Ch1 Bernie & the Plant from Outer Space (FE3H) [Patreon Reward]

[Contains body snatching, assimilation, cloning + replacing, and plant TF. Warnings for identity theft, mind fuckery, situational horror]

“Hello, Mr. Bird! How are you?” Bernadetta watched a perched robin from her seat on an old tree stump. “It’s a beautiful day today, isn’t it? The forest is practically glowing in the sunlight!”

The robin sang a lovely bird call, prompting others to chime in nearby.

“That’s a nice branch you’re standing on! That’s… wait a minute, what kind of plant even is that?”

The ‘branch’ in question twitched in the still, windless air, prompting the robin to fly off.

“Hmm…” Bernie hummed, getting to her feet to approach the mysterious plant. “You’re a new one…”

Upon closer inspection, it was a dry little vine that wriggled of its own volition every now and then. Investigating a new plant was rare and exciting, so Bernadetta began to trace the vine back to its source. Eventually, she found the vine led back to a withered bulb about the size of a pumpkin smack dab in the middle of a little crater. Visible roots were struggling to grow into the compressed earth, and a number of other vines originating in the mystery plant were sprawled out.

“What…?” Bernie stood with mouth agape as she took in the strange sight ahead of her, but soon snapped back to her senses. “W-water! I can get water!”

The plant lover ran back to her room to fetch her watering can, trowel, and expensive fertiliser, then swiftly returned to her patient as quickly as possible. First, she broke up the firm top layer of dirt under the bulb, careful not to damage its roots; next, she mixed her special fertiliser into the parched, crushed soil and helped guide the plant’s slowly-writhing roots into it; and finally, she emptied her can of water into the dry earth around it.

“Phew, there we go!” Bernie watched the plant dig its roots into the earth as she caught her breath. Despite her low self esteem, she took some pride in her work. “Wow, I’ve never seen any plant move like this before! What are you…?” She took a moment to look long and hard at the plant. “You look like a ‘Marlene’ to me. Yeah… Marlene! Hee hee! Oh, and my name is Bernadetta… or just Bernie…” She suddenly got very shy again, but gradually built her confidence back up. “I like plants! E-especially carnivorous ones! They’re so cool, they just sit there and let their meals come to them! I wish I didn’t have to leave home to get food…” She trailed off, then regained her train of thought. “But I wonder… Are you carnivorous, too? We don’t get many plants like that in this part of Fodlan, unfortunately. B-but it’s ok if you’re not! Carnivorous, that is. I like all plants, and I like you, Marlene!”

After spending some time watching the plant settle in, Bernie figured she should return to her room before it got too late.

“I should be going now, but don’t worry! I’ll be back tomorrow! Bye, Marlene!”

—

The next day, Bernadetta returned to her new plant friend with another canful of water, a blank canvas, and her painting supplies. When she arrived at Marlene’s location, her cheery humming stopped in an instant and she nearly dropped what she was carrying; before her, Marlene’s central bulb had nearly doubled in size and looked noticeably more vigorous than the previous day!

“Woah! Look at you, Marlene! You’ve really grown! And your leaves…” The shy woman set down her items, approached the plant, and carefully ran her hand across the surface of the giant bulb. “...they’re much less dry already!”

As if reacting to Bernadetta’s touch, Marlene’s entire bulb momentarily shirked away; but only a moment later, she returned to her former position and allowed the human to touch it.

“There, there. It’ll be ok, Marlene. Oh! I brought you some more water! Are you thirsty?” Bernie rushed back to fetch her watering can, then poured a generous helping of water all around the budding plant.

The dozens of vines spreading out from Marlene’s center subtly untensed, relaxing as her roots soaked up the water she had been provided. Bernie could tell that this unusual plant was starting to feel at home.

After giving Marlene another little pat - this time without her shirking away at all - Bernadetta set up her easel, mixed some paints on her palette, and began depicting the odd specimen and its natural surroundings.

“I wonder where you came from…” The human girl wondered aloud. “Could you be from Brigid? I’ve been there a couple times, myself. There was so much incredible flora there! Oh, or are you from Almyra? I haven’t visited there, but I have read lots of books about Almyran ecosystems! But then, who brought you here? …I guess I won’t be getting an easy answer. Oh, uh, n-not that I blame you for not speaking!” She continued to joyfully paint and chat, blissfully distracted from most of her usual anxieties and fears.

A few hours later, once she had completed her portrait - and chatted Marlene’s figurative ears off - Bernie bid the plant farewell and returned to her room.

—

When she arrived the following day, Bernie’s suspicions were proven correct; Marlene had again grown dramatically, and was again more lush than the previous day. She was glad she brought materials to paint her again.

Bernadetta watered Marlene, then painted a new portrait to document her growth. All the while, she chatted casually and confidently to her plant friend in a way she never had to anyone else.

