Chapter Text
(The Returners make a return trip to Thamasa with both Mario and Leaf excited to come back.)
Leaf(excited): Yea! We're back! It's like old times!
Mario(sighs in relief): Time to relax! Home sweet-a home!
(However, only moments later Leaf rushes back, waving her arms.)
Leaf: Uncle Mario! This is terrible! Bowser's hurt!
Mario: Bowser?!
(They head into Mario's house, where a large koopa, Bowser lies in bed upstairs.)
Mario: Bowser, wake up-a! Who did this to you?
Bowser: It was... Hidon, the beast you and I used to hunt. I almost had it...
Mario: You took on-a Hidon...? (Bowser coughs, and Mario worries.) B-Bowser?
Bowser: Mario... Please...you must avenge me...(He coughs some more.)
(Mario takes a few slow steps away, and Leaf gets in his face.)
Leaf: Uncle! Why are you hesitating!
Mario: Well... I spent-a my youth chasing that-a creature. To do it again at this-a age is more than I-a bargained for. (He clasps Bowser's paw) Bowser... rest easy, I'll-a do it for you!
(Mario heads downstairs and starts to leave.)
Leaf: Just a minute! You don't think you're going alone, do you?
Mario: I spent too many years of-a my life hunting that-a thing. It is my obsession, not yours.
Leaf: But Uncle Mario! This "obsession" of yours could easily slay you! You're my Uncle. I can't just sit idly by and watch you go.
Mario(hugs her): Sorry, Leaf. I'm-a so grateful that-a you care! But as its-a name implies, the Hidon is extremely difficult to find. Unless I go alone, it will not-a show itself. Next stop, Ebot's-a Rock.
(Mario leaves while Leaf looks relieved. She sighs in relief then rushes to catch up with him or else she'd get left behind. As one villager stated, Ebot's Rock is located north of town and had risen above water for the first time in 50 years. Though not very large, the mazelike cave has warp tiles all over [destination randomly chosen], and only a small radius around the party is visible.)
{Mario, what's this "Hidon" we're looking for?}
Leaf: Uncle Mario, you've never wanted to talk about Hidon before. If we're hunting it, maybe it's time to spill the beans.
Mario(turns to the party): In the days of my youth-a, it was a fearsome monster of legend Bowser and I hunted together. Hidon is a crafty and clever foe. It uses illusion magic to warp the interiors of its lair to confuse intruders. Once they're thoroughly lost and exhausted, that's when the monster strikes from the-a shadows. Let's keep our wits about and not overexert ourselves. If we can find Hidon and corner it, we can kill it.
(The party ventures forward until they come across an oddly demanding treasure chest that's blocking the way to Hidon's domain.)
Treasure Chest: I'm hungry! Hungry hungry hungry, hungry hungry hungry, hungry hungry hungry, hungry hungry hungry! Feed me! Otherwise, I won't let you by! I like to eat "Coral"! Have any?
Mario(curiously examines the chest): Fascinating. I've spent decades hunting monsters, but never come across a talking treasure chest before.
Treasure Chest(feeling proud of itself): Darn right I talk, bub! Ya bring me some coral and I'll do stand-up and karaoke, too!
Mario(confused): You eat-a... coral?
Treasure Chest: Sure do, good eatin', mm-mm! Should be some plenty around the cave. Scrounge up some for me and maybe I'll let you pass.
Mario: Best not to test its patience if we don't know what it can do. We may as well sate its appetite.
(A treasure chest that talks and hungers. Give that a few moments to sink in. The party explores to find chests containing Coral Fragments, each having 1, 2, 3, or 5 at random. The hungry chest will allow passage after feeding it at least 22 pieces all at once, regardless of previous feedings. However, it won't allow passage at all unless the party includes Mario, no matter how much it eats. They return with a sufficient amount of coral to feed the chest to continue.)
Treasure Chest(exhales): What a feast! I'm stuffed. Completely full. (It burps) Oh, yeah, you wanna pass through here, right? There!
(The chest changes color and hops away. A big green monster waits ahead.)
Mario: That's-a Hidon!
(Hidon is the big one, naturally that uses Poison and status attacks, accompanied by four Hidonites. Hidon has weaknesses against Fire, Holy, and Earth attacks, all readily exploitable, so it shouldn't take all that long. Hidon is also undead, so the usual cheap tactic works as well. Eventually the beast falls and Mario celebrates his victory over Hidon.)
Mario: I did it! I...I... I actually beat-a Hidon! I have to tell-a Bowser he is avenged!
(The party returns to the village. Mario rushes into the room where Bowser still lies resting.)
Mario: Bowser...! Bowser...!
(With Mario refusing to leave him alone, Bowser gets up.)
Bowser: What's all the ruckus?!
Mario: Listen to me! I DEFEATED Hidon!
Bowser(shocked): You WHAT?! You b-beat Hidon?! You're lying! LYING!
(As they continue to overreact, Leaf walks in calmly.)
Leaf: No, he's not! He really defeated Hidon.
Mario(laughs and puffs out his chest): If I didn't-a know better, I'd say that Hidon wasn't my only enemy!
Bowser(exasperated): I don't believe this. This has to be a joke!
(Mario laughs again.)
Mario: By the way, how are your-a wounds healing, Bowser?
Bowser: Eh? Oh, they're fine...
(Night falls. Mario excitedly tells Bowser the tale of his exploits.)
Mario: There I was, in a cave that seemed-a endless. Then, before I knew it, Hidon appeared! I stared Hidon straight in the eye, lifted my-a staff, and let him-a have it!
G'Pow!
Thwack!
Crash!
Mario: I wanted to show my enemy the true meaning of-a the word, "hero"! And then...
