CHAPTER 11:

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS

"This is one of the many reasons I never got involved in the Wizengamot," Harry said as, he, Delphi, and the two Fae sat in Waver Velvet's office, waiting for the man himself to return. Waver was accompanying Hermione to the inquiry meeting about Marisbury's crimes laid bare, acting as her advocate, so to speak, a couple of days after their shopping trip. "I bloody well hate politics."

There was another present, a young woman with silver hair, teal eyes, and pale skin, wearing a cloak over her dark clothes. When she spoke, it was with a Welsh accent. "Professor Velvet agrees with you, as you well know, Harry," she said. "And I don't know how he stands it."

"Unfortunately, he's stuck in the web of politics," Delphi said. "Like a fly in a spider's web. Anyway, thanks for the tea, Grey."

Grey Pendragon nodded her head, smiling in thanks. The young woman was found in a Welsh village by Waver back in the 90s. The girl was part of a magical breeding program to create a vessel for King Arthur's soul, though if what Barghest said about her possible alternate in the Lostbelt was true, Grey only vaguely resembled her ancestor. The shape of the face was not-dissimilar to Arturia's or Morgan's, but it wasn't the resemblance of a sibling, maybe a cousin or something like that.

Waver made her a personal apprentice, and, in order to further protect her, his personal assistant and valet. Grey actually enjoyed the work, finding meaning in being taught about the Moonlit World without being treated in the messianic manner as her village did. Having gone through something similar, Harry sympathised with the gentle, quiet girl. While she had a regal manner at times, it was an understated, humble thing.

However, people who underestimated her did so at their peril. Thanks to the enhancements put into her, she was a capable fighter, and she had knowledge of Gravekeeper lore, something very valuable when dealing with the undead. And what was without going into her trump card.

Speaking of the devil, a metallic, rasping voice cackled out from beneath her cloak, and she pulled out what looked like a small birdcage from beneath it. Within was an elaborate metallic cube with an abstract face on it, moving like a living thing. "You hear that, Grey? Maybe they should start calling you Earl Grey because of the tea!"

"Put a sock in it, Add," Harry snarked at the Mystic Code. Apparently created by this timeline's Morgan le Fay, Add had a personality that was apparently close to that of Arturia Pendragon's foster brother in this timeline, Kay.

However, Add was more than a snarky Mystic Code with an obnoxious personality analogous to one of the Knights of the Round Table. He was also the container for Rhongomyniad, Arturia's lance, and, more importantly, a Divine Construct that kept the layers of the world pinned down, and thus the Reverse Side of the World separate from the main part of the world's existence. The Mystic Code was to prevent the Mystery of the lance from eroding.

Of course, once they heard that, Delphi promptly called Add a 'nappy pin', to Grey's mortification, Add's indignation, and Harry's amusement(1). After all, Add was there to keep all the shit within the Reverse Side of the World from leaking out. Aside from his shit-talking, anyway.

"Make me, wizard boy!" Add retorted.

"Add!" Grey chastised the Mystic Code, before returning the cage to her cloak, Add grumbling as she did so. "Still, do you think Hermione will be able to ensure Chaldea isn't harmed?"

"Well, hopefully, she'll be able to persuade them," Harry said.

Barghest frowned. "Unfortunately, the amount of people we can tell about Marisbury's true plans, as well as our memories of the British Lostbelt, are minimal. You and your teacher can be trusted, along with Zelretch and Arc, but the problem is, we suspect a crisis before the Lostbelts that Chaldea is needed to resolve. If Clock Tower closes down Chaldea, that could be a major problem. In addition, there is Olga-Marie to consider. She lost her father, and while he did not treat her well by all accounts, she still yearned for his acknowledgement and approval. If she learns that Hermione had any hand in his death, even indirectly…"

"Even though her old man was a genocidal sociopath at best?" Delphi remarked, not without some irony, considering her biological father was a xenophobic madman who would have committed genocide the moment he accrued enough power.

Grey nodded. "I can understand that yearning for approval. I first met Olga-Marie many years ago, when she was still a young girl. And she did yearn for her father's approval and affection, not that she got it."

Melusine looked morose at that, no doubt remembering Aurora's exploitation of her. But before more could be made of it, the door opened, and Hermione all but staggered through, accompanied by Waver. "Vultures," Hermione snarled after the door had closed and a lot of Privacy Charms were in place. "Those fucking vultures wouldn't have given a damn even if we had told them the whole truth! We got through that by the skin of our teeth, and even then, that was partly because Zelretch was vouching for us!"

