This will be the last upload for Dream Coalescence. Sorry for the delay between the bonus scenes, but I've been very busy.

I'm glad a lot of you are eager to see the sequel, and I included a few out of context teasers at the end of this chapter.

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

BONUS SCENE 4 - AU REVOIR

Location within the story : [Unknown]

Point of view : [Unknown]

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Transferring... 12%...

"You really went too far with this."

"And you are being overdramatic."

I play with a pen while holding the cellphone with my other hand. My remark seems to annoy my interlocutor.

"Come on, you know this is unreasonable."

"Is it now? Have you even been listening to my explanation?"

"I have, but it doesn't change anything. You are not allowed to work on that idea anyway."

Transferring... 14%...

"Hmm, I guess you're right."

Her tone turns suspicious. "Of course you put a stop to it as soon as you were told to, right?"

"Hey, do you think I would disobey orders?"

"Don't play dumb. If you weren't that talented, they would have fired you long ago because of your attitude. Tell me you stopped it."

She knows me too well. I take a quick look at the computer screen. 16%.

"Ah, well... It isn't that simple, Ambre."

Her lecturing voice has always been cute. "I swear to God, Pierre... You are hopeless."

That earns her a snort. "Don't give me old news. I just need a bit more time."

"More time!? It's not like they canceled your idea midway through, they refused it altogether!"

18%.

"I know, but I feel there's something you guys don't understand about all this, no matter how I put it."

She calms down a little and tries to adopt a understanding tone. "I know this is for your friend, but you are being-"

I cut in sharply. "That has nothing to do with him. All this is because of his trip's results; the fact that we are friends is of no consequence."

I'm starting to hate that argument. The guys think I am being subjective because I know the subject personally. "We're not even that close. He's just a guy I enjoy having drinks with on occasions, not a childhood friend or a lover. You of all people can attest I don't swing that way."

I smirk, although she can't see it.

"Are you done?"

She's upset, which is a small victory.

"Not until you agree with me, I'm afraid."

"What would that change? I haven't got the power to interfere with the big guys' decisions and you know it. Besides, I still think you are making a big deal out of nothing."

25%. I won't convince her with words. My tone comes back to serious. "Understood. Then, can I ask you a small favor?"

"Your demands are never small. What do you want?"

"Cover me while I gather the data I need."

There's a silence before she explodes. "So you are still going for it?"

"Yes. It shouldn't take long. I just need you to drive their attention elsewhere in case they ask about me. You can do that for me, right, Ambre? I swear it's very important to the project."

Adding a name to a question makes it more impactful. I can imagine her displeased expression easily.

"... You are asking me to be your accomplice?"

30%. "Yes, I am."

"What do I earn other than the risk of being fired along with you? That might sound very romantic but I kind of like my job more than you, Pierre."

She emphasizes that last word to mock my style. I hate it when people know me too well...

"Hey, that hurts... I promise that I will bring back proof that I was right if you give me a bit of time. After that, if the bosses are still unhappy, I will make sure to take all the blame for it."

"Are you really willing to take that risk?"

"It's worth it."

I answer with my most serious voice, then she stays silent for a while.

"I must be as crazy as you, but I will. I'll do my best to cover you for a day."

I groan. "What!? The transfer isn't even complete yet! I'm going to have to run around like a madman!"

She chuckles. "That's already what you do all day, so I'm not worried. Be safe and good luck."

"Hold on-"

Too late. I sigh, stop wagging the pen and put the phone in my pocket while looking at the computer screen. 38%... It's six in the afternoon, and soon the guys are going to head out. Given the time limit I am on, I'm going to have to do all this during the night. That's better than what I could hope for after that meeting with the big guns, but it's still a bother. While the transfer is progressing, I open another program and start working on an area design... This should do...

Around eight, I head to the underground facility.

"Hey, boss. Doing overtime?"

I greet my minions while crossing their path. They don't ask any questions about me heading the wrong way because they are used to my whims. I soon reach the chamber with the simulation gear and turn the machines back on.

It's been a few months since Ben's adventure. I was thrilled to know it had gone perfectly well, even if he stayed in it for much longer than expected. However, something quickly started to worry me. It's still doing so, and it could be a sign of a bigger problem we hadn't thought about when developing all this. That's what I tried to explain to the bosses but they found it irrelevant. The project is soon to be revealed to the public, after all. Why would they care about small matters? As much as I understand the logic, it pisses me off.

