No...
That can't be...
Falling to the ground from high heights after her Pegasus fell victim to a barrage of arrows; was her light in the darkness.
The one that vanquishes her demons.
The one she poured her heart out to when she came to her about her nightmares.
Her love and also her former Professor.
Slowly, in front of the Emperor she fell, hurtling to the ground. Edelgard just stood and watched not knowing whether to believe this was actually happening as her axe clattered to the hard concrete.
"B-BYLETH!" Edelgard screamed as she ran towards her fallen lover, ignoring the cries from her companions and friends.
Thankfully, before her former Professor could collide to the hard ground, though that was the only positive thing she saw at the moment. Her Pegasus laid badly wounded, filled with more arrows than the young Emperor could count, and her Professor had three arrows lodged deep into her back.
Blood was trailing out of the Professor's mouth and her eyes remained closed. "B-Byleth..." Edelgard cried out as she wiped away the blood from her lover's mouth. She pulls the arrows out of her lover's back.
Afterwards, her fingers went to straight to check her pulse.
She's still alive! I have to get her to a healer!
"Your rebellion ends today, heretic! Time to die!"
Edelgard glanced up as the soldier snarled out the insult and ran towards the two.
The Emperor looked around for anything to fend of the attacker but couldn't find anything. Not even the Professor's Sword of the Creator could be found.
As the soldier got closer Edelgard stepped in front of Byleth, protecting her from the enemy attacker.
"My name is Edelgard von Hresvelg, Emperor of the Empire and I refuse to let you lay a single hand on my love." The Emperor snarled at church's soldier
"For the Archbishop!" The soldier cried as he charged at Edelgard with his sword drawn and pointing at her chest.
The soldier didn't get far as a Thoron spell, coming from behind the Emperor, tore a hole into the soldier's chest. Killing him instantly.
Edelgard glanced behind her and was both shocked and amazed by her saviour. Behind her stood Byleth, hardly breathing with an extended hand as a light slowly disappeared from her fingers.
Byleth's breathing grew a lot more uneasy as she fell to her knees. "Hah... Hah... Hah... Hah... I... Guess I... Over did it..."
"Byleth!" Edelgard cried out as she ran to her lover's side.
Byleth's strength left her in an instant as the former Professor collapsed into her Emperor's chest. "I... I can still... Move." Byleth spoke as she coughed up more blood.
"Byleth, no! I need to take you to a healer." Edelgard ordered.
The former Professor shook her head. "I... I made... A... Promise... I'm not leaving... Your side."
"Grgh, you're too stubborn." Edelgard gritted her teeth.
Byleth breathed out a small laugh, but suddenly grew serious. "W-Wait... W-Where's... Where's Athena?" Worry etched itself in Byleth's voice, trying to find her dear Pegasus friend.
Edelgard glanced ahead of her, looking at the immobile Pegasus. Byleth took notice of this and followed her Emperor's line of sight until it settled on her winged friend.
She pushed herself to her feet and slowly stumbled her way to her winged friend, stopping at her Pegasus's head.
Edelgard grimaced, wrapping her arms around her lover's stomach. "I'm sorry, Byleth. She's not going to make it."
Byleth lowered her head letting her emotions to control her for a few seconds, letting out a quiet sob.
Edelgard squeezed her hand. "I promise, she'll get a hero's burial."
Byleth shuddered, while nodding her head and wiping away her tears. "I know." Byleth placed her friends head in her lap and stroked the mane of her Pegasus one last time. "Sleep well, Athena. You have been a good friend." She said comfortingly in her dear, friends last moments.
Within seconds her friend's eye's glassed over, as she was swept away into an eternal slumber.
"Come on, Byleth. We have to end this." Edelgard spoke giving her Professor a hand up.
"R-Right." Byleth nodded her head, taking her Commander's hand.
She glanced at an object found shining close to her deceased friend and identified it as her lance. Well half of her lance as the blade end had shattered, leaving only a staff.
"El... Can you... Get that for me..." Byleth shakily moved her hand, barely able to indicate to her lance.
"Of course, my love."
The battle was going from bad to worse for Shamir as her own squadron of soldiers had been completely wiped, only leaving herself all alone. To make matters worse, she was staring down the one person she would rather avoid.
"Catherine..."
"Hey, Shamir..."
