A/N:
Lots of good feedback. Apparently I'm doing something right.
Poll's finished and I've chosen the servant. Kind of worried that I'm doing a poor job of interpreting personalities correctly though. However, events are different and as such, characters will be inherently different, so expect some out of character outbursts.
Some more matters, all important. Firstly, Saber's reaction to Naruto's plotting. Essentially, she knows that Naruto has a habit of planning pre-fabricated strategies based on uncertain conditions, which she tends to loathe, and Naruto's methods in combat can hardly be construed as chivalrous in some cases, though it isn't nearly as bad as Kiritsugu is now, seeing as somewhere along the line he developed 'morals'. Therefore she has a sort of distaste for his type of planning, although it isn't to the point where she absolutely hates our protagonist.
Naruto doesn't really have good intel on Kiritsugu, so he doesn't know about his entire philosophy: merely that the Magus Killer acts like a typical mercenary. So, he judges him accordingly.
Finally, why he didn't Hiraishin away when Gilgamesh noticed him? Er... He knows that Gilgamesh is a powerful foe, and he doesn't know his full capabilities. So mostly, he stuck around to obtain that tiny bit of information that could be gained by talking to the stuck up king, trying to gauge his personality. It's a weak excuse, but it's the best I've got. Truth be told, even I don't know why he didn't just do that. Because he was too stunned by that amount of Noble Phantasms and so he simply forgot? Interpret it how you will, I guess. He could have simply been trolling Gilgamesh by acting polite, and then completely reversing that in a confrontation.
Yeah, it's weak, but I've got nothing else. Sorry.
And yes, I do know that Mordred is a girl, though don't say that to her face. She'll kill you. I'm pretty sure that Mordred doesn't think of herself as a woman, having been raised to act as a male. Hence why I used masculine pronouns to describe her. I'll probably go back and revise that.
Putting up disclaimer now.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I do not own the Nasuverse. Do I look like Kishimoto or Nasu to you?
WARNING: OOC (some parts), incomplete understanding of lore(feedback appreciated on this topic: I'll check out the wikis or something later.), obviously AU, and probably some emo-ness/angst going on. I am not a professional. Just putting that out there.
Viewer discretion is advised.
Chapter Two: The first night (Part One)
It was a bloody battlefield. Ghouls, demons, creatures that belonged to the pits of purgatory, the dark abyss...
Saber plunged her sword into another undead and shook her head.
"This is what my master does?"
There was no glory in this combat. There was no honor in killing things that were no better than animals. On this battlefield, it was kill or be killed. Slay or be slain.
She turned her head to avoid another ghoul, and brought her invisible blade across its neck. The headless body collapsed, like a stringless puppet. However... More followed. Hundreds of the abominations, shadowed by a burning village.
As Saber prepared herself to lunge forward, she noticed a flash of light by the corner of her eye. A short knife flew past her and tore into the skull of an undead that had gone unnoticed.
"You missed one, Saber."
That was her master. The blond had an uncharacteristic serious look upon his face, and was dressed in his typical suit, except his was stained red at the sleeves. He was holding two more knives in his right hand, arm still outstretched from when he threw them.
"My apologies master."
"Mah, don't worry. There's no time for that sort of thing. Right now... We have a job to do."
"Understood. Leave it to me."
She heard the blue-eyed blond sigh. "You know, you're not alone, right? Not anymore, at any rate."
"I can fight alone, master. Your safety is paramount."
"Two opponents are harder to face than one, you do realize that, right?" He sighed once more. "Well, looks like... I might have to prove that teamwork trumps any ridiculous notion that you have of fighting all by yourself." He pulled out a scroll. "Here they come. Saber!"
"Just don't get killed."
Naruto's lips thinned. "Believe me... It is they who will have to fear!"
And with a wordless battle-cry, master and servant launched themselves towards the horde of revived dead.
Saber would look back on that night, and she would remember it as the first time she stood back to back with her master in combat.
It would not be the last time, either.
Another patrol, another one. And Saber could certainly say that she was a little annoyed by this constant walking.
"Naruto, I must ask. What are we doing right now? To say exactly... What are we doing?"
"Ah, didn't you know? One of my shadow clones saw a master heading to the docks. And just now, I saw that Kayneth guy heading in that same direction."
Saber shuddered. Shadow clones. She had heard the blond casually mention being able to create clones from nothing but od and mana, but to see it actually being utilized... Was quite scary. Such a thing really shouldn't be possible in today's magical world. A normal magus couldn't replicate half of the things that Naruto could accomplish.
