Hello everyone and welcome back to the start of chapter 73 of the story! And once again, Winter sucks because as of the moment I'm writting this, I am a little sick. Curse you flu season. Also, since we are getting close to FSN 20th Anniversary, I only ask for one thing (Pls be a Fate route remake). Also, I hope you guys like this chapter, since it was one of those I was most looking forward to write when planning and thinking about this fanfic.

And without further ado, let's start it!

DISCLAIMER: All the Nasuverse characters belong to Nasu and are property of Type-Moon, with the exception of the OC's that belong to me, the author


"Mash...what happened?"

Ritsuka asked to the Shielder, his mind having an hard time to process what the eyes were seeing in front. The vision of a totally injured and bedridden Peko and Nala wasn't a thing he was digesting that easily. Specially when the two siblings were all covered up in bandages. How did this even happened?

Feeling a bit of remorse, Mash tried her best to speak. "They...They..."

"I asked what happened to them!" Ritsuka rised his voice, a type of anger and dispair consuming inside of him. He wanted answers right now. For the twins sake, he had to know why, what or who did this to them. A certainty that Ritsuka at least had it's that it must have happened during the time period he was unconscious.

"They've..." Getting some pressure on her chest, Mash wasn't sure if she had the courage to explain the event that lead the twins into this state to Ritsuka, an aching pain growing in her heart and throat while teats begun to appear in her eyes. "They tried to-"

"Please, do not direct your anger torwards Mash, Fujimaru!" Romani exclaimed, his hologram materealizing inside the room. "It was I who let this happen nontheless! I should have done my job as a Director better! She had nothing to do with the decision!"

"And what decision was that?" Ritsuka asked, the hands on his legs tightening into fists, trying his best to not shout.

"..." Romani lowered his head, the hair covering his eyes, in a sense of shame. "I-I allowed them to-"

"Excuse my interruption." Nightingale entered the tent, cutting short Romani. "It must pain you to see them like that, master of Chaldea. As well as how painful it must be for the two of you to try and retell what happened to these poor kids that are your companions. And honestly, patching their wounds wasn't easy. It's a miracle that they're still breathing." The nurse looked to the back of the heartbroken Ritsuka, reading the mood of the room. "Since I am not as familiar with these two children as you two are, the burden and grief of telling what occured to them will weight less on me."

"No. You don't have to do it." Romani told her.

"Altough it doesn't seem like it, emotional harm is as painful as physical harm. And I am willing to spare you of that cost." Nightingale replied back, before staring back at Ritsuka. "And if by saying what happened to his friends somehow eases him, I'll give him the answer. So listen..."


Three Days Ago

"And this shall be the last one." Nightingale said as she finished to perform her healing work on Ritsuka's body, with Mash, Peko and Nala watching her from behind. "This will be enough to save your friend from danger or any lasting damages."

"I am glad to hear that. I don't know how we would save Ritsuka if it wasn't for you." Peko told to the nurse.

"Having found your camp nearby was such a saving grace not only for us but specially for him." Nala let out a breath in relief. "Thanks for it!"

Mash approached Nightingale. "Did the healing worked completely, Nightingale-san?"

"You can rest easy about it. Your friend won't be dying soon." Nightingale responded, to then turn head to the other way with a serious glare. "But, if by bad luck not every bone and limb of his body was totally healed, there's always another option..."

"Like what?" Peko asked to the nurse.

And in response, Nightingale took out a saw from nowhere, aiming it at Ritsuka's leg. "Amputation!"

"FOU!?"

All of the three quickly grabbed the nurse, preventing her from doing such thing.

"Aaah! I knew it! All nurses are evil!" Nala exclaimed in terror, remembering of her not so good experience with another nurse in the previous Singularity.

"P-Please, put it down Nightingale-san!" Mash told her.

"We were just hipothetically speaking!" Peko added.

Like a robot, Nightingale suddenly stop, putting her saw away. "Yes. You are right. There is no need for such drastic measures as of now."

"How scary..." Peko commented to himself, seeing how Nightingale went back to act normal like if nothing happened.

"So, how long will it take him to wake up?" Mash asked to Nightingale.

"Taking it in consideration, about three days from now." The nurse answered.

Nala let out a boring sigh. "Eeh? That is quite long."

"At least it's better than waiting weeks and months." Mash told her. "Recovering from a cannonball wound is something that takes time."

"Still, what do we do in the meantime? We can't get out of this camp until Ritsuka recovers." Peko speaked, wondering what they would do in the meantime.

Hearing that, Mash looked at Nightingale. "Say, Nightingale-san, you and the soldiers here at the camp would be welcoming to us if we offered help?"

"Of course. That can't even be questioned." Nightingale responded. "The more hands to help us doing multiple tasks, the better."

"So we can stay here until Ritsuka is out from the coma?" Peko asked.

"Yes you can. And according to what you told me, these american lands are foreign to your group, meaning that going out without a map or directions would be foolish. The soldiers here can give you some geographic references." Nightingale said to the boy.

"Okay guys. The analysis to his body was completed." The hologram of Romani appeared. "All the wounds have been sealed indeed. Fujimaru's life is no longer threatened and his condition is stabilizing again!"

"Any other details?" Nala asked to the doctor.

"All the fragments of the cannonball have been removed, leaving no lasting injury. Florence Nightingale really is everything she was cracked up to be." Romani commented, before delivering some bad news. "However, it appears that it will leave some scars when Fujimaru's body fully recover."

"Seriously?" Peko asked, a bit down to hear that. "But didn't Nightingale just healed him?"

"I saved is life and minimize his injuries as much as I could. That doesn't automatically translates that I cleared his body from any signals or remaining scars thou." Nightingale told him.

"Well, so do that then! Heal Ritsuka's scars too!" Nala insisted.

"Don't demand it like that Nala!" Mash said, wanting the smaller girl to slow down on her emotions. "Nightingale-san already did enough for master."

"But it's true. I really could be able to do more." Nightingale speaked. "Unfortunately, when it comes to medical stock, you've came at a bad hour to this camp. The resources are getting scarce. It's starting to not be enough to everyone here." She crossed her arms. "We try to do our best with the few we have but, I don't know if we can keep it like this. If I had more curatives and analgesics at my disposal, I sware your friend's scars could also be treated. But as of now, his body will have to live with it, as well as having to spent a full day on the bed after waking up due to the pains on the bones and muscles." The nurse informed them of the hard situation she was currently having about the medicine administration.

"There is nothing we can do to change that?" Peko asked her. "Isn't any town here nearby that sells medicine?"

"This outpost must receive supplies from time to time since its part of the West's army no?" Romani speaked to Nightingale. "How long does it usually take to receive material here?"

"Every two weeks. And they were supposed to have arrived here a few days ago." The nurse replied. "But from what I've got, the nearest town from this camp, a stronghold, is currently having some difficulties dealing with an enemy attack in the front lines. Hence why the lack of supplies lately."

