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busyorc-blog · 7 years ago

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Truth about Gamers mindset on Women's Issues.

So as you all know this has been a contentious issue for some time. Even now people keep posting "controversy" click bait articles on why video games are sexist and misleading articles.

Why are Gamers so hostile to female gamers or gamer girls?

Well its quite simple and its the typical gamer is extremely competitive.

Competition fuels our desires of being legitimized by our fellow men and women.

"But busyorc there are specific things male gamers say hurtful sexist things to women." This is true, but it is not used for the sake of demeaning women for their sex and gender, its a tool to make the female player make a mistake. Is it ok to do? No, but the real reason behind the verbal attacks is because of toxic competition.

So ladies, if a gamer tells you to go the kitchen and make you a sandwich reply with "I must be doing pretty well if you need me to put down my controler." Gamers ARE OVER COMPETITIVE!

Now many of you might say this just enables more bad behavior but to put it bluntly it could be and it is worse already and I jave yet seen a real solution for stopping it. If anything, this sense of competitive overtones comes with the territory.

Now the argument of misogyny is true but only a small minority that actually hate women. These are the bad apples mixed with a whole lot of good and inbetween personal moral codes.

However those who complain about misogyny in games use half truths and bais focus groups to make their point and some are simply over reacting. SOME are. There are legit concerns in gaming that need to be addressed, but they are not as wide spread as some has sought to believe.

Personally I think women feel left out and I can understand this because they didnt really get an invite in the first place. This is due to the fact gamers focusing so much on games and their own past bitterness of being social rejects for enjoying this hobby in the first place.

Take that bitterness and then put that angst into the game you are playing. The game makes gamers feel accomplished when won in contrast where they failed in real life. This is common for many gamers out there and to their reasoning is the argument of the resentment towards women in general but this is only a handful of gamers as I just mentioned earlier they are not the majority.

The real answer is that there is no real hatred for women in general, but there is real hatred towards those women who choose to use gaming for gaining popularity.

The dreaded Gamer Girl!

This was an attempt to weakly associate with video games for popularity and profit which was quickly rejected by the gaming masses. There was swift and heavy backlash that started this whole problem in the first place.

In actuality if you are a girl and you play games, you are already a gamer. There were many girls who played games before this whole issue began. Having pride in being a gamer and a girl is great but when its used to get attention in the first place the argument falls flat. This was figured out by many intelligent young women but got lost by association in the battle of the genders.

When you use your gender to state who you are in this gaming society, it proves you are more interested in recieving a positive label than playing the game and earning one through practice and skill. This is how some gamers view this as one of the key reasons of their resentment. Double standards are all over the place and both specific sides are accusing eachother for its unfair practices. But lets focus on this issue right here.

Now how does this connect to my main point, well its obvious to me and you, that certain gamer girls expected perks to being a girl among boys but got the opposite. That said its a smack in the face to their competitive nature and in a gaming world where your skill and knowledge and hard work isn't affected by what gender you have or what social structure you lived in.

If you have hands then you are already on equal footing as any gamer.

Some women within the feminist 3rd wave movement will contest it does matter as to which I strongly disagree.

When the fact what content you are playing with in the end its all 1s and 0s. However these women are right that it plays to tropes that we are accustomed to, but to that I say "so what." Tropes are entertaining and because one group doesnt find it entertaining anymore doesnt mean that its a legitimate reason to stop. You can say its harmful to society but lets face facts, its entertainment, designed to take our minds off of society and relax. To blame entertainment for its influence is rediculous and shows a lack of self control and a major loose grasp of reality and poor parenting. Parent's job is to teach a child whats important and what isnt, and the content to which entertainment intention is to entertain not warp our actual sense of reality.

But I have gone off point. It comes down to toxic competition; gamers are being scrutinized for their own backlash from pretenders and are already very tense from competing and are bound to explode over defensively.

Toxic Competition isnt just in video games but everywhere in sports and events that are centered around one group fighting for supremacy over the other.

Its gotten so bad it bled into our politics and caused riots.

To me it was obvious that the problem was toxic competition but the loud minority wants to put the blame on a deeper issue to which I have said isnt the actual problem.

The problem is Toxic Competition. Competitors are even taught to goad their opponent to mess up. Sexist and racist comments are simply a tool rather than a motivator. This doesnt excuse bad behavior but its the cause of it. You can look at a guy and say that if he loses to a girl he is then emasculated, when infact it all comes down to being defeated. T

My point is we often look for more controversial issues for bad behavior, when its simply being too competitive.

