On day 36 of my Final Fantasy Marathon, I began the final Tale, collecting up the various party members and freeing the Eidolons. Today, I continue that tale.

Subterrane

When I leave the Lunar Whale, there is only one obvious destination. It is a location called the Subterrane.

It looks like the Lunar Subterrane from FFIV, but we know we are not on the Lunarians’ moon, so it stands to reason that it is some kind of replication or illusion. I find a Blood Lance in a treasure box, but opt not to equip it.

I learn the Saint Dive and Mirage Dive bands. I find some Genji Armor and give it to Kain.

We encounter a shattered crystal on the floor. I learn the Holy Burst Band.

I find a Lustrous Sword in a treasure box, but don’t equip it. I encounter a save point that prompts me to “Rest here?”

Twin Rush Band

I say yes, and a cut scene starts. I guess we are hauling the entire crew along with us, because I see Ceodore at the camp site.

Ursula approaches and asks how King Cecil is. Ceodore says he hasn’t changed. However, he feels like Cecil understands what is happening.

Ursula tells Ceodore he has changed. She says he used to act like there was a heavy burden on his shoulders because of being the son of Rosa and Cecil.

She says it made her wonder why Ceodore wasn’t proud of his family. Ceodore says he had to learn how to feel pride in who he was from Biggs, Wedge, Kain, and the other people who fought with his parents.

Ursula says she always hoped Ceodore would learn to be proud of his heritage. She adds that she is sure Cecil will be back to normal in no time.

The scene ends, and the pair learns the Twin Rush Band. These scenes are important for anyone trying to unlock the achievement for learning all the bands.

The cut scene also opens up the Interdimensional Elevator. At this time, I can use it to travel to the Lunar Whale or change my party members.

Baron Castle

I find a Fuma Shuriken in a chest and then exit the room. This takes me to what looks like a room in Baron Castle.

A mysterious force prevents me from leaving through most of the exits. I encounter a dark crystal in front of some stairs.

Interacting with it triggers a battle with Baigan from FFIV. He says he is reborn by the Crystal.

My strategy for beating him is to bombard him with bands. After I beat him up some, he says, “Please…while I still have life…” and then when I defeat him he says, “Beware…It still lives…”

The group ponders the meaning of Baigan’s claims. Rydia says she could feel his soul fade away.

Subterrane part two

I step on the teleporter that appears after I defeat Baigan and I’m back in the Subterrane. I find a White Robe for Rosa and Final Outfit for Calca. I also find a Flame Whip, which I don’t equip.

Eblan Four

I find another save point that prompts me to rest. I see Edge and the Eblan Four at the camp site.

Edge wants to know why the Eblan Four disobeyed his command to guard the castle. They give various versions of an answer saying they wanted to play some part, no matter how small, in preventing the moon from destroying their homeland.

Edge says they flatter themselves, but he will rely on them none-the-less. He makes them promise to survive and they do.

Tower of Zot

We continue into the Subterrane and find a Genji Helm, which goes to Golbez. We exit into an area that looks like the Tower of Zot.

We encounter another Dark Crystal that shatters and triggers a fight with The Magus Sisters. I take them out by spamming bands at them.

When I defeat Sandy, she says, “They put us into mindless copies.” Cindy uses reraise to revive her two sisters.

I keep spamming bands and focusing Golbez’s attacks on Cindy and take them down for good. Cindy says, “This is for the best.”

The group again ponders what the meaning of all this is. We step on the teleporter.

Subterrane part three

I reappear in the Subterrane. I find a Red Cap for Edge and some Dragon Mail for Kain. The Dragon Helm goes to Golbez.

I find a Godhand that I don’t equip and a Dragon Shield for Kain. I also find some Dragon Gloves, but I don’t equip them.

Edge gets the Murasame. We exit into a room that looks like the Tower of Babil.

Palom and Porom

We find another Save Point that triggers a cutscene. This one features Palom and Porom.

Porom says she knew she should have stayed behind. Palom tells her not to worry because the elder is fine.

Porom says that isn’t all she’s worried about, due to how terrible the conditions are on Earth. Palom says that is why they are here, to help save Cecil and stop the moon.

Palom says Porom is acting kind of weird. Porom asks if Palom still wants to become a sage.

He doesn’t understand why she’d bring that up now. However, he says when he left Mysidia he realized that he isn’t the only person worthy of the title sage.

Porom asks if he means Leonora and he says yes. Porom is amused by Palom’s twitterpation with Leonora.

Porom tries to play it off. The pair learn the Twincast Band.

Barnabas and Lugae

We find another Dark Crystal. This one shatters and triggers a fight with Barnabas and Dr. Lugae.