"And there is no other distributor besides that town?" Mahs asked, to which Nighingale shaked her head in return.

"Not as closer. Any other town and we'd have to wait more." Nightingale told them.

"Hmm..." Nala stared to the uncounscious face and body of Ritsuka. Altough it was guaranteed he wouldn't die, she still wanted to get rid of the scratches that where on his body and alleviate him from the pain when waking up from his coma. She wished that Ritsuka could open his eyes without feeling any kind of uncomfortable ache, as if he had just regularly woke up from his bed.

"I myself would go there to help it out but I simply can't abandon these soldiers here. I fear of what could happen to them in my absence." Nightingale didn't want to take that risk, not feeling confident in leaving the camp alone without her aid.

Having an idea in her mind, Nala faced the nurse. Ritsuka looked after her. So now she would look after him. "I could-"

"I could go there!" Peko exclaimed suddenly." I can get the meds and other supplies that the camp needs!" Peko said it fast, cutting off Nala, much to her own surprise. Mash and Romani also didn't seemed expecting such declartion from the boy. Nightingale's reaction was only of a slight surprise.

"Peko?" Nala stared torwards her brother.

"But it can be way too dangerous if you go alone!" Mash told him.

"I know it! I'm aware of that!" Peko responded. "But...I know without a doubt, if any of us swapped places with Ritsuka, he would do the same for us! He is my friend and leader, and I failed to save him from that cannonball." Peko took a step closer to the bed, staring to the master of humanity. "As compensation, I will make sure to clear every last shred of pain and scars on his body to the point he will wake up feeling like that damage had never happened! Not only for him, but for the other wounded soldiers here too, Miss Nightingale!" He stared to Nightingale who was standing by his side. "They don't deserve to be suffering like this for fighting for their homes! I will come back with the meds they desperatly need!"

"And? You think you are the only one who worries about Ritsuka, you idiot?" Nala told him, slapping her sibling's back.

"OW! My back!"

"As if you alone would be able to bring all of the supplies to the camp in a journey of kilimoters you dumb-dumb! I'm going too!" Nala announced, also expressing her desire to see Ritsuka well.

"But I also thought of bringing you with me! That slap was unnecessary!" Peko replied back, not opposing to his sister's volunteering but disliking how she acted before letting him finish.

"Oh!...Eh, sorry about that." Nala smiled clumsly, apologizing for her impulses.

"Still, I'm not sure if only sending you two would be the best thing to do." Mash speaked, not agreeing fully with the twin's idea. "The path could be way too long and with loads of enemies to attack you. If you're going, I'm going as well!"

Peko denied, being against it. "Someone needs to stay here to look out for Ritsuka. At least one of us has to make sure nothing bad happens to him while the rest are away."

Nala nodded. "And since you are his servant, I think that job couldn't apply to a more fitting person than you Mash."

"But Solomon is still after you! What if he decides to show up when you two are alone?" Mash argued back.

"Hm...!" Peko didn't know what to answer immediatly, realizing that aspect of Mash's concern could be ver well true. Knowing that the Mage King probably still wanted him and Nala dead, the possibility of him showing up to finish off the twins bared a very high risk of going alone, getting exposed and vulnrable to Solomon's intentions. Hesitating, and taking that into account, Peko tried to speak.

"So what if Solomon appears?!" Nala shouted. "Yes, he might have kicked our asses before recently, but that doesn't mean I will sit here and do nothing to help Ritsuka and everybody else!" She stepped up. "We are aware of the danger that it is to go alone! But we can handle it Mash! I promise you that we do!"

Not giving a reply, Mash stared to Nightingale who stared back at the shielder.

"Sorry, but I shall not intervene in a topic that envolves your group. This is between you." Nightingale responded, abstaining herself from participating on the subject.

Feeling a little more sure, thanks to his sister's words, Peko begun to talk. "Don't worry about us Mash. We will be here with the supplies before Ritsuka wakes up and everything. Make sure to take care of him alongside Miss Nightingale in the meantime please." He stared to to the Shielder with supplicant but also determined eyes. "I beg you."

Thinking for a moment, Mash looked up to the hologram of Romani, noticing the doctor as been silent for some time now. "What do you think, doctor?" She asked. After all he was the director and it was up to him to decide wether Peko and Nala would have the permission to go on their way to collect the supplements and other items.

Having his back facing everyone on the tent, Romani would rub his own chin and bite the tip of his thumb, reflecting if he should give the trust of such task to Peko and Nala. "You two...Just answer me this, alright?" He speaked to the twins, slightly rising his head.

"Alright."

"Sure."

"Do you promise to always stay in contact and not get hurt?" Romani asked, turning around to face the two kids when making the question.

Both ended up nodding.

"We promise." Peko told him.

"We'll make sure to notify you at every possibility." Nala added.

"Good to hear. But one more thing." Romani stared at the two with a serious face. "If Solomon does indeed appear, promise you won't fight him. Just don't. You already saw what he was capable of." He warned them. "Run away instead. No matter how coward it seems, you'll have to flee if you see him."

Peko and Nala both felt the weight of Romani's words in that statement. To say it with such tone and expression, it was certain that Romani wanted them to have that warning stuck in their minds and follow it. And they really couldn't blame him. As the director, he had to make sure this mission wouldn't go further south after the accident with Ritsuka at the beggining. This was a question of survival. Their survival which Romani wished to keep byhaving the two not plunge themselves into huge perils.

"U-Understood." Peko said first.

"Roger that." Nala also said. Despite she didn't loved the idea of running away from a battle, she recognized that Solomon was someone to better avoid.

"Then, you have my authorization to go. Grab the meds from that town and come back with them as quick as possible." Romani gave the order. "Mash, you stay here with Nightingale, nursing Fujimaru and other soldiers back to health."

"But doctor..." Mash whispered, still thinking that it wouldn't be the best idea to send Peko and Nala alone. Or perhaps, she was just being a bit pessimistic. "No. As a team, I have to believe in them and their capabilities. Soldiers lives are in line here as well as master's body condition. I'll do my role as Peko and Nala also do theirs." She looked at Romani. "Understood doctor. I'll check master's vitals every couple of hours until he wakes up."

"And we better get going as well." Peko talked before glaring at the unconscious Ritsuka on the bed. "Sit tight Ritsuka! After everything you've done for me, it's my turn to help you!"

Nala meanwhile softly placed her hand over the blanket covering Ritsuka's chest, smiling to him. "We will be right back. Soon enough to see you wake up and for all of us to commemorate together with plenty of food!"

Peko stepped right next to his sister. "Yeah. Wish us luck Ritsuka." He also smiled, staring to Mash, Romani and Nightingale. "Hope all of you do!"

"We will. Take care and be careful you two." Mash said, smiling back at them. "Remember, we are counting on you. And I'm sure you can do this, Peko, Nala."

"Fou fou!" Fou appeared on Mash's shoulder, also incitivating the two kids.

