(100% of the credit and ownership goes to the creators of Fate/Apocypha. I do NOT own any of it!)
Chapter 14: Treachery and Understanding
Flashback, Battle of Camlann, 539 After Death (AD)
"Where is King Arthur?! Show yourself to me King of Knights!" demanded Mordred angrily. She ruthlessly slashed yet another weak knight's arm off as his fluids spilled out profusely like a water hose over the battle field. She threw her all-powerful sword into the bloodied ground and caught her breath as her lungs pleaded for oxygen. She was growing tired of this, cutting down these disposable chess pieces. She wanted the ultimate Mastermind behind this battle plan to appear.
Mordred strongly believed that the only reason she had never been recognized by King Arthur as the heir to the throne was because of King Arthur's disgust and hatred of her mother Morgan. Mordred all her life had trained until she bled, fell frequently from physical exhaustion and had pushed herself to the breaking point time and time again. She had loved her father more than life itself and held close to her the beloved image King Arthur was for the nation of Britannia.
But how was that love and undying loyalty repaid after all these years? Disgust and emotionless disdain from her father. Mordred had come to realize that her father would only see her as a tainted existence, staining his perfect name. Fuckin' Bastard! The rejection from the King of Knights fueled her catastrophic anger that she would soon unleash on the famously renowned Arturia Pendragon.
She looked out onto the vast battle field and took in the sight of the hundreds of men she had taken the lives of. Swords were spewed across the field, the musty smell of fresh blood oozed from the land and the sky appeared an ominous combination of maroon, orange and yellow making it appear as an uncontained wildfire. It was then that Mordred felt the King of Knight's bold presence silently challenging her to battle, toward the direction of the sun which was blazing a golden-yellow sunset directly behind the King of Knights, making Arturia appear as an unscathed God.
The Knight of Treachery whipped her head around quickly to meet her long-awaited opponent. The King of Knights was standing at the very top of the hill. The top part of Arturia's face was darkened grey with deeply-rooted disgust. King Arthur wore her traditional battle gear. Wearing shining armor with an old styled dress, made from old-fashioned royal blue cloth underneath. Her amour appearing unrefined and unaesthetic, yet Arturia Pendragon radiated with an unrivaled majestic beauty, her strength unmatched by the thousands. Her green eyes were tinted with betrayal, soft skin covered in dust and blood from battle. Father, you finally show yourself.
"How's this? Do you see King Arthur? Your kingdom will end here! This is revenge for not relinquishing the thrown to me!" shouted Mordred proudly. Under her helmet, she wore a sickly grin and forced her muscular body to keep going. She was absolutely exhausted from her previous fighting throughout the day with the King of Knight's loyal subjects, but she wanted this final battle with her father above all else. She would prove her worth at last and make King Arthur pay for never seeing Mordred as an equal.
Arturia Pendragon looked down upon the Knight of Treachery. She almost pitied Mordred. Mordred was behaving as an uncontrolled spoiled child, so Arturia knew she must be the one to bring down the unforgiving hand of justice upon her. She set aside all emotions and the betrayal she felt toward Mordred, focusing all her energy in the final fight of Battle of Camlann that would soon begin.
It was of the utmost importance that she brings civil-rest amongst her subjects and upon the great nation of Britannia again. The King of Knights raised her sword, so it stood raised to the sky, centering it directly in front of her. Her right and left hand tightly gripped the sheath of her commanding sword Excalibur. She braced herself for Mordred's next move.
"Humph! Do you hate me? Do you detest me that much? Is it because I am a child of a witch? Answer me, Arthur!" Mordred screamed out in defiance. She wanted answers from her sorry excuse of a life. She wanted her disappointed father to explain her unjustified actions toward this bastard. Mordred ran forward and trail-lined it straight for her father. She would make Arturia pay the ultimate price for her foolishness, Arturia Pendragon would pay for it with her very own life.
King Arthur's sword Excalibur met with Mordred's sword Clarent fiercely, creating a large amount of searing hot sparks that flew in all directions. The sheer power of Mordred's father's blow from the feared Excalibur sent her flying backwards harshly until she could stabilize her feet on the ground. The King of Knight's sword flew from Arturia in the opposite direction, rendering her weaponless. Arturia Pendragon stood powerfully straight as she looked Mordred dead in the eye.
