#edelgard deserved better

[writer-of-worlds]

Byleth: Edelgard and I are adopting.

Bernadetta: O-oh! Congrat--

Byleth, slamming down adoption papers in front of Bernadetta: It's you. Sign here.

[dinoelu]

wife surprise attack

[asha-mage]

My roommate is playing Three Houses for the first time and that means that of COURSE I am being possessed by Dimiashe feelings again, especially because they are doing Azure Moon first.

And you know what gets me most about Dimiashe? What drives me insane into the small hours of the morning? It's the fact that, on Silver Snow and Verdant Wind Ashe leaves. He turns his back on Byleth, on his classmates, on the Church, on everything, to do what he thinks is right: to fight for justice for Lonato and Cristophe. He gives up his dream of being a Knight, he gives up his place in the Kingdom, his adopted House, the title that is now his by rights, even the friends that he fought and bleed and learned besides- all to do the right thing.

But on Azure Moon? On Azure Moon Ashe stays. And their is only one thing, one possible reason, for Ashe to remain on the Kingdom's side on Azure Moon, when on all other routes he sides with the Empire.

Dimitri.

Dimitri the golden prince that Ashe blushes and stammers and begs not to treat him with such familiarity. Dimitri who, if all had been as it should have, Ashe would have knelt to after graduation and sworn an oath of fealty and devotion, to serve as liege man, as bow arm, as guardian, as knight, onto his death.

Dimitri who Ashe finds again after five years broken and full of sorrow and pain and lost in the dark. Dimitri, who swears and insists he is a mad man, a monster, a killer, but who all the same Ashe can not turn his back on.

Ashe is driven by an fierce fiery need to do the right thing no matter what. His defining quote is It's never wrong to have virtue, even if means being made an outcast and he follows through, siding with Edelgard on every route except Azure Moon. And why? Because on Azure Moon Ashe looks at Dimitri, scarred and near feral with grief and without Dedue to be his knight any longer, and chooses Dimitri over what is right- over justice for Cristophe, over Lonato's memory, over a future free of the church's tyranny.

Ashe's loyalty and love for the Prince who showed kindness and compassion to a commoner, who brought sweets to a foundling and street thief, is the only thing greater then his sense of justice.

[amiharana]

fe3h revalink au. i don't actually have a full-fledged thought for this one but i'm imagining byleth!link and edelgard!revali, and the [FE3H SPOILERS] scene where you kill edelgard in the verdant wind route and the quotes "your path lies across my grave" and the "i wanted... to walk with you..."

revali, who won't back down for what he believes is right even though he didn't foresee how the war he started would destroy the country, and link, who wants to save him but knows that even if revali loves him, he won't back down from his beliefs. revali who begs link to kill him when link gets the edge on him during their final battle, because if link wants to fix this country then it will depend on him taking revali down.

"well, then? claim your victory," revali grunts, barely able to hold himself up with his bow. if link doesn't kill him now, the blood loss will kill revali first. "strike me down. you must!"

"i can't," link whispers, blue eyes wide and teary. it almost catches revali off-guard; he's never seen link break like this. link, who is always stony-faced and expressionless, whose eyes are now full of tears, the grip on his sword with the barest tremble. this isn't how he wanted to see link cry for the first time... "revali..."

"even now," revali says, gritting his teeth, "people across this land are killing each other. if you do not act now, this conflict..." he winces, the pain flaring all over his torso. link twitches, nearly jumping forward to reach for revali. "... will go on, forever."

he looks up at link. the little hylian is crying freely now, face morphed into a look of anguish. revali's gut tightens, in pain, in regret. he wishes it wouldn't have to end like this, but he refuses to back down now. it's too late for him anyway...

"your path... lies across my grave," revali barely manages. "it is time for you to find the courage to walk it."

"no, revali," link whispers, tears continuing to pour down his cheeks. "we can fix this together, just come with me, please—"

"if i must fall," revali cuts him off, breathing heavily and shutting his eyes, "then let it be by your hand." he forces himself to open his eyes again and look up at link. "please, link. this is the only way."

"i won't," link says, wiping furiously at his eyes. he staggers forward towards revali, his sword falling from his grip as he kneels before revali and cradles his face. "this can't be the only way, we can still save hyrule together, our paths can still be parallel, please, revali—"

but it's too late. revali supposes he still fell by link's sword; this final battle between him and link did a number on him, and there wouldn't have been any way he could survive it with the amount of injuries he has sustained, regardless. link was always an incredible fighter. he wraps an arm around link and pulls him close, inhaling the scent of his once-lover for the last time. link throws his arms around revali's neck, desperately holding him tight.

then, revali pulls away and presses his lips to link's forehead. "i wanted... to walk with you..." he whispers, exhaling finally and his grip loosening. with link in his arms as he takes his final breath, revali is finally at peace now.

link realizes a second too late that those were revali's last words, revali's last breath, revali's last embrace, and he screams. link howls and shouts and wails, holding revali's body, not caring that his armor is seeping with blood or that his body is heavy and sore. he begs, calling for mipha or zelda to heal, for anyone to help, for the goddesses not to take his revali from him.

link sobs, holding revali's body tightly rocking back and forth. he did this, he killed revali. and perhaps it was a necessary evil, for the good of hyrule and to end the war, but it's an evil link will never be able to live with, the blood of his lover forever staining and burning his hands with sin.

[lossofallwords]

I wish I could look at Edelgard art and stuff without seeing people talking Controversial stuff. It's, so hard to enjoy a character when all I see is either people calling her Pure Evil or praising her as some sorta God.

