A/N: Sorry this took so long! Hope everyone is doing well!

Chapter 10

Alter

"Sun!"

As expected, Blake was the first to none so quietly greet the monkey fanus with a genuine smile. Sun,of course, gave a cheeky grin as he replied, "Man, I leave you guys for one minute and Blake ends up in the hospital!" "

Soft laughter filled the tent, Blake half heartedly rolling her eyes while Ruby watched and beamed at the sight. Sure, thing's looked crappy with the city on fire and servants trying to blow up everything, but the appearance of a friend with a Servant, was definitely cause for some joy.

Her sister slugged Sun on the arm, while Neptune took to chatting with Qrow and Ruby awkwardly hung at the edge of both conversation.

Yang grinned as she planted her hands on her hips, "looking good, Sun. Don't tell me you came all this way for us?"

The boy laughed and crossed his hands behind his head, "man you wish! Every time I'm around you guys I end fighting the White Fang! I was actually enjoying my vacation to back to being normal!"

Laughter again, this time half hearted but forced. On both ends.

Ruby smiled and sat at the edge of Qrows bed, sparing one ear to them as Qrow spoke, "-then the Tarus bastard showed up. Kicked Catnip's ass while his girl danced circles around me." The way his teeth clanked together had Ruby unconsciously shooting him a worried frown. He either didn't notice or didn't care and continued on, "but then they just ran off. Something to do with our Ruby's… friend showing up or whatever."

"Guess you guys have no idea what's going on either huh?" It was Sun's voice that interrupted, and whirled her head around to see that her sister, Blake and Sun had been listening in as Qrow spoke.

Ruby looked down the tent, doctors still hoping about patients while nurses and volunteers scrambled to find supplies or treat those the few doctors were unable to get too.

She sighed and shook her head, "we have an idea. But, it's not good."

Sun and Neptune both frowned at that, while the later spoke up, "I doubt its any weirder than our past week. Had a random lady show up half naked in our dorm."

"Let me guess," Yang drawled with a roll of her eyes, "she was super strong, kicked your butt to next Friday, and started going on about some war thing."

Neptune blinked. "Uh wow. Got that pretty spot on actually."

"Same thing happened to us," Yang threw a thumb at herself, "and I just happened to be the volunteer to getting my butt kicked."

A chuckle, colder but deeper, aired next to them, "you're own fault." Ruby rolled her eyes as her servant appeared in a shower of sparks, a doctor shouting at them to not use semblances anywhere near the wounded.

Her servant of course, Assassin, merely leaned against her uncles bed frame then spoke up, "your servant has informed you of the War." A statement, not a question. "Yet, she informs me you yourselves are not mages, nor have any idea what War we speak of. Correct?"

Sun nodded, "yeah. Where is she by the way?"

"Off searching for Saber to see for herself that even Saber's master is a halfwit."

"Hey!" Ruby frowned, "Jaune's not an idiot."

Her servant shrugged.

It was Sun who interrupted before she could berate her servant for being rude to her friends, "so, hold on. Let me get this straight, you random people, appeared before us, kicked some ass and are saying that we're in the some sort of Holy war now?"

"Exactly, whether or not your were aware no longer matters," Assassin met Rubys eyes, "as you can tell by this cities fate."

"Then what do we do huh?" Yang's voice held no joy, and the way her had eyes flashed red had Ruby mentally calling for Assassin to be nice.

Her servant paid her no heed and replied shortly. "Fight, if you wish to live."

"Easier said than done," Qrow grumbled aloud.

Her servant shrugged once more and Ruby frowned, her mind burning on all cylinders while the others continued talking.

She had seen what servants were capable of, and they had proven in the span of a night to be an immediate threat to everyone on Remnant. What if the so called King of Heroes decided to just erase Vale off the face of the earth? How would they stop him? Especially with Cinder, who had already brought Vale to its knees on her own, on his side.

And if the other servants were against them?

She couldn't bear the thought.

They were lucky with Sun having a servant though. That gave them three on their side, and that left Cinder with two. Then there was Blakes crazy ex-boyfriend, mentor, thing… whatever he was that also had a Servant. Two parties out for them. But they had numbers.

Her frowned deepened as she caught a whiff of smoke and remembered just what the servants were capable of when unleashed. Her Uncle proved a fully realized Huntsmen could hold of a servant for a little bit, but she doubted anyone other than a Servant could hold off the golden death that was Cinders servant.

They needed to stop Cinder. But they couldn't do it in the city. Not even in Atlas. Not with that Servant being capable of this much destruction when unleashed.

But the Relic and Salem…

She bit her lip. The Relic was still in danger, even more so now with the worlds eyes likely on Argus after this tragedy. If Salem got the Relic of Creation, and learned of the Servants…

She didn't even want to think about that possibility.

