Thrúd found herself staring at a large tree, and a mound in the midst of a tundra.
Was this another dream?
She assumed so.
A lone woman sat near the mound, eyes shut, cheeks stained black from what he guessed where tears.
Her purple hair, and feathered crown almost reminded her of someone else. In fact, her face was the same as…
She immediately sprung into action.
"Sigrún! Are you alright?" She asked her.
The woman opened her eyes, surprised. However, upon setting her sights on him, her eyes narrowed.
"Oh. You..." she said, tone flat and uninterested. "What is it?" her voice was angelical, yet, it was so hollow it made Thrúd shudder. Her eyes were a dull purple.
"I… want to help you," she said, the words escaping without her approval.
The woman shook her head.
"Foolish sister, you can't anymore. Leave, please," she said, gritting her teeth.
"But… at least tell me why!" More uncontrollable words. She felt something stab her in the chest, although no damaged was to be found. The kind of pain that came with the loss of Brynhildr.
"Because! Because…" she said, stopping herself to stare at the mound. Then, she laughed. "… I don't know."
"What?" She asked, confusion creeping into her, as well as… fear.
"It's true. I tried so hard… to avoid her fate, but I guess there's no denying it. We'll all break, sooner or later," she said.
Thrúd took a step back. All traces of recognition faded. She didn't know this person at all. She was no longer a Valkyrie. She couldn't be.
She, or more like, her body, ran away through forests, mountains and steppes until her legs hurt.
Then everything went black again.
Ophelia held her breath.
Sigurd engaged the robotic centaur Xiang Yu. While Sigurd moved swiftly like a strong breeze, Xiang Yu's massive body moved like a storm.
Xiang Yu swung first, his four arms moving together in a single motion, combining into a single swing. Neither his size, nor the size of his weapons, seemed to hinder his speed or precision.
Seeing this, Sigurd dodged to the left, but it seems the strike was perfectly synchronised to continue it's movement to where Sigurd would be. The warrior was forced to block the strikes, which sent sent him backwards despite digging his heels on the ground.
Xiang Yu did not let up, moving like a stampede to finish Sigurd.
"Mash!" She screamed, calling attention to the Shielder.
"Yes!" Mash moved up, the thrusters of her Ortinax armour propelling her to intercept Xiang Yu with her shield. However, she could not stop his charge. The centaur crossed his blades and forced Mashu back without hint of stopping.
"Now! Spartacus!" Shirou shouted. From the robot's left, Spartacus jumped, intent on grappling the robot.
"You will not–!"
"Saber! Protect Lord Xiang Yu!" Akuta shouted.
"Yes!" The Saber jumped in Spartacus' way, slashing at him with his sword. However, the giant simply changed his target, slamming him into the ground and then throwing him away like a rag doll, ignoring his attacks.
However, that was enough.
Xiang Yu uncrossed his swords, the force behind them throwing Mash away. Now free, he re engaged Sigurd, swords moving wildly like saw blades.
Ophelia grit her teeth.
Sigurd parried Xiang Yu's attacks, using his sword in one hand and a dagger on the other. Yet, they still got through his defences and damaged him. It was almost as if he knew where Sigurd would strike, and then struck past it. Sigurd was surviving by reactions alone.
"Booster... strike!" Mash, recovered, moved in to attack Xiang Yu from his blind spot. Even so, the robot man blocked without effort, without even looking. Mash's attack was stopped mid-air, and then his whole torso spun around and struck, sending her back once again.
Every time Spartacus sought to attack, he was interrupted by his Akuta's Servant.
Mash and Sigurd were nearly buckling under the powerful attacks of the robot, with Mash unable to hold her ground. She feared the Shielder would be split in two, but held herself in check. If there was something her time with her parents taught her, it was to endure.
As Sigurd and Mash moved to attack in unison, Xiang Yu spun his entire torso as if it were a piece of machinery, creating a whirlwind of blades that pushed both Servants away.
However, this gave Sigurd and Mash some time to collect themselves.
"You move well," Sigurd commented, adjusting his glasses. "You're reading me quite quickly."
Xiang Yu stopped for a moment, assessing the Dragonslayer. "I can see your every move. Just lay down and die."
His voice made her shiver. Sigurd, however, was stronger than her. Thus, he simply glared darkly and punched his sword towards Xiang Yu. The centaur charged, moving to the side so ever slightly to avoid it, a green explosion illuminating his charge.
