Moon Goddess and the Dumplings: II

"It's…" Ash pointed towards the object "It's a doll."

"I'm a bear!" The stuffed animal whined "At least get it right!"

"A bear…" Ash slowly turned and looked to Artemis "Why?"

"This is Darling!" The Goddess proclaimed with an ecstatic grin while hoisting the teddy bear in the air as if it were a grand trophy. Gwyndolin stared at the bear before looking back at his fellow Moon Divine. "He was going to get summoned but I wanted to come along too!"

"Please, help me…" The bear whined "She's very possessi-erk!" he was cut off when Artemis tightened her grip around his neck and began to squeeze him, earning a mildly disturbed look from Ritsuka, Mash and Ash.

"Ha ha ha…" Artemis gave a faux laugh "Darling! You say the funniest things don't you!" she continued to laugh as she strangled the bear.

"...What is this?" Ash whispered to Gwyndolin, the Lord turned his head slowly to stare at the Servant before his lip curled in mild disgust.

"How would I know?"

"You're a moon God as well, aren't you?" Ash gestured to the Goddess "You should be able to find some common ground."

"Can you find common ground with every undead you encounter?"

"...Fine." Ash sighed and looked back to Ritsuka and Mash "What is this?"

"A bad episode of sooty and sweep." Ritsuka mumbled under his breath before shaking his head, turning to Mash "If she's Artemis...whose the bear?"

"Well...Artemis was supposedly seduced by the hunter Orion." Mash explained, still looking at the bear with a slightly perturbed expression "And Orion would be summoned under the class of Archer. So its possible that Artemis-san hijacked the summoning and forced Orion into...a stuffed animal."

"So...that's Orion." Ritsuka pointed at the bear with a raised eyebrow "Like the constellation?"

"...Yes, Senpai." Mash nodded her head "I believe so."

"...Should we...do something to help him?"

"Probably." Mash agreed, then stepped forwards "Um...Artemis-san?" she called out, the Goddess paused in her movements and slowly turned to the young girl "I think you might be squeezing Orion-san too hard."

"Eh?" Artemis blinked, then giggled "You figured out Darlings name so quickly, I guess it makes sense with me being here." she lifted up the bear "But Darling is fine, he can take it."

"He's being awfully quiet." Ritsuka pointed out, squinting at the unmoving doll.

"That's just Darling being shy." The Goddess explained away easily then beamed at her own comment "He only really loves talking to me, right Darling?"

"...Save me…" The bear croaked.

"See!" Artemis exclaimed "Perfectly happy!"

Ash, Ritsuka and Mash looked at Gwyndolin, the God clicked his tongue at their expressions "Do you actually think that just because we're both Lords that I can understand whatever insanity spawns from her mouth?"

"Senpai." Mash whispered to Ritsuka "I've noticed Gwyndolin-san stops speaking olden when he gets upset."

"Eh?" Artemis sent a sad look in Gwyndolins direction "Darling! The other moon Goddess is bullying me!" she whined while shaking the bear, Orion sent a look towards Gwyndolin and then tilted his head.

"A bit flat for a Goddess, ain't you?"

"...Darling!?"

"No, no wait! Wait! I didn't mean-ARGH!"

"...I feel as though I should do something to help, but at the same time I feel as though it would be safer not to try and move closer to them." Ritsuka spoke as he took a single step backwards.

"Hmm…" Gwyndolin released a small hum as he watched the bear being strangled, tilting their head slightly before they released a dismissive grunt and turned away from the Goddess and back to the trio "As...theatrical as my counterpart is, it would be best if we made haste. The stolen supplies will not return themselves and I would rather doll out justice personally."

"Probably right." Ritsuka nodded then turned back to the Goddess "Um, Artemis? Can I call you Artemis?"

"Hm?" The Goddess blinked at being addressed before smiling "Yep! You can call me Artemis! Although I'm technically also darling because I stole his summoning!"

Ash scratched his helm as he held a flat look on his face before staring down at Mash "Are all your Lords like this?" he whispered to her, the Shielder opened her mouth to reply before closing it again and allowing a contemplative expression to cross her face before she replied.

"I...am not sure, Ash-san. I believe they are not all like this."

"Really?" Ash sighed as he turned his head back to Artemis and Orion "I am undecided as to whether or not that makes me feel better or worse." he gestured to the Goddess "Regardless, we should likely make haste. Gwyndolin speaks truly."

