A/N: Ok here is the next chapter where the sisters face off and Shirou will get dragged into the war, what will happen. Read and find out and thanks for all of the reviews.
Chapter 7
Unexpected Masters
The battle between Rin and the Princess of the Nazgul quickly escalated between them as Archer summoned his twin swords Kanshou and Bakuya to deflect Rider's dagger before swiftly moving to counter attack. The magenta haired servant was surprised by this development…the servant wasn't a Saber he was an Archer, but seeing an Archer wielding a pair of swords instead of a bow or another suitable long range weapon was surprising.
"For an Archer…seeing you wield two swords is surprising?"
"I didn't tell you I was an Archer, so how did you know that?" Archer asked realizing their foe obviously was fully aware of his class before attacking deducing they were somehow spying on him and Rin before attempting their attack on them.
"I cannot answer that question unless my Master asks me to, but I will say she has her ways."
"Then I'll simply have to find out by beating you and then helping my master get an explanation out of her."
"Just try it!"
Rider began her next attack by spinning her dagger above her head holding onto the chain before flinging it forward trying to ensnare Rider with either the chain or by harpooning him with the weapon, but Archer's quick reflexes and skills with his twins swords allowed him to deflect the attack while at the same time he moved back to avoid a quick counterattack.
Archer moved to counterattack as well right after Rider attempted to strike him from a distance with her dagger closing the distance between them to strike, but the magenta haired servant possessed razor sharp relaxes of her own allowing her to quickly withdraw her dagger back to her hands and swiftly parry the male servant's blows just in time.
As the fight between Rider and Archer dragged on Rin was now left to deal with Rider's master Sakura as she thrust her staff forward striking the young Tohsaka heiress sending her to the ground after feeling a powerful invisible fist hit her in the gut. Rin was quick to recover as Sakura conjured a fireball from the bottom of her staff and sent it flying at her foe.
The black haired woman easily dodged it by rolling to the side as it impacted with the ground a few feet away behind her causing a small explosion. Rin proceeded to counterattack against Sakura by pointing her right index finger forward in a gun-style gesture as she gathered energy to her finger forming a hazy black orb at the tip preparing to use Gandr.
The black orb fired, but Rin soon followed up her attack with additional shots. However before impact Sakura used her staff to encase herself in a barrier of dark power shielding her from Rin's attack while the black orb projectiles bounced harmless upon the shield foiling Rin's attempt at a counterattack.
'She blocked my attack!'
Rin was surprised this woman was clearly very skilled at the use of magecraft, but some of the magic she demonstrated didn't seem to be the usual magecraft she had studied. There was something different about, almost alien, but yet familiar. The young Tohsaka heiress didn't have much time to think about it as Sakura dropped her shield and delivered a punishing counterattack using her strike to hit Rin in the head with another invisible strike after swinging her staff to the side imitating a whacking her in the head blow.
Rin was on the ground again, but when she tried to get up she got hit in the stomach again by whatever form of magic the masked woman was using against her.
"Is this it? Is this all the mighty and Miss Perfect Rin Tohsaka has to offer?" Sakura snapped.
Unfortunately the explosion is what alerted Shirou to what was happening just as he was able to leave the Matou Estate the explosion drew his attention. So the young man had decided to investigate and find out what was going on.
'What was that?'
Coming around from the side of the mansion Shirou saw the large field before him and in the middle he saw Archer and Rider fighting one another while at the same time he spotted Rin going against Sakura in a battle of magic breaking out between the two as Archer had his hands full with Rider's quick and swift attacks.
'What the hell is this, a battle happening out here?'
Shirou thought while trying to comprehend the situation happening since it seemed to be completely out of place. It might have been one thing if he saw gangs attacking one another and the like, but seeing what seemed to be mythological figures fighting stunned the young man. Unfortunately his presence drew the attention of the two Ringwraiths whose tasks were to prevent anyone from interfering, but they had to observe the rules of the Holy Grail War.
Eliminate all witnesses.
Acting on those rules instructed by their master to observe one of the two Nazgul leapt into action drawing its sword before advancing towards Shirou to kill the witness. Shirou's eyes widen in dreadful realization as he knew right there and then that he witnessed something he wasn't meant to see. Realizing the danger of staying the young man fled, but not before Sakura and Rin noticed the young man.
"Oh damn it!" Rin shouted while Sakura on the inside was horrified hoping that young man wasn't who she thought it was.
'That can't be Shirou!'
Shirou reached into his school uniform and brought out a small knife he had taken into habit of carrying with him at night to fend off attackers which were sometimes Britannians who liked picking on and going after the Honorary Britannians and Japanese living on this side of the city. Unfortunately Shirou didn't get very far as the Nazgul quickly caught up to him ready to strike him down with his sword, but reacting purely on fighting instinct the young man turned around and deflected the sword strike with his knife.
However the impact of the blow knocked the young man to the ground, but despite the powerful superhuman swing he had barely managed to deflect he was still gripping the knife. However his arms were sore from weathering such a powerful strike.
'Who is this guy…that sword strike was unreal.'
Shirou thought as the aura of terror exuded by the Nazgul began tearing at his heart and mind causing a growing fear within him to grip his heart. With a terrible shriek the Nazgul brought his blade down, but the cry of the Nazgul caused Shirou to freeze in place, but yet he still managed to hold his knife out to deflect the blow.
