"What just happened?" Shinji asked his voice cracking as the once brown sandy dirt had transformed beneath his feet. More than just the ground. The air felt thick and suddenly his arms and legs felt heavier.
"Nothing good." Rin replied. "I doubt this is one of yours?"
Kariya spoke, "No. I'm familiar with all the Blue faction's noble phantasms."
"Must be one of mine." Rin sighed turning to her servant who was already surveying the battlefield. "Talk to me, Archer."
Archer of White turned back to the group. "I believe it to be the work of Berserker of White."
"Saber. Go intercept Berserker." Kariya ordered.
"Yes, Lord Matou." Saber nodded and leapt off the hill.
"I will remain and protect my master." Lancer of Blue replied gazing at Sakura
"I will provide fire support." Archer of White added. "Master. Perhaps you should relocate this area is toxic. I can resist it for a while but I don't feel right."
"I know." Rin responded. "You're physical stats have all gone down a rank."
"What!?" gasped Ricard.
"It must be the effect of this Noble Phantasm." Archer of White said notching an arrow. "I should be fine without. As I was saying, Rin-"
"We don't know how far the effect of this Noble Phantasm is. There's no point in endangering myself trying to run away. So instead, I'm going to endanger myself trying to kill Berserker's master."
"Are you insane!?" Archer of White exclaimed.
"That's what Shirou says. Don't make me use a command spell." Rin replied haughtily. "Come on, seaweed hair!"
"My name is Shinji!" cried the young Matou boy as he chased after Rin down the hill. Archer watched in annoyed silence.
Lancelot skidded to a stop. Standing in front of him was Saber of White.
"Out of my way." Saber of Blue commanded. "You're no match for me."
"I don't see why that matters." Sir Kay retorted. "Now are we just going to talk? I thought you were a knight?"
"Always quick to jest and jeer." Saber of Blue said.
Saber of White. "I'm told that's what I'm known for." he leveled his sword ready to fight. The two knights as they stepped forward the tips of their blades centimeters away from the other's. They both lifted their swords up in front of their faces.
"For the King." Sir Kay spat.
"And the Queen." Sir Lancelot retorted coldly.
"Bastard." Sir Kay snarled. "Die."
Sir Kay charged forward his sword slamming into Arondight. Lancelot pushed him back and parried the next attack easily. Sir Kay's arms swelled and he struck a blow against Saber of Blue sending him stumbling back.
"By using my Noble Phantasm I can make myself just as strong as you." Sir Kay boasted. "Your sword's stat enhancement doesn't scare me."
"Perhaps your ignorance gives you an advantage in this instance." Sir Lancelot scoffed.
"Shut the hell up!" Saber of White replied his sword slamming into his opponent's. Their blades now locked they grimace and grunt at one another like wild dogs trying to kill their rival.
"Arraaggh!" a metallic scream of agony and rage. Lancelot and Kay turn just in time to be blown back by a white magical energy. Kay stood first seeing Berserker of White standing there holding a gleaming golden white spear pulsating with power.
"About time some backup arrived." Saber of White muttered. "Wait...wha-?"
Berserker charged forward golden energy crackling around the spear tip. He slammed it home into Sir Kay's left shoulder. He cried out in pain before kicking Berserker away with a giant kick. Saber of Blue rose to his feet now holy sword prepared.
"What's with him?" Saber of White sputtered. "Damn it. Call off your dog, Master of Berserker!"
"Rrrrghh." Berserker hesitated for a moment. "...K...ayy…"
"You know him?" Lancelot asked.
"Hell if I know." Saber of White uttered. "I don't know many people who can curse the very ground with a holy spear…" he trailed off. "Shit."
Berserker charged towards Sir Lancelot but Sir Kay lept in blocking the blow and looking Berserker of White in the eye despite the former's helmet. "Sir Balin. Your name is Sir Balin."
"Rrrrrrragharrr!" Berserker began to tremble with fury.
"Sir Balin." Saber of Blue murmured. "You mean the same knight that cursed part of Britain with the dolorous stroke!?"
"The same." Sir Kay confirmed. "He was a knight from another country but his history is forever entwined in our myth."
