We're halfway through the Subterrane, but there's about to be a Difficulty Spike, so we Teleport out and stock up on Phoenix Downs, Cottages, Elixirs and Remedies for healing (most other items at this point aren't very useful) and a few Fuma Shurikens for Edge's Throw command. Rosa learns Holy on the way back to the Subterrane, which will be useful in the upcoming fights.
We head back down to B7 and follow the path. We end up in an area that has a glass or crystal like floor, and Within the Giant playing in the background. This is the second half of the Lunar Subterrane, also known as the Lunar Core.
Every encounter from here on out are boss difficulty. Behemoths, Red and Blue Dragons, even a few new ones. And you can't Teleport out.
An annoying one is the Deathmask, which casts Reflect on EVERYTHING. We spam Bahamut. I also use the Reflect to my advantage to quintuple cast Slow on it. Don't know if it stacks, I just wanted to.
There's one more floating sword here...
None from the Blue Planet shall ever bear the cursed sword, Masamune!
Then we get attacked by Ogopogo. Ogopogo is like a Dark Leviathan or something. And it hits very hard, to the point where we summon Asura to try and get a heal from her. Summoning against him gets pretty nasty counters anyway. We eventually overpower him.
We get the Masamune, Edge's other best weapon. There's no way I'm continuing further after that, so I retreat to B7 and use a Cottage.
We then head down to B9. Not much interesting, but the core of the moon can now be seen, shining brightly.
Down to B10. Not much here, either, but it contains the last chests before postgame, a couple of Fuma Shurikens.
B11 only has two encounters, Zemus's Breath and Zemus's Malice. Breath is harmless and immune to magic, Malice is hostile and immune to physicals.
We reach B12. This is it. This is where Zemus is. We advance to see Zemus fighting Golbez and Fusoya.
Cecil: Golbex, Fusoya!
Golbez flings powerful spells at Zemus, while Fusoya uses some mostly crap White Magic. And Holy, which is significantly less crap.
Fusoya: Cast Meteor now!
Golbez: Ready!
Zemus: Die trying.
The two cast Meteor at the same time, creating Twin Meteor. The spell annihilates Zemus.
Zemus: The body dies. But the spirit lives on...
He dies. Well, that was easy.
Golbez: We did it...
Fusoya: You have much strength. It is a shame Zemus had control of your powers.
Edge: All right!
Fusoya: All of you have come!
Edge: Ugh! Just a second too late! I was supposed to finish him!
Golbez: Cecil...
Cecil: ...
Rosa: Cecil...
Zemus's body starts moving, then transforms into... something.
We are... evil... We are... the... hatred of Zemus... We are... Zeromus... We loathe... all...!
He knocks our party out in one blast. Fusoya and Golbez stay standing.
Fusoya: His death has caused his hatred and resentment to grow...? We've only served to intensify his evil!
Golbez: Zemus... No, now you are Zeromus! This time I will see to it that you are completely destroyed!
Fusoya: It is time for you... to disappear!
Golbez and Fusoya try to cast Meteor on Zeromus, but it heals him instead!
Fusoya: Meteor has no effect! Use the Crystal!
Golbez uses a Crystal to do some special kind of Flare. It does nothing.
Zeromus: You chose the dark path. The Crystal cannot cleanse your sins. You are bound by darkness forever! Die!
Actually, you chose the dark path for him. Zeromus uses his own Meteor, felling both Fusoya and Golbez in one hit.
Zeromus: Suffer... Die... Our hatred... will continue... until all... is destroyed... It is your turn... Come... Join us... in hell!
Well, we're screwed.
Meanwhile, in Mysidia...
Porom: Elder!
Palom: Cecil and the others are in danger!
How do you know this?
Elder: So I see...
The prologue
plays at this point. Theme Music Power-Up go!
Elder: Now is the time to pray for them! Pray for them and this planet! Palom, Porom! We must pray hard to send our prayers to Cecil!
Yang: Cecil...
Edward: Please, take my strength...!
Cid: I'm gonna kill the whole lot of you if you don't come back safe!
Cid's Crew: Please return to us safely!
Giott: Do it for this land!
Luca: We are supporting you!
Epopts: We will pray as well!
Palom: Come on!
Porom: Sir Cecil... Everyone...
Elder: O Sacred Moon, I call out to you! Please accept our prayers!
Back on the moon, Cecil stands up!
Cecil: G-Golbez!
Golbez: You must... use this!
He gives us the Crystal.
Cecil: Zeromus! I can't lose! I can't...!
But Cecil's in no condition to fight, and everyone else is still KO'd.
Palom: Here!
Porom: Let us help you!
Their prayers give you life.
The others get up.
Edward: Don't give up!
Tellah: Trust your power.
Their prayers give you strength.
Rydia and Rosa are ready to fight.
Yang: Keep your focus!
