Fate: Oppression

by Gavius

Alaya is gone. The Counter Force is gone. Without them, the Throne of Heroes released all the Heroes on Earth against the planet's will. When Gaia sensed that the World is on the brink of collapse, she sent its First Hero to fix the mess. Now, Shirou Emiya has to save the day once again. What can a Retired God, a Treacherous Knight and a Boastful King do to save the planet? [AU]

12. Chapter 11 - Interlude II of II

DISCLAIMER: I do not take credit from the Fate universe and its characters. The rights and credits go to the original authors.

Read the notes in the first chapter if you haven't done it already.

This is my very first story. I'm confident in my grammar, but if there are any mistakes, then let me know and I'll try to figure out how to fix them as soon as I have time.

Hope you enjoy.

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FATE/Oppression
-Interlude-

Chapter 11

Planet: Earth
Date: May 20 2020
Location: Llyn Ogwen (Wales)

(======)

He was getting closer.

Shirou drove the car off the highway, exiting the traffic and approaching his destination at a considerable speed. Once he reached the nearest viewpoint and parked his car on the edge of a desolate hill, he got out of the car and headed north. His golden-brown eyes narrowed slightly. His objective, his destination was there, fully in sight in the midst of a series of mountain ranges that bordered its perimeter, illuminated by the sunlight that showed its grandeur and wonder despite its small size.

The Lake. Llyn Ogwen Lake.

Llyn Ogwen was a ribbon lake in north-west Wales. It lied alongside the A5 Road between two mountain ranges of Snowdonia, the Carneddau and the Glyderau. Somewhat unusually, the county boundary at this point was drawn so that the lake itself lied in the county of Gwynedd, but all the surrounding land (excluding the outflow) lied in Conwy County Borough. It lied at a height of about 310 metres above sea level and had an area of 78 acres (320,000 m2). But despite its massive size, it was a very shallow lake, with a maximum depth of only a little over 3 metres. It was fed by a number of streams from the slopes of the mountains which surrounded it, and it was mainly known for the particular legend that hovered over it.

It was said, in fact, that this particular lake was the one into which a certain King had ordered Sir Bedivere to throw a certain Sword, more than 1,500 years ago, when the country was under attack and the kingdom falling into ruin. The very same lake where a certain 'Lady' had picked up the King's Sword and hid it, making it disappear forever from history and human records.

Of course, this wasn't the only lake in the country to claim such a legend. In modern times, legends got bigger, they got more twisted and mysterious as years and centuries passed. Because of this, there were numerous lakes and several legends who claimed to know the final resting place of the Holy Sword. There were dozens of them, actually. The most famous examples were Dozmary Pool – a small lake in the civil parish of Altarnun on Bodmin Moor, Cornwall – and Loch Arthur (also known as Loch Lotus) – a lake in the council area of Dumfries and Galloway in Scotland. Both of them were said to be the place where the King, Arthur, had asked for his most faithful weapon to be thrown after his death.

But Shirou knew better. His knowledge of modern legends left a lot to be desired, sure, but... his instincts were rarely wrong. And besides, Gaia had given him a lot of informations before sending him here. That's how he knew. That's how he was sure that this place, this lake... it wasn't normal. It was special. He knew it, with a clear and crystalline certainty. He could feel it, he could perceive it. The air around the lake was thick and full of traces of mana, the water bursting with magic, the grass and trees that grew around it lush and greener than usual. And all of this without taking into account this strange and familiar feeling that was growing inside him...

Shirou abandoned his questions and walked over to the lake. His eyes surveyed the passing trees and his body reacted to the feeling of some foreign energy sweeping over him. When he reached the shore of the lake, his lips curved into a smile. He was right, this place wasn't normal. The presence of traces of mana and energy that he was perceiving were unmistakable, and left no room for any doubt. There was no mistake. This was the place. He could bet on it.

The traces were faint, extremely faint. So much so that a normal human would not have perceived them at all. Not even a Magus, actually. It was an inevitable consequence, given that in the modern era Magic and Mysteries were decreasing more and more. But to Shirou's trained senses, to his Godly perception and foresight, the truth was as clear as day. It was undeniable.

Something powerful, something mysterious and ancient had resided here in this place, a long time ago. And whatever the entity who had once inhabited this lake was, its presence was now barely noticeable in the existential plane. It was faint, but still barely present.

And that was all he needed.

The God of War didn't waste time. He stepped forward fearlessly, walking with a calm, slow pace into the water of the lake. He advanced slowly, purposefully, walking through the water without any hesitation or fear whatsoever. The lake wasn't deep, it barely reached 3 meters deep at its central point, so it was very easy to advance into it. Shirou walked until the water began to reach his thighs, stopping abruptly as small, cold waves caressed his legs immersed in the lake.

He closed his eyes, expanding his senses. The faint trace of prana that hovered in the air and resided in the water began to resonate with him. It grew, and grew and grew, until his body and the air around him began to pulsate with white, clean, crystalline energy. And then, finally, like the sun rising behind the clouds, a warm and soft light began to envelop him entirely, invigorating his senses and filling his mind with a familiar and nostalgic feeling.

Then, he opened his eyes and turned towards the shore from where he had just arrived. Towards the figure now sitting at the edge of the lake.

A woman of stunning beauty and wreathed in a flowing white dress that reached past her ankles. Perhaps one of the most important individuals during King Arthur's reign.

The Lady of the Lake.

Shirou's lips curled into a nostalgic smile. "...hello there, Vivian."

The woman stood still, motionless, on the shore of the lake. Her eyes were wide, amazed, filled with shock and disbelief as she watched him intently. Then, slowly and carefully, she took a step forward into the water, approaching him with caution and disbelief. Shirou said nothing, waiting for her to spontaneously approach him while he merely observed her. This was the first time the two of them were meeting again after... after nearly five thousand years. It had been a really long time since they last met. So, he knew her hesitation was understandable.

But still, her beauty hadn't changed one bit. The Lady of the Lake was a woman that possessed a beauty that was neither too humble, nor too excessive. He would have called her stunning, but that term was too simplistic to be able to describe her. The woman and her natural demeanor were truly indescribable. She was breathtaking, the kind men would go to any lengths to woo and obtain.

Shirou was aware of her charming looks, absolutely, but he didn't care much about that. He had seen his fair share of stunning-looking women – and Goddesses – in his life. So, that vision was certainly not enough to leave him breathless or love-struck. He was no ordinary man, after all. Just like the Lady of the Lake was no ordinary woman, either. She was not a human being, to tell the truth.

She was a Fairy. One of the oldest and most powerful Fae ever, generated from the inner will of the planet itself.

And because of this, Shirou knew he couldn't mess too much in her presence.

Slowly, her disbelief disappeared, replaced by a calm, pleased fondness. The Lady of the Lake released a soft smile, her body seeming to flicker incandescently before the air snapped suddenly. Then, in the blink of an eye, Shirou spontaneously appeared at a location near her, finding himself on the shore and away from the water.

"So it's really you," she whispered in a soft voice, moving her hips in an almost sensual way as she advanced towards him. "What a pleasant surprise. I never thought I'd see you again… Shirou."

The red-haired God watched her closely as she approached. "You're surprised?"

She stared into his eyes, her gaze studying him from head to toe. "We thought you dead," she admitted in the end, moving closer to him. Her smile was a strange mixture of affectionate provocation and sensuality. "But I had long harbored doubts about your actual demise. I always suspected you weren't really gone as your legend goes. My kind is still locked within the Reverse Side of the World, but some of us are still connected to the Other Side. Rumors of your presence in that realm had reached my ears during the last millennia."

Her smile widened as she took his hand with fondness and joy. "It's good to see that my suspicions were right. I'm glad you're alive."

Shirou held back the urge to laugh at her words. He had been expecting such a thing for a long time. Fairies, unlike most of the other fantastic species, chose not to go to the Other Side of the World as many other creatures did at the end of the Age of Gods; choosing to lock themselves up in the Reverse Side instead. They did so in order to keep closer to the Gods – the living embodiment of their powers and mysteries – in order not to lose their power and their connection to the human race. It was thanks to this decision, also, that some of them had managed to endure and remain connected to the Real Side even throughout history... just like Vivian.

Shirou had always been aware of this. He sighed slowly, glancing at the water. "I figured so. I had no doubt that a powerful and skilled woman like you would be able to stay connected to the Real Side in spite of the separation," he said with amusement.

She giggled at his words, her laughter similar to a cool and soft sensation brushing across him like a light breeze. "Such a flatterer, just like the old times," she giggled, brushing his hand and observing him with eyes filled with affection. "But you're right. Although the Age of Man has lost much of the Magic and Mysteries of the past, I'm still bound and linked to this lake. Therefore, as soon as I felt your call and presence, my power has allowed me to reach you."

Her eyes grew weary at that point. Her fingers tightened their grip to his hand. "But as happy as I am to see you again, my dear friend, I still have to ask you..." she hesitated, looking at him intently. "Shirou, how did you survive to this day? It's been five thousand years… you shouldn't be here. Did-Did you become immortal?"

The man merely shrugged. "See it to yourself," was all he said.

The Lady of the Lake stared at him, long and hard. The two lapsed into silence, Lady Vivian pondering to herself, and Shirou content to remain as he was.

It was only when Lady Vivian unexpectedly placed a hand over his shoulder did the moment pass, her expression quickly faltering. Her eyes first widened in surprise before her brows knit together in consternation and she pulled her hand back.

"T-The blessings of the Fae," she muttered lowly. "So that's why... b-but that's impossible."

He simply smiled knowingly. "It's a bit more complicated than this, but that's a small part of the reason. It was never my choice. I simply found myself in a situation I didn't even know could exist. That's how."

The Lady of the Lake remained still for a moment before nodding her head slowly, long silk-like bangs flowing like a waterfall. "I see," she said, lips pursing together in thought. "To think that Gaia could allow something like this... I apologize, Shirou. I'm considered a woman of thought and vision, but I have never seen something like this before."

"I get that a lot. I'm not easy to understand," he joked with a weary smile.

But she didn't laugh. "...Even if that's the case, I'm sure you've come to me for more than just idle conversation," she said, getting straight to the point.

Shirou nodded, returning as serious as he could be. "Are you aware of the current situation?" he then asked her.

"More or less. Alaya is gone, the Throne is destroyed, Humanity's Will is being distorted, and all the Heroes have been summoned back to Earth. Thanks to my connection to the Real Side, I sensed the change right away. The other Fae grow restless, Shirou. But that's all we were able to see, unfortunately," she explained in a slow, solemn tone.

The Ruler narrowed his eyes. "That's the gist of it. Gaia sent me here to find out what's going on. My job is to stop the War and discover who's behind it."

"Gaia herself decided to send you here? She must be quite desperate," the Lady of the Lake mused, her expression growing grim. "This shows that the current situation is even more serious than it appears. I sense great concern in your tone and eyes."

He nodded again. "Correct. Alaya's disappearance cannot be ignored. There is someone extremely powerful behind all of this, Vivian. Someone who doesn't seem to have positive intentions, given that they're binding the Will of Humanity in some twisted way. I must stop this madness before it's too late."

Lady Vivian stared stoically, her stillness making it seem as if she was simply a doll. She then nodded with a sad expression. "You're right. But I'm afraid I can't help you. I no longer possess my former powers, Shirou. My actions in the Real Side are limited now."

"I think you can, actually," he promptly retorted, observing her with a careful gaze. The woman narrowed her eyes at his seriousness. "Your race and your real body… they're still relegated to the Reverse Side of The World. Your presence here is just a mirage that few, if any, are able to see. So, you're the only one who's able to go to the Reverse Side and return here, even if it's only temporarily. You can discover what's going on there for me."

She widened her eyes, understanding dawning on her features. "The Gods. You think the Gods are behind this..." she said.

"Gaia told me herself. She said that someone more powerful than her, more powerful than the Planet itself, is binding humanity's future in some twisted way. After everything I've seen, I'm inclined to believe it," his experession grew solemn and cold at that point. "Vivian, only a God could possess the power and will to mess with the Counter Force and the Will of the planet itself. You know this too."

"But how? Their power should be long gone by now. Our races no longer have any interaction even in the Reverse Side," she protested. "But, even if it's true... why? Why are they doing this? Why now?"

Shirou didn't answer. Instead, he decided to show her the truth in another way.

With a snap of his fingers, a small cubic object appeared in his hand. "Do you know what this is?" he asked her rhetorically, already knowing the answer to that question.

Vivian blinked in confusion. She walked over to him to study the little cube in his hands. Then, suddenly, she widened her eyes in horror as she realized what it was. "T-This is..."

The God of War nodded. "The Holy Lance. My Holy Lance," he replied, his voice hard and cold and solemn as never before. "One of the most powerful weapons I've ever created; as well as one of the two weapons I entrusted to you after the Ritual on the Rock."

The Lady of the Lake looked down in shame.

Shirou struggled to hold back his irritation and anger. "I know what you did, Vivian. When I disappeared, you and the other Fae have waited for over three thousand years, guarding my most powerful weapons as I requested, waiting for the right moment and time to give them to mankind. Then, fifteen hundred years ago, you gave both the Holy Spear and the Holy Sword to King Arthur. I met her already. I saw her wielding my sword, so there's no use in lying."

The woman nodded with a frown. "…that's right," she admitted quietely.

The Ruler nodded. "Don't worry. I don't and will never blame you for that. Your actions were exactly what I wanted, and what it was supposed to happen. But this," he shook the sleeping cube lightly, glaring at her. "Do you know how I found this? Where I found this? In the hands of a little girl whose past had been cruel and merciless simply because some evil people wanted to use my weapon. Oh, and I almost forgot, I found the girl right during an ambush where a horrifying monster was attacking her in an attempt to take the Lance. That's how I found Rhongomyniad, Vivian."

She swallowed, guilt and shame written all over her face. "...I'm sorry," she breathed.

"I don't want you to be sorry. I want you to understand," he hissed with a tired sigh. "I know it's not entirely your fault... but you should have done something. You took the Sword back after the King's death... you should have done the same with the Lance. That's what I'm saying."

She nodded with a sad, conflicted face. "I know. I miscalculated. Someone took the Lance right after the King's demise, and I was never able to perceive its presence again," was all she said.

