Chapter 34: The King of Delusion.
Byleth walked down the stairs to the old Church's graveyard. A weird silence approached him as he stopped to consider all that was about to happen.
Edelgard, and the rest of the Black Eagle Strike Force were now prepared to begin the march towards Fhirdiad. The course of action would likely be leading them to a confrontation with the remaining Kingdom army, being led by Gilbert. Dimitri was not fighting until they reached the capital as Hubert presumed.
The clash was set to take place on the same valley where Nemesis was defeated centuries prior by Saint Seiros, then later, where the empire admitted defeat against the first Faerghus King, Loog. Perhaps it would be symbolic if they were defeated here once again?
He arrived at the one highly discrete grave, the only one that stood out compared to the rest of them, the one where his father and mother were buried.
Here lies Sitri and Jeralt Eisner,
Two great people who will be cherished in the goddesses soul forever.
Byleth snorted, his father never believed in Rhea following the actions that put Sothis in him. If anything, he doubted his father ever believed in the goddess to begin with.
The painful memory suddenly came flooding back, with Kronya stabbing his father in the back. Him holding his father in front of his students as the rain started to pour down.
"Sorry...It looks like...I'm going to have to leave you now."
For as much as his father never spoke to him, especially following his endorsement to Garreg Mach, it still stung that most of his stuff was salvaged by the Church of Seiros. The only thing he had was…
He pulled out the silver ring, amazingly, it never fell out of his pocket in the five years he was in a coma.
"One day...I hope you give this ring...to someone you love…"
"Someone...I love…" Byleth said to himself.
Well...obviously there was no question to be asked. One week ago, he had the most amazing night ever with Edelgard, and, while the Emperor's work had kept her busy. That hadn't stopped her from getting in "Private" sessions with him away from Hubert, thanks to Sapphire of course.
Byleth clutched the ring, before placing it back in his pocket. After they took the capital of Fhirdiad, he would call Edelgard to the goddess tower, and ask her to marry him.
"Byleth…" he quickly jolted his head, and quickly breathed a sigh of relief as Moon walked down to him.
"Oh...is it time to go already?" he asked.
"No...there's...actually a matter I wanted to discuss with you privately." Moon said. "And, it involves myself, and your future."
"Oh?" Byleth asked.
"There exist people outside of my cluster, and your own." Moon said calmly. "They are, what is known in this world, as the Super Smash Brothers. After this war is over, you will receive an invite from a Multiversal council to become a member of these legendary fighters."
Byleth felt his heart sink. After all this, he was going to be torn away from Edelgard? "What if I…"
"You don't really get a choice." Moon replied bluntly. "What's important to know, is that, when you do get invited, I will not have been discovered as of yet, my world...to put it simply...does not exist in that time."
"And...what does that…"
"You cannot speak of me, or anything related to Giygas happening in your world." the boy's face was dead, but Byleth could sense a bit of worry in his tone. "Eventually, I will return and overthrow the council into what it is today. One where corruption and lies aren't as tolerable."
"Why...are you telling me this?" Byleth asked.
"If you are asked questions, specifically by a green-haired goddess named Palutena. Lie about everything I have told you, pretend I simply never existed. Because, should she discover my existence before I return, I will have never come to your world, and the timeline would be changed. Do you understand?"
Byleth blinked a little bit, before nodding. "Sure...I mean...it's the least I could do...to repay you for your help I mean." Moon gave him a weird smile, one that he had previously only seen him give to Sapphire.
Rhea stood looking at the dark, cloudy sky. Her light green hair now being supported by the devil winged crown she once wore as Seiros. Rain would be setting in soon. She recalled her fight against Nemesis all those years prior.
"Mother...oddly the fain has come to fall, yet again. At this place, once again… I will fight to take you back..." her fury raged at Salem, who refused to help, Moon for his betrayal, and most especially towards that stupid professor she put everything into. Black blood started to drip from her mouth.
