Chapter 8

This is a dream, my servants dream. Ardrice knew that he was dreaming after he felt the same familiar calm warm wind, softly brushed his skin. The wind lingered for a little while as he opened his eyes. He was sitting on a wooden bench along a wide corridor that over look on an enclosed courtyard. He looked to his right and saw the Royal Banner of the kingdom of Thundera, hanging on a pillar. He only sat on the bench and tried to get more bearings to his surroundings.

"There seem to be a problem with Planet Sondura." A deep voice of man echoed from Ardrice's left. The boy looked and caught the familiar sight of Lion-O, in his old form.

"Oh Lion-O is here…hmm?" he stopped after he saw his servant's face. Lion-O was frowning, he must've a bad sleep or he was receiving a bad news from the man that was trailing closely behind him. That was the boy's conclusion as he observed the second man.

The second man was a bit taller than Lion-O. He was wearing a green cloak, that covered his entire muscular body, held by a large red jewel on his chest. A large sharp pointed, green colored Mitre hat that was adorned with lots shiny jewels was on his head. The symbol of thundercats was etched on the middle green jewel and it shimmered brightly to Ardrice.

"I know the problem, Tygra." Lion-O said and stopped in front of Ardrice, his back turn to him, the king looked down to the courtyard and the boy stood up and moved beside him.

What's he looking down there-Leonis? Ardrice paused as he watched the young prince Leonis, now in his teenage years, swung a large wooden sword. He was only wearing a dirty white pants, beads of sweat ran down his well-toned upper torso and he was surrounded by a group of ten Thunderian soldiers. "Whoa…" Leonis you aged like damn fine cheese. Ardrice smirk and watched Leonis who then slashed the wooden sword up, forcefully gashing the soldier. He then twirled, twisting his sword with his right hand, and gashed the neck of a second soldier, downing him.

"Cool…"

"Like I said, Tygra my brother dear, we will response with full force." Ardrice glanced to his left and landed his eyes to the second man, Lion-O's brother. The second man possessed an orange fur with black stripes, the thunderian wasn't a lion but a Tiger.

"Eh, wait a second, Lion-O's brother is a…tiger? I'm confused here." Ardrice stared hard at the tiger Thunderian. Tygra-O, just like his namesake was a tiger and definitely not Lion-O's real brother which could only mean one thing. He's adopted…oh. The boy thought but then he quickly dropped it and listened to their conversation more with interest in his eyes.

"The Planet Sondura, home of the tribe of Owlunion…who would've thought that, after giving them a planet, they will betray me by hiding Mumm-Ra Fanatics and Sympathizers." Lion-O's voice slowly became enraged, his eyes became cold and unfeeling.

His look made Ardrice took a step back. His eyes…those eyes…they're the same. Cold sweat formed in his head and his hear beat intensely.

Tygra-O didn't responded immediately, he made a smirk and looked down on the courtyard. "And, are you still planning to send Leonis in there?"

"Yes. The boy needs to learn more about the next enemy." Oh boy…why do I get a feeling something was about to go wrong. Ardrice gulped down for he a feeling of doom filled his insides.

Tygra-O's smirk disappeared and formed a darkened frown. "So you're serious of firing that thing on Sondura huh?"

Lion-O shifted his head and bore his hardened eyes at his adoptive brother. "Yes. All who sympathized Mumm-Ra should be dealt by a deadly blow." He looked up to the sky and gazed apathetically at something. Ardrice followed his eyes and saw something, jotting out form the sky.

Is that…Lion-O's sword? The boy saw what seemed to looked like Lion-O's sword, floating in the sky. But it startled him. Based from where he was standing and the distance of the floating sword on the sky, it must've been large. So large.

"The Sword of the Unknown…who would've thought that you'd reached the Root and made a bargain with it." Tygra rested his hands on the rails, his tone become somber as he revel at the sight of the satellite weapon sword.

"The Root had specifically forged it from the Reverse side of the world. The book of Omens contains the Sixth Magic, and it made me reach the Root." Lion-O answered bluntly while he watched Leonis curved his sword gracefully on the courtyard. "The Sword of the Unknown was powered by the 13th Magic…which I don't know of." The King added and beamed a tranquil smile. Leonis saw them and he waved his hands excitedly at the two. Lion-O waved his right hand, greeting his son, together with Tygra-O whose face changed into a peaceful expression.

