Chapter 22: Bridges Made Mended & Broken
-39:58:47
Her arms felt like they were wrapped in chains. She took tiny steps down the carpeted floor, trying to make as little noise and put as little pressure on her legs as possible. What little good it did. It felt like they were resting at the moment, but that wouldn't stay the same. Sooner or later, they always started up again.
She peeked around the corner to …Grandfather's office; the door was shut. A tiny blessing… or maybe he was somewhere else in the house. He could move really quietly for someone who looked that old, too; she turned carefully around half-expecting the worst, but the hall was empty. Nobody except her. She sighed silently to herself and moved on. There wasn't much daylight left, but she didn't feel much like going outside. The front yard wasn't that big, and the back felt just… wrong.
She couldn't leave the mansion grounds, either. Not without permission. She had tried it once, a little over a year ago, when missing her … became too much. She had snuck out of a window, slipped through the bars at the front gate… and Grandfather had already been waiting for her.
Then came the first time she was brought down into the basement.
She upped her pace through the house, not even sure if she had a destination in mind, but there was no outrunning the memories. Millions of tiny probes crawling along her bare skin, then feeling them inside her, screaming her lungs out until the echoes bounced back to her, every last part of her being chewed on…
Her knees lost all strength, and she fell onto them sniffling into her hands.
…Why? Why does this have to be my home? Did I something wrong? Is that why … sent me to live with Grandfather?
Such were the questions reverberating through her mind this last year, her only companions during those times where her insides knew "peace." She blinked through her tears and the gaps between her fingers to find a familiar door before her. She was in front of Uncle Kariya's old room. Her right hand reached up, stopped, then reached again to turn the knob.
The room was just like the last time she'd visited. Not a book out of place, the desk untouched. This was the only place in this whole house she could feel a little at ease. A little.
Uncle Kariya… He had been down in the basement right beside her, trying to get them to come at him (it had worked sometimes). He always gave her a sweet smile, even after half of his face turned broken. He had hugged her and promised her they'd go to the park with … and … again, just like they used to. He was out there right now, fighting for her.
But the ones he was fighting against… like the big angry woman who had thrown Uncle Byakuya around… and there were others… He could get hurt, he could-
She couldn't help but start crying again. "P-Pl-Please stay safe… U-Uncle Kariya…" The whisper might've been a prayer… but her … had never been very religious, even if Father Risei had always been nice to her. She hadn't seen him in a long while either…
Maybe that was why her prayers were never answered.
…Why?
"That is the question, isn't it, little one?"
Her whole body froze up. She turned her head stiffly around, not daring to make another sound. It wouldn't have made a difference.
The man from yesterday stood there; no, he wasn't a man, she reminded herself, but a Servant. A spirit of great power. His black and red chest was plain to see through the long slit in his dark robes. His legs looked weirdly metal, she thought she could them whirring as he stepped closer, she in turn shying further into Uncle Kariya's room. He had both hands clasped behind his back so she couldn't see them. But those horns atop his head, those yellow eyes ringed with red peering down at her, those she couldn't miss if she wanted to.
"Why are we here?" The familiar didn't look like he wanted to hurt her, though. "Why did this happen to us? Why must we suffer?" Even his voice sounded… calm. "Why?"
He stepped ever closer to her, but this time, she remained at her spot. With him standing in the doorway, it wasn't like there was anywhere a little girl like her could go. "…Who are you?" Her voice finally came out as little more than a whisper.
She didn't know what exactly was in those eyes watching her, but he answered with no change in tone. "I am a guest of sorts to this house. Zouken Matou, your grandfather, I believe," his head tilted slightly as she flinched despite herself, "…invited me here to aid him in a certain bit of business."
"The Grail War."
A red-lined brow rose slightly, making her stiffen again. "Yes… The Holy Grail War." But the being sounded amused rather than angered. "Your gift has not stripped you of allawareness, it seems. Or perhaps you carry a strength hidden deep inside yourself. Good…"
She couldn't help but frown at his words, but just as she said, "Gift-?!"
Pain lanced up her spine. Her fingers twitched and curled while her legs buckled. N-no… Not again… But her pleas went unanswered, just as they always did, as those evil little things began rummaging about inside of her. Then they really started biting. She could feel her Magic Circuits being chewed down to nothing. P-please…
"Hm, I sense much strength within you, young one…"
The biting lessened, gradually, so agonizingly gradually, but enough for her blink through her teary eyes… and find the Servant kneeling over her with his right hand.
"Pain…" Avenger X muttered to himself while he called upon The Force. "Misery… Anger… Fear…" He took in a sharp breath through his nose, shutting his eyes in the process, then opened them again to find young Sakura Matou staring back at him. "So much fear… so much potential…" The Crest Worms inside her were still as the grave… for now.
"Oh, the things I can teach you, little one…"
Artoria Pendragon was a Heroic Spirit, one of the most famous and celebrated individuals in this world's history. Befitting her legend as King Arthur, she had rarely known fear or even anxiety in her life. She had faced knights, raiders, witches, Kings and Queens, and countless foes with iron resolve and an unflappable demeanor.
But here and now, standing in front of this man she had once called friend… she couldn't move.
Sir Lancelot remained in his kneeling position, his arms having fallen to the side. With For Someone's Glorydeactivated, there was nothing to hide his finely crafted dark armor, a shade of violet matching the color of the long hair flowing from his head. Dark eyes returned her unblinking gaze while the face that could captivate nearly any woman (and quite a few men) was set in a stoic visage. Or rather, nearly stoic. Everyone gathered there could detect a hint of sorrow in the tilt of his chin, his mouth's straight line, his narrowed eyes.
Why is this such a shock to you? A little voice whispered inside Saber's head. Kakashi had forewarned you. You had seen the signs yourself. Why do you gawk like an addled fool?
Her hands balled into fists, but she gave herself no answer.
Kiritsugu Emiya, Maiya Hisau's Shadow Clone and Assassin X found their suspicions confirmed, but they hadn't expected this situation. The assassins kept their guards up, wary of this being some trick and both Kariya Matou and Caster X's lack of worry over their ally's True Name coming to light.
