Part 88: Do Over

Entry 80: Do Over

The kingdom of Caldisla is under attack by the Sky Knights!

Tiz has joined forces with the wind vestal, Agnès, to...

Uh...



Figure out what the hell is going on.



Tiz and Agnès return to town, past the inky black sea.

Edea isn't around, but Ringabel is back at his favorite spot.



Huh? You mean the fire set by the black mage?

No, not that. I was only in this town a short while, but I met many fine women during my sojourn.

These were exciting, passionate encounters, yet no one seems to remember them!



Tiz is speechless on behalf of all of us.

Edea would say you had a one-track mind if she heard that. And I would agree with her.

Er, you are right. Let us keep this between us.

But is it not strange? They did not merely forget our meeting--they were unaware of my existence. It is as if the whole town is playing a prank on me.

I saw the face of that dark knight, Ringabel... He looked like--

Yes, I saw it, too. I'm not ready to confront that particular matter yet, though.

Has any of your memory returned?



Ringabel is lost in thought until Tiz shakes him out of it.

Hey, Ringabel!

I've talked with Agnès. We think we might as well just start again from the beginning.

Start again? Go on another journey to awaken the crystals?

The sea is tainted once more. I would like to check on the crystals.

Very well, then. Count me in.

I'll get to meet all the women of the world again with a clean slate. What more could a man want?

You're taking this well...

Thanks to no memories, Ringabel had almost no ties to the state of Luxendarc. Saving the world was well and good and all, but for him, this situation just makes a good excuse to visit exotic locales with friends and meet exotic people. Again.

Of course, the distraction from thinking about Alternis Dim is welcome, too. Could there be any happy answer for why Alternis looked like Ringabel, shortly before plunging to his probable death?



After Ringabel rejoins them, Agnès and Tiz ask to take a look at Alternis's Journal.



Mm... This can't be a coincidence, Ringabel.

You mean the journal that the dark knight Alternis Dim dropped?

Right. Except for some obvious differences in wear and tear, it looks exactly like that D's Journal we have.

Right, but the similarities don't stop there.

The last half is quite different, but the first half...it's almost exactly the same.

It's as if Alternis's Journal supplements the prophecy in D's Journal.

Are...are they truly so similar?

That they are. Even the handwriting and wording are almost a perfect match.

So, Ringabel, you're saying D's Journal is...is...

Well, we can safely assume Alternis's Journal was written by Alternis Dim himself.

And the portion of D's Journal here that resembles it...

D's Journal... Who...could have... Arrrgh...!!

Are you alright, Ringabel?

I'll be fine... Just give me a little...time to think.

......

Heads up, if you haven't read through the post covering Alternis's Journal, it's got some interesting differences and additions to Enigmatic Writings.



Sure enough, Edea's over by the entrance to the graveyard.



Understandably, she's taking all this a lot harder than Ringabel.

Tiz calls out to her as they approach:

Edea!

Oh, there you are.

It's strange, isn't it? I don't want to believe that everything we've done up to now was just a dream. I went as far as betraying my homeland, and my father, to follow this path.

It was no dream. I remember your struggles.

But...

Does it not seem that my circumstances here are unique? At first I thought time had merely been wound back.

I don't know whether it's a side effect of the darkness being cleansed, or whether some powerful magic was accidently triggered...



I wouldn't worry about that. You are not the only one for whom things don't make sense. If time had been turned back, there are things that would not add up for me, either.



Really?

Don't think too hard about it now. There are too many unanswered questions. All the more reason for us to start again from scratch, I think.

From scratch?

Let us make for the crystal temples.

I see...

Okay, I'll do it! I've come this far, I might as well stick around!

First, let's go back to the inn and compare notes.



...you were the first one to speak to me, Ringabel.

Was I? It seems so long ago.

I do recall going over to talk to you after seeing you on the street corner.

Yes! That was our very first meeting!

???

But the Ringabel who I met when I first set foot on this land...

...and the Ringabel standing before me now...they somehow seem like two different people.

Two different people?

I don't know what to say. But Captain Owen did mention something.

What's that?

He said things like, "Let's go boar hunting again something," or, "Where've you been these past few days?"