It would be nice for Gamers to calm down and be civil, and it would be nice that female developers to make what they want without critism, but the solutions people are coming up with adress complex issues to which doesnt focus on the real problem which is competitive behavior. We live in reality to where the internet exists, and when you put yourself out there you will be seen and judged harshly. So you cant expect constructive critism when it could from anyone and anywhere.

We need to look at the real issue here, not misogyny, not sexism, but toxic competition.

The solution we have isnt a perfect one but I think can still work if you have strength in yourself. Thay solution is sticks and stone may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. Learn to ignore obvious negative remarks and insults, and ALWAYS be a good sport. Dont gloat when you win and dont explode when you lose.

Its really hard to do but like excersize it doesnt work unless you keep doing it.

You green buddy

BUSYORC

#orcs #gamergate #gamergirl #gamerlife #gamersunite #gamerguy #gamer #women #esports

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busyorc-blog · 10 years ago

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This is very good in depth analysis of this game. One thing there is a mistake here, where he/she writes Kuja was at the gaian cystal core, is incorrect, the core crystal at the end of the game was actually the core crystal of the universe. The creation of all planets and their crystals. Memoria was the road made of Gaia's memories to the original source crystal. There Kuja was there to eradicate all existence in the universe. Which is what necron was, the eradicator of all existence to a zero state of being.

Final Fantasy IX: Explained

It’s been a while since the last ’Explained’ article, and I’ve had more than a handful of requests to dig into the plot of another Final Fantasy title. The interesting thing about this franchise is that every single entry has narrative depth; the characters, themes, mythos, and plots tend to have a level of complexity not often seen in other games. While many gamers enjoy these titles for this reason alone, it can be easy to miss a few things along the way.

The cool thing about these articles for me is that I usually end up going and replaying the games after writing about them. To that end, hopefully you’ll find this spoiler-full write-up interesting and hopefully it will prompt you to replay this classic.

What is the premise of Final Fantasy IX?

On the surface, Final Fantasy IX seemingly tells the story of a scoundrel who “kidnaps” a rebellious princess with the power to summon great Eidolons (magical beasts). However, a tale of two planets (Terra and Gaia) is what really propels the plot.

Gaia is the name of the planet, where your party spends a majority of its time in Final Fantasy IX. Consisting of four major continents (Mist, Outer, Lost, and Forgotten), most of the civilized world exists in the thick of the Mist, where almost all machinery and transportation is dependant on its use. Gaia [seen above] has two moons: a red moon and a blue moon.

Terra is Gaia’s twin world and exists within Gaia. As a result, most Gaians remain oblivious to Terra’s existence. Terra used to exist separate of Gaia – as a full planet within the same cosmos. For a time, both the planet and its people flourished independently; Terran technology was highly advanced and their magical ability was unmatched. Unfortunately, after cities full of Terran citizens covered the planet, a “great decay” began which would see the planet's flora and fauna begin to die out.

The Terrans, desperate to preserve their culture, constructed the massive monument and technological record, Oeilvert. The greatest minds of the planet then sought out a solution to the decay – ultimately deciding on using the magical art, “Fusion.” Fusion was intended to provide eternal life to Terra by renewing the planet’s Crystal (since it had become old and weak, leading to the great decay) by seeking out younger planets whose Crystal cores had not grown old and assimilating them by pushing that planet’s souls through them.

In Final Fantasy IX, a Crystal resides at each planet’s core. These Crystals govern the passage of souls – sending them out to be born as living creatures, only to collect them again when they die and using the memories of those souls to grow larger. As the Crystals grow, their power increases – allowing for the creation of more complex and powerful creatures. When soul circulation stops, the accumulation of the experiences of souls also ends and both the Crystal and planet begin to decay.

Terra exists within Gaia because the Terrans used Fusion?

Kind of. The Terran people had accepted that Terra had to consume another world’s Crystal in order to survive, but the great decay meant that they couldn’t wait for this to occur. Most of the people of Terra entered stasis, waiting for the when Terra would be reborn anew. In order to ensure that this task would be completed in their sleep, the greatest minds of Terran civilization created an android, Garland, to look after their best interests.

