(Youtube).com/watch?v=WJXw0lL5-vA
"All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That's his." - Oscar Wilde
"Did you think to kill me? There's no flesh or blood within this cloak to kill. There's only an idea. Idea's are bullet-proof"- V for Vendetta
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The Einzbern Manor was now a great deal more destroyed than it had been before they entered. Where once the damage had been. Assassin had given both Berserker and Archer a run around, but they had caught her. Caught her as in pinned her arms to the wall with swords then went and blindfolded her already covered eyes for some reason.
"Now then Riko," Haru said panting just a bit. "Let us talk about your relationship with Kiritsugu."
Riko had given them one hell of a running fight. She had bashed through walls with the strength of her bloodline. The child of the gorgon relied upon her Monstrous Strength C rank. For a few minutes, she was stronger and faster, but that soon wore out. She had to rely on her superior agility to evade his attacks.
Not that it did much when Chiyo finally showed why she was worthy of being an Archer. The Black Bow. Based off of her father's bow, she fired special arrows with the heads of miniature Caliburns. Just as her Avalon pendant worked to the same effect of the True Avalon, the miniature swords on her arrows chose the correct path to fly. Though they did not have the homing ability of say Gae Bolg, they were unbelievably accurate in their own way. Of course, there were other types of arrows for her to shoot, but she had only used those against her sister.
Four Shots and Riko was pinned to a wall.
"Relationship?" Riko laughed, "I'm going to kill him. Then I'm going to kill you."
Haru punched her in the gut. "Not funny Riko, now tell me. What is your relationship with Kiritsugu."
Riko looked at his general direction and smirked, "Not very good brother, pain is supposed to be saved for last in interrogations. First your supposed to ask the questions, then offer a reward. The you move on to try and trap me in conversation, then you move on to psychological warfare. Then you cause pain."
"Time is running out little sister." Haru hissed, "How long do you think Kiri has before he is fully consumed?"
"Quite a while since he teleported out of here an hour ago." Riko said with amusement. "So, how long do you think Keiko lasted?"
Haru felt his blood go cold. "Keiko? Oh god." He turned as if to run, but Chiyo held her hand up stopping him.
"She knew the risks, brother. We need information now, then we can avenge her. So, if you have no relationship with him, what have you seen?" Chiyo asked. "What are his habits? Where does he go?"
Riko smirked, "You always were the smart one." Her head cocked for a moment as she thought about it. "At first, he went to the church, Kotomine's dog. After watching the church for a day, I had to figure he had left the service of the priest. The giant hole was a big give away. Not to mention the priest was missing an arm for a few hours. Then I find him again in the park talking to Keiko making accusations saying I'm the killer." She laughed at that, "Nobody suspected goodie-twoshoes Kiritsugu to do the deed. So much for the vaunted chivalry of the clans own knight in shining armor. He played you all like a violin."
"Not really." Matsu spoke up. "He was rather straight with me."
"Me as well." Luvia added.
Riko rolled her eyes, "yessss, because you two are too stupid to need to be lied to." She suddenly flinched as a blast of magic clipped her ear.
"Ara, the dog talks, what will they think of next?" Luvia said her finger pointing at Riko with a small trail of smoke arising form that finger.
"I keep forgetting after all those years locked up, you always had the worst temper tantrums Luvia-Kaa-san." Riko said smiling she flinched again as another blast shot at her other ear.
"Enough," Chiyo said calmly. "Sister, tell us what else you know.
"There's nothing to tell little sister. Though I may possess Presence Concealment, he is an expert at evading me when he doesn't just outrun and lose me. Especially since he figured out who I was. He doesn't stay anywhere for long nor are his loyalties." She said smiling. "I hope he makes your end as miserable as possible." She spat at her sister.
"He won't" Haru growled. "we will deal with him soon enough."
"Hah, more like he will deal with you foolish brother. Do you not see how well he plans things? I bet he planned for this since he was summoned." Riko cackled. "Oh, what I would give to see your expression when he runs you through."