But when I told him I had no idea what he was talking about, he let out a hearty laugh and said I was quite the jester.

And then I met you at the Great Chasm, Tiz.

And after that, the black mage Ominas Crowe put the city to flames and all four of us finally met.

Hmm... My memory still fails me.

The only thing I can do now is to compare D's Journal to Alternis's.

......

Tiz continues to keep his thoughts on Ringabel to himself.

One thing seems to be clearing up, though: Whoever wrote Enigmatic Writings also looked like Ringabel, if it wasn't Ringabel himself.

But we have more immediate problems to worry about.



For starters, how's the party going to get off the continent? Guess they can steal the Eschalot again.

Back at the inn, the party forms a plan.



Airy's brooch seems to show that the crystals are no longer awakened. The rite must be performed.

Do you have your vestal garb?

It was safely stored among our belongings.

Along with that bravo bikini.



Ongoing background joke: Edea's way more into the Bravo Bikini than Agnès is. Edea probably feels deprived growing up in snow country when she's more of a beach girl at heart.

Anyway, the existence of these items is more evidence that this is no mere warping of time. We obtained both the vestal garb and the bravo bikini after going to Ancheim.



Ringabel's line of thought is cut off by a huge, rumbling mechanical roar.

...!?

The roaring increases, shaking the inn.



Argh! What's that!?

Everyone down!

Is it the Great Chasm!?

It could be the Eternian Sky Knights attacking!

At the height of the din, someone runs into the inn:



Huh, he's not supposed to be here at this point in time.



As Datz looks around as if searching for someone, the party rushes to the stairs.



What are you doing here, Datz!?

Ah, there you are! This was the right place!

Hold up! So you know who we are, Datz!?



Maybe the party won't have to steal the Eschalot after all.

Well, uh, how do I explain? Oh, are Zatz and the tavern proprietress with you?

Yeah, they're both fine. They're on the airship.

Airship!?

Right. We have the Eschalot all loaded up as well. We found ourselves on the deck all of a sudden, up in the skies to the east of the kingdom.



If we're going to be helplessly lost, at least we can now be lost with a crew and an airship.

This is good news! Let's head for Grandship right away, then!

Back on Grandship, the party explains the situation.



I'm just happy the good old Drunken Pig and you lot are both fine.

It's good to have a woman on our side at a time like this. Gah hah hah!

Datz my man, just because we seem to have gone back in time Back to the Future style doesn't mean you have to talk like you're in the 1950s.

Speaking of:



Perhaps time started going backwards for those of us there at the Holy Pillar?

In that case, where are our past selves from this point in time?

I haven't a clue...

No point trying to work this out logically. Let's start by doing what we can! Right, Agnès?

We're lucky to have Grandship. It should be a quick flight to the crystal temples.

Well, let's head to one of the temples and see what is up. Leave the piloting to me.

The party splits up to look around the ship. After a short time Edea heads over to Tiz and Agnès.



He's taking a little break. Said something about not feeling well.

Really? Didn't he just say, "Leave the piloting to me"?

Is something the matter, Edea?

Datz is looking for him. He says the hull's showing wear. He needs some materials to make repairs. I suppose I'll just have to wake him up!

No surprise the ship's damaged after that jaunt in the Pillar of Light. Edea dashes off to find Ringabel asleep in his room.

Zzzzzz... *mumble mumble*

Hee hee, sleeping like a baby. Who knew he was so cute when he sleeps?

...Black... Minus Strike...mastered...up to Black Bane. ...Unleash powerful combo... But even with a thousand lives... Stand ground... Auto-Phoenix... Automatic HP recovery after battle... Is there something else? *mumble mumble* ...The Grand Marshal... Even that move of his... Sure would be nice!

Enough of this gibberish, already.

Wake up! Datz is looking for you!

Tiz walks in.

Aw, what's the harm in letting him sleep a little longer?

Look... Doesn't Ringabel look as happy as a pig in the mud?

You're right, he does. Ha ha.

Either Ringabel's sense of self is screwed up after seeing Alternis Dim, or he remembers more of his past than he thinks. What was his relationship with the Alternis Dim we fought with earlier?



