FFIX: Tower of Terror 3

by Bankotsubo

Another trio of Halloween tales. In "Whale to Go" Zidane is sent off to sea to help Regent Cid find a monstrous whale. In "Dagger Time" an accident with the Stop spell makes trouble for Dagger. And in "Epitaph You Later" Alexandria Castle is visited by a

3. FFIX: Epitaph You Later

EXT. ALEXANDRIA CASTLE - EVENING

Zidane, Dagger and Vivi are out on the balcony.

VIVI
"Wow! I swear, I'll NEVER get tired of your Halloween stories, Zidane! That one was the best!"

He pauses.

VIVI
"Well, I'm going back down to the party now."

ZIDANE
"Wait! Don't you wanna hear another one?!"

VIVI
"...Heck no! I've got a party to attend! I'm putting on a fire works display, you know?"

He leaves.

DAGGER
(Impatient)
"Ohh, Zidane! I wanna watch the pretty fire works!"

ZIDANE
"But what about the final Halloween tale of the evening?"

DAGGER
"I... Oh, alright, but be quick, okay?"

ZIDANE
(Sigh)
"I'll try my best. Here goes... the final tale tonight is called 'Epitaph You Later.'"

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FFIX: Epitaph You Later

INT. ALEXANDRIA CASTLE - DAY

DAGGER is sitting in the dinning room. The castle doorbell rings and she goes to answer it.

DAGGER
"Hello?"

EXT. ALEXANDRIA CASTLE - DAY

A delivery man is standing outside with a large box.

DELIVERY MAN
"Uh, yeah. I got a package for ya."

He gives Dagger a clipboard.

DELIVERY MAN
"Sign here and here and here and here... and here."

Dagger signs the form on the clipboard.

DELIVERY MAN
"Thanks, ma'am. Here's yer package."

INT. ALEXANDRIA CASTLE - DAY

The delivery man brings the package into the hallway. He then leaves.

DAGGER
"Hmm, now THAT'S a BIG package. I wonder what's inside..."

She reads the note attached to it.

DAGGER
(Reading)
"'To Dagger,
I know you're missing me, but here's a little present to keep you entertained until I return,
Yours forever,
Zidane'"

She smiles.

DAGGER
"Aw, how thoughtful."

EIKO walks down the hallway.

EIKO
"Hey Dagger. What's that?"

DAGGER
"It's a gift from Zidane. He's been studying in Oeilvert for the last month, you know?"

EIKO
"Oh, so that's why Alexandria Castle has been so quiet lately. So what's in the box?"

DAGGER
"I don't know! Knowing Zidane it's probably something romantic!"

EIKO
"Let's open it then!"

DAGGER
"Right!"

Dagger opens the box. Inside is a statue of an EPITAPH (those stone enemies from Oeilvert that produce... no, wait and see).

EIKO
"What the...??"

DAGGER
"Its... a statue. I-I don't believe that blockhead sent me a statue."

EIKO
"Its not even a nice statue. It's all creepy looking."

DAGGER
"Why would Zidane send me something so ugly?!"

EIKO
"Maybe he's trying to tell you something..."

Eiko starts to whistle.

DAGGER
"Well this thing is going right in with the rest of the trash! Help me move it, Eiko."

EIKO
"But you can't get rid of it! Zidane'll think you didn't appreciate it!"

DAGGER
(Sigh)
"I guess you're right. I'll ask Steiner to put it in the dinning room."

INT. DINNING ROOM - AFTERNOON

Dagger, Eiko, STEINER AND VIVI are all sitting at the table eating their lunch. The Epitaph has been placed opposite the table near the wall.

VIVI
"It-It looks kinda dirty."

STEINER
"That idiot. Of all the useless things to give to your sweetheart."

EIKO
"You'd have thought a bunch of flowers would have done."

DAGGER
"Do we have to keep talking about the statue? Steiner, what've you done today?"

STEINER
"Beatrix and I found 3 Gil by the castle moat."

DAGGER
"That's nice. How about you, Vivi?"

VIVI
"I-I set fire to my bedroom. It was an accident, I swear."

