Chapter 25: Memories

Summary: Timeline- rewind- night before the march for Faerghus

Notes: Ok warning for you especially after all the heartwarming fluff that was last chapter this one gets pretty dark- I'm going over Fodlan history- massacre at the red canyon- sothis's death at the hands of nemesis ect as going through thier memories (Duscar) to establish motives and clue them both in so they don't have to wait for Rhea to know those truths. I don't do gory details but thought I might warn you beforehand. As always thanks for reading! *SQUEALS* en/artworks/80256713 so pretty not the dancer's outift but very nice looking- pixiv is also where i find alot of my art of the two of them including 18+ stuff so if you thirsty for more stuff go there.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text 25

Dimitri wasn't sure when he had finally fallen asleep, but his eyes snapped open as he heard her and felt her move. He had been caught in his nightmares enough to recognize the sounds. When she had been out for those three days, she hadn't made a sound, only small movements like leaning herself towards him or Guren had been the only thing she did. Right now, her face contorted in pain, which he had never seen her do before. Even when wounded in battle, she had kept a calmness and evenness to her features. She would grimace, but this was something new. It was also something he didn't want to see on her again.

He tried to shake her, but she didn't wake. He tired the kisses that she would trail on him to wake him up gently after he had snarled and attacked her that first time. He tried speaking to her, but nothing seemed to work. He heard the scratch of claws on the door before the handle turned and Guren let himself inside and jumped on the bed looking between the two of them. Her whimpers had gotten louder. Guren's whines and his attempts failed to have any reaction on her either.

"Nemesis… traitor…..Zandado….." she breathed.

Dimitri pulled back. It might not be a nightmare after all. Her sothis regalia was reappearing as she tossed. He felt powerless. He wasn't sure how to help her. He took her hand that she activated her time spells with and closed his eyes as he nuzzled his head into her neck as he closed his eyes. "Show me what's bothering you. I want to help."

Golden light flared in her hand. When he opened his eyes again he didn't see Byleth anywhere. He recognized Sothis's casket from the mausoleum. Nemesis was above it, several corpses lay around it, some human some beasts. When the mage behind him was done with the chant, Nemesis shoved the lid off. Inside Sothis was resting, calm and serene like Sitri had been when he had seen her in Abyss. The twisted grin that Nemesis gave at the sight of her was sickening. He grabbed her by the throat and lifted her up.

"You disgusting Nabatean beasts do not belong in this world. You are no Goddess. I will take great pleasure destroying each and every one of you." Nemesis growled, tightening the hold on her throat.

Sothis opened up her eyes as she started to struggle. "We gave you everything we could offer, and yet this is how you repay us!"

Sothis raised her hand to activate her time spell, but Nemesis was already ready with his next move. He slammed her down to the ground and tore her heart out, his hand holding a crest stone instead of a heart as he let her blood dribble from his hand into his mouth. Dimitri watched in disgust as the mage came forward with a goblet to collect more blood. He presented it to Nemesis who drank it down. Nemesis buckled at first before the crest of flames flared in his hands.

"Yes…. Yes! Her power is mine now. This strength….I will become the new god of this world!" Nemesis' laughter echoed around the mausoleum.

Nemesis kicked Sothis's limp body. "Use her bones to craft me a weapon worthy of a god!"

"At once Nemesis." The mage said before a few of them started to chant a spell as they ripped Sothis apart. Dimitri had to turn away. He had been capable of brutality, but this. He could hear as they tore the bone and flesh apart. He could hear Byleth crying in the back of his mind.

The scene changed to Nemesis at the gates of Zanado. He was holding the Sword of the creator and it pulsed with the crest stone. "I will kill every last one of those disgusting beasts."

The massacre was more than Dimitri wanted to watch as the canyon walls were painted red with the blood of the ones who lived inside. He saw a few dragons that tried to protect their kin. It reminded him of Duscar retaliation. No one was spared, not even the crying babies in their mother's arms. Then he saw Rhea, eyes wide with horror and rage.

Her fury building, her gaze never leaving Nemesis' blade. "You dare use my mother to attack her children! You Argarthans have taken enough from Fodlan! Give her back you monster!"

Rhea attacked. Dimitri knew that look all too well. Blind hate, bubbling rage as everything you could hate about the world stood before you. She finally reached Nemesis and he could hear Sothis cry out as time stopped the blade almost swiping Rhea. Everything halted shattering into shades of blue, all except for Rhea. Sothis appeared like a ghost from the sword. "Run! Live to fight another day. I love you my precious daughter."