"Hehe, thanks Mash." Peko replied.

"We won't let you down!" Nala said with confidence.

"You may want to bring some food with you along the way in case of hunger." Romani advised. "So perhaps check if you guys have evrything in check before leaving the camp."

"Well said doc! We can't forget about that!" Peko replied.

"Also, if you are fine with it, would you mind some soldiers to accompany you torwards the town?" Nightingale offered. "They know the way that leads to it as well as they could carry the meds for you on the way back."

"Hmm, that doesn't sounds like a bad idea." Nala replied.

"Yeah. That could be of an useful help to us." Peko also speaked.

"Better than going alone if I say so myself." Romani commented.

"Eitherway, are you ready for it Peko?" Nala asked to her brother, opening her hand for an handshake.

"Eh! Ready!" Peko told her, closing his hand on hers, doing the handshake.


One Day Ago

"Wow! I wasn't expecting them to offer us this much supplies!" Peko exclaimed, staring to the sled behind him, full of meds and other necessities, being covered by a blanket and tied to the sled by some ropes.

"I think you could say this was the extra reward for a job well done." Nala told him with a big smile, putting her hands behind her back while walking on a small tilted cliff alongside her brother and three other soldiers, with one of them pushing the sleigh.

"Ah, you two kids performed really well back there. You didn't gave the enemy troops much chance." The oldest looking of the soldiers, who also was on the front of the group, told them.

"It's amazin' to think two small beans like ya could be able to fight well with some swords." Another soldier, one to their left, said.

Peko rubbed the back of his hair, feeling way too flattered by the comments. "J-Jeez, we just drove the enemy away. Nothing of special about it."

Nala on the other hand fully accepted the praise with a glee and smirk. "Hm hm! Thank you very much. It comes with the training and experience."

"You said it! The situation back there was looking dire until you arrived. I've never saw the enemy back off that quick." The third soldier speaked, being the one pushing the sled by the rope. "We have here enough supply to boost up the others moral back at the camp."

"And fortunately enough to treat the wounds of everyone." Peko said, thinking mainly of Ritsuka.

"I really can't wait to reach the camp. I've been walking for so looooooong now." Nala stretched a bit, playing with a bang of her hair. "How much long until there?"

"Hmm, I'd say in some couple of hours. I remember when we past those trees on our way to the town." The older soldier said, staring at the wood of tall trees to the side of the small cliff.

"Nice to hear that." Nala let out a tired breath. "I am feeling so hungry now..."

"No one told you to eat all those carrots when we made a stop by the river." Peko reprimanded his sister.

"But if I didn't eat it they would end up rotting!" Nala tried to justify.

"Then you could have shared some with us!" Peko told her.

"But I was very hungry!"

"And guess what now: You are hungry again!"

"My metabolism works very fast! Don't blame me!"

"Can't you at least create food on your own by clapping your hands? Why haven't you done that yet?"

"Because it tastes terribly bland!"

"So you admit your cooking sucks!"

"No! I just don't like it myself! That's very different!"

"How exactly?"

The three soldiers just looked at the sibling duo with nervous smiles, hearing their squabble having seemingly no end.

"Meh, forget it." Peko said, putting an end to the discussion. "Just promise you won't eat all of the food when we get back to the camp to celebrate."

"Of course I won't do that. I'll let Ritsuka eat the majority." Nala told her brother, a smile on her face. "There is no better way to celebrate from having escaped death! He really does have a devil's luck." She giggled.

"And? You don't have one too?" Peko replied happily, playing with her.

"Hey! Look who's talking!" Nala put her arm over Peko's shoulder, stretching one of her brother's cheek, taking no actual offense to what he said.

"Hehe! Perhaps we are all lucky in the end." Peko responded. "But as long as we have that factor throughout the entire journey, I don't mind it."

"Can you imagine Ritsuka's face when he discovers he survived to a cannonball?" Nala thought. "I bet he will be like 'Hmm, not the dangerest thing I survived by far'." The girl tried to immitate Ritsuka's voice, making Peko laugh.

"Or-Or he will say 'Yeah. Another normal day for me'." Peko said, joking as well. Both he and Nala couldn't wait to see Ritsuka up and well again. They talked with Romani an hour ago, informing him of their current situation as the doctor also shared the status of Mash and everyone else at the camp. If Nightingale's veridict was correct, Ritsuka would wake up tomorrow.

Continuing to take more steps on their path, everything was nice and smooth until the group would met an unexpected obstacle on the way. Taking a turn, they saw a blockade full of boulders obstructing the path ahead, much to everyone's confusion.

"Huh? What are all these boulders doing here?" Peko asked.

"They certainly weren't here on our travel to the town at first." The older soldier said, getting closer to inspect it.

"Could they have slipped down from the hill?" Nala said, looking to the tall rocky hill that stood on their right.

"Doubt it. The hill doesn't seem to have any signs of landlside." One of the other two soldiers responded.

The older soldier begun taking away some smaller stones from the blockade. "Well, I think we should disscuss that later. Let's clear this out instead." He said, taking out another stone.

Agreeing with his words, Peko, Nala and the other two soldiers were about to approach and help on moving the boulders away.

"Oi, oi, oi. I was about to use those for some exercise."

A voice talked from nowhere, gaining their attention.

"Hm? A voice?" Nala slightly lifted her head, thinking it had came from the boulders direction, with everyone doing the same.

"W-What?" The older soldier, who was the closest to the sound, looked up to the pilled up mount of rocks and boulders to see a large, intimidating man with a giant red spear and lizard tail with spikes sitting at the top of it.

Looking deeply on the man's face, thinking he had heard and saw that voice and face before. "Wait. He reminds me of someone..."

The older soldier immediatly went for his rifle, pointing it at the menacing man. "W-Who the heck are you?! Are you a-" And he was gone. The soldier didn't even had the opportunity to pull the trigger as his head was blasted off by the man who quickly descended from the place where he was sitting.

"Oh well. I think you guys should do as replacement." Cú Alter said, grinning as the blood was spilled everywhere.

"!" Peko's eyes widened in terror while some drops of blood slowly reached his face. It was too quick to process it right. The headless corpse of the soldier fell to the ground as they all stood in shock.

"Nghn! How-" The second soldier tried to aim torwards Cú Alter and shoot, yet, his reflexes weren't fast enough as he too was killed off in a quick second by the servant's spear, now standing literally by Peko and Nala's side.

The third and remaining soldier tried to fend off against Cú Alter, terrified by the speed he used to kill his companions. "G-Go away!" He fired his rifle at the servant, who easily repelled it with a simple swing from his tail, before finishing with the soldier by using the same tail. In the space of two or three seconds, he had already killed three of them, making only Peko and Nala the ones left.

"And then, there was only two." Cú Alter said coldly, looking down at the twins with murderous intent.

