42FATE/BROTHERS IN DESTINY
Chapter 19: To the Next Dream
Once Zhuge Liang concluded his business with Connla and allowed her to fall asleep, he took his leave and headed to the waiting room. There, he found Ritsuka, Mash, Cuchulainn Alter and Medb sitting there in anticipation for seeing the young patient. Cuchulainn appeared especially antsy, constantly fidgeting and tapping his foot on the floor.
Once they saw Zhuge, Ritsuka asked him, "How is she doing?"
"She pulled through the operation with flying colors," he replied with a light smile. "I wanted to ask her a few questions, but she was terribly exhausted from the whole ordeal."
"I'll bet she was," Mash frowned. "So can we see her now?"
"Roman gave the okay."
"Finally," Cuchulainn grumbled and immediately headed for the hospital room. The others followed behind him, and Zhuge watched them leave. He thought about the conversation he had with Connla, which inevitably sidelined the scholar into topics of similar interest such as parallel universes, the Second Magic, Zelretch, and the true nature of the child Servant's unnatural ability to see other versions of herself through dreams.
Is there any way for Chaldea's currently existing technology to actually visualize her dreams for us to observe? No, more importantly, I need to understand the source of this skill first and foremost, along with the level of control she can exercise over it. Then it would be a matter of finding practical usage that could benefit the Grand Orders, though such investigations could only be limited to worlds with other Connlas in them…
He wandered off to his workshop, brainstorming dozens upon dozens of different ideas to explore in the near future.
Ritsuka's group soon arrived in the hospital room that Connla would be staying in for who knew how long. Roman, Nightingale and the other nurses were finished tending to her for now, so they stepped aside to allow the group to see her.
She looked like a complete stranger, with all of her hair tucked beneath a hospital cap while an oxygen mask covered the entirety of her lower face. One intravenous tube delivered painkillers through one arm, while the other administered blood that Cuchulainn donated earlier. Her injuries had been so awful that most of her body was covered in numerous bandages. She looked exceptionally fragile as she lay there in a quiet slumber, as if moving her even an inch would cause her to fall apart at the seams. Mini-Cu was tucked in the sheets next to her, practically keeping a valiant watch on her. The shelves and tables nearby were decorated with a large variety of flowers in vases given as get-well gifts from the staff and Servants, brightening up the bland white room with splashes of vibrant colors like paint on a blank canvas.
The moment he saw Connla, Cuchulainn clenched his teeth and fought back the urge to scream. His eye twitched uncontrollably, and every nerve in his body trembled.
"Cu…" Medb whispered.
"I know," he murmured. "I know she's gonna be fine. It's just… Ungh…"
Nightingale approached him and said, "Da Vinci explained everything to me. You inhabited the body of that doll in order to stay by the patient's side should she be in any danger. It was a precautionary measure due to the potential of an unknown enemy targeting the patient's life."
"I just had a bad feeling about it. Every time she goes on a mission, she winds up suffering much worse injuries than most Servants of her level can survive."
"So I've heard. But your strained expression is telling me the truth. You must be saying to yourself, 'Even though I was right there, I still failed to protect her.' Am I wrong?"
"…"
"Nonsense. That kind of prudence can only be praised," Nightingale scolded him. "The real fault lies with whomever wants to end the patient's life, even going to such great measures to ensure that she is assassinated."
Cuchulainn scowled darkly, "Why is this happening to her?"
"I cannot say for sure. From my experience with her however, I believe there is little to no possibility of anyone actually holding a grudge against her. She works tirelessly to ensure that all of Chaldea's operations run smoothly, even though I have told her countless times to mind her constitution. Her behavior is such that she doesn't seek to start arguments either. The only thing I can suggest is that her pursuers see her as some kind of obstacle to a goal they have in mind. In that regard, there's no need to factor in guilt or innocence – her very existence is a threat in itself."
"Hmph…" He didn't like the prospect, but he also believed it made the most sense.
