The Reading of The Lost Hero of Chaldea

by ahdokobo

The Olympians and demigods are all gathered when a certain book containing a special story falls into their hands. With a warning attached, everyone decides the best course of action is to learn more about this book, as well as the hero the story centers around.

3. Chapter 3

Chapter 3

There was a slight rumbling coming from the vortex. Considering what happened the last time a vortex appeared, well, everyone was a bit on guard. The Elder Thalia's eyes narrowed on the portal, her ears picking up a few sounds that had managed to come through. She looked around and could see everyone could tell that it would be another person from her world.

Sighing, she stood up from her spot and began to make her way towards where she landed before. As she did so, fire began to spew out of the vortex, followed by a ball of flames that quickly crashed into the middle of the room. "Ow! What the heck! This better be important! Those were dad's special cookies and now Ophelia and the rest of the Aphrodite Cabin are going eat all of them before I had a chance to have some!" A girl's voice called out, obviously upset at being pulled away from where she was.

Thalia let out a sigh, just as the ball of flame was quickly sucked inward and completely erased, revealing a beautiful girl who appeared to be in her late teens. She had black hair with red streaks that was held up in a ponytail. She possessed fiery red eyes that seemed to be glowing intensely. She was wearing jeans, sneakers, a black camp half-blood shirt, a red hoodie with cat ears, and a blue denim jacket.

She had a red scarf of some kind wrapped around her shoulders, though judging from the power coming off of it, most could tell that it wasn't just a simple scarf. "Miyu, calm down. I was dragged here too." Thalia said, making her way in front of her. She turned, noticed her, and then frowned.

"Great, then that really does mean that I won't get any." Miyu said with a sigh. She brought a hand up to her face, before she let out a small whine. She then stopped and took a deep breath. "Fine, what's going on? What's the mission this time? Do I have to go retrieve Zeus's favorite drinking cup? Oh, wait, no, one of their favorite unicorns is in a bad mood and needs someone to sing to it?"

"Does no one in your world respect the gods? So far, you all seem to enjoy saying things that'd get you punished." Poseidon said with narrowed eyes. Miyu raised a brow and looked up at him, before shrugging and turning away.

"What have you all done to be respected? I mean, all you guys do is look down on anyone that isn't a god, yet, when you actually need something done, you get your children to do it for you. As for my world, well, who knows?" She said, before looking back towards Poseidon with a smirk. "Maybe someone got tired of all the drama and decided to put your house in order?"

"Miyu, you don't need to antagonize them. Besides, I doubt it'll help anything. As for why we're here, well, you know we're not in our own world?" Thalia said, with Miyu nodding at her words. "They're reading a story about father and his arrival in our world." Miyu's eyes widened at those words, before letting a small laugh.

"So, that's what I was seeing when I was getting transported here. That sounds like a lot of fun. I'm in." She replied, before looking around, committing everyone to memory. Her eyes stopped at Percy and Annabeth, her eyes narrowing for a moment, before continuing on to Lacy and the demigods, before going on to the hunters. 'Minor differences. Some only noticeable to a mage, but noticeable no matter what.'

Annabeth bothered her the most out of all the differences. Lacy still seemed liked her sweet little sister. One who was still learning what it meant to be a demigod. Annabeth though, her center of gravity, her build, and even her eyes were all wrong. She had no doubt this Annabeth was impressive in her own right, however, she was pretty sure her sister would reign supreme if the two fought. Her sister just had a bigger bag of tricks and skills to use that this Annabeth likely neglected. 'Unless...'

"Is dad not in this world? I assumed I'd see another me around here." At her words, she noticed Thalia's expression change, telling her that her thoughts were correct. 'So, not neglected, just doesn't have access to it. That is very interesting.' She then smiled, "Well, I suppose it makes sense why everyone would be gathered to hear that story then."

"Oh, so your dad is Shirou Emiya, too? Going by your words, you weren't adopted. So, who's your mother?" Aphrodite quickly asked, causing Miyu to turn and face her. As she did so, Aphrodite's form actually changed, taking on a rather beautiful appearance that actually stunned everyone. Though, most noticed that certain aspects of her appearance matched those of the heroic spirits they had seen earlier. "Oh, wow, this is quite the body."

"It's what you looked like to me." Miyu stated, her voice and eyes softer than they had been previously. However, they quickly regained the fire and liveliness they previously held. "If you're learning about my dad's story, maybe it'd be best not to say who my mother is at present." She said with a smile on her face. However, it didn't matter what she said or thought, as she underestimated a few things about herself.

"Don't be preposterous, little niece." She heard Hades call out. "You're shroud may be able to hide your divinity, but your appearance is another thing entirely." Hades spoke out, causing her to flinch at his words. She turned and looked up at him, easily recognizing his appearance, as it didn't change at all. "You really do take after your mother, don't you?"

Miyu let out a weak chuckle, before rubbing the back of her head. "Shoulda guessed that I wouldn't fool you, Uncle Hades." At her reply, she heard a lot of muttering and murmurs, but all of it was quickly drowned out when she felt a warm hand on her shoulder. Miyu closed her eyes for a moment, before turning and seeing the other world's version of her mother.

Considering it was another world, she had hoped that there would be some sort of difference. Yet, there wasn't, except for the way she was dressed, but even then, the woman in front of her was undoubtedly her mother. Hestia looked down at her, her eyes slightly glistening, as she brought a hand up and brushed some of her hair out of her face. Miyu looked into her eyes, before a small smile appeared on her face. "Hi, mom."

Hestia stilled for a moment, before she smiled back at her. She quickly pulled the girl in and wrapped her arms tightly around her. "I hope your mother doesn't mind if I treat you like my own while you're here." Her voice was warm and pure, just like Miyu knew it would be. Miyu couldn't help but return the hug, smiling as she did so. Her mom was the same no matter where she was apparently.

"Well, I won't tell if you don't." Miyu replied with a small giggle. The rest of the room decided not to interfere in the pair's meeting, deciding to quiet down and allow them to have some time to themselves for now. Though, they were surprised by the girl's instant change when Hades spoke up, as well as when Hestia appeared. They expected something similar to when the elder Thalia appeared.

They weren't sure what they were expecting really, but what happened was sort of surprising. Though, they figured that it shouldn't have been. Considering it was Hestia's child, it made sense that she'd consider Hestia her mother, no matter what world she was in. Then again, considering her earlier actions, they had a feeling there was a hidden side to the young girl.

---

After Miyu and Hestia spoke for a bit, they decided it was best to continue on with why she was originally brought back. Before they could, Thalia and Miyu had a quiet conversation in Japanese, but thanks to some sort of magic, as well as the different language, no one knew what they had said to each other. As the pair finished, they rejoined Hestia, who waited patiently for their return.

Hestia and the Elder Thalia then explained what had happened until her arrival, causing her to nod in understanding. "So, the second magic, great." She said in a less than enthused tone. "Well, I suppose it'll still be kind of fun. Mom and Dad's story is one of my favorites." She said, just as she disappeared in a burst of flames, only to reappear next to where Hestia had taken her seat, catching everyone by surprise at her speed.

Most might have thought it was teleportation, but the trail of flames she left behind indicated that it was simply speed. Percy and the other demigods were interested in speaking with their fellow half-blood, but knew that they'd have time later, especially if the story was as long as they thought it was. Hestia looked at Miyu with a smile, before looking back at Demeter, who still had the book.

"I guess I'll start the story now." Demeter said, just as the screen popped on, causing Miyu to let out a small noise of awe, or rather, interest. Aphrodite looked over at the girl, smiling to herself, glad to see that Hestia was happy. She quickly refocused back on the story, interested in seeing how the rest of it would play out.

For once, Shirou's dreams were filled with peace. He did not dream of memories, flames, or any strange lights. He dreamt of home, of family, of a world without the need for Shirou Emiya. A world of peace, won after many hard fought battles. Perhaps, it was childish, but he still yearned for such a world.

If not for him, then for his family. 'Family? Where did that thought come from?' He mentally shook his head. It didn't matter. This dream was enough for now. But, dreams always come to an end when the dreamer wakes.

'Flames? Strange lights? A world without dad?' Miyu didn't understand why her dad was thinking such things. The flames and strange lights, they could have been nightmares, but the other thing? It reminded her of something Mother Athena told her some time ago. It was enough to sadden her quite a bit.

Shirou's eyes opened to the sun's rays. It appeared to be near noon, which surprised him. He was about to move when he felt a familiar weight next to him. He peered down and a smile appeared on his face. 'So, that wasn't a dream.'

He was surprised that Hestia was actually still asleep. She tended to wake up earlier than him most days. Then again, he figured it was because she was a goddess and they probably didn't need to sleep, at least, not unless they wanted to.

As much as he would have preferred to stay where he was, a certain scent caught his attention. He carefully moved his body away, being extra careful to not disturb the sleeping goddess. 'I wonder what sort of dream she's having?' He thought to himself, noticing a happy smile on her face.

After making it to his feet, he carefully moved some of Hestia's hair from her face, seeing her nuzzle into the bed a bit more after he did so. He smiled at the sight, before he let out a small sigh. He quickly made his way towards the door, being careful not to make any noise.

"Wow, I didn't expect to see Hestia be so comfortable around him." Hermes said, looking at the screen showing an image of the event.

"I think it's very cute! To see Hestia act in such a way is so sweet!" Aphrodite said with a smile, causing Hestia's face to blush in embarrassment. It almost looked as if she wished she could fold in on herself. Not even she thought she'd let her guard down enough to sleep so peacefully in front of a human.

Miyu looked at the screen, taking note of how different her dad looked when he was young. He looked like he was only a few years older than she was currently. He always aged slower than most humans for some reason, but the one on the screen was obviously younger. Even her mom looked rather young, which was rather amusing.

She had only ever seen pictures of their time when they were young, so it was kind of jarring to see play out on a screen. Though, seeing how her dad was treating her mom was very familiar, causing her to smile at the actions. Though, she was a bit annoyed at seeing some of the male gods reacting negatively to it. 'They should just be glad that my mom is happy.'

Once he managed this, he took a deep breath and proceeded to walk over towards the area of the yard where his archery equipment was. As he did so, he passed a content looking Rhea, sitting on a bench near the fence. "Lady Rhea, I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

'Mother.' The elder gods all thought with exasperated sighs, something almost everyone picked up on. Miyu blinked a few times, surprised to see Rhea.

Though, the hunters were all more interested in the fact that Shirou just had archery equipment set up outside of their house like that. It was kind of surprising, considering he was still practicing despite his archery looking to be nearly perfect. Though, they wondered if it helped explain why he was able to hit a target from so far away?

Rhea simply raised a brow at him, before she took a drink out of the tea cup in her hands. "Not at all, dear. Besides, I was just enjoying the sounds and sights of nature." She said with a happy voice. 'She really does remind me of Hestia.' Shirou thought to himself, taking aim at a target he set up.

"Yeah, I can see that. I must admit, I wasn't expecting to see you so soon. From what Hestia told me, you weren't supposed to visit again for another few days." Each step of Kyudo was followed perfectly, just before he let go of the string. Rhea watched the arrow fly through the air, before hitting the target.

She let out a small hum. "That is true, however, this visit isn't exactly a normal visit. I actually wished to speak with you, alone." She said to him, though he noticed a slight hint of amusement and anticipation in her voice.

"Well, we're alone now. I don't think we'll get a better time than this." He said, before taking out another arrow and going through his motions. "It isn't something bad is it?" Looking over towards her, before letting go of his shot. Rhea, once again, watched the arrow sail through the air and hit the target.

"I wouldn't say it's bad, exactly. No, I personally find it to be wonderful. However, our talk is more about information, and me helping you process said information if need be." She replied, taking another drink from her tea.

"Wait, why is mother doing this? If they are about to talk about what I think they're about to, then why is she doing it?" Poseidon asked, obviously puzzled over why his mother would go out of her way for something like this. Then again, considering it was Hestia, he supposed it made some sense.

"Maybe because she is the one who healed him in the first place? I mean, she did say that she was going to help him process whatever information she's going to give him. It's likely she just wants to make sure he's alright, whenever he hears about whatever she's going to tell him." Apollo replied, though he already guessed what she was going to talk to him about.

"I see. Then, I'm assuming that this has something to do with this world, as well as its gods?" He asked, though he was sure he was right. Most of his more detailed info came from Rhea. She nodded to his question. "Well, alright. What is it?"

"Shirou, tell me, what do you know about demigods?" Shirou raised a brow at her question. 'That's odd, why is she asking about that?'

"They're the offspring of a god and a human. They have distinct scents according to their heritage, which attracts monsters. The older they get, the more the scent grows. If they learn of their heritage, it grows significantly. The usual stuff. Though, I have a feeling that isn't what you're asking." Rhea simply smiled at him.

"Correct, it isn't. Tell me, Shirou, do you know how a demigod comes to be? How they are born?" Shirou's eyes narrowed.

"I figured they were born like most other things are. Though, I know it's a bit different, considering gods and titans aren't exactly human. They are similar to conceptual beings, in a way, even if they have a physical form. Where I'm from, they classify as a type of spirit. Didn't stop demigods from being born though."

"You are once again correct, partially. You see, Shirou, there are always exceptions to the rule. Most are born in the way you speak of. Though, there are some that are born in a different way. Children of the deities that don't wish to engage in the more physical aspects of love." She clarified, causing Shirou to actually lower his bow.

"Still seems like a cop out to me, you know? If you really love someone, then it's only natural to share yourself with them, yes?" Aphrodite said with a light scoff. Athena's eyes narrowed at her.

"I wouldn't expect someone like you to understand you dumb pile of foam." She replied, crossing her arms and sitting back in her chair. Aphrodite simply laughed at her reply.

"I wasn't talking about you, Hestia, you I understand. But, little miss wisdom, eh, she could loosen up a bit." She added, while smiling at Hestia.

Miyu raised a brow at the two's antics. Considering everyone's reactions, it seemed like a normal thing. Though, she didn't really like how confrontational they sounded. Unlike her world, it really sounded like Athena actually was insulting Aphrodite. She also didn't get why Aphrodite was acting so...off. Aphrodite was one of the smartest people she knew. She wondered why this world was different. 'Could dad have changed that much with his arrival?'

She'd keep quiet for now, but she was beginning to have the feeling that was the case.

"I don't think I've met a demigod born in such a way. It sounds like the process would be made a bit more difficult. I'm guessing, that certain conditions must be met. Though, what concerns me, is how said process takes place." He said, bringing a hand to his face.

"Yes, there are conditions. These conditions vary from deity to deity, but the fact remains, it is possible. Most don't choose this way, but there is one I know of that does." She said, standing up from her seat. "Athena, she has had children before, though these children are nowhere near as common as most others."

"I see. I have a feeling that you aren't telling me this just for the information, are you?" He replied, already feeling a sense of panic coming over him. Rhea walked over to him, before taking ahold of his hand and guiding him to the bench.

"Shirou, before I continue, I wish to know something. You can answer it to the best of your abilities, though I'm pretty sure that I know what said answer will be. However, I wouldn't be a good mother if I didn't ask." The two sat on the bench, before Shirou turned and looked at Rhea in the eyes, intent on answering her question.

"Shirou Emiya, do you love my daughter, Hestia?" It was a simple question. One that would be easy to answer for most people. Shirou was not most people. The moment Rhea's question entered his ears, the voice and words of Hestia immediately rushed back into his mind.

Hestia had a faint blush on her face from her mother's question, but she was also interested in what the story said about Shirou. She knew that Shirou wasn't exactly the most stable of individuals, but she didn't see why it would be so tough for him to answer. At least, until she remembered that her mother helped Shirou before. She guessed that was what caused his hesitation.

---

"I love you, Shirou Emiya." Words he had heard just before his exhaustion claimed him. How many times had he heard such things before? Yet, this time felt much different. Was it because of him and his now undulled emotions? He didn't know, but the feeling was nearly indescribable.

Did he love her? Honestly, Shirou had no idea. If what he felt was love, then he would answer in the positive, though it was different from the love he was used to. A part of him wondered, would he have felt similar emotions in Chaldea if he was like this there? He didn't know, but he knew what his response would have been if he was still awake.

