The Three Houses of Hyperdimension

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

by Derald Snyder

Episode 28: Trial, Day 1 (Part 2)

Court Record:

-Headmaster's Affidavit

-Bishop Rhea's Affidavit

-Flame Emperor's Mask

-Broken Axe

-Bloody Sword

-Remote Claw

-Wrecked Gauntlets

-Security Footage

April 16, 10:40 AM

Adrestia High Court

Defendant Lobby No. 1

"Miss Hresvelg, I want to make it clear that I am NOT happy with you hiding things from me," Rei stated sternly. "Why didn't you tell me about this biology project of yours, peon?!"

"Miss Ryghts, with all due respect, visiting hours were almost over, remember?" Edelgard pointed out. "There was no time to tell you, and besides, I didn't think it would come up during the trial anyway..."

"You thought sneaking off in the middle of the night wouldn't be used against you by the prosecution? Really?" Sothis deadpanned. "And how come none of us have heard of this project before?"

"I..." Edelgard looked away. "Look, this can never come out in the courtroom, but Hubert and I were actually taking care of a sick small animal we found. The thing is, the academy has a strict 'no pets' policy, so..."

"Well, I'm going to discreetly ask Hubert to show it to me after trial today," Rei asserted, still looking quite displeased. "Is there anything else you might have 'not had time' to tell me, Miss Hresvelg?"

"Well, I have reason to believe that this 'Flame Emperor', whoever they are, might be connected to a shady group that was responsible for my teacher's near-death in Lowee City, where you first got involved," Edelgard stated.

"You mean... those who slither in the dark?!" Rei's anger tamed slightly upon realization.

"Yes, but I have no way to prove such," Edelgard nodded. "But if you could find a way to connect them, perhaps we can finally get to the bottom of this case..."

"That might be a tall order, given how well they cover their tracks..." Rei sighed and shook her head.

"Well, if anyone could, you can!" Sothis encouraged. "Anyway, next up is Byleth on the stand. At least we know he'll be friendly to us."

"Yes, but I fear he might be manipulated by that prosecutor... the professor is still more of a mercenary than a scholar," Edelgard said.

"I'll t-try to k-keep that from happening..." Rei sighed.

April 16, 10:51 AM

Adrestia High Court

Courtroom No. 1

Weldmar banged his gavel as he proclaimed, "This court is now back in session. Prosecutor Blackquill, is the defendant's professor ready to testify?"

"More than ready," Simon responded. "In fact, he said that were we not in court, he might have challenged me to a sword duel for Miss Hresvelg's honor. I'll admit I was tempted to take him up on that offer..."

"And you'd have lost!" Sothis spoke up. "No one can beat Byleth one-on-one! That's a fact!"

"Hmph. And given you're his daughter, I'm sure there is no bias in your assessment whatsoever," Blackquill snarked. He then slammed a hand on the bench. "Now then, the professor will take the stand!"

And so Byleth walked up to the witness stand, his face as stony as ever. "Please state your name and occupation for the record," Weldmar instructed.

"Byleth Eisner. Former mercenary and current professor at Garreg Mach Military Academy. My specialty is weapons and close quarters combat."

"So, you were at the Holy Tomb beneath the academy and monastery when this attack happened, that caused the lockdown on the day of Count Bergliez's attempted murder, correct?" Blackquill inquired.

"That's right," Byleth nodded.

"Then please testify about when and how you saw the defendant on that day," the prosecutor pressed.

"Of course," the professor assented. "Lady Rhea requested both me and Sothis to come down with her to the Holy Tomb, and I requested that we bring some of the students with us, out of caution, including the house leaders."

"The defendant is the leader of the Black Eagles house, correct?" Simon interjected. "Did she come down with you?"

"...We weren't able to locate her before the time came," Byleth admitted. "But once we were down there, we were ambushed by forces dressed like the Adrestian militia. However, investigation after the fact revealed their uniforms were cheap reproductions. Most likely they were hired mercenaries or bandits."

"So then, I assume you and the students managed to fight them off without any major casualties?" Weldmar assumed.

"Correct, Your Honor. It helped that we got some backup from two students of the former Ashen Wolves house."

