A story requested. If this story is well-liked, I will make this a series. Fate/Zero and Dragon Age: Inquisition do not belong to me, they belong to their rightful owners.

Enjoy reading.

This chapter has been recently edited.

The King of Knights still remembers that day, the day when she met the knight that became one of the first knights of the Roundtable. Sir Lancelot, her best knight and her closest friend who understood her even if she expresses nothing, hears her even if she says nothing.

Arturia owes a great deal of gratitude to Lancelot. So why is she repaying his years of services by fighting against him, surrounded by fire in an all out battle for the Holy Grail?

The knight she knew snarls at her as he swings down his sword Arondight, his eyes are that of a mad man glaring hatefully at his king. Arturia blocks Arondight with her own sword Excalibur, cloaked with invisibility, pointless if you should ask, since Lancelot knows her sword's length.

When they had first fought, Arturia was oblivious, when she attempted to strike the Berserker Servant with her sword, the Black Armored Mad Man stopped her sword with his hands despite the weapon is invisible. It was by the knowledge of Arturia's sword length that she had demanded the Berserker Servant to reveal his identity, which led the revealing of her close friend.

Anguished from this disturbed truth, Arturia had lost her will to keep fighting, for who is she to go up against her friend? In her time as King, many would insult her a King who does not understand human emotion, but today she has proven that ignorant thought wrong, for so distraught is she, all she can do is defend and not attack.

"Do you hate me so that I drove you to madness?!" Arturia wants to understand, she wants to hear the words from Lancelot that if his mad enchantment was received because of her.

But a fierce roar was all that's given as an answer from the mad knight and another swing of his sword, Arturia blocks the blade with her own but the strength the mad knight possess and adding her distress causes her to be forced back, hitting a pillar with her back.

She remains there, heart broken and practically defeated, her golden hair fell over her eyes to hide a certain emotion about to break out from it's prison, locked ever since Arturia pulled the sword from the stone, from when she was just a fifteen year old girl, proud and oblivious of the fate of her kingdom.

Her Kingdom.

When Lancelot swung his weapon down, Arturia raises her arm and blocks it with her armored glove, avoiding the blow meant for her.

Her people.

Arturia rises to her feet, sword in hand, her years of suppressing emotions, she uses that to push the anguish to the bottom of her heart.

Her fellow knights.

Arturia's defense changed to offense, deflecting and charging with Excalibur in hand.

Sir Lancelot.

A sudden change it was for her to fight back, but not as sudden as Lancelot froze, his movement stills, perhaps his Master is in a troubling state, whatever the reason for him to freeze, Arturia saw her chance.

No hesitation, and no restraints, Arturia plungs Excalibur through Lancelot's armor, breaking it's exterior, and into his heart.

"Even so."

Lancelot dropped his weapon.

"I will win the Holy Grail, so that I may save Britain from her fate, and save you as well."

Tears fell from Arturia's eyes, empty her eyes were, dull green instead of it's shinning emerald, yet she felt nothing, for whatever human emotion would come when a traumatic experience such as this occurrs, have been held back long enough for Arturia to find the burden to kill her knight.

Her friend.

"Even now, you would still reach for that?" By either miracle or the results of a Servant's life coming to an end, Lancelot speaks, "You're insufferable as ever."

He says it with a smile.

Arturia let the no longer maddened knight fall to the ground, too ashamed she was in putting down her own knight that she refuses to look at him, but she could not avoid listening to Lancelot words.

His reason for his madness as he slowly fades into dust.

"Because I could not stop myself from loving Guinevere, I was never able to forgive myself," The knight on the ground said.

"But King Arthur, you never once spoken my many sins, you never sought atonement from me, you simply continue to stand before us in your righteousness."

The more he speaks, the more tears fall from Arturia's eyes.

"But deep in my heart, I desire judgement at your hands. Had your anger judge me, had your righteousness condemn me, I might not have fallen to the path of madness, in my quest to atone and save my immortal soul."

Disbelief spreads all over Arturia's face, to hear her friend coming to madness because of her inaction to punish him? But she believed that he would come to understand.

Or is it she who does not understand?

"But this much I can say with certainty," Lancelot continues, half of his face is gone, and what remained were Lancelot's final words.

"King Arthur, you were the greatest of all Kings who ever lived, all of those at the roundtable, who served you, felt the same."

The knight's entire head fades into the last few of violet dust, disappearing into thin air, and the King of Knight is left alone.

Alone, not only a word of description, but as an answer she made to a Conqueror once, that a King must always be alone. That it is the King who must serve the people, to save them, but tonight, she has failed to save one.

"I will save you my friend," Arturia grips to her sword tightly, "You, and all the people of Britain, deserve a more worthy King than I."

