A/N: I own nothing!
I'm sorry, but this plot bunny's been bothering me for some time now and I just had to write it. No prior knowledge of the Fate universe is required but I based the characters on how they're portraied in the series, so there's that. This is an one-shot for now, but if'd like me to continue this, let me know.
Also, I'm not native English speaker and I don't have a beta, so there are probably some grammar mistakes.
(The bunny should be satisfied now so I can hopefully get back to Always expect the unexpected…)
I.
Arthur isn't sure what to think about his current situation aside from the sheer wrongness of it. He looks around, taking note of the blue sky and huge, bone-white wall. The wall bothers him. A lot. Which is weird, because Camelot's walls have never made him feel so… trapped. Indeed, there is no feeling of security with this particular wall, just the entrapment. Arthur frowns, looking at his hands. His small hands. Child's hands.
He stands up and begins to walk home, still pondering about the bizarre situation he found himself in. He doesn't know that much about the phenomenon of reincarnation, but he is pretty sure this is not how it is supposed to work. So Arthur, otherwise known as Eren Yeager, does the only logical thing he can – he blames Merlin.
II.
The first one of his knights he finds is Galahad. It takes him by surprise – he supposed that he is alone in this strange place. The surprise is even more pleasant, because Galahad recognizes him. The whole incident happens somewhat like this:
He is walking down the street, once again lost in thoughts. However, his musings are rudely interrupted by the sounds of a struggle echoing from nearby backstreet. He goes after the sounds only to find two boys, a little older than the current him, kicking and ridiculing a smaller boy – girl? Arthur Eren isn't sure but it matters little – he is having none of this. Bullying is wrong, in whichever form it appears.
He promptly takes care of the two rude boys (there are no real match for him, just clumsy children and even though his body is tiny, he still has a lot more experience in fighting than they do) and pats the small, blonde boy on the head.
"Shh, It's okay now, they won't hurt you anymore."
Two sky blue eyes stare into his own emerald green.
"I- thank you, um-" The blue yes suddenly widen, "My- my lord!?"
Arthur Eren jerks his hand away, baffled. Then he looks again, properly this time.
"Galahad?"
The blonde child nods eagerly, "My lord Arthur!"
"It's actually Eren now, Galahad. It's very nice to see you again."
"I go by Armin Arlert, my lord. Do you have any idea what is going on?"
"No, not really. I became aware of myself just recently. That being said, I blame Merlin."
"Ah, understandable."
III.
The next one is Lancelot, and it certainly is a meeting to remember. If only because Lancelot is a girl this time around. Doesn't stop him from being a formidable opponent, however.
He has to thank his "father" for the opportunity, however unintentional it is. If one Grisha Yeager weren't a doctor and a friend of Lancelot's parents… He doesn't want to think about that could possibly have happened.
But it is as it is, and he barges into the house just in time to save his strongest knight. And then Lancelot immediately returns the favour, by killing the one bandit that manages to sneak undetected upon Arthur.
Arthur (Eren, it is Eren now) have wondered whether his knights remember by their own, or if a physical contact with him is necessary. Lancelot confirmed that it is the latter, because the girl he now is shows no recognition of him until he places his hand onto her shoulder, trying to comfort her after her (presumably) first kill. The moment he touches her she looks him in the eye, then drops on one knee and whilst lowering her head, whispers apologies.
"I'm not asking for forgiveness, my liege – whatever punishment you see fit for me, I shall accept. Just know, please, that my regrets follow me still and even though I can't reverse my actions-"
"Stop apologizing already, and look at me, Lancelot du Lac."
This makes him (her? Them?) stop and turn his (her? Their?) attention back to Arthur Eren.
"I forgive you. After all, we had an eternity to ponder about our mistakes, my friend. You have suffered enough already."
"My liege-"
"Shush. This is a chance to start over – let us not repeat the mistakes of our past. I would like to have you by my side once more."
Arthur Eren smiles, green eyes a little watery. He holds out his hand.
"I'm called Eren, in this new life. How shall I address you?"
Lancelot stands up, taking the offered hand.
"My name now is Mikasa Ackerman. But you can address me however you see fit, my liege."
"Mikasa it is, then."
It is at this moment, that one Grisha Yeager arrives, the police in tow. He starts fussing, of course, about the blood and the corpses, but Arthur Eren is just trying to think about a good way to reintroduce Lancelot to Galahad…
IV.
Galahad and Lancelot are indeed an explosive combination, but not as much as Arthur Eren feared. Since there are no blood ties between the two this time around, they seem to accept each other existence more easily. They both also agree that Arthur Eren needs to be protected at all cost, which is sometimes really annoying. He is not going to object, though. After all, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. He isn't sure how "womanly" Lancelot feels, but… Better not push his luck. He isn't the luckiest person around, for sure.
V.
Arthur Eren still doesn't have any firm grasp of their situation. Of course, reincarnation is the most logical conclusion, seeing as they are different people now, but it still makes no sense. He is fairly certain they've all ended becoming Heroic spirits and to just disappear from the Throne of Heroes… Is the world in danger? If so, why weren't they just summoned, instead of reincarnating into human, mortal bodies? And if they aren't humans, then what?