Then again, he wasn't normal by any definition of the word. For starters, normal Magi didn't get to have the ability to utilize clones to stream information directly into one's brain. And normal Magi didn't get to have a conceptual weapon that could heal one's aneurisms from the inevitable meltdown that occurs when too much information is downloaded into a brain that could only process so much, or a lingering regeneration factor that could do the same thing, albeit much more slowly.
Of course, having your brain literally begin melting down from information overload was never a pleasant thing to happen.
More on that later though.
And so, we find our protagonists meandering towards the docks of Fuyuki city, only to pause when they heard the ringing of metal against metal.
"A battle then?" Naruto mused. "Very close too. Saber, do you think we should engage then, or observe?"
The smaller sword-wielding blond paused. While she was fired up and ready to battle...
"No... We will most likely be interrupting a duel between servants, and I would not be the one to impede in an honorable duel. For now then, let us merely observe."
"I agree, if only because we will be able to gather more information this way." Naruto shrugged. "We need a vantage point then..." Naruto trailed off. "Ah, what is this then?"
For, on a nearby bridge (Fuyuki bridge), the most ideal point to observe the battle on the docks, was a large man and a smaller one, with a chariot being pulled by two bulls, oddly enough.
The larger man was dressed in a red cloak and bronze armor with greaves and fringes that left his arms and thighs open. However, this armor and this cape, both were decorated in a manner that was befitting of some royalty, or a nobleman. He was tall, easily towering over two meters in height, with red hair and beard and a tanned complexion. It could be noted that he was extremely well muscled as well, giving the impression of being able to kill wild animals with his bare hands.
The other man, not much more than a boy, was pretty much the exact opposite. Greenish black hair that reached his shoulders, with greenish black eyes and a slight frame, dressed in formal clothes fitting for a magus. He basically looked like a small child compared to Naruto or his companion.
It was painfully obvious that this was no ordinary pair.
"Oh ho... Master and servant, eh?" Naruto muttered under his breath.
"Naruto, should we eliminate them?"
"Mmm... They don't seem to be hostile. Leave them be for now." He paused when he noticed the larger man look over to his location and begin waving cheerfully. "Well, that's a clear invitation if I ever saw one." He turned to his servant. "Shall we?"
"It would be rude for us not to accept this heartfelt invitation. Unless you believe the bridge to be booby-trapped."
The spiky-haired blond shook his head. "Doubt it. The general impression I'm getting off of those guys... They're not the type to do anything like that."
Both suited blonds walked calmly towards the still grinning mammoth of a man, and his trembling companion.
"Ah! Greetings there!" He stated boldly. "Here to watch the fight then?"
"Indeed." Naruto replied calmly. "Only to observe, nothing more..." He trailed off. "Are you Rider then?"
Everybody on the bridge stopped and stared at Naruto, who dead-panned. "He has a chariot. A chariot, of all things. What else could he be? Caster?"
More silence, until Saber cracked a grin and Rider laughed uproariously.
"As expected of my master's deductive skills." The smaller green-eyed woman stated smugly. "Truly, a force to be reckoned with."
"AHAHAHAH!" Rider laughed. "I think I like you, boy! Quite perceptive, aren't you?"
"I try." Was Naruto's nonchalant reply. "Shall we introduce ourselves to each other then? Or is there no need for such matters?"
"I am the servant summoned under the class of Rider in this Holy Grail War! Alexander, the King of Conquerors!"
The more petite boy blanched. "Oi, dumb-ass, don't go telling them that!" He yelled, as he waved his arms about comically, clearly appalled by his servant's lack of subtly.
The only thing that he received for his efforts was a flick to the forehead, which sent him sprawling across the bridge.
"Men like you... How fortunate! I can sense great strength in both of you! Care to join my army as my underlings?"
Saber twitched. "No. I must decline. Swearing myself to you would be subverting my honor. I have my pride as a King to consider.
Naruto paused for a moment. "I would... Have to reject that proposal. My apologies, Alexander. But, I have to take into consideration my servant's desires as well as my own." He actually looked sheepish, slightly. "Furthermore, I do not think that I would do well under the rule of another."
Alexander sighed. "Such a shame, such a shame."
"I would not object to the idea of being allies in this war though."
"That's the thing though, isn't it. There can be only one victor. Only one king can conquer the world, not two..." The muscular servant sighed once more, dejectedly. "How sad."
"If that is to be, then so be it." Naruto murmured. "It really is a pity. You are clearly a heroic spirit that has almost no compare... Well, actually. My servant would probably be more than a match for you."
Alexander snorted. "That little girl?"
