Author Note
Hi there and welcome to another chapter of Avalon Bond. This is going to be the last chapter of FSN.
Next chapter will mark the beginning of Part II – Fate Grand Order. I wanted to let everyone know that it may take some more time between chapters as now it comes the part of research and incorporating two new characters into another series, which must be quite meticulously planned so as not to change too much and still be enjoyable. Now, here is the chapter.
Avalon Bond
Part I – Fate Stay Night
Chapter 11 – The Fallen King
It has been two months since Muramasa's spirit sword has rested in Shirou's reality marble.
In the train back to Fuyuki, Shirou told Arturia everything that happened. Shirou had met with a spirit from Japan's history, a famous blacksmith and sword user called Senji Muramasa and that said spirit had chosen to rest in Shirou's grave of swords reality marble. Muramasa's spirit was then incorporated into Shirou giving the redhead Muramasa's skills as a blacksmith and a swordsman, not to mention a great power-up in terms of mana. Arturia especially frowned as Shirou told that he had also acquired the legend's knowledge. She was afraid that Shirou's own memories would be overwhelmed and her lover's personality would change because of it. However, she could see no difference in his eyes, albeit the fact that they looked more mature.
A woman could tell a man's love for her just by the way he looks at her.
That did not change.
She could see though that at times he became a tad introspective, but that was valid as he was processing the foreign knowledge and even getting a feel to his skills, now augmented. A positive sign was that their spars with a single sword – her style of fighting – improved quite a bit. It actually made Arturia reminisce about her fight against Sasaki Kojiro. Shirou's acquired sword style from Muramasa and Kojiro's technique bore many resemblances. Also, Shirou appeared to be more at ease in using a long sword than before, even tracing a plain black katana sword to fight against her. He had expressed that Muramasa's finest blade creations were considered demonic in nature and this one while similar to his darkes creations, lacked many of the usual characteristics.
One surprising capability of this new sword is the ability to surge mana throughout the forged steel. As such, Shirou could even use fire spells throughout the sword.
The couple's missions returned full force after that.
Ciel had requested their help in a dead apostle hunt in Colombia. When the church hunter looked at him this time, Arturia considered slicing the woman's head off but controlled herself. It did not help that Shirou's new choice of wardrobe in their assignments mirrored Muramasa's, so her lover's full upper body became exposed for the horny nun to drool over. A more logical part of Arturia found that she could not blame Ciel, though. The first time they made love after the event with Muramasa, Arturia simply got lost in drool as her hands enjoyed the feeling of his lean muscles. Still, she would kill herself before ever allowing any woman from as much as having dirty thoughts about her Shirou.
Contrary to the last one, though, this mission turned to be a walk in the park as both Shirou and Arturia took care of their foes without much trouble. Turned out that not only Shirou got a boost in strength, but she as well, because she was being supplied by him. This assignment involved killing a group of dead apostles who were even involved in a drug cartel. The apostles were rather weak compared to the ones found in Romania, so they took care quickly and Ciel communicated the Church which in turn relayed the information to the local force.
Bazett has also requested them for a quick hunt in Snowfield, United States. Apparently, a group of magus had collected data from the Fuyuki Grail Wars and had attempted to recreate the wars in United States Territory. Bazett was sent by the Clock Tower to investigate and arrest the culprits. Luckily, her freelancer couple were nearby and were able to arrive quickly to provide assistance, otherwise it would be quite catastrophic. Bazett's team, however, could not handle the situation without casualties on the culprits' side as there even meddling from the US government.
Everything was obviously kept under wraps of course.
===xxx===
Right now, Shirou and Arturia were enjoying a break after Snowfield. They had chosen a nice resort to spend the weekend in Miami, Florida.
They would have booked for longer, but for now it was nice to enjoy some quiet time.
It was a Saturday morning as the couple were inside the room, sleeping. The white curtains of their room barely able to keep the bright sun outside. Wearing a white, barely transparent, sleeping clothes, Arturia was the first one to open her eyes as the noise of the waves outside reached her ears. Her head was resting on Shirou's chest as she took her sweet time in absorbing as much of the situation as possible. The soothing noises, the familiar smell of the beach and, best of all, the feeling of waking up next to her lover. Shirou was simply busy snoring in bed and she kissed his forehead, before going to the bathroom to check on herself.