[aerithisms]

sometimes i remember how the silver snow route from fire emblem three houses had the potential to be the juiciest sexiest angstiest route in that whole game like edelgard is such a torturously tragic character on all non-crimson flower routes to start with but ESPECIALLY this route, where she allows herself to place her faith in the eagles and byleth and comes so close to escaping her despair only to die miserable and alone at the hands of someone she loved and trusted, should by all rights have been the slay of the century. and then i remember that it was half-arsed and soulless and i get mad all over again

[maggie-candy999]

It’s like the game just forgot these two are supposed to be important. 😓

Fire Emblem 3 houses really should have just made Seteth the out right fourth lord of the routes. Like it's super annoying looking back at it how he's both important and yet not important to the Silver Snow route, when it's obvious that should be his route. He should also be shown more importance in the other 3 seeing as Azure Moon has us important to the church, Crimson Flower has El's bias(quote on quote for that cause she's blaming a whole race of people who were nearly genocided for the actions that only Rhea took) against the Nabateans, and Verdant Wind because that is literally the only route we get to fight Nemesis.

Hell, another idea would be to make Flayn the 4th official lord. And actually go deep into how a lot of this has affected her. Like we never get to see much of the two, and usually when we do it's is a big lore dump. Not that I don't like it and that they weren't written well, just that they could have been better.

Like have El question her ideals because she gets to know Flayn in Crimson Flower, or have her shit talk her and Seteth as they choose to side with Rhea.

Have Dimitri be able to interact more with Flayn, have her be the one to smack some sense into him because he's being stupid and won't let someone heal his wound after a battle. Have Seteth speak to him and it remind Dimitri of his father and him have either a freak out moment as he pictures Seteth as his dead dad or which I would prefer more, have him break down in front of him. Have him absolutely sobbing as Seteth holds him and comforts him like a father figure that he's desperately been needing.

Have Claude be more combative with Seteth. (He deserves more interactions with Seteth in my opinion) Have them bounce off each other on how very different their ideas are. Have Seteth actually been cornered by Claude into revealing history on himself and let the player choose who they side with more as points for whoever they side with. Heck you can even have this with Flayn but Claude being more sympathetic towards her as Flayn not only has supports with him, but also because Flayn is that freaking Charming!

Have Flayn actually see the damage that Rhea has done and question everything she knows. Give her actual rage moments, let her mature even more to where we could have her more cut throat and mirror El in SS. Or have that she shows resilience by keeping a smile on her face even when she's going through some of the worst stuff mentally. Let her show the leadership that is hinted at with her being Cethleann. Show the side of her that was a Saint that actually experienced War.

Have Seteth show that side of him. Show the actual power of a major crest and why they are sought after instead of the subtle things they do. Have Seteth be able to actually move the earth and summon vines and other things to his defence. Actually show his power of performing miracles just as his description says he can. Like an act of mercy that he can give to El when we fight her. Maybe even something that has why people follow him. Hell, show more of him actually talking to people cause that's what he's good at from seeing his supports.

These two deserve so much better than being left on the sidelines. They are literally some of the only survivors of a race that was nearly wiped out. That deserves more attention than what it gets. It's just so much wasted potential and story that we are never gonna get.

[isan0rt]

One of these days I really need to get around to writing an actual essay about the strong narrative and thematic parallels between Dedue and Edelgard. Today is not that day. But one of these days I will write the essay.

(It's about two people who lose their entire families and their entire worlds and react by covering themselves in literal armor and picking up a physical shield the size of their own bodies to defend their hearts from further pain. It's about picking up an axe and deciding to change the world with your own hands. It's about how only one other person in the world at the beginning of the story knows their true selves and loves them as an individual first. It's about how totally human and ordinary Dedue would be the perfect example of the deserving in Edelgard's ideal crestless meritocracy if Dedue didn't fundamentally reject Edelgard's worldview, and if Edelgard didn't completely overlook him. It's about how in the only route where Edelgard doesn't turn herself into a monster as a futile last ditch desperation effort to save her dream of a better future, Dedue does to try to save his.

It's about wanting a savior to reach out their hand to them in the worst moments of their lives, and how Dedue gets that and Edelgard doesn't and that emotionally and thematically makes every single bit of difference.)

[dvrtrblhr]

omg hiii your Dimiclaudes are gorgeous and I adore the snippets of writing you add to the pieces 💛💙

aaa thanks a lot! i love drawing them forever, so i'm happy others also enjoy it lol

anyway, i searched my folders for a sketch i hadn't posted and i found this one:

and the scene that comes with it below:

As if to prove that point, while they followed the locals through the tunnels that would lead them to Abyss, Claude noticed that Dimitri was throwing glances at him and looking sulky.

“What is it?” Claude asked in a whisper. Dimitri glanced at him and sulked some more. It was starting to get annoying.

“You don’t think I can take him,” he answered finally. Claude couldn’t help the way his mouth fell open in disbelief. Out of all things, that was what bothered him. It was that kind of moment that made Claude very aware of how different they really were. “Honestly, he’s not even that big. He’s shorter than Dedue, I think.”

“Dedue, who is probably the tallest, biggest person in the whole monastery,” Claude rebutted mostly because Dimitri’s remark was so absurd. “Anyway, did I say that you couldn’t take him? I don’t think so.” They walked in silence for a while longer before Claude continued, “I don’t see why you would want to risk getting hurt because of something so silly. It’s not even your specialty. Or did you forget that you excel in sparring with a lance? That long pole with a sharp tip that keeps the enemy at a safe distance, remember?”

“Why are you so sure I’m going to lose though?” Dimitri asked, still looking offended.

“I’m not! In this stupid thing called fist fighting even the winner gets hurt. Now, if brawling is what you want, then go ahead! Just don’t expect me to cheer for you or kiss your bruises better, all right?” he replied, equally perplexed and irritated, then noticed what he had just said and looked around to see that they had, fortunately or not, fell behind the rest of their group so he continued, “What were you expecting, Dimitri? Did you think I would swoon at your manliness? I’m sorry, but that… doesn’t really impress me. Now, you want to know what impresses me? Your kindness, passion and sincerity.”

