Words Count: 4693

A/N: The return of an abusive seaweed hair with a boner for sexual crimes. Will he amount to anything? Probably not. But hey, he has a Servant now! Good for him.

Anyway, here's my usual spiel:

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Year after year, the last- the rightful Scion of House Matou had wasted his life in this forest. He knew not how he managed to live up to this point, his memory was all spotty and finicky, all recalled was foraging for what little mushrooms and fruits he could in order to survive. When he shat, he wiped using fallen leaves,

When he pissed, he had to watch out for possible insects and snakes prowling the area, and even that didn't help much given the severe infections which spread all over his private parts. Though, what's worse must be the filthy beasts who forced him to live above the treeline, always scared for his life, always struggling just to keep going another day.

Sure, Shinji could have gone to the orphanage, but the fear of being caught and tortured by that crazed cunt- Leonis Magnum- was too… Intense, too frightening for him to risk it. He told himself he could get through it, that this stage in his life would pass, yet deep down he knew things wouldn't change. He'd die in this dark forest, or so he thought.

When the Command Seals appeared on the back of his hand, Shinji was beyond happy. It's exactly what he needed to get back at Leonis and those whores who always hung out around the crazy foreigner, only things didn't quite take the turn he expected. Both Rin- the whore- and Leonis- the cunt- had Servants of their own…

Now, the impulsivity in him wanted nothing more than to charge in head-on caving heads and bashing limbs, but deep down Shinji knew this… Bouts of confidence were merely falsity.

Obviously, he hadn't survived all these time on fruits and berries alone,

Shinji had hunted the smaller animals- from rabbits, squirrels to occasional rats to keep himself healthy and functioning. He had learnt patience,

He knew what he needed to do, charging head-on towards them was naught but suicidal, and he was far too smart for that once all the complexes left, leaving him with only survival instinct to take the wheels. No, he would wait, he would stalk them like he did his preys and when- and only when they're weak- helpless would he strike. Their lives were his to reap, they just didn't know it yet.

Looking back at the forest that had been his home for years, Shinji felt nothing.

There was no nostalgia,

No feeling of attachment,

Nor any sentimental nonsense,

All he felt were bitterness and uncontrolled rage. How dared them? How dared them rob Shinji of his rightful place?!

How dared they live in luxury and peace while he was forced to sacrifice his honor- his dignity just for the scraps nobody would bother to steal?!

Teeth clenched, eyes bulging and lips pressed in a thin line,

Matou Shinji's wrath was palpable even to the blind and deaf as he flexed his fists.

From the corner of his eyes, House Matou's last Scion caught the sight of a skittering squirrel, and immediately, his hand lashed out to capture the creature. It screeched and screamed in his grasp, struggling to breath as his grip tightened. Still, Shinji did not relent, instead of the innocent animal it was, all he saw were the faces of those who had wronged him…

And they're screaming, begging, pleading for their lives like the lowlifes they were. "Just die already… Die. Die. DIE YOU FUCKING–!"

He did not stop, not even when the squirrel's head popped right off in a bloody display of gores. Nor did he stop when its innards, bones and blood painted his both of his hands in a crimson paste. By the time he released the creature, it had already breathed its last ages ago. Despite the grisly sight, Shinji didn't have a single change in expression as he cracked his neck and threw the poor creature to the side.

"Assassin!"

Face marred with madness, the last Matou called to his illusive Servant. Even now, he did not know Assassin's true name nor his capability.

"I'm yours to command, Master."

All he cared about was how effective the Servant was,

"Have you brought what I asked?"

And effective he sure was.

"Here are some clothes of your size, Master. There are toothpaste, toothbrush and money inside that bag. My apology, but I've also taken the liberty to acquire other essentials I believe you might need, Master. Forgive me." Assassin bowed, presenting his defenseless head to Shinji, but he's no longer the brat he once was. He's more calculating, more reasonable,

Yet perhaps along the way to become what he was now, the Matou might have lost the last vestige of Humanity he had.

He's more manic and insane, and while Assassin understood his Master was not a good person- not by any stretch of the word- he dared not disobey, for betrayal was a crime punishable by death and eternal torment. This was his chance to redeem himself, no matter how unhinged his Master grew, Assassin knew it must be a test the Lord had assigned to him- it simply had to be.

"What of Leonis and his whores? Are there any movements on their end?"

Assassin shook, stating, "Negative, Master. I have been prowling around the Castle–"

Castle… Castle?!

