Some time later... *ending spoilers*

[Kuro]

Listening to Melodies of Life again, I got to thinking of why the ending of Final Fantasy 9 always meant so much to me.

"I always talked about you, Zidane. What a special person you were to each of us."

And here we see that one person, one life, made such a difference to those around him. It may have seemed posthumous. At that point, Zidane hadn't come home, and all his friends could do was reflect. Those words always seemed so personal and heartwarming, and I began to think of what each of those thoughts meant to me, personally.

"...Life doesn't last forever. That's why we have to help each other and live life to the fullest." Appreciate life. It's the truth, too. To me, life is too precious and too impoRtant to waste complaining and grovelling over the little things that go wrong. Life doesnt last forever. That's a cliche` saying, but the truth of what I believe. The part about helping others is part of me, too. It feels good to be appreciated and to believe that you make a difference.

"Even if you say goodbye, you'll always be in our hearts. So, I know we're not alone." Our story doesn't end with a goodbye. The words of Melodies of Life that always meant the most to me were "if I may leave this lonely world behind, your voice will still remember our melody." What a comforting thought to believe that whatever you do touches the life of another and will forever be a part of them.

"Why I was born... How I wanted to live... Thanks for giving me time to think." Every life was born for a purpose. Throughout Final Fantasy 9, each and every character had to struggle to find his or her individual worth. "Am I just a puppet, never to laugh, to love, to cry, to dream?" And for each character, there was a moment in which they had learn for themselves that they could grow and live beyond anything they were predestined to be.

"To keep doing what you set your heart on... It's a very hard thing to do." Having the faith to believe you can do anything. That goes back to one of my favorite Zidane quotes. You can't always think it through, sometimes it's your heart that makes the decision. As long as there's desire, that what matters. But true success won't come on a silver platter. There will be struggles, and obstacles to overcome. It won't be easy, and there is the possibility of failure. But that choice is always up to you. Make it the right one.

"What to do when I felt lonely... the one thing you couldn't teach me. We need to figure out the answer for ourselves..."
Believe that my voice will remember our song, and know that you will never be alone again. I think the part that really got me about this quote was "we need to figure out the answer for ourselves." There are always the people who will be there for support, but the answers sometimes have to come from within. To learn to trust yourself and believe in yourself... that's what you have to figure out on your own.

"I wish we could've gone on more adventures. But I guess we all have to say goodbye someday." Cherish the memories you've created. Live for the future and remember the past. When we do have to say goodbye, it's true that the story won't end there. The voices may learn new songs, but they will continue singing.

Hehehehe, I know, it sounds like a bit of Daily Affirmation with Jack Handy, doesn't it? Eh-hehehe. Ah well. Either way, I always did find those words very touching.

I know, this is another one of my weird topics. But does anyone else have any thoughts about this? Please share.


- EDIT -
Um... my spelling is bad? Horrible spelling!! Heee... XD

[Vivi_Stalker]

"To me, life is too precious and too impotant..."
...REALLY NOW. O_O (Okay, on o the point...After I stop chuckling... XD)

From what I've heard, a very heart-warming part indeed. Zidane definitely gave everyone else something important. Words to live by...He taught them so much in such a little time. Before they all knew it, their time with their friend was over, so they thought.

That, in a way was almost a good thing... At times like those, people will tend to be more reflective on events that have occured...They want to hang onto to what they've learned, a memory, anything to keep someone dear to their hearts. Thus, really learning a bit. They just couldn't bring themselves to forget and move on; just efface it from memory.

So I agree that this line means quite a bit in this context...

"If I should leave this lonely world behind, your voice will still remember our melody..."
Even though Zidane was gone, they held onto everything they learned from him. They remembered. A piece of him still lived in everyone, and he would never be forgotten...


"...As long as we remember." As long as they remembered.

[Kuro]

Originally posted by Vivi_Stalker
"To me, life is too precious and too impotant..."
...REALLY NOW. O_O (Okay, on o the point...After I stop chuckling... XD)

*giggle* Ooops.

