Epilogue 1: The Season of Partings

Marrok walked into and then through the front room of the Emiya estate, looking winded. He was in human form, clad in sweatpants and a muscle tee, and had been attempting what would be the last trial in an ongoing experiment. Artoria was in the kitchen that was attached to the dining room, making some sandwiches. Usually Marrok did the cooking, but it had been his turn to go out and test.

When Marrok entered, she was already turning around to greet him and set the plate down, "Anything?"

Marrok shook his head, taking a sandwich, "No. No gains at all, no matter how perfectly I train or which form. It has been long enough to call it impossible. We kept our servant statistics, and they won't increase through training. Unless you've had any luck?"

"None. Not even a pound of increased strength or any consistent speed changes."

"Well, it's not like we need to be any stronger.'

"True. I did notice that our conditioning doesn't dip either though. Even on days I felt like I could not muster my full power I could still do so."

"Perhaps we can't lose our statistics either? It's strange how we seem to operate like servants in some ways but not others."

"Agreed. It's even stranger that I am aging again, but you are not."

"Well, this human form is technically a homunculus that preserves my wolf body in imaginary space. It's actually not a surprise I'm aging more slowly."

Marrok looked over to the spot on the wall where they had hung a measuring chart to keep track of not only their growth but the kids. He strolled over, noting again that Artoria, whose Excalibur had trapped her at the physical age of 15, had shot up a few inches since the war. He'd known this already, but taking in the changes that had been happening was more taking inventory in his brain than a reminder. Of course he hadn't grown at all. His human form was not only a form of homunculus, which grow slowly outside of production, but was physically around 18. Pretty much done growing. If anything he'd maybe get another inch or two within as many decades.

The former Saber in the kitchen smiled as she started eating, "Speaking of that wall, we were overdue for measuring the kids, so I took the liberty."

Marrok moved his hand down the long paper, "Wow, Sakura is shooting up like a weed."

"And Andrew's right there with her."

"I'm not even sure how that one works." Marrok eyed the measurement of the kid once named Angra Mainyu, "Every measurement he's grown exactly as much as Sakura. Not a centimeter more or less."

He eyed Illya's measurement, slow as ever. It seemed being half homunculus still had many of the drawbacks of being a full one. He worried if that also meant she'd die young.

"Well, at least he seems genuine about this second chance."

"Yeah. Sakura has him wrapped around her finger."

Marrok turned away from the wall as Artoria was taking off the apron she'd been wearing while working in the kitchen. He couldn't help but notice the other things that were growing alongside her height. Two hard to miss things, along with her hips, were filling out slowly and lending quite shapely credence to the theory that she'd resumed aging after Excalibur went missing. Artoria was developing into a fully adult body, that was undeniable. Already her body had become one that would probably make models self-conscious. A few times he'd caught men just stopping and gawking in disbelief at the sight of such a beautiful woman existing. More alarming, a while ago after a growth spurt she'd caused a car wreck while on the way to shop, even though she hadn't picked up on her overly tight clothing and full physique being the cause. Thank heavens for the safety of the world she'd been going to get bigger clothes that day.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just enjoying the view."

The apron was promptly balled up and thrown at his head. He could have easily avoided it of course, but that really isn't the point in a playful back and forth now is it?

Marrok strode over as he put aside the garment. When he reached her, he embraced her, "I love you."

"Despite your being an idiot, I love you too."

"Can you two not do that when I'm in the room?"

Marrok turned to the dining area towards the source of the voice, "Kiritsugu?"

The man sighed as he set his paper down, "I've been sitting over here the entire time."

"Well, that is quite embarrassing."

"You have a habit of tunnel vision when it comes to her."

Artoria held back a grin, "Well it is peace time right now, so I go easy on him."

"I will fix it." Marrok blushed.

"She that you do. I'm not gong to hunt you two of course, but the second the Association figures out who you are and what you are you'll have every mercenary on the planet after you. Even without the werewolf aspect. You guys are incarnated, totally self-sustaining servants after all."

