Chapter Twenty Six

Holding Down The Fort

A few hours had passed since Mashu and Jeanne left to patrol the perimeter and during that time period I had refilled the magazines to my sidearm and submachine while Scathach had rested her eyes besides me. Since I had finished loading my magazine, I had decided to close my eyes and cross my arms to rest while I still could. It was only after a few moments that I heard footsteps arrive in front of me. I assumed it was Mashu and Jeanne, because there was no outcry from anyone and if it had been the enemy I'm sure Scathach would have let me know, or at least I hoped she would have.

"We're back from our patrol!" Mashu decreed, proving my assumption correct. I heard Jeanne plop down right next to me. "We patrolled around the perimeter and found nothing of note Senpai." Mashu said reporting to me, I nodded my head. "But just to be sure I'm going to do another round of patrols. If that's alright with you of course Senpai?" Mashu asked.

"Yes Mashu go on ahead. Just make sure not to tire yourself out, Ok?" I said without opening my eyes.

"Roger that Senpai." Mashu replied, then I felt movement to my side as Scathach grabbed her spear and stood up. Then I felt as she walked in front of me.

"Going somewhere Lancer?" I asked, and then I heard Scathach's footsteps come to a stop.

"Yes I'm going to accompany Mashu on her patrol. Is that a problem? Or do I need your permission?" Scathach inquired sarcastically and I opened one eye to look up at her.

"When did you ever need my permission to do anything?" I asked sarcastically in response. "Besides you wouldn't listen to me anyway even if I opposed you. You're too stubborn." I said with a subtle smirk.

"Tch you're one to talk about being stubborn." Scathach scoffed and walked off into the forest.

"We'll be back soon Senpai!" Mashu said.

"Alright Mashu, stay safe." I said and closed my eye. With that I heard Mashu rush off to catch up with Scathach.

"You know you really should use more control with Lancer. Giving too much freedom and free reign to Servants usually never ends well." Olga buzzed privately into my ears.

"Tch me control Lancer? Lancer is her own woman. I don't have any control over her and besides do you think she would really try to do anything dangerous or go against us?" I asked in a low voice.

"No I don't believe so at least. According to her psyc profiles she's perfectly calm and sane. However…" Olga said trailing off in a low voice.

"However you two's relationship is strained at best. I told you that you two needed to patch things up before the next singularity, otherwise you might lose control over her or that worse you two might finally reach your tipping points and explode." Roman said cutting into the conversation.

"The last bridge between me and her already burned down Roman when we got home from London. I don't know what I did or what happened between us, but her and I already have made it clear we hate each other and that any further attempts to fix our relationship is likely to end up in a bloody argument or one of us dead. And that likely one is me. So I think it's best to just leave things as how they are. She has no interest in fixing our relationship nor does she want to talk to me unless she has too or when she scolds me, so unless I want to die I'd rather leave things as they are." I said and heard Roman let out a sigh.

"A Master and Servant relationship like that is only going to lead to disaster sooner or later…" Roman murmured.

"I concur for once with Roman. You should try to fix it and take more command over her, however if you say that any further action will only make things worse. I'll trust your judgement Operative." Olga said.

"I don't think things could get any worse. We are already at rock bottom like I said." I replied. "However I have my command seals if things ever get out of hand. Unlimited Command seals over Lancer if things ever get out of hand if you recall Director?" I said with the nod of my head.

"Yes, we did give you unlimited Command Seals over her…" Olga said before pausing. "So use them as you see fit. If that involves reigning her in, do so. Director out." Olga said and the voices disappeared from my ear. I sighed heavily. "They don't need to keep reminding me that things between the two of us are terrible. This is like the third or fourth or fifth time they've reminded me? It's like being scolded to get along with your sister. Reminding me isn't going to fix anything." I thought to myself in frustration.

"Fou, fou!" Four murmured pitifully as he looked up at me.

"Tell me about if Four…" I replied with a nod of my head. "Wait…. Did I just reply to Four as if I was talking to another human? Geez I'm spending too much time with Mashu." I thought to myself. I glanced to my side, Jeanne was remaining awfully quiet as she looked down into her lap twiddling her thumbs. Jeanne let a soft sigh escape her lips. It was then when Marie spoke up and my head shot up to see her standing over us.

