Return of the Naruto Community Derail Thread: Part Two!

I was inspired by this twitter comic

• C: "I respect your magic, Lysithea, but I appreciate your youth even more." "Don't treat me like a child!"
• B: "What I meant to say was, it warms my heart to see Edelgard have someone like a little sister again." "What do you me? And why are you talking about her sisters in the past?" "That is not my story to tell. But I do suggest you speak to Edelgard more. I believe she would like to spend much time with you."

Marianne:

• C: "Everyone thinks I'm some sinister omen." "I've just come to accept it." "Can you really be happy that way?" "I suppose my happiness is irrelevant, Marianne."
• C+: People joke about a pair of ghosts roaming the halls. Hubert gets angry on Marianne's behalf.
• B: "Lady Edelgard is so fiery, Hubert. Could I really be like her?" "That is for you to decide. But a lit torch, and a candle in a lantern, provide light all the same." "You know, you also have a dark air about you, but a warm heart." "I could say the same about you."
• A: "Whether or not you choose to change your image, Marianne, I'll still recognize you either way."
• Epilogue: I'm wondering what would happen here that would represent character growth, and not just be "I now pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Dracula"

Leonie (I convinced myself I'd like to see these two interact. Could be hot.):

• C: "You act like Jeralt/Edelgard is the only person in your world. You've got such ability, but you've got blinders on!" "Don't you lecture me! I could say the same for you!"
• B: "I've never seen someone so devoted to the image of another person!" "You're one to talk!" "It's unhealthy for you and your relationships with others." "My 'relationships' are MY business!"
• A: "I know you have strong reasons to respect Edelgard/Jeralt that way. And I have mine. But there are other people that care very deeply for you as well. ...like me."
• Epilogue: They dedicate their hearts to their work. In their downtime, they'd be so devoted to each other and their kids, it's like the rest of the world doesn't exist.

Lorenz:

• C: "I'm wary of you as the kind of preening noble Edelgard might detest." "I'm wary of your repulsive, unbecoming, sinister air."
• B: "You may have good intentions... but I still find you off-putting personally." "The feeling is mutual."
• B+ [if you spared Claude, which should've been required]: "I find Claude off-putting personally, but I would not be averse to working with him in the future, for the good of the people. I only hope you live up to that same expectation."

• C: Recon on Arundel's scheming. Edelgard would express sadness about what Jeritza has had to do. That she didn't inted for this, when she found him, followed by a bit of explanation (for the player) about how he came to be in her protection.
• B: Check in on how he's doing as far as coping goes. She'd also reassure him that while she needs his strength, he's more than just a weapon, he's a person.
• A: Reflecting over the things they've done, and how they both need to make plans for penance when it's all over.
• Epilogue: Jeritza voluntarily gets incarcerated. Upon his rehabilitation and release, he's allowed to live a quiet life as Emile von Bartels, outside of the public eye. She visits her friend to check up on him every now and then.

Mercedes (locked to part 2):

• C: Mercedes thanks Edelgard for taking in Emile when no one else could help him, but that she's sad to see that he had to keep fighting Edelgard's war. Edelgard points out that she tried to keep the violence, from him and in the war in general, under control. Mercedes understands that, but gives some sharp pushback on her anti-church stance in particular, in that cutting way Mercedes does so well. Mercedes is on the offensive, and Edelgard has to do some introspection.
• B: Edelgard seeks out Mercedes, to state that it's not only the church that needs reform, and the war is about more than that. This would be another moment to state her "My issue is with the Church, and with society, not the faith/people/goddess", stance. She'd also counter with "A church helped you, yes. But who helps the people when the church itself does not? Isn't it better to solve the societal issues, that have been propped up for far too long?" Mercedes counters that she's living proof that there are some in the church who do help the helpless. She'd point out that inside or outside of the church, some people can work towards the same charitable goal, citing herself and Emile as proof. But then afterwards, she'd have to do some introspection, wondering what would happen to Emile or people like him, if people like Edelgard weren't there to find him.
• A: They'd consider that they have more they'd like to know about each other's stance on the faith, and they may never see eye to eye, but for the time being, "A couple of headstrong women should be able to answer: How can we be help others in need, right now, regardless of their faith or background?"
• Epilogue: Some epilogues on all four routes could use more detail on the "And then the church was reformed" part. So here, I'd have it that as part of Edelgard's reforms, the church falls under the leadership of Mercedes, who pushes the church into a more hands-on, charitable path, independent from government, with outreach and service to all.

