Hello, everyone!

Thank you so much for waiting!

To make it up to you, I made sure to extend the chapter with extra scenes (total of 12,847 words for this whole chapter, which means 29-30 pages!)

And I've just gotta say...woah.
I'm pretty proud of the battle scenes and if you keep reading, you'll understand why (and if you can, think you can pick out my references for each house?)

From then on, there's graphic violence and minor profanity. In this particular chapter, I put all my heart and soul to express Ashe's inner conflict and desires (depression) and as a result, I've managed to read and weep for more than 3 times.

So grab your tissues and enjoy reading the second to last chapter!

Also, I would suggest listening to these songs in order for the battle scene:
1. Shall We Begin?
2. Reign
3. Last of the Starks
4. Blood of My Blood
5. Unused/Unknown track for Fire Emblem Three Houses

Yup, that's all for now!
Have fun and enjoy the emotional rollercoaster!

Warning: Graphic violence and minor profanity, themes of family and friendship are strong in this one so I suggest being prepared with tissues. You have been warned.


It began with a letter, formally addressed to Claude from Edelgard, who recently took up the mantle as the newly-appointed Empress of the Adrestian Empire, inviting him along with the rest of the other members of the Golden Deer for a school reunion—a promise she kept five years ago, spanning since the time of graduation.

The meet-up location was deeply rooted in the mountains, found in the epicenter of the map of Fódlan, close to where the Garreg Mach Monastery was stationed. Right away, Ashe knew where it was—it was the same area where he and his late father, Lord Lonato would often visit as it happened to have the finest panoramic view of the Monastery. At the same time, such an idealistic setting for the gathering reigned significance, historically renowned to be the same exact spot where the peace treaties among the three territories occurred, with the Monastery as an emblematic for the religious organization, the Church of Seiros—which served to promote equal equilibrium among the three divided lands—and for many generations since then, peace and prosperity flourished throughout Fódlan.

Ever the optimistic, Claude was quick to rally his friends together in the Riegan Manor (with the exception of Ashe who already lived there), practically dragging them once they arrived on his doorsteps to bring them inside his office, closing the doors shut and proceeded to inform them of the splendid news.

Hilda frowned, folding her arms over her chest. "That's it?"

"You called us here, at eight in the morning, for this!?" Lorenz exclaimed, his mouth agape.

Claude pursed his lips, tipping his head to the side. Eventually, he shrugged his shoulders. "Yup, pretty much," He replied, snickering as he plopped himself back on his seat behind his desk. Lifting his chin, he flashed a bright grin. "So who's excited to go on a road trip?"

There was a long silence.

Claude blinked. "…Guys?"

"I don't know about this," Raphael spoke up, scratching his messy, flaxen hair, "Ignatz and I are supposed to have our imports coming in about a few weeks,"

"And it's too late to cancel the shipping either," Ignatz chimed in, backing up his good friend and business partner. The two men exchanged quick glances, nodded in unison as he quickly added, "Unless we have someone who can take charge of them while we're away, maybe we'll reconsider,"

To Claude's dismay, the excuses kept accumulating from there.

There was Hilda, who was expected to meet with a long list of potential suitors arranged by her family, and Lorenz who was practically making a fit over how his luck to get a woman was finally coming to fruition thanks to hiring a beautician (props to Hilda), Lysithea going on about how she barely touched the new manuscripts she would be presenting in an upcoming scholarly convention, and Marianne who claimed that she was currently preoccupied with her research on a rare flower found in the depths of the woodlands.

Leaning against the wall, Ashe watched from a mere distance, taking notice of their leader sulking in his seat, bringing his hand every now and then to rub the sideburns aligning the curve of his face, and drumming his fingers across the surface of the wooden desk.

His eyes sagged, inhaling a deep breath as the image of his old friends from the Blue Lions resurfaced, remembering how radiant their smiles were and their jovial laughter echoing through the great halls every time Byleth brought their lecture to a close.

The expanse of five years may be short, but it became a moment of realization for Ashe.

As distinguishable as their faces, especially in a large crowd, over time, they were beginning to fade into memory. If it weren't for the picture he still had of them, he feared eventually, their names would be taken away from him as well.

Their faces, names, and the school picture alone were all he had left to remember them by as the days wore on.

And then a thought occurred to him.

If Edelgard sent a letter to Claude, who's the current leader of the Leicester Alliance, was it possible that Dimitri, heir to the throne for the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus, could somehow be attending the event as well?

If so, then that means…

"Claude," Ashe called out, prompting their leader and his friends to glance at his direction. Looking up, he turned his head to lock eyes with a baffled-looking Claude. "Just say the word and I'll go with you,"

Registering his words, Claude beamed. "That's the spirit!" He exclaimed, clapping his hands. "Hear that, folks? Ashe here knows what I'm talking about!"

The others looked at each other, sharing the same, troublesome expressions.

Claude sighed, long and heavy. Rising from his chair, he strode toward the circle, pausing mid-step as he stood at the center of it. "Look, as silly as it may sound, it would mean a lot to Ashe and I if you could join us," He explained, his voice calm and composed. "This isn't just a school reunion. It's a celebration of connections, the ones we've made with our past classmates back at Garreg Mach Monastery. If we go there, to the special place where Edelgard wants us to go, I guarantee you that we'll be able to rekindle the line that we've lost since then," His eyes grew soft as he placed both his hands on the sides of his hips, continuing in a soft tone, "You guys should know, as well as I do, how much Leonie meant to us,"

At the mention of their former member, every single person in the room tensed up.

Ashe veered his gaze at the carpet flooring, shaping his hands into clenched fists.

Despite being transferred into the Golden Deer for a few weeks, he could never forget how approachable and welcoming Leonie was to him, how he admired her strength and unwavering mindset, and similar to Claude, was charismatic and frank, and how cool-headed she remained, regardless of how the others started complaining when she decided to transfer to the Black Eagles and that the following day, made it official.

Aside from his lost connection with the Blue Lions, Leonie's whereabouts and how she was doing was another troubling issue.

And like Faerghus, there seemed to be a lack of intel on the Adrestian Empire as well.

Being able to see her again…just once more became an additional reason for Ashe to attend the reunion.

Aware of the solemn expressions worn by his friends, Claude cleared his throat, taking this opportunity to speak up.

"It is our duty—the House of the Golden Deer, to continue what our family and the forefathers before us, to preserve the ties among the three realms," He announced, gaining their focus. Feeling eyes on him, he held his head high as he fixed his lips into a straight line, pressing his hand close to his chest where his heart was located.

"As the new leader of the Leicester Alliance, I swore under oath to ensure that the wheel of peace does not break," Slowly, he motioned his head to survey the expanse of the room, comprised of the comrades he befriended and grew close to since the days of the Officer's Academy. "All I ask is for each and every one of you to reconsider where you stand. Chances are, this supposed reunion is bound to be historical,"

Raising his voice, he continued, "With this reunion, if we can somehow scale the walls between us, to reach out our hands to friendship, and open our hearts to one another, with our strengths combined as one—be it Adrestian, Faerghus, or Leicester—together, we can do anything," Stretching his hand outward, he exclaimed with all his might, "Who's with me?"

On cue, the others immediately put their hands over his, piling it up.

Ashe joined in as well, leaning forward to press his hand over Marianne's.

Overwhelming with a burst of energy, Claude yelled another cry, and in reaction to this, every single member of the Golden Deer threw their hands into the air.

Seconds later, a burst of laughter swept throughout the room.

Even Marianne, who was known for her graveyard expressions, had lightened up, with a broad smile adorning her face.

Planting a hand on her hip, the ponytailed pink-haired woman quirked an eyebrow. "When did you get so good at public speaking, huh?" Hilda points out with a frown, "Back at school, you used to slip away whenever Professor Hanneman called you up to practice in front of us,"

"Well, I never did well in that lecture," He admitted, shocking the others, though was quick to erupt into laughter, "Still pretty good on my first try, don't you think?"

While the others bickered and poked fun on their leader who merely insisted that his declaration was simply influenced by a spur at the moment, Ashe retreated a few steps back, a faint smile materializing as he allowed himself to 'capture' such a tender moment.