It was Dimitri’s turn to be speechless, it seemed. Claude immediately thought he had said too much and felt his face flush at his own corniness. Then Dimitri's hands were caressing his cheeks softly, tilting his head upwards so he could kiss his lips gently. It was the kind of touch that made Claude forget why doing that at such time and place was a really bad idea.

“You are right, I’m sorry,” Dimitri said quietly, still cradling his face in his hands, “There’s one thing, though. You are too kind, Claude. Kinder than I could ever hope to be. And kinder than I deserve.”

Claude wanted to protest about such a useless comparison and about Dimitri’s supposed unworthiness. It was something that had crept into their conversations from time to time, how Dimitri seemed to think he was somehow a bad person. It made no sense considering the effort he put into being as good and helpful as he could, sometimes to the point of exhaustion. He didn’t say anything, though, it was such a pleasant moment… He really didn’t want to ruin it with an argument, not even an important one he had been procrastinating for a while. And Dimitri was kissing him again, his lips, his cheeks, his neck. He might really turn to mush if that continued.

Then they heard the sound of footsteps and they were quickly pulling away from each other. Edelgard appeared by the corner looking sour.

"What are you two doing?" she asked irritably.

Golden Dawn, Chapter 20, Wind - Underground

[curse-d-owl]

Ive talked about my contempt for Golden Dumpsterfire and 3 Hopes in general for disrespecting Claude and the Golden Deers numerous times so here's how I'd personally fix these problems.

In the process I'll also make changes to Azure Gleam's structure which i will explain in due time.

One of the main problems is that Claude teams up and fights against the wrong people. He teams up with Edelgard who has done nothing but hurt Leicester and fights against Dimitri and Rhea who both work hard to get rid of Fodlan's problems that Claude has issues with. Specifically nationalism, crests, heroes relics, seiros faith, merit vs lineage.

Dimitri and Rhea get rid of nationalism by helping Duscur reclaim their land and respect, Dimitri has consistent conversations with the leader of Duscur and it's people and they allow Petra, a foreign queen who fought for the Empire, to be an active member of their army.

As for the rest Dimitri acknowledges that crests and heroes relics aren't gonna be here forever and that people deserve higher positions like being nobles and knights serving in his army if their up to the task as shown with Ashe and the other commoners in his army.

Not to mention Houses Claude among many other characters condemn Edelgards violent approach to changing Fodlan, which is to kill and conquer.

And lastly neither Dimitri nor Rhea has a valid reason for attacking Leicester by trying to steal their lord's. That plan can easily backfire into Leicester teaming up with Adrestia. They're both mutual victims of the Empire and have the same goals for Fodlan.

So with all of that out the way it's time to start talking about the changes I'd make.

So with all of that in mind there is 0 reason for Claude to side against Dimitri and 0 reason to side with Edelgard.

For starters the only change I'd make to part 1 is that it's Hubert who leads the main assault on Leicester, not Ferdinand. Reason for that I'd that i want Ferdinand and all the black eagles and blue lions to be recruitable just like how the golden deers are recruitable in the other routes.

Now for part 2 it essentially follows the same structure as Azure Gleam which is provoke the empire, retreat into Ailell and finish things off at the Monestary by defeating both Edelgard and Thales.

Now this is personal and subjective but letting Golden Wildfire's second half just be Azure Gleam 2.0 would be a disservice to both routes and especially the golden deers since they already suffer from having the same chapters and structure as Silver Snow in Houses.

So here's where i come up with the solution to change Azure Gleam's structure. Instead of going with a strategic plan to defeat the Empire the circumstances in Azure Gleam allows them to go for an offensive approach. I'd let the 3 way battle between the factions happen earlier in part 2 which gives Dimitri to opportunity to invade Adrestia and finish things off in Enbarr.

Plus this change fits both of their characters better since Dimitri is more on the offensive side of things while Claude is more tactical and cunning.

And one last thing Edelgard being brainwashed into a helpless infant by Thales gets removed. Straight up. That junk doesn't benefit anyone in anyway and only hurts the story and cast.

So yeah that's it for my attempt at fixing Golden Wildfire. If you've made it this far is like to thank you for taking the time to read what i have to say. If you have opinions of your own feel free to share it with me :)

[raxistaicho]

just saw a post stating that edelgard starting a war is 100% wrong, essentially stating that being a revolutionary is Evil no matter the context

it really is incredible just how absurd theyre willing to go with this narrative that shes a bad person, as if a good percentage of media doesnt inherently glorify revolutionaries as heroes and idols to be celebrated. but when edelgard does this, it suddenly becomes wrong, a crime. how curious is that, right?

like its really clear that these people just dont give a damn about the story of fodlan at all because its VERY CLEAR that this is a country on the brink of collapse. i dont know how you can look at fodlan in any capacity and not see the cracks beginning to form. this is a country where child soldiers are not only encouraged, but REQUIRED in order to keep up with bandit attacks and slaying demonic beasts. multiple paralogues state that children with crests are married off, to the point where sylvain literally calls himself a studhorse at one point. ingrids paralogue is about defending ingrid from being KIDNAPPED and likely forced to marry a man at knifepoint. multiple cultures like sreng and duscur have been stomped on and treated like dirt, treated like "cared for" slaves at best and violent savages at worst, to the point where a man escaping back to his homeland is seen as "refusing kindness". FODLAN IS A BAD PLACE.

but no! apparently war is ALWAYS evil, even when the alternative is letting this state of affairs continue. war is ALWAYS evil, even when it saves innocent lives from the machinations of those who would do us harm. war-- No, let me be clear about what this person means. When they say "War", what they actually mean is "Violence." Violence is always Evil. That's what this means. It's that old adage of "Violence never solved anything", except that this is a statement used by pacifists to demean all violence rather than just cruelty.

