FFIX - Script - 3.9 - Ipsen's Castle & The Four Shrines
Zidane
"Is this the old castle Hilda told us about?"
[Everyone else walks on screen and looks up at the tremendously huge castle]
"What a strange-looking place... Like it's upside down or something..."
"Alright, I'll take 3 of you with me. The rest of you secure this spot."
[Everyone nods except Amarant]
Amarant
"...Hey, Zidane."
Zidane
"...? What's up, Amarant?"
Amarant
"I work alone."
"Always have, always will."
"I don't know why you bother carryin' dead weight all the time."
Zidane
"What's your point?"
Amarant
"I'm sayin' working alone beats working in a team any day, and I'm gonna prove it."
"Hilda said there's some key here to break the seal, am I right?"
Zidane
"Yeah."
Amarant
"Let's see who finds it first. I'll be going by myself, of course."
Steiner
"Amarant! You selfish, ignorant fool!"
Zidane
"Calm down, Rusty."
Steiner
"B-But...!"
Zidane
(What should I do?)
[Choose between "Let him go" or "Don't let him go". Let Amarant have his fun and "Let him go"]
"...Okay."
"I don't know what you're thinking, but if that's what you want, it's okay by me."
Amarant
"Well, aren't you an agreeable fellow?"
"Well, see you later."
[Amarant runs up the stairs to the castle]
Freya
"...Are you sure about this, Zidane?"
Zidane
"What can I do? I can't change the way he thinks."
"Let's get going, everyone! We'll beat Amarant at his own game!"
[Choose your team of characters. I chose Zidane, Freya, Vivi and Steiner. It shouldn't affect the script too greatly]
[Zidane runs up the stairs and enters the castle. The words "Ipsen's Castle" appears on the screen. Near the entrance is a message, which is optional to read]
"Do not be restricted by your knowledge and experience. This place turns logic upside down. What's big is small, what's strong is weak, and heaven is earth."
[Zidane makes his way through the wacky castle, eventually moving up a lift and arriving at a room. Amarant is in it; the ground and all around is glowing bluish light]
Zidane
"!"
Amarant
"You're late, Zidane, and I'm the winner."
"See how much time you lose by working with others?"
Zidane
"...Have you figured out how to break the seal?"
Amarant
"Take a look at that wall. Maybe you can figure it out."
"But it's no longer my concern."
Zidane
"What do you mean?"
Amarant
"I proved myself right. I don't need to follow you around anymore."
"We may be enemies next time we meet..."
"See ya."
[Amarant walks out]
Steiner
"How selfish! I can't believe him!"
Zidane
"...It's his way. We can't change him."
"...Let's get going."
[Zidane approaches the wall. On the wall is a mural of the World Map; four mirros are placed on them in different areas]
[Zidane picks up a mirror]
Zidane
"Let's see..."
"...? There's something written on it."
"'My power is protected underwater, surrounded by the earth.'
[Received Water Mirror!]
[He picks up another mirror]
Zidane
"Let's see..."
"...This one, too."
"'My power is protected high atop a fiery mountain.'"
[Received Fire Mirror!]
[He picks up the third one]
Zidane
"Let's see..."
"And this one..."
"'My power is protected behind a tornado.'"
[Received Wind Mirror!]
[He picks up the fourth and final one]
Zidane
"Let's see..."
"That means... This one, too."
"'My power is protected under the shaking ground.'"
[Received Earth Mirror!]
[Zidane goes back to the room, where the other three characters are waiting]
Zidane
"Well, looks like we got what we came here for. Let's go."
Freya
"Were those writings in a language only you can read?"
Zidane
"Yeah, they were the same as the ones I saw at Oeilvert..."
"Like Hilda said, those things on the wall must have something to do with the seal."
"Let's think about that later. We need to get out."
"M-Mirror... Return...to me..."
Zidane
"Who's there?"
[Out of the mural, a huge creature exits]
"Energy flow...interrupted... Energy to...Terra..."
"You dare get in the way of Terra's master plan...?"
Zidane
"Wh-What is this!?"
"My name...is Taharka. Return...my mirrors..."
Zidane
"You should say please when you ask for things."
Taharka
"Fool! You'll regret this..."
