AN: Inspiration for this one hit out of nowhere like a ton of bricks! Here I am once again, ladies and gentlemen, with Chapter Four! Nothing but dialogue and a bit of intrigue here and there, with major shit hitting the fan, so be forewarned, the plot advances heavily towards the conclusion of the Camelot Arc! So I shan't keep you folks waiting! ONWARDS TO GLORY!
Chapter Four: Long Live the King
"Looking out, over this castle and its town, one might be forgiven for assuming the realm was at peace." Spoke Naruto, seemingly to himself as a contented smile crept upon his features as he stood upon the balcony of his tower. "Yet we both know that's not the case."
"True enough, my boy." The ethereal specter behind him chimed in. "Arturia's marched off to war with most of the senior knights to deal with the Saxons once and for all."
"Half the Round Table went with her." The blonde nodded as his gaze drifted up from the rather picturesque view of Camelot to the full moon hanging high in the sky. "She left me, Mordred and Galahad behind, along with a contingent of soldiers to keep peace in the region; I'm effectively her Regent at the moment, with Kay and Bedivere gone."
"Quite a step up from where you began, no?" The specter chuckled as the form of what appeared to be a man laid a hand upon his friend's shoulder. "I knew you'd make a good successor."
"If I were an adequate successor, I'd have found a way to get you out of Avalon by now, Sensei." Naruto's smile turned to a frown as he regarded the vision of Merlin behind him. "Which I will, don' get me wrong, I just need some time."
"I have all the time in the world now." Merlin smiled jovially. "Besides, I believe you have more pressing concerns than my well-being." The trapped mage wriggled his eyebrows suggestively.
"M-Mordred's just on another quest for the Grail, that's why I'm staying here…" He bashfully looked away, back at the moon.
"And does that quest involve being very heavy with child?" Again, Merlin wriggled his eyebrows, his smile turning into a toothy smirk. "Does that also explain why she's currently hiding in France, and that you check in with her regularly, as in every night for the past eight or so months?"
"Should I just go ahead and admit that we're going to be parents?" That word still sounded foreign to Naruto, even as Mordred was on the cusp of childbirth, yet he liked it, evident when he smiled once again. "Twins; a boy and a girl."
"You really have risen far, Naruto." Merlin beamed proudly. "You've far exceeded my expectations, and I'm sure both you and Mordred will make outstanding parents and role models for the next generation and beyond."
"You do me great honor, Sensei." Naruto respectfully bowed his head to the man he revered as friend and mentor. "And I reaffirm my vow to you that I'll get you out of Avalon someday."
"When you do, the first round of drinks is on me!" That jovial smile returned as Merlin's specter began to fade away.
With a rather loud yawn, Naruto returned inside his tower chambers and grimaced. Most of the clutter remained from when his Sensei was still High Mage. Stacks of books, tomes and scrolls lined the walls, parchments of all kinds strewn about his desk, crystals of various colors and shapes laid upon the desk and a couple other tables within the room. At the far end of the room there was a lit fireplace, along with walls of bookshelves, tapestries flying Camelot's coat of arms lined the few bare walls and a rather large bed sat at the other end of the room opposite the fireplace.
Lying upon the bed in stark contrast to its red sheets was a white ball of fluff which soon unraveled itself into the form of a yawning squirrel-like creature that then sniffed the air lazily and quickly bounded off of the bed. With two more bounds it was already sitting upon Naruto's right shoulder where it gave his right cheek a lick.
"What am I gonna do with you, Fou?" The blonde chuckled as he petted the now identified Fou.
In response, Fou mewled and tilted his head in an inquisitive manner.
"We'll go see Mordred shortly." He said, as if he could understand what Fou had just said. "I have to govern the realm, remember?"
Fou seemed to huff in annoyance as he turned his nose up at the blonde Magus, yet remained perched upon his shoulder.
"Well, time to make the nightly rounds." Another yawn escaped Naruto, a yawn which Fou seemed to mirror as he hopped upon the top of Naruto's head and curled up once again.
"I like this thing." Matatabi spoke up as her blonde 'pup' made his way out of his chambers. "It's rather cute."
"It's bothersome!" Shukaku huffed angrily. "Kill the thing already, kid!"
"Hey!" Chomei exclaimed. "I happen to like the fuzz ball as well, so lay off!"
"Quiet!" Kurama ordered rather loudly. "You all know how the Kit gets when all nine of us act up!"
