Just a new story I thought up

Highschool is now harder than ever before so I don't have the time or mentality to write something I see as standard in a short time, at least not yet.

This is actually part 1 of the template for possible future FGO crossovers.

Fem Ritsuka. Sort of OC Ritsuka, Shirou/Rin daughter origin. It actually adds some backstory to the character instead of her just being a nobody from somewhere random

Fujimaru Ritsuka was the best master in all human history. This was a fact unable to be disputed by anyone in the world.

Leading a group of five hundred servants, she had completely defeated the enemies of humanity who had threatened to destroy the world.

Moreover, the nineteen-year-old woman did this twice.

Ritsuka defeated Solomon and the seven masters who came after him, each plotting to enact their own nefarious schemes upon the planet.

Granted, she was never without her servants, but the girl was always on the battlefield right next to them, fighting not in the way of a superior, but a trusted companion.

This, and her godlike charisma, able to ensnare the hearts of even the likes of Gilles and Angra Mainu, ensured that Ritsuka was respected by all of her servants, even arrogant kings like Gilgamesh and Ozymandias.

Trained by the best heroes humanity has ever produced, Ritsuka could only be described as superhuman, able to catch arrows from Chiron's weakened bow with mere instinct. Well, getting shot at 24/7 could do that to someone.

Now, with all the Lostbelts completed and the enemy masters defeated, it was time to gon back to the present and allow her servants to return to the Throne of Heroes.

They were going to hold another party, just like the one they had after the defeat of Solomon.

The first time was heartbreaking enough. Ritsuka really didn't want to go through it again. She still remembered the pain from back then, and reliving it was just going to be too much.

The servants were her family, and losing them was losing the world to her. Ritsuka may have saved humanity, but in the end, the people she cherished would be gone forever.

At the party, all the girl could do was try to hide in a corner and try not to cry. She had tried the last time, really tried. She had held back her tears and watched the people she loved disappear with a fake smile on her face. Ritsuka wondered if she still had the capability to do so again.

Seeing her distress amongst the boisterous party of drunken servants, Ishtar immediately adopted a serious expression, approaching her master with sudden haste.

Wordlessly dragging Ritsuka into a hallway despite her protests, Ishtar's face became motherly, looking into the girl's eyes with maternal compassion.

It took Ritsuka two seconds to realize that Ishtar was not in her normal haughty state right now.

"Mom?"

She asked this weakly, as the scantily-clad goddess embraced her with a warm hug unlike any of her usual ones.

Ishtar and Tohsaka Rin's personalities had mixed into a single being, so Ritsuka's hopeful wish was declined by reality. However, that did not mean that Rin was gone.

"Yes, Ritsuka. Yes, and no. I told you before, didn't I? No matter how much I may try to act like Ishtar is the dominant part of this body, the reality is that Tohsaka Rin's personality takes up 40% of it."

She would never admit it to anyone who wasn't her beloved master, but Ishtar wasn't exactly Ishtar anymore. As the personalities of her and her host blended, it resulted in the creation of someone much kinder than the Sumerian goddess, so much so that multiple versions of Gilgamesh had reevaluated his opinions on her. Even Enkidu, who hated her guts with all his being, eventually ceased his vicious remarks and teasing as he saw that the woman he had scorned so much had changed.

"Ritsuka, listen here, a goddess is talking, so don't interrupt."

The girl nodded, a faint trace of tears in her eyes, causing Ishtar's expression to soften, Rin's inner mother showing itself.

"While I can't approve of some of the more stupid and outrageous things you have done, I'm still proud of you for doing them."

The goddess winced.

"Still though, the sheer amount of people in your harem… I wonder if your father's genes evolved or something…"

Sighing, Ishtar shook her head became serious once more, staring Ritsuka in the eyes while clutching her shoulders.

"The point is, Ritsuka, I love you. that mangy, cynical, and all-around jerk of an Archer loves you, and despite your many acts of idiocy, every single last one of your servants loves you. Even when we return to the Throne, we will still watch over you, so don't fret."

Ishtar hugged her host's daughter, softly whispering in her ear.

"Your servants will never forget you, no matter what may happen. No matter what our bodies and souls are subjected to, the Master called Fujimaru Ritsuka has imprinted herself into all of our hearts, and it will never go away. So don't be sad. This isn't truly a goodbye."

Detaching herself from Ritsuka, Ishtar smiled, less serious than before.

"Besides, you still have to take care of that kouhai of yours, don't you? At the end of the day, there'll still be someone to warm your bed at night."

This statement was followed by a wink, courtesy of Ishtar's inner love goddess. A part of her seemed to want to commit suicide after saying that.

Still, even this comedic act could do nothing to brighten the master's mood, nothing short of the preservation of her servants being able to do such a thing.

The goddess almost froze when Ritsuka reached out and tugged on her arm, a sad, but resigned smile on her face. Her smile fading, Ishtar realized that she could do nothing more for her host's daughter.