It has been what…three or four years since she had destroyed the Grail in Fuyuki and first became Rin Tohsaka's familiar.
Back then, she had the body of a teenager, petite. Her hair would reach her shoulder and her chest…well, it was not worth mentioning it, then.
Four years later, and without the influence of the Fae's holy weapons on her, Arturia was now a woman. She was not as tall as Shirou, which she was actually pleased with that, as she enjoyed being engulfed by his arms. Her hair was quite longer, easily reaching the middle of her back if she stopped braiding it. Because of the heavy everyday work-out, her body never lost its muscular quality, but because she was now taller and thus her body was not overly filled with muscles like she tended to view herself. Her chest area had also shown development and the thought brought out a blush on her face as she remembered the feeling of Shirou's hands massaging them last night as well as doing other things.
Taking a comb that was close to the sink, she was calmly brushing her hair, before it became like usual…falling to the sides below her shoulders and braided on the back.
Coming back to the room, her eyes rested on the scene.
She could see the ocean in the horizon added by the sun illuminating their room and Shirou still asleep with some rays of sunlight even reaching his chest. The scene translated to Arturia just about everything she could ever want in life. However, there was only one thing missing and her sudden saddened face has evidence enough of its importance.
Herself…
Or rather, the fact that she was only here, experimenting all of this due to her beloved's connection. It has been an incredible and invaluable experience for sure, but Arturia Pendragon wanted more. Emiya Shirou has shown her many things throughout their time together. However, one thing that stood above all else was that he showed her that she deserved to be loved as a woman…as a girlfriend…a wife perhaps…and even a mother one day. She no longer wanted to be a mere servant…a familiar. She wanted to be human once more…if nothing else because it would mean that she could truly be with him. However, she did not know how to do that and she doubted that Shirou knew how.
A look at the phone resting on the room table made Arturia lift her hopes up as she remembered that another person might…Arturia loves Shirou with all her heart, but her heart has a special place reserved for her best friend.
London's timetable was hours ahead, so she might already be up at this point.
===With Rin===
Tohsaka Rin was seen leaving her dorm in the morning, heading towards the Clock Tower. Her face though showed nothing but irritation at the memory of last night.
She was glad that Sakura had already left, or else she would have to bear with a very cranky Rin.
She was so pissed that she had almost not heard her phone ringing inside her purse.
(…phone ring)
(…phone ring)
Looking at the screen, Rin showed a smile at seeing who was calling her. Perhaps, this day could improve after all.
"Hello Saber…how's going…" Rin's smile was evident on her face as she walked throughout busy old London. It's been some time since they last spoke.
"Hi Rin, I hope I did not wake you." Rin snorted at that.
"Considering it's almost eleven o' clock here in London, I would receive quite the scolding from Sakura if I was still asleep."
Rin heard Saber's melodic laughter from the other side of the phone.
"I do remember Shirou having trouble waking you up midday on a Saturday…" Rin looked abashed at the phone, though Saber was right…she did like her beauty sleep specially on weekends.
"Ah, yes, well, let's say that I did not have a pleasant enough sleep yesterday." Saber could feel by Rin's voice that she was not pleased.
"Something happened?"
"Nothing…just a terrible date that's all. I tell you Saber…English men are quite boring...no offense."
"Why would I find it offensive?"
"Well, you know…I just thought that since you ruled over them once…you would find it offensive if it badmouthed your people." Rin heard Saber snorting on the phone.
"So, who is he if I may ask?"
"His name is Svin Glascheit, a highly rated magus here at the Clock Tower. Looks alone aren't that bad and after pestering me for dates, I eventually accepted it. Though, the date was awful. The restaurant where he took us was filthy, the food was bloody awful, and he kept going on and on about great of a teacher Waver Velvet is and even his beast mage craft. But that was it…he did not know anything else aside from the Clock Tower. Huuhhh, I was just counting the minutes to leave, but he kept on insisting and even insisted of accompanying me to my dorm…bloody bastard." Saber could not help but giggle as Rin had already incorporated the local's cursing words in her speech.
