Fate/Yggdrasil

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Epilogue

 

Arthur Pendragon, King of the Knights, woke up on the warm grass lit by a summer sun surrounded by calm clouds in a crystal clear sky. Her soul was calm. When she got up she saw near her a man sitting on a stone, an elderly man with a tunic and a stick, that man smiled at her and said:
« You woke up. »
« Who are you? »
« I'm Aeneas. You must be Arthur Pendragon, the King of Knights, the King of the Britons. I'm happy that you have arrived in the Elysian Fields. »
« The Elysian Fields? »
«Observe, in front of you, hills and mountains rise and there is the immense expanse of wheat that has fed Rome for millennia. Go, Arthur, over there are your ancestors laughing in this paradise of humanity. You deserved this peace. »
«No. I don't deserve it. This place ... it's not my home ... »
« It is. You're Roman, you're the last descendant of Caesar, you belong to this place like all the sons and daughters of Rome. Go, walk through those expanses of wheat, feel the Empire of Rome run through your veins. You have to touch with your hand. »
The girl crossed the expanse of wheat, with her hands outstretched she passed on the different ears and, closing her eyes, she could feel a strange sensation that was warming her heart. Home. She knew she was home. She recognized the place as her home but couldn't understand why. She opened her eyes and saw Gaius Julius Caesar approaching her.
« Welcome home. »
« Is this what you wanted me to see? »
« Yes. This is the heart of civilization, of the empire, of culture, of Rome ... we've shaped Europe and the whole world, we've conquered more than any other empire in the world, not only with arms but also with our way of life and our way of seeing things. We Romans are the people who forged the world and who made it what it is today. We have created heroes and myths ... but most of all you. »

« Myself? »
« Think about it, you would never have had a kingdom if Rome hadn't reached Britain. You're Roman, you're a fruit of our empire, one of its most beautiful fruits, and the last of my family. The last real Caesar and for this I welcome you to the Elysian Fields. »
« Why? »
« Because I want to spend eternity in peace with my family, is that too much to ask? » Caesar asked, caressing Arthur's face.
« I … don't know. My heart perceives this place as my home but ... I don't feel worthy of this paradise. This is a reward I don't deserve. I have done great things, I am aware of it, but I have also made mistakes that have led to the death of many of my friends. I don't deserve to be happy. »

« Why do you say these things? Don't you think you should deserve a little rest? »

« A king shouldn't deserve rest, especially when his every choice has been the wrong one. I have failed as king. Because of me my kingdom has fallen. I can't live in a paradise knowing what I've done. »

« Making mistakes is normal. You cannot pursue perfection, you're not a machine, you're human. Allow yourself to make mistakes and rest in peace. None of us will be able to do all the things we want in life, that's a sad truth ... but that's the way it is. The only thing we can do is live. »

« So are you telling me that I should accept what happened? »

« I'm asking too much of you, right? I know. By now I know you. You're a bit stubborn, like me. I will accept it. But listen to me, what happened happened. The choices we make cannot be changed. I also have regrets but I accept this eternity of peace not because I've none, but because the choices I've made in my limited life span are the ones I've been able to make. Going back and changing things would be like betraying myself. »

« I see ... but then what am I supposed to do? »

« Rejoice with your family. »

Aeneas came and said to Caesar:
« Then I think you should open your heart to the whole family, yes? »
Caesar saw Nero, a little further on, who was surprised to see her and at the same time intimidated by her presence. Caesar turned to Aeneas and asked:
« Why do you want me to talk to her? »
« Because she's not so different from you, she also made mistakes but here she must receive forgiveness. She asks no more. The forgiveness of the family. »
« Forgiveness ... »
« If you want a family, » Artoria said « you must be able to forgive the wrongs of those who make mistakes. This is the meaning of "family", this is love. »
« But where did you learn it? » Aeneas asked with an intrigued smile.
« A person I loved… but it's nothing that concerns you! » She replied, blushing.
Caesar approached Nero, didn't let her speak and hugged her. Nero, astonished, asked:
« Why? I thought you hated me ... »
« I forgive you. »
Nero, in tears, returned the hug.