'Please, I'm thoroughly enjoying this migraine.' Naruto inwardly mused. 'Continue at the expense of my mental health, I Implore you.'
"Ah, Sir Naruto." A woman's voice broke him out of his internal strife.
"Queen Guinevere, my Lady." He immediately stopped and bent the knee before her, slightly jostling Fou as he did so.
"Please good sir, rise." The Queen smiled gently and gestured for him to do so.
His Queen was currently dressed in a soft green gown and her long dirty blonde hair was tied back into a ponytail. Her jade green eyes held that same kindness that he came to associate with them, a kindness that belied the sheer misery of her unfortunate situation. She was married to another woman in order to keep up appearances, and as thanks for her sacrifice, the entire realm was slowly boiling to a tipping point for want of a legitimate heir whose name was not Mordred. Naruto was well aware of the strife of the realm, the same strife which was recently finding its way into the ranks of the Round Table itself, who would sometimes murmur soft spoken words of heinous treason when Arturia, Kay and Bedivere were not either present or listening.
Tucking away the ruinous thoughts of court intrigue, Naruto instead put on a diplomatic smile as he rose from his kneeling position. "If I may ask my Lady, what stirs you from the comfort of your bed tonight?"
"Worry and discontent." Guinevere sighed. "Melancholic thoughts which leave me bereft of contented slumber very often."
"I've an ear to listen and a shoulder to lean on, my Lady, should you need it." His diplomatic smile turned genuine, as he really did want to help her through whatever it was that was ailing her, partly out of pity for the woman.
"I'm sure you have plenty of more important things to worry about tonight." As kind as ever, Guinevere waived him off with that same gentle smile. "Being my Lord Husband's appointed Regent must have you far too busy to bother with me."
"Nonsense, my Lady." He shook his head, again, jostling Fou, who began to lightly growl at his living bed. "I've handled my fair share of courtly affairs today, so my ear and my shoulder are yours should you wish them to be."
A flash of an emotion Naruto didn't have time to register flashed across his Queen's face just as she was about to speak when a distant ringing of a bell caught his attention.
"I apologize, my Lady." He sighed with a bow of the head, making Fou slide off his bed and to the ground with a surprised yelp. "Riders are at the gate, it seems."
"Thank you for the offer anyway, Sir Naruto." Guinevere once again smiled as her Husband's Regent briskly walked away, being trailed by a growling Fou who after a couple of leaps was back upon his shoulder.
A chomping sound then reverberated throughout the halls, followed by a pained scream.
"FOU!" Naruto exclaimed in pain. "FOU, THAT'S MY EAR!"
(Camelot Front Gates: Moments later)
As the portcullis slowly opened, a grumbling Naruto and a victoriously beaming Fou were waiting for the Captain of the Watch to update the situation.
"One rider, my Lord." The Captain informed him. "Claiming to be a Queen or some such."
"A Queen without a complement of guards?" Naruto snorted. "I don't believe it for a second."
"Neither do I, to be frank, but procedure dictated that we rouse you, my Lord, for a guest claiming such stature."
"I'll handle things from here, Captain." He nodded at the man. "Return to your post."
As the Watch Captain saluted and did as ordered, the portcullis finally opened, revealing a woman wearing a black dress which revealed part of her midsection, who had long blonde hair and a matching black veil covering her face and a black crown adorned with sapphires riding a white mare. All at once, his skepticism faded, his eyes widened and a faint red glow began emanating from them as he guardedly watched this woman trot her mare right up to him like she owned the place and elegantly undid her veil, revealing a face he was very familiar with yet was not at the same time.
"Queen Morgan of Rheged." The powerful emerald eyes of none other than Morgan le Fay bore into his slightly red ones. "Sister to your King Arthur. With whom am I speaking?"
"Sir Naruto Uzumaki." Naruto introduced himself after taking in a calming breath. "Knight of the Round Table, High Mage of Camelot and appointed Regent of His Majesty King Arthur in his absence."
"I had heard that the great Merlin absconded from Camelot, yet I'd not believe it if I didn't see the proof before me." Morgan smiled a bit too sweetly for his tastes. "And what a fine successor you seem to be."
"What is your purpose for this unexpected visit, my Lady?" He tersely asked as he folded his arms across his chest.
"To visit my brother, of course!" She happily chirped, which made him grimace. "Yet he is not here, you say?"
