I honestly rewrote this chapter 3 times.
Chapter 64: Train Wreck
Sadly, Issei's rest wasn't going to last long since another mission had arrived.
The next morning that came, Rizevim assembled the Vali Team and Adelaide.
"We'll start with a summary of our findings. First off, the Novella Caelum already have a massive network of connections across the world. We don't know who's an ally or unwitting accomplice. Still, we know that they've gotten in touch with several powerful groups in the world. Also, we have intel on enemy infantry. The enemy combines alchemy, magic, and science to create mechanical suits of armor. We've classified them as 'Magitech Armors'. Grigori's done some analysis and it looks like some of them are using organic parts from creatures or people to fuel the magic powering them through organic tissue."
That was unsavory to many present. For someone to be cut apart and then have parts of them stuffed into a machine was extremely squeamish to think about.
"Now that we've gathered intel from your last assignments, we have a new mission for you all. While we apprehend culprits who're conspiring with the Novella Caelum, you will be passing yourselves off as tourists and tour agents. That'll get you in the door for the assignment. As for the objective, we want you to get aboard the newest train model that was recently completed in California." Rizevim snapped his fingers to reveal a projection of a massive train.
"This is the Hermes 12. It's the newest train in the world right now. It's meant to be a luxury vacation train that's a part of a multi-national project to tour the country without the dangers that air and sea travel have. The reason why we're targeting it is because we've gotten word that the Novella Caelum intend to use it as a method of transportation for weapons and supplies." Rizevim said.
"Man, we're getting worked like horses." Bikou sighed.
"It can't be helped. Open warfare hasn't been declared but battles are occurring behind the scenes right now. It's taking a lot to keep the notice of regular people low. The less panic there is, the better. We're actually hoping this is the most you kids will have to do."
"Have negotiations even been attempted?" Issei asked.
"We tried but we never got a response." Rizevim shook his head.
"Trust me, Michael tried, but it just didn't work out." Ileana added in, hoping to ease some dissatisfaction in the room.
"And the gods aren't doing a thing?" Issei inquired.
"They're repairing all of the collateral damage that's happened. Not only that, but they've grown more silent. Something's bothering them, but we've had a lack of word. Aside from doing what needs to be done, they don't say much else." Ezagyra shrugged.
It wasn't spoken, but the elders were beginning to wonder about Issei. Now that Issei had evolved and bonded closer with Bahamut's power, was the old dragon beginning to exert more influence on Issei? The fact that he defended Adelaide so strongly also raised concern. It made many wonder if he was being manipulated. Still, it was starting to become a feeling that Issei was growing discontent.
Issei stayed silent throughout the briefing as the mission was made clear: obtain schematics and information about the new train and sabotage it if it was under enemy use.
When everyone had teleported to the Human Realm, they arrived at the train station where the Hermes 12 was held. It was soon to be sent on its maiden voyage from San Francisco, California, all the way to Salem, Massachusetts.
Issei's eyes nearly bugged when he saw how massive it was. It was four times bigger than any current train in the world. There were two levels on the train, with opening roofs. It was silver with several lamps and lights integrated into the walls. Everything about this train screamed futuristic and money.
'What's next? This thing can fly too?' Issei wondered.
"Welcome, everyone, to the maiden voyage of the Hermes 12. You all have been chosen by lottery to experience the newest and most advanced luxury train of the modern age. The Hermes 12 has been built to give you the most cost-efficient cruise that can be offered. From indoor pools, fine dining, miniature theaters, and the most comfortable overnight stays, the Hermes 12 was built to give you a nice long vacation without having to spend the money you would on a cruise. Now then, all aboard!" The Conductor saluted.
When it was time to load the luggage, Issei saw Lefay struggling to lift her suitcase up the stairs.
"Want some help?" Issei offered.
Lefay only shook her head.
"No, thanks." She quickly walked away.
Issei sighed. It was kind of sad. He wished things hadn't had to hit this rough patch.
"Issei, you're blocking the way." Kuroka curtly but calmly brought him back to reality.
"Oh, sorry." He stepped aside.
The Hermes 12 was truly luxurious in every sense of the word. To his amazement, there wasn't a single trace of magitech in here, either. After putting his belongings away, Issei, Adelaide, and Vali waited in their compartment room.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, at the request of the Conductor, please remain inside your rooms until the all-clear to move around. You will find amenities have already been stocked in your rooms to ease the start of your journey." An attendant spoke over the train PA.
As Issei lied down on a long seat, Vali and Adelaide sat across from him.
"Wish we were on a real vacation." Vali groaned as she rested her chin on her hand.
"I do too. Hm, maybe after things settle down again, we can go somewhere. I promise not to get arrested again." Issei chuckled.
"You always tend to get into trouble." Adelaide giggled, remembering his stories.
