Picking a single memory is a difficult challenge. I've been a Final Fantasy fan since I was able to read. Had I not opted to try a neat looking game for the SNES called "Final Fantasy II", I don't think I would have even gotten into video gaming as a whole. I grew up on Final Fantasy games, from spending hours searching every nook and cranny of "Final Fantasy 3" just because I didn't want it to end, to stealing the couch cushion from the living room, just so I could sit closer to the tv while I played FFVII. I remember being almost horrified to think I had somehow MISSED playing several of them, when the series "jumped" from III to VII.

I joined Final Fantasy XIV when it became A Realm Reborn and played it for a short while, never got too invested in it though since it was difficult for me to make and keep friends. I gave it up sad to say and moved on with my life, until one day my best friend was talking to me about it and he mentioned the Warring Triad.

"...Wait what"

I was stunned. They had somehow incorporated elements of my absolute favorite game into XIV? ...Okay, I'll come back for that. I was hooked and it felt good. I grinded my character, I played through the story, I had a goal. To defeat the Warring Triad. That time came, and each primal I downed I felt a little bit more of my childhood just smiling with pride. I never thought it could get better. Stormblood came, I was going through my regular stuff and that's when it hit. It was that laugh.

Kefka had come.

4.2 was the greatest patch for me, I had never been so absolutely hyped to finally take on Kefka, quite possibly my favorite villain. I scoured every bit of information I could find about him pre-release. I did double time to make sure I would be geared for him. It was release day, I rushed home from work faster than I had ever been, I felt just like it did when I got out of school and wanted to get home. I sat down at my computer, downed a monster and logged in. I got in touch with a few FC mates and it was time.

As each boss fell, it was as if I was back on that couch cushion in front of my tv. Finally after an hour of trials, cutscenes, and bathroom breaks I came to face to face with the perfect combination of psychotic clown and mad god himself, Kefka Palazzo. It was time.

Headphones off. Speakers on. He wasn't going against me, he was going against the twelve year old warrior of light that fought him decades ago. When he finally went down, I had never felt so young and alive.

So. If I had to pick a favorite moment? That would be it. Defeating Kefka for the first time in FFXIV. That was when I knew that I would be part of FFXIV until the very end.

If you enjoyed my story, I would prefer the Noble Barding please. Thank you for reading.