Unknown Moon, Day ?, Imperial Year ?
Byleth adjusted to life in Askr much more readily than Edelgard did. According to everyone she discussed the topic with, this was standard for Byleths, who had always seemed to have a supernatural ability to adjust to any situation - an ability Edelgard was sure did not come as part of Sothis' bond package.
With the two leaders of the reunited Fódlan now reunited themselves, the couple quickly set about trying to help the Order of Heroes wherever they could; particularly with regards to their fellow citizens of Fódlan. Edelgard felt a great deal of comfort from strategising with, or simply observing, her wife as she dealt with such matters.
As one of her first acts in Askr, Byleth tracked down a version of Sothis, who appeared exactly as Byleth had described her - a brash child with an aura of mystery and power - and brought her to a version of Rhea whose forces had beaten their Empire, only for Rhea to go suddenly berserk before being summoned to Askr. With the revelation that Rhea, Seiros, was the daughter of Sothis, Byleth was able to bring peace of mind to the mad archbishop by reuniting her with her mother. She hoped that enough time spent with Sothis might help cure Rhea's madness by the time she returned home. Byleth was thanked by Seteth, Flayn and even a War of Heroes era Seiros for her assistance in the matter.
"I'm surprised you had nothing to say against my decision," Byleth noted as she and her wife departed the scene.
"Well, I don't exactly hare Rhea. I understand she was a complicated woman who had the best of intentions when she created the Crest system. Besides, that Rhea helped to destroy those who slithered in the dark of her Fódlan - those who ruined her Edelgard's life. I suppose a little gratitude towards her is warranted."
Byleth smiled and rested her head against her wife's shoulder. "I plan to introduce Sothis to Marianne, Manuela and Ignatz as well. Just as soon as I've coached her on what not to say."
Edelgard struggled to suppress a snort. "It is still surreal to hear you speak of the goddess as if she were a literal child."
"You didn't live with her immature comments in your head for almost a year."
"True. I wonder how our destinies might have played out differently, were I the one to host her spirit."
"You mean, if Thales and his people had given you her Crest Stone in their experiments instead?"
"Something like that. I wonder if we still would have met at Remire. Perhaps it would have been I who turned back time to save your life."
"Now there's a thought. I'd be very grateful if you did that for me."
"Is this your way of telling me I should be more grateful that you did it for me?"
"Maybe."
"Such cheek, my beloved."
Byleth brought the different Bernadettas together to spend time as a pair. "Your problem is your fear of people you don't know or understand, leading to intense paranoia, and you take too long to open up and trust others for it to do you much good in the long-term. But you know yourself, right? So, who better to practice social interaction with than yourself?"
"Wow, you're really smart, Professor," the uniform-clad Eternal Loner enthused.
"Yeah, you can really see those extra five years of experience on display," Frosty Shut-In agreed. "Your Bernie's so lucky."
Byleth blushed and patted the two on the head, causing them to become flustered, believe they were being threatened somehow, and vanish into their room at the speed of Warp.
"That went..." Edelgard began, but Byleth turned her smile in her wife's direction.
"Perfectly. They're likeminded enough to reach the same conclusion, and they're aware enough of that fact to flee together. They're gonna be just fine."
Edelgard couldn't help but return the smile. "The way your mind works never fails to amaze me, love."
Byleth spent some time speaking with a purple-haired mercenary Edelgard didn't recognise, but he apparently served the Edelgard of Monica's world. Byleth was fiercely insistent that he do everything in his power to keep his Edelgard safe when they were reunited. Edelgard chuckled at this. It was only when Byleth made much the same speech towards the young El and Dee that she had to step in.
There were several beaches in Askr, set aside for relaxation. It was apparently a very popular location during the summer, with Heroes from Fódlan accounting for an inordinately large percentage of the beachgoers.
"You married your Edelgard?" Byleth asked.
"I did." Byleth responded.
"I can't even imagine that."
"It's actually quite easy to imagine."
"How so?"
Byleth pointed to where Sun Empress was speaking with the swimsuit-clad Caspar and Dorothea. "Look at her legs."
"I see..."
"Professor!" Rhea chastised, slapping her Byleth's hand.