"I was a bit surprised at Lev Lynor's support," Waver said, frowning. "Even though it was specifically meant for Olga, he still seems to be in Chaldea's corner. Then again, considering that he was the one who created SHEBA for Chaldea, he's probably hoping to have his investment pay off."

"Something about him rankles at me. True, a lot of Magi do, but he has this pleasant demeanour and smile about him that seems…too good to be true. It reminded me too much of Umbridge, only it's more believable an act to anyone with half a brain," Hermione said. "And the way he acted, so paternally towards Olga-Marie…I wouldn't be surprised if he might be making a subtle play for control over Chaldea with Olga as a figurehead. She'd yearn for recognition and acknowledgement, Lev could be exploiting that for his own ends."

"Is Chaldea able to continue, though?" Barghest asked.

Hermione, calming herself down with a monumental effort, nodded. "Thankfully, Wodime's also in our corner, and his name commands a lot of respect too, and Da Vinci also helped out on the same remote link. True, it's early days yet, and things might still go sour, but at the very least, we've achieved a stay of execution for Chaldea. However, there's still going to be inquiries into Mash's creation and her Heroic Spirit remaining quiescent, as well as an examination of Marisbury's finances. I can't believe that man…the Holy Grail could have given him access to True Magic or so many other things, and yet, he used it for money."

"The Animuspheres were relatively poor by Magi standards, though by normal society's metric, they were still wealthy," Waver said. "But Chaldea needed money on a par with NASA or the top research and development companies or organisations like DARPA in the world. Billions, no, trillions of pounds' worth of money had been poured into Chaldea. Many within Clock Tower see it as an Antarctic white elephant. Atlas is still interested enough to be working on the TRISMEGISTUS system needed for Rayshifting, thankfully. It'll be ready by 2015, according to estimates from Atlas."

"Hopefully in time for the first crisis, whatever that is," Melusine mused.

Hermione nodded. "Marisbury, in his documentation, called a crisis that required the full capabilities of Chaldea the Grand Order. Rayshifting, Servants, and the Masters needed to anchor them in this world and command them, all of them would be needed for such a thing, a crisis that would potentially bring down the Human Order. Such a thing would be difficult, at least where malice is concerned. A natural disaster would have a better chance at succeeding, but normally, a malevolent or even accidental catastrophe created by humans or other beings would be prevented by the Counter-Force. Possibly extinction-level events that aren't prevented by the Counter-Force are still theoretically possible, and with your Lostbelt, have been proven to be an actual possibility."

"That's all very well, Aunty Hermione," Delphi said, "but are we being recruited into Chaldea, or does the dust still need to settle on all the political bollocks first?"

"It may be months or even years before you can join. Clock Tower has ordered a freeze on recruiting new personnel for now, and Olga-Marie has agreed to it," Hermione said. "Besides, Delphi, you're 14."

"And? Dad did a lot of dangerous shit before he turned 14."

"Language, Delphi."

"This coming from the woman who called the Magi 'fucking vultures' earlier?" Harry asked wryly, eliciting an irritated scowl from his friend. "Just keep us in the loop whenever you're able to, Hermione. We'll help in whatever way we can."

"Thanks, Harry," Hermione said, running a hand through her bushy mane. "But for now, I'm not sure what help you can give, aside from moral support, anyway…"

After some time at Clock Tower to ensure Hermione wasn't needed for anything else for now, they headed back to Potter Manor. But soon after they arrived back, they received a call from Da Vinci, via the holographic projector they had from the last call the Renaissance Woman made. Gathering around it in the living room, they activated it, and the Italian genius appeared in holographic form, outlined in blue light. Da Vinci also looked a little harassed and harried herself, the famous smile of the Mona Lisa not currently present.

"Porca miseria, what a saga that was," the Italian genius muttered, running a hand through her hair. "Cesare Borgia was easier to deal with than that viper's nest. And I'm sure you already know, Hermione, that we may only have gained a reprieve."

"I do, and Leonardo, did you notice the way Lev was cozying up to Olga?"

