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alitheakorogane · 2 years ago

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Freedom's Protection: A Blasphemy or The Truth?

Summary: Venti's outburst shocks everyone, making the people of Mondstadt question everything they knew about their Archon.

This is the third part of Mondstadt's storyline for the Reader Protection Squad SAGAU series.

Note: There are instances of grammatical errors, please bear with me. Also, the entire layout was now changed and I placed a title on them so I could not be confused while I write the next chapters. It's still the same story though.

Chapters: 1, 2, 3 (current), 4, 5, 6, 7

"What if your dear Anemo Archon was also like them, an imposter who also steals someone's face?!"

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Everyone couldn't believe what the young bard was saying, especially those who are very devoted to Lord Barbatos. The Anemo Archon is also an imposter?

Bennett and Fischl who accompanied him looked at Venti with surprised looks on their faces, while Razor was confused about what happened. On the other hand, you were shocked at what the bard did, even though you had expected him to do something stupid after Eula's harsh statement regarding imposters.

To be honest, you can understand why the usual happy and mischievous bard suddenly snaps out and break down at everyone. Eula's statement may be intended for you but it also applies to Venti's situation, and her scathing words hit the Anemo Archon on a personal level. You guessed that not everyone knows his real story, not even his very devout followers in his church, as you had remembered that only the Traveler was the one who had truly opened up about his real feelings of loss by telling his story about his bard friend in his story quest.

They didn't know who he really is... because all knowledge that the Mondstadters knew about their beloved Archon is from secondary sources, from the words of other people, and not really from Venti himself.

They never knew how hard is to pretend to be someone he really isn't. You know it wasn't his choice to rule a nation, since Andrius had stepped down from being a suitable candidate but Venti had tried his best to fulfill the wishes of his beloved friend before he had died: for Mondstadt to be free.

Mondstadters from the past to the present saw his Archon persona in rose-colored glasses, portraying him as regal, poised, and hardworking as his people (they were also overworked because they thought they can emulate Lord Barbatos' 'hardworking' work ethic) who value the concept of freedom over his domain, not knowing that their Archon is actually a happy-go-lucky troublemaker who has the heart of gold, who really likes apples and Dandelion Wine to the point of breaking the records for most shots a Mondstadter can drink in one go, or how he likes to annoy people with his songs and pranks when he feels like it.

You had sympathized with him, as you and he are similar in some aspects. You always force a bright smile on your face and feel optimistic, even though there are times that you feel like you wanted to give up on everything. You can crack jokes over your so-called friends, laugh at the corniest punchlines, and put up some masks on other people, saying to them that you're okay even though it really isn't.

There is a reason why you loved playing Genshin Impact, it's not because of the waifus or husbandos or you just want to have fun and spend over nothing, but it was an escape from your loneliness and the reality. You feel loved when the game greeted you on your birthday before anyone can and was given you a digital cake even though you know it was coded to be like that. You feel happy when your favorite character had come home and when you listened to their voice lines where they said something good about you.

You think that someone took pity on you and whisk you away to the beautiful continent of Teyvat, but it seems that there's a mistake. The moment you were spat at by the same characters you really loved, you feel like you were really unloved by anyone no matter what world you've been thrown in. You're not suicidal, but at that moment, the urge to throw yourself off the cliff and unto the waters of Cider Lake to drown was very strong.

So when you met Bennett, Razor, and Fischl for the first time and they had befriended you no matter what others say something bad about you, you feel happy that someone had accepted you the way you are, and you wanna cry with tears of joy.

And when Venti, the actual Anemo Archon of Mondstadt, came to your rescue, you feel like you were lucky that someone out there still appreciated your existence. You silently thank whoever is above that gives you some mercy over this forsaken world.

Meanwhile, Barbara Pegg, the lovely Deaconess of the Church of Favonius, couldn't help but ponder over what the bard had said. You had noticed how she was not as defensive as the other nuns present, but you just brushed it off as she was just in shock. You were unfortunately wrong about your assumptions, for you underestimated her just because you know from her game appearances that she was oblivious to her Archon being literally meters away from her.

She may be a devout follower of the Anemo Archon, but as a Gunnhildr, she had access to a certain diary of one of their ancestors living at the time of Decarabian, along with her older sister Jean.

