We're going back underground! Well, not actually in this chapter, but this one sets that up.

This chapter will have a modification of the Bernadetta/Yuri C-Support. Enjoy!

Chapter 55 – A Lost Childhood Friend (Red Wolf Moon)

Dorothea ran a hand through her long locks of hair as she walked toward the audience chamber of the monastery. Rhea had called her, Byleth and the three house leaders to her that afternoon, but Dorothea did not know why. At least she wouldn't be forced to eavesdrop.

After setting her hair over her shoulders, Dorothea made her way into the chamber, where the others were already waiting for her.

"Ah, there you are, Dorothea," said Edelgard. "We were just waiting for you."

"Edie, what's going on?" asked Dorothea.

"We were just about to find out," said Dimitri.

On cue, Rhea emerged from her office with Seteth in tow.

"Welcome, all of you," said Rhea. "Thank you all for coming on such short notice."

"So, what's this about?" asked Claude.

Seteth then said, "The first-year students are being reassigned for this month's mission. There has been a development down in Abyss, and we would like for you and the other first-year students to investigate and resolve the matter."

"Weren't we going to be heading to Remire Village?" asked Byleth.

"The situation in Remire has worsened," said Rhea. "The reports coming in suggest that such a task may be too disturbing for first-year students. I have thus reassigned the third-year students to handle Remire. Professor Manuela will be leading them."

"Additionally," Seteth said, "your familiarity with the Ashen Wolves and the denizens of Abyss is something the second- and third-year students lack. You will be meeting with them and Brother Aelfric down in Abyss to learn the situation. Make your preparations. You are to head down there, post-haste."

"Will Flayn be accompanying us?" asked Dimitri.

"After her previous experience, I do not think it safe for her to venture down there, nor would she be all too receptive to the idea."

"But we'd all be there to protect her, right everyone?" said Dorothea. The others nodded affirmatively to this.

"Regardless, Flayn is needed here in the monastery to aid in the infirmary while Professor Manuela is away."

"Oh, I see. That's a shame."

"That will be all," said Rhea. "Go now with the Goddess's blessing."

…

"Heading down to Abyss again?" Claude said with slight distaste. "Can't say I was too fond of my first trip down there."

"You can say that again," Dorothea said with a shudder, recalling her near-death encounter with the Death Knight.

Edelgard placed a hand on Dorothea's shoulder and said, "Dorothea, are you going to be alright heading down there again?"

Dorothea took a deep breath before she said, "Yeah, I think so. At least, as long as I have all of you with me."

Byleth, Dimitri, Claude and Edelgard all gave Dorothea reassuring smiles at this.

Then, a sly voice came out of the shadows and said, "Isn't this just adorable? You know how to pick your friends, songbird."

Startled, everyone turned to see Yuri emerge from a dark corner.

"Y-Yuri!" Dorothea exclaimed. "What are you doing here?"

"Making sure you're all coming down to see us," Yuri answered with a smile. "I'm sure Lady Rhea told you all what's going on."

"Well, not exactly," said Dimitri. "We were only told there was a development in Abyss."

"What's happened, Yuri?" asked Byleth.

"There was another mercenary raid three days ago. We sent them packing, but this time we managed to take prisoners. We've spent the last few days questioning them. Balthus and Aelfric should know more by the time you join us."

Turning to the house leaders, Byleth said, "Edelgard, Dimitri, Claude, go and gather the others. We'll be heading down to Abyss in one hour."

"An hour? That's awfully quick," said Dorothea.

"I'd like to finish this up quickly so we can still help out in Remire."

"Professor, there is no guarantee that this will be something we can resolve in a short amount of time," said Edelgard. "Is there some other reason you wish for us to be so prompt?"

"Even if this ends up taking us a while, I want everyone ready as soon as possible. Think of it as extra training in mobilizing quickly."

"I see." Edelgard couldn't help but smile at Byleth's creative response.

"Well, you all heard her," said Yuri. "Go find your buddies. We'll meet up at the entrance to Abyss in an hour."

Nodding affirmatively, Edelgard, Claude and Dimitri all took off to find the other first-year students, while Byleth went to go and make her own preparations.

But as Dorothea was just about to leave, Yuri said, "Hold on a second, songbird. I need to ask you a favor."

"What is it?" Dorothea asked.

"I need your help to speak with one of your friends." Making a hand gesture, he added, "About this tall, purple hair, and timid as a mouse."

Knowing who he meant, Dorothea asked, "Bernadetta? Why do you need to speak to her? And why do you need my help with it?"

"Because I've tried speaking to her myself, and every time she sees me, she runs off like a scared rabbit. She and I share some history, you see."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. Now can you help me have a chat with her?"

"Uh, sure. I think she'd be at the greenhouse right now."

Dorothea and Yuri then made for the greenhouse, with Dorothea pondering how the lavender-haired rogue knew a shut-in like Bernadetta.

…

Bernadetta was humming to herself in the greenhouse as she admired one of the plants. The sound of the greenhouse door opening caught her attention, so she glanced toward it. She hoped it wasn't Raphael trying to sneak up and listen to her music; she was worried that he would try and humiliate her by making her perform on-stage.

She calmed down upon seeing Dorothea enter the greenhouse. The singer then called out, "Bern? Bern, are you here?"

"H-Hey, Dorothea," Bernadetta replied. "Did you need something?"

"Ah, there you are. There's a couple of things. First, the Professor wanted us to gather in town in an hour, and we're to bring our combat gear."

"W-What? We weren't supposed to be training today!"

"It's not training; our monthly assignment's been changed, so we're going down to Abyss."