Artoria nodded, "You are right, Kiritsugu. I appreciate your candor, as well as you letting us stay here despite the danger to your family."

"It's not like I'm free from being hunted myself. The Einsberns aren't exactly fond of me using the Grail like that. I'll have to do something about it soon, and having two servants on hand is as much a boon as it is a danger."

Marrok frowned, "How much good we are isn't certain. I'd like to think that all the family heads are as feeble and incompetent as the two that died in the war; but honestly both died to surprise attacks in a way. Zouken had his powers neutralized before I killed him, and the Tohsaka head got disemboweled instantly from behind while he was distracted. I never saw the full power of either."

"Isn't Sab-, I mean Artoria's magic resistance nearly absolute?"

"True."

Artoria grabbed her lover's shoulder, "Marrok has always been the cautious type. His usefulness as a scout was an excellent compliment to that. He does not like making assumptions, and we rarely ever had to."

Marrok however seemed to be thinking of something else however. He didn't keep it in long however, "That aside. While we're on the subject of your prior employers: why haven't they outed us? It is just now occurring to me that there is almost no way they don't know about our nature by now if not before the war even ended. Do they think they can handle us without involving others?"

"Not likely. Natalia, Maiya, and I have been dong some digging. Closest thing we can tell is they are being careful not to appear weak after the other two houses practically collapsed. Natalia's heard some rumors the Einzberns have some enemies that are circling like... well like wolves. I've sen out some feelers to see if we can talk with them."

Artoria gritted her teeth, "Political warfare."

"It is too bad Agravain isn't here. He was very good at predicting movements in those kinds of conflict." Marrok went to the nearest wall and leaned on it, "It would be nice if there wasn't such a power vacuum now. If the Tohsaka family wasn't reduced to just a couple of wealthy people with little magecraft we might have an ally. Right now we are just floating in uncertainty."

"They still own the land do they not? Perhaps that is a measure of protection."

Kiritsugu shook his head, "Until the Einzberns decide to tighten the screws."

Marrok stood, grimacing, "If it comes to that I would rather bail. I have done enough to that family."

"Sakura would go with you, so you'd be doing one more thing either way."

"Just find those enemies of the Einzberns you mentioned." both Marrok and Artoria turned towards the front of the estate, "Unless that's them making a dramatic appearance."

Kiritsugu stood, "That's not possible. Iri put up a bounded field around the block. It wasn't strong but enough to alert me if it was tripped by a magus or went down."

There was a knock at the door.

Marrok stated simply, "It's a man. From what I can tell his build and size are close to mine. Something smells off though. Smells not quite like a magus."

"Magus smell different?"

"It's the higher body heat."

"Oh, right. Of course." Kiri glanced at the measuring paper, "The kids are still at school right?"

"Right." Artoria noted, "They also made plans to go to the park."

"Good."

The person at the door knocked once again, so Kiritsugu went that way, extracting a hidden gun from a trap door in the wall.

"Who is it?"

"My name is Eoin Ciunas. I have things to discuss with the head of the Emiya family."

The voice from the other side was very thickly Irish, and monotone. From the height it came from and its depth Kiritsugu could tell that the man on the other side was probably a bit larger than Marrok. Also, standing this close the magus could get a sense of the 'off' that the wolf had smelled. Something just felt weird. As if something was making his own magic circuits uncomfortable and itchy.

There was also another thing the somewhat retired mercenary had to note. In western Europe, 'Ciunas' basically amounted to saying your last name was 'I'm not telling you my real name' and that fact was common knowledge there. It was literally equivalent to saying you were using an alias but wanted to do honest business.

