Time for a climactic battle!

ON WITH THE SHOW!

Neptunia Guild Files: Fate/book one

A Hyperdimension Neptunia Fan Fiction

by Derald Snyder

Section 17: Saber Alter

"This isn't working!" Mordred growled in frustration. "That bastard just keeps warping away before I can hit him!"

Archer wasn't doing much better, only having managed to graze Merlin a few times with his arrows. "Dammit, if only the others weren't so distracted by that critter...!" he grunted as he rolled away from another magic blast. (Wait, that's it!) Dismissing his bow, Archer projected a broadsword instead.

"Changing tactics? It won't help you," Merlin taunted, sending another fireball at his foe... only for Archer to deflect it right at the Cath Palug that had captivated the others!

"FOOOOUUU!" the critter screamed in pain as it's tail was set aflame, running around the room in panic!

"HEY!" Rider cried in shock. "Who did that?!"

"Merlin did!" Mordred shouted.

"Mikon! You're gonna pay for that!" Tamamo growled as she took a ready stance.

"Indeed he shall!" Nero agreed as she did the same. "IF, try to put out that poor puppy's tail!"

"I'm on it!" IF agreed, running after the Cath Palug.

"Oh, how very clever of you, Archer..." Merlin grimaced. He teleported again as Tamamo sent fireballs at him, only to be hit with a fire wave from Nero's sword upon reappearing! He quickly cast an ice spell on himself to extinguish the flames, but was forced to parry as Mordred rushed in with an overhead slash! Undeterred, the blonde kicked Merlin in the gut, forcing him back a ways and causing him to fall to a knee, barely able to raise his staff to parry another slash! Merlin teleported away again, only for Rider's chain to wrap around his staff and yank it out of his hands! Before he had a chance to react, he was struck in both shoulders of his robe by Archer's arrows, getting pinned to the wall! Looking up, she saw Nero walking up to him... "Go on, finish it," he grunted in resignation.

"Indeed, I shall!" Nero proclaimed, raising her sword over her head... and bashing Merlin in the head with the hilt, rendering him unconscious! "There! That should ensure you don't go anywhere for a while!"

"Nice work, Nero," IF said as she finished extinguishing Cath Palug's tail. "There you go, puppy, you're okay now..."

"Fooouu..." the critter sighed as it looked it's singed tail over.

"Leave that creature for now!" Archer yelled. "We need to get moving and save Saber!"

"And stop that evil Morgan!" Tamamo appended.

"Let us go, then!" Nero agreed, the group leaving Merlin and the Cath Palug behind as they headed into the hallway leading further inside...

*A short time later...*

The door was shredded by Mordred and Nero's swords, the guild members pushing their way inside... the room appeared to be a primitive laboratory of sorts, a bookshelf on one wall, a table with beakers and strange implements sitting nearby, arcane symbols dotting the walls here and there. A steel door was visible at the other end, and standing in front of said door... "Welcome, Shirou Emiya and company."

"Morgan," Archer growled. "I was too optimistic to think you had perished last time we fought..."

"We never did find the body," Rider admitted.

"Because there was no body to find," Morgan taunted. Turning to Mordred, she then spoke, "So, you have turned on me, have you Mordred?"

"You lied to me!" Mordred spat. "You used me and threw me away like garbage!"

"Hold, Mordred!" Nero shouted. "Miss Morgan, before we take you into custody, do you mind telling us why you would torture your own flesh and blood in such a manner?!"

"Ah, you must be the doppelgänger that confused my subordinate before," Morgan acknowledged. "...very well, I may as well tell you. My husband Arthur was once one of the greatest swordsmen in the nation, if not all of Gamindustri, save the goddesses themselves. But the mere fact that he was male in a female-dominated, technologically-advanced game world meant work was sparse for him... So when I gave birth to Artoria, I saw the opportunity to mold her into as great a saber warrior as her father, which he agreed to. I even began studying ways to enhance weapons with magic... but in doing so, I happened upon an idea. Such weapons did not have to be restricted to my daughter, nor did Artoria have to be the only super swordswoman in the nation! Unfortunately, Arthur disagreed, forcing me to discipline him, and earning my daughter's enmity. But now that I have what I need, I shall make several clones of Artoria for Gamindustri's armies, as well as weapons, so when the Console Wars inevitably flare up again, I'll make a nice sum of money off my exploits!"