Shirou sighed, shaking his head to regain his composure. "However, ignoring the fact that your 'miscalculation' caused a great deal of suffering to an innocent little girl... this situation allowed me to realize something. Someone targeted the Spear. And if that's true, it must be for one reason only: to unlock its full power."

Vivian's brows knit together, her lips pursed. "You mean..."

He nodded. "Yes. I forged Rhongomyniad as a recreation and representation of the tower that fastened the outer layer of the World onto the planet. Its light is exactly this: a recreation of the pillar that fastens together the three sides of the World itself. It's like a key, basically. A key that's able to unlock the three realms if fully turned. A weapon of which it has been said that, in the unlikely event that it was undone, reality would be torn off from the surface of the World to reveal the Reverse Side of the World."

She stiffened, her mind thinking furiously.

"Back then, I created the Holy Spear in order to control the existential plane and ensure the world's security with a key that only I could use," Shirou continued. "You already know that. But then, you gave both the Spear and the Holy Sword away, and after the King's death someone took the Lance, studied it, and realized the true potential behind it. That's why they created this Mystic Code to stop Rhongomyniad from fading… they wanted to preserve it. And if my suspicions are correct, the one who targeted Gray was not Mephistopheles, but the very same person who created the Code. A person who's – most likely – being used by the mastermind of this War to unlock the Spear. That's why, Vivian. That's what whoever is behind this, whoever targeted my Spear, wanted. That was their goal."

The Lady of the Lake widened her eyes. Her breath caught in her lungs. "They wanted to re-enact the Age of Gods," she breathed. "They wanted to bring back the ancient times."

Shirou's eyes were literal steel as he stared at her. "Exactly."

Lady Vivian paused. "And you believe this whole situation is the Will of the Gods?" she asked. "Do you really believe the Gods are using this... unknown Servant to bring back the Age of Gods? I disagree. The scale of the conflict is too extensive. The whole world is at War because the entire Throne disappeared and was summoned back to the planet. Your spear alone cannot be the sole objective of this Holy Grail War, Shirou."

He shook his head. "I never said it was. There is certainly more that we don't know yet behind this War. And maybe, who knows, this Servant might have other intentions completely. But my instincts are warning me about this… and unfortunately, they're rarely wrong. Besides, these tricks, these secret machinations... both you and I know them all too well. Our old enemies used to always act like this back in the days, remember?"

She sighed. "Unfortunately, I can't deny it."

"Then you see my point."

A long silence. "...I do," she agreed in the end.

Shirou sighed as well. "That's why I've decided to keep Rhongomyniad with me, Vivian. I cannot entrust it to others. Not when another Servant might be searching for it and trying to steal it. It will be safer with me, as much as we both hate to admit it."

"And I can't take it back because you wish to send me to spy on the Gods," Vivian mused, deep in thoughts. The Lady of the Lake watched him with furrowed brows as she crossed her arms. "Honestly… we meet again after all this time, and the first thing you ask me is a favor? You haven't changed one bit."

His cold face was all she received after those words.

"We both know the situation is grim, Vivian."

The woman sighed with a small smile. "I was just teasing you, Shirou."

He didn't answer, remaining cold and serious as before. Seeing his impassiveness, Vivian then nodded with a serious expression. "Alright. I'll do as you asked. I'll go back to the Reverse Side and try to find out what the Gods are up to. I'll contact you as soon as I learn something."

Shirou rounded on her, crossing his arms and making the cube disappear with another snap of his fingers. "How? I can't stay here waiting for you. I need to keep moving if I want to stop this chaos."

Vivian looked at him, her expression pensive. "Normally, I would contact you through the Lance... but my connection with Rhongomyniad has thinned after all this time. Since it has been stolen from me for over a thousand years, I am no longer able to do it, Shirou."

"Therefore?" he pressed.

He didn't like the little smile that appeared on the woman's lips. At all. "Why, that's simple, my dear friend. You're not the only one currently possessing a weapon connected with the Fae, are you?" she teased him with a knowing smile.

The man stilled. His eyes narrowed. His lips formed a thin line.

"The King of Knights..."

She nodded. "She still holds Excalibur, Shirou. Your sword now belongs to her, by authority both Gaian and Alayan. It went back to her as soon as she was summoned. Because of this, I can feel her presence here in the world, and reach out to her anytime, if I must," she explained slowly. "She'll be the one to give you the answers you seek. She'll be our intermediary."

Shirou nodded, lost in his reasoning, accepting that decision without a second thought. It was both efficient and swift, so he had no reason to refute. Then, however, his expression turned stern and his golden-brown eyes narrowed as he remembered another detail.

"Speaking of the King... there's another little, tiny detail that I couldn't help but notice as soon as I met her…" he said, fixing the Fairy with an inquisitive gaze.

Vivian's smile disappeared immediately under his sudden gaze. Her body stilled, already aware of what was coming.

"...you gave it to her," Shirou continued right after that, his voice cold, low, and devoid of any emotions. "Not only the Holy Sword and Spear... but that, as well?" he was growing visibly angrier by the second. "You gave it away after I explicitly asked you to keep it hidden?"

The Lady of the Lake's expression grew solemn. "It was the only way," she answered.

"Don't mess with me," he hissed again, frowning in irritation and disbelief. "You gave it to her. I can understand the Sword and the Lance... I get it. But that, Vivian? You decided to give her that too? You gave my ultimate and most powerful creation to a simple woman? You ga-"

"Shirou," the woman cut him off gently, placing a hand on his arm to calm him down. The God hesitated and fell silent, staring at her expression which was both sad and determined at the same time. "...I'm sorry, but it was the only way. I had no choice. Please, try to understand it," she repeated with resolution.

The red-haired Ruler clenched his fists as realization crept into his mind. "So that's why she was..." he whispered, interrupting himself with a sigh and a shake of the head.

"It was inevitable. It was meant to be, Shirou. I couldn't go against Alaya and Gaia's will," she explained slowly.

Shirou was silent for a long, long time. He turned his head away, staring at the lake, long and hard. Then, he finally found his voice again.

"...where is it now?"

Vivian's expression fell. "She no longer possesses it. But its connection with her remains. I can still call her through its light that resides within her. She's bound to it, Shirou."

He rounded on her, his eyebrow knitted together in irritation. "You didn't answer my question," he said, walking slowly towards her and stopping right in front of the woman, staring at her with his imposing figure. Vivian stared back with a calm, collected expression. "Where is it?"

The Lady of the Lake closed her eyes. "...I don't know," she answered.

"..."

"It was lost before her final battle. Maybe you should ask her about it," she continued, her voice and face perfectly calm as before.

Shirou gritted his teeth. "I gave it to you, Vivian. I asked you to keep it hidden, locked away, forever. And you gave it away like any other weapon," he said, glaring at her. "You gave it to a woman – to a teenage girl – simply because Gaia and Alaya wished for it? Do you have the faintest idea what that Scabbard is? Do you have any idea what could have happened if things had gone wrong? What could have happened to that woman? She she could have been turned in- "

"But it didn't happen, did it?" she interrupted him, solemn and determined.

"That's not the point, Vivian. You put the life of an innocent woman at risk!" he countered vehemently, glaring with force at the Fairy.

She shook her head in a resigned way. "It was meant to be. I had no choice. I couldn't go against the Planet's Will. I'm not a God, I'm not you. I don't have that kind of power."

Her face fell at his disappointed look.

"...I'm sorry, Shirou."

He clenched his fists in obvious frustration, but quickly tried to calm down with a deep breath. Finally, after fifteen seconds of silence, the God of War ran a hand through his hair with a defeated expression. "...so now I have no choice but to rely on her to get your news," he sighed in irritation. "And if that wasn't enough, I also have to find that Scabbard again. That's just great..."

"Unfortunately, that's the way it is," Vivian agreed.

The Ruler sighed again for the umpteenth time, his face tired as he turned his gaze to the water. "It's not that simple. I can't join forces with that woman. I already told this to her and her companions. Not to mention that both my allies are not very… fond of her. And most of all, I can't put my cover at risk because of this. My identity must remain secret, Vivian."

The Lady of the Lake hesitated. Then, all of a sudden, her lips curved into a knowing smile.

"Don't worry, my dear friend. I know how to solve this problem," she spoke softly in the end. Her eyes flickered past the red-haired God, pointing to the shore of the lake, observing something unseen with an amused look and grinning lips.

The Ruler turned, confused by her behaviour, and opened his mouth to question her further. Still, his senses alerted him immediately. Shirou blinked confusedly and turned his head in the direction where the Lady of the Lake was gazing. The very same direction from where he could perceive an incoming source of energy. A source of energy that at this point, after everything that had happened in the last two days, he knew well. Extremely well.

His eyes found it immediately: a person riding a motorcycle and exiting the highway who was fast approaching their position with enviable speed and decision.

A woman.

Shirou closed his mouth with a stunned expession.

When she was close enough, the Ruler watched in confusion as the woman abruptly stopped the motorcycle, parked it right next to his car, stepped out of the two-wheeled vehicle and stared at him from afar with wide, amazed eyes. Despite her unexpected appearance and the distance, that familair face, that golden bun and that pair of emerald green eyes were unmistakable even for him.

Artoria Pendragon had arrived at the lake, looking at Shirou and Lady Vivian with an expression that was both shocked and incredulous at the same time.

Lady Vivian smirked as Shirou placed a palm on his forehead to forestall the feeling of an incoming headache.

"…oh no."

---

Planet: Earth
Date: May 20 2020
Location: Clock Tower (London - England)

(======)

At roughly the same time, the mind of Mordred Pendragon was also at a turmoil.

Her turmoil was due to the fact that a certain member of their group was gone. He had simply left, just like that, without deigning to mention his destination and the purpose of his departure. And this, this awareness... it made her mad. It made her mad beyond words. How dared that Ruler do this? To disappear on her? To ditch them so casually without a second thought?

Unbelievable. He would hear of this, sooner of later.

"Relax, Saber," Iskandar's voice came from her right. The girl found the gigantic Servant while he was reading a history book 'borrowed' from Lord El-Melloi II's immense private library. The Macedonian Emperor didn't seem the least bit upset that a member of his group had decided to leave for an unknown reason. On the contrary, he seemed relaxed and confident as usual. He was still focused on discovering more about human history rather than trying to understand Shirou's intentions.

The Knight of Treachery fixed him with a glare. "Relax? How can you tell me to relax, Rider? That idiot left! He ditched us!"

"He didn't ditch us. He said he would come back in two days, did he not?" he replied promptly, not even looking up from the book he was reading. "There's no need to worry so much about this. He'll be back tomorrow. I'm sure of it."

Mordred paused. "...but still…" she grumbled, crossing her arms as she sat on a red sofa with an expression mixed between a scowl and a pout.

Iskandar sighed, closing his book. "Listen, Saber. We made an alliance. We're comrades, are we not? Therefore, comrades should trust each other. That goes for you too. You should trust him. Have faith in him. The boy must have had his reasons if he chose to leave for a short while. I'm sure he'll tell us about it once he's back," he reassured her, glancing at the blonde girl with a raised brow.

The girl pouted, but she knew the King of Conquerors was right. Despite their rough start and everything they had been through during the first few days of the War, Shirou had proven to be a trustworthy man. He had proven himself worthy of her alliance and cooperation. And if she had to be honest with herself, deep down her heart, Mordred knew she was starting to trust him. She would never admit it out loud – not even under torture – but she was. She was starting to trust him more and more by the day. The man was annoying, overly cheerful and too carefree for her own tastes... but he was a pleasant company nontheless.

And this without including their last 'chat'...

God, that had been embarrassing. Mordred almost flinched at the memory. She mentally scolded herself for her inability to hold back her emotions. She shouldn't have revealed her past so easily. She should never have shown her weakness, her most emotional side to another human being. She shouldn't have cried in front of him. She was a Knight, and Knights were supposed to be strong, fearless, and contemptuous of danger. They weren't supposed to cry. Showing weakness in front of someone was something that would stain their reputation forever.

And yet, at the same time... she didn't feel bad about all that happened. She didn't regret that talk. For some reason, for some reason unknown even to herself, Mordred didn't regret showing her emotions to Shirou. Quite the contrary, it almost felt liberating. As if a gigantic weight that she didn't know she possessed had suddenly been lifted from her. And this realization, even if she still struggled to admit it... it was quite pleasant. It made her feel lightier. It made her feel... not good, but better. Yes, better than before.

It even made her momentarily forget about her Father and their latest interaction.

And this fact alone spoke volumes of the impact that man was having on her.

Mordred was about to say something sarcastic, but she was interrupted when the door to the private library opened all of a sudden. The two Servants turned their head to stare at Lord El-Melloi II as he walked into the room with a resigned expression, followed closely by Gawain and Bedivere. The two Knights looked worse to wear. The worry and sadness in their face and eyes was so heavy it was almost overwhelming. Watching them physically hurt. Even the bold and foul-mouthed Knight of Rebellion almost cringed at their depressed state. She had never seen her fellow Knights of the Round Table so depressed before.

'Tch. Still sulking like kids, I see,' she mentally sighed, shaking her head in irritation.

Iskandar looked at the Magus of the Clock Tower with a serious face. "Any news, young man? Have you managed to locate the King of Knights?"

The young Lord did his best to ignore the devastation in Bedivere's and Gawain's face. He shook his head. "Unfortunately not," he replied with a sigh, sitting on the sofa next to Mordred and pulling out a large cigar. The female Knight glared at him as he lit it right next to her. "Our contacts have not discovered anything yet, and the Tower is unable to pinpoint her location without clues or any source of prana to follow. Wherever she has gone, that woman is hiding really well."

Mordred scoffed with disdain. "As expected of Father. Always causing troubles for everyone," she spat.

For once, the other Knights were too immersed in worry and regret to be able to retort to her words filled with resentment and irritation.

Bedivere was the first to find his voice again. "M-Maybe we should go search for her," he said slowly, trying to hold back his concern and assume a firm expression and tone. "Our King would never have abandoned us without a proper reason. Something might have happened to her."

"I doubt it," Iskandar immediately interjected.

Everyone's eyes fell on him. Mordred, on the other hand, chose to glare at the ground with an angry scowl.