"He's off ridding Camelot of the Saxon threat." Naruto uncrossed his arms and turned away from his uninvited and unwelcomed guest. "Please, my Lady, unhorse and my men and I shall escort you to the castle proper."
"Would you mind helping me off of my horse?" Morgan purred. "It's been a long ride and I find myself rather tired from the journey."
"…" With a growl matching Fou's, Naruto turned on a heel and extended his right hand.
After licking her lips, Morgan grasped the offered hand and slid off of her horse, yet when her feet hit the ground, she stumbled forward with a cry of surprise. As Naruto reluctantly caught her, her right hand ended up placed on his left shoulder and her face buried into his chest. This was when all sorts of hell very nearly broke loose.
As soon as she had made contact with him after faking a stumble, she had channeled just a tiny bit of her Mana into him, probing him as it were, for any kind of weaknesses that she could exploit. When her Mana finally wormed its way into his subconscious, where she preferred to control and manipulate her targets from, the sound of shattering glass echoed within the mental link that had very quickly been established between their two minds. There, Morgan found nine gargantuan demons waiting for her to attempt something, as well as a glowing golden mass of… something. That, however, paled in comparison to when the link provided her with a layout of just how powerful of a Mage Naruto was. His Mana was potent and seemed to be damn near limitless. He didn't have Magic Circuits like she was expecting, oh no. Like the Pengradon lineage, he seemed to have a Magic Core, and a very strong one at that. It was positively thrumming with pure Mana on a level that she had never sensed before.
"Now that you know my capacity…" Naruto growled softly into her ear, a growl backed up by an even more vicious one from Fou, whose fur seemed to be standing on end and his eyes were now glowing a similar red to Naruto's. "You will not try to mess with my head again. If you do, I don't care who you are, I will erase you."
"I… apologize, Sir Naruto." Morgan feigned recovery with a slightly nervous smile. "It appears I'm a bit more worn out than I first believed."
"No need to apologize." Like a switch had been flipped, he was now smiling once again. "As you said, my Lady, it was a long journey. Please, follow my men and I to the castle."
As he turned once again, Morgan broke into a smirk after catching a glimpse of an arc of her black Mana arcing off of his back. "With pleasure, good Sir."
(Marseilles, France: Some time later)
With a heavy sigh as he dropped out of a portal, Naruto all but collapsed upon the rather modest bed of the equally modest home he found himself in, an action Fou mirrored when he hopped off of the blonde's shoulder, yawned and plopped down onto one of the pillows.
"That hard of a day on the two of you, huh?" A very familiar voice brought a smile to his weary face as he pushed himself up and off of the bed.
In walked a heavily pregnant Mordred who seemed to be glowing with happiness upon seeing her Husband, wearing naught but a loose red night gown and her hair had been let down.
"You don't even know the half of it." He sighed when she embraced him. "Your Mother paid Camelot a visit."
"What?!" She exclaimed with wide eyes. "Why is she there?!"
"Wanted to visit with Arturia." He scoffed. "I don't trust her as far as I can throw her, and trust me; I can throw her a long way."
"Throw her into the deepest depths of Hell for me, would ya?" She quipped as she leaned up and pecked him on the lips.
"If I get the opportunity, abso-fucking-lutely." He smirked as he watched her take a seat upon the bed. Once she did so, he kneeled down and gently caressed her belly. "How are my two kits doing?"
"Been kicking all damn day." She groaned, yet kept her smile. "Lively couple of brats we're gonna have here."
"I can already imagine the headaches." He heartily chuckled as he kissed her belly, then leaned up and kissed her proper. "But it'll be worth it."
"That's if we don't get found out." Worry seemed to momentarily flash within her eyes. "We won't, right?"
"Absolutely not." He shook his head. "The Round Table still thinks you're a man, so when you return from your 'quest' with two bundles, you can say that they're your kids and that you bedded some random woman who eventually found you and bade you raise them as your own."
"As bastards, like me." She frowned deeply. "When they should have a throne to look forward to."
"… A lot has happened in the months since your departure, Mordred." Naruto admitted with another heavy sigh as he stood and then settled on the bed beside her as Fou plopped down upon her lap. "Discontent is slowly tearing the common folk apart; some are questioning why Guinevere hasn't produced an heir and there are others who are calling for a new King entirely. Faith in the King is faltering, and even some among the Round Table are starting to question… myself included."
"Who else has doubts?" She questioned.
