Chapter 27: Pale Flower of Darkness (Kenneth) (Script)

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Main Story

Narrator:
They follow the Black Fang due south. Although the trail vanishes, Lyn uses her tracking skills, and the pursuit continues. The path leads up into Bern's impassable mountains. The peaks know no seasons, and the snow covers all in a bright blanket. In this land of blinding reflections, an ancient castle appears.

(Chapter title is displayed – Chapter 27: Pale Flower of Darkness)

Sonia:
So, in the end, you failed to defeat them, didn't you?

Vaida:
……

Sonia:
I only introduced you to Lord Nergal out of respect for your rank. I was mistaken, though, to think a former royal soldier would be--

Vaida:
Next time will be different, I swear it. I beg of you, give me one more chance!

Sonia:
Ha ha ha… "One more chance"? Surely you jest.

Vaida:
Without Lord Nergal's good word, I'll never fly again! Not as a royal wyvern knight, at least! Please! Another chance!!

Sonia:
Ah, but you're quite skilled at begging, at least. Desist. You have fallen from our graces, and nothing will change that. Just be grateful. You are an outsider, so you are spared the Fang's judgment.

Vaida:
……

Sonia:
You stink of failure. Leave me to breathe in peace.

Vaida:
……Hm.

(Vaida leaves)

Sonia:
Ursula, are you there?

Ursula:
Yes, Lady Sonia.

Sonia:
There are two types of people in this world, Ursula. Those chosen to lead and those fit only to serve: human refuse. That's all. Only two types. I am the former, a perfect specimen chosen by Lord Nergal. You want to be like me, don't you, Ursula?

Ursula:
Yes, of course.

Sonia:
Then you must use the refuse to your advantage. Treat them as equals, and they will only drag you down. That woman Vaida is a good example. She treats the trash as though they were people. That dooms her to failure… …She truly is a fool.

Ursula:
……

Sonia:
You, however… You, I like. You must take care. It would be a shame to see you fail as Vaida did.

Ursula:
I understand. Thank you, most gracious Lady Sonia.

(Just outside)

Eliwood:
That wyvern rider… That was the same woman we fought earlier. That proves that they took this mountain path.

Lyn:
Now that they've come this far, they've let down their guard. You can see their tracks in the snow as plain as day.

Eliwood:
And you tracked them without fail. Amazing.

Lyn:
Hee hee… Anything to say, Hector?

Hector:
Ah…uh… I was wrong to doubt you.

Lyn:
At least you admit it.

Eliwood:
The fortress there must be their headquarters.

Lyn:
Let's sneak in and see what we can find!

Hector:
Right! Follow my lead!

Eliwood:
…Why do those two seem to be having so much fun?

Hector:
Now… What have we here… What a complicated place.

Eliwood:
It's little more than whispers, but I can hear human voices.

Lyn:
Over there! Let's go take a look.

Eliwood:
Marcus! Wait here with Ninian and everyone else. Be ready to escape at any time. I'm counting on you!

Marcus:
Yes, sir. I will not fail.

(Sonia, Brendan, and Nino are talking)

Nino:
Really? You're giving me a mission? Really and truly!? Mother!

Sonia:
I am. And it's a very big job at that. …It's for the king of Bern.

Nino:
The king!? Such an important job… for me?

Brendan:
Sonia, I'm against this. Giving such a dangerous job to this child?

Nino:
Father?

Sonia:
…You're right, this really is a job for your sons. However, we've seen nothing of them since their last report.

Nino:
Lloyd… Linus……

Brendan:
……

Sonia:
So my daughter will do this. And I will have no complaints from you about it.

Brendan:
……

Nino:
Ah! Father……

Sonia:
…You may do as you please!!

Nino:
But…

Sonia:
First, business! Jaffar! Come!

Nino:
Jaffar!

Lyn:
Look! That man! He was at the Dragon's Gate.

Hector:
Nergal's henchman. No question about it.

Eliwood:
……

Nino:
Jaffar! Should you be up? Don't your wounds hurt?

Jaffar:
……

Sonia:
Must you be so discourteous? It really is quite irritating. You heard the king's request, did you not?

