After obtaining both keys from Father and Mother, Throne hoped they would unlock her collar, but it was to no avail. She and Reformed Society then return to New Delsta to find what the two keys truly unlock, and confront the first leader of the Blacksnakes, Throne's real father.

"Damn, so close yet so far." Kayra said.

"What are we supposed to do?" Leftor asked. "There's no way to know what these keys even unlock."

"Actually…I may have an idea." Throne said.

The group descended down into the sewers as they approached a large wooden door.

"This door has been on my mind since I first found it. I have to wonder if…" she said, inserting both keys into the doors as they soon opened before the group.

Taking the passageway through the door, the group found themselves in another town altogether. In fact, it wasn't New Delsta. They were somewhere else in the Brightlands.

"Another town? Where did we end up?" Captain Cold said.

"We're still in the Brightlands, that much is certain. But I can't say I find this town familiar." Kareem said.

They saw the town was old and musty with hardly anyone here.

"What…is this place?" Esmeralda asked one person.

"Lostseed…where the forgotten lay." one of them said.

"Lostseed? Why would that passageway bring us here?" Angelo asked.

"Only reason one can think of." Bassam said.

"The guy who's got the real key to your freedom is here, Thronè." Captain Cold said.

"I came to that same conclusion. But where is he?" Thronè asked.

Not wanting to leave that question unanswered, Thronè and Reformed Society explored Lostseed, looking for their target. They soon came across a gondola, headed by an elderly man.

"Ah, welcome, young ones." the man said.

"Who are you?" Thronè asked.

"I'm just a guide. This ropeway is something of an antique from long ago." the man said. "Would you like to go for a ride, young ones?"

"Are you sure this will be able to hold all of us?" Bassam asked.

"It's alright. I can swim. Just the way I like it." Rayleigh said.

"Kayra, Letfor and I can fly alongside the gondola." Aoesia said.

"And I can spin a web bridge so that the more heftier of us can ascend." Rosalie said.

With everyone's travel plans set, the more human members of the Society piled into the Gondola with Thronè as it ascended towards its destination. Kayera, Letfor and Aoesia flew alongside the Gondola, while Rayleigh swimmed his own way, Rosalie providing a means of transport for those who couldn't fit in the gondola herself.

"This gondola sounds like it's seen better days." Poison Ivy said.

"Nice sound, isn't it? The coiled spring turns the gears, making them mesh and move the gondola along… It almost feels like they're winding something back, if you ask me…" the man said.

"You sure are talkative." Thronè said.

"It's a guide's job to talk." the man said.

"You know…you remind me of someone. But I can't remember who…" Thronè said.

"I can't help you there. Take some time to think it over. There's still a ways to go until our destination… This ropeway was made a long time ago. People used it to get to a certain little town… So little, it's not even on the map. There weren't many people riding the gondola those days, but… I would tell them all the same story." the man said.

"We'd like to hear this story, if you don't mind." Cheetah said.

"Once upon a time, in a faraway land…there lived a man and a woman who were deeply in love. But they were a prince and princess of enemy kingdoms. And it wasn't long before war broke out because of their love… Many people died in that ghastly war…" the man said.

"That literally sounds like the plotline for Romeo and Juliet." Valfor said.

"Wait, you've heard of that play?" Glacius asked.

"What? It's a classic. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone that hasn't heard of it." Valfor said.

"What happened to the prince and princess?" Throné asked.

"They ran away, leaving their homes behind, and took only a few loyal retainers with them. The princess had no other choice as she was with a child." the man answered.

"What a sad story. Is that the end…?" Thronè asked.

"No, no. The two hid away within the depths of a valley. They made a new home there with their retainers. They called it Lostseed." the man said as they soon arrived at the other end. "Here we are. This is as far as I go. I'm sure you all will find what you're looking for up ahead."

"Thank you." Thronè said.

"Are you all well?" Cheetah asked the Bee Soldiers, and Rosalie's group.

"That was quite the trek… I'm happy we all made it." Rosalie said. "Are you three okay? You had to fly quite a fair distance."

"Don't worry. We're all good to go." Aoesia said.

"I'm sure Rayleigh will meet us inside the castle somewhere. From here, it's to our target. Let's hope he's close." Agursu said.

The group headed upward from the gondola towards the castle in the distance, reuniting with Rayleigh along the way, who swam up to the castle using the underground waterways. As the group entered, the sound of a baby crying was heard as they soon reached the throne room and saw a figure holding a baby.

"So you've finally come. I was hoping to see you, Thronè." he said before looking up, revealing a very familiar face that shocked Throne and the group.