"You know Lion-O. I don't know what magic you've witnessed from the Book of Omens…but you've to stop sometimes." He said as his tone becomes calm.

Lion-O's face softened, he understood what his brother was saying to him. The book of omens, it helped him before, but now he felt that he was being overwhelmed by its force. He felt its power was slowly growing and consuming him.

"Yes. But I don't want to stop." His brothers face turned into plain, disappointed, one but the King ignored him. "I need to defeat evil. Mumm-Ra may be gone…but his shadow still lingers all over the world. That is what I asked of the Root." A mild shocked expression formed in Tygra-O, do you even know where you're going with this, brother? The question formed in his mind but he only formed a frown and tightened his lips.

"No, asked him that. This is wrong." Ardrice however understood Tygra-O's expression. He too was concerned for his servant. He shifted his gazed at the satellite weapon sword. "Why do I get the feeling of doom around it?"

It was supposedly a thought yet he spoke the words with a worrying tone.

Emerald Sky Homes – Ardrice's unit

Ardrice woke up to the reality. His sleep which was supposed to be peaceful, had made him tired and weary already. He pulled himself up and sighed deeply. The dream was too heavy for him, he had seen things that he needed to discuss with his servant, especially regarding the Root. How did he reached the root?

The Swirl of the Root, as far as the history of the Holy Grail Battle Royale, was the source of everything in the universe. The purpose of this bloody Battle Royale was too reach the swirl of the Root. According to history of magic, a magus who reached the Root could gain a power equivalent that of God…or could become God. However he hadn't heard of anyone reaching the Root or what it looks like.

Ardrice walked without sound outside his room. He observed for the sound of his servant, moving around. He found his servant in the dining room, sitting on a chair, and surfing the laptop. He was wearing a white tight shirt that and glasses. He turned around and smile, "Good morning Master."

"Good morning too, Lion-O." Ardrice smiled, hiding his anxiousness. He's Lion-O, your servant and he's a good guy. He had a son for Pete sake! He only stood there, unsure of his servant's true nature. His eyes were firmed and he moved with timid posture.

"What's up, your heartbeat is racing."

Ardrice stopped and cast a strained look at Lion-O. "Did you reach the Root, Lion-O?" and then he spoke to him with shaking voice. Seconds of silence enveloped the two. The boy watched Lion-O's face slowly shifted, from a jovial smile to a dull expressionless one. The master gulped down, nervous to his servant's eyes which became cold and lifeless. The King servant removed his glass and rested his back on the chair and then looked again at Ardrice.

"Yes, I did." He answered but in a defeated voice, making Ardrice questioned his reaction. He's expecting me to asked that. Lion-O must've been waiting for his master to see that part of his memory, because the King slowly formed his lips to an apologetic smile.

"I was going to tell you, but I know you'll have more questions by then." Lion-O closed his laptop and took a sip of his green tea. "I had, indeed, seen the Swirl of the Root. I also said my wish to the Root." Ardrice knew his servants wish. He relaxed himself a bit and sighed deeply.

"Then…that sword of the unknown…what exactly is it, is it true that it was formed from the 'Reversed side of the World'?" It was said that a world has many counterpart versions and dimensions. The Reverse Side of the World was another layer or dimension governed by the laws of the Age of the Gods. It was said that only Phantasmal beings, or Divine Spirits, reside within it. And since only such beings thrived in that world, it was filled with infinite amounts of raw magic.

Lion-O sat in silence, his gaze to his master become contemplative. "It's a satellite that the Root had created out of my wish. And it became a symbol of good, evil was driven away by its power." He explained in an informative way and sipped his green tea.

Oh, so it was good. Damn my paranoid mind. Why did I ever doubt Lion-O? I slept with him for god sake! Ardrice let out a dissatisfied sigh, startling his servant. "Uh…did I satisfy you with my answer?" he asked in an inquiring manner but the master only shook his head wildly.

"Yes, I'm satisfied! It's just that your dreams are too heavy, my mind was always in a daze whenever your dreams enter me."