So she advances. Her determination to win the Grail; unrelenting, unwavering. To save Britain, she must obtain the Holy Grail, the wish granting device.

And there it is. The Holy Grail. In the center of the stage upon a table, Arturia needs only but to run to it, down the stairs of the theater she is in, yet she remains, acknowledging that the Holy Grail does not simply show itself without the death of it's carrier.

"Irisviel," Arturia said the name of the woman that became the Holy Grail. How much does Arturia feel so ashamed in not being able to save her when she was taken, an innocent woman.

"You're late Saber," A voice with an arrogant tone echoes in the theater, making Arturia tense in hearing that familiar voice.

"I realize that you were enjoying yourself with your old mad dog," The speaker reveals himself, a blonde with sinister red eyes in golden armor, and he spoke with a smile Saber despises.

"But it is imprudent to the extreme to keep me waiting like you did."

Arturia glares at the King of Heroes in detest, such arrogance and mockery this man makes has Arturia loathe him as much if not more than the insane Caster.

"Look at that delightful expression, like that of a wild dog," The King of Heroes comment.

"Get out of my way," Arturia has no time to deal with this nonsensical man, but if she must fight him then so be it.

"You haven't won, the Holy Grail belongs to me!"

A sword shot out from a portal and impaled Arturia's leg, making her fall to her knees.

"Dear Saber, it is when you're delusional and crawling on the dirt," The golden Archer looks upon Arturia as he would looking upon something that is his, "That you are at your most beautiful."

Arturia frowns in disgust at the man, and before she would lose her temper and insult him, the golden Archer spoke before her.

"Lay down your blade and be my wife."

Arturia's disgust is now mixed with incredulity.

"A Grail that grants miracles?" The golden Archer said, as if saying that this marvelous thing is not without a price, "Where is the sense in desperately obtaining something so dubious?"

Before Arturia would ask what he meant, the Golden Archer speaks to her in demand.

"Abandon these foolish ideals and childish vows of yours."

Arturia looks at the man as if he had lost his head, that might as well be the case.

"From now on, seek only me and devote yourself to me alone, if you do, I swear as King of all Creation that I shall give you every pleasure the world has to offer," The King of Heroes promises, yet for a man such as he, he will only keep his word until he grows tired of Arturia.

This did not come to Arturia's thoughts, she is instead greatly offended by this senseless proposal, and for him to dare tell Arturia to relinquish the Holy Grail after what she had to endure, to face and put down her maddened friend, Arturia could not think of a greater insult.

"You would steal the Holy Grail from me?" Arturia said, ignoring the pain in her leg, "For such utter nonsense?!"

She raises her sword to deflect the next weapon being shot at her but so tired and beaten was she that she lost her stance and was forced back, crashing into the stairs.

"I was not asking for your opinion, I am informing you of my decision," The Golden Archer said, "Now, let us hear your response."

Arturia could not believe this man, he would even dare call himself King?!

"I refuse, I would never-"

An axe impales Arturia's armor, cutting her off from answering the Golden Archer.

"Shyness has let you at a lost for words I see, that's fine, you may answer wrongly as many times as you like."

Many portals with weapons coming out in stand by appear over the Golden Archer, all aimed at the King of Knights.

"If you must learn the joy of me, you must learn the exquisite pain as well."

Arturia glares hatefully at the Golden Archer before her, battered she was physically, and emotionally, only her determination to win the Grail is what keeps her strong, but unless she is to be forced to move - even if she were to be torn apart - then she will have to deal with this man until she relents, which she now swore for that to be never.

That is when she sees a figure on the other side of the theater, and that figure revealed his identity when he showed his hand that has two Command Seals, the Seals that are for Arturia.

"Kiritsugu?" Arturia recognized the man who is her Master, a man she has long ago come to know as someone she will never agree with, which led to their distance and lack of communication for the majority of the Holy Grail War.

Arturia pulls out the sword from her leg and forces herself to stand, ready to willingly go through with the Commands she believes Kiritsugu would make.

"Ah, then you have finally made your decision," the Golden Archer says, unaware of Arturia's dark hair Master standing behind him.

"In the name of Kiritsugu Emiya," Tthe dark hair man began, his seals glowing red, "By the power of my Command Seals."

'Give me the Holy Grail!' Arturia is ready to follow through with that Command, even if she were to go through unimaginable pain in doing so, she is ready to face through them, as long as she would get the Grail, then this will all be over.

But unfortunately, what Arturia predicted did not occur that way.

"I order you, use your Noble Phantasm to destroy the Grail."

Arturia is at a lost for words, what she heard she could not believe, until the invisibility surrounding her sword disperses and Excalibur reveals itself in golden light.