But it would put so many people in danger if they went to Atlas and Cinder followed.

What was the right choice!

She stood abruptly, the eyes of the group turning to her mid discussion, and without looking at any of them she turned and spoke. "I need to talk to Jaune," and walked out without a moments hesitation.

She barely paid any heed to the tents and the workers or medical personal walking by, but when she reached the end of the tent city she was pleased to see that the city wasn't glowing with red flames anymore. There was still smoke, but it was less and most of it had turned white.

The very early signs of dawn, the sunlight in the distance, and the smell of rain long past had her settling into a soft smile.

"Assassin, any idea where Jaune and Saber are?"

'In the city. I believe you friend has gone back to mourn.'

She blinked. Mourn?

'Did you think this battle wouldn't take its toll? Foolish.'

The hint of a scowl formed on her face, but she pushed aside the annoyed feeling and set off into the city.

Can you please just help me find them?

'As you wish.'

When she found Jaune simply sitting against a building, hands cradling his head all the while Weiss stood off to the side with a frown that looked far more pained than she had any right to be, she wasn't sure what to do.

On one hand, she needed to talk to him about what they should do next. They were the leaders of their teams, they were the ones with Servants, and she needed a second opinion on what path to take. To go to Atlas for the Relic? Or draw the War out somewhere else and leave Atlas unattended?

But on the other hand, he was obviously in pain, and the fact Weiss gave her a sad smile and a halfhearted wave only made her even more cautious. What had happened?

Chewing on her lip, Ruby made her way down the empty street and Weiss moved to meet her.

"Glad to see you're okay you dolt." Weiss smiled and Ruby couldn't help but return the gesture as the two met halfway.

"Is he okay?" She asked, eyes traveling over Weiss's shoulder.

Weiss shook her head and sighed, running a hand covered in soot through her hair, "no. I don't think he is. He keeps muttering how hes gonna kill the King of Hero's whatever that is. I… I think his sisters gone."

Ruby felt her heart ache and stomach drop, hands covering her mouth as she looked back at Jaune once more.

"As much as I don't want to see the idiot beat himself up, he needs to start doing something. Its not like its his fault." Weiss's words, though cold, were true and Ruby knew it. She also knew that they were meant with nothing but the best intent for Jaune, though it was Weiss and gentleness wasn't her forte.

Ruby gave a soft nod and with a sigh placed a hand on her partners shoulder, "I've got this. Think you can go help Sun and Neptune settle in?"

Weiss perked up at the news, "when did they get here?"

"Apparently Sun has a Servant and uh, she's fast?" She really didn't feel like explaining the half bow, half ship thing the Servant had been riding.

It was weird.

Weiss's baffled irritation; scrunched eyebrows, half opened mouth, half lidded eyes, had Ruby snorting to which the Heiress shook her face and regained her normal regality.

"Well, at least its a friend." The Heiress coughed, to which Ruby nodded and replied, "yup! Good thing too. The more servants the merrier!"

"Hmm." Weiss nodded, "Then I'll go greet Neptune and see if he needs anything. He still needs to apologize."

"He does?" Ruby's eyes widened and a vicious smirk grew on her partners lips, "He'll live." And with the threat hanging in the air Weiss turned away and left her on her own with only the rubble of the street, her servant, and a distraught Jaune to keep her company.

A gentle sigh later, she straightened and marched over to Jaune.

Her voice seemed to knock him out of whatever daze he was in, his sniffles lessening and his whole head turning to face her. The way his eyes brightened and his lips turned into a sad smile had her stomach drop and her heart crack.

"At least you're okay."

"Yup! I drink my milk!" Ruby pepped, throwing up an arm and flexing while her 'other' partner chuckled weakly.

The boy sighed and looked up to the sky, where the ever present smoke from the dwindling fires darkened the sky and blurred the stars above. "She's gone Ruby. Just like Phyrra."

"It wasn't your fault." She stepped forward but his cold laughter had her freezing in her steps.

"I couldn't protect her." His laughter turned to a sneer, "I couldn't protect you. Or Weiss!"

"Haven was-"

"And what about Pyrrha, Ruby?"

Her words died in her throat and she stepped back at the shattered look on his face.

Jaune let out a shaking breath, exhaustion and nerves overwhelming his shaking limbs as he spoke, "I've never been strong. But, I thought I was getting somewhere, and then these Servants show up and watching them bat you guys aside like nothing. I feel…" His eyes didn't lower to the ground, instead lifting to the sky and the mourning stars above.

For a moment, pity wormed its way into her gut. She felt sorrow for her friend, and her arms craved to hug him and help him remember it would be okay eventually.

But Ruby Rose had seen the destruction.

She'd almost died to a Servant already. Jaune's sister was dead. How could she make him feel better when her words would be naught but hallow promises? Lies?