I compile all the data I've been working on and launch the simulation. I got used to the weird sensation of jumping into my avatar long ago, and I land in my universe after a short moment of discomfort.

Grassy plains. The plainest plains I've ever seen, with not much decoration. I didn't make this to be fancy, and the blue sky is already boring me. I raise a hand and a screen materializes in front of my eyes. I swipe my fingers across it until all the commands I need are loaded up and soon a traditional, Japanese house appears right in front of me. The Emiya household. I've transferred it all in this place, using a generic copy. The data from simulations is erased once their players leave them because we have no use for it. I did precisely that with Ben's story. Well, I was about to, until he told me about it in detail. When that was done, I still deleted it, but... I kept something, just in case.

I enter another command and that something appears in front of me right after. I have to admit I am as excited as nervous; it's the first time I have tried this, and I'm eager to meet the one that conquered my buddy's heart.

"Hello, Saber."

The two big, green eyes open slowly as her perfectly done hair flutters in the wind. She is wearing her casual, traditional outfit and I can't spot anything out of place, except for that shocked expression.

"Who are you?"

I approach her while talking to myself. I have little time to play around and there are some verifications I need to make immediately.

"Transfer seems correct... body seems to function..."

I poke at her shoulder and she steps back while taking an aggressive stance.

"What do you think you are-"

"Subject seems to be coherent, although a bit angry..."

I approach her again and extend a hand, which she repels with the back of her own. She tries to, at least. I grab her wrist to calm her down.

"Just listen to me now."

She's visibly shocked. "My strength... What have you done to me!?"

"Subject responds correctly... The transfer seems to have gone well..."

Now I must check on the most important thing: her memories. If this is just a generic Saber, I will have failed my mission. She escapes my grip and glares at me.

"Who are you? Answer me now!"

"..."

I make my voice as deep as I can and answer solemnly. "I am your father."

She frowns. "I beg your pardon?"

"Heh, always wanted to say that."

Technically it isn't a lie either, so I couldn't resist the opportunity. I played a major part in her development, after all. She keeps on glaring at me and I decide to drop the bomb before she tries anything stupid.

"I am the one who brought Benjamin into your world."

I know he told her the truth before the end, so I can reveal that without sounding insane. Her attitude completely changes as soon as she hears his name; all the anger she was bottling up vanishes and one hand goes to her heart. She seems to be lacking air for a moment.

"You... Ben...?"

A smile creeps onto my face as I confirm that it worked. This should be interesting. She runs to me and grabs my shirt before I can react.

"How is he!? Is he doing well? Is he alive!?"

"Hey, let go of-"

Her green eyes are starting to water. Geez, it's not my job to get emotional, but she is not helping at all there.

"Please tell me he is alive!"

I push her hands away as gently as I can and answer calmly. "He is alive and well. Let's get inside and drink some tea, I have a couple of topics to discuss with you."

I walk towards the entrance of the house and it takes her a while to follow me. She jogs to reach my side and asks something in a more composed voice. She's recovered from her outburst fast, which is worthy of respect.

"Why am I that weak?"

I shrug. "Oh, that? I put you in a human body, as your Servant state isn't needed nor practical there. After all, you have no anchor and you shouldn't have to fight anybody here."

She shouldn't actually meet anyone here in the first place. She looks at her hands.

"That does feel like a human body. How were you able to accomplish that?"

I snort. "You ask too many questions. Tea first, then I'll tell you what this is all about."

I stop in front of the living room's cupboards and make my screen appear again. I program an unlimited supply of food and drinks in a few commands, though given her gluttony... Yeah, going to add a limit of quantity per hour there. She watches me from behind without a word, and soon I'm pouring British tea in two teacups.

"Are you... some sort of god?"

Damn, and people wonder why I'm self-important.

"From your perspective, certainly. It's not like gods are rare in your world, right? Anyway, let's go back outside, this room bores me already."

We end up sitting down on the grass. It would be easy to lose track of the time in such a relaxing place. All that's missing is a soothing music. Her japanese-style position looks painful and almost makes me feel ashamed of my own. We savor the tea for a moment before I speak up.

