Kuja, already miffed that Zidane was to be his replacement, lost all rational thought upon learning he would die. Like the petulant, spoiled child he is, he’s decided that he’s going to destroy the source of life. That’ll kill everyone including himself, and thus the world will not have to endure going on without him. What a guy.

"Why should the world exist without my fabulous fashion sense? That wouldn't be fair."

Despite Final Fantasy IX being an homage to the eight games before it, its final dungeon is unique in a couple ways. First, most dungeons sit innocuously until the overlevelled and ridiculously equipped party barrels into it, lacking any real fanfare apart from badass music. This still waits for you of course, but it has a fantastic lead-in with hundreds if not thousands of silver dragons taking flight to guard the portal above the Iifa tree. All the secondary characters arrive in previously seen or used airships and Lindblum’s fleet to clear a path for the Invincible. This is all the buildup this final area gets, as you have no idea where you’re going. It certainly got me fired up though.

The second unique thing about Memoria, in particular, is the amount of plot taking place there. There aren’t so much elaborate cutscenes or anything, but a lot of exposition is encountered as you make your way through. The fact that the world is composed of the party’s memories allow for character development long after other FF games have finished with that stuff. You’ll usually get some choice words from the villain, maybe learn some ulterior motive to his or her plan, but that’s about it.

This dungeon is pretty, by the way. There are some amazing backgrounds, such a Memoria literally being constructed as you approach it to walking through space, to the violent backgrounds appearing in the Crystal World. Some backgrounds involve the creation of Gaia and Terra, at one point you walk into the eye of the Invincible over Madain Sari, and one segment even has the ‘memory’ of the Eidolon showdown in Alexandria in the background.

That's way too pretty to make a ball joke.

Despite the mindbending locations you walk through, it is a straightforward dungeon without any attempts to show the entire party being used, half-hearted or otherwise. Also gone are Final Fantasy VIII’s puzzles. You simply plow through Iron Giants and Behemoths while listening to Garland Explains It All. Naturally, any good homage to the FFs of yore would have a boss gauntlet. True to form, its just as unimaginative as its forebears. You merely fight the four fiends again as I have done several times now through this retrospective. Again, this is supposed to reference the old ones, so it doesn’t bother me too much. What does bother is that once you get to the Crystal World, the only random encounters are crystal copies of these same fiends again. Fortunately, they are vulnerable to Petrify, but they couldn’t have drawn up a few more monsters?

The last crystalline final dungeon was four games ago, miss it?

It can be pretty tough, some of the fiends may surprise you (since you merely run into them without warning) and get the best of you and punish your unpreparedness. A loss should teach you what you need to know to beat them, however. The last boss before the ending battles will sometimes open with Meteor which may get to the point that you need to simply restart until your luck improves, as it can cripple you.

Clearly after Final Fantasy VII’s unbelievably awesome final dungeon theme, they did not try to top themselves with rousing scores, as Final Fantasy IX features more of the ominous, unsettling style. Once again it does fit the trippy scenery with Memoria featuring a song that I find very reminiscent of Can You Hear the Cry of the Planet from FF7′s Forgotten City and the return of the crystal dungeon is heralded, appropriately, with a remix of the Prelude, perverted by Kuja’s intentions.

Take on this satisfying dungeon (another of my personal favorites) and restore the serenity of the crystal song, take Kuja out, save him from himself if you can, and prepare for one of the longest endings in the series.

Next up, we’ll be solving the world’s troubles from the inside out!

Actually, this post might better be characterized as a follow-up to the “Love Triangle Debate- over” article that Ryushikaze posted a couple of days ago. That article included selected translations from the section which I am now posting a translation of in its entirety.

I think you’ll find that the ramifications for the Love Triangle Debate are even more obvious when you can read the entire page. Do enjoy.

FOR THE ONE I LOVE
Through the long journeys, the love of the protagonists develop. Occasionally they become separated, but the two’s value to one another gives them the great strength to overcome whatever crisis may come.

III – The diligent soldier and the meek princess
The love between the soldier and princess of Sasune Castle was divided by social status; Ingus tried to supress his feelings, but Sara would not hide hers.

IV – World just for the two of us
When rescuing Rosa, Cecil frankly declares his true feelings. The two reunited, they tightly embrace for all eyes to see.

