Naesala

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.
Nealuchi: Would you like to join us for dinner, nestling? I’m almost finished preparing.
Leanne: (I’ll help as well!)
Naesala: Leanne, you don’t need to help out.
Leanne: (Why not? I can help you find some really tasty seeds.)
Naesala: I’m not like you. Just eating seeds isn’t going to fill my stomach.
Skrimir: Huh?
Naesala: What’s up, Skrimir? You look terrible... had an unpleasant meal?
Skrimir: Don’t act like we’re buddies! We may be in the same team... but I don’t trust you for a second! You’re a traitor to the Laguz!!
Naesala: You’re right, of course. Though it’s not like I’m begging for your forgiveness.
Skrimir: You... have you no shame!!
Nealuchi: Ooh, ah... young master!
(Leanne comes in front of Naesala)
Leanne: (Wait! Don’t hurt Naesala!)
Skrimir: Oi, Princess Leanne, move aside!!
Leanne: (No! You’re too strong, if Naesala gets hit by you, he’ll die!)
Skrimir: What are you saying!? I don’t understand the ancient tongue!
Leanne: (Uh) Wait... Do not... bully Naesala.
Skrimir: Bully?! You reckon that’s all I’m going to do? This worm has brought ruin on the Laguz Alliance!
Naesala: ...
Leanne: But... Naesala suffers, too. Very, very much... He– (What I meant to say is that you’re in a lot of pain, am I right?)
Naesala: Leanne, I wish you would stop looking into my soul. It’s very rude of you.
Leanne: (I’m sorry, it’s because I worry about you Naesala.)
Naesala: I know. However... that’s no reason for you to get hurt. This is a responsibility that I need to shoulder. I only did what I believed was right. Even if I end up torn apart by Skrimir, I have no regrets.
Skrimir: So you’ve seen the light, Raven King! Let me fulfil your wish... I’ll undo you right here!
Naesala: ...
(Leanne spreads her arms to protect Naesala.)
Leanne: (No! You mustn’t!)
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!
Leanne: (Never!)
Nealuchi: I’m not leaving either!
(Skrimir roars)
Naesala: 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.
Naesala: ...
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.)

Before the battle
Micaiah: Sothe!
Sothe: What is it, Micaiah!?
Micaiah: Wake everyone and have them gather at the square! Enemies are on the way!
Sothe: Wha–huh? All right, I’m on it.
(Outside)
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?
Naesala: Besides... who exactly is our enemy?
Micaiah: I don’t know... But they’re definitely here to attack us... and there are many of them!
Skrimir: So you don’t know...
Micaiah: I know it sounds strange, but I swear it’s the absolute truth! 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...
Sigrun: Danger is almost at our doorstep... Just knowing this fact will be a great help Lady Micaiah.
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! You are of the utmost importance. What if you are injured?!
Sanaki: My magical skill far exceeds what most are capable of. The world has come to this, I cannot just stand back and watch!
Sigrun: B-but...
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. As Empress Sanaki is fighting, I too will fight.
Sanaki: ...We’ll leave it at that. King Naesala, we don’t want to burden you. Besides, it looks like the enemy is about to take this argument out of our hands. They’re here.
Naesala: ...I see. Then, I’m grateful for your kindness.
Skrimir: Do you beorc ever stop talking? Take your positions! Now!
Yuma: Are you all listening!? Here are the minions of the dark god! The vile betrayers to the goddess! Go forth, Disciples, and eradicate the dark god! 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. King Naesala, everyone, please withdraw your weapons! These people are not our enemies.
Naesala: Sanaki, be careful! I don’t know that they’re going to be pleased to see you.
Sanaki: What do you–
Disciple of 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!
Sanaki: What did you just say!? Take a good look at me! I am the Empress of the Begnion Empire... Apostle Sanaki!
Disciple of Order: Death to the tainted souls!
Sanaki: Listen to me speak! Listen, I am...
Sigrun: Empress Sanaki, please stay back. These traitors must have sided with the senate during the coup.
Disciple of Order: Apostle Sanaki is a fraud! Any apostle who defies the edicts of the goddess is an enemy to the people!
Sanaki: What?!
Yuma: Our goddess has already given orders to her true disciples! Accept your punishment! Death to the heretics that oppose the goddess! Punish the minions of the dark god!
Disciple of Order: Punish them!
Sanaki: No, I–
Naesala: Hey, don’t just stand there. They’re not going to listen to a thing we say. There’s nothing trickier than dealing with a bunch of crazed fanatics.
Sigrun: As a soldier of the same nation... I pity you. However, how dare you accuse the empress! Whether you’re insane or not, it is unforgivable. I am Sigrun, commander of the Apostle’s Holy Guard! You who dare betray the empire, treason can only be punished by death!

After battle
Skrimir: Hmph. They were strong... for beorc. Has the senate held back its elite forces?
Sigrun: No, I don’t think that’s the case. Judging by the armor they were wearing and the badge that shows their rank... They’re practically all new recruits. I can’t imagine how they could have fought against us so fiercely.
Naesala: They came charging at us as if they didn’t fear death, they must truly be crazy... That said, they were strong. What could be the cause of their strength?
???:Simple. They were protected by Ashera.
Skrimir: Oh, here comes the Priestess of Daein.
Yune: Wrong, I’m Yune.
Naesala: So it’s Lady Yune, huh? When did you return?
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, the Disciples of Order, and their power will be stronger as we get closer to her. The battle will only get more difficult from here. The closer we get to the tower, the stronger our enemies will be.
Sigrun: Their weapons and armor are blessed by the goddess herself?
Naesala: That reminds me of that sturdy fellow encased in black armour, as well as those swords that you Beorc seem to treasure. Alondite and Ragnell, I think that’s what they were called.
Sigrun: You seem to know a lot.
Naesala: It’s because they look like really valuable items. So are they the same?
Yune: It’s the same idea, yes. The swords were originally wielded by Altina of the Three Heroes. In comparison, the Disciple’s blessings were much weaker. Still, it makes them a lot more powerful than they originally were.
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. Anybody who follows Ashera won’t stand a chance of surviving... When she’s done using them against us, they’ll all be stone creatures again.
Sigrun: ...
Naesala: But if you think about it. If they have Ashera’s Blessing then couldn’t Lady Yune do the same for us? You know, like Yune’s Blessing or something?
Yune: That’s a great idea. However I can’t do that right now. I’ve been asleep all this time... so I don’t have enough power to wield. Just give me a little more time. After that, I should be able to do it.
Naesala: Please, try your best.
Sothe: Micaiah! There you are!
Yune: Oh, it’s her shadow again! I should go. If I have time I’ll come back and see you later. Good luck!
Sothe: Micaiah?
Micaiah: Unh... ! What?
Naesala: Hey, glad to have you back. We should tell the other teams what happened here.
Sothe: Hm?
Micaiah: That’s right. We need to tell everybody that the Disciples of Order will try and obstruct our plans.
Naesala: Leave that to me. I’ll have Leanne communicate to Reyson and Rafiel using telepathy.
Micaiah: Alright, thanks.