Spin A Fate

by TRECKERXZ75

He had been bitten. He had donned the mask. He had been New York City's local Wall-Crawler for close to over two years now. He had met the love of his life. He had made enemies for life. And it seemed like this was going to continue on like that...so, why was Peter Parker here, in Antarctica, and what in the heck are magical circuits! (Multi-Cross Setting)

7. Facade Of Failures

Archer, the look he had given teen was burned in his psyche. Confident, knowing-as if he could almost read Pete inside and out. Do you wish to save people, what kind of question is that? Of course he did. He had heard the same line or something close to it, time and time again. He knew how to answer it without thought and with conviction.

When you literally face Victor Von Doom after saving him and tear him a new one, you really grasp how much a mask can really help with a persona. How anonymity can make you someone different.

He had lost the mask in Chaldea, probably burned away in the fire-hopefully. He didn't need his identity getting out when this all was over. At this point, am I even keeping my secret? He had been on full Spidey mode for the entire duration of his trek in Singularity F. He spoke like his alter ego, moved and felt the same rage he used to when faced with pure unadulterated inhumanity. How hell did he know who I was? I was 5...and...realizing I would never see my mom and dad again…

The Archer, when Pete felt his eyes. Saw him. Fought him. His spider-sense hadn't silence at any moment when he faced the red bowman. It wasn't like when he met Lev or saw Fou. Hell, it wasn't even when he faced the maniacs he usually ran into.

He had felt a primal fear when looking at the heroic spirit. A fear that made want to crawl somewhere dark and hide, avoid his judgement, avoid the wrath he sent down upon him for being what he was. He knew what I was….he knew that I'm Spider-Man...this-this doesn't track with where we are currently!

That was fear. Pure, animalistic, fear. And instead of following this emotion, he took it, embraced it, and let it fuel him to fight. He had done it many times before, but, he felt a sort of ecstasy when doing it this time around-like I was settling an old wager, if that makes any sense. It did not, to him at the least. The developed part of his brain took Archer as any other bozo he had come across, it wasn't hard to give himself that perspective. Archie is just like any other jerk I've fought. Prideful, strong, deadly and in my way of doing what's right. That was his surface level reasoning, but the Archer's word still lingered. See you around, wall-crawler. He said it with such confidence. But Caster doesn't even know who the Avengers are, so how would it make sense for Archer to know?

The tanned and white-haired man talked like it was destined to be-Next time I'll be in control. Pete frowned. Like I'm going to see that jackass again. Nosiree. When I find the mastermind and pants him-that's it for me. No more magic unless I have an appointment with Doc Strange. Besides, Dude's already dead. Not like he can cause me any trouble anymore if I can keep my nose clear of this stuff.

The words. The fear. They still lingered, I'm not going to see that guy again. I'm not. Whatever crazy idea he had in his head. Whatever sick belief that he follows, I won't be suckered into it. I know what I am...I'm Peter Parker...yeah...he knew...how the hell did he know?

"Kyuu Mokyou?" He heard Fou ask, the fluffball riding on the shoulder of Mash, who walked close to him. Keeping an eye on her master making sure-

Making sure I don't try and get myself killed again...why the hell did I launch myself. I saw him taking fucking aim-and I still leaped at him. Didn't dodge, didn't web myself to the ground. I went straight for the sword. I caught it (barely) and for my troubles almost bled out.

He glances at Mash, she notices. He gives her a thankful smile. She beams, in spite of her worrying watch over him. She caught me, held me close and helped me web up my palms. God, that was a lot of blood. I think I might have had a vein sliced. I'm lucky to be alive. He thought grimly.

He was currently free of the webbing, Olga's magecraft had brought him back from succumbing to his injuries. But I'll have scars on my hands for the rest of my life, healing factor be damned. Why didn't he do anything else besides jumping into a straight killshot? Because you wanted to prove yourself. The thought, unfamiliar, didn't feel like his. But that's dumb….I never want to see that guy again...I don't like the way he makes me feel. Scared.

This feeling was driven home by the darkness of the tunnel they walked, Caster lighting the way as they drew ever closer to where the Greater Grail laid.

Caster had given a few more tidbits on the enemy they were about to come to. The blade she wielded could topple mountain ranges with a strike, its wielder a cunning warrior and leader of her people. Unrelenting and unwavering in her virtues-at least before she had been corrupted.

There was still no answer on why the city had become like this, its servants to fight a war Peter had no context for, had been blackened. And why this blot in the timestream had caused the annihilation of all life on this planet the teenage vigilante called home. Again, that feeling of being out his depth resurfaced.

Why 2004, why that year...it just has to be coincidence, Pete. Not everything is connected to your drama. He consoled himself, deeper his thoughts went. I hope this ends, I hope I can leave this behind and get back to status quo. He felt guilty then. Mash...I'll think of a way to say goodbye. Come up with an excuse, call the Doc to help her find out what historical character is possessing her, maybe help her separate and be a normal girl again. Once more, guilt came. Do I even have the right to make that call?

He looks to Olga who seemed to quiver at the shadows Caster's light casted. She lost a lot of people today, people you couldn't save despite your best effort. Only eight, and even then the last one you did save….you're...you're her master….that sounds so wrong. He lets out a deep and quiet sigh. He was clueless.

Let's get this over with, let's this nightmare end and so I can get on with my life. And please let me see Mary Jane again. He prayed in his head, not something he did often. Only when he knew the cost of what he was about to face was going to be high. I'm already a burden at this point. Nothing's gonna change that.

The Shielder saw her master's turmoil from the outside. His emotions changed from pensive, inquisitive to sorrowful in variations. She had come a long way from not being able to read such subtle changes. He's been quiet since we've entered the cave...I should say something, lighten the mood. She ran a hand through her hair, thinking of a topic to remove the gloom from her senpai's tude. "You said you're from New York, right?"

He looks at her, still gloomy. "Queens...born and raised…" He shrinks in on himself. "...my Aunt's probably at the shelter right now, helping the needy...wondering why her nephew hasn't called her yet to tell her about his first day in Chaldea." He shutters with a loud flow of air exiting his mouth.

"Sounds like she cares about you." Mash pointed out, hoping that this was helping his mood.

"Yeah...yeah…she has to-I'm kind of the only thing left in her life after my Uncle..." He trails off. He inhales sharply, and Mash realizes her mistake. "...how..how about you Mash...what's your family like?"

Mash lilac pupils shrink at the question. The Director loses her nervous tempo and looks to the teens. "..." She lowers her head, parting her eyes away from her Master. He takes his own answer from the reaction.

"Touchy subject, got it. Sorry." He scratches the back of his head. "...I take it you've never been to the Big Apple?" The Director gives a relieved sigh, though she seemed to regret it with a subsequent clenching of her features.

"No, all I've known is Chaldea." She admits, if a bit reluctantly. "...you could call me pretty sheltered."

"Nothing wrong with that, just mean you got something to look forward to when you are able to see something that isn't a polar bear."

She tilts her head to the side in confusion. "Senpai...polar bears don't live in Antarctica."

He nods, "Yeah I know...that's Santa Claus right?" He gives a kooky grin. She laughs, he laughs back. "New York's not bad. Traffic jams, smog, rain up the wazoo sometimes. And the occasional supervillain attack. Greatest city in the world, best 'dogs and pizza too. No place like it." He says confidently.

"I'd like to see it one day." She admits, the description wasn't like the worlds, the landscapes, she had read in books like Journey to the West or one of Aesop's fables. But it sounded bustling, exciting, tiring with it extravitivy-the exact opposite of Chaldea and its stainless walls, rules and codes of conduct.

"Maybe...hmm, maybe you will. I uh, know some folks who could make that happen." He admits, eyes almost shifty as he seemed to judge what'd to say.

Olga heard this. "And what do you mean by that Mr. Parker-are you planning on exposing Chaldea to-" The Director begins to give Peter the riot act, the brunette she called Senpai firing back with excuses and quips on the spot. This left Mash room to ponder.

Secret Identity. That's what they call it. Like Mages, even capes like to conceal themselves from the common people. I don't blame him for being reluctant, I'm sure if I lived the life he has-I'd also be like him. She remembered holding him in her arms, feeling his body shake, feel heavy. The blood he had loss, stained on to his mystic code that had already been torn during his fight with Lancer. Even when he was all but broken, he still joked, made light of the situation….I want to protect him...I failed him it seems. She knew this was a tired sadness at this point, He pushed himself against Archer, kept going at him. Only for a few moments, he let me play my role and fight beside him. When they were in the moment, Mash had felt such a thrill taking on the red bowman. Switching in and out with the boy she just met, the boy she felt safe around. It felt like we were in sync, in that moment.

She heard Caster say something snarky, at the expense of Peter-who fired back in good humor. They seem to be getting along better. That's good. I'm glad he's taking this better...even with...even with the injuries. She couldn't help but feel ashamed at the state she had let her Master find himself in. A more distant part of her said that he had done that too himself, continuously antagonizing the Archer. But it's more than that...it's just nerves...why won't he...am I being selfish? Mash paused, feeling a bitterness roll over her at the thought. He's a natural fighter, when he saved me and when I saw his mask. I should have expected that he wouldn't just stay on the sidelines….I should have expected push back.

"Kyuu fou fou?" She heard the furball on her shoulder ask. He could always read her so well.

"Just thinking...what do you think of the situation, Fou?" She asked quietly, as Peter made casual conversation about the odd cave system they were currently trekking through.

The squirrel-like animal quirks his head for a moment as if in thought. It then nods. "Fou kyuu mokyuu." He said nonchalantly, making Mash doubletake.

"Don't say that!" She blushed at the comment. Why does he always have to be so blunt? Though, the girl from Chaldea couldn't help herself but wonder. Maybe...no...master and servant. Nothing more. It was a hard pill to swallow, but she understood that he had a life outside of Chaldea, and probably, Someone waiting for him...why wouldn't he? She felt so rotten, becoming like this.

"Fouuuuu…." He growled slowly.

"Sorry...I can't help it, this is all still so foreign to me." She admitted to the creature. And I can't help but to think it'll end as sadly one of Hans Christian Andersen's books. This was the guilt talking, the guilt of a servant that had nearly lost their master.

The white creature knocked his head against hers. "FOU!" He howled, catching the group's attention from their conversation.

"Sorry," She said bashful. "Fou's just-"

"Mkyuu fou!" He states proudly, pumping out his chest like a den leader amongst his pack.

"He's worried about me." She wasn't one to lie. "...and I'm still worried about you, senpai." She admitted, it coming like a weight off her chest.

The brunette didn't respond, for a moment. "Don't be...I'm good. Just a few nicks and scratches won't keep me down." Mash saw doubt from the Director.

"It wasn't a few nicks and scratches." She remembered the way he shivered, the blood.

He shrugs, "Been hurt worse." He glances at the others. "Back home when the local douche canoes got the drop on me. Wasn't fun, but I got back up from it."

Olga stepped in, disapproving was her mindset it seems. "Archer broke your bones and you were coughing up blood, Mr. Parker. I don't care how much the street toughened you up-you shouldn't down play almost dying. It's not a healthy mindset." Her voice had been hard until that last bit.

Pete frowned, "Well...I'm expendable, your words-not mine." He draws in a heavy breath. "I'm alive-standing up and we got the last laugh on that bozo." He seemed to fetter himself from the sentence. He looks to Caster, who had stayed quiet with a piqued look. "You got somethin' to say Gandalf?"

The Azure Caster chuckles to himself, "...nothing. Only that I look forward to seeing what sort of master you'll be." Mash had expected an adage of brat. But Caster never let it slip his tongue.

Peter seemed cringe at the comment. "Who knows...but what I do know, is that I'm ready to leave this city of ash and skeletons." He stuffs his hands into the black pockets of his mystic code, the pant legs having been dirtied and stained by this point. "Hey Doc, you there?"

He's avoiding the topic. Mash could read his body language. He was uncomfortable, either because of his-

"Fou kyuu." Fou mewed quietly.

He's stubborn. Mash couldn't help but agree with Fou's assessment. She bits her lips and clenches her eyelids. I won't let him die because of that though. She found herself angered. So what if he's a cape, so what if he can fight. If he was going to try his damndest to get himself in fights and get hurt, then I'll stay by his side until he trusts me enough to....let me take a hit for him.

The hologram of Romani appeared before the group. "What's up, Pete?" He asked in his usual good natured tone.

"The greater grail," Mash noted the strain in his voice as he said it. "Can you give us an eta on it?"

Romani took a second, "Well, good news is you're close-ten minutes away at the rate you were going originally before you stopped. Bad news, I'm looking at some heavy magical readings coming from there-two, to be exact."

