AN: Hey everyone, I have the next chapter here. Thank you for all the support you have shown this story so far. This chapter has a lot of great character moments as we set up for the next phase. Also, you get a nice chunk of lore for this series. With it, I give some insight on a couple plot points of Fates Collide that was a bit of a mystery before. Hope you enjoy this chapter, leave a review with your comments and questions, and have a nice day.

Chapter 8 – Night of Sorrow

Ruby.

A few hours later, Ruby slowly started to open her eyes. She quickly discovered herself in her new room with Medusa and Atalanta nearby, "What happened?" She said before placing her right hand on her forehead, "Ouch!"

"Mordred headbutted the daylights out of you," Medusa spoke up, "Quite literally, it's now well past sunset."

"Why does she even need a helmet?" Ruby said as she could still feel her head throbbing. She then looked over to Atalanta passing her a white pill and a glass of water, "Thanks." Ruby said as she took both.

"You should make a full recovery by morning," the lioness faunus spoke as Ruby ate the pill, swallowing it with water. She then sat at the nearby bed, "Also, we should let you know, but you activated your reality marble in the middle of the fight."

"What!?" Ruby said, almost choking on her water, "I don't remember that?"

"As I said, it was a strong headbutt." Medusa responded with Ruby placing her right hand to her head again, "You took Mordred in, but both of you came out a couple minutes later. She was declared the victor." Medusa then crossed her arms, "That girl Penny carried you back here. Then she left with Archer."

Ruby sighed before looking around the room noticing someone was gone, "Where's Anastasia?"

"After I told her you were going to be fine, she said she needed to make a call." Atalanta spoke up, "She should be back before we need to go to bed." She then crossed her arms as she looked at Ruby, "Back to your fight, if you pulled Mordred in. You know that means."

"It made a copy of someone she lost," Ruby finished before looking down at the water in sorrow, "I should go talk with her now."

"Best wait until morning," the lioness faunus responded, "Right now, we need to talk your fighting ability."

"You've gotten stronger," Medusa spoke up, "But as a Rider, you are at a disadvantage without your mount here."

"Well, I guess I could call my dad to mail Lobo over," Ruby said with Medusa and Atalanta looking at each other in confusion. The red hooded girl then turned to the lioness faunus, "But won't you be-"

"Ruby," Atalanta said, her voice slightly angered and eyes half open, "What are you assuming about me?" She said with a slightly hateful aura around her.

"Uh…" Ruby responded, glancing over to Medusa, who was fake reading a book, "I mean, Blake is-"

"No offense to her." Atalanta said as she crossed her arms, "But I am not a scaredy-cat."

"Oh okay," Ruby said with an uneasy laugh, "Well, goodnight!" She then pulled the covers over her body and tried to go to sleep. However, she could still feel the lioness faunus' piercing gaze through her covers.

Mordred.

Sitting on the edge of a roof of Clockwork Academy, Mordred was alone. To her right was her helmet, to her left was a packet of cigarettes with four crushed buds thrown in a pile. The Knight of Rebellion placed the fifth cigarette to her lips, taking a long drag as she looked up at the shattered moon. Her eyes were strained red, but not from the smoke. She exhaled into the wind, closing her eyes for a second. However, once she opened her eyes, a scroll was in front of her face. 'Thought you quit?' She read before looking back, seeing it was Neo holding the scroll. Standing next to the mute girl was Gray, "We finally found you." The grey-hooded girl said she sat to Mordred's right, moving the helmet aside.

"Well, here I am," Mordred said before seeing Neo sitting to her left, brushing the cigarette buds off the roof. The Knight of Rebellion then looked at the cigarette in her hand, "You know, I started pretty young with Shishigou giving me the last cigarette of his pack. I thought I looked so cool," Mordred said before taking another drag, breathing out "My new habit didn't sit so well with a certain someone." She said with a chuckle, "Still, I kept smoking because it got the attention of the King of Knights. I had to hide my packs because of Yang." Mordred sighed as she looked at the burning end, "After the invasion, I said I would stop, but held onto my last pack in case…Well…in case I needed one last smoke." She said before taking one more drag from her cigarette.

"I understand, Headmaster Zhuge Liang has a similar habit," Gray said as the smoke passed over her face, causing her to move her hood to shield her eyes from the smoke.

Mordred then looked over to Gray with slight anger, "Why did he tell you to keep that hood up?" She asked with Gray slightly hesitating, "Tell me, or I will take it off by force." The Knight of Rebellion said, causing Neo to glare at Mordred.

"…Okay," Gray sighed. Mordred and Neo watched as the hood was pulled back, revealing Gray's face. Her grey-haired was tied in a bun with bangs framing her face, an ahoge on top of her head. Neo's eyes turned white as she looked at Mordred, noticing the resemblance. However, Mordred thought it looked like someone else she knew, "I understand if you hate it," Gray said in a depressed voice, "After all, I hate my face as well."

