Chapter 12: Sad Cake

Ingredients: 2 cups biscuit mix, 2 1/4 cups brown sugar, 4 eggs, 1/2 cup veggie oil, 1 cup of flaked coconut, 1 cup pecans, chopped, 1 tsp vanilla extract

Recipe: Preheat oven to 350 and grease pan. Mix all ingredients together well and then pour into pan and bake 35-40 minutes.

Note: the cake WILL "fall apart" while baking! That's why it's called "sad cake"; since it falls apart, it looks sad in a sense.

A small, white cot lay on the floor of the drab, gray tent she had been assigned to. Lysithea sighed. It would have to do, of course, but she missed her bed as well as her stuffies back at her dorm.

My stuffies, she thought with a gasp. And my book...and Byleth's jacket…

She quickly dashed outside her tent, asking around desperately for writing supplies. Luckily, one of the other soldiers was able to lend her some, and she rushed back to her tent.

But...who would be willing to help me out? I'm sure Rhea has wasted no time in telling them that we are all traitors…Perhaps Claude would do it. Though he's always a jokester, I've always felt he's a lot more mature than he'd let on. And I'm sure he'll understand how much these things mean to me.

She sighed and began writing, hoping that they would pass by a town sooner rather than later.

Who knows how quickly they'll clear out all the stuff in our dorms.

She shivered at the thought. The recipe book, and the jacket, were all that she had left to remember Byleth by.

I don't want to forget him.

She tucked the letter into the pocket of her robe, settled onto her cot and tried to get some rest. In her grief, she had forgotten just how tired she was. She could feel herself dozing off, and suddenly was transported back to the Holy Tomb. She watched again helplessly as the orb crashed into the ground below Byleth's feet, taking him with it. She ran to the crater, knowing already what she was going to find. But this time, he was lying crumpled at the bottom, limbs splayed out in an unnatural position, facedown on the cold, hard cement. She tried to scream, but her throat began closing, and she woke with a start, drenched in a cold sweat and hyperventilating.

A light rapping on her tent flap made her jump with a small squeal.

"Who is it?"

"Lysithea, it's me, Dorothea. Bernie and Petra are here too; we're all getting breakfast, care to join us?" Her voice was layered with concern for the younger girl. "We can bring you some food back too, if you don't feel like hanging out just yet."

"No, it's fine. Just give me a second to get out of bed." She rolled off the cot and quickly tried to rub the sleep out of her eyes before opening the flap. "Morning, guys." She smiled weakly at her classmates, who returned the gesture.

"You poor thing, you didn't get a wink of sleep, did you?"

"Not really," Lysithea said, turning away before they would see the tears beginning to well up again. "But I don't think many of us did, huh?" A hollow chuckle escaped her as she looked at the swollen eyes of her friends. They shook their heads sadly before making their way to the dining tent. Edelgard was already there, sitting with some of the other students, and soon the Black Eagles had reconvened.

Early morning sun filtered through the trees above them, thin rays of light gently splashing onto worn blades of withered grass. The camp had been set up in a forest along the outskirts of Garreg Mach; Hubert explained that with the number of people he had to teleport, the distance had to be shorter than usual. Lysithea held back tears as she remembered how, just two days ago, they had been gathered like this to welcome Byleth back. Petra patted her gently on the back when she sniffled.

Everyone was nervous about updates regarding their families. Hubert had already mentioned that houses "not in line with the Empire" had been "purged". It was a scary thought made all the more terrifying coming from his less-than-friendly countenance. Lysithea shuddered as she imagined what could have happened, harkening back to her own experience. Fortunately for Caspar and Linhardt, their families had decided to support Edelgard's cause. However, Ferdinand's father had been arrested, and Bernadetta's father had been stripped of his title. Hubert's father had also been "removed", though he offered no further details regarding that. Petra's family was in Brigid, far enough away that they weren't directly affected, and Dorothea wasn't from a noble lineage.

"And...what about my parents," Lysithea asked, fearing the answer. She knew that her parents had been pro-Empire ever since past happenings, but she had to make sure. Edelgard looked Lysithea in the eye before answering.

