Summary: Thanks to not giving up her Command Seals to escape a dead and foggy realm, the group that makes up the remaining Servants and the last Chaldean Master try to make it through the new underground world of the 7th Lostbelt while seeing old faces with newer, more serious problems.

Note: Right after finishing the previous chapter, I finally decided to read more of Lostbelt 7, and Section 2 had me thinking again.

So here I am, writing once more on the revelations that were shown in Section 2. Processing old work rage along the way because with the time of January-February 2025 marking a year since my first friend at my current job has betrayed me, these days…

I'm just not angry anymore. I'm just tired and sad. About this friend not realizing her mistakes and continuing to betray me. Continuing to call out my name like she did nothing wrong, even when she's growing more incompetent by the day. And it's time to process that.

Content warning for discussion of abuse and implied abuse. Just saying that now. Because just as much as my memories of my first work friend have soured, the same can be said of Olga-Marie Animusphere.

The theme for this chapter is No. 7, the first opening for Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun. Since the second season started as of my writing this note (Jan 12, 2025), I wanted to go back and honor an old media muse/inspiration of mine. For alternatives, I'll point you to (1) the track title Rominisensu from Toilet-Bound Hanako-kun; (2) the English dub opening to Megaman Starforce; and (3) THE FIRST TAKE version of Stellar Stellar by Hoshimachi Suisei.

Here we go.

Day 89: Old Faces, New Problems

Once Xanthos disappeared into latent mana to match his fellow steeds with one last tired whinney noise, a single match was drawn to create a flame. It was tiny, but sufficient to illuminate their new surroundings. Dinky dark cave or not, it was better than nothing. "Alright, we've touched down. So here's a good question: who's not dead? Sound off."

"Rider," Arturia, even when gently escorting Vy off the fading chariot and onto the cave ground of their new temporary headquarters, sounded snippy as usual past the match flame. "Despite the well-placed Atlantis: the Lost Empire reference, have some tact?"

Achilles had a retort on his tongue, a biting one at that (it took him way too long to use that line), but the desire to voice it died out as soon as he took in the sight of the one Nemo Marine of their motley group, still huddled up in Vy's arms as she hugged him close. The scolding tap to his bicep from Marie nearby shut it out too, so he carefully cleared his throat instead. "…Okay. Lemme rephrase it for ya then, Saber. What are we working with here?"

"We're all alive," Archer EMIYA said in a dull, matter-of-fact tone that contrasted Robin's usual sarcasm — something that made Achilles unconsciously twitch because of the green Archer's current lack of presence. Marie's touch on his hand was starting to feel more and more like a saving grace. "The Storm Border's crashing somewhere, and the other half of our Grailed group is also elsewhere, split up thanks to the crash. And that isn't even factoring in the goddesses of our group who had stayed behind just to keep that giant back." He clicks his tongue, shaking his head. "…And here I thought a corrupted Grail was bad."

Vy carefully hiding a flinch away from Marine's presence still taking comfort in her hug didn't help the mood much. Saber shooting a well-deserved glare at the red Archer alleviated things, though. Just a little.

Holmes then hummed , drawing all of their attention to him. It's hard to miss how the detective looks like he's actively thinking, what with the gloved hand stroking his chin. "What I am curious about is the identity of the giant that attacked the Storm Border. It was on the level of being able to take out the Foreign God in one blow, and even with my own fragmented memories of being her Disciple, she never accounted for someone being able to defeat her. More so to even escape her notice, considering how quickly she discovered the Wandering Sea the first time."

"Now why." Nezha interrupted with a shake of their head, pigtails nearly hitting the Ruler from how furious the motion was. "Did that. Giant. Attack. Us. Too? There was. No warning. No sign. Could it. Be. A. Noble Phantasm?"

"Could be onto something," Berserker Musashi pipes up, crossing her arms over her swimsuit. "The Saber me manifests a giant in our Noble Phantasm. Another giant weapon is possible."

"…But C-Captain and Sion were saying that th-there was nothing else like it," Marine eventually squeaked out, and looking at him reveals the tiny Rider peeking out from Vy's chest as their shared Master continues to hug him. "Th-That giant was hotter than any sun or celestial being observed by Sheba, but it was somehow cold too, and, and—!" The Rider sniffles again before burying his face back into Vy's Mystic Code. "W-Waaaaaaah, our shiiiiiiip!"