"A-Ashen Wolves?" Weldmar blinked. "I don't believe I've ever heard of them..."

"With all due respect, Your Greenness, you should do your research," Blackquill interjected. "The Ashen Wolves were a secret house occupied by students with various skeletons in their closet, which precluded them from attending the academy under normal circumstances. It seems our good professor here must have taught them as well at some point. Am I wrong?"

"...More along the lines of me and a few other students helping them with a small crisis of theirs," Byleth replied. "But that's not relevant to the case at hand, except to say that the house was officially disbanded after all was said and done. As I was saying, two of their number managed to surprise the enemy from their flank, allowing us to break their formation and eventually rout them. And as it turned out, the former leader of the house had found Edelgard and brought her along as well."

"Truly?" Weldmar said. "So, you actually saw the defendant, then?"

"Yes, once the battle had concluded. Both Lady Rhea and Sothis said that she had saved the former from being cut down by the Flame Emperor. And I have no reason to doubt their word," Byleth asserted. "After all, Sothis knows what would happen if she lied to my face..."

"Yeah, getting spanked by a yardstick is painful," Sothis nodded grimly. "It's only happened once so far, but it's NOT something I wanna repeat..."

"It is said that once a cat gets burned by a stove, they will never touch it again," Blackquill commented. "So tell me, professor, did you actually see the Flame Emperor with your own eyes?"

"Not in that instance," Byleth shook his head. "But again, I have no reason to doubt the bishop's words..."

"I'm sure you don't. But isn't it convenient, that this was the one time that Miss Hresvelg and the Flame Emperor were seen in the same place at the same time, deep underground, where no independent witnesses could see what happened?" Blackquill suggested. "It's almost as if she were deliberately attempting to take suspicion off herself by those closest to her..."

"OBJECTION!" Rei called out. "Nice try, worm, but I see what you're doing! Trying to use your psychological manipulation to make the professor doubt my client! Either present evidence or withdraw your claim!"

At this, the ex-convict prosecutor did something she wasn't expecting... he raised up his fists, then slammed them down on the bench- causing his training weights to break off! That done, he spat the feather out of his mouth, which floated down in front of Rei's face... then his hand became a blur, the feather being sliced apart!

"What the heck?!" Sothis gasped in shock.

(Did... did he just slice the air with his finger?!) Rei realized. (But I thought I was the only one who could do that!)

"Ryghts-dono, long has it been since I have been forced to draw my blade," Blackquill said in a dangerously low tone of voice. "I hope you are prepared for battle!"

"Eeeeeeek!" cried Sothis as she jumped off her stool and hid herself under the bench, the gallery chattering amongst themselves in surprise and fear...

"Is that little show supposed to scare me?" Byleth said with crossed arms. "I know little girls who could do better than that..."

"SILENCE!" Blackquill cut him off. "'Twas Ryghts-dono I was addressing, not you- gahh!" He recoiled as something sliced at his chest, leaving a cut in his suit under his robe!

"Clearly you forgot who you were dealing with, worm!" Rei exclaimed with her pointer finger out. "Did you really think I didn't have a means of defending myself in human form, mag- Ahhhh!" she cried as a hawk suddenly flew in her face, assaulting her with its talons! (What's a bird doing in the courtroom?!)

Her unspoken question was answered as Simon used his finger and thumb to whistle sharply, the hawk promptly flying over and landing on his shoulder. "Meet my pet bird, Taka. He seems to have taken a liking to the courthouse. Made it his new home, in fact. And it seems your assault on my person has offended my dear bosom buzzard."

"But... b-but you were the one who struck- ahhhhh!" Rei was cut off as Taka attacked her again. "I'm sorry! I'm so very sorryyyy!"

Count Hevring banged his gavel several times to try and restore order, calling, "No birds allowed in the courtroom!" But suddenly Taka alighted atop his head with the standard hawk screech. "Ahh! Someone get this bird off me!"

"Now, now, Your Greenness," Blackquill said, "Taka is merely having a bit of sport. He won't harm you, save when truly famished."

