Tibarn: Reyson! Are you well?
Reyson: Tibarn! How did you-
Tibarn: Nealuchi told us everything.
Reyson: Oh... Allow me to apologize. I left on my own without a word to you, and this is what happened.
Tibarn: As long as you're unharmed, all is well. Let's go home.
Reyson: Please, give me a little time. I cannot allow these humans to remain in the forest.
Tibarn: I understand how you feel, but we're completely outnumbered. Let us wait for another day-
Reyson: Once I stand at the altar, I can take care of them. Every one of them.
Tibarn: You can't mean... Are you thinking of using the forbidden magic?
Reyson: ...Yes. I will sing those monsters the dirge of ruin.
Tibarn: Are you mad?! You mustn't! I can't allow it!
Reyson: With permission or without, I do what I must! It is retribution for genocide! Retribution for this forest!
Tibarn: Reyson! You must not let yourself be ruled by despair! Each member of the heron tribe is an embodiment of balance! Do this, and you warp your very existence!
Reyson: That's what they all said...My family. My tribe. And then...they died. The humans were drunk with joy. They laughed! They sang! ...And then they slaughtered us like livestock. My mother, my brother, my elder sisters... Even my infant sister, Leanne! All killed in a single night.
Tibarn: Reyson...
Reyson: I know. This thing I intend to do brings dishonor to my house. And yet...I cannot forgive. And their past actions weren't enough; now, they violate the sanctity of the forest without a trace of regret! Accursed humans...I will never forgive them!
Tibarn: Don't you think we understand that?
Reyson: ...
Janaff: That's right! Prince Reyson, there's no need for you to reject your honor based on the likes of them!
Ulki: The tragedy of the herons...The horror and pain of that night...lives on in all of us.
Tibarn: Let's return to Phoenicis, and think of a plan. You are right. This will not stand. The full power of the hawk nation is behind you. The humans will pay.
Reyson: ...As you wish...
(Scene change.)
RM: Enough already! Lay down your arms and surrender. We will let you live!
Oliver: Grrrrrr... No! Never! I'm not giving up! I'm not finished yet! Out of my way, penniless wretches! Your very existence is an insult to all that is beautiful! All you really want is my wealth and beauty! Miserable curs... You reek of poverty and envy! Oh, but I understand your emotions...Yes, I do. How could you sad vagabonds not want to be me?
RM: ...That's the last thing in the world-
Oliver: Silence! I am not one to be daunted by mean beggars such as you. Oh ho ho ho! In the name of the goddess, I, Oliver, duke of Tanas, will smite your hideous evil!
RM: Um...
Oliver: To arms! To arms! Defend me with all the strength you possess! Oh, and bring me the little bird that blue-haired lout is carrying while you're at it...
RM: ...Oh, please.
(Soldiers arrive.)
RM: Here they come! Combat formation, everyone!
(A Battle begins. A few minutes pass. RM crosses the swamp.)
Janaff: Uh-oh! They're still going at it over here. Shall we go around?
Tibarn: I suppose so. Two human armies bashing one anothers' brains out...I wonder what they're after.
Reyson: Ah!
Tibarn: There's that sound again. Reyson, are you doing that?
Reyson: ...
Tibarn: No, I suppose not.
Reyson: ...The forest is whispering something. (What is it? ...What are you trying to tell me?)
Janaff: King Tibarn! Prince Reyson! Look! There!
Tibarn: Eh?
Reyson: Ah?
Janaff: The blue-haired human is carrying something on his back...No, it can't be...
Tibarn: Is that...another heron?
Reyson: ...But...that's not...
Tibarn: I think some of the humans might be fighting to protect the heron. Grr... It's against my nature, but...we shall aid them! Janaff! Ulki! To me!
Ulki: Right!
Janaff: Yes, sir!
Reyson: Tibarn! Please... Allow me to go with you.
Tibarn: If you forswear the forbidden magic, you may come.
Reyson: Agreed.
(A few minutes pass. Oscar approaches Oliver.)
Oliver: Listen to me, you boors! You cannot possibly understand the pursuit of beauty. You are savages! You are a blight on the world, and you must die!
(Oscar and Oliver fight. A few minutes pass. RM approaches Oliver.)
Oliver: You lowborn, vulgar, penurious vermin! Return my little bird to me! Objects of beauty must be admired! Only by my side can they fulfill the purpose for which they were created!
RM: I am SO TIRED of listening to your nonsense, you massive gasbag! This ends here and now!
(RM and Oliver fight. A few minutes pass. Lethe approaches Oliver.)
Oliver: Shoo! Go away now! Nobody wants a monster feline... Gyaaa! Get out of here!
Lethe: You're the type of scum that cause laguz to detest beorc! I will enjoy this, fat man!
(Lethe and Oliver fight. A few minutes pass. Mordecai approaches Oliver.)
Oliver: Oh, such a hideous creature! Noooo! Stay back, you filthy beast!
Mordecai: I am Mordecai. I am not filthy... It is your soul that is unclean.
(Mordecai and Oliver fight. A few minutes pass. Muarim approaches Oliver.)
Oliver: St-stay back! A filthy beast like you... How dare you approach a sanctified personage such as myself!
Muarim: Who is it that decided that a laguz life is worth less than a human? Do you believe the goddess Ashera, whom you claim to worship, would want it to be so?
Oliver: Aaaaaaah! Monster! Hideous, vile monster! You will not defile the name of the goddess!
Muarim: Monster? Which of us is the true monster?
(Muarim and Oliver fight. A few minutes pass. Devdan approaches Oliver.)
