The Three Houses of Hyperdimension

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

by Derald Snyder

Episode 30: Investigation, Day 2 (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

-Byleth's Testimony

April 16

Garreg Mach Military Academy

Front Gate

"Greetings, Professor! Nothing to report!" the gatekeeper said with his usual cheery tone. "So how did the trial go?"

"About as well as expected; we got the verdict put off for a day," Byleth responded as he, Rei and Sothis crested the steps from the farmer's market. "It's what happened after the trial that went wrong..."

"Really? What happened?" the gatekeeper asked concernedly.

"That idiot Hubert teleported Edelgard who-knows-where because he was paranoid about assassins!" Sothis answered in her adoptive father's stead. "So now HE'S locked up, and we gotta find out where she is!"

"Edelgard is missing?" The group turned to see Dimitri approaching. "Do you have any idea where she might have gone, Professor?"

"...I might have an inkling," Byleth responded hesitantly. "But there's something else I need to check first. Would you happen to know where Yuri is, Dimitri?"

"Yuri? I have not seen him since the fight at the Holy Tomb," the Blue Lions leader shook his head. "Perhaps Ashe might know?"

"Who's Yuri?" Rei interrupted.

"The leader of the Ashen Wolves house, whom I alluded to in my testimony at trial today," Byleth replied. "He's the scoundrel that Hubert was referring to earlier..."

"Oh!" Rei gasped in comprehension. "Um, d-does this Dimitri have some c-connection w-with him...?"

"He was supposed to be assigned to the Blue Lions house originally," Dimitri clarified. "But I guess he decided that wasn't suitable for him... I'm aware he has some skeletons in his closet, but I do believe he's a good man at heart, having fought alongside him in Abyss."

"Abyss...?"

"That's where the Ashen Wolves house was located," Byleth clarified. "It's practically an underground village down there, for outcasts and shady people."

"Well, Yuri has said that Abyss is practically his home now," Dimitri mused. "So it's possible he's down there now... But why do you need to speak with him?"

"Hubert implied that his and Edelgard's quote-unquote 'biology project' is currently in his care," Sothis said bluntly.

"Biology project...?!" Dimitri said in surprise.

"It's a sick yoshisaur they found a while back," Byleth clarified. "It seems that Edelgard snuck out of her bedroom on the night of the attack on Count Bergliez to check on it..."

"I really wish sh-she hadn't d-done th-that..." Rei sighed and shook her head. "B-but now we need t-to f-find th-that animal in order t-to verify her alibi th-that night..."

"A sick animal... I see. Well, that's a load off my mind," Dimitri nodded. "At least now I understand where she and Hubert have been disappearing to recently..."

"You didn't honestly believe that Edelgard was the Flame Emperor, did you?" Sothis said with a raised eyebrow. "You were there when she came out with me and Miss Rhea after the Holy Tomb fight, remember?"

"Of course. I haven't forgotten that," Dimitri nodded. "But there was still some doubt in the back of my mind, until now..."

"Well, in the meantime, would you mind getting the rest of the Blue Lions and helping patrol the perimeter?" Byleth requested. "I think someone might have been following us during the drive back... I want to make sure that 'those who slither' don't try to pull a fast one on us."

"Certainly, Professor!" Dimitri bowed. "And I wish you luck in locating Edelgard!"

"Thank you. All right, let's get moving to Abyss," Byleth said, striding off with Rei and Sothis hurrying after...

April 16

Garreg Mach Military Academy

Underground Passageway

"A-are you sure y-you know where we're g-going...?" Rei said as she followed Byleth and Sothis though the near pitch-black tunnel.

"Yes, it's not the first time we've traveled down here," Byleth assured her.

"OW!" Sothis cried. "I hit my toe on a rock!"

"You should've put shoes on before coming with us," Byleth sighed. Suddenly there was a thud behind him, causing him to whirl around. "Miss Ryghts! Are you okay?"

"Owww... that was a bigger pebble than I thought..." Rei groaned as she picked herself up and dusted herself off. "Um, while I'm th-thinking about it, why i-is the leader o-of the B-Blue Lions house so c-concerned about Edelgard? Aren't th-they rivals...?"

"Technically, yes, but from what Dimitri himself told me, he and Edelgard are actually step-siblings," Byleth replied.

"EH?! Really...?"

"Yes. I don't know all the details, but apparently Edelgard and her mother lived in Faerghus province for a time, and the latter became romantically involved with Dimitri's father," the professor elaborated. "But Edelgard and her uncle returned to Adrestia before the Tragedy of Duscur, which resulted in Dimitri's father's death..."

