It was in the twilight days of Fódlan that Claude and Edelgard spoke one final time, on the battlements of Garreg Mach, looking out onto the town of Mach nearby. The sky had turned from a light blue to a dark, unnatural purple, and the sun looked distant and cold compared to its usual splendor. Edelgard wouldn't admit it, but looking upon Fódlan in its current state made her heart weep.

"I fail to see what will we get out of this, Claude," Edelgard stated, her arms crossed as she looked down at the archduke from the bridge of her nose - which was difficult, considering the discrepancy in their heights, but she somehow managed. "I have long known of Rhea's true nature. I only needed to use it to devalue her credibility, but as she has said she will step down when this Agarthan machine god is slain, the only reason to pursue this would be for academic reasons."

"And you mean to tell me that you aren't a little curious, Edelgard?" Claude replied, looking up to the sky briefly and flinching at the unnatural color of it. "And also, well, what're our chances of defeating this metal dastard? Have you seen the sky recently? I don't think it's supposed to be that dark at this time of year."

Edelgard scoffed. "I fear no 'god'."

"You really should, you know. It probably let them go, after all. Did you see the way Rhea looked when she landed? There's still strange blood splattering the training grounds. I haven't seen anything like it."

Staying silent for a moment, Edelgard turned around and walked a few steps before turning back. "Even if we were curious, which I am not saying that I am, we would not be able to get any answers out of her. She was injured severely, and no doubt that strange knight would be right by her side and block all attempts to speak to her."

Claude held up a finger. "Ah, but she's not the only one, you know. There's that other one, too."

"Other one? What other one?" Edelgard asked.

"Don't tell me you didn't see him," Claude said, tapping his temple. "You know, that man with the long green hair and dark robe? The one who skulked around Fort Merceus the entire time we were there? The one who went with Sir Ashton and Rhea when they left? You know, that guy?"

"I understand your meaning now, Claude, you can stop rubbing it in," Edelgard sighed, cradling her head in her hands for a moment. "It is… as good a place as any to ask questions, I suppose."

"Oh?" Claude hummed, raising a brow. "Does that mean we'll go out questioning lizard people after all?"

"Must you put it like that?" Edelgard groused. "You make it sound so silly when you say it that way. This is our reality, Claude, not some joke we shall all laugh about later."

"I don't know, treating some parts of the world like a joke is probably one of the better ways I've gotten through the day."

"Of course that is how you would see all of this. I should have known," Edelgard sighed.

"Hey, that doesn't mean I don't take things seriously! Or that I don't have feelings; that really hurts, Your Majesty."

Edelgard glared lightly at Claude. "Clearly, we must do this investigation separately, otherwise nothing will be answered. I will question Rhea and her protege, and you will speak to that green-haired man. Even if we learn nothing from one, the other should ensure we get something out of this before the end."

"Fair enough. Just to be clear, though," Claude said, the smile fading from his lips. "I'm more worried about what happens after the machine god is destroyed. What will become of this alliance then, I wonder?"

"That is a question you should not be asking right now, Claude," Edelgard replied quickly. "Now, let us be away. It is better if we complete this task sooner rather than later."

Claude shrugged. "No arguments from me there."

Claude approached the green-haired priestly man with a lot more trepidation than he usually did. He wasn't scared, no, just cautious, somewhat like when he wandered his father's palace in Almyra, away from his half-siblings. Of course, none of his half-siblings could transform into giant dragons, so there was that. He didn't exactly have time to form a lasting connection with Arawn - his name was known to most, though his connection to Rhea much less so - either. So, it was better in his mind to simply approach him and ask a few questions. Nothing too prying, but enough for him to extrapolate from.

He found Arawn in the training grounds, looking at the dried green bloodstain on the ground. Claude admitted that he didn't like the look of it; it proved forever in his mind that Rhea could not, and should not be allowed to rule over humans, not being a human herself. Even her blood wasn't red. Arawn, for his part, simply looked down at it, his fists clenched. His priestly robe, if it could have even truly been called that before, was singed and practically falling off his body, but he didn't seem to care.

"She really made a mess in here, didn't she?" Claude began, hands behind his back as he walked up to Arawn. "It's all over the place."

"One can hardly be blamed for bleeding when their skin is cut open with giant metallic wings," Arawn replied without missing a beat. "And what a way to open a conversation, as well. Did you spend all day figuring out how to approach me, or was that thought of on the spot?"

Claude shrugged. "Eh, a little bit of both. I wanted to find something non-threatening and that also was related to wherever I found you."

"Interesting. Drawing attention to my mother's blood splatter seems a touch personal, don't you think so?"

Claude chuckled. "Alright, I messed up, I'll admit."

"Perhaps not. As it turns out, I find myself in the mood to talk," Arawn replied, turning his head to look Claude in the eye. "You saw us fly in from the east. You know what I am. And now you want to know more. About us, about the Nabateans."