"Don't worry," Roman assured. "We may still be investigating for the Seventh Singularity, but we can also devote resources to searching for this unknown enemy and eliminating them. Connla is one of us, and we'll do everything in our power to make sure she is safe. Most of the other Servants have been notified of what's been happening to her and will watch over her diligently so that this doesn't happen again."
"Hey," Cuchulainn grumbled in a miserable tone. "Is she having another one of those dreams again?"
"You mean when she witnesses another Connla's life in a parallel world? El-Melloi said that's the case."
"Shit-!" the Berserker seethed bitterly. The bad news just kept piling up one after the other so quickly that he barely had time to sort himself out. That awful sensation of dread and fear for his daughter's well-being swelled in his chest like a pounding tumor and refused to let him go.
"Compose yourself," Nightingale ordered. "Going into a frenzy is not going to solve anything. You need to stay calm and listen to what everyone has to say. It is your duty as the patient's parent to be informed of her treatment plan, and to accept it in order for her to make a full recovery."
"Talk big all you want, woman, but there ain't a goddamn thing you can do about Connla's nightmares, is there?"
"That is beyond my expertise. All I am is a nurse capable of healing sickness and injury. That's why the head doctor has employed Zhuge Liang to investigate this whole dream issue."
"That stone-faced mage? What can he possibly do about this?"
"That is for him to explain. I have to warn you however – his research may involve him experimenting with the patient."
"Well, that's just fucking great," Cuchulainn swore. "Now the kid's being reduced to some mage's guinea pig?"
"It's all so we can have a better understanding of what's going on here," Roman said. "I promise that we won't do anything that'll cause further harm to her."
"What a joke. Are you gonna feed me some tired line like 'it's all in the name of science', or some bullshit like that? I swear, you scientist types are all the bloody same."
"Uh, I'm a doctor, not a scientist…"
"The semantics are irrelevant. Well, if it's in her best interest, then I'll let you guys investigate whatever the hell this dream nonsense is. If you start overstepping your boundaries however, I won't have a problem with gutting you, got it?"
"We'll keep that in mind," Nightingale said, unperturbed by his threat.
With that, the grumpy Cuchulainn sauntered past Ritsuka and Mash, and sat next to Connla's bed without saying another word. The others knew what this meant; he didn't want to be bothered with anything else until she was fully healed. Medb followed him and sat on the other side of the bed, telling the girls, "I'll take care of Cu and Connie. You two go on and take care of business as usual."
"Thanks, Medb," Ritsuka said, then she and Mash left.
The doctors and nurses departed for now, expecting to do a check-up on Connla later. Cuchulainn sat on her right side and nestled her small hand into his much larger palm. He stared intently at the gold ring with red marks on her right thumb, remembering how he had originally given it to Aife so that Connla would wear it when she was ready to see him. He just never imagined that the girl would go through so many horrendous trials and tribulations in order to reunite with him, both while they were alive and now as Servants. Cuchulainn closed his eyes and focused on the warmth of Connla's hand – however badly mangled she was, he was just glad she managed to survive.
Medb quietly watched him, then approached the other side of the bed and asked, "Is it okay if I hold her hand too?"
"… Whatever," he muttered.
The queen took Connla's limp hand in her own. She giggled lightly, "He he. She looks so cute when she's sleeping. Almost like a baby."
"Hmph," Cuchulainn grunted. "If it's anything like last time, then get used to it."
Medb suddenly looked worried. She didn't like it when the young Lancer was in a coma for half a month. During that whole time, her beloved 'Cu' didn't act like himself at all. It as was if no one else around him existed. He was present physically, but his mind was far, far away from everyone in Chaldea. He didn't even have the energy to go on missions when he was usually glad to pierce his spear through his enemies. Only when Connla woke up did Cuchulainn return to normal and Medb could resume her fruitless pursuit for his affection. She feared the same thing was going to happen all over again.