"I have never once thought of you as detestable," King Arthur replied thoughtfully as she called forth another colossal sized formidable sword in her hands, pointed it accusingly in the direction of Mordred. "The reason I did not relinquish the throne…," the King of Knights called out unwavering.
Mordred quickly braced herself for another attack, pointing her sword in the direction of her father once again. Her heart beat wildly from Arturia's most recent confession. Mordred wanted her father to continue speaking but feared what was next.
Without warning and at an ungodly speed, Mordred didn't have the time to react to her father's next offensive attack. Mordred's pupils turned into surprised slits, unknowingly letting her guard down for only a moment therefore allowing the King of Knight's blade to connect with Mordred's body, rendering a monstrous, gaping hole inside her abdomen.
"…. Was because you do not have the capacity to be King," King Arthur steadily stated as she harshly pushed forward her sword even deeper through Mordred's center, crushing Mordred's bones as she went. The overwhelming strength of the King of Knights final blow caused Mordred's protective helmet to break into thousands of pieces on the battle field, exposing her pale face as blood began trickling down from her mouth due to the internal damage her father had inflicted.
Mordred felt her vision becoming black and the pain was just too much for her. The second her Father unforgivably removed her sword out of Mordred's body, Mordred saw the scorching red-hot blood rapidly explode out in front of her body, leaving Mordred to bleed out in moments, maybe even seconds.
Mordred felt the blood that had just started trickling out of the left side of her mouth, begin steadily pooling out. She was experiencing the most excruciating pain imaginable to man and then she felt her body begin to lose its life and go deathly numb.
Mordred knew the Grim Reaper had at last come for her and she was about to enter death's doorstep. Is this how it all ends, Father? Dammit, damn it all. Without realizing it, Mordred took the small sliver of an opportunity and used her last remaining energy to stab her trusted sword Clarent straight into her father knowing it was her final act of defiance against the King of Knights.
Suddenly, the King of Knights felt agonizing pain as she felt Mordred's sword piece her abdomen, leaving a mortal wound in her body. Her eyes became huge once she realized she had unconsciously let her guard down, letting this purely avoidable event occur.
"Fa...th...er.…," Mordred whispered out as she felt her vision go completely black and the Knight of Treachery's body went lifeless, collapsing to the ground into a silent heap of flesh.
Arturia Pendragon looked down upon her newly inflicted wound. She put her hand over it futilely attempting to cease the immense amount of blood spilling out but to no avail, staining her battle gloves a bright red in the process. The King of Knights abruptly fell to her hands and knees. Her breathing became ragged as more blood continued to pool out of her now actively dying body. Every breath she took stabbed her to the core and hurt beyond comprehension.
She knew her time was now limited in this world. The King of Knights watched her life dreams crumble and felt her tears threatening to escape behind her eyes to drown the world in sorrow. So, this… is my destiny?
The Knight of Treachery felt her soul release from her physical body and exit the World of the Living. Therefore, leaving her on the defeated side of the Battle of Camlann and losing against the glorious King of Knights. All she had wanted her whole life was to be accepted by Arturia and to have been called her son, just once. We will meet again Father, I'm sure of it. Next time, I will defeat you and take your damned title of King you bloody ass bastard.
Present Day, Universe Throne of Heroes
"Leave the God loving fool of a Holy Maiden alone King Arthur. Your final opponent will be me Father," Mordred stated looking up to meet the ice-cold gaze of the one person she admired most above any other in this world. Not once in the hundreds of years upon living in the Throne of Heroes had she let herself see King Arthur. She had spent all this time in hiding analyzing her father's documents in detail, reviewing every battle document stating King Arthur's strengths and weaknesses. She unknowingly had been preparing just for this very moment.
"Foolish Knight of Treachery. All these years living amongst one another and you never sought me out, not once. Why the sudden change of heart, for a homunculus boy none the less? I had strongly hoped you had learned your lesson during the Battle of Camlann. You had such raw power, untouched potential even, that you let become tainted in dissatisfaction and yet here you are standing in my way of justice again? Traitor!" Arturia Pendragon called out in anger.