"So, Saber, I brought you here for a reason or two, as you can guess."

She keeps a serious face, but I can see a gleam of curiosity in her big eyes.

"I take... this is about Benjamin?"

"Yes. As you might have guessed, I made his travel possible, and he knew what he was diving into. That is why he killed the one that would become your Master, and why he had to lie constantly. He told me the details, and it wasn't pretty, apparently."

Well, he was also really stupid...

She frowns. "I had figured most of that, although there is something bothering me. You told me he was alive and well, but he was on the verge of death before the end. What happened?"

I raise my hands. I've always liked to deliver long explanations, so this doesn't bother me. "That's because what we sent was a copy of him. His real body was kept safe, and he suffers from no physical aftereffects."

"A... copy?"

That makes her ponder for a long moment, and her expression turns progressively more contrite.

"Are you implying he was not a real person, and all this was some sort of amusement for him?"

I can understand why she'd think that, but she is definitely wrong. It's precisely why I'm doing all this.

"Don't take this the wrong way. First, it was the only way to do it. Second, and most importantly..."

I put my closed fist to my heart. "This part was real. Trust me, some people might live this experience as you just described it, but he took it to heart. Once he told me all that had happened, I could tell he was... deeply involved in this journey."

I raise a finger. "You can feel hurt about the fact he didn't tell you that, or the fact that he knew about you before your reunion. I mean, I could understand that. But please don't make the mistake of doubting what he grew to feel for you. Besides he trained harder than most only to become a decent Magus, and he suffered like a normal person. He was with you, Saber."

It takes her another while to process that. "I think I understand, partly at least. It is difficult to digest, but I want to believe what you said."

Her expression turns somewhat wistful, and I feel like I should get to the point. "That said, I didn't come all this way to justify his acts. You will remain their best judge. I'm here because he is not doing well."

That seems to bring back some energy to her. "Why?'

"To put it simply, he... misses you, terribly."

Oh, I wish it had been simple, Ben. I wish you had moved on after fulfilling your objective, as you said. I wish the human heart would work as simply. Sadly, it doesn't, and now you are kind of a mess, which raises a worrying point about this entire invention.

Her eyes widen and she starts to get emotional again. "No... Is there a way I could..."

She suddenly stands up and raises her voice. I know where this is going.

"Bring me into his world! If you are so powerful, do the same thing the other way around! I will stay at his side. I will-"

"No."

I calmly sip on my tea after interrupting her sharply. "You can't. Don't even consider it. You will never, ever be able to reach our world. It doesn't work that way, for reasons I won't bother explaining."

"But you just said he was..."

"Look, if I could just bring you there, do you think I would bother doing all this? It's impossible."

She gasps and clenches her fists. I decide to stand up too and try to regain a composed voice.

"Hey, sorry, I never was tactful. I didn't bring you here for nothing either. Technically, I could call Ben back here."

She takes a long breath to calm down. "Why the 'could'? Are there difficulties?"

I smirk. "Oh boy, a ton of them. I can't give you all the details, but he won't be able to do so in a while, for starters."

The reasons for that are awfully down to earth, but there is little I can do. What is happening now is already putting me at risk, and even if I managed to keep it running, it wouldn't come without a price. It's kind of depressing.

"That is not a problem. I can wait."

She says that without hesitating. It's time to temper her enthusiasm. "I bet you can, but you should know that time is much slower in here. I'm not talking about days, or weeks. Months could pass before you get a chance to meet him."

As I explain it to her, an urge starts growing in me. I have to discourage her. I'm deeply convinced that this is dangerous.

"I can wait."

She repeats that without faltering. Crap.

This isn't right.

I have to discourage them!

I close in to her and lower my voice. "Technical stuff aside, I don't think this is healthy for any of you."

That surprises her. "Sorry?"

"The world you met in is now out of your reach, and you will only be able to cross paths in this empty one."

I don't have the heart to tell her it disappeared. "Besides, Ben will remain an occasional visitor. You won't be able to build anything here, and it will take him away from his actual world."

I smile sadly. "You know, it's not really a fun world, though it's still the one he lives in. As his friend, I'm afraid that he will use this place as an escape from his reality."

"Are you saying that I am a burden for him?"

She catches on quickly. There is no anger in her voice but genuine curiosity.

