Chapter 13: Revelations

"I can't believe you're stupid enough to use that." Gaia groaned into her hands while rubbing a away a headache. Meanwhile Elizabeth placed down tea before returning to the kitchen.

"In my defense, I was in a bad mood and unaware of the consequences of using my Reality Marble." Minato said without missing a beat.

"Technically it's not a Reality Marble anymore, it's more of a Marble Phantasm."

"Neither your opinion nor presence is welcome, Kaleidoscope." Gaia spared a glare towards the Wizard Marshal.

"But Minato welcomed me in anyway, and this is his house so…." Zelretch trailed off.

"You can come here anytime, Zelretch. Think of it as thanks for what you've done for me and Elizabeth." Zelretch turned to Gaia with a smug look, to which she returned with a glare.

"By the way, Minato. I knew you've got a bit of charisma with you, but I didn't expect Cath Palug to take a liking to you." Zelretch pointed to the little fluffball snuggling into Minato's hair.

"He prefers Fou. Isn't that right, Fou-chan?" Minato raised a finger to scratch Fou's neck, which caused it to squirm and its leg to twitch in enjoyment.

"Hah! Never thought I'd see the little guy be all friendly."

"Well, I guess Fou-chan just likes me I guess." Minato shrugged.

"Back to the matter at hand. Minato, how bad of a mood did you have to be, to even consider summoning the Dark Hour, the very thing you and your friends struggled to end?" Gaia glared fiercely at Minato.

"How about a Servant whose wish for the Holy Grail is to undo 1500 years of history?" Zelretch only sighed.

"Yup, I figured her wish would get you triggered." The Wizard Marshal scratched the back of his head. "And it set you off enough to summon the Dark Hour into the world?" Seeing Minato nod, he continued. "This brings me to why I'm here. What did you bring here when you summoned the Dark Hour?"

"What do you mean, Kaleidoscope?" Gaia asked.

"When Minato here summoned the Dark Hour, I noticed something. His power was reaching out to something outside of this world. Now, there have been a lot of instances of this happening, and most wouldn't have the necessary prana – individually or otherwise – to successfully reach out to another world and summon something from there. And even if they did, I would intervene before they succeed. The problem here is, something else is also reaching out to you, Minato. Neither are able to successfully reach out to the other – not alone at least – but since both are reaching out to the other at the same time, you were able to bring something here." Zelretch now had a glare directed at Minato.

"Now, I wanna know two things. Did you, or did you not intend to reach out to another world? And what did you bring here?"

Minato sighed, he couldn't keep it a secret anymore, not that he wanted to anyway. "In my defense, she didn't have a firm presence in this world – not yet – nor did I intend to reach out to her. It was kind of an…. Unconscious action when I summoned the Dark Hour."

"She? Who's she?" Gaia asked curiously.

"She is Nyx, Goddess of the Night, and personification of the moon." *crash* the sound of a plate smashing could be heard as Elizabeth dropped a plate in shock, while Zelretch picked up his tea and drank in order to do a spit-take.

"Prepare for imminent screaming in three… two… one.." Minato counted down as he prepared to the loud yelling that was to come.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU SUMMONED A GODDESS INTO THIS WORLD MINATO?!! THERE'S A REASON WHY 'THE AGE OF THE GODS' PASSED, YOU F#@KING IDIOT!!!" Aaand there it was, Minato rubbed his ears to ease the pain as Gaia went on a furious tirade.

"Minato, I hope you have a good explanation for this." Zelretch said lowly, his body language meant he was prepared to fight him.

"Yes, as I said earlier Nyx does not have a proper hold in this world, yet. Currently, she's confined inside my mind. And unless I summon the Dark Hour into the world two more times, she won't be able to manifest into the world."

"THEN YOU BETTER BE DAMN SURE YOU DON'T SUMMON THE DARK HOUR AGAIN. CAUSE' IF YOU DO, I'LL BE THERE TO KILL YOU, PERSONALLY." Gaia seemed to loom over me like titan, a menacing aura surrounded her.

"Don't think I won't sit back on this, Minato. Summoning a god into the world is going to cause' a huge ruckus, both among magus and regular humans. If you go through with this, Gaia won't be the only thing you're gonna worry about."

"Don't worry Zelretch, I'm not so stupid as to bring a Goddess that tried to destroy my world into this one, have a little faith why don't you?" He could feel shuffling on his head and saw that Fou had woken up, maybe it was because of the aura Gaia exhibited earlier.

"I'll take your word for it then. What say you, Gaia-sama?"

"Hmph, fine. I'll let you off this time, but if you want to live, I suggest you don't summon that Goddess." She left him with one last threat before marching out the door.

"Well, I guess that's my cue to leave. I'll see you around Minato." Zelretch waved as he walked out the door.

Minato simply stared at the door, wondering if Gaia forgot something. "She didn't even bring Fou with her." He gently picked up the dog/squirrel and placed him into his lap, where he simply stroked Fou's fur.

"Minato-sama?" He heard Elizabeth say softly as she walked over to him.

"Yes, Elizabeth?"

"You didn't tell them everything, didn't you?"

"They were too pre-occupied with the fact that I brought Nyx here that they forgot to ask the details."

"Will you at least tell me?" She said, taking a seat across him.

Minato only chuckled as he stroked Fou's fur. "You need only ask."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Saber found herself standing in the balcony of the Einzbern Manor.

She didn't know how long she's been looking up at the moon, nor did she care at this point. For what would one do, when their ideals are torn down before their eyes? She didn't understand, or maybe she did, but has yet to acknowledge it. Why wouldn't one undo their failures? The Banquet of Kings certainly shed some light on it. Rider says he won't undo time as it will be insulting towards the many sacrifices his soldiers have made in his conquest. Minato Arisato says the same thing, but while the King of Conquerors would not travel back in time at all, Minato would, simply to do see his comrades again.