"Saber most likely, not unexpected from the King of Knights." Caster

Mash quirked her eyes, the indignation leaving her for a moment. Sword of everlasting victory, king of knights. A familiar sensation came over her, but she couldn't put her finger on it. It was though, she was about to do something unthinkable. It was probably just residual nerves from her sorted thoughts of Peter. Least, that is what she chalked it up to.

That aside, those terms were synonymous with only one heroic spirit. "...King Arthur."

Peter looked at her, mystified. "King Arthur...eh, I thought heroic spirits were people from you know-history." He shakes his head. "The Knights of the Round Table aren't real." He laughs to himself "Next you'll be telling me I'm going to meet Robin Hood or Count Dracula! Heh!" He then began to let out a brief chuckling fit, much to annoyance of Caster and Olga.

"Senpai, are you okay?" She asked, worried that her master had gone mad. Did this place break him?

"I'm-heh-fine-heh-Mash...woooh." He wipes a tear from his eye. "Boy I needed that...felt like a dang spring locked in place." He shakes his head and lets out a deep breath.

"Thor, up until a decade ago was considered make-believe!" Olga was not having it.

Peter's eyes dullened, "That's...that's different." He almost regains his composure, though there was a certain weightlessness to his stance. "...I mean he's an alien that just has a Viking gimmick-that doesn't mean he's actually some god from myth and legend." He lets loose another chuckle.

"Huh, thought he'd be in the Throne….how in the hell is he around?" Mash heard Caster note under his breath.

Olga stomps her foot in frustration, "This is no laughing matter Mr. Parker...if I'd known we were going to go against someone like that I'd...I'd…" Her lips quivered, and eyes became downtrodden. "...I'd rethink immediately coming here after you fight with Archer. You're still freshly healed, you'd die if you fought him with-"

"I'd probably get myself killed like I almost did with Archer…." He seemed to pale, losing balance. Mash went for the save, she held his arms firm and she felt his back hit the armor of her chest. "...did someone turn on the AC?" He let out a hollow chuckle.

The young Director looked at the projection of Romani in shock, eyes flustered as if someone close to her was dying. "ROMANI WHAT'S HAPPENING?!" She yelped.

Romani froze, his teeth grit. "I...I don't know...his readings are still…"

"STILL WHAT?!"

"...the system can't get a read on him-they haven't since I first made contact!" His tone was raising to a worried pitch.

"AND YOU TELL ME THIS NOW?!"

"I said it in passing! I didn't want to worry you-"

"WHY!? Because you think I can't handle it?! I'm the director of Chaldea-and if you think that it means so little that you can't even give me bad news-then-then...why am I even here…" Mash felt a pang in her heart for the director, the lavenderhead knew that the Doctor didn't do it maliciously.

He lacks tact sometimes.

"I think it's quite obvious what's going on. The brat is suffering from the strain of having two contracts, along with his little bout/heal earlier, I'm surprised he was able to stay on his own feet for this long."

"How does having a contract...with you...make me feel like I just fought Hydroman?" He asks, Mash noting the slip up.

"Well, Heroic Spirits rely on their master to stay connected to this world. Think of it as a give and take relationship. Servants will fight for their masters and in return, their master's supply them with mana to keep their physical forms solid." Romani explained. "Take too much from the master, they won't be dancing a chachas that's for sure."

Peter smirks at the joke, "Thanks for the lesson Doc…." He says breathlessly. "...so what, we need to rest or something...I don't think that's a good idea...we're literally on the doorstep of Saber...and it'd be a waste of time to trek back to the leyline…." Mash felt his entire body tense. "...I need to know they're okay…" He grow heavy in his arms, but heaving of his chest told her that-

He's okay. Good.

Caster looked away from the group for a moment, scratched his chin then returned his view to them. "If Saber hasn't made herself known by now...she's probably waiting for us." He rests his staff against the rockwall. And with a precise gesture of his hands and words in gaelic echo from his vocal chords.

A rune appears on the ground, and with that a campfire is made. He takes a seat next to it. "Let your master rest, lass." He says kindly, almost caringly. "It'd be a shame to have that mouth of his light on words during our fight with the King of Knights-I'm just imagining her reactions to his gaul hehehe...ooh, it's going to be riot!" he rubbed his hands greedily.

Mash smiled softly, "Thank you, Caster."

The azure man shrugs. "It'd be a shame if he gave out so young."

Olga having seen her new subordinate weakness, composed herself-to a point. "Well...as long as we're taking a break." She takes a seat and starts reaching into her pockets. With a series of gestures signifying the work she is putting in, she pulls out a few pouches of dried fruit and other snacks. "Take some Mash….you as well, Caster, and I'll have some saved for Peter when he wakes up."

Mash blushes at the gesture. "You're quite well prepared, Director!"

The Director puffs out her chest and crosses her arms proudly. "Of course, expendable or not-a good leader must always be able to feed her troops if they need it. So eat, and get well…." She trails off for a moment "...so we can all return to Chaldea safe and sound." she says softly, like a prayer with her eyes closed.

Mash took her seat, taking extra care to make sure Peter wasn't jostled. When she had settled, her senpai's head laid comfortably in her lap, sleeping soundly more or less. She couldn't but blush as she absentmindedly was handed her share of rations.

After chewing and swallowing her share, Director Olga Marie grew tired. Caster caught this, cast off his cloak and offered it to the young director. "Catch a few winks, lass. Me and the shielder will keep watch until you and he awaken."

Olga eyes flashed, childlike, thankful and regretful. "...I'll allow it." She says in a refrained manner. She takes the cloak, with a few seconds to set up close but not too close to the fire. She lies herself down and without a beat she snores softly, almost sweetly.

This left only Fou, Caster and Mash as the only members of the group awake. "Poor lass, can't decide if she wants to be an iron woman or someone out of her depth." Caster comments off handedly, looking into the fire. "A life like this, it's not for everyone."

Fou yawns, his attention leaving him as he slept on Peter's chest.

"She tries at least," Mash begins to defend. "Our efficiency didn't lessen when she became Chaldea's head." Though, Mash knew it was all because of Olga. She had help. "Even if someone is out of their depth, a helping hand can do wonders. Lev Laniur was hers." The girl from Chaldea knew how good that man was-is, he's still MIA. His death hasn't been confirmed. Mash reminded herself, she supposed the events of today were making her a tad despondent to the finality of life.

"Ay, didn't stop your situation from what I've gathered, best laid plans-if I got the saying right." Caster replied calmly, taking a bite from a dried banana slice. "I'm one to talk, my master died after I was summoned, strong woman, didn't even see the betrayal coming…." She shakes his head, he places another slice in his mouth.

This peaked Mash's interest, with some abject horror. "Then how did you-"

"How'd I stay in the fight? Same person who killed my master. Bastard took me as his own, and me being the way I am. Didn't bother to fight, honor can be a pain." The fire makes no noise, it had wood to fuel it. "-But what are we without our own guiding hands to tell us where to go?"

"You mean ideals?" Mash asks, her lilac eyes queried.

"Morals, ideals, beliefs or whatever code of conduct governs us. Even the most heinous of despots have this." He looks over his shoulder for a moment, a sound catching his ear. Nothing.

"So are you saying that people are all the same?" Mash didn't have any idea where he was going with this.

"No. I'm saying these are what drive us. Even dead as I am, I still hold fealty to what made me who I was." He turns back to her, and chews another slice. "I have no regret for what path they led me down, because I know, it's my own damn fault." He stares back into the fire dispassionately.

"The lass sleeping, she is hung up on the little things. Every step she takes, it could be a disaster from her perspective."

"Her father died suddenly, it was probably a surprise for her to be given control of Chaldea. I couldn't imagine what emotions were going through her when it happened." Mash admits sadly. "She's not terrible, I don't dislike her, Lev doesn't dislike her and Romani….he may annoy her, but he has her best interests in mind."

"...she's very much like him in a way." His eyes trailed to the sleeping brunette, who nuzzled against Mash's person. "He hides it with his jokes, his posture. But I've seen too many bodies and too many people to recognize that type of person."

Mash pondered on what Caster could say before he continued. But Senpai is a natural fighter, he didn't seem scared even when Archer was about to kill him. Olga, she….she wanted to be with the man who cared a lot about her.

"He's confrontational when things go against what he expects, like her. He tries to play it off with a persona, like her. In the end, the two can't help but be swallowed by their own doubt. Difference is, the brat tries to out punch this doubt."

Mash cringed at the word, but it didn't seem malicious. "Are you saying that's a bad thing?" Mash, agreed somewhat if that were the case. I don't want to see him like I was. Broken and afraid, I'm glad I was there for him-like he was for me.

"Depends on the context, battle, life, the strength of one depends on the environment they are placed in and tools they are granted. Like me, I thought I wouldn't amount to much in this war with the class I was summoned in." He looked to his staff, smiling savagely he continued. "But I kicked that to the curb, because I knew I couldn't, shouldn't, wouldn't buckle." Caster noted the muddled expression of the shielder's features. "Sorry...I'm not used to being this...uh...explainative, probably the caster class making me more descriptive….my point is, their no shame in accepting regret, faults. The only way you fail is if you let it drown you so you become a hollow person...until it breaks you more than an enemy would…." He looks her in the eye. "I misjudged him somewhat. I don't think he believed you were weak, that it didn't matter about your noble phantasm...I was like him once, cocky, thinking that I could not be wrong if I was fast enough or strong enough. I had someone there to knock some sense into me though." He points to her. "Look out for him,"

"I already-" she was about to object.

"Yes, you are. But I mean, talk to him. Let him know what you think, and let him let you know what he thinks. A good master and servant relationship is one of understanding, and that does not come fast." His features softened. "It'll be annoying dealing with his hang ups, you'll want to scream at him or hit him. Or maybe even try to console him in a fashion more akin to that of a lover. He'll do the same, you both are already starting to do that. Let it happen, your time will come. When it clicks, then you two can fight in sync like Anne Bonny and Mary Reed."

Mash takes it in, "Thank you Cast-"

"My name is Cu Chullainn, I believe you've earned the right to know my name at this point. The war's in the dump anyway so what the hell am I hiding."

The Hound of Culann, The information registering for Mash. His being a legend she had read in her free time, To think he'd be summoned in the Caster class. Odd. She then felt a flash of secondhand embarrassment-To think senpai kept making fun of a man known for going berserk and killing people without a second though….actually that's very much in keeping with the 'cape' philosophy. Mash still felt a tad ashamed that her master would belittle such a hero. But that was him. "Thank you Mr. Chullainn, I'll...I'll think about what you said...I still just can't help but feel like a failure after seeing him in that state." She remembered the blood, she remembered the shallow breathing.

"Then feel that way, it's human. Nothing wrong with it, just don't stay there." He kindly smiles at her before inserting another banana slice in his mouth. "These aren't bad...prefer fish though." He complains slightly.

She nods, feeling the weight of the boy on her lap, his warmth. She removed one of her gauntlets and placed her palm on his cheek. This is all still so confusing for me...but I don't mind this warmth I feel. She had just met him, had found him sleeping by his lonesome. Surprised when awoken, he didn't get mad. He just said heya like she was anyone else. I should tell him, when we are safe, when we've won, that I know. With that figured, she dug in her share of rations.

---

The atmosphere was depressing to say the least. I say the 'least' because it was more than that. The shadowed room had this pressure to it, an unwelcoming weight that told me-if I even thought about moving, game over.

The only light, if i could even call it light, was a nauseating indigo that was connected to the floors, walls and ceilings like veins. They flowed throughout, and pulsating like something larger was resting.

I wasn't alone, that was obvious from when I first opened my eyes in this place. With his back turned to me, he sat in the middle of the room, legs criss crossed, bare as the day he was born. His muscular skin was pale, white actually, even in the darkness I could tell that, with scars up the wazoo.

I could hear him mumble something, though the words were another matter entirely. He spoke fast, quietly and in a way that made my skin crawl. Like the tune of his voice was purposely raised and lowered to put anybody he was with on the edge.

His back went straight, head horizontal before he tipped it to look over his shoulder. My eyes met his, pure black, his pupils, the deepest red. His skull started to bob slightly as a low then resounding laugh of a madman was drawn from his throat.

I wanted to run, be somewhere, anywhere that was better than this room with this-this...I don't what to call him, but he brought back bad memories, that fucking laugh like nails on a chalkboard, it relented memories of bodies in a ditch, pale in complexion and smiling with their mouths but having cried with their eyes before they died to that sicko's toxin.

