The Game is Afoot, I Think
Arturia had been climbing the mountain all day and was breathing heavily both from the exertion and the lack of oxygen. So it was only natural what happened next.
"Save the Kingdom, they said. You're our only hope, they said. Our lives are in your hands, they said. I'm starting to think that they made this whole thing up and are having a laugh at my expense back at the hall. I will so make those bastards pay for this when I'm done with them that they'll live to regret it wishing they hadn't." Arturia grumbled.
"Oh my my, such language is unbefitting a lady, especially one of your stature." A voice announced, informing Arturia that she had reached her destination.
"WHAT!?" Arturia cried, shocked, "Uff, ouch that hurt."
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"You mean she tripped over a rock?" Shirou asked.
"Yes, she did. I could hardly believe it myself. My first visitor in years and she was literally floored by my first impression." Arveia joked.
At this the two laughed for quite some time until they regained composure.
"That is too funny, who would've the thought the famous King of Knights was such a klutz?" Shirou joked.
"I know, shall I continue?" Arveia agreed.
"Please."
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"You know, I've had plenty of people overwhelmed when first meeting me. But I must admit you're the first one to be this awed." A voice joked.
"If you're done making jokes at my expense perhaps you can tell me if you're the dragon who's been devouring the local townsfolk?" Arturia responded.
"Devour? That's not exactly how I would put it." The voice replied.
"So you admit that you're responsible?" Arturia pressed.
"Well, yes after a fashion." The voice admitted.
"What do you mean? Either you killed them or you didn't, which is it?" Arturia asked, quickly losing patience.
"I suppose whoever sent you neglected to mention that these townspeople weren't innocent parties in this." The voice retorted.
"What do you mean?" Arturia asked bemusedly.
"They didn't tell you? The townspeople I supposedly devoured were trying to kill me. You didn't honestly expect me to roll over and die, did you?" The voice defended.
"Well, no but what about the messages you left them. About how you would torch their homes if they didn't pay you tribute?" Arturia asked.
At this Arveia roared angrily.
"IS THAT ALL WE ARE TO YOU? OVERGROWN LIZARDS THAT CAN BE DISTRACTED WITH SHINY BAUBLES AND TRINKETS. I SUPPOSE YOU THINK THAT ALL WE DRAGONS CARE ABOUT ARE HOARDING WORTHLESS PLAYTHINGS! I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO INSULTED IN MY ENTIRE EXISTENCE AND TO THINK I ACTUALLY INTENDED TO LEAVE YOU HUMANS ALONE! OH THE NERVE!" Arveia bellowed as she stomped towards Arturia.
At this she unleashed a gout of flame that forced Arturia to duck but still singed your hair.
"But if you didn't demand tribute then what did you leave that message for?" Arturia asked, a bit shaken.
"I never asked for tribute, I only wanted to be left alone. But no, those stupid humans had to assume that I was after gold, jewels and female virgins! Female virgins? Please, I'm a woman, what the hell am I supposed to do with female virgins, have them clean? If I had them do that I would be sitting around all day with nothing to do and I hate that. I'd be so unbelievably bored especially now that those bloody Saxons finally decided to leave the area alone. But you wretched humans are too stupid to notice that simple fact. What did they think would happen when they finally managed to kill me?" Arveia raged, a bit more calmly this time.
"Wait, you mean you're the reason the Saxons left this area alone? I thought it was because there was nothing out here." Arturia reasoned.
"Nothing except a giant bone munching Dragon that gets really pissed off when you shoot arrows at it. Especially when they don't get it through their thick heads that arrows don't hurt me, they just make me ticked off enough to make you die quicker." Arveia fumed.
"So, you never actually ate anyone? You just defended yourself when attacked?" Arturia asked.
"Do you think we would still be talking if I did?" Arveia asked in return.
"Good point. So you just want to be left alone. I think I may be able to arrange that if you give a formal promise not to eat anyone." Arturia offered.
"I can promise not to eat anyone who doesn't try to kill me." Arveia countered.
"That'll have to suffice. If that is all I shall take my leave." Arturia finished.
"There is one last thing, can you promise that my children won't be harmed?" Arveia requested.
"Children?" Arturia asked.
"Yes, I just laid a clutch of eggs. They are the last of their kind and I'm worried for their safety and so I've been trying to hunt as little as I can to make sure some silly villager doesn't come in and kill them while I'm away." Arveia clarified.