"Tristan, Agravain and Percival are the outstanding voices at the moment." He explained. "They argue that Arturia is incapable of understanding human emotion, and that her cold and callous way of ruling Camelot will eventually undo everything. They advocate for someone who is more in touch with their humanity than she is."
"Someone like you?" Mordred quirked an eyebrow with a slight smile.
"… My name has occasionally passed through treasonous lips, yes." He slowly nodded. "Along with yours, despite being known as a bastard."
"Once I pop out these two knuckleheads and return to the Round Table…" She gently patted her belly. "I'll add my voice to theirs… in support of you."
"I'm not even sure I want to be King, Mordred." With another shake of the head, he sighed and collapsed backwards into the bed.
"You'd make a fine King." She mirrored his action as Fou grumbled in discontent. "I put your name forward, come out as a woman, possibly expose Father as the same, legitimize your claim to the throne as your Queen and then our kids have more of an inheritance to look forward to."
"Your Mother won't allow that to happen." He growled. "As long as she's around, any potential plans we hatch will be for naught. She's rather see Camelot burn than risk the throne being passed to anyone that isn't you or her."
"One thing at a time, dearest." She purred as she shifted and straddled him. "Tonight, you fuck me into a coma. Tomorrow, you attend to my whore of a Mother and care for our Kingdom until Father returns." As she spoke, she leaned down and planted a searing kiss upon his lips as she fiddled with his pants until his erect member was finally free and she gave it a few good jerks. "Priority on fucking me brainless, by the way." She added with a smirk and gasped as she eased him inside of her and began slowly riding him.
(Camelot: Early next morning)
There before me sat Camelot, though not as I knew it. The town was larger, the walls higher and the castle itself grander. People went about their business, smiles on every one of their faces, their discontent seemingly a thing of the past, praises for their "Golden-Orange King of Kings" lining their lips. That thought alone put me on edge as I made my way unnoticed by the populace until I slipped through the portcullis leading to the castle itself, whereupon I spotted the coat of arms upon the bannisters hanging from the walls, which was that of a golden dragon and an orange fox upon a black background encompassed by a red circle. Through the courtyard I marched and into the castle I went until I finally came upon the throne room. To my surprise, there was no round table and there was only one throne… occupied by someone wearing opulent and obnoxiously golden armor flanked by two faces very familiar to me. On his left was Arturia, who seemed to be paler and was wearing black armor and her normally emerald eyes were corrupted yellow and to his left wad Mordred who was wearing her normal armor, yet she shared her Father's pale complexion and yellow eyes.
"Have you finally come to greet your destiny?" The man upon the throne asked with a teasing smirk.
This man… I knew this man.
This man was me.
Golden blonde hair slicked back, powerful red eyes boring into my own cobalt, that same teasing smirk that held a tangible power behind it. His head was propped upon his left fist and his right hand lazily grasped a golden grail filled to the brim with crimson red wine which he toasted me with.
"This is what you have to look forward to." Even his voice held a power behind it, albeit a power laced with an impression of pride and arrogance, befitting this shadow of myself that had somehow attained everlasting glory or something. "An Empire that adores you, two beautiful and ambitious wives and a castle full of children to carry on your legacy throughout the ages. You are the second coming of Rome itself… nay, you are the Ruler that the world needs." His smirk faltered as he laid the grail upon the armrest of the throne, then stood, his golden armor clinking as he did so.
"All you have to do is remember!" His voice boomed throughout the room. "Remember what you touched! Remember what you had to sacrifice, remember what you regained and remember the power you attained!" He took a measured step forward. "The power to tame Gaia itself, the power to subjugate Alaya and its guardians! The power to return true Magic to mankind! The power to KILL THE GODS THAT WRONGED US!" A gust of mighty wind blew throughout the hall, pushing me back by a few feet.
"Remember it all!" He demanded, his blood red eyes now glowing. "Remember how you became the King of Kings, the Emperor of the World! How we BOTH took back what was rightfully ours!"
"A-And…" I finally found my voice as I stood before the colossus shadow that couldn't possibly be me… right? "What is rightfully ours…?"
A sickeningly prideful smirk splayed across is face as he folded his arms across his chest. "EVERYTHING!"
With a gasp, Naruto shot straight out of his bed, a Rasengan already formed in his left hand while his right was reaching for the katana by his bedside.