"What's the matter, Jeanne? You seem to be spacing out, might you be tired?" Marie inquired.

"Marie…?" Jeanne said snapping back to reality and looking up at Marie, Jeanne took a few moments to process what Marie had asked then spoke. "No. I'm not tired. I am a servant after all." Jeanne replied.

"Then you felt dejected looking at France… Were you disappointed?" Marie asked and Jeanne shook her head.

"No, I'm not disappointed." Jeanne said looking down. "However Thank you for your concern, Marie." Jeanne added and then paused. "…But, to see a familiar town in blazes needed some endurance." Jeanne said and clamped her fingers together.

"…That's right. Especially since to you this is the exact same era that you lived in." Marie said. "Unlike the impressions I have, This is like a continuing memory for you, isn't it?" Marie inquired and Jeanne nodded her head with a frown.

"…Okay! While we're at it, let's talk! Girls talk time!" Marie exclaimed with the clap of her hands. Jeanne and I looked at Marie with a surprised expression on our face.

"…Uh Sorry?" Jeanne said with a confused expression. Jeanne wasn't the only confused one here.

"Ahem I'm still here your Majesty." I said with a cough, Marie turned her attention to me.

"Oh phoy Christopher. You're a grown man after all so perhaps you can add some useful insight." Marie said turning to look back at Jeanne. "Isn't it really strange? But both you and I were summoned at our peaks!" Marie said and I continued to cough, Marie however ignored me. "I mean, I'm right in the middle of puberty after all? I'm into love and romance so much that I can't help it!" Marie said and I broke out into a coughing fit as I continued to hide how uncomfortable it was for me to be in this conversation.

"Ahaha.…I appreciate it, but it won't be easy for me. Even if I know of affection, I do not know of romance." Jeanne replied with a weary smile.

"No way! You're losing out on 10% of your life! It's not too late now, let's fall in love Jeanne!" Marie said and I coughed loudly. "Seriously? We are in the middle of a war and you're talking about falling in love? This is so awkward! Maybe I should have joined Mashu and Scathach on patrol!" I thought to myself as I put my hand up to my face.

"Yes, if the opportunity arises." Jeanne said nodding her head. "Not you too Jeanne!" I thought to myself and gave Jeanne a "Seriously" Look which went ignored by Jeanne. "Have you fallen in love then, Marie?" Jeanne asked appearing to ignore me.

"Fufufu, of course!" Marie said giggling. "When I was seven, I was in love with a boy who had proposed to me. I think that might have been my first love." Marie said as she looked like she was reliving old memories. "Seven Seriously?" I thought to myself, but then again this was the middle ages we were talking about. Brothers and Sisters would marry each other and marriages were arranged years ahead of time. "Then, at the age of 14, I fell madly in love with the king I married." Marie exclaimed. "Man the middle ages sucked… However I suppose at least I never would have had to worry about finding someone to fall in love with. Everything would have been planned for me, but then again would that have been true love?" I thought to myself.

"14!" Jeanne gasped and Marie nodded her head. "I'm taken aback by that even now." Jeanne said.

"No kidding…" I murmured.

"I feel like for me at that time, We worked and played in the fields regardless of gender." Jeanne said.

"That too is a fun and enviable way of life! It sounds really fun to have been able to go wherever you wanted!" Marie said nodding her head as she kicked her feet up and down.

"Yes. It's true that those days were fun. Even if there wasn't any romance or love, there was a strong sense of friendship." Jeanne replied warmly and she smiled a true and earnest smile.

"Were you the popular one?" Marie asked with a curious look on her face. I hadn't been paying attention for this conversation for the most part, but this did peak my interest.

"Hmm yes I too am curious if you were popular Jeanne." I said staring intently at Jeanne who seemed to get a little embarrassed as she played with a string of her hair.

"Mm, back then my hair was short, so I feel like I was treated like a boy. So that's probably why not many boys flirted with me…" Jeanne said flustered.

"I'm sure you were quite the adorable one…. Ah I'm glad I became a servant! To think I'd be able to speak about these things with the likes of Jeanne D'arc!" Marie exclaimed chipperly. "There was some worth in becoming the queen then!" Marie added.

"Likewise, to think I would be able to get along with that Marie Antoinette." Jeanne giggled. "There was indeed worth becoming a servant." Jeanne said nodding her head.