She remembered a passage regarding a wind elf and his human friend who died in the rebellion, after her mother, Frederica, had let her read the family heirloom after Barbara joined the church as a Deaconess.

"The young leader had unfortunately passed away by a stray arrow to the heart, the winds took away his young life so early. We were devastated to see the one who had awakened our hearts and fought for freedom die in the rebellion against Lord Decarabian, but no one grieves more than the Elf, who was with him till the end. The Elf has done the unthinkable after they had ascended into a god by Celestia: they had taken the form of his human friend so he could see the free world under the eyes of the Elf, who was now under the name of Barbatos, the new Anemo Archon of Mondstadt."

Imagine Barbara's surprise when she found out about that, she had never read this information in any Mondstadt history books or tomes she had come across. She knew that her ancestor had been part of the first Mondstadt rebellion against Lord Decarabian, so she could assume that it was a legitimate source.

At the time, she can't believe that Lord Barbatos' current form seen in the statues isn't his, to begin with, for it was based on his human friend who had died in the first rebellion. Today, she had doubts about the issue, especially when the bard had brought it up.

"If that's the case, then it's true that Lord Barbatos is technically an imposter, just like how Mr. Bard had said," she thought to herself, "But how he known about that if that information isn't in the books I have ever read about our Archon? Did I miss a book?"

She looked at her older sister who was still standing with Diluc with a troubled look in her eyes like she was pondering about something. She ever wondered if Jean still remembered the contents of the diary or knew something about Venti. As far as she was concerned, Venti knew the Honorary Knight, Jean, and DIluc personally due to their involvement during the Stormterror crisis.

She knew that Venti can summon Dvalin, one of the Four Winds, when they went to the Golden Apple Archipelago months ago. He is also the only one she can't heal with her Hydro Vision, the first time since she had been blessed by the gods. He had an angelic voice and an exceptional talent for playing the lyre, which to be honest, Barbara was slightly jealous of. And he just recently appeared on Mondstadt, which was coincidentally the time when Dvalin, known as Stormterror that time, had attacked Mondstadt.

Who really is Venti anyway?

"Blasphemy!" One of the nuns screamed as her fellow comrades and citizens agreed with her, "Lord Barbatos isn't an imposter, you blasphemous child. How dare you speak to the Archon that way?!"

"History books had never told the Anemo Archon's whole story!" Venti continued as he lowered his bow down, his right arm wiping the stray tears on his cheeks. You wanted to comfort him, to hug him in your arms, but the situation was so tense that you prefer not to, for now.

"You just knew him because of those books and those spoken stories that always praise him! And in every single one of them, he was portrayed as a divinity who committed no mistakes and made some exceptional deeds just because he is an Archon. You may think that he is perfect, but news flash people, he's not! He's as flawed as any other mortal out there! He should have saved his dear friend if he was as perfect and powerful as you think he was!"

He was glaring at the people in front of him, his aqua-green eyes glowing in intensity, "You had never known that he was originally a wind wisp who had taken the form of a dead friend to honor a wish. He had never saved his dear friend... if only that blasted wind wisp was a second too early, his friend wouldn't have died in the rebellion! That friend of his was the one who started the peak of the rebellion, who had sang songs of freedom, and guess what, no one remembers his name or even his sacrificial deeds!"

Venti closed his eyes as he continued speaking, a look of nostalgia etched in his eyes as he stared at the skies above, "Freedom was given to all of you due to a sacrifice of a human who was now forgotten by history, but his face... his young face now lived on under the facade of Lord Barbatos. Without the bard's final wish, Lord Barbatos would never make freedom his ideal for Mondstadt..."

"...He would never have been the weakest among the Seven Archons if he had never fulfilled his dear friend's dying wish."

"And how would you know about that? Why would you try to defame Anemo Archon Barsibato just to manipulate our minds about the imposter?!" Rosaria harshly interrogated Venti who just spewed some blasphemous information about their Archon, her polearm pointed at the bard.

The nuns of the Church of Favonius had deadpan looks on their faces over Rosaria's mistake over Lord Barbatos' name, while the citizens who believed in the Archon glared at Venti for his statement.

