Fourth Morning (6)

Saber sullenly stared at the sword embedded in her thigh, of excellent make and craftsmanship that dripped with her blood.

She was having more than a few-and entirely unpleasant-flashbacks to the Fourth Grail War, of having weapons like this one piercing her flesh as their owner stood before her, mocking both her pride and ideals.

"Of all the Servants that could have existed beyond the war's conclusion...it had to be him."

Saber would recognize the Gate of Babylon even on her worst day, her experiences of it ten years ago leaving a lasting impression alongside its associated Hero.

And here the King of Heroes was, interrupting yet another of her duels with his grating presence as she stared at Berserker, the Servant impaled through the body by several different Phantasms that had carried with them enough power to overwhelm his astonishing durability.

Not that it stopped the juggernaut from fixing even those level of injuries, Phantasms forced out of mottled flesh while limbs slowly beginning to flex.

Huffing out a sigh, Saber clenched her jaw and ripped the sword out of her body, ignoring the pain and regaining her feet. Current circumstances were unknown, to say the least...what did Gilgamesh's intervention in this war mean for the rest of the participants? She hadn't received any new instructions from the thrice damned Vampire, was she to simply continue the battle against Herakles?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a strange noise like that of a popped bag of air, jade eyes snapping to where Lancer and the silver-haired girl were swimming in to focus, Cú Chulainn released from the strange cloth that had restrained him as the young woman stared towards the castle, eyes narrowed and mouth tight with worry.

"Lancer, are you intact?"

Rising to his feet and irritably brushing off the dirt and debris that had coated his suit the man growled, "Of course I am. I haven't gotten to freakin' do anything. Mind switching out so I can fight Berserker? I've got a few days of unreleased stress to work out here."

Lips quirking at the man's perpetually irreverent complaint Saber shook her head, pointing to the weapons only now beginning to turn golden as they dissipated into the morning air.

"We have bigger things to worry about, Lancer."

"So I noticed, that's why the creepy little lady over there let me drop my Phantasm. Friend of yours?"

Catching on to the implied question if this was another Servant from the previous war Saber sighed, reluctantly nodding.

"Gilgamesh, Servant Archer from the Fourth Grail War. An arrogant and pissant of a tyrant."

Lancer whistled, remarking, "Wow. Must have really rubbed you the wrong way, I don't think you've badmouthed anybody but the Vampire. And he enslaved us."

Arturia spat on the ground, growling, "The bastard, in not so many words, wished for me to lay with him like some common whore for all of eternity. Simply because he felt it was owed to him."

Lancer raised an eyebrow, spinning on his heel to face the distant castle, where they could sense a collection of strong mana signatures gathering.

"Never mind, you can have Berserker. I'm going to go kill the oldest prick in the world."

Touched at the gesture-as crudely stated and ambitious as it was-Saber set a hand on Lancer's arm, stating, "Wait, something is amiss here...should we not be focusing on fighting Berserker and killing the young woman who restrained you? Yet here we are, conversing as if nothing was wrong."

"Huh...you're right. Think the Vampire went and died?"

Turning to face the white-haired girl, who was clenching and unclenching her fingers as if trying to work out some manner of nervous energy Saber asked, "You there. What was your plan for dealing with us, do you know what happened?"

The young woman shook her head, tone calm despite the obvious signs of distress as she replied, "No. The King of Hero's arrival was not part of our plan...and I do not know what has happened afterwards."

The two Servants glanced at each other, turning to face Berserker as the Servant finished regenerating, eyes flickering back to life as he turned his massive head to stare at the castle.

"Man, I hate not knowing what the Hell is going on...oh well, at least we get to-"

"Saber, Lancer...your orders are at their end and you are free to do as you wish."

The pair stiffened as a disembodied voice coursed through their minds...and for the first time in days the duo felt truly free, no outside force compelling them to behave or act in a certain way.

"...Ok, I'm not exactly complaining here but what the Hell was that all about-"

Both Lancer and Saber startled as Berserker astralized in a flash of light, heavy presence vacating the battlefield with startling swiftness.

"Yeah, now I'm really confused."

"Your confusion is understandable, Hound of Ireland...but your time of servitude is at an end."

Both the Servants and the Human spun around at the incredibly powerful voice, jaws dropping as they looked up.

Towering over the trees and approaching the castle at a majestic pace was a gargantuan beast that both Saber and Lancer identified as Rider, the blonde Servant shouting, "What do you mean, Rider?! What brought on this change of heart so suddenly, do we-"

"My apologies, King of Knights, but time is short. The Apostle and I will engage the King of Heroes, reunite with your Masters and retreat to the city...we will hold him here."

Forcing down the multitude of questions she had Saber instead offered, "If it is to defeat the King of Heroes, then we-"

"Should follow my suggestion and attempt to locate the Lesser Grail vessel and protect her. The King of Uruk desires the Grail, would you prefer him to have it?"

Saber bit her lip in clear frustration but nonetheless huffed out a resigned sigh, Rider's footsteps shaking the ground as he moved past them.

"No, I would not."

"Then go, and may we meet under more fortuitous circumstances should our paths cross once more. Ah, do not worry, young one. The Incarnation and your ally yet live."

Saber watched the Human girl sag slightly, relief evident in her body language even if her face didn't express it.

