CHAPTER 18:

THE OLD MAN, THE WEAPON, AND THE SERVANTS

It was another restless night that night. Between the heightened emotion of his argument with Hinako and yet another nightmare, Harry needed to clear his head. For once, he'd asked Tiamat to stay behind. The ancient entity was not happy, but even she, with her clingy nature, understood that sometimes, he just needed to be alone with his thoughts.

He wandered the streets of Uruk. He wondered, as he had before, at how much the people seemed to carry on as normal during this crisis. He wondered what fears they felt in their heart, from the goddesses attacking, the demonic beasts, and the ring of light Goetia had formed, staring down at them like the Eye of Sauron from the sky.

He'd been notified during the debriefing this evening, shortly after dinner, about the Servants they were going to try and be sent tomorrow, with Harry and Tiamat to command six more Servants between them. For him, Medusa's adult form as a Rider, Mordred Pendragon, and Jeanne d'Arc. For Tiamat, Atalanta, Jack the Ripper, and Alice. He actually hoped it would work, as Servants were superhuman entities, and they needed all the help they could get. He hoped Hermione and Ritsuka's reassurances about their respective characters were spot-on. Mordred and Jack the Ripper were infamous figures, after all, though Arturia's assurances helped. If she could forgive and even get along with the child who caused her death, then Mordred can't be all that bad, he hoped. Arturia didn't seem as forgiving as, say, Dumbledore.

He was so engrossed in his thoughts, he didn't realise who he had passed in another alley until he heard a familiar, deep, elderly voice. "Thou art more troubled than before, Progeny of the True Peverell."

He looked around to see the familiar hooded figure of the old man he had encountered before, standing straight, though one change was that, instead of a staff, his hands were placed on a massive greatsword, one that, while not elaborate, was impressive not just by size, but by the wear and tear it clearly had seen. "Ziusudra…or is that King Hassan?"

"Either name is pleasing to mine ears," the old man said, his hard gaze still focused on Harry. "Thou hast spoken of me to thy learned friend." It was not a question, merely a statement.

"You mean Hermione? Yeah. So, why are you here?"

King Hassan looked at him sternly. "Thy question hast an obvious answer. We Grand Servants are summoned by the Counter-Force when there is a truly devastating danger to the world, including Beasts of Calamity. The Primordial Mother's presence brought me here soon after mine work was done in the Camelot Singularity. True, thou hast swayed her away from her path, but the greater part of her desires what she has wished for since time immemorial."

"You're going to kill her," Harry said flatly.

"Only if she proves to be a threat," King Hassan said. "The part that travels with thee, she hast no reason to fear my blade. She is stagnant no longer, she changes, evolves, progresses. The Beast of Regression changes for the better. But she is but a small part of Tiamat. And her connection to humanity is primarily through thine own self. This, then, is perhaps her test, to see if she can truly overcome her instincts as a Beast of Calamity. I hope, for her sake, for thine own, and for the sake of the world, that she succeeds."

"She will," Harry said grimly. "Tiamat, the one that's lending her power to the impostor…in the end, she's alone. She can birth so many minions, I'm sure, but…she doesn't have the love she desires. Tia, though…she has my love at the very least, and the alliance of so many others here. This is not her test. This is a battle in deadly earnest."

King Hassan harrumphed, though the sound had an approving air about it. "At least thou understands what is at stake, wizard. I will leave thee to thine thoughts."

"…What, are you not going to criticise me for wanting to change the past? Everyone else is doing it," he remarked sardonically.

"I am but a tool of the World, Progeny of the True Peverell," King Hassan said. "While advice I can give thee on such matters, others are far better suited to do so than I. The joyous one, thy learned friend, and the King of Knights. Heed their words, Progeny of the True Peverell. But if thou desire advice from my lips, then heed these words. Discard not the joys of the present for correcting the follies of the past, especially follies that were not thine own. Thou art not the sole architect of the calamities that plagued thy life and those of thine allies by any means, nor art thou the most prominent. To take on those burdens is folly. Well-meaning folly, but folly all the same. I speak from experience, wizard."

"…Easy for you to say."

