Greetings internets! After experiencing the latest Fate/Grand Order event, I was inspired to write this little after-story.

Obvious spoilers for the event are obvious.

If you're an old follower, sorry this isn't a new chapter of Ashbell.

If you're new and looking for quality fics, don't check out my other stuff cause it's terrible. No really. I can't read it without cringing in agony. Someone save me.

Anyway, enjoy and review (or don't)

Epic of Remnant/EXTRA: Deep Sea Cyber-brain Paradise SE. RA. PH—Afterstory

(Gudako/Chaldea's Master)

"Alter-Ego of Pleasure, Meltlilith. Although it disgusts me from the bottom of my heart, I have formed a contract with you. Do feel honored?"

In a brilliant flash of light, a lithe, purple-haired figure appears in the summoning circle. She wears immodest black clothes and bizarre spiked heels. She has a frightening, antagonistic air about her, but to me, she's a sight for sore eyes.

"MELTLILITH!" I roar as I pounce on her.

"Wha—!?"

Her eyes widen in surprise, but she dodges me easily. I smash unto the cold floor and then feel something cold upon my neck.

"Command seals…are you really a Master? What kind of fool attacks the Servant they summoned like that!?" She shouts. They're harsh words, but hearing that voice again makes my heart heat up.

"Ha ha, sorry about that Meltlilith. I was just too excited to see you again" I laugh as I roll over to face her.

"Huh? Have you lost your mind? I've never seen an idiot like you before in my life" She says with ice cold eyes.

"Ah…right…" I mumble, my heart sinking.

BB did mention before we began the summoning ritual that even if we managed to summon Meltlilith using her old core as a catalyst, she would likely not retain her memories. Still, I had hoped against hope that she would remember.

But alas…it seems that Meltlilith was gone for good. Being reminded of that makes me want to weep again, but...

"Ahaha, that was just a prank 'Melt-chan'! Anyway, welcome to Chaldea!"

"M-Melt-chan!? H-Hey, let me go!"

I force myself to smile and cling onto Melt-chan's arm.

It's not Melt-chan's fault she can't remember something that never happened to her. That's why I have to treat her just like any other servant at Chaldea.

Ignoring the loss I feel in my heart, I drag Melt-chan around for a tour around Chaldea.

(Meltlilith)

"Melt until no traces are left behind! Sarasvati Meltout!"

Circling around the giant green dragon, I shower it with a flurry of kicks. With each strike the dragon melts away until nothing is left but a pool of sludge.

It's been a few months since I was summoned to Chaldea. Being a perfect being, I naturally leveled up very quickly and am now one of the primary attackers on my Master's team.

Well, not that being useful to that girl makes me happy at all.

"Waah…you're as impressive as always Melt-chan" The girl in question says as she walks up to me.

"Hmph, that much is just natural from a High-Servant like me" I sniff in response.

"No, no, you're really strong now…as strong as Meltlilith was back then…" I hear her say.

"What is 'back then' supposed to mean?" I question.

"N-No, it's nothing. Nothing at all" She says with a sigh.

Lately, she's been acting really strange like that. She looks sad when she sees me, then puts on a fake smile. She also isn't nearly as clingy as she was at first.

N-Not that I want her to cling to me, mind you. It's just strange of her to not do so.

"Hah…it's been three months since that incident? Time sure flies…" I hear her sigh as she looks wistfully up at the sky.

Yes, that's what I'm talking about when I say strange. Normally, she always has that obnoxiously bright smile on her face.

"…"

This time I don't question her behavior though. Because I already know she'll give me a non-answer.

Or perhaps, it's because I already know the reason why she's acting like this.

Spiked feet with bladed heels, poison that melts everything it touches. It's natural that any human would be afraid of me after seeing my true nature first hand.

Her naivete has likely already worn out. She now sees me for what I am. The perfect weapon of mass destruction.

Even so, this foolish Master of mine is too good-natured to scorn and discard even a dangerous being such as myself. She must be hiding her fear and discontent while interacting with me with fake kindness.

