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It was one of those long winter nights, not quite as cold as the bitter chill of Faerghus but the kind only a Fodlan winter could bring. A blast of winter chill up from the north, drifting down south to the Adrestian Empire had long been near-tradition this time of year. Never a particularly welcome one, but one the residents of cold stone castles had grown used to.
Even House Hresvelg, only a little further north of the imperial capital felt the frigid icy claws gripping the continent. Like an icy breath on the back of her neck, the former Flame Emperor readied for a long winter.
“Alle Jahre wieder…” Fodlan’s unifier hummed to herself, never a particularly religious sort but knowing the song well enough by now. Nearly 30 years of life had made sure of that.
15 more than she’d ever expected to live, since… Edelgard forced those thoughts away, that part of her life now long behind her.
“And one for you, Albert, and for you, sweet Claudia…” she said, gently fixing a ratty old stocking above the fireplace. “May you have a happy Yuletide, even if you’re far away from here, singing carols with the angels above…”
Sothis meowed behind her, the menace to the common good waiting anxiously at her feet for fish and scraps. A little plumper and still just as greedy, the cat had become a… tolerable part of her life now. The little troublemaker made her wife happy, and what made her wife happy was part of a successful marriage.
“Mama? Why are you hanging stockings above the fireplace? Are they wet and need drying?”
“You remember how last year you were upset you couldn’t join in on mommy’s celebrations?” Edelgard said, turning to kneel down at her daughter’s eye level. “Well it’s been decided that I need to change how we celebrate this time of year.”
“So, is that what you and mommy did last year?” Brendika asked. “Hang ratty, dirty old stockings over the fireplace?”
Well, there certainly were stockings involved in last year’s celebration. Admittedly a far more private one that only involved her and her former professor turned wife. Stockings were about the only form of clothing involved after a few minutes. There was mistletoe as well, though hung above a very different set of-
Not the time to think about any of that. That was for later, after her daughter had gone to bed. Apparently, Edelgard mused, her wife said she’d been extra good this year and deserved a special present. Which for the Emperor, meant-
Oh goddess, had she always been this repressed? The answer was probably yes. She blamed Dorothea for what she’d become, devolving into a certain kind of addict.
“No it’s…” Edelgard said, getting herself back on track. She let out a little groan. “Tomorrow morning, they will be full of presents after…”
She chuckled. Well, Sothis had certainly complained but she’d been drafted as the winter envoy. All to make children happy.
Brendika’s eyes lit up, twinkling like stars. “Gifts? Ooooh! …wait, why do I have to wait? If I get my gift out of a sock, can’t you give it to me now?”
Cue her other mom walking in with hot cocoa in hand, and a kiss to the cheek of the Adrestian Emperor. A decade ago, Edelgard could not have imagined her beloved professor ever being this good with kids, or married life in general. It was a surprise, a pleasant one, to learn otherwise.
“What your mama is trying to say,” Byleth said, kneeling down as well. “Is that while you sleep, Sothis will visit and give out gifts to all of the good little children in the Empire. Our very own holy winter envoy.”
Brendika glanced down to see the fat cat at her feet stretching and yawning. “...I don’t think she will do a very good job of that.”
Byleth snorted, glancing at someone at her side. “Oh, she just might surprise us.”
Edelgard was sharing that same sort of sly smile as her wife. “Mhmm, she just might. She’ll fly into our house like an angel, leaving only traces of her presence and if you believe in her she’ll come with a bag of gifts.”
Or… something along those lines, at any rate. The Empress remembered just how her cat’s namesake had reacted at the thought of it all…
“I’ve been thinking,” Edelgard had said, snuggling up under the covers to her wife. Under the heavy blanket, the two were almost far away from the winter weather. “I’ll pretend I didn’t just hear our guardian angel snickering. I know what she’s thinking, and I’ll ignore it.”
“Who? Me?” Sothis whistled innocently. “I wasn’t going to say anything. Far be it from me to question the Emperor’s words!”