Minato Arisato, master of Caster and a wild card in this war. To her, he is truly a man worthy of being called a king, and Saber was sure Rider thought the same. A man who would repeat his mistakes just so he could see his comrades again, than undo his mistakes, and lose the bonds he made with them forever. He spoke of the consequences of her own wish, that she would have undone 1500 years of history.

Curious if his words, she went to the one person who would know about the state of the world, her real master, Kiritsugu Emiya. She never got along with him, maybe it was his dismissal of her during her summoning, or his subsequent "cowardly" actions during the war. But she was rather glad Kiritsugu had planned for Irisviel to be her "Master". Instead of actually telling her about it, Kiritsugu simply handed her a book on the history of the United Kingdom

What she found in there astounded her.

The clock on the wall beside seemed to spin rather quickly, like a wheel while Saber seemed to move in slow motion whilst reading the book. She sat, reading the book with rapt attention and unseen enthusiasm. While her kingdom was on the verge of collapse, someone was there to pick up the pieces and rebuild where she had failed. Throughout the years the kingdom she once led has grown into a bonafide empire, many countries started out as colonies before declaring their independence, and each one prospered greatly.

She read the achievements, and their failures, from the slave trade to the two great wars that spanned the globe, she took them all in. Not once did she turn away from the pages of the book - she did not notice Irisviel walking into the room and putting down some tea. She felt proud of what the country she once led has become, and while it's not the powerhouse it had once been, it's still a powerful nation in its own right. If the United Kingdom had a human form, it would be something along the lines of a retired veteran soldier. Old, but not obsolete.

She closed the book in her hands, contemplating on what the country she had once led has become. She felt pride from reading the book, knowing that the country that she had once led has continued to prosper long after her death – and still is. And she was surprised to know that despite her failures during her rule, her former kingdom still reveres her as their greatest King, and some even still believe she will return in their hour of need.

Saber had realized that Minato was right, if she were to undo her rule, 1500 years of history could be lost, her kingdom might not have achieved all that they have, and it might not have survived to present day.

Which begs the question, what now?

Her ideals were torn apart right in front of her the night before, and now her wish to save her kingdom would have to be discarded, lest she deny her former kingdom what it could – and would – achieve. Her thoughts drifted once more to her former kingdom, maybe… maybe she should follow the King of Conquerors plan? To wish for true reincarnation, then when this war is all over, maybe she could travel to her former kingdom, and see for her own eyes, how much it has grown. And maybe… just maybe…

She could live the live she could've lived.

The life of a normal girl, in her pervious life, she spent all her life being raised as a man, and after drawing Caliburn, wearing a mask of an infallible king as part of her ideals as a ruler. But those ideals are no more, shattered by the voices of a king who conquered the world with his friends rather than simple soldiers, and a boy who sacrificed himself for his comrades, his family.

A boy who deserved the mantle of king better than she does.

Arturia leaned back onto the chair, she turned her head and finally noticed the cup of tea on the table beside her, with a note attached beneath it. "Irisviel must've put it there." She placed the book down and picked up the tea. Upon taking a sip, she found it was cold. "Must've been a while since she put it here." She then picked up the note beneath the plate.

"Saber, if you're finished with your book and need someone to talk to. I'll be in my room." The note said. There was also a small drawing of a smiling Irisviel in the corner. Saber smiled, Irisviel always found ways to get a smile out of her.

She slowly stood, and headed to Irisviel 's room – which was in the west wing of the mansion. Once at the door of the room, she knocked.

"Who is it?" Irisviel's voice sounded from behind the door.

"Irisviel, it's me." Moments later, Irisviel opened the door.

"Oh, Saber. Come in." Irisviel let her inside. Saber looked around and found no sign of Kiritsugu.

"Where's Kiritsugu?"

"Oh, Kiri just left. Said he was going on to go patrol tbe area." Irisviel closed the door behind her and sat down at a table.

"I see." Saber seated herself across her 'master'.

After a moment, Irisviel spoke. "Did you enjoy your little history lesson?" Irisviel giggled at her own laughed, and Saber chuckled as well.

"Yes, it was surely an… enlightening experience for me. Made me rethink more than a few things."

"I can imagine, it must be hard for you to have your reason for fighting in this war rendered pointless."

"That's an understatement." Saber deadpanned. "I realized many things as I read that book. And now I have a new wish."

"And what wish is that, Saber?"

"True Reincarnation."

"Taking a page out of the King of Conquerors book?"

"Something like that." Saber dropped her smile and looked down. "I wish for reincanation so I can travel to the UK and see for myself what has become of my kingdom."

"And when that wish is granted?"

"I guess… I guess I'm free to do what I want until the end of my days I guess." She looked out the window, at the rising sun with a solemn smile. "I've lived my life as an adult bound by the shackles of my own making in an effort to become the ideal king. And I don't think my childhood was ny different, given who my father was. To have the freedom to do what I want, I wonder what's that like."

Irisviel gave the King of Knights a look of sympathy, it must've been harsh to live such a life. She remembered a time before she met Kiritsugu, she wondered if she had any notable memories from back then. And after Kiritsugu came, she started to learn, she started to feel. While she was still bound to the Einzbern – her daughter Illyasviel was too – but as she spent more time with Kiri, she hardly felt she was bound to the Einzbern at all.

She felt free.

"It's a wonderful feeling, being free. You can play in the snow however and whenever you want, you can admire nature as you take a stroll in the forest, and having dinner alone will never feel as homely as if you were to do it with your family."

There was a small moment of silence between them. "That sounds amazing." Saber said with a hint of wonder.

"Yes, it truly is." The two spent the rest of their morning sitting in comfortable silence watching the sun rise.