"That reminds me, was that lady that hit on Issei you?" Vali asked.
"Yeah, that was me." Adelaide didn't even sound embarrassed.
"Fate's a funny thing." Issei stretched as he reclined into his seat.
"So, think it's safe to talk about work?" He wondered.
Vali tapped her finger onto the walls of the room.
"If my memory's intact, then yes. I don't sense any magitech and Arthur already swept our rooms."
"How do you know we're not being spied on?" Adelaide whispered.
"I can sense the flow of magic. Since magitech needs an active source of magical energy to run like electricity, I can tell if it's running through something. It's a little trick I learned over the years." Vali grinned.
"So, you do remember something from our past lives." Adelaide was pleased.
Despite Issei also being a reincarnation, there were some things he just couldn't connect to. With Vali, Adelaide felt like it made them a bit closer.
"Tidbits. I don't remember as much as you do."
Issei watched the two. Their relationship was growing less tense as time passed. Ever since the idol mission to South Korea, the two were actually able to converse civilly. Had they worked something out and he was just out of the loop?
After the train started moving and the all-clear came from the Conductor, the Team met up in one of the Dining Cars.
"It's like being in a mobile hotel." Bikou walked as he munched on a donut.
"There's a hallway instead of an aisle." Lianshi agreed.
"I want one." Kuroka called over to Vali.
"Not that rich." Vali bluntly put down her wish.
Adelaide couldn't help but chuckle, which didn't go unnoticed by Issei.
"Enjoying yourself?" He spoke up.
"Huh?"
"You said you were an only child growing up. I know we're all sorts of wacky, but trust me, this team's good at making it feel like you're in a family."
Adelaide believed him, but she wasn't so sure they were eager to befriend her.
"You just gotta be willing to take the step forward. Either way, someone's gotta meet the other halfway." Issei held her hand.
"You're right." Adelaide nodded.
Vali watched the two from behind, staring at their joined hands. When Adelaide noticed her gaze, she let go, even lagging behind so that he was walking next to Vali instead of her. Was this fair play? Adelaide gave her a supportive smile as she kept to herself.
Vali decided to accept her gracious gesture, regardless.
"Sorry about that." Issei sheepishly touched her hand.
"It's okay. I know I have to share." Vali shook her head.
"Still, I wish we weren't here for work. I really want another vacation." Issei sighed as they filled one of the Dining Cars.
"So, let's get down to business. How's everyone's jobs doing?" Vali asked.
"Nothing so far." Bikou waved his hand.
"Checked inventory, but it's still pretty bare." Lefay shook her head.
"Well, I did talk to some people today, but I couldn't get much out of them." Lavinia chimed in.
"I see. Well, we've still got a few days until we get to Massachusetts. Let's take our time. We still have to meet up with others." Vali nodded.
It sounded like business talk to others, but the Team still felt the need to try and avoid direct address of their mission.
"Anyways, what say we tour the train as a group?" Issei suggested.
He decided he'd play mediator. He really felt like the gang and Adelaide could easily get along. It was just with all the chaos going on that it was a bit difficult. That and they'd bruised each other up pretty good.
They went to the upper levels of the train, enjoying its comforts while snooping around. Despite their best efforts, Kuroka, Lefay, Elaine, Bikou, and Vali were unable to detect anything out of the ordinary.
"Can you sense anything?" Adelaide turned to Issei.
"No." Issei quietly replied. He sensed no dark intentions and no supernatural hostility. Was this operation just a dud?
After a whole day of looking around, the group decided to wait and see if anything out of the ordinary happened.
"This is your conductor, speaking. We'll be stopping by Utah for resupply and some break time. Please prepare to stretch your legs and explore for a few hours." The PA announced.
"I'll be right back. Gotta use the bathroom." Issei then exited the room.
'It's been half a day and nothing. Either we were misled, or the Novella Caelum are just tricking us.' Vali thought to herself.
"I can feel it too. Call it intuition." Adelaide said.
"Huh?" Vali looked at her in confusion.
"Something's coming. I can't tell what, but we still need to be cautious." Adelaide gave her a knowing look.
Vali nodded. It was still kind of off for Vali. Being able to sense each other's emotions and thoughts were off-putting for her. Thankfully, it wasn't constant, but Vali didn't know if this was something she could ever get used to.
"So, how's he been?" Adelaide asked.
Vali knew where she was trying to go. Issei wasn't the most open about his insecurities and problems. They had to pry them out of him.
"He's feeling lost. He's not sure how to handle things now. I guess it's because of his change of perspective." Vali wasn't quite sure how to word her observations.
"He's been looking kind of lonely lately." Adelaide nodded.
"It's because the others have gotten distant from him. They're still trying to adjust."
"Adjust with what?" Adelaide was vexed. What was the big deal?
