The Clock Tower Guild: Reunited.
…
Disclaimer: I do not gain currency from this endeavor.
…
My head was throbbing painfully, and I was sure that wasn't supposed to be happening. Looking around didn't alleviate the problem, though I most assuredly didn't know where the hell I was…
Come to think of it, I didn't know anything at the moment. Now, that I was quite sure was not a good thing. Granted, I could be somewhere I knew like the back of my hand, I wouldn't know any better because I didn't have any knowledge that pertained to my situation.
Still, I'm sure that there was a word for my status somewhere, and that there wasn't actually any reason to panic. Well… not panic too much anyways, maybe just enough panic to stoke the engine towards a certain direction. It would've been nice, though, if I knew a direction to go toward.
Anyways, I was in a forest and was covered in a large amount of needles and pines. I could only imagine that whatever happened left me unconscious, since that amount of foliage didn't just fall over night. Maybe a week or so would do the job… well now I was most defiantly panicking. A week unconscious? That was most certainly a bad sign.
What kind of person was I? If no one bothered to look for me in a week? That was just depressing to think about.
Not the best outlook I've ever had on a situation, but maybe there was something in my pockets that could tell me who I was? The pants I was wearing most certainly had things inside the pockets, I could feel them through the rough denim cloth. I found a wallet in my pocket and a few pieces of paper with numbers on them.
Finding ID though, made me far more relieved than the amount of money I seemed to have.
Shirou Emiya, with a bunch of un-intelligible numbers below it. I was sure that there was some sort of connection to myself and those numbers, but I just slotted it into things that I would figure out later. A picture accompanied it, and a quick check of my hair color did ascertain that I had one similar to the man in the picture.
London, England. The words made me grimace, and an odd feeling welled up in me. Despite the fact I knew it was a place and that was probably where I came from, I felt more than a small amount of loathing for it. I couldn't have been born there, that's for sure, but I probably lived there for reasons unknown.
Maybe I can find someone to point me toward London, England? Maybe there I would be able to find out who I was. I was unable to ward of the thought that I might have been quite the jerk or outcast, given the fact I was in the middle of a forest for an entire week, but any identity was better than none. I could always just act more nicely once I got back, not a very big deal.
Now which way to go… I studied my surroundings, and determined that the path with the least amount of foliage was the best to go. I was glad to find tracks, but even more so when I found myself able to determine that it was a large animal of sorts, and was headed towards a certain direction at fast speeds.
So I followed at a steady pace, such a large animal was probably spiked and would attack me one sight-.
A large group of men were haranguing a massive beast that was covered in fur and bound in muscle. It's arms easily made up most of its body mass, while it's legs were mere stumps connected to the beast's abdomen. It seemed intent on bypassing the men armed with little more than –halberds- and move towards the row of covered wagons they stood between.
"Stay your ground!" One of the men wore a copper pot upon his head, something that irked me for reason's unknown. "We must not let it get to the women and children!"
Suddenly, I wanted to help them quite badly. I didn't know why, but the mention of their plight just drove me to immediately aid them.
I couldn't though, I needed something that could work against the beast. The weapons the men used to stab at it didn't pierce its tough hide. The beast was slowly getting more and more angered in fact. I couldn't fight it without a-
Something embedded itself into my side, and I blinked as I took it in. A seven and a half feet in length, it was taller and larger than myself. Made by a blacksmith for a clan that sought to reunite a country, it clove through armor and beast, developing a liking to both. The man who wielded it with great skill and ferocity, was a giant that strode into battle with only the blade on his shoulder.
It was perfect for the job.
A cacophony of yells and my attention returned to the number of men that was sent flying from a swipe of the beasts massive arms. The men clutched at their arms, or chests and I knew they would not be able to get back up. The few men that managed to dodge were terrified, and the one who called out for fortitude was the only one not shaking.
Didn't have much time, I didn't know what the time was for, but I knew that I didn't have much. I had to go on instinct, and instinct told me I needed to climb the damn tree to my right and do it now.
I didn't expect it to be easy, but it was. My fingers dug into the wood with ease and I launched myself up with the blade in my right hand. The blade was heavy, but since I could carry it in one hand, I should've not been surprised that I was able to scale a pine tree with the other.
I can only wonder what the hell I did before I woke up a few minutes ago, but whatever crazed individual I had been most assuredly knew his way around a fight. My instincts told me everything I needed to know, and the best way to save lives.
I leapt from my perch on a branch, yelling for all I was worth to gain the creatures attention. If it took a few more steps toward the wagons, I would have been left open from my leap. The same would be the case if the creature took a step to either side.
I was utterly surprised when it immediately turned towards me and roared right back. I almost forgot to bring the blade down to cleave the beast in two because of my surprise.
How the hell did I know that beast would respond to my yell? What kind of idiot was I to yell at monsters so often that it was basically instinct? There was absolutely no way that what I did was considered normal in any respect. Maybe I wasn't looked for because I was some sort of arrogant jerk, but because I was crazed beyond all sense!
The groans of men brought me out of my extrapolations before my amnesia. Best take care of others before settling my own issues, I didn't even sprain my ankle from the thirty foot leap. I planted the sword in the ground, and left to help the wounded.
…
"Thank you kind sir." The leader of the group stated, tilting his stray hat as his wife attended to his sprained ankle. He may not have been overtly injured like many of the others, but in his dodge he had lost his ability to walk with ease. "I don't think me and my family can ever repay you, mage."
"Mage?" I inquired with a frown, crossing my arms over the coat I was wearing. I noted the fact my clothing was very different from the rest of the men and women that tended the convoy. All their clothing seemed to be of lesser quality, but far rougher and efficient. Women and men both sported brown trousers, white tunics and thick vests. Granted, I was sure the women all needed the vest given their common… buxomness.
"You can't be anything else boy!" The old man guffawed, slapping his thigh. The action proved detrimental as it caused his wife to drive his foot into the chassis he sat upon. "You must be one of them shy ones, eh? Just helping around, and wandering without a guild?"
"Guild?" I asked, I was familiar with the term that meant a group of people working together in an effort to create price control, but I was still curious about what it entailed. "What's that?"
The two caravan travelers looked at me owlishly, I had no idea what that was, as though I was some sort of oddity.
"Did you hit your head or something, lad?" The man questioned gruffly. "Or have you been living under a rock for the last couple of centuries?"
"I wouldn't actually know either way." I admitted wryly, getting confused looks from both of the apparent leaders of the small group. "I woke up around ten minutes ago."
"You have no clue where you are?" The blonde woman inquired with a frown. She patted the man's ankle and he groaned in pain as he lifted himself in a far more comfortable position.
"Nope." I supplied my answer, before figuring I might as well ask someone who knew where they were where I supposedly lived. "Do you guys happen to know the way to London, England?"
The couple suddenly froze and exchanged a look.
"Exactly like the stories." The husband stated with wide eyes.
"There are two of them?" The wife questioned, a small amount of what I identified as awe in her voice.
"She saved our entire village." The man gave a deft nod to his wife, and suddenly snapped the reins of the two horses that guided the carriages. There was obviously some sort of hidden man-to-wife conversation I wasn't picking up.
"We have a person back at our village that's been asking around for London, England as well." The woman explained as she gestured for me to follow her. We went past numerous wagons, until we were at the very end where there was no more than sacks of potatoes present. "She can't remember anything about herself too, appeared out of nowhere with no memories in the middle of the night. Had her for around a week until an attack by trolls like the one you killed , forced her to tear through 'em. She's been keeping the beasts away, but she's been getting antsy of late. Reckon she wants to find London, England rather than stay."
Someone like me? With no memories at all? I would have to be lying to say that I wasn't curios.
"So I'll be going with you then?" I surmised and the woman gave a deft nod.
"Least we can do after you saved our lives, I'll go grab your sword and we can be on our way." The woman turned around to search for my blade, and I was about to ask her to let me help when she froze stiff.
"It's gone." She said in amazement. "You didn't even call anything out about Re-quip."
"What's Re-quip?" I frowned at both the term that didn't jolt up any memories, as well as the lack of sword in my possession. No one could have stolen it without aid, but my subconscious told me to not worry about the massive blade in the slightest.
"She doesn't know the terms of magic as well!" The woman gushed, obviously happy for reasons unknown to myself. "Gods, I'm so glad we can finally repay her for everything she's done for us!"
Something in the back of my mind told me to just not talk any further, and that women were naturally like that.
…
If I had been convinced of the hospitality I had been offered, I thoroughly disbelieved in it now. The entire ride was ridiculously uncomfortable, the road traveled was bumpy beyond belief and the sacks of potatoes exacted vengeance upon me rather than the ones who drove the wagon. I was quite sure that there was plenty of space in the other wagons, but they insisted I stay in the one that only held bags of raw tubers. They might as well have been rocks in any case.
I wasn't all that grateful for the ride, since I was sporting a few bruises from the more tumultuous events of the journey. Fifty pound bags of potatoes were no joke in terms of their potential to harm someone in a moving vehicle. I wouldn't wish such a journey on anyone, too much continuous pain, suffering, and uncomfortable seating. I doubted I will ever have it in me to ever accept a ride from some strangers ever again.
In hindsight, that was probably a life lesson that I had previously forgotten.
I was thankful to whatever gods the woman praised when the caravan stopped and I dug myself out of the pile of sacks I had created refuge in. Though it was uncomfortable to lie underneath a mountain of burlap sacks filled with rock-hard tubers, it was an easier way to go about things rather than continuously getting a bag rammed into my face.
Outside of the insulation provided by a mountain of potatoes, I was able to hear where I actually was. The sounds of running water, yells of market stalls, and the giggles of children made me ascertain we were at whatever destination where the caravan headed. Or at least I hoped it was, I would gladly leave and make my own way in the world rather than stay in the caravan. The amount of interest I had in rediscovering my past didn't match up to the continuous frustration I was receiving at the hands of these travelers.
I doubted I was anyone of importance given the crazed mentality I must have had in order to have such reflexes in battle. There was no way I had a normal life that lacked any sort of monsters of beasts, and I was honestly very interested in some peace and quiet.
"Sir!" The same woman who led me to the hell I had been withstanding the last few hours suddenly came into my field of vision. I was sorely tempted to grasp the woman by her shoulders and throw her into the wagon as I made my dash for freedom. The look on her face, however, made me pause in my execution of vengeance. "A dark guild is attempting to kidnap your fellow! You must get to her aid as quickly as possible!"
I was already out of the wagon, when I realized that I didn't even think about what I was heading into. Did I never think things through? The hell, my body was going before I even though about anything! This was unfair!
Since my body was making a beeline for the sounds of concussive force, I began to wonder how the heck I would be able to fight something called a 'dark' guild. The name was oddly threatening, despite there being no difference other than an insinuation that it was evil. Maybe mages who promoted higher prices for their services than the common guild acceptance? They'd be ostracized like workers that weren't in a union.
Augh, such a terrible world we live in.
Maybe I can reason with them? I didn't like the idea of making someone conform with the larger branches of society, something told me that wasn't good per say. There was probably some sort of taboo about making someone conform to society's strict standards and averages, and the 'dark' guild were just misunderstood and wanted to change all of it.
I reached the area of the city that was fairly destroyed, and a woman wearing a hooded cloak like myself was exchanging fire with four other mages. Though I was sure that exchanging fire meant some sort of fighting term that I did not readily recognize, it didn't actually pertain to the situation. The groups were literally exchanging fire, from their hands, towards the opposing group.
In all honesty, it didn't really seem like the person dressed somewhat like myself actually needed any help whatsoever.
Something latched onto my foot.
"Please man." The man was badly signed, and seemed to be lacking in clothing. He didn't seem badly hurt, but I'm sure his modesty would be in jeopardy if he got up. Quite the effective way of handling an enemy if I had to admit to myself. "We gave up thirty minutes ago, stop your guild mate already…"
I blinked at that sudden proclamation. Guild mate? Was there some sort of uniform towards guilds. The large number of unconscious and crawling men did sport somewhat similar clothing, though the ones still fighting sported far different attire. They must be the leaders, since leaders had to dress differently to differentiate themselves from the common rabble.
Well, the fastest way to go about things would be to knock the last opponents out. I knew it wasn't wise to interrupt combat, since it would lead to something along the lines of grave injuries, so talking with my apparent colleague would have to wait until after the fight.
I needed something that could easily knock out an enemy-
The man grasping my leg shrieked as a blade fell from nowhere and landed between his face and my ankle. It was a reversed edge nodachi that was nearly as lengthy as I was tall. Still, I needed to make sure my isnticts told me wasn't a lie as I picked it up.
"Hey, man." The man stammered as I brought the blade up. "I swear I'll go to another guild, please don't-."
The 'thunk' as it fell on his head was immensely satisfying, and his eyes rolled up the back of his head. The story I heard in my head, about the weapon being crafted for some sort of state official that detested bloodshed and the coming of new weapons from the west seemed to be true. The weapon was made to wear down a target, and it's legend knocked a target out with the finishing blow, even if the fatal side was used.
I had a feeling that I didn't use the weapon as often as I'd liked. I also surmised that weapons popping up to suit whatever situation at hand was also not a regular occurrence. Mind you, I say that while four ostentatiously dressed people exchanged fire with a person who may or may not know who the heck I am.
For some odd reason, I was more panicked at the realization that I wasn't panicked than everything else.
The one shouting orders to the other three suddenly pulled out a key of sorts, and a massive cow wielding an axe appeared out of nowhere. A quick exchange of words ensued, as the other three defended the two. The man-cow thing didn't exactly looked pleased, but he began to barrel towards the person wearing a coat just like myself. The woman raised her hand and launched a massive wall of flame that emanated heat all the way to where I watched from the ruins of home.
The large, spotted beast cut through the wall with a massive swing of its axe, and i knew I had to move.
Once again, I found myself already moving before I finished that thought. Seems like when it came to saving lives, my body acted before I could keep it in control.
Still that axe was massive, and the way I was going would lead me getting chopped in half. The nodachi wasn't exactly the best weapon to block an axe of that size and weight-.
A short sword suddenly appeared from nowhere, falling right in front of me, I grasped it in one hand and knew that it would hold. The epicenter of its capability law around the fact the man who wielded it held off an entire army singlehandedly. The only thing that would matter is if I could hold my body to block the axe the beast was carrying around.
The very literal axe was just about to cleave my source of information in two, when I suddenly felt as though my body was weightless. One second I was ten paces away, the next the axe was coming down on me after I pushed the woman away. I couldn't aptly describe the feeling, only that it was as though every movement I did was effortless, and I was accessing some sort of energy and feeding it to my body.
I didn't just block the blade. The skill of the legionnaire that used it, along with my newfound strength allowed me to parry the attack. I batted it away and left my opponent stumbling. The reversed edge in my right hand, demanded that I use both my hands in my next attack, so I dropped the blade and allowed its history to show me what I needed to do.
It was made differently, the weapon twice as heavy as the regular blades. It made it difficult to parry, and allowed its user to live out his full life. At the edge of that life, all his skill and strength allowed him to utilize the blade in a way that made him unbeatable.
The beast was obviously skilled in fighting, and gathered its wits within that second I verified what needed to be done. The massive cow-man swung his blade from the right, and I reciprocated. The blade would easily snap any other blade used against it, but an axe was much stronger than a sword. It was a good thing the technique didn't rely on the opponent wielding a sword.
The middle of my blade hit where metal and wood met, and the point of impact shattered. The head of the axe barely missed me as the it had yet to pass the point where it would hit me once it reached the apex of its swing… I didn't even question how I knew that…
That left the rest of my blade to catch the cow-man on his right abdominal side. The technique of the old swordsman running through my brain, I turned around and changed the direction dull blade upwards and swung. The dull blade met resistance where the cow-mans' arm met his torso, the weight of it far greater than what the technique was supposed to be for but that didn't deter me. I was far stronger than the man who wielded it in his prime anyway.
The blade sent the cow flying up, and when there was no longer any weight on the blade the blade shouted at me to leap and strike at the sky. I did, and the dull edge met the cow-man's frame again. A normal blade would've killed if the technique was utilized, but that wasn't the point. The original user wanted to show his comrades, that blades were still superior to any other weapon, even when they were forged in a way they could not kill.
Being in the air, I could strike at my opponent as much as I freely liked. The man named the succession of strikes, Blooming Lotus, as his opponents received eight slashed that gauged their skin, arranged like the flower
I wasn't all too surprised to find the name apt, as each strike did leave a deep gauge behind without remorse or qualm. The eight strike turned the massive monster into a blinding flash of light.
"There's two of them!?" Was the first yell I detected as I landed upon the rubble covered ground. The group of men and women that had been attacking my source of information suddenly looked quite a bit more fearful.
The woman I saved got up, as I had pushed her down to make sure the axe didn't strike her. Our eyes met and her brow raised as she gestured at the axe head that was meter inches from where she had lain. I really should've paid more attention to the trajectory of that axe, I almost killed the person I set out to help.
The brown haired women tossed her pony tail over her shoulder, and pulled back the leather glove on her right hand. The tiny smirk that suddenly settled her face put my nerves on the edge.
"And here I thought that I would be friendly and fight you on your own terms." Her voice was deceptively sweet, a dull tone telling me of the frank indifference of the four trembling magi opposite of us. I was surprised to find myself throwing my lot with her immediately, but something told me that my life was forfeit otherwise. I obviously knew who she was, and what she did before my sudden loss of memory. "But you bring out a beast to kill me, as I allowed your men to live. I believe that actions stipulates that the games end now."
A fierce gale suddenly picked up, and the look on my accomplice's face turned into something akin to a crazed grin. Far too many teeth were shown in that smile, to really be considered anything but utterly terrifying. The hand she had tightened the glove upon was suddenly surrounded by visible wind, a whirling vortex that made it hard to breath.
She cocked back her fist, and my body leapt behind a stone wall without my instruction. I was actually glad for my instincts for the first time, whatever crazed life I led at least amounted to some degree of protection now. I heard her yell out a shout, and suddenly everything seemed to be trembling and there was disjointed yells of fear from the four gathered mages. I realized a moment later, that those yells were getting farther.
I poked my head out of my makeshift cover, noting that both of the swords I'd used was nowhere in sight. I was actually sure that I was still holding the Lotus in my hand, but it was nowhere in sight. Probably had some sort of oddity about me that had swords drop out of the skies and help me, I couldn't expect them to stay after their impromptu entrances I guessed.
"You there." The lady pointed at me, and I feared for my life. The area where she punched was gouged, where there had been solid stone masonry for streets. I can only imagine that those poor mages were flying through the air at very high speeds. "You saved my life, and wear the same clothing as myself, have you come to return me from whence I came?"
"What." I stated flatly, my shock overriding my fear like a rabid cheetah on an antelope. Whatever those were, I was sure that it was appropriate for my line of thought. "I thought you knew where I came from."
Judging from the sudden scowl on her face, she surmised the same hypothesis that I came to conclude.
"You don't remember anything as well do you?" She approached, and sat herself down on a rock in front of the wall I was peeking above. Her teeth were gritted and her brow furrowed, I could only imagine she was frustrated about the entire debacle as I was.
"Not a clue." I admitted from behind my superfluous safety. I knew that she could probably kill me with her pinky finger, I would need something absuredly strong to-
A sword imbedded itself into a stone next to the woman in question, and she gave me a glare.
"Control your magic." She growled, and smacked the blade. I blinked as she did so, and then the sword was nowhere in sight. The young woman seemed to share my expression and blinked owlishly along with myself. "Do you at the very least know who you are?"
"Shirou Emiya." I supplied happily, glad that I had knowledge of that at the very least. Maybe it would jog some of her memory and-
"Huh, it seems I do know you." She stated with interest, actually turning her head over her shoulder and giving me a glance. Maybe she knew who I was? Her next set of words dashed that hope quite nicely against a Sea cliff. "Somewhat like one of those words that just suddenly pop up, you knew?"
"Yes." I sighed, I knew what she was talking about, I'd been experiencing it even while I thought to myself.
"My name is Barthomeloi Lorelei." Lorelei supplied with a downward tip of chin. The words resonated along the lines of 'do not piss off' and 'don't look her in the eye'. I didn't take much confidence in that. "From the look in your face, I'm pretty sure that I'm better off not knowing what stop your train of thought brought you."
"That would be for the best." I quickly agreed, attempting to school my features into something that wasn't as though I had stabbed in the gut. Still there was something I needed to address. "So do you feel like your former life was screwed up like me?"
The brown haired young woman blinked rapidly.
"You act before your body can realize." I nodded.
"You somehow know how to fight for no reason." I supplied and she nodded just as readily.
"You have no idea why some things set you off." I couldn't nod fast enough. The thought of people in peril seemed to trigger some sort of 'Save them' feature in my brain. I could only extrapolate on what her trigger was .
"And it seems like we've been both fucked over." We repeated in synch, and I felt an overwhelming sense of camaraderie with the woman
"Damn Zeltrech." She suddenly cursed and I blinked as that particular name resonated in my mind. The memories attributed to it suddenly came up and I shot up to my feet.
"DAMN YOU, ZELTRECH!" I yelled at the top of my lungs, and it felt right.
"Bastard." My companion agreed, and I knew we both had a long road ahead of us before we could find this man.
…
A/N: I know what you're all thinking. OMG WTF ANOTHER ONE!? Well I wanted to write Fairy Tail Nasuverse again, and have it with actual plot. Of course, if you haven't read the original, I'll say it has far too much crack to be considered for something serious.
I'll happily turn the original into a crackfest, but this one will be more in line with 'Prismatic Edge'. Which means comedy rather than crack, and actual Seriosu Bussinesu than the former. Maybe I'll update the original once in a while, but this one definitely has more of my attention.
Also, yes, Zeltrech is even more of a dick in the case that he actually went ahead and scattered up the Clock Tower everywhere as well as took away their memories. Why would he take away their memories? Because he's Zeltrech, easy answer young mantis. Now we have a Shirou who acts like Shirou without knowing why he's Shirou, it's like we have Archer and Shirou without the mess of Heaven's Feel! Or some weird yaio-incest things, I'm not discriminating, just not my cup of tea.
…
