Final Fantasy IX - Pandemonium
This scene occurs as Zidane enters the Pandemonium tower...
Discussion with Garland
Zidane:
So, this must be Garland's haunted mansion...
Talk about bad taste in interior decorating.
Alright... Time to teach this tyrant a thing or two...
Garland:
So, we meet again.
Zidane:
Garland:
Twelve years ago, I lost one of my most prized Genomes.
I created him and sent him to Gaia to disrupt the cycle of souls there.
You are that Genome... I am glad you have returned.
Zidane:
Shut up! Nobody tells me what to do!
And I didn't come here to answer to you!
Lemme guess... You must be Garland!
Garland:
And what if I am?
Zidane:
Then you're goin' down! But first, you're gonna tell me everything!
Like, why did I grow up on Gaia, and why do you want to destroy it!?
Garland:
I have no intention of destroying Gaia. I only wish to make Gaia into Terra.
Zidane:
What did you just say!?
Garland:
Of course, not everything went as planned. You growing up on Gaia, for example.
There is another one built as you were. He may be the one who threw a wrench into my gears.
Zidane:
He!? Who the heck are you talking about!?
Garland:
Someone you know quite well.
Follow me... The time when the aura of Gaia will turn to the crimson glow of Terra has not yet come.
I may need your help anyway.
Next scene...
Zidane:
Stop!
Now, tell me everything!
Garland:
I constructed the Genomes to be vessels for the souls of the people of Terra when they awaken.
But 24 years ago, I gave life to a Genome that was very much like you.
His will was too strong to make him into a proper vessel, and I even considered discarding him.
But then I thought that I should put his strength to use.
I sent that Genome as my servant, to disrupt the cycle of souls on Gaia.
Zidane:
Yeah, so tell me who he is already!
Garland:
Do you not yet know? You and he are so much alike.
Zidane:
Alike? I've never met anyone like me...
Garland:
You judge only by appearances. I mean someone with a soul similar to yours.
The one I sent to Gaia might also be called your brother...
And his name is Kuja.
Zidane:
Kuja!? He's a Genome!? Impossible! He doesn't even have a tail...
Garland:
He is only hiding it. He denies his own identity.
He rejects the meaning of his existence and tries to assert his own individuality.
Don't you see the resemblance?
Zidane:
Shut up! I'm not like him at all!
Garland:
He said the same thing when speaking about the other Genomes: ``I'm not like these guys.''
Have I piqued your interest in Kuja and yourself?
Next scene...
Garland:
His ambition was unbecoming of a Genome, but it was perfect for the mission I gave him.
To bring war and chaos to Gaia... That was what I sent him to do.
To induce an unnaturally chaotic flow.
Zidane:
So then, why--
Garland:
The disruption of the flow of souls is best brought about by war.
And what he did for me far exceeded my greatest expectations.
Zidane:
What about me!? How did I end up on Gaia?
Garland:
When you received the gift of life in Bran Bal, Kuja could not bear it.
He could not bear to see a Genome with more power than his own; he felt threatened.
Kuja discarded you. He dropped you onto Gaia, the world he would destroy.
Zidane:
So I was to be your slave, just like Kuja, to start a war on Gaia?
Garland:
That is correct.
I did not expect Kuja to abandon you, but I believed it was his nature.
And to him, bringing war to Gaia woudl prove his victory over you.
Perhaps it is because of his desire to justify his existence that he let you live as well.
Zidane:
So, that is why the blood of thousands had to be spilled?
Garland:
Are you referring to Kuja's ambition? Or to our plan to disrupt the cycle of souls?
Zidane:
Both! And what exactly do you gain by disrupting that cycle of souls, or whatever...
Garland:
We must sort the souls.
I want to disrupt Gaia's cycle and drain its souls, filling the void with the souls of Terra.
To speed the cycle of souls is to speed the work as a whole. Thus, war...
And in time... Gaia's souls are gone, and Gaia becomes Terra.
Zidane:
But... how!?
Garland:
You saw it with your own eyes. You saw the Iifa Tree and the Mist it emits.
The role of the Iifa Tree is that of Soul Divider. The Mist you see comprises the stagnant souls of Gaia...