"I'm glad this isn't a proper Holy Grail War. If so, this kind of carefree talk would have never transpired." Marie said clapping her hands together. "So Christopher if you're done coughing over there let me ask you a question!" Marie exclaimed in more or less a commanding voice.

"How could I ever deny your Majesty anything? Ask away your Majesty." I replied sweetly.

"Have you ever fallen in love?" Marie asked curiously leaning in at me with big eyes.

"Uh…." I murmured as I was taken aback by this question, however I suppose it was inevitable it would have been asked with the way this conversation had been going on.

"Yes I too would like to know if you have fallen in love!" Jeanne said turning to face me and leaning in close to me staring at me with big eyes. I felt sweat roll down the side of my head.

"Well ummm…." I murmured.

"Surely you must have? You are a grown man after all! There have surely been a lady or two in your life!" Marie said, both Marie and Jeanne looked on with big eyes and curious expressions. I gulped and pulled on my collar. How was I going to get out of this one…

"I sure hope that idiot isn't getting himself into any trouble. He's either getting himself into danger and putting his life at risk or he's getting in 'other' sorts of trouble." I thought to myself as I gripped my spear tightly over my shoulder as I walked through the forests. "The nerve of him! I tell him to keep his head down, what does he do? He pisses off the main enemy servant and winds up fighting her. And when we're not fighting the enemy he's got that Jeanne girl all over him. Does that idiot not understand how serious this situation is? This isn't the time to be fooling around. Doesn't he realize that if he dies, we all die? Humanity dies. The Future Dies. Earth Dies." I grumbled to myself and I felt myself beginning to grit my teeth. "He really grinds my gears!" I grumbled.

"Lancer!" Mashu exclaimed and I snapped back to reality as I realized Mashu was calling out my name. I glanced over my shoulder back at the young girl who had only just recently become a servant, I still didn't completely understand how she became one, but I had a few theories. However I did know if she didn't act more serious she too would wind up getting killed. She was weak and new to fighting. She may gotten lucky and survived one Grail War, but from what I remember Caster basically carried those two the whole time. She also got lucky that she was able to activate her noble phantasm and deflect Alter Saber's Noble Phantasm back at her. I remembered then that the idiot rushed up to Alter Saber after that, crying out the name Raelin, who was this Raelin person? And what was their importance or relationship to Christopher? What made her worth running up to the enemy? Had Alter Arturia wanted to, she could have easily used her remaining strength to kill Christopher. Then we all would have been screwed right at the end. Christopher had seemed like a rational and serious person right up to that moment, but to do something so stupid is just unforgivable.

"Lancer!" Mashu cried out again.

"Hmm?" I murmured glancing over my shoulder again.

"That was the fourth time I called out your name!" Mashu decreed.

"Oh? Well speak up before you lose my attention again." I replied, I saw Mashu frown a little out of the corner of my eye.

"I wanted to ask you a question if you don't mind." Mashu said.

"Hmm? It depends on the question. If it's a personal question or one about my past the answer is no." I said sternly.

"No nothing like that." Mashu said shaking her head. "I wanted to ask why do you Hate Senpai so much?" Mashu asked, I stared forward and pondered the best response to give to her. Mashu obviously looked up to Christopher, since he was her senior and her Master, but since when did I care about stepping on people's toes? No I suppose I can try and fetch some information out of the girl, maybe Christopher has told her something he won't share with me.

"Let me ask you this in return? Have you ever heard of the name Raelin?" I asked. There was a long pause from Mashu before she spoke up.

"No I can't say I've ever heard of that name until now. What's it importance? And what does it have to do with Christopher?" Mashu asked.

"I see, well that was the name that Christopher murmured when he rushed up to Alter Saber. I want to know what makes that name so important that someone would risk their life to run up to an enemy or cause them to freeze up." I replied.

"Oh! Well perhaps Raelin is the name of a family member!" Mashu exclaimed raising a finger, I glared back at her unconviced.

"Unless it was his Mother or his Sister, I highly doubt it." I said critically, Mashu lowered her finger and her expression turned to one of frustration. "And besides last I checked his Mother and Sister were alive." I added.

"Hmm well perhaps it was the name of someone he loved!" Mashu exclaimed once again, I let out a burst of laughter and brought my hand up to my face. Eventually after I got ahold of myself and quit laughing I looked back over my shoulder.