Edelgard arched an eyebrow, but decided to leave it. It wasn’t anywhere near the time to get into a verbal sparring match with the little imp masquerading as a goddess.
“This month, it’s the holidays and… Yes I know, that’s obvious but I keep remembering our daughter’s disappointed face when I told her she couldn’t celebrate with us.”
“She’s a bit young for that kind of thing, the drinking and making fools of ourselves,” Byleth remarked. Outside, the blue sea star’s glow was fading by the day as it hid itself in the heavens. “Plus, we wouldn’t want to ruin her image of you too early. She still thinks you’re dignified, above silly things. You’re her hero.”
“I try to avoid over-indulging,” Edelgard said. “Try, not necessarily succeed, mind. But I will one of these years. I’m not Manuela. I like to think I’ve more restraint than drinking myself under the table.”
“Not even in an attempt to best me?”
“Oh, I know that’s futile. I’ll always lose to you,” Edelgard said, nuzzling close. “But that’s besides the point. I think our daughter should be able to celebrate as well.”
“Well, she certainly wouldn’t enjoy sacrificing a prize cow to Sothis,” Byleth said, in her usual blunt fashion. Matter of fact, and straight to the point. “We’re supposed to treat our daughter, not traumatize her.”
“I don’t even know when or where that tradition even came about!” Sothis scoffed, somewhere in the rafters above. “I don’t even like cow! Lamb, sure, but never cow!”
“Yes and that's my point,” Edelgard said. “This… All of this is normally a time when adults can get drunk without worrying about things or tomorrow. But what of the lower classes? They’ve got more money to spend and-”
“-and I thought you didn’t like more money going into the royal coffers,” Byleth could only tease. “I kid, of course. You like a healthy economy.”
“Now that the nobility can no longer exploit the masses,” Edelgard mused. “They have plenty of time for their families, instead of drinking away their worries they can spend time with those they love.”
“Look at you, El. You sound, dare I say, sentimental,” Byleth said, doing her best impression of a former opera starlet now Lady Aegir. “I’m proud of you!”
“Then you’ll be even prouder when I think it’s time to start some new traditions. Specifically for the children. I want this time of year to be truly magical, something I can leave behind as a legacy for long after I’m gone.”
“Go on,” Byleth urged, waving her hand. “And this has nothing to do with how I love to hear my Emperor talking.”
“So we are going to have the children believe the gifts are delivered by someone while the children sleep,” Edelgard said.
“I heard the word gifts,” Byleth said. “That sounds like a winning strategy already. …oh, Sothis just laughed about how it’d be something silly like a fat, older Seleth coming down the chimney."
“No, not Seleth…” Edelgard said, snorting at the image. The former Saint would probably be appalled at that. Looking up to the rafters, she said: “Though, you might be onto something. I’ve just had an idea.”
If she wasn’t hugging her wife, she’d be rubbing her hands gleefully. …no, actually, no, that was just something done by evil overlords in bad fantasy novels. She was above that sort of thing!
“No, the person who will be delivering the gifts, at least in the children’s minds, will be in fact…”
The air shimmered above their bed, Sothis materializing with an angry look on her face and hands on her hips. She probably would have been far more intimidating if she were taller.
“This is how you want my legacy to be remembered? For me to be known as someone who gives gifts to snot-nosed brats for all eternity? Phooey, to hell with that! How indignant! I was just beginning to like you!”
“Oh, hello Sothis,” Edelgard said, with a little smirk. “We were just talking about you. The best way to make this work is to use a name that people already know, and is connected to divinity.”
“I DON’T CARE! NAME YOUR STUPID GIFT GIVER SOMETHING ELSE!” Sothis ranted.
Edelgard, ignoring her, went on. “I was thinking, this year, we will start small. Just amongst friends, family, and let the tradition grow naturally…”
In the present, her beloved daughter was vibrating with excitement at the morning to come.