With a shallow smile, the master softly said,

"Thanks, Ishtar. I feel better now."

Ishtar hugged her again, attempting to convey all of the warm emotions in her heart to her most beloved person in the world, the goddess's heart, shattering as she accepted the fact that nothing could be done about the situation. Fujimaru Ritsuka was a person who loved her servants with her mind, body, and soul. There would be absolutely nothing anyone could do to brighten the girl's mood when those same servants are taken away.

Ishtar sighed, resigned. With a heavy heart and a sorrowful smile, the goddess put a hand on her master's shoulder.

"Just who will take care of her when we're gone?"

"I know this is sad, Ritsuka, but let's just enjoy everything before it ends, ok?"

With that, the goddess Ishtar left, not wishing to stay a moment further. Her continued presence could only bring about more pain at the moment.

As Ritsuka walked back into the main room where the party was held, her hollow eyes filled with frustration for a millisecond before returning to normal.

"You'll always be watching over me? Ishtar, I'm not stupid. My servants were never summoned with their original souls to this plane. They are mere copies of their original selves. Even if I love them all the same, it doesn't matter in this context. As soon as my servants reach the throne, their existences will be obliterated, and there is absolutely nothing I can do to stop that."

Ritsuka held back all the negative emotions in her heart. This was supposed to be a celebration, not a funeral.

"But isn't it? All the people I love will be leaving me in just a few hours, so can I really say it's not?"

A single tear dripped from her left eye.

"It's been a fun journey. We've saved the world two times over. Sure, there's been a lot of risks, but in the end, it was all worth it. Every single moment of that time is precious to me, more than anything else, and I wouldn't take back a second of it. Still… I wish that they can stay longer. Maybe if I just stretched the singularities longer... "

Ritsuka held back a sob as her thoughts induced more despair in her mind.

"Why did I even save the world in the first place? To save everyone? Don't joke with me! Because I saved everyone in this world, the people most precious to me are about to die! Even if they can accept it, I can't!"

The master looked downwards, eyes ominously hidden by her shoulder-length hair.

"Maybe I shouldn't have saved the world after all. What's even left for me after this?"

Just after Ritsuka had those thoughts, her servants turned to her, sensing her emotional turmoil. Even the drunkards stopped in their tracks, smiling warmly to their depressed master.

Surprisingly, it was Angra Mainu who spoke first, dragging his pain-raddled body forward to speak to his master face to face.

He was the hardest servant for Ritsuka to befriend, but after she shared in his pain for a few days, a healthy relationship was born between them.

"Come on, Master. Join us for the party. It won't be the same without you."

These uncharismatic words from the broken man carried a whole other meaning entirely, clearly understood by Ritsuka. His eyes said it all.

"From the start, we were just a means to an end, and we're fine with that. This time we have spent with you, none of us would ever want to change it. So don't be sad, Master. Live your life the best you can after we go, if not for yourself, then for us."

Those eyes seemed so sincere, so loving. The master supposed it was because of Mainu's genuine concern for her. After all, she was the only person he could truly call a friend.

Ritsuka adopted another forced smile. No matter what they said, they were her family, and her family would be gone this day. Gone, scattered to the winds, never to return.

"Gone! Gone! Gone! Gone! GONE! ALL BECAUSE SOMEONE COULDN'T CONTROL THEIR OWN DAMNED HERO COMPLEX!"

The girl knew she was being unfair to herself. She knew that even if she didn't want to save the world, her servants still did. However, Ritsuka was beyond logic at this moment, consumed by her emotions.

Swallowing the massive lump in her throat, Ritsuka wiped the pain-induced tears off her cheeks. Shoving away the self-loathing she knew to be unjustified into the deepest pits of her soul, the girl attempted to distract herself from her inner thoughts by participating in the party. She did wish for her servants to see her miserable in their last day on this earth.

Therefore, putting on the most difficult fake grin she had ever created, Fujimaru Ritsuka leaped onto a table, hand raised to the air as if she was attempting to command a contingent of soldiers.

"Alright! Normally I don't drink, but today I'll make an exception! Gil! Give me the best wine you have in your treasury!"

The Archer, noticing the barely-hidden despair in his master's eyes, could only put up a bitter smile, taking out an exquisite jar of wine from his storage and pouring it into a master-crafted porcelain cup. This was the least the king could do for the queen who had proven herself to him. She was the only person aside from Enkidu that he truly considered to be his equal. Whether it was the past, present, or future, there would never be anyone quite like Fujimaru Ritsuka ever again. Saying farewell to this brilliant master of his would be more difficult than his battle against the bull of heaven.

Crushing her dark thoughts underfoot, Fujimaru Ritsuka took the goblet in her hand and chugged the wine contained within it, giving an extra satisfied sigh at the end. This was the last time she would be able to drink it after all.