To their surprise, the young Anemo user smiled at them, but they could guess that he was actually smirking. He chuckled as he bowed his head, bangs covering his beautiful eyes. It left people confused and scared, especially the Knights and the Church nuns. They had never seen this side of the bard who they have just known to be as mischievous and happy-go-lucky all the time.

You felt chills when you see his smirk, as you had an image of a young-looking boy with angelic wings who looked at the people with a menacing smile, the bow on his hands was stained in blood. You then realized that you had seen a glimpse of Venti in his Archon form, and it was possible that it was him in the Khaenri'ah disaster 500 years ago!

His Elegy of the End bow was still on his hand as he dared to respond with a playful tone at the young nun, staring at her with a coldness that could rival someone with a Cryo Vision, as if he was scolding a young misbehaving child, "You could say that I am more than just a mere drunkard bard, Miss Rosaria."

"After all, how could I ever spread blasphemous words about myself?"

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BADASS VENTI IS LIFE.

Well, this is Part 3 of the Reader Protection Squad series of one-shots, where someone is trying to protect the Reader from being pelted down by the Divine Creator's obsessive acolytes.

This one was also cut into two parts, so there is a possible Part 4 regarding Venti helping you off. (sigh) I think I will do a full-blown fanfic if I kept this up. I also write the Reader's inner thoughts, based on my experience. I couldn't help but shed a tear when I wrote this part.

To those who are new to my story, in this series, Venti is part of your protection squad in this Imposter AU concept, one of the two Archons who are going to help you. He is usually the mischaracterized character in SAGAU fics, and I wanted to do justice to my boi's character.

I made Barbara more perceptive than she was on canon, because why not? I made her a book enthusiast, she likes to read books in her free time just like her older sister (if she is not busy with her idol work, practice, healing, and church duties). Her possible favorite books are about Lord Barbatos and his deeds to Mondstadt.

And here's Rosaria and her mishaps with Venti's Archon name...🤣

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Taglist: @eimuros, @vvyeislazzy, @ansyistiredsstuff, @haru-tofuu, @coquettemaiden, @voidlesslove, @depressed-bitchy-demon, @yuukaaariyuuu, @g3n0dtt, @misswitchthewindborn, @lumpywolf, @c00kie-cat, @mulandi, @genshin-impacts-me, @bloop-booop

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bowandcurtsey · 1 year ago

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Happy birthday, Kuroo Tetsuro

Just a little somethin' for my husbando, some random hcs

Kuroo Tetsuro x f! reader tw: spicy and smutty, minors dni, just an indulgence post :3

[ when he accidentally sees your lingerie]

You both were still dating and stuff y'know, you haven't gone past anything more than making out.

But he was here to pick you up and you just felt that the dress you were wearing, ain't right. So you decided to change.

He didn't do it on purpose, he swore. he was just going to the toilet which happened to be near your bedroom, and your door was slightly ajar.. and there was a mirror and he saw you.

In a sexy lace black matching underwear and bra. He quickly went into the toilet, wondering to himself why is this toilet so god damn hot. His face was red all the way to the tip of his ears.

He closed his eyes, but the image couldn't get out of his brain. God damn did you look so divine.

He looked at you the entire night, boy you looked beautiful in that satin dress but the thought of you showing you that lingerie in full glory was just.. too much.

He swore he shouldn't be like this, he should be respecting you and this date, but he knew that if he saw another glimpse of that lingerie again that night, he wouldn't be able to control himself.

He spent the whole evening trying his best to focus on the conversation you were having... to the food that you were eating.. then on your beautiful face... how you would look like when you were moaning- Kuroo had to mentally slap himself every time.

He excused himself when he felt his semi erected dick straining against his zippers.

There, in the cubicle, he fucked his fist to the thought of you in that sexy black lingerie, riding him, moaning and crying out his name.

He sent you to your doorstep after your dinner, just like the cute gentleman he has always been. He always gives you his signature lazy smile before he pecks you on your cheeks and forehead.

"Would you like to come in, Tetsu?" you shyly asked, "you drove a distance today, maybe you need some rest before you drive home?"

It was all bullshit on your end, the moment your hot boyfriend stepped into the door you guys were making out ferociously; your fingers tangled in his raven hair and his arms pulling you closer and closer to him.

You pulled away at some point and took a step back. your eyes never leaving his. you slowly pulled your zipper down, and your satin dress fell to the floor.