"It's-" Mordred said as dropped her cigarette off the roof, "You look just like me and my…" Mordred said as a tear started to form in her right eye, "…Like the King of Knights."

Gray then turned to her two teammates, "Mordred, Neo." she said in a mournful voice, "Do you know the Legend of Altria, the Goddesses of Rhongomyniad." Gray said with both of the girls having no idea, "She was one of three Kings that ruled over the entire world of Remnant many centuries ago. To each King, an advisor. Each pair protected a third of the world from Grimm, wiping them out and safeguarding all life." She then looked up at the shattered moon, a small smile forming, "Eventually, in their fifteen years of cooperation, not a single Grimm was created through negative emotions. For a moment, the world was at peace thanks to their protection."

"You think a story like that is true?" Mordred commented, but Gray continued.

"One day, a mysterious woman in black approached the three kings. She offered them a golden chalice, a grail, with the power to grant any wish." Gray said before looking away from the moon, "However, it would only go to one of the three. To gain the wish, the other two must die. At that moment, the alliances were over." She said with Mordred focusing her every word, "Battles went on for years, tens of thousands of lives lost in the crossfire, and Grimm started to return to the land." Gray then looked at Mordred, "This is when Altria realized the error she and the other kings had made. She decided to end the conflict by destroying that which started in all."

Neo texted a message and showed it to Mordred, "The Grail." She read to herself. Gray nodding as she looked over.

"With her holy lance, she attacked the grail with her Noble Phantasm, Rhongomyniad. Shattering it to pieces." Gray continued, but a look of sorrow filled her eyes, "However, the end was not what she envisioned. In destroying the grail, a black mud erupted, spreading through the entire world. The three Kings were swallowed in the ooze, carried away in the current. The black mud gathered into large mountains, expect in the land where the grail broke."

"What about the advisors?" Mordred's asked.

"Lost to time with no one knowing their names today. Same for the other two kings." Gray responded before pinching the side of the hood, "Except Altria," She then looked up at Mordred, tears starting to form the grey-hooded girl's eyes, "The woman in black cursed Altria's for destroying the grail. Throughout the world, people would be either born with her face," Gray said as the tears began to run down her face, "Or, by some twisted senses of fate, someone's face will change to match Altria's." She said with Mordred slightly gasping, realizing what this meant for Arturia, and what it meant for Gray, "With every one of their failures, the woman in black would smile, reminding her of the mistake Altria made. This was the woman in black's last action before vanishing from history." Gray said as she pulled her hood over her head again.

Mordred looked down for a few seconds, then had a single laugh, "Heh, well, that's one odd story." She said before a small smile formed on her face, "You know, I never really talked with Nero, Okita, or even Jeanne around Chaldea. It was just something about their faces that always bugged me." She then looked to Gray, "Now I know, thanks." She said with the grey hooded girl having a look of confusion, "So, do you have a picture of what you looked like before…" Mordred asked, but Gray looked down as she shook her head from side to side. The Knight of Rebellion then extended her right arm, pulling Gray in for a hug, "Well, whatever you looked like, I'm sure it was cuter than how it is now." She said with Gray having a look of slight shock, a small smile forming as she continued to cry on Mordred's right shoulder, "It's okay, let it out." Mordred softly said with Gray's whimpers growing louder, her cries echoing thought the top of the mountain as Mordred held her close.

Neo had a small smile as she looked at the two. As the mute was about to get up, she noticed the pack of cigarettes on the floor, one left inside.

"You want to try?" Mordred asked Neo, "It's okay, you can have the last one." She said with a smile on her face, "I think I'm done for good now."

Neo looked at the cigarette, her mind going back to the images of the orange-haired criminal. She tipped her hat forward before picking up the cigarette. Gray watched as Mordred helped the mute girl light the correct end. As the embers burned, Neo closed her eyes. She placed the cigarette on her lips and quickly inhaled. Suddenly, her eyes shot open. The irises were white as the mute girl coughed smoke. Neo then turned to see Mordred giggling, causing her to pout at the Knight of Rebellion.

"It's okay, I did the same thing the first time I tried it." Mordred responded. Suddenly, the two looked over to Gray, seeing her laughing as well. Neo and Mordred then had a smile form, knowing they slightly cheered up this gloomy girl.

Archer.

Walking down the halls of Clockwork Academy, Penny walked with a smile as she talked aloud, "I am happy Ruby did not suffer any permanent head trauma."

Beside her was Archer, who looked at the Atlas Android's face. "Yes," He said before his mind flashed back to a year ago. The moment when Cinder showered him this girl this android was molded after, April Cotton. He thought the name but did not speak it out loud, but a small smile still appeared on his face, "You're very special, Penny."

