Original Archive of Our Own Posting Date: September 10, 2020
"It's getting closer!"
"Really? I couldn't tell!" I snapped rather harshly. I instantly felt bad for using such a tone towards my fellow Master, but right now wasn't the best time to shout out obvious advice. We approached the castle, and paused by the hole in the front wall. "I'm sorry about that, Rits," I said, turning to my friend.
"It's ok. I think we're all on edge right now," Ritsuka said, and I gave me a weak grin in response. I then turned to the others.
"Mordred, Jeanne, Mash, you'll follow Ritsuka and I. Everyone else, get ready," I instructed before we moved into the castle.
It took us about five minutes or so of wandering around the darkened corridors before suddenly Mash, who had taken point, cried out happily.
"There you are!" Mash exclaimed between Ritsuka and I in clear relief. I squinted my eyes at the hidden figure. It was a tall figure with a long, two-handed sword. A faint light blue glow emanated from his body. Suddenly, the figure moved towards us.
"One…after another…" He said in a baritone-like voice, swinging his sword towards Mash. Mordred shoved me to the side, somewhat gently thankfully, and blocked the sword strike with Clarent.
"Mordred! Don't kill him, we need him alive," I reminded the battle-hungry blonde. However, it seems that I wouldn't have to worry about a fight breaking out, as I could see Mordred take a half-step backwards. I was able to see a gleam of surprise and recognition in her eyes as the Servant lowered his own sword.
"Saber of Black?! What's this, a Greater Grail War reunion?" I heard her mutter to herself in wonder. The Servant took a half-step closer, moving in a non-threatening manner as he stepped into the light. He had long, silvery hair, and greenish-blue eyes. His sword was indeed a simple two-handed design that had the scars of war marking the blade. He had silvery shoulder guards and gauntlets, but yet he bore no breastplate, or even a proper shirt, revealing a well-toned chest chiseled from rock. The two most eye-catching features about the Servant before us was the arcane marking that trailed up his chest to the side of his face that seemed to pulsate a light blue, the same blue that had been glowing earlier, and a wound that he was now pressing a hand to.
Jeanne gasped slightly at the sight. "What a terrible wound," I heard her say from behind. The mysterious Servant didn't respond to that, however, eyes locked onto my Saber, confused.
"Do I know you?" He asked Mordred. She shook her head.
"Not unless you are secretly a homunculus pretending to be a Heroic Spirit. We were supposed to be opponents in a Grail War, but that's something to deal with later," the Knight of Rebellion said in a rather guarded tone. I could see her desire to challenge him to a duel, perhaps, but thankfully she hadn't forgotten what was at stake. Ritsuka shot me a questioning look, which I shrugged.
Note to self: Get Mordred to explain what the hell happened in her Grail War.
"Please wait," Jeanne implored, stepping forward and standing next to Mordred. "We are on your side. Or, at the very least, we have no desire to bring any more harm upon you." The Servant opened his mouth to speak when the building trembled.
"At any rate, please hurry!" Mash said rather frantically, gesturing with her free hand the way we came in. "A dragon is approaching, along with several Servants. We're at an overwhelming disadvantage here-"
The Servant gripped his sword once more. Instead of trying to swing at us again, however, he walked closer, an intense look in his eyes as he stared past us. "A dragon, huh," he remarked. "I see. That's why I was summoned and then attacked." Mash nodded eagerly, happy to see progress.
"We'll help you, let's get out of here!" The dragon-slayer nodded, and we turned around, rushing back out into the open. We were immediately greeted by a panicking Marie. The sounds of thunderous wings was all around us. Winds created by each movement of wings whipped around us. The dragon was almost here.
"We gotta hurry…" my voice trailed off as a massive shadow moved over us as a massive bulk swooped down, landing before us.
