In a blacked-out elevator, a group of people stood huddled and looking forward at the door, waiting patiently for it to open. Lights bleeding through from the elevator shaft the cabin travel down briefly passed over the individuals who stood inside, only barely revealing their features and silhouettes. Not a sound was made, save for the occasional shaking of the elevator as it descended; the passengers standing determined with anticipation, almost like they were being deployed on a mission, and for good reason.
Everybody inside waited for this moment… one that none of them wanted to waste…
Finally, the elevator eventually stopped… and the doors opened, revealing a blinding light. The passengers unwaveringly walked out of the elevator and into the space beyond… the stale air of the packed elevator cabin gave way to a much more fragrant, natural atmosphere, coupled with the heat from tropical sunlight and the aroma of crystalline sea water…
The light recessed to make the area come into focus… the people who emerged from the elevator found themselves standing on pearl-white sand, among tropical trees with a view of a seemingly endless ocean before them, paired with a vast, serene beach that stretched infinitely in opposite directions.
And here they were… many clothed in light t-shirts, shorts and sandals with their swimsuits underneath… the Servants of Chaldea, accompanied by their two trusty Masters, have arrived here in Chaldea's one-of-a-kind tropical terrarium: a paradise beneath the frozen wastes of Antarctica, with one sole objective…
Enjoy a well-earned break.
And they were not the only ones… other Servants; spirits of heroes from history given form, and other staff members from the Chaldea facility above, have already got the vast terrarium alive with activity, all enjoying themselves carefree and having fun with one another.
It was a site behold; everyone who has been working tirelessly to preserving Human history finally having a period of respite here in this technological marvel; made to simulate the most beautiful, tranquil beach resort imaginable.
And it was made possible thanks to the Caster servant who was leading this group…
"We're here!" announced Leonardo Da Vinci, wearing sunglasses and a beach bag slung under her shoulder. The famed inventor of the Renaissance turned back to address her allies and Masters. "Like what I've done with the place since last time? I made some much-needed improvements…"
Dressed for the occasion, Gudao and Gabrielle took in the atmosphere of this artificial, but impressively lifelike tropical paradise, breathing in the air fitting for a real-world beach destination like Okinawa, Japan.
"I swear, this place gets better and better every time we come," Gudao remarked.
"Yeah, you can smell the water from here," Gabrielle observed, always left in amazement whenever they found the free time to come here and experience this marvelous creation. "You've really outdone yourself, Da Vinci!"
"Oh, stop it," Da Vinci said bashfully. "As much I like the flattery, any creation could use more refinement. This pocket paradise is still a working progress after all you know…"
"It is amazing, Da Vinci, truly…" said Mashu, the Shielder-class Demi-Servant and closest friend of Gudao and Gabrielle. "No lie, I can't think of a better way for everyone to rest and relax after all those back-to-back missions."
"Indeed," said Arturia Pendragon, clad in a loose buttoned-shirt over her white, blue-ribboned bikini. "Restlessness is the enemy…"
"Chalk up another on Saber's growing list of enemies…" remarked Emiya, standing behind the blue Saber, then emphasizing the massive bag he was carrying. "Fortunately, I've come prepared to deal with the biggest enemy of all."
Arturia turned and smiled. She was not the only one looking forward to lunch on the beach as another duo appeared from the opposite side of Emiya; Mordred, dressed in red/black bikini, beaming at the sight of waves hitting the sandy-white beach with the modestly dressed Henry Jekyll beside her.
"Wow!" the rowdy Saber of Red let out. "We never had places like this in Britain. I can't wait to hit those waves!"
"Remember Mordred," Jekyll cautioned, albeit secretly excited to enjoy the beach himself. "Her Majesty is letting you borrow Prydwen, so make sure you don't do anything careless with it."
"Yeah, yeah…" Mordred said exasperatingly, waving off Jekyll's concern. "Seriously Beansprout, acting like my mom is Shirou's job…"
Emiya groaned to himself upon hearing that.
"Don't call me that, please," he lets out, earning an amused look from both Mordred and Arturia.
"You know what you signed on for when you and I started courting, Shirou," Arturia said to him calmly. "You are family to me and Mordred…"
"Right!" Mordred said in agreement to the white-haired Archer, then wearing a coy smile. "You're dating Father and you cook for us, so it's only fair I call you "mom" after all…"
Mordred laughed and Jekyll turned away to suppress his own. Arturia enjoyed the little bit of amusement at the Archer's expense as Emiya sighs in defeat, not bothering to argue with either of the Sabers.
Peering past him and towards Mordred, Arturia could not even believe that she could enjoy the company of her knight and "child." It felt like not long ago that the King of Knights, and the Knight of Rebellion; historic enemies and estranged family, have been clashing in opposition since Mordred was summoned to Chaldea. Having a fractured relationship that led to the fall of Camelot, Arturia and Mordred carried that resentment of each other to the present day, and it harmed Chaldea's collective effort in protecting humanity.
Such was not the case anymore, helped by circumstances and by the bonds both Sabers have made in their time here. Arturia never thought it possible that she and Mordred could ever put that past behind them and get along as a proper, loving family.
She had never been glad to be so wrong… seeing a side of her former enemy that Arturia never thought she would ever see; Mordred being carefree and on good terms with everyone. Arturia especially…
Just then, the group was joined by other members of their party. Jeanne d'Arc, wearing a teal sweater over her frilly, navy-blue bikini and carrying a beach bag came up beside Arturia.
"Enjoying yourselves already I see, Arty," Jeanne greeted.
"Just indulging the mood of the atmosphere," Arturia cordially replied to her friend. Jeanne was easily the first acquaintance after Arturia came to Chaldea and the one Servant she got along the best with almost immediately. Considering the Ruler was from France and Arturia was from Britain, it said a lot about their friendship; Jeanne was almost like a sister to Arturia. "See you're all ready for the water, Jeanne…"
Arturia motioned to the inflatable tube on Jeanne's opposite shoulder.
"I hear this ocean has dolphins in it!" Jeanne replied excitedly. "I want to get out well from shore to see them jump!"
"Dolphins?" said a voice coming from behind the girls. Arturia and Jeanne turn to see Cu Chulainn in his Hawaiian-getup coming up carrying a fishing rod and tacklebox. "I bet one of those would make a good hot-off-the-grill supper if I manage to hook one of 'em, eh lasses?"
Arturia said nothing, not even her voracious appetite could sit well with the thought of eating a dolphin. Jeanne was absolutely horrified.
"Sacrebleu, not the cute dolphins! How could you?!"
"Don't listen to Setanta…" said another voice from another who appeared behind the blue Lancer. Cu glances left and saw Scathach, clad in a thin sundress and wearing shades coming up beside him. "Da Vinci explained that only fauna he's allowed to fish for are what's in the pond just down the beach. He won't be taking any boats out on the water…"
"Sheesh, teacher," Cu said in disappointment, having enjoyed giving the Maiden of Orleans a scare. "I wasn't being serious…"
"Of course you weren't," Scathach said sarcastically, lowering her sunglasses while giving her former student the side-eye. The Queen of Shadows then leaned over to peer at Arturia and Jeanne. "Don't worry girls… Setanta has some work to do before he gets to relax today. I won't let him get in anyone's way…"
"Not willing to let me chill even for one day, teacher?" Cu responded like a child who was just denied an allowance. Scathach just gave him a coy smile…
"Where's the fun in that?" she asked cryptically before turning back to the girls. "Now if you'll excuse us…"
Scathach then grabbed Cu's arm and started dragging him elsewhere. Cu complained the whole way, unable to free himself. Arturia and Jeanne looked on in befuddlement, as it was clear that whatever Scathach had planned for her student, it was not going to be a pleasant experience for the blue Lancer. Cu and Scathach had this strange dynamic that neither could tell was romantic or not… Both girls stood there in silence until-
"Yahoo!" the pink-haired Rider, Astolfo, suddenly appeared behind them and put a hand on both Arturia and Jeanne's shoulders, making them jump. "Isn't this just great?! We all finally get to hang out together on the beach! Not like we ever get put on different missions… but still! We now have a mini vacation!"
