Let's Play the BEST GAME EVER!!! (FFIX)

[Pumpkin]

So as some of you may know, FINAL FANTASY IX IS THE GREATEST GAME IN EXISTENCE. Okay, that's a bit subjective, but it's a super solid RPG and really the game that got me as in to the genre, and video games in general. I wouldn't be where I am now without this game. It was always there for me in good times and bad and yada yada it has a special place in my heart, blah blah, ~*~MAJESTIC~*~

So here we go, Imma play some FFIX for yous guises! Enjoy :jess:


http://i.imgur.com/tEA1DRU.png


I am soooooo hype. This is the Steam version so I am excite to see what they've improved.

So we start off with a cutscene involving a ship being tossed around the raging seas. The camera zooms in finally for us to see a woman and a young girl.


http://i.imgur.com/1yFCuS3.png


As you can see, the real-time graphics are done by Akira Fujii. Thank you Mr. Fujii.

Alas, twas all but a dream and we are greeted to the face of a beautiful princess awakening from her slumber and opening up the windows to the kingdom below. Queendom, I guess.


http://i.imgur.com/HqY6Djc.png


Don't compare those two images too hard.

So anyway, we learn who did the character modeling while an airship sails in to the kingdom.



http://i.imgur.com/4Hoitel.png


On it, we take control for the first time of a monkey-tailed young man.


http://i.imgur.com/9zrktmu.png


Ugh, dem graphics. I know some people have already seen the crisper, cleaned up graphics by playing on emulators but this is my first time not playing it on the PS1 discs and it is AMAZING. I can actually see Cinna's ugly mug!

I am all butterflie-y all over again.

I figure in the interest of being open, I will let you all know that I am doing the max gil option in the game. I've played it many times before, I'll still be grinding, I didn't do the levels or abilities or any of that. But dang it if I don't want to be rich! I didn't change much else, just sped up the battles and a few other preference based options.

Here is our young mystery man:



http://i.imgur.com/bu7EMzb.png


So after poking around the airship while the game harasses me to light a candle, we get some info!



http://i.imgur.com/wZbwjhv.png


Afterwards, we finally light the candle and are greeted by 3 dudes. We now get to choose our name.



http://i.imgur.com/7BaUIHU.png


I normally name my characters in this game other things, but with the Let's Play I'll just stick to default.

Note: The game may or may not have already lied to you.

I am liking the new name input screen, looks pretty smooth.

After naming our character, our little group is attacked by a weirdo in a dragon mask.



http://i.imgur.com/LiEotHC.png


To battle! Which means stealing for 15 minutes while Cinna dies.



http://i.imgur.com/MOmJh46.png


For those of you who are not familiar with the game, it means stealing for 15 minutes while Cinna dies.



http://i.imgur.com/1fp03vG.png


After the battle we get laughed at by this jackass and rounded up in to the meeting room. It is time for... THE PLAN!



http://i.imgur.com/Rrf5QsV.png
http://i.imgur.com/CBSA131.png


How will we accomplish this? By posing as a theater troupe!



http://i.imgur.com/viDWLrW.png


Now anyone who has played this game knows that this is the point when you troll the Boss by repeatedly asking if you're supposed to kidnap Queen Brahne.



http://i.imgur.com/UiuzSz9.png


Keep doing it for about 15 minutes AAAAAAANNNNDDD



http://i.imgur.com/0r65MNe.png


Ruby shows up and you get one extra line of dialogue!

Worth it.

After finally confirming the actual kidnap target, the Prima Vista docks in Alexandria, revealing the best character in the best game:



http://i.imgur.com/BGscOfT.png


*hype intensifies*

Oh, also the logo and whatevs



http://i.imgur.com/4NaixFB.png


We now get to take control of the cute little dude I just showed you. He is immediately bumped in to and falls over, upon which a nice little girl returns to him his dropped ticket.



http://i.imgur.com/u6x02Pt.png


The grace. The dignity.

http://i.imgur.com/v6oVbai.pngTip for beginners: Instead of walking forward when you take control of the little dude, exit the screen behind you for a whole other area.

So we quickly learn that a play is going on in Alexandria (the one Tantalus is performing) and the nobles have come to watch it while the peasants scrimp and save to maybe afford a ticket to the show. Most watch from the rooftops.

Also, some more info:



http://i.imgur.com/HVLrdaB.png


Good Guy FFIX acknowledging the historical contributions of women.

http://i.imgur.com/v6oVbai.pngTip for beginners: Search around the walls and such to find hidden treasures!

Here's our new fella, by the way, Best Character McGee:



http://i.imgur.com/g0MGMPx.png


And upon exploring, we find more info:



http://i.imgur.com/BojMn6C.png


There will be a quiz. I also get to suck at jump rope, yay! I'm not used to using a keyboard for this game. That is the only reason I am not good at the jump rope mini-game.

The ONLY reasons :shifty:

http://i.imgur.com/v6oVbai.pngTip for beginners: Make sure to explore the whole city before going to the ticket booth!

So after exploring and stealing Hippaul's secret treasure, we head to the ticket booth for some info dump:



http://i.imgur.com/z8CpUVU.png
http://i.imgur.com/jws3IXF.png


It is finally time to show our ticket but it turns out...


http://i.imgur.com/VTNf1nm.png
http://i.imgur.com/z09Rgfs.png


And that's how we didn't get away with forgery.

Anyway, we run in to a rat-faced kid who bumped in to us earlier and he has a proposition for us.



http://i.imgur.com/42LF0X5.png
http://i.imgur.com/16ePQTp.png


That sounds reasonable! So with our help, the rat-faced kid steals a ladder.

http://i.imgur.com/v6oVbai.pngTip for beginners: Stick around in the alley for a second to meet Alleyway Jack who will teach you about a card game. Don't linger for too long though or he'll steal some of your gil.



http://i.imgur.com/PBUbxaY.png


After learning about cards from Gilgaaaaaaaa......lleyway Jack, we head back to the rat kid who sends us up the bell tower, which is interrupted when a Moogle falls on us.



http://i.imgur.com/LyOw6EX.png


We get to meet our first moogle friend and also see Stiltzkin, the great traveling moogle!



http://i.imgur.com/luOK72R.png


The moogles act as your save points and also



http://i.imgur.com/3hJFMiD.png


We get to deliver mail for the moogles :jess:!

I'm going to stop here for now because it's 2 am on a Tuesday, but gosh I love this game.

Will Tantalus kidnap the Princess? Will the point-hat boy get to see the play? Tune in next time!!

[Fynn]

Aaaaah dem graphics!!!

[Bubba]

I sooo want to follow this but I haven't played FFIX yet!

[Fox]

"Let's play the BEST GAME EVER!!!"

Oh, boy, here we go. We haven't even started and I'm gonna be having an argument!

"-(FFIX)"

...Oh, OK, you actually are using the best game ever. That's cool, please continue about your business!

Wow, I never knew you could get an extra line by trolling Baku hahaha. I know about the save moogle but it never occurred to me to try it here. I love this game.

[Depression Moon]

I would so do this with you, but I have no working controllers right now.

[Pumpkin]

We're back with our pointy-hated friend, following after the rat faced boy who leads us to the rooftops.


http://i.imgur.com/fGKyLot.png


Indeed we are, luckily the boy has some reassuring words for us

http://i.imgur.com/vPgLQVy.png
http://i.imgur.com/WXIYSgq.png


:stare:

So anyway, as we continue to follow him, we realize we haven't made introductions yet!


http://i.imgur.com/00mUDx4.png
http://i.imgur.com/l5Tknmb.png
http://i.imgur.com/8zmdufF.png


And now we have a name for the best character ever!

And puck.

http://i.imgur.com/v6oVbai.pngBeginner tip: Explore the rooftops for extra treasures!

Finally the show begins and Vivi and Puck manage to sneak their way in


http://i.imgur.com/xmV5pNM.png


Queen Brahne is rather excited for the celebration.


http://i.imgur.com/ec8BMtC.png


Not everyone, however, is showing the same enthusiasm.


http://i.imgur.com/MeFWKVg.png


That's one sad princess.


http://i.imgur.com/ZsR4vQf.png


Look at this goob.


http://i.imgur.com/IKqRMXY.png
http://i.imgur.com/RDlN9Aj.png


The play begins but I won't show you much of it because go play the game!!!! IT'S SUPER GOOD!!!

Basically at some point we have a sword duel.


http://i.imgur.com/YdZRrhy.png


And gosh was it harder on the keyboard for me. I'm so used to the PlayStation controller. I got a decent score the second time around though:


http://i.imgur.com/a2eFeRN.png


So anyway, Zidane and Blank make their exit stage left and begin to put their kidnapping scheme in to action.


http://i.imgur.com/idMKrlm.png
http://i.imgur.com/ntoiBoB.png


However, on the way, Zidane runs in to a hooded-girl whom he immediately begins to shamelessly flirt with.


http://i.imgur.com/9zR5SLG.png
http://i.imgur.com/2RiFjmx.png


Smooooth operator~

When Blank shows up to ask what's going on, the girl takes the opportunity to bolt it.


http://i.imgur.com/BIkoMet.png


Zorn and Thorn, the court jesters, aka the video game characters my boyfriend despises most in the world, let General Beatrix know that Garnet is in trouble. Beatrix informs the queen.


http://i.imgur.com/PAhvZFu.png


She orders Beatrix and


http://i.imgur.com/2dQy3Ze.png


And Captain memorable here


http://i.imgur.com/sSwWMDd.png


Steiner, to retrieve the Princess at one. Steiner, being the Captain of the Knights of Pluto, orders his troops to assemble.


http://i.imgur.com/0hq2m3K.png


Unfortunately only two show up and they happen to be in their undies.


http://i.imgur.com/gXAPp01.png


And now we begin to search for the Princess!

http://i.imgur.com/v6oVbai.pngBeginner tip: Try to find all of the Knights. If you do you'll get a nice reward. Also, when you report them in, take note of what is said about each, it will come in handy later on.


http://i.imgur.com/rNEjlPH.png


Here is our handy dandy list of knights to find. I do find them all. I won't show you every one but let's just say that most aren't super enthused about their jobs.


http://i.imgur.com/KbXEQv3.png


This one with the patch face and no name is not sketchy at all!



http://i.imgur.com/Y0DjXy4.png


Also who is this goofy goof?



http://i.imgur.com/bROoASl.png


http://i.imgur.com/v6oVbai.pngBeginner tip: Go see Brahne again during your search for an item!

After searching around, Steiner finally finds the Princess being hounded by a ne'er-do-well.

http://i.imgur.com/xLHgr25.png


Just as Zidane is about to catch her, she kills herself by jumping off of the castle tower.

http://i.imgur.com/4IaruzY.png


And thus ends our story.

Really though, she's just fine and Zidane goes after her.


http://i.imgur.com/j2FAmP8.png
http://i.imgur.com/q2UQ4Ak.png


Steiner attempts the same trick only to go crashing in to the Prima Vista.

Garnet escapes in to the airship, knocking in to Ruby along the way.


http://i.imgur.com/XWe5hAn.png


Zidane comes along shortly, only to be blocked by Ruby who needs to vent about the Princess' rude behaviour.


http://i.imgur.com/zjh0BGF.png


Zidane finally catches up with the hooded girl.


http://i.imgur.com/ekos49n.png


OH-EM-GEE IT'S THE PRINCESS WHAT A TWIST


http://i.imgur.com/fMlCuiu.png


That is a bit more of a surprise though.


http://i.imgur.com/pyaHVlC.png


And that's how babies are made~

Their chat session is interrupted by Cinna, who leads them to an escape hatch just as Steiner busts in looking for Garnet.

http://i.imgur.com/A38yXvB.png


He is joined by one of his knights who conveniently gets stuck in the escape hatch trying to chase after them.


http://i.imgur.com/10PZDKI.png


http://i.imgur.com/v6oVbai.pngBeginner tip: While escaping through the engine room, turn the wheel on the engine for extra treasures!

Unfortunately for us, Steiner finds a way to cut us off anyway. On the brightside, the sketchy knight was actually Blank in disguise!


http://i.imgur.com/IkKwDHB.png


A boss battle ensues during which Cinna almost dies again and then Steiner slashes the armour off of Blank, revealing the oglop bugs Blank was hiding in there.


http://i.imgur.com/ynSjaVk.png
http://i.imgur.com/KdYNb8P.png


Thankfully for us, everyone hates oglops.


http://i.imgur.com/e5lT00r.png


It doesn't take long for the others to catch up, so we're stuck heading up to the stage and improvising the play.


http://i.imgur.com/8wcS3E1.png


Meanwhile, Vivi and Puck are enjoying the show when the guards notice them where they shouldn't be and begin to chase them around. Vivi trips and Puck ditches him, so Vivi has to run on stage, where he casts a fire spell to defend himself. Sadly, the Princess is in the way and her hood catches on fire. She flings it off, blowing everyone's cover.


http://i.imgur.com/VwfCk7x.png
http://i.imgur.com/F6aGpwl.png


Always quick on the uptake, that Steiner. Garnet tells him to leave her alone, but he doesn't listen.


http://i.imgur.com/Jwux3Af.png


Another boss fight ensues, after which the Tantalus theater troop prepares to take off with the Princess.


http://i.imgur.com/RmSXWEX.png


Queen Brahne does not take kindly to this and orders the Prima Vista to be fired on.


http://i.imgur.com/af6HkVo.png


Explosions and stuff


http://i.imgur.com/uo3ARZe.png
http://i.imgur.com/kfSFLLX.png
http://i.imgur.com/0VWBa9E.png


Eventually she fires a Bomb, meaning an actual Bomb enemy at the ship.


http://i.imgur.com/J8WJoRr.png


It looks much more impressive there than in the game itself. Steiner keeps trying to fight us while we try and convince him that there is a bomb behind him that's going to explode.


http://i.imgur.com/kXrbREJ.png


The battle menu is different. It's not bad, but I'm not fully sure what I think of it yet. Anyway, finally the Bomb grows large enough to blow up and Steiner FINALLY notices it.


http://i.imgur.com/y051LVj.png


Another explosion happens, but thankfully the Prima Vista makes it out.


http://i.imgur.com/sgx5B8c.png
http://i.imgur.com/XmU9HkA.png


Brahne is quite upset.


http://i.imgur.com/LAP4TFe.png


The Prima Vista doesn't make it out without issue, however.


http://i.imgur.com/rWkXfCw.png


And it makes a crash landing in a nearby forest.


http://i.imgur.com/bgBvZpR.png
http://i.imgur.com/eqr3stH.png


There's Zorn and Thorn in the background. And here is the state of the Prima Vista:


http://i.imgur.com/7l7Ag4l.png


It'll probably buff out.

Cinna and the rest of Tantalus are ordered to put out fires and make sure everyone is okay, but they unfortunately can't find the Princess.

http://i.imgur.com/omTgLwj.png


Zidane had been thrown off during the impact, but quickly reunites with Cinna to get an idea of the situation.

Meanwhile, we are shown our first Active Time Event, which depicts scenes of what's going on elsewhere with our other characters.


http://i.imgur.com/D0CnaEL.png


And that's where we will end for today after that hectic opening. Tune in next time!

[Karifean]

I don't think Umineko is particularly suited for Let's Playing tbh.

But Final Fantasy IX works =P

[Pumpkin]

Welcome to the Evil Forest~!


http://i.imgur.com/aYu72g5.png


When we left off, Zidane left in search of the princess. Well, we do find her. Sort of. Steiner is also there.


http://i.imgur.com/kYnYAHC.png


This leads to a battle which introduces the largely useless Trance system.

http://i.imgur.com/UhjagUL.png


Trance leads to an increase of abilities that varies from character to character. The bummer is that it activates when your Trance gauge fills after being hit so many times, and you can't save it. So usually it will activate on some random encounter when you don't even need it. Anyway, in this fight and the next one, the monster drains the HP of the character so you'll need to keep them healed. After defeating this thing the first time, it runs off with Garnet.


http://i.imgur.com/cIFu0o0.png
http://i.imgur.com/WDUo2Ry.png


Afterwards, it comes right back to snatch up Vivi. Fortunately, Vivi can defend himself by casting Fire from the inside of the creature.


http://i.imgur.com/0tAkngi.png


Vivi is pretty rad.

Just to add insult to injury though, after the thing is killed it decides to poisonously fart on everyone.


http://i.imgur.com/uS9u2cL.png


Zidane luckily... backflips... over the gas but the other two aren't so fortunate. Vivi ends up bedridden back at the Prima Vista whereas Steiner gets locked in a storage room.

Blank goes to Vivi to administer him some magical medicine.


http://i.imgur.com/nY1s1wf.png


After hearing that creepy news, Vivi understandably asks if he's going to die.

The answer is yes, Vivi, we all die eventually.

(I just summed up Vivi's entire story in one sentence. You're welcome.)


http://i.imgur.com/veK8WY3.png


Steiner is also given some magical medicine, which is finds highly suspect.

http://i.imgur.com/5ymtnRl.png


In the end though, he decides its worth the risk.


http://i.imgur.com/9HUjhNg.png


Zidane, meanwhile, is talking to Boss Baku about rescuing the Princess. Baku, however, decides to prioritize his men and get the heck out of the Evil Forest ASAP.


http://i.imgur.com/0hlBXPf.png


We get some ATE's around this time:

Ruby is left behind,


http://i.imgur.com/Ys26ypB.png


Steiner finds a Garnet doll,


http://i.imgur.com/1XkOy3Q.png


SHE'S 16 NOW SHE JUST HAD HER BIRTHDAY, he feels the need to explain to himself.

And Cinna, meanwhile


http://i.imgur.com/GXXKQDb.png


Zidane goes to pay a visit to Vivi.


http://i.imgur.com/KPFMMWO.png


Zidane disagrees with Vivi's harsh self-criticism and compliments his fire conjuring skills.


http://i.imgur.com/m2oyO9m.png
http://i.imgur.com/IkzLdCJ.png


This conversation leads Zidane to an inner debate about whether or not he should go against the Boss and get Garnet back.

http://i.imgur.com/uqxTSk8.pngBeginner tip: After the flashback to how Zidane met Garnet, choose not to go after her for a second scene.

Zidane, renewed in his resolve to save the Princess, decides to venture back in to the Evil Forest.


http://i.imgur.com/6ZOlfsP.png
http://i.imgur.com/eQp6UjM.png


Turns out that Baku was actually expecting this to happen and waits for Zidane.


http://i.imgur.com/hEZhSzV.png


Predictably, this leads to a fight:


http://i.imgur.com/eetXjUu.png


After winning the fight and getting punched in the gut, Baku gives his blessings.


http://i.imgur.com/aYrRbYM.png


The next order of business is to recruit Steiner to the cause.


http://i.imgur.com/RoSkuV5.png


Things are off to a good start.


http://i.imgur.com/DmIhiJ2.png


Zidane, being the tactful gentleman he is, proceeds to insult Steiner by calling him Rusty.

http://i.imgur.com/uNz8IWH.png


(The sound of Steiner's armour clanking is the best, btw.)

Steiner makes it clear he won't work with thieving kidnapping... thieves, when Zidane explains that this is something he's doing on his own.


http://i.imgur.com/jfS2zRG.png


He eventually convinces Steiner to come along.


http://i.imgur.com/qSeSLft.png
http://i.imgur.com/MlUG8yO.png


Steiner, from the get-go, has a strong respect for Vivi. So off to see out little black mage friend!


http://i.imgur.com/TDaYtWh.png


While Vivi is still hard on himself, the other two assure him that his Black Magic is an invaluable asset to them.


http://i.imgur.com/8dvZC4A.png


Zidane and Steiner are friends!

After convincing Vivi to help out, Steiner pulls him aside with a request:


http://i.imgur.com/6OFw55I.png
http://i.imgur.com/2YMxdbY.png


And thus we gain an invaluable skill for the next boss battle.

On our way out, Blank decides to give us a ribbing.


http://i.imgur.com/A03sjOa.png


Turns out he is not jealous, but actually wanted to give us some medicine in case we get plant-monster inseminated again. As you do.


http://i.imgur.com/T3SHLb4.png


After getting Blank's version of a blessing, we set off in to the Evil Forest again. But not before mail time!


http://i.imgur.com/TjhU0xO.png


Yay!

So anyways, we head in to the forest and get a little ATE where the Tantalus band starts playing to improve moral.


http://i.imgur.com/IaJCC1i.png


Then we come across a small clearing in the woods where we can relax and take a breather.

Fun fact: I did not run in to a single random encounter in this forest. Not one. Before and after this point. Making me paranoid.

http://i.imgur.com/uqxTSk8.pngBeginner tip: You can recover HP/MP at the spring the moogle was drinking from.

Speaking of moogles, MAIL TIME AGAIN!


http://i.imgur.com/amfFY8x.png
http://i.imgur.com/VLysXM6.png


http://i.imgur.com/uqxTSk8.pngBeginner tip: Make sure you select Mognet from the moogle menu more than once in order to get everything!

And another ATE of Tantalus getting ready for their departure:


http://i.imgur.com/byoNJ3r.png


After leaving the forest clearing and STILL NOT GETTING IN ANY FIGHTS, we get a sneak peak at the boss:

http://i.imgur.com/t3rguiH.png


Which we then get to fight! (Yes, it looks much more impressive in the FMV.)


http://i.imgur.com/0OYIkM2.png


http://i.imgur.com/uqxTSk8.pngBeginner tip: Fire and that magic sword skill come in handy this fight!

After a little bit, Blank comes in to join the fight as well!


http://i.imgur.com/n8RzQg7.png


This fight took me a while because of the stealing, but since I used Focus on Vivi a ton of times, it actually only took two hits to beat it. Not too shabby!

http://i.imgur.com/uqxTSk8.pngBeginner tip: Focus is broken. Use it.

http://i.imgur.com/C9kcUHf.png


Garnet starts to come to, but we're unfortunately not out of the woods (teehee) yet.


http://i.imgur.com/F794t5F.png


These weird thangs start to chase us and the forest starts to attack us.


http://i.imgur.com/Kd5MIBW.png


Not only that but the forest starts to petrify.


http://i.imgur.com/DzYzBde.png


Zidane is almost caught by a plant monster before Blank shoves him out of the way.


http://i.imgur.com/RJESTgG.png


Dat ass.

Blank is unfortunately caught but as Zidane is running away, he throws the map at his friend, who is reluctant to leave him, ensuring that Zidane gets it.


http://i.imgur.com/KSYBlzQ.png


The Evil Forest soon petrifies, as does our poor friend Blank :(

http://i.imgur.com/w7EepPX.png
http://i.imgur.com/48VWN3M.png


Zidane is understandably upset but gets a camp started for Garnet and the others. After being fussed at by Steiner for being dastardly and not morally upstanding, Garnet comes to.


http://i.imgur.com/Won9LVo.png


Steiner fusses more.


http://i.imgur.com/C22ydWg.png


Garnet tells Steiner to stop fussing and that she wanted to be kidnapped. Steiner doesn't believe it!


http://i.imgur.com/Xv7g9rt.png


He does agree that he will keep watch over the camp though in the name of protecting the Princess, but he and Zidane argue about what to do next. Zidane suggests resting because Garnet hasn't recovered her full strength, whereas Steiner wants to get going because they're low down topographically, meaning they're surrounded by dangerous mist. This is called the Mist Continent by the way.


http://i.imgur.com/7O4XUt1.png


Zidane and Garnet talk about Blank's sacrifice.


http://i.imgur.com/vTr69MK.png
http://i.imgur.com/dMMzR6I.png
http://i.imgur.com/RniMVCN.png
http://i.imgur.com/Dxwdlvo.png


In the morning, we set off, but not before a moogle friend shows up.


http://i.imgur.com/qDSMjMT.png
http://i.imgur.com/GdCnQww.png


This flute allows us to save our game anywhere on the world map! It also has unlimited uses, so go crazy!

http://i.imgur.com/uqxTSk8.pngBeginner tip: Literally go crazy with it. Your moogle friend will get increasingly less and less patient with you if you call many many times in a row without actually saving or doing anything. Try it out!

With our flute in hand, we set off for the cavern!


http://i.imgur.com/8xIMJ7w.png


Tune in next time~

[Freya]

Dat moogle will murder you!

I actually found it easier on the PC version to get 100 out of 100

Also if you had a corded xbox controller, you can plug it in and play the game with a controller. It makes it sooo much easier

[Pumpkin]

Wow as if you would just ask me if I have a corded xbox controller

I'm a lady, how rude

[Freya]

SEE IF I TRY TO HELP AGAIN

[Formalhaut]

Dat moogle will murder you!

I actually found it easier on the PC version to get 100 out of 100

Also if you had a corded xbox controller, you can plug it in and play the game with a controller. It makes it sooo much easier

I play basically all my games on PC (not that I play many, mind) with a plug-in controller. It feels much more natural than having to use key-bindings. I pretty much only play The Sims with a keyboard and mouse.

[Pumpkin]

I HOPE YOU'RE FOLLOWING THIS LP FORMY

[Formalhaut]

Oh, I will be! I just saw the last comment and thought I'd answer. I'll give an in-depth reading of it now!

Which reminds me. I need to update my FFIV LP. How do you take screenshots in Steam, by the way? I've never figured it out.

[Pumpkin]

I think you press like F12 or something but I just printscreen and paint

[Pumpkin]

We left off after Evil Forest and Blank got petrified and now we're headed for the Ice Cavern. But first, being good RPG players, we will explore and find another area! There's not much to do here but we get some extra scenes.


http://i.imgur.com/asLT77W.png
http://i.imgur.com/oUkbdxU.png
http://i.imgur.com/EgKTMK1.png


Surely nothing can be amiss here! No siree!

http://i.imgur.com/nErTcOX.pngBeginner tip: If you go examine the gate and persist with it, you'll be able to talk to someone.

After checking around, we head for our destination!


http://i.imgur.com/VZs8gCH.png
http://i.imgur.com/of3yu57.png
http://i.imgur.com/GKIISfR.png
http://i.imgur.com/z5dwPGL.png
http://i.imgur.com/Co5hMid.png


After that awkward mood killer (thanks Vivi) we head inside the cavern, which a few of them are not dressed appropriately for.


http://i.imgur.com/LU7FbcS.png


Upon entering, Garnet is already excite about seeing everything, while Steiner fusses at her for not being cautious enough or whatever.


http://i.imgur.com/2Fj8KYK.png
http://i.imgur.com/XDm0Eqj.png


He would be. Look at him, he has no sleeves.

http://i.imgur.com/nErTcOX.pngBeginner tip: There will be areas where the mist is thicker in the Cavern and then it will fade away. Stepping in to the mist will almost guarantee a battle whereas waiting for it to clear will usually save you from one. Use this to your advantage whether you want to fight or avoid doing so.

Along the way we find some ice walls, which Vivi can helpfully burn down with his magic.


http://i.imgur.com/iPy6lu7.png
http://i.imgur.com/b12awh4.png
http://i.imgur.com/mSNyPZv.png


There's quite a few of these areas so pay attention!

It's actually a rather short dungeon and before long we arrive at a fork in the road, with one path looking clear while the other one has a raging blizzard coming from it. We go to the safe one first to find a moogle friend trapped in the ice.


http://i.imgur.com/zZZKByB.png


After being freed by Vivi, he calls us bastards before thanking us and giving us another letter to deliver. Afterwards we head to the obviously ominous path.

Unfortunately, it's super cold and our party starts dropping like flies.


http://i.imgur.com/3zBJJUs.png
http://i.imgur.com/RBjCbrD.png


The screen goes black before the sound of a bell can be heard. Zidane wakes up.


http://i.imgur.com/omK3a18.png


http://i.imgur.com/nErTcOX.pngBeginner tip: You're probably going to want to make sure you're fully healed right about now.

Going to the next area, Zidane finds this pleasant looking fellow who admits to causing the blizzard:


http://i.imgur.com/cd5mnye.png


This leads to one of my least favourite boss fights in the whole game. Our Black Waltz friend here summons a Sealion:


http://i.imgur.com/V7b9uRS.png


And the only character you get to use is Zidane:


http://i.imgur.com/sIg8F01.png


Unfortunately, if you're trying to steal from them both, this will be a long fight. Not only because you have two bosses to steal from but because you'll probably have to stop and heal a few times. If you get Trance, like I did, the fight can be ended in a few moves. Unfortunately I didn't get to steal but that's okay, I know I can get the items later.

http://i.imgur.com/nErTcOX.pngBeginner tip: Defeat the Black Waltz first or he'll just summon more Sealions. Also, the gem in the middle of the Sealion changes colours depending on how much damage you've done, and when it's in the red he'll start using more powerful moves.

After finishing this annoying boss fight, we hear voices.


http://i.imgur.com/O0KvOBL.png


Zidane's a bit freaked at first but then just leaves like it's nothing.


http://i.imgur.com/603t8Bi.png


It's THOSE two.

After returning to the previous area, Zidane finds his friends (and Steiner) awake and confused.


http://i.imgur.com/LOPveZ6.png
http://i.imgur.com/IuFpqdE.png
http://i.imgur.com/G0aJqsN.png


Aside from the terrible accusations, Zidane does stupidly decide to say that nothing really happened, no big deal, let's move on. Like maybe, just MAYBE, the Black Waltz and the comments about there being more on the way to come get the Princess might be worth mentioning. Just a thought.

Anyways, we finally get to leave the Ice Cavern even though that little waterfall area was pretty!


http://i.imgur.com/59U1q1o.png


I don't know what Vivi is doing there. They spot a village in the distance.


http://i.imgur.com/8iyORT8.png
http://i.imgur.com/VzjYRIw.png


Garnet is excited to get going but Zidane tells her to hold her horses, being a wanted Princess and all.


http://i.imgur.com/yJM56KA.png


Steiner, however, disagrees with this. Because of course he does.


http://i.imgur.com/yvwhATb.png


The Princess fusses at him and he looks temporarily ashamed.



http://i.imgur.com/dytHW7x.png
http://i.imgur.com/T7RN1Uq.png

Zidane and Steiner of course get in to a fight and Zidane's dagger falls to Garnet's feet. Vivi's also visibly on the sidelines like "dese jackasses"

So anyway, Garnet picks up the dagger and asks Zidane what it is.


http://i.imgur.com/4WglDfM.png
http://i.imgur.com/5HHYZk6.png


Before interrupting him and deciding on her new name.


http://i.imgur.com/mFoZKAA.png


Yup, Dagger. I've played this game so many times that I don't even remember if it's weird or not.


http://i.imgur.com/QVe7dtO.png


After more fussing from Steiner, the group heads out.

As usual, be sure to explore a bit first! You can find South Gate although you can't go through without a border pass.


http://i.imgur.com/OLWKZqo.png


http://i.imgur.com/nErTcOX.pngBeginner tip: You can call for a girl named Mary and wait a little bit and she'll let you rest and buy items!

