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Chapter 3 - Atonement
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"wake up, you rebellious child".
Mordred groaned as she felt someone stomping the butt of staff (which actually the staff of Scythe, she realized it later) before she got up, feeling upset "what did you say?".
"rebellious child", Thanatos deadpanned "what? It's the truth".
"who the hell are you and what do you know of—".
"Mordred Pendragon, the 'son' of King Arthur... or rather I should say, the daughter of Lady Arthuria Pendragon and Lady Morgan Le Fay. Heck, the way you were born really strange as hell", Thanatos cut her off and cracked his neck, tilting his head left and right "but as if it's gonna be important anymore since you will be reborn".
Mordred was about to yell to him again but after his last words registered on her head "...excuse me?".
Thanatos grumbled about how annoying it was for them because they had to gather all Heroic Spirits "geez, it's not like we have any choice".
Long story short, on the Sixth Holy Grail War, the winner asked to change the past in order to prevent the tragedy on Fuyuki which created the new universe where the Forth and Fifth Holy Grail War in Fuyuki never happened because Holy Grail had been stolen on the Third Holy Grail War. Instead of having Forth and Fifth Holy Grail War in Fuyuki, the Holy Grail was stolen on the Third Holy Grail War which in result, created the Great Holy War between Seven Servants and Seven Masters from Red and Black faction. With Holy Grail was stolen, again, by Dragon Fafnir this time in order to prevent the so-called 'Salvation' for human beings from Amakusa Shirou's granted wish (to grant the immortality for all human in this world), the Council Of Gods held the urgent meeting.
"—and it was decided that we have to gather all Heroic Spirits and just send them all to their next life or next destination thus they will not wander on the realm of Spirits anymore, otherwise the realm of Spirits are gonna too crowded", Thanatos ended his explanation simply, pointing the list on his hand to Mordred "so yeah, you're included one of my list. I have to give judgment whether to just kick you to the Hell, to send you to the Heaven or to reincarnate".
Mordred asked, considering her next destination after contemplating how she had lived her life but still unimpressed "and? What are you gonna do to me? kick me to the Hell?".
"oh, knowing what happened, I'd like to because there's no way I'm gonna send you to the Heaven. Do you think how many lives that died because of you, despite your reason?", Thanatos chopped Mordred's head using the scroll on his hand "however, I'm gonna give you second chance. So, my judgment for you is to reincarnate into your next life due to request of certain people".
Holding back her urge to just kill this Death God no matter how impossible it was for her, Mordred felt curious "request of certain people? You mean someone else asked you to spare me so I can reincarnate? Who?".
Mordred thought it was her mother and she wasn't prepared at all when Thanatos instead told her "your Master, Kairi Shisigo and your father, King Arthuria Pendragon".
Mordred froze. Her father? No way! Why should she do it? She died because of her, so why should she ask this Death God to spare her rebellious child?
When Mordred was about to say something, Gilgamesh kicked the door and ran into this room "wait! Count me in, too!".
When Mordred looked confused as to who was this stranger, Thanatos sighed and facepalmed "...hold him down".
Iskandar appeared and held him down "gladly!".
In his younger version as Caster, Gilgamesh struggled out of Iskandar's iron grip "let me go, King Of Conquerors! Since that woman is gonna be born on that world, obviously I have to born on the same world with her!".
Iskandar was unimpressed "and? What are you gonna do after you're born on the same world with her, King Of Heroes? Make her your Queen?".
"drag her to my bed and make her kneeling in front of me".
Knowing this man aimed for her dear father, Mordred lifted Clarent on her hands "oi, can I destroy him into pieces so he won't reincarnate, ever?".
"no, unfortunately you can't. And we haven't finished yet", Thanatos waved his hands to Iskandar and Gilgamesh before continue his business with Mordred "considering how you and Lady Arthuria died, I know it must be tough for you to understand why. It's simple, because deep down in her heart, though you were indeed born of a witch and was denied the throne of Camelot Kingdom, for her, you are the greatest Knight and son she ever has and knew".