The word echoed in Shinji's mind,

It haunted the Matou's Scion like a nightmare that'd never end. This wasn't the first time he had heard about the conditions they- Leonis, his whorish sister and that shitty, uppity bitch Tohsaka- were living in, but the pangs of hurt and anger coursing through him were just as fresh. "– They're staying in, but so far there haven't been signs they would be making a move any time soon.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to sneak past the Bounded Fields protecting the Castle, thus I can not tell you what they're doing inside but all I believe they're still preparing. This War is rather unusual compared to the previous ones."

"You need not stalk them any longer. I'll be living in the City now, which means I'll need all the protections I can get. Stay close, but do not advertise your presence unless explicitly asked by me… Is that clear?" Shinji barked, taking a look at the bag his Servant had obtained under his request.

"Crystal, Master." They're just about to move when a snicker- a loud one- resounded across the trees. The voice purred. "Look how far the mighty have fallen. Made to live off of the land like a savage, forced to sleep in bushes and atop trees with not even a roof over your head. I can't tell if I'm disappointed, or ticked off that the upstanding Scion of a once prestigious and noble House is reduced to… This."

"Who? Who dares?!" Shinji shouted, shoved back by his Servant protectively. The voice did not show even an ounce of fear, continuing to mock, "I bet you don't even know the changes made to this War, do you?"

"What changes are you talking about?!" A scowl plastered on his face, the Matou's Scion asked aggressively, only to receive a taunting laughter in response. "Ha-Ha! You truly are amusing, Matou Shinji. Let me tell you then–"

While he showed anger, internally Shinji was calm- far calmer than anyone would expect from somebody like him as he commanded telepathically. 'You allowed someone to tail you back to me?!'

"– This War has been classified as an anomaly by the Clock Tower, you do know what the Tower is, do you?"

'Master, I–' Knowing full-well what Assassin was about to say- a practiced apology- Shinji cut him off. 'Enough! I don't want to hear your shitty excuses. Honestly, what use are you if you can't do something this fucking simple?! Locate the intruder, quickly! I can not- will not allow whoever this is to take the upper-hand in negotiation!'

Despite what many might think of him, Shinji wasn't stupid. If this Master- and the voice must be a Master- had wanted to kill him, they wouldn't have announced their presence, nor would they have waited for an answer from him like this. "Of course I do! I'm the true Heir to House Matou!"

The voice scoffed. "Not likely, not when you clearly lack the most essential part of being a Magus."

Like a knife, the taunt dug directly at Shinji's sore-spot, and even though he tried to keep it from bothering him, his body language didn't lie. "What's the matter? Was that a sensitive subject for you, O'Great Heir of House Matou?"

Biting his tongue, fists clenched, biceps flexed, Shinji could only swallow the indignation. At least it was easier when he told himself he'd pay this insult back in full once he had won the Grail War.

Hell, he might even take some interests, preferably in the form of unrestrained violence and cruelty upon the whoever the unfamiliar voice belonged to. But Shinji wasn't picky, a mere chance to cave their head in would be enough. "Usually, I won't ever bother with your kind–"

The insinuation was clear as ever, yet the last Matou did not make a move to protest. "– Still, you have your uses. The fact you abhor Leonis Magnum is a major plus too. Join my Faction, Matou Shinji. Join and you shall live to see the end of this War. Given how clueless you are about the new dangers of the Fifth War, my offer is your only opportunity. I'd have asked you to relinquish your Servant, but he's better used in your hands."

The, 'I don't want to waste Mana on another Servant' remained unspoken, yet it was heard loud and clear all the same.

At her words, the squib narrowed his eyes. "Why are you against Leonis? What possible reason could you have against him? Oh-Wait, let me guess–"

'Master, they're at least two miles South-East of our current position. I believe they must be using some kind of device- a Mystic Code to transmit voices back and forth.' His Servant's gentle voice resounded in Shinji's mind, and the last Matou's eyes instantly darted towards the source of the voice as he replied with an unsightly grin. "– Did he fuck your House up too? I might have lost to Leonis, but at least I have an excuse- my lack of Magic Circuits… What's yours?"

There was a short moment of silence, before the voice returned with a touch of a growl, an animalistic one, though Shinji could've sworn he heard a trumpet-like call of a bird. "… My patience runs a bit drier every moment you yap nonsenses using that filthy mouth of yours. I hope you understand that, or–"

A click of fingers, and Shinji immediately felt it. Blobs of Mana appeared- four of them to be precise. 'Master, I do not believe it's wise to pick a fight with them. I'm confident can keep up with any one of my kind, but I must confess four Servants are indeed a bit too much for me to handle in this state. Shall we prepare to flee?'

