AN: I recently finished the first Lostbelt of FGO and it was pretty good.
Chapter Title: The crack of Godly emotion
"Alcides huh?" Herme's commented to the servant with a glint of interest in his eyes. "The name sort of sounds familiar but I can't place it." he said looking out into the room where more gods were arriving by the minute as his captain tried to act like she was invisible.
"Is there a reason you wish to speak with me? Or are you just making conversation until another god arrives that you wish to trouble." The servant asked with a blank stare.
"I see you're one of those types, well yeah I guess I was just wondering why Bell isn't here with Hestia instead- I mean after what she did to get him back safely from the 18th floor I'd think she'd want to show him off to everyone."
"I am here at my request to Lady Hestia after an incident I caused as a means to repay her for my indiscretion."
"Oh? And what's that?" The sly god of travel poked.
"Nothing you likely do not already know about Lord Hermes." Alcides answered, watching as a wide berth was given when a particularly curvaceous goddess entered with a large man standing next to her both dressed to impress.
"Freya's here?" the God next to the Servant said with a hint of confusion as they looked on at the woman.
"I do not know of this Goddess, would you inform me Lord Hermes?" The servant asked, wondering who the woman was, she reminded him of Aphrodite's presence in a way.
"Huh? Guess you're from out of Orario so it makes sense, but that's Freya a goddess of love, a dangerous woman to be sure- I wouldn't stare for too long though you might get enchanted or make Hestia jealous either one is surefire death." The blonde haired deity said, casting his own glance away from the woman as his captain decided to drag him away from a scene.
Alcides wondered if charms like that would even work on him, but decided it wasn't worth letting himself be enchanted by another goddess.
"Alcides you keep your eyes off that wench!" Hestia piped up as she joined the Servants side again.
"You needn't worry Goddess, my track record with goddesses and their enchantments is not something I wish to recount."
"Right! Sorry I was just worried that Freya might try to steal you from me." The goddess said quietly.
"Be glad that I am here Lady Hestia and not Master, I'm unsure whether or not he would have the strength to resist her." He watched as she nodded in agreement.
"You're probably right..." She trailed off staring around the room while Miach and Take were having a conversation with another pair of gods.
"Hestia!" a cheery voice called as a woman approached them.
She was dressed in a pristine white gown of a dress with long detached sleeves that were attached by threads, as well she had golden cuffs on her ankles and wrists with a necklace with a blue gem in a pendant. Over this she wore a lapis blue shawl around her shoulders and a golden diadem that connected to a hair of small horns on her head. All of this making the woman's long bright golden blonde hair, fair skin and glowing blue eyes look even more beautiful.
"Ninsun!" Hestia got caught up in the woman's hug getting spun around by the taller woman.
"I'm glad to see you here, I heard about your little rookie getting in a bad way on the lower floors." Ninsun said, setting her friend down as Alcides stood by idly off to the side.
"Yeah Bell's amazing isn't he! But he's back fine now- actually that's where Alcides comes in!" Hestia said pointing to the Servant who was trying to figure out why the woman looked familiar.
"Ah you're the newest member I heard about." The blonde haired woman eyed the large man.
Before Alcides could say anything they were interrupted by a male voice booming out drawing the attention of all in the enormous ball room to a balcony where the host of the event stood hair glowing as bright as the sun itself as his children took to either side of him as he cast his gaze out eyeing those who choose to accept his invitation. As Apollo gave his speech the Greek Hero almost scowled at the god, while he had been a well venerated god in his time, the stories about all those who were seduced by Apollo left a bitter taste in his mouth. He hoped this world's Apollo was much better but from the looks of things so far he wasn't convinced that this Apollo was an improvement so far.
Finally when the bright haired god finished his speech he left the balcony and Alcides heard his Goddess said something he wasn't expecting.
"Would you like to dance Alcides?" she asked as music began to play as an orchestra in the corner of the large marbled room.
"If you would like Lady Hestia." The enormous man offered his hand to the goddess as Ninsun left them to their own devices seeing her own child approaching.
[Having a Ball of a time]
"C'mon Master, they left the door unlocked." Gil whispered as he turned the handle on the massive doors that opened in the foyer of the building.
"Gil, what about all these guards?" Bell whispered back.
"Just stay quiet like I said and we'll be fine like when we went through the gate." The blonde haired boy said softly as they ducked through a door as two members of the Apollo familia came through it.
"Did you hear something?" one of the Apollo familia members asked, looking back as they closed the door.