So, Shirou took a deep breath, deciding to be honest with her. "I do, or at least, I believe I do. Sometimes, this renewed sense of emotions is more of a hindrance than a gift." He muttered, causing Rhea's eyes to widen, before she let out a small laugh.

Thalia looked over towards Miyu, seeing that she was trying hard not to react to what was said, but she couldn't fool her. She didn't need Ophelia's eyes to tell that her sister was a bit upset. Unlike herself, Miyu never really learned about how Shirou wasn't exactly stable in his early days. The only reason she learned about it was because Shirou mentioning it when he was training her when she was younger.

Miyu though, she doubted if he ever told her such a thing. Thalia felt a bit saddened by the fact that she had to learn it this way.

"I can see why you would feel that way. However, I believe you'll come to appreciate it in time. But, I believe I got my answer. One that fills me with happiness." She said to him, with a smile on her face. "Now, onto the matter from before."

"For Athena, she must bond with an individual intellectually. Using terms you'd understand, she would use her divine thoughts to bond with a mortal. Those thoughts, after bonding together, would form into a soul. Think of it like information, or a blueprint." She said to him.

Shirou understood the concept. To mages, the soul was essentially a blueprint, or a record. The way Shirou understood it, Athena essentially used the mind, one of the three elements of a human, to assist in forming a soul out of the combined experiences of her and whoever she chose.

This would then be followed up by, what Shirou assumed to be, the formation of a body to deposit said soul inside of. Since she was a goddess, that wouldn't be too difficult. It was a literal child made of the mind. The thought was fascinating to the magus side of him, but the process must have been incredibly difficult.

Athena hummed to herself, thinking on what Shirou thought about the matter. She had to admit, she was rather impressed by his deductive reasoning on the process. She was also rather impressed that mages had such a good understanding of souls. Though, she was curious if this was widely known knowledge, or if it was something he learned during his travels.

Considering what he said next, she had to admit, she was impressed with the hero of the story.

For a mortal to be able to, for lack of a better word, stimulate Athena's mind, they would have to have an incredibly high level of intellect, or their soul would have to possess a high degree of experiences and knowledge. Then again, he was basing it off of his understanding. The laws could be different here.

For a magus to shape a soul, it would require the third magic. For a goddess, it wouldn't be hard. It was amazing now that he thought about it. It made sense, at least, in some way. Then again, he didn't know much about the third magic, just the basics. However, souls were something he knew a bit about.

"What's up with all this numbered magic? Isn't magic just magic? Why does it sound like something totally different when he talks about it?" Percy asked, hoping for an answer. It was something everyone else had noticed, but hadn't really commented on. Miyu and Thalia looked at each other for a moment, before Thalia nodded to her. Miyu sighed.

"When my dad talks about true magic, he's talking about grand miracles that can't be replicated by human means." She explained, making sure everyone was listening. She really didn't want to explain this again. Though, she supposed it was good that it was her explaining it and not her sister. 'Knowing her, she'd go into a lot of detail and confuse everyone.'

She then pulled a lighter from her pocket, before holding up both of her hands. "Ignite." She said, activating her magic circuits. "Spells brought about by magecraft are always something that can be recreated through science. Like this." She then snapped her fingers, creating a ball of fire above her left hand. "The process to create it is a miracle, but the result is something that can be replicated by science." She then used the lighter to create a small flame. "Flight, freezing something, creating water, or even my dad's tracing is magecraft." She then let both flames die out before placing the lighter in her pocket.

"So, magecraft is more based on science and achieving it with supernatural means?" Annabeth asked her, with Miyu nodding. She hummed to herself, before realizing what Miyu meant. "So, magic is what is considered impossible?" Miyu smiled, before nodding again.

"Correct. True magic are real miracles. In my dad's world, there were five true magics. The first magic was the ability to create something from nothing, at least that's what my dad thought. The second magic, the magic that brought us here, is called the Kaleidoscope, or Operation of Parallel Worlds. The third is the Heaven's Feel, or the materialization of the soul. The Fourth is something that my dad never learned about. It's only known that it exists. The fifth magic is called the 'Blue', but once again, my dad didn't know much about it. He only knew about the magician who wielded it, Aoko Aozaki."

"There is said to maybe be a sixth one day, one that my sister strives for during her free time, but nobody really knows." She finished while shrugging her shoulders. The gods all seemed shocked that mere humans were able to possess such abilities. Such abilities were the domains of gods. Needless to say, each was rather unsettled by the fact that mere mortals had the capability to perform magic that surpassed even their abilities.

"So, the second magic means that there are a bunch of parallel worlds?" Percy asked? Miyu nodded with a smile.

"Yup. Worlds where my dad didn't come here, like this one. Worlds where you're a girl and maybe a part of Artemis's hunt. If you can think it, it's probably out there. I know my dad probably has infinite variations out there somewhere. My sister was always interested in that magic in particular, mainly because she found it interesting and fun." She said with a giggle.

"You keep mentioning this sister, who is she?" Aphrodite asked, with the others wondering the same thing. It was obvious it wasn't the elder Thalia, so it was kind of interesting. Miyu looked around, before smiling.

"You'll just have to wait and see." She answered with a wink, causing the demigods to grumble a bit. Still, her explanation about magic left many with something to think about.

"The result would form into a new soul, after which she would form the baby to place the soul into, correct?" He continued for Rhea, deciding to see if his guess was right.

"Mostly. She doesn't exactly place it into a body, the result is the formation of a baby alongside the soul. It's very similar to regular reproduction, but done in a very different way. Though, I'm pretty sure I know of what you were thinking, so I will say that you are mostly correct." She said with a small laugh, though she let out a sigh at the end.

"That is how Athena does it, to ensure her virgin goddess status. No other virgin goddess has gone through this, only Athena, though their process would differ due to their nature." Shirou could somewhat understand. Athena's was easier, as it made some sense. But the other's?

"I suppose it makes sense that the process would differ between us. It's never happened to us here, so I never thought about it. It is quite interesting." Athena muttered, though everyone was able to hear her words. Hestia and Artemis both thought about her words.

Hestia saw what happened and even saw the result sitting next to her, so she knew it was possible. Still, it was definitely something. Her process was unique and likely couldn't be accomplished with just anyone. Shirou just so happened to have those certain attributes that blended perfectly with her own.

Artemis though, she was unsure of what her process would be. One of her domains was tied to childbirth, so perhaps it wouldn't have been so difficult for her. However, she couldn't imagine being able to bond with any kind of male in such a way. She knew that it was not something that occurred on accident. There was always a will or reason, so she largely brushed it off.

"I'm following you so far." He said to her, unsure of what was coming next. Unless... "This has something to do with what you want to tell me, doesn't it?" He asked her, already having a guess as to what she was going to say. He felt something last night, but he wasn't sure of what it was.

Rhea gave him a warm smile, one that was filled with happiness. It was enough to confirm his thoughts. "There hasn't been another virgin goddess besides Athena to do that, until recently." Shirou looked to the house, feeling a strange emotion he was unfamiliar with.

"I felt something, which is why I headed over here to confirm it, and sure enough, it happened. Do you know how it happened?" She asked him, getting him to shake his head, though he never turned his face from the house.

"The two of you think of each other as family and already possessed a bond. However, last night, the two of you bonded together spiritually, soul to soul. You opened your hearts to each other, and the flames you two possess became one. A flame of love, family, and home, was bonded to a flame of creation and steel."

"I asked you whether you loved her, because she had to see you as her counterpart, her partner, in order for all of those things to come together. For my daughter, the process is incredibly difficult and nigh impossible, which is why it surprised me. Even I don't fully understand the full list of requirements."

"Fire represents many things, it's what Hestia told me when she gave me that flame. Creation, love, passion, a lot of very different things. But, it also represents life. My Unlimited Blade Works can function as a forge. Perhaps, everything had to line up." Shirou said quietly, though Rhea was able to hear him.

"What will you do now, Shirou Emiya?" She asked him with a hum, though Shirou simply stood up, before turning to look at her.

Everyone had to admit that they were rather interested in what he would say. Sure, it was easy to come to a conclusion as Miyu and Thalia both spoke of being raised by him, but it was still interesting.

It wasn't so much about the process or any of the other things, as Shirou seemed rather well accustomed to magic and supernatural aspects. However, even the gods knew that having a child wasn't always simple.

For Hestia and Athena, they were rather interested to hear what he would have to say, simply because he would be the father to their other selves children. Miyu, however, was interested because it was a chance to learn more about what her father was like before she grew up. Considering what she knew about him, she would admit to already being surprised so far.

"I don't think I'd make a good father. Then again, my mother probably thought the same. You've seen my memories. You know how many people, heroic spirits, wished they could have a child or family." He said to her, the image of Kiyohime and Mata Hari popped into his mind, being the first he could think of.

"My own mother, wished for me to have a full and happy life. I have faced many challenges in my life, faced off against gods and demons, heroes and villains, and beasts born of humanity. I see no reason why I would fail to rise to the occasion now." He said to her, though Rhea could see a slight tremor in his hands.

Miyu smiled a bit. That sounded like her dad. No matter what, her dad would confront whatever was in front him, even if he was afraid. It was one of the things she admired the most about him. For as long as she could remember, she always saw him as an unshakable pillar of strength.

The Olympians, however, were interested in the challenges he said he faced. They didn't know how things translated in another world, but to easily speak of facing off against beings on the level of gods was astounding. Though, a certain few goddesses were interested in the tremors he was experiencing, being surprised that a child would frighten him so much. Then again, considering who it was, they kind of understood.

"It's normal to be afraid, Shirou. Having a child is a big thing. You suddenly woke up to find out you'll have one, with a goddess no less. Any other mortal would rightfully be panicking right now. Especially when considering which goddess it is." She said to him, though it was mainly to see what he would say. She knew Shirou wasn't most men.

"If you mean other gods, I don't care about them. I've faced worse than the gods. My fear isn't really born from anything about the situation. It's more to do with my own sense of self. I can face off against anything with little to no fear." He answered, causing Rhea to smile.

"I'm beginning to see where these two get their attitudes from." Poseidon grumbled, his face set in a frown. Apollo couldn't help but let out a nervous laugh at the words, since he noticed it to. Though, he would admit that most of their stories didn't really paint them in a favorable light.

Miyu merely smiled at the words. "You have no idea how much that means to me to hear you say that." She said with a happy hum. Thalia could only shake her head at her sister's antics. Poseidon likely meant it as an insult, but for Miyu, being told she had anything in common with Shirou was a big compliment for her. He was her hero after all. Then again, her and the rest of her siblings were the same, just not to the same extent as Miyu.

"I suppose he's worried about being able to be a father when he usually is always out trying to help others." Hera said, noting how Shirou mentioned his sense of self. "He'll have to figure out something if he wants to raise his child. Though, considering Miyu here, he must have figured out a way to do it." She finished, before looking towards Miyu.

"I can't really say anything, since some of this stuff is new to me. Mom and Dad never mentioned this stuff when telling me about their story." Miyu answered with a sigh and a small frown. Honestly, it did kind of bug her that no one told her about this. She was the eldest child, this is stuff she should know about. 'Or maybe they did and I just wasn't paying attention? Nah, I'd definitely remember if that was the case.'

Hestia couldn't help but be a bit concerned at Miyu's words. Then again, if her other self was like her, then it was likely done so that the image of her father wasn't tarnished. Of course, that was just a thought. It likely could have just been a parental oversight on their part.

"I have no doubt about that. You have no idea about what it is you're feeling. I can see it, but I also know why you feel that way. It's why I told you that you aren't like Archer, nor the other version. It's just hitting you. Even now, you may not understand, but that's what she's for." Rhea said, gesturing towards the house.

"You do know about the other version's of your father, yes?" Athena asked Miyu, who sighed in response.

"Yes, but not very much. He used them as an example when teaching us about the second magic. It was around the same time he told us that he wasn't originally from our world." She explained, before shaking her head. "It was odd, but quite informative." She left out why and when he explained it, because it was likely to show up later.

"Shirou, I won't lie to you. This will be hard, I know, because I'm a mother. But, you're still thinking like a hero, and not a man." That got Shirou to look at her in the eyes, a bit shocked. "Be a man, not the hero. Put your trust in each other, rely on each other, and you'll find the answer to all your questions."

Shirou could see a look of understanding on her face. Shirou took a calming breath. He still didn't know what he'd do, or what would happen, but he knew that Rhea was right. As long as he had Hestia with him, he could figure it out. It surprised him, thinking that way.

"I've done what I came to do. Now, you have to do what you must do. Go, Hestia will be waking up soon. Perhaps, waking up to some freshly made breakfast would be a nice treat, no?" She said with a giggle, before she patted Shirou on the back. "You'll be okay, Shirou. I believe in you, and Hestia trusts you. If you ever need anything else, just call me." She said, before teleporting away.

"Wow, that seemed rather sappy." Hermes couldn't help but mutter, before noticing Artemis glaring at him, causing him to shrink into his throne a bit. Hera couldn't help but smile at the advice of her mother. Though, she was a little puzzled, as it sounded like advice you'd give a married couple. Considering Hestia was about to have a child, why give him that advice?

"Oooh, a nice breakfast after a night of babymaking? You sure got a good one, Hestia." Aphrodite cheered, causing Hestia to blush, though it also caused nearly everyone else to blush as well. Surprisingly, Miyu and Elder Thalia simply smiled and let out small laughs, causing some to take note.

"Must you make everything sound so crass?" Athena grumbled with narrowed eyes. Aphrodite's smile widened upon hearing her.

"What's crass about it? I'm simply stating what happened. You know, maybe this is why you can never charm men despite having your looks." She shot back while looking at her nails. Athena's eye twitched at Aphrodite's words.

"Coming from the goddess who can only charm men with shallow love, I'd say I do just fine. Besides, Shirou seemed to like me just fine." Athena then crossed her arms with a huff. Aphrodite actually paused, surprised that Athena actually brought up Shirou, though it didn't last long.

"Oh, you want to go there? Just you wait, when I meet him, I bet his reaction will be even better than when he reacted to you." She called out as she crossed her legs and flipped her hair.

"Now, now, why don't we..." Apollo started to speak, trying to calm down the angry goddesses, only for the two women to snap at him.

"Stay out of it!" They both yelled, their words laced with power, causing Apollo to throw his hands up. The two goddesses then glared at each other, before turning their heads away from each other with a huff.

Miyu and Thalia could only sit and watch the exchange with awe, as they never really saw the two act in such a way before. It was equal parts fascinating as it was disturbing. To the sisters, they wouldn't have imagined the two could argue in such a way considering how close the two were in their world. Though, judging from the lack of response to their argument, this seemed to be a common occurrence.

Even the half-bloods seemed used to it. Though, unknown to the two, two goddesses were watching the sisters closely, easily making out their uncomfortable expressions. Artemis couldn't tell why they would react that way, but it was interesting and caused her to ponder on the possibilities. Hestia, however, was a bit different. She was always more in tune with such emotions and family was a part of her domain, so she could tell how much seeing that hurt the two girls.

She would have chalked it up to being more family oriented, but that wasn't all it was. There was genuine hurt in her daughter's heart, as if seeing the two argue like that pained her. It told her quite a bit actually. It was clear that Miyu had some sort of relationship with Aphrodite and Athena, one that was quite close. If was what she thought it was, then Hestia was going to be sure to try and mediate between the two from now on, if only so she wouldn't have to feel that from her daughter again.

Demeter let out a sigh, before continuing.

Shirou was left standing there, contemplating on her words. 'How am I supposed to call you?' He thought absentmindedly. He let out a sigh, before looking towards the house. 'Why does this feel worse than being responsible for the restoration of mankind?' He chuckled lightly to himself.

'A father, huh? It's a shame my mom can't be here to see it.' He thought to himself, before beginning his walk towards the house. He would do as Rhea said, and trust in Hestia. He would do what he did best, and continue going forwards, one step at a time. Only this time, he wouldn't be alone.

Shirou entered the house, before deciding to do as Rhea said. He walked over towards the kitchen, getting out everything he needed. He looked back over towards Hestia. 'Perhaps, I don't deserve this, but I suppose I'll take my friends' advice and be selfish.' He thought with a smile.