Sigurd clicked his tongue, and drew his daggers before engaging Xiang Yu in a storm of green and emerald. but no matter what the Dragonslayer tried, Xiang Yu had a perfect answer for it.
Once again, negative thoughts flooded her mind.
Mash was barely able to do anything at all. The moment Xiang Yu turned his attention to her, it would be her end, Ophelia was sure of it.
She needed to use a command seal.
Ophelia looked back, the villagers huddled together and terrified.
She needed to do something.
She closed her eye, felt around the earth, ignited her magic circuits and called to the spirits of bygone beasts.
"Feuer und Eis. Erde und Himmel," When she opened it again she saw that a golden, phantasmal tiger had answered her call.
"Shirou!" she shouted as she pointed the tiger towards the villagers. He stood up with some difficulty in response. "Get them out of here! Towards the tree line!"
He nodded. "Come on you three. Follow me," he said, ushering he villagers to ride on the summoned creature.
Ophelia turned back to Akuta, who was also looking directly at them.
The Crypter's mouth moved, and then she bit her wrist.
Ophelia needed to stop her. With her eye–
Her eye was gone. That slight lapse was enough.
Wrist gushing blood, Akuta set it down into the ground, and four stakes made out of blade burst out and impaled two of the villagers and the tiger, who disappeared in a shower of gold sprites.
Shirou saw her reaction too, and thus shielded the boy with his Mystic Code and body. It's protection was enough to break the stakes.
The sight of those two people, impaled and with horror on their faces made her chest burst with anger.
"Akuta!" She shouted, staring her enemy in the eye. She still looked at her as if she were an insect. "This time…"
Something akin to an explosion knocked her out of her trance. Sigurd was sent flying into a nearby building by Xiang Yu, who remained standing and unharmed.
Master.
Sigurd? He spoke to her clearly, despite being visibly fighting Xiang Yu with everything he had. Despite their best efforts, Mash and Sigurd could hardly scratch the centaur.
This is a losing battle.
What?
With our current strength, we won't be able to beat him. Not here. You need to get out–
No! I'm not running. I cannot run! I still have command seals!
You have to. Now is not the time to be wasting them, not in someone like me. As he told her that, Xiang Yu charged the Dragonslayer, dragging him across the ground with one of his hands. Seeing this, Spartacus threw Saber aside, and charged at Xiang Yu.
That was useless too, as the another flurry of blades ravaged his body while attacking Sigurd at the same time.
Believe me, even if I went all out, put everything out there, It would only grant us a small victory. In this short time, that's what I've managed to see.
So you are going to stay here and play hero?! She asked, anger getting the better of her.
A hero is all that I am. So it's the only thing I can do. Although… I can't say there is something else I need to do.
What?
Never mind. Go now.
Ophelia closed her eye for a moment, before turning to Shirou. "You alright?!" She asked him.
He nodded, letting the boy out the protection of his capelet.
"We're retreating!" She said, going to his side and helping him stand. "Tell Spartacus to come. Quickly!"
The hulking man turned to them. Shirou called out to him. "Berserker! Come on!"
Spartacus smiled. "You know I can't do that, Master," he said, fending off Saber's attack like nothing.
Shirou's eye twitched. "Spartacus, now is not the time for this–!"
"It's the perfect time! Here is were I make my stand! This world needs saviours and rebels! Strong people like you! As for me, I'm just a walking muscle. An undying force! There is no need for me anymore, except to do this!" Spartacus jumped at Xiang Yu, grappling onto him.
"You attached to me. Pointless!" Shouted the centaur, beginning to spin and move his torso all over the place like a wild bull. Even so, Spartacus' grip did not falter, not when Xiang Yu's blades cut into him, not when Saber slashed at him, not when Akuta used her blood magic.
"Master! Saber! Go now! Fight the oppressors till your last breath!" Spartacus began glowing, his body bloating with energy.
"Fool! This is my fight!" Sigurd shouted, bloodied and beaten but still standing.
"Ha! You still have ways to go, Saber! But if you want to die with me, so be it! We'll become the star of rebellion together!" Spartacus now glowed purple. Ophelia felt an immense amount of pressure and power emanate from the centaur, who tried desperately to shake him off.
"Lord Xiang Yu! Saber! Do something!" Akuta shouted. However, her Saber simply ran to her and picked her up. "What are you doing?!"