A wink of sun through the glass windows caused a spotlight to loom over the members of the Golden Deer, and before he knew it, their silhouettes were becoming replaced with the Blue Lions—Claude changing into Sylvain who was prone to crack up jokes, Lorenz who rolled his eyes turned into Ingrid, Lysithea, and Marianne becoming Annette and Mercedes respectively, while Ignatz and Raphael became Dimitri and Dedue…and with the absence of Leonie, who would've fulfilled the entirety of the Golden Deer, Ashe conjured up an image of her between Claude and Lorenz, who were both Sylvain and Ingrid, and like the rest of them, she transformed as well, modifying her into Felix.

The thick, leathered chair, the same one behind the desk magically became Byleth…no longer spiteful nor monstrous but just simply there, watching them like a mother, etched with a gracious smile.

The silver-haired man widened his eyes for a second as a warm sensation resonated within him.

They were there in front of him…so close, yet so far.

He reached out his hand, his mouth partly opening and as he took a step forward, the glow diminished and what was once the ethereal shadows of the Blue Lions reverted back to the Golden Deer.

The feeling of longing, to be with them again burnt inside him.

"Just a little bit longer…" Ashe said to himself, too quiet for the others to hear. "And we'll be together again,"


After being dismissed, the members of the Golden Deer returned to Riegan Manor a few hours later, ultimately choosing to shelve or cancel their supposed appointments prior to the highly-anticipated reunion thanks to the surprisingly moving speech their leader made (and thanks to Claude, Raphael, and Ignatz managed to find a suitable substitute who could temporarily take the reins of their store during their time of absence)

Adjusting his shiny, silver armor on his shoulder blade, Ashe took a step back and smiled nervously in front of his mirror. Unlike the standard attire for an archer, which consisted of brown and yellow coloring mixed in with bronze armor, the one for a sniper was surprisingly befitting, allowing him to customize the bronze with silver and removing the helmet to give way to his signature black hoodie, which he still wore underneath his assigned outfit.

Inhaling a deep breath, he nodded. "Okay,"

Grabbing hold of his respective weapon, his Brave Bow and quiver, he rushed off. Closing his bedroom door with the heel of his boot, Ashe wandered along the halls. Along the way, his ears picked up a familiar sound. Frowning, he listened closely, moving his legs toward the direction of where the noise might be coming from. It wasn't long until he found himself standing near the half-opened door of Claude's chamber. Curious, he popped his head inside, surprised to find their leader dressed in lavish clothing, posing in front of a mirror.

Watching this, Ashe couldn't help but shake his head, emitting a chuckle.

Catching the latter on the act, Claude whirled his head and grinned. "Hey, bud!" He greeted his friend, approaching him. "So, whaddya think?"

Ashe frowned, inspecting him from head to toe. "You look like you're going to a gala or something," He commented, causing the other to laugh heartily.

"I know, I know, it doesn't suit me," Claude drawled out, chuckling as he rolled his eyes. "Hilda said the same thing earlier,"

"She's right, you know,"

Claude groaned, "She always is," He agreed, bobbing his head along. "But whether I like it or not, still need to make at least an effort to look good,"

Ashe slanted his head to the side as he tried to imagine what the dark-skinned man would've looked like if he had worn his standard attire—consisting of a typical bow knight uniform, with a few yellow sashes, frills, and over-the-top golden armor to indicate his noble status. Compared to what he was currently wearing, it wouldn't make much of an impression. "Yeah, just stick with what you've got right now," He told him, chuckling away, "And hopefully, you might not stick out like a sore thumb like what happened back in graduation," His smile broadened as his friend laughed at his joke and went on to approach him, stretching his hand out to ruffle his silver hair.

Of all the members of the Golden Deer, Claude remained the same laidback individual. Even when he took up the position as the leader for the Leicester Alliance, he was still the friendly and positive Claude as Ashe remembered him to be.

And for that, he couldn't help but feel utterly grateful.

"Claude?"

"Yeah?"

Ashe drew in a breath. "Don't…ever change, okay?" He trailed off, his eyes softening. "Even if I'm no longer around, I hope that you continue to cheer up people and be there for them…"

Claude quirked an eyebrow, confused. "What's up with that?" He wondered aloud, followed by a light-hearted laugh. "You make it sound as if you're gonna die soon or something,"

Ashe's radiant eyes faltered for a second, though was quick to mask the emotions swelling up inside him with a crooked grin. "Just letting you know,"

The two men looked at each other, exchanging impish grins.

Shaking his head, Claude brought his hand to pat his good friend on the back multiple times, before breaking away to walk over to his queen-sized bed, where a strange-looking bow laid idly on the comforter.

Right away, Ashe recognized the weapon to be a family heirloom for House von Riegan—an ancient relic passed down for many generations, and since Claude inherited the minor crest of his prestigious family name, was eligible to harness its formidable power. The designs were eerie-looking yet astounding, from the tips to where the arrow would supposedly rest, was made in the bones of a dragon and at the centerpiece, was a singular red orb engraved with his respective crest…greatly reminding him of a certain older woman who possessed a weapon quite similarly to the latter.

"Ashe!"

Blinking his eyes, the silver-haired man shook his head. Frowning, he directed his attention to his friend who gave him a concerned look.

"You okay there?"

Ashe mustered a sheepish grin. "Yeah, sorry about that…"

Hearing this, Claude smiled. With his dominant right hand gripping on the handle of his large bow and quiver, he placed his other left on Ashe's shoulder blade and in a soft voice, said to him, "Thinking about them?"

Ashe stiffened in his spot. He opened his mouth to speak but was beaten to it.

"Don't worry, I'm sure Dimitri will be there too," Claude assured him, giving him a wink. "And your friends as well from the Blue Lions," He walked ahead, crossing through the doorway. He paused in his tracks to peer over his shoulder, his eyes lingering on the man in front of him.

Ashe felt a chill run down his spine. For a second there, he could've sworn there was a strange glint embedded in his eyes, but before he could voice out his concern, Claude was quick to revert to his usual, laidback guise.

"You ready?"

Processing his words, Ashe nodded firmly. "As I'll ever be," And without a moment to lose, he walked ahead, joining his friend in arms as they were later joined by the others patiently waiting for them outside in the halls.


By high noon, they would venture off to the designated place with the coordinates Edelgard had written on the back of the letter.

In the duration of their trip, Claude was persistent to make things lively, singing his heart out inside the carriage where the men were put in. Lorenz groaned inwardly, protesting him to stop, but Claude sang louder to drown him out, and in a rippling effect…Raphael and Ashe eventually joined him on his fifth sing-along, with Ignatz surprising them on the tenth. By the late evening, they managed to sing at least forty songs in total…until Claude suddenly proposed that they shouldn't sleep the rest of the night and to instead, dedicate it with his rambunctious singing.

Unfortunately, Raphael and Ignatz wholeheartedly agreed…which led poor Lorenz to storm off.

Desperate to have his beauty sleep, the pretentious nobleman pleaded for the women to let him come inside their tent, to which Hilda was quick to kick him out of…and in the end, was forced to choose two options—either sleep outside in the cold or to accompany Ashe who happily volunteered to do the first watch.

…Lorenz chose the latter in a heartbeat.

Under the stars, the two friends chatted…err, mostly Lorenz who seemed to babble on and on about the many women he was able to successfully court at one of the galas he was invited to. All the while, Ashe smiled, congratulating the latter for his efforts.

"Aren't you cold out here?" Lorenz suddenly asked him.

"Not really," Ashe answered, smiling. "Guess I should thank Faerghus for that,"

His friend frowned, furrowing his eyebrows as he glanced at the distant campfire. "Is it always cold there?"

"Most of the time," Ashe confirmed, leaning back as he sighed. "But I like the cold,"

"It doesn't bother you?"

When he caught sight of the latter shook his head, Lorenz scoffed. "If I were you, I wouldn't know what to do with myself,"

As Lorenz went on with his rambling, Ashe lifted his chin to look up at the night sky. The array of stars twinkled brilliantly, and he couldn't help but reflect back to the days when he used to camp together with his late father, Lord Lonato, who would start to point and name each star he could find.

