The Reality of Nightmares

Ria and Em arrived at the meeting point before they were required, her anxiety and dread not having dissipated; if anything, they had worsened as they got to the meeting point. Fortunately, they didn't have to wait long before validity was given to her fears.

"Well, if it isn't the Mistress of Arcane herself. It's a pleasure, my dear. I am glad the Grande Master pulled out all the stops. I am in your capable hands."

Ferris walked towards her and went to take her hand, but Emiya moved his cloak to place his hand at his hip next to his daggers stopping Ferris in his tracks.

"For a second there, I was unsure if you had a new Servant or not. It seems you enjoy dressing your servants at your whim, like a woman with power."

"I did no such thing. I am not some frivolous mage that treats her companions like pets. Emiya has evolved and has full use of his Archer and Assassin forms. I suggest you pay him the proper respect." Her tone was full of ice and venom.

"Of course, of course, my dear. My apologies. We are ready whenever you are."

"Make sure your lancer stays the fuck out of our way and does his damn job of protecting you. I'm not here to babysit."

"I will keep him by me at all times. You two do what you need to."

Turning, Ria and Ferris walk into the Singularity with Emiya hot on her heels. When she gets a safe distance, she summons her staff and looks at Emiya, who nods and disappears. She stands there a moment in silence before Emiya's voice in her header me the location of the nearest enemies.

"You might want to call your servant. We have enemies down the path hiding in the tree line. If one of them gets past us, you will have to defend yourself."

Ferris nods. "Lancer!"

Then he appears. The one person she was hoping never to see, never be with, never deal with.

"I take it you require me, Master?"

"Just make sure to protect me, you Gaelic lout!"

Though riddled with her pain at having him near, Ria turned to Ferris and retorted without thinking. "If you cannot treat your companion with respect he deserves for keeping your worthless ass alive; I will strip you of him and keep him for myself letting you die a miserable death here alone."

She can feel them both look at her in shock, but she turns and walks down the path toward Emiya and the battles to come. As they progress, she and Emiya handle the vast majority of enemies quickly, though one or two get past, which Cú is forced to deal with. Grilling Emiya for letting them get history, Em smiles, letting Ria know he did it on purpose. In this form, Emiya has so far been unrivaled. Between them, there isn't a monster they intend to fight that they do not dispatch efficiently.

Ria can also feel the jealousy radiating behind them but refuses to look back and find its origin. She and Cú haven't spoken, nor has he attempted to approach her. Unsure if there is some unknown understanding between him and Emiya, she is just grateful it isn't affecting their ability to do their job.

Stopping a few hours in so Ria can eat and rest as her mana does not need replenishing though her body still suffers from energy loss, Emiya quickly scouts the area before making a small cooking fire and something to eat.

"It is so nice of you, my dear, to make something for me to eat I...."

"This is not for you, mage. It is for me. If you didn't bring yourself what you needed, that is on you. My food is infused with things I need for the journey and is not meant for anyone but me to eat."

Emiya handed her the bowl, and she smiled briefly at him before stabbing her staff into the ground and leaning against it as Ferris grumbled incoherently about her rude and unattractive lack of femininity and propriety. She ignored him, and Emiya laughed sharply before coming over to lay in her lap, facing the fire as she ate.

When she is done, she taps his cheek, and he rises to get me more, finishing off the food he prepared. As she eats, he cleans and then stores everything back in her small bag of supplies before coming to lay back in her lap. She feels Cú's eyes on her as she runs her fingers lovingly through Emiya's hair, causing him to wrap his arms around her hips so his hands rest against her lower back, allowing his thumbs to trace lazy patterns on either side of it.

"When you two are done being intimate, we need to move. I don't want to be stuck here longer than I have to be." Ferris's discontent is evident.

"I will tell you when I am ready. Just sit your ass down and shut up, Ferris."

"Don't tell me what to do...."

Then Cú's lance is at his throat. "I think the lady said she needed a little more time. I don't see any harm in giving it to her since we seem safe now. Wouldn't you agree, Emiya?"

Em sighs. "I wouldn't be lounging like this if we weren't."

Cú turned back to his Master. "See? Just sit tight, and we will leave in no time."

Ferris backed up and glared at all of them while Cú stood casually between him and them, resting his arms over the length of his spear.