"Even if that was true, which I highly doubt, would a girlfriend or friend really be worth dying for? I know how youth is about relationships these days, thinking they've found true love or some nonsense, but even Christopher doesn't seem like that kind of person. I also don't believe that he's ever been married, seeing that he possesses no wedding ring. So that still leaves the Mystery of who this Raelin was? If Raelin is even a female that is. She could be a he." I said looking forward as I walked.

"That still doesn't answer the question of why you hate Senpai…" Mashu said.

"Why does it matter? Its none of your business anyway." I snapped at Mashu. Mashu was taken aback and stepped back. "I'll follow the orders of our Master if that's what you're worried about, but I won't let that idiot get us all killed." I said sternly slicing my hand through the air diagonally.

"That's not what I was trying to get at…." Mashu said before I cut her off raising a finger to her mouth.

"Sssshhhhh." I said shushing her. "Do you hear that?" I asked, Mashu put on a serious face and listened for a moment. The sounds of several dozen footsteps could be heard as we paused. I ducked Mashu down into a bush and crouched down besides her. We waited for a few moments in the bushes and then the enemy revealed themselves. Seven of those black beasts emerged from the thicket, along with one of those black hands.

"Damn this place is infested with those beasts. We really need to move our base of operations." I whispered.

"There's only eight of them, surely we can take them Lancer…." Mashu whispered.

"No I detect even more enemies behind them. This isn't just some random attack, it's an orchestrated raid. We need to get back to the base and warn the others." I said slowly standing up and turning around. "Come on!" I exclaimed and rushed back to the base with Mashu in toe…

"Well Chris please do tell!" Jeanne exclaimed scooting closer to me.

"Um well… ummm…" I said stuttering.

"Come on Christopher after all of what you overheard you must tell us!" Marie exclaimed. Then all of a sudden Jeanne and Marie turned looking into the brush. I turned too and looked at where they were staring at.

"…Marie." Jeanne said glancing at Marie.

"Yes." Marie replied nodding her head. It was then when Scathach and Mashu broke through the brush and came to a stop in front of us. Mashu stumbled out of the brush and was panting but looked up and spoke with a sense of urgency.

"I'm sorry, But It seems to be that enemy raid is inbound!" Mashu exclaimed.

"Yes it appears that this is more than just a random attack. There are at least 7 werewolves, one hand and several more enemies following behind!" Scathach said standing behind Mashu as she stood her spear up.

"So it's as we feared then." Jeanne said cupping her chin and looking intently.

"Oh my." Marie said gasping.

"Well our little encampment couldn't stay hidden forever." I said and Jeanne and Scathach nodded their heads.

"Well then Jeanne. From here on out let's fight like Servants should." Marie said standing up. "Weren't you suppose to already being doing that?" I thought to myself. "Bravely, sternly, earnestly. But also cutely, like a girl in love." Marie said cutely. I felt as blue colored lines went down my face and I sweat dropped. "Geez." I thought to myself and facepalmed. "That, I think, is the basis of not a Female Saint, or a Queen, but that of simply you and I." Marie said looking at Jeanne.

"…My fighting style doesn't have Much to do with beauty and elegance, though, but Yes I will try!" Jeanne exclaimed nodding her head.

"Well then Master what are your orders!" Mashu said looking at me. An exclamation mark went off over my head. Oh yes! I did tend to forget that these rag tag group of soldiers and warriors, excluding Scathach, were under my command. I stood up and withdrew my submachine gun from under my other shoulder.

"Well, Sir Christopher. Now that we finally have the chance, I'd like to show you my strength! My apologies for being tomboyish. Like glassware, I'll dazzle you all with my dance!" Marie said bowing her head with her hand across her chest, and Scathach and I sighed.

"Very well then your Majesty I accept your apology! Everyone take a defensive position and prepare to fend off the enemy!" I said waving my hand issuing orders. Everyone nodded their heads and took a line formation facing the direction that the werewolves were coming from. Mashu planted her shield down on the ground while I stood behind her raising my P90 up to my shoulder over Mashu's shield and looked down the red dot sight, resting my finger on the trigger. Scathach planted her right foot forward and spread her left foot shoulder width apart. Scathach turned her body and bended her knees while she grasped her spear in both her hands and pointed it towards where the enemy was facing. Jeanne unsheathed her sword from its sheath and held her sword firmly in both hands out in front of the middle of her body while doing much of the same thing with her footing as Scathach had done, but she did not turn her body. While Marie stood behind Scathach and Jeanne ready to fire off an attack. So we stood in a defensive line waiting for the enemy to attack us.