The Golden Archer is just as shock as Arturia, "What are you doing Saber?!"

By the force of the Command Seals, Arturia grips on to Excalibur with both hands.

"No!"

She raises the sword higher, but she fought back, with her Magic Resistance, she is capable to resist a Command Seal, but if a second Command is given then she will be unable to fight back.

And Kiristugu knows that.

"By my third Command Seal, I order you again," The last Command Seal on Kiritsugu's hand lights up.

"But why Kiritsugu, you of all people, why this?!"

Arturia thought she understood, or at least tries to, her Master has done so many dishonorable acts that his wish 'To Save the World' makes it look like it's nothing but a con, to hide Kiritsugu's true intention, yet he insisted it is his wish.

If he is so determine to have his wish be fulfilled, why is he using Arturia to destroy the Grail? To destroy her only way to save her country?!

"Damn you to hell!"The Golden Archer at last acknowledges Kiristugu behind him and he aimed his weapons at the Master, "You dare interrupt my wedding ceremony, mongrel?!"

Kiritsugu didn't flinch at the endless weapons aimed at him, for he knows that all he has to do is say the last Command, and it will all be over.

"Saber, destroy-"

"STOP!" Arturia screams in hopes that her voice would reach her Master, but he ignores her cry, and said his command.

"The Holy Grail."

Arturia swings her sword down, and a powerful beam of light shot out from the sword, traveling in a straight line and swallowing the Grail whole.

With nothing to hold Arturia down in this world because of all the Command Seals used, and in using her powerful Noble Phantasm, she begins to fade into golden dust, so many defeats she suffered; the failure to save Irisviel, Lancelot, perhaps she could of done something to save Lancer from Kiritsugu's tactics, and now she has lost her only chance to save her country.

All her tears have dried up, now, she is left with regrets, disappointment, and a broken heart.

'How could I understand that man if three Command Seals sets us apart,' Arturia thought of Kiritsugu, yet this time, she is not blaming him but herself, 'Perhaps this is my punishment for not understanding my people's feelings...'

If she is able to, if she is once again destined to be crowned king - even if her heart could not take the fear of leading it to ruins again - she would at least attempt to know and understand her followers feelings, her Knights including.

But that is only a fantasy, a hidden fabled wish Arturia believes it to be, and she could never accept herself if this is what she truly wanted, for unworthy does she feel that she would only repeat her mistake, and so she closes her eyes, and let the blast of Excalibur take her away.

And to the hill she last stood in life, where a graveyard of her fallen knights are in her view, in her last battle.

But where she thought she would be, is not at all where she is now.

For a moment, Arturia sees nothing but darkness, then she suddenly feels the cold ground to her cheek, and a pain to her left hand, her brows creases in confusion, she pushes herself up, momentarily stopping for a breath before getting to her knees and then opening her eyes, what comes to her view left her speechless.

'Where...is this?'

Arturia does not recognize the place at all, she sees herself surrounded in a green and black mist, but when she turns her head, she was blinded by a light from a distant, adjusting her eyes, the source of the light was a figure, standing above the stairs that led up to her.

"Go to her."

Arturia nearly gasps when she heard a voice echo in her head, recognizing the speaker in an instant.

"Irisviel?!"

Arturia waits for a response to be made should it truly be the white hair and red eyed woman, but none is given, leaving Arturia in her confusion. Though confuses, Arturia follows the voice of Irisviel's instruction and walk with small uncertainty to the figure made of light.

She discards the thought of this being a part of how a Servant's end is done, for when she thought the possibility of it, she can not shake the feeling that something is off.

Arturia gets close to the stairs and made a few steps up when inhuman sounds reaches her ears behind the Knight, looking back, she is shock to see big bug-like creatures coming out of hiding from large rocks, there were dozens of them, and they were all quickly approaching Arturia.

She reaches for Excalibur, feeling the vibe of harmful intent from these creatures, but shockingly discovers her sword is nowhere by her side.

"What? Where-" Arturia stops herself from openly questioning her sword's whereabouts as a horde of those bug-like monsters are coming closer to her.

Her instincts are telling her that should she fight them without a weapon, she will die by the fangs of the monsters, cursing under her breath, the knight had no choice but to run.

Up the stairs Arturia goes in haste as the creatures chase after her, upon getting closer to the figure of light, it is a woman in strange garments, but there were no hostility coming from her, instead warmth is given off from the light.

The knight's run to the top became difficult as boulders were now in the way, Arturia climbs over the boulders, though her pace has slowed down and the creatures were catching up to her, Arturia is but only a couple of feet away from the woman of light who has her hand held out.

"Arturia, take her hand."