"The one who keeps me from seeing you again… I will be sure to return them to the earth from whence they came. The foolish descendant of Hresvelg who bares her fangs at me will suffer the same fate."
"Lady Rhea," A church soldier approached her. "Due to the rain, we've been unable to locate the Imperial Army, and our connection with the Kingdom Army is weakened.
"Call me Seiros now." Rhea said bitterly. "And when you get word, commence the attack. When the Kingdom Army has overwhelmed them with their secret plan, we flank, and end this war, once and for all."
"Understood." The soldiers walked off.
Rhea looked up at the Sword she once carried. "When this sword is plunged into your chest…" she hissed, more black blood leaking out of her mouth. "That is when...I can finally have everything I've ever wanted.
The Black Eagle Strike force found themselves face to face with King Dimitri, and most of the Kingdom Army. No sign of Gilbert and Ashe, but Mercedes, Sylvain, and Dedue were all there with him.
"Their forces appeared to have dwindled significantly." Hubert analysed as Dimitri just kind of glared at Edelgard in a staredown. "It wouldn't surprise me if the Church is lurking around, if we make quick work of Dimitri, they won't have an opportunity to flank."
"Dimitri…" Edelgard said calmly, looking up at the disgruntled King. "I don't want to fight you. If you could just set down your weapon and stand aside…"
"I will do no such thing." Dimitri snarled, clutching Areadbhar. "I will avenge everyone you destroyed. I'll sink by spear into your chest, and take your life, just as you took theirs."
"The hell…" Sapphire wondered. "Who does he think we've killed?"
"Your Majesty, it is time we put our plan in place." Sylvain said confidently. "Are we all ready?"
Dedue nodded his head immediately. "Glory to Faerghus."
Mercedes' eyes looked down at Annette, then towards Jeritza.
"Mercedes…" Dimitri snarled.
"Mercie...you don't need too…" Annette said.
"Mercedes, my dear sister...please just come."
The young bishop looked down at them, then back towards Dimitri. "I'm sorry, but I can't join you," she said, firmly. "I must bring glory back to Faerghus."
"What are they…" Edelgard's eyes widened noticing the shards of bloody red stones in the hands of the three former students.
"GLORY! TO! FAERGHUS!"
All three former blue lions suddenly shouted and screamed in pain as black light surrounded the three of them. The blackish goo enveloped all of them as they started to horridly transform into large beasts of unknown power.
"FAERGHUS...GLORY...TO...FAERGHUS!" all the beasts screeched.
"MERCIE!" Annette cried, Felix quickly grabbed onto her as the orange haired- warlock attempted to run up to her.
Moon quickly sprung into action, transforming into his dragon form and swiping all the beasts backwards, leaving just Dimitri.
"Don't just stand there." Sapphire barked at everyone, who was still gaping in shock. "Help him take those beasts down, leave the King to Byleth and Edelgard. Everyone nodded and scattered after the beasts. Leaving Byleth and Edelgard alone, with just the boar king.
"Are you...are you shitting me?!" Edelgard snarled. "ARE YOU CRAZY?!"
"I care not…" Dimitri snarled. His face was dead and cold. "All for the future of Faerghus, I can create a world free from scum and corruption." without missing a beat, he charged psychotically at Edelgard.
The emperor put her shield up to stop his scraping blow. Byleth quickly followed up with a sword swipe with the Creator Sword. Dimitri sensed his movement and quickly retreated backwards as the sword impaled itself through the ground.
"I'll destroy you...I'll put you head on a spike, and crush it under my boot!" Dimitri attempted a Tempest Lance strike, which Edelgard blocked and retaliated back with a powerful strike from Aymr. The large axe pushed the King backwards. Byleth followed up using Sothis' magic to cast an Aura spell to explode the ground before him.