"That's too harsh. You've brought him happiness, even if he's lacking it at the moment. What I am saying is that there is no future here. You will only decay, and he might not be able to go on in peace. To be honest, I was thrilled by this idea, but I'm realizing that it might be detrimental to you guys."

"Your point of view is logical. Although..."

She smiles tenderly while looking away. It's an expression only a woman in love can make. "What would he answer to you if you told him all this?"

I snicker. "He would insult me and ask when he can go, obviously. You know how braindead he can be. However, you have to understand that your relationship was an illusion that should've vanished along with Ben's avatar."

Her stare sharpens. "Do not call our feelings illusory."

I wave a hand. "Heh, my bad. I still think this is a terrible idea, but I want to hear your opinion on it. You strike me as quite the reasonable person, so you should agree that it's better for both of you to let go."

That means disappearing for her, but I still find it a better fate than spending her time in this deserted place. Besides, she is very level-headed so she should-

"I will wait."

"... What?"

Her hand clenched against her heart, she makes that loving expression again, and a cold chill runs down my spine. What the...

"Even if it is a whim, I shall wait for his decision on the matter. Because... after all this, I want to see him again. Do not tell him that I said this... Let him decide if he has a place for me in his life, even if it is within a dream."

... What the hell have we created? It's not emotion but fear that fills me. The repercussions on our customers' personal lives could be tragic if the characters can go this far. The insanity of the situation hits me like a truck.

"Even if it means waiting for months? Maybe for nothing?"

She nods. "Yes. Just ask him the same questions, and use the exact same warnings. And if he decides to move on, which is maybe for the best, tell him... Tell him I will always love him dearly. Can you do that?"

Yet the bosses told me there wasn't a problem. Imbeciles. This is dangerous.

"I can. Then, I will leave you here. We won't meet ever again, and I will send you back to your own world if Ben refuses the offer."

Again, that's a fancy way of saying I will delete her.

"Au revoir."

The safe sentence is pronounced and Saber speaks up. "Tell me your name, at least."

"Pierre."

"Thank you for your care, Pierre. I bid you adieu."

My last vision of her is a deep bow.

-.-.-.-

The day after, I get a call on my cellphone.

"Hi, Ambre."

"Pierre..."

Her voice is clearly shocked.

"Did you get the audio file?"

I recorded our whole conversation, of course. I needed to prove my point.

"Yes, I listened to it... I understand now. What have we created?"

"... I'm not sure of it myself."

-.-.-.-

In a world, only once touched by forces beyond its comprehension, lies an unmarked grave. And upon the withered stone lays a prophecy:

"In two worlds they must wait, having met across an impossible bridge. So long as one remembers and the other smiles, they shall meet again..."

A wish was granted.

A childish dream, an escape, an impossible reunion. The coalescence of two worlds.

Two passersby in a world that disappeared along with them.

Two beings that wouldn't be able to meet again.

However, there was a chance. An outrageous possibility, what could be called a childish whim. But wasn't their story a childish whim to begin with?

Alone she must wait, letting her head and heart battle ferociously. The former knows that he must leave her to fulfill his life, but the latter wants him to embrace her in this instant.

She finally understood.

In his own selfishness, he had turned her selfish as well.

She did not have the right to be so, but what if she took it? What if she seized that impossible emotion and held onto it to avoid losing her mind?

It was all that she had. All that could make her stand this seemingly eternal wait.

I want to see him. Even if it is for an instant, even it is only for another farewell.

Alone he must walk, fighting his own battles. Trying to fill the void in his own heart.

The golden light she fills it with seems to fade at times, only to shine again in every dream in which he sees her.

You did it. You made her happy, and she told you so. There is no point in regretting it, as you have succeeded in every aspect.

You must use what she gave you to move forward.

Then... why do I keep turning back, hoping to see her smiling at me?

I miss her. The heart cannot be controlled, and it tempers my reason beyond salvation.

Perhaps I needed to be saved as much as her.

Should I give in to that dream?

Can we be selfish one more time?

She has been sleeping for a while now. Days turned into weeks, which turned into months. Only that thought kept her reason afloat.

He has tried to distract himself from her ghost while working to have a chance to meet her again. Such a contradiction cannot be sane, but he could not care less.

