03x08 - Chapter XXIV: Leopard Catches Cloud

[bunniefuu]

It has begun.

If you want to use your Gift without
cutting, then you need to find a trigger.

A memory.

- A feeling.
- What kind of feeling?

One that hurts more than any Kn*fe.

I mean, it felt like that
since Castor's funeral.

More arrivals.

Can you believe all these people?

Leaving their whole lives behind,

for someone they've never even seen.

This Pilgrim could be the greatest
bullshitter who ever walked the Earth.

Ankara's treatment is wearing off.

We don't have much time.

Look at this mob.

There must be a doll's house
giving away free samples.

Come on.
Make way, you mindless flock.

Oh!

M.K.

This is Henry.

Give him the baby.

- You all right?
- Now!

Give me the baby.
Give me the baby.

- I don't want to hurt you.
- You won't.

M.K.!

Hello, Sanzo.

It's been a long time.

We have been expecting you.

No, no, no. Hold still.

I'll be fine.

Just worry about fixing my son.

- Can you cure him?
- That will be up to Pilgrim.

I've never known anyone
with the power to control

someone else's Gift before...

Pilgrim is very special.

Almost as special as you, Sanzo.

Why do you keep calling me that?

How is that you don't even
know your name,

when you are the one
who summoned us?

No. No. No, he didn't.

That was me.

I'm the thief that stole the compass

and sent that wretched signal.

Of course.

Fate would have a sense of humor.

So, it's true, then?

You really don't remember me, brother?

Come. You must be famished
from your journey.

Just 'cause a man calls you brother,
doesn't mean he's your brother. Hmm?

What is this place?

People build palaces like this

so they would never forget their past.

Temples to humanity's collective soul.

I don't care about souls.

Just the living.

What is the soul, if not
a record of our lives?

Immortal only for as long
as we are remembered.

There is so much I remember.

I remember when we were
not much older than Henry.

Back in Azra.

We were its chosen sons.

Meant to bring peace
and order to a broken world.

Until the Black Lotus found our city.

You're the only reason I escaped alive.

You and your older sister, Kannin.

What happened to her?

I don't know.

I thought you were dead,

until we heard your signal.

Wait. Cressida said you could save him.

I can only control the Gift.

But I cannot cure it. Not alone.

But together, the two of us,

we can do far more than cure him.

We can shape the Gift to our will.

What are you talking about?

Becoming gods.

Just as we were destined.

You saved my life once, brother.

Help me save this wretched world.

Help me save your son.

You need to send a message.

You know, you're not the first Baron
to put down a rebellion, right?

Well, then what makes me any different?

All that people want
is for the w*r to end.

So let's end it.

The surge can still work.

Give the word and we'll storm their lines
with every Clipper in our ranks.

And thousands more will die.

Even if we win that way,
we'll never have real peace.

If we're to end this bloody cycle,

it's time that we put
our own lives on the line.

You smuggled Cogs out of
your family's mansion for years, how?

White Bone is built
on a grid of ancient tunnels.

Most of which were filled in
before I was born,

but there's some they never found.

I know what you're thinking,

and even if we get inside,

my sister will have
an entire battalion waiting.

We'll tell Moon to storm the front.

Every Clipper in our ranks,
just like you said.

They only need to fight long enough

to draw reinforcements
away from White Bone,

while we can go in and
k*ll your sister ourselves.

You, me, Tilda, no one else has to die.

I need to know that
when the time comes,

you won't hesitate to k*ll your sister.

I have no love for her.

That's not what I asked.

I'm your Baron now.

And I need to be sure that
when I give a command,

you'll obey.

No matter what.

I have never pledged myself
to any Baron,

not even my family's.

I don't care about titles.
I don't care about territories.

But I would do anything for you.

Tell Pilgrim.

What is it?

They found it.

They found the entrance to the Chamber.

Our faith and sacrifice
have been rewarded,

as I knew they would.

