Hidden Truths 2: Difference between revisions

[[Anankos]] tells [[Owain]], [[Inigo]], and [[Severa]] that they have arrived at their destination, the great kingdom of [[Valla]]; Owain asks why the rocks are floating, while Inigo notices a lake is upside-down and asks Anankos what is going on, to which Anankos says he's not surprised they find his homeland strange. Severa asks why the area's so quiet and if people live here, to which Anankos denies--hardly anything dwelling here is alive anymore, Vallite soldiers are the only ones roaming outdoors; Owain asks Anankos if what they fought back in [[Valm]] were Vallite soldiers, to which Anankos confirms, all of the kingdom's soldiers are reanimated puppets of the dead, prompting an outburst from Owain calling Vallites zombies and a subsequent apology. Anankos tells Owain there's no need to apologize, as his outburst wasn't far from the truth--he then goes on to explain that Valla was once a prosperous kingdom but now is nothing more than a wasteland; Inigo asks Anankos if he's essentially a god and, if so, why he would even bother trying to save a dying kingdom--asking him if he came to them for help because he loves this place, something which he could understand, to which Anankos states is partly true and partly untrue. Inigo asks Anankos what he means, to which Anankos states that to answer his question he must tell them a story about a dragon, prompting a reaction from Severa; Anankos tells the story, answering questions asked along the way, before ultimately revealing that the dragon in the story stands before them now, prompting shocked reactions from the others. Inigo deduces that Anankos both made Valla flourish yet later destroyed it, to which Anankos confirms--the desolation in the area is his fault for not being able to suppress his rage, he grew to detest even those who he cared for most and cared for him still, even not believing the king. Anankos continues his story, revealing his family connections and how his [[Corrin|child]] as well as their [[Mikoto|mother]], [[Arete|aunt]], and [[Azura|cousin]] managed to escape in the process; once Anankos finally finishes his story, he tells Owain, Inigo, and Severa that what they just heard cannot be spoken outside of Valla, as anyone who speaks of such things elsewhere vanishes.

Anankos next sets out to reveal the task he asks out of Owain, Inigo, and Severa, to travel to the kingdom of [[Hoshido]], to which Severa deduces is outside of Valla; Anankos reveals that Hoshido is one of two great kingdoms outside of Valla, and it's where Mikoto (the mother of Anankos's child) fled to, stating he's sure she would offer safe harbor to them. Once there, they are to accompany Anankos's child in a quest to [[Raijinto|obtain]] [[Fujin Yumi|the]] [[Siegfried|five]] [[Brynhildr|divine]] [[Yato|weapons]] and, once they have them, return to Valla and defeat his insane half; after a shocked reaction from Severa, Anankos states he knows how much his insane half is suffering, pain and anguish that will not stop until he has destroyed every last trace of mankind--stating that it's his insane half that needs to fall, not mankind. Owain asks for more information about Anankos's child; Anankos starts to explain, but gets rudely interrupted.

A mysterious, sinister figure states that she's found where Anankos has been hiding, calling him a "filthy impostor"; Anankos tells the figure he doesn't know her and asks her who she is, to which the figure introduces herself as [[Lilith]], daughter and most loyal servant of the great King Anankos. After a shocked reaction from Anankos, Severa asks why Anankos didn't tell them he had two children, to which Anankos states Lilith is no child of his; Lilith confirms it, stating that she's the daughter of King Anankos, and that the Anankos on the scene is merely a disgusting fake and not the true [[Silent Dragon]]. A shocked Anankos in disbelief deduces that his insane half has fathered a child, to which Lilith states she's surprised Anankos didn't know about her and that he can't forsee everything--such as the fact that the child the sane Anankos knew about resides in [[Nohr]] and not Hoshido; Anankos is shocked to hear this revelation, then deduces that Nohr must have [[Garon|kidnapped the child]] to use as a pawn, then asks how such an event could happen and asks about the future he saw, to which Lilith states she likes the look of despair on his face, as his insane half thinks he's nothing but trouble and it's now time for him to die. Owain states he and his friends wouldn't allow that to happen, and attacks Lilith but does no damage; Lilith retaliates, dealing sizable damage to Owain in the process, prompting Inigo to retaliate but with similar results. Upon Inigo stating his attacks weren't hurting Lilith, Lilith responds that Owain, Inigo, and Severa are nothing more than annoying little bugs in Valla; noticing that they still want to fight, Lilith asks them if they wish to die that badly. After a reaction from Inigo, Anankos asks that the fighting cease, unleashing a flash of light for his own attack.

Lilith notices that Anankos's attack was an immobilization attempt, and states that's not enough to defeat her; in response, Anankos asks Owain, Inigo, and Severa to use their crystal balls to escape and return to their own world while they still can. After a reaction from Severa, Anankos apologizes for the ordeal and reveals that his powers are weaker than he thought--the fact that his former body created a daughter means the future is far bleaker than he had foreseen; Anankos mentions he once had a vision of Lilith, whose presence meant the death of Owain, Inigo, and Severa, to which he tells them he can't ask them to remain in a world that's beyond saving. Owain states he won't accept this outcome, to which Anankos reveals their reward will remain even though they are retreating, stating he regrets not giving them the chance to decide where they truly wish to return to; Anankos thanks them for truly believing them, then states it's time for them to leave. Severa refuses, stating they're not going anywhere just yet and tells Anankos he can't make them; she deduces that Anankos still can't believe in people after all that's happened--and also deduces that they're not destined to die in this area and that Anankos sounded to regret not trusting humans before and asks him to pick a different path and live without regrets. Inigo asks Anankos why he would ask them to abandon him when he said they were his last hope, stating they've bet their entire lives on hope before--hope was all they'd had countless times, and it saved not only them but their original future, and they can prove they can save Anankos's world as well if Anankos would only believe in them; Owain states they came to Valla knowing the risks and asks Anankos for their new powers--names don't matter now, all they want is the power to fight for this world. Owain asks Anankos not to believe some bleak future as seen in a dream, but to believe in the ones who are there right then and there; Owain, Inigo, and Severa all vow to fight for him until the end, to which Inigo states he understands. Anankos then proceeds with an incantation; after a flash of light, Owain, Inigo, and Severa have been given new appearances and identities.

