Camelot was much closer than anyone might have guessed. Both Dabi and Hagakure were fully prepared for another session of wandering haplessly through the swamp, which thankfully, didn't happen. In fact, The odd trio was basically swept into the city they were looking for not ten minutes after they left the little village.

It started with a few partiers, people who were obviously having the time of their lives as they sang songs and stumbled towards the gates, obviously several drinks in already. But before long, it had turned into a crowd of boisterous happy people who were going towards the castle.

They were jostled about and at one point Kai doubled over after having an elbow thrown into his gonads, but no one cared Dabi and Hagakure were both far too happy that they finally had a direction they could go this time.

No more wandering through the swamp and sleeping while covered in mud, leaving one eye open in case the stupid swamp spiders decided to attack again, and never bathing. They had no idea what kind of life (Y/N) had been living while she was gone this time, but it couldn't be as bad as that had been.

The procession wound through the city, every street more opulent than the last as they got closer to the castle.

There were jugglers, street food, magic shows, games, and lights that managed to make the whole place seem ethereal, even during the day.

None of the three were unaffected, Hagakure was gasping quietly to herself with every new sight and Kai was right there with her, their hands intertwined as they took turns squeezing gently to grab the other's attention.

Dabi was no less excited, as much as he tried to hide it. He'd never been allowed to go to street festivals as a kid, and even when he went as a teen, it wasn't this... magical.

All three were pulled in different directions as they continued forward slowly, Hagakure wandered off to go watch a duel, Kai pretty much sprinted into a library, and Dabi got everyone food from the dozens of stalls. Sure, it was more food than they could eat on their own, but it had the feel of all of their favorite comfort foods mixed with grease and thrown together with an American flair.

By the time they reached the gates of the palace, all three people had their faces painted, which was especially exciting for Hagakure, who was grinning uncontrollably with the face of a mouse hovering in the air (the look on the poor man's face as he painted was worth the price). They were also holding at least one food that would probably kill a horse if enough was eaten, but it was just so... good... You don't know love until you've tried fried cheese wrapped around a curry bun.

Or an Elephant Ear... Or that mystery meat that was probably laced with crack...

Really, just any of the food. It was all too good.

For the first time in a good long while, all three people were happy. Hagakure was laughing genuinely, Dabi was grinning as he laughed at something stupid, and, beneath that mask, Kai was grinning too. It was a beautiful world with none of the expectations attached to it that their original world held.

"Ladies and Gentlemen!" An enhanced voice boomed around them, enveloping the whole crowd and driving any stragglers through the gates.

The voice was coming from a podium close to the base of the castle with eleven empty chairs and one empty throne. In front of the chairs was a man waving his arms to get everyone's attention. He was handsome, his long brown hair practically sparkling in the sun and a grin lighting up his face that some might call sexy... Something about it made Dabi want to sock him, he looked like the definition of a player.

On top of everything else was the armor he was wearing, silver with gold embellishments that identified him as someone important.

"Thank you one and all for coming on this beautiful day, today we celebrate our kingdom and all those who have sacrificed to make it what it is today! Eat, drink, and celebrate, for Arthur Pendragon is your king!"

A cheer rose up as many people lifted flagons into the air, more than happy to go along with the toast.

"Of course, you didn't come here to listen to your Sir Gawain ramble on about how beautiful the day is, nor how beautiful the ladies present are!" With a flirtatious wink, he secured himself the title of 'Uncontrollable Douchbag' for all three. They didn't even half to talk about it, it was just fact.

Unfortunately, the rest of the crowd was eating it up, several women fainted as he winked, and it took Hagakure grabbing both Kai and Dabi's arms to stop them from storming out of the hellhole this place was becoming.

He did a few more glamour winks as he turned to show off all sides (it was a pity that even the men were into it with how ripped he was) but eventually, someone decided they'd had enough too and the man jerked forward as though he'd been hit in the back of the head. Which, honestly was the best thing that'd happened so far.

His head snapped forward into whatever he had been using to amplify his voice and people cringed as the screech of electric feedback scratched at their ears... Not a pleasant feeling, but he seemed to get the hint as he cleared his throat.

"Ehm, yes, well enough of that. It's sad to say, but today is a day for you, and for us to give back to our wonderful people. Now, please join me in welcoming the true star of the show, and one of the most beautiful people here, His Majesty Arthur Pendragon!"

An orange-haired knight fully stepped onto the stage in full gold armor, an easy smile and strong stature showing exactly why he was king. For a moment, Kai went red as he stared, but managed to pull himself together before Dabi saw (Hagakure saw, she would remember this). He wasn't traditionally handsome, but the way the women in front were crying, one would think they'd seen God. He waved a few times before settling in the throne.