"Issei lied to everyone. It hurt them because he didn't trust them with his problems. It also hurt because nobody noticed he was dying till he actually died. Also, he manipulated everybody to his own vision of happiness. So, it's a mix of guilt and hurt. It's all sorts of complicated." Vali plopped onto her bed.
"Well, what can we say? We're all teens. We're angsty and still trying to figure our lives and ourselves out. So, how're they dealing with it?"
"With time." Vali flatly responded.
"But…"
"Everyone gets it, but it's just working through the motions and all that stuff. Don't worry. My peerage does hold grudges sometimes, but this is something they won't hang onto for too long. Everything will work out." Vali smiled.
"Hey, should we all meet up?" Kuroka called Vali.
"Yeah, let's." Vali decided.
As Issei made his way back to the compartment, he felt something odd. It was a sensation that was almost foreign to him, yet so familiar. He froze as he slowly remembered the feeling.
(Doctor Who OST – The Master Vainglorious. Play Song.)
It was dark, cold, and vile. It repulsed him to feel this sensation. It was like the power of an Avitur, yet it was so much more. With Aviturs, it was like being near a putrid gas engine. This feeling was worse. It was like he was standing inside a nuclear reactor core.
'What the fuck is that?!' Rexis gasped.
Issei looked around. Darkness swallowed everything in sight outside the tunnel. The windows were devoured by black frost as the noise of the outside world disappeared.
Issei fell to his knees as he felt an intense flaming pain erupt throughout his body. He gagged and trembled as he felt Bahamut stir awake for one brief moment. The Abyssal Dragon roared in wild abandon within his seal. Issei looked down at his chest and saw a glowing mark flaring. Was the seal breaking? He couldn't even scream as he felt like his bones were trying to move on their own while his flesh and skin forced his skeleton in place.
Soon enough, markings swirled on his chest as the seal suppressed Bahamut. Issei was finally free to move as the pain subsided.
'What just happened?' Issei panted.
'Bahamut woke up for one moment. The seal managed to put him back into a semi-aware state. Whatever we're in, it's got to be connected to the Void. It's the only thing that pisses Bahamut off this badly.' Rexis replied.
'Gotta find everyone else.' Issei forced himself to his feet.
Issei was terrified out of his mind. How could something be worse than an Avitur?
Just like Issei, everyone else was caught off-guard by this anomaly. Everyone had been doing separate things when they entered the tunnel. Without a trace, everyone on board the train aside from them had vanished.
Before he could even get to the door, Issei was obstructed by a wall of energy. He equipped his Balance Breaker and attempted to blast the wall down, only for the attack to disperse upon touching the door.
"What?!" Issei tried to cut it, used spells, and anything he could think of. All of them failed.
He didn't have time for this. He had to get to the others.
In the Dining Car, Kuroka had been waiting for everyone, only for no one to be in sight.
"It smells funny in here." Kuroka could detect an unfamiliar scent in the air. It was like ozone mixed with rot. Even worse, her instincts were telling her to jump off the train and get as far away as possible.
Kuroka jumped when the door behind her slid open. Lianshi broke to a halt when she saw her.
"It's you." They both sighed in relief.
"What's going on?" Lianshi asked.
"Don't know. It's a trap, obviously, but I can't tell what it is. Every cell in my body's screaming for me to get off the train, though." Kuroka rubbed the chills off her skin.
"Then let's find everyone else and get off." Lianshi called everyone.
"No good. Someone's neutralizing our communication magic. Our phones don't work, either." Kuroka shook her head.
"Let's split up, then." Lianshi was about to turn around, only for Kuroka object.
"No, we'll stick together. Since we're closer to the rear of the train, let's head to the front. The others should be going there too."
"Right, let's go then." Lianshi nodded.
Suddenly, the door to the next car opened. Standing in the hallway was a humanoid figure in mechanical armor.
"What's that? Looks like a Magitech Armor." Lianshi asked.
"No idea. It doesn't look friendly." Kuroka stood back.
The Magitech Armor raised its right arm, an arm cannon, and open-fired. A gatling gun of magic blasts pelted seats with holes as Kuroka and Lianshi were forced to block. Immediately, the Magitech Armor rushed Kuroka, grabbing her by the neck and slamming her onto the ground.
Lianshi kicked it back before quickly helping her up.
"Damn, they hit hard." Kuroka coughed.
The Magitech Armor fired at them again, slowly approaching once more.
"We don't have time for this." Kuroka growled.
Snapping her fingers, she activated [Panther Call], creating ghostly black panthers with glowing white eyes.
"Sic em!" Kuroka pointed at the Magitech Armor.
The panthers lunged, biting at the Armor, crunching its arms in its teeth.
"Wait…" Lianshi's muttered, noticing something off.