Arturia and Jeanne just laugh awkwardly at the paladin's infectious enthusiasm. The bubbly Astolfo was clearly dressed for the beach, albeit in an attire that conveyed something more… effeminate; that being a frilly top, skirt and ribboned sandals, all brightly colored.
"You must be really excited…" Jeanne offered the biggest understatement of the year as the ever-excitable Astolfo just giggled and then zipped to Mordred's side, who was pleased to see him. The Rider had been the Knight's friend ever since Mordred's arrival in Chaldea, and she began to value his company more as of late.
"Hey Mo'! Can't wait to get your feet wet, huh?" Astolfo said as he playfully bumped on Mordred's shoulder. In response, the Red Saber conjured a golden surfboard under one arm.
"Oh, I'll be doing more than that, Birdbrain," Mordred boasted. "I'm gonna just style on those waves!"
Astolfo giggled again before poking Mordred on her abs before yelling-
"Race you to shore!" Astolfo then broke into a run and Mordred went after him.
"You're on!"
The duo ran off towards the beach, laughing all the way leaving the rest of the group behind. Jekyll observed them running off before turning to Jeanne and asking:
"Doesn't Rider know his outfit is for-?"
"I don't ask those kinds of questions…" Jeanne cuts him off in a tone that told the Assassin to not bother paying mind of Astolfo's habits. Emiya stepped forward to yell at the departing Mordred and Astolfo:
"Wait… we got to set up our-!" his words were ignored as Mordred and Astolfo were out of earshot, and he gives up. "Ah forget it… I guess we're laying the beach blankets ourselves."
"Let Mordred have her fun, Shirou," Arturia contently tells the Archer. "She's earned it."
Emiya glanced at the Blue Saber in surprise before giving her a smile. Arturia stared out at Mordred as she and Astolfo hit the water, and they immediately started splashing at each other without any care in the world. It filled her with an almost foreign joy seeing the Knight of Rebellion enjoying herself with others with no hint of animosity or ill-will, made possible by the Sabers patching up their relationship.
Even more amazing was that Arturia herself was looking forward to a day of relaxation herself with her valued teammates and friends; one big and weird family. She never imagined her estranged child and usurper of Camelot, Mordred, would be among them…
It was all over Arturia's face for Emiya to see. If the King of Knights was happy… then so was he.
"Okay then…" the Archer starts. "Let's get some chairs and umbrellas. You girls enjoy yourselves while I fire up the grill. Sound good?"
"Yes!" Both Arturia and Jeanne reply before they hurry off together for the beach. Emiya then turned to Jekyll whilst carrying his assortment of supplies.
"Mind just grabbing the boombox, doc?" Emiya asks and Jekyll obliges.
"Certainly…"
______
Sometime later…
Music was blasting out of a red, 90's boombox on the table beside Emiya's grill. The Archer was focused on cooking vegetable kababs with slices of fish as well as sausages that would go on buns. He did not mind making lunch for everyone so long as there was fun to be had on the beach. And there was lots to be had as the group dispersed to engage in various activities.
After Mordred and Astolfo had their fun together, Jekyll had decided to join the Red Saber as she wanted to continue surfing, and he soon got roped in to Mordred giving him some "surfing lessons." Emiya could see off in the open water Jekyll trying to get his wobbly legs to keep him standing on Mordred's surfboard, only to fall off at the slightest wave and get made fun of immediately after. Emiya figured with the Saber and Assassin being such close friends and Jekyll being so understanding of the brash Mordred, he knew it was only a matter of time before their relationship grew into something more…
Emiya occasionally glanced at Arturia a little ways out on the water, just making sure she was still where he could see her. Arturia had borrowed Jeanne's inflatable while the Ruler went on Da Vinci's boat to play with the dolphins. The Blue Saber had been lazily enjoying the sun just floating on the shallows fifty feet from shore. No doubt she was patiently waiting for Emiya to finish the first round of lunch so she could try it first and did not want to stray too far.
Either that… or Arturia would find herself in deep where she'd sink like a rock, Emiya mused. The Blue Saber was not a very good swimmer…
Looking up after he flipped on of the kababs, Emiya saw further down the beach Cu Chulainn lugging what looked to be a heap of wood, bamboo, palm leaves, reeds, and whatever else near to and where Scathach was sunbathing; the Violet Lancer sporting a bright floral magenta bikini. Emiya grinned wickedly seeing even at this distance the Blue Lancer appearing knackered and exhausted at Scathach's behest, not feeling any bit sorry for him.
Still, judging from how Scathach was looking up and smiling at him, Emiya could tell that she was not putting Cu through his ordeal just for kicks. Scathach had been on the team long enough for the Archer to know that she was not as sadistic as Cu made her out to be. The Queen of Shadows found purpose in helping everybody better themselves, including her fellow servants in Chaldea, having trained countless warriors during her time. Even so, Emiya could not imagine what other reason Scathach would be working Cu Chulainn to the bone, him being her most favorited student apparently… what were her real intentions?
Finally, peering back on the water again, Emiya could see what the remainder of the group. Master Gudao had commandeered a jet ski, and had a tow line hooked up to- Mashu's shield?
The Archer's enhanced eyesight was not deceiving him. Master Gabrielle apparently had the wild idea of using Mashu's shield as a makeshift raft, and they along with Astolfo were hanging on for dear life as Gudao used his jet ski to tow them across the water's surface. Seconds later, the raft hit a stray wave as it turned and the trio of Gabrielle, Mashu, and Astolfo were sent flying and splashing into the water. Gudao drives by to see if everybody was alright, and to his and Emiya's relief, the trio emerged out of the water and laughing hysterically.
Just then-
"Is lunch almost ready, Shirou?" Emiya turned to Arturia, who was returning to the beach with the inflatable in one arm and walking ON the water towards him.
"Almost…" Emiya answered as Arturia made it back to the beach and grabbed a towel. "It's lots of mouths I've got to feed, Saber."
"You're always so thoughtful," Arturia complimented as she then neared Emiya's grill, savoring the aroma of cooked fish. She leans over and smiles cryptically at the Archer. "Smells amazing… hope you made extra…"
"When you've got two Pendragons to feed, I make sure to…" Emiya returned the Saber's smile in full. After turning over a kabab, Emiya then contemplated and asked Arturia, "You'd think Mordred would mind some pineapple to go with her portion?"
Arturia's eyes widen in wonder.
"People cook pineapples?" she receives a nod from Emiya, who went on to explain:
"Sure, just caramelize the pieces and stick them on the skewer with everything else. I'm thinking of adding them to the next batch… a little hit of sweetness."
"Sounds delicious," Arturia considers. "Mordred is pickier than I am, but I think she'll at least try it. Speaking of whom…"
Arturia looks out at the water and Emiya follows her gaze. They see Mordred riding a big wave on Prydwen with Jekyll standing behind and hanging on to her for dear life.
"Yahooooooooo!" they hear Mordred's excited yell as she rides and does a 360 degree turn off the top of the wave, drowning out Jekyll's frightened screams. When they stuck the landing, Mordred could not contain her laughter and Jekyll was just glad he was still alive.
Emiya and then turns on Arturia, who continued staring out and seeing Mordred enjoying herself. If Emiya could hazard a guess of what the King of Knights was thinking, it was likely that Arturia could never imagine seeing her knight and usurper so happy… like she herself was now judging by the content evident on her face.
Just to make sure…
"Penny for your thoughts, Arturia?"
Emiya's surprisingly gentle voice made the Blue Saber perk up a little bit, but she did not turn around. Instead…
"I was just thinking," she starts, taking time to choose her words. "Had I gone through with my wish… I would not be blessed with this sight…"
Emiya understood Arturia's words exactly.
