Ch4 Bernie & the Plant from Outer Space (FE3H) [Patreon Reward]

[A Fire Emblem Three Houses fanfic. Contains bodysnatching, mild body horror, and dubious consent.]

Bernie was once again frozen in fear and astonishment. Before her, Avelina von Vestra - the physical manifestation of Hubert’s and Marlene’s combined wills - was basking in the feminine changes to her proportions.

“Mmm, yes! I feel exquisite~” Running her hands over her own soft skin, the newest part of the hive mind felt herself up with a devilish grin on her face. Avelina’s hands lingered over her new breasts and plump rear, striking a seductive pose for the horrified onlooker nearby. “How do I look?~”

Only a quiet squeak escaped Bernie’s trembling lips.

“Come now, Bernadetta. Am I really still as scary as I was before? I think I look rather dashing!” Avelina reached into the sac where Hubert’s original body resided and pulled his clothes out bit by bit.

The mental image of those coiling vines undressing Hubert in that tight confinement sent shivers down Bernie’s spine.

“But this… This just won’t do, now will it?” Avelina asked rhetorically as she held the masculine garments against her body. “I suppose I’ll just have to make do… Unless~”

Once again glowing from within, the layers of Marlene’s bulb peeled away to reveal a pretty pistil and a series of vines sprouting from a pool of nectar.

Tossing aside Hubert’s attire, Avelina stepped back into Marlene’s bulb, where a number of soft vines emerged to spread glowing green nectar over her naked body. The gooey liquid coating her figure began to sparkle, quickly transforming into sleek, lustrous black metal with golden trim. Grown from her incredible nectar was a new set of Dark Flyer armour tailored perfectly to her figure!

“Ahhh… much better!” Avelina flicked a lock of hair off her face and struck another confident pose. “But there’s still something left to complete…”

The sac with Hubert’s human body was now vacuum-sealed, revealing the outline of his slender, masculine form as it was grasped and kneaded by Marlene’s vines. Avelina lifted said sac upright and hugged the encased body from behind! Her hands slowly stroked the planty surface, making the sac’s occupant squirm a little more.

“Mmmm!~ Nnng!~ I never knew such bliss existed!” Avelina moaned in perfect sync with the muffled sounds within the sac.

It took a moment for Bernie to realise that the figure within was changing, too! Hubert’s concealed body widened at the hips; his flat chest began to form new bumps; his legs gained thicker, softer proportions; his face and jawline rounded out; and his tummy gained the slightest hint of distinct abs. Now his- or her? body shape seemed to match that of Avelina, as did the euphoric moans emanating from within. All the while, the bulge between her legs throbbed as it was serviced by a tentacle-like vine inside the plant sac.

Was that body still Hubert? Was it even still human? And was Avelina truly the continuation of the person that was Hubert? Bernie’s mind raced with questions mired in horror - and the slightest, most embarrassing hint of intrigue.

But now, the timid human’s body moved of its own accord; she grabbed her bow, nocked an arrow, drew back the string, and aimed directly at Avelina. “L-let them go! Let them all go!!” Her arms were shaking, but her grip was firm. Tears blurred her vision and each breath was an uphill battle.

“Hmmm…” The plant woman did not move from Bernadetta’s line of fire. Her teasing tone of voice evaporated and her cocky body language ceased as she laid the plant sac back horizontally on the ground. “You truly are afraid of me, aren’t you?”

“Y-you can’t just snatch people! You can’t j-just replace people! You c-can’t just… just… change people against their will!!”

“None of this is against my will, I can assure you.” Hubert’s speech patterns and vocal mannerisms were clearly present despite the more feminine voice. “I am still me; I am me as I want to be.”

“Wh-what do you mean?” Bernie continued pointing her bow forward.

“Now that I share a mind with Lady Edelgard, I recall that she once divulged to you a secret of mine - that I wish to be a pegasus knight.”

It was true; Edelgard had indeed told Bernie as much ages ago in an attempt to humanise Hubert and combat her fear of him.

Avelina continued. “Pegasi notably refuse to follow the commands of male riders, which is why most pegasus knights are women. Now, imagine my astonishment when one threw me up onto its back and allowed me to be its rider.” She closed her eyes as a serene expression crossed her face. “I have never been a man - not in my heart. That pegasus saw past my exterior and showed me what was beneath the surface. This is me. This is who I am.” A smile returned to Avelina’s face. “I never thought it possible for me to appear as I do now, given my status as Her Majesty’s right hand. It feels… freeing beyond words. But I need not preach to the choir, hmm?~”

In all the years she knew her, Bernie never would have guessed Avelina was trans like her. She slowly lowered her bow. “Y-you know!?”