The King of Conquerors set the book down on a shelf, casually taking another one and observing its cover with an arched eyebrow. "That woman is not in danger. If I have to guess the reason behind her disappearance, I'd say she left on her own. What we said to her must have affected her deeply." He sighed a little, shaking his head in disappointment. "Not that I can't understand it. Her way of ruling and the ideals she sacrificed herself for were both foolish and ridiculous. To see everything she stood for being demolished right in front of her eyes... that woman needs to reflect on her actions. I'm sure of it."

"...even if it's true, what do you expect us to do, King of Conquerors? To sit down, wait here and do nothing?" Gawain replied, glaring at the taller Rider.

Iskandar shrugged. "Leave her be. Your King needs to shed some light on her past and her misguided ideals. If she truly is a character of honor as you believe, then she'll come back eventually. There is nothing to fear."

Sheer silence greeted his words.

"...this is ridiculous," Bedivere hissed in the end. "I refuse to stand still and wait while my liege is suffering. I cannot allow that. We must go to her side as soon as possible. It's our duty."

Gawain nodded solemnly in agreement. He looked at Lord El-Melloi II with a serious look. "Mr. Waver, we lost Berserker during the last mission and Lancer is still out of the picture. But what about the Archer allied with our cause? Where is he? Maybe he can help us find our King," he asked.

Mordred jumped in shock. "Wait, there's an Archer allied with the Clock Tower?" she exclaimed, shocked by the revelation. Even Iskandar glanced at the black-haired teacher after hearing that. "And you never told us?" she said with narrowed eyes, glaring at the Lord with barely contained fury.

Waver Velvet sighed with a weary expression. "There was no need to tell you this, sir Mordred," he simply replied.

Then, he turned to the two Knights who were still waiting for his response. "Unfortunately, though, I have no way of contacting him. That Archer... let's just say he's a special case. He's a rather peculiar Servant, and prefers to do things in his own way. I haven't seen him in a week, and I have no idea of his current position. As I already told you guys before our last mission, when we first made contact with him he simply said he would join us in case things got out of hand. I don't even know if he intends to keep his words or if he's been making fun of us so far..."

Bedivere and Gawain bristled in frustration.

Mordred raised a brow after that explanation. "Seems like a shitty Servant to me," she commented dryly, without caring one bit about her crude words. "Who the hell is this guy?"

Lord El-Melloi II sighed. "His name is Robin Hood. He's the first Servant the Clock Tower made contact with at the beginning of the war. And yes, he is... quite the character," he admitted with an irritated frown, trying to dismiss the memories of his first and only encounter with that Archer.

Bedivere stepped forward. "Then give us permission to leave the Clock Tower and search for her," he insisted with absolute seriousness. "We can't stay here while our King is missing. We must-"

"Hey. What's with the long faces?"

Everyone jumped when they heard an unexpected voice.

Waver, Gawain, and Bedivere whirled towards the door, stunned and shocked by the sudden appearance in the room: a third Servant. Mordred narrowed her eyes at the newcomer, while Iskandar merely raised a brow with interest, merely observing the scene in silence.

Everyone already knew who the newcomer was. Some of them had to fight him during the last incident in Edinburgh, after all. That, and his blue hair, red eyes, and aqua blue attire were quite hard to forget. He was unmistakable, also because his whole body gave off the impression of a beast, even carrying a bestial smell that all the Servants in the room could percieve, especially Mordred.

So, his identity was unmistakable.

"Lancer," Lord El-Melloi II greeted him with wide eyes. "I see you've recovered. About time, I must say. You've been asleep for a full day."

The new Servant sighed, stepping into the room without hesitation. Everyone present watched him closely as he scratched his neck with a contrite expression. "Yeah, sorry about that, boss. I got tricked by that Caster bastard. He turned to smoke while we were fighting and took over my body. Forced me to kill Bazett too..." he said with a low, almost rasping voice. His tone carried a lot of shame and regret.

He stared at the man with his red eyes, his face a mixture of solemnity and sorrow.

"I'm sorry."

Waver Velvet sighed with a shake of the head. "...no need. This is a War, Lancer. Bazett knew what she was signing up for. To be a Magus is to walk with death," he merely said, ignoring the feeling of weariness he was currently beginning to feel inside.

The Lancer nodded slowly, letting out another sigh. Then he looked around, observing everyone in the room with a serious look and a raised brow. "Heh... so you must be the other Servants who joined the Clock Tower," he mused with a hint of amusement, tilting his head to the side with a small smirk.

Gawain stared at him. "Cu Chulainn, Ireland's Child of Light," he spoke, watching him carefully. "It's a honor to meet you. Especially in such... less hostile circumstances."

The man, Cu Chulainn, snorted with a grimance. "Yeah, sorry about that. I wasn't really in control of my actions back then," he apologized witha tired frown. "Luckly for me, that Ruler guy managed to free me from Caster's control. I was able to regain my strength thanks to the little Ladies' help. They're quite skilled in Magecraft despite their age."

"Of course they are. They're my students, after all," Lord El-Melloi II nodded with a hidden smile, crossing his arms as he finished his cigar.

The blue Lancer turned to watch Mordred and Iskandar, his red eyes narrowing slightly under the cold, suspicious look they were giving him. He stared at them for a while as well.

Then, he smirked out of nowhere. "Keh. You two must be Ruler's friends," he realized, studying both them from head to toe. He seemed particularly interested in Mordred, given the way in which he watched her for several seconds, much to her irritation. "The little Ladies told me about you and your current situation. I suppose I owe you a thank you. If it weren't for your friend, I'd still be controlled by a crazy, murderous Servant by now. Or I would have been killed by an angry King of Knights. I'm glad that's over, really."

Seeing that the man was not hostile, Mordred decided to remain silent and say nothing.

Iskandar, from his part, smiled broadly and laughed with his boastful behavior. "That was an unfortunate situation you ended up to, Lancer. But now that's over, and it's good that we're able to talk and discuss in a peaceful manner. It is always better to have more allies than enemies. Don't you agree too, Saber?" he asked, glancing at his companion.

She scoffed. "Whatever."

Cu Chulainn widened his smirk "Hoh? She's feisty one, isn't she?"

The female Knight glared at him. "What did you say?" she growled.

"My bad, my bad," he quickly dismissed her with a wave of his hand. The new Servant looked around confusedly at that point. "But wait... where are Ruler and the King of Knights? I expected to find them here with you."

All he got in response to that was silence and a couple of distressed looks. Cu Chulainn blinked in sheer confusion at the scene.

Lord El-Melloi II sighed, deciding to explain the situation to the Servant who had been unconscious until recently. And so, he told him everything and explained the whole situation, updating him on the events that had happened the previous day and the things they were discussing before his arrival. Finally, after a five minutes of explanation, the room fell silent again.

"...I see," Cu Chulainn mused, scratching his neck with a raised eyebrow. "Damn, that was one hell of a show I missed. That's unfortunate."

"You don't say," Mordred grumbled with her arms crossed.

The Lancer shrugged after a second. "However, if I were you, I wouldn't worry too much," he said, glancing at Bedivere and Gawain. Seeing the confused expressions of the two Knights, the Servant decided to elaborate. "I mean to say that I don't think your King is in danger. Trust me, I fought her during my controlled state. She's the strongest warrior I've ever seen. I doubt someone could actually harm her. On the contrary, in fact, I believe she left just because she wants to be alone for a while. She'll need time to come to terms with what she has realized here. We can't rush her with this, don't you agree?"

Both Gawain and Bedivere clenched their fists, eyes falling to the ground in shame and worry.

Iskandar nodded. "I agree. Lancer speaks the truth," he said in turn. He stepped away from the bookcase, approaching Mordred as he casually leafed through the book he had previously taken from the shelf. "Let that woman be. She'll come back eventually. Trying to track her down would only make things worse. She might take drastic measures. If something happens during her absence, we'll take care of it."

Another long silence greeted his statement.

Cu Chulainn crossed his arms with a sigh. "But what about your friend?" he asked again, turing to the King of Conquerors. "Why did he leave?"

The Rider shrugged. "He told Saber there was something he needed to see," he explained. "Wherever he went, I'm sure he's fine. You saw what he's capable of."

At the Lancer's silence, Lord El-Melloi II sighed. "Great. Not only the King of Knights... but even that unknown Ruler went missing," he said, exhaling a tired breath. "Not to mention he's the one who took Gray's Mystic Code. This is so messed up."

Mordred glared sharply at the Magus. "You should thank us. That cube is not for you to handle. No human should possess Father's spear. That weapon is too dangerous and too powerful to be used by humans. Ruler's the only one who can protect it. Not even I am strong as he is."

"I know, sir Mordred, I know," the man nodded, his expression turning serious once again. "We've discussed this already. It's just... we weren't expecting things to turn out like this. This war, this situation; they're too messed up. I just want my peace and quiet back, that's all."

Poor man could already feel a migraine coming.

Cu Chulainn glanced at Iskandar. "Do you know when Ruler will come back?" he asked.

The gigantic Rider nodded. "He said he would come back in two days. Therefore, he should return tomorrow."

The blue Lancer grinned. "Perfect. Then, how about you two come with me for a while?" he suggested, watching both Mordred and Iskandar as he made that offer. "There's no use wasting time here and wait for them. I have better plans than this. Something that I'd like to show you too."

Mordred blinked in confusion. "Huh?"

The teacher of the Clock Tower widened his eyes.

"What? Are you planning to leave with them?" he asked, incredulous. "You too?"

Cu Chulainn merely raised a brow in confusion. "Relax, boss. I'm not going to disappear with them like the King of Knights did. It's just a quick trip of pleasure. We might be Servant, but we still need to enjoy life every now and then. We're not machines of war. I still need to recover my full strenght, after all."

Iskandar narrowed his eyes in interest. "Hoho? That's interesting," he mused with a sly grin, intrigued by the Lancer's offer. Anything that involved 'pleasure' and 'enjoying life' was a must in his dictionary. It was simply too inviting to ignore. "Then speak at once, Lancer. Let us hear what you suggest."

The blue-haired man smirked. "I just wanted to thank you for the favor you've done to me by freeing my body from Caster's control. To do that, I'd like to take you a special place where you can relax and enjoy life to its fullest," he explained simply. "I was planning to tell this to Ruler, but since he's not here I'll have to do with you two. He can always join us later when he returns."

After that explanation, the King of Conquerors was even more intrigued than before. His red eyes were literally glowing with trepidation and interest. "Hoho? How amusing. How amusing indeed!" he said with a bellowing laugh. "Then we accept your offer! I assume you have no problem with this, Saber?"

Mordred smirked, much to his growing pleasure. "As if! I'm always up to enjoy life to its fullest!" she replied, making the tall Rider laugh even more.

"Well spoken! You're finally learning!"

Lord El-Melloi II sighed in exasperation as Bedivere and Gawain watched the scene with visible confusion, both of them looking completely lost. He knew there was nothing he could do to make them change their mind. Not when the King of Conquerors himself was more than willing to follow the Lancer.

"...can I at least know where you're going to take them?" he asked resignedly, turning to the Lancer with a twitching brow.

Something ancient and mischievous shone in his red eyes. Cu Chulainn smirked. "To the best place in the world, obviously," he answered with ease.

"My homeland."

---

Planet: Earth
Date: May 20 2020
Location: Llyn Ogwen (Wales)

(======)

Artoria rode the motorcycle at top speed, overtaking cars with ease and indifference, swiftly heading towards her goal, the current destination she had set in her mind.

A myriad of conflicting emotions stormed through her mind, through her heart, as she traveled in solitude and silence. Overwhelming emotions such as anguish, pain, shame; along with others such as remorse, confusion, and sadness. But there were others as well. Emotions too hard, too confused and overwhelming that were impossible to describe or even to count at all. An indescribable wave of emotions that assailed her ever since she'd made her decision about this, ever since she'd had that 'discussion' with the King of Conquerors and the others back in London, the day before. And despite her desperate attempts, the woman found herself unable to hold back the immense pain that overwhelmed her at the memory of that talk.

Small, unshed tears fell from her eyes and were wiped away from the wind as she drove on the highway.

The words of the previous day echoed inside her head once again, like an incessant echo. An echo that never stopped attacking her, crushing her, insulting her; reminding her yet again of her failure, her ineptitude, her inability to rule and understand human emotions.

You saved your people, but you never led them. You cared for them, but you never showed it to them. You never showed them what a true King should be. You abandoned your men when they lost their way.

It was true.

And then, alone and untroubled, you followed your pretty little ideals as your kingdom cracked and the seeds of doubt and rebellion began to sprout among your ranks.

It was true.

You are no true King to me. You're simply a misguided woman enraptured by a false idol of a King who serves others… but not themselves.

It was all true.

She couldn't deny it. The words that the King of Conquerors had addressed to her were true. From first to last. It was undeniable, indisputable, unexceptionable. She had failed on all fronts. She had failed as a King. She had failed as a Knight. She had failed as a father. And, perhaps even worse, she had failed as a human being. Thus, she was a failure. She was only a failure. She wasn't worthy of any other title. She wasn't worthy of the title of King. She wasn't worthy of anyone's respect and adoration. And perhaps, perhaps that was precisely the reason why she had decided to run away, after such a hard confrontation.

After all, how could she hope to remain calm and impassive after all that? How could she keep her cool after being completely demolished by those words? How could she face her Knights, her friends – her son, even – after all of that? It was impossible. There was no answer. And now, even Artoria Pendragon, the King of Britain, the usually calm, collected and emotionless King, was discovering herself unable to ignore and bury away her current pain and shame. She was trying her best, and failing miserably.

She choked back a tiny sob as she focused on driving, desperately trying to put her Kingly mask once again, to quell her growing sobs and tears. And, just like before, just like it was during the end of her Kingdom, during the culmination of her failures, it worked a little. Of course, those words were still echoing inside her mind, as sharp as swords, able to pierce her heart as esily as a spear. The pain was still there, deep inside her chest, but blunted by her mask. Tampered by her cold, impassive armor; perhaps to a good effect. Artoria didn't know if she could bear to move and act if she chose to let her heart be ruled by emotions once again.

Actually, she was sure she would collapse if she did, to be honest.