Arturia was a courageous and just king that kept her knights and people at arm's length despite working tirelessly to make her entire country happy. She could never rest if Britain was never at peace, and her reign ended in bloodshed when the hearts and minds of her subjects eluded her understanding at the worst possible time. From their time together in the Holy Grail War, the then amateur master, Shirou Emiya came to understand the King of Knights and her wish for the Holy Grail…
Although Mordred's rebellion was the catalyst for Camelot's fall, Arturia blamed herself for how her kingdom turned out. She wanted to wish out her part in history… so someone apart from her would pull the Sword from the Stone and lead Britain in a way that Arturia never could… all for the slim chance that Britain and its people would have a better outcome. Lifting Caliburn and adopting the mantle of King of Britain was a burden Arturia wanted to rid herself of…
"As heroes, we should fight to make more moments like this…" the Blue Saber continued. "No grudges, no resentment, no hate… just the enjoyment of being alive with each other…"
Hearing this, Emiya knew Arturia better by this point to believe that after everything they have both gone through up to this point, that the Blue Saber had come to terms with her past and did not wish to change the past anymore; instead fostering her own happiness along with friends and loved ones in the present…
Her and Mordred reconciling was concrete proof of that.
"You sound like a proud king…" Emiya let out, making Arturia turn, raising an eyebrow at him.
"Was that a compliment?"
"What do you think?" Emiya countered in much the same, lighthearted manner. Arturia thought about it and eventually answered:
"I suppose so," Arturia sounded surprised at her own answer as she then adds. "I've never felt like this even when I was king of Britain. Could it be because I never settled for good enough? Because I never let myself rest and indulge in the peace I tried to make with others?"
"Should've, could've, would've," Emiya replied with a shrug. "The fact you understand that now is what allowed you to patch things up with Mordred. Better to fix your mistakes directly than to wish them away, am I right?"
Arturia stared at Emiya for but a moment and smiled as she accepted the Archer's words.
"Yes, it is, Shirou," she said with utmost earnestness. "And more rewarding too. For once, I'm proud to have picked up the sword. I'm surrounded by friends and family while we are all fighting to secure Humanity's future. And more importantly…"
Arturia reached and gently grabbed Emiya's hand that held a spatula, making the Archer's heart skip a beat.
"I now have both you and Mordred. Something I never thought I'd say…"
The Blue Saber's gaze dropped for but a moment before Arturia raised her head to confidently proclaim:
"I'm happier now than I have ever been in my life… and I'm going to fight to keep it."
Emiya could not prevent the proud smile forming on his face at the sight of the radiant Arturia Pendragon expressing such affection; her emerald-green eyes glistening with self-assurance and pride after declaring something so profound.
"Well then," Emiya began, flipping another kebab on his grill. "No battle should be fought on an empty stomach. Hunger is the enemy…"
Arturia giggled.
"Hold on there, Shirou… that's MY line…" she said playfully as the Saber leaned affectionately against the Archer. "But I couldn't agree more…"
Arturia slowly reached for one on the skewers that was just about done cooking when-
"Startin' lunch without US, Father?" Mordred's voice caused Arturia to quickly retract her hand and turn around. She and Emiya see Mordred walking towards them carrying Prydwen in one arm, and a barely conscious Jekyll in the other. "Mom is too nice to you…"
Emiya groaned under his breath, but Mordred continued acting smug, dropping Jekyll on one of the beach blankets as Arturia addressed her.
"Ah Mordred. Back already from surfing?"
"You kiddin'?" Mordred remarked. "I could smell Mom's cooking all the way from the breakers. Surfing has a way of taking energy out of you, and I sure could use a refuel…"
"I second that…" Jekyll managed to groan out before getting back on his feet with great effort and saying to the Red Saber, "Can't believe I let you talk me into riding that thing…"
"Hehe…" Mordred just chuckled at the knackered doctor's response. "Poor Beansprout's legs are too jelly for a surfboard…"
"As long as you are both having fun," Emiya said, turning away to let the food simmer on the grill. "Then I say you've earned a lunch break."
Looking past Mordred and Jekyll, the watchful Archer sees Da Vinci's boat docking nearby, along with the Masters returning with Mashu and Astolfo. Gabrielle had her head tilted trying to knock water out of her ear.
"And it looks like the others are starving too," Emiya adds. "Even the dog and his owner are returning."
The Sabers turned and spotted the other members of their group coming to join them. Jekyll cleans his glasses and all four of them then see Scathach nonchalantly dragging a very exhausted Cu Chulainn across the sand in their direction.
"They've sure kept to themselves all day," Mordred said with suspicion. "What the hell were that mutt and witch up to?"
"Language, Mordred," Arturia lightly admonished. "Besides, I do not think it is any of our business what Cu Chulainn and Scathach choose to do in their spare time."
Despite her words, Emiya went on to say:
"The queen has the dog wrapped around her finger by the looks of it, and he didn't seem to be enjoying it. I'm sure once he has a drink, he'll be fine…"
The Archer then reached down beside his grill and dragged out a large cooler that happened to belong to Cu, popping it open to reveal a lot of sealed bottles and cans on a layer of crushed ice. Mordred's eyes light up at the sight.
"One thing I will say," Emiya starts. "The dog may be a pain in the ass, but he's got good taste in refreshments…"
The Archer then turned to check the kebabs, and while he was doing that, Mordred snuck closer to the cooler and reached inside, pulling out a bottle of Corona. The Red Saber smiled wickedly before using her thumb to pry the cap open.
"Ooh… Come here, tasty-"
Mordred does not get the chance, as Arturia swiftly snatched the bottle out of her hands.
"Oh no you don't…" Arturia said to the dismayed Knight of Rebellion. "You're a minor."
"Wha-?!" Mordred exclaimed in disbelief, reaching for the drink and failing as the King of Knights kept it away. "And YOU aren't?! We both look the same age!"
"Her Majesty meant that she is actually over thirty years of age despite her appearance," Jekyll clarified, noting the growing look of glee on Arturia's face as she said in response:
"And as far as I'm aware, Mordred, you are only eight-years of age. No alcohol for you…"
"That's not fair!" Mordred yelled, and Emiya chuckled under his breath hearing this commotion. "I've had mead in Britain! Beer is juvenile compared to that slop!"
"Present day rules, Mordred…" Arturia stated, secretly enjoying the chance to toy with Mordred like this. "Children shouldn't drink…"
"Oh, don't pull that crap on me!" Mordred countered, trying her hardest to take her prize out of her "father's" hand. "Not like a cop is going to know my real age by eye-ballin' me-"
"A-minooooooor…" Emiya said under his breath, and of course the already irate Mordred heard it.
"Shut up!"
"Now is that anyway to speak to your mother, Mordred?" Arturia playfully admonished yet again. She may be the dignified King of Knights, but that did not mean she could not have a bit of fun teasing her offspring. And it did not sound like Emiya was about to stop her; she was only playing a harmless game with Mordred.
"Real nice," Mordred grumbled, growing fed up with being treated like a child by her "parents". "You two are peas in a pod… now handover the bottle!"
Arturia's response was a curt and firm:
"No."
Mordred would have resorted to more than simply reaching for her drink if it were not for the fact that Arturia was smiling at her, even smugly. Mordred was actually enjoying seeing this playful side of the usually stoic king… not that she would openly admit it.
And she still wanted to sip paradise in a bottle…
"C'mon!" The Red Saber pleaded. "It's not like you are going to have it. You don't even like beer!"
"I'll give it to someone who does…" Arturia replied. Emiya and Jekyll were both also seeing this interaction between the Sabers, and if Arturia was truly serious about denying Mordred a cold one then things would have escalated by now. Mordred for one would have whipped out Clarent by now, and the fact she had not assured the two male Servants that Mordred was simply being petulant to her "father."
They knew that thanks to the Sabers' newfound trust in each other, the Knight of Rebellion would not raise a blade against her family ever again… the former enemies were now family, almost acting like sisters despite Mordred being Arturia's child.