"Byleth!" Edelgard chastised, slapping her Byleth's head.
"Ow."
"Ow."
"Honestly... She is your student."
"She does have nice legs, though," the other Byleth whispered.
"See?"
...
"What exactly were you trying to achieve back there?"
"I don't want any Byleth to side against you. And that one looks like she's cosying up with Rhea. So I was trying to hypnotise her with Summer You's legs."
"That... is simply absurd."
"When you show me your legs, I always feel like I'll do anything you say- Ow."
"Looking for a sparring partner, Felix?"
"Why? You offering?"
"No. I'd destroy you. But I do know the perfect sparring partner for you. Not opinion. Fact."
"...Go on."
"You know there was another Felix here in Askr before you were summoned, yes? Who better to test yourself against than him? Sure, he wields a bow, but that's just a different, no less essential part of sword training: rushing down ranged fighters before they get a bead on you."
"You're not exactly wrong..."
"Plus, isn't it fascinating to think you could help another you to improve for when he returns to his own Fódlan? The idea that another Felix can excel back home because he trained with and learned from you? How's that for a new brand of self-improvement?"
"..."
"...?"
"You're a lot more talkative that the professor of my world."
"I get that a lot."
...
"Empowering Kingdom-affiliated students, are we?"
"Kingdom, Empire, Alliance. They're all still my precious students. Besides, we both know how much Felix hates the nobility and Crest system, and values sword training. If anything, I'm making the Empires of their worlds stronger. Bernadetta's a good archer, but she panics when enemies get too close. And the Empire is sorely lacking in solid sword-users without me."
"...You really have thought of everything, haven't you?"
"That's my duty as your wife. All Edelgards are precious and must be protected. On an emotional and objective level, I support you 100%, because your Fódlan is the one that will change for the best."
"You... certainly haven't lost your way with words, have you? Even in another world."
"My duty is to be your rock. No matter the world, my love. Even if other Byleths choose Dimitri or Claude or Rhea, this me will always choose Edelgard."
"You really are too much, sometimes."
"But you're strong enough to take it all."
"...I'm not sure I understand that one."
"Honestly, I'm starting to run out of material. I think I'm hungry."
"Heheh. Would you like to try some of the local delicacies then, love?"
"I doubt it can match the meal I brought from home."
"Nom..."
After a few days, Byleth began introducing herself to heroes from other worlds. There were a few minor incidents, such as when the two were on patrol with a contingent of Hoshidans. An enemy ambush saw a group of sword users rushing Edelgard all at once while she defended Princess Sakura. Byleth was busy dealing with an armoured knight too far away to reach her wife in time. Even the seasoned Emperor would struggle to contend with four sword-users at once.
Fortunately, Orochi, a diviner of Hoshido was on-hand to assist. She summoned a group of rat familiars to distract the enemies long enough for Byleth to finish her own foe and dash across the battlefield to dispatch those who would dare threaten her beloved.
"Thank you, Orochi," Princess Sakura sighed with a deep bow.
"Think nothing of it, Princess," Orochi responded with a smile. "Are you alright, Lady Edelgard? Oh, my!"
Byleth clutched her petrified wife tightly and hissed angrily at the seer.
Another notable meeting involved a blonde ninja, who was surprisingly not from Hoshido. It seemed there was a popular ninja festival held every year in Askr, and this woman was rather enthusiastic about it.
"So, you two are married, huh?" Heather asked.
"Happily," Byleth responded as she watched her wife speaking with one of the many Princess Lucinas.
"That's so sweet! So all versions of you two are into women then?"
"Men too. But I assume so, yes."
"You're not gay then?"
"I am. Edelgard makes me very gay."
"Haha. I can see why. She's gorgeous. And those legs of hers..."
"Right? I'm very happy to be able to call her my wife."
"Wait, when you said 'gay', you meant... Ahahahaha! She's funny, too. Your wife's very lucky to have you."
Byleth blushed and smiled in an adorably embarrassed manner that made Heather positively melt.
There was also a time when a younger version of Prince Marth, the Hero all Heroes aspired to, along with his fellow young Archaneans, was being trained by yet another Princess Lucina. There was great irony in Lucina helping to train the younger version of the legendary Hero whose name she had once taken up to inspire her allies and hide her identity. And just about everybody commented on it.