Also, if you head to the observatory you can activate a sidequest by looking at the old man's theater ship model.


http://i.imgur.com/dC0rusB.png
http://i.imgur.com/Fn084Fl.png


We also run in to our first friendly monster who wants some ore in exchange for AP!


http://i.imgur.com/TzJBs2s.png


He also sends his regard to the next friendly monster you meet. Keep your ore's, they'll come in handy. AP are the points needed to learn skills and abilities. You get very good amounts from these monsters.


http://i.imgur.com/vfIdSqu.png


After all of that is done, we finally head to the next town.


http://i.imgur.com/nyQ3Gvk.png


Vivi is immediately smitten with the windmills but Zidane urges them to go rest first.


http://i.imgur.com/3uGjOOR.png


Despite his attempt at assertiveness, Zidane brings them to the Inn. The Innkeeper is asleep so Zidane wakes him up.


http://i.imgur.com/Hq6DKJR.png
http://i.imgur.com/uFtA74k.png


Dagger is a bit uncomfortable with everyone sharing a room, but that's country living for ya! So they head inside and Zidane asks Dagger why she wanted to be kidnapped.


http://i.imgur.com/AdX5w8n.png


She says she wants to go to Lindblum. This unfortunately means border crossing, which isn't something one can do all willy-nilly on the Mist Continent.


http://i.imgur.com/PfvD2cP.png


Dagger won't give us the exact reason she wishes to depart, but asks that we trust her.


http://i.imgur.com/wwQffrt.png


This of course leads to an argument between Steiner and Zidane before Zidane gets struck with Chronic Hero Syndrome, an unfortunate disease that affects hundreds of protagonists everywhere.


http://i.imgur.com/gMlL2Ev.png
http://i.imgur.com/1ou9yMa.png


After seeing Vivi dozed off, because he ain't got time for dat, they all decide to get some sleep.

Zidane wakes up the next morning to the sound of a singing voice and everyone has already left the Inn.


http://i.imgur.com/SCPAoId.png


He guesses Dagger is doing the singing. We get to explore the Inn a bit, learn our lucky colour for today (green) and see some Easy Money type books. We also get a few scenes of our friends. Dagger is pondering to herself about her situation:


http://i.imgur.com/mqHat9d.png
http://i.imgur.com/cSyRW3y.png


Dagger takes this opportunity to converse with the farmer when an oglop hops her way.


http://i.imgur.com/fROk3qv.png
http://i.imgur.com/Ce7NvV3.png
http://i.imgur.com/wOtIvRv.png


After remembering his advice, Dagger throws the oglop in to the air and screams.


http://i.imgur.com/f32Kwbh.png


Vivi, meanwhile, is having his own troubles.


http://i.imgur.com/GzOWjXn.png


The kids in town start to run away from him when he gets too close.


http://i.imgur.com/rN3rIhz.png


Aww, why is poor, sweet Vivi being bullied :(

FIND OUT NEXT TIME!!!

But first, a word from our moogles:


http://i.imgur.com/XhwdExt.png


Tune in next time to learn the ugly truth behind a peaceful village~

[Formalhaut]

http://i.imgur.com/VZs8gCH.png
http://i.imgur.com/of3yu57.png

"Oh really Garnet, wherever did you get that idea from?"

[Pumpkin]

So while we go explore Dali, the Innkeeper is being a bit sketchy.


http://i.imgur.com/9DDzraR.png
http://i.imgur.com/05zylDj.png


Wonder what's going on here...

Dagger, meanwhile, is trying to pick up some casual conversation.


http://i.imgur.com/9zXogcy.png
http://i.imgur.com/vCuUYWC.png


While we explore town, we can check out the Mayor's office, which we promptly get kicked out of.


http://i.imgur.com/G4RovRP.png


We can also get our first Stellazzio coin, collectable zodiac coins we can trade in for treasures!


http://i.imgur.com/If6Axt2.png


Afterwards, we head back to the item shop to find Dagger staring at the shelves. After Zidane imitates her for a bit, she finally realizes he's there.


http://i.imgur.com/zN21mx2.png
http://i.imgur.com/552pWE5.png


Because we nice people, we compliment Dagger's efforts by saying "It's Ruby!"


http://i.imgur.com/x6aSXE6.png
http://i.imgur.com/dolENUO.png
http://i.imgur.com/s8pNoYi.png
http://i.imgur.com/bYi2Jzv.png


"Be yourself but don't really we need you to pretend you're someone else so we can sneak around."

http://i.imgur.com/TUllOFm.pngBeginner tip: If you can afford it, buy at least 2 of every piece of equipment. It'll come in handy later on.

Meanwhile, the Innkeeper is still being sketchy. He made a special call...


http://i.imgur.com/bLjLnOy.png


We send Dagger back to the Inn and go look for Vivi, who is staring at the windmills. After Zidane awkwardly guesses he's having girl troubles, an issue Vivi couldn't care less about, Vivi talks about the noises he's been hearing.


http://i.imgur.com/zp3rftq.png


Final Fantasy fans know that this means Chocobo, although none can be seen.


http://i.imgur.com/cuS0MvD.png


After that conversation, Vivi agrees to head back soon and Zidane walks off. Unfortunately...


http://i.imgur.com/wBxyw31.png


Vivi is magenapped, very sad :(

Also, if you creep on Dagger through the Inn window, you'll see her practicing her speech some more!


http://i.imgur.com/4jtgTBU.png


Pictured above: Garnet, being herself.

We return to the Inn and let Dagger know the situation.


http://i.imgur.com/LLPPNtO.png


Turns out the Princess has been quite enjoying herself.


http://i.imgur.com/VmTlXXV.png


But she isn't without her suspicions either.


http://i.imgur.com/3QroEAK.png


They're not nearly as cute as the kids, especially the little girls in this village, so who cares, really.


http://i.imgur.com/cSI4GiX.png


Putting the issues aside, Zidane lets the Princess know that he is a man with a plan.


http://i.imgur.com/emZ5aaU.png


Unfortunately, it doesn't involve Steiner.

After a brief time skip, we see Zidane boring Dagger to death with his lame stories, when she insists she is TOTALLY INTERESTED but where the heck is Vivi though?


http://i.imgur.com/DQ1yOuF.png


Of course we can't ditch our adorable amigo, so we head out to go look for him.

Steiner meanwhile has been keeping himself busy by helping out at the bar!


http://i.imgur.com/wUYs4FR.png
http://i.imgur.com/Jc7kT6K.png


Steiner then switches gears to try and figure out how to get the Princess back to Alexandria castle.


http://i.imgur.com/4MY1uEO.png


When she learns that he's a knight from the castle, she decides to share some info with him.


http://i.imgur.com/Knf10bJ.png


Isn't she just precious?

So anyways, back to the search for Vivi, we go check the area he was last seen, but there is no sign of him.


http://i.imgur.com/yE7g1sm.png


They do pick up some crying sounds though coming from a pipe sticking out of the ground.


http://i.imgur.com/Z8mJnMk.png


He tells us how some man came and grabbed him.


http://i.imgur.com/gm75ddv.png


So we of course promise to go rescue our scared little friend.

CONVENIENTLY for us, the little hatch that was always guarded is suddenly unattended!


http://i.imgur.com/QFq69oU.png


So we head down to some strange underground factory area. We overhear two dudes talking about something ambiguous and why something was just moving around.


http://i.imgur.com/FJXo30d.png


They also discuss the Mayor's brother, the Innkeeper.


http://i.imgur.com/hYWKY1i.png
http://i.imgur.com/i9LK4kA.png


After the conversation, we see the two men pushing Vivi out.


http://i.imgur.com/c5SVbrg.png


Zidane takes a fit and goes to attack but Dagger silences him and drags him off to the side. She says she wants to know what's going on and how it relates to the castle. She urges him to not cause any trouble yet, and Zidane agrees on the condition that he will jump in if Vivi is in danger.

http://i.imgur.com/TUllOFm.pngBeginner tip: There's some good treasures, make sure you pick them up!

As we explore deeper in to the factory, we discover some pretty sketch stuff.


http://i.imgur.com/5OtCssf.png


We find Vivi, stuffed in a crate. Vivi is having himself a bad day.


http://i.imgur.com/aHXpLD8.png
http://i.imgur.com/So0Jdhb.png


Zidane tells him to try and do something next time, to stand up for himself.


http://i.imgur.com/n6IUGcY.png


With Vivi found, we head further in to investigate what exactly is going on.

We learn that soylent green is PEOPLE!!

http://i.imgur.com/TUllOFm.pngBeginner tip: There will be a door with mist coming out from under it. If you open it, you can go get some treasures, but it will also cause random encounters to appear in the dungeon.

What we actually find further in is some more weird machines.


http://i.imgur.com/OAEK5zi.png


As you can kind of see, there is mist being sprayed on the eggs, and then they start hatching. What's in the eggs you ask?


http://i.imgur.com/QRvx2jl.png


Imagine the existential crisis you would have if you found a factory full of yourself like this? Vivi's day just got worse!


http://i.imgur.com/897hr5d.png


Before we can get in to the details, we hear some voices and Zidane shoves everyone in to the machine to hide.


http://i.imgur.com/TswZaX0.png


This leads to our heroes being shoved in crates and packaged in to a giant barrel.


http://i.imgur.com/3hVsiFR.png


Steiner, meanwhile, is trying to arrange transportation for himself and the Princess back to Alexandria castle.


http://i.imgur.com/5s1xzIP.png


Old man Morrid, however, gives zero craps about anything not related to coffee.


http://i.imgur.com/XXSpdhm.png


Morrid gives absolutely zero craps.

After following him to his house, because Steiner is an intense fellow, he offers us some coffee, which Steiner gratefully accepts before remembering his mission.


http://i.imgur.com/4dE84sX.png
http://i.imgur.com/FZnnFfc.png
http://i.imgur.com/EIzIsy9.png


Morrid's crap count remains at zero. After Steiner pleads with him to tell when the cargo ship is arriving, and being made fun of some more, he explains to Morrid that this is a matter of right and wrong.


http://i.imgur.com/lm1PGOs.png


Everyone knows right from wrong, explains Steiner, who simply gets chuckled at by Morrid.

http://i.imgur.com/b5NB8SD.png


Finally having the necessary information, Steiner heads to check out the cargo ship, which he spots in the distance.


http://i.imgur.com/m18VZ3a.png


Noticing some stuff coming out of the ground, he charges his way over to the cargo ship to investigate.

http://i.imgur.com/QzsB77E.png


He notices a giant barrel which he decides to try stabbing because why not. That's what I do when I spot barrels.


http://i.imgur.com/w3GJM2Q.png


Turns out the barrel hosts out heroes. Zidane and Steiner argue some more because of course they do, but Vivi is the one really having a rough time.


http://i.imgur.com/A0CWARO.png


Zidane only says they should stick by him before asking Steiner where the cargo ship is headed.


http://i.imgur.com/f86ZGde.png


LIAR

LIARRRRRRRR

Before we have time to react though, we get a new friend!

http://i.imgur.com/hJlzi8G.png


"Oh no, not another one!" exclaims Zidane.


http://i.imgur.com/qQvtg7o.png


AND YOU DIDN'T THINK TO TELL US THIS EARLY WHEN WE SPECIFICALLY ASKED YOU IF SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED?

But for some reason no one fusses at him and we instead get a boss fight.


http://i.imgur.com/Ej5RQGr.png


http://i.imgur.com/TUllOFm.pngBeginner tip: He won't attack Dagger so she can focus on healing the others. Also, he will counter Vivi's magic, so either use Focus a few times to make your shots worth it, focus on using only the magic sword with Steiner, or just be ready to heal after Vivi's turns.

After the fight, Dagger's doubt about her mother continues to grow, while Steiner's loyalty remains forever strong as he refuses to believe the Queen would have anything to do with whatever is going on.


http://i.imgur.com/tdS3xUe.png
http://i.imgur.com/M9aWXFO.png


We choose to rest at the Inn again before leaving, where the Innkeeper is shocked to see Vivi still up and around.

http://i.imgur.com/TUllOFm.pngBeginner tip: If you forgot to do anything underground now is your last chance to go back.

And that's all for this time. Stay tuned next time when we'll board the cargo ship and learn more about the dolls we saw in Dali!

[FFNut]

I've been enjoying this and it is making me want to replay this gem.

[Galuf]

It isnt subjective. Ff ix IS the best game in existence. Anyone who disagrees is actually from jupiter. Where ffxiii is the best game in existence

[Formalhaut]

I'm awfully tempted to play this after finishing FFIV! Especially now that I'm actually using my Steam account.

[Squall Leonhart Loire]

It isnt subjective. Ff ix IS the best game in existence. Anyone who disagrees is actually from jupiter. Where ffxiii is the best game in existenceNope, Xenogears. :D

[Fox]

The cargo ship is where my first copy of FFIX would always crash. The disc was damaged so after the South Gate FMV it would die.

[Galuf]

The cargo ship is where my first copy of FFIX would always crash. The disc was damaged so after the South Gate FMV it would die.

Same except it would crash just before vivi blasted black waltz and it was the ps1 problem whivh I found out here to fix it was to uh turn the ps1 upside down... kinda weird. And it worked

[Pumpkin]

I have the next update ready but imgur is giving me some troubles today. Next update should be soon!

[Pumpkin]

Alrighty, we're back!

Next stop, the airship! Steiner insists that he will go speak to the cargo ship crew to get them on board. Dagger is starting to realize he's being a bit sketchy.


http://i.imgur.com/CNLC7tL.png
http://i.imgur.com/ni0m0RJ.png


Zidane already caught on to the fact that the cargo ship is actually headed back to Alexadria, but he asks Dagger to trust him because he has a plan.


http://i.imgur.com/SoFHUqf.png


Vivi, meanwhile, is still struggling with what they saw underground.


http://i.imgur.com/fKcahPD.png


Before they can discuss too much though, the cargo ship starts taking off and our crew has to hurry up and get on.


http://i.imgur.com/0chGT0E.png


After some accidental butt groping and fussing, they head in to the cargo ship. Vivi is still afraid of heights.

http://i.imgur.com/wiJMogX.png


Unfortunately, all is not well with our little buddy even when he goes inside when they realize that the airship crew is those Black Mages they saw. He tries to talk with them but they are completely unresponsive.


http://i.imgur.com/t7jOaGA.png
http://i.imgur.com/NxN1a3v.png


Zidane asks Dagger to support Vivi and then plans to get the ship to go to Lindblum.


http://i.imgur.com/1NuJ78u.png
http://i.imgur.com/eLQH9kw.png


On the deck we find Steiner wallowing in misery.


http://i.imgur.com/SkpLLHh.png


Zidane quickly tells him off, which upsets Steiner until he realizes that Dagger is on the ship like he wanted. The he reveals his ~master plan~ of using the airship to go back to Alexandria. He sure did pull a fast one on nobody.


http://i.imgur.com/5fDcNol.png


That's pretty harsh. Zidane, meanwhile, gives limited craps and only wants to go get the ship turned around. Steiner, being the standup fellow he is, starts to consider a more lenient sentence for Zidane, who has helped keep the Princess safe.


http://i.imgur.com/34qFKPO.png


Meanwhile, trouble's-a-brewin.


http://i.imgur.com/5YCSA3L.png
http://i.imgur.com/lalS709.png


That's a face you can trust.

Zidane commandeers the cargo ship and turns it around, which greatly upsets Steiner.


http://i.imgur.com/xJRBsB9.png


The Black Mages start to react to this, to the confusion of everyone.


http://i.imgur.com/IS5TNdB.png


Dagger and Vivi had made their way up to the deck but unfortunately, Black Waltz #3 decides to drop in and electrocute poor Vivi.


http://i.imgur.com/qVaMXRx.png
http://i.imgur.com/iNWuHxU.png


Vivi has some unexpected allies thankfully and the Black Mages show up to shield him.


http://i.imgur.com/3fS9Ozv.png
http://i.imgur.com/N2X14Tv.png


At this he starts killing the Black Mages with his super magic or whatever.

http://i.imgur.com/dbSGfac.png


This makes Vivi sad :(


http://i.imgur.com/kzd5LnB.png
http://i.imgur.com/B8SQxIL.png


Black Waltz doesn't care about how sad Vivi is though and so he MUST BE DESTROYED

http://i.imgur.com/2EX4Hv4.png


Vivi, upset at what happened, goes rushing out to confront the foe. Steiner and Zidane soon follow.


http://i.imgur.com/4nhSZyl.png
http://i.imgur.com/r2PUXRy.png


Leaving their destination in Dagger's hands, the other three confront the Black Waltz.


http://i.imgur.com/xZArQV2.png


The Black Waltz calls the Black Mages mere tools and Steiner calls his actions reprehensible whether they were his allies or not.


http://i.imgur.com/U7bYVRI.png


And then of course we have a BOSS FIGHT!


http://i.imgur.com/haqnPr8.png


http://i.imgur.com/nQSZVV2.pngBeginner tips: This will either be a very easy fight or a very hard one. The last thing you can steal will take a long time to steal unless you have luck on your side. You'll also use many items. If you want to save Vivi's auto-Trance for after you've stolen, you can use Square (or equivalent) to switch to other characters with active ATB bars.

So after a stupidly long fight in which all three of my characters ended up in Trance, the final Black Waltz is defeated!


http://i.imgur.com/7cIJw6c.png


BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!

Turns out we did not defeat the Black Waltz.


http://i.imgur.com/WYdilWq.png


Zorn and Thorn decide to hightail it while the Black Waltz steals their ship.


http://i.imgur.com/O0Sy7yu.png


Nothing concerning there.

It doesn't take long for the others to notice the impending threat.


http://i.imgur.com/kez8nSC.png
http://i.imgur.com/VeRdJqL.png
http://i.imgur.com/0sjHmC5.png


Vivi stands sadly on the dock, sad about the loss of his people as the Black Waltz closes in.


http://i.imgur.com/BZSCCZg.png
http://i.imgur.com/ycoTSRC.png
http://i.imgur.com/MKFmgKc.png


~Intense faces~

The Black Waltz makes its way to the cargo ship and resumes his attack.


http://i.imgur.com/iH2LpkL.png


This time Vivi is having none of it and manages to blow the Black Waltz back a bit.


http://i.imgur.com/xKpMcDH.png


Unfortunately, having used up his energy, Vivi collapses. Zidane rescues him just in the nick of time as they begin to pass through South Gate, still pursued by the crazed Black Waltz.


http://i.imgur.com/jVsyVeS.png


It follows them in to the gate where it begins to cast a spell, which in the close quarters of the gate just goes awry and sets his own ship aflame.


http://i.imgur.com/POh5uJW.png


This causes a massive explosion that propels the cargo ship forward and out of South Gate just in time.


http://i.imgur.com/G21sRhE.png


While everyone else is down about what just happened, Zidane is as cheery as ever.


http://i.imgur.com/6e7VSfO.png
http://i.imgur.com/AFcFJQr.png
http://i.imgur.com/PhYrCER.png


But I mean, aside from all of that...


http://i.imgur.com/C6aYMO2.png


Vivi is still pontificating about how similar he is to those Black Mages and for once its Steiner to the rescue.


http://i.imgur.com/sIZenTJ.png
http://i.imgur.com/H9vSI4g.png
http://i.imgur.com/rvCsuhq.png


Don't piggyback off of Steiner finally saying something smart!

Anyways we now pull up to the massive industrial city of Lindblum, a whole city inside of a castle.


http://i.imgur.com/MoVvCZP.png
http://i.imgur.com/kbQkpsZ.png


There's also a castle in the castle.


http://i.imgur.com/n2SPiud.png


We dock in the castle castle and meet some soldiers who find us pretty suspicious.


http://i.imgur.com/z5nO9kr.png


Everyone is super impressed with the castle except for Dagger, who has been here before.


http://i.imgur.com/QCjNICS.png


Anyways, Dagger tells the guards she wishes to speak to Regent Cid and shows her Falcon's Claw, a national treasure, as proof of her identity since she's traveling in a cargo ship with weirdos. They call Minister Artania who recognizes her immediately. She's obviously familiar with him as well as she calls him Uncle Artania.


http://i.imgur.com/QCjNICS.png


Next time we will be going to meet the Regent, but first, here's an update on our traveling moogle friend Stiltzkin!


http://i.imgur.com/pctMxzt.png

[Pumpkin]

Okay so we have a big info dump this update. Pretty interesting stuff though

Honestly I kind of drag my feet around this part. It's my least favourite of Disc 1. The beginning does the stage setting and in Dali and the airship you really get to see your group binding and everything. After this part the story really starts to pick up. But Lindblum at first just kind of doesn't make me as excited about the rest and the Festival of the Hunt is always a source of stress for me.

BUT ANYWAY

Let's get some info, shall we?


http://i.imgur.com/vQsIKgA.png


Cid VIII was the regent before the current one. If you notice an image of the airship in my last update, it wasn't flying above the clouds but above very thick mist. That's why it's called the mist continent! So using it as a resource was something special.

http://i.imgur.com/eJGhVjq.pngBeginner tip: Head to the aircab area. It won't let you leave the castle yet, but you'll get an extra little scene!

Before going to see the regent, we meet an airman.


http://i.imgur.com/d8v1p0H.png
http://i.imgur.com/hiS1GGI.png


Uh oh, what's going on here?!

Zidane doesn't care though and just starts flirting with her instead.

PRIORITIES


http://i.imgur.com/LAGBlvD.png


She quickly makes her escape and we head to the elevator where Dagger heaps praise on to the regent.


http://i.imgur.com/t3bZl0Z.png


So we head upstairs but something seems amiss.

http://i.imgur.com/pX9tzEK.png


In case you can't tell, the throne is a little on the small side.


http://i.imgur.com/q023Kz3.png


Also the regent seems to be an oglop (those bug things we saw before).

Steiner doesn't take well to this and punches him across the room, which I'm pretty sure is grounds for beheading.


http://i.imgur.com/6UYP5gH.png


For some reason though, no beheading is done and we are told that this IS, in fact, Regent Cid. Steiner, being Steiner, does not believe it and thinks that the Princess is being mocked.


http://i.imgur.com/bkGMGbN.png


Vivi with the best commentary.


http://i.imgur.com/EFmNCAn.png
http://i.imgur.com/tKMKpkB.png


And Regent Cid is positively identified by his moustache, which leads to Steiner backing off a bit.

But why is the regent an oglop?!?! you might be asking. WELL they're about to explain that!


http://i.imgur.com/J5GNFL1.png
http://i.imgur.com/wmtijoa.png


After remarking how crazy that is, Dagger tries to get to the point of why she came to Lindblum. Cid urges them all to rest first after their journey and have some lunch.


http://i.imgur.com/OCsXIl7.png


Zidane decides that the castle food is not up to his absurd standards and heads to a bar in town instead.


http://i.imgur.com/1f3SajG.png


After exchanging some familiar words with the bartender, indicating that he regularly patrons this establishment, he starts flirting with a waitress.


http://i.imgur.com/iPCJ3f8.png


Apparently Zidane is ovulating or something because his flirting has been excessive lately. This also annoys someone at the bar.

http://i.imgur.com/sEyTcoY.png
http://i.imgur.com/Ma1tBGI.png


Dose racial slurs tho D:


http://i.imgur.com/VfjRufP.png


Thems fightin words.

Turns out that Zidane and the woman are actually friends and he takes this time to tease her a bit.


http://i.imgur.com/mbvH698.png
http://i.imgur.com/V2gRqsO.png
http://i.imgur.com/icTCvR5.png


You get the idea. Eventually he drops the act and we get to name our next playable character!!!


http://i.imgur.com/QHN0b4u.png
http://i.imgur.com/Xb44AUA.png


I didn't know her race was actually Burmecian. I mean I know that that's where she's from but I didn't know that's what they were called. Better then rat-people, I guess? What about the Cleyrans, are they also considered Burmecians even though they are also rat-people but live somewhere also? I dunno, Steam FFIX has raised more questions for me. The graphics are excellent though, I can actually see details now, which is super nice.

ANYWAYS, Zidane and Freya sit down for a chat.


http://i.imgur.com/4uJDm2P.png
http://i.imgur.com/bUy21wg.png


Aw :( They share that it's been 3 years since Zidane and Freya last saw each other and Zidane asks what brings her to Lindblum.


http://i.imgur.com/cYe4m0J.png


Ugh that festival. UGH TIME LIMITS. UGH.

So Zidane offers her some words of encouragement regarding finding her boyfriend and asks if she's going to return to Burmecia.


http://i.imgur.com/txaVdYH.png
http://i.imgur.com/Ndtmg6y.png


Meanwhile at the castle, Dagger and the regent are discussing the happenings.


http://i.imgur.com/ETcJXIB.png
http://i.imgur.com/KVisPhl.png


Dagger says she's worried her mother is up to no good and starting to make trouble in the neighbourhood, but when she tries to tell anyone, they just chalk it up to grief over losing her father.


http://i.imgur.com/Pu4fShr.png


But as it turns out, the theater ship was going to kidnap her.


http://i.imgur.com/OfvD4RI.png
http://i.imgur.com/vlC1Gh0.png


Turns out the regent and Baku go way back.


http://i.imgur.com/KDPFTSf.png


He states that while he knew something sketch was going on, he couldn't act directly or it would start a war.


http://i.imgur.com/wop7EvM.png
http://i.imgur.com/2fPq7x3.png


He assures her that he will help as her Uncle Cid.

After that, they head for the airship docks, which are very much empty.


http://i.imgur.com/OXIRfhp.png
http://i.imgur.com/Xu9BAl2.png


That means they could go to places where there was no mist. Dagger asks if the ship was taken by the man who attacked him.


http://i.imgur.com/acPlG8l.png


..........................................................................................


http://i.imgur.com/qePfUCv.png
http://i.imgur.com/KtGOaa6.png


(His wife is named Hilda)


http://i.imgur.com/BgTmI9U.png


And thus we get to hear the TRUE story of what exactly happened to Regent Cid and his airship.

Cid agrees that once the Hilda Garde 2 is up and running, they'll go speak to Queen Brahne.

The next day, Zidane and Vivi wake up at the Inn.


http://i.imgur.com/JSLuIAS.png


Zidane explains to Vivi that people come to Lindblum from all over the world to pursue careers in art and engineering. He also shares that he doesn't even remember when he first came to Lindblum.


http://i.imgur.com/gk8OBXM.png


He says he's going to go check out their HQ and invites Vivi along, who politely declines, saying he wants to go explore the city by himself.

Also Ruby gets in touch.


http://i.imgur.com/yXupxbE.png


Stay tuned next time when we slaughter monsters that are released on the town for sport and points!

[Karifean]

I really liked reaching Lindblum when I played the game for the first time. There's something pretty impressive about the city itself, and the music is great. The Festival was kind of fun too, although I kinda wish it'd been more clear how it works.

[Pumpkin]

Sorry guys, I've been busy with irl stuff, but I should have another update up on Thursday and Friday and hopefully one more after that before I leave for a bit~

[Depression Moon]

I named Freya Helga or Rachel one time just for the lulz.

[Pumpkin]

Today we will be exploring Lindblum before the festival begins!

Turns out SOMEONE is a terrible moogle hater


http://i.imgur.com/prp33Qu.png


Anyways, Steiner is wandering around town, generally getting himself lost


http://i.imgur.com/4QueVGL.png
http://i.imgur.com/4P1XcyV.png


Female Red Mage is having none of that! Being Steiner though he is rather oblivious to what just happened and turns his attention to a street stall.


http://i.imgur.com/d0UDQ3D.png
http://i.imgur.com/fW7K8Z8.png
http://i.imgur.com/eugKNKf.png


FACT. Steiner decides, what the heck, he already drank poison back in the Evil Forest, might as well.


http://i.imgur.com/WvmgZ6r.png
http://i.imgur.com/1LZB5ho.png


And thus begins Steiner's love affair with pickles~

Zidane, meanwhile, does some shopping.


http://i.imgur.com/d2N8hgH.png


Who indeed

This is why I told you to buy extra equipment if possible, because you can now use that for synthesis! Speaking of which, there's a little story between the synthesis shop owner and his son that goes throughout the game.


http://i.imgur.com/PtQmrdb.png


As the son's skills improve, so to does the available equipment. It's a neat little detail that help bring the people to life.

http://i.imgur.com/k6yBjJN.pngBeginner tip: When you exit the Inn, there's a screen towards the south where you can have a bit more conversation. Also be sure to THOROUGHLY explore Lindblum within the next little while if you care about finding everything because some of it will become inaccessible for the rest of the game.


http://i.imgur.com/FIIdvHi.png


We get to read some nice statues, and learn more about Lindblum culture, which is broken down in 2 four districts. The first is the business district which is where you do your shopping and also houses the Church and an angry little dog. The industrial district is where the bar was where we met Freya and is the center of engineering. The theatre district is where all of the upper-class art types hang out and is also where Tantalus headquarters is located.


http://i.imgur.com/B4ucqY6.png


*sad violin*

So anyway, Vivi is also out doing some shopping


http://i.imgur.com/C21N0P0.png
http://i.imgur.com/2hgvd0I.png
http://i.imgur.com/jaTMQZV.png


She gives it to Vivi for free because he's adorable and Vivi had earlier taken note of a sign in the shop.


http://i.imgur.com/pD3B3C0.png


He decides to inquire


http://i.imgur.com/fDrjsRG.png
http://i.imgur.com/yjIMoik.png
http://i.imgur.com/o74ezER.png


This is where a miscommunication happens because Vivi runs off excitedly, assuming that puppies are going to be released in town for snuggles or something when that really isn't the case.


http://i.imgur.com/ahRtACx.png


If you're wondering where Steiner is during all of this, the answer is "Still lost."


http://i.imgur.com/JcazmEU.png


He does meet an old gentleman who tells him he's at the bridge where the airship docks connect to the castle.


http://i.imgur.com/1Q7RY9M.png
http://i.imgur.com/fFm0aCC.png


The old man explains that the Hilda Garde 2 will run on steam instead of mist and Steiner finds this PREPOSTEROUS, which causes the old man to tell him he's living in the past.

We head to the theatre district where a bunch of fangirls are... fangirling all over an actor.


http://i.imgur.com/RV0Qvab.png


FFIX dealing with issues of transspeciesism way back in 2000.

http://i.imgur.com/9Swva4w.png


After Zidane tries to get them to fangirl all over him, which fails, the prestigious Lowell arrives on the scene for like 10 seconds. After which time he bails and may or may not come back in a moogle costume to get away from the crowd


http://i.imgur.com/ON72hkP.png


Sure enough, the disguise receives nothing but disdain from his unknowing fans, allowing him to escape.


http://i.imgur.com/Jmu6t5N.png


....................

SO ANYWAY

We head to Tantalus headquarters to find no one there.


http://i.imgur.com/XYTsAQA.png


As the bell rings out over Lindblum, Zidane wonders what Dagger is up to.


http://i.imgur.com/PDqgOme.png


Dagger, it turns out, is trapped in her room.


http://i.imgur.com/aoNV5gN.png
http://i.imgur.com/G6OtJjo.png


She is upset by this, reminding herself that she came here to figure out what's happening with her mother, not to be protected.

Back at Tantalus HQ, two kids come in and greet Zidane


http://i.imgur.com/dOGJg5j.png
http://i.imgur.com/PTVQdSE.png


After establishing their de facto membership, they ask Zidane some questions about the kidnapping plan. Then, in typical kid fashion, they just blurt out whatever they want to.


http://i.imgur.com/ZQcvKL8.png
http://i.imgur.com/VddAKO4.png


The kids tell him that she probably misses him and he should go see her before they scamper off.

http://i.imgur.com/w7wmbKn.png


And now we see Zidane trying to find excuses to actually go and see her.

In case you were worried about Tantalus, rest assured that they managed to escape.


http://i.imgur.com/fYfppXp.png


"I can't believe I got to drop some exposition!"


http://i.imgur.com/JhvHmIs.png
http://i.imgur.com/ehVbw9Q.png
http://i.imgur.com/c5uV1nW.png


Despite its flaws, this is actually a good scene because it helps the player out later on when they arrive here. It shows Cinna drinking from a spring which makes the "HP restored" chime noise. It shows Blank open the treasure chest so you know why it's already open when you get there, and it talks about Cinna making coffee off in the corner, which if you recall, pertains to a certain sidequest...

