Fate / Stained Inheritance

-Give her a first name.


You think for a moment, soft and safe and snug in this bed as your aching wrist sits in cooling water. Ruler isn't a proper name. She should have something more. Something human. A first name, then. It's the glimmering of the stars in the night sky that give you that flash of inspiration- you'd read a book once, some old book on the stars that was part of whatever load they threw into your cage instead of the bin.

The constellations had captivated you at the time, the charts of a sky you'd never known burned into your mind. Though the passion you had back then has faded, ground down by the years of captivity, there's some bits of what you read that you still remember.


"Ankaa." You whisper to Ruler, offering her a name that gleams in the night sky. "I'd read it once- Your constellation. Your star- One people used as a guide- so it wouldn't be any of that bad luck… And… it fits you. What- who you are to me. It's yours, if you want it?"

There's a moment of silence, your hands fidgeting as she mulls it over, whispering the name to herself, feeling it in her mouth and ears. It's more tentative than just about anything you've ever seen from her… but then, this is something completely new for her.

"No, this isn't enough… You say it." Ruler looks at you. "It is the name you have given me, Mimi. Let your voice be the first to call me by it."

"Ankaa."

"Again." Ruler whispers, her eyes gleaming.

"Ankaa."

Joyful tears brim in Ruler- Ankaa's eyes as she listens to you whisper her name. Again and again she asks you to call her by it, greedily drinking up your voice as you comply, giving her name in all sorts of different tones and sentences. It's no wonder why Ankaa's so eager to hear it from you: For the first time in however many centuries, you have given her something new. So with how happy she is to be named, how can you not give her what she's craving?

You spend a while longer like this, talking about the little mundanities of life that you have shared together- You hear some of the things Ankaa had always wondered about, and share some of the things you'd wished for as well. She tells you of wondrous places that were dust centuries ago, and you tell her the petty spitefulness and defiances that kept you sane in the cages. Together, you talk of living like this, and how it is so new to both of you: Even as the night grows long and your eyes grow heavy, you talk, the water your burned hand rests in slowly growing lukewarm.



"From the bottom of my heart, I thank you, Mimi." Ankaa says eventually, drying her eyes on a wing. "Would that we could speak like this forever… But you must rest. I fear… the war is ending."

"The others- they've allied, haven't they." You nod to her. "It won't be those fights we had before. It's time to go for the kill. That's what those mages will think. Get us out the way, then they can fight among themselves for the prize."

"I would suspect you are correct, Mimi- And with what the grail needs… after the slaughter, it will surely manifest. The next fight will decide the war. I ask only that you are ready for it."

You give Ankaa a wordless nod in response, your eyes drooping. Six. It needs six, and two are fallen… You shudder slightly at the memory of the fire, the pain and death that came with it. You don't want that to happen again- even if Kiara wants you to take the grail… you have everything you could have wished for right now. You just don't want that to happen again.

"That is for the morning, Mimi. Rest now, and know that I am with you to the end." You feel soft feathers brush across you as Ankaa closes your eyes with a wing, the exhaustion of the day finally beating you as you slump onto the pillows. And with that, you rest.


With that, you dream.

---

You float in a space of pristine gold, floating at the center of a glimmering ocean. It flows around you, dense with rich, sweet power, mingling flavours in your mouth. Lovely, were it not for the faint taste of a familiar pain underneath it.

You know where you are. The place where all power flows to in this war, to which you are linked on the deepest level. Some part of your self has followed Vortigern here, still thirsting for more even after your gorging on the leylines.

You accepted your nature to fight him like you did, and it has brought you here. It may be different, but part of your body knows this place. No matter what, this place will be familiar to you.


You'd be content to lie here for a moment, basking in this power, when you hear it: A faint crying reaches your ears as the world begins to vibrate, a rush of power flowing into here, carried along the veins of the world. You reach out, trying to take at least some of this power, to share the weight for whichever vessel this war has- for who else would cry like that, in this place? Here and now, it is all you can do.
A bow falls from your hands as your body collapses, your Master's broken body lying with you in the rubble.
You see her visage melt away like morning mist.
"Sita…"
A whisper of her name, and you fade away into golden mist, a faint tapping all you hear as your vision goes black.

[Archer True Name: Rama]


Your vision flickers as you taste Rama's memories, the shock stirring you from your slumber, pulling you back from this place as you wake. But as you return to the waking world, at the edge of your hearing comes a slow, rhythmic banging noise; a hammering on a door, accompanied by a slow, ominous grinding noise- like grating stone or dragging bone. As you find yourself being pulled from the dream, you catch sight of a black crack in this pristine realm, and a flash of red from the other side.

