Disclaimer: These are works of purely speculative fiction. It is not intended to infringe on any rights by any of the companies and/or individuals involved in the production of any series mentioned here. Fate Grand Order and all the franchises and series associated with it, are owned by Kinoko Nasu, Notes Co., Ltd. and their affiliates. Similarly, Fire Emblem Heroes is owned by Nintendo Co., Ltd. and their affiliates.

I DO NOT OWN THESE FRANCHISES.

Gudako was an enigma.

That is the thought that ran through Edelgarde's head after spending weeks with her. The redhead was a peculiar girl with questionable tastes in intimacy, but she was still fighting a noble cause she couldn't refuse to ignore.

A commoner, of all things, thrust into the trenches of war despite being weak in combat strength. Out of all the so-called nobility she has met in her life, Edelgard can say Gudako is one of the strongest leaders she has met. Yes, the heroic spirits are overpowered beings with strength beyond human capabilities, but if it wasn't for the girl's leadership than many of them would have gutted each other long ago.

Edelgarde has caught a few of the Heroic Spirits having a spat here or there, and most of them usually end up in brawls. The more vicious ones start out whenever someone brings up controversial topics. Some, like historical injustices, make sense while others, like food and drink preferences, were completely nonsensical. She tried her best to avoid these sorts of confrontations. Which was easier said than done.

She feels uncomfortable sharing a room with literal gods, goddesses, and demigods. Her belief was that the matters of the state should be to dictate the law of the land, its politics and the future of their people, without outside influence.

After spending years toppling the oppressive and authoritative Church of Seiros, hearing several heroic spirits reminiscing about the 'good old days' of leading their countries under their 'divine rule' made her blood boil. But she stayed her tongue, because as much as she hates to admit it, she is weak. Should she have said anything to those walking disasters, they would end her life on a whim.

Once again, she is thankful for Gudako's leadership skills because no matter how heated or brutal a brawl became, she always managed to keep everyone in line using her own social skills.

If her Heroic Spirits weren't so loyal and loving toward her, she would have imagined them her slaves. Gudako had a literal leash to keep them in line, which ironically came in the form of one of the things she detests the most: a red crest which sat atop the back of her hand.

Edelgard pursed her lips at the thought of those crests again. She had overheard that woman Da Vinci explain the difference between magus crests and Fodlan crests to professor Hanneman. She went through a lot of technicalities and details that she didn't bother paying attention to. Instead, she cared for only one fact, the command crests on Gudako's hand are not hereditary and could be given away to anyone, regardless of noble blood.

That prospect intrigued her.

Edelgarde wondered what it would be like to hold that kind of power, and if she could obtain her own command crest. She would stand unopposed when she sent her own heroic spirit, preferably a dragon slayer like Siegfried, and take down Rhea, the Church of Seiros and especially Those Slither in the Dark, for good.

Unfortunately, despite his loyalty, his incessant need to apologize to everyone gave Edelgard the impression that he would betray her if given a good reason. If she wanted to summon someone who would loyally follow her orders without question and never betray her, then only one person comes to mind. The infamous specter that has half of the continent of Zenith spooked[1].

Karna.

Out of all the heroic spirits, he would serve as a marvelous spear to wield against a dragon. A smile graced her lips at the thought of Rhea, an archbishop getting slain by a god of another religion, was a fun thought to entertain. Sadly, all these scenarios would not lead to anything since she doesn't have any command crests.

'What are you thinking!?' Edelgard bit her lip in frustration and shook her to rid herself of these aberrant thoughts.

Edelgarde sacrificed everything she had to eradicate crests, not make more of them! It doesn't matter if they aren't hereditary or not, they are still crests! Da Vinci explained they have the same societal issues over inheritance as normal crests do, but they still come with their own limitations that encourage discrimination and remain antithetical to her goals!

'...'

Still, the idea of summoning a loyal, indestructible legend to help completely eradicate Those Who Slither in the Dark is something that is too valuable to pass up.'

Perhaps she can convince Gudako to help her out with her mole infestation after she resolves all the singularities? Edelgard will have to bring up the offer at a later date once she has the opportunity.

