been more efficient..."
February 04 -- "During the war, a flying buff boarded a regularly
scheduled flight and headed from Buckeye to Port
Rosalia. He was excited to be on board, but marveled
at how quiet the trip was and looked out the window.
What he saw was two stopped engines and a giant arm
reaching out of the sea, supporting and moving the
aircraft."
February 05 -- "Dr. Alcaste, the man who managed to capture the
creeping chaos alive, was surprised when he took
off its clothes. No matter how man layers he peeled
off, there were always more, like an onion. On top
of that, the clothes would not burn, did not get
dirty, and never wore out. The doctor was overjoyed
for now he had a business that didn't require
capital, and would revolutionize the clothing
industry. At that point, he didn't realize that
indestructable cloth wasn't all that well suited for
human garments..."
February 06 -- "A long time ago, in Port Rosalia, there lived a boy
whose girlfriend since childhood passed away. It was
a terrible shock, and he locked himself in his room
and would not come out. His exasperated mother opened
the door to his room, saying, 'How long to do you
plan to keep rotting in there?' They say what she saw
before her was her son, now undead, and who was
rotting just as she had said."
February 07 -- "When I was young, a friend of mine would play a game
called 'stairway.' He would gradually crouch down
while walking behind a large piece of furniture. One
day, while walking behind a large desk, he suddenly
disappeared. Surprised, I went around to the other
side of the desk and found an open stone stairway.
Startled, I lost my balance and fell down those
stairs. And that's how I came to find myself here in
this village..."
February 08 -- "A blacksmith by the name of Libera lived in a village
called Boot Hill. He passed away at the age of 41 due
to heart failure. But as they were carrying his body to
the village graveyard, lightning struck the coffin. The
villagers dropped the coffin in surprise, and then
leapt in shock a second time as Libera stood up from
the pine box. They say that until he was struck by
lightning a second time at the age of 81, he lived a
life without a single illness."
February 09 -- "Supposedly, there's an orchid that only blooms once
every 20 years under the light of an aurora. This
orchid is as elegant as a white butterfly and charms
all who see it, but its flowers signify 'terrible
famine.' They say on the years the solar winds cause
this orchid to bloom, bamboo seeds ripen in the
mountains, and rats appear in great numbers. Then, the
world is struck by great famine..."
February 10 -- "Today is February 10th...I shall tell another tale
from the Fantastic-Yet-True series. It's myserious,
but supposedly when children who are terminally ill
draw pictures, they always draw white butterflies.
White butterflies symbolize the human soul... When
children sense that their lives will soon come to an
end, they draw white butterflies..."
February 11 -- "In the drama 'Saint Calucion's Travels,' there's an
episode in each season where a Calucion look-alike
appears. ...When you follow the path she actually
took, you'll find that some visits must have been
fakes. Several times, she covered impossible
distances all in one day. This leads to the theory
that there were Saint Calucion imposters...or that
Saint Calucion was a ninja."
February 12 -- "There once was a powerful magic umbrella that
could go toe-to-toe with monsters... It's expensive,
and for some reason it reduces your popularity with
the opposite sex, but there is one good reason to
buy it. The holder projects a fearsome aura, and
discourages umbrella thieves."
February 13 -- "Do you know about the terrible beast known as
chupacabra, which chomps on people's necks with a
revolting sucking sound? Chupacabras not only devour
people but make them part of their own body. They
say that a chupacabra's meat has the same pomegranate
flavor as people. If you feel like eating pomegranates
but there aren't any nearby, you should go after
chupacabras."
February 14 -- "According to an urban legend, the white threat-like
substance that comes out of a piercing in your ear is
actually a nerve. If that's true, then if you take two
people who both have this same substance coming out of
their piercings and connect them, they should be able
to share senses. ...At least that was the hypothesis a
scientist once dreamed up. He ran the experiment at
once, but discovered that the white thread was not a
nerve, but fat, and the test subjects shared nothing
more than their BMI."
February 15 -- "They say there's an abandoned freeway that runs
near Port Rosalia. And a long time ago, there was
an old lady who would race down it at mach speed.
Numerous racers challenged the Racer Granny, but
her tactics always prevailed and she defeated them
all, one after another. When her once numberous
challengers dwindled over time, like an endangered
species, a rival to the Racer Granny appeared.
...It was a granny who raced naked, a Racy Granny!
Their dead heat was like none ever seen before, and
both of them spun out off the highway into the sea,
never to emerge."
February 16 -- "There once was a motorcycle buff who claimed he
could hear the voices of motorcycles. What sounded
like an engine roar to us, he understood as a
complete and eloquent language. He must have had
that ancient tool, the Magic Staff."
February 17 -- "They say that people under anesthesia crazily
babble things they would normally never say. When
I was undergoing appendix surgery, I suddenly
started talking about what day it was (Sprout Day).
That was so embarrassing...Why couldn't my deep
subconscious come up with a scary story about
appendixes instead?"
February 18 -- "My uncle says that during the great war, he was in
charge of food refrigeration at a military base.
Inside the freezer were huge slabs of pork and beef,
hanging on meet hooks. In that forest of meat dwelt
the ghosts of pigs and cows, making for an enjoyable
and pastoral--though slightly red--landscape."
February 19 -- "They say that beings called 'Guardians' existed in
Filgaia in the distant past. Guardians are spirits
of power that symbolize earth, water, fire, wind,
the stars, light...and emotions such as love and
desire. But at the same time, guardian worship is
considered to be a cult...I tell you, this is an
awful age we live in. Every night a white tiger
and a strange turtle appear beside my bed so I wish
they'd hurry up and remove that designation."