“Ooooh, I have to leave out some cookies. She can’t deliver gifts on an empty stomach! I’ll draw her a picture as well, she needs a gift too!” Brendika said, dashing off.
Edelgard smiled softly, leaning into her wife’s arms. “I think… This test run is going well. Don’t you?”
“I’d give you a passing grade.”
“And anything else?” Edelgard asking, looking at the mistletoe above them.
“Mhmm…” Byleth said, leaning in. “Let me think about it… To borrow an old quote, here is something to believe in…”
Edelgard, as she closed the gap, couldn’t help but wonder what her former classmates were doing this holy night. Surely, it couldn’t possibly be anything as blissful as this!
-----
“Mhmmm…” Lysithea said, and she was absolutely not drooling and/or salivating over the chocolate cake. “Don’t worry Leonie, I’m absolutely not thinking of stealing any of these for myself later!”
No, absolutely not!
“I’m just t-testing them,” she lied, straight-faced. “To see if they’re up to quality! I’m only taking a sample, for later analysis!”
She’d found sugar was perfect for superior brains like hers!
Her wife, taller than her, walked over and the dark mage instinctively settled into her arms. Her pale features turned pinker, she was so warm like that. And gave great hugs, perfect for cuddling.
“I’m proud of you, really, stepping out of the library and braving the cold to come back with me back home,” Leonie said, running a scarred hand through the shorter woman’s snow-white straight locks. “I honestly thought I’d have to drag you out.”
“If you tried that, I’d give you a spell as a gift,” Lysithea said with a huff. “One that’d make you feel colder than this weather ever could, Pinelli!”
“I’d just have to hug you, then,” Leonie said. “You’re always so-”
“If you dare call me hot, I’ll make you feel hot,” Lysithea grumbled. “As in blazing hot. They won’t need to roast a pig, once I’m through with you!”
“That’s cannibalism," Leonie said. “Not anything acceptable for a winter dinner.”
Lysthesia blew a raspberry, and tried to look threatening but with her small short frame hardly managed. She looked more like an owl puffing itself up to look bigger, her hair even sorta fluffy. Miming a swipe of her claws at her wife, she felt Leonie’s fingers lace themselves gingerly in her own.
Feeling herself lifted up to the taller Deer’s face, she captured her lips in a kiss. A short one, she didn’t want anyone gawking at such a public spectacle. Subconsciously, she knew her hands were feeling the other woman’s tone arms as they held one another.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to let you go,” Leonie teased. “You don’t hafta worry about me dropping you on your cute butt.”
“I wasn’t worried!” Lysithea said. “Don’t put those words in my mouth! I know you’re strong, I watched you chop down that massive tree!”
“And watched me carry it back to the village,” Leonie said. “You’re not at all subtle. Were those stars in your eyes?”
“I can appreciate the physical as well as the mental. Even if the second is something you have less of, compared to me.”
“Why think when you do all of that for me?” Leonie flirted back. “I just punch stuff. And wait for you to bandage my bloody knuckles.”
“Now who’s not being subtle at all? If you want me to kiss those knuckles next time you need, yeeeeeach! Forget about it! Blood tastes disgusting!”
“Yeah, I can tell you’re more interested in holiday treats,” Leonie said. “Was that drool I should be worried about freezing your whole face?”
“You imagined it,” Lysithea said. “As if I would ever be so childish!”
“Mhmmm, and you were so excited when I asked you to come to my village for the holidays.”
“Because it’s my wife asking, you big lummox!” Lysithea said, weakly punching her. “It's not like I want to go to a festival! I just want to go where you are!”
“Uh-huh,” Leonie said, not believing her at all.
Seriously, who needed any of these tasty tarts or cookies with delicious cream? She had the best tasting thing in the village! Her wife! …even if the treats were a super-close second.
…is what she would say if she wanted to gorge herself like some sort of uncultured, ill-mannered swine! She was an adult! She had to set an example!
