TITLE: FATE/ POP CULTURE

Synopsis: It's time for the Fifth Holy Grail War. But don't expect King Arthur, Hercules, Medusa, etc. No, the servants summoned each herald from other worlds. Who are they? Read to find out and experience a Grail War like no other.

Disclaimer: I don't own any characters within. The Fate franchise and any others referenced herein belong to their respective owners.

Review Responses:

Nino Mezzacapo- Honestly, I can't figure out what servant class Spider-Man would be. However, one of the servants is from a live-action comic book movie. You have to wait and see who though.

Undertaker5- Glad you like my story. If you like Xena and Rick, then you may just love who I have planned for the other servants, two of which are revealed this chapter.

Chapter 3: The Slayer of Dreams and the Ranger King

"Run, you dumb kid!" Lancer yelled.

The unknown student wisely took his advice and ran.

Lancer grit his teeth as he was forced to run over and pick up the Spear of Osiris…

…only to immediately use it to block a sword swing from Archer.

"Cool your jets, lady!" he snapped as the spear kept her sword at bay, "I have no say in this. My bastard master used a command seal. The sicko wants me to kill a kid."

Unbeknownst to either of the battling servants or Rin, another servant was prowling the night.

And he had seen the student and decided to have some fun…

Xena turned her head in the direction the student fled, "something's not right."

"Of course killin' a kid ain't right, you dumb broad," Lancer rolled his eyes.

"No… I sense something else… someone else wants to take out the student! Rin!"

Rin nodded and all three of them chased after the witness and their mysterious tail.

Rin looked at Lancer as they ran, "why are you still here?"

"I told you: my jerk master used a command seal," he muttered, quite annoyed, "he really wants that kid silenced."

The poor kid, who was in the wrong place at the wrong time, was chased all the way to his home.

"You run pretty fast there, kid," a disembodied guttural voice spoke, "you on the track team or something?"

The kid ran through the house out to the backyard.

"Big mistake," the voice sneered, "now I got plenty of room to kill ya!"

"Not if we can help it!" a female voice cried, "show yourself coward, or should I say… Assassin!"

The boy's eyes bugged out upon seeing who it was that just showed up with a beautiful woman in a leather dress and a rugged-looking guy with a gold spear.

"Tohsaka?!"

Now it was Rin's turn to widen her eyes.

"Emiya?!"

Suddenly and without warning, Shiro yelled in shock and pain as a hand burst from his chest, the fingers covered by now-bloody knives.

"No!" Rin screamed as the Assassin servant materialized, ripping his hand out of the dying boy's chest.

Unknown to any of them, when Assassin swung his arm to shake off the blood; some of the blood flew into a shed… making contact with a somewhat hidden magic circle drawn onto the floor…

The three of them stared at the now revealed Assassin.

He was something else; badly burned skin, striped sweater, fedora, and the murder weapon… a modified glove with blades on the fingers… blades which still bore the blood of his recent kill.

Xena charged in, only to have her sword parried by the claws. Assassin smirked.

"Hiya, toots! Ya want some?"

Xena swung her sword away and in the same fluid motion, raised her leg kicking him in the noble phantasm, causing him to double over in pain.

"GAH! Right in the little Freddy!"

He raised his head, glaring at them, "cheap shot, bitch! I'm outta here!" And just like that; he vanished.

Lancer retracted his spear, walking off, "well… the kid's dead. I'm going to try to track that freak show down."

Meanwhile, Rin raced to Shiro's side, "dammit!... Wait! He's still alive, but towing the line!"

She pulled out a red pendant and channeled her magic, "I hope this is enough."

'Ten years of saved up energy. This is for you, Sakura,' Rin thought as the magic worked, healing Shiro's wounds. With a gasp, Shiro's eyes opened and he sat up, "what a nightmare! I dreamt I… Tohsaka?"

She sighed, "it wasn't a dream. That guy nearly killed you."

Shiro blinked, "oh… well, thanks I guess."

"Indeed," a male voice spoke, "you have my gratitude for saving my Master's life."

Rin, Shiro, and Xena turned to see a man step out of the shed. He had brown shoulder-length hair and a neatly-trimmed beard. Upon his head was a silver crown and tailing behind him was a cape, the color of red wine. He was also decked out in polished armor and bore a sheathed sword upon his back under the cape.

"Who are you?" Xena asked, gripping her sword.

The man raised his hands in a placating manner, "I mean you no harm. I have come to the aid of the one who summoned me to this Holy Grail War. I am the Saber-class servant. My name is Aragorn, son of Arathorn."

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And there you have it; two servants revealed for the price of one, with Assassin being Freddy Krueger of Nightmare on Elm Street fame and Aragorn from Lord of the Rings receiving the honor of being appointed to the class of Saber.

Simple reasoning for each; Freddy with his insane body count is perfect for Assassin. As for Aragorn, he goes from rags to riches like Arthur and Anduril is more or less Middle-Earth's version of Excalibur.

Catch you next chapter… where I'll reveal yet another servant.