Mako's Message: Sup? Believe it or not I still haven't posted everything I had backlogged when I started this. Just been busy and...distracted.

Not a whole lot to say about this, aside from it being like...almost three weeks late for a celebration of Byleth coming to Super Smash Bros. I don't know if I'll do anything more like this, depends on the reception. Which, based on the review page, is likely to be non-existent. Oh well.

Oh, there's a very small but fairly important detail in one of these that's different from everything else I've written here. It might go unnoticed or it might stick out like a sore thumb.

Enjoy!


#10A – Souvenir

The knock at the door startled Bernadetta so badly she nearly dropped her embroidery.

"W- Who is it?!"

"It's your Professor."

Her face immediately brightened, "Professor!" she went up to the door, "How was your trip?"

"It was very interesting. I met many different types of people. It's...hard to explain though."

Her brows creased, "How so?"

There was a long pause before the Professor said, "I wouldn't know where to start."

"Oh..." Bernadetta deflated a bit.

"I brought you a gift though."

"Oh!" she unlocked the door and opened it just enough for her Teacher to slip inside.

"You'll need to be very careful with this, and follow some very specific rules," they said, walking over to Bernadetta's desk and placing a tall box on it. "Now, the first is that this can be very dangerous, so it's good that you don't have guests in your room often."

"Da-dangerous?" she squeaked, already shivering.

"Yes. To that effect, despite how small it might seem, do NOT move it to a different pot. Under ANY circumstances. These will grow to fit their container, and if given the chance they can become massive."

"Oh- okay," she said, edging a little closer, her fear slowly giving out to curiosity, "What is it?"

Byleth gave her one of their best smiles, "Something I hope will be right up your alley." They turned and carefully pulled the top of the box off, revealing a small pot with a large...bulb? The bulb was mostly red with white spots and thick white ridge across the middle. Bernadetta's fear was almost completely overridden by a desire to know more about this strange plant. The bulb subtly pulsed and then the ridges split open, revealing what looked like very sharp, almost conical, teeth. She recoiled slightly, but didn't retreat as the bulb raised up from the pot, it's stem extending upwards. The pulp tilted perpendicular to the stem and turned left and right, almost as if it was looking around, before retracting and leaving the bulb resting on the lip of the pot.

In a mix of horror and wonder, she asked, "What is that."

"It's a Piranha Plant," Byleth said, as if starting an ordinary lecture in class, "I'm told there are several dozen varieties of them., They prefer to live in pipes, hollowed tree trunks, tunnels, and pots, but will sometimes grow in open dirt. They can be very active and seem more like an animal at times. They'll snap at anything that comes near. Allow me to demonstrate," Byleth pulled out a rolled up cloth, and from within withdrew a dead mouse, he waved it in front of the plant. The plant pulled back, almost like a snake, and then Byleth tossed the mouse at it. It struck like lightning, it's jaws snapping loudly around the mouse. It pulsed again and then retracted almost fully into the pot.

"Are… are you SURE that's a plant, Professor?"

There was a noticeable pause and then they said, "Yes. I asked that question myself, but I was assured by an expert that their anatomy has far more in common with plants than animals, though I didn't have an opportunity to dissect one myself."

"Where did you get this? I didn't think anything like it existed in Fodland..."

Byleth pursed their lips, "I didn't get it from Fodland. I actually hired a mercenary from another world to get it for me."

Bernadetta's eyes went wide, "Another world?"

Byleth looked to the door, and after a moment said, "Yes, that's where I was. It's difficult to explain, but I went to a world that was like Garreg Mach for other worlds. A crossroads of sort. I saw many people from many different worlds; some like ours, some so different I can barely explain them." They sat at the table and picked up the Plant's pot and set it on their lap, and started stroking it as if it were a cat. "There were actually a few mercenaries willing to take the job of getting this for me-"

Bernadetta pulled back just slightly, and seem prepared to do...something if the Plant tried to bite her Professor.

"-and I ended up picking one just because his voice reminded me of Claude."

Bernadetta burst out, "Are you sure that's safe professor?!"

"Hm?" They said, then followed her gaze to their hand on the Plant, "Oh. Yes. Mostly. They don't bite at anything much larger than their mouth. So as long as you keep your fingers away from it's teeth you should be fine. And they seem to like being pet. Viridi said it was because the pressure simulates being in a pipe. If you're worried about it biting you though, I'll give it to Edelgard. I'm sure she'd love something that'd eat mice."

"No!" Bernadetta said in a panic, "No, I want it. It's...amazing. You know I've loved carnivorous plants ever since I learned about them. And this is…" she reached out and stroked it's bulb as well, "the epitome of carnivorous plants. It's terrifying but incredibly fascinating. I'd love to keep and learn about it."

Byleth gave her another smile, "Excellent."

#10B – Stowaway

Dorothea slowly crept through the underbrush, trying her best to be quiet and remember the bits and pieces she'd overheard Shamir tell other's about how to be stealthy.

She didn't think she was doing too well, but her target hadn't escaped her yet so either she hadn't been noticed or it didn't care she was following it.