Being closer, Peko saw better the facial features of the servant. The strains of blue hair coming out from the hood. The red eyes. Peko's mind clicked in fright as the boy realized whom he might could be looking at. "...Cú?"

"Hm!" Not saying anything, Nala quickly snapped out from her own freeze, grabbing Peko's hand and and the rope attached to the sled with her other arm. Almost in a flash, she avoided Cú Alter's attack and proceeded to slide down the cliff alongside Peko and the sled. "We have to run!" She shouted to Peko as the two reached the bottom of the cliff, with Nala dragging both Peko and the sled into the woods.

Cú Alter watched it from the top of the cliff. "Looks like the training isn't quite over yet."

Running like the wind, Nala eventually stopped, with her and Peko having fled deep into the woods. "There..." She panted, letting go the rope from the sled. "We must have got some good distance away from him."

"..." Peko didn't respond, instead leaning against a log of a tree behind him, sitting down. apparently still in shock.

"Hm? Peko! Snap out of it!" Nala shaked him by the sholders, taking him out from his freeze state.

"A-Ah! We...We escaped him, haven't we?" Peko finally talked, passing his hand on his own bloodstained face.

"That's what I like to think." Nala responded, checking if not a single item had fallen from the sled.

"That person didn't looked like Cú." Peko stared at the blood now on the palm of his hand. "It was Cú. But..."

"It's almost hard to believe, isn't it?" Nala speaked what Peko was trying to say. "I got as shocked as you. The Cú we met at Fuyuki wasn't like this."

"Which makes it even harder to believe someone like him would be killing people so violently and coldly." Peko said, remembering of the Irish hero they met on the destroyed flaming city of Fuyuki. Even if it wasn't for a long time, Peko remembered him as someone selfless, friendly and benevolent. And now to allegedly see that same person looking so menacing and hostile, was like getting hit by a moving truck. "It scares me. The way how he just dismissed those three soldiers that had accompanied us till now." Peko admitted to his sister.

Nala could feel and understand her brother's anxiety. She also felt it back there upon seeing the servant's merciless killing. But now it wasn't time to dread about it. "I wish we could have avoided that. But we can still finish this!" She said, grabbing the rope attached to the sled, showing it to Peko. "We can still deliver all of this meds to Ritsuka and everyone else at the camp! We won't make the other's journey be in vain."

His sister's words helped Peko's moral to get slightly better, getting back on his feet. "You're right. Nothing is still lost."

A loud bang was heard in the distance, with a noise of trees falling to the ground. It was the sign of bad news.

"Aren't you going to show up? I don't have all day!" The voice of Cú Alter speaked. The spearman was now in the woods as well, hunting the two down.

"Crap! He's already here?!" Nala cursed, altough not to loud in order to not be heard by the enemy servant.

Peko sweated a bit, hearing the footsteps of Cú Alter in the surrounding area. "What do we do now?!"

"I warn you that I'm not in the mood for an hide and seek. The only part I care about is the fight." Cú Alter tried to lure them out, slashing a couple of tall trees in his way. He knew that the twins couldn't be too far, having fled to here.

Peko coruched down, putting his hands on the head, trying to maintain his calm. Nala was standing next to him, slightly peaking behind the log as a way to see where Cú Alter was and if he was approaching them. Some drops of sweat were also visible on the girl.

"He isn't Solomon but..." Peko could tell by the slight demonstration of the servant's capabilities, that Cú Alter was a dangerous foe. His evil and monstruous appearence only adding more to that factor. "Can we two be enough to beat him?" Peko looked to the sled by his side. Perhaps the most rational thing to do here would be to run away torwards the camp with the slad while hoping to foil the servant. But with how quick the spearman entered the woods, Peko feared that trying to flee for as long as possible would only make him and Nala easy targets, giving their location away.

"My patience is draining." Cú Alter announced, making sure to sound annoyed to make the message clear. One way or another, he would find them.

Peko closed his eyes, hearing the servant's words from afar. They had to act fast. "C'mon Peko! Think of something! Think Think Think! What would Ritsuka and Mash do if they where here? What would they say? How would Ritsuka react to this?"

Ending her peeping behind the tree's trunk, Nala knew they couldn't be hiding here for much longer. "I don't like how things are about to turn out." She then moved her eyes to stare at her brother. "Any sugges-"

"Thinkthinkthinkthinkthinkthink!" Peko repeatedly said the world while slapping his own face at an insane speed, much to Nala's bewilderment.

"WHY ARE YOU HITTING YOURSELF LIKE THAT!?" Nala shouted comically.

Finishing the slaps, Peko squeezed his two cheeks, attempting to come up with something. "Aha! I got it!" Peko put a fist on his other hand, having an idea.

"Thought of a plan?" Nala asked him.

Peko nodded to her. "Here's what we're gonna do."

"Okay. I've wasted more than enough time with you." Cú Alter declared, seeing that the two kids wouldn't appear before him to fight. "You could always told me you were too much occupied pissing in your pants instead. Hiding won't help at all in the end." He said, beginning to charge his spear. As he was in the process of doing that, a roar from a furious bear sounded behind the servant, probably upset for seeing his lair being destroyed. The wild animal jump torwards Cú Alter with the paws ready to attack.

And nearby, Peko had just grabbed the rope from the sled and sat down, not having moved away from his hidden spot. "I hope this works" Hearing some dying noises, Peko was jumpscared by the carcass of the bear falling to the side of the tree, appearing to him. The boy couldn't even look at the dead animal's wounds for too long as the tree was completely cut horizontally, with Cú Alter standing behind it.

"There you are." The celtic spearman grinned as he finally had located Peko. But he didn't count that what he just done, was a signal for the boy.

Altough caught in surprise in the first second, Peko quickly regained his composure, summoning a shinning ball of light in the tip of his finger. "Take this!"

"What are y-ggngh!?" Seein Peko aiming his finger to the ground near his feet, Cú Alter was caught off guard the moment the ball of light exploded into a huge bright bang, almost blinding his eyes.

Wanting to take chance of the stun, Peko summoned his sword, swinging it at Cú Alter. "Take this!"

However, the spearman reacted fast enough to deflect it with his own weapon.

And there it was. He had bite the bait. "Great! His back is exposed! Your turn Nala!"

From one of the tall trees above, a glimmer flickered, being nothing more than Nala jumping from one of the branches and descending with her sword torwards Cú Alter's back. "I have to hit the center! That's where the Spirit Core is! If I pierce it, we win almost immediatly!" The girl aimed her sword to that region of the servant's open back. If she landed the hit, this battle would be over before it even started. It was only one chance and a slim one, but worth the risk.

And as it seemed Nala was about to pierce the blade on Cú Alter's skin as she got closer to the ground, the servant proved to be an efficient warrior, doing a quick turn around and grabbing Nala's body before she could strike, much to her and Peko's shock. "Keh! Trying to play tricks on me?" Cú Alter then violently threw Nala's body in the direction of some trees, blasting them off.

"GYAAH!"