"Just the sound of you shutting the-" the other snapped back their voices becoming muffled as the door shut.
Continuing quietly through the large halls of the mansion the trio headed toward the sound of music echoing throughout the building, they passed by tens of rooms checking almost all of them just in case it was the ball room. But this was mostly because Gil saw an opportunity to see what they were up against and because invading people's privacy made his master anxious.
Which the child servant found funny.
"I believe the room we are looking for is that one." Enkidu pointed down to a door at the end of the hall where decorations were plastered over the threshold.
Once again taking charge Gil opened the door into the enormous ballroom finding the music that they had been following finally and setting their eyes upon the room filled to the brim with gods and some of the strongest and best looking of the Adventurers in all of Orario as none of the deities present would settle for any less than their best.
Bell was buzzing with adrenaline at the situation they were in, finding himself taking in the entire room with erratic glances everywhere as no one around them looked their way, yet he felt as if all eyes were on them. His head snapped back with a chill of terror down his spine, almost yelping in the process as he felt a hand rest on his shoulder coming to realise it was only his Servant after he felt like his heart had jumped out of his throat.
The green haired golem gave a reassuring smile offering their master at least a modicum of reassurance about his safety.
"If you would like Lady Hestia." Said a familiar voice garnering the attention of the three as they found themselves next to a crowd of deities on the outskirts of the ballroom where the way was parted for those who wished to dance.
Bell had never thought someone as large as his first Servant could ever be as elegantly light on his feet as the enormous man moved with grace matching Hestia's movements.
"Whoa" Bell whispered under his breath in awe of the Servant, not only was he a hero and awesomely strong but was a great dancer.
He wondered when a hero like Alcides would have gotten a chance to learn how to dance when he was adventuring and saving people from the monsters he had told Bell about. The story he had told him about defeating a lion with impenetrable skin or slaying a Hydra that had poisonous breath and blood so virulent that even its scent was deadly. It was amazing that the man had gone on to do even more in his life, but Bell understood why someone so amazing could become a Heroic Spirit.
"Heh." The white haired boy turned around to where he heard his Servant laugh only to find him not there, though Enkidu hadn't left his side the boy worriedly looked about noticing several pairs of eyes on him.
The dark silk scarf disappeared from around the two leaving them completely exposed to all the gods in the room drawing attention as they just appeared before everyone.
[A plan enacted]
Gil watched as his master and friend turned into a shimmer disappearing almost instantly after he had left them to be found by all the gods, Enkidu had saved their master the embarrassment and likely managed to keep anyone but the most perceptive from knowing that they had infiltrated.
So his plan was a bit of a bust however he thought that this was a good lesson like it had meant to be. Now hopefully his master would be less likely to be blindly convinced into doing stupid things, though he was hoping there would still be some room for playing pranks on people later.
And so the blonde haired boy had put the scarf away and brought out Hades' Cap of Invisibility again so he could watch the rest of the event filled with gods. Mostly because he wished to see which gods were down here as it would help him later. With all this excitement to be had the stray Servant was more than glad for his decision and looked forward to the first time he could travel into the Dungeon with his Master and his party.
[A hitch]
Alcides decided to not acknowledge the fact that he had seen his Master appear from thin air after having sensed his presence closing in on them only to be whisked away by Lancer. Instead he and the Goddess stepped off the dance floor and the woman wiped her brow and complimented the man on his skills before saying she was beginning to feel tired and there wasn't anything left in the event she cared to stick around for it, when he asked what it was she just told him that they would be deciding on hero names for the children that had leveled up.
He wondered whether the day might come when one would be decided for him, though he doubted he, Gil or Enkidu would be able to level up with what he had seen in terms of progression on his status so far.
Maybe there was something in this world or the Dungeon should he ever attend alone that might offer some resistance and provide an opportunity to become more than just a stagnant guard for his Master. Whilst he had no qualms about his current situation, there was still no Holy Grail War, which made the circumstance of his summoning all the more interesting.
That wasn't something he needed to concern himself with for the time being and so he focused his attention back on the situation before him.
"Hestia." a female voice called from the Servants right getting his attention as his Goddess responded by calling out the new woman's name.
"Hephaestus!" said his Goddess as she rushed from his side over to her friend, almost tackling the red headed woman for a hug.