Zidane heads to Lindblum castle to find the Princess is not in her room


http://i.imgur.com/QimYijC.png


Steiner is already there, apparently having found his way, and immediately blames Zidane for what's happening before running off to find her.


http://i.imgur.com/322mwSV.png


He hears her singing the same song she was singing in Dali and realizes she's upstairs. There's unfortunately a problem.


http://i.imgur.com/Sr9TD78.png


He can't use the lift to go upstairs because its guarded by the man with the face of a 12-year-old. Luckily for us there's a sleeping, suggestable guard whom we can wake up and trick.


http://i.imgur.com/qQrybAv.png


So after beating him up and taking his clothes, we get to go upstairs.

http://i.imgur.com/JpLugmN.png


Zidane takes off his disguise ON THE LIFT because why not, apparently? I mean sure, there are guards upstairs, but we can conveniently get past them without a disguise!

We do find Dagger upstairs singing to the birds before Zidane scares them all away.


http://i.imgur.com/SuJwuh3.png


After a bit of awkward conversation, Zidane points out the giant telescope we can use to look around the surrounding area.


http://i.imgur.com/uyLURwC.png
http://i.imgur.com/gmFDNU7.png


This looks much better than the actual overworld, btw

Dagger asks to use it and spends that time berating herself internally.


http://i.imgur.com/ditW0Gl.png
http://i.imgur.com/VXU4Anp.png
http://i.imgur.com/0Ys0RS7.png


She asks him if he just did it because his boss ordered him to, and he explains that his boss didn't want him to and he had to leave Tantalus because of it, which he shares that he's done before.

She changes the suject to ask how Tantalus was planning on kidnapping her and he says that they were going to put sleeping weed in her tea, but since she came along willingly, they didn't need it.


http://i.imgur.com/YDeviPG.png
http://i.imgur.com/jwGsKz4.png


She calls him out on his shameless flirting, so he shifts gears to ask about the song she's been singing


http://i.imgur.com/HQFcyFh.png
http://i.imgur.com/6gXqCaI.png


While she sings, we get to see what everyone else is up to.


http://i.imgur.com/fcjUtvm.png


While admiring that FINE piece of armour, Steiner overhears another customer badmouthing Queen Brahne.


http://i.imgur.com/fcjUtvm.png
http://i.imgur.com/RrHQrGs.png


Vivi finds some toys that some kids were playing with.

http://i.imgur.com/c0lIvwb.png


And Freya is jumping from rooftop to rooftop, as you do.


http://i.imgur.com/WtH7rKh.png


She then expresses some vulnerability when she asks Sir Fratley where he is because she needs him.

Back at the castle, Zidane makes a fool of himself.


http://i.imgur.com/kD3wN9c.png


If you recall, he asked a different girl about that...

Smoooth operatoooorrrr~~


http://i.imgur.com/EFlgiXX.png


After some passive-aggressive comments, Zidane once again tries to recover with idiocy.


http://i.imgur.com/nETnPt1.png


But because she's already smitten with him, she agrees.

FESTIVAL OF THE HUNT PREP

And Freya is here because why not. We got to name her so we already know she's going to be a party member.


http://i.imgur.com/P4KiUAF.png


Ugh time limits. UGH STRESS

Also he signed up Vivi without his permission


http://i.imgur.com/1glDndL.png


And offers him to date Dagger if Vivi wins which NEITHER OF THEM WANT and he didn't even ask if she was okay with this. Man Zidane's kind of a butt sometimes, huh?

And so the bests, some of whom are adorable (Mus) are released on to the town!


http://i.imgur.com/CXjmCxr.png


Next time we get to Festival of the Hunt which is bleh, but the story really starts to pick up with the bigger plot afterwards so that'll be fun!

Stay tuned~

[Old Manus]

Always wondered whether "I Want To Be Your Canary" was just a dumb name or a bad translation.

[Pumpkin]

And so begins the Festival of the Hunt!


http://i.imgur.com/vOdj6f5.png
http://i.imgur.com/NbgXkt7.png
http://i.imgur.com/6yBGfEa.png


After some spectating on the part of Dagger and Steiner, the hunt begins! I have 12 minutes to win this thing. If you, loyal viewer, want to win, just follow these easy peasy tips! Send money to

Okay, seriously though, these are good tips to win.

http://i.imgur.com/M4nEDUC.pngFestival of the Hunt tips~
*Optimize Zidane's equipment. You can skill grind later but this will be useful to prevent damage, which will save time spent healing, and, if you have The Ogre weapon, should allow you to one-shot kill all of the enemies other than the big hunt.
*Your goal is to get to the end of the business district around the 4 minute mark if you want an almost guaranteed win
*Don't take that to mean you can slack off before then, you'll still need other points to win, you just won't have to try as hard
*Different monsters are worth different amounts of points. The Trick Sparrows are worth the least and generally take the longest to initiate battle with. If you can run in to one right away, go for it, otherwise just leave them for clean up if you have time
*You should have time to do a general sweep of the Theatre Dsitrict followed by the Industrial District before leaving for the Business Dsitrict
*Depending on how much time you have, head over to the Buisness district with about 6 minutes remaining and do a general sweep of the area EXCEPT for the shop area
*Once the timer has gone below 4 minutes, head to the shop area to find a small scene with the big hunt

http://i.imgur.com/cNg4xpm.png


During the scene, Freya will jump in to help you while giving you the points for the kill because she's a better person than Zidane.


http://i.imgur.com/BOJcYbe.png


Don't worry about stealing, you'll encounter these as regular enemies later in the game. Have Freya jump to deal decent damage and avoid damage in return. It does take longer for her to attack that way though, so keep that in mind.

I also noticed a reference to the Strange Gourmand or something like that, which made me chuckle. It's funny how many references there are to Quina before s/he joins your party.

If you have any time left, like I did, just go clean up those Trick Sparrows you left in order to further secure your lead. After 12 minutes, the Festival is over!


http://i.imgur.com/QlKepsz.png
http://i.imgur.com/L3i5c1W.png


Unfortunately the celebration is interrupted by something terrible.


http://i.imgur.com/2HWOO4A.png


This is where the story really starts to pick up and go in to its bigger plot, so I'm pretty excite! Minister Artania warns Cid not to approach in his current form, but Cid is not concerned.


http://i.imgur.com/XNmgcQH.png
http://i.imgur.com/QCM4xz0.png
http://i.imgur.com/h5JwqhW.png


Uh oh, Spaghetti-O!

The man sadly passes away before they can get him to the infirmary.


http://i.imgur.com/5ydTgxw.png


Well that's a bummer.

http://i.imgur.com/dRIQyEG.png
http://i.imgur.com/P6E21Dt.png


Freya, meanwhile can't wait for reinforcements while her homeland is in danger.


http://i.imgur.com/CLtxum4.png


Zidane offers to go to, an offer which Freya initially rejects.


http://i.imgur.com/tLDyKWk.png


Eventually she thanks him and then Vivi speaks up.


http://i.imgur.com/zlX0MMQ.png


He's having that whole Black Mage identity crisis if you recall correctly.


http://i.imgur.com/R6JEml7.png


Unfortunately for Dagger, who just inserted herself in to this situation, the others don't exactly encourage her to go.


http://i.imgur.com/BaquomF.png


She is worried, however, that if her mother IS starting a war, she has to stop her and do something to help prevent more people from being killed. A noble sentiment, but turns out that even Zidane isn't on her side for this one.


http://i.imgur.com/Qk1YVTn.png
http://i.imgur.com/QhyF1eS.png


Cid tries to calm them down for the moment and asks them to enjoy the Festival feast while they wait for the gate to open.


http://i.imgur.com/9oHZw9N.png


So they head downstairs for a hearty celebration meal.


http://i.imgur.com/bCQZn2E.png


After some reluctance to eat, they eventually all decide to dig in and enjoy the feast.


http://i.imgur.com/CkUY3qK.png


Turns out that this isn't the food-coma type of sleepiness, but rather something else at work. Everyone starts dropping like flies.


http://i.imgur.com/C3b9lzV.png
http://i.imgur.com/my0DTjL.png


Everyone except for...


http://i.imgur.com/CXel7sP.png
http://i.imgur.com/TgNqa9B.png


Steiner's a treat, isn't he?


http://i.imgur.com/ggiPQzf.png
http://i.imgur.com/rSCfy4x.png


So yes, Dagger has drugged them all so that she can leave on her quest of justice. Steiner voices his objections in one of his rare early moments of insight.


http://i.imgur.com/bkVejeq.png


But he eventually agrees to go with her after she talks about how she needs to stop her mother from starting a war with the three great nations.


http://i.imgur.com/x73DwNC.png


And with that, they sneak out.

http://i.imgur.com/9NwxI0Q.png


The others wake up a short time later and wonder if Dagger went to Burmecia on her own.


http://i.imgur.com/AntVVNk.png


Thinking that's where she went, they agree to try and catch up to her.


http://i.imgur.com/m9AKPDO.png


It's time for some more
http://i.imgur.com/M4nEDUC.pngTips for beginners~
*This is a really good time to ability grind the equipment you have. There's a free healing spring you can use to your heart's content, an easily accessible shop, it's easy enough to return to Lindblum if need be, and the next boss is a toughie, so grinding a bit can help.
*You can also begin your Chocobo side-questing at this point and recruit another character early.

And so we will end with a new mognet from Stiltzkin!

http://i.imgur.com/BT7iPbA.png

Unfortunately my next update won't be for a while. On top of going out of town soon, I'll also be doing that grinding I just finished talking about. But hopefully it won't be too long before the next update. See you next time~

[Pumpkin]

So the forum ate my last post but that's okay! We just picked up Quina last time.

Now it is off to Chocobo's Forest!

http://i.imgur.com/FSOGg9v.png
http://i.imgur.com/HKLw5HD.png


But we are on a mission, it is not the time to play with Chocobos!


http://i.imgur.com/QQb3ekT.png
http://i.imgur.com/ksHSGSZ.png


Oh okay.


http://i.imgur.com/FTlefFw.png


Apparently it is time to play with Chocobos. Choco initially runs away from me and I have to go get him with ghysal greens


http://i.imgur.com/FrQTGJk.png


He sure does like me, that's why he ran away! But anywho, if you go back you can play the best Chocobo Hot & Cold which is all kinds of awesome!


http://i.imgur.com/FTlefFw.png


So basically you dig around for treasure and Choco, the best Chocobo, will give you an indication of how close you are. Sometimes you'll dig up treasure maps for outside of the forest where you can find super good items~

After messing around with the best minigame, it is time to continue on with the story which is less upbeat right now. We head to Gizamaluke's Grotto and Freya finds some of her companions dead.


http://i.imgur.com/9aqNlJ0.png
http://i.imgur.com/8kBNKVm.png
http://i.imgur.com/BQJZF9d.png


This comment of course makes Vivi feel bad.


http://i.imgur.com/R1H7LbJ.png
http://i.imgur.com/vc840uh.png


"My friend Freya's buds were killed and her homeland is in danger. Sure hope Dagger's okay."

So we head inside to find more dying people (there's a trend here)


http://i.imgur.com/5z1LXSi.png


And we get these bells that open doors and shatter when you use them. I actually love the item description though.


http://i.imgur.com/3JUEavN.png


It sounds so uplifting and then you see how it says it's a warning and it's just a quote with a lot of depth, I feel

Going further in we find some more soldiers being killed by Black Mages


http://i.imgur.com/SPhaskX.png


Lalala~

We also find Zorn and Thorn in charge of the whole ordeal and they don't seem to remember Zidane at all, although he seems familiar.


http://i.imgur.com/JkCEVNV.png


After defeating the Black Mages they send after us, they get spooked and run away because Zorn and Thorn.

Eventually we meet a moogle in distress.


http://i.imgur.com/KZ1Blj5.png
http://i.imgur.com/TLIGoSH.png


And they just got married too, how sad


http://i.imgur.com/O7ALgQp.png


Oh no, what will we do? Well, Vivi to the rescue!


http://i.imgur.com/TY5rLzT.png


Well it turns out her husband LOOOVVVESSS Kupo Nuts, so after giving the nut to her, she lets her husband know that she has a delicious surprise for him, after which he bursts out of the bell like it's nothing


http://i.imgur.com/QVs0qFM.png


He then takes the nut and runs away in to another room. After following him, we get a new mognet message


http://i.imgur.com/ye0kx6w.png


Her husband also gives us the Holy Bell we need to continue in to the boss room.


http://i.imgur.com/I6dak8j.png


And if you do bring them more Kupo Nuts, they have more babies!

Don't think about that one too hard.

So in to the boss room!

http://i.imgur.com/PkG74B7.png


Master Gizamaluke, for the record, is this lovely creature here!


http://i.imgur.com/cLvWTxi.png


He can be tough but if you grinded earlier when I told you too you should be just fine~ Especially if you recruited Quina and got yourself another party member.

After defeating him, we get something completely different!


http://i.imgur.com/TuLfy9h.png

http://i.imgur.com/7O6juD4.png


Garnet is in the bag in case you're wondering

But to cross the border, they need to do a bag check


http://i.imgur.com/BrbMVml.png


............no..................


http://i.imgur.com/2JnIcjR.png


UH OH


http://i.imgur.com/QLf51iI.png


That's right. He packed the princess in with a bunch of stinky pickles. Short guard cannot stand it so we get sent inside the gate.

Let's talk to some people!


http://i.imgur.com/qV3snGH.png


Exposition~~

And here's an adorable interaction between Part-time Worker Mary and the newly Jobless Jeff who just lost his store


http://i.imgur.com/b3UvHLO.png
http://i.imgur.com/j9LyX2d.png


too relatable

So anyway, we go and free Garnet from her pickle prison but first


http://i.imgur.com/UOaP993.png
http://i.imgur.com/FNzgYVh.png


I love Short Guard

So anyway, Garnet is finally set free for us to continue our adventure


http://i.imgur.com/eTl80e2.png


(Don't worry that won't last for more than 10 minutes)

So we head to the tram/train/lift thing which is about to head back in to Alexandria where Garnet plans to go to have a talk with her mother


http://i.imgur.com/PKY0fpl.png
http://i.imgur.com/1HpjVwe.png


See, I told you it wouldn't last long

Tune in next time to see whate else Steiner and Garnet get up to~

[Pumpkin]

Alrighty then, Garnet and Steiner have finally made their way to the cable car to head back to Alexandria.


http://i.imgur.com/ZbiKvex.png


Part time worker Mary thanked us for telling her to follow her heart or whatever happened before. After taking a seat, Steiner called Garnet Princess again and she fusses at him.


http://i.imgur.com/w9PexuZ.png
http://i.imgur.com/7H8R6ze.png


Steiner, the notorious Zidane hater talks about his terrible foul mouth but admits he's not as dumb as he thought he would be.

After that convo, we're brought back to Gizamaluke's Grotto to see what happened after our big boss fight.


http://i.imgur.com/D0jG3J3.png


So of course we have to head to Bermecia. But not before grabbing Choco and finding a treasure chest! Note that you'll have to walk a little bit to get to his footprints with this one.


http://i.imgur.com/BiDOwCL.png


And then Choco was drugged and he died. No, actually he just went to a ~magical place~


http://i.imgur.com/h6Ikd4P.png
http://i.imgur.com/IuRZfyn.png


This isn't weird or anything


http://i.imgur.com/A21AMj9.png


BUT Choco evolves in to river Choco and now we can cross rivers with him, yay~~

Choco is so awesome

We make another pit stop on the way to Bermecia.


http://i.imgur.com/Hq45cXZ.png


Freya is obviously worried about this but Quina decides this is too depressing and he needs to stop and smell the flowers. Literally.


http://i.imgur.com/ai1eABS.png


The strong powerful Dragoon looking up to Quina the frog gourmand. I mean... sure.

Tbf Quina is my second favourite character in this game, s/he is just a hoot.

With that, we make our way over to Bermecia.


http://i.imgur.com/3wXl3A4.png


...since I decided to reminisce during a crisis like this.


http://i.imgur.com/WGidsDy.png
http://i.imgur.com/hYSA25j.png


But not until I monologue a little bit! So with that, we finally head in to the wrecked city of Bermecia, once one of the four great powers of the Mist Continent.


http://i.imgur.com/iUKLQ9r.png


Yup, it rains here. Forever.

Kidding aside, this section is one of the most memorable to me. It's got such great atmosphere and it's a turning point in the story to show that things are more serious than just runaway Princesses and moogles. I mean, those things are there too, but something about corpses all over the rainy streets just makes things a tad more serious feeling.

Also we get cancer


http://i.imgur.com/OdslMS4.png


The Zodiac Stellazio coin, I meant.

Zorn and Thorn make another appearance and after defeating the Black Mages they send after us, they take a fit in a way that basically equates to "I'm telling my dad!"


http://i.imgur.com/ZkZzBQu.png


After meeting up with a dying man who tells us to search under the bed, we get another bell/key to proceed further in to Bermecia.


http://i.imgur.com/UNbuYxl.png


I just love some of these item descriptions, I'm telling you.

Further in, Freya and Vivi have a conversation about the killer Black Mages going around and if he's okay to continue on.


http://i.imgur.com/0GlWk08.png
http://i.imgur.com/sNHiACe.png
http://i.imgur.com/ncB1hMN.png


This is why I love Vivi. Finds others like him being manufactured on a weird farm after getting kidnapped, sees them being used as weapons of mass murder, decides he's going to press on no matter how painful it is. You go Vivi!


http://i.imgur.com/CaRKsez.png


Quina is helping.

A Bermecian family rushes over to us, ready to pick a fight since we have a Black Mage with us, but Freya talks them down.


http://i.imgur.com/2FMKp8I.png
http://i.imgur.com/C9cp8IJ.png


He advises us to ditch everything and GTFO because we aren't going to win this one, but Freya has resolved to go on.


http://i.imgur.com/c6tHr8K.png


Freya is a true patriot.

Further in we meet another struggling family.


http://i.imgur.com/yiMPPHP.png
http://i.imgur.com/EefWntY.png
http://i.imgur.com/uF2s8ef.png


Aww and she's preggers too. He keeps telling her to leave but she sticks by his side. Luckily hero Zidane arrives in the knick of time to save him from the collapsing ugly frog statue thing.


http://i.imgur.com/rl0n372.png


He's happy we saved him and tells us to come and visit him in Lindblum after his kid is born. He and his wife escape safely.

http://i.imgur.com/Rvbkol1.pngBeginner's Tip: There are mimics in Bermecia. If you see a chest positioned diagonally instead of straight, it's a mimic. If you want to fight them, cool, but if you're low on supplies and want to save up, avoid those chests.

Further in, we meet another moogle and deliver one of the letters we had.

http://i.imgur.com/5VcePjW.png


SPEAKING OF, guess who decides to show up!

http://i.imgur.com/AhVWixp.png


Keep buying supplies from him to keep getting better stuff as his journey continues! There's also a moogle shop here with new equipment and remember to buy at least 2 of everything if you can afford it~

We also find a new nifty spear for Freya to beat up some Black Mages, which of course makes Vivi a bit sad.

Onward to the palace.


http://i.imgur.com/tsgv7Yp.png


After deciding to leave her alone, she suddenly hears something and effortlessly jumps 5 stories in the air.

http://i.imgur.com/RGfyQFq.png


Needless to say, the other party members struggle a bit more.


http://i.imgur.com/rofUMj8.png


Once Zidane and Freya make it to the top, we see Brahne and someone else conversing.


http://i.imgur.com/u3nRos4.png
http://i.imgur.com/Bd3vjJd.png


The name Beatrix sends Freya in to reminisce mode again.


http://i.imgur.com/pMcPIBE.png
http://i.imgur.com/y1hggeF.png


Fratley is so fancy. He tells her he doesn't know if he's strong enough to protect Bermecia and so he must travel.


http://i.imgur.com/tNzyhIL.png
http://i.imgur.com/IxXIvdL.png


He promises once again before leaving.


http://i.imgur.com/Wz8hQtu.png
http://i.imgur.com/1UvMJxh.png


Geez that hits the feels :(


http://i.imgur.com/bdiTcXI.png


But before the conversation continues, a ~fabulous~ man appears.


http://i.imgur.com/KAE0geP.png


Brahne and Beatrix talk about how they've been searching for the king but to no avail.


http://i.imgur.com/KuUCxjq.png
http://i.imgur.com/8HKYuQm.png
http://i.imgur.com/JvgclKX.png


Cleyra is protected by a giant sandstorm you see. But apparently Kuja has a plan.


http://i.imgur.com/VdNo0Sl.png


Zidane asks Freya about Cleyra and why they call it the City of Illusion.


http://i.imgur.com/EgnqEth.png
http://i.imgur.com/KXRGAyw.png


This time the conversation is interrupted by a Bermecian soldier attempting to take on the baddies solo. Zidane and Freya step in to save him.


http://i.imgur.com/yU0EzVB.png
http://i.imgur.com/bKABjlj.png


Vivi and Quina also show up just then because sure.

Note for this fight: You cannot beat Beatrix. The best you can do is stay alive long enough to steal all of her stuff and hope she doesn't end the fight too early. I only got 2 of her items but oh well.

This fight sadly leads to a crushing defeat for our heroes.


http://i.imgur.com/Yh7i0ks.png


Kuja also takes this opportunity to make commentary, look down on us fabulously, and escape on his Silver Dragon.


http://i.imgur.com/dWOOqHM.png


Behold Kuja in all of his glory!


http://i.imgur.com/xc4ragf.png
http://i.imgur.com/cYS8BnQ.png
http://i.imgur.com/Y0XoaC3.png


And off he flies in to the... uh... whatever is going on there.

And thus we come to the end of Disc 1!

Before we go though, let's check in on what's going on elsewhere.

Short Guard and Tall Guard, whom you may remember from South Gate, are talking about the crazy stuff that's been happening. Tall Guard asks short guard if the pickle dude was suspicious.


http://i.imgur.com/O7jUy0C.png


Words of wisdom.

Tall Guard tells Short Guard what an odd man he is because he was the one who was initially suspicious of Steiner, and Short Guard tells us that's how he wound up where he is!

What a beautiful story.


http://i.imgur.com/V4gRVno.png


Steiner is still in denial before we reach Alexandria.


http://i.imgur.com/L3T5H4M.png


And we get another mognet message delivered!


http://i.imgur.com/ZUsSqHq.png


Next time, Garnet and Steiner meet up with some unexpected allies! Stay tuned~

[Formalhaut]

I always found the end of discs to be really exciting times. Full of changes and new plot threads!

[Depression Moon]

I always found the end of discs to be really exciting times. Full of changes and new plot threads!

I agree with this. I also miss playing Final Fantasy games and this year marks the series 30th anniversary.

[Formalhaut]

Maybe I like compartmentalising games and stories into sections, but I just really like the disc format. There's just something about seeing something huge happen on screen, followed by the splash screen of 'End of Disc One, Please Insert Disc Two'.

I don't know, I think it's really cool.

[Pumpkin]

So Garnet and Steiner disembark in Alexandria and meet some old friends


http://i.imgur.com/nNjxWu8.png


Heading back inside, we strike up a conversation. Or at least try to amidst the fussing from Steiner.


http://i.imgur.com/qmD2Tkc.png
http://i.imgur.com/Ovv0oWI.png


After being fussed at, Steiner backs off and the cable car arrives.

http://i.imgur.com/6I1NUub.png


Marcus and Cinna say their goodbyes because one is heading to Lindblum and the other...


http://i.imgur.com/pE7Viiy.png


Exactly. But why, you might ask. Well, Garnet had the same question


http://i.imgur.com/L8AAZjq.png


Well, Marcus can answer that for himself.


http://i.imgur.com/G0qAJIe.png


Brother = Blank


http://i.imgur.com/5yi8nzr.png
http://i.imgur.com/Ubdhg21.png


Or at least he would be if he wasn't hanging around the station eating cake. Garnet decides she wants in on this cure the petrification plan, but Marcus is not as enthused about the idea.


http://i.imgur.com/6rZ9Uv8.png

http://i.imgur.com/iKvqv37.png


Garnet explains how she drugged him and ditched him, as a lady does.


http://i.imgur.com/WRJSj8E.png


And then she blames him

But before we can get in to all dat drama, something happens with the cable car!


http://i.imgur.com/nzKKfIV.png


How rude. They prefer to be called alternate saints.

Hearing this, our ensemble heads outside.


http://i.imgur.com/JOGsVDH.png


Oh look, it's our old friend Black Waltz #3!


http://i.imgur.com/TFzlbDP.png


Unfortunately we are lured in to another boss fight with no answers from the damaged Black Waltz.

This fight can be pretty annoying, especially with the steal rate but he doesn't have anything you can't get soon enough anyway so don't beat yourself up over stealing everything with this one.

So we defeat the Black Waltz once and for all


http://i.imgur.com/nC1yWys.png
http://i.imgur.com/XQUTqJ2.png


Marcus, full of tact, decides this is the time to bring it up. Steiner is like WHO COULD HAVE DONE THAT


http://i.imgur.com/ggo5oGx.png


Honestly I don't think he was doing it for her benefit, I think he's that oblivious and blindly loyal.


http://i.imgur.com/qW2uUOj.png


That'll stop her for sure. Nothing wrong with this plan!

Anyways, we head back on the cable car. I keep forgetting what it's called and had to scroll up to remember


http://i.imgur.com/EFA1fsa.png


"What, you mean the mass drugging?"


http://i.imgur.com/78o9C8c.png


Or that


http://i.imgur.com/WgHnXQZ.png


Marcus knows what she's getting at with this


http://i.imgur.com/32Rq81A.png


Basically, yes.


http://i.imgur.com/R8TlCc4.png
http://i.imgur.com/P4w1NrY.png


Before we head to Treno though, we make a quick stop by Dali!


http://i.imgur.com/m3zqWTR.png


It has been a whole disc

There's not much new going on. The farm lady fusses about the new factory and the lack of farming and Garnet vows to help her out.

We also run in to another friendly monster, yay!


http://i.imgur.com/xNMy62U.png


Also take your time getting around here, Steiner and Garnet will probably be a good bit lower in levels than Zidane and co. if you did stop and grind. So get some exp on your way around and learn some abilities.

So we finally arrive in Treno, the City of Nobles


http://i.imgur.com/P8iNTZw.png


I JUST SAID THAT


http://i.imgur.com/tEzsvsb.png
http://i.imgur.com/khRVdVA.png


While those two fuss, because Steiner can't help but fuss, Garnet takes off on her own.


http://i.imgur.com/FqQzBXy.png


And while Steiner freaks out about that, Marcus takes off too, leaving poor Ol' Rusty all alone.

There's actually a good bit of side things to do here. By putting 10 gil in the fountain many times you get another Zodiac!


http://i.imgur.com/3o6K2sB.png


D'aww

Afterwards you get this lovely ATE where Garnet is robbed


http://i.imgur.com/g5l4exf.png


She loses 1000 gil but if you follow the ATE's properly, you'll get your money's worth.


http://i.imgur.com/hgdhCLb.png
http://i.imgur.com/EJmggZs.png


..............


http://i.imgur.com/8d4TS6H.png


...................................................

http://i.imgur.com/Zu1EYNc.png


And there you have it! This won't be the last we see of this dastardly dude.

We also meet some interesting characters

http://i.imgur.com/e7t68Oh.png


How... fun and not depressing

And these two kids who are fussing about the nobles taking their land and detailing their plan to get rich and become nobles themselves and rule the town


http://i.imgur.com/432p5Hs.png
http://i.imgur.com/iSxBFnt.png


Kids these days, amirite?

We also get another letter from Stilitzkin


http://i.imgur.com/px4Y59G.png


Hmm...

While in Treno, it's a good time to make a shopping list because they have a good weapon shop and synthesis shop if you have the cash monie

We eventually find Garnet in the auction house. Steiner yells out how he was worried and she says she doesn't know how she's supposed to find the supersoft with him running around shouting like that.

Garnet is very sassy toward Steiner


http://i.imgur.com/epXPP5e.png
http://i.imgur.com/XjfSaAo.png


Brutal.

We also got to see Kuja in an earlier ATE, watching her from the auction house balcony...


http://i.imgur.com/s5ZhGnj.png


Speaking of auction house, you can buy some super great items here. You'll probably have to come back later when you've built up more cash but since I used the max monies cheat I could afford some goodies right off the bat.

I got some good equipment and these special items:


http://i.imgur.com/QnNTn8b.png
http://i.imgur.com/TeSfg15.png


Earlier FF references~


http://i.imgur.com/cAaXu80.png
http://i.imgur.com/Huvyi2a.png


We also find another Zodiac thing in Treno

http://i.imgur.com/HjJixHY.png


Overcompensating much, Taurus?

This is also the city where you can trade them in for prizes but Imma hang on to them for now.

At this point you can leave the city, follow the forest outside of town, and find another special place before going on with the game.


http://i.imgur.com/bMFklTL.png


We find another coin there


http://i.imgur.com/SxiuwEF.png


And some special info...


http://i.imgur.com/p4nC8dd.png
http://i.imgur.com/NFLkC7O.png


And I will leave you to ponder that while you wait for the next update~

Will they find the supersoft? Will Garnet convince her mom to not be a power crazy warmonger? Will Steiner stop getting in to a tiff with everyone? Find out next time!

[Formalhaut]

Good update!

I was genuinely surprised you go back and cure Blank of his petrification. It's certainly more thoughtful than what happens in FFIV...

[Pumpkin]

Okay so back with Garnet and Steiner, we meet back up with Marcus in Treno and it does indeed seem that he has a lead on the Supersoft. So Garnet follows him while Steiner yells at her while following closely behind.


http://i.imgur.com/ZiUWONE.png


Baku also meets us there and checks to make sure Garnet is okay with becoming a criminal.


http://i.imgur.com/5nSXcjV.png
http://i.imgur.com/ZyQLXyl.png


Steiner's response sets Baku on a bit of a tangent.


http://i.imgur.com/t04lF3y.png
http://i.imgur.com/4D3QAID.png
http://i.imgur.com/NesGqpp.png


Steiner is, as expected, totally confused.

Meanwhile, at the auction house, the auctioneer asks Kuja how things went in Bermecia


http://i.imgur.com/k326lOJ.png


He also mentions seeing Garnet in the crowd earlier and the auctioneer asks if he wants a meeting arranged.

http://i.imgur.com/10EwYP4.png
http://i.imgur.com/AouRo9r.png
http://i.imgur.com/GHBM14b.png


o.o

So anyway, back on the little boat, Steiner and Garnet are having some introspection


http://i.imgur.com/XQULE6n.png
http://i.imgur.com/DAoxJZb.png
http://i.imgur.com/FDNLSlH.png


Worried slightly about what Baku said, Steiner tries to push those thoughts aside, while Garnet has some thoughts of her own.


http://i.imgur.com/RQS3y3R.png


She questions why she's even here with Zidane's friends trying to save Blank's life


http://i.imgur.com/n4C11S8.png
http://i.imgur.com/LljRWJp.png

We head in to the synthesis shop after hours to start looking for the Supersoft, but it isn't long before someone shows up


http://i.imgur.com/0LU4yK4.png


Turns out, it's an old friend of Garnet's looking for some ink.


http://i.imgur.com/Rp53GKl.png
http://i.imgur.com/AzVCQFe.png


Steiner assures him that they are not doing anything illegal at all, but Garnet explains what they're looking for.


http://i.imgur.com/fZPNsZJ.png
http://i.imgur.com/NeNFdDl.png


Another voice calls down, wondering what the ruckus is, and Dr. Tot quickly agrees to help us while taking care of the synthesis shop owner by pretending the noise was all him.


http://i.imgur.com/Ydh5X5V.png


Giving some time for Dr. Tot to prepare, we head back to report to Baku.


http://i.imgur.com/FENzhGw.png
http://i.imgur.com/dMUrUkz.png


How awkward, she's standing right there. Fortunately (or unfortunately?), Baku is a very honest man and doesn't try to play off his comment.


http://i.imgur.com/QEEQnjy.png
http://i.imgur.com/pXZKDRu.png


We head over to Dr. Tot's house and make pleasantries while Steiner apologize for what happened earlier.


http://i.imgur.com/42iiuEM.png
http://i.imgur.com/qx5qRIs.png


Marcus quickly does help himself, since that's the whole reason he's here.


http://i.imgur.com/ntg5hAC.png


Woo, good job team!