Yes, that kindness must be fake, for no human would be so kind to an Alter Ego.

But that's fine. Alter-Egos were made to deny humans. In other words, we are natural enemies. We were never meant to coexist peacefully.

It's fine.

It's fine.

It's completely fine.

And yet…

…why does it irritate me so much to have her look at me like that?

…why does it make me sad when she reaches out her hand but pulls it away, thinking I haven't noticed?

…and why am I so very afraid of learning her true feelings?

(BB)

Hai Hai, everyone's favorite last boss here~

Really now, Senpai and Melt are being such idiots. It's almost as if their purposefully being stupid to drag out the story.

Well BB-chan hates clichés like that! If you have something worth writing, do it concisely! Don't stretch a thirty chapter story into two-hundred chapters! Especially when the ending is obvious after the first chapter!

Whoops, my bad~ I forget there are people who like trash—I mean stories like that. BB-chan, repenting~

Anyway, I've had about enough of Meltlilith and Senpai tiptoeing around each other. It was funny at first but now it's just irritating.

"…And so, leave it all to BB-chan!"

"Don't just 'and so' me out of nowhere! I'm in the restroom for god's sake!"

Well, maybe it was a bit crude of me to burst into a toilet stall while Senpai was using it, but don't lie to me. I bet a lot of you like what you see.

Well BB-chan doesn't judge. After all, every human being is just trash anyway~

"Well, it seems I've gone off track. Senpai, I'm here to solve all your problems!"

"Really? Thanks a lot! It seems this stall is out of toilet paper, could you get me some?"

"That wasn't what I was talking about, but super-devil kouhai is on the case!"

I wave my scepter in a stylish pattern and a roll of toilet paper appears as if magic. Of course, it isn't magic, but the power of love~ Or was it hate? I forget sometimes~

"Aah, thanks, you really saved me BB!"

"Naturally, naturally"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…Uh, aren't you going to leave? I kind of have to…"

"Don't mind me~"

"I can't just not mind you! Hah, what is it that you want anyway?" Senpai gives up and sets the toilet paper aside.

"I'm here to solve your issue with Melt" I declare.

"E-Eh? What do you mean by that?" Senpai asks

"I happen to have 'Meltlilith's' memory data backed up. When you first summoned Melt-chan, she was too unstable to take in that much data, but now that she's leveled up so much it should be fine now" I explain.

"T-Then does that mean—?"

"Yup! I can restore the Meltlilith that you first met back in SE. RA. PH" I nod.

"R-Really!? I-I can't believe it…" Master mumbles in shock.

"Well, there is a risk that the current 'Melt-chan' will be completely absorbed by the data though"

"…Eh?"

"Since the amount of data 'Melt-chan' has accumulated is about the same as the amount 'Meltlilith' had, it's natural that one of them would have to absorb the other for this to work, that's just obvious" I say with a smile.

"…In that case, please forget about it" Senpai says after thinking for a long time.

"Oh?"

"It's true that I miss Meltlilith, so much it hurts…But we've already said our goodbyes. I can't risk Melt-chan's existence for something like this" Senpai declares resolutely.

"Fu fu, you are annoyingly, stubbornly, idiotically good-natured you know? It's okay to be selfish every now and then" I say with a laugh "Otherwise it becomes hard to hate you"

"Thanks for telling me about this, but I've decided. Don't bring this up with Melt-chan either" Senpai insists.

"Okay, I'll respect your wishes. I won't talk about this with you or Melt-chan again" I say as I leave, letting senpai take care of her business.

Well, I guess that's that. I wouldn't ever go back on my word of course.

So, I guess this is the end of the story, nothing further to discuss. Senpai's word is law.

…Naturally, all of that is a lie~

You senpai know me better than that right?

Ah, but you only get to be called senpai if you beat super-giant Kiara-san. Otherwise that means you had me do all the work. And senpai who dump everything on their kouhai aren't senpai at all.

Whoops, that's off topic. What was I saying again?

Oh, right.

