To fix or not to fix: a civil war theory.

[Alexander THE GIRL]

I do believe I brought this point to mind on the old boards, but considering how few of the old members are left who would have had a chance to read it (Me, Aerith, Xenos, Setzer, Cloud, and Sephiroth), I thought I would explain it again.

So everyone wants to fix the world, right? That's cool. I mean, it's a pretty messed up place. Nibelheim and Zanarkand are especially messed up, Bevelle was just trashed, Balamb is a ghost town, and Junon is having some sort of problem that I can't seem to pry out of the older mods (I am the newest one, you know). Worst of all, people can flash in and out of existence at any given moment! The world is in shambles, basically. Why wouldn't anyone want to fix it? Because the world I shall heretofore refer to as Hybrid is rather...unique. How? I shall list the ways in order of importance.

1. Because the dead are rising.

Zack, Kefka, Adel, Aerith, Kuja, and Sephiroth are all rightfully dead in their worlds, whether they know it or not. How many civilians must also have risen? I'd imagine a good many of them have. In a world where the dead rise, the recently (or not-so-recently) deceased might be less than willing to return to the grave for the greater good. Even with the problem of people shifting in from different times, Hybrid does hold the potential for immortality if it can be stabilized.

2. Because of new resources.

This holds especially true for Midgar and Esthar, but every country to some extent has access to technology that the others don't.

Esthar is more advanced in the fields of weaponry, robotics, and most fields in general than any other nation. Without Laguna encouraging seclusion, Esthar could be free to spread technology to the rest of the world.

Midgar and Shinra in general are very advanced themselves, with some technology Esthar does not have. They're easily the most advanced nation as far as genetics goes, and mako technology would be very useful in a world that's literally overflowing with lifestream. In fact, draining lifestream might help stabilize the world by getting it to normal levels of lifestream again.

Figaro's tunneling equipment, Thamasa's magic, Narsh's mines, Jidoor's...money. Every city or nation has something to offer.

...Except Zozo.

3. Relationships forged in Hybrid are doomed.

Everyone who meets in FFI will have to part ways and probably lose memory of ever meeting. Anyone who has a strong friendship or a romantic involvement with someone from another world will have to kiss it goodbye once things are put back to normal. If the world is allowed to continue long enough for cities to forge relations and their citizens allowed mingle, this could eventually be cause for public outcry against returning to the old worlds.

4. The Eighth Realm is screwed.

It is. The entire basis of FFVIII is that Ultimecia is from the future and she has to do it again. She has to be born, take over the world, possess Edea, and try to compress time. There are two possibilities here.

A: She is removed from history. She won't possess Edea, who won't try taking over the world. Cid will have no reason to orchestrate the events that lead to Ultimecia's defeat. The events of FFVIII simply will not happen. Further complicating matters is that Ultimecia is indirectly responsible for the creation of SeeD to begin with. If Ultimecia is taken out of the equation and the Eighth realm is restored, everyone may live as though SeeD was never formed. The world may well fall into paradox and be destroyed altogether if Ultimecia was involved with something that the realm can't cope without. Best case scenario: History is rewritten. Squall and Rinoa will probably never even meet. Sad times for all, only they won't know that.

B: She's not removed from history, time will continue as normal in the FFVIII world as it is depicted in the ending. Years will pass, Ultimecia will be born, she will take over the world, and she will compress time. The heroes will stop her, time will decompress and be stable for a little while before crashing and causing the Hybrid all over again. As Xenos has become some kind of crazy time bastard thing, he may or may not still exist the next time around.

5. _____ is gone!

Shinra seems to be, if not gone, in complete shambles. Galbadia as a whole is off the map. The Gesthalian Empire is no longer around to threaten the world. Queen Brahne is nowhere to be found. Sin, for what it's worth to anyone still alive from FFX, isn't making any appearances.

In fact, at the moment, the only thing wrong in the world is what just happened in Bevelle. There are no wars, no impending global disasters (that the world knows of), and no crazed villains out to kill them all (again, that they know of).

So, in the end, where do you think your character will stand?

Mine wants to restore order, of course. For better or worse, Alexander's nature is to restore order to the world.

Adel, on the other hand? Adel doesn't want to go back to space, and will fight tooth and nail to keep the world in its current state once she figures out what's going on.