[Boss Battle vs. Taharka. At the end, it's defeated. Screen resumes in the room, where it's sprawled on the floor, dying]
Taharka
"One is all, all is one..."
"You'll never break the seal..."
[He dissapears. Zidane returns to the entrance of the castle; in the first castle room, the four characters are gathered. Vivi walks forward, only to have a trap door open in front of him]
Vivi
"Ahhh!"
[He narrowly avoids falling in]
Zidane
"Hey! Are you okay?"
Vivi
"Yeah. That was scary."
Freya
"How clever. We must have activated the trap when we reached the top."
Zidane
"Well, I'm glad you're okay."
"Let's go. They're waiting for us outside."
[Zidane and company return outside, where everyone, except Amarant, is waiting]
Zidane
"Hey, sorry to keep you all waiting."
Dagger
"You win, Zidane. You came out first!"
Zidane
"What? What happened to Amarant?"
[The 3 characters who waited outside shake their heads]
"He was waiting for us at the top and left as soon as we got there!"
"I thought he took off!"
"Is he still inside...?"
[Zidane shakes his head]
"You guys wait here. I'm gonna go look for him."
[Zidane runs back inside, and heads down the pole]
"Uh..."
Zidane
"Who's there!?"
[He runs for a bit, then stops]
"Uh..."
Zidane
"Who's there?"
[Amarant is lying down. Zidane approaches him]
Amarant
"Zidane...? Why did you come back...?"
Zidane
"Amarant! What happened to you?"
Amarant
"Answer my question..."
"I told you we might be enemies next time we met..."
"Or did you come back to mock me?"
Zidane
"You say some strange things."
"The guys outside told me that you hadn't come out yet. That's why I came here looking for you."
Amarant
"We don't have anything to do with each other anymore..."
"You don't have anything to gain from this. Or do you?"
"I don't understand you. I don't understand the way you think..."
Zidane
"Who cares what I have to gain? You need help right now."
Amarant
"You don't care...?"
"You're willing to put yourself at risk to save me?"
Zidane
"Come on. We've helped each other many times since we joined forces."
"You're a part of the team. That's all that matters."
"I don't know why I'm doing this, but I can't just walk away. It goes against my nature."
Amarant
"And that's what being part of the team means...?"
Zidane
"Isn't it?"
"Come on, that's enough talk. Let's get outta here!"
[Zidane and Amarant exit the castle. Screen changes to all 8 characters gathered at the base of the castle's stairs]
Zidane
"Listen up, everyone."
"Let's sort out what we found in the castle."
[Screen changes to show the mural with 4 Mirrors on it]
"On top of this castle is a mural, a map of the world."
"There were 4 mirrors on the mural."
"The writing on the mirrors was in the language only I can read."
"'My power is protected under the shaking ground.'"
"'My power is protected behind a tornado.'"
"'My power is protected high atop a fiery mountain.'"
"'My power is protected underwater, surrounded by the earth.'"
"I'm sure the mirrors are pointing us to the locations that help us break the seal."
[Screen changes to when they defeated Taharka]
"What the monster said before he perished provided us with a clue about the seal..."
"'One is all. All is one.'"
"Meaning, there is a connection between these 4 seals..."
[Screen changes to the cockpit of the airship, where several of the characters are gathered]
Dagger
"So, what do we do? Are we going to take each location one by one?"
Zidane
"'One is all, all are one'... We're going to conquer all 4 locations at once."
Eiko
"We're not going together like we always do?"
Zidane
"No. I'm going to drop off two of us at each location."
Eiko
"I see... Hey, I'll go with Dagger!"
Zidane
"What? Why...?"
Eiko
"It's called 'ladies first,' Zidane! And we girls have things to talk about!"
Zidane
"Uh-huh. Is that okay with you, Dagger?"
Dagger
"Sure, but... Where are we going first?"
Zidane
"Well... The nearest location would be..."
Crew Member
"One of the locations you mentioned is just south of us!"
Zidane
"Oh, you were listening to us?"
Crew Member
"I've been a sailor for a long time! I'm confident in my sense of direction."
"'My power is protected underwater, surrounded by the earth.' The location must have something to do with water; why not go there first?"
Zidane
"Alright... Thanks for your help."
Crew Member
"Please don't hesitate to ask me if you forget your destination!"