Instead Ruby grit her teeth, feeling her heart twist and her breath grow shallow as words finally came to her lips.

"None of us are ready for this."

Blue eyes turned to her, widening slightly as she continued, "we weren't even ready for Salem. There was no way we'd be ready for this!" She took a shaky breath, "But we don't have a choice. Who else is gonna stop Salem? Or the Servants?"

Jaune's mouth opened to reply, but she beat him to it.

"Who else is gonna stop Cinder?"

His mouth closed into a hard line.

Blue eyes, bristling with fire and determination suddenly meet hers.

"Come on partner," She stuck out a hand.

He took it.

And with a smile on her face, Jaune Arc stood.

EMIYA watched the two with a frown, from his perch on a ruined building a half mile away. Not so much so for the events transpiring before him, he was glad his Master's ally wasn't a useless cry baby after all, but for the two women standing next to him.

"Tell me, Assassin, would you have pegged those two to really be Masters?" Isthar, the Rider of this War apparently, asked with a hint of mockery in her voice. The way she stood, dressed, and simply exuded sex appeal also had him on edge. The fact she wore Rin's face was probably why. He knew Rin would never hold herself like this woman. Yet, she wore her face, and that meant that in some alternate time line, Rin had accepted this Goddess into her.

A truly wonderful thought of course.

None the less, he replied evenly, "no. They have no mana, no knowledge. They are the least qualified Magus I have ever set eyes on." Aside from his younger self that was. At least these fools could fight.

"I concur with, Assassin." Saber added from his right. The woman was far more tolerable, though her failure of a dream still grated on his nerves. "They both carry little magic, but they do have the ability to take care of themselves."

At that, EMIYA couldn't help but snort.

Saber's eyes narrowed on him, "care to enlightened us with your thoughts?"

He shrugged, "look at the city. They may be more capable that lower class Magus, but they are no servants. My own master almost died to your hand remember Saber?"

The blond averted her gaze, hands clenching and Ishtar let loose a light laugh.

"Oh? Sounds like a juicy tale."

"Its not," Assassin killed her intrigue where it started, "simply a misunderstanding."

"Hmm" Ishtar hummed before continuing, "I'm assuming then that the three of us are in a pact for now?"

"On my honor," Saber thumped a armored fist against her chest.

The two women let their eyes turn to him.

He rolled his eyes in response, "as long as its within my Master's wish." And so long as she proves not to be as a big of a fool as Emiya Shirou.

His gaze narrowed at the form of his master on the streets below.

She was obviously good at heart, that was clear, maybe even good enough to one day be included in the Throne. But she was displaying signs like his foolish self. Signs of an Emiya. That foolish belief of protecting everyone.

Rushing into battle without knowledge against Saber. Running off to find her friend, not once, but twice now to correct him and help him.

His hands coiled against his arms.

If she continued this path, he would be forced to act.

After all…

He could not let another Emiya Shiruo exist.

He owed it to the world to stop that foolish dream before it began.

If he-

"Assassin."

The words, cold and calculated broke him from his thoughts and he spared a glance to see Saber wielding her weapon.

He followed her eyes and found himself mildly impressed.

A floating ship. A battle ship.

He narrowed his eyes as the behemoth of a floating vehicle slowed its approach over the city, while dozens of smaller craft descended to render the city aid. Structural grasp had him realizing the vehicle was a Cruiser of the Navy. A few hundred soul aboard, and with enough firepower to likely replicate what Gilgamesh did to this city. A weapon of War if he'd ever seen one. Of course, the strict discipline and history of the machine had him realizing how the ship was supposed to be in a Blockade over its sovereign entity, but yet it was here.

Hopefully the ship was here for peaceful reason, and the feeling of relief he received from his master helped to ease his worry.

"The ship is an ally of our masters." He stated, drawing confused glances from the two women. Truly, he felt the same. They were used to having knowledge of the time they were dropped into, but lacking Ayala's obvious presence, and the fact they were in a different planet altogether, the rules of the war were obviously not as they should be.

"Then I should be at my masters side." And with that Ishtar faded with blue sparks into her spirit form.

"What else can you tell Assassin?" Saber, ever vigilant as she was, could tell he knew more.

He huffed, "it has a enough firepower to rival what Gilgamesh did to this city. And there are dozens more of its kind."

She nodded.

"Then we should be at our masters sides."

"On that I can agree."

After all, he did need to replicate a weapon for his master.

The girl was helpless without one, if that sham of a fight between Gilgamesh's master and his was anything to go by.

He just wished he knew where the broken halves of her original weapon were.

Emerald Sustrai was many things.

A thief, a killer, and a loyal minion.

But what she wasn't was impervious to fear.

She gulped, careful to steady her shaking hands and spared a glance at Mercury.