---

Hestia had a pleasant dream, though she had a feeling it wouldn't be a dream for much longer. She still didn't know what she would say to Shirou. She hoped that he wouldn't be angry, or disappointed, or really have any negative feelings. She knew what happened was selfish of her, but she felt like it was the right thing to do in the moment.

She didn't even really know what happened, just that it felt right. Honestly, she didn't even feel the fear she once felt. Instead, she only felt happiness. She hoped Shirou would feel the same. She had never asked Shirou about his thoughts on having children, now that she thought about it.

"I didn't take you for the worrisome type, sister." Demeter said, looking up from the book. Hestia nervously chuckled while scratching her cheek.

"Well, I'd say it's likely because the other me really loves Shirou and has no idea what to do." She answered, trying to think about what she would be like in that situation. Honestly, she was like that already with Miyu here. She was already freaking out thinking about what would happen if Shirou happened to come through the portal. Considering that, she felt she had an idea that's what it was. 'Not that I love Shirou or anything, I'm just thinking about the other me that does.' She thought with a nod.

"Well, you shouldn't worry, as Shirou loves you and a child is just proof of that. If anything, he's likely just like you at the current moment in the story." Aphrodite told her with a smile. Hestia nearly jumped, as Aphrodite pulled her from her thoughts. Aphrodite blinked a few times, before her smile turned a bit sly. "Besides, it's only natural to worry about the feelings of your first love."

"The other me's first love." Hestia corrected, causing Aphrodite to chuckle a bit.

"Well, I meant it more as general advice for everyone, but that too." She replied, causing Hestia to blush again, before looking away. Miyu actually giggled, knowing that Aphrodite was just messing with her. Though, she was a bit surprised at this other Hestia's reaction. 'Could she be...?' She then shook her head. She doubted it.

As she was thinking this, a familiar and lovely smell overtook her. Her eyes slowly fluttered open. The moment she did so, she noticed that Shirou wasn't there. She felt a bit a disappointed at that realization, but she then noticed that he was currently finishing cooking whatever he was making.

Apparently, he had seen her make some movements, because he suddenly stilled for a moment. She then saw a small smile appear on his face. "Good morning, well, actually it's afternoon." He shrugged. "I thought I'd let you sleep and make some breakfast." She watched him begin to place food on some plates.

"I see. Um, thank you, Shirou." She said a bit awkwardly, beginning to get up from the bed. She saw Shirou look at her with a confused expression.

"Well, I don't think you have to thank me for making breakfast, but you're welcome." She was a bit surprised at Shirou's, well, lack of reaction. 'Am I making a big deal out of it when it's not?' She thought to herself, before shaking her head. 'No, it's a big deal for me, maybe he's trying to make me feel less awkward about it.'

"Well, it'd likely be worse if mother hadn't spoken to him beforehand." Hera stated, knowing that it was likely the truth. "Still, it is nice to see a new side of you, Hestia."

Hestia groaned a bit. "It's only natural. This would be a new experience for that me."

"Well, I think it's rather adorable to see." Aphrodite said, causing quite a few chuckles and sounds of agreement to resound through the room.

Her face then deadpanned for a moment, 'I'm acting like a young girl who just had her first kiss.' However, when she thought about it, that was actually true. She let out a small groan at the realization. 'Right, virgin goddess.' "You alright, Hestia?" She heard Shirou ask, causing her to remember what she was doing.

Hestia blushed again, "This is really embarrassing." She mumbled, before pulling her hood up and attempting to cover her face with it. Artemis couldn't help but let out a small laugh.

"I think it'd like that for any of us, Aunt Hestia, so don't feel too bad." She attempted to comfort her, but it didn't do much to assuage her embarrassment.

"Yeah, besides look how cute you are. You should show this side of you more often." Aphrodite added, causing Artemis to sigh and shoot her a small glare.

"You're not helping." She stated, causing Aphrodite to shrug with a sweet smile.

"Yeah, no problem, just thinking is all." She replied with a smile. Shirou simply nodded, before placing the plates out on the table near the kitchen area.

"You know, you didn't have to come to the table." He said to her, watching her sit down at the table. She tilted her head, not understanding what he meant. "Trace on." He then held out his hand, and formed a small table next to him. "I could have brought it to you."

"Man, I feel like I could learn a thing or two from this guy. Honestly, no wonder he likely hooked up with those heroic spirits." Apollo said, followed by an arrow shoot by his head. He turned his head to Artemis who was glaring at him.

"More than a thing or two. Besides, it's called being a gentleman." She told him, before sitting back down. The action, as well as the words, actually surprised everyone.

"Who would have thought the man hater would actually have something nice to say about a man. If I didn't know better, I'd have said Atlas dropped the sky." Ares said with a smirk. Artemis then turned her glare to him, stopping herself from shooting him, if only because she noticed Aphrodite scoff at his words.

"She hates most men, Ares, which is the camp you belong to. Plus, Shirou's with Hestia, which is the best endorsement anyone could have really, especially with Arty." She explained, causing Ares to click his tongue in annoyance. She had been treating him differently since they starting experiencing this story and he wasn't sure he liked it.

"Don't call me that, but yes, that's right." Artemis nodded. Apollo had a shocked expression when he realized Artemis didn't make a big deal out of being called Arty by Aphrodite. 'What the heck is going on?!' He didn't mention it, because he knew his sister would likely shoot him if he did, but he was seriously beginning to notice some bias here. If his sister doesn't shoot Shirou at least once by the time this story was over, then he was going to call shenanigans.

Miyu had to hold in a small laugh, as Artemis's reply was the same as ever. Aphrodite always called her that and Artemis would always react the same way. She wondered if that was just a constant, or if something influenced it. She did notice some sort of magic on the book that seemed to emanate from it, but she couldn't quite tell what it was. She knew that if Annabeth was there, she may be able to tell, but Miyu wasn't Annabeth.

"I'll be sure to remember that, Shirou. But, I felt like eating at the table with you today." She replied, though really, it was because she had to tell Shirou about their current situation. Shirou let out a hum at her words, before placing the food down.

Hestia was a bit surprised by Shirou, or rather, the fact that she didn't dislike the current atmosphere. She couldn't count the times they had done this before, as Shirou always made breakfast for her, but it felt different now. The atmosphere felt warmer. Or maybe, it was just because of her.

However, she was going to have to ruin it. She didn't want to prolong it any longer. It was better to get it over with, at least she thought so. She sat down the utensils in her hand, before looking at Shirou. He simply looked at her with a curious gaze, before copying her.

"Shirou, I'm not sure how to say this, so I'll just be straightforward." She said, mustering up her courage. Honestly, acting like this was so unlike her. Usually, this would be really simple. Though, she figured it had to do with all of the time she spent with Shirou.

Shirou simply smiled at her, before shaking his head. "You don't have to say anything." She watched him rub the back of his head, something she had seen so many times that she sort of expected it. "I already know about it, so there's no need to be so nervous."

'He already knows?' Her eyes widened at the information. "How...how did you find out?" Though, she had a feeling she already knew how.

"He really just pulled the rug out from under her." Hermes laughed, with a few others responding in kind.

"And after she mustered up her courage too." Demeter added, giggling a bit. Hestia could only bring a hand up to her face. She had a feeling this would be happening quite a bit in the future.

"Still, it's good that you don't have to worry so much." Hera said to her, shooting her a comforting smile.

"Rhea may have dropped by when you were asleep." He replied, never losing the comforting smile he was shooting her. "I'll admit, I was surprised, among other things." He must have noticed something, because Shirou proceeded to stand up and walk over towards her.

"Hestia, it's fine. I'm fine, happy even. I'm still a bit muddy on the details of the whole thing, but uh, you don't have to look so panicked." 'Huh? Do I really look panicked?' Hestia thought, before standing and looking into a nearby mirror. 'Oh, I guess I do look like that.'

"Sorry, I just had a long list of things I was going to say. It reminds me of when I was mad at you." She said to him, causing her face to finally change, taking on a slightly disappointed appearance. "I built up the courage and determination for the reveal, now I feel cheated." Shirou let out a small chuckle.

"Well, how about I promise not to interrupt next time? That way you can get it out of your system." Hestia looked at him with slightly narrowed eyes, causing him to let out a nervous laugh. She let out a sigh, before walking up to him and looking into his eyes. 'Why are you so tall?' She thought, as she was a whole head shorter than him.

"You two are so cute! I'm so glad I get to see this!" Aphrodite clapped happily, slightly shrieking like a schoolgirl. The Aphrodite cabin couldn't help but agree with their mother.

"Does he actually keep that promise?" Hestia asked Miyu, only responded with a guilty laugh, causing Hestia to deflate a bit. Her other self must have it tough with him.

"It's weird to see Aphrodite act like that. I wonder if she reacted that way with us?" Percy said to Annabeth, who couldn't help but sigh.

"I certainly hope not. I'm not sure how I'd feel about it." She answered, not really happy that she had kept tabs on their relationship in the first place.

She could make herself taller, but she was sort of attached to her current form. "Are you sure that you're alright with it? I mean, I sort of just sprung it on you without asking how you felt first. It just felt right in the moment."

"Even if you're mom didn't come to talk to me, I'm sure it would have been fine. I mean, I might have panicked or something, but you would have talked me through it. Besides, any misgivings I have aren't exactly about a child, but more about myself." He revealed to her, causing her to let out a disappointed groan.

"But, I'm willing to move past that. Or try to. I never really relied on anyone before, so I'm a bit new to all this. But, I'm willing to try. No, that's not right, I want to try." He said to her, rubbing the back of his head again. Hestia tilted her head, before she realized what he was saying. She smiled, before she walked into him.

"You're really bad at this." She said with a giggle, before she proceeded to hug him. "Even worse than me, and I'm a virgin goddess." She then felt Shirou let out a hum. "Thank you, Shirou, for putting up with all of this. I know this is kind of backwards, but for a goddess and someone with a distorted worldview, I suppose this kind of beginning only makes sense."

"Yeah, I suppose you're right." He said in a quiet voice. "So, do you mind if I ask, how exactly is this going to happen? Like, is it similar to humans?" He asked, causing her to laugh. She figured he would be curious about it. Without letting go, she proceeded to explain a few things.

"Well, it sort of depends. For female humans, their pregnancy wouldn't actually last all that long. It's a bit accelerated. For goddesses, well, it depends on their mood. Personally, I would prefer to just do it normally, like a human, if only to experience motherhood. However, I'm afraid that'll have to wait." She said to him.

Though, she didn't see the puzzled expression on his face, nor did she catch that she implied a second time. "I'm afraid I'll have to rush things a bit. A month in Olympus should do it. It's a matter of pride for me." She said, mostly to herself. Shirou didn't know that Hestia was still a bit miffed at Athena, which was the reason for said rush.

"Pft!" Aphrodite attempted to hold in a laugh as Athena tried to keep herself some blushing from embarrassment, as did Hestia.

"Wow, who would have thought you could be so competitive, Hestia?" Hera spoke, though it was rhetorical. Demeter and her definitely knew this side of her. Even Hades and Poseidon couldn't help but smirk a bit.

"I think it's kind of cool that you wanted to experience that part of motherhood, Hestia. It's very like you." Aphrodite said, smiling at her sweetly.

"Thank you, Dite." She managed to reply, before looking at Miyu. A smile then made its way onto her face. She didn't think it was possible to be jealous of herself, but she was. Looking at Miyu actually changed her quite a bit. Sitting beside her was a child made up of a half of her, and despite not being the Hestia who gave birth to her, she felt like she was perfect in every way. She could see herself in her, but she could also see Shirou there too.

"I'm still interested in the child Athena's going to have." Ares stated, surprising everyone, especially Athena. Ares looked around. "What? The human is obviously skilled and his magic is suited to war. Since Athena's domain also extends to war, I imagine their child would likely become a great warrior." He explained, causing the others to think about it.

Annabeth couldn't help but frown a bit. She took great pride in her status as her mother's child. She accomplished many things no other child of Athena was able to accomplish. So, she couldn't help but think that this child might overshadow her and steal her mother's affection.

She knew that Athena usually waited, at least, two months before delivering said child. She refused to be second, though she would admit to being a bit excited and anxious. "I see, so a month to prepare then?" She heard Shirou mutter to himself.

'Wait, was he asking because he was planning on preparing? I thought he was just curious.' She focused her powers on him, before noticing that he was actually a bit excited. It actually caused her eyes to widen. 'You really are something else, Shirou.'

"Good to see that he's thinking ahead." Hera said with a nod, agreeing with his actions.

"Preparation is half the battle, that applies to everything." Athena stated, gladdened that Shirou understood this.

Hestia though, couldn't help but agree with her other self's thoughts. He really was something else.

"I'm thinking we should use that house you bought, since I'd rather not have a demigod child in the middle of the forest, a forest that you regularly kill monsters in." She decided to say. She felt Shirou hum in response, before she felt him nod to her words. 'He really takes my words to heart, doesn't he?'

"Mmm, I knew Hestia had him wrapped around her finger." Aphrodite giggled, with Miyu joining her. Miyu knew better than anyone, Thalia too, that it was mutual. Though, they also knew that he was like that with all their mothers. He took all their words to heart.

"Well, I suppose I can start preparing during that time. When do you plan on leaving?" He asked her. She leaned back and looked at him, with him looking at her with a gentle smile on his face.

"Well, I figured the sooner the better. I was going to wait a few days, but now that you basically ruined my plans by being so accepting and kind, I think that would be better. Besides, it'll mean that we'll have a whole month together before we celebrate the Fourth of July." Hestia said with a happy smile.

Hestia always enjoyed the Fourth of July, as it tended to bring families together for a big fun day of celebration. Being able to celebrate it with her own family only made it better for her. The thought alone was already making her fill up with warmth.

"Yes, there's nothing better than a good holiday to bring everyone together." Hera stated, with Hestia agreeing. It was always the best feeling.

"There's always some great parties during those too." Dionysus added, lazily sitting on his throne with the bottle given to him earlier.

"Too bad they keep me super busy. I can't even enjoy some of them." Hermes complained, resting his head on his hand.

Shirou let out a chuckle at her words, "I see, that makes sense. So, I'm guessing that means you'll be heading out after this then?" He asked, which Hestia only nodded to.

"Don't worry, the time's going to fly by. Besides, I have a feeling you'll be busy while I'm gone." She said, finally letting go of him. He tilted his head at her words. She then made a motion with her hand, telling him to lean down. Shirou complied, bending down a bit, where Hestia placed her hands on his face.

"I'll just say this. Aphrodite stopped by the bakery while you were gone." She said to him, seeing a look of surprise on his face. "Don't worry, if she comes by while I'm gone, her charms shouldn't work on you. But, still, I thought I should warn you." She then smiled at him, though it had a mischievous look to it.

"Aw, boo! Why'd you have to ruin it, Hestia? It's always more fun if they don't expect it." Aphrodite complained, with Hestia chuckling.

"I'm probably just worried you may give him a heart attack or something. Besides, the other me seems the jealous type, she just might be worried he'll have another child." She replied with a smile. Aphrodite grumbled a bit, but accepted it.

"Well, I wouldn't do that to my best friend anyways, so I guess it's okay." Aphrodite said in a slightly disappointed tone.

Shirou had managed to catch her off guard many times since she's known him. So, she felt like this would be the perfect time for some payback. Shirou raised a brow, before Hestia placed a small kiss on his cheek. She had to use that built up courage and determination for something.

"See you soon, Shirou." She said, before letting go of his face. She noticed the surprise and redness on his face. It was enough to cause her to smile and inwardly cheer at her victory. She then skipped past him, heading towards the hearth. However, on her way there, Shirou interrupted her, just as she was about to teleport away.

"Oh, Hestia, before you leave..." He said, though she had a distinct feeling he had a smirk on his face. She could feel it. A sense of dread began to creep up on her. "I love you too." 'He wasn't asleep!' His words caused Hestia to stumble, before she quickly teleported away, too embarrassed to stick around.

The sounds of laughing and giggling filled the room. Hestia pulled her hood back over her face, feeling the same embarrassment as her other self, even if it made her happy to hear that.

"Almost won that time, but it seems Shirou's still ahead." Demeter teased. Miyu smiled at her mother's actions. It really was nice to see her parents were the same even when they first started out. That particularly game was still ongoing too. Last she checked, her mother was up one. Maybe she'd use this story as a way to get an accurate count.