February 20 -- "When I tell these scary stories, Drifters will
sometimes stop and ask me what I'm afraid of. Once
I answered, 'The thing I fear most is money,' and
the Drifter tried to hit me with a bag full of
gella. I skillfully evade the attack, making a
mental note to myself to answer 'berries and tea'
next time."
February 21 -- "I once received a magic ring from a traveling
salesman. When placed on a maiden's ring finger,
the initials of her future husband are supposed to
appear on the inside of the band. ...I hesitantly
tried it, and five letters from a language I don't
know appeared. I'm starting to think it's a gag
item."
February 22 -- "There once was a girl with a head full of dreams
who claimed that flowers had pixies inside them.
She said this so often, her classmates called her
'Pixie.' Seeing her happy face upon hearing that
nickname, made her classmates joyous as well.
Everyone was happy, but it's not a story one can
feel completely happy about. Why? You'll have to
ask Pixie..."
February 23 -- "In the distant past, in a town called Meria Boule,
there lived a wise king called Garbeth the 3rd. He
was so virtuous, when he passed away, the people
cried for days... But too strong an attachment to
those who have died can prevent them from passing
onto the other side. They say that because of how
much he was loved, the good king Garbeth became a
ghost that continues to wander the castle..."
February 24 -- "It's a well-known story that the Ape Man Vargon
was discovered by a maid who was on a mission to
find an engine for her employer. But there are
few who know that the Ape Man Junma was actually
brought back by the maid as a souvenir from her
trip to the Amazon..."
February 25 -- "Those three large sacks hanging from the front of
my house... One of them is a visitor from the great
cosmos who emits a sweet aroma and thereby attracts
male aliens. If you were a male alien such as
'chaos,' you'd find yourself unable to resist the
urge to get inside. If you don't feel that
impulse...then you're either a native Filgaian or a
female alien."
February 26 -- "In a certain castle town with a famous bakery,
there once lived a blonde man who stayed cooped up
inside the house with the curtains and blinds drawn
year-round. The man was beautiful, with delicate
features, and many girls fell in love with him, but
none of them succeeded in drawing him out. One
exasperated girl forced the blinds open and invaded
the man's bedroom. In that instant, the man, who
had been sleeping in the nude, turned to ash and
blew away in the wind. He was a Crimson Noble...a
race of vampires to whom sunlight was a mortal
enemy."
February 27 -- "The beach that connects Port Rosalia to Frontier
Town Halim is right next to a shallow, beautiful
blue sea... But that shoreline is one full of
tragedy... During the great war, a special forces
unit headed for the base at Celesti was wiped out
by a giant wave... Perhaps it was the lingering
spirits of the soldiers who never made it to
land... Even now when night falls, a platoon of the
dead appears and drags lovers on the beach into the
sea. ...You mustn't dismiss this as a silly rumor
and go swimming in the sea, you know. The scientific
basis is that the long beach's shallow sea generates
deadly rip currents that travel from the shore out
to sea."
February 28 -- "One dark moonless night, a Drifter stepped away
from camp to answer a call of nature and saw a woman
waving from a group of trees. Having no interaction
with the fairer sex for some time, the Drifter
approached the grove. The woman smiled and
disappeared into the trees. The Drifter suddenly
sensed danger and hesitated in front of the grove.
Then a woman's slender white hand appeared in front
of him and gripped his arm. The Drifter yelped at
the ice-cold touch, and the hand vanished into
nothingness."
February 29 -- "An older member of the village passed away last
year, yet the gravestone stated that he'd passed
away at the age of 18. Fearing a mix-up by the
stonecutter, the family asked why he had used that
number. The stonecutter replied, 'The man was born
on February 29th. As that day only comes in leap
years, he only had 18 birthdays in total.' The
family laughed, and then realized they could have
saved a buncle on birthday presents had they
realized this from the beginning."
March 01 -- "Beyond the dark side of the moon is a moon of the
moon that follows the moon. Because the moon's moon
can't be seen from Filgaia, its existence was doubted
for a long time and scholars who subscribed to the
theory were ostracized. But calculation's show that
even the moon's moon's moon's moon does, in fact,
exist. With faacts like that, one starts to imagine
that perhaps there could be Filgaias inside Filgaia,
like matryoshka nesting dolls."
March 02 -- "In the country village of Surf, there once was a
chicken that dreamed of flying in the sky. After much
great effort, the chicken succeeded in fulfilling her
dream of flying, but... The village elders, who hated
anything that defied normalcy, declared that she was
evil and made her into fried chicken. That is why
Surf Village was destroyed by a vengeful chicken's
curse."
March 03 -- "It's time for a tale from the True Stories series.
When people carry good-luck charms, they choose
strange looking items. The theory is that something
they find creepy, will surely startle evil spirits
as well and as chase them away. For example, the
primitive Baskar people used tickets, hairpins,
batteries, and other such items to ward off evil."
March 04 -- "They say that can openers were once warriors in a
previous life. They're people who, at the moment of
death said, 'In my next life, I want to always be
sharp, and cut through opponents that no one else
can!' So when you use a can opener, you should be
careful to pay it the greatest respect."
March 05 -- "'Purple mirror.' If you don't forget this phrase by
the time you turn 20, on the night of your birthday,
you'll be taken away by a woman dressed in red.
'Yellow mummy.' If you don't forget this phrase by the
time you turn 20, on the night of your birthday, you'll
be taken away by a beefy man. If you remember both of
these phrases, the woman and the man will each grab one
of your arms and argue over who owns you."
