Author's Musings
Today's date of 9/24/18 marks about 7 months since I last updated this story. How time doth fly! But like the cat... I came back (just not the very next day).
I'll admit I still feel somewhat hesitant about this chapter. This is the first time I am using Nasuverse material that I am not very well informed about and the internet only goes so far. I hope people enjoy my interpretations of things and don't feel that I have misrepresented anything. Yada yada usual stuff about my knowledge of the works.
As far as future updates go, I am trying to restart my writing habits. We will see how it goes. Maybe if I write more shorter chapters it will be easier? But that is my problem... go read the chapter!
Did you like something? Tell me! Hate something? Tell me!
Disclaimer:
I own things, just not what I am writing about in this story.
The City of London:
"I think that went well," offered Sakura, not reacting in the slightest as Rider materialized next to her in a purple accented suit, already in step with the rest of the quintet.
"Shouldn't we be worried about someone seeing that?" Shirou nervously looked at the pedestrians on the street. There was a surprising number of people about for such a late hour, when the sun had already set, and this section of London did not have a distinct nightlife. The lack of reactions, both from his companions and all the bystanders, answered his question, so Shirou found himself ignored. A not unusual event in his life these days. He sighed.
"It certainly beat having to deal with those two for another evening," Rin's tone was light, joking even, but everyone present knew better than to comment. The black haired woman had been growing increasingly irate, and unhinged, as lessons with Zelretch and Luvia wore on.
"Are you certain it is acceptable to skip such engagements?" asked Saber, skirting the edge of the topic despite the risks, "it would not do to endanger your education in the arcane."
"It. will. be. fine," a stern glare accompanied the clipped response, "besides," Rin's voice lifted, "this way I get to see history in the making."
"I still can't believe this is actually happening," murmured Shirou so quietly that he almost couldn't hear himself.
"You still doubt the efficacy of my plan?" Saber's wayward strand of hair twitched indignantly. Shirou mentally cursed servant super hearing. At least she couldn't read his mind… he didn't think she could at any rate.
"I think it is more disbelief than doubt at this point Saber," calmed Sakura, "I can only imagine how he would be reacting if they had offered more," she giggled and Saber's mouth quirked upwards on one side in a minute gesture of amusement, "even this much is a fantastic political move. No overt changes within the overall structure of the main royal line and Shirou's popularity is effectively merged with theirs," the woman shrugged, "he was already knighted and at least known to society at large, this is just more official. The only way it actually changes anything important is if something were to happen to the entire royal family, which is unlikely considering how spread out they are."
"It is impressive isn't it? A remarkably adroit move," the King of Knights allowed, "but adoption is still only the first step. Next we must endeavor to raise his standing such that the order of succession is changed. Though I have often seen less admirable methods to such ends, we shall avoid such dishonorable tactics," she clenched a fist in determination, "more scones will be required and, as always, I shall ensure their quality."
"Your drooling Saber," deadpanned Rin, shaking her head as her servant wiped her mouth discretely, "really Shirou, being rush adopted as the youngest member of the royal family doesn't rank all that high in my books as far as insanity goes. You should be used to absurd things happening around you by now, what with the company you regularly keep."
"Ah, but aren't you part of that company Sis?" Sakura asked innocently.
"W-What?" Rin's head spun to face her sister, "I am perfectly normal!" a small sound escaped from Rider's mouth.
"No need to laugh at her Rider, I'm sure she will come around eventually," Sakura's smirk ruined her chastisement.
"How is that laughing!?" Rin demanded of the two purple haired women, "she hardly made any noise!"
Shirou ignored the bickering sisters, turning to Saber instead.
"I know we will need more scones to keep on with your plan," the thought of baking never bothered him and, if he was honest, such a challenge excited him more than a little," but I can't help but be impressed with how much we have already made and distributed."
He gestured towards the small milling crowds.
"I can see some even now," and it was true. More than a few of the pedestrians were carrying scones partially wrapped in the blue and white paper Saber insisted on using.
Saber frowned.
"Shirou," she warned, her hand clenched at nothing, as if holding an invisible sword. Seeing the servant tense cued Shirou to scan their surroundings more closely, but he did not stop walking.
