A/N: Hey guys. Sorry it took me so long to get this chapter released, but a combination of writer's block, updates on a few writer's whose fics I've been following, and some things IRL has kind of gotten me a bit behind. This week I am doing a double release as an apology. So expect the next chapter to be released by the end of this week. Since there wasn't really enough reviews this time to warrant a reviewer review, I'll just move onto the disclaimer:
DISCLAIMER: I do NOT own 'Campione!', 'FATE', or any other franchise referenced in my fic. They are the properties and copyrights of their respective owners and creators, and I give credit to the authors of any references to other fics I make to the best of my abilities as I use them. This is a FREE FANFIC of a FANFIC, meaning an UNPAID FAN-MADE FICTION of a FAN-MADE FICTION. I make no money off of this story, nor do I claim ownership of any of the franchises referenced. If you paid to read this, then you got ripped off. And if you do not like it, then you do not have to read it. Nobody is making you. So just give your criticism, stop reading, and quit being an ass to everybody else.
And now onto the story:
Story Start:
God Slaying Blade Works: The King of Wrought Iron
Twenty-first Blade: Road to the Feast of Kings Final Part
Forest outside the Mariya Shrine
Godou P.O.V.
I was currently practicing a few sword swings using a wooden bokutou Emiya-san made me that he enchanted to weigh it down to match my current level of strength and shaped similar to [Ama no Murakumo no Tsurugi] in appearance. It was something Emiya-san suggested as a way to help me get used to my weapon and make it easier to wield it whenever I summoned the sword-god in battle or whenever I may need it. I still could not wrap my head around just how the guy was crazy enough to forge training weapons that big and still swing them around after enchanting them with runes to weigh at least fifty times what they already would have...those things cratered the ground about a meter in radius just by dropping them without the added weight after activating their enchantments; I do not want to even think about considering what damage they would do to anybody unlucky enough to be hit by them in a spar...
...unfortunately I found that out firsthand during my last training session with Emiya-san...he really did hold a grudge against me for that cheap shot [Sun Wukong] got in during the Saitenguu Incident...I couldn't even lift one of the damned things without them activated, and he was swinging them at me left and right after he activated their enchantments...that was not a training session from hell...it was WORSE...
Suppressing a shudder as I blocked out the memory of what happened, I focused my attention back on the training session at hand. From what I was told by Emiya-san, and from what [Ama no Murakumo] told me, the sword-god can move for it's wielder, but the more skilled the wielder was, the less the burden the action would place upon me. So I was trying to familiarize myself with the sword stances that I would most likely be using with [Ama no Murakumo] by using a wooden training sword enchanted to be heavier than the genuine article to make it easier for me to fight with while building up my own physical strength to supplement the blows.
"My word, King Kusanagi, you're getting a lot better at using a sword that heavy. It's actually very admirable that you're training to use one so you'd be better prepared for wielding [Ama no Murakumo]." I heard Hikari-chan speak behind me as I continued my practice. Not stopping for a second, I replied to her while I kept it up.
"It was...an idea...given to me...by Emiya-san...He's been...teaching me...a few things...to help me out...with my authorities...and advice that...he feels can help me...in the long run..." I pant out between breathes as I kept up my practice while I respond to the younger Mariya. After the Saitenguu Incident, Yuri had her checked out, as per Emiya-san's and Illya-chan's request. As they were afraid of, she suffered from a bit of spiritual contamination, but on the positive side, it was not anything too severe, and didn't drastically affect her personality or her duties as a hime-miko. It did however, seem to increase her mischievous tendencies, and make her a bit stronger physically, though Yuri is starting to begin complaining that her pranks are even worse than they were before…
"...wait...King Emiya suggested it? He's been training you and Shizuka-chan?"
"Not just….us...but also...Liliana...Erica...Ena...and Yuri too...Emiya-san especially...takes a strong...interest in trying...to help me….personally in...overseeing my...training..." *THUD* "...time for a break..." I respond to Hikari-chan's question as I dropped the practice sword, which left quite the small hole in the ground, causing Hikari-chan's eyes to shoot wide open when she saw how deep it was sunk into the ground. "...oh crap...now I'll have to dig back it out again..." I grumbled a bit at this. I knew it was heavy, but I keep forgetting not to just drop the damned thing whenever I take a break. Yuri kept roasting me for about two hours straight the last time this happened, and now I am probably going to be suffering this yet again when she sees this new hole her family will have to fill back in...maybe I should look into finding a place to train where I won't have to worry about the property damage, like Emiya-san did with his ranch that he owns...maybe I could look into getting myself something similar, if not a private place to train at out of public view…
"...uh, King Kusanagi...I think Onee-chan's gonna have a stroke if she sees that new hole you just made..."