"Oh and I thought I was the only heavy thing that entered you." Hmm? It took a full minute before Ardrice realized what his servant meant. He gasped in shock and his face exploded into red, making Lion-O chuckled lightly.

"I-In any case, we should go back to our mission." Ardrice jittered as he stood up and opened the fridge. "We should prepare ourselves, Rider's defeat must've made every Masters noticed us." They now know that I, the 8th Master, killed a master the Master thought of that. There hasn't been a casualty yet, ever since the war started, before he killed the Rider's Master which could only mean that Ardrice and Lion-O got the first kill in this war.

It made Ardrice grin, devilishly. "Hohoho, we're currently the star of the show." He chuckled in a deviant way and Lion-O watched him with a worried look. "Which could mean…we're currently the number one target too. All eyes are on us." He said apprehensively, and curled his lips down. The master realized that too. He groaned hard and slumped down his seat.

"Oh damn, you're right."

Homurahara Academy – Class 2-C

"Dear class," Ardrice glanced up, from his book and saw their Adviser, Fujimura-sensei, standing in front of the class. Her face cast a colorful smile but her eyes were downcast. "I'm sure you've all heard about our classmate, Shinji Matou." She began her tone was calm and gentle, contrasting to her energetic and jovial attitude.

The atmosphere inside the class room darkened and become heavy. The students were all looking down, some even shed a tear, sadness reign around as they all mourned to their departed classmate. All of them looked to the desk of Shinji where a slim glass vase, with a single white flower, stood with solemn and grieving eyes, except the young prince and his friend.

He attacked me first, there's no why I should be sad for him Ardrice stated plainly and made a cautios glanced at Lion-O. The servant in human form lowered his head in respect. Despite Shinji's attempt to kill them he was still a human being and he faced them without fear or reserved. The master maybe rejoicing but the Lion King servant sat in silence and mentally uttered a Thunderian prayer.

Well lunch time. Ardrice closed his notebook and sighed, in an exhausted manner. The class was finished and the bell outside rang, signaling everyone that it was already lunchbreak. He stood up and stretched his body a little. "Say, Leonis are you going to buy something at the canteen?"

"Yeah, let's go together ok." Leonis smiled as Ardrice fixed his bag on his chair. He turned around and noticed a person. "Hmm, whose that again?" the young prince's eyes caught a girl, standing up from her seat. Her purple hair rustled after she fixed it with her left hand. Her eyes were purple too, and were downcast and sad.

"Sakura, its ok." A girl sitting beside her comfort her but the girl named Sakura only nodded her head and walked away. Pretty Ardrice observed her and the servant also noticed the girl. "That's Sakura Matou…Shinji's sister." The young prince stared at her, his eyes became stern and cold. No, Shinji challenged me, and there's nothing personal in the Holy Grail war.

Rooftop

Ardrice climbed up the stairs while carrying his lunch. He was looking on his phone, reading an important message back from his homeland. "Hmm should I ask Oswald for more support?" his servant, trailing behind him, was looking at his lunch with a gleeful smile. Tuna and Salmon sandwich! He gulped down in hunger but then he stopped immediately, almost bumping his master.

"Ardrice?"

"Ah, Sakura-san?" Ardrice stood in front of the rooftop's door after he caught the sight of the same sad girl. She too looked at him, her eyes were red from crying and has eyebags underneath. She hadn't slept for quite a while because of her brother's death.

"Uh, Sir Ardrice."

"No, Ardie is fine. I'm your classmate…are you ok?" the young prince cast a concerned smile and it made Sakura closed her eyes, a flash of an anguish expression showed on her face, but she only sighed and replied.

"I'm ok. It's just that, my brother's death had affected my family." Of course they should, the Matou's are out of the game now. Ardrice thought with uncaring feeling but he retained his condoling and caring appearance. "Don't worry Sakura. Even thought I am not in position to tell you that everything will be alright, I at least could tell you, that I'm always here to lend you my support." The young prince showed his right hand to her. Sakura, startled to what he said, hesitated at first before she shook his hand.

She cast a graceful smile at the young prince. "Thank you, Ardie-san." Her tone was happy, she was grateful to his support. The girl made a simple bow at them two and then left.

