#and its already tragic in fodlan with just the students killing their classmates and byleth killing their pupils

[sieglinde-freud]

thinking a lot about the awakening kids at garreg mach au i had, and yk its always on my mind, but im thinkin… you all probably are aware but there was a betrayal mechanic that got cut from the final product in where units (i think it was felix and annette specifically) would defect from your army if you made decisions that directly conflicted with their interests. and man… the story potential that is here. i think the awakening kids would all (for the most part) stick to their houses but wouldnt it be interesting… if edelgard or dimitri let too many people die, i think inigo and cynthia would jump ship. i think if youre working with claude, laurent leaves if you keep your cards too close to your chest (dialogue choices matter!) without letting anyone in. like ooh. i think gerome would just dip post timeskip and you’d have to convince him to rejoin you. i think that would be funny. i need to sit on this. when i come back here with a 20 page doc detailing every path each kid can go down i will be ready

[loyalflutist]

Nightmares (F!Byleth x Dorothea)

Challenge: Bylethea Week 2019 (Twitter) Day 5: Nightmare

A/N: RIP Dorothea. That’s all I’m going to say. 

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Nightmares had plagued Dorothea for years. It always had been. Since the time of abandonment, the young girl would be clawed by the darkness. Horrifying imagery and sickening faces blew up before her. It had only gotten worse the older she got. The dreams would evolve to that of assassination attempts, rapes, and failure as an opera singer. They eventually morphed to dead soldiers and brutal deaths experienced by her old classmates.

Compared to someone as strong as Edelgard or Caspar, Dorothea was one of the few students who came to the Officers Academy for a purpose other than warfare. And she wanted to keep it that way. Yet fate decided otherwise. She was pulled into a tragic three-way conflict between the Adrestian Empire, the Holy Kingdom of Faerghus, and the Leicester Alliance. Three ideologies, three rulers, three factions, and none willing to find a compromise.

“…”

These hands… Dorothea stared at their callouses. They were meant to gracefully touch and lovingly comfort her significant other. Scribbled with lacerations and scars, her palms and fingers had killed instead. One glance upward foretold the future she would be burdened with.

Just like in her nightmares.

“I’m never going to find someone to fall in love with,” she laughed during a tea session with her neon professor. “I’ve killed so many. They’ll think of me as a killer.”

Byleth watched onward with concern as the songstress simmered down. Since her revival from the coma, the instructor had not only relinquished her title as the powerful Ashen Demon, she regained her grown alumni. Not all of them had safely transcended into adulthood. Many of them possess varying internal and external scars in this five-year war. Byleth sipped on her teacup, her gaze never leaving the young woman.

Dorothea was an unfortunate student caught in the tragedy. Those weary eyes glossed over the barely touched drink despite speaking about the mundane topics. None of the snacks were bothered with too. She couldn’t even swallow those dry crackers and cookies with her favorite tea.

Another sip. Byleth then lowered her cup, a faint smile blooming on her face.

“Dorothea… Have you ever considered that someone might fall in love with you from the academy?”

The alumni lightly scoffed. That was a comedic suggestion. Outside of those who allied themselves or worked under the flag of the Adrestian Empire, they were sworn enemies, never meant to be on the same level from mere allegiances. As for those who are, they were either already taken, were not interested, or had died on the battlefield. Dorothea intertwined her fingers and forced a smile.

“I have, but they died. Or… they were a little too… crazy for my safety.”

“…”

She chuckled. “I know, right? Shocking.��� Sarcasm dripped from her words.

Byleth instantly shot up to her feet. The chair’s feet skidding on the stony pavement screeched loud enough to startle Dorothea from her daze. By the time the young lady looked up, she saw her professor standing by her side. Her hands were snatched up by Byleth’s, the warmth enveloped her chilly fingers. Dorothea soon widens her eyes once Byleth proclaimed,

“What would you say if I told you that I’ve fallen for you?”

An audible gasp came from Dorothea. Out of everyone that confessed, she did not expect it to come from the mouth of her teacher. Byleth was a mercenary, a teacher, and a confidant. But never was she ever thought of as a lover. It never crossed through Dorothea’s mind that Byleth would ever hold feelings that transcend beyond mere friendship. It was from that day she also realized just how much her professor meant to her.

Did she accept the proposal?

“I… I need some time.”

Well… only after the war had ended… and only when she had almost lost Byleth.

