Part 65: The Only Alternative

Last time, we failed to convince Asch to drop his plan, and are chasing after him to Daath at the Dark Wings' urging.

This is going to be a short update, and I don't have a lot to say. Just sit back and enjoy.

The Only Alternative



: “A letter from Asch?! Was he here? Did you see where he went?”

: “He said he was looking for the Jewel of Lorelei. He headed to the Sephiroth from this cathedral.”

: “What did the letter say?”

: “That he had found a way to neutralize the miasma. In exchange for the replicas' help, he asks that we provide them with refuge.”



: “What's going on?”

: “Guy, explain the situation.”

: “...Me again? Fine, whatever. You see...”

Fade to black...



: “You won't permit it, will you? It's totally out of the question, right?”

: “Replica or not, we cannot sacrifice so many lives so easily.”



: “Father, there is no 'but!'”

: “...Jade, you have nothing to say about all this?”











: “That's horrible! I could never agree to such a thing! I want both Luke and Asch to live.”

: “Of course, I feel the same way. However, the miasma has gone past all other hope of remedy.”

: “I...”

: “Stop it, all of you! Stop pushing Luke like this! You all know he's still struggling to find his own worth!”



: “My apologies. Tear, you're absolutely right.”

: “Please... give me some time to think..”



We can talk to each of our party members now. The rulers all have something to say, too.

: No matter what path you choose, I will not condemn you. So stop thinking that you have no choice but to die. We have Jade on our side, after all. His brain is all he has going for him. If we make more use of him, we might be able to come up with something.”

: “I'm an uncle who already sent you out to die once. But I really want you to live. Though, perhaps I can't expect you to believe me. If either you or Asch were to die, Natalia would grieve, as would Susanne and Duke Fabre. You mustn't forget that.”

: “It's not a decision to be made lightly. The miasma was born of the foolishness of mankind during the Dawn Age. It's not something you need to bear alone. I trust you understand that.”

Pleas from the Party



: “Guy...”

: “You've only been alive for seven years! You're a child talking like he knows everything! You should be thinking about fighting with every last drop of blood in you to stay alive!”

: “But that won't stop the miasma. I... I don't want to die, either...”



: “Guy...”

: “...Sorry, I know it's not that simple. The fact that you realize that shows just how much you've grown, too. But I... I want you to stay alive. No matter what anyone else says.”

: “Guy. Thanks...”



: “I... I hold the both of you very dear.”

: “It's not that. It's just that I'm the fake here, so...”

: “You are not a fake! You're my other childhood friend. I want the both of you to be here to support the kingdom of Kimlasca. You're both members of House Fabre. It's not a matter of which of you is real or fake.”

: “I'm happy to hear you say that, but...”

: “You don't want to die, either!”





: “This isn't easy for me...”

: “It is, too! We're all here telling you not to, but you still...”

: “If you die, Luke, the miasma may go away...”



: “Anise...”



: “Why do we have to suffer like this? It's... it's just too much...”

: “I'm sorry... I'm so sorry...”



: “Even if you died, we would still have an original with stable powers. The miasma would be gone, and fewer replicas would place less strain on resources.”

: “Jade... would you really ask me to-”

: “I would ask you to die, yes. If I were an Emperor, with a country to consider.”



: “...I never knew you thought of me as a friend.”

: “Really? I suppose that's understandable. I am a terribly cold person.”





: “Hey, I said before that if I could bring back Akzeriuth by dying, I would, right?”

: “Yes.”

: “Well, you were right. I... I really didn't know what I was talking about.”

: “Luke...”

: “I'm so scared. My body is shaking. I don't want to die.”

: “Of course you don't!”

: “But Asch chose this path. And Asch isn't someone who'd choose to die. Don't you think that means that there really aren't any other options?”



: “Tear...”

: “You talked with the others, didn't you? They're all trying to stop you, aren't they?”



: “I chose to activate the passage rings, knowing full well what the consequences would be. You allowed me to make that choice. If you tell me you've made your decision, I'll trust that you've thought it through.”

: “...But that doesn't mean that I'll agree with your choice.”



: “Everyone else may call you a hero, but I'll never forgive you.”







: “...'make up your mind' huh? Come on, Tear. Let's go.”

: “...All right.”

Mirror of Despair









: “Are you really set on dying?”

: “That's not important. I looked around every Sephiroth and still haven’t found the Jewel of Lorelei. We can't free Lorelei like this. You look for the Jewel.”

: “You idiot! How dare you say it's not important whether you die or not?!”





: “Don't say it like that!”

: “You stay out of this!”