"What?! Y-you mean Dimitri i-is... a-an orphan?!" Rei gasped in dismay.

"Well, I think an uncle of his still lives, but he's a bit younger than Dimitri's father," Byleth tried to recall. "Anyway, he came here to the academy to try and investigate those responsible for the tragedy, as the authorities only arrested and executed a scapegoat... he told me that he thinks the Flame Emperor might have had something to do with it."

"So that's why he was angsting about Edelgard p-possibly b-being the Flame Emperor..." Rei stated in comprehension. "Oh, is th-that a light up ahead...?"

"So we're almost there; about time," Sothis griped. "If I was by myself, I'd be scared of ghosts or maybe thugs snatching me away in the dark..."

"Just remember to be respectful and polite; these people live down here for a reason," Byleth cautioned. "That goes for both of you."

"I know, I know..." Sothis sighed as the trio finally emerged into a better-lit room, then turning right and entering a large underground chamber with several downtrodden people standing or sitting around.

"Oh my goddess..." Rei gasped in shock, despite Byleth's warning. (To think, I could've ended up like this or worse if not for Mr. Samson finding me...) A few of them seemed to recognize her, either doing double-takes or quietly trying to merge into the walls... fortunately it seemed Byleth's presence stopped anyone from doing anything more drastic.

"Hold!" exclaimed a soldier with a passing resemblance to the academy's gatekeeper, but with a more haggard face. "Professor, is this woman with you who I think she is?"

"I've hired her as legal counsel for Edelgard von Hresvelg," Byleth said as he put up an arm in front of Rei protectively. "And we're here to get evidence to corroborate her alibi on the night Count Bergliez and Duke Gerth were attacked..."

"So she finally made her move against the Seven, did she?" commented a vagabond sitting nearby. "Well it's about damn time! Adrestia's gone to hell since that Arundel took over! And he keeps buying off the vote counters so he can stay in power forever! If Ionius had stayed in power, maybe my game store wouldn't have gone bankrupt!"

"I-I don't know anything about that," Rei shook her head, trying to look as non-threatening as possible. "But I have g-good reason t-to believe th-that she was s-set up to t-take the fall f-for this crime..."

"Anyway, is Yuri here?" Byleth asked the Abysskeeper.

"He is. Currently looking after somebody's pet, it sounds like," the soldier nodded.

"Great! That's exactly what we were looking for!" Sothis said with a grin, taking Byleth's hand. "Come on, I wanna see a real live yoshisaur!"

"All right, all right," Byleth couldn't help but smile at her. "Stick with me, Miss Ryghts."

"R-right!" Rei nodded, moving to keep pace with the other two.

A few minutes later, the trio came to a door, Byleth promptly knocking. "Hello, Yuri? It's Professor Byleth, we need to talk."

"Ah, just a minute-!" came Yuri's voice, sounding as if he was struggling with something... a few seconds later, the door opened just enough for the man to poke his face out. "Ah, professor! I'm afraid you've come at a bad time..."

"Having trouble with the yoshisaur?" Sothis deadpanned.

"Wh- wait, you know?!" Yuri gasped.

"Hubert told us about it," Byleth clarified. "If it's not going to bite anyone, you can let it out..."

"It's not the biting I'm worried about-!" Yuri grunted. "I'm afraid it'll go running off and get lost somewhere! Abyss isn't exactly a small place, you know..."

"I think the three of us can keep it from escaping," Byleth suggested, gesturing to Rei and Sothis to surround the door. "Go ahead, Yuri."

"All right, if you insist..." The door opened a bit wider- and immediately a small green blur burst out, tackling Sothis to the floor!

"AHHHH! Help! It's attacking me!" Sothis cried.

"No Sothis, I think it's just sniffing you," Byleth noted in amusement. The creature in question was clearly reptilian, two large eyes sitting atop a large round snout, having a green body with a white belly, a stubby tail, thick short legs clad in brown boots, and what appeared to be a red saddle on it's back, though closer examination showed it to be a protective shell of some sort.

"Oh, wow..." Rei said with wide eyes. "I-I've only seen p-pictures of th-these on the Internep... it's so cute!"

"Okay, now stop gawking and get this thing off of me!" Sothis grunted as she tried to push it away, though it was clear she wasn't giving it her all.

Byleth knelt down before snapping his fingers to get the yoshisaur's attention. "Hey, c'mere!" He held out a hand as the critter turned to look at him. "Come on, boy, I won't hurt you..."

"Yosh...?" the yoshisaur grunted, cautiously approaching, Sothis promptly rolling away and getting back to her feet. The reptile sniffed at Byleth's hand, examining it as if looking for food...

