The wish of Lady Hegemon : A Fire Emblem Three Houses fanfiction

“Edelgard, it’s time!”

The small girl nods at her uncle. She knows she must return home, to the Adrestian Empire, where her place is. She cannot stay any longer with the friend she met… the dearest of all. Edelgard heard a loud shouting just the moment she thought about him:

“El!”

Dee was here, something in his hands.

“This is… for you” he replied, hesitating.

Edelgard took the present.

“A dagger?”. She seems surprised by this unusual gift.

“I didn’t know what to give you, and I thought… maybe… you’ll like it”.

The girl smiles, and then recalled the time she spent with Dee: when she demonstrated her ability to cast magic… and how he desperately tried to do the same; when she taught him the art of dancing… and how bad he was. Secretly, Edelgard loved that part of Dee’s personality. He was different from the other boys: honest, and always acts naturally.

“Thank you, Dee. I’ll cherish it” she answered by taking the dagger close to her chest.

The friends said goodbye, and Dee concluded:

“No matter what happens… be strong.”

“I’ll promise you”.

At that time, Edelgard had no idea how these words will resonate in her mind…

Because a terrible fate awaited her…

She wanted so bad to put an end to this... to forget this terrible place… and the horrible people lying in the dark.

Even if Enbarr’s palace was her home, Edelgard couldn’t consider its deepest rooms as part of it. In fact, she was unaware of the existence of a laboratory… and that so many victims underwent experiments. On her arrival, she heard voices from people wearing curious masks:

“Oh, a new sweet guinea pig!”

“She’s the princess… the one bearing the minor Crest of Seiros.”

“Ah, I see… how interesting…”

Edelgard was wondering why were they intrigued by her Crest, the power lying in her blood she was born with. Are they doing experiments on it? On what purpose? The girl listened to them but understood nothing. Moreover, she was concerned about her uncle. Lord Arundel seemed completely different, as if he were another man… replaced by a terrible monster.

“It’s time for you to burn… Flame Emperor”.

His appearance suddenly changed. Edelgard was terrified. Things went for the worst when she heard the cries of one of the victims, tied to a table, unable to move freely. She couldn’t see what people wearing masks did to him, and she didn’t want to. Alas, the little girl could not contain her tears. Annoyed, Arundel took her by the arm. He forced Edelgard to enter a cell. Inside, she met her siblings.

“El!”

They sounded surprised to see their sister. It must be said that she stayed secretly in the Kingdom of Faerghus for a while. Maybe they believed Edelgard died during her escape from the Empire.

“What’s going on here?” ask the princess.

One of the big brothers told all he knew: the group holding them prisoners called themselves Those Who Slithers in the Dark. Apparently, they can cast powerful dark magic, and possess the power to transform into another person.

“The man you just saw… he was not uncle Arundel anymore… his name is Thales, and he’s the leader of this group”.

Edelgard was shocked… the parent she once believed in, the one who took her to escape the rebellion, was in fact not her uncle… but a traitor.

“So, Lord Arundel… is dead?”

Even if she was young, the princess was already a smart girl. But she ignored everything about this terrible sect: What were they looking for? Why were they keeping all the siblings in here? Edelgard tried to ask her brother, but he seemed to avoid the answer:

“I’m not sure… I just…

Does it have something to do with the things we heard about the “white hair’s girl”?” replied another.

Even if it was terrifying, Edelgard wanted to know the truth… to what they were referring to. The big brother finally declared:

“They said something about creating their “masterpiece” … and that the girl with white hair was just a prototype…”

So, the experiments were conducted in order to create something? And they needed the kids? Edelgard had a bad feeling: she remembered people talking about her Crest of Seiros. Maybe their objective is linked to blood and ancient power. The girl trembled with fear, but her brother did his best to cheer her up:

“Don’t cry, El. You’re a smart and strong girl. Remembered this… always”.

She thanked him, then falls asleep on his knees. As the eldest of the family, he felt it was his duty to protect the youngest, El among others.

Even if the siblings were supposed to be of royal blood, they were imprisoned in dreadful conditions. The cell was disgusting as hell. One day, Edelgard saw rats coming just in front of her. She and one of her sisters reflexively screamed, causing their jailers to give them the order to shut up. They pretended the girls’ cries, among the screams, prevented them from working efficiently.

“Dee… I promised to be strong… but please… help me…” Edelgard murmured while holding her dagga.

