Introduction:

The Sacred Stone of Renais has been broken. Constant strife with dark creatures has made the group’s progress near impossible. Princess L’Arachel of Rausten suggests they pay a visit to Rausten Court. It is here that the final Sacred Stone is sealed away. L’Arachel rides cheerfully toward her homeland with the company in tow.

(Chapter starts)

(L’Arachel, the twins, Innes and Myrrh ride up to Mansel in Rausten Court)

L’Arachel:
Home at last. My dear, sweet palace. Uncle, I’ve returned.

Mansel:
Oh, L’Arachel! It’s good to see you safe!

L’Arachel:
Of course I’m safe, Uncle. Evil can never defeat the forces of righteousness!

Mansel:
Ha! You’re exactly right, my dear! Now tell me, who are our guests?

Eirika:
Pontifex Mansel of Rausten, allow me to introduce myself. I am Eirika, Princess of Renais. I come to you today as an emissary of Frelia.

Ephraim:
And I am Ephraim, Prince of Renais. I come with Eirika to warn you of the danger our world faces.

Eirika:
It began when…

(Screen blacks out and comes back)

Mansel:
…Hmm, I see. That is a tough tale to swallow all at once… However, I have heard of the fell creatures in Darkling Woods. L’Arachel. You will need the Stone of Rausten if we have any hope of victory.

L’Arachel:
That is so, Uncle. I would like permission to open the temple seal.

Mansel:
Hmm… There’s no need to rush yourself so, L’Arachel. You’re home again, in this blessed haven. You should rest.

L’Arachel:
How can I relax until I know that our Sacred Stone is safe? At the least, I’d like to ensure that the temple seal is intact. Oh…

Mansel:
Is something amiss?

L’Arachel:
I think we’ll take a night to rest after all. Everyone is so exhausted. My dear friend Eirika especially has had a very trying time of late.

(Ephraim and Tana are in a room, Ephraim is looking sad)

Ephraim:
……

Tana:
Come on, Ephraim, cheer up.

Ephraim:
What are you talking about, Tana? There’s nothing wrong with me. I’m always like this.

Tana:
That’s not true. I’ve never seen you look so sad as you do right now. If you’re depressed, I’m sure my brother would worry… And I…well, I…

Ephraim:
…… Tana. You’re the princess of Frelia. Perhaps it’s unwise of you to be so friendly to Eirika and me. After all, alliances aside, our two countries’ needs may differ. Who knows what the future holds? Those ties could snap in an instant…

Tana:
No! Don’t say that!

Ephraim:
And why not?

Tana:
You and Eirika are both my friends. We come from different countries, it’s true, but…but… No matter what happens, the friendship I feel for you will never change!

Ephraim:
…… I’m sorry, Tana. I wasn’t thinking straight. Please don’t cry.

Tana:
Ephraim…

Ephraim:
You’re right, though. No matter what happens, the bond between us will never disappear. And it’s because Lyon is my friend that I have to put an end to this. Thank you, Tana.

(Screen goes outside. It’s dark and you can only see a single soldier. There is a voice coming from off-screen.)

??? (from the left):
Heh heh heh… Guard duty? At this time of night? Such a diligent soldier.

Soldier:
Huh?! Who goes there?

??? (from the right):
Where are you looking? I’m over here.

Soldier:
Wha…

??? (from the left):
No, no, here. I’m over here.

??? (from the right):
What’s wrong? I’m right here. Heh heh heh…

Soldier:
Wha…wha…

??? (from the left):
Is the darkness too deep for you to penetrate? Can’t you see what the night is hiding?

Soldier:
A-attack!

(Riev and a Druid teleport in and kill the soldier)

Riev:
Heh heh heh… Humans will never conquer darkness. The guardian of light, Rausten, will drown in a never-ending night. Come, my pretties. It’s time to go. The day of Rausten’s destruction has at long last arrived!

(Soldier rides up to Mansel)

Soldier:
Your Holiness! There’s been an attack! We think it’s Grado’s men, fleeing from Frelia’s forces. However, they’ve breached the palace defenses at multiple points.

Mansel:
What?!

Soldier:
The imperial guard is at a terrible disadvantage of numbers right now. It’s less a battle than a slaughter. I’m not sure they will be able to hold out until the Knights of Rausten arrive.

Mansel:
How has this happened? Our sacred capital invaded? I must…

L’Arachel:
Uncle, please, you must keep yourself safe. We can take care of this. Is everyone ready to go?

Seth:
Prince Ephraim, we’ll take care of this. Please…

Eirika:
Brother…

Ephraim:
I’m sorry. I’ve been useless and worse lately. I’m over it now. I’m ready to fight. Let’s go! Take out the enemy, and protect Pontifex Mansel!