“I may be Avelina, but I’m still Marlene, too. Have you already forgotten our rather intimate encounter yesterday?”

“I-! I-!! Of course I haven’t!” Bernie supposed it was a dead giveaway considering her penis was in Marlene’s mouth…

“And how did it feel? Did you enjoy making love to us?~” The playful tone of voice was back as she asked a question she already knew the answer to.

“I-! But-!!” Unwilling to face that answer, Bernie ran from it, mentally and literally. The sniper fled back towards the monastery through the dense fog with her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

Every line of thought she followed simply led her back to Marlene and her assimilated comrades. It was impossible for Bernie to escape the reality that Marlene was so fucking hot! Being a seductive, aphrodisiacal plant was hot; multiple bodies speaking and acting as one was hot; living out polyamorous fantasies was hot; binding people in a bundle of vines and a sealable pitcher plant was hot; creating anyone and anything from polymorphic nectar was hot; and transforming someone to match their real gender was hot! It just wasn’t fair how hot that terrifying plant was! And they all really seemed to like being a part of Marlene… Was this situation really all that bad?

Interrupting her conflicting emotions, the mist suddenly began to lift, revealing movement in her peripheral vision. Before she could even think, an orb of dark magic originating from her right rushed straight ahead of her face, brushing the tips of her purple hairs! “AAIIEEEEE!!” Bernie shrieked, turning away from the unknown assailant. More dark magic attacks flew her way, all but one of which missed her. One of them struck her in the shoulder, inflicting a sparking, crackling pain to ripple through her whole body. “EEP-!!” Momentarily losing motor control, she took an awkward step, twisted her ankle on uneven ground, and collapsed to the forest floor. She tried to crawl away through the mud and pain, but there was a growing rumble of footfalls approaching. Daring to look behind her, Bernie saw a dozen or so approaching enemies, all cloaked in black - some even wore frightening plague doctor masks.

But nearest to her was a woman wearing a tight, silky dress, black feathered scarf, and dark full-face veil. The mysterious villain outstretched her lithe arm and conjured another dark orb in the palm of her gloved hand. It was all Bernie could do to brace for the inevitable attack, but a crimson blur appeared just in time to block the incoming spell.

Having arrived with speed, Edelgard stood between Bernie and her assailant with axe in hand. However, instead of striking at the mysterious woman, the plantified emperor grabbed her by the collar, pulled her close, and exhaled a dose of lavender-scented breath. The mage’s body went limp, collapsing to the ground as she passed out. Meanwhile, Byleth, Dorothea, and Avelina had caught up and joined the fray. Edelgard stood defensively in front of Bernie, keeping watch as the other Marlenes pacified the attackers one by one.

Bernie looked up at her protector where she noticed an alarming injury: a hole had been burned through every layer of clothing, revealing a gaping wound in the side of her torso! However, instead of blood spilling out of her, there was green sap - almost like the nectar in Marlene’s bulb, except here it wasn’t glowing. Clasping her hands to her mouth, Bernie couldn’t tell what she was more horrified by: the proof that this Edelgard was so inhuman on the inside, or the fact she was so gravely wounded.

In a matter of moments, every enemy combatant was unconscious on the ground. Edelgard turned back and knelt to pick the delicate archer off the ground.

Bernie’s consciousness was slipping as her body began to go numb. She felt a raindrop land on her forehead, but the sky above was clear. Edelgard’s face - with her beautiful, shimmering violet eyes - filled most of her vision. And then she closed her own eyes.

—

Slipping into and out of consciousness, Bernadetta retained little of the following several hours. When next she opened her eyes, she saw gentle greens swirling in her vision accompanied by a comforting warmth all around her. The feeling of weightlessness and release of all her muscle tension would have felt dream-like if it hadn’t also been accompanied by the familiar lavender scent she had come to fear. Her quickening heartbeat was all she could hear. The dancing, blurry shades of green began to come into focus, and she could make out Edelgard’s smiling face. She closed her eyes again.

—

It was darker now, but there was a faint green glow persisting all around her. She still felt weightless, and warm, but there was more movement than before.

Several hands were gracing Bernie’s soft figure; across her tummy, up and down her limbs, over her breasts, and between her legs. The barely-lucid woman was massaged ever so tenderly, pressuring all the right places in just the right way. This was just the sort of hot spring date she’d fantasised about, to her severe embarrassment.