"Like who?" Mordred argued. "Jeanne won't have it, Astolfo is hooked on Monster, Beansprout here has a weak liver… who could-?!"
"Shirou of course…" Arturia said, handing Mordred's drink to Emiya, who went on to continue cooking. Mordred was livid…
"Since when does he-?!" she lets out before deciding it was feeble to continue squabbling with her king, but still Mordred sulked. "Oh, screw it… I cannot believe that I can't enjoy a cold one while on the beach! Just what am I supposed to-?!"
"Quit complaining," Emiya said in a mockingly bored tone. "The dog brought alcohol-free beer as per Masters' orders."
This only served to irritate Mordred more…
"Alcohol-free?!" She cried before walking away from Emiya's grill to take her frustrations out on beach sand, stomping on it until she made a hole, while ranting: "So stupid! I'm a knight yet I can't drink like one! Suck my left tit and call me mommy, yeah RIGHT!"
Jekyll sighed upon hearing such profanity from the Red Saber.
"I might have to wash out my ears after THAT one…"
While Mordred continued fuming, Arturia's unladylike laughter rang through the air until Emiya nudged her.
"You'll let her have one eventually, right?"
"Of course…" Arturia answered honestly. "Just testing the waters… I'm just being her parent after all…"
_____
Afterwards, Mordred had managed to quickly calm down once everybody gathered for lunch, and unsurprisingly, Arturia and Mordred had most of the food Emiya had prepared. The group shared experiences on the beach so far today, leading to everyone sharing a few laughs. The Servants have gotten along well enough by this point, fighting together in singularities and making hijinks in Chaldea; the bonds they formed culminating in them enjoying off-time with their Masters.
But beach day was far from over…
As for dessert, everyone helped themselves with a cooler full of frozen treats. At some point, Scathach thought she could contribute and brought wagons full of watermelons, showing off her skill with a spear by slicing a bunch apart mid-air. Not wanting to be upstaged, Mordred coaxed Arturia in on joining her and it soon turned into a friendly competition with the Sabers against the Queen of Shadows.
The spectacle and delicious bounty were well worth the clean-up…
Soon after, Jeanne and Astolfo wanted to get a competitive streak going with the Sabers, suggesting a sandcastle contest between France and Britain. Arturia and Mordred were not ones to back down, so they accepted. With the Masters and Mashu as the judges, both teams made grand sandcastles in their own style, and despite some setbacks at first, Arturia and Mordred found their rhythm and worked as a team to complete their build. Emiya and Jekyll happily watched the Sabers cooperate and do something productive together; something that did not seem possible mere months ago.
The judges could not decide the winner, so instead the contest was decided by a water gun fight…
With the sandcastles now a wet, sloppy mess, the group dispersed again for the afternoon. Scathach went off by herself up the beach, and Cu Chulainn took the opportunity to take Gudao, Gabrielle, and Mashu fishing. While Astolfo went with Mordred to go surfing, Da Vinci, Jeanne and Jekyll stayed back to catch some rays, letting Arturia and Emiya go on a stroll together down the beach as the sun started to set.
As the sky turned a soft orange, Arturia once again found herself blessed to enjoy these moments with her friends and fellow Servants, having never allowed herself respite like this in her life as king of Britain. Her helping Chaldea fight to keep Humanity's history safe made precious times like this feel earned.
Holding hands with Emiya… bonding with Mordred… sharing laughs with her teammates. It all felt like a dream…
The dream of a naïve, but hopeful young girl… who would be king…
It seemed unreal… yet here it was before Arturia…
Soon after, everyone gathered once more to share drinks together before the artificial sun fell under the horizon. Laughs were shared as heroes of legend shared peculiar experiences from both their time as Servants and in their legends. Jeanne recounted chasing a bunch of prostitutes out of a French camp; Astolfo for how he "outwitted" the giant Caligorante by entangling him in his own trap. Cu Chulainn chimed in, explaining the rituals of those in Ulster's army, and even Leonardo da Vinci showing the group some of her "sillier" inventions which were never made public. Being a dignified king, Arturia managed to avoid being the subject of fun scrutiny… at least until the conversation fell on a particular subject:
Arturia's legendary sword, Excalibur…
"It's a trick..." Cu Chulainn joked.
"I assure you it isn't..." Arturia told her skeptic.
"Like come on..." Astolfo joined in. "You are the only one who can use it, Arty? We paladins borrowed stuff from each other all the time."
"Excalibur is not a toy..." the Blue Saber insisted. Most of the group were wondering how Arturia was able to pull the original sword, Caliburn, from the stone. With Excalibur acting similarly to that, most of the Servants thought boastingly that they could do it just as easily as Arturia did.
That included the masters, as Gabrielle puts it dramatically:
"The whole Whoever shal'eth pull this sword from the stone is the worthy king of Britain... it's hogwash! Anybody could do it!"
"All of us are pretty upstanding..." Gudao offered, then proposing, "What's say we take turns lifting it?"
"THAT sounds like a good idea, Masters," Cu Chulainn remarked. "I bet it doesn't take much for a piece of steel to see someone as worthy…"
"And you think that's you, dog?" Emiya said doubtfully. "You can't find your own ass with both hands…"
The Lancer did not take the Archer's jab too well as Cu got up and pointed at the smug Emiya.
"Well, I'm more fit to be worthy than some bastard who copies everyone else's swords… You ain't got any deeds to your name either, you sod."
"Now now, there's no need for name calling," Da Vinci chimed in. "You're getting worked up over a measly sword of all things."
"Don't bother," Scathach told the Caster calmly. "Big boys will butt heads… it's what they do… if Arturia is willing, we can settle this little quarrel."
With everyone pestering her, Arturia was reluctant to comply. Ever since discarding her wish, Excalibur had become less of a burden and more of a source of pride for the King of Knights. It was not the most famous sword in myth for nothing… it had a will of its own that recognizes who wields it... Not everyone is worthy to.
Arturia took some comfort believing only she was Excalibur's sole wielder. She did not want to take the chance of-
"I wouldn't mind a chance to lift your shiny sword Arty," Astolfo said to the Blue Saber after hearing Scathach's words. "How hard can it be?"
"Yeah, Arty!" Gabrielle perks up in agreement. "Let all of us have a go…"
"It'll be a good time!" Gudao responded in turn, but Mashu was not quite on board with this.
'Senpai's," the Shielder said in slight disappointment. "If Arty doesn't want anyone playing with Excalibur, I don't think we should force her."
"Excalibur is ultimately Arty's business," added Jeanne. "It means more to her than a simple game…"
"Her Majesty has her dignity consider," Jekyll said, agreeing with both the Ruler and Demi-Servant. "And all of you are being impudent…"
The Assassin's scolding did not deter Cu Chulainn, who then crossed his arms at Arturia in challenge
"Oh, what's the matter, Saber?" the Blue Lancer taunted. "Afraid that one of us will succeed? That we get to inherit your title?"
Arturia was lost for words, for turning Cu down would make look like a coward, but complying meant she did not cherish her sword enough to-
"Quit your barking, mutt!" Mordred suddenly spoke up, acting brazen and cocky. "It won't matter how much you boast, I can guarantee you won't be able to pick up Excal'. Not now, not ever! Father will show you what for… right?"
Arturia was surprised by the Red Saber's action as Mordred turned to her. Mordred was the LAST person she expected to be on board with letting other people try lifting Excalibur, wanting even to try herself at one point. Mordred seemed pretty confident that no one apart from Arturia herself would be able to do it and wanted the King of Knights to prove her superiority over them.
Arturia was torn as everybody stared at her in silence… and that was when Emiya leaned in and whispered to her.
"I for one agree that you are in the position to shut these naysayers up… what do you say, Saber?"
Now goaded by Emiya, Arturia thought about it carefully. If no one can lift Excalibur, then her title as King of Knights is solidified. Even if one of them did manage to pull it, it would confirm that Arturia was among trusted friends as allies. It would speak volumes of the company Arturia kept herself in.