Alcides felt as if by this point he shouldn't have felt the confusion and bafflement he did upon seeing the great smithing deity appear as a woman with short red hair and the only deformation being an eye patch. It was a far cry from the Hephaestus that he was used to. Unsure how to feel about the husband of Aphrodite and maker of his great grand nephews armour being a woman in this weird alternate universe or whatever it was Archer kept quiet as the Goddesses talked to one another.
It was after five minutes of the gods conversing that Alcides noticed Welf Crozzo the smith that partied with his Master and understood why Bell would have chosen such a man to make his equipment beyond being a good smith. As any child of one of the greatest blacksmiths ever would make for a great companion to have even if he could guess that Bell hadn't known that prior to picking up the man. His master had a knack for accidentally falling into great opportunities as well as messes that they ought to have nothing to do with such as the potential threat of the Goddess Freya.
Gil's face appeared in a corner of the room covered in shadows, most importantly the child motioned Archer over to him. This concerned said man, the obvious prank of their master aside what need did the golden haired boy have for him?
Feeling as though the Goddess was safe in the hands of the Hephaestus and Crozzo, Alcides stepped away from the conversation and in a few seconds had strided to the young boy.
"What is it that you need?" He asked, standing covered by shadows same as the boy.
"I've been thinking about why Apollo invited the goddess and made the rule of bringing one familia member." Gil said in a hushed tone. "I thought you'd be the best to tell Archer since you're familiar with the god."
"Go on, what is your theory?"
"I believe he intended to have the goddess bring Master along so he could try to seduce or manipulate him and many other adventurers into leaving their gods for him, but there's one other thing." the golden haired child's red eyes brightened unnaturally in the shadows as he looked past Archer.
[The Start of Something]
Bell stumbled to and stopped as Enkidu put him down as they touched down outside the ruined church they called home in the old destroyed sector of Orario.
"Woah! You're way faster than I could ever imagine, Lancer!" Bell announced to the green haired clay golem.
"Thank you Master." Enkidu bowed his head slightly.
"Wow… I wonder who'll show up when I summon another Servant? You're so powerful, Archer is awesome and Gil's skills are really interesting- plus you said he was a friend of yours right?" The white haired boy's ruby eyes glowed as he thought about what more Servants were out there for the Grail to call upon.
"Master as you are without any form of relic, you are likely to make contact with Servants who closely resemble your own ideals or those who appreciate your strength and take the opportunity you offer during the summoning ritual." Enkidu said as they passed through the doorway into the main part of the chapel.
"Oh… how do I get a Relic?" Whatever his Servants' response was went unheard as Bell's attention was drawn to a grey and blueish grey toned Owl flying over the church landing on the edge of the whole in the roof left by Gil's summoning mishap.
"I have a bad feeling." He said as his Servant looked at him with confusion.
[Omens]
"I think that Apollo is trying to force Hestia into a fight so he can tak-"
Crack
The resounding sound of flesh slapping flesh sent shivers down the spines of every lesser deity and adventurer no matter the strength as the short stature of a dark haired twin-tailed Goddess shocked the party. Her arm outstretched, muscles tensed, face in a deep scowl bordering on murderous as they glared at the brightly haired sun God standing before her in his white suit with a crimson shawl around his shoulders. The sun God stepped back stunned, mouth agape in total silence, eyes wide.
"We're leaving Alcides!" Hestia declared with a stern tone and a terrifying disposition unbefitting a goddess of the Hearth and Home.
The enormous figure of the dark skinned Servant appeared next to the Goddess the second she had finished her sentence taking her in his arms and carrying her away from the event. Silence broke once they were gone as confusion and rumor spread among those who failed to see the moment wanting to understand the conversation that had led to Hestia's display of anger.
Archer had them halfway to the church before the Goddess in his arms let him understand the sudden outburst and state of fury she was in, still fuming over the incident.
"I'm sorry about my outburst Alcides." She apologized brushing hair out of her face. "That damned… Urgh!" Hestia slammed a balled up fist into the solid muscle of the Servant.
"I understand Goddess, Lord Apollo made a move to take Master from you." Said Goddess looked at the legendary Hero with a confused taken aback expression for several seconds.
"Oh! You must have overheard us- You Servants really are something else." Her mood changed on a dime going from the stern faced fury to the mirthful joy that she usually expressed.
Alcides had since slowed his pace to a brisk walk as he passed through the stone paved streets as silence fell upon them. Archer felt a presence tailing them back around two hundred meters, as well as that he felt like something was off, the night air was still and it made him tense feeling as though something was about to happen.
AN: If you have any questions I'll answer them, you just have to ask.