The sacred abs of glory. All hail to penth's perfect abs and forehead!!!

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Merlin POV

I stood watching the world from Avalon. Nothing ever really changed much. Everything seemed to be going well. I can't escape it due to a curse but there are times were I can sneak out for a bit. I would use it to visit a certain someone I had been seeing for a couple of months now. I was never really the type of person to get attached to women since I met the Lady of the Lake. Ever since then, and even when I was alive, I had the reputation of being a playboy. But ever since I met this woman, I began to feel different. Despite her finding out of my past.. she accepted it. Despite how much it pained her to find out how many times I cheated.. she still accepted me. I couldn't understand why. No matter how much she cried. No matter how many times she slept by herself at night. She wouldn't get together with another man. She wouldn't let me go. She would continue to believe in me. It seemed it was that time again.

Merlin: "I guess it's time to go"

I jumped from the balcony as I free falled down and closed my eyes. I started feeling the air hit my face. I opened my eyes to see the world beneath me as I prepared for my landing. Once I touched ground, I looked up to see the small little cottage house. Something fell off today. The sky was gray. The rain was just starting to pour lightly. The flowers weren't blooming like it would always bloom. I made my way to the door as I knocked on it. I waited for a couple of seconds before the response came.

??: "Oh.. it's you"

It was her older brother. He had tears running down his eyes.

Merlin: "Corrin? What are you-"

Corrin: "Don't come at me with bullshit!!"

He grabbed me from the collar of my coat as he held me with his head down.

Corrin: "How could you ignore the birth of your own child!!"

Merlin: "I had a son?"

Merlin: "Corrin, I was never made-"

Corrin: "Shut it!!"

He was starting to let his emotions out as his tears began to rain down his face. Thunder struck as it pour down intensely.

Merlin: "Corrin, where's your sister?"

Corrin: "She..."

He didn't finish his sentence for me to know what he was going to say. I shove him out the way as I make my way through the tiny house.

Merlin: "Carla!!"

I started searching every room until I went towards the last one. Before I opened it, I took a deep breath. Corrin had a drink as he stood on the entrance doorway as he cried. I pushed the door open slowly as I slowly started walking in.

Merlin: "Carla?"

I said in a soft voice as I saw her in bed with a child in her arms. She was extremely tired and visibly weak. I vividly reminded myself of what she looked like before and what she had last said to me.

Carla: "Merlin my love, there's something I want to talk to you about"

Merlin: "Carla?"

I walked up next to her as I put a hand on hers.

Carla: "Mer.. lin?"

Her weak voice felt like a dagger to the chest as I thought to myself how to help her. My head was too terrified off what might happen to her to think straight.

Merlin: "Yes, I'm here. My love, why.. why didn't you tell me-"

Carla: "You.. were always.. busy"

My heart felt like it was being torn apart as I could see her life slowly being taken.

Carla: "Take.. him.. take him.. to Avalon"

She started handing me a small child. I took a close look at him as he resembled me in almost every way, he had his mother's eyes though.

Carla: "Take.. care of.. Y/n.. please"

Merlin: "Of course, you'll be there too. I'll just take you with me-"

Carla: "No.. Merlin, I'm too.. weak"

She placed a hand on my cheek.

Carla: "You're.. still.. as handsome.. as the first day.. I saw you.."

Merlin: "Carla, don't say that. I'll take you-"

She robbed me a kiss as her head slowly fell back onto her pillow with a smile.

Carla: "I love you.. Merlin"

Those were her last words as she had gone onto the afterlife.

How.. how could I have been so stupid!!.. I left her all alone. She never.. gave up on me, despite knowing everything about me...

The boy in my hands began to cry. It was almost as if he too knew his mother wasn't here anymore. I held him close to me as I heard a bang behind me.

Corrin: "Curse that child!! He's a murderer!!"

He drew out his sword as he aimed it at me.

Corrin: "If she had never met you, she would still have been here!!!"

He reeked of alcohol.

Merlin: "Corrin, put the sword down-"

Corrin: "Shut it Merlin!!! Because of you!! My sister's gone"

His voice cracked on the last part.

Corrin: "You.. you took my sister.."

He fell down to one knee as his tears ran down his cheeks.

Corrin: "You... you and that child must die!!"

He ran up to us. I dodged his attacks with my staff as I pushed him back. With the child in my hands, I tapped my staff on the ground as a circle appeared. Before he can deliver a finishing blow, our bodies turn to flowers as we dissapear.

Corrin: "MERLIN!!!!"

He screamed into the sky as we escape.

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Back in Avalon

I arrive back as I fall down to my knees. For the first time, I fell something run down my face. I go to see what it was. It was a clear liquid. Another fell onto my hand as I come to the realization of what was happening to me. I was crying. I couldn't contain my emotions any longer as I hold onto the child in my arms. The pain in my chest continued to get worse with every memory that came. Everytime we would lay in the grass as I brought her a rose to her nose. The smile she would get everytime I did that same stupid joke.

More tears ran down my face.

Carla: "Hey Merlin?"