"I-I still object to your pet using my head as a perch!" Weldmar stammered, Taka nonchalantly scratching his neck with one of his talons. One of the bailiffs approached to shoo him away, the hawk promptly flapping off and landing back on Blackquill's shoulder.

"I-is it over yet?" Sothis asked, daring to peek out from under the bench.

"It's only just begun," Blackquill asserted, tapping his finger against his forehead. "Now, before I was interrupted, I believe I was suggesting that our dear defendant here was trying to take suspicion off herself. After all, it would be child's play for the Flame Emperor to hire someone to don her costume in her stead..."

"A-and I still say y-you have no proof!" Rei shot back, slamming her fists on the bench for emphasis.

In response, Blackquill slapped a hand on his bench. "But I have a witness. Standing right here, in fact. After all, the professor has all but admitted that he hasn't seen Miss Hresvelg or the Flame Emperor together in the same place, before the Holy Tomb attack. Isn't that right, Mr. Eisner?"

"You are correct, technically," Byleth ceded. "However, I haven't seen the Flame Emperor in the presence of the other house leaders, either. Would you accuse Dimitri or Claude of being the Flame Emperor next?"

"Y-yeah, what he said!" Sothis said as she finally got back on her stool. "That's called reasonable doubt, isn't it, Your Honor?"

"SILENCE!" Blackquill exclaimed. "A young lass like you has no business saying what is reasonable or not."

"Be careful how you speak to my daughter," Byleth cautioned.

"Hmph. I am simply stating a fact," Simon said dismissively. "Now, I would have your testimony about another incident the Flame Emperor was involved in- namely, the massacre at Remire Village."

"M-massacre...?!" Rei gasped.

"Remire Village?" Byleth said, clearly off-put. "...Sothis, maybe you should step outside for this."

"What?! But why?!" the greenette protested.

"I doubt a young girl like you is ready to hear about something like this," Weldmar shook his head. "Remember, I reserved the right to have you removed in case a circumstance like this arose..."

"B-but...!" Sothis tried to argue.

"Um, excuse me..." another voice spoke up, a girl with white hair and red eyes walking before the witness stand. "Professor, if it's all right, maybe I can take Sothis with me to the vending machine or something. I don't really want to relive this, either..."

"And who might you be?" Count Hevring asked.

"Lysithea von Ordelia, of the Golden Deer house from Leicester province. Claude had to catch up on homework, so he asked me to watch the trial for him."

"Ah, I see," Byleth nodded. "You're fine going with Lysithea, aren't you?" he addressed Sothis.

"Oh, if you insist," Sothis sighed in resignation, stepping down from the stool. "Guess you're on your own now, Ryghts. Good luck." With that, she joined Lysithea as they exited the courtroom together.

"Perhaps now would be a good time to advise those with small children to also leave the courtroom," Blackquill suggested. There was some shuffling in the gallery not long after.

"Very good. We'll wait until those who wish to leave have stepped out," Weldmar nodded. Once that was done, he nodded at the prosecution to proceed.

"So, for context, what exactly happened at Remire Village?" Blackquill asked Byleth.

"If it's context you want... Remire Village was where I first met the house leaders, and saved Edelgard from bandits," Byleth began. "That incident is what led to me being hired as a professor at Garreg Mach to begin with. So when we heard that something bad was happening there, I decided to bring her and the Black Eagles House. I also took Lysithea along in case the Death Knight showed up, as she was the one student who had actually managed to defeat him. In hindsight, that might have been a mistake... the Death Knight did appear, but there's a reason Lysithea doesn't want to recall it..."

Blackquill slammed a hand on the bench, Taka wobbling a little on his shoulder. "Enough jabbering! Get to the point, witness!"

"I was just about to, prosecutor," Byleth rebuffed him. "When we got there... a good number of the villagers had gone mad, acting like rabid crazed beasts. There was nothing we could do but... put them out of their misery." The gallery began muttering in shock and disbelief, forcing Weldmar to gavel them down. "We managed to save the few who still had their wits, but..."

"No... how horrible!" Rei gasped.

"Indeed, a grave tragedy," Blackquill concurred. "Apparently the military came in after the remaining villagers had been evacuated, razed what was left to the ground and declared it a biohazard site. However... did a certain someone not appear before you once the rabid villagers had all been... euthanized?"

