A/N: Special Thanks to Greatkingrat88 for his work on the chapter and for his hand in the first dream scene among the masters, Lelouch won't be the only one at certain points in the story, expect Hakuno and Ritsuka to have similar dreams with one of their servants.
Thanks to those who reviewed, favorited and followed the chapter and story, its always much appreciated.
Before moving onto the chapter, just need to cover the one reviewer who I couldn't PM a response to.
Jay: An…interesting choice of words, but I can't deny the truth there.
True, but thankfully Lelouch is pragmatic enough and he knows this is far bigger than anything he could've imagined which likely made that necessary push.
That will probably be Ritsuka's strongest trait he brings to the table is that he has a way of gaining the cooperation of the most unlikely of servants, including those of a questionable moral alignment. I agree, Lelouch definitely wouldn't take in those like Gilles or Phantom of the Opera.
Also true on that last bit.
Ok on with the chapter…
Chapter 14
Interlude
Two days had passed since Lelouch, Hakuno and Ritsuka and their servants had returned from the first Singularity. They were all grateful to be resting in their own beds and eating proper meals, thanks to some welcome changes. Tomorrow they would head into the second singularity, but there were preparations to be made and for now Lelouch slumbered in his room, dreaming.
The man woke. After a quick breakfast of dried meat and yak milk, he walked outside, disregarding the luxuries in his tent. He could admire his collection of weapons later, or the silken outfits taken from the Jin. What was awaiting him was a treasure far greater.
He stepped out into a city of tents, his grand yurt standing at the very centre of it. It was a lively place, rich with noises and smells; the sound of horses neighing, the smell of dung, of something being cooked, of fresh dirt and grass and piss. He had smelled it many times before, been in a hundred camps like this… but none of them had ever been this big. The horde had assembled, dozens of tribes who had once been mortal enemies now united under one banner. His banner.
The two men standing guard outside stood to attention as he exited, saluting him vigorously. They fell into line, his honor guard forming around him as he walked. There would be festivities tonight. They would drink wine and stronger spirits until well after dark, and thousands of animals would be roasted. But first…
The great Khan mounted his war horse, a trusty and hardy little thing, and rode just outside the camp, where they had all gathered. Every man, woman and child had gathered in a circle, his soldiers making sure to keep them all in their place. A great rock had been dragged her, hauled by hundreds of horses for miles after weeks spent searching for one the right size. No effort had been spared for this moment, and they had been eager to do it. There was a buzz in the air, a vibrant, explosive energy, an expectation of great things to come. His peoples, long poor and starving and barely getting by, were smiling now- smiling like hungry wolves, with prey in sight. The man who had once been Temujin, but was now forever more known as Chinggis Khan, smiled too.
The crowd parted reverently as he approached in a leisurely trot. Tens of thousands of voices simmering across the plain fell silent in a rippling wave, as they all realized that it was time. That he was coming.
Chinggis approached the centre of the circle, gesturing for his guards to stand down. They hesitated, but obeyed. The Khan was not worried. Here and now, he was their god. Here and now, not a single soul would dare raise a finger against him. He was their master and commander, the leader of all the tribes, and to touch him would be to sully their own greatness.
In a gracious trot, taking his time, the Khan approached the centre of the ring, where the flat stone lay. He ushered his mount forward, until he stood upon the stone. It inclined upward slightly, raising him up high so that all could see him. He kicked the sides of his horse, which reared up. Holding his bow up high, the Khan let out a fierce battle cry.
"Damarg! Damarg!"
The words were echoed by thousands of throat, screaming themselves raw with fervour. The khan grinned, making his horse rear up another couple of time, letting the crowd work themselves up.
When finally the noise died down, Chinggis Khan looked over the crowd. Thousands of eyes, fixed on him, having submitted to him. Kereyids, Naiman, Tai'chiyuds, Uighurs; once enemies, they had now sworn themselves to him by the thousand. It felt right.
"Mongols!" he cried, waving his bow energetically in the air, "Your Khans have all sworn to me. As of today, I am the Khan of Khans!"
Once again, the cheers were deafening. Everyone knew, of course. It had been known for weeks by now. But this gathering, this made it official. It made it history.
