FF13: The Darkest Side of Me ("The Truth Beneath the Rose")

Final Fantasy 13 and 13-2 anime music video (AMV) set to "The Truth Beneath the Rose" by Within Temptation.
After a two-year hiatus, I finally decided to make a new AMV. I thought of the concept for this vid a year ago and started working on it in January, but I got distracted by life and only got around to finishing it now. For this vid I'm returning to my roots with an epic drama centered around a classic Within Temptation song. As with my more recent AMVs however, I used the song to craft my own story, rather than simply following the story of the games.
==STORY==
Lightning, holy warrior for the Pulse fal'Cie, has led a long and bloody revolution against the Sanctum. In the process she has lost many of her closest friends including her sister Serah. On the cusp of victory and the final destruction of Cocoon, Lightning is summoned by the Goddess Etro to answer for the thousands of deaths she has caused in her war. Landing on the shores of Valhalla, she is condemned to battle Caius Ballad for the rest of eternity to atone for her sins....

[@austinsomogyi1437]

This ff needs a remake lightning needs the respect she deserves

[@AIHumanEquality]

Why would 13 need a remake? It holds up to modern games even today and has some of the best graphics in the entire FF franchise.

[@unicorntomboy9736]

​@@AIHumanEqualityFinal Fantasy 16 takes that crown

[@KolomlynskyHSP1]

Tbh yes, not just because the game was a hallway simulator but also (some ppl might not like this) because Lighting was overly edgy

[@wolfsongrising]

@@KolomlynskyHSP1 you could cut through solid rock like an anime hero with the amount of edge they had going there-

[@FoxyNWolfy]

rewatching in 2024. I love Lightning

[@reonsastradipraja5401]

Give me strength to face the truth The doubt within my soul No longer I can justify The bloodshed in his name Is it a sin to seek the truth, the truth beneath the rose? Pray with me so I will find the gate to Heaven's door I believed it would justify the means It had a hold over me Blinded to see The cruelty of the beast Here is the darkest side of me (Forgive me my sins) The veil of my dreams Deceived all I have seen Forgive me for what I have been (Forgive me my sins) Pray for me 'cause I have lost my faith in holy wars Is paradise denied to me 'cause I can't take no more? Has darkness taken over me Consumed my mortal soul? All my virtues sacrificed Can Heaven be so cruel? I believed it would justify the means It had a hold over me (Forgive me my sins) Blinded to see The cruelty of the beast Here is the darkest side of me (Forgive me my sins) The veil of my dreams Deceived all I have seen Forgive me for what I have been (Forgive me my sins) I'm hoping, I'm praying I won't get lost between two worlds For all I've seen, The truth lies in between Give me the strength to face the wrong that I have done Now that I know The darkest side of me How can blood be your salvation And justify the pain That we have caused throughout the times Will I learn what's truly sacred Will I redeem my soul Will truth set me free (Forgive me my sins) Blinded to see The cruelty of the beast Here is the darkest side of me (Forgive me my sins) The veil of my dreams Deceived all I have seen Forgive me for what I have been (Forgive me my sins)

[@whitedragon2129]

Reon Sastradipraja thank you for the lyrics brother

[@Thorinox]

This would do SO well with the new Lightning Returns Final Fantasy 13

[@beardlessdragon]

I completely agree! At first, I just thought it was a mind-blowingly epic AMV (and it still is) but with the events and messages of Lightning Returns, the lyrics to this song have so much more weight....

[@DarkLordofDebate]

SoraIsMyHomeboy Jeramy LaVoye I just noticed these comments while re-watching this AMV. You know, when I made this I had a sneaking suspicion that perhaps I should wait until Lightning Returns comes out to use its footage. Maybe I should have. If anyone can suggest a place where I can find the cutscenes from Lightning Returns with no subtitles and no watermarks, I might consider remaking this video with that footage.

[@tienbuingoc]

good

[@Vagabond1997]

This is a superb piece of work and you should leave it as it is. Simply make a new one with the new footage but please leave this one alone as it is perfect.

[@Aurumk1]

That was a terrible game I hate timed games.