"Be silent sister." Chiyo admonished as she reached for the sword imbedding Riko's arms to the wall. Haru stood to stop Riko from moving. Yet, as soon as the sword was removed, They were sent flying as Riko's hair attacked them.
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Her hair, her once beautiful hair was now like a thousand snake coils. Her skin became purple and she seemed to be getting bigger.
"Oh crap, her blood. She's activating her blood." Haru yelled in warning. Riko, daughter of the original Gorgon Medusa was growing quickly. Her hair was getting longer and longer while her skin became purple. Her straight jacket bulged and twisted in disturbing ways as she grew.
It was her final trump card. To unleash the full power of her monstrous heritage and become a gorgon at the cost of her sanity. Bigger and bigger she grew until her straight jacket could no longer hold her. It ripped apart to reveal purple scaly flesh.
"Oh Crap." haru muttered.
"What is she?" Rin and Luvia asked
Matsu adjusted her glasses as she examined the monster that was once a girl. This was certainly different. The files warned that there were many creatures out there that were beyond Seikirei abilities, but this was more than she expected. Bazett went into her battle stance ready for combat.
"I am the bone of my sword. Steel is my body and fire is my blood." Shirou chanted. In his hand, Honor appeared. Perfect, flawless. It also sent a wave of pain up his arm. Yet, he was proud of what he had made
Haru punched and kicked each of her massive coils while Chiyo hacked them apart in a single swing. Yet, soon the coils were getting stronger and stronger. It was time, in Chiyo's opinon to make sure that her sister did not gain the resistance a Phantasm Race like a Gorgon would.
"All being were created equal upon this earth,
thus all advantages will be rendered null upon the radiance of this soul.
Let us fight as equals upon this hallowed ground.
I am she who protects,
The golden shield of the Emiya
Those under my protection shan't be harmed"
So i proclaim this FIELD OF HARMONIOUS DISSONANCE" (Yeah, you guys made this. Not me. So don't blame me for the bad rhythm.)
All around them, the very air became golden. It was as if their eyes were tinted with golden glasses. Yet, they could feel something fall upon them. For those that did not have special defenses like Matsu Rin and Luvia, they barely felt anything affect them. For Shirou and Bazett who used magic to enhance them ,they could feel their defenses drop. Haru gritted his teeth as his toughened body no long had it's unnatural hardness. Yet, Chiyo began cleaving through the coils with ease once more. She had nullified their damage resistance and made it a 'fair' fight. Haru looked up and shuddered at what he was seeing. His little sister was now far larger than the Einzbern castle and was wrecking the building as she flailed. At least, her eyes were still bound.
Actually, why were they?
Haru honed in on where her eyes would be and was startled, the bandages had long since been ripped off of her eyes, but her goggles had shifted to becoming large black seals over her eyes. Seals that were now lined with large purple cracks that looked ready to break. Whatever the Dark Future clan had done to seal her eyes was fading fast.
Suddenly Haru charged forward, gathering a ball of power in his hand. Haru tossed the orb in front of him before jumping forward. "First Impact: Heaven's Bolt!" He then kicked it. As the orb shot forward, it stretched out slightly, like a short blade, yet Riko's massive frame somehow avoided the attack. Yet, Haru merely created a second orb and ate it. His body was then covered in a dark aura. His hair turned white and his eyes became pure red. "Second Impact: Rage Awakened" He then spread out his arms. And chanted while gathering two different types of energy in themselves
"My Humanity in my left hand.
My Madness in my right hand.
The combination of that which makes me human and that which turns me to a beast.
Hell to Heaven!"
A massive force of power came from above just as Riko's seals broke. She had time to see the energy slam into her crushing her to the ground. Everyone had to cover their eyes as an explosion ripped the area sending them back and covering the area in dust. Shirou opened his eyes just in time to see Chiyo bolt forward and ram her swords into the now Human form Riko.
"Che, of course the little princess is the one to take me down...again." Riko sputtered. I hope, I hope Kiritsugu wins. May your world be covered in darkness." She fell to the ground dead.
"Overkill there?" Matsu called out to Haru
"No such thing." Haru muttered as he emerged from the smoke. "Now, Rin. You wanted to learn our story. Lets go from here before it collapses and we can tell you on the way. We need to at least confirm if Keiko is dead.