"Long, you have languished in the north, scraping by on scraps and frozen greens, fighting each other for what little could be had. No more! Today, I say to you: as one, united, we will move south and take from the settled what is rightfully ours. We ride to the Jin, and then toward the rest of the world!"
"We ride! We ride!" Cried the crowd, in unison.
"From this day on, let the world tremble," the Khan continued as the noise died down. "For we are the Mongol people, and empires will bow to us! They will give us their wealth, or by the heavens, we will take it from them after we've taken their lives!"
The cheers did not die down for several minutes. Upon his horse, rearing once more, the Khan felt ecstatic. Who could stand before him? Who could stop them now?
Lelouch woke up with a start, blinking. The vision had felt… real. He had seen the Khan's ascension, felt his feelings, heard his thoughts. He shuddered at the thought of the violence that would be unleashed, but at the same time he saw why it had happened. Chinggis- or Genghis- had a magnetic charisma, an absolute confidence that inspired belief.
Feeling groggy, he headed down to the canteen for breakfast. To his surprise, instead of C.C. he found Tamamo Cat behind the serving lane, dressed up as a French Maid.
"Good morning, Lelouch," the servant said cheerily, while C.C. glared at her from the sidelines.
"I see you've adapted well," Lelouch said.
Since their return to Chaldea, Tamamo Cat had learned of C.C.'s Pizza only menu. The servant promptly offered to join the kitchen staff, essentially taking over the cafeteria.
No one really minded Tamamo Cat doing all the cooking. Aside from the increased variety in food now offered, her skills as a chef were unparalleled, on the same level as Emiya's. Her bouncy and cheerful personality, and likely her choice of uniform, had also made her very popular among the Chaldean staff. C.C, though, wasn't happy, but there was very little she could do.
"Yes I have. Cooking is my favorite hobby. It's as natural to me as napping," Tamamo declared.
"Okay…" Lelouch said. He'd never expected the bizarre cat-like creature to end up anyone's cook, but it beat C.C.'s one-sided diet.
"Oh, and since you'll be going to France, I thought I'd offer up a menu of things commonly found in France," Tamamo offered, showing Lelouch a selection of items. There was Brasillé, Caledonian Brunch Casserole, Gibassier, Chaussons aux Pommes, Croissants, Duck Confit and more.
"I didn't realize you had such a broad range of culinary skills," Lelouch said, impressed with her efforts.
"What, did you think I only knew how to make Japanese dishes?" Tamamo replied, striking a dramatic pose. "A true chef and wife-to-be doesn't limit herself to one type of dish. By the wisdom of my teacher Beni-emma, I've mastered the art of making dazzling, creative dishes from any corner of the world you want!"
"Right, of course," Lelouch said, deciding to just grab his breakfast and go.
Heading to an unoccupied table, Lelouch sat down with a glass of orange juice, two Croque Madames, two hot ham and cheese sandwiches served with an egg on top, and a side of fruit in a cup. Enjoying his breakfast, Lelouch had finished most of his meal by the time Nobunaga showed up. The warlord joined him, taking French toast with a serving of French Breakfast puffs.
"Good morning, Lady Oda," Lelouch said respectfully.
"You can just call me Nobunaga, master. You defeated me, and proved worthy of my being your servant," Nobunaga said with a sigh. Clearly, some part of her didn't like that she had been beaten.
"How about you call me Lelouch, and I'll call you Nobunaga?"
"I can accept that," Nobunaga said with a smile. "For someone not born in Japan, I am surprised by the amount of respect you've shown me. We were enemies for quite some time."
"Your accomplishments, especially considering you were a woman constrained by your society, is praiseworthy," Lelouch said sincerely. "I think Japan would have been quite different if not for your demise."
"I know, but I never imagined Monkey would screw up so badly," Nobunaga said, sighing. "Even if it couldn't be helped, what a fine mess my death left."
"You couldn't have known what would happen."
"I know, but to say it doesn't bother me would be a lie. And don't even get me started on the isolation that fool Tokugawa enforced on Japan."
"I understand that thought, with how much Japan fell behind, and how unprepared they wound up being for Britannia in the long run. Still, at least it's not Russia?"