Artoria was happy to have reunited the two of them but then she was grabbed by Caesar who embraced her too; holding both girls in his arms, smiling, he said to them:
« I love you both. »

 

Artoria, Caesar and Nero by Bikowolf

 

Chapter 164 : Everyone should be happy

 

« I've to go. » Friedrich said.
« I know, I've to go too. I've to go back to Rome, I've very important matters to solve. What will you do instead? » Alessandro asked, intrigued.
« I don't know, but I definitely have to retrieve my guitar that I left in the car and then I think I'll get back on the road. This war I will never forget and I will never forget Glasya-Labolas but I cannot live in the past… I still have a lot of things to discover and there are so many places to explore. The world is my home. So I think this is a- »

« No it's not. » Alessandro interrupted, extending his hand. « This is not a goodbye. We will meet again, Friedrich Wolff, my friend. »
« Yes, that's fine. We'll meet again, Alessandro. »  Friedrich shook his friend's hand.
The two boys separated, regretting having to say goodbye and Friedrich, addressing Alessandro for the last time, said to him:
« You can consider me part of your family if you want, so you won't be alone anymore. »
Alessandro was stunned by that statement, but he didn't answer, he nodded, crying and left with a smile on his face.
Friedrich opened the trunk of the car and took out his guitar then set off. The blue skeletons, the souls of the dead, disappeared one by one, leaving behind them lifeless faces that looked at the sky with empty eyes; the flames stopped devouring the corpses of vehicles, scattered in streets wet with blood and gasoline that mixed with the water of cracked hydrants, whose jets wet the feet of disfigured buildings; the war was over but the cries of those who were suffering could still be heard throughout the city; the soldiers were still hunting Sheol, unaware of her death.
Friedrich climbed a building to the roof from which he could see a city on its knees that had managed to survive an apocalypse unleashed by sadistic minds, devoid of compassion, craving only a selfish desire; this was the summary of the Holy Grail War: a useless slaughter in the name of selfishness.

Friedrich sat down, tuned his guitar, and started playing a song he knew:
« ♪ Look what you have done, ruined every single one. See what fools they are, jealous of a simple star. Feel the four winds blow, let the sword hang low ... life's to take, says the talking snake, everybody should be happy ... to tell the sucking truth, everybody's dreams get used. Twist me till I drip, liquid of emotions ripped. Every hungry soul, hides a hungry fool ... life's to take, says the talking snake, everybody should be happy ... ♪ »* He stopped the guitar strings and whispered: « Everyone should be happy. Is that too much to ask? Is that really too much to ask, God? Is a simple thing like happiness really too much, God? »
Friedrich left.

With the end of the War of the Holy Grail, the magi organizations compiled a list of the victims caused by the conflict, but this was then filed by the AMPM and with the consent of the Coven and other organizations to avoid scandals and condemnations worldwide; however what had happened in London was simply justified with terrorism and the magi organizations found their scapegoat in several criminals "gathered" in the Middle East and unjustly accused of having plotted terrorist attacks, this with the permission of the Grand Temple of Kayseri. All those who had seen Sheol or the Servants were silenced.
The reconstruction of London began within a month but none of the magi organizations in Europe cared about the restoration of the Mage's Association , which shocked not a few surviving magi of the attack.
The data on the Holy Grail War Yggdrasil were all filed and hidden by the various competent organizations while Yukiko Kumahira was kept alive, imprisoned and handed over to the Coven by decision of the various organizations.
What happened to the Masters who managed to survive the war instead?
Hisae Sunahara returned home and delivered the news of her failure, her father didn't accept the failure of his daughter and decided to take it out on little Hiro to which Hisae responded with extreme violence and anger. The girl saved her little brother and killed her father with her Magecraft, this shocked the mother who had the same fate. Finally, Hisae burned down the Sunahara house and left Japan with her little brother; her hands were dirty with her parents' blood but her soul was at peace because she knew that Hiro was finally safe.
Alessandro Serpi returned to Rome but didn't return to the Coven, on the contrary, he decided to go to his mother who, however, was not at home, almost certainly she had gone out with a lover or something like that. He hoped to be able to talk to her one last time, but by now he was resigned, he had no intention of letting himself be consumed by anger or sadness, he simply wanted to go on and so he left in the mailbox the letter she had sent him along with the photograph of the their family, that was his "goodbye" to a past that had haunted him for too long. Before leaving Rome forever, Alessandro went to the place where people made donations to the tomb of Caesar and there he saw a stone engraved with the name "CAESAR", just as he had been told by Saber, it was the stone that she was blessed by all those who mourned the death of the dictator; he took it with him; the boy, therefore, decided to leave Rome to devote himself to a nomadic life like his friend Friedrich.
Friedrich Wolff, once he left London, decided to get back on the road, taking with him only the guitar, the memory of his friend Alessandro and the demon girl who had sacrificed herself to defend him: Glasya-Labolas.