And there he saw it. The black lingerie he caught a glimpse of from the corner of his eyes earlier this evening. It looked even better in full view. The way it wrapped around your body, covering barely the important parts, but enough for him to have his eyes glued to you, his ear tips reddening again for the second time of the night.

"You are a goddess..." he muttered under his breath, so softly and yet enough for you to hear.

You took a step closer, unbuckling his belt and releasing his manhood, fully erected. You looked at it, it was longer than you expected, with a nice curve to it.

You hands tried to wrap around it like you were in a clay moulding session, so gently yet firmly at the same time. The sensation of your fingers made Kuroo hiss.

"Are you sure?" he looked up at you from under those notorious fringe.

You nodded, pulling yourself in to kiss him on the lips, "I prepared this outfit for you, do you like it?"

In a swift move you were pulled up, your legs wrapped around his waist, his penis hard against your open crotch, "you have no idea how much i love it, baby."

By the end of the night, you had no idea how many times you came, you had cummed in every part of the house, you were breathless in your own bed (finally), your face stained with sweat and tears, you barely felt your legs as his cum was leaking down your sore thighs.

Your cunt was filled to the brim with a mixture of your and his fluid, and you were just a fucked out mess, but your lingerie was still on you, albeit your boobs were hanging out from your bra and your panty was half on.

Kuroo looked over at you, thinking about how you looked with your lingerie on and how you looked right now, he loved both the image so much he knew he would never forget this day for as long as he lived.

#kuroo tetsuro x reader #kuroo tetsurou fluff #kuroo tetsuro smut #kuroo x reader #kuroo tetsuro imagine #kuroo tetsuro scenarios #haikyuu kuroo #haikyuu x reader #haikyuu imagines #haikyuu smut #haikyuu imagine

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d-choppy · 10 months ago

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Shino's birthday !

Sashika is always happy to celebrate his birthday !

Happy birthday sweet husbando ~<3

Day 2 of the Shino Week 2024

(Oc x Canon)

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cyberb07 · 5 months ago

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Yes, I share the same birthday as Kokichi.

:3 No, I have no idea what he'd think of me or that fact.

👉👈 I don't wanna say I'm his complete opposite, but I'm pretty close. I'm older than him, I practice a faith and try to be devout in it, and while I am very accepting of even the oddest of characters (I love outcasts/weirdos/psychos) I'm not fond of liars & immature toxic types.

Yeah, I don't have the nerve to ask someone who RPs as him or writes for him to conjure up for me a scenario of us meeting and learning we share a birthday. I'd like to think at least that would make us friends. And he might be amused that I still stick around him, though I don't always buy what he says, but I don't freak out either cuz I'm mostly reserved. Maybe he'd like to tease me and see what makes me tick. Or we'd really only interact once.

Goodness, I don't know. But he should know our birthday makes us very interesting characters on the inside. Gemini-Cancer cusp ♊♋

There's more behind the surface for both of us ~~

Oh well. 💜 Happy birthday, birthday twin~ 💜

and for the record, my Danganronpa husbandos are:

Ishimaru (DR1) and DR2 Togami ("Twogami")

I also have an.. interesting relationship with Nagito & Teruteru.. and wouldn't object to Monokuma either.

So, quite clearly 😅 Kokichi is hardly my type......What? You found spicy 'Kokichi x readers' in my Liked videos playlist?? XD Y-you found no such thing! *insert off screen chase hijinx*

#happy birthday to me #happy birthday kokichi #kokichi x reader #Danganronpa x reader #Yeah i have a Danganronpa OC #I just haven't gotten around to sharing it #maybe next birthday lol #oh no Kokichi am I a liar now too?#maybe he'd like me now #I give good big sis or motherly vibes too #scenario request #Gemini Cancer cusp #happy birthday birthday twin #birthday twin june 21

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kplparadise · 2 years ago

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3/3 Happy Birthday to the first ever recorded husbando, Lockon Stratos !!!