"...Yes. The Flame Emperor appeared before me and Father," Byleth responded. "He said that the Death Knight, his subordinate, had acted of his own volition, and that they were not responsible for the villagers' madness. They then asked me to join them, to take down the one truly responsible. I refused, of course."

"And what happened after that?" Blackquill prodded.

"Hubert ran up to us in a mild panic," Byleth continued. "He asked us if we had seen Edelgard anywhere. And when we turned back... the Flame Emperor was gone."

Simon Blackquill smirked as he tapped his finger against his forehead. "...Rather telling, is it not?"

"HOLD IT!" Rei objected. "That's circumstantial at best! Isn't it possible that Hubert just missed Edelgard somehow?"

"It is a possibility, true," Blackquill admitted. "But not exactly probable. After all, this is Hubert von Vestra we're talking about, whose loyalty to Edelgard von Hresvelg borders on fanatical. He knows her better than almost anyone, and yet, he was utterly unable to locate her at that time?!" Pounding his fists on the bench, he exclaimed, "Even you must admit that seems quite unlikely, Ryghts-dono!"

"I have to agree with Prosecutor Blackquill," Weldmar spoke up. "It does seem like quite the odd coincidence that the defendant could not be located when the Flame Emperor was conversing with Professor Eisner..."

(This is bad...) Rei thought grimly. (If I can't find a way to disprove Blackquill's assertion, Edelgard will be declared guilty for sure!)

"That being said," Count Hevring continued, "I feel as if we're still missing some context regarding this incident. But I will leave those questions to the defense. Miss Ryghts, you may cross-examine the witness."

"Yes, Your Honor," Rei nodded, grateful that the judge was still giving her a fair shake, despite Blackquill's intimidation tactics. (But where do I start...?) "...Professor, you said that you didn't see Miss Hresvelg after the battle, but did you see her during the battle?"

"I did," Byleth nodded. "She was quite upset at what had transpired, even more so than the other students. She was yelling something, but I couldn't exactly make it out..."

"If she is indeed the Flame Emperor, this would explain why she made that offer to you after the battle had concluded," Blackquill stated.

(Wait. I just thought of something...) Rei realized. (If the Flame Emperor wasn't responsible for the villagers going mad, then...) "Professor, do you know exactly who was responsible for this tragedy?"

"Yes. They revealed themselves not long into the battle," Byleth nodded. "It was Tomas, the librarian at Garreg Mach."

"Th-the librarian?!" Count Herving gasped, sending the gallery abuzz.

"Th-the defense requests f-further information on this person!" Rei requested.

"SILENCE!" Blackquill objected. "This has no relevance to the case at hand. We're putting Edelgard von Hresvelg on trial, not the librarian!"

"OBJECTION!" Rei countered. "If this man was a staff member at the defendant's alma mater, then I'd say it's very relevant to the case at hand!"

"Order!" Weldmar banged his gavel. "I agree with the defense; the fact that this man was employed at Garreg Mach can't simply be dismissed. Please answer the request, professor."

"...To tell the truth, he was actually someone else in disguise," Byleth said. "He called himself Solon, the savior of all..."

"HOLD IT!" Rei interrupted. "D-did you say Solon?!"

"Yes, I did..." Byleth nodded slowly.

Blackquill slapped a hand on the bench. "You were the one who requested additional information, and now you interrupt?!"

"For a very good reason, peon!" the ex-villain shot back. "Professor, did this Solon have pale skin, a wide forehead, black robes, and a futuristic monocle over one eye?"

"He did!" Byleth gasped. "How did you know that...?!"

"Because, Professor, that matches the description of the man who nearly killed me during the previous case in Lowee City!" Rei exclaimed.

"What?!" Byleth reared back in shock.

"WH-WHAAAAATT?!" Count Hevring cried out, the audience chattering amongst themselves...

Even Simon Blackquill was surprised, recoiling as if struck with a sword, before falling over his bench with a hand to his chest. "The man responsible for Remire Village... tried to kill you...?! Wh-what poppycock...!"

"It's not poppycock, peon!" Rei said with her arms crossed. "You can contact the Lowee Guild if you can't take my word for it!"

