In the end, this whole thing feels like the original plan for Hydaelyn and Zodiark has long been scrapped or forgotten and a new plot was hastily put together to accommodate fan favorites and popularity. I remember getting very distinct hints that Hydaelyn had been controlling us and pushing us to action through some form of tempering, and someone pointed out earlier that Sharlayan ended up being much more tame than we had been led to believe before now. For a city that had been sending assassination squads and incredibly concerned with secrecy they sure are welcoming of a strangers showing up at their port. Even more so towards the end when everyone you ever met shows up to help build the super secret space ship that after decades of keeping a close guarded secret just decided to tell everyone everywhere about.