Despite the confident young man he would one day grow to be, young Marth was a mess of fumbled words and reddened cheeks whenever an Edelgard was around. He'd even sent one of them flowers on her birthday once. Only Hegemon Edelgard had a different effect on him, as she just left him speechless. The reason for such reactions was rather apparent to Byleth, but Edelgard seemed to remain oblivious.
By chance, while the couple were observing the young heroes' training, an older Marth arrived. This Marth had already saved his world twice over. Byleth quietly approached while Edelgard was distracted. "Do you have a crush on Edelgard?" she asked flatly.
"I... Pardon?" His cheeks flushed like his younger self's often would.
"Do you?"
"Me? No! I'm married to Caeda-"
"But Child You isn't."
"Huh? Oh! I see what's going on here. You think the younger me there has a-"
"Does he?"
"Um... Well... Possibly? I admit, Emperor Edelgard is a beautiful young woman, who has achieved a lot in her short life-"
"Do you think she's hot?"
"Wha-"
"Do you think she's hot?"
"Y-Yes..."
"You have excellent taste. Although, your wife does sound uncannily like Rhea."
"...Huh?"
"What do you think of Askr so far, Professor?" Princess Sharena asked, checking up on Byleth as she apparently did with new summons whenever she was able to.
"I like it. It's a place where Empire, Kingdom and Alliance mean nothing and we can all just work together in harmony. But the presence of Solon, Kronya and Cornelia makes me sick to my stomach. I'm actually surprised none of the Edelgards have done something about it."
"I want to see those three dead as much as you," Edelgard admitted. "If not more so. However, that could cause problems for my other selves. Several of us have yet to rebel against the Church. If these three are from any of their worlds, we risk jeopardising the other mes' future efforts. They don't have a Shez to tip the scales in their favour like Monica's Edelgard does. Without the aid of Thales and his ilk, I could not have kept the war going against Dimitri and Rhea until the you revived."
"Can I at least kill Kronya? I never got to kill her in our world."
"Is this the mythical 'Ashen Demon' coming out?" Sharena asked in shock.
"Forgive her. Kronya... well... Actually, I wouldn't be opposed to putting her in the ground, myself. Please, love, permit me time to consider the ramifications before we kill her."
"Uh, guys? Kronya's part of the..." Sharena trailed off as the two women's gaze turned, in unison, towards her, a deathly frightful glare in their eyes that she felt could melt steel. "...yeah, okay."
While Byleth spent most of her time with Edelgard, there were periods where one of them was needed for a pressing matter. Being an accomplished strategist who had won her war, Byleth was often called upon to participate in strategic discussions, or to educate some of the younger Heroes, including the Academy-era versions of her now-adult ex-students. Despite her reservations about his older self, Byleth found young Marth to be one of her favourite Askran students.
These activities allowed Edelgard some time by herself. Or, as the case may be, by her multiple selves. The Council of Edelgards met several times in the days that followed Byleth's arrival. While she tried to hide her desire to indulge in idle gossip talk back home, none of her counterparts held any such reservations about doing so with regards to what was technically their own love life. Hegemon Edelgard seemed especially interested.
"My Byleth is a man," Flame Emperor stated. "And we are not in that sort of relationship. As such, seeing you with a female version of him is... rather bizarre."
"I must admit, I'm a little jealous," The Future added. "I never thought the professor could not only choose me when it came down to it, but also to love me as well."
"How did you do it?" Masked Emperor asked.
"It was with your legs, wasn't it?" Sun Empress theorised.
"No, nothing like that. Well, she does love my legs, but... Wait, what are you all writing down?"
The other Edelgards ignored her. Even Hegemon Edelgard was taking notes of some sort.
"Ladies, please. I'd like to discuss more serious matters. I worry for the Edelgards of other worlds awaiting the returns of their Rheas and Dimitris that have been summoned here."
"Knowing us, they'll be making their move already, plotting the archbishop's end upon her return," Adrestian Emperor asserted. "I would. I believe it is the worlds of our mid-war counterparts that are truly the most at risk."
"If only we could show them the power our legs have over the professor," Sun Emperess pondered.