And now, after receiving the confirmation of her inability to rule and her failures... the only thing she had managed to do was escape. Run, run and run away, desperately escaping from that place, from that city, from that oppressive and inevitable truth she hadn't been able to deny even in front of her own Knights and friends. So, all she could do now was run, and escape, and cry her heart out in silence.

But she hadn't run away out of cowardice. She hadn't run away out of fear or shame.

No, Artoria Pendragon might have been a failure, but she wasn't a coward. She still had a code of honor to uphold.

No... she ran away for another reason. For another purpose. For another mission.

To seek answers and advice.

That was the reason of her departure. Artoria needed clarity. She needed to find answers, and clarifications, and certainties about what had been, what she was, and what was going to happen from now on. And to do that, to be able to find the clarity and answers she was looking for and needed, the only option she'd had was to escape and travel to a certain location as quickly as possible, trying not to attract too much attention and acting quickly without anyone's notice.

Part of her was suffering immensely from abandoning her Knights. She was suffering indescribably from the choice she'd made, leaving them behind. She was a failure – she couldn't deny this – but never, not even in her worst nightmares, she had ever wanted to abandon her friends, her Knights; the people closest to her, who had dedicated everything to her and her cause. And yet, now, because of her desperation and pain, she had been forced to do it for the first time in her life.

Just another failure, like many before.

"...sir Gawain... sir Bedivere... please forgive me..." was all she was able to whisper, shedding a lonely tear.

And so, she reached her destination in a pained and anguished silence: the lake. The same lake where, countless years before, she had met the Fair Lady. The kind Fairy who had given her the Holy Sword and Lance, and who deemed her worthy of her respect. The woman who had recognized her worthy of the title of King of Knights. The lake where the Fairy lived, and where she'd ordered Bedivere to toss Excalibur after her death.

The very same lake near which, in addition, she had lost her life after the Battle of Camlann.

Yet, as soon as she exited the highway and parked the motorcycle, she realized that she wasn't alone. Another car was parked at the viewpoint closest to the lake, heralding the presence of someone else nearby. But Artoria paid no mind to it at first, too immersed in shame and pain to care about that...

...until she came near the shore.

And when she saw that scene, her eyes still filled with unshed tears widened out of proportion and her breath stopped for some reason.

He was there.

The man who she'd never expected to find, the only person who had tried to comfort her, to pity her, and not to judge her for what she had done... was there. The only man who seemed to be able to understand her during the previous discussion... was there.

The strange and mysterious Ruler – Emiya Shirou – was there, standing in the middle of lake.

Along with the Lady of the Lake next to him.

And the female King gasped in shock and disbelief.

"So the King has returned," came the Lady's soft, soothing voice, greeting her with a smile as Shirou turned to her with a stunned, confused expression. "It's such a pleasure to see you again, King of Knights. Come, child. Do not be afraid. Let us discuss together once more."

Reinforcing her decision and swallowing her nerves, Artoria complied without a word.

She joined them on the shore with a solemn step, staring at the red-haired man with an inquisitive gaze.

"Lady Vivian, it is a honor to meet you again," she greeted once she was closer to them, bowing respectully to the ancient Fairy. Then, she cast a cold, suspicious glance at Shirou. "And forgive my rudeness, but I just can't seem to understand. I wasn't expecting to see him here..."

Shirou looked at her with renewed interest, assuming a neutral expression to hide his astonishment. He wasn't expecting to see her either, she realized.

Actually, from his part, Shirou wasn't expecting to see anyone at all. To find her here after everything that had happened was a surprise. Shirou hadn't even warned the others about his previous and sudden departure. He didn't know that she wanted to come here as well. He had simply asked Mordred to tell the others about his departure before coming here, so...

Why was she here? What was she doing back to Vivian?

But his questions were momentarily put aside as he watched her while she came closer to him. And for a second, Shirou Emiya found himself surprised... because he seemed to have forgotten how to breathe as he stared at her.

The woman was definitely different from the last time he'd seen her. She wasn't wearing her elegant, royal blue armor and cloak as usual. Instead, she wore an elegant and decidedly more modern dress befitting of the current era. Her blue gown had been replaced by a more formal one, a dress made of dark blue fabric with golden trim and yellow buttons, along with a white cape around her right shoulder. Long, black stockings covered her legs completely, and at her feet she wore elegant white boots that matched her clothes. It was a dress that suited the modern era quite well, despite its visible formality and elegance. But it was breathtaking, honestly. Shirou wasn't sure he'd ever seen such an elegant dress before. She looked like a noblewoman, literally.

And for a moment, for some strange reason, the God of War forgot how to breathe.

He didn't know why, but he just couldn't find himself able to speak. Maybe it was because of stupor, or because of the confusion inside his head… but no. That wasn't the reason.

He was speechless because he was in awe… of the overwhelming beauty beaming from the woman standing before him.

And his whole world seemed to slow down suddenly.

Artoria stepped forward, joining him with a confused look. "...Ruler?" she asked, her voice as confused as her face. "What are you doing here?"

Artoria watched him as Shirou blinked and coughed to regain a modicum of demeanor. Then he gave her a strained smile – much to Vivian's amusement, she noted with surprise.

He scratched the back of his neck. "King of Knights... I'm sorry if I surprised you with my presence. I came here because I wanted to consult and get advice from the Lady of the Lake. But it seems I'm not the only one who came here with this intention," he said, deciding to mix a bit of truth and lie to give a sensible justification.

Her emerald eyes widened. "You two know each other?"

"We do, child," Lady Vivian replied, smiling fondly at her. Her ethereal eyes darted to the red-head, sparkling with something close to amusement. "I know you're confused, but Shirou and I have been involved with each other in the past for several matters. It happened long before you were born."

She gulped, shocked beyond words by the news. Her jaw almost dropped. She looked at the Ruler in a new light. "I-Is that so? I... I see," was all she could say, still stunned by the revelation.

Shirou sighed, running a hand through his hair in frustration. Artoria noticed a quick exchange of glances between him and the ancient Fairy, as if he was silently talking to her, ordering her to... be quiet? Shut up?

Utter confusion overwhelmed her already pained and distressed mind.

"But still, you've come at the right time, King of Knights," the Lady of the Lake resumed in a serious tone. "Shirou and I were discussing about the calamity happening in the world, and about this sudden Holy Grail War. I'm glad you're here too."

The golden-haired woman put aside her inner turmoil. "Ruler... he said there's something wrong with this war. Do you share the same sentiment, Lady Vivian?" she asked in all seriousness, glancing at the stone-faced Servant next to the Fae.

She nodded. "I do, unfortunately. This situation is not something I can overlook. But I think I'll be able to find out who's behind it, with time."

Artoria narrowed her eyes. "Who?"

"This is what I have to find out, child," she said in a condescending tone. She gave her an amused smile at that point. "And that's precisely why I'm happy that you are here. I have a task for you, dearest King."

Those words made her stiffen in confusion. "A task?" she repeated.

"Yes. I wish for you and your Knights to join forces with him," she explained, making her jaw drop with that statement. The ancient Fairy giggled softly at her stupor. "Now, now; do not fret, child. Listen to me. You two are strong; perhaps two of the strongest Servants that have been summoned in this war. By joining your forces together, you two will have a much better chance of fighting and stopping the darkness that's hovering over the world. Furthermore, my connection with Excalibur will allow me to reach out to you. It will allow us to keep in touch to discover a way to end the conflict as soon as possible. Do you see it now, my dearest King?"

Artoria hesitated, thinking furiously in her head. She could clearly see that this choice had numerous advantages, without doubts. From a practical point of view, it was the most effective and reasonable choice. She had no reason to refuse it. Still, the idea of collaborating with this Ruler, with this mysterious man called Emiya Shirou... it was a strange thought. A thought that made her pause for some unknown reason.

And the King of Britain found herself surprised when she relized that this feeling... wasn't an unpleasant one at all.

But that didn't mean she could accept such a decision so easily. That Ruler was strong and intriguing, she could admit it, but she didn't trust him yet. Not completely. She didn't completely trust anyone, at this point.

But still, with Vivian herself voicing for him...

She found herself at loss. "I mean no disrespect, Lady Vivian, but I... I just don't know what to believe. This war... I must... we shouldn't..." she tried to say, but her voice died in her throat, and the proud King realized that she was unable to find the words. There were no words to describe her doubts, her uncertainties and hesitations right now.

Shirou watched her closely, silent and impassive.

Vivian put a hand on her cheek. Artoria glanced at her, her expression a mixture of uncertainties and doubts. "I sense a lot of grief and sadness inside you, child. I know you're upset," the Lady of the Lake said. "But this is not the time for uncertainties. This is not the time to hesitate."

The woman stroked her cheek, smiling gently at her lost gaze.

"Proud King of Knights... once, when this land was under invasion, you chose to stand alone and fight to defend your country and your people. You sacrificed all of your life for the sake of others. Now that the whole world has fallen into danger... what will you do?"

She looked down at the ground, listening to the sound of water in the lake. "...what if I'll end up failing again? What if I'm not worthy of this?"

Vivian smiled softly. "You won't be alone this time, child."

Artoria stiffened, her gaze flickering towards the red-haired Servant to her right. Shirou was looking at her with a conflicted expression, but a small smile was present on his lips and his eyes were filled with... understanding. Again, the man was looking at her with understanding. And as soon as she realized this, as soon as she remembered this, something warm and reassuring began to arise and bloom inside her chest for no reason.

Until, inexplicably, the words came out of her lips on their own.

"I... I'll see what I can do," she whispered in the end.

The Lady of the Lake widened her beaming smile. "Wonderful. Then I'll leave the rest to you," she said approvingly. Then, she turned swiftly to Shirou, offering him a nod and a serious gaze. "I'll do whatever I can to discover what's going on on my side. I'll let you know as soon as I learn something useful."

Shirou nodded in turn. "Thanks. I owe you one."

Those words startled Artoria from her trance. The blonde woman shook her head, recoiling as if she had been hit. "W-Wait... you're leaving?" she exclaimed, her wide eyes fixed on the ancient Fairy. She looked both shocked and incredulous after that realization.

"I am. I must do my part, child," her old benefactor replied.

She gasped. "P-Please, wait a moment, Lady Vivian!" Artoria suddenly begged, visibly more desperate and distressed than usual. "Don't go, please! T-There are a lot of things I need to ask you! A lot of doubts and uncertainties cloud my mind! I need your counsel! I need your advice!" she reached out to her with one hand, desperate and distressed. "Please! I fear my whole life has been a mistake! I nee-"

Vivian silenced her with a gentle caress, cupping her cheek and smiling fondly at her. "Do not worry, dearest child. I know you'll be able to get through this," she said reassuringly, with a simple smile and a nod.

Her words only seemed to make her panick further. "N-No, please! I need your help!"

Lady Vivian shook her head. "No, child. I'm not the one who's able to help you. The help you seek... is standing right next to you," she replied softly with absolute certainty.

Artoria gasped, her wide eyes turning immediately towards the man next to her, towards Shirou. She stared at him with a stunned, incredulous gaze; feeling confused and lost like never before. The man remained calm and collected as ever even in front of her distressed look.

The Fairy offered him one last glance. "I entrust the child to you, Shirou. Treat her well."

The God nodded. "I will," he replied curtly.

That being said, without further ado, the air seemed to snap all of a sudden, momentarily blinding the female King's sight. And when the glow before her eyes subsided and Artoria managed to blink confusedly to look around again; she realized that the lake was silent and empty once more, and that Lady Vivian had mysteriously disappeared without a trace, just like she did when she first met her, nearly two thousand years ago.

But now, it was just her and Shirou, alone and in silence, standing at the edge of the lake.

Seconds passed, followed by silence.

Until, Shirou sighed and ran a hand through his crimson hair.

"Um... your Majesty?" he began to say, scratching the base of his neck with obvious indecision (or was it embarrassment?) "You... seem distressed. Is something wrong?"

The woman didn't answer. She stared at him for some time, her eyes wide, unfocused, while her mind was assailed by countless questions, uncertainties and doubts. So much so that she couldn't even register the question for several seconds. She was completely lost. Overwhelmed with emotion and confusion after everything she had experienced in the previous days and what she had just seen seconds ago.

Shirou let out a second sigh. "...I suppose it's a stupid question. I apologize," he said with an embarrassed chuckle. He offered her an uncertain smile. "We... Should we sit down and talk? I assume you have several questions. Is that ok with you?"

Artoria swallowed. She mentally roused herself from her trance with a deep breath. Then, finally, she put on her Kingly mask and slowly nodded with an emotionless face. "...yes. Yes, let's do that," she agreed slowly.

Shirou looked at her with a strange look, raising an eyebrow in confusion. Whatever he was thinking, however, he put it aside and guided her to the base of the hill from where they had come from. There, just over ten meters from the lake, the two of them sat down on the grass, relaxing for a moment and mentally preparing themselves for their next... 'talk'.

Once again, seconds passed, followed by minutes.

Then, Shirou glanced at her with a sideways stare. "Do you mind if I change clothes? I'm a little hot right now."

She just shook her head, fiddling with her white cloak.

Shirou sighed in relief. Then, with a mental command, his modern clothes dissolved in a dust of blue prana, revealing his usual and lighter combat attire: dark trousers, metallic sandals and a white cape around his shoulders.

But as soon as Artoria saw him, a sudden flush of heat flooded her face and cheeks without a reason. And due to him being shirtless, she saw his upper body in all its glory, his well-toned muscles that made his chest, shoulders, and his abdomen stood out quite well. He had quite a fit body for a man that looked no older than twenty-four, twenty-five at most. Not to mention his abs... Artoria had a passing thought that it was because he had been following a rather tight exercise regiment.

"O-Oh...!" she exclaimed with a higher tone of voice, unintended on her part, and an indication that she was caught by surprise.

Shirou turned to her, giving her a confused glance. She quickly composed herself with a cough, regaining her calm and collected face in less than a second and turing away from him. Why in the world did she react like that? It's not like it was the first time she saw such a sight. It was quite common to her, actually, considering that she had lived in an era where even a simple soldier must have a decent physique at the very least. And the most powerful of her Knights had very well-toned muscles, a product of their extensive training regiment that they did and the battles that they have fought.