"We're leaving, Master. Please forgive me!" With that, Saber carried his Master away.
Ophelia clicked her tongue and ran to Shirou, grabbing him by the arm. "We're leaving," she state, dragging him and the boy towards a nearby thicket.
You too Saber. That's an order. She told Sigurd through their mental link.
She heard a grunt, but he complied.
"W-what's going on?!" Asked the boy as Shirou carried him on his back.
"Don't worry, just don't look back now!" Unsurprisingly, the boy did look back.
"He's… he's fighting off the monster by himself!" The boy shouted.
"Mash!" Ophelia addressed at her friend. Mash began retreating, but still did not face away from the fight.
"B-but Lord Spartacus–!"
"–Now!"
Looking back at the Berserker, still holding on to Xiang Yu, Mash ran as well.
The group moved disorganised, crazed, like a pack of wild animals.
Still, that was the only thing that could carry them away from the imminent danger.
She heard a shout.
Crying Warmonger!
She felt a bright light hit her in the back.
But she kept running.
She didn't like it, but at least she wasn't standing still.
The first thing Hildr did was cast an invisibility rune.
It was cowardly, yes, but they couldn't continue screwing up.
The Emperor had eyes everywhere, and Hildr was not about to get hit by a laser from the sky again.
Thrúd had granted her control, and gone silent, retreating deep into their Spirit Origin's mind scape.
Hildr didn't know what to think. But she did know what they failed, utterly so.
Still, as a Valkyrie, she would accept her punishment eagerly. Whatever it was.
I-I doubt they will punish us. Ortlinde said in her mind.
Then we'll make them. Seems fair to me, no? Hildr asked, waiting for a response.
I-I guess so. But we need to find them first. Ortlinde stated.
Back to the village? Hildr asked, but she already knew the answer.
Back to the village.
They floated off the ground, barely. Their arm was healing, but their magical energy was exhausted, and their Master's supply was growing weaker.
Hildr feared for her. Even if she wasn't supposed to, she was scared that her Master would die because of their, her failures.
Crossing the calm wheat fields, they got back to the destroyed village.
Hildr scanned the area. There was not a soul around, the buildings were empty, the fields silent and destroyed.
I think an impressive battle took place here. Ortlinde stated.
Yeah. How sad we missed it. Do you think there's a trail? Hildr asked, looking at the ground. The grass was trampled and burned, with footprints of hooves digging into the earth.
Why do you ask? You know the answer. Ortlinde stated, oddly sullen.
Well, I do like hearing your voice. She admitted. She felt a pang of… something coming from Ortlinde.
You're not supposed to. We keep doing things we're not supposed to do. It sounded like… lamenting. It made her chest feel tight.
Right. Sorry. Wait… Hildr spotted a few hard footprints that dug into the earth, as if their owner weighted a thousand pounds. These must be from Shielder!
From what she could tell, they had gone towards a thicket. And so, she followed them in.
The trail led through a thin forest littered with rocks and a few lose streams. It was an extremely peaceful place, in Hildr's opinion. In fact, the peace could be felt in the air itself.
Qin Liangyu's words still resonated in her mind, but she shook her head. She didn't need those intrusive thoughts.
She was wrong as well, wasn't she? Ortlinde asked as they crossed a stream. The footsteps followed towards what seemed to be a steep rockslide in the otherwise serene forest.
She was. We escort the worthy towards a better existence. We don't destroy. Besides, war is a part of life. Hildr said, although deep down, she was unsure of her own words. But whatever calmed Ortlinde helped.
I can tell you are lying sister. Did you forget our link? Ortlinde asked, her tone in-between irritated and sad. Hildr winced at being caught red handed.
R-right. Sorry Ortlinde. I really don't know what to think. Could we focus on finding Emiya and the others please? She asked. Ortlinde said nothing else, and she took it as a sign to keep going.
A small opening was in the rockslide, and that's where Hildr guessed they were hiding. And indeed, a cave was half buried there. They neared the entrance and sure enough, Sigurd emerged from the darkness. He was injured, but Hildr was sure he would recover.
Even after some time of working together, seeing him made her stomach retch. An unpleasant feeling she should purge, but could not.
Sigurd's mouth curved upwards, if only slightly, upon seeing them, which made her frown.
"Good to see you three are well. Our Masters are inside," he said, going out of her way to allow her entrance. "You casted an invisibility rune on yourself. You better deactivate it."