"I'll see to it but you'll need to make sure they don't eat anyone arbitrarily or else even I won't be able to protect them." Arturia agreed.
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"And that was that, Arturia and I managed to work out an agreement." Arveia said, finishing her story.
"How did she manage to convince the townspeople to go along with it?" Shirou asked.
"I can't imagine it was easy but I was made to understand that she had some sort of sword that made her King of Britain. I'll never understand why they called her king when she was so clearly a woman and how a sword could've convinced everyone so easily." Arveia admitted.
"Not everyone can use magic to read minds like you can but as for the sword… I guess the best way to put it is that we humans are stupid like that." Shirou explained.
"It would appear so. Are you hungry? I can make food if you're hungry." Arveia offered.
"I would love some, I'm starving." Shirou accepted.
At this a tray of food appeared right in front of Shirou and he dug in.
"This is delicious, how did you make this?" Shirou asked.
"Oh, good. I was worried that I had some mistake since I had to work off people's minds and we both know how unreliable memories can be." Arveia explained.
"No, I mean how did you make the food appear like that. I didn't think magic let you do that." Shirou gasped.
"You mean you can't do that? I've been able to do it for as long as I can remember. I seem to remember Merlin saying something similar. Perhaps it's a special kind of magic only Dragons can perform? I don't really know since I never really had any parents to teach me magic, so I had to teach myself." Arveia continued.
"No parents? I see, you're like Arturia. No wonder you two got along so well." Shirou mused.
"She didn't have any parents, no wonder she was so depressed." Arveia inserted.
"Not exactly, her father abandoned her because he didn't want to bear the shame of having sired a daughter and not a son who could inherit the throne." Shirou corrected her.
"No wonder. I never met a human whose I mind I didn't enjoy exploring, at least not until I met her that day. I've never peered into such a tortured soul. I hated it, she had so much pain inside her and it was added onto on a daily basis." Arveia pined.
"Tortured? How so?" Shirou asked.
"I've never seen such a lonely soul. Nor have I seen a person who has felt so utterly alone and abandoned. It made me so angry to see what her father had done to her to abandon her like that. I couldn't believe that the bastard told her she was a mistake and that he regretted not killing her when she was born. And to think the bastard didn't even have the common decency to live long enough so I could kill him myself in the most painful way imaginable." Arveia raged.
"No wonder she wanted to redo the selection of the king. She felt that if nothing else she would at least make sure she did that one thing right." Shirou reasoned.
"To be honest, I'm not surprised that she did. The main reason she took that sword was to prove she wasn't a mistake and that she wasn't a failure. That was why it was so painful to look inside her mind, she was so twisted and miserable that it was like eating barbed wire. And to think that after all she sacrificed she still felt that she had failed. She was a fool." Arveia added.
"The first time I tried to tell her that she screamed at me saying, 'I thought you of all people would understand'. After that she looked at me like she hated me, I don't think I ever cried as hard as I did that night short of when she disappeared." Shirou confirmed.
"Disappeared?" Arveia asked, shocked.
"At the end of the last Grail War, we won the Grail but it had been so corrupted and would've unleashed so much misery that we instead decided to destroy it. After that she slowly started to return to her time but she told me she loved me before she left. I don't think being able to keep living was ever harder than that night when I thought I would never see her again." Shirou expanded.
"Well, I'm glad she found you. I always hated that she was so wrapped up in that sword and what it stood for. She was practically married to it and yet it gave her no joy or happiness, instead all she received from it was pain and misery. Yet despite all that she clung to it all the more, destroying herself in the process. But now I can see she lives for you and you alone. I'm glad she finally found someone who truly made her happy. Thank you, Shirou. Thanks to you it is no longer painful to look into her heart." Arveia said gratefully.
"Being with her is reward enough. I hated that she had sacrificed so much and wasn't rewarded for it, that kind of thing doesn't sit well with me." Shirou admitted.
"Me too. She truly loves you, even if she sometimes doesn't show it. Please remember that." Arveia finished.
"I know. But thank you for the reassurance." Shirou said.
"Arveia the Betrayer! I have come for you. Come forth and show yourself as I must speak with you!" An authoritative voice bellowed from the entrance of the cave.
"There is only one person I know that that could be. If you'll excuse me, it appears I am needed." Arveia excused herself.
Shirou nodded as Arveia moved towards the group at the entrance.
"Arturia, a pleasure as always. How are you this fine day?" Arveia asked.
"Dispense with the pleasantries. You know why I'm here." Arturia growled.
