Crestwood

Sylvain was throwing darts at Ashe's. Despite being on this third beer, he had an uncanny sense of aim. Ferdinand watched him hit a bullseye and offered him twenty dollars if he could do it again. "Next round is on Ferdinand von Aegir!" he announced. However, instead of throwing aiming at the dartboard, he couldn't resist throwing his next dart at a particular green-eyed blonde who had been ignoring him. Ingrid ducked just in time, "What the hell, Sylvain? That could have hit me!"

He laughed, "I would never! You've been avoiding me since you saw me - last night."

Ingrid rolled her eyes, "Sneaking out the windows of the Rowe's? I'm not avoiding you, Sylvain. I just have no interest in having this conversation. It's your life, and I don't care."

He sat down across from her, "If you don't care, then why are you upset?"

She pointed a finger in his face, "I am not upset."

"If that were true, you'd be at the bar with me having a drink and not running away. Can we please talk about this? I need you to understand."

"What difference would that make, Sylvain?"

Sylvain shrugged, "Because, maybe then I might understand?"

She started to get up, "You want analysis? Get an appointment with Seteth." He reached his hand out to stop her. "But I want to talk to you," he replied. She moved towards the door, and he followed. "You don't know what it's like with her. I don't feel anything."

Now outside the diner, Ingrid shrugged, "Why do we even need to talk about this?"

Sylvain looked down at the ground, "Because I don't want you to look at me the way you are now."

"What difference does it make how I look at you?" Ingrid threw her hands up in exasperation.

Sylvain looked up, "Because - " Before he could finish, a vision flashed before his eyes. It was a bronze-colored wyvern, with one blue eye and one red eye. The wyvern blew a puff of smoke at him. He was brought back by Ingrid saying his name. He looked into her eyes and kissed her. She punched him in the chest.

"What the hell was that?"

"Did you see it, Ingrid?"

"How much have you been drinking, Sylvain? That was way over the line."

Sylvain rubbed the spot where she punched him. He also wondered what the hell he just did. "I'm sorry, I just needed to feel something."

She poked her finger into his chest, "You're drunk and full of regret. But whatever it is you are looking to feel, I can tell you one thing. You're not getting it with me." She turned away from him and walked away.

Sylvain ran a hand through his hair and hoped that he hadn't ruined his most meaningful relationship.

Galatea, 1176

Her parents had been the ones to break the news to her. Assassins killed King Lambert and his entourage. Only Dimitri had survived, and he was gravely injured. Her fiance, Glenn, was killed defending the royal family. The fact that he died a hero was little comfort. Ingrid had stayed in her room now for a month. Her mother left her meals at the door, which she picked at. She hadn't even visited her family's pegasi. Today, however, her mother knocked at the door. She didn't reply. Her mother spoke to her, "Sweetie, we received a letter from Sylvain. Sylvain has gotten into some trouble, and the Count has locked him in the dungeon. He was wondering if you could help?"

Ingrid threw open the door and grabbed the letter.

Crestwood

Sylvain woke in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat and out of breath. Next to him, Lucy Rowe groaned at being disturbed. "What is it? You woke me up."

"I had a most intense dream. I was in the woods hunting a gigantic wolf, and there was a wyvern.

"What the hell is a wyvern?"

"Uh, they're like dragons but smaller, and you can ride them? Its eyes - one was blood-red, and the other one was black as night. The funny thing is, I think I've seen that wyvern before…."

Lucy was getting annoyed, "Go back to sleep. You know what will happen if Dad hears that you're here. It was just a dream."

Sylvain sat up. "It didn't feel like a dream. It felt like a memory." He got out of bed and began to get dressed.

Lucy sat up and wrapped the blankets around herself. "Oh, come on, Sylvain, just come back to bed.

He began to put on his shoes. "No, I can't. I need to think. Since when do you want me to stay?"

Sylvain took his usual route out Lucy's window to avoid any unpleasantness with her father. They had a history. He walked the block to where he'd hidden his car. Still a bit tipsy, he dropped his car keys. As he bent down to pick them up, he found himself face to face with the wyvern. He was surprised at how little fear he felt. He reached out to pet its head, but it turned and walked away. "I've got to ask Ashe what he puts in the beer."