"Your disrespect of me is noted." Gwyndolin's voice carried over to the unkindled, Ash sent a pointed look in his direction.

"Good. I mean it."

"Tch."

Ritsuka and Mash stared between the two of them before they turned to eachother with equal looks of concern. Whether or not they found the supplies was quickly becoming a question of whether or not they would actually manage to mount a successful search before a fight broke out. That and Artemis was quickly proving to be something of an airhead.

"So, what you're telling me is that the second they Rayshifted down into the Singularity we lost contact with them?" Olga spoke in a hollow tone of voice, earning anxious looks from the command staff as they each shared glances with eachother. "Well?"

"Yyyyeeesss…." Romani replied slowly, shrinking into his chair as the woman turned her glare onto him "W-we can still get a reading on them though!" he hastily added on at her growing look of annoyance "So they're still alive!"

"But we can't contact them."

"...No."

"...I'm going for a nap." She turned around and made her way to the door "A long nap. Wake me when something happens and they return."

"A-aren't you going to stick around?"

"And do what?" She halted looking over her shoulder at him with a scowl "Nervously fidget on the spot for all to see? I think not. So I'm going to go to my room and have a long nap while I consider just how desperate our situation is that we cannot even launch a single mission without some catastrophe striking us down." she paused "I will also be commissioning the creation of a security team in order to prevent future instances."

"Really?" Romani sat back up in his chair "I suppose it will be made up of Servants?"

"Are you volunteering to try and calm Havel down if he starts a fight with someone?"

"…"

"Of course it will be made of Servants!" She snapped at him "If they aren't back within a few hours, send someone for me." closing the door behind her, silence reigned in the command room before Maxwell let out a low whistle.

"She took that better than I thought."

"You think so?" Kerry let out a mirthless chuckle "She looked five seconds away from strangling each and every one of us."

"Ah...was that with the little twitching eye thing she did?"

"Yeah."

"Oh…" Maxwell leaned back into his seat and cupped his chin, eyes slowly widening in realisation "My Wife sometimes did that though…"

"Hope you got a good health insurance plan then."

"Its tracks."

"It is Senpai."

"Literally wheel tracks." He gestured to them, then turned to Artemis "You said the guy was pulling a wagon?"

"Yes!" Artemis replied enthusiastically "A really big Wagon too! Had loads of crates in it."

"Sounds like our missing supplies then." Ash affirmed with a grunt "Likely being carted off by this mysterious 'bald man'" he paused after his statement before a frown came to his face behind his helmet "Which is setting off a number of warnings in my head already."

"Really?" Mash turned to him "Maybe you have good instincts, Ash-san?"

"Maybe…" Ash muttered, cupping his chin before following the trail of the wheel marks in the ground and moving ahead of the group "The tracks seem to branch off away from the road and move off towards the forest." he continued forwards, following the trail as it led further off the road and towards the forest.

"Lets go then…" Ritsuka jogged after him, swiftly followed by Mash, Artemis and Gwyndolin. "...Still, why a bear?"

"I don't know." Ash shrugged "I have little experience with dolls." he cast a glance over his shoulder to see the Goddess still cradling the sentient toy with a blissful expression on her face which seemed to ignore everything around her "Does she not also seem...simple?"

Ritsuka snorted, looking away from him and biting his lip in order to keep the laugh from escaping his throat. After few seconds he shook his head in a disbelieving way before turning back to Ash "You just...say what comes to mind, don't you?"

"You have yet to tell me I am wrong." Ash pointed out "Still...having met other Gods before she is not quite what I had expected." the frown was palpable in his voice "Any wrong doing she would cause seems as though it would be the product of careless stupidity rather than malicious intent."

"Well, I'm not going to comment on it." Ritsuka wryly replied, looking over his shoulder at the Archer duo "Still...Gwyndolin seems a little more regal than her, doesn't he?"

"He's of the Royal family of Anor Londo." Ash chortled "He's meant to. It is likely why he finds the Lady Artemis so vexing."

"How so?" The Master asked with a raised eyebrow and a mildly confused look, Ash stared down at him for a brief moment before casting his sight ahead.

"They are both Lords of the Moon." Ash explained "How would you feel if your counterpart was an imbecile and proud of it?"