Marianne:

• C: Marianne would be shy to approach Edelgard directly, but Edelgard would approach her, recognizing the look in her eyes. She'd ask what's on Marianne's mind, but, understanding the hesitance to be open, she'd tell Marianne "whenever you're willing, I'm open to listen."
• B: Marianne opens up about her death wish born out of her crest issues. Edelgard waxes philosophically, out loud, about how it must feel to feel forsaken. "Who does the goddess hear? What is the fate of the mistreated or unfortunate?" She doubles down on her desire to help Marianne, but pushes her not to ever give up fighting for herself and what she believes in.
• B+: Marianne's wary of spending too much time observing from Edelgard, believing she'd only bring misfortune. Edelgard doesn't believe that, and jokes that if misfortune was really coming her way, Hubert would have something to say about it. If you've reached at least a C+ Marianne/Hubert support, Marianne gives a warm smile and agrees.
• A: Edelgard says something she'd known from the start, that she saw a lot of herself in Marianne. Not just the willpower to keep going each new day, but some of the heartache as well. But Marianne conquered her own doubts, with determination and hope. She sees more in Marianne's future than she sees in her own (she doesn't outright say it, but we understand that it's partly because she believes she'll die young). Edelgard remarks that Marianne has the makings of not only a strong woman, but a compassionate leader.
• Epilogue: At first I wanted to focus on "What it feels like to feel depressed and forsaken?" But then I thought about how hard it is for even me to open up about that, and also about how it helps to make sure others don't feel that way, which is part of Edelgard's motivation. So then I thought "What if Edelgard named Marianne as successor?", since Marianne's endings with Byleth and Dimitri showed she would become an excellent leader, and this would really fit with Marianne becoming the kind of strong woman she wanted to be. If they don't get a paired ending, Marianne still becomes a leader in her own territory, anyway.

Ashe:

• C: Edelgard seeks a crestless commoner's perspective, and asks what he believes the people needs. She looks to learns, not dictate.
• B: Ashe would speak on the valuable guidance Christophe and Lonato gave. Edelgard would be interested in learning more about how they were as people. Ashe would be sad about their deaths, and how something seemed off about it.
• A: Edelgard asks Ashe if he would want to be a role model for the people like Lonato was for him. In return, she would promise to look into Duscur more.
• Epilogue: With TWSITD defeated, the truth about Duscur could finally be revealed, and their people, and Christophe's name, would be cleared. Edelgard appoints Ashe to do civil outreach to the people, talking to the commoners and finding out their needs.

Flayn:

• I'm intrigued by the idea of Edelgard and Flayn getting a C support, after Flayn is recovered from the Death Knight. It could start with Edelgard by herself, furious about what Arundel is up to. When she talks to Flayn, she'd express sincere apologies for what happened, and state that she would do what she could to ensure that "those vile... people" get what's coming to them. She'd start to pry about what they wanted, but neither of she nor Flayn would be fully open with each other.
• If you reach the support, Edelgard is able to give the order that if she faces them, Flayn and Seteth will be spared in their final battle if they flee. So instead of it just being Byleth's choice, they can both choose, like with Claude.

• C: See each other in the dining hall and discuss sweets. "I like ice cream!" "I like cake!"
• C+: They reach for the same ice cream cake one day. Quincy Jones' "Ironside" plays. They joke about nearly fighting to the death over dessert.
• B: "You act tough, but kind underneath. As sweet as a dessert. To think, if we didn't know each other, one of us might have killed the other." (the other responds in their usual exasperated way)
• A: "Don't get attached, I won't be around forever..."
• Epilogue: "With steel and spells, the two warriors almost single-handedly defeated those who slither in the dark. It is said that for their wedding present, the Emperor hired the finest baker in all of Fodlan, as well as doctors to try to help them regain what was taken from them."