Aside from Saber, Tokiomi Tohsaka and Lancer X were the ones most taken aback by this revelation, though they both hid it well. And the Master's mind quickly began to draw the connections made in hindsight. 'His weapon mastery, his fixation on Saber…' He mused over his link with Lancer X. 'This certainly explains more than a few things about the two.'
'So, this is one of these Knights of the Round which served King Arthur in life, then?' The foreign Servant of the Spear was not as well-versed in the Arthurian tales as her deceased counterpart of this world. She only had written knowledge and Tokiomi's word to go on.
'Yes, perhaps the most famous one of them all.' A single finger tapped quietly against the crown jewel of the magus' cane. 'Or perhaps I should say, the most infamous.'
Before he could elaborate, Saber cleared her throat, most of her composure regained and her inner voice silenced. "You are once again in command of your senses, then," she observed as levelly as she could. "Or were you ever truly unfettered by them?"
The knight once consumed by madness calmly shook his head. "I only reacquired them recently, my King. And not without great effort," he glanced sideways to briefly give his partner a grateful smile, "nor was it all of it mine."
Gandalf removed his hat before returning the expression. "True, I aided your journey, Sir." He gave the calmed Berserker a wry look to halt any correction of the use of "Sir," then shifted to Saber. "But it was he who chose to see it through, Artoria King, so he could present himself to you in this state."
Saber nodded at the words, relaxing just a little. "Even so, you have my deepest gratitude, Gray Wizard." She made to add she now owed him a great debt for this, but the mental "sound" of a throat being cleared stopped her. The King of Knights restrained herself from glaring at the Master. Damn you, Kiritsugu… She understood it, of course. Making any such promise out loud, even to an exemplary character like Caster X, was dangerous, more so in circumstances like this. Still, Saber couldn't help but be irked by his pragmatism.
Well, in another time, without a certain someone buffering them both, she'd have denounced him on the spot and probably taken his head.
"Excuse me, Sir…" Said someone then raised his voice. "Just out of curiosity… how much do you… recall… from your… time before now?"
"You mean, do I recall your interference in our first encounter, Assassin X?" Berserker replied drily, tapping his right shoulder. "I certainly wouldn't forget the impressive technique with which you sliced off this arm."
"Yes…" Kakashi scratched his head while Artoria and the faux-Irisviel braced themselves. "It wasn't personal, Sir, I assure you…"
The Knight of the Lake raised his gauntlet, gently cutting him off. "I bear you no ill will. Our battle was to be expected given our circumstances, and you honor me as my opponent." He had no problems acknowledging a capable warrior when he met one, especially one who could literally disarm him. "But most of all, you stopped me from assaulting my King in my maddened state, and for that, I thank you." He bowed his head to the otherworlder in respect and gratitude.
The Copy Ninja released the stance he'd assumed halfway. "She's my comrade, I could do nothing less."
That drew a slight smile from Lancelot. But before he or Saber could say anything more, Lancer X spoke up. "Apologies, Saber, Berserker, but before we immerse ourselves in your reunion, there is a most crucial matter we must discuss this evening."
Saber glanced at her, then her stare returned to her former friend. She closed her eyes to weigh her next words, then opened them before speaking. "…Of course. I fear, though, that I may not be in the right state of mind to contribute to this discussion. Therefore, Master, it may be best for me to retire from it." She then addressed Kariya and his other Servant. "Matou Master, Gandalf the Gray, I ask you allow me to speak with Sir Lancelot in private."
Berserker rose haltingly from his knees but kept his gaze down, not daring to look back to his team. It is beneath a knight's honor to beg, and a besmirched one like him had no right to ask for any further favors after all the chances his Master and the wizard had given him… his fingers tightened inside their gauntlets. Hopes and prayers weren't the same as begging, no?
"Yes, that would be best, I think."
Lancelot stiffened, then shifted his head just enough so his left eye could make out Gandalf's soft grin. "I've borne witness to many conflicts, King of Knights, more than few of them beginning from single mistakes between friends. And each time, I asked myself if the violence that followed could have been stopped if these friends had merely spoken to each other." The ancient guardian of Middle-Earth walked over to his partner and turned his smile to Saber. "I have delayed your confrontation before, but now I feel this is the right time. It would be a shame if the both of you had come so far in this War and not seize this opportunity when it presents itself." He glanced behind to their Master. "Don't you agree?"
Kariya admittedly had his doubts about letting his more unstable Servant wander out of sight with an opposing one, much less the one most likely to set him off again. But he trusted Gandalf's judgement, frankly more so than he did his own, and…
He had dreamt of the life of the Knight of the Lake, too. He'd witnessed his pain and missteps firsthand. "Yeah, it's for the best." And ultimately, Kariya would've given anything for a second chance with Aoi, too. "Just…" he winced slightly from phantom Magic-Circuit pain, "try and behave yourself, Lancelot." He flashed a weak smile a split second before Berserker could've slumped. "Don't think I'm not aware of your fame as a ladies' man."
Artoria quickly sucked in her cheeks at Lancelot's inadvertent sputtering. She looked at Caster chuckle while patting his minutely red friend's shoulder, then an amused but otherwise uninterested Tohsaka and Lancer X, then behind herself. Assassin X shuffled a little, but she preempted any protests with just a look and a few silent words. 'I'll be fine, just… Please.'
Though Kiritsugu frowned at her in silent disapproval, she stood by her decision. Saber was no fool. If worse came to worst, and she were to cross swords with Lancelot, the finest swordsman she knew even now and surely bearing the "Unfading Light of the Lake," she knew the odds wouldn't quite be in her favor. But then, her partner would rush to her side in a heartbeat (as would Gandalf for Lancelot) and… No. No second-guessing herself now. She had to do this.
As for the Man of a Thousand Techniques, he couldn't possibly say no to her, not after all their talks these last few days. So, he nodded and silently blocked his Master's path when he appeared ready to oppose this. Pragmatism and obligation be damned… Kakashi Hatake wouldn't forsake his personal ethos, certainly not in a situation like this.
Kiritsugu's clone cast a small glare at the arm blocking him, then aimed it at its source. 'Let me guess, you'd want this sort of opportunity yourself if it were Obito or Rin?' The original made his disapproval quite clear over their link.
Any shame he felt in using the names of the shinobi's fallen comrades was pushed down as far into the darkest parts of his heart as possible.