The voice of Irisviel echoes once again in Arturia's head, the knight wants to ask Irisviel in hopes of putting her confusion to an end, but she must get out of the creatures reach, so she goes on.

Arturia reaches out her hand, ready to take the woman of light's hand, only for it to be grabbed by the wrist not from the woman, but a dark tentacle from behind the knight. Arturia looks behind her, bewildered to what could be grabbing her wrist and pulling her back to the crowd of blood thirsty monsters, her expression changes to shock.

A figure of a man made of darkness is there, his face is as gray as ashes and his eyes are dark and empty, his teeth seen clearly, and it doesn't seem he has any skin, it took Arturia a second to comprehend that what she is actually looking at is a face of skull.

"You do not belong to this world," It spoke to Arturia, "Leave at once."

It's words only confuses Arturia, but she regains herself when more tentacles sprout out from the figure's arms and pulling her back to where the creatures would consume her, but the knight fought back and with all her strength she remained where she is, but the figure of darkness strength is soon besting hers, she will not stay where she is for long.

Arturia looks up to the woman's outstretch hand and holds out her unrestrain hand, there were a couple inches apart, each trying to take the other's hand, and just as Arturia is about to be dragged back to the awaiting monsters, she is at a fingers touch to the woman, and a green light shows itself from Arturia's hand before a bright light blinds her, a screeched from behind rung Arturia's ears as the grip to her wrist let go.

The last thing Arturia remembered was the jolt of pain to her left hand before the world faded away in her sight.

Once again, darkness is all Arturia sees.

She twitches her closed eyelids, ready to open them and see where she was, by far the most strangest set-up to take her to a place of regret if you ask the King of Knights.

Yet, that is not the only thing strange to Arturia. For some reason, she feels...odd. An alienate feeling to Arturia, yet familiar at the same time. She feels...hungry.

An odd description true but here's what's really strange: if Arturia's role as a Servant is over, then she should not feel something such as hunger. She is like a spirit in a way, and spirits don't feel hunger. Even as a Servant, she wouldn't feel hunger, cravings, yes, but not precisely hunger as she would only need mana to sustain her energy along with the contract with her Master that holds down her form to the physical world.

So with these thoughts in her head, why is it that Arturia can feel hunger as if she is fully alive again?

Arturia forces her eyes to open, and when she did, she is alarmed to the first thing her emerald pair settles upon.

She is in chains, both of her wrists binded with metal, and when Arturia looks up from her hands, she sees a couple of men and women surrounding her, all held up swords, pointing their blades at her in both fear and wariness...the former more than the latter from what can be closely seen.

Confusion and alarm struck her face as she the imprisoned knight looks all around her. How in the world has she gotten here? Why is she in binds? One thing is clear for her, by the look of how she is in, in chains, she's a prisoner.

That most certainly doesn't explain just WHAT is this? How and why is she here? And not even in her armor with the blue dress, but a plain blouse and brown pants that reached to her ankles. Had she not vanish from Excalibur's powers?

Her scattered speculations are completely put in an halt when Arturia hears a door open in front of her, the sudden light hitting her eyes and forcing her to squint her eyes as she watches two women came into this prison cell Arturia concludes it to be.

The first woman that comes in is a warrior no doubt, in some type of armor carrying a longsword with a very ornate hilt in her hand. She has far short, braided cut hair and a fierce look that did not lighten up when she sees Arturia is awake with a scar under her cheek. She wears a lavender outfit with a similarly tinted breastplate as well as metal studded gloves.

The second woman following behind wears what looks like a lavender shroud drapped over her head and shoulders. The top of her outfit is clearly padded leather but the rest looks to be a long coat made of light chainmail, her red hair peaking out of her hood. Her facial expression betrays no emotions, though Arturia could see the observing look her eyes had, inspecting her in a way that belongs to an interrogator.

What is surprising to her the most though, this set-up she is in, it reminds her of the old times, the time when she ruled as king.

The woman with the sword in hand approaches Arturia and begins circling around the confused but also wary knight. She went behind the blonde girl and lowered herself to Arturia's ears.

"Tell me why we shouldn't kill you now."

Arturia stiffens, shivering at those words she did not ever want hear. Why shouldn't they kill her she says? How about WHY should they kill her?

"The Conclave is destroyed," The sword woman says, "Everyone who attended is dead," her voice cracks, emotion breaks through in stating the deaths that by the sound of it, seems to be many.

"Except for you."

Arturia doesn't respond, a frown slowly forming across her face while her widen eyes focuses on the floor as she tries to understand what is going on.

The sword woman grabs her arm, startling Arturia.

"Explain this."

Arturia is about to question the woman, until her voice is taken awayin shock when a haunting green glow a shade deeper than her own emerald eyes with sparks revealing itself on her hand.

