Prodigal Son Returns Ch.3 (unedited)

Prodigal Son Returns

By: Bubbajack

Editors/Co-Authors: Antagonist, Icysnowsage, First Hassan/Darklord 331, and LoamyCoffee.

Special Consultants: Heliosion

Special thanks go out to my Super Donors: Special thanks go out to my Super Donors Alexander Murry, Ben wanless, Bobby Glass, and Jareth Norris.

Ch.3: Heavy Talks.

Separating from his mother's hug, Shirou pulled back, held her at arm's length, and got a good look at her. It was obvious where he got his looks from for the most part. Not that he was going to complain one way or the other. After a moment, he finally said, “So Mom I… It's ok if I call you mom, right? I have a lot of questions.”

Sniffling a little, Ritsuka promptly replied, “Oh, of course you do. Let us go to the lounge, it should be just over there,” She pointed to a door off to their left. “And we can sit and talk comfortably rather than just standing in the foyer.”

The group followed her lead and everyone found themselves in a rather nicely stalked cocktail lounge. Every drink imaginable, and some they'd never seen before were stocked behind the bar. Shirou, having worked at a bar from a young age, was actually quite handy when it came to drinks, even though he didn't particularly like alcohol. Deciding to be helpful, he asked, “Does anybody want anything? I know my way around a bar.”

“Nonsense Hersei, you sit down right here and if you need something, just say it and your brother Sirzechs will get it for you,” His mother demanded. Patting the seat next to her. The opposite side was already taken up by Serafall Leviathan. As Ritsuka finished speaking she looked at Sirzechs. “Isn't that right, Sirzechs-kun?”

“Of course, Lady Ritsuka,” Sirzechs said with a wiry grin on his face. “Your wish is my command.”

Ritsuka beamed at him and replied, “Chilled sake, please. Since you're taking requests.” 

“Sirzechs-sama, why don't you go sit down and I'll take care of this?” Grayfia told her husband, While she was already behind the bar mixing drinks.

Letting out a blissful sigh. The current Lucifer said, “Grayfia, what would I do without you?”

“You'd never get your work done for one, Sirzechs-sama,” His wife dryly replied.

Letting out a rueful chuckle, Sirzechs went and sat down with his long lost younger brother. “So, Hersei, just where in Hell have you been all this time?”

Scratching his cheek and confusion, Shirou replied, “Um, it's complicated, Also, you should know that I go by Shirou, Emiya Shirou.”

Seeing her husband about to ask why, Ritsuka kicked him in the shin, before, she said, “Before we get into why that is, why don't you tell us where you ended up, and how your life has been up to this point.”

Crossing her arms and seething slightly, Rias spoke up, “Yes, I'd very much like to know why I have an older brother I don't remember. Would someone like to explain this to me?” She said as she anxiously tapped her foot on the ground.

Zeocitus and Ritsuka shared a look with each other, Which ended when Ritsuka motioned towards her husband, and his primary wife. “Well, she's your daughter, you tell her.”

“Tell me what, Mother, Father?” Rias asked sharply, looking between her parents. She only ever used official titles like that when she was upset with them. Usually it was Tou-san this and Kaa-san that. But now, she was being overly formal, showing just how angry she was.

Venelana and Zeoticius shared a look before the Flaxen Haired Ruin Princess took a couple steps forward and addressed her daughter directly. “Rias, I do not want you to be upset, but I do think you deserve to know the truth.”

“Which is?” Rias Gremory asked, eyeing her mother like she would have a stray devil who had wandered into her territory.

Velenlana took a breath and let it out, “When your brother disappeared, you were distraught. Distraught to the point where your father and I thought it would be best to… Augment your memories. Any memories you had of your brother were replaced with idealized memories of Japan.”

Rias clinched her knuckles so hard you could hear her bones popping. Finally, she asked, “Why? Why did you take even more of my life out of my control?”

“Ria-chan, you really don't want to know the answer to this.” Sirzechs said, stepping up and in between his mother and sister.

“Et Tu, Sirzechs?” Rias asked, her usually clear blue eyes now frosted over in anger. “Is there anyone here who hasn't lied to me about something?”

Shirou raised his hand, “Do I count?”

Rin forcefully lowered his arm, “Now is not the time to act like yourself, Shirou.”

“But I can only act like myself, Rin?”