The ground trembled as four massive, clawed, scaley feet landed in the town clearing square. A long, muscular black tail swished back and forth, caving in the remaining walls of the buildings behind the trunk of a body. A pervasive sense of dread filled my body, threatening to crush my spirits utterly as I gazed at a death incarnate. Bright orange eyes leered at us with pure malice. The dragon's jaws hung slightly open, revealing row upon row of razor-sharp fangs the size of daggers.
Leering down at us was Jeanne Alter. A saddle of sorts had been made that rested at the base of her dragon's neck, truly fitting for the Dragon Witch. She let out a short bark of cruel laughter as her gaze swept across our party.
"I was wondering what you found," the fallen saint admitted, smiling wickedly. "Turns out it's just another dying Servant. Very well, you can all die together!" As Jeanne Alter shouted those final words, she pressed her heels against the sides of her mount, who reared its massive head up and roared, drowning out the shouting our Servants were making around us.
As the dragon moved, a hysterical part of my mind replayed a memory of a book my mom had read to me as a child before bed. A massive dragon boasting about his invincibility against any threat to a small thief made invisible by a ring of power.
I kill when I wake. I am strong, strong, STRONG! My armor is like tenfold shields. My teeth are like swords, my claws spears. The shock of my tail, a thunderbolt! My wings a hurricane, and my breath death
I snapped out of it when I noticed that Mash had pushed past me, and was now standing between the dragon and us, her massive shield slamming into the ground as she braced her body.
"Mash?" Ritsuka asked, concerned, a sentiment I shared. While I hadn't gotten to experience it due to Mordred and I dealing with the corrupt Archer during Singularity F, Ritsuka had told me about Mash's Noble Phantasm, Lord Chaldea, and how it was a protective force field in a way. But because we couldn't test it before Rayshifting, we had no idea what its limits were.
"What are you doing?" I asked as Jeanne joined her, gripping the lower section of her weapon as she stared defiantly at the monster.
"Mash, we'll do it together!" Mash nodded nervously.
"R-Right!" She replied with a slight stammer. To her credit though, she did not lose her determination held in her eyes.
"Incinerate them, Fafnir!" Jeanne Alter shouted as the dragon opened its jaws. I saw a faint glow begin to form at the back of its mouth, undoubtedly the heralding of dragon fire.
"Luminosite-" Jeanne began to say, unfurling her banner and holding it aloft. Her Noble Phantasm. She hadn't told us what it was, but considering her current actions, it must be some sort of defensive one like Mash's. Next to her, Mash began powering up her own Noble Phantasm.
"Deploying Virtual Noble Phantasm!" A brick-like structure of ethereal blue energy appeared before the two, while light shined from Jeanne's banner.
"Eternelle!" Jeanne shouted, just in time. I felt a something akin to a warm embrace surround us as the dragon unleashed its trademark attack, bright orange flames lunging towards us. I was unable to tear my eyes away from the roaring fire, even as Mordred dragged me behind her as if to act as a final shield should the two Noble Phantasm fail.
Thankfully, when the fire slammed into the phantom wall, it was unable to break through, furious branches of fire being deflected to the sides of the barrier as it moved around, pushing ferociously against that which denied it access.
The air was now dry, a testament to the intensity of dragon fire. "Kya!" Marie shrieked instinctively as the temperature rose rapidly as the dragon continued to breath torrents of fire at us. I silently prayed that Jeanne and Mash would manage to maintain the barrier for as long as possible.
My commlink went off and I activated it. "Whoa! What an immense amount of energy! You all right?! Can you guys hear me?" Doctor Roman practically shouted as flames continued to press against the Noble Phantasms of Jeanne and Mash. "S-Say something!" I growled brought the device up to my mouth.
"Doctor, if you do not have anything helpful to say at this moment, then please stop talking!" I hissed. Thankfully the doctor fell silent at the rebuke. I'll apologize for my tone later…presuming there will be a later. Right now, we can't afford to be distracted. I had no idea how much longer Jeanne and Mash could maintain the protective barrier, nor if they would be able to repeat the feat a second time without rest. Even then, we can't just stay here and try to tank the dragon fire. We needed to escape. I racked my mind, trying to come up with something, anything.