"Well, that does not sound so bad…"
"Oh it does, Saber…worst of all was that he kept on saying about Waver's assistant Gray and how miserable he felt after she constantly turned him down. I mean, come on…why would I care about that? Come to think about it, I now understand why she turned him down." Saber laughed once more. Rin told her and Shirou about this Gray person as being an indirect descendant of Arturia's bloodline and even looked similar to her when she was a servant in the fifth grail war. Saber was surprised at the time upon hearing that Gray was in possession of her holy lance Rhongomyniad, which was lost to Arturia after the Battle of Camlann. Though, Arturia did not bother with the lance as she preferred Excalibur and her Avalon. As to meeting up with Gray, she admitted to never having the curiosity to do so.
"Sorry it did not work out, though…so how is Sakura doing?"
"She is fine…she misses you two…Say Saber, where are you calling from…I'm hearing waves."
"We are in Miami right now for the weekend. We did a couple of missions in this side of the world and decided to rest for a bit."
Rin smiled at the phone as she entered the Clock Tower.
Nothing calmed her down like spending time with her good old research after all.
"Nice…and how's Shirou?" Saber then explained everything that happened to him in their trip to Kyoto.
Rin was left speechless on the phone. Compared to these two, her life was pretty mundane.
"Wow…so Muramasa's spirit is in Shirou's Realty Marble. That's awesome…"
Rin found that she missed the couple greatly and she wanted to see how much stronger Shirou became.
"Yeah indeed…" Rin frowned as she felt the uncertainty in her friend's voice. She could always tell, after all.
"What is it, Saber?"
Arturia was at the room's balcony as her eyes were lost in the ocean waves, before coming clean with the real reason of her call. Rin heard it all and she could feel the pain in her friend's voice. Rin was actually witness to this relationship since the very start. She saw it being born once the energy of Avalon united them. She saw it grow in their interaction together. Rin even remembered the look of elation in Saber when they had sex for the first time. And now hearing about Saber's conundrum…about how she wanted to be more to him, it made Rin's heard swell in comfort. Tohsaka Rin was not much in favor of romantic stories, probably as a result of losing their parents at an early stage in her life. However, she was now seeing one being written in front of her.
However, it also pained the Tohsaka heir to give her answer to her friend. Shirou may now have the power to keep Saber forever in this plane of existence, at least until he dies, and they could still be together, but they would still be master and familiar.
"I'm sorry Saber…I just don't know how to help you…" It killed Rin to hear the sad sigh from the other side of the phone. Her day today was a shitty one, indeed.
"I understand, Rin, thank you for hearing me out, though."
"Anytime, although there is one person that could probably help…maybe this is impossible even for him, but if there's one person who could do it would be him. I could ask Zelretch…why don't you come here to London after your weekend. I can definitely talk to him and settle up a meeting between you three." Arturia frowned at the mention of Rin's teacher, one of the dead apostle ancestors Zelretch. She could not help but compare the man to Merlin. He was actually the only one in the Clock Tower to know of their secret. Still, Arturia really did want to be more to Shirou than a mere servant or familiar. The thought would come and go every once in a while, but now it was pretty much all she could think about…the possibility of being with him…perhaps make plans for the future with him.
"Okay Rin, please talk to him, I will talk to Shirou to go to London…"
"Have you talked to him about this?"
"No, but I will…I doubt that he will be against it, though he will definitely worry about the possible means to do it."
She was right as anything remotely possible would be quite risky.
"I would not blame him, Saber. The love between you two is proof enough that the mere possibility of losing you…" Arturia could not help but agree.
"I know that Rin, but I can't take this any longer…when I think about him, I keep picturing our future together." Right now, Rin was not talking to a composed King of Knights, but a fearful Arturia Pendragon.
"I understand…I will talk to Zelretch then…just text me with the date of your arrival and I will organize everything."
"Thank you, Rin. I will send you a message when I confirm with Shirou about going to London." With that, they hang up the phone as Arturia went back to their room, only to see Shirou at the balcony door looking at both her in sadness and towards the ground. She understood and approached her beloved. She did not need to ask if he had listened to the conversation, his downtrodden face told her that he did. Caressing his face, she lifted his chin to make his eyes meet hers. From that look alone, he told her many things. In all her days together, Shirou had tried to supply Arturia with everything she ever needed. When he heard Arturia telling Rin about what she wanted, Shirou became afraid…he understood her position. Shirou had been with her for so long, that he had simply forgotten that important limitation to their relationship.