"Is there a way to get a message to them from here?" Flame Emperor asked.
"Some of us could sneak through the gateways if we plan it right," The Future proposed.
"Even without seeing them, her legs have them all entranced..."
Even discounting the other, very different worlds harnessed by Askr to boost the Order's numbers, the concept of other worlds brought with it many, many questions about the relationships between them. Including the different Fódlans.
"Do you think a Crest could exist in a different Fódlan than the one it originates in?" Byleth pondered in the two's shared room one night.
"Pardon?"
"Suppose a Sylvian did the deed with a lady from another Askr..."
"Not implausible."
"And she became pregnant before returning to her Fódlan. If the baby inherited the Crest of Gautier, could that Crest still hold its power in that other Fódlan, or would it need to come from that Fódlan's Sylvain to function?"
"Where is this going? Are you proposing that we try to obtain a consequence-free Crest from another Fódlan here before we return home?"
"...No? But we'd need a surrogate anyway, so- Ow."
After a while, Edelgard found herself acting more like Byleth, making strange observations and being utterly incapable of keeping them to herself.
"You know, Hubert, a thought occurs to me."
Hubert said nothing, simply waiting patiently for his lady to elaborate.
"You were summoned from your time at the academy, which means you are currently nineteen or twenty years old."
"Correct," he confirmed, his tone betraying slightly his confusion at the direction of this line of inquiry.
"But I am from quite some time after the war. I am already in my mid-twenties."
"...Indeed."
"Which means that... I am older than you."
"I see..."
Edelgard reached out and pinched Hubert's cheek between her thumb and forefinger, much to her servant's chagrin. "You really are quite cute."
"You're right, he is," Byleth concurred as she appeared from nowhere and did much the same with Hubert's other cheek.
"This is humiliating..."
Eventually, like a gaggle of aunties, the pestering of the Council of Edelgards forced Edelgard to introduce her wife to them, following many days of excuses to avoid it. Edelgard wasn't entirely sure why she was so reluctant, but she finally caved and agreed to bring her wife along next time. Monica wasn't happy about this, but Hubert passed by the couple with a handkerchief the two recognised, so they knew that wouldn't be a problem.
Edelgard stepped through the doors to the faux Black Eagles classroom, Byleth by her side. Byleth was amazed by the accuracy of the recreation of the room she had taught her students in over the course of far more lessons than she could count. But her attention quickly drifted from the room to the people within it. From what Edelgard had explained to her, this seemed to be the full 'council', save the youngest member, who was rarely part of these meetings. Instead, her seat had been taken by the latest addition to the council: Snowfall Future, a lance-wielding Academy-era version in pretty winter envoy attire. Byleth was already concocting a strategy involving an Edelgard for each point of the proverbial weapon triangle. And a way to get her wife to wear this attire.
Introductions went by quickly, each Edelgard explaining her history to Byleth. She noted that none of them seemed capable of describing their histories without regularly injecting references to their own Byleths. Either Byleth had underestimated how important she'd always been to Edelgard's story, or they were all just really horny for her right now. Both seemed equally likely to her.
Although, there was one among them that did not repeatedly discuss Byleth. It was the one who had faced Byleth as an enemy: Hegemon Edelgard, the one that had lost to Byleth and the Kingdom forces under Dimitri. The sole Edelgard whose feelings towards Byleth had soured. Byleth stood and stepped closer to the transformed Emperor. She reached out her hand, expecting her wife's counterpart to reject her touch, to recoil or slap her hand away. Instead, she did as Edelgard always did, and allowed Byleth to lead.
She pulled Hegemon Edelgard out of her seat and stood before her. Even with the horrible mutations visible across her body, that stature and that look in her lilac eyes as she gazed up into her teacher's grey ones...
"You're still Edelgard." Byleth wrapped her arms gently around the fallen Emperor's shoulders and held her close. "I'm sorry the other me didn't pick you. But I do."
Despite her best efforts, the strength to push Byleth away simply escaped the other woman, leaving her little choice but to let Byleth hold her while she wept into her chest. She kissed the top of her student's head.
"I'm proud of you, El."