When time resumed, Rhea dodged the swipe that Nemesis threw at her. She was bewildered a moment, closing her eyes briefly as her reason took hold. Taking a deep breath, she looked at the carnage around her. "I will be back for you, mother." She promised before she turned into her dragon form and fled.

"Don't let it get away!" Nemesis roared.

Some of Slither's mages tried to take aim at her fleeing form but Rhea shot a beam down at them. The mages placed a barrier to keep Rhea's blast from hitting them. Knowing that she couldn't do anything more Rhea retreated, following her mother's wish. Nemesis had no choice but to ignore her for now. They had nothing they could chase her with. They would kill her soon enough. He started carving out some of the larger beasts. The mages collecting the blood and twisting their forms into weapons. Dimitri recognized Areabdhar as well as a few of the other hero's relics. Once they were done Nemesis led a few of the Slither mages back to his camp.

"I have a gift for you, my warriors. Step forward as I call your name. Drink from the cups and let the power flow through you as you are gifted with a weapon worthy of a hero. The one that they call the progenitor god is a lie, and we will eradicate her followers and the beasts that hide among the humans will be ours to end their false rein."

Eleven men stepped forward, his commanders and greatest warriors.

"Blaiddyd! This one should do well for you!" Nemesis said as a blonde haired man went up to him in a bow. Dimitri tried not to look at how closely he resembled this man who lived centuries ago. Nemesis called out the names of the other ten elites. Each of the elites drank a goblet of their blood as the crests manifested and were given the relic of their house.

Nemesis raised his blade. "Together my warriors, we will liberate Fodlan from these beasts that have hidden among us! We will conquer this world!"

The scene changed once more to a large battle. He recognized the Tailtean Plains, having been so close to his kingdom. Rhea was there again in armor this time as she had a large army at their backs. This must have been the war that Byleth was talking about that she had seen a couple of times. When Rhea disarmed Nemesis and started to stab him repeatedly. He saw the touch of madness in her eyes before she calmed, realizing that her foe was finally dead. She cradled the sword to her cheek as the army roared behind her.

He would have thought the visions over, but there was another. He recognized Sitri as Rhea placed the crest of flames into her hollow chest. A doll playing human, that is what Byleth had called herself before. How Rhea managed such a thing was beyond him. Whatever Sitri was she had been able to produce a child.

"Rise my daughter. I give you a vessel for our mother to return to us. Even if you are not she I will appreciate your companionship none the less." Rhea said.

The vision changed, the same table the same position, but Sitri was awake and alive with blood covering the table.

"Please Rhea. I know how much it will hurt Jeralt to lose me, but please save her. Take my heart and give it to her! I want my daughter to live!" Sitri pleaded, her blood-stained hands soiling Rhea's white gown. "Please!" she cried when Rhea wouldn't answer her.

Rhea had Byleth in her arms, unblinking and unmoving, not even breathing. She gave a look to Sitri. "Very well. If that is what you wish, I shall comply."

Rhea placed her hand over Sitri's heart and green light flared as her hand changed to a dragon's claw and she buried it into Sitri's chest, taking out the crest of flames.

"Mother please watch over this child. Your blood that ran through me runs in this precious girl through what I gave to her father and through her mother that I created. Let the blood of my blood be what finally brings you back to me." She scratched a wound into Byleth's breast. She placed the crest stone above the wound until golden light sizzled as the stone melded into her and Byleth opened her violet eyes.

"Welcome to the world my blessing. I expect great things from you my grandchild." Rhea said giving Byleth's forehead a kiss. She gave one last look to Sitri. "I will come to clean and repair you later my child. For now I must tend to the man that had your love." She stroked Byleth's soft tufts of hair. "I will not kill him for taking her away from me, because I have a gift in you now. I will not let you make the same mistake my dear one. You will belong to the church from this moment. I shall see it done. I have given up so much to make sure this world can see peace enough for you to return and be worshiped as you should be mother."

Rhea hid her maddening gaze as she took Byleth to a distressed Jeralt. She would not let him into the room to see Sitri. When she handed Byleth to Jeralt her gaze was cold as she denied him to say goodbye to his wife. She handed Jeralt the ring that Byleth now had in her possession and Dimitri felt his heart break for the strong man who wept like a child as he fell to his knees. What Jeralt wrote in the diary was true. Byleth never laughed nor cried. She barely moved and he could see the glares and indecision on Jeralt's face as he came to terms with the fact that this was what his wife gave her own for.