“Still,” Leonie said, looking at the table. “It’d be a shame if all of this went to waste…”
“Subtle, see the antonym, named Leonie Pinell-Eisner.”
The mage’s expression wavered, curiosity replacing sarcasm.
“Still, a curious mind can’t help but wonder… I have to be satisfied, i-in my quest for knowledge of course! I need to learn all I can, including local delicacies!”
She could hear her wife laughing and scowled. Admittedly only-half heartedly. It was impossible to be really mad for long with her oaf of her other half. Honestly! If her younger self had known she’d live this long to see this day, she would have been…
Maybe horrified? Maybe amazed? Probably a bit of both. Oh well, not all gifts were wrapped in fancy wrapping paper! Some just had ginger hair and knew how to ride a horse. Weren’t those the best kind?
-----
Bernie shivered, rubbing her hands against her sleeves as gentle snowflakes fell into her hair. Oh, why’d she let herself get talked into this? She should have been hibernating, in her den! That’s what bears did for the winter! They slept the whole season!
“Bernadetta! Do you not hear the voice of Ferdinand Von Aegir?”
That voice could lure anyone out of their den, even if to chuck a snowball at its owner's face. Under the setting sun, orange was starting to turn to pink which was starting to become an inky blue.
“My carols shall make the heavens sing and make pegasi dance with joy!”
“So loud…” Bernie muttered, into the scarf wrapped around her face.
“You should pull your scarf down!” Ferdinand said. “Nobody will ever hear your beautiful voice if you keep it to yourself!”
“Oh, I’m just here for moral support,” the bear of Varley said, proud of herself for not even stammering for a second. “That’s all!”
She felt a finger flick her hat playfully and tried not to smile. If she even could. Her face felt frozen stiff! Snow crunched underfoot, the former classmates striding the cobblestone streets of the capital. Well, maybe she wasn’t striding exactly.
Walking. In an apparent ‘winter wonderland’, in a double date. Which was the last place she wanted to be. She preferred a spot by the fire, with a good book. But, if they really needed her…
She’d have to be a brave Bernie-bear! She could do this! Plus… her wife looked so beautiful right now… Well, her Petra always looked beautiful but right now…
“Aren’t you cold?” Dorothea asked, looking at the Queen of Brigid who barely looked bothered at all.
“Well, if I am, I can always count on my bear to come warm me up!” Petra said. “Besides… Edelgard has need of us!”
“Is that the excuse you’re running with, then?” Dorothea said, raising an eyebrow. “I thought you just missed us. I’m hurt, darling.”
“Edelgard is a good friend, if she has much need of us then I will rush to her being by her side.”
“I thought you were married to our dear Bernadetta,” Dorothea said. “I wasn’t aware you were a part of an open relationship. Especially with how possessive our Empress is with her prized pupil.”
“Oh, it was… how you say, a figure of speaking,” Petra said. “You are understanding my meaning, yes?”
She moved to kiss her wife on both of her blushing cheeks.
“What was that for?” Bernadetta asked. “I mean, Bernie’s not complaining but she is very curious!”
“Once was for looking so cute,” Petra said. “The second was because I apparently need to find the excuses to do the kissing.”
“Oh, no excuses needed here, aha!” Bernadetta laughed, shyly. “Still, I’m not sure I should be here…”
“But you are wanted,” Petra replied. “You and your voice of the goddess!”
“Ooooh, careful, Petra,” Dorothea leaned in with a mischievous smirk. “That sounds like blasphemy. Should we be worried Sothis takes offense and strikes you down with a lightning bolt?”
“That sounds like an international incident waiting to happen!” Ferdinand joined in.
“And none of it sounds very funny!” Bernadetta said, looking at the sky and squeezing her wife extra tight.
Totally not because she was feeling cold. The chill had nothing to do with it, Bernie would swear!
“I am not known to be doing the lying,” Petra said, leaning into her touch. “Only the talking up of my wife.”
