[] "Let this war be a secret held only by those who fought in it, and none other! Let us hold the truth of this war close, never to be taken: not by time, not by magecraft, not even by the Throne of Heroes. And let it be out secret alone. Let the innocents, the onlookers, the watchful eyes of the Clocktower, forget, the miracles and nightmares of this war slipping from their thoughts like mist at dawn!"
The Doll had a wish. It would be simple to declare it at once. She could save the city and give up everything for the lives of others. She didn't really care about them that much but just enough to make this decision. It's not an easy decision but it was one she had to make.
Only her.
So Brie held her hands together and prayed to the Grail, baring her heart for her wish to be heard. It wasn't a wish for the sake of the town or the people in it, but a wish for her and her Servant. A selfish wish that would save many.
It was the other option which she took aside from what was laid before her.
"I... I wish upon the Holy Grail," she began again as her soft voice reached the chalice, "Let this war be a secret held only by those who fought in it, and none other."
The Grail shimmered before you saw the abundance of magical energy respond to her words. Brie clenched her fists and looked at it head on.
"Let us hold the truth of this war close, never to be taken: not by time, not by magecraft, not even by the Throne of Heroes," Brie continued as she stared down the chalice as it surged with power, "And let it be our secret alone. Let the Innocents, the onlookers, the watchful eye of the Clocktower, forget, the miracles and nightmares of this war slipping from their thoughts like mist at dawn."
Magic circles began to carve themselves into the sky above as the Grail heard her wish. Brie placed her hand upon her lips as she smiled
"This secret is ours alone," the girl whispered as the Grail shined brighter and brighter before a pulse of blue power erupted from where it was seated.
Brie was washed over by this pulse and felt the cool sensation of being swept in a gentle river. She staggered and fell back until a pair of hands caught her from her fall. She looked up the sky to see the essence of the Grail shoot straight for the sky and dispelling the bounded field which caged this town.
A miracle happened. A miracle that would touch the lives of many others. This was a miracle for her and her alone. The memories burned in your mind, the pain, the pleasure, the joy, the sadness, the anger, and the relief. The Grail was inferior to the Machine which had been first created in Fuyuki but it was enough.
It was just enough to touch the hearts of those around the world. While they may be confused at the state of affairs, the miracle would keep this war a secret. Only a miracle of the same or grander scale would be able to undo it. But for now, the girl's wish was heard and the Grail had done its job. It had freed her from this terrible war and unlocked the cage for her.
This war, this life, she would remember it even through death. The bonds that had been forced between the Doll and the Queen would remain until the last world within the Kaleidoscope vanished. The memories would remain with them no matter where they found themselves.
"Clever," Rider noted as she stroked Brie's hair.
The girl stared at the morning sky before she got up and turned to her servant. Medb looked like a mess, beaten, cut up and bruised but she still remained beautiful despite all this. Without the Grail to anchor her to this world, she was slowly fading. Her body was breaking apart, her light fading, but even then her smile remained.
Medb held Brie's face and ran her thumb upon the Master's cheek. The Queen looked into the girl's eyes and smiled as she placed her forehead upon Brie's.
"So warm... The memories I had, I'll be bringing them with me. No matter the time or place, I'll be thinking of you," Medb said as she pulled back, "My adorable, stubborn, cowardly Master."
Brie held her hand and shut her eyes, "Rider..."
"Smile... You'll look even prettier," Medb said as she stroked the girl's head.
"What will I do now, Rider? What do I do?" Brie asked as she held the Servant's hand, "What am I gonna do now?"
"Well... You find your allies and grow up, Brie. I can't keep you all to myself. You won't grow that way," Medb said as she looked into the girl's eyes, "Go out, see the world, find your place in it... When you do, call me again."
Medb took off her crown and allowed Brie to wear it on her head. The Queen smiled as she tapped the tiara and nodded in satisfaction.
"I can't wait to see what happens next. Whatever it is, I will always remember you and our time together," Medb smiled as tears also began to well up in her eyes, "It's been a long month..."
"It... It has," Brie murmured as Rider's body began to slowly fade away.
Medb pecked the girl on her cheek and smiled, "Don't let Scathach bully you, okay? I'll see you next time. Don't go burning the world down, okay?"
Brie held her hand tight and felt her shoulders tremble, "Yeah. I love you."
"I love you too," Medb said as she squeezed the girl's hand back.
The world forgot about the war but the memories of her would be engraved in the Doll's heart.