Prior to stasis, the Terrans were unable to find an inexperienced planet to assimilate. In his desperation, as the Terran Crystal grew weaker and weaker, Garland made the risky decision to choose Gaia to fuse with [as seen above]. This ultimately proved disastrous as Gaia’s core, which glowed with a blue hue, rejected Terra’s red core. 5000 years before the events of Final Fantasy IX, Gaia’s entire civilization and surface was annihilated by the failed fusion and a number of Terran structures (Mount Gulug, Ipsen’s Castle, Desert Palace, and cultural record Oeilvert) appeared on Gaia’s desolate surface.

This failed fusion also gave Gaia two moons – the blue moon of Gaia (to match its blue Crystal core) and the red moon of Terra (to match its red Crystal core). Garland, disappointed and desperate to rehabilitate Gaia, transplanted Terra’s magical Iifa Tree to Gaia’s surface. The roots of this tree spread across the planet, stabilizing it. It would take thousands of years for Gaia to begin its recovery from the failed fusion.

Did Garland just give up trying to save Terra as Gaia recovered?

No. Around 3000 years before the events of Final Fantasy IX, Garland did two things: (1) He began to create Genomes (humanoid, puppet-like beings) intended to act as vessels for Terran souls to live again post-Fusion, and (2) interrupting the Gaian soul cycle using the Iifa Tree.

Garland intended to join the Terran and Gaian soul cycles together. The initial Fusion attempt failed because Gaia had a rapid and healthy flow of souls, while Terra had almost no soul cycle to speak of – making it impossible for Terra’s soul cycle to dominate Gaia’s. He would eventually used the power of the Iifa Tree to halt soul circulation on Gaia entirely so that the only soul cycle in-play was Terra’s. It worked and Gaia’s Crystal core weakend, but Terra’s cycle also remained weak.

Around 1,800 years before the events of Final Fantasy IX, Garland built the Soul Divider at the base of the Iifa Tree to replace rejected Gaian souls with Terran so that Terran civilization could one day be revived. As such, Terran flora and Fauna began to populate the surface of Gaia (this is why the “Iifa Tree” is commonly mislabelled the “Lifa Tree”).

With civilization finally returning to Gaia, Garland was able to take advantage of more and more souls to filter into Terra. The thick mist that covers the Mist Continent is actually a by-product of this filtering process and is expelled through he Iifa Tree’s roots. Technically, it is also the manifestation of anguished souls whom were unable to circle back to Gaia’s Crystal core.

The mist ultimately led to great conflict between Gaia’s nations and an increased flow of souls. This pleased Garland, but the conflicts mostly halted once airships were discovered and cities became more established. In order to speed up the flow of souls, Garland decided to construct a Genome, with of a mind of its own, to send to Gaia and incite wars between the nations.

So, he just created someone to be a sh*t disturber?

Pretty much! Kuja was created by Garland 24 years before the events of Final Fantasy IX. In order to fully assimilate Gaia with Terra, it was decided that the process of replacing Gaian souls with Terran should be fast-tracked using the quickest means of mass human death: war.

Kuja was remorseless and apt to start conflict, but was deemed to be “a failure” by Garland. Having never experienced a childhood, he was never able to develop human emotions and was unable to attain “Trance” (a powerful limit break which occurs in times of desperation or when emotions run high), Gaia’s ultimate power. Kuja also lacked the conscience to be controlled by Garland. This led to the creation of another warfaring Genome (or “Angel of Death”) who would be created fundamentally different from Kuja – our protagonist, Zidane.

The game’s protagonist was created to incite war on Gaia?

Yes, but this plan also backfired for Garland. Zidane was created as a child, which meant he would be able to develop the ability for complex emotions needed to enter Trance. Kuja, jealous of Zidane (whom Garland labelled "the perfect Genome"), kidnapped him and abandoned him on Gaia. Garland, furious at what Kuja had done, banished him from travelling to and from Terra. Kuja remained on Gaia, making the Desert Palace his new home, while Garland created a third Genome, Mikoto, to replace Zidane.

Zidane would eventually be found by Baku and raised by the Tantalus Theatre Troup, where he would learn the virtues of empathy and humility (as well as how to steal). This was ultimately the greatest undoing of Garland’s design.

There was no possible way to predict that Zidane would choose to become Gaia’s champion, but in making him “perfect,” allowing for human emotion, and giving him agency, Zidane would ultimately become Terra’s greatest threat.