The two glanced around their environment, taking notice of their current situation.
"Captain!" One of the soldiers ran to Catherine's side. "We have to push through."
Catherine glanced back at Shamir and sighed.
"How's this gonna go Shamir?" Catherine asked with one hand on the pummel of Thunderbrand.
"I have my order's and I'm sure you have yours." Shamir spoke, reaching behind her back to retrieve her bow.
"Unfortunately, that is so." Catherine drew Thunderbrand. "And I do not want to let her lady Rhea down."
Shamir grunted. "So be it." She drew an arrow from her quiver as the soldiers around Catherine drew their swords.
"Lieutenant ... Why don't you take the others and Re-enforcing the soldiers on the right of our lady Rhea?" Catherine spoke confusing everyone including Shamir.
"What?" The lieutenant asked.
"You heard me, men. Lady Rhea is gonna need help when the Heretics break through the defences." Catherine said issuing her orders.
The soldiers nodded their heads. "Of course, Captain." They answered as they saluted to their captain. They then departed and followed their instructions.
"They're stubborn, but their hearts are in the right place." Catherine lamented as she glanced at the retreating soldiers. "They would make excellent soldiers, if not for this god damn war."
"Same could be said for the kids." Shamir spoke gritting her teeth. "They could've graduated happily without any of this shit happening. Instead they got caught up in this war."
"You know, they could always surrender. I'm sure lady Rhea will be lenient." Catherine answered back.
"Bullshit. You know your 'lady Rhea' better than anyone." Shamir snarled, which startled Catherine. "Look around you, Cathy? You hear the people screaming in terror. Do you smell them burning alive? Your lady Rhea did this."
"I know! I know, alright." The blonde swordswoman barked back.
"Then why follow her?" The Archer asked generally curious.
"I owe her my life." The owner of Thunderbrand answered.
"Then what about us." Shamir cut through. "Do I mean nothing to you? I thought I was your partner?"
"Shamir... Please just don't. This is hard enough." Catherine spoke as a frown found its way on her face.
"Then how about I make this easier for you." Shamir said as she gripped tighter to her bow.
"Sham... Please don't make me do this." Catherine pleaded ad her grip on Thunderbrand also tightened.
"I'm sorry, Cathy. But it's the only way forward." Shamir answered gritting her teeth.
But what Catherine didn't expect was for her partner to throw away her bow and drop the remaining arrows from her quiver.
"S-Shamir?" Catherine was astonished but also confused.
"I'm not gonna fight you." The Archer cried out as tears threatened to fall down her face.
This stunned Catherine, seeing her friend showing this much emotion was so unlike her.
"I just... I can't... I can't live with myself knowing... I wouldn't be spending the rest of my life with you." Shamir continued to cry out. "I love you, and I fucking hate for making me feel like this."
"Sham... D-Did you just say..." Catherine trailed up as the shock of Shamir's words almost made her drop Thunderbrand.
"Y-Yeah I did." Shamir shouted back with venom. "Look, I won't kill you. I love you and nothing will change that. But this... This fucking war... It won't end till one side is completely wiped out."
"I-I'm still shook. You, Shamir, the cold-hearted merc, just said you loved me." Catherine spoke, still astonished by Shamir's confession.
"Look we don't have much time, before the kids or Knights notice. You have to kill me."
"What!?" Catherine was taken aback by this.
"Y-You heard me... You have to kill me." The archer cried out.
"Sham, no! You just confessed that you love me, and now you expect to just kill you. Screw that." Catherine pulled Shamir closer, so their foreheads were touching. "Listen to me, Sham. I lov-"
Catherine was cut off from her confession as a young scout belonging to the Goddess's army had spotted the pair. "Catherine! What are you doing?" Cyril snapped at the pair.
"Cyril! Look." Catherine quickly turned around letting go of Shamir's hands. "Please let her go." Catherine pleaded.
Cyril however did not take notice of his Commanding Knight's plea. "She opposes Lady Rhea. She needs to die." He spoke notching an arrow into his bow and pointing it at Shamir.
"Cyril! Drop your bow. That's an order!" Catherine ordered as she stepped in front of Cyril's intended target.
"Sorry Captain." Cyril snarled spitefully. "Lady Rhea's orders were to leave no survivors. They all must be purged from the face of Fódlan."