As tears rolled down her cheeks, she tried to remember all the good times she had spent with the boy she loved… This was the only way she can hold on, and keep her sanity.

How much time passed since the girl was imprisoned? She can’t say. But one thing was sure: Edelgard wanted to leave this terrible place as soon as possible… Indeed, the little princess witnessed horrors nobody should ever see. The day after she had a discussion with the siblings in their cell, one of the sisters came back in very bad condition. She was pale, and resembles more a dead body than an alive one.

“What happened? Are you alright?” tried to ask the little princess… in vain. Actually, Edelgard didn’t notice that her big sister was already lying dead on the floor. She started to cry, along with her siblings. The big brother tried his best not to do the same. He wanted to keep on a brave face. He was fully aware that if he abandoned himself to sadness, nobody could cheer up and help the family. Among the horrors Edelgard witnessed, the death of her sister was just the beginning of hell… Several siblings died from this same terrible exhaustion. Not only the princess saw them dying, but the dark mages let their corpses on the cell, along with the livings, for several days. Edelgard wanted to completely erased these visions from her memory:

“Dee…”

She wasn’t capable of talking, the tears having taken over from all the rest. The more she suffered, the more she pressed the precious dagga on her chest. Edelgard needed something to remembered what joyful means, and even what was the meaning of life. She won’t give up: on the contrary, she wanted to be strong in order to make sure those terrifying experiments won’t happen again. Moreover, she wanted to be able to look Dee in the eyes with pride, and tell him she survived the hardships.

Several days passed, and Edelgard heard terrible screams from a laboratory. She knew something horrible happened to the surviving siblings.

“Cover your ears” gently ordered her big brother, the last one in the cell.

She obeyed, knowing he’s acting for her own good. Later, the dark mages took him to the laboratory. Before he left, he looked Edelgard in the eyes:

“Don’t worry… you’ll be fine. I’m sure you’ll stay alive…” he told her, as he departed for his fate.

Then it was Edelgard’s turn to follow, in order to pass tests. She found her brother, lying on a table.

“El…”

He barely couldn’t talk because of the pain. She saw many blood transfusions on him. The princess witnessed the death several times without really knowing what’s going on, but it seemed now was the time for the terrifying truth to emerge. Some members of Those who Slithered in the Dark, always wearing masks that completely cover their faces, began to talk:

“Let’s engage the new phase of blood reconstruction surgery.

Compare the reaction between this body without Crest… with this precious one”.

The second body they referred to was Edelgard’s. She was right: they were conducting experiments on Crests. Edelgard was perfused against her will, but she couldn’t resist her enemies. They tied her up and put her on another table. The princess suffered: her blood was literally fighting against an intruder, causing pain on all her body. She tried to keep her mind safe, but it was a hard task. It was then that she saw Thales looking at her with great interest.

“The others were just failures… but you’ll be not.”

The girl didn’t reply, unable to say a word. She lost consciousness because of this violent pain… and suddenly open her eyes when the experiment went wrong.

Her brother screamed with such violence that he succeeds in frightening the dark mages. Even Thales gasped. Then the boy turned mad and started to laugh… Edelgard understood: the blood they injected made him lost all his sanity. His body changed, as if he were not a human being anymore… He managed to free himself, eager to kill everyone… Edelgard included. The once protective brother became a monster, thirsty of blood, unable to recognize his sister.

“Please calm down! You have to stay strong!” she desperately begged him.

Unfortunately, the words didn’t reach the boy. Thales casts a spell and kill him instantly, right before Edelgard’s eyes.

“Nooooo!”

The princess couldn’t save her big brother… just as she couldn’t save the others.

And now the tragedy of the Hresvelg family rests in her hands alone…

After the test, Edelgard was once again imprisoned in a cell. This time, it was desperately empty… because all of her siblings died. Now she was alone, all by herself, and no one was going to save her.

“Dee…” she repeated the nickname of her friend over and over again.

Him, as well as the memories of her brothers and sisters, are now her motivations to stay alive… Edelgard made up her mind: she’ll fight until the end. For the moment, the princess was well aware she couldn’t win this battle, but when this nightmare ends, she’ll have her revenge. She’ll face the members of Those Who Slithered in the Dark, endure those terrible experiments… and make it out alive. It was her decision, the very one that will allow her to proudly face Dee when they meet again. Edelgard heard a bit of conversation from the members of the dark sect: they were saying the final phase of their project will soon start. So, she’ll patiently wait for the fateful day…

It came sooner that she thought it would. The researchers, accompanying by Thales in person, came to her cell.