March 06 -- "The woman Drifter in a red jacket spoke of a pair of
hungry dead sisters who lurk in the dunes near Buckeye.
Those who don't notice the girls as they cross the
dunes have their toes nibbled off. With your toes gone,
your chances of dying in the dunes increases. It
becomes difficult to walk and you die of thirst, or
you're unable to escape monsters. The dead sisters
enjoy pushing over the first domino which eventually
leads to death."
March 07 -- "The jumbo bearcat is the king of beasts, whereas Ragu
O Ragla is the king of monsters... Many wonder which
of the two is stronger...So some guy in Guara Bobelo
actually set up a match between the two of them. As
all Filgaia watched, the match began, but... Three
seconds after it started, the two collided with one
another and annihilated the entire coliseum, along
with the spectators. Thus, the most powerful being
in Filgaia remains unknown to this day."
March 08 -- "Sometimes you'll find places you ought to be able to
jump across, yet they seem to be blocked by an
invisible wall... It's fairly common in ruins.
According to Drifters with strong psychic ability,
it's caused by lonely spirits who haunt the ruins,
floating in the air and repelling intruders."
March 09 -- "The foolish King Merkabah the 8th kept three
mandragoras as pets. He called them Man, Dra, and
Gora, and it's said that they stayed by his grave
even after he was violently purged from the throne..."
March 10 -- "The other day, I'd invited to tea a Drifter who
specialized in exorcisms. He expressed his surprise
to me, saying...'It's hard to believe you can stand
living in a place like this.' Apparently, there are
evil spirits inhabiting the ceiling, fireplace, four
corners, and the middle of the room... Feeling uneasy,
I asked him to tell me which one was the worst. He
averted his eyes and replied, 'She's right in front of
me, so she might get upset if I said anything...' I
replied, 'Oh, I see...' and backed down, but since
then, something's been bugging me..."
March 11 -- "'Urban legends'? It's strange how that phrase is
still used, even though the war destroyed all urban
areas... In the future, even if the human species is
gone, I'm sure 'urban legends' will be spread by chaos
and gobs..."
March 12 -- "They say there once was a chicken that laid golden
eggs in Guara Bobelo. If you incubated the eggs, they
hatched into the same type of chickens, so the owner
became quite rich. But the chickens that laid golden
eggs produced large quantities of dangerous metals in
their droppings. They caused great pollution downstream
from Guara Bobelo, and the owner ended up paying more
in damages than he gained."
March 13 -- "There once was a young woman who had the unfortunate
ability to see ghosts--but they only appeared as faint
glows or auras. One night, she visited the local pond,
but was blinded by unearthly light emanating from
within. It turned out that fishing season had opened
the day before, and she was simply seeing the spirits
of the fish that had been caught. One cannot help but
wonder what she'd see at the local slaughterhouse..."
March 14 -- "You know those rumors about the so-called 'suspicious
bags' that hang from the front of my house? Well
there's nothing suspicious about them... It's true
that a Drifter once climbed inside one and never came
out again. But that's how the bags are supposed to
work, so I wouldn't call that suspicious at all!"
March 15 -- "A housewife named Rosa once lived in a town called
Milama. One day, she found a shiny gella coin in a
waterspout. She pulled it out with a pair of tongs
and found that running water had etched her and her
husband's names onto the coin."
March 16 -- "Were you ever forbidden from playing with Tarot Cards
as a child? It seems like a silly restriction, but
there's actually a good reason for it. A Far Eastern
cook named Taro Tanaka will guide you to make a better
future, but since he comes from a different culture
than ours, it causes a variety of problems. You'll
receive a message like 'it's best to squat and hover
when using a toilet...' But honestly, all that's going
to do is make extra work for the cleaning lady."
March 17 -- "On the mountain path connecting Guara Bobelo to
Buckeye lies an underwater tunnel famous as a place
of supernatural occurrences. They say a creatur that
shouldn't exist lives there--a remnant of dinosaurs
from ancient times. The spirits of workers killed in
mining accidents merged with the lingering energy of
the dinosaurs and took on a physical form in the dark
depths of the water. Several Drifters have gone there
to challenge the beast. Some had their organs devoured;
others returned as mangled corpses tossed up onto the
banks of the Autumn River. You ought to be careful,
too..."
March 18 -- "It seems something about the light of the moon has
the power to disturb the human mind. Thus, the phrase
'You'd best be careful on moonless nights' is not just
an old wives' tale."
March 19 -- "A short while ago, a brand of candy that came with
'Mr. Ragla' stickers was popular for a time. But some
kids got so caught up in collecting the stickers, they
tossed out the candies that were supposed to be the
main draw. One night, all the children who had thrown
away the candies suddenly disappeared. The parents
frantically searched for their children, but... In the
last place each child was seen, there was nothing left
but a sticker of Mr. Ragla...with blood on his mouth."
March 20 -- "The skewered sweets eaten during the equinox
celebration mourn three brothers who were sentenced
to death by skewering. And that's why you mustn't
eat skewered fish at the same time. Otherwise the
three brothers will feel sorry for the fish that met
a similar fish as theirs and come for revenge."
March 21 -- "There once was an innocent man who was imprisoned at
Illsveil. They say he prayed to the statue of Saint
Calucion who granted him the power to transform into a
white albatross. But he did not make it home, for the
albatross was caught and roasted by the other prisoners
who were hungry. Calucion grew angry and transformed
the prisoners who had devoured the bird into monsters.