She went inside, and then turned to him. "How did you know?"
He adjusted his glasses with a smile, and Hildr groaned. "I see."
She said nothing else, and neither did he. All three of them had expected him to be disappointed of their failure, but he didn't say a thing.
Inside the cave there was a small sphere of light, the same colour as a flame would have. Small sprites of light darted around it.
Around it sat Ophelia, Emiya, Mash and on the corner of the cave a boy has huddled, asleep. Hildr looked around, but there was no sight of Spartacus.
Shirou was the first to stand up, clutching his chest and wincing.
"Hildr! You're okay!" He said, going up to her a little too eagerly. However, he stopped himself short of her.
"I'm functional, Emiya," she said, paying him no mind. He smiled back at her.
"That's good to hear," he replied. He was not chastising or asking about her failed mission. He was simply… happy she was okay. Somehow, Hildr found that comforting.
"Valkyrie-san," Mash said, standing up as well. Her Ortinax armour was damaged in several places, mostly her arms and chest. Her face was strained, and her eyes were dull. Hildr could identify some distress in her. "What happened to the Shadow Border?"
Hildr looked at the ground with shame.
"I'm sorry. We were not able to recover it. Qin Liangyu defeated us," she said. There was no shame in defeat. But to run away, now that was shameful. Enough to disqualify someone from Valhalla. That it had been her made her chest ache.
Mash's eyes widened, mouth hanging slightly ajar. "I-I see. Then Holmes, and Da Vinci, a-and the director…" mash said trailing off while pacing around the cave. Ophelia and Shirou watched her with concerned eyes.
"… captured by the enemy," Hildr finished. This made Mash stop, looking at a wall, facing away from them.
"And lord Spartacus?" Hildr asked, looking at Shirou.
"He sacrificed himself to hold back the enemy. They, or more like, Xiang Yu, were too strong. We barely managed to save the boy," Shirou said, looking towards the little human.
"What is his condition?" Hildr asked.
"He's stable. No injuries, just extremely exhausted," Shirou stated. Mash said nothing, but Hildr could feel her piercing gaze. When she met her purple eyes, the Valkyrie decided to address her head on.
"What is it Shielder?" Hildr asked. Mash looked away for a moment, before standing up and walking towards her until they were apart by a meter or less.
Mash glared at her now, an expression until now unseen on the Shielder. She pulled out a crumpled piece of cloth, it's contents visible to the Valkyrie. Runes were scribbled on it, the same ones they had shown the boy before.
"Mind explaining this?" Mash asked. Hildr looked at the paper, then back at her. They had done the right thing, the Valkyries had no need to deny the truth.
"He had potential as a warrior. So we taught him runes," she said. Mash's eyes widened, and she took a step back.
"B-but… did you not think of what would happen!? Or what the Emperor would think?!" Mash asked, raising her voice.
"It's what we were made to do…" Hildr responded. It was the correct answer, yet Mash did not seem to agree.
"Don't give that… that shit! You are perfectly capable of thinking by yourselves! Now you are telling me that you were simply following orders?!" Mash asked, something that stunned the Valkyrie. No, she was not capable of thinking for herself. Why was that so bad?
"Mash… calm down–!" Shirou said, voice serious. Ophelia said nothing, simply staring at the Shielder with a furrowed brow.
"I will not calm down! They nearly killed you, Emiya!" Mash shouted at Shirou, before facing them again. Her face sported numerous wrinkles now. Hildr knew she was right, Ortlinde and Thrúd too. So they did not answer. "And then… and then…"
"Mash!" Shirou said, raising his voice as he stood up. However, Mash didn't stop
"… the director, Da Vinci, Senpai… they are all going to die!" Mash said, closing her eyes for a second.
She was right, they were cuasing the death of their Master. However, something deep inside Hildr forced her to defend herself.
"I was only doing what a Valkyrie is supposed to!" Hildr said, voice cracking.
"And because of that… you killed them all! You killed those people!" Mash said, eyes red and voice reverberating through the cave.
"Enough Mash!" Shirou shouted, silencing everyone. The strength behind his voice was something neither Mash nor Hildr had heard before. "This doesn't help us! We need to focus on what we can do, right now."
Mash looked at him, eyes widened, and then narrowed them in anger. However, she simply turned to Ophelia, who was still frowning.
