Moon Goddess and the Dumplings: VI

The pillar of light shooting up from the shield signified the last of the supplies from the cave being sent back to Chaldea. Ritsuka and Mash let out a relieved breath before the boy pulled out his communicator and flashed up a screen.

To his surprise, it wasn't Romani who greeted him.

"I understand you have successfully recaptured all our missing supplies." Olga's stern face spoke to him with mildly pleased look on her face "Excellent. The pantry is being restocked and we will perform a full inventory to see how much is missing and whether we will need to schedule a resupply Rayshift in the near future."

The woman brought a mug up to her lips and took a sip, earning a raised eyebrow from Ritsuka.

"What?" She frowned at the odd look she received "What is it?"

"Sorry, Director." Ritsuka scratched the back his neck with a sheepish look on his face "I...well I was expecting Roman to greet me. I didn't know it would be you."

"I had initially wanted to leave it in his hands until he informed me of the other issue present." Her eyes flicked past him and a mild frown came to her face "Where is Ash?"

"He's over there." Ritsuka turned his hand to give the woman a better look at the Servant, who was currently staring up at the sky with his arms crossed in front of him.

"What is he doing?"

"Trying to find a way out of here."

"Way out of where?" Olga narrowed her eyes, shooting Ritsuka suspicious look "Where are you?"

"We are stuck in a cave, Director." Mash answered dutifully "Unfortunately our discovery of the supplies did come at the cost of an encounter with Patches and being pushed into the bottom of a ravine." the lilac haired girl looked over to Ash with a slightly troubled expression "According to Ash-san, this is a common theme with encounters with Patches."

"So...you're stuck?"

"No really." Ash called out to them from his spot, turning his head down from staring at the mouth of the drop and towards the Director "We need only wait for Gwyndolin to arrive and throw down an illusionary rope." he paused for a few moments "Or we could jump."

"Could you even make that jump?" Ritsuka asked, Ash paused for a few moments before looking back up towards the closest edge to the drop.

"Well its...um...A first time for everything." He offered "Can't be that hard."

"It looks like a twenty metre drop at the lowest, Ash-san." Mash replied with a small frown as she stared up "I do not know if I can jump that high and there is not a lot of room for a running start."

"Fine." Olga sighed, taking another sip of her coffee "Where is the God?"

"He's with Artemis-" He was cut off when Olga spat out her coffee and broke into a violent cough, her face soon going red as Romani's panicked voice rang out in the background before she darted off screen. The coughing continued however. "Is she alright?"

"S-she's fine." Romani's face appeared on the screen, doing his best to appear composed although the way he kept looking over in the direction of the coughing Director off-screen put a damper on his confident expression "J-just a little surprised is all."

Mash squinted her eyes at Romani "You did tell her about Artemis-san, didn't you?"

Romani froze like a deer in the headlights before a nervous chuckle managed to evict itself from his throat as he looked everyone that wasn't in the direction of gradually intensifying expression of disappointment that the Shielder was sporting "W-well...I...um...w-when you've already got one Moon Goddess with you-"

"Doctor. Gwyndolin is a Male."

"Y-yeah, I know that…." He affirmed "B-but well...um...I...no." he slumped his shoulders and looked down "I didn't tell her."

"Why didn't you tell her, Doctor?"

"Because I forgot." He muttered out lowly in a defeated tone of voice.

"You forgot to mention the addition of a second Divine Spirit!?" The Director's voice screamed out through the monitor, Romani flinched in response and continued to stare at the ground. Partially out of embarrassment that he had indeed forgotten. Although most of the reason was fear of what he would see when he looked up. The Director was scary when she was angry and Romani was not really a brave man.

"Fine!" She shouldered back onto the screen and pushed the man aside "We'll discuss this later." huffing out her continuation, she turned to the others "So the individual who we believe to be in possession of your box of assorted mystic codes is in this singularity?"

"Yes." Ash nodded in response "If he doesn't have my Bottomless box then I don't know who does."

"Very well." Olga nodded her head and turned to Ritsuka "Once you have manages to escape your current predicament, your next objective will be to retrieve Ash's missing repository. Considering the boon it would provide Chaldea."

"Yes, Director."

"Report back when you have succeeded." The screen cut out and left the four alone in the cave.

"I find myself curious." Solaire spoke up for the first time in a while, the others turned to him with similar looks of curiosity "How long will it be until Lord Gwyndolin does arrive to rescue us?"