Rhea would come visit often, and everytime he watched the hunger behind that smile Jeralt only got more nervous around her. He tried to play it off as just a caring grandmother craving the one thing that was left of her daughter, but the more he saw, the more he worried. When the doctor examined her and told Jeralt that there was no heartbeat, he knew Rhea must had done something awful. He didn't know what, but he knew that he could not keep Byleth there.

Jeralt didn't know what had caused the monastery fire, but he took his chance to hide the silent child and then when the coast was clear he ran. His weapons, the baby, the diary, and Sitri's ring were the only things he took with him. He left Fodlan, taking her to Morfis and began his life as a mercenary to provide for her.

The rest of the events were Byleth's. She was truly a stone-faced doll most of her life. She was even younger than most of the children in Faerghus when she took he first kill to protect her father. He was at a loss for words at her attitude. She had only asked her father if he was alright. The rest of her experiences were similar. It would be several years before they would travel to Fodlan. He saw Darren through her eyes after he had come back after his sister had been killed. She had only patted his head and said that her father would make the bad things go away. Then she handed him a sweet that said that it would take the sour taste of life out.

Dimitri also saw the moment that she had talked about when he hit her. Darren's kiss had been rough and clumsy, and her face didn't even have a bit of emotion on it as she looked away. One eye went gold as the veining took over the entire face as his fists flew and he growled. The punch was enough to make her entire eye red from busted blood vessels. That was the first flicker of emotion Dimitri saw on her. The disbelief and rage before she fled, before the mask resumed.

Dimitri saw the events of the night he met her through her eyes and had to hide his face. Were all three of them that annoying as they fought for her attention? She had been impressed by his lancework, keeping her eyes more on him than the other two from the beginning. He got to see the seething scalding she got from Sothis the first time she met her after she saved Edelgard from the bandit leader. She didn't waste any time telling Rhea which house she chose after she spoke with the three of them. He didn't hear Byleth in his mind and could tell that her body had calmed in his arms. He felt himself getting pulled back to her, until she was suddenly there beside him grabbed his hand.

"I'm sorry I'm not sure how you got here, but that couldn't have been pleasant for you." Byleth said.

He gripped her hand tightly. "I'm not sure I understand. All of this has been the past correct?"

"Yes, what Sothis meant by both sides of time, both the past and future, however we know the future can be changed by the acts of the present. There is no need to dwell there. Dimitri while we are here, I know it's probably not something you want to see, but I can show you that day in Duscar so you know what was real and what was imagined. Would it help or harm?" She asked, putting her hand on his face.

He took a shaky breath. "I need to know. Just stay by me, please."

"I don't intend on ever letting you go Dimitri." She replied.

She placed both hands on each side of his face to find the time and point within his mind. It was odd knowing that he was an outsider on this. They were outside of the caravans. His father in the front and Glen following close behind on horseback. Dimitri would be expected to ride next to his father once they got into the town, but for the moment, Patricia had asked Lambert if Dimitri might be seated in the carriage with her for a time. It was odd seeing his father not as a ghost. To not see his face showing disgust or scorn at Dimitri's actions through the years, and just see it from where his memory had tangled it up so badly.

Glenn had noticed movement and held up his arm for everything to stop. Lambert nodded, his horse pacing in place as his gaze went around. Everyone was silent. They knew about the danger, but besides the tension in the air the rest was silent. The caravan came to a halt and then everything burst as noise all at once as the enemy attacked. Slither mages lit the area with flames as soldiers attacked the caravans. There was maybe one or two Duscar men among the attack, but the rest were all from Fodlan or wore Slither masks.

He watched as a slither attacked the caravan he and his stepmother were in. She had pushed him out of the other side.

Byleth pulled him closer to his younger self keeping an eye on Patricia's movements. "I'm sorry my boy. You were innocent in this, but they said I couldn't take you with me. Forgive me. They said you had to stay in the kingdom." She said quietly before crossed through the flames. She stopped past the flames to see Lord Aurendel on the other side

"Brother!" she called, coming up to him with her arms outstretched before he sliced a knife into her heart.

"Take the body! She should be buried in the Empire where she belongs. She's done her part. Continue the raid, make sure that His Majesty meets his end. I cannot be seen here." Aurendel said before some slither mages took Patricia's body.

"Dimitri, if you have your answers, you don't need to watch what's about to happen again. Aurendel is the one behind Duscar. Slither is behind it, just as it seems they've been behind everything horrible in Fodlan's history." Byleth said, laying a hand on his shoulder.

Dimitri's breathing was coming harder. It was as if he was shattering under her hands. "I'm right here, Dimitri. We will make him pay, but don't retreat. That shell does no one any good, least of all yourself."