"Oh, Marine…" Vy hugs him tighter, shaking her head. "You're okay, you're okay, alright? The ship's not, but at least you are. W-We all are."

The hint of tears forming in her tired eyes past the comforting words meant for their tiny stowaway made every other Servant shut up.

With nothing else to do, Achilles turned his head, finding his gaze landing on worried blue eyes. Marie, his queen, was glancing between him and Vy, the tiny tug of one gloved hand against a gauntlet of his armor conveying the message that her eyes were already so desperately trying to spell out to him.

Can't we do something?

Yet before Achilles could open his mouth to try changing the subject, his senses could suddenly trace something else, something deadly, and he instinctively pushed Marie behind him.

The others would understand. He knew they would, Grailed bond and shared time factored in too. So they could handle protecting Vy.

Because not even a few meters away from both Saber and Berserker versions of Musashi, an unconscious U-Olga Marie was lying in a prone position on the cave floor, groaning softly.

"…Fuck," Holmes whispered intelligently.

"Should I. Kill her. Now?" Nezha was already manifesting their Divine spear while taking a stance in front of the frozen Vy and Marine, brows tightly knit together on their forehead from visible rage. "We can. End this. Without hesitation."

And it's because of what had transpired before that Arturia already knew her answer. It was second nature now, after years of fighting under Chaldea's banner. Of fighting for Vy's denied future. "Right now," she whispered under her breath, Excalibur manifesting into her hands not even a second later. "I certainly can agree with you on that, Crown Prince."

Because we all have had enough of the Bleached World. Of a world that continues to deny our Master her happiness.

Yet in spite of it all, she probably should have expected their Princess to protest. No matter what darkness the new world seemed to throw at her, Vy was still that sort of soft, gentle person.

The kind of person who would offer the Berserker version of her greatest knight a hug and a moment of quiet for the Madness Enhancement to take a break. Even resting a soft cheek against darkened armor to let her old friend rest for a while.

"N-Nezha, Art-san, wait a second, wait a second, she could retaliate if you do that!" Their shared Master squeaked in half-panic, half-shock, hugging Marine tighter to her chest (much to the Rider's own muffled yelps of protest), shaking her head. "We can't lose anyone else, so we have to be—!"

Careful, safe, out of danger all seemed to be on the tip of her tongue before U-Olga groaned again, and Vy immediately closed her mouth with a quieter Meep.

"Who is yelling…? I did not allow such noise to be present in my home…" For the Foreign God that had started this whole mess, U-Olga's eyes were strikingly bright with their orange irises and diamond-shaped pupils. Blinking fatigued tears out of her vision didn't take away from the sight either, nor the white-gloved hand that wiped at an equally noticeable bloody forehead. "Who are—"

Arturia made sure to take a stance in front of her Master, her Princess, as Vy tensed up. The others were already taking their own fighting positions, weapons ready in case of any sign of trouble.

The last thing she — no, perhaps all of them — expected was for U-Olga to sit up and point an angry finger. At all of them, like they had just woken her up from a bad nap. "Wh-Who are you all?! Where did you come from?! Who gave you permission to invade my—" U-Olga paused. One beat, two. Then she lowered her finger, folding it into her palm to form a fist under her chin, horns visibly twitching against her long white hair. "…Wait, this isn't my home. I'm U-Olga Marie, I came from another world to peacefully rule this one—" what, "—and only one of you appears to be human based on the waves, so…"

Arturia was getting a bad feeling. She could already see Rider in Achilles move carefully to conceal Vy's image from U-Olga's line of view, and she knew Holmes and the others were thinking of the same. It was why Arturia pulled on the hems of her own mantle, using the regal blue cloth of Camelot to be as showy as possible — just to keep Vy back.

Just to keep their shared Princess safe.

Yet despite her best efforts with her comrades, U-Olga just bounced her fist against the palm of her other free hand, nodding to herself. "Alright then! To the Earthling who is currently being hidden by all the other supernaturals!"

"Super—" EMIYA sounded almost offended, and Arturia ignored the urge to fondly roll her eyes. This wasn't the time to think about teasing her former Master of Shirou Emiya as a Counter Guardian.

Right now—

"Y-Yes?" Vy squeaked, peeking out over Arturia's shoulder in response to U-Olga's shouting.