Dimitri stuck Areadbhar's head into the ground to flip off of it and stab downwards, the impact blow exploded the ground upwards blasting both Byleth and Edelgard with debris from the ground.
Dimitri charged out of the debrised ground and slashed the spearhead through Edelgard, thankfully, her armor was tough, but Dimitri's strength was enough to make a deep penetration in the armor.
Byleth unleashed a large ranged slash, stabbing Dimitri through the boot. He quickly yanked the sword backwards, yank the King back so Edelgard could recover. Seeing the deep penetration, he quickly casted a fortify spell over both of them, saving Edelgard's defenses and fixing her penetration up.
"I'll repent your sins!" Dimitri snarled. Areadbhar's spear head started to glow with red and glow.
Dimitri spunt he spear around his body, almost like a baton. Readying himself, Byleth watched him charge at Edelgard once again. However, this time, Edelgard's axe Aymr started to glow as well. She tossed the axe up in the air, and Byleth only then noted how much it looked like a flower.
Dimitri got close as Edelgard caught Aymr after doing a spin, twirling around like the rose petal, she spun with her axe.
Dimitri jumped up and literally chucked Areadbhar down at Edelgard. "Combat Art, Atrocity!"
"Combat Art, Flickering Flower!" Edelgard finished. She smacked the spear backwards before throwing her axe forward as well. Both weapons smashed against the boar prince and saw Dimitri fall to the ground.
Dimitri pushed himself up, clutching Areadbhar as Edelgard walked up and picked up Aymr.
The boar prince huffed as he collapsed to his knees.
"NO!" Dimitri snarled. "It cannot end like this...I must defeat you…" He attempted to move forward again, only to fall to his knees once again.
The rain had really started to pick up now as Edelgard got to him, still struggling to push himself up. The furied hatred in his voice was evident as he glared at Edelgard like she had killed a parental figure of his.
"Edelgard! You...I will kill you!" Dimitri snarled. "You will know the regret of my father, who was killed for you! Of my stepmother, who was slain by her own Daughter! You will bow your head before all of the lives you trampled for you stupid ideals...before you die in misery!"
Edelgard looked down at him, Byleth could see a bit of sympathy in her. "You have trampled upon the lives of many more, you've sent children to fight, you forced your people into submission, you created a Kingdom ruled in fear...you had your own friends turn themselves into Demonic Beasts, with no way to return them to the way they were. You...you killed your own friends!"
"I'll kill you…" Dimitri snarled. "I'll...I'll kill you!"
"Your obsession with me is appalling." Edelgard replied. "If you were any normal human, you would most certainly have died already. If you were just born in a time of peace, or maybe just been not so deluded and manipulated, maybe you could have lived life happy."
Edelgard raised her axe up over her head. "Farewell, King of Delusion.
Dimitri looked up at her. His eyes were red with rage and anger. He spit out a bit of blood. "To...to eternal flames of hell with you...El…" He snarled.
Edelgard's eyes widened in shock. Which, Byleth quickly noticed was Dimitri's intention as the boar prince pulled out a dagger and attempted to strike her with it.
Thinking quickly, Byleth slashed through the air and decapitated the King of Delusion. Dimitri's head fell off neck, eyepatch and all, and his body stopped moving all together as it fell to the ground.
Edelgard looked down at the King's head. "I...I…"
"You and Dimitri?..." Byleth asked. "You're...related?..."
"I...I guess…" Edelgard said. "But...that was years ago...when he...my mother never…"
"Your mother married the widowed King of Faerghus?"
"I...I guess I forgot…" Edelgard whispered, Byleth could hear the sadness in her voice. "It was...it was so long ago. I forgot after...everything…"
She stomped her foot against the ground, Byleth heard the loud metal klank against the solid earth of the plains.
"Why the hell did he never say anything?!" she asked, her tone still upset. "I could've explained everything if he was just honest! Did he really think I had something to do with the Tragedy of Duscur? Which killed my own mother?!"