It's been so long, hasn't it?

The nostalgic memory and the conversation he had together with Lorenz made him feel homesick, yearning for the days when he'd make hot chocolates, curl up inside his blanket and watch the light shower of snow from his window.

Ashe closed his eyes for a few seconds. The curves of his lips quirked up, producing a bitter smile.

In the end, he stayed up for the whole night, counting the stars.

And by the peak of the morning, barely nine—to the others' frustration and Claude's delight, they resumed their road trip.

Slowly but surely, the group was getting closer and closer to the designated place.

And with each passing hour, Ashe couldn't help but lengthened his grin.

He was finally going to see them—Lord Dimitri, Dedue, Felix, Mercedes, Annette, Sylvain, Ingrid, Byleth. After five years of being separated from different territories, at long last, they were going to be reunited.

…But what awaited him and his friends was far beyond his imagination.


Nobody knew who started the fire.

But one thing's for certain—it triggered every single individual within the area to initiate their attacks. Ashe stood there, watching with bated breath at the catastrophe surrounding him. This wasn't like any of the raids he'd gone through nor the missions like protecting a nearby village from bandits.

No, this was total war.

Before he could even blink, Ashe felt his body heating up as the flames spawned further and further along with the earthly soil, as if it had a mind of its own. And then the mighty roar of a wyvern prompted many of the soldiers, including him to turn frozen and direct their full attention on the spectacle that was occurring in the skies.

Riding on an enormous, white wyvern was none other than Edelgard, donning in her large, crimson armored dress and her long, flowy blood-tainted cape violently fluttering about. The long, snow white hair and periwinkle ribbons she was well-recognized for during their school days were no more, giving them up for a pair of large buns, kept together by dragon-like horns suspended and secured by a complex crown, embellished by intricate carvings and red jewel. With her class promoted to mount a vicious dragon, Edelgard perfected the aura of a reigning empress—stunning yet petrifying as she dominated the skies.

In sonic speed, her wyvern vigorously flapped its beating wings, letting loose of an aggressive growl. With her eagle eye, knew precisely where to target and flew strong with her wings, sweeping the field of her enemies with graceful friction.

Ashe clenched his teeth as he braced himself for the impact, closing his eyes tightly as the wyvern glided overhead, and though it held no intention to ward off any nearby enemies, its female rider took the job by swinging her enormous axe from side to side.

He caught himself at the line, quickly dodging away at the nick of time as the life of a random soldier just behind him was taken away in a split second. Staggering, Ashe constricted his eyes in hopes to find anyone familiar in the mass of a hundred faces. Peering up, Ashe was stunned to discover a bright, red glow emanating from a high cliff. Squinting his eyes, he smiled when he registered the identity of the archer…then again, the yellow-colored suit pretty much gave it away.

He keenly observed with bated breath as Claude pulled the drawstrings of his bow, releasing a ferocious glowing arrow into the direction of—

A fog of smoke erupted, spawning throughout the battlefield.

Alarmed, Ashe brought his arm to cover his nose, squinting his eyes as he attempted to pick out the shadows surrounding him.

High above, the fog was almost too dark and thick to see nor hear the presence of the wyvern. Edelgard took this as an advantage, guiding her wyvern to conceal themselves in the shadows as a piercing noise swooshed through the air. Ashe waited for a sign, narrowing his eyes as he drew his concentration on what appears to be a dead corpse of a red-armored foot soldier, punctured by the same, glowing red arrow.

Before long, more red arrows were raining down on them.

Ashe fled the scene, gathering more energy and pumping them in his legs as much as he possibly could. Once he managed to enter into a safer zone and was reunited with some of his friends (Raphael and Ignatz on guard duty as Marianne was healing Lysithea who was badly injured on her arm, with Lorenz and Hilda nowhere to be seen yet heard from), Ashe paused and turned back to check on their leader perched up on top of the cliff. His expression was calm and unwavering as he silently studied the calamity down below. To a bystander, Claude made it seemed as if he had owned the entire stage, his regime unyielding with coolness and resilience. And it was working.

Ashe heard some of the yellow-armored soldiers around him start rejoicing the moment they saw him. Unfortunately, his mind was off elsewhere. He broke into a smile as well, but as always, it was brief. A cold wind blew by, and along with that, came a familiar sound.

A clean cut—a demonic bellow from a sword.

In slow motion, the silver-haired man motioned his head to his left.

There, about a few feet away from where he stood, was a male swordsman.

Dressed in a dark blue fur-coat and upon closer inspection, his shoulder-length hair, with some pulled up into a tight ponytail was noticeable, painted in the color of midnight. His sharp agility, the flashing of a large crest which shortly led to an immediate lethality to his enemies as they fell in mere seconds was all it took for Ashe to identify him. Only one person could pull off damage like that.

"…Felix," He uttered lowly from his breath.

Indeed, it was.

With a bright smile adorning his face, Ashe quickened his pace.

He cried out his name, alas, he wasn't heard as his old friend was preoccupied with his sword dance, with the reflection of the orange flames flickering warmly within the cool steel of his brave sword. When he managed to clear the space around him, there was still much to be done. Quickly, Felix whirled his body to strike another opponent.

Realizing this, the silver-haired man stopped and stared as two female silhouettes appeared in his field of view—the taller one with magenta pixie-cut hair, whilst her partner was dyed orange hue, styled in a ruffled bob, together they were dressed in similar-looking crimson red attire, a strong implication of their allegiance through the execution of a gambit. Armed with killing edges, the female pair pounced on Felix, who was quick to retaliate by blocking their combined attacks.

Before Ashe could comprehend what was going on, a powerful cutting gale crossed the line between them, sending the two female myrmidons off before they could land a hit on Felix who remained in his spot.

Once he discovered an opening, he charged forward and with the swing of his blade, dealt a critical hit on them. His attacks were aggressive, more deadly than how Ashe recalled. And yet, that didn't seem to matter to him, diverting his sights away from Felix to a sorceress who was accompanied by a female bishop.

Cloaked in a black hood and a white veil (a speck of bright orange and auburn brown respectively), the two women exerted a wave of magical energy, both offensive and defensive, brewing up a storm as they parried against a Dark Knight and Warrior, both tall men—one with noticeable, long green hair riding a horse, and another with bright blue hair, armored to the brim, fighting in hand-to-hand combat as they attempted to penetrate through the bubble which the previous pair were protected by.

Ashe shifted his gaze over to Felix, who rapidly came to aid them as he managed to deflect the attacks.

On his right was a different story.

More foot soldiers and cavaliers were seen, though the one that caught his eye was the one leading a large battalion. This knight-in-black-armor rode on his stallion valiantly and from the looks of it, there seems to be a short woman dressed in gold and purple clothing, her violet hair styled in a short bob and with a keen eye, was firing a shot of arrow, one after another to the red-and yellow-armored enemies around them. Their initial enemy, a female songstress with curly, brown hair and a prominent black hat, utilizing her ability to boost morale for the foot soldiers which formed the majority of her battalion unit.

Ashe peeked back at the knight in black armor, and as a hint of red flashed before his eyes, he fumbled over his words. "Sylvain…" He uttered, his breathing ragged. "You're here too…"

The earth quaked violently, forcing him back to reality.

At first, Ashe assumed that a mage was casting another spell until he heard—

"KILL EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM!"

The calling of a roar.

Swallowing thickly, the silver-haired man peered behind him.

The large smile on his face faded the second he saw a looming figure marching in.

Such a barbaric aura, and a great shaggy, mane of gold, with his thick, fur coat protecting his black armor. Stopping at the edge of a slope, the lion let out another mighty roar—a raw, powerful sound projecting into the air with an intense force that it was heard for miles around. He was calling.

In return, came the calls of his pride within the chaotic battlefield summoned and acknowledged.

Ashe's mouth dropped open.

"Lord Dimitri…" He spoke softly, and as he noticed his previous house leader strode on with an uncharacteristic malicious smirk, and an eyepatch to match his sunken, blue eyes and barbarous appearance, Ashe struggled to keep it together. "What in Goddess's name happened to you?"