"Nala!" Peko exclaimed, taking a step forward before having his face bashed by the servant's lizard tail, knocking him to the ground. "Guh!"

"You really thought those sort of things would really work one me?" Cú Alter asked, slightly indignated as he saw Peko trying to get back up from the ground, with blood already falling from his forhead.

"G-gnghm..." Regaining his balance, Peko shook off the diziness his head suffered from the hit of Cú Alter's tail, pointing his sword to the servant.

"Say, is this your first time? Because it looks like it." Cú Alter cackled, mocking the boy's effort to appear calm and collected in front of him, seeing the clear trembling on his legs. "Just a warning. No matter who is my enemy, I don't go easy on anyone." His smile widened a bit, this warning feeling more like a threat.

A threat that make Peko have second thoughts and raise his nervousism. He was counting on that plan of his to work but since that it didn't, he now had to fight against this beast and monster of the legendary irish hero from the celtic myths. One that had made it clear in having no problem in being ruthless to his opponents. Such aura and intimidating posture made Peko remember of Solomon. How much he feared the hopelessness of the situation he and the rest of the Chaldea group felt in that moment. The towering shadow of Cú Alter made Peko look like an ant, with the boy even taking a step backwards out of fear.

"I'm glad you want to become stronger and find your dad. Never let go of those things. And you better become stronger next time we meet, do you hear me?"

Bleach OST- Invasion

"!" Peko corrected his mistake, going back to put his foot forward. He couldn't be a coward or weakling here, wipping and begging while running away from danger. If he wanted to know who he truly was, reunite with his parents, see his home and keep his promise to Cú, the one who motivated him to make the first step to improvement, then Peko had to confront the other Cú that stood in front of him as an obstacle for all of those objectives. "I also won't back down!" Peko exclaimed, thightening the grip on his sword.

Cú Alter laughed shortly at that statement. "Hope those words actually mean something and isn't just pure emotional bullshit. It's hard to have a fight that lasts longer than a minute nowdays."

Moving his legs, Peko rushed torwards Cú Alter, going for a slash on the spearman's torso. The servant on the other hand let the boy attack has much as he wanted, blocking all of the upcoming hits. Once he decided Peko's turn was over, Cú Alter fought back, swinging his spear with extreme velocity and brute strenght, forcing Peko to dodge the attacks because blocking them almost made him lose balance.

Peko thought of counter attacking by firing a light bullet to Cú Alter's face, a thing the servant easily parried by tilting his head to the side before punching Peko in the face, sending him flying against a tree behind him.

"GRUGHRHH!" Peko coughed, lifting his head while blood came out from his nose and mouth, showing how powerful Cú Alter's punch was. Still, Peko wouldn't give up, raising his arm and pointing his finger at the servant, firing a more powerful light bullet.

"Luminary Route!"

Unfortunately, his enemy blocked it with his spear without doing much effort. "A bit lacking." He said. So far, Cú Alter had only been testing Peko's abilities, to which he wasn't that much impressed. Moving his eyesight to the side, the celtic warrior noticed the sled with a good amount of supplies on it. "Hmm, are those for someone?" He asked with a malicious smile, not having to think very hard on who the receiver of all those meds and ammunitions were. "It'd be a shame if they ended up being destroyed."

"Hm! You wish!" Peko replied, getting back on his feet, ready to continue the fight while stepping on front of the sled.

However Cú Alter changed targets. Instead of heading torwards Peko, the spearman made a quick movement, launching his weapon to the other enemy that was coming for him from behind, having felt the presence.

Nala, who had came in a sprint from afar ever since she suffered that hit, dodged the spear by bending her back and proceeded to go for a drop kick on the servant's stomach, making Cú Alter tank the hit with his bare arm. "You'll have to get past over our bodies first!" She yelled, having heard what the servant planned to do with the sled.

"Keh eh eh. If you say so." Cú Alter shrugged off her kick, with Nala landing back on the ground next to Peko. "Whtever makes this more challenging!" He called back his spear, striking it to the ground. This was a battle that got a bit of intrest in him.

"Are you okay Peko?" Nala asked to her brother, seeing his bloody nose.

"Y-Yeah. It ain't that broken." Peko replied, touching it to wipe off some blood. "How about you?"

"Up and ready." Nala responded.

The two siblings then looked at Cú Alter and jumped torwards him, with Nala going infront. She tried to go for the servant's neck but Cú Alter blocked it perfectly. Peko then came right behind, about to hit the servant on his right leg. But once again the spearman proved his high agility by blocking the boy's attack with a simple swing of his spear. Both Peko and Nala decided to gang up on him, attacking almost coordinated and at the exact same time, trying their best to land an hit on Cú Alter.

"NHM!" Nala clashed her sword with his spear, making sparks fly. But overpowering the little girl, Cú Alter broke her defense and hit Nala with the non-sharp part of the Gáe Bolg, pushing her away.

Peko appeared on Cú Alter's right , firing another light bullet at him, with the servant moving his head away again. But that's what Peko expected, seeing Nala redirect the bullet back to the servant who blocked it. But the boy wasn't over yet, sending more projectiles to Cú Alter.

The spearman blocked some and dodged the others. But the ones he had dodge, Nala would ricochet them back at him, forcing Cú Alter to move and block more quickly, even using some trees as shields. It seemed the twins were handling this fight pretty well.

Thinking that the enemy would start feeling exhausted anytime soon, Nala dashed at Cú Alter, prepared to to slash him.

"Precise Stroke!"

"Heh...Not bad." Cú Alter grinned all of a sudden, canceling Nala's attack with a simple yet powerful movement of his Gáe Bolg, leaving her exposed.

"What-!?"

"But playtime is over." Saying that, Cú Alter thrusted his knee on Nala's stomach, causing great impact inside her body.

"Blurghg!?" Nala's eyes almost faded out as she coughed blood from her mouth and was sent flying some meters away.

"How-nghg!" And not even in a second, Peko saw the enemy close to him, almost not giving a chance for the boy to block the punch with his sword. But Peko had reacted so late to such fast attack that his defense was immediatly broken, alongside some pain on the bones of his hand. Cú Alter took the opportunity and slashed Peko on the chest with his spear, dealing quite the damage as the boy fell to the ground.

"Hey, Peko, Nala. I'd like to know where are-" The hologram of Romani appeared in the middle of all of this, wanting to know of the twins current situation. And he got the unpleasent answer once he saw Peko bleeding on the ground as well as Nala some feet away, trying to get up. "WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE?!"

"Having some...difficulties doc." Peko told to Romani as he tried to stand up, an arm pressing over the recent cut made on his chest.

"Who's this? Also looking to get torned into shreds?" Cú Alter speaked torwards Romani, seeing a new person appearing in the middle of the fight.

Romani on the other hand gasped when he saw the servant the twins were fighting. "His looks and the readings I'm getting on the monitor...It's that Cú Chulainn?"