'Yes, I would,' Assassin X "replied" calmly. 'Wouldn't you if it were Natalia…' he closed his eye in slight shame; this was dirty of him, he knew. '…Or Shirley?'
…It took every last shred of discipline the Shadow Clone had attained in his days as the Mage Killer to not openly gape at the Heroic Spirit, and even then, his limbs felt stiff as lead. He could sense curious looks being shot his way but couldn't muster the ability to counter them. Thoughts and emotions, anger being a prominent one, swirled about through his mind like an erratic maelstrom, but he couldn't articulate anything through his mouth or the link.
…How the hell does he-? How could-? …Did Iri tell…? Did he pry for her, their names?! Son of a-
Finally, a sigh not his own echoed inside his head, followed by Assassin X's voice. 'Servants can dream, too.'
Somehow, the logical part of Kiritsugu Emiya's brain latched onto those four words and drew the correct conclusion behind his Servant's knowledge, and from there, his composure began to return. He was still slightly rattled, but Saber heard no objections from him.
The King of Knights spared him (and her partner) a nigh-imperceptible nod in gratitude before stepping away from the group and into the forest, her Knight of the Round two steps behind her. Just like old times, she couldn't help but ponder.
The Heroic Spirits' leg strength and mutual trepidation allowed them to gain a sizable distance from the group in little time. They sensed a ripple of mana in the air while walking, a sign of the Bounded Field expanding with them. This at least guaranteed outsiders wouldn't intervene in their… talk.
Finally, Saber stopped in a small clearing not that far from where she had exchanged stories with Assassin X only a couple of minutes ago. Her sight drifted up to the trees' higher branches, the few specks of green among winter leaves, and whenever she tried to turn her head back towards Lancelot, her eyes would linger. Artoria made to say something, but even when her mouth opened, no words came out. Her tongue seemed incapable of movement.
No, it wasn't her tongue. Her thoughts were a turbulent maelstrom once again, images and sounds swirling about with no rhyme or reason behind them. Their only commonality rested at the center of the storm, its "calmest" point: the face of a friend. Seated at the Table. Fighting side-by-side on one battlefield or another. Surveying the lands on horseback.
Standing above him at his and Guinevere's trial.
Only once it felt like another lifetime had passed did the King of Knights find the courage to speak. "…I see your strength has not diminished from your peak in life. You seem to have even learned a few new tricks."
What am I saying? She scolded herself. I do not dance around topics like some silver-tongued politician. I've already discussed this enough with Kakashi. So, why can I not speak to him directly?
"…The benefits of a second life, I suppose." Though she had yet to face him, Saber sensed the same hesitance in the other knight's words. The knowledge proved both calming and frustrating. "And as a Servant in such times as this, I cannot help but wish to test the limits of my abilities even when of… unsound mind."
Saber smiled for half a moment. "You never were one to rest on your laurels…"
An odd sound briefly rang out into the woods. "Like you were ever satisfied with your current state, my King. I imagine you've experimented yourself throughout these battles."
"With moderate success," she admitted openly, the hint of mirth having somehow lessened the pit in her stomach. The King of Britain finally turned towards her subject… and a small frown appeared on her face. He was standing a ways off from her in the clearing, too far for her to reach out and touch him but close enough, arms dangling by the sides from slumped shoulders. His eyes were rooted down at her feet.
This sight of him rankled her. "Stand straight," she snapped without thinking. "Cease your slouching and look me in the eye. You are Sir Lancelot, Knight of the Lake, sworn sword to the Round Table of Camelot! Not some chastened boy caught stealing his neighbor's bread!"
He scoffed, a quiet sound but with a trace of bitterness. The most emotion he'd shown since they arrived here. "If it were merely a loaf of bread I had stolen, we would not be here…"
"I am here to prevent our home's destruction. Why you are here, I am not certain." Even as the words left Artoria's lips, she didn't know why she was saying them. "I never thought you of all men could stand before me as a Berserker. I cannot fathom the reason why you would attack me with such fury," her own anger, grievances she generally kept buried, rose with each syllable, "what slight I inflicted upon you that would bring you to hate me so-"
"Hate you?" Lancelot finally met her gaze, and it was one that mirrored her for nearly each of her emotions. "You think that is why I became the monster who would be snarling and rampaging about were it not for Gandalf? You believe it is because I hate you?!" A fire flickered inside his eyes, hot and eager to erupt.
It was clear the wizard had not truly erased the Knight of the Lake's madness, merely… suppressed it.
Even so, Artoria did not cower from the prospect of Berserker returning. Rather, the fire in her own heart rose to meet his. "What else could be the reason? You attack me, try to kill my comrade and friend, nearly endanger this city itself in hounding me, and for what?!" Her arms snapped out while the voice in her head chiding her for this grew harder to hear. Why do you throw your rage about, you fool? Have you forgotten everything Kakashi taught you, everything you've learned the past few days? Why do you do this to him? "Even after learning of your fidelity, I wished only the best for you and Guinevere, I forgave you, Lancelot-"
"I DIDN'T DESERVE YOUR FORGIVENESS!"
The outburst struck her harder than any physical blow. Lancelot was leaning forward, fists clenched before him as though to fight, his eyes blazing with maddened fury…
And then dimming again. He shrank away in nigh-tangible shame. "I betrayed my King," his roar had dropped to a whisper, "dishonored the Queen I grew to love, let our home fall to ruin…" His arms had fallen again in utter defeat. "I should have been stripped of my titles, beaten until my bones were shattered beyond healing, flayed from head to toe, beheaded…"
A single tear trickled down his face. "And yet you forgave me."
Artoria nearly would've cried herself, her prior raging all but a glimmer she carried guiltily within. She drew in a deep breath. "…I told you then, you are the perfect knight. And I could clearly see the love you and Guinevere shared." She straightened a little. "You could love her in a way I never could. You both deserved happiness, especially after all the risks you had taken and the sacrifices you had made."
Lancelot sighed a little. "Sacrifices…" His own talks with hiscomrade and the lessons compelled him to tell the full tale. "How could any sacrifices we made ever compare to yours, Arthur?"