"What is it Saber?" he mentally prepared himself to manifest his weapons if needed, "what did you notice?"
"Well it's not my fault that you…." Rin trailed off in her continuing argument after catching on to the sudden seriousness of her companions.
"We were too busy to distribute any scones today Shirou," Saber's frown deepened, "and I have yet to hear of someone saving a fresh scone for another day."
"So someone is making fakes?" chuckled Rin, "ironic certainly, but I don't think you need to be so worried about it."
"Be on your guard Rin, I believe it is more than that," Saber warned before turning to her fellow servant, "Rider, I can almost sense something amiss. Do you feel anything?" the three magi strained their senses as well, Shirou reinforcing his body more than a little, but he still expected better results from the servants.
Rider shifted, swiveling her head to face every direction in turn, seemingly unimpeded by her ever present blindfold. A brief pause followed her observations and ended with a slight shake of her head.
"Peculiar," the blonde servant's eyes narrowed, "tell me, does it appear that there are more scones among the people than there were a moment ago?"
"Oh my," input Sakura, "I think I just saw one appear in someone's hand. And the crowd is thickening too."
"Something isn't…." began Rin as every person on the street other than Shirou and the two master/servant pairs abruptly stopped moving as if held in place by invisible binds. It wasn't a smooth motion either, all movement, and sound, ceased in a single instant, leaving more than a few individuals frozen in strange half actions. A man had a foot halfway off the ground, the woman opposite him was mid gesture with her arm flung wide and a phone against her ear. The eerie display stopped the whole group in their tracks, adding yet another strange pause to the scenery.
"...right," finished Rin, eyes wide and voice slowly fading. She took a step closer to Saber and Shirou with Sakura and Rider quickly doing the same.
There was a rustle of cloth and every head on the street spun to face directly at the group with blank expressions and vacant eyes. Without the bodies turning along with the heads the effect was… disconcerting to say the least.
"Shirou," four females turned their gaze to the accused.
He flinched under attention far scarier than the empty stares of nearly a hundred random individuals.
"S-shouldn't we be keeping an eye on our s-surroundings," Shirou suggested. He wouldn't dare tell them what to do. Suggestions were much safer.
"What did you do?" Rin spoke what all four of Shirou's companions were thinking.
It wasn't so much a question as a demand.
"Why do you always assume that…"
"What. Did. You. Do."
"I don't know!"
With a faint pop Shirou vanished utterly and without a trace after his exclamation. Rin and her companions stared blankly at the empty pavement where Shirou had been standing/cowering. They all blinked.
He was still gone.
"What the…" muttered Rin.
"I would suspect that he does not know what is going on," commented Saber, spinning away from the mysterious disappearance to keep an eye on their audience. As she watched bodies began to angle in her direction, "although we may have additional difficulties in short order."
As if waiting for her to cue them, the slowly shifting crowd surged forward on shuffling feet. An ungainly tide of uncoordinated motion, silent but for the sounds of movement.
"I don't care if he doesn't know a thing," growled Rin as she allowed Saber to pick her up in a bridal carry. Looking over to the side she saw Rider hoisting Sakura in the same way. With a near synchronous leap the two servants carried their respective masters to the nearest rooftop and left the abnormal bystanders behind. Upon landing Rin finished her thought just as the sky washed red.
"I'm blaming him anyway."
#(D%I$)#LD:
Shirou found himself cautiously examining his surroundings. The slight feeling of relief that came from escaping an irritated Rin did little to calm his own confusion and unease. He shivered, whatever was going on, there was no way Rin wasn't going to blame him for this most recent bout of excitement. She had the worst habit of that. Shirou sighed and shook his head, only to stop mid motion as what he was seeing finally sunk in.
It did little to reassure him.
Mostly because it confused him to the Root and back.
The base of everything was black. Darkness stretched to the nonexistent horizon, infinite and unapproachable. Crimson curtains embroidered with gold hung suspended in the emptiness, forming the rough outline of a large room. Lit candles burned with light to illuminate the strange enclosure and push back the surrounding emptiness, but did nothing to the vast swaths of darkness between the sparse curtains. Something supported his feet, but he could not see what he stood upon as he looked around in wonder at the surreal "room" he now occupied.