"Now I'll ask again, Captain. Step aside." Cyril barked back still not backing down.
Catherine glanced back and forth at Shamir and Cyril, thinking about who to choose.
Going back to lady Rhea... The woman who she owes a great deal and leave Shamir to die... Alone.
Or...
Stay with Shamir, her partner and surprisingly recently turned lover and abandon the one person you swore an oath to.
It's too hard to choose one.
"How about I make the choice for you." Cyril snarled as he whistled.
This signalled another archer atop one of the nearby buildings. Though Shamir did not see the archer, Catherine did and immediately sprang into action cutting down the arrow in mid-air. Though what she didn't notice was another arrow let loose coming her way. Launched by Cyril himself. Fortunately for her, someone had caught sight of the arrow, though unfortunately they had a different plan for its intended destination.
Thunk*
"SHAMIR!" Catherine screamed as Shamir slumped to the hard ground with an arrow sticking out of her chest.
Catherine fell to her side trying to keep her best friend conscious and responsive. "Shamir! Listen to my voice okay."
Shamir chuckled as blood trickled out of her mouth. "Ya know, you look like an angel."
"Shut it!" Catherine barked back with tears rolling down her eyes. "I'm getting you outer here. Just don't speak, save your energy." Catherine slowly yet carefully picked up Shamir into her arms.
"You feel so warm Cathy..." Shamir mumbled out barely keeping her eyes open.
"Quiet, Sham. Everything is gonna be alright. Just hold on." Catherine spoke once more at Shamir then glared at Cyril.
"I did what was best for lady Rhea. Time you remembered that." Cyril spoke turning his back to the two. "Dump that traitor in the fire. Or better yet, leave her for lady Rhea. I bet she'll make for a nice meal alongside that Emperor bitch and that traitorous thief."
Catherine gritted her teeth. "You... YOU SHUT YOUR MOUTH!" Catherine erupted in anger. She was enraged at what Cyril asked her to do.
"C-Catherine?" Cyril was taken back by her sudden outburst.
"You will not talk about her like that!" The swordswoman growled to the archer.
"You're seriously taking her side." Cyril was astonished that the owner of Thunderbrand would dare to side against his lady Rhea. "She's helping the heretics destroy the church. Destroy Lady Rhea."
Catherine gritted her teeth again, her eyes cold as ice as she glared hatefully at the Archer. "Lady Rhea can rot in hell for all I care. From now on Shamir and I are forging our own path."
"Grrr! YOU DAMNED TRAITOR! All of you will burn!" Cyril notched an arrow, but before he could let it loose, thunder rained down onto him. Killing him instantly.
"Sorry, kid." Catherine apologised as she lowered Thunderbrand. "But you got in the way of Shamir and I."
Catherine looked down at her would-be lover and saw she was deathly pale. "Hold on, Sham. I'm sure the Strike Force medical camps are nearby." Catherine reassured the dying woman in her arms.
Though if Catherine was being honest with herself, she was the one that was trying to be reassured, never mind Shamir.
Please don't you dare die on me, Sham. Just hold on a little longer.
"Byleth, come on. You have to keep your eyes open." Edelgard urged as she nudged on her teacher's shoulders, trying to rouse her.
Byleth was slumped against a wall after having her ribs slowly crushed and then thrown away, like trash, by the Immaculate One's sharp talons.
She took the blow that was meant for Edelgard.
The Professor was struggling to remain conscious as she clutched her chest trying to such air into her lungs, failing much to the Emperor's misery.
As the towering being known as the Immaculate One drew closer towards the two huddled against each other, the Draconic being snarled out.
'RAAAAAAAAAAAAW'
The Immaculate One slowly stomped its way towards the two. It reared its head back, ready to finish off the pair, though what it didn't realise was that the Professor had a plan of her own.
With the last of her strength and as the Immaculate was ready to end their lives, Byleth launched one last Thoron attack, piercing though Rhea's jaw and through the top of the Draconic head. Almost immediately, green blood started to trickle out of the wound. Edelgard saw this as her chance to finally end this. The church's lies, Rhea's tyranny over the Fódlan populace. It all ends.
With a running jog that quickly turned into a sprint, with her trusted Aymr raised above her head. She hacked and slashed at the downed beast until Rhea gave her final breath.
