The Three Houses of Hyperdimension

A Fire Emblem: Three Houses & Hyperdimension Neptunia Crossover Fan Fiction

by Derald Snyder

Episode 2: The House Leaders

"Come now, you must admit that mine is superior to yours!" exclaimed Edelgard von Hresvelg, leader of the Black Eagles house.

"Unfortunately Dimitri and I must disagree, Your Highness," snarked Claude von Riegan, head of the Golden Deer house. "Though I'll admit it's rare that he and I agree on anything..."

"Indeed, ours is the superior choice," stated Dimitri Alexandre Blaiddyd, leader of the Blue Lions house. "Though part of me wonders if Claude is simply agreeing with me to rile you up..."

"No, no! I really mean it," Claude insisted. "It's the best there is, no question!"

"Even IF you both are in agreement, which I doubt," Edelgard gave Claude the stink-eye, "you're both still wrong! My choice is the better one, and always will be!"

"Not surrendering even when outnumbered. That's just like you, Edelgard," Claude ribbed.

"All right, what's going on here?" Byleth interjected as he and Sothis approached the bickering trio. "What are you three fighting over this time?"

"We're not fighting, Professor," Dimitri said. "It's just a minor disagreement, that's all."

"I hardly think it minor since we could hear you from several feet away!" Sothis asserted with her hands on her hips.

"Professor, please try to get these two to see reason," Edelgard turned to face her favorite teacher. "Surely you agree that bergamot is the best kind there is..."

"Uh, berga-what?" Sothis' face became perplexed.

"Bergamot. It's a kind of tea," Dimitri explained. "Claude and I seem to both prefer chamomile, however."

"Wait, wait, you three are arguing about TEA? Are you serious right now?" Sothis said incredulously. "I mean, tea is just tea, isn't it?"

"Ugh..." Edelgard ducked her head, lifting a hand to her face in disbelief. "I should have expected such a comment from an ignorant child like yourself..."

"Well, it's not like Teach has any real preference, himself," Claude pointed out.

"Indeed, I don't," Byleth concurred. "But of all the things to get in an argument over... can't you just agree to disagree on this one?"

"Well, Dimitri started it when he said that he drinks chamomile to help him sleep sometimes," Claude elaborated. "Me, I like it because it's easy to discern if someone's poisoned it or not."

"Who on earth would try to poison your tea?!" Sothis asked incredulously.

"Take your pick. The nobles in Leicester province aren't as close-knit as those in the Adrestia and Faerghus provinces," the Golden Deer leader shrugged. "In fact, before I tried chamomile, I drank a really simple tea made from an ingredient that most wouldn't think to use, much less to poison. But I'm afraid that knowledge is off limits."

"Oh really?" Sothis raised an eyebrow. "What, did you drink tea made from pine needles or something?"

Claude grimaced slightly at this, which Dimitri caught. "Wait, what?! Is it true, Claude? Tea, from needles?!"

"You can't be serious," Edelgard turned back to face Claude.

"Oh, come on! It's not like I drink the needles themselves! That would be just gross!" the archer stammered, his face coloring a little.

"It is a little unorthodox," Byleth mused.

"Wow. And I was completely joking about that," Sothis deadpanned.

"Okay, enough about tea! Can we change the subject?!" Claude insisted with a brief wave of his hands. "Um, so! This is Teach's adopted daughter, huh?" He walked up to Sothis, crouching down to get a better look. "I think this's the first time we've met up close and personal... Kinda reminds me of Lysithea in a few ways."

"Don't let her hear you say that," Edelgard cautioned. "You know she dislikes being treated like a child..."

"Of course, which is why I do exactly that," Claude shot back with a wink.

"So she was a street urchin you took in, correct?" Dimitri said to Byleth. "But why does she wear that crown on her head?"

"What, this?" Sothis adjusted her headgear. "I found it in a dumpster while scrounging for food, and I thought it looked nice, so I wore it. Made me feel special. Even when Byleth got me better clothes to wear, I told him there was no way I was taking this off... he wanted me to wear a simple bland headband instead! Can you believe that?!"

"Sothis, please," Byleth gently chided.

"Well, it was nice of him to take you in," Edelgard nodded. "If you don't mind my asking, Professor... was your adoption of this one done to try and help you move on from your father's untimely death?"

"...Well, it certainly helped to take my mind off that," Byleth allowed.

"Well, that's good to hear. As I said after his burial, wallowing in misery isn't going to help anything. I'm glad that you took my words to heart, my teacher."

"You could have been a little less blunt about it," Dimitri stated. "That being said, if this is what you need to move on, I take no issue with it," he addressed Byleth.

"Well, I'm glad you all approve of my presence," Sothis nodded. "Byleth was worried that I might have trouble adjusting to life here at Garreg Mach, but if you three like me..."

"Just as long as you don't play any pranks on them, we should be fine," Byleth cautioned.

"Yes, you've said that before," Sothis crossed her arms in annoyance.

"Yes, and you shouldn't try to rope her into any of your schemes, either," Edelgard said bluntly to Claude.

"Who, me? Surely you jest, Your Highness," Claude stood up and shrugged. "I know better than to get on Teach's bad side..."

"And I've told you not to call me that. I'm not a princess," Edelgard stated.

"Well, you sure carry yourself like one," Claude countered. "Well, I've had enough of this witty repartee. Time to get back to my dorm room and get my homework finished. Later, Teach!" With that, he turned and jogged off.

"I suppose I have business of my own to attend to as well," Dimitri said. "By your leave, Professor." With a brief bow, he turned and left as well.

"Ah, Lady Edelgard," another voice called, revealed to Hubert von Vestra, his short black hair and pale skin making him look as sinister as ever. "If you're finished with the others, I have something to discuss with you in private."

"Very well, Hubert," Edelgard nodded to him. "If you'll excuse me, Professor."

"Sure," Byleth nodded, Edelgard giving him a final smile before striding off to join Hubert, the two conversing in hushed tones as they went away.

"...I don't like that guy," Sothis muttered. "He always seems like he's up to something..."

"Understandable. He clearly has his secrets," Byleth said. "But as long as he's done nothing illegal, there's no point in antagonizing him. But let's hope you can get along with the rest of the students here, at least."

"From what I've seen, the rest seem decent enough, if a bit quirky," Sothis mused. "I'm still not sure about that bishop, though. For one, she seems like she's more devoted to Lowee's first goddess than the current CPU Blanc..."

"Well, Lady Blanc did read her the riot act just before we returned, so that probably didn't help," Byleth pointed out.

"Yes, and then she wanted to speak with you in private," Sothis added. "What was that about, anyway?"

"It's... personal. I don't feel comfortable telling anyone just yet," Byleth shook his head. "Maybe once things have settled back down a little..."

"All right, but I'm holding you to that," Sothis insisted. "Just because I'm my own existence now doesn't mean you can hold secrets from me forever..."

"Hsst! Not here!" Byleth shushed her. "Come on, let's head back to my office..."

"I was keeping my eyes open for eavesdroppers," Sothis mildly protested, even as she let the professor take her by the hand.

*Episode 2- End*

A/N: So yeah, Adrestia, Faerghus and Leicester are simply provinces of Lowee in this continuity, though Garreg Mach is still smack dab in the center of them like canon. Which mean Edelgard and Dimitri aren't royalty, either, just nobles descended from the great warriors of the past. Hope that clears some things up.