"No kidding, I read about all of that in Osaka." She gave him a curious look. "How is that you know so much about me? You have clearly done your research on me."
"Well, most of it came from history books. Your deeds are pretty well known, you know? Before coming to Chaldea, I was planning to summon my own Heroic Spirit, after I learned how to perform the summoning I thought I try and do it on my own. The catalysts for Japanese Heroic Spirits were easier to obtain, and I did some reading on Japan's most notable figures to get some ideas on who would be useful to summon. Granted, obtaining specific catalysts that could work for certain Heroic Spirits were easier said than done, but one of the clubs at the school I attended had a habit of gathering Japanese trinkets, toys- and to my surprise, some minor artifacts which could be useful as summoning catalysts," Lelouch answered. "It was between summoning either one of Japan's most capable commanders or their best ninja, depending on what might be best."
"Best for what?"
But before Lelouch could answer, Genghis Khan and Ushiwakamaru strolled into the dining room.
"Morning Lelouch," Ushiwakamaru declared happily, a plate of pancakes in her hands.
"I see you rose early," Genghis Khan said approvingly. Somewhat bizarrely, the steppe lord had gone for French Toast with eggs on the side.
"Yes, I slept better than I expected," Lelouch replied, deciding not to mention the dream. "Today I aim to test the new additions to the mystic codes. It should help me, Hakuno and Ritsuka to speak and understand French. Not to mention the disguises we'll need to move around freely."
"Disguises?" Ushiwakamaru said raising an eyebrow.
"Oh, yes. The French Revolution was a time of great fear and paranoia. Foreigners especially will be regarded with extreme suspicion. Hakuno and Ritsuka will need disguises to hide they are Japanese, or they'll end up targeted as spies," Lelouch said, taking a bite from his food. "Most of the servants will have to remain in Spirit form too, but Da Vinci tells me she might have something that will have you appear differently to everyone else."
"I see. Otherwise, staying manifested to protect you could be problematic. Myself and Lady Ushiwakamaru would especially stand out," Genghis Khan said, eyeing Ushiwakamaru's attire. It left little to the imagination, and the Khan's armor would only look slightly less out of place.
"Huh?" Ushiwakamaru said, innocently tilting her head.
"A legendary general of Japan's history cannot notice an issue so obvious?" Nobunaga said, shaking her head.
Lelouch sighed, "Sorry Ushiwakamaru, but you do realize your attire doesn't cover a lot, does it? Dressing like that will draw too much attention, and I mean that in a way that locals will try to have you executed."
"But I can't move around as easily as I can if I am dressed in full armor," Ushiwakamaru protested.
"You wouldn't need to wear full armor, just clothes," Lelouch explained patiently. "We're going into the Reign of Terror here. The last thing we need is to draw attention to ourselves."
"Reign of Terror?" Hakuno said, overhearing the conversation as she passed by with her own breakfast.
Ritsuka and Mash were right behind her. Kagetora, Izo, and Tamamo soon followed suit. Her servants put their food down before bringing their tables closer to Lelouch's, so she could listen in.
"Sorry I've only heard limited details about the French upheaval that triggered the Age of Revolution," Hakuno said as she sat at the table with her servants.
"That is perfectly fine," Lelouch said.
In the corner of his eye Lelouch saw Ritsuka and Mash doing the same, and Tomoe soon joined them, with Shuten notably absent. Lelouch sighed wondering if this was a proper setting for explaining the French Revolution, but he decided just to go along with it.
"If you are all curious about the details, let's finish eating and then carry out the summoning of the new servants so they can offer their input. The briefing room for masters would be more suitable than this," Lelouch suggested.
"I would say that is a good idea, I do not wish for my food to get cold." Kagetora said smiling.
"Yes I think that would be better," Mash said in agreement with Hakuno and Ritsuka nodded too.
"I wonder where Sei is?" Lelouch said, thinking out loud.
Elsewhere in Chaldea, Olga found herself wandering the halls of the base, lost in thought. Lelouch, Hakuno and Ritsuka had been successful in resolving the first of the seven singularities. She should be happy about it, but her mood remained sullen. Sighing, Olga leaned against the wall of the hallway she had been walking through.
I want to be proud, but the fact is I did nothing.
