In the Fate-1 Universe, Gloria appeared in Japan. In that respective era, it was supposed to be peaceful. Course, like all human realms, there was plenty of darkness. But such was life. One particular form of darkness now interested Gloria. A very foolish one.
Summoning the dead and making them dance. How sad. To name them heroes was almost adding insult to injury. The code was simple for Gloria, probably complex for them. Really, the people claiming to use magic on that Earth were terrible, both as users and as people. The vast majority at least. However it had let the sad one contribute to a system that selected, ahem, heroes, for duties. How obvious. But it could be very useful.
Opening the lid, because that was how it felt, Gloria looked around to see if there were any that could be saved. While there were, a few, she couldn't help but shake her head. What a bunch of sad people. The men were out. They were far too embedded in their systems to be saved. Pity, some were good people. But oh boy the others. Rapists, child rapists and murderers. Child mutilators. Torturers. "I'm detecting a theme here." mumbled Gloria. Even the majority of the women were no exception. Killing their own children. Poisoning entire peoples. Instead of making Gloria angry, they just made her sad. "What sad, pitiful people." In simple terms, they, for the most part, did not want to be saved. At least not in a true way. But two figures caught Gloria' eye.
Two young girls caught up in events so much larger, but which they had managed to shape far beyond what anyone could've expected. All the while remaining true and honest. Both chaste. Gloria chuckled. Very well then.
Bringing them there was no complicated task. For the moment Gloria had seen them, she'd peered within their soul. Thus Artoria and Joan of Arc were summoned. But not as they had become used to. Both almost puked at first.
"Oh Lord! What summoning was that?" asked the saint of France
Gloria gave them a moment to recover.
"You'll have to excuse the rather harsh initial landing. I had to call your true selves here. And in your case Artoria, I summoned your body. For now I will let you rest."
Of course Gloria had done all this in a private suite somewhere in the city. It was big enough and private enough to hold an orgy. No trouble at all summoning two lovely ladies, as Gloria thought of them.
Despite the shock, both mental and material, Artoria recovered quickly and began assessing her situation. Artoria looked at who had summoned them and saw Gloria's tall very shapely figure covered only by a silk like white robe, topped by a very elegant and attractive face with eyes that looked like they were the colors of the sea and red hair streaked by blonde locks in places. Fixing herself up, Artoria spoke with impeccable dignity and poise.
"I ask thee. Have you summoned us?"
Gloria was truly torn between wanting to answer and just hug the barely above 5 feet girl. Despite the great dignity Artoria exuded, one that might've made any human bow with reverence and awe, Gloria saw through it. Because she didn't want to insult her genuine sentiment though, Gloria responded with kindness.
"Yes I have. Perhaps not as you are used to, but I wanted you entirely here with me."
Joan also recovered and gazed at Gloria. With her inborn ability and the purity of her being Joan spoke with no trace of hostility or hesitation.
"Why have you called us." Joan paused for a moment to ponder. "grandmother?"
Gloria smiled ear to ear. Joan had asked completely without malice and with a look in her eye that spoke only of healing and forgiveness.
"Two reasons. One, I wanted to free you and two I wanted to ask that you help me. The second is only if you want to."
It had never been in Gloria' nature to force anyone to do anything. Gloria badly wanted the two to help, but it would be meaningless if she forced them. Joan didn't hesitate.
"Of course I will grandmother. Anything I can help with?"
The maid of Orleans sensed absolutely no malice from the very tall and shapely woman in front of her. And though Gloria appeared quite young, her hair a combination of red and gold, Joan could feel from the countless ages that had passed through Gloria' gaze. Especially the light in her sea blue eyes.
Artoria could see that as well, but was naturally on guard. Enchantresses could hide their intentions very well. Artoria studied Gloria with her beautiful emerald eyes and was amazed at Gloria' attire and demeanor. The woman wore only a tunic that would surely show a lot when Gloria moved. And she was completely relaxed, almost aloof. Indeed it did very much remind Artoria of an elderly person. Especially Gloria' eyes. Finally Artoria answered honestly.
"I shall gladly help if thine cause is noble."
Gloria smiled again.