Besides, it was not the Dark Ages anymore. What did Arturia have to lose by going through with this game? It might reveal something about what makes someone worthy to wield Excalibur.
Finishing her drink, Arturia calmly got up from her seat and declared in a "you-asked-for-this" kind of tone:
"Okay, if you all insist, then you are all welcome to embarrass yourselves... I accept your challenge!"
The Masters high-fived each other, and Cu Chulainn just stood their smug and confident, having been granted a once-in-an-eon opportunity.
"Believe us, lass," he boasted. "We'll show just how easy it is to lift a sodding sword... all of here are heroes after all."
"That's debatable..." Jekyll remarked. Mordred for one was both excited and anxious at seeing this happen, having a vested interest in making sure Excalibur was still solely wielded by a Pendragon. Arturia shrugged at the Blue Lancer and asked everybody:
"Where do you all want to try?"
"How about that rock over there?" Gudao pointed behind him to a large, flat stone that was suitable to walk on just a short distance down the beach. "Let's move the chairs over... and get some more drinks..."
Arturia nods in agreement, before-
"Just out of curiosity..." she starts, stopping everyone from moving. "Masters, what would you give me if you were all to fail?"
Gudao and Gabrielle stare at Arturia who gave them a peculiar look. They needed to establish the stakes…
"Respect?" Gabrielle offered, only for Emiya to tell them:
"Saber has more than enough of that..."
Gudao contemplates before than offering the Blue Saber:
"Okay, a weekend off then. How about it?"
Arturia considers the wager when Astolfo gets up and speaks for the other Servants.
"But if any of us manage to lift it, then WE get your off-duty time. Sound good?"
Arturia scans the group of Servants, some of them looking especially eager to challenge her. Finally, the Blue Saber conjures her sword, Excalibur in a flash of gold light, and with that, the stakes of the game were set.
"Done."
_____
(SHRNNT)
Arturia thrust the blade of Excalibur down on the large, flat rock that they have all gathered around. The ornate sword was now situated invertedly, now stuck free-standing out of the stone ground. Arturia then took a step back to address her Masters and fellow Servants who coerced her into this little game:
"Excalibur was made in part with the fragments of Caliburn, so it should behave similarly to when I first lifted it from the Stone. Try and pull it if you think you are worthy…"
Arturia then gave everyone a challenging smirk, seeing how some of them could not wait to try lifting Excalibur. Gudao then asks everybody:
"Okay... who wants to try their hand first?"
As Arturia sat back in her chair, it did not take long for a challenger to step up.
"I'll go!" Astolfo perks up, looking very confident as he gave a sideways glance at Arturia. "I'm not a paladin for nothing you know, Arty."
"Oh, by all means, Astolfo," Arturia said cheekily. "Be my guest..."
Astolfo chuckled as he stood up and made his way to Excalibur. Some of the onlookers were excited, waiting to see if the bubbly paladin was able to lift the sword. Mordred for one was not hopeful but enjoyed the entertainment.
"This should be good..." she said before taking a sip of her drink.
"Come on you pink-haired ball of sunshine!" Gabrielle cheered from the sidelines. "Show that sword who's boss!"
Gudao and Mashu cheered in unison. Astolfo took a deep breath and grabbed Excalibur's handle with both hands and pulled…
"Ngh... Ngh!" Astolfo strained, but after several attempts, Excalibur was still stuck in the ground, having not moved even an inch. Astolfo groaned in defeat.
"It didn't budge…"
Now that one contestant has tried, Arturia and even those who were initially reluctant about this game were now starting to get into it.
"Oh well, it was a nice try, Rider," Jeanne offered, and the paladin simply shrugged as he returned to his seat.
"Okay, Arty. You got me..." Astolfo remarked to Arturia. "How the heck do you DO that?"
"It's my secret..." Arturia said cryptically before seeking another challenger. "Who's next?"
To everyone's surprise, the next person to stand up was Jekyll.
"I shall oblige," the Assassin declared, standing up from his chair beside Mordred. "To lift the most legendary of swords is not a matter of strength, but one of finesse..."
Some onlookers clapped, whilst Mordred happily expressed her disbelief at her doctor and friend stepping up to the plate.
"Eager to get embarrassed, Beansprout?" she joked. "You're even braver than I thought..."
"Oh ye of little faith, Mordred," Jekyll just scoffed, but as he walked over to Excalibur, he was beginning to feel apprehensive and wondering if perhaps he was being a bit reckless taking part in this game. He blamed his impulsiveness on having one too many sips of margarita at Mordred's behest.
Hyde, want to offer any words of encouragement?
Prepare to be humiliated, wimp...
Helpful as always... Jekyll thought sarcastically as he came up to the sword. He then grabbed the handle of Excalibur and prepared to pull.
"Okay… legs apart, back straight, and… Ngh...!"
Jekyll tugged, trying to free the sword from the stone, but alas… Excalibur remained stubbornly immovable, even after repeated attempts.
"Looks like the good doctor's hypothesis was far off..." Da Vinci remarked jokingly before adding, "Good effort, Henry."
Exhausted, Jekyll returned to his seat.
"I yield... that sword is stuck in there good..."
As soon as Jekyll sat down, Cu Chulainn downed the rest of his beer and confidently stood up.
"It's been fun watching you fools..." he remarked, cracking his neck and then his knuckles. "But it takes a real warrior to pull that sword."
Gabrielle and Mashu clapped and cheered in anticipation. From beside where Cu was sitting, Scathach leaned forward and offered her former pupil some words of "encouragement."
"Make me proud, Setanta..." she teased before then saying, "Just know if you don't lift it, my bed will only be for one tonight…"
To Cu's annoyance, he heard a few "oooooh"'s from his onlookers. Mordred and Emiya were especially happy to goad him further.
"Scathach's gonna leave the mutt out in the doghouse!" Mordred remarked before laughing it off. With a smug smile, Emiya joked:
"It's clear who wears the pants in that relationship..."
"Oh, shut up..." Cu blurted out behind him, having just about enough of being made fun of. "You lads just sit and watch a real warrior prove his worth..."
Everybody fell silent as the Blue Lancer then gripped the handle of Excalibur. Arturia watched as Cu pulled with all his might, and still Excalibur would not budge.
"Aww... I guess you're not a real warrior..." Emiya remarked from his seat beside Arturia, making Cu grunt in frustration as he came back. Da Vinci then turned to the seemingly unconcerned Scathach and asked:
"You're not going to try, Scathach? Show your protege how it's done?"
Scathach gave the Caster a sideways glance and smiled contently.
"No... swords aren't my style..." said the bikini-clad Lancer before taking a sip of her daiquiri. Arturia breathed a little sigh of relief upon overhearing, only then for Gabrielle to stand up and offer an attempt.
"Okay then!" then she said with great enthusiasm. "I guess it's up to Humanity's last Masters!"
"Are we double-teaming this, Gabby?" Gudao asks rhetorically, standing up same as his stepsister, much to the surprise of all the Servants.
"Oh, we sure are, Gu-dork!" Gabrielle affirms. "If anybody is worthy of pulling that sword, it's us two! Wonder Twin powers combine!"
Both masters fist-bumped, and Arturia starts getting a bit nervous. Emiya notices her growing discomfort despite the blue Saber doing her best to keep a cheerful façade.
Even more curious to the Archer, he could feel that same apprehensiveness coming from Mordred funnily enough. Maybe both Sabers were thinking the same thing…
They might just do it…
"Go for it, Senpai's!" Mashu cheered as both Gudao and Gabrielle walked up to Excalibur. Emiya then turned to Jeanne, who was taking a sip of her alcohol-free fruit punch.
"You sure about not wanting to try, Jeanne?" he asks. "I think you might have a chance..."
Jeanne looked at him and then shot Emiya with a smile before waving him off.
"Oh no thanks. I don't have much use for a sword. I'll stick with my flag…"
Jeanne then leaned to peer past the Archer to look at Arturia.