---

Shirou stood looking at the hearth, a satisfied smirk on his face. He knew what Hestia was doing. Granted, it did catch him off guard, but he managed to recover. Still, he felt some worry creeping in on him. He supposed that it wouldn't be easy to just, well, try and be normal.

The undeniable truth was this, he wasn't normal. He hadn't been normal since the day he was pulled out of a fire. All of the things he experienced since then only further distanced him from ever being normal. What normal person would be able to handle the things Fujimaru and him did?

Miyu's head popped up. 'Auntie Ritsuka was mentioned? What about the others? Will it mention them too?' She wondered, wanting to see them. It caught her attention enough to cause her to ignore her father's thoughts on himself. Though, it did still bug her a bit.

A part of him wondered if he could actually do it. If he could be have a normal-ish life. Realistically, he knew that was impossible. His bad luck basically ensured that he'd be pulled into situations that weren't ordinary. His own nature made it impossible, wanting to save and help others.

However, that didn't mean he wouldn't try. Separating those two things would be hard, but he was positive he could do it. 'Like Rhea said, I have Hestia to help me out.' He thought, before taking a deep breath. He looked over towards the table, seeing the leftovers there.

'I suppose I'll clean up, before heading out and getting things ready.' He thought to himself, letting out a sigh. He honestly had no idea what he was doing, or what to do, but he was a problem solver. 'How hard could it be?'

---

The answer? Very. Two weeks had passed, with Shirou visiting multiple stores and buying many different things. Honestly, he knew next to nothing about children. Had he interacted with children? Yes. Babies? No. Though, even his interactions with children were limited.

Beyond saving demigods, the only times he did so, were the with the children servants in Chaldea. Even then, they were servants and he was basically just a babysitter, along with Archer, who was his future self.

"There's child heroic spirits?" Percy asked, with many of the others wondering the same thing. Elder Thalia and Miyu looked at each other, before shrugging.

"I think so? I seem to remember dad mention them a few times." Miyu said, still looking at her sister.

"Yeah, he did, but he never went into detail. I think some were just younger versions. Like, Arturia Lily, who was the version of Arturia who just pulled Caliburn from stone. Though, she'd likely be you younger guys' age." Thalia Emiya explained.

"They were mostly variants I think." Miyu added, before remembering a slightly somber expression on her dad's face when he mentioned a few. He likely didn't go into detail because they had sad stories attached. She then remembered something. "Oh, Dad's sisters! They were from another world, but they counted as servants! There's some examples. One of whom I was named after." She stated proudly.

So, in order to learn a bit more, he did what he did best. He studied. He was thankful for libraries and the immense wealth of knowledge they contained. He didn't realize how much he missed technology until he arrived in this world. In Chaldea, it was 2015. Here, he arrived at the end of 1991.

"Wow, that would suck, wouldn't it?" Nico asked, already guessing how hard Shirou must have had it. The other half-bloods nodded in agreement. Despite not being able to use certain technology, they still knew the value of it.

Granted, he didn't use technology too much, but he did use it for certain things. Such as, information gathering. So, Shirou was using books. Worse, he was reading it while he was working in his bakery. 'I bet Hestia would be laughing at me if she me like this.'

"I actually think it's rather sweet he's trying so hard." Hestia said with a big smile, as if answering his thoughts.

Thankfully, it was a slow day. So, he was able to focus on doing what he enjoyed, which was making food. Or rather, baking. It wasn't something he always enjoyed, but after he became the designated baker in Chaldea, he found he enjoyed seeing people enjoy the desserts and treats he made.

Shirou was taking out a fresh batch of cookies, preparing to place them on the counter for the children in the store, when another customer entered. However, Shirou's body stiffened and his senses went on high alert when he noticed a certain scent. One that reminded him of Medusa, Mata Hari, and a few other servants.

He really didn't want to greet this individual. He may have resistance to charm effects thanks to Hestia's gifts, Circe and Medea's bracelet, and the innate resistance he built up, along with some blessings, which he was still trying to figure out, but it still terrified him. "Trace on." He whispered.

Aphrodite let out a small gasp. "No way, is it going to be my turn finally?! Please say it is." She cried out, making the other gods shake their heads. Hestia could only smile at Aphrodite's enthusiasm.

Ares just grumbled, not at all appreciating Aphrodite's excitement. Though, a few people took note of what was said.

"He was able to build up a resistance to charm effects? What kind of stuff did this guy go through?" Apollo asked, knowing he'd have to had be hit with enough to actually try to build up a resistance to it.

"It couldn't have been too bad, considering what the main reason for charm is." Hermes answered with a smirk. The goddesses however just shook their heads. They knew that not all charm effects were used for pleasure. Artemis and Athena particularly had a feeling that Shirou had really bad experiences with it for some reason.

After activating his circuits to help negate some of the effects, he turned and greeted the new customer. "Hello and welcome to the Unlimited Sweets Bakery." He said, trying to hide his anxiety with kindness. The moment he turned, he nearly stopped breathing.

Hestia was the most beautiful woman in his eyes. She possessed a beauty like Martha, Jeanne, Kiyohime, Ereshkigal, and Okita, which was a beauty that was natural and unpretentious, much like a beautiful delicate flower. A flower that could kill you, but a beautiful one all the same. She had an pure, honest, and gentle smile, and her fiery red eyes radiated a loving warmth.

Hestia couldn't help but smile at Shirou's description of her. It was very endearing if she were being honest. Miyu also smiled, knowing how often her dad complimented her mother.

'Your mom's smile is the most beautiful thing on the planet, and I'll always love seeing it. Which is why I do my best to make sure she always has one on her face.' She remembered her dad saying that to her. She had to agree. Though, she felt like her dad's was the one that had the most effect on her personally, still remembering when he came home that fateful night when she was young.

For Miyu, that was the perfect smile. One she wanted to have.

The woman in front of him, was undeniably beautiful in a totally different way. His personal preference was someone like Hestia. Even in Chaldea, his preferences were the same, as he never really cared all that much about physical appearance. So, he figured she would take a similar appearance, as according to Hestia, Aphrodite appears as a person's personal epitome of beauty.

Instead, what he saw was someone who looked like a mix of some of the more physically appealing heroic spirits he knew. Particularly, Scathach, Cleopatra, Medusa, Nero, Kiara, and Artemis. Though, he noticed that it was blended together in a very subtle way.

Artemis's eye twitched at the mention of her name. Why was her name being mentioned along with other physically appealing heroic spirits? Sure, she was a goddess, but her forms never went out of their way to be physically appealing like some of the heroic spirits that were mentioned. Unless Shirou's world's Artemis was different?

The others also noticed it, but wisely chose to keep their mouths shut. However, they did want to see what the other world's Artemis looked like to be included in that list.

She had long blonde hair, blue eyes like a clear spring, and perfect unblemished skin. Her body was perfectly proportioned, she had striking long legs, an impressive hourglass figure, and she appeared to be incredibly fit, much like Scathach. Her face was incredibly similar to Nero, Musashi, and Arturia.

"Oh, so that's why my form changed when Miyu looked at me. It is quite amazing." Aphrodite said, looking herself over once again. Everyone had to agree, actually. Even Artemis and Athena would admit that it was likely the best they had seen her.

His mind then replayed a memory, "Umu! I'm the incarnation of the goddess Venus, the Flower of Olympia! Look upon my beauty and grace and feel free to heap praise upon me, master." Shirou felt his eyebrow twitch at said memory. 'Nero must never find out about this.'

At seeing the memory, Aphrodite couldn't help but giggle. "She's indeed very beautiful, and she has the right attitude, but she still falls a bit short to matching up to the real thing." She said with a proud huff.

He shook his head, before refocusing himself. Thankfully, he didn't feel any sort of mental interference. He saw her walk up towards the counter, noticing the grace of her movements and the sway of her hips. The very Nero-like red satin dress she wore didn't help matters.

"Well, hello there, handsome. I haven't seen you here before. You must be the owner that Tia told me about." She spoke with an alluring voice like Medusa's, yet, it contained a sweet playfulness to it, similar to Medb. "My name's Dite, it's a pleasure to meet you." She then shot him a dazzling smile.

Shirou had to nearly break his hand behind his back, in order to keep his face from reddening. Even then, he had to avert his eyes a bit, which was a very big mistake. "Oh, there's no need to turn your eyes away, it's just a smile, sweetie." She said with a giggle. 'Crap, she really is like Medb, but instead of a human, she's a literal goddess.'

"Holy crap, you're really going for the throat, Aphrodite." Apollo called out. Any normal man would have been out for the count after that.

Aphrodite giggled. "Ah, don't be ridiculous, Apollo. That's light teasing at best. If I wanted to go for the kill, I'd have done a whole lot more than that." She explained with an innocent smile. Though, none of the men agreed. Just that little bit was more than stimulating enough for most of the men in the room. Thankfully, the smarter ones took measures to prevent this, mostly because they didn't want to get slapped or hit by the girls.

'This is where Mama Dite begins to become interested in dad.' Miyu thought to herself with a smile. Aphrodite was technically the second mother. She'd been there the second longest out of everyone. She helped raise her since she was a baby and was someone she looked up to.

Shirou had already began to remember the contingency plans he made for Medb and all the ways that he dealt with her. He inwardly groaned. 'I have a feeling she's going to cause me even more trouble than Medb did.' He rubbed the back of his head and let out a nervous laugh, before smiling back at the goddess.

"Well, it's nice to meet you, Dite. My name is Shirou Emiya, and I am indeed the owner of this establishment." He replied to her. 'As long as she doesn't pull the same tricks as Medb, I'll be fine.' Something about his reply must have surprised the goddess, as her eyes seemed to widen a bit, before she looked at him with renewed interest.

"Oh, he didn't react at all? How interesting. Maybe all that stuff about my power not working on him was true." Aphrodite said, tilting her head to the side with a pensive expression.

"Well, it seems we don't have to worry about Shirou meeting Aphrodite." Artemis stated, noticing Hestia let out a sigh of relief. She smirked, realizing that she was actually worried about it.

---

Aphrodite wasn't exactly expecting to meet Shirou. She had wanted to visit Hestia and have a friendly chat with her. Unlike most of the other goddesses, Hestia and her had a pretty good friendship. She could always visit her at her hearth, but sometimes, she enjoyed the feeling of conversing in the mortal world.

Knowing that Hestia was now helping a mortal in a bakery, she figured it was her chance to get to know more about Hestia and her friend. She was interested, as she couldn't remember a time when Hestia was ever interested in a human to this extent. So, she decided to visit, and maybe get some nice treats while she was at it.

"Yeah, me and Hestia are besties. I'm glad that's still the same in this world too." Aphrodite stated happily. No one could really say anything about it, since it was indeed true. Though, they felt like that had more to do with the fact that Hestia could get along with just about anyone.

Though, Hestia simply smiled at her words. She didn't say it, but she would admit that she was actually quite close to Aphrodite. Aphrodite was misunderstood by the other gods, something Aphrodite orchestrated on purpose. Hestia was one of the few she ever showed her true self to, so it was only natural they'd grow close.

Miyu and Thalia Emiya didn't say anything earlier, but even they agreed with Aphrodite's statement. Their mothers were all close to each other, but Aphrodite and Hestia were always the closest. Considering it wasn't a rare sight to see them both sleeping together with dad was evidence of that. Thankfully, when they said sleep, they actually meant sleep. To the two girls' surprise, they've never actually walked in on, nor heard, their father doing the deed, as it were.

Though, Miyu was pretty sure that had more to do with Aphrodite's powers, and her father's bounded fields.

However, when she opened the door of the bakery, it wasn't Hestia manning the counter. Instead, it was a human man. A rather handsome human man, if she were being honest. He had red hair with white tips, golden bronze eyes that had some steel color shining through, and, what appeared to be, a horizontal scar on his left cheek.

He had a plain, black t-shirt with a beautiful red and gold scarf around his neck. The shirt did little to hide the well-built physique he possessed. For a human of this era to possess the physique of a hero, one built for life and death battles, it was truly surprising, especially considering he was running a bakery.

He had a gentle and kind voice, though she could hear some steel present within. Oddly enough, when he noticed her, he didn't seem to leer at her the way most men did. In fact, his gaze seemed a bit more analytical and curious, rather than the gaze she expected of a human man who looked upon her.

She wondered why that was. She usually appeared like the epitome of sexual or physical attraction of whoever looked at her, yet he didn't seem all that bothered. Though, she figured that he might have been someone who preferred beauty like Hestia's, which was entirely different from her own.

"Bad luck for you, Aphrodite." Demeter joked, causing Aphrodite to pout a bit.

"It's no big deal. It just means I'll have to charm him the old fashioned way. Using my natural charms." She said confidently, though Athena scoffed at her confidence.

"Please, as if you even know how to do that. You're more likely to scare Shirou off than get him attracted to you." Athena stated with a smirk.

Aphrodite's eye twitched and her smile even cracked a bit. "You know what, Athena? How about you shut up and leave the matters of the heart to those of us who actually understand love."

Athena let out a small growl, however, Hestia's power settled over the room, calming everyone down.

"Now, now, there's no need to get riled up girls. Let's just keep enjoying Aphrodite's meeting with Shirou." Hestia said to everyone, putting on her sweet smile as she did so.

"She started it." Aphrodite mumbled, though she would listen to Hestia. This was her love story first and foremost, and she didn't want to ruin it arguing with Athena.

She didn't think much of it, until she spoke to him. Her words were able to charm nearly all human men, though there were some exceptions. It seemed this human was one. While he had some reaction when she smiled at him, it wasn't the kind she expected. In fact, he just brushed it off and managed to introduce himself without issue.

His reply and genuine kind smile actually caught her off guard. Then there was his name. He didn't look Japanese, especially with the hair color, which was something that puzzled her. She was able to get a better look at him, noticing faint scars on his arms, as well as the strangely familiar feeling he was radiating.

He interested her. She could feel feelings of love within him, and could tell that he wasn't completely immune to her powers or looks. However, his will was strong and unbending. In fact, she couldn't help but shiver at the small moment his eyes became intense, before his smile.

What she felt from him was new. He was like steel. It was honestly a little exciting. She hadn't met anyone like that before. Even past heroes, not even Ares, ever gave her that kind of impression before. She wondered what kind of man this was, especially since Hestia seemed close with him.

Ares narrowed his eyes at the words. That pissed him off. Aphrodite saying that this man was giving her an impression she hadn't felt before rubbed him the wrong way. He knew how she was, so he knew she'd be keeping a close eye on him.

Aphrodite couldn't help but grow excited. This was beginning to get her very interested. She wanted to know what her other self would end up doing. Personally, she'd likely stay close so she could witness Hestia and Shirou's love story. Despite what everyone might have thought, she wouldn't dare try and steal Hestia's first love.

He honestly didn't seem like someone Hestia would be interested in. This only intrigued her more. She wanted to know more about this human. She wanted to see what it was that caused Hestia to want to not only protect him, but also, to willingly spend time with him in the mortal world.

"I see. Tia spoke highly of your skills, and I wanted to drop by and see if you really were as exceptional as she said you were." Shirou let out a hum at her words, before running a hand through his hair.

"Well, what would you like to have? As long as I have the ingredients, then whatever you wish to have can be made." He replied with a faint smile. Aphrodite watched him closely, wanting to capture every detail. There had to be something special about him, and she'd find it. If only for her own curiosity.

Aphrodite put a hand up to her chin, before looking at Shirou with a playful grin. "How about five of these couples muffins, but can you make them have big hearts instead of flowers? Also, I'd like a small chocolate cake, though I'd like for you to decorate it as if you were giving it to your lover."

She shot him a wink, to which Shirou simply shook his head, though Aphrodite could tell her looks were effecting him somewhat. 'Well, at least I know he's attracted to my looks. I must say, he has good taste. This is one of the best forms a mortal has given me.' She thought, looking at herself in a mirror after Shirou turned.

"That is very true. I am quite attracted to this form. Being a mix up of the most attractive heroic spirits is quite amazing." Aphrodite said, conjuring a mirror in front of herself to inspect her looks a bit closer.