Footsteps resonate in the dojo, as she sits near a wall. She has been imagining this every night, and she does not dare to open her eyes, afraid that she will only contemplate the void again.

Someone bows in front of her.

"You were sleeping, weren't you?"

The two emeralds slowly appear, and she answers him as naturally as if they never had left each other.

"I was."

She takes his extended hand in her own.

This is but a dream. An escape from reality.

That said...

What's wrong with dreaming for a bit longer?

TEASERS

What awoke in him was something ancient. He had felt nothing but disdain and boredom from his various encounters in this world, with very few exceptions. However, what was rising in him seemed like an old friend. How long had it been since the king of heroes had felt actual emotion? It was a surprise even for him, though it brought merely a smirk to his twisted expression.

For the first time in a decade, Gilgamesh was in a rage. A blind rage, tainted with bitterness, although he would refute that himself.

"I will obliterate you."

-.-.-.-

The witch looks down on me.

"How bold of you to utter such words. I might have accepted this little conversation, but you haven't piqued my interest one bit so far."

That makes me smirk. "How impatient of a woman... I see you've made yourself a nice base here. But your goal... That's where the problem lies."

I start walking towards her but find myself stopped by a barrier as she raises a hand.

"I despise your manners. Stop the riddles and speak your mind in this instant."

"You are striving for the Holy Grail, aren't you, Caster?"

Her brow twitches even more. "That is obvious!"

"Obvious. After all, it's right in the name of this bloody war. But what if I told you something?"

I can't help but grin as I raise my right finger towards the ceiling. After all, this is just...

"What if I told you it was possible to aim for something... greater?"

This is just a game.

-.-.-.-

"After all that's happened, I can't believe you are telling us you just want to talk, Kirei."

The priest starts walking up the alley as we stand near the altar. His usual creepy smile is oddly lacking.

"That is the case, Rin. Recent events made me reconsider my position as a supervisor and a Master."

I groan. "Go straight to the point."

"There is something wrong with this war."

Again, he isn't as confident as usual. As he stops meters away from us, I glance at Emiya and Saber. I must look as tense as them.

"... What do you mean?"

He snorts. "You are far too smart not to have noticed. The events are not unfolding as they should be, and there are too many incoherences, even if you remove my actions from the equation. There is... something else."

I already know that, but it is becoming hard to not hear him out about this. No matter how much of a monster he is, he has a better overall vision of this war than any of us.

"Do you have any idea what?"

His stare pierces me as he remains dead serious. "I have done some research on my own, and although I cannot point a specific source... I believe it is somewhat linked to your Servant, Rin."

What?

As I am about to answer, Kirei suddenly turns towards the entrance door. We all felt it too, given my companions' expressions.

Something is approaching, and I have a bad feeling about it.

The double doors swing wide open.

-.-.-.-

Sakura walks the dark streets, feeling a cold chill running down her spine. She refused Fujimura's company to get back home tonight and she is starting to regret it. The atmosphere feels somewhat ominous, although she's probably just being anxious. Her mind can't stop coming back to that chat from earlier even if she would love to forget it.

"You should leave this house at once."

She tried to feign ignorance, but that didn't amuse the blond Servant. His piercing blue eyes weren't exactly menacing but they really intidimidated her.

"Don't play dumb. I know what you are, and you know what I am. You are perfectly aware why you can't stay in this house as long as the war lasts."

His words were logical, but she still refused to abandon Shirou. She eventually raised her voice.

"I will... do as I please!"

That drew the other house inhabitants' attention and the discussion was cut short. She might have offended him, but she spoke her heart. Said heart accelerates as she realizes she is only midway through. Has that trip always been that long, or is it just her anxiety accentuating? In any case, she picks up the pace.

Her senses sharpen, perhaps too much for her own good, along with her restlessness. One thought starts filling up her brain, although she wishes she were wrong.

Something is following her.

-.-.-.-

I didn't get the meaning of his gesture at first, but I wish I had. It was...

"I cannot let you do that."

It was an apology to me.

Thank you all for reading, as always. I am afraid the sequel won't be out before long, since I have a job and plan to publish it once it's completed, like I did with DC. I have it mostly planned out but I didn't write any chapter yet, so... be patient.

I never expected this to get that many favs and followers, and I'm very happy. I hope you will like the sequel!

Goodbye, for now.