The Unnamed Saga: Sisters and Song Script, Chapter Twenty: "A Burning Reqiuem, part two"

Chapter Twenty: A Burning Requiem, part two

 

Open on Zara and Zelos standing together atop the hill.  Zelos is leaning against her, naked and scarred.  Zara is covered in soot and blood.  Her pink gown is tattered.  They are surrounded by a burning forest.  Fire writhes all around them, casting magical light, making them glow.

 

Zara: “So, can you show me the way out?”

 

Zelos looks up.

Zelos: “Oh, no.”

 

Show the sky darken.  Clouds gather and swirl above them.

Show them from above, through the vantage of the eye of the storm.  They are both looking up at the sky.

 

Zara: “What now?”

 

Zelos: “It’s coming.”

 

Zara: “Of course this couldn’t be easy.”

 

The clouds spiral down, touching the ground a short distance away.

Show the field being swept up in the wind.  The clouds make a loose spiral, showing hints of a golden light within the swirling black smoke.  The wind lifts Zara’s gown and whips her hair.  Both Zelos and Zara brace against the wind.

The spiral grows looser, revealing more swirling golden flames.

The flames part, revealing Phoenix underneath, still wearing Zelos’ body.  Its eyes shine like tiny stars, and its smile is vicious and thin.

The flames settle around it, burning the grass at its feet.  It stands, wrapped in an elaborate gown worked from fire.

 

Phoenix: “I admit, mortal, you’ve done more than I expected, but this ends now.  Put him back.”

 

Zara: “Why?  Are you afraid that you’re going to lose your body?”

 

Phoenix: “Not at all.  This vessel is mine now.  It has been burnt empty, cleansed of its human taint.”

 

Zelos: “Apparently not, if I’m still here.”

 

Phoenix: “Your soul is here, but it is still trapped.”

 

Zara: “Not for long.  We’re leaving!”

 

Phoenix: “Are you?  And how might you do that?  Do you even know the way out?”

 

Zara looks back toward the path.

Show the former path, now overgrown with burning brambles.

Show Phoenix smiling.

 

Zara: “Don’t look so smug.  I made a path before.  I’ll do it again.”

 

Phoenix: “And should you, where then?  Will you return to the start and scream at the sky until destiny’s hand comes to pluck you?  Will you take him with you, let him live in your head and use your body for his own devices?  Look around you, mortals, and be in awe, for these are the flames of my resurrection!”

Phoenix raises its hands, and the flames around it grow wild.

It stares into the smoky sky.

Phoenix: “This is my domain, my home, my body now!  This is the era of my rebirth!  The return of the gods to our rightful throne, and the return of you scum to the dirt from which you were made!  Repent and grovel if you like, but your kingdoms will burn, and no one can stop it!”

 

Zelos: “I can.”

 

Phoenix: “You can’t even stand, and yet you dare to challenge a god?”

 

Zelos: “Maybe I can’t stand, not on my own, but that’s okay.  I’ve got people I can trust, people who will support me when I’m weak and catch me when I’m falling.”

Zelos looks at Zara.

Zelos: “Find me when I’m lost.”

 

Zara blushes.

Zara: “Zelos, what in the hells are you doing right now?”

 

Zelos: “Saving the day.”

 

Phoenix: “Meaningless.  All of your words are meaningless.  Your kind can do nothing, not without the light of the gods to show you the way.  Even your rebellion was the result of our own hand.”

 

Zelos: “Maybe, but this—I’m doing this myself.”

 

Zelos stumbles away from Zara and falls into the runic stone.

He pushes on it with all of his might.

 

Phoenix: “Stop!”

 

Zara jumps forward and throws her weight into the stone with Zelos.

The stone tilts.

The stone tumbles down the cliff and crumbles as it hits the ground.

Show Zelos on the hill, with Zara standing over him.  She is propped up on her knees, and they are staring over the edge together.

 

Zara: “And what did that do?”

 

Zelos: “Something?  I’m not sure, yet.”

 

Phoenix: “Fools!  Ants!  Children!  I had thought to let you live, to keep you as a pet to amuse me.  The way you burned, it was beautiful, but I see now that I should have snuffed you out from the start.  Even gods make mistakes, I suppose, but now is my chance to correct it.”

 

Zara falls back onto her rump as Zelos is swallowed by fire.  She screams and cries.

Show Phoenix standing at a distance, smiling and watching the flames.  Zelos’ body is a black image within the writhing fires, and Zara cries beside him.

Show Phoenix’s smile as the light of the fire dances across its face.

Show its face fault.

Show the flames receding around Zelos, who is now wrapped in a flowing robe.  His eyes are closed and his face is calm.  He is clean now, and a crown sits crooked atop his head.

The flames burn out entirely, revealing a patch of fresh green grass at his feet.

