Hi guys Azza here!

So as I said last chapter, this one wouldn't take long to make and it wouldn't be as big as the usual ones but based on the title you can no doubt guess why its here. I'll say nothing more and move straight onto the story.

I do not own Fairy Tail, One Piece or the Nasuverse.

Mordred, Son Of Arthur

/?/

Throughout my life, I always seemed to get the short end of the stick.

I still remember my early years as if they were only yesterday, my Mother teaching me all the things I would need to know to be a successful Knight in the court of my Father.

By age five I was already able to execute all the basic forms a Squire twice my age could. By age seven, I was able to recite the oath to the crown verbatim whilst fighting off young teenagers. By age ten, I was already able to wield blades that not even fully grown men could lift.

I knew I was different. Mother always told me so, every night actually. She told me I was the Son of the great King Arthur and that the blood of Pendragon flowed through my veins. The blood of lineage that would have my destiny as King, or so she believed.

To be honest, back then all I wanted was to meet Father. I'd only ever heard stories of his deeds and myths regarding his power. To know that I was his Son … I was so happy.

At age fourteen, Mother abandoned me at the gates of Camelot where I was taken in by Sir Kay and brought before the King.

When our eyes first met, I swear I saw something other than the blank look everyone else says they saw. The ever so slight dilation of her pupils, the slight movement of her eyelids … I know that our first encounter she knew just who I was.

And yet, she allowed me into her court anyway.

Father was … different, than what I'd expected. Curt, yet warm. Stoic, yet gentle. I could have listened to her speak all day even as she led me to my new quarters in the castle barracks with the other prospective squires.

"This will be where you shall lay your head from now on," the King said in that regal yet gentle tone. "I can tell you've seen combat before; I have high hopes for you in the tests tomorrow."

I still remember that day in the yard, sparring against the other potential Squires. I remember as I expertly beat them all down, my wooden sword breaking over the head of a twenty-year-old man.

Kay was impressed, Agravain too. I still remember when Palamedes looked at me that day and spoke to the King …

"That one there … I do believe you would be most foolish not to accept that one my King, such a display outclasses even your Father in his prime! But how does one so young possess such skill …?"

I wasn't surprised at his question, he was known as the Knight Of Inquiry after all. His power was close to that of Gawain and Galahad in their prime. Always questioning others, even the King.

I still remember that afternoon as I strolled about in the fields outside of Camelot. I had taken some hits and was rather sore so I wanted to be left alone to tend to my wounds. A field of yellow flowers …

It was there that I saw it, the legendary sword in the stone. When not in use, the King placed her first sword, Caliburn, into the stone. Everyone knew why of course; it was to prove her legitimacy.

Throughout her reign she always said that whoever could free Caliburn from the stone aside from herself had the right to the throne. It was what cemented her position as ruler since no one else ever could free it.

I still remember that day, more clearly than others, as I walked toward the stone. I knew Arthur was my Father, I knew his blood ran through my veins and I knew that if I placed my hands upon Caliburn that I would free it from its prison.

But then, just as I had gathered up the courage to try and free Caliburn … HE appeared.

One moment, the field was devoid of human life save for myself and then the petals of the flowers began to blow all around me. At first, I had wondered if it were merely the wind yet that was the moment the Court Mage Merlin appeared before me.

I couldn't believe what I was looking at when he first appeared. He looked less like a man and more like a divine being as his pure white hair and clothing seemed to flow with the wind.

He had that smile on, the one he always has when he knows more than he really should. He looked down upon me with an appraising eye and seemed to find amusement at my very existence. I still remember as he waved his staff over me and that faint bluish light washed over my body.

"Well now, to think that Morgan went as far as to sire a child to challenge Arthur's throne," was Merlin's first response after examining me. "You have potential, oh yes … I can see many futures for one with the blood of both Arthur Pendragon and Morgan Le Fay. The most powerful King and one of the most powerful Mages to ever exist, such a combination!"

"Wh-who are you!?"

"Me? Ah, of course Morgan wouldn't tell you of me or my brilliance! I'm the humble Court Wizard Merlin, little Squireling!"

"I'm not little!"

"Oh yes," Merlin responded with that signature smirk of his. "I know perfectly well just how big you truly are, Mordred Pendragon."

I remember glaring at the Mage, hating him for looking down on me. I remember taking more steps toward the stone where Caliburn lay sheathed. I moved to grab onto the sword when that man spoke once more …

"Are you certain?"