VI – Result of the chance encounter
The imperial general and the anti-empire organization member — Celes and Locke’s relation to one another is like ships passing in the night; it’s a long period before they get to communicate their feelings completely.

VII – Secret date
At the Gold Saucer, Cloud receives an invitation from one of his companions. Who comes around with the invitation is dependent on Cloud’s behavior.

VII – The night before the final battle
Thanks to Tifa, Cloud regains himself, and before the final battle with Sephiroth, without using words, he confirms with her that their feelings match.

VIII – Witch Rinoa’s knight
Just before she can be sealed due to being a witch, Squall retakes Rinoa. “I don’t care that you’re a witch” are his words to her, putting her mind at ease.

IX – For the one I must protect
Beatrix becomes the woman to whom Steiner will let no harm befall. For his homeland’s protection and for hers, Steiner brandishes his sword.

IX – Guidance on an investigation of life
Zidane left the company of his companions in front of the Iifa Tree. He survived for the sake of going back to “the place I’ll return to someday,” where the one he loves was waiting for him.

X – Macalania Spring
Yuna is betrayed by the temples she had completely believed in and had made the foundation of her life. Tidus decides to comfort her in this way.

Extra Thread
Scenes involving “love” other than romantic love
In the “FF” series, there’s not just the romantic love between men and women; there are various forms of love depicted. In “FFV,” there’s familial love between Galuf and Krile, as well as the brotherly love between Edgar and Sabin depicted in “FFVI”; and in “FFIX,” there’s an instance of love between Eiko and Mog that goes beyond race. Also, in “FFVI,” there’s the scene where Terra recovers her ability to fight and comes to understand the emotion called “love”; when talking about “love,” this is a scene that shouldn’t be left out.

During the event where Terra recovers her ability to fight, she regains her power and says “I’ll fight to protect the people I love”; she then throws herself back into battle.

Oh, and one quick edit… Hitoshura had previous translated the profile for Necron from the Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary characters Ultimania book. Since it’s pretty much the most said about Necron anywhere outside of the game, it’ll be included as well for completions sake! You can find it at the end of the World Establishment Developmental Materials Part 3.

FFIX World Chronology – p.44-46 of the FFIX Ultimania

FFIX World Establishment (development materials) part 1

FFIX World Establishment (development materials) part 2

FFIX World Establishment (development materials) part 3

The Iifa Tree
The magical tree of Terra, whose roots extend through the surface of Gaia, and whose trunk resides in the interior. The true trunk lies within, while the section seen on the surface is actually just an aggregate of roots on the reverse side of the trunk. [See Figure 2]

The roots extended to the surface to stabilize the upper ground, while the trunk stretches to the crystal at the core of the planet, governing the cycle of souls.

The Iifa Tree used its influence to stabilize the upper ground 3000 years ago. Around this time, Garland started creating Genomes for the time when the people of Terra would revive.

The true nature of this giant tree is a spiral of roots. [top left]
There are some points like eyes in the center. [top right]
The tree is green with a yellowish tint. [bottom left]

The Genomes
The Genomes are lifeforms created to carry the souls of Terra’s people once they revived.

Until Gaia and Terra’s fusion completes, however, the Genomes’ lives are likewise incomplete.

With the radiance of Terra’s crystal declining, Garland created the Genomes and set out to control the cycle of souls on Gaia.

Controlling the cycle of souls
Because Gaia’s crystal already held memories due to the cycle of souls, Fusion had been incomplete. Sharing nearly the same space as Terra’s crystal, it was decided to increase its cycle of souls by joining the two cycles together.

However, the flow of Gaia’s cycle was too big, so to speak, while it could be said that the flow of Terra’s cycle was too thin, making domination not possible.

Using the Iifa Tree, Garland detained the souls of Gaia returning to the crystal, creating a lapse in fresh Gaia souls being born from the crystal, and encouraging the formation of a world where only Terra’s souls could circulate.

However, even with Gaia’s cycle halted, Terra’s circulation nevertheless remained weak.

Atrophy of souls
With Terra’s circulation getting weaker, a method was devised to defeat Gaia’s power by separating its souls, making it possible for Gaia’s cycle to be assimilated. [See Figure 3]

So it was that Garland decided to restore Terra’s souls through Gaia’s souls.

