A/N: Well it's been awhile…yeah I don't really have much of an excuse for it other than school and focus on AMBR. I've had this fic at the back of my mind though and I've wanted to give it another shot now that graduations around the corner and this story actually has a feasible ending in sight (Just getting there is a monster). Apologies for the obscene gap between chapter. I'll try and set up a more reasonable schedule between work, life, and the fics I want to write because I still enjoy the hell out of this hobby and want it to continue.
Chapter 7 - THE FIRST SEAL
-Roman Torchwick-
"Sooo…guessing the whole "crashing the party" idea didn't work out to well did it?" I said casually as I rounded the corner, grinning at the sight of the pair of street punks our mutual Employer called henchmen, 'More like barely necessary annoyances', scrambling to shut the large set of wooden double doors leading to the Red Witch's study behind them. The girl Emerald looked like a frightened field mouse while the boy Mercury was actually smoking from a few nasty burns that would almost certainly need healing magic to recover fully.
They were just slow enough for me to get a full unbridled earful of the woman screams or rage, pain, generally every negative emotion on the spectrum echoing from within. The sounds of crashing glass and breaking timber barely managing to make themselves heard over the racket.
'Okay, maybe I should've brought Saber after all.' I blanched somewhat though I was careful enough to hide the reaction from the rats. 'Always keep your emotions close to your sleeve.' A good trick to keep your fellow thieves and business associates in the dark, imagine my surprise when I heard the Magi had a similar code of conduct.
"If you require my presence "Master" then all you need do is demand it." The animal's growling voice whispered at the back of my skull sending an involuntary shiver down my spine, the way he practically spat my title not lost on me. "If that woman oversteps merely summon me and…"
'Waste another Command seal you mean?' I thought back at him sarcastically as possible, the continued growling indicating I'd succeeded to at least some effect. 'Yeah, one tiny order keeping you from tearing my head off or however you've dreamed up ripping me apart in that twisted little horned head of yours. Exactly the place I want to be.'
"Better one seal away then burned alive Human." The Servant bit back, the smile evident even through the connection, "I'll tell you from personal experience it isn't an enjoyable ordeal." I shivered at that las bit, the Faunus' laughter echoing in my skull.
Saber, known to the people of Remnant as Adam Taurus back when he was still kicking around, a man famed for leading the pro-Faunus White Fang Movement in its (rather excessively) violent campaign against humanity and anyone else that got in their way. The man who sparked the Faunus Wars with his words stirring the hearts of his warriors until they raged like beasts in a bloody crusade across the kingdoms. People were still punishing the animals for that little act of rebellion more than a century later, the conflict culminating in a battle during which the White Fang's ragtag horde was smashed under united heel of Four Kingdom's armies and the "Crimson Demon" himself executed at the stake for all his men to see…
Still, insane or no the murderous Servant might've had a point there. Saber might not be the most caring or loyal companion but at the very least he'd make a good meat shield if the witch tried using me for target practice with those flames of hers.
"Caught her Witchiness at a bad time I suppose?" I carried on, managing to keep the grin on my face, swinging my cane in a lazy circle.
"What do you think idiot!?" The dark skinned girl spat back, red eyes flashing my way dangerously. From what I knew this girl could easily handle herself well enough, of course SHE didn't have a Servant to do her fighting for her. 'Guess you are useful for something after all, and I don't even have to pay you.'
"Do you ever shut up, human?" No, not if I could help it. I was finally finding something fun to do with this mental connection.
'Why couldn't my servant have been a babe like the others? Long legs, big tits, a shut mouth…'
"I'm thinking I need to get on through, she's the one who called me up after all." I motioned a gloved hand towards the door, leaning forward on my cane shooing them off with the other, "Mind scooching out of the way, I doubt she's in the mood to be kept waiting." The effect was somewhat lessened by my little involuntary jump back as the door shook and another scream rang through the whole of the mansion. "Hmm, that's…encouraging."
The pair looked at each other for a few moments as if trying to read the other's mind, hell for all I knew they very well might be, before stepping aside to let me pass. Mercury opening his door slowly with a small shit eating grin he seemed preset to. "Your funeral Torchy." He shot a finger gun at me like he thought I would rise to the bait.