"They are fine. Nothing will happen to them under my watch."

Lysithea breathed a sigh of relief at the news. They were all she had left outside of the Eagles; she couldn't stand to lose any more. If her parents were gone…

Then what am I fighting for? Without Byleth, I'm going to be gone in a few years anyways.

She rubbed her eyes, not wanting to cry for the umpteenth time. Being with Byleth had given her hope for the first time, hope that she could live longer than what the mages had said.

Perhaps be old enough to meet someone, to get married, and share a long, happy life with someone.

She remembered how Byleth had promised her they would find a way to remove her Crests. The way he had said it, his conviction, had convinced her on that night, had allowed her to have hope for herself for the first time. Now, it was cruelly ripped out of her chest.

Was the world always this gray and lifeless?

"I want to advance on the Monastery," Edelgard said matter-of-factly, jolting Lysithea from her thoughts.

"Edelgard, are you insane? The Monastery houses the full might of the Church of Seiros! The Knights, and that...thing that Rhea became. How are we going to fight that?" Ferdinand shook his head, incredulous.

"I have a plan. We have the might of the Imperial Army at our backs; if we can assemble as an elite assault force, we can distract the best of the Knights of Seiros for as long as needed, while the Army breaks through their main force. I have no doubt that with our notoriety, they will only send their strongest warriors after us."

"Their strongest warriors…" Caspar's voice tailed off. "I'm itching to fight them, but I also don't relish probably getting my butt kicked, Edelgard. Do you really think we can hold a sword to them?"

"I have no doubt in your ability, Caspar. Nor do I have any doubt in any of our skills in battle."

"And what if Lady Rhea is making an appearance? As that...dragon?"

"I doubt that she will use that form in broad daylight, in front of so many followers. The Church has carefully cultivated an aura of benevolence and compassion; to transform into that beast would run counter to what many see the Church as."

An assenting murmur ran through the crowd.

"If you say so, Edelgard. Without the Professor here…," Ferdinand's voice caught, and he paused. "We look to you to lead."

She nodded solemnly, and they finished their breakfast in silence and went their separate ways, dealing with their new reality in their own ways.

The army was due to arrive in two weeks, and it went by about as quickly as a snail in the mud; Lysithea wondered if they would ever leave this "provisional camp", as they called it. Without anything to look forward to, each day was monotonous, boring, and repetitive. Every morning, the girls would come get her for breakfast, offering strength through their companionship at breakfast. Lysithea would then stumble back to her tent to grieve alone. Lying down on her cot, she would close her eyes, trying to remember his face, his smile, his gentle laugh, his easy, comfortable gait as he approached her, fearing that she would forget even one detail of him. She would cry, then smile, then cry all over again, before finally emerging for lunch, then training, then dinner, and then sobbing herself to sleep. Everything was dull and uninteresting, merely a box to be checked on her daily routine. Her only break was finding a day to travel a nearby village to drop off her letter, hoping to the gods that it would make it to Claude on time.

Each of the Eagles mourned in their own way; Caspar was always either eating or at the training grounds with Ferdinand and Petra, while Lysithea often could hear Dorothea's usually bright voice mumbling deep dirges from her tent. Bernadetta would quietly stand aside and pelt arrows into a tree trunk, tears dripping down her shaking face. Even Linhardt was awake; she often saw him in the dining tent, poring through some old manuscript he had managed to acquire about Crests and their history. As for Edelgard and Hubert, they were often discussing strategy with some of the Empire commanders who were in the camp, though Edelgard would often visit Lysithea at night. Sometimes they would chat, reminiscing about Byleth and more peaceful days. Sometimes they would sit in silence, staring blankly at the walls of the tent. Sometimes they would sob together, holding each other for comfort.

Finally, the day of the battle came. Lysithea readied her tome at her side as they marched, the once-friendly walls of Garreg Mach now standing as a stark and imposing fortress. As planned, the Imperial Army approached the front gate, armed to the teeth and ready for an all-out battle, while the Black Eagles, led by Edelgard, took a side route to a hidden entrance. They had been careful to have Edelgard seen slinking to the side; it was imperative to draw Rhea's attention.