---

Your eyes open, and you wake from your slumber, cinnamon and saffron and blood lingering on your lips.

Your eyes snap open as you wake to weak sunlight streaming through a gap in the curtains. You can still taste the lingering echoes of Rama's passing on your tongue. You throw yourself from the bed, wincing at a lingering ache from the burn on your wrist where the barcode was. It's definitely going to scar. But that's not important- the knowledge you've got is.

"Archer's dead and Caster did it!" You call out to Ankaa, getting a confused look from her as you hurl yourself into the shower, barely taking any time in there compared to your usual luxuriations as you scrub yourself awake, almost slipping on the tiles as you get out and dress yourself. You rush downstairs, Ankaa at your side, before bursting into the meeting room where everyone usually is when you wake up.

"Archer's dead and Caster did it." You repeat yourself as you throw the doors open, drawing the gaze of everyone inside, turning them away from where a TV reports breaking news; the top three floors of a skyscraper having collapsed overnight, seemingly without cause. Or… not collapsed- it almost looks cratered, as if something stomped down from above onto the building.


"An interesting observation- this was where Izabetha had encountered Archer in the past." El-Melloi observes, nodding in agreement with your thoughts. "I would question how you knew that, but the answer is obvious."

"You did something grail-y didn't you Mimi?" Flat springs up, diverting his attention from a rapidly destabilising magical pattern on the desk, drawing a punch from Scathach as she quickly shuts it down.

You nod, fidgeting slightly as you try and put it into words, rubbing your thumb along your still-black veins. You… don't think that part's going away. "I'd… felt it, dreamed it? I think… part of me had went there. I could feel it, I took part of him- something to share it, lessen the burden on… whoever the vessel was. So I saw it- bits of Rama, his final moments."

A pause, catching your breath from your rapid speaking. You know how those moments ended. "A cane tapping. That's the last thing he heard- Saber didn't have that, Rider didn't so it had to be Caster, both him and Lainur had them."

"Which raises the question of why break their alliance now? The logical move would be to betray each other after defeating us" Izabetha remarks, visibly thinking it over. "Though that is when everyone would be most on guard…"

"Yeah, and he was really strong!"

"Far more capable than Rider, from what I have seen." Flat and Scathach chip in. "Caster couldn't win a fair fight. That, or..."

"His goal was something different." She and El-Melloi say in unison.


"Well, we'll keep our eyes open then" Ruler nods firmly. "We're matched in numbers now, so we stick together and they have to come together to match us."


One way or another, this ends tonight.


You spend a bit more time talking, planning out where the best places to try and take a fight may be, based on the land and proximity to the river. You know that's where the grail is, it makes sense to keep that in mind now. But in the end, you can't focus on that. You have Ruler by your side, and that's all you need for this.

Even so… you have some time left before the battle begins, and the war ends. You're not going to let it go to waste.

What do you do, in these final moments of preparation (Pick 2, 2 most picked choices win)

[] You hear about the end of the war from El-Melloi
[] You hear about the end of the war from Izabetha
[] You are given one last lesson from Scathach
[] You meet with Adashino, to get intelligence on your foes
[] You see Kiara, you need answers about the grail… and its vessels.

-Discuss the end of the war with Izabetha, and the grail and its vessels with Kiara.

Your morning meeting has ended, and you find yourself pacing the hallways of Izabetha's mansion, one thought still on your mind. The Grail War is ending. Memories of fire flit through your mind. That's what happened last time one ended. When you were under the grail. An image you just can't forget, the first thing that 'Mimi' remembers.

It could happen again, to someone else. You still remember that sobbing sound you heard when you floated in gold. You hadn't thought of it before… but of course there would be another vessel.

Going door to door, you find Izabetha in a room on the upper floor- a mages lab of sorts, clean and white and sterile. Aldetha sits on a chair, calm and expressionless as she adjusts a shunt in her arm, thick blood flowing out into an ampoule held by Izabetha, her red eyes reflecting in the glass. The walls feel different here, older and colder, and the hairs on the back of your neck begin to prick up. Like you're being watched.

"Just a moment Mimi." She says as she watches the level fill up, nodding to Aldetha, who shuts the shunt, removing it from her arm as Izabetha presses the last of blood from the tube into the vial.