"...Fair enough." Ritsuka shivered at the thought, then frowned "Wait...is that why you keep laughing at Gwyndolin."

"In part, yes." Ash admittedly easily "It is also because I despise him." the casual ease at which he declared his hatred of the God almost had Ritsuka face fault, he still stopped dead for long enough for the Saber to get some distance before he hastily jogged ahead to join him.

"Wh-what the heck?" Ritsuka asked in a hissing whisper "You can't just admit to hating him like that, you've barely even spoken to him."

"And I don't wish to." Ash went on "In truth, it is only because his Sister was a gentle soul that I didn't kill him when we met in Rome."

Ritsuka frowned at him, then looked back towards Gwyndolin for a split second before back at Ash with a concerned expression "...Do I need to be worried?"

"No." Ash sighed "I will not act upon my feelings now, and he is sworn to your service or a partnership at the very least. That makes him...an ally." Ritsuka cringed as Ash made the word sound as if it were poisonous "And my oath as a warrior of sunlight would prevent such actions as the killing of allies."

Ritsuka's frown grew "Why do you hate him so much?"

"That...is a very long and very complicated story." Ash replied in a tired voice "Suffice to say he made some decisions which I do not agree with...I admit I do not know the full picture, but I am aware of enough to form an opinion."

"That seems a little hasty to decide you want to kill him if you don't know everything."

"You would think so, but you know not his sin." Was the response he got, before he could ask further. Ash came to a stop and held up his hand "I sense Servants ahead."

The group paused, Mash jogging up to join Ritsuka and Ash "I can sense them too, Senpai." she frowned "They aren't trying to mask themselves."

"They aren't?" Ritsuka blinked, then knit his brows together "Does that mean they know we're here as well?"

"We're travelling with two Gods." Ash threw a thumb over his shoulder "I doubt there is a Servant within a hundred metres of us who doesn't know where we are."

"You speak as if that is somehow my fault." Gwyndolin's irate voice came from behind them "And the Lords of Anor Londo do not skulk about the shadows. If we are to move amongst the lands, we shall do so in our full splendour."

"You like looking pretty as well?" Artemis giggled, earning a sigh from the Darkmoon God "I normally dress up specially for Darling, he always loves it. Don't you Darling?"

"Yes, yes. You look very nice dear." Orion's dull reply came through "I'd rather appreciate how nice you look in an actual body."

"Oh, darling!" Artemis turned bright red "How shameless! But I'm so happy!" she cooed with a wide grin as she continued to wave the bear around like a child with a new toy.

Gwyndolin stared ahead of him at the trio, all of whom were staring at Artemis before slowly looking in his direction. His eye twitched under his helmet "Not a word." he had long forgone his usual manner of speech. It did confirm, at least, that he was capable of speaking normally rather than like something from a Shakespearean play.

That was at least how Ritsuka viewed it.

"Think we should go meet the Servants?" Ritsuka asked, looking towards Mash and Ash, the pair looked at eachother and then back towards Ritsuka, the former gave a nod while the latter gave a small shrug.

"They remain our only lead thus far." Ash remarked "Although it would be best we prepare for violence."

"Whatever happened to believing in the goodness of peoples hearts?" Ritsuka asked rhetorically as he turned away from the pair and made his way forwards.

"That is a saying?" Ash looked down at the Shielder girl. Mash stared back at him for a few seconds before she nodded her head.

"I think its quite nice to believe that not everyone is out to get you." She replied, then frowned "Surely not everyone can be a hostile?"

"No...not everyone." Ash replied after a brief pause as he moved to follow after Ritsuka "But anyone."

"That seems paranoid, Ash-san."

"I've nothing against trusting people I have spoken with at length." Ash admitted "Its just that I now believe I should err on the side of caution after certain encounters." he paused before he continued on "Although I suppose I can always trust him to attempt something, once you accept that he can be...useful." they muttered to themselves before shaking their head and continuing on.

Mash blinked at his self-conversing before she furrowed her brows at him, when he made no attempt to elaborate on it she pursed her lips before preparing herself in case there was violence.

"Its rude."

"It is not." Arkon dismissed as another dumpling disappeared into the darkness what was his helmet faceplate. There was a brief chewing sound before there was a swallowing noise "As I have stated before, I cannot remove my helmet. Besides, you were the ones who offered for me to partake."

