Chapter 7: Wild Pairs Part II

The wind spoke before anyone else. Rider stood alone, with Atalanta retreating into the trees. Hazel remained on Lancer of Black's left, holding her arm with the arrow still inside it to distract her from his presence.

"Rider and Archer of Red, let this be a draw for tonight." Lancer of Black commanded, but Rider was not prepared to quit this battle.

"Why should that be, Lancer of Black?" Rider said, raising his weapon. "I could go all night against your guard dog." Berserker continued to struggle, tossing and turning within the spikes, but his screams only seemed to be noticed by his master.

"He has no mind." Lancer retorted coldly, "His rage will blind his decisions, such as allowing his master to fight another servant." His eyes locked with Hazel. She clenched her fist and bit her tongue, trying to restrain her true thoughts.

"I chose to do so." Hazel whispered, Lancer gripped his weapon tighter. He felt this was no place for her to speak.

"Hold your tongue, woman." he said, bitter.

"She has a voice." Rider interrupted, breaking Lancer's focus, "That woman fought my sister, she has every right to speak for this battle."

Lancer was not pleased by such reckless behavior. He wanted to be in control and this master was prideful of her ability, unaware of her opponent. He chuckled, giving a grim smile.

"Defending an enemy contradicts your code as a hero."

"You weren't here when this rumble started." Rider said, "If her involvement bugged you, why didn't you come to fight?" The two looked at each other but Hazel began to notice her servant breaking the spikes. Lancer again contained him, impaling him through the side. Berserker's screams grew louder, making the ground tremble. She had to calm him down before he went after both parties.

"Cú don't move, it will only be worse!" Hazel shouted, and the earth became still again. It was clear he only wanted to pursue his target.

Rider sighed, annoyed. "He's getting awfully angry, just let us duel…"

"No." Lancer ordered, "I thought you'd be more chivalrous than childish, Rider of Red. But this battle should continue later."

"He's just trying to finish what we started, please..." Hazel began, trying to mediate. In an instant, Lancer grabbed the arrow and ripped it from her arm. She latched onto the opened wound, weakened still and screaming from the pain. Berserker roared louder sensing his master was hurt. The trees began to bend around them. Achilles held his spear close, prepared for the beast to break from his cage.

Lancer glared at Hazel, a cold smile rose from his marble skin. "Pathetic." he said, snapping the arrow in half, "This is why you should stay away from these battles."

"I wasn't going to leave my servant two against one." Hazel said, her eyes still strong even in her state. Lancer raised his hand to strike her face. Hazel steadied herself, not going to fall. But a spear stopped his action, freezing his hand.

Achilles stood between them, his eyes fierce to attack. Hazel had that face many times before, and kept her distance from them. Berserker turned his head, and could see his enemy, but was surprised by his action of kindness.

"If you strike your ally that makes you my enemy." Rider's eyes locked with his opponent who looked down on him from his horse.

"She disobeyed. Just as you are doing protecting her." Lancer said. Rider paused for a moment, but even if defending this master was against his Faction's wishes, his task was to fight servants.

"Either way, I'll destroy the Black Faction!" He went to move his spear but was pulled backward. An arrow hit his abdomen before he could attack. Rider jumped back, feeling the blood drip down his side as with Berserker's attacks. Atalanta had already fled, and with two servants that could wound him fatally, he had no choice but to retreat.

"Damn." he said, "Archer of Black, I'm coming for you next!" he shouted. It was time to make his exit. Rider spun his spear in the air, summoning his chariot in a flash of green lightning. Hazel was impressed by the magnitude of the structure itself. The three horses and wagon it pulled left an indent in the ground. He hopped on, reluctant to flea an exciting match.

"Hey Lancer," he said, standing on his chariot as it rolled away, "This is what a real Rider looks like."

Hazel watched as he disappeared into the sky with a slight smile. Rider glanced back once, his curiosity enticed. He only wished he could meet his master, and that they would have a similar love for battle as Berserker's did.

Hazel pulled herself together, her servant still in distress. All she could do was go to him. But first she needed to remove the spikes.

"I'm at your service, Lord Impaler." she said, bowing before him. There was an edge to her voice that in sighted her upset. Lancer flexed his brow.

"You will call me Lancer of Black." he ordered, placing his lance in front of her. She paused and looked at his weapon, but she had to know the extent of her servant's injuries. She touched the spear only wanting to calm Berserker.

Hazel put up a shield, pushing herself through the spikes, some grazing her skin since her mana was depleting quite rapidly making the barrier weak. Lancer watched her pathetic attempt to go through his maze, but he did not care to stop the foolish mage.

She grabbed Berserker's shoulders once she faced him, being it was the only part she could reach. The armor seemed bigger than before, as though it was trying to protect him. The rough texture felt worse than scraping skin on gravel, and she could tell it was growing. The spikes were gradually digging in, she needed it to stop.

"He won't stop screaming until he's freed. Please release him."

"I don't help beggars." Lancer said coldly. Though Hazel wanted to insult the vampire, she was not going to waste time arguing with him. She began to place her blood on the spikes surrounding Berserker. Weaving her way through the chaotic field as they grinded against her skin. She could tell her balance was suffering in this weakened state, and tripped once or twice as she spread her blood. She tried to push through, knowing she had been through worse.

"Rheoil." she called on her spell once her blood was on each spike. The spikes began to move away from his body as his screams turned into deep breaths. He had cuts all over but seemed to heal them on his own with the Runes on his body. Berserker looked at his master's wounds, where blood had stained her blazer and body. He was concerned and held her bleeding arm tight. She fell into his chest, knowing she had reached her limit for the evening.