"I did. We'll have to keep an eye on him, but unfortunately, his position in Chaldea is too important to replace him easily. Lev Lynor is one of the best Magi in this organisation, anyway. And given that he has been something of a parental substitute to Olga prior to this…I can only hope that he's just an ambitious Magus, and one who will allow Chaldea to continue the way it has done. We'll talk more later. I've got someone waiting on another line who wanted to talk to you all. Namely, Mash. She misses you, Hermione."

"I'm sure she does," Hermione said, before turning to the others. "But before we switch over, I need to tell you a few things. Mash doesn't know about Marisbury's plans involving CHALDEAS and the Lostbelts. She does know that Barghest and Melusine are from a Lostbelt where the Fae ruled, and that they have met her in a possible future. But I omitted telling her that she was Tam Lin Galahad in that Lostbelt, in case that may not be the Heroic Spirit inside her. In addition, Harry, I have told her something of your adventures, so forgive her if she acts a little effusively. I told her you're not fond of your fame, and she's smart for her age."

"Okay, Hermione, I won't give her a hard time," Harry said.

Hermione nodded, before saying to Da Vinci, "Okay, switch over."

Da Vinci reached over, and activated something, with another holographic form appearing next to her. It appeared to be a young girl, a couple of years younger than Delphi, not even in her teens. Harry and the others had seen her before, in photos, in footage of her rampage as a Demi-Servant.

Her cute features were framed by a short bob of hair, pale lavender from the photo and footage, while the eyes were violet. The colours were lost in the mostly monochrome hologram, though. Her slender frame was currently clad in hospital clothing.

Yet on seeing Hermione and the others, her face lit up with happiness and curiosity. "Oh! Hello!" she said, before bowing her head briefly from her sitting position. "How do you do? I am Mash Kyrielight!"

Introductions were made, before Mash looked to Harry shyly. "Umm, Mr Potter?"

"Call me Harry, Mash," Harry said gently.

"Oh, okay! Sorry, I just…Hermione told me a lot about you and your adventures, though she also warned me you're not fond of your fame. I'm…just not sure what to say."

Harry was reminded a little of Ginny, back when she was a shy little thing. True, he didn't see any signs of a crush from Mash, thankfully, given her apparent age. "Hey, as long as you don't gush over me or ask me too many questions, we're good, Mash. Honestly, after what I was told you went through, well, I'd give you a hug, but aside from the whole teleconference thing, your immune system apparently still needs bolstering."

Mash nodded. "Thank you, Harry. So, umm, what books, TV shows or films do you like?"

As it turned out, Mash was a massive fan of the Sherlock Holmes franchise, partly thanks to Dr Roman, though Hermione had also gotten her onto Doctor Who. The latter particularly appealed to Mash because of the time-travel involved, as Chaldea would be involved in time-travel. Oddly enough, Mash also liked some Japanese media, and indeed enjoyed Japanese culture, albeit to a lesser extent than Roman. She also read books of history and myth, albeit as prepwork for when Chaldea would become active in earnest.

But then, Mash asked, "Harry…I need to ask…what was it like to fight Voldemort?"

Harry froze, before sighing. "Do you want the sugarcoated answer, Mash, or a more honest one?"

"…The more honest one, please."

Harry nodded. "…Horrible," he said quietly. "You ever read The Hobbit?" On Mash's nod, he continued, "Bilbo Baggins called adventures nasty, disturbing and uncomfortable things, and that's to say the least. I have to admit, for a couple of years, I loved the adventure. I was about your age when I killed a Basilisk. But a lot of it, I got through on dumb luck and other people arranging stuff for me. And after a certain point…it stopped being fun. Particularly after I saw Cedric Diggory murdered in front of me. Hermione told you of that, at the end of the Tri-Wizard Tournament?"

"Yes."

"The fact is, that marked the beginning of a war I should not have been part of, but I got dragged into all the same, because Voldemort would not have rested until I was dead, and he dominated the world. Oh, I was eager to fight, but I was an idiot teenager then, thinking he understood the stakes, when in reality, I didn't. But on the other hand, while Dumbledore claimed he wanted me to live as normal a life as possible, I couldn't have it with the Dursleys. I think, even if only subconsciously, he was turning me into a child soldier."

"…So why fight?" Mash asked quietly. Harry winced. After all, if he was effectively made a child soldier, then Mash was born to be one. That was the purpose she had been shoehorned into. For all of Dumbledore's many faults and dithering, he at least didn't have the truly coldblooded nature of a Magus like Marisbury Animusphere.