"Her majesty believed you would remove your helmet." d'Eon explained with a small wince, looking towards Marie's pouting expression before they turned their eyes back to Arkon "She is upset you have not."

"He's supposed to be the Knight of Gods." Marie explained with a small huff, Sanson cringed as at her very childlike tantrum "I bet he's very pretty under that helmet."

"I would not know." Arkon replied "Looks were not a factor in my role."

"They should be." Marie beamed, gesturing to d'Eon "Look at them! They can fight and they can turn heads at a ball, what better knight is there?"

"Your majesty is too kind." d'Eon flushed at the praise "I only serve France however I can."

"See! They're even humble too." Marie nodded her head "Really, if you're pretty you should own up to it. Use it to your advantage."

"I do not see how my looks can be used as a weapon."

"Not every battlefield is fought with swords." d'Eon explained with a resolute look in their eye "I was often required to take up the mantle of a dress in order to root out the enemies of the crown. Sometimes discretion is the better part of valour."

"...I fought Demons in Izalith." Arkon spoke slowly "I do not think a dress would have done much good there."

"I do not believe that Chevalier d'Eon was inferring that you take to every battlefield in a dress." Sanson replied, making sure not to look in the knights direction when their cold eyes turned on him "However your duties differed from theirs. I believe that you are a more traditional knight."

"The only Knight I am aware of whose role was different from the usual was Ser Ciaran." Arkon replied in a regal tone, then his voice took on a slightly fearful tone "And she was rarely utilised."

"Oh?" Marie smiled, suddenly interested "A lady knight? What was she then?"

"The Royal Assassin."

Sanson choked on his dumpling and Marie's expression became slightly strained. The Knight of the White Lily, however, gave a very small nod and then raised an eyebrow "Everyone was aware she was an assassin?"

"Being aware of her existence and being aware of her are two different things." Arkon replied "Ser Ciaran was, without doubt, the greatest Assassin in all of Lordran."

"You seem…" Sanson paused as he searched for the right word "Forgive me, I assumed Knights did not usually approve of Assassins."

"Ser Ciaran was anointed by Lord Gwyn himself, as were the other knights of his personal guard." Arkon replied in a defensive tone "As such, she was beyond reproach in her duties. Besides, all other Assassins were merely pretenders to the name." he paused as he looked at Sanson "...I refer to the trade rather than the Class."

"I thank you for the courtesy." Sanson replied "In truth I myself am not fond of how my Class portrays me."

"I should hope not." Arkon responded with an obvious frown in his voice "You are an executioner of Justice, not some common cut-throat." there was a brief pause before he went on "In truth, your company if preferable to the Executioner of Anor Londo." there was a hint of disgust in his voice.

Sanson frowned for a few moments before a thought came to him "Did they...enjoy killing then?"

"They did." Arkon replied "They also enjoyed consuming the deceased."

"...That's horrible." d'Eon replied with a grimace "Your King employed such an animal?"

Arkon bristled before replying in a strained tone "I do not claim to understand all of Lord Gwyn's commands. However, it is not my place to do so. He must have had some reasoning behind his appointment of Smough that I could not see."

"...You're very loyal, aren't you?" Marie asked in a quiet tone.

"...I tried." Arkon replied with a small frown "...Can you pass the bread of garlic?" he pointed at the box "It is rather enjoyable."

"Hands off the bread, thieves!" A voice barked out as Arkon was reaching across to the steel box, the quartet turned their heads to see a small group stood at the edge of their camp.

Arkon's helmet locked onto one individual in particular, a strangled cry escaped his lips as he rocketed to his feet before bowing down on one knee and keeping his head facing the ground "L-Lord Gwyndolin."

The trio stared at Arkon, and then to the group. Looking at all of them for a few moments before their eyes fell onto the two at the far end with the clear aura of Divinity about them. Marie remained silent for a few seconds before she spoke in a slightly confused tone "Shouldn't it be Lady Gwyndolin?"

"I'm not a-!" The figure with the sun face mask shouted before they cut themselves off, clearly outing themselves as Gwyndolin as they composed themselves. Letting out a deep breath before looking back at the Knight "T' hast been longeth since I lasteth did lay eyes upon a Silver knight."

