Disclaimer: I do not own any of the material appearing in this story. The OC's belong to their respective owners.

A Day After Eggman Made His Broadcast

"Nnngh… agh…" A soldier grunted, staring at the Flame Emperor before him before falling to the ground in a pool of his own blood.

"Well done, Flame Emperor." A voice said as Thales approached. "Or should I say, Edelgard? That pesky soldier had what was coming for him."

"How much innocent blood must be shed?"

"Until we have accomplished our goal. Rumor has it that Sothis is alive, but we haven't figured out where she is. You wouldn't happen to know where Sothis is, would you?"

"I would rather not say."

"Ah, but you have Amyr, a weapon made out of the rest of her children. Surely… she could have given it to you at Garreg Mach. Tell me, is she there?"

"Classified."

"Mmm, very well then. Once we find Sothis, we will be able to fully revive Nemesis and… Fodlan will be in an eternal war. Until then, we will resume with our experiments."

"You know very well that the experiments are barbaric."

"As long as it means what we get what we want… I do not care." Thales turned around. "After all, your friends in Remnant would make nice experiments for the Crests."

Edelgard froze and cleched her fists. "You would want to kidnap some people in Remnant for your twisted ideals?"

"Indeed. In fact, we have already brought in a few individuals from Remnant."

Edelgard turned around. "The last thing we need is a war with Remnant."

"They will lose. Those huntsman and huntresses do not scare me." Thales smirked. "They call themselves that just to make them feel braver… but in actuality, they're nothing more than naive children." He chuckled. "Kind of reminds me of someone you know."

"…Leave Byleth out of this."

"In any case, we have already begun our experiments on the Remnant locals."

"YOU WHAT?!"

"Indeed. Come, I will show you." He said and then teleported away, where Edelgard would soon join him where they would see Those Who Slither's henchmen using experiments with Remnant's civilians.

Edelgard clenched her fists, scowling behind her mask. The scene she saw before her was enough to make her angry. "I thought you had stopped this nonsense."

"When there are other worlds besides Fodlan? Surely, there are people who are ripe for the taking." Thales chuckled.

"Welp, this one's no good."

"He died?"

"Yup."

"Throw 'em onto the pile then."

"Another one bit the dust." Thales said calmly. "I wonder if their so-called aura is protecting them." He mused as he walked near the cells while Edelgard walked behind him, and then they came across a particular cell that held a woman that looked to be about their mid-thirties. "How about this one?"

"This one's a fighter… it seems as if this particular one might serve well with a crest."

"Heh, there is hope for these Remnant fools." Thales walked off with a chuckle along with the henchman.

Edelgard, meanwhile, opened up the cell and walked toward the woman, who was barely breathing. "Are you okay?"

"I've… I've been through worse… heh… but… I'm not sure how much longer I can hold on…"

"Do you have a name?"

"Vic-… Victoria…"

"Well, Victoria… I will find a way to get you out of here."

"What's your name…?"

"…The Flame Emperor." She said and then turned her back to her. "It may take some time… stay put."

"Not… like I have a choice." Victoria forced a chuckle as Edelgard walked out, and then teleported away.

At Garreg Mach…

"GAAAAAAAH!" Edelgard yelled in frustration, punching a wall while also out of her Flame Emperor attire.

"You know there's nothing we can do about it, Lady Edelgard… or should I say "Emperor" now?" Hubert said, drinking tea while sitting on her chair.

"I thought we were done with this pegasus crap… I thought we were done with putting experimental crests inside of people. It only shortens their life!" Edelgard said, sitting on her bed in frustration. "Me… Lysithea… who knows what'll happen if someone from Remnant gets it!"

"You and I both know that we've been manipulated into Those Who Slither's personal war. We had no choice."

"I'm well aware of that!" Edelgard said before sighing in frustration. "I don't even know what to do… we don't have much time left and I'm honestly not sure if I should allow this to continue. They have us on a leash… their so-called alliance…"

Outside…

"Perhaps we should think about this calmly, Lady Edelgard."

"Calmly? How can anyone be calm about this! Those Who Slither are… oh, I don't even know what to do!"

Bereto had walked by, overhearing the last part of the conversation. "Hmm?"

"Perhaps we should… you know."

"That's the last thing I ever want to do, Hubert. We have made so many friends here, especially with those who live in Remnant, and not to mention that I helped them out in the Beanbean Kingdom… so it's just… I don't even know what to do."

Bereto knocked on the door. "Hey, you okay in there?"

"Mmph! Just… just a second!" Edelgard said and then opened up the door. "B-Bereto! I wasn't expecting you to knock on the door. It's usually Byleth… where is she?"

"My sister is on a date with Dorothea."