Shamir:

• C: She has grown fond of working with another dispassionate professional. He does his standard "It's unsafe to get close to me" shtick. She says she can handle herself fine around danger, and believes she's been fighting for longer than he has.
• B: She snipes a magic wielding opponent and saves him in a battle. He's surprised, but instead of being grateful, he's a little disappointed that he couldn't just be put out of his misery. He brings up the age of his first kill and states that dying in battle would be penance, but doesn't go into further detail.
• A: She has done some research into who he is. She says she's still not afraid of him, and would rather he didn't die in battle. She's been through that before, and points out that it's a kill or be killed, and sometimes you have to do what you have to do. Plus it wouldn't be fair to the people he's fighting for, or alongside, if he just let himself get killed. He calls her as determined as she is strong.
• A+: He relents somewhat on his resignation, and has her swear that if the Death Knight ever fully takes control of him, she would end him. She makes a coy joke about "til death do us part."
• Epilogue: Tales would tell of a vigilante mercenary duo, protectors of the weak, who would go into battle like a storm, but leave into the night as calm and content as a breeze.

Edelgard: See above.

Manuela: Whoever wrote this had it perfectly

• Prior to the war, the students should've reacted much more negatively to Rhea becoming a rage dragon who personally used you (the player).
• During the timeskip, Edelgard should've made it clear there's an enemy near Alliance lands (TWSITD) who is actually pitting the two against each other (which is accurate).
• We already know she didn't plan on expanding the empire as a power grab, since she intended on stepping down once her reforms were done. I'd have her explain that it's necessary to Crest reform the Kingdom and Alliance as well, otherwise they'd overpower the Empire and bring back the inequality.
• After beating Claude, sparing him should've been mandatory (the developers treat his survival as if you did, anyway). There should've been a parlay, and Edelgard would explain to him that if she fell in battle against TWSITD, she'd cede the Empire to be run like the Alliance under Claude's guidance, citing Arundel and his kind as the issue, and understanding that he'd be a better leader.
• They should've used the Arianrhod nuke intel, and their proximity to Hyrm, and the intel from working with Claude, to find Shambala.
• They should've attacked Shambhala first, with Alliance and Almyran troops as reinforcements (this would also improve Claude's standing in both). They'd wind up beating TWSITD before Nemesis could be revived.
• Exposing TWSITD would help clear up to the students exactly why Edie's war was necessary so far.
  • Battling them first also means that if Seteth and Flayn find out, more reason to retreat.
• Then when the empire goes to Fhirdiad, with a bit more clear of a moral high ground, Rhea and Dimitri's unjustified stubbornness becomes quite a bit more obvious, as it shows they're just clinging on to the old way (which Dimitri does regardless of route).
  • I'd personally prefer to also see a funeral for Rhea, citing that she was driven mad by loss and power, but that Byleth and Edelgard still didn't hate her, and understood the losses she had.
• Finally, I'd edit that banner in the credits to remove the part where Edelgard's stepping on the flags.

• Claude needs to be judged a bit more harshly for being indecisive, since his support could've ended the war a lot faster, and for using you (the player) without being open about his own secrets.
• Remove the battle at Fort Merceus
• This video has to happen.
• Edelgard and Hubert would've warned Claude that the true threat was in Hrym.
• On the way to Hyrm, this is where the negotiation between Holst and Nader would happen. To broker the alliance, this is where Claude would reveal his heritage as proof that the two sides can work together.
• The final route boss would be Arundel/Thales, in Hrym. With the people of both countries behind him, this is where Claude would give his "That's how we win!" speech.
• This credits banner would show Claude brokering peace between Holst and Nader, and the two countries.