Partying with her servants for the rest of the night, the Master's despairing thoughts did not fade. Instead, they were only made stronger over time, threatening to burst from the feeble dam Ritsuka had erected in her mind.

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They were gone.

Artoria, Gilgamesh, Karna, Jeanne, Sitonai, Parvati, Heracles, Medea, Jalter, Cu, Emiya, Ishtar, Ereshkigal…

They were all gone, every last one, departing to the Throne of Heros leaving a trace behind.

The once boisterous Chaldea which used to be filled with servants was now a deserted wasteland, as the employees all packed their things and went back to their homes to visit family and friends. Understandable for people in their situation.

However, who was there for Ritsuka to return to?

The kind mother and father who had raised her were killed trying to contain a dead apostle, their bodies long buried.

Despite the girl's feats, no one outside of the moonlit world knew of her as more than a high-school student, and the mages who were aware of her existence viewed Ritsuka to be more of a threat than a savior.

Sitting by herself in the summoning room, Ritsuka stared forward reminiscing, her mind remembering each and every servant she had ever met.

This was a place of first meetings, sacred to the Master's heart.

"I ask of you. Are you my Master?"

"Servant Archer. I answer to your summon."

"Yo, Servant Lancer has answered your summon. Well, let's try to have fun Master."

"Fufuhahahahaha! Being able to summon me means that you've used up all of your luck, mongrel."

"I am the Demon Archer Nobunaga, the Demon king of the Sixth Heaven! Very well... I will allow you to be my Master!"

"Assassin-class Servant. I heard your call from the shadows."

"Assassin - Jack the Ripper. Please take care of me, Mommy."

Tears fell out of Ritsuka's eyes as she remembered everyone she summoned, shouldering the fact that she would never see them again.

Soon, stray tears devolved into soft sobbing, which devolved further into utter despair.

"Why? Why? Why do I feel this way?! We saved the world, didn't we?! The job is done, isn't it?! Everything should be back to normal! Back to being…"

These words merely represented Ritsuka letting out her emotions, as she had already realized that her definition of "normal" changed as soon as she stepped into the halls of Chaldea.

"Normal", was learning from Chiron. "normal" was playing with Jack. "normal" was the act of doing anything with her servants, leaving behind fond memories to be remembered.

Ritsuka would never experience her "normal" ever again.

The master would continue her sobbing for several more minutes, sitting on the cold floor with her back to the wall, mourning the loss of her friends.

What else was there to do once a heart had been broken?

Then, as if ordained by heaven, the girl's saving grace appeared in that moment, having finally found the one she was looking for.

Mash approached Ritsuka, walking into the room silently, eyes obscured by her light pink hair and glasses.

As the artificially-created human stepped towards her former master, she softly spoke to Ritsuka, warmly embracing her.

"It's ok, Senpai. You don't have to hide anything anymore."

Whispering gently in her senpai's ear, the girl revealed Ritsuka's hidden emotions in an instant.

"You were holding it in in order to not make them sad, right? It's fine now Senpai. You can cry now."

Seeing the warm, understanding smile on Mash's face, Ritsuka's lips quivered as her entire body began shaking. Truly, this kouhai was just too good for her.

Finally, the pain and sorrow barely restrained inside of her mind could not be held back any longer. The dam finally burst. A human could only hold on for so long before breaking after all, and in the presence of someone like Mash, someone where she could share everything with, the walls around her heart became little more than glass.

Embracing Mash with all her strength, Ritsuka cried her heart out.

There was nothing restrained, every emotion of anger and sorrow seeping out of the girl in the only way humans knew how to get rid of them.

The sound of sorrowful bawling echoed across the rooms, traveling across the empty halls of Chaldea until it was rendered obsolete. No one except for the former shielder heard them, and that was exactly what she had intended.

Influenced by Ritsuka's pained bawling, Mash couldn't stop the hot tears from trailing down her cheeks. Nor could she stop the sorrowful sobs which escaped her lips.

Fujimaru Ritsuka was not the only one to lose all of her friends in the blink of an eye. Everyone in Chaldea had a somewhat close relationship with the servants they worked with. They had to be when there were five hundred of the heroic spirits running around the place.

Therefore, everyone lost a friend, a comrade, a new part of themselves that they didn't know they needed.

The pain was dulled by the fact that the servants merely returned to where they came from, having seen this coming from the very start. Their disappearance was supposed to be an occurrence that brought relief, as it meant that the world was safe from destruction.

Even so, some could not accept it, as they valued emotions over logic. Ritsuka was part of those select few.

Mash, attempting to put up a stoic front with much more success than Ritsuka, found the wall she had erected around her heart falling as well.

She had also lost friends, mentors, and valued comrades. Seeing Ritsuka in such a state was the final straw that broke the camel's back. The pain was simply overwhelming, but Mash knew she could let it out if her senpai was here.