Jaffar:
Prince Zephiel… He wants him assassinated.

Nino:
What? The prince? The king wants to kill the prince? Why? He's his son, isn't he?

Sonia:
Nino! Be quiet.

Nino:
Ah… I'm sorry.

Sonia:
Jaffar, this mission is yours… and you're to take Nino.

Jaffar:
…… You're not serious?

Sonia:
Yes, I'm serious. This girl is my daughter. She must prove herself as soon as possible.

Jaffar:
…Don't do this. This is too much for her.

Sonia:
As long as you're with her, there should be no problem. I'll brook no disagreement. We must have the king in our debt. Those are Lord Nergal's explicit orders.

Jaffar:
……

Sonia:
Nino! You understand the consequences if you fail, don't you?

Nino:
Um… Yes.

Sonia:
Then we're off to investigate the prince's manse. I'll provide more details on the way there.

(The three leave, Kenneth comes up)

Sonia:
Kenneth!

Kenneth:
Yes, Lady Sonia.

Sonia:
Where is Brendan? He just left the room.

Kenneth:
He went outside with Jan.

Sonia:
…… I wonder what he's about… …I'll deal with it later. Listen, Kenneth. You're in charge of the guard while I'm gone. Do not let anything happen to the item.

Kenneth:
Understood. I will guard it with my life.

(The Black Fang members leave)

Eliwood:
Do they seriously mean to assassinate the prince?

Hector:
Aye. On the orders of the king, it would seem. Unbelievable…

Lyn:
The Emblem is essential to the prince's ceremony, right? Having the Emblem becomes useless if the prince is dead!

Eliwood:
We must stop the assassination! The girl, Nino… If we speak to her, she might understand.

Lyn:
Jaffar looks like a dangerous man… But we have no other course of action.

(The lords try to leave, but Kenneth appears)

Kenneth:
Hello, trepassers. I bid you welcome. Imagine, the stronghold of a guild of assassins, infiltrated. Quite amusing, isn't it? Heh heh heh heh.

Eliwood:
Oh!

Kenneth:
However, you shall not leave. Sonia has given me authority while she is away.

Eliwood:
You… You're a holy man. What are you doing in this place?

Kenneth:
Are you referring to my relationship with the "gods"? Are you still held in thrall of such a concept? You've met Lord Nergal, haven't you? Then there is something you must know. Gods are lies created by the weakness in all mankind. …If a god truly exists, then it is my lord Nergal. Only him.

Eliwood:
Insane…

Hector:
Eliwood! Waste no time with that madman!! Let's get out of--

Nils:
We can't! Something's blocking our way. We can't get out!!

Ninian:
…That man. The one in front of you… A surge of evil…

Kenneth:
Nothing is more beautiful than the suffering of men. When I'm watching, I'm afloat in an ocean of pure bliss… I will watch you for a long, long time.

(Kenneth disappears)

Eliwood:
…Gone.

Ninian:
…It's all right. He's still close… In this building…somewhere.

Nils:
We've got to defeat him and destroy this barrier! Otherwise, we'll never get out!!

Eliwood:
…Mark! We have to find that man and escape this place! What are your orders?!

(Preparations screen is entered)

(End preparations)

(Start of battle)

(Harken appears at the start of the tenth turn, if less than two promoted enemies have been defeated)

Harken:
Intruders? Let them go. We've nothing against you. We must gain the trust of the Black Fang and get close to that man. We must avenge the death of our liege, Lord Elbert…

(Hector talks to Harken)

Hector:
You-- It can't be… Harken?

Harken:
…Oh!

Hector:
Hey, hang on! Wait a moment! You're one of Pherae's knights! Harken, right?

Harken:
…Lord Hector.

Hector:
You were one of Lord Elbert's sworn men, right? I'd heard all his knights died on Valor… Why didn't you return and report to Eliwood?

Harken:
I failed in my duty to protect my sworn lord… I am not worthy of the honor of being a knight of Pherae.

Hector:
…

Harken:
Before Nergal's magic, we were annihilated. When Lord Elbert was taken away, I was…powerless…

Hector:
That dog Nergal…

Harken:
I heard he shared some connection to the Black Fang. I searched the continent for signs of them… I intended to strike against them with my final breath.