"Indeed. The shackles of the past are not easy to break and discard," King Hassan said solemnly. "But thou art strong of mind, heart and soul. Thou art so much like Ignotus, righteous and quixotic, and yet compassionate. When next thou speak to the King of Knights, ask her about the Counter-Guardian EMIYA, and his past self. I shall take my leave."

And with that, dust blew in the area, and King Hassan vanished, leaving Harry in the early morning streets of Uruk. As Harry stood there, he heard gentle footfalls behind him, and turned to find Enkidu approaching. "What are you doing here?"

"Watching out for you. I did not eavesdrop on your conversation with that old man. I just saw you leaving, and, well, given how Hermione sees you as a friend…" The androgynous living weapon gave a smile. "Sorry if I seemed like I was interfering, Harry."

"No, you're actually concerned about me, unlike that vampire bitch," Harry said, approaching Enkidu. "She's pretty much the only one of the Chaldeans I hate. Everyone else, Master or Servant, they're either friendly or tolerable. Oda Nobunaga falls firmly into the latter category. She reminds me too much of Ibaraki-Douji. Anyway, you're at least nice, Enkidu, nothing like Kingu. I'm actually glad you came here. It's a pleasure to meet the one Gilgamesh valued so much."

"The pleasure is reciprocated, given how highly Hermione spoke of you." Enkidu then looked up at the sky, at the ring of light hanging over them. "Still, coming back to this time feels…ambivalent to me."

"I thought you'd be happy to see your friends again. Gilgamesh, Siduri, the people here…"

"Oh, I am. But…you know what this time is? It's the Age of the Gods. Or rather, its dying days. I believe the Germans have a term, Götterdämmerung, the Twilight of the Gods. The decline began when Altera's original form as Sephyr, the White Titan of Velber, came to this planet. Many deities fell at that time, including the Olympians. True, I will not miss many gods. Ishtar, for example. While her current form is…tolerable, even amusing, that human she is merged with has mitigated many of her worse aspects. It is why I didn't follow my first instinct to attack her on sight. The time of the gods is drawing to a close too soon. And with it, much of the wonder will leach from the world. Humanity is a builder of wonders and horrors both, true, but your era is…diminished, I'm sad to say. Seeing the world as it is, knowing what it will become…coming here is somewhat bittersweet."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's not your fault, Harry. There is little of the natural world I can go and experience at Chaldea, as most of the world has succumbed to the incineration of history, and Chaldea is in the Antarctic, so there is little life to experience beyond the hothouses we have. And to go forth…well, Mash feels the same way. You were told of her origins. In many ways, we are kin, weapons created for this. Though I feel sorry for her."

"Why?"

"…I believe she doesn't have long to live. She is part-Homunculus, and Homunculi generally have only a relatively short lifespan engineered into them. Hermione, along with Da Vinci, Dr Roman and the Director, have tried to extend it. However, her tapping into the power of Galahad has complicated things. Originally, her lifespan would last her until her eighteenth birthday. But due to the strain being a Demi-Servant puts on her…she may be lucky to reach her seventeenth."

Harry felt the blood drain from his face. "…What? And there's nothing anyone can do about it?"

"They are trying, Harry," Enkidu said solemnly. "That is Mash's burden."

Harry felt another surge of anger. "…Fucking Marisbury Animusphere."

"Yes, I believe those were Hermione's sentiments exactly, save for the expletive. And indeed, Olga-Marie's, too. She hates what her father did to Mash. But Mash…she finds the strength to carry on, despite everything. And perhaps we might find a way to allow her to live a normal life. She deserves that much."

"What about a Holy Grail? I mean, they can be used to emulate True Magic if need be, right? Can they be used to extend Mash's life?"

"I'm sure Da Vinci has already thought of that, and the Grails are tricky to harness under these circumstances. In any case, let's go back. Tiamat is probably worried about you…"

And indeed she was. She all but smothered him with her hug as they returned to the Chaldea HQ, singing songs of concern to him. She may have been clingy, it was in her nature, but he knew her concern was genuine.

After breakfast, part of the Chaldean contingent decamped to the roof, with Mash laying down her shield on the roof. As preparations were made by Hermione, Harry looked at Arturia. "So, you're fine with working with Mordred?"

"We have worked out our differences, Harry. And she's keen to meet you. Medusa, what of you? Are you fine with working with your adult self?"