The other woman's body stiffened in shock at the use of that nickname. Byleth was sure Edelgard would only share this childhood nickname with Byleths that taught the Black Eagles and grew close to her. It was a name that this Edelgard had been deprived of in her five years of cold, lonely warfare.
"You fought for what you believed in, and you made a great sacrifice in pursuit of your ideals - in both you reputation and your body. But you're still as noble and beautiful as the day I met you. Even if you didn't win the war in the end, I've heard from the Dimitris how you left a powerful impression on them. They'll take your example and lead Fódlan into a brighter future. And we'll get them on the Agartha case; Dimitri will carry out your will. It won't be exactly as you'd wanted it, but Fódlan will be fine under Dimitri and Byleth. And those who cursed your childhood will be put to the sword. You can rest now, El. You've played your part well, love."
By now, Hegemon Edelgard wasn't the only Edelgard crying. Edelgard, The Future, Flame Emperor, Adrestian Emperor, Masked Emperor, Sun Empress, and even the still closed-off Snowfall Future were all openly weeping at the love and comfort Byleth's words carried. If there had been any doubt that this woman was a version of the male Byleths of some of their worlds, that doubt was washed away in the flood of emotion.
Byleth herself was caught up in the emotion of the moment as well. She had comforted Edelgard so many times, whenever she had a nightmare, or her Crests caused problems, or she doubted herself, or any of the myriad other reasons Byleth had to wrap her arms around her friend/student/lover and tell her it was okay. At this point, it was second nature now to hold Edelgard close, kiss her forehead and gently rub the small of her back. And when Edelgard's pain was severe enough, to kiss her on the lips to remind her how loved she truly was. That's why, before she even realised it, Byleth was kissing Hegemon Edelgard to lovingly reassure her wife.
Edelgard was taken aback by this, shock and almost appalled. But, given the circumstances, both for who this other woman was and what she'd been through (a more intense version of Edelgard's own suffering), Edelgard chose to let it slide. After all, she knew Byleth loved her more than anything in the world. It wasn't unreasonable for that love to extend to the other Edelgards as well. And some of them certainly needed it.
Edelgard wrapped her own arms around her wife and counterpart, both to pile more comfort onto her Hegemon self, and to assure Byleth that she wasn't mad about her temporary lapse of judgement. As before, the other Edelgards also joined the group hug - only this time joined by a new Edelgard and the professor that Hegemon Edelgard needed support from.
And later on, as Edelgard has suspected, Byleth did, indeed, take Hegemon Edelgard's hand in hers and thank her for being the karmic balance that allowed her beloved to achieve her ambitions. Adrestian Emperor, at the close of the meeting, asserted that the Conquering Union made the council a much stronger group than they had been before. Byleth chalked this up to her Edelgard being such an amazing and accomplished individual, but Edelgard knew it was only Byleth's influence that made any Edelgard as great as they could be.
After a few weeks in Askr, meeting so many varied versions of her students, friends and enemies, Byleth concocted a new plan: to bring the faction leaders together regularly, in all forms, to discuss where each had gone wrong in their various worlds, and where they could go right.
"You all come from the same backgrounds, each world's reality splintering off at key moments, but all stemming from the same root history," she explained to the large collection of Edelgards, Dimitris, Claudes and Rheas, with some visual assistance from other Byleths and a chalkboard.
"We're all fundamentally the same people, but influenced by certain key stimuli," a male Byleth continued. "Therefore, we're all capable of making the same mistakes and being blind to the same flaws we all share with our counterparts, present or otherwise."
"And therefore, whatever any given Dimitri may think of any given Edelgard, or vice-versa, that won't change the fact that many of us here have won our wars and now lead our Fódlans. Thus, we should be helping our rivals to become better leaders. We can't stop each other from being the rulers, but we can help each other to create brighter futures for all Fódlans."
"And you want us to take these criticisms to our leaders when they arrive or we go home?" one of the Shezes questioned.
"Exactly. We may all have different ideals and methodologies, but we all want a brighter future for Fódlan. There are so many varied experiences here, so many points of view that we can pool together."
"No Edelgard or Dimitri or Claude here is at war with any other," another Byleth continued. "Even those still fighting their wars back home. We should all view each other as different people and do everything we can to help each other."