"It also couldn't hurt your chances to disarm him a bit by looking like them either. Considering some of the heroic spirits he was close to." Hera noted, realizing that Shirou may not have reacted as well if she didn't look like some of his loved ones.

"Sounds a bit dirty if you ask me." Athena scoffed, though Aphrodite simply brushed her off this time.

"That was a rather big order, are you really going to eat that by yourself?" Poseidon couldn't help but ask, though maybe it was just him. Aphrodite raised a brow at his question.

"I thought that order was actually quite small. My other self may have just been going easy on him." She replied with a smile. Miyu actually agreed with Aphrodite. The order was quite small for the goddess. Ophelia was just like her mom in that regard, both being able to just eat insane amounts of sweets without a care in the world.

'Maybe its one of the minor perks to being a daughter of Aphrodite?' Miyu thought to herself, never really thinking about it before. 'I'll have to tell Annabeth, she'd like to test out that theory.'

---

"Well, I can definitely make those muffins, but the cake will be a bit challenging. However, I'll definitely try my best." He replied to her. Unknown to Aphrodite, but Shirou figured he'd just copy a cake he received during Valentine's, the question was, which one? 'I think I nearly died from all that chocolate.' He thought to himself.

"Oh, he must have been quite the ladies man if he received that much chocolate." Apollo whistled, with Hermes agreeing.

"Friends can give each other chocolate too, you know?" Demeter said while clicking her tongue. Though, none of the male gods were stupid enough to believe that every chocolate he received was a sign of friendship. This also went for the goddesses, but they were mostly just trying to be considerate.

As he began to begin working on the muffins, he was a bit stumped on what to do about the cake. Though, he was appreciative for Aphrodite, as she reminded him of some fun times. While all that chocolate may have been bad for his health, except maybe a certain apple, though that was bad for his health for a different reason, he appreciated all the hard work put into those gifts.

Artemis raised a brow at the mention of an apple. She normally would have ignored it, but the fact Shirou remembered it specifically was enough of an indicator. The fact he seemed to already be close enough to Atalanta for him to base his movements after, well, she had a feeling that her hunter was the one he was speaking about. She also knew exactly what it meant. She couldn't help but smile a bit at the idea.

'Even Kiyohime, though I would have preferred if she didn't wrap herself up with ribbons. That was particularly bad for my heart. As was her second attempt, stupid elixir. Then there was Mary and Anne's, though that had more to do with the fact I nearly broke my teeth when I bit into it.' He actually let out a small laugh at that memory.

"Wait, why would he almost break his teeth on that?" Percy couldn't help but ask. "Was it that hard to bite into?" Miyu and Thalia Emiya looked at each other with puzzled expressions, as they had no clue either.

Pretty much everyone thought it meant the chocolate was just poorly made and was super hard, before the screen explained with a single sentence. "Mary Read and Anne Bonny's room key was inside of it."

It took a few seconds, before a good number of the halfbloods blushed, though some, mainly Aphrodite's children, thought it was rather romantic. Miyu and Thalia couldn't help but make a face at the information. They knew their dad was popular, but it was still weird to hear about his life before meeting Hestia.

Shirou simply smiled at the memories. There were plenty more, such as the chocolate he received from Shuten and Serenity, one made him black out drunk and the other poisoned him. Though, he had to admit, both were good. As he thought about it, the perfect choice entered his mind.

"Well, at least he was nice enough to eat them." Annabeth pointed out, recovering from the earlier statement.

"Wouldn't he have died if it poisoned him though? Also, why did she poison him?" Percy reluctantly asked, afraid he'd get another weird answer.

"Oh, I can actually answer that. My dad had built up his resistance to poison quite a bit, thanks to a few heroic spirits who specialized in poison, like Serenity. He also had resistance thanks to other factors, but I won't mention them here." Miyu explained, thinking about Avalon and his mystic code outfits. "As for why she poisoned him, well, she's one of the Hassan, and they each have a special ability, which became their Noble Phantasms, and hers was that her body was basically poison." She said, before adding, "And yes, I mean her whole body." Putting emphasis on it.

The idea actually caused a good number of them to shudder. "Sounds like a sad existence." Piper said sadly, not even being able to imagine such a thing. How would she even be able to form relationships with anyone? Then she remembered that Miyu's dad had resistance to poison. 'Did he build that up for her?' She thought, realizing that Shirou really was something else if it was true. 'She gave him chocolate, so they must have...right?' However, she kept her thoughts to herself.

'I'll copy the cake that Mash and Fujimaru made for me. Maybe I'll add a chocolate sword so I don't feel so guilty for copying it, but it'll work perfectly.' He had fruit ready, as well as plenty of icing and such. It was one of the most memorable ones he received, as it was insanely well made.

Hestia didn't say anything, but she couldn't help but think that it must have really hurt Shirou when he first arrived, especially if he had to leave behind so many bonds. Mash and Fujimaru especially, since they seemed close. 'If their relationship was romantic, then it must have been equally devastating to them.'

Sure, the one he received was a cheesecake, but he could do the same with a chocolate cake. With a determined expression, Shirou was ready to begin. Deftly moving around the kitchen area in the bakery. Unknown to him, but Aphrodite was watching him closely.

He was actually quite thankful that she was letting him work without distracting him. He was able to focus completely on what he was doing, which allowed him to craft the best tasting baked goods. Not only that, but she was dangerous. Probably the most dangerous seductress he'd met, barring maybe Kiara.

"Hold on, what's that supposed to mean?! How was I outdone but some person I've never heard of before?" Aphrodite asked, looking at Miyu and Thalia for answers, but both could only shrug, as they never heard about Kiara in their lives. Shirou had never mentioned her before.

"Kiara Sessyoin is a woman that you are all better off not knowing about. Just know, she caused Shirou a lot of pain and torment. Both the one in the story and another potential future of his. Consider his words a compliment, love goddess." The screen called out, actually stunning the gods a bit, and frightening the demigods. For a person to be that bad, they could only imagine what she did. Considering it said seductress, then what happened?

Aphrodite, for a brief moment, felt a twisted form of love come through the book, almost like a faint memory. Yet, it was enough to cause her to nearly gag and caused her face to pale for a brief moment, before she regained her composure. She looked at the book, before looking away with a troubled expression, one that caused the other gods to worry. Even Athena couldn't help but grow concerned.

Rather than question it, Demeter thought it was wiser to continue.

As he worked, his mind wandered to those strands that Hestia had told him about. Blessings and strands of divinity that he possessed. The most likely theory he had about them, was that they were representative of the bonds he made with servants.

Where he was from, they would hold no real significance. However, in this new world, they manifested as blessings and strands of divinity due to the changed rules. His reality marble, for example, wasn't being crushed by the world when he activated it. Rather, it was as if the world was trying to make room for it.

It still cost magical energy to cast, but when he did, it was almost as if the world accommodated it's existence. Classifying it as a separate stable realm altogether. The thought was a bit terrifying. He hadn't done many tests, but he did note that certain items in his reality marble cost less to call than normal.

Even Orion's bow, which he was certain was a divine weapon, or at least had divine attributes, was able to be analyzed and even traced. He hadn't tried, but he was fairly certain that certain divine constructs could be traced now. He tried not to think about it, but he didn't mind the upgrade.

"So, Zeus was right, it's almost like a domain of sorts." Poseidon hummed, interested in the idea.

"Yes, it also seems like Shirou's undergoing a slight change, almost as if our world is attempting to fit him into it, despite not being from her originally." Athena surmised, though she was unsure of how that possible. In order for that to be possible, something had to be responsible. However, she couldn't imagine who or what was doing it.

Every once in awhile, Shirou could feel Aphrodite's power scratching at his defenses. He guessed that Medea had installed certain protections in his charms, considering he could feel it combating Aphrodite's power. 'Suppose Medea's hatred for Aphrodite can transcend worlds.' He thought with an amused huff.

He was surprised though, as Aphrodite seemed like a pretty patient person, considering she was just sitting at the counter with a smile on her face. He guessed that it would take, somewhere between 45 minutes to an hour and half to complete the cake. 'Maybe that's why she asked for the muffins.'

He let out a sigh. 'This is going to be long two hours.' He thought, noticing her widen her eyes when he looked at her, before she gave him a playful wave. Shirou responded with a smile and wave of his own, 'If there are parallel worlds, then I wonder if there are other me's that have to deal with stuff like this.'

"Hey, screen, is my dad right when he thinks that?" Miyu asked, actually being interested in other versions of her dad.

"The existence that is Shirou Emiya faces many hardships. It is the nature of being a hero." It answered, though Miyu frowned, as that wasn't what she meant. "But, yes, they do." It added, causing her to laugh a bit.

"Can I see them?" She asked with a sweet smile.

"I'll consider it." It answered, making her pout a bit. She was hoping for a definite yes, but she'd take it. She wanted to know what other adventures her dad had. What other versions of him were like and what worlds they inhabited. 'I hope Ana is here if he decides to show me.'

---

'A bakery of all things? What sort of mighty warrior and hero would willingly relegate himself to running a bakery?' Artemis thought to herself. Mia had returned to her and they managed to get some information from a daughter of Aphrodite, though it was like pulling teeth just for her to tell them that.

She shook her head, it didn't matter. The fact that they managed to get that information was good. It meant that she now had a location for the man named, Shirou Emiya. Normally, she wouldn't go through all of this trouble for something like this, but she did owe him.

She had to admit, it was surprising that he chose to be a baker of all things. Surprisingly, she didn't hate the choice. It actually caused her opinion of the man to raise a bit. However, she was reserving her judgement until she actually met the man.

Sadly, it would have to wait. The summer solstice was coming up and she had to make a few preparations before she could meet him. Still, it didn't mean that she couldn't send her hunters to check things out. Mia knew the man and was eager to thank him for saving her and her friends.

However, she had to send someone with more experience to accompany them. 'Perhaps, I'll send Zoe to accompany them. With me making my preparations, she'll have some free time.' She then nodded to herself. 'Alright, we'll do that.' She only hoped that they wouldn't run into any complications along the way.

Zoe's name caused the hunters to perk up a bit. Thalia Emiya was still saddened that Zoe was dead in this world. Miyu though, she seemed to understand the reason for her absence and merely shook her head. Artemis felt some happiness that she'd get to see Zoe again, even if it was through this story. She wondered what her reaction to Shirou would be.

Mia was glad that she was being mentioned quite a lot. She never got to really go on any big adventures or quests, so seeing another version of herself being able to do so made her quite happy.

---

"Alright, one chocolate cake, Valentine's edition for one very patient customer." Shirou said, placing the cake down in front of the goddess. Aphrodite looked at the cake, admiring the pretty pink edible flower and pink butterflies, as well as all the other decorations.

She seemed surprised that he made it a stacked cake, but he felt like he should overdo it. She seemed to really be impressed, which sort of made him feel underestimated. If he had more time, as well as a bigger order, he could have made something really impressive.

"It's very beautiful, it'd almost be a shame to eat it." She said, further admiring the cake. 'Great, it seems it passes.' He thought, before taking off the apron he had on. "But, I'm going to eat it anyway." She said in a excited and childish tone, even adding on a giggle at the end.

"It really does look quite delicious." Aphrodite stated, looking at the cake with stars in her eyes. Hestia could only smile at her antics. Hestia looked at the cake and was quite impressed with how intricate it looked.

"Well, that's good. I'd hate to make such a delicious cake and see it go to waste." Aphrodite looked at him, but he noticed a change in the way she looked at him. He wasn't sure he liked it. "Anyways, uh, you can have that here or I can get you a box." He said to her.

"Hmm, I think I'll take this home and enjoy it. I'm not sure I want you to see me stuffing my face just yet." She laughed. Though, Shirou was a bit worried at the way she worded that. He quickly reached underneath the counter and grabbed one of the boxes. He carefully placed the cake inside.

"Of course you plan to keep coming back." Athena said as she shook her head.

"Well, duh, you can't just get a cake like that anywhere. Besides, the other you went on multiple dates with him, so it's only fair I get the same amount of time with him." Aphrodite pointed out with a nod.

"Athena didn't know that Shirou was Hestia's, you do. I think that's what she's talking about." Artemis couldn't help but add with a shrug.

"It's not like I plan to steal him, I just him to make me more sweets." She replied, "Probably."

Hestia sighed, knowing that her other self's life with Shirou was going to be really complicated.

"Can I get you anything else, Miss Dite." Shirou put on his usual kind smile, though he really was trying to distance himself as much as possible. He didn't want to attract the attention of the goddess of love. She tilted her head and let out a small hum.

"Nope, I think that'll be it. Though, if I like this cake, I'll definitely be back. Though, I plan on coming back anyway. So, why don't you think about something else I may enjoy, and surprise me when I return, okay?" She said with a wink, while blowing a kiss towards him.

She picked up the cake and the remaining muffins and proceeded to walk out of the store. Whether she was adding some extra sway to her steps, Shirou couldn't say. Or rather, he refused to acknowledge it, mainly for the sake of his sanity. 'Goddess powers are terrifying.' At least, he attributed it to that.

When she opened the door, he noticed her look back at him. She raised an eyebrow, before a playful smirk appeared on her face. She then left, allowing the door to close. Shirou stood there for a good minute, before he let out a deep breath.

"Wow, talk about a will of steel." Hermes joked, though Hestia thought he did quite admirably considering it was Aphrodite of all people.

"Did you have to wink and blow a kiss at him?" Hera asked with a sigh. Aphrodite actually had the decency to look a bit bashful.

"Uh, it was probably a bit much, but the extra sway was just me teasing." She clarified, though she wasn't completely sure about it. Everything her other self just did was actually confusing. She couldn't imagine being that interested in Hestia's significant other that she'd do such a thing. It was almost like she was actively flirting with him.

Percy and the other male, along with some of the female, half-bloods all agreed with Shirou. Goddess powers were terrifying. Percy was completely dedicated to Annabeth, no doubt about it, but he was sure that he'd likely break when faced with what Shirou just went through. Even just hearing it was enough to fluster him. Thankfully, he was pretty sure he hid it from Annabeth.

Miyu snickered a bit, 'Stupid Percy. I bet he thinks he hid that from Annabeth.'

'Hestia, please come back before she returns to the shop.' He thought, while running a hand through his hair. He just noticed that his heart was beating really fast, which bothered him. He shook his head, before an idea came to his mind. He rushed to the small corner table he sat at while waiting for customers.

He reached into his bag and pulled out some books. He sat at the table and began to read through them. As he did so, he felt himself return to normal. He leaned back, before smiling to himself. 'A child. That's all I have to remember.' He thought. He was happy. Aphrodite wasn't going to change that.

He wasn't going to allow himself to be pulled into her rhythm. He was caught off guard this time. Next time, he'd be ready. He knew how to make potions, he could create something to help him out. 'Medea, Circe, thanks for teaching me everything you could. It's really helping me out.'

Hestia blushed a bit, though she had a happy smile on her face. She could see why her other self chose Shirou. The fact knowing he would have a child with her was enough to calm him down told her that Shirou was definitely in love her.

Miyu silently laughed, knowing what good that did for her dad. Aphrodite and him had a complex relationship at first. This was the start of that. Unlike everyone else, Aphrodite had to actually work to get her dad to love her. It took awhile, but it eventually got to a point where he considered her family and the result was Ophelia.

She was interested to find out what everyone's reaction would be when they found out about Aphrodite and her dad's literal love child.

---

Thankfully, he had a pretty boring rest of the day, though comparing his time with Aphrodite to everything else, of course it'd be boring. Shirou closed the store and proceeded to head back to his home, or rather, the new home. It was set up pretty well beforehand, as it was supposed to be home to his workshop, but now, it felt like a proper home.

Or rather, as proper as a home could get without a family living in it. It didn't matter, as he was planning to head into the large shed as soon as he got home. He was working on something important, and he was just about done. He'd probably finish tonight, which would be perfect, as he'd have time to spare before Hestia returned.

As he was riding back to his house, he caught a familiar scent. Or rather, multiple familiar scents. He could feel them watching him as he rode back home. However, they were only watching. It was a bit odd, though he decided to ignore it after he remembered where the scent came from.