While here, Garnet asks what brings the good scholar to Treno, and it turns out he has a sponsor here. She also asks about the giant globe in the middle of the room and they go check it out from the inside.


http://i.imgur.com/CACd50S.png


It is slightly damaged, but, you know. This leads to Garnet reminiscing about when she was a child.

The memory starts with Dr. Tot rambling about Eidolons and stones that disappeared from texts 500 years ago.


http://i.imgur.com/SZGq3uv.png


He thinks that the royal jewel in the Alexandrian royal family is to small to be the one from legend.


http://i.imgur.com/5FMUcKb.png


Oh well, I'm sure it doesn't matter and that this will not tie in to the plot in any way whatsoever!

Little Garnet pops down to complain about how she doesn't like books except for that 'I Want to be Your Canary' one by Lord Byron.


http://i.imgur.com/j1p3vgA.png


Oh children. So precious. So stupid.

Back in the present, Dr. Tootsie assures Garnet of his loyalty to her if she ever needs any help.


http://i.imgur.com/DRA1fve.png


Also, don't look at her butt you perv, she's 16!!!

Taking him up on his offer, Garnet explains to him a little bit about what's been going on.


http://i.imgur.com/C0UI1k4.png
http://i.imgur.com/kRnNXCP.png


He tells her about an underground passage way leading back to Alexandria because of course.


http://i.imgur.com/9scKVeP.png


And so Marcus stays with us a bit longer too.


http://i.imgur.com/6Gy40c7.png


We also get to deliver a letter and find out about this love hexagon


http://i.imgur.com/1lxuyRA.png
http://i.imgur.com/6slPCuH.png


This is another good area to grind, especially since Steiner and Garnet are at a lower level than your previous party probably. It's super easy to just go back in to town and buy more stuff or rest at the Inn and there's a save moogle right there. It can be pretty dull though because there are only like 3 screens, but I would recommend doing some grinding here.

It's time to flip a few switches when ready


http://i.imgur.com/w9mqALP.png


The gargant is indeed a giant insect that kind of follows the tunnels. But there are ways to get it to change course by using food. By flipping the right switches, we get the gargant to stop for us so we can hope in it's nifty trolley and head back to Alexandria.


http://i.imgur.com/EniMOUt.png


Dr. Tot asks Steiner to protect the Princess


http://i.imgur.com/xNsNlNp.png


He says that he will always protect her but that he, a lowly knight, cannot exceed his authority. Dr. Tot seems to know which way the wind is blowing though and asks him to think long and hard about that and make up his own mind.

With that, we head out on the gargant. Not long after, it gets stopped by a weird beasty thing.


http://i.imgur.com/rQrBKAV.png


If you did grind this should be a pretty easy fight. Whack it a few times after you steal and it'll run away, or you can just wait a while and it'll also decide to run away.

After defeating the beasty, we head back on the trolley and stop off at Alexandria.


http://i.imgur.com/ZqRA8Ws.png


I guess it wasn't a part of the tour when he signed on as a knight.


http://i.imgur.com/5xtA8wt.png
http://i.imgur.com/i3vkrju.png
http://i.imgur.com/9cSh8TY.png


Steiner quickly came to regret not listening to the Princess.


http://i.imgur.com/RrMm7z9.png


He of course blames Marcus like Marcus could somehow do this? But unfortunately, while they fuss, another gate opens in front of them.

http://i.imgur.com/OFr8Enz.png


At this point, our two buddies Zorn and Thorn show up to tell us we're all under arrest.


http://i.imgur.com/YKU4FlG.png
http://i.imgur.com/6o8hte3.png


Seems that they have order to cease the Princess. Everyone exclaims in shock!

Meanwhile...


http://i.imgur.com/u9pk2kJ.png
http://i.imgur.com/axP78m4.png
http://i.imgur.com/lrwjvGZ.png


As you'll come to find out, he is 100% correct on this.

So with the agreement that they'll head to Cleyra, they stop and ponder where Garnet could be.


http://i.imgur.com/NjuqRR3.png


And despite putting on a brave face for the others, we learn that Zidane is actually very worried on the inside.

Stay tuned for next time~

[Pumpkin]

I apologize in advance because this is going to be a massive update. It's a pretty climactic point in the story though so I guess it is what it is! Hopefully you can still enjoy it~

First we arrive in Cleyra


http://i.imgur.com/bnK0qAr.png


And have to climb aaaalll the way up that trunk to get to the settlement up top. Quina can learn Auto-Life and White Wind, both of which I would recommend snatching up while you're here. This area is also a prime example of how FFIX expects you to walk up against walls, because not all treasures can be seen. Also, make absolutely sure you do everything you want to do while you're here.

We get a mognet delivered:


http://i.imgur.com/zCnDi52.png


And then we eventually make our way up to Cleyra settlement


http://i.imgur.com/B7mqqKB.png


It's actually super pretty up here. Two Oracles were awaiting our arrival.


http://i.imgur.com/2OqLNvD.png
http://i.imgur.com/KnqBEud.png


I gathered. With that, we're offered a tour, which you can accept or decline. If this is your first time, I would highly recommend taking note of the path you follow during the tour. It might come in handy in a little bit.

http://i.imgur.com/gbyVn7B.png
http://i.imgur.com/mWZKIKp.png
http://i.imgur.com/vjf03L9.png
http://i.imgur.com/Fph2Bsn.png


After the tour of the pretty town, we're dropped back off where we started and we can begin exploring at our leisure. Visiting the Inn gets us this nifty letter from our friend Ruby!


http://i.imgur.com/0gjwDeF.png


This also brings a few ATE's out.

Quina, it seems, is not having a good time.


http://i.imgur.com/op7PEj5.png


S/e starts harassing the locals


http://i.imgur.com/uY7gSjp.png


Vivi, meanwhile, is being harassed


http://i.imgur.com/aDBdIyL.png
http://i.imgur.com/17X2U1D.png


They bully and chase poor Vivi in to the Inn :(


http://i.imgur.com/lrZtlt5.png
http://i.imgur.com/GIBkVIM.png


Thankfully the situation gets resolved and they see that Vivi is not their enemy. But at this point you can go check up at him in the Inn and he's still not feeling great, understandably.

Quina seems to be doing a bit better


http://i.imgur.com/5sFBUJm.png
http://i.imgur.com/oRITw8t.png


And we learn a bit more about the town

http://i.imgur.com/mRpiT3h.png


I dare you to just go out and say this to someone in public. This is the most fantasy nonsense ever.


http://i.imgur.com/9z07fEq.png
http://i.imgur.com/aSU5lcV.png


We go to meet up with Freya who asks us to head back to the Inn because she'll be a while. But on the way there we seem to find out about some kind of an emergency.


http://i.imgur.com/lN7qrPK.png


Well that doesn't seem like a good thing


http://i.imgur.com/jnz6abF.png
http://i.imgur.com/38ysfur.png


So while the oracle goes and does... uh... that, we rush off to rescue the kid. We run in to our other party members there because they wouldn't want us to do another boss fight solo right now.


http://i.imgur.com/26vr8Qo.png
http://i.imgur.com/7Snc284.png
http://i.imgur.com/26Y3Yfl.png
http://i.imgur.com/0rqwwNE.png


Oh look, it's our old friend Puck!

That whole scene was just magical btw

So we fight the Antlion. It's pretty simple, just Focus with Vivi while you Steal with Zidane and a few good Blizzara's should do the trick depending on how long stealing takes. I wouldn't worry about keeping your health at max because he'll just lower it with his sandstorm attack.

So we rescued Puck, who turns out to be a missing brat Prince


http://i.imgur.com/0k7MX0r.png


After Freya tells Puck that they should go check in with his father, the King, Puck decides to bolt it


http://i.imgur.com/7a9WOJq.png
http://i.imgur.com/1CjEPFG.png


He enslaved me and then ditched me when we got caught doing the illegal thing he put me up to doing and laughed at me when I almost fell to my death.

Good times.

Freya reports to the king that she found his son, who is still as mischievous as ever


http://i.imgur.com/uaJdr0q.png
http://i.imgur.com/ZNfO5sm.png


And he looks like he's 5 so I mean, good on him for leaving and adventuring from that young age.


http://i.imgur.com/a20neXg.png


That's right. It's dance party time.


http://i.imgur.com/1NZM7Bu.png


And thus the dancetastic ritual begins


http://i.imgur.com/0Up4nTo.png


One of these dancers is not like the others~

Unfortunately, a bad omen comes to be during the ceremonial dance


http://i.imgur.com/WTuWFtT.png


What does that mean?

It means this giant blue light appears and removes the protective sandstorm


http://i.imgur.com/pHuTBiF.png
http://i.imgur.com/NJRUl5b.png


Which is, you know, not good.

MEANWHILE


http://i.imgur.com/EAssOlf.png
http://i.imgur.com/lqFyNMC.png


Heh heh

Garnet is also at the castle, being upset about general goings on


http://i.imgur.com/tFzURie.png
http://i.imgur.com/x4bubYw.png


That's also around the time Kuja started showing up, if you can believe it.

Zorn and Thorn show up and order the Princess to go see the Queen


http://i.imgur.com/TUFWr6k.png


When that doesn't work to stop them, she tries another tactic


http://i.imgur.com/XgDmsgg.png


Unfortunately, her newly acquired slang simply confuses them and they drag her off

http://i.imgur.com/DPU06p7.png
http://i.imgur.com/RfHN5wh.png
http://i.imgur.com/Sl19JE6.png


Whether you choose to believe her obvious lie or not, Kuja decides to step in and be a creeper


http://i.imgur.com/ddYTvW6.png


And so he magic drugs her and puts her in a coma or something


http://i.imgur.com/JhkCrnd.png


So Zorn and Thorn drag her off to the basement

http://i.imgur.com/FeYicrT.png


And so they too start performing a ritualistic dance because that's apparently what the creators were in to at the time


http://i.imgur.com/7lHm62x.png


Back in Cleyra


http://i.imgur.com/rdy4MIj.png


But hey, at least you can see the sky now? And you won't get sand in your eyes as often?

No?

We also find out that some Alexandrian soldiers are headed up the trunk, as this mognet puts it.

http://i.imgur.com/ruQb1lY.png


You get to control Freya for a little bit, so make sure you check the mognet moogle in the Inn during this time and buy some goods from Stiltzkin. Head to the town entrance when you're prepared

The group meets up at the entrance

http://i.imgur.com/VXtaK83.png


Er... yeah.

And they start heading down while fighting off Alexandrian soldiers. That's when Freya notices that something is wrong right as Puck shows up


http://i.imgur.com/dY02Th6.png
http://i.imgur.com/KwaUDRW.png


And so we rush back to town to find it in chaos and being attacked by Black Mages

http://i.imgur.com/QMIBIhs.png


At this point, you'll have to guide survivors to the cathedral by giving them directions. They risk dying if you do it wrong and you'll get less goodies from them later. How do you know which way to go? It's the same way you went on your tour! Hope you were paying attention~

Also the moogle is off to the side where the Antlion was if you want to save and rest up.

Once we reach the top we find ourselves surrounded


http://i.imgur.com/xnQHPOb.png


And all of that rescue work went to waste!





Is what you might think, but an unlikely hero saves the day!


http://i.imgur.com/wgnhnCx.png


...rather poetically, for some reason?

Yup! It's Freya's long lost lover, Sir Fratley!


http://i.imgur.com/SAmzXwd.png
http://i.imgur.com/NXomu5h.png


...........................ouch

Turns out poor Sir Fratley has amnesia. Puck found him and he had no memory of anything, but still felt patriotic towards his duty as a dragon knight, so Puck brought him back to Cleyra


http://i.imgur.com/CoxZnkc.png


Vivi tries to check on Freya, who isn't the happiest at the moment


http://i.imgur.com/2uvglYV.png
http://i.imgur.com/KjFv8RW.png
http://i.imgur.com/sIL5Z1f.png
http://i.imgur.com/SF4L4GZ.png


As sad as that is though, we don't have much time to focus on it, because Beatrix decides to show up and steal the precious jewel!


http://i.imgur.com/8OAblIy.png


And so we chase her outside, but not before talking to the survivors and getting goodies and stuff. Also this would be a great time to remove equipment on Quina that you might want to have access to after Cleyra

Once outside, she kicks my butt again.


http://i.imgur.com/Xoi8X2Y.png


And they do withdraw using the magical floating, shimmering balls of plot coupon


http://i.imgur.com/y8zZCqT.png


So Zidane, Freya, and Vivi all decide to use the magical plot coupon and end up on Queen Brahne's airship

http://i.imgur.com/OLVrS9L.png


Quina decides not to come along

The Queen is rather enjoying herself


http://i.imgur.com/afV9Ggs.png


And she uses this opportunity to summon the Odin she stole from Garnet in that earlier scene


http://i.imgur.com/P5CCYtB.png


And Odin decides to throw his lance right at Cleyra, causing a few problems

http://i.imgur.com/jXjYEus.png
http://i.imgur.com/uu12oTw.png


Those problems being the complete and utter decimation of Cleyra.


http://i.imgur.com/tIL7xuN.png


And the Queen is absolutely giddy about it

Our heroes witnessed all of this and are understandably not coping well


http://i.imgur.com/7GYdEC0.png
http://i.imgur.com/BqkNygX.png


At that moment, Beatrix can be heard. She talks to one of her soldiers and shoots down the ass kissing she finds herself on the receiving end of


http://i.imgur.com/2pWKd5A.png


After sending the soldier away, she wonders about why Brahne would use the Eidolons and the Black Mages when he forces should have been enough


http://i.imgur.com/VlnM5ov.png


A few Black Mages go past, being told they're getting in the plot coupon pods to warp to Alexandria


http://i.imgur.com/DWXDMMP.png


Beatrix goes to report to the Queen, who snatches the jewel out of her hand without a word of gratitude


http://i.imgur.com/Va3WGnx.png
http://i.imgur.com/khY1SFr.png
http://i.imgur.com/aL8rvQ5.png


She states that Garnet will be executed when she gets back to Alexandria. Beatrix is visibly disturbed by this, and Zidane takes a fit from his eavesdropping spot


http://i.imgur.com/bDMTPDT.png


Vivi has a plan and takes them down to the pods.

Once you head downstairs, head back up and to the door where you were eavesdropping and you'll find a moogle friend there with another letter:


http://i.imgur.com/blKPTMJ.png


And that is where we will end things for now! Stay tuned for next time~

[Pumpkin]

Alrighty, so Vivi, Zidane and Freya are in some escape pod nonsense things heading to Alexandria. In Alexandria...


http://i.imgur.com/xhxzRIH.png


YEAH!

So then you have to do this like swinging minigame which is more fun than it should be in order to crash in to the side and smash your way out of your prison cage.


http://i.imgur.com/nGYs9z0.png


After Steiner and Marcus escape, Marcus decides to ditch poor ol' Rusty


http://i.imgur.com/LHXxmbG.png


Luckily, and totally believably, our other heroes happen to teleport drop right beside him


http://i.imgur.com/SSY00PP.png


Steiner is overall not super excited to see them because he's a man on a mission


http://i.imgur.com/xiWIDlJ.png
http://i.imgur.com/jsacsjD.png


Of course, Steiner doesn't believe Zidane and so he must hear it straight from Vivi before he'll let it sink in


http://i.imgur.com/Eg8vwQP.png
http://i.imgur.com/9RVjJlG.png


Don't worry, this is more than enough time. Frustratingly, if you finish in 10 minutes she'll still show up very shortly afterwards. What happened to my other 20 minutes?!

During our escape Marcus provides us with a bit of help and gives a quick update to Zidane


http://i.imgur.com/Q0uX2y5.png
http://i.imgur.com/3RyCMci.png


At this point we run through the castle being "chased" by incompetent guards who take forever to react to you and won't follow you to the next screen.

"Oh no, they went in to the other room! No way I could follow them!"

Finally we arrive in the Queen's chambers or something

http://i.imgur.com/2FL5Q6g.png


Flipping the switch on the wall opens up a secret passage through the fireplace in to the dungeon below, where we find Garnet!


http://i.imgur.com/I0YvpS3.png


This leads to a laughably easy fight with Zorn and Thorn. Just focus with Vivi while stealing with Zidane. They both go down when one goes down. Also you can cancel out all of their spells by attacking the one who is charging the spell. It is entirely possible to avoid taking a single hit this whole fight.


http://i.imgur.com/Cqs9UA9.png


And so we rush over to the Princess to see her laying on the cold, hard, stone floor, and that just can't be comfortable.

http://i.imgur.com/CzGl7c6.png


Steiner doesn't handle it well


http://i.imgur.com/sRn8KFq.png


Freya has some good news though


http://i.imgur.com/ti82tyt.png
http://i.imgur.com/vmhMHzA.png


Look at Steiner's pitiful face back there

After that we get to heroically carry Garnet all the way back upstairs and we also get another mognet!


http://i.imgur.com/LkwPOkW.png


Meanwhile

http://i.imgur.com/WcIBHFF.png


You go Marcus!

Back with our heroes, Steiner is finally starting to realize that maybe blind loyalty isn't always the best thing

http://i.imgur.com/w4zAjwP.png


Zidane struggles with what's happened to Garnet


http://i.imgur.com/9ORBbNZ.png
http://i.imgur.com/udMJHqO.png
http://i.imgur.com/TTlFgEB.png
http://i.imgur.com/LFXepIJ.png


I sense character development~

Before too much of that can happen though, Beatrix arrives to kick our butts


http://i.imgur.com/RfWbufQ.png


Can I just say how amazing Beatrix's hair and coat are?


http://i.imgur.com/bF7BPQq.png


So she beats us up again

http://i.imgur.com/UzgjnhK.png


Zidane decides to try words this time because fighting her obviously doesn't work


http://i.imgur.com/yqdBKIa.png


Poor Vivi over there

He also asks her what her duty is


http://i.imgur.com/DpaXLsk.png


He then points out the comatose Princess on the couch


http://i.imgur.com/xTGePmh.png


Anyone else like how Zorn and Thorn are just chillin there while this is all going on?

She tells them about how the Queen was planning to execute Garnet when she got back


http://i.imgur.com/6kbjiSp.png
http://i.imgur.com/BM30ntQ.png
http://i.imgur.com/0DnDdMN.png


Freya tells her it's too late to seek forgiveness (because of the whole mass destruction of both of her homes)


http://i.imgur.com/HTcg0QN.png


And so she tries with a little bit of encouragement from the jesters


http://i.imgur.com/UbFU5ga.png


Thankfully they are wrong and the Princess comes to


http://i.imgur.com/WcnDi5D.png


Brahne also chooses this moment to come check up on us


http://i.imgur.com/CC4u5F0.png


And like children, Zorn and Thorn tattle on us


http://i.imgur.com/6wqP5vw.png


This time though, Beatrix decides enough is enough


http://i.imgur.com/D3ZhAcs.png


Freya also stays behind to help out and allow the others time to escape and we get to do a few fights with Beatrix in the next section, yaaay

So we run all the way back down to escape when Steiner decides to get all existential on us


http://i.imgur.com/RbUJGef.png


Well, there are many theories, Steiner. Some think it's the work of a higher being, whereas other...


http://i.imgur.com/v851LyW.png
http://i.imgur.com/hJ0O9Wr.png


Oh you meant why aren't you fighting with them. Oh, my bad.


http://i.imgur.com/7S2SEcl.png


And with that, he rushes back up to help the ladies who could probably curb stomp him if they wanted to


http://i.imgur.com/vXXPVj7.png
http://i.imgur.com/g7b8xc4.png


Freya and Beatrix are slightly higher up, still fighting the good fight


http://i.imgur.com/WBfdCEB.png


SPOILER! It is

But even if it wasn't, the Knight in Rusted Armour has arrived!

http://i.imgur.com/M1HtGBn.png
http://i.imgur.com/nU6esXk.png


Zidane, Vivi, and Garnet, meanwhile, get stuck in the same trap as earlier. Oh, also, when you're passing by the door where you found Garnet, it's a good idea to go save, tent, and mognet at this time


http://i.imgur.com/NiUO093.png


This time in the trap, Marcus saves us again with the help of the newly freed Blank!


http://i.imgur.com/NL2N3Rz.png


They say their hellos and explain what happened


http://i.imgur.com/YGW7GFc.png
http://i.imgur.com/jZIXjoH.png


Blank is, understandably, a little behind the times.

Anyways, they hold up the enemy so we can get to the gargan. Seeing everyone staying behind and fighting, Garnet feels conflicted


http://i.imgur.com/o9Ip7TR.png
http://i.imgur.com/WHhgLag.png


I also like how Vivi's already chillin in the seat like "I mean, I'm getting out of here so..."

So off we go on the gargan, destination Treno, since Steiner actually entrusted Zidane with the Princess amazingly


http://i.imgur.com/bCEC1jd.png


Sadly the poor gargan finds itself one again harassed by an ugly snake thing


http://i.imgur.com/I6jZYEm.png


This boss fight is a bit more annoying since he likes to cast mini on your part but not too difficult. We defeat the monster and get back on the gargan, but it still isn't smooth sailing from there

http://i.imgur.com/l71tnYh.png


And because it's chasing us...


http://i.imgur.com/dt8FQRg.png


We fly right by Treno

Not only that, but it seems we've reached the end of the line

http://i.imgur.com/m9OJVuo.png


And fall we do.

Back at Alexandria Castle, Queen Brahne is expecting some guests


http://i.imgur.com/Q3glbkY.png


Uh oh~

Anyways, her guests


http://i.imgur.com/URg9huL.png


Yeah...


http://i.imgur.com/dtzwWNM.png
http://i.imgur.com/1XDJpwE.png


As much as I dislike Lani, that was a pretty slick response

So the two bounty hunters get their orders


http://i.imgur.com/L77FrMm.png
http://i.imgur.com/ryRp7V9.png


NO NOT VIVI D:!!!!

She also specifies that it's the pendant she wants and she couldn't care less about Garnet's fate. The other bounty hunter is only really interested in Zidane, who he heard was traveling with the Princess

Our heroes at this point have crash landed


http://i.imgur.com/AUlzT5i.png


Yeah


http://i.imgur.com/NttzRsq.png
http://i.imgur.com/24ntQCt.png


But before our plans can be put in to motion, we meet an unexpected celebrity


http://i.imgur.com/RUGnVla.png
http://i.imgur.com/gBjg2Nq.png


He makes Garnet feel guilty and powerless and asks her what she wants to do


http://i.imgur.com/Y8qf7Cc.png


After being reassured by her that she doesn't want to use her summon magic to cause more destruction, Ramuh considers lending her his power


http://i.imgur.com/8Dt0bPN.png


We have to find all 5 Ramuh's who will each give us a piece of a story, which we the have to compile!

We also get another mognet!


http://i.imgur.com/Qqou0aj.png


See you next time~

[Formalhaut]

~exciting~ plot stuff!

Worrying about Quina though! Hope they made it out okay!

[Galuf]

Yeah the scene where my favourite character Quina dies. Is so heartwrenching. Its in my top 5 saddest moments in ff for sure. Rip quina you will be missed. Not by many. But by me atleast!

What do you mean she doesnt die? Pfft way to ruin the moment!

also oh god I envy those graphics. they are so... smooothhh

[Pumpkin]

So we go around Pinnacle Rock looking for the 5 story pieces but PLOT TWIST


http://i.imgur.com/5rFpVsc.png


We only need 4! There are actually two different endings to choose from. Here is the story:


http://i.imgur.com/T7dgyks.png
http://i.imgur.com/ILsOjOG.png
http://i.imgur.com/xvZOtKn.png


(Shoutouts to FFII)

And the two possible endings:

http://i.imgur.com/zcG3q9F.png
http://i.imgur.com/AjuNdCX.png


But I won't tell you which one I picked, I'll just leave that up to you to choose which one you like more!

With the story properly compiled, Ramuh agrees to help Garnet


http://i.imgur.com/kbaZUjq.png


Yay summon~


http://i.imgur.com/Cn224Ht.png


FFIX just casually dropping incredibly valuable life lessons in one sentence


http://i.imgur.com/y2emjPM.png
http://i.imgur.com/rcU2u2r.png


Ramuh's voice magically appears to answer Zidane while also dropping some more great life lessons


http://i.imgur.com/GXYVKZG.png
http://i.imgur.com/vcuZskf.png
http://i.imgur.com/RG9Eu6e.png


Aww how happy is this. Finally things are going good!


http://i.imgur.com/sXp6qrZ.png


Well I hope you're not getting too happy because I have some bad news


http://i.imgur.com/HLTGGdA.png


It sure is buddy! Here to bomb the crap out of Lindblum!


http://i.imgur.com/NaHrqUo.png


Brahne also sends in the black mages, of course


http://i.imgur.com/bypcgMT.png


Which leads Zidane to noting some similarities to what's happening here and what happened in Cleyra


http://i.imgur.com/yMjM4e3.png


So Garnet and the others rush off but something stops Garnet in her tracks


http://i.imgur.com/Z3a1nTd.png


Oh look, Zidane was right

http://i.imgur.com/p4gOOqX.png


Atomos is just friggin creepy looking, isn't he?

So anyways, gravity Eidolon Atomos shows up to suck up a huge chunk of Lindblum


http://i.imgur.com/BkVrTcR.png


Imagine looking outside and seeing that how terrifying that would be

Sadly, all our heroes can do is watch on


http://i.imgur.com/Gdg6PFI.png
http://i.imgur.com/AfcsMDD.png


Garnet's face is just heartbreaking

We head to the heavily damaged Lindblum where Vivi is told to stay back


http://i.imgur.com/YIykUps.png


Because of the whole Black Mage thing

We learn that things are not going well in Lindblum. Some soldiers are pretty happy


http://i.imgur.com/mLc2dgW.png


And people everywhere have lost family


http://i.imgur.com/sArlXL8.png


Zidane also stumbles upon a group that seems to want to torture one of the Black Mages


http://i.imgur.com/k0PvjNm.png
http://i.imgur.com/c4zdzqN.png


Unfortunately, they don't take well to Zidane's interference


http://i.imgur.com/SZbfxeZ.png


You can also stop by the Inn to get some more Mognets


http://i.imgur.com/k5pWncG.png
http://i.imgur.com/Ld10t8L.png


You can actually find Lowell in the Theatre District in a little bit when the cable cars run again before setting off. You can also find a woman panicking over finding her husband who was in the Industrial District which is 100% gone now. And he daughter is just there wondering why her mom is crying.

Ugh. The feels


http://i.imgur.com/wC2DnsG.png


See?

So after meeting up with Minister Artania, he takes us to see the Regent


http://i.imgur.com/RuIJKal.png
http://i.imgur.com/6xc3zLP.png


Garnet is still worried about those who were left behind


http://i.imgur.com/cGZfv4s.png
http://i.imgur.com/Oe5W4M7.png


Around this time, poor Vivi shows up in custody of the Lindblum soldiers


http://i.imgur.com/WJY2esC.png
http://i.imgur.com/5duk8b4.png


They pretend Vivi is disguised to fool the enemy. Poor Vivi being discriminated against

So now it's time to get down to business


http://i.imgur.com/gPEuWxX.png
http://i.imgur.com/ZGcKLio.png


So that means


http://i.imgur.com/cRZIRbK.png


And where do we find Kuja?


http://i.imgur.com/5DO1ja6.png


Oooh~ But how will we get there? Zidane suggests an airship


http://i.imgur.com/xOMT2Rc.png


So he asks about the new airship that can fly without mist. Seems that's also a no go


http://i.imgur.com/2WEmQjH.png
http://i.imgur.com/X11Ttwq.png
http://i.imgur.com/HsOO2tC.png


The harbour is also a no go because Brahne also has that seized. So how are we supposed to get there?


http://i.imgur.com/jxcRgtS.png
http://i.imgur.com/7imxiLO.png


Sure that sounds like a really good and not at all unreliable plan. Luckily for us, we're in a video game and 99% of rumours are true!

Before you head out you can go to the Theatre District to get Lowell, check on your two mini-thief friends at the Tantalus hideout, and pick up some stuff, including new things available for synthesis.

Speaking of synthesis, you may remember the shopkeeps son not taking his job seriously and making the flame too hot. Well now his dad's hands were badly burned by Black Mages, so he's trying to make a serious go at taking over since his dad can't synthesize anymore. He still has a ways to go unfortunately


http://i.imgur.com/4Y2P1ZX.png


BUT he is getting better and as a result, new stuff can be synthesized!

Once you're ready, it's time to sneak in to the castle and head to the Falcon's Gate, where Garnet expresses concern about venturing in to largely unexplored territory. She also worries that she'll lose Zidane and Vivi and wonders if she could manage by herself


http://i.imgur.com/BSqiQ93.png
http://i.imgur.com/pFNb26J.png


We also see that Brahne and the Alexandrian troops are planning a long sea journey...

When we arrive downstairs, Cid shows up after having sabotaged the enemy


http://i.imgur.com/NO0VBnc.png


Having bought us some time, he gives us a world map and sends us on our way

We stop on the way for another mognet


http://i.imgur.com/wI2UY56.png


And head to Qu's Marsh to look for the cave

BUUUUUT we can't get help to the Outer Continent without a little help from an old friend


http://i.imgur.com/qLIpg1r.png
http://i.imgur.com/2oOdw9R.png


And so Quina agrees to help us look because more yummy yummies.

(This is also the point where Quina becomes mandatory, everything before this was optional)

And now is a good time for a bit more grinding and side activities, so the next update might take a bit longer

Stay tuned~

[Formalhaut]

Oh so Quina was optional before this? Interesting! Glad to see they're alive again!

Also, wow this game is getting seriously dark now.

[Galuf]

LONG LIVE THE QUIN (a)

formy your awesome because most people want to see her die :cry:

[Pumpkin]

So now that you're back on the world map, you can do some more Chocobo Hot & Cold and get a few more items! Also collect any chocographs you may have missed


http://i.imgur.com/RObLSQ8.png


And we get to show off Choco's new look!


http://i.imgur.com/YP4jfym.png
http://i.imgur.com/yr4wP35.png


Alright then.

This is also a good time for some frog catching and grinding. You won't gain much exp but you can get a good 2 AP per fight around chocobo's forest most of the time. If you have equipment that teaches Ability Up, absolutely prioritize learning that for everyone you can and make sure to equip it. I'd learn and equip level up second.

So we head back to Qu's Marsh and speak with our old friend


http://i.imgur.com/A6jEsxk.png


After Quale's usually maybe, maybe not thing, he gives us some info


http://i.imgur.com/pUp6f9c.png


So leave his house and head to the far right to trigger a scene


http://i.imgur.com/BguR2At.png
http://i.imgur.com/w59idQK.png


This leads to the entrance we seek as Quina blasts though the chains guarding it while chasing frogs


http://i.imgur.com/OXxHric.png
http://i.imgur.com/IZs4WnZ.png


S/he does lose the frog though :(


http://i.imgur.com/t8aVixT.png


Frog heartbreak aside, it is time to venture forth!


http://i.imgur.com/Na8wyUw.png


Yaaaay!

