The Three Houses of Hyperdimension

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

by Derald Snyder

Episode 25: Enter Rei Ryghts

April 15, 9:07 AM

Garreg Mach Military Academy

Front Gate

Most days, the gatekeeper enjoyed his job. Chatting with students and staff that walked through, watching the hustle and bustle of the farmers market in front of the building... but said market had been shut down due to the lockdown after the unprecedented attack on the Holy Tomb... not to mention far fewer people coming through the gate. And now, he'd heard that the student heading the Black Eagles house had been arrested for an assassination attempt in Adrestia province... (That poor professor... he loses his father, and now this...) He vowed to keep a stiff upper lip when Byleth came to greet him, not wanting to drag his mood down any further...

Just then, his attention was drawn to something approaching from the sky... (What is that...?) he thought as he raised a hand to shade his eyes, trying to make out the object... (A bird? A plane? No wait, it's... a CPU?!) And unlike Blanc, this CPU had a pair of horns! (It can't be...!) He lowered his lance into attack position as the cyan-haired goddess touched down, holding what appeared to be a briefcase in her right hand...

Then there was a flash of light that momentarily blinded the gatekeeper, which faded to reveal a much smaller woman dressed in a business suit and skirt with white knee high laced-up boots, now only having a single segmented horn on the right side of her head, a pair of eyeglasses over her blue eyes. "Oh, hello," she greeted as she realized the gatekeeper's presence. "Um, I'm very sorry if I scared you... w-would th-this happen to b-be G-Garreg Mach Military Academy...?"

"Uh, yes, it is..." the gatekeeper answered, relaxing slightly. "And who might you be?"

"Rei Ryghts, attorney at law. I was contacted by Professor Byleth Eisner to defend one of his students that was arrested," the woman replied.

"The professor called you?!" the gatekeeper gasped, letting his lance drop almost to the floor. "I'd heard that Edelgard of the Black Eagles house had been arrested in Adrestia... you're here to defend her?"

"Yes, exactly," Rei nodded. "I would like t-to say th-that I d-don't normally use HDD t-to t-travel between destinations... b-but Professor Eisner insisted th-that t-time was of the essence..."

"Oh, I see..." the gatekeeper nodded, pulling his lance back upright. "Well, in that case, welcome to the academy! I'd escort you to the professor, but I'm under strict orders not to leave this gate unguarded..."

"Um, excuse me..." The two turned to see Marianne standing there. "Um, I can escort her to the professor, if that's all right..."

"Marianne? Are you sure?" the gatekeeper asked with concern.

"Yes... seeing Rei Ryghts in the flesh, she doesn't really look that scary, despite what I've heard about her..."

"I p-promise, whatever rumors y-you've heard about me d-don't apply t-to here and now," Rei assured her. "A-are you one of Edelgard's f-fellow students...?"

"Not exactly... I come from the Golden Deer house. Edelgard leads the Black Eagles," Marianne replied. "But I admit there was a small part of me that's wanted to meet you, ever since the professor's daughter told me about meeting you in Lowee City..."

"Eh?! He has a d-daughter...?" Rei gasped in surprise.

"Adopted daughter, yes. Um, her name is Sothis..."

"OH! Oh, yes, now I remember!" Rei cut her off. "S-sorry, I d-don't recall th-the professor referring t-to Sothis as his d-daughter when we f-first met..."

"Well, that's where he says he found her," Marianne said. "A-anyway, I can show you to where the professor is... if that's all right, Gatekeeper?"

"I guess..." the gatekeeper sighed. "I'd personally prefer one of the Knights of Seiros escorting her, but... sure, go on. Just no more HDD, okay?"

"Of course..." Rei ducked her head. "I-I'm so very sorry for scaring you..."

April 15

Garreg Mach Military Academy

Black Eagles Homeroom

"I still can't believe it... Edie arrested?!" Dorothea shook her head, her hands clasped as if in prayer.

"And my father was the one who took her into custody?!" Ferdinand said with a hint of anger. "He should have at least waited until the investigation played out!"

"I agree. Moving hastily never ends well for anyone," Linhardt shook his head. "I'm sure my father will scold him for breaking protocol, if nothing else..."

"For what it's worth, your father assured me that Edelgard would be treated well until trial began," Byleth addressed Ferdinand.

"I admit that I am having mixed up feelings," Petra spoke up. "On the one hand, I am not believing that Edelgard would be murdering somebody in cold blood. However, the one who was attacked was the one responsible for my own father's death..." Caspar visibly hung his head at this.

"Given your lack of surprise at the news, Caspar, I'm guessing your father already told you what happened?" Byleth surmised.

"Yeah, he called me last night," Caspar nodded. "He was basically telling me not to jump to any conclusions about what happened..."

"But he insists that Edelgard was the one who attacked him and Duke Gerth?" Ferdinand pressed.

"Well, his exact words were, 'That Flame Emperor may have had Edelgard's face and voice, but my gut is telling me it's a trick.' I guess even he doesn't believe Edelgard would do something like that. And I 100% agree with him!" he exclaimed with a fist pump.

"Unfortunately, gut feelings are inadmissible in a court of law," Linhardt pointed out. "Our best bet would be to establish an alibi for Edelgard on the night Count Bergliez was attacked..."

"Well, that should be easy enough," Dorothea stated. "After all, the academy's been on lockdown ever since the attack on the Holy Tomb. The professor had to get special permission from the headmaster and Lady Rhea just to take Edie to see her sick father! There's no way she could have slipped out to attack Caspar's father!"

"Well, like Caspar's father says, we need to remain calm and not do anything rash," Byleth cut in. "I've already called for a lawyer for Edelgard, and she should be here soon..."

"You've hired a lawyer?" Ferdinand said in mild surprise. "But who, exactly?"

"Oh, I think you'll know once you see her," Sothis said smugly. Just then, there was a faint knocking, Marianne peeking her head in.

"Um, professor? Your lawyer is here," Marianne said.

"Ah, thank you, Marianne," Byleth smiled and nodded. "Please, come in."

(Music- 'Objection! Phoenix Wright 2016')

The gathered students gasped as Rei stepped into view with a nervous smile. "Um, hello, everyone..."

"Rei Ryghts?! THE Rei Ryghts?!" Ferdinand recoiled slightly. "The former villain, turned ace attorney?!"

"Dear goddess, it IS her! I'd know that horn anywhere!" Dorothea said with her hands over her mouth.

"D-did you say... former villain?!" Bernadetta spoke up, pressing herself into the wall.

"No, no, it's okay! I d-don't bite, I promise," Rei tried to reassure them.

"I can vouch for that," Sothis nodded. "Outside of the courtroom, she's a big softie, unless she transforms that is."

"You are still able to be changing into your goddess form despite being defeated by the real goddesses?" Petra inquired.

"Well, yes, b-but I usually d-don't d-do that unless I have t-to," Rei shook her head. "And I actually did lose my powers after I was d-defeated, b-but so many c-clients putting th-their faith in me... well, you know the rest."

"So instead of the powers of an evil goddess, you now have Share Energy from your clients that you've successfully defended," Linhardt nodded. "Which likely means that you aren't quite as insane as you were when you were the final boss. Fascinating."

"S-so... she's not going to kill us all...?" Bernadetta said hopefully.

"Of course not! I just said that!" Sothis yelled in frustration. "Honestly, I swear sometimes you only hear what you want to hear...!"

"Sothis. That will do," Byleth said sternly. "Anyway, Miss Ryghts, allow me to properly introduce everyone to you, and then we can begin discussing the case proper..."

"Of course. I look forward to working with you all," Rei bowed and smiled.

*Episode 25- End*