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“Are you sure you want to do this?” The voice drifted through the small room, the air heavy with the weight of the words. “I’m not so sure of this myself; just the very thought of all the blood makes me queasy.” Linhardt’s brows furrowed even as he dropped his gaze and glanced away. The silence was all the answer he needed.
She was in the dark again: the suffocating darkness that had shackled her for her whole life. A constant companion, always there, always clinging to her, digging deeper into her mind like claws slicing into flesh. She knew why she had to be here, trapped in this room, unable to venture outside into the sunlight, into the new world. Her dream, her ambitions realised; a united world: a world free of crests, free of the corruption of the church, free from the heinous practises enforced through ‘tradition’. She should have been happy. Celebrating.
But she couldn’t. Not now.
A great monstrous form had been hidden away in the great palace of Enbarr, concealed from the outside world. A relic from the war, a beast.
The Emperor of Fodlan.
Edelgard gritted her teeth harshly; some Emperor she was. She wasn’t a prisoner, but she knew the people would not understand; they would see her and only see… a monster.
Attempting to push away her growing anger, Edelgard sighed out into the room: an average, sparse room deep within the palace, far away from prying eyes, but a room that only drew attention to her enlarged form. She struggled to move in the too-small space, barely able to use the rugs laid out on the floor. This may be a dressed-up cage, but it was still a cage. Her heart was sinking lower and lower; she was trying, but she couldn’t stay cooped in here forever. She couldn’t do it again, not again.
Sharp fangs gnashed together. No, that wasn’t right. This wasn’t the same.
Since the accident in the final battle, when they were finally facing down the great dragon that had enslaved Fodlan, Edelgard’s twin crests had reacted together. She didn’t understand what had happened, and she certainly wasn’t going to get any answers from those worms in the dark. But, her body had suddenly stopped… and violently twisted and morphed, corrupting as her skin stretched and claws erupted from her fingers.
She remembered the panic, the pain, the overwhelming fear, the screaming. She didn’t want to turn into one of them, those… things. Those creatures, those poor people… their minds were nothing more than beasts. She remembered crying, pleading, and begging for it to stop. Not when everything she had ever worked toward had been within her grasp...
Whether through a blessing or a curse… the transformation had ceased, maybe it was sheer force of will, or maybe it was just a cruel twist of fate. But, she had managed to keep her mind, as fragile as it now was, she was still here.
Edelgard’s eyes drifted down to her own malformed body; her form, however, had not made it through unscathed.
And now, she swamped this room with her grotesque form, she...she hated it…. Her great, horrible claws scraped the stone ground beside where she is sitting, hunched over against a wall. She was too large and cumbersome, struggling with the most basic tasks. Her body was not human, but not totally a beast; something… in-between. A tail lashed hard against the stone wall, her eyes bitterly flitting to the new limb.
She breathed in deeply and let it go, feeling the air escape her chest. Getting angry would get her nowhere; she tried to think of something else, anything. Edelgard’s eyes wandered past the bedding and rugs that adorned the floor, over to the stack of books, a few that were dog-eared. Ferdinand had left them here, he had taken it upon himself to read to her.
Next to the books lay little dolls of all shapes and sizes… Bernadetta had made it her mission to create little figures of all of them, to remind her that she wasn’t alone. The small smiles on knitted faces, even Hubert’s, fulfilled their mission as she felt an unbidden smile pull at the edges of her lips.
She recalled more of her classmates, as each one of them visited her often in her isolation. None of them ever looked upon her with disgust, with malice or fear… not a single one. She didn’t quite know what she had done to deserve such treatment… but her heart bloomed with warmth; they gave her strength, and she carried on for them.
Memories danced through her mind now, she welcomed them.
Of Dorothea sitting next to her; singing to her, of hope, of the promise for a better tomorrow. She could close her eyes and listen to that wondrous voice of hers.
Of Hubert; his reports just the same as they always had, her faithful servant, he had promised to never leave her side, just as always.
Of Caspar; the excitable boy, chatting about his day, showing her a new move, she found she enjoyed listening to him, his excitement infectious.
Of Ferdinand; she could see him now, reading from the latest book, drawing her into adventures of faraway lands, sharing his tea and thoughts on how this new world should be run.
Of Bernie… she often ventured here and chatted away the hours. They sometimes shared their love of drawing, even if… Edelgard wasn’t able to do that anymore…
Of Petra; sharing stories and lore from their lands, sharing updates and talks of the alliance between Fodlan and Brigid, no longer a vassal state.
Of Linhardt; every day he would update her on his theories, his mind working away at how to help her, how to change her back, how to improve her condition, something, anything. He was a man obsessed, Linhardt had often grown bored or tired of his old projects, but not this one…
And lastly… there was…
Suddenly the door creaked open, the portal bursting candlelight into the dark room; there she was, standing in the doorway, holding a familiar tray, the fragrance of bergamot wafting into the room.
“Good evening… El…”
How many more times were they going to try this? Was this even working?