The image of a kindly smiling Lancelot suddenly appeared in her thoughts, as the tender and familial emotions of Galahad had not disappeared even after he did.

Mash had lost two fathers. First, it was Dr. Roman, who sacrificed himself at the Temple of Time. Second, it was the Knight of the Lake, who cared for her as if she was his own daughter, which was somewhat true in a sense.

The girl was arguably in a worse state than Ritsuka at the moment. From the start, Mash's mental fortitude was not as strong as her master's, and the fact that she wouldn't live for more than a few more years merely added to the emotional turmoil.

It was only the presence of Ritsuka that allowed Mash to actually function as a normal human being at the moment. If that support was lost, then there was no telling what would happen.

The master and shielder cried together, shedding all of the tears in their eyes for their former comrades. Lending each other bodies for support, the two girls, intertwined by a bond thicker than blood, found mutual relief in their actions.

However, no amount of crying would be enough.

It would never be enough, not to fill up the newly formed holes in their hearts.

They had each other for support, even when the rest of their friends were gone, their old partnership was never forgotten.

That would have to suffice, as there was no other alternative. No matter how unfair it was, no matter how cruel it was, there was simply no way to bring their loved ones back. As two humans living on the planet called Earth, that answer was the only one. Sooner or later, Ritsuka and Mash would have to accept their loss the same way as any other person.

They would have to move on.

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Lord El-Melloi II, known as Waver Velvet by his close students, was in his office, smoking a cigarette.

His hands folded beneath him, the man grit his teeth in frustration as he attempted to think of a way to secure a normal life for his pupil and former master. That was going to be extremly difficult. Ritsuka and Mash had been living with him for a month now, but he could not afford to harbor the two for much longer.

Ritsuka was someone who had access to the Tohsaka crest, a magic crest that was passed down from the famous Tohsaka family.

As the former master was not like the magi from the clocktower, probably wanting to live a normal life after the Grand Order, she would not be put under protection by the Mage's Association or the Church. In other words, Ritsuka would be a perfect target for many magi who would want to steal her crest. There were many desperate men and women out there. Mages were desperate for the Root, willing to do anything to get to it.

Waver had seen many examples of this for himself.

It was not very good for his sanity.

Waver was designated to be Ritsuka's teacher within Chaldea, taking on the spirit of Zhuge Liang as a vessel. In that time, he had bonded with the master, utterly ensnared by the sheer amount of charisma she seemed to possess. However, even before that, he had met with the girl when she was little, hands held by each parent. They were also his students after all.

It would not be a stretch to say that Waver Velvet loved Fujimaru Ritsuka like his own daughter.

Therefore, with all of his knowledge of Ritsuka, he was able to deduce that if the girl were to go into the outside world, then she would surely perish.

Sure, her magic abilities were nothing to laugh at, the ridiculous amount of training with her servants adding to her already great power. However, there would not be just one magus sent to kill her. No, magi are not creatures that are easily discouraged by the notion of death.

They walked closer with the age-old concept than everyone else. Every spell had the potential to explode in a magus's face, their life ending in the smallest of accidents. Magecraft was the creation and application of extremly precise formulas, not simply waving a wand around and summoning gigantic fireballs. No, the people who could do such things perished with the Age of Gods.

Therefore, no matter how many of them were killed, the magi would never be discouraged, always after the life of the Tohsaka heir, even if the chances of their deaths were high.

Eventually, her guard would slip. Eventually, some lucky fool would be able to kill her. Even if they weren't, living a life where you are constantly hunted down was not pleasant in the least.

Normally, the magi would simply leave Ritsuka alone to develop her magecraft, allowing the girl to safely pass it on to any possible descendants after improving upon the Tohsaka crest.

However, everyone who met Ritsuka knew that she had no intention of doing sor.

The girl did not have the heart and mind of a mage, preferring to spend quality time with her friends instead of doing what she called "crummy research that only leads to a stupid root that drives you insane".

Waver had heard that after Ritsuka had befriended Abagail, the girl's dark patron thanked her, granting the master a chance to see the root that all mages dreamt of. The powers of that god were truly great.

It did not end well, as the girl had come back sweating crazily, her eyes wide and dilated, almost as if she had been driven insane. Her neck was bleeding, scratch marks all over it. They seemed to be induced by ehr own nails.

The dark patron explained that he had shown Ritsuka the "true nature" of Akasha, the true core of the tree that surpassed the mere surface touched by the True Magic users. He had to erase her memories of it, as the knowledge had driven her to the point of an instant suicide attempt.

After saying something ominous about a puppet not supposed to be able to see the strings that controlled them, the dark god had disappeared, not talking to anyone but Abagail for quite some time.

"Ah, how nostalgic…"

Waver crushed his cigarette in his hand unconsciously, the burnt tip falling onto his desk and setting a piece of paper on fire.