She leaned onto the pummel of the Relic, gasping for breath. "I-I-It's... O-Over... We... We did it... Professor..."
Edelgard took one glance at Byleth and she knew immediately that something was wrong. Byleth had not moved. Her hair and eyes had returned back to her regular colour. The colour before she vanished after her brief fight with Kronya.
"No! No! No! No!" Edelgard panicked as she moved to pick up her Professor lightly.
Still nothing from Byleth.
"Come on, Byleth... Don't be the only one. Don't leave me alone." Edelgard pleaded as tears trickled down her eyes.
Is this some sort of sick joke from the goddess. One last laugh from the God's of fate... Maybe they're right. Maybe I'm just not supposed to have happiness.
Edelgard set her Professor on the ground, taking in her wounds from her chest and her back.
She's in a bad way.
. . .
No, I can't give up hope. Byleth would not like it if I just gave up.
Edelgard pressed her fingers against the side of Byleth's neck searching, pleading, for any sign of a pulse.
Come on, Byleth... Please give me something...
After several minutes of searching and silently praying. Her wishes were granted.
Ah! There... A pulse. It's faint, but it's there.
Edelgard carefully picked up her Professor and steeled herself. She was going to get her Professor back to the healers and nothing was gonna stop her.
At the healer's tent, where it was safe. The soldiers had stopped carrying in any wounded from the villages caught in the blazes, that Rhea had started, and the soldiers from the Empire. With the lack of any wounded, it gave time for Annette, Marianne, Mercedes and Linhardt to catch their breath.
Mostly everyone from the Black Eagle Strike Force has been accounted for. They all returned with only minor cuts and bruises.
Only Byleth, Edelgard and Shamir were unaccounted for.
Though not for long as their Emperor had barged their way through carrying their Professor. "Edelgard? Who is... Ah! Professor! Quick get her other here!" Annette hurried, startling Linhardt, Mercedes and Marianne.
Without thinking, Edelgard placed her former Professor onto the make-shift bed.
"She's fading fast. We need to hurry!" Mercedes spoke as a bright white glow emanated from her hands. As her hands moved from Byleth's neck after checking her pulse, she glanced at the three other healers of the Black Eagle Strike Force.
"On it." Linhardt spoke grabbing bandages from the table next to him.
While the healers were hurrying around the small room, grabbing fresh towels and bandages, Edelgard couldn't take her eyes off of her Professor. The sickly pale colour of the Professor's skin. The blood seeping out of her light plated armour as Mercedes and Annette carefully peeled away the light plating.
The bruising and swelling around her chest were more apparent without her armour. Edelgard tried her hardest not to notice the blood pouring out of her chest and mouth. She doesn't even realise someone was shaking her till she felt cold hands touch hers.
"E-Edelgard?" Marianne spoke, her voice barely above a whisper.
Edelgard shook her head emptying her thoughts, of images of Byleth's current state.
"Y-Yes, Marianne?"
"W-We need your help to keep the P-Professor steady, just in case she-" Marianne was interrupted as we all heard a loud disturbance coming from outside the healer's tent.
Shouting, screaming, snarls and insults were all hurled around outside.
She glanced back at Byleth, before looking at the healers, her trusted friends, and pleaded. "Please, save her. I need her."
Annette and Mercedes approached the Emperor. "We promise. We'll save her." Mercedes spoke pulling her friend into a comforting hug. Rubbing her back, trying to fight away the tension in her shoulders.
"Yeah, she'll be back to her usual stoic self in no time." Annette spoke chipperly.
Edelgard smirked and then breathed out. "Okay. I'll go and see what the commotion is." Edelgard squeezed one of Byleth's hands before pressing a kiss to her forehead. "Please be alright, I need to tell you something."
Outside was a sight she had not expected. Catherine was carrying a wounded Shamir in her arms. Surrounding her were soldiers and some of the members of the Black Eagle Strike Force.
"Edelgard... Please." Catherine spoke, her voice devoid of any emotion, except sadness.
Edelgard glanced at the soldiers and the eager members of the Strike Force. Ingrid and Felix not backing down as Ferdinand and Hubert glared at the Swordswoman. Leonie brought her Lance and Lysithea's hands glowed. Even Bernadetta, Ashe, Sylvain, Caspar, Petra and Dorothea were not willing to risk Catherine attacking.