"I never met him." Sir Lancelot stated. "I joined the round table after he died."
"After he killed his-" Sir Kay was cut off by white energy sending him flying as Berserker of White howled.
Saber of Blue leapt back away from Berserker where Kay had landed. "Don't mention that you dullard!"
"Ugh." Sir Kay replied.
"We can't have a proper duel while this disgrace to knighthood lives." Saber of Blue stated. "Let us defeat him together."
"Really? You're kidding me." Sir Kay chuckled.
"The Scheneshal of Camelot can surely defeat him." Lancelot said
"With some help from the Knight of the Lake." Kay retorted.
"It's really dark in here." Shini complained.
"Sssh!" Rin squeaked.
The two teenagers crept deeper into the cave. Suddenly, Rin yelped in pain and held her head with her hands. A earthquake went off inside her brain, like a million needles piercing her grey matter.
"Rin!" Shinji exclaimed, standing next to her holding her for support. "What's wrong?"
"My mind…" Rin managed to gasp before passing out. Shinji held her in his arms before he heard deep throated chuckling. He laid Rin down gently and faced the laughter. Coming out of the cave was Taliesin Cordaunahart.
"Hello…" he mumbled almost inaudibly.
"Who are you? What did you do to her?" Shinji questioned.
"I didn't…" Taliesin began, before his face twisted with pain. "I made that bitch suffer." he smirked. "Now I'm going to kill you...yes. That's a good plan."
"You're insane." Shinji stated.
"Who gives a shit." Taliesin said drawing a ceremonial dagger from his pocket and charging forward. He stabbed Shinji in the stomach. Shinji could feel looming figure of Berserker's master's hot breath on his forehead as he twisted the knife left then right. Blood splattered to the cave floor.
This wasn't supposed to happen.
Sir Kay gripped the spear embedded within his stomach not letting it leave or go any further. He heard Berserker's laboured panting within his helmet. Saber of Blue came up behind Berserker of White and slashed at the mad hero. Swiftly Berserker flipped around his plain white shield materializing in his hand defending against Saber's attack.
"Damn it." Saber of Blue muttered jumping to the side to slash against Berserker's undefended backside. Berserker wrenched his holy spear out of Kay and swung it over head down on Saber of Blue. The crackling gold blade slid down Lancelot's cheek, tearing layers of skin off before finding purchase in his shoulder.
Kay's sword slashed deep into Berserker's leg causing the mad warrior to stumble and almost fall to his knees. Screaming from within the helmet echoing out the mad knight makes his fury known. Pulling the spear from Lancelot, Berserker of White slams the spear into ground blowing Saber of Blue and White backwards.
"That spear…" Sir Kay coughed getting to his feet uneasily. He was bleeding all over staining his white armor crimson.
"It's an issue." Saber of Blue nodded grimly at Berserker as the insane spearman turned to each one, seemingly unsure which to skewer first. Suddenly, it bolted towards Kay stabbing him in the shoulder. Sir Kay is pushed back along with Berserker before grinding his feet into the dirt forcing Berserker to stop.
Saber of Blue ran up behind Berserker and cleaved downwards on Berserker's back spraying blood across the black dirt. Berserker howled in pain. Kicking and elbowing at the knight behind him. Berserker twisted the spear inside of Kay's shoulder eliciting a gasp of pain from Saber of White and a steady growl of annoyance.
"Get off me!" Kay shouted. "You're no knight!"
Berserker snarled at Saber of White and pulled his divine spear from the servant's chest and swung it around in wide arc forcing both of the knights to leap back. Sir Kay held his sword ready but didn't charge in. His armor was coated in blood and his breathing was nothing but short gasps.
"Saber, leave the battlefield and come to me." whispered the voice of Saber of White's master. He grimaced at the order compelling him to leave swiftly.
"I-I can't…" Kay grunted gazing at Lancelot as he pushed back against Berserker of White's onslaught. "I won't run away like a coward!" spurred by his own words and spark of defiance natural to all humans Kay charged forward screaming from pain more than any battle cry. His cursed sword slammed into Balin's shoulder and glowed with demonic fervor.