Rage and tears blinded his vision, but still Byleth kept hold of his hand. He wrapped his hand around hers, probably too tight, but she didn't complain. He put his forehead against hers as his body shook from rage. He grit his teeth as he heard the screams echo around them. The images and sounds faded, going to the black. The voice that spoke through Byleth this time was Sothis's.

"You are my champion, Dimitri. You know now that her heart is mine. I will not abandon you as long as she cares for you so. We will destroy the threat they pose. For now, calm your mind and know that taking your kingdom back should be your priotrity. Fate will see Aurendel's end, so don't rush and tangle the web of destinies. I promise you that your chance will come, and we will be beside you."

Dimitri looked into those glowing green eyes and then closed his own, nodding. When he opened them again, he was back in the bed with her, jerking himself up as his breathing caught up with him. Guren breathed a huff of relief.

"Thank goodness. What happened? Guren came to fetch me, but when I got here both of you were still as statues." Seteth's voice broke through the haze in his head.

Byleth's eyes fluttered open and she leaned up on the bed. When she caught sight of Seteth they widened. "Cithol!" she shouted before she pounced on him in a crushing hug.

"So..Sothis?" Seteth stuttered.

"Wait, Cithol as in one of the four saints?" Dimitri asked.

Seteth coughed into his hand. "How much does he know?" he asked her.

"Considering the trip through time we just had, pretty much everything." Sothis said bouncing herself back onto the bed.

"How are you out right now? What about Byleth?" Dimitri asked.

"She's just tired from using so much power. She let me out for a bit so you don't do something stupid while she's resting." She said.

"So you two are fully merged then? Will there be any possibility of either of you overtaking the other?" Seteth asked.

Sothis shrugged. "I hope not. I've gotten quite used to her. I haven't been able to talk to her for a while, and while the power is connected I'm not a voice in the back of her mind like I had been in the academy days. That said the moment we get Rhea back I have a bone to pick with her. Why are the ones that followed Nemesis the ones slated as heros and given nobility? Nemesis is the one that killed them, but they still gained from the slaughter of my family."

Seteth gave her a grimace. "That…. It was the only way to explain the war itself. When their children started having the crests themselves as passed through blood we had to come up with some explanation."

"And saying that the crests were my gift helped how?" Sothis fumed. "This whole mess of war with Fodlan is because of that lie!"

Seteth raised his hands. "I cannot tell you what Lady Rhea was thinking. I've just followed by her side as I always have. We are some of the last of your children Sothis. She only did what she thought would protect the last of us and bring peace to the world you left in our hands."

"Well you're doing such a lovely job. Where is Cethleann?" Sothis asked.

"I'll go grab Flayn now. Please Sothis don't go calling us by our original names. Rhea has done much to hide us here. If anyone knew that they would kill me or Flayn just to have our crests for themselves." Seteth said.

"Which is why it makes no sense! Why would you have people covet such a power when it only puts you in danger!" Sothis snapped, crossing her arms.

Seteth backed away from her and then turned tail to leave the room.

"Honestly!" Sothis groaned.

Dimitri had snatched his pants off of the floor while they were arguing. Byleth he was comfortable with, Sothis on the other hand, he was glad that she had said she was too tired too do anything with him tonight. He didn't think he could face her knowing that he had taken Byleth only a few hours before. The relationship was being a little more complicated than he wished it to be.

Sothis had rolled onto her stomach to look at him, her legs crossed in the air behind her. The glow within the green of her eyes was the best thing he could use to tell it was not his Byleth.

"Then there's you. How are you feeling? It always takes a toll on her when the magic is used. There's also your temperament. I imagine your blood is at the boiling point right now." She said.

Guren came up to her with an inquisitive look on his face and she squealed before she hugged Guren around his neck. Dimitri had to chuckle at the obsurtidy. Byleths face never showed that much expression, to see it on her face was odd. Lately she had been smiling at him much more, and he had been paying attention to every one that she gave because of him.

"You're so soft. I'm glad I was able to set you free. Hmm.. maybe another gift perhaps…. Let's give you the ability to speak, but for safety, let us be the only ones able to hear you." She kissed Guren on the forehead. The crest of flames appeared among the red before it faded.

"I know it's her but you don't smell like her…." Came Guren's growly voice, deeper than it had been when he was using Darren's body.

She pet his head. "Interesting to know. It must be my magic that does that then. Thank you for guarding me. I hope that you stay for a long time."

Guren nodded. "I will not lose another packmate. Thank you for the gift."

