DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN FATE/ZERO AND ITS CHARACTERS.
*Lyrics to D'Vêritû Agâge D'Bitu by Eluveitie had been used— again, I do not own anything.
On the deck of the sinking ship, an ancient axe was held by a green-haired fairy. The head of a certain Lord El-Melloi Archibald tumbled down after a swift strike. His eyes, filled with shock and fear, shed tears as the head detached from the body. Blood gushed out like a fountain, splattering the viscous fluid everywhere. The female slightly turned her head to avert witnessing the disgusting sight. As the tension began to die down, her gaze fell on the forgotten carnage onboard; every corner was dreadfully painted with the same crimson beneath her feet. No matter where she looked, immobile figures greeted her with a terrified, dead stare. Miss Sophia-Ri rested stiffly by the spiral stairs on the right wing of the ship, her heart pierced with a cursed red spear which was said to never miss a target's heart when released. The remaining female sighed— she never wanted to end it that way.
"Master, we are nearing the harbor of Fuyuki." The Servant silently reminded his master, appearing beside her as he also watched at the horror in front of them.
She took a deep breath. "What's our distance from the dock?"
"The ship is approximately 250 meters from our destination."
Nodding once, she let go of the weapon she held for two minutes. Instead of a heavy thud, the axe dissipated as white glitters. Lancer's eyes trailed off to the open space as swirling sparks coming from the former blades on the corpses temporarily filled the darkness with soft light. The appearance of those olden weapons was possible through a type of magic called Projection. It materializes objects, in accordance to the caster's imagination, into the real world. However, since the crafting of the object, using no initial physical material but prana for the constitution and design, is imperfect and comes with inconsistencies, the created object fades slowly after a short period of time, which is why it is also called Gradation Air.
The girl was able to use it extensively even if it required a huge amount of her energy. Her remarkable prowess as a magus had saved her, sparing the disgraceful event of being the damsel in distress after an ambush by the would-have-been Master of the man beside her. Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald, together with his fiancée, Sola-Ui Nuada-Re Sophia-Ri, after discovering Lancer's early summoning, decided to steal away her command seals to obtain the knight instead of summoning his own Servant. As the couple gave chase and cornered the young lady, inevitable incidents occurred. Innocent lives were sacrificed along the battle, and the burden of carrying the guilt was all on her. El-Melloi tricked her into involving the passengers and destroying the Kingston valve, making the whole affair solely her responsibility. Of course, she only realized that after the storm had ended— everyone died except for her who murdered them.
She walked towards the edge of the ship where land was visible to the eyes. As water rose ankle-high, the scent of blood and salt mixed together. The wind felt sharp; it slapped her face with sprinkles of dirt, as if mocking her for the misdeed. Dawn was about to break through the horizon, and they had little time to fix the problem. With a final sigh, she raised her right arm to release a magic circle large enough to engulf the vessel. It was a strenuous phase of the clean-up, but she had to do it. A hastened disintegration of matter to erase the evidence of an onslaught on civilians as the first step— the destruction of the carrier— was what she thought to be convenient for them. The Servant remained quiet, showing no signs of disagreement on his Master's decision.
An elaborate chanting of incantations followed through, but the water was steadily swallowing her up; it had reached her hips by the time she finished the chain of edict. Almost everything was submerged under the cold blue— the floor she'd been steadily standing on would sink completely in a few seconds. She closed her eyes to concentrate on the image of the crushed valve beneath her. Eleven, ten, nine… Like a switch on a wall, she flipped the implanted mine she set for emergency purposes such as this. A red light flickered on and off under the water, waiting for a signal to be activated. When her mind received the cue, the fingers of her right hand, still raised above her, snapped for confirmation. Six, five, four… Without delay, the Servant, who was anticipating an immediate command, threw his soaked body upwards with the aid of three small magic circles. The shimmering discs around him traced a specific path to reach his beloved Master. Three, two, one…
Within multiple layers of barriers and an Invisibility Spell surrounding the ship, no eyes ever saw the clear-out. From the unperturbed port, short rays of light peeked through the undistinguishable division of the sea and sky. A whole new day awaits Fuyuki, the warmth of the sun embracing the air. Sea gulls started their early agenda by hovering around a few fishermen by the shore, eager to steal some fish. By this time, a third of the glowing ball had risen. The early birds, mostly old townsfolk, went out of their houses and did their daily routine— watering the plants, sweeping off fallen leaves, or greeting the nearby neighbors with wide grins. On a land where human settlement was not a sin, life awakened one by one. The humble soil carried everything without complaint, knowing that its role was much more than that.