But once again the impact of the blade upon his knife sent him to the ground, but only this time he lost his grip on his weapon losing and now he was at the Ringwraith's mercy.
'I can't believe this…my mind is telling me to run, but my body is completely frozen.'
Shirou tried to himself to fight, but his arms were in her pain from having weathered two heavy blows from the Nazgul to the point that they felt like the bones within them were shattered. Although his arms were badly strained to the point that blood was dripping down his arms the bones in his arms were intact thankfully, however this meant he had no means of fighting back.
With a single and quick thrust the Nazgul pierced Shirou's heart with its pale sword.
Sakura had ended combat with Rin to see who had been unfortunate enough to stumble upon their battle, but her heart began to sink when she noticed familiar features of the young man after catching a look at him through her enhanced sight thanks to the helmet she wore. Rin it seemed had also recognized the young man which heightened her fears even more. Taking into account the explosion as well as the fire the fireball she shot at Rin had caused she knew lingering any longer was dangerous, but if that was Shirou then…
"Rider we're retreating…"
"Yes master."
Rider replied before breaking away from Archer and rejoining her master, but once she was standing in front of Sakura the magenta haired servant stabbed her own neck with her dagger causing a large amount of blood to spill out before her which began forming a summoning circle. Archer quickly realized the danger of the circle as a powerful light began to glow in the center of it, so to be on the safe side he quickly retrieved Rin and moved to a safe distance.
With a mighty cry a creature materialized with Rider and Sakura mounting it and launching a high speed escape moving so quickly that Archer and Rin couldn't fully see what had happened except for that Rider and her master was gone and the Ringwraiths had fled the scene.
"Why did they retreat?"
"Perhaps because that woman was concerned about drawing too much attention…that fireball will likely set a lot of these trees on fire soon." Archer pointed out.
Even with a spell in place to keep anyone from being aware of the battle taking place the smoke and flames it likely to draw some attention in one form or another, but yet it seemed whatever spell was cast it seemed to have missed the unfortunate boy now lying apparently dead nearby. Rin saw the young man and decided to approach him, although she knew after a strike like the one he received there was no way he was alive.
Kneeling down near Shirou Rin's expression changed from mild sadness to shock as she recognized him as one of the young boys Sakura used to play with, but that wasn't all that she had noticed…he was alive, albeit barely, despite being stabbed through the heart.
"How is he still alive?"
Shirou's face cringed in pain as he struggled to cling to life. Whatever had been behind his survival apparently had its limits. Unable to watch the young man suffer she drew out a small pendant with a red gem on it.
Meanwhile high in the air Rider sat silently as Pegasus was flying towards Minas Morgul, but for the entire way Sakura was quiet. The servant was perplexed as to why she ordered a retreat, especially when it seemed she was winning against Archer's master.
'Could that boy have been cause?'
As the two returned Lelouch had been observing the entire battle alongside Caster who was now aware of the young man's survival. Yet he was surprised by Shirou's survival knowing that strike from the Ringwraith should have killed him, but now he was alive and thanks to Rin his wounds would be healed. Lelouch knew that Sakura likely retreated possibly because she didn't want to bear the responsibility of Shirou dying because of her especially since he knew the young man having met a few times when Sakura went to visit the Emiya Estate which was on the far side of town.
"I am not sure if it's some kind of magic, but something is at work within that boy?" Medea noted trying to figure out the secret behind his survival.
"Indeed…I knew Shirou briefly and I faintly detected magical potential in him, but I don't think he was formerly trained as a Magus. If so then he has done a good job hiding it or perhaps might have a different kind of magical education perhaps." Lelouch added while he was thinking about it. "But I do know that his step-father was a master from the previous war, so the possibility of him receiving training is high."
"I see, but either way he's an outsider to the war."
"You have a point, but he could be an intended master for the war?"
"That is a possibility?"
"Yet I do agree we cannot ignore Shirou's run in with the Ringwraiths and witnessing the battle." Lelouch said while he had a thought in mind while he telepathically commanded his two Nazgul servants to turn around and head for the Emiya estate.
Shirou Emiya awoke minutes later on the ground, his body felt fine and while there were blood stains on his clothes he had no obvious injuries. His mind was a bit fuzzy to what had happened, but all he recalled was the Nazgul looming over him before stabbing him with its sword. Slowly rising to his feet Shirou saw no signs of anyone around and he found his knife on the ground next to a pendant left lying there.
Recovering both Shirou decided to return home knowing that if anyone saw him as it that might leave to some complications especially with the police.
It was a long walk, but Shirou taking some short cuts through some alleyways, mostly to avoid being seen by anyone, reached the Emiya Estate. After getting inside Shirou changed his clothes and cleaned himself up before sitting down in the living room to ponder over what had happened. He couldn't quite grasp it all, but he knew it was some kind of battle between magi, but what exactly where those black robed figures he had no idea.
'Alright a fight between two magi was going on, but those two guys in black robes weren't taking part in the battle and moved to attack me once they knew I was there so I can guess they were supervising the battle.'
Shirou thought while he was thinking about the battle.
