POV: Artoria Pendragon
Heading to New York
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The cargo bay doors of the Quinjet closed with a soft hydraulic hiss behind us, the metallic thud echoing quietly in the confined space. I glanced around the interior of the aircraft, taking in the sleek design, dark grey panels illuminated softly by recessed blue lights. Familiarity struck me, vivid and surreal, from memories of a life I had never truly lived yet remembered vividly.
"Hmm." Mordred hummed next to me, glancing around with a mildly impressed expression. Her armored boots clicked sharply against the polished metal floor as she examined the interior, arms folded across her chest. "Not bad, I guess. Kind of primitive compared to what you've got going on in Camelot, though."
Before I could respond Nick Fury came out of the cockpit area of the Quinjet stepping toward us, his single visible eye glinting with amusement as the Quinjet shuddered lightly beneath our feet, lifting smoothly from the grassy fields around Camelot.
"I don't recall seeing any kind of flying vehicles back in your shiny new kingdom," Fury quipped, the corners of his lips twitching into a subtle smirk aimed directly at Mordred.
Mordred scowled, clearly about to snap back, but I quickly intervened with a gentle raise of my hand.
"Let's keep it civil," I said calmly, giving Mordred a pointed but not unkind glance. "We're allies, remember?"
Mordred pouted visibly, crossing her arms tighter, clearly unhappy at being denied a verbal duel. Fury's smirk widened just slightly, clearly amused by the interaction. Turning my gaze fully to him, I inclined my head in respectful greeting, recognizing clearly the immense potential and vision Nick Fury held. In another life—another timeline—he could have shaped S.H.I.E.L.D. into something truly extraordinary, had Hydra not intervened.
"Thank you for your assistance, Director Fury," I said genuinely. "Your dedication does not go unnoticed."
He tilted his head slightly, his expression shifting subtly—curious but somewhat respectful. "Just doing my job, Your Majesty."
Raphael's voice resonated gently in my mind, drawing me momentarily inward. [Your support for Fury and his organization could prove crucial. You will need to address Hydra and the many other antagonist entity's soon if you wish to change this world's path for the better.]
I mentally acknowledged Raphael's counsel and refocused just as Fury decided to continue, filling us in on the troubling details regarding Banner.
"The situation with Banner isn't simple," Fury began, leaning against the Quinjet's inner wall as we ascended steadily skyward. "The U.S. Military has been hunting him down relentlessly. His gamma-irradiated blood is valuable to them—they're trying to recreate his transformation to engineer new super-soldiers."
I frowned softly. "Banner doesn't even want to be what he's become. He's confused, frightened—terrified of losing control and becoming a danger to everyone around him."
Mordred shifted slightly, leaning casually against the wall of the Quinjet, her helmet absent and her wild blonde hair reflecting faintly in the artificial lighting. "Even if that's true," she interjected bluntly, "how exactly are we going to help this guy? I mean, from what Fury described, talking him down sounds like a pipe dream."
I turned my head to look at Mordred, my cheek brushing against the soft white fur lining my cape. "Words have always been my ally, Mordred. And if that fails," I paused, my eyes glinting confidently, "I can contain him long enough to have a proper conversation."
Mordred huffed but gave a reluctant nod, trusting my judgment, albeit grudgingly.
Fury raised an eyebrow skeptically, his single good eye narrowing slightly. "Contain him? How exactly do you plan to do that, especially if he loses control in a populated area?"
I gave him a small, reassuring smile. "I have certain…abilities at my disposal. I assure you, Director Fury, I can handle a variety of unexpected phenomena."
He tilted his head slightly, clearly skeptical but intrigued. "Magic?"
I couldn't help myself—and a smirked appeared on my lips. "Yes, magic."
Next to me, Mordred made a sudden strangled noise, coughing violently as if she'd suddenly inhaled her own spit. Fury raised an amused eyebrow at her while I turned my gaze toward Mordred, giving her a puzzled look.
"Are you alright?" I asked softly, genuinely concerned.
Mordred waved me off frantically, her face rapidly turning a shade of scarlet that nearly matched her armor. "I—I'm fine," she choked out, clearly flustered. "Never better."