As he gazed in awe another detail emerged. The darkness was not quite absolute beyond the light of flickering flames. Thin traceries of deep red wove through the air to form an endlessly branching network beyond the area encompassed by curtains.
It seemed familiar. Similar to something…
Calling prana to his eyes, Shirou focused on the mesh of crimson just in time for it to twitch violently. The whole array of lines convulsed as one, and then a second later did it again.
And again.
And again.
The air beyond the curtains and light pulsed in eerie rhythm. And then it clicked. The floating curtains were surrounded by a cage of veins. For an instant Shirou caught the metallic scent of blood and heard the rushing roar of a distant ocean. He had the intense impression of standing within a massive beating heart…
And then he stood among curtains floating in an empty night once more.
Shirou gulped and wondered if he should start panicking. Luckily, depending on one's point of view, he did not have to make that choice. Slow clapping sounded from behind a curtain, but did not carry far as it was swallowed up by the surroundings. A pair of slim hands, gloved in white and still clapping, emerged from one of the many curtains, soon followed by a pair of sleeves, and then shoulders, and so on until an unfamiliar man fully joined Shirou in the enclosure.
A wide, toothless smile adorned a pale face. Smooth blonde hair fell to the edge of a midnight blue mantle's raised collar. Crimson traced the edges of the mantle and provided definition from the barely lighter blue waistcoat beneath it. Traceries of gold wove around the buttons of the waistcoat and glimmered in the flickering candlelight. Wide white ruffles embellished the man's collar and wrists, giving off the air of a distinguished gentleman.
The man started at Shirou despite his eyes being serenely closed and stopped clapping, instead he spread his arms wide in a gesture of greeting. He even bowed slightly and spoke in a pleasant tone.
"Welcome, my friend, to the show that never ends," the man's mouth quirked and revealed a brief flash of white, "I'm so glad you could attend, come inside, come inside."
Inside where? Shirou pondered in a vain effort to push aside just how lost he was. They weren't anywhere as far as he could tell and they were already 'inside' some curtains.
"Ah. Not a fan I see, but I did always want to say that," The man chuckled and Shirou realized his confusion must have been easy to read, "but I must admit to being similarly addled," he held up one of his hands and examined it intently as if he had never seen it before. Shirou did not know how exactly one examined anything with their eyes shut, but the gesture was unmistakable, "this should not have happened."
Well he knew one good place to start to clarify things. Shirou opened his mouth and asked, what was in his opinion, the best question.
"Who are you?"
London Rooftops:
Four women, two of the modern era and two of ages long past, gazed up at the crimson sky distorted by incomprehensible currents carved into the air itself. Beneath them stood the city of London, unchanged in physical form, but dyed the color of drying blood by the sky.
"By the grinding gears of the Clocktower," growled Rin as she attempted to stare the abnormal sky into submission, "what the hell is going on?!"
"I do not know. I have never heard of such a thing…" Saber's voice contained a hint of awe buried beneath her worry.
"The air…" Sakura shivered in the chilled familiarity, "it feels wrong…. And Evil. Almost..." she looked down and Rider put a comforting arm across her shoulders as she forced out a final word, "cursed."
Rider, normally quiet and currently caring for Sakura... remained silent.
"Arrrgh," groaned Rin in frustration, cradling her head, "think Rin! Think! You have to know something about this…."
As Rin continued to mutter to herself Saber paced to the edge of their current perch, a rooftop several stories above the streets below. The situation at ground level was interesting to say the least and the Servant watched with a careful eye. Packs of stumbling civilians wandered the streets, often chasing terrified individuals. The word chaos did not seem inappropriate. Each of the shambling citizens clutched a single object in rigid hands.
Each clutched a single scone.
"It seems that a majority of the populace has been affected by these false scones," Saber cupped her chin with a hand and thought aloud, "perhaps some form of mind control?"
"But that was just a joke!" Rin cried in the background, overhearing her servant's musing.
"We cannot stand for this travesty," the King of Knights continued as if Rin hadn't spoken, "whoever is behind this must pay," shining armor with blue and white accompaniments covered Saber's form, "they make a mockery of Shirou's true baking!" she clenched an armored fist in determination and placed one foot atop the ledge surrounding the rooftop. A dramatic wind swept her hair back with suspicious timing.