"– Do we need to teach you your proper place? Personally, I'd really suggest picking the first… But I must admit: I am not entirely against you choosing the second."

Wryly, Shinji let out a nervous chuckle. While he's confident in the capability of his Servant, he knew a lost fight when he saw one. Still, the urge was to know was able to overwhelm his natural instinct. "How- How's this possible?! Leonis and those whores of his have at least three Servants in their ranks! Assassin is mine, which means–! What did you do to summon an extra Servant?!"

Shinji spat through gritted teeth.

"Contrary to your thoughts Matou, I did absolutely nothing." Even without seeing it, Shinji could hear the shrug miles away. "New War, new rules. Fourteen sets of Command Seals were sent out to fourteen Masters."

Jaw dropping to the ground, the last Matou stumbled back in shock. He thought he could just wait the War out and pick off the leftovers one by one, but if this was true, his chances of surviving, let alone winning just drastically decreased. "The way I see it, right now you have two options, A) You join us, or B) You get annihilated by us and your Servant is taken anyway. Choose wisely."

Though he feared for his life, Shinji still managed to croak, "Why? Why do you want to kill Leonis? How can I trust you to grant me vengeance?!"

"Leonis fancies himself a King- even though he's a greedy dog, just like the rest- the majority of our Faction wish to dethrone him. Some merely want their belongingsback- belongings which he has stolen under the pretext of aiding a friend." Emotions were high as the voice resumed- bitterness and anger audible in their tone. "My brother made the mistake of trusting him, and Leonis used that trust to steal our family Crest… You speak of vengeance?! Well, get in line, Matou."

It took nearly a full minute for the voice to calm down. "Now… Your answer, what will it be?"

After a moment of thoughts, Shinji responded. "I agree."

"Good–" A flash erupted, sending a floating card to Shinji. "– Go to that address. A room has been rented in your name. Stay there, we'll contact you when we require your assistance."

The distorted voice began to fade and the last Matou shouted. "WAIT! You seem to know me, but I still haven't a clue who you are?"

"Swan." The voice repeated. "You may refer to me as Swan."

Before the words slurred and swiftly dissipated, carried off by the winds.

In no time, all traces of the voice were gone, as though nothing had happened.

Even Shinji was almost tricked, and had it not been for his silent Servant- who's still looking cautiously South-East of their position, clearly expecting an attack- the last Matou might have believed what just took place was little more than a figment of his imagination. Letting loose a weary, tired sigh, the Matou's Scion muttered quietly to himself.

"Swan, huh?" Only when Shinji was certain the owner of the voice was no longer observing him did he spout spitefully. "Your corpse will be laid right besides Leonis', damned sow!"

[Fate: FS] —

"Ha!" With a shout, Saber chopped the slab of meat like she would the arm of a person, her… 'Blade'- knife was clutched tightly using both hands as though it's a foot instead of six inches long. Her inability to understand even the most simple acts in the kitchen was just absolutely adorable! And frankly quite painful to watch. I tried, I really did, but the soft chuckle- similar to the caress of a lover- managed to escape the confines of my mouth all the same.

"Perhaps you should leave the cooking to me?"

Immediately, Saber blushed bright red, yet she stubbornly persisted with the chopping. "You're the host, I'm the guest Lord Magnum. I can not in good conscience push all the works onto you whilst I laze around, doing nothing."

"Alright, alright–" Raising my hands up in defeat, I laughed, finding the stoic expression on her face incredibly hilarious as I continued. "– I won't try to dissuade you anymore. But at least let me show you how to chop it properly. You're not going to get anywhere chopping like you would a dummy. If the cuts are too big and blocky, the slices are not gonna go down easily and you'll need to trim off the fats too, lest it's all chewy and gross."

Softly, I instructed, hands hovering over hers as I stood behind Saber. She was small, like… Confusingly small, standing at a five and a half feet. Her chin barely passed the line from my abs to my chest. Her tiny frame, coupled with the ahoge dancing atop her head, the slight scrunch of her nose and the smoothness of her skin made Saber- Nay, Artoria Pendragon all the more adorable- enough to make even the toughest of men weak in the knees.

I couldn't help but ask myself, 'How on Earth did the Knights of the Round Table not realize the her gender when it's practically staring at them every day? Surely, someone must have noticed? Lancelot perhaps? In fact, how could anyone confuse Saber with anything other than the young woman that she is?!'

"Here, keep your fingers tucked in lest you cut yourself. Then put the knife–" Guiding her hand with my own, I continued to instruct. "– Here. There is no need for haste, just do it slowly… Until you've gotten the hang of it."