"Agreed" Chiyo said claening her blade. "This place is neither safe nor secure enough to tell you everything."
So they left, leaving Riko's body to turn to dust. Behind them, the ruined Manor stood, like a wounded and dying creature. Defying it's end even as it was barely standing together. Yet, despite the devistation, three things remained intact. Six golems stood by the doors, waiting in silence for a task they may never be called upon. A path of light reflecting off of shattered glass leading up a ruined staircase to a throne draped in purple with a halo of light reflecting off the glass atop the throne with a white animal's pelt draped along the back.
Those three things remained there, still standing, still intact, as if they knew they had one last task left for them to do.
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'How? How could someone know those closely kept secrets? We are the oldest and greatest of magi. We have spent millenia keeping our secrets from everyone else. So how? How did some nobody get access to them. And he tries to bribe me with secrets on how to kill Trhvmn Ortenrosse. What is his game?' The Queen of the Clock Tower thought as she walked towards the man holding a sign with her name on it. He was powerful, there was no denying that. In fact, she was sure that this man was one of those Epic Spirits that was supposed to be fighting in the region. She stood up right at him and said, "I'm here. Now, what did you want?"
"Do you have any luggage that needs collecting?" he asked as he turned indicating for her to follow.
"No, now what is it that you want and where is what I require?" Lorelei asked sharply as the man walked out of the airport. She had her small carry on bag that was enchanted to hold a great deal more than it should.
"In the car. Follow. I needed you to help me on a hunt. A new Dead Apostle is born. I need him dead as soon as possible. If we do not kill him quickly, he will unleash the devil itself Angra Mainyu on this world." the man said as he lead her to a Limo.
Lorelei was too professional to show her surprise. "Angra Mainyu? The Zoroastrianism spirit of destruction?"
"Yes, but we have two advantages right now. First, he is arrogant...to a degree. A small group, no more than a dozen challenging him and he will fight to prove his superiority. However, were you to assemble the Chelon Canticle Brigade, he would vanish until he fully materializes Angra Mainyu. My best estimate is that we have a week at most before the summoning is complete."
"You say a dozen, but you wanted me alone." She said narrowing her eyes.
"I have found someone very special in this place. One who can perform that which humanity has only been able to perform six or seven times in history with a ten count aria." The man replied as he opened the door for her. She was impressed to find her favorite types of wine available for her to drink. The man knew his homework.
"Ten counts, only six or seven times...a Reality Marble?" She asked incredulously. "You actually found someone that can perform that forbidden research?"
"Well, it's not like that person researched it. That one just had it, a result of the last Grail War destroying the mind and leaving something hollow. That hollow self was then able to adapt to create something that could fight back the darkness." The man said getting into the drivers seat and started the Limo. "I'd recommend not giving that one a sealing designation for a long time, if ever. Just wait till you see it, then you will realize how much farther magic has to go." The man snickered, "I know you prefer to master a basic spell rather than learn complicated ones, but even you will admit it's impressive once you see it. In addition, there is already a team of specialists assembled at the safe house. They should be able to fill you in."
Lorelei ignored the man as she looked at a briefcase with her name on it."This is?" she asked holding up the briefcase
"The secrets you hold so dear, your briefing holding the details on your personal quarry as well as this new threat to mankind and a few...extras to try to make up for your time. Not that it will in your opinion, but it should help." The man said as he drove through an old section of town. She looked up and grimaced as the sun was just peeking out over the horizon. Bloody time change. She opened the briefcase and stared.
One was a grimoire of the Barthomeloi family. A very old and treasured one. How the hell did he get this? How the hell did her family hide from her that this was missing? The second was a stack of papers. She would look them over later, but what drew her attention was a vial. A small, insignificant vial full of dried blood. Yet, she could tell in an instant where it had come from.
"How? How did you get a vial of Trhvmn Ortenrosse's blood?" She asked incredulously.
"My family had been storing it away for a long time. Didn't have a use for it." Kiritsugu said. 'Cause you already killed him.'