Ardrice watched her receding back and just as soon she turned around a corner and disappear from his sight, he snorted in an irate manner. "Damn, I should watch out for her. Who could have known that she has a strong magic circuit like Tohsaka."

Lion-O only nodded in silence at Ardrice. His face formed into solemn as he was saddened by Sakura's grievance. Shinji has a sister. He followed Ardrice with the thought hanging in his head.

"We're here!" Ardrice said excitedly but the only reply that he had received was a dark look from Rin and a depairing eyes from Shirou. The girl was standing in front of the boy and the two were locked on a heavy discussion before they arrived. The young prince noticed their cold response and quickly erased his smile away.

"What's wrong."

"Shinji was killed. Who would've thought he was Rider's Master." Rin crossed her arms over her chest and stared at Lion-O. Shirou clasped both his hands below his chin and curled down as he mourned the passing of Shinji. "Shinji is mean to me, to his sister and to most of us. But he…was a also my best friend before."

The young prince darted his eyes to him. His eyes widened in shock to Shirou's revelation but he only stood in silence and bit his lower lip. "The last time I saw him he revealed to me that he was Rider's Master. He asked me and Rin to form an alliance. I would've agreed but…the purpose of the alliance was to defeat you and Lion-O." Shirou said and it made Lion-O gulped, fear showed in his eyes as an uneasy feeling formed and nudged the pit of his stomach.

The young prince clenched his right fist tightly, his knuckles turning white. "Do you've something to say, Ardrice?" he gasped as Rin's voice called him after she noticed his reaction.

Rin's face formed into a frown, suspicious to his action. What the hell, what will I lose anyway. The young prince clicked his tongue and looked down to the ground.

"Yes. I'm the one who killed him."

Ardrice tone was plan and hard-hearted. The wind blew hard, carrying his voice away, but it was enough for the two people to hear him. Now it was Rin's turn to be shocked at the revelation, Shirou's eyes widened, his face cast a wave of expression shifting from shock to confusion. Shinji's killer was just standing a meter away from them.

"Why…?" it was Shirou who asked him first. His tone was jittery as fear overtook him.

"It's because he challenged me. He thought Lion-O was a weak servant and so I gave him a lesson or two." Ardrice scoffed and answered him callously. He crossed his arms and looked to his left, from the eyes of Shirou that was slowly changing into an enraged one.

"That man is stupid, oh well the Matou mage family is dead anyway-"

"You son of a bitch!" the young prince's words were cut by a swift jab from Shirou's left hand. He was pushed with force but Lion-O immediately caught him by his back.

"Shinji is my friend and Sakura's brother, why would you kill him!?" Shirou's words roared and were filled with hatred. How could this man talk casually with a smile after he killed a person, that was what Shirou was thinking right now and it angered him more.

"Shirou stop! You can't hurt him, he's a prince-"

"I don't care! If I have to send his decapitated head back to his homeland then I will!" Rin stood in front of him and tried to push Shirou away form Ardrice but due to her small body she was completely overwhelmed.

"Are you alright, Ardrice?" Lion-O asked as he helped his master to stand up. The young royal prince brushed the dust off his uniform and let out a pained sigh. "I'm so sorry, Shirou. But this is Holy Grail War. Either you kill or be killed, you have to fight." He said with unsympathetic voice and it enraged Shirou more.

"Damn this war, then let's kill each other now!"

"Can you do it then, Shirou?" Ardrice cast an angry frown, his eyes were lit up with fury, as he taunted the Master of the Saber-class. "Killing a royal family member in cold-blood would make you a terrorist. Are you willing to be chased by the Interpol until the end of time?" Shirou then stopped moving and only let out a growl. His words were right and threatening but he still couldn't forgive him for what he'd done.

Damn it, why is he so uncaring!? The boy cursed him and turned his back away from him.

Ardrice only stood in silence and watched the brooding boy. He could feel his rage slowly burning away. He insulted me and my family…I shouldn't feel guilty about this. A dreaded guilt poured his inside. Shinji challenged him, the boy threw insulting names at him, he shouldn't feel ashamed for what he had done…and yet a bitter a shameful frown formed in his lips.

"Shit…" he cursed softly, inaudible to the two but not to Lion-O. Master…Lion-O saw his face and didn't react more.

