IBHJ 1086

On the moon...

Tiamat watched the black tree burn, then turned to Ayaka. "Gaia is awake. The other UOs will be here soon. We need to leave."

"I know." Manaka nodded. The wager was over. The UOs would come for her, the vessel of the Lord of Salvation.

She looked at Ayaka lying unconscious on the ground. Her fingers brushed Ayaka's cheek. "Tell me, why did you betray her?"

She seemed to be asking someone, yet also asking herself.

"Altera is gone now. I'm sorry." Her hand lingered for a moment. "Goodbye, Ayaka."

Manaka's body began to fade. "Thank you for making that wish to the Holy Grail."

...

Arcueid landed near the black tree, carefully setting Shirou down. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine." Shirou gripped her hand as he steadied himself. He looked up at the massive black tree.

Flames now consumed the tree and its dark forest, their light piercing the moon's darkness. These were Velber's flames - Altera's flames. She had ignited herself, burning away Velber, Uranus, and her own destiny.

He took a deep breath and focused. The threat of Uranus and Velber might be over, but Manaka was still out there.

He looked around but saw no sign of Manaka or Tiamat. "Are they gone?"

"Manaka and Tiamat?" She scanned the area. "They were just here. Though maybe it's better this way. I don't think we're in any shape for another fight."

He nodded. After all these battles, both he and Arcueid were exhausted. Going up against beings as powerful as Manaka and Tiamat now would be too risky.

"Manaka must have used up most of her power. That's probably why she left."

A blue light shot up from the black tree like a comet. As it descended, Heaven's Corpse shifted from her floating island form back to human shape. She ran toward Gaia, beaming. "Gaia-chan!"

Before she could reach Gaia, a hand caught her arm. Without hesitation, Gaia threw her over her shoulder.

Eh?

Heaven's Corpse hit the ground with a crash, the impact cracking the surface beneath her. "That... that really hurts..."

"Stay away from me." The voice was ice-cold.

Heaven's Corpse looked up at Gaia more carefully. Her face twisted in disgust. "Wait... you're not Gaia. You're Ort."

The light floating around Ort flickered slightly like wavering stars, and the next moment, a voice rang out from that light: "It's been a while, sister."

"Gaia-chan!" Heaven's Corpse jumped toward Ort. Once again, Ort grabbed her and slammed her into the ground.

Ort's expression darkened. "Stay back. Next time I won't go easy on you."

"As if I'd want to get close to you, you dried-up planet!" Heaven's Corpse rubbed her arm.

"Gaia—" A deep voice rang out. Venus stood there in human form, staring at the flickering light beside Ort.

"Hello, sister. Our first face-to-face meeting, and here you are - split in two."

Venus clenched her fists. "And who do you think is responsible for that? But I still hold most of my power. Once I destroy that corrupted piece of myself, I'll be whole again!"

Venus glared at Heaven's Corpse, who darted behind Ort in hiding. This time, Ort didn't throw her away in disgust.

Gaia turned to Arcueid. "Arcueid, I hate to ask, but would you let me borrow your body for a while?"

"Me?" Arcueid blinked in surprise. "What for?"

"Saturn and the others will be here soon. I need a physical form for this meeting. It's a gathering of UOs - we should handle it properly."

"But I'm a UO too. Why does it have to be me?" Arcueid retreated behind Shirou.

"You were meant to be my vessel. Instead, you took Crimson Moon's place and became the Moon UO."

"No way!" She shook her head. "I won't let anyone control my body again. Can't Heaven's Corpse make you another spore body?"

"Well... I'd rather not ask Heaven's Corpse for any more favors..."

"Gaia's being totally unfair! Why is it fine to bother me?" Arcueid stuck out her tongue, making faces at Gaia. Ever since Crimson Moon incident, she'd refused to let anyone use her body – even Gaia, who'd created her.

Gaia fell silent.

Venus extended her hand, tossing a glowing spore toward Gaia. "Here. Take this."

"Ehhh?" Heaven's Corpse stared in disbelief.

"Don't misunderstand." Venus looked away, crossing her arms. "This is payment for Fujimaru Shirou winning the bet. Saturn asked for this, that's all."

"Oh, I get it. Acting all tough while being nice inside. You're such a tsundere." Heaven's Corpse's grin widened.

Venus shot her a cold look. She still couldn't accept this corrupted part of herself.

The light around the spore intensified as Gaia entered it. As the glow dimmed, a human figure took shape.

"Thank you, sister." Gaia looked down at her delicate hands and silver hair. "But why does this body look different? And when did everyone get so tall?"

"You're the tiny one, Gaia!" Heaven's Corpse scooped up the silver-haired girl, lifting her high. "Up you go!"

Gaia: "?"

She tilted her head, bewildered.

Shirou massaged his temples as he watched them. These UOs had developed such surprisingly playful personalities. Anyone passing by would think they were just normal teenagers fooling around.

"Higher! This is so much fun!"

"Put me down, Heaven's Corpse." Gaia's feet dangled in the air. "This isn't dignified."

"Just one more time—"

Before she could lift Gaia again, Ort grabbed Heaven's Corpse by the collar and pulled her away for some physical education.

Gaia smoothed her dress and walked up to Shirou. Her red eyes met his. "Unlike Crimson Moon, you stayed true to your word. You didn't betray my trust. I have something for you, Shirou."

A faint smile crossed his face. A gift? What he needed was a future, an ending. Could Gaia offer that when she herself was prey to the Lord of Salvation?

Then he sensed it. His back stiffened. "It can't be..."

"You felt it?" Gaia smiled.

He turned. There, on the empty ground, stood a silver-haired girl holding a rainbow sword. "Altera..."

"Hello, Eternal King." Altera gave him a small smile.

He stared at her, unable to believe his eyes. Altera had destroyed herself along with Velber, erasing her fate as Vanguard. Yet here she stood, breathing.

"How?" He looked at Gaia.

"Alaya has her Guardians, and I have my monsters. But I can also have Heroic Spirits. I never trusted them before, especially not after Crimson Moon's betrayal. But you and Altera's sacrifice changed my mind."

"When the Lord of Salvation appeared, I gave Altera a choice—a Guardian's contract. My power let her escape assimilation through a miracle. She used Velber's stolen body to become the White Titan and unlock the War God's Sword's true power. The price was simple: after death, she would be my Guardian. My first Guardian." Gaia's voice softened on those last words.

Shirou knew these miracles well. They existed, yes, but never without cost. Emiya Shirou had taken such a deal, becoming Alaya's Guardian—the Heroic Spirit EMIYA. Artoria had made another bargain, her life suspended at the moment before her kingdom's fall, her soul searching across time to save it.

Alaya had dangled the same poisoned miracle before Shirou, but he had refused without hesitation.

So Gaia had offered Altera this poisoned miracle too.

Miracles gave choices, but bitter ones. Accept, and gain the power to solve your greatest crisis - but pay with eternal service to the Counter Force as a Guardian.

Shirou had chosen his own path, forging miracles through human effort alone. Emiya Shirou and Artoria had taken the other road. Now Altera had made her choice too - accepting the bargain to defeat the Lord of Salvation, break free from her fate, and protect what she loved.

Miracles might be cruel, but this one had saved Altera's life. Whether she would come to share Emiya Shirou's regret - only time would tell.

For now, at least, this dark blessing had given Altera back her life, sparing those who loved her from grief.