Fate/Grand Order story · Part 2: Cosmos in the Lostbelt, Lostbelt No.6: Fae Round Table Domain, Avalon le Fae
Interlude
Lostbelt No.6: Fae Round Table Domain, Avalon le Fae. Salisbury
1 scenes, 179 lines
1. Before the battle
179 linesBritish Airspace Two Hours after the Demonic Dog's Appearance
That giant Demonic Beast... I see. So that's the black dogs' king... A magical energy eater who feasts on smoke and lightning.
So, Barghest has become a calamity...
...And Cernunnos's curse shows no sign of slowing down.
There's nowhere left to run. The way things are going, all faeries are destined to become an Unseelie Court, or turn into mors...
Either way, there's only a handful of sane faeries left. I don't know how long I can hold out, either.
If this really is the Great Calamity...then it's all her fault things turned out this way.
...Aurora. My love. My reason for existing. My
Listen to me, Lancelot. Ainsel is a very dangerous faerie.
She always makes such nonsensical prophecies, and nobody has any clue about her clan's true nature.
Who knows what she might do if she catches everyone's attention and becomes the talk of all Britain?
Remember, the Mirror clan took in the faerie of paradise just like the Rain clan once did.
It's terribly irresponsible of her to make a prophecy like that now, especially when the Great Calamity could happen at any time.
Why, it couldn't be a more obvious revolt against Queen Morgan. Just thinking about it makes my wings go dull.
You understand me, right, ■■■■■■■■?
After all, you're my prince in shining armor.
You always bring me whatever I desire most, don't you?
She doesn't have any wicked thoughts whatsoever. Really, good and evil don't factor into it at all.
Most people think of her as the kindest, most compassionate faerie, one who strives for a world in which faeries and humans can coexist in peace.
But they're wrong. That's just the image she projects.
The only one she truly loves is herself.
The only thing she cares about is maintaining a world where she's always beloveda world where she can always be on top.
She only advocates for humans so they will fawn all over her.
She only guides faeries so they will all respect her.
She seems like such a skilled leader because she never fights with anyone.
She didn't survive this long because she is strong.
She's just always had a gift for dragging other leaders down.
Every time a faerie more popular than her showed up, she would send the world down a dark path according to her whims.
...This time was no different.
She didn't mean any harm.
She just came to the "realization" that the Mirror clan was dangerous, and believed it with all her heart.
...Ahh. (Huff... Huff...) Ah.
So I killed them, just like she wanted.
It was clear beyond any doubt that the Mirror clan had done nothing wrong.
But I still had to kill them, or Aurora really would have withered away.
As a faerie, Aurora's true skill...
...is to completely convince herself of things that always work out in her favor.
That's why she's neither good nor evil.
The reason she never lost her radiance over the three thousand years of her life is that her self-esteem is not of this world.
Ah... Ghh... Aah...
I buried my face in hands stained with the Mirror clan's blood, trying to avert my eyes from what I had done.
I had no right to ask their forgiveness, or even to apologize.
I knew what kind of person Aurora was, and I still put her radiance first...
Because I care more about her than I do all the other faeries of Britain.
Aurora didn't do anything wrong. I'm the only wicked creature here.
I've committed so many crimes, all because I didn't want to lose her love...even though I knew it wasn't genuine.
But that day was special. The Mirror clan was special.
They were a gentle group of faeries protecting Albion's corpse, and by extension, me.
Not one of them so much as resisted.
If anything, they seemed to pity me as they came to offer up their own lives.
...I didn't have a choice. Aurora would have withered and died if I hadn't done this.
...This isn't my fault. I didn't want to kill them.
Aurora... I did this for you... All I want in return is for you to smile and say, "Thank you"...
I decided not to fly, so I wouldn't leave any evidence. On the night I returned, covered in mud and soaked to the bone...
I can't believe the entire Mirror clan's city is gone... What could have happened to them?
They say it was a mors attack, but how could mors have gotten past the city walls?
It must be Queen Morgan's doing. She must have gotten mad at Ainsel's prophecy and
Don't be ridiculous. Queen Morgan is nothing if not prudent. She would never do anything like that.
She valued the Mirror clan's prophecies more than anyone.
And Ainsel was a wonderful clan leader who only ever wanted what was best for Britain.
Ahh, poor Ainsel. How could this happen to you?
Whatever attacked the Mirror clan is the foulest of beasts...
...the most rotten, hateful monster in all of Britain.
Even if it may seem pretty on the outside, it only manages that by imitating me.
Ahh, what a horrendous, awful creature. Just thinking about it makes me sick.
... ...
It was a miracle. It really was.
Back in that dark bog, when I was still just a pulsing lump of flesh, she took me in her arms and cradled me like I was the most important thing in the world.
"Hello there, darling one. Or perhaps I should say 'Good morning'?"
"My name is Aurora. What's yours?"
In that moment, I gained both mind and body. I knew what it was to feel, and to admire.
...I knew what it was to love someone so deeply it could never be shaken.
But...
...Of course. That's just who she is.
That's just...who she is...
...I know why she cradled me in her arms back then...
...I know that she doesn't actually love me!
But, even so...
Even so...I still love you, Aurora...
...That's right. I can maintain this form as long as I have these feelings.
Even without Queen Morgan's Gifted name, I can still remain myself as long as Aurora is around.
...Without her, I'd probably return to my original form...