Gawain let the applause die down for a moment and a hush spread across the crowd, they were waiting for something... Or someone.

"You know her, you're terrified of her, you all secretly want to know how that coat stays in place so well; The Lady Merlin! And... her assistant."

The wild difference in how he announced the two people was lost as a purple smoke began to cover the stage, lilac smoke.

(Y/N)'s smoke.

Dabi and Hagakure were the only two who had any real association with the smoke, so of course they both flinched as though they'd been hit as it rolled across the stage and dripped into the crowd, like a bad omen.

Was... was it really this easy? They'd been through so much since she'd disappeared, so was (Y/N) really going to pop up this easily? It felt like a dream and a nightmare all at once, but that thought was blown away as the light around the stage began to bend, fractals splintering off as the air itself unfolded to show two more women on the stage, staring out at the crowd like gods among men, their appearance showing an otherworldly factor that had the whole crowd gasping.

Merlin was in front, her outfit the same as ever, as she smiled, looking for all the world like she knew everything, yet wouldn't tell any of it, no matter how much you begged. The tattoo that Dabi and Hagakure could recognize from a mile away proudly presented on her neck.

Behind her, was (Y/N). But... not the (Y/N) they remembered.

For one, your eyes were literally streaming out smoke, lilac and yellow mixing together gently as it drifted lazily upwards. Your eyes were piercing as you looked out, between that and the stern gaze you had, you looked every inch like an avenging angel, here to punish the masses.

Your outfit was certainly not one anyone might have expected. An elegant dark purple dress clung to you like water, the neckline plunging to reach clear down to your navel and a slit in the dress reached clear to your hip. It was so different from what you would normally wear that Dabi and Hagakure could only stare. You looked like a warrior... A warrior who was definitely coming to tear out the throats of anyone who got on your bad side.

And to think, you were the same person who had been arguing with Meliodas only a few weeks ago about the tavern uniforms being too revealing.

They didn't even notice the fact that the Douchbag was speaking and other knights were coming up to the stage, they couldn't keep their eyes off you, who was sitting next to Merlin.

Wait... was Merlin pulling you closer to her? What??? Was that a blush on your face????

Oh my god...

As for you, you hadn't been this embarrassed in quite some time. This morning had been bad enough, waking up at the crack of dawn as Merlin dragged you out of bed and physically tossed you at the maids.

The bitch even turned around and went back to sleep after you left, which was somehow so much worse. She didn't even give you a chance to cuddle, as had become your routine...

You swore you'd get her back, but that would have to be after a much-needed nap.

No, the next eight hours consisted of being poked and prodded, washed a million times in strange oils that you both loved and hated, and being squeezed into a dress that showed everything.

Don't get you wrong, it was fucking gorgeous, and the way it paired with your smoke and hair worked wonders, but you didn't recognize yourself when you looked in the mirror.

There was some vixen there who looked ready to devour a new victim, and when Merlin came to save you, you could see exactly what she thought of the outfit, her eyes tracking you around the room hungrily.

Yes, your relationship had become exactly what it sounds like. It scared the shit out of you at first, but after having a nice long conversation about how neither of you were looking for anything serious right now and how you still wanted to go home...

It just happened and that's why Merlin practically had you sitting on her lap in front of all of Camelot.

Was it a good reason? Not really, as far as you were concerned, but it was... fine. Everything was fine... You'd just shrivel up and die of embarrassment later.

Though, you could do without the wolf whistles from every one of Arthurs knights whenever you walked into the room. That was annoying.

The worst part about it (you were ranting now, perhaps it bothered you more than you thought) was that you wouldn't even be allowed to go explore the festival now. You'd really been looking forward to that, but apparently nearing being killed because you got to see the beginning of civilization for this world meant that you weren't to be trusted.

It was stupid.

You'd even gotten better at controlling where you ended up! Like... You still sneezed all the fucking time, but you could direct it better, so it was definite progress. Merlin was just being a possessive jerk... A possessive jerk whose hand was currently running a hand gently up and down your side....

Oh god...

"I see something interesting." She crooned in your eye, sending more shivers down your back.

You could barely focus on what she was saying, everything was just blending together so nicely into a quiet drone. "Hmm?" It was a needy sound, but no one else would be able to hear it, so fuck it.

"Yeah. Look straight ahead and slightly to the left, back near the gate?"

What kind of new game was this? Your eyes struggled to focus, but when Merlin told you to do something, you knew she expected a coherent answer. You scanned over the crowd, trying to see anything besides the endless waves of faces, all paying attention to Gawain, who was still flirting with the crowd.

Where was her hand going? Oh... A blush rushed across your face as you desperately tried to stop the reaction from forcing its way through.

"Focus, (Y/N). You'll regret it if you don't."