#Gundam 00 #mobile suit gundam 00 #Lockon Stratos

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sinish-tem · 8 months ago

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY SINISH I HOPE YOU HAVE AN AMAZING DAY 💞💞💞💞💞❤❤❤❤❤💖💞💖💞💖💓💖💓💖💞💓💖💓💖💘💖💕💘💕💘🍰🎂🎂🍰🎁🎁🕯🎁🕯🎈🕯🎁🕯🕯🎁🎁🕯🎂❗❗❗❗❗❗❗❗🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳 HAVE FUN AND REMEMBER TO HUG THE HUSBANDS!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAASDFSADFAS!<3 THANK YOU THANK YOU!! THANK YOU SO SO MUCH RUKI!!<3 I had to work today tho so i didn't get to celebrate TOO much...BUUUT we had a big dinner party and i got alot of monies!! So i'l use that once i go to comic con later this year and buy some cool merch!! AND AAASDFGDF! OFC!! I WILL CUDDLE AND SMOOCH ALL THE BEAUTIFULL HUSBANDO'S!!<3 Thank you so so much for the 2 handsome husbando gifs uwudsfsfdfsd But Alu looks a bit sad tho! WE should hug and kiss him to make him feel better!!!<3<3 But thank you so so much Ruki!! This ask legit made my day!<3 :D

#Ask Anwsered #TigrexTalk

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ceciasa · 2 years ago

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I posted 70 times in 2022

That's 3 more posts than 2021!

33 posts created (47%)

37 posts reblogged (53%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@ceciasa

@nuitthegoddess

@slumberingprincess-blog

@lieu-rey

@pixelgamer07

I tagged 40 of my posts in 2022

Only 43% of my posts had no tags

#my art - 15 posts

#artists on tumblr - 13 posts

#ttte humanized - 13 posts

#digital art - 13 posts

#ttte fanart - 13 posts

#art - 13 posts

#ttte human au - 12 posts

#rwby - 8 posts

#rwby art - 8 posts

#rwby oc - 8 posts

Longest Tag: 54 characters

#this is why i stick to deviantart tumblr and instagram

My Top Posts in 2022:

Thomas and Friends Humanized Challenge

10#; Douglas Mcintosh

Like < Reblog

Art Reveal; Speedpaint

14 notes - Posted December 2, 2022

Meet Heartslaybul Dorm ※♦️♠️🌹💖♣️♥️※

(Artwork Below; Reblog > Like)

"Follow the Rules...

See the full post

15 notes - Posted March 31, 2022

RWBY X Polar Express Crossover - Screencap recreates.

21 notes - Posted December 20, 2022

Birthday Art I made for my Younger sister, Dia.

(Features TWST OC: Scylla Veil (Dia's twst OC) and Floyd (Her current Anime Husbando LOL))

Please do not steal, retrace or repost. Please Reblog!!!

21 notes - Posted February 3, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Happy Late Mother's Day!!!

This is a bit of a sequel to the Father's Day art I did a while ago, so I hope you like this! Speedpaint is on the way!

Reblogs > Likes

22 notes - Posted May 10, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

#tumblr2022 #year in review #my 2022 tumblr year in review #your tumblr year in review

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fantasmin-art · 3 days ago

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Fue cumpleaños de mi HUSBANDO 22/11/2024 <3 como ya saben, festejamos con dibujito en la granja y torta de Lysandro (?. Aclaro torta o pastel es lo mismo :) HAPPY BIRTHDAY

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thepandapopo · 4 years ago

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His Star

This is my first FE fic in over ten years. The last time I wrote anything for FE was back in FE7 which, to this day, is my second favourite game of all time.

I have been on a Claudeth binge lately and since it is our favourite deer’s birthday tomorrow, I thought I would try my hand at a fic.

This is most likely going to be a multi chapter fic as I am spinning the plotline in my head as we speak, but whether or not that plot bunny makes it to paper is a different story.

Pairing: Claude x F!Byleth

In which Byleth falls sick for the first time in her entire life, but those who slither in the dark insist on making her life difficult.

The one where Claude fears he won’t make it in time.

Chapter List: 1 / 2 / 2.5

Masterlist

XxXxXxXxX

“Professor, you need to rest!”

For someone so demure and dainty looking, Marianne is deceptively strong. Though, Byleth thinks absently as she lets her former student push her back down onto her large 4 poster bed, she shouldn’t be so surprised since she’s seen even Raphael himself bend to the gentle bishop’s will in the odd instances that he sustains a critical enough injury to land himself in the healer’s tent.