...There's also the theory that the story was fabricated
to stop albatross poaching off the coast of Port
Rosalia."
March 22 -- "During the great war, Navy communications operators
passed along whispered rumors of a frightening
phenomenon. At two in the morning, a message would
arrive from a nonexistant number, and in it was a list
of people who would die in battle within the next 24
hours. Out of fear, the operators decided to immediately
toss the list in the shredder the next time one arrived.
But when they tried to do so, the list cried out in a
human voice, 'Argh! We'll be torn apart!' ...Just as the
operators shuddered in fear, a missile exploded above
them, tearing apart the list...and the ship itself."
March 23 -- "Many people with supernatural powers exist in Filgaia.
For example, take the woman named Sarah from Guara
Bobelo. She possessed a special vision that allows her
to watch video tapes of Arena matches--without putting
the tape in a player. However, since then DVD has
replaced video tapes as the most popular video format.
Her powers obsolete, Sarah lost her job and now lives
the life of a pauper."
March 24 -- "When I was still young and Friedrich lived next door
to me...One day, an antique chest that my grandfather
bought, repositioned itself on its own. Its new
location was much more sensible and convenient than
before, so we didn't think much about it. Thinking
back on it now, I think that chest's ornate cat paws
must have been real."
March 25 -- "They say that near the Great Stairway on rainy nights,
a mother's ghost appears and asks passers-by to hold
her baby. It's hard to refuse, but you must not hold
her child. The instant you do, the baby will evolve
into a bizarre monster and tear into your chest..."
March 26 -- "While passing through mountains and dungeons, if a
strange creature asks for your name, never give your
real name. People's names contain their true essence...
A creature that learns someone's name can manipulate
that person as they please. So, in that situation, just
make up a fake name like 'Fulcanelli' or something."
March 27 -- "I heard this story from a woman Drifter...Inside
certain ruins, you'll find a variety of statues such
as goddesses, lion, etc. If you take those statues to
antique brokers, you can sell them for a lot, but...
Drifters don't do that very often. If you remove
these statues from the ruins, they become homesick
for their previous location and cry out, 'Maya-hi!
Maya-ho!' So if there's a statue in your way, it'll
be less trouble for you to just smash the thing rather
than pick it up."
March 28 -- "The Mountain of Needles, the Lake of Blood... There
are so many different levels in Hell. And in order to
come up with those, Hell has a job opening labeled
'Designer from Hell.' They say the pay is good, but
the bad karma you rack up from creating facilities to
make people suffer means you'll go to Hell, too."
March 29 -- "There once was a man who always wore a shirt with
many patches on it. One day, the man's friend, who
was walking with him, saw that one of the patches had
fallen off. He said 'Hey, you dropped this,' and
tried to hand it back to his friend, but he stopped
in surprise when he saw the words 'You Win!' written
on the back. It then became his turn to wear the
patch-laden shirt every day."
March 30 -- "Let me tell you a scary story about dried noodles.
There once was a boy who wanted to smoke cigarettes
like his father. But his mother grew angry with him
for wanting to smoke when he wasn't old enough, and
gave him a dried noodle in jest. But, as is typical,
the boy acted stubbornly and held the noodle in his
mouth all the time--as if it were a cigarette. The
only time the noodle left his mouth was when he saw
his own reflection in the water and said, 'Hey, give
me that noodle!'"
March 31 -- "They say cats can see things that people can't. So
when you pick up a cat and look into its eyes, you
can sometimes see a ghost hovering over your shoulder
in the reflection... If you put a bunch of cats in a
circle and sit in the center, you can get a full
360-degree view of the spirit haunting you."
April 01 -- "There are 88 guardians in a grain of rice, so if you
leave any rice in your rice bowl, you'll be hated as
a guardian-killer. So good children must eat every
last grain of rice and try to become a guardian-eater
instead."
April 02 -- "Filgaia is home to a variety of people with
supernatural powers. Take Peter for example, the
elderly man who's always got a bonfire going in Port
Rosalia. He's my pen pal and once was famous as a
firestarter but these days, it seems all he's using
that power for is roasting yams..."
April 03 -- "The monster Argoth has 100 eyes... But he doesn't
have 50 noses, so if you make him cry, his nose runs
50 times more than that of a person. As you can
imagine, it requires a huge volume of tissues to wipe
it. They say this is the reason why several
environmental groups started a campaign to eliminate
Argoth."
April 04 -- "I once went to explore the abandoned hospital in
Adlehyde at night. I explored it from top to bottom,
but didn't see a single ghost appear. Just as I was
leaving in disappointment, the flame on my lantern
flickered and then flew out the top! According to my
calculations, the lantern's oil should have run out
two hours before I left the hospital. Just what was
it that had lit my lantern...?"
April 05 -- "Amongst the female saints of Filgaia, there once was
once who was particularly lustful. She became famous
when a baker traveled across the world to go see
her... And that led other men to wonder if perhaps
the other saints were lustful, too. ...This must be
the reason why Mom told me to never let my guard down
around men."
April 06 -- "There once lived a man who could converse with
pigeons. During the water, he served in a carrier
pigeon division, but it pained him greatly to see
pigeons used in the humans' war. One day, unable to
stand it any longer, he released the pigeons in his
charge...but he was executed for this act of treason.
And so the red ring you see around a white pigeon's
eyes is a sign of mourning for that man."
April 07 -- "Ahh, the legend of the wandering Drifter... For the
crime of wounding the Guardian of Death, he was
damned to wander throughout Filgaia for eternity.