"Calm down, Naruto…" He whispered to himself as he let the Rasengan fizzle out. "It was just a dream… no way you'd end up like that…"
As he calmed down, the watch bell sounded once again, signaling more riders approaching the gate. With an irritated sigh, he began dressing himself and eventually made it to the gate just in time to see Camelot's returning army with Arturia at its head. Mixed emotions filled him. On one hand, he was glad that she was returning and that she was safe, yet on the other, a sense of foreboding settled into place as he glanced at her stoic, emotionless face amidst the smiles and smirks of her fellow knights and soldiers. Only once had he seen her show true emotion and that was nearly nine months ago when he was first inducted into the Round Table. Since then, she had remained passive, impartial to everything, returned to a stone faced ruler disassociated with the needs of her people and the opinions of her loyal retainers.
"Open the gates!" He ordered, pushing such thoughts to the side once again. "Our King returns! Spread the news!"
"I knew my beloved brother would make it back in one piece." Morgan smiled that sickeningly sweet smile that made his skin crawl and turned Fou to the point of rage.
Instead of indulging her, Naruto brushed past her and made his way down the walls and in front of the portcullis in order to properly greet his King. Once open and the army began filing through, he, Galahad and the surrounding company of soldiers all bent the knee immediately in the face of their liege lord.
"Welcome back, your Grace." Naruto spoke evenly, his head bowed. "I see the Saxons will trouble us no more."
"They were but a nuisance." She coldly spoke. "Nothing more."
"Camelot is yours once again, my Lord." He kept his frown hidden. "I return it to your capable hands."
"It was always mine, Naruto." A slight edge found its way into her voice. "You were just its caretaker."
"From my brief time here, Naruto's managed the Kingdom far better than you ever did, Brother." Morgan teased her sister with a knowing smirk as she too made her way down the wall, gaining a hushed murmur of agreement from the gathered soldiers and even some of the knights.
"What is she doing here…?" Silent rage welled up from within Arturia's core and a bit of it found its way to the surface despite her efforts.
"She is a Queen, your Grace." Naruto answered. "She arrived late last night and requested entrance. As your appointed Regent, I gave the order to let her in, as to not sour relations with the northern Kingdom of Rheged. I allowed her to stay until your return, which I did not expect to be today."
"Let my army and I through." She ordered. "We'll settle this in the throne room with an official audience."
"Of course." He nodded and stood, then made way as ordered.
"Do I sense jealousy from you, Brother?" Morgan mocked. "Jealousy and envy that your Regent made a better King for the short time he sat upon your throne in your absence?"
"I am the King." Arturia muttered through grit teeth.
"Any man who must say 'I am the King' is no true king." The snake of a woman smirked at her machinations.
"Have I not proved it time and time again…?" She reigned her horse into a stop as she dismounted and took Excalibur from its mount on the saddle. "Have I not brought peace to Camelot?" She took a few steps towards her High Mage and traitor sister. "I am not ignorant of the whispers within the walls of my own castle, those treasonous whispers that insult the House of Pendragon and stain my honor as a knight."
"And what rumors would those be, my Lord…?" A bit of red flashing through his sapphire orbs, Naruto also took a few steps forward, left hand rested casually upon the hilt of his katana.
"A downfall of my own making." The King of Knights seethed silently. "I brought you into my graces too early, I was lenient with both you and your teacher. I tried to take his words to heart when he told me that you would be a benefit to Camelot and that you might surprise me… so far, you've done one of those things."
"I surprise even myself sometimes." He smirked at her tauntingly, that same damn smirk that Merlin wore!
"My Lord!" Bedivere galloped in on his horse. "My Lord, please, not here!"
"It's time this whelp learned his place." Her emerald eyes flashed with anger. "If he seeks to take my throne away from me, then he'll have to kill me to take it."
"We just return from war and instead of celebration, we're met with our own King turning on one of his own!" Tristan announced to the gathered army and civilians. "He truly is out of touch with his own humanity!"
"Tristan, enough!" Kay demanded.
"You silence the truth, Kay!" Percival also spoke. "He's only putting to words what we've all been thinking this entire time!"
"Indeed, there's quite a bit you're still ignorant of, my King." Agravain spoke. "Look to your people, if you dare!"
Hateful eyes from the villagers and indeed even some of her own soldiers met Arturia's cold gaze. She met every one of their glares with indifference, as if she could truly not comprehend why they were directing their hate towards her and her alone.
As he began inciting the crowd, Agravain glanced over to Morgan, who gave him a subtle nod. "They turn against you because you are not human! You cannot comprehend humanity! You are incapable of any meaningful emotion! Even within the confines of your own castle can you not seek respite, for your own wife has found solace within the arms of another!"
