FinalFantasy Timeline Theory (Research Included)

[mariosmentor]

I am extremely nervous about posting this thread, given my "history" in this forum site. By no means is this theory meant to convince anybody that this theory is possibly canon, so if you believe every word I type here, good for you. I'm not sure if I'll update the theory in this site, as that will depend on the reception it receives here. Any other questions will most like be answered with the actual theory, starting now:

Final Fantasy. One of the most well-known RPG franchises in the world, with a Japanese fanbase that rivals that of Dragon Quest. The first thing about these games that people will talk about (aside from “play FF7 first”) is that each game is set in its own world, completely unrelated to each other. I personally believe that the general consensus is lazy and unimaginative, filled with people who can’t be bothered to observe the possibility of a much broader aspect. In this theory, I will not only present what I believe is the chronological order of the Final Fantasy series, but also provide as much evidence as I can find. If you disapprove of the very concept of this thread, there is nothing obligating you to continue reading. If you find a serious flaw in this theory, please explain your reasoning in a professional manner. This does not include the fact that it’s a theory attempting to connect the franchise as a whole. Before we get started, here are some things to point out first:

The world in general
In many early Final Fantasy games, there is an accessible overworld that allows you to circumvent the entire world. Many people would find that as evidence enough to conclude that each game is set in its own world, but guess what? IT’S NOT. Using Earth as an example, let’s take a look at how you “circumvent” the worlds of Final Fantasy. According to this mechanic, if we start at Greenland, and head North a short ways, we will end up in Antarctica. Okay, I’m taking my globe, placing my finger on Greenland’s southern tip, tracing upward……….and my finger is now touching the east side of Russia. So, how do we explain the weird magnetic pole-hopping phenomenon? Well, what if it’s not the ENTIRE world you’re travelling around? What if, and I’m only guessing here, that when some sort of extreme danger comes along, the world’s natural defenses kick up, placing a barrier over the immediate area, ensuring no-one enters/leaves? It would seem like a viable theory, especially for the world of FF7, where one could assume that Mako energy is capable of that large of a task.

Word of mouth, stories, and legends
A major plot point in any RPG is the backstory. However, for this timeline theory, we’ll need to think realistically about the stories of what happened long ago. After all, the ancient Egyptian pharaohs were portrayed as godlike beings, which they weren’t. So, here are some standards of validity that we will take into account.
1) Anything that happened within the last century occurred exactly as they are told.
2) Anything that happened at least 100 years ago must be altered slightly to accommodate years of repetition. (Example: “150 years ago, he used a machine gun.” In reality, he used a rifle.)
3) Anything that happened at least 1,000 years ago must vary greatly from how it’s told. (Example: “2,000 years ago, our kingdom was rich.” In reality, they had quite a few financial problems.)

One last thing to mention, I will section certain groups of games into “arcs,” merely for narrative purposes. And now, let’s begin the timeline theory.

Birth of an Endless Cycle
Here, we see the beginning of the series, and what begins the ultimate struggle between good and evil.