Jeanne grunted, sweat dripping off of her brow. "Just as I thought, this is.." Whatever the Ruler thought 'it' was, she didn't say. My heart skipped a beat at seeing Mash falter next to her, looking even more worse for wear despite being untouched by the attack.
"I can't hold on anymore, it's no use!" The Demi-Servant cried out in panic, and sure enough the wall-like projection she had manifested was starting to flicker in and out of existence. We had seconds at best to come up with a plan…
"No," our mysterious Servant said. It looks like you made it." Sure enough, Fafnir ceased spitting out fire, letting out a displeased hiss. Was it just me, or was it staring intently at the one Mordred had dubbed 'Servant of Black'? "Thanks to you, my power is restored a little."
"Huh?" Jeanne asked in confusion, voicing my inner thoughts at that statement. The Servant didn't reply, walking past the two female Servants that had been protecting us. He stopped and stared at the dragon, gripping the hilt of his sword.
"It's been a while, Evil Dragon Fafnir. If you've been resurrected, I will send you back to your slumber," he said as he raised his sword. To my shock, the powerful dragon actually recoiled at the action, spreading out its leathery, bat-like wings as if it was preparing to take flight. I could swear that I could see a mixture of anger, hatred, and more importantly, fear, blazing in its eyes. Even Jeanne Alter was taken aback, and for the first time since we first crossed paths, I could see concern on her features.
"Hear me, One Who Rules the Blue Sky! My name is Siegfried! He who once defeated thee!" As Siegfried said those words, I turned to the others. Mordred stared expectantly at her fellow Saber, undoubtedly knowing what he was about to do.
"I think he is about to unleash his Noble Phantasm. Get ready to leave this city. We'll run as far as we can without stopping until we can't run anymore," I said hurriedly, activating my Magic Circuits and flooding my legs with prana, with the intent of being able to keep up with our Servants as best we can. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Ritsuka nodding while doing something similar, while Marie summoned her mount, a mare made of clear glass.
"Noble Phantasm, Release!" Siegfried intoned, preparing to swing his sword as light blue energy covered the blade.
"Bal-mung!" He roared as he swung the sword, sending a wave of energy less wild than Clarent Blood Arthur, but no less potent. The attack smashed into Fafnir, who screeched in pain. Jeanne Alter was nearly thrown from her saddle. Fury distorted her facial features as she recovered her seating.
"Damnit!" She cursed. "Fafnir, climb up now!" We braced ourselves from the violent gusts of wind created as the black dragon began flapping its wings, taking to the air. It let out a furious roar that screamed of vengeance, but that was something to worry about later. We had gotten a reprieve for now.
Siegfried fell to one knee, leaning against his sword as he panted heavily, one hand pressing against the wound he bore. "Sorry," he said as Mordred and I hurried over. "This is the best I can do. You must leave before they come back," he said as he finally managed to stand back up on his own. I nodded rapidly, turning to the others.
"You heard the dragon slayer. We go now!"
"Damn Servant," Jeanne Alter cursed high in the sky, unable to lash out at anything or anyone to release on her building anger. Behind and to either side of her dragon, the two Servants accompanying her kept their distance as they rode their own wyverns. "It's dangerous. Considering what it to come, I can't exhaust Fafnir. That blasted sword must not be allowed to become a problem!"
Scowling, the fallen Ruler urged her mount to slow down, and her two Servants guided their mounts so that the smaller wyverns were hovering to either side of her. She turned to the one on her right, a knight in full, black armor, red light shining out of the visor of his helmet. Then she looked at the other one, a man with a nonchalant expression on his features as one hand gripped the wyvern he rode on and the other clutched a massive sword with a rounded projection at the tip.