The magus sighed and said, “I know that's the problem, dummy.”

Ignoring the two bickering lovers, Venelana asked her daughter, “Are you sure you want to know, Rias? You can't unknow it once we tell you.”

“I'm tired of lies and being manipulated. So just tell me already. Just tell me what was so bad you had to erase my memory of my own brother.”

Velenlana sighed, “Very well. The truth is you and… Shirou were playing around with a teleportation circle one day when you accidentally activated it. Sending him off into the ether. We could find neither hide nor hair of him for years until today.” 

All that anger and bluster Rias had built up deflated out of her like a balloon, And she suddenly became sickly looking and pallid, her legs collapsing out from under her. Causing Akeno and Kiba to rush to her side. “So what you're saying is it was my fault he disappeared in the first place?”

“Rias, you were all of eight. It was an accident. But that didn't stop you from blaming yourself. You didn't eat, you didn't sleep.” ‘You were self-harming with the Power of Destruction.’ Venelana thought to herself, Not liking to think back on those dark days. “You were a mess and we did what we thought was right to help you.” Seeing her daughter’s eyes were glassed over in shock and she was no longer paying much attention to her words, Velenlana spoke to her peerage members, “Akeno-chan, Koneko-chan, Kiba-kun.This seems to have been a bit too much of a shock for Rias. If you would be so kind as to take her to her room, I would appreciate it.”

“Of course, Lady Gremory,” Akeno replied while taking charge. Koneko, on cue, took Rias into her arms with strength, belaying her size. “Please excuse us.” Rias’s peerage all but fled from the room, seeking to see to their resuscitation of their king.

Shirou, of course, felt guilty for what had just transpired, “Umm, is there anything I can do to help?”

Venelana turned to him and just shook her head, “I'm afraid not, my dear boy. This is something she must come to terms with on her own.”

Shirou didn't like being told there was nothing he could do to help someone in distress. So he just grimaced and nodded. Lightening up a bit when Rin took his hand, giving it a squeeze. She then took the lead of the conversation. “So Emiya-kun is supposed to be a devil, but he isn't. Would anyone here like to guess why?”

Upon this question being asked, Zelretch raised his hand and went, “Ooh, ooh, pick me. I know, pick me.”

“Zelretch-san, Do you have an idea of what might have caused this?” Shirou asked, pointing to the Elder Magician.

The second magician grinned, “I am so glad you asked, m’boy. As a matter of fact, I do. It's just a theory, A magic theory, but it's the only one that makes sense. You see, Shirou was pulled into what's known as the 4th Holy Grail War. The point of the Holy Grail is to punch a hole into what is known as the Root.”

“The Root of what?” Sirzechs found himself asking.

Zelretch raised his arms bombastically as he explained.“Everything, my dear devil. Everything. The root is the source of all phenomena. It is God's throne, if God's throne was a place, and getting there is the aspiration of all mages where we come from. Because to attain a path to the Root is to attain True Magic. Like Aoko and myself have done.”

The youngest Lord of the Clocktower lit up a cigar and puffed on it and thought, “I see, so your theory is that Shirou got pulled into our dimension via the greater grail in its preparation to punch a hole to the Root?” Lord El Melloi II postulated. “But that doesn't explain how he lost his… Devilhood.”

“I believe that can be pinned on a certain event that happened at the end of the war,” The second magician said as he looked at Saber, “Isn't that right, King of Knights? After all, you were the one who destroyed the Greater Grail. Causing its contents to leak out and destroy a majority of Fuyuki. Causing a great fire. One that young Shirou had to walk through. And walking through that fire burned away everything that he was. His memories, his name, his very sense of self. And even his very identity as a devil.” Zelretch casually explained Before looking at Shirou and shrugging, “Sorry kid, I thought it would be best if someone just tore the Band-Aid off.”

“That's fine, I suppose, I can't really blame you for that.” 

Ritsuka, his mother, looked at him with tears in her eyes, “So you don't remember anything?”

“I'm afraid not. The only thing I could remember was what I thought was my name, Shirou.” The red haired third rate magus replied.

Upon hearing that, Ritsuka buried her head in her hands in seeming embarrassment, “Of all the things you could remember, it had to be that?” She muttered out between her palms.

Shirou looked at his mother quizzically, “Why? What does that actually mean?”