The Holy Grail War's battleground, Fuyuki City, merrily welcomed the arrival of two spears and the fairy resting on top of them.
FATE/ZERO ALTER
"Lancer!" The golden-haired knight was confused. "What is the meaning of this?!"
She was intentionally dragged to a corner where a magic barrier obstructed her movement. It gleamed in gold as the King of Knights stepped on it, trapping her in its four corners. For a second, she found relief as the mad warrior had stopped attacking her. It seemed like its walls were casted with an Invisibility Spell, allowing her a moment's rest. After the monstrous assaults of Berserker, she was surprisingly assisted by Lancer. He called the attention of the new troubling enemy, declaring that the dark Servant cannot be allowed to duel with her because she was already preoccupied with him. Well, she did agree at the notion; having their battle interrupted by Rider and his Master, and then having Archer and Berserker intrude was rather rude. A one-on-one combat had already commenced, so isn't it appropriate to end it honorably by defeating the opposing party before entering another fight?
Having regained her stability and soundness in less than seven seconds, Saber repelled the force that strained her body. With one swing of the legendary sword, she slashed her way out of the barrier. Its shattered remains flew with the wind, breaking further into the tiniest particles before disappearing completely. She took a few steps forward, readying her sword, to assess the development of events. Rider's eyes were fixed on the clashing of weapons, perhaps caught in awe at the sideshow. When she turned to Irisviel, the same expression was painted on her face. Saber quickly followed the direction of her gaze, and there she saw someone who shouldn't be fighting directly with the dark Servant.
"Impossible…" Saber's eyes widened in astonishment, her mouth left hanging.
She couldn't believe her eyes— a fairy dancing in midair with such a heavy-looking axe in her hand was aiming for Berserker's stomach. The green-haired lady swung sideways, exerting a large amount of force in one strike. The Servant's armor clattered in resistance to the brute power, but nonetheless, he was able to stand firm on his ground. By the moment there appeared an opening for another assault, Lancer charged in, his red spear targeting the breastplate. However, having blessed by the protection of the fairies, Berserker managed to counter and change the flow. . D Vêritû agâge d Bitu… He abruptly twisted his body, catching the spearman's weapon as he took a step back. Black mist enveloped its tip, slowly transforming into the mad Servant's possession. Time froze briefly, as if emphasizing how hopeless the situation was for everyone, and zoomed out on the main frame— until a short yellow spear veered around Berserker's head. Dro, o Dêvo, tovo anextlo… As he dodged it expertly, he couldn't help but let go of the red spear to set a distance wide enough to retune their battle.
Berserker's unstoppable madness had been raging since he laid eyes upon Saber, but as Lancer took his step forward to face him and temporarily remove the golden-haired maiden from his sight, a different kind of fury fluxed. Cue ir anextlo, nertos… A deafening howl was how he expressed his obvious irritation; he had no other choice but to annihilate those annoying pests once and for all. Rider's thick brows creased at the advancement of events; if things would come to worst, he had to aid them and eliminate Berserker. He crossed his arms and sighed audibly, but later on raised one brow and realized something amiss. Cue ir nertos, Skyans…Irisviel had one of her fists on her chest, uncertain of what to do. Saber was about seven meters from where she stood, but the King of Knights was too engrossed on the ongoing fight. If she called out to her, it might get Berserker's attention.Cue ir Skyans, Gothvos…
"Your impetuousness shall be the cause of your fall, Berserker." Lancer pointed Gae Dearg and straightened his posture. All eyes save a pair shifted to him.
Cue is Gothvos…
The dark Servant shook violently.
Gothvos ar vêriânjâ…
A scope was focused on an individual.
Cue is Gothvos ar vêriânjâ…
The spearman's smirk taunted the Servant in front of him. …y Garo… Saber wondered where the boldness came from. In her short observation, it was clear how Berserker could defeat Lancer in terms of sheer strength and endurance, so why would he still duel head on with a beast which was too strong for him? Cue ir Garo, grâto oljo Bewnans… She marched to the battlefield…
"Lancer, don't be stupid. That monster is beyond your—!" …but it was too late. Cue in grâto oljo Bewnans… Sharp motions by both combatants were executed. In a split second, Berserker flung a piece of metal towards Lancer's head. The knight in teal effortlessly ducked as he readied his stance.
Everybody outside the battle area gasped in unison.