After a few moments passed the enemy had reached our line as werewolves burst through the bushes and trees and charged at us, fangs bared and claws ready to rip our throats out. The werewolves charged directly at us with no strategy or plan, like the savage wild animals that they were. Their eyes were filled with bloodlust and they were ready to Kill, Kill, Kill. I squeezed the trigger firing several bursts into the crowd as the bullets shredded through the pack. Blood shot out from behind, but none of my bursts actually put the animals down because they just kept charging us until they were right on top of us. The Werewolves rushed our line and one impaled itself on Scathach's spear and it Scathach thrusted it all the way through, while the werewolf clawed out at her, before throwing it over her shoulder and it landed behind her where she then stabbed it in the head before turning around to face another werewolf. As a werewolf rushed Jeanne she stood her ground and as it grew closer, until the right moment to strike, then Jeanne thrusted her sword into the Werewolf's throat. The Werewolf stepped back as blood squirted out of its neck before it finally fell backwards. Jeanne proceeded to engage the next werewolf who lunged at her, Jeanne leaped back while Marie threw her hand across her chest before shooting a powerful mana blast out of her fingertips, it impacted with her target and the werewolf fell flat with a hole in its chest. A werewolf charged Mashu's shield and Mashu swung her shield right when the werewolf was in arm's length and it went flying backwards hitting a tree. I squeezed the trigger again on my submachine gun and sent another burst of hot lead into the beast's head and the beast didn't get up after that.

"So I guess you really can kill these things without silver bullets!" I said as I loaded in a fresh magazine.

"So it would appear Master, however there are still a few more left! So stay focused!" Mashu said gripping her shield as she turned slightly. I turned and rose my weapon to see Scathach engaged with a werewolf as she swung her spear across the werewolf's chest and then once again on the spears way back down. The werewolf collapsed at her feet with its blood soaked chest. Meanwhile Jeanne clashed her sword against another werewolf's claws. I rose my Submachine gun up and took aim, then squeezed the trigger sending a burst of lead through its side and it turned to face me giving Jeanne the opening she needed as she thrusted her sword through the beast's chest, the werewolf grabbed Jeanne's sword and cut into its hand as it tried to pull it out much to Jeanne's surprise who promptly sliced her sword upwards and finished the werewolf off and it crumbled at her feet sliced in two in a puddle of it's own blood. I turned to see Scathach bring her spear down on a werewolf who blocked Scathach's spear with it's arm, Scathach's spear cut into the werewolfs arm and blood oozed out. The two were locked there until Scathach applied more pressure to her spear and then sliced through the werewolfs flesh and bone and sliced half of its arms back. Blood spurted out and the werewolf staggered back and then let out a roar enraged as it lunged Scathach who leaped back and grasped her spear firmly in two hands and placed her closest foot to the werewolf forward and turned and when the werewolf grew closer she thrusted her spear at the werewolf's neck and it it went through as blood squirted out the other side and then when Scathach yanked her spear out more blood squirted out. The blood however did not appear to phase Scathach as it covered her clothing and face and coated her crimson spear. I turned to see Marie finish off the last werewolf as she straightened her arm out and opened the palm of her hand. A magical circle formed out of it with several other circles branching off, several beams shot out of the miniature circles before reuniting with the larger beam that came out of the middle circle. Then they impacted with the werewolf in a large black explosion and once the smoke cleared, there was nothing left of the werewolf except for an ash pile. The sound of leaves rustling caught everyone's attention as we turned to see the Hand come out of the bushes. It readied to fire a fireball, but I quickly rose my Submachine gun and squeezed the trigger sending the last bullets in the magazine through the Hand's orb which let out its usual deathly cry before crumbling into a black puddle of goo.

"That appeared to be the last of them." I said ejecting the magazine and putting in a fresh one.

"That was only the first wave, there still lurks another wave of enemies waiting to strike so don't let your guard down." Scathach said sternly walking up to us, Jeanne and Marie approached us from the side.