Rin hung her head in defeat. Sakura smiled hesitantly, still looking distinctly uncomfortable, but struggling through. Rider slowly closed her eyes and held back a minuscule sigh.
"Uh, Saber?" ventured Sakura, "the citizens of London also seem to be in danger," a scream from below punctuated her statement, "we should help them as well."
"Indeed Sakura," Saber agreed readily without changing her dramatic stance, "we shall help them."
"Oh, good…" Sakura began.
"By removing this foul mockery of pastries at the source!" Two sisters and a servant actually let out simultaneous sighs this time as Saber raised her sword skyward. The gesture would have had more impact if the blade hadn't been invisible at the moment.
"Saber, I hate to do this but I think..." Rin trailed off as she heard a suspicious crunching noise from further back on the rooftop. She turned slowly, already certain of what she would see.
"Please, pretend like I'm not here," commented the Wizard Marshall Zelretch as he tossed another piece of popcorn into his mouth. It crunched obnoxiously, "although *crunch* I must suggest *crunch* you don't stop Saber right now. *swallow* She's on a roll! *crunch*" there were further crunches as he chewed. Rin raised a hand, index finger extended accusingly. She opened her mouth… then hesitated as her expression shifted from anger to annoyance.
"I would like to tell you to get lost…" Rin bit back several titles she could have used for her teacher, but she still wasn't comfortable calling Zelretch something like 'old man'. So she settled for just leaving a brief pause, "but you undoubtedly know what's going on. So," she jabbed her finger forward, "do your job as a teacher and explain this," a wide gesture to the crimson sky punctuated her request.
The other women paused their antics, heads turning to await whatever Zelretch might say in response.
"But Rin," the ancient mage sounded almost proud as he spread his hands wide, heedless of any and all falling popcorn, "you are such a dutiful student. You have already studied this, and recently too! You already know what is going on, you just haven't realized it because," if it was possible to look smug and sheepish at the same time, Zelretch managed it, "it's impossible."
He received four deadpan looks and silence broken only by the distant commotion from the streets below.
This still moment lasted until two aged hands came together in a resounding clap.
"But you all should be well used to that by now," ruby eyes held a knowing look, "right?"
The deadpan looks upgraded to deadpan glares.
"Merlin would have enjoyed your company," commented Saber.
"Thank you!" the vampire beamed.
"She wasn't complimenting you," Rin had heard numerous complaints about eccentric mages from her servant. It was oddly reminiscent of her own opinions concerning Zelretch…. Wait… similar to Zelretch...she frowned and her thoughts grew troubled. She pushed her anger and irritation to the side, trying to think clearly.
The Wizard Marshall sighed.
"Fine, fine. I'll take my fun elsewhere," he muttered, shoulders slumping, "should drop in on Herr Dreizehn while I'm at it. Even if he can't control it this is still my city… for the most part," a swirling portal of kaleidoscopic color appeared on the rooftop and Zelretch stepped towards it, still grumbling.
"Wait!" Sakura called out, "you must be able to tell us something," the young woman stepped forward past the still form of Rin.
"No manners at all. No courtesy. No…." the sorcerer did not react in any noticeable way. He continued complaining until the portal vanished, cutting off his voice.
"What is going on…" Sakura's voice was nearly inaudible, but filled with concern, "Rin-"
Sakura froze at the sight of her sister. Rin's face was deathly pale, her body unnaturally still as she gazed up at the sky
"Oh no…." Rin's hands started to shake and her face paled further, "I know what's causing this. What Zelretch just said..." she trailed off, her breath fast and uneven as she clearly tried to control her emotions.
"Please. Calm yourself and explain Rin," urged Saber, leaning over the edge of the roof while using an invisible object for balance, "something has changed again. The people are moving with a more distinct purpose."
Sakura stepped closer to her sister, hesitant to be as direct as the Servant of the Sword, but still determined to find the answers they needed.
"We will find a way to deal with it Rin, but we first need to know what it is," a supportive hand found its way to Rin's shoulder, "take a deep breath and start with the basics."
It took a moment, but the raven haired magus followed her sister's advice and eventually regained a semblance of composure by forcing her fear into a corner of her mind. Though the occasional tremor still passed through her frame.
