85. A Second Hojo (DoC)
'Only a scientist of my calibre is worthy to become one with Omega and leave this planet for the stars!'
Though the main rivalry in the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII is between the characters of Cloud and Sephiroth, one also exists between the characters of Hojo and onetime Turk Vincent. Both sought the affections of a woman named Lucrecia, with Hojo seemingly winning out, beginning a series of events that would lead Vincent to seal himself in a coffin. Though Hojo is killed during the game, prior to his demise he was able to upload a digital copy of his mind onto the Worldwide Network (something similar in nature to the internet), which is destroyed during Meteor's descent and not reactivated until three years later, just prior to the Vincent-led Dirge of Cerberus. Digital Hojo is able to take control of Weiss, the leader of Deepground and the superior of the Tsviets that oversee it. Through his new puppet, the scientist seeks to accumulate a bodycount high enough to trigger the appearance of the destructive Omega purely out of curiosity and spite. Not knowing of Hojo's involvement, Vincent fights his way to Weiss (who a) needs a shirt and b) has hair that eclipses even Cloud's in the ridiculousness stakes) under the belief that he is responsible for atrocities across the world. Defeating him in battle, Vincent then learns of Hojo's manipulation of proceedings, watching on as Weiss' brother Nero opts to fuse with his sibling so that they will become one and never be apart again (perhaps the Gallaghers could do that and bring back a conflict-free Oasis?). This action rids Weiss from the control of Shinra's mad scientist, who without a host for his electronic mind is seemingly vanquished once and for all, though Vincent (in his badass Chaos form, mind) still has to contend with Omega to bring the game (and the Compilation of Final Fantasy VII) to a final close.
84. The Crimson Spheres (X-2)
'This is what destroyed the Squad. Despair strong enough to crush the minds of those it touches. What just happened to us happened to them, too. Here. They felt Shuyin's despair. They went mad, and they died. They killed each other!'
Other than the new quest undertaken by lead character Yuna, much of Final Fantasy X-2 revolves around three organisations locked in conflict. These are New Yevon, the continuation of the Yevon religious order (following its presumed dissolution at the end of Final Fantasy X, given the revelation that its teachings were based on falsehoods), the Youth League, an organisation similar to the Crusaders (who all but disbanded after Operation Mi'ihen) and the Machine Faction, a group that uses Machina to further their goals in a fashion similar to the Al Bhed race. New Yevon are led by Baralai, who looks like an overly orange reject from the cast of the Only Way Is Essex but is voiced by Morgan from Chuck (Joshua Gomez), the Youth League are led by Nooj, a death-seeking warrior with two prosthetic limbs, and the Machine Faction are led by Gippal, a charismatic Al Bhed voiced by Joshua's brother Rick. Each of the three are hinted throughout the game at having a connection to the enigmatic and leather-clad Paine, who functions as a third playable character alongside Yuna and her cousin Rikku despite little in the way of initial explanation for her presence. The collection of ten artefacts known as Crimson Spheres allows the player to discover this connection and delve more deeply into the game's overarching story in the process, as the items reveal that the four were part of the Crimson Squad, an offshoot of the Crusaders that was sent to investigate strange happenings in a cave known as the Den of Woe. Here, all of their comrades in the organisation were killed and the spirit of Shuyin, who had remained trapped in a semi-corporeal state in the location for a thousand years, was released, taking possession of Nooj (unbeknownst to anybody else) and forcing him to shoot his companions in the back before resuming his millennial mission to unleash Vegnagun on the world. It's exposition that should've been revealed as part of the game's main narrative (where no reason is ever given for what Shuyin has been doing for a thousand years) rather than as the result of a sidequest, but the viewing of the spheres does wonders for enhancing the storyline (and by extension the enjoyment) of the game.
83. The Tycoon Family Reunion (V)
'The world still needs you!'