Her eyes dipped away from hers for the first time. "So, you knew…" She returned her gaze and found no reaction from him. "Did it grieve you to know you had been serving a girl all this time, not a boy? I took no pride in deceiving you or the others-"
"I know," her friend assured her. "When Tristan left…" Both tensed a little at the memory of their brother-in-arms' departure. "I couldn't stop thinking about what he had said. It was only then I began to see the weight you carried with your crown. When I first sought out Guinevere, I never though about…" He trailed off, the guilt overtaking him. "I wished to ease you of your burden, and so did she. She confessed your secret to me, but she did so out of concern for you, and it only made me admire you more. The lengths you had gone for the sake of Britain…"
Artoria stilled. She had always thought others would look down on her if they knew the truth, the "little girl" behind the legend of King Arthur. The Riders' attitude had justified her caution. Not to mention it had proven a crucial catalyst in Camelot's downfall. But to hear Lancelot had never thought less of her even with her gender in mind… "It had to be done. The people needed a man as King, no matter the pressure on me." She swallowed, another name surfacing in her mind. "Or Guinevere." Her lies had extracted a toll not just from her.
Lancelot seemed to have read her mind, judging from his next sentence. "Guinevere did not blame you for the circumstances once. She simply…" He broke eye contact, gauntlets creaking under the pressure. "We both cared for you, Artoria. All we wanted was to lighten your burden even if by the smallest amount. Our love for each other was… an accident."
For a moment, it appeared as though there was something else, but then, he returned his gaze to her. "I do not try to justify myself, my King. No matter my intentions, I led your Queen astray and condemned her in the eyes of our people. I murdered my fellow knights in a desperate attempt to save her…" He peered briefly up towards the setting sun. "Is it any wonder Gawain denounced me when I tried to come back and aid you?"
Gawain… her steadfast nephew. How pure and righteous the King remembered her White Knight… How furious she recalled seeing him as he cried for justice over Gaheris and Gareth's deaths. As she closed her eyes, she could still see the outrage and confusion etched across his face upon hearing her decree of pardoning Lancelot.
Should his reaction have surprised you? The voice from before had regained its prior volume. Behind the great legends and idols you and your knights had cultivated, you were all ultimately mere humans. Why could you not comprehend this situation? Why didn't you see the burdens you were placing on everyone? Is what Sir Tristan said true even after this second life you've lived? How did everything become such a mess between us?
"I know Guinevere and I should have run away," the Knight of the Lake continued his lament unaware of his King's thoughts, "We could both see the signs, rumors were spreading, and the last thing you needed was to be shamed by the very fools who sought to support you." Grief rumbled through his core, more so from his many failures. "We should have fled…"
"But to do that would have meant forsaking your honor entirely." He started at King Arthur's utterly serene tone, free of judgement or resentment. "You would've had to sneak off into the night with her like a blackguard, and that is something you've always been too noble for."
She forced herself not to sigh. …Because for all my efforts, I was only human. And so was he.
Such was the answer to her most agonizing questions. "Lancelot, even if I didn't know the reasons behind it, I couldn't punish you for your affair with Guinevere because the fault was mine. I made you both worry so much over my burdens when I should have been strong enough. I was always grateful to Guinevere, but I could never love her the way a woman should be loved. In presenting myself as the infallible King of Britain, I drove you both to crumble under the weight of your own burdens. Britain's downfall was my fault…"
She made to finish her statement, but "and mine alone" suddenly caught into her throat. A voice not her own intervened, humming through her mind. "…your kingdom fell because of a witch's manipulations and frankly a series of tragedies." Kakashi could've been standing right next to her, so clear were the words he'd said not half an hour ago. "Some of them were your fault, I won't deny that, but not all of them." And to her shock, they soothed her turmoil.
More of his words followed, and so Saber cleared her throat to revise her prior statement. "You know, my partner has offered me quite a few interesting discussions since we were first summoned together. Among other things, he's given me food for thought over the ideal of 'a perfect King'."
Berserker nodded hesitantly. "Yes, the ideal we all believed in during your time. And that is exactly what you were, Arthur-"
"No," she interrupted him with a softness that took him aback, "I wasn't. Or as my friend Kakashi put it, I was too invested in being perfect I didn't realize the consequences of this. I sought to create an ideal kingdom, one where everyone of my subjects would know peace and happiness, including my brave knights." Her mind drifted to her hidden Noble Phantasm, representing this very utopia she had pursued to create, now in the hands of a man she normally would've never trusted with a bent copper. …Then again, our goals are not so different, are they, Kiritsugu Emiya?
Artoria Pendragon shook herself and continued. "I believed as King, it was my duty to protect and bear the weight of all our people's burdens, and because of these ideals, I alienated Tristan and dismissed Mordred while you and Guinevere in turn wished to lighten me of mine. When caught, you did not flee, Lancelot, but stood tall before me to accept a punishment I could not rightly give. And so, everything slowly fell apart.
"You tried so very hard to be the perfect knight." A sad laugh escaped Artoria. "Just as I strove to be the perfect King."
Lancelot du Lac chuckled himself at the irony inside her words. "And the burden proved too great for either of us. What a pair we make."
She nodded before reflecting on what she had learned since her time after that dreaded hill. "You know, my partner Assassin X hails from a village which follows a curious belief." He relaxed nigh-imperceptibly at the change in topic, drawing a brief smile from her. "According to the Will of Fire, the entire village is one extended family with members that provide for and protect one another. They have a sort of King as well, but this Hokage is not isolated from the 'family': the Hokage protects their people, and the people protect their Hokage."
Her knight hummed in thought, considering what the King had told him and gauging it with his own experiences. "…An unusual ideal," was his final judgment, "but a beautiful one. I do not know if I or the rest of the Round would have entertained considering ourselves equal family with you." He shut his eyes for a moment. "Not even Gawain or his siblings dared to believe themselves so close to you despite sharing blood. You were simply too magnificent a presence, a being transcending even Knights like us."
"And it is this very magnificence, this image of… perfection, which contributed to my isolation," she noted. "Your partner told me not long ago that a 'perfect King' cannot actually exist. Each path of kingship, be it as a guardian or a conqueror, carries its own fundamental flaws." She crossed her arms in thought. "But Gandalf added flaws needn't be a bad thing."
