Author's Notes: I own nothing. Familiar of Zero belongs to Noboru Yamaguchi while Fate/Stay Night - Heaven's Failure is a Doujinshi made by Limit Break.
Legend of the Sword Dancer: Look to the Past, Plan for the Future
Karin was staring at her sister. After the ball, she saw Emilya being escorted by none other than Arthur de Marcillac himself. Many of the gathered nobles, specially the women were wondering how she managed to catch his attention. It did not help that the man is smiling while conversing with her sister.
"Something on your mind sister?" Emilya asked.
"Last I saw you before Lord Marcillac escorted you, you were enjoying some alone time in the Vallerie Gardens," Karin answered. "And after that, you were being escorted by Lord Arthur de Marcillac. How?"
"We met in the garden," Emilya explained. "We talked for a bit."
She left out the part that they knew each other in their past lives. She even wondered if other Heroic Spirits were also reborn into this world beside Arthur. But finding them would prove to be difficult as they could have changed as well. Unless Arthuria is an exemption since technically, King Arthur was supposed to be a male.
"-illya..."
"Emilya..."
"Emilya!" Karin called out, her hand waving in front of her face.
"Yes?"
"You're not even listening!?" Karin groaned.
"Something about Arthur and rumors." Emilya stated, surprising Karin. "What about them?"
"You have no idea of Lord Marcillac's status are you?" Karin asked. "Those the title Lord of Knights ring a bell?"
"Okay, that is a strange coincidence." Emilya thought. Arthuria "King Arthur" Pendragon was called the King of Knights, and the reborn Arthuria became the Lord of Knights in this reality.
Noticing Emilya is in deep thougth, Karin sighed and explained it to her. "Lord Marcillac is the leader of the "Knight of the Round" the best of Tristain's Knights, a group of knights he personally hand picked. Each with a specific specialty, like the Knight of the Lake for example, Lord Montmorency is a skilled Water Mage who can use both offensive and defensive water spells."
"You seem to admire them a lot." Emilya noted.
"Of course!" Karin declared. "It is my goal to create the best of Tristain's Knights! And I will surpass them!"
"Good luck with that."
"You sound like you will not help me?"
A week after the ball, the Marcillac Family requested Emilya's presence at a later date. Eileen's enthusiasm was evident as she began her more intense lessons regarding the visit to another nobles house. from proper greeting to proper clothing, she went all out just to prepare Emilya and have her proper impression to the Marcillac Family.
"Don't worry," Karin laughed as Emilya made another minor mistake. "You're doing better than me, but I was younger, so I still will not count this as your win."
It's nice having a very supportive sister, at least Emilya thinks that Karin is being supportive.
"Emilya," Eileen said. "Might I remind you that we only have a few days to prepare you."
Where was this when Shirou was learning literature? Who knew there was so many things Nobles had to uphold in their image? Why would one need to much preparation just for a visit? She would have to ask Saber about this when they meet.
That night before their departure for the Marcillac Manor, Emilya had a strange dream. She saw herself back in a familiar landscape. She was back in Fuyuki, standing at the recently re-constructed Temple.
"Who do we have hear?" a familiar voice called.
Emilya turned around and was face to face with the Caster of the Fifth Holy Grail War, Medea of Colchis, dressed in a black top, a jacket and a tan skirt.
"I'm just lost." Emilya said, hoping Medea would believe her.
"Well now," Medea smiled. "Little girls shouldn't be wandering around unsupervised-"
Emilya let out a breath she didn't notice being held in.
"-is what I would say had I not see you materialize here." Medea added.
Soon enough a number of spell circles surrounded her, and Caster was no longer wearing her casual clothes, instead she donned her hooded robe and purple dress.
"I will ask again," Medea said as the magic circles glowed brighter. "Who are you?"
"Shirou!" Emilya answerd. "My name is Emiya Shirou!"
"Girl last I checked Emiya Shirou was a boy." Medea replied. "Try again."
"I am Shirou," Emilya explained. "My Servant was of the Saber Class, Arthuria Pendragon, I used to study at Homurahara Academy, your master was one of my teachers Souichirou Kuzuki."
"Husband." Medea corrected.
"What?"
"I'm married." Medea stated. "Legally this time."
"Good for you I guess?" Emilya said. "Could you dispell the traps?"
Medea removed the surrounding spells, and Emilya sighed. Then Medea suddenly tried to grab her, only for her to go trough Emilya. This earned a curious look from Medea only to curse the God of Dreams for some reason.
"Interesting," Medea said. "I have only heard of this from the other demi-gods during my travels with them."
"You know what's happening?" Emilya asked. "Why I'm suddenly back here?"
"Yes and no," Medea explained. "[Morpheus Dream], you are not really here, think of it as your consciousness is here, but your body is elsewhere. And when you wake up, you will be back to where your body is. I remember the demi-god named Perseus had frequent dreams, and it helped him on his journey."
Suddenly a person phased right through her, she turned around and saw a group of students wearing the Homurahara Academy Uniform arrive.
"They come here often," Medea said. "To pay respects to a certain someone who disappeared?"
Emilya watched as the group of students laid offerings. And saw a familiar face, one of her juniors from the Archery Club.
"How long was I gone?" Emilya asked.
"More or less a year." Medea answered.
"The others?"
"Assassin now works under the Fuyuki Delivery Company," Medea answered. "Lancer I think now owns a fishing vessel, Archer went with his Master, Rider and Rider's Master overseas. They were devastated you know, Rider's Master in particular, she went for months without rest looking for you."
"Sakura..."
Emilya suddenly got dizzy, and Medea could see that she was slowly fading.
"You're waking up." Medea explained. "Oh how I wish you had a physical body, that way I could try on those cute clothes I bought."