Ritsuka raised her head with her eyes closed and took a deep breath. “The reason you would always say Shirou. Is because you would spot gray hairs on my head before plucking them while yelling Shirou. I’m not the best at youth retaining magic. So I would often get gray hairs. In fact, I'm average at just about everything but sword creation magic." She ruefully admitted. Shrugging, she said, “I guess that's what you get from being the last descendant of the Senji Muramasa.” 

Shirou was surprised to hear that, “We're related to Senji Muramasa?”

Rin, on the other hand, just smacked herself in the forehead, “Now, it all makes so much sense.”

“Are you ok, Rin? You don't usually go around hitting yourself like that.” Shirou noted.

Rin patted her boyfriend on the shoulder as she assured him.“I'm fine Emiya-kun, I'm fine. It's just… Certain things are making a lot of sense now.”

“Well, as long as you're ok.” He said, gently patting her back. As he was doing this, he turned to his parents and asked, “Is there anything else I should know or you want to know at the moment? Today has been a very long but exciting day and I think we're all feeling a little bit tired.”

“No, right now. I think you've all earned your rest.” Ritsuka said, clapping her hands and calling  for one of her two Peerage members, “Sylpha? Could you please show our guests to the Guest Quarters?”

The silver haired and eyed maid appeared in a flash, “As you wish, my lady. Everyone please follow me.”

As the group retired for the night, Ritsuka couldn't help but grin. She had her son back. He may not remember anything and he may be going by a different name now. But she could care less. He was alive, and that was all that mattered to her. New memories could be made, and she didn't care what he went by name wise. All that mattered to her was that her son was alive.

(...)

Shirou and Rin were shown to a room that was primarily red in color. A California king red four poster bed draped in silks with duvet cover, pillow casings, and all of it were red in color. Even the furnishings were of reddish purple Heart Wood. Along the walls were schematics of swords. And several guitars were sitting in every corner. There was even a desk. Looking at Sylpha, Shirou asked. “Is this a guest room? It seems rather extravagant for that?”

“No, young master, this was your room… Before the incident.” The maid replied with her head bowed.

“Oh, I see… I could play the guitar then?”

“You were learning. At the time, you could play the beginning riff from Last Dance with Mary Jane. By Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.” Sylpha said with a wistful smile on her face. 

Smiling a bit himself, Shirou said, “Maybe I'll take it up again for old times sake?”

“I think your mother would like that. But you should do what makes you happy, not for other people's sake.” Sylpha then bowed respectfully and said. “Good night, young master.” She then paused before turning to the door and abruptly gave him a hug. “I am so glad that you're alive. These past few years without you have been, nothing short of torture. For myself, the Mistress, and Tao Yufia.”

Gently patting her back, Shirou said, “I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you all.”

Pulling back, Sylpha gave him a long endearing look, “I know you didn't, but we worried all the same. We didn't know if you were dead or alive. Your mother was practically inconsolable… I do hope you're not planning on wandering off again for a good long while.”

Shirou opened his mouth to respond promptly, but then paused, before saying, “I'd like to say I don't plan on going anywhere, but I did leave friends and family behind when I left abruptly. I think they deserve to know what happened to me. They don't deserve to worry, just as you didn't.”

Sylpha pouted for a moment upon hearing such an answer, but then she brightened up and nodded. “That's a very mature way of looking at things, young master. Clearly, whoever raised you in our stead did so well. Good night you two… And Miss Tohsaka?”

“Um, yes?” Rin suddenly perked up, not expecting to be addressed by the maid. She had in fact just been standing there awkwardly watching this scene play out, not knowing how to feel about it. She would in fact give anything to have her own parents back in her life. Yet she also felt she should squash that thought. She should feel happy that her boyfriend had found his family, not jealous. 

She inclined her head to the second owner of Fuyuki, “You have my deepest and most heartfelt gratitude for being there for the young master when I couldn't.”

Rin let out a long-suffering sigh, “It's not easy being there for this blockhead, but I love him anyway. It's just part of his charm, I suppose.”

“Love you too, Rin.” Shirou replied with a sardonic roll of his eyes.

Sylpha chuckled behind her hand, “Try not to stay up too late creating the next generation of the Gremory Clan you two. Shirou-sama still has a big day tomorrow after all.”