[@TheLegendaryTashy]

I am ADDICTED to this video!!! Lightning is awesome

[@efitriasasadit2618]

Bersahabatlah saferhot,,neimar akan kaum elf dan akan underworld,,,

[@efitriasasadit2618]

Moga bisa mengerti saudara yang lain ,,untuk kalian semua,,

[@theeyeoftheyinyangs]

Lightning. The coolest part of any storm, and in FF13.

[@ladybatjudith]

Final Fantasy+Within Temptation=EPIC

[@rogue8903]

Of course dude😉👍...

[@grayighoul3341]

凄いなあ! おつかれさまです! ライトニングは愛です。ライトニングは人生です。

[@arielcallecanaza]

Lightning, she's so cool and so beautiful.

[@rogue8903]

I agree... Lightning Farron is one of the best female characters in Final Fantasy...

[@Yorha15T]

I Love it. ♡ Lightning and Within Temptation Forever.

[@caninebearyt]

Agree. 🥰🥰🥰

[@alexandraashleytrujillo357]

My sins have been FORGIVEN I have prayed I have learned what is truly SACRED.

[@TheULTIMATE450]

Light is such a freaking badass babe.

[@Chazreal]

Absolutely beautiful GMV! A masterful pairing of music and gaming that square soft itself "should" take notice of. My personal deepest empathise to our heroine Lightning around 4:25-4:55 of this video. Keep up the great work!

[@Chazreal]

Under immediate AMV narrative circumstances, I feel as hopeless as Lighting, desperately barreling through those esoteric nebulous chronological indifferent corridors.

[@roxvkiri9707]

Lighting is just beyond sexy I must say , with a lovely personality

[@zackr5457]

true.

[@ofamily8180]

She is sexy but personality is 💩

[@skyserpent14]

@@ofamily8180 If you mean snarky as 💩 then yes, she is. Personally, that's part of why I love her.

[@starcrying6441]

@Anime & Manga Video Juego and the poor thang have had not just a bad day but a bad eternity xD

[@kadachiorochi2575]

Just a message...Remember The Blue Rose Dra.Go...Nothing... secret...do you know who she looks like...nothing...it's in the past...Final Fantasy XIII is frightening...nothing...ask others not me goodbye...maybe it's a different Dra.Go that i gave the rose to but it's in the past...nothing i saw a frightening scene in FFXIII...nothing...i am thingking is the story of XIII true...nothing...it's a very cool shades...

[@AL2023f]

I didn’t really mind the character , but the 13 series as a whole was disappointing. It took all the exploration that made FF great and turned it into a linear experience with a wacky story.

[@バイク雄]

画質がよくて最高ですわなw かっけぇす

[@SecondChallenge]

Valkyria de Etros

[@jessicaklimpel6766]

Jessica ich libe das lend😗😘🤩😍

[@DrunkenSailors1]

I saw that Video on release and thought what amazing cutscenes,where the hell they are from,but i didnt bother much,then 2 years ago i learned about final fantasy franchise and 3 months ago i discovered FFXIII And i realised THIS AMAZING GIRL WITH PINK HAIR WAS Lightning the Games Heroine and god this game its SO GOOD

[@Opungzio-wy4vl]

Buta kau nengok aku pakek softlens. Kau pikir aku paok. Gak tk aku kok. Dari Jhon roy manik.

[@Opungzio-wy4vl]

Kok pakek softlens aku? Jeralah. Dari Jhon roy manik.

[@Opungzio-wy4vl]

Kok pakek softlens aku? Jeralah. Dari Jhon roy manik.

[@InuyashaChan04]

thi's video is so beautiful:)))

[@Opungzio-wy4vl]

Mati kutumbuk kok yang bela hantu Ira Boru Zega.

[@Opungzio-wy4vl]

Kulit wajahmu aja gitu. Dari Jhon Roy manik.

[@jhonroymanik9401]

Pengen kurasa joe taslim. Kubatas pun.

[@LeonVenator]

A Hero Ressurge

[@zeikfried875]

Santo Cielo! El video más Incréible de toda la historia OwO I Love this video so much

[@lightwingg27wel89]

still one of fav AMVs

[@ditruong1249]

Lightning là nhân vật mà tôi thích nhất trong thế giới hoạt hình. Bản nhạc này cũng thật hay.