Damn you, Veestah, you're as bad as Bee! XD Well that just dropped my star spelling rating down a few. *giggles* Time to go back and FIX THAT!!

*ahem* Yes, anyhow...

VEESTAH! MUST GO BEAT THE GAAAAAAAAME!!

There's always been a bit of a controversy over who spoke that ending monologue. When I first beat the game, I thought it was Dagger. I thought it might even be each character who was shown at the end, reflecting on their thoughts of what their friend had given them.

Then after beating it again and getting into some discussion, people suggested it might be Vivi.

... and that's actually who I've come to believe was talking in the end. Whether or not he died is also open to another debate. Some say it sounded like a farewell letter or speech. I also come to think that Final Fantasy 9 was really told mostly through Vivi's eyes. Not through Zidane's or Dagger's. If there's one person who really looked up to Zidane, it was Vivi.

[Vivi_Stalker]

Hmm...Here I was thinking that those were individuals. Though it sounds more like Dagger and her way of speaking, I'm more inclined by a hunch that it's Vivi. I mean, he did that monologue at around the end of disc 2 about Brahne and Dagger...

But in any case...It really says something about how much of an impact Zid had on everyone.

[Dagger aka Garnet]

The whole ending from beginning to End Made me cry and still does. Of Course sad tears Change to Happy tears near the very end

Everything they said at the end really touched me..it was so special. And I really do believe everything they said...Thats kinda my outlook on life.I love all the quotes in FF9 but those at the end really made me think about life.

[Bliss]

I always said that the "Some time later..." part was the area in the whole game that touched me most. It touched me even more than the ending FMV did, if you want to know. I was convinced it was Vivi speaking straight away. He speaks so simply, yet his words hold so much meaning for me. I almost burst into tears during that whole part.

You know its Vivi, too, from the words "What to do when I was lonely... that was the only thing you couldn't teach me." (Remember the tinkle-tinkle scene?) But of course, there's proof in the other lines. It's definitely Vivi. Who else would say farewell to everyone in the end? "My memories will be part of the sky...."

At another forum I visited, there was a topic discussing the love between Zidane and Garnet. There was this member who said something like "Why are you people debating so strongly about it? FFIX isn't that ddeep." I was kinda annoyed at that. "Some time later..." definitely proves that wrong.

In the end after all, it wasn't the joyful reunion of Zidane and Garnet that affected me most, it was the simple yet extremely meaningful words on life experiences, its sorrows, happiness, friendship, courage and love. *cries* FFIX has truly taught us all the value of life.

[Will]

Though when Zidane was away and you saw how sad Garnet was, you knew Zidane just had to come back... right...? If he didn't we'd all come together in a plot to take over Square and make him come back! *does an evil Kuja laugh!*
Anyway when I was watching the ending and saw Garnet it really reminded me of a song from the Queen album A Day At The Races called Teo Torriatte (Let Us Cling Together)

When I'm gone
No need to wonder if I ever think of you
The same moon shines
The same wind blows
For both of us, and time is but a paper moon...
Be not gone

Though I'm gone
It's just as though I hold the flower that touches you
A new life grows
The blossom knows
There's no one else could warm my heart as much as you...
Be not gone

Let us cling together as the years go by
Oh my love, my love
In the quiet of the night
Let our candle always burn
Let us never lose the lessons we have learned

Teo torriatte konomama iko
Aisuruhito yo
Shizukana yoi ni
Hikario tomoshi
Itoshiki oshieo idaki

Hear my song
Still think of me the way you've come to think of me
The nights grow long
But dreams live on
Just close your pretty eyes and you can be with me...
Dream on

Teo torriatte konomama iko
Aisuruhito yo
Shizukana yoi ni
Hikario tomoshi
Itoshiki oshieo idaki

When I'm gone
They'll say we're all fools and we don't understand
Oh be strong
Don't turn your heart
We're all
You're all
For all
For always

Let us cling together as the years go by
Oh my love, my love
In the quiet of the night
Let our candle always burn
Let us never lose the lessons we have learned