Seeing the destruction of Alexandria hit me in the feels when I revisited. The music combined with the efforts of all the people was both heartbreaking and lovely to see. Everyone was working together to rebuild
Every character on the team is growing at a rapid rate yet Kuja is still too powerful to take on at this point in time. I just learned he's alien to this planet we're on. He's not of this world, of Gaia. Eiko herself has noted his power is great. The level of power between Kuja and all the rest is staggering, and that's what makes this all so intriguing. It's virtually everyone in the know, versus this one powerful villain. I'd like to hear more about this guy Kuja is trying to kill, he seems to be the most powerful person in the entire story by a large margin. Kuja is powerful enough, but his enemy is one Kuja seems to fear greatly. To the point of hiding in a different world in disguise, even taking such precaution to operate underneath the planet. So Kuja is doing everything he can lay low, which really makes me want to see more of his enemy
Right now I'm in the Village of Dali, it's the first place I've visited after finding Dagger at Alexandria, visiting her mother's grave. She spoke again, and talked about how she was caught up with superficial worries relating to her duties as royalty. She's now cut her hair and intends to be with the team. She's grown so much as a character, and so quickly too. Just being with Zidane, Vivi, and the rest I think has lead to her becoming a much more capable Queen, and she realizes this. It was never stated, but to read between the lines here, I think Dagger recognizes she has true friends and knows that they can accomplish great things together so has chosen to step away from Alexandria for the time being, so she can take down Kuja with everyone. She was technically a Queen the moment Queen Brahne died, but it was when she spoke to Zidane and cut her hair when she truly became Queen of Alexandria. Dagger was already a leader, but now things have changed. You can't look at her as a sixteen year old girl assuming the throne, even though that is accurate, but she is the Queen of Alexandria and a Queen of action IMO. Everything came as a shock and happened so rapidly, but Dagger's strength and resolve has been found, and I think is about to be fully realized
This is a superb cast of characters and I'm loving the story. I've spent so much time with the NPCs everywhere. Some random thoughts
- Part-time worker Jeff and Part-time worker Mary are now together at South Gate
- Baku is still the man. More powerful than Kuja and his adversary combined and doesn't step in because he wants the Tantalus Theater Troupe and friends to get some practice in
- Ruby x Blank needs to happen
- The old man and old lady near the alleyway in the poorer areas of Alexandria, reading what they had to say was heartbreaking. The aftermath of war and its destruction; its effects on all levels
- Regent Cid's wife was fun to meet. I like her character. She threatened him several times. I was amused when she gave that one lighthearted tongue-in-cheek remark to Cid while he was still at her mercy, "Maybe I should change you into a Hedgehog Pie" lol thought that was cool, a little joke based off the cards from the card game, Tetra Master, I enjoyed that one
- Fitting way for those two court jester clowns to go out
- Mog was an Eidolon all that time... This adds an interesting side of the story to dwell on
- Something seems to be going on with the Mognet system possibly, the mail deliverer (dark purplish, pinkish Moogle) is being suspicious apparently according to one Moogle who has pointed this out
- Thought there was something up with the Mayor of Dali, but maybe it just seemed that way. He was at Alexandria with his family trying to get a room from Hippaul's dad at their hotel
- Queen Brahne's death was significant. She was probably disliked heavily by all fans of this game, but the main thing to know is that she was only human. And in the end, she regretted her flaws and her betrayals to herself, against others. In the end, she meant well, but the ways of the world had gotten to her. Dagger's heart was pure to love her mother even in spite of all that she had done. This might be overlooked by many, but I consider the writing here and story to be profound. When I saw Dagger at her mother's grave, I figured she was thinking deeply and trying to find her way. And she has chosen the correct path. She will stand beside her friends and continue to push forward with them, towards the future