Connie… Please don't be asleep for so long this time. Your daddy will worry himself to death if you keep doing this to him…
As Ritsuka and Mash headed back to their rooms to get some sleep, they happened upon Sigurd who was leaning his back against the wall, appearing to be in deep thought. He didn't seem to notice them approaching, so Ritsuka asked, "Hey, there. What are you doing?"
"Nothing much," he murmured. "I've just been concerned about the Sons of Arthur and Cuchulainn, so I feel it is appropriate for me to be around should anything go wrong."
"Speaking of which," Mash said, "we haven't really heard much about your side of the story yet. My understanding is that you were summoned to protect them while they were stranded in that world, but was that really all there was?"
"Not necessarily. The goddess Frigg warned me of the calamity that would have befallen that realm had we not interfered. She didn't inform me of Brynhildr's involvement though, so I was quite shocked that I had to fight against my beloved."
"Brynhildr was there?" the young Shielder's eyes widened in surprise.
"Indeed. Frigg must have summoned me precisely because I was the equivalent needed to bring an end to Brynhildr's mad scheme."
"Mad scheme?"
"She and a group of Servants claimed to call themselves Denialists, or those who seek to undo their own histories by going back to the time when they were alive and altering the past in some dramatic fashion. They all have the same mysterious Master, whom even they only know as the First Denialist, who has the ability to transport them from alternate worlds and unite them in this common goal. The First Denialist is also the one responsible for stranding Mordred and Connla in that world, but there was a different purpose for that. This Master only gives one objective for their Servants to complete; to end the life of the Son of Cuchulainn, no matter the cost."
"What!?" both girls gasped.
"Difficult as it may be to understand, that is the truth. The reason is unknown, but it's clear that the First Denialist is determined to kill Connla. How their Denialists go about changing their personal histories is all up to them – their Master does not interfere nor support their plans. They only care about Connla's death."
"So all of those strange incidents that she's been dealing with lately…" Ritsuka clenched her hand in frustration. "They all must have been the work of this First Denialist character!"
"That might make sense though," Mash narrowed her eyes. "Remember what she and Da Vinci told us about Berserker Lancelot? He appeared in pre-Camelot to destroy the lake where the fairy of the lake Nimue would raise him, thereby altering his own past. He must have been summoned there by the First Denialist to do that, and to get rid of Connla. It's possible that the unsent Aife that she and Medb dealt with before is related as well."
Sigurd raised his eyebrows in curiosity. "Are you saying this has happened before?"
"Yes, several times. Every time Connla goes out to complete a mission, she winds up either having to be rescued, or fights such a deadly battle that she is incapacitated. Compounding things is how she falls into deep comas and has dreams of herself in other worlds."
"Hmm," he closed his eyes and pondered for a moment. Then he muttered something strange under his breath:
"Imbas Forosnai…"
"What was that?" Ritsuka wondered.
"No, it's nothing. In any case, I have joined Chaldea with the intent of finding out who this First Denialist is and silencing them for good. If they are capable of bewitching Brynhildr into changing her history with me, no doubt they have tempted others with such an immoral offer. Of course, I will assist with the organization's primary goal of correcting the Singularities and confronting Solomon."
"All right. I'm glad you're here to help us out."
"Think nothing of it. You should go and get some rest now, Master."
Ritsuka and Mash nodded, then left Sigurd be. He returned to his contemplative posture and folded his arms, thinking about his time with his wife back when he was alive. He noted how his memories of his first meeting with her within Mt. Hindarfjall were perfectly intact, meaning his history with her had been successfully preserved.
Brynhildr… How unfortunate that I could not convince you to join Chaldea with me. However, I will always cherish the memories I have with you, and hope for the day when Master is able to summon you anew in this place as an ally. Only then may I have the hope of forging a better future for us, rather than you wallowing in agony over our tragic fate for eternity…
Back in Denmark, specifically in Odense, it had been a week since the citizens witnessed the strange beams of sunshine radiating from the direction of Copenhagen. Ever since then, many folk felt uncertain of what was going on or why such a strange occurrence happened. Their anxiety was compounded by the lack of monsters swarming around and attacking. No one could tell if it was a good omen or a bad one.