Devdan: Devdan likes pretty things, too.
Oliver: Wh-who are you?
Devdan: But things are only pretty where you find them. Locking them away is sad. It makes Devdan upset…
Oliver: Grrr… That peculiar face… I've seen it somewhere before. Um…err… It's no use. Your ill-favored face clouds my memory.
Devdan: You have a bad memory, large man. Let Devdan give you a present that you will not forget…
(Devdan and Oliver fight. A few minutes pass. RM defeats Oliver.)
Oliver: Ohhh...ahhh...I...cannot...fall here...It cannot...be...Such a...loss...to beauty...
(The defeat of Oliver causes the battle to end.)
RM: It's you!
Reyson: On your back... Who is it you carry?
RM: Oh, the girl? I think she may be somebody you know, but...
Reyson: (Leanne!)
Leanne: (Reyson, my brother? Brother! Brother!)
Reyson: (Is it really you, Leanne? This is no dream?) How is this possible? How did you survive all this time?
Tibarn: Leanne? Do you know who I am?
Leanne: (Tibarn? Of the hawk tribe, yes?)
Tibarn: That's right. You remember my name. Have you been here by yourself for all these years?
Leanne: (I don't know...that night... My sisters took me and hid me in the small shrine. I'm sure they sang a galdr to me...And then I became so sleepy...)
Reyson: The forest protected her. It kept her asleep for so long...There's no way to express my gratitude. (Thank you for...With all that I am,) I thank you.
Tibarn: You there, beorc.
RM: Me?
Tibarn: I am Tibarn, king of Phoenicis. Since the loss of their homeland, the Serenes royal family has been under my guardianship. Who are you, and why do you aid the herons?
RM: My name is RM. I am commander of the Greil Mercenaries. I am under orders of the empress, the apostle Sanaki, to protect the herons.
Tibarn: The empress of this country wants to protect the herons? Ha! That is an interesting tale. The herons were blamed for the assassination of the last empress. They were massacred on hearsay. And now her ancestor wants to help them? Touching.
RM: The empress Sanaki knows that the herons are not murderers. And now, she is trying to atone for the crimes of her people.
Reyson: ...No. I cannot believe that.
Tibarn: ...
Reyson: Pathetic apologies and half-baked platitudes are easily spoken! Humans burned Serenes Forest. They killed my family. I cannot trust one who allies himself with them.
RM: Please, withhold judgment until you speak with the apostle. She's waiting at the forest's edge.
Reyson: The apostle is here?
(Scene change.)
Reyson: So you...are the apostle?
Sanaki: I am.
Reyson: ...
(Sanaki drops to her knees.)
Sanaki: ...I'm...sorry...I am ignorant as to what words of contrition will be appropriate to one of the heron tribe. Yet I stand before you as a representative of my people... From the depths of my heart I apologize to you... I am sorry... So truly sorry...
Sigrun: Emp-Empress Sanaki! What are you doing? You are the apostle! You cannot bend your knee to another!
RM: Peace! Let her speak her heart.
Sigrun: I...um...
Reyson: ...
Sanaki: I'm sorry...I'm sorry...
Leanne: (That is enough...)
Sanaki: ...?
Reyson: Leanne?
Leanne: (Please rise, Apostle Sanaki.)
Sanaki: You... What is it you want? Are you telling me to stand? You...
Leanne: (It is enough. It was not your fault.)
Reyson: Leanne!
Leanne: (Brother... it is enough, is it not? Forgive this child. Her apology is...so sincere.)
Reyson: Leanne! You cannot ask me to forgive them! You were asleep... You don't know what these humans did to us...
Leanne: (...I do know. The forests...told me everything.)
Reyson: You...know?
Leanne: (...Everyone... is...gone, aren't they?)
Reyson: That's right... Everyone is gone. That's why I cannot release my hatred.
Leanne: (Brother... My loving brother, Reyson. The pain and sadness is in you, Brother. It clouds your very soul. To see you like this, to watch you. It hurts me. Please...do not lose yourself to hate.)
Reyson: (Leanne my sister.) I understand. If that is how you feel...
Sanaki: ...
Reyson: Apostle Sanaki... We accept your apology. We may not be able to release our hatred of hum- of beorc, but...You need not let the fate of Serenes Forest trouble you any longer. You are absolved of that guilt...
Sanaki: Th-thank you...
RM: That was well done.
Sanaki: Yes...
Elincia: My lord RM, what will happen now?
RM: The heron siblings said there would be some sort of ceremony, but I don't know what that entails.
Janaff: You there! Beorc mercenaries! Prince Reyson wants all of you to come to the Serenes altar. The presence of Princess Crimea and the apostle is also requested.
RM: Altar?
Janaff: Just come with me. It's this way.
Elincia: Empress Sanaki, Commander Sigrun, let us go.
Sanaki: Very well.
Mist: Let's hurry, RM!
RM: Right.
(Scene change.)
Tibarn: That was excellent.
Elincia: It's so beautiful...
Sanaki: The Serenes Forest, beloved of the goddess, is alive once more.
Sigrun: You spoke so well earlier, Empress Sanaki. You fill my heart with pride... Sniff...
Sanaki: Here now! None of that. This is no place for tears!
Sigrun: I'm sorry... I'm just so happy...
Nasir: Ah, excellent. The gap between laguz and beorc has been bridged. I think this may be enough...
Soren: ...
Titania: What's wrong, Soren? You look so grim. What are you looking at?
Soren: It's nothing. Nothing at all.
Titania: Wait, Soren! What in the world is wrong with him?