He raised a brow at me, "Can't run, can you?!" I could make out a sadist's smile forming even through the shadows. He turned away from me and cracked his back and neck. He stood, with a skip to his step he turned to me, arms outstretched like a showman's welcoming me to his sideshow scam, I felt like hurling when I saw his entire form. More scars and everything hanging out and mutilated. "Couldn't either when I first got here. I got past that though, had a lot of mind of matter training back in my day," He stepped on over to my body, my body that had no restraints, but felt like a prisoner nonetheless. He crossed his arms and stroked his chin, his brows wriggled and his lips his red stained lips. "You are not the one I wanted to talk to." He scoffs it off and begins walking around me, rubbing his forehead and messing up his greasy raven hair. "Guess things are still settling even after all this time."

He rounds back to my front, "hehehe-can't be helped!" He breaks into a cacophonous fit. He clutches my shoulders and shakes me as he laughs like I was his best buddy. "WooheheheAHA-*cough*" He pats both of my shoulders. He sucks in air through his teeth as he let's me go. I found myself and took a step back, terror seizing me before whatever this room was, made me go frigid. He snaps his fingers, the index going directly at me as grins ear to ear. "What a strange fate you've found yourself in, Spidey! Not one you're used to right?"

I couldn't open my lips to answer, how did he know who I was- "Sorry, cat got your tongue, that's what I get for shotgunning my phone calls-the boy's are going my ass for this blunder hehehe….that green-haired snake will at least find this funny-HAHAHA..." His body tense, his muscle tightening, he looked like he could take on a brick shithouse. "...but this little fluke won't ruin things...plan's already nearing its final stages." He gets up in my face, I could see clearly his yellow teeth, and smell the rancid nature of the person he was. "You won't remember this though, don't know if that's my new boss's will or whatever brought you here….even if you did, what would you do? Eh Petey Your Uncle Killed?"

I find rage, I create a fist. I throw it fast, I throw it hard. The pale man takes it and is sent flying into a black wall. He hits it, and I hear him laugh seconds afterwards "I-would-st-" My body stops.

"You would die, die and die again." The pale man chuckled, picking himself up rubbing the cheek where I decked him. "I'm a man with a plan-not 'the plan' obviously, but I enjoy the one my boss has for everyone." He comes up to me and gives it to me in the gut, I cringe and fall to the floor. "We're already so deep into the tapestry of it all, not even the corpse wearing seventy-two loser legion can comprehend it...heheHAHAhehe...everything will be reshaped, and you'll have front row ticket to the chaos, the little lives lost in an instant."

He crouches over me and brings his red stained lips to my ears. "So keep your eyes on the skies, little spider, have dread in your heart for when one so foreign to your nature comes and brings the pain," His pale hand, strong clenches my throat. He brings me up and raises me to the air. "I'll come for you, kid...when you least expect it, and when hope is rekindled after the hell's you will have seen, you're another pawn in this game-least I call this a game-hehehee...all shall be him, for he is my kind of god, that kind that breaks the damn apple cart of stagnation," I feel my windpipe caving under the pressure, "So go on, think you can save the world, toil over your own failings as you bite back against a reality that will make you question it all, break hearts, find new hates and realize you're not special in the slightest kid!" He adds pressure and I begin to feel my throat crack. "Let me be one of the nightmares you'll have and forget when you open your eyes, let me be another chip on your shoulder that won't let you relax, let me be a threat and promise wrapped in one. I shall be your ghost of Christmas disaster!" My world begins to turn black. "It won't happen today, it won't happen tomorrow, it won't happen for long, long while...but hey, everything's eventual, right?" As my life is cut short, he laughs in tone incorrect for the man he reminded me of-

---

Peter opens his eyes, he breathes in rapidly, he gulps and the fear and confusion leave him as he realizes he's okay, I'm good, I'm good I'm….what am I looking at?. It was bare skin, fair skin, a belly button surrounded by armor. He looks up and finds the girl from Chaldea looking down at him, worried but relieved. He looks at her dumbly, realizing where he was, where exactly he was laying. "Hey Mash….how ya doing?" His face went red, voice high, HOLYShITHOLYSHITHOLYSHIT-

She tilted her head kindly with a smile that could burn away the Grinchiest of hearts. "I'm glad to see you're okay, senpai!"

"Yep, me too!" He replies back quickly, like a yelp. He raises himself up from Mash's, I was in her lap, that is way too close for comfort Parker.

"Kyuu!" He hears Fou complain, the little fluffer had apparently been laying on him, he fell into Pete's laugh before subsequently leaping off him and giving the teenage vigilante the staunchest of glares.

Excuse me pal, but it's a bad look to just lay in a girl's lap. Also, it's a bad look for someone who is probably still hooked up with someone else! He thinks, calming his nerves and feeling his body temp returning to normal. He felt the heat of the fire, it felt nice. Finding serenity for a moment, he looks to Mash. "How long was I out?"

Mash raises her eyes up, putting her hand to her bottom lip. "Hnn, about an hour or so….you slept soundly as I watched…" Her face goes red. "...over you."

Pete nods, rubbing the back of his nape subsequently. "Heh, thanks Mash." Okay, Parker the question you may want to ask yourself is-are you in the danger zone? He diverts his eyes to Caster, who was just enjoying the sight of the teens, basking in their sheer awkwardness.

"I take it we didn't get attacked at any point?" He asks, taking a quick glance at the girl who, who you've taken on a roller coaster of emotions after knowing for about a day. That can not be healthy. Her eye catches his, thankful, that was the word that came to mind when they saw that they were both still, well, still alive. Though Pete, a smarter part of him didn't like some of the excess her lilac irises gave him. It wasn't a bad feeling, more like, precipice to how he felt when he saw the girl that lit his heart up. You're just being hormonal, Pete-knock it off! He reminded himself quickly as the Caster spoke.

"Coast was clear. Me and lass kept our eyes sharp and our bellies full while you and the young Director rested." He motioned to the still sleeping Olga, who had snuggled herself into the comfy looking cloak that Caster had worn. "She sleeps soundly, like a princess waiting for the hero to take her away...odd considering the airs she puts on." Caste noted, the Director of Chaldea wrinkling her nose innocently as she bellowed softly in her slumber.

Almost makes you forget she said Mash and I were expendable….she still healed me. She could have just let me die, let Mash get taken with me. But she didn't-she did it to survive. That's the most likely reason, probably 'the' reason. He paused, nothing wrong with that. I'm still alive, still breathing. "Yeah, she does…..thanks, Olga." He said almost under his breath. I can't help but feel...Parker, you're overthinking this. He looks back to Caster, who gives him a prankish smirk. "Got something to say Merlin?"

Caster shrugs, crossing his arms proudly "Only that you must treasure these moments, and recall them when you realize the world isn't what you think it is."

Peter sighs, I think I'd get a straighter answer from Strange. He feels Mash tap him, he looks to her and sees a small bag of dried fruit dangling between her fingers daintily.

"Eat up senpai, the Director told me to give it to you when you awoke." She said poignantly, sweetly, kindly-

Parker-stop! He obliged her and took the bag. "Thanks." He said gingerly, he pried it open and began to enjoy the contents within. Not exactly Aunt May's wheatcakes. But I'm not complaining. No one is as good a cook as her, really. "So no attacks, cool. Did I miss anything else? Did the Doc get anything from outside of Chaldea?" He tensed up and relaxed dejectedly when Mash gave him the answer his more cynical side expected. No. Damn...He relented the expression of despair that was about to build. He tried to hide it with the rations, Don't need to make her worry about me again. I've done that way too much today. "How about King Arthur?" Magic or not, a person like that existing would just be absurd...is it really though, Pete? To a man of science, most definitely. Unless this an SG-1 type sitch.

Caster shook his head, "She's staying put it seems, probably wants us to make the first move or she's just paranoid about guarding the Greater Grail."

"...she?" Pete asked, looking to Mash confused. She shrugged.

"Yes, she. I was surprised myself when I realized who she was."

"Okay...if that's the case and you're not pulling my leg here. Why would most if not all of modern media portray King Arthur as a guy-and WAIT, wouldn't she be a queen-not a king?" Pete wasn't exactly an expert of Arthorian lore, more of scifi guy-but would that mean Guinivere was a guy? Unless Queen Arthur was actually into chicks, wait then how does that explain her son? Was she pregnant? Was Morgan Le Fay a guy and impregnated her? Peter felt like he was going to go crossed eyed before Romani popped into view.

"Well, history is a tad male oriented sometimes Pete, no one would have accepted a female ruler back in those days. She probably hid her gender and pretended to be a male so she could rule Camelot without consequence." The Doctor hypothesized.

"Doesn't explain the rest of the story Doc. Like there's a few key details that really don't make sense if that's the case." Peter retorted, slightly bewigged.

Romani gave him a-what do want from me, expression. "That's my best guess." Can't imagine what his reaction to Da Vinci will be. Of course his history would seem more accurate, since he was a he when he lived. Romani took a moment. I mean the mona lisa is a masterpiece, but I wouldn't really want to be it for every waking moment of my life.

"An accurate one, most likely shrimp. But don't think because she's of the fairer sex that she's some pushover."

"Thought never crossed my mind Merlin."

"Stop callin' me that! I'm not that flowery pervert." This made Pete's eyes widen. "Point is," He seems to shiver for a second. "They can honestly be worse than any man...especially the ones that like cash." Wait...how did I remember that?

Pete queried his eyes. "Well that's a horrible stereotype."

"That's a stereotype?" Caster asked.

Olga began to stir. Raising her up from Caster's cloak. Rubbing her eyes and yawning cutely in a manner not too dissimilar to a princess. "What's all that racket? Some of us have a meeting in the….morning….ugh." She seemed to remember where she was.

"Yeah that's the long and short of the sitch I'd say. Ugh….and maybe a bit cursing that we can bleep out when we put the film on ABC Family." the brunette jested, causing the Director's expression to sour a twinge more and return her more usual, staunch face.

"I see fainting didn't do anything to that mouth of yours."

"Nah, nap times were always my favorite part of preschool." He quipped, though there was no malice in his voice. "Thanks for snacks by the way." He grants her a grateful grin.

Olga crosses her arms with a proud humph. "Think nothing of it, Parker." She loosens the facade. "That aside, how are you feeling-since someone can't do his job properly." If Pete were in a comic, he could have seen the venom in each syllable as she stared down Romani.

Sheesh. "I mean he's a medic-not an IT." Peter pointed out, only for Romani to abashedly admit.

"No..no she's right. I know Chaldea's systems like the back of my hand...heheeeeeeeh…." He petered off, ashamed.

"Welll-*cough*-To answer, I'm feeling pretty good. Though a bit loose. Should be able to get rid of that with the rations and a few stretches. Won't take me out of the fight." He didn't see Mash's features cringe at that mention. Though Olga did.

"Caster, you said saber was King Arthur-correct?" Olga asked, her voice cold.

The Caster nods.

"You're not going to be fighting." She says in an absolute manner. This hit Pete like a sock of frozen butter.

"What? Why?!"

"You would die. No ifs or buts."

"I appreciate you worrying about me Director, but I can handle myself." Lancer and Archer tough-sure. But they're not...

"Then how did I find you in that state? Mr. Parker-because that doesn't seem like the type of situation of someone that can handle himself would be in." Olga retorted.

The primal fear, the urge to run, the edge to give in show up the heroic spirit rolled over Peter like the worst sort of goosebumps. "I...I slipped up, okay." He defended staunchly, though his eyes were downtrodden. Remembering Mash's tone when she held him. I never want to hear her sound like that again.

"You almost died."

"Yes, almost. In the grand scheme of things, I call that good odds." He stood up, arms out and up as she stretched nonchalantly. "Call me Launchpad, but any crash you can walk away from is still a good one when you look back at it." She's probably right. Who knows what would happen if I exerted myself again. If the Doc's right and my contract with Mash and Caster is taking a toll on me and my…'mana supply', yeah, that's the lingo. I'd be left defenseless like one of those fainting goats. But he couldn't just stand on the sidelines, that wouldn't be right. It'd be a waste of what he could do. And he didn't need any more ghosts.

"That's incredibly stupid, you know that right?" Olga raised herself up to look the teenager in the eyes. "Why risk it. Why throw yourself into a situation like this? What are you trying to prove?"

"Nothing." He avoided her gaze, it was a lie somewhat. But he couldn't think why. Don't over think it Pete. "How About you? You say I'm expendable right? Why heal me? You could have easily just let me die and got Mash to be your servant along with Caster." He shot back in sub zero tone.

"It's not that simple, Parker."

"Why not? I agreed to be Casty's master," he said sourly. "And I got…" He held his tongue, knowing what he was about to say was harsh. I don't need to guilt trip her, I've already done that enough.

"You have the command seals. Sure I could take them but….but….I'd probably die anyway." Olga admitted, she looked down and rubbed her wrists. She closed her eyes and allowed air to flow through her nose before she spoke. "I'm not...I'm not…" She bit her lip, and Pete felt like a piece of work for dragging this out. "This was supposed to be the day I proved everyone wrong….that I could actually do something right for a change. But look at what happened." She motions to where they were, and Pete got the idea.