"Order! Order! Order!" Weldmar called out, banging his gavel repeatedly. "I'm just as surprised as you are, but we must have order in the court!" But the gallery continued to buzz loudly...

"SILENCE!" Simon Blackquill bellowed, and immediately the chatter died down. "...There. Now then, I will ask the defense, what does this revelation have to do with the case at hand?"

"Allow me to explain, you twisted samurai," Rei said with an evil smirk. "When I first confronted that Solon, I asked him if he was one of those who slither in the dark. He said, and I quote, 'If that is how that meddlesome Guild refers to us, then yes.' Which means that the tragedy that occurred at Remire Village, was also instigated by 'those who slither'!"

"SILENCE!" Blackquill slammed a hand on the bench. "All that proves is that the Flame Emperor was telling the truth when she met with Professor Eisner! It does not prove that they and Edelgard von Hresvelg are not one and the same!"

"OBJECTION!" Rei shook her head. "But what if your supposition is wrong? What if the Flame Emperor was lying through their teeth? Like you said, it seems too coincidental that their subordinate, the Death Knight, showed up in the same place as Solon!"

"Which is why I rejected their offer," Byleth nodded. "I also thought they were lying."

"SILENCE!" Blackquill yelled again. "Again, how does this prove that the Flame Emperor is not your client?! You swing your sword again and again, and keep failing to hit your mark!"

"Simple, worm... I'm setting up for the killing blow!" Rei retorted. "Let me remind you of Professor Byleth's earlier testimony... that Solon had disguised himself as Tomas the librarian from Garreg Mach! And from what I was told, the Death Knight was also once a professor at that very institution! Is that not also quite the coincidence?!"

"It does seem that way," Count Herving nodded. "But I'm still not quite sure how this ties back to the case at hand..."

"Isn't it obvious, Your Honor? Those who slither in the dark have clearly been working to undermine Garreg Mach itself! And what better way to do that..." She threw out her pointer finger. "Than to wrack said academy with scandal by making it look like one of their most prestigious students is a terrorist and murderer?!"

"...Hngh!" Blackquill grunted. "Uwaaaaahhh!" He recoiled as if struck by a sword once more. The gallery began chattering again at this revelation...

"Order! Order in the court!" Weldmar banged his gavel thrice. "Now I'm starting to understand. The defense's position is that this terrorist group deliberately tried to frame Edelgard von Hresvelg to damage Garreg Mach's reputation, correct?"

"Precisely, Your Honor!" Rei nodded. "The defense proposes that the Flame Emperor was originally planning to unmask themselves in the Holy Tomb, wearing a latex mask of Edelgard to fool the professor and the students! But the real Edelgard's unexpected appearance scuttled those plans! Thus, they recalibarated and attacked Duke Gerth and Count Bergliez instead to try and frame my client!"

"SILENCE!" Blackquill objected. "You're forgetting the count's testimony. We already established that his assailant had not only Edelgard's face, but her exact voice as well!"

"OBJECTION!" Rei shot back. "But don't you remember that the Flame Emperor's mask had a vox encoder? Who's to say that their Edelgard mask didn't also have a voice changer, to sound like my client?!"

"Gahhhhh!" Blackquill recoiled again, leaning over the bench with a hand to his chest. "P-preposterous...! You have no proof...!"

"I have sufficiently proven one thing, maggot!" Rei slammed her fists on the bench. "I've proven that it's impossible for a verdict to be rendered at this point in time! Isn't that right, Chief Magistrate?"

"...Yes, indeed," Weldmar ceded. "It seems that neither side has sufficient evidence to prove their claims. Therefore, I am forced to suspend proceedings for today, to allow for further investigation into this matter. Any objections, Prosecutor Blackquill?"

"...No, Your Greenness. It would indeed seem that this duel is a draw," Blackquill stated. "I only request that a transcript of the professor's testimony be added to the official record."

"So noted," Count Herving agreed. "This court will reconvene tomorrow at 10 AM. Court is adjourned." He then banged his gavel to bring an official end to proceedings for the day.

*Byleth's Testimony has been added to the Court Record.*

*Episode 28- End*