The Three Houses of Hyperdimension

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

by Derald Snyder

Episode 38: Raid Fallout (1)

*Back at Garreg Mach...*

"...A-and that's th-the whole story," Rei finished her narration to Ferdinand and the other Black Eagles who had not taken part in the mansion raid, Dimitri and Claude also listening attentively.

"You arrested my father, Edelgard?! How could you do such a thing without discussing it with me first?!" Ferdinand said in restrained anger.

"I'm probably not getting the finer points here," Caspar admitted, "but you basically defeated both my father and Ferdinand's. Is that right?"

"I wasn't fighting your father, Caspar," Edelgard shook her head. "He was aiding me, as was Count Hevring."

"So, um... what about my father?" Bernadetta asked. "Did you arrest him?"

"I d-don't know about arrested, b-but when Hubert let slip about w-what he did to you, Lady Blanc was furious," Rei answered. "He p-probably has a c-concussion from Blanc bashing his head in w-with her hammer, a-at the very least."

"He got smited by Lady Blanc?!" Bernie gasped. "W-well, better him than me..."

"I imagine my father's going to be busy dealing with all the legal paperwork due to the fallout from this scandal," Linhardt spoke up. "Am I glad I don't have his job..."

"Don't let him hear you say that, Linhardt," Edelgard said with mild amusement.

"Man, and I thought Leicester Province had trouble with their nobles," Claude spoke up. "But at least they haven't been infiltrated by evil cults, at least to my knowledge."

"I can't help but wonder if this Arundel, or whoever he really is, had a hand in the Tragedy of Duscur," Dimitri said with a frown. "After all, were you not living with him when you were in Fearghus with me, Edelgard?"

"That's right. And you may well have a point," Edelgard said grimly. "Unfortunately, we have no way to prove such a claim. Unless Prosecutor Blackquill and the knights find something from investigating Arundel's personal effects, which is unlikely at best..."

"Not to mention, we don't know exactly what Arundel and his ilk will do now that they've lost control of Adrestia's government," Hubert spoke up. "We must be prepared for anything-"

"LOOK OUT BEHIND YOU!" cried a voice right behind Hubert, causing him to literally jump in surprise, whirling about to see Sothis standing there, who promptly burst into laughter. "Ahahahahaha! I can't believe you fell for that...!"

"Really, Sothis...?" Byleth sighed and shook his head.

"Ha! That was a good one! Never thought I'd see Mr. Tall, Dark, and Grim lose his composure like that!" Claude applauded.

"Sh-she almost g-got me too..." Rei heaved a sigh with a hand over her chest.

"Well, everyone was being so serious, I thought I should try to lighten the mood a little," Sothis said between giggles.

"To think that I would become the butt of a joke like this..." Hubert harrumphed as he adjusted his uniform's collar. "Had it been anyone else, there's a very good chance they wouldn't be breathing now..."

"Well, hey, you always gotta look out for ambushes, right?" Caspar chimed in. "Anyway, let that fake governor try something! We'll be ready for 'im!"

"Well, I would hope you lot wouldn't try anything rash," another voice spoke up, Seteth soon entering with Rhea not far behind. "So you say that Arundel escaped?"

"Yes, but we caught one of his accomplices, Duke Aegir," Hubert reported. "But we don't know how much he was aware of concerning his true identity or motives... Still, with Lady Blanc leading the interrogation, I doubt there will be much that Duke Aegir will be able to hide from her..."

"Not to mention that governor was actually someone else in disguise, just like Tomas and Monica," Byleth pointed out.

"He was?" Seteth's eyes widened the tiniest bit.

"Dorothea, show him the video you took," Byleth ordered, the brunette promptly getting out her mobile device and bringing up the video in question, showing it to Seteth and Rhea.

"No..." Rhea's eyes went wide. "It... can't be..."

"Do you know who he is, Lady Rhea?" Demitri queried.

"Unless I miss my guess," Seteth answered in the bishop's place, "this man bears a striking resemblance to the description of the leader of the original Game Genie cult responsible for the rise of Nemesis and the death of the first goddess..."

"What?! But wasn't that centuries ago?!" Claude gasped in disbelief. "There's no way he'd still be alive now...!"

"D-does that mean... he's a g-g-ghost? Or a zombie?!" Bernadetta squeaked in terror.

"I am not thinking so, Bernadetta," Petra shook her head. "This man who was disguising himself as Governor Arundel is more likely being a direct descending... I mean, descendant- of the cult leader from long ago. That would be perfectly explaining their so similar appearances."

"That would be the most likely explanation," Demitri nodded.

"I agree, b-but that d-doesn't mean he's a-any less d-dangerous," Rei added.

"Yeah, but forcing him to expose himself and flee's probably gonna put a major crimp in whatever plans they had, right?" Claude pointed out. "Let's try and look at the positive here."

"A fair point, but it may also cause them to accelerate their plans," Seteth countered. "So we must remain vigilant..."

"Excuse me, I need to get some fresh air," Rhea suddenly spoke, before swiftly exiting the room.