"A-A-Abyss?! You mean with all those creepy underground guys?"

"Creepy, she calls us," Yuri said amusedly as he slipped up behind Bernadetta. "I'm crushed, Bern."

Bernadetta let out a loud "EEK!" as she spun around to see Yuri.

"You're a tricky one. Always trying to hide when I'm around."

"I-I-I'm sorry! Please forgive me!"

"If you want forgiveness, then explain yourself. But please, cut to the chase. You tend to ramble on."

Bernadetta made a loud gulp at this.

"Bern, he just wanted to talk with you," said Dorothea. "Please, tell him why you've been avoiding him."

"O-Okay…" After a pause and a deep breath to calm down, Bernadetta said to Yuri, "Y-You remind me of one of my old friends."

"Oh, come now," said Yuri. "Whoever this friend of yours is can't possibly compare to me."

"I'm telling the truth!"

"All right, all right. What was this friend like, then? The way you run and hide from me, they must've been a real piece of work."

"That's not it at all. He was the assistant to the gardener at our estate. He was gentle, trustworthy… and, well, um, gorgeous."

"Gorgeous?" Dorothea asked in confusion. It wasn't a word one would normally use to describe a male friend.

Continuing, Bernadetta said, "He was the only person who was ever nice to me back then. We used to run around the gardens playing together."

"And why is it you keep running away from me?" asked Yuri.

"That's…" Bernadetta paused, but then realized she wasn't going to get out of telling the truth of the matter. She took another deep breath and said, "The thing is, because of me, he got in trouble. You see, my father hates commoners, and when he found out I was spending a lot of time with one… Well…" Bernadetta then buried her face in her hands as tears began flowing as she said, "I never saw him again! He's probably dead now! And it's all my fault! It's because of me he's dead! He must've hated me in his final moments!"

Dorothea walked up and placed her hands on Bernadetta's shoulders as the girl cried into her hands.

"There, there, Bern…" Dorothea cooed in reassurance.

Then, as Dorothea looked at Yuri, the rogue said, "Why would you think all that? Nothing you did would make his death your fault. And hating you for something that isn't your fault is absolutely absurd – delusional, even."

As Yuri said this, something clicked in Dorothea's mind. Too much was adding up by now.

The singer asked, "Wait a second… Yuri, are you–"

Yuri gestured for Dorothea to stay silent, and then said to Bernadetta, "Lemme just ask you something else, Bernadetta. Remember back when you were a kid? You tripped while holding some gardening shears. And your friend got cut pretty badly."

Bernadetta instantly stopped sobbing as she let out a gasp of surprise. "How did you know about that?" she asked, looking up at Yuri through her tear-soaked eyes.

"If I bore you any ill will, it would have been for cutting my face with those damn shears."

Bernadetta's eyes widened with realization, while Dorothea murmured, "I knew it."

"That friend? That was me, Bernadetta."

Bernadetta was frozen in absolute shock at this reveal.

Then, playfully, Yuri said, "Anyway, I'm glad I finally got to hear how you felt about all of that. Let's spend time together and chat about the good ol' days. Get to know each other again." Then, as Yuri turned to leave, he said, "Oh, and thanks for the help, songbird. I'll see you and the others in Abyss."

"Sure, Yuri."

With that, Yuri slinked out of the greenhouse, leaving Dorothea and Bernadetta alone.

As soon as Yuri was gone, Dorothea said, "Well, Bern? Isn't it great that you got to see your old friend again? … Bern?"

Dorothea moved in front of Bernadetta to look at her, and saw the girl had a blank look in her eyes. The purple-haired girl did not respond to any movement Dorothea made, but stood wobbling in place.

Dorothea was left utterly flabbergasted at how Bernadetta had managed to faint while standing up.

…

When Bernadetta regained consciousness, she found herself sitting on a bench in the middle of town. Her bow and quiver were laid out at her feet. In a comical display, she began whipping her head around, looking to see what had just happened and where she was.

"Huh? What? W-Where am I?"

As she regained her wits, Bernadetta saw the other first-year students were gathered around her, all of them carrying their weapons and equipment. Lysithea was having a small argument with Lorenz on something she couldn't make out over the noise of the others. Raphael was eating some cooked meat on a stick and trying to get Ignatz to have some as well, while Ingrid was berating the large boy's sloppy manners. Annette was eating some candy while sitting next to Mercedes. Petra and Edelgard were having a discussion as well, while Ferdinand and Hubert were bickering over the former's desire to outshine Edelgard. Sylvain was flirting with a couple of village girls, one who slapped him after he tried a poorly chosen pick-up phrase. Felix watched Sylvain's failure and let out a loud groan of disapproval.

"Bern? Are you alright?" said Dorothea as she sat down next to the purple-haired archer.

Bernadetta let out another squeak of fear as she spun around, but she stopped herself from screaming out in terror upon seeing Dorothea's face.

"D-Dorothea? What happened? Why am I here?" Bernadetta asked frantically.

"Don't you remember? You and I were having a chat with Yuri and, after he left you, umm, fainted… while standing up."

It took Bernadetta a moment to process everything. She looked as though she were going to faint again.

But instead of fainting, Bernadetta let out a loud, comical, "EEEEEEHHH?!"

Such a confused Bernie-Bear, isn't she?

I suppose Dorothea wasn't entirely necessary for the Yuri/Bernadetta C-Support, but I wanted her around for it. Besides, someone had to carry Bernie after she fainted, right?

I should also note that despite the chapter indicating otherwise, I'll still be doing the Remire Calamity, as it's important to the story. It's just going to be after quite a few chapters to cover the Cindered Shadows arc.