"Huh?"

"Are you certain that you want to do that?"

"What do you mean?"

"Consider this, actually … I know, let's make a lesson of it," Merlin grinned as he stepped up next to the sword in the stone and placed a hand atop the pommel of Caliburn. "Now, you are aware of the legend of Arthur drawing the sword from the stone?"

"Obviously."

"Ahahaha! Of course you are, but it is still necessary to ensure you understand it regardless. After the death of King Uther, our beloved realm was left without a leader and so a method was devised to find the one most worthy to rule. Obviously, the method was drawing Caliburn and the one most worthy was Arthur."

"Get to the point already," I remember huffing as the Mage Of Flowers simply laughed cheerily at my response.

"Tell me Mordred, what would happen if you drew the sword from the stone as you are now? You, a fourteen-year-old, drawing the sword of selection from the stone?"

"It would prove my legitimacy to the throne!"

"Indeed, that is what would theoretically happen," Merlin replied casually which prompted me to cock my head to the side in confusion. "But consider the consequences of such an act, the more negative ones."

"Negative …?"

"Remember that in order to legitimise Arthur's claim, they had to be the only one capable of drawing the blade from the stone. Now what do you think would happen if the people found out a fourteen-year-old who had no claim to fame was able to perform the same feat?"

I remember the conflicting emotions I'd felt in that moment as the reality of what Merlin had said sunk in. I couldn't attempt to draw the blade lest I destroy Father's claim on the throne and plunge our home into ruin.

I remember at that moment; Arthur walked past me and easily drew the blade from the stone before addressing Merlin. The Mage simply bowed dramatically and vanished in a swirl of flowers as the King turned and looked down upon me.

I felt the judging gaze bore into me as the King seemingly decided what to do with me. It was obvious that I could do it, they both knew that. It was that moment that led to what would send me down the dark path …

She disowned me.

From that day forward, my love for Father waned and swelled into hatred. By the end, I no longer cared about what would become of the Kingdom or of my Brothers in arms in the Round.

All I wanted … was to kill Father.

Even in death as a Servant, all I existed for was to fight and slay Father. My hatred stretched across timelines and realities as I fought and lost countless Grail Wars in the hope that just ONE would grant me another shot at slaying Father.

But then, I found him.

My last Master, Natsu.

He was the first Master who did not use a catalyst to summon me. The strings of Fate tied us together from the beginning! We got along well and he always supported me just as I supported him.

We were a great team …

I loved him.

I never even told him that in the entire time we were romantically involved together, not once. I was still far too prideful to admit something like that, or perhaps embarrassed would be a better term.

I wish I could see him again, turn back time so that I could return and fight alongside him!

But I can't … I died, I lost and ended up back here once again …

To the cursed Throne Of Heroes …

/?/

Mordred's eyes slowly opened to a blinding sun, forcing her to cover her eyes with her right hand as she slowly rose into a sitting position. Her dazed state quickly started to ebb away as the reality of where she was began to set in.

"No …"

She wanted to scream, wanted to cry, wanted to do something to dispel this place. She didn't want to be here; she didn't want to be in this cursed field!

She wanted to be back at Marineford, alongside Natsu.

Slowly getting to her feet she saw the small wooden cottage once again, sat right in the middle of a field of white and purple flowers. The field continued on until the flowers turned bright yellow around a single stone propped up atop a hill.

Mordred was about to shout, knowing full well that she'd been pulled back into her own personal hell when something shifted next to the rock. She blinked owlishly at the movement and realized that the rock was slightly bigger than usual.

Taking off at a sprint, Mordred ran through the field and up the hill only to drop to her knees and skid to a stop several metres before the rock.

"What …"

"Long time no see," the figure smirked as they turned to face her. "You look pretty shit right now, though I'm not surprised."

"H-how can you be here," Mordred whispered as she crawled on all fours over to the figure who simply grinned in response.

"Seems like you've been making moves out there Mordred, finally got the attention of something that can actually make a damn difference. That Merlin guy is supposed to be here for things like this but as you know he's in the Four Blues right now so the Counter Force decided to drum me up instead to help you. Kind of ironic, me being brought back from the dead, eh!?"

Mordred couldn't help but laugh, even as tears began to fall from her eyes as she crawled the rest of the way over to the man and gave him a solid hug.