The Foreign God — or, perhaps the former Foreign God — merely pointed another finger in Vy's direction, floating upwards to stand on her far-too-tall heels for extra emphasis. "To you, mere Earthling! I am U-Olga Marie, soon-to-be-President of this Earth, and as the first human I have officially met as a friend, I am now bestowing you the honor of being my representative!"

…She said 'friend.' Not 'enemy.'

Friend.

But also… representative?

Out of all the things their enemy could have said, judging by Vy's own muted Eh of a reply, this direction was certainly something that could go into a sucker's bet of a drinking game. Something the King of Conquerors would have laughed off and taken in stride as a joke.

Perhaps, if in the off chance this would all end peacefully, Arturia would have to take Archer — Robin, her Princess' beloved, up on the idea of jokes with a barrel of Gilgamesh's finest wine. It was an option, when considering the new baffling future the Foreign God was presenting them.

"What do. You think. Holmes."

Holmes was not surprised to find Nezha address him when they are out of earshot of the amnesiac Foreign God and Vy. Out of all the Chaldean Servants present so far, he knew the Crown Prince would want to interrogate him first for answers. His being a former Disciple added more evidence to the case that was being presented. They were always blunt like that, never one for quietly beating around the bush like others in their stead may have done.

It would certainly explain why they were one of many chosen to be Grailed by their shared Master, Level 90 or not.

"It is… certainly suspicious. The Foreign God losing her memories was something I never predicted for this Lostbelt's journey. Defeat, yes. Amnesia? No." Holmes withheld the urge to sigh, concealing it with a tiny cough into his fist so that Vy wouldn't notice. Even if it looked like a moot effort, considering how she was still looking after Marine No. 4, who was currently gushing over U-Olga's latest combat victory. Black holes against jaguar-masked wearing men and dinosaurs — or Deinos, they seemed to call themselves? — seemed like overkill, but judging by U-Olga's visible preening at Marine's attention (apparently she wanted to flip her hair back and look stylish in the outfit Alter Ego Muramasa gave her once upon a long, long time ago), she was getting the "ally" occupation done. But—

"Don't tell me. Your former Disciple. Status." Nezha's eyes narrowed at him, and Holmes knew he would be a half-baked detective to not notice the other Grailed's gazes drifting to him too, far past their vigilant circle protecting Vy. "You. Don't. Really. Know or. Remember?"

"…Not entirely. Because while our dear Master was able to bring me back," and that alone was enough of a miracle, what with Ruler Moriarty's plan to bring his original identity out into the open just to coddle his way into Chaldea's ranks, "not every part of my original role pre-Chaldea came back with me. It's both a blessing and curse, to not remember why I had accepted the concept of working with the Foreign God. But…" Holmes turned back to the head of their group, sighing softly to himself.

Because even with the Foreign God trying to show off, there was no mistaking the soft trail of mana connecting him to Miss Vy, his dear, trying to placate U-Olga with the best smile she could muster under the stress their current circumstances presented.

His answer too, in all honesty, felt like the best he could offer. "I can take confidence in knowing I am our Master's Grailed Ruler. Nothing more, nothing less."

Nezha hummed, but still kept a hand on their spear. It was why Holmes wasn't surprised to eventually hear them whisper, "…In that case. Ruler."

"…Yes, Lancer?"

"If U-Olga. Threatens to change back. Like. You did at. The falls." Yellow eyes stared at him. "Will you. Help me?"

Take down the Foreign God, even if it means forfeiting our lives?

Holmes smiled. "Of course. So long as we get our leader's permission. He is the most protective of our little sparrow in the end."

Nezha made a put-off hmph noise under their breath, but subsided nonetheless, walking a bit faster just to meet their fellow Grailed up ahead in a different, lighter conversation.

For that alone, Holmes was grateful.

"What are you even doing here, Vy? You're just wasting your time on these reptiles. Or has resolving 6 Lostbelts already given you a bigger head?"

Marie already knew Vy was tensing up. Dr. Roman was someone she knew just as much as her little cream puff after everything in the Incineration of Humanity, so for this… this Chaldean to come in and wear his face, saying things Marie knew the original good doctor would never say —

It was insulting. Dishonoring the good doctor's memory.