"Besides… I would not want to sully Arty's good image…"
Hearing that from the Ruler, Emiya turned back at Arturia, who watched the Masters as they came up to Excalibur at last. Maybe-?
"Hey, Arty?" Gabrielle suddenly asked the blue Saber. "If me and Gu-dork here do pull the sword... does that mean we rule Britain?"
Emiya was sure he could see Arturia sweat-drop as she gave the Masters a less-than-convincing smile.
"If you want to see it that way... then of course," she replied calmy, but Emiya could sense her growing nervousness and found it amusing.
"Oooh..." Gabrielle started wickedly. "Then our first order of business will be undoing Brexit. Followed by ditching Section 32 of the Salmon Act 1986 JUST because..."
"What's that?" Mashu asked curiously, to which Gudao answers:
"Outlaw of "handling salmon in suspicious circumstances." I know... it's dumb."
Some of the Servants laughed, but Arturia was dead silent, believing that both her masters might just pull off lifting Excalibur. As proud as she was for Gudao and Gabrielle, who went through so much with their fellow Servants, proving their mettle time and time again, Arturia would be a liar if she said that she would not prefer to be the sole wielder of Excalibur.
As a Saber-class Servant and former King of Britain, it would hurt her credibility dearly… hence why she was initially reluctant to indulge in this game.
"Ready, Gabby?" Gudao said to his stepsister.
"Ready!" Gabrielle replied, then both masters gripped their hands on Excalibur's handle. The Servants watched eagerly, whereas both Arturia and Mordred held their breaths as Gudao and Gabrielle counted down together:
"One... two... three!"
Together they heaved and pulled; both Gudao and Gabrielle strained as Excalibur refused to move even under their combined effort.
"Are you pulling?!" Gudao asked impatiently.
"I AM pulling!" Gabrielle insisted, as they then started bickering back and forth.
"Then pull harder!"
"How about you?!"
"I'm pulling as hard as I can!"
"Doesn't feel like it...!"
A smug smile gradually appeared on Mordred's face, seeing her Masters vainly trying to pull the sword. Even Arturia breathed some relief as she then found herself enjoying their humorous display. Eventually, Gudao and Gabrielle decided to use their magecraft to reinforce themselves, hoping that the combined boost in strength would free the sword, Gabrielle even letting out:
"Oh, by the power of Grayskull, MOVE will ya'?!"
Alas, after several more attempts, Excalibur was immovable as ever, leaving the Masters utterly defeated.
"Dang it..." Gabrielle expressed her disappointment, hunched over and catching her breath same as her stepbrother.
"Well. We tried..." Gudao sighed as Emiya poked fun at him and Gabrielle.
"I don't know if we could still be your Servants after that, Masters. If Excalibur did not find you worthy…"
Some of the Servants laughed at that, making Gabrielle huff in annoyance.
"Can't we just use a Command Seal to make one of you lift that sword? Or do I have to get a Berserker over here to do it?"
"I'm afraid that won't make any difference, Masters..." Arturia remarked, unable to wipe the triumphant smile off her face.
"Does no one else want a go, then?" Gudao asked the Servants as he and Gabrielle returned to their seats. "Reclaim some honor for me and Gabby?"
The Servants all looked at each other. Emiya and Da Vinci have not had a chance yet, but neither seemed wanting to try and lift Excalibur. So that just left-
"I'll try, Senpai," Mashu replied calmly, much to the interest of other Servants. "If it will make you feel a bit better..."
The Shielder stood up and walked towards Excalibur as Gudao and Gabrielle sat back down, eager to watch their loyal friend and most faithful Servant try her hand at lifting the sword.
"Yeah!" Astolfo cheered. "Go for it Mashu!"
Mashu stopped and turned to shoot her onlookers a hopeful smile before stepping up to the plate. Jekyll had been watching his Masters and fellow Servants enjoy playing this game until now, but he found it curious that the one person he knew would jump at the chance to lift Excalibur had not yet bothered to…
And that was the Red Saber who was sitting beside him, as Mordred had simply watched with content and enjoyment so far.
"I'm surprised you of all people are not trying your luck, Mordred," Jekyll turned to ask her, catching her attention. "You always wanted a chance to pull the Sword of Selection."
Mordred stared at him, almost coming to some realization herself. Her gaze dropped to the drink she held in her hands.
"I guess I did, Beansprout..." Mordred starts, initially sounding unsure of herself. It was indeed her wish for the Holy Grail to have a chance to pull Caliburn, the original sword that bestowed its one wielder as King of Britain. She came to Chaldea with that sole wish, one reinforced by her and Arturia clashing despite being allies. Mordred thought that there was no other way to gain Arturia's acceptance, being her child and therefore heir to the throne of Camelot.
Of course, much has changed between the two Sabers since reuniting in Chaldea. Despite their history as enemies, what Mordred once thought was impossible came to fruition.
And with it came a better understanding of the choice Arturia made at the beginning of her legend as King Arthur. Looking back up at Excalibur with a sigh, Mordred continued.
"But I never grasped the burden that came with the kingship granted by the Sword until me and Father finally talked. I only wanted to lift the Sword so she would acknowledge me..."
Jekyll watched as Mordred gazed narrowed at the golden sword, almost sadly.
"Besides, even if I still wanted to try, I already know the answer..."
Jekyll stayed silent, for it was clear that Mordred still had regrets about betraying Arturia to take Camelot for herself; a stain on her honor that would never fade in her mind.
Excalibur would not lend itself to a traitor.
Despite that, Jekyll wanted to assure his friend and patient that after all the good Mordred had done since becoming a Servant of Chaldea that it would absolve her of that sin. It was on the tip of his tongue until he then saw a smile grow on Mordred's face; one of acceptance.
And who was standing behind her listening…
"But now that I have what I really want..." Mordred said with content, oblivious to this "other" listener. "A sharp piece of steel doesn't matter to me anymore."
Jekyll smiled at Mordred with pride, though not as much as-
"Ahem..." The Assassin lets out as if to make Mordred notice. The Red Saber looked at him with confusion.
"What?" she barely had to time to ask until she finally saw the presence hovering over her shoulder. "Eh?!"
A blush appeared on Mordred's face, as standing right behind the seated Jekyll was none other than Arturia.
"Well said, Mordred..." the King of Knights said with the most honest and heartfelt expression; one that made Mordred very embarrassed.
"You-! Wh-What are you talking about?!" the Red Saber stammered, trying to repair her image as the unapologetic, tough-as-nails knight. "I was just boasting how I know I'm worthy to pull the sword! I don't even need to try! I'm the greatest knight of all!"
Arturia just shook her head in amusement, having by now grown used to Mordred's antics.
"You sure are..." Arturia let out, making Mordred stare at her in surprise. Was she being sarcastic? Or did Arturia really mean that?
"Pipe down everyone!" Gabrielle suddenly said to everyone. "Number one kouhai is up on the plate!"
Arturia stood and watched, along with Mordred and everybody else as Mashu stood beside Excalibur and gripped its handle with both hands. Mashu took a deep breath and-
(RATTLE)
Mashu pulled, and to Arturia and Mordred's discreet astonishment, they saw the blade of Excalibur move by the barest of margin, even picking up the slight sound of steel against stone. After one more attempt, Mashu eventually gave up.
"(Exhale) I can't do it, Arty..." Mashu shrugged at the Blue Saber, who was still visibly stunned. She and Mordred quickly compose themselves as (thankfully…) what they witnessed went unnoticed by everybody.
"Uhm... well, nice try Mashu," Arturia responded with an awkward smile, followed by Mordred in a similar manner.
"Yeah… way to go, Eggplant…"
Mashu returned to her seat, and the moment she looked away, Arturia and Mordred turned to each other; their bewildered expressions silently asking the other:
Did you see THAT? TELL ME you saw that!
"Tough luck, Mashu..." Da Vinci remarked. "Guess that sword can't be moved."