"You should leave, Kay." Sir Lancelot said.
"No way in hell." the Seneschal of Camelot retorted. "A knight doesn't flee."
"I guess we're all failure knights trying to do better." Lancelot mused.
"Yeah." Kay smirked as Berserker swung it's spear at the knights. "For King Arthur! Nameless sword of Cai!"
Saber of White swung forward slashing a deep ravine like gash in Berserker's chest. As he attacked however, Berserker's lance lunged forward impaling Kay again. Lancelot ran over his own sword glowing with magical energy and he swung to behead Berserker only for the mad warrior to leap away.
"He's still alive!?" Kay exclaimed as he fell to his knees his body a broken human fountain of blood. Saber of Blue caught his fellow knight.
"He seems to be on the defensive." Saber of Blue noted as he watched Berserker's violent shuddering. "Or at least he's weary of us."
"Think you can beat him?" Kay gasped.
"I can't activate my Noble Phantasm without using up my remaining mana." Lancelot muttered.
"O-okay." Kay nodded slowly. "Then you'd better leave."
"What?" Lancelot asked incredulously staring at the knight. He saw Kay panting on the ground. His skin pale and sheened with sweat.
"I'll hold him off. Go save your Master." Saber of White said.
"Kay…" Lancelot breathed. Steeling himself he turned to leave. "You were always Arthur's favorite."
"Don't get all mushy. I'd prefer to preserve the invincible image of the Knight of the Lake."
"So long, Kay." Lancelot murmured and he turned and sped off. As he left, Berserker of White began to walk after him.
"Hey, Balin!" Kay shouted towards the insanity servant as he hobbled towards him. "If you want a fight, fight me."
Berserker stopped and turned. "Ka...y…" he growled.
"That's right…" Kay wheezed. "You're nothing but a tragic sob story. No tales of chivalry or honor. So you got a magic sword and killed an evil knight? Well, you also killed the Lady of the Lake and cursed the land with that spear." Kay raised his nameless sword at the shivering servant "You're not a knight. You're not a hero. You're a scourge, a stain on the good name of King Arthur".
At this, Berserker emitted a primal screeching sound, like grinding metal. Berserker charged forward and skewered Kay but not before his own sword came down upon Berserker of White. The armored servants fell to the ground together. Kay rolled over onto his back to stare at the stars.
"Why...did I?" Berserker grumbled almost incoherently. Then he whispered aloud and clear as day. "Balyn...did I fight well…?"
"You sure did." Kay replied.
"...good…" Balin grumbled as he disappeared in a flurry of magic particles. Kay leaned back and stared at his bloodstained glove.
I order you with a command spell, Saber. Return to me.
"No fair!" the green eyed girl whined. "I want to play again!"
"You sure are competitive." Kay groaned "I've already beat you five times. Aren't a little worn out?"
Kay's foster sister put her hands on her hips and pouted. "No way. I'm gonna be a knight one day, just like you."
"Right." Kay rolled his eyes. "You're gonna be a knight? You know only men can be knights."
Artoria's emerald eyes began to well up with tears. "...You're so mean, Kay. You're the worst brother ever! You'll never be a good knight!" and she turned and ran away into the woods.
"Wait-!" Kay called out but she was gone. "She sure is stupid."
Kay turned and saw his father Sir Ector walking over. "Should I assume this your fault?"
"I didn't do anything wrong." Kay murmured. "All I did was tell her the truth."
"Perhaps." Ector agreed. "Then again who can say what the future holds? Except maybe...nevermind. What I mean to say is: your sister has always been one to defy the ordinary. She could grow to become the greatest of knights."
Kay snorted. "If that ever happens, I'd strive to be her greatest ally."
"Go tell her that." Ector said.
Kay nodded and ran into the woods. Scouring the familiar trees he found Artoria her back against a tree her head buried in her knees. He took a few steps close to her.
"Hey…" he mumbled.
"I'm sorry." Artoria whimpered. "I didn't mean it. You'll be a great knight. I know it. I just wish I could too."