That said, he wouldn’t have fought back against his creator had a coincidental series of events not transpired to get him there:

Zidane works with Tantalus Theatre Troupe to abduct Princess Garnet on Regent Cid of Lindblum’s request

Garnet steals the royal pendant and requests abduction, Captain Steiner of the Pluto Knights follows to retrieve her

Vivi, a young black mage, sneaks into Tantalus’ show and is caught in the escape attempt

Freya, a Burmecian dragon knight, joins Zidane after his party arrive in Lindblum

Quina, a Qu who likes to eat…everything, follows the party to eat…everything (optional, but hilarious)

Queen Brahne’s conquest activities and partnership with a Terran arms dealer is revealed

Burmecia and Cleyra are annihilated by Brahne’s Eidolons (supplied by Kuja)

Brahne has the Eidolons inside Garnet forcefully removed for her own conquests

Zidane and Garnet, with the help of Eiko the summoner, rediscover Garnet’s heritage and learn of the truth behind the mist’s purpose from SoulCage at the base of the Iifa Tree

Brahne sends Amarant and Lani (bounty hunters) to retrieve Garnet’s pendant and kill Vivi

Brahne turns on Kuja, Kuja strikes back, Garnet ascends to the throne, and the truth of Crystals and Terra is discovered

How did Kuja respond to being banished from Terra?

Kuja wasn’t too pleased with his father but continued to take directives from Garland. One of which was to use the Invincible (an ancient Terran battleship used for war and mass enslavement) to destroy the summoners’ village of Madain Sari on Gaia.

Garland, fearful the the summoners’ power to call forth the magical Eidolons would come between him and his plans, wanted to eradicate the practice from Gaia. Kuja knew that if he was to rebel against his creator he would require great strength, and began scheming shortly after annihilating the summoners’ tribe.

Kuja would appear loyal to Garland on the surface, but became fixated on seeking out a particular summon. Alexander, the strongest Eidolon, was summoned only once before being deemed “too dangerous.” The crystal, which was used to channel Alexander’s power and control him, was divided up into four fragments so that the Eidolon may never be summoned again.

Kuja sought Alexander’s power so that he could overthrow Garland and become the ruler of both Gaia and Terra. He knew that if Garland’s plan to fully fuse the two planets succeeded, his life would no longer be his own. The concept was unbearable to Kuja as he didn’t believe that the world deserved to exist without him.

Knowing that Alexander’s power could only be summoned when all four crystal shards were gathered at Alexandria Castle, Kuka used Queen Brahne’s greed, in the wake of her husband’s death, to manipulate the nation of Alexandria into conquering most of the Mist continent – eventually providing enough arms of war to Alexandria to obtain the royal pendants containing Alexander’s shards.

Zidane cuts of the mist (Kuja’s means of weapon creaton) and Brahne summons the Eidolon Bahamut to annihilate him, where she had deemed him of no further use. Unfortunately for Brahne, Kuja immediately enslaves the Eidolon using the Invincible’s power and forces Bahamut to kill the Queen and destroy her fleet in a Mega Flare. Kuja then takes his revenge on Alexandria until Eiko and Garnet manage to use the collected crystal shard relics to summon Alexander.

Kuja tries to use the Invincible to steal Alexander and manipulate him against Zidane’s party, but it backfires when Garland takes control of the Invincible himself and uses it to destroy both Alexander and most of Alexandria.

With Alexander now gone, what was Kuja’s plan?

Shortly after witnessing Eiko’s pet moogle, Mog, entering Trance in order to protect Eiko, Kuja realizes that he doesn’t need a summon to fight back against Garland – he just needs to find a way to enter Trance himself.

Zidane learns of Terra and journeys to the planet by piloting the Hilda Garde III to the Shimmering Island (which serves as the portal between Gaia and Terra). Shortly after arriving, Zidane’s party meets the third self-possessed Genome, Mikoto, who takes them to Bran Bal. Mikoto tells Zidane about herself and the creation of Genomes. Suspicious of her explanations, she agrees to take him to Pandemonium to meet Garland. He tells Zidane that he was designed to become an “Angel of Death,” and a battle between Garland and the party ensues.

Weakened but alive Garland is pushed aside by Kuja, who has returned to Terra on his Silver Dragon and taken control of the Invincible. Engaging Zidane and his friends, Kuja enters a Trance. He reveals that he was able to absorb the captive souls on the Invincible, including the soul of Queen Brahne. As a jab towards Queen Garnet, Kuja exposits that it was her feelings of greed, hatred, and jealousy are the emotional surges Kuja needs to enter such a powerful Trance. Kuja kills Garland and declares that he will rule both Gaia and Terra.