Cid: Don't die on us!
Their prayers give you vitality.
Kain and Edge are now ready, too.
Fusoya: You must prevail.
Cecil is healed. We're ready to go!
Golbez: Brother. Give to the Crystal the holy power within you. Zeromus! Show your true self!
Their prayers give you holy power.
Let's do this! We use the Crystal...
Zeromus reveals his true self!
Zeromus: Gr... gh... ga...
Zeromus transforms, we get a kickass final boss theme (I put the SNES version here, because the DS/PSP version is kinda dull in comparison) and the fight begins! Zeromus loves to use two moves: Black Hole, which removes all buffs, and Big Bang, which has a very epic looking explosion, massive damage to the entire party. He also has nasty counters to every form of magic.
Summons are probably the safest from of magic to use, he counters with Bio. Much better than him countering every of Rydia's moves with Flare. After a while, he starts using Meteor. That's the sign he's nearly dead.
Strategy is simple. Cecil and Kain attack, Edge Throws the Kitchen Knife, then Fuma Shurikens, Rydia uses Bahamut and Rosa uses Curaja. He falls after a few minutes of us being nastily pummelled.
Zeromus: We... cannot perish... as long... as evil... exists in the hearts... of the living... Graaah!
Zeromus disappears. It's over...
Fusoya: Well done! You hold much more power than I had expected... The race of the Blue Planet may have already evolved past us Lunarians...
Edge: Yeah, you might be right! You saw how strong we were!
Kain: Zeromus's last words bother me, though...
Rosa: As long as evil exists...
Fusoya: True evil will never die. Every living creature has at least a touch of evil in its heart, as well as a touch of goodness. It is as sure as there is light and darkness, the Overworld and the Underworld. However, as long as evil exists, so too will good. The goodness that you hold in you is what destroyed Zemus.
Edge: Oh, stop it, already! There was nothing to it!
Rydia: What are you talking about? I was surprised Zemus didn't try to control you! I'm sure you have enough evil inside!
Even after defeating the Final Boss, Edge can't catch a break with the ladies.
Edge: Nope! My heart is filled with goodness all the way!
Fusoya: Well, it is time for me to return to my home. What about everyone else?
Cecil: We will return home as well.
Rosa: Yes, there are people worried about us!
Fusoya: I see. I'm glad you have such wonderful friends. I look forward to the day we meet again!
Golbez: May I... May I come along as well?
Fusoya: You wish to come...?
Golbez: Yes... I cannot return home after all I've done. I would very much like to meet my father's people as well.
Fusoya: Ah, yes. Lunarian blood lies in your veins... Very well, come along. But you must be ready for a long, long sleep.
Golbez: Yes, I am prepared. Thank you... You sounded very worried when you called my name, Cecil...
Cecil: ...
Golbez: ...but of course it is impossible to think that you could forgive me... Not I, who have done so much to hurt you and your people...
Fusoya: ...We must go now and sleep. We will pray for the peace of your planet. Come, let us go.
Golbez: Yes...
Fusoya and Golbez start to leave.
Rosa: Cecil...
Kain: are you certain you want to part this way?
Rydia: He's your brother!
Golbez: ...Farewell.
Edge: Cecil!
Cecil: .. Farewell... my brother.
Golbez: Thank you... ...Brother.
The remainder of this is all automated, which is very annoying to type down. This was probably the longest update to write, solely because I had to transcribe parts I missed (read: most of it) from a video I found of the ending.
Music for the first part of the ending. We get a shot of the Earth and the two moons revolving around the sun, while the Mysidian Legend is shown. Again. But the whole thing's put up this time.
One born of a dragon, bearing darkness and light, shall rise to the heavens over the still land.
The moon's light eternal brings a promise to the planet with bounty and grace.
After brief pause, the moon travels forth, seeking another in search of its radiance. Though of the same blood, lunar and terrestrial both, time's march alone keeps two far apart.
The Lunar Whale comes back to Earth and descends into the earthquake from whence it came.
Some time later...
In Mysidia...
Elder: We shall begin today's training.
Porom: Yes, sir.
Elder: Hm? Where's Palom?
Porom: Oh no, not again!
Turns out Palom is outside, showing off to some girl.
Palom: So there I was on the slopes on Mount Ordeals, facing down the firey hordes... That's when I cast an awesome Blizzard and...!
Porom runs up and hits him.
Palom: Owww!
Porom: How many times are you going to be late for training!? The elder is really angry!
She drags him inside.
Elder: How many times do I have to scold you!? It will be years before you are even half the sage Tellah was! As punishment, you must train twice as hard as your sister today!
Palom: That's not fair!
Porom: I think it's very fair!
In Eblan...
Seneschal: When will you come to realize that you have responsibilities!? You are a prince!
Edge: I know, I know! Geez!
Edge tries to leave.
