Hello and Welcome to the next chapter! I will be leading you all down the rabbit hole, bwuahahaha...Jk. Anyhow as always i hope you enjoy the chapter and if you have any comments and such feel free to leave a review! I am trying to decide if I am going to do a pairing and want some ideas thrown at me all within reason of course. I think I shall make a decision a few chapters from now but again ENJOY! To those who think this will be an OP character I will make sure not to make him OP, just better than the original!

First it was difficult, without the memories of Darnic swimming through my head I would have been lost in the corridors of the castle. With the homunculi running about it would have been hard to keep face, but fortune favors the bold. For as I was strolling through the gardens I came across something that thrilled me to the very core yet first let me explain.

With Darnic's memories and my own, I could make the first move. Even right now dark Shirou was making his move by going through the church. It was going to play in his hands as soon as the greater grail showed itself, having ignored all of the previous Holy Grail wars that spawned from a lesser magic. Having things go the very same as the original timeline would be passing it back to him. Perhaps it was a blessing then when I could not remember things other than the latest political maneuvers made by Darnic at the Clock Tower, and how he was still setting up his support lines. Yet nothing, no matter how hard I tried to remember could tell me where I was in comparison to the story. My eyes being a current hindrance I decided to have my hair sway in front of them, as to not directly expose them. Searching for any illusion spells I came across one from Darnic's time in the 3rd holy grail war and thus mine eyes were hidden to the world...for now...

So it was when this thought passed that I found myself in the gardens, strolling leisurely getting familiar with my surroundings when I found what I missed. A 12 year old Gordes, and not a plump one at that was sitting on a wooden bench. Gathering my thoughts together, and in no small part thanks to Steel Composition I made the first move…

"Gordes, it is so unusual to see you out of your homunculus lab and not even studying to boot. Is your father perhaps ill at the moment?" I inquired, raising my brow as the boy took to his feet and bowed immediately. At age 12 he wasn't imposing not that it mattered. When it came to his future self he was very competent and highly individualized specialty that made him irreplaceable. "Oh how I have plans for this one…" I smirked inwardly, noticing how the boy had a flushed look, it was obvious he was biting his tongue…

"My father is not sick, rather he spent today's lessons teaching me the greatness of our family history. We used to rival even the Einzberns, and…and" he started out strong but was now starting to fluster yet again. So, it was at this point in his life where his family started to indoctrinate him and make his pride soar to the heights of Gilgamesh. Something needed to be done to make sure he didn't develop that complex…

"And how you stooped so low as to join Yggdmillennia therefore losing all past prestige" I stated, giving a passive look as to make Gordes wonder even more what his elder thought. The look on his face suggested that he was fearful, as any 12 year old would be when they were found out. "He didn't sa-" he began but I waved my hand and motioned for him to sit next to me. My eyes soft but face stern I looked from Gordes to the beautiful garden around us. It was in this silence that young Gordes made the motion to sit next to me. Looking at the varying roses, some of which were here and then those that were added to it, making it even more beautiful…I smiled softly as an idea came to me.

"Gordes, I cannot fault your father for what he said" I began, as a guilty Gordes looked to his left, at his elder spouting something he never expected. "I thought that you wo-" again, he started to explain but I cut him off yet again.

"Your family, one of a high caliber used to be a powerful one indeed. One that commanded respect, and one that etched its name into the art of Alchemy" I remarked, noticing how his eyes went from downcast to a sorrowful pride. "Build it up" I thought, now looking fully at him. "Yet they have indeed fallen, and who is to blame for that? Where were your family's allies? Who turned away from you as soon as your family started decaying?" I inquired, and as such a 12 year old Gordes followed this train of thought, and like a 12 year old would, his excess pride and anger turned towards someone entirely different. Just as he was about to answer I pressed on. Putting a hand on his shoulder to stall his answer he looked up to me. In that instant I knew I could turn him into a pawn, the first of many.

"In this dire hour of need Gordes, it was Yggdmillennia who chose to help you. It was Yggdmillennia who decided to support your family in the eventual hopes that you gain back your glory. Those fools that turned away your family, were but utter fools for not seeing the truth. That the downfall was only a setback in a greater picture!" I defended, both keeping Yggdmillennia at the center along with the Musiks. Noticing in how enraptured Gordes was, he perked up at that last comment. It was time for the final nail. "It is with Yggdmillennia that you shall have a strong base to jump from, and thus I must ask, who are the real low life's and scum? The clock tower has always seen fit to discard even those it once held dear. It is the same with the magus families that were once your allies." I concluded, seeing how Gordes had a look of anger. His face lowered itself onto the direction of the floor. His fists balled with anger, and his knuckles were turning white. "Still a child's anger is something that if left alone, festers…" I thought and sighed.

"Those damn cowards, they were afraid of us. They took their chance when they saw it didn't they? I'll show them, father says that with my potential I should be able to pay them back someday!" He growled, he was so obsessed in the moment that he missed my small smile, and before he even had the chance to it was replaced by a look of soft eyes and an understanding face. I put my right hand on his shoulder and I felt his frame tense. When he looked up though, the small victory smile was no more, and instead was replaced by a look of determination.

"Yggdmillennia will pledge itself to helping the Musiks return to power." I started, and I got a small nod and grin from Gordes. "And in turn I expect you to help Yggdmillennia, for we too were victims of the clock tower." At this Gordes had a questioning look on his face, and thus I continued to explain.

"I was once among them, a first class magus. I even had powerful allies and a soon to be wife. We had even shared our love though we were not yet married." I snarled, giving truth with minor lies mixed in was a workout. Yet as I could control the flow of emotions, it made it easier to come out. "Then a damned prophecy came about, and all but ruined my reputation as well as my relationship with my bride to be…" It was at this point that Gordes thought he finally could connect with his distant elder, that us sharing pain enabled us to understand one another. I could see the resolve forming in his eyes as I finished. "Thus Gordes, you and your kin belong with Yggdmillennia. As we both seek to regain our status and pride. Yet we must not be as foolish or as arrogant as our enemies. We must stand firm and united, and keep ourselves humble to see past future hurdles." When I had a resounding yes from Gordes, I managed to remove myself from my new follower(getting away from him after our conversation was a task made for Herakles himself). Yet the end was not without its merits. I had managed to hopefully curb his future self's attitude problem and inferiority complex by making sure he had a resolution and goal as well as binding him to my cause even more. The next thing to consider however is how to get to my chambers unimpeded…