Even so, Kuroka didn't notice. Her focus was entirely on dispatching with this attacker. Her panthers continued to tear away at the Magitech Armor, clawing at its armor. While that happened, Kuroka charged her attack, creating a black swirl of fire.
"Kuroka, stop!" Lianshi cried out. She had realized that the liquid trickling out of the machine was blood. That was right, Grigori had theorized that the Magitech Armors had organic parts.
It was too late. Her attacks gave the final touch. Her fire burned through the Magitech Armor's armor, burning out machinery and guts. When Kuroka saw the ashen bones and metal, she paused.
"A cyborg?" Kuroka raised a brow.
She and Lianshi walked closer and gasped as the cyborg's helmet cracked open. They stared in horror as they realized what was just killed. Inside of the machine was Bikou, who's lifeless eyes met theirs. He'd been shoved inside a mechanical suit of armor.
"What…" Kuroka whimpered.
"Kuroka…" Lianshi muttered.
When they looked at each other, they could barely sort out what they were feeling. Kuroka retreated from Lianshi's accusational glare. Everything was moving so fast. They could barely process what was going on. Did they actually want to?
"What did you do?" Lianshi tearfully glared at her.
Lianshi, who rarely directed aggression, caught her off-guard. Even worse, Kuroka began to tremble as the weight of her actions began to set in. Kuroka had just killed Bikou.
"The stories were right; you really don't know how to control yourself."
"Huh?" Kuroka stumbled backwards.
"You weren't defending yourself and Shirone. You lost control when you killed your master, just like you did earlier. You were so absorbed in fighting that you just killed Meihou!" Lianshi denounced her.
For a long time, Kuroka had told herself that she had killed her former master in defense of herself and Shirone. The decision was conscious…wasn't it? She hadn't lost control of herself. But, if she hadn't, then had she just killed Bikou without even considering stopping to think? Doubt began to devour her mind as Kuroka could only stare at Lianshi in silence.
(Doctor Who OST – The Master Vainglorious. End Song.)
In another part of the train, Izalana was fighting her way through hordes of enemies that had burst into the train from the shadows outside.
"Why can't we ever get a nice trip without any problems?" Izalana growled.
She backflipped, spinning. Her legs swept around, knocking denting and breaking the Magitech Armors attacking her.
Even after dispatching the last of her enemies, Izalana didn't get to rest. She could hear something. It sounded like flapping as wind whistled from the shattered windows. Izalana narrowed her eyes. She knew that sound. It was the wingbeat of a dragon.
Tearing into the train was an indigo dragon with glowing emerald eyes. It had golden fangs and claws with a spiked tail, four limbs, and wings that could break open the train alone.
"You look familiar." Izalana noted.
"I'm a dragon from the Settlement of our homeland." The Dragon growled.
"No wonder. What're you doing here? By the looks of your stance, you're not here to help, are you?" Izalana guessed.
"Correct. Your father has tried to curb us like domesticated dogs. We are dragons, symbols of power. Your father lured us in with promises but he just wanted slaves. The alliance was rigged from the beginning."
Izalana dodged a swipe from the dragon, jumping onto the ceiling.
"And you're taking it out on me." Izalana snarled.
"No, I'm dragging you back to answer for your family's crimes."
The Dragon growled.
"Awfully rude, aren't you? You won't even name yourself." Izalana taunted him.
"I am Gardunya, Honor Guard of my homeland." The Dragon humored her.
"Try and catch me. I'll make you regret it." Izalana glared.
Gardunya opened his mouth, blasting her with an ocean of fire. Izalana instantly equipped her armor and was taken aback. Why was his breath this powerful? It was pushing her back and threatening to send her rocketing into the other car. The heat was on another level, melting the train's walls.
Izalana shivered as she heard an eerie sound outside. It was like a looped sound of wind outside, like someone was gasping for air without pause. Distracted, Izalana was stomped onto the ground by Gardunya, who coiled his tail around her.
Izalana speared his tail, releasing her.
"So, what're you getting from the enemy for capturing me?" She brushed herself off.
"I already told you." Gardunya opened his mouth.
As the fire in its mouth began to glow brighter, Izalana took aim with her spear.
Right when Gardunya breathed his flames, she threw her spear. The moment it touched the fires, it absorbed them, focusing its energy into the blade.
"What?!" Gardunya flinched in surprise.
The spear skewered his arm, burning it off. Gardunya withheld any sound of pain, readying another blast from his maw. Izalana summoned her spear back to her hand.
Right when it seemed like a moment of déjà vu, instead of a fireball, Gardunya fired streams of flames from his mouth. Like tendrils, they wrapped around her, searing at her armor. Izalana struggled to get free, moving as fast she could before her armor took more damage.
"Just like your comrades." Gardunya growled.
"What?" Izalana continued to wriggle in desperation.