"...Man, whatever happened to the good ol' days of Servants fighting Servants and that was it? None of this Vampire, backstabbin', should be dead but actually aren't dead Servant crap?"

"Be thankful you were not a part of the Fourth Grail War then, Lancer."

Swiftly striding towards the now contrite appearing girl Saber politely inquired, "May I have your name? And would you perchance know where Illyasviel von Einzbern is? Or our Masters?"

Politely bowing her head the young lady replied, "I am Caren Hortensia, King Arthur. Unfortunately I do not know where the majority of my allies have disappeared to and your Masters should be arriving soon."

Her head cocked briefly as she stared at Saber with an unreadable expression.

"...I never would have thought the mighty King Arthur was so short."

Arturia fought down a sharp stab of annoyance at the remark, Lancer snorting in amusement behind her as she opened her mouth to retort-

"Oh, hey, spear guy! Your guts are all still inside you!"

"And you're still a crazy little lady, Assassin. How yah been?"

Saber raised an eyebrow as she recognized the...unusually dressed girl that was Assassin land nearby, eyeing both her and Lancer with a predatory gaze, another young woman running close behind her before skidding to a stop, Saber yet again recognizing her as the Executor Lancer had spoken of.

"Oh, Caren-sama! It's good to see you alive and well~!"

Hortensia turned a curious gaze on the purple-haired woman, remarking, "You seem more...animated than usual, Sakura-chan."

Her eyes settled on the red sash tied around the oddly grinning girl's features.

"Ahh. You had to make use of the Grail's fragments, then?"

"Mm hmm! Oh, my apologies, Saber, Lancer. Allow me to return to you your masters."

"Huh? What do you mean-"

Shadows rose up from the ground and flexed with disturbingly Human motions, disgorging a pair of familiar figures from their depths that stumbled awkwardly for a moment before regaining their balance and gazed around with clear confusion.

Saber rushed forward without a second thought.

"Master, are you alright?!"

Luvia met Saber's concerned gaze with a frown, squinting her eyes and fiercely rubbing them before bewilderingly asking, "Saber? Where in the name of the Root are we? I thought we were at that Tohsaka's manor until the Apostle...attacked..."

Realization dawned on her features and a volcanic scowl marred her beautiful features.

"We fell under the monster's thrall, didn't we?"

"Unfortunately so, Master. I offer my most sincerest apologies for failing to properly protect you so-"

"Oh hush, Saber. I could have been skilled enough to avoid falling into the Apostle's clutches but I wasn't. The fault isn't entirely upon your shoulders."

Surprised at the young lady's reassurance-as boldly stated as it was-the King of Knights was brought out of her musings by the Enforcer shaking her head to clear it, asking, "Well what have we missed, then? This isn't the Tohsaka manor and this certainly isn't Fuyuki..."

Lancer and Saber shared a glance.

"Yeaaaahhhh...it's a pretty long story, Master. And right now we-"

The distant sound of crashing thunder caused the Humans to clap their hands over their ears, the Servants wincing as a fair portion of the castle was turned into fast expanding cloud of debris.

"Well as much as it kills me to say this...we should probably get out of here unless we want to get dragged into the crossfire. I mean, gods forbid that I actually get to fight anything this damn war..."

Despite his grumbling Lancer's words were sound, the battle brewing on the horizon promising to be a cataclysmic one as streamers of chaotic, swirling red energy began to gather and cause the Earth to creak, blazing hellfire abruptly coating the castle as King Ivan began to trample his way into the castle grounds, ancient walls of stone and mortar as durable as wet porridge in the face of the Servant's strength.

"That's not the kind of fight a Human should be anywhere near."

Grudgingly accepting the Lancer's words Luvia flicked her hair, stating, "Then let us be off and reconvene in Fuyuki to determine our next course of action...on that note, where is Archer and Tohsaka?"

"Archer is dead and Onee-sama is...inside me."

Clearly unnerved by the purple-haired girl's words and creepy smile Luvia turned to Saber and Lancer, asking, "Can they be trusted? They are from the Church and the purple one seems...unhinged."

The pair of Servants glanced at each other, warily eying Assassin as the small girl gave Luvia a calculating look.

"We have other enemies to focus on, Master. And we still need to inform you of current events regardless, there is context for our current actions."

"And we can hear about it later, let's move."

Bazett's professional tone kicked them all into gear, the Servants spreading out as the Masters began to make their way towards Fuyuki, the battle in the castle beginning to shape the landscape as the mammoth creature used its lightning to batter aside the deluge of weapons that fell upon its form, fire and midnight portals assaulting the source of the ominous crimson glow from a variety of angles.

Caren sidled next to Sakura, quietly asking, "Can you sense what happened to Shirou and Illya-chan?"

More visibly displaying her frustration and worry the Matou responded, "Not clearly...I can still sense another facet of the Lesser Grail-thanks to my fragments-located deeper in the city with what feels like a collection of presences around it, but that begs the question of how they got there..."

"Perhaps the Apostle did something? It displayed the ability to jump around vast distances seamlessly."

"Potentially. We will simply have to approach that position and hope that they are unharmed."

With that conversation ceased, the group hurrying on their way as Caren and Sakura silently prayed for their comrade's safety.