Ahren obeyed his mother and remained inside for the entire time, though he barely moved from the eastern window of the house. Whenever he wasn't busy helping with chores, he would sit there and look outside in a daze. He couldn't get Connla and Mordred out of his mind, wholly believing they had something to do with the mystical light. He didn't hear any word about their fates however, so he was somewhat melancholic from the idea that they could have perished for his and all of Denmark's sake.
Linnea noticed her son's despondent behavior and, though she wanted to console him, decided to leave him be. Words of comfort would ring hollow to him when there were no concrete facts for her to rely on. She knew of his obsession with heroes and great warriors, and believed it would be difficult for him to accept that the two Heroic Spirits who saved their lives wound up sacrificing themselves in the end. His idea of a true hero was one who defeated the villains and came home to celebrate.
This morning however, things would begin to change. After eating breakfast, Ahren opened the curtain and was about to observe the eastern sky again as per his routine, but stopped when he noticed something odd going on.
"Mom," he called out, "I see a bunch of people gathered outside."
"Really? What could be going on so early in the morning?" Linnea wondered. They were too curious to ignore this, so they ventured out and followed several citizens who were rushing for the town square. Hovering above the assembled spectators was Thrud, who had notified the mayor and town leaders that she had a message she wanted to impart to everyone.
"Greetings, my beloved people! I am Thrud, one of the daughters of Odin!" she declared.
"Whoa, check it out, Mom! That's a Valkyrie! A real Valkyrie!" Ahren gasped, pointing at the lady.
"Shh! Don't interrupt!" Linnea chastised him.
Thrud continued, "As you may know, seven moons ago, there was an incident involving the presence of an unnatural light radiating from Copenhagen Fortress, the stronghold of the oppressors who have been spreading terror across these humble lands. I'm sure that many of you have grown uncertain of the nature of that light, and what has become of the enemy. By the good grace of Odin and all who dwell in Asgard, I am here to pass good tidings upon you – that light was the signal of the oppressors' downfall!"
Many folks gasped in delighted surprise and held each other's hands, including Linnea and Ahren.
"Rejoice, for many heroes came together in this time of peril and silenced the enemy! Our chosen ones in Valhalla, as well as those from other lands, joined hands as a united front to crush the villainous forces that plagued you all!" Thrud declared. "I know this victory may feel shallow to those who had loved ones perish at the hands of the despicable minions our enemies wrought forth. Though no kind of victory from war will bring those lost souls back, I implore you to remain strong and turn to those who are still with you for comfort. Find peace with each other, and know that the tyranny you all faced together has been thoroughly vanquished, thus preventing further tragedies from occurring. Find the strength to put your pain in the past and tread forward with hope in your hearts."
She lofted her spear high and shouted, "Gud, konge og fædreland!" †
"Gud, konge og fædreland!" everyone raised their fists up and cheered.
"That is all. Farewell and godspeed, my countrymen. Should any of you become valiant warriors, you and I might meet again," the Valkyrie concluded, then flew off into the distance.
Ahren's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he emphatically exclaimed, "I knew it! I knew it, I knew it, I knew it! Mordred and Connla really were the heroes we had been waiting for!"
"That lady didn't mention them at all," Linnea said, hugging her son tightly, "but I believe they came through for us too."
"They definitely did! Now I know for sure – I'm gonna be a great warrior like them when I grow up! I'll be so amazing that there's no doubt I'll be chosen to be part of Valhalla's chosen heroes!"
"You really do take after your father, don't you? He was that determined to be a warrior as well. Well, we can talk about that once you come of age. For now, let's start packing up our things and prepare to go back home to Nyborg."
"Yeah!"