Pointedly ignoring the little shit, I marched through only to pause as the door shut quickly behind me, confidence fading as I took in the state of the room, or what remained of it anyway. The whole place looked as if a flaming tornado had swept the room apart, whole shelves singed, chairs and tables shattered into smoking splinters, a gaping hole in a shattered windowpane leaking in a cold breeze that threatened the smoldering embers of a half melted tone fireplace. And in the middle of it all lying on her knees…
'Oh boy…'
"D-Don't just stand there you…ahhh!" Cinder snarled through gritted teeth, back arching as she dug her fingers into the sides of her raven haired skull, amber eyes bulging as nerves and veins popped across her delicate features, twisting the visage entirely. What really caught my eye was the burning three pronged sigil engraved across her back glowing crimson in dim light, one of them however was unresponsive and blurred. "Damn it!" her hand lashed out, a flower pot that had miraculously avoided the initial slaughter burst into countless shards, the contents burning to ash before even hitting the floor. "DAMN THAT LITTLE RED HAIRED…!"
I decided to ride out the little rant silently, inwardly admiring a few of the more creative curses the witch had in her repertoire while my mind raced to build the situation. 'Something forced her to use a seal, and a whole lot of power besides.'
From what notes my benefactor had provided during my "training" as a master I knew that the Berserker class of Servant, a class already set apart from the others by nature of its effect on the servant's mind and disposition, was quite a bit harder to handle than most.
Managing to maintain Saber normally, even outside of those brief spurts of combat, was taxing enough at times but Berserker, especially one already this powerful, was a whole different beast literally and figuratively. I was no healer but I could practically see the circuits spread throughout Cinder's body burning with the effort of keeping her golden haired monstrosity rooted in this plane and under her command.
"Rough night?" I queried, plucking the cigar from my lips only to drop it later as the thing disintegrated in a "poof" of burning ash and cinder that likely singed my eyebrows and blackened the front of my white coat. "H-Hey those are expensive you know!?" I brushed the front of my jacket with an annoyed grunt, "And I just got this back too."
"D-Do me a favor Roman." the avatar of fire and rage seethed from her spot on the ground, working herself shakily into a plush armchair still smoking from a dozen burns in the velvet, "SHUT UP." My mouth closed like a trap, my stance shifting into one slightly more respectful as she kneaded her brow.
"The meeting didn't go well then?" I asked after a few moments when she seemed to have calmed down somewhat, the temperature in the room now at least bearable rather than sweltering. "The other Servants and their Masters, you wanted a show…"
"It was a disaster." Cinder growled, fingers leaving her forehead trailing thin trails of smoke, "I wanted to show dominance, Berserker's dominance, but there was a complication…"
She'd been furious as Archer vanished in a haze of fading crimson light and rose petals just narrowly avoiding Berserker's mailed fist as it cratered the dusty patch where she had lain not a second before with enough force to shake the ground beneath our feet. Her servant scrabbling at the dusty floor, blonde head twitching from side to side seeking her quarry only to reflect her master's rage at the realization as the will of the Command Seal the witch had used still burned.
"Berserker!" She head snapped up like a loyal dog's heeding her owner's order, ceasing her inane scrambling through the dirt as she hunched back on her feet red eyes glowing in the night air like hot coals.
Archer's master Weiss Schnee had used a precious seal to alter the fundamental laws of space and transport her Servant far from the battlefield saving her rebellious little life. Cinder had calmed herself in mere moments with the knowledge that though the Servant may have fled her master still stood mere yards away defenseless except for the presence of two other Heroic Spirits sporting their own wounds and not even her own.
Even injured as they were however they were still the spirits of great heroes, not opponents to be underestimated in any normal battle. However the red woman had control over Berserker, her mad servant whose already impressive physical abilities and attributes were pushed even further by the loss of her sanity, making her more than a match for any foe.
She wasn't even concerned by the blood weeping from a dozen still healing scratches and wounds covering Berserker's body and the more critical damage that went unseen, if anything it only made this easier.
Yang Xiao Long, the mighty Huntress and fearless adventurer who had carved a storied place for herself even amidst the Age of Hunters as a woman who would never give up, never surrender, rising each time from the jaws of defeat stronger and fiercer then before. A quality that manifested itself as the Anti-Unit Noble Phantasm Unyielding Fury: Battle Cry of the Wounded Maiden, a shard of power sublimated from the warriors own legend made reality by the Grail's power.