Even though resolving one singularity could be seen as an accomplishment for Chaldea, it was due to the Masters in their field under Roman's direction. Roman had proved far more capable than she could've imagined, and it irked her to no end, made worse by the fact the staff preferred him as Director. Sliding to the ground in depression, Olga was at a complete loss what to do.
But before she could sulk further, she was interrupted by Sei coming through. The servant was snapping pictures with her smart phone- where did she get that?
"Hey are you ok?" Sei asked innocently. Olga looked up at Sei, confused. The girl was something else, her bright, flashy outfit making her look outlandish.
"It would be wrong of me to leave someone like you sitting there with such a sad look. Yes, Empress Teshi would want me to help!"
"Huh?" Olga blinked.
"Here, let me help you up," Sei said, offering her hand after pocketing her smartphone.
"No thanks, just leave me- AAAH," Olga exclaimed as, without any warning, the servant grabbed her arm, pulling her up to her feet.
"Come on, let's go talk someplace, take a load off."
"Wait, I didn't say I would-" Olga said trying to escape Sei's powerful grip as she was dragged down the hall.
Later that day, after breakfast, Lelouch had assembled in the Summoning Room along with Hakuno, Ritsuka, the Khan, Emiya and Mash. The rest of their servants had to wait outside, since the room could only accommodate so many people at once. Dr. Roman was also present, helping supervise the new summons as Lelouch assisted Hakuno and Ritsuka in preparation.
"So who goes first?" Hakuno asked.
"Ladies first," Ritsuka chirped. Lelouch nodded.
"Okay then, but are you sure using a history book will work as a catalyst?"
Hakuno pointed to a history book on the French Revolution, sitting at the center of the Summoning Circle.
"Honestly, I don't know. It might not work, but since we've got nothing else I am hoping this might narrow down potential summons to that time period," Roman admitted, awkwardly rubbing one hand behind his head.
"We could get a servant who lived through the French Revolution, or rather experienced it. Or another servant altogether, since most summons without proper catalysts are a roll of the dice," Lelouch said, putting his hands into his pocket. "If nothing else, let's hope we get at least a decently helpful servant. I highly doubt force of arms alone will be enough, given the political chaos we're stepping into."
"Basically, you're saying let's hope we get lucky?" Hakuno said, slightly concerned.
"Pretty much. An assassin-class servant would be good, I think. They could run information gathering and recon," Ritsuka suggested.
"True, that would be ideal." Lelouch agreed.
"Well, let's give this a try then," Hakuno said, taking a deep breath.
Preparing herself, she began chanting the rites of the summoning ritual, and much like when she had summoned Emiya the circle engraved in the room began glowing with magical power, which continued to build in strength as she spoke the words. The power rose and rose until it peaked. With a flash of power, a powerful wind suddenly rushed through the room. Lelouch and his comrades almost lost their footing, forced to shield their eyes from the dust thrown around in the chamber. Hakuno stood firm, continuing to recite the summoning.
"From the Seventh Heaven, attended to by three great words of power, come forth from the ring of restraint, Protector of the Balance!" Hakuno said, completing the incantation. Energy erupted, filling the room with smoke. The summoning had been successful. The ventilation fans were running at full power, but it took a minute for the smoke to clear. The group watched tensely, seeing a figure standing in the summoning circle.
He appeared to be a young man with white hair and icy blue eyes, wearing a black coat with white patterns upon it. He had a stoic expression, standing with one hand in his pocket and another holding a unique-looking sword with a T-shaped sword, the words L'Epee de Justice inscribed on the length of the blade. He wore a pair of gray pauldrons modeled after horse heads, with bladed manes. He wore black pants, and a white shirt with a pink tie.
"Greetings, Master. I am Charles-Henri Sanson, come at your request," Sanson said politely, his tone quite professional.
"I've heard of him," Lelouch began. "He was the fourth head of the Sanson Family, those placed in charge of the executions in France for generations. They carried out many executions during the Revolution, and were spared the worst of the revolution due to the Sanson Family providing medical services free of charge to the needy, cultivated from their experiences in executions."
"That is true. Although I regretted the executions I had to perform, especially during the revolution," Sanson said.