"Ah, yes. Did you bring my eggs?" Arveia asked.
"No, I'm here to demand that you release Shirou this instant or face the consequences!" Arturia glowered.
"I'm afraid I can't do that. I said I would only release him once you give back my eggs. I am a Dragon of my word, after all." Arveia countered.
"Then you leave me no choice, I'm afraid. Now we must fight since you refuse to do things the easy way." Arturia ended.
At this she leapt at Arveia's giant form and slashed away with Excalibur.
"Oh, please stop. That tickles." Arveia joked.
"What, but how is that possible? My sword should've been able to tear through those scales with no problem. No matter, I have ways to deal with this little problem." Arturia promised.
With this she drove her sword into the ground, kneeled and started chanting.
Knights of Ages Past, Knights of Kingdoms Lost
I Summon Thee to Fulfill thy Sacred and Holy Oath
You Who Went to Slumbers Long, Are Once Again Needed at Last
Come Forth, Knights of The Round Table to Victory and Defeat Both
At this she lifted her sword and slashed the air behind her where the very air seemed to split apart and the sounds of men in armor could be heard running through it. When the air sealed itself around the disturbance twelve armored Knights were kneeling in front of her.
"What are your orders, My Liege?" They asked in unison.
"Restrain her!" She simply ordered.
They immediately got up and surrounded the confused dragon and drove their swords into the ground. At that point a web of light coalesced above her and settled around her effectively immobilizing her. The Knight stood up at attention as Arturia approached.
"Arveia the Betrayer. By the Authority of my Crown and my right of Kingship, I hereby sentence you to death for the crime of treason. May God have mercy on your soul for I will not." Arturia rang out as she raised her sword to strike.
At this Shirou ran in front of Arveia and protected her with his body.
"Shirou, what do you think you are doing? She kidnapped and nearly tried to kill you." Arturia asked, shocked.
"She was only trying to protect her children. Is that so wrong?" Shirou asked.
"No, but when you hide behind it to justify evil acts, it's no excuse." Arturia retorted.
"She was tricked by Kotomine when he used magic to make her believe that you had her eggs." Shirou shot back.
"What are you saying, human? Do you think I'm some cheap conjurer who can be easily tricked into doing the bidding of anyone with a spell book?" Arveia raged.
"Will you quit it? I'm trying to save your life!" Shirou responded.
"Well, I don't need your help, so don't be stupid!" Arveia countered.
"Shirou, why can't you see it, she is too far gone to be saved. This is the only way, Shirou." Arturia argued.
"You can't know that for sure unless you've tried, can you?" Shirou said.
Arturia appeared to be torn between what she knew needed to be done and Shirou's request.
"Please." Shirou pleaded.
"Oh, Shirou. That is so unfair. You know I can't say no to you. Fine, we'll do it your way." Arturia finally relented, "Rin, can you do anything?"
"Let me have a look." Rin said walking up to a defiantly bound Arveia.
After a few minutes she looked up and shook her head.
"I'm sorry but I have no idea where to start. Kotomine was my teacher after all, he is more skilled than I at this kind of thing." Rin said, "Perhaps Illya may be able to do something but I can't."
"Speaking of which where is she?" Arturia asked.
"I believe she is still at home where we left her. Do you want me to go get her?" The Grail responded.
Arturia nodded and the Grail disappeared in a flash of light and returned a moment later with Illya in a similar fashion.
Illya walked up to Arveia and closed her eyes in concentration for a few minutes.
"Oh, this should be easy. I can't believe he got so sloppy, it's almost like he went of his way to make it more complicated. I think if I neutralize a few parts of the spell it should simply dissipate immediately. Hold on while I do this." Illya assured everyone.
A little time passed as Illya chanted a short phrase and finished a few minutes later.
"There that should do it." Illya said as she walked back, dusting off her hands.
"Arturia Pendragon, what is the meaning of this? First you steal my eggs and now you have this vile homunculus weave some sort of spell. It wouldn't surprise me in the slightest if she placed some curse on me." Arveia raged.
"Watch your tongue. I will not stand to have you talk about Illya in that manner. It was not her choice to be a homunculus. She is one of the sweetest little girls I have ever met." Arturia shot back.
"Save your speeches for someone who actually cares." Arveia spat.
"Illya, shouldn't something have happened?" Arturia asked.
"Just wait, it should be any minute now." Illya assured her, barely able to stop from shouting back at the abuse she was receiving.