She honestly didn't know what it was. It was small, about the size of a cat...or more of a stuffed animal really, since that's what it most closely resembled. It was blue and white, with huge eyes. And it was the most adorable thing she'd ever seen. She wasn't sure what she was trying to do. Catch it? Maybe. Watch and try and burn it's cuteness into her memory forever? Definitely.

"What are you doing?"

Dorothea startled and went ridged, but managed to not cry out and scare the creature.

"I'm following something," she said, waving her hand at her Professor to try and make them be quiet.

For a moment they stood staring back at them, then crouched down next to them and whispered, "What are you following."

She put her hand on their shoulder and turned them in the right direction while pointing out the creature frolicking in the stream.

Byleth's expression didn't change at first, but after a moment their brows knit together just the slightest bit...and then they went as wide as she'd ever seen them. "Oh."

Her eyes went wide as well as the implication of the professor's reaction hit her, "You know what that is?"

"I do." They said, standing up and dusting a bit of dirt and some leaves from their knee. "It shouldn't be here. Please keep an eye on it. I'll be back as quickly as I can, but it might take me awhile. Can you do that?"

Dorothea looked up at them, but then smiled and nodded, "Absolutely Professor. You can always count on me."

"Good."

Dorothea wasn't the best at measuring time, but she was sure she spent at least an hour waiting and watching. She didn't really mind though. It was adorable and seemed so happy to just swim and play in the water.

"Still have him?"

Dorothea was prepared this time, but she still startled. Slightly.

"Yes. It's just been playing in the stream."

"Good. How's your arm?"

Dorothea turned to look at them, "What?"

"Your throwing arm. How good are you at throwing things."

"Uh-" she hesitated, trying to understand why they were asking, "Pretty good? I think."

Byleth nodded, "Good." There was a strange, high pitched "whoop" sort of sound and then Byleth held out a ball that was...metal? She wasn't sure. But it was split neatly in half, with one side being red and the other white. "I need you to hit it with this."

She gasped, "What?! No! I'm not going to throw that at it!"

"If it wasn't important that you do it, then I'd do myself." They said to her, so please take the ball and throw it at the Osha- at that creature."

"Wait, what did you call it."

"If you throw it from here, you have a better chance of hitting it since it won't see it coming," they said, ignoring her question, "but you'll have a better chance of...success if you get closer and let it see you. Assuming it doesn't run that is."

Dorothea looked at her Professor with profound confusion, "What are you talking about? Success at what? Why do you want me to throw a metal ball at that adorable little animal?

Byleth took a deep breath, "It's a lot to explain so do it now before it leaves and I'll explain it- It's moving. Go!"

Their sudden shift to "Commander" mode had Dorothea running after the creature, ball in hand, before she even realized it. It hopped and skipped across the bank and almost seemed to glide across the surface of the water itself. She chased after it as it stopped and poked at a bush or plant, or dove into a deeper part of the stream, and then continued on.

Soon it turned and caught sight of her, "Wot?" it squeaked, tilting it's head curiously.

Dorothea took a moment to catch her breath, then raised the ball ready to throw. The creature's eyes landed on the ball and it cried, "Aw-sha!" and started bouncing from foot to foot.

Dorothea pulled her arm back and started to throw the ball. The creature went to the left, and she was able to correct her aim at the last second, sending the ball curving towards it. It squeaked when the ball hit it and-

Dorothea almost screamed, but was too shocked to do more than choke on the air she inhaled.

-the ball split open and red washed over the creature, which seemed to melt and turn translucent, before being sucked back into the ball which snapped closed and dropped to the ground. The white circle on the front of it now glowing a fierce red. The ball shook, and then shook again. Dorothea watched in a mix of fascination and horror as it shook a third time and went still. She started to move closer to the ball, when Byleth snuck up on her again, "Wait," they said, placing a hand on her shoulder.

The ball suddenly shook a fourth time, and then, with a crystal clear and bell like chime, the light turned off and the ball completely stilled.

Not understanding anything that just happened, and in a bit of a daze, Dorothea asked, "What now?"

"Go pick it up," her teacher said, gesturing towards it.

She walked up, crouched down and picked up the ball, then stood up and turned around. She stared at the ball before looking up, "What happened to it?"

"It's in the ball. You can let it out now if you want."

"What? I… I don't understand any of this."

"It's complicated. I can explain later if you want. Well, I can explain it as best I can. I don't really understand it either. But for now, just go ahead and toss the ball on the ground."

Dorothea shook her head and gently tossed the ball into the air with a flick of her wrist. It spun slowly, but then, just before hitting the ground, righted itself and split open, the red light spilling out and coalescing back into the creature, "Aw-sha!" it called happily, then ran over to look up at her expectantly.

Her face lit up seeing it was okay, somehow, and it seemed to actually want to be around her, "Professor, you need to explain this because I have no idea what's going on."