If you look me in the eyes and tell me that you wouldn't hurt anybody, ever, then all it tells me is that you haven't got the heart to actually care about people. Is violence tragic? Yes. Absolutely. But denouncing it entirely is... It's beyond inhuman. It's apathetic about human life to the point of insanity. There are stories dating back centuries - Millenia, almost certainly - about how men and women will fight against gods and demons just to save one person from a fate they didn't deserve.

"Violence is Evil." No. Violence is Emotion. It can be used to attack and it can be used to defend. It is not, and cannot, be evil of its own accord. It is a tool to be used at the discretion of its wielder.

Evil, TRUE Evil, is Apathy. Evil is when you have all the power in the world to help people, to change the world, and you don't. When you see genuine human suffering and you don't feel the urge to step in and help. Evil triumphs when good men do nothing.

just saw a post stating that edelgard starting a war is 100% wrong, essentially stating that being a revolutionary is Evil no matter the context it really is incredible just how absurd theyre willing to go with this narrative that shes a bad person, as if a good percentage of media doesnt inherently glorify revolutionaries as heroes and idols to be celebrated. but when edelgard does this, it suddenly becomes wrong, a crime. how curious is that, right?

Generally speaking, Edelgard detractors try to deny that she's revolting at all through some description pedantry, even though ultimately what she's doing is fighting the very social groundwork upon which Fodlan rests, and,

So yeah. They get so hung up on the part where she's a person in power herself and ignore that she intends to change Fodlan utterly, and for the better. Rhea and Seteth frequently call her a traitor or other synonyms. She is a revolutionary.

Also, people just become enamored with the ideal of peaceful protest, when the reality is... sometimes things gotta get bloody.

like its really clear that these people just dont give a damn about the story of fodlan at all because its VERY CLEAR that this is a country on the brink of collapse. i dont know how you can look at fodlan in any capacity and not see the cracks beginning to form. this is a country where child soldiers are not only encouraged, but REQUIRED in order to keep up with bandit attacks and slaying demonic beasts. multiple paralogues state that children with crests are married off, to the point where sylvain literally calls himself a studhorse at one point. ingrids paralogue is about defending ingrid from being KIDNAPPED and likely forced to marry a man at knifepoint. multiple cultures like sreng and duscur have been stomped on and treated like dirt, treated like "cared for" slaves at best and violent savages at worst, to the point where a man escaping back to his homeland is seen as "refusing kindness". FODLAN IS A BAD PLACE.

Yup. It's been said time and again, but for a setting in an FE game, Fodlan's in a remarkable state of turmoil long before the war kicks off. Usually things are peaceful before the aggressor nation makes it move.

but no! apparently war is ALWAYS evil, even when the alternative is letting this state of affairs continue. war is ALWAYS evil, even when it saves innocent lives from the machinations of those who would do us harm. war-- No, let me be clear about what this person means. When they say "War", what they actually mean is "Violence." Violence is always Evil. That's what this means. It's that old adage of "Violence never solved anything", except that this is a statement used by pacifists to demean all violence rather than just cruelty.

So Fire Emblem as a series is in a weird place in how it treats war, because frankly it wants to have things both ways. Obviously the writers don't want to extol the "virtues" of warfare so on the face of things, the series tends to portray an anti-war message, but this is an SRPG at the end of the day, so while Emmeryn's appeals to peace were powerful and cause a good number of Plegia's soldiers to dessert, you still use violence and war to stop Gangrel, Walhart, and Grima. The writing rejects violence for a good cause even though violence is how you fix everything.

One of the Edelcrits runs a whole-ass thing picking out anti-war lines from Heroes as though this somehow throws shade on Three Houses, when the reality is it's throwing shade on how things are done throughout the whole series. They behave as though self-defensive violence is always justified and never spirals out of proportion.

"Violence is Evil." No. Violence is Emotion. It can be used to attack and it can be used to defend. It is not, and cannot, be evil of its own accord. It is a tool to be used at the discretion of its wielder.

Exactly. It's all about what the violence is doing and how severe it goes. Edelgard fights to bring rights to the people; Rhea fights to maintain her power and Fodlan's status quo. The fact that Rhea is the one defending herself doesn't change that she's fighting for a bad cause.

Evil, TRUE Evil, is Apathy. Evil is when you have all the power in the world to help people, to change the world, and you don't. When you see genuine human suffering and you don't feel the urge to step in and help. Evil triumphs when good men do nothing.

Very true, and Fodlan is a case study in that.

Thanks for the excellent ask!

[cherrypikkins]

Here is my contribution to the final prompt from @fe-oc-week! Oct 15 - Endings

With some fake game ending cgs for Kitt :3

No extra lore write-up today! Instead, I've included some sample battle dialogue below the cut. Do enjoy :3

Background generously provided by @damnilovefaerghus

vs transformed Miklan (Conand Tower, White Clouds):

Kitt: "I was hoping it wouldn't come to this… But that's why I'm here."

Kitt: "Listen, Professor. If you can crack its armor, I'll make quick work of it."

Kitt: "But if you want to give your students an impromptu lesson on how to fell a Demonic Beast… I won't object."

If ordered to attack transformed Miklan: Kitt: "Fine, then. Allow me to show you how it's done."

vs Edelgard:

(Battle of Garreg Mach, pre-time skip)

Edelgard: "You and I are not so different, Kitt. I know you wish to be free of the Church's machinations. We might have walked this path together, had you trusted me."

Kitt: "This is rich, coming from the Flame Emperor herself. Your entire reign is built on lies and secrets. I can't trust you any more than I can trust the Church."

Kitt: "And as they say, better the devil you know…"

(Battle at Enbarr, Silver Snow/Verdant Wind)

Kitt: "Edelgard. Let Rhea go. I don't know what you have planned for her, but she and I have a score to settle."

Edelgard: "I am not concerned with vendettas of the ancient past, nor will they have a place in Fodlan's new dawn."

Edelgard: "You of all people should understand what it's like to be powerless, to have all control over your own fate wrested away by the likes of Rhea and her ilk."