Everyone furrowed their eyebrows at Gwyndolin, none more so than Atremis. Staring at him in clear confusion at his sudden shift in personality. "Why are you putting on the voice?" she asked in an innocent tone.

Gwyndolin's lip twitched in annoyance as he briefly turned to her "Be quiet." he whispered then turned back to the Silver Knight and resumed his aura of regality. Much to the amusement of everyone else.

"Anon I findeth one in the most despicable of situations. A brazen cut-purse art thee?" Gwyndolin accused, earning a flinch from Arkon.

"N-no, My Lord." Arkon swallowed audibly "I-I-I-"

"Hey." Marie called out with a frown, crossing her arms and standing up "Don't start bulling sir Arkon like that, furthermore what is this talk of thievery?"

"Indeed." d'Eon rose up next, their hand clasped onto the handle of their sword "I will tolerate no slander against my Queen in this way."

"I think this is a big misunderstanding." Sanson offered his two francs to the situation.

"Marie?" Ritsuka blinked, stepping forwards "Is that you?"

"Hm?" Marie turned in the direction of the voice before her face lit up "Oh, hello there Ritsuka, Mash, Ash!" she beamed at the trio then frowned "Where's Sir Siegward and Jeanne?"

"Ah, they didn't come with us." Ritsuka explained with a small shrug "Well...Siegward didn't. We...um...haven't summoned Jeanne yet."

"Oh." Marie pouted for a few seconds before she shrugged "Oh well, I'm sure we'll meet again!"

"Marie?" Sanson looked up "You know them?"

"Hm?" The Queen looked down and blinked "Oh right! You were both…" she winced before shaking her head "Anyway. The two cuties are Ritsuka and Mash." the pair blushed at the rather direct comment "The tall brooding one is Ash." she giggled "But he's really a big softy."

Said softy tilted their head in puzzlement.

"And these two are…" She paused as she stared at them "Well, I know that one is Gwynny."

"I beg thy-!?" Gwyndolin's startled gasp was cut off when Marie looked at Artemis.

"I...don't know who you are I am afraid." She went on, looking quite stricken at the news "I suppose introductions are in order. I am Marie Antoinette." she clasped her skirt and did a slight curtsy "Queen of France."

"Hello!" The Goddess smiled "I'm Orion-"

"She isn't."

"Mou! Darling!" The Goddess whined at the bears interruption "Why did you have to ruin my fun?"

"Its my name you're using here!" The stuffed animal shouted "Don't try and misrepresent me!"

"She's Artemis." Ash threw his thumb in the Goddess direction, earning wide eyes from everyone in the group, save Marie.

"Another Lord?" Arkon muttered out in surprise as he slowly craned his head to stare at her "Yes. I can see the essence of Divinity now." he affirmed to himself "Goddess Artemis." the Goddess in question turned to the Knight in surprise at being addressed "I am Sir Arkon of the Silver Knights of Anor Londo. I bid thee greetings and hope that I conduct myself in a manner that does not insult you."

"...Okay!" Artemis replied after a few moments "You're really polite!" she giggled "And you feel like a really tiny God so you're fine."

"I...I thank you for your kind words?"

"Ignore her." Gwyndolin sighed into his hands with a tired voice before looking at to Arkon "I shall hear explanations now for this conduct."

"Yeah." Ritsuka added on, pointing towards the silver crate with the Chaldean symbol printed on the side "Where did you get all this food?"

"We bought it." Sanson replied with a straight face.

That took the wind out of everyone's sails.

"You...bought it." Mash replied in a slow manner, as if she believed she hadn't heard it properly.

"We did." d'Eon nodded their head in affirmation.

"You purchased our stolen supplies." Ash spoke up in an incredulous tone of voice "With currency."

"Yes." Marie nodded her head "It was a pretty good trade too." she admitted without shame "You have some tasty food where you're from."

Ritsuka gave an empty smile "I'm glad you enjoyed our food." he paused "No, sorry. I'm very glad you enjoyed our stolen food." he emphasised the word.

Marie frowned and placed her hands on her hips "Hey! We weren't to know."

"Marie…" Ritsuka pinched the bridge of his nose "The Chaldea logo is printed on the box…" he replied "And you were with us in France when we received supply crates with those same pictures on it."

"Oh right." Marie nodded her head in realisation "That did happen."