"...I am not sure." Ritsuka replied with a blank expression before he looked away from them and towards nothing. He remained silent for a few more moments before he turned back to the group "He says he's coming now."

"I heard." Ash replied, Ritsuka blinked and then sent him a look of confusion.

"You did, Ash-san?" Mash looked surprised before she realised something "Ah, that's right! Astolfo-san was able to communicate with all of us in France as well, wasn't he?"

"Aren't they supposed to?"

"Not normally, no." Mash shook her head before a thoughtful look came onto her face "Perhaps it is because all the Servants have you as their Master that they are able to communicate."

"So...I'm like a Walkie talkie?" Ritsuka sweatdropped as Mash sent him a wide smile and a rapidly nodding head.

"That's it, Senpai!" Her smile remained until she noticed the slightly defeated look on Ritsuka's face "I-I mean...um...You aren't a walkie talkie, Senpai." she assured him with as much confidence, somehow that only made him feel worse.

"Would it make us look like fools if we asked what a 'Walkie Talkie' was?" Solaire whispered to Ash as he stood to the side of his fellow Sunlight Warrior.

"I find that whenever I hear words that I do not understand, it is normally better to ignore them completely." Ash replied to him in an equally quiet tone "Unless I feel as though I am missing something of vital importance...it is possible that their description of 'Walkie Talkie' is like the soap stone messages...but carried through the mind."

"Ahhhh." Solaire nodded his head and made a noise of understanding "Yes, that would explain much."

The group waited for a further five minutes until a ladder seemingly manifested itself towards the side of the cavern, leading upwards towards the hole in the ceiling.

"That'll be Gwyndolin." Ash grunted as he made for the ladder "This is nostalgic." he mused as he grasped onto the first bar and pulled himself up before he climbed upwards.

"You mean climbing really high ladders?" Ritsuka asked in confusion, it was further cemented when Solaire walked past him and offered a nod.

"Indeed, it was often that you could not go very far without encountering one in Lordran." The Sun Knight chuckled as he began to climb as well "I dare say that our world produces the best climbers of ladders."

"That sounds like a weird achievement to boast about." Came the reply from the Master before he shrugged "Although given that our only escape is currently a ladder, I cannot really say its useless skill right now." turning to Mash he extended his arm.

"You can go ahead, Senpai." Mash replied with a supportive look "If you fall it will be easier for me to catch you if I am behind."

Ritsuka stared at her with a conflicted expression "I'm torn between being grateful at how much you are looking out for my well-being or being a little sad that you think I would fall." he mumbled to himself causing the girl to freeze on the spot with wide eyes "I'll just go with the former." he chuckled causing her to pout at him.

"That was mean, Senapi."

"Heh." Ritsuka gave a single laugh as he began to climb "Its been a long night, let me have this."

"Hmmm." Mash gave a dry hum in response as she followed after him and began to climb up towards the outside world as well.

Ash's armoured hand clamped around the dirt as he pulled himself out of the hole, pushing himself up he rose back up to his full height and stepped away from the ladder before taking in the sight in front of him. His eyebrow was cocked behind his helmet although the palpable aura of bewilderment was apparent considering both of the Gods gave him a tired look in response.

"Pal…" Orion ground out with a tone of exasperation "It's a long story."

"I imagine so." Ash replied with a slow nod of his head "Does it relate to the loud noises we heard earlier?"

"I'd say so." The bear chuckled "Missed a heck of a fight, you did."

"From the looks of things, I assume you are correct." He responded as he looked the two up and down.

"Feels like a trip down memory lane." Solaire's voice came from behind Ash as he crested the gap and reached the surface, walking off the ladder and towards his fellow Saber "Lord Gwyndolin, it is pleasant to see you again." he bowed his head at the God.

The Lord offered a small wave of their hand in response before the Knight turned away from him and towards the woman, starting in surprise at the way she floated a foot above the ground.

"Apologise, My Lady." Solaire offered "I am afraid I might appear presumptuous, but as you have the aura of a Lord about you I can only assume you are the Lady Artemis I have heard about. I am Solaire of Astora, most humble knight of the Sunlight Covenant."

"Yep, I'm Artemis of the Moon!" She replied with a childlike gleeful tone as she pointed towards the pattern on his chest "I like the little sun you have on your armour, it reminds me a bit of Apollo with the funny face."

