Chapter 2

"Where are they?" Archer asked. Currently he was leaning against the wall next to the throne Hakuno was sitting in. Hakuno's throne was a large red chair covered in drapes. Like the one Archer had during the War.

"Give them time, we've been sitting here for only five minutes," Hakuno assured. Finally, the generals arrived. Appearing one by one. The first was a woman with long blonde hair in a green attire. She had lion ears and a tail.

"Good morning master."

The next was a girl who wore a white dress and a black vail hung from the back of her head. Her long bangs almost hid the fact she had mismatched eyes.

"Mm…" she nodded.

Then next was a girl wearing red skimpy clothes. Her hair was in a braided ponytail and her pose was lax.

"Yo…"

Lastly was a person you'd think was a girl but was actually a man. His long pink hair was pulled into a braid. He had red and black armor and a large white cape.

"Hey master, how are you," he even tried to approach Hakuno with the intention to hug her. But Archer appeared in front of him and flicked his forehead. "Ow…" the man held his forehead in pain then looked at Archer in annoyance, "No fair Archer, keeping master to yourself, and she's so cute."

"You are her general Astolfo act like it," Archer scolded.

"Alright…" Astolfo whined. The other three servants looked annoyed. Hakuno had a nervous smile.

"Okay, Astolfo, Mordred, Frankenstein, Atalanta have there been any problems? Have there been any news about Archimedes?" Hakuno asked.

"There haven't been any problems on my end master," the female archer stated, "Just a few attack programs."

The berserker shook her head with a grunt.

"Everything has been boring," Mordred stated, "Those attack programs are so weak they go down after one swing."

"Well…" Astolfo scratched his chin, "There has been something new on my patrols."

"What is it?" Hakuno asked.

"Did you hear about that new sector?"

"Yes."

"Well I notice that sector is connected to another territory," the rider class servant explained.

"The SE. RA. PH expanded again already?" Archer asked.

"No… From the looks of it that territory had been there for a while and…" Astolfo looked a bit nervous.

"And what?" Archer asked.

"When I checked it out I learned it was already claimed," Astolfo spat out, "By the saber class servant Nero Claudius."

"Wait what?" Mordred asked, "There's actually someone taking territory?"

"Apparently," the rider said, "I even heard that he had enlisted some servants and reestablished a 'new' roman empire, Neo-Roma."

Frankenstein growled in agitation.

"So, there's a new emperor huh?" Mordred grinned, "Let's show him what we're made of."

Frankenstein let out a battle cry in agreement.

"Everyone, calm down," Hakuno called. She needed to be strong and clear and ask the right questions. She looked at Astolfo, "Have there been any attacks from them?"

"No, but our territories haven't been connected before either," Astolfo pointed out.

"I heard about this emperor," Mordred said, "He was supposedly a tyrant. While his empire burned he was playing music or something."

"She," Atalanta said.

"What?"

"Nero Claudius, is actually a woman, but she pretended to be a man so she could rule," the female archer added.

"Wait, he's a she?" Astolfo asked shocked.

"You have absolutely no right to be shocked by that," Mordred commented.

"How do you know this Atalanta?" Hakuno asked.

"I once crossed paths with her briefly," Atalanta explained.

Hakuno thought for a second then asked, "If I asked if I wanted to speak with her peacefully, would she comply?"

"I didn't know her long, but I don't see a reason why she would oppose," Atalanta explained, "She was... different than the rumors lead me to believe"

Hakuno seemed satisfied by that answer, but Mordred didn't, "But master," she whined like a five-year old, "Talking is boring."

"I am the sovereign and I've made my decision," Hakuno answered like a scolding mother.

"Yes, master," Mordred slouched.

"Good," Hakuno nodded, "Atalanta you knew her once, so you'll relay the message that I want a peaceful talk. Astolfo go with her."

"You got it," the rider saluted.

"Understood," the female archer bowed. The two then disappeared.

"What type of woman pretends to be a man, so she can rule?" Mordred asked before disappearing. Frankenstein then followed.

Later

Hakuno was alone in her room pacing. She was trying to think of what to say when she saw Nero, while she was also working on a strategy incase it turned to bloodshed. She let out a sigh then jumped on her bed. She hated the thought of fighting again, being in constant danger, risking Archer's life. And this time if he died she would live. The Grail wars system was gone. Her life was no longer tethered to her servant's, but that didn't make it better. She didn't want to live in a world without him.