(Battle Begins)

(At the beginning of the battle)

Riev:
Heh heh heh… The day is coming, and swiftly… The day of our triumph, our vengeance! Self-righteous fools of Rausten! Where are your miracles now?! March on! March, minions of the Demon King! Your time is upon you! Tonight, we claim not only Pontifex Mansel’s sad life, but also Rausten’s Sacred Stone! Heh heh heh… You cretin, Mansel… I will have my revenge. You should never have excommunicated me. The Demon King will be your new master!

(View shifts to Ephraim)

Ephraim:
Lyon is my friend. No matter what has happened, that one fact will not change. I know this. I will not falter in my resolve. Lyon, because I’m your friend, I will strike you down.

(When you fight Riev)

Riev:
Heh heh heh… One Sacred Stone remains. Once it is destroyed, darkness will consume the world. What will you do? Will you cower in fear? Heh heh heh…

(If you defeat Riev)

Riev:
Heh heh heh… No! No! It’s been so long. I got carried away. I’d best stop and withdraw for now. Follow me. Come to Darkling Woods… The Demon King awaits your pleasure…

(When you win the battle)

(At the end of turn 13, the battle ends)

Ephraim:
That takes care of that.

Tana:
Ephraim! I’d glad to see that your spirits are up.

Ephraim:
Ah, Tana. And I have you to thank for it.

Tana:
It was nothing. As long as you’re back to your old self, that is thanks enough.

(L’Arachel, Innes, the twins and Myrrh go inside the temple shrine)

L’Arachel:
I’m holding it in my very hand! The Stone of Rausten! Its glorious radiance suits my complexion, wouldn’t you say?

Ephraim:
This is it. The last one. The last remaining Sacred Stone.

L’Arachel:
It is. And the time to defeat the Demon King draws near.

Eirika:
We should be leaving. We have to act before those creatures gain more momentum.

Myrrh:
Yes. We should make haste. The poison spreads. It is growing ever stronger.

Ephraim:
Where?

Myrrh:
Darkling Woods… Where the Demon King fell…

(They go back to the hall)

Mansel:
L’Arachel, must you leave so soon? You’ve only just returned, and you have to leave?

L’Arachel:
Uncle, defeating evil is the highest calling I can perform.

Mansel:
Of course, my dear. It is a divine calling, but…

L’Arachel:
You needn’t worry, Uncle. After all, I’m not on my own. I have my friends.

Mansel:
I see. You’ve been blessed, L’Arachel. Blessed with many good friends.

L’Arachel:
I am indeed, Uncle. And they, in turn, are blessed with me! Farewell, Uncle. I shall return. Once evil has been vanquished, we’ll all return safe and sound.

Mansel:
Hold on. Not so fast now. I have something else for Prince Ephraim as well.

Ephraim:
For me?

Mansel:
That’s right, Prince. I’d like you to accept this gift.

Ephraim:
But this is…

L’Arachel:
Oh! Aren’t those… Aren’t those the Sacred Twins of Rausten?

Mansel:
That’s right, dear niece. These are the weapons of Saint Latona, most holy father of Rausten. Here, we have glorious Ivaldi, and its twin, the divine Staff of Latona. I will also spare some funding to feed and arm your forces. After all, these is much that you must do before you leave these halls.

(Got Ivaldi, Latona, and 10,000 Gold)

L’Arachel:
So they are the blessed Latona’s most sacred relics… Is this allowed?

Mansel:
I know the law, L’Arachel. The relics must never leave the temple, with the sole exception of the occasional ascension ceremony, but I think that, when the world needs saving, we can make the odd exception.

L’Arachel:
That’s my uncle!

Mansel:
You will return them, of course… once you’ve finished your task. Prince Ephraim, I would have your oath on this.

Ephraim:
Of course.

L’Arachel:
But Darkling Woods is home to naught but demons now. Indeed, I hear tell that none who enter its borders ever leave again. We ought to stock up on supplies in town before we set out.

Ephraim:
Yes, I think stocking up would be in our best interest. I intended to see that we all return unharmed.

(If there are 6 or more Rausten Knights alive when the battle ends)

Soldier:
Princess L’Arachel!

L’Arachel:
My beloved countrymen! The combat was fierce, but you protected the palace honorably. The valorous Knights of Rausten shall live on in story and song!

Soldier:
Thank you, my lady. As always, it is our honor to serve. Prince Ephraim, before you go, please take this sword. We pray for your swift and safe return!

Ephraim:
As I pray for your safety, too. I won’t let your valorous deeds be wasted this day!

L’Arachel:
As long as the righteousness of justice fills our hearts, how can we lose? Men, I ask that you watch after my dear uncle.

Soldier:
You have our world, my lady. In the twin names of justice and order!

(Got a Light Brand)

(Chapter ends)

(Lagdou Ruins and Melkaen Coast appear, followed by Black Temple)