Yet the Chaldean — possibly Goetia, if the yellow eyes were any indication — was still stubbornly standing in the middle of their path, frown set deep on his face as he looked at them. Looked at Vy, like she was less than nothing.

Goodness, Vy's own stilted reply was understandable, all things considering. The tight grip she had on Arturia's mantle too. "…I don't want to hear that from someone who's still wearing a face I'm still missing." Her knuckles were turning white against the royal blue cloth, something that made Marie's heart clench in her chest. "That's besides the point. Why are you even here?"

"I had my own reasons." The Romani-lookalike, not-truly-confirmed-to-be-Goetia, merely looked their group over, yellow eyes flashing with something indecipherable. Marie couldn't miss how Holmes, Achilles and EMIYA in particular were discreetly taking fighting stances, meeting the Chaldean's gaze with their own angry glares. "But for you to take back a traitor after I warned you… there must be a limit to your naivety, Vy."

It takes Marie too long for her to realize Vy is grabbing her hand for a tight squeeze, and looking up reveals her dear Master shaking her head. "You call it 'naivety,' I call it 'trust and belief.' Because Sherlock still came back, and I know he'd never be like you."

Ruler was tossing Vy a look caught between surprise and genuine joy, before focusing on the Chaldean again.

Marie smiled too, and found herself squeezing Vy's hand back.

"Hm," the Chaldean hums, turning his back on them. His tattered brown cloak drapes his shoulders, hiding everything else away. "I suppose my taking the name of 'Romani' would be an insult to those 'feelings' of yours. But do be aware of this, Vy." A single turn of his head makes it clear that the confrontation was only one of many that they would have. His gaze drifting to the silent U-Olga Marie before going back to Vy merely solidified that notion. It made his words sound all the more final once he said, "Once humanity has felled all seven Lostbelts, only then will I see you as my enemy."

The nameless Chaldean starts walking away then, and Vy inhales. Arturia shoots her a look at the same time Marie does the same. Judging by Nezha's slackened shoulders, they weren't the only Servant feeling it. Worry was already starting to leak through their shared bond once Vy raises her head.

"…Wait."

The Chaldean stops in place, about a meter away from their group. "…What is it, Vy? You have your mission, your Servants, and your Command Seals. What else do you want?"

"I just want to know if you're going to say the same shit to Mash, because you're still wearing her dad's face, asshole." Vy whispered lowly, and Marine glances up at her then with widened eyes. "So if you're already going to draw sides when we're here, at least tell me where she is. The less I see of your ass, the better."

The Chaldean turns his head again, looking at their shared Master from over his shoulder, and it strikes Marie then that it's the first time she's seen this mysterious man look… human. Perplexed even, thanks to the mention of Mash's name. "…Hitting me where it hurts, aren't you?" He still turns back to look forward at the winding forest, sighing quietly. "Your Demi-Servant kouhai is safe. In a cave in the shape of a horn located a few miles away, with the others you 'trust.' So get going." Widening the distance between them, the Chaldean lets out one last, world-weary sounding sigh. "Besides. You still have your Big Robin you need to nest with, don't you?"

Marie can already feel Vy freeze by the time the not-Romani disappears.

(Not that she can blame her cream puff for doing so. Hearing her beloved's nickname come out in such a vile tone would sicken just about anyone, herself included.)

Even then, what the Chaldean leaves in his wake ends up being the sounds of rustling leaves and faraway cricket chirps.

(How were there crickets in a Lostbelt populated by dinosaurs? Marie was almost tempted to ask.)

"…Big Robin?" U-Olga obliviously said in the resulting silence, blinking owlishly. If Marie didn't know any better, she could've been human and not a former enemy with how her voice cracked over the words. "Who—?"

"Vy's hubby!" Marine pipes up to answer the "Madam President's" question, beaming a bit too brightly to compensate for the grim atmosphere. "He was with us until the Storm Border fell, so—!"

Vy shook her head, huffing loud enough to stop Marine from rambling anymore, but Marie knows better. The tight grip on her hand speaks volumes of the unsaid emotion, of the bubbling feelings starting to leak into their bond.

I miss him, I want to hug him, I—

"…As Marine said, Big Robin is my husband, U-Olga," Vy said with no preamble, stepping forward and past her. Despite how frozen the god-like woman turns, Vy lets go of Marie's hand, just to keep moving forward. "And it's about time to go find him."