With this ability in place the pain of all damage Berserker received would instead be converted into Aura, amplifying the Servant's already impressive endurance and strengthening her combat abilities even further. When added to her other quality Stubborn Will, which provided a further boost to her regenerative abilities in the face of multiple adversaries it was entirely possible that Berserker could have faced all six of the other Servants and still come out the victor. Right now, even though she appeared a burning mess held together by ragged flesh and tensed muscle, her Servant now held enough raw Prana to equal dozens of Magi and all of it at her master's disposal.
To say Cinder was confident in her ability to crush her adversaries was an understatement almost to the point of insult. Still they stood before her, the blonde oaf's Mistralan and the Enforcer's Brute both clutching their weapons defensively ready to jump to their Master's aid at the slightest hint of aggression. Entertainingly enough they both seemed quite annoyed at the little White Haired Heiress, shooting glares from the corner of their eyes likely concerning the rather abrupt dismissal of her servant.
"Weiss, what did you…?" Lancer's master gaped at the spot Archer had just vacated, shock written all over his pale face. This boy failed to grasp the situation, perhaps his continued survival despite Saber's efforts mere luck after all. "Ruby, where did she…?"
"A desperate move Miss Schnee." Cinder had called out mockingly, smiling as the girl's face reddened angrily as her hands tightened into fists, "I've heard of many uses for the Command seals but to actually send one's Servant from the battlefield…"
"Still your poisonous tongue Harpy!" Lancer snarled, raising her spear to point it at the red woman's chest with a look of vindictive fury etched on her beautiful face, looking every bit a god of War. "I've suffered your voice long enough, for the sake of Archer's honor I see an end to this disgrace."
"Lancer…" her master spoke up nervously though she ignored him, her voice punctuated further as rider took an armored step forward as well spinning her massive hammer in one hand.
"Well said! Ren!" she looked back to her master currently dusting himself off as he tossed a ruined pistol aside, the young man nodding his head as if resigning himself. The motion seemed enough to excite the Heroic spirit however, a vicious smile that even through all her poise sent a momentary trill of terror down Cinder's spine. "Let's break her legs!" She would have to detain that one…
"I think not." The sorceress said simply, overcoming her fear as she drew upon Berserker's power like a battery to fuel her spoken incantation and raised her hand, the Servant twitching as fresh agony tore through her at the drain. "Evocatus in auxilium meum et inferni bestiae habere in lingua mea necron…" Fireballs and explosions, flashy as they might be, would only go so far, "…percute me duce quae ego praecipio tibi!" A roiling portal appeared before her outstretched palm that grew wider and wider that from its depths spewed dozens of flaming monsters as if straight from the pits of hell, many assuming the shapes of Ancient Grimm from great lumbering Beowolves to the more insectoid Deathstalkers that darted forward towards the stunned enforcer who if anything looked more exasperated then panicked. 'A regret he couldn't have picked a better side.'
They were flashy familiars nothing more, but each wreathed in flame and imparted with Berserker's destructive need to destroy and armed with but a fragment of her power.
Now a fragment wouldn't hold against a true Heroic Spirit for long but they would suffice as Rider was forced back to protect her lord, but struggled as her hammer passed right through the torso of a flaming Ursa in a blow that could have shattered steel only for it to reform an instant later and bat her back with a paw. "Coward!" She stuck again, bringing the hammer around the span of a second this time dissolving the beast under the force of a swing that set the metal struts of the half-finished building creaking behind her. Her reprieve was short however, another leaping to take her fallen foe's place as her Master squeezed off shot after shot against the creatures,
"Insulting me for making it a fair fight are we? What petty words for a hero." Cinder cackled while Lancer moved to assist only to be knocked aside by a blazing fist that echoed against her shield like a ringing gong, Berserker on the hunt yet again baying for blood. Blow after blow was sent against the red haired servant who could barely keep up even with the flurry despite her class' vaunted Agility.
It was laughable, two grand heroes failing under the might of burning monsters while Lancer's master stood shielding Miss Schnee whose endurance had finally seemed to fail. He was brave I'd give him that much, batting at the flaming monsters surrounding them with a steel pipe that he must've picked up off the ground. 'The "white knight out to save the helpless maiden", I've always hated that clichéd tale.'