"I wouldn't expect anything less from you. I need your help to save someone and help them be free, as you are."
Her last words really let Artoria's mind take in her feelings. She was not a servant. No longer a familiar. Artoria could feel magic through her, but she was also alive. Alive in a way Artoria had not felt before her plea on the battlefield. With amazement Artoria looked at Gloria. Suddenly her appreciation for the enchantress went through the roof.
"You are not human. I cannot give your human lives back to you. But I can make you living spirits. Free living spirits."
Artoria was amazed but circumspect. The woman reminded her too much of the faeries she'd heard and seen about for Artoria to be at ease. Joan on the other hand took it in stride.
"You're strong grandmother. It seems fate desires my tasks continue."
Gloria spoke firmly.
"Only if you wish so, child."
Joan shook her head.
"I will not let you face those problems alone grandmother. It would give me no peace."
Artoria had seen the exchange, judged the words and the woman and found her truthful. Artoria could sense all her abilities, intact and roaring, yet, Artoria did not feel like they consumed some finite reservoir. She took a breathe and spoke.
"I will gladly help and I am immensely grateful. But tell me. Why this effort? It could not have been easy."
Gloria decided to be completely honest.
"I wanted to save two lovely children, and make the free. If they helped me save some other children, that would be wonderful. You can never have enough kind children around."
Gloria' reply left Artoria speechless. Was it an act? Gloria' eyes told her that wasn't the case. That was why Joan called Gloria grandmother.
"I do not know how old you are, but that is the reason of an old person wanting to have company. I am all for the saving part, but company is a different matter." said the Once and Future King suspiciously.
Gloria almost laughed.
"Of course. When I say around, I don't mean huddling next to me. I mean alive."
Artoria respected the sentiment but didn't like it. However, now she was convinced. Artoria relaxed her stance.
"Very well. You have my help."
Joan, convinced her fellow had accepted Gloria, smiled kindly.
"I am Joan of Arc. If by my humble abilities I can help save others, I shall not hesitate."
Artoria followed suit.
"I am Artoria Pendragon, King of Britannia, the Once and Future King and the king of knights.
Gloria could tell the titles weighed heavily on her still.
"I am Gloria. I have no family name, since I was born when those had little to no meaning. What had meaning was the joy in our loved one' lives."
With all three introduced Gloria spoke once more.
"Very well then. I shall tell you of our foe. It is, at least partially my responsibility that it exists."
As Artoria and Joan looked on she drew a breath with annoyance. Gloria detested the fact.
"It is a thing that feeds on human hatred, aggression and violence. The greatest of the undead." Saying that, Gloria rolled her eyes. Both female heroes noticed the break in her laid back demeanor. "It takes advantage of people' misguidance and entraps them in undeath after they lose their lives. It has immense influence over human existence."
Joan spoke seriously.
"It sounds like you're talking about the devil grandmother."
Gloria chuckled.
"He probably had a hand in forming the vision of such a creature. But that is not the case."
Gloria continued gazing at them.
"While I have dedicated myself to stopping it's more outlandish moves, I cannot outright put an end to it as much as I desire to do so."
Joan spoke again.
"Grandmother, how are you connected to this thing?"
"My tutor, the person who taught me all about magic and life, a person whom I loved with all of my being, created him."
Silence fell as Gloria waited for the questions.
"Did you know, grandmother?"
"I suspected. But I couldn't bring myself to stop her. I couldn't reach her."
This time Artoria asked sternly.
"Why couldn't you?"
"Because when she needed me I ran away."
"More details please."
Gloria hated having to remember that nightmare. She could hear the screams, the shouts, smell the blood. The guilt burned so intensely.
"We were ambushed in a place we could not use magic. It was supposed to be sacred. Our foes didn't care. All the escort perished. I and most of the court fled. She remained behind and watched our queen be murdered. Then she was violated."
Gloria always felt like throwing up after that story. A thousand thoughts she knew were folly flew through her mind every time. All that remained was grief and sorrow.
"For what reason?"
Gloria laughed bitterly.
"Freedom. My mentor, Cathleen, was tasked to maintain the peace. Prevent humans from killing each other. A lot of them took that to be an unbearable imposition."