And his only road to salvation? For a woman to pledge
her eternal love to him. But after wandering for so
long that he had even forgotten his own name, he
knows full well the torture of eternity. Because of
that, whenever a girl who would pledge her eternal
love would appear, he left her...for her own sake of
course."
April 08 -- "What's the difference between occult spirits and the
things we call monsters? Monsters are born from
parents, but spirits and ghosts aren't. So when you
put a bunch of dirty clothes and flour into a
container, you'd best be careful since the mice that
appear are...supernatural spirits."
April 09 -- "The house I lived in as a child had a large wooden
pillar. On that pillar were marks that looked like
eyes and indentations that looked like a nose and
mouth. We named the face on the pillar 'Marilyn.' We
parted ways with Marilyn one winter morning when a
deep masculine voice shouted, 'Come out now!'
Startled, my whole family dashed outside, assuming
the voice came from the military police. In the next
instant, an out-of-control tank crashed into the
house from the opposite side. Our house collapsed
along with Marilyn, who had warned us for the first
and last time..."
April 10 -- "The other day, I played with an origami boat I had
made, in that stream over there. The sight of the
paper boat drifting through the clear stream was
soothing, so I made three more which I also sent down
the river. I was getting ready to go home as the sun
was setting when a boat with seven beautiful men and
women drifted by before my eyes. It was a strange
sight to behold. Especially since that boat was way
too big for how shallow the river was..."
April 11 -- "The other day, my sister and I baked some cookies,
and ate them together. The next day, I was stunned!
For though I didn't eat a pound of cookies, my weight
had gone up by MORE than a pound...?! It defied the
law of conservation of mass! Am I a living perpetual
motion machine...? Before long, if I eat 1 ounce of
cookies, they might turn into 10 pounds of fat.
...Help me, Drifters!"
April 12 -- "A boy by the name of Jack invited his friend to go
mushroom picking one day. They found mountains of
rare and delicious mushrooms and were overjoyed.
However, when they opened their lunch pail to eat the
apple pie they'd brought along, the pie had completely
disappeared. The two conversed for a while, and the
next day, they brought back another apple pie and left
it there without taking any more mushrooms."
April 13 -- "Ms. L, one of the women in the village, told me of a
strange event that occurred when she went to brush her
teeth in the washroom. She started to brush her teeth
just like normal, but gagged at the horrible taste in
her mouth. The smell of the soap she always washed her
face with, filled the washroom... Ms. L thought she
had mistakenly put soap on her toothbrush instead of
toothpaste, but in her left hand was the tube of
toothpaste that she had just used."
April 14 -- "As a Drifter opened the door to a ruined castle, a
man with the same face as his was also opening the
door from the other side... The stunned Drifter
hurriedly tried to close the door but his doppleganger
pushed back with incredible strength. Realizing he was
about to lose the struggle, the Drifter launched a
surprise attack and bit his opponent on the nose. His
opponent shrunk back from the attack and the Drifter
was able to close the door, but... For some time after
that, the Drifter was troubled by tooth marks that
mysteriously appeared on his nose and would not go
away."
April 15 -- "One of my friends makes fortune cookies for the local
restaurants, so I asked her to make a batch for my
friends. As a joke, I made a few dozen messages to put
inside, with spooky fortunes like 'You will die
tonight!' and 'I'm watching you.' But after I got the
cookies back from my friend, the messages inside said
'Expect great fortune soon' and 'Patience is a
virtue.' I wonder what happened to the messages I
wrote."
April 16 -- "There are a lot of stories about the heroes from both
sides of the great war, and many were fueled by
propaganda. They say the hero named Blackwell could
feel the composition of the atmosphere with his skin
and accurately predict the weather. And by causing
his weapon to resonate with his thoughts, he could
cook eggs with his sword. Did the military want to
advertise both his startling abilities and his many
skills as a hero...?"
April 17 -- "One morning, I was blowing on a large glass bottle
to make sounds. As I puffed away, I saw a bird fly
off from the forest. Ignoring it and continuing, I
saw the sky suddenly grow cloudy. In the next instant,
a large earthquake shook the ground. 'No way,' I
thought to myself. But the next Sunday when I played
the bottle again, a bird flew off once more. I grew
fearful and stopped there. If I'd continued playing
that bottle, what would have become of Filgaia?"
April 18 -- "In the sewers are alligators that were flushed down
toilets when they became too large to be kept as pets.
Those fake designer bags that suspicious-looking
people sell in back alleys are made from those
alligators...and smell funny."
April 19 -- "The sands of the Arena at Guara Bobelo are stained
with the blood and resentment of fallen Drifters and
monsters. Because of that, they say sand from the
Arena makes excellent curse material. You use it by
flinging the sand, as hard as you can, at the one you
hate. You can curse your opponent and also enjoy
feeling like a sand-chucking ghost, so these sands
offer double the fun."
April 20 -- "Do you know the story of the cursed red shoes that
make the wearer dance until death? I wonder what
would happen if you put them on an undead girl. Would
she dance her way back to life?"
April 21 -- "There once was a great and magnificent cherry blossom
tree. An old man who lived in Buckeye loved that tree
and went to see the blossoms every year. But one cold,
harsh year, he caught a severe cold and was still in
bed when spring came. The old man said, 'That tree is
waiting for me,' and tried his best, but he still
didn't recover. Just as the people around him were
beginning to think that he had no hope of recovering...
The window shutters flew open and a spring breeze
sent a torrent of cherry blossoms onto the old man's
bed. The old man was overjoyed. Perhaps that incident
strengthened his heart, for they say he quickly made a
full recovery."