I want to see him. I want to be with him again.

Despite Achilles matching her walking pace to discreetly wrap an arm around her waist for a supportive squeeze, Marie tries to shake off the growing feeling of unease to follow Vy's lead.

"Woooooow! It's so cool in here!"

"M-Marine, wait, don't just run in—!"

Vy was running after the tiny Rider, but it didn't seem necessary when it came to their newest destination. For what was supposed to be another cave, especially one in the shape of a horn, its interior was certainly… "home-y" enough, as modern times would put it. To EMIYA's trained eye at least.

From the single bookshelf, dusted free of any dirt, to even the colorful blanket spread lining the table and floors — this cave was "lived-in." And compared to their original landing and the surrounding (sweltering) forest, this cave was a level better.

It was why EMIYA immediately stepped to the side to make some space as soon as he felt it.

A growing trickle of mana was emerging from the entrance they had found, filled with surprise, determination, and relief all pointed at his Master. At their shared Master.

And this is why he's the leader, not me.

Vy doesn't even get a chance to catch up to Marine before she's being tackled, lifted up into the air, and spun around. Two hands — one gloved, one bare, were holding her up by the waist as she began to squeal, but EMIYA knew from looking at them that they weren't harmful.

The one gloved hand was green after all.

U-Olga being here to watch the inevitable reunion play out as much as the rest of them just didn't matter. Not really. For this moment, at least.

For what it was worth, Marine's silent grinning more than conveyed the shared glee.

"My pretty bird… my little sparrow." A green hood was falling back to expose ginger hair and a relieved, loving smile from Robin Hood as he twirled Vy around for two-three circles, putting her down once she made a tiny noise only to hug her close to him. Tightly at that. "You made it. You really made it." He murmurs more into her hair while cradling her into his chest, being careful of the lotus ribbon clip still nestled in her ponytail. There's more whispers than words in terms of what EMIYA can make out — more sweet nothings that were definitely meant for their Master's ears than anything — before Robin gets around to eventually saying, "…You're okay?"

"I—" Vy's arms shakily wind around his waist to hug back, her knees beginning to tremble past her skirt to match her cracking voice. "I-I'm trying. I'm not okay now, but I-I can keep trying. I…" she chokes then, burying her face into the shoulder of the No Face May King, and EMIYA knew he didn't need the two Holy Grails in his Spirit Origin to be aware of Vy doing her best to hold back tears. "I just missed you. I-I love you, Robin."

If EMIYA didn't know any better, he could've sworn U-Olga was frowning from her own place in the peanut gallery as Robin briefly stilled in Vy's arms. "…I love you too, Vy. I missed you too and I love you." He presses a fierce kiss to the top of her head before hugging her tighter, lifting her up some so she wouldn't have to stand on her tiptoes to meet his height.

Looking at them could've fooled EMIYA into thinking all was right again.

It was why EMIYA makes doubly sure to create a bigger berth of space for the rest of their Grailed group to come into the cave. Colorful clothes, faces and all. Seeing Mash at the head of their lead was enough of a relief as is.

"MASTER!"

"SENPAI!"

…Giant green T-Rex (or velociraptor with thin legs and feathers on the arms?) dinosaur lingering over Mash and the smaller Habetrot notwithstanding anyway. He wasn't enough of a paleontologist to tell the difference.

Yet strangely enough, EMIYA was liking the idea of the incoming group hug a lot better. Finding Arturia as the Servant to tug him into the growing thrall was enough of a surprise (delight) as is.

Amongst the two-meter-tall corn stalks, Sanson wasn't surprised to see Arcueid conjure vines from the ground for their makeshift camp to rest. For being a True Ancestor and "TYPE: Earth" — (he still needed to take the time to comprehend that) — Arcueid was certainly blithe when it came to her intentions of sleeping in comfort.

(The physician in him, untrained as it was, wanted to frown a little. Because wouldn't a vine bed be itchy? Potentially cause rashes from allergic reactions or poison too? Yes, Vy loved the forests almost as much as Robin, but it was still a Lostbelt, something could go wrong—)

"Okay, how to make this work…" Arcueid was muttering to herself as the vines started weaving around each other, oblivious to Sanson's thoughts while forming tighter stalks of plant life with each flick of her gloved hand. The sharp fingernails that poke through the fabric of her gloves almost look like paintbrushes with how sparkles of mana trail off them. "Maybe a hammock like back home? Or should I try to make a tent…?"