For the moment, there's no use worrying about it. We've got the crystals to take care of! Our path ahead is cl--



...uttered.

Welp. This is going to take some work to clean up. Then again, the Sky Knights are back, so it makes sense the rest of Eternia is, too. And if Eternia's back...

The party's got a second chance. We can try to change things for the better. We've got Grandship and experience on our side this time, too -- it shouldn't take long to see them all.

We can assume that, thanks to Eternia's poor communication skills, going straight to Braev won't do anything to stop the other continents from being terrorized; no strategic taking out the head. Let's start with the Sky Knights. They seem to be as evil as they were before.



Tiz and Agnès met their first asterisk-bearers here, way back. Looks like someone's set up a camp there now!



The moment the party gets in sight of Holly and Barras they put up an asterisk space.

What!? They've already beaten us to a pulp, and now they're back for seconds!?

Huh? Us? Or...



We've learned some things about Holly and Barras since we saw them last. Fifteen years ago, they weren't what you'd call twisted. Holly was a lazy teenager. Barras was just happy to run around and fight.

They'd give you a run for your money, Holly! Ha ha ha!

Watch your mouth, meathead! Would you like a boot to the face!? Oh, perfect. They brought more friends with them this time!

Whoa, there. Hold up! Isn't that Edea with them!?

Hmm. I knew that little hussy wasn't to be trusted. The templar's daughter, of all people!



Whoa, turn the volume down...

I haven't been this riled up since this morning! Ah well, time for round two!

Something's got them real mad!

Might have something to do with already getting beaten up. Just a thought.



But that's strange. Could've sworn we killed them last time...



You forget, I'm a skilled white mage. Hah! I have already healed our wounds completely! Never underestimate your elders!

Ha ha haaa! I'm back in action! Feel my fists of rage!

I'm skipping most of this fight because it's pretty much the same as last time, only scaled up in level.



At low health, Barras's attempts to power himself up cause battlefield-wide explosions instead. This is the only dangerous part of the fight.



The party takes down Barras first.

These muscles of steel...failed me...

You've got to be kidding me, Barras! What are you doing? Stand up! Get on your feet and roar like you always do! I can't get into my rhythm otherwise!

But Barras fades away, leaving asterisk space. Somehow I don't think he'll be alive when we come out.

... You worthless worm... What a dolt... There's nothing worse than a man who lets women down...

Holly's dominatrix shtick is toned down this time around, in favor of something more real. She's cynical, doesn't think much of men or other women, is defensive about her age... she probably hasn't had the best people in her life.



After getting her health down, she has a few last parting words.

What cruel...brats... All that showing off... You really...make me...sick...

Let's rewind real quick and see what happens if Holly's offed first.



H-Holly! Oh, son of a...!

I would tell you to calm down... But I don't think you're capable of it. Without me, who will heal your wounds? You must flee, and find another...partner...

Don't say that! You are the only one I need, Holly! I won't let anyone else touch me!

Hmph. You dunderhead. Thanks...anyway...

And when Barras goes down after:



Yarrgh! Nothing fazes these...muscles of steel! St-steel. ... ......

If both are downed at the same time, it's the same conversation as bringing Holly down first.

Holly and Barras were even more of an odd couple this time. Barras is dependable in his simplicity, and for Holly, that dependability makes him someone she can trust.



You mean they weren't like that?

Not quite, no. And they seemed surprised to see us.

They said something about bringing friends... Last time it was just you and me, Tiz.

Right...

If only they hadn't chosen to fight to the death, we might've left them well enough alone.

The party leaves the lake and heads back to the road.



Understand what, Edea?

Holly and Barras must have run into us a short while ago!

Huh? Us?

Ah, I see what you mean. That would explain their reaction.

They met the versions of us from this world?

Umm... Now I am truly confused.

Come to think of it, I got a completely different impression of those two than the first time we met them.

You mean their hearts weren't black?

I'd say it was more like they were impossible to hate.

Maybe it was because I met them for the first time, but I agree with Edea. They didn't seem black-hearted.

Is that not because they are different from those we met before?

Or perhaps, it is we who have changed?

I wonder... But personally, I don't think I've changed.

...... I agree. You haven't changed one bit, Ringabel.

But that's something you can work on.