"Yes I don't think I was able to properly thank you for giving me back my sight in my eye." Dimitri said.

Sothis smiled. "At least you both know how to be grateful."

"As far as your question, yes I am angry, but I trust you. I trust her." Dimitri said, grabbing up his shirt.

Sothis took his face into her hands. He felt his face heat under her gaze. "Yes, you are still that same loveable boy aren't you? She's always admired you. That day at the goddess tower I teased her about you, but I'm happy that you both made your wish come true."

"So you heard that then?" Dimitri asked.

"I've heard every conversation she has had from the moment I saved her to the moment that I merged with her the first time." Sothis said. As his face got more red she laughed. "That blush has always been cute on you. I'll stop torturing you now. I imagine hearing a different voice from your lover has to be unnerving."

"Sothis!" Flayn yelled from the doorway before she barreled right into Sothis's side.

"There you are my dear one. It is good to see you too." Sothis said, letting go of Dimitri to hug her.

"What about the Professor?" Flayn asked.

"She's still here. I'm not sure how long I can stay. The main reason I'm here is that she made a deep connection to my memory. It will fade after a time and she will be in control again." Sothis said.

"There is also a war council tomorrow before we head out to Fhirdiad. While I am thrilled to hear your voice and feel your presence Lady Sothis we all need rest. Also if you'd like me to drag him out I can." Seteth said.

Dimitri was about to make a protest on that remark before Sothis came and hugged his arm. "He is my champion and my vessel's lover. He stays with us. I have no interest in those things, and he is capable of behaving Cithol." She said.

Seteth gave Dimitri a glare that only a father was capable of before he called Flayn to his side so they could all get some sleep. Dimitri felt Sothis pull him towards the bed as soon as the door was shut.

"While I am not interested in you for the pleasures of the flesh I think is how they are referred. I do wish….I want to know what it feels like to be loved and held. If I am to fall asleep and go back to that dismal throne, I demand to at least enjoy my time while I'm here."

She let him go and scooted over. "It's still not fair. Why are hers so big? Everyone jokes that I am only a child. It's no wonder when I should be like this."

When Sothis started cupping Byleth's breasts and bouncing them Dimitri had to look away and didn't succeed in hiding the laugher that bubbled in his throat.

"And what are you laughing at?" Sothis seethed.

Dimitri pulled her to him. He cradled her as he had done many times to Byleth. He placed one arm under her head that curled around her shoulder and the other a protective arm over her waist. He tried to calm himself. This was not Byleth in spirit, as much as he wanted to let his hands roam it would not be appropriate. This did prove one thing to him. Yes, Byleth was a beautiful, attractive woman, but it was the soul inside the body that he loved. Sothis was rigid against him until Guren came over and laid himself against her back. She looked up at Dimitri, those glowing green eyes were wide and surprised. Then she smiled and relaxed.

"This feels nice. No wonder she likes it so much. Goodnight Dimitri. I'm not sure when I'll get to see you again, but thank you for taking such good care of us." Sothis said before she closed her eyes.

Dimitri kissed the top of her head. "Goodnight my goddess."

Sothis only smiled wider as Dimitri's thoughts scattered to what he seen. He wasn't sure how long it was before the Sothis Regalia disappeared and it left Byleth naked back in his arms. Dimitri guessed because she had stripped before the clothing had appeared there would be nothing waiting for when it disappeared. Guren looked up. "Scent is back to nor… uh…" He stood up and grabbed the edge of the sheet that was underneath him before he dragged it to Dimitri to cover Byleth with.

"All I ask is you please not kill me for seeing your mate naked." Guren said, before readjusting himself to lay against the sheet at her back again.

Dimitri shook his head. "Don't turn it into a habit."

Guren lifted his head up. "So she included you with that gift to hear me then?"

"It seems that it did." Dimitri said.

"That's good. Thank you for letting me stay to protect her." Guren said.

"She trusts you, and I doubt I could convince you otherwise." Dimitri said.

"You both make a great alpha pair to serve. Thank you for letting me into your pack. I'll do what I can to make sure you both stay alive." Guren said.

Dimitri smiled as Byleth opened her eyes. They were still green, but the glow was gone. "How are you doing after seeing all of that?" she asked.

Dimitri stroked her cheek and gave her a kiss. "Sleep for now my beloved. We'll talk about it later."

She nodded lazily before closing her eyes again. "I love you Dima…. No maybe not that one….. I'll think of something that suits you my lion."

He chuckled and held her closer to him. "No matter whatever you call me I am yours Beloved." He said before closing his eyes to sleep.