Unlike in FFIV, this isn’t a multistage fight. Barnabas has powerful physical attacks that can one-hit party members.

Lugae inflicts a variety of annoying status effects. I lose the first time out and decide I need to slow the enemy down.

I throw a bronze hourglass at them, but they seem immune to Stop, so I try spider silk next. That one worked.

Then, I proceed with my normal tactic of using bands when I can and using my party members’ best attacks and spells when I can’t. When I defeat Lugae, he says he will “show them your power.”

I step on the teleporter and return to the Subterrane. I find a Poison Axe and a Moonring Blade in chests, but don’t equip them.

Rydia and Luca

I find a Save Point that triggers a cutscene with Rydia and Luca. Rydia is standing there looking sad when Luca approaches.

Luca asks if she is alright. She thinks Rydia must be worried about Cecil and the Eidolon King and Queen.

She assures Rydia that they’ll be waiting for her like the other Eidolons. Rydia thanks her.

She says it seems like Luca has been enjoying herself on the moon. Luca says there is someone very special to her on the moon.

Rydia thinks she means Palom, but Luca says she meant Cid. She is excited to learn more from him.

Rydia asks if Luca has spoken to Palom and Luca says it doesn’t matter. She admits she was jealous, but she has better things to worry about now than Palom.

She says dwarves don’t like dwelling on the little things and suggests Rydia have the same attitude. Rydia tells her to mind her own business. Just kidding, she says thanks.

King and Queen of Eblan

We enter another area of the Tower of Babil and find a Dark Crystal. It shatters and triggers a fight with the King and Queen of Eblan.

Like in FFIV, the battle doesn’t run very long before they come to their senses and wish their son well before departing, asking their son to save Eblan and the world.

Subterrane part four

I step on the teleporter and return to the Subterrane. I find a Cat-Ear Hood that I don’t equip.

Edge gets the Brave Suit. I opt not to equip the White Tiger Mask. We enter an area that looks like the summit of Mount Ordeals.

Love triangle

A save point triggers a scene that begins with Porom approaching Leonora. Porom asks Leonora what she was thinking about.

Leonora says she was wondering if she should have come on this journey as an Epopt trainee. Porom tells her that Palom recommended her and spoke highly of her natural talents.

Porom asks if Leonora regrets the journey. Leonora says she is happy to be there, so happy that she forgot to be scared.

Porom says she begins to understand why Palom hasn’t been talking about his desire to be a sage much of late. Luca walks up and wants to know what they are talking about.

She marches up to Leonora and demands to know if she likes Palom. After initially denying it, Leonora says that she does.

Luca says she is glad. The scene shifts to Palom eavesdropping on the conversation. He thinks women are fearsome things.

The group learns the Ice Crush Band. The scene shifts back to Mount Ordeals.

Scarmiglione

We find another Dark Crystal. This one first spawns a pack of weak undead, which we quickly dispatch.

The crystal then shatters and spawns Scarmiglione. He summons a large group of weak undead.

I use my usual tactics against him, but since he is weak against fire, I have Golbez casting Firaga spells. When I defeat him, he groans and says, “Before my very soul is crushed.”

Like in FFIV, he respawns as a more powerful version of himself and attacks from behind. I swap rows and then repeat the same tactics as the first round.

When I defeat him, he thanks us. He says he is one of the spirits of the land. He says he was hideous and Golbez alone came for him.

When he departs, a teleporter and a chest appear. The chest holds a Stardust Rod for Rydia.

Final Calcabrina

We enter an area that looks like the Lunar Tunnel – East, but leads to the Throne Room Passage in Baron Castle. I find a Red Jacket that I don’t equip.

A save point triggers a scene with Luca waking Cid from a sound sleep. After some banter, Luca wonders if we have what it takes to defeat our enemy.

She says it seems like someone created this moon and it is almost like a gigantic craft. Cid says he is glad she noticed.

Luca says perhaps Cecil and the others can deal with this foe, but wonders if either of them can. Cid tells her it is her generation’s time and she must believe in herself.

He says she and Ceodore have infinite potential. Calca and Brina walk in.

Cid says they look like they are on the fritz and tries to look at them. Luca tells him to stop, saying they are too delicate for him to hammer away at like he does the engines.

The pair argue for a bit and then Calca and Brina start to smoke and then collapse. Luca and Cid set to work on them and then the group learns the Final Calcabrina Band.

Cagnazzo

The next Dark Crystal spawns Cagnazzo. He behaves much as he did in FFIV.

He occasionally gathers water to prepare for a Tsunami attack, which can be stopped by zapping him with a thunder spell. He can also turtle shell to heal himself and resist attacks.