 

 

 

Everyone should be happy by Bikowolf

 

 

 

* Talking Snake by Iggy Pop

 

Chapter 163 : Farewell, Caesar

 

The Holy Grail War of Yggdrasil had come to an end, after all those deaths, it was finally over. Sheol had disappeared and with her the souls walking around London; the flames were extinguished, the sun was able to embrace a serene blue sky that dispelled the darkness of the night giving back to London the hope that Sheol and Yukiko had wrested with evil.
Alessandro snapped his fingers and said:
« Sana. »
Some of his wounds healed and Saber ironically commented:
« I finally see that Magecraft, I was starting to think you were bluffing. »
« I didn't mean to deprive you of the supplies of magical energy. »
« All excuses! » she exclaimed, laughing.
Alessandro realized that Saber was disappearing, even she hadn't noticed it and threw an astonished look, it was as if she didn't want to leave but Alessandro was calm, he approached her, took her hands and said:
« It's okay, sooner or later it had to happen. The war is over, there is no Grail and you're the only Servant left ... that's right. But I wanted to thank you for everything you did for me, if it wasn't for you I would never have been able to become a better person. »
« Now you're really exaggerating! » she exclaimed, blushing. « I don't think I deserve all these compliments! I just did my duty ... »
« Then you did it well and I'm grateful to you. »
« Alessandro… I'm also grateful to you but I'm sorry for not having spent enough time with you. I would've liked to have been by your side much more, you're one of a kind… you're a rarity, remember that. »
« Oh! » Even Alessandro blushed, he would never have expected such a compliment.
« Ah, ah! I've done it! I managed to make you blush! You finally show your tender side! I won, I won ... no ... you won. You won, Alessandro. You're finally not ashamed of your emotions anymore. Be yourself, even when I'm gone, continue to be yourself. »

« Yes, I promise you. »

« No. Don't promise me, promise yourself. It's you, it's your well-being that counts. I'm disappearing, I will return to death ... but you have a whole life ahead of you. Be free. Be yourself. »
Saber kissed Alessandro on the cheek and then hugged him. Alessandro returned the hug.

« One day you will blossom, one day you will fall in love, one day you will learn the true meaning of happiness and you will discover that it's not based on security but on uncertainty. The possibility of pain, the knowledge of death, these are the things that make happiness important and powerful. »

She hugged Alessandro as if she didn't want to let him go.

« One more thing: promise me you won't forget me, Alessandro. »
« I'll never forget you. You're the jewel of my life, if it wasn't for you I would've been crushed by pain, I owe you everything. »
« I like you, Alessandro. I could never accept another Master other than you so I will reveal a secret that maybe one day will come in handy ... who knows. » Saber whispered something in Alessandro's ear and then said: « Make good use of it, please. »
« I will, yes. »
Saber's body was about to disappear completely, the girl separated from the boy and tried to hide her sadness, failing; Alessandro, then, consoled her:
« One day we will meet again... »
« One day … »
« Yes, one day you and I will be together. »
« Perhaps, that day is not that far off. I can wait. Farewell, Alessandro Serpi. »
« Farewell, Gaius Julius Caesar. »
Saber disappeared. Only silence remained.