"I… I never thought I would see the day plants could become part of a home," Tepeu — their new guide? — said softly, teeth crunching against his wide jaw as he stared at the Moon Cancer Servant past his tiny glasses. For a towering dinosaur, he was certainly gentle when asking, "You can just control them?"

"They're a part of the Earth, Lostbelt or not!" Arcueid hums, smiling without a care in the world as she starts directing the stalks into a tent shape, waving a pointer finger in the air along the way. "So as a True Ancestor, of course I can call out to them! And I can at least ask them to help make Vy a better bed for the night!"

For an ancient dinosaur, Sanson could've sworn for a moment, just one, that Tepeu was staring at Arcueid with love in those beady yellow eyes, maw turned up in a dinosaur-version of a smile. It honestly reminded Sanson of his own expression when seeing Margaretha, or even Robin's gaze when it was taken up by Vy. "…How spontaneous of you," the Deino eventually says, stepping back and bowing his head slightly to Arcueid as she continued to work at her craft. "But that's not a bad thing."

"How is it a bad thing when I'm—?"

Arcueid cuts herself off, vines halfway towards making a tent flap, when a wave of mana passes through the group. Angry, frustrated mana.

Sanson clamps down on the sudden urge to shiver, because he knew it wasn't from Vy. From a glance, he could tell Arcueid had the same feeling as well.

This time, this wave of mana was—

"I just don't understand you Earthlings!" Even with amnesia, the Foreign God's shout rang through the whole cornfield, making the tall stalks shiver too. The considerable berth of distance between Sanson, Arcueid, and Tepeu's corner of the makeshift campground and the central campfire where U-Olga and Vy were doesn't help the volume of U-Olga's latest declaration, because Sanson's ears start to ring. "I've helped you get through the forest, reunite with the other supernaturals of your group, even hug your beloved 'hubby' again, but the waves coming off of you are still scared, Vy!"

From instinctual shock, Sanson turned to Arcueid. The Moon Cancer shrugged helplessly back at him. Glancing in the direction of the other Grailed didn't help much either, because judging by the Big Three starting to stand up from their seats by the fire, something was happening.

Since the fall of the Storm Border, Vy was facing U-Olga all by herself. Minutely shaking and all.

The amnesiac Foreign God wouldn't miss that, even through her self-indignant rage.

"…Why are you so hesitant with me? I just want to help you just as much as the rest of humankind. That's why I came here. I even designated you as my representative on Earth, Vy." U-Olga's voice comes out softer, as if voicing an apology she wasn't allowing herself. "So then why are your waves blue? Why do they not share the same admiration and respect as Marine?"

Marine blinks from his corner of a Chaldean-pitched cloth tent with Mash and Habetrot, all color draining from his face. "Uh, U—!"

Sanson felt his legs move forward without his meaning to once Vy ducks her head and hesitantly presses her hands behind her back. Right underneath the winged jetpack both Da Vincis gave her before this mess too.

(Like she's scared. Like she wants to fly away, to be anywhere else but here. But she's still standing in front of everyone, and her mouth moves.)

"Because… because you remind me of someone who's hurt me, U-Olga. Someone who's verbally and emotionally abused me."

Mash gasped. The shock was going through Sanson too, and he knew the other Grailed were feeling the same way.

And it was at that moment the Foreign God froze in place, right where she was floating up and above Vy, with a confused noise. Her subsequent "…What?", came out far too tiny and measured for a response, the heels of her shoes starting to scrape the soil beneath her. Something seemed to have registered in her mind, making her look almost human — like Director Olga-Marie once did — as she echoed, "Abused…?" Then she blinked. Once, twice, thrice, diamond pupils slowly widening as her jaw fell open. "You…?!"

Vy makes a soft Muu noise under her breath in response to U-Olga's exclamation, shaking her head and shrinking into herself with each passing second. For composure, hiding, some kind of structure — anything could be possible. She was facing their greatest enemy thus far.

"Vy…" Arcueid whispers softly. Sanson doesn't miss how Tepeu gently nudges the top of Arcueid's head with the tip of his snout.