"I don't get it," Gabrielle expressed her frustration. "We threw everything we had at it! Why couldn't we move it?"
Arturia then got up and went up to the sword and gripped the handle, feeling triumphant and coy as she said to everybody:
"Well, Masters... fellow Servants... I am sorry to say..."
(SHRNNT!)
Arturia effortlessly freed Excalibur and held it out for all to see. The Blue Saber steals a glance at Mordred, offering an affectionate smile before turning to say to the other Servants:
"It's because you all are not worthy."
With that, Excalibur faded into gold dust, dematerializing before the Masters' and Servants' eyes. Arturia felt she made her point clear as Gudao shrugged in defeat while Cu sat sulking in his chair beside Scathach.
"I guess we owe Arty that time-off..." Gudao let out before reaching in the bag between him and Mashu. He pulls out a bag of marshmallows and said excitedly, "We still got the campfire going... who's up for s'mores?"
And immediately half the group, namely Gabrielle, Mashu, Mordred, Jeanne and Astolfo all perked up and yelled:
"ME!"
_____
Night had fallen over the beach; the starry black sky and the bright white moon reflecting off the surface of the water while activity from the beach settled. The embers of a campfire were still alight as some of the Servants situated nearby began to doze off, being spent of energy after the events of today. Mashu was cuddled up between Gudao and Gabrielle on a beach blanket hilariously, Astolfo, Jeanne and Da Vinci fell asleep in their chairs, with the Rider leaning awkwardly over his armrest while he snored, and around his mouth was filthy with stains of chocolate, marshmallow, and crumbs from graham-crackers.
Not to mention the dozen of empty MONSTER ENERGY cans just crushed and piled beside him. It seemed not even an absurd amount of energy drinks could keep the bubbly paladin awake.
Cu Chulainn and Scathach were mysteriously absent from the group as Emiya and Jekyll got to work packing everything away before the return to Chaldea. Careful not to wake the others just yet, Emiya went about packing the blankets, folding chairs and umbrellas away while Jekyll gathered trash for disposal. They needed to leave the beach exactly how they found it lest getting a spoiled experience next time.
Arturia was packing her stuff away, rubbing her eyes and suppressing a yawn. As much as she enjoyed herself today, all good things must come to an end.
Come next morning, it was business as usual for Chaldea… Human history was not going to save itself…
As the Blue Saber closed her bag, she could not help but wonder what her "child" must be feeling. Mordred had already packed up her belongings, but Arturia saw her sitting on the sand close to the water and staring out into the night sky. She wondered what was on the Red Saber's mind, fearing if maybe Mordred did not have the same level of fun Arturia had today. Arturia found herself for the first time worrying very much about her knight and offspring.
Months ago, when she and Mordred were still opposed to each other, Arturia never thought she would care for the rebellious knight to such a familial degree, believing her to be every bit the treacherous usurper of Camelot she fought against at Camlann. Mordred seemed to revel in that fact, provoking and upstaging Arturia, letting resentment brew between them.
But as Arturia and Mordred were forced to ally each other, this opposition they had for each other hurt Chaldea's efforts to save humanity. Something had to change, and it took one of them to decide enough was enough and take the first leap to put the past behind them once and for all.
Arturia took the first step… and as it turned out, Mordred did not want this feud to continue either. They compromised, laying out all their misgivings and leaving their insecurities and desires bare for the other to see.
A bridge was formed… with the help of the Masters and Servants who the Sabers called friends…
Since then, Arturia and Mordred were a force to be reckoned with, slowly building up camaraderie and trust in each other with every victory on and off the front-line. It soon extended socially here in Chaldea, and while they had a few missteps getting to where they are now, Arturia felt there was not anything left that she and Mordred cannot work through together.
A far cry from the days when she was the cold and distant king of Britain.
Without even thinking, Arturia followed her instinct to join Mordred in her company. She at least needed to make sure the Red Saber was of sound mind after spending the day with everyone here at the beach. Arturia got up and made her way to where Mordred was.
"We're almost ready to go Mordred," she calmly said, catching Mordred's attention. "We'll be waking everyone up soon."
"Thanks for the heads up, Father…" Mordred did not turn around upon saying that, in fact she sounded distracted. Fearing something was troubling her, Arturia decided to sit down beside the Red Saber, in a move that snapped Mordred's attention.
"Is everything alright?" asked the Blue Saber. "If you're still mad about earlier-"
"No! Of course, not-" Mordred stammered initially, clearly distressed by Arturia of all people seeking her company. The knight pulled herself together and her gaze dropped. Arturia could see to her amusement that Mordred was hiding her embarrassment as she corrected with, "I mean, you're usually so serious, and I guess I'm just not used to it yet. You never used to joke…"
Arturia smiles slightly.
"There's much about me you do not know, Mordred. I'll admit even I did not know I could engage in such… foolery."
But seriously considering Mordred's words, Arturia let out a sigh of admission:
"I guess I forgot all about that side of myself when I first picked up Caliburn…"
"…"
Mordred's lack of response told Arturia everything she needed to know. Looking out at the night sky, the King of Knights stated with utmost empathy.
"That's what you are thinking about, isn't it?"
An ocean breeze gently blew across the beach, making Mordred shiver slightly. As usual, her father was more perceptive of the knight's feelings than Mordred thought Arturia was capable of. She keeps getting proven time and time again that her king was not like how Mordred remembered her back then in Sixth century Britain, and the knight just could not hide her feelings.
Having been found out, Mordred tries to play off any of Arturia's concerns, but at the same time-
"I know I said I don't care about lifting the Sword of Selection anymore, BUT…" Mordred stresses, knowing she was sounding like a hypocrite after earlier and slowly twiddled her thumbs. "I mean- It would be nice… now that you and I are- err…"
Arturia glanced at Mordred hearing her dancing around the issue and judging from how she was tripping on her words, the knight had not thought this through. The Blue Saber was amused but decided to take things easy.
"You don't have to say it…" she offered, understanding where Mordred was getting conflicted. "I guess watching everybody try pulling Excalibur perhaps made you… reevaluate that claim?"
Mordred turns to Arturia in surprise. Seeing her father's look of assurance nudged her into admitting:
"A bit, yeah…"
Her gaze drops again, appearing like she was uneasy about what she wanted to ask Arturia. Mordred had grown to trust the Blue Saber in recent days, but sharing her feelings was still something she struggled with.
Yet, her "father" was the only person who could give her an answer to what Mordred wanted to know.
"W- What is it that makes someone worthy to wield Excalibur?"
That question hung in the air, and Arturia was not sure how to answer at first, yet ironically, she was the only person alive in any position to offer speculation on the powerful, Fae-crafted sword that Arturia herself could use. Excalibur, and Caliburn respectively, have wills of their own… calling them mere weapons undercut their true nature as breakers against Humanity's own darkness.
Images flashed to the time Arturia first pulled Caliburn from the stone; she remembered the feeling in her hands when she gripped it with resolve… something too great for words…
"Honestly, Mordred," Arturia starts, uncertain of herself. "I still do not know that for sure… I once thought the sword made a mistake letting me be the one to hold it, after what happened with Camelot… yet still it never rejected my hands."
Mordred inaudibly sighed in disappointment, not seeming surprised that she got a vague answer. Arturia could hazard a guess as to why Mordred so badly to know what made her worthy to wield Excalibur. The Red Saber could have at any point stepped up to accept Arturia's challenge as the other Servants did and find out for herself… and Mordred never did.
Was it not her wish? Maybe Mordred felt she no longer NEEDED to try pulling Excalibur, but she still had that curiosity… and something stopped her. Arturia suspected the reason…
"Perhaps," she offers gently. "You now feel that pulling the sword would vindicate you for your… rebellion. And you did not bother taking a turn because… you feel you haven't earned it?"
Arturia sees Mordred's head lift up, but there was no surprise on her face. It had always been on the tip of Mordred's tongue, but she was ashamed of saying it aloud. Instead of affirming, Mordred just duly said:
"For once, it feels like we actually know each other. I ain't used to this…"
Arturia tries cheering her up.