"Oh, now you're discussing how much time I have left before that vile curse that wretched homunculus placed on me kills me. That is it! You have crossed the line! Once I get free I will see it to that you…" Arveia began.
At that exact moment a change seemed to come over Arveia as if awakening from a dream.
"Arturia, I seem to be yelling at you for some reason and I have no idea why." Arveia said, her voice softening.
Arturia and Illya exchanged a look. Illya flashed a smile that seemed to say 'wait for it'.
"Oh, I remember it seems you stole my eggs. Wait a minute, that isn't right. You're already dead and yet you're here somehow. Arturia, please tell me what is going on? I'm afraid I might have finally lost my mind." Arveia said in a panicky tone.
"It's alright. It appears that you're back to your old self. As for what happened, well it would probably be best if you remembered on your own." Arturia soothed her.
Arveia seemed to relax at this and was lost in thought as Arturia dismissed her noble phantasm. Finally, there was a look of realization in Arveia's eyes.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. I can't believe I did that to you. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me for trying to kill you. My only excuse is that I was trying to save my children. I hope you'll be able to forgive and understand me when you have children of your own, someday." Arveia broke down.
"I think I understand to some extent and only hope I will have that chance. But can you please tell me what happened?" Arturia asked, her features softening.
"Let's see. I was in my lair after getting back from hunting. I was eating and preparing part of my kill so that when my eggs hatched they would not want for food. I remember a flash of light and there was this oddly dressed man. The only ordinary part of him was the crucifix around his neck, he waved his hand once and my eggs disappeared. I recall that I was about to attack him, and that's it next thing I remember is him telling me you had stolen my eggs. He agreed to help me get them back and we both came here. But how is that possible he is a mere human being, how could he have affected my mind like that?" Arveia explained, her face contorted in confusion.
"He is no mere human being, not anymore." Arturia said.
"You're right, HE'S JUST DINNER! I'M GOING TO KILL THAT BASTARD SO SLOWLY HIS CHILDREN WILL BE BORN MISSING LIMBS! I'M GOING TO GUT HIM, USE HIS INTESTINES AS ROPE TO SUSPEND HIM BY HIS FEET WHILE I SKIN HIM ALIVE! THEN I'M GOING TO ROAST HIM AND THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL I EAT HIM!" Arveia roared as the full picture dawned on her.
"I wouldn't suggest that. He is far more powerful than you can imagine." The Grail cut her off.
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN? I'M A FUCKING DRAGON! WHAT COULD HE POSSIBLY DO THAT WOULD SERVE AS MORE THAN A MINOR HINDERANCE?" Arveia screamed, still not convinced.
"Arveia, please don't throw your life away. Please, as your friend, I implore you to listen to what he has to say before you make your decision." Arturia pleaded with her.
"Why should I? Every moment I delay increases the chance that he will do something to my eggs." Arveia countered angrily.
"That is true but can you please at least try to grasp the whole picture before you charge off to fight him?" Arturia asked.
"You promise that this isn't some trick? You promise that we'll retrieve my eggs after this?" Arveia said, relenting slightly.
"Yes, I promse that we will all help after this." Arturia assured her.
"Oh, all right. but I'm only agreeing to this since you're my friend. I'm trusting you that this isn't some trick or a trap of some sort." Arveia allowed cautiously.
"I understand your misgivings given what happened to you but please just play along for now." Arturia asked as Arveia nodded her agreement.
"Come we should head back to the mansion so we can discuss it at length." The Grail cut in.
"But won't she attract attention? It isn't like Dragons are a common sight around here." Shirou protested.
"That shouldn't be a problem." Arveia replied with a smile.
Shirou looked at her quizzically, not getting it. Arveia gave him a look that said, 'just watch'.
At this moment Arveia seemed to undergo a shrinking of sorts. The Black Dragon started to shrunk and contort slowly. Her claws retracted as her front feet developed fingers. Her back feet started to sprout toes and molded themselves in the shape of normal human feet. Her head slowly compacted and rounded out. Her scales were replaced with pink skin and from the top of head hair sprouted like thin vines. In all the process took a couple minutes. In the dragon's place stood a female teenager that was approximately 18 years old, with black hair, black eyes, wearing a school uniform with black shoes.
Everyone except Arturia and the Grail needed a moment to pick their collective jaws off the floor after the end of this transformation.
Arveia simply chuckled and said, "Now that I've slipped into something more comfortable, let's go."
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