Shrugging, Claude spoke, "It's like you said. You can't fault me for being curious, certainly. It's not everyday you see someone transform into a giant flying lizard. Or see a giant flying lizard transform into a man, in this case. And your mother, well, Seiros, Rhea, does it really matter?"

Arawn snorted. "Perhaps not in the way you want it to. Saint Seiros is my mother, it is true. I was born right in the middle of the War of Heroes, over a thousand years ago, and fought during the latter half of it at the ripe age of eighteen. My earliest, clearest memories are of blood-stained battlefields, and of my first transformation. You know, I am only half-Nabatean."

Claude nodded, turning his eyes away to stare at a wall. "So, interbreeding's possible, then. Interesting."

"Yes, it is! They weren't exactly surprised, apparently. Flayn is a 'half-breed' as well, you know. She was Cethleann."

Claude looked at Arawn with wide eyes before nodding again. "You know, that makes sense. There any reason why you're being so forthright? Not that I'm complaining, mind you. Just curious."

"Curious like a cat, but not as dead as one," Arawn grunted, "An admirable trait, not being dead. More people should heed it."

"Uh, yeah, sure."

"To answer your question, however…" Arawn continued, "well, maybe I am just in a good mood? Or perhaps I merely wanted to explain the past of our people the best I can, even though I am hardly one of them. Truthfully, even my mother knew little of our people's culture, our history - she was merely a child when a majority of them were massacred. Even Seteth, or Cichol as he was known back then, likely wouldn't have a good answer for you."

"You really think this coming battle is gonna be that bad, huh?" Claude murmured.

"I will not lie to you, friend," Arawn began, crossing his arms. "We face an enemy I have long dreaded, and who has control over many things we cannot even see. True, the Vessel it finds itself in only allows it a fraction of the power it actually has, but even then, well, I have many new scars to show that even when depowered, it's not to be trifled with. This blood splatter here, that is what it did to my mother, and it did not even do it itself, its minions did."

"Like the ones that attacked Derdriu?" Claude asked, "those flying, metal bird things? Goddess, I really hoped we wouldn't have to fight those things again."

"You and I both! But we should have known we would not be so lucky," Arawn replied.

"Alright, so maybe this battle might not go well," Claude admitted, "still, have a little faith, yeah? It's been nothing but war for five years, but here are all the countries of Fódlan, working together against a common enemy. Surely we deserve a little more credit than all this doom and gloom?"

Arawn snorted. "A common enemy? Yes, those are great, but what happens when the common enemy is destroyed, I wonder? I guess we might have a chance of seeing what that looks like after all, but I'm afraid I probably won't be able to see it."

"Alright, this whole thing you're doing is getting old."

"No, I do not mean death this time," Arawn replied, "I mean… well, me and my parents, as well as the other Nabateans, we likely will not participate in the war after this. Not any longer, anyway. The time has come for us to step down and let humanity take the reins of their own destiny."

Claude took a step back. "Just like that?"

Arawn nodded. "Just like that. Perhaps a war like this was inevitable. Perhaps my mother's own poor decision making was the cause. Either way, whoever wins will not have to suffer us any longer. As to where we are going… Zanado seems as good a place as any; isolated, well-fortified, the perfect area for an exile that doesn't involve leaving the continent. All of this is moot, however, unless we win against Prometheus."

Claude would have much rather had them away from Fódlan entirely, but beggars couldn't be choosers; so long as they were out of the way, then he'd accept it as a good compromise. For now.

"Fair enough," Claude said with a small sigh before smiling. "Now, tell me more about your people. You know, since you so graciously offered…"

Edelgard could be charitably described as 'stubborn and sincere'. Or to others with less savory vocabularies, 'bull-headed and crass'. Even if she spoke with the same intonation as a noble or royal was schooled to speak in at all times, she always made her intentions clear, or if she could not for fear of having her plans made public before their time, speaking only half the truth while not answering the rest.

Of course, the time for half-truths and subterfuge had long passed. Edelgard could gain nothing from Rhea during her confinement, and that wasn't the point in the first place; she needed insurance, something to prevent the Agarthans from getting any ideas while the war was going on. It would have taken some convincing, but if she had told Rhea what she wanted to hear? And with the full force of the Empire bearing down on them, they would have been history within the moon.

In the end, however, what happened tended to go the opposite of how she planned it. And judging by the reports of those who went to the Agarthan main base, Shambhala, the Agarthans were nothing but a bad memory.

With all that out of the way, and her mind cleared, Edelgard decided that perhaps Claude was right. If anything could be gained from speaking to Rhea one on one, then Edelgard would seek it out.

When Edelgard arrived, Rhea was conscious, and beside her sat a knight. A knight she vaguely recognized as part of Rhea's entourage during the negotiations. And they were holding hands as Rhea laughed.