"I..."

Arturia has no explanation, for how could she if doesn't know what THAT is in her hand.

"Explain!" The woman raises her voice, helping Arturia to find her voice at last.

"I don't know," Arturia answers, finding herself again before she looks at the furious woman on her straight in the eye, "What is this and where am I?"

The woman drops Arturia's arm and glares at the knight.

"You are in no position to question, prisoner."

Yes, Arturia can see that, but she needs answers right now.

"Hear me out, I do not know what this...energy is in my hand, nor do I know where I am," Arturia has to calmly speak to the woman less she would be in a much worse position, "I...I have no idea what is going on."

"So you claim to know nothing then," The woman reiterates skeptically, obviously not believing Arturia's words, "I suppose the next thing you are going to say is that you have suffered memory loss."

Arturia frowns, seeing little cooperation in the sword woman, "I am telling the truth."

"And I say you're lying!" The sword woman suddenly grabs Arturia by both of her arms, looking as if she would attack for not answering what she needed to hear, but the hooded woman pushes her off of the knight and brings distance between them.

"Cassandra, we need her," The hooded woman firmly reminds before turning around to face Arturia herself.

"Tell me: what is the last thing you remember?"

Arturia is relieved to see the hooded woman is less aggressive and answers truthfully to her, "I was in the middle of a war that was coming to an end, until..." Arturia grits her teeth, "Until I was betrayed, I had faced my end and thought that that would be it, but I awake in a different place, and there was...there was a woman of light."

"A woman?" The hooded woman repeats, though curious about that, she is more curious to Arturia's story, "You said that you were in a war?"

Arturia nods, "Yes."

"And that you...died?"

The King of Knights nods again, "Yes."

"So you are undead then?" The sword woman now named Cassandra scoffs.

If she were still in the Holy Grail War? She would call herself a reincarnation. Now? She just doesn't know. She is supposed to be dead and back at Camlann...so why does she feel so alive? She is no longer a Servant, for that, she's sure. So then what is she?

"I...don't know."

The hooded woman and Cassandra looks upon the frustrated knight before looking at each other in silent debate.

"Go to the Forward Camp, Leliana," Cassandra says to the hooded woman, "I will take her to the Rift."

Leliana nods and leaves the room, Cassandra - who is still looking upon Arturia with suspicion - approaches the knight, kneeling down and unlocking the chains around her wrist. Neither of them, Arturia and Cassandra, has to say a word that they do not trust or even begin to like the other, but as of yet neither one would claim the other as an enemy at thispoint. Both women were still deciphering their situations, to understand what in the world is happening.

"What is going on?" Arturia asks as the chains drops to her sides, not a question about her, but what is troubling the people in her eyes.

Cassandra grabs Arturia by the arm and pulls her up to stand.

"It will be easier to show you," Cassandra answers ominously, and leads the knight out of the room.

Wooden doors open to the cold outside, letting Cassandra and Arturia pass through, and when Arturia takes a step to the outside, she stares wide-eyed at her new surroundings. Wooden houses that are coated with snow as well as the ground, mountains are seen from a distant, and though Arturia is surprised to see the unfamiliar land, it's not as surprising or shocking as what she sees in the sky.

A massive vortex swirls there, clouds being pulled towards the large portal of green light the same color as the magical scar embedded within the King of Knights' hand, and from the vortex a stream fell in a spiral to the earth beyond the mountains.

What in the name of God is this abomination?! How on Earth could such an unnatural existence be even possible in the first place?!

"We call it the Breach," Cassandra explains the monstrosity as her prisoner stares at the great, big hole in the sky in fascinated horror, "It's a massive Rift into the world of demons that grows larger with each passing hours. It's not the only such Rift, just the largest. All were caused by the explosion at the conclave."

"Demons you say?" Arturia questions, unable to tear her eyes away from the Breach. She can see the obvious danger in letting such an opening be left without something to be done about it, but what does this have to do with her? And how does it explain why she is here or what this unknown power is in her hand?

"Unless we act, the Breach may grow until it swallows the world."

Arturia meets with Cassandra's eyes briefly before looking back at the Breach, "I can understand the threat that...thing impose, but what does this have to do with-"

Suddenly, green energy of enhanced power drops from the vortex like an waterfall, the strange power in Arturia's hand reacting due to its clear connection to the monstrosity in the sky. Extreme pain stabs into her hand, enough that she falls onto her knees and yells in agony. Clenching the hand spastically releasing green energy, she grits her teeth until the pain subsides, small sparks lingering on her hand.

Cassandra knells down to meet Arturia by the eye, "Each time the Breach expands, your Mark spreads."