Saber was about to retort, when Naruto cut her off.
"You would do well not to underestimate that little girl. She is a noble and great leader of men, whose legend is sung throughout the world. She has faced the dark forces, the evils, and she is the champion of an eternal dream. She is... The most excellent of those servant classes, Saber." He paused. "And by the way, my name is Naruto Uzumaki. Since you have had the courtesy to introduce yourself, I shall do the same."
Waver blanched when he looked at Saber. "Se... Seriously! Those stats are..."
Saber raised an eyebrow. "Naruto, you praise me too much."
"I aim to please."
"So, a challenge then. How exciting! And what of you, boy? You are clearly no ordinary human if the way you hold yourself is any indication."
"Me? I am simply an old soldier, chasing a stupid wish." He waved off Iskander's question with a short laugh and that self-deprecating statement.
"I see... Well then. You are here to observe, are you not?"
"Indeed. Let us see then, just what kind of opponents the Holy Grail has to offer."
The two figures had just finished another clash, metal grinding against metal, armor against lance, sword against lance, and had just separated. And for the first time, Saber and Naruto were able to observe the combatants.
One was obviously a lancer while the other was a swordsman.
The one wielding lances, yes, there were two of them, was quite handsome, with features that were capable of enchanting any woman, and quite possibly a few men. He was dressed in a dark teal outfit, and his duel spears were wrapped in cloth, one crimson red and one a golden yellow.
Naruto sniffed the air curiously. "What is that smell?"
"Mystic face then. That compelling face that attracts people... That is not natural." Saber murmured. "If it were not for my high magic resistance, I would most likely succumb as well."
"Mmm... Interesting, interesting. He is alone though. Where is his master?"
Iskander grunted. "Most likely, hiding, like a rat."
"My, my... That's too bad."
It was when Naruto turned his attentions to the other figure that he paled and almost fell backwards in shock. He turned to note that Saber had actually taken a step back in utter surprise.
"Is that...?" Saber whispered out, looking more surprised than anything.
Naruto narrowed his eyes. "That's ..."
The other figure was dressed in thick armor that covered its entire frame, silver and ornate, with red cloth mixed with said silver armor. It was holding a silver blade, again, ornately decorated, the blade of a knight. However...
"That's blood I'm smelling. Iron from blood." He narrowed his eyes. "And that armor. Saber, I have seen this figure before, in the dream sequence, that's..."
"Yes. It's that person, no doubt." Saber sighed and placed a hand over her eyes. "Such misfortune."
"Boy. Who is that servant?"
Saber answered Iskander. "That is Mordred. Son of King Arthur... And my killer."
Alexander wasn't a stupid man. Brash, yes. Confident with that arrogance that could only belong to a King, yes. But he wasn't stupid enough not to make the obvious connection.
"I see. To think that the King of Knights would be a little girl..."
"You would do well not to underestimate me! Understand that just because I am a woman, it does not mean I won't spill your blood on my blade, Rider!"
The large servant sighed and cleaned his ear with his finger. "You should act more like your master, you know. He seems like a pretty respectable guy..."
"It's begun." Naruto interrupted the servants' squabbling, causing them to fall silent. "Lancer's going to unleash it."
"You mean-"
"Mmm. He's getting ready to unveil his Noble Phantasm."
"I must commend you." The teal knight muttered carefully. "To be able to parry all of my attacks like you have been doing shows that you possess great skill."
"Enough, fool. Keep talking then, so that I may cut you down with my blade." Avenger sneered, condescension and malice clearly present in its voice.
Another voice blared out, loud and commanding, seemingly from nowhere. "Lancer, that is enough. You have had your fun, now end this battle quickly. You may use your Noble Phantasm."
The servant of the Lance nodded. "Understood, my lord!" The wrappings around his golden spear and red spear vanished. "I shall be going for the kill now. Will you not tell me your class name, at the very least?"
The other red knight, the helmeted one, laughed, a shrill and grating noise that was more akin to someone dying. "Very well then, I shall honor that request. My class is... Avenger."
This caused everyone in the surrounding area to flinch slightly.
"Avenger...?" Lancer murmured softly. "Who could have known? I had thought you a Saber, or possibly a Rider, but Avenger?"
"Lancer, finish it off!" The voice commanded.
"Of course, my lord. I shall be going for the throat now, Avenger." He tilted his head to the side. "That helmet conceals your identity, does it not? Meaning that if I were to catch a glimpse of your face... I would be able to discern your identity."
Avenger snorted. "I sincerely doubt it, but you are welcome to try, regardless."