"Do you have any idea what I can do with this?" She asked sure that he was insane to let this go
"Many things, track him down, steal his power, become a Dead Apostle in your own right. Plenty of options." He said like he didn't care. "Either way, you have it in your possession, provided you deal with the imminent threat. The Dead Apostle goes by the Name of Rider in this war. Deal with him, and you are free to do as you wish."
He stopped the car and got out. Lorelei looked around an saw the entrance to a house. Strange, she inspected it, and only felt a simple Bounded Field used as a warning signal. This was a Safe house? It couldn't protect the place from animals, much less a Dead Apostle. Yet, the man opened the door and indicated for her to exit. At least he offered his hand like a proper butler.
"So, what is your name?" she asked. She heard him chuckle at that.
"Emiya Kiritsugu." He saw her eyebrow raise at that.
"The Magus Killer?" Lorelei asked.
"No, that's just my name." Kiri said as he lead her to the door. "Go on in, they are not here yet. Should be arriving in a bit. In the meantime, I have another appointment." He bowed low to her and turned away.
"Wait," Lorelei called out.
"Yes?" He asked half turned.
"Why are you doing this? What is your objective?" She asked suspiciously.
"Me? I just want to make a better world." Kiritsugu said easily. "As for the why? Read the files." he waved his hand as he walked away indicating he was done. He got in the car and drove away.
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Lorelei spent her time waiting by exploring the house. There were a few rooms that had been occupied, but a great many of them were empty. As she wandered, she found this place had a training room, or dojo as these backwaters called it if her memory served her right.
She then turned towards the shed and froze. She could feel it, if only sightly. A distortion in reality. She opened the door to the shed and stopped. She picked up various objects that ordinary people would have never noticed and grimaced. Someone had done this, someone had made a Projection that could last more than a short time. Whoever did this had to be the one who used Reality Marble.
"Damned fool." She muttered. "Whoever was researching this was going to be dealt with harshly. Reality Marbles were forbidden for a reason. No-one in thousands of years of research had been able to make a Reality Marble without going insane. The previously recorded successes were known as madmen. They were all insane.
She walked back to the house and frowned at the lack of chairs. She searched her memory and remembered that the Japanese sat on their knees when they rested instead of chairs. Something about Seiza position. Well, nothing to do but take a seat and begin reading. She pulled up the briefcase and began reading.
She soon began frowning, then snarling, then finally, looked whistful. If this was true, then this...War had just changed hitory. Not all that unusual according to the kaleidoscope, but still... Jun. He sounded like a good kid. Still, best to be sure. She pulled out a crystal and had it resonate with the Barthomeloi manor. A brief conversation, a short wait to confirm that yes, the grimoire was still at the house, and her suspicions were confirmed.
So, there she was, sitting in this house waiting for the one that was her husband in another life wondering if she should or shouldn't give him a Sealing Designation. His research was definitely worthy of it, but something made her conflicted with it.
She heard the door open and stood. She would decide once she saw what kind of man this Emiya Shirou was. If he were a monster or a fool, she would take care of him personally...once this fight was over. One opponent at a time, never take on two. Especially when a new Dead Apostle was begin born.
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(youtube).com/watch?v=LE15Ek0aR_E
Shirou walked in silence as he took in everything. The Servants were his children. His children. Each of them had become heroes in their own right, as he would apparently. A different Grail War with different Servants and outcome. A battle between himself and a counter guardian that he would have become if he had blindly followed his ideal without heed to himself or those around him. Him going to London and being labeled a Sealed Designate. Sekerei, aliens from another world fighting and him stopping the mad plan of his biological father, only for it all to be a plan for him to get married and have grandchildren. A family unlike any other often jumping between worlds and time lines. Three of them had been identified with probably countless more out there. A dark one where his family was murdered, and two others that were very similar, but diverted when Kiritsugu was pulled from his world to another and saved Aurora.
Cooking disasters and masterpieces. Gilgamesh summoned as a nanny. Rider and Caster entering the picture somehow. A company that spanned worlds, relations with Mars and a Deviluke Empire. A kingdom created by him and his family to follow a dream to make the ever elusive utopia.