Dimitri wobbled as he moved, and yet, was able to exhibit a dominant presence.

Behind him came another familiar face of Dedue, with a slight stubble along his jawline, a few nicks, and scars adorning across his forehead, and his hair styled in a crewcut and clothed in a similar fashion as the latter, with the exclusion of his mighty shield and armor. He rampaged into the field like a madman, fending off a particular, grim-looking dark mage with long, flowy obsidian hair in close combat: shield against magic.

His voice couldn't reach them as they continued to march headfirst into the fray, with Dedue aggressively piercing his enemies single-handedly with his chosen weapon while Dimitri ventured forth, grinning sinisterly as he swiped his lance, striking down anybody who didn't wear the proud blue colors of his house.

A hand was placed on his shoulder blade, and more voices were heard.

But none of them seemed to matter, with Ashe not bothering to respond as he was too absorbed with the disturbing scene before him.

Lord Dimitri and the Blue Lions were here, alive and well.

But something was wrong.

"ASHE, HEY!"

Hearing his name, the silver-haired man tore his sights from the Blue Lions to glance the other way, surprised to discover Ignatz in front of him. "Take my battalion and head to the woods," He instructed his friend, his expression hardened as he presented him with another quiver load of arrows. "Try to eliminate as many enemies on sight, okay? Raphael and Lysithea would be joining you shortly,"

Ashe nodded firmly. "What about you and Marianne?"

"We'll be assisting Lorenz and Hilda over there," And jerked his chin to a nearby fight, where a merge of purple and pink—with the nobleman riding on a valiant horse as he summoned a rain of thunder while his female companion took her time slashing and dicing their red-and-blue armored opponents with her great axe.

Looking back to face his friend again, Ashe flashed him a grin.

"You got it," Accepting the quiver, he proceeded to bump fists with the latter, bidding each other good lucks and rushed ahead to meet with a large body of troops, ready and waiting for his orders.

"LET'S MOVE!" Ashe yelled aloud to gain their attention. Left with no choice but to follow orders, he turned a blind eye on his old friends, the Blue Lions, and moved forward into the unknown.

Unknownst to him, a certain older woman had her eyes fixated on him, looking on as he courageously led his troops further into the forest.


Away from the prying eyes and the bringers of death, Ashe and his battalion secluded themselves within the bountiful greenery of trees, concealing their existence as a passing wailing eerily blew by. High on alert, Ashe glimpsed at one of the archers near him and pressed a finger close to his lips. Using his arms, he proceeded to form signals to them, concluding with him pointing to himself and then darting to the trees in the front.

The archers unanimously responded by bobbing their heads, and without another word, with his back hunched and his knees crouched, Ashe began to stealthily glide from tree to tree. Eventually, he found himself in what appears to be another clearing. All of a sudden, his ears perked up as the sound of a neighing pegasi resonated. In the blink of an eye, he noticed a collision of white and blue colors, with the winged pegasi slammed violently against the charred ground.

Hiding behind a tree, Ashe brought a hand to take hold of his hood, stretching farther down until it reached the tip of his nose. He went on to snatch an arrow from his quiver, steadying his breathing as he unconsciously put the arrow on the tongue of his bow. Squirming a bit closer to the edge of the tree, he perceived the female rider who struggled to get out from under her mount. It pained him to hear her scream aloud once she managed to squirm out from underneath and pleading for her beloved winged steed to not close its eyes.

Ashe held his breath, closing his eyes as he tried not to get his emotions overrun him. And then, a strange flickering was heard from nearby…reminding him of the blazing flames that attempted to devour him alive. For some reason, Ashe found himself come out from his hiding spot and pulling the drawstrings of his bow, aimed straight for the red mage's heart as they staggered on the spot.

The fire conjuring from their open palm diminished and with the snap of a finger, his enemy collapsed in mere seconds flat. Ashe drew in a sigh of relief, but before he could relax, he heard footsteps coming toward him. Frantic, he took another arrow from his quiver, pulled the drawstring of his bow and hastily whirled around, ready to aim and fire at—

"…Ashe, is that you?"

That voice.

His lips quivered, legs shaking.

He couldn't believe his eyes.

"Ingrid?"

By the call of her name, the female Pegasus knight removed her metallic helmet, revealing glossy, green eyes, and a bittersweet smile. Her bright, long mustard hair that used to be woven into a singular braid was replaced by a messy, updo—with a small braid loosely hanging and tied by a green band. Donning an outfit in fine, silver color, intermingling well with her winterberry fur coat and a small golden pin above her heart to proudly display her current status as the Knight Captain.

"It's been too long," Ingrid said softly, her eyes solemn. "Thank you, by the way, for saving me back there,"

Ashe's breathing hitched. "I…" He trailed off, unable to say anything else. He lowered his bow, his eyes widening as he tried to process what was going on. He watched as his old friend rushed back to her winged steed, who seemed to have regained consciousness as it attempted to rise from the ground, emitting a loud neigh.

Ingrid smiled with joy, leaning close to her pegasi as she fondly patted its indented muzzle. She glanced back to the young man who looked back at her with a blank look. "Ashe," She cried, getting his attention. She reached out her hand outward. "Come with me,"

"…Where?"

"Home," She answered with a soft look, "Everyone's waiting,"

Ashe inhaled deeply. From the corner of his eye, he noticed something lurking in the shadows. He stiffened in place, taking notice of an archer from his battalion sneaking in and raising his arrow, directing it toward Ingrid.

His lips quivered, his hands getting sweaty.

Without thinking, Ashe raised his own.

Startled by this sudden change, Ingrid glanced at him with worrisome eyes.

"Ashe— "

Her words got cut off the exact moment he let loose of his arrow. With nothing to defend herself, she quickly raised her arms to fend it off, waiting for the impact or for the feeling pain surging through her…

But it never came.

And another minute or so passed.

Confused, she fluttered her eyes open and looked up. She turned around, shocked to find that the arrow that was supposedly for her had penetrated a yellow-armored archer…killing his own men to save her.

Quickly, she whirled her head just in time to see Ashe heading back inside the forest.

"Ashe!"

He stopped, much to her relief though it drained quickly as he remained still.

Ingrid opened her mouth to call out to him again but was interrupted.

"You need to leave," Ashe warned, shooting her a glare. "It's not safe here,"

Ingrid stumbled in her footing, bringing a gloved hand close to her chest as she wore a wounded expression. "Ashe…" She watched her old friend look at her with a bitter face, though in a few seconds, his expression changed from the face of an adult to one of a child, forcing her to become reminded of the Ashe that she knew, and the one she saw as a part of her small family.

"Please," He mouthed to her general direction, a singular word meant only for her. The expression written on his face was worse than anything. He looked tormented, yet seemed to be quite an expert for perfectly masking this.

But she saw right through him and with that one look and one word, she knew exactly what she wanted. Straightening her lips into a fixed line, she nodded firmly to him as she wordlessly trotted off to climb on her winged mount.

He heard large wings flapping and neighing, belonging to a pegasus, taking this notion as a sign to retreat back inside the forest with a faint smile etched across his lips. He watched past his troops, who went out from their hiding the moment they saw him and stared intensely at him prior to vividly witnessing what he'd committed.

Drawing close to a nearby archer, Ashe abruptly paused in his tracks and sent him an intimidating glare. "Say a fucking word about this to Lord von Riegan," He seethed, tightening his grip on his Brave bow. His eyes were cold, distant but inside was a fire raging. "And I swear by the Goddess's name, that I won't show you mercy,"

The archer gulped, then anxiously shook his head. And one by one, the rest of his comrades followed his example, frozen still and waiting for their next order.

Ashe forced a grin, "Good," He said softly, and marched forward, causing some of the archers to exchange at one another in confusion.

"Uh…sir Ashe?"

No response.

"Sir Ashe!"

Gritting his teeth, the silver-haired man found himself advancing forward, deeper and deeper into the forest, leaving the rest to fend for themselves.

He could still feel their intense staring at him.

Don't look at me, he wanted to lash out and yet, didn't have the energy left to speak anymore.

He kept running and running, heart pounding and legs thrashing about, nearly tripping over his footing.