"Saber, get away from there!" She heard Irisviel's troubled voice.
"Garo Dêvo: Dêvo cue ollo Dade."
Like steam trapped in a pressure cooker, the confined air within the now visible magic circle escaped in fear. Surges of wind cut through anything it touched, including the sprinting Saber. She turned her heel after sensing something heavy coming her way, fleeing from the burst of a barrier-like field. She tumbled and rolled on her back as she was pushed back by the force, propping herself up on her knees when she regained balance. The sensation was very familiar. Its power was something she must have known as a Servant, and only a master of the wind would be able to execute such a large-scale outburst. Yes, she recognized that magecraft. There was no doubt in her mind— it was Invisible Air. Saber's eyes narrowed; she did not know of someone who could utilize it other than herself.
"Saber!" Irisviel's voice brought her back to reality. "Are you alright?"
The golden-haired Servant moved to her side right away. "Yes, I am fine. Thank you for the warning; if you hadn't called, I would have suffered greater damage." Irisviel seemed unscathed and doing good as Saber didn't bother to ask.
A resounding wail covered the entire warehouse. On the ground was Berserker, his hazy figure dissipating as a sign of defeat. His Master has ordered a retreat, and no matter how much he still wanted to fight, he did not have the capacity to do so; it would only result to further humiliation. Lancer was standing beside the spot where the mad Servant vanished from, and a difficult expression was formed on his face. However, what was more noticeable about him was his missing red spear.
"I see…" Rider commented on the outcome of the battle.
Saber and Irisviel were not able to watch the chain of attacks after the explosion of energy, but the King of Conquerors took cover from above and saw everything.
"Hahahaha!" His booming laughter was even more irritating to the ears as he landed on the ground accompanied by lightning and hefty pounds of the oxen for the second time. "I am impressed, Lancer. Your Master is a magnificent girl!"
Lancer eased up a bit, his usual composure returning as time ticked by. "I appreciate the flattery, King of Conquerors." He said. "My Master is my greatest pride." A shy smile made it through his lips.
Behind the spearman was a petite fairy who was playing with her fingers. Her hair had been in disarray due to the gusts of wind, though the black lace holding most of her hair on one side was still securely tied, which was what Lancer noticed when he glimpsed at her. If one would notice how timid-looking her stature was, it might have been impossible to believe that she contested against Berserker. Iskander gazed upon her satisfactorily; however, the two ladies were wary of the new individual. For a Master to appear out of the blue and daringly display her prowess at the very beginning of the Holy Grail War was a suicidal misstep in an open area where other Masters and Servants may observe. Saber could not find any benefit to her action, but that was not why she found herself perplexed at Lancer's Master— her intuition was telling her to discover that orange-eyed girl's identity.
"Duck!"
Three missiles from the Southern flank were fired.
EINZBERN CASTLE (II)
After ignoring Saber, Kiritsugu inquired. "Iri, are you well-versed in the spells that erect barriers throughout this forest?"
"Yes, it's fine." Irisviel looked at the Servant beside her, concerned about the severed tendon. "But our real problem is the curse on Saber's hand. Eighteen hours have passed since the defeat of Lancer's Master, but her wound hasn't healed."
Her judgment continued. "Lancer must be still living; shouldn't we defeat him first so we can face Caster at full strength?"
To her dismay, he had a different plan for them. "That's unnecessary. You just have to use your knowledge of the area to confuse the enemy, keeping Saber away from him."
Saber's fist tightened in disgust as Irisviel questioned him. "You won't have her fight Caster?"
"Someone else will deal with him. Those who hunt Caster will actually make better targets." Stating those words as if it should be the rightful course of action, he elaborated on his plan. "I shall attack from the side and defeat them."
The King of Knights couldn't hold her tongue anymore. "Master, you… how cowardly will you be?! You mock the Heroic Spirits; why do you not allow me to fight? Do you mean to imply that you cannot trust me, your own Servant?!"
In exchange for her demand, the man in black who was leaning against the table said nothing. He'd sworn that he would never talk to Saber, and even in critical times he'd go with that promise. It was explained to her by Irisviel when they were still in the North. As Kiritsugu and Ilyasviel, his daughter, were out in the garden playing, the newly summoned knight found it strange— she thought that her Master was more of a cold-hearted person. She then jumped into a conclusion that perhaps she had highly offended him in a way and that he didn't prefer her as a girl, which Irisviel rectified. The thought that the people burdened her with such a heavy responsibility of a king angered Kiritsugu. What was more was that she passively accepted that fate and died without gaining salvation even after all her sacrifices for her nation. Having heard that, Saber sternly remarked that her Master has overstepped their boundaries. Irisviel agreed, stating afterwards how he'd resolve the matter. If their ideals and reasoning would clash, it would be better to avoid such arguments. There would be no interaction, thus, Emiya Kiritsugu and King Arthur will never meet; and that was the tragic relationship between the Master and his Servant.