"I'll be fine, Cú." she replied and they smiled at each other. She was impressed with his prowess in battle. His agility was unmatched in her opinion. Her eyes were growing heavy, feeling as though she needed to rest. Berserker held her, but he knew who had trapped him and prevented him from continuing his battle. He glared at Lancer, growling like a feral dog as he held his master close. Hazel's true emotions were clear to him, even if she was not conveying them explicitly. He stepped forward but Hazel leaned into his chest, wrapping her arms around him.

"Cú he's an ally." Hazel scolded dryly, but Berserker was confused. Though his master said these words, it was clear that Lancer's presence made her uncomfortable. He looked into her eyes, and it was as though they had surrendered. Something was bothering her and he could only infer it was where they were going next. Cú picked up his wounded master, following Lancer of Black at a safe distance as Hazel rested in his arms.


The church was silent. Only the sounds of wind could be heard wrestling the grass and rooftop. The priest, Shirou Kotomine, sat in the pew waiting of a report. His servant by his side in the moonlit windows.

"Something troubling you, Master?" Assassin asked.

"Rider and Archer are taking longer than expected. Between the two of them, they should have handled the Black Faction's Berserker."

"I'm sure they'll surface." Assassin said, "And for Lancer of Red?"

"He will succeed with his task." Shirou said, content with his decision.

Archer and Rider of Red appeared, and he rose from his seat. Atalanta sat in the beams of the ceiling, whereas Rider remained on the ground.

"You're late." Assassin greeted.

"We got ambushed." Rider stated before disclosing anything further.

"By who?"

"Lancer and Archer of Black." Rider began, straddling over to an empty pew, "But she wasn't happy about it."

"She?" Shirou questioned.

"Golden Fox was what she called herself. Knew our true names just by our appearances." Rider paused, "For a master, she gave sister a hard time."

"Is that so, Archer? A mage took you down?" Assassin said, snidely. Atalanta curled her lips.

"She is a shield maker. Was able to manipulate my arrows with her blood alone. Clever enough to stall before reinforcements arrived." Archer snapped back. She was not pleased with how this battle ended.

Rider sighed, "I wanted to finish the job but that pale skeleton wouldn't let me."

"This is excellent news." Kotomine responded, the others were confused.

"What?" Rider questioned. Shirou smiled politely, he could explain the situation.

"Hazel Matterhorn, or the Golden Fox, is on a mission from the Mages Association to kill Yggdmillennia's Head, Lancer of Black's master." he paused, "She is our ally amongst them."

"You could have told us this." Archer said, flashing her teeth.

"Her alliance to the Black Faction has to be convincing." the priest replied, "Now that she and her Berserker have fought against us, it will only help her credibility." Atalanta was tense with this news. She jumped down from the ceiling, confronting the priest. Rider touched her shoulder, hoping to mediate the confusion.

"How dare you…"

"So they are on our side." Rider said, chuckling, "Too bad, I'd like to finish my fight with him. But I won't mind having another lady to gaze at." He stared at Archer with kind eyes, trying to assure that it would all work out. Atalanta shook him away, unfazed by his advances.

"Stop with your flattery, fool!" she snapped at them both. Rider stepped back, he could only infer why she was upset.

"What's wrong, Archer?" Shirou questioned.

"I almost used my Noble Phantasm on her, and you tell us now she's an ally?" Atalanta said.

"The Black Faction would not have intervened otherwise."

"Archer's right, we weren't stopped in battle." Rider agreed. He and Berserker had destroyed most of the forest, and if it had continued further he would have used one of his phantasms to stop him.

"I apologize for the worry." Shirou bowed, and began to exit the church with Assassin following close behind him, "You two should rest, and we will continue preparations. But when the time comes, please be welcoming to your comrade." He continued walking away, but Archer wanted one question answered.

"I want to know who my master is." Atalanta asked. Shirou stopped before leaving the sanctuary. "Please, there must be a reason why…"

"You will know in time." Shirou said, exiting the church with Assassin without another glance. He was not amused by this, but soon they would know the true nature of his plan. That one less master would be beneficial to their common goal.

Rider and Archer remained. Archer, gipping her bow tightly, was upset by the priest's answer. Seeing how a mage would be so careless, but skilled enough to force the use of her noble phantasm made it clear that she was a master that was not afraid of battle. That supported her servant.

"She showed her face, fought by his side, why can't they?" Archer asked, concerned. Rider thought it may have been more of a code. That she felt she had lost. He had no doubt that without the interruption from the mysterious Archer and Lancer of Black that she could have taken that master down.

"Sis, you fought well..."

"We weren't stopped from using our noble phantasms." Archer shook her head, she felt that there was something missing. That this mage was actually a threat to who summoned her. After fighting Berserker's master, she felt embarrassed that a mage would be able to strike her down. She held her side, to her this master was skilled. She would need to be gone if she did not ally with them soon.

"I want to know everything about that woman, Rider. She and that beast together are a dangerous pair."

Archer had mixed feelings about this. She knew now why her opponent did not try to kill her, but was creating a distraction. However, the Golden Fox did not care to hide like the master who summoned her. There had to be a reason why she was not stopped, why her master wanted this Golden Fox dead.

"Let it go for now, we'll see them again." Rider remarked. It was clear to him that Berserker would keep fighting since that was all he cared for. He would have to face him again, but hoped not to harm his master. This Golden Fox he could respect for assisting her servant in battle, trying to help instead of hide. But he thought their connection to each other may not be as strong as Atalanta perceived. That the members of the Black Faction would kill the pair before they got a chance to meet again.