"And please remember to equip yourselves properly while we are onboard!"
Zidane
"You can relax, buddy. You're beginning to sound like someone I know."
Steiner
"?"
Zidane
"Alright, Erin! Let's go!"
Erin
"Yes, sir! Now departing!"
[Back on the World Map in the Airship, the Hilda Garde 3 approaches the Water Shrine. Screen changes to the entrance of the Water Shrine; Eiko, Dagger, and Zidane approach it]
Zidane
"Are you gonna be okay by yourselves?"
Dagger
"You're the one who suggested we split up."
Eiko
"What? Don't you trust me and Dagger?"
Zidane
"It's not that I don't trust you..."
Eiko
"Hmph! You just wanted to pair up with Dagger!"
Dagger
"You better get going. We need to take all points simultaneously."
Zidane
"You're right..."
Dagger
"Where are you going next, and who are you going to drop off?"
Zidane
"'My power is protected high atop a fiery mountain.' I think I'll ask Freya and Amarant to take that location."
Eiko
"Alright, now, get going! Don't make us ladies wait!"
Zidane
"I'll be back to get you guys soon!"
[Zidane walks off screen]
Eiko
"Well, now that the men are gone, we can do all the girl talk we want!"
Dagger
"...Girl talk?"
[You choose your team of 4 characters, and return to the World Map. The Hilda Garde 3 heads North, to the Fire Shrine]
[Screen changes to inside the Hilda Garde 3]
"We're going to overheat!"
Zidane
"Just a little closer!"
Freya
"Zidane! The heat is going to kill the engine if we get any closer!"
Zidane
"Okay... When we get closer to the volcano, you two head for the shrine's entrance."
Amarant
"...Why do I have to go with her?"
Zidane
"Oh, sorry. Did you wanna go with Eiko?"
Amarant
"......"
[Freya runs off screen]
Zidane
"Good luck!"
[Amarant walks off screen]
"Alright, our next destination is... 'protected behind a tornado.'"
"Pairing up Steiner and Quina seems like a bad idea..."
"I think I'll ask Vivi to babysit Steiner."
[Back on the World Map, the Hilda Garde 3 heads for, and reaches, the Wind Shrine. Screen changes to the deck of the airship, where Zidane, Steiner, and Vivi are gathered. A harsh wind is blowing]
Vivi
"W-Wow, the wind is strong..."
Zidane
"It's the wind shrine, so it's protected by strong gusts..."
"Be careful not to get blown away!"
Steiner
"There is no need to worry! Master Vivi, just follow me."
Vivi
"O-Okay..."
[Vivi stands behind Steiner]
Steiner
"See? There is nothing to fear!"
Vivi
"Really?"
[Vivi steps beside Steiner and begins to get blown backwards]
Steiner
"Master Vivi!"
Zidane
"You're okay because you're wearing armor."
Steiner
"Let us more forward, Master Vivi!"
[Steiner walks forward, Vivi behind him]
Zidane
"Are they gonna be okay...?"
"But I'm with Quina. I should worry more about myself."
"We should check our equipment and see what blue magic Quina can use..."
"'My power is protected under the shaking ground,' huh...?"
[Back to the World Map: the Hilda Garde 3 heads to the Earth Shrine, at the northeast part of the Outer Continent]
[Screen changes to the entrance of the shrine. The words "Earth Shrine" appear on the screen. Zidane and Quina walk in, down a set of stairs]
Zidane
"Let's get going..."
Quina
"Ah, Zidane. You want go with me!"
Zidane
"Well... I sort of got stuck with the leftovers..."
Quina
"You no have to explain! I so happy."
Zidane
"Huh?"
Quina
"There old saying in my tribe..."
"'Leftovers good!'"
Zidane
"...Let's hope we find good things in this cave."
Quina
"Is probably full of good food!"
[Screen changes to them walking down a tunnel]
Quina
"Is no one here... Is empty."
Zidane
"Yeah..."
[The ground shakes for a brief moment]
"Huh?"
Quina
"What wrong?"
Zidane
"Did the ground just shake...?"
[Walls begin to move out from the sides and the floor; Zidane and Quina jump over them, avoiding being crushed alive. The screen flashes white, and changes to the Water Shrine: Eiko and Dagger are in a similar tunnel]
Eiko
"This place is empty..."