Edelgard: "Knowing that, how can you truly wish for her to walk free?"

Kitt: "Because no one deserves to be buried underground, sealed away from the rest of the world and forgotten, left to the mercy of their jailers."

Kitt: "Believe me, I do understand."

(Battle at Enbarr, Azure Moon)

Kitt: "That's quite the transformation, Edelgard. Well done. You've already mastered what I've had to practice in secret for years."

Kitt: "But surely you must know what happens to monsters like you and me. I'll cut you down, same as all the rest.

Hegemon Edelgard: "You are welcome to try."

vs Seteth:

(Battle at Garreg Mach, pre time-skip, Crimson Flower)

Seteth: "Of all people, I thought you would have learned not to repeat the mistakes of the past."

Seteth: "Stand down, lest I be forced to repeat some mistakes of my own."

Kitt: "Seteth. Didn't you promise long ago that the people of Annwen would suffer no harm under your protection?"

Kitt: "I've been meaning to talk to you about that. But for now, it looks like we'll have to fight each other instead."

(Battle at Garreg Mach, post time-skip, Crimson Flower)

Kitt: "Hello, Seteth. You've quite the nerve to show your face around here."

Seteth: "You took the words out of my mouth."

Seteth: "To think, after everything we've tried to do for you, you would once again betray our trust and bear teeth against your own family."

Kitt: "Ha. You're one to talk about trust or family. Even that kid you called 'sister' was getting tired of your never-ending charade."

Seteth: "You will not drag Flayn into this! No matter who you are, know that I will destroy you to safeguard her if I must!"

Kitt: "Then you should have thought about that before bringing her here."

(If Kitt defeats Seteth)

Kitt: "Take Flayn and leave Garreg Mach - now - before I end your life. This is the only chance I'm giving you. I suggest you take it."

Seteth: "I… I understand. We will not meet again."

Seteth: "Regardless of everything else… I am grateful for your mercy. It is certainly more than we have shown you, and more than either of us deserve."

Kitt: "Don't come back."

vs Flayn:

(Battle at Garreg Mach, pre time-skip, Crimson Flower)

Flayn: "Kitt, what are you doing? You cannot truly mean to fight us! We're your family!"

Kitt: "You and I seem to have wildly different ideas about how this 'family' is supposed to work."

Kitt: "For example, if you get to call Seteth 'brother'… where does that leave me?"

Flayn: "I… That's not…"

Kitt: "Not what? Not fair?"

Kitt: "I'll tell you what else isn't fair - being treated like some lost broken toy you can fix and heal until I'm good as new. Better than new. Until there's nothing left of the old me."

Kitt: "Why couldn't you just let me stay asleep forever?"

(Battle at Garreg Mach, post time-skip, Crimson Flower)

Flayn: "Why are you doing this, Kitt?"

Kitt: "Not one step closer, Flayn."

Flayn: "Tell me, I beg of you! I wish only to understand! In what way have I done you wrong? What must I do to make amends?"

Kitt: "Enough! I know you only have the best wishes at heart, but I won't serve as a vessel for your good intentions."

Kitt: "And unlike you, I refuse to spend the rest of my life hiding behind a web of lies and secrets."

Flayn: "Kitt… I know not what to say. To think that it should come to this…"

(If Kitt defeats Flayn)

Kitt: "Find your father and go. Leave this place and never come back."

Flayn: "I… Yes. I will do as you say."

Flayn: "I wish you nothing but happiness for the rest of your days. Good-bye, Kitt."

Kitt: "…Good-bye, Flayn."

vs Rhea:

(Final Battle, Silver Snow)

Kitt: "This is just like what happened at Annwen… and the day I was struck down."

Kitt: "Rhea. This disaster is of your own making. But to suffer like this is too much for anyone to bear - even you."

Kitt: "Like all the beasts I've felled before, I'll put an end to your pain."

(Battle at Garreg Mach, pre-time skip, Crimson Flower)

Rhea: "I see you are determined stand against me here once more, after all the mercy I've shown you, after every second chance I've given. You truly are the capricious one, aren't you?"

Kitt: "I discarded that name long ago. It's just Kitt now."

(Battle at Tailtean, Crimson Flower)

Seiros: "You. I know what you are. I've seen your true face, for it has haunted me since that day I struck you down."

Seiros: "I did everything in my power to make amends, to restore you to full glory, just like she bade me. And yet once more, I must destroy you where you stand."

Kitt: "You still haven't figured it out, have you? She set you up with an impossible task. It was never in your power to reverse the deeds of the past."

Kitt: "No matter how hard you try, some things can never be fixed, nor healed, nor restored to what they once were. She was trying to teach you a lesson."

Kitt: "But it's fine. I've moved on from that. And so can you."

Seiros: "You know I cannot. I was never as quick to change as you are. Nor will I stop trying to bring her back, even if you are determined to betray her memory time and time again."

(Battle of Fhirdiad, Crimson Flower)

The Immaculate One: "You! Miserable, conniving serpent who dares hide itself among the flock!"

The Immaculate One: "You are not worthy of her blessing! Not worthy of her blood! I should have sealed you in your own grave while I had the chance!"

Kitt: "Yes, you should have. But don't be sad. The moment you're gone from this world, I won't be far behind."

As enemy, if not recruited:

(Battle at Garreg Mach, post-time skip, Crimson Flower, if Kitt not recruited)

Kitt: "It's a shame we can't catch up, for old time's sake. Too bad I must ask you to move."

Kitt: "…Or by all means, keep on testing me. You're not going to like what happens next, and neither am I."

If defeated:

Kitt: "Into the dark, once more. Maybe this time…forever."

vs Byleth:

(Battle at Garreg Mach, post-time skip, Crimson Flower, if Kitt not recruited)

Kitt: "Professor. Did I ever tell you? How much you remind me of someone I once knew?"