Rin was a crimson sputtering mass as the maid excused herself from the room. “ I-I... s-she thought we were a-a-actually going to do that?”

“Well, they are devils, Tohsaka. I imagine they're pretty liberal about such things.”

Rin coughed into her fist. “I suppose they are… We're not going to actually be doing that here tonight, are we?”

Shirou looked at her quizzically, “Did you want to?”

Rin shook her head in exasperation.“Not particularly. Not tonight. I'm way too worn out by all of the revelations that happened today.”

“Then we won't.” Shirou said simply. Far be it for him to do anything that would make her uncomfortable. “Are you alright with sharing the bed with me? If not, I can just sleep on the floor.”

“We’re sharing the bed, idiot.” Rin huffed in annoyance, before she stripped down to her underwear. Seeing Shiro staring, she grinned. “Like the view, Emiya-kun?” 

“I do quite a bit,” He admitted before he continued, “But I am wondering why you're stripping. I thought we weren't going to have sex.”

Pulling a ribbon out of her hair and shaking it free into a long cascade, Rin continued. “You don't expect us to sleep in our clothes, do you? We didn't exactly bring anything to stay overnight, so we're just going to have to make do with what we have. So go ahead and strip, it's not like it's nothing I haven't already seen.” She finished, giving him a coy smile.

Once their clothes were neatly folded and put on the desk or hung in the closet. The two were under the covers on the bed. “This bed is even nicer than the one I have at home.” Rin half-complained as she stretched out under the covers.

“I was thinking it, but I didn't want to say it.” Shirou muttered under his breath, loud enough for her to hear.

Turning over and putting her head on his chest, Rin mumbled, “I honestly don't know what I can do to help you at this point. Today has just been a roller coaster of everything If I'm being honest. All these rapid changes are really getting to me and I want to keep you safe, Emiya-kun. I don't want you to be hurt anymore than you already have been. But I don't know if I can keep you safe. Even though I promised him I would.”

Shirou didn't need to ask who he was. He already knew who she was referring to. 

Archer. The last promise she made to him before he faded away was to keep him safe and to make sure he didn't make any stupid pacts with the world. ‘Would becoming a Devil be the same thing as making a pact with Alaya?’ He silently wondered to himself as he stroked his girlfriend's hair. Somehow, he doubted it. Devils, for all their faults, seem to have a lot more freedom than a Counter Guardian did. Still running his hands through her hair, Shirou spoke, “It's okay, Tohsaka, we'll figure this out. Also, I'm not a complete idiot, you know?”

Rin sighed into his chest as she replied, “I know. You're only just about three-fourths of one.” 

Shirou snorted in response and fired back, “And yet you're with me anyway. So what does that make you?”

“At least one-fourth idiot. I have to compensate for my three-fourths of genius somehow.” 

“So then all together we're a whole idiot?” Shirou, questions, his tone sounding amused.

Rin nodded, She could feel Shirou's heart beating strongly in her ears. “Yeah, that sounds about right.” 

The duo suddenly looked up when the bedroom door was opened. In walked Saber, leading Serafall, Gray, and Luvia by the scruff of their necks.

“OK, I'll bite. What is going on here?” Rin asked, annoyance flicking her tone.

“I caught these three outside of your door. They looked like they were planning to sneak in.” Saber promptly reported.

Rin nodded and then coyly asked, “I see. And what were you doing outside of our door, Saber?”

To which the servant blustered in response, “I was simply doing my duty as a servant and making sure you were undisturbed…” Turning to the side and coughing, she added. “I might also have gotten used to sharing a room with the two of you, and found myself unable to sleep..”

“So you caught them sneaking into our room while you were trying to sneak into our room?” Rin clarified for confirmation a bemused smile on her lips. 

“If that is how you choose to look at it, Rin then so be it.” The Servant of the Sword replied, neither admitting or denying the crime she was accused of. Instead, she shook the interlopers by the scruff of their necks and asked. “What would you have me do with them?”

Rin narrowed her eyes at the Edelfelt heiress. “I can imagine why you were trying to sneak in here. You hussy.” 

Putting a hand to her chest in offense, Luviagelita said.“I have no idea what you're trying to imply, Tohsaka, but I assure you you're mistaken.”

“Then what exactly did you require that had you needing to sneak into my boyfriend's room at night?” Rin asked through narrowed, disbelieving eyes.