But his thoughts were interrupted by a sudden chill creeping up his spine as the room grew colder. A troubling thought came to Shirou's mind as this feeling was very similar to the one he felt when the Nazgul went after him.
"Damn it…they know I am alive."
Without wasting a moment Shirou hurried over to a floral painting on the wall where he began feeling around the bottom looking for a hidden switch. The painting slid off to the side revealing a hidden compartment containing a specially modified shotgun as well as a katana along with a few other weapons including a handgun.
'Sorry Dad I didn't think I would be pushed into a position to use the weapons you left for me like this, but I am not sure what I am up against.'
Before dying a couple years ago Shirou Emiya's guardian and adopted father taught him some survival skills especially after Japan became Area 11 to help him survival the troublesome times that would lie ahead for him because he was an Honorary Britannia, a status he gained thanks to his father's connections, but he did try to teach him magecraft.
Unfortunately his death made it impossible to receive further instruction, but he knew enough at least to give himself a fair chance.
'Trace on…' Shirou thought as he tapped his magic circuits to begin reinforcing the shotgun and the katana to make them much stronger and durable in the event that he would be forced into close combat against the Nazgul.
"Alright I am ready!"
Shirou declared as he pumped back on the shotgun ready for whatever the Nazgul could throw at him, but moments later after that declaration a Nazgul leapt at him from the shadows sword drawn. Without a moment's hesitation the young man turned and fired with the impact of the shotgun round at point blank range knocking the Nazgul back on its ass.
To the young man's shock the shot the Nazgul got he was for the most part unharmed, but he didn't have time to fire another shot at it as another Nazgul came in through the backdoor to attack the young man. Shirou ducked to avoid losing his head to the evil creature before backing away, but knowing he would be at a disadvantage against two on one especially in closed quarters. Retreating to the backyard moving towards the shed on the far side of the grounds Shirou looked over his shoulder to see if anything of the Nazgul was following him.
Even if they weren't right this second Shirou knew he had little time before they came after him.
Ducking inside the shed Shirou leaned against the wall next to a window as he looked out at the wide open backyard looking for any signs of movement.
Meanwhile hurrying to his location was Rin and Archer as the two had realized not too long ago that Shirou wasn't out of danger. It wasn't until they relocated to the basement after cleaning up a little bit of the mess the Nazgul had caused Archer and Rin were seated at a table having tea discussing their previous battle, but one topic managed to pop back up. It was in of course in regards to Shirou who by all accounts was an outsider to the war and someone who wasn't meant to see it.
"Rin you are taking on a lot of trouble by helping that boy."
"I am sorry Archer, but I could allow him to suffer like that."
"His survival from such a strike was shocking to be sure, but the matter of outsiders having to be silenced aside. You know that boy will be hunted down if not by us then by possibility Rider and her master or those two cloaked figures."
"What…"
"If they realize he's alive then they'll likely act to finish the job and I am sure this time around they'll make sure he's dead." Archer ominously warned as Rin just realized her mistake, a huge oversight on her part.
With that knowledge in mind Rin and Archer were hurrying to the Emiya Estate to save Shirou from death while Archer wasn't exactly keen on the idea himself, but he had to obey his master's objectives.
"You realize you'll be taking on a lot of trouble don't you?"
"I know, but…I don't want him to be killed." Rin said acting to protect one of Sakura's friends.
"Are you sure you want to risk yourself like this…if those hooded figures are what I think they are then you'll be heading into a dangerous situation."
"You know what they are?"
"I think so…their cry of death is something you don't forget. I recall fighting one of them before…I didn't remember until their cry stirred some memories."
"What are they?"
"They are called Nazgul, Ringwraiths; they are neither living nor dead. They were formerly kings and great warriors in their day, but when they were given Rings of Power by the Dark Lord they obtained great power and prestige. However it came at a terrible prince as one by one they fell to darkness becoming slaves to the Dark Lord's will."
"Dark Lord?"
"I'll try to explain that part in better detail later, but since there is a chance we'll be fighting them I better tell you their strengths and weaknesses as well as abilities."
"Alright…tell me the details Archer."
"First off normal weapons like swords and ballistic weapons won't work on them. Swords and knives especially will disintegrate upon contact with their wraith bodies even if you manage to bypass their armor. A flamethrower however is more ideal since the Ringwraiths don't like fire so if you can light them on fire then you can drive them off. They need their armor and robes to have more of an effect on this plane so if you can destroy it then they will be forced to return to their master for new armor and robe to give themselves form so they could interact with the physical world. Our disadvantage is that we are fighting them at night when they are at their strongest and their enhanced senses are at their best during this time. Ideally the best time to face a Nazgul would be during the day where their powers are weakened by the sun."
"Ok, so our best bet would be setting them on fire…how do we destroy them?"
"That part is a little tricky…Servants like me and those with anti-army or potent anti-unit Noble Phantasms can destroy them, but for a human like you defeating a Ringwraith alone is a daunting task. However if you possess potent enhanced weapons such as Daggers of Westernesse which would be very useful since those daggers were designed specifically to be used against Wraith-like sprits including the Nazgul. The proprieties of such weapons would render them vulnerability and weaken them greatly by disrupting the magic that anchored them to this world and allow for even a simple sword to slay them in that moment of vulnerability."