For a short time, Ria dozed off, feeling the mana of this world being drawn into her staff as she rested against it. Unsure how much time has passed, she suddenly feels Emiya's hand on her cheek, which causes her eyes to flutter open.

"Feeling better?" He says softly.

"Much thank you. I didn't realize I was that tired."

"I knew you were. I let you sleep as long as we were safe."

"Thank you, Em. Help me up?" She reaches her hand towards him, and he takes it, pulling a little more complicated than necessary, causing her to land against his chest; his arms wrapping around her.

"Don't push yourself too hard."

"Same goes for you."

He rolled his eyes, and Ria smiled.

"I'll scout ahead. I'll be right back."

He disappeared, and she walk back to her staff to pull it out of the ground.

"Finally. Took you all long enough."

"Says the man who has done nothing to subjugate this Singularity. You realize I will give a full report on your ineptitude even if no one reads it. Someone has to know how worthless you are."

"Why you..."

Then Emiya appears with a dagger held to Ferris's throat. "I would rethink your entire life right now if I was you."

Ferris growls.

"Come on, man child. You wanted this over, right?" Ria's voice filled with snide animosity as she headed off again, moving further into the singularity.

The farther they progress over the next hour, the battles continue to be much the same until they get to a clearing. Here Emiya stops, putting his hand on Ria's chest protectively to keep her from moving forward.

"What is it?" Ria's concern was evident.

"Stay here."

Though she didn't see him, she could feel his presence phase in and out around the perimeter of the clearing before reappearing in front of her.

"Something compelling is in there even though it looks empty. Don't let your guard down."

Ria nodded and then moved forward but no sooner had her foot entered the clearing than her eyes shot open in fear as a familiar voice spoke out.

"Ah, Skellig, you finally came. And you brought your treasures, I see along with a sacrifice. How very kind of you."

"Who are you?"

"Who am I? Why I am the very thing you love and hate more than your sanity." Then the figure from her nightmare appears in the center of the clearing, and her fear threatens to overtake her.

"Rina, who is that?"

Voice quivering, she can barely formulate words, "It's the creature from my nightmare that night that you couldn't wake me. I thought it was a dream, but that isn't true."

"No, my dear Skellig I am not a dream. I am the other half of your greatest desire." The hooded creature stalked closer to her. "The end," and closer, "the life after death." until he stood in front of her and she could feel the intense heat of his mana, "the one who will enrapture you." Then he placed his hand on her chin to tilt her head up as he pulled his hood back, and a collective gasp went out.

"You're Cú!"

"I am Cú Alter. The darkest version of his soul, riddled by primal rage and devoid of all emotion. I am the embodiment of my spear, taking on the armor of the dragon itself. And you, my dear Skellig are soon to be my Master and greatest treasure. I will only submit to the Black Dragon of Time, but it requires you to choose me," then he points to Cú with a clawed hand "or him. Two versions capable of full evolution cannot exist in the same space. You will either have to kill me or sacrifice him. I will warn you now, as you are now, you all can't defeat me."

"Well, I came here to subjugate the Singularity, so all of you do your job and..." Ferris' voice carried far more confidence than Ria felt until his words were cut off as blood spattered everywhere when Alters tail crashed into Ferris' skull killing him instantly.

"I do so hate interruptions." He flicked his tail, and the body went flying. "What will it be, Dragon Queen? Will you destroy the love of your life just to rid yourself of all your regrets, allowing me to possess you on a truly unholy level?" Alter ran his clawed thumb along her jawline. "Or will you tear your own heart out keeping that unfaithful cur at your side?"

The next thing Ria knew, she was surrounded by a world tinted pink in what looked to be a large castle bedroom. When she looked around, Cú as Lancer stood three feet away, just as confused.

Do not be afraid, child of man; you are inside my Reality Marble as the Philosophers Stone has preserved it. Though I cannot interfere with the actions taken in the outside world, I can still do this much to interfere with what is to come. The world outside has been frozen, leaving the two of you to sort out your issues. This moment defines the path humanity will take, so make sure whatever decision you come to, you are capable of living with.

Then the voice vanished, and she was left alone with Cú, whom she looked at with tears, unable to deal with the reality in front of her.