As expected, the Knights were waiting. Seteth, on his wyvern, and his sister, Flayn, whom they had rescued from the dungeons belowground, flanked another figure, clad in thick, plated armor. Lysithea recognized him as Gilbert, one of the most renowned Knights of Seiros.

They're really bringing out the big guns, huh? At least Lady Catherine and Shamir aren't here…

"Friends!" Seteth yelled, drawing a gleaming lance. "While the main force deals with the army, we must see to our defenses. We cannot let these traitors infiltrate Garreg Mach!" Five more soldiers emerged, taking their places with Gilbert in the vanguard. With a yell, they dashed forward at the Black Eagles, and the battle had begun. Steel clashed on steel as they fought on. Lysithea stood back, raining spells to little avail; the Knights were well trained and not susceptible to the typical soldier's weakness to magic. Though she was doing some work, it wasn't enough; she gritted her teeth, cursing herself for not studying more in the past two weeks.

This isn't going well, she thought. The Knights were able to successfully wall their advance; Seteth was darting in and out of battle on his wyvern and wreaking havoc, his lance longer than the reach of any of their weapons besides Ferdinand. Any damage they did was quickly healed by Flayn in the backline. Lysithea's eyes narrowed; she needed to hit Flayn to stop the healing.

But…

Her mind wandered back to the first time she had met Flayn. She had been fishing (why, she wasn't sure), and caught a Teutates herring. Of course, she didn't know that; she just knew she had finally caught something. But this little girl next to her had run up, practically screaming in excitement, and asked for the fish, which a nonplussed Lysithea handed over.

She shook her head.

We don't need to kill; just buy enough time for the main army to take over.

"Mire!" The long range spell bubbled in her hand, a pool of dark energy growing by the second, and she released it before charging it too much, launching it at Flayn, who yelped as it knocked her off her feet. Seteth instantly turned his wyvern around, diving to her side. This allowed enough of a distraction for the Eagles to regroup and push the line further. No casualties had been sustained on either side, though both sides were bruised and battered. Lysithea resumed firing spells, shooting off a Mire every few rounds to keep Flayn far enough away from healing up the Knights. But the Knights continued to hold strong. Seteth pulled his wyvern up, flying high into the air, and smirked.

"It is over for you all now," he yelled. "Lady Rhea has arrived!"

On cue, she appeared below him. Lysithea was shocked; her serene aura had been replaced by one of someone who had lost control. Her hair was disheveled, sprouting out in all directions, and her face was drawn with lines, eyes bagged from lack of sleep. She had a crazed look, lips twisting into a vicious grin at the sight of the Black Eagles.

"Everyone, you have done well to buy us time. Now...the counterattack will begin!" Four more soldiers dashed out from behind her, led by two familiar faces.

Ah, crap. Me and my big mouth.

At the front was Lady Catherine, armor glinting in the midday sun. She drew her sword, the legendary Thunderbrand, and angled it at the Eagles. It glowed white with power as it synchronized with the Crest that she bore. Behind her stood Shamir, bow trained on the Eagles. She wore her typical black shirt and dark green coat over it, rippling behind her in the wind. They dashed forward, and the Eagles were forced to give ground, retreating while parrying furious strikes and wayward arrows. She shot a cast of Luna at one of the Knights, catching him in the leg and knocking him to the floor. With a grim smile, she continued her barrage while retreating, firing off more spells as quickly as she could while also keeping an eye out for anyone who needed healing.

"Argh!" Edelgard dropped to a knee, grimacing, as an arrow caught her thigh.

"Your Majesty!" Hubert dashed forwards, trying to pull her up. Shamir's eyes narrowed as she prepped another arrow. Lysithea barely shot off a spell in time, deflecting the projectile just in time. Ferdinand spurred his horse forward, using it to block the crippled Edelgard from sight.

"I can't hold them for long, get her out of here!" He turned and, lance at the ready, took on two Knights. Lysithea's attention turned in front of her as Gilbert approached her.

What's he doing, such heavy armor is nothing against magic!

She shot off spells and her jaw dropped as they bounced off his plating. Not even Luna seemed to be doing any damage. Lysithea backed up until she was against a wall.

