The Demon And The King Of Knights

Summary: The stories all say King Arthur will return when Britain needs him, what the royal family found was the King of Knights, seething with righteous anger, and ready and willing to serve the Demon Lelouch, in her quest to restore just rule to what was once her country.

Author's Note:This is an AU where Saber is pulled from the Fate route into the Code Geass universe, post Fate route.

The Day The King Returned

"It's all over now, isn't it?" Arturia Pendragon, the Saber class Servant and victor in the Fifth Holy Grail War, spoke to her Master, Mage Shirou Emiya in a quiet voice.

"Yeah," Shirou Emiya replied. "This is the end."

"As your sword, I have slain your enemies and protected you at every turn. I am glad I was able to carry out that oath."

"And as my sword, you are amazing," Shirou told her softly.

"There is one last thing I must tell you… Shirou, please know that…that I love you," Saber told him, finally uttering that she had wanted to say for so long. And with that, she vanished, returning to Camlann where she knew she would die.

Ser Bedivere carried King Arthur away from Camlann with the help of Sir Luncan. Laying her against a tree, Sir Luncan died from his wounds as Bedivere wept over his bother.

After a long while, Bedivere spoke, "King Arthur, I'll go and fetch the troops immediately, just rest for now."

"Bedivere," Arturia called to him.

"You regained consciousness Sire," Bedivere said in surprise.

"I was just…dreaming for a moment," Arturia told him, her time with Shirou was a dream, a dream that had been invaluable to her.

"Dreaming, Sire?" Bedivere asked.

"Yes, I rarely have dreams, it was an invaluable experience," Arturia told her friend.

"In that case, please rest without worry, Sire. If you close your eyes again, you will surely begin the dream where you left off."

"Continue the dream," Arturia sighed, "Is it possible to continue the same dream?"

Bedivere closed his eyes, desperately searching for some way to comfort the king; his sad tone of voice troubled him. The knight opened his eyes.

"Yes, I have done it myself many times Sire, you just have to want it enough."

"I see, you are a man of great knowledge, listen to me Bedivere, take my sword. Now listen closely, I want you to ride through this forest and over that blood soaked hill. Beyond that, you will find a deep lake; I want you to throw my sword into that lake."

Later, Bedivere returned to Arturia. "I have returned your sword to the Lady of the Lake, your Majesty."

"You should be proud of what you've done Bedivere," Arturia told Bedivere. "You've performed an order for your king."

Arturia spoke once more, "Bedivere."

"Yes, Sire?" the knight looked upon his weary king.

"I'm afraid my slumber this time…will be a very long one…"

Arturia shut her eyes.

"Are you dreaming now, King Arthur?" Bedivere asked, "Are you still dreaming the same dream?"

"Comfort yourself," Arturia answered, "and do as best you may. For you remain to bear word of me to those who are yet alive. For I must go into the Vale of Avalon, there to be healed of my grievous wound. But be you sure that I will come again when the land of Britain has need of me, and the realm of Logres shall rise once more out of the darkness. But if you hear never more of me, pray for my soul."

Saber resided in Avalon, where she patiently awaited Shirou's arrival. She had recovered from her wounds. She waited for Shirou Emiya, the mage she loved to come to her, she would wait for him for an eternity, nothing had interrupted her rest, except for the shepherd who had wandered into the Cave and rang the bell by accident.

Her beloved country of Britain had no need of her aid, and she was happy for that.

She remembered her many conversations with Shirou, the meals they ate together, the battles they fought together, and the love they shared. How long would it be before she saw him again, and was able to hold him close to her?

Arturia Pendragon was pulled out of her reverie by the distinct sound of a bell being rung.

"A bell? But how?" Saber asked; she began moving towards it.

She heard the clear sound of that bell again and suddenly opened her eyes.

She gazed up and saw nothing but darkness. Suddenly there were bright lights flashing towards her, she saw men enter a dark cave.