The diminutive Gorgon nodded. "…I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous or that I was wholly on board with this, but…as long as it is not myself when I succumbed wholly to my curse, I am fine. I wish I could meet my sisters, though."

"Has Jeanne been notified of my presence?" Shirou Amakusa Tokisada asked, having come up with the Chaldean contingent.

"She has," Olga-Marie said via hologram. "She is willing to give you the benefit of the doubt for now. Given the tales the Servants who got involved in that Grail War in Romania shared with us, I'm honestly surprised that she is. So too is Mordred, albeit a little more reluctantly, and Atalanta."

Tiamat frowned. "This Atalanta, and the children…will they fight with me?"

Scáthach emitted a sardonic chuckle. "Until not so long ago, Jack the Ripper's sole desire was to return to the warmth of the womb. Given how you once desired to return all life to the primordial sea that is your own womb, I am sure you could find some common ground. Atalanta is one of our most maternal Servants, with only Boudica and Minamoto-no-Raikou matching her…and Raikou has a rather disturbing way of showing a maternal attitude. And finally, Alice, being the embodiment of children stories and nursery rhymes, is an everychild. A good Master and Servant relationship is based on compatibility and rapport. I am certain they will be fine with you."

Harry looked down at the piece of paper he'd been given by Hermione. Hinako had made some snide remark about him needing crib notes for the chant. The paper had the words of the chant. He had a window of perhaps a minute to anchor the Servants sent here and become their Master, along with Tiamat (who had memorised the chant in one go, much to his chagrin). Calming himself with an effort, he asked, "Tia, are you ready?"

She nodded, emitting one of her usual songs of acknowledgement. As a summoning circle flared out over Mash's shield, and a sextet of figures appeared in a flare of light, they began their chant. "Heed my words. My will creates your bodies, and your swords my destiny. Together, we forge the future of humanity! When all is naught, we shall be the guiding light!"

He felt it then, the tug on his soul that signified a drain on his mana supplies. He continued onward. "I hereby swear, I shall be all the good in the world, that I shall defeat all the evil in the world! Seventh heaven clad and the great words of power, grant me the power to lead the Guardians of the Scales!"

A sting of pain in his right hand, a red elaborate symbol appearing there, as finally, the figures coalesced, their tenuous existence made more solid, more real, by the completion of the ritual. "Ugh, that was rough," groaned an armoured figure. "Gimme normal Rayshifting any time." Said figure then looked at Harry. She appeared to be a girl in her mid-teens, with messy blonde hair done up in a ponytail. She looked very much like Arturia, but wilder, and her armour was more intimidating. "Sup? You're Harry, right? Thought you'd be taller. I'm Mordred."

"Pleasure to meet you, Mordred, I hope."

"Oi, you'll be hoping nothing! Between me and Father, this Singularity is as good as done!" the young knight boasted.

"Mordred, a little decorum, please," spoke the young woman in her late teens near her. She appeared to be dressed in medieval armour, and held a flagpole in one hand. Blonde hair was done up in a longer, more elaborate ponytail than Mordred's. Her face, superficially like the Pendragons, nonetheless had a calm, serene beauty, from which amethyst rather than emerald eyes stared out. "Good morning, Harry Potter. I am Ruler, true name, Jeanne d'Arc…though I think you knew that already."

"Yeah, sorry. Nice to meet you," Harry said to the famous saint, before he turned his attention to the tall young woman, dressed rather daringly in a black, toga-like dress with purple edges. Although buxom and tall, the face and hair made it clear this was Medusa as an adult, though her eyes were covered by a rigid blindfold. "Medusa, right? A pleasure to meet you too. Then again, I've met you before."

"Indeed," the older version of the diminutive Gorgon remarked, her voice a sultry purr, before her gaze snapped to her younger self. She walked over, and knelt down, meeting the gaze of her younger self. Eventually, the older version hugged the younger version. No words were said, but there were quiet sobs on both sides. "Excuse me, Harry," the older one said. "I wish to catch up with my younger self. May I?"