Slamming his reinforced fist onto the desk, the Clocktower Lord emptied his frustrations onto the flame on his desk, putting it out in the second punch, somehow.

This was, of course, understandable. He had lost Iskandar twice after all.

"Tsk, I shouldn't be thinking about that. Get back on track Waver, it's not like you have an infinite amount of time to come up with an idea."

The problem with Fujimaru Ritsuka was that she had no plans to further her magecraft, which any self-respecting magus would not be able to accept. It was simple to tell that she had no intrest.

Normally, Waver would wholeheartedly support such a decision, as the world of magi was not suited for someone as caring as Ritsuka.

However, considering that the girl possessed the Tohsaka crest, no one would be quiet about it if she wasted an entire generation not advancing it. Therefore, many magi would attempt to take it.

Now, Waver had to find a way to protect Ritsuka, as to not let her live a life of constantly being hunted down.

One solution would be having her become a student in the Clocktower. That would just about solve all the problems present, as the protection granted by the Mage's Association was nothing to scoff at. Also, there would be a lot fewer magi after Ritsuka if she were to improve her craft.

While the solution was sound, it would be hard to convince Ritsuka to accept it. After all, she wanted to live a life surrounded by friends and family. Being a mage was the ideal way to not do that.

Sighing, the teacher could only take another puff of his cigarette. This matter was almost completely out of his hands. If Ritsuka would not take his offer of being a student, then there would be nothing he can do.

In the exact second El-Melloi II had that thought, a soft knocking came from the dark wood door to his office.

"Sensei, can I come in? I have something to talk to you about."

Waver took the cigarette out of his mouth.

"Speak of the devil."

Waving his hand in a welcoming manner, the man called out.

"Come in."

Taking this as a welcome, Fujimaru Ritsuka stepped into the room, a light blush on her face.

Her hands seemed to be fidgeting with something. It seemed like a long rolled-up sheet of paper, the kind used to make blueprints.

Waver raised an eyebrow.

"What is it, Ritsuka?"

The teacher was slightly amused. He hadn't seen his pupil like this in a long time, and after the loss of her servants, he doubted that this side of hers would ever appear again.

Waver had never been so glad to be wrong.

Taking a large sigh, Ritsuka seemed to let go of any hesitation and trepidation she may have had, piling together her determination for a single action.

"Sensei. I'm just going to get straight to the point."

Waver raised an eyebrow at this. It was not every day that Ritsuka was so determined. It was like she had found enlightenment and wished to turn her life around.

"I want to move on."

Ritsuka said this in a much quieter voice, in a way that suggested that even getting the words out was painful.

The teacher furrowed his brows, although not in an unhappy way.

It had been a whole month since the servants left, so Waver was glad something like this finally happened.

However, he was not stupid enough to think that a mere thirty days would allow the former master to conquer her trauma. Sure, she had undergone great physical and psychological torture in that wretched space-time distortion and escaped with most of her sanity. Sure, she had lost her parents at a young age, having had to kill many to survive in that same year.

Even so, losing almost five hundred of her friends in an instant? That was not something anyone could easily handle.

"Are you serious about that? Don't tell me that this is just some fake ploy to make yourself feel better. Toughing it out will just bring problems in the long run."

These were harsh words, Waver knew that. However, they conveyed a large amount of care for Ritsuka.

If what the girl was doing turned out to be nothing more than the creation of an emotional mask, then there was no point. When that mask breaks, so would she.

Ritsuka smiled warmly, her mood brightened by her teacher's concern. She seemed to have immediately quashed down some of her inner despair, but the sheer speed she utilized to neutralize those emotions meant that the girl was definitely not as despondent as before.

"Nope! Definitely not! I know what you're thinking, but don't worry about it. They wouldn't want me to be sad over them, so I'll do best to follow the instructions my servants would give me if they were still here."

Waver was about to respond, but stopped immedietly when Ritsuka shoved the rolled up piece of paper on her face into his face, opening it.

As the teacher's eyes widened in surprise, his pupil smiled cheekily at him.

"If you don't believe me, then this should prove it, right?"

Leaning back into his chair, the now relieved Waver allowed his face to form a light, gentle smile, the kind he had frequently put on in his younger days. All thoughts of doubt evaporated in an instant as the teacher combed his hair with a gloved hand, smiling contently as he leaned on the back of his chair.

Yes, there were issues with Ritsuka's current situation. Yes, it would not be safe for her in the long run

However, seeing the blueprint the girl showed him, it was his duty as her friend to aid her in creating the object described. After all, it was something extremly important to Ritsuka. Something that she would treasure for the rest of her life.

"Mash, you are truly a lucky woman."

Thinking this, Waver almost leaped from his seat with the eagerness he thought he had lost a long time ago.

Pushing back his hair with a gloved hand, the Clock Tower professor made an expression halfway between a grin and a smirk.

"When do we start?"