"That did happen." Ritsuka parroted then sighed "Alright...fine. Water under the bridge, I guess." he shrugged "...So can we have our supplies back now?"

"Well...we did pay for them." Sanson pointed out, the scratched his cheek "However, if they were stolen at the time then I suppose it makes it unlawful ownership."

"We're really sorry." Mash apologised "But Chaldea's entire pantry was stolen as we do need those supplies back."

"Your entire stock?" Arkon snapped his head to her "What fool was guarding them?"

"Um…" Ritsuka looked around and then back to the Knight "No one was?"

"Are you...perchance, an imbecile?" Arkon hesitantly asked "The Royal Pantry was, at all times, guarded by no less than twenty Silver Knights at any given time."

"We don't exactly have that many knights." Ritsuka replied, scratching the back of his head and looking away "I think we've got barely that many Servants."

"Oh." Arkon replied "You are understaffed then." he nodded to himself "Most unfortunate."

"This conversation has diverged." Gwyndolin cut through the matter and brought Arkon's attention back him him "The one you purchased these supplies from, report all you know."

"Yes, My Lord." Arkon bowed his head "They were human. Bald, they were wearing black leather garbs." he paused for a few moments "They also held a Glaive and a tower shield."

"...Were they called Patches, by any chance." Ash's voice called out, already sounding resigned about the whole affair. Arkon nodded their head in affirmation.

"That was indeed their name."

"By the flames." Ash sighed, rubbing the front of their helmet in exasperation "I should have guessed when the Goddess said he was bald."

"Patches." Ritsuka tasted the name then blinked "Isn't that the person who stole your magic box?"

"Patches is many things." Ash sighed "Although he has never been a direct thief." he admitted "Usually he loots from corpses or scavenges from what is lying around. How he came into possession of my Bottomless Box is beyond me but I suspect we shall find out soon enough."

"Well, I know the Director wanted a look at it." Ritsuka nodded his head, then frowned "But if he isn't a thief, how did he get our supplies?"

"I did say usually." Ash pointed out "He was the one who stole Siegwards armour, although I suspect if he were confronted about such a thing he would claim that he thought the Catarinan dead."

"...Isn't that technically true though, Ash-san?" Mash asked hesitantly "You and Siegward-san are both undead, right?"

"Yes." Ash nodded "I never said his excuses were fool proof." he paused then looked back at Marie "There aren't any drops around here, are there?"

Marie blinked in surprise then shook her head slowly "Not to my knowledge."

"I see...what about pits?"

"None that I know of?"

"That's good." Ash let out a sigh, then saw the looks of confusion "Covering every base. Patches is prone to pushing people off things."

"Okay." Ritsuka nodded, then clapped his hands together as he span around to face the search team "Okay guys, our mission just changed...kind of but not really. Our plan now is to recover our stolen supplies and to get this Patches guy to recover Ash's box of stuff." he looked around the team "Any objections on that second one?"

"None from me." Ash gave a dangerous chuckle "I have some words for Patches when next we meet."

"Ash-san?" Mash called out to him "You're acting very villainous right now." the Saber paused and looked at the Shielder before they shrugged their shoulders.

"All I will say is that he probably deserves it." The Saber paused then sighed "Although I suspect he shall somehow find a way to convince me not to ring his neck."

"Before all that." Marie spoke in a serious tone of voice, slowly looking towards Gwyndolin "There is something that I must confirm first. You are Sir Arkon's superior, yes?"

"One such, yes." Gwyndolin nodded his head "Why?"

"Are the Silver Knights forbidden from removing their helmets?"

"...Who told you such rubbish?" Gwyndolin responded with a scoff "I admit it was a rare thing but there was no code to prevent it."

"B-but…" Arkon sputtered "Forgive my outburst, Lord Gwyndolin, but Ser Artorias told me that to remove my helm was forbidden and that I was sworn to a vow of chastity."

Gwyndolin stared at Arkon, their face was hidden behind their extravagant headgear but the palpable disbelief emanating from them made it obvious that their expression was one of incredulity "...Ser Artorias told you this?"

"Yes, My Lord." Arkon nodded.

"Snrk." A barely concealed snort of amusement escaped Gwyndolin "If there were such a vow, I am afraid Ser Artorias broke it more times than could be counted."

"...M-my Lord?"