"…Speaking as a 'Earthly representative' who never once asked for the role, human memory is a strong thing, U-Olga. And traumatic memories are especially hard to forget. Generational trauma is very much real, from my own lineage." With a quiet sigh, Vy brings her hands up to hug herself, stepping to the side so as to not meet U-Olga's gaze. "And I… I know you're not my abuser. More so after having seen you up close, trying to talk with the other Deinos and Marine in negotiations past your second nature of 'black hole first.' But… but…" She swallows thickly around the words, and it strikes Sanson that this is the second time today that Vy has allowed herself to feel like crying.

Only this time, she was outside of her beloved Big Robin's embrace. This time, she was alone, trying to hold it all in instead. To not show weakness in front of a "God" who was already stumped enough to possibly promise retaliation.

And without even seeing the full expanse of the area, Sanson knows Vy's Big Three — the original three Grailed, the only Servants so far, even amongst their group, to be brought to Level 120 in Arturia, Achilles, and Robin — were frowning. Carefully walking closer — coming closer to their shared Master too, just to offer support. Just to be there, in front of an enemy now turned enigma. An enemy that, from distant observation, was a silent enigma now. Because despite pausing, U-Olga's orange irises were still focused on Vy, diamond pupils flashing with something he couldn't read. As if to pierce through the quiet circle the Big Three were trying to make around the subject of the conversation, through the silence the other Servants and Tepeu were giving.

Yet Vy still shivered all by her lonesome, inhaling and exhaling deeply. Her ponytail falls forward to drape the side of her neck, concealing sweat budding there past her Mystic Code collar. "…I'm sorry, Madam President." It's the first time Vy's ever used that self-proclaimed title for the former Foreign God, and the muted tone of voice is enough to make U-Olga uncharacteristically flinch. "As much as I appreciate you trying to help, some of your behaviors still remind me of the person who abused me. I don't mean any offense to you, but it's how I feel, even with some of the fear gone thanks to this past day. And… and after weeks of interrupted sleep thanks to hours filled with insults and pushing, it's hard to just forget it all overnight. Forget that I was hurt by someone like you. It's even harder after being pushed into a representative role I didn't ask to fill."

"Vy, I…" U-Olga was swallowing too. Past all the gaudy orange and black of her dress, her face looked deathly pale. "I didn't…"

Vy shook her head again, fiercer this time, just as Robin came close enough to rest a hand against the small of her back. "…If you didn't mean to, U-Olga, then all I ask — as a representative, not as a friend — is to please be careful of your words. Especially if you want to rule the world, because not everyone can soldier through fear. Not everyone will give you the respect you think you deserve." The next exhale she lets out sounds watery, on the verge of breaking. Vy even starts walking away from Robin, from the rest of the Big Three. "Because I've already called myself so many names in my mind after my abuser made it hard to forget any of them."

All Sanson can make out, right before Vy starts a small trek into the too-tall stalks of corn at the side of their campfire, is how small her back looks in the Decisive Battle uniform. How the winged jetpack that originally saved her life from U-Olga's previous actions merely covers up how her shoulders shake.

"Th-The last thing any human here wants, I think… is to be told by a foreigner that they're worthless. A savage. N-Nothing in the face of absolute, alien power. That the names in my nightmares are the truth too, all in the face of being 'helped' into becoming something better."

Vy leaves then, the corn plants concealing her form along the way. She apparently mutters something under her breath as she exits — something about an excuse of 'needing a walk', and Sanson's not surprised at how Robin, Achilles, and Arturia immediately follow. Mash looking like she wanted to bolt after them was understandable too, even if a combination of Habetrot, Meltryllis, and Hephaestion stop her at that moment.

The last thing Sanson expects is for U-Olga to slowly float back upwards and then fly towards him. Arcueid was tensing up, but Tepeu was still resting his snout on her head.

Not a lot of options for running, but—

Despite her regal countenance, despite the potential danger, Sanson blinks. The downtrodden look on his new visitor's face once she closes the distance between them betrays the new emotion that has awkwardly dawned on her, because U-Olga's next sentence comes out tentative. "Tongue-tied" even — if he could call such an expression that way. "…Physician."

"Yes, U-Olga Marie?" Sanson folds his hands into the pockets of his coat, just to hide how his fingers instinctively clenched into fists at his sides. Because she was calling him "physician" (a title that was almost undeserved in the face of Dr. Roman, his old friend), not "executioner." (Even if there was another part of him that wished he could summon his Noble Phantasm of a guillotine to end all this now. There was something U-Olga wanted. Why else would she approach him? And—) "What can I do for you?"