"I believed that by taking the title of King was what I truly desired all those years. I sought revenge and to prove my worth as being far superior to you King of Knights. My dear friend and former Master Kairi Sisigou helped me discover what was always deep within myself, so you see I seek battle now from you in a completely different perspective," Mordred called out in resolve. She felt the spirit of Kairi Sisigou with her and relived her last memory of him. Mordred smiled wickedly and boldly charged forth at the Knight of Knights so fast, Arturia couldn't track her moments as she once could. Today, Mordred would win. Today she would finally triumph once and for all. Watch out Arthur, I don't feel like fucking losing bastard, not now nor ever.
Flashback, Deep Within the Hanging Gardens of Babylon
"Oh, I see. You and I are the same. I suppose I was lying to myself too but I finally get it now. My father didn't seek the throne to gain comfort from sparkling jewels. He wanted to be King for the sake of the stones that lie on the side of the road. Well that explains it than. I guess I won't be dreaming about the Sword Selection anymore because I no longer need it," Mordred stated content. She wasn't coming out of this Grail War as the winner but she sure felt like one.
She looked upon the rock she was holding in her left hand and couldn't stop smiling. All this time and it had taken her this long to realize this simple truth. For the first time in such a long time, she felt free. She knew the path she must take while moving forward.
"That so? I bet you would have been a good King," replied Kairi Sisigou kindly. His Servant always surprised him at the most unexpected times. He was very fortunate to have met her during his final months. He took a long smoke from his cigarette and felt his wounds start to overcome his consciousness.
"Tell me something Saber. It was fun for you… Right?" asked Kairi Sisigou curiously. He felt his body go numb and was fighting to keep his eyes open behind his darkened sunglasses. His last wish in this world was to hear his Servant's honest reply.
Mordred looked to her Master and thought for a few moments about his question. Humans were too funny with wanting dying requests but her Master was too proud to say it was his. "Of course, it was Master, thanks to you," Mordred looked over to him gently. Her smile was soft but it glowed. She would be sad to see him go. Then she looked over to see his fingers go limp, dropping his final cigarette and observed him die peacefully.
Mordred felt herself begin to dematerialize and knew she was heading back to the Throne of Heroes. Father had fun in the end too, I'm sure of it. She shut her eyes, turned her head to face forward and embraced herself for the future to follow the end of this eye-opening Holy Grail War.
The Knight of Treachery wanted to tell her father upon her return that she had finally found the strength to forgive him and no longer sought his title or glory, maybe even understood him a bit better after all this. But what was the fun and glory in that sappy shit?
Universe Throne of Heroes
Lancer helplessly watched on the sidelines beside Astolfo while still being restrained by Gilgamesh's chains. She watched as Ruler began to give into despair and drop to her knees mere seconds before the King of Knight's blade was about to meet Jeanne's spirit core. She observed Ruler's eyes fill with disbelief, abandonment and then sorrow. Helpless, she prayed that somewhere, someone would save Ruler. As if God had destined it, her savior had arrived in the nick of time to deliver Ruler's temporary safety. Ruler… Ruler, you're not alone, not anymore. Avenger is coming, and I won't leave your side. Be strong my dear Jeanne.
Joan of Arc Alter Lily, represented both Jeanne d'Arc and Jeanne Alter in two very different ways. Lancer is the embodiment of the childhood innocence that Jeanne d'Arc had discarded at a young age when she started hearing the calling from God. As a result, Jeanne was never able to develop into a normal girl, free to play with dolls, dream of her own family, or leisurely gossip about boys. Instead, Jeanne d'Arc had chosen to become the destined Holy Maiden to deliver France to freedom. In giving up her own freedom and childhood treasures, Lancer was born deep within Ruler's heart all those years ago. Joan Alter Lily was the aftermath of Ruler choosing seriousness instead of playfulness, passion instead of passiveness, and the adult perspective instead of a child's bright unparalleled outlook.
On the other hand, Joan Alter Lily was also viewed as the child version of Jeanne Alter, as they both looked near physically identically and wished for a different ending for Ruler's eternity. Lancer was neither good like Jeanne d'Arc, nor was she evil like Jeanne Alter. Constantly apprehensive of whether she agreed with Ruler's morals and values or Avenger's. All she knew for sure was that she wanted to be her own individual, free to pick her own path that was a combination of both Ruler and Avenger's goals. Ruler… Avenger…
For as long as Lancer knew, she had always been in the background of the two other versions of herself. A child, free to choose their own destiny. She watched as Avenger's anger consumed her, and Ruler's kindness drowned her. Joan Alter Lily yearned desperately for the freedom of choice to deliver goodness to those that deserved it yet punish those that wronged others. She desired that same freedom that Ruler had sacrificed for her mission to serve the good God above.