At the entrance to Asgard, hidden to all in the mortal world of Midgard, Thrud reunited with Hildr, Ortlinde, and numerous other Valkyries. She asked her sisters, "Have you all sent word to the citizens?"
"Frederica's all set," Hildr smiled. "Ah, I haven't felt this good in ages. It's not often I get to be the bearer of such auspicious news. Everyone was hugging and celebrating. Some even wanted to share their alcohol with me, though I respectfully declined."
Ortlinde said, "I have informed those living in Vejle. Their reaction was quite similar."
Each of the Valkyries had been tasked with relaying the same information that Thrud did to every populated town and city all across Denmark, with some venturing to Sweden and Germany to assuage any fears that their leaders had.
"Good," Thrud replied. "Now that the citizenry can get their lives back on track, we must focus on acquiring new heroes to replace the ones we lost. Though a false Ragnarok has been averted, we must conscript more warriors to fill in the ranks for when the true Ragnarok looms upon us."
"At least the ones who survived will have had good practice with fighting a real end-of-the-world war," Hildr said. "They can train the newcomers and get them ready for the inevitable battle we are to face."
"Yes," Ortlinde murmured. "Once I have recovered sufficiently enough, I will begin my search."
Thrud grinned lightly and said, "There were some promising souls I happened to glance upon, though they will need a few years to blossom as real soldiers. Until then, we must exercise patience. Come, sisters. Let us return to Asgard and rest our weary wings."
"…"
"… It was a bust, wasn't it?"
No response. The red-cloaked figure residing within the isolated Reality Marble didn't want to acknowledge their lantern familiar's blunt assessment. Having expended their energy to control the Holy Grail from literally universes away, they had grown exceptionally tired and wanted to get some sleep. The winged lantern saw their master yawn beneath the hood and said, "You must be exhausted, huh? Let's get you to bed."
"…"
"I know the Denmark incident was a failure, but look on the bright side. The Denialists you stationed in two other dimensions have successfully led their worlds to ruin. The mana generated from the Artificial Pruning process should be enough to get you back to speed."
"…"
"Yeah, I know. Neither of those worlds had a Connla in them, and the Chaldea one escaped your death sentence once again. She's proving to be a real problem, isn't she? If she comes too close to figuring out who you are, those Servants she's made friends with will swarm like gnats and put an end to our ambitions. Just when we've reached our halfway mark too."
The cloaked person yawned again and, ignoring their chattering familiar, headed back for the lone hut in the middle of the field of swaying grass and flowers. The deep pink sky and blackened landscape appeared lonely as the Reality Marble's creator shut the door behind them, leaving the solemn fields to mourn the person's absence.
"There we go," the lantern said, pulling aside the bed covers for its owner to slump beneath. The figure didn't even bother taking off their robes, preferring to be kept snug beneath multiple layers of cloth. The lantern said, "I'll be out on patrol with the other familiars as usual, okay?"
"…"
"Leave it to me. Sweet dreams, Aisling."
Back in Chaldea, Cuchulainn Alter continued his vigilant watch over Connla as she slept. He barely acknowledged the medical staff as they periodically came in to examine her vitals. When the equivalent of nighttime came around, he would sit in a lazy fashion on the nearby windowsill and get some sleep, often drifting off from the sound of the heart monitor beeping in tune to Connla's heartbeat.
The next morning, Cuchulainn woke up to find Mordred and a very cross Artoria Lancer Alter standing near the bed. He let out an unceremoniously rude yawn and grumbled, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be chained to your bed or something?"
"Oh please, like I'm going to let myself be tied down so easily," Mordred scoffed.
"She obstinately insisted that she pay a visit," Artoria muttered vapidly, then folded her arms, "even though Agravain had his knights virtually maim her to the brink of death. To think I had such a man within my ranks… I feel nothing but utmost shame for what he put Sir Mordred through."