"My rep — no." U-Olga shakes her head, squinting her eyes shut. "Vy. Her… her waves just now were the most hurt I've ever felt from anyone. More so than even the mindless Deinos we had to take down. And… and I must know. How much…"

"How much what?" Sanson filled in gently. Instinctually.

"How much did…" U-Olga opens her eyes, and the over-brightness of those orange irises speaks more to her emotional state than her last words. "How much has Vy been hurt to say all that?"

In front of one of the active sources of said hurt, both now and in the past, Sanson slowly shook his head. It wasn't his place to elaborate. "…She has been through more than you could ever know, Madam."

Robin's not surprised to find Vy in a clearing amongst the corn once the leaves stop hitting his face. Achilles is lightly cursing behind him, probably from one-two longer branches hitting his nose or forehead, but there's no mistaking how solemn Vy looks once their little scouting party finds her.

She's sitting on her bare knees, right against bare soil and grass, looking up to the blank night sky with silent tears in her eyes. From how limp her hands look against her sides, she's not praying. But with how her lips were trembling, Robin knew she wasn't in a place to really talk either.

All he does is move out of the corn fields with Arturia and Achilles in tow, slowly approaching their shared Master. They didn't even have to share a look to know when to take their little sad Princess into a hug.

Even with all the hands surrounding her, Vy doesn't move at first. Only sniffles. "…Is it…" she swallows, thicker than she did when she was talking with U-Olga. "Is it bad that I can't find anything else but… but disappointment in me?"

"For what?" Robin prods gently, just as Arturia reaches over to gently unclip the lotus ribbon from Vy's hair to let the ponytail fall. Achilles carefully works at the harnesses of the Decisive Battle uniform after pushing some of the loose strands back and around Vy's neck, easing the jetpack from both Da Vincis off along the way. "For U-Olga? Because if you're upset by the whole amnesia bit, little sparrow, it's not a bad thing. She still hurt you."

"She even hurt all of us by targeting you, Princess," Arturia added softly, nodding her head. "And there's nothing wrong with feeling disappointment and frustration over her complete lack of acknowledging that."

"Besides, it's almost too coincidental she loses her memory of being our enemy as soon as we meet up with her again." Achilles huffs in an overexaggerated manner, bumping the top of Vy's head with his chin and effectively drawing a watery giggle from the young woman. "Almost like a 'get out of jail free' card with a bonus of 'I want friendship'!" With a pointed scoff, Achilles clears his throat. "...Not that she's going to win any houses with that. I bet she'd be horrible at Monopoly."

Hah.

"What he said," Robin fills in, and once Vy is glancing up at him, he leans in to press a kiss to her forehead. "But you can't let all the negative thoughts fester, little sparrow. You'll keep hurting yourself otherwise, and none of us here want to see that. Because you're not a bitch like that simulation of Olga said you were. You're not just someone here to cobble the ranks either, okay?"

Water started to fill Vy's brown eyes past her blurred glasses as she continued to shakily meet his gaze. Stars weren't filling those brown irises yet, but the glimmers were there.

And there was nothing Robin wanted more than to protect them. All of them.

"You're our Master, Vy, Our little sparrow," he whispers finally, smiling as best as he could. "Broken or not. Flawed or not. Nothing's gonna change that. And whatever you decide, we're gonna be there with you every step of the way."

Besides. The faraway shitty priest in his periphery could be dealt with later. (Robin could probably send Meltryllis or even Space Ishtar on his ass. It'd be a damn good wake up call for the next morning.)

What truly mattered was the young woman in his arms, tearing up yet again at the use of his nickname for her. It was still fitting after all this time. Small yet sturdy. Tiny but resilient. A single droplet was all that slipped down her cheek before Robin caught it, and then bright blue stars were filling her brown eyes. It was the last thing he got before Vy buried herself into his chest. A low, watery noise was promptly muffled in the No Face May King, but Robin met the gazes of his fellow allies with another weaker, relieved smile before ducking his head to press one more kiss to that brown head of hair.

"Let it out for now, Vy. Don't hold it in. We're here. We all got you."

It was the truth, no matter what anyone else would say about it.