Work Text:
[The video opens on the first few notes of the song, looking up at cloudy skies over the Von Mattox Manor. The video is in black and white except for the red on the flag outside the manor.]
I was born in that summer when the sun didn't shine
[Video cuts to inside the manor where a clear birthing station has been set up, a midwife holding a screaming child as a woman lies on the bed and a man stands with his arms behind his back and a stone expression on his face. In the doorway a tiny head of black hair can be seen peeking into the room, with crimson red eyes as the only color in shot.]
I was given the name that doesn't feel like it's mine
[A birth certificate is shown, the words "Yuko Von Mattox" being written on the top of the page. Blinking in and out for a few frames is a red X over the "Von Mattox" portion of the name.]
Lived my life as the good girl I was told I should be
[Cut to Yuko studying and training with clear looks of discomfort and frustration on her face. Her eyes are the only color in the shot, a fiery frustrated red that glares at everything.]
Prayed every night to a religion that was chosen for me
[Shot of Garreg Mach Monastery, and a mural of the Goddess Seiros inside.]
Sold my soul, broke my bones Tell me what did I get?
[Shots of Yuko training and fighting bandits, then shots of all the times she's been knocked out or injured. The streaks in her hair, her eyes, and the blood from her cuts and injuries are the only color in the shot.]
Did my time, toed the line Ain't seen anything yet
[Shots of Yuko in detention, shots of Yuko almost swinging her axe at people before stopping and walking away. Her eyes and the streaks of red in her hair are the only color in the shot.]
Strike me down to the ground You know I've seen it before Make it hurt, I'll eat the dirt I just don't care anymore
[More shots of Yuko getting knocked to the ground or injured, but this time it shows her getting up, spitting blood to the ground and charging with a scream of rage.]
How could you break my heart? Already played my part
[Shot of Yuko being handed a letter by her father, her looking up at him in shock before it cuts to her arriving at Garreg Mach.]
I kept my promise, man Show me the Promiseland
[Glitchy shot of Yuko kneeling and holding someone's hand, before a non glitchy shot of a small house illuminated by the sun behind it. Oddly enough the glitched shots are the only ones fully in color.]
Don't occupy my throne Give me the crown I own
[Glitchy shots of a man with white hair that slowly changes to green, a man with violet hair, and then a final shot of Fiona, fully in color and not glitched at all.]
Lived like you told me how Look at me now
[Flash to shots of Yuko sitting down and studying intently in her room, raising her hand in class, and sparring against her classmates with a smile on her face.]
I've got no money in my pocket And the whole world's bringing me down
[Shot of Yuko fighting against the bandits in the canyon, against the Nemesis simulation, Lonanto, Zag's brother, Elias, and finally against Jeralt.]
One person's lie is just another man's truth We kept on running from the devil but the devil was you
[Shots of Zeke, and every secret he's ever kept from the group, then a shot of him offering his hand, his green eyes being the only color as they glow ominously.]
Every time I see the light I'm falling deeper in debt If I've never seen the good, how can it come to amend?
[Shots of Yuko managing to win fights and her smile at being victorious before it hard cuts to her on the ground at Zeke's feet, an unusually cold expression on his face as he looks down on her, Yuko looking back up at him in fury.]
Sold my soul, broke my bones Tell me what did I get?
[Again shots of Yuko training, but this time they have a dark, frustrated undertone as it shows each class she's taken and then a quick flash of her losing as that class to a new opponent.]
Did my time, toed the line Ain't seen anything yet
[Even more shots of Yuko training, the sun and moon rising and lowering as she continues to beat up dummies and work to get stronger.]
Strike me down to the ground You know I've seen it before
[And more shots of her losing fights, the fury and recklessness of her swings increasing with each one.]
Make it hurt, I'll eat the dirt I just don't care anymore
[A final scene, glitchy and distorted shot of a much older Yuko fighting a not much older looking Zeke, desperation in Yuko's swings as she continues to try and beat him, not caring about the many injuries that she's taking or the path of her own blood behind her.]
How could you break my heart? Already played my part
[A scene from the most recent session, of Fiona hiding behind Balthus and of Yuko looking at her heartbroken as she flinches and avoids her, a rapid compilation of all their cute relationship moments playing behind her in the background.]
I kept my promise, man Show me the Promiseland
[Again a slightly glitchy scene of the Von Mattox Manor, glitching between it in perfect condition and it slightly more worn down.]
Don't occupy my throne Give me the crown I own
[Shot of Tobias sitting on the throne in the Manor, then a cut to the same scene with a red X over Tobias. A shot of a beautiful crown, encrusted with jewels and looking pristine before another cut to the same crown cracked and broken, pieces of it missing as a shadow stands over it.]
Lived like you told me how Look at me now
[Shot of a shadowy figure picking up the crown and placing it atop their head, looking at the camera with red eyes and a devilish grin.]
I've got no money in my pocket And the whole world's bringing me down
[Multiple shots of the timeskip, of war, death, and destruction before it changes to look at the Von Mattox Territory, the people slowly become more bandit-like, a flag flying in the distance.]
How could you break my heart? Already played my part
[Shot of the Silver Owls slowly coming back together post timeskip, each member being recruited and convinced to join up from their various situations.]
I kept my promise, man Show me the Promised Land
[Shot of the assembled Silver Owls in a meeting tent, Kazuko looking at the group and talking before pointing at a place on the map, the scene slowly transitioning to them fighting their way through the Von Mattox Territory.]
Don't occupy my throne Give me the crown I own
[Shot of the Silver Owls (sans Zeke oddly enough) walking through the Manor and towards the throne room, escorted by guards in black armor with a red crest on their shields. They enter the throne room as light fills the camera shot, the view of who's on the throne completely obscured.]
Lived like you told me how Look at me now
[Shot of the group looking at the throne in slight shock before the camera turns and focuses on the person's smile, moving up to their crimson eyes that contain a feral look as the camera zooms out to show Yuko sitting on the throne in messy, torn furs and clothes, the crooked and broken crown on her head as she grins down ferally at her former classmates before the screen fades to black.]