"This is imperative for all Fódlans represented in Askr," Edelgard's Byleth asserted. "Present or Future."
"Almyras too," one of the post-war Claudes added a little too casually for his younger selves, who it seemed would rather keep their true heritage a secret.
"Yes, that too. And Brigid and Dagda and Duscur and all the other lands beyond," she said, covering for them. "Let's all work together to make every Fódlan a better place. That's what we were all fighting for, right? Our ideals and methods may differ, but our end goal is the same. So let's work together to build a brighter future across as many worlds as we can."
The gathered Edelgards, Dimitris, Claudes and even Rheas agreed to this proposal. Discussions of the differences between the dozens of Fódlans were discussed at length.
One of the Claudes leaned in close to Edelgard and asked her, "Should we really be interfering with the futures of our other selves, though? I agree that those who've lived through the war should definitely work together on this project of yours, but... what uncharted territory might we be thrusting our younger selves into here by changing the entire foundation of the war?"
"I don't care," Edelgard replied flatly. "My Dimitri is dead. By my own hand. I don't want any other Edelgard or Dimitri or you to have to go through that kind of thing. I would rather our younger selves work together to ensure peace in their Fódlans."
Claude shrugged. "Well, I can't fault you for your reasons. And it would be great if we could make a few Fódlans that didn't have to go to war at all. Still, I'm surprised you'd go along with it. You seem like, no offense, just as much of a stubborn stick-in-the-mud as my Edelgard. I wouldn't expect you to think there was a way to bring about change without war."
"War was... well, it was my only option, given how little time I had left. No one else seemed willing to change the corrupt nobility system the Church had cultivated. But I'm sure any Dimitri or you would be willing to work together to find another way if they knew war was to be the result of not changing things."
"That, or the archbishop has the other you put in a dungeon for the rest of her life, however short that may end up."
"I do worry about that possibility, yes. Which is why I must swallow my pride and try to cultivate relations with every Dimitri, you and even Rhea here. If I can make them sympathise, we may avoid anyone having to die in those worlds at all, save for the real evil festering beneath Fódlan."
"The Agarthans, huh? Oh, you might want to look into their secret underground city. In my world, they had Nemesis stowed away and managed to bring him back for a while."
"We... did manage to find Agartha and put them all to the sword. But Nemesis... I won't be able to get that off my mind any time soon, I'll bet..."
"Oh, uh, whoops. Well, as long as you remember by the time we all go home, you should be fine, right?"
"Claude, are you upsetting my wife?" Byleth asked as she made her way over from a conversation with a Rhea.
"I-I wouldn't dream of it, Teach. I just wanted to make sure you guys knew about a potential plot to resurrect Nemesis, is all."
"I see. Thank you for the heads-up, Claude. We'll find him and cut him into so many pieces, even Sothis wouldn't be able to resurrect him."
"The way you so casually say that, but not really as a joke, really reminds me how scary you can be, Teach..."
"I've been thinking a lot about the other Fódlans out there in... whatever exists beyond the bounds of a world."
"It is rather fascinating, isn't it? The idea of other versions of our own lives playing out with other versions of ourselves. Some are the same aside from one person's gender, while others went down entirely different histories due to the actions of a single person."
"Usually me."
"Usually you, yes."
"I'm sure there are Fódlans out there that never saw war. We just don't know about them because their peoples never got the chance to grow and shine like those who lived through it, so they're not as useful to the Askrans."
"That would make sense, I suppose."
"Have you given the cosmic implications of this world much thought, El?"
"A little. I was mostly confused and alone at first. Since you arrived and I've had time to adjust, though, I've been able to properly take in everything around me and consider the implications. There could be worlds out there where my siblings and I were never abducted, where we went on to live long, happy lives. There could be one where those who slither in the dark emerged the victors of the war. There could even be one where nobody we know ever existed, and instead an entirely different populations exists. The possibilities are likely endless."
"Do you wonder what it might have been like to live in one of those worlds instead?"
"Only in idle fancy. I wouldn't trade what we have for any other world; not even one where the tragedies of my past never occurred. We are the culmination of our experiences, after all. Were you not the hardened mercenary you were that night, engrained with the values of your father, I may not have fallen in love with you, even if I had survived. One small change could alter so much of our lives. Shez and Monica are proof enough of that."
