Fate Final Curtain

by RogerShanksLuffy

The Holy Grail has been summoning servants, and the Mage's Association has sent one of their best, Hayashi Tsukamoto, to investigate these instances and send them back to the Throne of Heroes. Along with his own servants, Nero, Altera, and Jeanne, he sets out on his task. However, his dark past resurfaces, and another powerful servant is eyeing Jeanne. M for Language, Blood, Sex.

10. Part 3: Vienna

Napoleon: I! Am! Here!

Hayashi: All Might?

Napoleon: What?! No! Who the hell is All Might?!

Hayashi: He's from this show… you know what, nevermind. It's not important.

Nightingale: Master, come sit with me and enjoy the performance instead of making fun of him.

Mozart: Indeed! Enjoy my music!

Salieri: "Your" music?! I will not allow you to monopolize this concert! Some of mine must be added into the program as well!

Marie: Please stop arguing, you two...

Songs

Mozart's Premonition: Dies Irae (Fate/Grand Order OST)

Marie's Concert: Les Danaides Overture (Antonio Salieri)

Salieri's Anger: All for One's Theme (My Hero Academia OST)

Hijikata Confronts the Yakuza: 英霊剣豪七番勝負 英霊剣豪戦_bgm (Fate/Grand Order OST)

Hijikata vs. Yakuza: 雷光～丑御前戦～ (Fate/Grand Order OST)

Arrival in Vienna: Symphony No. 8 in E Flat Major "Symphony of a Thousand" Pt. 1 Hymnus "Veni Creator Spiritus" (Gustav Mahler)

Napoleon's Waltz: Valse di Fantastica (Final Fantasy XV OST)

Vs. Napoleon: Careening Into Danger (Final Fantasy XV OST)

Salieri's Speech: Requiem in C Minor- Introitus-Kyrie (Antonio Salieri)

Salieri vs. Mozart: Requiem in C Minor-Sequence [Dies Irae] (Antonio Salieri)

Mozart and Marie vs. Salieri: Requiem in D Minor-Dies Irae (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)

Salieri's Fury: Requiem: Dies Irae (Giuseppe Verdi)

Salieri's Life: Piano Trio No. 1: II: Andante con Molto Tranquillo (Felix Mendelssohn), Piano Trio No. 2: II: Andante Espressivo (Felix Mendelssohn), String Quartet No. 2 in D Major: III: Notturno (Alexander Borodin)

Vs. Anastasia and Ivan: Father Ariandel and Sister Friede (Dark Souls 3 OST)

Hayashi's Dream: Violoncello's Lament (Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood OST)

Hayashi and Scathach: Circle of Life (Adrian von Ziegler)

Japan News Report: AZPV (Aldnoah Zero OST)

Dies Irae? Mozart's piano playing woke up Hayashi. He kind of regretted staying in the nicest suite in their hotel in Munich, because it came with a piano, and Mozart was always awake 3 hours before anyone else practicing non stop for the entire day. But this time, he was playing the darkest and heaviest song he ever wrote in his lifetime. Something must be wrong. Hayashi yawned and got up, trying not to disturb Nero, who slept with him that night, and went out into the main room of the suite, finding Mozart playing a piano reduction of his piece with a somber look on his face.

"What's wrong?"

"Master, good morning." he said with no happiness in his voice.

"It's never a good morning when the first thing you hear is Dies Irae."

"Ah, apologies. I had an upsetting premonition."

"I didn't know you could have visions?"

"All Casters have some form of sensing events, even one as weak as myself."

"And what was your vision of?"

"Maria. And someone else that felt familiar, putting her in danger."

"Maria? You mean...Marie Antoinette?"

"How do you know about her?"

"She's one of the most important figures in history. I'm pretty sure she's also the only person you've ever known that's name is Maria."

"Mm. I'm worried about her, Hayashi. I do not wish for harm to befall her."

"What about your wife?"

"We didn't end up in such a great place. And of course, she was not worthy to become a Heroic Spirit. Besides, Maria is my unrequited love."

"Did you see where she was, by any chance?"

"...Vienna."

"Alright then. I'll wake the others and we'll head out soon."

X

The swell of the brass section on a powerful D minor chord, and a slow solemn melody that continues in said key. But eventually, it switches to D Major, and the woodwinds open up for the high strings to play the real melody, a quick repetition of notes that goes up and down a scale. The concert hall only helped to give the beautiful piece masterful reverberation. Marie hadn't seen or heard anything from this opera in a long time, and was thoroughly enjoying the performance, conducted by the composer himself.

"It's so wonderful~" she hummed along to it, closing her eyes. The key changed back to minor, giving a sense of despair, with the trombones ringing out over the orchestra again. Unlike most opera overtures, particularly those of Mozart and later composers like Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, Puccini, and Verdi, the overture of Les Danaides did not end in a huge dramatic resolution, rather it calmed down and got gradually softer, seemingly preparing the audience for the rest of the show.

Marie clapped, standing up.

"Are you not going to give the rest of the opera?"

"No. It is almost two hours long."

"And we don't have that time?"

"It's not that we don't have it, it's just that my attention span is much less as a servant than it was before. And with all of my new repertoire, I wish to try all of these new scores."

"I see. In any case, well done, Salieri-" In an instant, the entire concert hall went dark, and Marie was pinned against the back of the chair with Avenger's blade at her throat, himself now wearing his armor. Her face went pale with fear, and she shivered when his other hand, freezing cold, held her body in place so that she couldn't fight back. On stage, all of the white-veiled beings he summoned as musicians were now training rifles on her in a perfect semicircle.

"I told you not to call me that. Antonio Salieri is already dead. I am the one who killed the beloved Messenger of God, the Gray Reaper of Death. If you call me by that name again, my blade won't stop next time. Do you understand me, Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna?"

She made no sounds, only nodding slightly, thankful that it was enough for him to pick up on, and he backed off, going back on stage. All of his assistants went back to playing their instruments, and all of the lights came back on.

"Apologies, Princess. I did not mean for you to see me in that way." He looked up to the top balcony, where a young girl was sitting by herself.

"It is alright. I have seen worse."

"I hope you didn't get cold."

"I don't get cold." Her icy blue eyes reassured him. He smiled and nodded, sitting back down at the piano and beginning to play again, leaving Marie silent and terrified.

X

"Tell me again."

"All of the highest ranking members will be there, from all three families. Each family is led by an Oyabun, a boss, and has a Wakagashira and Shateigashira, First and Second Lieutenants. Underneath them are the Kyodai, older brothers, and beneath them are the Shatei, the little brothers."

"I take it the little brothers are little more than errand boys or weak fighters."

"Yes. The bosses themselves may not be in their prime, but the Lieutenants could pose trouble."

"I doubt that. How did they gain such prominence in society? They were nothing more than shoddy criminals in our time."

"Once Emperor Meiji took over, they took prominence with the Industrial Revolution, becoming involved in both legal and illegal businesses."

"Meiji...So they're criminals."

"They're an organized crime syndicate, and still the largest, most powerful, and most feared in the world."

"Not for much longer."

Walking further into the back alleys of Kobe, Hijikata kept one hand on the hilt of his katana at all times, Okita following him diligently. After coming to an opening and a dead end, they stopped. Hijikata glanced at her and nodded, and she jumped away, going to join the other servants on a distant rooftop.

After a few minutes, many men looked over the surrounding rooftops, training SMGs and semi-automatic rifles on him. Other higher-ranking men appeared behind him on the ground, led by three older men.

"You are the one who called this meeting?" One of the three asked.

"Yes. You are the bosses of the main three Yakuza families, no? Akira Fujimoto of the Inagawa-kai, Ryozo Iwasaki of the Sumiyoshi-kai, and Kazuo Matsunaga of the Yamaguchi-gumi. Your first Lieutenants, Daido Yoshinaga, Enki Otsuka, Fundoki Hoshino, and your second Lieutenants, Hisoka Takemoto, Makoto Akiyama, and Yasahiro Koyanagi."

"Yes. I'm impressed that you know so much about us. Tell me, who are you, to be able to call a meeting between all of us, and know every one of our names, even though we know nothing about you."

"My name is Hijikata."

"Oh? Named after the Shinsengumi's Vice-Commander, are you? The legendary Demon of the Battlefield?" Kazuo answered him again.

"Named after? No. I am him." There was a pause, then laughter from all of them.

"Are you messed up in the head? This isn't really the time, and we're not really the people to crack jokes with."

"I'm being completely serious. I'm sure you wouldn't understand though."

"Damn right I don't understand. What I don't understand is why we're all standing here doing nothing, listen to you talk about how you're a hundred year old hero. Quit wasting my time and tell us what you want already!"

"What I want is for you to surrender to me. Japan will be under my control come sunrise, and the Yakuza is my biggest obstacle. So either you surrender and stay out of my way, or you die. Your choice."

A deathly silence fell over the alley, and the guns were once again trained on him, prompting his eyes to glance to his sides.

"...So you came here to threaten us?"

"Yes. What will it be? As your elder, and a so-called War Hero, you would do well to take my peace offering. Because when I am Emperor, I will have no need of a crime syndicate, and so stopping now guarantees you a future in this country."

"...Enough of this. Kill him." Kazuo and the other two bosses turned around and began to walk away and gave a signal for the armed members to open fire. Gunfire rang out from all of them, and Kazuo smirked, assuming that he had won and that once again, no one was able to defy the Yakuza.

Hijikata inhaled and exhaled deeply, dashing faster than anyone could see past the bosses and turning around in front of them, drawing his sword and cleaving through Kazuo Matsunaga before grabbing Akira Fujimoto's head and smashing it into a wall, then grabbing his rifle and firing a blast big enough to create a hole in Ryozo Iwasaki's chest. All of the Lieutenants' faces twisted into horror and anger now that their bosses were dead. The men up on the rooftops began to fire once again, Hijikata dodging all of the bullets this time by moving his body around, then jumping up onto the roof and slicing through them one by one. Far away on another rooftop, a sniper fired a bullet that soared straight for Hijikata's head, but while physically overpowering another Shateigashira with his free hand, he unsheathed his sword and positioned it so that the bullet bounced off of the blade. He stomped his boot on the face of the man in front of him, now on the ground, then took out his pistol and aimed the barrel directly at the back of the sniper's bullet that was spinning in the air, timing the shot just right and firing his own shot that propelled the larger bullet back towards the sniper, the bullet shooting into his throat and killing him.

"G-GET HIM! KILL HIM NOW!" The others unleashed the full firing power of their guns, terrified of the display from just a few moments ago. Hijikata grabbed one of the dropped rifles from a man he already killed and began firing back at all of them, taking them down quickly. Jumping back down to the ground to face off against the Lieutenants, he sheathed his sword and rifle and prepared to fight them hand to hand.

They all threw off their suits, revealing large intricate tattoos covering their backs, and rushed at him.

The first one, Daido Yoshinaga, threw a punch at his face, which Hijikata dodged, then grabbed his fist and broke it easily by twisting it. The second, Enki Otsuka, jumped and did a spinning roundhouse kick, which Hijikata stepped back to dodge, then grabbed his ankle and threw him back, making him spin. The third, Fundoki Hoshino, decided to take a different approach, alternating punches, which Hijikata avoided, then tried to get his gun away from him. Hijikata grabbed his arm and broke it, then getting behind him and snapping his neck. He then went to the others, Enki getting smashed into a wall, and Daido getting sliced through with Hijikata's sword again.

Looking back at the mess he made, he began to walk again, leaving the alleyway. Okita jumped back down to him, along with the others.

"We're going to Kyoto now. The Imperial Family is visiting there."

X

"Wow! What an incredible city!" Nero and the others were looking every which way as they were driving through Vienna.

"Has it changed much in the last 200 years?" Hayashi asked Mozart.

"Not as much as you'd think. There are new buildings and technology of course, but the layout looks to be about the same."

"Ah, there it is." Hayashi pointed out a statue of Mozart in one of the plazas, driving by slowly.

"Heh." he chuckled.

"They've always appreciated you here. There's more than just that one."

"I'm humbled. It's up ahead, Master. I can sense it." Hayashi pulled over and they all got out. As they began walking through the city, they found themselves pass through a Reality Marble that brought them back to the 18th century.

"Ah, now this is the Vienna that I'm familiar with! Although...that's not supposed to be here." He pointed to a Russian Palace that towered over all of the other buildings.

"Then that would be where they are." They walked up and opened the doors, walking in to an enormous concert hall, with an orchestra playing on stage, led by a conductor dressed in black with silver hair.