So Kiritsugu opened the door, and was surprised right away. Not by the man of at least six and a half feet tall and built for suplexing phone booths that he'd been expecting to see, but at the not-so small boy standing next to him that Marrok had said nothing about. Just from the look of the kid Kiritsugu could tell he was the son of the pair, but the kid was one growth spurt away from being taller than Kiri. That and the boy's fair looks were soiled by a glare that wouldn't cut through steel, but would surely make that steel wish that it would do so and end its suffering. Height aside he didn't look that much older than Sakura, but his eyes reminded Kiri of Maiya's when he'd first met her. Was this a child soldier of some kind?

'Eoin' spoke up, even though the eyes of the kid had almost driven him from Kiri's mind, "I'll make no presumption of being allowed inside, discussion here is enough. Your bounded field is secure enough to block familiars."

"Not the two of you though."

Marrok came over, "There's two of you?"

The wolf's eyes went to the buy he hadn't detected. Those eye narrowed. In response Eoin stepped in front of the boy. Kiri noting that most adults would move the child behind them instead. Perhaps the boy was not a soldier or slave, but someone more important than the man after all.

"Pardon me. My boy constantly experiments with his magecraft. I can't get him to stop." he smirked and chuckled slightly. It was the only part of his actions so far that had any emotion in it, "It's really very unhealthy. Regardless, would like to discuss your situation with the Einzberns."

"You don't work for them?" Kiri asked a rhetorical question. His gut was screaming the answer already.

"Of course not. My people haven't gotten along with the Einzberns for centuries. The subject of the dispute is the very thing that has both gotten you into this mess and will get you out of it."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm here to deliver some information. The Grail was not fully discharged in your war. No one is sure why."

"Huh? Isn't the Grail supposed to reset every war and need to recharge for decades?"

Artoria silently joined the scene in the entryway as the Irishman continued.

"This is a good thing for you, and my clan honestly. Negotiations with the Einzberns have alleviated both our problems. Because we had such critical information as the exact date of this off schedule Grail War, we had a bargaining chip."

"Why did they believe you?"

"They know our methods."

Artoria finally spoke up, "More importantly, you say yo negotiated for us?"

"Not directly. All a part of getting things done by making people think it is their own idea and for their own benefit. What I mean will be clear once I have relayed the message. In a little over nine years, the Fifth Holy Grail War will be starting. They will be leaving you alone until then, with the presumption that you will prepare, and whether you are chosen by the grail or not assist their champion in the struggle. Meanwhile, my brother Erik will be entering the war in yet another slot."

"Not your son or you?"

"I am not eligible for selection, and my boy... well," the cold demeanor broke again as his smiled, "I want you folks to have a fair fight."

Marrok was skeptical, "This all seems very light-handed for a magus family."

The man's demeanor shifted back to stony again, as if by some facial tick, "You're not wrong. There's another price that Mr. Emiya has to pay. I won't pause for dramatic effect. It's the simple price of evening the playing field, while at the same time weakening your defenses."

Artoria glared, "Us."

"Yes. You and your entire pack have to leave the country and are not allowed back until the next war has ended. Otherwise the truce is over and the Einsberns play all their cards."

Kiri sneered, "And that was the part you made them think was their idea."

The silent boy stepped around and spoke up for the first time, "Amatuer! The entire things was our idea! This way you don't have two extra servants, so the Grail is more likely to pick you to get a bonus servant!"

Eoin turned to the boy, "Danny, be quiet!"

"It was my idea!"

"Still...!"

"Anyway. You get a bonus servant maybe, and then if you side with the Einsberns they'll still want you to have only one, but if you rebel after then it obvious what happens!"

Marrok nodded, "If Kiri decides to break the truce after the war starts we just come back and he has three. Weighing him to be more likely to go against them in the War."

"Yeah! The Einsberns are morons! This way, you only have three servants if you are on our side!"

"Your side?"

"We don't give a rat's ass about the-"

"Danny! Language!" Eoin snapped.

"Sorry."

"And what if the Einsbern's did manage to hear all that or they sell us out?"

"Don't be stupid. King Arthur wouldn't sell us out."