"W...what?!" Nero gasped in disbelief. "Y-your motive is... war for profit?!"

"Wow. Money really is the root of all kinds of evil, mikon," Tamamo deadpanned.

"Just give Saber back to us!" Rider demanded.

"...So be it." Stepping aside, Morgan turned to face the door. "Artoria, dear, we have guests." The steel door then opened, a dark figure strolling out...

The guild members gasped in shock and horror at what they saw... It was Saber, yet at the same time not Saber... her blonde hair had paled considerably, as had her skin tone... her once green eyes were now a bright gold in color, giving the impression of a demon in human form. She was clad from neck to foot in black armor, darkness seeping up from said armor and engulfing her neck and chin, with small tendrils breaching onto her face. She held a black broadsword in one hand, a red double-helix pattern visible on the flat of the blade.

"What did you do to her?!" Archer screamed in uncharacteristic anger.

"Just some dark magic modification to draw out all her potential," Morgan replied nonchalantly. "As well as remind her who her family is..."

"Damn you!" Archer yelled as he rushed the sorceress, his sword moving to decapitate her-

-only for said sword to fly to the other end of the room, Saber now standing between Archer and Morgan. "You will not harm Mother."

"A... Arty, it's me! Shirou!" Archer pleaded.

"I do not know you," Saber Alter stated bluntly, pointing her sword at Archer's face. "And Mother's enemies are my enemies."

Morgan let loose with an evil, haughty laugh. "As you can see, Artoria is truly my daughter now, and obeys like a good child should. Now... destroy them all."

"As you will, Mother," Saber Alter obeyed, her stance shifting slightly... Only Archer's experience with Saber's fighting style saved him, barely projecting a shield in time to deflect the slice! Undeterred, the blackened Saber pressed the attack, forcing Archer back with several slashes, his shield beginning to show cracks...

"Stop it!" Nero cried as she sent out a fire wave from her blade, only for Saber to deflect it into the ceiling without even looking!

"Pathetic. Not even worth my time." But then Saber Alter sensed something beneath her feet, jumping away just in time as a large ice crystal erupted from the floor! Gritting her teeth, Tamamo followed up with several ice spears, only for Saber to effortlessly slash them apart! Gathering dark energy in her free hand, she blasted the larger ice crystal to shards, rushing forward to impale Tamamo on her blade-

-only for her sword to be knocked aside by Clarent at the last moment, allowing Tamamo to escape! "Father, stop!" Mordred pleaded.

"Knight of Treachery, prepare to die!" Saber Alter declared, swinging and easily disarming Mordred, only for the blonde to grab her arm, pushing the sword away... but Alter just blew her away with a dark energy blast! She then swung and deflected another fire wave, easily parrying Nero's follow-up slice! "How predictable!" Nero managed to parry her first few slashes, but was inevitably disarmed as well!

But before Saber Alter could finish her, a chain wrapped itself around her sword arm! "Saber, snap out of it!" Rider yelled, her arms straining to hold her chain in place. But the dark swordswoman simply sliced the chain in two, rushing at the now-defenseless Rider-

"Trace on!" A shield materialized just in time to block the fatal stab! "Rider, run!" Archer cried, Rider promptly taking his advice and fleeing the room!

By this time, Mordred had recovered her sword, raising it up and speaking the invocation... "Clarent Blood Arthur!" she cried, unleashing red lightning at her 'father'...

But Alter just held out her sword, the energy wave splitting in two at the sword's point and missing her completely, blasting holes in the wall behind her! "Pathetic. Is that all you are capable of?"

"No way...!" Mordred gasped in shock, barely bringing her sword up to parry Alter's counterattack! Saber then slashed upwards, disarming Mordred again and knocking her on her back! But before Saber could finish her, she was kicked in the back by IF! She whirled around and swung her blade, but IF easily ducked and jump-kicked her in the face!