Bernadetta knew she resembled a patch of poinsettias right now.
“But now strangers will hear me sing,” she whined.
Something her wife was all too keen to compliment.
“And they will be blessed to do so!”
“Relax Bernie, you have a great voice,” Dorothea added. “There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
Petra was nodding along, and leaned in. Her hot breath was tickling her wife’s neck, the bear of Varley feeling the steam of her breath across her skin. Her skin was turning even redder, blossoming in full bloom.
“And after all of the merriment and merry-making…”
Oh, she knew that tone of voice. That purr, like a rumble deep in a wyvern’s throat. It promised a long night ahead, and she could already imagine her wife’s claws sinking into her skin greedily. The delighted whimpers, and the happy pleased growls.
Oh, now there was a holiday gift she’d enjoy! All of this would so be worth it, by the end of the night. Forget singing, she would be… Bernadetta slapped herself gently. No, she couldn’t be drooling. Especially when it’d freeze her face!
Then again, with how hot she felt… maybe she didn’t need to be worried at all did she?
“You, Mistress Bear, can take me into your den and do the spiriting away with me into the night, hmm?”
She couldn’t help herself, the shriek forcing itself out of her throat like a whistle.
“D-Don’t call me that, not when everyone can hear us!”
Oh, everyone was looking at her now! She felt like sinking into the snow and just staying there until the spring thaw.
“Well, now we don’t have to worry about finding a crowd,” Dorothea teased, seeing the new onlookers. Clapping her mitten-clad hands together, she said: “Hello everyone, we would like to sing you some songs tonight to bring merriment and cheer to all!”
The onlookers started to crowd around them, had the capital always been this busy? Bernadetta thought everyone was supposed to be at home with their families!
“Well it's either sing or get more embarrassed, now my love” Petra said in her ear. “I know which I would like to hear. I know you have a wonderful voice… In public, and in private!”
Bernie lowered her head, before swallowing her pride. Before she could open her mouth, though…
“Oh what is going on here! If the people want some REAL singing they are in luck! Come, Hapi, let us show them our splendor!"
Walking across the street like she was on an opera stage, was none other than Constance Von Nuvelle. The whole world seemed to bow to her, in her mind. Oh well, at least nobody was looking at her anymore, Bernadetta thought and let out a sigh of relief.
Behind her, Hapi shrugged. “Eh sure why not?”
The duo then began singing their own song, and before Bernie knew it her own voice tried to raise itself over theirs. Since when had this become a competition?
The crowd looked back and forth between the groups, like they were watching a tennis match. Constance was gripping her umbrella tightly, as the wind started to pick up.
“Oh, if they want to challenge a songstress on her stage…” Dorothea said, tapping her foot against the cobblestone. “So be it!”
A chilling wind blew through the street, nearly blowing poor Bernie’s hat off her head. It certainly blew Constance’s umbrella out of her hands!
Like the flick of a switch, her whole demeanor changed. Dropping to her knees, the remaining sunlight hit her. The skies weren’t cloudy, but poor Constance looked like she’d been soaked to the bone by sheer sleet.
“Oh, woe is me… why did I even think I could ever match them in singing prowess? I don’t even deserve to live while they do…”
Hapi sighed, though unlike in the war, no demonic beasts arrived to greet her. Kneeling down, she helped her wife up. “...yeah, this is about what I expected to happen. Come on, let’s get you home, love…”
“Oh Hapi how could you have married someone as pathetic and weak as me,” Constance said. “Surely you're going to divorce me and then I’ll be all alone like I deserve!”
Gently kissing her wife, Hapi pressed her forehead to Constance’s own. Her darker caramel skin melding to the white chocolate of her wife. Honestly, Bernadetta felt like a voyeur right about now, like she was seeing something far more intimate.
“I could never leave you,” Hapi said. “Come along, there’s hot cocoa moo waiting for us.”
The two then walked off into the night.
“...so I guess we did the winning?” Petra asked. “Though I never planned on to be doing the competing.”