Merlin: "Yes my love?"

Carla: "I was thinking about something.."

Merlin: "About what?"

Carla: "I.. always wanted to be a mother.."

Merlin: "A mother?! We haven't even gotten married?!"

Carla: "I know. Merlin my love, there's something I want to tell you about"

Merlin: "What might that be?!"

Carla: "I know it's probably too early.. but I want to be yours.. forever"

Merlin: "Are you implying you want-"

Carla: "Yes. I wish to do it with you"

I cover my face with the palm of my hands as I try to control myself but I couldn't. My tears wouldn't stop rushing.

Merlin: ".. Remember what I-"

Carla: "I know.. I don't care. I don't care about your past. Merlin"

Merlin: "Yes"

Carla: "I love you"

Merlin: "NOOOOOO!!!"

Painful memories rushed into my head as I scream in agony. The times when I came home drunk. When she would find out I cheated. The fake smile she would make. She knew and still.. why.. why would she still stay by my side? Why did she fix me up when I'd come bruised? Why? I punched the ground.

Merlin: "I.. I was so stupid!!"

I say in anger. It appeared I moved too much as the baby began to cry too. I stop and bring the baby closer to me.

Merlin: "I'm sorry.. it wasn't your fault.. it was da-.. it was my fault"

In tears, I still tried to do my best to calm him down. I began to lightly sing him a little tune.

Merlin: "I'm sorry.. Don't worry.. Dad.. Daddy's here"

Carla: "Mer.. lin.."

Merlin: "Yes my love?"

Carla: "Take.. care of.. Y/n.. please"

Merlin: "Of course my love.. I'll take care of him"

Not even the happy utopia of Avalon seemed to sparkle as it did. It felt like it knew my pain. For just that one day.. just that single day.. The flowers did not bloom. The sky was not as beautiful as it always is. The walls of the tower did not have the same lively mood it would usually would. The entirity of Avalon mourned. My soul felt like it was torn to pieces that day.

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??: "Take this!!"

Merlin: "OOF!!"

My eyes shot open as a pillow hit me in the gut.

??: "Come on old man!!"

Merlin: "Who are you calling old?!"

I stand up from my seat as I chase the little rascal. I finally catch him as I pick him up and put him on my shoulders.

??: "About time you wake up"

Merlin: "What's the hurry Y/n?"

Y/n: "I want to go see mom"

It had been 8 years since the events had happened. I could still feel the guilt as it's the one thing I regret ever doing.

Merlin: "Alright, hold on tight kid"

I jump off as I fall through towards the ground. In front of us was the small house that we would stay at before Y/n's birth. Beside it was a small grave with the statue of a beautiful woman over it. I let him down as he rushes to it.

Y/n: "Mom!!"

He runs over to it as a small illusion appears.

Carla: "How are you baby?"

He runs up to her with a big embrace.

Y/n: "Good, dad's been teaching me a lot of awesome tricks!!!"

Carla: "Oh? Why don't you show me a few"

Y/n started off by showing her his ability to grow flowers. He made F/T [Flower Type] as he gave her one.

Carla: "Wow, what a beauty"

Y/n: "I'm pretty good right?"

He gave her a big grin. He spent the next couple of minutes showing her all of the spells and chants I've been teaching him since he became my apprentice.

Carla: "If you keep this up, you might be as good of a magus as your father is"

Merlin: "He's got skill"

Carla: "My love"

Merlin: "Hello"

I had a fake smile on my face. Y/n gave her a hug as he looked down.

Y/n: "I miss you"

Carla: "I miss you all the time"

Y/n: "Why can't you come with us? Avalon is really fun"

Carla: "Unfortunately I can't, I can't tell you why at the moment. I'll tell you in the future"

Y/n: "Ok... I love you mom"

Carla: "Love you too"

Her right hand began to slowly turn to flowers as she put it behind her.

Merlin: "I think it's time to go. Say bye to your mom"

Y/n: "Alright"

He jumped and gave her a kiss on the cheek as he ran over to me.

Y/n: "Bye mom!!!"

Carla: "Bye. I love you"

She smiled as she turned to flowers. I always cast a spell on him to be able to see her when we come. Is it cruel of me to not tell him the truth? Probably. I just don't want him to live without a mother in his life. This burden hurts but it's something I must carry with me until the day he's ready. Once we arrive back at Avalon, a familiar face is there.

Y/n: "Saber!!"

He runs up to her as she picks him up and spins with him in the air.

Saber: "How was your trip?"

Y/n: "It was awesome!! I showed mom all my tricks. You should of seen her face"

Saber: "I'm sure she was happy just to see you"

She looked at me and gave me a disappointed look. She knew of what happened but agreed she wouldn't tell him. I just.. don't want him to be hurt. I slap myself with both my hands as I walk over to them.

Merlin: "Come on, time to eat"

Saber: "Shirou already made food. I was just waiting for you two"

Y/n: "Yes!! Mr. Shirou's food is the best!! You have an awesome boyfriend Saber"

Saber blushes a little as she fiddles with her hair. I chuckle a little as we head inside.