"Oi!? You really have gone soft with Dragneel, haven't you!"

"Shut up, moron," Mordred laughed as the man pried her off of him. "I never thought I'd see you again!"

"Ditto. But hey, that's Fate for you I suppose," the man replied as he reached into his pocket and grinned. "Shit, Counter Force even set me up with my favourite brand for this! Now that's what I call a proper temporary manifestation!"

"Not that I'm not happy to see you or anything … but why exactly are you here," Mordred asked in confusion as the man lit his cigarette and took a drag. "You said the Counter Force called you here because Merlin was unavailable … right?"

"Yep."

"Why?"

"Like I said just now, you've been making moves down there Mordred," the man grinned as he ruffled her hair affectionately before being swatted away. "You've changed, I can tell just by taking one look at you that you aren't the same Mordred I summoned during the Romanian Grail War."

"Yeah … well … I've been through a lot and seen and experienced things I never thought possible. I've fought so many people who couldn't have existed in our own world and even fought alongside Father and the Round again!"

"You've come into your own Mordred, that's why I'm here," the man said as he leant up against the stone. "I don't have forever to stay and catch up though so I've kind of got to get to the point of all this, you understand?"

"Yeah," Mordred sighed as the man took another drag from his cigarette. "I get it."

"So," the man continued as he placed a hand upon the rock. "You managed to gain the trust of Clarent during the Realis Grail War by letting go of your hatred of Arthur and embracing what it means to become a legitimate King, right?"

"I remember doing that during my fight with Alphonse. Even though I was able to work alongside Father before then, I always felt the urge to fight them regardless. But after that point … I lost my desire to do it."

"Why?"

"Because Natsu showed me that fighting to protect was a better way to live than to fight for vengeance and destruction. It has its place, but my entire being was consumed by it and I'd become something truly horrific …"

"So, tell me then," the man said in a less friendly and casual tone. "If I could give you the power of a Holy Grail and you could wish for anything right now, literally anything you could possibly conceive, what would you wish for?"

"To be back by Natsu's side," Mordred replied automatically prompting the man to grin and take another drag of his cigarette before bursting out laughing. "What's so funny!?"

"Nothing, its just that you didn't even need to think for a moment," the man continued to laugh which had Mordred fighting off a blush of embarrassment. "The old you would've said that about killing Arthur but I guess I should admire your dedication anyway!"

"Sh-shut up!"

"Anyway, that's a good answer," the man grinned as he slowly rose to his feet. "Makes this next part easier."

Mordred suddenly found herself yanked to her feet by the man as he pointed out toward Camelot Castle in the distance.

"What?"

"Go."

"Huh?"

"I know you hate this place but trust me, just go."

"What about you though," Mordred asked in confusion as the man turned into a bright golden light.

"I get the express treatment, scrub!"

Mordred gaped as the small ball of golden light shot off toward the castle. Her shock soon gave way to anger as she chased after it, shouting all the curses she knew at the hard headed former Master.

She quickly reached the ruined castle and charged inside after the golden light. Eventually, she realized that the path she was taking lead to the throne room and her suspicions were proven correct moments later as the once again human form of her former Master stood at the closed doors to the throne room.

"What took you so long?"

"Shut up you big bastard! What's the big idea dragging me here!?"

"Remember the question I asked earlier Mordred, about what you'd wish for if you had a Grail right in front of you?"

"Yeah …"

"I have one last question, then you'll understand what's going on. I promise you."

Mordred looked at the face of her former Master, his eyes obscured by his black sunglasses but his other features clearly displaying his relaxed demeanour. She knew he wasn't screwing with her on this and so, she nodded.

"Good. "Now, tell me the answer to this. What kind of King do you want to be Mordred?"

"Huh?"

"You've seen all kinds of rulers across your journey. You've seen the Five Kage, you've seen the Celestial Dragons, you've seen other Heroic Spirits who were once Kings and you've seen other important leaders across the two worlds. Tell me, after seeing all of them and experiencing what life was like under them … What kind of King would you be?"

Mordred looked down at her feet as she pondered the question. She thought back on her experiences first in the Elemental Nations and their leaders.

She thought about Tsunade first since she was the first leader she really got a feel for. She was able to be tough, but was ultimately easily influenced which led to issues for the village later on down the line.