April 22 -- "The seas, the mountains, and towns all have their own
resident spirits. You might think this means Filgaia
would be packed with spirits, but... Once a year, the
spirits hold a rumble to weed out the losers, so the
same number of spirits is always maintained. But
lately, due to rampant land development, they're
having a hard time finding a place to hold the
tournament..."
April 23 -- "Even if you run out of water in the desert, you
mustn't kill your camel. Without a means of
transportation, your chances of survival will drop.
Rather than offing your camel, you'd have better luck
extracting the booze from your beer-bellied merchant."
April 24 -- "Ghosts and zombies aren't rare in Filgaia. But on
the demons' home planet, Terra, ghosts and zombies
are the stuff of legend. Maybe the ghosts talk about
Filgaia like 'Hey, I hear that ghosts appear on that
planet!' and treat it like a haunted spot..."
April 25 -- "When I was young, I once dug up in the desert a
communication device used during the great war. I
excitedly pushed the power but, and--'Captain!
Captain! I don't know my current position! I'm
enveloped by something soft in the middle of a
weird mist!' That plea for help was quickly followed
by a crushing sound. A cold chill ran down my spine,
and I pressed the switch again...but no voice came
forth."
April 26 -- "I ordered a product with the catchy name of 'Satan
Bear' from a mail-order catalog. But what I received
was an adorable huggable teddy bear with a fluffy
white beard. It seems I misread the ad, which actually
said 'Santa Bear.' Oh, well..."
April 27 -- "A noble once owned a magic pocket watch. It had the
power to turn back time for everything except herself.
After she wound up becoming a Drifter, she used the
pocket watch to elegantly bypass all sorts of dungeon
traps. But turning back time for everything but
herself meant that time for her did not go back...She
used the watch too much and grew older than any of
her companions. She set out on a journey to do
something about it...but that's another story."
April 28 -- "They say that if you whistle at night, a thief will
come for you. In other places, they claim that a snake
will come instead. Wanting to find out which was
correct, I whistled 'All Alone in the World' at night.
A snake-man thief promptly slithered out of my
kitchen. I guess it's best to listen to advice and not
question them too closely..."
April 29 -- "Yesterday, I received an anonymous letter, and when
I opened it, I read the following... 'You will
continue to tell tales for 365 days. You will never
be allowed to rest in peace and will wander Filgaia
forever. Ha ha ha...what fun!' ...The letter
contained even more crazy things like that. What do
you think it means?"
April 30 -- "They say that money is the worst monster of all. I
heard a tale of a haunted mint, where the vengeful
spirit of an old miser was contained in coins produced
there. The more of these coins someone had, the
nastier and stingier they became. The country's
richest citizens became truly unpleasant people. I
wonder if that story is true? You have to admit
there's some truth to it."
May 01 -- "My family heirloom is a knife and fork, passed down
from a girl wh used the power of a witch to marry a
prince. Anyone who uses that knife and fork--even a
barbarian--can eat with perfect table manners. What's
that? Now you'll be suspicious of anyone who has perfect
table manners? It's easy to tell who's being assisted by
the Magical Gold-Plated Dinner Set. ...Just serve a dish
that requires chopsticks to eat."
May 02 -- "A cameraman once told me about taking photos of ghosts.
Each time he took a picture of a ghost, his camera vest
(that thing with lots of pockets) would get ever so
slightly heavier. Using that as a basis for his
calculations, he deduced that one ghost weights 21
ounces."
May 03 -- "One day, 'Faith' suddenly died. 'Delusion,' who had
always used 'Faith' as a cloak to hide behind, didn't
know what to do. Bewildered, 'Delusion' tried to get
close to 'Righteousness,' but was kicked away and his
miserable corpse was exposed to all."
May 04 -- "If you don't want any nightmares, draw a picture of a
girl wth long black hair and place it under your pillow.
The girl has the power to control dreams. She eats
people's memories and turns them into nightmares that
she has herself. It doesn't sound like she gets anything
out of it, and she sounds like a weirdo for wanting to
have nightmares. There's a lot that doesn't make sense
about it, but there's a load of data proving that it
really works, so who am I to question it, eh?"
May 05 -- "A long time ago, there was a monster made of stone who
lived in the seas of Filgaia. Known as Leviathan, it was
a fearsome creature with giant jaws that could swallow
anything, and skin that not even harpoons could pierce.
With greed rivaling that of a human senator, it ruled
the seas, but... One day, a misfit swordsman, an ARM
wielding boy, and a gluttonous witch appearead and
exterminated Leviathan. We can now cross the sea without
worry, and we owe it all to those three."
May 06 -- "When walking alone at night, sometimes you hear
footsteps from behind you. If those footsteps stop when
you stop, 90% of the time it's a supernatural spirit.
When that happens, stay calm, don't run, and try out
the latest difficult dance steps. Ghosts and spirits
are old-fashioned and despise the latest trends, so
they should be unable to mimic your steps and wind up
tripping and falling."
May 07 -- "In the great war, telepath mages--those with the
ability to send their thoughts to others--became
extinct. Their entire tribe was conscripted, and they
despaired the fact that their power was contributing
to the meaningless loss of countless lives. One day,
all of them began to trasmit a cry for peace to the
world. Naturally, the military ordered them to stop
their thoughts, but they ignored the order and continued
to scream for peace. They were then eliminated..."
May 08 -- "They say that something called a baumkuchen tree exists
in the south. If you cut one down slice up the trunk,
they can be eaten as a truly supreme delicacy. But it
takes a baumkuchen tree 20 years to become edible...