She was about to call to them when her instincts told her to stay silent, that these were evil men with devious intentions and it was best that they believe she was still asleep, she shut her eyes and waited.

She heard men's voices.

"I can't believe it; we found the Holy Sword Excalibur in the lake, and King Arthur in Gwenydd!"

She heard men moving around, coming towards her.

"I guess the stories aren't true, Arthur won't wake up if the bell's rung, I'd hate to tell Prince Clovis we wasted his money to retrieve King Arthur. Put the sword in with him, he'll want it like a security blanket. Put him in the back of the truck."

"Let's take him back, if he wakes up he'll believe whatever we tell him, he won't understand anything about the modern era, even if he's a legendary king, his intelligence is still primitive, even for a Britannian, he'll fall in line and serve Britannia, like a loyal dog."

Britannia? Is that what they call Britain now? Do you oafs really see me as a primitive moron? Even if I did not possess the knowledge the Holy Grail gave me of the modern era, even I'm not so naive as to believe everything everyone tells me!

They placed her sarcophagus inside a truck and began driving away. She wondered if her teacher and mentor, the mischievous Merlin could hear her thoughts, she knew he could see her from where he was trapped in the tower of Avalon, but she did not know if he could communicate with her.

Merlin? Can you hear me? Arturia's thoughts reached out to him.

Yes Arturia, I hear you, I can see you as well, Merlin's thoughts were as clear as his voice.

Tell me, what is this Britannia they speak of?

It is what was once your kingdom, it has expanded to become a world power. Merlin explained.

And the king… is he a man dedicated to his people?

No, he is a brutal tyrant who believes in survival of the fittest, his own children are nothing more than tools of diplomacy to him, and he believes that all men are not created equal. He has oppressed many countries, including Japan, is that not the home of your Master, Shirou Emiya?

Saber was mortified that Britain had invaded Japan, what if Shirou had been killed in the fighting? No, she would have known it in her heart if he was dead, their bond was stronger than anything she'd known, she knew he had to be alive.

Don't worry about your friends from the Fifth Holy Grail War, they are safe, they live, secretly finding ways to resist the Holy Britannian Empire as they await your return.

So my promise was not forgotten? Saber asked, curious.

It is part of your legend, Arturia, King Arthur will return when Britain is in dire need of him, Merlin explained. Your country is indeed, in dire need of you.

I see, where do they intend to take me?

Area 11, the country of Japan, Merlin informed her.

Good, tell me more of the history of the Britannian Empire, it will pass the time for me until I arrive.

"Very well, Merlin replied, he began to teach her the history of the Holy Britannian Empire.

It had been two days since she'd been taken from the cave in Gwenydd, she didn't know where she was, but she was ready to make her escape as soon as it was convenient.

Saber gripped her Holy Sword Excalibur and prepared to cut her way out of the sarcophagus and vehicle she was trapped in.

Unexpectedly, she heard voices as unknown individuals approached the automobile where she was.

"Get in the van, we'll steal the poison gas and use it on the Britannians!" Nagata said.

"Are you sure this is the poison gas?" Kallen Stadtfeld asked.

"It has to be! It matches the vehicle's description!" Nagata exclaimed.

"They all match the description, but look how big the container is, it has to be poison gas!"

They got into the truck and Saber heard the engine start. They peeled out of whatever building they were in. Saber could hear the sound of a helicopter pursuing them.

"Perfect, after we finally steal this damn thing, it's all because Tamaki couldn't stick to Naoto's plan, and now we've got a problem!" Nagata shouted.

Kallen turned on the video screen inside the truck.

"We apologize for the delay, now his Royal Highness Prince Clovis, third Prince of Britannia, viceroy of Area 11 will address the nation."

"To all my Imperial subjects, including of course, the many cooperative Elevens who choose to serve the Empire of Britannia."

"We're not Elevens, we're Japanese!" Kallen snapped angrily at Prince Clovis' image on the screen.