She couldn’t help the snapping of her tail against the floor as her body spoke of her irritation; once again Linhardt and Dorothea moved into her room. The small gentle smile of Dorothea looking up at her, attempting to soothe her, to placate her.
“I know, Edie… I know… but Linhardt thinks we are making progress.” The sweet songstress laid a hand softly against Edelgard’s arm, the touch somewhat calming her racing heart. She was among friends; she wasn’t being experimented on for malicious, disgusting reasons. They were trying to help her. She tried not to look at the steel poles holding up clear bags, one filled with crimson liquid. She recognised such devices: the instruments that plagued her childhood, paired with knives and pain and torture. Now staring at the familiar apparatus brought on the bubble of panic from deep in her chest, her breathing beginning to increase; they weren’t going to harm her, she was safe with them. But, something illogical did not listen to her.
She tore her eyes away from the metal and clear tubes, back to her friend; both of Dorothea’s hands were now laying on the twisted flesh of Edelgard’s arm, gently caressing the vile skin of this form. She tried to focus on the feeling of calm, of safety that Dorothea was doing her best to project.
“Just like always, focus on me Edie… okay? You are doing so well.”
Edelgard didn’t care how childlike she felt right now. Dorothea was here for her, and Linhardt was trying to help her. That was it, that was all that was happening.
“Looks like you’ve lost more layers of skin, or… whatever this is. Hmmm...” She heard Linhardt speak… the corrupted Emperor wasn’t sure if it was to her or himself. She tried to ignore him, but couldn’t help flit her eyes over to him, just in time to see the needle against her arm.
Edelgard’s heart rate spiked. Her eyes widened as a wave of fear washed over her senses, her whole body tensed.
“Hey… hey, Edie, I have news for you: Petra is coming back to see you today!” Dorothea’s words were gentle, idle conversation, but forced... the Songstress knew the stress Edelgard was experiencing.
The Emperor tried to force the panic down, tried to swallow it even as she hissed at the sudden sharp pain; ignore it, ignore it… don’t move.
Every single time, Edelgard had no other choice but to endure her own dread, her own repressed memories coming back to haunt her; every single time she had kept them at bay, but… it was so hard.
Edelgard felt herself shaking, her teeth chattering, even as she nodded to what Dorothea was saying. She wasn’t back there, she wasn’t back there… this was different, she repeated to herself over and over again. Everything was fine.
“Petra wishes for us all to go see her in Brigid very soon. Wouldn’t that be nice, Edie?” Dorothea’s voice was starting to sound strained too.
“Nearly done… halfway there.” Linhardt’s words broke through Dorothea’s chatter.
Just like all the other times, this meant that no more blood was being drained from her body, and instead, he was now attaching the hung-up fresh blood. Pure, donated, untainted blood that was given freely.
Edelgard knew that Linhardt was using the very theories and knowledge that her old tormentors and the church used, using it to his own ends. Such thoughts made her clawed fingers twitch. But, he was trying to use it for good… that was all she could ever ask for.
Just as she began to idly wonder who could possibly be donating their blood to her…
Something happened.
The sound of light, hard chips hitting the floor… followed by heavier chunks of what sounded like rock thunked off the stone. Dorothea had stopped talking… her mouth half agape as she now stared over at Linhardt. Edelgard too, moved her gaze over to the scholar, but it wasn’t him the songstress was staring at...
Pieces of Edelgard’s flesh were hardening… turning to stone… petrifying and falling to the floor. Confusion filled her chest and mind as she froze, heart bobbing between hope and alarm, unsure if this was a good thing or not. She tried to flex her claws, but she couldn’t feel them anymore… before they too crumbled to the floor in a pile of petrified skin and muscle.
Her heart fell over into panic as it gushed up from below. In a rush of adrenaline that flooded her, she raised her arm that was currently falling apart… but her dark, stony arm was not what responded. Through the cracked and weakening flesh burst forth a brand new… pink, scarred arm. Her arm. Her real arm. Just like she remembered it.
Time froze as she stared at her own arm: her own small, normal arm.
The fear felt stuck inside her throat as she stared. Soft flesh met her eyes; she had never ever thought she would be happy to see those scars. But, joy fell over her, hope blossoming inside her, and she couldn’t stop the smile from erupting at her lips.
People were shouting around her, but she didn’t hear them anymore. She flexed her new fingers. They worked… just like they used to. She could… make a fist.
More cracks and thunks as more stone bulk fell to the ground under her. The Emperor lost touch with her alien body, she felt numb yet so hot, tight, constricted; this body was suffocating her.
“Ca...n’t… brea...the.” She managed out, her… normal sounding voice. But that bliss was cut short, the heavy weight on her chest was crushing her. A burst of activity before her as her two friends launched themselves forward, pulling at petrified skin and muscle of her old form as they tugged and clawed away. Soon her upper body was finally revealed… she felt the sudden heat of the room touch her soft, naked skin once more, like a flower finally blooming, opening up, reaching for the sun. She felt free.