"Zel said it was something I studied recently, and other than the Kaleidoscope that's not much. Since this definitely isn't the Second True Magic…." she shook her head, "He also mentioned a 'he' and named that person as 'Mr. Thirteen'," Rin set her mouth in a grim line, "There are only so many things that could be referring too."
"You don't mean…" Sakura trailed off, unwilling to finish the thought.
"Another Revenant? A vampire like himself?" questioned Saber, frowning slightly, "that is disconcerting. He is… uniquely powerful."
"No need to be diplomatic Saber," Rin violently shook her head in an attempt to cast off her remaining fear, "Zelretch would be able to destroy all of us, maybe even you, without much effort. Even if he is supposed to be weaker in this day and age. Our main concern should be how to deal with his fellow Apostle Ancestor."
"Shouldn't we be more concerned with finding Shirou and running away rather than fighting?" Sakura fidgeted, "as strong as we are I don't think we should be trying to engage something that's on the list of the 27 things that are most dangerous to human life."
"We cannot flee from this travesty. This mockery of the culinary art!" Saber made her opinion know and Rin found herself covering her face in exasperation. She quickly repressed that emotion as well and stashed it with her fear and impotent anger. The small portion of her mind playing host to all the suppressed emotions started gibbering in a confused panic. Rin continued to ignore it and focused on the problem at hand.
"As much as I would like to agree with you Sakura, Saber is right for the wrong reasons," she spoke through her hands before letting them drop with a groan, "First, I agree we need to find Shirou and pull him out of whatever trouble he is in this time, just so we can kick his ass ourselves, but do you really think he would agree to leave the area? With all of these people in danger?"
No one said anything.
"Yeah," Rin sighed, "we know him too well. Second, I don't think we could leave even if we weren't going to find Shirou. If I am right, and I usually am," a hint of her usual Tohsaka pride peeked through before being tossed aside to join her other emotions. She could not afford to be distracted now. Her personal breakdown/freak-out would have to wait, "then all of London is inside a reality marble right now, and as strong as you are Sakura, I don't think you can overwrite this one."
"A reality marble!?" Sakura's eyes widened in shock before closing in concentration while Rider hovered protectively at her shoulder.
"And third," whispered Rin to the wind while her sister remained distracted by her previous revelation, "this all just might be my fault," a deep breath helped steady her nerves as she brushed windblown hair from her face. The action helped disguise a surreptitious wiping of her eyes as she added yet more emotion to the chaotic corner of her psyche. Saber spared a concerned look at her master, but refocused on Sakura when the Matou's eyes snapped open.
"You're right," Sakura said, "it was buried under the oppressive nature of the atmosphere, but this is definitely a reality marble. One stronger than my own, I can feel it."
"Of course I was right," if Rin's voice trembled at all, no one called her out on it.
"If our course of action is sure, we must press forward," Saber pushed the conversation ahead, intent on leaving doubts and other concerns behind, "time is of the essence. What must we know of our opponent?"
"Well it's not a singular opponent per say," Rin corrected, as eager to forget things like troublesome emotions as Saber was, "the thirteenth Apostle Ancestor is a phenomenon, not a being, that manifests in an area using local rumors, legends, and other beliefs to forge a temporary existence. It then preys upon the populace and their fears, leaving after a single night of bloody slaughter. The most famous occurrence of the Thirteenth is the destruction of Wallachia in a single evening when it took the form of Vlad the Impaler," Rin set her mouth in a grim line, "we aren't fighting an individual so much as attempting to survive against the purpose of a world itself."
The crimson sky swirled and shifted high above, slowly forming a pale visage floating high above. Two bloody voids served as grim parodies of eyes and a crescent slash produced an eerie, exaggerated smile.
"Our enemy is the independent reality marble, a phenomenon known as TATARI. Originally born from the great alchemist…."
#$%^&*():
"Zepia Eltnam Oberon, Alchemist of Atlas and much, much more" the regal man bowed once more, curling an arm across his chest and sweeping his mantle to the side, "the pleasure is all…. Well I'm not actually sure who the pleasure should belong to in this case," he taped his chin with a finger while straightening, "hmmmm."
