Post by Alexander THE GIRL on Oct 11, 2008 19:38:07 GMT -5
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.
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.