"Ah, welcome! You're just in time to hear the Maestro's new work, dedicated to me! Come, sit, sit!" A well-built man greeted them and directed them to seats in the audience. Deciding to play along, they all sat down, while Hayashi took in the surroundings. The hall was pretty empty; the players in the orchestra seemed to be wraiths or familiars as opposed to Servants, probably constructs of the conductor, who must be a Servant. There was a short girl in the front row of the audience, who must have been Marie, who Mozart was worried about earlier that morning. Then there was the man who had brought them in and ushered them to their seats, who had a regal outfit on, dark tall boots, white pants, a white undershirt, red button down noble shirt, dark suit jacket with gold tassels on the shoulders, and a red and gold sash over it. Wrapped around his body was a tattered red sash, much larger than the nicer one. It was sort of hard to tell, but above them were two balcony levels, and jutting out from the second one, the highest point in the theater, was a small box seat where a young girl of about 17 was sitting. She wore a bulky white gown, with a white and teal mantle and a white veil draped over the back of her chair. She was holding a small doll, and had a sort of tiara in her silky, silver hair. Hayashi could already tell, just from where she was relative to the others, that she was of more importance, and gave off a powerful and cold magic energy, similar to the conductor, but stronger.

Turning his attention back to the stage, Hayashi enjoyed the waltz that the orchestra was performing. The violin and oboe solos were on point, the balance was perfect, and the conductor controlled them with mastery. They finished up, and everyone clapped, though Marie was noticeably more hesitant than the others.

The conductor turned and bowed, addressing the man in the back.

"Magnifique! Bien joué! Un chef-d'œuvre!" (Magnificent, Well done, a masterpiece)

"Merci. C'est un honneur d'être félicité par l'empereur lui-même." (It is an honor to be praised by the emperor himself). "Und du? Was haben Sie gedacht?" (And you? What did you think?) He turned to Marie.

"...Ausgezeichnet. Danke dir." (Excellent. Thank you.) She smiled thinly at him. He looked up to the box seat as well.

"It was excellent. Apologies, I'm afraid I do not speak any of your languages besides English."

"It's fine, I do not speak Russian either." He turned his attention to Hayashi's party.

"Come forward, all of you. You are my honored guests today." They all looked at Hayashi for guidance, who decided to go along with it, standing up slowly, and walking down the aisle, his servants following him. When they got to the front, they got a good look at the conductor/composer. He wore brown dress shoes, a black suit with thin white stripes, a red vest and red cravat, gold necklace, and silver and gold ornate cross against his waist. He had piercing red eyes as well.

"Welcome. I wish I could say this is my theater, but it is not, though it is my Reality Marble. This palace belongs to her." He motioned to the princess in the box seat.

She stood up and curtsied politely.

"My true name is Anastasia Nikolaevna Romanova, the last Grand Duchess of Russia. You may call me Caster, or Anastasia. This palace is one of my Noble Phantasms, Sumerki Kremlin."

"I would say it's a pleasure to meet a Russian princess, but we both know one of us isn't leaving here alive." Hayashi stared into her light blue eyes.

"And you? What do I call you, Maestro?" Hayashi turned back to the conductor.

"My only name is the Man in Grey."

"Antonio Sa-" He was stopped by a pleading look in Marie's eyes. He stopped before he said the full name.

"Marie Antoinette. And?" He looked to the back of the hall where the last man was.

"Napoleon Bonaparte!"

"I see."

"Napoleon, take our guests outside and deal with them. I will handle Amadeus."

"Understood!" A large bicorn appeared on his head, and he summoned a huge cannon, dashing to the front of the hall and sweeping the canon into all of them, sending them flying all out of the hall, all except for Mozart, who whirled around, beginning to run outside before the doors closed, courtesy of Anastasia.

"Where are you looking?" He turned around and looked at the stage, where Salieri's eyes were now angrily fixated on him, and the wraiths he had summoned all had rifles.

"...Salieri. After all this time, why are you now my enemy? We were friends in our lifetimes!"

"Yes, you were. But we were not. I am not Antonio Salieri. He is dead. Do not be mistaken. I am the one who killed the Musician Loved by God."

X

"Now then! Let's begin!" Napoleon laughed as he skidded across the ground, launching himself out of Sumerki Kremlin.

"Now, let's see what you can do! Viens!" He slammed his cannon onto the ground and charged it up, firing a blast of fire at them all.

Scathach stepped in front and slashed through the blast with relative ease with Gae Bolg.

"Oh ho… a strong one." Napoleon aimed his cannon into the sky and fired multiple cannonballs at them, falling fast. This time, along with Scathach, Musashi and Altera sliced through the others, then dashed towards him. He placed it on the ground again and began to fire bullets in quick succession this time, making them rethink their footing and dance around him rather than go in for the kill.

"Now take this!" He fired a blue beam from his cannon and swept it across the street, hitting them all and knocking them away.

"Fine then. Let's see how you like it!" Scathach nodded to Kato and Nobu, who both began firing a multitude of bullets at him, making him jump back onto the roof of a building and begin dashing across it, outrunning the shots that were tailing him.

"Now then…" Scathach summoned multiple Gae Bolgs, and sent them flying at him, making him have to block with his cannon, then summoning another to dual wield, jumping up and flying down at him.

"Gae Bolg Alternative!" Her first strike stuck fast, paralyzing him and sending him up into the sky. Nobu and Kato stopped shooting so as not to hit Scathach, and she launched her other spear up, skewering him through the stomach, sending him crashing down through a nearby building.

"Damn it...that hurt like hell…" Napoleon slowly got up as Scathach landed across from him.

"Now it's time to finish you off." She gripped her spear tightly.

"Heh. I think I have just enough left to blast you with this. People, hope! Nothing is impossible for you! Because-I am here." His cannon separated, the golden part becoming two halves, sliding up the length of the weapon, revealing a white and gold tube underneath. The two halves connected again, and he aimed the weapon at her, charging up energy.

"Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile!" He unleashed a rainbow colored beam of energy from his cannon, straight towards Scathach, who held up both of her spears, prepared to split the energy in half again, but this time, being too strong to separate, and blasting her through the city, taking some damage.

"Are you alright?" Altera looked at her as she fell against the ground near them and recovered.

"Yes. His attack was strong, but Archers pose no threat to me."

"Do you need help?" Hayashi asked.

"No. I can handle him. I just have to stop holding back." Napoleon came out of the rubble, preparing to fire a blast again.

"You should have realized there was no chance of winning when I told you my true name! There is no impossible in my dictionary, and I never give up! Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile!"

"Napoleon Bonaparte? I'm afraid I'm not familiar with you." She tossed her spear into the air and swung her leg back, then kicked the end of it as it landed, sending it barreling through his Noble Phantasm and impaling him, making him fall over. She walked up and forcefully removed her spear from him, then stabbed him again in the abdomen, killing him.

"Shall we head back in, Master?" She looked over at Hayashi.

"Yeah. I'm worried about Mozart."

X

"How many years has it been, Amadeus? If it is 2007, that means that it's been 216 since we've met."

"216? That would mean that we met in 1791. I'm afraid your memory is a little hazy, we met seven years before that."

"No. Again, I am not Antonio. I met you in 1791, when I commissioned the Requiem from you."

"...The Man in Grey, they called you."

"Oh, so you know of me?"

"Yes. My Master taught me of all that has occurred in the musical world since my passing."

"Your Master had to tell you? How unfortunate. The Grail gifted me with such knowledge upon being summoned. It seems I am a more important Servant than you." He smirked.

"...I truly believe that you are my friend, Antonio Salieri, and not this Man in Grey that people believed you to be."

"...And what makes you come to this conclusion?"

"All the Man in Grey did was commission the piece. But Salieri was a master musician, composer, and conductor, who knows all music like the back of his hand. He speaks in five languages and writes in three. He can be a bit stubborn and is not as lively to be around as others are, but he is more loyal and caring than any other. He did great things that furthered the world's culture in his life, and taught some of the world's greatest composers."

He remained indifferent to the compliments, and stopped smiling.

"Salieri and Mozart were friends. However, a genius and an ordinary human, getting along? I cannot comprehend that. Salieri was a well respected musician during his lifetime, and taught many famous musicians and their pupils, including your son. He retired from opera, but continued to compose and teach. Around 1820, rumors began to spread that the two had been bitter rivals, and Salieri had in fact poisoned Mozart to end his career. That is false. It is nothing more than venomous trifle. But it was enough to paint him as a villain and make his music and legacy fade into obscurity, overshadowed by Mozart's natural talent. It was enough to twist me into this."

"How unfortunate...but that is not my fault! I died as your friend! You said it yourself, those rumors are false, and only ignorant civilians spread it as a rumor!"

"I cannot change what I am. The Grail records every person throughout history as a potential hero or anti-hero, and it decides what I am like. I cannot change history. Now, prepare to die."

Mozart glanced over to Marie for help, but noticed that she was strapped into her chair, unable to move. He began to run around the hall, avoiding the shots that Salieri's wraiths were firing at him. Mozart summoned his conducting baton and fired shots of pink magic at the wraiths. It damaged them, some even collapsing and disappearing, but another took its place just as quickly.

Salieri grabbed his cross and summoned red and black armor around him, his cross transforming into a long blade. He began to use his sword like a bow, creating a violin sound, as Mozart was suddenly cut up by the same notes he played, falling to the ground.

"Leave him alone!" Marie yelled. He turned to her and once again pointed his blade at her throat, triggering her fear of him.

Mozart got onto his knees, remaining under the seat so that he appeared to still be down, then shot magic missiles through the chair at him, but he deflected them with his blade.

"You're not good enough." He suddenly appeared behind Mozart, stabbing him in the stomach with his blade.

"Mozart!" Marie cried out.

"You really aren't suited for fighting, are you? Even I expected more than this."

'I...have to…move…' Marie struggled to get out of her binds, then finally able to by singing, using her voice to shatter them, grabbing Salieri's attention.

"I don't think so." He prepared to cut her down, but Mozart took the opportunity to hit him in the back with a huge magic blast, sending him crashing through the stage, dispersing all of the wraiths.

"Fortissimo!" He jumped over the chairs, standing next to Marie.

"How annoying…" He got up, not damaged, facing off against both of them now.

"Come on, we don't have to keep doing this!"

"Bargaining now, are we? It's clear to me that if we keep going, I'm going to be the clear winner. Is that why you're trying to get out of this?"

"I'm trying to get my friend back! Look at the light in your heart! Remember who you really are! We're your friends!"

"I am not your friend, and there is no light in my heart. My darkness only gets darker."

"Fine then. We'll have to get you back by force. You say that you commissioned my Requiem? Then you should be familiar with this one! Please enjoy! It's time for a public performance! Prepare to listen! To the sound of a demon! Requiem for Death!" Mozart summoned his own wraith musicians, which took the form of angels rather than ghostly apparitions. They began to play furiously.

"Your Dies Irae. Admittedly superior to my own." he said calmly. He felt himself become bewitched by the song, feeling his strength fading a little bit.

'It looks like he passed the check, so he'll only take half of the regular repercussions.' Mozart thought.

He nodded over at Marie.

"Wishing to blossom, visibly in the open! Dancing, to blossom in full glory!" She used her own Noble Phantasm, turning the floor into a field of crystals, and jumping up, landing on the back of a crystal horse.

"Passing through, Guillotine Breaker!" She dashed through the battlefield, her horse tearing up the crystals and stampeding over Salieri, who showed no desire to move out of the way, taking the full force of the hit and getting blasted out of the palace wall, undoing Anastasia's Noble Phantasm, making her float to the ground. She and Mozart both healed and recovered some mana thanks to the other effect of her ability.

"Heh...how eccentric. Though...it seems that now I must get serious." He stood up and walked back over to them, his shell now broken, and wearing his suit again.

"If that was your strongest attack, then you are out of luck. I am death. I must kill the one that is loved by God. My name is Salieri. No...wrong. I am...who am I…?" He summoned his armor again, but this time it had a different design, and was larger than before. His cloak was more ragged, his helmet had become longer and more wild looking, and his sword had become longer, with thorns jutting out from the hilt.

"Ooh...gaze upon my armor of lamentation…! The darkness of the masses that held up a knife of malice is the wildfire that burned my soul into this shape and gave birth to me! Now, let's play the timbre of your demise!"

He created strings again with his claws, this time visible as blood red. He used his blade as a bow once again, summoning his wraiths again, many more than before, all with a Romantic style orchestra, with tons of horns and percussion. They began to play fiercely, cutting up both Marie and Mozart multiple times with their sound attacks.