“You would have won anyways,” Bernadetta said, squeezing her by the arm. “Now come on, let's go home. It's so cold and I need you to warm me up thankyoubyeeveryone! Happy holidays aha!”
-----
“You’re…” Leonie’s shoulders were heaving, the farm girl looking like she was ready to fall over. Steadying herself against a tree, one muscled arm gripped the tree and squeezed the trunk.
“I did warn you that Warp for the unprepared,” Lysithea said. “Is known to be stomach churning. Please don’t vomit all over the snow, especially after gorging yourself on sweet treats.”
All the same, the mage moved behind her wife and tried to reach up to rub her shoulders. Mind, it wasn’t particularly achievable as the other woman was at least a head taller than her. Lysithea cursed those who slithered, she should have been that healthy!
She’d never shake off the accusations of still being a child if she stayed this short forever! Bah! Another thing she’d missed out on. Still, at least she was taller than Hilda…
…not that it was much of an achievement. Though Lysithea would never dare point that out aloud. She had a shorter lifespan, not suicidal idealations.
“Did you have to stand on your tippy-toes?” Leonie teased, and received a gentle smack to her head.
“Watch it!” Lysithea said, somewhat fondly. “I can still divorce you.”
“Even during the holidays?” Leonie turned back, and down, to look at her.
Gripping the archer by the arm, she pulled her along and inside past two open doors. Heels clacking against the creaking wooden floor, the orphanage welcomed them with open arms.
War orphans, some of whom she'd probably been responsible for, Lysithea thought with a wince. That was the sad truth. Still, it wasn’t as if they’d been forgotten and cast aside.
That was why Mercy had seemed to have been gifted to the world. Not her words, though she’d certainly agree with them.
“Oh, you made it,” the woman said, looking ever the kindly devotee to Sothis’ will. A shawl wrapped around her shoulders, she looked warm and motherly.
She’d been 20 when she’d come to the Monastery, even then older than just about everyone else. Now, at thirty, she still looked barely any different at all.
“Well, here to help,” Lysithea said. “I figure it’s the least I could do, after helping, y’know, rip the continent apart and all. Is Jeritza…?”
“No, he’s on one of his ‘bad’ days,” Mercedes shook her head. “He’s gone out to find meat for the new years feast.”
Lysithea winced. ‘Bad’ was an understatement, the professor’s other side emerging less than it used to. But when it did, the Death Knight promised to live up to his name.
“Find, and bring, fresh, at that,” Leonie winced. “Still, he’s getting better, isn’t he?”
“Mhmmm,” Mercedes said. “My baby brother-”
And that had been a shock, to everyone, Lysithea mused. Jeritza certainly hadn’t looked at all as young as he apparently really was. The two being siblings had been less surprising, though. There was definitely a resemblance when you put them side to side.
Nobody asked why they’d been separated for so long. It was their story to tell when they were ready. Bernadetta had said she knew part of it, and had said nothing more on the matter with a look of faint horror in her eyes. She’d called them birds of a feather, which was more than enough for Lysithea.
“-isn’t the best with people, but he’s getting better. Now, enough talk of dark subjects. This is supposed to be a happy time.”
“It’s a hard place to be happy, and all,” Leonie said, before wincing at her own accidental insensitivity. “...or, er, it would be difficult if you weren’t here, Mercy.”
“Some of the older kids as well,” Mercedes said. “They’ve left the nest, but they come back when the little chicks need them. You know, you didn’t have to come.”
“From someone with one shitty childhood that barely even qualifies as one,” Lysithea said. “To kids with one even worse… Nah, I had to come. At least I had my parents, not even those who slithered took those from me. I think after somehow being worse-”
“And that’s enough of that,” Mercedes said. “It was war, casualties were inevitable. Not even my hands are completely clean.”
“I know,” Lysithea said. “But I can least clean some of the blood off mine. …yeah, sorry, this was supposed to be a happy conversation wasn’t it? Way for me to be a downer, huh?”