Having noted the look of distress on the bishop's face, Byleth spoke, "Sothis," tilting his head toward the exit. The young greenette gave a quick nod of understanding, before making her way to the door...

*Outside...*

Sothis crept after Rhea quietly, using her levitation so as not to give herself away with footsteps, noting that she was heading to a secluded corner of the yard... she hid herself behind some brush as the bishop slowed to a stop. The motion of Rhea's shoulders indicated she was crying... then she slammed her fist into the nearby wall. "Why...? Why, after all this time, does that one return to plague me... plague us again...?! Oh, Mother... if only... if only I could have...! (sob)"

Feeling her heart twisting, Sothis came to a decision, stepping into the open. "Rhea...?" she called hesitantly.

"Wh-" Rhea whirled around in surprise, and sure enough, there were streaks of tears running down her cheeks. "S- little Sothis...? Why are you here?"

"Byleth sent me after you," Sothis said bluntly, checking to make sure her feet were on the ground before walking toward the bishop. "Bad memories, I'm guessing?"

"S-something like that..." Rhea sighed, making an effort to wipe her eyes clear. "I'm not sure it's something I should burden you with, though..."

"I heard you mention your mother," Sothis said. "Did that guy murder her or something? Is that why you freaked out, for lack of a better term?"

"N... not directly..." Rhea managed to get out, before taking a look around to see if anyone was in earshot. "Actually... can you keep a secret, little one?"

"...that depends on who I'm keeping it secret from," Sothis said hesitantly. "I keep no secrets from Byleth, I'll tell you that right now. But I can hold off on telling him for a day or two, so you can get yourself pulled together..."

Rhea looked conflicted upon hearing this, directing her gaze at the grass as she debated internally... before finally heaving a sigh. "...Let's make it two days, to be safe."

"Deal," Sothis nodded, moving a little closer. "So what is it you want to tell me?"

Rhea clasped her hands in front of her to steel herself, before meeting the young girl's sharp gaze again. "To tell the truth... I'm Seiros."

"Seiros...? Wait, you mean-?!" Sothis caught herself, before lowering her voice. "THE Seiros...?! The one from the War of Liberation?!"

"Yes. I am," Rhea said firmly. "Those rumors I spoke to you about that one night? They were all true."

"But- but that's impossible!" Sothis moved back a little. "No CPU lives that long...!"

"I was not born from the shares like the subsequent rulers of Lowee," Rhea explained. "I was created directly by So- by the first goddess herself. Along with my... siblings..."

"Your... siblings...?" Sothis' eyes went wide as the implications hit her, her hands going to her mouth. "Oh no... That's... you poor thing!" Tears began to well up in her eyes despite herself.

"Yes... and that man- or perhaps, his ancestor, was indirectly responsible for their deaths," Rhea continued. "And they... harvested their body parts to create all manner of terrible weapons... that's one reason why the War of Liberation lasted so long."

"They used their bodies as weapons?!" Sothis gasped, horrified. "Then... then that Lance of Ruin Sylvain's brother used..."

"Yes, it was a remnant of a child of the goddess... my sibling," Rhea nodded. "When the War of Liberation ended, we destroyed most of those weapons, but decided to leave a few intact as a reminder to humanity of the horrors that had been wrought, in order to never repeat the mistakes of the past... and of course, I couldn't bring myself to destroy what was left of my mother..."

(Her mother... who I used to be...) Sothis' knees gave out, the girl falling to a kneeling position as she sobbed uncontrollably. "Oh... oh, Seiros...!"

"Shhh..." Rhea said as she kneeled before Sothis, pulling her into a gentle embrace. "It's touching for you to shed such tears, for my sake..."

"Ugh... (sniffle) Here I am, t-trying to comfort you, and now it's the opposite...!" Sothis noted the irony. (My daughter... my daughter was right here in front of me the whole time...)

"I do appreciate you coming out here with me," Rhea said, gently stroking Sothis' hair. "You are every bit as kind as your namesake was..."

Sothis couldn't help but chuckle at that. "Heh... I wonder... I wonder if perhaps... I am truly her reincarnation after all..."

"Who can say for sure..." Rhea sighed. "But I certainly wouldn't be surprised if you were..." The two ladies' attention was abruptly drawn to the distant sound of a jet engine, looking up to see... "Lady Blanc...?" the bishop gasped.

"Oh, did she... (sniff) did she find something at the governor's mansion in Enbarr?" Sothis pondered as she wiped her tears.

"It's possible... we should head back to the others," Rhea said as she stood, helping Sothis to her feet as well.

"All right... hey, does she... know about you?" Sothis couldn't help but ask.

"Yes, I always reach out when a new CPU is born, to offer what advice I can," Rhea nodded. "Seteth and Flayn are aware of my true nature as well..."

"Really? Then again, he IS the headmaster..." Sothis nodded in understanding. "Okay, we better get back."

"Let us go, then," Rhea nodded back, the two heading off with hands held...

Episode 38- End*