"Ok, but you happened to have such a weapon?"
"Not exactly, but there is a weapon I have in my arsenal I could try. Weaknesses aside Rin there is another danger you must be very careful of…their aura of terror and their screeches can immobilize even the bravest of men with terror and fright so you'll need to steel yourself for it. First timers have a hard time enduring it unless they are exceptionally brave. However most important of all Rin you must keep your distance from them because merely being in the vicinity of one of them could cause disorientation and illness. Intense exposure could be lethal, a condition called the Black Breath…the Nazgul are poisonous…direct contact with their bodies alone could kill you."
"Right…I'll remember that."
"Good because I don't know how to heal anyone who contracts it, so keep your distance." Archer explained as he projected a sword he recalled from his life. An ancient and something of a famous Elven sword he had held long ago during his lifetime…Glamdring.
Back at the Emiya Estate…Shirou was nervously waiting, but so far the Nazgul hadn't advanced towards him yet. However a throbbing in his heart made him feel increasingly uneasy, which was further reinforced as he heard something move behind him.
"You cannot escape the Nazgul boy!"
Before Shirou could react a shuriken knocked his shotgun from his hand before he was attacked from behind by Assassin with the Witch King stepped out of the shadows having volunteered to his master to oversee Shirou's capture and hopefully possible recruitment to their cause. Assassin held Shirou in a choke hold as the Witch King drew his sword pointing the corrupted holy blade at the young man's neck.
"Be thankful that my lord wants you alive."
Shirou was struggling desperately, but Assassin's hold was too strong. Beginning to fear what could happen to him a mantra of shorts began to appear on his hand while a summoning circle began to manifest and glow behind the Witch King. The Lord of the Nazgul noticed the increasing brightness behind him, but at that moment a summoning was conducted automatically.
"What!"
The Witch King began, but was cut off as he had to block an incoming blow from the newly summoned servant that had come forth from the circle knocking the Lord of the Nazgul back and out the window flying over Assassin and Shirou after the two ducked. The light died down revealing a beautiful woman wearing silver ornate armor and a blue combat dress underneath with metallic armored boots armed with an invisible weapon.
Assassin retreated releasing his prisoner to go assist his master as the blonde haired summon regarded Shirou.
"…I ask of you, are you my Master?" The blonde haired girl asked as the moonlight shinned down upon her giving her a radiating glow.
"Huh?"
"I have come forth in response to your summons. From this moment forward, my sword shall be with you and your fate shall be with me…now, the contract is complete." Saber declared. "Saber is reporting for duty!"
Taking her sword, hidden by invisible air, the blonde woman charged out to face the Witch King and Assassin, but he was now accompanied by two of the Nazgul. It was three against one, but the Lord of the Nazgul advanced upon Saber with his sword raised up before bringing it down to meet Saber's own invisible blade as the impact of their weapons thundered through the air as Saber was almost pushed back.
She didn't back down as she pressed on her attack with Assassin aiding his master by hurling shurikens at the blonde haired servant while the other two Nazgul with their swords ready charged at the female servant. At that moment Archer attacked from above stabbing one of them in the back with the projected Elven sword he was currently wielding.
Archer didn't stop he pulled the sword out and began cleaving into the Ringwraith trying to down it fast and quickly before it can counterattack. The second Nazgul moved to attack the red clothed servant to defend its comrade against Archer's brutal attack as a good chunk of its armor was damaged and parts of its black robes were shredded.
Watching from a safe distance in the second floor of the shed was Rin having retreated up there per Archer's suggestion to avoid possible infection by the Nazgul's black breath. Although she had no intention of remaining idle either as she began contemplating a means of attacking them and so after remembering what Archer told her began gathering a few things she found inside the shed.
Outside Saber took note of the new Servant arriving, but she would have to deal with him once he was done with the Witch King and his servant after she managed to deflect the small projectiles thrown at her backing up to give herself some space. However taking a moment Saber recognized the sword the Witch King was wielding.
'I know that blade…that sword belonged to Lancelot.'
Seeing the sword of her champion and friend being wielded by another like the Witch King infuriated her especially since it was obvious even to her that holy blade was corrupted. She was angered by seeing the blade more corrupted than it was in the hands of Lancelot when he was the Servant Berserker Saber knew she had to keep quiet since it would run the risk of her revealing her identity.
Saber and the Witch King continued exchanging blows as Assassin drew its katana joining the battle with Saber now being forced to fend off attacks from two attackers at once. Despite being outnumbered the blonde haired servant was holding her own against her despite weathering the Witch King's powerful hammering blows.
Archer was fairing as well as Saber was as he was successfully fending off two of the Ringwraiths on his own with one of them suffering considerable damage to its garments and armor, but the tie of the battle quickly began to change as a glass bottle filled with gasoline and a burning cloth hit the Nazgul in the back setting the dark creature ablaze.
Rin had another Molotov cocktail ready, but Archer decided to give her a chance to save it as he shoved the burning Nazgul into its comrade setting them both on fire. Two of the Nazgul were now disabled as they were forced to withdraw from the battle as they tried to put themselves out before the flames burn their robes thus severely comprising their ability to interact with the physical world.