[Tifa Lockhart]

Tifa...well Tifa isn't going to branch out too much, I don't think. though the way things are going, she and Vivi may forge a close friendship, and there's definite opportunity for that elsewhere. The only others I could see her getting involved, possibly, with that aren't from VII are Squall (because he's a huffy, brooding mess similar to Cloud), *perhaps* Zell (I adore Zell, but I think his energy might be too much for Tifa), and despite having not played much of X, I think maybe Tidus could catch her eye, as he looks a bit like Cloud. I think those three are the only ones I know well enough to say I could see something happen romantically with Tifa.

I think if she was asked if she wanted Hybrid or things to go back the way they were, she'd have some serious conflict. If she knew that it would mean the end of everybody from VIII, I don't know that she could say she wanted things to change back. Especially if she knew and had friends from VIII. I've never seen Tifa as the type to put herself or her own selfish wants before others. But at the same time, she's also practical, and does to some extent follow her heart.

If she got 'the boy' (and right now its a bit up in the air about who 'the boy' is), found her friends and maybe her father from VII, and Shinra was completely decimated, she might be more inclined to stick with Hybrid.

However, if going back meant her dead friends and family would be revived and she could live happily, she'd be more inclined to want to return to VII.

Blah, Alex, this is haaaard. But it gives me something to think on with her

[Tseng]

Well, Tseng has no idea what's going on yet or many connections with anyone not from FF VII. As is, I think he would fall squarely into the group of people who would want the worlds to remain seperated, and more importantly, have Shinra restored for the purpose of him maintaining a job. Really, it seems to me that the worlds coming together are in Tseng's best interest especially since he figures from Reno's commentary that he might have survived the encounter with Sephiroth afterall.

Of course, the above is subject to change dependent on his interactions with characters as he attempts to be reunited with his fellow Turks.

[Vincent Valentine]

Vincent would find himself distraught. Not only is he plagued by doubt, and Chaos; but with Hybrid being this new world, with no clear distinction amongst friend, foe or even realms; he would be unable to really decide on his course.

As far as everything was concerned, he would most likely, try to remain an impartial observer. Stepping in here and there to lend support to those he trusts. However; he would probably not be able to fully form a decision as to whether or not he'd be willing or even happy to have the worlds return to normalcy. Chaos had reigned in the seventh realm, and he new only so well that trouble would further rear its ugly head.

As far as people were concerned, however; he'd be unsure of who aside from the few he knew, that he can really trust. Kindred spirits, of sorts. Chaos and destruction are not in the top of his preferences, and to lose any possible friendships he could make, he'd probably be unwilling to lose them. But all would have to be determined.

[Tseng]

As a side note, I'd be interested to see how a civil style plot would turn out. Would it be like the Marvel Comics one (I am such a geek) with good guys and villains split down the middle about what to do, or would it become yet another battle between good and evil this time casting even those we considered heroes into a darker light?

The possibilities are quite tantalizing.

[Vivi Orunitia]

Would it be like the Marvel Comics one (I am such a geek) with good guys and villains split down the middle about what to do

Tifa, Fu, Alex... I think this might sound a bit familiar...

[Tifa Lockhart]

*snickers* If Fu would ever WRITE HIS PART!!!!!!

Lurve you Fu!

[Alexander THE GIRL]

In the end, Marvel's Civil War turned out to be the second one. It started out balanced, with both sides making great points, but the writers just had to make the government side evil in the end. Because apparently vigilante justice is the only fair justice in superhero world. *grumble*

I would imagine that it would start out even, but one side would inevitably start looking a little darker. Probably whoever had the most villains. I also doubt the heroes and villains would all unite under the pro/anti-Hybrid banner. Some villains would still be all for taking over the world, while others would want to go back to their world to rule it. I don't know if the heroes would want that kind of help. XD

[Vincent Valentine]

Yet in spite of that, there would be occassions when an extra hand -regardless if it's source- would be appreciated.

Say "Sin" were to drop out of the sky, and being the only one with experience with the foe (aside from the FFX inclusive summons), Auron would willingly team with say; Sephiroth and Seymour, along with others. Anything that gave a sufficient chance of survival and victory, I, Vincent on the other hand, would be indecipherably uncertain with the prospect of allying myself with a man intent on the world's desctruction, and attempted revival of Jenova.

