Joker's Fate

Chapter Six

Joker just stared at Saber, blinking in confusion, not understanding the meaning behind her wish. But Rider, unlike Joker, seemed to understand Saber's wish better than the thief.

"Hey, King of Knights, did you just say that you would change fate?", asked Rider, "Does that mean you wish to change events long past?"

"Indeed.", Saber confirms, no hesitation, "Even if it's a wish that a miracle alone cannot fulfill. If the Holy Grail truly omnipotent, then surely..."

Archer began to snickers, interrupting Saber as Joker froze, slowly wondering if Saber means what he thinks she means.

"Um, Saber...", Rider starts slowly, "Just so I am clear on this, it was back during your time that this country you call Britain was conquered and fell? When it was under your rule?"

Joker doesn't like where this is going!

"Correct.", said Saber firmly, "That is why I cannot allow it. And that is why I regret it. Why I want to alter that outcome, for it was I, and none other who was to blame."

Joker's grip tightened on his cup as Archer, once again, snickered at Saber's words. Archer's snickers quietly turned into laughter.

"Archer, what is so amusing?", Saber asks sharply.

"You call yourself a king, and are praise by all as such, and yet you feel regret.", Archer laughs loudly, "How can I not laugh at such nonsense?"

"Saber, surely you do not really mean that you would erase the marks you yourself have left on history?", Rider asks gravely.

"I do, and what of it?", Saber declares defensively.

A loud 'clang!' echoed within the garden, halting Rider before he could say a thing and quieting Archer's laughter, who could only stare at Saber in amusement for a moment.

Then, Archer, Rider, Waver, Irisveil, and Saber, all turn to the source of the noise, to see that it was Joker, who had dropped his golden cup. Joker's hands clench into tight fists, eyes now hidden by his mask and hair, head lowered, and shoulders and body the tensest they have ever seen from the usually relaxed and confident Servant thus far.

"What... of it...?", Joker repeats slowly, his voice shaking from barely contained rage, "What of it she asks? It's not as if she were changing all of history, changing stories, people, and families that have lived both during and after her time. No, no, no everything will be right as rain as long as she erases the few mistakes she's made as King."

Joker raised his head, eyes blazing as he sent a deadly glare Saber's way, who could only blanche in surprise and outrage at Joker's audacity.

"Everything will be alright if she just disappears, because the great King of Knights couldn't bear the weight and guilt that comes with being a leader, no, that comes with being a King.", Joker's voice is harsh, and cold as ice.

Everyone present and listening in can't help but shiver from the sound of it. What's worse, Joker isn't even shouting. Not once, has he raised his voice despite the burning rage he is obviously feeling.

The Mages thought it might have been better if he actually did shout instead.

"What do you know?", Saber hisses, offended that a lowly thief, such as Joker, would dare lecture her on what comes with being king, "You are no king, just a thief that summons demons and steals the hearts of others for nothing but his own pleasure. You know nothing of being king and the burdens that come with it."

"Yeah, your right. I'm a god damn thief. I take pleasure in what I do, and I am no king.", Joker spoke calmly, pausing for a single second, then he glares, eyes narrowing dangerously at the so-called King of Britain, "But what I also am, is a leader. I make the tough decisions, the tough choices. I make sure that no matter what, my Phantom Thieves get home safely. It's on me whether my people or the targets we are up against, ends up dead. And I live with it. Accept it. And move on to make sure that I do better, so I can make the world better."