Zidane:
Oh yeah? But we stopped the Mist! So much for that!
Garland:
All you saw was the back of the tree...
Even now, the Iifa Tree blocks the flow of Gaia's souls, while it lets those of Terra flow freely.
Come and see for yourself. See the true form of this planet.
Next scene...
Zidane:
What is this?
Garland:
Think of it as an observatory. A place to measure the radiance of Gaia and Terra.
Zidane:
What are you talking about? And what is this weird light?
Garland:
That is the center of the planet. The end and the beginning of the cycle of souls.
The light remains Gaia's, for now, but when the blue changes to crimson, all will belong to Terra, and its restoration will be complete.
That is why I wrapped up the light in the Iifa Tree, to prevent the cycle of the judgement of souls on Gaia from inside the planet.
Such is the Iifa Tree's true purpose, its true form. All you saw was its material form.
The flow of Gaia's souls cannot be changed simply by stopping the disposal of Mist.
Zidane:
So...Kuja is just an angel of death who sends souls to the Tree of Iifa.
Garland:
Yes, my angel of death. But only until you came of age.
Zidane:
What do you mean!?
Garland:
His soul is not eternal... I was going to create you next, after all.
Zidane:
You mean you won't need Kuja's soul once I grow stronger than him?
Garland:
Precisely... Soon, that time will come.
Zidane:
...
Garland:
Well...now you should be fully aware of the meaning of your existence...
!?
Zidane:
Yeah, I'm aware of all the laughter, all the tears I've shared with the people I grew up with on Gaia.
Garland:
Forget all that. You are destined to live among the stars for all eternity.
You have the power, the position, and the motive to do it.
Zidane:
I wouldn't want that kind of power... if I only had a place to call home...
My brothers in Tantalus, Vivi, Freija, Amarant, Quina, Steiner, Eiko, and... Dagger...
My home is with them in Gaia!
If you say I have a motive, then it's to punish all of you who brought pain to my friends!
I'll destroy Terra! That's reason enough for my birth here as a Genome!
Garland:
Regrettable... I thought your soul would be perfect for a new angel of death...
Zidane:
I AM the new angel of death! Yours!!!
Garland:
Don't you know what it means to meet your maker?
Zidane:
Shut up! I've heard enough of your crap! I'm taking you out, right here, right now!
Garland:
Foolishness...
Garland's Command:
The body becomes a vessel, which greets a new soul.
Zidane:
What's happening!?
Zidane collapses
Garland:
He's too good to make into a regular Genome...
But I have no choice.
Kuja's Arrival
Kuja:
Ungh.
......
I can't believe I actually returned to this place, but...
Soon... Soon, the power will be mine alone.
Mhwahahaha... Just you wait, Garland! And you too, Zidane!
I'll exact sweet revenge upon you both for insulting me!
I'll make the people of both Gaia and Terra know who rules over all of them!
Ha-Haha... Ahahahahahahahaha...
You're Not Alone
Zidane's Memory:
Who am I?
I don't know anything. I cannot think at all.
Unknown Memory:
Zidane!
Zidane's Memory:
Yeah... I was called that once.
Many people called me that.
Eiko's Memory:
You always have to show off, don't you?
Zidane's Memory:
Yeah, maybe I do.
Steiner's Memory:
Why, you worthless mendicant!
Zidane's Memory:
Yep... Sounds about right.
Freija's Memory:
How very becoming of you.
Zidane's Memory:
Becoming of me...?
Vivi's Memory:
I really learned a lot by traveling with you, Zidane.
Zidane's Memory:
Yeah, right. I have nothing to teach...
Quina's Memory:
You teach me many thing more important than tasty munchies.
Zidane's Memory:
No! I don't know anything!
Amarant's Memory:
You call that friendship?
Zidane's Memory:
Friendship... Friendship...?
Dagger's Memory:
Zidane!
Zidane's Memory:
I don't know... who I am...
Dagger's Memory:
You were always there for me, Zidane...
Zidane's Memory:
I'm so...tired...
Dagger's Memory:
How come you're always so...?