"liar...", Mordred felt her blood boiling and she lashed out, she let out every anger, hatred, despair and grudge she had towards her father ever since she was denied by her father "she wouldn't deny to accept me as her son or kill me, the traitor of his Kingdom, as a King if she truly thought of me as her son!".
"and what will you say after knowing how she's dead on your hand?".
Mordred gasped, looking up incredulously "what are you talking about? She's immortal and she's the one who killed me—".
"yes, but she had lost her regeneration ability that time after her Avalon was stolen and you stabbed her with your sword before you died. She grievously injured and she died", Thanatos knew that Mordred wouldn't believe it unless she saw it herself with her own eyes, so Thanatos let her to see it and snapped his finger "if you still don't believe it, see it yourself".
There.
Mordred saw it again, what happened on the battle of Camlann. After Mordred was stabbed by her, she did it unconsciously, to bring up her Clarent piercing through Arthuria's stomach. Arthuria impaled her sword on the ground, her blank eyes sent dread to Mordred's heart. Looking up as she gripped the hilt of her sword, Arthuria sadly stared to the scattered corpses around her. Bloods covered the ground and even the sunset looked like blood. The wind blew her blonde hair that stained with red. She touched her bloodied stomach without effort to stop it, only looking around the scattered corpses as if desperately looking for someone who survive.
Finally, Arthuria let out her break-down. She cried her heart out hysterically before she lowering her body, curling on the ground "everyone... Lancelot... Guinevere... Morgan... Mordred... forgive me... I don't deserve to be the King... at all...".
When Arthuria fell unconscious, Bedivere arrived there, ignoring his own injuries "King Arthur!".
Bedivere carried Arthuria to the Sacred place with hope that his King would recover and survive but after he laid her under the tree, Arthuria woke up, telling him to throw her Excalibur Sword to the Lake. In her last breath, Arthuria told Bedivere about her greates regret, for failed her people and her Kingdom before Arthuria closed her eyes slowly, telling him that she'd sleep for a while. After Arthuria died, her body was sent to the Garden of Avalon with the Lady of the Lake's aid.
When Mordred asked about Iskandar and Gilgamesh's relationship with Arthuria, Thanatos explained about Arthuria's efforts in Forth and Fifth Holy Grail War. After witnessing the conversation between Arthuria with Iskandar and Gilgamesh in the Banquet of the Kings, also conversation between Iskandar and Gilgamesh after Arthuria killed Caster (Gilles De Rais), Mordred noted to herself to talk about this with Arthuria later. In her heart, Mordred felt a little respect to Iskandar but she also felt angry to him for insulting Arthuria. For Gilgamesh, Mordred really wanted nothing to do with this guy but to cut him into pieces after she killed him.
What shocked Mordred was when Arthuria fought against Berserker who turned out to be Lancelot.
Mordred saw it all after that (because she asked for it), how Arthuria struggled to fight in her Forth and Fifth Holy Grail War.
"...how could I be so blinded by my rage, thus I never realized...", Mordred covered her face, crying silently "...I failed to see this, I never realized how lonely and hurt you must have felt for bottling up your heart and feelings as human, father...".
"what you did... it's unforgivable. You indeed betrayed your father and your Kingdom but even if what you did was wrong, you can't be blamed either. You did it because what you want only your father's love and acceptance, right?".
Mordred kept weeping for what happened to Arthuria "but... I don't deserve such forgiveness after what I've done... I'm so selfish, only thinking about myself...".
Thanatos suggested "then go meet her again and fix everything".
This time, Thanatos showed his conversation with Arthuria. Mordred couldn't believe it at all when Arthuria chose to reincarnate to the world where she still should raise her sword. Instead of choosing her own happiness, where she could born in the world on modern era and be happy with the man she loved, Arthuria still chose to reincarnate to the world where she still should fight just because of what? Just to meet with her again, her rebellious child who indirectly killed her and brought the fall upon their Kingdom, so they could have their reconciliation. Knowing this, obviously Mordred couldn't say no to Thanatos' offer, right?
