(Shiida and Ogma talk)

Shiida:
“Ogma!”

Ogma:
“Princess…”

Shiida:
“I never got to thank you for coming along with us. There’s no swordsman I trust more. I’ve seen your strength.”

Ogma:
“You don’t need to thank me, Princess. I’m just doing my job. Speaking of which, your father would flay me if you came to any harm. Do me a favor, and leave the dangerous fighting to me and my men.”

Shiida:
“I don’t need protecting, Ogma. …I’ve got another job for you. Protect Marth for me.”

Ogma:
“But, Princess…”

Shiida:
“He’s very important to me. And the world… But mostly to me. So do as I ask, Ogma. Keep him safe. That’s my first and last request.”

Ogma:
“Very well. How could I say no to you?”

Shiida:
“Thank you, Ogma. I knew you’d understand. All right, I have to go. But I hope we get to talk like this more. You’re a good listener.”

Ogma:
“…Princess.”

Shiida:
“Yes?”

Ogma:
“You keep yourself safe, too. Marth would grieve if anything befell you.”

Shiida:
“Fair enough. Thank you, Ogma. You’re very kind.”

(Maria and Minerva talk)

Maria:
“Sister!”

Minerva:
“Maria… Are you all right?”

Maria:
“Fine. Have you heard? Marth made me one of his soldiers! Well…I made him make me one.”

Minerva:
“…What am I going to do with you? Listen to me, Maria… You cannot stay here. It’s too dangerous. Real war is nothing like your stories of princes and damsels.”

Maria:
“I’m not going anywhere! I want to stay with you!”

Minerva:
“Maria, you’re being selfish-“

Maria:
“I am not! I’m just…sick of being helpless. I’ve burdened you long enough. How can I ever help you if you don’t give me a chance to be strong? I’m staying here and fighting! No protesting!”

Minerva:
“…Ha ha. Somehow I knew you would say that. All right, Maria. If you feel that strongly about it, who am I to stop you? All I ask is that you be careful. If you need help, you come find me. Understood?”

Maria:
“Of course! Thank you, Sister!”

(Merric and Linde talk)

Merric:
“Linde, I presume? My name’s Merric. Prince Marth asked me to look after you. Not that we mages need any help looking after ourselves, mind you.”

Linde:
“Oh, you’ve studied magic?”

Merric:
“Yes, in Khadein.”

Linde:
“Khadein… The school? My father was a student there a long time ago.”

Merric:
“The school is beautiful- was beautiful, until Gharnef took over and changed everything. I was blessed with wonderful teachers, and I found a healthy mix of friends and rivals in the other aspiring mages.”

Linde:
“It sounds nice, I suppose. But my father was the only teacher and friend I ever needed. ……”

Merric:
“I’m sorry, Linde…”

Linde:
“Don’t be. I’m tough like my father, too. …Let’s talk about you, Merric. And about Khadein. I’ve never been to a school before. How do they teach?”

(Boah and Astram talk)

Astram:
“Bishop Boah.”

Boah:
“Ah, Astram. Welcome back. I must say I am relieved. Where would Akaneia’s army be without its finest knight?”

Astram:
“Nonsense… I am but one arrow in the quiver. Princess Nyna is the bow. So long as we have her to lead us, Akaneia’s light shall never fade.”

Boah:
“Well spoken, child. But let us be honest: that light has not shone as bright since our defeat at the hands of Doluna. It will take a miracle to restore Akaneia ‘s prestige after this… Or, perhaps, some clever thinking. If our next king were to be foreign…”

Astram:
“What? A king who’s not Akaneian?”

Boah:
“Well, of course, the princess would need to approve of him. How do you feel about it, Astram?”

Astram:
“I don’t. I am a knight. I will leave the feeling to those whose job it is to feel and content myself with serving my kingdom… no matter how the kingdom might change.”

Boah:
“Then you are a loyal knight indeed. Well…the future can wait a tad longer. We have a war to fight first…and win. Akaneia’s tomorrow depends on it.”

Astram:
“That it does, Bishop.”

(Minerva and Palla talk)

Minerva:
“Palla, I am truly sorry. I never meant to involve you and your sisters in my personal battles.”

Palla:
“Your battles are our battles, Commander.”

Minerva:
“But our kingdom has fallen apart: sons slay their fathers; brothers and sisters trade blows instead of kisses… I have let Medon be destroyed.”

Palla:
“I do not think so. Nor do I think you should feel troubled for our sake. You are our home, more than Medon; our true house is the sky around you. We will always serve you, Commander, through thick and thin. I swear it.”