"…Because in the end, aside from stopping Voldemort and saving my own skin, as Hermione once told me, I have a saving people thing. But people who think war is glorious should have their heads examined. If you need to fight, you fight, not for the sake of fighting, but to protect what you hold dear, to ensure you can live in peace for a little while longer."

"Indeed," Barghest said. "I became a Tam Lin or Fairy Knight to protect my people. I was misguided, both by my loyalty to that timeline's Morgan le Fay, and by my belief that most of my people were worth protecting. But in the end, while I was naïve to believe that Morgan was worth my loyalty, or that my people were all worth my protection…it does not mean I was wrong, not completely. Not all of the Fae were cruel and capricious monsters. This new life, then, is a second chance. Even if my people are almost entirely gone from this world, what constitutes a person is not confined to humans or Fae. Humanity is based on how one acts and lives, for good or for ill."

Melusine nodded. "To my shame, I swore loyalty to a woman who was the worst kind of Fae, fickle and unable to think beyond her own purpose and self-gratification. I loved her, but…she saw me only as an attack dog, to wield against her enemies as she saw fit. The best thing I did in my life was training my little brother, Percival."

Eventually, Harry said, "Mash…I can't pretend to know everything you're going through, or will go through. But…I'll help you wherever I can, even if it's just helping you live a happier life."

"Yeah! Hey, I can even get an adorable…little sister? Cousin?" Delphi mused. "Whatever you count as, I'd love to have you as it."

Mash, after a moment, smiled sadly, but oddly warmly too. Despite being an artificial being created to be a vessel for a Heroic Spirit, a living weapon, she seemed all too human there. And considering her alternate future self impressed the two Fae present with her strength of character, will, and battle prowess, well, it would be not inaccurate to say that she was a potential exemplar of humanity, even though she was born and raised through vile acts.

But given her limited lifespan, he wanted to make sure that, whatever happened in the coming years, her short life would be a happy one. That maybe he could help even extend it. But even if he couldn't, he would help her live a better life. That, he vowed…

CHAPTER 11 ANNOTATIONS:

Politics, bullshit, and finally, everyone's favourite kouhai makes her debut.

Now, if she seems more human here than she did in Episode 0 of the Babylonia anime, keep in mind, Hermione intervened with Roman to 'raise' Mash. Roman strikes me as being passive to some degree, whereas Hermione is more aggressive (as in more forward). In fact, Hermione has started working on a process to extend Mash's lifespan, as mentioned before.

If Dr Roman is the closest Mash has to a father figure in canon, then in this story, Hermione is effectively Mash's mother. Overbearing at times, yes, and very mother hen-like. But she also works to give Mash what she wants and needs. It's thanks to Hermione's influence that Mash enjoys Doctor Who, by the way.

As for Harry, well, he'll be an uncle/godfather figure, and in Barghest and Melusine, whom Mash left a major impression on, she's got a pair of badass Fairy Godmothers. Hilarious, no?

Also, note that Hermione and others are suspicious of Professor Lev. Please keep in mind, they do NOT suspect him to be a Demon Pillar in disguise. They just suspect mundane Clock Tower political bollocks, which is bad enough.

Review-answering time! ZLC genesmith: The anime series for The Lord El-Melloi II Case Files (I can't speak for the light novels) is set about a year to about a few months before the events of Fate/Stay Night, AFAIK. Also, in this story, Grey still vaguely resembles Arturia. Not much, just a little around the face and her figure. But thankfully, she doesn't have to hide her face to satisfy Waver being a wimp (especially as he should have had more trauma from Gilgamesh rather than Arturia).

As for Baobhan Sith, I agree to some degree, but if her cruelty was only towards Fae who had hurt her, I'd be a lot more sympathetic to her. As it was, she used up any sympathy I would have had for her long before the Lostbelt's story proper began, and as much as I thought Beryl was needlessly dickish in teaching her curses that would consume her soul (though that was par for the course from Beryl), I also think it's karma for the little bitch. And as hilarious and karmic as your suggestion would be, I'm going to have to go with 'no'. Baobhan Sith will be summoned at a later date, as will Morgan. So no gimpsuit-related humiliations, sorry.

The Disquieting One: Yes, Ritsuka Fujimaru will appear in the story.

1. I had Harry, or rather, Salazar Slytherin reincarnated as Harry call Add a 'nappy pin' in my prior Nasuverse story You're the King of My Heart.