"I said not to worry about that! The Grail healed me after you destroyed it, remember? The worst of that has been taken care of!"
"That's no excuse to go running around like a petulant child. Master's order was for you to rest. I will not tolerate any of my Knights of the Round Table disobeying their Master, even if that means I have to get violent with you again."
"Geez, you're sounding a lot like Nightingale…"
"Hey," Cuchulainn crudely stopped them. "Think you could take your comedy routine somewhere else? The kid's trying to sleep, y'know."
"Oops, sorry," Mordred covered her mouth and whispered. She leaned over Connla and gazed upon her sleeping face. "How's she doing?"
"She'll be okay, but don't expect her to wake up anytime soon."
"I'll bet. Taking Brynhildr Romantia head-on for me was absolutely crazy."
"That's just the type of person she is. She'd rather fall in battle so that her stronger allies can take out the enemies on her behalf."
Artoria muttered, "Hard to believe she's the daughter of someone as diabolical as you, Mad Hound of Ulster."
"I could say the same to you, King of Storms. How'd someone as glorious as you give birth to a kid who wound up biting the hand that fed her?"
"H-Hey… I don't like where this conversation is going…" Mordred uttered nervously.
"Hmph," Artoria smirked, but dismissed Cuchulainn's comment. "I guess we Alters are truly toxic to each other. I'd best minimize my interactions with you for our childrens' sake."
"Right," he agreed and looked away from the black-armored knight. He instead said to Mordred, "By the way, there's something I wanted to say to you for the longest time."
"Huh? To me? What is it?"
"Well, the thing is… Even though I was there the whole time inside Mini-Cu, you helped the kid through the first leg of that journey. I just wanted to… well… express my gratitude…" the Berserker muttered, almost appearing to be blushing. "Shit, I'm not good at this kind of thing…"
Mordred bashfully wiped her nose, then grinned, "Hey, don't sweat it. We all have the same Master, so we have to look out for each other, right? Besides, I think Connla and I are 'brothers' now. I mean, not literally, but in spirit. You get what I mean?"
"Brothers, huh?" Cuchulainn muttered and closed his eyes. Then he grinned and said, "Fine. You better not screw up from now on. Connla's gonna be looking up to you as an older sibling, got it?"
"Got it!"
In the realm of dreams, Connla sunk like a stone into the familiar aqua blue dimension, filled with schools of imaginary fish swimming around. Soon, kaleidoscopes of colors reflected around everywhere in an intensely nonsensical rainbow that never remained still. She felt herself plummeting further and further into the colorful abyss, heading straight for a particular gap that opened up. As she descended, only one question entered her mind:
What am I going to experience this time?
AUTHOR'S NOTE #1
† - "God, King and Fatherland."
AUTHOR'S NOTE #2: And with that, another one done. I was a bit slower in writing this time since I've gotten addicted to a new mobile game, plus it's harder to write when it's so bloody hot, but I made sure to set some time aside for this story nonetheless. This fic was basically the answer to some people's requests while throwing in things I wanted to write about as well, so hopefully you all enjoyed it. As usual, the next one will not show up until around NaNoWriMo 2019, so don't expect anything until then.
In the meantime, I've got a special little mini-poll for you folks! While Connla is going to experience another dream like in Novus Ordo Seclorum, I need help in deciding between one of two stories that I'm going to write for NaNo. I can't seem to make up my mind, so I'm gonna turn to you guys for a little help. Which of these stories do you want to read? A retelling of Fate/Stay Night where Connla appears to correct the wrongs of the tainted Fifth Holy Grail War? Or a completely original, Fate/Zero-esque HGW where she is engaged against other Servants that don't exist anywhere in canon like her (and has the bad ending some folks have been yearning for)?
Let me know in your reviews as soon as you can (preferably before September) so I can begin preparing my notes. The story that isn't selected will be written at a later date. Okay y'all, I'm taking a much-needed writing break now. See you in November!
- Benit149, 2018-2019