"If that is all, my lady?" Aldetha stands, curtseys, then leaves at Izabetha's nod, paying your side-eyeing no mind as she leaves.

"And- that was?" You ask as Izabetha neatly stores the blood in a fridge.

"Preparations. Archer is a bloodsucker." Izabetha says matter-of-factly, her white hair blurring with the sterile surfaces as she turns to you, showing no sign of any of this being anything unusual. "Having an emergency transfusion allows me to provide more to Archer and remain functional, should a situation arise where this is necessary."

"She's just fine with it?"

"Why wouldn't she be? Naturally, our blood is compatible, so there is no risk. Her role remains the same as ever, to manage this estate and support me in the grail war. Providing a transfusion is nothing to what she would do- to what I would do, were our roles reversed."

There's not a hint of anything in Izabetha's red eyes as she says that. This whole affair... It's something completely beneath her consideration, something so mundane and normal that it doesn't warrant any consideration. A reminder then, of her nature that is so easy to forget. Then again, it's not like you're much different.



"I'm going to Kiara's again." You say after a pause in which Izabetha simply waits expectantly. "I… I don't want what happened last time to repeat. She's the overseer, she's best placed to stop it. You;'re the person who knows most about it- it makes sense to have you help."

Izabetha contemplates your thoughts for a moment, staring impassively at you. You shift your position slightly, stepping to the side to get out of her line of vision. Her eyes don't move, blankly staring at where you were. It's like she's just not there anymore. Moments pass, before some life returns to her eyes as they blink and focus in on you.

"Your proposal is agreed to. It suits no-one to have the grail fall apart before it can be claimed." You're not sure that's Izabetha speaking there. "Let's go."

With that, Izabetha walks right past you, leaving you dragged behind in her wake as she purposefully strides through the mansion, your Servants joining you as you make your way outside, Ankaa sharing a glance with you.

It's a minute or so from the door when Izabetha's footsteps slow, and she presses a palm to her forehead, sharply gasping with pain.

"My apologies… that room is where the link is strongest. Where I report back home." There's something in her voice as she speaks. Something that you hadn't even noticed was missing before. Something that makes her sound more like herself there.

"I see." You don't, not really. But enough to get the outlines.

"Come on- and… try to forget that." Izabetha resumes leading the way, making more small talk than you're used to her making as you make your way to Kiara's chapel. As if to balance things out. Ankaa, at least, is more than happy to indulge, drinking up the conversation, as you chip in when you can. And like that, you all make your way to Kiara's chapel.


With Ankaa and Chang'e keeping watch outside, you and Izabetha enter, calling out to Kiara as the door closes behind you. The candles are unlit now, and the relaxing sweet scent they brought no longer fills the chapel. With Kiara's voice calling you through to the back, you arrive to find Kiara in the middle of packing a suitcase, stashing away various essentials. A panic bag.

"Ah, Mimi, and the representative of the Einzberns. What brings you here, so late in the war?" Kiara smiles warmly to you, giving Izabetha a respectful nod before she catches herself mid-sentence, turning . "Ah- my apologies for the mess. I've just been arranging some… insurance. Some time out of sight and mind might be a rather good idea. Don't worry, I'll stay in touch~"

Kiara gives you an inviting look at that last remark, before returning to business. You step
forwards, finding some space on the sofa armrest to sit on as you meet Kiara's gaze.
"I've… been thinking. You said you wanted to know what I wanted, Kiara. I've… got an answer now." You say hesitantly, a look of interest flashing across Kiara's face as she leans in. "I want to try and save them."

"Save who, Mimi?"

"The vessels." You say simply. "I've… felt them. And now I've thought about it… I'm what this war was based on. So they'd be just like me… I don't know if it's possible...."

You're silent for a few more seconds before you speak in a whisper.

"Being a vessel killed my sisters… so I know there might be nothing I can do. It might be too late for them. But- I still want to try. So I need your help. With what both of you know, there might be something- enough to help."

It's all maybes, you know that much. But how could you not want to save your siblings?


"I do still owe you for your assistance in this war. I suppose I can give what help doesn't reveal any secrets." Izabetha says calmly from where she stands by the entryway to the back rooms. "What do you wish to know?"

"Then- how did the war end last time? I know what happened under the grail- but beyond that. How and when did that happen?" Your gaze snaps towards Izabetha, a swell of encouragement within you.