At this point, you couldn't begin to tell when Merlin was being serious and when she was being seductive. It was always better to just assume the worst and hope for the best.

Once more you made the effort to focus on the crowd, looking for anything out of the ordinary. There were drunk partiers, kids sitting on their parent's shoulders, an asshole holding a sign right in the front.

Wait.

You stiffened as you made eye contact with a familiar pair of electric blue eyes. Eyes that you hadn't seen since you'd been forced to go to Camelot. Dabi.

There was a split second where the whole world felt silent as you stared at each other, he was dirty and obviously exhausted, but he was here. There was an empty space next to him that you had to assume was Hagakure, and next to that was...

Holy shit.

It was those eyes you'd seen when you first started working with Merlin in that weird-ass machine. Holy shit.

The longer you stared at him, the more your shock rose. That bird mask... The eyes and a stupid purple feather lining on his coat that had seen better days... You'd gotten into enough conversations with that stuck-up hero Nighteye to get under his skin.

Not that you minded, he got under your skin too with how he actively wanted to lock you up, but that stick in the mud did tell you one thing.

The description of a certain member of the Mafia he'd been looking for.

Merlin's machine had only given you a vague face to work with, but this was definitely Overhaul and somehow, you'd brought him into this world.

Huh,

Normally, you'd feel bad about this, but he sounded like a real piece of work, which helped soothe your guilty soul. At least it wasn't another student this time, or that odd potato you'd seen... twice now.

You smiled at Dabi, not wanting to draw any more attention to you than sitting in the lap of the Kingdom's heartthrob was already bringing you. His eyebrow rose and you could practically hear his question lingering in the air. What's with her?

Ah Dabi, he thought you were so innocent... I mean, you were, but that didn't mean you couldn't have a fuck buddy on the side. It's not like you could explain that to him now, so you settled for shivering.

You'd meant to shrug, but a stroke of Merlin's magic chose that moment to drift lazily up your inner thigh, so the shiver was what came out.

"Not here." You hissed, trying to keep your blush from worsening.

Merlin's chuckle was downright devilish, she knew exactly what she was doing and what you meant. Being obtuse was her favorite fucking game, "But I missed you." It was a response that would have seemed reasonable and sincere from anyone else, but this was Merlin you were talking about. If she was serious, danger was near.

"He looks... worse for wear."

You were thinking out loud more than anything, but Merlin still nodded against your shoulder, "If I had to guess, I would say they went through the Serpents' Swamp."

"Is that bad?"

"People don't normally survive it, it's notoriously deadly. He seems like a powerful one, as does the child next to him."

You nodded, Hagakure hid it, but she was strong, "I think you'd like her, she has a lot of layers."

"The one next to her... He seems... Sure of himself."

Oh god... You coughed to hide your laughter, "He does, doesn't he? Definitely a fuckboy, if you ask me."

Merlin smiled gently as her name was mentioned by Gawain, "What's a fuckboy?" Her confusion was so genuine that you couldn't stop your laughter this time. How do you even explain a phrase like that?

Thankfully, you were saved from answering by Arthur standing up and facing the crowd.

Finally, Merlin and Arthur had been teasing you that there was an announcement coming soon, something that you would be greatly affected by. You'd tried over and over to get them to tell you what was going on, but they didn't break, just saying over and over again that they wanted you to be surprised.

"People of Camelot." This... was a different Arthur than you saw in practice every day, there was no amount of teasing or humor in his voice. He sounded strong and sure of himself... Like a real king.

You might actually believe that if you didn't see him crumbling under Merlin's taunts every day. Or how he would squeak in indignation when you beat him at something to do with training. That kinda ruined the whole 'kingly presence' he had going on.

"We are not a large nation, but we have strength. In order to be the Kingdom we are destined to be, we must help our allies when they are in need and stand up against those who seek to tear our loved ones down!"

"At the moment, the Kingdom of Liones is in danger from itself, there are corrupt forces chipping at the very core of that noble Kingdom and we must help! As such, I will be taking a small force of some of my most trusted men and going to assist Liones as they attempt to fight of those making it weak."

Wait, what?

"Never fear, though I will be gone, I will be leaving this kingdom in the hands of my comrades and knights that have proven their worth time and time again. My knights, Lancelot and Gawain, will take direct control, though the others will assist them. I will not be gone for long, but I assure you that they will bring prosperity and peace to the Kingdom in my absence."

(Did I only name those two because they're the only two Knights of the Round Table that I can remember right now? Maybe, but that's beside the point.)

You know, of all the things you expected, going to assist in retaking control of another kingdom, was not it...

"Merlin?" You asked quietly, "Does this mean what I think it means?"

"Camelot, I leave you to go to war!"

Shit.