"I failed on day one of Chaldea's mission. Team A are in comas and apparently everyone else that had been chosen is dead, not to mention non-master candidates that died in the fire….and Lev, dear god Lev….I woke up this morning, scared of how this was all going to be pulled out from under me. But when I saw his smile, heard his kind words-I actually believed I could have been half the director my Father was, maybe even better. Also because he believed in me." She begins to shake, though not in anger. He hands clenched and the distinct and forlorn shape of tears streamed from her eyes. "I should have known this was going to happen...but of course I didn't, because that's-that's-" She looked about ready to drop her knees and accept defeat.

Damn it, Parker. It was an instinct that kicked in for him. Not the usual hostile or battle tendency-based one, but something he had picked up after two years on the job. Mask or no mask, it was hard not to get like this.

He sprang up, Mash surprised by the sudden motion from her master, a smarter part of him telling himself that he was overstepping his boundaries. I don't care. He rounded the fire and with a resolute motion, and before anyone could ask. He wrapped his arms around the Director, tight, but not stifling.

Olga was shocked to say the least as the teen hugged her, hugged her. A stranger who had decried Chaldea and the way, the way a magus should do things. Why, why is doing this? Is he-is he pitying me? I'm-I'm…. She gave in, burying herself into the boy's shoulder and wetting his dirtied and once pure white mystic code with her tears. "Who do you think *sniff* you are?" She asked between the tears, the sadness, the loathing.

"Would you believe me if I said I'm a science major?" Pete said, voice hitching somewhat embarrassed. This is so much easier when I have the mask on. He looked over his shoulder and saw the mocking glare of Caster. Who gave him a thumbs up and a wry smile that the teenage vigilante didn't like what it was implying. Dude, why? He didn't get a good view of Mash, but he hoped her head wasn't in the gutter like the blue caster.

"I'm serious *hic* you can't just-just hug me! I am your superior! A magus of the Animusphere household! This-This is unacceptable *sniff*" She sputtered, her tone a mixture of sadness, confoundation. "What's your angle here, Parker?"

Pete shrugged, "You looked like you needed a little pick me up, no angle...I know what it's like to not see the whole picture and be bit in the ass because of it." He felt Olga's intensity lessened, with that he slowly let go of her and took a week's steps back, leaving a foot between him and Caster's fire. He became almost a silhouette before the Director. "But it wasn't the end of the world," He looked to the projection of Romani, who had taken the role of deer in the headlights after realizing what the Parker boy had done. "And it isn't right now-It's just technical difficulties right?" He asked, hinting at what he wanted the answer to be. "Probably just dialed the wrong number or something?"

Romani blinked twice "...as far as I can tell…...holy crap…." The Doctor mouthed.

He motioned with his thumb to Romani as he turned back to Olga. Who's facade had completely returned to its more lady of war-esque appearance. She wiped away the salty remnants of tears with her sleeve as she sniffled. She's as in over her head as I am, but she's the expert here. And I'd rather not die today in all honesty. "I'll…." He had to swallow his pride, maybe at least be an ace up the group's sleeve if the worse happens. "...I'll stick to the sidelines and let the pros do their work." He placed his hands in the black pockets of his mystic code's trousers, standing casually he nodded to Olga respectively. "If that's okay with you, Director?"

Olga for a moment. Anger surged through her body as she returned to a more prim posture. An unimpressed glare flowed forth from her and stared daggers at the Master Candidate that had shown her up thrice, made her feel like she was someone, she wasn't. The disrespectful, cape-advocating, no bloodline having, welp. He had seen her at her lowest and said everything would be okay. What gaul, does this kid have? Who does he think he is to be so casual? He made a fool of me in front of Mash and that slacker of a medic. I-I-I-"I'm glad you're finally seeing reason, Mr. Parker. And if that's the case. Hmph." She crossed her arms and turned away from his gaze. "I'll grant you the privilege of keeping me safe if both Mash and Caster unfortunately perish." She regained the facade she wanted, longed for.

Don't like the way she said 'Mash dies' but at least she's back to normal. "Cool, does that mean I get a raise?"

"What-no!" She palmed her temples. An idiot, like I thought!

"For that she might actually dock your pay, Pete." Romani warned.

This gave Peter pause. "I'm actually getting paid?"

---

Refreshed, in more ways than just well rested, the group moved out. Caster snuffed out his fire and reclaimed his staff to once again and lead the Chaldeans through the bowels of the tunnel.

Didn't think the brat would actually back down. Guess he's a sucker for a pretty face. He chuckles to himself. Figures.

With every step they made, Cu Chulainn could feel the corruption of the grail and its guardian. Beckoning them to come and test their might. It made his blood boil something fierce. Caster, Lancer, Saber-whatever class I get summoned in, nothin' beats the edge of wading towards a battle. Without looking over his shoulder, he knew the brat and lass could also feel it. "Hell of a feeling, eh?" he asked jovially, keeping his pace steady, purposeful.

"If you mean the goosebumps I'm getting like I'm about to do a presentation in underwear-I guess?" The brat responded, "Don't know why you sound so happy about it, Casty."

"What's not to be happy about, Master of Chaldea?" He knuckles cracked as he let loose some built up stress. "We're going to do what we were put on this Earth to do." He looks over his shoulder, "Kick ass, kick pompous ass-only if it were Goldy-then it'd be real sweet!"

"I wouldn't call King Arthur pompous, Mr. Caster-ah-I mean Chulainn. That doesn't exactly sound right for the ruler of Camelot." Mash retorted hesitantly.

"Wait, why are you calling him Chulainn?" Pete asked,

"That's my name, Cu Chulainn." Cu noted the stolid expression of the teen. He has no idea who I am-what the hell are they teaching kid's these days? He let it slide, "Read a book every once and awhile sheesh-anyway, of course it doesn't. Hence the whole corruption deal, flipped her whole paradigm. Or maybe it just revealed her true ID, who's to say-I'm no philosopher."

"Even so Mr. Chulainn, I would hesitate to call such a hero pompous." The Shielder had an unsure expression strewn across her idyllic features. "Even if she is corrupted, she has earned her keep in history and respect for what she has gone through, the sacrifices and..." Mash faltered, losing her voice it seemed as she seemed bewildered at her own words.

"You good?" The brat asked, the demi-servant nodding.

"Yes, I believe so, senpai!"

The Sage of Forest took what she said and pondered it. Shield matches the description. Unbreakable and steadfast in its strength. "Heh," He let out in a breath. The way she speaks. Almost like the rumors I've heard of its wielder were true. Guess he has his reasons. "Fair that, but she stole a victory from me at the start of the war-so I think I can throw some shade at her."

"What, she stopped you from burning another person alive?" Pete asked dryly.

"Yes actually."

"Yes actually-he says" The brunette rubs his temples. "And I thought Wolverine was too casual when it came to literal murder." he mutters under his breath, Cu still catching it.

"Point is, don't expect a fair fight from her. She lost that after she killed the 2nd Saber, mercilessly and without even a shred of Knight's honor in her actions."

"Fou fou." The fluffer warned as it rode upon the Shielder's shoulder.

"Don't know what he said, but I'm inclined to agree with-whatever kind of dog that is." Cu quipped.

"But she can be defeated, right?" Olga asked, a bit of tenseness to her tone,

Cu simply smiles, "Wouldn't be a servant without a way to win, and a way to lose. That wouldn't be fair…." His voice trailed off, and he stopped. He motioned his staff for the group to stop. Cu noted the brunette tensing, he knows.

The projection of Romani appeared next to him and looked to a screen the group could not see. "You're on her doorstep."

"Way to point out the obvious Roman." Olga bitingly replied, as she and the rest of the group looked to the threshold of the tunnel, a threshold that showed a space open and wide-lit a hellish red that told anyone that the mojo running throughout was the bad kind.

The Shielder summoned her namesake and held it firm with steeled features.

The Brat got into what could have been considered a brawler's stance if it was mixed to that of a wild animal with hands out like they were claws. His pupils shrunken and almost fearful-not for himself per se but for the lavender headed lass beside as she looked to her.

"You're not thinking about just running in there-are you Mr. Parker?" The director asked, snapping the teen out of stance/persona.

"Nope-not it all." The group all knew he was lying. He looked sheepishly to the servants. "I'm not the only one feeling like we're about to go and face Darth Vader, right?"

The reference sort of clicked for Cu-but it was hazy. "Nope, you have good senses on ya Master of Chaldea."

"*cough* call it good intuition."

"Or you just feel the overwhelming mana flow." Olga pointed out before hiding behind Peter from a few inches away. "Scary!" she yelped as the atmosphere of the space beyond the threshold scared the heebies out of her jeebies.

"Yeah-yeah, that's definitely it." He placed his hand on Mash's shoulder. "Be safe, and kick ass!"

Mash nods, "You be safe as well, Master." She saw that Caster had begun to move towards the threshold. "And if I don't make it-"

"Don't say-" She cut him off.

"Thank you for treating me like I was anyone else!" she smiled.

"No problem." He clenched his fists. I should have done something when my spider-sense first flared. He felt Fou leap on his shoulder and tap his forehead and roll his eyes.

"Mkyuu kyuu."

"You are very sarcastic for something I can't understand." They stare daggers at each other like two predators fighting for dominance, this just makes Mash laugh.

"Come on lass, we have a war to win!" Cu reminds her. "And if I'm right, we defeat Saber this era returns to what it once was-I'm no expert though. Even so, I'm counting on you two to finish the job and make sure this all ends well!"

"No pressure, right?" Pete looks to Mash with an encouraging smirk.

Mash nods, "Yes, let's end this."

"Break a leg!" Romani cheers on, before turning to look at Peter and then back at the girl who he'd brought possibility to. Don't die.

---

The threshold was crossed, the servants leading the band of heroes with the mortals dwelling behind them, the brunette held himself on high alert at the beginning before his hazel eyes were drawn by the darkened spire that brought a sinister red light to the cavern.

The damn thing looked like a pillar to mankind's darkest aspects-with a body black slush that writhed and wriggled its way to and thro upon its very being. With its peak being akin to a crown of thorns and its crest, a black orb darker than any black Peter had ever witnessed

Hairs stood, and ache in his head beated across his cranium as his irises tried to comprehend before. I shouldn't see that thing, it's not right. It did not feel like his thought.

A distinct humming was given off by the object, low and depressive. Etching into his ear canals and telling to drop, die and let the world be as it should-eviscerated.

He held his forehead as his entire beat with the same pain he felt in his own noggin. Not natural-this is not natural. "The Greater Grail…" Peter found strength to look at the thing straight up and down, blocked behind a rampart of stone it taunted. "...*sigh*," He growled, his voice like arsenic as his very being told him to look down upon the damnable structure.

His palms sparked.

"So this it….to think a magical reactor of this caliber would be in a Far East nation like Japan." Olga pondered, still very much a few feet behind Peter.

Romani popped up. "That'd be the Einzberns, an eminent family of Alchemist. They...built it more or less it seems according to our data on the subject….hmm, odd they didn't have single human being in their-"

Cu Chullain swatted the projection, causing the good Doctor to stop talking. Before his staff forward and his stance fierce, ready for a fight. "She sees us." He stated, the fact obvious to Peter as his eyes were drawn from the Greater Grail to the much smaller figure that below it, but atop the stone rampart that guarded it.

Clad in armor stygian in its color scheme with a red piping on part of it that beated with the grail same sinister red light. Her skin was fair, almost pure white in its glamour that stood out when compared to attire. Her eyes with the same ill-omened yellow as Lancer and her hair, bleach blonde and tied into a presumable bun that Pete could not see.

He jet black gauntlet clasped the hilt of a sword that very much in line with the black bulk of her armor. And Pete didn't have to be mythology buff to guess what that sword was-instead he had seen the movie, Excalibur.

King Arthur, corrupted, the killer and enslaver of most of the war's servants and de facto ruler of the hellscape that had become Fuyuki, looked down upon them like a sentinel, waiting to see what they'd do and take them down accordingly.

He gave her a good once over to make sure Cu was right about the King of Camelot being to go against gender norms and it became solid to him. Well, that's an eye opener...Any other circumstance, Pete might have found the fair king rather attractive-course his spider-sense told him otherwise, along with the fact that she might have been the one to turn the city into a Clive Barker wet dream. So, yeah-not his type! "Okay….I believe the fact that King Arthur was a chick now." Peter tried to quip.

"This can't be the King, this magical output its-its overwhelming…." Mash body tensed and her eyes fearful as the gaze of Tyrant-King in Black layed yellow irises upon her, stoic and revealing no hint of emotion or thought.