It was such a switch from the Rhea that Edelgard knew that she almost couldn't recognize her. She seemed more like one of the lovestruck girls she saw during her academy days than the immaculate archbishop of the Church of Seiros, who had compassion but was without mercy for those who defied her. Of course, the instant Edelgard moved forward, the laughing ceased as Rhea's eyes landed squarely on her.

"What business does the Emperor have with me? With us?" Rhea asked immediately, all signs of joviality gone.

"Nothing serious," Edelgard replied, "Our quarrel is done, Rhea. You have already agreed to exile yourself once this war is over. What you do with yourself afterwards is of no concern to me. Perhaps this is a mistake, but I have questions."

"You didn't ask enough when you had her chained in your dungeons, I take it?" the knight asked, brows furrowed.

"Who are you?" Edelgard asked, frowning.

"Sir Ashton Wright, of the Knights of Seiros. Veteran of the War of Heroes, as you know it," Ashton replied, crossing his arms. "And before you tell me to leave you two alone, forget it. I take orders from only one person, and that person is not you."

"Veteran…? Ah, I see," Edelgard nodded. "So it is you. You are the one who spearheaded her escape, aren't you?"

"Yes, and I would do it again," Ashton said.

"It is of no concern to me. Remain if you want," Edelgard stated, waving a hand. "I simply wish to know the truth. No lies espoused by the Church, no Agarthan propaganda, just the truth. What happened, all those years ago? Why did you take control of humanity's course? What did the Agarthans do?"

Rhea's lips thinned into a line. "What is the point in asking such questions, Edelgard? What do you hope to accomplish?"

Edelgard's eyes narrowed. "Some measure of peace. Though I will fight for the freedom of Fódlan, I have no illusions of guaranteed success. If I am to die after this machine god is vanquished or banished from our realm, then I will know the truth of it all."

Rhea and Edelgard stared each other down for a few moments, neither giving in. Finally, Rhea sighed and looked away.

"The Agarthans waged war on one another, and my mother, the Goddess, attempted to stop them peacefully, at first. It backfired, and all of Fódlan was reduced to rubble. The children born in the wastes turned into hideous monstrosities, dying mere hours later, and those that lived were terribly burdened by their deformities. The ancestors of the Agarthans plunged underground, while mother worked to restore the continent and the people that dwelt within."

"The Agarthans destroyed themselves?" Edelgard whispered.

"Mother dealt the final blow, but many cities had been destroyed with Agarthan weaponry alone," Rhea replied, a bitter tone to her voice as she clutched her sheets. "And you, and most descendants of man who walk this continent are creations of the Goddess. I have never lied about that. Your forefathers were built in imitation of the people that came before."

Edelgard nearly stumbled when Rhea stopped, feeling as if all strength had left her legs for a moment before she regained her composure. She straightened herself out and spoke. "We are more than mere imitations."

"Of course you are," Rhea said, "And I am no longer just what my mother made me. The Agarthans, they are gone. I saw their destruction firsthand. You are all that's left. When I leave… all I ask is that you do not destroy what little good I did."

Edelgard hummed. "I can speak for myself, but no one else. If either Claude or Dimitri wins, then I have little doubt that the Church as it is now will continue, even without you. But still, there must be more. Tell me…"

When Edelgard finally left the infirmary, Seiros felt more exhausted than when she first landed in Garreg Mach's training area. Her side ached with phantom pain, but somehow, she felt lighter. A great weight had been lifted off her shoulders, it felt like, and beside her, Ashton continued to stay by her side.

"I didn't know about all that," he murmured, "guess I'm even more apart from the people here than I thought, huh? These really are the Goddess' chosen. And I'm still here, a cosmic accident."

"You are more than a cosmic accident, Ashton," Seiros said, her thumb rubbing the top of Ashton's hand. "You are the man I love. Please, if nothing else, do not forget that."

Ashton chuckled. "I can't forget it when you say it all the time, can I?"

"Good. I'll say it as many times as I need to," Seiros said, pulling his arm closer until she hugged it.

"You know," Ashton said, scratching his cheek. "This almost doesn't feel like an ending, does it? Feels like things are just getting started. And not in the way I wish they were."

"Let whatever comes arrive," Seiros said, "I will greet it gladly with you at my side."

"Someone's in a loving mood today, huh?" Ashton noted.

"Perhaps nearly being killed has made me realize I should appreciate those in my life more, yes. Even more than I already was," Seiros admitted with a smile. "I am serious, Ashton. Whatever ending awaits us, wherever we go after this, my only wish is that we are both there, looking up at the stars. Just like our first night together…"

Seiros could picture it so perfectly, it was almost like she was there again. What she wouldn't do to go back in time, do something differently, and when the war was over, leave her position as a Saint, and live happily.

If only every story could end that way.