......

But if our Tiz and Agnès didn't fight the Holly and Barras here earlier, where are the Tiz and Agnès who did? Or did our Tiz and Agnès just fail to kill Holly and Barras as thoroughly as they thought way back?

It's hard to say. Four fire-forged friends fighting two low-tier Eternians is pretty different from the first time, when Tiz and Agnès were alone and barely out of their farm village and temple, respectively.

Anyway, if there were another Tiz and Agnès around, that means there'd be a Ringabel and Edea, too. Seeing Ominas should clear things up, since Edea should be with him about now.



The party heads north on foot, taking in old sights and new enemies.



The Caldisla region Tiz grew up on was populated by ornery goblins. Strangely, the party doesn't catch sight of a single one.



Instead, they meet tons of these guys, tucked in all the places the goblins should be.



They're a lot tougher than goblins ever were, but no match for the party.



Nighttime brings out a new type of ghost, also harder to kill than the old variant. What happened to Caldisla's native monsters?



The party stops by the Great Chasm one more time on the way north. Airy's comments now change depending on the party's location rather than just where we are in the plot.



North of Caldisla, in the ruins of Centro Keep, the party finds Ominas. The room he's in is open to the main passage this time, and he doesn't even have any guards with him. No Edea, either.

Maybe if we ask--



Oh, right. Ominas is insane.

Edea...with the wind vestal and her followers!? No, that can't be right. Impossible!

What are you talking about?

First I'd like you to answer a question, Ominas. When did I leave the Knights of the Eternian Sky?

Yeah, let's get to the point.



Unfortunately, the best and only time to have a rational talk with Ominas, especially as a woman, is 'never'.

Black Mage Ominas Crowe! Get a grip!

B-be quiet! Don't talk to me! You can't be real, so leave me alone! I know what to do... I'll just incinerate your soul till nothing is left! Eee hee hee!



So if Holly was calmer this time and Barras continued to be Barras, Ominas in contrast has become more delusional.



It's just not right! The cheek of it! Do you d-despise me that much!? I-it was all your fault, anyway! Yeah, that's it. You're the ones to blame!

Unlike Barras and Holly, Ominas doesn't seem to have been in a fight beforehand. In fact, this Ominas doesn't really match up with the one we fought earlier at all. But we aren't going to get any coherent answers out of him, that much is clear.



Ominas, now not even close to in his right mind, is easy to take down.



Aside from fighting normally, you can take advantage of his casting fira every few turns by reflecting his own magic back on him...



To eliminate all damage on yourself and add some extra firepower to your onslaught.



Ominas maintains his innocence to the last. I'm sure that building in Caldisla just spontaneously combusted all on its own.



The party pauses after the battle to think things over.

There should be no more fires in town now...

I was serving under the black mage Ominas Crowe when you first met me, right? It occured to me when we came to this world that perhaps there's another version of me here.

But she's nowhere to be found. I wonder why...

I'm sure there'll be other discrepancies between this world and the last.

For instance, why did Ominas look so afraid of me back there?

He did seem strangely fearful.

I think I have an idea...

Huh? What's that, Ringabel?



She may have given him a sound beating, then left this place.

Ha ha. That sounds like something Edea would do. It would also explain how scared he looked.

I'll admit, even if you had not shown up in the previous world, I would probably still have left the Eternian Sky Knights.



Do not worry, Edea. You may be quick to anger, but your other charms make up for it.

Some compliment that is!

If there were doubles of the party running around, we probably would've met them by now. We didn't even spot Ringabel, and there was no evidence he'd ever been here.

This restart of the journey is getting more confusing as we go, but maybe we'll get some answers if we can talk with the more sane Eternians. If nothing else, we know the crystals are out there waiting for us.


Next: Goodbye Caldisla, hello Harena!

--

Event Viewer
Main Scenario:
You're Taking This Well
It Doesn't Add Up
Of Vestal Garb and Bikinis
Datz Appears
Start By Doing What We Can

Sub-Scenario:
Round Two!
Not Quite the Same
Ominas Shocked
Strangely Fearful

Party Chat:
The Two Journals
The Two of You
Ringabel's Sleep Talk
Who Has Changed?