“Well,” Mercedes said. “I know the perfect way to pick up your mood. I baked cookies, and was just about to help hand-”
“Well, what are we waiting for?” Lysithea said, trying not to sound too excited.
She heard Leonie stifle a laugh behind her. Apparently she wasn’t successful.
“Come along,” Mercedes said. “It’s cold, and it’ll get even colder if you leave the door open.”
“Of course not, those cookies won’t hand themselves out!” Lysithea said. “And I have to test them for quality!”
“Is that a slight against Mercy’s cooking skills?” Leonie teased.
“No! Goddess no! I just have to double-check, only the best for the kids and all!”
“She says, while knowing your baking,” Leonie leaned into a giggling Mercedes’ ear. “Is nothing but the best!”
And the night grew a little warmer…
-----
This was her castle, she wasn’t sure just why that Edelgard claimed otherwise. Honestly, this whole Empire was hers. Now, she was watching her silly humans preparing a large feast for her honor. If they were good, maybe she’d share some with them.
Honestly, she only pretended to let Edelgard be emperor. Her cooking skills, for all of her power, apparently left a little to be desired.
“Stupid boar meat!” Edelgard grumbled, looking about ready to play the part of the Flame Emperor.
“Please, your majesty!” one of Sothis’ other servants said, before the ‘Emperor’ destroyed the kitchen. “Let us handle this, we know you want to cook for Lady Byleth but don’t worry we have this in hand.”
“No, I’ve got this!”
Sothis knew she’d better lend a hand, otherwise this would go terribly. Hopping on her pet’s shoulder, she prepared to give actual helpful instructions. Better than any of that professor’s own.
“Aaaaaaah, Sothis get off me!”
Well, that was just RUDE. She sometimes didn’t even know why she bothered.
Well, she had to be clean for a proper taste test! Licking her paw, she then jumped to the counter for a proper early dinner.
“Every day, this cat, and every special occasion for the Emperor!” one of the cooking slaves cried out.
Well, Sothis decided, she’d done her part. Walking off, she found the other supposed master of the house. Byleth, who was holding a fun-looking feather and dipping it in that strange black stuff the humans always said made a mess whenever she spread it everywhere.
But, apparently, that was no way to get any proper respect at all around here. So, ‘submitting’ it was. Rolling on her belly, she let out a hopefully super cute meow.
“Sothis…” her human said, sweetly. “I’m trying to write a poem for El…”
Nauseating poems could wait. Pets now!
“I think it’d be romantic, a holiday poem…” Byleth trailed off. Sothis didn’t care. Belly rubs were more important instead of whatever silly human thing she was going on about.
She then glanced at the other strange human, with the green hair nobody else besides Byleth and Edelgard seemed to ever notice. Letting out a meow, Sothis let her namesake made sure she noticed her.
A purr, and a belly rub later, all of that black goo tumbled off the table from her whipping tail.
“Sothis…..” Byleth sighed, getting up to clean the stuff up. Well, job done. Mischief created. Now to see what else she could get into!
Oh, there was one other human she liked. That little cub, the one who was apparently an artist to be. Well, far be it from Sothis to not encourage her, right?
“Sothis!” Brendika said, scrambling over to hug her tight. Yes, this was her new favorite human!
They sat there, for a bit, until Sothis smelled heavenly delights. A feast! All for her!
Well, she was the guest of honor so it’d be rude to be late!
-----
Late at night, both Emperor and Empress crept through the halls on a special mission. Toys in hand, most important of all a wooden sword and wooden axe. All to chop the traditional yule log, of course.
“She’s going to love these,” Byleth said, sneaking them inside the stockings. “Maybe most of all.”
“She’ll love anything we give her,” Edelgard said. “Because they’re from us.”
Frowning, she looked at the axe.
“...still, as faint of a hope as it is, I still hope she’ll never have to learn how to use these for real.”