"And where are we?" Shirou ignored the man's tangent and moved onto another easy question while trying to order his thoughts. Just what was going on?
"I think I'll just say the pleasure is mine. It's standard that way, and from a certain perspective I AM happy to see you… well not you, you. Just you as in what you represent,"
Shirou took a wary step backwards, something about the man in front of him suddenly seemed… off. The feeling of underlying wrongness cut slowly through Shirou's confusion, leaving the magus with a lingering dread.
"Oh… you asked another question," a small smile from the strange man whose eyes were still crinkled shut, "we are inside TATARI, ensconced away from the real world where the city of London is besieged by a night of terror such that they have never known," Zepia placed one hand delicately on his own chest and threw the other out in a dramatic flourish, "truly the will of man shall be sorely tested!"
Another step back and Shirou started to call images to his mind. His senses screamed danger as the blonde man before him laughed. If this Zepia spoke the truth, something threatened London and the people there.
Something threatened Rin, Sakura, Saber, and Rider.
Unacceptable.
Shirou's mind shifted and his senses sharpened in preparation for combat.
"Oh?" Oberon quirked a single eyebrow as if reading Shirou's thoughts.
Empty hands clenched at air, prepared to grasp any tool needed for a fight. Shirou would be leaving this place one way or another. He opened his mouth to speak before he had decided just what he was going to say, but in the end it did not matter. The other man beat him to it.
"We could fight here if you wish," the alchemist's voice stayed perfectly unconcerned. Not at all worried about the possibility of combat, "It might even help you break free of the area if you won, but there wouldn't be much chance for that to happen," he turned away and gestured to the absurd space they occupied, "this place doesn't, and shouldn't, exist… yet it does and everything within it is mine. No," a pause, "not just mine, this place is me. It is the heart of the phenomena. Your reality marble, even with its unique powers, would not be enough to stop me from crushing you with a thought," a single hand, gloved pristinely in white, rose into the air, poised to snap.
Shirou felt reality tremble at the approach of something. He pushed prana through his body, rushing the creation of his weapons as much as possible. Motes of prana coalesced and silvery knives began to take shape.
His opponents crimson eyes opened.
-SNAP-
Time froze for an endless instant as space contorted. Shirou tried to gasp in pain as his surroundings dissolved into fractal patterns from a mathematician's nightmare, but the world itself held him fast. Flickering candlelight bent and warped, splitting into scattered rainbows that also contorted as reality became nothing more than a blur of color and impossible sound. All the while Shirou struggled, trying to writhe in pain as his own body joined in the distortions, feeling as if hundreds of intangible hands were gripping and twisting at every fiber of his being.
The world was taught. Everything strained. Soon, something would break.
Shirou expected it would be him.
"But no, that would be boring," everything snapped back into place and Shirou collapsed to his hands and knees, gasping, "we shall settle for being the audience of my audience while I pick your brain," a genial smile, "and then I will kill you."
"W-what?" a cough racked Shirou's frame, as if his body expected to be spitting up blood. His mind felt as twisted as his body. His powers did not respond.
"You have interested me. You and your accomplishments," the vampire, for that is what Shirou realized Zepia had to be, stepped closer, "as for the rest, well it would be pure indecency to waste a good show. Wouldn't you agree?"
Shirou ignored the extra comments and tried to focus. He needed time to figure something out as fighting would gain him nothing at the moment. The sheer difference in power removed most options, even without accounting for being inside of his opponent's world already. For now he had to delay as best he could and to do that he needed yet another question answered.
What could this man, Zepia, want?
"Why so interested in me? You already have a reality marble. That's what this place is, isn't it?" Shirou guessed at his enemy's goal. It had to be his reality marble as he had no other notable accomplishments to his name, nothing lasting at any rate.
"Your meager world?" the well-dressed man snorted, "while unique and curious, it is far from the splendor I have seen in the minds of others," Shirou heard more than saw Zepia kneel down in front of him, "I never planned to be here. I never saw myself coming here. This entire event is unplanned and unprecedented."
"W-what!?" Shirou stammered out the same question as before, only for his words to be brushed aside.