"I-is it hungry?" Rei queried.

"It's always hungry, it seems," Yuri sighed as he slipped out of the door and closed it behind him. "You wouldn't happen to have any food on you, Professor?"

"I have some bread, I think," Byleth grunted as he checked around his waist, pulling out a small hunk of bread. "Here, boy, you want it?" To his surprise, the yoshisaur suddenly shot out a long tongue which stuck to the bread and swiftly pulled it into it's mouth! "I guess so." He reached out and gently patted the critter's snout as it chewed and swallowed, the yoshisaur making a noise that indicated it wasn't entirely satisfied with a the food. "I know it was a bit dry, but that's all I had..."

"Huh... you seem to have a way with animals," Yuri observed. "Then again, you tend to play around with the cats and dogs hanging around the academy, don't you?"

"On occasion," Byleth nodded.

"B-but why d-did it tackle Sothis?" Rei asked.

"Probably because my hair's the same color as it's skin," Sothis sighed as she brushed a hand through said hair to try and get any dirt off. "Anyway, have you heard about what's happening up above?"

"Of course. I always keep tabs on the professor," Yuri nodded. "Edelgard entrusted this critter to me while she and the professor went to see her father; I was surprised to hear she'd been arrested though. I'm guessing you must be her legal counsel?"

"Y-yes, that's right," Rei bowed politely. "I-I'm surprised you d-don't seem scared of me... surely y-you know who I am?"

"Of course, but that was a long time ago, what you did," Yuri nodded. "You'd obviously be locked in maximum security if you were still a threat, am I wrong? Besides, I've seen things much scarier than you..."

"As have I," Byleth said as he stood back up. "Anyway, Yuri, would you happen to know where Edelgard is now? Hubert ended up teleporting her away after the trial finished, even though no verdict was handed down yet."

"What makes you think I would know where she is, Professor?" Yuri replied.

"Two things, worm," Rei suddenly slipped into her HDD persona. "One, the fact that you opened the door just enough to squeeze yourself out, indicating you're still hiding something. Two, the fact that you looked down and to the left the moment the professor asked you about her whereabouts! Perhaps now would be a good time to come clean, peon?"

"That won't be necessary," a familiar voice said from beyond the door, which opened to reveal none other than Edelgard herself. "I appreciate your intent, Yuri, but I don't need to hide myself from my teacher."

"Ah! So you were here all along!" Sothis gasped.

"Just as I thought," Byleth nodded. "Of course Hubert would think that this was the safest place for you to hide from those who slither in the dark..."

"Yes... against my wishes," Edelgard shook her head. "But Hubert would not be dissuaded. Before I knew it, I had been transported here. And I've been here ever since..."

"I was thinking about going topside and getting a hold of you, Professor," Yuri cut in, "but you ended up coming to us instead. Sorry about the secrecy earlier, it's something of a force of habit."

"Hmph. I'll let you off the hook this once, maggot," Rei grumbled with crossed arms. Taking a deep breath to calm herself, she then said, "Anyway, now that we've finally found you and your pet, maybe we can finally establish your alibi for the night of the attack on Count Bergliez..."

"But what I don't understand is, why would those who slither go to so much trouble to frame YOU of all people?" Sothis asked. "I mean, that Claude is a known trickster, and was born in a different nation, so why not frame him instead?" But Edelgard was silent, looking down with clear conflict etched on her face.

"...Does this have something to do with what you confided in me, about your past?" Byleth ventured hesitantly. "The source of your constant nightmares...?"

Edelgard looked back up at him, and her eyes told him he'd hit the nail on the head. "...how much have you told Miss Ryghts?"

"About your past...? Um, we were j-just talking about when y-you went t-to live in Faerghus f-for a while with y-your mother," Rei ventured hesitantly. "D-did something happen...?"

"In Faerghus? No, it was after we returned," Edelgard shook her head. "Truth be told, that time almost seems like another life to me now..."

"Edelgard. If you don't feel comfortable telling them, I can explain in your stead..." Byleth offered.

"I... appreciate that, my teacher. But I can't let the past haunt me forever," Edelgard said firmly. "...I was the ninth of eleven children, but today I am the only one still alive. Do you know why?"

"...I-I'm guessing none of th-them d-died by accident...?" Rei ventured hesitantly.

"It depends on your definition of 'accident'," Edelgard said darkly. "We were all subjected to horrific experiments, strapped down in a rat-filled dungeon adjacent to the governor's mansion. Apparently it was what remained of the castle that had once stood in that same location. And I was... the only success."