Arturia raises her marked hand to her direct eye-sight, looking at this strange magic as she feels her energy be drain slowly and her hunger intensifying.

"And it is killing you. It may be the key to stopping this, but there isn't much time," Cassandra informs, "I know that you did not receive the best treatment from me, but I am asking you for your help with that Mark of yours."

"But...how will this help?" Arturia questions weakly.

"You will see it for yourself, but I need your cooperation," Cassandra looks to be someone who will not take no for an answer, especially if the world is threatened, yet she is pleading to Arturia to help, just to make this easier.

The King of Knights knows not where she is, she knows not why or how it came to be this way, she knows not these people or whether to trust them or not, and she knows not if she is alive or dead. But this she is certain: if anyone who comes to her in desperation for help, and with people including the world said to be in danger, then it is simply not in her nature to turn away.

"I still have many questions," Arturia responds as she shakily gets back up on her feet, "But I will do what I can to help."

Cassandra suspicions of the knight visibly lessens by the look in her eyes, but not completely. Perhaps Arturia needs to do more just to show that she is no threat, with this Mark in her hand that shares the same color as the Breach, it's no wonder why they are being wary to the blonde knight.

Cassandra holds Arturia by the arm, though not as harshly as before and pulls the knight to walk along with her; Arturia being met with the sight of people, villagers and soldiers, every one of them looking upon Arturia with distrust and judgement, some even shouting accusations at her.

"They have decided your guilt," Cassandra explains over the people's reaction to Arturia , "They need it. The people of Haven mourn our holy, Divine Justinia, head of the Chantry."

'So that is what this is place?', Arturia notes. Haven is it? She has never heard of it before.

"The Conclave was hers. It was a chance for peace between Mages and Templars." Arturia will save her breath over Mages since the knight knows fair well what they are at this point, but not with Templars. She makes another note to ask Cassandra about them later.

"She brought their leaders together, now they are dead."

Cassandra leads Arturia to the large doors that has a bride on the other side, the guards opens the gate for Cassandra and Arturia to walk through.

"We lash out, like the sky. But we must think beyond ourselves, as she did. Until the Breach is sealed."

Cassandra stops Arturia from walking and pulls out a knife. The knight is startled by this action, but calms down as soon as she sees Cassandra starting to cut off the binds around Arturia's wrists.

"There will be a trial, I can promise no more." The binds drops onto the snow-covered stone floor. "Come, it is not far."

"Do I really unnerve these people?" Arturia asks, rubbing her wrists for soothing, "I don't recall ever doing something that would sent me to death." Surely she can convince these people that she is not a threat.

"If you can explain yourself then you will have a better chance, if you can't, then you will need to prove yourself, give us a reason to trust you."

It seems Arturia will have to do just that.

"Where are we going anyway?" Arturia questions as they continue walking.

"Your Mark must be tested on something smaller than the Breach," Cassandra answers, "You will see for it yourself soon enough."

Arturia doesn't like the vagueness Cassandra is giving but she goes against pressing any further for she is already at the woman's mercy by walking on her own two feet. It's possible that even this woman isn't quite certain if it will work, but for now, Arturia will have to trust Cassandra but also be aware for any traps that she may come by.

They walk by a group of men who are praying, and who wouldn't when the sky looks as if it's the end of the world? They then approach to the other side of the bridge, where their way is prevented any further because of the big gate before them.

"Open the gate, we are heading to the Valley!" Cassandra's command is heard, and the guards opens the gate, letting the warrior and the knight pass through.

They run by soldiers hiding behind defense structures, some who are willing to fight while others are cowering in fear. When Arturia and Cassandra went further, they pass through soldiers who are running the opposite direction of the battlefield, crying out that it is the end of the world. Arturia does not appreciate that one who is a supposed to be a warrior is running away from a fight like your common coward, but she became aware that these people may not have confronted such a chaotic atmosphere on this scale that involves demons before.

When they went further down the path, a meteor from the Breach suddenly falls near Arturia and Cassandra, and though the distance is nothing to feel threatened over, Arturia nevertheless feels the sheer pain in her hand and is forced onto her knees again, feeling her energy be drained as well.

Cassandra stops herself when she hears Arturia's cry and turns to see her in a painful state, approaching the knight and helping her to stand.

"The pulses are coming faster now," Cassandra says, the signs of panic coming from her voice at time continues to run out, "The larger the Breach grows, the more Rifts appear, the more demons we face."

"I...I understand, then we must hurry," The pain that seems to be increasing by every shock is taking a toll to Arturia's breathing; she hopes that whatever she must do, that it will stop this shocking pain.

They resume their travel to a destination Arturia knows not, but as they ran, Arturia thought it would be best to start asking questions now.