"Do you not see my pain? My heart was ripped from my chest only to be torn apart! The remnants are filled with rage and sadness! However, as viceroy of Area 11, I will not tolerate terrorism of any kind! Because the battle we fight is a righteous one. A virtuous battle to protect the wellbeing of one and all! Now then everyone, I would like you to join me in observance of the eight who died for justice."

"A moment of silence," the announcer spoke.

Saber rolled her eyes in the darkness. This is their prince? Have they switched him out with a court jester? What melodramatic nonsense! Saber thought, listening to the speech through the sarcophagus.

She heard the two people upfront screaming, "You idiot! Watch where you're going!" Nagata shouted.

Saber felt the truck lurch. "No not that way!" Kallen shouted. The truck swerved and crashed.

It was silent for a few minutes.

"Hey! Are you all right?" a young man's voice shouted. Lelouch Vi Britannia climbed up the later, he looked into the vehicle.

"Can you hear me? Are you okay?"

"And you, you are my Master, correct?" Saber asked him.

Lelouch looked around, confused, "Where?"

Suddenly, the truck reversed itself and sped off, causing Lelouch fall into the back of the truck.

"Stop! I'm in here!" Lelouch called out, Saber decided against exiting her container at the moment.

Lelouch was thrown about the tuck. He managed to roll to a kneeling position.

"You'd think they'd stick a ladder on the inside too," Lelouch said to himself.

"Stop this vehicle!" a voice called out through a speaker. "Surrender now and you'll have the chance to defend yourself in court!"

Another voice shouted, "Stop, and surrender at once!"

They opened fire, the truck swerved to avoid it, zigzagging wildly.

"Give up now or we'll shoot to kill!"

"Now what do we do? That's the army!"

"Have you forgotten that's what I'm here for!" Kallen reminded him.

She got up and made her way towards her Knightmare frame.

"If I jump out I have the choice of breaking my neck or getting shot, I can try to call—" Lelouch moved towards the door, he stopped short when he heard a door hiss open.

"Can you enter the subway via the Azabu route?" Kallen asked, taking off her coat.

"Kallen, let's use it here, why not?" Nagata asked.

"Because that would mean a bloodbath!" Kallen shouted.

She used her Slash Harken to slam one of the helicopters into another; she jumped out the door as it closed behind her.

Lelouch tried to get out the door, but it shut too quickly.

"Crap, these guys are real terrorists!" Lelouch exclaimed.

"Kallen we should both split up! Both of us can't risk being killed! Run for it!"

"But—!" Kallen protested.

Another Knightmare frame blocked his path and opened fire. He turned a corner as they gave chase.

"No cell phone reception, I'm out of range, judging from the darkness and the road surface, we must be driving along the old subway lines. They're headed for an exit somewhere in the Ghetto, getting out will be dangerous. Still, okay, I've got it. I'm not big on the military but I'll take their protection. Maybe if I give them a terrorist communicator—Oh, wait, I forgot," he'd left Rivalz

behind.

Suddenly, the truck came to a hard stop, "An accident, or else!" Lelouch started to get out of the truck when he saw the back door open.

"Now I can use this chance to climb up," Lelouch said as he tried to go for the ladder. Suddenly someone kicked him away.

Saber heard the container she was in start to open, good, she would be able to leave this place.

Lelouch gasped for breath, "Are you Britannian?"

"That's enough mindless murder!" the figure shouted at him. He dropped his rebreather.

"Wait, I'm not one of—" the teenager protested.

"Trying to use poison gas! Don't play dumb with me!"

"Get off me!" Lelouch managed to kick him away. "I'm not here by choice, and if that's poison gas, it was made in Britannia wasn't it?"

The soldier gasped, "My God!"

"Mindless murder, then why don't you just obliterate Britannia?!" Lelouch screamed angrily.

"Lelouch, it's me, Suzaku," Suzaku Kururugi took off his helmet.