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"It had been two months already, huh…"

A beautiful girl with light purple hair sighed from her balcony, nostalgically admiring the risen moon from afar.

Adjusting her glasses, the girl barely held in a bitter chuckle.

"It doesn't even feel as if a day has passed. The pain's just as fresh as ever. Lancelot, Artoria-san, everyone. They're all gone."

Mash sighed again. These same thoughts ran through her mind many times now.

"Don't be like this Mash. Senpai loved them even more than you, and she's trying her best to move on. You can't stay weak any longer."

The former demi-servant turned away from the moon, facing her own inner darkness. A part of Mash seemed to be screaming at herself.

"Nothing will change even if you cannot accept the results! The only choice in this situation is to move forward! Do you want to become nothing more than a liability to Senpai?!"

The girl called out with solid words, desperate to prove her inner self wrong.

"No! You're wrong! I would neve-"

Mash caught herself, holding her face in her hands.

"What am I doing? There's no denying it now. I definitely need to-"

During Mash's moment of self-inspiration, the oak door of the balcony suddenly emitted a soft creak, signaling the arrival of another person. A worried voice resounded from the entrance.

"Mash, are you alright? I heard you talking to yourself."

Blushing greatly, the violet-haired girl turned to the person she loved the most in this life.

"N-nothing, Senpai! I was just… just…"

Ritsuka's expression turned serious, but understanding.

"You were thinking about them, weren't you?"

Mash seemed to deflate.

"I-I wasn't trying to hide it or anything…"

Her face instinctively turned to the floor, her shyness showing.

Suddenly, the girl felt a warm finger on her chin.

Ritsuka softly lifted up Mash's face to face hers, compassionate orange orbs peering into violet jewels.

The lustrous beauty of the moon simply added to the beauty of the scene, the two lovers staring into each other's eyes under the celestial sphere.

Ritsuka spoke softly, her expression loving, but stern.

"Stop this. They wouldn't want us to spend so much time mourning. Lancelot and Roman wouldn't want you to sulk so much, not for their sake."

As Mash looked upon Ritsuka's beautiful smile in that instant, she fell in love all over again. However, the barely-hidden pain upon the girl's face was as clear as day to someone who knew her so long.

The former master drew back, shoving her hands in her pockets, almost as if she was about to take something out.

Mash simply looked down once more, just as depressed as before.

"Senpai, you're not over it either… You loved them more than I did, so you must be hurting even more…"

Indeed, it took only a glance for the girl to realize that Ritsuka had indeed not recovered. With how much she loved her servants, it was likely that she would never truly heal.

It just showed how much stronger Ritsuka was when compared to her.

Suddenly, Mash reevaluated herself, realizing an important fact.

"Even though senpai is hurting so much more, even when it feels like her heart is breaking apart, she still keeps moving forward… What am I doing? She's right, Dr. Roman and Lancelot wouldn't want me to be like this…"

Just as Mash was about to find her courage and get over her despair, a sudden blush appeared on Ritsuka's face as she scratched the back of her neck nervously.

For some reason, Ritsuka began to fidget with her fingers, her voice suddenly nervous.

Mash frowned. Her senpai had not been like this for a long time now. What could have possibly have reduced her to such a state of mind?

With the "deaths" of her servants, Ritsuka had not made any expression resembling the one on her face in a month, therefore, something good must have happened, right?

However, the statement the girl was about to make more than justified her reaction.

Looking downcast, Ritsuka's voice became a mere whisper, almost jittery.

"It's true that I'm still not over it. I don't know that if I'll ever be over it. But, they would definitely want me to be happy, so there's no real choice. I have to live the best I can, even if it's for the people we lost."

Ritsuka's expression became more determined, the girl stepping forward in an instant, closing the distance between her and her kouhai.

Mash's breathing stopped.

The former master's orange hair and eyes were softly illuminated by the lustrous light of the moon, taking on a beautiful sheen. The nervous smile on her face possessed the radiance of a sun, the aura emitted by those gentle bronze eyes embracing Mash in a shroud of warmth.

Ritsuka's smile widened. The girl had made up her mind about what she was about to do. She wasn't the only person whose beauty was greatly enhanced by the moonlight, her kouhai's pristine form solidifying her decision in an instant.

Confronted by the gentle form of the artificial human, Ritsuka's resolve peaked.

"Mash…"

The former shielder gulped. It looked like Ritsuka would make a serious statement. What would she say?

Ritsuka could almost see the images of her fallen friends and lovers, pushing her forward despite any insecurities the girl possessed. The smiling faces of her servants came to mind as the master slowly drew the object she was holding behind her back.

"I've been wanting to ask you since Solomon, but I never had the courage to."

She paused, her hands tightening.

"But I won't falter this time, not when the people we love are pushing me forward."

Mash was nervous now. Just what could Ritsuka ask that made her so serious? Hopefully, it wouldn't be anything bad.