Out of the corner of her eye, Edelgarde caught someone walking towards her. She turned to see who it was, and she was greeted by the color white. That hair color is not a snow-white like hers, Lysethia's, or anyone else who had suffered at the experiments of Those Who Slithered in the Dark. It was more of a bright-ash color that exuded purity rather than trauma.

The owner of the hair was, of course, Karna himself. The man who Edelgard was fantasizing about just a few moments ago.

'Well, I guess now's my chance to get to know him better."

"Greetings Karna, my name is Edelgard von Hresvelg from the world of Three Houses, may I ask where you are headed?"

The man turned his attention toward her and nodded back at her.

"Well met Edelgard von Hresvelg. As you already know, my name is Karna. As for where I am headed, it is toward the altar, our summoner requests my presence."

What a coincidence, she was headed there too. "Since we are heading in the same direction, mind if I join you? "

"I do not mind."

The two people walked the halls in a brief moment of silence, then Edelgarde asked, "so, is there a specific reason she chose you to help her oversee the summoning?"

"It's because I am one of the stronger Heroic Spirits in Chaldea. So should any unruly servant or summoned hero be summoned that threatens my master's life. I will be there to put it down."

That was understandable. She had seen just what raw power Karna contained in his frame.

She still had a hard time believing it. Karna is, by all means, a tangible specter and yet, unlike other ghosts, he is capable of destruction far greater than even the Those Who Slither in the Dark's ultimate weapon, the Javelin of Light. The weapon of mass destruction failed to live up to its name when compared to Karna's display against the strongest warrior of the world of conquest.

She had heard of the duel between Xander and Karna. Almost everyone she spoke to who was around at the time expressed that the introductions lasted longer than the fight itself. Xander of Nohr stood no chance and was taken out without issue. While most were far away to hear their introductions themselves, a few did manage to hear a particular phrase from Karna.

A phrase foreign to her, but one that still radiated power.

O' Brahma, Cover the Earth

The tale of Karna fighting Xander was a spectacular one, but once Karna uttered those words, that tale shifted into that of a living god descending from the heavens to exact judgment on mortal men. The entire battlefield went up in flames, enemy troops screamed in agony from the intense heat, and a giant molten crevice was carved in the ground and stretched into the horizon. It was such a powerful attack that it destroyed a significant portion of a nearby mountain.

Many who were unaware of the battle believed that a volcano had erupted nearby. Those who knew where that power originated wanted to believe the same thing, but it was just their human minds rejecting the reality that this pure, utter destruction was caused by a single man.

She, too, had a hard time believing the feat at first, but after seeing the staggering power of the other heroic spirits, like Siegfried, she knew it was no exaggeration.

'If only I had that level of power... the things I could do...'

And to think Askr was fortunate enough to pull them into their ranks. No, saying it was fortune on Askr's effort would be inappropriate and incorrect. They were lucky Gudako isn't malicious or cold-hearted, else Askr and Embla would have been leveled to the ground over a month ago.

Edelgarde noticed that she had spent too much time introspecting and had fallen behind. She quickly amended her mistake and caught back up with Karna.

"Your mind seems to be in turmoil, what is on your mind, Edelgard von Hresvelg?"

"Tell me Karna... what is your opinion of the Order of Heroes?"

"Hmm... they did not present the best first impression when I first encountered them. They kidnapped one of our Masters from their sworn duty to save humanity after all."

Edelgard nods in agreement, "I share the sentiment. It's the only reason I answered the call for help from Gudako in the first place."

Karna glanced at her, "from the look of things, you sound as if you speak from experience."

"Let's just say I am not fond of so-called higher authorities dictating how humanity should progress. Plus, it was not a difficult decision to make."

"Indeed. Askr wanted to prevent an invasion by another country. While the idea of a nation using magic to brainwash worlds into joining their Empire is troubling, it was still not an unsalvageable situation.

People can still live on even under tyranny. The calamity that Chaldea faces, however, threatens to not just kill all of humanity but erase our history with it too."

Edelgard turned toward Karna with a surprised expression.

