Summary: Ereshkigal had seen a lot since Vy had summoned her. Good things, bad things, painful things, sweet things. Nothing quite matched up to the moment when her little grape — no, flower — raised a Holy Grail in her direction.

Note: I have had Ereshkigal Grailed to Level 100 for about two months now (since July 7, 2021 actually, ack), so it's about time my favorite Babylonian Goddess gets some spotlight to herself. She was my first 5-star Lancer, having come to me on Christmas Eve when her banner first came out in NA, so in honor of all the battles she's carried me through, this is for her.

The theme I'll share with you all for this chapter is AmaLee's cover of Smile Bomb from Yu Yu Hakusho. I never did grow up with the show like some of my other friends, but the song was great and I found it fitting.

Otherwise, please enjoy.

Day 19: Small Blessings

Ereshkigal had seen many things since becoming a Pseudo-Servant. So many souls having come and gone from her Underworld, the creation of so many cages, and—

"Ere-chan! Ere-chan! Wait for me…!"

There was no one quite like her little grape.

Vy Duong, a simple Vietnamese girl from a time long past the Age of Gods. Normally, they wouldn't have been able to meet. Ereshkigal, even when summoned in a human body, was still a Divine Spirit. Calling for one in a Holy Grail War could mean something close to suicide even for the best of Mages.

How ironic that with most of Humanity gone, Ereshkigal would be able to meet a girl — no, a young woman — like no other.

"You should train a little more, Master," Ereshkigal said, but not unkindly, as she slowed her walking pace to let Vy catch up. Vy was puffing a little, no doubt from the sprint she set herself up for in spite of her normal Chaldean uniform and loose long brown hair, but it was still Vy who chose to raise her head and smile weakly up at Ereshkigal. "Keeping up with a Goddess takes up a lot of energy."

"I-I know that," Vy huffed, but her smile didn't even falter once she stood up to full height and beamed up at the Goddess. "But I did have something to help with it!"

"Oh? What could that be, little grape?"

To Ereshkigal's surprise, Vy reached over to gently take Ereshkigal's hand in hers. It was so warm in contrast to Ereshkigal's still-cold fingers. "Could you follow me?"

"O-Of course, but what are you planning, little grape?" Ereshkigal said in contrast to her timidly following Vy's tugging of her in the opposite direction of where she was originally going.

Vy's only response was a giggle. "Something good!"

That's bright, was the first thing Ereshkigal thought. The second thing was, That's a Holy Grail.

"…Vy," Ereshkigal started slowly, "is that what I think it is?"

Even in the blank white room that was Novum Chaldea's Enhancement Center, Vy's smile looked radiant enough to even outshine the relic in her hands as she offered the golden cup in Ereshkigal's direction. "Aye! One Holy Grail out of 5, just for you, Ere-chan!"

"F-For me?" Ereshkigal couldn't stop her hands from shaking once she cupped Vy's hands in hers to take the Grail, staring at the shining thing like it was out of this world. "M-Master, aren't these precious to you?"

"Huh? I-I mean, they are," Vy said, her smile dipping a little in response to Ereshkigal's quiet demeanor, tilting her head and blinking owlishly. "But that's why I wanted to give some to you."

To me— A gloomy goddess like me—? Ereshkigal felt like choking. "M-Master, I know I said I was interested in a Holy Grail, but that doesn't mean you have to—"

"Ereshkigal."

Ereshkigal found herself falling silent at the sudden serious look coming over Vy's kind features. To Eresh's surprise, the seriousness fell for a kind, almost weary grin to take its place as Vy took a step closer, standing on her tiptoes to gently bump Eresh's forehead with her own. "Hey," Vy's hands tugged on Eresh's, warm enough to be nearly scalding. "I wanted to do this, Ere-chan. You've been there for me so many times, just like with Big Robin, Achi, and Art-san, y'know," was the eventual whisper, Vy's eyelids fluttering closed. All the while, her breath fanned Ereshkigal's cheeks with enough warmth to match her hands still hanging onto Ereshkigal's cold ones like a lifeline. Like Vy didn't want to let go. "You've been my frontline Lancer and my first Goddess, Ereshkigal. Why wouldn't I Grail you after all that?"