"That is all." Adjourning the meeting, Kiritsugu closed his black case and exited the room.
…
A group of children following the Servant named Gilles de Rais walked over the prickly forest. Mist covered most of the spaces; but to a wandering murderer, tracing a path to where his desire nested was of no use. His diabolical scheme only required a clearing large enough to his liking. The sacrifices he had thoroughly prepared was set, the ground to where he would offer them was also in alignment to his taste, and after a few minutes of strolling in the woods, the virgin maiden he sought for was laying her eyes on him. He never felt so much bliss such as this— the reincarnation of Jeanne d'Arc certainly signified that god heard and granted the wish of a vile man like him. With the overflowing joy coming from the bottom of his heart, he turned to the speck where Jeanne was looking through.
"As promised last night, I, Gilles de Rais, have come for you." He bowed his head, one of his hands resting on his chest. "I wish to see you, Jeanne— my beautiful, holy virgin."
Standing amongst the children, he respectfully stated. "You may take your time if you wish. I have come prepared for a lengthy wait."
With a snap of a finger, the kids who were taken with him broke free from their trance. They all began to wonder how they ended up in that place, their eyes widened in confusion and distress. Gilles smiled at them. "Now, children, it's time to play tag." Heads turned about. "The rules are simple: you need only to stay away from me. If you can't…"
He grabbed a boy's head with one hand, squashing it without much effort. The skull broke into pieces, and the soft membrane protected by it scattered everywhere along with the red fluid flooding out. Frightened screams filled the area. "Now then… when I reach one hundred, the chase begins." Little feet scrambled in fear of the child-killing Servant.
"Well, Jeanne— how long do you think it will take me to catch them all?" Slithering tentacles sprouted from underneath him, all eager to move about and feel human flesh. The fish-eyed monster smiled menacingly, knowing how things would turn out by the time his holy virgin would appear.
…
"But I cannot let you scour on this land alone; it is—"
She raised her hand. "Remember what we came here for."
The knight hung his head in defeat. "Master…"
"Are you to disobey my will?" Silence reigned over. "Defeat Caster and return triumphantly."
He shot one last glance at his Master before disappearing in the darkness. "Please call my name when you feel yourself in harm's way."
Once left alone, she felt the natural coldness. It was still uncertain whether or not it came from the wind's caress, but her chest felt unusually grey. The stillness of the dead branches and their decaying leaves marked a heavy glare on her, giving off a fair warning of the evening's glow. From one side, a blade slashing foul meat could be heard; it was a helpless situation in which the lady hoped to mend. In time, help will come— two pairs of hands should be able to fix the problem; she only prayed that things would turn out better than the expected outcome. On the other hand, an alternative path leading to the Einzbern castle was made available with the help of a hastily constructed owl familiar. She crafted it by the time they entered the enemy territory so as to guide her there without wasting time. If fate would permit, her true purpose of having to face the infamous magus killer would be realized.
"Emiya Kiritsugu…" A spell had been whispered. Travelling on wind, the hesitant girl trailed through the uninviting barbs.
…
"Kirei-sama…" The woman Assassin revealed herself beside him. On her hand was a sparrow familiar. "We are being watched again."
The priest's son narrowed his eyes. "It's that woman…"
He recalled last night's later incident. Shortly after the explosion at the warehouse, that unidentified foreigner came out of the flames unscratched, preceding directly to Fuyuki Hyatt Hotel. But in spite of that remarkable escape, she could have avoided wasting energy if she'd given more thought about her careless action; Kiritsugu pursued and targeted her down due to the damage inflicted by her Servant on Saber, destroying the whole establishment to ensure her elimination. After all, it was the most efficient method to lift the curse. Kirei stood on a particular floor of the crumbling building, his intentions still unrevealed. He waited for something, but not something in particular, and his patience yielded rewardingly. Like a phoenix born from a form of destruction, that same girl delayed her doom once again. This paved way to meeting her face to face, examining her form and prowess. It took not more than three minutes to discern the vital fragments, but her whole being in general was somewhat peculiar. She left no impression at all; it was as if she had no aura or a concept of quality of self.