A smile crept up on Edelgard's face. "Oh, of course she is." She smiled. "I absolutely adore seeing those two going around and enjoying themselves."

"Of course you would be. You set up the date." Bereto reminded.

"And the friendship blossomed." Edelgard smiled. "Truly, I don't regret it…"

"So, is there something troubling you?" Bereto asked. "I couldn't help but overhear most of your conversation."

Edelgard frowned. "Hubert, leave us."

"As you wish." Hubert nodded as he walked out, but not before he gave him a glare. "Try anything funny and-"

"I know, I know… you've said it before." Bereto said as he walked into Edelgard's room, closing the door. "Now, what's troubling you?"

Edelgard sighed. "I just… I'm at some sort of crossroad, honestly. I've told you and your sister about how I've been experimented on, yes? How I'm the only survivor of my family?"

"Yeah, we remember."

"I've… heard something terrible."

"Lay it on me."

"I've heard that… the cult known as Those Who Slither in the Dark are experimenting people from Remnant."

Bereto's eyes widened. "What?"

"Yes… I've accidentally ran into the Flame Emperor and he said that Those Who Slither are experimenting on them. I didn't want to believe it, but he told me it was happening. I… I don't know what to do whether I should believe it or not… and if it is true, I don't know if I can save them."

"Hmm, well, I'm not like my sister who gives off the best advice, but maybe I can try to help. Personally, I'd say this Flame Emperor is trying to get a reaction out of you, baiting you into trying to attack him and then Those Who Slither will ambush you and perhaps do something more horrible to you than being experimented on."

"I'm… aware of that."

"What I suggest is… well, follow your heart. Ask it… for your heart knows the answer, as cheesy as that sounds, honestly." Bereto rubbed his cheek.

"But what if it's not the answer I'm looking for?"

"Then, ask for help. Your friends will help you out." Bereto said. "I know it's not something you want to do because "It's a pride thing", as Caspar has mentioned. But, I'm willing to bet that even emperors like yourself need help from time to time."

"You're… you're definitely right on that."

Bereto chuckled and stood up. "Just ask yourself what you should do. You may surprise yourself." He said as he walked out. "Forgive me for not giving out the best advice. That's usually my sister's forte."

"No, it was perfect. Thank you."

Bereto chuckled. "You're welcome." He said and walked off, then Hubert walked in.

"Let your heart decide? Does he even listen to himself?"

"Actually, that's the best advice I have been given. I know what I have to do."

Hubert smirked. "I am right beside you, Lady Edelgard."

Later…

Edelgard, disguised as the Flame Emperor, walked back into the cells. If I can only get one out of these cells… that's good enough for me. She thought as she and Hubert walked side by side.

"Where is Victoria?" Edelgard asked a guard.

"She's in her cell, but her health has deteriorated. I'm predicting just a few minutes until she passes."

Dammit… Edelgard thought. "Very well." She said as she walked further into the prison until they found Victoria lying on her bed, breathing heavily.

"Shall I put her out of her misery?"

"No, let me have a few moments with her." Edelgard requested as she walked over to Victoria.

"Mmm…? Oh, it's you again…" She said with a weak smile. "Glad to see a friendly face."

"I'm getting you out of here."

"No… don't… it'll only make things worse for me. You and I both know I'm not going to make it… I've lived a good life anyway… no regrets…" She would turn her head to her. "Come closer…" She requested as Edelgard walked forward, where she would weakly reach for her helmet. "I… I wish to see what you look like behind your mask…"

Edelgard said nothing, but hesitantly helped her get her helmet off of her. "Does this help?"

Victoria smiled. "Such pretty eyes… and your face is pretty too…" She said and gently took her hand. "What's your real name... besides Flame Emperor?"

"Edelgard..."

"Edelgard... I know… that deep in your eyes… that you're struggling. You didn't want to be a part of this…"

"No… no, I didn't…"

"Then… please… ask your heart…" She whispered as a strange aura enveloped their hands. "And please… do… the right thing before… it is too late…" She weakly smiled before taking her last breath as the aura from her hands disappeared.

"What on…?" Edelgard wondered, looking at her hands.

"Lady Edelgard, are you alright?" Hubert asked.

"I'm fine… but… it's just…"

Edelgard turned around, aura shooting out of the corners of her eyes as she gently floated up in front of Hubert.

"What is this power?!"

A few weeks ago, we were all discussing about the Summer Maiden and we wondered who it could be before going "Who would the Summer Maiden give her powers to?" and at one point, as a throwaway line, I jokingly suggested "Watch, Edelgard becomes the Summer Maiden." *a few minutes later* "*internally* ...Unless?" And then a few hours later, scenes for this particular Gaiden just poured into my head and i'm like "Welp, i'm doing this."

Ibuki: Ooooh, this could get really interesting!

Indeed.