Garland’s spirit speaks to Kuja, telling him that he is not immortal, and that he was created to last only until the real Angel of Death, Zidane, reached maturity. Realizing that he is no better than all of the black mages he made for Queen Brahne, Kuja declares he won’t let the world exist without him.

Kuja destroys Terra’s physical world, with the Terran Crystal still intact, and returns to Gaia. Zidane and his friends narrowly escape on Garland’s airship along with the other Genomes they saved. They find Gaia covered in mist, and assume that Kuja is waiting for them at the Iifa Tree. It is here where they are able to find the entrance to Memoria, a world of the planet’s memories. At the end of this ream is the Crystal World where Kuja awaits with the Gaian Crystal.

Still unwilling to allow life to continue without him, Kuja engages Zidane’s allies, and upon his defeat casts Ultima. Zidane and his friends appear in the Hill of Despair and encounter Necron, a being who has appeared to destroy all life. He serves as the final boss of Final Fantasy IX and the final barrier to peace on Gaia.

What was Brahne’s deal?

Queen Brahne Raza Alexandros XVI was once the kind and well liked ruler of Alexandria, but became a power-hungry tyrant after her husband passed away and Kuja appeared within the kingdom. In the years that followed the King’s death, Garnet noticed changes in Brahne’s behaviour. Kuja had convinced Brahne to wage war against the neighbouring countries of Lindblum and Burmecia using an army of black mages, composed of mist, which he could provide.

When Kuja informed her that her adopted daughter Garnet possessed the ability to summon Eidolons, she sought to use this power to wage war on neighbouring kingdoms and ordered her court jesters (whom were also mystics), Zorn and Thorn, to extract this power to fuel her conquest.

Brahne’s lust for power hit its peak when she tried to use the Eidolon’s against her ally, Kuja. Unfortunately for Brahne, this ultimately led to both her death and the destruction of her entire fleet. Garnet finds her battered escape pod on a nearby beach and, with her dying breath, Brahne asks for forgiveness for the atrocities she has committed. She is remembered fondly, but her daughter is a better choice for the throne.

Why is Garnet able to summon Eidolons?

That’s easy; Garnet Til Alexandros XVII AKA Dagger AKA Sarah (birth name) isn’t actually Princess Garnet – she is a summoner from the summoners’ tribe of the now-destroyed Madain Sari.

Sarah and her mother, Jane, escaped Madain Sari by boat when Kuja attacked the town with the Invincible. The boat was destroyed, and her mother was killed. Sarah washed ashore in Alexandria where she was discovered by King Alexandros. She looked almost identical to Princess Garnet, who had died not long before from illness, with the exception of a sumooners’ horn. The king ordered the horn removed and that she become a “replacement” princess. Garnet was thus raised as the Princess of Alexandria, and always thought Queen Brahne was her mother.

Madain Sari, meanwhile, was largely destroyed and only a few survivors (including Sarah’s biological father) remained. Eiko was the last child to be born but, as her parents died soon afterwards, she was raised by her grandfather who died one year before the game’s start. She, unaware of Garnet, assumed that she was the last of the summoners.

So, if all the black mages are made out of the mist by Kuja’s knowledge for Brahne’s war machine, what does that mean for ViVi?

The same thing it does for every black mage. Vivi was created in Dali, under Queen Brahne’s orders, and managed to escape transport to Alexandria by falling out of a cargo ship. He was later fished out of the mist ocean by a Qu named Quan, who raised the black mage with the intention of eating him (something Vivi wasn’t aware of). Vivi became self aware and lived happily with his “grandpa” until the day Quan died. Vivi ultimately decided to head out on an adventure to Alexandria, which is where we first meet him.

One major distinction between him and other mages, outside of height, is that Vivi is capable of very strong magic as well as the ability to enter Trance. This has largely been attributed to the fact that he was a prototype black mage, created long before the larger mages were mass produced. It should also be noted that the game’s conclusion confirms that Vivi ultimately must meet the same end as every black mage (to die after a short time period or “stop”), but that he may also be capable of something more (procreation?).

If all creatures on Gaia are made out of mist from the Iifa Tree, does that mean that Moogles are Terran?