"Thank you, Mr. Sanson, and welcome to the team," Hakuno greeted, offering his hand.
"Please, you may call me Sanson or Charles. I am fine with either."
"Okay, but you don't have to call me Master. Just Hakuno is fine."
"Very well. Hakuno, then."
"Okay, then why don't I show you around and introduce you to everyone else," Hakuno said, gesturing for Sanson to follow her.
Once Hakuno, Emiya and Sanson left, Lelouch gestured for Ritsuka to go next.
"Ok here, I go!" Ritsuka said, taking a deep breath before reciting the incantation. "Let silver and steel be the essence…"
As it happened with Hakuno's ritual, the energy built up as Ritsuka recited the incantation, and upon completion there was an explosive discharge of energy, forcing the others away from the smoke as the ventilation fans worked to clear the room.
Standing in the circle was a man, standing an imposing six feet tall with a muscular frame and long silver-grey hair. He was dressed in silver woven plate armor over a black body suit of some kind. His green eyes held a very serious light to them, and his skin was tanned brown. Much of his chest was left exposed, with glowing green patterns upon it. He had a black cape, over which a greatsword hung.
"Saber, Siegfried. I have come in response to your summons. Please give me the order." He said firmly.
"Hi Siegfried, I am Ritsuka Fujimaru. Welcome to Chaldea," Ritsuka said, greeting him with a friendly smile.
The legendary hero who killed the evil dragon Fafnir, Lelouch thought, having heard of him. He may not be a Heroic Spirit from the French Revolution, but he will make a good addition.
"Thank you, master," Siegfried said, slightly surprised by how friendly his master was.
"No problem. You can just call me Ritsuka, though. Here, why don't I introduce you to the others?" Ritsuka said, taking the servant on a tour of Chaldea.
"I guess I am up," Lelouch said, readying himself.
"Come on, summon a servant to put the ones they summoned to shame," Genghis Khan said eagerly.
"I'll do my best, khagan," Lelouch said, and began reciting the summoning incantation.
It didn't take long for the process to repeat itself. But after the room was cleared of smoke, Lelouch was stunned by what was standing in the aftermath of the successful summoning ritual. Unlike the other two summons conducted by Hakuno and Ritsuka, Lelouch had summoned a woman. She looked to be around his age, standing at just over five feet tall with long white hair tied into a pair of long ponytails. She had light blue eyes, an enormous red hat, a red and black sleeveless short dress with white thigh-long boots and red gloves. Unlike the professional Sanson or the martial Siegfried, she projected an image of purity and innocence with her appearance and smile.
"Hello young man. I am Marie Antoinette, a Rider-class servant. Do you like me too? If so, that's great... Vive La France!"
"Wait, as in… Queen Marie Antoinette, the last Queen of France? Executed by the revolution?" Roman asked, first to recover from surprise.
"How is she a Heroic Spirit?" Lelouch said, baffled.
Marie was amused by their reactions who couldn't help, but laugh.
"Yes, I admit I never expected I would've become a Heroic Spirit," Marie admitted. "If I had to guess, it was probably those donations and efforts to help the people during the famines, and trying to get the court to reduce expenses to help."
"That's right, I've heard of that," Roman said, nodding his head. "That is true. Although, she did face a lot of push-back from the nobility and the royal court. Needless to say, a lot of the nobility in France didn't share Marie's views and wishes for the people."
"I know. Even when the famine hit and there wasn't any money, the nobility kept partying and going on like nothing was wrong," Marie said with a sigh, folding her arms over her chest.
"Weren't you called Madame Deficit?" Roman asked innocently.
"Yes," Marie admitted before hanging her head down in shame. "How was I supposed to know I was spending too much? I thought I was spending less, so I tried to spend it on the people instead."
Smooth move, Roman, Lelouch thought, shaking his head. It was true, though; according to the history books, Marie Antoinette was a notorious spendthrift.
"All that considered, you'll understand I am surprised to see you become a Heroic Spirit," Lelouch said, deciding it was best to change the subject.
"I was quite shocked myself. I still do not quite understand why," Marie replied.
"Well, I suppose… why don't I show you around Chaldea?" Lelouch offered.
"Yes, please. I am curious to see where I have been summoned too," Marie said, happily accepting.