“I’ll get the others.” Linhardt suddenly spoke up before he rushed out of the room. Edelgard could barely pay attention to him leaving as she lay in the rubble of her old body, panting for breath with her sore lungs. She felt so weak, frail, but also hypersensitive to the air in the room, and to the sharp stone still jabbing at her.
“Here, Edie… let me help you.”
Dorothea looked almost as exhausted, close to bursting with that smile filling her face. But she was so gentle, she had picked up one of the rugs Edelgard had been sleeping on, wrapping it softly around her naked form, and beginning to pull her up.
Everything was so overwhelming, her mind struggling to keep up: had that… just happened? Was she human again? Was she dreaming?
Her weak human legs couldn’t hold her up; they felt so weak and flimsy… but there… and whole. More rubble fell to the floor as she had to lean against Dorothea for support.
Edelgard’s shock still hadn’t abated, as the far door burst open, filling the now vastly small space with people. It was almost too much, but Edelgard didn’t care; she wanted this to be real, needed this to be real. She felt so sore and weak, so tired, but… she was free...
She stared at the faces of her elated loved ones: at Hubert, standing stoically close by, his eyes watery as he watched on, the small smile speaking volumes. At Ferdinand, close to bursting with happiness, only matched by Caspar, their joy infectious. Shouts and laughter exploded from the group; it was so loud, but she didn’t mind, leaning against Dorothea still, she didn’t mind at all. Bernie was right next to Petra; it seems she had made it, after all. Their flushed faces were bright red; had they ran here? They, too, spoke warm and loving words to her; Edelgard was struggling to understand, it was all a blur to her tired self. Her eyes were heavy but she kept them open… someone was missing…
“Byleth?” Edelgard managed out from her dry throat. The professor that had stood by them, led their class; she, too, was a Black Eagle in her eyes. Where was she? This… family... wasn’t complete without her. Yes… this was what this was. Her family.
The group finally fell silent, eyes glanced away from her. Something was wrong…
What…? What is it?!
But the group parted to reveal two figures behind them. Entering the room, there was Linhardt… holding up… Byleth! What was wrong?! Edelgard reacted on instinct to her hurt friend, trying to race forward, pulling out of Dorothea’s grasp. But, her legs were too weak… she tumbled heavily to the floor. Edelgard’s long hair falling before her eyes, even her arm was too weak to push it out of the way.
“It’s okay… I’m alright.”
Byleth’s croaky voice managed out before her; seems she, too, had darted forward. The pair of them were now on their knees together in the centre of the group.
There she was, her teacher, looking at her as Edelgard stared right back. She seemed so pale, and sweaty; somewhat gaunt, but the utter joy on her face shone through. Edelgard couldn’t help but think she was looking at her own reflection. Yet... Byleth was looking with mismatched eyes, one… her usual sky blue, the other… was awash with black. A red iris breaking up the sea of darkness … with thick, ugly, black veins across the side of her neck and leading down under her clothes. An infection, a corruption evident across the once pristine skin of her professor. Edelgard’s heart sank, her happiness forgotten.
“What did you do…” Edelgard whispered. Nausea filled her, the sickness leaking through her guts, entwining them.
But still, Byleth only grinned at her. The protective smile that had always broken through to Edelgard.
“I made my choice...”
“I would never…” Edelgard interrupted. But Byleth cut her off.
“I know. But, I wanted to.”
“Edie, any of us would have done the same.” Dorothea piped in, followed by nods and agreements. The smiles back on their faces.
“Why…?” Edelgard didn’t understand. What had made them go so far for her?
“You gave us choice.” Petra spoke this time, matching the energy.
“What…?”
“You gave me the power to choose how to live my life.” Byleth continued. “You did for all of us.”
This made Edelgard look up to her classmates, not just her classmates… her friends… her family. They all stood around her, beaming at her: their joy evident. The powerful warmth she wanted to bask in and never let go. She couldn’t quite believe it, nor understand it, but somehow… along the way to fulfill her dream, her ambitions, to sacrifice herself so no one else would be forced to suffer, she had made close ties she had never thought possible, created bonds so strong they had stood firm against every test thrown at them…
She couldn’t help it, a new fresh smile at her lips. Her crazy, steadfast allies, friends… had truly become… her family.
“You showed all of us that we can make our own choices….” Bernadetta added.
“Lady Edelgard,” Hubert carried on. “I believe I speak for everyone here, you gave us choice in this world, and we chose to stand with you.”
“Yeah!” Caspar yelled right after. “We are our own people, not our crests, not our bloodlines, not a noble, not a commoner; we are us, you are you, and we all want to be here!”
Waves of tears finally dropped down Edelgard’s cheeks, but her smile never broke. She didn’t want to be anywhere else in the whole world right now. She loved them… every single one of them. They really were her family.
“Group hug!” She laughed at Caspar’s shout as they all descended upon her, even Hubert. She felt so safe, so happy… so free.