The Saber-class servant mouthed out something, the group could not hear. Before nodding in some sort of understanding.

"Like I said, whatever the hell made my war go to shit did this. But it be true. Lass, look at the sword and prepare yourself to prove that we're its better!" Cu boasted, his staff flamed-on.

How do you prove you're better than a sword? It's a sword, it can't think! Peter thought to himself, the cartoony image of a sword with googly eyes coming to him that almost made him forget the dire situation they were in-almost, being the key word.

He saw Mash raise her shield, ready for the fight and ready to take a hit for him. He held himself firm-the desire-the need-to get next to them and face Saber, rushing over him like bad, bad sickness. He looked over his shoulder and saw Olga, almost clinging to him as King Arthur scrutinized the group for all their worth. Keep her safe, keep her clear-things go south. Dropkick the King of the Britons….or call the cops on her, worked in the movie.

"What she lacks in strength, she'll make up with raw magic. Be on your guard and keep that shield close, las-" Cu was cut off as Saber exemplified his warming. Excalibur expelled power, its sound bounding every which way as its intensity grew, and grew until-she let it go.

Silence, or something close to it returned. "Interesting shield, a noble phantasm odd in any context I expected in this time, in this place." She stated matter-of-factly, her cold voice carrying what Pete could take to a Ruler's eminence.

"Eh, I was wondering when you were going to cut the scarecrow act." Cu joked, Saber not fazed. "What's the deal, were you mesmerized by your own self-importance until now?" Caster asks, before sending a volley of flame at the King of Camelot.

With a succinct motion, and at critical impact-she cleaved it the volley volley in twain with one hand that clutched the blackened sword of everlasting victory. The flames hit both fart sides of the cavern, leaving a dent in its structure. And like it never happened, she returned to her previous stance.

I barely registered the blade moving. Pete realized as he slowly began to back Olga and him into the tunnel.

This would not go according to plan though. Saber saw this and promptly swung her blade-the wave of destruction swept overhead fast. It struck the ceiling and Pete could make a decisive move-debris blocked the tunnel completely. "Well that's not cool!" Pete stated bluntly and fearfully-realizing that Olga would now be on the front line of something of this power, this magnitude. "Crap…"

Saber looked to Mash, "You girl, prepare yourself to test your validity-" She raised the sword up, the razer edge facing the direction of Mash and Cu. "-for my sword shall break that shield's might!" The sword begins to burn that same dark glow as before. With meaning, she spoke-"Vortigern, Hammer of the Vile King, reverse the rising sun-" The blade was encumbered by darkness and a red excess. "-swallow the light,"

Spider-sense blared, what was about to happen-meant dodging was never an option in the first place. Okay-that's not good! He without a second thought, swept Olga in his arms and he got close to Mash. "Cu get here!" He ordered, tone strong.

The Caster did as he was told. Coming next to Peter behind Mash. He held Olga close, the Director becoming frigid as she realized what was happening. "No one even praised me…" She whispered.

Pete looked to Cu who gave a shrug, "Coin toss." Was all he said.

"Don't worry senpai,"

"EXCALIBUR…"

"I'll protect you,"

"...MORGAN!" the barrage, shining, shimmering, corrosive by any other word beared down upon them. It would atomize them, and they would feel every single moment of it.

With meaning, Mash spoke. "Unleash the Noble Phantasm!" She slammed the shield's edge to the ground. And from the impact a symbol of light arose to meet the challenge the King of Knights sent upon them.

It hit and the air went wild. "AAAHHHH!" The shielder howled, her heels digging up the ground as the impact pushed her back. She buckled down, keeping her grip absolute and her mind on her goal. Protect him! Despite this resolve, the barrage still pushed her back. No! It was lucky then that someone had her back.

His shoulder against her, Pete kept her steady as he still held Olga.

The cavern was hit by the barrage not blocked by the shield-the power digging its way through the side of the mountain.

This all happened in seconds, and when it was over the mountain was still intact, but hollower and surely unstable.

"Holy shit!"

"Holy shit, is a good way to describe it, Master of Chaldea." Cu agrees, casting off his cloak. He looks up at Saber, "How's that for validity your highness?"

Saber says nothing, her eyes only on Mash. She smiles and grants the Shielder a nod.

Mash felt chill come over her by the gesture before the King of Knight's finally left her post.

Hopping from the rampart, she slid down the slide of it. Her metal boots sparking she skidded and Excalibur embedded into the rock and slicing it finely as she slid.

Caster rounded himself to be a few feet away from Mash. He looks at her with a battle addict's grin.

Mash nods, her expression mettle. She brings her shield to her side, ready to use it to cleave Arthur. The King or not, I will not let her win! The image of who the King should be went to the wayside, whoever was before the Shielder was not who the King of Britons should be.

Saber reached the bottom, pulling her sword from the rock with one gauntlet-she didn't hesitate to run at the Servants.

"That's your cue to get out of dodge, Master!" Cu warned before breaking into a sprint to meet the King head on.

Dammit. Peter didn't like this. It didn't feel right. Olga seemed to notice his two-faced expression before tugging his ear to get his attention. "OW!"

"You heard him, Peter!" She ordered with a shrill yet stern voice.

"Yeah, yeah…" He looked to Mash, who gave a reassuring expression. "...I'll keep Olga safe, you go kick ass!"

"Roger, Mash Kyrielight-ready for combat!" She clenched her shield firmly and went into the fray.

Alright, Parker time to play babysitter! He thought to himself as her heard the clanging of sword on shield, and fire expelled. Fou leapt on his shoulder meanwhile.

"Fou fou!" The fluffer warned.

What am I? A taxi service? Peter quipped inwardly, getting what Fou might have been saying. "Brace yourself-things are about to get bumpy!" Olga's reaction that of yelp, Pete moved fast, eyes quick to intake he began to search for somewhere he could hide out until the battle was over and done with. Priorities, keep civs safe and then see how you bring the pound. He reasoned, trying to meld the regular routine with this new one. Just like fighting Aleksei in a crowded area or when Hydra tried to take Manhattan. Let the pros do their job and try to get everyone out alive!

---

Artoria felt odd excitement amidst the battle. Keeping her slashes quick and precise, she strategized on the fly and took the Shielder and Caster on intermittently, keeping them off balance and not just mindlessly attacking one to allow another to be granted the upperhand.

The battle was one of the thoughts running through her mind. The other being the girl with lavender hair. Odd, him being here. He must have sensed what was happening. He was always good at finding the truth. She brought her sword down against the shield.

The girl batted it and prepared to strike Artoria. The King saw this coming and simply side-stepped, only to be met with an upcoming strike from Ireland's Child of Light. Expressionless. Saber met the Caster with Excalibur. Deadlocked, within milliseconds Cu Chulainn pyred the staff he wielded and let it expand.

"Hmmph." Artoria took the hit, the burns and delivered a fist to the Caster's gut and twisted it.

"GAH." A moment gained for her as Caster was staggered-Saber sidestepped as she heard the rushing steps of the Shielder coming for her.

The Shielder blundered and struck Caster, sending back a few feet. "Mr. Chulainn!" She yelped.

Saber didn't smile though there was a joy to seeing a fledgling knight mess up. It just showed despite him being within her, she still had a lot to learn. Nevertheless. Taking the bull by the horns. Artoria clasped her sword with both gauntlets, let power run through it-she bounded at the Shielder while she was turned in a manner that let the lavenderhead know the attacker was upon her.

Whipping around, Artoria's attack was blocked-sparks flew from the impact. Mash grit her teeth, dug deep and pushed forward.

Saber allowed this, Why do this? She asked herself, returning the blade to her side and back peddling and hoping sidestep again. A pillar of flame was she was met with. Her hair whipped as she crossed her gauntlets so that her armor took the brunt of the flame. She didn't cringe, she didn't growl. This isn't what I want in the end.

The flames stopped, and the grounds the King of Knights stood up were charred to oblivion. "I see that armor is as strong as ever your highness!" She heard Caster mock. The jest didn't irk her, for he was just another pawn in this game, a fool like her. Just one that thought there was a choice in the matter.

"Strength, yes. I suppose you are correct." She neutrally spoke before bracing herself for a hit from the Shielder. Her shoulder took the brunt of the attack, and the King of the Britons met the lavenderhead's force equally.

"HRRRGH!" Artoria heard the Shielder grunt.

This was an unexpected intrusion. Though not unwelcomed. With her free hand, she raised her sword and slammed it upon the rock she stood upon. It blasted it to smithereens and the servants were blown to opposite sides.

They both landed on their feet, though Artoria was more graceful. She brought Excalibur to her side and angled it vertical. It revved with power.

Caster temples crinkled. "What are you doing?" He asked her.

"Combat." She said simply.

"Yeah, sure." He responded haughtily.

Of course he'd notice. I should have ended this the moment they faced me head on. Why? Her boots clinking, her armor doing the same she ran.

Shielder led the counterattack, and metal hit metal once more. The caster fired flame and Saber dodged. She struck him once, though only the flesh was wounded before the Caster vollied flame her way to give himself distance.

The Caster and the Shielder tried and failed to catch her while she was busy with one of them. But they failed to give her a good solid dent in her defensive offense. Saber's kept a calm persona as she delivered attacks that hit, but were nonlethal. Scrapes, bruises, punches and punts with the blunt end of her sword.

Cu Chulainn was the faster of the duo, getting in close and trying burn her away only for Artoria's jet black armor to withstand it and keep moving forward with attacks that didn't carry the same weight as they did when she decapitated the former knight of her's that had been the 2nd Saber. That man thinks he is my better. That I will be a pawn. My contract was not with him-yet I still fight for his grand stratagem.

She felt the pull of the greater grail to follow through and be done with it. To stop toying with them. She felt the sneering aura of the man, questioning what in the hell she was doing. I don't know. She admitted, trying to gauge what had overtaken her previous mindset.

The shielder batted away her sword as Artoria thought and hit her dead in the chest and into the crosshairs of the Sage of the Forest.

The shield.

Saber felt the impact of Caster's staff as flame overtook her. The pain jolted her back to action as she two-hand thrust her Excalibur downwards. The sword carved the floor below, using it as an anchor she twisted herself to meet the Child of Light himself. She aimed low, with a free hand and sent her gauntlet fist straight to his abdomen. She faked it though, the Caster getting ready to jump, allowing her to grasp his staff and tear it away from him.

"DAMN IT!" Cu Chulainn swore.

Both staff and sword in hand. Artoria felt conflicted nonetheless. She looked at the staff and began to apply pressure.

"I see the corruption made you a thief as well" Caster insulted.

The pressure lessened. "A king takes what they desire, damn those who stand in their way, Cu Chulainn."

"Then why haven't ya unleashed your noble phantasm again? I know you got the juice for it." He points to her accusingly. "What's with the song and dance routine?"

Artoria considered what he was saying. "..." She had no answer.

The shielder came for her, and Saber blocked the attack with Excalbur, the clinging of metal and the sound of sparks drew forth from the collision.

Her eyes were drawn to the shield, she looked back to Caster-still weaponless-though she knew she shouldn't underestimate him due to this. She inhaled, and returned the staff to the Hound of Chulainn. "I'm bored." She lied, charging up the sword. "And stagnation does not bode well for a ruler."

"Whatever, you say!" Swing his, fire thrusted for her and the same song dance restarted.

They're weaklings. This should be nothing for me….this entire gambit is nothing to me.

---

Pete found himself a nice little hole in the ground to squat in. Really living up to my namesake, aren't I? He thought glumly as he, Fou and Olga hid in an alcove he had found a minute or so after Mash and Cu began their clash against King Arthur.

He heard summoning of fire signifying the Azure Caster, and clanging of metal on metal. "*sigh*"

Olga glared at his reaction and rolled her eyes. "You really are a piece of work, Mr. Parker."

"Fou kyuu…." The fluffball mewed as he rested on Olga's lap and waited out the fight. To calm her nerves, she stroked the little canine-thing's mane. Much to his pleasure.

"You say what she did, that unadulterated magical power. She's not like that….oddly sword-based archer...what was that about?"

The teenage vigilante shook his head. "Yeah, going by that logic how can a sword shoot a giant laser wave?"

Olga just groans, "It is a noble phantasm, if the ability is conceptually a part of the servant, it will be there."

"Where in any book or movie does it say King Arthur can fire lasers?!"

"Where in any book or movie does it say King Arthur was actually a woman?"

He inhales sharply, "Touche Director." The shattering of bedrock and the guttural cries of battle made him return his attention to the battle outside. He cringed and clenched his body to hold himself firm. I feel like I'm into fighting order, but who's to say I won't go down or get sloppy if I go out or there-like what happened with Archer?