Reluctantly, I released my grasp over Artoria's and backed away, allowing her time to hone her skill. I doubted it would be very useful on the Throne of Heroes, but I never planned to sacrifice her to the Grail anyway. Worst case scenario, I could simply pump the Grail full of Mana to make up for the lost fraction of her existence. What could I say? I had a soft-spot for King Arthur, even more than I did Shiro or Rin.

I wanted her to live, to experience life with us- a… Relatively normal life which was callously denied from her back then.

* CHOP

* CHOP

* CHOP

"Am I doing it correctly?"

Nodding, I reassured. "You're doing very well, Saber."

The hint of a smile which bloomed on her lips mere moments after was simply brilliant- like a stunning ray of sunshine breaking through the depressing dark clouds. Fuck! I didn't even like sunlight! It irritated my eyes and burnt my skin– 'Stop acting dramatic. You are a human, not a Vampire.'

– Yet even I could not deny the beauty that small hint contained. "I'll set the pan, can you cut the onions?"

Artoria bobbed her face, face schooled in a concentrated look as she focused on preparing the foods. Together, we worked in silence, only occasionally exchanging greetings and tips- Well, I exchanged those, Artoria mostly just listened and followed the instructions. Clearly, there were remnants of her past, all the way back when she was much younger, she must have learnt how to cook, but as with nearly all unused memory and skills, the experiences faded.

After half an hour of cooking, we were left with two absolutely gorgeous steaks- the fact that we sweated and paid for them with our efforts did contribute to the beauty of the dishes, but they did come out far better than neither of us expected. Wordlessly, I raised my hand, ready to receive the high-five owed to me, sadly it'd seem Artoria wasn't too versed in modernity for she just looked at me in confusion, "Why are you raising your hand, Lord Magnum?"

"To get a high-five, duh!"

"H- High-five?" She stuttered, blinking owlishly.

"It's basically clapping, but for two people. C'mon, this looks amazing. We deserve to be congratulated." I explained patiently, still keeping my hand high.

"I just need to slap your hand?" Artoria seemed quite confused, and ravenous, eyes constantly darting towards the plates we had laid on the dinning table. "Yep, that is all. But don't be too forceful, I don't think my poor wrist can handle your full strength."

I joked, raising my brows teasingly. "Now, up top!"

Our palms collided and I laughed cheekily. "He-He… I just high-fived King Arthur."

Contrary to my expectations, Artoria chuckled- a sound which I must admit was far more beautiful than her usual pouty expression. "Does this mean we can eat now?"

The King's/Queen's greedy paws reached for the plates, and I had to slap her hands away, stating. "Nope. You've got to let the steaks rest for a few minutes so it can soak up and absorb all that juices. Just give a minute or two, I can assure you it'll taste much better."

Artoria practically deflated at that, though when she noticed my amused look, she did have the decency to look away, hiding her shyness with a low cough. Whilst we waited for the steaks to both cool and absorb the moistures, I- feeling a tad awkward- decided to ask. "I'm wondering… I get why you were mad at Gil, and to a certain extent, me. But why did you apologize to me? Not that I'm complaining, it just came out of nowhere, that's all."

Silently, Artoria stirred her cup of sugarcane juice. What?! We're out of every other beverages and it's not like I could wake Illaoi up and make her go to the store at this time! 2004 was a wild time, no 24/7 convenience store, no overnight restaurants, no take-outs, especially in a remote City like Fuyuki. It's already good we still had a few sugarcanes left in store…

"I might have messed up that first impression, but I'm not a tyrant, Lord Magnum. I know when I'm in the wrong, and I was in the wrong for judging you based on your affiliation to her."

"To be fair–" Now, I know how stupid this sounded, but it's an actual psychological trick to lower somebody's expectations so they'd not be disappointed in the future. Although I could choose to keep my activities from her, she's only going to resent me more once she found out- and she would, sooner or later- thus, "– You're not wrong. I am a terrible person."

With narrowed eyes, Artoria looked at me. "If you're fishing for compliments, Lord Magnum–"

"Quite the contrary, I'm afraid." I shook at her accusation. "I'm only kind to myself and mine, anyone else- be them old or young, female or male- will suffer the consequences if they dare test my patience. We're quite different, many have taken to calling me a tyrant in the Clock Tower. Many more refer to me as an unfeeling monster."

"Then why are you trying to mend our relationship? As far as I'm concerned, I'm the one in the wrong first. By your own admittance, you should have taken your vengeance already."

Hiding nothing, I answered. "Because I like you."