"Thank you," Penny accepted the compliment, "You are …adequately above average as well." She said as the reach a split path. Penny started to go left as Archer went right. However, the Atlas android stopped and turned to the red mantle hero, "Oh, Professor Emiya."

"You can just call me Archer," He responded as he noticed the girl's expression was slightly worried, "What is it?"

"I was wondering, did you run into a person called BB at Chaldea?" She asked with him having a slight gasp, "I was told she was going to participate Grand Order, but I was not allowed to watch the event." Penny asked as Archer remained speechless, "If she is still at that school, is she doing well?"

"Penny…" Archer said before clenching his right fist, "…She was transferred out after the invasion ended. I don't know where they took her." He looked back to see the Atlas android tilt her head in confusion, "I'm sorry, I didn't get to know her that well."

"Oh, it's okay. The same happened to me before the Vytal Festival, but I thought we would be going back together." Penny responded with a smile, "I was just asking. Thank you for answering" She then waved to the red mantle hero, "Goodnight Professor Archer." She said before turning around and walking away.

"Goodnight," Archer responded, watching the Atlas android fully leave before walking down his path. He sighed as he rubbed his face with his left hand, "Damnit, I hate lying." He said to his left before, lowering his hand, "But I couldn't tell her the truth." He closed his eyes as he screeched the back of his head, "That Cinder had BB killed." He thought before remembering. However, in thinking this, he realized with it was not Cinder that plunged the sword that killed BB. He was told it was someone else. It was- Suddenly, Archer's eyes shot open in horror, "Neo." he said before realizing it, but then shook his head, "No, she can't be planning something. She has nothing to gain from killing Penny too." He said before moving both arms to his side, clenching his fist, "However, I need to talk with that girl in the morning."

Yang.

In the room of a three-star hotel, Yang laid her back on the bed, "Oh, it's so comfy!" She said in a tired voice. The blond brawler then looked to the left corner of the room. Sitting in an overly fancy red leather chair was Gilgamesh, who sipped from a chalice of merlot, "Really?" Yang said with her eyes half-open.

"I told you, a king should not lower himself to such meek hotel conditions." Gilgamesh responded, "You will have to do a lot more get me to sleep in that bed."

"You realize it would be sleeping with me?" Yang said with a smirk as he made another sip from my chalice. She then sighed before resting her head, looking up at the ceiling with a smile, "Tomorrow's the day. I finally find my Mom." She said before she remembered the moment at The Club, causing her smile to fade, "But now, I don't know if I want to meet her." she said before having a slight giggle, "I must sound crazy, after all we've done to get this far."

"You've done more than anyone of us," Gilgamesh responded, but his voice much closer than before. Yang then turned to see Gilgamesh laying next to her, a smirk on his face, "And I intended to stick with you to the end." Yang smiled back. Slowly, their eyes closed as their faced moved closer to another. Their lips touch as they exchanged saliva. In the passion, Gilgamesh placed his right metallic hand on her left side, pulling her closer. Yang sensual placed her left hand on the right side of his neck as their kiss-

Suddenly, Yang's scroll rang. A second later, the blond brawler pushed away from Gilgamesh, "Sorry, that's Blake's ringtone." She said with him sighing, rolling over in the bed. Yang moved to a sitting position as took out her scroll, "You have the worst timing." She said as she answered.

Back at Beacon, Blake sat at a computer, "Sorry, I just wanted your advice." She said as she typed, "…How do you find someone that doesn't want to be found?" The black cat faunus said with Yang having a look of confusion, "I…I'm just asking."

"Blake, what's going on?" Yang asked, standing up from the bed, "You know you can tell me anything." She said before taking a deep breath, "If you need me to help, I'll head back at sunrise."

"No, it's fine." Blake responded, "It's not that big of a deal." She said with a slightly forced laugh, "I can handle this myself." She said before leaning back in her chair, "Please, don't worry about me." She then looked up as she talked, "Just if you have any advice, I'm just a bit lost now."

"Well, he doesn't owe me anymore favors," Yang responded with a sigh, "But you can go to The Club and ask Junior what he knows." The blond brawler said before sitting back down on the bed, "Just, be careful." She said before having a slight chuckle in her voice, "Leave the reckless stuff for me and Ruby."

"Thanks," Blake responded with a genuine laugh and smile, "Goodnight."

"Goodnight," Yang said before closing her scroll. She looked down at the device in her hands with concern, "First Weiss ask me about Adam. Then Blake asks about finding someone." She said before she tightly gripped her scroll, "I really hope the two conversations are not related the way I think they are." The blond brawler then sighed before turning around, "Sorry Gil, I don't think I'm in the mood-" She said before realizing the King of Heroes was fast asleep. Yang pouted for a second, her eyes turning red. However, she sighed with her eyes turning back to normal, "I guess we do need some sleep." She said with a smile before yawning, laying her head on the pillow.