"I've heard the stories. Isn't this how so many of your comrades died? Dragoons are sent out to train remotely from the Kingdom. If memory serves me correctly, many of your friends were carted off in the jaws of other beasts, failing to past the test to become dragoons."
That struck a nerve with Izalana.
"You're playing with fire, Gardunya." She hissed.
"I heard that the Princess of Draczal was known for sneaking off and always trying to explore. I guess it's because you failed to protect your original team that you're trying to live for their sakes." Gardunya scoffed as he inched closer.
Izalana's brow twitched in controlled fury.
'Live for our sake.'
'Survive, Princess.'
'I don't want to die.'
'I wanted to live more.'
'Save me!'
Izalana felt all her repressed negativity boiling to the surface. The things she'd tried so hard to keep down, broke loose from the taunting. To others, it seemed minor, but as of late, it had gotten so hard to keep things under control. Issei's death and her failure to notice had started the process. The recent deaths of many people in the fight with the Novella Caelum had rushed the process to her snapping. The idea of being captured, restrained, a personal hatred of hers, made it worse. Izalana couldn't take it anymore. She hadn't shown it, but she was getting fed up.
"You know…taunting doesn't always break someone. It just pisses them off." She muttered.
Gathering her purple aura, Izalana dispersed Gardunya's flames with a violent burst. Faster than he could've anticipated, Izalana blitzed him. Attacking from one point and jumping to the next, Izalana wore down his wings. With one quick throw, she dragged her spear through his left wing, severing it. Jumping back into the air, she tore through his right wing.
"Wait! Please wait!" Gardunya pleaded, begging desperately.
His cries fell on deaf ears as Izalana, enraged by memories insinuated by Gardunya, continued to butcher the dragon. She'd tried so hard to move on but Gardunya just had to bring back the memories of her dead teammates. He had to taunt her, dredging up all those angry and sad emotions that she'd worked so hard to keep under wraps.
As Izalana counterattacked, Lefay ran into the car. What she saw was nothing more than a bloody puddle and a dragon's butchered corpse when Izalana was finished. She gasped at the sight as she saw Izalana covered in the dragon's blood.
When Izalana noticed her, she paused. She knew what the scene looked like.
"Izalana, what did you do?" Lefay didn't just sound horrified. She sounded accusational. She stared at Izalana with wide eyes, a hand over her mouth.
After hearing those words, Izalana calmed down, panting. Izalana looked at her hands, trembling. Hands soaked in blood. The ringing of pleas in her ears. The red of berserk rage and blood. History had just repeated itself. Izalana gulped the lump in her throat.
"I lost control." Izalana mumbled to herself.
This had been so unlike her. She never lost control so easily. It was as if being here had rid of her of so many inhibitions. What scared her even more was that…she had felt satisfaction in carving the dragon apart.
Elaine and Arthur had managed to find each other, quickly making their way through the train from where they were. As they moved, Elaine began to hear the cries of an infant.
"You hear that?"
"I do." Arthur nodded.
Elaine opened the door to a compartment, only to find that there was a baby wailing and wriggling in its blanket. Next to it, was an unconscious woman. Arthur paused in silence as he held her wrist.
"Arthur, don't tell me…"
"No pulse." Arthur shook his head.
He looked around and found an empty bottle of antidepressants and an empty bottle of liquor.
"Drug overdose mixed with alcohol." Arthur concluded.
"We can't leave this poor thing." Elaine took whatever food she could find and fed the baby as she held it in her arms. This baby couldn't have been more than a year old.
Elaine couldn't help but feel her maternal instincts as a human holding this baby. She smiled at it, imagining if she would feel this way when she and Arthur had children in the future. Arthur took a moment to smile at the sight of his fiancée.
When the baby looked at him, it smiled, gurgling. It reached out with its little hand, urging Arthur to hold out his finger for it to hold. The baby cooed at the two as they smiled down at it.
Arthur looked closely at the baby's clothes.
"Michael." He read the name on its onesie.
"Well, we can't leave him here and come back. Who knows what could happen. Can you open a portal?" Elaine looked at Arthur.
Arthur summoned Caliburn, slashing through the air to try and activate its dimensional powers. Nothing happened.
"No. Something's keeping us here. Gonna have to try and break out of this darkness first." Arthur groaned.
He looked at his sword. Caliburn's light seemed to glow weaker than it ever had before. It was as if whatever was around them was weakening the majesty of one of the greatest holy swords ever. That thought alone scared him. Not even an Avitur's presence made the sword look so dim.
"What do you think is going on?" His fiancée asked.
"I don't know. I just know that whatever's happening is a trap and it's way bigger than we predicted. We need to find Vali and Issei. I get the feeling they're important to this." Arthur turned to the door.
"Let's go." Elaine nodded.