'Artemis's huntresses. Great, just what I need.' He groaned, but he figured, as long as they didn't bother him, he wouldn't bother them. He just hoped that they weren't here for something troublesome. He knew that it was his bad luck.

"He doesn't have to make it sound so troublesome." Mia said with a small frown, causing a few of the other to laugh. Artemis smirked a bit, impressed that Shirou was able to tell they were there with his sense of smell. Her hunters could be quite sneaky when they wanted to be.

Now that he was trying to be normal, everything was coming out of the woodwork to make sure that didn't happen. 'What's next? Athena shows up and blindsides me with something?' He let out a sigh.

Athena's face remained stoic, though Annabeth could see a faint blush appear.

"This guy's luck really does suck, doesn't it?" Apollo chuckled.

After making it home, he did his usual cleaning, before deciding to head into the shed. He felt the gazes of the huntresses watching him as he entered the shed. Thankfully, he built the thing himself, so he knew that they wouldn't be able to see inside of it. Not that they'd see anything interesting.

Other than swords, pipes, machines, gems, engraving tools, and brushes, there was nothing out of the ordinary. He walked over to a table, where he saw his current project. "Trace on." He then activated his magic circuits.

He projected multiple copies of Kanshou and Bakuya. Shirou then grabbed a few talismans he had managed to recreate with his subpar talisman making skills. He slapped a few on the swords, specifically, one that shrunk items and another that helped the stability of an item.

After shrinking them down, he began to perform his usual magecraft operation. Particularly, alteration and reinforcement. If he could transform Kanshou and Bakuya into guns, then he could alter them into almost anything with enough practice. At least, that was his theory.

"How interesting. To be able to convert those swords into guns would take considerable skill. Especially if he wanted to retain their integrity and characteristics. I wonder what it is he's attempting to create?" Hephaestus asked aloud, being intrigued with Shirou's abilities.

Hades hummed, being interested in the things he mentioned keeping in his shed. 'It seems this workshop must be rather important. It must be related to his magic.'

Honestly, he was having trouble keeping the structural stability of the altered projections. The thing was, that was him using only his own abilities, or those of his other selves, which counted Muramasa for some reason. However, he noticed something.

After working for awhile, he noticed that his magecraft was changing. Even the magecraft and runes he learned in Chaldea, should only be third rate at best, yet he found his use of them improving. It was as if, the longer he stayed in the world, the more the world was trying to mix its magic system with his own.

However, this was only a theory he had after the second pair of Kanshou and Bakuya broke. The other theory, was that Hestia's flame had changed him slightly, allowing him to make some use of other magecraft. Then, there was the theory that he thought was most likely.

Hestia's flame and the world's magic system were threading into his own, making the bonds he had with certain servants turn into blessings. One of the reasons he believed this, was because of Hestia and Rhea and their own belief about his blessings. Such as the blessing of the sun, which was Apollo's thing.

When he asked about it, Rhea thought that it may have come from Tamamo, considering her divine form, Amaterasu. This led to him asking about his other blessings, which were pretty numerous.

Ereshkigal and Ishtar, Scathach, Artemis, Circe, Quetzocoatl, Euryale and Stheno, Tamamo, and a few others with divinity, were all noticed in his soul. And that was only the female servants. He didn't know the full extent of these things, but the longer he was there, the stronger he felt.

"It seems my earlier thoughts on the matter were correct. Shirou's undergoing slight changes as he adapts to our world. I'm interested in what those blessings would do for him." Athena stated, humming to herself as she thought about it.

Hades wondered if his connection to Ereshkigal would have some influence down the line. A thought then crossed his mind. 'Would he show up in my book? Or did Ereshkigal already take claim over him? If so, he'd likely be invisible to me.'

Apollo was impressed he was blessed by the sun. Though, he couldn't help but wonder what those gods thought of him in the current world? They likely had to feel some sort of tie to him.

He couldn't bring himself to hate this, as he viewed these things as a final gift from his friends. They may not be like blessings from this world, as they were described as strands. However, if he were to bind them together, he had a feeling something new would emerge.

It did worry him. Luckily, unless he actually used those blessings, they would go unnoticed. The thing was, he felt like he should try to use their power. He hadn't attempted it before, but he had a feeling that the knowledge was there. If what he thought about his magecraft was true, then he could pull it off.

He traced things from Muramasa's memory, things that would allow him to mold the chosen blades into his desired shape. Instead of just altering them, he would use their materials to craft something new. After creating everything and preparing his materials, he traced Muramasa's hammer and went to work.

"So, the lad does know how to forge. My opinion of him has increased." Hephaestus stated with a huff. Aphrodite shook her head, more interested in what he wanted to create. She took extra note of the fact he shrunk them down, meaning what he wanted to make was small. Though, she couldn't quite guess what it was.

---

"A sword that defies fate. Tempered by the mightiest challenges. The Lost Hero of Humanity shall bring forth change. To those that face him, he brings only ruin. A breaker of curses, killer of logic, light in the darkness, darkness in the light. War cannot break him, time will not bend him, and evil shall not sway him."

"A guiding flame of the new age, a sword for the children, and a bow for the hunt. Within one blade, blades without number. Flames will bring salvation. A great prophecy broken. A new age of heroes comes. Search not, lest you lose love, family, and wisdom. Search not, lest you want the mountain to fall. Search not, lest you lose promised victory."

"Well that wasn't ominous at all." Apollo said with a scoff. He did appreciate that the prophecy wasn't crazy complicated, then again, they already knew who it was referring to.

"Still, this is new. It seems he will become rather important within the grand scheme of things. It appeared he also broke the great prophecy." Poseidon stated with sigh of relief. Percy and Young Thalia couldn't help but be a bit jealous of their other selves. They definitely could have done without all that stress in their lives.

"I doubt my husband will care all that much." Hera sighed, knowing exactly how he'd react.

"It's good that this prophecy actually helps you out quite a bit Hestia. It's clear that prophecy will keep the others from looking from him." Aphrodite spoke happily, enjoying the fact that she'd be able to enjoy Hestia and Shirou's little romance a bit longer without worrying about other gods interfering.

"What's it talking about when it mentions promised victory? The other things can be guessed, but that doesn't make sense." Annabeth asked, wondering what it meant exactly. It couldn't be literal, could it?

"I don't want to reveal too much, so I'll just say that it's heavily related to my dad." Miyu shrugged, not wanting to give anything away. She had lived through through this prophecy, as well as many others, so she wouldn't say anything too much about them.

A council of gods all sat in their thrones, each dumbfounded and confused over the words of the oracle. Zeus wanted nothing more than to find this sword, yet, he curbed the impulse. He knew what the last lines meant. As did all others. Searching for him will only bring ruin.

However, this didn't mean they couldn't keep an eye out. Everything said troubled Zeus. Change was coming, for good or ill. Whatever was happening would surely bring trouble. The fact the oracle said the great prophecy was broken, did cause some relief.

However, this prophecy made it seem like the gods weren't all that important in the grand scheme of things. It made reference to a new age of heroes, which were demigods. It was causing him a headache. The gods present were similar, though there was one who seemed more angry than anything else.

Zeus knew why. The oracle made it clear, that this 'sword' would not fall to Ares. Knowing his ego, he was likely fuming. Though, it made it seem like a confrontation was inevitable. If so, then what was to become of them? How big of a threat was this 'sword'? He had an idea, one that he would put into motion.

"Of course you'd be upset. You and your big ego." Artemis scoffed, seeing Ares frowning.

"Because it's unthinkable. Even now, I doubt those words greatly." He spoke up, his frown not leaving his face. Elder Thalia and Miyu didn't say anything, even though they really wanted to. Thalia had already let slip that he'd be defeated, but still, Ares didn't know when or how. Miyu didn't like Ares anymore than her sister, but she managed to reign herself in. She wanted to see that fight. She never actually saw that battle and her parents never spoke of it, only that it happened.

Hera, however, was focused on something else entirely. Unlike her husband, she was able read a bit deeper into things. She wondered, why did it mention the things it did? She had a feeling that the gods had more to play in this than it seemed. Love, family, and wisdom, those caused her to worry.

She wasn't completely sure if that was related to them, but if it was, then what role did they have to play? Aphrodite and Athena were both in their temples, with Hestia somewhere in Olympus. So, did they have something to do with this 'sword'? Or was it speaking of things to come?

She thought about checking on them, but she didn't know what searching qualified as. She could take the chance, but what if it caused something bad to happen? This prophecy made it hard to decide what to do. She would sit on it, but she would speak with them if she had the chance.

As long as she didn't seek them out and pry, then it should be fine. Besides, she was quite interested. If it did have something to do with them, then what made this 'sword' so special? She wished to know. Then again, she represented family and love. Did that mean she was in the clear?

Prophecies were tricky, even with the somewhat straightforward delivery, she was unsure. However, she had a strange feeling that she would be exempt from the consequences. Plus, she was rather interested in meeting the 'sword'. The prophecy called him, a lost of hero of humanity.

"How very like you, sister. I'd honestly expect nothing less." Demeter spoke up, causing Hera to let out a small huff of pride.

"Unlike my husband, I actually try to think these things out. Though, I'm surprised my other self could come to such a conclusion, as well as her apparent interest in it." She hummed, before looking to Hestia. "I can't imagine myself being like Athena and yourself. What do you think?"

Hestia blinked a few times. "Uh, I actually don't know. It's true your domains do line up, but I'm unsure of what your interest could be in him."

"Even I have a hard time believing you'd want such a relationship with him." Aphrodite added, puzzled by the same thing. "Keep going, maybe it'll answer it next."

She had a feeling this meant that he wasn't a demigod. He had to be a mortal. A small smile appeared on her face. She had no demigod children of her own, nor would she have any. This did make her a bit bitter, which is why she didn't mind Jason all that much, at least, until he broke his vows to Medea.

'Perhaps, the fates have given me a second chance. A hero with no divine parent? However, would such a thing cause me to turn against Olympus? No, surely not. So many what-ifs. However, I feel as if I have a role to play. Let's wait and see, if the fates really are at work, then a sign will appear.'

"And there's the answer. I must admit, the thought does sound appealing. It seems that I wish to make him my champion." Hera said, a small smile appearing on her face.

"Wow, he really is just gaining the interest of the goddesses. I wonder if Demeter will be next." Aphrodite teased, seeing Demeter tilt her head a bit, before shaking her head.

"No way, I don't think we'd mesh well." She replied, though Hestia raised a brow at her sisters words. She was pretty sure that Shirou could charm her sister if he tried to, but she would keep that to herself. Her other self had enough goddesses attempting to steal his attention away from her.

She blushed when she caught her onto her own thoughts. Miyu catching her mother's expression easily, knowing what was going through her mind. 'It seems mom's the same no matter what. Though, it seems she's acting more like how dad described her at the beginning.' They had grown quite comfortable at present, though their little game made sure that they were always trying to catch the other off guard.

"He's a brave man. I salute him for his sacrifice." Hermes smirked, before seeing the others glaring at him. "I mean, lucky him, I'm sure he's grateful for the attention." He let out a nervous chuckle before looking away.

She had been on her way to her room as she was thinking this, which led to her seeing something she didn't expect. She let out a hum, 'Oh, Aphrodite left me a gift?' Though it did worry her, she decided to give the goddess of love the benefit of the doubt, and opened the small box.

To her surprise, there was a note, along with a slice of cake. She raised a brow, before opening the letter. "Hey, Hera, sorry I couldn't make the meeting. Been busy with super important things, but as an apology, I left this for you. It's a delicious cake made for me by a rather handsome baker in the mortal world. Bon apetite, with love, Aphrodite, Goddess of Love."

At the bottom of the note was a silly drawing of Aphrodite with hearts surrounding her, and her making a peace sign with a smile. Hera let out a sigh. 'At least she apologized this time.' She looked at the cake, 'Well, if Aphrodite says its good, then I might as well try it.' She thought with a smile.

"Well there's fate giving you your sign, sister." Demeter chuckled. Hestia and Hera could only sigh seeing that Aphrodite's antics just gave everything away.

---

Shirou was beginning to become a bit bothered by the constant surveillance. Honestly, it wasn't so bad at the beginning, but he thought that they would have confronted him already. Instead, they maintained their distance and just watched.

He had a feeling they were getting bored, since he wasn't doing much of anything, except for go to the bakery, go to stores, and head home to work in his shed. At this point, he felt like being a bit merciful. Since it was the weekend, he decided to partake in some target practice.

At this point, he needed to get his own mind off things. The time of Hestia's return was growing closer and closer, and if he was being honest, he was a bit worried. So, rather than worry about it, he decided to clear his mind by practicing his archery.

So, he would stick close to home. She could be showing up that day, the next, or whenever really. He didn't really know how time worked in Olympus. So, he would wait, and hope that he bought the right things for when she returned. It was refreshing, worrying about something fairly normal for once.

'Those singularities must have really done a number on me. I never noticed it before, but I don't feel as heavy as I used to.' He thought to himself, setting up an archery target as he did so. Being able to set up a kyudo range in his backyard was something he was happy for.

"Well, I mean, we were just supposed to watch him, right?" Mia asked, with Artemis nodding.

"Though, I'm guessing he's not used to such things. He might be more used to assassins or something. Considering he was trained by some, it wouldn't surprise me." Artemis explained, inwardly a little glad that Shirou was having some mercy on her hunters by relieving their boredom.

---

Zoe Nightshade was Artemis's right hand huntress. She may look young, but she had lived for a very long time. She had seen many heroes in her time, including the great Heracles, who she hated more than any other hero. He was the reason she hated demigods and men, though she would give this one the benefit of the doubt.

The hunters and Artemis all perked up at Zoe's appearance, with young Thalia and some of the Half-Bloods responding the same. Miyu and Elder Thalia could only imagine how much her loss must have hurt them. They couldn't imagine a world without their aunt.

She and the other huntresses watched the young hero go through his day. Honestly, he wasn't exactly what she was expecting when she heard about him. He would wake up early, exercise and train, shower, head to work, shop, and return home to work in his shed.

He had a pretty good regime set up, but there was something telling her that he wasn't used to it. At times, he seemed out of his element. He was friendly and was a helpful person, while never leering at women. She had watched closely, but he seemed to hold some disinterest in women.

"I mean, considering he's with Hestia, I'm sure most women couldn't even compare." Apollo stated, with the other gods nodding. Hestia shook her head, not really caring all that much. Though, she had to admit, it was quite flattering that Shirou was like that. Her eyes floated over to her other self's daughter.

'Miyu's already quite beautiful herself, I wonder if she has any admirers where she's from.' She thought to herself, making a note to ask her about it later. She wanted to know more about her.

She suspected he was in a relationship, but she couldn't be sure. He cooked, cleaned, and had a very pretty smile. She hated that she thought that just now, but she digressed. She could tell he was an archer, a hunter, a warrior, and was a well read individual who didn't shun knowledge.

"Wow, I never thought I'd hear Zoe say such thing." One of the hunters said, her thoughts mirrored by the others.

His muscles and his training told her enough about him. Even if he was a human, he possessed incredible skill with nearly any weapon. He was strong, had plenty of stamina, and his endurance was incredible, barely breaking a sweat with some exercises that would be hard for most.

In fact, some of his training reminded her of ancient Greece, Rome, and other civilizations. It was incredible to see really. She enjoyed seeing him train, as the memories that came with it reminded her of her younger days. Great, now she sounded like an old lady.

"That sounds more like her." Mia laughed, causing a few others to remember their friend. She did act like an old lady at times. Even Miyu and her sister couldn't help but laugh a bit.

She let out a sigh, before noticing him come out of his garage with a bow and multiple quivers of arrows. 'Oh, he hasn't practiced archery before. I just figured, since he had a archery range and his muscles seemed toned to it.' She inspected his bow, admiring the beauty of it.

Unknown to her, but the bow wasn't actually his. He figured he'd show the huntresses the bow of the greatest huntress he knew. Tauropolos was a beautiful bow, one he knew they'd appreciate.

And they did, each one was entranced by the bow. Zoe in particular. It felt so familiar, yet so different. It felt like Lady Artemis and Lord Apollo, but it didn't. It was a bow of a hunter. A part of her was filled with jealousy, but another part of her was impressed.

"While different, it is quite a stunning bow." Artemis stated, admiring it herself. Apollo found himself doing the same.

