Part 50: Chapter #10: Clashing in the Snow, Part 2

Chapter #10: Clashing in the Snow, Conclusion



: Then again, with the daughter of our enemy's leader in your party, I cannot entirely blame him.
: I apologize as well, Lord Alden. I should have realized
the emotions Claire's presence would elicit. Now, then, let us discuss what led me to seek an audience with you.
: An alliance with the Empire? A peace treaty between all nations of the Continent?
: Yes, Lord Alden. That is my dream...and with your help, I can make it a reality.
: Your arguments have a great deal of merit, and you are quite passionate about your cause. However...I cannot form an alliance with the Empire, Sadira, nor will I sign any peace treaty.
Fuck peace!
: Wh...and would you be so gracious as to explain why not?
: This is a most delicate time, Princess Sadira. Many events are about to be set into motion. To ally myself with you would be to jeopardize all that I have worked so long to achieve. Besides...
: What?
: If events unfold as I predict, there is a strong possibility that the Empire and I will become bitter enemies.
Oh, Alden could try and stop that from happening, but, well, it wouldn't be sporting of him, would it?
: Oh.
: (Sadira...)
: I thank you for your honesty in these matters, Lord Alden. I will take leave of you now.



Devlin, I spent an entire branch dealing with you, can't I have a moment of peace?
: When did you become an ally of the Empire, and become friends of the Imperial Princess? When I saw you last, you were chasing after an Imperial ATAC to gain revenge for your father!
: I have not forgotten my oath! I will have revenge for my father in time, rest assured of that. But I've learned much about myself since I saw you last, Devlin. Perhaps more than I wanted to know.
: The entire Continent will be affected by the decisions you make from this day onward. You might not want to accept your lineage, or the responsibility that comes with it, but you must. Indecision is weakness. Indecision is without honor. Is that the legacy you desire, Prince Bastion?
: You...you know who I am? (Why does it seem as though everyone knew my true identity except me?)
: Make a choice, Bastion, and step onto the path of your destiny.
: You make it sound so simple, Lord Alden, as if I could flip a coin and gladly accept either result. But you don't understand how I feel. No one does...
And then Bastion turned up the Evanescence on his iPod and walked away...



: I'm not entirely sure, Cecilia--and the more I think about it, the less able I am to make a decision. But I will have to decide, and soon.
By the way, I have no idea what decision Bastion is talking about exactly. The only real choice you get on this path is what girl you end up with, and I don't think that's what Alden was talking about. Beyond that, I can't think of a single important decision that Bastion actually makes.
: Cecilia...May I ask you something?
: No.
: But I haven't said anything yet!
: And that's the way I like it.
: I was hoping that you might be able to give me any advice you may have, or at least listen to my rambling.
: I'll listen to you, Bastion, but only if you listen to me first. Fair enough? I'm not quite as silly as I pretend to be, and I think you've already begun to realize that, haven't you?
: I can't deny it. You've acted strangely on several occasions that I've noticed.
: Everyone else keeps underestimating me, which is exactly what I want.
And Bastion knows too much....
: But why do you want Sadira and the others to underestimate you? You work for them, after all!
: No, Bastion, I don't.
: I don't understand.
: I'm a mercenary, Bastion. I work only for myself. I serve whomever pays me the most money.
: And that would be Princess Sadira, wouldn't it?
: Try again, Bastion.
: You mean...No!
: Yes, Bastion. I began working for Sadira because someone else paid me to take the job. And now you know my secret.
: Cecilia, I can't believe this! I can't believe that you're a...a...
: A spy? It's true!



Two options, which affect the morale of Cecilia, which affects which ending you get....

: Do you really think I'm going to keep a secret like that, Cecilia?! You might be a traitor, but I'm certainly not! I'm going to tell Sadira everything!
: Even though you have no proof?
: I don't need any proof! It's my word against yours!
: And who will she believe, Bastion? Her faithful ninja maid, or a boy she fancies but barely knows.
For some reason this line cracks me up...it's probably the 'faithful ninja maid,' bit.
: Don't tell her, Bastion. I don't want to cause any trouble. I just wanted you to know.
: But WHY, Cecilia? Why give me such a burden and then expect me to carry it without complaint?!
: I...I don't know, Bastion. Because I'm tired of carrying that burden myself, I suppose. Because I felt I could trust you. Because I need to start telling the truth before I forget how.
: Cecilia...



On the other hand....