Before they even took a step forward, the door to the next car began banging. Arthur stood in a stance. Elaine blasted the door down with fire. Rushing out was a Magitech Knight that grappled with Arthur.
The superhuman kicked its legs out from under its feet as he cut the machine in half. Arthur had no chance to pause as a blast of plasma rushed past his ear. Elaine flicked her wrist, sending the bolt backwards. Arthur lunged toward the door, skewering another Magitech Knight.
When the enemy was dispensed with, Arthur and Elaine continued to fight through the train. It was almost as if the enemy's numbers never dwindled. They fought for what seemed like hours, with their progress stalling too often to count. It reached the point where the Magitech Armors outnumbered them a dozen per person.
Elaine struggled to protect the child while enemies crowded around her. Arthur whirled around, clearing away the enemies attacking his beloved with one quick cleave of his sword. A breath of relief passed between them as they had the chance to drive the enemy off, even if just for a short while.
Arthur turned to look at Elaine and baby Michael.
"Are you two okay?"
"Yeah. Clearly, he is too." Elaine chuckled as Michael smiled back at the two again.
Elaine then paused in anticipation as Michael began to cry.
"He must be hungry again." Elaine took out the bottle she'd found in his baby bag and began feeding him, sitting in an empty compartment.
"We can't stay still for too long." Arthur warned her.
(Fate Stay Night ~ Unlimited Blade Works OST – Rin's Melody. Play Song.)
"Oh, hush. I won't let this poor child starve." Elaine retorted.
"It's honestly felt like hours." Arthur commented passively. Instead of sounding like a complaint, he seemed content, maybe even a little happy. That surprised Elaine a bit. Arthur was rarely sentimental.
It plugged a thought into her head.
"What'll we do if he's orphaned?" Elaine wondered.
"What makes you say that?"
"I mean, his clothes are kind of ragged. His mother died of drug overdose and alcohol. What'll we do if he has no family, either?" Elaine looked at him with a certain look in her eyes.
"It's only been a few hours, Elaine." Arthur shook his head. He knew where she was going.
As of late, Elaine seemed almost…eager to get ready for a family.
"But still, just to be safe. What if he has no one?" Elaine implored her suggestion. She knew Arthur was stern in his ways, but he could also see reason.
Arthur thought it over.
"Well, if we raise him in the Underworld, then our laws would let us adopt him." Arthur hesitantly nodded.
"It's not that I want to take him away from any family he still might have, but if they're too dangerous and he's alone, then I won't ignore him." Elaine felt some shame for getting carried away so soon and easily. Still, seeing a helpless baby just brought that out of her.
"I get it. I want children too, Elaine, but we can't get carried away. Let's think about this more thoroughly after we stop this mess." Arthur smiled at her, hoping she'd cheer up.
"Okay." Elaine nodded.
Arthur wouldn't admit it, but he'd also done a bit of imagining too. He could even see it now. Elaine, their children, maybe a dog, and himself inside a nice home in a nice peaceful place. A family life, really. He was one for fighting and challenges, but he couldn't deny that a part of him wouldn't mind that mundane life either. Yes, if fate allowed it, he saw baby Michael there too.
Michael approved their decisions, and maybe their imaginations, by blowing raspberries and laughing.
"Yes, we'll figure something out for you." Arthur patted the child's head.
Michael turned to Elaine, smiling at her.
"Ma…ma." He babbled.
It was probably nonsense, but Elaine couldn't help but be affected by it. She smiled at the infant as it cooed and babbled. She looked forward to the day she'd be called a mother.
"Let's hurry." He then turned to the door.
(Fate Stay Night ~ Unlimited Blade Works OST – Rin's Melody. End Song.)
When they neared the front of the train, they faced another assault from the enemy. Arthur's patience grew thinner each time this happened. He wanted to get out of this already. He wanted to get Elaine and Michael out of this situation. With one violent stroke of Caliburn, he destroyed all the Magitech Armors attacking them
As the smoke smoldered from the exploding enemies, one final Magitech Knight puffed with gas and flames. Its eyes flickered and its wires sparked as it fired one last shot at not Arthur, but Elaine and Michael. Arthur intercepted the missile, slicing it in half, yet a chance conundrum happened. Faster than anyone could react, the split exploding missile blasted the ceiling open. Shrapnel flew everywhere like bullets. Elaine turned her back to the explosion, shielding Michael. Arthur ran so quickly that it was as if he'd teleported over, swatting away anything that might harm her and the baby.
Silence returned as all the Magitech Armors were gone. Arthur and Elaine paused, waiting for something else to happen. Nothing did.
With the problem dealt with, Arthur took a deep breath. He couldn't even describe the anxiety and terror he'd felt when he saw Elaine and baby Michael in danger. As much as he found it ridiculous, these short few hours had endeared Michael to him as well. It was just an innocent baby who'd been dealt a shoddy hand in life.
