Darkness/Script

Part 1: Emblian Calamity

Pre-Battle

Henriette: We will soon arrive at the village… Alfonse, Sharena, let’s not delay.
Sharena: O-of course!
Alfonse: Mother… Wouldn’t it have been appropriate for you to have remained at the castle?
Anna: I must concur. We are nearing Embla’s borders… It’s not safe here. You can trust us to investigate the situation in the village.
Henriette: Thank you both. I am sorry for making you worry due to my selfish curiosity. But even so… If I can, I must see this with my own eyes.
Sharena: Why’s that, Mother?
Henriette: This may well concern both Askr and Embla—and their continued existence.

(scene change to the map screen)

Alfonse: Wh-what is that?
Sharena: I’ve never— It’s like the whole area is covered in a shadow of…pure black.
Alfonse: That is where the village should be. Now it’s like it was never there. What happened here?!
Henriette: … Is this what you spoke of all those years ago, my love?
Anna: The enemy is here! Ready yourselves for battle, everyone!

Post-Battle

Anna: Our scouts report no sightings of anyone from the village… It’s like the village is completely closed off by the dark barrier…
Sharena: “Closed off”? Alfonse, could it be—
Henriette: This is Embla’s doing.
Alfonse: What?!
Henriette: Embla’s royal family wields the power to close the gates opened by Askr, but that is not the power’s full extent. Ultimately, it is the power of closure. The village was closed off by Embla’s power—closed off from our world completely. Not it exists nowhere.
Sharena: If Embla’s royal family did this, then that can only mean that— Alfonse!
Alfonse: …Mother, the road ahead will be dangerous. Please take a retinue and return to the castle. The Order of Heroes will get to the bottom of this.
Henriette: I will go at your insistence, but please remember these words… Your father often said, “Askr is a realm that seeks openness and peace with others… That, however, does not mean it is defenseless in the face of invaders. One who seeks to take advantage of our openness and comes ill-prepared for what they’ll find… will be undone by their own lust for war.”
Alfonse: I understand. If this is an enemy attack, I will not be caught unawares. Any enemy who would bring such calamity on Askr must be stopped.

(scene change to a forested area)

Sharena: It’s no use. even right up next to the darkness, nothing is visible on the other side of the barrier. What can we do for the villagers trapped in there?
Alfonse: … If I throw a pebble in…it disappears without a sound. Poking it with a stick, the darkness consumes whatever portion of the stick passes the boundary…
Sharena: What’s become of the villagers who were in the village when this happened?
Alfonse: …
Sharena: Alfonse, I think we should go in. Going into the darkness ourselves is the only way we’ll find out wha—
Alfonse: No, Sharena, I cannot allow that.
Sharena: B-but why?
Alfonse: Whatever goes beyond the edge of the darkness disappears. It could be dust now for all we know. We don’t have enough information. It’s too risky to try it.
Sharena: But if the villagers are alive, then they need our help—and we should get to them as fast as we can!
Alfonse: Even if they are alive and we do go in after them… We have no way of knowing we’ll be able to get back out—with or without the villagers. Sharena: …
Alfonse: I’m sorry, Sharena. This is not my first choice, either, and I’m not even sure this is the correct way forward. I know it may look like I’m giving upon those closed off from the world within the darkness, but…even so… All we can do is continue our investigation of the area for now.

Part 2: Closure Above

Pre-Battle

Anna: This area is the same as the last one. The area has been totally closed off by a wall of darkness.
Alfonse: How has this much damage already been done? And why has this all started happening now?
Anna: There are many questions we need to answer. We should hurry.

Part 3: Closure Below

Pre-Battle

Anna: Embla’s border is just ahead. It seems the darkness extends beyond it…

Post-Battle

Sharena: Alfonse, look!
Veronica: …
Alfonse: Princess Veronica!
Veronica: …Yes?
Alfonse: A village in Askr has disappeared. Wiped from the world without so much as a trace… We believe the power of Embla’s royal family is necessary to close off parts of the world like this.
Veronica: … Go on…
Alfonse: It isn’t your doing. And of course, it’s not the work of Zacharias either. Of that, I’m certain. So I’m hoping you will cooperate with us to help solve this problem before it gets worse. Help us find the true source of this disaster…
Veronica: …
Sharena: In the name of the ties between our two countries, we beg you, Princess Veronica!
Veronica: …Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t care. But the fact is that the same thing is happening in Embla as well…
Sharena: Oh no! That’s terrible!
Veronica: …Yes. I have no choice. I will work with you until we can find the cause.