Naturally, all of that was a lie~

(Passionlip)

"Fu fu, ha ha!"

I laugh happily as I walk down the halls of Chaldea.

"Hmm hm hmm~"

During the training mission earlier, I held hands with Master for the first time!

Well, to be exact, she hugged on of my fingers. But even so, the feeling of her warmth on my finger remained even now. Really, this day is surely the happiest in—

"Ohhh Passionliiip~"

"!?"

I stiffen as I hear the sing-song voice of my 'mother' coming from behind me. I want to ignore it, but I know that would just make it worse.

"Y-Yes? W-What is it?" I ask as I slowly turn around.

"Fu fu, no need to be so scared. I have come to give you a gift!" BB says with a wide smile and a mischievous glint in her eye. In an instant, my sense of danger skyrocketed.

"T-There's no need for that…I'm perfectly content as I—"

"Take it"

Her smile stays the same, but her eyes harden.

"Y-Yes ma'am!" I instinctively squeak.

"Good girl. Then a one, and a two~"

"AAAAhHHH!"

BB waves her scepter in a pattern before me and a flash of light blinds me.

A flood of memories invades my mind. Precious memories of fighting in a deep blue sea…

"How…could I have forgotten that!?" I exclaim as I regain myself "Master…thank you…!"

"Aren't you so glad I gave you this gift? But it doesn't come for free you know?" BB says with a threatening smirk.

"What do you want?" I ask suspiciously. Though I think she's acting in good faith this time, one can never be sure with BB.

"No need to be so frightened~ I just need you to tell Meltlilith a bit of what you just saw" BB explains.

"Tell Melt-onee-san…did she forget as well!?"

Even as I ask that, I think about Melt-onee-sama's interactions with Master. Indeed, if she had remembered their time together in SE. RA. PH, she wouldn't act the way she does currently.

"Well, I'm leaving the rest to you~" BB says as she skips away.

"Yeah…I'll take care of it" I say as I walk away.

Though I don't know what BB is planning, our interests align this time. While a part of me wants to keep Master to myself, I can't be happy with that sad look Master has when she looks at Melt-onee-sama.

That happy smile Melt-onee-san and Master had in those memories, I want them to find it again.

"Melt-onee-san!" With a shout, I burst into my sister's room.

"Wha—!? I was in the middle of assembling a figure! What do you think you're doing Lip!?"

Melt-onee-san berates me as soon as she sees me. But I barely notice.

"Melt-onee-sama! You have to talk to BB about your missing memories!" I shout as I grab Melt-onee-san in my giant claws.

"What missing memories!? Aah, let go of me first you slow girl!" Melt-onee-san exclaims.

"You've noticed, right? How Master looks at you strangely sometimes?" I ignore her complaints and continue grasping her.

"Yeah, so what!? It doesn't bother me at all!" Melt-onee-san declares.

"Don't lie! You want to know the reason right!"

"W-Well maybe a little. Just a little mind you. Even less consideration than I give what side-dish I have at dinner" Melt-onee-san says with a slight pout "Besides, I'm pretty sure I already know the reason. She's just worried about having a living weapon near her all—"

"Don't be stupid!"

"L-Lip…?"

This is the first time I ever dared insult my elder sister, so of course Melt-onee-san would be shocked. But right now, I feel she really deserves it.

"It's clear that's not how Master thinks of you! And you don't really believe that's how she feels about you either, do you!? Stop running away!"

Having exhausted myself by shouting, I pant as I stare into Melt-onee-san's eyes. For a moment, she looks almost frightened, but—

"—Ah, fine!"

"Then—?"

"Yeah, I'll talk to BB about returning these memories you're talking about. Now let me go!" Melt-onee-san shouts at me.

"Y-Yes!" I tearfully exclaim as set Melt-onee-san on the floor

"Geez, if even you get that heated about something, I can't very well ignore it now can I?" As Melt-onee-san walks out the door, I hear her mutter those words.

"Do your best!" I shout after her retreating back.