Open it.

The birthplace of Azra.

The Meridian Chamber.

Finally.

It's more beautiful than I imagined.

The journey of our lives
has led us to this moment.

Every machine has a switch.

How do we turn this one on?

This is much more than a machine.

It's a temple.

It is not a switch that we need...

But an offering.

There's still one element missing.

The Catalyst.

Yes. And he has found
his way home to us.

Just as Fate promised.

The Widow tells me you'll be
leading her army into battle.

That's right.

I'm commandeering
your Clippers as well.

I'm afraid that won't be possible.

I wasn't asking.

We need everyone who can
swing a sword out on that b*ttlefield.

And my people will be there.

Fighting under my command.

- You're not a warrior.
- No.

I'm a Viceroy,

pledged to fight by my Baron's side.

I counseled Quinn
through countless wars.

I know strategy better than
any Regent, including you.

Now, it takes more than strategy
to survive a battle.

Please, Lydia.

There's no reason to put
yourself in harm's way.

The Widow's walking
straight into a lion's den.

If she doesn't make it back alive,

her army will need
a new Baron to lead them.

They need to see their leader fighting

by their side on the b*ttlefield.

Always planning for tomorrow.

Even if neither one of us
lives to see it.

You are wonderful,

but a warrior knows that
every night could be his last.

Then we should plan for that too.

It's time.

Yes, it is. Your army is ready.

Remember.
You don't need to break through.

Just hold the line long enough for us

to sneak in to White Bone and k*ll her.

Affirmative.

Gaius and Tilda are waiting
for you by the west gate.

- Good luck.
- Lydia, wait.

You're gonna need more
than luck out there.

My late husband gave this
to me on our wedding night.

A real romantic.

He said that sometimes a Baron's wife

has to pay the price
for her husband's actions.

And now, here we are clearing up
the mess they left us.

A woman's work is never done.

Lydia,

whatever happens,

thank you for having faith
in our cause.

I don't believe in causes,

I believe in people.

I look forward to celebrating
our victory together.

You sure you're ready for this?

Try to keep up.

Ankara would give up the liquor
just to sniff the ink on these scrolls.

Ankara?

She's an old witch.
Lives up a mountain.

Enjoys destroying
people's lives for a laugh.

You two would get along
like sugar and cream.

You don't trust us.

Did Mother Fate
whisper that in your ear?

Then why did you call for us?

Because I got played.

I got manipulated by a cheat.

I'm not gonna let it happen again.

What's the Meridian Chamber?

That's why you're here, right?
That's what you dug up?

Huh?

You can read the word of Azra.

We're both full of secrets, aren't we?

The Chamber where the Ancient Ones

first unlocked the Gift,

500 years ago.

Right. And as I recall,

that's just when the old world
went to sh*t.

Yeah, it just sounds
completely harmless.

They destroyed themselves
because they had no way

to control the power they unleashed.

But you do? Pilgrim?

Imagine.

An entire civilization blessed
with unlimited potential.

I think you mean an army of Dark Ones
that only you can control.

Centuries from now,
when they sing of our glory

in the halls of the new Azra,

children will remember that it was you

who made all of this possible.

Your name will live forever, Bajie.

Got a visitor.

What do you want?

Your help.

Look, I'm... I'm sorry for not going back
to get you at the Sanctuary.

You don't even remember, do you?

Just another line on your back.

My mother.

I remember hiding as your men
raided our camp.

I remember the sound your blade made
stabbing through my mom.

Say something!

You're right. Okay?

I don't remember her.

I was a k*ller.

Quinn's dog. A mindless butcher.

But you don't have to go down that path.

Don't lecture me like
I'm your Colt again.

I've got nothing else to say.

Wait.

M.K., please.

Pilgrim says he can save
my son if I help him.

For Henry's sake,
I need to know the truth.

Can I trust him?

Everything Pilgrim promises comes true.