EIKO
"Well, I'm all done! Vivi, you wanna come and play?"

VIVI
"S-Sure! As long as we don't have to play hide-and-seek again."

They leave the table.

INT. ALEXANDRIA CASTLE - NIGHT

Vivi wanders into the dinning room.

VIVI
(Yawn)
"I can't sleep. I need a drink."

QUINA walks in.

QUINA
"Vivi, what you doing up so late?"

VIVI
"I'm thirsty. Can I get a drink of water?"

QUINA
"You stay here. I get you water."

Quina walks back into the kitchen. Vivi walks over to the Epitaph.

VIVI
"W-Wow, you're kind of scary in the darkness of the night."

He continues to stare at the statue. Quina walks back in with a glass of water.

QUINA
"Here your drink. You go sleep now."

VIVI
(Taking the glass)
"Thank you, Quina. Goodnight."

QUINA
"Night-night."

Vivi goes back towards the hallway. Quina goes back into the kitchen. The Epitaph starts to glow. It opens. Three familiar figures emerge: Steiner, Vivi and Quina.

MIRROR VIVI
"I'm Vivi."

MIRROR STEINER
"I'm Steiner."

MIRROR QUINA
"I Quina."

The three mirror images go their separate ways through the castle.

INT. GARNET'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Dagger is asleep in her bed. Her bedroom door opens and Mirror Steiner walks in.

MIRROR STEINER
(Indicating the princess)
"Mmm... cute."

He walks towards the princess' bed. She wakes up.

DAGGER
"Hmm, Steiner? What're you doing in here? Is it an emergency?"

MIRROR STEINER
"I request to share your bed tonight. Any objections?"

DAGGER
"!?"

MIRROR STEINER
"No? Then allow me to climb in."

He gets into bed with Garnet.

DAGGER
"Steiner?! What ARE you doing?!"

MIRROR STEINER
"May I touch your hot body?"

DAGGER
"Eek!"

She jumps out of bed.

DAGGER
"What in God's name has gotten into you, Steiner?!"

MIRROR STEINER
"I want you."

DAGGER
"Argh!"

She runs out of the room.

INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

Dagger enters the hallway. She meets Mirror Vivi outside her room.

DAGGER
"Oh, Vivi! Thank goodness! Steiner has gone insane! You have to help me get away from him!"

MIRROR VIVI
"Come with me."

Mirror Vivi leads her down the corridor. They approach the closet.

MIRROR VIVI
"In there. Hide. You'll be safe."

DAGGER
"T-Thank you, Vivi."

She opens the door and hides in the closet.

MIRROR VIVI
"He he!"

Quina approaches the mirror image.

QUINA
"Vivi, I thought I tell you to go back to bed. You wake everyone up if you not careful."

MIRROR VIVI
"W-What?"

QUINA
"I escort you to your room. Follow me."

Quina grabs hold of Mirror Vivi's arm and leads him down the corridor.

INT. VIVI'S BEDROOM - NIGHT

Vivi is fast asleep in bed. His bedroom door opens and Quina pushes Mirror Vivi into the room.

QUINA
"You get some rest now."

Quina leaves and shuts the door behind him.

MIRROR VIVI
"Huh?"

He notices Vivi in the bed. He goes over to wake him up.

VIVI
(Sleepy)
"C-Can I help you?"

MIRROR VIVI
"I'm Vivi."

Mirror Vivi attacks Vivi (9999HP). Vivi dies instantly.

INT. CLOSET - NIGHT

Dagger is in complete darkness. Only her eyes can be seen. Suddenly, another pair of eyes open up.

DAGGER
"Ulp! Uh, who is that?"

INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

The closet door swings open and Dagger runs out. Mirror Quina emerges too.

DAGGER
"Quina?! What the heck were you doing hiding inside the closet?!"

MIRROR QUINA
"I ask you same question."

DAGGER
"Yeah, well, Steiner's gone a little crazy, that's all. I had to get away from him."

Steiner walks down the corridor.

STEINER
"So I see you're having trouble sleeping too, Princess."

