u/Desperate-Impress237

So this just won't leave me head as I rewatch Zero, but it bugs me that Mordred, Morgan, and Artoria (Saber) don't interact with each other at all. For context of why I am ranting about this King Arthur's legends are some of my favorite myths with Lugh's myth in Irish Mythology right after. So its no surprise that the Knights of the Roundtable are among my favorite servant group.

Artoria is a stand out character for me for most of Fate Stay Night, and Mordred was the second best part of Apocraypha (how tf do you spell it!), and Morgan is arguable the best character is Lostbelt 6 in FGO. It just bothers me that only really Artoria's is the only one to fully move on from her past, while the other two's are kinda stagnant. Mordred still believes Artoria hates her even though she no longer seeks the sword and Morgan hates Artoria because >!she has PHH Morgan's memories!<. I fully believe for the most part, Artoria's overall story is over; however she is so intertwined with Mordred's and Morgan's that she still should be used to wrap of their arcs.

I want to see Mordred and Artoria (Saber) talk to each other, they don't have to like each other but Mordred needs to here that Artoria doesn't hate her from a more laid back Saber who had gone through her arc. It just kinda feel like the resolved Mordred's feelings with Artoria offscreen which sucks. I also want to see Morgan and Artoria actually interact, and for them to acknowledge how bad PHH Morgan was. I don't think they should resolve the amity either feel, but they should further seperate why LB Morgan hates Artoria from her PHH self.

I hope Im wrong and that there is a Manga, event i missed, or something that has want I want but to my knowledge that doesn't exist.

This is the first five or so pages of the book, which to me is the amount of time I have to capture the reader's attention. I want to know if they catch the readers attention and I wish to know first impressions. A couple things of note: this is still a first draft of this specific variation of the project, yes Merlin is meant to be an asshole, and lastly I am very bad a pacing so any advice go pace these pages better would be nice.

Prologue

Tonight is a night of miracles, a phrase many have uttered. And it was for the people as their prince was being birthed in the castle of Camelot. A miracle of life it was. Unfortunately for the court mage, it was an annoying and stressful day for him lacking the sort of joy or excitement.

Merlin had lived through many births and deaths to the point where he no longer cared. Which is why out of all the members of the King’s court, he was the only one not there to witness the birth of his lordship’s son. Instead he stood outside, leaning against the white wooden railings of the queen’s balcony.

Merlin’s black greying hair and regal white robes flowing with the evening breeze. His silver staff levitating by him, the head of the staff looked like a six winged angel, with a purple gem serving as the eye. Behind the mage was a door covered in a pinkish aura, where muffled screaming can be heard. Merlin let out a sigh as he glanced over at it with an irritated expression as his pink eyes glanced behind his shoulder.

“The miracle of life, by god I wish it was quieter,” Merlin mumbled to himself, turning back to the stars above him.

The mage stared at them with a longing expression. Merlin soon heard the door creak and moan, followed by the screaming of a woman in labor. Merlin growled to himself seeing a breaded brown haired man in glimmering silver armor and a purple cape draped over his right shoulder. The man’s left hand was gripping the hilt of a sword which had a silver pommel and the hilt ordained with red rubies, the blade is in the leather sheath which sat on the left side of his belt. Merlin stared at the man with deadpanned eyes for a moment before turning back to the stars.

“If you came out here to avoid that incessant screeching then please close the door, Ser Ector.” Merlin started with a yawn.

The knight looked at Merlin appalled by what the mage just said. Ector took a few steps forward, his armor clanging against the floor as he moved. Once Ector was out of the way of the door, Merlin flicked his wrist and the door slammed shut with a gust of pinkish wind.

“That is your queen in pain in there, Merlin,” Ector growled at the mage, “I recommend you treat this night with a bit more respect.”

“I am showing plenty of respect by not being in the room, or would you rather me groan and complain over and over about that hideous screaming you humans do,” Merlin responded as dramatically and with as much sass as possible.

“I don’t know why the king keeps you around,” Ector muttered with disgust.