The one who already had his armor severely damaged by Archer's first strike the Nazgul's garments were all but completely destroyed and so another well hit blow to destroy what remained of its armor and garments would cripple the Nazgul forcing him to return to his master for new garments to regain the ability to interact in the physical world.
Seeing an opportunity Archer poured his strength into the blade after parrying the two Nazgul leaving the one severely damaged open allowing him to deliver a devastating blow that seemingly cleaved the Nazgul in two The rest of his garments burned away while his shattered armor fell to a heap on the ground, the Nazgul was now rendered unable to continue fighting with no means of interacting with the physical world now. Rin hurled the gasoline filled bottle equipped with a burning cloth at the Witch King, but the Lord of the Nazgul saw it and shattered it with one swipe from his sword bathing his blade in its flames instead.
The Witch King began fighting back with even stronger swings and blows pushing Saber back, because some of his blows as strong as they were had nearly exploited openings in the young woman's defenses, but Saber held fast against the Witch King's savage assault and Assassin's attacks as well barely fending off both foes.
The last Nazgul besides the Witch King attempted to tackle the blonde servant to weaken her knowing its possible defeat was near attempting to slow her down and hope that the flames consuming his body would injury Saber. Archer tried to stop him, but ultimately went for the Witch King instead…however the Lord of the Nazgul seemly used a powerful magically-enhanced scream of power to sending Archer flying a few feet back.
However Saber didn't give the burning Nazgul a chance to reach her as she turned around the cleaved the Nazgul in two through the waist. Seeing the tide of the battle going against them, the Witch King ordered his servant Assassin to use potent flash bombs in conjunction with smoke bombs to cover their escape as the two fled in the blinding light and smoke created by their escape.
Once the smoke died down the remains of the Ringwraiths armor faded away disintegrating into dust, but Archer knew their spirits were still intact and were likely returning to their master for new garments and armor. But Archer had to raise his sword up to deflect Saber's incoming strike, because now that the Nazgul and the Witch King was gone the female servant's priorities switched to engaging the red-coat servant considering him a threat…one that needed to be dealt with.
This helped Assassin and the Witch King flee the scene much easier, taking the motorcycles their comrades had used while the Fell Beast they rode returned to the castle after dropping them off.
Archer parried all of Saber's attack, but the blonde haired knight just kept coming and showed no signs of slowing down. Stepping outside Shirou was at a complete loss at what had just happened and he had no idea what was really going on. He saw Archer come in and help the blonde haired woman, but now suddenly she was aiming to kill him. Nothing was adding up and Shirou wanted some answers, so recover his shotgun he aimed at the ground between Saber and Archer before firing.
The shot got their attention as both Servants looked at Shirou as shouted having taken all he could take this evening.
"THAT'S ENOUGH! WHAT IS GOING ON, SOMEONE TELL ME!"
"Master…he's an enemy…" Saber said seemingly genuinely dumbfounded by her master's actions.
"He was helping us fighting them off so how is he an enemy?"
"Saber…I think it's rather obvious your master has no idea in regards to the situation, especially the war he is now involved in." Rin said walking out of the shed. "It's nice to see you again Shirou…it's been a couple years since we last saw one another."
"Hey…you're…" Shirou began as the memory of a young pig-tail girl in a school uniform came back to him. "Rin…Rin Tohsaka?"
"I am glad you remember me."
"Yeah you were the vice president of the middle-school student council before you moved to the Settlement. Issei was quite happy when you moved away." Shirou commented recalling the very good mood his friend was in the day the news came that Rin was moving away.
"Pardon me Master, but I still have a servant trying to kill me." Archer inquired.
"Saber…if you are my servant then I am asking you to stand down."
Reluctantly Saber lowered her sword.
"Archer now that the danger is over would you mind telling me what you know about those creatures?"
"You mean the Nazgul?"
"Nazgul?" Saber said as her eyes widened at surprise at the mention of the word.
"You seem to have heard of them?" Shirou said while Rin also noticed the momentary change in expression on Saber's face before the female Servant appeared calm again.
"I have, but I thought they were just an old myth?"
"I can assure you they were no myth…we fought two of the Nazgul and the strongest among them. The Lord of the Nazgul himself, the Witch King of Angmar."
"That was him…the one with the crown?"
"Indeed, so I assume then you have heard of the Witch King as well."
"As I said they were only a myth, but a friend of mines when I was alive told me about them. The Nazgul were originally nine great kings of men, but each of them foolishly accepted a magical ring of power from the one called the Dark Lord. One by one they fell and became enslaved to the Dark Lord's will becoming neither living nor dead. The strongest among them was the Witch King of Angmar who was a fearsome warrior and a cruel and deadly tactician, but he was also a powerful sorcerer whose knowledge and skills with the dark arts allowed him to earn the moniker Witch King. It he who founded the ancient kingdom of Angmar long before the first days of human history and crushed the Kingdoms of Arnor."
"That's pretty much it…he could have stayed and fought us, but his master must have recalled him which means his goal must have been to capture you." Archer replied before casting a glance at Shirou.
"Why would the Nazgul be after my master, so they could use me?"