Hot spring… That thought made Bernie realise she wasn’t weightless, she was mostly submerged. Something was keeping her afloat with her head above the surface of the glowing green liquid, but scrutinising her situation was far too difficult when her senses were being stimulated so wonderfully.

Then, she noticed that wonderful, foreboding, lovely, sinister smell of lavender again. Bernie figured she should be panicking, but… nothing changed. Her heart rate remained steady, her anxiety was absent, and her thoughts were under control enough not to spiral. The girl tried to move, but was gently pulled back to the perfect floating position by the many soft hands holding her.

“Nnng…” Bernie moaned, feeling sore now that she was exerting her muscles again.

“Shhh… It’s alright now… You’re safe, I promise~” Edelgard’s voice whispered airily.

“Relax… The pain will fade soon~” Byleth cooed warmly.

“It’s just the four of us now, Bern~” Dorothea added. “Or five, depending how you’d like to count~”

Edelgard continued. “We can have our privacy in here~”

Whatever force was keeping her from having another bout of anxiety was also making it difficult to keep her weary eyes open. Bernie again drifted off into slumber, feeling the intimate presence of her loved ones all around her.

—

The sniper awoke in her room feeling well-rested, painless, and cosy. Marlene’s lavender scent clung to her skin like a thistle, yet soothed her nostrils like the softest flower petals. Drawing back her covers, Bernie got a view of her naked body as she hadn’t seen it in a long time: her skin was soft, smooth, and scarless, as if she’d never seen a day of battle in her life. What’s more, she gingerly touched a finger to her shoulder and carefully rolled her foot, and not the slightest hint of pain was present despite her recent injuries.

“H-how long was I out…?” Getting out of bed, Bernie shuffled over to her desk and checked her potted bamboo sprout. “Hmmm… Its height is consistent with one day of growth…” Habitually, she marked its current height on the wall behind its pot then watered it and the rest of her plants as she thought aloud. “I couldn’t have healed so soon… Even the Professor’s healing magic can’t patch me up like this so quickly! Oh no, does this mean… Can Marlene do this all on her own? Gods, what can’t she do!? I can’t let this continue, she’s too strong! Sh-she’s so scary!! Think, Bernie, think… Ohhh, I don’t know what to do!”

A vaguely familiar knocking pattern suddenly thumped against her door, startling her out of her thoughts.

“I-! Um-! I-! N-nobody’s home!”

To Bernie’s horror, the door opened anyway while she was stark naked!

“Good morning, Bernadetta.” Edelgard was back to her uncanny, almost-normal mannerisms and speaking pattern. Held up in Edelgard’s gloved hand was an imperial cloche fit for serving a leader such as herself.

“EEEK! H-how did you get in here!?”

The emperor closed the door behind her and set the cloche on Bernie’s desk. Her regal crimson overcoat was untarnished, and not a hair on her head was out of place. Bernie couldn’t help but wonder if her wound had also healed, or if it yet lingered beneath the pristine exterior. “I am the one who carried you here last night. I couldn’t lock the door from the outside without taking your key…” She elegantly stepped closer, backing the introverted human against the wall until their faces were centimeters apart. “...or remaining in here, with you.” She sensually whispered those last few words, sending shivers down Bernie’s spine.

Their lips were so close to touching. Bernie felt Edelgard’s lavender breath on her face and her eyes peering into her soul. The human’s lips quivered, it would be so easy for either of them to lean forward just a little and-!

Edelgard then stepped back once more. Moving on as if nothing had happened, she lifted the lid off the cloche to reveal a steamy, aromatic bowl of tomato soup. “Breakfast is served.” She smiled lightly.

Awkwardly stumbling aside and grabbing something to wear, Bernie hid behind her wardrobe door. Once she was fully dressed, she peeked around her cover to see that the Marlene-ified emperor was still standing there.

“Did you not say you envied carnivorous plants that simply sit in one place and let their food come to them?” Edelgard asked rhetorically. “We would be more than pleased to deliver all your meals for you~” She let a playful tone slip into her voice.

“Eep…” Bernie muttered involuntarily, refusing to leave her shelter behind the wardrobe door.

“I have other matters I must attend to, but should you seek me out later, I can always make time for a friend.” Another light, uncanny smile.

Bernie withdrew further into her dresser, then heard her room’s door open and close again. When she checked next, she was alone again with her plants, her stuffies, and the soup left by Marlene. The girl raced to her door and locked it tight. She still had no idea how to deal with this situation.