"...Indeed." Solaire responded with a slow nod "Sir Ash spoke of you being a Goddess of the Moon?" he pondered aloud before he came to a realisation "Ah, you must be a Goddess of this world, are you not?"

"She is." Solaire stared down at the doll as it spoke in a masculine voice "I'm Orion...I'm a man in a bear toy." the Knight continued to stare at the bear for a few moments before he slowly craned his head over to Ash.

"I thought you had exaggerated."

"I did not...much as I assume Orion wishes I had." Ash replied with a small shrug "Not exactly a fate I would wish on someone."

"Quite so." Solaire muttered as he turned back to the bear "You have my sympathies, good sir."

"Thanks." Orion sniffled "Really...Thank you."

"Darling is fine." Artemis giggled as she hugged the bear tighter "Aren't you Darling? You get to be around me all the time."

"Yeah...Totally worth being stuck in a child's toy for a body."

Before Artemis could reply, a heavy panting soon came to their ears. The group all turned their heads towards the ladder leading out of the cave just in time to see the sweating face of Ritsuka emerge from the drop, the boy was panting and had a slight flush about him as he dragged himself onto the ground and rolled down the slight incline until he was staring up at the sky and flat on his face.

"N-no...more...ladders…" He panted out heavily, his arms felt sore and despite all the press-ups he had done with Verndari, it didn't matter much when he had spent virtually his entire time walking around only to then climb up a twenty metre ladder. That and he hadn't eaten anything yet.

"Geez, kid." Orion chuckled "Can't have been that bad."

"Indeed." Solaire nodded before he cupped his chin and hummed "Although we undead do such activities all the time, that and we have a higher level of endurance to normal humans...perhaps it is more difficult than I imagined?"

Ritsuka sent him a dry look as he brought air back into his lungs.

"Might just be him though." Orion argued back as he pointed his little stumpy arm towards the ladder "She seems fine to me."

Mash crested the drop completely before she shot Ritsuka a concerned look and jogged over to him "Are you alright, Senpai?" as for the girl herself, she looked no worse for wear despite having taken the same climb and done a great deal more physical exertion than the Master over the course of the Singularity.

"Y-yeah…" Ritsuka panted out "Just...just give me...a moment…" gulping in another mouthful of air he slowly turned his head towards Gwyndolin and Artemis before his brows furrowed together "What...what happened to you...two?"

Gwyndolin's once pristine white robes were torn in several spots and covered in dirt, one of the spokes of his helmet was flat out missing and there were signs of bruising along his arm. Despite looking better than Gwyndolin, Artemis was still covered in some light dusting of what looked like soot.

In other words, they looked as though they had been through a fight.

"Thou should be…" Gwyndolin trailed off and let out a tired sigh "Forget it. We found another of the missing supplies and fought to retrieve them from a Servant." he explained.

"How many boxes of supplies?" Ash tilted his head.

"One."

"I see." He nodded his head "...We found the rest of them."

Gwyndolin exhaled through his nose "...Is that right?" slowly turning his head towards the box behind him, he seemingly stared at it with disappointment "Hmmm."

"Thanks for recovering it though, Gwyndolin-san." Mash offered with a grateful look, obviously sensing the Lords mild annoyance and hoping to abate him "Also it must have been a tough Servant for both you and Artemis-san to be pushed so far." she went on, gesturing to their current conditions.

"Yes…" The God admitted after a few moments "Yes, I suppose that is true. Now…" He turned his head back to them "Where is the pygmy cur who stole the supplies to begin with?"

"Patches won't have strayed far from where we last were." Ash remarked as Mash helped Ritsuka get back to his feet, the unkindled crossed his arms and hummed to himself "If I were to hazard a guess...Likely still waiting where the initial drop is."

"So…" Ritsuka let out a breath as he looked around "That way?" he pointed East, the direction they had travelled through the tunnels to reach the cavern they had just left "Well...what are we waiting for?" he asked with a breathless smile.

"...Do you want me to carry you, Senpai?" Mash offered with a faint smile, Ritsuka stared at her for a few seconds before he replied.

"I...don't think that will be necessary...but thanks for the offer."

"Dumbass." Orion rolled his button eyes "Passing up an opportunity to embrace a lovely maiden like-OUCH!" Artemis silenced his comments by clamping her hand tightly around his fluffy head and squeezing with a fixed smile on her face.