"Pirro…?!" Throné asked. "It can't be… How is this possible…?"

The man let out a chillingly pleasant laugh. "I suppose there might be some resemblance." he said before looking to the baby cradled in his arms, having gone silent. "He's finally cried himself to sleep. That's a good boy… Isn't he adorable?"

"Identify yourself. Who are you?" Valfor asked.

"You may call me Claude. I'm Pirro's father." the man said casually. "I was the one who carved the words on his gravestone. And you, Thronè…are truly the best, to have made it this far. Granted, you had help, but still…a commendable job, one worthy of reward. So tell me…what is it you want, Throné?"

"Freedom. I came here to win my freedom from the Blacksnakes." Throné said.

"Ah, a fine answer. For reasons I won't get into…I've been alive for a very, very long time. But eternal life is too much for any one person to handle… So I decided that I would die." Claude said.

"So you elope with multiple women and then pit their children against each other to see who gets to kill you? Wow… That is just dark." Kareem said.

"Children are incredible, aren't they? They're like another self…they live on in the world their parents leave behind. I wanted my legacy to be great. I wanted my child to be the best. Thankfully, time was on my side. So, as you so correctly guessed, I impregnated countless women. And had countless children…" Claude said.

"So it wasn't just Pirro, was it? It was every member of the Blacksnakes." Kayra said. "Bruno, Scaracci, Donnie… even Mother and Father, dare I guess. So by that logic… does that mean Thronè is also on the list of children you gave birth to?"

"Yes. That's correct. Each and every member of the Blacksnakes is a child I created. Which of course, includes Thronè." Claude answered.

"..Lies." Thronè seethed.

"Oh come now. Your comrades have it all figured out already. What could be left to deny?" Claude asked.

"But even so, what you do with your immortality is sickening." Glacius said.

"You say that…yet the two of you snow beasts have tangled with the immortal." Claude said.

"What do you mean?" Esmeralda asked.

"You worked with that Flux Family and you don't even know of that? My…seems you two aren't as well informed as you believed." Claude said.

"Wait… you're familiar with the Flux Family?" Poison Ivy said.

"The 23rd to be exact." he said. "Mostly…with the true son."

"True son? What are you talking about?" Glacius asked.

"Sorry…but I won't be giving you anymore than that." Claude said.

"No problem. We'll just do what we do best." Zamazenta said.

"In case y'dont know, that's beatin' the answers outta ya." Yangus said.

"Yes, I do suppose that's what you came here with Thronè to do. Kill me, and earn her freedom." Claude said.

"That's right. That's what we came all this way for." Cheetah said.

As Claude was talking with the Reformed Society, Thronè was dealing with the immense pressure of all the revelations told to her so far. It was so much for her, she thought she would burst from pure emotion, namely anger and despair.

"Still denying the truth, Thronè? Then let me give you the tipping point that will make you believe." Claude said. "After I planted my seeds, it was time to let the garden grow. And once it did.. It was time to prune. But not by my own hands. I let my garden tend itself and weed out what wasn't strong enough to make the cut. I created the Blacksnakes to be that garden."

Thronè, hearing this, took a step back in shock. "No…"

"Thronè… you killed Pirro. You killed Mother and Father. And then with your allies, came here."

"N-no… No…!" Thronè stepped back more, trying so hard to deny everything.

"The fact that you're alive is proof that you're the best of them all. Your journey was all part of the process, my little seed…" Claude said.

And with that, Throné finally let out a despaired scream of anguish. There was no way to deny it anymore… the Blacksnakes she and the others had killed to get here…they were all her-

"Ah…! AHHH…!"

(Cue: Parade's Lust *Theme of Belial* - Granblue Fantasy Versus)

"Throné, don't let him psych you out." Cheetah said.

"B-but…" Throne said.

"All of this may be a lot to take in, yes… But it doesn't have to define you." Cheetah said. "A life without bloodshed may be too late for some of us… But it's not too late for you."

"Hmm…a fine idea…" Claude said as one of his chains moved at Cheetah before a flash of light occurred.

"Cheets, are you…uh…" Yangus said.

"Weird…He didn't hurt me at…" Cheetah said before looking in a mirror to find herself human. "What did you…"

"These chains are special…I can lock away anything…that includes that little curse of yours." Claude said, showing a cheetah in one of the links. "Want it back? You'll just have to kill me."

"Looks like we ain't got no choice… let's do this, Gang!" Yangus said.

Thronè, hearing Cheetah's words, stood up and drew her dagger. "You are my true father…no. It doesn't matter now. All that matters…is ending it here."