Byleth sighed, "Alright, here's the quick version. That is an oshawott. It's a type of creature known as a 'pokemon'. The ball I gave you is called a 'pokeball' and they are used to capture, contain, transport, and heal pokemon. If someone demonstrates greater strength or pure intentions, a pokemon will bond with them in the hopes of being cared for and becoming stronger. So you're it's caretaker and trainer now. You can name it if you like, otherwise it'll respond to 'Oshawott'"

Dorothea looked back at her professor with wide eyes.

"It probably hitched a ride with me when I came back from my trip without me noticing it. If it seems like too big a responsibility. I can take it back with me. There's someone there who specializes in training pokemon, they gave me that ball, and they'll take good care of it. Otherwise…" they shrugged, "Just don't let Rhea or any of the Church Knights see it or the ball. Or anyone who'd tell them."

Dorothea crouched down and held out a hand to the oshawott, who hopped froward and grabbed her hand, smiling widely at her, "Aw-sha!"

"I will protect it with my life."

"Excellent." Byleth said, giving them a soft smile, "I'll get more detailed instructions for it's care and training the next time I'm there."

#10C – Edeleth

Edelgard ran the thumb across the blade of the ax, checking for imperfections. Was it really worth it to spend the extra money to get a new one instead of repairing her current one?

"Greetings Edelgard!"

She looked up and turned to see Petra walking by, "Oh, Hello Petra. Heading into town?"

"I am." She said, turning a bit to face her as she kept walking, "Have a good morning."

"And you do the same," she said with a smile and a nod, then turned back to the ax. It was certainly above standard in quality… Eh. It was the church's money anyway.

"Wait…" Edelgard looked up as Petra came back towards them, "Wasn't I just seeing you in the Reception Hall? How were you getting here before me?"

Edelgard frowned, "I've been here for several minutes and haven't been to the Reception Hall today."

"Oh." Petra said, furrowing her brow, "I must have been imagining." Her smile reappeared, "I will be on my way then. Have a good day," and waved as she left.

Edelgard watched her go for a moment then turned to Hubert.

He knew the question on her mind without her having to voice it, "It seems unlikely for it to be a problem, but it would be worth investigating."

"I agree," Edelgard said, paying the shopkeeper for the ax, "It's probably just a mistake, but if someone is masquerading as me we must put a stop to it."

Together they headed for the Hall, hopefully whoever Petra saw would still be there.

When the were walking by the dining hall, Caspar walked out and stopped, staring at them. "Didn't you just leave out the other side?" he asked, pointing towards a far door.

Hubert narrowed his eyes, "Are you saying you just saw Lady Edelgard somewhere else?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you SURE it was her?"

"I-" Caspar ran his finger through his hair, "I thought it was. I didn't see them closely. Just their white hair and red clothes. Didn't think it could be anyone else."

"Curious," Hubert said, putting his hand to his chin.

"You said you just saw them?" Edelgard asked.

"Uh… yeah. Whoever it was went through just as I was finishing eating."

"We should hurry then."

"Hey wait! Are you trying to chase down an imposter?"

"Perhaps. We aren't sure. You're not the fist person to think they saw me when they didn't."

"I'll come with you then! Anybody impersonating Edelgard is going to get a beating!"

"That..." She wouldn't mind the extra help, but she didn't want Caspar tackling someone who might only be guilty of having white hair, "hopefully won't be nessecary. But, if you do see them somewhere else, please let us know."

"Will do," he said with salute, and then continued on his way.

Hubert and Edelgard hurried through the dining hall and out the door Caspar had pointed out. They stopped and looked around.

"Lady Edelgard, that way!" Hubert said, pointing towards a corner that lead to the dormitories.

"You saw them?" she asked as they hurried down.

"I saw white hair and red clothes."

Edelgard and Hubert reached the dormitories at just short of a run. She saw their quarry just beyond a group of students who all seemed to be watching the person go. Edelgard narrowed her eyes; the clothes seemed very familiar. They quickly caught up, as the person they were pursuing was only moving at a brisk walk.

"You there! Stop!" Hubert called.

Almost surprisingly, the person stopped and turn-

"Professor?"

Byleth looked at Edelgard curiously, "Is something wrong?"

Hubert, however, was fuming, "Why are you impersonating Lady Edelgard?! Explain yourself!"

Byleth blinked, then looked down at herself. "Oh. Damn… they swore this would change- Byleth shut her eyes and seemed to wince, "This is because I left straight from the match isn't it."

"What are you yammering on about?" Hubert demanded.

"Nothing. Don't worry about it. I'm sorry. I'll fix this. Just give me a few minutes," She chuckled softly, "This does explain all the odd looks I've been getting though." She held up a hand placatingly to Hubert, "The next time you see me I'll be back to normal. Do not worry." Then she turned and left.

"Hmmf. The Professor just keeps getting odder and odder," Hubert said.

"Hmm," Edelgard agreed, though, she had to admit she liked those colors on Her Teacher, and was debating stopping her from changing back.


Mako's Postscript: Ya know that thing where if you make a ring with your hands dogs'll stick their face into it? Think Bernie's Piranha Plant would do that?