The Heroic Spirit of (Dimmed) Madness smiled a little more widely. "That sounds like him. I suspect he sensed what I was from the moment we first met, the sins I shall forever carry… He saw me for all my flaws, all of my failings… And still he persisted in being kind to me…" He sighed through his nose, his grin dimming again. "Even when I caused him, our Master and you such grief." But his eyes carried a familiar shine that warmed her heart. "I suppose we shouldn't dismiss outside wisdom when it has made this impossible meeting possible."
The One and Future King nodded again. "Iskandar, King of Conquerors, certainly thought highly of it, and I cannot claim to be a greater King than him." The storm inside her core had passed, waters in its place as calm as the Lake where she'd received Excalibur. "Many, many mistakes were made which brought about our home's downfall." She lifted a hand to forestall her knight's protest. "Not all of them were mine…" the confession tasted foreign to her, but not in a bad way, "but I bear responsibility for a fair number of them. Thus, my wish for the Holy Grail remains the same as when I arrived in this War, but my approach has changed."
She fixed her shoulders and stood tall. "I shall prevent Britain's destruction or, at the very least, secure a better ending for it. And I will strive to do so by using the lessons I've learned from the people I have met in this era: Kakashi, Gandalf, Iskandar and his comrades…" She smiled again, this one strong and sincere. "…And you, Sir Lancelot."
Her once lost friend drew himself to his full height, mirroring her expression, then crossed his right arm over his chest to bow. "I wish you all the luck in this world and all others for this task, my King. And though my honor has been tainted from my prior transgressions, I now swear on it you will have my sword for whatever you deem fit, even if it is for taking my life." He raised his head again, face now straight as stone. "I only ask for some time before your final judgment."
Artoria's first instinct was to protest his acceptance of his execution; with all that had been confessed here, she sought Lancelot's head even less. But then her brain caught up with what he just said, and she grew curious. "You truly have tempered yourself, old friend. Does this request mean you have reconsidered your own wish?"
"…In a way," Lancelot replied after mulling it over. "You've surely noticed by now that you are not the only one who's benefitted from exchanging words with their partner." His head turned slightly back to where they had left the others. "Gandalf told me that merely seeking punishment would not balance the damage I have caused. I've been encouraged to try and redeem myself, to make a difference for the better before my time in this world ends."
He hesitated, then admitted, "Part of me believes I can never earn redemption. Still… He has faith in me. And our Master needs our help for a dangerous mission. So, I wish to try." The Knight of the Lake knelt once again before his King. "I know I have forsaken my right to ask any favors of you, but even so, I beg of you now, Artoria Pendragon, forestall your final judgement of me while Caster X and I fulfill our mission. If I survive, I shall submit myself to your will. Please… permit me this final chance to see if I can still do a knight's duty."
The Heroic Spirit of the Sword had already known what her answer would be halfway through his request, but she had let him finish. Now she raised her hand towards him. "Rise, Sir Lancelot." The dark-armored knight did so, and she looked him solemnly in the eye. "Your crimes cannot be ignored, but neither can your many years of service and deeds."
She made her decree with all of the authority her subjects in life had known and admired. "In light of the latter, your request is granted. Serve your Master well! Complete your mission with Gandalf the Gray! Protect your comrade! Prove yourself worthy of redemption!" She paused for a quick breath, her smile back. "And once your task is done, return to me alive. Then we shall determine once and for all what your fate shall be."
By then, I will know what to do with you, she added to herself, …hopefully.
With a smile of his own, Lancelot bowed once again, a pride he hadn't felt in ages surging inside him again. "Thy will be done, my King!"
Artoria too felt nostalgia washing over her again, the sunset's light shining behind her through the trees. She basked in this moment for a minute that thankfully seemed to stretch on forever… then reoriented her thoughts. "I only ask one favor in return, Sir." Like it or not, this was the Holy Grail War, and Saber was a loyal Servant of her team. "Tell me everything you can about this mission and the alliance between your Master and Tokiomi Tohsaka."
"Of course," Berserker complied without hesitation. "YourMaster and partner are surely being informed as we speak, so I needn't keep you in the dark about our business tonight."
-39:55:27
Assassin X had watched the two knights stalk off into the forest from the corner of his eye. Sure, he trusted Saber with his life, but in the state her mind was currently in, who knew how Artoria would end up dealing with her old friend turned enemy?
Kiritsugu by contrast had no intention on dwelling on his current thoughts, so he resolved to be proactive. "Now then," his Shadow Clone dutifully drew everyone's attention, "let's get back on track here. I believe we had business to discuss?"
"Indeed." Caster X leaned slightly forward on his staff, his smile gone now. "Three nights ago, your team agreed alongside many of us to a ceasefire, Lady Irisviel, so we could put a stop to a greater threat. Sadly, Sir Diarmuid as well as King Iskandar and his group can aid us no longer, but even with two of his cronies gone as well, Megatron remains at large."
"And we have all surely ascertained that he still isn't alone." Tokiomi stepped forward. "This outlier, Avenger X… He didn't simply appear in this Grail War by himself." He gestured to his Servant. "Lancer X fought alongside Kariya's team against the foreigner, and judging from what he said and what else we know, we believe his Master is Zouken Matou."
Inside his hood, Kariya tilted his head a little at the Einzbern team's reaction. Or rather, lack thereof. "From the looks of it, you're not hearing anything you didn't already know."
"We had our suspicions, yes," Maiya's clone replied in a perfect imitation of Irisviel's voice and tone. "Our investigations indicated an alliance between Rider X and your family's head, Mr. Matou, at least as early as when that Servant convinced Archer X to join him. It's a bit surprising, though, that you don't seem in the loop of these developments."
Kariya's fist clenched, but Caster X spoke up before he could. "He may share the Matou surname, Lady Irisviel, but our Master does not fight for Zouken's sake, you can be assured of that. In fact, we seek to stop him as well as the rogues."
This information did draw a reaction from Kiritsugu's group, the hidden Master exchanging glances with his Servants and subordinate. Infighting among the Matou family? Research told of Kariya having rejoined them a year ago after spending his whole life away from it, but that could've been due to any number of reasons. Now, though, it looked like he really hadn't returned out of familial love. Kariya in his present state didn't look much better than a severe cancer patient. Assassin X took a discreet glimpse of him with his Sharingan and barely stopped himself from wincing. 'Poor guy's a mess inside,' he reported over his link, 'and I don't mean that metaphorically.'