"That's the spirit, Thronè. Come. It's time for your final test. Let's see if you can kill your true father…" Claude welcomed.

The Progenitor of the Blacksnakes

Claude

"Stay back, Babs. We'll handle this." Captain Cold said.

"Right. I'll provide support." Barbara said. "Let's see… The most effective tools to use would be daggers, axes, staves, darkness and lightning. But be careful. He might have other tricks up his sleeve."

"Understood. Just stay back for now. We'll pay this guy back tenfold for what he did to you!" Rayleigh said.

Claude welcomed the eventuality of him being killed by Thronè's hands, but he wasn't going to make things easy. He started by lashing his chains out at the group, hoping to damage them or steal their abilities.

"I think I've figured out what his chains can steal. He can lock away our abilities, use of items, and even any effectiveness in our attacks!" Glacius said.

"Make sure to avoid them as much as possible. If they hit you, you'll be sitting ducks. Try to stagger him and have him leave an opening so you can break them." Barbara said.

"So perceptive. But let's see how long you can evade my chains, shall we?" Claude asked as he sent more their way.

The group jumped all around the oncoming chains and soon found an opening to attack him, Yangus first jumping around the chains and closing.

"Take this, y'long lived wanker!" Yangus said, slashing Claude across the chest with a powerful swing of his axe, followed up by his devastating Parallax attack, dealing Claude's first damage.

"Heh. Impressive. But let's see how you contend with this." Claude said as he snapped his fingers, causing a specter of Pirro to appear. "Pierce your Dagger into his heart once more…" he said as he fell back a bit.

"He can summon illusions too?!" Letfor asked.

"Don't get wound up. His illusions likely have the same weaknesses as the real thing." Kareem said.

"Let's find out." Nesma said as she blasted the Phantom Snake Pirro with a burst of light, which was effective. "Yes, it appears it does share Pirro's weaknesses! Excellent observation, Kareem."

"Merely doing my part, Lady Nesma." Kareem said with a blow before firing a blast of dark magic.

Throné then hit Phantom Snake off with a Surprise Attack, and after fiercely dueling daggers with the Phantom Snake similar to how Pirro was fought, Throné finished him off and broke the illusion, prompting Claude to return.

"He has returned! Attack him now!" Bassam said.

"Get him, Jade!" Jessica said.

"Of course. Thunder Blade!" Jade C said as a sword of lightning struck down on Claude..

Kareem and Bassam then followed up with twin Darkness based slashes from their lances, followed by Jessica, who slashed at Claude with her own dagger, as well as Thronè's. But despite all the damage he was taking, he wasn't even sweating any pain, rather he was smiling. Happy at Thronè, in particular.

"You've grown into a fine woman, Thronè. You remind me so much of Marietta." Claude said.

"...Shut that disgusting mouth of yours. You make me sick." Thronè replied in utter disgust and hatred.

Claude laughed in the face of Thronè's response. "Oh, Thronè.. What a good little girl you are…"

"I'm getting real tired of this guy's sociopathic proud father act." Captain Cold said.

"You and a lot of us, Cold. Let's knock him off his high horse as soon as possible." Esmeralda said.

"Before you engage with me some more… I bet you and your friends are dying to see your 'real' parents, Thronè…" Claude snapped his fingers as he pulled back again, this time Two Phantom Snakes appeared, these ones being illusions of Mother and Father.

"These two again, huh?" Glacius asked.

"Thankfully, we know their weaknesses, and they shouldn't be as deadly as their counterparts, since we've dealt with the real ones." Valfor said.

"Understood. Break formation." Angelo said as the group split up to take on both illusions at once.

"That's enough!" Tear said as she unleashed her Overlimit before activating her second Mystic Arte. "O light that rains down on heaven and earth, bring my enemies to their destined annihilation." she chanted as she drew up in an orb of light before waving her right arm downward. "Fortune's Arc!" she called as beams of light struck down onto the Shadow Snakes.

"Shining Shot!" Angelo said, dispatching the Phantom Snake of Mother with a light arrow to her face. The Phantom Snake of Father was then dissipated via Kayra and Letfor working together, dragging Claude back out of the shadows.

"Now's our chance to stagger him! Doing that should break his Chain of Pride!" Glacius said.

"That's right. Strike me down if you can!" Claude said, lashing his chains at Thronè and the other members of Reformed Society.

Jessica gives Barbara a dagger. "I trust you know what to do with this."

"Indeed I do." Barbara said. "Let's end this, Thronè."