The Ruler's body was the same, if not better. She hadn't been able to notice it well during their first meeting, given the tense situation and the battle in which they had participated back then. But now that she was looking at him better, she could see that Shirou's body was not made out of a desire to make himself look more fit to perhaps woo someone... but it was made out of combat experience. Perhaps not a combat in terms of duels and sword training like hers... but deadly fights nonetheless.

But yet, despite the fact that it was not the first time she saw such a well-toned man, she found her cheeks hot, reddened by the heat that crept up to her face and ears. And this realization, just like the first time, left her confused and shocked. What was happening to her...?

But the red-haired Servant didn't seem to notice her embarrassment.

"What do you want to know?" he asked her softly, making her jump in surprise.

Artoria returned serious in a second. She rounded on him, her face back in an emotionless mask, but an inquisitive glimmer flickered in her green orbs as she stared at him. "...how do you know Lady Vivian?" she asked without a second of hesitation, going straight to the point as always and voicing the first question she had in mind.

The man smiled at her fast inquisitiveness. "As she said, we met in the past," he answered easily. "As you've already guessed, I'm from a time long before your own, King Arthur. Me and Vivian met during one of my travels. I can't tell you the rest, though."

She narrowed her eyes. "If you come from a time before my own, how come I don't know your legend? I heard no story of such a man like you. A man who met a Fairy and holds such powers," she pressed again.

He shrugged casually. "It doesn't surprise me. My legend isn't a famous one. Very few know about it. And to be honest... my story doesn't deserve to be remembered. I don't really like talking about it," he replied with absolute calm and indifference.

His answer made her pause. Artoria narrowed her eyes further. What kind of Hero would say that his own story wasn't worth remembering? It was illogical, in the literal sense of the word. It made no sense. The strenght and power of a Hero – of a Servant – came almost entirely from his legend. The more renowned his legend was, the more powerful he was. That's how it worked. To possess such strenght and skills as this man did and yet have no legend was something that she couldn't believe. Not entirely, at least. He had to be hiding something, she was sure of it.

Still, she watched the man seated next to her with an attentive and intent gaze. Then, slowly, she began to think and reason inside her head. "Is..." she avoided his gaze when she saw him turn to stare at her with a raised brow. "Is Shirou Emiya your true name? Does history really remember you with that name?"

He took a sharp breath. Something ancient, something old and heavy seemed to flash in his amber eyes for a second. It disappeared in no time, and the Ruler assumed an unreadable expression soon after. "It's the name I've always had since I was a child. The name I always went by in my life," was all he said, deadly serious.

For some unknown reason, she didn't believe he was lying with those words. Something inside her... something she didn't know she had inside her... was leading her to believe in him for some reason.

That name… it was strangely familiar.

But she was still skeptical. "Are you telling the truth, Ruler?"

He merely nodded once. "I am."

She stared long and hard at him. Then, slowly, her expression softened and her eyes fell, staring at the grass. "I... I don't know why, but I believe you. Or, at least, I think I do," she whispered in a low voice, much to her own confusion.

Shirou almost smiled after that admission. He had to suppress a laugh. 'Of course you do. The two of us are bound,' he wanted to say. 'A part of me has been inside you for the majority of your life.'

But he would never say that out loud. He wouldn't. He couldn't.

Curse that Scabbard.

"...are you really not going to tell me who you are, Ruler?"

He shifted uneasily on the grass but didn't reply.

Artoria heard him sigh again. She was becoming increasingly used to the sound. Finally, he spoke after ten seconds of silence.

"There's no need. My story is not one worth remembering."

Something twisted in Artoria's navel.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. WRONG.

She didn't know why, she didn't know how, but she knew. This was a lie. A complete, absolute, total lie! He was lying. She knew it. She simply knew it! It could only be so. It couldn't be true. Not when she was feeling those emotions every time she found herself close to him. Not when she wasn't able to mask her emotions in front of him. Not when her mind struggled to understand why she always reacted like this to his presence. And especially not when he had looked at her with understanding while the rest of the world and her allies had looked at her with disappointment and criticism.

It was impossible. And that was the only thing she was sure of in this world made of madness and pain.

Artoria stared accusingly at him. "You're lying."

He smiled with a regretful expression. "Unfortunately, I'm not."

She still didn't believe him. But seeing that this strategy wasn't working, she decided to approach the subject from another angle.

The King of Knights stared at him intently, her eyes boring holes into his head. "Yesterday you said that fighting and giving your all for others without expecting anything in return is something you can relate to," she said, looking at him with all the attention in the world. She swallowed slowly, trying to quell her wavering emotions. "Were you speaking from your own experience?"

He remained silent, his gaze unreadable as he watched the clouds in the blue sky.

She didn't give up. "Please, Ruler. Be honest with me. Who are you? You can understand me. I know you can! Just... tell me. Tell me why. I-I can't go on like this, alone, with my failures and regrets as my only companions..."

He remained silent.

She lowered her head, clenching her fists in pain and sorrow.

"...please," she whispered again.

Shirou sighed. He shook his head.

"I cannot answer that question, King Arthur. I'm sorry. I truly am."

She glared at him with irritation. "Is it because you don't trust me? Are you so afraid of revealing your secrets to an enemy Servant?" she spat with a bit of venom in her voice.

The Ruler closed his eyes, a mischievious smile on his lips. "...perhaps," he slowly admitted. "But it's not important. We're not here to talk about me, after all."

Artoria felt her heart begin to beat faster in her chest as he turned to stare straight into her eyes. Her glare disappeared completely.

"We're here to talk about you, Arthur."

The woman's expression fell, her eyes unable to hide the pain hidden within them. "There is nothing to talk about. All that was said yesterday is the truth. The King of Conquerors was right. Even Mordred was right. I... I am a failure as a King. There is nothing more to say."

"That's right. You failed as a King."

Artoria physically flinched at his words.

"You failed as a King, ran away from your allies and friends, and came here to seek answers about your past." He looked at her solemnly, raising a brow with a casual movement. "Am I wrong?"

The second blow was even worse than the first. The woman couldn't find the courage to answer. She didn't have the courage to look at him, even. To hear that he already knew everything about her, to hear the confirmation that she was a failure from his voice, from his tone, from his face... it hurt. It hurt a lot. A lot more than she expected, to be honest. It was as if she had just been punched in the stomach, making her double over in pain. A pain that was almost physical, impossible to ignore, and fueled by that man's voice and his solemn and detached gaze fixed on her.

"But that doesn't mean you're a failure."

Just like that, in less than a second, the pain was halted.

Artoria turned to the red-haired man with wide eyes.

Shirou smiled at her, before looking down at the lake. "You did your best. You dedicated your life in pursuit of a single ideal. A fallacious and impossible ideal... but one that was beautiful and full of hope," he said again, staring at the landscape and the sun. A gust of wind caressed his hair, making his smile widen. "You should be proud of what you did."

The blonde woman felt something wet and warm begin to form in the corner of her eyes. She fought back the tears without a second thought. "No. It doesn't matter. It was pointless. I still failed in the end," she repeated with a strained voice.

Shirou shook his head.

"You did your best, and that's something worthy of respect."

She swallowed the lump in her throat. She was growing more and more emotional by the second, despite her own confusion and her desperate attempts to keep her emotionless mask. But for some reason, it was all in vain in front of this man. He seemed to be able to see right through her, and to pull out the emotions from inside her against her own struggle.

Why? Why was she always feeling like this in front of him?

"How?" she whispered, not trusting her voice to stay as composed as she wished. "How can you say that?"

He smiled at her. Again.

"It's fine to cherish an ideal for its beauty, despite recognizing its inherent impossibility."

She stared at him, shocked, unshed tears forming in her eyes.

"And to be honest, I think you would have succeeded in your intent," he continued to say, looking at her with a sympathetic expression. "If only you had allowed yourself to be human."

Artoria's breath got stuck in her throat.

...what...?

Shirou sighed slightly. "Let's be honest here, Arthur," he said to her, resting his hands on the grass and leaning back slightly. He lifted his head, looking at the clouds in the morning sky with a serious gaze. "You were flawless, benevolent, honest... you fought relentlessly against the Saxon invaders. You defended your country and created a kingdom that is famous and studied even today. People remember you for your commitment to justice, for your strength of character. You are an idol and a role model for many people, even to this day."

He gave her a sideways glance.

"All of this is worthy of respect. It's the proof that you're not a failure."

Artoria said nothing, too shocked to be able to speak.

"Your only mistake, your true flaw... is that you foolishly decided to cut off your humanity once you ascended to the throne. And because of that, you became a great King, but also a cruel tyrant."

Something heavy and unexpected tightened the female King's throat. Artoria clenched her fists helplessly. "I... I did what I had to do," she stammered in the end. Her voice felt weak despite her irremovable decision. "A King... he cannot be ruled by emotions. He must be something more. An impartial and solemn ruler towards everyone. That's what a King should be."

Shirou shook his head, much to her growing confusion and rage.

"That's why you failed, your Majesty. By closing your heart in this way, you have guaranteed your own failure. You've detached yourself from others because of your inhuman perfection. You've committed horrible acts in the name of this inhuman impartiality. You've plundered villages, left people to starve to death during your war campaigns, and even executed those who didn't want to join your kingdom. Effective methods to quell a rebellion, I admit... but if I have to guess, it must have been since then that the seeds of doubt began to grow within your followers. Am I right?"

She fixed him with a teary glare.

"Then what was I supposed to do? Dragging them along with my army, with the enemies hot on our trail and without supplies?" Artoria spat back, her emerald eyes narrowing. Her tone was still soft, but the underlying message was clear. "Helping those villagers and rebels, fueling the instability of the country, and reducing our fighting force just to guard them around? Is that what you are saying?"

He hummed in thought. "Hmm... maybe. I'm no King, so I can't say that for sure, but... yes. If I were you, I would have done that."

"That is foolish and naive," the King of Knights argued with a scowl. "I expected more from you, Ruler. You might be powerful, but you know nothing about ruling a country."

"Are you really sure about that?" he casually asked.

She glared at him, her expression more solemn and ferocious than ever. "I am. But what could you possibly know? You were not there. You were not leading them. You did not make the choices, Shirou Emiya. Why is that? It's only because you are here, where all you can do is mouth people off, just like Mordred."

Artoria leaned forward menacingly, not backing down in the slightest. "You may be strong, but strength alone means nothing in the battlefield! You may be courageous, but that courage means nothing when you have your own people to protect! Those peaceful delusions of yours..."

She growled at him, almost baring her teeth in rage and frustration. "...they'll only serve to eventually drown you and let you die."

…

…so that's where Mordred got her temper from. No wonder.

Shirou burst out laughing as soon as he registered those words, startling her with his reaction. Artoria looked at him with an irritated and furious scowl, but he didn't care at all. He merely shook his head at her furious and boiling anger.

"Good grief, you really are like her," he chuckled to himself with an amused smile. But then, all of a sudden, his gaze became serious again, his smile disappeared, and he glared at her with a cold, solemn look.

The woman had to suppress back a shiver under that cruel gaze of his.

"I may not know anything about ruling, Arthur... but I know what your actions have caused in the end," he declared solemnly. "People cannot respect or relate to an emotionless King. They cannot be loyal to a monster without humanity. Your followers, your very own Knights, your daughter… they're proof of that."

She flinched and blanched at the same time.

Shirou shook his head with a frown. "I don't know who taught you that being King means abandoning your humanity, but you're deeply mistaken, King of Knights. A King IS human. He's born human, he lives his life like a human, and dies like any other human. And if a King tries to become something different... then he's nothing but a fool. As I said, that's why you failed. All you had to do was be honest with your-"

"A King cannot be human!"

And there it was.

The God of War stared blankly at Artoria as she resumed her rambling, clenching her fists so hard that her knuckles turned white as snow.

"A King is something more! Something that cannot exist for himself! A King is an ideal, a force of nature, a concept meant to safeguard the people so they can live instead! I must be their role model! I was created to fulfill that duty! It is the reason for my existence!"

…

Artoria panted after her rambling, glaring at the other Servant like a cornered animal and sweating a little in anxiety and rage.

Shirou stared right back at her with a cold gaze.

…

"Then why are you suffering?"

Artoria widened her eyes, recoiling as if she had been slapped.

"Why are you suffering if you chose to be something else? Something more? Why, now that you've failed and that the proof of your misguided idea of Kingship has been confirmed, do you feel remorse? Why are you crying if you decided to be an emotionless being?"

The woman was silent, her breathing irregular, her arms tembling. She looked completely floored.

Shirou looked at her, cold and merciless. Then, his gazed softened in front of her sufference. It became more compassionate and understanding, letting out a faint sigh. "King Arthur... you are a human being. You are a person with emotions. You're not a failure. Your one and only failure was this: trying to be something you are not. I do not and cannot judge you, but I can't deny this. This was your only sin: you were born human, and yet you tried to be… you chose to be…"

…a God.

That's what he wanted to say. But he didn't.

It was better to leave that unsaid.

He didn't want to arouse suspicion and destroy her further.

Artoria gulped, shocked, her eyes beginning to sting mysteriously. Within seconds, her vision became hazy and blurry; and long, incessant drops of water began to rain down from her face.

"You can be a King, you can be a ruler, you can be anything you want regardless of your gender and origins... but you can't deny the humanity within you," Shirou said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "That was your flaw."

She was silent for a long, long time. So long that neither she nor the Ruler at her side could tell how much time passed after those words. They just stood there, silent and still, while Artoria cried in silence and Shirou tried to comfort her with his presence, keeping a firm hand on her shoulder as her body trembled and weeped. And so they remained for an indefinite amount of time.

Seconds passed, followed by minutes.

Then, finally, the female King found her voice again. It was faint and broken, but still audible to the man.

"…then what am I supposed to do now?"

Her words were low, almost like a whisper. There was no decision and confidence behind them. It was a stark contrast to her regal and composed demeanor. And yet, Shirou didn't mind.

He simply smiled at her with compassion and understanding. "You need to allow yourself to be human, Arthur. It's ok to grieve, it's ok to cry. But you must accept that you failed in your rule because you were too detached from others," he said. "I told you already: you need to learn again how it is like to feel and connect with others. Grieve, accept what has transpired, and be more human in the proper balance. That is what you need to do," he said to her.

Artoria stared at him, her expression completely uncertain and lost. Her usual calm and collected stoicism was completely gone in front of him. "B-But… how?" she asked again, her voice sounding as lost as her heart.