Well, that's not good.

The Knight slashed at her, and she dodged sideways, launching Miasma below his outstretched arms and targeting the weaker joints of the armor. The Knight stumbled for the first time, and Lysithea pursed her lips.

Now to do that-

Before she could finish her thought, she had to dodge another wicked slash from Gilbert's weapon, forced to roll forwards as he slashed across her body. Which brought her right in front of his armored feet. Her eyes widened as he reared back and smashed a plated boot into her face.

Lysithea fell on her back, dazed, blood trickling from somewhere on her head. Everything seemed to be blurred and moving in slow motion; she saw Catherine easily knocking Petra and Caspar's weapons out of their hands, blade trained at their throats. Ferdinand had been knocked off his horse and lay unconscious on the floor. Edelgard was bound in front of Rhea, blood still oozing from her thigh wound, and Hubert was beside her, a look of defiance on his face. Linhardt, Dorothea, and Bernadetta were also cornered, hands help up in surrender. Lysithea tried to sit up but felt cold steel against her throat.

"Don't move."

They were quickly bound and forced to kneel in front of Rhea with Edelgard, who stared at her defiantly.

"You...you traitor! I won't kill you here, only because I need to use you and your band of worthless garbage as an example to any who would dare betray the goddess!"

Edelgard spat at the ground.

"I have only made an enemy of the Church, not of the goddess, and she will protect us all."

"You dare-huh?" Rhea turned her head as a rumbling approached them. Lysithea's eyes followed the sound, and her face fell as the familiar white armor of a contingent of Church soldiers approached. .

"Lady Rhea...it would appear our main force has successfully held off the attackers." Rhea smiled.

"Now, what to do with these…"

"We must be careful," Seteth said. "Many would not take well to executions," he whispered. "We must be wary of our image…"

Rhea hissed in anger before turning to Edelgard.

"You are lucky the goddess is a benevolent one." She slapped Edelgard across the face. "Seteth, Knights! Take them belowground. I will think of how to deal with them later."

"Hubert," Edelgard whispered. "Now."

Hubert nodded and closed his eyes, mumbling a spell. A familiar white ring formed below each of the Eagles' feet, and Lysithea felt the familiar tug in her gut of teleportation and saw the flash of light.

"Ugh," was the collective response as they landed on a grassy knoll outside the Monastery. Lysithea fell onto her back and closed her eyes, the throbbing pain in her head worsening as her adrenaline slowly faded. She faintly heard Hubert tell Edelgard that that was the last of his teleportation crystals before gratefully passing out.

So I kind of changed course here; initially, I wasn't going to have them invade the Monastery, but then I changed my mind. I had them lose (terribly) because that's how wars go; in the games, we usually only see the battles that we win since they're the ones that we're playing, but battles are always won and lost. I thought it was even more important for the Eagles to lose a battle here, as at this point in the story, they're still so young and have so little experience, but under Byleth's guidance everything has come up aces for them so far. War has a way of humbling even the most decorated soldiers, and this was kind of the Eagles' first taste of that, and it's also going to serve as a good segue for some more character development, which is the plan for the five years that Byleth is gone (thanks to MathAtMidnight for the support and ideas for this!).

Half-beastdragonsoul2013: Well...unless magic can heal viruses XD

MathAtMidnight: Hubert sounds like a literal emotional sounding board. As in, you say stuff and it just bounces back. I have no doubt Edelgard would need someone else to provide any real emotional support, and I hope you can see how this chapter is kind of starting to set that up.

BrandedKing: I'm glad you think it fits! I think Rhea is definitely another super complex character; looking at it from the different playthroughs, she toggles between being a benevolent leader of the church and a revenge-crazed dragon-human while also hitting pretty much every point in between. I did debate having a couple Eagles defect; that would seem more realistic to me, but I kind of already set it up where they would join with Edelgard having the one-on-ones. I hope your fics are going well! If you ever want some feedback feel free to DM me, I may or may not reply promptly (I still have classes and exams ) but I'll try to give some input if I can :)

As always, stay safe out there (or hopefully inside), and enjoy!

-elementaryprincess