(Kana, Kanaya, Lyci, and Shigure open the chapter standing together in front of the castle of Valla.)
Shigure: We're here... The palace of Valla.
Lyci: In there, we can find Thalone... After we get rid of him, everything will come to an end...
Kana: When you say it like that, it sounds so easy, but... I know it won't be.
Kanaya: We've been fighting for so long... All I want is for it to be over, but I know it's going to take a lot more than a wish to get rid of Thalone.
Shigure: We're not far from entering the castle, so we can probably expect a final group of guards... I just wish I knew where they would be coming from. An ambush would not be the best way to end our travels to the palace.
Lyci: Well, it looks like we're going to see our enemy soon enough. Look over there.
(The group follows Lyci's direction and sees a trio of people standing nearby. Two of them are identical copies of Mikoto while the other is a man with blue hair.)
Kana: Who are those people?
Kanaya: They seem oddly familiar...
Shigure: The man with blue hair... He's made of flesh and blood.
Lyci: That means that...
Kana: That must be Thalone!
Kanaya: Who's that woman that he's talking to though? There are two of her, so they must be from the different timelines.
Shigure: Let's listen for a moment. It doesn't look like they've noticed us yet, so we might as well use it to our advantage.
(The four hide behind a nearby building, though it is only halfway standing. Regardless, it gets the job done and allows them to listen in on the conversation between Thalone and Mikoto. The two copies speak in unison when addressing the blue-haired man.)
Mikoto: Thalone, you don't need to do this.
Thalone: I am doing this for everyone... For us.
Mikoto: I understand why you hate Nohr and Hoshido so. Hoshido started the war that destroyed our nation. Nohr attacked and desecrated the land that we called home once... But is war truly the best option?
Thalone: They shouldn't have gone to such lengths to hurt others. If they wanted to survive, then they should have made better choices.
Mikoto: Thalone, this isn't the way to go about this. Revenge won't bring back your people. Fighting will not reverse the harm that was done years ago.
Thalone: The fighters who stopped me from destroying those two nations years ago have died. I killed them for the sake of furthering my own ambitions. They didn't understand the harm done by their countries, but they will soon enough.
Mikoto: It was not their fault that Valla fell. They were not even alive at that point.
Thalone: I want to destroy those pathetic nations regardless of who lives there. My hatred of them will never be tempered.
Mikoto: Thalone, I beg of you-
Thalone: I poured all my power into resurrecting you, Aquaria. I wanted us to be together as we once were. I wanted to be able to speak with you again, but I didn't ask for you to pester me over such things.
Mikoto: You gave more of your power to allow us to speak in this way, but... I only wish to use it to steer you away from revenge. It's hurting you more than you are willing to admit.
Thalone: It isn't hurting me in the slightest! I have been working towards this for years, Aquaria!
Mikoto: And it drove you to madness! You didn't even recognize me when you sent your soldiers out to defeat Hoshido, and I was killed by your resurrected fighters!
Thalone: Aquaria, I didn't kno-
Mikoto: You have been consumed by your rage, and I refuse to stand for it!
Thalone: I've had enough of this. We have company. Take care of them.
Mikoto: But-
Thalone: That's an order!
(Purple flames pick up around both copies of Mikoto. They stand limply for a moment before returning to their full heights. Many other invisible soldiers appear around them as Thalone retreats back into the palace.)
Shigure: They must know that we're here. We should prepare for the battle and power through them before Thalone can call on any reinforcements.
Kana: I wonder what he was talking about during that conversation...
Kanaya: I don't know, but I think that we should do what Shigure said. We don't want them to surprise us while we're here thinking.
Lyci: In that case, let's get ready. We have quite the battle ahead of us.
(The battle begins. The camera pans over to the top of the map, showing the two copies of Mikoto next to each other. However, there are other familiar faces nearby, among them being Reina, Fuga, Mozu, Silas, Izana, and Yukimura.)
Sophie: Wait a moment... Is that...?
Kana: No... It can't be... Right?
Shiro: All of them... They fought as retainers of the Hoshidan royal family in the final battle against the invisible soldiers.
Tempest: I guess that they really did pass away like we suspected...
Kiragi: Now he's bringing them back to fight against us? That's messed up!