Hector:
And now you are here. You can fight with us, Harken. Eliwood is here as well.

Harken:
Forgive me, Lord Hector. I would rather die a knight than live in shame. I will trade my life for many of theirs.

Hector:
Hold, Harken! Do you think that's what Lord Elbert would ask for?

Harken:
……

Hector:
I'm not from Pherae, so it may not be my place to say, but… Eliwood waited for you… for any of you to return.

Harken:
…Lord Eliwood.

Hector:
Eliwood is in a war. If you're a true knight of Pherae, you need to be at his side.

Harken:
…I understand. My life is his. May it serve him better than it served his father.

(Harken joins)

(Versus Kenneth)

Kenneth:
You're doing much better than I had anticipated. But it's about time to put an end to this.

(Kenneth dies)

Kenneth:
Does this…mean… that I…lose…

(After map is cleared)

Eliwood:
Everyone is being driven mad by Nergal…

Lyn:
It must be terrifying, to lose yourself entirely… To fall completely under the sway of Nergal's power… …Hey! What could this be?

Eliwood:
It can't be… the Fire Emblem?

Hector:
So this knave had it all along? Let's take it and go!

Lyn:
We've finally gotten it back… Let's not waste our good fortune.

Hector:
Eliwood! There's no reason for us to stay any longer!

Eliwood:
I know! Let's make haste for the manse! We must stop the assassination! We cannot let the prince's life be put in jeopardy!

(Outside the fortress)

Sonia:
You know your role, yes? The plan must be carried out tonight.

Nino:
Mother…just once… if only for a little while… may I…hold your hand?

Sonia:
Nino, you know how I abhor such displays.

Nino:
I… I know. But…I may not get another chance… And I thought…

Sonia:
…Very well.

Nino:
Huh?

Sonia:
If you complete this mission, I'll hold your hand as often as you like. I will even hug you and stroke your face.

Nino:
Oh, really!? Then I must do my best! I will, I will! I will succeed!! Wait for me, Mother!

Sonia:
I will. Be careful!

Nino:
…All right!! I'll be back!!

(Nino leaves)

Sonia:
Ah, Jaffar, wait here for a moment.

Jaffar:
…

Sonia:
It's about tonight's mission…

Jaffar:
What is it?

Sonia:
Once you've killed the prince, kill Nino, too.

Jaffar:
What!?

Sonia:
The assassinations… Both come directly by the king's request. The prince is well loved, and his death will trigger much chaos. If the assassin is not caught and hanged immediately, the chaos will engulf Bern. A scapegoat is needed. Do you understand?

Jaffar:
Nino is your daughter!!

Sonia:
She is trash. Garbage. Human refuse. I'm just happy at last to have found a use for her. She did say she would do anything to please her loving mother, did she not? Her death will please me more than her living ever did.

Jaffar:
……

Sonia:
…What is it? Do you have something to say?

Jaffar:
…… This…has nothing to do with me.

Sonia:
When Lord Nergal found you as an orphan, he chose you because of your callous heart and your skill with a blade. Lord Nergal does not give second chances. Do not forget.

Jaffar:
…

(Back at the fortress)

Hector:
…Oswin.

Oswin:
Lord Hector.

Hector:
Have you heard anything from my brother?

Oswin:
When you say "anything" …

Hector:
…Come, you know… About his condition…

Oswin:
No, nothing new.

Hector:
I see. That's good.

Oswin:
Why do you ask?

Hector:
No reason really. I'm simply concerned for my brother. Earlier… When I saw him in Ostia, he didn't look well. When father took ill and died… I wonder if he looked at all like that. Forget it, I'm worrying about nothing. If something were wrong, I'm sure we would've heard.

Oswin:
Yes, indeed. Now that you mention it, I did forget something. Lord Uther sent word to you through a messenger.

Hector:
Oh! What did he have to say?

Oswin:
"Don't trouble Lord Eliwood by being overly obstinate."

Hector:
Just like my brother! Always the same thing! How many times have I told him to stop treating me like a child!?

[Category: Game Scripts]]