'This is...Verdi's…Requiem! One of the ones Master had me listen to...even I haven't been able to master this yet, and Salieri couldn't have been summoned to this world more than a day ago...he really is a true genius!'

"Dance by my command, Gods of Death." The players all took out their rifles and shot at the two, piercing them with bullets, while ramming his sword through Mozart, piercing him against the wall of a nearby building.

"Amadeus Wolfgang Mozart…! I am the one that will kill you…! Your prestige, your music, every trace of you, I'll destroy everything…! This time, I'll kill you with these hands…!" He pushed his blade in deeper, his intimidating red eyes fixated on Mozart's own, fading green ones.

"Salieri...what has society done to you…?" Mozart felt himself tear up seeing his old friend this way. He removed his sword from Mozart's body, making him slide down to the ground, clearly defeated. Avenger turned around, walking towards Marie, who was too shocked to move.

"It seems like...your brother was a great help to me...No, I am...Who am I...grrrrrrAAAAAAHHHHHHH! KILL…! KILL! I am Death, the murderer of the one beloved by God! Dio Santissimo Misericordia di Mi!" He and all of his servants sang a powerful note that infiltrated Marie's mind and body, causing her to take damage internally, making her collapse.

"The public performance...has ended...Who am I…? Who in the world am I…?"

A moment later, both Scathach and Altera had pierced him with their weapons, attempting to destroy his spirit origin.

"If I was something that could be killed...then I was killed a long time ago…" He looked at them with calm eyes, seemingly ignoring the pain.

"Our weapons kill everything. You won't survive this." Gae Bolg and Photon Ray channeled rainbow and red energy, cutting through him and sending him flying onto the ground, startled.

"Mozart…Marie...Who am I…?"

Legnago, Italy, 1760

"Well done, Antonio. You're coming along nicely. Music was truly your calling."

"Thank you, brother."

"Tell me, why choose Violin?"

"Because you play it, and I look up to you."

"...Not because of Padre's wishes?"

"No, of course not. Did you start because of that?"

"Si. He wished for me to learn it so that I could be hired by many orchestras and make good money."

"I see. Not a bad reason, I suppose. But I do it for the love of music."

X

"Antonio, seeing as your brother is becoming busy with recitals, and that you're progressing quite well, I arranged for you to take lessons from a new instructor starting today."

"Si, Padre. What is his name?"

"Giuseppe Simoni. He is a pupil of Padre Giovanni Battista Martini, a famous composer."

"Si."

X

"I hear your proficiency with the Organ is increasing as well."

"Si, Padre. How is Francesco doing?"

"He's well. Do not worry over your brother so much." They continued on, going to their local church, attending a recital of Salieri's brother. Though the performance was good, Salieri's face was kind of scrunched up throughout.

"Ah, grazie for your performance, Padre. It was excellent." The elder Salieri bowed to him.

"Grazie, Signore Salieri. Ah, is this your son?"

"Si. Antonio, say hello."

"Hm." He sort of nodded at him, but remained distant, surprising the two of them and getting his father a little bit annoyed.

"Apologies for my son, Padre, he's a bit of a quiet boy."

"It is no trouble. It was nice to talk for a bit, but I'm afraid I have a few other matters to attend to at the moment." He nodded and walked over to the other musicians, and Francesco walked over to them.

"What was that about?" He asked the two.

"Your younger brother didn't greet our priest properly." He glared at Antonio.

"Apologies, but his playing displeased me. It was in an inappropriate theatrical style." His father's expression softened, and he sighed heavily.

1764

His parents' funeral. They died young, due to illness. But living conditions in Europe hadn't changed in hundreds of years. So it wasn't that much of a surprise to him. Francesco came up to his younger brother slowly, now 14 years old.

"Antonio."

"Si, fratello?"

"I'm afraid that we must part ways. I'm going to be touring through Italy, and won't have the time nor the resources to provide for both of us. So I've arranged for a monk in Padua to look after you for a time, until I can find a more permanent solution. I will try to visit when I can."

"Francesco…"

"I'm sorry it had to turn out this way. But you've always been rather responsible and grown up for your age, and so you should know that a musician of my level will never make as much money as the great masters like Handel or Corelli, or their star performers. I don't wish to do this, but I cannot provide for both of us, despite my limited success. I pray that you will see better days than me. You have the makings of a genius, Antonio. Do not give up on your passion, I know you can do great things."

1766

Almost two years had gone by since then. The monk who took him in could no longer provide for him either, as taking care of him distracted him from his regular duties. A former business acquaintance of his father, Giovanni Mocenigo, a Venetian Noble of the wealthy and powerful Mocenigo family, took him in instead.

"Antonio."

"Yes, Signore?"

"I've found a new composer, Giovanni Battista Pescetti, to be your instructor from now on. He is a prominent composer and organist here in Venice, and agreed to take you under his wing."

"Truly, Signore? Grazie!"

It didn't last too long. Pescetti passed away suddenly at the end of March that same year. Mocenigo found a different musician, Ferdinando Pacini to instruct him in singing.

A recital after a few months, sponsored by his teacher. Salieri played organ with mastery, occasionally singing some opera solos as well.

"Signore Pacini."

"Ah, Signore Gassmann! How are you?"

"Well, thank you. That young man performing, Maestro Salieri. He is your protege?"

"Si. He is phenomenal, is he not? He is a true genius. In all honesty, he might become as famous as Maestro Corelli."

"That's quite the bold statement. Tell me, what would you say to a little proposal I have in mind?"

He finished his performance, and of course, everyone applauded and praised him.

"Salieri. Come here for a moment."

"What is it, Maestro? Oh, hello."

"Salieri, this is my friend, Florian Gassmann. He is a prominent composer in Vienna, and the court ballet composer and chamber composer to Emperor Joseph."

"It is an honor, Signore." He bowed politely.

"The honor is mine, young man. I heard your performance and listened intently. You have quite the aptitude for music. Have you ever tried composition before?"

"Yes, my previous teacher taught me the basics. But beyond that, no. Simply playing."

"I see. I have a proposition for you, which I ran by your teacher as well, and he supports it wholeheartedly. What would you say to accompanying me to Vienna? I will look after you and pay for the remainder of your education, and train you to be the next big composer for the royal court. Does that sound agreeable?"

"S-Signore, I'm amazed that you'd offer me such an opportunity. Thank you. Yes, I'd love to go."

"Very well then. I'll be in Venice for two more days, so we will leave on the morning of that final day. Your instructor will bring you to my quarters."

"Understood."

X

The 15th of June 1766 was the day they arrived in Vienna, where Gassmann took Salieri to the Italian Church, sanctifying his teaching and service to God. His instruction consisted of Latin and Italian poetry, European Literature, and the German and Latin languages, of which he became proficient in both throughout the years. He studied vocal composition, thoroughbass, harmony and counterpoint, and translation between languages. Even after Gassmann became married, Salieri continued to live with him, until the composer's death and his own marriage in 1774. He wrote a few different pieces during this time, including a Mass and an Opera, neither of which have survived.

1766

Dressed in regal clothes, Gassmann escorted Salieri through Vienna's Royal Palace, bringing him to the dining room where the Emperor was eating his evening meal. They could hear a string quartet playing as well.

"Maestro, does he speak Italian? I only just started learning German."

"Yes, he does. You'll do fine. That reminds me, you should also learn French if you're going to be around here in the future."

"Understood." He composed himself, as Gassmann opened the doors, prompting the Emperor to look up. There were many other people sitting at the table with him, all of the former Empress' surviving children, ranging from their early twenties down to just 10 years old.

They remained by the door until the players finished, and the royal family complimented them, clapping politely. Gassmann began to walk forward, Salieri following closely behind.

"Welcome back, Herr Gassmann." Joseph smiled at him kindly. "And who is this, if I may ask?"

"This is my new protege, Antonio Salieri."

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, Your Majesty." He bowed.

"And you as well, young man. This is my mother, Maria Theresa, and my older sister, Maria Elisabeth. The others are my younger siblings, Leopold, Maria Josepha, Maria Carolina, Ferdinand, Maria Antonia, and Maximilian Francis." They smiled at him, the youngest Maria especially, seeming to be a bit more lively than the other reserved members.

"What do you have planned for us tonight, Herr Gassmann? I must say, we are nearly finished eating." Maria Theresa spoke.

"Apologies, Your Majesty, but today was Salieri's first day in Vienna, and so I wanted to show him around a bit before bringing him here."

"I see. And how do you like the city, Salieri?"

"It is fantastic. Much bigger than Venice."

"But of course, dear. If you are Herr Gassman's protege, then you are a musician as well, yes?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. I am an Organist, Singer, and Violinist."

"Would you be willing to play for us? Do not worry, we won't hold you to the same standards as a professional."

"You should. It will make me strive to become better." He walked over to the piano and lifted the cover, sitting down.

"Well well, you found one with quite the aspirations, Herr Gassmann." Maria laughed.

He smiled worriedly, hoping that Salieri knew what he was doing.

Flexing his fingers, he began to play the Sarabande of Handel's Keyboard Suite in D Minor.

"So pretty!" Maria Antonia sighed, giggling with one of her sisters.

"La Folia? Interesting choice. An Italian theme but in a German piece." Joseph commented.

"It's actually from Spain originally. But Italy made it famous." Salieri corrected, continuing on with the variations.

The royals finished their meals, and their servants took their dishes away and cleaned the table as Salieri finished, and the family, including Gassmann, clapped.

"Wonderful. Played at the level of a professional even though you're still just a young man. Do you have an Italian composition in your repertoire? I rather favor them."

"Yes, of course." He left the piano and borrowed the Violinist's instrument, warming up for himself and getting a feel for it.

"How about Corelli's Christmas Concerto? Do you all know it?" He asked the other players, pleased when they nodded their heads.

"Excellent. One, two, three, four…" They all began to play the Grave section, and before long came to the main Vivace section, Salieri playing with mastery, as good as any other principal violinist in Vienna, entrancing the family, especially Joseph and the young Marie.

Finishing the piece, the three of them clapped, Joseph even getting up from his seat to do so.

"Bravo, Young Salieri! Herr Gassmann, please continue to bring your pupil as often as you like. He is going to be a fantastic composer, I just know it."

"Thank you, Your Majesty. It means a lot." Both Salieri and Gassmann told him, taking their leave as the family was finished with their meal.

"Well done, Salieri. I was a bit worried that you were going along with them so well."

"I can handle a little scrutiny, don't concern yourself with that."

"I see that. Well, it's getting late, but there is someone else I'm meeting for tea, and I'd like to introduce you, before we retire to my house."

"Very well."

The two went to a nearby cafe, seeing a man sitting down at an outside table.

"Florian."

"Pietro!" The two shook hands.

"Salieri, this is Pietro Antonio Domenico Trapassi, a good friend and librettist of mine. Pietro, this is my new pupil, Antonio Salieri."

"A pleasure young man. Please, call me Pietro Metastasio instead."

"Understood, Signore." He bowed to him. They sat down together.

"You must have just come from the palace, no?"

"Yes. Antonio here charmed the Emperor and his entire family!"

"At such a young age? Impressive. You must be quite the musician to strike them on your first night in Vienna."

"Maestro calls me a natural prodigy, but I think he overestimates me, though I can't see myself as anything other than a musician."

"I see. Perhaps I should introduce you to someone else then, to assist you in your career here in Vienna."

"Who is it?"

"His name is Christoph Gluck, and he's a prominent composer of French and Italian opera here. He could teach you French, and also help you in writing opera, since your current Maestro deals more in chamber music. He's also the teacher of the princess Maria Antonia."

"The great opera composer Gluck? That would be magnificent, though I wonder if he would be able to see anything in someone as much of a novice as I."

"Do not consider yourself a mere novice, Salieri. I know that he'll be impressed with you and take you under his tutelage." Gassmann reassured.

"Very well then."

"Great. He will be back in Vienna this Sunday, at the Martinez family house, which Florian has been to multiple times. He will take you. I will see you both then."

"Of course. Buona Notte."

"Buona Notte."

X

Over the next few years, Salieri received informal instruction from both Metastasio and Gluck, teaching him opera and instructing him in prosody so that he would master libretto writing himself.

1770

"Salieri." Gluck walked up to his now 20 year old protege in his study.

"Yes, Maestro?" He looked up from a piece of parchment that he was writing some sketches of pieces down.

