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Ruler in Apocrypha (Lily Lucy) Part I

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Can you do it?

"Un, I can do it. Please don't worry. Still, I'm sorry that my body cannot be given to you completely. This is an important war, right? From the memories I gained from you, it appears that you are to act as the mediator to this...Holy Grail War. It's an interesting concept. Please don't worry, I shall perform your duties as you would."

I am grateful. Now then, finish the last rune. As I cannot properly take control of your body, I can at least provide you with clothing that will protect your body from anything short of a Noble Phantasm. You don't have access to my armor which is odd so we'll have to make do with what we have.

"Un..."

Now, do it like I had told you.

"Un..."

This war is going to be a difficult one. It is not a normal war, so protect yourself well. If you feel you cannot win, don't hesitate to run.

"I will."

Light shone from the rules on the ground, slowly melting away and surrounding the bundles of cloth I prepared for the outfit I'm to wear as a 'Ruler'. What was left behind is a black choker with a dark blue gem in the shape of a diamond in the center. I reached out, picking it up and placing it around my own neck. A sharp breeze flew past me and I looked around silently at the lake in a park near my home, the only place I could do this as I am a 16 year old girl. Can't exactly do this at my house with my family there.

"...Ruler?"

There was no answer, she must be asleep again. I reached up, undoing the top few buttons of my dress shirt to look at the mark upon my chest. Red diamonds like ice shards in the shape of a flower...spread across my breasts and shoulders. I silently buttoned my shirt up once more before checking my appearance in the lake nearby. Brown hair that flowed down to the waist in waves with a single braid on the left side and bright blue eyes that were as clear as water...my hair grew longer and my eyes became blue after making contact with Ruler. I didn't even need my glasses anymore.

"Un...it's time to go...to the location of the battlefield..."

Still, for me to be used as the body of a Servant...to be chosen for this duty...I shall complete Ruler's duties without fail. It was my body that was chosen, but for some reason it rejected her even when I accepted her request of using my body. It's my fault she can't complete her duties, for that...I shall complete them for her. I shall oversee this Holy Grail War without fail, without favoritism. I have all of her abilities at my disposal, but she herself cannot be brought out.

"Now then, I've already managed to convince mom and dad using magic...plus the money needed when I go to Romania...I wonder what kind of souvenirs I can bring home..."

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I hummed a soft tune, watching the stars from the back of a pickup truck. I managed to get a ride to Trifas thanks to the kindness of a man heading in the same direction...but...there's a Servant ahead and...there's also some kind of field keeping people out, that's not good. I slowly moved around and I lightly tapped the top of the truck gaining the man's attention.

"Please stop the truck, I can walk the rest of the way here." I said smiling at him.

"Eh, but..."

"Please." I used a bit of magic on my voice to convince him. He stopped the truck and I grabbed my bag before jumping out the back. "Please remain here until the sun comes up."

"Yes."

"Thank you, farewell."

I watched him drive off before slowly making my way to Trifas. I placed my suitcase down before walking a few steps forward, blue flames surrounding my very being from the blue gem until my dress shirt and skirt changed into that of my 'Ruler' clothing. A beautiful blue turtleneck dress that hugged my body and reached my knees, the right side having a slit up to my knees. My boots changed into glass heels and there was a weight on my shoulders, a blue cloak with a white fur rim.

"Servant Ruler...I take it."

"Un. That's right." I stared up at the man sitting atop of the giant motorway sign. My eyes focused in on him and I was immediately given his information. His sharp gaze held confusion as he stared down at me, but I paid it no heed. "You are the Lancer of the Red fraction, am I correct?"

"Oh, so you can perceive such things."

"Of course, I even know your True Name as well. Heroic Spirit of India, Karna."

"I see...yes, you are without a doubt Ruler." Lancer stood and I held myself without fear. I wonder if this is Ruler's influence, if it was just me I would be shaking in my boots. "To be able to perceive my True Name when I have yet to draw my spear is proof of that."

"Your presence here indicates you are either here to convince me to join your side...or to eliminate me, am I correct?"

"Yes. My presence here is a declaration of war."

"..." Hearing it like that makes matters even worse doesn't it?! What does the Red Fraction gain from eliminating Ruler? Does it tie into the reason why Ruler is unable to manifest herself properly? Why I was forced to act as a Ruler? "What reason for you and your Master have for killing me here?"

"I do not know." My eye twitched, seriously? "But it is commanded of me that you are to die here. That is all, I merely act upon the orders given to me."

I'm too slow...! Since I'm not the actual Ruler, I'm much slower at using her abilities as such...he'll hit me before I could even think of activating the privilege given to the Ruler class. The flames surrounded me in response to my fear, but I sensed the presence of another Servant approaching...from the Black Fraction.

"Do it, Saber."

A man's voice, the Master of Saber most likely. The metal pillar that supported the sign was cut in two by a single strike. While it didn't faze Lancer, Iwondered who was going to fix that since Trifas isn't a tourist spot and it'd be a hindrance to any cars passing by. I turned my gaze from the sign to Saber and his Master. So the Black Fraction summoned Siegfried as their Saber. I wonder what other Servants were summoned.

"You...You are the Saber of Black. You certainly aren't Berserker or Assassin, not with such pressure coming from such an imposing sword." Oddly enough, Saber didn't answer him and instead nodded. "Hm...so your objective is Ruler as well." Lancer said looking towards me.

"It appears you have been in some trouble, Ruler."

"...Yes. You are a Master of the Black Fraction, am I correct?"