Odin (formerly Owain) states that he looks so different and that he feels light on his feet; Laslow (formerly Inigo) says he can't believe what's going on, he's never felt like he does now, and it's as if he's burning with power; Selena (formerly Severa) asks Anankos if this is what his power can do in Valla, to which Anankos confirms--his power is strengthened in his belief in them, after which he reveals to them their new names. Odin states his name to be cool, while Laslow thanks Anankos for believing in them and Selena telling him stuff like this is what he can do if he puts his mind to it and he won't regret believing in them; Anankos thanks them for helping him believe in mankind once more, to which Odin states his new power feels incredible and states there's no way they're going to lose. Odin states it's time for payback, again attacking Lilith but this time dealing damage, with Selena noting that Odin's attack worked; Laslow notes that they can now put up a good fight, to which Lilith tells them not to get ahead of themselves, after which she summons a large number of Vallite soldiers as the scene transitions.

Selena, noticing the Vallite soldiers, deduces that Lilith does not know when to quit, to which Lilith states that Odin, Laslow, and Selena may be stronger now but they're nothing compared to her puppets--stating that she hopes they like it here as it will be their final resting place; Laslow states that there's no chance of that--they've got places to go, things to do, worlds to save, then asks Lilith to get out of the way or pay the price. The scene then focuses on theee [[Dragon Vein]]s, to which Laslow asks Anankos what they are; Anankos reveals that they are Dragon Veins, places below the earth where energy has gathered, and only those with dragon blood can activate them--to which Selena deduces they can't use them, after which Anankos states that there is indeed a way. Anankos states that he shall bestow his blood upon them, and if they drink it, the blood of the [[First Dragon]]s will flow through them, allowing them to temporarily activate the Dragon Veins; Odin states he can't wait while Selena asks exactly how long is temporary, to which Anankos states the effect's length varies but usually lasts several decades, and that the effect can even be passed to their children--but there is not enough time for him to give that much of his blood, but he can give them enough to last a few years as it stands now. Laslow states that it should be more than enough, with Odin adding it's enough to get past these Vallite soldiers; Odin, Laslow, and Selena are each given a [[First Blood]] as the battle begins.

Once the battle ends, Selena thanks the gods and states that they somehow managed to break through, after which Laslow asks her and Odin if they're all right, with Odin confirming and stating the Vallite soldiers were no match for him; Lilith asks them if they really thought they could beat her and revealing Anankos's insane half gave her an endless supply of soldiers and asks them if they are ready for more, summoning yet additional Vallite soldiers in the process. Odin, Laslow, and Selena react to having to face more of the Vallite soldiers, but Anankos tells them there's no need for the three of them to keep fighting, he shall send them to Nohr from where they stand; Odin, surprised at hearing of this destination, asks Anankos if they were supposed to go to Hoshido, with Selena asking what Anankos is doing in Valla all by himself and asks him to come with them, to which Anankos states he has to remain in Valla--and even if he could leave, there's nothing he could do in the other kingdoms. Anankos, stating he wishes he could have told Odin, Laslow, and Selena everything he could have, bids them farewell; Laslow tells Anankos he can't be serious, to which Anankos tells them to head to the royal castle in Nohr immediately, that they can become retainers for [[Leo|the]] [[Xander|royal]] [[Camilla|family]], and then maybe they could find his son/daughter. Lilith tells Anankos she's had enough out of him, and launches another attack, which damages Anankos; Laslow cries out toward Anankos, after which Anankos tells them that next time they meet, it will be [[Anankos (chapter)|as enemies]], asking them to promise they will return--he's put his faith in them and trusts them to return no matter what fate has in store in order to end his suffering. Anankos teleports Odin, Laslow, and Selena out of the area, bidding them goodbye and good luck.

After Odin, Laslow, and Selena are gone, Lilith once again tries to finish off Anankos, only to find herself unable to do the task--with Anankos accepting her as his daughter in the aftermath, while still begging to be finished off; Lilith tells Anankos not to call her his beloved daughter, as she faithfully serves her father yet he barely acknowledges her existence, thus Anankos shouldn't refer to her as his beloved anything as he knows nothing about her. As Lilith explains how Anankos's insane half has treated her, she continues to feel more and more conflicted, even as Anankos states he would have tried to save her if he knew about her and again asks to be finished off; Lilith's power begins to weaken as her internal conflict continues, Anankos uses his magic to remove the sinister aura from around her and collapses afterward, ultimately fading away in Lilith's arms as the two exchange kind words, with his last words being apologies to her, Mikoto, and Corrin. Anankos emanates light as he dies, after which Lilith cries out to him; as a result of what Anankos's sane half did for her, Lilith vows to protect Corrin even if they never realizes she's their sister. Lilith proceeds to apologize to Anankos's insane half for being a pitiful daughter who betrayed him, vowing to never tell Corrin a single thing about either half of Anankos. Realizing she doesn't have enough power to chase after Odin, Laslow, and Selena, Lilith decides to head to the astral plane and hoping the [[Astral Dragon|astral dragons]] can help her become a light to Corrin; she bids Anankos's insane half farewell.