Even so, he kept moving. And once he found himself on the other side of the forest, miles away from the battlefield, from the calamity, from the eyes that judged him for his actions…he finally released the breath he'd been holding in.

Stumbling a bit, Ashe loosened his hold on his bow and quiver as he dropped to his knees, and eventually, so did the rest of his body. Exhausted to the bone, his lungs felt like they could burst, his throat parched and desperate for water. His slightly torn-up clothes and hair was slick with perspiration, clinging to his fair skin.

He chewed on his bottom lip. His body quaked as a chilling sensation embraced him. The emotions he bottled up for the past few years finally exploded, throwing his head deeper into the earthly soil. To his relief, there was nobody in sight nor to hear from a mile away.

With staggered breathing, Ashe raised his head high, his teeth clenched and expression contorted with uncertainty. Closing his eyes shut, the young man released a powerful, raw scream—nothing like human speech or bird song.

Tears flooded down his rosy cheeks as he let out another scream, and then another, thunderous and deafening, close in par with that of a fierce lion.

Lord Dimitri, Dedue, Felix, Mercedes, Annette, Sylvain, and Ingrid—he finally met them again in the battlefield…

But not in a way that he wanted.


Adrestian Empire, what was left of the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus, and the Leicester Alliance…

The reunion that promised another era of change, tranquility and unification among the three main territories fell apart before it could even begin with hundreds of dire fatalities and losses from each opposite side.

Compared to the negligent atmosphere they had as they made their journey into the mountains, Claude, Ashe, and the other members of the Golden Deer returned with what was barely left of their armada—fifty or more so of the cavaliers and archers, while the majority of their foot soldiers have lost their lives serving their nation. They were the last to arrive in the reunion and were the first to leave the battlefield to retreat, knowing for sure that if they had remained longer, hundreds more, including Claude and his friends, would've died.

As the new leader of the Leicester Alliance, Claude was the one to take responsibility for the many deaths, becoming ridiculed and mocked by the public, gradually losing the sponsorship and trust of his supporters from the Council. Despite the bad press damaging his image and questioning his governance, he never backed down and stood strong with resilience. After coming to terms that the Adrestian Empire and the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus could never see eye-to-eye with their ideals and beliefs, Claude had no choice but to declare war against the two territories.

In addition to this announcement, he went on to stress the consequences to the alleged people who might be plotting with their proclaimed enemies would be immediately interrogated and under the jurisdiction of the government, would hold a fair trial to determine their fate—and if proven to be guilt, would either be sentenced in a life of prison or terminated behind closed doors.

From that point on, everything changed.

Yellow Banners depicting the Golden Deer sprang out from thin air, greatly recommended by Claude to exert their dominance and assurance of where the people's loyalty lies.

Soldiers patrolling throughout the Capital and other populated cities, including the Riegan Manor, became a natural sight for the people, and in the marketplace, they were often questioned on the spot regarding their allegiance. During the first few weeks since the decree was established, approximately a hundred and twenty common folks, including those from mercenary groups were deemed guilty and from then on, nobody heard what became of them.

But Ashe knew. He always did.

Though the government assured the people that there were two options, in the end, there was only one. And it sickened him, knowing that Claude was aware of the Council's intentions and allowed them to do whatever they pleased. For some reason, there was something strange going on about him, despite exhibiting the same, old laid-back demeanor he was known for. As days went on, Claude's speeches ringing of friendship nor brotherhood were replaced by one of pressuring the people to put their full trust and faith to him and the Councilmen.

Ashe grew worried about his close friend and even the others, especially Lorenz and Raphael grew fearful of him. Hidden beneath Claude's impish smirk was something ominous, sinister, and chilling, and no matter how much they attempted to decipher it, they couldn't seem to guess what it could be.

Regardless of their efforts to question their leader, all they received was the usual, amiable grin and the sight of his eyes twinkling as the door closed between them, dividing them between two worlds.

Since then, Ashe was growing conflicted of his perspective on his close friend.

The person who he looked up to, the person who took him in when nobody didn't want to, who helped him ward off his demons, and was there to offer his shoulder in times of need, a brother, a friend, a comrade. Claude was there for him, always willing to surrender some of his time to be there for him.

And as much as Ashe encouraged himself to do the same, deep down, he knew that he couldn't. Since the reunion, the poor man couldn't seem to sleep properly, often waking up in cold sweat or screaming loudly until one of his friends (worried for Claude, they eventually settled to temporarily remain in Riegan Manor to look out for him), would barge in and assure him that all was well and that it was simply a nightmare.

And then one day, Claude summoned him to his office.

"You…wanted to see me?" Ashe wondered aloud, popping his head halfway through the door.

Catching sight of his friend, the dark-skinned man broke into a grin. "That's correct," He confirmed, snickering. He watched as the silver-haired man closed the door behind him and wandered inside. Leaning in, he propped his chin on his knuckle and asked, "So, how've you been? Doing well?"

Ashe mustered a tiny smile and shrugged. "I've seen better days,"

Claude nodded along, followed by another smile. "You don't mind if I could ask you some questions?"

Hearing this, Ashe became tensed.

Claude took notice of this and rolled his eyes. "Buddy, relax!" He assured to him, waving his hand off dismissively, "Just wanna know what you think about the plans I've made for our upcoming missions,"

Ashe blinked. "Oh…" And relaxed his shoulders. "What is it?"

"The councilmen and I have been talking about the best possible course of actions to win triumphantly from this war," Claude explained, veering down at the thick documents laid on his front desk. "Some of the intel that we managed to get about the Adrestian Empire came from some of the people excused to be working for them,"

"And what about Faerghus?"

Claude widened his grin. "That's where you come in," He rose from his leathered chair and strode over to his friend, snaking his arm along the latter's shoulders and continued with his explanation, "Since you're native from the land of frigid winters and you fighting on our side, we were wondering if it'll be alright for you to give us some intel,"

Ashe pitched his eyebrows together. "…It depends on what kind of information you need from me,"

"Well, to give out an example, we wanna know what makes them tick," Claude went on, smiling away as he leaned a bit too close on the latter.

The silver-haired man frowned. "Are you referring to the weather?" He asked innocently, not quite understanding what his friend was referring to. "Because if you are, it's impossible. The defense of Faerghus relies solely on nature—which is how the land is filled with endless snow and storms,"

Claude frowned, breaking away from the latter as he ruminated through his thoughts. "I get where you're coming from," He replied, "I'll make a note of that,"

Ashe meekly nodded. "Anything else?"

"Yeah, actually," Claude went on, flashing him a grin. "Would you care to lead a large armada into Faerghus?"

Ashe blinked once, then twice. "What?"

"You're knowledgeable about the terrain, and the severe conditions," Claude reasoned with him, "We're depending on you, Ashe, to help us bring victory to the Leicester Alliance. It's a pretty big responsibility, but I'm sure you can do it," And then proceeded to slap him on the back, followed by a burst of boisterous laughter.

Taken aback by this new information, Ashe fixed his lips into a straight line.

Claude took notice of this and shot him a worried look. "You okay?"

"What if…" Ashe trailed off, stopping for a moment to choose the right words carefully. "What if I said no?" Slowly, he looked up to face his friend, surprised to see the usual, amiable smile fading and become a fierce beam of bitterness.

"Are you saying that you won't do it?"

Ashe swallowed thickly, bemused to hear his friend's voice turn grim.

"No, that's not what I— "

"Where does your loyalty stand?" Claude suddenly cried, startling him on the spot. 'Tell me, right now!"

Ashe slightly quaked, his teeth chattering. "I don't…" He trailed off, closing his eyes shut as he mentally cursed himself for sounding like a fool. "Claude, I don't understand what you're talking about— "

"Don't look at me like a fucking idiot," Claude interrupted him, advancing forward and cornering the poor young man against the wall. "I saw you saved Ingrid from the Blue Lions, and killed one of your men to let her escape,"

Ashe's eyes widened in horror.

Oh, no…

"What kind of a friend does that, huh?" Claude lashed out, "I gave you everything you wanted and this is how you repay me?" Consumed with anger, he punched him directly across the face, causing him to stumble and drop down to the ground. "You son of a bitch!"