"...please don't remind me, Hikari-chan...I already figured out I'd be in for a lecture after the fifth one I made a while back...anyway, did you need something from me?"
"OH, that's right." Hikari-chan suddenly squeaked rather cutely as she pulled something from her pocket and handed it to me. "King Emiya sent this to your house, as well as to all parties involved in the Saitenguu Incident whom he decided to invite, from the Hero of Los Angeles and her Eminence, to the companions and even a few representatives of the Committee to act as representatives for them who were there as well. It seems he's really planning to throw this 'Feast of Kings' I heard Onee-chan talk about. Erica-san already read it and said she decided she'd drag you to it if she had to in order to make you go to it."
Sighing in exasperation, I took the invite and read it quickly and carefully. I was told by Emiya-san to be very careful in dealing with anything like this, as he wanted to make sure I never signed or did anything without first knowing full well what I was getting myself into. According to him, there are some mages in the world who have no problem whatsoever using magic contracts to force compliance by tricking people with conditions and such, Giovanni being a prime example of this, given what that bastard did to his own subordinates. Emiya-san told me at he doesn't have much talent for it, but he does at least know enough about them to write one up if he has to...
'Dear Honored Guest,
You are hereby invited to the Emiya Estate for a celebration in a competition of Kingship between Four Kings. Keep this invite on your person, as it will act as a pass to get into the grounds and past security. Dress code is formal optional, but casual is recommended if it makes you more comfortable. I hope you enjoy the night, and any guests brought with you will be accommodated to the best of the staff's abilities. The event is being held at 4:00 P.M.at the Emiya Manor. We hope to see you soon.
Yasutaro Renji, Servant and Left Hand to King Emiya Shirou'
...this was most certainly a surprise...if Renji-san was Emiya-san's left hand, then did that make Kurogane-san his right hand? I wonder ho-
"KUSANAGI GODOU! TELL ME YOU DID NOT MAKE ANOTHER HOLE IN THE MARIYA SHRINE GROUNDS AGAIN?!"
...oh shit, I am so charcoal after this roasting I'm about to receive...I noticed Hikari-chan simply giving me a pitying look as she knew what was about to happen as Yuri stormed over with such a fury in her eyes that I knew instantly from a glance that I was in serious trouble this time...why me...just why…
Scene Change
Emiya Estate Grounds
Third-person P.O.V.
Agatha had been going about helping with the other staff in making the upcoming feast as much of a success as possible. She and the other former Circle members knew just how lenient and kind a King they had sworn to serve was, especially when he gave the others a chance to save some face by swearing themselves into service to both himself and those he called his family. While the apothecary knew he was very...graphic...in his explanation of what he would do to them if they tried to pull anything like what the Circle did again or if they refused, he showed he was rather odd as far as Devil Kings went. King Emiya did not judge others for what they were, but rather for WHO they were, using a person's actions to speak for them rather than their words, and merely judges by what he sees with his own two eyes rather than what he hears from others. All in all, he and King Kusanagi seem to be quite the pair of odd Devil Kings by the standards of the Mystical Community…
Johanne had been coming to visit the Emiya Manor in his intentions to report to Ayamatsu directly that the former commander was almost healed up, but that there was something new that had just came up which worried his sister, the commander, and himself in regards to his nephew. She would most likely be just as worried as they were when she heard his report, especially when the implications of such a thing finally sink in for just what they imply….
While the two were both distracted by what their respective duties required of them, they failed to notice the other right in front of them before it was too late…and in his rushed haste, Johanne crashed right into Agatha as she was carrying some very heavy alchemy tools that were in a crate she was carrying...
"Oof!" "Kyaa!" "Look out!"
*whuwhuthuthump**skrksshsh*
After accidentally running into her, Johanne's years of battle-honed instinct kicked in, he grabbed the lady he ran into and shielded her with his own body as the objects she was carrying landed on his back after they went flying up into the air when he knocked the poor woman down. After wincing slightly at the impacts of the rather weighty materials landing on his back, he realized just why the one he ran into was so preoccupied: that stuff she was carrying had quite a bit of weight to it. He swore he might have bruised a bone or two from the weight alone…
"Sorry about that...are...you..."