The image of any higher cognitive functions beside Take him down returned. And the feeling of himself catching his sword handed made his palms ache despite Olga's previous healing. "I know she's strong, I know she could probably kill me very easily," Spider-sense told me that from the word go. "But you can't blame me for feeling a bit useless when I know I can well...at least try to help…"

Olga tilted her head downwards, loose strands of her hair casting out her eyes. "You're still on about that…" She cringed, "...why are so fed up on this?"

"Maybe I'm just a sucker for punishment." He joked, though there was little humor in his voice.

"Maybe...or maybe...I don't know. I just don't see the point in throwing yourself into a lion's den like that. What's to gain from it, there's honor, no acclaim. I just can't see someone, anyone giving their life in a fight like this…"

"Captain America would….Superman would...I don't really like to compare myself to them though-I'm mean, they're the premier idea of what I…." He found himself on the razor's edge of a slip. "...sorry, I forgot you don't like superheroes."

Olga sighed, "Capes don't go through the things maguses do on a day to day basis, Peter." She raised her head, and sullenly her amber eyes met his hazel. "It's easy for them, so cut and dry. Punch a villain and send them to prison. Rinse and repeat, they don't know real cruelty when all they have are creepers who wear masks, rob banks or say they're going to take over the world." She shifts her gaze from him in shame, "Maguses have burned cities, wiped away people, memories and concepts from the annals of history just because it was an inconvenient truth if the reality of what we hide was revealed. We're selfish in that way I guess." She shakes her head, "The fact that capes can just show up and solve a problem without the red tape of mystery, or the overview of the Association-it's just….infuriating."

Peter took the information bit by bit. It made sense for the way Olga acted now, so that's what maguses are like huh? Is Strange like that as well? "Not like they try to do that...I can't agree with the approach, don't think I ever will if what you're telling me is the real deal of mage society." He gets himself up from where he was sitting and peaks around the alcove. "But there's always another option, they show us that. I learned this from a friend who kept me from doing something…" He remembered the words of a man he once trusted, I killed her because I could, "...doing something I could never take back." Thanks Matt.

The servants were in a stalemate. Caster and Mash doing their damndest to land a decisive blow against the enemy servant. Who took the hits, but kept on standing. She meanwhile, moved like almost elegantly in her monstrosity. Swinging her sword hard and swift, though the attacks didn't seem to have as much gusto as her first barrage. Maybe she used up her mana or something. He hypothesized. But it doesn't look like Cu and Mash are getting anywhere fast with the way Queen Arthur is moving. I could probably help, web her face and try to pry Excalibur out of her hands.

He looked to his left wrist, where his now only working web shooter laid clasped. He reached into his pocket and found only one full cartridge left. He opened the web shooter and checked the amount left. A quarter left. He heard Olga get up, and Fou seemingly grumble after losing his personal massage "What are you doing?"

He smiles at her, "Nothin' just thinking. What? You thought I was going to leave you by your lonesome?" He says back freely, though his eyes went back to looking at the battle.

Olga's lips stiffened and she rubbed her temples.

"Foooouuuuu….." The squirridae drawled sarcastically, who received a sharp glare from the director.

"Honestly, with how you've acted since I've first met you...maybe, you kind of flip flop on this whole comedian and moral-superiority act."

Well, I'm kind of used to wearing a mask and not working with magic ghosts Pete admits to himself non-plusly. "New sitch Director, finding footing can be a bit difficult...I mean, time travel, a city on fire, skeletons and a guy who can summon swords. I mean-it's not really a stretch considering I'm from New York…." He turns to her, shrugs while scratching the back of his neck, "...but this isn't the type of fight I usually get myself in." He frowned, almost ashamed of what he was saying. God, it sounds like I'm throwing in the towel. He closes his eyes and inhales deeply. "But I know I can help, I know I can play this smart. I made a bad call when fighting Archer, I'll admit that until the chickens come home to roost." He looks back out the battle, he sees Mash almost be slashed by the blackened blade. She blocked it-but it was too close. He clenches his fists, his palms spark. "I get there's a whole dynamic with this-let the servants fight and gauge a strategy on the sidelines. Like I'm a Pokemon-trainer or something..."

He saw a frown build on her lips. "There's a but coming isn't there?" She scoffs at him, "Can't you just listen? What happened to staying with me to make sure I was safe? Do you...you think I'm dragging this entire mission down...you do don't you?" She angrily before it draws into a saddened whimper. "Fine, go ahead-leave me to die!"

"Olga, I would never do anything to risk your life, heck, anybody's life. That's not who I am. So yeah, maybe I'm a bit too influenced by capes-and I don't vibe with your surgeon's precision analogy. Call me a hammer, call me an amateur, an idiot or anything else that comes through your head-but I know where I stand in the fight. Even if the odds are against me…." His palms spark, and spider sense flares. Eyes widen, he bounds, grabs Olga by the waist and Fou by his scruff. He leaps to the left side of the alcove, turns his heels to run to the side of it and leaps out and over as the wave of fire comes at them. "...I'LL WING IT!" He screams, along with Olga and Fou, who yelps. Holy shit!

He lands, with a thud. He lets Olga brace against him with Fou, cushioning they're fall. Not my worst jump. He looks at Cu with a WHAT THE HELL DUDE-expression

"She diverted my blast! How was I supposed to know Saber was going to aim for your hiding sp-" He blocks a strike from King Arthur herself.

Pete refrains himself from rolling his eyes. He looks to Olga and sets her down, before handing her Fou. "I won't leave you to die, that's my promise. You can punish me any way you want when we get back to Chaldea. I'll probably deserve it for going back on my word." He points back to alcove. "Hide, stay safe, scream as loud as you can or run if something bad happens." He looks to the three servants, Saber's still has them at a standstill. "Heck you can fire me, but I'm going to do what I do best-" He doesn't finish before running inhumanly fast into the fray, leaving Olga alone with Fou.

That idiot….I guess, even while wearing my emotions on my sleeves. Nobody will listen to me...damn it. She runs into the alcove and curses the hand dealt to her. I really am selfish, aren't I? You're so pathetic, what the hell did Lev even see in you?

---

Artoria felt no exhaustion or very little. The Greater Grail was doing its job for her well. Keeping her able bodied as its guardian.

Even with its backing, its call to finally end this little charade so that Man in the green suit could fulfill his dark desires. She was hesitant. She had been forthright when it all began, slaying and overtaking the servants the Fuyuki Grail War had brought. But as time went on, she found the victory, it wouldn't be hers. It'd be some hollow, fake victory for something far more terrible than what she was.

She could have simply ordered all the servants under her command to simply hunt down Cu Chulainn, so she could kill or convert him. But she didn't-she allowed him to take out her blackened, not even telling them what to do except go about as they pleased in the city.

She could have had Archer simply kill the unknown master and his servant when they first arrived. But she didn't, she allowed them to come to her doorstep and face her guardian. Even with the Archer's rage nipping at the bit to break loose and slaughter the unknown master. She held him back.

Why? This was an assured victory. Who cared about the semantics of it? Well, Artoria did. Even as she was, her true self as she liked to think. She hated the idea of a victory not being of her own hand or of her own wishes. Call her a fool. But this is not how I shall win. Her eyes flash right, she saw him coming. She sliced right, low enough to take off his waist. If he's going to come at me like that-he deserves to die for it. She had her pride.

As fast as her movement was, the attacker offered the same level of reaction. Rolling to his knees and sliding underneath the strike, slicing only a strand of his brunette hair.

He then took her by the wrists, and Artoria Pendragon found her cold yellow eyes looking into the hazel of her attacker, the unknown master, the one who caused Archer to become more beastial than he had ever been.

"So Art, can I call ya that? I got a few questions about your family tree!" He asked nonchalantly. He moves fast, moving his right hand and-Artoria goes blind. A millisecond passes and she finds her chest kicked in. "Like mainly HOW?!

Did not expect that. She slides, her metal boots sparking against the bedrock before she stops, back hitting the rampart. She tears off what hindered her sight.

Her eyes widened, the Shielder was on her. She jumps to the side and the lavenderhead rams into the rampart. Leaving a hole larger than her.

She is pelted by the flames of Cu Chulainn, crossing her gauntlets once more. It takes the full force of it and she feels her body temperature turn up a few uncomfortable notches.

It stops, and the blackened once and future king of Camelot, yet still stands. She didn't feel mad, with no emotion cross her features except cold resilience. She looked to the newcomer, the unknown master, the human who went toe-to-toe with Lancer and Archer.

He gave her a cocksure smile, arms crossed "Wow, get cooked like barbeque and you still look like somebody's goth crush-what's your secret?"

Saber, almost smirks at the jest before taking a hit from the Shielder. She braces for it, Excalibur takes the force of the strike once more. Sparks expelled, and Artoria eyes zero in on the brunette once again on her.

She doesn't react, pulling in strength she bats away the shield. Using the force of the movement to launch her away from the lavenderhead and brunette who was in hot.

Her boots skid as she lands, the teen meanwhile-runs up the rampart and uses it to launch himself at her. "Don't go! I just wanna ask about your son!"

Fast. interesting. She remarked to himself. As she swipes her sword at him as he hands.

He goes on all fours to avoid, then only his hands and spins like a dreidel aiming his foot to trip her out.

She slashes down, only to find the Sword of Everlasting victory halted by the shielder.

This all takes place in seconds, and falls to it. The foot hits and Saber becomes weightless. Allowing for the lavenderhead to bat in the face with the escutcheon.

Going airborne, keeping a steel grip on her sword, she lands and skids. Black armor sparks as friction does its work. She stops and before she has time to react. Her ankle is clutched.

"CASTER GO LONG!" Artoria is whipped skyward.

"Hmm." She is honestly kind of bemused by the entire process. So they hid him as a trump card.

"That's the ticket Master!" she hears the Sage of Forest utter, haughty.

Artoria is swallowed by flame, a shooting star hailed from the cold vastness of space. She lands, the impact leaving a crater as the fire burns her body, though she wasn't out the fight.

Her skin ashened and dirtied. She didn't feel weak, the grail was still doing its work to keep her as its guardian.

She stood, body almost close to aching. "Hmm, unexpected." She looked up and heard talking, no it wasn't simply talking. Something akin to an argument.

"Thought you were going to stay with the lass? Didn't peg you for the type to kiss-and-run master."

"Please don't call me that, and secondly we're fighting evil King Arthur-you know how much clout that's gonna get me with the DnD guys at school?"

A jester of a type, reminds me of Merlin. Or the 1st Rider before I overtook him.

"Senpai..." the shielder warned worrisomely.

"...you guys looked like you needed help. Olga and Fou's okay, and I...I didn't want you to get hurt because I didn't do something when I could have." There was a pause. "I'm sorry, Mash."

Artoria heard the hesitation in his voice, like he betrayed his servant. He wanted to protect his servant. Saber shakes her head as she sees hazel eyes, red hair and the look of astonishment. Him looking up to her as she asks the question. What an odd duo. She smiles, feeling the pull, her origin almost as it once was. I wish I could have seen him grow strong. She ponders, raising her head to see Caster, Shielder and brunette looking down at her. Her features go cold. She had let them sneak up on her.

Excalibur revved with power, and she had made up her mind. She would give them a show, she would show them monstrosity and she would grant them victory. A foolish master, and a knight with an unfamiliar face. Yes...I shall accept this.

---

The crater bursts with dark power, Mash, Peter and Cu leap back.

The power stops, Saber leaps and lands , sword impaling the ground as she crouches. She stands and revs the sword.

"So what does your sword take? Diesel? Ethanol?"

Saber says nothing.

"Gas mileage?"

King Arthur clasps the hilt with both hands.

"Wow, you're court jester must have quit on the first day. Because MY GOD, your feedback is terrible."

Saber smirks.

"Ooh I don't like that."

"Counts as feedback, eh Master?"

"Don't call me that, Caster."

She swings, and a straight torrent of fire surges at him.

The shielder blocks it, it disperses. Without a second wasted, the teens charge toward Saber.

What proceeds is a whirlwind of dodges, punches, attempted slashes, blocks and Peter attempting to get through King Arthur's cold exterior with quips, wits and asking about her son.

The King of Camelot keeps her cool the entire bout.

And through it all, Mash Kyrielight a tad worried. Peter was fighting better than the battle with Archer. He was less offensive, letting himself dodge and weave when in comparison to the previous fight. Only striking when he had found a weak spot-usually when Mash had bashed the King and he used it as a way to coldcock her.

Even so, he...he was worried about me. A fleeting thought that ran through her head. Though there was almost no inkling of betrayal in her thoughts, even if she did feel a tad shameful for her senpai. I understand now, maybe a bit more than I did. We both just want to do what's right for each other. She finds her heart pounding, and her strike carries a bit more oomph.