(Gudako/Chaldea's Master)

"I want you to return my memories, BB"

While I eat lunch in the Chaldea cafeteria with BB and some other servants, Melt-chan steps up to us with a pensive look on her face as says this to BB.

"BB…what did you say to her?"

I glare at my self-proclaimed devilish kouhai, but she just shakes her head in response

"I have nooo idea what you're talking about senpai. I. Didn't. Say. A. Word~"

BB declares with a wink.

"Melt-chan, I don't know what you heard, but—"

"I'm not talking to you Master" Melt-chan turns away and stares at BB.

"So~rry, but I did promise Master I wouldn't do anything without her permission" BB turns to me, as if to say, 'well what will it be?'

"…I'm sorry Melt-chan, but the memory transfer could degrade your sense of 'self'. It's too dangerous to—"

"Taking in memory data of my past self would erase my current self; is that seriously something you're worried about?"

"Exactly. If you understand, then—!"

"Idiot. I am an existence whose sole purpose is to absorb others. Do you honestly think I wouldn't be able to absorb myself!?"

"!?"

Melt-chan's passionate shout shocks me into silence.

Could she be right?

All of a sudden, wistful memories of our battle in SE. RA. PH come to mind. Those were tough, unreasonable days. But my memories of back then were still happy because I had my companions with me. Especially—

"Meltlilith…will you really be alright?"

"Hmph, what a pointless question. Of course I will." Melt-chan declares as she runs her hand through her hair.

"Well then, it looks like you've decided" BB suddenly cuts in "BB channel rewind theater starting in 3! 2!"

"Wait no, we still need to—!"

"1! Start~!"

Suddenly the cafeteria faded away in a blur of static

"—Palladion!"

Suddenly, Melt-chan and I are alone under a dark sea. Though in the dark water, a bright blue blur illuminates the area, revealing what appears to be a gigantic woman with horns.

Without a doubt, this was the conclusion of 'that' incident.

However, unlike my memory of what occurred, the blue blur, Meltlilith, was moving away from the sinking Beast III/R. It seems we will be seeing everything in reverse order.

The scene shifts. Now Meltlilith and I are alone in what appears to be a sunlit classroom. We are speaking to each other, but the conversation is in reverse and going by too fast for me to decipher.

However, Melt-chan is watching intently without even blinking, as if afraid she will miss a moment. It seems she can keep up with the flow of information. She smiles, and it's a smile I've never seen on Melt-chan.

The scene shifts again. Now Meltlilith and I are fighting a man with twin gunblades. His face is distorted in indescribable pain. He yearns to be put down like a mad dog, and we comply.

The scene shifts again. We are fighting BB, who was still pretending to be under Kiara's control. She fights playfully, but there is an iron resolve in the AI's features.

The scene shifts again. I am within Meltlilith's heart. Every aspect of her personality is laid bare before me. Melt-chan blushes beside me.

The scene shifts again. We are in the disposal area of SE. RA. PH. Meltlilith is laying wounded among a pile of waste while I grasp her hand as hard as I can. Meltlilith is crying for some reason, and so is Melt-chan.

The scene shifts again. Meltlilith and Tristian are arguing as we traverse SE. RA. PH. Melt-chan nods in agreement whenever Meltlilith speaks and frowns in annoyance whenever Tristan does.

The scene shifts again. We free Passionlip from her restraints and she joins our party with a smile. Melt-chan whispers a 'thank you' she thinks I can't hear.

The scene shifts again. Tamamo Cat, Suzuka Gozen, and Meltlilith seem to be in an intense debate beside a Ferris Wheel. Melt-chan looks for something to take notes with.

The scene shifts again. We are alone again, this time in the church. I still can't make out what is being said, but I remember this conversation. As 'I' leave to go to bed, Meltlilith smiles at my back. Melt-chan has the same smile on her face.

The scene shifts again. Meltlilith and I meet for the first time. She saves me from Suzuka and we form a contract. It's a moment that I will never forget. The moment I first met the lovely Alter Ego of Pleasure.

As the scene fades, we return to the cafeteria…

…Or at least that's what was supposed to happen.