The Britannian prince gasped in surprise.

"You….you became a Britannian soldier?" Lelouch asked in shock.

"And you, you're a—"

"What are you saying?!" Lelouch snapped, suddenly bright light flashed as the capsule opened.

Suzaku tackled Lelouch out of the way, placing his gas mask over his friend's mouth.

"That's not poison gas! What is it?" Suzaku moved towards what looked like an ornate stone sarcophagus.

He opened the lid. The two teens gasped, inside was the most beautiful woman they'd ever seen, lying with a sword in her hands. She appeared to be dead!

Lelouch scooped her up and held her against him as he sat opposite of Suzaku. Saber wished to learn more about these young men, and so feigned sleep.

"Tell me the truth Suzaku, poison gas? This girl?"

"Hey, it's what they told us in the briefing I swear!" Suzaku helped him with the body.

Suddenly, a light switched on.

"Stinking monkey!" Suzaku's commanding officer spat at him. "Being an honorary Britannian will not excuse you!"

"But sir, I was told this was poison gas!" Suzaku protested.

This is bad, a poisonous situation, that would pose a threat to Suzaku's superiors if it's unleashed.

"However in light of your outstanding military achievements I'm going to be lenient, Private Kururugi, take this and execute the terrorist!"

"But he's not a terrorist! He's just a civilian who got caught up in all this!" Suzaku turned back to look at his friend.

"You insubordinate little—that's an order! Didn't you swear your loyalty and your life to Britannia?"

"Yes, but…I can't," Suzaku said firmly.

"WHAT?" His commander growled.

"I can't do it sir, I won't shoot a civilian, I can't follow your orders Sir," he was a brave man, standing up for his beliefs.

"Very well!" His commander shot him in the chest, before Saber could move.

"Suzaku!"

"Well Britannian school boy not a good day to cut class. Collect the girl, after you've secured her, kill the student!"

"Yes, My Lord!" they told him.

Nagata reached for the bomb, "Death to Britannia, long live Japan!"

Lelouch picked up the girl, carrying her as they ran away just after the explosion went off.

"What the Hell are you? This chaos is all your fault isn't it?! And not only that, but Britannia has—they even killed Suzaku!"

"Be quiet, stay here," Lelouch tried to poke his head up only to duck back down after a little girl was shot to pieces by a hail of bullets.

The guards said this was the only exit. Suddenly, Lelouch's phone rang, he shut it off quickly, but the guards were on them.

"What an appropriate place for a terrorist to meet his end!"

"You scum!" Lelouch spat.

"Still, you did well for a student, but that's to be expected, you're a Britannian, unfortunately, my young friend, you have no future!"

They aimed their guns and opened fire. Lelouch shut his eyes and waited for the pain of lead to rip through his body. He slowly opened his eyes.

Lelouch, trembled, terrified; now I'm going to die, and I haven't even done a thing with my life! It's all gone in a heartbeat! The image of his beloved sister flashed before his eyes. Nunnally!

Lelouch stared in shock and awe as the girl suddenly jumped to her feet, and raising a weapon he couldn't see, she slashed the bullet aimed at his head, she blinked, and stared at him, as if there were no one else in that room, it was as if there were no Britannian soldiers about to fill him full of bullets.

The soldiers stopped firing their guns.

"I ask you, art thou the Master who summoned me?" Saber asked in Japanese, they did say she was in Shinjuku, but Lelouch was astonished at both her beauty and her speech, he could say nothing.

"I ask you, are you worthy to be my Master?" Saber looked Lelouch, asking him again, this time in English so he could understand her.

"Your Master?" Lelouch Vi Britannia uttered, trying to comprehend what was going on around him.

"I'm your Servant Saber, I have come in response to your summons, your order Master," Saber gazed at him. "You don't want it to end here, do you?"

"What?" Lelouch asked, stunned.