"And you," a finger caught Shirou's chin and raised his head to stare into crimson eyes, "you are the source of all of it. My every appearance had already been determined. My alchemy allows me to see, to calculate, what is to come, but I knew nothing of this night. For some reason TATARI manifested in London using your form and even stranger than that is the fact that I am here, talking to you! I do not exist! And I will not exist again for hundreds of years! The creation of TATARI removed myself as an individual from the world. This is impossible!" the vampire sprung back to his feet and stared at his hands as they clenched and relaxed sporadically, "it's maddening!" Zepia's form flickered like static on a screen, revealing a mouth filled with jagged, shark-like teeth and eyes of dripping blood that stood out against an unnaturally pale face.
"I don't know how I should feel. Within me war boundless joy and hellish hate," a hysterical laugh escaped from bleeding lips with a splash of blood, "I spent so long, gave up so much, searching for a way, for something unpredictable, for the sixth! AND I FINALLY FOUND IT! BUT IT IS YOU, NOT ME!" A roar and a violent gesture sent Shirou flying through the air. He landed heavily on whatever the ground consisted of and rolled to his unsteady feet as the raging apostle grasped his own head.
"AND YOU DIDN'T EVEN TRY AND DON'T EVEN REALIZE WHAT YOU HAVE DONE!" another cry full of rage and something else, something sadder and melancholy, was swallowed by the encompassing black. The gloved hands lowered, revealing crimson eyes shedding bloody tears. The apostle's form flickered once more, removing all traces of blood and sharpened teeth.
"Ah," Zepia smoothed his coat and smiled bitterly, "my apologies. I got a bit out of hand there. Please, forgive me."
Shirou regarded the man suspiciously, but offered a hesitant nod. He had no choice, even against Archer or Gilgamesh he had never felt so outmatched, so helpless. He would still find a way out of this, but he doubted it would involve direct force. For now he needed things to be calm and for his opponent to keep talking.
"You are far too trusting for your own good," tutted the vampire, "I show a hint of civility and you put my threats and apparent rage to the side," a gloved hand waved and a small, circular table of white wood accompanied by two chairs rose from the 'floor', "come, have a seat."
"You still intend to kill me then?" At least the vampire, whose sanity Shirou questioned, seemed to believe trust motivated his begrudging acceptance of "civility" instead of pragmatism…. Or at least mostly pragmatism.
"Why of course. I just find it preferable, and I'm sure you do as well, to chat pleasantly before dealing with such… trivialities," with eyes closed he offered an empty smile.
"With that admission, and since I supposedly can't leave, would you mind if I gave it a try anyway?" Shirou asked, understanding implicitly that the vampire would know what he meant. If Zepia handed him a free attempt at leaving he would take it, if the vampire refused then the situation did not change. Minimal risk for a possible solution to his predicament.
"By all means, not that it will do much good," the dismissiveness of the response could only have been improved had the vampire sipped a drink immediately afterwards. Shirou felt the urgent desire to brew some tea, but decided that such things could wait.
He focused his mind, brought the image of his ever present world to the forefront of his thoughts, and began to speak.
"I am the bake of my oven…"
London Rooftops:
"This is such bullshit!"
Rin had finally progressed past her initial stages of fear and stepped into a much more comfortable mindset… that of anger. Or more accurately she had suppressed all other emotions, cramming them further inside her small mental box, and distracted herself by ranting about her mentor. One of her more cherished pastimes.
"And that ancient, arrogant asshole just jumps off and leaves us to deal with this!" she gestured wildly at the smiling sky, "Unbelievable."
"Rin," Sakura spoke into a momentary lull in her sister's speech with a tight smile, "I know I'm not the most qualified to say this, but could we perhaps focus on something else. As cathartic as your current activity is, we need to be more productive," the Matou received a look of some incredulity. She sighed.
"I am aware I am not the most…" Sakura trailed off in thought for a moment before coming to a decision on her choice of words, "focused of individuals, but even I know that it isn't appropriate for every situation. I'm pretty sure our current circumstances require a shift in my usual methods and thought patterns."
Rin shut away her anger and gave her sister a look. A very expressive look that asked several questions all at once. She voiced only one aloud.
"And you can just change how you think whenever you want? That doesn't seem norm…" Rin trailed off and shook her head, "nevermind. Answered my own question."