Because of that, the common people figured out how to
make something like baumkuchen out of flour and eggs."
May 09 -- "A female Drifter was walking through a field of pampas
grass when she noticed something strange and stopped.
Blown by the wind, the grass seemed to be saying 'Turn
back, turn back!' but she continued walking forward
anyway. As a result, she spent a pleasant day with the
king and queen of the pampas, who lived in the center
of the field. The pampas that had tried to block the
human's approach out of needless concern were mowed
down as punishment."
May 10 -- "They say there are always at least three strangers in
Filgaia who are exact duplicates of you. Since I was
little, I've had dreams of a girl with the same face
as me. She lives in a merchant town near the sea, where
the main crop is grain. The dreams were so real that I
believe she exists, but... I also feel a vague unease
that perhaps she's the real one, and I'm just part of
her dream."
May 11 -- "I've heard that glasses are cursed items. Why? Well,
when you put on your specs, people who get excited by
glasses draw near...and may even engage in nefarious
deeds. But you can always remove your glasses whenever
you please. So I think it would be more appropriate to
say glasses are a status ailment, rather than a cursed
item."
May 12 -- "A loser once boasted to his friend that he could make
spaghetti come out his nose, but later regretted saying
it. The next time his friend visited, he demanded a
demonstration. But the loser claimed that a negative
aura coming from his cat prevented him from working his
noodle-nosed magic. That night the cat, angered at being
blamed for everything, stuffed spaghetti in the loser's
nose. But this ended up improving his sinuses, and his
grades improved, and he stopped being a loser."
May 13 -- "Have you heard of the female spirit called Kasshima?
She's a terrible, vengeful ghost who was once defeated
by a blond female Drifter long ago, but even now
continues to wander Filgaia. If Kasshima takes an
unfortunate liking to you, chant the following
incantation: 'Kasshima, the lord of fear-- Known by
Drifters far and near-- Once a terror, but stopped
cold-- By fists of steel and hair of gold.' When you
say this, Kasshima will remember the female Drifter and
run away in panic."
May 14 -- "A woman who liked scary stuff walked around a ruined
castle where ghosts were rumored to appear, but nothing
happened. Disappointed, she went home, but when she got
there her cat that normally greeted her in the doorway,
stood in the corner of the room with its hackles raised
and hissed at her. Bewildered, she reached out her hand,
but the cat leapt out the door and never came back. For
the three years since then, she hasn't seen the cat."
May 15 -- "'Dusk' and 'Dead of Night' are rivals. Dusk relies on
surprises...like having someone you thought was human,
be supernatural. Dead of Night competes with sheer
volume and brute force. If you were to personify them as
humans, Dusk would probably the studious, glasses-wearing
type with a hidden dark side. Dead of Night would be the
big, burly jock type."
May 16 -- "They say if you place two mirrors so that they're
facing each other, a void will appear. Using this, you
can make even a cramped one-bedroom studio like mine
look big. It does cause a few problems though, like
demons appearing at two in the morning and the third
mirror from the left showing your death mask...
May 17 -- "A boy out sledding one day was moved by the sight of
the snowy mountain spread beneath the blue sky and said
it resembled a beautiful striped cloth. In that instant,
the snowy mountain and the blue sky folded up, and a
giant face appeared from behind them. The boy collapsed
to the ground in shock."
May 18 -- "There once was a rock as flat as a cutting board.
Everyone in the area treated the rock as if it were a
holy place. But a group of children on a field trip
from the city decided to use the rock as a chopping
board to cut up ingredients for curry. For some reason,
as their task progressed, the temperature around them
began to rise. Finally, the rock rose up and swallowed
the children and the ingredients in one huge gulp. What
everyone had thought was a rock was actually a giant
turtle."
May 19 -- "People say a supernatural being known as the Turbo
Granny frequently appears on the highway beyond Port
Rosalia. Her true identity was a Drifter who had
obtained an item called 'Rad Blades.' She became
delirious with the sensation of speed they generated,
and crashed into a wall at high speed and died, but...
Even now, she remains obsessed with speed and cruises
down the highway on the Rad Blades as an undead being."
May 20 -- "I don't recommend flying in a four-seater aircraft with
only three passengers because a ghost will sit in the
fourth seat. Not only is it disturbing, but because it's
a ghost, there's no chance of it chipping in for the
fare.
May 21 -- "I heard that it's not a good idea to put posters and
pictures on all four walls of a room because a ghost
will appear in the middle. If that's true, it's like a
summoning circle that anyone can master. In the name of
occult research, I decided to investigate the
relationship between the types of pictures on the walls
and the ghosts that appear. But I don't have the ability
to see ghosts, so all my efforts were for nothing..."
May 22 -- "There's an area of the sea where the seaweed grows wide
and thick, and tangles up the ships' propellers,
rendering them immobile. When the fisherman J. Watt
stumbled into that area, he had a strange experience.
He decided to abandon his tangled and immobile ship and
escape in a small dinghy. Small waves appeared around
the boat, and Watt's dinghy began to sway. When he
looked over the side of his ship, he was stunned. Thick
muscular-looking seaweed was pulling the dinghy deeper
into that mysterious region of the sea."
May 23 -- "I put a letter in a bottle and set it adrift in the
river near the outskirts of the village. But the next
day, when I crossed the bridge, the same bottle I set
adrift came floating back. I grabbed it, and the
contents were definitely the same as what I had set
adrift the day before. How is that possible?!"