 

Phoenix: “No, how can you?”

 

Zelos: “You can’t hurt me anymore.”

Zelos opens his eyes and stands.

Zelos: “Because you aren’t in control.”

The clouds part above him and a ray of light shines down on them.

Phoenix bursts into flames and burns brilliantly in the bright light. The light spreads over the field, washing away the fire.

Show from above as the light spreads.  The clouds part around it and the fires recede.  A lush forest rises in their wake.

Show the brambles dissolving into flowers.

Show a clear, blue sky without clouds.

Zelos steps into frame, casting a shadow as he looks down.

Show his shadow over a tiny flame sitting atop a pile of ash.

Zelos: “I am.”

 

Phoenix coughs and the flame shivers.

Phoenix: “This isn’t over.”

 

Zelos: “It is for you.”

Zelos steps on the flame and snuffs it out.  Thin tendrils of smoke curl around his bare foot.

He turns to Zara and holds out his hand.

Zelos: “Come on, let’s go home.”

 

Zara stares at him.  She is teary-eyed and in shock.

Zara: “Is he?”

 

Zelos: “I don’t think he’s gone.  Not completely, but he’s not in control, and he won’t be ever again.  We can talk about it later.  Right now, we’ve got people waiting for us.”

 

Zara sniffs and wipes her nose.

She nods and takes his hand.

 

Zelos: “By the way, were you crying over me?”

 

Cut to black.

 

Zara, off-screen: “Shut up.”

 

Zelos, off-screen: “Ow!”

 

Open on Mary standing with her arms folded.  Zelos and Zara are lying beside her.  They are leaning together on the ground with Zara’s head is on Zelos’ shoulder.  Beside them, Aria is kneeled and staring at the ground blankly.

Glenn and Elsea approach from a burnt, smoking street.

 

Glenn: “Mary!”

 

Glenn and Elsea come to a stop beside Mary, who smiles at them.

 

Mary: “Oh, my, why, hello there!  And here I thought we were to return to you.”

 

Glenn: “We saw fire.”

 

Elsea kneels beside Zara.

Elsea: “Princess?  Princess!”

 

Glenn: “Are they?”

 

Mary waves a hand at him.

 

Mary: “Oh, please!  They’re fine.  Why, they should be coming out of it in just a moment or two.  Tuckered, the both of them.  In fact…”

 

Zara sits up sleepily, and Elsea hugs her.

Zara looks up at Mary over Elsea’s shoulder.

 

Zara: “Is he?”

 

Zelos: “I’m fine.”

 

Zara and Zelos look at each other and share a smile.

With help from Elsea and Glenn they stand.

Glenn hugs Zelos.

 

Glenn: “Good to see you.”

 

Zelos: “You’ll change your mind soon, I imagine.”

 

Mary: “Now then, while it does overjoy me to see you two reunited, I fear we must hurry.  We’ve a ship coming, and it is not one that we will want to see into port, I can promise you that.”

 

Zelos: “What do you mean?  What’s going on? And where are we?”

 

Mary: “Oh my, pumpkin, you must be quite flummoxed, waking up to all of this.  Let me put it simply, if you will, for we are short on time as it is.  We’re no longer welcome here, here being Anthem of course, and on more than one account.”

 

Glenn: “We need to go.  Now.”

 

Show Glenn looking up as the party turns to follow his gaze.

Show the Airship sailing in overhead.  Green light swirls around it like a storm, and wires and ropes are seen hanging from it.  Soldiers slide down them.

 

Mary: “My, it seems our guests have arrived a touch early.  Poor manners, that.  Well, what say you four to an expedient exit?”

 

Glenn: “Let’s go.”

 

Zara: “No, wait, what about her?”

 

Show Aria sitting on the ground, staring at the rubble.

 

Glenn: “What about her?”

 

Zara: “We can’t just leave her.”

 

Glenn: “Yes, we can.”

 

Zara: “No.”

Zara turns to Zelos.

Zara: “She’s like you, taken over from the inside.”

 

Zelos stares at Zara for a moment.

Zelos nods.

Zelos: “Glenn, can you carry her?”

 

Glenn: “She’ll slow us down.”

 

Zelos: “So will I.”

 

Glenn: “Zelos…”

 

Mary: “And, already you two are bickering what when we should be running.  My, this does bring back memories.”

 

Show Glenn and Zelos staring at each other, with Zara and Elsea between them.

Glenn grumbles and goes to Aria.

Elsea and Zara shoulder Zelos.

Together, the six of them start up a hill, walking an undamaged street toward the edge of the city.

Show Zara under Zelos’ arm.

 

Zara: “Thank you.”

 

Zelos: “Least I could do, all things considered.”

They look at each other.

Zelos: “You were really brave in there, you know.”

 

Zara smiles and blushes.