“I merely wish to take advantage of an opportunity that presented itself to me like any smart magus would do. I wished to offer myself to join his peerage if he would be willing to take me on.” Luvia replied, a cat-like grin on her lips.

“He'll take it under advisement. Now get out.” Rin said sharply, Before turning to the newly minted Leviathan and asking, “And what's your reason for trying to sneak in here?”

Serafall shrugged, “I just wanted to sleep with Shirou,” Seeing the surprised looks on everyone's face, she . “Sleep, not sex… But if he's willing…”

“Uh, no offense, Serafall, but as I'm sure you'll recall, I don't remember anything, so I don't know you all that well.”

The Satan pouted for a moment, then just shrugged and said “Another time, perhaps? Can we at least cuddle?” She asked hopefully.

Rin wanted right then and there to vehemently say no. But it wasn't her house, and it was really up to Shirou. These people had gone a decade wondering if Hersei Gremory had died. Now they find out he is alive. Of course they're going to want to do things with him, ‘Including cuddling apparently.’ She thought ruefully. “It's your call, Shirou, As you know, I'm not exactly adverse to having other women in our bed.”

“Hohoho! Is that so?” Luvia couldn't help but chuckle.

“Piss off, Edelfelt.” Rin groused. “Why don't you go choke on one of the many blood diamonds your family has no doubt gotten their hands on?”

Luvia tsked, “So temperamental, Tohsaka. It's not like I'm going to judge you for your sexual preferences in any way. Typical of an Eastern barbarian though they are.”

“Stop talking before I have Saber forcibly eject you from the room,” Rin said flatly.

In response, Saber tightened her grip on Luvia ever so slightly. Enough to make it hurt just a little, and to get the point across that yes, she would be willing to throw her out of the room.

Rin then turned to Gray and asked, “And what's your excuse for trying to sneak in here?”

“Umm, I I-um… I'm sorry?” Gray meeped out.

Rin sighed and said, in a much calmer tone, “I'm not angry at you, Gray. I'm just confused as to why you tried to sneak in here like she did.” Again, Rin's eyes distastefully glanced at Luvia.

“I wanted to formally request to become one of Mr. Shirou's Knights… In his peerage?”

“As I already told her, we'll be discussing that tomorrow, along with a lot of other things, probably. But we'll take your suggestion under advisement. Now, I don't suppose you also wanted to sleep in here, Gray?”

“No, no, no, no, no thank you!” She sputtered out, turning crimson red. “That doesn't seem appropriate considering Mr. Shirou and I aren't even dating. Not that I can date him since he's dating you, but not that I wouldn't want to if he wasn't available and… I'm going to shut up now.” Gray finished looking at the floor and not saying anything.

‘She's so cute and fun to tease.’ Rin thought to herself. “Go back to bed, Gray. We'll talk about this tomorrow too, ok?”

“Ok,” Grey replied hesitantly, looking up from the hem of her hood. “You're not mad, are you?”

Rin sighed and shook her head.“No, I'm used to this idiot obliviously pulling in pretty girls.”

Shiro spoke up for the first time since everyone entered the room, saying, “Why do you always gotta make it sound like it's my fault, Tohsaka?”

‘Because it is; you big, loveable, helpful, idiot.’ Rin couldn't help but think. “I'm sure there's a reason, Emiya-kun, and I'm sure we both know what it is, but neither of us want to voice it, isn't there?”

“There is?” Shirou questioned.

“There is.” Rin affirmed with a nod.

He then asked, “And somehow this is all my fault?”

“It is. You're just too lovable and helpful. You can't really help yourself. It's not your fault.” Rin said, playfully patting him on the cheek. “You're like a lost puppy. Cute but stubborn. Girls just can't help but love you.”

“Thank you?” At this point, Shirou wasn’t sure wasn't sure if he was being complimented or insulted.

“Mmhmm. Do you want Serafall to stay or go? And before you ask, no, it's not up to me. This is your house, your room, remember?”

Shirou felt like he was being tested right now, but he was honest, he was never the best at tests. So he ended up picking the best compromise he could think of, saying, “She can stay as long as she doesn't try anything. If she does, Saber can remove her.”