Seeing her confused look, I added. "When I was younger, there's this animated movie on Disney- a popular channel for kids. It's about a young boy living in medieval time with his adoptive brother and father. One day, he met a Wizard and discovered his fate's far grander than anything he could have come up with. He was destined to become a King- the Once and Future King of Britain. It's called: 'The Sword in the Stone'."

Taking a sip out of my cup, I continued with a smile. "It's every boy's dream, to be promised adventures and meaning to their lives… I had looked up to that boy since, I still do. Sadly, I'm unable to follow his example, I'm far too selfish and bastardy to do so."

"What is there for you to admire?" The bitterness was thick in her voice. "That boy would grow up to fail everyone he loves… He stands by and watches while his knights fell to the blades of their former comrades, as brother is pitted against brother- father against father. He looks on as his Kingdom fractured day in, day out. He is a failure- a mistake I had hoped to rectify after winning the Grail War… And I fail that too."

"Did you? Did you really?" I questioned, crossing my legs before resting my chin on the back of my hand. "Britain is currently one of the biggest economic powerhouses in the World. It stands as a Land with immense military power, and its people- the majority of them at least- are happy. That boy is also known worldwide as one of the greatest Legends to ever grace Humanity. So… Riddle me this, did you truly fail?"

"My Kingdom laid in ruin. My people were slaughtered by their own brothers and fathers, my knights all dead for my lack of humanity. I did fail, Lord Magnum. Not only did I fail, I failed spectacularly. All those lives, lost. They demand justice- they demand retribution."

"Say, if your Wish is achievable, what of all the people who have grown up in this Timeline- in the Timeline where Artoria Pendragon became King Arthur?" I tilted my head. "Undoing your reign is undoing not thousands, not millions, but billions of lives. Whether you want to admit it or not, it is your efforts that brought Great Britain to its current height… Nearly every country in the World was, will and is being affected by your actions.

What of your Knights? They fought, sweated and bled for you, because they believed in your cause… You'll be undoing their actions too. All twelve Knights of the Round Table, their deeds will be forgotten forever- overwritten!" Leaning forth, I stared deeply in Artoria's eyes. "Lastly, what will become of your Kingdom? How can you be so sure whoever ends up replacing you will make for a better King? What if they turn out to be a Tyrant? What if your uncle- King Vortigern takes the Throne? Or worse, your dear sister?"

"I- I…" Mouth opening and closing, Artoria averted her eyes in shame. "But–!"

She made to protest, to make excuses, yet the words just wouldn't leave her mouth, caught in her throat like a fish bone. "Your Wish is selfish at its core. You claim it is for your people, but it isn't. It's for you… You want to change your past- to fix your mistakes and you know what?"

Artoria did not respond, though the look on her face told me she's listening very carefully. "I'm fine with that. There's nothing wrong with being selfish when you've been selfless your entire life… And death. But your Wish would have effectively rendered most of my loved ones non-existent, something which I simply can not allow."

Again, she averted her eyes- a futile attempt to distance herself from the conversation. She tried, and she failed. "I just want you to know, I respect you. You have inspired thousands, maybe even millions of kids like myself. Not all of them manage to live up to your example, to your honor and nobility. But sometimes all we need are good examples to follow, wouldn't you agree, your Majesty?"

Artoria was silent still, though I could tell I was getting to her. "Instead of constantly glancing at the past, why don't you look forwards to the future? You've been granted another chance at life, why not enjoy it?"

"And forget all about the lives I've taken- be it directly or indirectly?" She appeared almost offended at the thought, like she just couldn't register my words. Throwing my hands up, I said dramatically. "Yes! The past can not be changed, but the future can. Live past the War, see the goods your actions have wrought on this World… Enjoy the life you never had- the life which was stolen from you, Artoria Pendragon. If anyone deserves it, it's you."

Her lips trembled, and for a second, I thought she might burst into tears, but she held on strong and I couldn't help sighing. "Enough of this depressing talk… Let's just finish our meals."

The blonde bobbed head, grabbing her utensils though I could tell her appetite had drastically decreased.

We ate in silence, and even after we're done, neither of us left our seats, not for a very long time until I thought it's best we get some rest. "Think about what I said, Artoria."

Patting her head, I enjoyed the feeling of her ahoge tickling my palm, but refused to show it as I groaned and stretched. "Good night, your Majesty."

"Good night to you too, Lord Magnum." Only when I was close to the door did she speak up. "And thank you for the talk… You've given me a lot to think about."

I winked and waved. "Don't tire yourself out worrying about these things. We need you in tiptop shape should a Servant attack."