Dagger
"It's too quiet..."
Eiko
"They probably got scared of us and ran away!"
Dagger
"I hope so..."
Eiko
"Aaargh!"
"I hate it when you fret like that! That's why I always worry about you!"
Dagger
"Wh-What are you talking about?"
Eiko
"Oh, nothing. I just have a lot of things on my mind..."
Dagger
"......"
"!?"
"Look out!"
[A huge blue rock falls, nearly hitting them. The screen flashes white, and returns to Zidane and Quina, where the wall-moving has stopped; they're in the shrine]
Quina
"Aiyaaa!"
"We almost flat like pancake!"
Zidane
"I hope there aren't too many more of those."
"Dagger... Please be safe..."
[Screen flashes white; returns to Eiko and Dagger]
Eiko
"W-What the-"
Dagger
"It's a trap! Be careful..."
[Another blue rock falls; they dodge it]
Eiko
"Aaah!"
Dagger
"Let's go, Eiko!"
[Two more fall, but they run forward, avoiding them. Screen flashes white, and changes to the Earth Shrine; Quina and Zidane approach the center of the shrine, where they need to place the mirror]
Quina
"Aha! Is place to put mirror."
[Zidane runs up to it]
Zidane
"I'll place the mirror right here..."
"I've been waiting for you..."
Zidane
"!?"
[Screen changes to Freya and Amarant in the Fire Shrine; they're ready to put the mirror in as well]
Freya
"That was too easy.. It must have been dissapointing for you."
Amarant
"......"
Freya
"Now, I'll place the mirror here..."
Amarant
"!?"
"Freya, stand back!"
[She jumps back. Something suddenly appears in front of them]
Freya
"!?"
Fire Guard
"It's just as Kuja said... He said I should expect intruders."
[Screen flashes white, and changes back to Zidane and Quina. A floating skeleton-like creature is in front of them]
Zidane
"Are you under Kuja's command!?"
Quina
"He not good person! Why you work for him?"
Earth Guard
"No... We are the guardians of Terra..."
Zidane
"Guardians of Terra...?"
[Screen flashes white. Returns to Freya and Amarant]
Fire Guard
"Yes, we are the guardians of Terra. Filled with the power of Terra itself..."
Freya
"What is Terra!?"
Fire Guard
"We did not become guardians to chat with mortals..."
"We derive pleasure from ending your worthless lives..."
Amarant
"Just to prove how powerful you are..."
Fire Guard
"So you understand. But will that knowledge help you?"
Amarant
"Foolish."
Fire Guard
"What?"
Amarant
"Picking fights with strangers in a place like this..."
"I used to know someone like that. He was a loser..."
"He refused to find beneficial ways to use his power. Instead, he'd seek out people to fight..."
Freya
"Amarant..."
Fire Guard
"What...are you talking about?"
Freya
"We'll show you what he means!"
Fire Guard
"Interesting... but you'll regret this!"
[Screen flashes white, and changes to Steiner and Vivi. They're in a battle with a large serpent of some sort; Vivi and Steiner run away, then stop]
Vivi
"Ahhh!!!"
Steiner
"Grahhh!!!"
Wind Guard
"Finished already? Such weaklings."
Steiner
"You...!"
Vivi
"He's too fast! I can't target him with my magic."
"We can't take him on with just the two of us..."
Steiner
"Master Vivi! A true man never gives up in a fight!"
Vivi
"But..."
Steiner
"We can defeat this monster if we work together!"
Wind Guard
"So? Which one of you will perish first?"
Steiner
"Silence! I shall vanquish you!"
Vivi
"What!?"
Steiner
"...Master Vivi, I shall attempt to hold him down."
"You attack him with your magic while I hold him down!"
Vivi
"But...what if I miss the target...?"
Steiner
"I trust you, Vivi."
Vivi
"...Okay."
Steiner
"AAAAAAAAARGH!!!"
[Steiner runs forward, and Vivi's hands become red as he prepares to launch a Fire spell. The screen flashes white and returns to Zidane and Quina]
Earth Guard
"Kuja told us there'd be eight rats..."
Zidane
"Sorry, it's just the two of us. Did you have a feast prepared?"