“She may, but I’ll make sure that…”
“No, we’ll make sure nothing can touch her,” Edelgard said, solemnly. “This is an equal partnership, love.”
“But, for now, let her play pretend. Slay fake dragons, never real ones. Rescue princesses from their towers.”
“Only you,” Sothis chimed in. “Would have that as a fantasy. My daughter would be horrified, rolling in her grave. She’d rise up to say you’re corrupting the youth.”
They saw some milk and cookies sitting on top of a drawing, and nibbled the cookies and sipped the milk. Then, the Mother of All saw just what was scribbled on the picture. Her eyes widened in horror, jolting back in mid-air.
“No, NO. I refuse to be reduced to that!”
She tried to grab the drawing off the table, her spectral hands falling right through it.
“I refuse to be reduced to such a…” Sothis said, shaky hands pointing at the table. “You two speak to your daughter immediately and correct this, right this instance!”
Byleth snorted. “I think it’s modern art, personally.”
Sothis, behind her, blew a raspberry. Edelgard, for her part, looked at the drawing and forced herself to not laugh. If she did, she’d wake up the whole castle.
Sothis, because that was exactly who it was, had become a humanoid cat with her ever-present green hair becoming fur. Two massive angel wings swooped behind her, the goddess riding a rainbow atop a boar.
“I just know it, this is how history will remember me if you don't stop this now!” Sothis grumbled, huffing and crossing her arms. “My granddaughter… thinks I’m a cat who rides a boar, and walks on rainbows.”
“A perfect likeness, I think,” Byleth teased. “You are very feline-like. Though I’m not sure where the boar came from. You look nothing like Dimitri.”
Sothis was pointing angrily at her, a gimlet eye narrowed directly at her. “This is all your fault, you named that feline after me!”
She lunged at Byleth, phasing right through her chest.
Edelgard was about to pat her on the back, only for all three to hear the sound of footsteps.
“I knew we should have been quieter!” Edelgard hissed out.
“I blame Sothis,” Byleth said, already climbing out the window. “Quick, before she sees us! Use that Trickster certification, El!”
Sothis groaned, but closed her eyes and linked herself to her granddaughter. “...damn it, don’t say I never did anything for you kid.”
Floating up through the chimney, she was up and out through the chimney. Visible just long enough for Brendika to see.
Brendika let out a gasp. “Mama, Mommy! Sothis came, she left presents!”
Sneaking back in, the Emperor and Empress pretended to be surprised. Not entirely faking a yawn, Edelgard hugged her daughter.
“I see that!”
“And she ate the milk and cookies I made and took the drawing I made!”
Sothis gave a tired, weary smile, unlinking from the girl’s crest. “Well, if I’ve ruined my legacy, it was all to make a child smile. So it’s not so bad! Happy holidays, Brendika… May the nights be short, and the days be long…”
A thousand years passed, the empire of Adrestia fading into history and into myth. Steel towers rose above the countryside, rapid modernization coming how only inevitability could. An Emperor left a legacy, proud and sturdy as the stone her castle was once made of.
On the former castle grounds stood a small house, nestled in the forest. Inside it, two young girls argued under the ethereal moonlit skies.
“Come on sis hurry up, Sothis won’t come this early!” the older sister said, flicking her brown hair. “Don’t be a slugabed!”
“I know, but I just want to make her the best cookies!” the younger said.
Rolling her eyes, the older one smiled. “Yes you were good all year, you’ll get your silly game. But I’ve got to get going, there’s no way the Black Eagles are losing to the Ashen Wolves this year! Our choir will make pegasi sing!”
“Pegasi? And you call me childish!”
“They existed, I know they did!”
Unseen by either, a green-haired goddess petted the ghost of her beloved familiar.
“I guess I was right all of those years ago, if I’m remembered riding a boar into battle against the winter demons slicing them out of the sky… well, there are worse ways to be remembered!”
“Meoooooow!”
fin