Artoria closed her eyes.
"A sad task, and a sad ending. I presume she made this thing to avenge her queen."
"And punish humans forever. She was a genius with almost no equal. Thus she made him be linked intrinsically to humanity. Existing by even the tiniest darkness within all humans, and enslaving those who fell to his influence in undeath."
Joan looked at her sadly, while Artoria's expression was still stern.
"But since then I have never abandoned my responsibilities. And I will never do so again. I shall try and save even a single person if I can. Thankfully I've been able to save quite a few more than one."
Gloria drew a breath.
"I would not have interfered so in your existences, had they not been tampered with already. But I had a chance to save you from his grasp, so I took it."
Before Artoria could say anything, Joan spoke with concern.
"Grandmother you're overdoing it."
Artoria vehemently disagreed.
"No, she's doing her duty. Admirable. If belated. However, I must ask, why can't you destroy this thing? Perhaps you are still attached to your tutor?"
Gloria shook her head.
"She made him kill her first. I can't destroy it, because it's so well honed that if even one human had hatred, violence anger and aggression in his heart he could subsist on just that. That's what it does most of the time. And even if that didn't somehow exist, it would subsist on death. Believe me, I've tried and looked at it from every direction."
Artoria looked at her carefully but Joan spoke more matter of fact.
"In other words, you can't bring world peace."
Gloria chuckled again.
"Not without robbing humanity of free will, which I would not do, even if I could, under any circumstances."
Artoria now spoke.
"Very well, how powerful is he? I presume our foe was a person from how you keep changing your way of speaking."
"Very powerful. Vast magical abilities that make him all but invincible when he takes human shapes. And he can influence and absorb energy from almost all living sentient beings in the human plains."
"Any weaknesses?"
"In terms of violence, no. Both of you could probably best him in combat, but without being able to really slay him."
"I'd become a war of attrition and we would lose."
"That is if you attack him. He can be repelled if he attacks someone."
"And that someone is the person we will defend."
"Yes. He doesn't usually do it. So I myself can't do things like this that often. But now he's become fixated on this person. I believe mostly for her hair."
Joan interrupted her.
"Wait grandmother. If what you say is true, and you cannot usually intervene like this, then why have you been able to summon us?"
"Two reasons. One, the system which you were part of was heavily influenced by him. Thus my intervention affects no one who' life hasn't been caught up in his plans. Second, it has recently failed, pretty badly. He's lost interest and will soon be cleansing this plane of magic entirely."
At this Artoria tensed visibly. Gloria never invaded the privacy of their thoughts, she only saw their hearts.
"What's wrong?"
"There are people still alive on this world whom are dear to me. People who use magic. They are good people, I give you my word. I do not want them to perish at this foe' hands."
"Them we can start our task with this world, but we must be quick."
"Very well, thank you."
Gloria was quite happy she'd chosen to stay near the source future problems. The Emiya residence should have been quite close. Indeed, the bus left them off at the base of the hill where the place was perched.
Though Artoria and Joan wore more than respectable uniforms, Gloria donned a very casual afternoon dress. So casual she contrasted with her two companions. Though both had wanted to question Gloria' decision, they looked at her, then at each other and decided not to waste time.
Just as they approached the entrance a familiar figure for Artoria appeared. The dark haired woman was unmistakable in her red jacket and sporting her luscious black locks in twin ponytails.
"Rin!"
Rin turned around and looked in disbelief.
"Saber!"
Tohsaka Rin didn't know if she should hug the figure, cry or shout. But then Rin saw the other two figures next to Artoria and tried regaining her composure.
"We've come with grave news. Can we sit down and talk?"
Rin had just locked the door. Now she hurried to open it again.
"Ah, y-yes, come in."
As she did Gloria looked at her and noticed something. Rin was heart broken.
Author's note : I know dear readers this is a radical decision to rewrite this whole fic, but I thought it appropriate since I've finally found people kind enough to help do a proper beta read and editing. I must thank all the good people from the Server Fate: Behind the user name, especially CrazyLitch 79 and Luke. Thank you so much.
I hope readers enjoy and leave opinions and reviews. Pleasant lecture. I shall endeavor to bring you two chapters per week.