Minerva:
“Palla…”

(Minerva and Catria talk)

Minerva:
“……”

Catria:
“Commander. …Princess Minerva?”

Minerva:
“Hm? Ah, sorry… Now I’ve taken to daydreaming on the battlefield. How Michalis would laugh.”

Catria:
“Then…it was your brother you were thinking about?”

Minerva:
“…… He made his choice; I, mine. I’ve no time to stew in my own sorrow when my path is clear before me. Come, Catria. Hyah!”

(Minerva and Est talk)

Est:
“Commander, did anybody tell you? I flew all the way to Grust and brought back Mercurius. Pretty spiffy, huh?”

Minerva:
“Yes, Marth told me all about it. Very brave of you to undertake such a dangerous task alone. Well done, Est.”

Est:
“Hee hee! You mean it? Thanks, Commander! You should have seen the arrows whooshing past me left and right! But I’m a Whitewing, right? So I swooped down and let ’em have it! Just watch, though. I’ll find some way to top it.”

Minerva:
“I don’t doubt it. I expect great things from you, Est.”

Est:
“Hee hee! You mean it?”

(Palla and Est talk)

Est:
“Hey, Palla. I’m not slowing you and Catria down, am I?”

Palla:
“Why would you say that?”

Est:
“I don’t know… You and she have so much more experience. Sometimes I… I just feel like I’m not pulling my load.”

Palla:
“Ha ha… Est… You’re doing just fine. There are no half-Whitewings or almost- Whitewings. You’re one of us because you’re every bit as good as us. Have a little confidence.”

Est:
“Right, confidence…”

Palla:
“…Feel better?”

Est:
“Uh-huh. Thanks, Palla. It’s funny… Whenever I talk to you, I calm right down. Promise you’ll always be there for me, Palla.”

Palla:
“I will… I promise.”

(Catria and Est talk)

Est:
“Catria!”

Catria:
“Est! It’s about time you made it back. I was so worried…”

Est:
“Sorry… I won’t leave you like that again. We belong together anyway. When the three of us surround an enemy, we’re just about unstoppable!”

Catria:
“True…but even so, I like having you somewhere I can keep an eye on you. Ha ha.”

Est:
“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?”

(Xane and Tiki talk)

Tiki:
“Huh? Xaney, where’d you go?”

Xane (imitating Tiki):
“Huh? Xaney, where’d you go?”

Tiki:
“Xaney?! Why are you imitating me!”

Xane (imitating Tiki):
“Xaney?! Why are you imitating me!”

Tiki:
“Cut that out right now!”

Xane (imitating Tiki):
“Cut that out right now!”

Tiki:
“Ugh, I HATE you, Xaney!”

Xane (imitating Tiki):
“Huh? Hey, wait, Tiki! Oh, come on. I was just jokin’ around! Tryin’ to lighten the mood!”

Xane (returns to normal):
“It’s not like I can transform into a dragon like you, so just- Oh, would you come back?”

Tiki:
“Meanie.”

Xane:
“So how are you holdin’ up, kiddo?”

Tiki:
“I’m all right.”

Xane:
“Still having those bad dreams?”

Tiki:
“Sometimes. They’re really scary…”

Xane:
“I bet they are. (…Ugh, what does Lord Gotoh expect me to do?)”

Tiki:
“Did you say something?”

Xane:
“Oh! No, no, it’s nothin’. Hey, you know that Marth’s countin’ on those powers of yours.”

Tiki:
“Uh-huh… Why?”

Xane:
“So, uh…you just take care of yourself, that’s all. You’re one special kid.”

Tiki:
“I know.”

(Merric and Elice talk)

Merric:
“Princess Elice! You’re safe!”

Elice:
“Oh, my! Merric, is that you? I haven’t seen you in ages… …So you’ve been fighting with the League? Thank you for keeping Marth safe.”

Merric:
“Well, I did learn a spell or two in Khadein. Here, Princess. Get behind me. I’ll face the enemy for us both.”

Elice:
“You’ll…face the…? Aha ha, oh, Merric!”

Merric:
“Wh…what’s so funny, Princess? I was quite serious, I’ll have you know!”

Elice:
“Ha ha, forgive me, Merric. It’s just, I remembered you when you were little… You were always a bit delicate. Oftentimes I had to nurse you back to health. Remember?”

Merric:
“But that was- I couldn’t- Yes.”

Elice:
“And look at you now. Such a brave, strong man! A far cry from the old Merric. But you don’t have to pretend. I know you’re far too sweet to mow down hordes of enemies. And…I think I prefer it that way.”

Merric:
“You…you do?”