Artoria twitched at her true name being known by the boy, "How much do you know about us?"

"Oh as much as the Einsberns. Magi suck at hiding their communications from us." the boy looked as smug as humanly possible, but then he became abruptly serious, "Oh, by the way? Do you wanna spar?"

Eoin blocked the boy with one arm, "I apologize, the boy is rambunctious."

"Dad! I wanna fight a servant!"

"We talked about this!"

Marrok leaned over to quietly say to Artoria, "That kid reminds me of someone."

"Who?"

"Oh, that's right you only interacted a few times. I was talking about Mordred."

"Ah...Now that you mention it I can see it. Mordred was pretty fiery when he barged into that tournament and afterward insisted on joining the Round Table."

Kiritsugu got back on topic, replying to Eoin, not the brat, "You want me to risk them just attacking the second these two are out of the country?"

"Yes. They won't attack. If they do, my clan will be on your side."

"How an I trust you aren't on theirs?"

"Because if you don't they'll just play all their cards now. You don't have any other choice."

"You have a point."

"Make your preparations, but remember. It was not just them. Their entire pack has to leave by the end of the first week of the year. You have the holidays before you have to say goodbye. The Einsberns agreed to that much."

"I'll think about it."

"Good. We'll be in touch when the war starts. Here's the exact date." the man handed over a small paper, "Good luck to you."

"If you're on the level, same to you."

The Irishman turned and for the first time physically made his son follow him as he walked away from the house.

Something dawned on Kiritsugu and he shouted after them, "How did you get past the field?"

Danny turned with a smug expression, "Druid magic!"

And he was promptly samcked on the back of the head and dragged along my his father. Kiritsugu left it at that, closing the door and turning to his partners, "Do you think they were behind the attack on the mansion?"

Marrok shook his head, "No, I didn't get that vibe from them. The similar magic doesn't prove anything, but we should be careful."

"Of course."

Marrok looked at Artoria, "We knew three people capable of druidic magic."

"Merlin, Vivian, and Morgan."

Kiritsugu furrowed his brow, "We beat all the servants in that war."

"Merlin never died, but it couldn't be him. Vivian's a fairy of almost divine level so she shouldn't be able to leave the other side of the world."

"What about Morgan? I checked up on her and cant find any record of her death."

Artoria shook her head, "I do not know. She was alive when we died, and the Grail did not tell us."

Marrok scratched his chin, "Even thogh he was part of te grail once, Andrew says he doesn't remember most of what knowledge it had. I think we're at another uncertainty here. E have to assume though."

Artoria rolled her eyes and sighed, "She's still alive, and still after me."

"Great, the Merlin of treacherous witches is our enemy."

Artoria shook her head, "No. my enemy. Kiritsugu. You should take the deal. If Morgan is after me, our staying here will bring you and your family into the crossfire."

"Leaving means you have less guns aimed at her."

"I am honored that you say that, but you wouldn't be any help against a magus from the Age of the Gods. I am astounded she hasn't taken over the world by now."

"I won't just leave you to deal with a super villain alone. I hunt mages, I can handle her with help."

Marrok placed a hand on his friend's shoulder and gave him a serious look, "Kiritsugu, this isn't a debate. After Christmas, we're leaving and finding Morgan. Without you."

Next Chapter: Goodbye

A/N: Hey, I'm back after a long run of life happening all over me. There were no questions for the Q&A so net time I might conclude with just some basic trivia I think will be cool to know. For now, that's the chapter. Brief cameo by the child version of Danny from my other fic aside (the two of these stories still aren't in the same timeline by the way), our heroes assume Morgan is the villain and are heading out to spare their human friends from involvement. There will be one more Epilogue chapter that's mostly not important to plot (just goodbyes and slice of life basically) at some point, but you will be fine never reading it going forward. The sequel fic "Fate: Divide" will be going up some time in the next few weeks and have some catch-up stuff for what happened during the time skip. I hope you enjoy it when I get it live.