"I've been called away to Prague for a commission. I was supposed to put on an opera here, but since an opening is now available, I recommended you for the position. Is that agreeable?"

"My first opera? I will do my best, then. Thank you for the recommendation." He said reservedly, but clearly had a shine to his eyes and an optimism in his voice.

"Excellent. I trust you can handle it. It should be finished by the spring, so you have quite a few months to work on it. Should you need help, remember to ask Herr Gassmann or Maestro Metastasio."

"Of course. Good luck with your opera, and I wish you well in your travels."

"Thank you. I'll be back."

X

After the royal family's evening performance that night, they invited him to stay a while longer and spend time with the younger members.

Many of the siblings that had been present before had now left due to political marriages or travel, the only ones still staying in the palace being Joseph and the two youngest boys, Ferdinand and Maximilian, both of whom were somewhere else in the palace, leaving Salieri alone with the young Marie, now 15.

Yet she was also only visiting, as she was married to Louis, the Dauphin of France, early that year, and had a formal ceremony that spring, and even consummated that night, despite both of them practically being kids.

"How is your French coming along?" She asked, sitting down next to him at the piano.

"À vous de me dire." (You tell me)

"Ah, well done." She smiled.

"It's incredible, but I speak five languages now, all thanks to coming here."

"Five? What's the fifth?"

"I learned English for my own sake, since London is the other music capital of the world."

"Most impressive."

Salieri once again began playing Handel's Sarabande.

"This again? You really enjoy La Folia, don't you?" she giggled, laying her head on his shoulder as he played.

"I hope to write my own set of variations for it one day. But I'm not sure as to how to approach it. Handel's version is so simple yet so perfect. Corelli's is too light for me, and Vivaldi's is too heavy for my tastes, though I enjoy both pieces thoroughly by themselves. I need a balance, somehow."

"I see. Promise me that I'll be the first one you invite to the premiere, once it's completed."

"Of course."

"Thank you…..Antonio, how do you feel about my marriage?"

"Why ask me such a thing? I have no place in the politics of your monarchy."

"I suppose not, but my mother had 16 children by the time she was 39, and those of us that have survived this far into adulthood have been married off to people we barely even know at her whim."

"How old was your mother when she was married?"

"She was only eight for a brief first marriage, then 19 when she married my father."

"Meaning that she was raised in the same way. She has known nothing else."

"My mother was relieved that her first marriage was renounced, since she had already fallen for my father at the time, yet will not let us marry for love."

"You do not love the Dauphin?"

"He's nice enough, I suppose, but the first time I met him, we were already married in the eyes of our kingdoms. What kind of life is that for a girl?"

"Who do you love?"

"Hmm...there was a nice boy I met once, when I was only seven, at our summer palace. He played for the court, and impressed even my mother at such a young age. We met alone in a hallway not long after the concert, and he charmingly asked for my hand in marriage. Of course, we were merely kids, but I always wonder how my life would be different if I suddenly found him again and we ran away together."

"What was his name?"

"Johannes Wolfgangus Mozart."

"Interesting. I hope to one day meet this man to see for myself how good he is."

"I'd like to see that." They looked out the windows, seeing that it was now dark.

"I should be going. I have to start writing an opera tomorrow. It's my first official premiere."

"Ah! Congratulations!"

"Thank you. Maestro Gluck is away in Prague for a commission, so he passed the task onto me."

"Be sure to invite me!"

"Of course, but it won't be premiering until the spring. Won't you be in France?"

"I'll find a way to come back and visit."

"Alright. It was nice to see you again, Marie. If you ever need any advice, just write me. You know that, right?"

"Yes. Gute Nacht, Antonio." She hugged him and kissed his cheek, as he did the same.

"You as well. I should go say good night to your brother and mother before leaving."

X

Salieri's first opera, Le donne letterate, premiered in Vienna the following spring, as he said. The libretto was written by Giovanni Gastone Boccherini, brother of the famed composer Luigi Boccherini. It saw limited success, and only had one revival in Prague three years later. Marie could not attend, though she was invited, and replied with a letter apologizing for her numerous new duties that required her attention, though she did say to continue to invite her to subsequent performances.

He wrote a few other operas in that time, finding successes with Armida, and La fiera di Venezia, but writing some others, such as La secchia rapita. He also wrote some instrumental works during this time, modest, yet still enjoyed by Joseph and the royal court. In this time, Salieri had learned more of Mozart's growing popularity in this time, but due to his employment at Salzburg and not Vienna, they had still yet to meet.

January 21st, 1774

"Hmm…" Salieri looked over to the clock in his study, seeing that it was almost midday, and he hadn't heard anything happen in Gassmann's room all day. He sighed and put down an early sketch of his attempt at a La Folia Variations, opening his door and knocking on his teacher's door.

"Maestro? Are you awake?" No answer. Salieri opened the door to find him lying on his bed peacefully. He walked over and tapped him a few times, but there was still no response. Salieri's eyes widened, as he felt the man's pulse, but again, there was nothing. He stepped away and looked upon the man's entire form, before going off to find his wife and two daughters, just three years old and an infant.

His funeral was deeply saddening. Joseph spoke at it, of course. Though Maria Theresa was present, she did not speak, due to some of her remaining illnesses from her smallpox contraction seven years prior.

Afterwards, there was a mourning party held in the royal palace for the upper class, or those who knew him personally. Salieri attended.

"Herr Salieri. Could I speak with you for a moment?" Joseph approached him.

"Of course." He followed him to his private study.

"With Herr Gassmann now gone, I wanted to give the position of Assistant Director of the Italian Opera to you. You will have an official position in my court. Do you accept this?"

"I'm honored, sir. Yes."

"Great. Come by tomorrow, and I'll tell you about your new responsibilities." They exited, and Salieri began to exit the palace, annoyed.

"Antonio?" Marie's voice. He glanced behind him and locked eyes with her, then continued walking. She followed him out, stopping him in the plaza, away from prying ears.

"Is something wrong?"

"Your brother can be unbelievable sometimes!"

"What did he do?" she asked sadly. She had never seen this side of him before.

"I can't stand your family's principles sometimes, Marie. Everything is politics and manipulation. My teacher, the man responsible for bringing me here and giving me a good life, has just died suddenly, and what does Joseph do the day of the funeral, at the mourning party?! He asks me to take over his position, and that I start tomorrow!"

"But, that's...isn't that a good thing? You'll get paid more now and be able to write more music and become better…"

"That's not the point...he threw me into something before I even had time to mourn myself. I can't say no, he's the Emperor. I just...just because I don't show my emotions so easily doesn't mean that I don't have any."

"...I'm sorry for that."

"You have nothing to apologize for. You've always been kind to me." There was a moment of silence between them before Marie locked her arm with his.

"Come on. I'll take you home."

"What about your husband?"

"He's back in France. I elected to travel here of my own accord."

"Your family? Won't they look for you if you suddenly disappeared?"

"You are my priority right now, and I'm my own woman now. I am not under my mother's control anymore."

Gassmann's house felt so empty, now. His wife and children were at the party, so Marie and Salieri were the only ones inside. They sat down on Salieri's bed, silent for a moment, before his shoulders began to shake.

"Damn it all…" he sobbed, and Marie hugged him, comforting him as he cried.

X

Salieri wrote a sacred piece and a few operas over the next few years. For three years, Salieri conducted and rehearsed the Italian Opera company, finding some minor success. However, because of poor financial management on Joseph's part, the Emperor had to shut it down, and decided to have French dramas performed less often as well. The two theatres owned by the court were reopened under new management, becoming new National Theatres. The new material would be mostly German to showcase the values of German and Austrian culture. Beginning in 1778, the Emperor wanted new works commissioned in German and with clear Imperial support, leaving Salieri in an unimportant position, since German was only a second language to him, and that he wouldn't receive many commissions, so he gave up his position, now in a financial bind.

However, Gluck turned down an offer in 1778. He was to write an opera for the opening of the opera house La Scala in Milan, and then take a tour of Italy. Seeing him spiraling further into depression, Joseph suggested that Gluck pass the responsibility onto Salieri, thinking that some new work and time away from Vienna would do him good. Gluck approved, and Salieri accepted. For two years, he went to Milan, Venice and Rome, then back, writing three new comic operas, with one of them, La scuola de' gelosi, being his first international success, with subsequent performances in Vienna and London in later years. Once again, he had found success.

In 1780, he was requested by the Imperial family to return to Vienna, partially for the former Empress' declining health and eventual death that year, but also for new commissions from the city.

X

A year later, the Italian opera company in Vienna was reinstated, and Salieri was put in charge of the first performance, a rework of his most recent opera, but not taking a full time position, not wanting a repeat of what happened last time. Many of the singers hired were people that he had worked with on his tour of Italy. After a few performances, he continued to compose and teach, a second job that he had recently picked up.

1783

"Dear, you have a letter from Herr Gluck." Therese called for her husband as some of her children played around her.

Salieri walked into the room, taking the letter delicately from her and beginning to read it.

Maestro Salieri,

I have been away in France for a time, and wish for you to come and visit me, if you have the opportunity. I have been commissioned for a French Opera Seria here, but due to the terrible success of my last french opera, I do not wish to put my name so suddenly on a new playbill here, so I would like to give you a chance and stretch your wings a little bit, going outside just Vienna and Venice, and trying your hand at Paris. Because you are a new composer here, I will have both of our names put on the playbill so people recognize a familiar composer. Should the work be successful, I will remove my name and make a public statement saying that the work is entirely yours. If not, I will say that I did everything and take the fall for it so there are no negative repercussions. If this is agreeable to you, then write me again, letting me know when you are expected to arrive, and I will pick you up near the Royal Palace. If not, write me anyway saying that you'd prefer not to.

Your honored Maestro,

Christoph Gluck.

Salieri handed the letter back to his wife.

"Read it."

She did, and lit up as she went along.

"This is an amazing opportunity for you!"

"Should I? I would be away from you and the kids for quite a long time, perhaps even a year. I've also never written an opera seria before, all of mine up to this point were comedic."

"Gluck will help you. Antonio, imagine getting praise from King Louis if this really takes off! You are still friends with the Queen, after all, right?"

"Yes, but I haven't written her in a while. Her reputation has been failing in France as a monarch bit by bit. She's too much of a lavish spender." He sighed, rolling his eyes, making his wife giggle.

"Write her. This could be the difference in truly cementing your career as a composer! I know you already work for the Emperor here, but to work for the royal family of France, too?! It's anyone's dream! No one has had this amount of success since the great Maestro Handel!"

"I am nowhere near Herr Handel's level of skill. But if you truly think it is the best course of action, I will accept it. I'll write Gluck and Marie informing them of my departure and arrival."

X

Salieri first wrote Marie, telling her of his new job and that he would be visiting Paris for up to a year, hoping to see her a few times. He got a personal letter from her two days later saying that she'd love to see him and will pick him up outside the palace with her own carriage, prompting Salieri to write Gluck and tell him of both his acceptance of the job, and also that there was no need to get him, as the Queen would herself, and take him to the opera house, where he should be. After leaving a fair amount of money for his family, he took his packed bags and hailed a carriage, on his way to the world's third leading capital (after London and Vienna).

X

Arriving in Paris a day and a half later, Salieri was dropped off near the Palace of Versailles.

"Monsieur Salieri?" A guard walked up to him?

"Oui?"

"The Queen has granted you permission into the palace to see her. Have you been here before?"

"I have not, no. But do not fret, I am sure I won't get lost."

"Of course, Monsieur. Go right on in." The guard opened the gate slightly so that he could go in.

At first, the palace seemed rather empty. There were no other guests there, so there were no gatherings. Eventually, he heard music though. Following the sound, Salieri ended up finding a violinist playing in a room nearby.

"The Queen…?"

"In the other room." He motioned to the room directly across the hall. Salieri was about to walk through when he noticed that Marie was barely wearing anything, merely undergarments and a thin white gown, with a man painting her portrait.

"Antonio? Is that you?!" She asked excitedly.

"Y-Yes. Marie, why are you getting painted like that? You're the queen, don't you think it's a little inappropriate to have a portrait done in that manner?"

"It's tasteful, and it's not like anyone outside of my husband or I will see it. Or the painter here. Or you, I suppose. Anyhow, come in! I don't mind."

"We can stop for now and resume later if you'd like, Your Majesty." The painter proposed.

"Hmm...yes, that might be a good idea. I'll be spending some time with my friend here. Return tomorrow morning, say, ten o clock?"