“The time has come” Thales declared.

Edelgard was ready to accept her fate. She was terrified on the inside, but showed nothing in appearance. In fact, she realized how pleased her tormentors were when they looked at this poor little girl crying…

That’s why I won’t let you enjoy this anymore.

She was tied to a table. Then, they injected blood. Edelgard suffered even more than last time, but she kept in mind the memories she shared with her siblings, and her dearest friend. Unfortunately, she started to feel something strange, as if her body was about to transform… just like what happened to her big brother. Her mind became confused, but she was able to hear the researchers declaring:

“We did it! Our ultimate weapon is born!”

Ultimate… weapon? What are they talking about?

Many questions raced through her mind… but in the end, she passed out…

If only the princess could remember she turned into a terrible monster…

If only she could remember how she took the life of so many people…

And seal the destiny of her once lovely friend.

Edelgard woke up few days later. She felt dizzy, and had no idea what’s going on. She needed time to remember she was in the laboratory, in the depths of Enbarr’s palace… or so she thought. What happened? Was she alone? Weren’t her brothers and sisters here? The girl was completely lost. She stood up, but noticed something wrong about her body… Among the pain, Edelgard felt different from before, as if this body was not hers. She got some sort of answer by looking at a mirror. As she gazed at her reflection, she realized her hair turned white… She remembered the conversation with her siblings, about the “white hair’s girl” being a success, but a prototype to their goal. It was then that Thales, accompanied by someone else, entered the room:

“Welcome back… Flame Emperor… Thank you for your cooperation.”

So… they did it. I became… their weapon… Edelgard was lost in thoughts but Thales continued:

“We can finally destroy that cursed Church… and their abominations”.

Edelgard felt a new power move through her body… a new blood. She summoned up her courage and asked:

“Did you give me… the power of another Crest?”

It seems logical but she wanted to be sure. Indeed, in order to accomplish her own revenge, she’ll need information on her new abilities.

“Not just any Crest… the most powerful of all: The Crest of Flames!”

The Crest… of Flames? The girl did hear a legend about the Goddess of this world, and her power… Did they really managed to implement such a Crest in her body? Judging by the expression on Thales’ face, it seemed to be the truth. They really turned me into their “ultimate weapon”.

“I’ll kill anyone getting in my way…” Edelgard answered.

Including you… traitor.You gave me incredible power, so be it. I’ll destroy you, your organization… your dreams. This is my wish for the future.

Thales seemed satisfied, and let the princess go. She was indeed very tired and needed to rest somewhere else more comfortable.

Edelgard’s father finally managed to find her. He cried, aware of the terrible situation.

“El… I’m so sorry.

Don’t worry, father. It was not your fault.

If only I wasn’t so weak…”

Indeed, the Emperor has lost much of his influence, because of an insurrection. As a result, he became vulnerable, and was not able to save his own daughter. Edelgard forgave him, and promised to be strong:

“When I access the throne… I swear it will never happen again”.

Edelgard entered the laboratory as a small and innocent girl… but emerged determined and strong. By the way, she was pretty sure she made a promise like this to someone… but to whom did she say this? A member of her family, or maybe a friend? While chatting with her father, Hubert, her loyal vassal, came to her:

“Leave the rest to me, my Lady” he said, worried about her health condition.

Edelgard wanted to act right now, but her body was weakened by all this blood reconstruction. She reluctantly accepted Hubert’s offer, but added:

“I’ll come up with a plan”.

Several years had passed. Edelgard became a young woman. Soon, she’ll succeed her father to the throne… and engage her war for revenge. Revenge on Those Who Slithered in the Dark, on Thales… but most of all, on this filthy world. This situation started because of the Church of Seiros. It was their fault if the society is only ruled by the Crests… The power of the dragons, the most important thing. Destiny is determined only by the blood, not through merit or hard work. Power decides everything. There is no real liberty in such society. Since the day she was born, the Crest of Seiros was her curse. It was because of this power she turned into a weapon, instead of dying in peace. Moreover, she was betrayed and couldn’t trust anyone… except Hubert. Edelgard was finally ready to carry on her plan, and bear its burden. She was also ready to accept the price for engaging such a war.

It was their fault… I’ll make them pay… I’ll kill every last one of them… no matter the cost… even if it means I should unleash this terrible power… and became a monster myself.

This is my wish for the future…