Ingrid arrived at the station to find flowers with a note that said, "I'm sorry." She took great pleasure in dumping them in the trash. "If Sylvain thinks flowers will work on me, then he must think I'm a stupid as his other conquests."

Byleth drank her coffee and watched with amusement. "Those were mine, you know. From Dimitri. It seems we both had a rough night."

Embarrassed, Ingrid took the flowers out of the garbage and tried to set them back up, "Just my childhood best friend being an idiot. Dimitri, though, what did he do?"

"Not even worth the time to explain - I was an idiot for thinking there was something there. Look, I know I am the last person to say anything, but are you sure you're just friends? Every time I see him, he's following you around, complimenting you, and bringing you food."

Ingrid laughed, "Trust me, I've known Sylvain a long time. We are certainly not each other's type."

They continued to do paperwork in silence. Ingrid was always mad at Sylvain for something, but this time she was so flustered. Byleth decided to press some more.

"I'm probably going to get struck by lightning for saying this but, you just put up a wall with Sylvain to protect yourself. I should know."

Ingrid slammed her pen down, "Oh, so just because I don't get emotional over a man, I'm putting up a wall."

Byleth laughed, "The floral abuse tells a different story."

Ingrid leaned back into her chair and crossed her arms, "Uh-huh, and what story is that?"

"The one that's obvious to everyone - except apparently you. That you have feelings for Sylvain."

Ingrid smiled mischievously, "Well since we're analyzing each other, I would say that you probably shouldn't push Dimitri away either. I've known him since we were kids, and I wouldn't write him off just yet."

Byleth threw a pen at her, "We deal with your emotional wall first."

Sylvain decided to check the path he saw the wyvern take during daylight. He crept carefully through the forest while wondering how the hell he was going to find a wyvern just outside of suburbia. He found nothing there except for Hubert, who was digging around but claimed to be gardening. Disappointed, he returned home.

Garreg Mach, 1180

It should have been a peaceful meal in the Dining Hall, but a familiar annoyed sigh interrupted Sylvain's dinner. The sigh led to a lecture, and now he was getting reamed out by one of his oldest and dearest friends. " - And when you were eight, you came on to my Granny!"

"Oh come on, she was beaut-" He could hear the snickers of the other students. This was turning into a show.

"When you were fifteen, you sought, relentlessly , to involve yourself with Lord Gwendal's daughter. Who do you suppose made peace with the furious lord, despite having nothing to do with it? Hm? Me. Always me, always for you. Every time."

The crowd was very much not on his side. The humiliation made the anger rise in him, "This conversation is over." He waved Ingrid off and walked away.

Crestwood

Byleth finished up some paperwork and set it on Ingrid's desk. She decided to take a little break and began to throw darts at the station dartboard. After throwing four, she walked to the board and pulled them out. Mayor Arundel walked in while she was setting up to throw another round. "My, my, our tax dollars hard at work."

"Should I practice my aim with my gun instead?" Arundel snorted.

"I do so enjoy this playful banter, Miss Eisner, but I am here about Sylvain. Something is wrong with him. Once again, you are meddling in people's lives with no thought about how it affects them."

Byleth threw another dart, "Seriously? How many people are you going to tell me to stay away from? Not that it's any business of yours, but I haven't done shit to Sylvain."

Arundel retorted, "Of course you would think so since you're incapable of feeling anything for anyone? It's why you're alone, isn't it?"

She resisted the urge to throw the dart directly at him. Instead, she continued to stare straight ahead. "My relationships in this town are my business." The dart hit the bullseye. Arundel, seeing this was going nowhere, left.

Garreg Mach 1180

Ingrid had left Sylvain alone since he had stormed off from their last conversation. Since then, he had several more short-lived relationships around the monastery, but they hadn't been as drama-filled. These women had expected a one-night stand, so there were no messy breakups. To him, that was progress. But why did he feel so guilty?

Ingrid was sitting alone in the courtyard, looking out at something in the distance. He came and sat next to her. She sighed deeply, "I'm still having to around and cover for your behavior, you know?"

He scoffed, "No one asked you to do that. Besides, if things go badly, I can handle myself. It makes things more interesting.