Before she went to the new world where she would reincarnate, Thanatos reminded her "remember, you have to have reconciliation with Lady Arthuria as your father's wish. Even your Master, Shisigo Kairi also hoped it, because as a father he also would want to see you reconcile with your father".
Thanatos had warned her that she and Arthuria would born as twin sisters but Mordred didn't expect to ended up in this family. The first thing she could feel after she was born, was the warmth of a mother and proud joyful of a father.
After ridiculous bantering between Meliodas and Liz on their born, Mordred noted dryly "...shit. Looks like I've reborn in crazy family, Master".
As her atonement, Mordred who born as Bellatrix vowed to herself that she would protect her twin, her older sister Alexandria, her father Arthuria Pendragon from their previous life. She had no idea at first, because what she knew only training to be stronger so she could protect her family in this second life and perhaps someday, if Alexandria remembered her life as Arthuria, Bellatrix could apologize and had the reconciliation with her as 'Mordred'. Little did she know, that it was not only her and Arthuria who were sent by Thanatos to reincarnate in this world.
The first one she met was Tristan.
That day, suddenly Meliodas came home bringing a red-haired baby with Sir Loire, one of Holy Knights under Meliodas' supervision. Bellatrix looked back and forth between poker-faced Alexandria and froze Liz.
Looking straight to her father and the baby, Alexandria said with her flat face "...your illegitimate son, father?".
Liz and Bellatrix choked on their drinks while Meliodas scowled and Sir Loire fell into laughter fit.
Bellatrix shook her body "sister! what are you talking about?".
Alexandria didn't budge "just kidding".
Liz smiled down with intense aura "from where did you learn those lines, daughter?".
Alexandria flinched and hid behind Bellatrix "from books that I read and Bellatrix sometimes told the story".
Bellatrix squawked "sister, don't hide behind me and make me the scapegoat here!".
"funny, Alexa. I don't expect it at all from you because I more expected it coming from your mother, or perhaps your sister for her usual pranks", Meliodas clapped his hands after he punched Sir Loire, giving the baby to Liz "and for your question, no".
Sir Loire cleared his throat "he is the son of Sir Rivalen and Blancheflor. His father died on the battle when he did his mission in the outskirt and his mother died on the childbirth so he's parentless and with no relatives, I ask Sir Great Holy Knight about the solution".
Alexandria had the mystic eyes (though she never told everyone in this world after she was reborn) to identify someone so yes, Alexandria recognized him as Tristan "...I don't mind at all to have a little brother, father. What is his name?".
As for Bellatrix, she didn't have ability like her twin but looking at the always-closed-eyes and red hair, Bellatrix really reminded of that man, not to mention she also remembered who were Tristan's parents so yes, she also recognized him as Tristan "will he be our little brother?".
Meliodas looked up to Liz "it means we will have one more child. You don't mind?".
"why not? I think it's no problem as long as our kids don't mind", Liz referred to the twin who pestering the red-haired baby "his name is Tristram. How?".
Alexandria saluted "yes, mom".
Bellatrix lifted her hands up "yay! We have a little brother!".
They indeed got an adopted little brother when they were 3 years old but only a year after that, when the twin turned into 4 years old (Tristram 1 years old), they lost their mother and their home, even got separated from their father in the tragedy.
A/N :
Okay, so let me make it clear here and now. The reason of why I don't tag this as crossover because :
First, I don't familiar with crossover. I mean, I don't know how to tag it as crossover because it's easier on AO3.
Second, this story will entirely happen in Nanatsu No Taizai universe where I only borrow some characters from Fate Series who reborn in Nanatsu No Taizai universe.
Third, if I tag this into the crossover, which one I should tag other than Nanatsu No Taizai? Because I need to tag Fate/Stay Night, Fate Apocrypha and Fate/Grand Order (considering I got the inspiration and took the characters from there) so yeah, better to just put it in single tag story rather than crossover.
If you still think this should be tag as crossover, please PM or leave the comment in the review box as to why should I and how do I tag the crossover? Thank you.