She shifted her arm, intent on finishing these hapless children who had wandered onto HER battleground and dared place themselves in her path. One more moment and the pair would've been ashes in wind but she'd hesitated, disbelief flashing across her features as one of her creatures actually dissolved under the force of one of the young man's swings, made even more shocking by the fact his eyes had been shut and the swing random. 'What the…!'
It had only been for a fraction of less than a second but for a moment the boy's weapon had glimmered pure white as something from the young Magus passed through it like a conduit. 'A fluke, it had to be…' Then she realized his hand was glowing red as one of the seals adorning his hand burned away and suddenly Berserker was forced back with a surprised roar and a new wound in her shoulder, Lancer standing there spear raised in the midst of flaming monsters and the stunned laughter of Rider who decapitated a writhing Taijitsu with a backswing as she took in the glorious sight.
Metal from all around the building site, from the steel girders that littered the field to even the unremarkable pipe in her shocked Master's hands, rose to swirl around her form shielding her from harm and dispersing any Familiars that attempted to reach her, the metal inside twisting and grinding apart as if under the hand of a titan of old.
After a heart stopping second however the storm settled almost gracefully in a wall of what I realized were spears, exact copies of the one in her hand which she now held overhead, the red and gold weapon's length compressing with a series of clicks as the bladed head narrowed assuming a form less like a spear and more a javelin ready to be…
In that instant Cinder realized who it was she faced, her blood running cold as she took in the sight of Pyrrha Nikos doffing her shield, leaping high into the air to join her new armory. The Invincible Maiden of Mistral who according to ancient myth could turn aside any number swords turned against her and raise just as many in her defense with just the force of her own iron will alone. The grace of the Grail and her rights as a Master allowed her to discern a portion of this Noble Phantasm now that she knew of her identity, Blessing of War: Polarity, a gift granting control over various metals which usually manifested in a passive aura that repelled metal weapons unless wielded by at least B-Rank strength, a powerful ability on its own but when combined with the Aura of the legendary weapon she bore it became something that could only be defined as an Anti-Army Noble Phantasm, a weapon to sweep the battlefield clean of any foe.
The red witch's eyes widened as she took in the sight of each of those spears, normally less then harmless to the body of a being such as a Servant, now bristling as they were injected with Aura, each becoming a Noble Phantasm in their own right…
"Blessed Arm of War: Shifting Spear...!" The Maiden called out, the arm clutching the javelin rippling with muscle as she used the other to trace her line of sight, pointing at her intended targets. "Miló!"
"Berserker!" Cinder cried desperately to her Servant who raced to her side with haste only a Heroic Spirit could muster as the dozens of spears raced forward with a deafening boom as each shattered the sound barrier joined shortly by a flash of crimson and gold that raced comets towards the pair's position, each impacting in a trailing column that perforated the powerful Bounded field encasing the premises like a child popping a bubble, the wave of force from the attack travelling down the thankfully deserted street beyond demolishing storefronts, shattering glass, and carving a deep gouge in the pavement that threatened to pierce into the sewers below. The damage akin to a natural disaster, such was the power of a Noble Phantasm powered by the simple command to "Protect a certain individual from danger".
The witch was surrounded by heat and debris thrown about by the impacts continuing to fall around them, blazing hot blood burning against her face as the mad servant forced itself in front of her, body jerking as it took spear after spear, roaring into the night, a roar that was lost in the clamor of Remnant shaking itself apart.
"Thought that might've been you." I couldn't help but whistle as the witch finished her tale, sinking back into her chair as a fresh bout of pain wracked her body. Apparently she had managed to get her lovely ass out of there thanks in no small part to her own abilities and Berserker who had taken a fair amount of damage covering their escape, enough that any normal Servant would likely be crippled or rendered useless. "Sounds like little Lancer's going to be a problem this time around, city council alone must be livid."
As it stood however the blonde monstrosity currently howling it up in the basement would still require days to fully recover normally, much less if the two brats waiting outside kept up their end of the plan, establishing Bounded fields that would draw energy and Aura in what small amounts the normal mundane population possessed to fuel their leader.
'And until then Cindy gets to manage the upkeep all by her lonesome.' Not a task I would want oh no, I'll keep my slightly more manageable psychopath thank you very much.
"Coward." The spirit bit back with a huff of disgusted mirth. Too bad for him I personally took that word as a compliment, from personal experience heroes tended to die young and leave the cowards the spoils.