The Queen of Connacht vanished and with that signaled the end of the Holy Grail War. The only thing which remained of her was the tiara Brie held in her small, gentle hands.
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Brie stepped out of the ruined church to find Ruler waiting for her. Jeanne had a difficult expression on her face as the girl stopped before her. The Servant's body has also begun to fade as her flag swayed in the air.
"You did it," Ruler said as she met Brie's gaze, "The wish is made."
"The Clocktower won't be bothering this town anymore," Brie replied as she held the silver tiara, "No one will remember except for us. Are you unsatisfied?"
"For your wish, no. You did what you could in your own way in the end. For the war? Perhaps I could have done better," Ruler replied as she looked up at the church, "You both rough housed quite a bit. Someone had to keep your collateral damage down."
"I don't blame you, Jeanne. And I'm sorry for what I was about to do. If Rider didn't stop me everyone here would be on a timer," Brie said as she looked at the buildings around her, "It wasn't easy, trading her for this place... But she didn't do it for them... She just didn't want me to throw my life away before it could even start."
Ruler met your gaze before sighing, "I see. But what's important is that Rider managed to stop you. I apologize regardless."
"It's fine. Do you plan on staying here some more?" The Doll asked with a curious look.
"Indeed. I am going to miss this place," Ruler said as she looked at the broken down church, "I'll be staying here for a bit more."
"Right. Jeanne one more thing," Brie smiled as she turned towards the other woman.
"Yes?" The Saint blinked in surprise.
"Happy New Year," Brie greeted as she waved her hand.
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The world was confused. No one had the memory of the events within the month of December. Well not in reality... There bits and pieces but those were indistinguishable from fading dreams. Brie walked past the people running about and continued her way to her destination.
She had no money or transportation.
So she walked.
She walked and walked through the city wrapped in confusion.
She walked through the empty roads past the collapsed temple.
She walked through the snowy paths leading to the mountains.
She walked and walked until it was the afternoon when she reached her destination. A woman was waiting for her.
Brie held the tiara in her hand as she made her approach. The woman was tall, stern, and judging in appearance all while holding a menacing crimson spear. The woman's equally crimson gaze fell upon the Doll and studied her expression.
"I hope you're prepared for this. I won't be going easy on you," Scathach declared as she stared at the girl before her.
"I don't expect you to," Brie replied as she sighed before shaking her head.
The red spear snapped up and pointed itself towards the Doll's heart.
"Firstly before we go, we're going to fix your body," Scathach said as she prodded your jacket with Gae Bolg, "I can't have you drop dead while training after all."
Brie smiled at that and nodded, "Got it, Teacher."
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The New Year came and went. The world was peaceful. The Doll was spirited away to the Land of Shadows to grow and be nurtured. Only those that fought in that terrible war would remember the events which transpired there. The survivors went their separate ways carrying the memories with them to their graves.
The Hero returned to his family on haste, just in time to carry his daughter in his hands. The touch of new life filling his iron soul with warmth.
The Wandering Immortal traveled the world with her curious companion, seeking new challenges and channels for her wish. The memories of the war burning within her chest.
The Brother continued his struggle and emerged from the ashes. Patching his wounds and climbing the mountain of trials he sought to overcome.
The escaped Doll completed her mission with glee and blended into the darkness until the time she faced her sister once more.
And finally, the Doll with a Heart studied and learned. Until the day she met with her Queen once more, she would continue on living...
Until...
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Sometime in the future
There was light.
Medb opened her eyes and curled her lips into a bewitching smile.
"Finally out again. Now, let's see what we're working with," she sighed as she walked forward.
And then she saw a young woman sitting on a throne of crimson spears. Her unruly orange hair was tied into a side ponytail as she crossed her arms beneath her chest. The girl was smiling brightly upon her chair of spears.
"Rider, wasn't it?" The girl said as she spun the tiara she had in her finger, "Glad to have you. I'm in a bit of a bind with this War and all but I hope you can help me out?"
Medb's smile faltered for a moment before she sighed. She looked around and shook her head, "What a horrible place to summon a Queen. A rotting cabin, really?"
"Don't complain, I didn't have enough money for a palace, idiot," the girl griped as she grimaced.
Medb smirked as she walked up to the young woman and held her chin. The Queen leaned close before seating herself upon the girl's leg, "To call a Queen an idiot, you're pretty brave, huh?"
"I say it like it is," the girl shrugged.
"I guess I should ask the question now," the Queen smiled as she wrapped her arms around the other girl, "Tell me..."
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"Are you my Master~<3"