Happiness was not an emotion any Arturia often associated with herself; however, it didn't mean that they could not feel it. It was a giddy sensation, something that could have one smiling dumbly to his or herself not caring if anyone was looking. No matter how hard one tired to force the feeling down, true happiness was impossible to keep contained behind stoicism.

Lily was the greatest example out of all the Arturia's. There was a skip to her steps, and she always started the day with a beaming smile, having taken Shirou's words about freely expressing herself to heart. In this regard, even the other Arturia's had mellowed out and softened their indifferent features out of necessity. The harder they tried to act unaffected, the more deranged it looked when the edges of their mouths involuntarily pulled upward. Most surprising of all was when Lancer Alter broke the mask of her indifference and revealed an utterly contented expression. She just didn't seem to care about appearances anymore, and joined Lily's ranks of free expression.

The sight utterly stunned the other Arturias, but for the life of them, Lancer Alter refused to divulge just what happened in her dream world that had her rethink her entire disposition. At times, she'd stare at her ring finger for hours on end, clearly lost in thought. Only Saber Alter seemed to understand Lancer Alter's sentiment, but she'd never admit that a part of her was jealous of her older counterpart's maturity.

The entire overall situation was still unknown to the Arturias, but frankly, even Saber Arturia was beginning to no longer care. Through both her and her Shirou's efforts, she saw her Kingdom prosper such that even commoners would carry enough devotion to wield their scythes and hoes for the sake of the King and Queen. It was a far cry from when she'd been isolated by her own Knights and people for failing to act human.

When Saber Arturia considered this prospect, she couldn't help but grow thankful. She like all her other counterparts had assumed that they'd be put through hell while watching the difference of how life would have been had they crossed an unassuming wheat field. Now though, now they all saw it differently.

Each Arturia had something they called a 'dreamscape,' but was it really a dreamscape?

All Arturias could sense that the world in their dreams weren't just figments of their imagination. They appeared to be diverging branches of a main timeline, one that they suspected was the one being shown to them. In short, each dreamscape was in fact their own world. Sleep was the anchoring point that allowed them entry into said worlds.

It was unnatural, something that tampered with the history of mankind itself, and yet each Arturia found herself realizing that they'd fight tooth and nail against anyone who'd try to harm it.

Saber Arturia was no exception, as the entire situation seemed like a manifestation of her wish upon the Holy Grail but better. This was the kind of world she would die for without question. It was her world, her reality made through her and her Shirou's efforts.

This sentiment was shared by all.

As the days passed, they continued to observe their younger self's thoughts, actions, and motivations.

At times they were confused about how Excalibur suddenly appeared for young Arturia's use, but none of the Arturias thought much of it, as they knew Lady Vivian had favoured them. It wasn't that far of a stretch for the Lady of the Lake to lend a helping hand.

It simply never crossed their minds that Shirou was the cause of it since he was nowhere nearby and Lady Vivian had presented Excalibur in such a way when Caliburn had shattered into pieces. Although, it did seem a tad different as there were no bodies of water around for Lady Vivian to manifest and present the sword.

How strange?

It was one thing for the Arturias to see Shirou creating weapons from out of nothing, but it was another for them to believe that he could recreate Excalibur of all things.

As time passed for the young Arturia, the budding sensation of love became increasingly apparent, and it was understandable.

At the very least, the older Arturia counterparts could relate, but the Lancers were somewhat critical of their younger self's indecision. The two eldest Arturias had made leaps and bounds with their Shirous and their worlds that they were only viewing the memories of the original for peeks into future developments.

The Arturias watched events now fully knowing that they'd already diverged from the path that their younger counterpart had taken. For example, Saber Arturia had declared her Shirou and her as King and Queen, while the Alters had diverged directly off track from the original timeline.

Regardless of the Arturias divergences, the feelings between two individuals were still the same.

When they watched as Shirou professed his love to young Arturia, and watched the way she reddened and was unable to voice her feelings back even after kissing. Saber Arturia could relate as she was inexperienced in these matters, but she watched in confusion as both the Alters clicked their tongues at the show of indecisiveness.

Then it happened, something that would momentarily converge all paths together regardless of their changes.

Shirou and the Ashton Slat.

All Arturias were paying rapt attention by this point, knowing that their Shirou's would be drawn to the same event. Even if their paths had diverged, Shirou's eventual need to complete the task left to him by his assassinated family was the same for each Arturia.