Johanne's voice trailed off, for in that instant, he swore he had been struck by lightning, as the woman he had accidentally bumped into was a beauty in his eyes that was the very epitome of what his ideal woman embodied...She was about his age, and had what looked to be Greek features, with a rather modest attire that showed off her rather feminine curves, nothing too luscious, yet perfectly proportioned. She had what seemed to be a rather well toned physique, not muscular by any stretch of the word, but not completely scrawny either. Her hair which had splayed out when she landed, was about waist length and a beautiful rose red in color, with the small hat she had on her head landing lightly on the ground nearby. She had a slightly sun-kissed skin, lightly tanned with not a single blemish he could see. Her eyes seemed to shimmer, almost like a couple of amethyst gemstones with their beauty, and sparkled with a purity to them that was unmistakable...the veteran First Lieutenant of the Dragoons swore at that moment, he had just experienced first-hand how it felt to fall in love at first sight…
Agatha, for her part, was rather miffed slightly. She knew she shouldn't have tried to carry so much of those things by herself, but she didn't wish to trouble the others with her work. She needed to get these alchemic tools moved to the shared workshop she and the other Circle members were given by King Emiya for their spell craft, but she didn't wish to keep the others from the feast's preparations. As she looked up at the one she ran into, she was about to respond to him, but her breathe hitched in that instant by his appearance…
He was a man in his late twenties, early thirties, with platinum-blonde hair that was more silver in color, with eyes that were such a pale, cool blue with how they almost seemed to glow, that for an instant Agatha thought they were actually glowing with an ethereal light of their own. His fedora had fallen next to her own hat, and the two landed in a manner which seemed almost reflective of how she felt at that moment. He was wearing what looked to be the Dragoon uniform, but one modified slightly, and which denoted his rank and specialty as a close to mid-range fighter. His left arm was replaced with one of their specialty prosthesis, which showed he had definitely seen action at some point in the past. He was somebody she swore that her body seemed to instinctively want to drag off to King Emiya's personal 'Playroom' and begin to ride like there was no tomorrow...and Agatha didn't think she would have objected to such an act at that particular moment, consequences be damned…
However, their little moment that seemed to last what felt like an eternity for them was not to last…
"Agatha, are you alright?! I heard-?!"
"Johanne, are you here yet? I was told yo-?!"
Both Illyasviel and Ayamatsu walked into opposite ends of the hallway the two of them had landed in with a rather awkward atmosphere suddenly surrounding the four of them. For Ayamatsu, she simply had begun to gawk at the two in complete disbelief as her face began to light up like a Christmas tree, whereas Illyasviel had suddenly started to grin like the cat that ate the canary at the sight before she decided to make a cheeky comment at the two's expense…
"Wow Agatha, I'll just come and get you in about an hour or two. Take your time. Oh, and the 'playroom' is currently open, but I'll let everybody know not to enter for a while. Have fun.~ Oh, and remember to use protection.~"
She said as she walked over and suddenly grabbed Ayamatsu who had the most flustered face imaginable with how much she suddenly fought the blush burning its way up her face at the sight. Johanne and Agatha were just confused before they suddenly realized they were in a rather suggestively...compromising...position before their faces both suddenly began doing a rather good impression of a tomato with how red they got in realization of their position to one another in an instant.
"KYAAAAA!" "I'MSORRYI'MSORRYI'MSORRYI'MSORRYI'MSOSORRY!"
The two of them suddenly separated so quickly, it was almost like the two had suddenly stopped time as they separated from each other, as in an instant they were apart with Johanne suddenly appearing to be bending at a perfect 90 degree angle, bowing repeatedly as he rapidly apologized while Agatha for her part hid her face with her hat in a futile attempt to hide the embarrassment she felt of what had just happened…
...this chance encounter would later be looked upon rather fondly by the two of them in their later years, as it was how Johanne von Kraussernak met the woman who would later become known as Agatha von Kraussernak, his loving, devoted wife and the love of his life whom he had quite a few children together with…
...and as for Agatha, this was the moment for her where she met the man she later saw as her soul mate...and would embarrassingly admitted she felt the urge to be with him at first sight...a case of instinctively knowing who her ideal partner was in the most primal of ways...
Scene Change
Luo Hao P.O.V.