"That's true. It's a shame we'll probably never be able to visit those worlds ourselves."
"Oh? Wishing you could enter ongoing versions of the war and bring peace to those Fódlans as well?"
"...Maybe."
"I think saving two nations is more than enough for one lifetime."
"That confident we'll save Askr too, are you?"
"Why wouldn't I be? With you and all the other Byleths at the strategy meetings, there's nothing to fear."
"We'll be counting on The Edel Guard to hold the line as well."
"I'm sorry. 'The Edel Guard'?"
"Yes."
"And where, exactly, did you pick that up from?"
"I made it up just now."
"..."
"You're thinking, 'I pray Alois never gets summoned here', aren't you?"
"You know me so well, my teacher."
"I do. So that's why I know there's something on your mind about all this 'other worlds' thing."
Edelgard paused, then smiled weakly. "Yes, you're right. I feel that my eyes have been opened to so many things since I've arrived here. So many new ideas, new possibilities. I feel like I'm becoming a wiser, more well-rounded person here. So, I worry about what might happen when we are returned to Fódlan.
"I'm sure you have read stories where heroes are summoned to other worlds to assist them, only to be returned to their own world with no memory of their adventures. And with so many instances here of summoned heroes meeting themselves from potential futures, such as those Edelgards yet to move against the Church, the Order has good reason to make them forget so as not to disrupt their versions of events. If that comes to pass, will I be made to forget what I have witnessed here? The things I have learned from my other selves and Monica and Hubert? And other Byleths?"
Byleth took a seat on the bed beside her wife with a thoughtful expression. "I was thinking about this as well. I doubt the Askrans would admit it if we just came out and asked them. It would be demoralising for a lot of us, I think, and would discourage personal growth. But I had a thought that might help us avoid that outcome."
"You have? Oh, why am I questioning this? Of course, if anyone could come up with a plan, it would be you, my teacher. Please, enlighten me, as you so often do."
Byleth smiled at her wife's confidence in her abilities. "Well, do you remember those little sleepwalk-"
"Please, don't bring that up," Edelgard whined instantly. Byleth found this response incredibly cute, compelling her to kiss Edelgard on the cheek.
"It's important. Early on, it was your desire for the outside that drove you in that state. Sometimes, you would indulge in wants you would hold yourself back from, like an extra helping of peach sorbet. Then, to find me after I was lost in the first fight with Rhea. Each and every time, it was your subconscious that drove you, acting on desires you would not or could not indulge at the time while awake.
"After I realised that, I began researching the subconscious with book recommendations from Linhardt and Lysithea. From what I read, I think that if we drill these new desires deeply enough into our minds through reinforcement of some kind, we may be able to make our subconsciouses remember, even under the effects of memory erasure magic, and let them drive us to act on those desires, even if we aren't consciously aware of them."
"An interesting idea. From my limited understanding of the subject, it does seem to make sense. But we would need to test such a hypothesis first. I would rather not put faith into such a plan and have it fail us."
"We could always ask Monica to help with that. Well, you could. She'd definitely do it."
"No doubt. But what do you propose?"
"Temporary memory erasure. Make her forget who you are for a while and see if her desire to serve you and the other Edelgards remains, regardless. I'm sure Hubert can learn the spell to perform it."
"That... is an expectedly intelligent plan. We can begin right away."
"Right now right away?"
"Well, yes. Did you have other plans?"
Byleth gently pushed Edelgard down onto the bed. "I still do."
"O-Oh. I see. You really want to do this now?"
"My mind tend to think more clearly when it's not distracted by my heart."
"That is an oddly romantic way to say you want to have sex to clear your head."
"The Dorotheas really do have talent for writing."
"Please, never consult Dorothea on romantic matters again."
"What-"
"Or sexual. Especially not sexual."
"Okay."
"Besides, I trust my wife to know how best to please me over Dorothea. Is my trust misplaced, dear?"
"No, Emperor. I know exactly how best to please you. Any you, in any world."
I've had this one planned and partly written for a while. The new Three Houses Christmas banner in FEH was a good excuse to finish it.