"Yeah, Yeah. I know." I said lowering my P90 and resting it against my chest.

"How long before the second wave gets here?" I asked.

"It should be only a matter of minutes…" Scathach said.

"Hold up! There's also a servant inbound! Not only that, but I'm getting multiple life sign readings as well!" Roman said buzzing into our ears.

"Master!" Mashu exclaimed and I let out a sigh.

"No rest for the weary I suppose… Reminds me of this one time a squad I was leading, we had to hold off multiple waves of enemies from breaching our compound. It was something similar to this, deep within the forests of Ukraine…." I said before being abruptly cut off by a knock to the head as I felt Scathach pound her fist down on my head.

"Now's not the time to reminisce about old war stories you idiot!" Scathach said as I rubbed my head and pouted.

"Alright Alright!" I exclaimed. "Everyone prepare defensive positions like last time!" I said in a commanding voice as I still rubbed my aching head.

"Roger!" Mashu said nodding her head and the others nodded. Then all of a sudden there was noise heard from behind and we all turned to face it, ready to fight. However it only ended up being Amadeus, who came rushing up to us panting.

"Amadeus there you are geez! Where have you been? We've been holding off the enemy while you were gone." Marie said in irritated tone as she put her hands on her hips.

"My apologies, I was out for a stroll. Collecting my thoughts and admiring the french countryside while we still could and as soon as I detected the enemy I came rushing back here as soon as I could…" Amadeus said still panting out of breath.

"Not fast enough geez. We've already held them off!" Marie said jerking her thumb back to all the dead werewolves behind us scattered amongst the woods.

"I'm only a musician Marie. I don't know what you expect of me? I'm not use to these type of things, could you have done any better your Majesty?" Amadeus inquired. Marie crossed her arms and puffed out her cheeks.

"Hmph!" Marie muttered, Amadeus only chuckled and turned to face me.

"So what appears to be the situation?" Amadeus asked.

"We've detected another wave of enemies coming our wave and our Doctor has detected a servant with other multiple life signs coming our way!" I said informing Amadeus of the current situation. "You could say our situation is SNAFU as they say in modern day Military slang." I said which only earned me a puzzled look from everyone except for Scathach.

"That's rather depressing…" Amadeus said. "Anyways It would appear that I've also ended up detecting something too. It really is problematic to have such good ears." Amadeus said almost sounding depressed. "Very much more unpleasant than a high-pitched trumpet, the hostile footsteps are." Amadeus said and I sighed.

"You can tell from this far?" Mashu asked and Amadeus nodded his head.

"Of course. I've become a servant despite only being a musician you know? If it's a wave that vibrates through the atmosphere I can hear it easily." Amadeus declared. "Take for example back at the camp, I was rather satisfied with both Marie's and your breathing as both of you slept. Of course, it wasn't just people's sleeping breath that I've heard. All the more detailed biological sounds have been recorded in my Wolfgang recorder right up here!" Amadeus said tapping the side of his head. A shiver went down Mashu and the other girls spines and they rubbed their shoulders. Well except for Scathach who didn't show any emotions, but that was nothing new.

"Se-sexual harassment…! Hentai!" Mashu yelled out while gripping her shoulders and looked like she had just been violated, I wouldn't blame her.

"My apologies, Mashu. As his supervisor, I apologize." Marie said apologetically and then turned and slapped Amadeus upside the head. Marie turned back to face Mashu and spoke. "But please bear with it. After all, if not for his ears, all that's left of him is his perversion!

"I was wondering what you were going to say. I have you know that living things are soiled just by moving!" Amadeus said rubbing the back of his head. "Music can be completed only when you come to terms with that truth. Life is naturally dirty, and yet is the act of cleaning itself." Amadeus said and then straightened out his jacket. "Ahem Now then. The sounds that have reached my ears are that of countless footsteps, and of blades sliding out of their sheathes. How truly unrefined and muggy. My music is not something for fools to hear, but…" Amadeus said pulling out his baton from inside his jacket. "We've made it this far. It's an impromptu knockoff, but hear the Reaper's song…!" Amadeus said and just as he did more rustling was heard and we all turned to see six skeletons emerge from the brush, they consisted of swords and lances, and they had shed their human disguises.