"He's right Mash. Blaming each other is the last thing we need right now," she stated. Mash grunted, clenching her teeth, and then walked past Shirou towards the exit of the cave.
"Wait! Mash!" Shirou said, hand extending. However, Mash was too fast, and she was already out of sight.
"Not now, Shirou," Ophelia said, putting a hand on his shoulder. Hildr flinched at their close contact, for some strange reason. "I'll go to her, later."
Shirou did not argue, and nodded.
With that, Ophelia went to sit once again. Shirou did the same, sparing one sad glance at Hildr as he strode past her.
The Valkyrie looked at the ground.
Of course, everything Mash had said was true. First that Archer, then Qin Liangyu, and now Mash. All of them spoke the truth about their purpose.
Why did it hurt? She was supposed to be…
She wasn't supposed to be anything. She wasn't supposed to feel anything about it, simply do it and be proud of it.
So why did shame and regret invade her chest like that?
Focus, sister. L-let¡s do what we can. Ortlinde said, voice barely a whisper.
"Emiya…" Hildr said, calling the Master's attention. He looked back at her over his shoulder.
"Y-yes?" He asked her. Hildr looked away, taking a breath in order to focus her mind.
"I'll be outside, standing guard," she stated, voice monotone. Shirou nodded, lips pursed.
Hildr left the cave.
She felt empty, broken.
But the three sisters already knew that.
He didn't need sleep. Thus, he didn't dream, except for when he lost.
When he lost, knocked out cold from a failing body, he did dream.
And when he did, he dreamt of his battles. Even when in the safe space of the unconscious, he kept replaying loses to never again be defeated, and watched the ramifications of his victories.
He was made for one thing. Peace and tranquility, serving the emperor to bring it to the world.
Most called him a monster. Others despised him.
He was a precious asset to his emperor, but outside of that, he was no more than a weapon.
His consciousness returned, and he awoke inside a tent.
He checked his own status.
Significant, non-permanent damage to his body. Precognition told him he would lose, that was why he did his utmost to delay his enemy's self destruction. In at least that he had succeeded.
He couldn't stand up, his lower body didn't move. His upper one did.
"Shh, it's okay, Lord Xiang Yu," a voice called to him, sweet and gentle. He moved his optics to where the voice came from.
A petite woman entered the tent with a bowl full of fruit. She wore glasses, and her face, smooth and pretty was full of wrinkles due to her concerned expression.
He found it strange, how such a state could deform her face.
"You are Akuta Hinako. Please, grant me a status report," he said, leaning on an arm to at least upright himself somewhat.
She looked away, putting the bowl on a nearby table.
"The Servant self-destructed. Your body was damaged, but you granted us enough time to escape. You saved us," she said, sitting on her knees right at his side.
He tilted his head at the close distance. His preconigtion found it hard to identify her actions. Maybe because she was an interloper from another world.
"I see. Then my mission was accomplished," he said. She nodded, and then stood up to bring the bowl to him. Her posture was stiff, as if embarassed.
"Yes. You did well," she said, going to the same place she had been before, perhaps a little closer.
"You do not sound satisfied," he said. She looked away, and he stared at the bowl. "I do not require sustenance."
"Your emperor insisted. Something about 'indulging' every now and then. He has utmost faith in you," she said, lips twitching. "Please, do eat."
"Of course," he did pick up a fruit and eat it, registered it's flavour, but nothing else. His body would take care of the rest. "I cannot be corrupted. Thus, I shall remain loyal forever."
"That is… great," Akuta said, now smiling fully. "You are nothing like those humans."
He raised an eyebrow. "Please clarifty."
She blushed, and stood up suddenly. "I-It's nothing. I'll be waiting for you to finish self-repairing. Until then, my lord."
She left in a hurry.
His precognition didn't even have time to act up.
He found her strange. Very strange.
He decided to study her behaviour and patterns, at least until his body repaired itself.
Not being able to predict actions, from foes or allies, was unacceptable in the end.
All Xiang Yu had to do was succeed.
Everything else… didn't matter.
A/N: This one was a bitch to write, cause as always I'm afraid of not getting the characters right.
Our heroes are in a tight spot now. Hopefully, they will prevail.
Thanksgiving is starting, perhaps this time I'll get Reines. But probably not, and then comes Super Orion.
This sure is a bad time to be F2P.
That is all for now. Chiao!