 

Cut to the Airship interior, to the bridge.  The room is angular and slanted toward the front.  Green light spills in through the windows.  Crew line the edges, working at boards.  A man stands in the center at the wheel, guiding the airship.  Sir Fredrick stands at his back, watching with his hands folded behind him.

Show Anthem through the front window.  Streaks of magical lightning reach out and run across the already broken buildings.  Smoke drifts upward through the green haze of light.

Show Sir Fredrick’s face framed in the light.  He is watching impassively.

 

Fredrick: “Scoobius.”

 

Scoobius approaches from his left and stands straight.

 

Scoobius: “Sir?”

 

Sir Fredrick looks at a compass.

Show the compassing whirling madly.

 

Fredrick: “I will be leaving you in command.  I have other matters to attend to, and will be joining the forces on the ground.”

 

Scoobius salutes.

Scoobius: “Sir.”

 

Cut to the party running through the narrow streets of Anthem.  Buildings burn around them with a magical gleam.  In the background the shadow of the airship eclipses the streets.  Green light dances in the top of the screen.

Show the airship drifting slowly into place above the city.  Clouds break at its prow.  An arc of blue light jumps from the starboard side and incinerates a street.

Show buildings crumbling in magical fire.

Show people hugging their children and screaming.

Show the party stopping at a crossroad.  Glenn draws his sword.

Show Fionan soldiers at the other side of the streets.

Return to the party and show Glenn standing at the fore with his blade ready.  Elsea and Mary just behind him, their hands glowing.  Zara stands in front of Aria and Zelos.

 

Mary: “Mayhap you all could move.  Otherwise, I’d be forced to return to old form and reveal why exactly they call me the Red Witch.”

 

Fredrick, off-screen: “I had heard rumors of your escape, but still, I am surprised to see they are true.”

The Fionan solders part to reveal Sir Fredrick among them.  In one hand he is holding a bag.  His other hand rests on his sheathed sword.

Fredrick: “Miss Mary.”

Sir Fredrick bows.

 

Mary: “I sincerely apologize, but should I know who you are?”

 

Fredrick: “No.  Of course not, but everyone in Fiona knows you.  Any student of Fionan history knows the stories.  The woman who made Red Wall crumble.  The woman who made Alba fall.  The woman who made Emeraldine burn.  And, of course, the crowning star in your list of achievements, the murder of…”

 

Glenn: “That’s enough, Fredrick.  What are you doing here?”

 

Fredrick: “Sir Glenn.  After your abdication, I came to be in service of our king.”

Show Sir Fredrick smile.

Show Zelos staring from the back, haggard and pale.

Fredrick: “And I see you’ve chosen your sides.  It comes as no surprise, of course.”

 

Glenn: “Metis sent you here to kill him?”

 

Fredrick: “My king hardly cares if he is alive, or else he has spoken nothing of any contempt to me.  Then, I am not his closest advisor, but I fear he has so few.  Advisors, I mean.  To answer you more concisely, no.  I am not here for your sheep, shepherd.  Though…”

Show Zelos again.  His left eye has a faint ring of gold around the iris.

Fredrick: “That eye of his is most peculiar.”

 

Glenn: “Order your men down.”

 

Fredrick: “No.”

 

Glenn: “You know what Mary can do.”

 

Fredrick: “I do.  However, she does not know me.”

 

Mary: “Oh, enough of this.”

 

Mary pushes past Glenn and waves her hand forward.  Blazing red light explodes from her palm.

Sir Fredrick steps forward and draws his blade.

Show the light curls around his blade.

He spins and the blade is a gleaming red blur.

He swipes horizontally, dragging his blade across the ground.  Red light fans from the blade around him, razing the stone and leaving a dancing red flame.

The light fades as the fire recedes.  Sir Fredrick has his blade drawn.  A faint red glow lingers on his sword and dissolves into the air.

Zoom in to show Sir Fredrick’s smile.

He stands and sheaths his sword.

He pulls out his compass and looks at it.

Show the compass hand pointed at the party.

 

Fredrick: “Men, these traitors have something I want.  Take the prince and the girl in the back alive.  Kill the rest.”

 

Fionan soldiers swarm the area, and Anthem soldiers come from the streets to meet them.

Glenn kicks one Fionan down and runs him through.

Show Mary and Elsea using magic to dispose of soldiers around them indiscriminately.

Show bodies flying in the haze of magical light.

Show Anthem soldiers stabbing Fionan Soldiers.

Show Fionan soldiers beheading Anthem Soldiers.

A Fionan Soldier pulls Zelos and Zara apart and she screams.

Glenn approaches Zelos’ side and shoulders him in the chaos.

Show Zara being dragged away when an arrow hits the Fionan Soldier in the neck.

Zara looks up as the soldier falls behind her.

