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: The Girl Named Emilya
The short time Emilya spend with Arthur was nostalgic. After their talk in the gardens, Arthur and Emilya ventured back into the Manor and stumbled upon the kitchen. Arthur was surprised that Emilya offered to cook a small meal for them, and immediately said yes, remembering the food Emlya cooked when she was still Emiya Shirou. The head chef had a surprised look on his face as the young lord watched Emilya take over cooking. And soon a delicious aroma filled the kitchen and the head chef was curious as to how the supposed "Noble Born Lady" knew how to cook.
"I don't know what to say my Lord." the chef admitted. "This is a first for me."
"Assist her if she needs ingredients." Arthur instructed.
"As you say my lord."
Emilya prepared a simple hamburg steak, something she remembered making for Arthuria during the Holy Grail War. The dish was quite simple to look at, and the chef was skeptical of the dish until Emilya offered him a piece. The chef reluctantly accepted, unsure about why he was offered a dish made by a noble. He took a small bite of the simple dish and the flavor exploded inside his mouth.
"Of all my years serving the Marcillac Family," the Chef stated. "I have never tasted such a simple yet delicious dish."
"I could teach you how to make it." Emilya offered.
"That is too much my Lady," the Chef politely declined the offer. "A commoners hands is not worthy to create such a dish."
"But I made this using the common stuff," Emilya thought, but did not voice it out as the chef already declined. "This Noble and Commoner thing is really annoying sometimes."
The chef then ordered the Maids and Servants to prepare the table while Emilya went to clean her hands. She found out the hard way that soap is a "Noble's Necessity" and that most commoners only clean themselves with water, or not at all if water is scarce in their area.
She entered the dining area and was assisted by Arthur to sit down. At the table were both her father and Lord Marcillac, each with a Hamburg Steak before them. She was relieved that both Lords were done with their meeting and sat themselves at the table, as she made more than enough for each of them.
"Is the chef ill?" Lord Marcillac asked a nearby servant. "This is hardly a fitting dish."
"Our chef did not make this father," Arthur answered. "I asked Lady Mailiart to prepare a meal."
"I expected more than a simple piece of meat," Lord Marcillac said before taking a small spoonful to taste the dish.
As soon as the food entered his mouth, Lord Marcillac was silent. A worried Laurence carefully approached him before his hand moved, eating the dish before him with delight. Arthur merely let out a small laugh as he already expected such a reaction from his father, before eating form his plate. Laurence on the other hand was looking at Emilya who only nodded with acknowledgement. He once more took a seat and ate the food prepared by his daughter.
"I say Lord Mailliart," Lord Marcillac said as he finished cleaning himself. "You have such unconventional daughters."
"So have I been told Lord Marcillac." Laurence replied.
After they finished eating, Lord Marcillac ordered the servants to clean up
"Arthur," Lord Marcillac called out. "Lord Mailliart and I will have a short conversation, why don't you entertain Young Lady Mailliart for a bit?"
"Of course father." Arthur replied.
Arthur once more guided Emilya around the Manor, but instead of the gardens, he guided her to his own training grounds.
"Most would find it odd that I brought a girl to a training ground." Arthur stated.
"But I am no ordinary girl." Emilya replied.
"Indeed." Arthur said.
Emilya scanned the arena. It was well kept by the looks of things. There was a group of training dummies at the corner, a sword rack at another and a set of beaten up armor at another.
"Shirou, can you still use Magecraft?" Arthur asked.
"Of course," Emilya replied. "Otherwise I would be branded as a commoner."
"No," Arthur corrected before facing her. "Can you still use your Magecraft?"
"Yes," Emilya answered. "Why?"
"I have a small favor to ask." Arthur said. "Can you trace any of my Noble Phantasms?"
"I'm not sure if I can." Emilya replied. "But why are you asking that?"
"I want to know something." Arthur explained. "Ever since we met at the Vallerie Manor, I have been wondering if I could still use a Noble Phantasm. If there is still a part of me that is King Arthur. Will my Noble Phantasms still recognize me, or will they not?"
Emilya thought for a moment, she was unsure if she could [Trace] one of Arthuria Pendragons Noble Phantasms as they take too much magical energy. But then she remembered that was because she had such poor circuits when she was Emiya Shirou.
"Maybe this new body can do it." Emilya thought.
"Very well," Emilya stated with resolve. "I'll try to [Trace] one of your swords."
She had just the sword in mind, a sword Emiya Shirou once saw in his dreams...
[Trace On]
Judging the concept of creation
Hypothesizing the basic structure
Duplicating the composition material
Imitating the skill of its making
Sympathizing with the experience of its growth
Reproducing the accumulated years
Excelling every manufacturing process
A sword slowly materialized above her hands. A familiar golden sword with a blue handle appeared before them. The sword floated for a bit before dropping as Emilya collapsed. Arthur was fast enough to catch her, and the sword planted itself on the floor.
"Caliburn..." Arthur whispered, before checking up on Emilya. "You should have not pushed yourself so hard."
"Sorry," Emilya replied weakly. "I tried to make it as close to the original as possible."
Arthur stared at the sword embedded before him. The engraved inscription on its hilt once more staring back at him.
"Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone is rightwise king of all England"
Carefully Arthur helped Emilya sit at a nearby chair, before slowly approaching the sword. His hand slowly stretched out to reach it, but he stopped himself midway. He glanced at Emilya who only watched silently, before steeling his nerves and firmly grasp the sword with one hand. Carefully he tried to pull it out, and he felt a bit of resistance from the sword. He placed his other hand on its handle, took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Emilya could see the sword glow as Arthur once more pulled it from the floor.