Kay sat down against a nearby log. "Yeah. It'd be fun if we were both knights together."
Artoria sniffed and held her head up. "Really?"
"Yeah." Kay said scratching the back of his head. "We could fight dragons and slay goblins like in the stories. Listen, Artoria…if you become a knight then I promise to help you always and never leave your side."
"Alright." Artoria said. "If we both become knights then I promise to always help you too!"
"It's an oath." Kay stated. "Can we go home now? The hounds could use some exercise so we could rough em' up a little.
"Cavall will cream you." Artoria replied resolutely.
Kay stood. "Race you there." and he took off running.
"Hey! No fair!"Artoria shouted after him. "KAAAYYY!"
Taliesin held his head in his hands. He screamed. His head was pounding. Why did it hurt? Why did it hurt so much!? His father had always said the pain was worth it…
"Shinji!"
Taliesin looked up as his command seals faded from his hand. Saber of Blue stood in the entrance way his sword drawn. "Oh, hello." he mumbled looking down at the blue haired boy at his feet. "Is this yours? I'm sorry. I got carried aw-ach!"
Taliesin couldn't continue. In the blink of an eye, Saber had run him through with his sword. The former master of Berserker looked up into the dark purple eyes of Saber and saw only fury. He gasped. Then blood poured from his mouth as Saber pulled him from his sword and let his body fall to the ground without ceremony.
Saber turned and forgot about his rage against the magus and knelt beside Shinji. His wounds were fatal. The knight Lancelot had seen many people die by his hand and other's. With quivering hands he lifted the boy up in his arms and exited the cramped cave.
Saber. Where is Shinji? Kariya's mental question pierced the silence.
"Dying." Saber choked aloud.
...No. What of Rin?
Saber turned back and saw the Tohsaka magus unconscious on the ground. Physically she was fine.
Alive but unconscious. Saber thought back.
Saber. You have served me well. Kariya telepathically stated. However, I order you with a command spell bond your soul with Shinji Matou.
"Master?" Saber exclaimed feeling the command course through him. "Yes...thank you, Master."
Archer of White took bounding leaps towards his master and as he did he surveyed the battle. Neither side seemed to be losing, despite the death of the White faction's Berserker. Currently, Archer of Blue was shattering skeletons, Lancer of White and Berserker of Blue were duking it out and, Saber of White was no longer anywhere to be seen.
He landed at the cave mouth and he saw Saber of Blue lying on the ground. Except...it wasn't quite Saber at all. His armor was the same yet he was noticeably shorter and was his hair always that seaweedy?
Forgetting this, Archer of White stepped over to where Rin was leaning against the cave wall. "Master, Are you harmed?
"I'm fine...Archer…" Rin panted.
"Well, what happened?" Archer questioned.
"Some kind of...mental attack." Rin mumbled. "My head still...hurts…"
Archer caught the stumbling Rin holding her on her feet delicately. Then the armored Saber sat up rubbing his head and groaning.
"...Did I get stabbed." He looks down at this torso. "Why am I wearing armor?"
"Saber?" Rin sputtered still woozy.
"That isn't Saber." Archer breathed. "Not exactly."
"I'm not…" the blue haired knight began. "I'm Shinji."
Author's notes
HEY! I'm back. I'll try to post the next chapter sooner but given how school and reality snuck up on me and just jumped me I can't promise anything. I posted this chapter some months ago but I was sleepy and didn't see how bad it was til the morning. I've fixed up, so just disregard the original draft if you even you read it.
Berserker of White - Sir Balin
Parameters
Strength: B. Endurance: B. Agility: C.
Mana: D. Luck: C. Noble Phantasm: B.
Skills
Madness Enhancement: C.
Dolorous Trespass: A.
Berserker can detect any servant's exact location within the wasteland created by his Longinus noble phantasm.
Noble Phantasm(s)
Colorless Shield: E.
A shield with no emblem. It masks Berserker's parameters.
Longinus: A-
A powerful holy spear said to have pierced the Christ. It's usage is corrupted in the hands of Berserker who can recreate the cursed wasteland that once marred Britain. All servants' physical parameters are dropped by one rank.