She solemnly remained in the Reverse Side of the World by Avenger's side in their beastly manifestations, waiting and waiting, but for what she was unsure. The day Jeanne d'Arc had summoned them, Lancer knew she wanted to make her mark on their lives, a mark of purpose and defiance to those that hadn't believed in Ruler, nor let her grow up as any other French girl without the burden of witnessing cruelty and violence. Lancer continued to see Sieg as the living embodiment of what Jeanne d'Arc could not accomplish in her human life on Earth.
Sieg, the homunculus boy created only to be a Grail War's weapon as a child, was able to grow up through the selflessness of the Heroic Spirit Siegfried. Siegfried had given his life, so this 'tool' may one day have the opportunity grow up to live a life free of his own will, without the chains of hardship or destiny to alter it without his ultimate say. Although Sieg had chosen to continue fighting and stand up for what he believed, he did so of his own free will. Lancer wished desperately to be as courageous as he was, to be that determined. She watched as Ruler nurtured his growth, protected his life and developed feelings of love for such a curious being.
Lancer would fight for Ruler to have the same fate as Sieg had chosen for himself during the previous Grail War so one day when Ruler and Sieg are to marry and bear their own children, that Ruler's children could grow up truly innocent, to be free to laugh carelessly among the flower fields or throw an annoying tantrum over not receiving a toy they wanted. Not live a life pre-chosen for them where their lives were already destined to be something or to be someone they didn't want to be. Sieg and Ruler's children would surely be a breathtaking sight to behold.
Joan Alter Lily hadn't mentioned neither to Jeanne Alter or Jeanne d'Arc, that she knew for a fact that Jeanne d'Arc would give birth to two healthy babies a few years in the future. She saw their faces the day of Ruler's summoning and couldn't stop thinking of their faces ever since. The twins, a beautiful girl and boy just waiting to be born into the world, to be the living embodiment of Sieg and Ruler's ultimate declaration of their love for one another, and to be the light that this dark world needed, the living truth of Sieg and Ruler's second chance. Their children would be free of their parent's heartbreaks, mistakes and would be a daily reminder that life continues to move forward.
She wanted their children to fully live out their childhood, one that Ruler could have had if God had not interfered so early on. If Lancer could gift Sieg or Ruler with anything, it would be to grant them the gift of life. Oh Ruler… your children will someday be the key to your salvation, your forgiveness in both yourself and in your life's mission. Lancer wasn't a Satan loving tyrant like Avenger, but she didn't exactly view herself as a God loving worshiper like Ruler either. She was undecided and would likely remain that way until the moment of her passing.
Lancer felt blood trickle from her lip from biting it so hard as she watched the battle between the King of Knights and the Knight of Treachery continue for several minutes uninterrupted. The Knight of Treachery was winning, fighting tooth and nail among the ever-praised King of Knights. Laughing with euphoric happiness as each blade met blow for blow, each kick met with equal power from the receiver.
From Lancer's perspective, it appeared Mordred, Saber of Red was erupting with incomparable power, not coming from rage nor anger from King Arthur's treatment of her growing up, but out of recently discovered respect and extensive understanding of her father in a new-found light. This simple understanding seemed to have made all this difference from her famous defeat from all those years ago during the Battle of Camlann. Mordred, please prevail.
Lancer watched as King Arthur's sword Excalibur aggressively met with Mordred's sword Clarent with such intensity the ground shook for miles and created huge divots in the land. Mordred and Arturia were moving so quickly, one could only make out their blurred shadows moving fiercely to the next place their opponent stood, their swords crackled for a bloodied battle. It was the fiercest battle Lancer had ever seen, she couldn't believe such skilled and powerful Heroic Spirits existed to this extent, she was speechless watching their unrivaled power. Magnificent…
Astolfo, Ruler, Gilgamesh and Lancer all watched the battle in silence, anxiety filling the tense air around them. Both Knights were breathing heavily from exhaustion and excitement. Neither showing any sign of letting up or surrendering until one of them stood defeated and totally dead. Mordred smiled purposefully and Arturia looked onto her son with a look of remorse and resolution. Both Knights separated, flying backwards until they stood several hundred feet apart.