She would have to talk to him later. Even with this understanding, she couldn't help but be, well, displeased with her master going back on his word. Capes, no wonder maguses find them annoying. The thought almost made her chuckle as she sent a hardened heave of the cross-like noble phantasm against the dark blade of legend.

This allowed her master, Peter Parker, to come up from beside her and send a flurry of punches to King Arthur's person. Bobbing and weaving, and hitting every inch that may have a weak spot in the Saber's armors defense. Much to her senpai's chagrin.

"It was a really bad idea to punch metal, Jesus!" He exclaims in agony before webbing the Saber's boots. "Not as bad as Hammerhead's well-head, but it's up there!" With the same light tone she had heard when the girl from Chaldea met him, he clasps King Arthur's gauntlets. They stare into each other's eyes.

"Alright, how about this. Was Morgan a dude?"

King Arthur crinkles an eyebrow, though her features were still aloof. "You're an odd one, such gall."

"Thanks, I pride myself on having gall, Art." He wriggles his nose, "gall, huh...you really are from the past ain'tcha?"

Mash took her chance as Saber broke Peter's grip, he backflips away from her as she slashes. And the shielder, bonks on the King of the Britons on her crown.

"Guh!" King Arthur allows one gauntlet to release its hold on her hilt so she can palm her skull with a look of irritation.

With this, the die is cast.

Her palm becomes affixed to her once golden lockes and the Peter clasps his hand around the free wrist that held aloft Excalibur.

With a struggle of inhuman strength. That of myth and legend, and one modernity and an animal's ferocity. Though Saber is hampered as the shielder whops her, she attempts something drastic.

Slowly, almost nail bitingly, Peter pries up the gauntlet and kicks himself away from King Arthur. He now holds excalibur. "Cool, I'm the king of Camelot now." He then simply tossed the black sword to the side, it landed upright and impaling the ground.

With the sword of the play, Mash and Peter go on a pure offensive streak while Saber goes on the defensive. The teens kept her away from the darkened blade, railing her towards the Sage of the Forest who had readied runes upon the ground.

King Arthur backpedals, and brunette leaps from the escutcheon of his servant to his her into Caster's vicinity with pulling himself towards the lavenderhead with his webshooters.

What happened next was a quick plan Pete came up with on the fly after Saber had landed. A retrace of Archer takedown plan, though with an added surprise.

"Behold, as both good and evil bite the dust-!"

The construct of wood and pyrokinetic forms, and even to the best of King Arthur's abilities-she bashed into the bedrock as the wicker man punched her down. One fist after the other.

It dug a hole into the ground, a grave if you will for the once and future king, with each consecutive slam to the rock below.

Mash and Peter watched, the teens rest on each other. Somewhat bereft. King Arthur had barely broken a sweat during their exchange. "...I feel kind of conflicted honestly." Peter admitted.

"Why's that, Master?"

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

"It's just...nevermind."

Mash puffs out her cheeks. "Please, senpai-you can talk to me." Her voice was soft, tired, the same as Peter's.

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

"Dead person or not...she still felt alive when I was fighting her. And seeing her being pounded to ground...I can't help myself but try and stop Caster from going through with it-ending her." He shakes his head and scoffs at himself. "You'll probably I'm stupid for thinking that."

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

*BOOM*

Mash looks at him with a sober smile. "You're just human, senpai." She then let's her head rest against his shoulder, much to her surprise. He rested his head against hers.

"Yeah...human, that feels like a stretch in today's world." He shrugs.

---

It stopped, and the Wickerman faded. In a crater, about eight feet deep, was Artoria Pendragon. On her knees, bloodied, burned and heaving. She was not mad in the slightest. Sly as the master and servant duo were-they bested her-though the defeat was inglorious. The Grail could heal me, keep me fighting….but that'd give satisfaction to that man. She smirked. He's not Shirou. She's not him. They're close though. They'd be a good pair to align with when they realize the truth.

The boy talked too much, tried too hard to jest while fighting. The girl-though strong, needed more training. Yes, she blocked most of her hits-it need some fine tuning and more tactics.

Cold, as she was now. Artoria couldn't help but want to see how they turned out when the end came. They'd make good pawns. They just need to learn that real strength comes when you let go of what you are. That's why she had lost, that's why she was this. She had realized why she failed in life. I shall make them tyrants.

She crawled her way out of the crater. Dragging the armor and her crippled body, where she met the group-still ready for a fight.

She looked in the eye of Caster and he knew she was done. "How's that for ya, your highness?" He asks cockily.

She looked to Shielder, held her shield aloft-in case Artoria tried one more time to end them.

And finally, her vile yellow eyes looked into the pure in comparison eyes of the unknown master. He hasn't learned yet. Strength, he has it. But not the fang or talons of it. She smirks, and finds a grim satisfaction at the brunette consternated frown.

"And I thought the Cheshire cat's smile was creepy." He crosses his arms and points to her. "But it suits the whole evil look you're going for-in others word, lame."

Artoria quirks her brow.

"I don't think she's one for jokes, Master of Chaldea."

"Really? I couldn't tell? There's usually a whole back and forth when I fight some-I mean, there should be something like that *cough*."

Artoria sees the shielder shake her head and sigh.

What a pair. She finally spoke. "I suppose I stayed my hand longer than I should have. My power must have weakened, unperceived by even my role as a scarecrow."

"Excuses, excuses. Come just disappear so we can fix this place and get back to our regularly scheduled program."

"Master!"

"What? She's going to go on a supervillain spiel about how she would have gotten away with this if it weren't for us meddling kids! Or two kids and a guy who looked like he missed the tour bus for Def Leppard!"

"Def Leppard-I can see it. Decent music." Caster ponders.

"How do you know what that is?"

She ignores they're squabbling. "I was going to defend the Grail until kingdom come, though it seems I lost through a lack of tenacity."

"See, excuses."

"Ultimately, it makes no difference. In any time, in any place-no matter how my own fate changes, this will always be the crowning chapter if I stand alone. It's already too late for any of us."

"What?" The unknown master gasps-his pupils shrinking.

"The hell's that supposed mean? What are you not telling us you damn excuse for a king?" Caster asks, Saber shaking her head in response.

"All will be realized, Cu Chulainn, Ireland's Child of Light…." Artoria feels body lessen, its structure beginning to breakdown as the golden light of the desummoning process begins. "Tis called a Grand Order-and the campaign, the struggle to obtain the Holy Grail has just begun."

Her body ceased the moment she finished speaking, a fleeting thought she came to her-

I will see you two again.

---

Peter didn't like where this was going. King Arthur spoke like it was a promise-But, Chaldea only tracked Singularity F, right? This has to be a one and done. He shook his head and focused on what was left in the Saber servant's stead. A small crystal of some type, glorious in how it brimmed even without the brightest of lights to bounce off it. "What the-" He looked to the greater grail, then back to the chalice.

"Okay-I'm lost here."

He heard Caster groan, "Dammit, what kind of vague crap was that-what did that bastard mean by-Ah crap-" Peter saw his body begin its disappearing act. "-guess my time here is done."

He looks to Peter and Mash, "This isn't really how I want this all to go down, but I'm leaving the rest to you two. Son of a fucking bitch...least I didn't get killed." He shakes his head in annoyance before, relaxing his posture and features to accept the inevitable.

Peter outstretches his hand, "Nice knowing ya, Casty. If you're ever in New York-tell me so I can keep eyes on you. Don't need an arsonist running wild, we already got enough yahoos."

Cu Chulainn chuckles, and takes the hand. "You're still annoying, brat. But if I see you again, make sure I'm summoned as lancer-" He then ceases from this world before he can finish.

Pete sighs, and looks to his servant. "Weird day."

"Maybe, senpai. "

Romani appeared, "Good job you two, with both Saber and Caster gone-I think it's fair to say we won."

"Yessiree, Doc. Just another win for Captain Chaldea and her sidekick." Pete responds back lazily, yawning.

"Speaking of win, Director Olga must be irate at you for leaving her. Just warning you beforehand, Pete-but she berates people something fierce."

I know J. Jonah Jameson. I can handle it. Peter thought before looking in the direction of alcove. "Yo, Director-we won….and we got a crystal as a reward." He yells out, moments later Olga came walking out of the alcove, Fou trailing behind her.

She didn't look angry, Pete wouldn't have knocked her for it, she was more pensive than anything. "Grand Order, how did she know that?" Pete vaguely heard her speak as she got closer.

"Eh, Director?"

Olga snaps back to reality, "Oh yes, Mr. Parker-Mash, good work, but that doesn't make up for going against my orders."

"Fair enough." Pete relaxes, letting his hands rest in his pockets.

"There are several things unclear, barring an in-depth review of the mission-I'd say we've completed the singularity."

"Cool, so what's next? A portal opens and we return to Chaldea?" And I can get back to wearing tights everyday?

Olga shakes her head, "First, we retrieve the crystal that remained after Saber's defeat. It could be the reason why Fuyuki is a singularity and why that servant became corrupted. Then we'll have Da Vinci analyze it and...I'll figure it out from there."

"Sounds like my kind of plan." Pete says encouragingly, only to receive a sour glare from Olga. "Like I said before, punish me any way you-I broke our deal." He says softly, only for Olga to scoff at him.

"Say it so casually, and I'll have hell for you to experience, Mr. Parker." She looks to the shielder "Mash, please go retrieve the crystal."

Mash nods, "Yes, Director-" Before the shielder could even begin to move, the shadow of a man claims the crystal himself.

The man laughs, and Peter's spider sense tells him something that he could probably figure out. "Aw crap…"

"Well, well, well….I give you credit, getting this far was beyond the expectations of my plan. My tolerance was tested throughout each and every excursion you've found yourself in." The man tosses the crystal from hand to the other casually. "Master Candidate #48-Peter Benjamin Parker. My mistake in assuming you'd go down easily, but that's expected of a representative of the Great Thief." The man looks Peter in the eyes, and the teen tenses. "I should've killed you the moment I realized what you were." Lev Laniur spoke, with a smile strewn across his lips. "Contingencies for the Soul Society, Asgard, the Lanterns, Heaven, the Devils, the Horseman and that bloody Sorcerer Supreme. But the little spider, of course, slips through the cracks..." he says in annoyance, letting loose a haggerd sigh.

"Professor Lev Laniur?!" Mash asked, shocked. "We didn't think you made it?"

"Wait Lev's there? Dammit, I can't get a visual!" Romani cursed.

"Tch." Peter's palm spark and the same feeling he got when he first met Lev returned.

"What a day for unfortunate occurrences. Of course you survived Romani, you couldn't just listen to my request and come to the command room immediately like you were told."

"Lev, what are talking about-"

"Trash, I expected trash to listen like an obedient dog. My blunder, and I want to hurl because of it!" Lev's eyes become sharp and shoots a smile not too dissimilar to the Goblin. He groans and wrings his neck in exasperation. "Why can't you pitiful excuses for life just accept the facts of the situation? Can't you just accept death, why do humans always try to avoid the inevitable." He shakes his head, "And Saber, why did you disobey my orders? Now I can't even grant you life in the aftermath. But she just had to keep the era intact-Damn you humans and your idiotic pride-it's all worthless!"

"SHUT UP BEFORE I WEB YOUR MOUTH SHUT JACKASS!" Peter had enough of this crap.

Lev's smile widens. "Ooo~~ Did I strike a nerve?"

"Senpai, Master-Fall back-Somethings not right, that person isn't Lev Laniur!" He felt Mash try to tug him away, but Peter stood strong.

"Are you sure about that?" Pete asked coldly.

Lev chuckles, "I never fooled your for a moment, did I, Parker? Damn that thief and its cheating gifts."

She had been silent for a while, trying to comprehend the man in front of her. Olga Marie Animusphere truly felt safe again, she felt like she could take on the whole world. The man who cared for her, gave her strength-was still alive. "Lev...oh, thank you, thank you! I knew you didn't die." She cried tears of joy, for this felt like Pandora's Box played out, and Lev was the hope after all the horror. "I couldn't do this without you, protecting Chaldea will be a breeze with you by my side."

She began to move, only to be fettered by the amateur who broke his promises, had been disrespectful to her and showed her up. He held her wrists, and with a grave expression he spoke. "That's a bad idea, Olga."

"What? You-You ingrate! Do you know who this man is?"

"Did you not hear a word he's said? HellOOO-he's the bad guy!" Olga struggles to claim her freedom from his grasp. She strained.

"You're delusional! He's been by my side since my father died! Who are you to tell me he's the bad guy! Of course you would you cape worshipping idiot!" She can't believe she was ever going to give him any sort of credence. He doesn't understand a single thing!