"How was I found?" Arturia begins, breaking the silence between the two, "I cannot remember what else has happened after I've accepted that woman's hand."

"They said you...stepped out of a Rift, and that for a moment you had on a blue dress and armor, with a golden sword in hand before it disappeared save for the sword, leaving you with what you're wearing now, and then you fell unconscious," Cassandra reiterates what she was told, sounding uncertain at what she has heard, "They say two women were behind you, no one knew who they were."

Arturia listens closely to every word Cassandra says, her eyes widening at the mention of a golden sword.

"You said I had golden sword? Where is it now?"

"Safe, and that's all I can promise you," Cassandra states, "Though I don't know where they got the "golden" part from, the sword looked like any other sword to me. They probably had too much drink when they found you."

Arturia frowns at not having Excalibur by her side, but then it dawns her: if they are to head for a Breach that is smaller compared to the larger one in the sky, and that Cassandra says that demons uses these breaches to pass into this world, then wouldn't it be essential for Arturia to have a weapon?

She is about to discuss this problem to Cassandra when just up ahead, they see a group of men, awaiting for Cassandra to approach them to travel together.

But no one could have predicted the next event.

Another meteor is shot from the Breach above, falling right into those men waiting for the two women, the bridge which Arturia and Cassandra are standing upon crumbling as a result and they fall.

Hitting boulders on the way down, the two are sure to gain some bruises but miraculously no bones are broken from the duo, and are able to use every bit of their strength to push themselves up, baring the pain they felt in all places, but they stop when another meteor falls into a place right in front of them.

Getting to their feet quickly, instead of what would be predicted when a meteor lands and that it would leave behind an imprint to the ground, it reveals a figure in robe, with pale skin and a green light appearing in its arms like veins. It is a demon.

The demon looks ready to attack, and so did Cassandra who has already pulled out her sword.

"Stay behind me!"

Cassandra charges into battle against the monster, believing that Arturia would be safe if she were to remain where she is, but unknown to Cassandra, green light peaks out from the ground beside Arturia, the blonde knight moving away from the spot at that very instant where the green light is glowing brightly. A wise move, for in a second, green light sprout out from the ground, revealing a second demon like the one Cassandra is currently fighting.

The knight knows the demon saw her, and she has no choice but to fight, but she is without Excalibur, and it would be foolish to go up against a demon bare handed - though she could imagine a certain, redhead tyrant having a kick out of doing that. Looking around, drastically searching for a weapon - any weapon, she spots one sticking out of the boulders, possibly belonging to the soldiers who have died from the impact of the meteor that destroyed the bridge.

Wasting no time, Arturia runs towards the sword, the demon chasing her after her, Cassandra taking notice of this and attempts to go after them but the demon she is engaged with is in her way, causing her to curse under her breath, and prays that Arturia will not get killed so suddenly, for she may be this world's only hope.

Arturia sprints and reaches for the sword, pulling it out of the boulders and having a bit of a nostalgia in doing so, she faces the demon. The hooded monster is at a hand's reach to her head until it is swatted away with a swing of Arturia's sword, the thing brings down his claws, intending to tear the girl apart but Arturia dodges it with a side step, the monster's arm is there in her eyes and so with a yell, she swings her sword, intending to slice off the demon's arm.

But she only manages to cut in deeply, and this stuns Arturia, for even if she were given a rusty old blade, she would still be strong enough to at least push the enemy back, but she didn't right now, in fact, because she doesn't feel like in her prime condition.

'Have I gotten weaker?' She asks herself, and in her state of shock, the demon took this chance and raises his other hand, his claws ready to inflict wounds, Arturia snaps out of her shock and pulling the sword down to remove the blade from the demon's arm, she blocks the coming attack but is knocked back a couple of feet away, hitting the boulders with her back and knocking the wind out of her.

'Either this is cause by what is in my hand, or something else entirely, I cannot lose focus, or I will be killed!'

With her mind set and regaining her breathing, the blonde gets back onto her feet, staggering and feeling blood fall to the side of her face from a cut to her forehead, she positions herself on the defensive, and the demon charges at her.

Arturia can no longer block for the strength the demon possess is nothing to sneeze over, so all she can do is dodge and wait for the right moment to attack, she swings her sword down and inflicts yet another wound and the demon cries, angered, causing it to start rapidly attacking Arturia, trying to tearits prey apart with its claws but the only thing that became victim to it's attack was the air itself. Arturia uses this clumsy move to her advantage and let the demon chase after her until she is cornered by a tree.

Confident that it will kill her with this one hit, the demon raises its claws aims for Arturia's head, but the knight ducks out of the way, the attack ends up hitting the tree instead, and she stabs her sword into demon's stomach, the demon roars, black liquid coughs out from underneath it's hood and Arturia presses the sword in further.