What an awkward situation you have found yourself in, master, Genghis Khan mused, having silently observed the whole time.
Meanwhile, Sei had dragged a reluctant Olga to one of the observation rooms to continue their conversation, refusing to take no for an answer. Now sitting on a bench near a window, overlooking the snowy landscape and beyond the barrier protecting Chaldea, leading into the scorched landscape that blanketed the rest of the world. Olga was hit with a sense of sadness and failure at the hellish sight.
"Wow, I knew the world had ended, but I didn't think it was that bad," Sei said merrily.
"How can you still be cheerful at the sight of the world beyond Chaldea being reduced to ash?"
"Because to be anything less than cheerful would be betraying my Empress Tenshi. No matter what, even if the world has ended, I shall always smile."
"It must be great having someone you admire, someone who wouldn't betray you," Olga said bitterly.
"It is," Sei replied happily. "Although I suppose the same couldn't be said for Empress Tenshi. After her father died, his rival and brother succeeded him. Then everything went downhill for the Empress, as her own uncle had his daughter be married to the Emperor, giving her the title of Empress too. From that point on, poor Empress Tenshi suffered humiliation after humiliation, made worse by how only one of her daughters would live a full life, while the rest would die. Her rival, the second empress, would sire the children who would succeed the emperor, making things more hellish for her."
Olga watched as Sei told her what happened to her beloved Empress Tenshi. The story was depressing enough in its own right; however, Olga was more unnerved by how cheerful Sei remained even as she told the tragic tale of what happened to someone she clearly respected.
"How can you act like that?" she demanded.
"Huh? Come again?"
"You were smiling and acting all happy-go-lucky while talking about how horrible your idol's life was? Why? Is it some joke to you, like everything else?"
"Actually," Sei began, and although the smile stayed on her face, there was a seriousness in her tone. "It was no joke, and I am not treating Empress Tenshi's sad last years as one, or the fact the Earth is gone. I vowed that no matter what, as she is no doubt watching me from heaven, that I'll never stop smiling, and I'll never stop being cheerful no matter what!"
Olga was stunned. At a loss for words, she didn't know if she should be impressed or unnerved by how dedicated Sei was to keeping her word.
"If you were trying to cheer me up, then you are doing a horrible job of it!"
"Huh?!" Sei said confusedly.
"I mean, how can I take you seriously?"
"Well, I am just trying to brighten your day. Nothing more to it."
"It's not working, and I don't think you are the best person for it."
"That won't stop me from trying. Are you just going to mope around like this for the rest of your life?"
Olga wanted to say something, but the words failed her. Sei's attitude seemed inappropriate, but… it wasn't like Olga would accomplish anything steeped in depression either. Maybe she had a point.
Later that day, following giving the new servants their tour of Chaldea, all of the Heroic Spirits and their masters had gathered in one of the mission briefing rooms.
"Right, so now that everyone is here," He began, "Allow me to give you all a quick recap of the French Revolution and what we are likely to expect," He signaled Mash to operate the projector built into the wall at the opposite end of the room.
"Now, what do you guys know about the revolutions?" Lelouch asked.
"Uh. It was that one time the French people rose up against the aristocracy and killed them along with the king, and then things got really bad?" Hakuno tried. Western history wasn't her strongest subject.
"Yes and no," Lelouch nodded. "It's true, but misleading. Now, I can't give you a whole lecture, because if I went in depth we'd be here all day, and I really only remember what I learned in my tutelage. This will be the short version, what you need to know to keep up with the times. It is a volatile and dangerous time we're about to enter, in a different way from last time.
"To keep things short, in the late 1700s, France was in bad shape economically, and it went from bad to disastrous after they funded the American Rebellion, which was eventually put down by the Britannians. With nothing to show for it and millions of francs in deficit, the French state was about to go bankrupt. France at the time still followed the medieval custom of dividing society into three groups- nobility, church and everyone else, with the king on top as an absolute ruler. The monarchy was actually pretty popular, but the nobility not so much."
"Wait, the monarchy was… popular?" Emiya asked. "I remember almost nothing, whatshisname, Louis something, wasn't he kind of a loser?"
Lelouch nodded.
