The saddest thing about it, to EMIYA, was that his Emperor still held onto her hope. That she would be given hope at unpredictable intervals. Sometimes it only took days or weeks. Other times it took years, decades. But the time between didn't matter to her, no. Her hope was eternal, even if her Praetor didn't stir. She held hope that her beloved would recover, given time enough to restore herself. He knew it wouldn't happen.

Cu Chulainn knew it wouldn't happen.

Li Shuwen knew it wouldn't happen.

Gawain knew it wouldn't happen.

But nonetheless, Her Majesty held onto her hope. Her unparalleled passion, her fire, her love bloomed like a magnificent rose each and every time her Praetor stirred from slumber. But eventually, all roses had to wither and die. EMIYA could only hope that Nero Claudius would not end like he did.

Cu Chulainn wasn't one for the touchy-feely emotions that others displayed. The clinginess that some women would have for the one of their desires. No, he vastly preferred quick and raw passion. But even so, the sheer dedication and loyalty his Emperor gave her Praetor tugged at his emotions. It may have helped that he knew the woman was quite similar to himself in regards to quick and raw passion. Hell, even he, the Hound of Ulster couldn't match her for ferocity. She was second to none with how quick and brightly she could shine through raw passion and ferocity alone. Nero Claudius put the Child of Light to shame with her magnificent glow. But as time passed, her shine grew dull. She was a mere shadow of the glowing, ferocious passion he had grown to respect. Every so often her natural aura would resurface, but then that would pass as soon as it began. No, the current Emperor Nero Claudius was not one he would willingly serve under. But the old her, the one who burned like the sun. Who could surpass the sun? Now that was someone he would remember, someone whose memory he would honour by protecting her empire.

Li Shuwen would honour his leader. The one who had led him into such glorious battles. He himself may not have had such a tie with the Praetor, but he could respect that woman also. To have driven such an individual as Nero Claudius to such lengths, they were both worthy of honouring. For all the battles, all the enjoyable times he had gone through with them… He would assist the Empire. It was the least he could do. Even if it may not be publicly seen, publicly acknowledged. He would serve them the only way he knew how. Through his fists.

Gawain was familiar with such tragedies. His own One True King had gone through something similar. They had glaring differences, yes, but they were similar. Both brought immense sadness by their family, struggling to deal with their responsibility of leadership. Yes, it was quite similar. Though they had far different methods of dealing with it. His King would drown herself in duty, ignoring her own health. Solely focusing on her people. His Emperor however, drowned herself in her own selfish desires. Solely focusing on what she wished to occur. As time progressed, she forgot about her people. Nonetheless, he was a knight. He would serve his Emperor as best he could.

Time passed, and the Roman Empire flourished under the leadership of its Emperor and her Three Generals. Where the Fourth one had gone, no one quite knew. However there were few reports of an unseen individual letting out unique sound of "Ka ka" while assisting travelers. As the years passed, the Roman citizens began seeing less and less of their glorious Emperor. The Three Generals had explained it as the Emperor simply aiding her Praetor. While the citizens were initially confused, they had eventually recognised that the Emperor's wife was ill. None begrudged their beloved leader her own selfishness. Not after what she had gone through to save them all.

Millennia had gone by. The Roman Emperor was nearly unseen. Her Empire was still flourishing. None who resided within had any issues under the Three General's rule. But that swiftly began changing. The White Titan returned. Recovered from its defeat by the Emperor. Land began to be swept up by forces of destruction. Gawain was the first General to fall. He valiantly held off enemy attackers, buying time for citizens to escape. His final moments burned brighter than any star, burning the Conqueror's chariot and ending his stampede.

Cu Chulainn was the next. He led a retaliatory strike, spearing his way through enemy defences. None could withstand the ferocity of his advance. The Holy Maiden fell before him, his spear having found her heart. However that victory was short lived, as a golden rain landed upon his exhausted body. The Golden King had destroyed his way to the Capital. None could withstand his unmatched firepower. Armies, fortresses, nothing halted his relentless advance.

The still unnamed General took the Golden one down, sacrificing himself in the progress. The whole Capital had been evacuated, the remaining citizens and armed forces having expected the Golden King to either win or for the fight to destroy the city. However neither had occurred. Both combatants had simply strode toward each other before disappearing. Nothing came back, from wherever they had gone to.

The Three Generals were defeated, the Empire pushed back to it's last remaining bastion. The capital. It was extremely bleak, but they had held onto hope. Hope that their Emperor who had yet to enter the battle could rescue them once again. However as the White Clad Destroyer strode towards the capital by her lonesome, no response could be seen. As the Destroyer swung back her sword, the rainbow glow and sheer devastation behind her, no Emperor could be seen.

Nero Claudius, Emperor of Rome had yearned for her Praetor while the Empire burned.

AN: Yeah this is based off the first Extella ending. Goddamn that hit me right in the feels. I know it's not too long but eh I'm fine with it It's a play on the whole Nero fiddled while Rome burned thing. Might add a few chapters of Hakuno stirring. WHY DID TAMAMO HAVE A GOOD END STRAIGHT OFF BUT ALTERA AND NERO DIDN'T? REEEEEE