[Figure 3]
An image where a portion of Gaia’s souls are replaced with Terra’s souls.

Refinement of souls
In order for Terra’s souls to be restored through Gaia’s souls, the Soul Divider was set in place at the base of the Iifa Tree.

When the Iifa Tree would restrain a soul of Gaia, the Soul Divider would discard it while replacing it with an element from Terra. Thus, the souls of Terra were continously restored.

Garland also came to realize an indirect effect of this on the hearts of other living creatures — hinderance of their natural capacity for reason.

Therefore, during the process of restoring Terra’s elements, the discarded elements of Gaia were sent off through the roots of the Iifa Tree to the continent where civilization had taken root.

This came to pass some 1000 years ago. The emergence of this “Mist” was responsible for producing frequent conflicts on the continent.

Mist
The souls sent out through the roots as “Mist” covered a continent.

The Mist led to unrest in people and, seeking to escape it, they moved to the highlands (some tribes chose to reside below the Mist).

Even so, conflicts were constant on the continent, and every small country born would collapse.

The wars produced many deaths. This meant an increase in the number of souls returning to the crystal. Garland planned it this way so that the souls of Terra could assemble.

However, the frequent wars came to a stop, and the circulation of souls returned to its previous state.

War
Garland surmised that the wars had stopped because one country had developed a way to utilize the “Mist” in flying vehicles, and could overwhelm the other nations.

At that time, Garland had the idea to create a Genome with a strong will who he could send to Gaia to incite war once again. He called this Genome Kuja.

The Genomes and Kuja
The Genome that Garland produced at this time was different from those created to serve as vessels for souls once Fusion completed.

A mistake was made in the process of creating Kuja, however, and he was born as a Genome with an exceedingly powerful will.

Before disposing of him, Garland decided to try making use of him to incite war on Gaia anyway.

After sending Kuja forth, Garland decided to create another Genome with the capacity to cause chaos on Gaia, different from Kuja from the outset.

Zidane and Kuja
Zidane was created differently from Kuja, beginning life as a child and being a Genome furnished with the ability to Trance. Originating as a child and having to go through learning and growth, he’d be different, holding an abundance of emotions, providing him with the Trance ability and making him altogether superior to Kuja.

Zidane’s existence and theft of Garland’s attention was unbearable to Kuja, so he abandoned him on Gaia. For this action, Garland banished Kuja from traveling to and from Terra.

Garland had needed a soul of that magnitude.

Garland’s dilemma
In taking over the circulation of the crystal, Fusion would finally be completed.

However, Terra would be unable to throw Gaia into ruin in a single stroke.

The flow would have to be changed gradually, and it was for this reason Garland created Kuja.

With discord on Gaia entrusted to Kuja, Garland set about creating his superior Genome; then he detected a powerful energy similar to that of 500 years ago.

500 years ago
In a kingdom on the Mist Continent, a mighty eidolon was called forth. It got out of the control of those who called it and began running amok, causing destruction across the region; Garland was amazed at the power this eidolon possessed.

The people who called it were able to seal it up, and then hid their whereabouts.

The eidolon Alexander, who caused the great disaster 500 years ago, sleeps even now in the kingdom of Alexandria.

Eidolons
Eidolons are born from the crystal, converted from an accumulation of memories within, to serve as powerful guardians for the crystal.

Because their numbers, abilities, etc. are influenced by the power of the crystal, and Terra’s crystal was too old to form its own eidolons, it would be unable to wage a direct conflict with the eidolons of Gaia.

When Garland found the place on Gaia where the pulse of its energy intersected, he found the tribe who had a rapport with the eidolons.

Regarding their presence as a threat to Terra, Garland instructed Kuja to destroy their village.

This occurrence was 10 years ago.

Kuja’s dilemma
The Genome called Kuja became afraid from the time he saw for himself the one who Garland was producing to be superior to him.

After being banned from coming and going to Terra, Kuja freely made use of the structures from Terra that were on Gaia’s surface (the Desert Palace, Mt. Gulug, Ipsen’s Castle, Oeilvert, and the Iifa Tree), and via a silver dragon, was able to reach and secure the Invincible; he didn’t yet commence his open defiance, however.

