FFIX Riddles v2.0

[Rantz]

It's not the Nero brothers.

The riddle:
My calling now is not too far from what it was before
though I don't play with you much, friends and peers, not anymore
I am tired, weary; Do I even still exist?
I can't feel my limbs, but through my work I will persist!
Though short, unknown and ugly may all well be in command
they do not see how they are mere puppets under my hand

Incorrect answers:
Black Mages
Kuja
Vivi
Genomes
Garland
Necron
Cid
The game
Steiner
Lav Layderce
Queen Brahne
Queen Stella
The pointer
Master Phantom
The player
Black Waltz #3
The Nero brothers

Hints:
The answer is not anything inanimate.
The answer exists in the game's world, i.e. it's not something the player could be aware of but not the characters.
"Short, unknown and ugly" are epithets of three characters, although not any of the main characters.
The riddle contains references to a previous Final Fantasy.

[Aerith's Knight]

cloud squall and .. other guy

[Caraliz]

Yeah!!! Marcus, Cinna, Baku, etc etc??

[Rantz]

Nope! Think about what you have that describes them, apart from the particular words short, unknown and ugly.

[Caraliz]

Dammit Rantz, give another hint puh-leeze. ;_;

[Rantz]

Sure!

"Short, unknown and ugly" are three separate people, i.e. one "short", one "unknown" and one "ugly". They hold a specific relation and are all significant characters to the game.

[Caveroamer]

Cinna = Ugly

Quina = Unknown (Gender)

Moogles = They are Short

[FFIX Choco Boy]

The answer exists in the game's world, i.e. it's not something the player could be aware of but not the characters.

Well, actually, the moogle bros that theach you stuff do talk about menus, buttons, guages, and that sort of stuff. Just saying...

[Rantz]

It's not Cinna, Quina and a Moogle (or any of them). These three people are connected in a certain way.

[Eiko Guy]

short = cid
Ugly = brahne
Unknown = galand

Three leaders all being controlled by...mist?

[Rantz]

Cid and Brahne are indeed the ones the riddle calls "short" and "ugly". Garland, however, has no connection to the riddle or the answer. Who else could be the "unknown"?

[Caraliz]

is kuja unknown?

[Ace14]

Ozma? He/she/its unknown

[Rantz]

Nope. Remember that these three have a special connection.

[NeoCracker]

I'm going to take a stab and say "The King of Burmecia".