Back in the Beacon Library, Blake looked at her scroll and sighed, "I shouldn't have called her. Yang has her own goal right now." She placed it next to her keypad before she continued the type, pulling up a few articles: Who is the White Fang Killer, Faunus Massacre Near Haven, Is Even Menagerie Safe? The black cat faunus read the titles to herself, her eyes focused on any important information. Suddenly, her scroll rang again. She looked at the collar idea to see it was Achilles. Blake reached to answer it, but the stopped. Her teeth gritted as moved her hand to press the cancel call button, "I'm sorry," She said as the call went to voice mail, "Please, I can't let more people I care about get involved." Blake said before she resumed her search for the White Fang Killer.

Weiss.

Back in her room aboard the Atlas airship, Weiss wore a light grey nightdress. Her hair straightened as she rubbed a slightly damp paper towel on her face. Nobu walked out of the bathroom, where yellow pajama pants and a red shirt that said Buster across. She still had on her hat as she brushed her teeth, "Well, that was a boring military day." Nobu said as she took the toothbrush out of her mouth, "All we did was review a bunch of protocol documents and inventory management." She then threw her toothbrush into the sink of the bathroom before the doors auto closed, "And I still don't know what FIFO means."

Weiss pulled the paper towel away from her face, "This is important to review." She said as Nobu fell face-first onto the bed, "It isn't done in just the military. All businesses need to do these things."

"I know, I know," Nobu side as she took off her hat, placing it her nightstand. She looked at the golden emblem for a second before looking over to Weiss, "You know a lot about how a business works, why don't you run your family's company?"

Weiss had a look of slight shock before sighing, "At this point, my father is more likely to give it to Whitley than me." She said before placing the paper towel in the trash.

"Who's that?" the Grimm Archer asked.

"My younger brother," the white heiress said before resting her head on the pillow.

"Oh, I have one too," Nobu said with a smile, "Is yours kind of wimpy also."

"He doesn't like fighting," Weiss responded with her eye's half-open with an unamused expression.

"That's a yes," Nobu said as she rested the back of her had on the pillow.

Weiss slightly smiled with a soft laugh before looking up at the ceiling, "He seems to follow the way my father runs things." She said as before her smile faded, "He's a good kid, but I worry that my father will take him down a path I couldn't stomach the thought of."

"Wow," Nobu responded, placing her hands behind her head, "You really hate your old man?"

Weiss waited a few seconds before responding, "Yeah, I do hate him." She said as her eyes glared at the ceiling with a cold gaze, "The way he treats people, especially faunus, makes me think his heart is nothing but money and ice." Nobu then looked over to Weiss, noticing the white heiress' eyes were slightly saddened now, "You already know that I am scared of skeletons." She said before a small tear rolled down her left eyes, "But my biggest fear is becoming just like him, and not realizing it until it's too late."

A moment of silence fell between the two as Weiss wiped away the tear. Nobu then looked back up at the ceiling, "You have some pretty odd fears." She said with Weiss glaring at the Grimm Archer, "You know why I'm not head of my clan?"

"Because your lazy and play games on your scroll all the time," Weiss responded, "And you don't know that it means First In, First Out."

"Partly that," Nobu responded with shrug. Weiss then noticed Nobu's gaze was now a mix of being serious and slightly enraged, "It's because I'm a girl." She said as Weiss remained silent, "Old men like them can't even understand the idea of me someday running things." The Grimm Archer then turned to Weiss with a smile, "But we'll show them someday, right?"

Weiss smiled back with a nod, "Right." She said before returning her gaze to the ceiling, "I'm going return the pride the Schnee name has lost."

"You better," Nobu said with a chuckle, "Or I'll kick your ass if you give up." She said before noticing Weiss had shut her eyes, her breathing going clam as she went to sleep. Nobu smirked before closing her eyes, "Goodnight, Ice Queen."

AN: There you go, hope everyone sleeps well, because the next day is going to be intense. Gray gives a bit of a history lesson on what is under the hood. Effectively, this is this series explanation for the Saber Face Syndrome. As this story says, Arturia and Altria are different people. Arturia was the King of Knights, who once was Arthur Pendragon. Altria was the Goddesses of Rhongomyniad, who lived a long time ago as part of this series' history. This was the major information I wanted to push this chapter, but I loved writing all the character interactions here. Mordred and Neo had their little bonding moment was one I really had a lot of fun with. (Which I am super excited that Neo got into BBCT. I know it's a little off topic, but that was the one character I wanted to be in that game). Next chapter should be a little long, so I may take a while to put out. However, it will be where Yang finds Raven. That is all for now, thanks for reading, and hope to see you in the next chapter.