In his eyes, she was his just as he was hers.
"I'm sorry about not telling you this before…" Shirou was looking at her now and her heart skipped a beat at the gaze in his eyes.
A smile met her eyes, though as he hugged her.
"Don't be…I am with you in whatever it is you wish to do." She nodded with a smile as they kissed.
===Three days later===
They left Miami and went straight to London to meet up with Rin.
Shirou had communicated both Ciel and Bazett that they would not be able to participate in assignments for a week or two based on 'personal matters' that they had to deal with. Along the way, Arturia had explained to Shirou about her feelings, or rather when it started. They had talked in length about the situation and Shirou vouched that he would do whatever it is that she needed. The possible outcome of whatever they would try would make Arturia human once more. The very concept baffled him, although he admitted to being rather anxious about it. Not for the consequence of course, as he looked rather excited at the prospect himself, but rather the steps needed to get there.
He had no doubt that Zelretch was probably the most skilled magus in existence.
So, if anyone knew a way, it would be him.
As soon as they landed in Heathrow Airport, Rin was there to greet them at the Airport. And she was quite surprised to see just how different Shirou became after the event with Muramasa. Saber was not kidding about the mana capacity as her eyes could practically see mana pouring out of his body as if he was having trouble containing it. Plus, Shirou was taller and stronger than before, so when he gave her a hug, she felt the bones crushing under his arms.
"Ouch Emiya, do try to control that strength of yours…"
"Sorry there Tohsaka…"
Rin also exchanged hugs with Saber as they then went to the Airport Train Station straight to the Tube and then to the nearest station to the Clock Tower.
===Clock Tower===
Once the trio entered the Magus Associations' headquarters, Rin had escorted them straight to Zelretch's office.
Despite doing some assignments for the man, Shirou and Arturia had never been inside his office.
Getting inside the office, Shirou and Arturia were surprised to see that the office was completely shut, deprived of windows whatsoever. Despite sunlight being harmful to Dead Apostle, a man of his strength, being one of the Ancestors, should not be threatened by it. Nevertheless, he was still a dead apostle and thus more comfortable in avoiding sunlight. The room was formally decorated and filled with low-light lamps on the walls. The feeling of dread was present though just like all dead apostles they faced before.
"Ah Emiya Shirou and Arturia Pendragon, welcome to my humble abode…please seat. We have much to talk about."
The voice calling them from the middle of the darkened room was deep.
As they walked further, they could see the elder sitting on his desk with a smile on his face. Gray hair and gray beard, he wore a black tuxedo with some details in white covered by a black cape. His face showed the heavy wrinkles of an elder citizen, but that alone told them nothing as no one really knew how old he truly was. Despite it all, the fact that he had said her name like that, earned a frown from the King of Knights. To this day, the only one she was ever comfortable with calling her by her name was Shirou. Not even Rin called her like that. Also, the fact that he was not at all subtle, earned a sigh in irritation from both Arturia and Shirou even. Even if his office was located in the last floor of the Clock Tower, they were still people nearby who could have heard the man.
Rin also had shown her displeasure.
"Zelretch, could you please be quiet…if her identity were to be revealed here, they would hunt her…" Zelretch though only boisterously laughed at that.
"Dear apprentice, you have much to learn…you still think you're in the Clock Tower, aren't you?"
Rin, Shirou and Arturia looked alarmed at that and Rin slapped her forehead in irritation. She should have known better indeed.
"Rin…where are we?" She turned to Arturia.
"This is Zelretch's office…where he observes multiple timelines and dimensions. I don't know how to explain where we are, best I can come up with, is that he has created a pocket dimension that is able to travel throughout other dimensions and timelines."
The elder apostle smirked, nodding at his apprentice's assumption.
"Well, Nagato's bloodline runs in your veins, after all. Now…my apprentice has approached me about your plight, miss Arturia. I have to say though, that this timeline has been mostly interesting to watch. Who would have known that three people – two human and a servant that is - alone could change the events like this…and without even knowing about it."
"What do you mean?" Zelretch looked at Shirou.