Ingrid looked away, " If you end up getting maimed or killed, don't expect me at your funeral. Glenn used to make light of getting hurt too. Then one day, he got more than hurt. Now he's gone."

Sylvain felt like someone had punched him in the stomach. Of course, she was trying to protect her remaining friends. And he had been making light of it this whole time. "I'm sorry. I was being - I know what it did to you when he died. It hurt to see you hurt.

Tears formed in her eyes, "Please, Sylvain. Consider your actions before you carry them out. And stop acting so nonchalant about getting hurt or killed. Promise me that."

He promised her. He also promised himself that he would never do anything to make her grieve as she had with Glenn.

Crestwood

Sylvain went to possibly the only person that wouldn't think he was insane, Claude. He knew from Ingrid that Claude thought something was deeply wrong in Crestwood - so maybe his wyvern sighting wouldn't seem so bizarre? At the very least, Claude would just tease him mercilessly instead of trying to have him committed or something, like Ingrid probably would. He went to Claude's apartment and blurted out that he had seen things. Claude's eyes widened, but he didn't kick him out.

"When did the flashes start?" he asked.

"When I kissed Ingrid."

Claude reached over and got a Varley book. He started flipping through the pages. "What did you see?"

"A wyvern, and it's crazy because I didn't even know what wyverns looked like - I just knew that it was a wyvern."

Sylvain listened intently as Claude explained his curse theory and how these dreams resulted from Byleth weakening Arundel's power. When he finally finished, Sylvain couldn't help himself. He burst out in laughter. "So, your big 'something is rotten in Crestwood' theory is that we're supposed to be book characters! Whew, and I thought I was insane. I feel better about myself now. Goodbye - you have bigger problems than mine." He started to leave, but Claude grabbed his arm.

"You're telling me that you don't feel like you're supposed to be something else?" The intensity in his green eyes made Sylvain pause.

Sylvain sat back down, "I've always felt that way, but that's just because I'm a constant disappointment to myself and everyone else. But you're saying it's because we're supposed to live like this? Am I supposed to ride a wyvern and wield this awesome lance?

Claude smiled, "I do. And I think if we find that lance - you'll remember it all."

Sylvain snatched the book from Claude. He flipped through a little of it. "You know what? Let's get Ingrid and Byleth over here. It's time to hunt a wyvern.

Claude and Sylvain met up with Ingrid and Byleth in the center of town. Ingrid was coming more out of concern. "So," Byleth said. "We're helping Sylvain find something he lost?"

"Something like that," Claude said. Sylvain began walking away from them. They followed, and Ingrid called out to him, "What's going on, Sylvain - what's going on?"

"I need to find the wyvern from my dreams, Ingrid," Sylvain replied as he continued to walk. "He'll help me find my lance, and then I remember who I am."

Ingrid was horrified, "Dreams? Wyvern? Lance? Claude, you knew he was like this and just went along with it? Byleth, help me. He's not well."

They were interrupted by a deep roar. There before Byleth and her friends was a winged scaly creature. It puffed smoke from his nostrils and pawed at the ground. Acting on instinct, Byleth jumped in front of the three of them and pulled her gun. Sylvain ran around her and blocked her shot. "No, she's my friend - she won't hurt us." The wyvern turned from them, and Sylvain chased after her, while Ingrid and Claude chased after Sylvain. Byleth cursed under her breath and followed.

Garreg Mach, 1185

Ingrid was now wearing makeup. This could only mean one thing - that she loved someone. He knew that he wasted too much time chasing women and avoiding his true feelings. Now he was about to lose the one good relationship in his life. But first, he had to be sure. He found Ingrid sitting quietly in the cathedral. He adopted his most casual posture and nonchalantly said, "So - about to train?"

She smiled at him, "No, I was heading into town to buy supplies."

"Sure, sure, sure, sure, sure. Very smart. As always. Anyway, fallen for anyone recently?" Smooth .

She burst out laughing, "You're acting weird. Have you always been this weird, and I just never noticed?"

He laughed nervously, "Well, everyone's been talking about how you got, uh, pretty. Just, you know, all of a sudden." Super. Make it sound like you've thought she's ugly all this time.

Ingrid shook her head, " Oh, you must be referring to the makeup. It's not a big deal or anything. Did I mess something up?"