Patches liked to consider himself a man of reason through and through. Honest, he was. That meant that he knew when best to deal with whatever situation presented itself to him. If he needed to remind someone of the downsides of being greedy, then he would leap at the opportunity.

It was best to remind everyone not to be too attached to earthly desires, that was the fastest way to hollow.

Regardless, there were times when he knew when was a good time to be a teacher of sorts.

And there were times to be appeal to ones reason and their capacity for forgiveness.

"There he is!" A certain unkindled's voice heralded that perhaps it was time to take up the secondary approach to situations "You little rat!"

Or perhaps they weren't in a forgiving mood. Still, he could do his best.

Putting on his best smile to hide his nervousness, he widened his arms towards them in a friendly manner "H-hello again frie-"

Ash tackled him the second he was in range, sending them both to ground before he straddled the man and grabbed the leather collar, hoisting him up and cocking his fist back, preparing to deliver a punch to his face.

"Wait! Wait!" Patches pleaded with slightly wide eyes "Honestly! I didn't really mean it! It was a lapse in judgement, that was all!"

The darkened visor of the helmet stared impassively back at him as the other Servants slowly crowded around him and blocked off any avenue of escape, all of those with faces that were visible held open looks of hostility. "You can't blame me! It's just how I am! I am trying to turn over a new leaf, honest I am."

"A new leaf." Ash replied in a tone full of disbelief "Really?"

"I wouldn't lie, would I?"

"Hmmm." Ash's hum was full of scepticism.

"I helped you in the end, though." Patches pointed out with a hopeful smile, gesturing to the others "Didn't I? Without me, you wouldn't have found all those little boxes of food you were after, would you?"

"You mean the boxes you were selling?" Ritsuka pointed out dryly as his eyes narrowed in suspicion "How exactly did you get all of them to begin with?"

"You should probably ask her." Patches pointed past them "She's the one who was here first and brought all of them with her." the group followed his pointed finger towards Artemis before they slowly looked back to him.

"You dare." Gwyndolin hissed "We have caught you as the architect of this fiasco and you have the gall to lay your crime at another's feet? Especially at the feet of your betters!? I should rend the flesh from your pathetic hide."

"...That's a little hostile." Patches replied "Honestly, I wouldn't lie about this. I'm no thief, after all."

"So what?" Ritsuka scoffed "Artemis brakes into Chaldea and steals all our supplies just to dump them randomly across a France and it just so happens that you find them and start selling them off?"

"Yes."

"I must say." Solaire spoke, disapproval clear in his tone "This is most unbecoming, although you appear to have the hallmarks of a ruffian. Your treatment of me is most evidential."

"I wasn't the one who was so eager to go looking for treasure." Patches argued back with a frown "Honestly, if you hadn't been in such a rush to fill your pockets, you wouldn't have ended up in that hole to begin with."

Ash remained still, his fist still looming above the man's head before he slowly lowered it and turned to face Artemis "Has anyone else noticed she hasn't denied it yet?" he pointed out after a few seconds. The others all looked around at eachother before Gwyndolin barked out a laugh.

"Honestly? A God stealing food like some mere cut-purse?" He shook his head wryly "The mere thought is nonsense and shouldn't be tolerated for even a split second." turning his head he sent an amused smile at Artemis "Is that not correct Lady Artemis…" he trailed off and frowned when he noticed the Goddess was biting her lip and pointedly looking at the sky so as to avoid the stares of everyone else.

"Artemis-san?" Mash spoke in an almost betrayed tone of voice "It isn't true, right?"

"Oh boy…" Orion sighed "What did you do now?"

"W-well…" Artemis coughed, letting out a nervous chuckle as she looked back down and nervously fidgeted on the spot "A...its really a funny story when you hear about it fully."

"You have got to be shitting me." Ash growled "Really?"

Ritsuka sent him a surprised look before one of realisation came to him "You've been spending too much time with Cu Chulainn, haven't you?" he mumbled to himself before sending a flat look towards the Goddess "So...you stole our supplies?"

"It wasn't really intentional." Artemis countered with a slight shrug over her shoulders "At first all I wanted was the dumplings."

"Why?" Solaire cocked his head to the side.

"Because its a moon festival!" She pouted "They're offerings so I thought I would help myself." her tone of voice came across as though the answer she provided made the most logical sense in the world. Judging by the unanimous deadpan looks she received from everyone – and the disgusted look from Patches – it was clear her reasoning wasn't well received.