I could not help the look of slight sadness within my gaze as I looked down at the invitation I had received from King Emiya's servant. As I recalled how he had explained to me why he was lenient with that rather rude girl, I could not help but recall the painful memories of my own family...of the loss of the ones I called my parents, all those I came to care for dying of old age or other causes while I remained still ever youthful due to my status and capabilities as a Raksasha Raja…
Even after all this time, the pain of losing ones family is not easy to fully mend. One can fill the void with something else to replace what was lost, but one can never truly forget the pain of losing those who raised you who you called family. It was part of the reason why I could not help but pardon the girls actions at that moment...I could not help but to overlap the image of my own self over the girl's image...I could easily see the white hair replaced with black locks, the purple and white replaced with brown and black, and the puffy, blood red eyes replaced with emerald green...it was so much like how I looked when my parents died that I could not bring myself to keep my anger within myself at her outburst…
"Master...this Young Eagle is prepared to go anytime to King Emiya's feast. I have worked diligently to bring the best attire I could manage to suit your preferences while also fitting the criteria King Emiya stated in his invitation in the time I had available." My Young Eagle reported to me with all the deference in his attitude as I had taught him. Though there was also a hint of concern, as he noticed the slight sadness in my eyes. I never liked talking about what happened to my family, as it is something best not brought up. However, even my student noticed the reaction I had to Miss Einzbern's actions in regards to King Emiya. My Young Eagle knows I don't like to talk about my own family, as they died a long time ago, but he knew enough at least to not ask about it.
The disciples I've gathered that follow me also helps to fill the void. In a sense, the followers whom I have taken under my wing are a surrogate to the family I lost so long ago. It is also why I have taken to calling my number one disciple 'Young Eagle'...it was what my parents used to call me growing up as they trained me in the ways of the Martial Artist. The young heir of the Lu family reminds me so much of how I used to be when I was young. It was why I took him as my personal student, as I did not wish for him to make the same mistakes I made in my youth that led to my own sufferings…
"Master...are you okay? You were acting a little strange and out of it lately..."
I suddenly snapped out of my thoughts and turned my attention back to my disciple. Shaking my head mentally to clear my depressing thoughts away, I turned to answer him.
"I am fine Young Eagle. Just thinking about a few things that meeting with King Emiya reminded me of from my own past."
"...if you say so Master, then I will not pry any further...though I have to say, I brought a little something that I felt might help you out with the one who caught your eye back at the Saitenguu." My student answered me after a slight pause and handed me a little something, which confused me slightly before I realized just what it was and began to blush horribly at what was in my hands… "I noticed how he caught your interest, so I felt this might boost your appeal with him Master, if you manage to get him alone with you for a long enough time."
The grin he had on his face was rather smug, before he suddenly began to tremble in terror at the rather frightening smile I started to give him. "And do tell, Young Eagle, just where did you manage to procure this from?" He began to sweat bullets and refuse to speak, as he knew why I was upset. After all, what he just handed me was a Chinese herbal medicine for helping to increase fertility and a pair of rather improper undergarments I had kept hidden in my drawers at my home back in China. I would later apologize to the staff at this hotel, but the punishment I needed to give my disciple for his blatant disrespect for women was enough to make me have to beat him senseless for about an hour before I had to get ready to leave.
Scene Change
Annie P.O.V.
I was resting in my hotel room as I received the invitation from King Emiya. I knew I did not wish to attend until I sorted my feelings out, but something about his magic just...it was like I felt as though there was something about him that complimented with my 'John Pluto Smith' persona, yet also resonated with my womanly desires as 'Annie Charlton'. It was just so confusing for me, as I had never met anybody who had such an effect on me; it felt like my body was instinctively seeking to bear children and was reacting heavily to his magic…
Sighing at what I knew was pointless delaying, I decided to get ready. While 'Annie' was still in turmoil, 'John Pluto Smith' decided to get ready. While normally 'he' didn't dress in anything too extravagant, since this was a somewhat formal party that 'he' was invited too, 'John Pluto Smith' decided to dress up with a bit of a formal spin to 'his' usual attire. 'Annie' was still of mixed feelings, and 'John Pluto Smith' was just as confused by it, but what they could both agree on was that they needed to be ready for the feast they were invited to. After all, it was rude to keep those who would invite you to dine with them waiting for too long…
Scene Change
Voban's Residence
To say that Sasha Dejanstahl Voban was a man who did not feel anything would be a lie. He does feel things, he just normally only feels boredom as a Devil King. As the oldest of the current living Campione, and the oldest remaining from the old generation, he has lived a very long, very boring life for the most part. It is actually both very unusual and very disconcerting for him to show anything but boredom or blood lust in response to anything. However, there are times when even he feels rage or anything else.
Currently, the Balkan Devil was in a very foul mood, due in part to the report he had just received. Not one, not two, but FOUR heretic gods descended upon the mortal plane, and he had missed it. To say he was not brooding and lamenting this would be a lie, yet no one would dare say so to his face, lest he slew them on the spot. He never really cared mush for modern advances, be they technological or otherwise, as he believed them to hinder his ability to hunt...yet now he was beginning to feel regret for what seemed like the first time in his life. The greatest battle between gods and god-slayers in history, AND HE WAS NOT THERE TO PARTICIPATE! To say he was upset was an understatement, as any who have ever met the Romanian King would know he was a hunter who lived for the thrill of the hunt and a bit of an adrenaline junkie who had an addiction to the rush of battle. Even the great Marquis Voban himself acknowledged this fact a bit himself, though he never said it out loud.
