The Three Houses of Hyperdimension

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

by Derald Snyder

Episode 13: After The Match

*Backstage*

"HEY! You can't come in here!" the guard protested as he blocked Hilda's path. "Wrestlers and staff only!"

"Oh come on! The new champion's a friend of mine!" Hilda protested, Byleth standing behind her.

"Uh-huh, nice try," the guard deadpanned. "Now how about you turn your pretty little self around and go home?"

"Hey! Let her in!" The Great El Kamehameha Wave shouted. "And that green-haired guy behind her! They're my pals!"

"Hmph! See, told you so," Hilda sniffed, making a show of turning her nose up as the guard reluctantly let her and Byleth through. "So, congrats on your victory, Balt- uh, El Kamehameha Wave!"

"Perhaps we should go to his dressing room, so we can talk in private?" Byleth suggested.

"Good idea, Professor! Follow me!" the wrestler gestured, Hilda and Byleth following him...

*Dressing Room*

"Hnngh- ah!" Balthus grunted as he pulled his mask off, shaking his hair loose. "Phew... that mask gets kinda sweaty after a while!"

"So how did you end up joining this competition?" Byleth asked. "Was it to hide from your debtors?"

"Ha! Well, now that's an interesting story..." Balthus put a hand behind his head. "Actually, some bounty hunters tranq'ed me and brought me in, but the guy I owed turned out to be a sponsor for this wrestling circuit. And the previous El Kamehameha Wave had suffered a really bad back injury, so basically the sponsor had me take his place!"

"Yeah, except back then, El Kamehameha Wave was supposed to be the butt-monkey of the group!" Hilda interjected. "His one job was to show up, act goofy, and lose in humiliating fashion! It was usually when one of the other wrestlers needed an easy match due to straining a muscle or whatever other reason!"

"So how did you end up becoming champion if you were supposed to lose?" Byleth raised an eyebrow.

"Well, my first match, I went along with getting my butt kicked at first," Balthus began, "but then the guy made the mistake of saying he was gonna take my girlfriend, whoever she was, and have his way with her, and he said Hilda's name by complete coincidence! My first thought was, 'Hey, Hilda's not my girlfriend!' And then my second thought was, 'Okay, I don't care who you are, you don't threaten my friends like that!' So I caught the guy's foot before he could stomp me, threw him off, then turned the tables on him! Ended up knocking him out; served him right!"

"But didn't the sponsor get upset at you?" Byleth pointed out.

"Not him, but the manager sure did! Chewed me up one side and down the other; bit my head off so bad I was surprised it was still attached afterwards!" Balthus said with a sheepish grin. "He basically insinuated that I better throw the next match or else..."

"But that's not what happened, is it?" Byleth deadpanned.

"Well, next match, when I was grapplin' with the guy, I asked him quietly if he wanted to drop the acting and do this for real! He agreed, and we went at it! Gave me a run for my money, but I pinned him down in the end! After that, I grabbed the mike and challenged all the others to try and take me for real and not for entertainment, unless they were chickens! Boy, they didn't like that! Despite the manager's protests, they overruled him and accepted my challenge! Too bad most of 'em turned out to be jobbers that never got in a real scrap in their lives!"

"Yeah, that Shao Kahn was at the top because he was one of the few who actually trained in the martial arts!" Hilda stated. "But the fans never really liked him, so when a real challenger came up... well, the rest is history!"

"Yeah, I got a little cocky there at the start," Balthus admitted, "but once I got serious, he didn't stand a chance!"

"It looked like it could have gone either way," Byleth mused. "So does that mean that sponsor's forgiven your debt?"

"Now he has," Balthus responded. "See, he kinda gave me an ultimatum after I made that challenge- basically, become champion or you're done for! I'll bet he wasn't expectin' me to actually win! Hahahaha!"

"Great, so maybe now you can earn money to pay off your other debts, right?" Hilda said hopefully.

"Yeah, when I win it big at the table, definitely!" Balthus pumped a fist. "Of course, I, uh, haven't managed to get the big win yet, but... I'll definitely get it next time! Just you wait and see!"

Byleth could literally see the joy drain out of Hilda's face, the pink-haired student going limp like a deflated balloon. (Some things never change...) the professor thought to himself, shaking his head. (No matter much Hilda or I wish that it would...)

*Episode 13- End*