"I also think so..." Peko told the doctor, using his own sword as support to maintain equilibrium. "But I don't get it. Cú Chulainn...The true Cú Chulainn is supposed to be a hero! A good person with values! That respected and cared for others!" He shouted, directing those words to Cú Alter. "How can you be that person if you can kill innocent people with such joy!?"

"Hmm, joy?" Cú Alter stared at Peko a bit confused before cackling. "Nah, you got all messed up kiddo. Fighting and killing simpletons left and right isn't a thing that brings me pure ecstasy altough I admit I may enjoy a little. As for all you knew about Cú Chulainn and his morals of being the celtic hero and Ireland's Child of Light ...Such things bare no meaning to me." Cú Alter said with a wicked smile, stating how different he was from the Cú Chulainn Peko had met before.

"Then you are an alternative variation of that servant we once knew." Romani said, figuring out the enemy's identity.

"Of course! The real Cú Chulainn would never be a monster like you!" Peko exclaimed.

"Hey now, is it so wrong for wanting to distanciate from your original form?" Cú Alter replied.

"Like that...will excuse you from killing those soldiers!" Nala exclaimed, approaching from behind Peko and Romani's hologram, with a tight grip on her own shoulder.

"Still sobbing about it? No worries. Soon enough I'll make you join them." Cú Alter smirked, powering his spear.

"Careful! Looks like he's up to something!" Romani warned both the two siblings. A warning that couldn't predict what was about to come.

With a swing, Cú Alter's Gáe Bolg made a giant slash on the ground, heading torwards Peko and Nala who both jumped out of the devastating attack's way. The slash was so powerful that it had created a fissure and tear apart countless trees in front of it.

"S-Such power..." Peko commented upon the destruction Cú Alter caused with a single move. Looking to the left, Peko saw the sled had thankfully escaped unharmed, still being relatively close to him. The boy went back on his feet, wanting to make sure the sled would still be intact.

"Behind you Peko!" Romani exclaimed in alarm.

"Eh?" Peko couldn't do anything as he felt the strong impact of Cú Alter's tail bashing his body, throwing him into a treat. Peko felt a good number of bones cracking in that moment.

"Oi oi. Have you forgotten you where still in a fight?" Cú Alter taunted, staring at his injured enemy. "We aren't over yet."

"Gnngh..!" Peko tried to get up, stumbling before succedding it on a second try, altough with much difficulty. He was feeling his energy slipping away, almost having no stamina or mana to fight back, being too injured to do that.

Romani knew that. "Peko! Just grab the sled and run away! Don't fight him! It isn't worth it!"

Despite that, Peko refused Romani's plead. He had to defeat Cú Alter for the good of everyone. But once he saw the servant approaching, his big stature, his menacing body and aura in the air, Peko begun to fumble. His legs and arms shaking the more steps Cú Alter would take torwards him. "I...I can't..." Even his sword was trembling as drop of sweats fell from Peko's face. The more Peko would look at those grotesque features on Cú Alter's body, that face of a violent monster ready to kill its prey, the more Peko's heart would beat in dread and pressure would be put on his body. "I can't fight this thing!"

Having succumbed to fear, Peko gave ears to what Romani said and decided to run torwards the sled. But that only made the things easier for Cú Alter who slashed one of Peko's legs, making the boy fall to the ground.

"How pitiful." The spearman talked, staring down at the beaten Peko on the ground, how much he cried in pain. "Let's not prolong this then." He said, lifting up his Gáe Bolg to finish him off.

"No! Don't do it!" Romani yelled, unable to do anything but just watch.

"P-Please..." Peko begged weakly on the ground, weakly rising his hand torwards Cú Alter, in the brink of tears. "I don't...wanna die..."

"Get away from him!" An enraged Nala came from behind, lashing at Cú Alter, preventing him from killing her brother.

Cú Alter changed his focus to Nala in an instant, tanking her attack. "Ah, I almost forgot about you! At least let's see if you last more than him!" Cú Alter said with a grin.

Nala stepped down, standing in front of Peko and the sled, protecting him. "Grab the sled and go Peko! I'll hold him back!"

"S-Sis..." Peko mumbled, a tiny smile appearing on his face while tears exited from his eyes. "Y-Yeah...That's right. You are always there for me. You don't cry unlike me. Always looking out for my safety. Always fighting till the end. You protect me more than I protect you..."

"Wouldn't be better if you grabbed Peko and the sled and run away!? There's no point fighting him!" Romani said to Nala, trying to convince her to abandon the fight.

"No. If we do he'll either catch us or will end up finding the camp by chasing us." Nala justified it to the doctor. "I'll have to defeat him, right here and now."

"Tsk! It is either run away together or run away solo while the other takes all the struggle." Cú Alter shaked his head in dissaproval. "It's all but a weakling's mentality."

"Let me show the 'weakling's mentality' to you then!" Nala exclaimed dashing at Cú Alter, attempting to slash him. Despite the enemy having defended that, Nala continue to attack, not taking a single second to breath. She had to buy as much time as possible to Peko. So everytime she swinged her sword for an attack, on the next second she was already doing another, almost seeming like she just couldnt run out of energy. The girl would attack the spearman from all sides, not wanting him to give any room to fight back. Wanting to keep her brother save was the motivation.

"Nala seems to be cornering Cú Alter with those attacks." Romani noted, seeing the fight. "Perhaps she will be able to defeat him!"

Cú Alter was starting to get annoyed by the assault of Nala's attacks, not having stop from defending yet. "Grrr, how annoying!" Deciding to have his turn, Cú Alter directed his spear torwards Nala, about to pierce her in the head.

"Air Step!"

Gracefully, Nala evaded Gáe Bolg, getting Cú Alter's opened for an attack, charging her sword with a brilliant light, aiming it to the servant's head.

"That's it! He's open!" Romani exclaimed, a hope burning inside him that if Nala went for a clean cut, she might could win this fight.

"Ghgrhgh!..."

However, Nala didn't counted for the servant's tail, who sneakily went to her left side and pierced the girl in the abdomen before slamming her on the ground. "Annoying brat...!" Cú Alter hissed, grabbing Nala's body and slamming it one the ground once. Twice. Thrice, before violently bashing it against a tree.

"A..h...ah..." Nala's eyes lost their soul as the girl stared half dead at the nothingness, with her hair no longer tied by the blue ribbon. Feeling something getting loose around her pulse, Nala weakly moved her arm, putting it in front of her face. The seashell bracelet she had made was now broken to pieces. A gift for herself and Mash. Gone. Letting the arm fall limp on her lap, Nala still went to stand up again, leaning against the tree's trunk to help her.

Cú Alter stared at her, prepared for whatever she would try next. Nala didn't said anything. Her legs took one step. And then another. And then the poor girl fell face flat into the ground, all the aching and suffering her body was feeling being too much to bare anylonge.