"I daresay there was not a woman in Anor Londo who was not familiar with the Knights fabled touch." An amused smile came to his face "I once heard Gwy-…" his expression flattened "I heard from a source that his hands were as skilled in other matters as they were with his sword."

Marie let out boisterous laugh while Ritsuka snorted at the insinuation, the boy shaking his head in disbelief while Ash let out a sigh. Mash, for her part, gave a light blush at the cavalier remarks.

"Hey, hey!" Orion let out a loud chuckle "Sounds like my kind of gu-ergh!?"

"Oh, Darling." Artemis gave a smile that promised death as she tightened her grip around the bear "You say the funniest things. But I know you wouldn't hand around with such a womaniser would you?"

"O-Of course...not…" Orion managed to ground out through the Goddess grip, her expression instantly brightened as she went back to humming to herself as Arkon had his world view shattered with but a few scentences.

"B-but...But S-Ser Artorias…" Arkon whimpered "M-My helm…"

"You are free to remove it if you want." Gwyndolin dismissed "The issue was the Knights engaging in carnal behaviour when they were supposed to be on duty."

"So...He doesn't have to wear the helmet all the time?" Marie's laughter died down as she asked the question.

"No."

The Queen gave a low hum as she slowly turned to Arkon, the Knight was still frozen on the spot. "Hear that?" the woman giggled "You can take the helmet off."

"I...I don't want to." Arkon replied stoutly, standing tall and not looking in the Queen's direction. Marie pouted and crossed her arms.

Sanson and d'Eon shared a moment as they rolled their eyes, the latter realising they had done something in common with the former and frowning slightly. Sanson winced at the display and looked back down at the campfire.

"Come on…" Marie poked his armoured shoulder "Take of the helmet...please~?"

"N-no."

Gwyndolin seemingly blinked to themselves as they watched the Knight fumble "Lady Quelaag was right. This is amusing."

"While I'm very glad you're happy." Ash drawled he turned to Ritsuka "How are we going to get the supplies back?"

Ritsuka blinked then furrowed his brows, looking to the box and then snapping his fingers with a look of realisation "Anyone got a pen and paper I can borrow?"

"We've got an incoming Rayshift from France." Maxwell called out, the room sparking to life "No life forms or Servants it…" the man frowned "It looks like a Standard Chaldea issued supply crate."

"They must have found some of our supplies then." Romani let out a relieved sigh as he leaned back into his chair "That's good, suppose we'll have some good news for the Director then."

"Is that…" Da Vinci leaned forwards to stare out the window of the control room "Is that a note on top of the box?"

"Eh?" Romani frowned, then squinted his eyes. Sure enough, on top of the pile of crates was a square piece of paper. "Huh...I suppose with communications down, that might have been the best they could manage." the Doctor surmised with a nod "That's quite creative of them."

"Naturally." Da Vinci boasted "They have been in the presence of a genius after all."

"Are...are you taking credit for them leaving a note on a box and sending it to us?" Romani asked incredulously. Da Vinci's proud smirk only confirmed that in his mind. "I should have known the answer to that." the man sighed, pushing himself away from his desk and standing up "Should probably go and read it." he muttered, quickly making his way towards the door.

"Found some food." Romani whittled off out loud as he skim read the note "Not all of it. Person from Ash's world is selling it off. Also might own his box of stuff." Romani blinked at that, looking to Da Vinci and seeing her own expression of surprise, the pair shrugged and looked back at the note "Following trail now."

The man looked away and handed the note to Da Vinci and he scanned the several boxes sent back "Well, its not much but its better than nothing I suppose." he sighed "Still...we were robbed by another world hopping Servant?" the man cringed "How bad is our luck?"

"You didn't read the P.S. at the end." Da Vinci dryly put, the Doctor blinked at her as she handed the note back to him.

"P.S. we found Artemis." Romani read the note, then inhaled before looking back at the Caster "...Should we...call the Director?"

"Let her have her nap." Da Vinci replied with a small shake of her head "I'd say she's earned it...also running into a Goddess from our world might set her off again."

"Probably." Romani replied with a sigh "...Want some coffee?"

"If you're making it."

"I'll go ask Archer."

AN: Dumplings part 2

Patches Discovered and Ash can't even muster the strength to be surprised. And Artorias is a womaniser...no surprises there.

First encounter has been solved, meaning we're onto our Next encounter!