[Alexander THE GIRL]

I would think Auron smarter than to ally with Seymour on anything involving Sin. Seymour was some kind of off-the-charts well intentioned extremist, sure, but that's all he really has going for him in the morality department. His entire plan was to become Sin and go around killing everyone in the world (I mean more than Sin was already doing), just so humanity would die off and stop suffering. Who in the right mind would ally with him against Sin? XD

"Guys, I have the perfect idea for how to fight this thing. It's a giant Aeon that could totally beat it. First I'll need a summoner, and then we have to go to Zanarkand. It'll be great, trust me."

[Tseng]

Tseng would be less than thrilled to work with anyone bent on the world's destruction as well. He just isn't in the mood to see all the time he spent chasing AVALANCHE and Sephiroth around go to waste. I mean he was kind of stabbed to death while on a mission to prevent the end of the world from happening. Hell, he doesn't even like the prospect of a single Turk working with Sephiroth as he feels the man probably is manipulating this for his benefit somehow.

Kind of like what Alexander said before me, it would sound kind of ridiculous to someone who knew the villains to hear them offer their assistiance.

"Hey guys, I'm really sorry for all the stabbing, mass murder, and arson I committed. You guys don't mind if I offer you my totally non-conditional and non-evil help swording things with right?"

[Vincent Valentine]

Regardless, if there was a higher chance, you would still find -as difficult a prospect it may be- the prospect of allies a much greater asset than fighting with fewer people. An army of people ready to fight Sin, is better than a handful.

Sure, as FFX displayed, however; it's not always the best strategy, but you can't deny the fact they tried...besides...they were only minor characters in one FMV so they didn't matter so far as anything was concerned.

And since most of the villains are uber powerful, it's likely they're help would be accepted...it'd make the battle shorter, and easier...surviving it, on the other hand, does remain the different story.

[Tseng]

Granted, it would be easier, and I won't argue that there are examples of it happening. In the end, the problem arises is that the enemy of your enemy is still your enemy. They will turn on you at some point and that point maybe during your fight with Sin. You'll be easy pickings for the villains because you were relying on them as part of your battle strategy. Honestly, it would almost seem that considering the immense power many of the villains possess that they would either try to harness Sin for their own purposes, destroy it outright on their own, or just as likely, stand aside and let the heroes duel it out with Sin so that they would be able to swoop down and pick off the now weakened and exhausted heroes.

Villains can't be trusted. I will admit however to being a political analyst and thus very wary of help offered from those who would call us enemies.

[Xenos]

This is INTERESTING. THIS is what I've been after! Haha! Hearing the heroes think about all the problems that have been in my head for years is fascinating. What will Xenos do, I wonder? He's had ages and ages to think out these problems. Do they separate the world or do they merely stabilize it? What time would it go back to? Who would remain alive and who would remain dead? This is a question that I was going to bring up to the actual characters the next time Xenos gets to show his colours-- probably after Squall regains his sense of self.

Do you protect the current world in order to stabilize it or do you fight for the people you wish to regain in your own world? The corporations are on one side and Reno, for one, isn't about to let the people he cares about possibly fade away!

However Xenos, all of whose friends were killed and died in Ultimecia's path died for the sake of giving him a second chance at life and at love. He would never go back on their sacrifice because he believes that they made their ultimate choices with the iron will to never turn back. That's how the world works: never turn back. His goal in splitting the worlds and undo Time Kompression is essentially to stabilize the worlds. He would never let Ultimecia be wiped from history-- she made him who he is and what the world is-- and he would rather the world go on at its own pace and let him die in the action of it. For now, he wants to strengthen the Fayth so that this world will continue long enough for it to be fixed.

All of you, thanks to Alex, have jumped into my brain and are milling around. Haha! This really is fantastic.

((This entire post I've felt like a villain revealing my plans.... I LOVE IT. Re-read this in a villain voice and you will know how I was writing.))

[Tseng]

Oct 18, 2008 11:49:59 GMT -5 Xenos said:

All of you, thanks to Alex, have jumped into my brain and are milling around. Haha! This really is fantastic.

((This entire post I've felt like a villain revealing my plans.... I LOVE IT. Re-read this in a villain voice and you will know how I was writing.))

Somehow, I find this thought disturbing on many levels especially when said in a creepy, thoroughly evil bishounin (I spelled that wrong) voice.

Hats off to you guys for the plot because I'm sure hooked and very curious as to just what effects will take place when everything is "stabilized".