The boy was relaxed, leaning against one of the black pillars within the Castle, whistling without a care in the world. Or at least thats how it looked to everyone else. She knew him. She saw the way his fingers softly drummed against his arms, the way his legs were poised to push off in any direction to escape or dodge, and the way his eyes were carefully, and slowly studying everything in the room. He studied the black walls and pillars, the gray marble floor, the glowing chandeliers above, and the black pit filled with grim goo carved into the earth at the end of the chamber. He was terrified.

A hand gently laid itself on her shoulder, and she glanced up at the ever present form of Hazel, a giant in strength and size. Yet his soft smile but hard eyes reassured her and she let out a slow breath as she steeled her nerves. She felt a little safer in his presence.

Which was a good thing as the doors to the chamber the were in were suddenly thrown open.

Salem, Queen of the Grim, strut in with a small smile on her lips.

Everyone, Tyrian and Watts included, bowed.

The received no response until the clicking of heels filled the air.

Emerald lifted her head, and her blood froze.

Red hair, golden armor, an amazonian figure, and skin almost as pale as Salems own. The difference was in the eyes. They weren't green like before, but amber. Like Cinders, but these eyes held more hate and a desire for pain than anything she'd ever seen in Cinder.

The girl followed after Salem as the two made their way to the pit at the end of the Chamber.

Tyrian cackled, "my mistress, you look splendid today! I must ask, was our friends mission a success?"

"Of course it was Tyrian." The immortal woman replied. "A great success."

It was Watts who spoke up next, "then I assume our plans will continue through too Atlas?"

"We need the relic of Creation. So yes, we will." Salem answered back and as she stopped before the pool of oozing darkness she held a hand out. "Nikos."

Pyrrha Nikos, the woman with amber eyes, stepped forward to Salem and in her hands held the broken scythe of Ruby Rose.

For whatever reason, Emerald felt her heart quicken at that. She was no friend of the Beacon brats, but the state of the scythe had her heart quickening. Had Nikos been the one to take it from Ruby? Was it even a fight? Or had Nikos deprived the girl of her life just as Cinder had deprived her of her own?

Pyrrha handed the Scythe over then Salem simply turned and dropped it into the goo.

Tendrils, black and red, swirled around the shattered scythe. They caressed it, felt it, became it. Then all at once, the darkness swallowed it whole.

It was this part that had Emerald stepping back ever so slowly. Tyrian laughed loosely as he looked at her, and Watts simply ignored her as did the others. Hazel however was quick to tighten his grip on her shoulder.

The firmness didn't frighten her and instead helped her hold her ground even as the black pool of evil she knew that normally formed the Grim, boiled and tossed. This pool was different however. Traces of red electricity and fire rolled within, and then moments later Salem held her hand out.

The red marks on Salem's hand glowed brilliantly.

"Heed my words. Obey my call. My power creates your body. My will binds your soul. Heed the call. Step into the light to complete what you left undone. Obey my command, and the all you desire will be forth, Huntress."

Black pools swirled, red arcs of electricity bounded off the top, and purple mist rose from the pool.

Even if she wanted to, Emerald couldn't pull her eyes away from the sight before her. She noticed from the corner of her eye that Mercury followed suit, stopping his insistent whistling and watched with barely concealed discomfort. She even felt Hazel's grip tighten on her shoulder went the pool of darkness rose higher, twisting, bulging, till finally it began to form the shape of a woman.

The rising goo exploded.

Tyrian cackled once more. Watt's muttered something of distaste. Pyhrra, or what was Nikos, simply stared without a care on the world.

Emerald however shivered as a feeling of utter, malice, filled the room.

From the goo fell a single person. A white cloak, eerily reminiscent of the another cloaked brat Emerald knew, floated down beside the woman. She gasped, coughed and shook, but the sensation of malice never left the room and Emerald felt her skin crawl. The woman, on her knees gazed up into the eyes of Salem with amber orbs, and with a flash of red, more strange runes forged themselves onto Salems arm.

The womans pale skin pulsed with a white glow, her red tipped hair lazily falling in front of her face, and she let loose a slow, satisfied breath as her hands extended outward and a pair twin swords formed in them.

The Queen of the Grim smiled and extended her hand to the woman.

"Tell me Summer Rose, what is it you desire?"

A/N: Been a while! This is the end of the first Arc of things, but the next two will be longer chapter wise. Obviously we're moving into Volume. 7 territory.

Yes, Summer Rose and Pyrrha Nikos. There's no way this gets bad. Of course things are likely confusing right now, but it will be explained. I'm trying to fit in Fate Lore with the Alters, the curses of the holy Grail, and mix them with the Salem and her power over the Grim. It'll be intense, and there's going to be bloodshed.

Also sorry. Life has been something else, and teaching classes online as well as writing my own novels has kept me busy.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed! God bless and review!

-Metal4k