...to who I became when I bore the hatred of all the northern faeries who were killed in the War of Spring eight thousand years ago.
...I'm going to go to Salisbury.
If Britain really is about to end... I want to spend my final moments as her knight.
■ill them! ■ill them! ■ill the northern faeries! They're the invaders who brought the calamities upon us!
Are there any faeries who've been infected with mors poison!? If you find one, capture and ■ill them before they become mors!
Round up the humans! Make them fight the mors! ■ill any who refuse as an example to the others!
The cathedral! Open the doors to the cathedral! This city is tainted! Run for the cathedral!
Lady Aurora will help us! Lady Aurora will save us!
She's the new queen of Britain! I'm sure she'll sacrifice herself to the mors to save us all!
Oh my, they all look so dreadful now. And to think, they used to be such peaceful faeries...
...Aurora.
Who's there!? How did you get in here!?
...It's me, Aurora. I came down from the bell tower.
The city is in chaos. Most of the faeries have lost their minds.
It's only a matter of time until they storm the cathedral.
I hate to say this, but...Salisbury is done for...
Oh my... I see. Yes, of course. I still have you, Mélusine!
Thank goodness you're all right! You are, aren't you? Oh, but of course you are.
You're the strongest Tam Lin in all of Britain. You never get injured or degrade, no matter what.
You're still my beautiful, beloved knight, no different from the day I met you.
You couldn't have come at a better time. I knew you were the only one I could rely on.
...Yes, you're right. Salisbury is done for. No... Britain itself is doomed.
If only there were a way we could survive...
Ahh, how did things ever come to this?
It's so terribly sad, but I'm afraid there's no other way. Mélusine, would you stay with me? I need you...
...Yes, of course. I'd be happy to spend our final moments togeth
I need you to help me escape. You can take me away from here, right?
...What?
Is it so surprising? It's a natural response to run from danger, isn't it?
...Not in this case. You're just not bothering to think again.
Where would you run to, Aurora?
Where could you hope to go after abandoning this world, and all the faeries who believe in you?
Yes, it's all such a shame. But they won't love me anymore, right?
So forget about them. Let's go somewhere more fun instead: the world outside Britain!
You heard about it from the Chaldeans, right?
I'm sure it must be better than this boring old world.
It's a world of nothing but poor, weak, filthy humans!
Making my ideal world there should be easy!
And you and I will be the only two faeries in it.
That's what you want, right?
My darling child. My little Mélusine. I love you more than anyone right now.
Now, come. Take my hand, and let's go start our new life together, okay?
I...
...You're right. That is what I want.
But if we did that, you'd probably just do the same things to that world that you've done to this one...
...all while telling yourself you're not aware of what you're doing.
Your entire purpose is to be loved more than anyone else.
Mélusine? What are you talking about?
...Where's Coral? I don't see her anywhere.
Coral? ...Oh, right, Coral!
I turned her into a caterpillar because she was getting on my nerves, then I accidentally stepped on her.
Be careful you don't step in the mess over there. You'll track it all over my nice, clean floor.
...
...Aurora. I want you to know that I love you.
I love you, whether you believe it or not...whether you even care or not.
...No matter how evil you might be, I'll still make all your wishes come true.
Oh? That's wonderful! I don't know what you're talking about, but yes, that sounds lovely!
Then come on, let's go to the outside world! I'm sure we'll have such a wonderful time there!
...Huh?
...Don't you see? That would never happen...
That can't ever happen!
You'd never find the love you need in the outside world! This was the only place you could be more beloved than anyone!
Proper Human History isn't as simple as Britain. They'd see you for how evil you are in an instant!
Do you really think you could survive in a world like that!? You, who can't even bear to go without absolutely pristine water!?
...
Your wings, your face... Everything about you would fade and waste away!
And that...that would be more than you could bear. You'd never be able to love yourself again.
But you'd keep on deceiving yourself, trying to live the same way you always have even though you'd no longer recognize yourself.
Every morning, you'd look in the mirror and die a little more inside.
...Maybe that's just normal life for other faeries. Maybe they wouldn't think anything of it.
But for you, it would be the cruelest torture imaginable.
Every day, you'd cry yourself to sleep in despair, unable to even muster the courage to end your own life...
Every day would be a fresh hell where you cling to glory that will be forever beyond your reach. Every day, you'd hate yourself more and more.
And that... That would just be...!
...Hehe. What are you...saying...Mélusine?
What an awful...fake faerie you are...talking about...a future...that could never...come to pass...
Why...the very idea...of me becoming...more miserable...with every day...sounds even...worse than death...
...Now...never mind that... Hurry and...take me...to the...outside...world...
To where...everyone...will love me...again...
Because...you only live...to please me...right?
...That's right.
It would have been better if I had only lived for myself.
If I did...then I would have kept you alive, no matter what.
Without you...I'll just go back to being a hunk of flesh.
But...I can only live to please you. And that is why I can't take you to a place that would be pure hell for you.
...Ghh. ...Ahhh...
...(Huff...huff...) Ah...ah...
...Ahh.
...Even now, I still remember when we met. I can see it like it was yesterday.
I remember the wind that blew through the dark bog. I remember the way you shone so brilliantly.
...I remember how I swore to give everything I had to protect you.
...I love you, Aurora. I love you so much.
Even if I should lose this form forever...I'll always...
...
...Ah...
Aaaaaah...
Aaaaaaahhh...