"How dare you!" Saber cried as she slashed again, IF deflecting the strike with her qatars! Her agility enabled her to keep pace with Saber Alter, trading blows with the swordswoman and even managing to put a few scratches on her armor! "I grow bored with this!" Saber growled as she gathered dark energy in her left hand, blasting IF away! She then raised her sword, the black blade being engulfed in darkness-

But then an arrow embedded itself in her upraised arm, Saber crying out in pain as her concentration was broken, glaring at the offender. "DIE!" she cried, charging at Archer... but instead of standing his ground or try to back away, Archer stepped forward, resulting in the two colliding bodily, Saber's momentum carrying them to the floor with her on top-

-causing her lips to inadvertently meet Archer's. His eyes went wide with shock, as did hers... and yet, she felt disinclined to pull away. (What... is this sensation? It seems so familiar, somehow... but why...?)

"Artoria!" Morgan's voice cut into her reverie. "What are you doing? Finish him!" Saber broke off the impromptu kiss, rising up, though still staring into Archer's eyes... "Do it! Kill Shirou Emiya!"

"Arty... please..." Archer said, his voice barely above a whisper... At that moment, he saw Saber's golden eyes light up in recognition.

"...No."

"What?" Morgan gasped.

"I... said... NO!" Saber Alter growled, rising off Archer completely, turning to face her mother. "You would dare order me to kill the man I love?!"

"Impossible!" Morgan cried in disbelief, stumbling back slightly. (The brainwashing was perfect! She shouldn't have the capacity to question my orders! How..?!)

"...you really are pathetic, Morgan." Archer gave a small grin as he pulled himself up. "You of all people, who had a husband and child of her own, have forgotten what love truly is..."

"W-what does that have to do with anything?!" Morgan vainly protested.

"Everything," Saber answered. "I remember now... you forbade me from seeing him when we were children... you said he wasn't worth my time!" She pointed her sword at Morgan. "But I also remember our first kiss... that's when I knew that Shirou and I were destined to be! Mother or not, you have no right to decide that for me!"

"Indeed! Love is a beautiful thing, umu~!" Nero declared happily. "Even if you try to taint it with darkness, you cannot deny it! Even if I went to several foster homes, I loved my adoptive families with all my heart, even if they did not reciprocate~!"

"That's not exactly the best example, Nero..." Tamamo sighed with a sweat-drop.

"It seems the worm has turned, Morgan," IF stated smugly. "You lose. No war profits for you."

"Y-you...!" Morgan shook with rage, glaring murderously at Archer. "This is...! This all your fault! DAMN YOU!" She hurled a blast of dark magic at him-

-but Saber stepped in front of Archer, easily deflecting the attack! "HOW DARE YOU?!" She cried in rage. "Had you just taken your leave and let us be, I would have let you go! But, no longer!" She sent a wave of darkness at Morgan, pushing her back and knocking her mask off her face!

"My word...!" Nero gasped upon the horrid sight, clasping her hands over her mouth... the left half of Morgan's face was badly scarred and burned, though the eye on that side seemed to still function... the unmarred right half indicated that she had once been quite beautiful, however.

"And now, I shall purge you from your wretched existence!" Saber Alter declared as she held up her sword before her. "Hammer of the Vile King Vortigern!" Darkness blazed up around her...

"No! STOP!" Morgan screeched as she put up a magic barrier. "I am your flesh and blood...!"

"Swallow the light! EXCALIBUR... MORGAN!" Saber brought down her sword, unleashing a massive wave of darkness that easily overwhelmed Morgan's hasty defense, the sorceress screaming as her hair and clothes burned away... then her skin... then her muscles and organs... until finally, even her skeleton broke apart and disintegrated from the force!

When the darkness faded away, there was nothing left of Morgan save two bloodied, disembodied feet, the wall behind her having been destroyed, a massive hole open to the outside air. "Goodbye, Mother dearest," Saber Alter lamented as she sheathed her sword. "See you in hell." She turned away, a single tear rolling down her cheek...

"D...Dear Goddess..." Nero fell to her knees in shock.

"Mikon..." Tamamo grunted with a similar shocked expression on her face.

"Holy shit..." Mordred gaped. "Imagine if she'd sent that at us..."