Like some twisted perversion of the Aburame clan, he noted to himself, suppressing a shudder at the many, many worm-like things huddling inside the man's body. Luckily, they appeared to be largely idle for the time being. Kakashi didn't feel like describing all of this, though, and Kiritsugu fortunately took his word for it.
In fact, the latter as well as the stand-in for his wife were focused on an increasing tension by the Tohsaka duo. Tightening of grips, stiff posture… Looks like they have a bone to pick with the old man, too. "Irisviel" decided to test this a little. "A son striking out against his father is one thing, but I wouldn't have thought you would be interested in another family's discord, sir Tokiomi."
The magus in red rolled his shoulder slightly. "Zouken Matou is a grave threat to the Tohsakas, and in light of our Servants' surprising… cooperation, I believe our interests may coincide enough for us to put a permanent end to his unnaturally long life."
"Is?" Not "could be?" Kiritsugu frowned to himself as another detail came to mind, one connected to both families' dossier: A Tohsaka daughter had been taken in by the Matou family. Not that common a practice between magus families who weren't branches of one another or otherwise bound by blood, but it still happened even nowadays. Come to think of it, though, that business happened just a few months before Kariya had been pronounced his family's champion…
Another look at the visibly agitated Matou boy and his state obviously brought about by magecraft, then at the Heroic Spirits contracted to him, and the pieces began to slide into place. Well, well… The Mage Killer's cold eyes returned to Tokiomi Tohsaka. It looks like he's more than just your archetypical magus patriarch after all.
He signaled subtly to "Irisviel" who in turn addressed both enemy Masters now. "From what we can tell, the two of you have already begun to establish an alliance. Why then would you decide to contact us as well?" At her words, Assassin X moved a little closer to his comrades. "Or maybe you brought us here to ensure we wouldn't get in your way?"
This was a bluff, of course. Neither Artoria Pendragon nor Kakashi Hatake had any doubts in the word of Gandalf the Gray, the one who had invited them to this meeting. Hell, even Kiritsugu found it difficult to believe this wizard harbored any malicious intent; a rarity for a man like him. But they couldn't afford to take chances around people who were technically their opponents. Whatever their affections or sympathies, these Masters and Servants standing before them were contenders for the Holy Grail.
Thankfully, even if the three Servants together could've posed a lethal threat, they had no intention for it. "We would be grateful if you did not interfere in our mutual mission, yes," Caster X said placatingly, "but we bear you no ill will, Lady Irisviel. Rather, we hope to continue for peaceful cooperation with your group. At least until we have dealt with Rider X, Avenger X and Zouken Matou…" Something dark crept into the Gray Wizard's tone upon uttering that name, making everyone else, even Kiritsugu, shudder just a little.
Assassin X eyed him warily; he'd heard this gentle, benevolent person speak of anyone like this only once before: When they'd faced Caster for the first time in the forest.
But it was only for a moment. "But considering what we know of our enemy's strength," his eyes narrowed, "and more, what we do not know, we would also ask of your aid if possible."
Assassin X moved to his supposed Master's side. "All three teams united against a common enemy?" Appealing though it was, he'd learned a long time ago to not get your hopes up too quickly. "Quite the proposal you're putting on the table."
"These are interesting times," Lancer X replied smoothly, locking eyes with him, "and I'm sure you can agree with me none of us can leave anything to chance this late in the Grail War, Kakashi Hatake." He conceded with a nod at that, and she continued. "Besides, would it not please you, Lady Irisviel, to see all three Founding Families working together again if only briefly?"
Kiritsugu chimed in now, still wary about this arrangement. "I'm a little skeptical about letting history alone dictate decisions, especially considering how said history ended between the Families. And while some of you appear more trustworthy than the rest, an alliance like this is a rather big risk. What guarantee do we have it won't end with you lot falling upon us the moment we let our guards down?"
Tokiomi retaliated with a cool half-smile. "It's interesting how you fear treachery from us considering the infamy surrounding you, Mr. Emiya."
Somehow, Maiya knew exactly what Irisviel von Einzbern would say if she were here. "It's because Kiritsugu Emiya is aiding my family that I take such particular care." Crimson eyes narrowed at the emerald-clad Servant and her Master. "Besides, each of the Masters here retains both of their Servants, yet you've shown up with only one, the less powerful one at that. Care to explain?"
Jade bristled slightly at the accusation, but Tokiomi waved her back. "Archer's abilities and temperament are… less suitable for the task we have in mind. I can ensure he won't interfere with this particular mission, though." His gaze dipped tellingly down to his hands resting on his cane, the complete set of Command Seals on full display.
Strutting around with them out in the open… Kiritsugu scoffed to himself. Sloppy. Archer's absence was telling: Like Maiya had said, Lancer X paled in comparison to her partner in terms of destructive might. But that in turn made her a better match for missions requiring a subtler approach. So, if Tokiomi was intending on using her, then they didn't want the Matou residence reduced to a smoldering crater. Not yet, anyway.
His Servant was having the same thoughts and voiced them telepathically. 'The only reason Tohsaka wouldn't just order Archer to unleash his wrath on Zouken Matou…' Assassin X began.
'Would be because Matou is holding something he won't risk getting caught in the crossfire.' Kiritsugu surmised. 'Or someone.' He amended while observing the team of knight and wizard. 'And rather than place all of his hopes that Lancer X can retrieve them before total annihilation, he comes to us extending an olive branch and an alliance to increase the probability of success.'
'Not to mention he doesn't want us to interfere in this mission of theirs or blindside him the moment he lets his guard down. And with Archer staying out of the way while we run ourselves ragged…'
'Tokiomi can have him deliver the finishing blow afterwards,' Kiritsugu chimed in to conclude the duo's deductions. An elegant and ruthless way of wiping out the competition for the Grail in one fell swoop… in theory. How stupid does he think we are? Even if his team agreed to this nonsense, he wasn't about to let them be trapped so easily, and one look at Kariya's team made it clear they had similar thoughts; the Master seemed especially disinclined towards his rival, too.