(Some time later, Bowser leaves the house to find Leaf standing by the village center.)
Leaf: What happened to Uncle Mario?
Bowser: Huh? Finally! He nodded off. However... Let's let him be! He's nice and... quiet... Now, about my "wounds"...
Leaf: Wait! First let me thank you. You gave Uncle Mario a reason to go and defeat something that had tormented him for decades! Even if YOU were faking, that creature meant business!
Bowser: What a niece he's raised! Amazing!
Leaf: And what a terrible actor you are! Only Mario could have been taken in by that performance!
(Leaf runs off while he's still processing her parting insult.)
Bowser(jaw drops): What the...!
(After the event, Bowser appears roaming around in the village. Mario and Snake have a talk. Snake is sitting at the table while Mario grabs some things from the cupboard and sets them down then sits across from Snake.)
Mario: I didn't think anything of it at-a first, when your dog was-a so friendly with-a Leaf... But now, seeing them spending so much-a time together, I think I understand why.
Snake: Tank wouldn't hurt a child unprovoked. Nothing more.
Mario(shakes his head): No, that's-a not it. I recognize that-a dog. And... It's-a been years, but hearing your voice... watching you... I think I know who you are, too.
Snake: I don't know what you're talking about.
(He and Mario get up from the table and Mario starts walking over to him.)
Mario: I think-a you do... No, I'm positive that you do. If I'm-a wrong, I'm-a wrong. Forget we had this conversation. But if I'm-a right, if you are who I think-a you are...
(He walks closer to Snake.)
Mario: I won't tell Leaf. Not-a now, anyway. But if something happens to-a you, she deserves to know the truth. Please... Take off that-a cowl. Let me see your face.
(Snake sighs as then turns around and pulls his mask down for Mario to see his face. He gets a good look before the other man pulls it back up.)
Mario: ...Grazie, Snake.
(After that the Returners leave Thamasa to go to the Phoenix Cave.)
(As the Emperor's Letter indicates, the Phoenix Cave lies in the center of a star-shaped mountain range, found north of Tzen on the southern continent. The same mountain range was visible in the World of Balance, but lacked the opening in the middle then. Information gathered elsewhere suggests that Eight has come here in search of a legendary hidden treasure said to be able to restore life, so the Returners start looking.
Inside the cave, it's hot and rocky due to the few lava pools inhabiting the place and there are spike traps abound. Unlike most locations, two separate parties here have to work together to progress through the cave. The monsters are some of the more troublesome ones, but most are quite vulnerable to Ice. Most also absorb Fire, but few actually attack with it, so resistance is not a priority. Further on is a switch that drains water from one area to cool lava in another, opening paths in both. There's also a dragon roaming around near the Dragon Horn relic. Moving on, the two parties will meet up shortly after this. Beyond one last cooperative button press is a familiar character opening a chest...)
{Eight!}
Eight: You're all safe! Behold... A legendary relic that can restore life...
{That looks like... Magicite...}
Eight(nods): Correct! Legend has it that ages ago the Phoenix was turned to stone... And many legends are based on facts... This has some major cracks in it though... I fear it may have lost its power over time...
Byleth: Eight... That's for Lucina, isn't it...?
Eight(downcast): I wasn't able to save Lucina... I've lost all sense of purpose... My life will have no meaning until I can right this terrible wrong...
{Will you come with us? Only as far as Kohlingen...}
(Eight nods and everyone automatically leaves the Phoenix Cave and head for Kohlingen.)
{The village of Kohlingen...}
(Eight enters the basement where Lucina's body lies preserved. After exchanging looks with the old man, he places the Magicite atop her, but nothing seems to happen.)
Patriarch: If only the Magicite didn't bear those deep cracks... I think you've been wasting your time, young man!
(The stone glows, then rises into the air and manifests a large red aura in the shape of a bird, but then shatters.)
Patriarch(yelps): The Magicite's gonna shatter!
(Eight appears downcast, but then Lucina opens her eyes.)
Lucina: Eight...
Eight(clasps her hand): Lucina!
(The phoenix's aura appears again.)
Lucina: Eight... I've dreamed of seeing you. I wanted to hear your voice.
Eight: Lucina...
Lucina: The Phoenix has given me so little time... I have to leave again soon... But I have something I must tell you...
(Eight says nothing but listens intently on what she's about to say.)
Lucina: Eight... With you I was so happy... In the instant that the accident occurred, I thought only of you... And about the joy you brought me. Thank you, Eight... I'll never forget you...
(She closes her eyes, and the aura fades. Eight runs over to the other side of the bed.)
Eight(scared): Lucina!
Lucina: I have to go now... I'll always love you... You must now cast off the anguish you've been harboring inside for so long... Today I set your heart free. You must learn to love yourself again, and regain your self respect. Phoenix! Be reborn again! And give your power... to Eight!
(Lucina rises into the air.)
Eight: Lucina!
(She flickers and disappears, to be replaced with a few sparkles that fly into a formation that fits the phoenix aura that appears again. The aura glows brighter and flies off. Eight returns upstairs, where Byleth is waiting for him.)
Byleth: Eight...
Eight: Thanks, I'm okay... I feel lighter than air... From here on... I'll be all right. Let's go! We have work to do!
(He turns to her, and they leave the house together, but Eight stops.)
Byleth: What's up?
(Eight runs into the house, leaving Byleth confused, then runs back out again with several items consisting of an X-Potion, Phoenix Down, X-Ether, Elixir, Flame Shield and a Valiant Knife.)
Eight: The treasures of the Phoenix Cave! Right, let's move out! We have an appointment with Grima!
(They nod to each other, and the scene concludes there, with Eight and Byleth as the active party. Fortunately, the airship is parked just outside of town.)