"I have seen multiple timelines of what happened at the Fuyuki's Fifth Grail War and I can tell you that there are many different outcomes. That is the beauty with multiple dimensions and it's precisely why I enjoy watching them unfurl before me. It is like different stories from the same events. Your love interest, your ideals in life, the experiences you had with your father and even a different family, even Archer's actions varied in many ways. For all intents and purposes, you, Emiya Shirou, is an enigma to me. I see many different personalities in you and even different characters with the same but also different eyes looking back at me. Even your ancestors like the one that currently rests in your realty marble."
At the mention of Shirou's ultimate noble phantasm, they flinched.
Worst than the Clock Tower knowing about Arturia's identity is them knowing that Shirou has a forbidden ability.
Zelretch then turned to Arturia and smirked once more, just like he did with Shirou.
"You my child is one enigma as well."
Arturia looked at the man before him, quite surprised to be called a 'child'.
"I have seen multiple timelines of you as well, King of Knights. Though, I have to say that looking at you now I can say you are perhaps the combination of different Arturias."
Arturia herself flinched at the notion. She did not want to ask about what the man meant, though.
Shirou turned to seat at the edge of his seat as he addressed the man before them.
"Zelretch, sir, we came here because Tohsaka believed you could help us…can you?" Zelretch nodded as he got up and placed his hand behind his back.
"Like I said Emiya Shirou, my ability allows me to see multiple dimensions and even different timelines. I do not particularly enjoy changing them as tempering too much could mess with the balance in this World. And after my apprentice came with your request, I turned to watch the different timelines to different human versions of one Arturia Pendragon and how each version handled her kingdom. Curious aspect is that pretty much all versions of yourself ends up killed in the same place and by the same person."
Arturia flinched at the memory of her executioner. Her sister Morgan had indeed created the best possible executioner for the King of Knights after all.
"How is that going to help us?"
Shirou was clueless, but an experienced theorical mage like Rin was already connecting the dots of what her master was leading them towards.
"In order for Arturia here to become 'human' once more, she must possess a human version of herself."
Arturia and Shirou looked at one another and then at Zelretch.
"However, because you have been through some changes, it is not possible to simply choose any dimension. For instance, you are now quite different from the version of yourself that perished in the Battle of Camlann, you are taller, more developed even. Turned out, though, that I happened to find a dimension where a different version made all sorts of different decisions…losing both Avalon and Caliburn earlier on, made this version of you grow and age just like you are now." Arturia was having trouble accepting this solution that the man was offering and Shirou did not even need his link to her to figure out that she was having second thoughts about this manner. Even Zelretch stopped talking as he simply observed.
Arturia, though, remembered the reason they were here as she looked at the face, she wanted to wake up every day to.
And Shirou was looking at her, trying to be supportive to her.
"What can you tell me about her? Her decisions, I mean." Zelretch closed his eyes for a while and he smiled at the woman before him.
"Like you, she cast out every possible emotion from her decision making and ruled her kingdom. However, while you stood over your subjects in your righteousness, she went through a different path, a darker path, shall we say. By each decision she made, her knights started abandoning her one by one, until only Sir Bedivere remained." Arturia looked to the ground at that. "When Mordred attacked at the Battle of Camlann, you arrived too late and he tried to stop her…she killed him and then you, or at least the darker version of you. This version of yourself died alone and while she cannot be considered evil, she certainly could no longer be called a righteous king. I can send you two to the time and place of her death. With her spirit gone, the spiritual possession of the body can be done easier, but…"
"But if she is me, then I certainly may expect resistance." Zelretch nodded and Shirou protested.
"What do you mean resistance?" Rin looked at her best male friend.
"It means that there is a possibility that this version of Arturia will not be thrilled with the body possession and will put up a fight. Our Arturia will have to defeat her spirit and she does have a limited supply of mana to do so."
"So, if things go south, then what will happen to her?" He was clearly worried about the prospect of losing her and Arturia could feel it.
"Shirou…" The man in question turned to look at his lover and he could see her smile directed at him.
"Being together with you has been the best possible experience for me, but I want more than that. I want for us to do everything together, to grow up together, to grow old together as well…I could not do that being a servant. I know that the risks are too much, but I just could not bear myself It I did not take this opportunity to truly be with you, not just because of your mana supplying for me. Please understand…" The redhead looked down and quite mortified over the prospect, but he understood and sympathized with her plight. He could not imagine his world without her and like her, he also thought of future plans together.
He held her hand and nodded at her, earning a smile from the woman. Shirou then turned to Zelretch. This dimension was already shaping up to be his favorite.