It took a moment for Ereshkigal to realize tears were starting to stream down her cheeks. "Little grape…"

"You saved me plenty of times, Ere-chan," Vy whispered, opening her eyes to stare at Ereshkigal with that love that Eresh knew only came from her. "It's way past time for me to do that for you too, I think. Especially after everything in India. You deserve it."

How could Ereshkigal forget? The number of Yuga cycles, the countless number of people Vy had seen disappear in the blink of an eye with the Shadow Border fleeing from that Altered Arjuna. Heck, Ereshkigal couldn't forget Robin's cold scowls when it came to the whole thing with that Crypter… In general, Ereshkigal couldn't forget the whole Indian Lostbelt even if she wanted to. Even if those people were lost to history, never to have a presence in her Underworld ever again, it did not change the fact that Vy cried for them. That Asha's own memory was enough to make Vy stand still once upon a time, made Vy hesitate about what she was doing in the face of Mash wanting to say something. And Vy never hesitated in front of Mash.

I was told I wasn't worthy of life once. If not for a certain rogue in green, I still don't know if I would even be here at all.

Those words from her kind, loving little grape still haunted Ereshkigal's memory enough to make the relic in her hands feel cold.

In the end, Ereshkigal didn't even care anymore — she let the Grail fall from her fingers once she was pulling on her little human to hug her as tight as she could. Ungraceful sobs were leaving Ereshkigal's lips at that point, but Vy was still hugging her back, warm and there and alive. "Y-You really are a little flower, my Master," Ereshkigal choked around her tears, pressing her cheek into the top of Vy's hair and repressing the newest sob clawing its way up into her throat. "I-I need to stop calling you 'little grape' from now on if you're going to do things like this."

How did I not meet you sooner?

"Whatever you feel comfy with," Vy hummed softly, a tiny hand rubbing Ereshkigal's back through her dress. "…Are you happy then, Ere-chan?"

Ereshkigal pulled away from the hug, impulsively pressing a rough kiss to the top of Vy's forehead with a watery smile instead of responding. It was enough to spark a surprising yet cute high-pitched squeal from Vy, but Ereshkigal didn't even mind because it was Vy. "Y-You tell me, my little flower," Ereshkigal whispered against Vy's skin, beaming once she caught sight of Vy's widened brown eyes past her glasses. "My only flower in my life."

I will do whatever it takes to bring you happiness. With all the power of Irkalla, Kur, and my Underworld. No one shall stand in my way.

The door to the exclusive "Grail lounge" opened as soon as Ereshkigal put a single hand to the nearby touch screen, the mana fading from her fingertips once Arturia Pendragon blinked at her from the opening of the room.

"Lancer," the Saber breathed, a bright smile forming on her face once the recognition shined in her green eyes. She then stepped to the side to let Ereshkigal enter, warmth starting to exude off her figure enough for the Goddess to know it wasn't mana. "I see Vy did it."

"Y-You knew?" Ereshkigal faltered, nearly tripping over the doorway opening on the way in, glaring at Achilles once the Rider stifled a barely audible laugh. "How long?!"

"For about a month or so," Arturia said in the same soft voice, shaking her head with fondness lining her face. "Vy was agonizing over who to choose to join us, but after everything in India, she kept coming to us about you. And with that in mind, why wouldn't we expect you?"

Ereshkigal knew she was blushing at that point. It didn't help that Achilles proceeded to fall out of his nearby armchair, legs straight up in the air from laughter, just in time with Robin's quiet chuckles over a cup of tea. "Y-You all are too soft!" she muttered, crossing her arms and turning her chin away to hide the incoming pout. "I-I'm still a Goddess, you know!" Under her breath, she couldn't help herself from muttering, "Don't make me curse you, you curs."

"I'm well aware of that," Arturia said over her fellow Servants' snickering, keeping that same soft smile when reaching over to take Ereshkigal's hands in hers. Once Ereshkigal was looking into those green eyes, the former King Arthur smiled. "But still. Even if I know it's not entirely correct, thank you for joining us, Rin. We're glad to have you."

Lub-dub.

"I… I'm glad to be here too, Saber."

Ereshkigal still wasn't sure if that last sentence was from her or from the girl inside of her. But when seeing Robin Hood and Achilles grin from past Arturia's shoulders, she knew she meant every single word.

Author's Note (10/31/2021): Edited to take out some unintentional Ishtar bashing. Both goddesses are good.