Kitt: "Long ago, she told me that the moment I've decided who my people are, I must fight to protect them with everything I have. Even if it means defying the Goddess herself."

Kitt: "…I suppose you don't know or remember, do you? Yet here you are, following in her example, just as I am doing now."

TWISTD Members:

vs Solon

(Remire Village)

Kitt: "I should have known it was you. You're the one who started all this. First my village, and now…Remire."

Solon: "So now you know who I am, Ghost of Annwen. But if you think I'm but simple prey for you to hunt down, you are gravely mistaken!"

(Sealed Forest)

Solon: "Take not one step closer, Demon of Annwen! Lest your weakness for these beasts prove your undoing!"

Kitt: "What's the matter, Tomas? I thought you always dreamed of finding out how the story ends."

vs Kronya

Kronya: "You don't scare me. You're nothing but a stupid ghost story! I'll send you back to the filthy grave you crawled up from, you little freak!"

Kitt: "So you've heard of me from your darling bedtime stories. I guess I won't have to explain what happens to you next."

vs Cornelia

Cornelia: "Well now. This really won't do. I'll have to put an end to you quickly."

Kitt: "And I'll be sure to end you slowly."

vs Thales

Thales: "You insatiable wretch! That you would choose to menace me now, here, of all places!"

Kitt: "Don't look so shocked. I did promise I'd be back for the rest of you, didn't I?"

[nobilisseoblige]

"Ferdinand."

If she could readily forgive him for his attack towards her, it extends that she believes he would offer her the same. Edelgard anticipates as much, knowing him. It makes her think that the lock on her heart is tighter than his. It is. She sighs under her breath, knowing what her mind poisoned her with. As she looks at Ferdinand, she refuses to gaze anywhere but at him. She will not find herself challenged to a duel nor in a stark battle around the bunker, instead in conversation with one whom found himself too close to her blade. It is by her hand that he is where he finds himself now. She props her axe against the nearest wall and takes a step closer.

"I need to speak with you. Now," she begins. She talks at him— not near. Her voice is level; calm. "I'm aware that was my doing. I apologize." She doesn't have any other words to offer in the way of dissatisfaction. Doing so would be a detriment to everything they fought for and all this shaken world has born fruit to.

Running a hand through white locks, Edelgard leans her body to block the weapon out of view. "I can hardly begin to explain it to you. It was as if there was a tugging I couldn't shake off. Which.. brings us here, I suppose. Back then, I.." Her words trail off. This world is not so simple. It seeks to claw away at the power she possesses, all the while keeping her at a distance. She knows this, jarringly so when she looks at Ferdinand. "Never mind that. Inform me how you're doing."

※Week 2 → Week 3 Intermission

"…" certainly his name. "…edelgard." he didn't know how he was expected to endure this. there was a second phase to death in some religions where human frailty was met with a day of dust, wherein you float in empty light until you realize the day will not end. he does not feel the head-rush he usually does around her— just the vague notion of limbo. he was sitting within different angles in space, filling the room in a way that felt like marrow to bone. he was in between, cradled between walls of bone, and he could not seem to shake the idea that she's forgiven him. (he attacked her first. and yet, she had forgiven him.) customarily, when you are weak enough to be possessed, when you are weak enough to allow poison to yank your vocal cords from your throat, you do not deserve to talk again. yet, here she is, looking at him like she understood him implicitly.

he sighed.

…Ferdinand didn't think he would ever hear her apologize to him. for anything, really. if he was the same as yesterday, maybe he would have climbed up to the moon and made a home there. but he wasn't the same. and he didn't know why they now lived their lives in this flesh-made purgatory. where she forgave him, and she expected him to forgive her.

"…"

swallowing difficultly, he pitched a quiet breath out of his nose. did he forgive her?

when watching her fingers gather and comb through her white locks, he slowly jogged his mind to a start. did he forgive her? she walked through her own summer woods, her own reasoning, her own windowed perspective, and he thought that neither of them were actually ready for the throne. quite frankly, if he turned on her, and she turned on him, they could flush all tenderness wayside and find a hundred ways to give in to ghosts. they were not ready for that throne.

but he, more ashamed than anyone, more disappointed than anyone, was met with the cosmic knowledge that she was simply better than him. she was, in one part tender, in another part awkward, simply better than him. and he thought: ah. she came to him now, gentle, because she was better than him. a better leader, a better fighter, a better person. he outlived her world-ending axe, but died an ego death. and he, who had the gall of picturing himself next to her, suddenly realized she let him dream a foolish dream for longer than it was merciful. in fact, that she had allowed him to be so sun-kissed he burned was not as beautiful as it was satirical. still. he quite liked that dream.

"…" he had never broken a gaze in his life. but here, he did, checking to see if the light filtering in from the tent flaps would start to smoke. it didn't, but the motes of dust floated as though he was still dreaming. "…I believe you."

exhausted, he sighed boyishly, croaking out words only he dared to say to her. "but really, edelgard, if you had killed me, what would you have done?" he lightly scolded her. it does not reach in a way that seemed hurtful. if anything, he was beginning to learn his place. "you asked me to be by your side. I do not think you could replace me so easily."

"here, see this." he held up both his forearms, where very faint scars remained in place of monumental bones jutting out of flesh. "…hardly a trace."

"I… don't know if I can consider myself the same. but…"

he exhaled slowly and folded over his gloves, peeling them off to reveal thick callouses that whorled for as many years as he raced beside her. clasping both hands over his lap, he attempted to dignify himself as honorably as he could for a fool on execution row. facing her, their eyes clicked.

"…I'm thankful that you're still you."

it's not as merciful as she is, but it's his own breed of gentleness. he does not know how to reassure her that her future is still his future, and that he wouldn't look away for much longer.

"you need to learn to step closer to me." they always had a distance between them that felt irreconcilable. but he didn't care anymore. he'd simply speak his mind and pray that whatever came next was merciful. "if you treat your rival this way, the only time you will ever be close is when one of us is in a grave. and we're too young to bury, just yet."

the rounded edges of his eyes finally softened.