All of a sudden, the doors burst open, revealing the members of the Golden Deer.

"ASHE!" Marianne and Ignatz cried in unison, scurrying over to aid the poor young man who curled up on the carpeted flooring, breathing heavily while Raphael, Lorenz, and Hilda sprinted ahead to hold back their house leader from attempting to land another punch at him.

Soon after, the guards from outside came in to quell the tension.

Bringing a hand on his bruised cheek, Ashe couldn't help but moan from the pain.

"It's okay, Ashe…" Marianne said softly, as she began to recite a prayer to heal his fresh wound. "I'll patch you up, so don't worry,"

For a second there, she sounded someone familiar to him.

"…Mercedes?" He mumbled softly to himself, but before he could say anything else, his eyes grew heavy, and before long, he fell unconscious as the dizziness overtook him.


"Ingrid, wait!"

Ignoring her childhood friend, the blonde woman marched on, the heels of her armored boots clanking brashly along with the shimmering, wooden floor tiles of the great halls. Narrowing her eyes, she quickened her pace to get to the church.

The tall redhead shook his head, frowning deeply as he attempted to catch up to her. "Damn it, Ingrid! I said wait!"

To his surprise, she halted midway in her steps, whirling her head to face him, her expression written with determination. "What?" She suddenly cried, startling him. Upon realizing what she had done, her eyes slightly widened, bringing a hand to cover her mouth as she glanced back at the latter. "Sylvain, I…" Lowering her head, she sulked, her eyes downcast. "I didn't mean to raise my voice at you," She began, bowing in apology. "Forgive me,"

Registering her words, Sylvain slipped a smile across his face. He walked past her, confusing her. "I should be the one apologizing," He points out without bothering to look back at her. "Looking for Dimitri, right?"

Ingrid blinked, then meekly nodded. "Yes,"

"He's not at the church,"

This confused her. "Then, where…"

"You should know," Sylvain hinted, whirling his head to flash her a grin and a knowing look. "It's where we started our journey together as a team, after all,"

Realization dawned upon her. Without thinking, she rushed off, much to her childhood friend's dismay, as she hurriedly advanced forward, to the familiar place where it accepted her.

"Say hi to Dimitri for me!" Sylvain yelled and when he saw her raise her arm in acknowledgment, he mustered a grin and strolled back to assist in the Mess Hall.

Spotting the proud blue banner on the pillars, she skidded to a halt, panting breathlessly. Inhaling a deep breath, she strode inside.

A few steps in and she was immediately swept by a wave of past memories—the classroom where she and her other housemates grew up together and became close, where they were taught to learn the value of teamwork and honing their personal skills under the teachings of Byleth, who miraculously yet mysteriously arrived at the entrance of the Garreg Mach Monastery, a few weeks after they managed to secure the building as their safe haven, and before the dreaded reunion came into play. She looked at her surroundings—the long wooden tables and the uncomfortable chairs they were forced to sit on for the drills and lectures were gone and in their place, was a large circular-shaped table at the very heart of the expansive room, with a map displaying the map of Fódlan, as well as with the three primary territories and the other neighboring nations.

The pillars remained strong and sturdy, albeit weary as time went on. The bookshelves on the right side of the room were disposed of, and instead, became a small run-in-the-mill office for them to negotiate and strategize their plans privately. On the opposite side was a small fireplace, where a group of small children sat comfortably, chatting lively as their laughter filled the cold, taciturn atmosphere of the space.

Ingrid watched as Dedue suddenly appeared next to her, nodded his head in acknowledgment to her as he wandered over to the children, giving them a few spares of blankets and pillows before ushering them to follow him in one of the empty dormitories to rest in. She produced a smile and waved at them who saw this and mimicked her gesture, and as they left the area, she exhaled an exasperated sigh.

Two years had gone and the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus, or rather, what was left of it…was nothing but hell. It happened so quickly—towns and villages raided and burned by the bandits led by the notorious Death Knight, who worked under the influence of the enigmatic Flame Emperor, then there was the Nightcrawlers or Those Who Lurk in the Shadows…

Ingrid cringed in her spot, her body quaking as she was forced to re-experience the trauma she'd been through, fresh, vivid, and horrifying.

She remembered the many helpless citizens pleading for help, only for their lives to get short and their blood splattered on the ground, their dead corpses piled up for all to see. She remembered how she, along with Sylvain and Felix were there, quite shaken and yet persisted to complete their mission—rescue as many survivors as they possibly could and bring them to the Monastery where Annette and Bernadetta were there to supply them with food for nourishment in the Mess Hall, Dedue guiding them to their temporary sleeping quarters, with Mercedes and Byleth stationed in the infirmary to heal the injured, sick, and the elderly (thanks to whatever was left they could salvage from Annette's atelier moments before bandits stormed in and destroyed everything). And the cycle would repeat and repeat.

Before long, the Monastery was mostly occupied by mostly women, children, and elderly folks with a few able men volunteering to aid them on their regular patrols to search for more survivors.

Weeks passed since the reunion and the scars were still there.

There was Annette, who managed to pull off an impossible feat, eliminating and repelling most of their enemies, and as the others retreated back to their respective armies, the others found her barely breathing as she wasted too much of her energy and strength to conjure her powerful magic to protect them from an incoming air attack from Edelgard. The poor woman was out cold for a while, and as always, Mercedes and Bernadetta remained by her side, with Ingrid and the others often dropping by to get an update on her wellbeing.

When she finally came through, she changed a little…but not in most extremes, as they've initially thought. Her long, bright orange hair, which used to be braided into pigtails were removed, allowing for her mid-length hair to cascade freely down her back. There were more bruises etched on her cheeks, and though she retained her cheery personality and sweet smile, there were times when she would ask for some time by her lonesome. Then again, nobody could blame her…as the raids brought nothing but trouble, with her missing parents nowhere to be found and her Uncle, Baron Dominique, publicly executed in their estate as a reminder of how much power the Flame Emperor had on them.

Following after that came another change, this time from Felix. For someone who was persistent to do things on his own, it became quite a surprise to the entire team when he suddenly started to exhibit signs of kindness and concern around them. What hit the nail in the coffin was how he was willing to reach out to others and assist them, and though he remained the same lovable idiot who wouldn't hesitate to remark or complain, it was often heart-warming to catch him wandering around with a tray of food and distributing them to the refugees. Then again, could this sudden change of heart be somehow connected to the loss of his parents and him becoming the current guardian of his younger siblings?

Next came Sylvain. Unfortunately, the death of his brother was only the beginning of his tragic tale and as similar to Felix, his father died protecting their family from the raids. His castle, father, three out of his four siblings with the youngest still alive and kicking in his mother's pregnant womb, his home was gone…with nothing else but a sword-encrusted with his family crest which was passed down to him and his honorable surname—possibly the last heir to the House of Gautier.

For Mercedes, it was a short, yet terrifying story. After her successful year-long pilgrimage throughout Faerghus, she was sent to spread more influence on the other territories, beginning with the Adrestian Empire. It wasn't long until she was discovered to be from Faerghus that she was nearly killed on sight…only to be spared by Edelgard who insisted for her to remain unscathed but rather, to deliver a message to Dimitri concerning the reunion. The older woman did what she was told, utterly grateful for her old classmate who chose to spare her, only to realize that that was her intention all along…in exchange for her life, hundreds of soldiers were to be slaughtered in her place. Knowing that she felt nothing but guilt, blaming herself for the great losses of their men.

As for Bernadetta, her background was equally as sorrowful as the rest. Since her transfer to the Blue Lions, she was warmly welcomed by the others (Annette was quick to befriend her and they became inseparable), and by graduation, announced that she'll be returning to the Adrestian Empire, visiting her new friends every chance she got and overtime, became confident and braver to speak out her mind. While staying with her family back at the Adrestian Empire, a group of foot soldiers barged inside and forcedly separated her from her parents, labeling as a traitor and excelling her from her own country. Left with no home, she went to Annette's estate for refugee and for a few months, she remained there…until the raid came and took everything away again.