Yes, but you could also say that humans, Qus, and anthropomorphic rats are as well. Remember: if all Gaian life after the first failed Fusion is a result of the Iifa Tree’s mist, all Gaian life is technically Terran.

That said, moogles might actually originate from the plated of Terra, as one is seen living in Bran Ball and has never heard of Gaia (I realize that moogles also serve as Final Fantasy IX’s save points, so they have to be everywhere, but he wouldn’t have SAID that he had never heard of Gaia if he didn’t originate on Terra).

Why does Amarant hold a grudge against Zidane?

Amarant was a guard in Treno until Zidane stole something from his post and successfully framed him as the culprit – turning Amarant into a wanted man.

Amarant is later hired as a bounty hunter by Queen Brahne to steal Garnet's pendant and kill Vivi. Amarant uses this as an opportunity to kill Zidane as well. He challenges Zidane to a fight and loses, but Zidane shows mercy. Feeling disgraced and confused, Amarant begins to follow Zidane around. His intent was to determine what made the monkey-boy so powerful and eventually joins Zidane’s party (though, he still doesn’t like Zidane).

When they get to Ipsen’s Castle in order to find a way to open the gate to Terra, Amarant decides to attempt to find the clue by himself and prove that working alone is better than teamwork. However, he falls into a trap on the way out, forcing Zidane to re-enter the castle to save him. Amarant then decides to fully accept Zidane as an ally.

What’s the deal with Sir Fratley and Freya?

Sir Fratley is a legendary Burmecian dragon knight, and Freya’s former lover. Five years before the game events, Fratley decided to leave Burmecia in order to keep peace, as other kingdoms were slowly gaining power. Before leaving, he promised Freya he would return.

Two years later, a devastated Freya left Burmecia as well to search for him. All Freya found on her journey were minor hearings of where Fratley had traveled, and even rumours that he had died. Eventually Freya settled in the Kingdom of Lindblum, where she met Zidane.

When Fratley does reappear in Final Fantasy IX, Freya pours out her emotions to him. Unfortunately, Fratley has amnesia and has no memory of his identity, nor Freya. Freya is heartbroken, and this conflict serves as a subplot after Freya’s main involvement in the game’s central narrative has concluded. It is hinted at that in the games resolution that Fratley never did retrieve his memory, but he and Freya are working on a romantic relationship again anyway.

…And Steiner & Beatrix?

Beatrix at first views Steiner as a rival. Beatrix is bitter and Steiner is infuriated over the superiority of her Alexandrian Soldiers over his Knights of Pluto. The only thing they find to be common-ground is the importance of protecting princess (and eventual Queen) Garnet. Eventually, due to the pair fighting side-by-side, this blossoms into romance.

When Kuja turns against Queen Brahne and defeats her, Beatrix helps Garnet prepare to become the new queen. She finds a love letter written by Doctor Tot (a Treno resident and former tudor of Garnet’s) for Eiko to give to Zidane, and thinks it is a love letter from Steiner for her. That night the two share a moment on the docks.

Steiner eventually admits he is in love with Beatrix, after Zidane teases him about it on the Invincible. It’s cute, and I love how this ultimately betters both of these stubborn characters, but this is yet another subplot to add filler to characters whom have little-to-no bearing on the later events of the game’s narrative.

Where does the Tantalus Theatre Troupe end up?

After the death of Brahne, the members of Tantalus return to Alexandria for Garnet’s coronation. They cheer Zidane up when he is depressed, encouraging him to pursue his “canary,” rather than returning to the group.

After the destruction of Alexandria, all of Tantalus except for Ruby return to Lindblum to rebuild their headquarters. Ruby (who strangely has blue hair) starts up her own theatre and begins to work with the famous actor Lowell Bridges although, he feels his talents are wasted in her small theatre.

The conclusion features the whole group: Marcus, Cinna, Baku, Blank, Ruby, the Nero Brothers (who look like BDSM Cows), and Zidane. It would appear that they’ve rebuilt their theatre act and are likely still stealing things too.

Why was Cid an Oglop?

The royal advisor of Lindblum would like you to believe that an unknown assailant turned Cid Fabool IX into a disgusting Oglop, stole the Hilda Garde airship, and abducted Hilda herself, but that’s not actually the case.

Cid admits the transformation was done by Hilda herself when she found out Cid had a fling with a girl he met at a tavern, and she made off with the ship. Cid has been trying to build the Hilda Garde II as a replacement, but his mind as an oglop isn’t the same.