Except we immediately get chased by this ugly thing when we enter

http://i.imgur.com/XS74nYz.png


Booo!

After dodging axes, the thing falls in to a pit

Yaaaay!


http://i.imgur.com/Ivq954V.png


But we're not out of danger yet!


http://i.imgur.com/bSylPRZ.png


Man this has been an emotional rollercoaster

Bounty Hunter Lani appears and Zidane begins flirting before being scolded


http://i.imgur.com/S77ZaOX.png
http://i.imgur.com/raKeP4G.png
http://i.imgur.com/qv2RJ8Y.png


Buuuuut Lani isn't there to return Garnet to Alexandria


http://i.imgur.com/OFgRsLT.png
http://i.imgur.com/qUjpBqz.png


This leads to a boss fight. Lani's going to mostly target Garnet so keep her healed up

After the fight, Lani withdraws


http://i.imgur.com/tOLTTHA.png


And we get to further explore Fossil Roo! We find some untamed garngans which can be used to ravel around


http://i.imgur.com/hO2O5Yt.png


And we also meet a treasure hunter

http://i.imgur.com/CbkudTu.png


He gives us some helpful tips to explain the water and switch system used to navigate Fossil Roo

http://i.imgur.com/QDVKG6h.png
http://i.imgur.com/mRREnUE.png


We also run in to our friend Stiltzkin!


http://i.imgur.com/hyXDa6W.png


And get another mognet


http://i.imgur.com/MKoGNeQ.png


Sure enough, you can find this moogle through an excavating mini game. Just go to the far right wall on the top level when you're offered to dig in exchange for potions. There's also some good treasures around here and a few more black magic spells Quina can learn

Eventually, after flipping the right switches...


http://i.imgur.com/kyePZZi.png


Our friends are amazed at the lack of mist as they emerge on to the outer continent. Our first stop is


http://i.imgur.com/03xEpMR.png
http://i.imgur.com/i3Tx2uO.png


Quina runs off, excited about the prospect of new food and Zidane makes a comment about food being all s/he cares about


http://i.imgur.com/fE0V3ki.png


Roasted

http://i.imgur.com/mar86rV.png


Zidane tries to be smooth before realizing Garnet has already walked off and Vivi's the only one left


http://i.imgur.com/SrC5CPx.png
http://i.imgur.com/0Dq86lU.png


So anyway, in to Conde Petie we go!


http://i.imgur.com/vac7bT6.png


After an attempted greeting of Rally-Ho, Garnet and Vivi are allowed to enter the town, but Zidane is being a bit more stubborn


http://i.imgur.com/sKI6zIm.png


With that out of the way, let's explore the new town!

Vivi gets in the middle of a marital disagreement


http://i.imgur.com/li3EFqD.png
http://i.imgur.com/WMsGUV1.png


But is surprised to find the dwarfs are not afraid of him


http://i.imgur.com/A3I3JWj.png
http://i.imgur.com/ICOtTi9.png


Quina gets mistaken for the thief that's been ravaging the town


http://i.imgur.com/kGEJWd2.png
http://i.imgur.com/2xKfS6b.png
http://i.imgur.com/eqbgpOt.png
http://i.imgur.com/9SFITs7.png


Poor Quina

Zidane searches for information


http://i.imgur.com/4kmvAre.png
http://i.imgur.com/n1VOKRg.png


Without much luck

Garnet gets swept up in a conversation about someone looking for a wife for their son and suggesting maybe Garnet

http://i.imgur.com/ERTtgB2.png
http://i.imgur.com/eYF8Wpd.png


We also get a strange visitor in town...


http://i.imgur.com/CdT2DtU.png


And speaking of that thief that's been ravaging the town


http://i.imgur.com/TzvSXnY.png
http://i.imgur.com/BEF6581.png


Hmm~

While out shopping, we run in to the strange visitor

http://i.imgur.com/6YMvUhQ.png


Vivi is quite excited, but the Black Mage gets spooked and runs away

Thankfully, the locals have some helpful information for us


http://i.imgur.com/HuF3KZF.png


Next time, we go see what's going on with these Black Mages

Stay tuned~

[Fox]

BTW Pumpkin, I read on reddit that there's an HD Backgrounds mod out for FFIX Steam!

[Pumpkin]

Interesting!

[Galuf]

Ok. Soon we will see 10000 screenshots of every turn pumkin has trying to get the fairy flute from hillgigars


also I really like how square actually like. Understood our speak and gave it to the dwarves. Its funny

[Pumpkin]

pff

[Fox]

Ok. Soon we will see 10000 screenshots of every jump pumpkin has on the jump rope



ftfy

I know she's been saving it up

[Pumpkin]

On our way to track down the Black Mages, we run in to another friendly creature!



http://i.imgur.com/JEQGEiY.png


And then we arrive in a strange forest


http://i.imgur.com/xOnfFio.png


Basically you walk back and forth until all of the owls fly away. After that, you'll catch up with the Black Mage, who is using magic to show that the apparently dead forest is actually lush and beautiful


http://i.imgur.com/aMnqiWN.png


We follow him to find that this was covering a special village


http://i.imgur.com/cHapIs7.png


This is one of my favourite sections of the game, it's so wonderful

Our arrival, however, is not taken very well by the locals


http://i.imgur.com/f8tfoh7.png


Vivi is obviously quite excited and runs off to chase the runaway Black Mages. Garnet chases after him, and Quina goes to try and eat a chocobo egg being housed in the village


http://i.imgur.com/WC0i0BL.png


Vivi meets up with some other black mages

http://i.imgur.com/u3nXUyJ.png


After deciding it's okay to talk to him, Vivi asks how they got here.


http://i.imgur.com/FUh1hOa.png
http://i.imgur.com/3ROm3Gv.png


When Vivi asks what the place is where they're currently standing, he gets a very straight answer


http://i.imgur.com/qCFhkTL.png


He also gets a story from Mr. 56 explaining things a bit further

http://i.imgur.com/12IcLlp.png
http://i.imgur.com/D9hMI23.png
http://i.imgur.com/1Jhsi9n.png
http://i.imgur.com/2zGbpPt.png


Garnet meanwhile is having some trouble conversing with the locals at first, who don't trust her and think humans are just out to use them. Eventually she wins them over, though

We also find Virgo


http://i.imgur.com/k6K02g1.png


And then head over to check on Garnet

http://i.imgur.com/mU2aLxb.png


She goes out to check for him and we find Vivi running off, obviously upset. We go see Mr. 288 to learn a bit more about the situation


http://i.imgur.com/uV1aWdn.png
http://i.imgur.com/O10ToPZ.png


When Zidane answers no, Mr. 288 explains it was the same for him. One day he just became aware


http://i.imgur.com/NqWDvtp.png
http://i.imgur.com/9g1Gvux.png


Imagine just waking up one day to find you murdered people. That would be terrifying


http://i.imgur.com/uFJmD12.png


We also learn a bit more about what happened since


http://i.imgur.com/SPE8gPW.png


With a bit of a clue as to why Vivi is upset, we go see him in the Inn


http://i.imgur.com/eaMXYYP.png


Vivi makes it clear that he doesn't want to talk about it right now by pretending everything is fine, so we decide to call it a day

During the night, Garnet sees Vivi leave alone and gets concerned


http://i.imgur.com/Cn0TWrK.png
http://i.imgur.com/UKoTAbc.png


Joking aside, Zidane has a more serious explanation of what's probably going on


http://i.imgur.com/Q4KfqPO.png
http://i.imgur.com/vbDUZnP.png


So what might he be looking for?


http://i.imgur.com/Ad8bnNz.png


This also leads in to a story Zidane has about a man looking for his home


http://i.imgur.com/WAe65Ox.png
http://i.imgur.com/49Vh40I.png
http://i.imgur.com/th8DkVS.png


Gee, I wonder who this story is about


http://i.imgur.com/EYoXmTE.png
http://i.imgur.com/0u5ngPs.png


Unfortunately, he didn't succeed in finding his birthplace


http://i.imgur.com/VHH7tWS.png
http://i.imgur.com/3rbDKkC.png
http://i.imgur.com/QCJ7nGa.png
http://i.imgur.com/du6Qd81.png
http://i.imgur.com/GkSSov9.png


After that... sad story, we see Vivi has gone back to talk to Mr. 288 again


http://i.imgur.com/gn1TMLf.png
http://i.imgur.com/ri8dOAX.png
http://i.imgur.com/8ltVxkV.png
http://i.imgur.com/3IwJLrW.png


And thus poor, sweet, innocent Vivi has to start facing the fact that he too will die someday


http://i.imgur.com/cSjgOaP.png
http://i.imgur.com/mNxIz84.png


Maybe someday soon :(

Mr. 288 himself is still not sure how he feels about dying

http://i.imgur.com/V18skk6.png
http://i.imgur.com/O5zoaZv.png
http://i.imgur.com/7vXTASo.png


Aww

The next morning, we get some intel from one of our new Black Mage friends


http://i.imgur.com/Rfy50Rk.png
http://i.imgur.com/VbKcgLz.png


Just as the group wonders if Vivi is going to choose to stay here with his fellow Black Mages, he runs up to us


http://i.imgur.com/VFsty32.png


And so we once again embark on our journey after meeting new friends


http://i.imgur.com/iheWFT7.png


And getting another letter


http://i.imgur.com/K3ggRF9.png


Wasn't that a wonderful bit of story?

Stay tuned for next time where there may or may not be a super weird wedding between two characters~

[Galuf]

Watch out. This is where the game gets sad. Maybe just me though lol.

also if you see yeti... tell him he is not ugly. He is on the edge of despair right now he can use any help he can get :(



Also goodluck on condie petie lol.

[Pumpkin]

Before heading back to Conde Petie, we say goodbye to the villagers


http://i.imgur.com/6TwWeWE.png


I'm right there with you, buddy

Also in all of my playthroughs, I never checked these paintings before


http://i.imgur.com/WohiLOU.png


That's neat.

So we head back to Conde Petie


http://i.imgur.com/BYM3bWn.png


But unfortunately we cannot pass


http://i.imgur.com/GnF9yLR.png
http://i.imgur.com/RsjHjJe.png


And we have to go speak tae His Holiness who is wandering around a hallway and worrying


http://i.imgur.com/cE0s1AU.png


He also tells us we cannot pass, unless...


http://i.imgur.com/AjKCgiy.png
http://i.imgur.com/2HX1sTg.png


Zidane jokingly tells Garnet they should go for it to get through to the Sanctuary

http://i.imgur.com/xEYbEUc.png


Zidane is quite shocked by this, saying that this isn't enough reason to get married, but Garnet is determined to go through with it


http://i.imgur.com/dGP0lva.png
http://i.imgur.com/f2NpNYD.png


Important questions to ask during a wedding



http://i.imgur.com/YDpckcf.png


.....................................

So anyway, Garnet and Zidane get married


http://i.imgur.com/nsSX6vS.png
http://i.imgur.com/8S79rR4.png


Aw



http://i.imgur.com/tTiHqxT.png


Pretty sure that's what they say in Vegas

But that still leaves another matter


http://i.imgur.com/j6hfJQz.png
http://i.imgur.com/heHPwRQ.png


Mueheheheehehehe


http://i.imgur.com/GjGmJfq.png
http://i.imgur.com/Cf3wyCQ.png


So after a rather awkward ceremony, Quina and Vivi tie the knot. Quina decides to be a good sport about things


http://i.imgur.com/f8LCXIi.png


Awww

So we head to see the twins but we're soon interrupted by another matter


http://i.imgur.com/vtLfk1K.png
http://i.imgur.com/AkmXT5Q.png


And so the tiny thief and her moogle collaborator dash off and we chase after them. This would be a good time to unequip Quina btw


http://i.imgur.com/YUom2qq.png


We catch up to her pretty quickly because she got stuck on a branch over a cliff. When he moogle sees us, she runs away

http://i.imgur.com/WPxKJxL.png
http://i.imgur.com/hLGyWJy.png


The little girl gets spooked and urges us not to eat her because she tastes bad


http://i.imgur.com/SLTjzFK.png


Not totally deterred, Quina goes chasing off after the escaped moogle and knocks the girl down in the process


http://i.imgur.com/w6SVwGd.png


She immediately starts picking on Vivi for being smaller than her because she's not a "kid" like him and then picks on him because she introduces herself first and says he should introduce himself to a lady first


http://i.imgur.com/xoAtJBm.png


And thus we get our newest party member!


http://i.imgur.com/pluVkkh.png
http://i.imgur.com/zJsu4RU.png


Valid reason

Garnet decides its a good idea to take Eiko home, and when Zidane agrees while indicating that they're newlyweds, Eiko gets curious


http://i.imgur.com/8NHC4kP.png
http://i.imgur.com/XjZt3cb.png
http://i.imgur.com/pwnQutG.png


The Zidane rejection train continues


http://i.imgur.com/AaHRwNx.png


And so we start heading to Eiko's house, getting a look at the Sanctuary on our way


http://i.imgur.com/pxBWnkA.png


We learn from Eiko that it's actually valled the Iifa Tree


http://i.imgur.com/jy4fG0q.png


Turns out only the dwarfs call it that

There's also another mognet letter


http://i.imgur.com/tVP3Hl2.png


And we once again meet up with Stiltzkin



http://i.imgur.com/jj8aoUS.png


Further on our way to Eiko's house we run in to a terribly annoying boss fight


http://i.imgur.com/WR6R8Fb.png


This fool. If you care about stealing, be prepared for a long one. Get a sandwich and a drink and a blanket and settle in for a little while

During the boss fight, we learn that Eiko can also use summon magic


http://i.imgur.com/8Z6JKpK.png
http://i.imgur.com/dNhL1Ql.png
http://i.imgur.com/P5su9PN.png


And thus a bond is formed!

Imma end here because stealing that stupid flute took way too long, but next time we will head to Eiko's house!

[Galuf]

Wow pumpkin... didnt know youd resort to cheating just to pretend you stole the flute. Im reporting you to shauna.

[Depression Moon]

Just looking at images of this game makes me feel good.

[Pumpkin]

Today we learn more about our new friend Eiko as we take her home!


http://i.imgur.com/ODoBlhm.png
http://i.imgur.com/OndwWje.png


Zidane, as polite as ever


http://i.imgur.com/BEYT3JN.png


Since Eiko is home, her moogle friends come out to greet her


http://i.imgur.com/oDl8B9s.png


Mog comes out of hiding and gets fussed at


http://i.imgur.com/Uj6tWV4.png


We head further in to the village and Eiko is all about her hero Zidane


http://i.imgur.com/hnAMLSN.png


Zidane has some questions of his own for the tiny summoner


http://i.imgur.com/ByXDUCR.png


But instead of answering, she barrages him with questions


http://i.imgur.com/MYxWA3E.png


Since he doesn't get a chance to answer, I will try to answer for him!

He doesn't know
16
Steal
After Kuja


http://i.imgur.com/y3W7yUi.png


The kind that doesn't have sleeping weed in it
???
???
Garnet

Noticing that Garnet seems a little out of it, Zidane goes to check on her and thinks maybe she's jealous


http://i.imgur.com/gdJ2COm.png
http://i.imgur.com/fyn5hwg.png
http://i.imgur.com/Qa9K58q.png


With that, Eiko invites us to dinner


http://i.imgur.com/ZUtNBMO.png


Speaking of Vivi, he's stuck tackling with the recent news about how Black Mages have been dying


http://i.imgur.com/R42hWmu.png
http://i.imgur.com/N1L4CJ6.png


And he starts asking the questions we've been asking ourselves forever


http://i.imgur.com/YYT4OUS.png
http://i.imgur.com/sp9oY24.png


Eiko, meanwhile, starts prepping for dinner


http://i.imgur.com/lyh1aF2.png
http://i.imgur.com/QPkYIRN.png


Er... yeah


http://i.imgur.com/jRWgbxW.png


Puehehe


http://i.imgur.com/4k82TaJ.png


As everyone gets to their tasks of helping, Eiko looks up at the sky and asks her Grandpa for help


http://i.imgur.com/vjsc0xa.png


While in Madain Sari, we also get another piece of our Zodiac story!


http://i.imgur.com/i7NdD1A.png


And we see that Garnet is having some struggles of her own


http://i.imgur.com/hvzuHi0.png
http://i.imgur.com/o18F17k.png
http://i.imgur.com/FHGhsLz.png


And you thought you had parental issues

http://i.imgur.com/YUNxral.png
http://i.imgur.com/QHJEdVg.png
http://i.imgur.com/6YXNaD5.png


And so two of our characters needed to go to a whole new continent to learn more about themselves.

This is why they tell you to travel after high school!

We head to Eidolon Wall to find that access is restricted. But we do see an old friend

http://i.imgur.com/l0pgPbI.png


Upset by the subpar sand, Quina jumps in to a river

Where s/he is soon fished out


http://i.imgur.com/wgrcjq1.png
http://i.imgur.com/8WgUqih.png


Speaking of which, when cooking with Eiko, make sure to prepare enough water for at least 11 people and help the moogle out when they're fishing in order to fish out Quina

Still not done cooking, we are offered a tour of Eidolon Wall


http://i.imgur.com/wRDmwI4.png


We also go get Garnet, figuring she'd like to see this


http://i.imgur.com/FkoyHFu.png
http://i.imgur.com/qOnE3jg.png


While Garnet learns more about the eidolons, we learn more about the summoners as well


http://i.imgur.com/48QGk0W.png
http://i.imgur.com/9Ch1c9y.png


Meanwhile, after fishing up Quina


http://i.imgur.com/JlMIz4X.png
http://i.imgur.com/obnffFv.png


Quina quickly clears up the misunderstanding, more concerned with helping Eiko prepare a proper meal


http://i.imgur.com/BaXim9H.png
http://i.imgur.com/8Sb0gVu.png


With Quina and Vivi's help, dinner is finally prepared and it is amazing

http://i.imgur.com/Mv5zQ24.png
http://i.imgur.com/r7MJtYp.png


And my screencap got photobombed by a moogle apparently

During dinner we ask Eiko more about herself and this place

http://i.imgur.com/YBoMv7h.png
http://i.imgur.com/vD60ynT.png


(That means they're dead)


http://i.imgur.com/1A6XdCk.png


Aww poor child

Although living with moogles doesn't seem like a bad time tbh


http://i.imgur.com/PsKg2sG.png


(That means she's six)


http://i.imgur.com/CzCghom.png


So most of them died and after her grandpa... well she was the last one left


http://i.imgur.com/gNdcnAC.png
http://i.imgur.com/p9YhqBi.png


We also learn about the horn on her forehead


http://i.imgur.com/9PnoXBP.png


Afterwards, her and Garnet chat about literature that they're surprised Eiko has copies of since she's so far away from the Mist Continent.

After dinner, Eiko asks if Zidane wants to eat her cooking everyday and he says sure. Not satisfied with his half-assed answer, she asks us to help with the cleaning


http://i.imgur.com/Ws3osWh.png


While helping (or in this case standing there holding a pot) we ask her more about the Iifa Tree

http://i.imgur.com/5ucxOU9.png
http://i.imgur.com/xy47f8D.png


We ask her if she'll break the seal for us and she says no

Later that night, Vivi and Zidane do some male bonding


http://i.imgur.com/nbx3cQ8.png
http://i.imgur.com/Hq3LNUh.png


Time for a Zidane peptalk!


http://i.imgur.com/MGla25p.png
http://i.imgur.com/ffsjZ2p.png
http://i.imgur.com/9purhz4.png


He then tells Vivi that he just wants to protect those he cares about

Eiko, who was eavesdropping, decides that she's going to follow her heart and come with us when we leave

http://i.imgur.com/m1Kppvg.png


Meanwhile


http://i.imgur.com/rxDjjVt.png


Zidane and Vivi decide to pee under the stars

How... romantic or something I don't know

The next morning, Garnet tells us she wants to come back here because she feels a sense of comfort with this place

http://i.imgur.com/wk8XzUG.png


Eiko sneaks up and tells us we need her to unlock the seal and asks Zidane if we want her with us, to which he replies of course he does


http://i.imgur.com/uPyBVi7.png


Garnet walks away after asking Zidane why he needs to be so nice to everyone, and Zidane asks Vivi if he's settled his feelings on what was worrying him. He says he hasn't


http://i.imgur.com/AR3d99S.png


And the next update will be a while because this is a good place to grind (free healing) and Eiko has a loooot of catching up to do, but next time we head to the Iifa Tree!

Stay tuned~

[Pumpkin]

Alright so before we head to the Iifa tree, we can get another one of our special coffees for Morrid in Eiko's kitchen


http://i.imgur.com/8JxjqB7.png


After that it's time to head to....


http://i.imgur.com/y8pPcqi.png


Yeah!


http://i.imgur.com/lw6RmJR.png


Either that or teens hang out here to vape

So anyway, there's a barrier protecting the tree, which we knew, and after Zidane bodyslams it to no avail, he asks Eiko for help


http://i.imgur.com/0iid6Op.png


She does a whole little boom boom spell thing


http://i.imgur.com/Dheky9A.png
http://i.imgur.com/tZzzjJc.png
http://i.imgur.com/aGqBLUe.png
http://i.imgur.com/opUvpoo.png


And so Garnet starts to feel insecure about her lack of a horn

We head inside the Iifa Tree and deliver another mognet


http://i.imgur.com/1AyKio8.png


Speaking of Vivi, he's not doing so hot


http://i.imgur.com/983tE0v.png


I'm right there with you, bro

Eiko takes this opportunity to act as his big sister and tells him to stay close. Zidane asks Eiko if she has any info on this weird mechanical/natural tree


http://i.imgur.com/dklDBuH.png


Zidane does the obvious thing and steps on the big circle with the triangle on it

http://i.imgur.com/JtRtHXE.png


And finds that it goes down like an elevator


http://i.imgur.com/HF7IWuR.png


After waiting for it to come back up, they all head down, further in to the Iifa Tree. One of my least fave dungeons. It's just kinda super linear and ugly and the monsters are pretty annoying. Anyway

So we end up somewhere more vibrant looking

http://i.imgur.com/QAZk0Af.png
http://i.imgur.com/KqV7wow.png


So Eiko hops on a sketchy looking leaf and it doesn't move. So we decide to all hop on it and then it moves because sure


http://i.imgur.com/6WZkx2Q.png


I guess you need to weigh more than like 12 lbs. Also poor Vivi again.

So anyway, Eiko explains that moogles are like fairies (very plump fairies) she asks her friend Mog, who hides away in her dress, what she senses.

http://i.imgur.com/mfh9Ub8.png
http://i.imgur.com/RTw0IhK.png


Good job Mog. Good job.

So after random battles with zombies and zombie dragons, we get to talking about the mist


http://i.imgur.com/uRxBxCh.png
http://i.imgur.com/unLPNtt.png


Those seem like excellent and complicated questions that certainly won't be straight up answered in like 10 minutes


http://i.imgur.com/ScTlhGo.png
http://i.imgur.com/x4w9Kre.png


Eiko asks for an update and Garnet explains how Black Mages were being made there before apologizing to Vivi


http://i.imgur.com/51lDSVw.png
http://i.imgur.com/Rih4CMq.png


He's so smart and precious

So we reach the bottom of the leaf.... thing and arrive and yet another high up place. Eiko asks Vivi for his company as she goes to scout things


http://i.imgur.com/TmhaVAY.png


"Helpless"

Zidane and Garnet also chat about how the tree seems alive but also like part machine and also like super old


http://i.imgur.com/C8LROs3.png


Eiko asks Zidane to romantically gaze down below with her

http://i.imgur.com/ovvcQ5I.png


It's very... green. But it turns out Eiko wasn't looking anyway


http://i.imgur.com/KIz8Sys.png
http://i.imgur.com/DxS1WnY.png


There there buddy

But before Eiko can creep Zidane out further, something happens


http://i.imgur.com/hzmiDNL.png


Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No.

IT'S ZOMBIE TREEEE


http://i.imgur.com/QdKoCge.png
http://i.imgur.com/YuwL3JB.png


BUT WHY


http://i.imgur.com/lUEZAYS.png
http://i.imgur.com/QvJLgbO.png


Say what you will about Evil Zombie Tree, but man is he easy to get answers out of. None of that vague villain stuff for him. Just straight answers

But how does this tie in to Kuja?

http://i.imgur.com/QvRG3lC.png
http://i.imgur.com/AVXIgP5.png
http://i.imgur.com/wjsqoEV.png


DUN DUN DUUUUUUUUUUUUUNNNNNNNN


http://i.imgur.com/F6suZEc.png


And if no more mist flows, that means there will be no more Black Mages...


http://i.imgur.com/F7kh6Gt.png


And so we get a boss fight and I will give you a hint for making it super easy. He's a Zombie Tree. Maybe if you have some restorative items to spare...

So with Evil Zombie Tree defeated, the mist begins to recede


http://i.imgur.com/6ezyBzT.png


Not just here but also back on the Mist Continent


http://i.imgur.com/KWJmGPh.png
http://i.imgur.com/2M2sifq.png
http://i.imgur.com/KyIYV00.png


They're gonna have to rename it now


http://i.imgur.com/YZjFgwV.png


Oh we're being serious again


http://i.imgur.com/hjTskwA.png
http://i.imgur.com/aHQSma3.png
http://i.imgur.com/EToyYux.png


Poor Vivi. He wonders if this will make his fellow Black Mages hate him


http://i.imgur.com/AcxCouh.png
http://i.imgur.com/Ccqm3mn.png


Eiko can be a sweetie when she wants to be. Honestly I like her more and more everytime I play the game. I have mad respect for this six year old who lost her whole tribe and whose whole family died and it's up to her to keep the summoner legacy going and these people show up one day tangled up in this massive mess and she's like "I gotchu"

So the gang decides to wait for Kuja, figuring he'll show up with his mist supply gone, but unfortunately Eiko gets some bad news from one of her moogle friends


http://i.imgur.com/UFwsBnY.png
http://i.imgur.com/owKp9mE.png


And because we're her new besties, we decide to go with her

Stay tuned next time to find out what's going on back in Madain Sari~!

[Galuf]

Yay we are at the same spot in the game 😀

[Pumpkin]

Alrighty, we head back to Madain Sari to see what happened


http://i.imgur.com/dq1vpyv.png
http://i.imgur.com/tNslg9R.png


Seeing that she's upset, Zidane tells her she can cry if she wants to


http://i.imgur.com/bE7hsix.png


Six is pretty grown up

Nah I'm not trying to sell her short, she is pretty grown up for her age. But at the end of the day, she's still a small child. Poor thing


http://i.imgur.com/0XU1PUo.png


She wonders if it's her fault because she left the village and broke the seal on the Iifa Tree. Zidane comforts her


http://i.imgur.com/LzkXcZV.png


Eiko agrees and reiterates that she was not going to cry because she's a grown up and grown ups don't cry. Tell that to me when I play a sad game.

http://i.imgur.com/or30ftm.png
http://i.imgur.com/EviRNV4.png


After she leaves, Zidane puts the moves on Dagger and tells her he always has a shoulder if she feels like crying


http://i.imgur.com/zscDtzn.png


And so he starts teasing her again


http://i.imgur.com/Eu2xWqV.png


What a goof. But before more flirtatious shenanigans can happen...


http://i.imgur.com/Bdkjrz6.png
http://i.imgur.com/OZJu2Qu.png


Uh oh

Sure enough, our old friend is back


http://i.imgur.com/DKEPvfP.png


Zidane tries to get Mog to help him with an Eiko rescue plan but Mog is too much of a coward, so we have no choice but to confront Lani head on.

Lani has since drugged Eiko with some sleeping weed since she was so rambunctious. Zidane gives Garnet the side eye


http://i.imgur.com/kFcC2pn.png


Lani says this is too good of an opportunity to pass up however. She came here trying to get Garnet's pendant and found one just like it here. She asks Garnet where her pendant is now and Zidane confesses to having it

http://i.imgur.com/EJLVBWp.png


However, sensing that Zidane is up to no good, she tells Vivi to bring it to her, which he reluctantly does.

BUT THEN

http://i.imgur.com/mA3FbUS.png


A mysterious hero comes to our rescue, opposing the dastardly Lani


http://i.imgur.com/ENyP4xM.png


Who is this mysterious man??


http://i.imgur.com/jZosAFo.png


Lani asks him what his shedealio is and why he's betraying her like this

It's super embarrassing


http://i.imgur.com/4pKUHSJ.png


And so, not wanting to take everyone on, she takes off threatening to collect his bounty some day

As for our hero

http://i.imgur.com/LUoPmN3.png


SURE

So after we beat him up with just Zidane, pretty easy fight, he asks us to kill him because it's what you do when you lose a fight


http://i.imgur.com/W3i9xAk.png


Zidane doesn't really care about that though and just wants Eiko's treasure back


http://i.imgur.com/rOeSmty.png


The dude is still all like WHY HAVE I NOT BEEN KILLED YET


http://i.imgur.com/5OgyQGI.png
http://i.imgur.com/kw7yvsx.png
http://i.imgur.com/f37wZml.png


At this point the guy is just a broken record


http://i.imgur.com/rQGeolx.png


And now Zidane is just tryna sound cool

So the dude leaves and Eiko demands Vivi follows after her when she goes back to where the treasure was being held


http://i.imgur.com/8ySIkJp.png


We also follow after Eiko to see how she's holding up


http://i.imgur.com/0rKBHcl.png
http://i.imgur.com/E7LA4fs.png


Friendship is hard

Eiko is struggling with a tough decision


http://i.imgur.com/0ovklSX.png


But she wants to travel with us


http://i.imgur.com/ZyHYEC1.png


It doesn't matter what you say though because-


http://i.imgur.com/JQ9QQHd.png


Yeah


http://i.imgur.com/dVtEXzg.png
http://i.imgur.com/8zApnHW.png


Aww Vivi. Too presh for this world


http://i.imgur.com/qEiWaEo.png


Mog is worried that Eiko is mad at her


http://i.imgur.com/dV75Fiu.png


But at the end of the day, they're both still besties


http://i.imgur.com/36Jqysl.png


Not only are they besties, but they're like sisters

http://i.imgur.com/6ejV33D.png


They even have matching ribbons they made for each other

http://i.imgur.com/h3p7yP3.png


She asks Zidane if he'll dance with her when that day comes


http://i.imgur.com/sFR9AAd.png


Smooth

Later on, Zidane finds Garnet in a little boat under Eiko's house


http://i.imgur.com/PdflRjn.png
http://i.imgur.com/5g5NGOk.png


Muehehe

But before long it goes to more serious talks


http://i.imgur.com/4EGhBhw.png
http://i.imgur.com/mWQA19l.png


Zidane says that they did all help, but they also each had their own paths to walk


http://i.imgur.com/KoL2Zis.png


OH YAY IT'S STORY TIME


http://i.imgur.com/PJMkkU6.png
http://i.imgur.com/elMMg5f.png
http://i.imgur.com/hy7u4HT.png


After venturing together so far, Ipsen asked Colin


http://i.imgur.com/LhY0L6f.png


And the answer?


http://i.imgur.com/5a95Ovn.png


D'awww :3

As the boat drifts out to sea, Garnet hears the song she sings that no one else knows

http://i.imgur.com/x4V6B66.png


And finds some of her memories triggered


http://i.imgur.com/Bj54Ijk.png
http://i.imgur.com/yfmCEep.png


And so we see a memory of Madain Sari undergoing a disaster


http://i.imgur.com/frwgvk0.png


And a small girl and her mother escaping on a boat


http://i.imgur.com/FlvjskL.png
http://i.imgur.com/s0TqE8L.png


So Garnet tells us some more about her past


http://i.imgur.com/YXIcE8k.png


And before then...

http://i.imgur.com/iTiyTfU.png
http://i.imgur.com/nu0Zxsf.png


Garnet wants to ask Dr. Tot more when she gets home about who her mother was, how she got to Alexandria, and why she doesn't have a horn


http://i.imgur.com/dd8Qc1E.png
http://i.imgur.com/TrpaKU1.png


With that, Eiko makes up her mind to join us on our quest, which surprises Vivi the next morning since he slept through all of this


http://i.imgur.com/omWkV3K.png
http://i.imgur.com/5WQoXm5.png


But before we can leave, our friend comes back


http://i.imgur.com/GTUaWTS.png


OH MY GAAAWWWWWSSSSHSHHHHHHHHHHHH

http://i.imgur.com/TNb9Cjw.png


And that's a good idea said no one ever


http://i.imgur.com/kyoL7d0.png
http://i.imgur.com/BMuuXo9.png


"Human"

And so we get our last party member.