Alessandro fell to his knees, put his hands over his eyes to try to hold back the tears, but his body was trembling, his forehead was sweating, he just wanted to let it all out and so he let himself be carried away by that sea of ​​sadness, he cried like a child and Friedrich approached him to give comfort.

« Everything will be fine, Alessandro. »

 

Farewell, Caesar by Bikowolf

 

Chapter 162 : Apocalypse (part 2)

 

Saber was outside Westminster Abbey when she saw Sheol arrive; the woman, carrying her sword with her, trampled the bodies of her dead enemies and was accompanied by ghostly skeletons who bent down to caress the dead, kidnapping their souls and generating other beings like them, behind Sheol there was only fire , the darkened sky forbade the stars to show themselves, and silence was the song of that city on its knees. Sheol stopped, raised her arm, and pointed to the Saber with a theatrical motion.
« You, » she said « you're the last one left. Berserker has fallen and even if the Grail is not summoned I'm still a danger to you and therefore you stand before me brandishing that sword, showing me that fighting look, but you really think you're going to win this battle? I've killed hundreds of thousands of humans, you're seeing their souls; I've killed both Archer and Specter with no problems yet you're here, you look at me as if you could defeat me but we both know it will not happen. Miracles don't exist, Caesar. »
« I don't believe in miracles, when I fight I win. » Saber replied, pointing her sword at Sheol.
« A half truth, in fact you only win when it comes to humans, but I'm not human, I'm beyond humans and beyond divinities. For this reason you can never win against me. The odds are all against you, even if you have a great mind, even if you are a genius of war, even if you're a master of tactics, you still remain inferior to me. Your name, Gaius Julius Caesar, is a name that arouses fear in mortals but my name, Sheol, makes even the skies tremble. You're just a pawn, I'm destiny and you know perfectly well, you're not stupid enough to think that you're a challenge for me. »
« Yes I know. » Saber said, lowering her sword, then added, « But retreat is a luxury I can't afford, not after all the effort we've made to get here. I know that you are powerful, even in Rome you were feared, even I, who have never feared anyone, am afraid of you but… I will not run away from you. I will face my fears and defeat you for the good of the world. »
« For the good of the world? »
« Yes. »

« Are you telling me that you are willing to face me for the good of the world? Just for that? »
« Yes. To your ears this may sound silly, I know, but this world is too valuable to me to be wiped out by someone like you. »
« Well… I'm surprised. Are you brave or an idiot? However this is not relevant, the definitions are useless, what matters is that you're committing an objectively insane act. You're playing dice with God, Caesar, and you will lose. »
« Alea iacta est. » Saber said advancing towards Sheol with her head held high.
« Well, let's get started, then. »
Sheol made the first swing from top to bottom, Saber parried it, moved to the side and tried to counterattack but Sheol fired a fireball at her and Saber was run over; Sheol took the advantage and hit Saber with a blow of fire, the girl, wounded, was stunned by that attack and was unable to respond to Sheol's subsequent blows that put her to the ground.
« So that's all you can offer me? Do you call this a "battle"? » Sheol asked, bored.
Saber jumped up and stabbed Sheol with her sword.
« Wha-? How?! » Sheol was shocked.
Saber kicked Sheol back and then hit her with a series of slashes with which she cut her arm and then severely wounded her chest and finally aimed for the heart but Sheol managed to throw a fireball that knocked Saber back; Sheol's arm regenerated like the other wounds, she was still alive but was impressed by the speed of her opponent's blows.
« You make the skies tremble.» Saber said standing up. « You say you're not afraid of me but I will teach you to be afraid of the Wrath of Gaius Julius Caesar. » She exclaimed those words with a combative smile.
« Okay, then let's stop playing! Come on, Caesar, show me your strength! »
Saber and Sheol resumed fighting; their blows were very fast, their blades, impacting against each other, generated powerful shock waves; with rapid movements of the legs the two warriors were able to move easily dodging the most dangerous blows and counterattacked with equal force.

