"Alaya? What is she doing here?"
Nero questioned as she got up together with the others.
"This lovable screwball romantic comedy is just not for me. So I've decided to add a little twist to it."
The primordial being disappeared for a moment, reappearing next to Saber.
"What-"
With a motion of her hand, she swatted her away like a fly and touched Mordred's neck, immediately knocking her out and picking her up.
Nero readied her sword, but before she could do anything she too was blasted away by an invisible force and held down by what seemed like abnormal gravity.
Salter was quick enough to slash at Alaya, but she vanished in smoke, only to reform behind her.
"There's one too many Sabers, don't you think? We can afford to lose one?"
Alaya commented drily as she readied a blast of pure energy. A golden weapon stopped the attack before it could be unleashed, and several others followed. However, they all froze in place just before hitting Alaya.
"Pathetic."
She turned them around and fired them toward a new onslaught, stopping it.
Then she started to levitate from the ground, still holding Mordred in her arms.
"Now listen well, all of you. I'm taking this girl with me as my prisoner. If you want to have her back, you'll have to face your greatest challenge yet. I have created 7 keys that, when placed together, could open a portal to where I exist. I have bound each to the Saint Graph of a Grand Servant.
In other words, if you want her back, you'll have to defeat 7 Grand Servants. Good luck. I hope to see you again, once you'll be worthy to face me."
And with that she disappeared into the sky.
"MORDRED!"
A desperate cry echoed throughout the world. The desperate cry of a parent who has just lost a child.
"Artoria, calm down."
"Mordred... no... Mordred... it's not fair..."
"There, there, it's alright, it's ok... we'll find her, I promise..."
"Jeanne, please bring the kids away. Galter, take us to a bed, please."
A few hours later...
Gilgamesh walked around nervously just outside a room, together with his companions.
Suddenly, the door opened, and Dunant was immediately flooded with questions.
"Apart from several severe panic attacks and a mental breakdown, she's mostly fine."
"I wouldn't call that mostly fine."
"Thank you for supporting her emotionally. I would give her something to ease the pain, but that would just delay it."
"Thank you, doctor."
"I did what I could. Please take care of Miss Artoria."
They all entered the room. Saber was somewhat calm in that moment, absently holding a cup of tea.
"Would you like a muffin?"
"I'm not hungry."
"... we're so sorry for what happened. We couldn't do anything."
"You did what you could. I'm the one who failed to protect her."
"Listen, Artoria. I know that the moment is hard, but luckily we've been given a solution. We just need to do what she says, and then we'll have Mordred back."
"Don't be absurd, you'd have to defeat all Grand Servants, their allies, only to have a chance to fight the collective will of humanity... it's crazy to even think you'd stand a chance."
"So are you just going to give up your daughter like that?"
"..."
"That's what I thought. And if you're planning to fight for her sake, wouldn't it make sense to increase your chances of victory by joining us?"
"..."
"Besides, don't you want to hurt those who took your daughter away and made her suffer all alone."
The teacup shattered, falling to the ground in a million pieces.
"Hurt them? I want to kill them."
"Good. And on your own, you have exactly 0 chances. Together, we may not have a lot of chances, maybe not even 1... but maybe, just maybe, we have a 0.1 chance to make it. And the faster we start, the faster we can save Mordred... or die trying."
"... let's leave tomorrow."
"Yeah, now you need to rest."
"I don't need rest, I need to train and get stronger."
"And you will. But not now. Now you need to be ready. Because there's no way of knowing when we will fight our first battle, but when that happens... we need you at your best."
"... fine."
"We'll leave you now. See you tomorrow."
Wow, Salty, you really do know how to get a point across.
"I know myself well enough."
"Yeah, I guess... but you're right: it will be nearly impossible, at least at our current level."
"You mongrels, how could you forget?"
"? Forget what?"
"I'm here. That alone means nothing is impossible."
The following day...
"From the bottom of my heart, Artoria, I wish you the best of luck. Same goes for all of you."
"Are you sure you don't want to come, Jeanne? You'd be of great help."