Next time, we finish up disc 2!

Stay tuned~

[Galuf]

Theres amarant for you formy :). He is a wee bit odd.

[Pumpkin]

After grinding Amarant a bit we head back to the Iifa Tree, where our newest party member wants an update


http://i.imgur.com/tfHMcEw.png
http://i.imgur.com/tz5X8Qs.png


Kuja decides to show up at this point, pretty unconcerned about the mist being gone

http://i.imgur.com/ociF04k.png
http://i.imgur.com/7bNWVxd.png


They keep calling it a silver dragon, but it looks pretty green to me. Especially right next to Kuja

Our heroes heroically rush up the Iifa Tree in pursuit of Kuja, since that's the whole reason we came to this continent, but we hit a snag when most of the party can't climb up the steep trunk

http://i.imgur.com/dzqopd1.png


But this of course is not a plan Zidane approves of, so he comes up with a different one

http://i.imgur.com/KAbNqQe.png


But now it's Amarant's turn to dispute the plan

http://i.imgur.com/4BCGr2f.png


And so off he goes with a child in each arm

http://i.imgur.com/13abVUo.png


Yeah, "spirit." Zidane grabs Garnet on a piggy back and away they go!

Kuja, meanwhile, is monologuing about how the strong imprison the weak or something. Very Darwinian

http://i.imgur.com/J2qeqLc.png


The party catches up to him and has some questions


http://i.imgur.com/dPOVwQW.png


He denies it, claiming he simply gave her a push. And the Black Mages?


http://i.imgur.com/W9qoNCB.png
http://i.imgur.com/RoAIIwt.png


Vivi, upset by what he's saying, tells him to stop


http://i.imgur.com/yzVa4jo.png


Zidane takes this to mean the dregs of souls is the mist. Garnet asks how he can be so heartless about everything he's done, but he doesn't see the big deal, saying people die all the time. He continues to deny that he made Brahne go all psycho


http://i.imgur.com/fkxaeDF.png


As if to prove him right, Brahne's ship fleet arrives


http://i.imgur.com/n7osdJF.png


The Queen herself seems ready to betray Kuja, something he was anticipating


http://i.imgur.com/Hipq7TI.png
http://i.imgur.com/kw7r4PD.png
http://i.imgur.com/IkRsm5x.png


And so Kuja leaves to go fight Brahne and her fleet of ships full of Black Mages


http://i.imgur.com/B6CEhzk.png
http://i.imgur.com/vqCzLme.png


Now, I know what you're thinking, and so is Zidane


http://i.imgur.com/swIn4bI.png


They argue for a bit about this


http://i.imgur.com/r7Msrar.png


And this part actually gets me because I have similar issues with my mom. I mean, she didn't try to kill me or anything, but we've had a lot of troubles. Yet still some part of me cares about her when I wish I didn't

SO ANYWAY

http://i.imgur.com/Xst9eKi.png


When Eiko points the way, Garnet runs off on her own to try and get the Eidolon to save her mom and the rest of us have to chase after her while being pursued by weird mist monsters


http://i.imgur.com/ARxSQK4.png


She arrives to the sealed Eidolon, Leviathan and asks for his power


http://i.imgur.com/Vveab4F.png


But unfortunately...


http://i.imgur.com/1VKE9XA.png


Brahne isn't out of the fight yet though, and she has a trick up her sleeve. A trick Kuja was waiting for her to pull out


http://i.imgur.com/ez90m9q.png
http://i.imgur.com/TfXKw8o.png
http://i.imgur.com/LWg4SQF.png


Bahamut faces off against Kuja and the Silver Dragon


http://i.imgur.com/ZMoAU3n.png
http://i.imgur.com/ove03Mt.png
http://i.imgur.com/sw4dGBN.png


And while it seems like Kuja probably lost that one, he's not out either


http://i.imgur.com/9A18svC.png


So pretty graphics for PS1 era~

But if you're wondering if Kuja made it out uninjured, well...


http://i.imgur.com/BkptpnJ.png


Not... entirely.

The fact that Bahamut is fighting on Brahne's side gets Garnet excited, although Mog is quite concerned


http://i.imgur.com/iyzqeSO.png


Kuja himself is quite pleased that Bahamut has made an appearance

http://i.imgur.com/WXYJYJn.png


He starts monologuing again about how Brahne's time in this play has come to an end


http://i.imgur.com/CAekSat.png


And so Kuja pulls out his own Ace


http://i.imgur.com/k0QP3yE.png


A giant eyeball in the sky! Gee, where have we seen that before

So the eye does something weird to Bahamut

http://i.imgur.com/Yx0JtkJ.png


And basically kills the black mages on Brahne's fleet. And that is when, to her horror, Bahamut betrays Queen Brahne and begins attacking her fleet


http://i.imgur.com/gBJdE5x.png


Before disappearing. Kuja leaves looking quite pleased with himself


http://i.imgur.com/YcGexxi.png


Also he's finally sitting down, good for him

We don't know why Bahamut betrayed Brahne

http://i.imgur.com/KFtcFYD.png


This part always gets to me

http://i.imgur.com/XloBoAv.png
http://i.imgur.com/NpGVFKJ.png


Such genuine, human emotion. Grieving for someone who has hurt you and feeling empathy because that person was loved by a friend. It's just beautifully tragic


http://i.imgur.com/QXUko0E.png
http://i.imgur.com/9MCNW9w.png


After telling her daughter that she will make a much better Queen, Brahne dies


http://i.imgur.com/lYRxY14.png


They took Garnet's mother with them

And now I hope you're ready for disc 3, whoo~


http://i.imgur.com/p1EFRWh.png
http://i.imgur.com/gvNFKkK.png


We get to see Beatrix and Steiner again, both wholeheartedly agreeing to help Garnet

The citizens of Alexandria made a pretty rose bouquet for Brahne because even though she went a bit psycho, they remember the better days. After placing the wreath on her mother's grave, Garnet walks away and towards the kingdom she will now be ruling

http://i.imgur.com/7GPibIR.png
http://i.imgur.com/M1Rardc.png


After saying goodbye to Brahne, they head back to the castle


http://i.imgur.com/jt3pDWp.png


Zidane, meanwhile, is pouting in a bar

http://i.imgur.com/MRcJ9X2.png


Figuring he doesn't want to talk (because he literally doesn't) Cinna asks Ruby about the new mini-theatre she just opened up. They all leave to go see it and Ruby tells Zidane to come along when he's ready. On the way out, they run in to Vivi and Blank explains how Beatrix, Freya, and Steiner fought so hard after the party split up that they had to carry them out on their backs

Now we get to be Vivi again, wandering the streets of Alexandria just like we did when the game started. Except a lot has happened since then.

Blank and Marcus talk about how difficult it must be to be in love with someone who is about to be Queen


http://i.imgur.com/4GvtW1C.png


And we finally meet the moogle who was supposed to be delivering all of the letters we've been delivering


http://i.imgur.com/S7zMEln.png
http://i.imgur.com/7CSUvOZ.png
http://i.imgur.com/FBsce1d.png


Stilitzkin has some more stuff for sale so he can continue on his journey

http://i.imgur.com/FU23WGv.png


And we get a few mognets, one of which was actually delivered by Artemicion!


http://i.imgur.com/VLzTkdx.png
http://i.imgur.com/YuNnDfw.png


Tune in next time as we continue in to my favourite disc of the whole game!

[Formalhaut]

That's some heavy plot stuff right there.

[Pumpkin]

So when we left off we were Vivi in Alexandria and you can do some nifty things like race a hippo.

You can also see that Alexandria has changed some since we were here last


http://i.imgur.com/75b90gw.png


We also see the dumbest and most tragic misunderstanding ever

http://i.imgur.com/8ehQvLp.png
http://i.imgur.com/Hi2yc6s.png


We also see the Mayor of Dali is visiting Alexandria


http://i.imgur.com/aASBWOM.png


And not having a good time.

Eiko is amazed at the castle


http://i.imgur.com/Mx9TUdr.png


A gigantic house indeed

Meanwhile, Blank wants us to go watch Ruby's play with them


http://i.imgur.com/qVwa295.png


Because he's late and doesn't want Ruby to notice him sneaking in. How dare he use Vivi as a pawn in his game?

So Vivi goes in and introduces himself to Ruby, who likes him because who wouldn't like Vivi? And he sees Cinna again and calls him Uncle Cinna, which Cinna is not a fan of


http://i.imgur.com/l1agX9p.png


Blank takes this opportunity to sneak in


http://i.imgur.com/bDp5LVi.png
http://i.imgur.com/S5XsqnR.png


OR NOT

Back at the castle


http://i.imgur.com/NTXgrnS.png


Steiner tells Garnet she has better things to do than talk to Zidane. Dr. Tot comes in and gives us some gemstones

http://i.imgur.com/ofjMa5g.png


Awkward~

So Beatrix stays with Garnet to help get her in to her fancy coronation dress, and Garnet asks her if she can see Zidane, which also gets a no. Poor Garnet

Meanwhile, elsewhere in the castle


http://i.imgur.com/UlT4JuQ.png


And so she decides to write him a letter, a foolproof plan. Conveniently, Dr. Tot appears


http://i.imgur.com/DMGaCHq.png


After calling his hat nerdy, she enlists his help in writing a love letter


http://i.imgur.com/yq8L995.png


The horn sends him to memory lane, remembering a ship that washed up with a dead woman and a little girl inside


http://i.imgur.com/0rijQWI.png


And the girl


http://i.imgur.com/FOKMGTA.png


Except for one small detail


http://i.imgur.com/I8wPt1c.png
http://i.imgur.com/erOyX4C.png
http://i.imgur.com/5WxQwYz.png


And then all of the other Ronso made fun of her with chants of HORNLESS, HORNLESS

Speaking of being adopted, Garnet decides to tell Beatrix, who takes the news rather well


http://i.imgur.com/bIYOW4o.png
http://i.imgur.com/x7QROaZ.png


Back with Eiko


http://i.imgur.com/IHkxNtp.png


That's how love letters work, apparently

She thanks Dr. Tot, introduces herself, and takes off to deliver the letter, leaving Dr. Tot rather confused about where she said she lives


http://i.imgur.com/isJ08lh.png


On the way to deliver the letter, however, Baku ends up bumping in to Eiko and his huge belly sends her flying


http://i.imgur.com/bWzwCJh.png


And because it's Eiko, she gets caught on something and can't get down


http://i.imgur.com/XxwUfOc.png


And that's how Baku nearly killed Eiko

http://i.imgur.com/glaTXnz.png


Not that he cares much...

Eiko's bad luck doesn't end there though


http://i.imgur.com/phU3npv.png


And so she asks Baku to deliver it to Zidane for her

On his way out, Baku and Steiner get in to an argument


http://i.imgur.com/v84cM4g.png
http://i.imgur.com/AZcLsY4.png


During the argument, he drops Eiko's love letter and both he and Steiner take off in a huff

As for who finds the letter...


http://i.imgur.com/kWt6uO9.png
http://i.imgur.com/7j1S8oF.png
http://i.imgur.com/NJDAzmR.png


Zidane, meanwhile...


http://i.imgur.com/AUlJXsw.png


...is still pouting

His friends show up to try and console him but he isn't having it


http://i.imgur.com/qpzQrn5.png


Baku comes in and, desperate to get his mind on something else, Zidane begs him to be let back in to Tantalus


http://i.imgur.com/I2bHPYI.png


Unfortunately, Baku doesn't accept


http://i.imgur.com/qz78LpW.png


Vivi comes in and breaks the tension as he does so well


http://i.imgur.com/0beP3iw.png
http://i.imgur.com/ApULVnk.png


And Zidane, being who he is, puts on a brave face for Vivi and agrees that they should go and encourage her before she becomes Queen

So off we go to the castle while Baku remembers he forgot something

http://i.imgur.com/gFET2qQ.png
http://i.imgur.com/9gDZTDs.png


What a carefree man

We also get another mognet


http://i.imgur.com/52sEMYu.png


And so Stiltzkin is off on another adventure~

Freya and Amarant meet

http://i.imgur.com/EfFAD2T.png


It goes well

They start fighting and Zidane has to break it up, only to learn that Freya is pretty upset at him


http://i.imgur.com/OmELoTz.png


She says that Kuja will probably come after Garnet next, but Zidane says she doesn't need him anymore


http://i.imgur.com/T2nNZ38.png


While exploring the castle we also get more of the Stellazzio story!


http://i.imgur.com/HN3DqBT.png


We also arrive just in time to see Eiko being kicked out of the castle by Steiner who as we all know is very against fun


http://i.imgur.com/wxtD31P.png


Steiner then fusses at us for our general existence in the area before Vivi tells him they want to see Garnet

http://i.imgur.com/KaHCXkq.png

So Garnet comes out in her mega dress and everyone is like WOW SO BEAUTY but Zidane says nothing. Before Garnet walks away, Eiko runs up to say her goodbyes


http://i.imgur.com/SndLIWS.png
http://i.imgur.com/MUjTnHM.png
http://i.imgur.com/KC2mbYC.png


D'aww


http://i.imgur.com/WjvakWH.png


And so with gems traded, Garnet heads back to do... I dunno, get ready for her Queenly duties, I guess. Zidane then lets out his feels about how he made a whole big speech for her but it would be a lie and he couldn't bring himself to do it

http://i.imgur.com/UpMjEJ4.png
http://i.imgur.com/p52BbWn.png


That is one troubled young dude

I hope you didn't forget about the whole love letter affair because later that night

http://i.imgur.com/jLLSc8D.png


Eiko decides she's mad at him and wants to take off before Zidane can show up (not knowing he never got the letter) but she hides when more people appear


http://i.imgur.com/ziZs7lU.png


It turns out that Blank somehow got a hold of the love letter too

So while Blank goes on about what a stud he is, yet more people arrive and the two of them have to hide

http://i.imgur.com/TrfR39M.png


Rushing to hide they accidentally, you guessed it, DROP THE LOVE LETTER

Which is promptly found by Steiner who is out on patrol


http://i.imgur.com/65o8GQX.png


Good catch Steiner

Beatrix then arrives, since she got the love letter earlier asking her to be here


http://i.imgur.com/2T8SWMc.png


The two of them get close as the hidden onlookers get more and more invested


http://i.imgur.com/Tybc6rb.png
http://i.imgur.com/KcFASse.png


But in the end, Baku ruins this like he ruins everything


http://i.imgur.com/AdV7nu1.png
http://i.imgur.com/POeNgGs.png


So anyway, Eiko storms off, pursued by Dr. Tot who has some questions for her


http://i.imgur.com/aBcV0Fx.png


She says she will be glad to answer his questions and asks if they can go to his house to do so


http://i.imgur.com/dve0Xho.png
http://i.imgur.com/AJrNBNW.png


And so we all decide to go to Treno using the Gargan Roo transportation method

That night, as they travel to Treno...


http://i.imgur.com/BhRGK9G.png


But when they see Blank and Marcus patrolling...

http://i.imgur.com/cuxqzWW.png


And so off they go, as quickly as they arrived

Before Eiko answers some questions, she decides she wants to go sightseeing and drags Vivi along with her


http://i.imgur.com/CKERsBR.png


After she runs off, Vivi meets an old friend who helped him get to Alexandria at the beginning of the game


http://i.imgur.com/qUg1J11.png


Who convinces him that maybe he should stop by his house

Amarant runs in to some trouble from the dude who scammed Garnet earlier on


http://i.imgur.com/NhGogke.png


Scared away by his reputation, he runs off as Eiko walks up


http://i.imgur.com/aK4nQCg.png
http://i.imgur.com/KMJLYkc.png


So he plans to use a little girl to collect the bounty on Amarant


http://i.imgur.com/PsKOglW.png


What a creeper jackass

After his offers to help her sightsee fail, he offers her food.

Which has a rather unintended consequence


http://i.imgur.com/kbwGcw4.png
http://i.imgur.com/0mMBATO.png
http://i.imgur.com/DktSiiV.png


Muehehe

And finally, we get another mognet!


http://i.imgur.com/IfRB5UF.png


Next time we explore some more of Treno~

Stay tuned!

[Pumpkin]

So while in Treno for the card tournament, you can also get some nifty new stuff at the Auction House. Just make sure you have the funds. If you're short on funds, you can get some in the sidequest stuff I'm about to show you. Prioritize equipment/synthesis first though, the auction house will still be here when you have money and nothing to spend it on. But you can get the Dark Matter there now, which will allow Garnet to summon Odin!

Now for the sidequest!

Leave Treno and head over to Dali. On the way, we get a bit of good news!


http://i.imgur.com/FbtP0cj.png


Aww, she won him over :3 At least someone's love life is going well, poor Zidane

So anyway, head to Dali and sneak in to the Mayor's house. If you recall, he is currently in Alexandria on vacay. Now here things get a bit tricky. Go check the desk to get a Mini-Brahne figurine, and then keep checking the desk until the kid falls asleep. Then go check the heater and you'll get the Mayor's Key.

With the Mayor's key, go to the windmill next door. The windmills have stopped turning due to the disappearing mist so you can get some treasures upstairs. After that unlock the door with the key and head outside. Check the corner past the chocobo and grab a chest with mucha mula. And then, just because FFIX wants to be tricky, check the chest again. There, you will get the final coffee you need for Morrid. Ta da!


http://i.imgur.com/XJuTEyM.png
http://i.imgur.com/bPhqFHs.png


With that, you can deliver the coffee to Morrid, and in exchange he will give you the Prima Vista figuring next time you head to the Tantalus hideout, I believe. Yep, you just traded 3 rare items for one rare item. Yay.


http://i.imgur.com/e03BBYg.png


But hey, you go to make an old man happy!


http://i.imgur.com/qEE4YLP.png


Oh...

Oh dear...

Err... so hey, maybe if we swing by Vivi's place, something happier will happen


http://i.imgur.com/qxpf6Ac.png


If you recall, we found this place with Garnet back on disc 2. Vivi tells us a bit about how he ended up with his Grandpa


http://i.imgur.com/VwpmRV4.png


Grandpa Quan, of the perpetually hungry Qu tribe, was trying to fish for the mist in the air to try and eat it...


http://i.imgur.com/nE0AYvt.png
http://i.imgur.com/Jrrysx1.png


And so he caught Vivi


http://i.imgur.com/kZ0oQee.png
http://i.imgur.com/b9IXU8S.png


Uhhh


Yeah


No one tell him

We head back to Treno to card tournament and in a few optional ATEs, we learn about Amarant's past and his ties to Zidane and why he wanted to fight him so much.

That's right, Amarant is so unimportant to the story that it's relegated to optional ATE's.


http://i.imgur.com/wOrM1b4.png
http://i.imgur.com/kvuBzVt.png


It's flashback time!

So Zidane was stealing from the auction house, as he does, and Amarant decides he'd be good to fight


http://i.imgur.com/UfbslKz.png


But just as they're about to fight, Zidane does a sneaky sneak and tries to make it seem like Amarant was the actual thief


http://i.imgur.com/S3NmaZC.png
http://i.imgur.com/cPJs6vf.png


And thus Zidane makes his escape


http://i.imgur.com/khdPx47.png


And Amarant's story comes to an end.

Freya then laughs at him for falling for such a childish trick and we go back to playing cards.

Quina, meanwhile, is having some struggles of his/her own

http://i.imgur.com/r5UVFZg.png


S/he decides that the water looks delicious in his hunger induced daze

http://i.imgur.com/gF9o7D3.png


But in the end, hunger wins out

http://i.imgur.com/LiYhrd6.png


Eiko heads back to talk to Dr. Tot about how her entire tribe is dead (lalala~)


http://i.imgur.com/lg9zfFZ.png
http://i.imgur.com/1Z9P8Yt.png


So they get to talking about Garnet and Eiko shares that they've exchanged gems


http://i.imgur.com/AjCcAZj.png


I'm sure that won't become relevant in just a few minutes

Eiko then remembers that Mog hasn't come back from her play date with the Treno moogle


http://i.imgur.com/oqoaWBl.png


Zidane is still playing cards


http://i.imgur.com/P0S4eA8.png


You may not remember her, but Erin is one of the girls Zidane hit on in Lindblum when we first got there in Disc 1. She was going to be a pilot for the new airship. Well now she's kind of a stand in for poor Regent Cid who is the ACTUAL card champion but is also an ooglop


http://i.imgur.com/pw0HAO7.png
http://i.imgur.com/NfQIgjr.png


And so I beat Cid and win an item and a nifty Oglop card and I didn't even have to reset this time! Go me!

Zidane makes small talk about what regent Cid is doing here, chilling in his cape


http://i.imgur.com/8Cl8e6R.png
http://i.imgur.com/nHG4vJi.png


That's right! Since we got rid of the mist, a lot of things stopped working, including airships. But now it seems the Hilda Garde is starting to get on track and it can fly without mist. Unfortunately, it's still pretty rough around the edges.

Not that we have time to worry about that though


http://i.imgur.com/ePSoTK3.png
http://i.imgur.com/XMyYbDh.png


Uh oh, spaghetti-o!

So back in Alexandria, our friend Kuja is being... Kuja


http://i.imgur.com/4RlbSvA.png


And so he summons Bahamut which, if you've been following the story so far, you know is no bueno

http://i.imgur.com/9lMIP2b.png


He starts blowing up the town, as you do, and Garnet is not super hype about this


http://i.imgur.com/E2aGqCw.png
http://i.imgur.com/nvHvbRK.png


She summons the Knights of Pluto and THIS IS WHERE THE NOTES I TOLD YOU TO TAKE BACK ON DISC 1 COME IN HANDY as you have to assign them to do certain tasks. The better you do the better your reward!

Steiner and Beatrix go out to destroy some baddies while having sexual tension


http://i.imgur.com/i8Jy25P.png


She suggests they return to the castle since there's no end to the enemies


http://i.imgur.com/dJ18h3E.png
http://i.imgur.com/tNfiD5Q.png


D'awwwwwwwwwww <3

After some more fights, they find themselves surrounded


http://i.imgur.com/hVa4xg4.png
http://i.imgur.com/b0HSzhR.png


And so did Beatrix and Steiner become bf and gf and have beautiful knight babies with perfect hair and rusty armour~

Garnet is still in the castle hearing strange music and, if that wasn't weird enough, towers and staircases start appearing magically

http://i.imgur.com/PTt9u4g.png


What an exciting coronation this has been!

Zidane and co are headed for Alexandria on the rickety airship that's literally about to break down


http://i.imgur.com/9AEmVKq.png


Oh how fun...

Eiko, meanwhile, has her special gems that she traded with Garnet start to glow which, COINCIDENTALLY, is what was happening to Garnet


http://i.imgur.com/64tB5rr.png


Yes, poor Vivi fell down again

I do like how everyone has stumbled except Zidane who's just chillin over there

So Eiko hears Garnet spiritually or something

http://i.imgur.com/tFfDXhM.png


And since we're right over Alexandria, Eiko decides to just suicide jump down to the new Queen


http://i.imgur.com/5vCPKs7.png


Kid either has guts or faith or both but good on her

The gems start resonating with one another which allows Eiko to survive and not become a pancake

http://i.imgur.com/M7X8Aut.png
http://i.imgur.com/JQRcLVU.png


Which is always a positive

The two of them coming together leads to pretty FMVs


http://i.imgur.com/4858SY4.png


And Eiko explaining to Garnet what the heck is going on

http://i.imgur.com/SDt8ZZN.png


And so they pray for Alexander's blessings to protect Alexandria

http://i.imgur.com/JfdEXbP.png


This seems pretty cultish without context

So anyways, this leads to a light show and the summoning of the mighty holy eidolon, Alexander!

http://i.imgur.com/3kOf4IL.png
http://i.imgur.com/cVyhWES.png


Alexander and Bahamut face off, which is super nifty and Alexander protects the kingdom from Bahamut attacks by shielding it with his massive wings


http://i.imgur.com/2oEjEgZ.png


Eventually he even manages to defeat Bahamut in another fancy FMV


http://i.imgur.com/0SgVqXr.png
http://i.imgur.com/2cLxGSb.png


Super pretty, especially when you realize this was a PS1 game. I know I'm impressed and I've seen this scene like a million times.

Seriously, go play the game if you haven't already

Anyways, Kuja decides he wants Alexander now because he apparently thinks eidolons are Pokemon


http://i.imgur.com/Hd492E4.png
http://i.imgur.com/LcpTDdV.png


And so the giant eye ball appears in the sky again to try and take over Alexander as it did Bahamut


http://i.imgur.com/wC3Ztbj.png


At this point we learn that the Invincible/Giant eyeball in the sky is actually a ship.

A ship with someone aboard...

http://i.imgur.com/QU8LBx4.png
http://i.imgur.com/V2HFuVC.png


This mystery man fusses about how Kuja has gone against his purpose and he'll show him.

And Zidane too...

And with that he does some... video game magic stuff, I guess?


http://i.imgur.com/mAJO9fG.png


Anyways, the Invincible does not end up enslaving Alexander as Kuja wanted, which Kuja finds to be pretty upsetting

http://i.imgur.com/yiVjtb0.png


And with that, Zidane and co arrive in Alexandria


http://i.imgur.com/Z0I7SiR.png


You can go fight a book at this point if you want but make sure you're ready!

We will find out what happens next time~

[Karifean]

This is such a hype way to get things rolling right back when they were cooling down. Alexander vs Bahamut is definitely one of the all-time classic FF moments.

Are you gonna fight Tantarian?

[Pumpkin]

I did, actually! It was tough, I had to use a few Elixirs, not gonna lie. Especially for poor Freya who was way underleveled. Also unfortunately she was dead when the fight ended so no AP for her >.<

[Pumpkin]

So after fighting a dastardly book and evacuating the castle we make our way up to the magical part of the castle


http://i.imgur.com/Hz6EJ58.png
http://i.imgur.com/oTwH3nC.png


"We are in such a rush after we did all of those other things that now we're going to stand here and argue about it while we could be just heading up the stairs but THIS WILL SAVE TIME YOU GUYS HAVE TO GET OUT!!"

Video game time is odd time


http://i.imgur.com/1ZhEKce.png


Everyone else in the party: "Oh, OKAY"


http://i.imgur.com/y3t8sSU.png


After some time spent arguing that could be spent rescuing Garnet and Eiko, the others leave and Zidane heads up as Castle Alexandria begins to fall apart

So the Invincible starts attacking Alexander because Garnet's goal is literally to kill as many people as possible


http://i.imgur.com/K9CIONt.png


Unfortunately it works and Alexander's pristine and beautiful wings start to turn black and burn up


http://i.imgur.com/nNZpkpJ.png
http://i.imgur.com/UI5A7zh.png


STOP STARING AT HER BUM AGAIN

Garnet's gem also starts going crazy and electrocuting her

http://i.imgur.com/ufkRihx.png
http://i.imgur.com/Dwfi6Yx.png


And things start going even worse for poor Alexander

http://i.imgur.com/ReuLVEa.png


As the castle falls apart, Garnet is about to fall to her death but HERO ZIDANE TO THE RESCUE


http://i.imgur.com/EVnkuKz.png
http://i.imgur.com/hAk8CE4.png


Straight out of an action movie

Happy to see him, she gives him a giant hug


http://i.imgur.com/NtU4rv3.png


His face tho

And so the two of them escape on some flag banner thing like they did at the beginning of the game. No clue where the heck it came from or how it's safe to use. Just don't overthink it

Oh yeah Eiko was rescued too


http://i.imgur.com/MLFLluC.png


More rescue hugs and this whole thing just pissed Eiko right off


http://i.imgur.com/cDoN0Ur.png
http://i.imgur.com/iSjVwTg.png


The look on her face is just perfect there I cannot get over that xD

So anyways, rescues happen and Zidane decides that this, of all times, is the time to confess his feelings


http://i.imgur.com/UMSU1Rx.png


Like dude, get out of the castle first

Anyway so they eventually come to their senses and leave just as the Invincible decides to just mess everything up

http://i.imgur.com/UaLd6sX.png
http://i.imgur.com/GvbHZMl.png
http://i.imgur.com/K3TX3u1.png


And there goes poor Alexander :(


http://i.imgur.com/694f5y4.png


And there goes the rest of Alexandria


http://i.imgur.com/gRC1FeT.png
http://i.imgur.com/m7awRLv.png


Garland says some vague cryptic things and now we fastforward a little bit and find ourselves in Lindblum, which is being reconstructed

http://i.imgur.com/V0wLgru.png


Baku and Blank also show up and Blank is told to give Zidane a message to meet with Cid when he wakes up

Zidane wakes up after having been out for quite a while


http://i.imgur.com/9cQFl8A.png


Blank arrives but before he can give Zidane the message, Zidane rushes off in search for Garnet

Meanwhile...


http://i.imgur.com/0NPdljV.png
http://i.imgur.com/il4UlpA.png


Anyways, Zidane finds Garnet at the telescope again


http://i.imgur.com/sYIoA8d.png


Unfortunately, no matter what Zidane says to her, she simply replies with silence


http://i.imgur.com/YQl0CFY.png
http://i.imgur.com/p2E02Hi.png


Kidding aside, Zidane begins to feel pretty insecure about her not speaking to him and decides to leave her alone and give her the space he thinks she wants


http://i.imgur.com/7p3TeSv.png


Aww

So back downstairs, Blank comes to give us the message and Zidane responds pretty poorly


http://i.imgur.com/6s44LIG.png


After more snapping at Blank, he gives us the message to go see Cid. We also meet most of our pals in the conference room who are (mostly) happy to see Zidane alive

Garnet does not meet us there though, as she's lost in thought on the roof

http://i.imgur.com/KbE4vVa.png
http://i.imgur.com/cnLZgyg.png
http://i.imgur.com/Pftgssa.png


Poor thing. As soon as she becomes Queen her kingdom is just destroyed

Back at the conference room, we discuss the situation with everyone


http://i.imgur.com/QvZ9WxZ.png
http://i.imgur.com/NOgOWnK.png


While we ponder Kuja's motives, Cid has some new info for us


http://i.imgur.com/IMr8e8g.png


He also saw some black mages with Kuja

http://i.imgur.com/FQAagHJ.png


Vivi does not take the news well


http://i.imgur.com/Usz7Hdy.png


One of the few times Vivi ever shouts, poor thing

Speaking of Kuja and the Black Mages


http://i.imgur.com/AFOIkmQ.png
http://i.imgur.com/jdK85HI.png


He is indeed with some Black Mages and our old friends, Zorn and Thorn. Also, I never noticed before because the graphics look soooo much better on Steam but Kuja's clothes are burned and stuff, which is nifty. Showing that he's finally finding himself challenged

So while we were watching that, Cid explained the whole cheated-on-his-wife-so-she-turned-him-in-to-an-insect thing to everyone


http://i.imgur.com/fb6KUaD.png
http://i.imgur.com/azb7hx7.png


Let that be a lesson to you cheaters out there

So Dr. Tot has been called in to see if he can help the regent and Eiko comes back with some bad news after checking on Garnet

http://i.imgur.com/U8t2ENf.png


Since Dr. Tot is here, he goes to check on her and confirms this to be the case


http://i.imgur.com/UXAZTwb.png


Fortunately this is not permanent, but it will remain an issue


http://i.imgur.com/wLzlc63.png


Leaving Eiko to watch Garnet and babysit a blubbering Steiner, Zidane heads back to confer with Tootsie and Cid


http://i.imgur.com/5vAIETK.png


Cid is desperate to become human, however, so that he can get working on his new airship and we can take revenge upon Kuja

http://i.imgur.com/yLt64Ch.png


Getting the solution from a strange comedic book, we need to get some uncommon ingredients


http://i.imgur.com/tEDxvtM.png


There's no way this could go wrong!