When he saw them, it felt like he was watching his wife and child in danger. That terror that came from imagining the dangers that were to harm them, scared him more than he could've ever dared to fathom.
(Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince OST – Dumbledore's Farewell. Play Song.)
He turned around to look at Elaine. She noticed his silence and wide eyes when she looked at him. His relieved face flattened. He paled and turned grim.
"What's wro-…." Just as Elaine followed his line of sight, her voice instantly died, losing her smile instantly.
She then realized how quiet Michael was. There were no laughs, no crying, no raspberries. Michael's eyes were shut and his body limp.
In her hands was a blood-soaked bundle that had a piece of metal shrapnel sticking out of it. In the chaos of the moment, Elaine had failed to shield baby Michael from just one piece of metal from the explosion.
"No…" Elaine began to tremble.
Arthur was at a total loss of words. He'd knocked away every single piece of shrapnel, he was sure of it. The explosion wasn't even that big. Elaine even shielded the baby with her body. That one split second wasn't enough to have caused this tragedy, could it?
The two were in disbelief as they tried to think of reasons as to how this was impossible. They tried to explain to themselves how this wasn't real. It was all in vain. They both knew how and why this happened. There was no denying reality.
The dead silence finally shattered with Elaine's anguished screams.
Elaine held the child to her chest as her tears refused to stop. She choked on her sobs as she tried to do everything to resuscitate the infant. Arthur controlled his shaking as he forced himself to be strong. He held Elaine as she screamed in agony and despair. He felt the urge to break down too, but he knew that Elaine needed him. All those aspirations, hopes, and happiness that they'd indulged in believing were shattered with just two seconds.
"I'm so sorry." That was all they could both say. Neither knew who was saying it to who.
(Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince OST – Dumbledore's Farewell. End Song.)
Vali and Adelaide had been nearest to the control car, managing to enter despite some Magitech Armors.
"You good with tech?" Adelaide asked.
"Kind of." Vali shrugged.
She tried to bring the Hermes 12 to an emergency halt, but no switches or buttons worked.
"Damn it, I can't stop this thing!" Vali tried to think of another solution.
"Can you interfere with the train's systems?" Adelaide asked.
Vali tried just that, only for nothing to happen.
"No good. Something's moving the train on its own."
"Then let's try to stop it physically." Adelaide ran to the door.
In unison, they tried to pry the door open. It abruptly snapped open, nearly plunging Vali into the bottomless darkness outside.
"Vali!" Adelaide grasped her hand.
Vali was so caught by surprise. As soon as she blinked, she'd been ejected outside. It had felt as if invisible hands had pushed and yanked her out of the train. Even now, she felt something pulling at her legs, trying to drag her into the darkness.
Adelaide sprouted her wings of light, warding some of that darkness away as she fought to bring Vali back inside. Finally, Vali managed to make it back inside, the two girls panting from the endeavor.
"That's out the window." Adelaide wiped the sweat off her brow.
"I've felt that power before. The air around the train feels like Void energy."
The two silently looked at each other. Without a doubt, the Aviturs were behind this. They were the only things that could use the power of the Void.
"Then we need to do something and quick." Adelaide and Vali then turned to the monitors in the control car. What they saw disturbed them with worry.
They saw Izalana with Lefay standing in a room with a bloody corpse of a dragon. They saw Kuroka, Lianshi, and an apparently dead Bikou in another car. It looked as if Lianshi was about to attack Kuroka. In another car, they found a screaming Elaine with Arthur holding her.
"What the hell is going on?!" Vali gasped at the traumatizing chaos erupting.
Issei had tried all he could to escape the car without blowing everything up, but nothing was working. He wracked his brain but soon, his focus shifted. That ominous feeling in his gut was growing worse and now, it had come to a head.
"You cheated death before. It won't happen again, Bahamut. The game's changed. In the future, all of the pieces will be in place and you'd best be ready to play." A cold, dark, and metallic voice whispered.
Issei whirled around on instinct, swinging his sword at thin air. He hadn't even meant to do that. For one brief moment, Issei had lost all control of himself. It was like someone had tossed him into the backseat while someone else drove the car.
Issei knew only one thing that could get this much of a rise out of Bahamut. At first, he had considered the cause of all this, but he didn't want to acknowledge it. He wanted to believe in the opposite of his suspicions.
The presence that had been haunting him the entire time then moved. He could sense it heading to the front of the train. Issei gasped. When he last remembered, Vali and Adelaide had been closest to the front of the train. He ran to the door, doing everything in his power to break free. He ran to the nearest phone. He prayed with every cell of his being that he'd get through to someone, anyone.
"Who is this?" Vali's concerned voice answered him.