The teal knight sighed, and began walking away from his other spear. "Very well then..." He struck out with his red spear, but found it blocked by Avenger's sword. "Tch... Very well then... You only have one sword, Avenger!" He then proceeded to impale Avenger with his other golden spear. Tried to, would be better terminology. At the last possible second, Avenger moved to the side, causing a horrendous screeching of metal on metal to emit from where the golden spear scraped along its armored flank.
"Good reflexes." Lancer noted, with grudging approval. "That armor... Tricky, tricky..."
"Stay still, and let me kill you!" Avenger growled, both hands on its sword.
"Is that part of your Noble Phantasm, then..." He switched hands and struck again, only to be parried by Avenger. "Tch..."
Back and forth, forwards and backwards, the two knights fought, gaining advantages and quickly losing them shortly thereafter. Lancer had the advantage in that he possessed two weapons instead of a singular one, and he was noticeably quicker than Avenger. Avenger however, was just a little slower, and had the advantage in brute strength and its armor that continued deflecting glancing blows from both lances. Eventually, it happened. Avenger tried blocking a stab to the chest from the golden spear with its right arm, only to mistime the stab and end up with a spear through said limb.
"Hngh!"
"Avenger!" Irisviel cried out. She had been standing nearby and observing the battle for quite some time now.
"Woman. Heal me."
"I'm trying... I have! Your wound should be healed! It is healed!"
Naruto sighed. "It's begun."
Waver looked at this strange master oddly. "What has?"
"Lancer's final attack." Saber nodded. "He is incredibly skilled. With that wound that Avenger has suffered, the battle will be over shortly."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
Iskander, the big servant, grunted in disapproval and slammed his foot against the ground, causing his master to 'eep' and bow his head.
"No… for all it's worth, Avenger being defeated on the first night probably isn't the best since all the other servants haven't been revealed yet. Both Alexander and I hoped to see more of them come out." Rider nodded at Naruto's words agreeing with him.
"Correct and if Avenger falls… it'll be too late" Waver raised his head.
"T-Too late?" he questioned his servant's choice of words. "The plan was to attack once they'd knocked each other out." Alexander stated, explaining his strategy for their attack on the servants.
Saber blinked. "Is that not cowardly, then?"
"Do not judge me, King of Knights. I had hoped that more servants would have answered Lancer's challenge, seeing as it would be easier to fight them together rather than in a one on one confrontation."
This caused Saber to gain a quite annoyed expression on her face.
"Some of us happen to specialize in one on one confrontations, Rider."
"I mean no disrespect, but unlike those who simply watch and wait for the best time to strike from the shadows, Avenger and Lancer are both valiant warriors whom I would dearly love to duel. Even you two given the chance if my presumptions are right. None of you should die before I have a chance to battle you."
"But isn't that the point of the battle? The Grail's war is to kill one another!" Waver's shouting was met by his servant flicking his head and sending him spinning.
"It's clear that Alexander requires a proper battle to decide this war. Like his history, he wants to conquer this war with no questions over his ability afterwards." Naruto observed.
"Yes. What I truly seek is to have truly conquered this war with all my strength." He drew out his sword and swiped at the sky which opened in a torrent of lightning that, channelled through the metal of the bridge. His great chariot came through the tear in the sky as Waver held onto the bridge for dear life. "We wait no longer. We shall participate, boy!" He paused. "King of Knights, would you and your master wish to ride with us?"
"I have my own methods of arriving, Rider." Saber replied easily. "Though I must thank you for your courtesy."
"Oi, oi..." The youngest in the little group was essentially having a panic attack. "Isn't this dangerous!"
"If you are too afraid, you can always stay behind." Alexander sniffed. "Are you scared then?" Hearing that, Waver made up his mind,"
"I'll go. Take me, damn it!" he shouted as if his life depended on it." The servant's smirk grew hearing Waver as he pulled him onto the chariot.
"Yosh… that is my Master!" He proclaimed as he took off into the sky with speed, leaving behind an annoyed King and a bemused magus.
"What an interesting pair."
Saber sighed. "Maybe... I do not believe that they will last long against my blade and your... special brand of magecraft however."
Naruto considered this statement, before shrugging. "Who knows? We'll just have to see, won't we?"
Avenger stared at its wound in slight annoyance. "A spear that inflicts wounds that do not heal... Another spear, and a mole under your eye. I suppose I should feel honored then, to be facing you, First of the knights of Fianna, Diarmuid of the Radiant Face."
"It would be better, if you were to give me your name now that you know mine."