And finally, there was Ingrid. Following graduation, she was forced by her family to meet with her potential suitors. To her surprise and relief, it was Dimitri who saved her and insisted that she should be a part of the royal knights, and for the next three years, was able to prove to herself and her parents that she didn't need a husband to restore their reputation and it was thanks to her new title as the knight general that they were able to reclaim what they've lost…and then tragedy struck. While she was stationed at the royal palace, she was unaware of how her estate became a target by the Nightcrawlers, abducting her parents and as one of the families bearing crests of the ten great heroes, were used for experimentation. What came after was nothing but a horror show…as she was forced to kill her mother and father, who were turned into demonic beasts.

Recalling this, Ingrid shaped her hands into clenched fists.

No, now wasn't the time for tears.

"…Ingrid?"

She flinched, turning around to discover her house leader standing before her. "Dimitri," She addressed him, relaxing her shoulders. "You've nearly frightened me,"

Dimitri tipped his head, gesturing her to sit on the chair closest to her.

She nodded, pulling out the chair and plopping herself down.

"What's on your mind?" He asked worriedly, his voice soft.

Ingrid lowered her gaze to glance at her hands, collected them together and drew in a sharp breath.

Of all the members of the Blue Lions, it was Dimitri who was hit the most. His frequent episodes and uncontrollable rage were a part of his mental illness and when the royal palace, his home had befallen by their enemies, stripping him away from his title as the next heir to the throne and once more, taking up the mantle as their house leader, gathering them together as they were all he had left of what made up his family as his own have been taken away.

Unfortunately, that was all that she knew as there were more layers in his story and to her disappointment, he refused to tell it to anyone in fear that he might hurt them.

And yet, when it comes to the Blue Lions and around their former professor, Dimitri didn't hesitate to show them his vulnerable side, and it was then that they realized, despite his barbaric appearance and frequent episodes, that he was still the same, kind Dimitri they loved and knew.

Turning her head to face him, Ingrid began with, "I would like to request for a search-and-rescue mission,"

Dimitri blinked, surprised to hear this. "What for?" He wondered, "Is there someone you would like to save?"

Ingrid nodded firmly. "Yes," She confirmed, leaning closer. "Ashe Duran from the Golden Deer,"

That caught him off-guard. "…Ashe?" He repeated, completely at a loss for words.

"During the reunion, my beloved pegasi was attacked by fire magic," She explained, her voice stern. "We were saved thanks to Ashe,"

Dimitri furrowed his eyebrows. "That can't be…" He muttered lowly under his breath. Sighing, he shook his head. "No, it's too risky," And rose up from his seat, wandering deeper into the room. "He must've mistaken you for someone else. That must be it,"

"No, that's not true!" Ingrid protested, raising her voice. "He saved me twice!"

Dimitri peered over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed with uncertainty.

"He killed off one of his men to buy me more time to escape," Ingrid went on, rising from her chair as she approached him. "I saw him, Dimitri! The old Ashe that used to be with us, he's still there!"

Her childhood friend glowered. "That's not enough to justify your reason, Ingrid," He countered back, glaring down at her as he tightened his fists. "If I sent you and the others there, what would happen then?" Consumed with rage, he slammed his fist into the table. "I won't forgive myself if something happened to all of you…" He whispered softly, his body shaking as a flood of painful memories—of his parents and his home burning in intense flames as he stared in horror, desperately trying to get back inside only to be held back by Dedue, Felix, and Sylvain—and slowly, more of them were resurfacing from the back of his mind.

"I can't…please," He groaned, shaking his head. "I can't take it anymore…"

Ingrid bit her bottom lip. "I'm tired of running," She spoke quite softly, loud for him to hear her words. "…Aren't you?"

Silence enveloped the entirety of the room with the exception of Dimitri's ragged breathing as he attempted to control his conflicted emotions.

Ingrid stepped back, giving her friend some space to himself. Lifting her chin, her eyes slightly widened, surprised to find the older woman, her once dark hair glowing in radiant green, along with the appearance of their other friends as they quietly entered the room.

Closing in on them, Byleth snuck a glance at the blonde woman who looked back at her with a wounded expression. With the ghost of a smile, she gave the latter a knowing look and then proceeded to press her hand on their house leader's shoulder, causing him to stiffen.

"We've all lost something, Dimitri," Byleth began, her voice brimming with hope. "But that doesn't mean we should give up. Ashe is somewhere out there, and he needs us,"

Still, there was no response.

The others exchanged glances at each other, until…

"I've…got something to say," A voice spoke up, belonging to Bernadetta, who stepped forth to present herself in front of them. Bringing her hands close to her chest, she watched from a distance as their house leader gradually raised his head to lock eyes with her. With a determined face, she began her speech. "I transferred here to the Blue Lions, not knowing that I was going to find a place that would welcome me and accept me for who I am," She mustered a smile as she reflected back to their school days, when she used to be extremely introverted and kept to herself, "I was still not used to the Officer's Academy but it was thanks to you guys, that I began to enjoy every single day,"

Tipping her head, Bernadetta frowned as she added, "The Adrestian Empire…the land where I was born and raised, kicked me out just like that. I had lost my home, my family…and I was alone, all by myself," She stopped for a moment as tears began trickling down from her eyes, "My own home didn't accept me, and threw me away like I was nothing…" More tears were spilled and as she struggled to form more words from her mouth, something warm was pressed from her hand, and then another was placed on top of her head, and then another on her opposite shoulder blade, and then another gently taking hold of her hand and squeezing it fiercely.

Dimitri watched as the other members of the Blue Lions comforted her, supporting her as she sniffed loudly. His eyes softened, and for a few brief seconds, he imagined Bernadetta, who retained her short height, with a certain silver-haired boy, who used to cry to himself whenever he was alone. Dimitri reflected back to a memory when he found the poor boy bawling his eyes out when he didn't do well on one of his tests, Dimitri was determined to assemble the other members together to help him. He remembered the next few weeks, filled with smiles and laughter, as they cheered for Ashe who managed to score the highest grade in the midterms, beating Lysithea and Lindhart—that moment alone became precious for him, recalling how utterly proud he was for the boy.

Finding her voice again, Bernadetta raised her head and continued, "But now, here I am, surrounded by a new family and a new home, who welcomed me from the very start,"

Dimitri's eyes widened as a warm sensation spawned within him.

Those exact words that came out from her words—right then and there, Ashe appeared in her place, with his bright smile and his naïve aura, a person whom he and the others swore to protect at all cost.

Quickly, he strolled over to their direction, surprising them.

Once he approached Bernadetta, he looked down at her and reached out his hand to pat her head, the same way he used to do with Ashe.

Bernadetta blinked, before flashing him a small smile.

Dimitri stood there in silence, ruminating through his thoughts.

Releasing his hand, he turned to face Dedue. "Write a letter to Claude," He instructed him, his eyes renewed with vigor. "Tell him to meet us at the border with Ashe. Tell him to come alone and assure him that we won't attack," And started heading for the entrance, only to pause again to add in a grave tone, "And if he doesn't comply with my wishes, we'll bring hell to him,"


A week passed since the incident that happened at the office.

Though Claude was quick to revert back to his usual self, Ashe remained reserved, choosing to distance himself from his friends. He didn't bother to try to stop the news of his failure to eliminate an enemy from spreading throughout the Capital, and before long, he was quickly labeled as a traitor by the people. His friends, on the other hand, refused to believe it. With Ashe under house arrest for a few days until the Council determines his fate, each member of the Golden Deer would visit him with food, supplies, books, and other knickknacks in hopes to make him feel better or to provide him company.

Another week went by and after a long discussion among themselves, the Councilmen deemed it worthy that it was for the best to execute him the following day.

Of course, his friends protested against this and to his surprise, even Claude joined in, proclaiming that despite what he did, he still viewed him as his friend and comrade-in-arms through and through.

Somehow, Ashe couldn't help but smile at the idea that despite being considered a criminal, there were people who were determined to choose his side.

…In the end, and unsurprisingly, the Council remained firm with what they decided upon (turns out that Claude, with his current leader of the Leicester Alliance, was unable to bend the rules for him, especially when his action was legitimately an act of treason.