He also had an interest in exterminating the village Garland had instructed him to. Before long, he learned of the eidolons’ existence and the incident of 500 years ago in Alexandria.

And so it came to pass that he presented the Black Mages to Queen Brahne.

The Black Mages
Produced from the outflow of “Mist,” they are the opposite of the Genomes. The Genomes were produced from elements of Terra, while the Black Mages were produced from elements of Gaia.

Though their existence is similar to the Genomes, and both have suppressed emotions, the severe circumstances (war) of one group establishes a difference. Also, the monsters of the Mist and the silver dragons are opposites, both originating from elements of Gaia.

The relationship between the moons and the radiance of the crystals

Two moons
When Terra’s attempt at Fusion with Gaia failed, they partially melded, but there remained parts which did not. From that day on, Gaia’s original blue moon and Terra’s red moon both orbited around Gaia (for more details on Fusion, refer to P.40, “Gaia and Terra”).

The crystals and the two moons
The color each moon radiates is the true radiance of its planet, received from the light of each crystal. The color of Gaia’s crystal is blue and the color of Terra’s crystal is red, and their own moon shines with their radiance. [See Figure 4]

Therefore, because Terra’s crystal is inferior to Gaia’s and the moons travel in constant ellipses, the nature of the moons’ waxing and waning is such that, as Gaia’s moon draws closer to being in front of Terra’s, portions of Terra’s moon on the other side are covered in shadow. [See Figure 5]

As the two moons go around in orbit like in [Figure 6], every sixteen days, the positions of the blue and the red switch, and the two moons are stacked one in front of the other.

Only Gaia’s radiance is strong enough to be seen when its moon is directly in the back, as seen in [Figure 7].


Day 1
Gaia’s moon: Becomes stacked in front of Terra’s moon; more visible
Terra’s moon: Becomes stacked behind Gaia’s moon; more hidden

Day 16
Gaia’s moon: Becomes stacked behind Terra’s moon; more hidden
Terra’s moon: Becomes stacked in front of Gaia’s moon; more visible

Day 32
Gaia’s moon: Becomes stacked in front of Terra’s moon; more visible
Terra’s moon: Becomes stacked behind Gaia’s moon; more hidden

Day 48
Gaia’s moon: Becomes stacked behind Terra’s moon; more hidden
Terra’s moon: Becomes stacked in front of Gaia’s moon; more visible

The crystals and the Shimmering Island
The light of the Shimmering Island is the radiance of the crystals emanating from the dimensional interval where Gaia and Terra are joined together, and is the subject of religious faith for the inhabitants of Esto Gaza.

When the gate to enter or leave Terra is open, this radiance is at its greatest.

===Final Fantasy 20th Anniversary Ultimania Characters===

Eternal Darkness [Necron]
Monster created by fear of death

A being awoken by the fear, despair, and hatred of Kuja, who discovered, with the fulfillment of his ambition near, that he had little time left to live. It rejects the cycle of life through the crystal and attempts to return every world, including Terra and Gaia, to nothing. The final enemy to confront Zidane’s team.

Gaia
The world that serves as the stage for FFIX. In its civilization, machines are becoming more dominant than magic. Its civilization is young — covering only a portion of the planet’s surface.

Terra
A world with a highly advanced magical civilization. Terra’s people made use of the ultimate magical art, Fusion, in order to attain eternal life. In modern times, Garland watches over the people of Terra until the Fusion process ends and the day comes that they awaken once more.

Fusion
Fusion is cast when the crystal of the world of Terra’s people becomes old. They seek out young planets whose cores have not yet grown through receiving the experiences of living things, assimilating the pure crystals of such young worlds and circulating the power of souls through each person of Terra to finish the process — this is Fusion.

Crystals
At the center of planets, the presence which governs the cycle of souls. Crystals send out souls to be born as living creatures, and when they die, the memories from their lifetimes are sent back to the crystal with their souls. Crystals grow through the accumulation of these memories, and from these complexities, are able to create ever more complex creatures. As crystals grow, their radiance increases and the planet becomes richer. If the circulation should become unable to continue, the accumulation of memory ends, the planet begins to decay, and the crystal itself is returned to the cosmos along with the planet.

Gaia’s crystal has a blue radiance, while Terra’s crystal has a red radiance.