"..." A defining and tragic silence stood in the area, with Romani looking at the situation agape. Peko and Nala couldn't do anything. Both outmatched and bested by Cú Alter who stood pretty much unhurt, having come out as the winner. "Hmm, this was already getting ridiculous." He excercised his arms a bit before turning around. "Well, time to destroy that sled." But then he was met by an intresting scenario, causing him to smirk. "Oh? What is this?"

Inazuma Eleven OST- The Thoughts of Eleven

Right in front of him, Peko was covering the supplies on the sled using his own body. "I...won't let you destroy these..!"

"Aah, I see. Still wanting to get more?" Cú Alter laughed, walking torwards the boy.

Romani tried to get the servant's attention. "HEY! LOOK AT ME YOU GIANT LIZARD! YOU HAVEN'T FOUGHT ME YET!"

Cú Alter smirked, looking at the doctor. "Why waste time with you? I know you aren't really here. What a way to be a coward."

"..." Romani stood silent, the words the servant used having messed with him.

"N..No...Peko..." Nala watched Cú Alter head torwards her brother, having no energy left to raise from the ground. "S...Save yourself...Please..."

But Peko continued hugged to the sled. To the items that Ritsuka and the other soldiers at the camp needed. He wouldn't let the grip over them go for nothing. Not when even the scary and threatening shadow of Cú Alter covered him.

"Is all that random medicine and ammunition important for a kid like you?" Cú Alter asked, wanting to know why Peko was so determined to protect those things from him.

"I...I have a friend...Who needs them...And others who do urgently..." Peko said tightening his hands on the blanket that covered the items. "He...He gave me an opportunity...He trusts me...He trusts me to deliver all these things and save all those lives!" The boy responded loud and clear despite the internal pain his bones and muscles were all feeling. "We made a promise...that we will see the end of this together...All of us...He won't leave anyone behind! And I...I also won't leave him behind!"

"A friend eh? How emotional." Cú Alter mocked Peko, slightly lifting his leg. "Gonna visit him afterwards." He then stepped his foot on Peko's body agressively.

"PEKO!" Romani shouted terrified.

Neverthless, Peko still didn't let go off the sled. Not even when Cú Alter stepped on him a second time, trying to squeeze his body. He still remained firm.

"Hi there! Name's Ritsuka Fuji-"

"Thank you for saving us! Thank you! Thank you so much!"

His bones cracked more, being stepped a third time.

"H-Hey. One 'thank you' is enough."

A fourth time.

"You are safe now. Don't need to be scared anymore."

A fifth time.

"I can sense it in you."

A sixth time.

"That desire to change."

A seventh time.

"To become stronger."

An eight time.

"To protect what matters to you."

A ninth, tenth and eleventh time.

"R...Rits...uka..."

Ultimately, Peko couldn't withold the pain anymore, his remaining strenght fading away as he let go off the sled, falling to the ground.

"Stop it already! He's already down you freak!" Romani shouted at Cú Alter, not being capable to endure the sight of Peko's suffering. Even Nala, who hadn't the strenght to speak, was sobbing silently.

"Please...Stop it...He's my brother..."

Thankfully for them, Cú Alter finally stopped, but not because he obeyed to Romani's begging. He just felt that was enough. "Eh, quite the persistent cockroach."

"Y...you..re...the roach..."

"Hm?" Slightly surprised, the spearman looked down to see Peko still breathing and talking, tears running down his eyes. "Care to repeat that?" He grabbed the boy the neck, lifting up his entire body. "I couldn't quite hear it."

"You are...weak..." Peko said.

"Hm? Sorry? Why exactly?" Cú Alter questioned, tightning his hand around Peko's neck. The boy's insolence to dare say that to his face and in such damaged state.

"B-Because...there's nothing wrong...with knowing your limits..." Peko looked at Cú Alter's face as a burst of tears fell from his eyes and emotions runned through his mind. A courage that shaped inside him for what he was about to say. "But...to go after people weaker than you...who can't defend themselves...for mere enjoyment. That's the true weakling's mentality!"

"!" Cú Alter's smile twitched for a second, finding mockery on Peko's words. How could someone so small, weak and insignificant say he was the weakling here? "I think your brain is no longer working pipsqueak." The spearman moved his hand to Peko's hand, holding his body by the boy's head now. "Better we end that problem for good." He said, starting to squeeze Peko's skull.

The boy didn't even had a single ounce of energy to fight back. He couldn't do anything to fight back his doom.

Neither could Romani nor Nala.

"Oi, what are you doing? Stop that." Romani said with a tingling sensation of fear on his voice, dreading for the worst.

"S...Stop..."

The grip got tighter.

"Stop it! Stop that now!"

"Stop...Stop.."

"I told you to stop it!"

"Stop...Stop!..."

And tighter.

"Stop dammit! He won't survive already! Don't need to go that far!"

"Stop!...Stop!"

And tighter.

"Stop!"

"Stop!"

And tighter.

"STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!"
"STOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!"

And from the middle of the trees, came the unexpected. A single bright shine that charged at an high velocity torwards Cú Alter, impaling the arm that was holding Peko. A red spear, similar to Gáe Bolg.

"W-What?!" Cú Alter reacted in utter shock, letting go of Peko due to the blow. The red spear then came back from the place it was thrown, dissapearing far deep into the trees. That however was enough for Cú Alter to start theorizing who had threw that spear at him. "Such similar weapon. It could only be..." He didn't finished the line. Instead Cú Alter let out a furious grumble before quickly walking away from the place, not desiring to fight whoever was the owner of that spear now.

Now only Peko and Nala were present. Both seriously injured. Unable to even move their bodies.

"Hey! Hey! Peko! Nala! Can you still hear me?" Romani asked to them, largely worried about the two. "If you do please stay strong! Everything's gonna be okay! Please just try to hold on!" He said, barely containing his panic as he was fastly tapping on the keyboard.

"Pe...ko..." Crawling slowly, Nala tried her best to reach to her brother who didn't respond or reacted, lying on the ground already uncounscious. "Please...stay..." Already feeling her entire body heavy and with such struggle to move, Nala's fingers touched Peko's hand, in a last effort. "...Stay...with me...brother..." She uttered before finally collapsing, her vision going dark and her body limp like Peko.

"Nala? Nala! Don't-Don't close your eyes!" Romani shouted. "You two have to stay awake! For the sake of everyone! For Ritsuka and Mash! Stay awake please!" Romani pleaded pointlessly, looking at the unresponsive and motionless bodies of the two. "You can't die!" He punched his desk before putting the hands on his head, tearing up. "You two can't die...Not here please." He sobbed before starting to shout. "Leonardo! Come here immediatly! Contact Mash!"

Da Vinci entered quickly on the room, walking torwards Romani. "What's wrong? Why are you screaming like a craz-" Gasping, the inventor covered her mouth as her eyes widened in terror to the sight of the awful and concerning state Peko and Nala were in. "This is an emergency! We need all the staff available this instant and get their coordinates right away!" Da Vinci exclaimed, being as worried as Romani. "Connect with Mash and tell her in the meantime! We can't afford to lose them!"