"Save your attempts at humor for those with the patience to stand it." The boss growled, the house shaking from her little creatures pained cries, "A command seal wasted and not one enemy dealt with in the meantime, what's worse Berserker is useless for a time!" her hand tightened into a fist which she brought down, her natural reinforcement shattering the arm of the share with a snapping crack of splintering wood. "Worthless!"
"Woah hold on there…" I waved my arms in front of me in an attempt to assuage the woman, shooting her a wry smile, "it wasn't a complete loss, that Seal will mean that at worst Berserker won't freeze up the next time it catches sight of the little red Archer, not to mention we have names to go with all those Servants."
"True." she nodded to herself as if she'd been the one to come up with the notion and judging by what she'd just done to that chair I wasn't too inclined to take that little honor away from her. "A shame Assassin and Caster weren't there, likely observing though knowing the sort of personalities those classes attract."
"Which you've made it plain you don't care about with this little show. A Servant who's only good for attacking weak Masters and a piddly book thumping Magus whose shit up close and personal won't be much on issue."
She smiled at that, a beautiful smile that forced me to reassess and remember the fact she was a megalomaniacal bitch of a Mage, still pretty though. "I knew there was a reason kept you around Roman." She cooed softly, the tone almost musical. "Which brings me to the reason called you here. 'Annnnd it's gone…'
I didn't let any trepidation show on my face though, schooling it into an appropriately submissive expression as I bowed low. "Whatever you command milady, I live to serve." 'And serve to live.' Sadly I wasn't sure if that was Saber or my own mind stating the fact. 'The truth…for now anyway.'
"I want you to find all the information you can on Lancer's Master, Saber is still able to track him yes?"
That was a surprise, not that finding information on your opponents was anything new in the history of the war, however this didn't exactly sound right. "You don't want him dead?" Saber could pull that off, especially if he struck now I was guessing seeing as his Servant had just spent what was likely most of her, and his, energy wiping a Valean street off the map. 'Though there is Rider to consider.'
"Trumped up cavalry, you think I fear that?" Okay that was definitely Saber, a spike of nausea building at the back of my throat. "I stand above such petty "Heroes", they will not keep me from my prey."
"No, merely observe and report on his movements for now." She leaned back imperiously, nerve twitching over her eyebrow the only sign of discomfort.
"A crush? How cute." Having a Servant and a Master she could control made me useful so she wouldn't just smite me off the face of Remnant though even I had to admit I was being a little daring, couldn't help myself she made it too easy. Her laugh put me at ease somewhat, my little joke must've amused her finally.
"He is…interesting, I would know more about him." She ordered imperiously, practically making it a decree. "Don't engage Lancer unless absolutely necessary, am I understood? By both of you?"
"Can't speak for the bull but I'll keep him on track if it means seeing that lovely smile again." I winked, trying to ignore the swearing rambles of the voice in my head, "I'll bring Neo along just in case, make a day of it. I'll even get pictures." I spun on my heels making for the door, pausing when the woman cleared her throat, hand centimeters from the melted door handle.
"Oh and Roman, overstep your bounds again, put one foot out of place, and I'll burn your corpse to ashes and feed whatever sniveling wisp remains of your soul to Berserker. Do I make myself clear?"
"Crystal." I vacated the room, slamming the door behind me only to lean back and regulate my breathing, Adam's laughter echoing in the back of my skull.
- END
A/N: I know this is sort of a short jaunt back in though I hope it was at least entertaining. Gotta say I was reading some of the Fate/Apocrypha novels and the sheer overpoweredness of the Servants under actual ideal conditions has never been more apparent. Speaking of that I tried to base Yang's abilities on Berserker of Red (Spartacus) seeing as her Semblance and his Noble Phantasm vaguely resembled each other. Semblances are going to be weird in this I just know it. Anyway hope you enjoyed reading and I will do my best to continue this story and welcome any reviews or pointers you might have, it serves to make the story better.
Edit 4/19/16: Hey everyone, going to start really trying to get this story moving again. Just wondering if people like the whole "Jaune works at Junior's club" bit. Honestly I've seen it done in other Fics but right now it's still early enough in the story that I can make the needed changes to have him working at a place like Tukson's and it wouldn't change things drastically. I do like the idea of introducing Tukson at some point, think I can do some stuff with the character.