The disappearance of Alexander, the King of Tycoon and father of Lenna, is what initially drives the plot of Final Fantasy V, as the young Princess teams with the amnesia-suffering Galuf and traveller Bartz to venture to his last known location. After adding the female pirate Faris to their ranks out of need for a ship, the group continue to seek out the King as they travel across the world, their journey coinciding with the mysterious destruction of the Crystals that prevent the villainous Exdeath from escaping imprisonment and wreaking havoc on civilisation. Increasingly unsubtle hints are dropped throughout the game that Faris is actually Lenna's sister Sarisa, who was lost at sea as a small child. This begins with the revelation that the two possess identical pendants and continues to the point where Lenna openly calls Faris 'sister', though she initially refuses to acknowledge the remark. It only becomes truly confirmed when the party discovers the King in a possessed state, with both girls recognising him as their father despite the fact that he attempts to kill them. Brought to his senses after a battle, he recognises his offspring and is overjoyed at Faris' survival, as well as the fact that the three of them are reunited at last. The family reunion is sadly cut short a while afterwards, however, as the destruction of the world's final Crystal frees Exdeath from his imprisonment, prompting the valiant King to sacrifice his life for the wellbeing of his daughters and the rest of the party, to whom he entrusts their safety.
82. The Horror Of Riovanes (T)
'There is...only death here...'
After learning about the malicious intentions of elements of the Church of Glabados midway through Final Fantasy Tactics, hero Ramza and his allies seek to thwart their search for further Zodiac Stones. They are branded heretics for their involvement in the death of Cardinal Delacroix, however, and are pursued by forces of the Knights Templar, who function as the religious order's military arm. This leads to a battle between the two sides in a location called Orbonne Monastery, where Ramza's side are victorious. This forces the retreat of Templar commander Isilud Tengille, though he kidnaps Ramza's younger sister Alma (who had joined her brother as a result of having previously encountered Zodiac Stones during her studies) as leverage. The pair are captured in turn by Gerrith Barrington, a Grand Duke who seeks the throne of Ivalice for himself, as Ramza's group ally themselves with Rapha Galthena, a defector from a band of assassins under the Duke's command. This group includes Rapha's brother Marach, who is unaware of the knowledge that his sister's actions are a result of her being raped by his master. Isilud's father (and primary Templar leader) Folmarv arrives at the Duke's stronghold of Riovanes to ostensibly negotiate for his son's release, only to transform into a Lucavi and murder almost everybody present, fatally wounding even his own son for his failure and absconding with Alma himself, believing that she can be used to bring about the return of Ultima, the Lucavi's leader. The Duke manages to escape to the roof, only to be confronted by Rapha, who is unable to kill the man responsible for raping her out of fear. He gloats, only for his boasting to be heard by Marach, who proceeds to take a bullet for his sister and die, returning to life shortly afterwards through the holy power of a Zodiac Stone. Everything combined makes for another fascinating end to one of the game's four chapters, setting up Folmarv as one of its main antagonists in an effective manner whilst also providing a heartfelt moment in the form of Rapha and Marach's reconciliation.
81. Petrification Of The Twins (IV)
'We won't let you all die like this!'
Following the incident at sea that separates him from his allies, Final Fantasy IV's lead character Cecil initially washes up on the shores of Mysidia, a town that he raided when he was the commander of Baron's Red Wings in order to obtain their Crystal. As a result of this, he is persona non grata in the town, finding himself transformed into either a pig or an imp if he attempts to converse with any of its inhabitants. The town elder, however, is willing to give him a second chance, offering him the opportunity to redeem himself for his actions with the assistance of two twin child mages named Palom and Porom. He succeeds in earning the town's trust and respect, whilst Palom and Porom convince their elder to allow them to accompany Cecil as he resumes his trip to Baron, where he intends to confront the King over his nation's actions. The mission of the ragtag group is soon rendered moot when they discover that the King has been replaced by Cagnazzo, a minion of Golbez. They succeed in besting the imposter, only for him to try and have the last laugh by making the walls cave in. With no other option, the young mages take it upon themselves to lean on the walls and cast Break, a spell that turns them and everything they are touching to stone. The action saves Cecil, who can frustratingly do nothing for the pair in return. Somehow they return towards the end of the game, along with other characters such as the monk Yang and airship engineer Cid who also make seemingly heroic sacrifices during the course of events. Players do not know this at first, however, and are tricked into believing that the game has actually gone ahead and shown the deaths of two prepubescent children.