"I don't think was the case. Earlier Shirou happened upon a battle my master and I was fighting in and he witnessed it. As per the rules he was a witness not meant to see the battle. The Nazgul that were present at the time quickly dispatched of him by one of them stabbing him in the heart with their sword. However he somehow survived what should have killed him, but he was still barely alive like something was holding onto his life desperately trying to keep him alive. My master here despite my objections, overlooking the fact witness are to be killed, used one of her stones to heal your injuries saving your life."
"I see, but when capture wasn't possible they retreated."
"Yes and those two Nazgul that were defeated will be back. Once they receive new armor and garments to give them physical presence once more. Right now they are trapped in spirit form unable to interact with the physical world. It's one of their weaknesses."
"If I may inquire Archer how do you know so much about them?" Saber asked.
"I fought them during my lifetime, I don't remember my past fully, but I remember enough of it at this point to remember the Nazgul and the one who commands them."
"You mean the Dark Lord?"
"Yes…I never encountered him, but his presence was being felt around the world especially when his servants the Nazgul were sent to carry out his orders. The Dark Lord himself I never found out anything on him, he kept himself shrouded in mystery and rumors. What I do know is he comes from a time long before recorded human history predating human civilization."
"Impossible, but how…"
"Take this sword for instance I discovered it. This weapon's existence alone spits on the accepted theories of humanity's origin and knowledge. I found it after a long time forged using a crafting art that is not within any records. From there I began researching and I discovered remnants of historical documents revealing some information suggesting the existence of First, Second and Third age of Middle Earth as our world was called during those times before known history from beings like the True Ancestors and Dead Apostles." Archer explained as Shirou as well as Rin were stunned by these revelations.
"What about the Dark Lord?"
"I already told you no matter how hard I dug around for information I found virtually nothing on him save for rumors. But the worse, it was, that he merely moved on within the shadows, nudging an event here, another there, patiently, yet inexorably…ensnaring people, countries and such on his reach, all towards a goal."
"What goal was that…world domination?"
"Maybe, but I think there was something else. However...either way I didn't live to see what that goal was."
"You were killed?" Rin asked.
"Yes…I don't remember how, but I think my own reputation did me in." Archer answered, but he was hiding a few things still as he recalled more than anyone else had thought. "As for the Dark Lord his influence is fearsome alone. As you can probably imagine Rin despite his acts from the shadows the Magus Association and the Church began to act to put a halt to his activities, but even they couldn't stop him."
"What happened?"
"Although I couldn't prove it, he was linked to the destruction of most of the Burial Agency of the Church. It is said that a demon of fire and shadow, immune to nearly all of their relics and such the agency had, but by the time that they finally managed to defeat it, nearly 4/5 of the entire Burial Agency was dead, the rest grievously wounded or such, and Rome was devastated."
This revelation shocked, but yet horrified Rin who knew of the Burial Agency as the reputation of its members, who each of them was a lethal assassination even feared within the church.
"What about the Association?" Shirou asked.
"I don't know, but from what rumors I heard some Magus were vanishing or leaving the association. I saw one member of the Association aiding the Ringwraiths before my death. I am only going to guess there was some kind of division happening within the Association, but beyond that I don't know."
"If everything you said is truth…then the Dark Lord himself is involved with the Holy Grail War, especially if the Witch King has a Servant of his own…Assassin."
"That is likely the case, which means we could all be in a whole lot of trouble."
Watching from afar through the Palantir in the safety of his dark bastion Lelouch was grinning mischievously as he had observed the entire meeting and knew everything they knew, but Archer's knowledge of future events was very interesting to the Dark Lord.
"A servant of the future instead of the past, but judging from his words a future in which I am involved and winning."
Archer's words gave a sense of confidence to the Dark Lord and his designs, but he was mindful of not allowing such assuring thoughts or confidence clouds his better judgment. Because no matter how hard one plans…something can still go wrong. Lelouch knew he wouldn't be able to gleam anything further from them for the moment so the Dark Lord directed his thoughts elsewhere.
He had someone he needed to check in with.
Underneath the Ashford Academy, the Sanctuary of the Dark Lord was silent, but not uninhabited as its caretaker was walking through the dark polished halls led by a Wight wrapped in black robes possessing pale white bony hands. The woman was obviously female holding an iron wand in her hand as she was approaching a simple iron cage at the end of the small dungeon where the unsuspecting trespassers are being kept.
She was around the same age as Lelouch if not possibly a year older with a mature, but surprisingly slender body with silky straight hair of dark purple extends to her haunch and dark purple eyes. The woman was dressed in a black suit with a red tie wearing a matching skirt wearing black shoes. The Japanese woman stopped at the cage where she saw two Ashford Academy students, one of them was a boy and the other was a girl. According to what she had been told they were found trying to make out in the tunnels below the school and unwitting came too close to finding Lelouch's sanctuary.
A feat that should have been impossible, but nevertheless these two in their attempts to find a place to be alone led them to being caught by the Lesser Wraiths guarding the tunnels although the illusion spells and other traps should have kept them from advancing so far. The girl in the cage saw the woman as did her would-be lover.
"What the hell is Eleven trash doing here?"
The girl didn't respond, but spoke softly…yet politely.
"I remember seeing your photo…you must be Lisa Williams and you are Alan Spacer." Kotonoha Katsura said calmly although she glared at the son of the duke who was inside the cage. "I know all about you…cheater, sex addict, and betrayer!"