That could make for another possibility… Then again, Saber and Berserker's connection complicated thatavenue…
As though she sensed his musings, Maiya's clone decided to try and buy some time. "You're both asking me to place a fair bit of trust in you, no matter how brief. Seeing as we have this War's sole remaining Saber on our side along with another Servant who's in no way her inferior…"
A bashful Kakashi rubbed his head at the praise while Kiritsugu nodded ever so slightly in agreement.
"I wouldn't consider us so desperate as to need your help." The fake homunculus stared resolutely at each rival Master in turn. "It actually seems to be the other way around. What exactly can you offer us for this alliance?"
Tokiomi studied her carefully and with a hint of increased respect. It seemed the Einzberns hadn't lost as much of their strength as he'd assumed. Trying to coerce them would be too messy for his liking, and even if he won, this was too early a point to face her Servants.
But it was another who answered "Irisviel's" challenge. "Well, maybe I can convince you." even with one blind eye, Kariya Matou matched her stare in strength. "Someone… very dear to me is a prisoner in Zouken Matou's house, and I will do anything I have to so he can never pose a threat to her again."
Kiritsugu focused on one word. Her, huh? Tokiomi's former daughter? Is she why Kariya's fighting- The latter's next words cut through his theorizing.
"But once that's done, Lady Einzbern, I swear on my name as a Matou, I'll retract my right as a Master and my family's claim to the Holy Grail for good."
It wasn't the words alone that made everyone stare at the slouching half-baked magus, but the tone with which he had spoken them. Had he proclaimed his house's repeal boisterously, they could've chalked it as posturing. If he'd stuttered or shown weakness, it might've been deemed a bluff.
But… "Aside from me and Zouken, my brother Byakuya and his seven-year-old son are all that's left of the Matous. Byakuya's older than me, but between him and my nephew, there's even less talent for magecraft than what I've got." Kariya explained all of this so matter-of-factly, and his words matched with the information both other families had collected about the Matous. "Zouken's the only one with real power in my family anymore, it's been that way for generations. When he dies, our time as magi will come to an end."
Kariya shrugged, or rather tried to; he could only lift his right shoulder properly. The left trembled before sagging again. "I want him dead more than anyone else on this whole planet, and I don't give a damn about the Grail. With him dead and me the last Matou magus, I can put an end to my family's pursuit of it. Hell, I can even put it in writing if it'll convince you all." There he went speaking so utterly blasé about giving up the fight his ancestors had engaged in for approaching on two-hundred years now.
And shockingly enough, Kiritsugu believed him. Then again, he noticed Kariya's words were rather specific.
'Are you certain about this, Kariya?' Caster X turned to him, worry marring his wrinkled features.
'Don't worry, Gandalf, I might be stepping back as a Master, but you don't have to follow my lead. If all three of us are still around after tearing Zouken to shreds, I'll release you and Berserker from service to me. You can still have a chance at returning to Middle-Earth.' He might've been a selfish piece of work, but Kariya wasn't about to let his Servants go unrewarded, least of all the one who'd made him getting this far even possible.
But the Istar shot him a sharp look. 'I believe you, Kariya, but I do not question merely for our own sake. Giving up the Grail entirely… do you really wish to take such a risk? What if you need its power to save Sakura?' His Master froze, knowing exactly what he'd meant. Kariya was an average magus, and after a single year of training, his body was horribly ravaged inside and out. Sakura had been subjected to the Crest Worms' tender "mercies" a little longer, and according to both Tokiomi and Zouken, she carried far greater potential.
The last time he'd seen her flashed before his eyes, her once raven black hair and turquoise eyes having turned purple, a color closer to that of a Matou than who she really was. And her eyes so dull, so bereft of hope…
Kariya's nostrils flared as he forced out the memory, then he "spoke" to his Servant and friend. 'If Tokiomi's as great as he thinks he is, he can come up with a way to get her back to normal completely. Forsaking the Grail for real is the only bargaining chip we have right now. After all, neither of you want to fight the Einzbern team. Not anymore.' His dark-armored Servant glanced away at that. 'Besides, Zouken's the one who spawned all of these damned Crest Worms. He's connected to them; having them jump from host to host is how that vampire's been able to stay alive all of these centuries. But a link like that ought to go both ways. If he dies, the Worms will most likely die with him. All of them, no matter where they are.'
'That alone won't restore your body, Master,' Gandalf interjected, a furrowed brow the only sign of concern on an otherwise stoic face.
'It can't make things any worse for me, either.' Kariya gave him a tired but sincere smile. 'Look, I wasn't expecting to survive this War before I summoned you, Gandalf. And I can't thank you enough for everything both of you have done and are doing for me, including giving me hope for a life, but…' He closed his eyes and nodded to himself before opening them again. 'I'll gladly lay down my life if it means Sakura gets hers back.'
The wizard returned his smile, though with a bittersweet undertone. His Master had truly grown beyond the bitter, revenge-driven wreck he had first met upon arriving to this world. And he knew his partner would praise the man's valor. 'Then I believe supporting our Master's decision is all we can do.' And so he and Kariya faced the rest as a united front again, showing their conviction to this bargain.
Kiritsugu, "Irisviel" and Assassin X scanned the duo standing before them for any hint of deception, any crack in their collective resolve to their bargain… and found none. Kariya Matou's team was almost certainly the most honest side in this parley.
The disguised Shadow Clone of Maiya Hisau thus turned to the third party. "And you, Lord Tokiomi? Would you make the same offer for the sake of our alliance?"
"I'm afraid as representative of the Tohsaka family, I cannot retract our stake in the Grail War." Tokiomi replied smoothly. Inwardly, his respect for Kariya had increased significantly, though the magus in him balked at such an outrageous idea. The Holy Grail is simply too great an opportunity to throw away easily. And Tokiomi needed it to reach Akasha, both for the honor of his ancestors… and for the future of his daughters. "However, I can offer you a favor, Lady Irisviel. Information, the first strike or death of one you have a personal stake in… whatever you desire, so long it be within my power to grant."
Well, having sole claim over the Grail would've been too good to be true. "Irisviel" needed only a few seconds and a nod from Kiritsugu to come up with a different idea anyway. "In that case, I want Kirei Kotomine gone." Another would've laughed at the red-clad magus' blatant surprise, but she went on without missing a beat. "You don't have to kill him, just have him leave Fuyuki City for the rest of the Grail War's duration."