[@JasonPerez-y9d]

Grady Cove

[@Opungzio-wy4vl]

Itu kaca SMK bani.

[@caninebearyt]

Final Fantasy and Within Temptation -The Darkest Side of Me (Truth Beneath The Rose) fits perfectly to this video. I can't stop enjoying listening and watching this amazing video. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 Very well done. 💕💕💕🥰🥰🥰😍😍😍😍

[@Sanakan.safeguard]

recommend search for an AMV. "Genesis vs Sephirot" with Supernova. also from Within temptation .

[@WyattHogan-k9d]

Richmond Courts

[@Trialia]

WOW. I love Within Temptation and FF, and this video? Honestly? One of the best fanvids I've seen in the last two decades, especially for the FF series (anyone remember that really great general series one to Linkin Park's "Papercut" with a lot of FFVII stuff, that seems to have disappeared into the ether?). The only other I can think of that I'd compare to this is the IX one to Enigma's "Gravity of Love". Amazing cutting work, man, really. :) Also, this vid actually fits with the original story just as well as with your invention, at least I think so. I must share this. Especially since this particular song is on my ultimate FF fanmix playlist, though I hadn't actually thought of it in context of Lightning before. Beautiful!

[@kairi-chan235]

really good.....EPIC

[@rudrickloche1700]

How the hell can someone NOT like this? Must be tone-deaf! X(

[@LarrySchardt]

Thank you for posting this fabulous video and song. Rock 'n' Roll!!!

[@kamidoragon1864]

Seul français a kiffe cette musique et ce jeux 😉 ou il y ana t'autre ?

[@JamSessionsEX]

I'd like to use this as a stream opener, if you would allow it.

[@DarkLordofDebate]

Sure, just give me credit and include a link to my video please.

[@JamSessionsEX]

DarkLordofDebate Thank you so much, I will!

[@JamSessionsEX]

Got it working! I'll send you a link the moment I have perfected what I'm aiming for! I won't use it till then.

[@brisonduncan8875]

+RyouFuchiKyou what's your streaming name also on twitch or? I'd like to watch

[@JamSessionsEX]

Brison Duncan www.twitch.tv/twilitscholar

[@LeonVenator]

Trio parada dura em Dissidia

[@5mvillian5]

No matter how many times I watch this, it still is nothing short of EPIC. Very well done. :)

[@Opungzio-wy4vl]

itoi. Dari Jhon roy manik.

[@maxmoysha7469]

Where can I watch FF13? An not the in game move crap

[@nathandidonna9679]

max samusenko It's a game, not a movie...

[@GilbertHazel-y5v]

Wehner Dam

[@clickhere5561]

looks like My beloved Dr.Crisley L.Go i'm Versus 13 my beautiful Lightning

[@wahyudikampret9055]

keren mantap terimakasi yaaa

[@AlphaCanario-t3m]

Huel Via

[@Vagabond1997]

This is one fantastic vid! You've done a superb job with the scenes you chose and the amazing song. Thanks!

[@SistorCarrera]

lve the cyborg horse und her hair...........

[@wingedwolfangelX]

You, sir, are unbelievably awesome. If there was a Love button, I would break it. :)

[@efitriasasadit2618]

Friends,,,

[@WisdomoftheSphynx]

Excellent work!

[@jhonroymanik9401]

Masih ketawa aku.

[@hacklifeedits]

Awesome edits...love this... Wish mine could be like this😆😀

[@efitriasasadit2618]

Rose,,,,

[@BERNTSPECHT]

I liebe dieses Gane

[@lambotsvetlana7356]

yeah WT !!

[@naimachan1487]

the story is really sad:(

[@silasb_adv.o]

I watch a amb about this game with the music "paradise Coldplay" but i cant found again

[@Sephira968]

Awesome as always !