Remembering that Cinna has one of the potions, Zidane heads in to town to talk to his friend and find the other two ingredients.

Speaking of Cinna, the Tantalus is working to rebuild Lindblum and Marcus finds himself in need of a hammer


http://i.imgur.com/dUXrW2b.png
http://i.imgur.com/Skv2DS3.png


Things we know about Cinna:
-Has a Garnet doll he can't sleep without
-Loves Bundt Cake too much
-Obsessed with his hammer

In Lindblum we deliver another mognet


http://i.imgur.com/4E3NfJR.png


We find another Stellazzio coin


http://i.imgur.com/7rgBpFe.png


And we check on the people of Lindblum who are keeping their spirits up while they rebuild


http://i.imgur.com/wK3EH13.png


You go Grandma Pickle!


http://i.imgur.com/ygVQMGf.png
http://i.imgur.com/wkqHLIL.png
http://i.imgur.com/3SIK7Jx.png


Poor little Joanna

Even the birds are starting to rebuild their families


http://i.imgur.com/QInhFg9.png


Precious :3

The blacksmiths son has also come in to his own since we've been away


http://i.imgur.com/B4xawIg.png


Which yes this is the time to buy equipment and synthesize

Alice, who used to own the weapons shop before it got destroyed, has a potion for us


http://i.imgur.com/cSlkNrY.png


We also run in to some old acquaintances in the Theatre District


http://i.imgur.com/gnH2SKj.png


We rescued them back on Disc 1 from a collapsing statue and she was preggers at the time. Well now


http://i.imgur.com/RHhUm53.png


That's... a lot of children

I love how much personality NPCs have in this game and how many have their own little side stories. Makes the world feel more alive that way

We get another potion in the artist's house


http://i.imgur.com/SkxY5KJ.png


And then we go find Cinna for our last potion


http://i.imgur.com/g58uxxs.png


With that done, we head back to deliver the correctly mixed potion to Cid


http://i.imgur.com/JmjPyA1.png


Yep, that's right.

He's a frog now


http://i.imgur.com/9h2hTYH.png


Back to the conference room we go!

So Cid, being fed up with everything right now, tells us he's going to give us a ship. As far as where we go to find Kuja, Vivi has a suggestion as to where we can get clues


http://i.imgur.com/iU03Rfe.png


So we decide to head to Black Mage Village to speak with the Black Mages and find out what's going on, where Kuja is, and why they went with him

On our way to the ship, we get another event with Quina


http://i.imgur.com/p3WyCDB.png


Feeling like he was offered a free pickle, Quina helps him/herself and we need to go to his/her rescue

I imagine if you try and leave without going to see Quina in the Business District that s/he will end up joining you anyway, but I never didn't go get Quina because I love Quina so maybe someone else can explain what happens?

Anyway


http://i.imgur.com/cPANkp2.png


After we pay for the disagreement between Quina and Grandma Pickle, in which one thought "try" meant free sample and the other meant that try means buy and try, Quina joins up with us once again!!

http://i.imgur.com/84tlZah.png


This time for good, yay!

We head to the ship, the Blue Narciss, and see that Blank is our Captain!


http://i.imgur.com/TlCYNYz.png
http://i.imgur.com/mqDP1sG.png
http://i.imgur.com/v5KJHpc.png


And while Quina has an internal dilemma about whether or not to eat the Regent who is now his/her favourite food, we set sail for Black Mage Village!

The next update will be a while though because I finally have my entire party at once and I need to get them all of their abilities on top of sidequesting.

Stay tuned~

[Pumpkin]

So after copious amounts of grinding (har har), darn you Rebirth Ring, and some sidequesting, we are ready to resume our journey!

But first, here's some new things:

http://i.imgur.com/awDCnyK.png


We can go to Chocobo's Lagoon now with our ship. It'll be a big detour with the river chocobo but it's worth it.

http://i.imgur.com/HUxYzUW.png


With river chocobo you can only dig in half of the lagoon, so it's half the time and half the price.

While hunting for Chocographs we get another Chocobolution!

http://i.imgur.com/rLIFkqL.png


With Mountain Choco you can head back to Chocobo's forest for some new stuff as well, which leads tooooo


http://i.imgur.com/2hv7Rst.png


And now Choco is officially more useful than our ship, although I guess we need to keep the ship around for party switching.

With your new ship and/or Ocean Choco you can go do some exploring and head to the Northwestern Continent for another little town

http://i.imgur.com/5xzZtMD.png


Esto Gaza is super pretty. There's not much going on there at the moment but you can pick up some new equipment.

Another note, when you have your River Choco and are heading to the Lagoon, the little island where you summon Choco has some super strong beasties. So either watch out or be prepared for some tough fights. If you can tough the fights out and have an abundance of tents and the like, this is a great place to grind. I got my party up to levels 50-60 here which getting my abilities learned.

ALSO do as much Chocograph stuff as you can on the world map. You'll get some amazing items. No matter how you go about it though, now is definitely the time to strengthen your party at least a little bit, especially since Steiner and Freya will probably be lower on the levels than the rest of your party.

So once aaaaallllll of that stuff is done, we head over to Black Mage Village to find it mostly abandoned.


http://i.imgur.com/Y8IcReZ.png


But why did they go with Kuja?


http://i.imgur.com/9XI8CbZ.png
http://i.imgur.com/BBp3CLX.png


And thus does the fear of death drive them to do bad things.

See, they really are just like real people!

Vivi, however, believes that Kuja is a liar


http://i.imgur.com/qVm2vn5.png


When Mr. 288 wonders if maybe they are really just puppets, Vivi asks where they went and Mr. 288 says he won't betray the others and tell us. Vivi then leaves to go see the two left at the Chocobo shack

The two at the shack are actually celebrating a birth!


http://i.imgur.com/ErvVF26.png


Is little baby Chocobo :3

The happy couple then begins to cry


http://i.imgur.com/Tx4RFja.png


We head outside to see that Mr. 288 was listening in


http://i.imgur.com/g59g6lo.png
http://i.imgur.com/hkQMExd.png
http://i.imgur.com/9Z39YDo.png


Vivi then asks him how long until he himself stops


http://i.imgur.com/DcjiTT1.png
http://i.imgur.com/prRQ0Zb.png


Vivi has to work through some of his emotions. He says when his Grandpa died, he was told not to be sad. But when he found out he would die, he didn't know what to feel. After seeing Garnet cry when Brahne died, however, he realized that he was sad and scared.


http://i.imgur.com/2SWqHbt.png
http://i.imgur.com/bQzZobh.png


Having gotten through to Mr. 288, we learn the location of Kuja's super secret base


http://i.imgur.com/TtbJyo2.png


Having heard the conversation, Garnet goes back to berating herself for not being able to stop the attack on Alexandria


http://i.imgur.com/WfT7gKL.png


She starts wishing she were strong like Vivi, when little Eiko comes to the rescue


http://i.imgur.com/iEPLxjj.png


We head over to the desert to find his palace. You'll see four quicksand things and if you pick the wrong one you'll have to fight some antlions. When you do find the right one, it turns out Kuja had been waiting


http://i.imgur.com/rc8k61y.png


After locking us in tiny circular rooms and threatening us with fiery death, Kuja has a proposal


http://i.imgur.com/vdSUe44.png
http://i.imgur.com/ZP8wZIM.png


You get a choice but you don't really get a choice.

With that, Zidane and Cid are let out of their room and Zidane is summoned to Kuja's private bed chambers.

This is getting kind of indecent, I know, but stay with me here


http://i.imgur.com/VqIWDZG.png
http://i.imgur.com/yqnCRtL.png
http://i.imgur.com/3gzcaBK.png


He will even send us on his fancy airship, the Hilda Garde I. As for why he doesn't just go himself


http://i.imgur.com/wCslGZB.png
http://i.imgur.com/0YATuvP.png


Such a flatterer


http://i.imgur.com/XXBsAM3.png


We get to pick 3 party members to join us. Keep in mind that whoever is left behind will form another party, so try to balance for that while also keeping in mind you can't use magic while in Oeilvert. You can use it to heal up if you leave and whatever, but that's up to you.

I usually put Garnet in my Oeilvert party but I decided to do something different this time and have a physical party at Oeilvert and a magical one at the Desert Palace, so I took Steiner, Freya, and Amarant with me.

So after telling Kuja he'd better keep his promise to keep our friends safe, we head out

http://i.imgur.com/zzHJOJQ.png


On the airship ride over, we get to see our best friends, Zorn and Thorn again!

http://i.imgur.com/SOcdPMq.png


But they started developing a consciousness without a strong sense of self, which has led them to being easily manipulated.

http://i.imgur.com/jg8S3UC.png


Zorn and Thorn then laugh about how stupid the Black Mages are to join them when they won't be extending their lives anyway and they're basically just toys ahahaha


http://i.imgur.com/6N7LPVG.png


And with that, Zidane goes to chill for the rest of the ride over.

We basically get dropped off at the other end of the continent because why not, but the clowns will sell you some stuff if you need it. If you opted for an all melee party like me, maybe stock up on some healing items while you can. Especially since there are cactuars in the area.

There's also a shop moogle once you arrive in Oeilvert. Which we do. It's a weird place.


http://i.imgur.com/uNWIqi7.png


There are monsters here that will summon a clone of one of your characters. Take em out fast because if they do summon the clone, they'll kill off the party member in question. I think you may be able to kill them with a soft, if that helps.

Anyways, Oeilvert is basically a giant history lesson.


http://i.imgur.com/YeoCi2d.png


Wondering why Zidane can read the strange language he responds with


http://i.imgur.com/3c3Eo4s.png


And that's when Zidane went to a special facility

We do meet up with Stiltzkin again who got here somehow???

http://i.imgur.com/Mn8pGDH.png
http://i.imgur.com/OAGrVCj.png


As you can see, the moogles give zero craps about the strange place because they are LIVID about the mail not getting delivered. Which I get. Mail is important, you know?

Anyways, more history


http://i.imgur.com/yWhi44i.png


But then it didn't


http://i.imgur.com/jkukhEU.png


But then there weren't


http://i.imgur.com/xfPsDZh.png


Oh, hello strange wall heads. Nothing concerning here.

http://i.imgur.com/xjn2cgW.png


That sounds like a negative thing


http://i.imgur.com/Nge4m41.png


It failed

Isn't history fun?

But then they came up with another solution that has been left vague for no reason I'm sure

http://i.imgur.com/Lw6w65V.png


Apparently the results of this last attempt are still pending

After leaving the talking heads, we go in to another area to see Terra and another planet merging together. That probably doesn't mean anything, best move along!


http://i.imgur.com/i7iXBic.png


So we find the stone we need but boss fight of course. It's a toughie because you can't use your healers to heal in battle and you can't use black magic. Try to steal if you can but it's not a huge biggie if you can't, you can get the equipment later on.

Meanwhile, back at Kuja's palace of evulz


http://i.imgur.com/dUmQvxF.png
http://i.imgur.com/yvylkfv.png


Stop showing off, Kuja. We get it, you decorate


http://i.imgur.com/k1XnPso.png
http://i.imgur.com/fNKVief.png


Well gee whiz that wasn't part of the agreement! But don't worry

CID TO THE RESCUE


http://i.imgur.com/kRzjiCF.png


And thus begins a silly minigame where you have to approach a key on the cage of a beastie by pressing X repeatedly. But if he spots you you have to start over so you have to be sneaky. Zany music also plays because of course it does

http://i.imgur.com/7kpWXAg.png


Afterwards you have to put weights on a scale to climb up the scale and flip the hourglass. It's pretty easy, just put the heavy stuff on there.

Anyways so everyone is free yay!


http://i.imgur.com/IDzyYts.png


And with that we will end this for now. Find out what happens next time on This Game Cannot Take Itself Seriously

Stay tuned~

[Pumpkin]

So when we left off, the gang was trying to escape


http://i.imgur.com/zJZCEdI.png


Basically it involves lighting candles and getting bloodstones which are actually nifty pieces of equipment. If you get all of the bloodstones through puzzle RPG stuff, the boss fight will be that much easier!

Also I just thought about it today but if you already had the anklet and Garnet learned Healer you could bring her to Oeilvert and have her heal that way but OH WELL, SOMETHING FOR NEXT PLAYTHROUGH

Anyways, mail time!


http://i.imgur.com/9v6mID3.png


The mystery of the missing mail continues.

After enough puzzle shenanigans it's boss fight time!

http://i.imgur.com/g34YiCy.png


I took all your bloodstones, watcha gon do now?!

After a relatively easy boss fight, we get a meanwhile with Zidane getting back from his errand

http://i.imgur.com/juFfetl.png


He heads inside where Kuja uses his intercom again, I dunno what he's doing


http://i.imgur.com/a7VQrTa.png
http://i.imgur.com/3pwYtlj.png


Kuja pls, his heart belongs to Garnet

Anyways so we head inside and after demanding to see that our friends are okay, we see this


http://i.imgur.com/pmJzENC.png
http://i.imgur.com/U7OWDNt.png


Outside, Steiner is freaking out and pacing back and forth

http://i.imgur.com/cpiKa4l.png


At that moment, Eiko and the others arrive


http://i.imgur.com/jI6TjqR.png


Vivi's already going, look at him

So everyone rushes in to Kuja's room but Eiko gets shut out


http://i.imgur.com/Gy247xH.png


And unfortunately...


http://i.imgur.com/1OqPDjv.png


Anyways, when the gang bursts in, Zidane is a bit confused


http://i.imgur.com/cphC1oA.png


Kuja confesses that they were fakes and that he planned to kill everyone anyway after he got the Gulug stone. But since that plan failed, he decides to just magic the stone away from Zidane


http://i.imgur.com/ngxWFLt.png


So he takes off in the Hilda Garde

Also there's a cute Namingway card you can get in his room

http://i.imgur.com/Bk9uh0p.png


Anyways, we give chase in our ship and somehow catch up even though I know I parked that ship a ways off and this dude is in an airship


http://i.imgur.com/arqN7jc.png


Look at us go!


http://i.imgur.com/tC1lGK4.png


So he heads to Esto Gaza and we ask someone if he saw Kuja come this way

http://i.imgur.com/IJsAr98.png
http://i.imgur.com/DAY1DW1.png
http://i.imgur.com/H7TN9in.png


That's... helpful

http://i.imgur.com/rxBc16Q.png


This is starting to sound like a cult thing

Anyways he eventually tells us that Kuja did indeed pass this way

http://i.imgur.com/QV6GF7O.png


He tells us about Mount Gulug which used to be inhabited by mole people or something and since Kuja opened the sealed door, monster attacks are a thing that is happening

Also new equipment here yay! And more insight in to the missing mail mystery


http://i.imgur.com/62EktTp.png


So of course we head to


http://i.imgur.com/PVCUIGY.png


Watch out for dragons, they can be pretty nasty. Some neato treasures around here though.

We also get some more mognet stuff done

http://i.imgur.com/c27w8FU.png


...........oh my


http://i.imgur.com/2NoQlpO.png


Eventually we find Eiko with our two favourite clowns


http://i.imgur.com/YvHFFh1.png
http://i.imgur.com/BfsBMZJ.png


Yes, that is the eidolon extraction ritual, how fun

Unfortunately for them, it does not seem to be working

http://i.imgur.com/wH2vWU1.png


Kuja loses patience with them and tells them to get it done


http://i.imgur.com/vZv4Ieo.png


Because the eidolon extraction is not supposed to happen before age 16, as we saw with Garnet earlier

Kuja, however, couldn't give less of a crap about Eiko's life

http://i.imgur.com/Hy85EsQ.png


So they try to get back to the extraction, but Eiko has a little hero


http://i.imgur.com/6Wd07Iq.png


Who turns out to be a bigger hero than expected


http://i.imgur.com/Fy0Lpsi.png
http://i.imgur.com/RSy6SuR.png
http://i.imgur.com/ZWuShpR.png


And so a battle begins in which Eiko summons the actual form of Mog

http://i.imgur.com/GCzlur6.png


Who just decimates Zorn and Thorn


http://i.imgur.com/B46ZPm9.png


Aw how sweet


http://i.imgur.com/ZtTsO6a.png
http://i.imgur.com/FtzFKAM.png


Kind of sad too :(


http://i.imgur.com/t2BQj2D.png


Trance is this game's special attack/limit break type of deal in case you didn't remember

http://i.imgur.com/xyRgx7k.png
http://i.imgur.com/wcH3wHH.png


So after his monologuing he announces that he's done with us and sicks the clowns on us one last time

http://i.imgur.com/mwgXUz1.png


Nope, they're actually this ugly thing


http://i.imgur.com/U3KgXgY.png


Anyways, Kuja leaves, Zorn and Thorn die, and Vivi comes back looking sad


http://i.imgur.com/GxLkzJR.png
http://i.imgur.com/fJR9EtS.png


Turns out the black mages aren't having the easiest time coping with what happened

http://i.imgur.com/2FEX1aE.png
http://i.imgur.com/f1xvRec.png
http://i.imgur.com/mBOhCbu.png


And so tiny, clumsy, naive little Vivi became our most mature and wise party member

Anyways a lady's voice calls out to us so we go check that out

http://i.imgur.com/HBFWHTI.png


The woman recognizes Garnet and we learn that it's Cid's wife!


http://i.imgur.com/etDCfR5.png


After confessing that she surrendered his airship, we decide to talk back in Lindblum. Turns out that when Kuja stole the airship, he didn't expect to get her too and basically kept her prisoner


http://i.imgur.com/Lvbsh7A.png


It's something?

And since he's a villain he decided to tell Hilda his plan, which she found both scary and yet dull

http://i.imgur.com/Iw4KJfj.png
http://i.imgur.com/TK6NoxM.png


OUCH

After apologizing, groveling, and promising to never cheat again, Hilda agrees to turn Cid back in to a human

http://i.imgur.com/TNRSSSQ.png


And with that, Cid is finally human again!


http://i.imgur.com/Ul0E0WJ.png


Old habits die hard

And that is where we will end today. Stay tuned~

[Pumpkin]

We have a short update today

Lady Hilda calls us in for a meeting to discuss Kuja's evil plans of evilness

http://i.imgur.com/3IjFRCz.png


Unfortunately, Zidane's not used to seeing the regular regent


http://i.imgur.com/qwT7EEy.png


So he leaves to go work on that while Hilda gives us the deets

http://i.imgur.com/ZCgs7g6.png


She also talks about him being an alien

http://i.imgur.com/RIYa3Hz.png
http://i.imgur.com/BAenQE6.png


In case you missed those plot points, there you go!

While we're having this discussion, Steiner is out looking for the Princess

http://i.imgur.com/zSSHklN.png


He runs in to Baku and the gang who are trying to rebuild their home


http://i.imgur.com/Mjv37wX.png


Despite his rudeness, Baku and the others offer to help him look for Garnet

http://i.imgur.com/9ZTbylY.png


Back in the meeting

http://i.imgur.com/Ci4SalR.png


But of course it's not just that simple


http://i.imgur.com/jPSCNzm.png
http://i.imgur.com/4ZgbEFZ.png


And since they don't know much about the continent or the castle, they decide to call it Ipsen's Castle after the explorer that Zidane talked about in his story earlier

When they decide to head over there, Steiner comes back with some bad news


http://i.imgur.com/GoYIGJy.png
http://i.imgur.com/KStoWmo.png


To Alexandria!

How he and the Tantalus get there like right away when the Blue Narciss is being used for the new airship which isn't ready yet and all of the other airships are grounded is never explained. I guess they could have taken the Gargen but that's still a hike to Treno first.

How did Garnet get there?!

Eh whatever. Video game magic.

While Blank is supposed to be looking for the Princess, he's instead chatting up Ruby


http://i.imgur.com/ikado8F.png


Zidane isn't having much luck himself


http://i.imgur.com/XNsxvb4.png


Baku arrives and also says they haven't seen her, but he spotted someone who might be able to help


http://i.imgur.com/vcL9e71.png


He means Beatrix. So after chasing her around the harbour, we finally track her down but she hasn't seen the Princess either

http://i.imgur.com/IySYmrB.png


But when Zidane says he's sure she was here, Beatrix suggests they head to her mother's grave and asks him two favours


http://i.imgur.com/YcvOFd6.png
http://i.imgur.com/x2SCHnr.png


So we head to Brahne's resting place to find that, happily, Garnet is there and also got her voice back!

http://i.imgur.com/GqZvOsh.png
http://i.imgur.com/gyqrAr7.png


Se still has a lot on her mind though and decides that she wants to keep journeying with Zidane. She says she always worried about looking and acting like a Princess and then a Queen, but she isn't ready and the Alexandrian people deserve better. So she's going to be selfish and join us.

Zidane gives her the thing Beatrix asked us to

http://i.imgur.com/WYWL1uL.png
http://i.imgur.com/meYhCwe.png


And with that we can have her learn to summon Bahamut, yay!

http://i.imgur.com/bAesyjp.png


By knife she means the dagger that helped her make her last important decision

http://i.imgur.com/J7yli7t.png


And that's when she kills herself, how sad

No, of course she doesn't. But it issssss


http://i.imgur.com/rjOBRSu.png


HAIRCUT TIMMMEEEEE


http://i.imgur.com/ImUHkPj.png


Which a lot of people will recognize as a physical way to express making a change in your life. It's why some people die/cut their hair or change up their look when romantic relationships end, for example, or when consciously choosing to start a happier chapter in life.

And so she lets her long luscious locks fly away in the wind as we see Alexandria being rebuilt

http://i.imgur.com/TUKfSEC.png
http://i.imgur.com/Bj0qCs0.png


Symbolism ho!


http://i.imgur.com/ISfkz09.png
http://i.imgur.com/pq1msfT.png


Gosh I love her short hair so much. It's my ideal short haircut, it's just amazing

As if she'd cut it that perfectly though

Anyways, as Garnet beings a new chapter in her life, the Hilda Garde 3 gets up and running!


http://i.imgur.com/62NpSHm.png
http://i.imgur.com/AWkewPU.png


And now we have a nifty airship~

The gang comes to pick us up and are shocked by Garnet's new look but even more shocked by the fact that her voice has returned


http://i.imgur.com/f38c3Iq.png


So we set our sights on Ipsen's Castle, but not before taking care of a few side things!

First we go get two more Chocograph Pieces by playing Chocobo Hot & Cold and then we unlock another chocograph which gives us


http://i.imgur.com/WXONV5W.png


Gold flying Chocobo yaaaaay! Now he can climb mountains, cross the ocean, and fly!

1000% amazing, you go Choco

We can also head to an island that has a great place that I love


http://i.imgur.com/0anhsWn.png


It's filled with books and water and you think that wouldn't work out but it does and I love it and I want to live there

We also get another Stellazzio here

http://i.imgur.com/lN1RfEf.png


I think we can agree that Capricorn is the real hero of the Stellazzio story

You can get some nifty new items here by doing a lift/switch puzzle and also there's a good synthesis shop as well.

On top of that, we run in to an old friend from Cleyra!


http://i.imgur.com/28Lv1Jq.png


And we will leave off with that happyness and stay tuned for next time!

[Pumpkin]

Welcome back, both of my viewers! We have an exciting update today.

First off, remember how we got our Gold Chocobo? Well once we collect all of the chocograph pieces, we can go to the last Hot & Cold area to get the last of the hidden treasures!

http://i.imgur.com/dHdy6xm.png


As you probably would have expected, it's the toughest area yet, but there's only a few Chocographs left.

Also there's an option to examine something related to eidolons or summon magic or something. Just leave it alone. LEAVE IT ALONE until you've completed the friendly monster sidequest and are very VERY prepared and have saved. If you have not done those things

LEAVE
IT
ALONE

Now then, after completing that and doing some level and ability grinding and getting some super cool items from the chocographs, we head to Ipsen's Castle

http://i.imgur.com/yXqoZhc.png


You can't see the full thing but it's basically like... reflection castle. It's upside down on the bottom and right side up on the top

So since we got here and Amarant realized he's had no plot points, he decides to go be a jerk again


http://i.imgur.com/ejcbOzd.png


You can see the upside down bit there


http://i.imgur.com/utCDI6v.png
http://i.imgur.com/4m0R6CS.png


So Amarant leaves and no one really cares and inside we go

http://i.imgur.com/SyHuHfK.png


Ipsen's Castle is an odd place where the stronger your weapons are, the weaker they are! So hopefully you saved some of your beginner weapons, but not a huge deal if you didn't. They have them scattered about the place. We also get another Stellazzio coin!

http://i.imgur.com/BCXFN0O.png


And we deliver another mognet


http://i.imgur.com/MPv822z.png


So after going through the odd but still pretty straightforward dungeon

http://i.imgur.com/fPeWQKi.png


We arrive at the obvious plot area to find Amarant is already there

http://i.imgur.com/enKT3YY.png
http://i.imgur.com/bDKMnhm.png


Okay bye

So he leaves and we go check out the mural on the wall, which is a world map with some mirrors on it. Each mirror has a little hint


http://i.imgur.com/W0aJgvl.png


So we take the mirrors because this is a super weird, mysterious, and unknown place so why wouldn't we just take these things and oh no something happens


http://i.imgur.com/xiiKEqj.png


And then this gross thing shows up

http://i.imgur.com/ZnQ6rZt.png


If you've been leveling and ability grinding appropriately, this boss should be a breeze, especially if you have Vivi in your party. He does less damage than is regenerated by auto-regen in a single heal. Just Focus Vivi while Zidane steals and then you should easily be doing damage like this:


http://i.imgur.com/SB3xv38.png


If you haven't put hours in to grinding because you have a life or something (loser) then it still shouldn't be the most challenging of fights.

So we defeat the gross thing who mumbles incoherently about one for all or something and head back, at which point Vivi almost falls through a trap door


http://i.imgur.com/HsuWnYn.png


We head back outside to be told that Amarant never came back out

http://i.imgur.com/HJ2jbNS.png
http://i.imgur.com/Nkfs3Yc.png


So we head back in and if you fall through the right trap door you get a treasure. Just keep trying. We also find Amarant


http://i.imgur.com/4rktTtC.png


After some talk about independence this and why are you rescuing me that

http://i.imgur.com/llGq1Gz.png


Zidane yells at him a bit about teamwork and friendship and Amarant decides to join us again and for some reason is suddenly just fine despite having been injured before

The power of friendship!

I didn't want to screencap the whole convo but it's basically:
A: Why you helping me?
Z: Cuz that's what I do
A: Is this what teamwork is?
Z: Yeah, sure
A: Cool cool, let's head back

So we leave and go back to the airship to discuss the new things we learned

http://i.imgur.com/bjwQvlX.png


The mirrors are each on a certain area


http://i.imgur.com/mc2rEBM.png
http://i.imgur.com/169sub2.png


"Nah I figured out exactly what we have to do based on the cryptic ramblings of the weird monster"

Which means 4 teams of 2. Conveniently we have 8 party members. And now we know why Amarant is in this game!

Also I am going to tell you right now that if you have not learned a lot of Blue Magic with Quina or taught him/her some abilities and leveled him/her up with the rest of them... drop everything and do that now.

Anyways, back to the plot

Eiko immediately teams up with Garnet


http://i.imgur.com/OMvuhcR.png


Like makeup and shoes and boys and the mystical beats that we can summon to do our bidding that can wipe out entire cities.

Just girl things~


http://i.imgur.com/V1Vl8L7.png


Also can I just point out here how much happier Garnet looks in her portrait now than before. I'm telling you, the new haircut is amazing

So anyways, first shrine is where we drop off the summoners, and it is the Water Shrine

http://i.imgur.com/VH0HyQK.png


Looks safe

http://i.imgur.com/5MDX4ck.png
http://i.imgur.com/kGPMEwg.png


Next is the fire shrine where we drop off Amarant and Freya


http://i.imgur.com/5H7Xw9P.png
http://i.imgur.com/pyIuNPL.png


Amarant fuses about being teamed up with Freya until Zidane asks if he'd rather have gone with Eiko, which causes him to silently accept the pairing

Next is the Wind Shrine, which doesn't look the most... flattering, let's say

http://i.imgur.com/XTwFhzu.png


Steiner and Vivi get sent there


http://i.imgur.com/YIOZv2O.png


Vivi immediately gets blown back by the wind so he has to walk behind Steiner and it's pretty cute

http://i.imgur.com/cXre3zM.png


And then last but not least, Quina and Zidane head to the Earth Shrine!


http://i.imgur.com/mh0QFbC.png
http://i.imgur.com/gXaZsgo.png


Quina is very happy because s/he is always happy


http://i.imgur.com/YDda2UZ.png


Zidane explains that it was more of a case of getting stuck with him/her than anything, but Quina doesn't care


http://i.imgur.com/qJCKWrA.png


So presh :3:

So anyways, everyone heads further in and sees places to put the mirrors, but booby traps and bosses because of course

http://i.imgur.com/fBGDS3w.png
http://i.imgur.com/QsautqB.png


Everyone has a moment of LET'S DO THIS and Amarant packs all of his character development in to a few sentences with his "Hey maybe there's more to life than not trusting people and picking fights"


http://i.imgur.com/jQgXZMD.png
http://i.imgur.com/v1XQclA.png


Vivi and Steiner are best team <3


http://i.imgur.com/ZUeUU6V.png


You know, that is a super valid question and Zidane's response is literally "I guess we'll figure it out when we get there!"

So anyways we get to boss fight with Zidane and Quina. If you've been leveling Quina properly and have some good Blue Magic, like White Wind, you should be fine. If not this might be a frustrating fight. We don't fight the other three bosses right now, and we don't even get to see the one Eiko and Garnet fought yet. Not that I'm complaining much because it's pretty ugly

So anyways, baddies defeated, mirrors placed to break the seal on the Shimmering Islands so we can get to Terra. Only one issue remains


http://i.imgur.com/WotRcAK.png


But before Garnet can answer (we all know her answer anyway)


http://i.imgur.com/dN7fgvo.png


Now all that's left to do is prepare to go to Terra via the Shimmering Islands

http://i.imgur.com/nE28k8P.png
http://i.imgur.com/vsrWAoJ.png


It's super close to where they start you off near Esto Gaza, so just head on over after you've prepared and this happens


http://i.imgur.com/RYspjBP.png


Nothing concerning here


http://i.imgur.com/61MG72K.png


Nope, nothing at all

We get to watch the souls going through

http://i.imgur.com/30CA4Ti.png


And then the airship makes its way through the... soul waterfall thing

http://i.imgur.com/GIqpeSq.png


And then we start floating because why wouldn't we


http://i.imgur.com/b9exwNy.png


And then we get the old school Doctor Who intro


http://i.imgur.com/pQIHWmS.png


And arrive at this...

place...


http://i.imgur.com/WQ9ILrL.png


And then we thought to ourselves, gee, this is weird, maybe we shouldn't have been so blasé about going through a soul portal in to another world


http://i.imgur.com/yimjH1l.png


Or we think about the blue light

So anyways Garland appears in that hole beside the tree after it grows magical harp strings


http://i.imgur.com/i2mja8f.png


As you do

After Zidane tries to tell him his name, Garland calls us an ignorant fool because who cares about names. Culture shock!

http://i.imgur.com/BISixI5.png
http://i.imgur.com/XFnAtqq.png


So we also meet a girl with adorable pink ribbons in her hair


http://i.imgur.com/4CFBDCm.png


She also has a tail and looks similar to Zidane.