She tried to calm herself down, maybe it would be okay. Archer had explained to her that some hero's legends weren't always accurate when describing the hero themselves. For one thing; King Arthur was secretly a woman. Mordred wasn't some monster who killed for fun, and even though she didn't admit it, she regretted her attack against Camelot. Frankenstein liked to pick flowers like a normal girl even with the mad enhancement dulling her sanity. So maybe Nero wouldn't be so bad despite her tyrannical reputation.

"If you lay there in such a defenseless position, someone might attack you."

Hakuno shot up, her face red. Standing in front of her was Archer smirking.

"Does it bring you some satisfaction to see me embarrassed?"

"I told you before," Archer shrugged, "I never get enough watching a hopeless master like you struggle."

Hakuno glared at him for a minute then let out a sigh, she didn't feel like arguing with him.

"You're concerned about Nero Claudius?" Archer asked, getting serious.

"We're talking about one of the emperors of Rome," Hakuno reminded, "One of the greatest empires in history. Nearly every emperor had trained since birth to rule, conquer and expand their borders."

Archer nodded, "And this one has managed to seek the allegiance of other heroes. If it does come to a fight, then we'll be up against an experienced ruler not a simple magus."

Hakuno flopped back on her back with a sigh. Archer shook his head, "Clearly you need reminding."

Hakuno reluctantly stood up to face her servant (well as best as she could, he was taller than her.)

"We won the holy grail war," Archer said, "We've defeated known heroes and unusual beings before. We even defeated Savior and Twice. Also…" He grabbed her left hand and held it up, "We have the regalia. When I wear it, you go inside and support me, and I can tell you this without a doubt," He gently held her chin and made her look him in the eyes, "I'll always win if you're by my side, Hakuno."

Hakuno felt her face go red, she looked down, then back to Archer. She closed the gap, stood on her toes, their lips touched in a sensual way. Archer wrapped his arms around her waist bringing her closer. Their lips moved together, slowly. Rational thought slipped from Hakuno's mind. She felt the back of her leg hit the bed behind her. She didn't even now she was being moved back. Soon she felt her back reach the soft bed. Archer was above her, their lips still connected. Then she felt his tongue ask for entrance. She parted her lips and let him inside.

At this point she was running on instinct and wrapped her arms around him, trying to get him as close as physically possible. She loved him, adored him, needed him. And with every greedy move of his tongue against hers she knew he felt the same about her.

A crash followed clap of thunder forced them apart. In an instant Archer was in front of the bed. His sword materialized as he scanned the room. Nothing, the noises came from outside the window.

"What was that?" Hakuno asked.

Within the branches of the tree he watched her pace in her room. He could not help but wonder if this was how she planned during the war. He couldn't help but chuckle, this nervous little child was the one who killed him… twice. Granted the second time he was not in his right mind.

Eventually her Archer appeared, he spoke to her, then they began a romantic embrace. In the past that would make it an easy kill, but he wasn't there to kill he was there to spy. But somewhere along the way he had lost his partner.

"Hey Assassin," speak of the devil.

"You finally call in Lancer?" Li Shuwen asked through their communication channel.

"I haven't found Archer yet? Have you spotted him anywhere?" Lancer ignored him.

"I have eyes on him," confirmed Assassin.

"Where is he?"

"In his master's chamber, wooing her."

"What?"

"We know which servants are working for them, now we must-…" Lancer appeared on the branch to look into the bedroom. Just as he did Archer had placed his master on the bed, while he was still attached to her. Cu Chulainn, seemed to lean in further to get a better look, "What are you doing?"

"What does it look like I'm gathering intel," Lancer said trying to stand a little taller to see them better.

"It appears you are using this as an excuse to spy on their embrace," Assassin said, he didn't care but it was dangerous to stay in the castle for too long.

"We need all the info we can get, that way the emperor will know if they're a threat or not," then he muttered something about Archer being a 'lucky bastard' and something about him getting a 'cute master.'

There was a loud noise, the tree shook, then fell over. The two heroes managed to leap to safety. Then searched for the cause of the attack. Standing at the broken tree stump was the female berserker growling in rage and clutching her electric mace.

"Oh hey, berserker," Lancer said, "Are you still mad I beat you in the grail war?"

With a raging scream, she summoned lightning from her weapon.

Why yes, she is still mad.