She could tell it was no ordinary bow. The fact he had it, meant a whole lot in the eyes of the huntress. She watched him perform a set of movements, each was beautifully performed to perfection. His eyes were focused, his breathing steady, and the release was superb.

It wasn't normal archery. It was archery from the land of Japan. She had studied it herself, wanting to see if it would help her archery. The thing was, she had never seen someone perform those movements so beautifully before, while also hitting a bullseye.

She continued to watch, observing with great interest as he repeated his shots. Over and over and over again, each just as perfect and amazing as the last. She could at least respect the dedication and hard work he put into mastering it. Even his range wasn't that bad.

Though, from what Mia and the other huntresses said, he had a much longer range than what he was showing at the moment. He could also shoot much faster, but she could tell that he was shooting as a form of meditation. The more she watched, the more she wanted to see him actually try.

She wanted to see him hunt. There was something about him that she wanted to see, but she couldn't find out what it was. Perhaps, she wanted to meet a hero that wasn't a disappointment. One that she didn't want to hate, because, despite what people thought, she wanted to like heroes.

The thing was, they always let her down. They would always hit on her or the other hunters, or treat them as if they weren't equals, simply because of what they were. This man accomplished something she had dedicated her life to doing, so she really didn't want him to be a scumbag.

Artemis and her hunters kind of wished their Zoe could have witnessed this. They knew she was different towards the end, but it didn't change the fact that Shirou seemed to be the kind of hero Zoe would have liked.

Some of the half-bloods felt a bit bad, as Zoe's thoughts sounded a bit personal and they felt like they were hearing things they shouldn't.

As she was watching, she noticed that Shirou seemed to stiffen for a moment. He appeared to be stuck for a moment, before he took a deep breath. Zoe was watching him carefully, noticing him muttering to himself. She tilted her head, not understanding what was going on.

However, she then felt a strange feeling come over her. 'It seems there are monsters nearby. Well, we can't have them running around, besides, it'll only take a moment.' She thought to herself. She turned her head and made a few signals to the other hunters, who nodded in reply.

She turned her head to see Shirou heading towards his home. She wanted to stay and keep watch, but it seemed that he was heading in for the night. She let out a sigh. It had been nearly two weeks and they hadn't had to deal with monsters the whole time. It was annoying, but it was their job. She let out a sigh, before turning and heading towards the disturbance.

"That's an odd coincidence." Percy said, noticing how odd the timing was.

"Did Shirou do something?" Annabeth asked, wondering if he was even capable of that.

"No. It really was just a coincidence. Our dad doesn't have that kind of power, nor would he summon monsters since he wouldn't want to endanger anyone." Elder Thalia pointed out.

---

Shirou felt the presence of the hunters leave, allowing him to de-materialize his bow. He let out a sigh of relief. He wasn't sure if they could sense things like he could, but if they could, then they'd be able to feel Hestia. A part of him was a bit hesitant to enter, but he quickly stomped that part down.

Shirou had many thoughts running through is brain, walking into the house and heading to the living room. Hestia told him that she'd be returning, so he decided to wait for her there. Honestly, it was strange for him, as it felt like he hadn't seen Hestia in a long time, even though that wasn't the case.

He attributed it to stress, the hunters, and, most significantly, Aphrodite and the antics she pulled. Even after time passed, he was still on guard, expecting her to burst through the door. Maybe he was traumatized, he didn't know. However, it wasn't important.

"Hmph, I wasn't that bad." Aphrodite pouted, getting a giggle out of Miyu in the process.

"I think he's just stressed, Dite." Hestia comforted her friend, smiling as she did so.

---

After some time passed, Shirou felt himself slowly begin to fall asleep in a rather comfortable chair. He was tired and his eyes slowly shut. As he did so, a dream made itself known. Shirou was leaning against Fujimaru, barely keeping themselves standing with each other's weight.

Miyu and Thalia both sat up a bit straighter, not knowing about this event. The gods noticed this, understanding that this must be a rather important event. They understood how important dreams could be, though they also noticed that this seemed a bit different.

It wasn't a normal dream. There was just something that told them that was the case, but they couldn't put their fingers on.

It was obvious, both were exhausted and nearly broken down from whatever was going on. He noticed that he still looked like he did now, though Fujimaru seemed to be dressed in an outfit he didn't recognize. "Shirou, you're still hanging on, even after all this time?" He heard her speak to him.

"You didn't think I'd actually let you keep going alone, did you? I may not be with you in person, but I'll always be here to support you." He said to her, leaning his head back against hers.

"It's tough, Shirou. I wish you were here with me." Shirou hummed in response.

"If I could have, I would have stayed." He replied, looking at his hands. They were bloody and his body was pretty banged up.

"I know, Shirou, and I would have went with you if I could have. But, yet, here we are." She said to him, in a nearly solemn voice. "Sometimes, I want to quit and I don't really know what to do." She said, before she let out a sigh. "We have to keep going, don't we?" Shirou looked up, seeing nothing but stars.

This wasn't a dream, at least not a normal one. The gods could see it plainly, and could tell there was some sort of magic at work, but the half-bloods were a bit puzzled. Though, everyone present could tell that it was evident that Ritsuka Fujimaru and Shirou shared a bond closer than almost anything in the world. The fact the two were able to connect despite being literal worlds apart was enough evidence for them.

Miyu and Thalia had heard Shirou talk about some of his dreams and connections, but he never went into too much detail. For the two, being trained by him, they could see that their bodies were reflecting their current mental states.

Hestia would admit to being a bit jealous of this bond, despite not being the actual Hestia Shirou loved. She couldn't help but wonder if Shirou and Ritsuka's relationship was romantic or not. Not that it really mattered, considering Shirou was in another world, but she had a feeling her other self would like to know.

Aphrodite though, she could feel the connection. There was love there. It was unconditional, built on trust, faith, and hope, forged in battles and hardships most mortals wouldn't even dream of enduring. Whatever their bond was, it went beyond simple labels. Not even she could label what this was. He was the hero and she was the master. When they were separated, both were lost, only now founding each other. Their appearance indicating their mental state without the knowledge of what happened to the other.

Through the bond of the book, Aphrodite felt an intense surge of jealousy, before she managed to get a hold of herself. She didn't know what that was, nor why she would feel it, but it did tell her this was something she didn't quite understand. Something she did want to understand. It reminded her of...it reminded her of Shirou and Hestia's other self. The thought entered mind. 'I wish I could experience even a sliver of that.'

"Yes, we do. For humanity, for Earth, for all of our friends who put their trust in us, and for everything we have now. Neither of us can stop, because it's not in us to give up. Even if we feel completely unqualified." He said, though he felt like he was saying to himself.

Percy and the half-bloods couldn't help but identify with the spoken words. These two were undoubtedly heroes. No, in their eyes, they were even greater than themselves. Unlike them, these two were nothing more than ordinary humans. Sure they had access to magecraft, but that didn't mean they weren't still human. To accomplish what they did with no divine blood was worthy of the utmost respect in their eyes.

He felt a hand grasp his, though he didn't look to see. "Are you happy, Shirou?"

"I am, even if I don't deserve it." He replied, feeling a sting of guilt. Though, her hand only gripped his tighter.

Miyu's eye twitched at that. Hearing her dad speak that way about himself hurt her. She knew that he was different now, or likely was, but that didn't mean it hurt any less. She wondered why it bugged her so much. Perhaps it was because she could understand her dad's feelings so much that it hurt. She didn't really know, but she would pay attention, because she wanted to be a hero like him one day.

"Good, because you do deserve it. We have to enjoy it, otherwise, we'll just regret it later." She let out a small laugh, "And I'm sure you always say something about, not having any regrets, right?" Shirou responded with a chuckle of his own.

"I don't know, it doesn't sound like me. Sounds a bit pretentious if you ask me." That caused her to let out a genuine laugh. The two then noticed the area they were in begin to crack.

"It seems we're out of time, Shirou." She said to him, gripping his other hand. "I told Ophelia that you were too stubborn to die. I'm glad to see I was right." Shirou only let out a small huff.

"Stubbornness may not help with gods, titans, and monsters this time. That's not even mentioning everything else going on. I nearly had a heart attack a few weeks ago, just from being around a goddess." He replied, a bit irked.

"It helps a lot more than he might think." Percy couldn't help but point out. He wouldn't have gotten very far without being stubborn. Annabeth had to agree.

"I feel the same, but that doesn't mean we can't try. So, promise me, you'll stay alive until I find you." She said to him, causing him to let out a sigh.

"I promise. But, you have to promise me that you'll watch over everyone for me. I can't imagine how they took my departure." He chuckled.

"Well, last time I checked, some were dedicated to finding you, wherever you are. Though, judging from what I'm feeling, some may not be too happy with your current situation." She joked, causing him to shiver at the thought. The unraveling was growing closer.

"Oh, it seems Shirou will have a lot of explaining to do in the future." Aphrodite teased, seeing Hestia blush a bit. Athena only sighed, knowing that her other self would likely be the cause as well.

"It's nice that his friends are trying to find him though. I'm not sure what will happen when they do find him, if they do, at least." Hera said, knowing that it was easier said than done. They were gods, and even they weren't confident of reaching into another world. It'd take a considerable amount of power.

"Fujimaru..." He said, but he felt her shake her head.

"Nuh uh, don't even start Shirou." She let go of his hands, before turning him around to face her. "You can't start doubting yourself now, otherwise I'll start doubting myself." She said to him, before she smiled at him with her usual bright smile.

The screen showed off the image, with many of the males agreeing that the girl was quite good looking. Hestia couldn't help but feel a bit competitive, since she felt Shirou would like hers more.

"You're truly a troublesome girl, sometimes." He said, rubbing the back of his head with a small smile on his face. "Good luck, Fujimaru, and don't ever forget, I'm still with you." She stepped forward and gave him a quick hug, one he reciprocated, which caught her off guard, causing her smile to widen.

"The same goes for you, Shirou. Maybe next time, we'll have more time to talk." She said to him, before stepping back. Her form then changed, becoming fresh and uninjured. "And don't worry about a thing, Shirou. If anyone deserves it, and can handle it, it's you." She said, reaching up and patting his head, though she had to tiptoe to do it. "Be happy."

She then dropped back down, before giving him another smile, which Shirou mirrored with a nod. His own form returning back to normal. Just as the world began to turn into nothing, the two spoke at the same time. "You've got this."

Aphrodite and Hestia grew slightly frustrated at the fact that their last interaction didn't answer anything. It was completely ambiguous. Aphrodite, mainly to satisfy her curiosity, and Hestia because she didn't want her other self to have to worry about her finding him.

Miyu and Thalia hummed, realizing where their father got his little catchphrase. It was something between him and Ritsuka. They admittedly found themselves saying too, but it still nice to know.

Athena found it interesting that their forms grew refreshed after their talk. To her, she could see that this place they met up in was a reflection of themselves, of their spirits. Meaning it was likely a construct of some kind, or at least, that was her theory. 'Something had to have been responsible for this meeting. It couldn't have been completely random. Especially since they both needed each other at this specific point in their lives.' She guessed Ritsuka Fujimaru was at a turning point like Shirou, but she couldn't be completely sure.

---

And the next moment, Shirou was back in his living room with a smile on his face. "Shirou?" He heard a beautiful voice call out to him, causing him to turn towards the speaker. Standing nearby was Hestia, looking at him with a curious smile. Shirou let out small chuckle, before standing.

'Be happy, huh?' He walked over towards the goddess, who's face reddened the closer he got. "Welcome home, Hestia." He said with a smile. Hestia's eyes widened, before she answered with her own bright smile.

"It's good to be home, Shirou." She said, grabbing ahold of his hand. "Are you ready?" She asked, causing him to tilt his head, before he nodded. "Then come on!" Her voice was excited, more excited than he could ever remember. She pulled him through the house, heading towards the main bedroom.

Miyu smiled at her mother's excitement. She could see the joy on her face and couldn't help but feel proud that she was the cause of it. The fact that her dad even seemed rather excited only increased her happiness more.

"You're so cute, Hestia. I'm so glad that we get to see how you'd be as a mother." Aphrodite said with a happy smile, slightly swaying side to side as she did so.

"That is the most excited I've ever seen you, sister. It's quite a nice sight. I'm sure mother would love to see it." Hera teased a bit, though she was genuine with her words.

Hestia smiled in response. "It would be my first ever child, with the my first ever love, of course I'd be excited during such an occasion." She told them, her fiery red eyes softening and her aura just emanating a gentle and loving feel. It actually caught the gods by surprise when they felt it.

Demeter looked at her sister with a bittersweet smile. 'It's just a shame that it's a different Hestia experiencing it and not you, sister. If anyone deserves this, it's you.'

She led him into it, before leading him over towards a wooden cradle of some kind. One that looked very well made. Before looking, Shirou thought back to his dream, remembering her words. He opened his eyes, before looking down onto a small child.

The moment he did so, he felt himself stop breathing for a moment. "A girl?" He asked, though it was rhetorical. The child had dark brown hair, almost black really, though there were red streaks present as well. Her face was almost a nearly perfect mix of the two of them, though she retained Hestia's fiery red eyes.

The child smiled at him, causing him to respond with a content smile of his own. "Does she have a name?" He asked, not turning away from the child. He heard Hestia let out small hum.

"Mmhmm, her name's Miyu." He heard her say, causing him to turn his head towards her. That was a familiar name, especially since it was the name of his sister from another world. Hestia simply smiled at him. "I thought it'd be a nice gesture, plus, I really like it." She said, rocking back and forth on her feet.

Everyone looked towards Miyu, who was sitting happily by Hestia. The smile on her face and even her fiery red eyes were almost identical to Hestia's own. Their appearance varied a bit, but it was easily noticeable that she was her daughter.

"You really are the perfect mix of your parents, dear." Hera said to her, causing Miyu to hum in response. She loved hearing that.

"I can only imagine what kind of reaction will have when you arrive at Camp Half-Blood." Percy couldn't help but state, knowing how big of a deal it would likely be.

"No joke. It was a big deal when Percy was claimed. I can only imagine what the reaction will be to the child of THE Hestia. It must have been a fiasco." Annabeth added, not being able to imagine that. It was one thing to be a child of the big three, and another to be the only child of the eldest, virgin goddess.

"It'd be like if Arty suddenly claimed a kid, could you imagine?" Apollo laughed, dodging an arrow from his sister again.

"I told you not to call me that." She said with a glare. The little interaction distracted everyone enough so that they didn't notice Miyu and Thalia smirk at each other.

Hestia could only sigh, knowing that her brothers reactions would likely be extreme. 'Except for Hades. I feel like he'd congratulate me.' She thought with a happy smile. Hades was always the more reasonable of the three. He liked to act scary, but he was a big softie. His actions towards Miyu when she arrived just proved it.

"Alright, Miyu then. I'm guessing, you won't be leaving the two of us alone in this house, are you?" He asked, knowing how gods were when they had a child. However, he knew Hestia as well. Especially when he noticed her smile.

"Of course not. I'm not an Olympian and you aren't of this world. I don't see any laws being broken. Besides, we're a family, and I'm pretty sure I'm the goddess of family. Plus, families are supposed to stick together." She said, making her way next to him. Shirou shook his head, before both looked back down at Miyu.

"How bold sister. Also, quite smart of you. You are technically not breaking any of the rules or anything, especially with Shirou not even being a human of our world. You also don't have a throne at this point in the story. Still, I can imagine Zeus still throwing a hissy fit about it." Hera laughed, already knowing she'd enjoy that part of this story. She knew her sister had a feisty side. If Zeus attempted to do anything, Hestia would likely put him in his place. She could be quite terrifying when she wanted to be.

Athena could only slightly frown. She was actually a bit jealous of Hestia at the moment. To be able to make that decision so easily, as well having the opportunity to raise her child with the man she loved, well, why wouldn't she be envious. She would have loved to raise Annabeth. She could only imagine how much greater and happier her daughter would have been.

The other half-bloods also felt rather jealous of Miyu. Unlike them, it appeared that she would grow up knowing the love and warmth of her divine parent. Each child thought about their own parents, wanting to know what their life may be like if they were at least a bit present in their lives.