"They sent boneheads to fight us?" I said turning around and raising my P90 as everyone took their stood alongside me with weapons at the ready.

"This is only the cannon fodder, the real threats are still on the way." Scathach said twirling her spear in her hand before resting it in both her hands pointing towards the enemy.

"Lancer is right! So stay on your guard!" Amadeus said.

"Right so let's finish these boneheads off before the real threat gets here." I said as I squeezed the trigger of the submachine gun and sent a bursts of lead through the skeletons. The bullets tore through the skeletons cracking ribs and piercing holes through the skeletons heads and they crumbled to the ground. I squeezed the trigger three of four times sending several bursts at the charging skeletons and one by one they all crumbled hitting the ground in pieces as bullets pierced their skulls and other bones. None of them even reached our line. After it was all said and done the barrel of my submachine gun was smoking and the magazine was empty and the field was littered with bones.

"See that wasn't so hard." I said raising my P90 up with one arm.

"Yes most impressive, too bad there are still more of them." Scathach said, I tilted my head confused. However soon my confusion was gone because another wave of nine skeletons emerge from the brush to replace the ones I had just killed. "Why don't you stand there reloading your toy while real warriors handle this." Scathach said cockily as she turned to face me with a grin. Then in a red flash she disappeared before my very eyes and appeared on the battlefield behind one of the skeletons and delivered a powerful kick to its back and it shattered into pieces flying in our direction and bouncing off of us. Scathach turned around and swung her spear across another skeleton slicing it in half. Jeanne and Mashu rushed off to join Scathach on the battlefield. Jeanne held her sword over her shoulder as she charged and when she was on top of the enemy she jabbed her sword through one of the skeletons heads and it split in half, while Mashu rushed towards two skeletons and swung her shield when she was close enough sending the Skeletons shattering into pieces and flying in multiple directions.

"Geez I don't even think they need our help. We might as well just sit back and let them do everything." I said as I ejected the magazine from my submachine gun and watched as Scathach clashed spears with a Lancer Skeleton. The field of combat was one of her natural habitats, meanwhile Mashu was still new to it, and Jeanne was more or less somewhat use to it.

I watched as Scathach twirled her spear blocking attacks from left and right from the Lancer skeleton before she counter attacked and jabbed her spear through the neck of the skeleton and the head hit the ground and then so did the rest of the skeleton. Scathach retracted her spear and rushed off to fight the remaining skeletons.

"NO!" Marie blurted out and I turned to look at Marie in surprise. "I won't sit back and let my comrades do all the fighting!" Marie stated sternly and she crossed her chest, then extended her arm and opened the palm of her hand out and a magical circle appeared in front of it like last time with the separate smaller circles, except this time when Marie fired there was no beam that came from the center circle and the beams spiraled combining with another one before hitting the three remaining servants. There were three separate explosions and black smoke. A few moments passed and Scathach, Jeanne, and Mashu emerged from the smoke waving the smoke away. They walked up to us and coughed.

"Damn it Marie, you almost caught me in your explosion." Scathach said coughing into her hand.

"Sorry Lancer…" Marie said. "I didn't mean to." Marie added.

"Well good work Marie your shots were dead on. And to think you managed to take out multiple targets at once with one attack." Jeanne said and Marie smiled.

"Not that hard to do…" Scathach murmured, I chuckled which earned a stern glance from Scathach. Suddenly however there was a strong smell and I began to sniff the air.

"Is something burning?" I asked sniffing the air.

"Hahaha Very funny. If you're trying to make a joke about me, knock it off." Scathach said sarcastically.

"No, No. I'm not making a joke. Something seriously smells like its burning." I said sniffing the air and then my noses and lungs began to fill with black smoke. Everyone began to cough as black smoke filled the air.

"It's a fire! The forest has been set on fire!" Mashu exclaimed before she covered her mouth and pointed in a direction of where the enemy had been coming from. Mashu was right, the forest was set ablaze and fires were raging as everything burned. The fire was racing towards us rapidly and a black cloud of smoke was creeping towards us.

"Shit what the hell caused that!" I exclaimed looking at Marie.

"Don't look at me! My spell wasn't that powerful!" Marie said shaking her head. Then there was an ear-splitting roar and the the three of us turned to see a red Wyvern towering over the treetops roaring into the sky. The Wyvern looked back down and began to head to where we were. The Wyvern headed towards us bulldozing over trees in its path.