"Rin, me and my Master didn't mean to kill Shinji." Lion-O spoke and looked at them with amicable eyes. "Not just he insulted my Master, he also attempted to kill both of us with Rider's Noble Phantasm, Bellerophon. " Shirou also turned to him, startled to what he said. What Shinji did that? He wasn't expecting his former best friend to resort to attempted murder. This was new to him.

"He was desperate to win and I only protected my Master. However my Master's rage got a better of him…" he paused and saw Rin's eyes shifted into an understanding one.

"It must've been hard to have a gruesome family…Ardie." She spoke softly to Ardrice. She understood everything and got a clear picture on Shinji's last moment. Truly it was indeed insulting to be degraded by someone.

Ardrice noticed her consoling voice and he gnashed his teeth hard. "Hard…is a kind description to my life," he slowly cast a dark glare at Rin. "Unlike you, who has a loving family, no one gives a damn about me. My Father and Mother didn't love me. They only saw me as their successor to their magecraft. Every day, I was thought of nothing except our damn craft!" Yes, I lost my childhood due to magic… he eyed the two with bitterness. "So I'm sorry for not being sorry on killing Shinji, that man deserves to die." Shirou clenched his fist in anger, fury slowly rose inside of him. However Rin grabbed his right hand landed her blue eyes at him, signaling him to stop.

"We understand Ardrice. Lunch time is almost over, we'll discuss later ok?" she shot a glare at Ardrice and the boy only snorted in irate. "Whatever…" the royal prince said weakly as the two walked away. Lion-O watched their back and as soon as they entered the doorway and disappeared he glanced back at his Master.

"I'm sorry Lion-O. I know you're angry too, for I badmouth Shinji."

Master… "Yes, I am a little bit." It wasn't in Lion-O's nature to insult the dead so during the confrontation he only stood in bitter silence. Now it was his turn to say something against his Master.

"No matter what Shinji had said, you shouldn't degrade him further." His left caressed his Master's right cheek, he pulled him closer to him and cast his sad blue green -teal eyes. "Let the dead man rest. You will be worse than Shinji if you let your anger consume you. Trust me on that." He said in a begging tone.

Ardrice only replied with silence and a heavy sigh escaping his lips. I am not expecting my day to be like this. He thought bitterly as he hug his Servant and buried his face on his chest.

Class 2-C afternoon

"Bye, Ardie!" a girl student waved good bye to Ardrice and the young prince smiled and waved back at them. The class was already dismissed, students all over the campus were walking out of the school towards to their home. However this afternoon Ardrice was incharge of class room cleaning.

Oh well, it's not that I don't know how to clean but…the young prince sighed in a defeated manner and just accepted his duties.

"And that's the last of it." Lion-O pushed the desk and chair in front of him and stretched his back. He too was stuck on cleaning duties with Ardrice and he didn't also mind. "Ardie, I'm already done here. Shall I wait for you outside."

"No, you can go home first I still need to clean the chalk bin. I can call back the limo for me." Ardrice cast a wide smile at his servant. Lion-O replied with a nod and took his bag. He exited the class room and just as he round the corner his eyes change back into a thunderian form. Going to point B.

"Ok…I'm done now." Ardrice rolled his right shoulder and smile in relief as some tension of muscle disappear. He was done cleaning now and he was preparing to leave. The boy turned around and accidentally cast his eyes at Shinji's desk. The vase was still half full of water, the white rose shimmered freshly.

"Shinji…you're a piece of shit. But I'm sorry." Ardrice's pensive voice echoed throughout the room. And silence only greeted him. He moved his black bag, slapped with his right hand, and carried it on his left. He walked out side and closed the door but he stopped suddenly. On the end of the hall, he caught Rin and Shirou standing and were looking at him.

Oh right, the discussion earlier hasn't ended yet. "So what do you want?" he asked in a weighty voice. The two magus looked at each other before Shirou spoke. "Ardrice, we challenged you into a Mage's duel, if we win you'll join us and if you win you can do whatever you want." Ardrice blinked, he was bewildered to what he said. He thought he was already hated by the two.