Oddly, he seems immune to Edge’s Bolt Ninjitsu and Rydia’s Ramuh summon. I have Golbez spam Thundaga at him and use my usual band attacks to take him out.

When we defeat him, he says, “Is this death? Yes, my sleep was disturbed. Now I can sleep again.” Golbez tells him to sleep in peace and that he may join him in hell someday.

Cagnazzo says it is an honor to meet Golbez again. When he departs two treasure chests appear.

One has a Sage’s Staff for Rosa. The other has a Sage’s Robe for Rydia.

The teleporter takes us to an area that looks like Lunar Tunnel – West. I find an Assassin’s Dagger, but don’t equip it.

Edge gets a Rising Sun. A save point triggers a scene.

Edward and Harley

Edward is playing the only song he knows on his harp. Harley approaches and asks him to play a song for her.

He says, “bitch I’m already playing the only song I know!” Just kidding, he says he was thinking about giving up the harp, because one can’t create music with a heart as disturbed as his.

He says that a bard is a man who spins together the threads of the past into a musical melody, but he has yet to come to terms with his past. Harley asks what makes him think that matters.

She says people, like herself, find his song soothing and are emboldened by it. She questions whether he still wants to deny his gift and ignore his accomplishments.

She says she lost both of her parents in the previous war, but found hope to keep living thanks to Edward’s song. She asks Edward not to give up his music.

He says she is right. The scene ends.

Barbariccia

We step into an area that looks like the Tower of Zot and find another Dark Crystal. This one spawns Barbariccia.

She constantly casts tornado, taking party members’ health down to single digits. She also casts stone, which turns party members to stone if they get hit with it three times.

I use my normal tactics, except for when I need to toss a gold needle at somebody or raise a KO’d party member. After I beat her up awhile, she says, “I am an archfiend!”

When I defeat her, she thanks me, saying she is herself once again. Kain says that is why he put an end to her.

She greets Golbez, and he tells her to return to her eternal slumber. She says she is overjoyed to see him again.

A treasure chest appears that contains a Gungnir, but I don’t equip it. The teleporter takes me to an area that looks like Lair of the Father.

I get a Hypnocrown for Rydia and Triton’s Dagger for Edge. I find some Dragon Claws that I don’t equip.

I exit to Tower of Babil. A save point triggers a scene.

Yang and Edge

Yang is thinking or meditating or something and senses Edge is near. Edge drops into the room.

Edge asks what Yang is pondering. Yang is concerned that we still haven’t found a way to stop the moon and Cecil isn’t getting any better.

However, he still believes Cecil will find himself again. He says Ceodore has become a fine young man.

Edge compliments Ursula, but Yang says she still has a lot of training to do. Yang asks Edge what he intends to do with his kingdom.

He says it would be a disaster if Edge died with no heir. Edge says he isn’t old enough to be thinking about kids yet, in spite of the fact that he was a grown man in FFIV, seventeen years ago…

Yang says no subject could be completely happy with a king who doesn’t think of the future. Edge says maybe.

They learn the Oboro Strike Band. The scene ends.

Rubicante

I find a Fuma Shuriken in a chest and another Dark Crystal that spawns Rubicante. The game gives me the option to face him with just Edge, which I do.

Like in FFIV, Rubicante opens and closes his cloak. When the cloak is open, he is vulnerable to attack. When it is closed he counters everything.

I choose to attack while his cloak is open and heal while it is closed. My first couple of tries, I wasn’t able to heal fast enough, so I tossed a spider silk at him to slow him down and used a couple x-potions instead of relying on just Heal Pill and took him down on my third attempt.

After I beat him up some, he says, “Yes. That’s right.” He then casts inferno on himself, ending the fight and restores Edge’s HP and MP.

Rubicante tells Edge he has found his true strength. He also tells him he must stop the moon with all his might.

When he departs, a treasure chest appears that contains a Fire Scarf, which I equip on Edge. The teleporter takes me to Lair of the Father – B2.

Ceodore and Golbez

I find some Crystal Gloves that I don’t equip. A Crystal Helm goes to Golbez. Kain gets the Crystal Shield.

I enter Giant of Babil – Inner Passage. A save point triggers a scene.

Ceodore approaches Golbez. Golbez says he had no idea Cecil had a son, let alone one Ceodore’s age.

Ceodore says they say Golbez is Cecil’s elder brother. Golbez says he was. Ceodore is confused.

Golbez explains that he once brought the world to the brink of destruction and has been hiding ever since. Ceodore asks if Golbez came back to help his father.

Golbez says he did. Ceodore asks what it is like on the Lunarians’ moon. He is curious since he has Lunarian blood.

The scene ends. I save and quit at nine hours and 49 minutes into the final tale.