He gets some answers to his question when he isn't expecting it all. Nothing new here.
He once again has to thank one Grisha Yeager for them.
Arthur Eren knows that there is something wrong with his "father" – it's obvious – but he gets the feeling it's getting worse. His worries turn out to be justified when Grisha tries to inject a weird substance into his body. There is a crazed look in his "father's" eyes and his fingers are trembling, but he still holds Arthur Eren firmly.
(So firmly, in fact, that it leaves deep purple bruises on his arm. When Lancelot discovers then, he looks ready to murder one Girsha Yeager. Galahad is no better, he offers to hide the body.)
Nothing happens, at first. Then there is an agonizing pain and all of sudden he's holding Excalibur in his hand. Whatever his "father" expected to happen, this was not it. Arthur Eren is equally surprised. Because this is the real deal, the real Sword of Promised Victory, no mere illusion. A Noble Phantasm. Puzzled, he touches the edge – it's warm. Grisha Yeager bolts. Arthur Eren doesn't see him for a long time.
Then the Wall is breached and everything goes straight to Hell.
VI.
He doesn't even have time to properly mourn the death of his mother and suddenly there are people yelling at him. Or shouting orders. Or both.
He takes it better than Lancelot. And Galahad. Neither of them likes to be yelled at. Arthur Eren has to physically restrain them. Killing your teachers doesn't usually help you graduate, after all. Not that his knights, when in overprotective mode, care. Ah, joy.
VII.
In a short sequence, he meets several of his knights. They all happen to be in the same squad of trainees, and isn't it such a great coincidence? This just has 'Merlin' written all over it, Artur knows it. He kind of wishes that the magician was there, so he could either strangle him of hug him. It would depend.
Back to the knights, though. Tristan is a girl in this new life, which is somehow really funny. Arthur Eren isn't exactly sure why he founds it so hilarious, maybe because Tristan is still chasing after cute blondies. He clearly hasn't learnt a thing from his tragic end by the hands of another blonde lady. His name now is Ymir and Arthur Eren bums into him unintentionally when the former redhead is trying to find Krista, the cute blonde girl that reminds Arthur of a rabbit.
"Outta my way, idiot!" He She yells and tries to push Arthur away. Keyword here is "tries" – the moment he She touches Arthur Eren He She flinches as if burnt. He she is clutching his her hand and appears to be quite shaken when he she looks at Arthur Eren properly. Then His Her eyes widen and Arthur Eren can't help it but smile.
"Still chasing after blondes, are we?" He smiles wryly.
"M- my lord!" He She squeaks, confused. "What-?"
"Not here, not now, Tristan." Arthur stops his her questions with a raised hand, "We'll met later in secret, and I'll tell you the little I know."
Tristan nods and bows a little. It's better than Lancelot who still tends to kneel which is not subtle at all, especially when they're trying not to attract any unwanted attention.
"Wait, before you go, may I inquire your new name, friend?"
Tristan halts, turns back to Arthur Eren and smiles: "I'm Ymir. You?"
"Eren."
VIII.
Arthur's meeting with Bedivere fortunately occurs without any incidents, and isn't Arthur grateful for that. Bedivere is also a girl now, which – if Arthur's being honest – isn't that much of a change (Bedivere was rather girly even then). He She's also amazingly passive-aggressive in such a way it brings smile to Arthur's Eren's face (even though it probably shouldn't). The whole "Why-people-eat-potatoes" fiasco was truly a sight to behold. It even helped Arthur Eren learn Bedivere's new name, Sasha.
They meet properly a few days after the „event" and once Bedivere Sasha recognizes Arthur, he she proceeds to hug him to death. It almost ends badly though, because Lancelot feels like this is way too much physical contact for Arthur. The aftermath of this is a bit awkward and the two knights avoid each other for a few days, but all's well that ends well, right?
IX.
If Arthur though that meeting Lancelot was an interesting one, he later discovers that he was wrong. Nothing tops meeting Gawain again. If only because it takes so long for the knight to recognize him. (Funnily enough, even if they spar, they somehow avoid actually touching for more than a few seconds and Gawains past memories never surface.)
This leads to a situation in which Gawain sort of hates Arthur Eren and said king has to spend a lot of effort in keeping the rest of the knights away from Gawain. Who is now called Jean. The name doesn't really suit him all that much, but who is Arthur Eren to judge?
Gawain's 180° personality flip, when he finally remembers, is absolutely hilarious.
X.
Now, when they are all standing in the ruins of Trost, weapons in hand, Arthur still isn't sure what to think. Of this world, of the people in it, of the bizarre situation he found himself in. But he also figures that, ultimately, it doesn't matter. He looks at his knights and even if the faces are different, the souls and hearts aren't.
And that's the only important thing, really. With his friends by his side, he can take whatever the world decides to throw at him.
This is also called tempting the fate and it will come and bite Arthur later, that's for sure.
For now though… The times are as peaceful as they can be when there are giant man-eating monsters attacking you.
And monsters, the Knights of the Round Table can handle.