The duel shifted constantly, everything that got in the way of the two women was completely destroyed; Saber was technical, studied Sheol's every shot, paid attention to her movements and counterattacked at the right moment; Sheol was aggressive, she had no time for strategy, her only goal was to kill Saber while showing her power, for her the duel was also a spectacle as well as a fight to the death.
Saber eventually found an opening and disarmed the opponent, without hesitation she prepared to use Crocea Mors but Sheol punched her in the face, hard enough to stun her and then, once she retrieved the sword, walked away and used her Noble Phantasm:
« I am the Leviathan
My blood is ash
My body is a thousand lives
The right holds the Judgment
The left holds the Power
On my head there is the Right
Nobody sits on the throne of kings
Tremble you who observe my face
Seven-Headed Twisted Rule »
Saber found herself in another world, a dark world overflowing with suffering, but she didn't have time to study the place, she had to stay focus.
« This is the terminus, Caesar. Netsch. (The Eternal Song of Venus) »
One of the stars around the black sun lit up and a lightning bolt fell from it and hit Sheol's sword, the weapon began to glow with a purple color and began to release electric arcs along the entire blade. Sheol threw a swing that released some lightning that disintegrated the ground, Saber dodged the blow the first and second time but the third time was almost hit, this meant that Sheol was starting to predict her movements.

« I'm not going to be defeated! » Saber exclaimed. « Crocea Mors! (The Sword of Certain Victory) »
Saber used her powerful Noble Phantasm against Sheol but the latter didn't even try to dodge the blow, she stood still with an amused grin, it was as if she was not taking her enemy's attack seriously. She raised her still electrified sword and at the moment of the powerful impact neither of the two weapons triumphed over the other, but Saber continued to press with Crocea Mors, she wanted to destroy her opponent with the powerful attack; Sheol then said:
« Kether. (The Unity of the Prime Mobile Uranus) »
Another star lit up and a chain full of quills sprouted from it and tied Crocea Mors, tightening it tightly. Saber, confused, didn't understand what Sheol's intent was; the chain suddenly broke the blade. Crocea Mors disappeared from Saber's hands.
Saber was speechless.
« Anti-Treasure. It's a very interesting category of Noble Phantasm, I've to admit, as you can see I've the tools to win every battle. Now you don't have Crocea Mors anymore, I wonder what other Noble Phantasm you own. »
Saber didn't get discouraged, she couldn't afford it, so she replied to the opponent:
« Crocea Mors? Do you really believe that I need divine help to defeat you? Poor fool, I managed to subdue Gaul without any help from the Gods, I only had my legion. And with it I will destroy you! Legio Gemina! (Caesar's Favorite Legion Who Conquered Gaul) »
Suddenly behind Saber the territories of Gaul appeared, the world of Sheol was too powerful to be replaced by that of Saber however the Roman legionaries still managed to come to the rescue of their general, but they were not ten thousand legionaries but fifty thousand and there were also cavalry men and veterans. An immense army symbol of Roman power. Saber had no weapons but her legion was her best weapon.
Sheol thought of getting rid of those soldiers right away and then used the Noble Phantasm with which she had killed Specter:

« Gevurah. (The Power of the Wrath of Mars) »
From a star came millions of weapons of various kinds that were fired at the legion but those soldiers used the turtle and repelled the shots with ease, even Sheol was shocked to see that those men had managed to survive.
« Idiot. » Saber commented with a triumphant smile. « Here we're not talking about Crocea Mors or the Legio Gallica, this is Gemina, my best legion, my favorite legion, this Noble Phantasm is superior to the others, you will have to put more effort into it if you want to defeat it! »
The legion threw spears at Sheol but the woman managed to defend herself by erecting a wall of fire, however the cavalry took her from behind and wounded her, the soldiers advanced and in a short time Sheol was surrounded by the legionaries; the woman jumped and began to fly then, with the sword in hand, used another Noble Phantasm:
« Hod. (The Viscera of Mercury) »
A star lit up and suddenly under the feet of the legionaries came several quills of various sizes that impaled them. The legion was defeated in an instant.
« And now what? » Sheol asked, amused: « Is that all you can do? If that was your best Noble Phantasm then you are doomed to die. The "wrath of Caesar" was nothing more than a vain resistance and you're little more than a disappointment. Even Glasya-Labolas was able to entertain me, it's true that she was a demon while you… well… you're not. You're inferior. Sheol went down to the ground. So do you have any other particular attacks or can I kill you and be done with it? »
Saber had been silent all that time, she looked up at Sheol and replied:
« Only one. You only have one Noble Phantasm actually. All those Noble Phantasms are only possible if you are in this world. »
« Did the Glasya-Labolas Master tell you? Well, at least he was useful, otherwise it would have been useless to survive. It doesn't matter, however, Glasya-Labolas was also aware of this and nothing has changed. »