"Saber..." Archer said, walking up and taking her in a relieved, grateful embrace, Alter awkwardly hugging him back. "Thank goodness you came back to your senses..."

"...Sorry, Shirou," Saber grunted. Looking over at the others, she inquired, "But who are these people...?"

"W-we're your co-workers!" Nero stammered. "I mean, Tamamo and I are neophytes, but..."

"Holy shit, what happened?!" Rider gasped as she came back into the room, holding the Cath Palug in her arms.

"Love's true kiss cleared the darkness from Saber's mind!" Nero proclaimed. "Well, mostly..."

"Do I know you?" Saber looked at Rider in confusion.

"Come on, you should know her," Archer pulled back to look Saber in the eye. "She crashed into me with her bike when we were kids, remember?"

"...oh, yes. Now I remember," Saber Alter gave a small smile. "Sharon, was it?"

"That's me," Rider nodded. "But anyway... Merlin's gone! He vaped on us!"

"What?!" The group immediately followed Rider back to the prior room, and sure enough, only Merlin's white robe remained, still pinned to the wall by Archer's arrows.

"I could have sworn I knocked him senseless...!" Nero protested.

"He must have woken up while we were dealing with Morgan," IF deduced.

"And he left his little puppy behind?! How cruel!" Tamamo growled.

"Now the dog knows how I feel," Mordred snarked.

"And who might you be?" Saber Alter glared at the blonde. "I am certain we have not met before... are you one of Merlin's creations?!"

"She's a cooperating prisoner," IF quickly stepped in. "A half clone of you and Morgan."

"...Ah. I recall Morgan telling me that before she blackened me with her darkness," Saber nodded curtly. "So, you have seen the error of your ways?"

"W-well, I-I can safely say I d-don't wanna kill you anymore," Mordred babbled in fear. "I-I mean, you ARE my father, kinda..." Her fear increased as Saber left Archer's embrace and walked right up to her... "S-s-sorry...?" She almost forgot to breathe as Saber pressed a finger to her forehead.

"...You disappoint me," Alter stated bluntly. "You clearly have no idea how to properly wield a sword. The only thing going for you is your unique weapon... but if an enemy gets past that, you're helpless. No child of mine should be so incompetent. Do I make myself clear?"

"Y-y-yes ma'am!" Mordred nodded vigorously. "I-I'll t-try to be better from now on...!"

"See that you do." With that, Saber turned away, causing Mordred to heave a sigh of relief. "Shirou. You will take me home and cook me delicious food. This is not a request."

"Uhh... n-no problem," Archer grunted, caught off-guard at being put on the spot so suddenly. "Um, but tomorrow, we're taking you to Leona so she can try and get you back to normal, okay?"

"Fine. Let's go." Not waiting for a reply, Saber Alter promptly grabbed Archer by the arm and dragged him off...

"Uh, I'll see you guys tomorrow!" Archer shouted as he tried to keep up with Saber's brisk pace.

"Farewell for now!" Nero waved them off.

"...So, uh, who's gonna take care of the puppy?" Tamamo asked as she looked at the Cath Palug in Rider's arms.

"We can't," Rider shook her head. "My complex has a strict 'no dogs allowed' policy."

"Fouuuu..." the critter's ears drooped sadly.

"I'll take it to Compa's house," IF offered. "She's always wanted a pet... But what should we call it? 'Cath Palug' doesn't really fit it..."

"Fou! Fou!" the creature barked.

"How about we just call it 'Fou' for now?" Tamamo suggested.

"A bit simplistic, but it works. Fou it is!" Nero exclaimed.

"Fou it is," Rider concurred, handing it over to IF. "In the meantime... Red Saber, Caster. Retrieve those bloody feet so Leona can analyze them. I wanna make sure we actually killed that bitch Morgan this time..."

"Y-you want us to handle those disgusting blood-covered severed feet?!" Nero's face contorted in disgust, as did Tamamo's.

"You're both probies, you have no say in the matter. GO!" Rider pointed. The two groaned in dismay as they reluctantly went to do as ordered...

*To be continued...*

And so Morgan meets her end... but can Saber be restored to normal? And what happened to Merlin? Find out next time!