Soon Emilya blacked out, and faded from Fuyuki.
And so the day came. Emilya will be visiting the Marcillac Family Manor along with her father. The journey took a while by carriage, like the journey to the Vallerie Manor. She had a lot in her mind since that dream, while it was impossible, Caster talked to her, and was not quite sure if it was just her mind creating that certain dream, or it was real.
"Was that really possible?" Emilya thought. "Caster did say she encountered people who once had the same type of dream."
Emilya had tried to get used to sit for a long time, since most would journey by carriage. She missed the fast trains and vehicles of Japan. She was tempted to practice her Magecraft, but the dirt road beneath them could cause her to either accidentally stab someone, or her.
"Are you worried my dear?" Laurence asked.
Emilya looked at Laurence with a questioning look.
"You will do fine," he assured. "You managed to make him laugh did you not?"
"I don't think that was intentional." she admitted.
True, all they did was catch up and not much else. Emilya did see Arthur smile while they talked, she just shrugged it off because it was, for her, a meeting between old friends, she didn't get why other noble ladies were jealous of her.
"Unintentional it may be," Laurence explained. "But you managed to catch his attention, something many other girls tried and failed."
Soon the Marcillac Family lands was already in view. They entered the town, and was greeted by the guards. The town was lively, there were shops and vendors around the marketplace they passed by. They passed by a bakery, the smell of fresh bread in the air, a group of vendors, selling produce of the land, and a small blacksmith with swords on display. Emilya had to stop the urge to go and buy ingredients, as Eileen has said over and over again, "We have maids and servants, we do not mingle with the commoners."
The carriage stopped at a grand gate, and was welcomed by another set of guards. They were escorted inside and were greeted by Arthur himself.
"Welcome Lord Mailliart," Arthur greeted. "I trust that the journey was a pleasant one?"
"Indeed," Laurence replied. "The town is lively this day, what is the occasion?"
"They are just celebrating a good and bountiful harvest Lord Mailliart." Arthur answered. "Why don't we bring this inside? Father is expecting you two."
Arthur guided them inside the manor in to Duke Marcillac's Private Study. When they entered, Emilya noted that it was somewhat similar to her father's own study. Both fathers then began to talk, while Arthur was asked to entertain Emilya. He guided her to their gardens, and noticed Emilya in deep thought.
"Silver for your thoughts Shirou?" Arthur asked. "I mean Lady Emilya."
"Can I tell you something?" Emilya asked.
"Go ahead." Arthur replied.
Discreetly, Arthur cast a wind spell that blocks the sound they create, knowing that Emilya will say something personal.
"I had this dream," Emilya began. "I was back in Fuyuki, and talked to Caster-"
"She is still summoned?" Arthur interrupted.
"I guess?" Emilya replied. "Anyways, we talked. She said she married my former teacher, legally this time, as she stated. And that the other Heroes are still there. Assassin is now employed by Fuyuki's Delivery Company. Lancer now has his own fishing vessel, and Archer and Rider are still with Rin and Sakura."
Arthur noticed the slight change in tone as Emilya said Sakura's name.
"You still have feelings for her I see." Arthur noted.
"I do." Emilya admitted. "It's just, I began caring for her. I can't just let it go. I realized that I have forgotten about her since coming to this world."
"I see." Arthur replied. "Have you met them?"
"No," Emilya answered with a hint of doubt. "Caster said that they both went overseas, but Sakura kept searching for me for months according to her."
"There's uncertainty in your voice." Arthur noted.
"That's just it Arthur," Emilya replied. "I don't know if that was real, or just a dream my mind has made up. Caster called it [Morpheus Dream], and that some demi-gods during her time once had them as well."
"Why would you doubt that?" Arthur asked. "It's not the strangest thing that happened to you so far. Let me ask you Emilya, have you encountered that phrase when we were still in Fuyuki?"
"No-"
"Then that means it is real." Arthur stated. "And maybe one day we will see them again."
"I don't think I can." Emilya said. "When I talked to Caster, I think only she can see me I don't know if other Heroic Spirits can."
"If she can see you," Arthur assured. "Maybe others can, if Rin or Sakura cannot see you, maybe Archer and Rider can. She said they were with Rin and Sakura."
From the study, Duke Marcillac and Laurence could see Arthur and Emilya. While they could not hear what the two were talking about, it looked like the two were only exchanging stories.
"Your daughter is somewhat rough around the edges Lord Mailliart." Duke Marcillac noted. "from here I can tell that she talks to my son without regard to her status."
"I apologize if my daughter's actions offend you Lord Marcillac," Laurence said.
"Offend?" Duke Marcillac asked. "No, not at all Lord Mailliart. In fact, I find it quite refreshing that someone is unafraid to talk to my son in such manner. I have heard that Centurion de la Vallerie is quite afraid of your other daughter you know. So I already told Arthur about what to expect from meeting her."
"I see." Laurence stated. "Might I know where you have heard this?"
"Arthur is good friends with Centurion," Duke Marcillac explained. "Had it not for Severus Montmorency already chosen as the Knight of the Lake, Centurion was the other choice."
"Your son's knights are impressive." Laurence said. "They were chosen not for their power or class, but for their versatility in and out of combat."
"Indeed, they are regarded as the best of Tristain's Knights." Duke Marcillac said with pride. "Enough about the Knights of the Round, I want to hear your proposal for their engagement."
POST CHAPTER NOTES:
For some reason, Archer EMIYA was present in one of the chapters of Heaven's Failure, so I included him, and had him remain with Rin. Also... Genderbent Avenger... Which is both cute, and funny.
What do you think?
I've based the town form the towns in Kuma Kuma Kuma Bear and Wandering Witch Eleina.
I got delayed due to flooding in my area...
Edit: Minor Grammar Checks