"And how does that translate to stealing an entire pantry?" Gwyndolin questioned further with a slight hint of irritation in his tone of voice.

"Well…" She chuckled "I underestimated Chadea's defences...and well…" she gave an innocent smile and a helpless shrug "I ended up getting trapped. So at that point it just became easier to Rayshift the entire pantry down with me. The swordsman chasing after me didn't help matters and I accidentally dragged him with me."

"Kojiro-san." Mash realised with a nod of her head before she stared at Artemis in disappointment "Artemis-san…"

"What?" The Goddess replied as if she hadn't done anything wrong "I had hoped to get the dumplings but Altera got to them first...then it would have been a hassle trying to get the offering back so…" she shrugged before beaming "But everything worked out in the end, right?"

"No it didn't you airhead!" Orion cried out "You just flat out admitted to stealing from these people and playing them for suckers!"

"I didn't steal." Artemis replied "I collected my dues. There's a difference…" she paused and looked confused "Isn't there?"

"See?" Patches replied "No thievery from me. I just see a bunch of boxes laying around and thought I would take advantage of a good situation is all. Of course then those beasts turned up but I figured you'd probably take care of them."

"I'm sure." Ash dryly remarked as he sent a brief glance towards the man before turning back to the Goddess and then to Ritsuka "What now?"

"What I would like to do is have a very pointed conversation with someone about the difference between theft and collection." Ritsuka sharply remarked as he sent a pointed look towards the Goddess, who – for her part – simply continued to appear as the picture of innocence "But if I'm being honest...I'm tired and I want a nap."

"Ah, a man of forgiveness then." Patches nodded his head with a pleased smile "Really, I knew I had you figured for a reasonable one. Much like your friend here." his smile turned towards Ash before it faltered slightly and turned into a frown "Hmm...You seem a little different."

"I'm missing something important." Ash remarked coldly "It is a small box which holds items of great value to me...does it sound familiar?"

"Ah, yes." Patches nodded his head quickly "Thought you would come back for that...but its a little more than that." he hummed "Oh well, not my place to comment on it. Although I don't know why you're so upset, if you're going to leave these things lying about for anyone to pick up."

"I didn't leave it 'lying about'." Ash replied "I most certainly do not remember parting with it."

"And you think I stole it?" Patches put on a shocked face "I am wounded. Truly. That you think so low of me...honestly, what is the world coming to when you suspect little old Patches of being a common thief?"

"Do not test me, Patches." Ash tightened his grip around the man's collar "I want my box back. I know you have it and I want to know how. I remember holding onto it before I ventured into the kiln."

"I know you did." Patches nodded his head "Although you probably should keep better hold of your possessions. A burning city is an easy place to lose something if you aren't careful."

Ash tilted his head "A burning city? I never had my box in a…" he trailed off, Ritsuka and Mash's eyes widened at the insinuation "What do you mean?"

"Well...someone got hit a little too hard in the chest by a certain strong armed cleric." He spat the word as if it were poison "And dropped something important. When I noticed they hadn't come back to claim it I thought I would help myself."

"EH!?" Mash let out a shocked cry "B-but that would mean-!"

"You were in Fuyuki!?" Ritsuka blurted out in surprise "But how!? We would have seen you!"

"Would you?" Patches raised an eyebrow at him "Really?"

"Then...I was summoned with my Bottomless box?" Ash replied back in a strangely distant tone of voice "And I...dropped it?"

"Really, you should be thanking me for picking it up." The man grinned "If I hadn't...well…" he tutted and shook his head "Who knows what could have happened? It might have been lost forever."

Ash stared at him for several more seconds before he released the man and slowly returned to his feet "Just...just give me my box Patches." he asked in a tired tone of voice, although he still sounded shocked at the circumstances.

"Well…" Patches huffed as he climbed back to his feet and dusted himself down "Since you asked soooo~ nicely." he reached out behind him and unveiled a small wooden box, with a rusted iron clip at the front "Here. Still in one piece."

Ash reached out and took it from the man's hands, looking at it for a few moments with an aura of confusion before glancing back at Patches "...Nothing is missing, I hope?"

"Given your track record of finding me, I thought better of it." Patches replied with a frown before he narrowed his eyes "And given it was yours I thought better of attempting to take what I could. I'm not greedy or stupid enough for that."

