Part 45: Update 43 – Family

This is going to be an extremely plot-light update, because as I mentioned last time we just got the last Moonfish in the game! Therefore, this update is going to revolve almost entirely around Doc and Maria, and will be probably the most adorable update in the LP.


Click for video!



The Marksman Gun is a rather odd weapon for Gilder. It has the lowest attack of any of his weapons, but carries a pretty hefty chance of inflicting instant death. Personally I don't find it all that useful but it probably has a few uses here and there.

And yes, this means we haven't seen the last of Gilder.





Look how much Picollo has grown!



Tell me about it. Who'd have thought that it would grow this big?

Picollo, let's go play over there!

Picollo: Chirp!

Maria, be careful! If that big guy starts running around, this rickety old ship won't hold together long!

I know! Picollo, come on! Over here!

I just wanted to thank you, Vyse. Because of you and your crew, Maria has finally come out of her shell. She's become herself again. In return...well, that's a strange way to put it, but in return, I'll tell you the rest of my story. It's hard...for me to talk about it. But if Maria can be strong enough to get over her past...I can't sit here and dwell on my past, either. I guess I've finally become strong enough to realise that.

Doc...

Well, if you must know, then I'll tell you. I'll tell you of the tragedy that befell Ramirez...



Maybe that hit a little close to home...I don't know. But for whatever reason, Ramirez began to snoop around for information regarding Mendosa. And that's when we found out...that Mendosa was using the Ixa'takans as slaves for his own personal profit. He forced the Ixa'takans to work a few extra hours here and there, and pocketed all the extra Moonstones that they found for himself. The shock of this discovery was almost too much for Ramirez to bear. He went directly to Admiral Mendosa and confronted him.





Mendosa: I won't lie to you. Yes, it is true. But, what's the problem? Is there something wrong with making money? With desiring wealth and power?

You are forcing the Ixa'takans to work grueling hours in inhumane conditions! M'lord, you promised me...you told me that you would speak to Her Majesty in regards to the way the Ixa'takans were being treated!

Mendosa: Hahaha...you truly are naïve, aren't you? And what exactly do you think would have happened if I did that? Her Majesty would find out about my little scheme, and I would basically be signing my own death warrant.

How...how could you lie to me like that?

Mendosa: It is quite unfortunate that things had to turn out this way, Ramirez. And to think I thought of you as a son...Regardless, you have uncovered my plans and have left me with no choice. Guards! Seize him!

Everything...all that I have believed in...aaaaaaaaaarrgh!

By the time I got there, it was already too late. The guards...even Admiral Mendosa...they had all fallen under Ramirez's blade.



I...I'm sorry, Doc. But, I can no longer trust humans. I can no longer remain here.

Wait! Ramirez! Where are you going?!

Goodbye, Doc. The Ramirez that you knew is no more. He died the moment I drew my blade against Admiral Mendosa. From now on, I will believe only in strength. I shall follow only those with power.

Wait!!! Ramirez! Ramireeeeeeez!!!

There's a MGS-style "RAMIREEEEEEEEZ!" soundbite here, by the way. Also, kinda regretting not making a set of sepia-tone portraits for the flashback sequences now because this is getting really confusing to read.



I had spent so much time with both Mendosa and Ramirez, and yet I could do nothing to stop this tragedy from happening. If I only had the strength to stop him, Mendosa, Ramirez, and even Maria...all of their lives would have turned out so much differently.

Doc...

I know, I know. I'm gonna stop living in the past. Just gotta keep looking forward and hope for the best! And besides, I think it's a blessing that I was able to save Maria from the burning wreckage of the Aquila.



W, wait a second there, Fina. You don't think...?

But I heard that some Air Pirates that were passing through the area helped save most of the crew after we left, though.

Hey, Doc...Maria wouldn't happen to have an older sister, would she?

Actually, she did. Wait, did I forget to tell you that? Well, unfortunately, she went missing after the accident. Nobody knows what happened to her. Poor Piastol...it's bothered me for years that I couldn't save both of them.

Vyse, then it is her!

There's no doubt about it. Maria and Piastol are long-lost sisters.

We gotta tell Piastol!!!

Piastol said that she would come to fight us again sometime. When we see her, we'll tell her everything we know. What she does with this information is up to her.

Shock and awe! Maria and Piastol are sisters, and I strongly suspect that the Valuan Wreckage discovery back in update 39 was the wreckage of the Aquila. And, of course, we know what it was that started the fire, and why Piastol's father was killed by a sword wound.

Before we go tell her the whole story, though, there's a couple more Moonfish left to stuff that bird with. For some reason Doc kicks you off his ship after that revelation, and the first time I 100%ed this game I spent hours combing the world for the last two Moonfish that were actually in my inventory the whole time.



Moonfish number 23 nets us the most powerful boomerang, rapier and mechanical arm in the game. The Hydra Wing will likely never see the light of day thanks to the Swirlmerang, but there's really no reason not to use the other two for the rest of the game.



And finally, Moonfish number 24, the last in the game. Cue the white flash of light and...









BEHOLD MY TRUE FORM!

Wow! He just keeps getting bigger and bigger!



But I bet that Maria's real happy that he's grown so much! Huh, Doc?

...You'd think so, but life doesn't always turn out the way you expect.



Huh?

Picollo has grown wings...so now he's saying he wants to go home...home to where all his friends are.

I think he has a point, though. If we don't return him to nature, he'll never find any of his own kind, let along someone to marry. But the one thing that's keeping me worried is if this guy leaves, Maria's going to fall into depression again.

Uncle Doc, I...I'll be fine.

M, Maria?