The former master drew a black case from behind her back, a small oak container that contained a shining object within.

Mash, realizing what the container was, froze in shock.

Ritsuka suddenly knelt on one knee, shoving the container forward, snapping back the top to reveal the treasure underneath.

A master-crafted ring seemed to glow as its purple and yellow form radiated intense amounts of magical wisdom, almost as if it were made from knowledge itself.

Two serpentine streaks were engraved onto the object, decorating the ring in a calculated and elegant manner.

One pattern showed a beautiful and elegant stream of blue metal, hints of orange and green in certain parts. When looking upon it, one would feel as if they were observing a beautiful aurora with their most cherished ones.

The other streak, while not as vibrant, was just as brilliant all the same. It was as if the creator of the ring had wanted to put an emphasis on contrast.

A majestic pattern of golden ivory, the hard-earned trophy won from a feral bicorn seemed to radiate fighting spirit as if its master was still here, ready to fight once more.

Finally, the feature stone, seeming to automatically place itself at the center of the work of art, took the position as the ring's most important component. Its crystalline body shone in the gentle moonlight, glistening like the most beautiful of all treasures. The saint quartz's rainbow majesty was something many would not be able to witness in many lifetimes. Had the material been known of throughout the world of magi, then a mere half-pound of it would cost an entire fortune.

Carved in the shape of a perfect circle, a separate, yet connected cross-like pattern was above the initial body, covering most of it. Needless to say, the feature stone was carved in the likeliness of the Round Table, a shield proven to be Mash's constant companion time and time again.

The precious materials seemed to resonate with each other all at once, emitting an aura showing a kaleidoscope of colors. This served to draw Mash's eyes to its center, where she could appreciate just how much effort had gone into the object's creation, and just exactly what it symbolized.

Ritsuka's cheeks flushed as she looked away for a brief moment, immediately turning her head towards Mash after the brief moment of weakness. She stared into the girl's violet eyes, resolve oozing from her own bronze ones.

"Since I've shown you this, you should know just what I'm asking, no?"

Mash, having realized just what was happening at this moment, felt the presence of warm liquid flowing down her now-flushed cheeks, an intense feeling of joy threatening to erupt from the girl's heart and swallow her whole.

Ritsuka smiled, her eyes glistening as if she were looking upon the most beautiful thing in the world, a loud declaration flowing out of the girl's lips as she softly grabbed Mash's left hand with her own, placing it before her kneeling form.

"Honestly, after everything that happened in our journeys, I'm surprised I didn't do this sooner."

The girl chuckled, humored by her past self.

"It's funny really. I charged directly at Goetia like it's nothing, took stabs to the heart without flinching, and chopped off my own limbs the same way that someone would rip off band-aids. But even when I did crazy stuff like that, I could never actually find the courage to do the thing most important to me."

Ritsuka's face hardened.

"I can't put it off any longer. Losing all of my servants made me realize that there were still things I was never able to tell them, feelings I never had the chance to share."

A nostalgic smile blossomed on the girl's face as her eyes glistened with tears.

"I wanted to tell Mom and Dad how glad I was to see them again, even if they weren't the exact same as before. I wanted to tell Scheherazade to be more confident, and that I would always love her stories. I wanted to tell Kuro to stop her little kissing rampages, or someone would do something nasty sooner or later. I-I wanted to t-tell Jack…"

A sob that Ritsuka could simply not hold back escaped her throat as she gazed upon the moon, reliving all the fun and endearing memories back at Chaldea. The girl's voice began to crack and strain as all of the fond images reemerged in her brain.

"I-I wanted to tell her that she's the c-cutest little girl in the whole w-world, and no one could ever change that, a-and that I would t-treasure her forever, n-no matter what happens."

Mash had almost forgotten about the ring, extending a hand forward to embrace her former master, only to stop as she realized that the girl needed to get this off her chest with her own power. She knew her own senpai this much at least.

Ritsuka's tears fell freely from her face, making soft pitter-patter sounds on the polished wooden balcony, her voice becoming more emotional, breaking, as it could not withstand the strain forced upon it.

"A-and… And I… I just… I just wanted to tell all of them that I loved them! And that I would never forget them no matter how many years passed! I wanted to tell them that I would take their memories and lessons with me to the end of my life! I wanted to thank them one last time for the things they've done for me!"

After pausing to calm herself for a few seconds, Ritsuka's voice became focused once more, her gaze returning to Mash. She was calm now, the sheer amount of resolve in her eyes threatening to escalate into a neverending inferno.

"In the end, I wasn't able to tell them any of that. Sure, I'm sure that everyone knew what I was going to say at the very end. We all knew each other on that level."

Ritsuka inhaled sharply, gathering her breath.

"Still, I'll regret not telling them all of that till the end of my days. I won't make that kind of mistake again. Even if the regret of my negligence will stay with me forever, I can at least get just one thing right at this moment."