"I know... but... I can't leave this place unprotected. It just wouldn't sit right with me."
"You're right... but... I know we'll meet each other again."
"I can only hope so. And if that time does come... I'll help you for sure."
"Thank you, Jeanne."
"Don't go, Miss Artoria!"
"I'm sorry, little ones, but I'll be back in no time at all. Trust me."
"Are you sure we can keep these jewels, Mister?"
"I have no need for them."
"Thank you!"
"Behave yourselves."
"Galter, there's just one question left: how and which way will we travel?"
"Last time we went too fast, we were struck down. We can't risk that happening again. We'll travel at moderate speed like before. We can use my Ship of Light. As for the direction... I know the way."
"If you say so..."
"I can't pinpoint exactly where the Grand Servants are right now... not to mention, likely due to that mongrel's influence, my vision into the future is kind of iffy... however, I can see which paths lead us to a dead end... therefore, by excluding them, I can conclude where we must go."
And so, with a final round of goodbyes, they were all aboard and ready for whatever awaited them.
Some time later...
"..."
"..."
"... *whispers* it's dead quiet, isn't it?"
"*whispers back* Want to guess why?"
"Ow... yeah, I get it... but no need to hit me, Salty..."
"... Saber-"
"I'm not in the mood for your games, Archer..."
"Me neither... I just wanted to say, we'll do... I'll do whatever it takes to get Mordred back from-"
"I already told you, I'm not in the mood."
"I know. That's why I won't do it for you. I'll do it for me. I'll do it because I want to save one of my companions. I don't care if this pleases you or not... but if I didn't do it... it wouldn't sit right with me."
"... thank you."
"No need to thank me, I'm not doing it for you."
"Regardless... you are all helping me... as long as your heart is in the right place... regardless of what you think... if you act in a good way... that's a first step. And that should be recognised."
"... yeah, I shall let my actions talk louder than my words."
"That's the spirit! Nothing will ever stop us now-"
Just then, the Ship of Light stopped.
"Why aren't we moving, Galter?"
"See for yourselves."
Exiting their cabins, the group could see that another enormous ship was standing in the way. It too was golden, but more primitive, more childish even, it looked like what a kid would describe as a "pirate ship".
"Stand ready. We don't know if it's friendly or not."
A powerful light elevated from the other ship, getting higher and higher before slowly descending toward them.
Everyone readied their weapons, ready to strike the moment whatever was getting closer made even the slightest movement that could be seen as hostile.
As it got nearer, the light got more distinguishable. When it was practically in front of them, one thing was abundantly clear: it was a human.
"Who are you?"
"There's no need for violence. I come in peace. As a matter of fact, I've come in response of your needs, which you so kindly showed me in your sleep."
"What do you mean? Who the hell are you, mongrel?"
"You can't tell? I guess that my existence is indeed hard to interpret... I've been called many names and have had many interpretations... but you might know me by the name... Sandman.
It is a great pleasure to finally meet you, Father."
"... WHAT?!"
Back at the hospital...
"I really hope Artoria's doing fine... my heart is fluttering an unusual amount... what a strange feeling... I just can't help... but really wish... she was happy."
Jeanne sighed, enjoying the gentle wind, when she noticed a point in the sky getting closer and closer by the second. The point ended up crashing right next to the building.
Jeanne could now see clearly that it was a Hippogriff, a mythical creature that she thought could only exist in the legends... however, she did have the memory of a Servant who possessed it as a mount. And exactly that Servant was now slowly crawling his way toward the hospital, several arrows lodged in his back.
"Oh Lord... is that you... Astolfo?"
"... this voice... is it you, Jeanne?"
"Yeah... what happened to you?"
"My king and the other Paladins got attacked while I was away... I barely escaped..."
"What about them?"
"They were... completely wiped out... by a Grand Servant."
"A Grand Servant? Who?"
Before he could answer, Astolfo passed out.
"Mr. Dunant! Miss Nightingale! Help!"
"Jeanne? Is that you?"
"Who is it now- G... Gilles?!"
"Yes... I'm sorry to bother you, Jeanne, but... we need your help. France needs your help again."