Let’s Blog: Ar Tonelico III – #24: Diving with Saki, L2

Sorry for the long absence. My computer was fixed a while ago, but I decided to focus on academics until spring break started. That was on Thursday once I got out of class, but it’s hard to get back in the habit….

Spoilers, as usual.

Thanks to Bukkuru’s assistance last time, Saki’s ruined cosmosphere has been transformed into a huge book. Aoto remarks that a candy village has already appeared, and… well, it’s certainly what he would expect of Saki, but he wonders if this world is turning out okay.

He heads to the village, where he encounters Saki. He asks her why she made a candy village, and she replies “Well, Bukkuru says I could draw anything, so… I thought I’d try making the candy village that appeared in my dream!” She reveals that she made a house for him as well. The floor and the ceiling are also edible, so he can feast on candy every day.

Aoto points out that doing that is bad for both the house and one’s body. “People wouldn’t live very long in this village,” he remarks. Saki complains that everyone here is eating with gusto. Aoto asks, “Who’s everyone?”

Tatsumi appears, saying that it’s really tasty and complimenting Saki on her wonderful village. Hikari also appears, saying that he accidentally ate a whole house. Both aren’t acting much like their usual selves. Aoto wonders where the heck that house went to in Hikari’s body, but Saki tells him not to worry about such trivial things.

Aoto remarks to himself that even Saki’s acting strange, but at least she seems happy. Suddenly, someone shouts “Ugh! What the hell is this place?! Gross!” Aoto and Saki ask who it is.

The speaker reveals herself, saying only “It’s me!” Aoto asks who they are, and adds that as a girl she shouldn’t talk in such a manly fashion (this is harder to convey in English.) He corrects Aoto that he isn’t a girl, and gives his name as Arke. Saki exclaims “You’re a boy! Even though you’re so cute…”

Arke replies, “That supposed to be an insult? Well, whatever. I don’t care, as long as I can…” Saki interrupts, “Eat a candy house?” Arke says, “Yeah, eat a… Wait, that’s not it, you dumbass!” He explains that he came to deliver a message from his master. “My master has laid claim to this world, and has already occupied the Organitto Cabin! There’s no way your childish village can hold out against us… You’d better devour the whole place while you still can!”

Aoto demands to know who this ‘master’ is, but Arke has already left. Saki mutters depressedly, “My village is going to be taken over…” Aoto says that he won’t let that happen. “Let’s go, Saki! We’re going to…” Saki exclaims, “Eat all the candy houses that are left?!” He replies, “Yeah!… Wait, no! Why are you giving up so easily?”

Aoto says that he’ll protect the village. This book exists for Saki’s sake, and he won’t just hand it over to anyone else.

Saki thanks him for standing up for her, and Aoto decides that they should head over to the Organitto Cabin.

There, they encounter an armored Hymma, who shouts “Whoa! It’s an enemy attack!” Saki exclaims “We’re not attacking! We just wanted to scout out the enemy!” and Aoto mutters “That’s not much better, Saki…”

Arc arrives, saying “Oh, it’s you annoyances again!” Aoto exclaims, “So you returned here, Arc!” and he replies “Did you think our front-line base would be unguarded? Well, since you’ve invaded, consider this our declaration of war!” Aoto says, “And you coming to our village earlier wasn’t an invasion?” Arc replies “I was simply conveying a message, but you’ve come to scout out our weaknesses.”

Saki apologizes to Aoto, saying “It looks like I messed up…”, but Aoto tells her this conflict was inevitable. “This is your world. There’s no way we could let someone nonchalantly march into it and take it over,” he says. Arc corrects him, “This isn’t just Saki’s world, so if you’d merely stop claiming all of it for yourselves…” Aoto is surprised by this, while Saki says, “Do we have to fight? Can’t we just talk and reach an agreement?”

Arc says with a smirk, “Unfortunately, that can’t be done. My master does not intend to parley with you… you’re way too childish to be reasoned with, after all.” Aoto interrupts, “Stop badmouthing Saki! Who the hell is your master, anyway?!”

Arc’s master is apparently ●$”#$!-sama. Too bad this section is unvoiced. Aoto says, “Sorry, I’m not sure I heard you right…” and Arc repeats the same thing. He says “What kind of morons are you? Anyway, get lost! If you don’t leave, we’ll throw you out!” Aoto tells Saki that there’s nothing more to be accomplished here and they should return to the village.

Back in the village, Aoto mutters about that being a pointless conversation and how if it isn’t just Saki’s world, he doesn’t think there can be a peaceful resolution to this. Saki is feeling depressed as well, but Aoto has an idea. “You can draw anything you want, right, Saki?” he recalls. “Why don’t you draw us some weapons? A sword or a spear… nah, something that goes ‘boom’ would be better.”

Saki refuses. She says that this is a candy world and there are no weapons here. Aoto says that’s why he’s asking her to make one, and Saki says that she doesn’t want any weapons here; she wants everyone to live in peace. Aoto points out that’s a pretty unreasonable outlook when her world is being invaded. Saki reluctantly concedes, and suggests a gun that shoots cream. “If we shoot cream at the enemies, they’ll be so busy eating the delicious cream they won’t invade the village!”