"Oh Olga, doing well I see-such a poor state of things. But here you are, still alive and still breathing." He says with favorability, he stops tossing the crystal and lets it rest in his right hand. "What luck." It reformed, into that of a golden chalice.

"Oh Lev *sniff* I didn't know what I was going to do. After the command room blew up, I found myself here-I-I thought I was going to die." Peter feels her tense, and her pulse race. "I've gone crazy with all of these complications. I thought I had actually failed...but if you're here-we still have a chance."

A savage ringing goes through Pete's head "GAH!" He falls to his knees and clutches his skull WHAT THE HELL?!

"SENPAI!"

"PETER?! Mash-What's going on?" Romani's projection faded in and out.

His grip had become nonexistent, and Olga slipped. She runs to Lev and hugs him outright. Lev allows it and strokes her hair.

"You by my side. You'll help me right? Like always?" Olga asks, like a poor neglected child.

Lev simply laughs, "Of course, of course. I'm in the same situation my dear Olga. I thought I had taken every precaution needed for the world we live in. It's all so irritating…" He stops stroking her and raises her head up to him, suavely raising her chin by his index. "...but by far, if I had to list my irritation when it comes to complications-I put you at number one." He smiles, and Olga feels a chill run down her spine.

"I. Set. The. Bomb. Right under you." He told in a sing-song voice. "Directly under your feet, yet you survived."

Olga's pupils shrunk, her lips quivered. "Lev...what-what is that supposed to mean-I don't understand…" Her voice was shakingly close to terror.

"Correction, my bad. I should have been more specific. Olga, you my dear are dead-deader than disco hehehe," He shakes his head. "Your body was a casualty, but by a fluke of fate-trismegistus allowed you to survive like a fleeting dream. What a sad event, you had no knack for rayshifting when alive, but by some cosmic blunder you didn't even need to be alive. What a cruel, sick, and wonderful joke!"

Peter dugs his fingers into the ground, as struggled to regain motor control. It's him-he's doing this to me! He felt Mash at his side, lifting him up. He couldn't speak. Save Olga-get her away from him! He thought in vain.

"You can't ever return to Chaldea. That hollow little head of yours would vanish in an instant." He said like a caring father.

"But-I can't be dead! I know I'm alive….I can't go home?" Olga felt her legs go weak, Lev kept her steady, like he always had done.

"What a sour ending, my dear Olga. But that's just your ending-let me show you the truest ending for all you poor pathetic humans." The chalice in his hand glowed, and unbeknownst to Mash and Peter. Olga Marie Animusphere soon would see that it was all for not.

---

Olga found herself somewhere familiar. She was back in Chaldea, in the room where she had welcomed the master candidates, in the room where oscillating rings and the sphere of Chaldeas stood in all its grandeur.

Her heart skipped a beat, she bit her lips and couldn't stop the welt of emotions building and building up within her as her eyes stayed glued to what sight befell her view. "It's red." The globe within the Atlas Institute developed machine that represented the very planet she was born from, once blue, now glowed a heinous red "What-no-no! This has to be a nightmare! Lev, please-this isn't funny!"

"Not for you, for me-I stifling my laughter." He shakes his head like a father amused by his child idiocy. "With the holy grail, I hold in my hand. I tore through the barrier of dimensions to allow you to see, descendant of Animusphere, the folly of all your blasted intentions."

He leads her to the gyrosphere, caringly, lovingly. Olga tries to pull, but his grip is stronger than hers. "NO!"

"The blue of humanity's survival is gone. Nothing left but the hellish red of the incineration."

Olga feels the power radiating from Chaldeas, it was deadly, it was a promise that tomorrow would never come.

"This was always the outcome of your Father's deluded plan. Isn't it just grand, incompetence inherited from the parent-you did him proud my dear Olga Marie. Even with all the time put into it, tragedy has still been brought forth. What an absolute failure you are my dear~~"

Olga pulled harder, anger overtaking her. "This is ridiculous-I'm not dead, it wasn't my fault-WHO ARE YOU TELL ME I'VE FAILED?!" She screams, punching him with her free hand. Though, it was a rather weak hit. "What did you do to my treasure, my Chaldeas?"

He frowns at her. "Huh, figures. Annoying, insufferable in life, a pain in death." He looks skyward with a smirk. "Ooh there we are, everything's breaking down now!"

Olga herself was following suit. She felt her insides twist and turn, her body weakened as something unseen pulled her body apart. "No, I'm being-"

"Yes, everything is settling which means-you're going bye-bye! Forever. I could give myself some satisfaction by ripping you to shreds. Instead, I'll grant you mercy. Consider it one last good deed from a hardworking subordinate."

He leeds by the wrist, and guides her hand to the hellish globe of Chaldeas. "NO! It'll rip me apart," The machine was built with a high amount of data, to be a working anomaly in deference to Marisbury specifications. In other words, if touched, it worked as if it were a star in the blackness of space.

"That's the idea, Olga-keep up, will you."

Olga tried to pull, harder than she ever had. She tried to remember a spell, anything to save her life. All that came to her head was I'm going to die. "SOMEBODY! PLEASE! HELP ME!" She didn't want to die, unloved, unknown, hated, loathed. Not like this, not when-

Her finger touched the spear, and her atoms were torn. Bit by bit.

---

"SOMEBODY! PLEASE HELP ME!"

A kick to ass, a cry for help. The old instincts, the animal nature he grew accustomed to. Forced him away from Mash and headlong into reach of Lev Laniur. Anger was the only emotion he felt.

Bringing his fist back, palms sparked, milliseconds past and he was there. And he punched the jaw of Lev, with an expulsion of electricity, venomized by his rage-he sent the man flying backwards and into a wall of the cavern.

Peter let out a hollow breath. He looked down and found Olga. She was crying, and she was almost gone.

"OLGA!" He supported her neck and took her by the legs. "Doc-what's happening to her?"

The Doctor gave his explanation in a fearful tone as Olga mumbled something to herself.

"Ever since I was born, I've been a failure…" She drew out weakly.

"Come on don't say that-we'll get back to Chaldea. That's guys just blowing smoke!" He held her tight, even then she was ceasing as if she were a servant. "Olga-I'm sorry-I'm sorry." His knees buckled with her still in his arms. "I should've stayed by you, I should've done something before this even happened! Damn it dammit." Tears leaked from his sockets. I knew Lev was up to something. But no-I wanted to play this by ear! "You're not a failure, I'm the one who…" She was gone.

"Director!" He heard Mash gasp.

"You monster…" Peter whispered, as he heard the strolling steps of Lev Laniur.

The man in green rubbed his jaw. "Cheap shot, Little Spider, cheap shot."

Peter's palm sparked as rage filled within. He didn't even care if his spider-sense told him to be scared. He wanted a piece of that murderer.

He took a step forward, but found his servant had taken the initiative to block him. "Senpai, if you approach that man-you'll surely die the same way!"

"Mash-get out of my way." He warned, the electricity travelling up the side of his forearms. "He needs to pay!"

"Kudos, Mash. You know I am different-just as your Master does. Didn't think a demi-servant could be so perceptive….but you always were a diamond in the ruff." He shakes his head with a sly chuckle, takes off his hat and bows to them. "My name is Lev Laniur Flauros...charged to the era destined to me to extinguish you sad, pathetic, humans…" He says dryly. He looks around the area. "O Romani, my dear friend, before I forget-let me be the bearer of good news." His eyes sharpen, and he smiles again like the Goblin, like the Joker, like any madman Peter had come across before. "Chaldea is over, finished. You humans and your influence have reached its moment of devastation."

"Lev, this is about us not being able to view 2017, right?" Romani asked, serious, almost deadly in his tone.

"Not just related, this is the fact of the matter. The end is nigh. Wishful thinking, believing you just fix what has already begun. The Future Disappeared, don't make me laugh." He places his hate back atop his crown. "It was incinerated the moment Olga's treasure reddened."

Peter leaped over Mash, and went in for a suckerpunch. His entire arm was engulfed in static. It never lands, the man in green vanishing the second Peter was about to make contact. "WHERE ARE YOU?! You think you can run from me? I'll chase you to the ends of the Earth!" Pete warned, the rage bubbling within him as the fact of the matter became realized.

He heard Lev's voice in the air. He turned and saw the man in green stand atop the rampart in front of the Greater Grail. "I don't need to run, Little Spider. I've already won. The end is written, it is solid, it is majesty incarnate. Your era, your world with false gods is no more." He strokes his chin, "Chaldea may yet still stand due to the Atlas Institute's machine. Anything outside of that barrier shall be as Fuyuki."

Romani, his voice shaken, gave his answer "So that's why we couldn't make contact. There was no one to pick up the phone."

"And the last horse reaches the finish line. Maybe I should have killed personally, no matter. Time will break you down. Once you pass 2016, you're gone!" He snaps his fingers. "Just like that!"

He cackles, "No wars, no failures to adapt. Humanity perished because it was simply rejected. You lost the grace of our King and for your foolishness, you'll burn to cinders." Everything began to shake, the very fabric of the shattering. "The era is at its limit." He sighs, "Well, farewell-Romani, Mash, and you, little spider." He gives himself a good stretch of his back. "I have more importance tasks to take care of-"

Peter was running up the rampart, forearms sparking and rage coalesced. He reached the peak, threw in the air he went. With the last remains of his webfluid he aimed down at Lev and pulled himself to the son of a bitch.

Again, the man was gone. Peter landed, spider sense flared and Peter jumped away from a surge of offensive magic.

They faced each other on the rampart. Peter was ready to keep fighting, but found himself stilled.

"I pity her with you as her master. It will be a sad day for her when you get yourself killed. But as much as I would enjoy killing you here and now. My time here ends."

"Yeah...well...I'll find you...I'll make sure you serve time for what you've done. You're just another megalomaniac!" Peter strained.

"Don't you dare compare me to one of your garish supervillains Little Spider," He began. "Now just enjoy your inevitable end as the dimension breaks down. And as little showing of good faith. I'll allow you time to make peace with that god you hold fealty to. And tell the Thief, he failed at trying to reclaim honor with Alaya..." He tips his cap to Peter. "Ta-ta!" He was in that moment, and Peter found that he could move again.

He fell to his knees, and felt the ground beneath him. The sewn lines of reality began to unravel. "Mj...Aunt May...Olga….they're all gone." He couldn't even muster the strength to swear.

He saw his servant down at the bottom of the rampart. Waiting for him, worried for him. She yelled for him "Peter we need to get out of here before the cavern collapses!"

"Right." He whispered in agreement. He stood, and leaped off the rampart to slide down it to meet Mash and Fou.

Once there, Romani piped up "I'm attempting an emergency rayshift-but I don't know if I'll be able to get three of you out!" He stressfully spoke. "It may collapse as fast as it forms!"

"It's a risk we'll have to take-We can at least get Senpai to safety then!" Mash, said keeping her shield close and her eyes on her master.

"That's a no-go for me, Mash. It's either both of us, or you." He wouldn't allow another person to die for his sake.

"Senpai, I apologize for saying this. But please shut up and stop trying to be a martyr!" She said angrily, cringing. "Stop trying to get yourself killed for my sake! Just let me protect you!"

"I'm not trying to be a martyr. Mash! I'm not going to risk your life like this for my own safety. That's selfish!" He argued. "I get you're my servant, and you need me to survive. But what if I can't summon you...what if I lose you? Again..."

Mash clenched her fists, she was mad, losing her cool. "I don't matter, senpai...I never did…"

"Just hang in there, you two. Keep your heads on straight and consciousnesses solid. If I can find them-I might be able to-"

The ceiling began to collapse.

"We won't make it." Mash admitted, ashamed of this entire situation and the way she acted.

Peter saw this, and felt the pang of guilt. He went to her. And took her into his arms in a hug. "Yeah...well, if this be our fate...I'm glad I met you….sorry for being a real piece of work as your master." He admitted.

He felt Mash bring her arms around his back. She buried her head in his shoulder. "*sigh*...it adds drama, something I've never dealt with. Thank you for giving me something new…."

"What do you mean by that?" Fou leaped on Pete's other shoulder.

"Kyuu fou mkyuu…" He sighed exasperatedly.

"Who knows, this is all still new to me." Mash said, the world was closing in on them as it began to turn white.

"You're telling me, too bad we couldn't go on that date…" His life flashed before his eyes, Mary Jane, Aunt May, Gwen, Harry, Matt, Johnny, Reed, Sue, Ben, Jonah...so on and so forth. He failed them, and they would never know.

"It would have been a nice excursion."

"Yeah…"

"Peter…"

"Yeah?"

"I know-"

Reality was gone, and the blankness of of white void had come in its place….