Kotonoha was referring to Alan's reputation around school as a spoiled rotten brat who was quite the womanizer especially with nasty rumors going around that he typically dates women for a time and then cruelly dumps them. More so especially after he manages to bed them if given the chance, but sadly it seems some have ignored those rumors.
Although Lisa had a chance of surviving this night, but Alan on the other hand…his fate was sealed.
"Let us out of here you piece of trash" Alan said insultingly.
"I am not trash…everyone was mean to me and he used me." Makoto said as her expression and eyes were taking on a darker tone. "Knock the girl out and remove her from the cage."
The lesser wraith obeyed as Lisa fell into a deep slumber as the cage opened and the wraith dragged the woman away, but when Alan attempted to escape a wave of the staff she held sent the womanizer slamming into the other side of the cage. An unseen, but powerful force was holding him in place as another lesser wraith arrived with a Morgul Blade.
"I hate womanizers and most of all I hate people who use women for sex…you deserve this very much." Kotonoha said softly as she advanced as the struggling high school student, but his efforts were in vain as the Japanese teen stabbed the young man in the shoulder with the Morgul Blade.
The young student was outraged by the wound, but before he could say anything a burning pain erupted in his body as he felt the tip of the Morgul Blade that had been left inside of him beginning to work its way to his heart as its vile magic began working. As she watched the boy squirm in pain as the tip of the blade reached Alan's heart causing his life to end, but he was able to endure a fate worse than death as his physical body melted away as a newly formed Wight stood in his place now under the eternal servitude of the Dark Lord.
After using the wand to modify the girl's memories the Lesser Wraiths dragged her off to dump her body somewhere on the school grounds where it could be found.
Despite their best attempts to prevent, the students were still finding ways into the sanctuary or more specifically the tunnels leading to it. Since building it Lelouch had the tunnels connecting to the underground sanctuary laced with traps of deadly cunning, both magical as well as modern lethal weapons and defensive traps.
However as a way to prevent unnecessary deaths that could be noticed by the school and others there was in place several different kinds of illusion enchantments meant to scare anyway anyone wandering too close to the sanctuary by a frightening illusion in the form of either a scary ghost, a vision of severed heads appearing on spikes and if need be a ghost train traveling through the tunnels to scare the curious away.
But it seem despite their best attempts there are a small few who somehow managed to avoid getting ensnared by the illusions or somehow avoided them.
Once her job was done, Kotonoha made her way back to the main chamber to deliver her report to Lelouch after satisfying removing one less womanizer from the world with a cover story for his disappearance ready by morning to draw away all eyes from the school. Placing her hand on the palantir her mind was linked to the Dark Lord as communication between the two began. The feeling of Lelouch's powerful presence filling her mind was thrilling feeling and she enjoyed communicating with him.
"How many today?"
Lelouch asked while suspecting she likely must have come across from students who had stumbled close to his base.
"Not as many as previous times, so I think the new illusion wards are working."
"Excellent…how is Nunnally?"
"She is fine I checked on her for you, Sayoko has been taking good care of her."
"Anything happening that I should be aware of?"
"Nothing important, but everything else has gone as you have wanted. I have finished establishing a new base on the outskirts of Shimabara in the hills, but as a precaution we were sure to construct the base safely away from Mount Unzen."
"I see good work Kotonoha; so far the Holy Grail War is entering its next stage…I hope to wrap it up soon. However it might drag on a little longer than I had anticipated, so my return might be delayed. The Witch King and some of the other Ringwraiths will return to the Settlement, but I will have the Witch King and one of the Nine accompany him to our base in Shinjuku Ghetto. Khamul and the others will remain with me. However as soon as possible I would like you to come to Minas Morgul."
"I understand…I'll leave for Fuyuki tomorrow after I wrap up a few things here."
Lelouch's presence lingered in Kotonoha's mind briefly before he said.
"I'll be in touch, keep up the good work. But be sure to spend time with your sister before you come...she has missed you."
"I shall…don't worry Lelouch-sama. She'll be back tomorrow morning from Osaka."
Their conversation over Kotonoha sighed heavily as feeling the Dark Lord's presence within her was potent, but yet she enjoyed it. It was odd, but she didn't mind. The young woman turned and made her way to the throne usually occupied by Lelouch as she sat down as her mind was on the young man. She like Sayoko and Sakura obviously knew what Lelouch was.
"The traps are even deadlier now and the illusions are a warning to stay away or die…I am doing all of you a favor by performing this task." Kotonoha said speaking to herself as she gazed up in the ceiling.
Back at Minas Morgul, Lelouch decided to address another matter that needed his attention while Caster would monitor Shirou and Rin. Sakura had returned and was currently resting, but the Dark Lord would speak with her soon. Lelouch entered the room where the capsule holding the test subject the Witch King and his men had captured.
It was high time to introduce himself to her and find out what she knows.
Wearing his armor and his helmet to hide his face Lelouch began working the small control panel on the capsule to open it up. After fiddling with the controls for a minute a hiss of steam was heard as the capsule began unlocking itself before opening up revealing a young woman with lime green hair wearing a Britannian prison uniform. The imprisoned woman opened her eyes and saw the armored form of Lelouch standing there as she stumbled to the side.