"But it would be a different story if I was dead, no doubt." Ash remarked in a knowing tone of voice.

"You're the one who said it." Raising his hands in surrender, Patches took a single step back "Although I won't attempt to correct your assumptions. Still, I'm glad we've all decided to forgive and forget."

"There is the matter of you attempting to kill my Master." Mash called out in a cold tone of voice and narrowed eyes "I feel as though that is something that needs punishing."

"I did just return your lost items." Patches replied "I think that had earned me some forgiveness, no?" his smile was one of complete innocence. "Besides…" the smile fell and was replaced with a slightly curled lip "You've got someone else to thank for being here, haven't you?" his eyes darted over to Artemis.

The Goddess was still humming to herself despite the almost deadly glare Gwyndolin seemed to be aiming at her.

Ritsuka withheld a groan as he knew this would have to be nibbed in the bud "Fine." he huffed before levelling a pointed finger at Patches "This is over, for now. Although so help me if you try to push me off a clip again-"

"If you're gullible enough to fall for it." Patches shrugged his shoulders "Besides, I think we've all learned a valuable lesson here. Right?"

"I'm content." Ash shrugged his shoulders, strapping the box to his hip "I've got what I wanted and our supplies are back in Chaldea." he turned to Artemis and sighed "The only issue remains with what to do with her?"

"I'm glad we know where our priorities lie." Patches went on, still backing away from everyone "I'll be seeing you around."

"Wait a moment!" Mash span towards him "How were you in Singularity F? It doesn't make sense! All the Servants were accounted for and we didn't summon you!"

Ritsuka's eyes climbed up his brow as he realised that particular point before he span around to face the man. Patches remained blank faced at their inquisitive expressions before he cracked a small smile.

"Amazing the types of tricks you can pick up when you're around long enough." He chuckled before holding up his hand and pressing his middle finger and thumb together "Who knows? Maybe we'll meet again. If we do, be sure to visit Trusty Patches emporium!" he snapped his fingers.

And vanished.

"What the Hell!?" Ritsuka recoiled with wide eyes before he threw his hands up "You know what? I'm done. We got the box and we got the food. I'm getting out of here." he moved for his communicator "I'm calling Chaldea and going back."

"And leave our thief unpunished?" Gwyndolin frowned.

"Is it truly wise to fight another God of the Moon, Lord Gwyndolin?" Solaire asked, quite thoroughly lost as to a majority of the conversation that took place. The God raised a finger to answer and opened their mouth before they froze and snapped their jaw shut.

"...No." He sighed "No it isn't." slowly turning to Artemis he cracked a crooked smile "As far as betrayals of trust go...it was''t that grievous." pausing he seemed to mull over something in his head "Also I would not object to continuing our discussion at a later date."

Artemis eyes glowed "You mean about discussing your chances of finding lov-"

"Lets go! Now!" Gwyndolin loudly interrupted her and made for the trio "Return us to Chaldea with haste!"

Ritsuka stared at him before looking to Solaire and Artemis "You two want to come?"

Solaire held up his hand "I would feel more comfortable being summoned, as it is my role as a Sunlight Warrior to aid my summoner. While it makes little difference to you, to be summoned for such a role by such individuals would mean a great deal to me." he chuckled "If I am being honest, it would feel as though I cheated if I were to accept your offer right now."

Mash furrowed her brows "But you want to help-"

"He wants his fair chance at being summoned." Ash explained "Its simply that it would be more natural for him to be summoned than to actively join us."

Mash frowned, not quite understanding what the difference was although it looked like Solaire wasn't going to budge on it. Artemis, for her part, shook her head.

"I feel as though there is something I have to do before I let you summon me." She replied in a negative as well "Although I know you eventually will! I look forward to it and so does Darling! Don't you Darling?"

"I am so sorry about the mess she has caused!" The bear cried out "Really! I am sorry!"

"R-right…" Ritsuka nodded his head "Lets just go back…"

"One more thing." Ash spoke up just before Ritsuka reached for his communicator "I think it would be best if we do not tell the Director that I lost my Bottomless box in my first summoning."

"Why not?" Mash tilted her head.

"How do you think she would react if she learned that I had something like this-" He lifted up the box to showcase it "-and lost it so easily?"

Mash and Ritsuka both imagined the reaction that would have, and the pair of them both withheld grimaces. Suffice to say, they were both confident that the Director would not be pleased to learn of Ash's butter fingers.