"It's not terribly difficult for a flexible mind. I'm sure you've done something similar at some point Rin," Sakura smiled knowingly, "Now. How shall we proceed?"
Rin briefly had a sneaking suspicion that she knew what her sister was referring too, but she threw it into her mental box as fast as she could. She needed to plan.
"I think," Rin began, "that the obvious first order of business is to find Shirou," Sakura and the two servants nodded in agreement, "and I have a likely guess as to where he might be."
"Which is?" Saber asked as Rin glanced at her sister.
"The Clocktower."
As expected, a small frown formed on Sakura's face. Rin knew that her sister didn't much like the Clocktower, or mages in general, but put up with it for Shirou's and her sake. Luckily, an easy solution existed.
"Since it's a set location and might even be the source of all this, I can go there with Saber. Your power and Rider's skills are better suited for speed and crowds, perfect for searching the rest of the city."
"Shouldn't we both check the Clocktower first if you suspect that it is the source of our problems?" Sakura asked through her lightly concealed distaste, apparently more concerned with logic than her own hangups.
"Because it is only a hunch, and we need to cover all possibilities. Saber and I can handle ourselves well enough and there should be other mages of considerable power still present. If anything goes wrong you can reach us far quicker than we could reach you," Rin reasoned before sighing, "plus we have to consider the general population."
"While I agree that the citizens require aid, I did not expect you to bring that up," Saber smiled lightly at her master, "an excellent improvement."
"Do you think I'm heartless?!" Rin accused.
"No. I am just aware of how… focused you are," soothed the servant.
"Shirou would certainly approve," Sakura input.
"Yeah… he would," Rin said quietly before raising her voice, "but we are getting distracted again and time is critical. Saber and I will travel to the Clocktower and meet up with the other mages, you two," she pointed at Sakura and her servant, "will search through the rest of the city and see if you can do anything with everything else that is happening. Any objections?"
Serious faces and silence the only answers.
"Excellent. Let's go Saber," upon Rin's command her servant swept her into a secure carry and leaped away towards the center of the city.
It did not take long for the bounding pair of master and servant to leave earshot, even with it being servant enhanced, of Rider. A few more bounds for surety and Saber spoke to her master.
"I am sure you have your reasons, but you are trying to hide something from your sister,"
"..." Rin did not answer. Not even to deny Saber's statement.
"It is not wise to be so burdened before battle. Nor so distracted. It is a surprise Sakura did not notice anything," her leading statements were met with silence, until after a seeming age, Rin spoke.
"The atmosphere is affecting her more than she is willing to admit."
"Truly, the blood shows," Saber hoped that she would get some actual answers now that the silent stalemate had ceased, "now you must tell me what troubles you."
"Must I? Who is the master here?" while nothing had changed, seeing some of her master's usual attitude pleased Saber. However, poor mindsets led to mistakes in battle. She had to press on.
"Rin, I am not asking as your servant, but as your friend," the woman in her arms stiffened and then relaxed, her emotions vanishing as fast as they appeared. Just as they had been since the start of their current predicament. Just what was Rin doing to herself?
"Saber," Rin's voice was curt.
"I am listening," the servant encouraged.
"Tatari is formed from the rumors and beliefs that permeate an area. As such, when it manifests it inherits the abilities and appearance of its source. So, just what form would this being take if it can control people with scones? And where could such an ability have come from?"
Saber frowned. She could hear the guilt lacing her master's words, no matter how well hidden.
"I see. You must not blame yourself-"
"I can do what I damn well please!" Rin's emotions slipped their leash, but as before, they were quickly packed away and the magus appeared calm once more. Saber's frown deepened. Very well. This would require a different tact.
"Allow me to finish Master," the servant paused to see if she would be interrupted. She was not, "you must not blame yourself alone. I worked my own ways to spread the image and idea of a noble baker fit to be king. I spread his fame in stories as well."
Silence descended like a shroud. The wind whistled and the murmurs of unrest filtered up from below. Rin spoke in an echo of Saber's earlier words.
"Then our course of action is sure. We must press forwards."
"I am at you command, as always, my master."
"Let's fix this."
The pair pushed onward into the burning, bloody night.