He bowed and exited the room, careful to cover the work he had done so far and place it against the wall. Once he exited, Marie stretched, then jumped up and hugged Salieri, kissing his cheek multiple times.

"It's been far too long!" She remained holding him, as he blushed heavily, thinking that the Queen had forgotten that she was still wearing next to nothing.

"Marie, you should get changed before anyone else sees you like this."

"Ah, you're right. Accompany me to my bedroom." He sighed, realizing that he wouldn't be able to persuade her otherwise, and elected to simply follow her. Marie took off her gown and snapped her fingers, a set of maids coming in and fitting her with a casual blue gown. Casual of course still meant the highest level of aristocratic with her, but it certainly wasn't as poofy as her formal ones.

"I'll be going out into the city for a little while, taking my friend here to an appointment. I will be back afterwards." They curtsied to her, and she led Salieri out to their carriages.

"So tell me of your new job!"

"I know nothing of it yet, other than it is to be an opera seria for the Academie Royale de Musique."

"Do you have any ideas for it?"

"I do, but it depends on exactly what the commission is." There was a silence between them before Marie brought up an old conversation.

"Are you still planning on a set of variations for La Folia?"

"Hm? Yes, I still am. I have a few sketches now, and an outline. I just keep getting stuck each time I try to write more."

"It's alright. It will come to you. You haven't forgotten your promise either, have you?"

"Of course not. You'll be the first one that I invite to the premiere." He smiled at her. Arriving at the outside of the building, Salieri saw Gluck waiting for him.

"Well then, I should be going. Thank you for bringing me here."

"Of course! Do you have somewhere to stay while you're here? If not, I could give you a room in the palace…"

"No no, there's no need to do that. I have somewhere already. Maestro Gluck has made arrangements."

"I understand. Good luck. You know that I'll be at the premiere to this one as well!"

"I look forward to seeing you."

"Yes! Remember to stop by the palace whenever you need something. Perhaps next time we'll go to a cafe together!"

"I'd like that."

"Excellent. Goodbye, Antonio." She leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss on the lips, this time, then calling for her driver to take her back to her home once the composer stepped out, surprised at her grown up behavior, acting more regal than he thought she would end up being based on her younger attitudes towards royal principles.

"Welcome to Paris, Salieri."

"Merci. How are you?"

"I'm alright. I must admit, that my reputation is not the only reason that I passed up this opportunity. I recently suffered a stroke while I was here."

"What-?!"

"Do not fret, I am recovered. It was nothing serious, but I did not think that I would be able to complete their commission in time with their schedule. So Emperor Joseph recommended you. And here you are."

"I see. So tell me, what about the commission? Any specifics I have to incorporate?"

"As a matter of fact, no. They are allowing you to do what you want with it, but to run the concept by the owner."

"I see. Alright then, I'd better get to work."

X

The greatest success of his up until that point. His first french opera, and his first serious opera. Based on an Ancient Greek legend, there was a good mix of festivity, murder, and damnation. Salieri used Trombones to dictate the darker scenes, impressing the audience even more. It was such a success that he was commissioned for more works from the Paris Opera right after the premiere, the opera remained on stage for the next forty years, and Salieri earned a total of 650 ducats at the end of opening night, more than twice his annual salary, including a generous donation from the Queen. Little by little, Gluck admitted that he had no hand in its creation, and that everything was Salieri's entirely.

May 1784, Vienna

"Herr Salieri."

"Yes?" He looked up to find an unfamiliar man standing before him. He wore an extravagant suit, and had long and curly blonde hair and green eyes.

"Apologies, I've just wanted to meet you for a long time now. My name is Amadeus. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart."

"Ah, I've been meaning to meet you for a long time now. Your composition style intrigues me."

"Thank you."

"You know, despite our music being rivals, we don't have to be. I hope to work with you one day."

"That would be nice. I hope to see you again sooner rather than later. By the way, Amadeus…"

"Yes?" He asked, turning back around.

"Have you ever seen Queen Marie Antoinette lately?"

"No, I have not...I have not seen her since we were children. Why do you ask?"

"I've been good friends with her since we were young, as well. I just spent some time with her this past year. I'm sure she'd love to see you."

"I see. Yes, I would like to see her as well, but I'm afraid I'm already married."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Marie was a childhood sweetheart of mine. If I were to go to her now...it would just be a reminder of our past regrets. Thank you for telling me though. It's much appreciated." He smiled at him and bowed, leaving the opera house that Salieri was working at.

X

In his return to Vienna, besides meeting Mozart for the first time, he befriended a librettist named Lorenzo Da Ponte, who wrote his first opera libretto for a new opera by Salieri, Il Ricco d'un Giorno, which wasn't successful. Ending his work with him, he moved on to a new person, Giovanni Battista Casti, while Da Ponte went to work with Mozart on Le Nozze Di Figaro, and later Don Giovanni and Cosi Fan Tutte, three of his most popular works.

Salieri and Casti produced La Grotta di Trofonio, one of his finest works, in the Fall of 1785, and shortly after the success, Emperor Joseph called for Salieri and Mozart, his two favorites, to each contribute a one act opera or singspiel for a banquet that was to take place in early 1786. Salieri worked with Casti again, creating Prima La Musica e poi le Parole, creating a parody of the relationship between poet and musician. He returned to Paris again that year, to premiere Les Horaces, which was again not a success. He then wrote the opera Tarare, which was a massive success. At Joseph's behest, Lorenzo Da Ponte soon translated it into Italian, turning it into Axur, re d'Ormus, one of his greatest successes. It was staged at the royal wedding of Franz II, Joseph's nephew who would become the final Holy Roman Emperor and the successor to his father.

In 1788, Salieri returned to Vienna and never traveled again. Due to increasingly poor relations between the French Monarchy and the public during his time in France, he didn't tell Marie of his arrival, and didn't invite her to the performances, something that he regretted, not wanting to abandon her friendship. However, she no longer made public appearances anymore anyways largely due to the Affair of the Diamond Necklace in 1784, and so he didn't expect her to come. Besides, the king and queen brought their problems upon themselves, but what was to be expected when they were put in charge of the nation at only 15 years old? This is why he wasn't involved in politics.

That same year, he became kapellmeister of the Imperial Chapel, where he conducted and instructed the school almost until his death.

Then, that date came.

20 February, 1790

Standing alongside Mozart, Salieri watched as Emperor Joseph's funeral took place. He had been in failing health for two years, and his policies were no longer trusted by his servants, what with the political reforms being seeded by the French Revolution.

"We might have been the only two people left that he trusted." Mozart said sadly.

"Mm." Salieri had a lot on his mind. He feared for his friends and for his family. Marie was in trouble because of the revolts of the French citizens, and Joseph was the biggest patron of the two composers. Without them, they had no direct support. How were they to provide for their families?

Well, unfortunately, with all the recent political uprisings and with values changing throughout Europe, the new emperor, Leopold II, had no use for opera. Despite Salieri writing two more with Casti, they were deemed unsuitable for public performance because of their satirical take on politics, which had become much more important with current events.

Leopold was practically the opposite of his older brother. While Joseph had been more of a cultured man and supported the arts throughout his reign, neglecting politics, Leopold had no place for it and was overly political, not much in the ways of humor. He was smart enough to see through Catherine the Great's manipulative letters and did not act upon them, and gave his sister some good advice about dealing with the uprising in France. Despite this, he saw the country as weak, and within six weeks of his ascension, he disregarded the treaty of alliance his mother made that had been in place since 1756.

Salieri wrote three operas for the remainder of the year, two of which were not particularly successful, and one of which, La Cifra, was.

Of course, on December 5, 1791, Mozart passed away after a long struggle with illness, which made Salieri furious at the world for taking such a genius and his treasured friend from him.

In March 1792, Leopold mysteriously passed away, though some believed he was poisoned. His son, Francis II, took the throne. Like Leopold, Francis was more politically concerned, though he was quite a bit less harsh than his father was.

Salieri, concerned about his political position, appealed to the new emperor to retire as director of the Italian Opera. The emperor accepted and thanked him for all of his years of service, but as per his contract, he needed to continue writing operas until 1804 for the court, if not for the public. He wrote four operas for the rest of the year, his only true success of them being Palmira, Regina di Persia in 1795.

November 1792

Salieri, somewhat depressed from his resignation and independence from the regular commissions he was used to getting, had mostly been locking himself in his study all day, writing sacred works as a lasting favor for Mozart, only coming out for meals with his family.

Hearing a knock on his door, his wife opened it not waiting for a response, knowing that she wouldn't get one.

"We have guests." She walked up to him, sliding a hand along his shoulder.

"...Who?" was all he said, and quietly.

"Haydn and a student of his. He wants to talk to you." Salieri looked up. He had known Joseph Haydn for quite a few years, thanks to Emperor Joseph. Haydn, of course, had been the world's most famous musician for 20 years now, and was a mentor to both Salieri and Mozart. Salieri met him and became good friends with him during his prominence in the early 1780s, before Haydn had begun his travels to London. Now returned, he was indeed sitting in the family room of Salieri's home. Walking in and sitting across from him with his wife, he did take note of a young man in his early 20s sitting next to Haydn, seeming respectful, but also with a hint of arrogance surrounding him.

"Herr Salieri. How are you?"

"I...not too good, to be honest. My position as a composer has been insecure since Joseph died."

"I see...I'm sorry to hear that. Perhaps I could assist you with that problem. How long has it been since you've taught?"

"Not since I married Therese. 17 years now."

"That is quite a long time. This is a student of mine, or, well, former student, I suppose."

"Ludwig van Beethoven." He introduced himself politely.

"Antonio Salieri."

"I met Ludwig a few years ago on a trip to Bonn. When I returned to Vienna this summer from London, I ran into him again, and his old teacher made arrangements for me to instruct him. Unfortunately though, I don't think that I'm the right fit for him. So I'm wondering if you'll take on the task? He is already quite the composer, so they would be advanced lessons, keeping both of you stimulated."

"And the pay?" he asked, crossing his arms.

"I will cover the fees myself, and it will be 100 ducats per lesson." Beethoven said, surprising Salieri and his wife.

"It sounds too good to be true. What's the catch?"

"The catch is that these lessons will not be on a regular basis. I am trying to establish my career in Vienna, and have already composed some short pieces. Therefore, I do not need to be babied like a younger student. Consider these more directional to put me on the right path to success." Beethoven said.

Salieri's wife, surprised at the attitude of the student, looked to her husband for an answer. Haydn, ever the polite and submissive one, looked down awkwardly.

Salieri, however, took the boy's outburst as a challenge.

"I think I see what's going on here." He stood up and put his hands behind his back, looking at Beethoven with an intimidating stare.

"Herr Haydn is too nice to take on someone like you. You need someone to challenge your ego."

"You catch on quicker than I thought you would." he smirked, crossing his arms.

"Very well. I'll take you under my wing. Perhaps teaching isn't such a bad option to pick up again. And maybe you'll turn out to be a fantastic composer, who knows?"

"Of course I will be! You underestimate me!" He stood up and moved his finger to poke Salieri in the chest, but the composer caught him, stopping him and making him smile again.

"Have you made arrangements as to where he will live yet?" Salieri asked Haydn.

"Yes. Do not worry about that."

"Excellent. I expect you here for your first lesson two days from now at 11 AM exactly. Even a minute late and there will be penalties. Leave any manuscripts of work you've already done here with me and I'll have a look at them to give you feedback and start your instruction. Understood?"

"...Yes, Maestro." He said, smiling sincerely at his new teacher, excited.

"Then you're dismissed." Beethoven bowed and handed him a few of his already completed pieces or works in the making, then walked himself out.

"I apologize for his rashness. He can be a handful." Haydn stood up.

"It is no trouble. This is just the kind of student I need."

"Very well then. Salieri, in addition to what he pays you, I'll send you a little bit of gratuity when I can, for taking him off my hands and putting up with him."

"You don't have to-"

"I heard you retired and just have to finish out your contract. You could probably use it."

"Yes. Thank you, Joseph." His wife stood up and kissed his cheeks, Salieri remaining silent.

"Then I'll hope that you set him on the right path. Please write to me when you have time."

"Of course. Thank you for coming."

X

"No. Write this part differently."

"Give the melody to a different instrument here."

"Change keys here. If you want something haunting, pick one of the minor keys with little to no flats or sharps.

"The voice is a gift, and so you have to orchestrate it accordingly. You can't just use it like a tool."

Three days a week, Beethoven was paying Salieri to help him work with his compositions, as well as teaching him about orchestration and Italian Vocal Composition. And each time, Beethoven did not argue, and would later praise Salieri as one of his greatest teachers.

