My idea for a Bad Ending for Scarlet Blaze.

[Pokejedservo]

WARNING: The following contains Spoilers for Scarlet Blaze so Viewer Discretion is advised.

Shortly after Byleth attacked and slayed Randolph... Edelgard, Hubert and Ferdinand were approached by Count Varley (though how surprised they were depends on if the Count was saved in the previous mission or not). Count Varley makes a grand announcement that the true leader of the Empire has returned namely none other than Lord Arrundel. While Varley boasts how it was beneficial to appear weak & cowardly but he no longer needs to do so (which gets some eye-rolling from Edelgard). But now Edelgard has heard enough and commands Hubert & Ferdinand to take down the treacherous Count. Then Count Varley lets out a sinister little chuckle as he asks Edelgard if wants to be so quick to accuse him of such a thing like what she did to Duke Aegir.

This gets Edelgard & Ferdinand's eyes bulge in shock in which Count Varley tells Edelgard that she thought it was Duke Aegir who helped Arrundel get her & her siblings to be experimented on. But then Count Varley claims that Duke Aegir was not the only Noble who conspired with Arrundel but since the Aegirs were 2nd in Command of the Empire they would be the ones who would be suspected of treachery the most. Then Count Varley recalls the one time Duke Aegir confided to him how regreetful it was about what happened to Edelgard & her siblings but he couldn't oppose Arrundel to make sure his dear son would not be next. Ah yes Duke Aegir feared what would happen to Ferdinand if he was ever seen as "disloyal". However Count Varley was intrigued by the experiments but wanted to see the process be perfected since he didn't have as many children as the Late Emperor did. Now Count Gregoire Varley admits that he secretly aided his "old friend" Duke Ludwig Aegir in his strike at the Empire. In which Gregoire gleefully recalls how that gullible old fool Ludwig wanted to save his son & his friends from this folly and finds out how it all ended to be hilarious. Now an enraged Ferdinand tried to strike down Count Varley for being the treacherous snake that he is but Varley kept dodging his attacks by teleportation while laughing maniacally until he got one counter magic strike on Ferdinand knocking him down. Which then Count Varley cruelly taunts Ferdinand by reminding him who was the one who slayed his father. Then Count Varley commends Edelgard on how Ferdinand was quite a useful pawn then bid adieu as he teleports away in which Ferdinand can only scream in rage at this point.

Moments later as Ferdinand tries not to snap in rage a highly despondent Edelgard is not sure what to say at this point as she barely said Ferdinand's name. Then Ferdinand has Edelgard by Axe-Point wondering if he should avenge his father right now. Edelgard tries to reason with Ferdinand that she had no idea about this and how this war was necessary. However Ferdinand was having none of it and called her out on how this war was only so the Empire can have all of Fodlan back. While Edelgard did try to remind Ferdie about her reforms but then he called her out on how neither the Church or the Kingdom objected to them. In which Ferdinand furiously called out Edelgard how they've been nothing but pawns this whole time while Edelgard has a hard time figuring out why. Hubert readies his hand for an Attack Spell at Ferdinand demanding he stand down then calls him out how he was so blinded by rage to see that Lady Edelgard was too a victim of this deception. Namely how the only one Ferdinand should turn his axe to is that treacherous dastard Count Varley which gets Ferdinand to reluctantly agree. But then Edelgard suddenly gets a headache from this in which Hubert tries to see whats wrong. Then Arrundel makes his entrance then reveals himself to be Thales as he claims that its time for Edelgard's rebellious streak to come to an end. Now Edelgard has officially been mind-controlled by Thales as he claims that she is still useful but her friends are now... expendable. But before Thales teleports away he tells Ferdinand & Hubert to give his regards to their Purple-Haired friend since their presence has been so valuable.

Now Caspar comes running in screaming for Edelgard's name in which most of the Black Eagles meet up with Ferdinand & Hubert. They of course ask where is Edelgard and what is wrong with Ferdie in which Hubert had answers on both. While they did get some time to react but then Caspar & Dorothea bring up how that horrid dastard Count Varley came in and took Bernadetta away. In which Hubert recalled what Count Varley said earlier and surmises that Bernadetta is going to be experimented on which horrifies Dorothea & angers Caspar. So Ferdinand proclaims that they will save Bernadetta as he will have his revenge. But then Ferdinand gives the Black Eagles the truth about how they've been used as pawns this whole time which saddens most of the Black Eagles. However Moneca gets very defensive about Edelgard however she would never be used in such a way but while Hubert understands her pain he reluctantly admits that is true that they are all deceived. But now as they are united in their cause and most of them leave the scene, Hubert & Ferdinand whisper to each-other as they glare at Shez wondering what to do with them and Thales "regards".

Though I suppose in retrospect I should've given Byleth a more active role but I'm not sure whether its to...

A. Aid Count Varley in fighting off Ferdinand as Ferdie attacks in a vengeful rage.

or

B. Byleth aids Count Varley by fighting off the other Black Eagles and takes Bernadetta for the Count.

Or something like that, so what do you folks think?