"I don't suppose you managed to replicate the part where I stop aging would you?" Arthur asked with a worried laugh, as he tested Caliburn with a few swings.
"I don't think I can replicate a [Divine Enchantment] of that caliber Saber." Emilya answered. "But if you stopped aging in a few years..."
"Don't," Arthur interrupted. "I'd rather not go through that again."
Arthur then began to take a few more intense practice swings before proceeding to place a training dummy before him. He took a few steps back and positioned the sword at his side.
Sword of Selection, grant me power! Cleave the wicked!
[Caliburn!]
The sword glowed bright as he swung it upward and a bright light erupted destroying the roof of the training grounds in the process. When the dust cleared, there was nothing left of the training dummy, and majority of what was behind it. Arthur looked at the sword in his hand and noticed several cracks along its blade. He once more assessed the damage he caused, then slowly approached the surprised Emilya.
"It seems that they still recognize me." Arthur laughed before noticing both Laurence and his father enter the training grounds with their wands ready.
"What happened here?" Lord Marcillac demanded.
"I can explain." Arthur replied sheepish.
Earlier when Arthur and Emilya left the table, Lord Marcillac once more sat with Laurence in his study. He now has a better understanding of Emilya and wanted to hear more of Laurence's proposal.
"I am willing to offer a portion of the Mailliart Lands for an engagement between your son and my daughter." Laurence negotiated. "Granted that if they have male heir, he will be named heir of the Mailliart Family."
"And what of your other daughter should she sire a male heir?" Lord Marcillac asked.
"The Valleries are content with their belongings," Laurence answered. "The moment Karin takes the Vallerie name, she will no longer have ties to the Mailliart Family as it is what we have agreed upon. As will her children be unless Lord Vallerie says otherwise."
"So you have gotten the short end of the stick from that engagement," Lord Marcillac noted. "You are negotiating to ensure that one of your descendants take the Mailliart name."
Lord Marcillac thought for a moment. "Very well, I shall have one of the scribes create two copies of the contract. I will have it sent to the Mailliart Estate as soon as it is done, and I expect a reply not long after."
Lord Marcillac then took out a piece of parchment and began writing down, before offering the parchment to Laurence. He carefully read the parchment, and began adding his own terms before returning it to Lord Marcillac. Both Lords exchanged a few more times before they both were please with the contents of the contract. With the draft finalized, both lords shook hands. As soon as both Lords exit the study, a loud explosion was heard. Laurence quickly pulled out his wand and cast a quick [Haste] spell on both of them. They quickly exit the manor and determined where the explosion occurred.
"The training grounds." Lord Marcillac stated. "Let us go."
Both quickly flew towards the training ground and noticed Arthur with sword Lord Marcillac have not seen before.
"What happened here?"
Arthur did his best to explain how he managed to obliterate his training grounds. Emphasis on the best...
"So the Young Lady has a talent for [Earth Transmutation," Lord Marcillac noted before glancing at Arthur. "And the sword you used as a makeshift wandsword is her creation?"
"Yes father." Arthur answered.
Lord Marcillac examined the damage done by Arthur. "It would take quite the amount to repair this."
"I am impressed Arthur," Lord Marcillac praised. "You have gotten even more powerful."
"No father," Arthur corrected. "This was only because Lady Mailliart created this sword."
"[Earth Transmutation]." Lord Marcillac thought. "Not only that, her sword also boosted Arthur's spell, she must have also placed an [Enchantment] on it. Yes, this could work, they would have powerful children..."
The sword in Arthur's hand slowly broke and de-materialized. Emilya carefully made it look like it was slowly breaking down to not cause any suspicion regarding the sword.
"Lord Mailliart," Lord Marcillac said, noticing that the sword is not breaking down. "I would like to add a few more clauses in their contract."
"Of course Lord Marcillac." Laurence replied.
"Contract?" Emilya thought.
"Pardon my interruption father," Arthur said. "But what contract?"
"Lord Mailliart and I have finished the draft for your engagement," Lord Marcillac answered. "But due to this recent event, I would have to once more revise."
Emilya could only blink once the word has settled in. Engaged? With Arthur? That would mean one day they will get married... And married couples have *ehem* activities together... Emilya's mind went back to the night Sakura confessed to her and a passionate night with... Does that mean one day she and Arthur... What would Sakura think if she returns...
"Oh dear..." Arthur sighed as Emilya's face slowly matched the color of her hair.
"Well she was a boy once..." Arthur thought. "I had the same thoughts when Merlin gave me a different kind of sword after all..."
"Now if you excuse us," Lord Marcillac said. "Lord Mailliart and I will have another discussion."
POST CHAPTER NOTES:
To answer/reply to some recent reviews:
1. No there was no Genderbent Avenger (Angra Mainyu) in the previous chapter. I re-read Heaven's Failure because I was not sure which servants were active, and stumbled upon a Genderbent Avenger.
2. Yes, Kevin is Kevin Kaslana, Honkai Impact's resident World Traveler thanks to the 2nd Divine Key, which is a Train/Locomotive, which is also "Excalibur" for some reason because Kevin Kaslana is HI3's Merlin.
3. The Hamburg Steak was from Cooking with Emiya Family (Emiya Chi no Gohan), a Slice of Life version of Fate.