Final Fantasy II
The story is rather simple. The emperor of Palamecia declares war on the world, in hopes of claiming it as his own. A small group of rebels eventually defeat him not once, but TWICE, the second of which being after he has returned as the Lord of Hell. However, that’s not the end of the story, as while the rebels fight the emperor in Pandemonium, the palace of Hell, the souls of those who have died arrive in Arubboth, the palace of Heaven, where the find out that upon dying, the emperor’s soul split into two halves, one light, the other dark. Essentially, all the good and evil within the emperor have now become their own separate entities. The light emperor (we’ll call him Arubboth) begs for forgiveness, but was denied this luxury, ultimately defeated at the same time as the dark emperor (we’ll call him Pandemonium). But here’s the thing: they’re still alive. Be it the Lord of Heaven or Hell, that still makes you an immortal being that can’t be felled by any mortal means. “So, you’re saying they PRETENDED to die,” I hear you ask. Not exactly. While it’s impossible for any mortal man to destroy a god, weakening a god is another story entirely. When a person is injured, he/she goes through a healing process, the length of which depending on the severity of the wound. For Pandemonium and Arubboth, the same rule applies. These two celestial beings will, in time, recover, and make their presence known once more, in an endless battle against each other. Now, let me take the following words out of your mouth: “WAIT A MINUTE!!!!!! So, you’re throwing in a crazy theory of the whole series really being about a war between the gods??!They did that with Dissidia!!!!!! And the light emperor was still the bad guy!” First off, NO, HE WASN’T. Sure, when the characters met him, the spirits of their loved ones warn them that he’s tricking them, but that could easily have just been their paranoia talking. Arubboth was the emperor’s light half, the physical manifestation of all the good within him. (It wasn’t much, but still.) Tricking the souls of his victims into a fate worse than death isn’t something he would do. He was genuinely looking for forgiveness, and since no one would give him that, he’s now under the mentality that if he somehow prevents Pandemonium from destroying the world, he’ll get some sort of compensative gratitude. And so, the endless war between the emperor’s halves begins, although Arubboth won’t do much of anything for a while………

Final Fantasy IV
Don’t you DARE assume I’m using the Kain Highwind connection here. I have better evidence then THAT. According to the Final Fantasy IV Settei Shiryou Hen, the world used to be one giant landmass, much like the world of FF2. The same book states that the Deathbringer Sword came from a Dark Knight called Leonhart, the same name as the main character in FF2 who assumed the alias “Dark Knight.” Finally, in Mysidia, there is a legend of a sage named Minwu who sealed magic away, just to later unseal it. In FF2, you meet a sage named Minwu who releases the seal on Ultima, the best spell in the game. And now, we approach Pandemonium’s involvement in this game. The main villain of this game is Zemus, a Lunarian who refused to go into stasis with his brethren, causing a riot until he is eventually sealed away, where he brainwashes Golbez to do his bidding. Now, if Zemus was lashing out because he didn’t like the idea of sleeping for eons, why didn’t any other Lunarians agree with him? Why was ZEMUS the only one to turn bad? It doesn’t make sense………..Unless the Lunarians are, by nature, a benevolent species, much like the Chozo in the Metroid series, or the Toads in Super Mario. Assuming this is the case, this still doesn’t explain in full why Zemus would turn so evil on his own. It seems very likely that he was being controlled by Pandemonium, but why Zemus, and not someone else? Perhaps Zemus was the most doubtful of the decision to go into stasis. After all, the Lunarians were searching for a new home after their planet was destroyed. Imagine losing your home and finding a new place, only to be told that you’ll have to sleep for years on end. Upon Zemus’ death, another being called Zeromus shows up, claiming to be all the hatred in Zemus’ heart mashed into a physical body. Seeing how Zemus was just being Pandemonium’s puppet, it would seem like Zeromus is actually PANDEMONIUM. One bit of evidence to support this is a small bit of text I found in the Final Fantasy Wiki: “When killed, Zeromus fades but warns he will always exist as long as there is hatred in the hearts of people.” Sounds A LOT like what Pandemonium, the Lord of Hell, would say, as he is a god with power over darkness and evil in general. And where’s Arubboth in all of this? Nowhere. One last thing to take not of before we continue is the first appearance of the Crystals. Keep an eye on them, as they’ll play a larger role later on.

Final Fantasy IV: The After Years
Seventeen years after the events of FF4, an interstellar being known only as the Creator arrives to collect the Crystals, which were apparently his creations. Deeming the people of the world “evolutionary failures,” he tries to destroy the planet, but is ultimately defeated. Given how this is a direct sequel to FF4, there’s not much to say in that regard. However, there are still some things to cover. Namely, the bosses in the final dungeon. While traversing the True Moon, you meet bosses from the first 6 games in the Final Fantasy series. There is some implication that they’re from other worlds, but it doesn’t quite add up, since we’ve just established that the events of FF4 and FF2 occur on the same world. So, how do we get by this? Well, during the ending cinematic for The After Years, Edward theorizes that the Crystals themselves were evolving, much like how people were. Assuming this is correct, it’s possible that the Crystals are not only capable of tracking history (explaining the FF2 and FF4 bosses), but can also (briefly) glimpse into the future (explaining all the other bosses). It’s a stretch, I’ll admit, but then again, no one suspected that the Legend of Zelda Timeline had THREE branches.