"I guess thinking straight was out of the window in that case." Byleth said, placing a hand on Edelgard's shoulder. "Not everyone can remember the past perfectly. None of this was ever your fault...Edelgard."
"I...I know...but...still. Because he didn't think rationally, he let his anger and vengeance consume him. As a result, he lost sight on his way as king...but...Dimitri...that was...he…"
"He was never going to change." Both of their heads looked at Moon. The only one not near the now mauled bodies of the three original Blue Lions.
"You saw them with your own eyes. Every last one of them, brainwashed and manipulated. All willingly to set their lives aside as Demonic Beasts, for a king who didn't give two shits about them back." The boy's face was emotionless, however, sympathy could be felt from his tone.
"But if I just had…"
"No matter what you would've said to him, even if it was before you were outed as the Flame Emperor. He would've considered it all a lie." Moon interrupted. "Dimtri stayed up most nights, tortured by the darkness and horrors of the tragedy. Unlike his physical body, he was weak minded, he succumbed to darkness, let the evil and greed for revenge distort his desires. Seiros knew this, and that's why she used the Kingdom as a meat shield."
"Was there…" Edelgard started.
"There was no timeline, no actions could ever be taken to create a world where you and Dimitri make up." Moon finished for her. "I would probably rip the Universe in two trying to create a world where you could. And, in a world ruled by Dimitri, the Church basically succeeds in its goals. Back to a life where Giygas could return to full power."
Byleth looked at Edelgard, who looked only partially relieved by his words.
"Unlike you, Edelgard, Dimitri let the darkness take him over. With no one to help push it back, he became a monster...just an animal and a tool waiting to be used for whatever purpose evil needed him to be used for. And just like that, an entire Kingdom, becomes a brainwashed cult, willing to do whatever Seiros needs them too."
"Your majesty," Sapphire approached the three of them.
"The Church of Seiros got word that Dimitri has been slain...as a result, they've fallen back all the way to the capital. We've already sent a message calling for surrender."
"Good…" Edelgard said, somewhat half-heartedly. "It's time we put a stop to this nonsense, that way, we don't have a world where everyone ends up just like Dimitri did. I swear by heart, that Rhea will pay for her crimes."
Underwhelming? Probably, but I really needed to convey just how f***ed up it is that everyone is willing to put their lives up for Dimitri at this point. (And I know what you're thinking, but there's a reason Gilbert and Ashe aren't here). In the normal battle, only Dedue and an unnamed Faerghus Solider transform into Demonic Beasts. With Sylvain giving the order to a soldier while Dedue makes the choice himself. But, as we've seen, once you transform, unless you're a Nabatean, there's no going back. Normally, Dimitri scolds Dedue for this upon the soldiers transformation, but later withdrawls his statement as he knows that losing this battle is the end of the Kingdom. So I thought, what if I just changed everyone into a beast?
I never intended to do a beast fight. Simply because the Demonic beasts really don't do anything other than claw and shoot poison at you. Realistically, I don't know how ANYONE survives one hit from these things...but...video game logic I suppose. Even then, having Annette try to plead with a demonic beast Mercedes sounded way too sad for my liking. Killing Dyson was hard enough, but making you watch Annette try to plead with someone who doesn't exist, no thank you. Trust me, I think I made the right call focusing on the importance Dimitri has to the story, and why he becomes such a boar when Edelgard is revealed to be "evil."
I actually was shocked to learn Dimitri and Edelgard were related, and the context Crimson Flower initially gives to this is literally nothing, so I immediately started playing the Blue Lions to learn more. There's a big Kingdom scandal and some shit involving Duscur and while the narrative is great, honestly the best in Three Houses, Dimitri just didn't fit well with Moon's personality.
Anyway, that's it for this shorter chapter Part 1 of 3. Only 3 chapters left, and I'm not sure if they'll be ready soon, so we'll have to see.
See you all, Next time.