"What do we have to do, then?" Zelretch gave a azoth dagger to Arturia.
"Once the version of yourself perishes, you will strike her down with this using your mana. The spell imbedded in the dagger will start the process. The rest will be up to your strength and will, miss Arturia." Arturia took the dagger in her hand and squeezed. She looked at Shirou and nodded in resolution.
"I will send you two to the time and place. I will take you two back once it's done." Shirou and Arturia nodded as Zelretch placed both hands in Shirou and Arturia's heads.
Rin watched on in worry as their best friend's bodies vanished from their position.
===Battle of Camlann===
Arturia Pendragon, the King of Knights, dragged her broken Excalibur Morgan sword, while holding the wound of the side of her stomach.
Her darkened armor was broken in multiple places and she was bleeding profusely. She managed to drag herself until she found a rather thick tree to rest. She spilled blood from her mouth as her eyes looked around for eventual enemies that would come to finish her off. Still, looking at the rays of sunlight illuminating the trees around this place, Arturia found herself losing her strength by the second. She had failed, after all. She had failed the mission entrusted to her. Once she took Caliburn from the stone, she had sworn to rule over Camelot with all her might and that she did.
However, in doing so, she ended up losing everyone she ever cared about, until none left.
Looking around, she realized with dread that in the end she would be dead, and no one was there to see it.
Coughing once more, she felt her eyes slowly closing. She felt her life leaving her body as it was time for her to meet her destiny.
This was the scene that Shirou and Arturia came to, hidden a couple of threes far from this dimension Arturia. While he observed his beloved, Shirou came more for personal support than anything as well as eventual protection for his Arturia. Right now, they were in Six century Britannia and if they were to be caught or even tamper with the events here in anyway, no doubt, they would mess up with time. That would piss off Alaya greatly which would probably send in a counter guardian to deal with them. The idea of facing someone like Archer once more was not appealing. As such, they needed to time this right and above all else, make sure that no one approached them. Arturia, for her part, was in some sort of trance as she watched a different version of herself perish on the same tree that she has seconds before offering herself to the world to become a Counter Guardian.
The images of this Arturia and her own events sort of interlapped. Whereas in her life, Bedivere was right now watching her last breath, this Arturia was alone.
Gripping the azoth dagger tightly, Arturia had not realized that her hand was trembling in insecurity.
Arturia was surprised to feel a comforting hand on her shoulder as she looked back to Shirou.
"I'm here Arturia…" Shirou being there calmed her nerves and she nodded at him.
Taking a deep breath, her free hand held Shirou's as they observed the other Arturia. It took a couple more minutes before they were sure that no one would come for this king. Calmly walking as to not make excessive noise, Arturia wondered about the Battle of Camlann as she approached the downed figure that looked like her, but not at the same time. For all intents and purposes, the looks were the same. Long golden blond hair, green eyes, body development of a grownup, no longer hindered by the holy weapons. Aside from that, her clothes were similar, but in different colors. While Arturia wore blue and yellow, this version was all black. Arturia could even see that instead of the usual crown on her head, there was a black like design that closed on her chin, also serving as a crown.
The armor was pierced in several locations, probably due to Mordred's Clarent.
She observed as Shirou threw a couple of runes around their location before a bounded field lifted around them.
Arturia took a moment to observe the Arturia in front of her, taking a while to check her vitals and account for the possibility of her still being alive. Taking a deep breath and looking one last time at Shirou for reassurance, Arturia gripped the azoth dagger and plunged it at the blackened armor, piercing it until she felt flesh. Arturia closed her eyes as her body dissolved into golden dots of energy. Instead of vanishing into the air, the energy went inside the fallen King Arturia's body. Shirou observed the procedure with a held breath. He needed to trust his beloved to come through in the end, or else it would be over. Right now, he could nothing but be on guard if someone came looking for the king.
===Unknown Location===
When Arturia opened her eyes once more, she was surprised to feel herself sinking. The 'water' she was in was quite dark…there was not much light penetrating it. However, she could see her darker self sinking even lower than her. Her eyes were closed and her body did not move. Arturia then swam towards the other body and kept it from sinking. Arturia then positioned her forehead to touch her counterpart's, with her eyes closed as she focused on her mana in order to absorb the counterpart into herself. The counterpart's body then turned into black dots of energy and went inside Arturia.