"As I planned too." Throné said as they both charged Claude head on, evading his multiple chains. Barbara avoided one which would've pierced right through her chest, before hitting her mark with her loaned dagger and making Claude stagger. This causes Claude to look shocked as the Chain of Pride broke, returning Barbara's power to her.

"Whew… Well, that was close. But it worked." Barbara said, her body furring up until she was Cheetah again. "Sorry about that. I got careless for a moment." she said as she gave the dagger back to Jessica.

"No worries. Glad to see you're back at 100% now." Jessica said.

Cheetah nodded before turning to Claude. "I hope you've enjoyed yourself, Claude. Because now it is time you pay for all you've wrought upon us. And I am to pay you back tenfold."

"Not just yet, I'm afraid. There's still one more thing I want you both to deal with." Claude said as he snapped his fingers and pulled back again, this time bringing out illusions that were shocking… Throné herself and her mother.

"What the…?" Captain Cold asked.

"Is that…. Me and my mother?" Thronè asked.

"No, clearly they're both fakes." Kareem said. "It seems Claude has no end to his mind games."

"I take it you can handle your double?" Cheetah asked Throné.

"They always say your greatest enemy is yourself. Can you handle the fake of my mother?" Throné asked in return.

"It'll be my pleasure." Cheetah said as she and the group went into action. "This fake has weaknesses to daggers, bows, fire and lightning."

"An easy dispatchment then." Angelo said, firing an arrow at the fake snake and hitting it dead on.

"Oh Fonverse… Invoke Flame!" Tear said as a red magic circle appeared under Cheetah. "I've imbued your claws with Fire Magic, Cheetah. Go nuts!"

"You took the words right out of my mouth, Tear!" Cheetah said as her claws alight with fire as she charged at the Fake Marietta. She ripped and teared through the fake snake, burning through the illusion as it stood no chance against her speed and reflexes. "A shame, really. I would've loved to meet Throné's mother in person. Unfortunate that Mother killed her in cold blood to usurp her position as head of the Blacksnakes."

"Yes. She and Father seemed like a very happy couple. They were ready to live a peaceful life together." Bassam said. "That is… Until Claude stuck his nose into the affair and ruined it for everyone."

"Cheetah, I know it's not your place to take him down, considering the blood you already have on your hands… But even you have to admit that someone like Claude can't be forgiven." Esmeralda said.

"Esmeralda, Glacius… You two seem well adjusted for people who figured out their whole service was a lie." Cheetah said.

"None of that matters anymore. We left our lives with the Flux Family behind when we came to your service. Who we really served beforehand made no difference." Esmeralda said.

"And now that we're here, even though it's Throné's task to kill Claude, we believe it should fall to you. She doesn't know it, but even if she does kill Claude, she'll be trapped in her story forever." Glacius said. "You're the only one fast enough to manage it. It has to be you. You're the only one who can save Throné from her endless torment!"

"You're right. I must end her nightmare, and steal her away from her own story!" Cheetah said, finishing off the Fake Snake of Marietta and charging straight to Claude. "No more games, Claude! My claws will be what takes your life, not Throné's dagger!"

"Hoho… Now this is a surprise. And here I thought you'd be happy to have your human form back." Claude said.

"...I do wish to return to it someday, but not right now. There is still so much I wish to do. That is the pure essence of morality. Something that you are no longer able to understand." Cheetah said.

"Ah, but I am to be slain by Throné's hand. All I need to do is hit you with my Chain of Pride, and your little crusade will be all over, right in front of Throné. That would give her enough drive to commit the deed, seeing someone she grew so close to, drowning in a pool of their own blood." Claude said.

"Then let us see who defeats who Claude. Either my claws cut you down and end your centuries long life, or you seal my powers away once more and kill me." Cheetah said.

"Come then, Barbera Minerva. Let's see who survives!" Claude declared, lashing his chains out at her. However, now that Cheetah has her powers back, she was able to evade them with little to no trouble.

"Lend me your strength, Ishihara… This time… I'll be the one to do it. I'll be the one to change fate!" Cheetah said as she slashes at Claude rapidly before performing several roundhouse kicks, kneeing Claude in the skull and performing a kick that sends Claude below her and making an X-slash with her claws, sending Claude crashing to the ground.

(end song)

Claude got back to his feet, but it was clear that Cheetah's last move was fatal. The damage he had taken was in no way small, and right at this moment, once Cheetah had x-clawed him across the chest, all the pain he had taken was finally catching up to him.