"You've left me with no other choice Knight of Treachery. If you won't listen to reason or give into the eventual defeat that awaits you with the clashing of our famous swords, I will show you why I, Arturia Pendragon, former King of the great nation of Britannia and overseer of the Universe Throne of Heroes, holds such a revered position in both history and the present," the King of Knights shouted across the battle field. Arturia looked forward expressionless as she gathered yellow lights around the field, focusing them into a single blow. She was breathtakingly beautiful, the most incredible display of why the King of Knights was so extraordinary.
"Father, I've been waiting for this moment my entire existence, to think I would give up over mere words or fighting, is wishful and pointless thinking. Let me show you why this time I will stand victorious and why I never needed a title of King, when all I wanted was to be recognized by you, to stand by your side accepted as your true son. You will see why I'm stronger today than I ever was. I won't hold back Arthur, nor should you," Mordred screamed back in utter glee. Mordred dug her feet into the ground, focusing a massive amount of energy around her and into Clarent. The ground shook ferociously as her power left those in attendance speechless. If any doubted Mordred's connection to the King, it could be quickly dismissed.
"EXALIBUR!" Arturia screamed into the night and unleashed a blindly large yellow light capable of wiping out nearly anything in its path, demolishing the land as it was, her power was sent flying forward and its raw power escaped across the field to destroy Mordred and finish her for good. Yellow orbs joined in combination with its blinding light, ripping the land to little shreds as it went. Arturia stood her ground, knowing full well Mordred would counter with her most legendary attack as a Heroic Spirit.
"CLARENT BLOOD ARTHUR!" Mordred yelled in proud declaration into the darkened night as her helmet the Secret of Pedigree released upwards, her sword unleashing an ungodly amount of massive blood red light, devastating the land as it hurled itself towards Excalibur's mighty light, hundreds of mini explosions went off as her sword's power hurled itself forward toward the renowned King of Knights. I'm not afraid to die here Father, I will win. Sieg and Ruler will be together again, as sappy as that shit sounds, and I will live until that damn day arrives.
Jeanne d'Arc felt her body be thrown backwards and her body violently connected with the ground, her lungs pleaded for oxygen. Her ears were buzzing so loud she couldn't move, her vision was blotchy. She swore she heard her name being said, yet no evidence to prove it was happening. Ruler couldn't see anything except the color of red and gold, as she felt the heat of flames and the coldness of ice encase her. Smoke and flames erupted as an earth-shattering shock was heard from the aftermath of Mordred and Arturia's noble phantasms connecting.
Ruler felt warmth all around her, light emerged from the sky above and she experienced her spirit almost leave her body, going somewhere in between.
Where am I?
Am I dead or alive…
Forgiven or forsaken…
Am I disposable, perhaps irreplaceable…
Loved or merely unlovable…
What… have I… allowed to occur…
Will I rise…
Will I succeed…
Sieg… I've decided… I will… emerge…
Victorious…
I will… stand by your side…
Once again…
Mother… Father…
Watch over me….
God, grant me victory…
I… will… prevail.
Sieg…
Astolfo…
Avenger…
Lancer…
Saber of Red…
I will live.
A/N: I'm BACK and missed everyone SO much. This story LIVES ON! First off, thank you for being so patient and for sticking with me. This story means more to me than I could ever begin to say. I've been terribly busy with school and life, but promise I'll try my very best to update much sooner so I don't leave everyone waiting so long. Thank you dearly to everyone who took the time to message me and for all the reviews! Holy, 8 of you reviewed?! Special thank you Nerf585, giacomoX, KitsuneRose16, darthwolf, Optimus Maximus, Rerorerorerorero, AnimeFan0216, and derrickfoo0 from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to review the last chapter. You guys AMAZE ME, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! Please guys, if everyone wants to keep this story going, please REVIEW/FAVORITE/FOLLOW! Let me know you guys still want this story until the very end. As always, you guys rock. Wishing you all the very best and hope to see reviews soon telling me all your thoughts and feelings. XOXO