"No? A lot has happened to me after Camlann… Both Holy Grail Wars I've participated in taught me some pretty painful lessons. But I had Shirou to help me come to terms with history."
Mordred curled her legs up as another breeze came over the Sabers. Arturia was feeling cold herself, and thought she saw Mordred shimming closer to her for a moment.
"I still can't believe you wanted to wish all that away," the Red Saber suddenly let out. "I wanted so much to have a chance of standing where you stood, holy sword in hand and ruling Camelot in your stead… and you were going to ditch it, just like that…"
Arturia said nothing. She knew that once she and Mordred came to terms with each other, there would be pushback from Arturia revealing what her wish was for the Holy Grail. Despite her rebellion, Mordred genuinely believed in Arturia's vision for a peaceful, unified Britain. Everything she had done for her king as one of her knights was for the realization of that dream, no matter how foolish the prospect seemed. Mordred had every right to be angered by something so unthinkable as rewriting history.
This was before the Red Saber could comprehend the conflict Arturia was experiencing when she sought the Holy Grail. Mordred was now slightly more understanding of the Blue Saber's wish, even if it still did not sit well with her.
Mordred lets out a sigh…
"I guess being king ain't all it's cracked up to be… if you wanted to rid yourself of it so badly. Too bad I was too pissed off to consider that…"
Mordred holds out her hand… the same that held her sword, Clarent; cut down heathens who dared disrespected her king, and the same hand by which Mordred killed her fellow knights, even wounding Arturia in her rage.
Her king, her idol, her flesh-and-blood… Mordred sat there starring at her offending palm, angry at herself for causing so much pain and suffering… all because Arturia did not deem her fit to be her heir.
And that was not even because Arturia hated her… she was protect Mordred from the inhuman burden of kingship…
Now here Mordred was as history would remember her, the Knight of Rebellion; a treacherous knight who threw away her honor for personal gain…
Mordred's fist was now clenched tightly.
"No traitor to his kingdom has any right to hold Excalibur…" her voice was shaking, overcome with grief and anger. "I can't call myself a Pendragon…"
"Mordred…" Arturia lets out, stunned seeing the unapologetic so critical of herself. Mordred soon calmed down, closing her eyes as she took a deep breath .
"I want to wipe the slate clean, Father. But I don't know if I'm doing enough to make up for that… you know?"
Arturia looks on in sympathy, remembering Mordred's actions up to this point as a Servant of Chaldea; protecting her allies and confronting danger not with fear, but resolve and a desire to beat any foe before her to a pulp. As a Heroic Spirit, Mordred wanted to live up to the "heroic" part of that title despite her place in history.
But to fully exonerate herself as "Knight of Rebellion," Mordred felt that becoming worthy to wield Excalibur was the final step in doing so.
And Mordred felt doubt, even after telling herself time and time again that she WAS worthy.
After the game with all the Servants, Mordred was not so sure anymore; her insecurities had caught up to her.
Arturia found her heart bleeding for her knight and offspring, and thought about what she could do to make Mordred feel better.
And she had an epiphany… a chance to share what Arturia had kept to herself for centuries.
"Can I let you in a little secret?" The king whispered to her knight. "I couldn't lift the sword at first…"
Mordred turns to Arturia in total shock and disbelief.
"What?!"
Arturia just nodded, affirming to the flabbergasted Mordred that what she said was indeed true. The Blue Saber went on to tell:
"Brother Kay once took me to Caliburn in the Stone one day when we were children. Made me try first, then Kay would boast that he'd succeed because he would grow up to be a great knight. Obviously, he failed to pull the sword free, and I wasn't taking it seriously enough. I thought it would've been great to free the sword and make him eat his words, but I couldn't at first."
Arturia turned somber as Mordred listened.
"Years later, after a nearby village got raided and burned down, I- was changed; Overcome with the desire to prevent future tragedy and give hope to those who could not fight for themselves. When I returned… Merlin was there-"
"Perv-wizard…" Mordred joked. Arturia resisted the urge to laugh at that…
"No one came back for the sword after failing to pull it the first time," the Blue Saber continued. "All who tried left and never came back… except me. Something was different that time… I don't know why, but somehow, I just… knew."
Arturia stared out into the ocean again.
"Merlin told me that if I succeeded, then I'd have to discard who I was, let go of all that made me a human to be the king and leader that the people of Britain needed. That was the cost of doing the right thing."
Mordred was stunned with awe, imagining Arturia confronted with that dilemma, about to make a choice that would change history forever… the weight of such a choice and the cost of not going back to a life of peace and isolation from the horrors of the World…
This was her king…
"Even hearing this…" Arturia continues. "I was prepared to sacrifice all of myself… all I could give… then I reached for the sword… and pulled…"
A young Arturia Pendragon, a simple peasant girl under the care of a retired knight, standing before the sword that would change her fate… gripped the handle of Caliburn and lifted it free from the Stone… light from the weapon shined so bright that it could be seen from miles away…
Mordred was filled with admiration, yet humbled in the belief that a third-rate knight like her would not measure up to the deeds of King Arthur. Mordred turned to sulk but felt a hand on her shoulder, stopping her. The Red Saber turned to see Arturia looking at her with pride; her emerald-green eyes mirrored those of Mordred's own.
The Sabers were one in the same… two sides of the same coin…
"What I'm trying to say, Mordred," Arturia offered, this moment being a rare one where she could act as a wise parent to the Red Saber. "If it ever means more to you, worthiness is never set in stone. I know if you continue fighting adamantly and upholding Chaldea's values, then one day Excalibur will see you fit to wield it. Even if that never happens, then you will still be the one thing I need you to be…"
Mordred's surprised express grew, and she asked:
"Your knight?"
Arturia instead answers, holding up a fist for Mordred to bump.
"Family."
The Red Saber was speechless, but a smile grew on her face. Everything Arturia said so far was affirmation to Mordred that she was not a lost cause. She could get her honor back and discard the label of treacherous knight with work and dedication. Even if Excalibur would not find her worthy…
In Arturia's eyes, Mordred was…
Without a second thought, Mordred threw herself at Arturia and hugged her. The Blue Saber had to work hard to stay composed and not blush in embarrassment. Mordred was capable of great affection even she was normally brash and abrasive; it was very to forget she had softness under that tough exterior.
The Sabers stay in each other's embrace for a full minute until they slowly pulled apart. Arturia looks at Mordred with regret and a hint of self-guilt.
"I know I've said this already, but I'm sorry I could not see you for who you are trying to be, Mordred. Since you were summoned, you fight as a hero like any other, wanting to absolve yourself of how history painted you. I was blinded by my assumptions…"
Mordred's gaze drops, appearing regretful herself for what happened between her and Arturia, both in history and here in Chaldea.
"Likewise…"
Her reply made Arturia manage a smile.
"I'm proud of you, Mordred. Truly… I know for the battles to come; we need to stick together no matter what…"
Mordred returns a trademark, cocky grin and holding up a fist.
"Yeah! No one messes with the Knights of the Round! We'll kick the ass of anyone who thinks they can!"
Arturia followed suit, holding up her fist again, and this time Mordred happily accepts a fist-bump. With that, the Sabers' bond was solidified, staying at each other's side no matter what obstacles; external or personal come between them. Both Arturia and Mordred could hardly believe that they were getting along after everything they have been through, but it was far from unwelcome. Both Sabers felt complete knowing they could fight together and confide in each other.
They were not about to let anything sever this bond of theirs…
While this was all unfolding, Emiya and Jekyll have distantly observed the Sabers' interaction, feeling happy for the girls. Jekyll then turned to Emiya with an enticing offer to suggest.
"Maybe leaving for the night can wait a bit, wouldn't you say?"
The Archer glanced at the Assassin, and smiled in agreement, allowing Arturia and Mordred their moment for a little bit longer.
"Doc, I was just thinking the same thing…"