"Yes, my name is Gordes Musik Yggdmillennia." Gorde-gor...Musik...what a weird name. "I am participating in this Great Holy War as the Master of Saber." The man was grinning as he pointed at Lancer. "Vile Lancer of the Red Fraction! We have witnessed your attempt on Ruler's life! Plotting the erasure of the Heroic Spirit that guides the Holy Grail War is an utter transgression! This cannot be forgiven with a mere penalty! Stand and prepare to accept the sentence delivered by Saber and Ruler!"

"..." So that's his aim? "I'm afraid that if it is a duel between Saber of Black and Lancer of Red, I shall not interfere. As a Ruler, I am to mediate the war. A battle between two Servants is different from a Servant attacking myself."

"...Huh?"

"..." He's dumbstruck, he must have thought I would join forces with him as Lancer came for my life, but I won't do that even if I personally wouldn't mind testing out the abilities given to me. "Even if Lancer of Red was targeting my life, my duty is to mediate the war. To observe the battle between Servants of either Fraction."

"Hmph...so you were attempting to tilt the situation in your favor by having me face two opponents? Is victory the only thing you care for? How despicable, although I suppose that is also one for of warfare. It makes little difference to me."

I crossed my arms at Lancers cool words. It was not filled with arrogance...to him, it was a simple truth...as if he knew he could not be defeated. I reached up, tugging on a strand of my hair as the two Servants talked, my hearing picking up every word despite the distance between us. I calmly moved a few yards away when the two scorched the earth as they prepared themselves, Saber's Master beside me. I turned and I observed the battle with a sharp gaze. So this is what a battle between Servants is like...amazing, but...at the same time I knew...that even if I am a false Ruler...that I cannot be the true proper Ruler...that I might just lose my life in this war. It appears Saber's Master is worried as the fight went on, but I remained calm.

"Ruler, I beg of you. At least teach us his-"

"Rejected." I cut down any chances of arguments. "As a Ruler, it is my duty to remain neutral."

"Yet he attempted to kill you! If the Servant of Black were to fall here, you would become his target again. We must-"

"Then so be it." I kept my gaze steady as I observed the fight before me. "As the Ruler..." No matter if I am acting in her place. "I shall not allow my personal feelings to interfere."

"...!"

I ignored the man beside me as he shouted out for Lancer's Master. Several hours passed and I glanced to the sky, morning will be upon us soon. The fighting stopped shortly after I thought this, both sides deciding to stop. Saber seemed to have hesitated when he spoke to Lancer, I wonder why...then Lancer spoke to Saber about how he was grateful that his battle was with Saber. Lancer turned to me, observing me once more.

"You best prepare yourself next time, Ruler." Lancer said before taking his leave.

"...I shall not be caught off guard next time..." I brushed my hair over my shoulder before approaching the Saber of Black. "That was a splendid battle. As expected of the greatest hero of Germany." I said only to receive a nod of the head.

"Ruler, would you come with us now?" I stared at Saber's Master, he just glared at his Servant before putting on a false smile when he spoke to me. Did he perhaps order his Servant not to speak? What...a pointless thing. "If you wish to continue surveying the war in Trifas, I can assure you that the Fortress of Millennia will be most w-"

"Please allow me to decline." I placed a hand upon my chest, a very convincing false smile upon my lips. "It would go against my status as a Ruler if I were to even accept the hospitality of one Fraction. Please do not concern yourself over me, with my abilities I can easily detect any battle between Servants that goes on within Trifas."

"...We're leaving, Saber."

The man turned, clearly unhappy with my rejection. Saber stared at me before going into Spirit Form, it seems that it might be clear to any Servant that I'm not a proper Servant...but no matter...for I shall complete the duties given to me. With no one around, I took my time to observe the area around me. Craters everywhere...thank god it wasn't a bridge or a town...but...is it really okay to leave it like this...at the very least I should toss the sign to the side. I allowed my 'Ruler' clothing to disappear before moving the sign off to the side. At first, I assumed it'd be hard, but it was pretty damn easy.

"There, that should do it for now...now, off to Trifas..." I muttered grabbing my bag.

Something was clearly amiss though...was this the reason why Ruler was summoned? This war was clearly unnatural from the information about normal wars. Still, my heart was about to beat out of my chest...just from that one battle. Was this my fate...was this the reason why I was born, to observe these battles in Ruler's place? If so...I shall act the part properly, no matter if some Servants were to reject me as Ruler...if some were to call me a false Servant. I shall oversee this Holy Grail War, even if it costs me my life.

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Ruler in Apocrypha Part I Ends

Lily Lucy is similar to her original self in the One Who Rewrites Fate, but is still different. She gains most of Ruler's abilities and memories, but she is still an ordinary girl so there are a few times she'll falter or hesitate. Right now she's a Demi-Servant so it'd be clear to the other Servants that she isn't a proper Servant. It's different from Jeanne D'Arc who has full control over her host's body and can hide the fact she's a Demi-Servant, but not in this situation where the Servant slumbers within her. Lucy's decision to act as Ruler in the war is heavily influenced by the Grail not the Servant within her. Quite frankly, I don't think any Servant would be happy to drag about a normal person into a Holy Grail War, but a Ruler is a Ruler even if she is a Demi-Servant. Well, this will probably have five or so more chapters since this will loosely follow through Ruler's original path, but no romance between her and Sieg! I'm a Sieg x Jeanne fan all the way~! Welp! That's it for now! Bye-bye~!