“Don’t worry, Professor. I’m sure Seteth will be able to hold down the fort while you recover.” Leonie says from her place at the foot of the bed. Despite the fact that the war has been over for nearly 6 months, her lance is still clipped neatly to her belt, next to her sword scabbard - close enough within reach to attack on a moment’s notice.

Since the end of the war, Leonie had taken it upon herself to act as the new Queen’s Head of Royal Guard. When Byleth had questioned the orange haired girl about her decision, she was merely met with a grin and a simple “I would be a terrible apprentice to Captain Jeralt if I let anything happen to his only child.”

“I’m... sorry.” Though the words themselves are not strange on her tongue, the unfamiliar dryness of her mouth and stuffed nose make Byleth sound weaker and more hesitant than she would have liked.

Leonie snorts, “you don’t have to apologize for catching a cold, Professor. Especially one due to stress. Despite what I think of you when you’re on the battlefield, you really are just a person like anyone else - of course you’re bound to get sick every now and again.”

Still, Byleth broods silently as she watches the blue haired healer usher her other student out the bedroom door, she has never gotten sick in her entire life until now and it just seems a tad bit unfair.

Fusing with the progenitor goddess has several advantages, but unfortunately it seems like being immune to illnesses is not one of them.

As her eyelids begin to lose the fight against consciousness, Byleth cannot help but let her mind wander longingly until she falls asleep dreaming of beautiful emerald eyes and a crooked grin that shines brighter than the dawn.

----

It only takes one week of being bed ridden before everything goes to hell in a handbasket.

Byleth is finally starting to feel well enough to stand up without feeling like she has ingested a vial of Claude’s infamous dizziness poison, when the scouts return with a report that the remnants of the Imperial army have joined forces with Those who Slither in the Dark and are marching for Derdrui, the country’s new capital.

It does not take a tactical genius to figure out that they are coming for the newly appointed Queen and Archbishop of the United Land of Fodlan.

Urgent messengers are sent out to all the nearby houses, requesting any available troops they can spare without leaving themselves vulnerable. It’s almost laughable the pitiful number of men that show up to help fight, but the arrival of all her golden deer is enough to raise Byleth’s morale and hope that she can conquer this disadvantaged fight without her schemer by her side.

Despite the protests from her students - former students, she corrects herself - Byleth steels herself and leads the meager army at her disposal in a defensive formation. This is her duty, after all. Without her, troop morale would falter and that in itself can be the deciding factor in a battle. Additionally, though she has not used it in several months and truly, she does believe in all her students’ skills, Byleth cannot help the unease that creeps up her throat when she thinks about her precious deer on the battlefield without her Divine Pulse. She has fought so hard to make sure they lived to see the peaceful world Claude and her dreamed of, that it would seem like a cruel joke only for them to fall now.

Even sick, the Ashen Demon earns her reputation. Fells of enemies fall to the Sword of the Creator as it burns with power, whipping around its wielder like a snake striking with deadly precision at the enemy’s weakness. Byleth refuses to let any enemies get close to the city. Her people have already been ravaged by war. They deserve peace, not another battle at their front step.

Hilda is somewhere to her left swinging Freikugel and cleaving through enemies with all the difficulty of a hot knife slicing through butter. Byleth is tempted to relocate the pink haired girl to the back line to act as a final barrier, but she knows that those orders will fall on deaf ears.

“If you insist on going out there Professor, then I have to come and make sure you don’t die. Can you imagine what Claude would say if he came back to find you dead? He would mope for the next century!”

Ignatz and Lysithea are further back providing cover with their long ranged attacks. Arrows and black magic rain from the sky, piercing through unsuspecting enemies and carving a path for Byleth’s battalion to advance and cut through the ranks of the enemy.

Somewhere to her right, she can hear Raphael’s battle cries above the cacophony of sounds. Judging by his sheer volume, Byleth knows that he is doing well despite being far outnumbered. Besides, the brawler is accompanied by Lorenz and Bernadetta, and while Lorenz specializes in black magics, he knows enough healing spells to keep them afloat. Plus, no matter how timid she is off the battlefield, Bernadetta is a force to be reckoned with when protecting her loved ones. Especially her mountain of a husband.