Part 4: Closure Ahead

Pre-Battle

Veronica: Look at this map… This area in the north here… We should start there.
Anna: The forest along our borders? Why there?
Veronica: I’ve seen a strange silhouette headed in that direction.
Sharena: Strange? In what way?
Veronica: It had wings like a bat…and appeared to be flying.
Alfonse: Another race of mortals?
Veronica: Since the forest is on the border, we should avoid crossing into each other’s territory if we can… To avoid any diplomatic misunderstandings among the people… This way we should be able to search together while avoiding any unnecessary violence.
Alfonse: Understood. We will search the Askran side of the border.

(scene change to the map screen)

Anna: These Emblian soldiers look different than Princess Veronica’s troops. Are there other Emblian forces?

Part 5: Closed-Off World

Pre-Battle

(the screen flashes white)
Ash: Ah… I believe I have arrived. I am unsure of whether I’m ready, but… a few deep breaths will help. Phew… Now then… I have finally arrived in the mortal realm of Midgard. My heart is nearly beating out of my chest… How can I expect to accomplish this mission alone? Nevertheless, I must not give in to my doubts… I must do whatever I can to help the mortals of this world.
Elm: What are you mumbling about over there, you simpleton?
Ash: My apologies… I hope I wasn’t disturbing you. I am… Well, not that you have any reason to know my name, but it would seem rude not to introduc—
Elm: Shut your mouth, cow. I know who you are. You’re Askr’s little servant. Lady Embla told me all about you… You’re my enemy.
Ash: Bat wings, and… Y-you serve Embla?
Elm: Yes. I’m Elm, faithful retainer to Lady Embla. If all he can muster is a dull little cow like you, Askr’s power must be waning indeed. Either that or he must have always been weak compared to Lady Embla. Weak and deserving of death.
Ash: Y-you may say whatever wish about me, but I cannot allow—or rather… I would appreciate it if you would refrain from saying such things. Of course, I realize that I am your foe and you may refuse to listen to me, but nevertheless, I must ask—
Elm: …You’re incredibly irritating. All the more reason for you to die!

(scene change to the map screen)

Ash: Urgh! …M-my strength…has given out too soon.
Elm: Hurry up and die, weakling. I have more worthy sacrifices to make on the alter of my lady…
Anna: Up ahead! Someone’s under attack by—
Elm: Do not interfere, mortal scum!

Post-Battle

Elm: Tch. We’re done here.

(scene change to a forested area)

Ash: You…you saved me! I’m struggling to find the words to adequately express my thanks. First, let me sa—
Anna: No need to thank us! But I would like to know more about who you are exactly…
Ash: Oh! Of course! Please allow me to introduce myself—as is only proper in circumstances such as these… I am Ash, retainer to Lord Askr. I have come here at the behest of my lord.
Sharena: Lord Askr? You mean…
Ash: Ah, yes, perhaps I should back up and explain myself more fully… Ummm… Hmmm… Lord Askr, the Divine Dragon who once granted his power to mortals. I believe you’re familiar? That Askr. I was created of Askr’s domain and I have served him since. It is that very service that brings me before you now—and I must say I am pleased to make your acquaintance!
Alfonse: …
Ash: …Forgive me. Was that too much? Would you like me to repeat myself more slowly? Will that help?
Alfonse: No, no. This is all so sudden, my mind is racing to catch up. You are retainer to Askr…the Divine Dragon. Then… Why are you here? What did Lord Askr send you to do?
Ash: I must stop Embla.
Alfonse: But Embla is…
Ash: Embla is terrible in a way that defies all reason, and she has decided that any who carry Askr’s blood must die. Though I have only so much to offer, it would be my honor to do what I can to prevent such an occurrence.