Injuries tattered their figures as the battlefield roared in flames. From the background, many of their comrades gathered and retreated from the burning environment. Some on wyverns and Pegasus took the sky to douse the premise with water. Edelgard and Hubert rushed to the two females. To their horror, they’ve witnessed the close death of their beloved professor with the magus by her side.

Dorothea profusely wept into the girl’s chest when Byleth barely managed to crawl back to earth.

“I love you,” Dorothea croaked as she tightened her hold. “Please, don’t ever leave me.”

The songstress felt like the whole world would crush her if she were to lose her professor. She’s never felt anything like this before. Death was a concept she was not unfamiliar with anymore, but the thought of losing Byleth… She would be unable to live if Byleth were to die.

Byleth’s eyelids were barely lifted. Soft groans were inaudible as she reached to Dorothea. The instructor slowly patted the back of Dorothea’s head as she croaked, “…I won’t.” It was unfortunate that she was left with permanent handicaps and damages, but she was alive at least.

Fast forward to the present time, it has now been two years since the Immaculate One had been defeated by the hands of Edelgard and Byleth. Unlike Edelgard, Hubert, Caspar, Bernadetta, and Ferdinand, Byleth and Dorothea, alongside Linhardt and Petra, took their leave and went their own ways within the unified Fodlan. The two girlfriends thought it would be best they retire from serving under a ruler. Dorothea refused to commit any more killings. Her time of being a soldier was over the instant the war had concluded. Byleth had a slight limp and a frail heart. She was not back to her full strength and it’s unlikely she ever will be.

“Should anything happen, please, don’t hesitate to find me,” Byleth immediately pulled the old house leader into a strong hug. “I’m always here for you as your teacher.”

“My teacher,” Edelgard laughed once they parted. For once, she genuinely smiled. After all of the tragedies and anguish the noble had to go through, she finally broke into the cheerful disposition she once had as a little girl. “I will take up your offer for the future. But for now, I think you’ve earned your rest.”

Eventually, Dorothea and Byleth didn’t move too far from the castle. Hubert poured his resources to relocating the two females into a wealthy empire’s household fit for their statuses. The interiors were simplistic in contrast to the exterior designs, both women not bothering to purchase more than necessary, save it for some handmade clothes. Finance was never an issue as Ferdinand provided monthly allowances to them.

They’ve lived a lifestyle full of luxury. Dorothea finally found her peace and so has Byleth.

Sort of.

“You have another assignment?”

“Yeah.”

It was early in the morning when a thin mist hung in the air. Byleth stood by the doorway, the Sword of Creator snuggled on her waist. Within the living room was a retired Dorothea who occasionally performed live performances once in a blue moon. She approached the warrior with solemn features. Then, without hesitation, the songstress embraced her wife.

“Come home soon, honey.”

Byleth’s dulled eyes softened. She wrapped her arms around Dorothea and kissed her forehead.

“I will.”

Retirement may have come for Dorothea, but it didn’t for Byleth. Edelgard and her working companions sought to defeat and eliminate Those Who Slither in the Dark. The announcement of their plans to bring them down eventually invited Byleth back into the frontline, much to Dorothea’s dismay. How could Byleth volunteer to fight them? She wasn't as strong as she was before! Whatever strength she had before was hindered by incurable medical conditions.

They argued about the matter. They debated. They cried over it. But in the end, Byleth’s stubborn nature won, and there was nothing Dorothea could do.

“…”

Dorothea laid in bed once nightfall descended. She laid on her side, her hands resting upon the empty spot on the mattress. For the third time this month, Byleth was sent out on a task only she could complete. She wasn’t sure when her wife will return either. Some days, it took less than a few hours. On other days, she would come back after two months. What will it be for this assignment?

“Byleth…”

Dorothea curled into a fetal position and felt hot tears soak the white fabrics. She quietly whimpered, the negative thoughts slowly eroding bits of her hopes. Though she was lulled to sleep due to mental fatigue, she was greeted with a familiar set of dreams.

Nightmares. Those nightmares that had been sitting in the backburner made its return to the opera singer since the day Byleth returned to duty. This time, she watched the scenes unfold of when Byleth would never return home, of when Byleth went insane from PTSD, and of when Byleth proposed divorce to continue her occupation.

Just when will it end?

When will these nightmares be put to rest?

And most importantly… will these nightmares soon become a reality?