Seneschal: You say you know, but your actions say otherwise!
Edge: Yeah, yeah.
Seneschal: Such a tone is not that taken by a prince, Your Young Highness!
Edge: But there just aren't any girls in this world... ...quite like Rydia...
Seneschal: Your Young Highness! Hae you been listening to anything I've said!?
Edge runs out and Seneschal follows.
In the Feymarch...
Leviathan: What a courageous little girl.
Asura: Yes, I never thought she would really come back.
Eidolon Child: Rydia! Rydia, why do I have fangs and you don't? I wish I didn't have fangs so I could be like you! How can I be like you?
Rydia: What are you talking about? We're all living creatures. We're all the same!
Not really in the context of the differences between humans and Eidolons, Rydia.
Asura: I cannot wait to see what the future holds for the Feymarch.
Leviathan: I cannot wait to see what kind of beauty the girl will grow up to be!
Rydia: The important thing is what you're like on the inside, not the outside. Isn't that right, Cecil...?
In Fabul...
Sheila: Honey...
Yang: You're a queen now! Try calling me "my king" instead of "honey."
Sheila: I know... But I can't stand bein' so formal!
Yang: Oh no! It's time for my training! Let's go!
He leaves with his monks.
Sheila: Hon! Ooh, that man is impossible!
Duke Consort (Judging by the sprite, it's the former King): Do not say that. I think Yang will create a wonderful kingdom.
In Damcyan...
Your Highness!
A few kids run in.
I hope you play your paladin song again for us sometime!
Edward: I will. But only after I've finished my work. You want the castle back the way ot was, right?
Yeah!
That's a promise, right?
They run out.
Edward: Anna... I hope you're watching over me. I'm helping the people of Damcyan. I'm caring for my people, as I cared for you... just like you said I should. I hope you and Tellah are having a fine time together.
In the Underworld...
Lali-ho!
Giott: We need to repair the castle with great haste!
Your Majesty! We don't have enough materials!
Giott: Take apart the tanks and remove any useful pieces! There's no need to worry about war anymore!
Oh, that is so going to bite you in the arse in about 17 years.
Luca: Father. I wonder how Cecil and his friends are doing...
Giott: I almost forgot to tell you! It seems Sir Cecil and Lady Rosa... ...are the new king and queen of Baron!
Luca: Oh my!
Giott: I have also been notified that we have been invited to the coronation ceremony!
Luca: Woo-hoo!
Your Majesty! You're not helping to fix the castle at all!
Giott: I'm the king! I can do whatever I want! Now go take apart some tanks!
Lali-ho!
At Mount Ordeals...
Kain: Cecil... Rosa... I cannot bring myself to face you both. Not yet. I must test myself as you did, Cecil... I will go to Mount Ordeals... ...I will train until I have surpassed my father as a dragoon. When that time comes... ...Then I shall return to Baron.
Music for the second part of the ending.
In Agart Observatory...
Oh!
Corio: What is it?
You have to see this! The moon...!
We return to the shot of the Earth revolving around the Sun. The Red Moon leaves Earth's orbit and flies into outer space.
In Baron...
Cecil: ...!
Rosa: What's wrong, Cecil?
Cecil: I thought... I thought I heard my brother's voice...
Rosa: Really?
Cecil: I couldn't tell for sure, but... Forget it. It was probably just my imagination.
Cid: Hey, you two! Why aren't you getting ready!? It's your big day!
Rosa: We must have lost track of the time.
Cid: Geez! There'll be plenty of time for you lovebirds later! But now you have to go meet your adoring public, you know! Come on, Rosa... Er, uh... I mean, "Your Majesty"!
Rosa: Please, just call me Rosa.
Cid: Then, Rosa, we've gotta get you dressed! And get you made up as the perfect blushing bride! Where are the maids!? Come on! We haven't got all day!
Rosa: I'll be right there! I can't wait to see everyone again! It's been so long... Cecil, are you ready?
Cecil: Yes, I'm ready.
Cid and Rosa leave.
Cecil: It wasn't my imagination... I heard my brother's voice say... ..."Farewell."
Don't worry, he'll be back. Cut to the throne room, where all of Cecil and Rosa's guests come in. Palom tries to sit on Cecil's throne and gets hit by Porom for it. Edge tries to look away when Rydia walks in.
Then everyone waves goodbye to us. Well, isn't that nice of them?
Credits music. In the Japanese DS version, this lovely version of the Theme of Love, Rosa's theme (full version) also played. Annoyingly, it wasn't in the US or PAL versions, and it's not in the PSP version either.
After the credits, we see a spot on the Red Moon, where a stone face is. It starts shaking.
A new dungeon, the Lunar Ruins, has emerged on the moon's surface.
Oh yeah, it's not over yet. But we've only unlocked half of the Lunar Ruins. We need to do something to unlock the other half, next time.