Marianne, Leonie, Felix, Ingrid, Seteth and Flayn are scattered elsewhere to protect against the enemies from crushing them in from both sides, but as the battle wages on, it becomes more and more apparent that their ranks are thinning and those that still stand are beginning to feel the fatigue of being outnumbered three to one.

The battlefield has long since warped into a jigsaw of cracked earth and chasms, courtesy of some nasty earth spells from Those Who Slither In the Dark. Where there should be rolling plains leading out onto the salty water of the ocean, there are now steep cliffs of jagged rocks jutting out of the ground, and despite her best efforts, Byleth eventually finds herself cornered on the precipice of one such cliff.

It can’t end like this.

Another enemy falls to her sword and Byleth barely has time to parry an oncoming arrow before another wave of nausea assaults her body.

She knows she’s probably burning up right now. Mint green strands of hair are matted to her skin with dirt and sweat, and the pounding behind her eyes is growing increasingly difficult to ignore. Byleth is pretty sure that had it not been for her father hammering in years of battle instincts into her, she would have had her head lopped off ages ago.

Despite how much she tries to will herself to stay in that cool, collected mindset that has won her numerous battles, Byleth cannot stop the tightness in her chest that accompanies the tears of frustration accumulating at the corner of her eyes.

She wanted to see Claude again. To feel his arms around her. To fall asleep to the steady pounding of his heart that seemed to inexplicably speed up every time she let her body melt into his. To let herself drown in the scent of pine needles and spices.

She could try using the Divine Pulse, but where would she rewind to? A few minutes would not be enough to make a drastic enough decision to turn the tide in their favor.

It’s not fair.

Goddess. She is so tired. But she cannot give up. Not when she has a promise to keep.

“I love you. With everything I am. And the next time we see each other... it will be at the dawn of a whole new world. A peaceful, happy world.”

Claude...

The ground beneath her feet teeters and he sky is suddenly above her. It is a brilliant blue with fluffy white clouds and even though she knows she is falling, she cannot help but be reminded of the first time Claude invited her out on his wyvern and they spent the afternoon soaring and diving through the air on a beautiful day just like this.

Claude... I’m sorry I couldn’t keep our promise...

She thinks it is a trick of her mind, but right as Byleth feels her consciousness slipping away, she hears his voice one last time crying out her name with such fear and anguish.

Then, there was nothing.

----

“BYLETH!”

Claude feels his heart stop and clench painfully as the familiar black and green figure tumbles off the edge of a jagged cliff.

He is shooting across the battlefield on his wyvern’s back before he can even spare a thought to how absolutely reckless it is to fly so low in the range of archers.

Behind him, he vaguely registers his generals shouting at him in alarm and Nader barking out orders to support the retreating Fodlan forces.

All he can think about right now is getting to His Star in time.

Later, he will wonder to himself if perhaps he might have the power to pause time as well, because although it was probably less than 4 seconds, Claude swears that the world around him slowed as all of his senses honed in on his one goal.

Please, goddess, let me reach her in time.

---

To those who participated in the Final battle with Those Who Slither in the Dark, they would recall vividly the moment when a loud battle cry rang out from the east heralding the arrival of the Almyran army.

They would also recount the arrow of white and gold that shot across the battlefield towards the Queen whom had made her last stand on the edge of a cliff before fainting from exhaustion and tumbling down to the depths below.

Above the din of weapons clashing and cries of agony rose a single name, cried out with such fear and panic that even those who knew not whom the shout belonged to, felt their hearts clench painfully with the raw emotion.

Although not many could say for certain what happened next, all the surviving Fodlan soldiers would recall shortly thereafter seeing their former leader, Claude von Riegan, atop his white wyvern loosing arrow after arrow on the lingering enemies with such brutal efficiency that reminded everyone exactly how he had ended the war.

When the fighting ceases and casualties are tallied, fear for their Queen runs rampant through the soldiers. For those who have had the privilege of fighting under the combined leadership of Claude, the master tactician, and Byleth, the Ashen Demon, they know how strong the bond is between the two, and although they have their doubts, they allow themselves to let their worries melt away when they see Claude exit the medical tent with a look of such knee wobbling relief that he has to lean on a nearby wall to stop from collapsing.

XxXxXxXxX

Ugh. I hate how this ended. I’ll come back and fix it another day.

Anyhoo, hope you all enjoyed it!

Chapter 1

Next: Chapter 2