Shock was one word to describe how all the Arturias felt when it became known that Shirou's father had been a Fire Elemental who governed over a World Anchor. Irrational fear was the next as they listened to the ramblings of the Evil Dragon Fafnir which were confirmed by Shirou and his Darkness Elemental, Agatha.

The risk of him being dragged to the Reverse Side never to be seen again was likely based on how troubled Agatha seemed.

When compounded with each Arturia's lack of knowledge of Shirou in their memories ruling Britain, anxiety became a key factor.

Silence.

"I can't accept this," Saber Alter gnashed her teeth, her magic energy flaring around her in disarray. For the first time ever, she looked shaken, almost helpless.

Saber Alter wouldn't admit it, but her Shirou had become dear to her. Irreplaceable. Far more than what her other counterparts could relate with, as her Shirou had chosen her above all…and had proven that no matter how tainted or rotten she became, he'd never stop loving her even when she herself began loathing herself for her own actions.

He was the only one.

The only one that would never truly leave her side.

"I can't accept this!" Saber Alter's features twisted in a mixture of grief, denial, and outrage. "What does this Dragon mean that Shirou will be dragged to the Reverse Side!? N-No he can't. I forbid it. Why should I care about how many people die if it means losing him? We'll go to Merlin, the bastard either has a solution or I'll make him have one, and if not then so what? Why should I care if others die when they turned their backs on me first?"

For once, many of the Arturias were either in agreement, or chose not to comment despite judging looks. Only Lily seemed a bit hopeful at the alternative that Saber Alter had brought up.

Still, Merlin wasn't anywhere close to any of them in their dream records. He wouldn't be able to arrive on time, let alone know the situation.

The mood grew heavier.

"Agatha said it's not guaranteed that he'll be dragged to the Reverse Side," Lily spoke up nervously, only to get shot down an instant later by a collected voice that only appeared calm on the surface.

"Then why isn't he around in our timelines?" Lancer Arturia said solemnly, features dim, pupils wavering. "Think about it rationally. Shirou is strong, hardly anything can phase him from what we've observed and experienced, so why wasn't he around?"

Lily swallowed audibly and stared down at the floor.

Lancer Arturia gave a valid point, shifting Agatha's words in the Arturia's minds from 'it's not guaranteed,' directly to 'guaranteed.'

A subtle shift occurred in the air, as Saber Alter's eyes became blood shot. After this event, was she doomed to be alone again after relishing in the comfort of her Shirou's devotion? She would break. She didn't know if she could handle it.

"I'm not letting him kill that Dragon. I'll stop him myself if I have to," Saber Alter balled her hands into fists so hard that blood began to seep from her nails. She didn't even seem to notice either. "I can't lose him. I won't."

Suddenly, no Arturia could admonish young Arturia for heeding the words of an enemy and stopping Shirou from delivering a killing strike to Fafnir. Not when they themselves may have done a similar action. Only Saber Arturia seemed hesitant as a war waged in her mind between duty to the people and love.

It was in this moment of contemplation that the viewing resumed, and the fighting began anew.

All conversation stopped as they all paid rapt attention to the following events.

In the end, Shirou had convinced young Arturia to allow him to kill Fafnir, thereby bathing in the Evil Dragon's blood and beginning the process of the Ashton Anchor's assimilation with Shirou.

The Arturias breaths hitched in despondence.

From young Arturia's perspective, all that they could see was Shirou standing motionlessly with no light in his eyes. For a second, terror seized them all just as much as it did for young Arturia; however, Agatha appeared and soothed all worries by saying that Shirou would be fine.

"H-He's alive." Saber Arturia found herself uncharacteristically stuttering, such was the gravity of her relief. "Which means our Shirous will pull through too."

Saber Alter clenched and unclenched her fists, finally settling on turning her face away as the tears of relief trickling down her cheeks was not something that she wished others to see.

Words could not describe the sheer relief each Arturia felt at the realization that their Shirous would survive, but as if to trample on their hopes, tragedy occurred with the arrival of Efret's beaten form cratering the ground in front of young Arturia.

And then…then came her.

"Morgan?" The name was spoken by all Arturia's at once, all of them carrying an air of trepidation.

No matter which Arturia or which timeline, Morgan always had a hand in the eventual fall of Camelot. This would be the second time seeing her, the first being at the town of Roan which she'd kidnapped Shirou at much to every Arturia's fury.