Salieri himself only wrote those last four operas, as well as much sacred work, and much of his time was spent teaching Beethoven and soon after, Mozart's younger son, Franz Xaver.

Things went well for him for about a year until another haunting date arrived.

October 1793

Walking out in public, Salieri was going back home from teaching at the chapel that day, when he caught wind of many different people talking about the same thing: the Queen of France.

"They say that she stepped on Herr Sanson's shoes before she was guillotined."

"How inconsiderate. Thank goodness she's gone."

Salieri continued walking, thinking to himself.

'Sanson? Isn't that the famous French executioner?' He decided to go back.

"Excuse me."

"Ah! Herr Salieri! It is an absolute honor, sir." The two bowed to him.

"Never mind that. What were you two talking about just now?"

"Oh! Word just arrived the other day that the French Queen was finally executed!"

"Marie…?"

"One and the same. The Habsburg Monarchy is truly no more now. About time, too. France was in a bad spot, and I'm glad that we don't have that same problem here with Emperor Francis."

"Herr...Salieri? Are you feeling okay? You just went pale."

"I...forgive me, I must go." He began walking away briskly before running all the way home, as fast as he could.

Bursting in through the door, his wife looked up startled, from reading the newspaper. His youngest children stopped what they were doing and moved towards their mother, afraid that he was angry.

"Antonio? What's wrong?"

"The paper...let me see it." he said, out of breath.

"..."

"Give it to me!" He held his hand out, stomping over to her. Quickly, she handed it to him, frightened.

Turning to the front page, he noticed the front headline.

"Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, executed by Henri Sanson, son of famous Charles-Henri Sanson...found guilty for depletion of the national treasury, conspiracy against the internal and external security of the State, and high treason for her intelligence activities in the interest of the enemy...she was also accused of orchestrating orgies, planning the massacre of the national guards the previous year, declaring her son to be the new king of france, and incest with said son. She was executed by guillotine on the 16th this month."

His hands now shaking, he let go of the newspaper, dropping all of the pages onto the floor.

"I'm sorry dear…" his wife stood up and hugged him, bringing him into his room. Closing the door behind them, he let go and looked over to his desk, furious. He grabbed his sketches for La Folia and tore them all up in a rage, going back out into the family room and tossing the fragments into the fire.

"Why would you do that?! That piece is your dream!"

"That piece was for her...she was the first one I was to invite...yet I could never bring myself to finish it...I haven't spoken to her in years, and now I won't have the chance to anymore, or to invite her to the performance. I wanted to see her face light up as she heard it, all of my years of work amounting to that one composition. But now it's useless. I'm never going to write it if she can't be there."

X

Salieri was special, even among composers. He was one of the few who lived during two periods of music, in the Classical era, and entering into the early Romantic era.

Due to changing ideas in both the arts and in politics, Salieri decided that he didn't really have the creativity nor the emotional desire to conform to these new values. Instead, he decided to leave that task to Beethoven and other new and upcoming composers who seemed to have a better grasp on the situation. Beethoven had already begun making a name for himself and was very popular within Vienna.

1804

Salieri, his wife, and his oldest daughter Franziska, attended a performance at the Imperial Chapel one night, a boys choir that was not directed by Salieri, but another beginner composer in the service of the Emperor.

One of the leads during the performance intrigued Salieri and eventually had his full attention.

"Excuse me, Maestro."

"Yes? Ah, Herr Salieri! How can I help you? I hope you enjoyed the performance."

"I did. I wanted to know...the young boy out in front, who sang the lead alto part. He was magnificent, what is his name?"

"Ah, you liked him? He is only seven, yet is one of my brightest learners and musicians, and has a fantastic voice. Franz! Come here for a moment. Someone wants to meet you." The young boy came over.

"Yes, Maestro?"

"Franz, this is Antonio Salieri, Vienna's most famous musician."

"Franz Schubert!" The boy introduced himself enthusiastically, Salieri bending down to shake his hand.

"Tell me, Franz, do you have any teachers right now?"

"Privately, no. Though my father promised to start teaching me violin soon!"

"I see. That is good. Tell me, what would you say to studying with me? Violin, Viola, Piano, and even composition?"

"Truly, sir? It would be fantastic, though, I'd need to ask my father first."

"Of course. No harm done if he says no. But I see an untapped potential in you that I'd like to bring out."

X

Of course, Schubert's father said yes, and in addition to learning violin and viola from his father and brothers, he trained in piano, music theory, and composition. In 1805, Salieri unfortunately lost his only son, and just two years later, in 1807, his wife passed as well.

18 March 1808

"Antonio." Haydn, helped in by a few workers in the hall, brought him down to the front where he sat in a chair in the front row, Salieri and Beethoven coming up to him.

"Maestro." Beethoven kneeled down and kissed his hand. "I'm glad you were able to attend."

"I am truly honored that you put together such a performance for my sake." he spoke weakly, much more aged than the last time the two interacted, now 76 years old.

"It is something that you deserve, Maestro. I shall return shortly." He left to make sure that everything was in working condition, including the orchestra itself.

"I didn't know if it could be done, but you molded him into a fine man." Haydn chuckled, looking at Salieri.

"It was exactly as I had predicted all those years ago. You simply need to put your foot down when teaching a rambunctious student."

"Yes, I suppose so...I was sorry to hear about your wife and son, by the way...it's never easy…"

Salieri sighed, and looked at him somberly.

"It was sudden. And of course with Marie and Amadeus no longer here with us, I am surrounded only by colleagues, no longer family."

"You still have daughters though, right?"

"Yes, of course. But they are busy with their own lives, and I with mine. I recently took a new student under my wing as well, Franz Schubert. Beethoven no longer comes to me with help, but visits me to show me his work from time to time and to try to convince me to write new pieces again."

"Why aren't you?"

"It hasn't been the same since she passed. She was always excited about attending my performances. Most of my writings are small pieces nowadays."

"Maestro." Beethoven returned.

"Yes?"

"We should prepare for the performance. It will be beginning soon."

"Yes. I hope you enjoy, Joseph." Salieri nodded to him, then proceeded backstage to prepare the players as the other members of the audience began coming in.

The performance was remarkable, being conducted by Salieri. Haydn unfortunately passed out during the intermission, and had to be brought back home, but he greatly appreciated the gesture that so many people gave him. He passed away a little over a year later.

1815

Both Schubert and Beethoven had moved on from Salieri's teaching, and so his life was uneventful in his last decade, until he would take on Franz Liszt and Caterina Canzi as students a few years later.

Returning to his study, he sat down, unsure of what to do or work on.

"Why not?"

"Because you're not here to listen to it." Not turning around, he stared at a blank stack of parchment, knowing that Marie was sitting to his left.

"That shouldn't matter. You're going to regret it if you never finish it."

"Everyone's gone now...Gassmann, Gluck, Maria, Joseph, Amadeus, you, Haydn, even Therese. I waited too long to write it."

"Antonio. You've been sitting on this piece for four decades. Isn't it about time you wrote it, once and for all? Not for my sake, but for yours."

He paused, then looked over to where he heard her voice, seeing no one sitting there, then sighing.

Dipping his quill in ink, he began to write out his staves and instrumentation for the piece. He wrote furiously for the next few weeks, creating something that had never been done before. It was, as he said, a set of variations, similar to the previous versions that Corelli and Vivaldi had done, but unlike them, he made full use of the instruments at his disposal, giving the melodies to all of them, the flutes, the clarinets and oboe, the trumpets and trombones, the horns, the high and low strings, and even the harp. Not a single part was considered insignificant.

He petitioned Emperor Francis for a public performance, his final composition that he would personally conduct, to be premiered at the Imperial Chapel, his greatest work yet, inviting the Emperor and his entire family, his remaining daughters, his students, and anyone else, either aristocratic or common, who wished to attend. The Emperor granted his request, but could not promise that he would be there.

The performance arose, and Salieri, having personally gathered the finest musicians handpicked by him, and running all of their rehearsals, was dressed in his finest suit, his black striped suit with red cravat that he initially wore upon entry into Vienna, although he had had it tailored since then so that it would fit an adult.

Before long, scores of people showed up, both high and middle class alike, interested to see what the old composer had come out of retirement for. Even the Imperial Family showed up, able to attend after all. Beethoven, Schubert, and his daughters found that the second row was reserved for them, yet not the first. Beethoven, curious, went to the first row of seats, right in front of the stage, to find them reserved as well.

Reserved for Florian Gassmann. Reserved for Christoph Gluck. Reserved for Maria Theresa. Reserved for Joseph Benedict Adam. Reserved for Joseph Haydn. Reserved for Therese Helfelstorfer. Reserved for Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. And in the middle, Reserved for Maria Antonia Josepha Johanna.

Beethoven, somewhat shocked, looked up to the stage to see if his old teacher was even well enough to be conducting. But the man seemed fine, and smiled somberly at him. His greatest student returned to his seat and readied his hearing horn for when the performance would begin.

As Salieri conducted the performance, the audience became more and more amazed, not just by his own genius and innovation, but because of his intensive yet accurate conducting, to which he threw himself into more than ever before.

The piece, just over 20 minutes, was given a long standing ovation upon completion by the entire audience, impressing even Beethoven and Schubert, who had become master musicians in their own right.

He bowed politely along with the orchestra, smiling at the sign he made for Marie.

"I hope it was to your liking, Maria."

X

Following this, Salieri took a young Franz Liszt and Caterina Canzi on as pupils for a few years, but for the last year and a half of his life, he was committed to medical care for dementia (allegedly). He was aware of the rumors that he had killed Mozart that had been surfacing lately. Many people were in disbelief and trusted him, but many others argued fervently against him. When approached personally about these rumors while still out in the city, he denied each and every one and stated that they were baseless, and that Mozart was, and always would be, a dear friend in his heart.

Salieri passed away on the 7th of May 1825 at 74. His own Requiem Mass in C Minor, which he had written 21 years earlier, was performed in public for the first time, at his funeral.

X

"Marie...I'm so sorry I didn't complete that piece before your death…" Salieri dragged himself across the ground and held her hand, both of them beginning to disappear.

"It's alright, Antonio...now that we're Heroic Spirits, you can play it for me when we go back to the Throne."

"I'd like that…" She also brought herself closer to him, holding his head, and kissing him quickly before she disappeared fully.

"...I'm sorry for what I said…and I might say it again, because of the way the Grail works…" He looked at Mozart with pleading eyes.

"Hold on to the parts of yourself that are human...remember your life…" Mozart coughed out, smiling at him.

"I will...try...my friend…" Salieri disappeared, and Hayashi looked to Mozart, who had begun to as well.

"Florence, heal him before-"

"No, Master...let this happen...I told you when I was summoned that I was not a fighter...I did my best, but I knew it wouldn't be enough...I should be getting back to Maria and Salieri now...it's my time. And you shouldn't have to look after me anymore...you'll gain back some magic power without having to use it for my contract…"

"...Are you sure this is what you really want?"

"Yes...it's for the best...thank you for everything…"

"...This won't be the last time we see each other." Hayashi smiled at him.

"...Yes." He closed his eyes and smiled as well, disappearing and going back to the Throne.

They looked around, watching as Salieri's Reality Marble slowly crumbled, bringing them back to modern Vienna, where people were beginning to stop and point at them because of the odd outfits Hayashi's servants were wearing.

"Does anyone have a thing that'll make us invisible or something? Or that knocks out people?"

"I could hide us in the Land of Shadows."

"No." Hayashi rejected the idea. Suddenly, a fierce cold wind blew through the area, prompting the citizens to keep walking. Hayashi, shivering, looked over to where the palace used to stand, with Anastasia walking towards them, followed by something else, that was much larger than she was.

She tossed her own Reality Marble into the air, and it froze, before shattering, turning the vibrant city into a snowy tundra with a castle in the distance.

The thing next to her seemed to be inanimate, but was some kind of man-beast hybrid, that would tower over all of them were it to be fully standing up. For the time being, it was crouched down and frozen for some reason.

"This is Rider. I'm afraid he's not awake yet. It takes him a while to get out of this stasis. Until that time comes, I will fight you." She breathed out cold mist.

Hayashi cast a spell that gave him a light fire armor around his body so that he could remain warm.

"How sad, that you are given ice as a power to remind you of the cold embrace of death, Imperial Princess."

She remained indifferent, and held her doll closer to her.

"You pity me?"