He shook his head emphatically, "No, it looks good - really good. I'm just wondering why? I'm still guessing it's for a guy. If I had to try and guess what sort of guy, I suppose I'd say - Felix? No, wait, I forget the royal line. Dimitri would be a way better catch - "

Ingrid jumped out of her seat, "Wow. Way to make assumptions."

Sylvain put his hands up, "No need for violence. It was just a joke! Um, I mean - t's not a joke that you're beautiful - I mean, I love you. Oh shit! No, wait. Yes, I love you." Then he ran away to hide in his room.

Crestwood

They chased the wyvern to the cemetery. Byleth wasn't sure if this was one of the stupidest things she had ever done. What if it eats us? Does animal control even deal with this sort of thing? The wyvern led them to the crypt in the center of the graveyard. Then, it disappeared. The four of them looked at each other and entered the tomb.

The crypt was silent - as it was supposed to be. Rows of names lined the walls. A sarcophagus in the center read "Cornelia Arnim - Beloved Wife." Sylvain desperately pulled on the plaques and touched everything. Ingrid tried to stop him. Byleth said, "I don't think there's anything here, Sylvain - certainly not a lance." They all froze when they heard a voice call out from outside the crypt, "Just what the hell do you think you're doing in there?"

Byleth and Ingrid stepped outside the crypt, and Byleth tried to sound authoritative. "Police business, Mr. Mayor. And what the hell are you doing here?"

Arundel held out a bouquet, "Bringing flowers to my late wife's grave - like I do every Wednesday."

Byleth was running through various police-sounding excuses for him to leave, but Sylvain, followed by Claude, stepped out of the crypt and said, "Don't blame them - I wanted to look in there."

Arundel glared at Sylvain, "You? What could you possibly be looking for? You don't look well. I'll call Lucy to take you home."

Sylvain shook his head, "No. I know who I belong with."

Arundel hissed, "So you're letting Miss Eisner interfere in your life as well? Ingrid, you used to be more sensible. Since she showed up, neither of you have known your place in this town."

This time, Ingrid stepped forward, "It isn't about Byleth, Mr. Mayor. Seteth stood up to you, Sylvain kissed me, Edelgard opened her home to her, even Dimitri couldn't stay in your house - maybe the question you should ask is why does everyone want to run from you?"

Arundel's eyes widened in shock, but they quickly flashed with anger as he slapped Ingrid across the face. Byleth was about the handcuff him, but Ingrid simply smiled and punched Arundel back. Sylvain grabbed Ingrid, "We've got to get out of here." The four of them ran as fast as they could away from the seething man.

They returned to Edelgard's apartment to regroup. Edelgard listened in shock as they described the wyvern sighting and then Ingrid's fistfight. Sylvain put iodine on a cloth and held it to Ingrid's face. She hissed in pain for a moment, "Felt that one." Sylvain sat down next to her on the couch. Ingrid laid her head on his shoulder, and he put his arm around her. Byleth said to Edelgard and Claude, "Why don't we go to the kitchen and fix some snacks?" They took her hint and followed.

Once alone, Ingrid said, "You know, we've been friends for so long - even when you were infuriating. But laying here, on your shoulder - I don't think I've ever felt so safe. It's always been you, hasn't it?

Sylvain turned to her, "What do you mean, I've always been -" He was interrupted by Ingrid's lips on his. Suddenly, his life flashed before him - meals in the dining hall, Miklan turning into a beast, riding classes, the glow of the Lance of Ruin. It was all real. He broke from the kiss and smiled. "Thank you, I remember."

Arundel gave Cornelia's coffin a hard push. Below what should have been the crypt was a staircase. He crept down it into a room of glowing pulsing objects. He double-checked to count three lances. The third lance, however, began to dematerialize.

Ingrid looked at Sylvain, "Remember what?" He pressed one last kiss to her lips but slowly began to fade away. She grabbed onto him and screamed his name, but he smiled and said it was all going to be okay. "I'll see you soon," he said before he was gone.

Hearing her cries, Byleth, Edelgard, and Claude rushed back into the room. Ingrid was all alone, clutching Sylvain's jacket and screaming for Sylvain to come back.