"Our?" Not human history, your or their history. He said 'our' history like he was including himself with her kind.

Karna realized what she was confused by, "ah, you are unaware. I am not human now, but I used to be a living breathing human just like you once before."

Edelgard was slightly surprised by the news,"I thought you were a god."

"No, my father was the sun god Surya and my human mother was Kunti. I was born due to a mistake on my mother's part, but I am still a human." The man looked solemn when he retold his origins, which made Edelgard feel guilty.

"Apologies Karna, I did not mean to bring up unpleasant feelings from your past."

"I do not mind. It's in the past and I have moved on. Mistakes happen, and one should not feel discouraged when making them. In fact, I am grateful she made such a mistake, since it was through such a mistake that I was able to meet my true parents and a dear friend."

Edelgard leaned a little closer, a pang of guilt still present in her heart, but her curiosity about Karna's past was overpowering that feeling.

Sadly, their conversation was cut short.

The door ahead of them suddenly swung open, startling Edelgard and forcing Karna to materialize a golden spear and shift into a defensive position.

They both released the tension from their forms when they saw a familiar purple-haired Nohrian walk into the corridor[2]

"Oh. It's just you, Cami-"

The door slammed shut with a force that shook the building. It was a miracle the door hadn't snapped in half from that action.

"-lla. Are you okay?"

Camilla walked away, completely ignoring their presence.

Edelgard looked back at the door and frowned when she recognized where the door led. Of course, it had to be him. Edelgarde couldn't blame Camilla for being in such a state after dealing with Andersen.

"I see Andersen hasn't changed since the last time I saw him," Karna said as he dematerialized the golden spear in his hand. Seeing as it was a false alarm, both of them continued their walk.

"So his blunt assessments truly were commonplace in Chaldea, then?"

Karna nods, "yes, it is considered a rite of passage, or a tradition, by many in Chaldea to have an evaluation by Hans. It merely carried over when we arrived here."

"As much as I respect Gudako's leadership, isn't she afraid that people are going to attack Hans? I know most Hero Summons can't scratch him, but if he also doesn't spare Heroic Spirits..."

"No need to worry. Despite how he is, Hans isn't without his protection."

"Oh? And who exactly would be willing to defend that man?"

Karna lifted four fingers, "Master Gudako and Gudao, The King of Heroes, and I."

Edelgarde blinked, she recognized two of those names, but she had no idea who Gudao or The King of Heroes was.

Karna, seeing her confusion, specified, "The King of Heroes, Gilgamesh, is a Heroic Spirit just like myself. A demigod king from an ancient civilization. I can say with confidence that if we both fought at full strength, it would be a close match."

Edelgard's eyes widened in shock, 'there's someone else just as strong as Karna among their ranks?!' No, on second thought, that isn't surprising. Chaldea has proven to be a place where such legends congregate towards. Even so, to think that tiny man would have such powerful giants as backers... that fact was even more terrifying to her.

Karna noticed her shock but continued to answer her question since there was too much missing context and so little time to explain it. They were having a conversation after all, not a lecture.

"Gudao is Master Gudako's twin brother. He is the one who remained behind at Chaldea and currently the true last hope for humanity until Master Gudako can be sent back."

This was certainly a surprise, she had no idea there was another person with the same role as Gudako, and a sibling no less.

As much as she wanted to ask about him, someone else took precedence. "I can understand why Gudako or Gudao would protect Hans, but I don't know enough about this King of Heroes to understand why they would protect him." This was her first time hearing of them, so she had no way of judging their characteristics. "What I can say is that I am surprised to hear he is under your protection."

"That sentiment is shared by many in Chaldea, though I can't speak for the King of Heroes, in my case, I can say that I am merely protecting him due to sharing some mutual hobbies. Also, because of our previous experiences before Chaldea."

"You two had known each other before joining Chaldea?"

Karna nods, "many heroic spirits have had past encounters with each other. However, most of them were not allies, but enemies. Fortunately for us, Hans and I participated in a Holy Grail War that allowed some freedom to converse with each other daily. That is why I favor him in Chaldea, regardless of our previous affiliations."

A Holy Grail War.