"You appear to have a reason for living," Saber told him, she gazed upon this young teenager, he reminded her of Shirou, just a little, but he also had a noble bearing about him, she knew instantly that he was royalty.

"Girl what are you talking about?"

"If I aid you, can you go on? I propose a deal. In exchange for my aid, you must agree to make my one wish come true. Accept this contract and you accept its conditions. While living in the world of humans, you will live a life unlike any other, a different providence, a different time, a different life. The life of a king will contemn you to a life of solitude, are you prepared for this?"

"Yes! I hereby accept the terms of your contract!" Lelouch reached out to her, he felt his searing pain in his hand as he saw a strange stigmata burn itself into his left hand.

"Henceforth my sword shall be at your side, your fate is now my fate, our pact is now sealed," Saber told him.

Lelouch looked at the commander and his soldiers.

"Say, how should a Britannian who detests his own country live his life?"

"What are you, some kind of radical?"

"Why not shoot?" Saber asked, "Your opponent is just a girl, or have you finally realized, the only ones who should kill are those who are prepared to be killed!"

The look on her face filled them with fear. "What's going on here?"

"I Lelouch Vi Britannia command you Saber, kill every last one of them!"

"Do not waste your command seals Master, I will protect you, I will fulfill my oath as a knight!"

He watched as Saber, holding an invisible sword in her hands, she sprang across the room, slashing the leader of the Britannian soldiers before he could fire his weapon, she moved so quickly, with inhuman speed and agility.

Saber decapitated him easily; Lelouch noted the shocked expression still on his face as the head flew away and landed near the wall.

Lelouch watched in fascination as she amputated heads and limbs, body parts and soldiers fell before her like a scythe through grain. She cut a man in half at the waist, and it was like she were slashing through ragdolls, bodies hit the floor in pools of blood until there were none left but the two of them.

Lelouch watched in awe as Saber turned back to face him, he was stunned and shocked at all the carnage and blood and gore around him.

Saber saw a wicked smile cross his face. "Well then!"

"Saber, what is your wish that you want me to grant?" Lelouch asked.

"I wish to save Britannia," Saber told him.

To her surprise, Lelouch began to laugh. "Save Britannia, me? No, I swear Saber, so help me, I will obliterate Britannia!"

Saber's angry glare would have withered anyone else, but the Britannian Prince did not waver.

"Britain is my beloved country, to which I dedicated my whole life!" Saber glared at him. "As the High King of the realm of Logres, I will save Britain; do you think it pleases me to learn what has become of my realm?!"

"Just who are you?"

"I am Arthur, King of the Britons," Saber said solemnly.

"What is proof of your identity?" Lelouch asked.

"I will show you my Holy Sword, Excalibur," Saber told him, the wind that surrounded the sword dissipated, revealing the most beautiful sword Lelouch had ever seen, it was made of pure gold and the guard and hilt were inlaid with precious jewels.

"So the stories are true! They said you'd come back if Britannia needed you," Lelouch murmured softly.

"I thought you would be more skeptical," Saber told him, "Many in your era only see me as a myth."

"They say that King Arthur is invincible in battle, I believe what I see."

"Allow me to see to your safety, Master;" Saber told him quickly, "We will discuss Britannia later."

"Please call me Lelouch; I am Lelouch Vi Britannia, formerly seventeenth heir to the throne of Britannia."

"I do you a discourtesy, Your Highness, as a knight, I will protect you."

"What are you, exactly?"

"I am your Saber class Servant; as such could you call me Saber? I do not wish for your enemies to learn of my identity. No doubt they intended to use me for some nefarious purpose, which is why they woke me without the rest of the Round Table."

Suddenly, the wall exploded, and a Knightmare frame appeared in front of him, Saber moved out of its visual range.

"What happened here boy and what is a Britannian student doing in a place like this?"

Villetta Nu screamed, "Are you deaf? Answer me!"

That's not good, Lelouch thought to himself, how were they going to get out of this one?