I stared at her a moment longer before Fury decided to give us some space, chuckling softly. "Well, it's a bit of a flight, so make yourselves comfortable." He moved back into the cockpit, closing the door behind him with a soft click.
Exhaling quietly, I moved to one of the seats lining the Quinjet's interior walls, easing myself down slowly. Closing my eyes, I let my consciousness drift inward, gently focusing my mana to stabilize and prepare for whatever lay ahead.
After a moment, I felt a slight shuffling beside me. Mordred awkwardly settled into the seat next to mine. I felt her hesitate, glancing at me nervously, clearly uncertain whether I was asleep. Eventually, she leaned gently against my shoulder, her weight surprisingly comforting despite the armored plating between us.
I kept my breathing steady and soft, allowing her this rare moment of vulnerability. It wasn't long before I felt her breathing even out, her head becoming heavier as she drifted into sleep.
A small, tender smile crossed my lips—hidden from everyone, but genuine nonetheless.
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A Few Hours Later
I sat quietly, my eyes closed, immersed in a calm meditation that gently aligned my mana within my body. Beside me, Mordred's weight pressed softly into my shoulder. Her breaths came slow and steady—she had fallen asleep almost immediately after leaning against me. I couldn't help the tender smile that formed on my lips, the warmth of the moment settling deep within me. Such peace was rare and treasured.
Suddenly, Raphael's voice resonated within my mind, gently interrupting my meditative state.
[Artoria, we are nearing our destination above Harlem. It would be wise to prepare yourself mentally for a potential confrontation with The Hulk and potentially the Abomination.]
My eyes slowly opened, lime-green irises with golden-yellow pupils briefly reflecting off the metallic interior of the Quinjet. Turning my head slightly, I gazed down at Mordred, whose wild golden hair spilled messily across my shoulder.
A curious thought crossed my mind. 'Raphael, how can you know our position even though we're not in Camelot anymore?'
Raphael's smooth voice answered confidently in my mind.
[Your being is deeply tied to Rhongomyniad. It is the literal pillar anchoring the world's layers. I have been able to utilize that connection to the world itself, tracking your mana signature through Rhongomyniad. Simply put—I always know exactly where you are on this planet.]
I smiled slightly at Raphael's explanation. It made perfect sense. Rhongomyniad was no mere weapon; it was the reason I was here, alive, breathing as a Goddess rather than lying fallen upon the battlefield of Camlann. Becoming a Divine Spirit meant I was now a goddess intimately tied to the world itself, allowing Raphael perfect clarity in tracking me through those means. Though there is also my system that has a built in map but, this sounds cooler in my opinion.
My gaze fell back upon Mordred, her face serene and peaceful in sleep—a stark contrast to her usual brash demeanor. My gauntleted right hand shimmered momentarily before vanishing, leaving my hand bare. Gently, I reached over and stroked Mordred's golden blonde hair. It was the same soft texture and vivid color as mine, but hers was wild and untamed, matching perfectly with her bold nature. I briefly wondered if I'd need to tame it someday, especially if she were to become King—no, Queen. But those were thoughts for another day.
"Mordred," I whispered softly, my unarmored hand moving gently to her armored shoulder that wasn't leaning against me. "It's time to wake up."
She let out an endearing childish whine, nuzzling further into my shoulder as if trying to bury herself there. "Mmm…five more minutes…"
I chuckled softly at the unexpected innocence of the moment. Then, as if suddenly realizing where she was and what she was doing, Mordred bolted upright, her face flushing a deep scarlet.
"I—I wasn't sleeping!" she sputtered, fumbling over her words. "You were—uh—just so warm! I mean—not that I enjoyed it or anything, don't misunderstand!"
I openly giggled, the melodic sound filling the otherwise quiet cargo bay. "Of course," I teased gently, watching her face turn even redder.
Mordred spun away abruptly, arms crossed defensively, pouting adorably. I shook my head in affectionate amusement before gracefully rising to my feet, my armor softly clinking and my flowing white cape trailing elegantly behind me. Reaching out, I placed my hand gently atop Mordred's head, lightly smoothing down a few rebellious strands of her hair.