As soon as that happened, however, Arturia suddenly saw herself into another scenery, a quite familiar one.
She knew this place like no other as they were back at the Battle of Camlann.
Arturia could see her counterpart battling against Mordred who looked quite the same as her own version.
The mangled corpse of Bedivere was clear as day as Arturia flinched.
"Who are you?" Arturia was surprised to hear a similar voice to her own, calling from her back.
As she turned, she saw her darker version with her arms crossed and eyebrows frowned. Arturia could see the version of a dark Excalibur strapped on her waist. This scenery and situation was quite new to her, but Zelretch did say that her strength would be the ultimate key here.
"I am you…though from a different timeline." Alter Arturia and Arturia kept staring at each other.
"Different timeline…that sounds like something Merlin would say…is this the bastard's doing? First he abandons me and now he does this." Arturia could practically feel the anger in her Alter's tone. In her timeline, Merlin also left and never returned, though in her timeline, she was not alone like her counterpart was.
"No, this is not Merlin's doing. Like me, you died right here because of Mordred's betrayal."
The two counterparts looked on as Mordred pierced Alter Arturia's armor and send her skidding down the mountain to where she would walk to her death soon afterward.
"Mordred did not betray me…it was I who lost my way…she protected the citizens against my army and started the rebellion." Arturia was surprised at how different this timeline were to her own.
"I see…" Alter Arturia was looking at the ground after that.
"Why are you here? What do you want from me?" Arturia frowned as she did not know how much time she had.
"In essence, I will take over your body. For me to get what I need, I need a human body that is similar to my own…and I am prepared to fight you if necessary." Arturia unleashed her Excalibur, fully prepared to fight her counterpart. Her alter version, though, just kept crossing her arms.
"I have no idea what is going on here…I thought I was dead after Mordred hit me…you say this is not Merlin's doing, so this is not an illusion. I do not intend on fighting my own counterpart if that's indeed who you are. Also, as I strained from the path I was to follow, I do not deserve anything. When I drew Caliburn from the stone, I had forfeited my life to protect the Kingdom and the Kingdom had shown that it no longer needs me. You, on the other hand, appears to have a motive for all of this. So, if you are indeed me, then everything I need to know I will know through the clash of our swords."
Alter Arturia released her blackened Excalibur. Arturia nodded in understanding as they stepped forward, shortening the distance.
As they crossed blades, both began to experience each other's memories.
Arturia saw precisely the different events that lead to her Alter's demise. She saw her counterpart ordering the deaths of Lancelot and Guinevere for their betrayal. Instead of pride and cheer, she saw the citizens cower in fear as Arturia Alter passed through Camelot in her horse. She saw as one by one, the knights of the round table abandoning the kingdom after the event with Lancelot. She saw when Excalibur turned into black the moment that Alter Arturia had decapitated Morgan Le Fey.
Alter Arturia, for her part, saw Arturia's memories. How she was also killed by Mordred and later became a servant, travelling to a distant place and time, fighting against other warriors in something called Grail War, with the purpose of being granted a wish so that another would pull the sword from the stone instead of her. She saw the battle Arturia had with Sir Lancelot in this war and even the pain she felt after slaying the trusted knight. In this version, Arturia had never judged Lancelot for his betrayal, but still many of her knights left her kingdom. Then, she saw the anger that this Arturia felt once her master betrayed her in the end, forcing her to destroy the Grail which would grant her the wish. It was a feeling that Alter Arturia could sympathize greatly. Then, she saw her alter version being summoned once more, but this time to fight the same war alongside a redhead boy. The events progressed until Alter Arturia felt it.
It was something that the King of Knights believed it was impossible.
After pulling the sword from the stone, Arturia Pendragon had abandoned the notion of feelings to become a proper king to her people.
However, as she saw the memories of her counterpart falling in love with the redhead, something within Alter stirred. The look that this Emiya Shirou had for her counterpart. The times they shared with one another. The shared energy they had because of Avalon inside of him. Despite being corrupted by her actions towards her people, Alter found that she better understood her counterpart's motives. The last scene that Alter saw was of Arturia wanting to become human once more to be together with this Shirou.
When both Arturias opened their eyes once more, they lowered their respective swords as neither found animosity anymore.