Sumiko: I wonder if we'll wind up running into our parents...
Galatea: Regardless of if we do, we have to free them from their suffering. They won't be able to rest in peace until after we defeat them, so this is the least that we can do to ease their pain.
Caeldori: This is where the real test begins. If Thalone thinks that pitting us against our family and friends will break our spirits, he's going to find that he couldn't be more incorrect.
Sophie: If that version of my father really is from the timeline where Hoshido won the war, then that isn't the one that I came to know and love...
Kana: I bet that Thalone is waiting until we get closer to make us face that sort of reality...
Jasper: That can't be my mother then... If she really is from the Hoshidan timeline, then... It isn't the one that I know... What a relief.
Midori: There's not a moment to waste now. Let's show him who the real winners are here!
(If Kanaya initiates combat with Mikoto, this dialogue plays out.)
Mikoto: You look so similar to them... Do you know Corrin...?
Kanaya: Y-Yes...
Mikoto: Then you must share my blood... Draconic child, come with me... I will love you forever...
Kanaya: I can't do that.
Mikoto: Too bad... You will die before the great Anankos instead!
(If Kana initiates combat with Mikoto, this dialogue plays out.)
Mikoto: You look so similar to Corrin... Are you their child...?
Kana: So what?
Mikoto: Come into my arms, young one... You belong with me... I will keep you safe forever...
Kana: No... For the sake of those who have been lost, I can't do that.
Mikoto: Pity... Then you will fall here for your defiance!
(If Shigure initiates combat with Mikoto, this dialogue plays out.)
Mikoto: You look just like them... Arcadia... Oceania...
Shigure: ...
Mikoto: You belong with the people of Valla... You belong with your people...
Shigure: I do not, and you don't either.
Mikoto: Join us... Or face the ultimate punishment.
Shigure: I've already made up my mind, and I'm sure that you know what the answer is already... If not, allow me to show you.
(If Lyci initiates combat with Mikoto, this dialogue plays out.)
Lyci: I wish that we did have to meet like this... I heard that you were a fair and lovely woman in life.
Mikoto: Fair and lovely mean little before the gods...
Lyci: Well, if you've turned your back on the world, then fine. I'll just have to show you what you're missing out on by siding with that monster!
(If Sophie initiates combat with Mikoto, this dialogue plays out.)
Sophie: You remind me so much of the previous people we fought against...
Mikoto: I have special draconic blood... You have it as well...
Sophie: Great... I don't want to think about this more than I already have, so let's get this out of the way.
Mikoto: If you will not serve our master, then there is no option for you other than death... Perish.
(If anyone else initiates combat with Mikoto, this dialogue plays out.)
Mikoto: You have stood up against your gods, and you will pay for such rebellion with your lives... It is a small price given the terrible sins you and your kind have committed...
(When Mikoto is defeated, this dialogue plays out.)
Mikoto: Thalone, I... I have failed you... Forgive me for being... Unable to defend our home... Unable to... Defend you...
(If Tempest initiates combat with Reina, this dialogue plays out.)
Tempest: Mother always told me of what you did to aid her... You saved her life after the death of my grandfather.
Reina: Die...
Tempest: However, it seems that I can do nothing at this point to snap you out of this trance... If that's truly the case, then alright. Let's end this quickly.
(If Caeldori initiates combat with Reina, this dialogue plays out.)
Caeldori: I must admit that I am hesitant to fight against someone who has done so much for my family, but... I know that there are no other options.
Reina: Oppose Anankos and suffer... You made the wrong choice...
Caeldori: You must forgive me for what I am about to do... May your soul find peace wherever Akiri awaits you.
(If anyone else initiates combat with Reina, this dialogue plays out.)
Reina: Oppose the gods and die...
(When Reina is defeated, this dialogue plays out.)
Reina: Akiri... Forgive me for my sins...
(If Rhajat initiates combat with Fuga, this dialogue plays out.)
Rhajat: Grandfather... You have changed a lot. Who would have thought that you would bend so easily to the whims of a god?
Fuga: Anankos is the only one who deserves to be followed...
Rhajat: Is that the case now? Hmph. I never thought I would hear you say that. I suppose it makes more sense that you're being used as a puppet given how out of character it is.