Weak from being locked inside for a long time the woman lay still for a time, but she was alive and breathing. As she recovered Lelouch began probing her mind to discover her identity and see what she knew wishing to determine exactly why Clovis was so interested in besides what he glanced over in the research notes. He didn't quite understand it, but perhaps meeting and probing the mind of the girl himself could give him a clearer picture.
C.C. laid there unaware her mind was being invaded by the Dark Lord as she was recovering from her prolonged captivity within the capsule she has been spending a lot of time in since she was captured by Clovis's men. As Lelouch began probing through surface memories the depth of her memories and mind was surprising and Lelouch knew this was likely due to the long life she has lived as an immortal.
'If she has been hopefully alive since the Age of Gods perhaps I can find out a little more about what happened back then.'
As Lelouch had begun to dig deeper he found something that drew his attention. He saw it...a distant memory, the girl meeting a young woman who appeared to be a younger version of his mother.
'What…it…can't be…'
Lelouch proceeded to dig even deeper looking upon every memory involving his mother with this woman finally accumulating to a time right after Lady Marianne's assassination. He knew his mother had died, but he probed deeper and found out she had been granted a power called Geass which had the power to transfer his mother's mind into another's body. There was a witness that night to his mother's murder, Anya Alstreim, a young girl who was staying at the villa learning etiquette. This meant one thing…his mother survived although her body had perished, but Lelouch needed to know more so he pressed deeper into the woman's mind.
"I heard you had died Marianne…what happened?"
"I was killed, V.V. shot me in the back…I think he thought I was hindering the plan."
"Plan…" Lelouch muttered as he looked through her memories of V.V. and this plan mentioned. He saw in C.C.'s mind plans for doing the unthinkable; killing god using something they were trying create called the Sword of Akasha. The weapon was designed to slay what they believed to be god, the collective unconscious of humanity to merge all minds and humanity into one. This ideal appealed Lelouch as he didn't see it was a way to save humanity, but rather it would doom it as opposed to save it.
Worse as he dug deeper he discovered V.V. was his immortal uncle, having gained immortality through possession of a code. Something this woman had also possessed as well rendering her immortal as well and able to grant Geass powers like what his mother possessed and apparently his mother…including others as well from what Lelouch was learning the deeper he probed.
'The Emperor knew and although he wasn't pleased he DID nothing…'
He found out Nunnally was set up by V.V. and her memories of the incident was altered rendering her blind as a result…at that point Lelouch lost all of his cool in one go.
"ARRRRRAAAAGGGGGHHHHH!"
C.C. screamed when she fully regained consciousness, but she was completely terrified by the enraged Dark Lord who had lost control of his emotions as his body was flaring with terrible power which was a frightening sight to behold.
With a horrifying roar of rage Lelouch's spiking dark power caused the entire case to shake violently for a moment as his body was ablaze in flames before black angelic wings encased in metal spouted from his back as Lelouch was on the verge of reverting into his Maiar form, but at that moment a single memory in his mind buried deep within his subconscious came back to the surface.
The Dark Lord was calmed by the distant memory, the last thing he remembered as a disembodied spirit of malice roaming the wilderness. The form he had been reduced to after his final defeat at the end of the Third Age. He didn't remember it because it was the last thing he knew before he was reincarnated and now he remembered why and how.
"I…remember…the deal…yes…I know what I must do."
Lelouch muttered as C.C. was motionless looking upon the towering dark lord with his manifested angelic wings before they faded and vanished from sight.
"Who…what are you?"
Lelouch looked at the woman before he replied coldly.
"I am the Dark Lord…the man who will crush Britannia and reshape this world, because that is my purpose."
C.C. regained her calm trying to understand why this towering armored being had frightened her so badly, but it had happened so suddenly yet the angelic wings had raised some questions about the being's nature. Caster and Medea wondered what had happened as they even felt the spike of power resonating from the Dark Lord, but that was something they would have to ask him about.
The Holy Grail War had begun and Lelouch's own war with Britannia would be more intense and deadly than anything he had originally envisioned.
'I know the truth now…you'll all pay for what Nunnally has suffered and I shall be the one to do it.'
A/N: Lelouch and C.C. have now met with Lelouch now learning the truth behind what really happened by digging into her mind. Shirou has summoned Saber and with her help as well as Archer's they have fended off the Nazgul defeating two of them while the Witch King proved tougher, but there will be time for a rematch later. Sophie has been introduced as another agent of the Dark Lord, but how she met him and came into his service should be an interesting tale.
Thank you all for the reviews and input I'll try to improve and rectify things as I go so please keep the reviews coming, but also I have kinda decided to do a harem. Nothing too big, but I am going to toy with the idea and see where I go with it. To determine it for sure through I have set up a poll in my Code Geass Crossover R&D Forum, look under the LOTR/Fate-Stay Night crossover thread to find it and vote. Also if you wish to discuss the story or post ideas and suggestions by all means go right ahead. Just type the Code Geass Crossover R&D in the search under forums search and you'll find it.
Updated 02/11/2012 = Poll is over the winner is Yes for Harem, but now on my profile is a new poll to determine the line up and also read my new short story Queen of the Nazgul to get the story on Kotonoha and her introduction to the Dark Lord's service.
Thanks in advance.