With a roar of her own and using every bit of strength she currently has, she forces the demon back, ramming it all the way to the other demon that is busy fighting Cassandra. Distracted the demon is, it could not avoid the coming attack that Arturia has brought by pushing the demon she had and slammed it against the other demon, the blade of the sword impales the other demons side and it cries.

Arturia stops her pushing and kicks the demon back so that she would have her sword back, she stumbles back, breathing heavily, great amount of energy she had used just for a simple attack that she fell into one knee and uses the sword she holds as support by stabbing the end of its blade into the ground.

Though the demon she had fought is killed, the demon Cassandra was fighting has yet to die, and it is set on killing Arturia in her moment of fatigue in vengeance, so it charges after her, but it's path to Arturia is blocked by Cassandra. Startled at the woman's appearance, it draws back which is its fatal and final mistake. Cassandra runs after the demon in its moment of hesitation and impales her sword into its chest.

Black blood spills out from the demon, it coughs and heaves, and with a dying breath, it fall. Both demons are immobile, Arturia and Cassandra have won.

Arturia sighs in relief, she pushes herself up with the help of her sword that will have to do as a substitute until she get Excalibur back, and approaches Cassandra. But she stops when the woman holds up her blade against Arturia.

"Drop your weapon. Now."

Arturia cannot drop her weapon, she needs it if she were to survive this, but unless Cassandra trusts her, she will be at a disadvantage when another strong enemy appears.

"Where ever it is you are taking me, there are sure to be more of these demons, and I need a weapon to defend myself," Arturia agrues to Cassandra, "You have to trust that I will not go against you."

"Give me one reason to trust you."

A tough woman this one is. She actually reminds Arturia of herself, so she can't really be frustrated over the woman's stubbornness. Cassandra did say that Arturia must prove herself if she were to gain anyone's trust, so she will have to prove herself right here and now.

"Your name is Cassandra, yes?"

Cassandra doesn't respond, she does not deny it however so Arturia will take that as a yes, lowering her sword and placing a hand over her heart.

"I am Arturia Pendragon, I am not from around here, I know nothing of this land, so to everyone here, I am a stranger," Her emerald eyes gleams, not unlike how they used to be before fighting Sir Lancelot. "But I am a Knight, a Knight who is lost. So I am in need of guidance to this world, and so I am in need of you, and if you would help me, I will give you my thanks by putting my own life on the line, and fight beside you, but that is only if I have something to defend myself."

Cassandra stares at Arturia with a frowning expression, but inside, in listening to Arturia's words, other than the common sense that she needs a weapon to defend herself from more demons, Cassandra felt herself be...moved by the way Arturia spoke, like she was talking to someone with high experience. As much as she would like to know just who is this Knight, they have to keep moving.

"...You're right." Cassandra lowers her own sword, "I cannot protect you, and I cannot expect you to be defenseless."

She walks towards a path that she and Arturia have to take but stops briefly to look back at the knight.

"I should remind you that you came willingly, and for that, I will answer whatever questions you have."

Arturia bows her head respectively and soon follows after Cassandra.

"So you are not from around here you say?" Cassandra says as they walk, "Where are you from then?"

Arturia slows her walking and looks at the ground, her eyes lowered in sadness at the mention of her home.

"My home...is long gone, as for where I was before suddenly appearing in this place," She looks up to the cloudy sky, "All I can say is that I am MUCH farther away than what I believe myself to be."

No longer is she in Fuyuki City, in fact, by the sight of these people wearing like they are in the medieval times, she might not be in modern Japan anymore, neither is she in that place of ruins where her kingdom used to lie.

She is in a new world entirely, and with reasons she doesn't know. She is no longer a Servant, so would that make her alive then? But what power is capable enough to have done this? Arturia looks downwards her hand in deep thought. She has a feeling that this all started when she accepted that woman of light's hand, all because the voice of Irisviel told her to take it.

Did Irisviel want Arturia to take the woman of light's hand, to save her?

So many questions, so little to no answers, but such things will definitely have to be put aside for now, as there are problems that must be dealt with in which Arturia may be of assistance, and other problems in which Arturia needs to speak on behalf of herself.

So she carries on, into this new world that reminds her of home, but she knows for certain that whatever she needs to be dealt with in this world, she will solve it and possibly return to her own ruin kingdom, so she should not expect to stay wherever this is for long.

This is what the King of Knight believes, but she is unaware of her new role, the role in which she has become destined to take the moment she took the woman of light's hand, and given a second chance to fix what she has so long come to regret.

The journey of the King of Knights unfolds, and the Knight's tale to becoming Inquisitor of the new age begins.

Thank you for reading! Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!