She didn't reign in rogue shinobi under her command when they went off and did whatever they wanted, she didn't put a case forward to have Sasuke executed for abandoning the village and she didn't do anything to rid the Shinobi Council of its corruption.

But she was still a decent leader, focusing her efforts on the Medical Core, aiding in the redesign of the village and taking a leadership role during the Fourth Great Ninja War. She had her faults, but was still decent.

She then thought of the rulers of the world she had recently been to, the Celestia Dragons. They were the epitome of scum as they toyed with their world and tossed more money around than some would see in ten lifetimes for fun.

They were the absolute worst example of what a leader should be. She would never condone trash like them.

She then thought of her Father and almost immediately moved past that time. She knew that her Father was nearly perfect save for a few key areas and it needed no reflection.

After several tense minutes, Mordred looked back up toward the man who grinned as if he already knew her answer.

"So?"

"I know what kind of King I'd be," Mordred nodded as she placed her hands on the door and opened them.

A blinding golden light shattered reality around them leaving Mordred and the man to stand in a completely golden space save for one small altar. Atop the altar was a crown, one worn by an all too familiar figure.

"This is …"

"Mordred," the man cut in as he vanished and appeared atop the altar. "You stand at a crossroads now. Don this crown and you create a new possibility, becoming King as you always desired."

"Become … King …"

"Yeah. But in exchange you'll also become a separate existence," the man warned as Mordred froze on the spot.

"What do you mean by that?"

"There must always be Mordred, Knight Of Treachery," the man explained as an image of herself fighting Artoria appeared in the golden light. "If you put on this crown, you will no longer be Mordred Knight Of Treachery, but instead you'll become King Of Britannia and all of history will change as a result. In essence, your ascension will create an alternate future."

"So … I put on the crown and continue to exist, but another version of the me right now is created?"

"Yeah. Think of it like how there is the Lancer version of your Father who is much older and has massive tits and the Saber one that looks more like a teen or girl in her early twenties with much smaller tits."

"…"

"Look, I had to reference the tits at some point, you know me," the man grinned unashamedly prompting Mordred to shake her head and sigh.

"So basically, if I decide to put this crown on, I'll become someone else?"

"You'll still be you, the exact you who is here right now," the man replied quickly. "But a Mordred who hasn't been what you've been through will be left behind to take your place. A Mordred who just wants to fight and kill Arthur in the same way you used to."

"I see …"

"So, you've got to ask yourself this simple question Mordred," the man said as he moved out of the way of the crown with Mordred stepping up the altar to stand before it. "Do you want to find out what kind of King you truly are? Do you want to take this one single chance, despite knowing that you could see yourself fail?"

Mordred looked down at the crown and picked it up, examining it closely. This was the same crown Lancer Artoria wore but with slight modifications to it. The centre now had an emerald which held a golden light within its core though what its purpose was she had not a clue.

Unless she put it on …

But this was a second chance, a chance to truly atone and become something beyond her Father. She could potentially become anything once she puts on the crown so should she do it?

Closing her eyes and holding her breath, Mordred quickly placed the crown atop her head as a loud bell began to toll all around them. Opening her eyes, Mordred could see the space they occupied was beginning to crumble.

"Don't worry, this is what was meant to happen."

"Now what," Mordred asked as the world rapidly started fading away. "Where do I go from here!?"

"You'll go where you feel like Mordred," the man grinned as he pulled out his pack of cigarettes and lit one, taking a drag before looking over at the shocked Servant. "Here, for old times' sake."

Offering Mordred one, she took it but made no move to smoke it prompting the man to laugh as he started to fade away into particles of golden light.

"One last thing before I go," the man chuckled as he took off his sunglasses to look her directly in the eye.

"What?"

"Was it fun?"

Mordred's eyes widened as the man grinned back at her, his body fading away rapidly which brought more tears to her eyes.

"Yeah … I never wanted it to end!"

"Ah … I'm glad."

The man vanished as Mordred felt her own body begin to break down into the golden particles of light. She felt herself losing consciousness but not before feeling a hand on her now non-existent back push her forward into the centre of the golden light.

Now its your time, Mordred. Show me that it wasn't just all talk. Let's see just what kind of King you can truly be.

As Mordred's place upon the Throne collapsed in on itself, two more formed in its place. One was an identical replica where a cocky Knight Of Rebellion manifested and the other …

Well, this one was a bit more complex.

Hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you in the next one!