The fusion of Gaia and Terra
Unable to find a young planet with a pure crystal, Garland was driven to the limit and had no choice but to select the young planet Gaia for Fusion. [See Figure 1]

However, Gaia’s crystal was not pure and rejected the process; Gaia’s entire civilization was destroyed in the subsequent cataclysm, and the surface of the world was left in ruin.

The effect of the incomplete Fusion on living creatures and nature was the production of many sub-races, as well as several structures from Terra shifting to the surface of Gaia; as for Terra itself, it was shifted inside of Gaia. Also, because of the incomplete Fusion, Terra’s moon remained and adjusted to Gaia’s original, giving Gaia two moons. (Note: The locations from Terra that ended up on Gaia are Gulug Volcano, the Desert Palace, Ipsen’s Castle, Oeilvert, and, of course, the Iifa Tree.)

The moons receive their crystals’ radiance, which is why Gaia’s moon is blue and Terra’s moon is dyed red. Also, in the sea near Esto Gaza is “the Shimmering Island,” the “interval of both dimensions (Gaia and Terra),” where the radiance of the crystals emanates (for more details on the moons, refer to P.43, “The relationship between the moons and the radiance of the crystals”).

In order to facilitate the recovery of the ruined environment, Garland transplanted Terra’s magical tree Iifa to Gaia. This incident was 5000 years ago.

[Figure 1] Picture from development (Illustration: Hideo Minaba)
Gaia World
•The Shimmering Island (portal entrance) [top arrow]
•Gaia’s moon
•Overlap of both worlds
•Gaia’s crystal [bottom arrow]

The Iifa Tree [the "bridge" in the middle of the diagram]

Terra World
•Overlap of both worlds
•The Shimmering Island (portal exit) [top arrow]
•Terra’s moon
•Terra’s crystal [bottom arrow]

[5000 years ago]

·Terra attempted to take over Gaia and assimilate it, but failed, resulting in a cataclysm. Garland planted a giant tree (the Iifa Tree) to control the environment and oversee its natural recovery.

[Year 0 (1800 years ago)]

·Gradually, the environment starts being repaired. Following that, the Shimmering Island begins to shine, marking the beginning of Gaia’s modern civilization. The calendar begins.

[Circa 800]
·Mist begins emerging.

·Monsters begin appearing.

·People begin seeking places to live at high elevations, where there isn’t Mist.

·The ruling kingdoms collapse and the new kingdom of Alexandria is created at a high elevation.

·The Soul Divider is created.

[Circa 1300]

·Alexander runs amok during a failed summoning experiment. The gem used to summon him is divided into 4 fragments, three of which are divided among three countries for safekeeping. The summoners leave Alexandria with the remaining gem in their possession. They find a place where the earth’s pulse concentrates (Madain Sari) and set up residence there.

(Year 1389)
·Ninth Lindblum War.

·Cleyra’s sandstorm comes into existence around this time (via use of the gem fragment)

·Cid’s ancestor becomes the regent of Lindblum.

[Circa 1400]

·People’s hearts grow colder and conflicts are frequent

[Circa 1600]

(Year 1601)

·Fifteenth Lindblum War.

[Circa 1700]

·The age of civil war (return to fighting over territory near national borders)

·Cleyra severs ties with outside world

[Circa 1710]

·Quina is born?

·Thorn and Zorn are born.

[Circa 1740]

·Dr. Tot is born.

[1750]

·Brief skirmishes between each nation continue.

[1755]

·Baku is born.

[1756]

·Cid’s father (8th generation) becomes the regent of Lindblum; invents the mechanism which utilizes Mist.

[1760]

·Brahne is born.

[1762]

·Lindblum’s regent implements airships.

[1764]

·Cid is born.

[1766]

·Steiner is born.

[1770]

·Lindblum’s regent intervenes in the conflict between Alexandria and Burmecia with airships.

[1771]

·The conflict is resolved (airship revolution).

[1772]

·Alexandria and Lindblum begin diplomatic relations.

·Beatrix is born.

[1773]

·Amarant is born.

[1776]

·Brahne (16th generation) coronated as new queen of Alexandria.

·Kuja is born.

[1778]

·Freya is born.