Good and bad.

Mummy, Daddy, don't get up.

Hey.

It's even worse than I thought.
We need to get out of this madhouse.

I'm not going anywhere.

Don't you see what's going on?
Pilgrim is using you.

That Chamber they found,
it can give the Gift

or take it away
from whoever they please.

If you help him turn this thing on,

he will be the most dangerous
man to walk the Earth

- since the Old World collapsed.
- If I don't help him, Henry's gonna die.

We'll find another way to cure him.

- How? Tell me.
- We'll look for as long as it takes.

I swear, I am not gonna
give up on this little boy.

Just, please don't do this.

There is no other way.

Right.

Yeah, you're right.

You know, no father should have
to make this kind of choice.

You do what you think is right.

After all, it's...

It's all part of Mother Fate's plan,
isn't it?

Huh?

Baron? Just got word.

The Widow's forces are
amassing on the northern front.

There you are.

- Hey!
- Oh!

What are you doing in here?

You made me jump. Sorry.

I was sent in here to look for this...

Ah! Got it.

I wanted the little shovel.
They said they wanted me

just to finish the area around the hole.

Sorry, I'm usually better
at the lie thing,

but I got a lot on my mind, you know?

What are you doing?

I'm gonna put the genie
back in the bottle.

I'm gonna blow up the bloody Chamber.

Put that down.

You cannot help these people
destroy the world.

Bajie, I'm not gonna tell you again.

Hey, I know you're only
trying to save your boy,

but if you help this man
turn on that machine,

then you have k*lled us all already.

I told you. There's no other way.

Take him to the Chamber,
so he can bear witness.

I'm sorry, brother.
I know you trusted this man.

If they break through,
there's no one left to stop them

from marching all the way
to the Sanctuary.

If our vanguard falls,
you're the last line of defense.

You understand?

Hold the line.

No matter what.

Ha!

They're breaking through our vanguard.

You need to order the rest
of the line forward, now.

Tell them to hold their position.

The Regent will die if we don't help him.

I said, hold the line.

Make sure not a single Clipper
breaks through.

Hold the line!

Hold the line!

Hyah!

There it is. White Bone.

Still too many guards.

Even with most of her people on the front,
she's still not taking any chances.

We're not turning back now.

- I can handle my sister alone.
- I don't need you to protect me.

It's not that. I believe in you.

Your cause.

Your people are gonna need you.

Well, any cause that is dependent

on one person alone
is doomed to fail.

And my people will remember
what I'm willing to die for.

Then, let's do this.

Okay, good.

Your people held.

Chau's Clippers are retreating.

We won...

We won.

Lydia?

Lydia?

Lydia?

Stay with me.

Don't let me die, Nathaniel.

There's so much left for us to do.

Take me home, Nathaniel, please.

Sunny, please.

You have no idea what you're doing.

It is time.

Su...

Sunny?

Listen to me, you are making a mistake.

Sunny...

Go find the Baron.
I'll get the others.

Poor Gaius.

Still fraternizing with the help.

It's over. Surrender.

She doesn't want my surrender.

She wants my head.

Even I had the decency to spare
your life, for Mother's sake.

Yeah. Well, I won't tell her if you don't.

Go!

You're almost as predictable
as my brother.

I had a feeling he might try
something like this.

That's the thing about family,

you can always depend on them.

Tell me, has he slept with you yet?

Growing up, every summer,

Gaius would pick a different Cog girl

to be his own personal project.

Always some pretty, young thing.

So grateful for his kindness.

Go to hell.

You see?

You're not so special after all.

It's been too long, Minerva.

Time to put aside your little w*r.

Something far more dangerous is coming.

I need you to prepare.

One final step remains.

What's happening?

Why isn't Henry getting better?

You are the key to awakening the Chamber.

I am its focus.

At last, the prophecy is fulfilled.

He's cured.

Thank you.

No, brother.

Thank you.