Merlin laughed at the knight, finding the comment quite entertaining. The mage turned his gaze toward the silver knight. His pinkish eyes stared directly into Ector’s own green eyes. Merlin’s pupils were odd compared to that of the human knights, they were like six pointed stars.

“Because I’m entertaining, my dear little knight,” Merlin grinned.

Ector let out a deep growl before turning around to the door. He hated interacting with the court mage with a passion. His lack of care for any situation, his absolute disrespect for his lord and lady, and his demeanor. He despised almost everything about the wizard. Ector didn’t have the patience to keep dealing with Merlin, so he simply turned toward the door. As he reached out toward the knob, it opened revealing their lordship. The sounds inside were replaced by the crying of a little child. Ector immediately straightened and bowed before him. Merlin merely glanced, slowly turning around toward him completely.

King Uther Pendragon stood before them. His beard is full and graying, his hair neck length and curly. His golden crown resting atop his mane. He stared at them with his emerald eyes, beneath his aging beard he had the smile of a father.

“My son is born,” Uther chuckled to himself.

Ector stepped toward his king and patted Uther’s shoulder.

“That is fantastic, mi’lord,” Ector responded with a smile on his face.

Merlin let out a hollow laugh, resting his elbows on the railing. He stared at Uther with a smile, though it wasn’t one of happiness or relief.

“Great, we can finally set our plan in motion,” Merlin laughed, “I suspect the Pale Drake is already on his way.”

Ector gave the mage a glare. Uther lightly pushed the knight aside, his smile fell as quickly as it appeared. He knew of their plan, of Merlin’s plan is to stop Uther’s brother Vortigern from slaughtering him and his heir who was just born. They would take his son away while Uther faced the Pale Drake himself, but he was fearful of how that would leave his wife, his newborn son, and his… daughter.

“You are usually right, but could you at least allow me some time with my only son, Merlin, Uther asked the mage.

Merlin simply nodded and sighed. The mage has little care for the flesh spawn, but for his old friend he was willing to wait a bit longer.

“You are my king, Uther,” Merlin stated haphazardly. “It’s not like I could say no.”

Uther gave him a thankful nod, as he and his knight stepped into the room shutting the door behind them. Nurses surrounded the bed, torches illuminating the room. There was an elegant carpet just in front of the dresser which sat right next to the large king sized bed in the middle of the room. Glimmering purple curtains draped over the sides of bed, the silhouette of a woman holding a child in her arms. It would be a beautiful sight for Merlin -the lighting, the contrast, the framing of the scene was perfect- if it wasn’t for the crying newborn in its mother’s arms. Merlin's face showed his irritable mood, which was noticed by most of everyone in the room. Even the queen herself –who by law was moreso a princess than any sort of ruling monarch but most called her queen out of respect– who gave the court mage a mischievous smirk before looking at her beloved husband.

Queen Igraine Pendragon is known for her elegance, kindness, and snark. Her long dark hair cascading down her shoulders, her head covered in sweat from the labor, her tired pale blue eyes filled the love of a mother. Igraine looked at Uther who sat at the edge of the bed. Her face has the most excited smile. Her arms cradling the most precious thing for the King and Queen, their son. Anyone other than the court magician wouldn’t notice that mischievous smirk she gave him, or the villainous glint in her eyes. In all honestity, Merlin hated the queen simply because she knew every button to piss him off and there was little he could do about.

“Isn’t he beautiful,” Igraine asked Uther, her voice soft and kind.

“Almost as beautiful as you my dear,” Uther responded, his voice low and gentle. “And as such he deserves the most wonderful name.”

The queen giggled at the remark. The little boy in her arms squirmed about without a thought in his little newborn mind. Her blue eyes staring into the child’s emerald eyes, the same eyes his father possesses. “His name shall be Arthur,” Igraine declared.

“The perfect name for an heir,” Uther whispered. Igraine slowly put the child in her husband’s arms.

The king graciously accepted his son, his rough yet kind hands gently supported little Arthur’s head while his other arm held the squirming body. The boy slowly opened his eyes, emerald circles stared into each other. Arthur stared up at his father, his eyes finding a strange figure before him. The child found water leaving the eyes of its father. Uther found a somber joy staring at his son for the first and most likely last time. Igraine touched Uther’s leg with a calming pressure. The position wasn’t the most comfortable for the queen due to how Uther was sitting on the bed beside her, but she made it work.