And so, for the next remaining hours that he had left, Ashe chose to spend his time with his friends of the Golden Deer from morning until the afternoon, when it was time for them to leave, Raphael seized the opportunity to envelop Ashe into a tight embrace, followed later with Ignatz along with their signature fist bumps, then came Marianne and Lysithea who pecked him on his cheeks, with Hilda tackling him in a hug and proceeded to playfully kiss him on the lips…which eventually led Lorenz to take this as a competition and followed her example.

…As weird as they were, Ashe loved each and every one of them, grateful to have befriended them.

And later that night, he chose to stay up and reflect back to the times when things were content and well. He veered his eyes at the tiny lion plush gripped on his left hand, then shifted over to the school picture he had on his right.

"I'm sorry…" He mouthed, his eyes beginning to turn glossy. "I'm sorry, everyone…" And buried his face against the lion plush and the picture frame, feeling the bitter cold and warmth intermingling on his cheek.

All he wanted, no matter what, was to see them again.

To be reunited with the people who accepted him, who he saw as family, his home.

But now, it was never going to happen.

Not in this life.

Or maybe not ever.

Ashe finally exploded, the tears bursting forth like water from a dam, spilling freely down his face, trembling like a small, lost child as he clutched desperately onto the last two pieces he had left of the Blue Lions…

Why didn't he take Ingrid's hand and just flew away?

Why didn't he take Mercedes's suggestion to return to Faerghus?

Why didn't he forgive Byleth sooner?

Why did he transfer in the first place, knowing full well of the consequences?

Why did he have to run away?

No matter how much he put effort to change, to try to become a little braver, confident like those who he looked up to, it would always backfire in the end.

"I really am just a cowardly lion, aren't I?"

Ashe buried his face deeper into his arms, unaware that his bedroom door was slowly creaking open, nor did he heard the quiet, scampering footsteps making its way over to him.

"Ashe,"

Hearing his name, his head shot up. Peering up, he was surprised to discover Claude standing in front of him. Quickly, he wiped his tears and snot away with the back of his arm. "What are you doing here?" He hiccupped.

Claude snickered, causing him to frown. "What? I'm not welcome here anymore?" He joked, only to utter a low curse when he realized that he made the latter sulk.

"Woah, buddy!" The dark-skinned man cried, squatting to his knees as he patted him affectionately on the head. "Relax, I was only pulling your leg,"

Looking up, Ashe rolled his eyes. "Whatever you say,"

The two men chuckled, relishing this moment. When the silence settled in, Claude cleared his throat. "Sorry for punching you on the face,"

Ashe snuck a glance at his friend and produced a smile. "Honestly, I deserved it," He admitted, scratching the back of his head. "I mean, I did kill one of your men out of cold blood, so I guess…we're sort of even?"

"Not quite yet," Claude uttered lowly, too soft for the other to hear. Shaking his head, he forced a smile across his face. "You know, I'm glad I met you,"

The silver-haired man blinked. "Really?"

"Yeah," Claude confirmed to him, his facial features softening. "I'm glad to befriend someone as obnoxiously brave as you, bud,"

"…Brave?" Ashe drawled out, confused. "I'm not brave,"

"You are," Claude assured him, chuckling. "You've always been, you know that? Not sure if you knew this, but back in our school days, the minute you declared that you transferred to my House, you became twenty hundred percent cooler,"

Ashe blushed, quite flattered by his compliment. "Oh, uh…thanks," He muttered, furrowing his eyebrows. "You're pretty cool too, Claude,"

Claude scoffed. "Of course, I am!" He asserted, then proceeded to make a cool pose. "Always have and always will,"

Again, the two friends erupted into a burst of laughter.

"What's that you've got there?" Claude wondered, jerking his chin over to the picture frame and lion plush he held close to his chest.

Looking down, Ashe smiled bitterly. "Oh, these are remnants of what I still have of my family,"

Claude quirked an eyebrow. "Your family?"

"Yeah…" Ashe answered, his voice cracking. "The Blue Lions, I mean…" He paused for a moment to inhale a deep breath. "I've always been running away from everything. When I found out that my adopted father died, the first thing I did was cause trouble for them. I distant myself away, blamed my professor for his death, and just…" He closed his eyes shut, pinching the bridge of his nose in an attempt not to cry his eyes out for the umpteenth time.

"It's been five years since, and…all I want, more than anything in this world, is to just see them again…hug them and just tell them how much I miss them and love them with all my heart,"

A tear from his right eye spilled down, and yet he didn't seem to care.

"I had so many chances to see them again, but I kept running and now…" Chewing on his bottom lip, he forced himself to grin. "It's the end of the line for me," He croaked, "Guess I deserve it, you know? For pushing them away this whole time…and never once reflecting back on what I did…." More tears flowed down his cheeks. "They're too good for me…Lord Dimitri, Dedue, Felix, Mercedes, Annette, Sylvain, Ingrid, and Byleth—they really are good people and the fact that I just abandoned them and kept pushing them away, I just…" He sniffed, leaning forward as he spilled out the feelings he'd been bottling up this whole time. "I just wanna go home,"

All Claude could do was watch helplessly as his poor friend openly expressed what he finally desired. The corners of his lips slightly quirked upwards, producing a sorrowful smile. He knew what he had to do.

He brought a hand and placed it on his shoulder blade to comfort him. Eyes softening, Claude called out his name.

Sniffing, Ashe peered up, his face covered with fresh trails of tears. "…Hmm?"

"Do you trust me?"

Hearing this, Ashe frowned. "I don't…"

"Do you trust me?" Claude repeated, a bit louder.

Thinking it over, Ashe firmly nodded. "Yeah, why?"

Claude grinned from ear to ear. Standing up from the ground, he reached out his hand toward him while his other patted the latter's knee a few times for encouragement. "Come on then,"

Wiping away his tears again, Ashe gave his friend a puzzling look.

Claude simply smiled. He brought a hand over to his left breast pocket, seizing the small paper inside and presenting it to him. "I got a letter from Dimitri a few days ago," He began, his smile lengthening in size as he caught his friend's eyes widened and reading the paper again for the third time to ensure the legitimacy.

"Wait, does that mean…" Ashe trailed off and once more, peered up to Claude with hopeful eyes.

Claude nodded in confirmation, "Pack up your things," He began, his voice clear and composed. "I'm taking you home,"


And that's everything! Whew!
Now, we have one more chapter left-can you guess what it is?

Also, EVERY MEMBER FROM THE OTHER HOUSES HAS A CAMEO. CAN YOU GUESS WHO THEY WERE FIGHTING WITH/AGAINST?

Anyway, I can't express how much I enjoyed writing Claude (he's such a good character), and as for the battle scene for the reunion, it got pretty long thanks to the great influence of the game of thrones soundtrack (and for anyone who's interested, check out the playlist up above for more effect!)

Writing out the tragedy for each Blue Lion member broke me, especially Sylvain's as it's somehow a nice nod to a certain princess in Awakening, and as for Dimitri, I made sure not to add too many explanations to make sure that you can distinguish what's true and what's false-I'm counting on the lore of the game to do this for me, so I hope it works out well.

And one more thing-that weird long paragraph of Ashe finally breaking down as he talked about the Blue Lions? I wrote that as I imagined himself in his shoes and without thinking, the words flowed out and I kept crying as I wrote them down, knowing for a fact that this must be exactly what he must be feeling at that moment.

Whew...what a chapter, huh?
I hope I was able to hype you guys even more for the last and final chapter as well as for the fire emblem three houses game!

Similar to how this chapter was done, in order to make the writing look and sound great, I'm going to need some time to rest and polish my draft. Sound good for everyone? Here's the date for the final chapter-Sunday.
No ifs, ands, or buts this time.

Thank you so much for the following people - baoxie and the 10 new people who made kudos! As well as for the amazing others, like Indigo One, who took their time to write comments for me, thank you so very much! They grant me strength! (in the ao3 community)

As mentioned before, the last chapter would be updated on Sunday.

Please leave any kudos/comments if you'd like!
Thank you so much for reading and have a wonderful day!