"Alright, and then what?"

"Well, I shoot the big thing with my bow, of course. Did ya think I'd just sit on my ass and wait for it to destroy that monastery?"

Deep in the forests near Garreg Mach, two women sat around a small fire as the unnatural sky turned to a fathomless black. The blonde half-expected hundreds of red eyes to suddenly blink into existence outside of their campfire's light, but none did. Even so, she did not lose the edge in her voice, even as the night grew late.

The woman in front of her, the love of her life, sat down with all of the grace that a princess could muster. Without her cloak, her platinum hair was allowed to billow about her shoulders, and her reptilian red eyes were plain to see.

"We have seen it destroyed before, haven't we?" Corrin openly mused, turning her eyes to the side. "I still have dreams of that particular battle. I would have rather we avoided another one in there."

"Well, seems like the machine bastard didn't leave us a lot of choice, huh?" Liz replied, her arms crossed as she reclined. "I get what you mean, though. I hate this too."

"How much longer must we do this?" Corrin asked, "Though we have been at this for what feels like years, it seems as if we have barely come any closer to reaching your world, Liz. It always feels so out of reach, so…"

Liz held up an orb, the very same orb they used to travel from Corrin's world to Ylisse. Though the outside remained cracked and chipped, it glowed with a pale light as she held it up.

"We're missing something," Liz said, "I know we are. We've been looking and looking, but just can't find it, right? Maybe we've been looking in the wrong place. These pale dudes, they don't have it. Or maybe they did, and they don't anymore. Maybe that Vessel for the machine god, maybe it has it."

"Ah," Corrin hummed, "That explains why you wish to interfere so badly."

"Looks like Ashton's already interfered enough. Or do you wanna remember how Nohr and Hoshido looked in those other timelines?" Liz asked, immediately regretting it as she saw Corrin shiver. "Alright, yeah, that was a low blow, but still. It's not like we're doing any damage, ya know? We already went looking for him. We already talked to some of his buddies, or subordinates, or whatever. If the Vessel has what we need, well, why not help them destroy it? It's not like they'll have much interest in the metal wreck it'll turn into when it's destroyed."

"Or perhaps they will destroy what we need in trying to defeat it," Corrin pointed out.

Liz tilted her head. "Fair point, but still, I think it's worth a shot. And really, what else were we gonna do? Work on some farm in the middle of Albinea, freezing our fingers off trying to dig up turnips?"

Corrin pursed her lips. "It would have been a quiet life."

"We'll get a quiet life, Candy Corn!" Liz said, "We just gotta, you know, kill another god. Or kill another thing that thinks it's a god, whatever it really is."

"You ever wonder how the others are doing, Liz?" Corrin asked suddenly, bringing her knees closer to her chest. "Like your brother. What do you think he and his family are doing in Ylisse right now? Or what my brothers and sisters are doing in Hoshido and Nohr?"

"If Alex is smart, then he'll be trying to prepare the country for an invasion," Liz grunted, "and, well, he's not dumb, so that's probably what he's doing. As for your siblings, I have no idea. I never even spoke to most of 'em, I don't think. Except Takumi, but he's Takumi so it doesn't count."

Corrin laughed. "Fair enough. He's still my brother, though, so watch it."

Liz waved a hand lazily. "Sure, sure. He's probably talking bad about me right now, but you wouldn't say anything to him about that, would you?"

"I would if I could, but it'd take a while to get back home, go to Castle Shirasagi, and give him an earful," Corrin said, "meanwhile, you're right in front of me."

"Goddamn you and your stupid logical arguments."

"I win again," Corrin declared.

Liz scoffed as she turned away. "You talking about our siblings. What about the guys who saved us, huh? Those other dudes. I can't remember their names."

"Sam? Sera?" Corrin said. "Do those names ring a bell?"

"Sam does, but the only thing I think of with that name is anger. Did he do something bad?"

Corrin shook her head. "Not that I recall, but then again, a lot of my thoughts back then were about staying alive. I barely remember being ensnared by that creature and then waking up with the Yato in my hands. Then we spent a little more time with your brother, because he helped save us…"

"I think Sera was cute," Liz said absentmindedly, before shivering as she could feel Corrin's withering glare. "Not as cute as you, of course. She doesn't have a leg up on you, Candy Corn."

"It is so good to know that I am your one and only, Jelly Bean," Corrin replied, half-jokingly.

"Anyway, point is, we're here now, let's just make it count," Liz said, "I just hope I'm right about Alex. The big lug's always been a bit dense, but that just makes it easier to use him as a battering ram. And he's probably had a lot of practice in court."

Corrin whistled. "I don't envy him that."

Liz snickered. "Neither do I. I hope Ashton hasn't had to go through the same thing, but hey, if he has, two battering rams!"

What's a few more lore dumps before the end of the fic, eh? Happy New Year!