His disbelief did not end when he learned his newest adopted sibling was hosting a feast for the four Kings and their guests to attend that had participated in this historic event...after all, there has never been FOUR heretic gods to descend upon the mortal plane at once, nor have there ever been four Kings to join forces together to battle said gods side by side before as allies. To say he was feeling regret would be a lie, as he has never felt such regret as he did in the moment he learned of this incident. His mood only brightened after he began to think things through after brooding for about three days straight, and frightening his servants by his rather odd behavior, which was even more volatile than treading through a minefield while being fired upon by machine guns nonstop than usual.
After thinking about it, and as regrettable as it was, the Balkan Devil realized that there was no point to him being there at all. There were already four Campione taking place, each were powerful in their own rights, one for each God. If he had been there, then there would have been far too much chaos to truly enjoy it, Besides, he and the Seventh, Kusanagi Godou, do not get along very well, after their last encounter. To expect the two to work together was tantamount to an impossibility. Not to mention that he did not fight very well in a group. He was more of a solo fighter and a hunter; he enjoyed the thrill of the hunt and the rush of a fight. Teamwork and fighting alongside others was not a part of his style, not to mention that the newly dubbed King of Ruin was one who cared for the people under him. No, him being there would not have been of any use. It would have only increased the chaos unnecessarily.
As for King Emiya's 'Feast of Kings' which he invited all those who participated in the battle to, as much as he would have liked the thought of attending, simply out of curiosity, he felt it would not have been appropriate, like a man begging for scraps in some alleyway. If there was one thing he would never do, it would be that ever again. He would rather face purgatory and suffer endless pain for eternity in death than he would ever beg like he did as an orphaned brat on the streets as a child prior to becoming a King and usurping the position of the former marquis he had ousted for his suffering under his regime. While others may call him evil or a tyrant, the Balkan Devil was perfectly fine with that. If he was a monster, than he was a monster that was made by the cruelty of the reality of survival of the fittest. He was forced to endure hardships in his youth that forced him to grow up as a scrawny and homeless brat with nothing to lose and everything to gain. After all, when you are at rock bottom, there is absolutely nothing holding you back.
In the end, there is no reason for him to even bother worrying about being there or not. The only thing he regrets is how he might not have been able to enjoy such a never before seen event of unprecedented proportions. To have fought in such a glorious battle, to say that Voban was not somewhat jealous would be a lie, and even he would admit it, but even so, he was not going to get too worked up about it. After all, its not like there's anything about the feast that has anything to do with him…
...little did Voban know, the incident known as the Feast of Kings would end up involving him after its conclusion, when his youngest sibling came to his territory chasing down the monster that threatened the Balkan Devils domain and devoured his servants…
...Nor was he aware of how such a meeting would show the world that the Balkan Devil was not entirely the cold-hearted, ruthlessly evil tyrant everybody believed him to be...or the offer that would eventually lead to him actually beginning to have ties to others other than that of a tyrannical king and his fearful servants…
Scene Change
Plutarch P.O.V.
And so the preparations have been completed…
The Guests are coming to attend the feast held in celebration…
The Enemies in the shadows have begun to start making their moves…
The King who started all of this has begun to regain the powers that were wrongfully stolen from him…
And the long dormant Gods whom have been long since forgotten or slumbered have begun to move and awaken from their slumber once again…
Now I cannot help but wonder, Demon King of Wrought Iron who sits atop the Throne of Heroes...how will you react to all this...and how long before you finally claim your birthright and give me my long awaited and long deserved eternal rest…
I cannot wait to see and find out, as this Old Man of Time is getting too old for this...
A/N: Hey peeps. That's the final part to the Road to Feast. Next chapter will be the first part of the actual Feast of Kings. I plan to release it sometime later this week as an apology to not releasing one last week. I know it was a bit short, but what can ya do? I Would have done an omake at the end, but given what I plan to do next chapter, I will hold out on it. However, I will do a bit of a poll as an added apology. Do you all wish for me to do a continuation of the RWBY omake, or a new one next Arc? I will use the results to decide what the Omake I use at the end of the Feat of Kings arc will be. So vote for it when you get the chance. Until next chapter. PEACE OUT!