Rin just let out another breathy sigh and said, “I had a feeling you'd say that,” She then addressed Edelfelt and Gray. Pointing to Luvia, she said, "Get the hell out,” While to Gray she said a much kinder, “Go back to bed. We'll talk more about this tomorrow.” With only four people left in the room when Rin gave them a side eye and shrugged saying. “Well, unless you're going to sleep in your clothes, I suggest you strip down to your underwear,”

Serafall grinning impishly and said, “What underwear?”

“You're going to be sleeping in between me and Saber tonight.” Rin replied with a frosty grin on her face.

“Mou~u! You're no fun at all, and that wasn't part of our deal.” She pouted playfully. 

“The deal was you wouldn't try any funny business or Saber would kick you out right away, so the choice is yours.”

Serafall sighed and threw up her hands, “Fine, we'll do it your way tonight. Unless…. You wanted to have some fun?” She offered suggestively.

“Do you want to get kicked out right now?” Rin deadpanned.

In response, Serafall blew a raspberry at her, “You're no fun at all. And here I thought you were into girls.”

“I am, but I hardly know you.” Rin replied honestly.

Serafall stuck her tongue out and winked, before she said, “Gotcha, so try my luck again later.”

“I really would like to get to sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a big day.” Shirou said having enough conversation for one day.

“You heard the man. Last call. Everybody get in the bed or get the hell out.” Rin said in a no nonsense tone of voice. “And Serafall, you will be sleeping in between me and Saber.”

“I got it, I got it. No need to be all pushy.” The Leviathan replied before slowly sensually stripping out of her clothes, winking at Shirou when she caught him staring, before scooting into her place in between the Master and her Servant. As she laid down, she could see Shirou laying on the opposite side of the bed. “Hey, Hersei, or Shirou or whatever it is you want to be called? For what it's worth, I really am glad of your back. It means a lot to me, more than you probably realize, to have you back.”

Shirou  was quick to reply, “I'm glad to be back, Serafall. Goodnight.”

“Night.” Serafall replied before clapping her hands and causing the lights in the room to go out.

(...) 

While Shirou was getting his first nights sleep in his ancestral home in years, another by the surname of Gremory couldn’t sleep a wink. All she could think, the only phrase that echoed constantly through her head was, ‘It’s all my fault.’

It was all her fault that Auntie Ritsuka and her father’s relationship had soured. All her fault that Hersei had been lost, and once again, her life had been taken out of her hands. Her love for japan? Completely fake. This revelation sent a shiver down her spine as she mentally  broached the question. ‘What else could they have taken, changed, or altered?’ She quelled at the thought of how much of Rias Gremory was real.

“Oh Rias,” Akeno said as she laid her hand on her quivering King’s shoulder as she pulled her knees up to her chest. She enjoyed Schadenfreude due to her sadomasochistic nature but she didn’t want to see her King, her sister in all but blood, suffering like this. “Is there anything we can do?”

Rias silently shook her head, saying nothing.

“Prez, maybe you're looking at this all the wrong way,” Koneko mused, causing the Gremory Heiress to lift her head quizzically revealing puffy and red eyes, which the Nekomata took as her cue to continue, “I mean sure, your family altered your memories, which is bad. However, if they hadn’t you wouldn’t have met Akeno because of that. You probably wouldn’t have taken me in either. So at least some good has come of it right?”

Rias stared at her rook for a moment before nodding slightly and burying her head back in her knees.

The white-haired rook sighed and said, “Well that was my idea, now I’ve got nothing.”

Kiba then tried his hand at cheering up their savior. “We hate seeing you like this Prez. Come on, at least talk to us. We’re here for you.” Everyone paused when there was a knock at the door.

Rias’s entire peerage looked at the door wondering who of Rias’ family could be to help the girl out when an old voice sounded from beyond the door, “May I request an audience with lady Gremory? I feel she may require my services?” Rias simply nodded her head in the affirmative and Akeno went and opened the door.

Standing there was the old man who arrived with Rias’ long lost brother. Zelretch, if Akeno remembered his name correctly.

“As you know, lady Gremory is not in the best mental state right now sir. If you have anything to offer please be quick.” stated Akeno ever the prim and proper queen as manners demanded.

Zelretch only gave a small smile as he let himself into the room as the semi tall man sat in a chair near Rias.

Rias looked at him with watery eyes, “I apologize for not being my best and not offering you guest rights properly in my own home. Thank you for bringing my brother home. It's just that there are a lot of things going on right now.”