Following this routine, Bernie returned to visit Marlene the next day, and the next, and the next, until finally her bulb was larger than the entirety of the human girl’s body! Marlene was thriving in her new home, and was even growing some new vine-like sacs on the ground around her bulb that Bernie could only describe as being akin to deflated pitcher plants.

A week after first contact, Bernadetta had run out of painting supplies and visited Marlene with just the usual can of water.

Sensing the presence of her favourite human, Marlene’s vines all stood up to serenely and joyfully float in the air.

“Hi Marlene! How are you today?” Bernie smiled warmly, wasting no time in watering the base of the plant’s bulb. Marlene responded by very gently rubbing a soft, fuzzy vine against Bernie’s cheek. “Hee hee! H-hey, that tickles!” The vine stopped and backed away. “Th-though… it’s not unwelcome…” The vine quickly returned to stroking her now-blushy cheek. “Woah, Marlene, can you… understand me!?” Bernie gasped. “T-tap two times for yes, one time for no.” Bernie lightly tapped her other cheek twice to show Marlene how it was done.

Tap tap.

Bernie gasped, her eyes wide and sparkly. “Wow! This is so cool! W-wait… Can all plants understand me?”

Tap.

“No? Just you?”

Tap tap.

“Eee! I’ve never had a plant friend who could understand me before!” Her smile waned ever so slightly. “Er, um… D-do you consider me your, um… f-friend?”

Tap tap.

The smile returned to Bernie’s face, larger than ever. Another vine slithered up to the human and softly stroked the exposed skin of her leg - just as Bernie had been petting Marlene every day.

“I’m so h-happy! Hee hee! B-but… I have to go soon… I have a war council meeting I have to attend, and then tomorrow, I have to help chase off some bandits… Ohhh, I wish there was no stupid war! I just want to paint and sew and garden in peace! M-maybe even with a few loved ones like Lady Edelgard, and Dorothea, and the Professor… -er, friends! A few f-friends!” Bernadetta hid her red face from Marlene. After a moment, she revealed herself again. “Phew… you’re really nice, Marlene. You don’t yell at me, or judge me, or get upset at me… I hope you’re here with me in peaceful times, too.”

—

A couple days later, after returning from routing a group of bandits with some of her former classmates and her former professor, Bernie got a knock on her door; from the moderate strength and the fact there were precisely three evenly-timed thumps, she could tell it was Byleth.

“Um, Professor? Is that you?” She called from bed as she cuddled her Armoured Bear Stuffy; the very same one Byleth herself had gifted her all those years ago.

“Bernadetta, have you seen Edelgard lately?” Byleth had an uncharacteristic hint of worry in her voice. “I haven’t seen her since yesterday morning.”

“Wh-what!? L-Lady Edelgard is missing!?” Bernie squealed, squeezing her plushy tightly.

“It’s alright, I’m right here.” Edelgard’s familiar voice rang through Bernie’s door, bringing her immediate relief. “My apologies, I was just preoccupied with other matters.”

“I’m glad you’re safe, El…” Byleth sighed.

Bernadetta stood up and lingered right next to her door. “I am too!”

“Thank you both. Now, Professor, would you inform Hubert I’m quite fine? I’m sure he’s worked himself into a frenzy searching for me.”

“Of course.”

With that, Bernie heard the footfalls of Byleth’s - and only Byleth’s - boots fade away.

After a silent moment, Edelgard spoke up again. “Bernadetta, may I come in?”

“Oh, um, wh-what? You want to come in here? In my room?”

“Yes.” Edelgard’s voice was calm but stern, as usual, yet somehow felt… different. Inexplicably, subtly different.

“Um… okay…”

Bernie unlocked and opened her door, revealing the Adrestian Emperor standing before her. Edelgard’s straight face gained the softest, slightest hint of a smile upon seeing her. Her striking crimson overcoat was perfectly hugging her gorgeous figure, and her crown was fastened snugly to her two beautiful buns of hair. “Hello, Bernadetta. It’s lovely to see you~” The subtlest hint of a sultry tone was present in her voice.

“L-Lady Edelgard, y-you, um…”

The emperor closed the door behind her and slowly, confidently approached the other woman. She stood unusually close to Bernie, face to face, mere inches apart from each other. Bernie felt Edelgard’s warm breath on her reddened face, which carried a light, floral scent akin to lavender. Seconds, hours; who knew how much time elapsed as one of the most powerful, intimidating, and sexy women on the continent stared deep into Bernie’s soul.

“Yes.” Edelgard broke the silence.

“Y-yes?”

“Yes. I consider you my friend.” Edelgard turned away from Bernie to admire the sequence of Marlene portraits hanging on her walls.

“I, um… What?” Bernadetta stuttered.