[1780]

·Lindblum’s regent collapses from illness; power passes to his son, Cid (9th generation), as his replacement.

[1783]

·Cid (9th generation) begins the development of a mechanism that doesn’t utilize Mist.

[1784]

·Garnet is born.

[1786]

·Cid (9th generation) and Hilda marry.

[1787]

·Lindblum’s former regent, Cid’s father (8th generation), passes away.

[1790]

·Madain Sari is secretly destroyed.

[1792]

·Construction of South Gate begins. Berkmea opens for business (the time period of Dr. Tot’s reminiscence in Disc 2).

[1793]

·Materials for the construction of South Gate are transported through Berkmea.

·Eiko is born.

[1794]

·Brahne’s husband passes away. South Gate completed.

[1795]

·Freya leaves Burmecia. Prince Puck leaves Burmecia one month later.

[1799]

March: The grain fields of Dali become an arrival and departure place.

May: Madain Sari’s last adult passes away.

June: Quale’s pupil, Quina, travels in the direction of Alexandria

July: The new airship which doesn’t utilize Mist (the Hilda Garde 1) is completed.

·Vivi is born.

August: The factory underneath Dali becomes ready.

October: The Black Mages are born.

Game starts

January 15: The theater ship Prima Vista visits Alexandria. Tantalus performs the play and the kidnapping of the princess occurs; the theater ship is bombarded and crashes below the Mist (in Evil Forest).

January 18: South Gate is damaged.

January 19: Alexandria’s troops attack Burmecia.

January 20: The Festival of the Hunt is held in Lindblum. Immediately afterward, Burmecia’s capital is destroyed.

January 22: Cleyra’s sandstorm disappears.

January 23: Cleyra is destroyed by Odin’s attack.

January 25: Lindblum is attacked by Atomos and surrenders to Alexandria.

January 30: The party travels from the Mist Continent to where there is no Mist. Because of their actions, all airships are useless.

February 1: Brahne and Kuja cross swords. Brahne dies.

February 3: Alexandria sets Burmecia and Lindblum free.

February 6: Brahne is buried. Three days before Garnet is to be coronated as the new queen of Alexandria.

·Treno Card Tournament is held.

·The Invincible destroys the eidolon Alexander along with Alexandria castle.

February 9: (The scheduled date of Garnet’s coronation as the new queen of Alexandria).

February 10: Lindblum accomodates Alexandria’s wounded. The loss of Dagger’s voice is realized.

February 11: In order to complete the new type of airship (the Hilda Garde 3), an attempt is made to revert Cid to human, but it fails.

February 12: The Blue Narciss sets sail.

February 15: Kuja kidnaps Eiko.

February 17: Cid’s wife, Hilda, is rescued. Zorn & Thorn die.

February 18: Cid returns to human form. Based on Hilda’s story, the party plans to pursue Kuja in the airship.

February 19: Dagger gets her voice back and cuts her hair.

February 21: The Hilda Garde 3 is completed and sets sail.

February 22: The party travels to the four shrines.

February 24: The party travels to Terra from the Shimmering Island.

February 28: Kuja goes into Trance and goes wild. Garland disappears.

March 1: Terra is largely destroyed. With the activation of the Iifa Tree, the whole of Gaia starts being covered in Mist. The activity of the roots is enormous and many villages are left in ruins

March 3: With the return of the Mist, it reaches the point that Mist mechanisms become usable again.

March 4: A swarm of silver dragons appears.

March 5: The source of all the silver dragons, the Nova Dragon, dies, and all the silver dragons disappear.

March 9: The Iifa Tree begins running amok. Zidane parts ways from his companions.

March 16: The Iifa Tree settles.

Today, I’d like to take a brief pause in our usual FFVII coverage to bring you something different. Chances are, if you’re a fan of Final Fantasy VII, you’ll know that there’s another Final Fantasy that features the wonderful concept of an interconnected cycle of souls, memories giving rise to planetary evolution, and a stream of consciousness and life that serves as the life blood of the planet.

Yes, my friends. I’m talking about Final Fantasy IX. FFIX has always held a special place in my heart, and because of that, TheLifeststream.net is happy to present some select translations from the FFIX Ultimania regarding the scenario and timeline of events of the story. You might learn something you didn’t know before. Enjoy!