Shinra’s legacy, and its repercussions
Here, we continue from where IV left off, and witness the first usage of Pandemonium’s new play tactic.

Final Fantasy X
Tidus, the star player of the Zanarkand Abes, is whisked to the world of Spira, which has been ravaged by a creature known as Sin for over 1,000 years. He later learns that he’s actually a sentient dream conjured up by the summons (oh, I’M SORRY, the FAYTH), and it’s his job to destroy Sin and its creator Yu Yevon once and for all. This, of course, would instantly wake the Fayth up, causing the poor boy to cease to exist. Worst. Week. Ever. So, he follows suit with the plan, makes up with his jerk father, and does whatever dead people do when they die. All emotional scars aside, we still have to talk about the connections between this game and FF4. There’s actually not a lot, but don’t forget the saying, “quality over quantity.” One of Kimahri’s weapons is explicitly named “Kain’s Lance,” a reference to Kain Highwind, a dragoon from FF4 who used lances in battle. (Yes, I know Kain’s Lance appears in other games, but I gotta take what I can get.) Also, an optional Fayth you can recruit is the Magus Sisters from FF4, and their Delta Attack Overdrive surrounds the opponent in crystals that look identical to the Crystals in FF4. Aside from the Shikaree Sisters in FF11, these girls do not make any more noteworthy appearances in the Final Fantasy series, and seeing how FF10-2 implies that the Fayth disappeared forever after waking up in the events of FF10, this could explain why such is the case. As for them using crystals in their Delta Attack, it’s possible that they’re the same crystals from FF4, given their resemblance, but that also brings up more questions. How did the sisters get their hands on the crystals? Why do they have them to begin with? If they disappeared after the events of FF10, did they take the crystals with them? These are questions that may never be answered. Happens all the time in real life. Now, what about Pandemonium? How does he mess things up this time? Well, this actually marks the first time he uses reincarnation as a tactic. That’s right, he transfers his soul into a mortal body. Given how he’s the Lord of Hell, he’s probably not worried about losing his immortality. Just look at Malus from Castlevania 64. He was a reincarnation of Dracula, an immortal vampire. After you kill him, he goes back to being Dracula. Different resources have different views on a god reincarnating, but one thing remains the same: when you reincarnate, you have no memory of what happened beforehand until something boosts your memory. Anyway, Pandemonium is peeved off about how mortals are defeating him all the time, so he decides to become one, and see what makes them so powerful. Who does he become? Yu Yevon. Does he regain his memory? No. Not until after he’s destroyed, in my opinion. After all, creating Sin and putting the Fayth to sleep were really meant to ultimately protect the summoners from being wiped out. Yu Yevon was only doing what he felt was right, and after dying and becoming Pandemonium again, he now begins to realize that mortals are driven by hope, by love, by the ones they care the most for. Now, he has to figure out how he can use that to his advantage………….

Final Fantasy X-2
A direct sequel to FF10, this game doesn’t need much explaining. Heck, I’m pretty sure I don’t need to bring up the Shinra reference, right?