"Simple, by learning to be honest with yourself," he replied easily. Shirou grinned, offering her an encouraging gaze, exactly as he did the previous day after their discussion. "By accepting your desires, your defects, and your pain. By interacting more with your friends and allies. This is what it means to be human, Arthur. This is the only path that can lead you to salvation and happiness."

"...but can I really do it?" she asked again, uncertain and hesitant. "W-What if I fail again?"

Shirou laughed. "Of course you can. All you have to do is try," he reassured her. "And who cares if you fail a couple of times. Remember what Vivian said: you won't be alone this time. Your Knights are still with you, are they not? I am here with you, am I not? I can also help you in the future, if you want. Even Mordred can be with you, if you really wish for it."

The female King felt a hint of relief begin to blossom inside her chest. For unknown reasons, the thought of having Ruler close to her was rather reassuring to Artoria. And his friendly and kind demeanor was something she was inwardly valuing a lot, even if she wasn't able to show it at the moment. Her head felt funny and warm under the red-haired man's grin.

Before she could stop herself, however, she blurted out a lame: "I doubt Mordred would agree with you."

She fully expected Shirou to react negatively to the unsolicited mentioning of her 'son', either lapsing into irritation once again or else trying to deny the fact that her relationship with the younger Knight was broken and – to be frank – almost non-existent.

But rather than doing either of those two things, instead, the unknown God of War let out an unexpected snort of laughter.

"No, I rather think she wouldn't," his chuckle continued for a moment longer, unrestrained, and Artoria found herself reminded once again of how intriguing and reassuring that man's presence was for her. Her cheeks felt hot and her eyes widened as she watched him chuckle to himself as something warm and unfamiliar began to pervade her chest. Shirou gave her a little wink with a crooked grin, and her heart did a backflip once again. "But then… I don't think she expected the Father she loves so much to say those things right in front of her."

Artoria's heart throbbed painfully inside her chest. What?

Her eyes widened, lips parting in a gasp while she turned towards him with utter shock and confusion. M-Mordred… she still loved her…? She still loved her as a father…? Despite everything she had done? Everything that happened between the two of them? Did Shirou really say that? Was it true?

As if he had been reading her mind, the Ruler nodded with a smile. "It's true, your Majesty. Your daughter still cares about you. I swear."

The woman paused, her gaze falling to her hands clasped together. This… This was unexpected. She didn't know what to do now. She didn't know what to think. Heck, she had never suspected that Mordred, her rebel son, would ever care about her or even see her like a 'Father figure' after being rejected. Granted, she had suspected as much and at least dared to hope that before the rebellion happened... but now?

This was quite shocking, indeed.

And this realization filled her with further shame.

"...I... what have I done, Ruler?" she finally whispered, with so much horror and sorrow in her tone that it was impossible to remain impassive in front of her pain.

Shirou's hand was still placed on her left shoulder. After seeing her like this, his grip became gentler as his gaze grew more understanding. "You messed up. But it's not too late. You can still make up for the past if you really want to, King of Knights."

She snapped her head up, staring at him with obvious desperation.

"How?"

That single question was filled with anger, and sadness, and desperation, and sorrow, and so many things mixed together that Shirou couldn't help but feel sad for her.

And yet, just like he did with her son before, he simply smiled at her.

"By making up to her."

Artoria's eyes widened.

Shirou gave her an encouraging look. "You rejected Mordred out of duty. You rejected her because you believed that a King must be detached and distant from everyone. But now it's different, Arthur. Now you're no longer in Camelot. You're no longer a King. You're free. You're nothing more than a woman, a human. There's nothing stopping you from making peace with Mordred. The only thing you have to do is take responsibility for what you did and-"

"-apologize to her," she finished for him, nodding slowly as her face lit up with realization. "I must apologize to her, and to the Knights. It's... it's the least I can do. I know."

The Ruler nodded with an expression that was solemn and pleased at the same time. At least she was more emotionally aware than her daughter. That was a good thing, thank the heavens.

He still needed to push her a little, though. "I know it won't be easy," he said seriously. "I can't speak for sir Bedivere and Gawain, but Mordred is... let's just say she's not exactly a person who is easy to get along with. But if you are honest with her and the Knights, if you allow your emotions and your true intentions to come out, I'm sure they'll understand. Even Mordred. I doubt she'll forgive you right away… but with time, I'm sure she'll be able to realize her own feelings. Rebellion or not, she's still your son, your daughter. And trust me, you two are much more alike than you think."

She blinked in confusion, unable to understand. "We are?"

He simply nodded with a sweat-drop. 'You have no idea...'

"Trust me. She's not as bad as you think," he said out loud instead.

She hesitated again. For a couple of seconds, her elegant and regal face was filled with uncertainty and fear once more. In the end, she couldn't help but voice her doubts once again. She had no idea why she was opening so much to this man, she didn't know what was happening to her every time she was with him… but she had to ask him. It simply felt right to her. And so, she asked him the question she dreaded the most.

"...will I really be able to make it, Ruler? Even after all I've done? After what I've become?"

The red-haired man rested his arm on a raised knee. He stared at the lake with an unreadable face.

Echoes of past voices echoed in his head after that question.

Poisonous whispers of times long gone by.

Memories of tragic screams, desperate cries, and overwhelming betrayals that still haunted him even to this day.

"Go away!"

"Your kind doesn't belong here!"

"You're not one of us!"

"You monster!"

"Devil!"

"You have never been one of us!"

"You're not our kind!"

"DEMON!"

The ancient God closed his eyes, banishing these memories with a deep breath and a shaky sigh.

"That's not something I can answer," he spoke in the end. "You need to decide for yourself."

Artoria stared at him. Then at her hands. Then, she nodded a little with a determined expression.

"Then, even if I can never atone for my misguided past... I must do it," she declared, raising her head to look up at the sky. Her emerald eyes were still nervous and wavering, but at the same time they were filled with determination and hope. "I will do it. I swear on my honor."

Her promise echoed through the air for several seconds. That was her decision. That was her hope.

And that was enough. Hope is hope. Hope died last.

The slightest of grins lifted Shirou's lips. He said nothing, merely nodding to her decision with an approving gaze.

Artoria strengthened her resolve by clenching her fists. After that, she turned to him, staring at his smiling face with an inquisitive expression."…You're still not going to reveal your identity?" she asked him with an annoyed tone.

He grinned at her inquisiteve face. "Nope. Not a chance."

"Hmpf. No matter. I will discover it sooner or later. Just you wait."

"Heh. Let's make a bet, King of Knights. If you can guess who I am within a month, I'll tell you everything about me and do whatever you want. If you manage to discover it before Mordred, obviously."

"That's far too long a wait. Two weeks."

"As you wish."

Artoria smiled a little. Then blinked all of a sudden. Her cheeks tinged red.

"Then... does this mean that from now on, we're allies?" she asked.

The Ruler blinked at her question. Then, he raised himself from the ground, followed by the woman. He shrugged a little after a few seconds of pondering, scratching his cheek. "I don't know. Unfortunately, I can't exactly join the Clock Tower. I already told you this, King of Knights."

Her eyes fell, downcast, her face crestfallen for some reason. "...I see."

A few seconds of silence passed.

"Buuut," he stressed again, patting her on the shoulder with a tiny grin, making her jump in surprise. "If you and your allies decide to join us instead... that's another story entirely. Don't you agree?" he asked with a wink, grinning in amusement.

Artoria blinked in confusion. Then, after a second, her features gradually relaxed and her face softened. She did her best to hide a little smile while she crossed her arms with an elegant movement. "...Alright. Then we are in agreement. But this will cost you, Ruler," she casually said, lifting her chin in a decisive gesture. "Misguided or not, I'm still a King, and I can't disappoint Lady Vivian. I expect nothing but the best from my comrades and allies. I won't tolerate any slacking. Is that clear?"

He held back a laugh, dismissing her worries with a grin and wave of his hand. "Alright, alright. I'll see what I can do, your Majesty."

"No."

Shirou blinked at her serious expression.

"It's not your Majesty. Just... call me Artoria, please." she said, blushing a little. Seeing that he was about to protest, she added. "Please. I no longer wish to fall back in the same mistakes. I own nothing but myself now."

The Ruler hesitated for a while. Then he smiled, nodding to her hopeful face with a soft gaze. "As you wish. Then, please, call me Shirou."

"Shirou it is, then," she readily agreed. Artoria nodded at him, her lips twitching into a wider smile as she adjusted her white cape around her shoulders. "Yes, I very much prefer it."

The red-haired God softened his gaze.

Then, out of nowhere, his lips parted in a sheepish smile. "By the way, can you keep our previous 'chat' with Vivian to yourself?" he suddenly asked, flinching a little under her narrowed and suspicious gaze. "I know it's not nice to hide secrets from your allies but... it's for everyone's good. I don't want to arouse suspicions, and I must keep a low profile. Our collaboration with a Fae must remain secret."

Artoria narrowed her eyes further. He merely stared at her, long and hard. "Can I trust you on this, please?" he asked again, deadly serious.

She watched him for several seconds.

Then, finally, she relented with a nod.

"Alright. I promise."

The God of War nodded in approval. Then, unexpectedly, he turned completely towards Artoria and offered her a hand to shake.

"Then... I hope we can get along in the future, Artoria."

The woman smiled, nodding slightly as she grabbed his hand without hesitation.

"So do I, Shirou."

They shook their hands together.

That was it. The incipit of a new story, of a new adventure. The start of a new tale.

A new beginning.

For a forsaken God and an emotionless King.

The two of them stared at each other in silence for a few seconds.

Until Shirou coughed with an embarrassed face. "Then... shall we go back, now?"

Artoria nodded with a slight blush. "Yes, we shall."

"Alright."

...

...

Sheer silence followed as the two Servants began to slowly make their way towards their vehicles.

...

...

"By the way, where did you get that motorcycle?"

"The Clock Tower gave it to me four days ago. Said I could use it to reach a near location if another calamity occurred."

"I see. Quite convenient."

"Indeed."

...

...

"What about you? How did you acquire a car?"

"I projected it."

"...I beg you pardon?"

"Nothing, nothing. Nevermind."

...

...

"...you want a ride? Five seats are better than one."

...

"I... shall take that offer. Thank you."

"My pleasure."

…

…

They departed in silence.

---

Planet: Earth
Date: May 20 2020
Location: Clock Tower (London - England)

(======)

Shirou and Artoria reached London when the day was almost at its end. The sun had long set beyond the horizon, giving way to the ever growing darkness of the night and the electric lights of the metropolis. The road trip had passed smoothly, with little exchange of words between Shirou and Artoria. The two of them had preferred to exchange just a few words, getting used each other's presence in silence without giving voice to doubts and uncertainties like they had done before. They'd already had enough doubts and questions for a single day.

And they knew their day was still far from over.

They reached the entrance to the main building of the Clock Tower after a half hour drive. Once the got out of the vehicle, the two Servants moved to return to their companions without wasting time, but one of them stopped abruptly as they walked. Shirou halted right in the middle of the immense square in front of the main entrance to the Tower, casting a confused glance at Artoria, who had stopped a few feet behind him with an uncertain expression on her face and eyes filled with shame.

"Is something wrong?" he asked her confusedly.

The woman lowered her eyes shamefully. "...how am I supposed to look at them now? What am I supposed to say to them?" she asked in a tiny, fearful little voice. Her usual calm and collected demaneour was completely gone now. This Artoria seemed like a different person entirely.

Shirou blinked. Then he shrugged a bit. "I don't know... how about you just look at them in the eyes and say 'I'm back'?" he joked with a wry smile, giving her a wink.

She glared at him, but her red-head managed to see a slight quiver of her lips in attempt to hold back a tiny giggle. His gaze softened at her hesitation.

"I'm serious," she said again. "I... left them behind. I didn't even warn them before leaving. I-I shamed my honor and stained my pride. I'm no longer-"

"Ok, time-out," he sighed, walking up to her and putting his hands on her shoulders. The King of Knights looked up to meet the man's encouraging smile with timid eyes. "Don't think too much about it. No matter what you did, it's nothing as daunting as you make it sound. You just have to go in there, apologize, and that's it. They're your loyal Knights. I'm sure they'll understand, trust me."

The female King swallowed a little. He could see she was still hesitating.

Shirou offered her one of his patented smiles: eyes closed and head tilted to the side. "Don't worry. I'll be right next to you. I promise," he reassured her.

Something warm, sweet and incredibly reassuring bloomed inside her chest. Artoria tried to ignore the sudden warmth that went up her cheeks and ears, barely managing to nod in front of that sincere and kind face of his. Finally, with a shaking nod, the woman steeled her resolve and mustered all her courage. She followed him as they entered the facility, ignoring the perplexed and astonished looks of the other Mages and going straight to Waver Velvet's office.

And once they arrived in front of the door, without even knocking, Shirou opened the door and walked in, nudging her to do the same.

Artoria complied with a lowered head and timid eyes.

The result was immediate.

"My liege!"

"My King!"

Artoria found herself immediately struck by the words of her Knights. She hadn't even taken two steps inside the room that Bedivere and Gawain were already in front of her, both intent on looking at her with eyes filled with relief, their expressions torn between joy and concern as they fretted over her like worried parents meeting their long-lost daughter.

The woman felt her heart throb painfully with shame. "M-My friends..."

"Are you ok, my liege? You got us worried!"

"Are you injured? Did something happen?"

Her shame increased dramatically. Artoria barely realized that Lord El-Melloi II, Gray, and Rin were also present in the room, staring at her with shock... but she didn't care. All that mattered to her were her Knights, and the dishonor she had thrown upon herself by abandoning them without saying a word. And now, as painful and unbecoming of a KIng as it was, she had to fix this and make it up to them. She promised. She knew it was coming. And so, she wouldn't back down from this.

Next to her, Shirou stepped aside, watching the scene in silence.

Artoria mustered all of her courage.

"Bedivere... Gawain... I'm sorry," she began to say, her emerald eyes low and filled with regret under her friends' worried gaze. "I-I did something terrible. I ran away and left you behind in my sorrowful escape. I... I was so filled with shame and confusion that I didn't even think about warning you. M-My actions were unbecoming of a King and a leader. I... I failed you, and I'm sorry."