"Impudent FOOL!" Lancelot spurred his horse forward.
"Tis indeed Sir Lancelot that cuckolds your house and mocks you betwixt your own sheets!" Agravain smirked, even as Lancelot's lance struck true and silenced his treachery permanently.
A horrified scream escaped Morgan which was echoed by Guinevere as she had just arrived to greet her King and Husband. Swords were drawn, battle lines were drawn on both sides and tempers were flaring even as Naruto himself was calling for peace and for everyone to calm down. Tempers had flared and the internal strife which was much more serious than he wanted to admit had finally boiled over.
Tristan had washed his hands of the situation and had galloped full speed out of the castle after Agravain was killed. Percival was the first to rush to Naruto's side amidst the clamor and chaos, ready to lend his sword to the next prospective King, opposed by Kay, Gawain and Bedivere who loyally flanked their King who had not yet drawn Excalibur in defense… and Morgan stood to the side, feigning shock and fear yet internally the dark enchantress was celebrating… things had worked perfectly.
"QUIET!" Naruto bellowed out with a flair of his Mana to silence the chaos as Arturia held up a rather shaky hand.
"Lancelot…" Her gaze turned to her longtime friend. "… Is it true?"
Despite the civil strife not being forgotten, all parties involved were at least willing to cooperate until this particular issue was resolved.
"M-My King…" Now in control of his emotions once again, Lancelot dropped the bloody lance and unhorsed himself. "I…"
"Is it true?" Arturia asked again.
"… Yes." He couldn't find it within himself to lie to his beloved King. Deep down, he still believed that Arturia could become a great King.
"… Chain them both." She ordered. "Execute Guinevere."
Gawain's two brothers, Gareth and Gaheris, obeying the orders of their King, moved in and prepared to bring her before her Husband, yet that rage from before welled up within Lancelot's core. With a mighty yell, he unsheathed his sword and charged forth, slaughtering the two brothers before Gawain's very eyes. It was then that Arturia unsheathed the Holy Blade and brandished it not at Naruto, but at her most trusted knight even as he was forced back onto his horse and retreated, leaving a hysterical Guinevere behind amidst the still brooding factions of Camelot knights and soldiers.
Arturia, blinded by rage and betrayal, swiftly mounted her horse and gave chase to the traitor knight. "Everyone with me, we ride to bring this traitor to justice!"
Gawain was the first to mount and the first to follow his King against the man that murdered his brothers. Soon enough, a god half of the gathered army left the same way they had just come in, intending on chasing the traitor to the ends of the earth and beyond. The other half, however, remained where they were, some stunned into inaction, others yet who had chosen to remain behind, having lost all faith in the rule of their King.
"I didn't want this…" Naruto muttered, the enormity of what the fuck just happened weighing him down. "What the hell just happened, Percival?"
"A whole lot of underlying ugliness just reared its head, my friend." Percival patted his friend's shoulder. "This was all bound to happen sooner or later."
"What happens now…?"
"Well, seeing as you were going to try and confront our King about this directly…" Percival hummed before his eyes lit up with an idea. "Everyone, hear me!"
As all eyes were on him, he began. "The weakness surrounding the rule of our King Arthur has been exposed! He has been made a cuckold before his very people, one of his most loyal knights brazenly murders three of his own comrades-in-arms and defies the swift blade of justice against him and his whore that we so foolishly called Queen!"
Stronger and stronger voices of agreement from both the army and the civilians grew the more Percival talked. "What Queen Morgan said was true; my friend and comrade Naruto here did indeed rule this Kingdom far better than Arthur!"
"Yet he is not of Pendragon blood, as befits the King of Camelot!" Morgan took the opportunity presented and slithered in. "There yet exists one Pendragon more worthy of the throne! The only living issue of my brother Arthur, Sir Mordred!"
'Remember…' That voice welled up within Naruto once again, as if telling him that now was the time.
"I'll be right back…" Naruto whispered to Percival, who opened his mouth to ask what he meant, yet the blonde was gone before he could.
(Marseilles: Moments later)
"Mordred!" He yelled into the house as he popped in through a portal, nearly throwing Fou off of his shoulder as he ran. "Mordred, shit is kicking off in Camelot right now!"
"W-What the hell?!" Mordred exclaimed in surprise as she all but jumped out of the bed. "What the hell's your deal all of a sudden?!"