And I think that Picollo feels lonely, too. I'm going to miss him, but I think he should go home so he won't be lonely any more.



Well! You sure have grown, Maria!

Vyse...I don't know how to thank you...to think this is the same Maria that I've been caring for all these years...I can't believe it. I owe everything to you.



Hey! Looks like he's getting ready to leave!

Sorta reminds ya of when we left Pirate Isle, eh Vyse?







I love this sidequest. But what do we get for handing in all the Moonfish? Picollo didn't hork up any valuables this time.



We get this, the final discovery in the list! It's worth a pretty hefty wad of cash too, but seeing as I'm not pouring my vast fortune into stat seeds that's a bit irrelevant.

We're not quite done with this sidequest yet, though. Picollo may be done with, but there's still the matter of Piastol.



The fourth and final Black Spot isn't available until after you discover that Piastol is Maria's sister, of course. The message on the Black Spot gets a little more familiar with each fight, by the way. Of course, this time around we don't have to fight her, I'm sure she'll listen to what we have to say.


Click for video!

Piastol! Wait a second! There's something we need to tell you!

Nothing can save you now. The only thing I desire is to watch Vyse fall by my hand. That is all I live for. I will defeat you! The last seven years of my life rests on the outcome of this very battle!





Well, it was worth a shot. Piastol round four, ladies and gentlemen!

Not a whole lot has changed in her tactics since round 3, but Piastol hits hard and her Tempest Dance is longer and meaner than ever.



After the usual combo of slices and kicks, there's a backflip and a charge...



Before she teleports behind the unfortunate victim and buries her scythe in his brain. Again.



It's all but guaranteed to one-shot an undefended character, but Justice Shield makes the damage almost trivial. Which is why I'm not going to use it. That, and it makes the fight really, really long and boring to watch and play. I'm not quite crazy enough to try to fight without Delta Shield though, not while Piastol has both Eternes and Eternum and we still have no defence against instant death.



Don't bother trying to take down Deathhound with Cutlass Fury. Just don't. It knows Sacrum and will spam the shit out of it once it starts getting to low health. Save yourself the hassle and just blow it up with a gigantic piratical explosion.



And then do the same to Piastol. Tempest Dance hits really, really hard with Justice Shield, but with Increm on the party and not on Piastol it's just about survivable. One Sacrulen Crystal later and problem solved.



To be honest, I'm being a bit unfair to Piastol here. The first time you play the game she will almost certainly wreck you, and if you're haven't caught on to abusing items for all they're worth? Hoo boy. Prepare for hours of praying that she doesn't decide to cast Eternes on the same turn as you need to do your healing, because she can and will kill the whole party in a single turn.



Our reward for handing out one final beatdown to the Angel of Death is the Light Dress, which offers some pretty nice bonuses to Dodge and Quick. Personally I don't find it all that useful, because Dodge only works on regular attacks, and in (almost) any tough fight those will be the least of your worries. There is one exception to that rule, but there's another, more stylish way to handle that.

The Japanese name for it is the Contest Underwear.



Piastol...

I knew I would lose. Having fought you three times already, I knew that I was no match for you. Only a fool would think otherwise. And...I know that you weren't lying.

Then...then why?! Why'd you still fight?!



For what reason have I fought...alone...all these long years? I lose my reason for living. No...it was wrong for me to only live for revenge in the first place.



Piastol...

Piastol. Near Sailor's Island, there is a small doctor's ship. Go find it. Doc, and your sister, Maria, are aboard that ship.

W, what?! If you're lying to me, I shall make you pay with your life!

Hey now, didn't you just say that you believed us? You better do something about that temper of yours...





But...no! I can't see them! Not like this. Not as the Angel of Death. I can't let them know what has become of me.

Oh, come on! Relax, Piastol! Just go see them already!

I'm sure that Doc and Maria would be more than happy to see you, too.

Now get going! We don't have time to sit here and smell the roses! We've got sailing to do!



Piastol...you're not the Angel of Death. You never were. You've always been Maria's older sister. Just ask her...I'm sure she'll tell you the same.

Vyse...I...I don't know what to say...

Maybe we'll see you again somewhere out in this big blue sky! Until then, Piastol!

With that, then, there's only one thing left to do. It's time to wrap up this sidequest once and for all, and in a way I'm sad to see it end.


Click for video!

Thanks for stopping by. I don't have much in the way of home comforts, but you're free to stay as long as you wish.



R, really?!

Yep...it was a day I'll never forget.



E, excuse me...



Heh, no...nothing like that. I was...uh...just passing by and thought I'd drop in.

Oh...I see.



Yeah. My friend, Picollo, is out there somewhere. I was just wondering how he was doing. Picollo used to live here, but he flew home to be with his friends. He's a bird, you know.

I see...it must be lonely for you without him.

...Yeah. Picollo and I are like each other. We both were so lonely...with no other friends. But, he grew up and was able to go see his friends.

…



And that my big sister is out there, somewhere, flying through the skies. I wonder if I'll ever get to meet her?











Of course!

...Thank you. You don't know how much that means to me.



Vyse...I've heard about you and Ramirez from various rumours from sailors passing through. One of you, either you or Ramirez, will not walk away alive from this mess. Which means I will lose one of my dear friends, either way.

Doc...

Vyse, just follow your instincts. Just do what you have to. I know you're sailing the path that you feel is right. I get the feeling that deep down inside, Ramirez is doing the same.





That's it! Piastol and Maria's stories are well and truly wrapped up, although I suppose from their point of view it's a brand new beginning. That's it for this update, and next time we'll be making use of those stolen plans and going where no man has gone before. See you then!

Video List
Moonfish 22-24
Piastol 4
Maria and Piastol