: “Do it, Luke! Take my place!”

: “Asch, wait! We can't afford for you to... No, I don't want you to die!”





: “Asch...”

: “You know there is no other way, so shut up!”



: “Luke?!”

: “Don't be stupid!”

: “Disappear in my place?! You piece of-!”







: “Stop! We're trying to destroy the miasma here, not Daath!”

: “Humph... listen to me. You ate my whole existence! That's why I'm going to do this.”

: “Asch, is there really no other way?”



: “It's not like I want to die. There is no other way.”

: “I can't! I can't lose him!”

: “Luke!”





: “...If you die, you won't be able to feel me punch you anymore. So drop this stupid idea right now.”

: “Guy...”



: “Luke...”

: “I've made up my mind. I'm scared, but... I've made up my mind.”

: “Luke! You're such a...”

: “...So you're going to just disappear like Ion?”

: …



: “But we should report to the summit before leaving for the Tower of Rem.”

: “Everyone... I'm sorry...”

Resolve



: “I'll give up my life to neutralize the miasma.”

: “...You won't reconsider?”

: “...No sir.”

: “Is there any chance for survival?”

: “No, next to none at all.”

: “So that leaves us to... command you to die?”

: “Grandfather!”



: “There was talk of placing our hopes on the replica land of the New Order of Lorelei... but I can't imagine they would welcome all citizens of Auldrant openly.”

: “Hate me if you will. I'll understand if you think me inhuman. But we are charged with the protection of our subjects.”

: “To tell the truth, I... I am against this, even now. But there appears to be no alternative. Will you do this for us... Luke?”

: “...Yes, sir.”

: “It's ironic... the Tower of Rem was built at the center of a mining town on the Qiubi Peninsula.”





: “ND2018. The young scion of Lorelei's power shall bring his people to the miner's city.”

: “There, the youth will turn power to calamity and be as a weapon of Kimlasca, destroying himself and the city.”

: “It's just like Van said. Deviations are as nothing before the Score...”



: “If you eliminate the miasma, this summit will have resolved the last of its issues. Aside from the miasma, we've agreed to an alliance, to military action against Eldrant, and to halting the Planet Storm.”

: “Yes. With this... the summit is officially over.”

: “But there's no need to rush. If you still have things left to do, take care of them first.”





There may be no need to rush, but this is all that remains.

There's only one thing left to do.

Next Time: A reason for death.

Synopsis:

When we reached Daath, the summit had already begun. Apparently Asch had
shown up as well, and left a letter saying that he would work with the
replicas to eliminate the miasma and asking that the replicas be given
shelter if he succeeded. He then left for the Sephiroth in Mt. Zaleho to look
for the jewel of Lorelei. We told them the truth about Asch's plan--that he
was going to die in order to get rid of the miasma.

I was sure the three leaders wouldn't permit such a thing, but they only
stood silently. They can't believe that letting Asch die, even to clear out
the miasma, is a good thing?!

But when Jade spoke the alternative, I realized that that was probably the
best way, the only way. The three leaders must have been thinking the same
way as well.

I'm the one that has to die, not Asch. I'm a replica, and Asch is the
original, after all.
If one of us has to disappear, it obviously ought to be me, the defective
one.
They told me to think about it, but I doubt there's much to think over.
They've probably already reached their decision. So this is the future that
Ion saw...

Everybody except Jade tried to stop me, but I've already made my decision.
I mean, I don't really want to die, but this is the only way, so I don't have
a choice, do I...

To be honest...I'd be happier if Asch died instead of me. That's how much
I want to stay alive...but that's not an option we have.

I guess it's time to go and inform everyone of my choice...

But on the way back, I ran into Asch. He told me to look for the Jewel of
Lorelei myself because he was going to disappear. So I told him that I'd die
to neutralize the miasma instead.

We got into an argument. It must have sounded stupid... Neither of us want
to die, and yet both of us were saying we'd die in the other's place.
Eventually Jade broke us up, and Asch headed for the Tower of Rem again,
ignoring my words. I returned to the chapel to inform the leaders of my
decision.

The leaders accepted my resolution. Teodoro said that there had once been
a mining town near where the Tower of Rem is, so if I do succeed in my plan,
it will end up fulfilling Yulia's Score, that Score foretelling prosperity--
I'll die in a mining town, taking thousands of people with me.

It seems that all the other issues raised at the summit were resolved: a
three-way alliance, the stopping of the Planet Storm, and an attack on
Eldrant. All were accepted. The only thing left is for me to eliminate the
miasma.

...Let's go to the Tower of Rem.