: I'll keep your secret...for now. But I don't understand why you're telling me this in the first place. Aren't you afraid that I'm going to tell Sadira?
: But you won't tell her, will you?
: No.
: I knew you wouldn't, Bastion. And I...
: You what?
: I didn't want to lie to you anymore.
: I'm glad.
: I need someone to know who I am. Who I really am.
: I don't understand.
: I'm a mercenary, Bastion. Secrets and lies are my business, and my life. I've been doing this for so long now that I'm starting to confuse the lies for the truth. There are times when I can barely remember the REAL me. Do you know how frightening it is to forget who you are, Bastion? To lose the grip on your soul? As long as one person knows who I really am, I can maintain that grip. At least, that's what I'm hoping. And I want that person to be you.
: ... ... ...
: You must be shocked by all this, and I'm sorry. I just somehow knew that I could trust you. I'm hoping that you and Sadira can end this war, even if that means I'll need to find a new path in life.
In the spirit of fairness, I should mention that you are allowed to switch your vote, if you so choose. I'd imagine that when some of you picked Cecilia, you didn't see....this coming.
: Because I don't like the path I'm on right now, Bastion. It leads to pain and darkness. Have you anything to say, Bastion?
: I'm still a bit shocked by all of this, Cecilia. You've gone several minutes now without giggling!
: Ha-ha! I wish I could say that was part of the act, but it's really just a nervous habit of mine!
: I like it when you laugh, Cecilia, and I really like it when you smile. I promise you won't have to live these lies much longer, Cecilia.
: I'll hold you to that, Bastion!

And then the two paths dovetail into the next scene.



: What's the matter, Sadira? You look surprised, and a little sad.
: Nothing, Bastion! Nothing at all! I'll see you two later, alright? Alright! Goodbye--



: Oh, uh, yes, that's right.
: Are you totally spacing, or...oh! You're JEALOUS! How CUTE! Sadira and Bastion, sitting in a tree...
K-I-L-L-M-E
: If you don't shut up RIGHT NOW, I'm going to--



: Perhaps we should postpone the meeting until later this evening.
: No, Franco, it's fine. I'd rather just get it over with!



: Thank you, Princess Sadira. Your Highness, have you ever heard of an ATAC called Ultragunner, also known as the Royal ATAC?
Also known as Pope Mechanicus
: Father spoke of it a few times, but never for long. He told me it was the most powerful ATAC of all...and that it had been hidden away many years ago because its power was essentially beyond control.
: That is true. But did he tell you that its power COULD be controlled by one special individual?
: Are you, like, implying what I think you are?
: Your Highness, you are that person. You were born with the gift. You can harness Ultragunner's power.
: Can I?
You see Bastion was born to be a prince of the universe, no man could understand, his power is in his own hands. People talk about him, people say he's had his day, but he's a man that will go far, fly the moon and reach for the stars, with his sword and head held high, Got to pass the test first time, yeah.
: You don't seem very surprised by this news, Bastion!
: After all the revelations I've received in the recent past, Sadira, I've grown weary of surprises.
: Oh.
: Shortly before the Empire...acquired my services, I found out Ultragunner is within the Merania Temple. It is driven by a stone named Gratia, which is possessed by Marquis Dionne, the leader of Dionne-Lehve.
: So we need to retrieve Gratia before I can revive the Ultragunner.
: And once Ultragunner is revived, the world will know that Your Highness is alive and well! The Kingdom Army will rally around you...neutral countries will ally with you...and the Empire will fall. Faulkner's reign of terror will be ended at last, Your Highness. What a glorious day that will be.
: Thomson, I will be honest with you. I don't feel any particular desire to restore the Kingdom to greatness.
: Your Highness!! It is your birthright to lead the Kingdom, and you would simply discard that privilege?!
: You call it a birthright, Thomson, but it merely sounds like a terrible burden to my ears. All I want to focus my energies upon for now is acquiring Ultragunner. I will indeed use its power, but not for something so foolish as restoring lost glory to the fallen Kingdom.
: Then how will you use your power?
Whaling. He's going to revolutionize the practice of whaling.
: I will use it to bring a swift end to this horrific war, of course. I will execute the murderers.
Oh, and he's apparently going to kill some people, too.
: If that is what you truly desire, Your Highness...I have no choice but to help you in any way I can.
: But how much assistance can you give me without revealing your true loyalties, Thomson?
Conspiring with a group that didn't have a known mole would probably have been a good start.
: Even if he were to suspect something. I would sooner die than allow him to coerce me into a confession.
: It won't come to that, Thomson. I trust you to be careful.
: Thank you, Your Highness. Unless you have other ideas, I suggest we travel to Dionne-Lehve. There, we can meet with the Marquis and obtain Gratia.
: Let's go!



: Are we being ambushed? Are they friendly? Do we at least know what type of ATAC it is?
: Sorry, Sadira, but I don't recognize its radar signature! We won't know what it is 'til we see it!

Next Time: Less Talk, More Rock!