"Huh, to believe that we could have found love in our lives after the tribulations of the kingdom…this Shirou person must be quite special for you to take such risks."
"He is."
Arturia Alter smiled at that and closed her eyes once more.
===Battle of Camlann===
Emiya Shirou was quietly observing the scenery around him, trying to focus on something else other than the possibility of losing the woman he loves.
As he waited, though, Shirou had taken a moment to acknowledge where he was right now, or more precisely when he was. Although, this was not his Arturia's dimension, it was as close to it as he would ever be. Despite the fact that a bloody battle has taken place just a few kilometers from this place, Shirou had felt a strange sense of tranquility and peace. The rays of sunlight illuminated the set of trees around their location showing quite a beautiful scenery that one can no longer see in his time. Shirou became alerted the second that the body he was guarding had started coughing. He kneeled down immediately, having a million questions as the Arturia before him held her hands on the wound on her stomach.
"Arturia…" Shirou held his breath as he held the woman dressed in all black just like he would hug his Arturia.
"S…shirou…" Despite the heavy pain she was now feeling, Arturia felt his hands holding her. As she looked around and also to herself, it was this moment that she realized that she was indeed in Alter's body. The look she saw on his face was of immense relief as he focused his healing mage craft on her aching body.
"I'm so glad it worked…" She heard Shirou whisper as Arturia began to breathe more clearly. She relaxed when she felt the soothing energy of Avalon passing through her core once more.
And then it hit her.
When she had awoken in this body, she no longer had the connection with Shirou. Which meant that she was no longer a servant.
Searching for her internal core, Arturia found it just like when herself was human and King Arthur. It was weakened sure, because of the battle that this body had suffered. Also, Arturia could feel the corrupted power inside of her, courtesy of Alter's experiences that she had assembled in her mind. Still, Arturia could feel the soothing energy of Avalon cleansing her corrupted core. That together with the all too familiar feeling of Shirou's own mana managed to close all this body's wounds and even repaired her new broken armor. Arturia could see that Shirou's eyes were closed in deep concentration as he focused on cleansing all her wounds and internal core. She smiled in deep elation as she could see the smile on his face.
Her heart skipped a beat once his eyes slowly opened as they crossed eyes now as humans once more.
Alter Arturia's once blackened armor slowly turned into Arturia's mystic code clothes created with Shirou's help. The broken Excalibur Morgan by her side returned the normal colour, but it was still broken. Nevertheless, she would bring it back with them. Perhaps, Shirou could do something with the Excalibur steel and forge a new one for her with his newly acquired knowledge of blacksmith by Muramasa added by his study of runes. Also, she had the traced Caliburn to use at any time she wished.
When Shirou finished healing her, he took a moment to look at her beauty and rubbed her cheeks, before leaning in for a kiss.
Arturia gladly reciprocated as they then hugged each other.
Above all else, she remembered when they were in Rin's apartment and she was joking about Shirou being back to her era and becoming one of her knights. Well, even if this was not her dimension, it was her era and right now as she basked in his hug, her wish ended up coming true, after all.
Thirty minutes later, a group of Camelot soldiers came in search for their downed king, but neither of them found any hints or traces of the fallen King.
Author Note
For those that are wondering, yes, this description was of Lancer Alter, but with the Excalibur Morgan, instead of the Lance.
Last chapter, I gave Shirou a boom in power with Muramasa and now I have returned Arturia to be herself once more.
Herself as human is way more powerful than as a servant.
And that is a wrap for Fate Stay Night. Next chapter I will begin with Fate Grand Order. However, since it's quite hard to incorporate these characters into the events, I will take some time studying the story, watching the anime and movie already released. I have already scribbled some ideas, but it needs to be perfect or else it will not be believable. The Fate universe allows for multiple universes, so the idea I'm thinking about have merit. Also, it bothered me that FGO does not explain which Saber Arturia was summoned in Chaldea. Was she a servant in Fate Stay Night…was she summoned from Avalon or a counter guardian like she offered in exchange for obtaining the Grail. Anyone correct me if I`m wrong, but so far there is no explanation as to who FGO Saber Arturia Pendragon is. Or she is simply a carbon copy of the King of Knights from the Throne of Heroes?
I'm curious, that's all.
See ya.