They didn't say anything.

The female King swallowed before comtinuing. "I-I know I no longer have the right to ask you this, but... can you forgive me?" she asked, staring at them with a gaze filled with sorrow and shame and regret.

Again, they didn't say anything.

But just when she was about to give up and burst into tears, the two Knights surprised her with their next move.

They kneeled on the ground right in front of her, raising a fist on their chest.

"My King, please don't apologize," Bedivere said with a smile that was both reassuring and remorseful. "You have no reason to apologize to us. If anyone has to beg for forgiveness... it's us."

Artoria gasped. "W-What?"

"He's right," Gawain agreed, lowering his head. "We failed you, my liege. We failed to defend you in the face of the King of Conquerors' words. We failed to defend your honor in the face of our pain, our shame, our mistakes. We are the ones who failed you. P-Please, forgive us," he said shamefully, lowering his head even further to the ground.

The woman shook her head. "N-No... please, my friends, don't say that. Get up, I beg you," she pleaded.

"No," Bedivere stated firmly. "My King, please listen to us. It doesn't matter if you failed. It doesn't matter what that man said. To me, to us, to all the Knights of the Round Table, you are and will always be the greatest King ever! Your failure and your mistakes are our fault too! You are not alone to blame! We ha-"

He could't finish his words. The two men blinked in confusion and amazement as their King suddenly grabbed their arms, gently pulling them back on their feet. They could do nothing but gape and blink in wonder.

Artoria looked at them with a sad smile.

"No, my friends. What I said yesterday... it was wrong," she finally admitted out loud. "My dream, what I wanted to achieve... it was an insult to our history, our past, and our bond. I wished to erase all of it, and that was wrong. That was a mistake on my part. I know you know this too."

Bedivere and Gawain looked down in shame.

"But not anymore," she swore. They both raised their heads to look in shock and amazement at their King's face. "I will never make this mistake again. I won't dishonor our past and our bond further. I won't chase that misguided dream anymore. And I will never leave you behind again. I promise you this. I swear it on my honor."

"...m-my King," they stuttered at the same time, both of them overwhelmed by her words and actions.

Artoria Pendragon took their hands, smiling a little with a sad, tearful face. "Bedivere, Gawain... my dearest friends," she said softly. "I no longer am a King. I no longer have the right to ask you this, especially after everything I said and done yesterday. But, even in spite of this... w-will you stand by my side again? Will you give me another chance?"

The two Knights did not hesitate even for a second.

Bedivere and Gawain nodded firmly, raising a fist on their chest for the second time. Her hesitation only seemed to make them more determined. "Yes, my liege," Bedivere declared, smiling with a firm expression. "Please, allow us to fight by your side once again. We will never abandon you, no matter how many times you fail."

"We swore an oath," Gawain readily agreed. "Now and forever, we will always stand by your side and fight with you, my King. We shall never break our oath to you, not even in this War," he declared firmly, as if it was obvious.

Artoria stared, absolutely overwhelmed by relief and joy. Despite her stature and role, she couldn't help but smile in glee, feeling her lips quiver a little in emotions. Her chest filled with pride and gratitude to her friends for their loyalty. What had she ever done to deserve such friends and companions? How could they choose to side with her after all her failures?

Really, she didn't deserve them. She truly didn't.

"...thank you, my friends," was all she could say in the end, trying and failing to hold back her flowing tears. "I really don't deserve you."

"Nonsense. Please do not say that ever again, my liege," Bedivere said, smiling in reassurance and relief.

Gawain nodded with a solemn gaze and a smile. "We're glad you're back, your majesty."

Artoria nodded, wiping away her tears.

"...I'm back, my dear Knights."

And just like that, the tension in the room disappeared after those words.

Shirou and the others watched the scene with little smiles on their faces. It was good to see that King Arthur and her Knights were still willing to stick together, despite everything that had happened in the past and even in these recent days. Truly, it was a heart-warming scene, and even the old and detached God of War couldn't help but feel a bit of relief and happiness when he saw Artoria's beaming face while she smiled at her loyal Knights.

How was that idiom? All is well that ends well?

Yes, it was truly fitting for this situation.

Lord El-Melloi II rose from his chair behind a desk. "Well, I'm glad that's settled," he said suddenly, drawing everyone's attention to him. Both Shirou and Artoria turned to him, observing the serious and solemn face of the black-haired man. "You made us worry, both of you. You disappeared into thin air without any warning. Well, not exactly. Ruler did warn sir Mordred of his departure, unlike a certain someone."

Artoria nodded with a bit of shame. "...I apologize for what I did."

The Magus sighed with a tired face. "No matter. You came back safely. That's all that matters."

Shirou relaxed a bit. Then he blinked in confusion when he saw Gray approaching him with a shy smile under her dark hood. "I-It's good to see you again, Shirou. We were worried about you," she said with her usual shy and low voice, fiddling with her fingers.

The Ruler grinned, placing a hand on her head and patting it gently. The girl blushed visibly at his actions. "Sorry, Gray. There was something I had to do," he apologized with a light tone.

"Yeah, about that," Rin immediately broke in, moving to place herself next to Gray and giving him an inquisitive look. Shirou blinked again in confusion as the girl crossed her arms, glaring at him with a haughty and solemn look that demanded answers despite him being a Servant – well, a fake one – and she a mere human. "Where in the world have you been? What is it that you have had to do in order to leave so suddenly?"

Shirou stared. Then blinked. Then stared again. Now that he looked at her better, he realized something.

This girl… she was strangely familiar to him. Incredibly familair. Suspiciously familiar. That face, those eyes, the black hair... they were very similar... they were definitely similar to-

He halted that train of thoughts with a shake of the head.

No. No way. It couldn't be. It was just a coincidence. Yes, a mere coincidence. It could only be so. It was the only solution. The only answer that made sense.

There was no way this simple girl was related to that annoying woman... right?

"Well?" Rin asked him again, narrowing her eyes further at his clear hesitation.

Shirou regained his composure with a smile. "Sorry, but I don't have to answer that question," he replied with a disarming randomness, smiling cheerfully at her stunned face. "I'm a Ruler class Servant. I don't need to answer to anyone. No offense, little girl."

Rin sputtered at his rebuke, her cheeks flashing red in anger and – for the most part – embarrassment. "L-L-Little girl?" she stuttered with wide eyes.

"Calm down, Rin," Waver Velvet called her back with a shake of the head. Then he stared at the red-haired Servant with a puzzled look. "But she's got a point, Ruler. I understand your willingness to keep your secrets and distance in order not to break the balance... but we still deserve to receive some answers. After all, remember that you have taken possession of something that belongs to the Clock Tower."

Shirou narrowed his eyes. He knew what he was talking about. "The Holy Lance Rhongomyniad does not belong to the Clock Tower," he promptly retorted. "The spear belongs to King Arthur, and her alone. I would gladly give it back to her, but since a Servant cannot use two weapons at the same time, I'm the only one who can hold and hide such a weapon. I don't need to remind you of what happened to Gray because of it, right?"

The man visibly hesitated after those words, watching Gray's face grow heavy and full of pain with a sad gaze. Even Artoria watched the hooded girl with a conflicted expression.

Shirou instantly regretted causing pain to the girl with his words, but he knew he couldn't stop now. He had to make this clear once and for all.

"If it falls into the wrong hands, Rhongomyniad could cause immense damage and the death of thousand of innocents. Even I know the legend of this spear. I know how powerful it is. I can't allow something like this. I'll keep the Lance hidden given my role as a Ruler, and I'll prevent it from falling in the hands of those who might use it for evil purposes. That's what I must do, Lord El-Melloi II."

The Magus stared back at his amber eyes. "...we would never use it for such reasons," he argued.

"I know. And I trust you, Mr. Waver. But I don't trust men. And the fact that mankind, the very same people of Gray's village have used an innocent girl in that disgusting way only to unlock the full power of the spear is something I cannot ignore. It's the proof that I'm right to worry. This shows that humans cannot handle a power like this. If mankind dared to cause so much pain on a small, innocent child just to use the Holy Lance… then mankind doesn't deserve to wield it. I'm sorry, but that's final."

Lord El-Melloi II remained silent, along with Rin and the others.

Gray's eyes fell to the ground.

Shirou offered her a sad smile, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry."

She hesitated, remaining silent for some time. Then, she nodded slowly with a resigned expression. "It's ok... I understand."

A few seconds of silence passed.

"...I also think the Lance would be safer with Shirou."

Everyone's eyes turned to Artoria after her words.

She looked at Lord El-Melloi II with a nod. "I trust him. He's more powerful than me, and I believe he is committed to the safety of the planet. The spear will be safe in his hands," she spoke with decision, without the slightest hesitation.

Rin blinked. "...you seem to be quite trustful of this Ruler, King of Knights," she noted with a surprised look.

Shirou smiled when he saw the blonde King glance at him with an embarrassed face. Oh, he was going to enjoy his next words very, veeery much.

"About that... we have something to discuss, Mr. Waver. Something about some sort of alliance between me and the King of Knights," he announced with a casual tone.

The Knights and the girls reacted immediately. They widened their eyes in sheer shock and confusion, gaping at the flushing face of Artoria while she lowered her head and hid her eyes behind her golden bangs. The young Lord stared at him with a raised eyebrow instead, already focused and ready to discuss.

The God of war glanced around the room, and then to a window to the left wall. He blinked in confusion with a raised brow.

"But first... where are Iskandar and Mordred?"

The only answer he received from the man was a tired groan and a weary shake of the head.

---

Planet: Earth
Date: May 21 2020
Location: Temple Bar – Temple Bar (Dublin - Ireland)

(======)

Ireland. They were in freaking Ireland.

He'd left them alone for barely two days. He'd told them to stay put and not cause too much trouble while he was away. And what had they done? They had gone to Ireland.

Shirou wanted to laugh and scream and curse at the same time.

Damned overly-sized kids.

He sighed for the 24th time after an hour of swearing, a three-hours flight, and a thirty-seven minutes drive... much to Artoria's amusement and Waver Velvet's sympathy.

They reached the pub where his companions were supposed to be after a relentless journey and a tiring effort to ignore his growing irritation for several hours straight. Even the Knights and Artoria seemed to be more tired than usual after all this effort to reach the place.

This was his own fault. He shouldn't have left two children alone. Even if said children were fully-grown Servants. He should have foreseen this. This was his punishment for his foolish decision.

Shirou let out his twenty-fifth sigh as he entered Temple Bar.

The place was huge, elegantly decorated in wood in order to make it appear like a pub from the early nineties. The whole bar was packed with people in every corner. Music, alcohol, and people of all ages and appearances filled it to the brim. So much so that it was almost difficult to move and walk among the throng of people in search of his vagabond comrades.

While he was looking around in the midst of the crowd of customers and tourists, Artoria patted him on the shoulder. He turned to his right, and-

There they were.

Three people, seated at a rectangular table in a corner near the left wall of the innermost area of the pub. A tall, gigantic man with red hair and beard. A teenage girl with blonde hair and emerald green eyes. And lastly, a man in his thirties with blue hair and red eyes. They were dressed in casual clothes, making them impossible to distinguish from regular customers.

But what caught his attention was the overwhelming number of empty mugs ang glasses on their table. There were more than twenty of them.

Shirou repressed a mental groan.

One of them noticed Shirou right away while he and the others approached them.

"Ruler!" Iskandar exclaimed with his boisterous demeanor. He held up a large mug still filled with beer, his cheeks flushed with alcohol and his lips parted in a cheerful grin as he spoke in his powerful voice. "You're here at last! And you brought the others! Magnificent! Truly magnificent! Come join us for a toast!"

Shirou stopped right in front of their table, watching as Mordred turned towards him with a jolt of surprise. She looked at his face with obvious embarrassment, clearly 'brighter' than usual but still more sober than the giant Rider. The blue-haired man – Cu Chulainn – looked completely wasted instead, barely able to look at him with focus.

Shirou stared at Mordred with a blank look. The poor girl didn't even have the courage to look at him in the eyes. "I told you to stay put and wait," was all he said, his quiet voice overcoming even the shouting of the crowd and the music of the pub.

Mordred glanced at him with a blush, completely ignoring the presence of Artoria and the others behind him. "...y-you were late..." she managed to mumble in shame and embarrassment.

Shirou didn't react in any way. He simply decided to ignore his irritation. He was surely going to react badly if he didn't.

"Sho you're heeereee…. the faamoush Rwulerrrr," the blue Lancer said, his voice confused and almost impossible to understand. He reeked of alcohol and his torso wobbled even when he remained seated. However, the man still managed to get up on his feet and put his arm around Shirou in a comical gesture, hiccuping a little. "You shhaved mmeeee..." he barely manged to say with a drunken laugh, blowing the stink of alcohol directly into the God's face. "I'm shoo howored to f-finally mweht you!"

...that was it.

Shirou promptly punched Lancer on the head, knocking him out instantly.

Cu Chulainn's unconscious body fell back on his seat, his head banging on the table with a thud. Then, he didn't move at all.

Lord El-Melloi II and the others behind Shirou looked at the scene with wide eyes.

'Damn... he's pissed...' was everyone's unanimous thought.

Iskandar laughed loudly, waving his mug in the air.

"Bwhahahahah! Lancer died!"

"You aren't human! What the heck is wrong with you?"

Even Mordred was completely baffled by his actions.

Shirou took a deep breath, his anger quickly dissolving after he vented it on Lancer. "Listen, guys. There's something we need to discuss," he said in all seriousness. Then he glanced at Artoria's tense, worried face. "But first... there's something your father would like to tell you, Mordred."

Shirou stepped aside a little and allowed the blonde woman to take his place in front of the table. Mordred turned her head, and a face almost exactly similar as hers filled her vision.

"Father," she greeted with narrowed eyes and a blank tone. "What do you want?"

Artoria's face warped in surprise at the neutral greeting, but it turned serious quickly. She took a deep breath for the next words she was about to say, since she rarely, if ever, used these words. Calmly, she took a seat opposite to her 'son' at the table, next to the King of Conquerors, and did her best to steel her resolve and muster all her courage. The others watched the scene in silence, even the Knights. Even Iskandar seemed to turn serious all of a sudden, as if he had never drank all those beers and was completely sober.