Hilda eventually transforms Cid into a human, reconciles with her estranged husband, and shows Zidane’s party the way to Terra. Another romantic subplot, which is fine I suppose, that serves as emotional filler between plot events.

What happens to the third self-possessed Genome, Mikoto?

In the event that Garland’s first two Angels of Death were to fail in their mission to cause chaos on Gaia, Mikoto would be sent in their stead. She and the other two self possessed Genomes are siblings, as Kuja refers to Zidane as a brother because he has a soul, since all Genomes are technically siblings because they are born of the same DNA. This would also make Mikoto part of this weird family.

When Kuja destroys Terra, Mikoto and the other Genomes board the Invincible and escape with Zidane and his crew. When brought to Gaia, the remaining Genomes are taken to the Black Mage Village to live with the black mages who managed to escape Queen Brahne’s forces. Vivi mentions that since both races are merely created vessels, they could understand and learn from each other. Before Zidane goes off to save Gaia, he (very cutely) tells the black mages to take care of his “little sister.”

How does it end?

After Necron’s defeat, Kuja uses the last of his power to do some good and teleport Zidane and his friends outside the Iifa Tree. Zidane decides to stay behind to rescue Kuja, and he barely makes into the Iifa Tree’s core as its trunk and roots collapse. Kuja tells Zidane he is sorry for all that he did, but Zidane understands why he did it.

Mikoto, the third Angel of Death Garland created, tells Kuja in spirit how he taught the Genomes that they can be more than just mindless vessels and has given them hope for the future. The tree’s interior begins to collapse and Zidane leaps on top of Kuja to protect him as flailing roots converge on them. It is assumed by all that both Kuja and Zidane die.

It is unknown what became of Terra’s crystal after the planet’s surface was destroyed. Garland tells the party at one point they can’t stop the planets from merging because as long as the Iifa Tree exists it’ll keep on halting Gaia’s soul cycle. However, at the end of the game the Iifa Tree collapses, perhaps a sign of Terra’s crystal finally having died out.

Freya, no having moved on with her life since the Iifa Tree’s collapse, helps rebuild Burmecia with Sir Fratley, who, despite his amnesia, has grown closer to Freya. The two attempt to rekindle their romance from years past.

Quina is back in the Alexandrian kitchen, trying to put all s/he has learned on his adventure with Zidane as well as making sure the other chefs prepare a good meal for his/her friends, who will soon be visiting Alexandria for Garnet’s seventeenth birthday.

Eiko is adopted by Cid and Hilda, becoming Lindblum’s new princess and finally having a family to call her own. She is overjoyed at this, and goes out of the way to call her adoptive parents “Mother” and “Father.”

Amarant is seen walking along in Treno where he stumbles upon Lani, and the two head for Alexandria to see Tantalus play I Want to be Your Canary for Garnet's seventieth birthday.

Tantalus returns to Alexandria to perform I Want to be your Canary for her birthday and to help Zidane reunite with Garnet after being away for so long.

Beatrix makes up her mind to leave Alexandria, but, while exiting the castle, she is stopped by Steiner who confesses he does not wish to lose her again. She stays by his side to protect the new Queen.

On stage, “Marcus” (in the play) throws away his cloak revealing himself to be Zidane during the performance of I Want to be Your Canary, Steiner and Beatrix open the doors to allow Garnet to rush to him. Garnet runs out of the castle into the crowd, losing her necklace in the process. Garnet throws her crown aside, and leaps into Zidane’s arms in tears.

Garnet and Zidane embrace in front of the applauding crowd, and she asks Zidane how he survived. Zidane responds by saying he sang ‘her’ song (a lullaby from Madain Sari, which also serves as the game’s romantic theme), but is corrected by Garnet saying that it’s “their song.”

Vivi is the only party member absent from this final scene, instead being represented by several children, each of which look like Vivi. Considering how he was a product of Kuja’s mist manufacturing, it doesn’t make sense that he would be able to have children of his own with the mist gone. However, Vivi was a prototype black mage and it’s possible that he found a way to asexually reproduce (Mitosis? Sporing? Fragmentation?).

The monologue during the ending sequences is spoken by Vivi, indicating that he has expired by the time the ending takes place, as he is saying goodbye to his friends and the final words of his monologue are “Farewell. My memories will be part of the sky,” an allusion to death in the world of Final Fantasy IX. A sad end to the cutest little dude in Final Fantasy history.

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