"Shit! We need to retreat! Everyone fall back!" I exclaimed turning around motioning for everyone to fall back. Marie, Jeanne, and Amadeus turned around and broke into a run as they retreated. Scathach, Mashu, and I followed behind them with Mashu and Scathach running ahead of me while I brung up the rear. As we were retreating I noticed the boxes from Chaldea. I broke off from the group and headed towards them, I came to a stop in front of them and lifted the lid of the crate and shifted through the contents.

"God damn it where the hell is it?" I said digging through the contents.

"What the hell are you doing?!" I heard Scathachs voice ask from behind. "That fire is getting closer and so is the Wyvern!" Scathach said.

"I'm not leaving with the RPG Damn it!" I said stubbornly.

"Are you freaking serious? You idiot!" Scathach said. "You're going to get us killed over a Rocket Launcher?" Scathach exclaimed, I shifted to the other box and lifted the lid then I found the RPG-42 sitting on top of the contents of that crate along with the bag.

"Aha found you!" I exclaimed lifting the RPG out of the crate and holstering it over my shoulder and the bag over the other. Then I felt as Scathach grabbed my wrist and yanked me around.

"Great you found it let's go!" Scathach said and turned around pulling me behind her.

"Owe Owe! You're gonna break my wrist!" I said.

"That's the least of your worries you idiot!" Scathach said glancing over her shoulder as we continued to run.

"That is very true…." I said as I heard the Wyvern footsteps behind us.

"We gotta get outta this forest before it burns down, and we gotta get somewhere where we can actually face the Wyvern." Scathach said as she continued to pull on me.

"Well the forest has to end eventually doesn't it?" I asked.

"The forest doesn't end for a long time. You guys are deep, but it looks like a mile or two from here there is an open meadow. So just keep on running operatives." Olga said buzzing into my ears.

"Roger that Director. Did you hear that Lancer?" I asked looking at her.

"Yeah ahead a mile or two, open meadow. Got it." Scathach said, Scathach and I broke into a sprint and ran as fast as our bodies could take us.

After sprinting non stop we finally saw the break in the trees and we also saw Mashu, Jeanne, Marie, and Amadeus waiting up ahead for us. Scathach and I made a final push and broke through the trees and out into the meadow.

"Amadeus now!" Marie ordered and my expression turned to one of confusion until I felt the earth rumble beneath my feet and see the Wyvern emerge from the Forests right behind us rearing its claws.

"Hear the Reaper's Death Foul Beast!" Amadeus exclaimed and waved his Baton. The Wyvern let out a horrified screech as it stopped dead in its tracks and reared its head stunned by whatever melody or frequency Amadeus was playing. Marie made a triangle with her hands extended outwards and a large pentagram with a large circle in the middle and I saw Marie murmur something I could not hear and then a string of mana shot out of points on the pentagram and a large beam shot out of the middle hitting the Wyvern dead center. The Blast rocked the earth and left a black cloud in its wake. I turned around and lifted my RPG off of my back rested it on my shoulders. I reached into my bag and pulled out an HE Rocket and lowered it into the chamber where in snapped into place. I raised the rocket back up and took aim waiting for the smoke to clear, after a few moments the smoke dissipated and the Wyvern still stood there, but it seemed to have broken free of Amadeus's spell and opened its mouth where a bright orange fireball formed in its mouth. Marie gasped as it was looking directly at her. I rested my hand on the firing button and clicked the button at the same time that the Wyvern spat out its fireball.

"Marie-san lookout!" Mashu exclaimed and I saw Mashu crash into Marie throwing her to the ground using herself and her shield as protection from any burns. The rocket propelled itself out of launcher and shot hot gases out the back and left a trail of white smoke until it hit its mark in the dead center of the Wyvern. The Rocket exploded in another black cloud and the Wyvern let out a deathly screech before it fell backwards dead crushing any trees in its wake. I lowered my launcher and sighed.

"Thy has met their match Dragon."

Thank you for Reading Fated Destiny! As always feel free to leave appropriate feedback and constructive reviews, they really help me out. Also be sure to tell everyone you know who likes Fate about Fated Destiny! If the next chapter is not available please check back on either Sunday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday.