Return to Me/Script

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Return to Me

Event: Truth, Unfolding

Holy Mausoleum
Late Night

The scene shows a black screen.

Hapi: Where the heck are we?

Yuri: Finally, you're all awake. Good morning, sleepyheads. Or is it a good evening?
Constance: Yuri! You scoundrel! You are unfit to speak to us, liar that you are!
Yuri: Yeah, yeah, liar, blah-blah. Nothing I haven't heard before.
Balthus: Look, pal. Enough beating around the bush. What exactly are you trying to accomplish here? Where's Aelfric? And what the hell are you plotting?
Yuri: Questions, questions. You're wearing me out, Balthus. Fine, then. I'll lay it out for you. Aelfric intends to reenact the Rite of Rising. He's preparing everything as we speak.
Hapi: What is this silly rite, anyway? He trying to do some crazy magic to raise the dead or something?
Yuri: Actually, yes. By offering up the blood of the Four Apostles in the chalice, you can bring someone back to life. Saint Seiros performed the ritual 995 years ago, but not enough blood was given up. So the ritual was a bust. No clue what happened after that. That's what Aelfric concluded after scouring the records, anyway. And now, through extreme persistence, he's found and gathered the four of us, with our Crests. He placed us under his direct supervision within the Ashen Wolf House, and he did all of it to ensure a successful ritual—the Rite of Rising.
Constance: You mean to say that he intends to drain our blood? To kill us?! Such an act would be unforgivable! An atrocity! I cannot die in this wretched hovel!
Hapi: Yeah, that sounds painful...and permanent. Count me out. Hang on—the number four includes you too, right? So you're gonna die too?
Yuri: Yep. That's the idea.
Balthus: And here I thought we were close, but all this time you've been skulking around, deceiving us. It hurts, Boss. Hurts bad. You wanna die, that it? Fine. I'll kill you myself. Just stop that crafty nonsense of yours and face me, fist to fist.
Yuri: Shut it. I've lived through hell and worse. After clawing my way here, you really think I want to die?
Balthus: Then why throw your life away for the likes of Aelfric?
Yuri: Some things are more important than my own life. Some things are worth protecting.
Balthus: You're not making any damned sense!

Yuri enters the scene.

Aelfric: It would seem that you want to be punished severely, Yuri.
Yuri: That some sort of threat? There's not much you can do to me that hasn't already been done.
Aelfric: True. You took wing from the mud into which you were born and rose to such great heights. To break your spirit would take far too much effort. Though, if I must, I will kill your mother in addition to your dear people.
Balthus: Oh... So that's it. You were trying to protect your mom.
Constance: Precisely what is it you are hoping to accomplish, Aelfric?
Aelfric: To resurrect someone I lost long ago—no matter the cost. Surely there are those for whom you'd do similar.
Constance: Perhaps... Even so, never would we annihilate those we care for!
Aelfric: There's nothing I wouldn't do, nobody I wouldn't trade to see the light in her eyes once more...

Balthus: Whoa... That lady looks real dead, pal.
Aelfric: She is...for now.

Event: Disintegrating Plans

Holy Mausoleum
Late Night

Balthus: You're gonna regret this, Aelfric.
Aelfric: I accepted the regret I might feel from this long ago. As long as she returns, nothing else matters. Yuri, if you think you'll be pulling anything funny, think again. The Knights of Seiros won't save you. No doubt they're indisposed right now on some mission or other.
Yuri: Well, that's a damn shame. The whole evil villain look really doesn't suit someone as "pious" as you, Aelfric. Heh heh...
Hapi: Yuri-bird, I could—
Yuri: Not yet.

Two Dark Mages and a Dark Bishop enter the scene.

Aelfric: It is time. Take them.

The scene fades to black.

Aelfric: Your blood will pour forth, filling the chalice.
Yuri: You really are a fool...
Aelfric: You were diligent, Yuri. You kept me abreast of all the Ashen Wolves' movements. As recompense for being such a good student of my flock, I will gladly hear any final words from you.
Yuri: Heh, that's fresh. If you knew me at all, you’d know these won’t be my final words. I'm simply biding my time.
Aelfric: For what...
Yuri: For the goddess's descent. Can you hear it? She's coming.

Bells start ringing.

Aelfric: Bells? This late at night?
Yuri: Yeah, you hear that, Aelfric? That's the sound of your demise. The knights are releasing my people as we speak. The ones you locked up and hid away.
Aelfric: How did you know about that— Wait, the Knights of Seiros?!
Yuri: Heh heh... Like I said, the evil villain look really doesn't suit you. I know it was you who sent me on that mission that ultimately led to me landing in Abyss. Overall, your execution was lacking. Lady Rhea has been on to you as well. Oh, and just so you know, I've been working for her since before I ever began working for you. She had me keeping an eye on you. Told me to inform her if you seemed to be planning anything.
Aelfric: You! Yuri: But you took those I care most about hostage, which limited my options. You chained up the Wolves and kept a tight grip on my rogues in Abyss to ensure I wouldn't betray you. I struggled with whether or not to tell her everything. After all, my allies' lives were on the line. I deliberated on what to do next, knowing I'd have to rely on my own cunning to see this through. I waited for the chance I could rescue my mother and allies. All while paying lip service to you. Until today. The day you pulled all your forces in so you could attempt this ritual. You're no villain, with that sticky conscience you call a heart tripping you up. Not like me.
Aelfric: ...
I see. You were one step ahead of me all this time. It matters not. The ritual has begun. There's no stopping it now. You will all die. Just a bit longer.
Yuri: Don't think for a moment—
Balthus: That you're getting off easy, pal! Seriously, Boss. Did you have to tie us up so tightly?
Yuri: Heh heh... Sorry, Balthus. I figured those little tears would be enough for you to break through the rope.
Balthus: I may be the Unbeatable King of Grappling, but I'm also bleeding profusely... You didn't wonder why it was taking me so long? Think next time, yeah?
Constance: I haven't the slightest what you two are jabbering on about, but please untie our ropes as well!
Yuri: You're talking. Do it yourself. I dispelled the silence from you ages ago, or hadn't you noticed?
Constance: Oh! I see!
Hapi: It's great that we're not tied up anymore and all that, but we're still being actively drained...
Aelfric: I've invested everything to ensure my success today. My private funds, a veritable army... Surround them! Don't let them escape! The ritual will not be stopped.
Constance: Ugh! Why won't it cease? We are freed, and yet our blood still drains from us?
Yuri: Hmmm. Well, this wasn't part of the plan. Haha!
Constance: This is no laughing matter! Our very lives are ebbing away!
Yuri: Stop panicking, Constance. You know I'm never unprepared.
Balthus: Hey, you've always got a trick up your sleeve, don't ya? I can hear your secret plan running our way.

Battle: The Rite of Rising

Before the battle begins

Hilda: Ugh. I don't know what's happening here, but it definitely doesn't look good.
Dimitri: Can this really be the Rite of Rising... What precisely is going on?
Linhardt: Their blood is being drained and then transformed into...raw power... Ugh... I... That's a lot of blood. Too much blood. This is hard to watch.

Player phase of turn 1

Constance: Could you step within the magical vortices beside us to obstruct their flow? Quickly, now! It is crucial to halting the Rite of Rising! The vortices are repelling the Crests of the Apostles! We can't block them ourselves!

If you place someone other than those students from the Ashen Wolves House on top of the four vortices, you can thwart the Rite of Rising. There are 20 turns until the ritual is complete. Stop the Rite of Rising before it's too late.

Yuri: Look, we really want to help, but right now, we just can't. Please do what you can!

Enemy phase of turn 1

Aelfric: So this is how it feels. Infinite power flowing forth from the chalice... Without the chalice's protection, I doubt anyone will survive.
Hilda: So this will kill everyone, including your allies, and you don't even care?! We have to stop this now!

Upon blocking one vortex

Constance: Well done! But you must stanch the flow from the other vortices too!

While a unit is placed on top of the vortex, place other units on top of the other vortices.

Aelfric: No... No! Stop them!

Upon blocking all vortexes

Aelfric: The ritual—it cannot fail!
Claude: Now that we've stopped the ritual, all that's left on the agenda is defeating Aelfric!
Aelfric: It matters not whose blood it is anymore. Even if I must use your blood to see this through, I will!

Boss: Aelfric

“	Aelfric: I have not wanted any harm to befall you, as you are her child. She'd have wanted you safe. But if you insist on getting in the way of this, I have no choice but to strike you down.	”	— Aelfric vs. Byleth

“	Aelfric: In the end, like all birds of prey, you'll turn on your master as easily as you'd turn on your victims. Yuri: Nothing and nobody can shackle me. A caged bird never sings.	”	— Aelfric vs. Yuri

“	Balthus: I owe you a lot but not my life. Not an even trade in my book. Aelfric: I feel some remorse over what I will require of you. But take it, I must. I will not shrink away from what is necessary. Balthus: That a fact? Then I guess a fight was inevitable. Aelfric: Ever the brutish thug.	”	— Aelfric vs. Balthus

“	Constance: The bill has come due for your misdeeds, Aelfric. Aelfric: It matters not. She is all that matters. She alone. Constance: Ahaha! Then if words shall not sway you, let us proceed to actions!	”	— Aelfric vs. Constance

“	Aelfric: You're not as angry as I'd have expected, Hapi. Hapi: I guess I'm used to betrayals by now. But that doesn't mean I'm going to sit on my hands and let you hurt me and my friends.	”	— Aelfric vs. Hapi

“	Aelfric: Soon...soon, she will be brought back to me. Should anyone attempt to get between us, they will sorely regret it.	”	— Aelfric vs. anyone

“	Aelfric: Not yet... There's still time!	”	— Aelfric's defeat quote

Event: Mother

Holy Mausoleum
Late Night

Aelfric: Professor. You would raise your sword against me? Your mother lies here, waiting for us. Waiting for you! Don't you want her back?
Claude: Teach, is that true, or is he just trying to freak us out? If so...it's kind of working.

My mother died giving birth to me... I don't have a mother. You have no proof that's her.

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Aelfric: There is no room for doubt. I know her appearance better than anyone. This...is her. An upstanding nun who married Jeralt, she died 21 long years ago...
Dimitri: You cannot expect us to believe that someone who died two decades ago is still in such pristine condition...
Aelfric: Incredible, isn't it? It's as though she remains untouched, even after all these years... Perhaps her body differs from others. Beautiful, ageless—perfectly preserved by some secret only she knows. Whatever the case may be, it is strange, is it not? It's been 10 long years since I found her. I came across her body, frozen in time, deep underground. I have worked tirelessly to solve the riddle of her death and bring her back to life.

Rhea and Alois enter the scene.

Rhea: Halt, Aelfric.
Aelfric: Rhea! You are the cause of this! It was you who killed her! When she gave birth to a child who made no sound. Tell me what you've done to her! Why does her body remain while her spirit does not?!
Rhea: I owe you no words on the matter. But I will tell you this... She made the choice to die, that her offspring might live. I respected her will. Nothing more. Aelfric. Just as I viewed her, so do I view you. You are as my own child. Please, cease this futility.
Aelfric: Oho! You expect that I should believe you without question?! You see her lying here before you, and yet you "owe no words." Rhea, I am finished with you. The only thing that remains to be done is to complete the ritual.

Aelfric warps away.

Rhea: Hurry! He cannot have gone far.

Let's end this.

Edelgard: Yes, we must stop him at once. Let's figure out where he disappeared to.
Dimitri: What about you four? You don't look like you're up for much of anything right now.
Yuri: It'll take a lot more than that to stop me. If anything, I feel speedier with less blood weighing me down.
Balthus: Probably for the best that he drained us, otherwise our blood would be boiling.
Constance: Ugh, speak for yourselves. I feel atrocious. We must end this, and swiftly.
Hapi: Count me in.
Balthus: Then we're all on the same page. But first things first... Let me see that pretty face of yours, Boss.
Yuri: Hm?

A punch sound plays.

Yuri: Agh!
Balthus: Why the hell didn't you tell us?
Yuri: I'm sorry I had to use you all. But there wasn't much choice—someone would've died for sure otherwise. It could've been any of you. It could've been one of my rogues, someone from Abyss... Who knows.
Constance: You imply that you didn't trust us enough! I am incensed by you, Yuri.
Hapi: Use me or don't, but it would've been nice if you'd asked us first.
Balthus: Look, I get it. Your people were being held hostage. You were between a rock and a hard place. But I thought we were pals. Buddies till the end.
Yuri: I... I need you...all of you. I've been a fool. Thank you for always being here for me. Even now.
Balthus: All right, I think this fool gets the picture. Time to find that other fool and take him down! You'll help with that, yeah?

Obviously.

Yuri: Haha! I love the lip on this one. Let's do this, Wolves.

Event: Limerance

Aelfric: To me, growing up in the shelter of the monastery, she was my world... All of the memories I hold of her—learning, growing, walking hand in hand—she left me in awe.

Aelfric: If that's what makes her happy, then I will watch her walk away with warmth in my heart. If that is truly what will make her happy... Surely he will make her smile. That's all I wanted for her. To Sitri, confined within the monastery walls, he was her world. I saw the way her eyes glimmered when they spoke. And her otherworldly smile when they became engaged. The look on her face when she told me how happy she was to bear his child... It was enough for me to see her happiness—to witness it from a distance.

The scene fades to black.

Aelfric: She breathed her last, 21 long years ago. I have never forgotten. She died before she could see the face of the child whom she had so lovingly nurtured... The funeral was a solemn affair. We gathered in the graveyard, said our farewells, and watched as her casket was lowered into the soil. That was the end of her story. Or so I thought. Until 10 years ago, when I found her—her remains, hidden deep within Abyss. She looked as beautiful as ever.

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