"We're nearing our destination," I said softly, my tone gentle yet firm. "Get ready. We might have a difficult task ahead."
Mordred murmured something unintelligible, embarrassment still vividly coloring her features. Smiling faintly to myself, I turned and began walking toward the cockpit to check in with Fury, unaware of Mordred's quiet reaction behind me.
Unseen by me, Mordred gently placed her armored hand atop her head, her fingers softly tracing the warmth left by my touch. Her blush persisted, but now a small, genuine smile formed on her lips. "I didn't tell you to stop…" she mumbled quietly, voice barely audible even to herself.
I stepped into the cockpit, coming to stand beside Fury, who occupied the copilot seat. Beyond the cockpit window sprawled the dazzling cityscape of New York City, the countless lights illuminating the darkness of night like constellations in their own right.
Fury glanced at me, his one visible eye thoughtful. "Ever seen anything like this before in your lifetime?"
I hesitated internally, memories flooding back—memories not from Artoria Pendragon, the legendary King of Knights, but from the girl whose memories I carried from another world. I had seen New York many times, but only through screens in stories and moives that I oh so loved. I masked the hesitation smoothly, shaking my head softly. "Nothing quite like this."
Fury accepted my words without suspicion, still believing I was merely the legendary king returned for now. Mordred joined us, her embarrassment apparently forgotten as she stared out the Quinjet's window, utterly speechless at the sight of cars, trains, and skyscrapers.
"This is…how people live now?" she murmured, jaw slack.
"Indeed," I said, amused by her reaction. "Humanity has come a long way since our time. Their determination and ingenuity are extraordinary."
Fury offered a slight nod. "This is one of the more industrialized cities. Though plenty of places in the world still live more like you two remember."
I glanced toward Mordred, a teasing smile forming. "You have no idea how much the world has changed. Wait until you experience modern bathing."
Her head snapped toward me, eyes sparkling with excitement. "Baths? Like, better than hot springs or those cold tubs?"
"Far beyond," I assured her.
"Then we're absolutely having one together when we return!" Mordred proclaimed enthusiastically, making me chuckle warmly.
Just then, the female S.H.I.E.L.D. agent piloting the Quinjet cleared her throat nervously, her voice quiet and tentative. "Um, excuse me…Your Majesty? I've always wanted to meet a legendary hero like you. I honestly didnt think something out of a fantasy book I read when I was a kid is real."
Turning toward her, I offered a gentle smile, my lime-green eyes softening naturally into a warm expression. "I don't see myself as a hero. Just a king trying to do her best."
She quickly whipped her head back toward the cockpit window, face flushing bright red in embarrassment, though I didn't realize my smile had caused it.
Behind me, I heard Mordred make a muffled choking noise—probably trying to stifle laughter. I turned toward her, puzzled by the reaction, only for her to quickly turn away, biting her lip hard to avoid laughing out loud.
"What's so funny?" I asked quietly, genuinely confused.
"N-nothing!" Mordred stammered, still avoiding eye contact, shoulders shaking with suppressed mirth.
I sighed softly, shaking my head in mild confusion, refocusing my attention on the approaching cityscape of Harlem.
"Almost there," Fury said calmly, refocusing our collective attention. "Get ready. Banner's down there, and it might get messy."
As the Quinjet descended smoothly toward Harlem, I started to think about all of the things I will need to keep track of, Banner, The Hulk, and possibly the Abomination. Raphael's earlier reminder surfaced clearly. Hydra, the Ten Rings.....so many threats lay ahead, all tangled within the timeline I now inhabited.
'Well, I wounder how everyone is going to react to seeing me for the first time?....I'm sure it will be fine. It's not like people are going to start a religion and start worshipping me...right?'
Raphael says nothing in regards to that comment.
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Heya everyone! I am so excited for the next few chapters that are going to be coming out since i will finally start to get into the action of the story. I do apologize for action not being involved to regularly but I think it will be worth it. Anyway hope everyone has a good day and good luck with finals!
Question: What is your favorite weapon from the Fate Nasuverse?