"...Finally. Finally… I am Fulfilled…!" Claude smiled. "You denied her the finishing blow, Minerva…but Throné is my greatest masterpiece…"

Throné approached Claude silently, joining Cheetah. "Your words mean nothing to me."

"Throne is right. She is not a puppet to dance to your strings endlessly." Cheetah said. "Though she was born to someone as vile as you, she nonetheless still has the right to live. And I promised Father that I would help her live a life where she wouldn't be forced to drench her hands in blood needlessly."

"Heh… How ironic… Coming from you." Claude said. "The key to her collar is in my pocket… Take it."

Cheetah rummaged through Claude's pockets before handing the key to Throné. "The moment of truth."

"Throné… Did you know…there is something that cannot be stolen? Not even the greatest thief can take it… It can never…be stolen… What do you think…it is? I would hear…your answer…" Claude said.

"...The dawn. It can be taken away, but not stolen." Throné answered.

"Haha… You truly are…her daughter…" Claude said before his head slumped over as he died, the baby he held crying soon after.

"...Are you sad? Perhaps you should be. Your father is dead. My father is dead." Throné said, before unlocking the collar around her neck, as a familiar feeling welled up within her. "...Not again."

Throné's mind then lashed back to the memories of what the old man said about the gondola, and then memories of Pirro, Mother, Father, and even of her infancy when Mother was about to kill Marietta, the latter begging Throné to be better than her, to be happy… and then, to when she was with Marietta and Claude. Back then, the answer to Mariettas own question from Claude's own words, was Instinct. All are bound by what's in their blood, living and dying to preserve legacy. There is no key to unbind us from those chains…

…and back then, Marietta told Claude that he was right.

"Finally… I'm finally free. From now on… I can go wherever I want, I can live however I please." Throné said. "But Cheetah, everyone… this doesn't smell as sweet as I hoped. No…"

"Don't finish that thought, Throné." Captain Cold said. "This ain't gonna reek of blood. Not if we have anything to say about it."

"Where we're going may still have blood on our hands. But at least it will be of our choice. Even so, would you still wish to come along with us?" Cheetah asked.

"I do. I want to see the worlds where you all come from. I want to be free, make my own choices, and see what's beyond Solistia. I'd still have to fight, that much is true. But at least I won't have to kill anybody I love. But I can't do that if I'm trapped in a never-ending story that's on a loop." Throné said. "So… would you all steal me away from the pages of my own story?"

"As if you needed to ask. Just bear in mind that people like us will have unpleasant reputations in some places, some people are even going to be scared of us." Cheetah said.

"It'll be worth it to get away from meaningless bloodshed. Thank you, Cheetah."

"You're very much welcome, Throné. Welcome aboard." Cheetah said.

"Well, well… Seems like you handled that better than I thought you would." a voice said as time slowed around Cheetah.

"This feeling…someone powerful is speaking to me. No…a god?" Cheetah said.

"Most observant, Barbara Minerva. I am Aeber, the Prince of Thieves. I'll be honest with you. When that guy sealed away your powers, I really thought it was touch and go there, and I'd have to knock some sense into you myself." Aeber said. "But you and your companions worked very cohesively. You adapted better than I expected."

"Many thanks for the praise, Lord Aeber. But I must ask, aren't you and your fellow gods opposed to us taking Throné away from Solista?" Cheetah asked.

"Not necessarily. It has happened before." Aeber said. "In Orsterra, after Galdera was felled, the man who chose the path of the Dancer that time, Ty Takahashi, offered Primrose Azelhart a spot on his now disbanded team. In my eyes, I couldn't think of a better way for Throné to celebrate her freedom."

"Thank you, Aeber." Cheetah said.

"Though… I do notice a lack of abilities in your peripheral. Especially compared to that Ishihara boy you mentioned. Maybe the abilities I'll bestow onto you will help level the playing field." Aeber said.

Before Cheetah knew it, the mark of the thief was emblazoned on her right hand.

"You now possess the powers of the Thief class. But there is still one more thing you must do before you take Throné away." Aeber said. "Go to Conning Creek. There, your destiny shall unfold."

"Understood. We'll be there as soon as we can." Cheetah said.

Time soon flowed again.

"So, where should we go celebrate Throné's freedom?" Valfor asked.

"I think I have a destination in mind. Conning Creek." Cheetah said.

"Conning Creek? Why there?" Jessica asked.

"Let's just say a certain god has told us our destiny shall be revealed there." Cheetah said. "And you know me. I do not disregard orders from the gods."

"Heh… You never did make things easy, Cheetah." Poison Ivy said. "Alright, Conning Creek it is."