"They saw the monarchy as a fatherly protector. But yes, Louis XVI was not a great man. He was indecisive, insecure and incompetent. In a stabler time he might have been a forgettable king whose ministers ruled for him, but in a time of crisis where France really needed a strong, competent leader who could make big, bold decisions? Not so much."
"So… it was his fault, then?" Nobunaga pondered. "Weak men always drive nations to ruin."
"Some of it was, some of it wasn't. While this is going on, we have a philosophical movement called the enlightenment, questioning whether we really need a king or not- so here we have a weak government, led by a weak king, and people are starting to question things."
"I'm guessing there was a spark who lit the fire, then," Hakuno wondered aloud.
"Yes," Lelouch nodded. "With all of this going on, there's suddenly a famine. Suddenly, people can't even feed themselves. So to solve the nation's crisis, the king calls the estates general, a parliament of sorts meant to advise the king. All three estates- the nobles, the commoners and the priesthood- were supposed to be represented. But the commoners, who represented over ninety percent of the people, were ignored by the clergy and nobility, and little was getting done. To make a long story short, along with liberal-minded nobles, they founded a parliament of their own to discuss these issues."
"So far, not so violent," Emiya noted.
"People tried," Lelouch sighed. "The king was pressured to move to Paris, to be accountable to the people. There were efforts to reform the monarchy, to make France a constitutional monarchy, but the king only went along because he was forced to. I'm glossing over a lot here, but after the new parliament failed to get enough done, a more radical movement started gaining prominence- the Jacobins. They were extremists of their time, holding absolutist principles of liberalism. They were led by the Committee of Public Safety, whose most prominent member was Maximillien Robespierre, an incorruptible and deeply virtuous man."
"Gee, you make him sound kind of heroic," Emiya snorted.
"There are two kinds of monstrous leaders," Lelouch said carefully. "There are those who simply take and do whatever they want, without caring for justification…"
The room as a whole all glanced at the Khan, who seemed entirely indifferent.
"...and there are those who will do anything because they are fanatically sure that they are right, and nothing is unjustified if they do it for the right reason, because the ends justify the means."
"And that's Robespierre," Mash nodded.
"Exactly. He was a zealot for his cause, and increasingly paranoid. It's likely we will have to deal with him, as he would be the center of political power. Now…
"After the king tried and failed to escape to Austria, the people lost their faith in him too. So we have a powder keg of a country, in political turmoil, with political extremists in charge, people starving…"
"And then it got worse?" said the Khan, sounding rather like he enjoyed the prospect.
Lelouch nodded.
"Then it got worse. The king was executed, the Austrian emperor declared war on France, and the reign of terror ensues. Tens of thousands are executed across France for not being patriotic enough. This is also where Napoleon- the Napoleon- gets his start, as an officer in the revolutionary army."
As Lelouch glossed over these events, there was a wistful look on Marie's face. It could not be easy, Lelouch figured, to have something so personal explained so broadly and quickly, when it had impacted her on such a personal level.
"So this is what we're heading into. A country in turmoil, paranoia and fear about foreign plots and spies, ideological zealotry that gets innocent people killed, and the start of the age of revolutions."
"The age of the guillotine, more like," Emiya muttered.
"Not incorrect," Lelouch agreed. "It was mass murder on a scale seldom seen before. Not just nobles- in fact, most of the victims were lower class people."
"A quick decapitation doesn't sound that terrible," the Khan shrugged. "Back in my day, we used to make mountains of skulls just to make a point."
The rest of the group all gave him a long, quiet stare.
"What?" Genghis said. "If put in perspective, some tens of thousands isn't that much. It could be much worse, believe you me."
"...that is certainly the glass half full view," Lelouch said, eager to smooth things over. "Regardless, even if we could fight off any republican troops we come across, we can't afford to get bogged down doing so. We need to keep a low profile. We need to look and sound appropriate for the time, or we'll be stuck dodging patrols, or worse, attracting the attention of enemy Servants."
"Disguises, then?" Ritsuka asked.
"It's because we're Japanese," said Hakuno. "At a time when France is facing threats from both within and outside their country, they'll be suspicious of any foreigners and arrest them on sight."