Harry nodded. "Go ahead." As both Medusas left, Harry turned to see how Tiamat was doing. The fact that she was hugging the two children that had appeared, both with silver hair, was heartening, as was her delighted humming. One was dressed in Victorian dress and had violet eyes, and was presumably Alice, aka the living storybook known as 'Nursery Rhyme'. The other wore a hoodie and trousers, her hair cut in a ragged bob that framed a cute face marred with a pair of scars. This, presumably, was Jack the Ripper.

Looking on in bemused amusement was a young woman with a messy mane of green and blonde hair. A pair of cat ears protruded from the top of her hair, while a tail snaked out from beneath her skirt. Her beauty was a stern one, and yet, the way she smiled at Tiamat was warm, and there was a maternal element to her. This must be Atalanta, the Greek huntress who was one of the Argonauts.

"Hey, Tia," Harry said. "Don't steal her kids, okay?"

Tiamat looked to him, and pouted. She actually pouted. "But they're adorable. Can we keep them? Please?"

This caused everyone present to burst out laughing. Even Hinako laughed at that. And when you're in the business of saving the world from almighty forces that wanted to wipe it out, you needed to find humour where you could. And the fact that the Primordial Mother was begging with puppy dog eyes (despite the fact that she was pretty much a dragon) to keep a pair of kids (one of whom was a living storybook, the other a gestalt of souls that became an infamous serial killer, and their adoptive mother was Ancient Greece's most famous huntress) was just ludicrous and hilarious.

Of course, moments of levity like this weren't as common as they should be. But that made them all the more valuable, and needed to be savoured. Because all too soon, more darkness would arrive, and moments like these were only temporary respites…

CHAPTER 18 ANNOTATIONS:

Well, there you go. Harry's had a needed talk with King Hassan and Enkidu, and we finally get to see the Servants Harry and Tiamat will be commanding. After this, we'll probably have a timeskip to the events of the Singularity proper. I mean, when the actual story happens, as opposed to the errands the Chaldeans did. True, things have been altered by Harry's presence, so they get to start investigating sooner, due to Gilgamesh being better inclined towards them, but still…

In addition, I have to thank GhostXavier for giving me kind permission to use their modified version of the summoning chant. They created this for their fic Fragments of Chaldea as Chaldea's summoning chant…well, it's actually used for Chaldean Masters to gain their Command Seals, but you get the idea. GhostXavier also kindly allowed me to use their OCs from that story for my previous Fate/Grand Order crossover, Zabaniya, though I'm refraining from doing that here. If you enjoy Fate/Grand Order, and haven't checked out Fragments of Chaldea and its associated fics, fix that forthwith. You're missing out, otherwise.

Anyway, I know I said this in the previous chapter, but I honestly don't know when the next chapter will be out. But it's a good part to leave off on, with everyone laughing in the calm before the storms…

Review-answering time! Have a Little Feith: That is wholly coincidental. I basically looked up Tiamat's article on Wikipedia (the one for the original deity the Nasuverse version was based on) for ideas for NP names, and I never really made the connection. Also, it's not unique to Nero, though she is the most famous Nasuverse character to use this verbal tic. Oda Nobunaga uses it, for example.

Loamy Coffee and ObsidianUnknown66: While Hermione understands to a degree, Arturia is probably the best person to talk to about this. Harry already trusts her thanks to Merlin (while he doesn't trust Merlin per se, Merlin did talk up Arturia, and the fact that she is with Hermione helps), and once she drops the kingly mask, Arturia is quite friendly in her understated way.

Skull Flame: I worded that sentence a bit wrongly, so I've changed it to make it clearer. And I did put some work into considering what abilities Tiamat has, beyond birthing minions and chomping on the enemy or firing fricking laser beams at them. It's actually quite fun, on a par with how I worked on different Noble Phantasms for my Rider version of Altera for Obtaining Salvation. The first two abilities are basically her exploiting the fact that she's the mother of all life, and thus has an influence over anything with biology. Unfortunately, this is nerfed for Servants, as they are composed of Spiritron particles. Nammu Duranki can still affect them, but instead of exploding into giblets, they just get damaged, and the healing effects of Ummu-Hubur are likewise nerfed as well. However, her third and final ability is incredibly potent. Enuma Elish is going to be spectacular when I get to it. And, of course, there's her transformations. You have the three from canon, but there'll be a fourth…

No numbered annotations this time.