Probably not important.

So we head further in to find a sort of town


http://i.imgur.com/1OTo6ss.png
http://i.imgur.com/gxXiO1g.png
http://i.imgur.com/Eqs8bI8.png


Oh, we're back to the cult stuff

http://i.imgur.com/hqSW3K3.png


before we can explore though, we see our old friend The Invincible!


http://i.imgur.com/bVDk3gQ.png


Zidane and Garnet look up in awe

http://i.imgur.com/WFkUE0b.png


And no that didn't need a screenshot but I think we do need to keep appreciating the new Garnet hair

Anyways, as The Invincible flies up to do who knows what, Garnet has flashbacks to it destroying Madain Sari. And if you recall from before, when she remembers that stuff she faints. And so does she faint again this time


http://i.imgur.com/GHJvWKF.png


And then FFIX sums up the human condition

So we head to Bran Bal to look for a place to rest Garnet

http://i.imgur.com/cQDt2t3.png


And yes, they are just as exciting as Zidane is!

http://i.imgur.com/i1n51sS.png
http://i.imgur.com/lYq3lwO.png
http://i.imgur.com/vV0JZ96.png


Haha, classic Zidane! Always going on about creating perfect Genomes to be vessels for souls!


http://i.imgur.com/5eDxDfh.png


They're just as upbeat and friendly as he is too!

Also, yes, that is a moogle in that basket. A moogle who has never heard of mognet no less!?

http://i.imgur.com/F3HNebn.png


Stiltzkin, how did you even get here???

So next time we look for a place to rest Garnet and figure out more about what's going on!

Stay tuned~

[Depression Moon]

I feel like they don't give you enough time to dig for Chocobo's Air Garden.

[Pumpkin]

We are back and getting to the end of the game, can you believe it? A few sections left and they're pretty story heavy so bare with me. Afterwards I will be hopping right in to Final Fantasy VIII if that interests you!

First thing's first, Zidane finds a spot for Garnet to rest, but he starts not feeling so hot himself

http://i.imgur.com/cpkCZIF.png


Eiko meanwhile is asking the locals for some medicine without much success


http://i.imgur.com/JawKtSR.png
http://i.imgur.com/kZREsEN.png


>Eiko travels to a whole new place with a different culture
>Calls them all weirdos

Anyways, cute pink Zidane from before shows up and asks where Zidane is, which Eiko misconstrues as flirting


http://i.imgur.com/VAZAAAV.png
http://i.imgur.com/ok8OMMW.png


Her response doesn't do much to clarify things, let's be honest


http://i.imgur.com/p3wTthf.png


Eiko, as you can see, is having none of it. Ain't nobody allowed to flirt with the man her bestie is in love with that she has a crush on

Back with the others, Garnet is resting and Freya notices that Zidane has been a bit gloomy


http://i.imgur.com/yeXX8Md.png
http://i.imgur.com/QqgG21V.png


Garnet wakes up and explains why she fainted when she saw The Invincible

http://i.imgur.com/RRjovdr.png
http://i.imgur.com/fWZYjT7.png


It's because she realized what we realized a whole disc ago

So Zidane glooms about and heads to the Underground Laboratory after Eiko begrudgingly gives him the message and upon seeing the people in the weird test tube like things, he realizes what's been going on

http://i.imgur.com/4NZ0pOD.png
http://i.imgur.com/E8jMPWV.png


Pink Zidane explains a bit more to fill in some of the blanks

http://i.imgur.com/HLoFKQB.png


And Regular Zidane is pretty bummed about the whole thing


http://i.imgur.com/lik4PJ5.png


After wondering why he's not a zombie like the other Genomes

http://i.imgur.com/lwuNT0q.png


STOP FLIRTING OMG

She basically explains how the Genomes are basically without souls and that Garland made them

http://i.imgur.com/zzg3tUS.png
http://i.imgur.com/dtEqank.png


See the Genomes aren't the Terran people. They're basically soulless vessels. If you remember the Oeilvert section, Terra fell on some hard times etc


http://i.imgur.com/QtpueAK.png
http://i.imgur.com/Fyfkk6J.png



Well that doesn't sound concerning!

http://i.imgur.com/fOuVjHE.png


Oh, okay!

When Zidane asks why now, Pink Zidane explains that they had to wait until the right time


http://i.imgur.com/29ttFcA.png


Garnet gets worried about Zidane and sends Eiko out to look for him. But he is first found by Quina who tries to find the food in every situation

http://i.imgur.com/OzWFSY9.png


After awkwardly licking the stone to taste it, he sees Zidane who is moping about.

Elsewhere in town, Vivi is trying to converse with the Genomes, who aren't being very responsive. When Zidane comes along, Vivi says they remind him of how the Black Mages were when the first saw them way back on the cargo ship

http://i.imgur.com/P5UDAFa.png


Can't tell if insulting or not

After Zidane mops away some more and talks to Amarant about how mopey they both are, he meets back up with Pink Zidane so that he can go and meet with Garland


http://i.imgur.com/K4zaEmd.png


People with castles are so pretentious

Eiko saunters up after Zidane leaves and wonders why he went alone, not fully believing Mr. Teamwork WOULD go alone


http://i.imgur.com/RQUxp35.png


Sensing that something is off, Eiko rushes to get the others

Zidane, meanwhile, magical tree harp teleports to Garland's castle

http://i.imgur.com/cgNMz3f.png


And immediately insults it


http://i.imgur.com/pS8MasE.png


We meet up with Garland who is basically all business and not at all concerned about us showing up in his soul castle unannounced.


http://i.imgur.com/fNILk2L.png
http://i.imgur.com/xa5VvZD.png


Zidane is pretty upset about the whole Terra taking over Gaia thing that Pink Zidane mentioned


http://i.imgur.com/WmRZGyV.png


"I don't want to destroy Gaia, I just want to essentially destroy it"


So anyways more plot dump about the genome sent to disrupt the flow of souls on Gaia through war

http://i.imgur.com/dBTB7Ny.png


Omg Zidane, you can't just ask people why they don't have tails


http://i.imgur.com/gSABRgm.png


So he's basically a teenager

Garland continues to walk very slowly through his castle while monologuing

http://i.imgur.com/4s3YkrL.png


But you see, eventually Kuja would die, so he made a new Genome, Zidane, to essentially replace him


http://i.imgur.com/RLO1nir.png


It's not uncommon for an older sibling to feel rejected when a newborn arrives in to the family


http://i.imgur.com/ZLK0Td2.png


That is usually less common though


http://i.imgur.com/xdGu0l3.png


So he creates wars because wars mean more deaths which means more soul stuff

http://i.imgur.com/AIBdnH9.png
http://i.imgur.com/Gg4WBQp.png


And yes, we did do that Zombie Tree battle on disc 2, but Garland assures us that we didn't stop anything

http://i.imgur.com/8Gt3MYU.png


He also shows us his nifty glowing soul globe


http://i.imgur.com/01mV4nS.png


I wish I had one.

So after all of that, Zidane is pretty bummed that it turns out he was created to destroy Gaia


http://i.imgur.com/z0R3kOd.png


And so he reacts in the most reasonable way possible


http://i.imgur.com/N6MMejv.png


Uh, sure

And he decides to do it solo because it's a family matter or whatever, but with everything going on, he kind of has a breakdown

http://i.imgur.com/LxdxM89.png
http://i.imgur.com/dzBZhpO.png
http://i.imgur.com/nffnUNp.png
http://i.imgur.com/3UJ7GY5.png


And thus did FFIX sum up depression

He is woken up by Vivi and Eiko


http://i.imgur.com/mYtTUMP.png


But Zidane is not really feeling it


http://i.imgur.com/iLd8OG0.png


After the two press him further, he snaps


http://i.imgur.com/Y6eoWgM.png


He leaves them behind and ends up in a fight against a beastie, when Freya and Amarant arrive to rescue him


http://i.imgur.com/FOIN7p4.png


After leaving them behind, he runs in to Quina and Steiner who are also concerned about him

http://i.imgur.com/6JTutLF.png


Aww, he cares about him

But Zidane leaves them behind too

http://i.imgur.com/PLAQcuY.png


We end up in another fight and Garnet has to show up to heal our sorry behinds


http://i.imgur.com/Aavga7L.png


And fuss at us a little bit too

http://i.imgur.com/C18UYmO.png


Okay, a lot

http://i.imgur.com/4GsC4ya.png


Garnet gets upset at him again because the whole game he was Mr. Friendship and always there telling them to rely on him, but he won't do the same


http://i.imgur.com/O5CjF7o.png


A few others arrive to show that she's right and they care about our hero


http://i.imgur.com/hxEWtlW.png


You tell 'em Quina

http://i.imgur.com/fy3gRlu.png


They're besties now :3

And with that, Zidane's character comes full circle. He apologizes for being a jackass and the group decides they're going to go kill Garland TOGETHER

BECAUSE FRIENDSHIP IS POWER or something to that effect

Next time we go face off against Garland and probably get to the last disc. Stay tuned~

[Darth Ganon]

Absolute best part in the game right there. :zidane:

[Pumpkin]

Big update incoming as we finish disc 3 and finish up some sidequests before the final dungeon!

We head through the annoying dungeon that is Pandemonium and deliver a mognet from that Terran moogle that was super hype about this whole mognet thing

http://i.imgur.com/uGNZyCX.png


The other moogle was sufficiently less hype about it

We find Garland further in, monologuing to himself as he likes to do

http://i.imgur.com/xCYN88k.png
http://i.imgur.com/e70HTcF.png


Someone just took Philosophy 101


http://i.imgur.com/MCtISM4.png


Get em Zidane

http://i.imgur.com/1H0caZs.png
http://i.imgur.com/5l9XQyS.png


"I'm the only one allowed to monologue!!!"

I hope you're ready for a boss rush~

First we fight a Silver Dragon

http://i.imgur.com/EInQs7L.png


It was very easy, I beat him with counterattacks while I was trying to steal

So then we have some more questions for Garland about this whole Terra souls thing


http://i.imgur.com/V94hcKn.png
http://i.imgur.com/i6h2jb3.png


There's actually a neat little touch of body language here. He was facing us all head on and confident until he mentions that and then he turns away


http://i.imgur.com/FcSDyfe.png


This leads to another boss fight, this time with Garland. If you Focus Vivi while Zidane steals, Flare should do a full 9999 damage to him and the fight won't be super hard. Worst thing is he likes to cast Stop so remedy that fast

After the fight, we prepare to lecture Garland about friendship again but Kuja comes in with The Invincible


http://i.imgur.com/Bdw9D4C.png
http://i.imgur.com/YjrHiEo.png
http://i.imgur.com/QXDNxSa.png


Who is he even talking to?

http://i.imgur.com/dFVKNrO.png


Himself, I guess

So Kuja pops on down


http://i.imgur.com/OI2RYVv.png
http://i.imgur.com/D1sH9J7.png


And that leads to our third boss fight. Still not super tough, should be able to deal with it without much problem if you've put the work in and equipped good skills like auto-regen

But after we defeat him


http://i.imgur.com/JoSLMc9.png
http://i.imgur.com/UQU6BR5.png


He goes all Trance on us


http://i.imgur.com/4AmKsXS.png


And pulls that crap. But hey, he has a tail now!


http://i.imgur.com/zrzijhO.png
http://i.imgur.com/y19Nl3M.png


Basically, The Invincible absorbs souls when it does its whole evil eye thing and he is using their power to Trance


http://i.imgur.com/rV3sSjR.png


And apparently it absorbed a very powerful soul by the Iifa Tree. Queen Brahne's soul


http://i.imgur.com/Qho9nhG.png
http://i.imgur.com/QYXi4pu.png


Look at Zidane taking a nap over there. Lazy


http://i.imgur.com/HR9Uoay.png


And so he just kicks Garland off the edge. And so does Garland meet his anticlimactic end

http://i.imgur.com/yhOVn9Y.png


Although he does manage to antagonize Kuja one last time before he finally passes

http://i.imgur.com/EIcCnDA.png
http://i.imgur.com/uVuU8CD.png


Garland created Zidane to replace Kuja and now that Zidane has become more powerful, it'll soon be bye bye Kuja


http://i.imgur.com/wqB9XIm.png
http://i.imgur.com/wjAOtOh.png


And so Garland gives Kuja one last massive Screw You before his life ends


http://i.imgur.com/ja3k0Iw.png


Kuja doesn't deal with this news very well


http://i.imgur.com/bBfy2lp.png
http://i.imgur.com/A92ruIq.png


Ah yes the "If I can't be alive neither can anyone else" line of reasoning. This is why people who are afraid of death don't get to have superpowers

And then Kuja begins angrily destroying Terra. Juts like straight out destroying the entire planet


http://i.imgur.com/3bIV9KY.png
http://i.imgur.com/OsFSVd0.png
http://i.imgur.com/gtqM3cC.png


The party decides this is a good time to leave


http://i.imgur.com/4ZANxBv.png
http://i.imgur.com/dCRZUji.png


Garnet joins Zidane and the two of them head back to Bran Bal while the others secure the ship

On the way, Zidane gets a bit creeped out

http://i.imgur.com/aNrdTLN.png


And Garnet gives zero craps

While they wait for the teleporter to activate and bring them to Bran Bal, Zidane apologizes for his earlier behaviour when he went all selfish antisocial jerk and tells her he has something else to say, but gets shy about it


http://i.imgur.com/qGUm9aE.png


After Garnet fusses at him for the stupid joke, he finally says what's on his mind

http://i.imgur.com/EoTyn2D.png


He thanks her for rescuing him and the two get close as the teleporter finally activates

Meanwhile, during the escape...


http://i.imgur.com/xDGOOVd.png


The others get to the ship, while Quina somehow teleports from underneath it


http://i.imgur.com/Y46deup.png


And Zidane goes to rescue the Genomes, where he finds his sister Pink Zidane and tries to get her to leave


http://i.imgur.com/uiktTdI.png
http://i.imgur.com/mJ0tlxG.png


When she asks if he has an answer he responds with


http://i.imgur.com/wSfGx72.png


She also finally opens up to us a little bit and we learn that he name is not Pink Zidane, sadly

http://i.imgur.com/fpWr9zF.png
http://i.imgur.com/GBA7Ppb.png


And so everyone hops on The Invincible and gets the heck out of Terra before it is annihilated


http://i.imgur.com/dqtwuPZ.png
http://i.imgur.com/OGK7n4k.png


And we arrive safely back in Gaia


http://i.imgur.com/ZhyJXeR.png


But our troubles aren't over yet


http://i.imgur.com/n5wpsQd.png


The party doubts that this will be the end of Kuja

http://i.imgur.com/yi4xIGR.png


And they easily figure out the most important place on Gaia where they can probably confront him


http://i.imgur.com/Yzghng8.png


There's more bad news though


http://i.imgur.com/e5hk5Im.png
http://i.imgur.com/vyZ2Suq.png


Welcome to disc 4!

Before we get to the whole confronting Kuja thing, we need to drop our friends the Genomes off at a special place where they will be well cared for


http://i.imgur.com/SZMfrsw.png
http://i.imgur.com/nLeUguh.png


So the Genomes try and get used to the locals, including the absolutely adorable Bobby Corwin


http://i.imgur.com/PaSnkWm.png


Look how cuuuutee

Bobby Corwin then proceeds to chase the Genome

Quina offers his/her own life advice

http://i.imgur.com/qY6TO8H.png


And others learn about the differences between the two worlds


http://i.imgur.com/Dee5iUm.png
http://i.imgur.com/wjlGEtn.png


With the Genomes resettled, we go to head out on our quest to the final dungeon


http://i.imgur.com/sco9JaL.png


Mikoto comes out to show her support


http://i.imgur.com/PWMgbOG.png
http://i.imgur.com/vVoOKNP.png


Zidane calls her his little sis, which she says is silly while turning away in embarrassment, and then we head out to sidequest before the end game!

First thing Imma do is get all of the Stellazzio. There's actually one on The Invincible, which we now get to fly around

http://i.imgur.com/cYcnWf4.png


We bring all 12 coins to Queen Stella


http://i.imgur.com/lSI7sBE.png


And with that we head to a place very nearby to get the conclusion to our story


http://i.imgur.com/voD6lJ8.png
http://i.imgur.com/kd7fxnA.png
http://i.imgur.com/x8IlAVc.png


Aww :3

Using a Dead Pepper, we can also solve the problem of Mognet Central


http://i.imgur.com/kDvpjmO.png


Basically one of the moogles was using the oil for the gears to give himself shiny fur

First step is to head back to Alexandria where we can check up on the rebuild efforts


http://i.imgur.com/rYSpSpC.png


Little Ilia is super presh


http://i.imgur.com/g6KgxLw.png


You can also get a card here from one of the townsfolk and we see that Ruby is having some trouble with her main star


http://i.imgur.com/vvRF4RR.png


Dem legs on Lowell tho

At the bell tower you can buy the final items from Stiltzkin who escaped Terra just fine, obviously


http://i.imgur.com/2kEXw8B.png


And he gives us a ribbon. You can also speak to Kupo who will initiate the quest to help Mognet Central


http://i.imgur.com/ldvQnyj.png


We then have to go around the world delivering letters to moogles. At one point we are brought back to Black Mage Village where we can check up on everyone, and apparently an item in my inventory reacts with the musical box in the Inn

http://i.imgur.com/KxTAvMK.png


That's quite the music box...

Mikoto wonders what the point of cemeteries is since the dead people probably don't care, and Mr. 288 explains that it's a way to show that they will remember them


http://i.imgur.com/gGJT5ol.png


Mr. 288, always a well of knowledge, also explains why he thinks the Genomes and Black Mages are so similar


http://i.imgur.com/Owg2crt.png


We continue delivering mail


http://i.imgur.com/frMwchK.png


Which eventually leads us right back where we started, in Alexandria


http://i.imgur.com/kbikrL0.png


And it turns out Ruby had it the entire time. So we get some from her and head back to Mognet Central where things get fixed back up again

http://i.imgur.com/5qEyQFb.png


Now there are a few more sidequests you can do like fighting the super boss in Chocobo's Air Garden, getting all of the Dead Pepper locations, finding the beaches and Chocobo's Paradise. I'll leave some things to mystery for those who have never played the game. But I'll only be doing one last sidequest, which is incredibly convoluted.

First, head back to Madain Sari with Garnet in your party and go to the outdoor area of Eiko's house. You'll see Lani who will run away. Head back to The Invincible and make up a party that has neither Garnet nor Amarant and head back. Lani will talk to you this time and tell you a bit about what's been going on


http://i.imgur.com/tU1susm.png


She got tired and the moogles took her in and have been taking care of her. She now feels bad about the selfish, money grubbing lifestyle she once had, and mentions that Eidolon Wall might have some nifty info

So head over to Eidolon wall and walk clockwise around the circular room, past the ! of the entrance, until you hear a chime sound in the song. The walk counterclockwise and do the same thing. Then switch back to clockwise and continue this pattern 9 times until you get a message saying everyone has been healed. Now you can head around the room and learn more about the summoner's tribe

http://i.imgur.com/bqS5Rp4.png


As you examine all of the summons and get info, you'll notice one of the summons (Ifrit) isn't able to be examined. Once you've examined all of the other ones, return to Ifrit where you get the final message, some words from Garnet's father


http://i.imgur.com/MOPrkcY.png


And that is where we will end for today. Next time we take on Memoria and finish up the game!

Stay tuned~

[Pumpkin]

Are you guys ready for the finale? Big update incoming, I apologize in advance.

First thing is to head to Memoria when you're ready. Make sure you are ready because it's basically like 8 bosses with story and a bit of walking in between. You'll be able to recognize Memoria because it looks like this


http://i.imgur.com/yiQ4wsw.png


Oh and also just a ton of silver dragons come flying out


http://i.imgur.com/zgVmA5T.png


Like just... a TON of them. We start getting attacked, but thankfully some backup arrives


http://i.imgur.com/C7G3mi8.png


Now that the mist is back, the airships can fly again!

Pew pew dragon airship fights happen

http://i.imgur.com/bh66k0X.png
http://i.imgur.com/U8LovFo.png

But not only did the Lindblum fleet and the Hilda Garde 3 show up, the Red Rose arrives to lend a hand too


http://i.imgur.com/TO1WksJ.png
http://i.imgur.com/r1mEtFH.png
http://i.imgur.com/le3mVvK.png


Aww they're in love :3

http://i.imgur.com/hSjY9Q1.png
http://i.imgur.com/qyR8b3b.png


When Garnet asks Steiner what he meant by that, he goes scurrying to the side

Anyways, thanks to the help of the others, we get a clear path in to Memoria


http://i.imgur.com/uUWIce2.png


Where we have to fight this thing in the ugliest background of all time

http://i.imgur.com/jhQL4XT.png


It's not a super hard fight if you can keep from ripping your eyeballs out

Anyways, we head in to Memoria, which is weird, and Zidane starts hearing a voice


http://i.imgur.com/UR4NxvM.png


And the voice belongs to none other than


http://i.imgur.com/aluGnUQ.png


Our good friend Dead Garland!


http://i.imgur.com/GRkiKMm.png


Creative naming there


http://i.imgur.com/D2mmFiF.png


Further in the dungeon, we get to fight the Fiend from the Fire Shrine

http://i.imgur.com/AmqmlSq.png


Not a very hard fight. I should mention to CHECK EVERYWHERE THOROUGHLY in Memoria, even if it looks like there's nothing. There's a lot of hidden save and card masters (for some reason?) and ultimate weapons. Be thorough in your search


Further in we see Alexandria castle

http://i.imgur.com/ZOWZNRi.png


And suddenly the attack and Bahamut vs Alexander thing starts playing back


http://i.imgur.com/xhz9IMs.png


But Quina apparently didn't see anything

http://i.imgur.com/GxinD21.png


And then Garland starts giving us history lessons


http://i.imgur.com/mTTFrac.png


Further in, we see another memory of a little girl and her mom


http://i.imgur.com/WRGBsHU.png
http://i.imgur.com/vdIDKGn.png


Which Zidane could oddly see even though he wasn't there


http://i.imgur.com/QSYUIP8.png


Instead of a straight answer, we get more History Time with Garland


http://i.imgur.com/nwfpdfq.png


But he explains a bit more as we get further in


http://i.imgur.com/RePh1xz.png
http://i.imgur.com/bmZuIff.png


But once again, back to history lessons. Garland is nothing is not cryptic and vague


http://i.imgur.com/qkCkesq.png
http://i.imgur.com/15rBoOi.png


As we walk up to the giant eyeball in the sky (as you do) we fight another one of the fiends, this time from the Wind Shrine


http://i.imgur.com/sjoRd5p.png


But Tiamat was wrong and now Tiamat is dead

Further in we see some more weird stuff


http://i.imgur.com/s4kjTad.png


Also you probably didn't notice just from the LP, but there are two moons in the game, a blue one and a red one. We now know that the red one is actually Terra's moon


http://i.imgur.com/rNwYrbS.png
http://i.imgur.com/KJXb9xP.png
http://i.imgur.com/iWsUCWQ.png


In all honesty, despite the planet assimilation nonsense, I'm starting to feel a bit bad for Terra

Next we end up in an ocean


http://i.imgur.com/h5ORjkk.png
http://i.imgur.com/9XMOeac.png


After a brief moment of Quina worrying that s/he is drowning, Zidane tells him/her that it's all in the mind and we proceed forward with Quina being able to breathe again

http://i.imgur.com/aYYRxFA.png
http://i.imgur.com/kjB1zsp.png
http://i.imgur.com/QlMFgHn.png


It's actually neat learning about the history of this fictional planet, I like it

Next is the water fiend we didn't get to see when Eiko and Garnet were at the Water Shrine


http://i.imgur.com/enJ60in.png


So ugly. Probably also the easiest of the fiend fights. Enjoy your breather boss, it only gets worse from here!


http://i.imgur.com/pUbUZMs.png
http://i.imgur.com/qlESQ9A.png


Next boss is the Earth Shrine fiend who likes to try and death at your characters


http://i.imgur.com/MajW7Kw.png


After beating him up we head further in and find just... space

http://i.imgur.com/F3H163w.png


And wander through space we do

http://i.imgur.com/oMIpD2j.png


Until we reach a small light


http://i.imgur.com/WgLOzhu.png
http://i.imgur.com/HJjUZX3.png


Is it just me or is this starting to feel like a school field trip to a museum


http://i.imgur.com/keuSgRp.png
http://i.imgur.com/eIHXvHm.png
http://i.imgur.com/P8vCVt2.png


And gee, what could that presence be?

http://i.imgur.com/vd7UYyP.png


You didn't really expect this throwback to classic FF to not have the crystal show up at some point, did you?

http://i.imgur.com/aKHo4qX.png
http://i.imgur.com/SA2VRAf.png


And with that, Garland is gone. Again

Can't shut up even after death


http://i.imgur.com/GoWqSdO.png


Kuja is so polite, what a nice young man


http://i.imgur.com/hq60LvB.png
http://i.imgur.com/AKdN3y0.png
http://i.imgur.com/tMmt5PS.png
http://i.imgur.com/5xTt981.png
http://i.imgur.com/n0IhaNw.png


OOOOHHHHHH we get right to the heart of it. Thems, of course, fightin words

But first we have to fight this stupid thing


http://i.imgur.com/1caIQhy.png


And then we get to fight Kuja

http://i.imgur.com/bFDt1Kf.png


So he pulls the same Ultima crap when we win the fight and things start falling apart

http://i.imgur.com/kp0UzNU.png


And then NO LAST BOSS FIGHT HAPPENS THAT IS ABSURDLY TOUGH and we get brought back to the Iifa Tree somehow, which we find going all kooky and haywire


http://i.imgur.com/ywfiDiD.png


Apparently Memoria kind of exploded and the Iifa Tree is going psycho, so Beatrix worries that this is the end for our heroes


http://i.imgur.com/w9SW9gv.png


And she knows this and where they are because she can hear "him"

Since the Hilda Garde is closer, the Regent comes to our rescue

http://i.imgur.com/NUprTRg.png


But before we can board the ship to our happy ending...


http://i.imgur.com/GEmIBQu.png
http://i.imgur.com/ArlZ2ab.png


And Zidane being Zidane cannot refuse to help someone in need, even while the others try and talk him out of it


http://i.imgur.com/xP05Cx7.png
http://i.imgur.com/L0F1QdH.png


Aw :(

After realizing it's futile to try and talk him out of it, the others leave him to it with some parting words

http://i.imgur.com/m8G2zl7.png


And he and Garnet have their touching goodbye


http://i.imgur.com/hYEWCJQ.png


Good guy Steiner over here giving them some privacy

http://i.imgur.com/oXJnROQ.png


And so the two part as the Hilda Garde takes off and Zidane stays behind to rescue Kuja


http://i.imgur.com/5SX6Inv.png
http://i.imgur.com/RS3Jqub.png


Goodbye short haired Garnet, you didn't get nearly enough time in the spotlight

So Zidane daredevil runs through the crazy Iifa Tree routes to go and rescue Kuja. Very reminiscent of Evil Forest from the beginning


http://i.imgur.com/fRGd9yL.png


And eventually he reaches Kuja, who is happy to learn that our friends escaped


http://i.imgur.com/DwIRVaK.png
http://i.imgur.com/6jqonux.png


Zidane tells him that no one is worthless and that they were rescued because of Kuja (the one Mikoto heard so she could tell everyone where we were). Kuja then says that he finally learned what it means to live, just in time to die


http://i.imgur.com/7J3Z1Ll.png


But unfortunately that is exactly what he does as Zidane then shields Kuja with his own body as the killer plant stuff comes attacking once again

http://i.imgur.com/apbIr70.png


Mikoto has some parting words for Kuja

http://i.imgur.com/IqWogQq.png
http://i.imgur.com/8TTdVrl.png
http://i.imgur.com/gnzpzGy.png


In the end, Kuja kind of got his wish and he now gets to live on in the Genomes memories forever


http://i.imgur.com/i5o4ZGx.png


"Vague amount of time later"

We are back in Alexandria, and it seems there is a play going on. 'I Want to Be Your Canary'

A young black mage boy walks through town before being bumped in to by a brat kid named Puck.

Puck immediately recognizes the black mage as Vivi

But he isn't Vivi


http://i.imgur.com/ULPXAaa.png


Soon we say many little Vivi's run through the town on their way to see the play

As for what happened to Vivi...


http://i.imgur.com/HN73BOV.png


Freya and Sir Fratley have fortunately found themselves with a happier ending

http://i.imgur.com/cb6vBCM.png


As have Lani and Amarant, who are also headed for the castle. Quina is the chef for the event once again

But Beatrix has made the sad decision to leave the Kingdom


http://i.imgur.com/LczAS1t.png


Vivi's last testament reads out in the background as we see what everyone is up to


http://i.imgur.com/dNfcrZy.png


Eiko has now been adopted by Cid and Hilda and finally has a family again

http://i.imgur.com/nTMj0iY.png
http://i.imgur.com/he4YAcE.png
http://i.imgur.com/Rhr0b48.png


And Steiner confesses his feelings for Beatrix before she makes the mistake of leaving


http://i.imgur.com/QVU4Lam.png


And so she runs in to his arms, content to stay here with him


http://i.imgur.com/jAgDMae.png


Garnet mourns the loss of Zidane, whom she has not seen since the Iifa Tree incident

http://i.imgur.com/QhuxdaY.png


But she puts on a brave face and decides to press forward

The play begins

http://i.imgur.com/oJRIagY.png
http://i.imgur.com/QmVB3T3.png


As it continues on though, we have a surprise

It's not Marcus playing the lead this time

http://i.imgur.com/S0VV5wf.png


Seeing him after "some time" (it has to be decently long for all that hair to grow back) Garnet rushes through the crowd to him


http://i.imgur.com/5OARyVH.png


She drops her jewel on the way


http://i.imgur.com/tnHlCN9.png


But she decides that Zidane is more important and keeps running, even discarding her crown as she goes

http://i.imgur.com/ex4ZlZM.png


And leaps in to his arms where she punches him for a bit for being gone for so long


http://i.imgur.com/Yv7sMjk.png


The kingdom rejoices


http://i.imgur.com/BviY92e.png


And Zidane explains that he survived because he had to. And


http://i.imgur.com/AlBfzHz.png


The credits role as the crowd, tour friends, and the new little Vivi's celebrate their happiness


http://i.imgur.com/MwKNNvB.png


And so ends the amazingly beautiful story of Final Fantasy IX


http://i.imgur.com/rKsX3Qe.png


What a journey.

I hope you all enjoyed and if so, I'll be starting an FFVIII LP in a few days! Not quite as majestic but still a wonderful game~

Thanks for following!

[Karifean]

It was an awesome LP to follow along =P

Reminded me again of just how good this game actually was.

[Darth Ganon]

It always appeared to me that Eiko adopted Cid and Hilda rather than the other way around.