The girl's eyes softened as her voice lowered, becoming serene once more.

Mash's eyes left the ring, focusing on Ritsuka completely.

Those bronze eyes never looked more beautiful, further enhanced by the dazzling smile on those vibrant lips.

Mash could feel all thoughts of doubt and negativity retreat from her mind, leaving only a passionate love for the woman before her.

There was a brief moment of silence, the only sounds present being the fervent pounding of the girls' hearts, and the whistle of the gentle night breeze.

Sensing that the right time has come, Ritsuka's gentle grip on Mash's hand tightened as her eyes filled with overwhelming love.

"Mash Kyrielight…"

The pale girl began to sob as the sheer amount of joy in her heart threatened to crush her entire being once more.

It was as if every single moment of her life only existed to lead her to this point. Every moment of pain, hardship, and cruelty, mere stones paving the path to this moment.

Finally. Mash had finally reached the end of the tunnel, seeing the brilliant light she had sought for so long.

As the girl's heart began to sing with sheer and utter happiness, the gentle breeze intensified, blowing back Ritsuka's luscious orange hair, causing it to sway gently in the wind.

At that moment, the two women stared deep into each other's eyes, their souls intimately connecting with each other. Both partners knew that there were no more secrets between them, no more hiding of their happiness and despair.

It was as if two fragments had combined to make a single object, never to be separated again. Twin shards becoming a single whole, signaling a bond never to be shattered.

As Ritsuka and Mash's love for each other rose to the highest they had ever been and will ever be, the former asked the question both had eagerly been anticipating, loading her whole existence into the words she was about to utter.

Clad in the soft shine of the gentle moon, Ritsuka reached the peak of her life. The most joyous moment in the girl's time on this Earth finally realized.

At that moment, she was more powerful than any god, more determined than any hero, more beautiful than the ever distant stars themselves. Fujimaru Ritsuka stood upon a peak that only she could ever reach, one towering above all the heavens and hells, surpassing the entire universe as a whole.

And thus, the most momentous words in Mash's life were uttered, forever resounding in the girl's soul for all of eternity.

"Will you marry me?"

They were seemingly simple words uttered by a seemingly simple individual, a girl who simply loved her family too much.

However, appearances could always be deceiving.

Those words contained all of the emotions Fujimaru Ritsuka had towards Mash, every single fond experience and memory, packaged into a mere five syllables.

For the two women, time itself seemed to still, as everything that had ever happened between them reemerged in their minds at the same time. Two years of love, despair, and joy resurfaced in an instant, causing a sudden influx of tears to leave their eyes.

Mash's body was almost overtaken by happy sobs at that moment. However, strengthening her body, she realized that she needed to give a proper answer, one befitting of the proposal Ritsuka had declared.

And so, a simple reply would be announced, an answer completely and utterly fitting of her.

The girl's face took on the most beautiful smile she had ever worn in her whole life, glistening trails of tears dripping from her pale, rosy cheeks.

The wind blew back her light-purple hair, revealing two dazzling amethyst orbs overflowing with emotion.

Thus, the most joyful words of the artificial human's life were uttered.

"Yes, Senpai."

Like Ritsuka's proposal, the answer was simply two words, devoid of any unnecessary meaning and explanation.

For there was simply nothing more to be explained.

The meaning behind those words could not be fully elaborated on even if someone were to spend a thousand years writing it down. They were only truly understood by Mash, and the beautiful woman kneeling before her.

As Ritsuka's expression became one of utter bliss, something that could only be shown once in a thousand lifetimes, the former demi-servant's expression became the exact same.

There was nothing else to be said between the two individuals. They knew everything about each other, from the greatest joys of their lives, to the darkest secrets lurking deep in the corners of their souls.

Both of the women could have died at this moment, and would have left the world with satisfied smiles on their faces. They had reached the highest point of their lives, and nothing afterward would ever be able to compare to this moment.

"Doctor Roman… you once said that I would one day find true happiness with someone I love. I had no idea what you're talking at the time, but now… I think I understand."

As Ritsuka gently slid the wedding ring over her fingers, Mash Kyrielight found herself looking back on her time with her surrogate-father.

"So this is 'true happiness, huh?"

She chuckled, causing Ritsuka to grin happily.

"You were right, just as always. This the happiest feeling I have ever felt."

And thus, Fujimaru Ritsuka and Mash Kyrielight reached the climaxes of their lives, gazing upon the moon with their heads held high and their arms embracing each other, two lovers, enjoying life on behalf of those who had gone on to the next life before them.

Finally, the true happy ending was actualized. A beautiful end for a beautiful hero. A joyous conclusion for a joyous story.

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OR...

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SO YOU WOULD THINK...

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But IT'S NEVER THAT EASY…

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IS IT…?

And… I added something really edgy at the end…

Well, I really got into this for some reason.

Guess I can say you guys can expect a part two of this template… I think?