DAGGER
"S-Steiner, stay away from me!"

STEINER
"What? What's wrong, Princess?"

DAGGER
"I-I'm not going to sleep with you, okay?!"

STEINER
"Wha?!"

He faints.

DAGGER
"Steiner?"

MIRROR QUINA
(To Dagger)
"You hungry?"

DAGGER
"Kinda."

MIRROR QUINA
"Me too! We go to kitchen and find food now!"

INT. DINNING ROOM - NIGHT

Dagger and Mirror Quina are both sitting at the table. Mirror Quina is stuffing his face.

DAGGER
"Wow, you're even more hungry than usual, Quina."

MIRROR QUINA
"I not eat for hours!"

DAGGER
"I just can't figure out what's wrong with Steiner. He's never acted that way before."

INT. HALLWAY - NIGHT

Steiner wakes up.

STEINER
"Ow... my head."

He looks around.

STEINER
"Princess?"

Mirror Steiner walks down the corridor.

STEINER
"My God! Who're you?!"

MIRROR STEINER
"I'm Steiner."

Mirror Steiner attacks Steiner (9999HP). Steiner dies instantly.

MIRROR STEINER
"I'm Steiner."

He continues down the corridor.

INT. DINNING ROOM - NIGHT

Mirror Quina and Dagger are still sitting at the table.

DAGGER
"Don't you think you've had enough, Quina?"

MIRROR QUINA
"I no have enough! I want more!"

Quina enters the room.

QUINA
"Princess, you still up?"

DAGGER
"Quina?! Impossible! If you're there, then who's here?!"

MIRROR QUINA
(Noticing Quina)
"Aiya!"

Mirror Quina attacks Quina (9999HP). Quina dies instantly.

DAGGER
"What the heck is going on tonight?!"

Mirror Steiner and Mirror Vivi both walk into the room.

DAGGER
"Steiner, Vivi, will you please explain what the heck is going on?!"

MIRROR STEINER
"I'm Steiner."

MIRROR VIVI
"I'm Vivi."

DAGGER
"I know that. Well?!"

They grab Dagger and bring her to the Epitaph. The Epitaph begins to glow. It then opens and a mirror image of Dagger emerges.

DAGGER
"What the?!"

MIRROR DAGGER
"I'm Dagger."

DAGGER
"No you're not! I'M Dagger!"

MIRROR DAGGER
"I'm Dagger."

DAGGER
"I've had enough of this! I don't know who you people are, but I want you out of my castle right now!"

MIRROR STEINER
"I'm sorry it had to end this way, Princess..."

MIRROR VIVI
"...but we're in charge from now on."

DAGGER
"W-What?!"

MIRROR QUINA
"We take over your life. We kill your friends and assume their positions. No one tell difference."

DAGGER
"H-Hey, you can't do that!"

MIRROR DAGGER
"Prepare to die, Princess Garnet."

DAGGER
"It can't end like this! I won't allow it!"

MIRROR STEINER
(To Mirror Dagger)
"Princess, kill her."

MIRROR VIVI
"Yes. Kill her."

DAGGER
"No!"

Mirror Dagger advance on to Dagger. Eiko enters the room in her moogle pyjamas.

DAGGER
"Get off me!"

EIKO
"What the heck is going on here?! Do you guys know what time it is?! Show some consideration for other people! Some of us are TRYING to sleep!"

DAGGER
"Eiko, help me!"

EIKO
"Huh?"

DAGGER
"These people - they're not our REAL friends! They're some kind of mirror images that have been produce by that statue over there!"

EIKO
"Holy smokes! What do I do?!"

DAGGER
"Destroy the statue!"

EIKO
"Destroy the statue?! How?!"

DAGGER
"Use-"

Mirror Dagger attacks Dagger (9999HP). Dagger dies instantly.

EIKO
"Oh, fudge! Eh, at least I've got a chance with Zidane now. If anyone needs me I'll be upstairs."

She tries to leave but the Epitaph produces a mirror image of her.

MIRROR EIKO
"I'm Eiko."

EIKO
"Oh... darn!"

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THE END

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