The bloody knight laughed again. "You will know my name in time, for now that I know this, I will be able to cut you down with impunity."
"You say this when you have lost the use of one arm."
Avenger radiated an air of smugness and promised violence and retribution, even if its face were not visible. "I have suffered worse, it is of no consequence."
However, before they could re-engage, a clap of thunder sounded across the landscape, and a large chariot dropped between them with a rather tall muscular man at the helm.
Irisviel was dumbstruck. "A chariot...?"
The chariot was surrounded by lightning, drawn by two bulls, and at its helm was a muscular man. It was positioned between Lancer's... Lances... And Avenger's sword.
"Both of you! Lay down your arms, for a true king comes!"
The servant surveyed Lancer and Avenger, noted their surprise and shock at his arrival, and nodded affirmatively.
"I am Alexander! King of Conquerors! I have received the designation of Rider in this Holy Grail War!"
That was when everyone really became gob-smacked. In the war of the Holy Grail no Servant would want to declare his identity as it could be a key component of any and all battle plans.
On the bridge, Saber was speechless at this servant's audacity and, in her opinion, foolishness. Naruto stifled a chuckle.
"I like this guy. I don't know why, but I do."
"What a fool... To reveal his name so easily...?" Saber murmured. Yes, she had also revealed her identity, but that was only because Alexander had introduced himself first, and it was only common courtesy to do so, and it was unintentional...
She was really just trying to justify making such a huge blunder.
"Mou, Saber, you can't say that you hate this guy, right?" Naruto whispered.
"... I will not say anything on the matter."
"So cold... And you revealed your identity too."
"That was... That was inadvertent! It was unintentional! A blunder!" The blond servant cried out. "It was a slip of the tongue, and nothing more!"
"Someone is in denial." Naruto teased.
"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about..." Saber replied with a slight blush on her face, as she turned her nose to the air, acting the very part of the indifferent monarch.
"If you insist... Let's watch the fight then..."
"What are you doing, you dumbass!" Waver cried out, earning yet another flick to the forehead.
"Seeing your battle... Fate has brought us together to fight for the Grail, but first, there is something I must ask… how about... Yielding the Grail to me and joining my army?" Alexander said with a smile. "I will treat you both as my friends, and we shall share in the joy of world conquest together!"
Lancer blinked, then glared at the burly servant. "You would dare interrupt my battle for something as stupid as that? My loyalty lies with my lord. Not with you, Rider!"
Avenger grunted, seemingly annoyed. "What a clown. I have no interest in your petty dreams of world conquest."
Alexander sighed. "Ah, negotiations have failed once again..."
Irisviel blinked in amazement. "Negotiation? You came in and essentially demanded that they swear loyalty to you!"
"Exactly. It was planning."
A brief pause.
"THAT'S NOT PLANNING!" Lancer, Avenger, Irisviel, and Waver yelled at him.
"Yes it is."
The same voice that ordered Lancer spoke up. "So, you were the one that stole my catalyst, Waver Velvet."
Irisviel widened her eyes. "That is..."
"I'm amazed, Waver Velvet. To think that you would have the audacity to steal my holy relic... And have the boldness to join the Heaven's feel." The concealed voice of Lancer's master spoke.
"Ah... Uh..."
"I actually wanted my poor beloved student to be happy. Waver, someone as mediocre as you only deserves to possess the calm and stable life of commoners. Therefore... It falls to me, as your teacher... To school you privately." The silky, oily voice called out. "I'll have to teach you about the pain and fear that is involved in this most sacred of rituals."
Waver, was terrified. There were no other words around that, he was scared, scared to death of his former teacher, Kayneth Archibald El-Melloi.
Until Rider spoke.
"So... You were the one that was supposed to be my master?" Alexander rumbled. "How distasteful, you could never be my master. Only one who has the bravery to ride out with me onto the battlefield has that right. Not one who would be so cowardly as to skulk in the shadows."
Silence, only the anger of an arrogant noble could be felt in the black, seething with absolute rage at the impudence of Alexander. "You dare! Are all servants this impudent towards their betters?"
The red-clad servant ignored him. "On that note... Oi! All of you that are hiding yourselves! Show yourself immediately! Or are you too cowardly to do so? I, Alexander, the King of Conquerors, would have you show your faces!"
"Rider." Lancer said seriously. "Who on earth are you talking to?"
"You didn't think that your entire battle went unnoticed, didn't you? I know that Saber and her master are watching the battle right now, to say nothing of the other servant observing this gathering!"
And with that statement, golden dust coalesced on top of a lamppost, forming into that Golden King that had caused such an uproar on the first night of the war.