"What is there to say? At the defeat of the sixth servant, the grail manifested as it should. Due to the presence of the array you were a part of, it manifested on the outskirts of Fuyuki. Seeing what was happening, my father and Saber took action to destroy it. One of the rare times they were in agreement." Izabetha says with a slight shrug. "While I know that Mr Velvet was present as well, he had little contact with my father. After that, he and my mother returned home. Beyond that, you know more about what occurred than I."

"Then six is normal!" Your heart surges at that news. That, you can work with. "There was seven of us, so if this was based on me then there should be that many as well, right? Which means that there should be a chance? There should be someone who's not had that load yet, someone to save? Right? But- I'd need your help."


As that outburst ends, you turn to Kiara, explaining yourself. There's three servants dead so far. Six need to die to manifest the grail. Three of yours and three of theirs left. After the next fight, the grail will manifest- you won't be able to get there before it does to help any of the vessels who've survived. That's why you need Kiara's help.

Kiara gives you a gentle smile as you finish speaking, giving you an understanding nod as she places a hand on her chest. "I understand, Mimi. If this is what you have come to desire, after all you have been through… I can accept this. Besides, it is too late in the game to still hide behind my mask of neutrality. I shall be there, to save who I can."

You breathe a sigh of relief at her words as she stands, retrieving the feathered fan from the reliquary you saw days ago. She holds it to her chest solemnly, and you feel a brief breeze stir the room.

"Then- we need to make sure Fuyuki doesn't happen again- if the grail breaks down like last time-"

Then there'll be nobody left to save.


"Do we need to?" You blink in surprise at Kiaras words there, as the nun turns to Izabetha. "If I may share a few thoughts of mine… To begin with, The Church has secured far more holy grails than you might think- the term has became associated with any source of power that can be used to grant a wish. But there's a catch, one that so many people tragically fail to grasp"

"It's all about the lens." Kiara holds a finger up to her lips as she whispers her secrets to her, passion gleaming in her eyes at the topic shifting to desires. "A malicious genie, a bloodstained altar… how many tales have a wish get twisted by the granter? Now, while I'm sure that you cannot say much, Ms Einzbern… would I be correct in assuming that your vessels for the grail are made to exacting standards?"

"That would be correct." Izabetha nods.

"Vessels made for the sole purpose of being such, free from all other desires or nature that might twist the wish…" Kiara muses, before fixing you in her amber eyes. "It may not have been an accident- can you truly say that you or your fellow vessels did not desire destruction and revenge? Can you be certain that none of you wanted that ruin to happen?"

Your breath catches in your throat as you realise what Kiara's getting at… Because you can't deny her. You can't say that you didn't want to hurt the people who broke you, in those agonised moments ten years ago. You shake your head, just once.

"While I cannot say more… certain environmental factors are not present here." Izabetha remarks as well, suddenly fighting her own voice to speak. "That may contribute to the stability of the grail."

"Exactly, so the only way that disaster would repeat is if the vessels of this grail truly desire it. And have they not had you helping them, taking the strain for them? That might be just enough reassurance to prevent such a reenactment."

"I- right. It's… still a worry though. Even if it's not going to happen just by chance." You say weakly in response to Kiara. Would your fellow vessels want this?

"It is true that we do not know if this Grail will bring disaster. But rest assured Mimi, I shall still do all I can to save those who can be saved." Kiara's voice is warm and comforting as she tilts your chin upwards, having stepped forwards while you were thinking. "If it may be a race against time, I must simply be faster. This is your desire Mimi. With all I have placed upon your shoulders, I shall do my utmost to grant it for you."

"Thank you."


With that, you spend a little longer together, Kiara trying and failing to pry more information out of Izabetha about homunculi. But eventually, you leave the chapel, reuniting with your servants. Izabetha splits off from you, having one last matter to attend to before she is finished with her preparations.

"Well, you've got quite a complicated expression there, Mimi." Ankaa says, ruffling your hair as the two of you idly walk the now-familiar city streets as you make your way back towards Izabetha's. "Did something happen?"

"A bit. I've- got what I wanted though. I just- hope it works. That Kiara can save another vessel here."

"You have more than just hope, Mimi. You have me, your friends, and every drop of blood and sweat you have given to reach this point."

You give a weak grin of thanks to Ankaa, as the two of you return to the manor, to while away the last hours of time before the war ends.


But you're not alone in these hours. As you wander the halls and rooms of the manor, you find one person by your side, to spend this final quiet with.

Who do you share these final moments of peace with? Options available based on bond tracking.
[] Gray
[] Ankaa
[] Kiara