Some of the gods couldn't help but flinch at Hestia's line, "Families are supposed to stick together." Those that loved the parent of their child, yet had to leave anyways.

Aphrodite was inwardly cheering, happy that her other self would be able to observe the happy couple for a while longer.

"You mentioned us doing everything backwards, didn't you?" He asked, causing Hestia to look at him with a raised brow.

"I did, but I think it's because neither of us really know what we're doing, or really how all this works. Not to mention, both of us are new to this. You with what my mom did, and me with, well, relationships in general." She said with a laugh.

"You know, I had a pretty interesting dream earlier." He said, causing her to look at him with curiosity. "I think I needed it. Otherwise, well, I'd probably back out." Hestia was a bit puzzled, she didn't understand what he was saying. "You know, we have a child now. If we're doing things backwards, then there's only one thing that comes before that."

Aphrodite let out a small gasp, something everyone picked up on. She then let out a happy 'squee' like a schoolgirl, before watching the screen intently. It seemed that she had an idea of what was happening, though the others weren't positive of what it was. It wasn't sex, as Hestia was a virgin goddess and already had a child, so they couldn't imagine what else there could be.

"Shirou, what are you talking about?" She asked, not quite getting what he was saying. She had planned on telling Shirou about Athena, but now, she was a bit worried about Shirou, since he wasn't making sense. "Wait, Aphrodite dropped by didn't she? I bet that's why you're talking weird." She said to him, though he only shook his head.

"She did, but she's not why I'm doing this. Well, not completely. I just wanted to, well, try and be a family. So, I made this for you." He said, before taking something out of his pocket. He opened her hand before placing it into her palm. It was an ornate white ring, with hexagon patterns. "I figured this would help."

"No way, is he asking you to marry him?" Hera asked, being caught by complete surprise. She wasn't the only one, as the nearly everyone was shocked by it. A human asking a goddess to marry them? Let alone, Hestia of all the goddesses? "I can't believe mother is missing this." Hera added on, bringing her hands up to her face, intensely interested in what would happen next.

Poseidon had a frown on his face, shocked that Shirou would even consider such a thing. A few of the other gods were similar, but there were some who could only smile at the act. Even Ares, despite his attitude toward the human, admitted he had guts to propose to Hestia of all the goddesses.

Miyu could only watch the screen with a dreamy expression. She had heard of this moment so many times from her mother. She had imagined it in her head so many times, as did the rest of little sisters and brothers. It was one of the first stories they were all told. The union of a hero and his goddess, the flame and the sword. To be able to see it, she felt like she could go back to her world happy. 'I wish my brothers and sisters were here to see this.'

Hestia was blushing incredibly hard. She had even covered her face with her hands, not expecting such a development. The fact she could feel her other self's emotions thanks to the bond from the book, didn't help matters in the slightest. She felt like she might explode, mainly because everyone was watching such a private and tender moment.

Aphrodite was also watching with rapt attention. She was right. This was definitely one of the most interesting things she had ever seen. She also knew how romantic this actually was. She recognized the ring for what it was. Kanshou and Bakuya, Shirou's most trusted weapons, forged into rings symbolized so much. She also knew about the story of the swords themselves. She let out a dreamy sigh. 'That guy likely doesn't even know what he did either.' She thought to herself with a wry smile.

Artemis watched the scene with interest and a bit of shock. Though, she would admit that she was happy for that world's Hestia. Her aunt did deserve the chance to be happy. Shirou wasn't perfect and had many flaws, but Artemis knew that he would do everything he could to make her aunt happy. For her, that was enough.

She could feel it reacting to something, though she didn't know what. She looked at the ring, for a minute, before looking at Shirou with a puzzled expression. Then a look of understanding dawned on her. Her eyes widened, her face reddened like a cherry, and her mouth was opening and closing, but no words came out.

Shirou rubbed the back of his head, having a somewhat guilty smile on his face. "I didn't think you'd react like that, to be honest. I guess I really am bad at this stuff." He said to her, however, Hestia quickly dug into his other pocket, pulling out a black ring. The two instantly clicked together, stopping all movement.

"Bad at it? I thought it was quite romantic." Annabeth sighed, noticing the rings clink together. "Why'd they do that?"

Miyu, without looking away from the screen, answered. "Kanshou and Bakuya have a special property that causes them to be attracted to each other. It's why dad can throw them like boomerangs. They will always find each other." At that, the Aphrodite cabin all let out audible "Aww's".

"He forged his swords into rings. That's what he was working on earlier. Of course. He managed to retain their characteristics and integrity despite changing their form completely. Amazing." Hephaestus couldn't help but voice his admiration. He could do the same, but for a human, it was impressive.

"No matter what, as long as they have their rings on, they'll return to each other and always knew where to find their partner. Isn't that sweet, Hestia?" Aphrodite asked Hestia, who was still slightly covering her face. However, Hestia could only nod in agreement, still a bit too flustered to speak. The emotions from the book were a bit too much for her to deal with. Otherwise, she'd likely have recovered by now.

Athena hummed. "It's also quite practical. If something were to happen, they could use the rings to locate each other. Plus, Shirou will likely always wear it, meaning he could have a weapon on him at all times. All he'd need to do is reverse the effect. Quite ingenious." She said, appreciating the thought that likely went into it, even if that wasn't exactly the intention, she had a feeling Shirou knew that to be the case.

Aphrodite groaned. "Come on, did you have to over analyze it like that?" She asked, with Athena simply smirking at her. Aphrodite scoffed, before looking back at the screen.

Ares thought the idea of having a blade on him at all times was also wise. There was also the fact that some cultures, would gift a blade as a sign of loyalty, protection, and respect. As the god of war, he had to admit, even if he turned it into a ring, gifting Hestia one of his most trusted blades was admirable.

Apollo couldn't help but think that Shirou was one of those accidental lady-killer types. He had a feeling that Shirou would likely get into a lot of trouble because of it, but did admit that it was nice to see a version of Hestia so happy. Even if he was against it at first, all that mattered was that Hestia was happy. He was sure everyone in Olympus was of like mind.

Needless to say, Hestia realized what these were. She looked up at Shirou, realizing what he was doing. She honestly couldn't believe he was doing this. It was completely backwards. All of it. Normally, the two would figure everything out, spend time together, figure out if they loved each other, get engaged, and so on.

That isn't what happened in the slightest. She had been overcome with emotion, feeling Shirou's warmth, and remembering their friendship up to that point, as well as how she felt about him in general, including how she felt when he nearly died. Then there was Athena. That also spurred it on.

It was way too fast. Yet, she felt really happy in this moment. It was a fact, the two had a child, which was born from their souls bonding together. Honestly, that was more intimate than anything else. She looked at Shirou, seeing him standing there with that usual smile on his face.

'We're really bad at this.' She thought to herself. 'However, won't this mean that Shirou's mine?' She thought with a smile and a red face. Without another thought or word, she quickly placed Shirou's ring on his hand and her's on her own. "I hope you know what you're getting yourself into, Shirou."

Hera and Demeter smirked at Hestia's thoughts. There was the possessive side of their sister. It usually never showed, like her jealousy, but it was there. Hades chuckled a bit, knowing what his sisters were thinking and couldn't help but think back to their younger days.

Athena smiled at Hestia feeling the same as she did about their method of having children. Bonding together like that was incredibly intimate, despite how different they both did it. Though, she did wonder what it would feel like to experience Hestia's process.

Shirou tilted his head, "Well, I'll have plenty of time to figure that out." He replied. "So, what do we do now, miss goddess of family and home?" He asked with a playful smirk on his face.

Hestia simply smiled at his words, before turning back towards Miyu. She picked her up and held her out. "Maybe, we should start by holding our daughter." She said with a smile on her face. Honestly, she was extremely nervous and freaking out, not in a bad way, but she was happy. She could also feel that Shirou was happy.

Honestly, this was what she wanted. Unknown to her, but this was what Rhea had wanted as well. The thing about happiness and allowing yourself to be swept up in the moment, is that it causes you to forget important things, and Hestia forgot to mention something rather important.

Hestia then straightened, before tilting her head to the side, thinking about what she forgot. The others snickered a bit, with Athena sighing. "You forgot to tell him about Athena sister." Hades called out, making Hestia deflate a bit.

Everyone couldn't help but chuckle at Hestia's reaction. Hera looked at her sister and smiled. She was able to feel her other self's emotions, and honestly, she was a bit jealous of her sister. She was able to experience something she wouldn't be able to. It saddened quite a bit, but she wouldn't let that affect the mood of her sister. As the goddess of marriage, she hoped her other self would bless her sister's union.

---

Unknown to Shirou, but during the happy moment he was having with Hestia, something was stirring. With prophecies, came obstacles and trials. His presence did not go unnoticed in the world, nor did the power he possessed. However, if there was one thing that Shirou was good at, it was overcoming his limits.

Titans were stirring, monsters were returning, demigods were becoming frustrated, pantheons were wary, and war was incoming. The only difference between now and then, was Shirou now had something to lose.

"Oh, that sounds bad. Both things. I mean, if Shirou was bad before, what's he like now that he has a child?" Apollo asked, looking around, the other gods taking note of the words. The book made it sound like Shirou was more dangerous now than he was before.

"Dad never had anything like that before. His emotions or something to lose. I mean, he had relationships before, but it's completely different from having a child. At least, that's what dad said to me. Who knows if he was just messing with me though?" Miyu said before shrugging and sticking out her tongue a bit.

"I must admit, this chapter was kind of a roller coaster. Though, in a good way." Demeter said with a happy smile. "I'm enjoying seeing you in a new light sister." Hestia shot her a nervous smile, as it was still kind of embarrassing see her act in such a way. But, she was getting used to it. Kind of. Not really.

Still, one good thing came out of it. She got to meet her daughter from another world.

"So, can we take a break and have some time to move around?" Aphrodite asked, looking up at the screen. Though, she really just wanted to see Miyu and Thalia interact with the others.

The screen paused, before responding. "Of course. Continue when you are ready." It answered, before adding. "There will be another joining, along with Zeus's return from his timeout." A smiley face then appeared, before the screen blacked out.

Poseidon snorted at that. Zeus, placed in timeout like a toddler, it suited his brother.

Thalia Emiya could only sigh, not excited to see her "Father" again.

"I wonder who's coming next?" Percy asked, actually finding the prospect kind of exciting. Miyu and the older Thalia seemed interesting already, so whoever came next was likely to be the same.

"Um, E-Emiya, c-can you tell me if y-you know me in your world?" Lacy shyly asked, walking up to Thalia. She smiled at the little girl, before patting her on the head.

"Of course I know you little Lacy. We're actually really close in my world." She told her, causing the girl's eyes to light up. Aphrodite could only smile at the interaction, before turning to see Miyu talking to Hestia. The two were smiling and she could feel the love Hestia already had for the girl. It was nice to see and feel. Miyu was interesting. She already knew that Miyu wouldn't tell them everything, and she was quite good at hiding her emotions, but Aphrodite could tell that Miyu had some connection to her, a strong one. She just wanted to know what kind it was.

Young Thalia looked at her other self, being a bit intimidated by the girl. They were likely the same age, but her other self actually appeared to be that age. She was a bit jealous looking at her, seeing how tall and beautiful she would have become if she hadn't joined the hunters. She didn't regret it, but it was still weird to see a version of herself that didn't. She also admired how strong she was. If her other self could become that strong, then perhaps it was possible for her as well.

"You should speak with her." Artemis's voice sounded off right behind her, causing her to flinch and quickly turn around. Artemis smiled at her. "I know you likely have many questions, but you won't find any answers if you don't ask. I confess, I'm also interested, as she appears to also wear your silver crown. And yet, Zoe appears to still be alive in their world. Interesting, isn't it?"

Young Thalia nodded, before looking back her other self. "It's just, she seems so much different than me. I'm not even sure what to say." She confessed. Artemis laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Perhaps, just a simple greeting will suffice. The rest will surely follow." She told her, before motioning her to go with a nod. Young Thalia took a deep breath, before deciding to do as her goddess instructed.

As everyone was taking their break, the vortex signalling their next visitor appeared. While everyone noticed it this time, most brushed it off, wanting to wait until their visitor showed up. However, Annabeth found herself curious over who it could be. So far, it had been the Older Thalia and Miyu, both daughters of Shirou. One adopted and the other being his biological daughter. Following the pattern meant the next person had to be associated with him, right?

Then again, she figured Percy could come through, or something, since technically, Thalia wasn't Shirou's real daughter. It was possible that Miyu was just a one off. Going by the usual patterns of these things, it's likely the visitors were people who were important in that world. Which meant it could be anyone involved with the great prophecies from their current world. She had no doubt Miyu was a big part of those quests, considering her mother, which enabled her to be part of that prophecy.

'Then again, it did say the great prophecy was broken. But, that doesn't mean another didn't pop up to take its place.' She sighed. She hated not having enough information. She supposed she'd wait and see. As she was thinking that, Miyu appeared in front of Percy in a ball of flames, startling them both, as they were side by side.

Miyu then leaned in close to Percy, who took a step back. Annabeth was about to intervene when she saw Miyu look at her through the corner of her eye, she swore she saw a sparkle in it, before a mischevious smile made its way onto her face. Miyu opened her arms and wrapped them around Percy, pinning his arms to his sides. Annabeth was actually shocked at the action. "Percy, it's so good to see you!"

Percy recoiled a bit, trying to wiggle out of her grasp, but apparently Miyu was stronger than she looked. "Uh, you too? Do we know each other in your world?" He asked, obviously puzzled.

Annabeth regained her composure, deciding she was going to step in, since Percy was obviously uncomfortable. However, she was stopped by Miyu's next words. "Of course we do, you're my boyfriend silly." She said in a sweet tone. Those that were close by all stopped once they heard that. Their eyes all going towards Annabeth, who had frozen in place.

Thalia Emiya looked on and could only sigh and shake her head at her little sister. Percy looked like he choked on a lemon and Annabeth's eyes narrowed in on the daughter of Hestia. "Excuse me?!"

---

Okay done, finally. This chapter has been completed and yay. Holy crap, talk about a lot of words. It was something of a pain to do, but it was mostly because it was this particular chapter that gave me trouble. However, I believe it'll be easier next time. This went through multiple forms, before I settled on this one, which, even I'm a bit iffy on. But, I liked it. Anyways, on to the important things.

This was mostly to showcase Older Miyu and some of her personality. I also wanted to show how she would react to the story and what her dad was like before she was born or able to understand. She idolizes Shirou much like Shirou idolized Kiritsugu, so you can imagine how it'd be tough for her to see some of these things. I also wanted to showcase how she feels about the differences in the worlds, much like Thalia did. I'm debating having the next chapter be a short interaction chapter before going onto the next chapter, but I also want to introduce the next character with this chapter, because they're apart of that chapter, which you may guess who I planned.

Needless to say, Miyu hates how Athena and Aphrodite treat each other, as well as doesn't understand why Aphrodite acts the way she does. She also easily bonded to Hestia, because of course. I'm not sure how well I managed to get everyone across, as it can be tough to get all the gods equal treatment, along with the demigods and hunters, but I feel like I'm giving them appropriate attention when it is appropriate. So, yeah.

The last part is obviously Miyu messing with Annabeth, but I wanted to showcase a bit more of her personality. Though, I will say that Shirou's traits will be more evident as I showcase her in this and in Lost Hero of Chaldea. She really is a mix of her parents, though this includes Aphrodite, Athena, and Artemis. Hence her teasing, which she got from Aphrodite.

I also had Aphrodite and Athena argue quite a bit, just to highlight the dichotomy of their friendship in Lost Hero of Chaldea. I also included some other information that adds some backstory to the original story, but isn't really required, it's more just fun stuff, like the fact that Ritsuka and Shirou's relationship is ambiguous, which will be a recurring thing in this story, since I thought it'd be funny for everyone to feel they'll get an answer only for it to keep going.

There's probably more I could say, but I want to get this out, so I'll leave it here. Anyways, I hope you all enjoyed reading. It was fun and I'm sorry for the late update. Thanks for all the support and reviews, it really helps out. You're all great. Feel free to ask questions, I usually try to answer. Once again, thanks for reading the chapter, I hope you enjoyed it, and, as always, until next time.