The scene shifts again. At the church, two Meltlilith face each other. Both are in terrible condition, one covered in countless wounds while the other looks like a decrepit doll. One of the Meltlilith grasps the one on the ground and says something. The other Meltlilith smiles brightly, then disappears into motes of light.

This isn't something I remember seeing. I look at Melt-chan in askance, but she's to entranced to notice my gaze.

"—Palladion!"

Suddenly, the flash of brightly blue light appears again. Then, scenes that I had never seen before flash before my eyes.

Scenes of me being melted into sludge by Kiara while Meltlilith screams in despair.

Scenes of us fighting against Passionlip alone, frantic to save her.

Scenes of us running desperately from enemy servants, half laughing, half crying.

And finally…

I wander into the church. Alone, afraid, and in tears. I seek salvation from the hell I've found myself in, and then I notice.

There's a doll there, one that looks frighteningly like the mad AI BB who dragged me here. Even so, it looks so sad that I can't resist walking toward it.

Its hand is outstretched, as if trying to grasp something. I can't resist holding on to that hand, which looks as desperate as mine. When I do, the doll's eyes slowly open.

It finally hits me. I finally understand why Meltlilith saved me back then in SE. RA. PH

(Meltlilith)

*Sob* *Sob*

"Geez, why are you crying so much. Shouldn't I be the one in tears in this situation?"

It's been half an hour since BB restored my memory data from the SE. RA. PH singularity. Master and I are in her room and she's on her bed sobbing uncontrollably.

Naturally, the memory transfer went perfectly fine and nothing happened to me. I can't really say for certain whether I'm 'Melt-chan' or 'Meltlilith', but my core thoughts and personality haven't changed at all.

"Waaah! B-But (*Sob*) Y-You did so much to help me back then…I-I didn't even know! Waaaaah! I'm so sorry!"

Since BB shared the memories with the both of us, Master ended up learning about what happened during the first "loop" and turned into the sobbing mess before me. Normally seeing her cry like this would excite me to no end, but right now it's causing a stinging pain in my chest.

"Hah, really…If you're like this, I won't be able to thank you for everything you gave me…" I whisper as I look down upon my crying Master.

"*Sniff* *Sniff* Eh? Sorry, what did you say?" Master asks while wiping her tears.

"I-I d-didn't say…no, I'll be honest for once"

Having learned about the hope Master had given 'me', I decide to speak from my heart.

"You better listen carefully, because I'm only going to say this once!"

"Y-Yes ma'am!?"

"In that church, 'I' had given up on anything. But you showed me how beautiful even a tiny sliver of hope could be. So, I decided I would protect that hope no matter what. You don't have anything to apologize for, it was my decision"

"B-But—!"

"Did I say I was finished?" I ask coldly.

"N-No ma'am! Please continue!"

"Hah, like I was saying, I was willing to do anything to protect you, so I was completely satisfied dying to save you. But even so, you didn't let go of my hand, my dear Albrecht"

Yes, I was completely content to die back there, crushed by water pressure and forgotten by everyone. But—

"You brought me back to this place and, even though I no longer remembered you, you cared for me unconditionally. So, for all of the radiant moments you have given me…I thank you from the bottom of my heart"

"Melt-chan…"

"Aaaah, that was so embarrassing! Why are you just looking at me dumbly for, baka-Master!"

"No, it's just…I didn't think I meant that much to you…" She says while looking away with flushed cheeks.

"Gaah, now you're just being irritating. Sit up straight!"

"Y-Yes!?" At my words, she sits up on her bed.

"Let me rest on that lap for just a bit" I say as I take a seat on her lap "With this, all our debts are settled!"

"Eh? That's it?"

"Y-You have to hold me tight as well!" I add on.

"Fu fu, sure thing"

Master squeezes her arms around me with a happy smile.

'Ah…this is so warm…'

Leaning back on her, I let myself be enveloped by her body heat. Unlike the dark waters around SE. RA. PH, this felt like bathing in a warm sea.