May 24 -- "The path from the graveyard is said to be one which
spirits tread. The various supernatural events that
have occurred at Gordon's house attest to that claim.
So, there's been talk of moving my house to ward and
block the flow to Gordon's house, but... I don't
understand why I'm the one that has to do this."
May 25 -- "Before the great war, there was a fatal disease that
was caused by moth scales. The moth had a skull mark on
their backs and were unaffected by insecticide, thus
proving troublesome for even the military to deal with.
...That immunity was only to be expected, however. The
'moths' were not insects, but in fact a bizarre type of
mushroom that grew on tree bark and drifted on the wind,
spreading spores."
May 26 -- "I heard this story from a war widow. Three years after
she received notice that her husband had died, when her
life had finally gone back to normal, a white dove
appeared at her window. Wondering what it was, she
opened the widow, and the dove stuck out its foot. Tied
to it was the final letter from her husband, who had
died on a distant battlefield."
May 27 -- "There once was a young man who received a letter from
his future self. It instructed him to bet his entire
fortune on an unpopular horse on a certain day. Not
quite convinced, he bought a ticket for half his entire
fortune. ...The horse won by a nose, and the man won a
fortune...But he lamented that if only he'd bet his
entire fortune, he would have won even more. As a
result, he got an ulcer and died before he could enjoy
his wealth."
May 28 -- "'If you don't go to sleep early, the ninjas will come
for you.' My mother used to always say that to me. But
I would always stay up late, hoping to catch a glimpse
of the masked warriors and their cool weapons... Only
later did I learn that ninjas were thieves and assassins
who stole away people in the night. Mom never told me
that part."
May 29 -- "There once was a man made of wood, but he had an
upbeat personality so he got along well with others in
his village. But one day, he overheard the missionary
saying, '...we can't allow the wood man to do this.'
The wood man was enraged and killed the missionary,
but... The missionary was actually a kind person who
was saying they couldn't assign the trash-burning
duties to the wood man."
May 30 -- "Greater beasts may appear threatening, but they're
actually tamable...with quite a bit of effort. ...At
least, that's what the reknowned zoologist, Zekksfyunf,
claimed in his latest lecture. But during the
intermission, the greater beast with whom he shared the
stage, went into a rage and swallowed him whole.
There's a happy ending, though. Zekksfyunf managed to
emerge unscathed a few hours later, with only his suit
worse for the wear."
May 31 -- "Long ago, in Guara Bobelo, there was a strange fellow
named Vilen who lived together with a supernatural
spirit. These two lived happily together, but the
insurmountable differences between their races drove
them apart. For one day, Vilen grumbled to the spirit
that his head hurt, so the spirit cut off Vilen's head
to help."
June 01 -- "Every year on this day, I air out the waves of energy
that get trapped in my house. If you don't do that the
waves, with no place to go to, will seep into household
objects. Waves that wind up like that forget how to
sing Funiculi-Funicula, and end up dripping poison on
people."
June 02 -- "When you dream about frogs, it's a sign that your
deep subconscious desires change. This comes from the
'frog in the well' theory. The 'id' is the well of
emotional energy within people's hearts. When the well
dries up, the frog which resides in there, dies too.
From that, the phrase 'frog in the well' has come to
represent the human soul--And dreaming of frogs is an
SOS from your deep subconscious, which is dying of
thirst."
June 03 -- "If you ignore tools for long periods of time, with
nothing to do they become a resentful spirit. Cursed
swords that bring misfortune to their wielders are an
example of this type of spirit. They're often given
modern names like 'Doom Bringer,' but they're actually
relatives of the mischievous spirits that live in
umbrellas."
June 04 -- "There's a stink beetle that spreads to new places by
hiding in the clothes and goods of the traveling
salesmen who crisscross Filgaia. Perhaps because
people left them alone (because to the stink when you
crush them), their numbers have increased year-by-year.
Once a year, these insects come flying into villages
and devour the outer bricks of houses. The whole
village them reeks like crazy. When I was little, that
kind of stuff didn't happen."
June 05 -- "I heard this story from Caroline. One day, she was
hoeing as usual when a white string appeared from the
ground. Wondering what it was, she pulled it...and was
suddenly yanked towards the ground. Staring curiously,
she saw a loose thread from her pants leg leading into
the ground, and coming back out as a thick rope from a
foot away."
June 06 -- "I once fished up a Drifter. He was standing beneath
my house and looking up in wonder at the bags, so I
tried jiggling one. When I did so, the Drifter acted
as if possessed and jumped up and down, trying to grab
the bag. It was cute, like playing with a cat, but
considering the origin of the bag, he probably was
possessed for real. Spirits, protect us..."
June 07 -- "There once was a man who approached a beautiful girl
with impure thoughts in his heart. That night in his
dreams, the man was visited by the ghosts of the
girl's parents. 'Come near our daughter, and we will
kill you' they said. The man was startled, but thought
it was just his own conscience giving him a hard time,
so he asked the girl about her parents. She replied
that her parents were free-spirited individuals. The
man was relieved and continued his ill-founded
pursuits, but... The ghosts of her parents showed up
and killed him anyway. Apparently, 'free-spirited'
was referring to ghouls who are independant (but
murderous nonetheless)."
June 08 -- "An old fairy carrying a chisel emerged from the earth
and went to the house of a girl who had complained of
a toothache. The fairy swung his chisel, popped out
the girl's aching tooth, and tossed it onto the roof.
People were unhappy with his violent method, but since
then, the girl has minded her oral hygiene and never
had another cavity again."
June 09 -- "A girl w