Quina
"You no worry! We eat everything."
Earth Guard
"Ah, so you're attempting to conquer all 4 shrines at once... How futile."
Zidane
"We'll see about that!"
Quina
"Must try eating before we give up!"
Earth Guard
"What will you lower life-forms do on Terra?"
Zidane
"We won't know until we get there!"
Quina
"Must eat to find out what taste good! Is my lesson from traveling around world."
Earth Guard
"Good... I shall show you the true meaning of fear!"
[Boss Battle: Zidane and Quina vs. the Earth Guardian. He's defeated and destroyed]
[Zidane places the mirror in its respective slot]
Zidane
"All done!"
Quina
"I wonder if everyone okay?"
Zidane
"Yeah, I'm pretty sure they're waiting for us by now."
Quina
"Right! We go back to airship now."
[Screen fades to black; changes to the entrance of the Water Shrine, where Dagger and Eiko are walking out]
Eiko
"Fresh air! Finally!"
"Zidane is unbelievable... Asking us ladies to fight a monster like that..."
"Oh my gosh!!!"
Dagger
"What's wrong, Eiko?"
Eiko
"Oh, I completely forgot! And we're all alone, too!"
Dagger
"Wh-What is it?"
Eiko
"There's a question I need to ask you!"
"I've been waiting for a chance to ask you for the longest time!"
"Give me an honest answer, okay?"
Dagger
"Well, you have to ask the question before I can answer..."
Eiko
"...Do you love...Zidane?"
Dagger
"Wh-What? Why...?"
Eiko
"You have to answer me! Do you love him or not?"
[A moment of silence is broken by the sound of the airship]
"Hey, it's the airship! Zidane's back!"
Dagger
"......"
Eiko
"Did you just say something, Dagger?"
Dagger
"Let's go, Eiko!"
[She walks off screen]
Eiko
"H-Hey, wait! That's not fair!"
[Screen changes to inside the airship; Zidane walks onto the deck; only Amarant is there, leaning against a wall]
Zidane
"Well, now that we've got everyone, we can head to the Shimmering Island..."
"Hey, Amarant. I didn't know you were here."
Amarant
"So we'll go to Shimmering Island, then to Terra?"
Zidane
"Yeah. It's near Esto Gaza. It won't take long."
Amarant
"......"
"Tell me something... What motivates you to do this?"
Zidane
"What motivates me...?"
[Choose between "I do everything for Dagger", "To find out what Kuja is after", or "I don't know". The third choice is best; very philosophical. So, I chose it]
"I really don't know."
Amarant
"You don't even know why you do the things you do?"
Zidane
"I didn't say that. Maybe I do it because I don't know what motivates me."
"To understand something is interesting, but what's already understood is boring."
"I'm sure we'll understand something when we get to Shimmering Island and go to Terra."
[Zidane walks off screen]
Amarant
"I'm beginning to understand why he won and I lost..."
"I lost against his way of thinking..."
[You pick your team of four characters; in my case, I chose Zidane, Freya, Amarant and Steiner. Screen changes to the Hilda Garde 3 on the World Map; it heads to the Shimmering Island. Once there, the screen changes to the cockpit, where several characters are gathered]
Crew Member
"Mister Zidane! I'm showing abnormal readings!"
Erin
"It feels like the ship is getting sucked in!"
Steiner
"Zidane! It might be dangerous to keep going!"
Eiko
"Are we gonna bust in on the airship!?"
Zidane
"All we know is that this is the entrance..."
Dagger
"I heard the people of Esto Gaza call it the 'Spirit Road'..."
Zidane
"The path that leads souls to Terra..."
Dagger
"Maybe it's a teleportation gate, like the one in Kuja's hideout..."
Erin
"Mister Zidane! We're going to get sucked in! What shall I do!?"
Eiko
"What now, Zidane? We may not be able to turn back!"
Zidane
"Alright, then..."
[Choose between "Keep moving forward!" or "Let's pull back for now!". You have to move forward sooner or later]
"Keep moving forward! We're going out on the deck!"
Eiko
"What do you mean?"
Zidane
"If Dagger is right, we can jump into the teleporter!"
Dagger
"From this height!?"
Zidane
"We'll be fine! Considering all that we've been through, this is nothing!"