"Exactly," Lelouch said. "You two would be the most at risk because of that, and it would impede your ability to move around as freely as were able to in the last singularity."
"Potential situations like these is the reason why Chaldea wanted a number of masters from different countries and nationalities, since they could blend in depending on the country or time period. They needed to Rayshift too," Mash added.
"So, I propose we split into two groups," Lelouch said. "Hakuno and Ritsuka will take their servants and locate a base of operations upon a Leyline and secure it. Since I can pass myself off as French more easily, I'll be visiting the towns to collect intelligence. While you'll have disguises, it's best if you two avoid the towns and cities as much as possible, just in case anyone attempts to dispel the magic and expose you."
"Right. We should play it safe until we know where the Holy Grail is," Hakuno agreed.
"Finding it will be easier said than done, that much I am certain of," Lelouch said with a sigh.
"Then we should all rest up and prepare for them. And we should decide on which servants we should take, and which ones should stay here at Chaldea to protect the base," Mash said.
"True. If we take all of them, that could lead Chaldea open to attack, and traveling with such a large group of Heroic Spirits would make it easier to find us, unless we found a way to conceal the presence their magical energy gives off," Lelouch said.
"Sounds like a plan," said Ritsuka.
"Good. Let's meet in the command center tomorrow with our servants after Da Vinci gives us the new mystic codes for the mission. That'll be all," Lelouch said, ending the meeting.
He decided not to linger, as Hakuno and Ritsuka began talking amongst their own servants, trying to decide who would stay and who would go. The room was fairly crowded, and he already had an idea of who would go in mind. All he had to do was check on Da Vinci and Sion's work to make sure everything would be ready for tomorrow. Once out in the hall, his servants in tow, he approached Marie.
"I am sorry you had to sit through that. You didn't have to," Lelouch said apologetically.
"It's fine. You were very respectful of my husband. As regrettable and tragic as what happened to us was, it is as you said. My husband was unable to make the meaningful changes France needed for a number of reasons, many of them out of his control."
"His position was unenviable, certainly," Lelouch said.
"Change is something that never comes easy. I speak from experience, and I was a lot more forceful with mine," Nobunaga commented.
"I agree, I recall the opposition I faced with the changes I wanted to bring to my home," Genghis Khan added.
"I am curious," said Nobunaga. "For a Britannian, you are surprisingly respectful to your servants. Based on all I've heard about them. Not that I am complaining."
"Well I've heard my fair share of stories of masters who didn't treat their servants well and ended up dead. Command seals may give you a link and the ability to command a Heroic Spirit, but they are still people with their own wills and pride. To treat them as anything else would be courting death, especially those who could be cunning or deadly enough to kill an egotistical master. Command Seals only provide a link to a Heroic Spirit and three seals to give one order they cannot refuse. Anything else depends on the working relationship you craft with them that ensures their cooperation. Even if you're called servants, you're still people, worthy of being treated with respect. Besides, people respond better to cooperation than to force," Lelouch said sincerely.
"Maybe. But I think you are a good person," Marie complimented.
"Good, well maybe," Lelouch mused. "But sometimes I am not nice."
A/N: At least Lelouch didn't get Mapo Tofu, the bane of every Fate/Grand Order player.
And yes, him summoning Marie was intentional since, considering he came out of the last singularity with the most servants, something even I didn't realize initially, so its only fair that like every player in the game he doesn't get what he was hoping for, but gets something he could use.
Ritsuka gets Siegfried, a heavy hitter and will be good to have for what lies ahead, and Hakuno gets Sanson whose skills as a doctor will be very useful aside from his interesting Noble Phantasm.
This chapter might've been slightly short, but with some character moments, especially between Olga and Sei to try and move her recovery further along.
I want to say more, but I might spoil too much for the next chapter, which will be a light start so I can avoid mistakes made in the first singularity and try to avoid character bloat so I'll be spacing things out a little more. Thanks to everyone for reading, and I thank you in advance for your feedback, also the poll to narrow down candidates for Hakuno's servant picks for the next singularity will end with the post of the next chapter after I post the next chapter for my Sunrider story followed by my Kingdom Hearts story getting updated.
Now I could just pick them, but I am trying to avoid any bias picks and I believe me I would likely be very bias with my picks.