"VALI, GET OUT OF THERE! IT'S IN THERE WITH YOU! THE VOID IS IN THERE WITH YOU!" Issei bellowed.
Right when he said that, Vali and Adelaide nearly gasped at the power encroaching the room. It was horrid, as if eyes were everywhere. It felt as if they were inside death's grip.
Issei sensed this increase in power. There was no longer any time to hesitate. He rallied all of the Abyssal energy that he safely could, aiming right for the doors in front of him.
"You took her once; it's not happening again." Issei swore.
"What the hell is that?!" Vali turned to Adelaide.
"How?" Adelaide was taken aback as she processed this turn of events.
"What's going on?"
"The Void can't be here!" Adelaide continued to look around, as if looking for escape.
This very power was beyond any sort of comprehension the two could conceive. They'd been in the presence of gods, but this…this power was above even them.
"I tolerate no traitors. You will return what I gave you. In exchange for your betrayal, I grant you a swift death." The Void's menacing yet calm voice spoke. Each word sent shivers down their spines.
Once again, the atmosphere in the room shifted. The malevolent feeling began to dwindle as another sensation entered. It felt familiar. A new power was in the room. Reassurance began to sprout in Vali and Adelaide. This second power creating a similar feeling to Issei's aura.
"The Abyss." Vali and Adelaide concluded, both remembering this sensation from their life as Aria.
"Do not panic. Use your birthright. Use my power to clear these illusions away. This once, I will directly aid you." The Abyss finally spoke for the first time, despite not appearing.
(Date A Live II OST – Identical Winds. Play Song.)
Vali and Adelaide didn't have an inkling as to what to do. Even so, they did the first thing that came to mind. They clasped hands, channeling their power over light and combined it. It felt so nostalgic and calming for them. Where their hands joined, the white and blue radiance grew brighter, beating back the darkness around them.
Navy wisps sparked from the light. Vali and Adelaide could feel the power growing from their ability as the light got brighter.
"You would finally dare break the ancient laws that you zeal so much over?!" The Voice's anger boomed like a supernova, nearly shaking the train apart.
"You violated the laws first. I am enforcing them." The Abyss coldly responded.
Vali and Adelaide weren't able to see anything, but they knew that so much was going on around them. It was awe-inspiring to realize just how much happened around them without their knowing.
"Now." The Abyss commanded.
With one burst of light, Vali and Adelaide's power mixed with the Abyss', dissolving the Void's presence from the train.
"Even if you banish me from this plane, I'm not finished. You will be brought to your end. Fate will side with me this time. Mark my words." The Void's fading voice made one last promise as it faded away.
"What happened?" Adelaide asked.
"The Void violated the ancient laws imposed by the powers that be. No primordial power may directly influence events. By doing just that, the Void allowed me to intervene. The Void sought to eliminate all of you in one swoop. However, with your actions, my power, and fate, the Void cannot directly take action again. At least, not for a long while. I could only intervene this once as a consequence. Events that will follow can only be managed by you." The Abyss warned.
"What happened here?! At least tell us that!" Adelaide demanded.
"The Void sought to make you all destroy yourselves and each other. If not, then it wanted to break all of you. Your fears and weaknesses were exploited and turned against you. The people who were on this train before were spirited away. I will return them soon. Be cautious from now on. You two and Bahamut have very important roles to play." The Abyss' presence then quickly faded.
(Date A Live II OST – Identical Winds. End Song.)
"Damn it. How the hell are we supposed to solve anything if they disappear and do nothing to help us along?" Vali muttered under her breath.
She only had more questions now.
Vali and Adelaide took a look outside and found that everything was normal, much unlike how it seemed moments ago. They were still traveling through the states. Everyone who'd previously been on the train had been returned, just as the Abyss promised. The damage from the fights that happened didn't even remain.
It really was as if nothing had happened. If only that were the case for the minds of the gang.
They met up in a large compartment to share their experiences and hopefully arrive at some answers.
As the Abyss said, everyone had endured traumatic events, all geared toward old wounds and hidden weaknesses. Fears, suppressed memories, hated traumas. Everything that could be used to break them were employed.
The attack of the Aviturs from before didn't hit like this. Now, they'd all had a taste of what could happen if their fears won.
And that's the end of this chapter. It was originally the first part of a two-part chapter, but I decided it could be its own thing.
I wanted to play around a bit with chapter since I wanted to do some more exploration with the other side characters like Kuroka, Izalana, and Elaine. Thus, characters that had plenty of screen time got less time this chapter. Whilst moving the plot forward (slowly), I wanted to sow seeds for future events (that I may or not remember) in the later chapters.
Hence, why I decided I'd go darker this chapter, simply cus I wanted to, and I felt that the story needed something like this to make things go the way I've planned. I know there'll probably be more questions, but they should be answered when Chapter 65 comes out.