As both Romani and Da Vinci worked tiredlessly on doing those things, they took their gazes away from the location Peko and Nala were in. And in the middle of such silence and calmness that was present on the forest now, the figure of a mysterious lady stepped out of the tree line, walking torwards the unconscious twins.


"And that's what happened." Nightingale finished her retelling to Ritsuka, who now stood in front of his two friends, having heard the entire thing without interrupting, waiting silently and paitiently till the end. The whole tent had been during the nurse's explanation of the event. And now that she had completed it, they felt it was okay to talk again. But they felt a certain difficulty to.

"I'm sorry master." Mash apologized again, knowing that hearing what happened to people important to him was rough. "I...I wished that this could have been avoided."

"I'm the one who wronged all of you." Romani speaked up. "In just a space of three days, I put three members of this team in risk of death. I should have done better." Romani put his hands together. "If you want me to be replaced, I can understand it."

"Doctor!" Mash stared at Romani. "You don't have to-" Hearing a sudden noise, Mash turned her head to look at Ritsuka taking away the shirt of his Chaldea Mystic Code. "Wh-what are you doing master?!"

Taking the shirt off, Ritsuka looked to his own skin. His own body. And indeed there was no scars or any other signs of damage on it. The skin was completely clean. Good as new. "DAMMIT!" In fury, Ritsuka punched the floor, surprising the other three. "Why?! Why they did that!? There was no need for it! I'm not worth all that risk!" He yelled, frustrated. "Crap! If I didn't got hit, none of this would have happened!" Tears begun to appear on his eyes. "They're like this because of me. Because I'm not good enough..."

Mash went immediatly by his side. "Don't think like that master! Nothing here was anyone's fault! We simply got hit with adversity and bad luck! I'm sure we can all surpass this moment!" She tried to comfort him.

"How Mash!? How!? If I wasn't such a weak average human, I wouldn't have been knocked out by a single cannonball! And Peko and Nala...They'd still be-"

"Blame yourself all you want, but I do not recommend such unhealthy way of coping." Nightingale cut him short. "They will still live. Nothing was lost because of you. Can't you see how much they value you for having gone through that? And you are here blaming and guiltying yourself because of it? Don't put down their efforts like that young man! They'd want you to smile! Not sob!" The nurse told him. "All that pain they went through was worth it. Of course they should have never experienced it in the first place. No child should. But it's thanks to that sacrifice that yours and other soldiers pain was cured!"

Ritsuka looked at her, wanting to believe in her words. But he wasn't able to. "And it's because they care about me that they got hurt. I would prefer to continue another day or two on the bed if it meant this wouldn't happen. If I was-"

"I..It's alright...Ritsuka..."

The voice catched everyone's attention, putting all their gazes on Peko's bed.

"It's alright...I'm just glad...you're okay..." Peko speaked, looking like he had temporarily regained his consciousness

"Peko?" Ritsuka got up, looking at the boy.

"Y-Yeah...Don't put...yourself down like that..." Nala speaked, having also recovered her consciousness. "Crying...doesn't suit you well..."

"Nala..." Ritsuka murmured, looking to the girl. He wanted to stay closer to them. Turning around to stare at Nightingale, the nurse must have had understood his feeling, giving approval for him to do so. "I'm here you two. Sorry for what you had to go through." He told to the twins, grabbing softly each one's hand while sitting between their beds. "Sorry for not having been there for you. That I...I couldn't have helped you."

"Don't be an idiot...Ritsuka..." Peko smiled, looking at his friend with his only good eye as the other was covered by the bandage. "I know...you and Mash...would've done the same for us..."

Nala giggled a bit. "You should have seen...the face of the enemy we fought...He fled right away with the tail between the legs...when we landed only a hit on him..."

That made Ritsuka break a little smile in his face. "I sure think you two must have fought well."

"Of course we did..." Peko said, feeling Ritsuka's hold on his hand. "We are all in this...until the end...remember?"

Ritsuka smile grew a bit. "Yeah. We are."

"And we're...gonna clear this Singularity...the same way we did with the others..." Nala speaked, slightly squeezing Ritsuka's hand. "Won't we?"

"Like always." Ritsuka told her.

"By each other's sides. No matter what." Mash approached to the two beds. "As a team."

"Fu fou!" Fou appeared on Mash's shoulder, agreeing with the shielder's statement.

Romani smiled a little on the background.

"Eh. That's what I suspected to hear..." Nala responded. "But first...I think I...need to...take a nap...and..." The girl didn't finished, having fallen back to her dormant state.

Ritsuka felt his other hand was now holding something more softer. Turning around, he saw that Peko had also went back to slumber.

"It seems they are recovering little by little, but not enough to be awake for long time periods." Nightingale informed, walking torwards Ritsuka and Mash. "Better let them rest for now and come back a later time to check on them."

Mash nodded politely. "Understood, Nightingale-san."

Ritsuka continue to look at the two siblings, having helped him remove the self-guilt he felt inside. "As a leader, I won't let this happen. Not again. For everyone's sake."

And as everything looked quiet and peaceful, a loud bang and comotion was heard outside the tent, startling them.

"What were those noises?" Mash asked.

"Gunshots?" Romani pondered.

In a hurry, a soldier entered the tent, looking panicked. "Miss Nightingale! We are under attack! A new wave of enemies!"

"What?!"

To be continued...


And that was it for chapter 73!

Oh man, this chapter was a bit longer than I expected, but I felt it was worth it to include every interaction, line and scene on this one. This was one of the chapters I was more looking forward to write on my fanfic, and I think you guessed why after having read it. This was probably the highest the emotional stakes have ever been on this story in relation with the Chaldea group. Because at this point, they've been through a lot already, so the reader feels how important is the connection between each of them, specially Peko and Ritsuka here. And as a writer, it's my job to make readers feel something about the characters, wether it's enjoyment, admiration, disgust, sadness, happiness, anger, etc. If the chapter felt heart wrenching to a reader then I feel like I've succeeded in making that reader care about these characters and story. And I think that's the goal of every writer in media. To pass some sort of emotion to readers, through the characters and story in a way that makes them intrested in reading/watching the material.

Hum, didn't expected to go very analystical with this one. It may be because it's already late in night and I haven't took a cup of coffee.

Anyways, that's all I wanted to say, and see you next time on chapter 74! Peace!

P.S:

Carmilla (Hands a note to Nala): Here, accept this as a sign of my regret.

Nala: Hum? What's this? (Reads note) 'My deepest apologies for what happened in France. Hope you can forgive me.'

Carmilla: What I did back there was not right. I apologize for all the trouble and terror I've put you through there.

Nala: Yeah, no problem. There's only a problem tho.

Carmilla: Which is?

Nala: You don't need to bring that up and apologize for it every time we met. I already forgave you like, the first time.