"Heh? Ok then I accept-"

"One condition," Rin cut his words as she moved forward. "If you join us, you'll never kill a Master again." Her words were icy and clear. The Young Prince sensed a growing power within her. He reached for his phone on his pocket before he spoke. "Tohsaka, don't tell me you don't want to kill Masters in this war?"

"Yes. And if you're going to escape right now, don't. Our servants will apprehend Lion-O. Like us, you're not allowed to call your servant." The young prince bear his stiff eyes, his face formed a serious look which then change into a malevolent grin.

"Fine. I accept, but first…can I have a drink?" Rin didn't answer and Shirou watched as Ardrice took out a bottle of Jack Daniel's Whiskey. He opened it and raised the bottle to his lips.

"You're brought a liquor to school!"

"Shirou, mate. I'm half Irish, we always have liquor in our bag." Ardrice laughed as Rin clicked her tongue in dismay.

"Don't turn this fight into a joke-!"

"Alchemy form no. 2: Icicle burst!" Ardirce waved the bottle, throwing its contents all over the hallway. The liquid whiskey quickly morphed into sharp icicles in mid air and then shoot towards the two.

"Get down!" Rin and Shirou managed to jump to their sides, avoiding ten thin brown icicles that shattered after hitting the wall behind them.

Shit I forgot. Ardrice's thaumaturgy is advance alchemy conversion. "Run!" Rin commanded as the two quickly took off and descended to the stairs. Ardrice was still showing a grin, the boy walked while his right hand clasped the half-full whiskey bottle. "Ready or not, here I come." He said and laughed in maniacal way.

Emiya's Residence

Saber, the sword wielding servant, silently sat on the floor of Shirou's hallway that overlooks to a wide courtyard. She had been sitting in there for the past few hours right after her master left for his school. Her face emit a dignified aura and since the girl king's eyes were closed, her other senses were running high. She was making sure her master's house was safe and alright.

"Hmm, a presence?" her eyes opened. She sensed a high amount of energy in front of the face, to be precise by the gate.

DING-DONG*

The doorbell disturbed her senses but the girl's face was firm. It wasn't her master for sure. Shirou would never ring his house's doorbell. Saber walked and reached the front door and, preparing herself for an attack she changed back to her armored skirt and blue royal clothes, slide the door open.

"Who are you?" Saber's hard eyes landed on a man, wearing the same uniform as Shirou. His red spiky hair gave his true identity to her. "Lion-O?"

"Ye-yeah." Lion-O said as he change into original appearance. He cast a questioning look at Saber's stance. Is she expecting me to be here? "You…look lively." The Lion-King smiled, praising the saber servant who only nodded at him. Her serious face didn't change a bit.

"What are you doing here?"

"I was hoping you could invite me inside, let's have tea together while we wait our Master's here." Wait our masters? As far as she knows, Shirou didn't tell her about having any visitors today. Her senses suddenly surged up again, a flowing and growing mana swept passed underneath her and it slid to the servant standing in front of her.

"What do you mean by that?" she asked again, her right hand held tightly to his invisible weapon.

"Like I said," Lion-O took a step across the gate, while still showing a peaceful smile. "We should wait our Masters here while they fight with each other, back in the school." His rigid eyes cautiously stared at the invisible sword of the Saber. He then looked to his left, towards the roof of the house.

"You too…Archer. I'm pretty sure you're cold up there." A soft sound of a metallic boots hitting the ground, reverberated around the courtyard. The Red Archer burst and bear his cold eyes at Lion-O.

"Hmph, I was a fool for trying to hide from a cat."

"Its Lion to you, strange bowman." Lion-O corrected him with a small displeased frown, his tone hid a hint of malice and dislike. "So then…shall we have tea?" he invited again the two. His smile however this time, was wide and devilish.

Dislcaimer: I do not own the characters of Thudnercats 2011 and Fate/Stay Night! All names in the fanfic are fictional ,if one exist in real life, it would be just a pure coincidence.

Hahaha! Latest chapter everyone! So what do you think will happen next? Do you think Lion-O will fight against Saber and is he still hiding lots of secret from his master? Will Ardrice join Rin and Shirou? Will he win against the two? Find out more in my next chapter! Stay Tuned folks! Special thanks to those who like my fanfic. And also, please do read my latest fanfic. The Ghost Anomaly. Please leave some reviews! Thinker out :)