Compilation of Final Fantasy VII
Centuries after the events of X/X-2, Shinra’s descendents manage to perfect their ancestor’s hypothesis and use Mako energy to power the metropolis known as Midgar. Sadly, power leads to corruption, and Shinra was no exception. They formed SOLDIER, an elite squad of people infused with Mako, and the Turks, a secretive group of intel troops. From their experiments comes Sephiroth, Pandemonium’s new form. Cue the events of Crisis Core, where Sephiroth begins to understand how and why he was created, and the attempt to lash out that ultimately resulted in his “death.” Another game to mention is Before Crisis, a mobile game that details what the Turks were doing during the events of Crisis Core. (Nothing much, just stopping an uber summon from destroying the world.) About a year later comes FF7. Cloud Strife and a group of anti-Shinra geeks chase after Sephiroth, who seems to have been brought back from the dead, though as it turns out, he never died to begin with. How does he celebrate his comeback? By sending a meteor to the planet, take control of the lifestream, becoming a god, and destroying everyone and everything. Wait……..….WHAT???! Whatever happened to venting at Shinra??! Apparently, sometime between Crisis Core and FFVII, Sephiroth remembered himself being Pandemonium, but not why he chose to become human. So now, we have a rampaging psycopath trying his hardest to reassume his godhood, and he actually gets really close to that! The only reason he failed in the end was because he underestimated Cloud. Oh well. It happens to lots of villains. I’m sure Pandemonium will……….Sephiroth’s still alive, isn’t he? Yep. Damn. Two years later, we see Advent Children, where Sephiroth’s will manifests into three bodies bent on bringing him back. Surprisingly, they succeed. Yet Sephiroth fails again because he underestimated Cloud. Again. So………that makes 3 times Sephiroth fails to get what he wants, and 3 times being because he underestimated a blonde emo guy………Wait a minute………..The emperor from FF2 had platinum blonde hair, which, to put it bluntly, is a mix of blonde and silver. And isn’t it weird how in Crisis Core, a 16-year old kid, after being impaled by a 7’ long sword, manages to not only yank it back out, but hurl a guy taller (and possibly heavier) than him into a conveniently placed pool of lifestream, a feat that, by any measure, is physically impossible to perform???? Could it be…….Could Cloud be a reincarnation of ARUBBOTH??! Don’t sink into that thought yet, there’s still one last game to mention: Dirge of Cerberus. One year after Advent Children, Shinra’s side project, Deepground, comes to light, and Professor Hojo tries to use it to call another uber summon called Omega. Long story short, everyone is alive and happy.

That's all for now. Not sure when the next update will be. So.............Cloud is possibly Arubboth reincarnated...........How's THAT for a plot twist?

[Alpha]

Compilation of Final Fantasy VII
Centuries after the events of X/X-2, the people of Spira invent space travel, and move to Gaia, the setting of Final Fantasy VII. It is here where Shinra’s descendents manage to perfect their ancestor’s hypothesis and use Mako energy to power the metropolis known as Midgar.

I think people expand this theory too far, but I just read the following on the Final Fantasy VII wiki:

Kazushige Nojima, along with Yoshinori Kitase, has stated in the Final Fantasy X-2 Ultimania interview that Final Fantasy X's Spira is the 'ancestor' civilization which colonized the Planet of Final Fantasy VII. This is reinforced by Shinra's mention of potentially harnessing the Farplane as an energy source, which his descendants would go on to do with the Lifestream many centuries later, as the Shinra Electric Power Company.

Which supports that one small part of your theory, except you added space travel. The Shinra→Shrina Electric Power Company link is cool.

[mariosmentor]

When I first heard of the connection, I was told that they used space travel. I should've looked into that more. That's for pointing out that goof. I'll fix it.

[Rowan]

If you have any theories on FF characters sex lives, please feel free to share them.

[Andromeda]

Rowan please be constructive. If you disagree with the theory that is fine, but provide something meaningful.

My concern as with the last time, is the vastly different systems and laws of nature that exist in each game require a significant amount of reconstruction at the very foundation of the universe to function for each game to be able to place it in the same timeline. The Final Fantasy series is not like other series where each game largely follows along the same rules. They continue to create vastly different systems that functionally equal the same thing, but contextually are achieved through different means.

[loaf]

Ivalice