Waver was stunned. "Isn't that..."
"That's the servant that killed Assassin on the first night of the war..." Irisviel finished. Everyone on the docks stared at the golden armored figure, who was the epitome of 'King'.
This could not be a Caster. So, by process of elimination, seeing as Saber was not the one being referred to by Alexander, and he was clearly not under Mad Enhancement...
"Archer?" Waver murmured softly. The last of those three knight classes... Archer. The servant of the bow.
The golden servant sneered. "I did not expect a fool to appear before me and call themselves king, when there is clearly only one king: me."
"If you're truly a king then why not name yourself? No true king should be troubled by giving his name." Alexander asked of the man standing atop the post.
"So you would question me, pretender?" the light beneath his feet went out as he broke it by stomping his foot. "Me, the king? At least there was a mongrel that was able to discover my true name on first glance, it was the only reason I gave him a chance to live. For the rest of you, if even in the presence of my glory you cannot discern my identity, your blindness will seal your doom!" From behind him a golden glow appeared and two weapons appears out of it.
"Are those..."
"Noble Phantasms..." Waver said, clearly shocked. "Those are Noble Phantasms!"
"Foolish mongrels. Now then, prepare to face the wrath of a king!"
However, he was cut off by a swirl of darkness appearing, a mar in the landscape. A swirl of pure darkness had appeared, a black flame that burned furiously before dissipating, revealing... A black figure, in what could be a knight, but could also not be a knight, shrouded in black, cloaked in darkness. Truly, skulking in the shadows.
Avenger turned its helmed head in the black knight's direction. "Hoh? Is that Berserker then?"
Lancer laughed nervously. "Oi, Rider? Do you plan on inviting him?"
Rider grunted. "He doesn't seem the thinking type... Boy, how strong is he?"
Waver looked at the black knight and recoiled slightly. "I... I can't tell! It's as if..."
"As if his stats were being obscured by some black cloud. He is obviously strong though..." All eyes went to the black figure, who was clearly unnerving most of those present.
However... That shock would not last long. A tri-pronged knife hissed through the air and landed in the ground with a small 'thunking' noise.
"Hmm? They're arriving then?"
A flash of golden light lit the battlefield, forcing Lancer and Waver to avert their eyes. When the glowing had passed, two figures had appeared, both clad in black suits, both blond, and both radiating an aura that could only be described as deadly.
Once again silence until...
The taller one, with spiky hair and blue eyes... Broke into a grin.
"Yo! Sorry we're late! I got lost on the road of life, and Saber had to drag me back!"
Absolute silence. Everybody was staring at the whiskered blond in sheer amazement. Was he suicidal, or something?
Waver, Lancer and Kayneth were appalled. Irisviel was surprised. Alexander was stroking his beard while grinning, Avenger was suitably surprised, both by the spiky blond and his companion, and Archer?
One could see a vein pulsing in his head. He was clearly, clearly annoyed. Well, pretty much anything could set off Gilgamesh's temper, hell, even looking at him warrants punishment.
Yeah, Archer? He was pissed.
Saber sighed. "Master, you're making a scene... Again..."
Avenger turned to Saber, just now noticing her. "Is that..."
"Mou, Saber, we're here, aren't we?"
"Yes, but you're embarrassing yourself with your antics. That 'sorry, I'm late' gag is not particularly amusing."
Naruto blinked. "Yes. It actually is. Even you have to admit it."
Saber paused, and took that into consideration, causing a semi-pleased expression to form on her face, before that morphed back into her impassive one. "It is rather humorous for those that are not on the opposing end, but that is not the point."
The blue-eyed blond sighed at that. "Spoilsport. Ah, where are our manners? As you know, beside me is servant Saber. As for myself... My name is Naruto Uzumaki, former Shinobi-turned-magus, apprentice to the greatest troll ever, Kishur Zelretch Schweinorg, and magician in training."
Now this drew surprised reactions out of the magi that were present. All of them had heard that Kaleidoscope had taken an apprentice (amazingly enough), but... This man was a magician?
"What the hell! You're a practitioner of the Second Magic?" Waver shouted accusingly, pointing a trembling finger at the suited blond.
"Yeah. Is there a problem?"
"Fuck yes, there's a problem!"
"Is there a point behind that statement?" Lancer asked, clearly bored out of his mind.
"Maybe-" A sword flashed through the air towards our protagonists and promptly exploded.