Zelretch waved her off and gently began to speak, “Lady Gremory in my long life, I understand that things happen and circumstances prevent courtesy and kindness. My old teacher once in his wisdom told me that everyone struggles in their own way, some more silently then others. I am here to offer you a little bit of comfort. I am here to tell you and to let you know that everything is not false. You are still you but a parent's love can sometimes be poison.”

Rias started to really look at the man before her and felt like she was staring at a vast rainbow in the sky? It was wondrous, beautiful, and mysterious. She found herself asking,” How can you know that? How is this whole tragedy not my fault? Thanks to me, Hersei was thrown into the Dimensional Gap. If luck was not on his side, he would have died or worse. So tell me then. How is this not my fault?”

Zelretch leaned on his cane and saw the eyes of everyone on him. It was a simple respect he earned across his lifetime. Not fear, or begrudging admiration, these kids before him saw him as a bringer of wisdom. A magi. Zelretch couldn’t help but chuckle at the irony. “Dear child. I think I should shed a little light on what my magic is. You might have heard earlier that I am allowed to see across worlds. I can tell the differences and abnormalities between worlds and even see where they change. These eyes of mine have looked into oblivion and did not blink. I have seen the story of Emiya Shirou or as you call him Hersei Gremory over a thousand different times. All unique in how he is forged and changed as a man. Not all of them are related to you, not all of them become heroes, and sadly not all of them can live to see their dream. But, just as I have looked upon Emiya Shirou, I have looked upon you Rias Gremory. I know of your struggles, your hatred, your duty. I know what has befallen your shoulders and like the Sword of Damocles, you worry about a fate that to you is worse than death. I have seen you and I will acknowledge you. It isn’t wrong to be you. It isn’t wrong to want to grow beyond the name Gremory and stand proud as just Rias. First though, you must make that step towards that bright future.”

Rias’s tears started to dry and she started to tear up a little, “But what if I make more mistakes? What if I fall short? What if I am just a compilation of memories from a broken girl who lost her brother?”

Zelretch scratched his beard and thought up an apt reply, “You remind me a lot of my granddaughter.” Everyone perked up a little in interest hearing Zelretch had family.

“She had a grand purpose laid out before her. Tasked by her progenitor and the world as a whole. She was worried about what she could do to be happy. How something as simple as a smile eluded her. So let this old man offer you some advice. The future is ever unfolding and I think you just need to create your own path. You are Rias Gremory. Your choices are your own. No matter how your memories were altered or changed. You are still you at the end of the day. I suggest building new memories and while this old man may not be the wisest. I think talking to your parents and older brother is in your best interest. So sleep for now and let your dreams be peaceful and full of wonder.” With his word said, Zelretch got up from his chair and gently ruffled Rias’ hair and let himself out.

Rias paused and thought to herself. She noticed he didn’t mention what other versions of her were like just that he saw her across dimensions. Rias sucked in her tears and looked at her peerage. Her family.

“Thank you everyone. I am still not at one hundred percent but I think Mr. Zelretch was right. I have to build my own path. This might take a while but I think we can start on this in the morning. Let's all get some sleep.”

“Yes, prez!” spoke her peerage as each one saw themselves out with Akeno being the last, “If you need us Rias, please do not hesitate to call us.” Then with a small wave the door was closed and Rias was left to herself.

“What does it mean to be happy? What do I want…… I want to be me. I want to be just Rias. So first things first. Who is Rias Gremory?” with those thoughts Rias fell into morpheus where she dreamed of a hero forged of iron with blood of flames.

(...)

Word Count: 5,992   Number of Pages: 17   Date Completed: 6/6/2024

(...)

AN: Welcome everyone to chapter 3 of Prodigal Son Returns. I think I’ve got the pacing down rather well so far with this one. So I’m happy about that. More to come shortly. I hope you all enjoyed reading this as much as I did writing it as always. Now, a word from my personal peanut gallery… Ahem, I mean my editors.

Snowy:

Old Man:

Antagonist:

Loamy Coffee: A tense chapter, but I feel everyone will come out of this better for it.
Rias has always wanted to be more than her family name. Now, it’s time for her to figure out who she is.

Thanks again for reading and until next time, this has been an inkblot Bro’s Production! Peace!