Show a short Fionan Soldier approaching her.  They are wearing a helm with the visor down and have a short bow.

The Fionan Soldier stops over Zara and removes the helm.

Show Zara’s smiling, teary face as the helmet hits the ground beside her.

Showing Dawn smiling back down at her.

 

Dawn: “Z.”

 

Zara: “Dawn!”

They embrace and the party meets around them.  Zara cries into Dawn’s neck while Dawn hugs her.

Zara: “Dawn!  I was so worried.  I thought you had…”

 

Dawn: “I almost did.  I am so glad to see you.”

 

Mary: “Yes, yes, tale of tales and all that.  Now, ladies, I do fear we have things to do and places to be.  If you would…”

Mary turns and flicks her wrist, throwing a wave of soldiers in a magical blast.

Mary: “Shall we?”

 

Zara pulls back to stare at Dawn.  Dawn wipes away one of her tears with her gauntlet.

 

Dawn: “Come on, Z, she’s right.  We should go.”

 

Zara nods.

Mary and Elsea step forward and with magic part the crowd to make their escape.

 

Cut to back to Sir Fredrick.  The battle continues around him while he stares at his compass.

An Anthem Soldier swings as Sir Fredrick puts away his compass.

In quick succession Sir Fredrick blocks the solder by grabbing his arm and stopping the incoming blade.  Simultaneously, he draws his sword and runs the man through.

Sir Fredrick lets the man fall.

He wipes blood from his sword carefully.

 

Fionan Soldier11: “Sir, we’ve secured the area.”

 

Fredrick: “And?”

 

Fionan Soldier11: “The prince and his entourage have escaped, but we got the girl. Should we pursue?”

 

Sir Fredrick checks his compass again.

 

Fredrick: “No.  There is no need.  We’ve got what we came for.”

Sir Fredrick snaps the compass closed.

Show his shadow over Aria.  She has blood splattered across her face, but she is uninjured.

Fredrick: “Continue toward the mansion and offer the people of Anthem a chance for a peaceful surrender.  They’ve already lost.”

 

Fionan Soldier11: “Sir, where will you be?”

 

Fredrick: “I will be at the chapel.  Do not disturb me.  If you need anything, defer to the judgment of my escort.”

 

Fionan Soldier11: “Sir!”

 

Cut to the hills outside of Anthem.  Show the city burning in the distance.  Thick smoke pools over the city.  The airship sits among them, gleaming like a pale green star.  Magical light dance across the rooftops.

Show the party standing over the hill.  Zara and Zelos are close together.  Zelos is sitting and panting.  Zara is bent over and pale.  Elsea stands beside them, and Dawn before them with her bow still ready.  Mary has her back turned on the scene.

Zelos coughs hard and vomits.  Glenn is beside him, rubbing his back.

Show the party again.  An explosion rings out.

 

Dawn: “Damn thing.”

 

Zara: “It’s monstrous.”

 

Elsea: “Unstoppable.”

 

Mary: “Yes, and what’s more, today history has been made.”

Mary turns to face them.  Her arms are folded carefully in front of her.  Her face is pinched and sour.

Mary: “Anthem has fallen, and today Fiona takes its first steps on the mainland.  And what foot prints it leaves in annals of time.”

 

Show Glenn and Zelos together.  Zelos is panting still.

 

Glenn: “Can you walk?”

 

Zelos nods.

 

Glenn: “Then we should go.  It’s not safe.”

 

Glenn helps Zelos to standing and they leave.

Mary follows shortly after.

Elsea and Zara leave next, with Zara touching Dawn’s shoulder just before they go.

Show Dawn standing and staring a moment longer.

Dawn leaves.

 

Cut to the Anthem chapel interior.  Sir Fredrick stands in the burnt husk alone with Aria at his feet.  Ashes dance around them.  Walls to the outside have collapsed.  Burnt pews smolder in the corners.

 

Fredrick: “What carnage was wrought.”

Sir Fredrick looks down at Aria, who has her back to him.

From inside of the bag he pulls out a black flask.

Fredrick: “I do apologize, but there is something inside of you that shouldn’t be there.  Consider this an act of mercy.  I mean you no harm personally, but for the future of mankind, and for our rightful rule, this must be done.”

 

He draws his sword smoothly and holds it poised for the back of her neck.

He stabs his blade into her neck and holds it there.  Magical light drifts up the blade.  It is horribly bright and drowns out the world.

Slowly, he pulls the blade out and the magic follows.

Show Aria’s dull eyes lose what light they have.

Aria falls forward.

Sir Fredrick holds the blade to the black flask.  Blood drips into the bottom of the bottle.  Magical energy follows after it.

Show the flasks interior slowly gathering color.

The screen goes black, save for the glow of the flask’s belly.

Cut to black entirely.

Book Two end.