Edelgard has heard of the term before and knows it's a bloody battle royale over a cup that would grant wishes to the winner. It was another interesting weapon she believed she should use against Those Who Slithered in the Dark, but she is unsure of the details since she only got a summary from her debriefing.

"Despite the nastiness in his tone, Hans means no ill will. He says rude things because he understands people's flaws. That is one of his skills and is an intrinsic part of his being."

Edelgard was once more in agreement with Karna. While her own experience with Hans was not the most pleasant, for someone like her who was always surrounded by a yes man, it was still a breath of fresh air.

Though she must confess, while nothing in this world or the next could top the trauma she experienced at the hands of Those Who Slithered In the Dark's experiments, Hans's words still managed to both open old wounds and make new ones. And they hurt her far more than she had been willing to admit.

0-0-0

"You are a wounded pup who is willing to sacrifice the bonds she has forged for years, betray her closest friends and allies and join the lesser of two evils, all so that you could topple the status quo and prevent others from suffering the injustices you experienced."

"However, you spend too much time marching forward without caring to look at the lives you trampled behind you. You are quite literally the dictionary definition of the saying: 'the path to hell is paved with good intentions' and the 'for the greater good' story trope.

You poor thing.

Following your ambition down that path will only lead you to stand atop a mountain of corpses using the very people you wish to protect as its dirt, with no one left alive to stand by your side.

I couldn't have written a more tragic backstory myself. Well, I probably could, but I already have enough curses engraved in my body and soul as it is... Well, good luck on your endeavors, you're going to need it, Miss Noble Protector"

0-0-0

"Such ambitions are not wrong."

Edelgard snapped out of her melancholy and turned towards Karna, a realization dawned on her. She had repeated Hans's words out loud.

"While Hans speaks the truth, do not let it discourage you. Yes, that path has led to the downfall of kings and has propagated human tragedy, but they are not meaningless. For without such paths being taken, humanity would not have progressed to where it is now."

Karna glanced in her direction, his pale blue eyes filled not with judgment or sympathy, but understanding.

"Without such ambition, many men doubt their own existence, and it results in their progress stagnating and being unable to reach their true potential. There is nothing worse in this life, prior or future, than stagnation and indecision.

Whatever path you took, take pride in the fact you took it. Focusing too much on what-ifs will only cloud your vision."

With that said, a small silence fell between the two. Karna said his peace, and he let Edelgard digest his advice.

It was only after they had made it out of the castle gates that Edelgard spoke once again.

"Thank you, Karna, I appreciate your kind words and will take them to heart."

After weeks of having Hans's words ruminate inside her head, meeting her alternate selves and asking how the war ended caused a small seed of doubt to growing inside herself.

She truly was grateful for Karna's words, for they salted the last patch of fertile ground that the seed had to grow. Even if she knows that her path will only lead to the destruction of her land or that she will remain alone, she will no longer regret it.

Karna didn't turn to face her again, but his face adopted a smile at her gratitude.

Footnotes:

[1] Zenith is the continent where the story of FE: Heroes takes place is. The kingdoms of Askr, Embla and a bunch of other worlds are located here.

[2] Nohr is the invading western country from Fire Emblem Fates. Its citizens, like Camilla, are referred to as Nohrians.

Image link:

/ihev9sun/art/Edelgard-s-Ambition-uncensored-938506630

Author's Note: This is another one of the chapters I had difficulty bringing it out of the idea phase. I had wanted to move this chapter a bit further ahead, so I could have a lighthearted chapter after Camilla's fiasco, but alas, this chapter refused to budge due to my inclusion of her in this chapter. I am going to alternate between serious and lighthearted chapters over the course of this story and while some interactions will not make it past one or two chapters (but still mentioned offhand) I plan to keep a continuity of sorts while still letting the time placement of the chapters be loosy goosey.

Karna is an interesting character and a definite favorite Indian hero of mine. I have an Avatar: the last air bender crossover story idea in my phone where Karna is reborn as a water bender and explores the world. It led me down a rabbit hole that is the Indian pantheon, and you are now seeing the fruits of that summer long labor.

Thanks again for reading.