"I don't want you to be alone."

[grinserabe]

(I'm gonna start doing this from now on uwu)

FE3H 5th Anniversary Countdown Questionnaire

In celebration of FE3H's 5th Anniversary being this month (July) on the 26th, here is a countdown questionnaire for each day until 26th!

When did you hear of FE3H?

When they announced it!

2. What got you interested in FE3H?

I have been a fan of FE for years, so I was already excited before I knew anything about it. When I saw the trailer I had mixed feelings about it, but I still wanted to play it

3. Which was your first House?

Golden Deer. Claude looked the most interesting to me, and he's still my fav of the lords (though not by much). He didn't seem like your typical FE lord, and I was right

4. What is your favourite House and why?

The Black Eagles, because it has Hubert, Edelgard, Linhardt, Petra and Dorothea. I also do like their aesthetic and dynamic. There's something New Wave-y about them

5. What is your favourite story and why?

Crimson Flower for sure, though I like Verdant Wind and Azure Moon too!

I just like how unique CF is. And despite its flaws, I think the ending is the most satisfying for me. Also, the more we see of Hubert, the better

6. Who is your favourite character and why?

Hubert. Because he has not one boring moment. Even when playing Verdant Wind (so my first route) I couldn't wait to look what he has to say during Explore. He just never misses

I love how he talks, his voice acting (both actors did a great job), his sense of humour, his design, and his sadistic streak. I like that it isn't always clear what he's actually thinking, I love what he has to say about nobility and knights, and I appreciate how strategic you have to be with him as a unit

7. Who is a character you think deserves more love and why?

Cyril. I get that he isn't the easiest character to love, but I like his wit, how direct he is, and I'm just a sucker for characters who seem loyal to an unhealthy degree (yes, I love Dedue as well)

Also, he's just a kid, and it's annoying that other characters are more easily forgiven for the same flaws

[emblemxeno]

To add that, x is having a clown day on discussing about meritocracy not being social darwinism and saying "you don't get m'lady, you're reading her wrong". Funny to see them keep coping and seething. 🤡

That's funny cuz... duh, it's not exactly Social Darwinism lol. Social Darwinism has its roots in biological discourse and advocation for sapient beings-us humans-to align with non-sapient hierarchy. "Well of course this race is superior, it conquered the other races and accumulated wealth, and because of their strength, they have the right to expand their influence even more." It's a school of thought that cages humankind into an animalistic box, and animalistic beliefs have no broad concept of merit at all beyond "you strong, therefore you better."

Meritocracy, if anything, runs parallel to Social Darwinism; a first cousin, if you will. "Well of course this person is the best at the job, because I say so and I am a perfectly unbiased messiah with no prejudices whatsoever." It ascribes a sapient concept to a similar root, said root being "the best of us get the best lives and they deserve it." Where meritocracy fails is that humankind is nuanced, complicated, and unable to be separated from bias.

Where Social Darwinism fails is obvious to many, but an unfortunate amount of people still try to cape for meritocracy, when really... it's main selling point is 'equality of opportunity' and that isn't useful for a progressing world. Merit cannot and never will be a fair judging tool as even when you try to remain as un-prejudiced as possible, well... adhering to the principals of merit, that means you have to rule out great workers who happen to be disabled because they're unfortunately seen as unpredictale and unreliable, rule out great workers who live in faraway locations, rule out great workers who are good at the specific job but didn't have the best record at other merit based applications (e.g. schools and standardized testing), and rule out people who fit the bill perfectly but cause the whole project to suffer due to biases from other workers, like if the rest of the team spents more time being racist or homophobic to the new guy, and that ends up slowing progress.

While trying to be fair and impartial, it ends up being exlcusive and discriminatory, the opposite of actual progress.

Equity meanwhile guarantees that needs and accomodations are met for the groups and individuals to participate in a fair and just society, and Edelgard only gets the fucking idea of one possible equitable reform FIVE YEARS INTO HER WAR IN ONE OPTIONAL SUPPORT. Before that, she honestly thought "if I decenter nobility, crests, and religion, and tell everyone that people will get jobs based on how good the Emperor says they are then society would fix itself", like besides being a bad person, she's also a fucking moron lol.

[zoloteh-volossya]

On Ferdinand

[This was first posted to reddit about two years ago. I have a tumblr now, so I figured that I might as well cross post it. I haven't really seen anyone discuss this that I am aware of, so perhaps I can add something new to the FE3H discussion even after all these years.]

So, I've had some thoughts percolating for a while on Ferdinand and his most common fandom portrayals. I feel like there are a number of little inconsistencies in how I see him discussed that are worth exploring, and I'd like to to try and get a little deeper into the meat of who Ferdinand is and what his position entails in the world of Fodlan.

Ferdinand's Worldview

One thing that underlies a lot of my understanding of Ferdinand is that he recognizes that he, and the nobility in general, are raised with more power and resources than everyone else. However, rather than realize that this is a problem, as Edelgard does, his initial instinct is to justify it. This is the "just world fallacy" - the nobility must be better off because they are better, because they were raised to be suited for this role. It results in him clinging tightly to the concept of "nobility" as an aspiration. What goes unspoken is that in him mind, they need to behave this way to deserve their positions and privilege. Of course, this is concept demonstrably untrue (with his own father, to boot, as he is well aware), which is why he needs to "No True Scotsman" the nobility, disliking "nobles who are not noble" and attempting to urge the noble heirs around him to live up to the standards he has set for their behavior in his mind. (In his Hopes Leonie support, he "No True Scotsmans" literally every other noble.)

This will be relevant to my next two points.

Ferdinand's "Advice"

First of all, the fandom's standard understanding of the Ferdinand-Hubert C support is that it clarifies Ferdinand's actual ambitions. He may seem like he's trying to upstage Edelgard, but all he really wants to do is prove himself worthy to advise her! However, one piece of evidence sits uneasy with this understanding: Ferdinand's pre-timeskip advice box.

