Naesala

On Ashera's turning everyone to stone...
Naesala: What are you thinking, Apostle?
Sanaki: ...To be honest, I’ve spent my life teaching that the goddess Ashera watches over and protects us. This is all a little hard to accept.
Yune: You don’t have to believe me. You could just let her destroy the world...
Sanaki: No, I will do whatever it takes to save the people who were turned to stone. I will join the others in helping you.
Naesala: ...Well, I’ll do whatever helps my employer.

Before Battle
Naesala:Hmph. I don’t like the air here. It’s…a little too pristine, too clean. I feel like I’m befouling it just by standing here.
Leanne: (What did you say, Naesala?)
Naesala: Nothing, Leanne. Just talking to myself.
Nealuchi: Would you like to join us for dinner, nestling? I prepared enough for three.
Naesala: Nealuchi, I’ve told you, don’t call me nestling. I’m not the child you used to take care of. Just look after Leanne. I don’t need babysitting anymore.
Skrimir: Rarr! Naesala, you traitor! You turned on your own kind!
Naesala: You’re right, of course. Go ahead and tear me apart. I deserve it.
Skrimir: Do you think I won’t? I will make you pay for the suffering of my comrades!
(Leanne comes in front of Naesala)
Leanne: (Wait…) Do not… bully Naesala.
Skrimir: Bully?! This worm has brought ruin on the Laguz Alliance!
Leanne: But… Naesala suffers, too. Very, very much… He–
Naesala: Leanne, I wish you would stop looking into my soul. It’s very rude of you.
Skrimir: Naesala’s suffering?! He hasn’t suffered nearly enough yet! I can fix that, though!
(Skrimir transforms, Leanne spreads her arms to protect Naesala)
Nealuchi: Please do not harm my young master! Take me instead!
Skrimir: Get out of my way, old crow, or you’ll die like your master!
Naesala: Wait, Skrimir! Nealuchi! Leanne! Get out of the way, now! Blast it all!
(Image of Naesala lifting Leanne and Nealuchi into the air)
Skrimir: You run?! You are both a traitor and a coward, Naesala!
Naesala: Sorry, but I changed my mind. Someone else wants my head even more than you do. If I let you kill me, he might never find an outlet for all of his anger.
Skrimir: Hmm. You have a point. Tibarn has the greater right to the kill. I will let him punish your treachery.
Naesala: Standing down? I’m a little surprised. Are you tiring of your role as the hotheaded lion prince, Skrimir?
Skrimir: Don’t push me, Raven King.
Nealuchi: Is-is he gone? Goodness! From the look in his eyes, I thought he would eat us all!
Leanne: (That was very brave, Naesala.)

The enemy arrives...
Sigrun: Lady Micaiah! Has the enemy arrived already?
Micaiah: Not yet. But they're coming. I'm sure of it.
Skrimir: I can't smell troops or weapons. How can you be certain?
Micaiah: I don't know who they are or their exact numbers, but the enemy army is massive!
Skrimir: Hmm...
Micaiah: l know it sounds strange, but I swear it's true! You must believe me!
Skrimir: No one doubts your gift, Micaiah. I will not ignore the words of one who has spoken with the voice of a goddess.
Micaiah: Oh...
Naesala: Micaiah, it looks like you were right. We have guests.
Skrimir: Leave them to me! The weak among you should hide, for the battle will be fierce!
Sigrun: Empress Sanaki. We should leave the fighting to General Skrimir. I will take you someplace safe.
Sanaki: No. I will stay and fight with the others.
Sigrun: With all due respect, Empress, I cannot allow it! What if you are injured?!
Sanaki: If Micaiah, an untrained girl from the streets of Daein, is fighting, then I shall stand my ground as well.
Sigrun: Empress...
Naesala: You can't win an argument with royalty. But don't worry about her. I'll look after the apostle.
Sigrun: That is a kind offer, but I must decline. It is the first and most sacred duty of the Holy Knights to protect the apostle.
Sanaki: It looks like the enemy is about to take this argument out of our hands. They're here.
Skrimir: Do you beorc ever stop talking? Take your positions! Now!
Yuma: Here are the minions of the dark god! Go forth, Disciples, and deliver the holy judgment of the goddess! Destroy them!
Sanaki: You! All of you. You are all Begnion citizens! I'm so relieved you are all safe.
Naesala: Sanaki, be careful! I don't know that they're going to be pleased to see you.
Sanaki: What do you--
Order: Minions of the dark god! We are the Disciples of Order, led by blessed Lord Lekain. We have been charged by the goddess Ashera to cleanse your taint from the world! Death to the tainted souls! Let none escape!
Sigrun: Empress Sanaki, please stay back. These traitors must have sided with the senate during the coup.
Order: Apostle Sanaki is a fraud! Any apostle who defies the edicts of the goddess is an enemy to the people!
Sanaki: What?! No, I--
Sigrun: Silence, betrayers of the empire! How dare you accuse the empress! Treason can only be punished by death!

Aftermath
Skrimir: Hmph. They were strong...for beorc. Has the senate held back its elite forces?
Sigrun: No, I knew a few of them by face. Some of these soldiers were new recruits. I can't imagine how they could have fought against us so fiercely.
???: Simple. They were protected by Ashera.
Yune: I sent a message to Micaiah about the impending attack, then returned here as fast as I could. Ashera freed the petrified soldiers who would pledge loyalty to her. By themselves, they weren't a threat to skin puppets as strong as you, so she blessed their armor and weapons. Now they are worthy to be her true disciples, and their power will be stronger as we get closer to her. The battle will only get more difficult from here.
Sigrun: Their weapons and armor are blessed by the goddess herself?
Naesala: Is that similar to the Black Knight's armor, or Ike's sword Ragnell?
Yune: It's the same idea, yes. The Disciples' blessings were much weaker, because there were a lot of them. Still, it makes them a lot more powerful than they originally were. I'd like to bless you all with protection, too, but I haven't been awake long enough to wield that kind of power. Sorry about that.
Skrimir: Ahhh...that was how they were able to stand against us.
Yune: Poor souls... When they were turned back from stone, they probably thought they were the chosen ones or something. No one is good enough for her, though. When she's done using them against us, they'll all be stone creatures again.
Sothe: Micaiah! There you are!
Yune: Oh, it's her shadow again! I should go. All right, everyone. I'll see you later. Good luck! [she closes her eyes]
Sothe: Micaiah?
Micaiah: Unh...! What?
Naesala: Hey, glad to have you back. We should tell the other teams what happened here.
Sothe: Hm?
Skrimir: I am going back to sleep. I dislike being awakened so early in the morning. Even if it is for battle.