« What kind of demon is Glasya-Labolas? »
« Strange question to ask right now, however she's a demon that has several domains, among them there is knowledge, that's why she knew about my Noble Phantasm. But why are you asking? »
« Because now everything is clearer. » Saber replied, taking off her laurel wreath and untying her hair.
« So what are you going to do now? Will you give me a good speech? »
« Rome watches me, Sheol, and my ancestors and successors gave me this right. »
« What right? »
« This ... Veni, Vidi, Vici! (Caesar's Right to Rule the World) »
Saber broke the crown of laurels, it lit up like a sun, its glow blinded Sheol who felt her sword become lighter and saw her weapon dissolve little by little.
« NO! What the hell is going on ?! »
The dimension Sheol had created disappeared and the two warriors returned to the burning London; Saber threw the broken crown to the ground and it dissolved.
« I could only do it once, and I never expected to use this Noble Phantasm in this war. It's my trump card… or a desperate move, perhaps, it depends on how you look at it. But we're both unarmed now, Sheol. Now it's you and me bare-handed, do you think you can keep up? »
« Damn you! »
Sheol hit Saber with a punch but the latter parried the blow and counterattacked with a combination of punches, elbows and knees that put the opponent in difficulty.
« I won't let you defeat me! Mortal! »
« This is for Glasya-Labolas! » Saber yelled as she punched Sheol in the face.
« I cannot… lose! »
« There's always a first time! » Saber hit Sheol again.
Sheol fell to the ground inexplicably exhausted.

« Why? Why am I feeling so weak? Even without the sword I should be able to ... »
Then she saw Friedrich and Alessandro leave Westminster Abbey and understood what was happening to her. She got up and said:
« It's not me… it's the Grail… the Holy Grail is no longer in this world. The glyph connected it to this world, it was like a bridge and now it's gone ... »
«You were drawing magical energy directly from the Holy Grail, then. Now everything is explained ... and it all makes sense. You've never been invincible or indestructible, you simply drew your strength from the most powerful magical object there has ever been. And now? »
« Isn't it obvious? » Sheol asked with a resigned smile. “I lost to you. I lost to a Servant. There's no greater embarrassment. »
« No, you lost to life. You, who want to be feared, don't understand one thing: death is not only capable of frightening, it can also be what spurs us to move forward. There are those who are afraid of dying and there are those who live knowing that one day they will die, they are two different things and you didn't take it into account. You were hoping to scare but you've become pathetic, like a shadow figure that makes monstrous sounds to scare those who don't see it. But the shadow falls, sooner or later, we all stop being afraid and then we fight. »
« Death is inevitable anyway! » Sheol said. « No matter how hard you fight, no matter how long you endure, however you will die and you will never be able to avoid it. Everything that has a beginning also has an end. »
« We all die, yes, it's part of the cycle of things. But how you die is important, and that's what determines the kind of person you really are. You can die scared or you can die head on. I've never sought immortality but I've never been afraid of death. »

« So that's why you didn't run away from me ...

« Nobody should run away from death.

Sheol smiled. She was no longer angry, she was serene, it was as if she had just discovered something wonderful.

« You're really brave, Caesar ... I recognize it ... like you ... Glasya-Labolas was also really brave ... I will accept my end but one day we will meet again. »
Sheol disappeared; the dead body of Fukano Harumi appeared in front of Caesar. Alessandro, when he saw her, didn't recognize the girl but her face was not unknown to him; that blissful face seemed to be that of a sleeping girl, a girl who had found peace.

« Rest in peace » he said.

 

Caesar vs Sheol by Bikowolf