"Fool. You dare keep a king waiting!? Such impudence... Even if you were able to recognize me on sight, there is no forgiveness for this act of disrespect!" The Golden King stated, still enraged by his fellow blond's antics. "Mongrels like you should just return to the dirt from whence you came!" Of course, his rage had another target. "And you, you mad dog. What do you think you're looking at?" A spear and a sword appeared from a golden ripple in the air, glorious and fine in manufacture and design. "Return to the earth!" The spear and sword were fired, and another explosion that sent up a large plume of smoke.
"Oi, oi..." Archer stiffened when he heard that annoying voice emanate from an alleyway. "That's a bit rude, don't you think? Quite dangerous too..."
"What the hell!" Waver said, more shocked than terrified. "How the hell did he get all the way over there?"
Naruto blinked, then smirked and put a finger to his lips.
"That's a secret."
Cue face-fault.
Meanwhile, Mr. Goldie-pants was still raging.
"You dare mock me... You would dare defy the justice of the king?!"
Saber decided to speak her mind. "I do not see a king standing before me, merely a petulant brat. If you are a King then come down and fight like a King should!"
Naruto face-palmed. "Saber, you just got him madder."
"And you have not?"
"Touché."
Amazingly enough, Archer either hadn't heard his words, or was just too mad to care.
"Another pretender? What insolence..." More weapons appeared in mid-air, surrounded by those golden ripples, weapons of the highest quality, of the highest make, of the highest manufacture. Weapons fit for a king, and there were so many too.
Spears, swords, axes, knives, daggers, scythes, halberds... If it could be named, then Archer had it. All Noble Phantasms, or on the level of a Noble Phantasm.
However, before he could fire the weapons, Archer paused. "And the mad dog survives, too?"
Yes, Berserker had indeed survived the two weapons that Archer had fired. The black knight was walking out of a plume of smoke, wielding a tainted sword in one hand, spider-webbed with red veins and emitting an ominous cloud of darkness.
"Interesting, to have such skill in such a state..." Rider murmured.
"Yes, did you not see it then? He caught that sword and used it to destroy the spear..." Avenger spoke, startling Waver, who had almost forgotten about the heavily armored servant. "But that is not what interests me..."
"You damn mongrels... I'll just kill you now!" Before the weapons could fire however, Archer came to a complete halt, and looked up, clearly annoyed. "Retreat? You've got some nerve, Tokiomi, to order a king around like a mere peasant..." The weapons all retracted, the ripples closed, the few weapons that remained on the ground dissolved into golden dust. Archer was near apoplectic about his forced retreat, but he could do nothing about it. A command seal had been used, and compliance was forced.
"Tch... Having to run like this... How distasteful." He turned to leave, though not without some parting words. "Mongrels! See that you've culled your numbers by our next meeting, as only a true hero is worthy of looking upon me! And you two... You had better not try the patience of the King a third time..." With a final sneer, that King dissolved into golden particles and vanished.
The sudden quiet was broken by Rider's low rumble. "Boy... No, Naruto. Just who was that character?"
Naruto sighed. "That just confirmed my suspicions. That haughty disposition, the vast treasury of weapons, that golden body... There has only been one hero that has owned all the world's treasures."
Saber looked at her master in utter shock. "You mean...!"
"Yes. That man is Gilgamesh, King of Heroes." The whiskered blond replied. "And he is Tohsaka's servant. Clearly, this war will prove to be quite interesting." He paused. "And what will you all do now?"
Avenger stepped forwards, visibly trembling with anticipation. "We meet again, father."
Waver blanched. "Wait, father? Saber is a woman! Why the hell are you referring to Saber with masculine pronouns?" Waver shouted. "She's clearly a girl!"
"King Arthur is my father. It matters not what gender he is, it is the inexorable truth. Lancer. You wished to know my name, did you not?"
"Avenger! What are you doing!"
"No, this is a matter of pride. For you see, my name is Mordred. That bastard child of the King of Knights, Arthur!" Avenger rumbled angrily.
"Mordred..." Saber murmured softly. She traced an invisible line on her chest, where she was cut down in battle.
"Remembering past wounds, father? I know that I remember mine..." Avenger's hand went to her side.
"..."
"So this is the heroic spirit King Arthur..." Irisviel stated.
"That little girl is seriously King Arthur?" Lancer asked incredulously.
A brief lull in the talking, as various parties contemplated this idea.
Naruto grinned, his feral smile in place. "Well then... Are we to fight, then? Because if that is to be the case... Then we'll just have to give a good showing now, won't we."
A roaring noise caused everyone's attention to turn to Berserker, who had picked up a lamppost and was charging at the servant and master pair. Avenger drew her sword and was slowly advanced in the same direction that Berserker was currently charging.