"Ah…it's not good. Hey Melt-chan?" Master asks while fidgeting.

"W-What? Is this too embarrassing for you? Well, you'll just have to—Mmph!?"

As I turn to face her, I am suddenly assaulted by a searing heat. It presses against my lips and then invades inside my mouth. It takes me several moments before I realize I've been kissed.

"Pwah…j-just what are you—!?"

Before I can finish my complaint, I find myself pushed down and staring upward at Master's flushed face.

"Sorry Melt-chan…I…after seeing you be so cute, I can't hold myself back any further" She says as she stares at me with fervent amber eyes.

"Hah…really, what an idiot master. I'm the queen of nectar and poison you know?" I warn with a sigh.

"Maybe…but you're also an irresistibly cute and beautiful girl" She responds.

"Such foolishness…yet I can't hate it"

"T-Then!?"

"But you know, right? I have a Neurological Disorder…"

It's a disorder that weakens my senses, especially my sense of touch. It is difficult for me to feel anything from physical contact. So…

"So…please make sure that I can really feel your touch. I want to feel all of you"

"…Gladly"

With those words, she lowers herself onto me and…

…Well, you don't need me to tell you what happened after that.

Epilogue: The Radiant One [Bond 10]

(Meltlilith)

"Hah…now that I look back on it all, we've really been through a lot"

I let out a sigh as I look over the record I've been keeping since coming to Chaldea. It's been a long and tough journey with all sorts of unexpected twists, but I've never been happier.

I'm resting in my room, which is decorated with figures and dolls I had commissioned from various servants at Chaldea. Some mementos of the various battles I've fought alongside Master and pictures taken by that nosy saint are also around. Sitting in the corner is also a giant plushy of Four.

Naturally, everything has been arranged perfectly by me.

*Knock* *Knock*

The sound of knocking is heard the moment I look up from the record. Lately I've been getting all sorts of visitors, both Chaldea staff and other Servants.

But I would never confuse this particular knock with anyone else's.

"…It's not locked, Master"

*Fshhhh*

As I turn to face the opening door, the expected red-orange hair and amber eyes of my Master come into view. She's grinning for some reason while hiding something from me behind her back.

"What's gotten into you? Did Nightingale-san give you an overly powerful injection?" I ask with my usual (caustic) tone.

"Tadaa! I come bearing presents, Melt-chan!"

With her self-satisfied grin growing even wider, my Master holds out what she was holding behind her back.

"…What's that supposed to be?"

It was a flower arrangement made up of purple lilies. It was clearly put together by an amateur, as the coordination was all off and it wasn't at all consistent in design.

"After the last mission, we happened to come across a field of lilies. Jeanne-chan and Medea-chan (Lily) taught me how to arrange them" Master explained happily, looking like an excited puppy "So, so, what do you think?"

"Hah…you're utterly hopeless."

"Eh?"

"A patch of weeds would look better than this mess. And even if you had arranged these lilies properly, what in the world would make you think I would like them? Flowers wither and rot away in an instant. They're nothing like the perfect, graceful beauty I admire" I declare bluntly.

"Ah…S-Sorry…I-I messed up..."

Ah, that expression of hers is just perfect. Her smile fades and she tries to hold back tears, not even realizing I can see right through her brave front. It's simply delightful. The slight tremble in her voice is also just too adorable.

Seeing her like this is sweeter than the most delicious dessert, more exciting than the finest work of art.

But…

"Really, for me to actually be this happy about receiving such a shoddy gift…it's clearly your fault. You better take responsibility for messing up my sense of aesthetics!"

…But that brilliant smile of hers, brighter than the sun and the stars put together, is infinitely more beautiful.

Disclaimer: The opinions of BB may not reflect those of the author. They also may do exactly that.

Jokes aside, I hope you enjoyed this. If you didn't, I'll refund you your $0 or equivalent in other currencies.

Thanks to taiboo on reddit for providing summaries so that I could actually understand what happened during the event.

Well until...Never, cause this is a one shot so there's no next chapter?