"Yeah...probably best we don't." Ritsuka chuckled.

"We're back!" Ritsuka cried out as he exited his coffin "We got the supplies, Director!" he replied with a relieved smile "And we also managed to find and retrieve Ash's Bottomless Box."

The Director remained impassive for a few moments before a fleeting pleased smile appeared on her face "Excellent." she turned to the Saber "I assume you have no qualms about the contents?"

"I would need to see what I have within it." Ash replied "I often collected items that would have been of very little use to me. Others might find them useful, however."

"We can deal with that later." The woman nodded her head "What is important is that it has been recovered and now we can return to…" she sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose "We can return to the festival of the Moon."

"Still on?" Ritsuka asked, before the Director could answer Gwyndolin strode past them with a dismissive look on his face.

"Of course the festival is still on. As God of the Moon, i wouldst beest most displeas'd if 't be true t w're cancell'd." He paused just at the entrance to the door before turning and looking over his shoulder "Anoth'r matt'r is yond the returneth of the unkindled's livings is less of a matt'r of theft and m're yond that gent did drop it immediately aft'r his arrival. Just so thou art acknown."

Ash froze at the words, Ritsuka and Mash chose that moment as well to quickly follow after the God as he departed from the room. Not before the pair of them sent the Saber servant equal looks of sympathy.

Olga took a few moments to understand the exact words she had heard before they registered in her head.

Unfortunately, Ash could pinpoint the exact moment that she did by the way her expression suddenly darkened significantly and she levelled a rather pointed glare in his direction.

"What exactly does he mean by that, Saber?" Her use of his title rather than his name earned a flinch from the undead as he began to curse the God in his mind.

"W-well...you see…" Ash stuttered "It is a most...unfortunate tale of events."

"Uh huh." Olga gave him a flat look as she placed her hands on her hips and began to rapidly tap her foot against the ground "Immediately after your arrival?"

"It...um...well…"

Ritsuka and Mash hurried through the corridors as they followed after Gwyndolin, the latter sporting a minor look of disapproval aimed at the Gods back.

"That was mean, Gwyndolin-san." Mash chided "We agreed not to tell the Director about Ash-san's unfortunate incident with his Bottomless Box."

Gwyndolin paused and looked over his shoulder "I think you will find I agreed to no such thing." he pointed out before turning away and continuing his march through the hallways "Also, if he did not wish to become a victim of such situations then he should not have been so eager to openly ridicule me." he went on "An unkindled should know better than to tempt a Lord's wrath."

"...Did you really hate the time you spent with Artemis, though?" Ritsuka asked with a raised eyebrow.

"That doesn't matter." Gwyndolin responded instantly "Her personality and being aside – while certainly insulting to me on a personal basis – it is still the principle of a Lord being mocked by an undead. Such things cannot be overlooked." the Gods tone took on a more vindictive air to it "That and I am the Captain of the Darkmoon Knights...as such it is my duty to oversee the punishment of enemies of the Gods."

Ritsuka and Mash looked at eachother as the God gained distance on them as they made for the room where the pair suspected most of the Servants still were.

"Well…" Mash spoke in a hopeful tone of voice "Perhaps the Director will be understanding of Ash-san?"

"Perhaps." Ritsuka replied with a nod of his head.

"YOU DROPPED IT WHERE!?" The scream echoing through the hallway originating from behind them instantly put an end to that notion.

"Then again, perhaps not."

Moon Goddess and the Dumplings: Event Concluded

AN: First Event finished. I liked it.

Ash has his bottomless Box back so we have an excuse to shift things up a bit. Now to be clear. Ash is a Pyromancer. So don't expect too much in the way of Sorcery type questions.

That is for the Bearer of the Curse to have.

Bear that in mind when we go through Ash's bottomless box items. His Intelligence and Faith are both going to be at 25 because that is the highest requirements of the Pyromancies but he doesn't have either a Catalyst or a Talisman because he never used Miracles or Sorcery.

Also. Soul Transposed weapons.

Only Ash can draw out their full strength, well him and Archer anyway. Its like if another Servant picked up Excalibur. If its a weapon with a passive effect like Gundyr's halberd being indestructible then it doesn't matter. But to actually use the full legend is something only Ash can do.

Of course all other weapons are fair game. But they aren't Noble Phantasms, just really good weapons. Kind of like Kojiro's sword. It isn't a Noble Phantasm.