"No. The Grail chooses who becomes a Servant. In fact, I assume you wouldn't say yes if it was up to you unless your family went along with you. But you became quite the figure after your family's murder."

She tilted her head in question.

"You and your little brother's bodies weren't found until a few decades ago because you were buried separately from the rest of your family. So for the entire time that you were unaccounted for, it became speculated that you escaped and were living under an assumed name, of which some people claimed to be you."

"I see...does Russia...still have a Tsar?"

"No. Your father was the last one. Since then, they've had dictators and now presidents."

"That's good...it was about time that we dissolved the position. Still though, because of my heritage, I am the last Grand Duchess of Russia. And with that, I must use my power to strike you down and bring you back to Angra Mainyu."

Hayashi wasted no time in running up to her and attempting to punch her, but he got knocked away by something heavy instead.

"What was that?" He couldn't see anything, and she hadn't moved her position.

"I am protected, Hayashi Tsukamoto. I will not be harmed by you."

"Master, are you alright?" Scathach asked. "It's not good for a human to be hit by something like that."

"You can see something?"

"Yes. It is a shadowy entity of sorts behind her. I can make out all things that are from Dark Worlds."

"I don't remember Slavic Mythology very well. I can't think of what it would be…"

"A demon of some sort, perhaps? Though it does not appear to have a physical body."

"So you couldn't damage it either?"

"Most likely not."

"Alright then."

'I want you and the others to try and get rid of that Rider while I fight her. Florence, you stay nearby to heal me if need be.' He spoke to them telepathically.

'Yes!' They all responded.

"I'm going to try and do this without having to rely on Verg Avesta." He charged up his fire more, and dashed after her. This time, because of his increase in speed, she jumped back, and brought her hand up to her mouth, beginning to blow out a frost breath. Hayashi swiped his hand, casting a fire spell in the same shape that melted her attack. She did not prepare to do anything else as when he approached her again, he simply got knocked towards the ground by whatever thing was on her side.

Hayashi recovered this time, slamming his hand onto the ground and flipping back up as Anastasia landed again across from him. Hayashi glanced back at the others, noticing that they were trying to attack the other servant, but not having too much success.

'Master, his skin is really hard. We can't scratch him!' Nero communicated.

'Keep trying.' He looked back to Anastasia, who didn't seem concerned, even though she was aware of what their plan was.

"You know Ana, it's strange to find a young girl like you on the side of someone who wants to reset the world through force. Why are you with Angra?"

Her face softened a bit when she heard him call her by a nickname, showing that her emotions were not completely shut off.

"He is my Master. He summoned me, and so I must listen to him."

"Is that how you see this? That's pretty naive, I must say. Servants don't have to listen to their Masters, you know. He must have told you something about me."

"Yes, I know all that happened to you."

"And that he completely betrayed me, even though I should have been in charge of him, by your logic. So you're lying. You support his plan clearly, but why? I'd figure that you would want to protect this world from Magic so that no one could do what once happened to you and your country."

"Sound reasoning, but you weren't quite in my position, were you? You ended your family's lives by your hand, controlled by him. My family was ruling the largest country in the world, but were driven out, not from my decisions, but from my father's. After everything that happened to my family, why wouldn't I support magic in the world. I believe that it would prevent disasters like that from happening again."

"Would it? Or would it just happen again, but on a larger scale?" Her eyes widened, and he took her moment of hesitation as his one opening. He activated his powers and dashed in front of her, throwing a punch not at her, but just above her. Of course, he didn't feel anything connect, but then snapped his fingers so that a blast of fire shot up from her feet and consumed both of them.

"Viy!" She cried out, trying to freeze it, which only melted her ice. Something swatted at the flames so that they went out, but by that point, Anastasia's body had minor burns and most of her heavy clothes had been discarded or burnt, leaving her relatively undefended in a short dress.

"Are you sure you won't freeze like that? If you get cold, I can warm you right back up you know." He smirked, summoning a small flame in his hand.

She blushed for just a moment, but shook it off just as quickly, and began using her feet as a medium for her ice, skating towards Hayashi, then around him, some of the ice creating spikes that tried to pierce him, though he dodged them by jumping back.

"Viy!" Anastasia's familiar grew in size and was now visible to everyone, its pink glowing eyes changing to a light blue, It reached out both of its arms, preparing to enclose Hayashi within its grasp. He waited until the last minute to make it look like he would be captured.

"Murderous Intent." His power surged and he instantly appeared in front of Ana, uppercutting her, then kicking her away towards the others.

"Guh…!" She spat out blood, unable to move from the force of his attack.

'Scathach. Finish her.' Hayashi communicated.

She locked her eyesight onto the flying Anastasia, then leapt over and stabbed her into the ground with Gae Bolg, making Viy disappear, and her begin to disappear. Hayashi stumbled over, his skill worn off and exhausting him.

"I'm sorry for this. I wish I could have had you as a servant as well. I would have liked to get to know you better."

"Perhaps...I would have enjoyed that...you seem like a good Master…" She smiled at him before completely disappearing.

"NNGGGRRRRGH…." Everyone was startled by the deep voice suddenly growling, looking over to the defeated Caster Servant.

"Anastasia...you killed her…my descendant…" Slowly standing up, he stood above all of them, nearly 20 feet tall (that's actually how huge he is). His bluish gray skin seemed to be a mix of rock and crystal, and his feet were actually rocks of some kind, with a rectangle shape. He wore nothing but a long blue waistcloth with a gold emblem on it, as well as a long blue cape, plus some bracelets and a Russian crown. In the middle of his chest was a crack that was glowing with blue energy, lighting his body up, and he had large mammoth tusks coming out of his shoulders and past his face. His face was also inhuman, seeming more like a creature's, and he wielded a large curving staff.

"I hate my life." Hayashi sighed, stepping back and looking up at the monster.

"You are...Hayashi Tsukamoto, I take it?" He looked down on him and spoke slowly and on edge.

"Yeah. And you are?"

"Ivan."

"You're going to have to be more specific. Russia's had more than one Ivan."

"Ivan IV Vasilyevich."

"The Terrible."

Ivan growled again, channeling electricity into his staff and shooting a blast of it at Hayashi. He dodged it and the two remained at a standstill again, though the other servants prepared to attack.

"Do not call me that."

"But that's what everybody calls you. Even your own country."

"I see. So they condemn me for my actions, despite absolving myself every day?"

"Absolving your actions doesn't mean you're forgiven. It's time for you to die again. It's a wonder you were made a Servant in the first place." His eyes sparked up with his powers.

'Problem is, his skin is too tough to break through. Even with Gae Bolg.' He glanced at Scathach.

"Tell me, why do you look like that? Weren't you a regular human?"

"Not this version of me. I fused with a Divine Beast, a mammoth."

"Hmph." He lifted up his hand, using one of his command spells, Scathach feeling herself forced to use her Noble Phantasm.

"Gae Bolg Alternative!" She dashed towards him and prepared to stick her spear right into his chest, the only place on him that looked like a weak point.

"I see right through you." He gathered lightning into his staff again and tried to grab her with his other hand.

'Nero. Altera.'

"Yes!" They both went behind him and sliced their swords along their back, Nero's fire and Altera's rainbow light able to stop him, though they didn't leave any marks.

"Ggrgh...bastards…" he groaned, stopping his attack and reaching behind to knock them away. Though Scathach took that opportunity to stab him with Gae Bolg, noticeably causing him discomfort, and dealing massive damage. Despite that, he still had enough strength to grab Scathach by her head and channel lightning through his arm, electrocuting her and making her cry out.

"Leave her alone! Verg Avesta!"

"Master, no!" Florence started running at him. As he impaled himself, Ivan dropped her and fell over, losing stamina.

Hayashi's wound healed, and he dashed over and caught Scathach, retreating with her.

"Florence, heal her."

"Yes, Master. You as well."

"Yeah…" She did so, and Ivan slowly got up again, the others backing up.

"Zveri- Krestnyy Khod!"

Ivan suddenly grew, unleashing his full power and true form: a massive mammoth with three glaciers on its back for humps even though mammoths don't have humps, chains wrapped around its body and blue sashes hanging from them, and a large blade powered by lightning at the end of the tusk. Ivan came out of the head partially, his voice now merged with the mammoth to make it boom.

"Can you defeat me now?"

"...Maybe." Hayashi mumbled. "Gate of Skye?" He looked down at Scathach for approval.

"Master. Look at the size of that thing. My gates are not big enough to drag a mammoth through them." She stared at him in disbelief.

"Alright then. Plan B. All Noble Phantasms at once."

"Try dodging this!" Ivan yelled out, as his trunk lifted up, and the point of the trunk blade started charging up an orb of electricity, then firing it towards them as a beam, with black, purple, and blue lightning crashing onto the ground.

"Dodge it!" They all kept their distance, avoiding the blast, though with some close calls because of how he could control the direction of the attack.

"Now!" He yelled out.

"Lauda Lentum Domus Illustrius!" Nero's improved Golden Theatre manifested, and all of her purple beams shot out and bombarded Ivan, forcing the mammoth to take a few steps back.

"Teardrop Photon Ray!" Altera's beam consumed him, causing it to stumble around.

"Three Thousand Worlds!" Nobu's rifles knocked the mammoth over.

"Mechanical Illusionary Art- Bull Swallowing!" Kato used her cyclone to send it flying up into the air.

"Nioh Kurikara, Shotenshou! Ishana Daitenshou!" Musashi's oni summon knocked it around with its sword slashes.

"Nightingale Pledge!" Nightingale's nurse summon negated Ivan's mammoth, turning him back into his regular form.

"Gae Bolg Alternative!" Scathach launched Gae Bolg into the sky, piercing Ivan's chest again and going right through him.

He dispersed into particles as he fell, being completely gone just before he was about to hit the ground.

"Are you alright now Master?" Jeanne asked.

"Yes." The Reality Marble disappeared around them. "Oh, thank god. It's not cold anymore. Let's hurry up and get to the Einzbern castle so I can use their baths."

"You're...pretty carefree after fighting a Russian Tsar, aren't you, Master?" Musashi asked.

"That's what I like about him." Nobu smiled.

They began to head back to their car in Vienna.

X

Despite the distance to Fuyuki from Vienna, they had no choice to drive, since commercial airlines wasn't an option. They put the car onto a ferry to cross the sea to Japan. It took the better part of a week, but at long last, Hayashi came upon the driveway and gates to the castle. Parking the car, they stepped out and stretched, before walking up to the front doors and pushing them open.

"It's fixed…" He mumbled, looking around.

"Fixed? What do you mean?" Florence asked.

"This place hasn't been used as a home in three years, and that time was when Gilgamesh invaded and killed Hercules and Illya. So who fixed it up?"

"Does it matter? They don't seem to be here right now, so let's just enjoy that they did that for us." Altera pointed out.

"Then let's find our way around. You guys can take whatever bedrooms you want." Hayashi went to the master bedroom and put his things away, then headed to where the baths were, filling the largest one up.

X

"London…?" Hayashi asked himself, looking around to find himself back on the familiar streets of his home city.

"Master, watch out!" He looked over to his left where Jeanne called out to him, and suddenly he was hit by a taxi, blacking out, like before.

When he woke up, he was in his bed. This time, no one slept next to him. He got up and went downstairs, finding all of his servants carrying out their normal activities. Nobu and Kato watching TV, Florence cooking and Nero bugging her, Mozart playing piano, Altera and Scathach sitting outside to enjoy the breeze, and Jeanne and Musashi supervising everything with smiles on their faces.

"What's going on? What are you guys all doing here? Shouldn't we be in Fuyuki?"

No answer.

"Guys?"

Again, no answer. Not even a reaction. The room suddenly turned black and white, yet Hayashi remained in color.

"This is a dream."

"Yes, it is." Angra's voice. But when Hayashi turned around, no one was there. And when he looked back again, his house was gone, and so were the servants. Instead, he was now in Vienna.

"Master…" As he heard a thud, he turned around to see Mozart dead. Coming out from the streets were a few Enforcers, there to capture Hayashi.

"You were seen by regular people with no disguises. That will be another mark on your record."

Hayashi shot both of them in the head with his gun, making them fall over, as Zelretch came out from behind them.

"Why disobey us?"

"'Disobey?' I'm not someone to be at your beck and call. I may be a part of the Association, but that does not mean that I have to listen to you blindly!"

"As a matter of fact, it does indeed. If you do not, then we will kill you here and now. And your powers will be ours for the taking."

Hayashi activated his powers and dashed towards Zelretch, who used Kaleidoscope to disappear, then reappear behind him and restrain him.