Edelgard looked at Catherine's eyes intently. She saw a mirror of herself. Someone desperate for any help for her beloved. She saw her eyes pleading to take Shamir.
Edelgard nodded her head and raised her hands. "It is alright everyone. She can pass."
Catherine's shoulders sagged as she let out a deep breath. "Thank you, Emperor Edelgard." Catherine thanked as she smiled lightly at the younger girl.
As Catherine stepped forward to carry Shamir inside the prompt-to Healing tent, she was stopped by Edelgard as her gloved hand was placed against her chest. "Even though you have brought back Shamir, it would put everyone at ease if you hand over Thunderbrand."
"Sure, just take it." Catherine nodded her head, catching Edelgard off guard.
Not wasting any time, Edelgard took the relic from the sheath. "Thank you." Turns out Edelgard was right as most of the soldiers physically relaxed and slumped their shoulders. The Black Eagle Strike Force, however, weren't as convinced.
Hubert stepped forward. "Maybe it would be best to put a guard on this ruffian in case she tries something."
"That won't be necessary, Hubert. I assume Catherine will be on her best behaviour. Right?" Edelgard asked.
"Of course, Emperor Edelgard." Catherine bowed her head. "My life with the Knights and the Church of Seiros ended the moment they turned their blades onto Shamir."
Edelgard's mouth dimmed as she glared deeply into Catherine's eyes, searching for an answer to the doubts that are shouting at her inside her head.
Though after looking at the sincerity that her eyes conveyed. She knew her answer. She's telling the truth.
Another life the Church destroyed. I'm glad we finally put a stop to their tyranny.
"I understand, please bring Shamir inside." Edelgard spoke kindly as she motioned for Annette and Mercedes to take Shamir from Catherine grasp and set her down on one of the beds opposite Byleth, Marianne and Linhardt. Catherine followed the younger healers to the bed as Edelgard approached the Strike Force.
"Byleth's Pegasus perished during the battle. We wanted to give her a hero's burial when we get back Enbarr. Can you guys go and collect her." The Emperor asked her trusted friends.
"Of course, Edie." The songstress said as some of the Black Eagles followed her, while Lysithea, Bernadetta and Hubert remained behind.
"I-Is the Professor going to be alright?" Bernadetta's asked, trying not to peek inside the temporary Infirmary.
It hadn't been known outside of the Black Eagle Strike Force, but Bernadetta and Professor Byleth had grown an almost sibling bond together. After the young Archer had told her Professor what she had to endure due to her father, Byleth almost snapped. When she received a letter from her student's Father, request she be returned into his 'care', it took all the strength not to retaliate and send all of the students and staff at the Garreg Mach Monastery to have him arrested.
Soon after Byleth returned from her 5-year absence, Bernadetta approached her Professor saying that she sees her as an older sister figure. Byleth replied asking if she wanted to make it permanent. Bernadetta nearly collapsed at the mere mention of her having a real family. She shortly agreed and decided after the war ended that they would make it official.
Seeing the way Bernadetta tried not to look at her future older sister, almost tore Edelgard's heart apart. Thankfully, Bernadetta had one of her very close friends by her side. Lysithea held tightly to her close friend's hand.
"She's going to be alright, Bern. Byleth is super strong. Nothing can stop her." The younger mage then turned to her very own older sister figure with a worried smile of her own. "Isn't that right, Edelgard?"
Lysithea was similar to Edelgard. Both had to go through the torture and pain of the Crest experiments, that had planted two crests inside them both. This led to their permanent white hair and shortened life spans. Once Edelgard had learnt about Lysithea's past she naturally grew close to the younger mage. Later within the same Academic semester, Lysithea asked Edelgard if she can join her campaign to end the Crest system, that had causes them so much harm, and abolish the Church of Seiros.
Seeing Lysithea trying to be strong for her dear friend lit a fire in the Emperor's eyes.
"Of course, she's going to be alright. Byleth does not quit. She does not give in." Edelgard placed her hands Bernadetta's shoulders and pulled the Archer into her chest slowly rubbing her back, just like Byleth did to the Emperor after one of her night terrors grew more intense. "Everything is going to be alright, Bernadetta. I promise."
The young Archer gripped tightly to the Emperor and couldn't hold back her tears anymore.
Edelgard stood there until her friend's tears had died down and carried her to her tent.