Final plans

"What a disgusting man." said Medea as we made our way back home.

"I agree." I said, chuckling a bit. "He is genuinely disgusting, all the way from his body to his actual personality."

"He also doesn't seem trustworthy." said Diarmuid. "Are you sure his information can be trusted?"

"You are right, he isn't." I replied. "However I know for a fact that he does despise his son, so I don't think the deal he offered was a trap. He must have already realised that this war is lost for his family, so he is trying to make the most out of the situation."

"The question now is, will we go after Berserker?" commented Medea. "And if we do, should we do so based on the information he gave us or not?"

"I don't think we should be focusing on his information too much." I replied. "He simply told us that Kariya plans on attacking Tokiomi tomorrow and the identity of Berserker, which I already knew. The fact that he said the actual name confirms that not everything he said was a lie, so I do believe his words about Kariya attacking tomorrow are true."

I looked back to Artoria, who had been walking in silence since the conversation with Zouken.

"What do you think, my dear?" I asked with a raised eyebrow. "Do you want revenge on him?"

Artoria stared at me in silence for a moment before a shaking her head. "I do not care about him." she said. "I wouldn't go out of our way and endanger your plans to get revenge, however if you requested it from me then I would bring you his head with pleasure."

I smiled at her answer, it was just perfect. Wishing to get revenge on those who wronged her, but not willing to do so at the cost of getting in my way... ahh what a perfect woman I have made.

"I see..." I replied. "Well, I do believe that joining tomorrow's battle is a good idea. We could turn it into the final fight of this war since we already have the lesser grail, besides, this fight will take place in the Tohsaka state, one of the four places where the greater grail can be summoned." I explained before pausing for a moment and staring at the night's sky. "The perfect stage is right there, already set and waiting for us to join, how could we refuse such a perfect opportunity?"

Medea sighed as we continued walking. "Well then, master." she said. "We will have a lot to plan in that case. We will have too many enemies waiting for us after all."

"We most certainly do." I said with a small smile. "So we should get lower their numbers, don't you think?"

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Upon arriving at the mansion, I went upstairs and saw Giorno, who stayed behind with Irisviel.

"How is she?" I asked.

"Physically, she is well." he said. "Mentally however... well, she appears to have hallucinations from being the lesser grail, which combined with knowing that her husband died leave a pretty messed up homunculi."

"I see..." I mutter while rubbing my chin before shrugging my shoulders. "Well, whatever. Neither her mental state nor her physical state matter. Bring her down to the basement so that Medea can take the lesser grail out of her."

Giorno nodded and left the room with Irisviel, carrying her down.

I headed to the balcony and lighted a cigarette, inhaling the smoke as I looked at the view form the gardens of the mansion.

Artoria came outside and wrapped her arms around me, placing her head in my back and breathing deeply.

"Anything in your mind, my king?" she asked, making me chuckle slightly.

"Just thinking about tomorrow." I replied. "I am not yet sure of who should fight against whom. There will be many enemies waiting for us, in a way we will be going directly to the wolf's den."

"Whatever your plan is, we won't loose." she said, coming from behind me and looking me in the eyes. "I will deliver you the heads of your enemies, regardless of how many or how strong they are."

A smile appeared on my face as I placed my hand in my chest, a golden light illuminating the balcony as I pulled Avalon out of myself.

"Id you are planning on going against all those who oppose me then I should reward you, shouldn't I?" I said with a smile as I handed her Avalon.

"I don't want it." she replied, much to my surprise. "I prefer knowing that it is protecting you. Besides, everything mine is already yours, so you are just keeping something you already own."

The smile returned to my face as I laughed a little at her words. I had not given it to her because I was slightly worried that it could affect her, perhaps take her out from her Alter form or something. While it may sound paranoid or outright nonsensical, I'd rather not take any risks that could make her change back now that she is so perfect.

However, seeing her loyalty goes so far as to reject something that should, logically speaking, be hers, and instead say that it belongs to me... damn what a perfect woman indeed.

"I am fine." I replied. "I still have over a hundred extra lives as well as spells to heal myself, you on the other hand only have the ring I gave you, so it is better if you keep Avalon."

Artoria remained silent for a moment before nodding. Moving her hand forward, she grabbed the golden scabbard which released a huge pressure before the light dimmed. I stared wide eyed as the scabbard darkened, going from golden with blue lines to black with red lines, matching the current appearance of Artoria.

She showed a small smile at the scabbard's change before breathing deeply and putting it inside her body, making her yellow draconic eyes glow for an instant.

"And?" I asked her with a small smile. "Do you think you would be able to defeat Lancelot and come to my side unscathed? After all there is a much beige threat than that traitor in this war."

She smiled at my question. "I shall bring you his head before you even notice I am gone."

"That's good..." I reply, turning around and caressing her cheek.

I remember reading something about Avalon. It was supposed to be the embodiment of the utopia that King Arthur seemed to create his entire life. Now that his golden scabbard Avalon is like this, I wonder what the utopia in her mind looks like...

"Get ready, my beloved." I whisper in her ear. "Tomorrow we will fight a dangerous battle. It is your duty to make sure none of our enemies survives the night, so don't disappoint me."

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Author note:

Shit will get real from now on.