Seeing Morgan again, and in this kind of situation gave all kinds of ill omen.

Something just seemed to snap in every Arturia's mind as they felt the sheer despair young Arturia endured as Morgan subdued her and proceeded to 'kill' Shirou right in front of her eyes.

Helplessness. Despair. Ruin.

Young Arturia was seeing red, her body pulling on her restraints so hard that she was drawing blood. She was crying, and yet had no more tears left to spend. She'd even resorted to begging, but the attempt was met only by deaf ears.

All that was left of Shirou after the explosion of dimensional energy swallowed up his body was a piece of fabric and a red jewel which young Arturia cradled to her chest.

None of the Arturia's spoke a word, and in the silence, the distinct noise of laboured breaths, simmering rage, and the weeping of a young Arturia were all that could be heard.

The scene cut off.

A cold wind blew in the space where the Arturias were all standing perfectly still.

This wasn't going to happen to them.

Never.

Yet all Arturias had to come to terms with the fact that they were in a younger and weaker body in their dreamscapes. They were only slightly stronger than the young Arturia that they'd just seen get subdued by Morgan by virtue of skill and experience.

The chance of Shirou dying despite their efforts was not zero, and this thought was as chilling as the devastation they could feel from young Arturia who seemed to have lost her soul. Her eyes were hollow, expression vacant even as it began to rain once she stepped foot out of the cave.

Lancer Alter's eyes darkened into pools of unforgiving fury. If this happened to her, it would be personal on another level entirely.

Lancer Alter abruptly stood up, expression cold and brutal. "If she kills my husband. I don't care where she is, or where she runs, or who's help she can obtain. I will find her, and I will murder her."

It was a promise. An oath and declaration of intent, proving just how much her Shirou meant to her after the trials and tribulations they'd gone through together. Regardless of what she'd done or would become, her Shirou had always chosen to steadfastly stay by her side, look upon her face, hug her close when others scorned her brutality, and then tell her 'I love you.'

Lancer Alter shuddered and swallowed audibly. Her Shirou now meant more to her than words could ever be able to express, a sentiment understood fully by Saber Alter.

The fact that Lancer Alter had just called Shirou her husband went largely unheard except by Saber Alter who mirrored the sentiment with a narrowed gaze and crossed arms. She said nothing, but the sheer coldness of her features and her turbulent magical energy revealed her building wrath.

The two Alters nodded at each other and left individually to plan out a method to keep their Shirou's alive. Saber and Lancer Arturia were no better and soon left to contemplate on their own with utterly blank faces.

The rage though, oh the rage, it was as palpable as the desperation in the air.

If they failed, it was over.

This wasn't an option any Arturia was willing to consider. Not after seeing young Arturia's current state and feeling her sheer agony. It hurt more than any wound, and it struck at the heart.

There were no doubts in the Arturias minds that young Arturia was now just a shell of her former self. How much more would it hurt for them who were stronger than young Arturia due to their experience and mental age should they fail?

Don't think about it. Just don't.

It won't happen.

The thoughts of all Arturias were mirrored, and all chose to have some time to think for themselves.

Left behind, Lily was hyperventilating, her eyes looking bloodshot with anxiety. Barring the fact that she'd convinced Shirou to live with her earlier on, she hadn't strayed too far from the original time line. When Lily looked at young Arturia, she'd always seen herself and found herself making the same choices and decisions. For all intents and purposes, young Arturia at her current age was her, Saber Lily: Her current capabilities and thoughts frighteningly identical to Lily's own, and young Arturia had lost to Morgan despite all her efforts.

Young Arturia lost Shirou, this was a fact that she'd just witnessed.

Didn't that mean she'd lose her Shirou too?

Lily's complexion paled considerably, her breaths growing shallower. There was no escape. The only difference now was that she knew Morgan was waiting for an opportunity to incapacitate her and strike.

Lily didn't know if she could do this. The sheer despair she could feel from the memories of the younger Arturia were suffocating.

If she lost her Shirou, she knew that she'd never be the same. It was the same for all Arturias.

To have a taste of heaven was the same as experiencing hell as soon as heaven is taken away. It makes the contrast that much harder to accept or endure.

It was crushing.

Thanks for reading!

Note: Posting the previous chapters to get to the crux of the story which focuses on each Arturia for the coming update.

P a treon. com (slash) Parcasious