Fuga: Bow to him or die...
Rhajat: If you're going to go on like that, then fine. I'll just have to end this once and for all.
(If anyone else initiates combat with Fuga, this dialogue plays out.)
Fuga: It matters not where you are from... Submit everything that you are now or will be to the power of our god...
(When Fuga is defeated, this dialogue plays out.)
Fuga: At last... I am freed... Thank you...
(If Jasper initiates combat with Mozu, this dialogue plays out.)
Jasper: You aren't the one who raised me... You're from another timeline where we never crossed paths, and yet... Seeing your face here and now hurts so much.
Mozu: Blood is unimportant... Serve only the gods...
Jasper: You aren't the person I grew up knowing. You're not my mother, but... I still must apologize for what I'm about to do. I hope that this does its job of freeing you from this twisted influence.
Mozu: Die...
Jasper: Akiri, Yugare, whoever is out there... Please bring her soul salvation.
(If anyone else initiates combat with Mozu, this dialogue plays out.)
Mozu: You have made a mistake by opposing the gods... In the name of the one who gives me strength... You will die...
(When Mozu is defeated, this dialogue plays out.)
Mozu: Thank you for this... I wish you luck in defeating him... We're all... Counting on you...
(If Kana initiates combat with Silas, this dialogue plays out.)
Kana: You aren't my father... You didn't raise me. You're from another timeline. We've never met before now, but... It still hurts to know that we are on opposite sides of the battlefield.
Silas: Join me... Come with me...
Kana: I can't do that... I need to free my actual father from this control. I can't be stopped by you... I'm sorry for what is about to happen, but... This is for the best.
(If Sophie initiates combat with Silas, this dialogue plays out.)
Sophie: You aren't the father I know, but... Seeing you like this still makes me feel sick. Maybe it's because it reminds me that I'll have to fight my real father later.
Silas: You should join me... You can see him again... Thanks to Anankos...
Sophie: As tempting as that is... You're just a shell of the man you once were. It's my job to free you from that influence, and I'll do that!
(If anyone else initiates combat with Silas, this dialogue plays out.)
Silas: Fall by my hand in the name of the great Anankos... He will rule over you soon enough whether you like it or not...
(When Silas is defeated, this dialogue plays out.)
Silas: Thank you... May you find... Victory soon...
(If anyone initiates combat with Izana, this dialogue plays out.)
Izana: The gods are the only ones with the power to carve our fates... Listen to the most powerful of the gods, and let him take control...
(When Izana is defeated, this dialogue plays out.)
Izana: Ah... May I reunite with the gods once again...
(If anyone initiates combat with Yukimura, this dialogue plays out.)
Yukimura: The most logical decision is to give in now... Anankos will always succeed...
(When Yukimura is defeated, this dialogue plays out.)
Yukimura: Ah... Thank you... We are... Counting on you...
(After the battle, Kana, Kanaya, Shigure, and Lyci stand together in front of the palace once again.)
Kana: That was an incredibly long and difficult fight...
Kanaya: We're going to start seeing people that we know now...
Shigure: We've been fighting for so long... We're finally at the castle.
Lyci: We should head inside. Thalone must be in there.
Kana: If he's going to turn our families against us, then we can't let him survive. That's a horrible thing to do.
Kanaya: He was willing to sacrifice someone he cared about to get rid of us... From the way he was talking to that woman, Aquaria, he seemed to really care about her.
Shigure: He doesn't care about much when compared to his revenge, it seems... I'm not surprised, but... It's still disgusting.
Lyci: Let's finally get into the palace. The sooner we find him, the better... We have more people to free from this twisted influence anyways.
Shigure: I agree... Now, let's get going.
(Shigure and Lyci head towards the palace. Kanaya and Kana stay behind for one more moment.)
Kanaya: Are you alright?
Kana: Yeah... I will be.
Kanaya: I met the version of your father from my timeline... I'm sure he's proud of you now.
Kana: I hope you're right... I just want all of this to end.
Kanaya: You aren't the only one.
Kana: We'll end it soon. I promise.
(The two dash to catch up with the rest of their party as the camera fades out to black.)
Updates are going to be a bit longer from here on out since oops we have to run into most of the rest of the playable cast still
-Digital