AN: Hey everyone! I worked on this chapter quite a bit this week, but I apologize in advance for any small grammar mistakes. Hope you enjoy!


Tsubaki Matou

Tsubaki stared into the mirror, frowning. She put her straight black hair into a simple pony tail, getting it out of the way. She knew that she had to make a move, but was conflicted. Her servant wasn't suited for close ranged combat, but insisted that she could hold her own. She seemed to be more suited for a tactical role, especially with her bizarre ability.

"Shall we?" the girl no younger then Tsubaki herself asked, standing behind her.

"Begin your analysis of the battle zone," Tsubaki responded, not wanting to rush into anything too quickly.

Tsubaki snapped shut her small makeup mirror and placed it back into her satchel. She was only 15, but grandfather insisted that she fight for the Matou family. She had the family crest, and made full use of the insects coursing through her veins. They weren't harmful to her, since she long ago mastered them. She had tamed them, in a sense.

Her rider class servant pulled out her flute and began to play a melody that reminded Tsubaki of more peaceful times. Tsubaki wondered what exactly enchanted the flute, and how the girl had mastered such an odd thing in her human life. Tsubaki reminded herself that this was a hero of old, but not exactly. Old maybe, but definitely not a hero. Her servant was known as the Pied Piper. The only difference is that she was a girl, even though legend depicted her as a male. Maybe it was the short hair? She definitely didn't have feminine qualities, but she did have an angelic face. She insisted that Tsubaki call her Piper, since that was her name apparently.

"Saber and Assasin have engaged in combat," Piper said, stopping her music, "it seems as if Saber's master is the Einzbern, but she hasn't made a move. Assasin has metallic drones surrounding Saber, but Saber is putting up a fight. I couldn't find Saber's master anywhere."

"What about the old lady?" Tsubaki asked, not underestimating her opponents.

"She left her house, and it seems as if she is making her way towards the servants," Piper said, frowning.

"She's a daft one," Tsubaki responded, opening the door of the vehicle and stepping out. "We need to use caution, anyone that would willingly engaged in combat with a servant is asking for death."

"Whatever you say Tsu-Tsu," Piper said, using that ridiculous nickname she had created.

"Let's begin," Tsubaki said, clapping her hands together.

"Yay!" Piper exclaimed, putting her flute up to her mouth.

Ilithia Einzbern

Ilithia knew that Assasin could hold his own against Saber, but that wasn't what she was worried about. She wanted to know what was running through Lily's mind. Why would she make her way toward the battle? Without her servant at that.

Ilithia began to make her way towards the battleground, keeping a distance. She saw Assasin's drones buzzing through the air, as he stood far away, clicking buttons on the remote control he had. Saber was swift, and was able to dodge most of the bullets. He slashed through the drones, but where he destroyed, two more replaced.

Lily came into view, holding a deck of cards. She was shuffling them in her hand, muttering an incantation. Ilithia reached for the handgun Assasin had given her and raised it, aiming it directly at Lily.

Suddenly, Lily through the cards in the air, and they flew towards the drones, cutting through them. Ilithia fired a shot, but a card ripped through the bullet and zipped through Ilithia's handgun, cutting it in half. Ilithia smiled, knowing that this woman would be a formidable opponent.

"Einzbern!" the old lady yelled up to her, "it seems as if your kind is still playing dirty. This is a battle of magic, not firepower. Come down here and face me, or else I shall assist Saber and destroy Assasin. Believe me, I have many more tricks up my sleeve."

Ilithia looked towards Assasin, noticing that Saber was advancing towards him. She had to act, and act now. Ilithia muttered an incantation and used her wire technique to create a phoenix. It flew up in the air, flying towards Lily.

Ilithia saw an opening.

Lily Jenson

Lily smiled, knowing that she had the Einzbern right where she wanted. Lily mentally told Caster to get ready, then she pulled a stack of cards out of her sleeve and threw them to the air. They cut through the pathetic phoenix the Einzbern had sent her way. It fell in a heap of wires at Lily's feet.

Caster finished her incantation and suddenly the Einzbern fell backwards, her eyes rolling into her head. She was unconcious, and Lily smiled.

"Toy with her," Lily muttered to Caster, "keep her busy, while I deal with her servant."

"Be hasty," Caster responded.

Lily was satisfied with her debut. People were looking to her to set an example for the Magic Associatio of America. To establish that Americans were not incompetent when it came to spellwork.

"No!" yelled Assasin, running towards his master, but Saber cut him off, slashing at Assasin. Assasin dodged the attack and fled to the woods that surrounded much of Lily's cabin.

Assasin played the only card he could at this point, establish a position and attack his enemies. He wasn't dumb, she could give him that, but he wouldn't outsmart her, that was certain.

Lily began to walk towards the woods, but was suddenly stopped by a sound so sweet. A melody that filled her soul with happiness. She was craving to see the musician who could produce such a sound. She began to walk away from the forest, and towards her cabin. She felt a draw there, listening to the sweet sound of the flute.

She was trapped.

Tsubaki Matou

"Did you get her?" Tsubaki asked, watching her servant play her instrument.

"Yes," Piper responded, setting down her flute. "I made her fall asleep in her cabin, but it's only temporary, enough to stop Caster's tricks."

"What do we do about Assasin and Saber?" Tsubaki asked, not expecting a strategical answer, but just curious herself.

"Well," Piper said, sighing, "unfortunatly, my magic doesn't work on other heroic spirits, just living people and animals. We have to deal with the servants some other way. Tell me again why we are trying to stop this? We could just let them kill each other off."

"There doesnt' need to be bloodshed," Tsubaki said, grinning, "I have a plan that will keep everyone alive, and if they won't stop fighting willingly, we will have to ensure that peace. No one will die tonight, not on my watch."

"I would have never done the same in life," Piper responded, shaking her head, "you never stop your enemies from killing each other. We should be using everything at our disposal."

"Peace you say?"

Piper turns around, pulling a dagger from her belt, standing in front of her master. Someone had snook up on them, getting too close. It was Saber's master, the mysterious one.

"Yes, peace," Tsubaki says, staring him in the eyes, "what do you say? A truce?"

"Foolish," the man says, "peace is but an illusion. You can not have peace as long as people exist. To have peace is to destroy the human race."

"I beg to differ," Tsubaki snaps back, holding her ground, "I believe any person is capable of compassion. Even the most brutal killers have compassion."

"You live in a false reality," the man tells her, "one in which there is rainbows and sunshine. That is not reality. Not now. Not ever. However, I am interested in how you intend on pulling off your feat, so I will observe you."

"Stop fighting, return to me," the man says, raising his hand. "If you can prove to me that peace is attainable, then maybe I will rethink the war, but until then, we are enemies. I will spare you now, to see what you have to prove, but the next time we meet I will kill you. Unless you prove otherwise. Now, I must depart."

"Wait!" Tsubaki says, walking towards him. He continues walking, not looking back. Tsubaki stops, and looks to Piper.

"We need to leave," Piper says, looking to her master, "he may have spared us now, but he may rethink his plan. I can't possibly take Saber on by myself."

"Your right," Tsubaki says, turning around, "let's get out of here."

Whether he wanted to admit it or not, Tsubaki knew that the man had hope.


AN: I plan to have up the next chapter this next weekend.

-Vaan