AN: This is my, hopeful, return to writing on this site. Having read over my old stories I can safely conclude that I was, and might still be, a bad writer. I'd like to think that in the time that I was away from writing that I could have, if nothing else, refined my skills, so here we go!

A lot of this will be inspired by the series of Fate stories that the esteemed, renowned, and all around amazing author NeonZangetsu has published these last few months, so if it seems like they're sort of...copying them, I deeply apologize. It's just he's done an excellent job of creating an in universe conflict that spans and includes so many different stories that I'm actually quite astonished he even thought it up.

In regards to the actual writing of this, it was difficult to choose if Naruto would be a Servant or a Master, or even if he'd be more than just an observer, but I feel like this turned out fairly well, despite the relative shortness of length.


(Prologue- Setting the Stage)

Zelretch calmly sipped his tea as his companion read over the file he had handed him, fairly confident that he would accept. Even coming to speak to him had been a major gamble on his part, knowing that if Clock Tower learned of his existence, and their friendship, they'd bother him even more than they do now. And Zelretch would do his best to keep them off his back, Naruto Uzumaki earned that much at least.

As for Naruto, his reading of the file had started to make his brow furrow in frustration, whether at the situation or the people involved a complete mystery to anyone but him.

Finally, Naruto broke the silence, "From what I've been reading, they don't need me. This...whatshername seems like she could handle it. So it begs the question then," Zelretch looked up to stare into the deep, cobalt blue eyes of his companion, holding the gaze as stoically as he could, "Of why I should care."

Nodding, because he'd been expecting that, Zelretch had his reply ready, "You're right. In countless Worlds Chaldea managed to defeat all of the Grand Orders well enough, they don't really need you. But, I have it on good authority that a certain...calamity that you have experience in dealing with is now in their future. Short of manipulating some things to truly bring back a Heroic Spirit, not a Servant, they won't have the power or knowledge on how to endure, let alone defeat, it. But you," and here Zelretch gestured to his companion from across the table, "do in spades. Ever since you achieved this relative form of immortality, you've spent hundreds if not thousands of years combating this calamity."

"Be that as it may," Naruto replied, his eyes never losing the hard, callousness that had over taken them, "the goings on of magus do not interest me. The last time I had anything to do with the Moonlit World, they put a sealing designation on me, and actively hunted down and murdered any descendants I may have had in this modern era."

"It's not just magus at Chaldea, it's Humanity, in and of itself, that are trying to save the sum of human history. Your distaste of magus shouldn't get in your way of saving all of humanity. Besides," Zelretch said, "it's what SHE would have wanted as well. Despite the way things turned out for you two, SHE still cared deeply for all of humanity. Please, in HER name, consider it."

Was it a low blow to bring up his companion's dead lover? Yes. Did it make him nauseous to do so? Yes. Was it necessary? Yes. The coming calamity was something that every Chaldea, even the ones who had managed to complete the Grand Orders AND the Lostbelts, were not in any kind of shape to stop or even postpone. It was an overwhelming enemy that made the likes of the Thirteen Beasts seem insignificant in comparison, a threat so large that entire universes had shifted with its oncoming.

Naruto sighed deeply, staring down at his own cup of tea in thought. He truly despised magus in all of their arrogant, self aggrandizing nature. Magus had torn a way into his old home. Magus had taken him without a word. Magus had tortured him, ripped apart the very fabric of his soul almost, to find answers to questions they didn't even know.

Magus were the ones who had torn apart his mind, stuffing summoned Servants into his skull until he could barely tell the difference between himself and any of them.

But could he really blame all of humanity? No. Zelretch was right about that, if nothing else. SHE would have been insistent that he at least offer advice and guidance to Chaldea with his wealth of experience, especially if the calamity was what he thought it was.

SHE definitely would have asked him to intervene. Sighing heavily whilst downing his tea, Naruto muttered, "One or one billion, they're all lives, I suppose." Louder so Zelretch could hear him, he said, "Fine, I'll help. But you have to be the one to tell them I'm coming. I need some time to prepare."

Zelretch only grinned at that, already he could see the panic in Clock Tower as 'The Man in Black' made his reintroduction to sociaty. "Do you want to come with me to Clock Tower? Seeing you might just stop the hearts of some of the old fogies there."

Shaking his head, Naruto stood and stretched, Zelretch copying him and heading for the door, as he replied, "No. Just give them a heads up that in about a week the biggest skeleton in their closet is about to come tumbling out," His eyes darkened, gaining a dangerous look to them that reminded Zelretch that despite his age and experience, Naruto Uzumaki was still one of the few people who truly scared him, "and this skeleton isn't gonna show any mercy this time."


AN: Very short, yes, but for a prologue, as clumsy and blunt as it might be, it should work to set the stage for what's to come. I've already made a plot outline of where, and how it's going to get there, this story will be taking, and this calamity is massive. This chapter is supposed to act as an introduction to the general state of things, how they might play out, and to tease about the future.

If it isn't well received, that's ok. I can deal with it. I just want this story to be something a bit more...well written, even if the chapters are relatively short and to the point. I might even try out another type of story I've wanted to see for a while now, who knows?

The schedule for updates, if work doesn't get in the way, should be hopefully a five thousand word chapter every other Sunday, so hopefully I can force myself to put word to paper.

As for pairings, well, it's maxed at five, and I have four selected: Semiramis, Artoria Lancer Alter, Kiara Sessyoin, and Okita Alter. As for the fourth opening, well, I have some in mind, but suggestions would be great.