"Berserker, Assassin. That 'Dragon Slayer' is the target. Hunt him down. Crush him, and break that sword of his. Berserker Assassin will come assist you. Kill all in your path," Jeanne Alter ordered. Without a word, the two Servants bowed their heads in acknowledgment of their task, before breaking off to begin their hunt.
"Come, Fafnir," she said soothingly, running a hand along the evil dragon's side. "We return to Orléans. I have much to discuss with Gilles." Her dragon rumbled in acknowledgement and increased his speed, leaving the fallen Ruler to her thoughts in silence.
We had been running for thirty minutes or so. Jeanne, Mash, Siegfried, Ritsuka, and I were towards the rear, having exerted the most energy in the ruins of Lyon. Mordred and Medea brought up the rear, the latter because of mediocre stamina outside of casting spells, the former as the true rearguard for any purser. In the lead was Marie, still astride her horse and the least winded of the party.
My lungs were burning, and I slowed down. Marie looked over her shoulder and wheeled her horse about, bringing the others to a halt. Glad that we had stopped, I sat down, gulping down deep breaths of air. The remains of Lyon were barely visible. Grabbing my water canteen, I unscrewed the lid and took a deep drink of water. Mordred and the other Servants formed a defensive circle around Ritsuka and I while we rested.
Ritsuka, being less drained due to not engaging in a BS zombie horde slaughter, activated his commlink. "Doctor, are you getting any readings coming towards us?"
"I am not detecting the ultra-sized lifeform anymore. But there are still enemies near your position! I don't know if they're aware of your presence or not, but you gotta keep moving," the acting director tried to urge us.
"Senpai, I want a horse," Mash whined softly to Ritsuka, staring jealously at Marie's mount. The Rider smiled apologetically to the Demi-Servant.
"Sorry, this is a one-seater."
"We…we can't just go on running," I said. "The dragon is no longer nearby. I say we fight back," I said.
"I agree," Ritsuka said in quick agreement. Mash gave a more reluctant nod.
"I suppose so, in that case…"she said before Jeanne called out to us.
"I see something up ahead," Jeanne reported. I groaned as I force my tired muscles to push me back onto my feet, and I walked over gingerly to the saint, my fellow Master close behind. "It's the French army!"
"Looks like they have company," I remarked grimly, pointing at the various shapes circling and swooping down on the mass of figures Jeanne was pointing towards.
"They're being attacked by wyverns," Jeanne responded, biting her lower lip. I remembered that a number of those soldiers had probably been her brothers-in-arms when she was alive, and that one of her closest comrades was leading the remnants of the army. "We need to go help them," she said, staring at me pleadingly. I nodded firmly as the other Servants joined us.
"Mordred, you ready to take down some wyverns?" I asked, and the knight nodded back with one of her more typical blood-thirsty grins.
"You better believe it, Master." I nodded and turned to Ritsuka.
"Let's allow for Mordred, Jeanne, Sasaki, and Chulainn handle assisting the French. We'll move in closer but keep our distance," I suggested, a bit reluctantly. While I don't like sending Servants off to fight and not be right behind them, at this point my exhaustion would make me more of a liability for the Servants. Therefore, I have to take this time to recover some of my stamina. Ritsuka nodded back in understanding.
"Let's go be heroes then."
Orginal AN: So I had a hard time with this chapter personally. It just felt kinda bland, though that might also be compared to having all those fight scenes last chapter. Next chapter should be more exciting, as we'll have some Servant fights! I wonder who our two mystery enemy Servants are? :) Some more exciting news, I have published the first chapter of the tagalong story based on the SummerFest event! Feel free to check it out, though it is not going to replace my priority on this story! Did you guys enjoy the chapter at least? Sorry again if it is a crappy one. I guess that's bound to happen every now and then though, right? Question of the day(s): what do you think of using the whole Gawain and Mordred being half-siblings thing like in Arthurian legend? Been wondering about if I wanted to have that be a thing in this story, ya know? Anyways, thanks for reading another chapter, and I hope you had fun! Looking forward to feedback, and see you in chapter 18