Edelgard didn’t respond, simply observing Bernadetta’s nature paintings.

“Um, Lady Edelgard? Wh-why did you stop by for a visit?” A knot had formed in her stomach; something felt very wrong.

The emperor stiffly turned, her gorgeous violet eyes seemingly peering right through Bernie’s soul. “I wanted to thank you for fertilising my soil, and for watering me, and…” She slowly stepped closer to Bernie again. “...for talking to me.” She lightly cupped the recluse’s cheek with a crimson-gloved hand. “It was quite nice… I enjoyed every moment of it.”

Bernie felt her cheeks flood with warmth. “I… I…” It took a moment for her to process what Edelgard was saying and doing. “You… M-Marlene!?” She squeaked.

Tap tap. The gloved hand gently tapped her cheek twice, and an uncanny smile formed on Edelgard’s face. She raised the index finger on her other gloved hand to her lips. “You can keep a secret, right Bernie?~”

Her blushy face suddenly turned pale as a ghost. Bernadetta felt the air silently leave her lungs; she dared not breathe when the embodiment of her worst fear was standing a foot ahead of her.

Marlene smiled with Edelgard’s lips, watched through Edelgard’s eyes, and spoke in Edelgard’s voice. “Don’t be afraid, Bernie. We’re friends, aren’t we?”

Before her mind could register what was said, Bernie had burst open her door and fled as fast as her legs could take her. Tears pooled in the corners of her eyes as she ran into the woods away from the monastery - away from that duplicate. Finally, she inhaled; stumbling to her knees, Bernie choked back as much air as she could after subconsciously holding her breath the whole time.

The setting sun was low on the horizon, its rays illuminating the quiet forest floor. All she could see was the light refracting through her tears. All she could hear were her own deep, wheezy breaths.

The thought of a doppelganger getting rid of her and living her life made Bernie’s skin crawl. So long had she been cast aside and forgotten; so many times had her life been uprooted and discarded; so regularly had her privacy been invaded and negated… All she ever had was herself - and now, that was being threatened, too.

“S-stupid Bernie!” She sniffled, berating herself after catching her breath. “If you had just s-stayed in your room, n-none of this would have happened! N-now, a big, smart, s-sexy plant is going to copy and replace you! Wh-what else are copies for?”

“For fun.”

“EEEEEEEEEEEK!!!” Bernie shot back up to her feet and spun to see the fake Edelgard there behind her. “S-STAY AWAY!! L-L-LEAVE ME ALONE!! HAVE MERCYYY!!!”

“I don’t wish you harm; quite the opposite, in fact.” Marlene, as Edelgard, stated monotonously.

“AAIIIEEEEE!!”

Bernadetta again ran as fast as she could, but before long, she discovered her feet had betrayed her; they’d subconsciously taken her directly to Marlene’s giant, looming bulb!

“N-no! Nonononono! Not here!! Not- AGH!” The panicking girl tripped over the edge of Marlene’s crater, and it was all she could do to curl up, cover her head, and await her fate.

Moments passed in near-silence. No vines snatched her up; no doppelgangers kidnapped her; nothing was done to her whatsoever. Between her own shaky breaths, Bernie eventually heard an odd, muffled sound.

“Mmmm… Nnng… Mmmmmmmph…”

She gingerly sat up and pried her eyes open; there before her was Marlene’s bulb, with her multitude of vines and pitcher-plant-like sacs all glowing in the low evening sun. However, one sac appeared to be occupied.

“Nnng… Nnnnnng… Mmmm…” It sounded like a voice. “Mmmm… Mmmph…” It sounded like a familiar voice.

It took her a moment to realise it, but Bernadetta was looking at a human body practically vacuum-sealed inside a giant, stretchy plant sac! A beautiful, feminine figure was being tightly encased in Marlene’s soft plant matter; a figure that was slowly, sensually squirming within its confines. But the body wasn’t alone - it appeared the human figure was bound in coiling, moving ropes!

“Don’t worry, she’s in no pain, no distress, and no danger.” The pseudo-Edelgard had caught up, and was lingering a few meters away from the mortified girl. “We’re both in total bliss. Would you like me to prove it?”

Just as the Edelgard duplicate spoke, the second skin binding the snatched body loosened and withdrew to reveal the original Edelgard, who was completely naked! Moreover, she was not tied with ropes, but instead being fondled by a series of vines! Her breasts, limbs, and tummy were being lustily squished and kneaded; one vine was even moving back and forth between her legs, sliding over her dripping pussy and rubbing her erect clitoris! The ahegao expression on the real Edelgard’s face said it all; she was in an intense heat and had completely checked out mentally.

With the unbelievable scene before her, Bernie couldn’t hold back the inevitable any longer. The stunned and horrified woman collapsed back to the hard earth and fainted.