"My, my..." Naruto sighed. "How rude." He casually took out a scroll. "Saber, if you could?"
His servant instantly materialized her silver armor and invisible weapon, and parried Berserker's blow.
"Not a problem, master." Saber grunted. "Although Berserker is quite strong..."
"Just hold on, I'll be ready shortly." Naruto opened the scroll and scanned through it quickly. "Mmm... We'll use this one today, I suppose."
"Oi, oi! What are you doing! A master can't possibly take on a servant!" Waver yelled.
Saber shook her head at Waver's folly. "Child, if there is one thing you should know about my master... It is this. Never, ever underestimate him. For..."
"It will be the last mistake in your short existence." Naruto finished.
And with that, he placed a hand on a circular seal within the scroll and channeled a small quantity of od into said scroll. A puff of smoke obscured the vision of all those watching, and when it cleared...
Naruto was holding a sword. No, sword is too good a word to describe the implement in his hand. It was a huge hunk of metal, bigger than Naruto was, shaped like a butcher's knife. The blade itself had two cut-outs, one near the top and one near the handle. Yet, despite the massive bulk, the blond magus was holding it with a single hand. This sword was clearly designed to kill the enemy, there was no other purpose. It was a heavy and crude thing, yet elegant in its simplicity.
It looked absolutely terrifying, especially when combined with the blond's bloodthirsty grin.
"Ah, more introductions. Shit-stains, meet Kubikiribōchō. Kubikiribōchō, meet shit-stains. I promise, you'll get acquainted shortly. Now then...!" And with that, the spiky-haired blond grabbed the handle of his giant blade with another hand, and launched himself at Berserker, causing the black servant to leap backwards in order to avoid the massive decapitating blade. "Saber. Which do you want? Big bad and ugly, or smaller, yet uglier?"
Saber twitched. "Avenger looks exactly like me, you do realize..."
"Urk. Never mind then." He blocked another one of Berserker's strikes and glared at the black knight. "You do know that it's rude to interrupt conversations, don't you?" He then proceeded to smash the flat of his blade across Berserker's helmet, sending the mad servant flying.
It was so silent, that you could hear a pin drop. Literally, Kayneth had a pin on him (God knows why), and he dropped it, metal falling from nerveless fingers. Of course, the noise didn't actually register in the minds of those present.
"I'll be back. I've got to go take out the trash. You can handle Mordred, can't you?"
Saber nodded. "Go. I have some... Business to attend to." She glanced at her master, eyes momentarily narrowing in concern. "You will be alright, won't you?"
"You know me, Saber. What do you think?"
"I think... You will be more than fine." She smirked. "Very well then. I'll leave you to it."
And the servant of the sword charged forward in a sudden burst of speed to do combat with the irregular servant that had been summoned, while her master braced himself to receive the mad servant's charge.
And on that night, battle was joined.
A/N: Yeah, we're ending this now. Mainly because if I continue on, I'll end up taking another five-thousand words. Next chapter is the end of the 'first night' chapters, though it really isn't the first night. I consider it as such though, as it is the first 'official' battle in the war.
We are going down the Mordred route, for a couple of reasons. One being, I already had her material written out. Two, and not as importantly, it was popular opinion. More than fifty percent of the votes were in favor of Mordred. Three, it adds that heightened amount of tension, and four... Because I thought it would be fun.
Again, the poll didn't really influence my decision. I had already decided on Kiritsugu's servant before I had even put that on my profile. So there.
I already know that I'm going to get my ass flamed for making Gil run away. Let me just say this, he ran because Tokiomi ordered him to, and the reason Tokiomi ordered him to was because Gil was basically going to melt the arteries in his brain with how angry and pissed he was, and to prevent him from revealing more of Gate of Babylon. Basically, same as in canon.
So, next chapter we should see some actual combat. Joyous days! Blood for the blood god! Skulls for the skull throne!
...
... Back on topic... I think that I may have found a beta. I'll have to look into the matter further however...
And as for updates: As of this chapter, I have burned through all of my pre-written material. Therefore, updates shall be much, much slower. So... don't expect a chapter for a couple of weeks, since what I generally do is write two or three chapters and try to wait until I have a suitable time to post. I'll try to get a stockpile of material written, but no promises. School is a female dog.
Anyways. Read, review, criticize. Essentially, tell me what I'm doing wrong and tell me how to do no wrong.
Rein Hellfire-retiring for the night.
Update 1: Thank you to Serfius for catching that. Edited.