"Damn you…" Hayashi turned, but when he did, Zelretch was no longer standing there. Instead, Angra was.

"Why continue to fight, Hayashi? Don't you see the fruitlessness of it all?"

"What I see is another dictator who decides that he knows what's best for the world."

"I am no dictator. I am a regular human, just like you. But I am an instrument of change for this world. Imagine how much faster we could progress if magic was implemented into everyday society."

"I do not want to live in such a world."

"You don't get it, do you?" He began walking towards him, and the city became consumed further and further into flames the closer he got. He eventually stood back to back with Hayashi, with him looking into a clean and industrious world, while Hayashi stared into the world that looked like a burning hell.

"A world that is independent. No country needs to rely on others in order to advance." Hijikata spoke this time, now standing where Angra was.

"A world fueled by warfare. Every country fighting against each other to prove who is the strongest, and to steal other knowledge and power for themselves." Hayashi answered.

"A world that is just. Where criminals are held responsible for their actions, and crime no longer exists." Edmond told him.

"A world ruled by fear. Where people live in fear of being accused and executed like a criminal."

"A world that is peaceful. Where magic can be used to defend nations from outside attacks." Solomon now stood there.

"A world that is corrupt. Where scholars will look down on others for possessing inferior knowledge."

"A world that is powerful. Where a nation's strength will be held above all else, and their force will be uncompromised." Ramesses grinned.

"A world that is prideful. That becomes arrogant because of their strength and is destined to collapse beneath its own weight."

Angra once again stood behind him, the entire world now becoming the positive blue sky world he foresaw.

"A world that is evolved. That no longer repeats its never-ending cycles of war and false peace and corruption."

"A world that is broken." Hayashi turned the world back into a burning mess. "That will destroy itself."

"Master."

He opened his eyes and saw Scathach standing above him, wearing nothing but a towel, and holding a few extras.

"What is it?"

"May I join you?"

"Of course." He sighed, catching his breath. She handed him a towel and he propped it up behind his head, using it as a pillow. She, in turn, put the others down to the side for when they got out, and shed her own, folding it up and putting it with the rest before preparing to enter.

For the first time, Hayashi got a good look at her body, and it was absolutely something else, the best among the best, even by today's standards. Her breasts were incredibly large, about the same size as Nightingale's and Jeanne's, maybe even a bit bigger. Her ass was shapely and round, even bigger than Altera's, her accompanying thick thighs inviting him further. She was completely shaved down above her nethers, a bit surprising for an ancient celtic warrior to bother with, but he didn't mind. Her long purple hair swayed slightly from side to side when she stepped down, covering her broad shoulders and back for just an instant.

Along with this, part of what made her even sexier was the fact that she was an experienced lover. Nero, during her lifetime, had many wives and husbands, but was ultimately not in love with any of them. Altera simply raped those that she invaded. Jeanne was a virgin. Nightingale was chaste. Nobu had many children, but simply to continue the line of succession. Kato could not consummate. Musashi was chaste. But Scathach had laid with Cu Chulainn a few times, as well as had a daughter who he also fell in love with. Not only was she blessed with an hourglass figure, but she was toned as well due to her constant training and absurd strength.

"Do you find me attractive, Master?" she asked inquisitively. She did not bother to cover herself up, not embarrassed like Jeanne was.

"But of course. I've told you that a few times now."

"I enjoy hearing it each time." she giggled cutely.

"When people think of Celtic or Nordic women, they often think of disheveled and bloodthirsty warriors or simple housewives, nothing in between. I bet that if you revealed yourself to a Celtic Historian, they would be surprised to see that you took such care in your beauty and appearance."

"I grew into this appearance naturally, but with having so much free time on my hands in Dun Scaith, I suppose I passed the time by keeping my appearance up. It certainly paid off when others visited, as infrequently as that was."

"Cu?"

"Indeed. I'm sure he would give anything to bed me again."

"And what does it take to bed you? Do you have a specific demand?"

"My, my, Master~ Are you interested in me as well?"

"And what if I am?" He grinned, in a low voice. Scathach purred and swam over to him, placing herself upon his lap.

"Well then, my price...I'd say you've already satisfied it. What I look for in a man, huh…?" She leaned in and wrapped her arms around him, breathing into his neck and beginning to plant kisses on him, making him shiver.

"The first thing I need is strength. I'm a warrior before anything else, like you said. So they have to be strong. And you are."

"And next?" He put his arm around her and his hand on her butt.

"Intelligence. They shouldn't be an idiot. That's why I never did Fergus." She sighed, running her hand down his chest slowly as she nibbled his ear.

"...Is Cu really that smart? I thought he was just a big musclehead."

"If they're not smart, they can always sway me if they look good enough." She chuckled, kissing Hayashi on the lips now.

"A Celt, through and through. I wonder if Brynhildr thought the same way."

"About Sigurd? If I remember the legend correctly, he is supposed to be a warrior equal in power to King Arthur. She must have been attracted to him for at least that much."

"So did you lay with Cu because he made you hot?"

"I suppose. I would also consider Diarmuid, but he would never want to."

"So, Strength, Intelligence, Good Looks, anything else?"

"Philosophy. I suppose this is part of intelligence, but someone who understands how the world actually works and how they should view it. You and I share the same philosophy, that the world is not yet ready for magecraft." She kissed him again and pressed her breasts against him, Hayashi kissing her cheeks.

"...Independence. Justice. Trust. Power. Evolution. Those are the reasons they're fighting this war."

"How did you come to that conclusion?"

"...I had another vision, before you came in. A link with Angra. He can contact me through dreams, somehow."

"Hmm...interesting. Can you contact him the same way?"

"No. But I can communicate with him when these dreams occur. I told them that their ideal world will be nothing but a dystopia, filled with warfare, fear, corruption, and arrogance."

"I agree. You must continue to disregard his ideas, Master. Hold fast to your convictions, and you'll be rewarded." She moved back slightly, and grabbed his manhood with one of her hands, beginning to jerk him off, her fingernails wrapped around it and slightly grazing it as she pumped.

"Rewarded, huh…? I see what you're getting at." He took his hand off her butt and slapped it, making her moan, then putting both of his hands against her breasts and beginning to fondle them.

"Jesus, you're like Florence, I can't even hold all of your boobs in my hand at a time."

"Yes, they are rather big, aren't they?" she played along.

"God damn woman…" he groaned as she picked up speed, taking her hand off, and shoving his dick between her massive boobs.

"It's been too long since I last had sex. I'm a little out of practice." She admitted.

"This is you out of practice?" She giggled, as he finished, shooting onto both her face and her boobs.

"My, Master. A little much, don't you think? We're not even done yet." She bent down and licked what was off of her chest, then used her finger to wipe off the trails on her face and then suck them clean as well.

"Hmm...Sweet." She stated, letting out a small burp.

"Sweet?"

"Indeed. How peculiar. Perhaps you're beginning to be like your old self."

"I'm not so sure about that."

"You're certainly different from when I met you. I'm sure the others would say the same." She let out another louder burp from the aftertaste of his semen then got on top of him, putting her lady parts onto his rod. As they began round two, and Scathach started bouncing up and down, Hayashi getting harder by feeling her ass hit his legs every time, he stared into her reddish purple eyes and slowly lost his smile, staring into her soul.

"What is it?"

"What do you want...now that you're in the Throne of Heroes?" She tilted her head in confusion.

"Your whole life...you wanted nothing but to die, right? After becoming immortal."

"Yeah...that's right…"

"But now you are...you're a spirit. So do you want anything anymore?"

"Hmm...I suppose it's to stop Angra from achieving his goal."

"Yes, but that's only for this time. You'll be summoned again eventually."

"Then I don't know. I guess not. My life was several lifetimes for regular people. It wasn't that fulfilling since I was stuck in one place all the time, but I'd rather live on the Throne at this point."

"So it's from a summoned to summoned basis. Have you ever been summoned before?"

"Not once. No one was ever strong enough or compatible enough. Even this time, I was only summoned by the Grail itself because of Angra."

"Yes, but I forged a contract with you. And it's not as if I'm worn out just by having you under my control."

"You are a special case. I don't believe there's any Master stronger out there, nor will there be ever again. Because of your abilities, you're able to keep contracts with eight powerful servants at once, and still be able to fight on the level of a servant yourself, without getting too exhausted. Your stamina is breathtaking." She kissed him again, and finished bouncing, crying out as they both climaxed on each other.

"Master, are there showers here? It's admittedly a little gross to bathe in our own bodily fluids." She said, with a slight blush.

"Yeah. They're in the other room." The two drained the tub and took their towels into the next room, where multiple luxurious glass walk in showers with sliding doors were.

"This place is even fancier than my own castle…" Scathach mumbled.

"This isn't even their home castle. It's supposed to be a base for Einzbern Masters during the Holy Grail War, like Iri and Ilya. The real thing's in Germany somewhere." Hayashi turned one of the showers on, and they both got in, cleansing their bodies of any leftover fluids. Drying off, the two got changed, Scathach putting on a pair of purple underwear and a long, fluffy pink sweater, and Hayashi putting on shorts and a t shirt.

Stepping out into the main foyer, the other servants waited for them, also wearing casual outfits. They stood in silence for a few seconds, staring at each other.

"Dinner?" Hayashi suggested.

"I'll help!" Jeanne called out.

"UMU!" Nero and Nobu cheered.

They all went into the kitchen, searching through the fridge and pantry, settling on steak and sauteed mushrooms with spices.

Seating themselves at the dining table, they all ate happily and discussed their adventures so far. Hayashi smiled, glad that he chose to leave the Association and walk his own path. He was doing just fine.

X

Scathach yawned, flipping through the TV channels in the master bedroom, Hayashi sitting at a desk, writing another entry in his notebook.

"There's nothing on, Hayashi. Come to bed so I have something to do." She teased, taking off her underwear.

"Twice in one day?" He asked, still writing.

"I'm a Scottish Warrior Queen. You should have expected this as soon as you chose to make love to me."

He sighed, finishing his entry and closing his notebook, re-sealing it with magic before going over to the bed and sitting down next to her. She began to kiss his neck, until there was a knock on the door.

"Master?" Musashi's voice.

"What is it?"

"There's a girl here who says she wants to speak with you."

"Did she say her name?"

"No. She has long purple hair, and looks to be a young adult."

"That's Sakura. Let her in."

"Yes."

"I guess we have to cut this short." Hayashi kissed Scathach and got up, heading downstairs to the main foyer, followed by her.

Sakura walked in, her hair a little disheveled, looking up at him.

"What are you doing here?"

"Rin told me that you'd be here. And to go to you if I ever need help."

"How did she know? Master, you don't think she'll tell anyone, will she?" Scathach asked.

"No, we don't have to worry about her. So she knew I would come here...she must be the one who did the renovations."

"Yes."

"She said to seek me out if you need help? What do you need help with?"

"You mean, you don't know?"

"About what?"

"All of Japan's in an uproar. The leaders of the Yakuza have been slaughtered."

"What?!" He ran back into the bedroom, followed by Scathach and Sakura, turning the TV on, and changing to the news.

"This just in, the captors of the old Imperial Palace in Kyoto have revealed themselves to the public! They took command of it a few days ago, chasing out any tourists and guides and killing those who stood up to them!"

"That's…!" Hayashi gritted his teeth, recognizing one of the men from his visions.

"Hijikata…" Scathach mumbled.

"My name is Hijikata! Hijikata Toshizou! If you're looking for the one who killed the Yakuza, then you've found him. Starting today, Japan is under the control of myself and my associates here."

Eighteen other servants came out and lined up on the sides of him.

"Hayashi Tsukamoto. That is the name of the man who I invite to try and stop me. He is from London, but I imagine he is rather close by right now. I know you can hear me. And you will have to seek me out anyway, because I am the Master Berserker. Your family is from Japan, no? Face me and my New Shinsengumi if you dare, but you will fail no matter what. Also, don't try anything funny. No sneak attacks, no assistance of any kind from others, because if you do…" He nodded to his underlings, who went back inside and brought ten people out, bound and gagged, with bags over their heads. They all removed the bags.

"The Imperial Family?!" Hayashi yelled, Sakura gasping.

"Don't do things my way, and they all get it. The Emperor, the Empress, the Princes, the Princesses, even the little one." Hijikata unsheathed his sword and placed it against Akihito's neck.

"I'll be waiting."

"Damn him…" Hayashi growled. "Get ready. We leave for Kyoto tomorrow morning. No stops in between."

End.