Aoto begs Saki to take things seriously, and Saki complains that she is being entirely serious. He mutters that this doesn’t seem like it’s going to work.

After a DP event, Saki has another idea. “I’ll become a hero of justice! Like a magical girl, you know?!” Aoto is speechless. “Because this is my book, it’ll definitely be a success, just like my candy village!” Saki continues. Aoto replies, “No, that’s not what I’m concerned about…” but Saki ignores him.

She says, “Let’s go! Nya-nyasu nyamo nyamu nya-nyasu nya, I will become a hero of justice!” She proceeds to Purge, and…

Saki begins “The hero of justice is… h-huh? Waaaaaah! W-what happened to my clothes?” She promptly transforms back.

“I thought I’d become a really cool hero of justice, but I guess this time I failed…” grouses Saki afterwards. Aoto says, “Well, this isn’t time to play around anyway…” when suddenly, an explosion sounds in the distance. He tells Saki “Hurry up and make us something to fight with! It looks like this is the real thing!”

Saki again refuses. “I decided I’d become the hero of justice, Nyamo Kamen!” she insists. “I won’t let everyone stop getting along with each other! If I created a weapon… they’d cause painful thoughts for a lot of… I can’t do that, no matter what!” She decides with clothes or without, she’ll become Nyamo Kamen and do what she can, and runs off.
Left behind, you gave a choice of whether to go to the World Tree Arphage or the Organitto Cabin. The PV decides to go to the World Tree, whereupon Aoto promptly wonders why he came; he’s got to go help Saki.

However, before he can leave, a Hymma appears. “So chaos has descended upon this world,” it says. “Do you yet understand why Saki despises fighting so?… I am the Hymma Animeshia. I have been waiting for you, Aoto.” Aoto replies simply, “Me?”  Animeshia says, “Yes, you. Now, have you an answer?”

You’re given a choice to reply “It’s because she’s immature” or “It’s because she believes with all her heart this world must be peaceful.” It should be pretty obvious which is the correct answer.
Once you have Aoto say the latter, he adds, “It’s borderline delusional.” Animeshia corrects him, “It is no delusion. This world originates from her, and if her ardor becomes not irresolute, it is one with her.” Aoto remarks, “Whoa, difficult words…” Animeshia continues, “If the world’s origin is denied, it will cease to be. The other personalities fail to understand this. That is why I have a request of you… will you protect Saki?”

Aoto replies, “Even if I say that I will, what should I do?” Animeshia replies that he must simply be Saki’s ally, and support her when it seems her spirit is faltering. She says that she will lend him her own power, and joins your Hymma arsenal.

Upon returning to the Organitto Cabin, Saki is there, attempting to convince Arc to talk things through. “I… I really don’t want to fight!” Arc replies that he’s already said that’s impossible, wasn’t she listening? Saki retorts that he’s the one that needs to listen. “If you keep on being that selfish, Nyamo Kamen is going to come and punish you!” Aoto tries to interrupt, but Arc says “What the hell are you talking about? Let ‘em try!”

Saki says her chant and transforms into Nyamo Kamen, again without her clothes. This distresses her just as much as before. Arc is tired of this and orders his Hymma, Arclight, to deal with her.

Arclight begins charging a Song Magic, and Aoto moves to intercept it with his own body, but… suddenly, Animeshia arrives, saving Aoto from injury. She faces off against Arclight, telling Aoto to take care of Saki. Aoto scolds Saki for having been reckless earlier; he tells her not wanting to fight is fine, but she shouldn’t do things that could get her killed.

He notes that this time, unfortunately it’s come down to a fight, but… Saki interrupts, saying that it’s okay. She’s decided that she was mistaken, and it’s okay to fight if it’s for the sake of her friends. Furthermore, she doesn’t want to put Aoto in harm’s way again.

Saki decides that she will create a weapon to protect Aoto. A shining light emanates from her, and she creates…

Bakudan Man-san. “Within this sinister world, my heart continues to explode. Now, tonight, whom shall my heart set aflame?” Aoto is nearly speechless, but at least it seems more affective than her last idea. Saki tells Bakudan Man to show Aoto what he can do. “I shall do this for you alone,” says Bakudan Man. “But when I have returned, I will make you my bride. Does this please you…?” Saki replies, “Yes!” Aoto tries to get a word in, but fails…

Bakudan Man charges in and blows up Arc and Arclight, meanwhile ceasing to exist and solving the quandary of that marriage proposal. Saki says “See, even with a cute weapon like that I was able to protect Aoto!”

The Paradigm Shift is triggered. Arc, seeming to have survived the explosion, remarks about it. He says he’ll definitely win against Aoto next time and runs off, while you gain Arclight as a Hymma as well. At the Stonehenge, there is the usual chatter before Saki enters the Paradigm Shift.

Sorry for the horrible sloppiness of this whole entry. Izzy will do a better job of it eventually, if he hasn’t disappeared. >_>;

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