"Success...?" Rei trailed off, her hands over her mouth. "Wh-what were they t-trying to do...?!"

"Being a CPU yourself, I'm sure you're familiar with the concept of Makers?" Edelgard asked the lawyer, who nodded in response. "What you may not know is that there's a specific gene Makers have which enhances their combat strength nearly to the level of a CPU. There are some who can even 'awaken' and access even greater power... but that was the purpose of the experiments- to forcibly implant the Maker gene to create a perfect warrior."

"And Duke Aegir was the one who sanctioned these experiments?" Byleth said with a hint of anger.

"Yes... but he wasn't alone. There was another man conducting the actual... torture," Edelgard said hesitantly. "My memory is a bit fuzzy, but I'm almost certain it was the same man responsible for Remire Village... Solon."

"Solon?! THAT Solon?!" Sothis gasped. "The same man that tried to throw me and Ryghts into eternal darkness?!"

"...It seems you've done us an even greater favor than we realized," Byleth said to Rei.

"Favor? What favor?" Yuri asked, perplexed. So Rei and Sothis explained what had happened in Lowee City... "Ah, I see. If there was ever a man who deserved to die at the hands of the infamous Rei Ryghts, he would definitely qualify. I wouldn't be surprised if he'd had a hand in experimenting on Hapi, too..."

"Hapi? I-Is she a f-fellow student of yours?" Rei asked.

"Something like that. Whenever she sighs, she summons monsters that she can't control," Yuri elaborated. "And it was those who slither in the dark that were responsible, according to her."

"Th-that's terrible...!" Rei said in horror. "A-at least I c-can control myself w-when I t-transform now, even if I d-don't like t-to do it... But what about you?"

"Me? Let's just say I've done some things I'm not proud of, so it's better for me to stay under the radar," Yuri shrugged. But suddenly, a large bird flew out of the darkness, Yuri crying out as he was attacked, covering his head with his arms! "What the-?!"

(Music- 'Simon Blackquill- Distorted Swordsmanship')

"Hmph. You didn't think you could escape the long arm of the law, did you?" said a familiar voice as he emerged into view, Taka flying back and landing on his shoulder.

"P-P-Prosecutor B-Blackquill?!" Rei cried in shock and disbelief.

"Ahhh! How'd he find us down here?!" Sothis cried as she hid herself behind Byleth.

"Simple. I do my homework," Blackquill said with a knowing smirk. "I knew the most likely place for Hubert to have sent Edelgard was back at the academy somewhere... and that Abyss was the most likely place for her to be located. So I studied a few maps of Garreg Mach and deduced a probable point of entry... and here we are. The vagabonds here didn't even give me a second glance... it seems being an ex-convict has it's benefits."

"So you were the one who was following us," Byleth said, one hand on his sword out of reflex.

"Wait... Blackquill? As in Simon Blackquill, the twisted samurai?!" Yuri gasped in shock.

"Hmph. My reputation precedes me. As does yours... Yuri Leclerc," Blackquill chuckled. "I hear you're becoming a rising star in Faerghus' underworld recently..."

"Is that so?!" Yuri growled. "Well, at the risk of sounding cliche... you'll never take me alive, copper!" He threw something to the ground which exploded into a cloud of smoke, sending almost everyone into coughing fits! The sound of retreating footsteps was heard, Taka flying to give chase...

Only for Blackquill to whistle him back. "No, Taka. He's not the prey we're after. Faerghus is a bit out of our jurisdiction, anyway..."

"Prosecutor, please, (cough) there's no (cough) need for theatrics," Edelgard said as she stepped out of the smoke cloud. "I surrender myself willingly; performing a jailbreak was NOT my idea..."

"Indeed, Hubert said something to that effect as well," Blackquill nodded. "As for that critter with you... we'll let your professor take care of it. I couldn't guarantee it's safety if Taka suddenly got... peckish."

"Yoshi!" the yoshisaur cried as it hid itself behind Edelgard in fear.

"I know, Yoshi, I know," Sothis said from behind Byleth.

"We were going to bring her back anyway," Byleth pointed out. "I suggest we all leave Abyss together; I'll explain what happened to the headmaster and Lady Rhea. Is this acceptable, prosecutor?"

"...No objections," Blackquill agreed. "I'll even let you take the lead, since most of you are being cooperative."

"Very well, follow me," Byleth nodded, Sothis still sticking close as the group went off together...

*Young Yoshisaur has been added to the Court Record.*

*Episode 30- End*

A/N: Decided to stop here so I could upload this episode in a timely manner... Only a little bit left before the next trial day.