[@Yunaofficial0111]

I love it so bad♡♥

[@tulukset7547]

Miss y honey

[@LeonVenator]

Cartomancia

[@PedroGabriel-vm6hz]

Top Top Top *-* 2016

[@UncleAek]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@jasoncase7686]

Do you actually know the story of ff 13

[@Amarthie]

Have you even played the first ever FF game? I did when it came out. Unlike these new fanboys. XD

[@somvungfanta7947]

กับ

[@SistorCarrera]

lost between two worlds

[@ghostinthecode]

I think you just broke my brain. Well done.

[@RaphinhaHime]

Puuutz, isso ficou muito bom!! o.o

[@LeonVenator]

Knight of Etros blessing

[@SistorCarrera]

I cant be myself its why I powerlifift im am truly William B ~Kazmieir the stongest girl that ever lived except Bev

[@王中強-z2y]

我來這世交上度假

[@Seathros2508]

Love the video, but the story is wrong, sorry. As a FF fan it was killing me. SPOILER Lightning didn't lead a revolution, she simply was fighting to protect her sister Serah, who at the time was sent to a concentration camp for Pulse L'Cie and get her back. She did it for a selfish reason and wasn't at all fighting to free everyone less of all a revolution. She didn't lose anyone, let alone closest friends because she was a strict soldier who didn't believe in attachments. And on the cusp of victory was actually her SAVING Cocoon from destruction from the Fal'Cie Barthandelus, who was it's creator and provider. Etro summoned Lightning because when Etro reached into the human realm to release Lightning and her companions from crystal stasis Chaos flooded in and started causing, well, chaos, and Etro summoned her, yes, one to atone for her sins of killing hundreds for the single selfish reason of freeing her sister, but two, also to defend Etro from Caius vying to kill Etro for the curse put unto Yeul, the seer of prophecy, who's destined to die and become reborn only to die again.

[@DarkLordofDebate]

Valshmere Yes I know that's the actual story. I made this video to construct my own story out of the footage from the game, in order to interpret the song.

[@Seathros2508]

OH! I'm terribly sorry Dark! I honestly didn't mean any offence.

[@DarkLordofDebate]

Oh it's fine. You just must have missed the first part of the description where I said I made my own story.

[@Seathros2508]

I did not. Now I see it.. Good editing and story base.. Makes me love the video even more.

[@Seathros2508]

Kristel Vanacker, who's Ashes??

[@王中強-z2y]

我有辛去娶月亮那邊

[@CrystalNova_HI]

Awesome! ODIN!

[@王中強-z2y]

計劃成功毀掉一切

[@王中強-z2y]

我要的女方那邊科技

[@SistorCarrera]

so I will find the gate to heavens door,when you ride the cyborg extend your arm or your not a killing machine

[@lucasvieira7447]

A trilogia desse ff é foda demais ♡

[@SistorCarrera]

she is me und we kill will impunity so fear us dogs...............

[@Opungzio-wy4vl]

Cuih.

[@retrocny5625]

The costume design for Lightning in FF13-2, the whole Guardian of Etro thing, that outfit is one of the coolest looking pieces of armor I've ever seen in any video game. So bad ass. Made her look like a warrior, not a girl in a short skirt. Too bad I didn't really care for the finished game. I'm in the minority apparently where I think the original Final Fantasy 13 was clearly head and shoulders above the others in the trilogy.

[@iquoteeverythingisay4627]

is it alright to say that I didn't watch the last minute of this gmv until now?

[@kamranhader8432]

friend make more ff13 lightning returns victoreus

[@efitriasasadit2618]

🤗🤗,,

[@scottbrummitt7575]

I may not like this final fantasy game but dam this song goes well with it

[@marylin6453]

muy bonito, pero quisiera q lo tradujeran en español si no es muxa la molestia,es q no tengo muy buen ingles..gracias.

[@SistorCarrera]

aye the blood

[@rv3dhc]

nice video for W.T. song. thanks on that.

[@maridelcastro1445]

e

[@hikarukatsu9713]

Great

[@LeonVenator]

53%

[@VelvetMagician]

Lighting is my favorite Female Character in Final Fantasy next to Tifa

[@sonercalskan133]

gitmem gereken hiç bir yer yok ki senin gitmen için

[@ne0walter24]

I need to play the next two games only finished the first she reminded me some what of Cloud.