All of it. All of it had been hidden from him. All that he was and could have been, hidden by his own daughter and son. This was too much. At least Chiyo saw his need to be alone and let him walk around while the rest investigated the temple. Rin, on the other hand, had taken it badly. Berserker had been yelled at, screamed at, threatened to be whipped, shot at, and was then placed under the command seal to never lie to her again.
Yeah, she was p*ssed. Especially when she found out that Caster was her daughter. That paranoid, going insane Servant was Rin's daughter. That's why Berserker had been sure that they would not be attacked. Both her parents were there, so of course she would not attack. Or at least, that was the hope. With his son Kiritsugu on the rampage, there was little that he could say about family. Where had he gone wrong that his son would do this? He needed answers that only Kiritsugu could give.
They had gone to see Caster, and saw only devistation at the temple. It looked like a scene from a battlefield. Craters and debris were everywhere, though none of the guns and weapons remained as Caster was probably gone. It was even more confirmation when they went to the shack. What used to be a giant room full of weapons was now the inside of a tool shed with Illya's luggage inside.
"it would appear that Riko was correct." Luvia said unaffected by the news. Her family was among the most familiar with combat of all magi families. "Caster has fallen."
Bazett nodded sadly, "Gomen, it's my fault."
Luvia looked over at Bazett and smiled sadly, "We'll find him."
Sakura shook her head, "nii-san will be at the house...probably. Grandfather is too strong."
Baett smiled at Sakura, "I'm an enforcer, I think I can handle one vampire. Especially since I know what kind of magic he uses."
"But," Sakura said trying her best to warn her.
"Don't worry," Luvia said puffing out her chest, "Am Edelfelt always completes their contract."
Bazett sighed at that. "Unfortunately, that's a true statement."
Luvia shot a look at Bazett, "Ara, are you implying something?"
Bazett shook her head, "No, not worth it."
Luvia frowned at that, but continued to move on as they grabbed everything and proceeded to clean up the mess with magic before the priests woke up. At least none of them had been hurt. Kiritsugu had been careful not to attack the residential compound.
It took them all night and a bit of dawn before they were finished and heading back for the Emiya manor. Though it didn't have the same protection as the Tohsaka residence, Haru and Chiyo were certain that their brother would not destroy it. Apparently, he favored the simple house and dojo over the larger mansion and Tohsaka manor. A man of simple tastes was Kiritsugu.
The entered the house and headed for the dining room for a meal before they all went to find a room to sleep.
Of course, Kiritsugu had found a new way to $crew with them. Sitting at the table with a briefcase on hand and papers spread on the table sat the Queen of the Clock Tower Lorelei Barthomeloi
"Root." Haru and Chiyo cursed.
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Victory has long been mine
All else that happens is fine
All that begins now makes a better world
and they will soon see it unfurled
Where once eight snakes roamed the land,
only four remaining are able to stand
Only when two remain in the fight
with the last one appear in the night
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Kiritsugu stared at the holy land before him. A dozen burners. Several ovens. Hundreds of pots and pans. Beside him was a pile of groceries.
"And now, it is time to unleash true horror." Kiritsugu said as he pulled out a cook book with several pages marked. He flipped the pages until he came to the recipes he wanted. With this, he would negate Haru's innate power and divert their attention for a while so that he could call upon royalty. It wouldn't do for them to come at him prepared, thus he would have to prepare first.
He looked at the recipes and nodded, stuffed mushrooms for an appetizer, Gazpatcho for soup Caesar salad coming up. Stuffed for a side dish, Kung Pow Chicken for an entree, and strawberry shortcake for dessert.
Each and every one of these recipes had failed so spectacular that the very mention of those dishes he created brought shivering horror to the minds of the clan. The only thing he had done worse was Lime Jello, but not even he could bear to bring forth that monstrosity. As he gathered the ingredients, he found himself muttering, "This is the first time I deliberately sabotaged my cooking, God Have mercy on my soul...and their lives."
He found himself chuckling at the thought of their expressions when they saw what he had made. As he began cooking, anyone who watched him would have sword they saw the food already moving just from him touching it
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