According to his mentor, it should have been Lord Kayneth El-Melloi Archibald who joined the Holy Grail War, but it turned out differently. This girl, approximately 17-19 years old, reigned over the Servant Lancer. She arrived here a bit earlier than Emiya Kiritsugu and Rider's Master, which raised Kirei's suspicion; she must have been most cautious at planning that even the Church and Tohsaka family's connection couldn't get a glimpse of. But what troubled the young man the most was her identity— he couldn't find her in any legal records or list of anything at all. With someone like her involved, his mortal enemy would come second when considering the level of threat that would impose on the victory of Tohsaka Tokiomi.
"Yes?" She probed.
He and Assassin had no time to be surprised; he had to run into someone eventually. Other Masters and Servants would flock in this place by the time news spread about Caster's current location. But as of that moment, only Lancer, Caster, Assassin, he and that fairy entered the Einzbern territory; Caster's Master seemed to be left behind in their lair as Kirei did not receive word about him.
"You do know that we are to assault only Caster, right?" She tilted her head. "If you do more than what is tasked, I'm afraid I have to make my own rules as well."
The unmoved man took a step forward. Five meters of space would suffice for him to silence her once and for all; his precious time was being wasted, and he couldn't afford to fail his reason for coming.
"Kotomine Kirei…" With a new tone, she cautioned him. "Don't even bother; the winds do not favor you. Listen to me and withdraw. You're nothing but a nuisance to everyone right now."
A clicking sound echoed.
He took another step forward.
…
"Iri, Maiya, this way." Kiritsugu urged them to go. This time was crucial as his alliance would only last for an hour.
His luck was terrible, but because of this strange Master, things twisted in ways he couldn't have thought to be possible. The revelation he received from the owl familiar assisted his escape, although it did not guarantee a safe one. It took an amount of time before it convinced him; the happening outside, however, proved it to be true. A few minutes passed by after he ordered Maiya to secure Irisviel; the two ladies were traveling in the direction opposite to the battling Servants. When he called his partner to use another route as he was informed of the danger, trouble had already reached them before he could even speak. A few of the starfish-like creatures consumed energy and were able to sustain their forms, roaming around the vicinity and eating away all life they touched. As Kiritsugu raced down to save the damsels in distress, he met Saber halfway through the bushy trails. They both dashed to their destination, exterminating the beasts and slashed a way through.
"How did you predict something like this, Kiritsugu? It's as if you had a glimpse of the future." His wife noted, painfully limping on one leg as Maiya supported half of her weight.
Only Saber came out unharmed. Irisviel and Maiya were injured on their legs, and Kiritsugu's side received damage as he shielded Irisviel from one persistent tentacle.
"I'll explain everything later." He quietly replied.
While the King of Knights paved a path for them, blinding headlights turned on and off as they reached an unfamiliar clearing. One giant cube was rooted on the dry soil, its coal black paint blending well with the shadows behind. Saber readied her invisible sword, unaware of the turn of events. Maiya and Irisviel tensed up as well, their brows creasing with sweat.
"You're late." A blonde man jumped out from the driver's seat.
Kiritsugu was his normal self, no hostility or resistance coming from him. This surprised the three women. "Kiritsugu?"
He caught something as he approached the vehicle. It gleamed a beautiful silver when he opened his hand.
"Hurry up and leave this place. Things will soon get out of hand." Now standing closely behind the magus killer, the unnamed man warned.
Kiritsugu tossed himself in the truck and ignited the engine. By then, Saber, Irisviel and Maiya understood what the blonde man's existence was for. They mounted the vehicle one by one after taking a look at him. Since the night ate away much of the sky, the first two noticed nothing unique about him.
"Spirit," He called upon Saber when she was reaching for the door handle at the back. "…your decision is far worse than what awaits in your return."
A pang of pain hit her chest. She found herself dumbfounded, staring at him as she knew what he meant.
The truck jolted in reverse, then turned left, heading out south. All the while when it maneuvered, Saber kept glaring at the man, but she couldn't describe him well as he wore an eye gear which covered mostly half of his face; and from head to toe, he wore the same black attire as Kiritsugu.
"Angra…" He mused to himself, watching his favorite truck disappear.
From above the castle, an unregistered aircraft exploded.
A/N: That is the first chapter! I hope you'll have the patience to bear with all the unexplained events. If you have questions, ask away! xoxo