Ector -for the loyal and kind knight he was- said not a word to the king, merely periodically glaring at the magician to make sure Merlin didn’t say a word that could possibly upset the royal. Merlin glanced at his nail, leaning his staff trying to ignore the feeling that the queen was planning to embarrass him. Unfortunately, for the court mage it wasn’t long before Igraine’s devious went into action.

“Merlin,” she spoke, earning the cautious glare of the wizard, “would you like to hold little Arthur, since you and Ector will be taking care of him for the foreseeable future?” Though Merlin could hear her typical playful tone, he also heard the guilt and grief in the way her voice shook. Yet, the mage didn’t care for such emotions, his ego was simply too large to even glance at her with anything but careless eyes. Merlin gave a simple laugh.

“Oh, I don’t deal with kids shorter than my knees, my queen. Ector will be the one actually caring for the heir. I shall mostly focus on the Fae bastard.”

His final sentence earned the ire of everyone in the room, but Merlin didn’t care. He wasn’t wrong in his statement by any means. Merlin felt Ector’s glare piercing the side of his skull and he saw Igraine gain a scowl on her face. Uther’s expression was unreadable to all except little Arthur, who stared confused at the sudden shift in the room.

“Now King, if you could please hurry up and hand your dearest knight the whelp before the guards catch sight of the Pale Drake,” Merlin requested, his careless voice laced with a hint of seriousness.

“How dare you disrespect the King’s kin, you daemon,” Ector growled, earning Merlin’s laugh.

“It doesn’t matter now Ser Ector, words cannot be taken,” Uther paused, slowly getting with Arthur. He walked toward his most loyal knight slowly, hesitantly, and mournfully. “No matter how hard we try.”

Uther gently places his son into Ector's arm. The knight's armor was cold and hard, yet his touch was as gentle as fur. The anger he felt toward the careless mage melted upon seeing the innocence in Arthur's eyes. Ector knew that innocence all too well -being of father himself- it was an innocence that he hoped Arthur would never lose under his watch.

So I was playing FGO like one naturally does and thought about this. Servants themselves are only summoned during Grail Wars or by the Counter Force to kill someone. So under what circumstances could it be possible to summon a Pretender, Avenger, Foreigner, etc. Like Rulers can only be summon during Greater Grail wars as basically a refferee, so would the other classes play a specific role in a Holy Grail war.

I an fine with headcannons as there is to my knowledge no actual answer. Plus hear me out have a Pretender in a Holy Grail war would be funny, it doesn’t help that much but it would be funny.

So I've been listening to Epic and watching Fate. This leads me to want to see Jorge try his hand at some Myths and Legends. Here are the ones I believe he could do fantastic with.

Titanomacy - This is an underrated myth in the Greek Theology, and I would love to see it Jorge try his hand at. Since most of the events in the war itself aren't stated it leaves room for Jorge to do his want he wants with these characters, and since he had three of the original 6 gods casts we wouldn't have to do a complete recasting. You also can't tell me a Kronos, Atlas, or Hyperion villain song wouldn't go hard. This could be followed by Heracles as he directly deals with Atlas and Pormethus in his labors making it a solid sequel.

Arthurian Legends - Jorge has shown he is capable of writing emotionally stoic yet caring men which is most of Arthur's tales. I think his Saga structure works well for Arthur as well, has he has so many tales and so many villains, characters, and arcs, I think it would work. I am also curious how he would write Mordred, how he make the Treachrous Knight either more sympathetic or more villainous like his original version. I would love a three way love ballad between Lancelot, Guinevere, and Arthur; or a song with Arthur and Sir Kay.

Cut Chulainn - This story I think is perfect for Jorge's style, plus its a somewhat similar layout to the Odyssey with Cu Chulainn having story arcs in his overarching story. The musical would obviously end in his death, but Irish Heracles needs his due. I would love to see the Irish pantheon and how he treats the likes of Lugh. Plus a training song woth Scathach similar to Warrior of the Mind would be amazing.