Zidane's Memory:
I... I am... an... empty... vessel...
Unknown:
Zidane!
Zidane's Memory:
Who?
Unknown:
Wake up, Zidane!
Zidane's Memory:
Who...?
Unknown:
Come on, Zidane, wake up!
Scene fades in...
Zidane:
Ow...
Vivi:
Zidane!
Zidane:
Vivi... Eiko...
Eiko:
Thank goodness, you're alive! We thought you were dead!
Zidane:
Oh... I...
Vivi:
We were so worried! Why did you come here all by yourself?
Zidane:
What... are you doing here?
Vivi:
Huh? We came to save you, of course...
Eiko:
And it wasn't easy! You went off all alone!
Zidane passes them...
Zidane:
Leave me alone...
Eiko:
Huh?
Zidane:
This has nothing to do with you.
Vivi:
Oh, come on!
Zidane walks away...
Eiko:
There he goes, being the tough guy... Look, Zidane... It's not just about you.
Vivi:
Come on, Zidane... Don't be like that. Let's--
Zidane:
Shut up! Just shut up, you stupid brat!
Zidane walks off through gate; gate closes behind him.
Vivi:
Zidane!?
Eiko:
Zidane...
Next scene...
Zidane:
...
Eiko:
Zidane, wait up!
Vivi:
You need rest, Zidane!
Zidane:
Will you little twits just shut up!
There are some things kids can't understand.
First battle begins; Freija joins this battle saying ``Looks like you need some help.''.
Amarant joins the battle saying ``Can't you even take care of yourself?''.
Freija:
How foolish of you to go alone.
Zidane:
...
Amarant:
Damn hypocrite. Always talking about friendship, when you're nothing but a selfish loner.
Zidane:
I can take care of myself.
Freija:
Come back, Zidane!
Amarant:
...
Next scene...
Zidane:
!?
Steiner:
Ngwah!
Quina:
Aiya!
Steiner:
I will not be defeated so easily!
Quina:
Now I mad! I cook you good!
Zidane:
Steiner... Quina... What are you doing...
Steiner:
Have at thee!
Quina:
Taste this!
Second battle begins; Zidane joins saying ``You guys...''.
Steiner replies ``You're late, Zidane!''.
Steiner:
Hmph! What an unworthy opponent!
Quina:
Zidane, you no can leave us!
I still want you take me place have lots good food!
Steiner:
And I have not yet concluded whether or not you are the right man for Her Highness, mind you!
Zidane walks away.
Zidane:
Just...leave me alone. I don't want to trouble you anymore.
Next scene...
Zidane:
You're all a bunch of babysitting bastards!
But trust me, I know that I'm the worst bastard here.
Third battle begins with only Zidane. Dagger joins,
saying ``Is this how you want to solve the problem?''.
Zidane:
Dagger...
Dagger:
You try to do everything by yourself, don't you?
Zidane:
Try to understand... I don't want to cause trouble to anyone.
Dagger:
Aren't we your friends!?
Zidane:
I want to think so! That's why I always...
Look, I'm not from Gaia. I was just a hairbreadth from becoming the destroyer of Alexandria!
I can't accept your friendship so easily!
Dagger:
You've always protected us.
But you still don't understand that we looked out for you, too!
We watched your back while you watched ours.
And we believed in you the same way you believed in us!
Just like you protected us...
We want to protect you.
Zidane:
Dagger...
Quina:
You say it!
My master tell me, somebody give you tasties, you give them tasties, too. Is good manners!
I still not cook you succulent frog yet, Zidane.
Zidane:
Quina...
Steiner:
Chivalry requires a knight to look after his comrades-in-arms. I will not abandon you!
And I shall follow you to kingdom come if I must. You remember that!
Zidane:
Steiner...
Ha... What am I gonna do with you guys?
Steiner:
The feeling is mutual!
Dagger:
Alright, let's go!
Wait... Where are the four others?
Zidane:
You don't think... they've been trapped?
Quina:
It possible...
Steiner:
You should not have left them!
Dagger:
That's right! I mean, really...
Zidane:
Aww...
I'm sorry. Let's head back... Together, this time!