There are many citizens of the Empire who are currently in despair. I think it is time for a change in leadership. Perhaps someone new should ascend the throne? You would do well as a ruler, Ferdinand.

This is not the answer of a man who just wants to support Edelgard. It is, quite frankly, seditious. But I do think it is consistent with both Ferdinand's demeanor pre-timeskip and his Hubert C support. If you take a look at the current Adrestian political situation, after the Insurrection of the Seven Duke Aegir is currently the effective ruler of Adrestia, but he has not seized the throne. He still serves as Prime Minister, and his official job function is to "advise" the Emperor. It's just that Emperor Ionius has no choice in whether to follow this advice or not. There's no way Ferdinand is unaware of the current situation, he's the one to explain the Imperial nobility to Byleth.

Now, this puts Ferdinand's dedication to "advising" Edelgard in a very different light - and also recontexutalizes the Hubert C support. Hubert is a descendant of an Insurrectionist, and Marquis Vestra is currently one of the people pulling Ionius's strings. For Hubert to be following Edelgard subserviently must seem ridiculous to Ferdinand. Hubert's accusation of "sedition" and vicious insults of Ferdinand also make sense - to him, this is the heir of an Insurrectionist glorying in trying to maintain the status quo of the Insurrection. Of course he loathes Ferdinand.

Ferdinand's drive to one-up Edelgard seems a bit silly and anime-rival-like if he merely wishes to support her. However, if "advising" is not support but control, like the situation he would reasonably be expecting to inherit, then proving himself Edelgard's superior is vital to his self conception of the world. Upon graduation, he expects to be handed Edelgard's reigns. To maintain the self conception of nobility that I described above, he needs to prove to himself (and to the world, in his eyes) that he deserves this power over her, that he is worthy of it. He has every reason to expect, as per the advice box question, that he will be the actual de-facto ruler of Adrestia eventually, and I see no evidence that he intends to change this situation before Edelgard changes it for him (per his Goddess tower conversation, he does intend to take down his father, but this does not mean he intends to give up the power his father took - he mentions that he will need to "guide the Empire's subjects" in that selfsame convo).

This means that a SS/VW/AM Ferdinand thematically follow his father. He disagrees with Edelgard's actions, so he kills her, thus finishing the job his father started and completing the Insurrection. He will likely be the most powerful person in the former Adrestian territories for his troubles. Mission accomplished (hollow as he feels about it).

This isn't me attempting to argue that "Ferdinand bad." One of Ferdinand's most consistent character traits is his growth from his C-supports, and in CF he comes to realize that he does best in a supporting role (relevant to this, see his Byleth A support, which is all about him coming to terms with not being the most important/recorded in the history books, but playing a supporting role and improving the world anyway). But I don't think that he's this cinnamon roll golden retriever puppy that we kind of like to talk about him as. His actions pre-timeskip align with a man who is trying to prove to himself and the world that it is his right to usurp Edelgard's power and effectively rule in her stead.

Ferdinand's Ignorance

Now, one thing has consistently bothered me about the Edelgard-Ferdinand A support. Don't get me wrong, a lot of it is great! The suggestion of an education system for the general populace is downright revolutionary. But what bothers me is this line:

Ferdinand: From birth, nobles must excel. If we do not, we will be forced out of our houses. This environment breeds superior individuals, and they, in turn, recreate the rigorous environment for their own children. Without that cycle, there would be no political elite guiding the world towards prosperity.

This is a lie. This is just blatantly false. This does not happen. It is clearly a part of Ferdinand's justification for his own privilege that I discussed above. But he still believes it. Five years into a war against the nobility, five years at Edelgard's side, and he still believes this self-serving falsehood about the nature of the nobility. In CF, it doesn't really matter. The old ways are going down in flames, and in this very support he suggests an excellent step forward into the new world. But this support does have implications for him in the other routes, for his judgement and ability to accurately assess the world in front of him and not his fantasy projections onto it. His Hopes Leonie support reveals a similar complete disconnect on his part from how he views nobility and how literally all other nobles operate.

This theme of Ferdinand's ideas about the nobility not aligning with reality is also reinforced in his B-support with Lorenz, where he flat out admits:

Ferdinand: "[...] we can benefit from crossing the threshold and learning more about regular folk. We scarcely understand the reality of their lives."

But his lack of knowledge does not apply solely to matters of commoners and nobility. In the Ferdinand-Lysithea paralogue in Houses, Lysithea has to explain the political situation of Hrym to Ferdinand. It's his own family's protectorate territory, yet he flat out admits that he knows nothing about it. (Yes, Ferdinand's father may not have talked about Hrym to him, but it's been five years and Ferdinand canonically has been investigating his father's misdeeds, you'd think a non-CF Ferdinand would care to look into it a little.) Lysithea, on the other hand, who would not be expecting to inherit that territory and is in fact from a completely different country altogether, knows about it. It's a bad look for an unrelated Alliance noble to be informing an Imperial noble of what has been happening in territories that his family is (at least nominally) overseeing.

All together, the picture painted is one of a profound ignorance of the world on Ferdinand's part.

This is mirrored by his many, many C-supports where he hurts someone completely unintentionally - out of ignorance. Now, in most of these support chains, Ferdinand is interacting either with social equals or with a songstress made of pure gumption, so they can and do call him on his ignorance and he learns a valuable lesson and grows as a person. Ferdinand is absolutely capable of growth, but mostly when the fault is pointed out to him. But, after the game, who will inform him of his ignorance when it comes to the reality of the world? The people under him? No, there's a power differential there. His peers? No, he's probably one of the most sensible and competent nobles (low bar as that is). Honestly, I don't think anyone will.

Anyway, that's my case for Manuela for Prime Minister.