Chapter 4

Hakuno starred at the boy with shock and confusion. How was he here? The only other living master was Rin and she was on Earth. There was also the white regalia on Saber's finger. Archer then got between her and the mysterious duo, "How do you have a regalia, and how is your master still alive? All the other masters died in the Grail War."

"I'd tell you, but I can't remember," Hikari said.

"Thank you for telling me you're useless," Archer said.

"Do not speak to the praetor with such disrespect," Nero said. The two servants glared at each other. Sensing a fight, Hakuno grabbed Archer's arm, to calm him down.

"Archer, stop it."

"Saber calm down," Hikari stopped his servant's advance, "I can't explain it you can."

"Alright," the red saber said taking a breath, "My dear praetor was currently in a predicament, so he cannot recall certain events."

"He was injured?" Hakuno asked.

"And where were you when this 'predicament' happened," Archer asked, "It is a servant's duty to protect their master."

"Normally I would never deprive my beloved praetor of my divine presence, but he needed to register for the regalia on his own."

"Register?" Hakuno asked. Why would he need to register? The regalia went to her on its own.

"As to how the praetor lives, that is complicated," Nero said, "Yes, we did participate in the war, and we would have won, naturally. However, something managed to… hack the grail war system. Do you recall the NPC Sakura?"

"Yes? She was nurse in the war, she was harmless," Hakuno reminded.

"If only," Nero said, "Do to my praetor's kindness and lovable charm, she fell in love with him, but she was a supporting A.I, such feelings were forbidden, so she placed those memories in a back up unit called BB. While the war was taking place on the near side, she took control of the far side. She stole me and the praetor before our fourth round. She also took some competitors that lost their elimination rounds and were less than a second from dying. She imprisoned my praetor in a sleep, so she could keep him for herself and kept him there for so long. Finally, after long and strenuous effort, my melodious voice awakened my praetor, and together we fought through her terrible prison… However."

"By the time you were free we had won," Archer completed.

"But hope was not lost, BB had hacked the grail to give an extra wish," Nero puffed out her chest, "And here we stand, free to spend an eternity on Diana's star."

Hakuno walked forward to Hikari, she didn't understand why, but he seemed familiar, "Why didn't you go back to Earth? I'm sure you have family waiting for you."

"One could ask you the same," Nero said. Archer narrowed his eyes, the Saber was dodging the question deliberately. Hakuno rubbed her arm.

"That's complicated, but what do you mean by register for the regalia?" Hakuno asked.

Hikari opened his mouth to answer, but suddenly, he grabbed his stomach and nearly collapsed. Hakuno reached out in concern, "Are you okay?" When Hakuno touched him, an image flashed through her mind. Hikari was unconscious, sitting in a throne. Nero was on her knees her head on his lap… she looked grief stricken, "My beloved, my only…"

"Praetor!" Nero was by her master's side in an instant. Archer had pulled Hakuno away gently.

"I'm… okay Saber," he stood up straight, but he was looking a little pale.

"We'll return home immediately, so you may rest," Saber declared.

"Yes, we must make sure to care for the master."

"That voice," Nero shot a glare in the direction of the new voice, "Full of sin and debauchery. I'd know that vile voice anywhere."

Hakuno looked in the direction; strutting towards them was a female servant in a blue kimono-like outfit. What stood out most was the fox ears that twitched on her head and the fox tail that swished behind her.

"Caster," Saber identified in accusation, "So you survived."

"You know her?" Hakuno asked.

"Tamamo No Mae, a vicious fox who always tries to steal my master," Saber hissed.

"That's Tamamo No Mae?" Archer didn't sound impressed.

"Your master? He is our master," Caster snapped.

"Technically that is true, but I am the head servant, you were simply rescued by master's kindness," Saber said with a smirk.

"You may have been first servant, but we are the best for master… and for the moon," She flashed another white regalia, however the gem was blue.

"A-another regalia?" Saber asked shocked, "How?"

"'How' does not matter," Caster said, "We declare ourselves queen of the moon, and we rule together with our husband."

"Now she's using the royal 'we,'" Hakuno said. She was silent until she saw someone walk up next to her… Hikari? She looked back to the boy next to her. They were identical, except the one next to Caster was in blue, instead of red.

Everything was identical, the face, the eyes, even the same breathing patterns. Was Hakuno seeing things? She looked towards Archer who had a look of shock on his face, good she wasn't going crazy.

"What?" Saber cried, "How are there two praetors'?"

"Surprised?" Caster taunted, "When our beloved husband went to receive the regalia, he was in a horrible accident that split him in two." Caster then gently held her Hikari as if to comfort him, "We received the soul, you have the mind."

Hakuno felt Archer pull her into an embrace from behind her.

"We will let you hold onto that master… for now, but your territory belongs to us," Caster declared. Then she looked at Hakuno and Archer, noticing them for the first time, "Who are you and why do you not bow to your queen?"

"We are the servant and master who won the war," Archer introduced, "And my master is the sovereign, not you."

"We would have won if that bug didn't capture us, but if it weren't for her, we wouldn't have met our beloved husband," Caster said, "Regardless, we are the ruler of the moon and anyone who says otherwise will pay."

"I am the moon's true emperor," declared Saber, "And what do you mean you have my territories?"

"Just as I said," Caster smiled, "I have taken half of your territories, cut in half, like a sandwich. Think of it as revenge for pushing me out of the way so you could get the grail."

"Your lies are as vile as you," Saber spat, "You were the one who would harm the praetor for the grail."

"You despicable emperor, I would never harm our husband."

"Regardless, if it is war you want; war you shall have," Saber declared.

"Soon we shall have all the moon, and will live in luxury with our husband forever," the female servants took their masters and left the area, leaving Hakuno and Archer.

"They completely ignored us," Hakuno said.

"It appears we have gotten caught in a love triangle," Archer sighed, "A woman's jealousy is a dangerous thing."

"Does it count as a love triangle if Hikari's been split in two?" Hakuno felt Archer's hold slightly tighten. She looked up at him, "What's the matter?"

Archer was silent for a minute, "Nothing, let's go back, if that fox managed to take Nero's territory, she might have taken ours."

Hakuno sat in her throne, a screen was in front of her showing the stats of her territories, "The good news is no one has tampered with our territories."

"I doubt that will last long," Archer said, "They're clearly too focused on each other to be worried about us."

"I'd hate to be in that situation," Hakuno said, "Making two servants love me to the point where'd they split me in two."

"It won't happen so there is no point in thinking about it," Archer said sternly. Hakuno looked at him confused. Ever since they saw the two Hikari's he had been acting strange and a bit more clingy. Archer wasn't the type for public displays of affection, despite being very affectionate in private. But when he saw Astolfo, after they got back, he kept at least one arm around her.

"Okay, so what do you suggest we do?" Hakuno asked, "I'm pretty sure that if we leave this alone it will eventually drag us into this."

"That is excellent foresight." Hakuno jumped at the new voice. Archer turned towards the doorway as a man in a white rob walks in.

"Who are you?" Archer asked.

"I am the new maintenance manager of the moon cell," the man bowed, "My name is Merlin, it is a pleasure to meet you."

In comes Merlin. Someone smart, or crazy, or both had to come and explain things. It was him or Solomon, I flipped a coin.

I dedicate this chapter to my best friend, who three years ago died today.