Caster X frowned in confusion before turning to Kariya, but he just shrugged a little himself. Kotomine the priest? The Matou Master wondered. The former Master of Assassin who quit almost right after the War began? What's he got to do with anything? They watched how Tokiomi exchanged clearly surprised looks with Lancer X; no doubt having a private conversation themselves. Gandalf nodded at them, then towards the third group, and then it made a little more sense to Kariya. Oh, for the love of… He huffed to himself. Am I the only Master in this goddamn War who didn't stack the deck?!
Tokiomi for his part didn't want to consider just how much the Mage Killer seemed to be aware of his plans, but he needed to learn more. "May I at least learn the reason behind this… curious request?"
Maiya studied him and the female Servant of the Spear very carefully. Their body language was muted but told a tale of caution, reluctance… but also confusion. So, she decided to stir things a little more. "That man has interfered with our dealings enough for us to consider him a personal enemy of the Einzberns." Sure enough, the word, "personal," made Tokiomi's frown deepen. So, he doesn't know what his pupil's been up to. Lancer X, by contrast, had visibly grown more attentive. It looks like she already wasn't certain about Kotomine.
Beside her, Kiritsugu had made the same connections and gauged Kariya's increasing irritation as well. The crippled man hid his emotions so poorly you could spot them a mile away; no surprise considering he walked away from the magus life long ago. The alliance between these two clearly hadn't been 100% upfront with each other. Sorry, Tohsaka, but if you want me to play your game, you'll have to lay all of your cards on the table.
Meanwhile, "Irisviel" continued her explanation. "We know Kirei Kotomine never stopped being your acolyte, and that he's the one who summoned Rider X in the first place." Tokiomi tightened his grip on his cane. "Needless to say, I have even less reason to trust you so long as that man remains in Fuyuki. In fact, he needs to leave Japan completely for the rest of the War if you still seek our cooperation."
Sensing her Master's internal struggle with the turn this parley had taken and the Matou side's growing distrust, Jade spoke up to give him some time. "We can confirm Kotomine summoned Rider X along with Assassin. But that monster has found a way to become self-sufficient. It's hard to say if even a Command Seal can stop him." Or so Kirei said, she added only to herself. I knew I sensed something… off about him yesterday…
Tokiomi was beginning to have his own doubts about his student, but those would have to wait. "Kirei has been assigned the new overseer following his father's murder, and with how dramatic these last few nights have been, it is more crucial than ever no outsiders become involved in the Grail War. The Church can't just send a replacement out of the blue, though."
"We'll be sure to tread lightly while we're killing each other," Kiritsugu "assured" him.
"You may have little care for subtlety, Mr. Emiya," Tokiomi retorted, "but Fuyuki City is already teetering on the edge of being Japan's most conspicuous part. One more citywide incident, and the whole world will turn its eye towards us. Quite a big risk, even for you, and your employers may not appreciate their Heaven's Feel garnering so much attention."
Kiritsugu almost smirked before catching himself. The Tohsaka head still assumed he was just a mercenary hired to assist the Einzbern Master, not the Einzbern Master himself. If he played it right, he could weather the inevitable collapse of this alliance…
And on that matter, Assassin X chose to weigh in his own opinion. "You make a fair point about anonymity, Lord Tokiomi, but there aren't so many Servants left anymore, much less ones whose powers attract attention. You have a Servant yourself with a penchant for stealth. If done right, we can wipe out the rogue Servants and Zouken Matou with no one the wiser."
"A bold claim," Lancer X countered, "when your partner wields an Anti-Fortress Noble Phantasm. Such a weapon is hardly the most subtle tool in a Grail War."
A silver eyebrow arched towards her. "Remind me how good your partner is at handling situations discreetly." She released a laugh despite herself before the Einzbern Servant continued. "Saber knows the War's rules of discretion and respects them with a knight's integrity. She's not one to unleash her full might for the heck of it. If something like Caster's calamity were to happen again, then yes, but the whole point of us coming together is to avoid that, right?" He widened his gaze to all assembled. "So, let's not let it come to that."
Neither the Einzbern nor the Mage Killer showed any room for compromise. Jade noted this before engaging in private conversation with her Master. 'I doubt we can sway them from these conditions, and the longer we drag this out, the more we risk fracturing our standing with Kariya's group. Judging from the lack of destruction in Saber and Berserker's location, it could mean they have worked out their own differences. Which in turn means…'
'…If Kariya loses what little trust he has in me, he could side with the Einzberns and oppose us,' Tokiomi concluded sourly. He didn't doubt the other man would want to rescue Sakura regardless of which team he allied with, and he still carried three Command Seals for Gilgamesh who could probably win no matter the odds… but the Tohsakas couldn't be lax in the Grail War, not anymore. There was far too much at stake. Ultimately, Tokiomi nodded in submission. "Very well, I will see to Kirei's departure as soon as possible." But not before he and I have had a little… discussion about these accusations, he added to himself.
This could very well be a trick of Emiya's. Kirei had been every bit the dutiful apprentice Tokiomi had hoped for when he and Risei had first brought him into the fold. But this request was quite unusual considering what else Einzbern might've demanded, not to mention Jade herself was being apprehensive around the priest. Tokiomi had come to trust her judgment.
Well, you know what they say, he told himself, Trust, but verify. Aside from his overseer duties, there wasn't much need for Kirei in Fuyuki anymore. Tokiomi also made a mental note to go over his testament again, maybe adjust one or two details…
A matter for later, though.
Right now in the present, the Einzbern homunculus had exchanged looks with Assassin X and Emiya and was now turning back to them. "These terms are acceptable," she declared. "On behalf of my family, I agree to an extended truce between these three teams and perhaps contribute our strength to wiping out Zouken Matou and the threat of the rogue Servants for good." Once that goal is reached, all bets are off, she left unsaid. Everyone knew it, after all.
Ever the mediator, Caster X tapped his staff against the ground to get everyone's attention. "May I suggest, then, that we share what information each of us has concerning our mutual enemies?" His steady baritone voice drew the others' attention, and his words rang in synch with each individual's sense of logic. "Each of us has faced at least one of our enemies, and if we are to succeed, we require as detailed a picture of their strengths and limits as possible. Would you take this risk and trust us, Kiritsugu Emiya?"