Let’s Blog: Ar Tonelico III – #13: Falcon Kick!

This entry covers the remaining portion of the cutscene after finding Finnel when she went missing from Tokoshie Canopy, as well as the cutscene when re-entering Blue Heaven Road.

Spoilers, as usual.

Suddenly, everything turns white, and Soma’s voice speaks. “Do you not care about your life?” Finnel gasps, and Soma continues “Have you forgotten? You must not love. You must remain alone.” Finnel protests that she’s not in love, but Soma replies, “I know your feelings… that is why I revealed myself to Aoto. I did it for you, because at this rate you will both suffer.”

Soma continues, “I hope that Aoto will be able to provide results for your sake. If he cannot, then I’ll have to do the same to him as all the others…” Finnel shouts “No!”, and the screen flashes white again. She collapses, saying “…Why? Why must you do such cruel things to me… even though I…”

Originally I thought I was missing something, but no, I’ve received assurances that this scene is just deliberately vague. AT3 seems to love doing that.

Returning to town, everyone is glad to see Finnel, but she’s not in much of a mood to return their feelings. Aoto asks what they should do now that they’re all back together, and Hikaru suggests that Aoto should return to Cielo Valley. Tatsumi says he’ll go as well, and Aoto asks the doctor to take care of Saki. He replies that he’ll do so and continue examining her, but Saki speaks up, insisting that she wants to go with Aoto.

Aoto points out that she was already attacked once in Cielo Valley, and if the Clusternia military is still there, it’ll be bad for her. Saki protests that she’s tired of being protected all the time, and she wants to help Aoto as well. In addition… she’s scared that she’ll be separated from Aoto again. He replies that he understands, but if anyone sees her face, they’ll be easily trapped.

Saki suggests that if she transforms into another personality, accompanying them won’t be a problem. The doctor agrees, saying that no one will recognize Salapator and she should be able to help them fight as well. Aoto concedes that there’s no problem in that case.

Finnel speaks up, stuttering that she wants to go as well. Aoto replies, “Well, naturally, since you’re my servant. Guard us properly, okay?” Finally, Hikaru decides he’ll be coming too, since he’s the physician to the two of them. Thusly, everyone’s headed to Cielo Valley together.

In a Party Talk Topic afterwards, Aoto wonders out loud why you’re not supposed to tell your true name to anyone. Finnel looks surprised, and Hikaru says that there aren’t many people who know what ‘true names’ actually signify. He explains that keeping one’s true name hidden is necessary to protect their body from Clusternia. When one is born, they receive their true name from their administrative district, and at that time a scan is also made of their spiritual waveform, which allows Clusternia to track their whereabouts.

This shocks Aoto, but Hikaru continues that while this is possible, Clusternia does not do it constantly – if he became a major concern, they might look up his true name and track him, thus it’s wise for as few people to know his true name as possible. Aoto remarks “So that’s what true names are all about…”

Finnel apologizes for having asked him his true name earlier, and he replies “It’s fine. You just wanted to tell my fortune, right? Besides, I wouldn’t be too scared even if you did know it. There’s no way a dolt like you would report it.” She gets mad and says “I’d report it and tell them you’re always making fun of me, too!”

Now that Finnel’s rejoined the party, you can watch a talk topic with her where Aoto asks her why she didn’t object more to being his ‘servant’, even if he isn’t forcing her to clean or anything like that. She replies, “Well, it’s not all that different from being a waitress, is it?” Aoto remarks, “So you’re a natural gofer, huh…”

After that, there’s nothing more to do in town, so time to head out onto the world map and back to Blue Heaven Road. Upon entering the area, gunmen are shown guarding the bridge, whom Aoto recognizes as being from the Great Fang Militia; he wonders what they’re doing here.

They have a device with them, which Hikaru identifies as a Reyvateil detector. Tatsumi says that they must be searching for Saki, but that it’s okay as long as she isn’t recognized. Finnel protests that her and Salapator will be detected as Reyvateils anyway. Tatsumi gives them a bandage which can be placed over their Install Ports, which he says will make them undetectable to the device.

The party then proceeds over the bridge, where the men stop them before one of them recognize Aoto. They chat a bit, the man wondering why Aoto disappeared while so many hectic things are happening. He begins talking about hearing a rumor that Aoto ran away with a Reyvateil, but his partner interrupts him, telling him to get on with the inspection. They operate the Reyvateil detector, but don’t find anything. As Aoto and company are about to go onward, they tell him to wait, commenting that Salapator isn’t from the village. Could she be… Aoto’s new bride?!

Salapator speaks up, replying that they’re exactly right and shocking both Aoto and Finnel. She says that she became engaged to Aoto on his travels, and they’ve come to get married in the village where he was raised. The soldiers congratulate Aoto on getting engaged to such a beautiful lady, and he laughs awkwardly, trying not to give away the act. Salapetor tells him to come on, saying that she can’t wait to meet his parents.

Down the steps from the checkpoint, they pause. Aoto mutters “Well, we somehow made it through…” and Finnel bursts out, “Hey, you Salapator or whatever! That was going too far! That nonsense about being engaged to Aoto…” Salapator replies, “Oh, but those were my true feelings. I really do want to make beautiful memories with Aoto♪” Aoto makes an awkward non-response which apparently in Finnel’s opinion wasn’t a vehement enough refusal, resulting in:

“Quit acting all lovey-dovey, you moron!” she shouts, while Salapator comments, “Ooh, scary. Perhaps you’re interested in Aoto too?” Finnel vehemently denies this, going so far as to correct her that she’s only after Tatsumi. Tatsumi interrupts that nothing has happened between them yet. Salapator murmurs “Precocious, aren’t you? But if you want any boys to fall for you, that chest of yours is going to have to grow a bit bigger”, sending Finnel past the limit of coherency.

Above, the two soldiers watch the antics out of hearing distance. “Aoto bringing a fiancee back with him, the boss is going to love that…” one comments. “Well, we’d better report this,” says the other. “You’re really going to sell Aoto-kun out?!” “Of course! It’s our own lives on the line! I regret it, but…!”

The cutscene ends there and you have to run back across Blue Heaven Road, fighting the same weak Poms as before. I stopped for the day at the save point near the end.

Tags: ar tonelico, ar tonelico 3, gust, jrpg