"Lancelot's been sleeping with Guinevere behind the scenes, Agravain knew and exposed him during a confrontation between me and your Father, Lancelot killed him and Gawain's brothers while trying to rescue Guinevere from subsequent execution, causing your Father to take half the army out on a revenge-fuelled manhunt." He explained the situation all in one breath, impressive considering he was still out of breath.
"… Huh?" She eloquently asked.
"Fucking civil war is about to break out because the people have lost all confidence in Arturia's rule." He summed everything up. "The faction supporting me has some steam, but your Mother is there advocating for your ascension…"
"And you're gonna offer a compromise by exposing me as a woman pregnant with your children?" She smirked devilishly. "Let's go; I'm sick of France anyway!"
What Naruto returned to was a square full of yelling, arguing and a few brandished blades, all out chaos, yet when Percival saw the return of his choice as prospective King, he held up a hand.
"SILENCE!" He screamed. "Naruto has returned!"
Slowly, the bickering died down and the blades were sheathed on both sides, all eyes now on the one person both sides could agree on in one way or another.
"Good people and soldiers of Camelot… here me!" He began. "There is yet more secrets that you all deserve and have a right to know of. Know that I had no inkling of Sir Lancelot's foul betrayal of the trust given to him by not only our King but the Round Table as a whole. However, I have also been keeping something from you all that must come to light if we are to repair the broken bonds of trust and keep this Kingdom stable!"
He gingerly ushered his wife forward so she was standing in front of him. "Before you stands the one you know as Sir Mordred in her true and rightful form! Sir Mordred is Lady Mordred, and Lady Mordred is my lawful wife!"
A deafening uproar gave Naruto's speech pause, silenced only when Percival's voice combined by a flare of Mana from Morgan silenced them once again.
"She is still the Mordred you know! She is still the bastard daughter of our King Arthur! She is still of Pendragon blood! But she is also carrying in her belly two children who can carry on the dynasty into the new generation; my children! A union of Pendragon blood and the trust that you all have seemed to rest upon my shoulders!"
He paused for a breath. "Know that I didn't and still don't have any designs for the throne, yet I will do my duty if it is required of me and if the people wish it to be so! If you cannot accept the rule of a woman, then let your doubt be assuaged by this: I will become your King and Lady Mordred shall be my Queen! Those who wish that a Pendragon remain on the throne shall be appeased and those who wish for me to take over shall be satiated with Lady Mordred's name legitimizing my claim! And those of you who want a stable dynasty shall know that you have two children to carry on Camelot's legacy!"
Many tense moments of hushed arguing and murmuring filled the square, nearly a good ten minutes ticked away contemplatively until the gathered senior knights went to Percival with their decisions. With a nod, Percival silently made his way through the now equally silent crowd of villagers, soldiers and knights until he stopped just a few feet shy of Naruto and Mordred. The rasping of his sword leaving its sheathe echoed throughout the yard, followed by the clinking of his armor as he bent the knee and held his sword aloft by the blade.
"Long live King Naruto!" He bellowed as his fellow knights followed suit by bending the knee.
"LONG LIVE KING NARUTO!" Everyone echoed.
Naruto let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and Mordred was beaming with pride and happiness. Off to the side, Morgan was smirking. It wasn't exactly what she wanted, but it would do… for now. She had at least disgraced her sister in front of the entire Kingdom and her daughter was on the throne, albeit as a Queen and not King. Her designs were grander, however, and very soon her plans would come to fruition. For now, she was content with the mild revenge she had orchestrated. The next step?
Remove that damned blonde from the equation. Permanently.
AN: I warned you, did I not? Camelot will be done by next chapter, which I already have ideas for, so it shouldn't be too long until the conclusion is upon us!
Now, what did you guys think? What are your theories on what that dream was? Any other outstanding theories on what is it he touched while blacked out in the void? As you can see, I teased a bit of Naruto x Mordred x Arturia, as that seems to be the popular opinion right now, but I want you guys to keep those suggestions rolling in! With Camlann just a short while away, what will happen between Naruto and Arturia? Will her teased Alter form show itself and completely change how Camlann goes, or even stop it completely? Will the emergence of a Mordred Alter change things? Will both Alters wreak all kinds of hell and Naruto will have to put them both down? Theories are absolutely welcome! And if I missed any potential pairings, feel free to throw in your hat for your chosen girl and give me a good reason!
This is ZeroDivisionRaijin, signing off!