Shirou exhaled a mental sigh.

He could only hope that this talk could end well. Hopefully, Mordred could sense her father's sincerity and accept it. But he still had his doubts.

"I... want to apologize," Artoria began to say after a while, her head bowed lightly.

Mordred quipped with a raised brow. "What for?"

The King of Knights sat dumbfounded. "P-Pardon?"

"What do you want to apologize for?" her son tilted her head, her face morphed into a scowl. "The fact that you rejected my birth? The fact that you never cared for me? How you desired to keep me the furthest from the throne? Or is it the fact that your wish for the Grail is to erase completely our past and legend?" she gestured with her palm for Artoria to answer. "Go on, answer me truthfully. I'll hear you out."

The contrast between her blank face and the barbed words stabbed Artoria's heart with every sentence, making her tongue numb to response.

"Ah... M-Mordred, that's all..." she sputtered some answers, clearly still searching for them inside her head.

Mordred grinned ferally at her crumbling face while everyone present flinched at the scene.

"Father, you don't know what you're talking about, so shut the fuck up."

...

Ok, he'd had enough. Problem-solving time.

Before the situation could escalate, Shirou took a deep breath and sat down next to Mordred.

"Kid, listen to me... don't be like that," he told her seriously. The girl locked eyes with him with a frown. "I spoke with your father. She realized her mistakes. She understood that her desire for the Grail and, above all, the way she treated you in life were wrong. She sincerely wants to apologize to you. If you can just hear her out-"

"So what?" she spat carelessly, still upset and under the influence of alcohol. "Who cares if he realized the obvious! I don't care if he apologizes to me! All I want is to see him suffer like I did!"

The expression on Artoria's face couldn't be more mortified than this.

Mordred looked at her with sheer ferocity, leaning slightly on the table towards her. "I have no use for your apology," she said menacingly. "What, did you think that if you apologized everything would be fine? That I would have forgiven you so easily?"

Artoria said nothing, unable to speak as her son continued her rambling with a snarl.

"Well, guess what, Father? Your remorse won't give me my life back. It won't make me forget the pain and sorrow you caused me. So, I don't need it. I don't need it, nor you, at all."

Shirou stared at her, long and hard, but he said nothing. He knew he had no right to judge. He had no right to voice his opinion about this. To interfere between the two of them would be hypocritical and wrong. He was a stranger to the matter. He could not judge neither the father, nor the son. The only thing he did was exchange a fleeting glance with Iskandar, and the gigantic man nodded silently at his gaze.

"...are you really sure, Saber?" the King of Conquerors asked as well.

The girl remained silent. If they'd asked her this question a few days ago, she probably would have hesitated and thought about it over and over again. Heck, in the past she would have given everything to hear those words from her Father. But now... whether it was because of what had happened the day before, whether it was because of what she'd learned after her talk with Shirou, or whether it was because of the effect of alcohol... things were different.

Now, this time, she didn't hesitate in the slightest.

Mordred Pendragon glared at Artoria Pendragon.

"I lived my entire life craving for your love and striving to get your acknowledgement," she spoke solemnly, her green eyes blank and resentful. "What makes you think I want them now?"

The female King looked at her in shame. One, single, lonely tear dripped from her right cheek.

Gawain and Bedivere reacted. They moved to intervene and scold Mordred for her actions and words, but Shirou stopped them immediately. All he had to do was raise one hand, and the two froze at his sudden glare.

"Don't interfere," he said seriously. "This is between them, and them alone."

Sheer silence descended on their table. Mordred continued to glare at Artoria, and Artoria continued to look at Mordred with pain and remorse.

"...even if it won't change anything, even if you have no need for it... will you at least allow me to apologize once?" the older woman asked again.

Mordred scoffed, grabbing a glass of liquor and casually sipping it. "Go for it," she spat with no interest.

The Father looked at her Son, her green eyes showing clearly all the shame and sorrow she carried inside. "I'm so very sorry for everything... Mordred," she said with a lonely tear.

The Son stiffened at her Father's words, her shoulder trembling slightly. She blinked once, then twice, and then blinked three times. Small, ushed tears still managed to form in the corner of her eyes. She gritted her teeth in defeat and frustration, unable to admit and accept the effect those words had on her.

"Tch... damn it," she whispered, turning away from her father and furiously trying to wipe away the tears.

Shirou smiled a little. He could already see what was really happening inside that child's head. It was as clear as day for him.

So, he seized his chance as soon as he could.

"Your Father is coming with us, kid," he explained to her, mainly to her, placing one hand on the younger Saber's head. He ruffled her hair gently, and for once she didn't seem to care. "She's gonna help us stop this war. It has already been decided."

Mordred sniffled. Then, much to everyone's surprise, she nodded in acceptance and leaned her head on his shoulder.

"...good."

Despite everything; Shirou, Lord El-Melloi II and even Artoria smiled in victory.

It had been a success.

"At least I'll be able to prove him wrong that way," she continued after a few seconds of silence. Mordred shot a tearful glare at her father, her head still resting on the Ruler's shoulder. "Just you wait. I'll prove that you were wrong about me. I'll prove that I can be happy even without you! I swear!"

Artoria's smile never faded despite those words filled with resentment. "...That's fine," she whispered with a nod. Her eyes sparkled with hope and understanding in spite of everything. "I'll wait for it."

Mordred grunted, pressing herself even more on Shirou's body.

The red-haired man didn't mind, simply choosing to widen his smile while he exchanged a knowing glance with Iskandar. The King of Conquerors grinned with a nod.

And then, all of a sudden, the music started to play inside the pub.

~I've been a wild rover for many's the year~
~And I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer~
~But now I'm returning with gold in great store~
~And I never will play the wild rover no more~

The King of Conquerors reached out to the opposite side of the table, patting Mordred's head with an affectionate smile. "Don't you worry, my fellow King," he spoke with seriousness, for once sounding more calm and quiet than usual. Even his alcohol-induced gaiety was gone. "Me and Ruler are gonna help you in this quest. You have my word."

Her reaction was immediate.

Mordred jumped in amazement, her eyes wide and her mouth open. She stared at Iskandar with obvious shock. "W-What?" she whispered. "What did you just call me?"

The muscular Rider smirked. "Hmm? I said my fellow King," he repeated again with a sly smile, almost casually, as if it was obvious.

The Knight of Treachery remained as still as a statue, her eyes as wide as plates. Even the others seemed to be confused by Iskandar's words. Shirou merely smiled knowingly.

~And it's no, nay, never~
~No, nay, never, no more~
~Will I play the wild rover~
~No never, no more~

"Your wish is to become a King, right? And you're learning the joys of life and the Way of Conquest from yours truly, are you not?" he elborated with a grin, taking a sip from his huge mug of beer. "That means you can surely be a future King, Saber. I recognize your worth and your right to rule. Besides, I consider you a person much more worthy of such a title than your Father. I had to scold her for quite some time after you left during our last talk," he explained with a laugh, blatantly ignoring the sudden glare Artoria was sending him from the seat next to him.

Iskandar smirked again under the girl's stunned face. "I trust you have no issue with me calling you that. Right?"

Mordred blushed a little, lowering her gaze to the table. "N-No. None..." she mumbled with an embarrassed face. Her shy face was an gigantic contrast to her usual behavior.

~I went to an alehouse I used to frequent~
~I told the landlady my money was spent~
~I ask her for credit, she answered me nay~
~Such a custom as yours I can have any day~

"Hmpf. Don't spoil her too much, King of Conquerors. She still has no idea of what it means to be a monarch," Artoria suddenly said, crossing her arms and raising her chin with a light pout. Her right eyebrow was starting to twitch a little as she watched her son press her body onto Shirou once again, leaning on him with a small smile.

The action was irritating her more and more by the second. She had no idea why, though.

"Hoho? Are you jealous because she has my approval while you don't, King of Knights?"

"Nonsense. I'm simply stating a fact."

"Sounds like a sore loser to me."

~And it's no, nay, never~
~No, nay, never, no more~
~Will I play the wild rover~
~No never, no more~

"Um... shouldn't we do something about Lancer?" Waver Velvet interjected suddenly, pulling a tiny table close to the large one and taking a seat with the Knights.

Everyone's eyes fell on Cu Chulainn's unconscious body still lying on the table, drooling and snoring as if nothing was wrong in the world.

A few seconds of silence passed.

"Worry not, young man. He's inconsequential now. More importantly, grab a glass and join us! You Knights too! We stiil have a lot of drinks to share!"

"...I don't think I'll be able to drink after seeing his conditions," Gawain spoke, glancing at Lancer.

"Neither do I," Bedivere agreed.

"Shut it, spoilsport. Don't ruin the mood," Mordred mumbled with a mock glare, growing more and more sleepy by the second because of alcohol. Without even noticing it, her head returned to rest on the Ruler's shoulder and her body rested on him.

Shirou couldn't hold back a little smile.

~I'll go home to my parents, confess what I've done~
~And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son~
~And when they've caressed me, as oft times before~
~I never will play the wild rover no more~

And while Mordred fell asleep after a few seconds... while Iskandar forced Waver Velvet to drink a giant glass of whiskey with a bellowing laugh... while the Knights relaxed and smiled in their own seats... Shirou released a tired breath and held the young girl's body with his arm.

Mordred smiled a little in her sleep, making the God's eyes soften at the scene.

Shirou glanced at the King of Knights with an amused expression.

"See? I told you she wasn't as bad as you think," he silently mouthed to her.

~And it's no, nay, never~
~No, nay, never, no more~

And for the first time in her life, for the first time in her entire life, Artoria started to look at her son in a new light. As she watched Mordred in silence while she slept peacefully in Shirou's arms with a calm, cute smile on her face... for the very first time in her life, Artoria Pendragon found herself smiling with joy and relief for her rebel child.

Because maybe... maybe it was true. Maybe that Ruler was telling the truth. Maybe Mordred wasn't really as bad and cruel as she had believed before.

~Will I play the wild rover~

After all, if she could make such an expression while asleep, and if that Ruler liked her so much...

-No never, no more-

...how bad could she be?

---

Planet: Earth
Date: May 21 2020
Location: Mount Clisham – Harris (Lewis and Harris - Scotland)

(======)

Archer cursed under his breath.

In the distance, shadowed by the mountain's shadow, a gigantic pool of black, coagulating liquid similar to oil flooded the valley at the base of the mountain. Shimmering tentacles of purple smilar to fibrous filaments poked out of the puddle and spread out across the ground like a distorted spider web. Nearby trees hung frozen in time, lifeless and dead.

He swallowed nervously at that vision.

'Ohi, ohi... this can't be good.'

He didn't dare to go near that horrifying mass. Whatever it was, it was best not to approach it.

Then, all of a sudden, the air stilled and everything around him went quiet. Eerily quiet.

The fibrous filaments roused to life in less than a second, pointing their horrendous tip towards his position.

Robin Hood cursed. That thing could feel his Spiritual Core even with Faceless King equipped, his magic clothing that was supposed to erase any sign of his presence.

'Very well. I say it's time for a honorable retreat.'

Energy surged into Archer's legs. Then, he shot forward, faster than any common living thing.

One lunging step carried him on the top of the mountain. Wind pulled at his hooded face. Through its incessant howl, the Servant heard a distant, echoing crackle: the sound of shattering ground and trees.

'Ignore it. Focus. Run. Run far, far away from here.'

'As long as you're not seen, as long as you manage to escape, your pride will live on!'

Then, his instinct screamed at him.

He turned abruptly with a gasp...

...just as a filamentous tentacle pierced him right through the chest, faster than lightning itself.

Robin Hood spat blood from his lips.

The sky became black.

He chuckled mirthlessly.

'...good grief, this isn't good.'

Then, his whole world became black as well.

FATE/Oppression
-Interlude-

End

---

Here is another interulde that came out much longer than I expected. I hope I managed to convey in a decent way at least a small part of the emotions I felt while writing it. Please let me know about this.

Next chapter is the beginning of the third Arc. It's gonna be a shorter chapter compared to the last two, but with more action. If you can guess where it's gonna take place, I'll tell you a little spoiler about its future characters in private. (Small hint: it's not in the UK).

Given that some people have asked me the same questions both in the reviews section and in private, I've realized that some things in the story may not be clear enough. Therefore, I would like to clarify some concepts here:

- Shirou is a Demi-God. A Divine Spirit. However, this detail is not immediately apparent to Servants who encounter him or observe him. Not even other Demi-Gods can recognize his true status. It's not something that can be recognized with a glance, even in the canon universe. In my story, this is due to the fact that Gaia masked him as a Ruler-class Servant during the summoning, but also due to the fact that no one can recognize a Demi-God based on appearance alone. Some powerful Servants like Iskandar and Artoria are able to feel that Shirou is more powerful than a normal Servant, because they are top Servants and have an extremely renowned legend, but they don't know who he really is. The same goes for other Demi-Gods as well. Arjuna doesn't know that Shirou is a Divine Spirit like him. Basically, Servants are not able to recognize a God, a Divine Spirit (therefore, a demi-god) with a single glance. This is canon even in the original universe, as far as I know.

- As proof of this, it has been said by Arjuna in Chapter 4 of the First Arc that there is only ONE person who can recognize a Divine Spirit with a single glance. However, I can't spoil their identity yet.

- In my story, Servants are summoned only once. This means that there will only be one Artoria, one Iskandar, one Mordred, etc. There are no different versions of the same Servant. However, I have something planned with the 'alter' versions of many characters for the future. Also, all Servants – except for Shirou who is still alive (along with another Hero similar to him that we'll meet in the future) – have some restrictions, because: as it has been said by Gaia in Chapter 2 –Beginning-, a complete replication of all their previous abilities is impossible even for a God.

- Shirou feels attraction towards Artoria, yes, but he's not love-struck like in the Fate route. And Artoria has an obvious interest in him because she is particularly 'bound' to him. It is now obvious that the reason for this connection between them is due to a certain Scabbard. But I must warn you: things may be different from the original story. The Scabbard is gonna be very important in my fic. I hope you'll look forward to some future CODEX to learn more about this.

- A lot of you asked me this: Yes, Archer EMIYA will be present in the story, but only in the Final Arc. I have something special planned for him and Shirou.

There you go. Hope it was clear enough. See you soon.